By Cameren Brown, Courier Staff Writer
Gorillaz has always been one of the most interesting bands I’ve ever listened to. They never stay categorized in one genre, and that certainly doesn’t change with their new album, “Humanz.”
Released April 28th, 2017, “Humanz” is their fifth studio album. It was a long awaited return since their last major album, “Plastic Beach”, was released March 3rd 2010. After a long hiatus it may be expected that they’ve lost their touch, but on the contrary, Gorillaz come back groovier than ever with the same electro-hop, flavored production, and their creative use of aesthetic features.
I think there’s something for everyone on this album, and the singles display that perfectly. If you want a high energy, hip-hop dance track, then you listen to “Ascension” (my personal favorite), which features L.A. rapper Vince Staples. For something more 80’s pop-style, chose “We Got the Power”, and for the more signature electronic sound, “Andromeda”.
The Gorillaz make sure to reach out for new fans while keeping their older fans close. They bring back familiar faces such as De La Soul, who they collaborated with in their break-out 2005 album “Demon Days”, then rake in new talent such as rapper D.R.A.M., who come off his hit with fellow rapper Lil Yachty. This variety is what always attracted me to Gorillaz; even if one song wasn’t necessarily my taste, they pulled me back in with the next track.
The production of Damon Albarn, head of the project, really shines through with this release. He not only shows his range, but proves his revitalized interest in the project. With constant beat switches and breakdowns, he leads the listener into thinking that the song will remain one vibe through its entirety, but then throws a curveball, just to keep you guessing. His producer flame hasn’t gone out at all.
While I praise the album for being heavily accessible for new listeners, the only downside is that it has too much collaboration. Within the 19 track (including bonus) album, there is only one single track that does not have a feature. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, as Gorillaz have always been known for their eclectic collab efforts, but previous albums have always had a healthy balance of both features and solo songs.
Another gripe is that there seems to be less of a story as with prior works. The Gorillaz have an underlying storyline with most of their albums, and while this one makes the effort, the actual music itself seems to be the entirety of focus. This is a common complaint with older fans, as they fear that the music becoming too mainstream will hinder the furthering of the story and experimental elements Gorillaz has always championed.
Overall, I recommend the album if you’re looking for something different, but still easy to listen to.