Gorillaz - Demon Days
Posted by: Daisy on Monday, 23rd May, 2005
This cartoon quartet have really nursed their sound into something much more mature than on their debut. Whereas Gorillaz seemed to experiment more with the alt/indie genres, Demon Days has a good old fiddle with more funk, rap and hip hop, and anything else, to be honest! Don’t Get Lost In Heaven sounds like The Beach Boys, when Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey’s Head could be mistaken for DJ Shadow.
El Mañana is certainly more like their original style, but it’s much tighter, so it just sounds ace, like Every Planet We Reach Is Dead – a jazzy, funky, one might even say, sexy, mix.
My fondness for a funky bass line and a bit of a dance means I adore the songs Feel Good Inc and Dare, which as any such song, makes me do a bit of a wiggle in my chair along to the beat…I’m so glad no one can see me though. The latter track even features vocals from Mr Shaun Ryder, you know.
In some ways, Demon Days is quite similar to the first album, but at the same time it’s pretty darn different. It’s far more upbeat in the, erm…upbeat tracks, but the eerie ones are still as dark and haunting as ever thanks to Damon Albarn’s vocals – especially in White Light, where he sings ‘white light’ quite a lot in a creepy voice.
The album finishes perfectly with the title track, which features gospel singers and EVERYTHING.
I was pretty worried that the follow up to Gorillaz would be a bit disappointing after such a long wait – but…huzzah! – it isn’t. They’ve been away and come back with something that should keep the fans hooked, and I reckon they ought to feel rather chuffed with themselves.
Label: Parlophone
Website: www.gorillaz.com
Release date: 23rd May 2005
Tracklist:
- Intro
- Last Living Souls
- Kids With Guns
- O Green World
- Dirty Harry
- Feel Good Inc.
- El Mañana
- Every Planet We Reach Is Dead
- November Has Come
- All Alone
- White Light
- Dare
- Fire Coming Out Of Monkey’s Head
- Don’t Get Lost In Heaven
- Demon Days
