With its lackadaisical, loping, quasi-reggae rhythm and mournful melodica riff, “ Clint Eastwood” became one of the most unlikely hits of the decade, as Albarn sings and Del raps in striking contrast to each other’s style. Nakamura and Kid Koala’s hip-hop values are much in evidence, but many songs also possess slightly off-kilter dub-reggae rhythms, and reverb and delay effects abound. The group has a knack for penning catchy tunes and laying down simple yet effective grooves that are usually immediately endearing. The 15-track offering has a loose-limbed, breezy vibe that appeals to club-goers, radio programmers, and MTV watchers alike. With all of that talent, the Gorillaz self-titled debut could not help but be interesting. Even octogenarian Cuban vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista Social Club appears on one song. Octagon, Handsome Boy Modeling School, and Deltron 3030 Miho Hatori plays guitar in electro-pop charmers Cibo Matto rapper Del the Funky Homosapien has been a key figure in the West Coast’s underground hip-hop scene for over a decade and is a member of Deltron 3030 Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz formed the rhythm section of legendary New Wave rockers Talking Heads, and the oft-sampled funk troupe Tom Tom Club and turntablist extraordinaire Kid Koala has won much praise for his 2000 solo album Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and his work with Deltron 3030 and Bullfrog. Albarn’s Blur has been a British pop-music institution since 1990 Dan “the Automator” Nakamura has masterminded several renowned hip-hop projects, including Dr. While the musical abilities of Gorillaz cartoon likenesses remain debatable, those of the actual musicians playing behind them are indisputable. The people who work on Gorillaz are there because they love the idea and the idea of experimenting in the mainstream.” Novel, Yes-Novelty, No As he told Rollling Stone’s Steve Baltin: “ no emphasis on a celebrity. This pleases Albarn, who has grown weary of his pop-star status in Great Britain. When Gorillaz play concerts, the musicians perform behind a large screen on which stills and animation are projected. Hewlett’s love for early 1970s rock horror films such as The Exorcist and Dawn of the Dead reveals itself on the site as well as in Gorillaz’s videos. Instead of giving visitors the usual band information, the group’s official website immerses them in the Gorillaz environment and allows for interactivity. Their website and videos feature Hewlett’s Japanese anime-styled animation, which is created in his London-based Zombie Studio. More so than with most bands, Gorillaz’s visual elements are crucial to their overall appeal. We’re just there to make sure everything comes out okay, and Jamie’s art gives a fuller picture of who they are.” “The Gorillaz have their own personalities and idiosyncrasies. “We’re just their mentors,” Gorillaz producer Dan Nakamura told RES. All the musicians involved in the project insist that the cartoon band exists as an actual, unique entity. Besides bringing together the four band members-2D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel, and Noodle-Hewlett, with help from Albarn, also invented detailed “biographies” for each. While sharing a flat, the two men realized they had much in common, and decided to combine their artistic and musical talents. Hewlett hatched the Gorillaz concept with Damon Albarn, singer of the popular British rock band Blur, in 2000. Another distinguishing difference is their music: Gorillaz draw on hip-hop, dub, reggae, and punk, whereas their forebears peddled bubblegum pop. This virtual band surprised many industry observers by releasing an album that sold more than six million copies worldwide, won MTV Europe Awards, and landed on the American top 40 charts. The difference between Gorillaz and those 1960s creations, though, is that Gorillaz are comprised of several established, respected musicians and one well-known illustrator, Jamie Hewlett (creator of the Tank Girl comic strip), who assume the identities of cartoon characters.
#GORILLAZ WEBSITE OF 2002 UPDATE#
Gorillaz are a twenty-first century update of such animated music groups as the Archies, the Chipmunks, and Josie & the Pussycats.