"Every great band is destroyed by their success: Cartoon bands are no exception,” says Noodle, Zen master guitarist of Gorillaz. Yes, Noodle along with 2D, Russel and Murdoc have returned with Demon Days, their follow up to Gorillaz's 2001 self-titled debut that spawned the “I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad/I got sunshine in a bag,” hit “Clint Eastwood.”
Well the future certainly is here and the makeup behind the scenes of Demon Days is vastly different. With former Gorillaz co-pilot Dan "the Automator" Nakamura splitting, Gorillaz father figure, Blur’s Damon Albarn, has teamed up with DJ Dangermouse, to lead the project into fresh territory. From first glance, Demon Days appears like an episode of The Surreal Life as Nenah Cherry and De La Soul guest with Ike Turner and Dennis Hopper, who mix it up with a roster of other familiar names in the hip-hop community.
The standout tracks are vast. Keeping with the Eastwood tradition, Gorillaz introduce “Dirty Harry,” featuring a youth chorus mixed with the Pharcyde’s Booty Brown’s mid-song raps. The synthesizer hook on “Dirty Harry” is dead on classic, and reflects Grand Master Flash’s “The Message.” And by now you’ve heard “Feel Good,” the addictive new iPod commercial/dance number, where Albarn lets his slacker twirl over De La Soul’s rhymes. “DARE” grooves into more catchy dance beats, as these Gorillaz have turned into hook monkeys courtesy of Danger Mouse and his slick use of bouncy layers. “Kids With Guns” makes sweet interplay between Albarn’s Brit howl and Neneh Cherry’s vocals, which come off more Salt N Peppa than "Buffalo Stance."
There are a few downers, like “Manana” and “O Green World,” along with a dull robotic sample featured throughout, but the strongest moments come from the contributions of outsiders like Roots Manuva and Martina Topley-Bird on "All Alone” and MF Doom’s stylish rhymes on “November Has Come.” Even “Don’t Get Lost In Heaven,” adds an ode to the Beach Boys with its orchestrated strings and lush choral stamp, while the most “out-there” track of them all, “Fire Coming Out Of A Monk” features Dennis Hopper dropping lyrics in dry William Shatner fashion.
Albarn calls Demon Days a darker album than its predecessor, although it’s hard to see the black shine through the upbeat dance party vibe displayed here. Whatever the case, these 2005 Gorillaz prove to be no fantasy, as Demon Days is the real deal.
