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Damon Albarn… But Damon Albarn is a genius? Damon Albarn is a genius!
Where at a certain point in our history (not just musical), appearing has become more important than being, the brilliant minds of Damon Albarn (singer of the Blur) and Jamie Hewlett (designer of the cult comic “Tank Girl”) have birthed the Gorillaz, a virtual band that fascinated the world with their first album that sold more than the last 3 albums of Blur combined.
Such a project couldn't remain chained to a single episode, therefore, four years after Gorillaz, here's Demon Days. To talk about this record (which featured many illustrious guests such as Neneh Cherry, De La Soul, Tennis Hopper, and Ike Turner), one must engage in a broader discussion to understand more or less how things are going.
First of all, the most anticipated album of the year (at least according to the advertisement), that of Coldplay, despite its immediate success (first place in the charts in more than 20 countries! And over 700,000 copies sold in America in just the first week!) has disappointed much of the critics who, by the third album, would have expected a great masterpiece (I think of Ok Computer by Radiohead or Parklife by Blur) or at least something that would have finally defined the sound of the band. Indeed, as for the sound of that album, it has changed, it’s more U2 than Coldplay, but the masterpiece is missing.
As for the Oasis, their latest record turned out to be better than the previous one but still not satisfactory. With all this, I mean to say that these two bands have made a name for themselves, even if not a big one, in the history of music after debuting with two extraordinary albums (Definitely Maybe and Parachutes). The Gorillaz, on the other hand, debuted with a good album, sold six million copies but didn’t become a mass phenomenon. Consequently, I wouldn't be surprised if the record were to sell less than the previous one. In conclusion, sales do not make the name, but the NAME MAKES SALES, the name of those who were a phenomenon in the past. I think, for example, how many records Pink Floyd would sell today if they reunited again but with a mediocre album.
What matters is quality. And there is plenty of quality in Demon Days, more quality and substance compared to the previous work. Thanks to the change in production: Dan Nakamura is replaced by DJ Danger Mouse (the author of the illegal album The Grey Album which combined the sound of the Beatles with Jay-Z's rap) whose production is much more effective.
The Gorillaz have changed, indeed. More nocturnal, less fresh and less immediate, but more compact and incisive. It is felt right from the “Intro” (actually the most insignificant track) followed by the beautiful “Last Living Souls,” the highest point where the musical style they call Dark-pop is most realized. Followed by “Kids With Guns” where Neneh Cherry is (sorry to say) wasted. “O Green World” and “El Manana” are the most Blur-like episodes of the album, while the masterpiece single “Feel Good Inc.” contends for the catchy hit with “Dirty Harry” (childish track with children’s choir à la Pink Floyd) and the extraordinary 80s dance of “DARE” (which will be the next single). To close the album, two gems: “Don’t get lost in Heaven” where “the Beach Boys meet the musical” (Ciro Frattini) and “Demon Days” where ample space is given to the London Community Gospel Choir.
This second work of the virtual band is one of the best albums of the year, more convincing than the first, more convincing than the (albeit good) latest releases by Blur, more convincing than the most anticipated albums of the year, more convincing than those who pretend they can’t be convinced.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Last Living Souls (03:11)
Are we the last living souls?
Are we the last living souls?
Are we the last living souls?
Are we the last living souls?
Take a gun
Or how you say
That's no way,to behave
You're on your own,when you begin
To sing a song that doesn't sing
It grows
You know
Are we the last living souls?
Are we the last living souls?
Are we the last to get away to sing a song another day?
Or do we know
Well, we know
does it seem to be conveyed that way?
Are we, are we the last living souls?
Are we the last living souls?
Are we the last living souls?
If your the last living soul
Get up, get up, get up, get up (x13)
What you say?
Cause all I had sung
I got it down and wrong
I see myself to get
The Lord, seeing all now
Can you take us in
The part that comin' on
The coldest man doesn't see it's all
We go to the car
I see you walk to the far
And when you get there do you see
You fit the last you need on me
Cause we're the last living souls
We're the last living souls
Yeah, we're the last living souls
We're the last living souls
03 Kids With Guns (00:21)
Kids with guns
Kids with guns
Taking over
They won't belong
They're mesmerized
Skeletons
Kids with guns
Kids with guns
Easy does it, easy does it, they've got something to say mental
Drinking out (Push it, push it real)
Pacifier (Push it, push it real)
Demon souls (Push it, push it real)
Street desire (Push it, push it real)
Doesn't make sense to (Push it, push it real)
But it won't be long (Push it, push it real)
Kids with guns
Kids with guns
Easy does it, easy does it, they've got something to say mental
And they're turning us into monsters
Turning us into fire
Turning us into monsters
It's all desire
It's all desire
It's all desire
Drinking out
Pacifier
sinking souls
There you are
Doesn't make side to
But it won't be long
Cause kids with guns
Kids with guns
Easy does it, easy does it, they've got something to say mental
And they're turning us into monsters
Turning us into fire
Turning us into monsters
It's all desire
It's all desire
It's all desire
Push it real, push it,(its real) is this real? (push it, push it real)
Push it real, push it,(its real) is she real? (push it, push it real)
Push it real, push it, is this real? (push it, push it real)
Push it real, Push it reaaal
04 O Green World (04:32)
O Green World,
Don't desert me now
Bring me back to fallen town
Where someone is still alive
Fighting for something new in this
When no one needs the heart of me and I'll
Get out somewhere other than me before...
