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in hotels on ring-leader Damon Albarn’s iPad while Gorillaz toured North America last year, “The Fall” (Virgin/EMI) was originally made available only to fan-club members, but now receives its official release.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
I like this album, and also think it is a true Gorillaz album, its starting to become my favorite album so far from the Gorillaz. Damon Albarn you are a musical genius. I also loved Blur. (Way better than Oasis)
Neil Pink.
Plymouth UK
Posted by: Neil Pink | April 21, 2011 at 01:38 PM
Speaking of Blur, Damon Albarn needs to put down the Gorillaz project and get back to that band, circa Parklife.
Posted by: RPJ | April 22, 2011 at 12:54 PM
I'm on the fence as to this album. It's either an Andy-Kaufman-esque joke, or a complete swing and miss. Either way, it's easily their worst effort at producing a listenable album. Feel free to read a review at Second Guest at : http://2ndguest.blogspot.com/2011/07/album-review-gorillaz-fall.html
Posted by: Greg Schaumburg | August 01, 2011 at 09:09 AM
I agree with Greg completely. I fell in love with their early work due to the various styles and collaborations and how I could truly drift away to their music.. But this album just doesn't mean anything to me. I'm an artist/ animator/ graphic designer, and their music is my inspiration a lot of the times when I'm sitting on my roof smoking a cigg and working but "The Fall" just doesn't satisfy me. I still support and love them, just not this album. I understand that Albarn was experimenting, I get that. There's nothing wrong with experimenting. but this experimental album just doesn't make me feel euphoric. They should have left it as a fan based release.
Posted by: kemi oyebade | August 31, 2011 at 04:51 PM