Album Of The Week: Gorillaz "Plastic Beach"

After 5 years, our favorite virtual band is back with guests like Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, and Bobby Womack. It's not too late to jump on their bandwagon!

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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ARTIST: Gorillaz

ALBUM: Plastic Beach (Virgin)
[Click Here To Buy It On MP3 For $7.99]

WHY WE'RE CO-SIGNING: It can be debated whether the Gorillaz are just a side project for occasional Blur frontman, Damon Albarn, and comic book artist, Jamie Hewlett. It can even be debated whether the Gorillaz are an actual band (the members are technically cartoon characters). What can't be debated is the phenomenon that the Gorillaz have become, thoroughly entertaining us since '01 when they dropped their self-titled debut. The rotating line-up, that has at one time included Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Dan the Automator and Danger Mouse, has cultivated a spectacular, eclectic, and innovative sound that has spawned hit singles, multi-platinum albums, actual performances, including a sold-out stint at the Apollo Theater, as well as a Grammy duet with Madonna.

For Plastic Beach, it's more of the same (which is a good thing) with Albarn serving as the sole producer for the first time, but bringing along plenty of help from Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon from the Clash, the Fall's Mark E. Smith, British rappers Bashy and Kano, De La Soul, and Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys. It might sound like a clusterfuck, but it ends up working on so many levels. Watch the video for the single "Stylo" below to get a taste...


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