Album review: Gorillaz, 'The Fall'
2.5 stars (out of 4)
Recorded in hotels on ring-leader Damon Albarn’s iPad while Gorillaz toured North America last year, “The Fall” (Virgin/EMI) was originally made available only to fan-club members, but now receives its official release. In comparison to the three previous Gorillaz albums, laden with guest stars and ambitious production, this comes across as a far more modest affair, with its bedroom beats, gentle guitars, purring keyboards and wistful vocals. A sinister vibe burrows into the buzzing foundation of “The Snake in Dallas,” but most of the 15 tracks come off as a dreamy travelogue – America as seen from the window of a tour bus. In keeping with the album’s sparse tone, the star turns are reduced to a bare minimum – the Clash’s Mick Jones and Paul Simonon add a bit of guitar and bass, and Bobby Womack sings the folk-soul lament “Bobby in Phoenix.” Mostly, this is Albarn making one for the headphone-obsessed in his fan base, a soundtrack for kicking back in the back seat and watching the world drift past.
greg@gregkot.com