FriendBurst Blog

Who would have thought, when Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett teamed up in the late nineties, that Gorillaz would still be around today?  They themselves didn’t anticipate such longevity for their side-project.  They hinted Plastic Beach would be the last Gorillaz album.  One year later, The Fall was released.  It was recorded over thirty two days, during the North America Tour 2010 – on an iPad.  It is a short album, containing half-baked experiments.  Some of it sounds like it was made by a sedated five-year-old.  Albarn has taken the fall, so to speak (apparently it was all his idea).  It does not match the high standard Gorillaz set on the first three albums.

The ‘cartoon band’ released the eponymous debut album in 2001.  It was an instant success.  Gorillaz appealed to a lot of people.  A wide range of genres were mixed together (pop, rock, electro, hip-hop, trip-hop, dub, reggae, ska, punk, etc).  The whole album has a laid-back ‘trippy’ feel to it.  Gorillaz seemed to have even more fun on the second album – despite the dark theme.  With vocal performances from Shaun Ryder, Roots Manuva, Neneh Cherry and Martina Topley-Bird (plus a narrative piece by Dennis Hopper) the quartet attracted even more attention.  Demon Days is a very polished album, with slick production by the brilliant and prolific Danger Mouse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNG_lFShmkE

Following each of the first two albums, collections of the b-sides and remixes were released (G-sides and D-sides).  There was no P-sides after Plastic Beach (another good album).  Gorillaz released an awful once-off single, with Daley on vocals.  It was announced there would be another Gorillaz album.  The Fall isn’t a complete disaster (Revolving Doors and Bobby In Phoenix stand out).  It has a certain charm to it.  However, Plastic Beach would’ve been a more fitting conclusion for Gorillaz.  There’s something to be said for quitting while you’re ahead.  The Singles Collection 2001-2011 was released towards the end of last year.  It contains no songs from The Fall.

Grand National started out as a Police tribute band.  The debut album (Kicking The National Habit) was released in 2004.  Even though it’s all original material, the Police influence comes through loud and clear.  Some of it is also reminiscent of The Clash.  Grand National clearly favours post-punk and new-wave music.  There are also elements of ska, reggae and dub.  Talk Amongst Yourselves sounds a bit like New Order.  The compilation B-sides, Remixes And Rarities was released three years later (an odd move for a band which had only released one album).  There has been one more Grand National album (A Drink And A Quick Decision) but I haven’t heard it.

Gravenhurst is one of the few non-electronic artists on the Warp label.  The debut album (Flashlight Seasons) was quickly followed by an EP (Black Holes In The Sand).  Both have a similarly dark and melancholic feel.  Nick Talbot writes the songs and plays most of the instruments – and sings.  The music is soft and strangely soothing, considering the dark subject matter (eg. Loneliness, psychosis and even rape).  Fires In Distant Buildings is a natural progression (and a longer album).  Influences range from New Order (The Velvet Cell) to The Doors (See My Friends).  Psychedelic rock is blended with the usual folk music.  The Western Lands was released in 2007.  Ghost In The Daylight was released earlier this month.

Groove Armada has released six albums over the past fourteen years.  All you need is The Best Of Groove Armada.  It contains all the hit singles, from 1998 to 2003.  There have been two albums since then (plus a remix album).  They received good reviews (I haven’t heard the whole albums).  An updated singles collection (GA10: 10 Year Story) was released in 2007.  I’m sure there will be another update – especially considering there have been several non-album singles.  This industrious band is showing no signs of fatigue.

Further listening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvQKxjguykE&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL27436B593C9F86EF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfl_V6OdsIk