(than me before...)
O Green World
Don't desert me now
I'm made of you and you of me
But where are we?
Oh no
Sells to lie
from the darkest stars
Suppose you
Down when you're in fast
Cause it seems so little to you
But I know you now, I know
You know, me too
You know, me too
I hope sex and drugs rust into my self, only
It feels, only
It feels like you're with your father in the place you love...
07 El Mañana (03:49)
Summer don't know me no more
Eager man, that's all.
Summer don't know me
He just left me low in my soul
But I too know love,
from you that
Just died. Yeah.
I saw that day,
Lost my mind
Lord, I'm fine
Maybe in time
You'll want to be mine
Don't stop the buck when it comes
It's the dawn, you'll see
Money won't get there
Ten years gone and now
You'll flee
If you do that
I'll beat the sun
To find you
I saw that day,
Lost my mind
Lord, I'm fine
And in time
You'll want to be mine
I saw that day,
Lost my mind
Lord, I'm fine
And in time
You'll want to be mine
And in time
You'll want to be mine
And in time
You'll want to be mine
And in time
You'll want to be mine
And in time
You'll want to be mine
08 Every Planet We Reach Is Dead (04:53)
I lost my leg like I lost my way
So no loose ends
Nothing to see me down
How are we going to work this out
Dreams aren't bad, I had turned back
I love the gun
But God only knows it's
Getting hard to see the sun coming through
I love you...
But what are we going to do?
Picture on the dreamer
I'll take you deeper
Down to the sleepy glow
Time is a low...
Don't you know
What are we going to do?
When you go back
All the second selfless days
You're in love with him
I want to see you again
I love you...
But what are we going to do?
11 White Light (02:09)
White light
White light
Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol, white light
White light
White light
White light
Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol, white light
White light
White light
White light
Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol, white light
White light
White light
White light
Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol, white light
White light
White light
White light
Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol, white light
(Music stops)
White light
White light
White light
Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol, white light
14 Don't Get Lost in Heaven (02:05)
Got off a plane to the countryside
I drove to the mountain and holding the ground
There was crack on the corner and someone dead
And fire coming out of the monkey's head
Don't get lost in heaven
They got locks on the gate
Don't go over the edge
You'll make a big mistake
Put me in a cab to suburbia
I just took a line but I wasn't with you
There was more of it there, when I got back home
But you had left me, you don't know my soul...
You're a hoe, yeah, you're a hobo one...
Don't get lost in heaven
They got locks on the gate
Don't go over the edge
You'll make a big mistake
Aaaah...
15 Demon Days (04:24)
In demon days, it's cold inside
You don't get nobody, people sigh
It's so bad, lasting far, but love yourself
Hiding in a hole in there
All the glasses are too big
Bring it back, got to hold it back
To let you do that yet you don't want me back
Before it fall down, falling down falling down
Falling out to go far from the sun
In these demon days it's so cold inside
So hard for a good soul to survive
You can't even trust the air you breathe
Cause Mother Earth wants us all to leave
When lies become reality
You numb yourself with drugs and TV
Pick yourself up it's a brand new day
So turn yourself round
Don't burn yourself, turn yourself
Turn yourself around into the sun!
In these demon days it's so cold inside
So hard for a good soul to survive
You can't even trust the air you breathe
Cause Mother Earth wants us all to leave
When lies become reality
You numb yourself with drugs and TV
Pick yourself up it's a brand new day
So turn yourself round
Don't burn yourself, turn yourself
Turn yourself around into the sun!
To the sun, to the sun...
To the sun, to the sun...
17 Rock the House (04:08)
I know you like that
You wanna try that
It's like a flashback
So shake your ass crack
I got the balls to
Rock the salsa
Funka blues-a
Any groove to
Make you move cause
Taking you to
Another landscape
Is my mandate
I'm highly animated even though I'm decomposing
So if your feet is frozen I'm a try to see you ropin'
And when the M.C. rhyme and the D.J. spin
I want y'all to just get down
Now when the M.C. rhymin' and the D.J. cuttin'
I want y'all to just get down
And when the M.C. rhyme and the D.J. spin
I want y'all to just get down
Now when the M.C. rhymin' and the D.J. cuttin'
I want y'all to just get down
Tap your toes and slap some ass
How many people ready to rock the house?
Come on trace the globe and ass
How many people ready to rock the house?
Just twist your hip and do the dip
How many people ready to rock the house?
Come on shake and bake do whatever it takes
How many people ready to rock the house?
Graviational pull
I have you making a fool
Out of yourself on the dance floor
Doing back spins running man and more
Party down with Vigga and Candor
Coming to the jam
Or look like a landlubber
And do the aqua boogie
Win lots of goodies maybe
Pop a Gucci wallet turntables is talking to me
It's awfully groovy
Seeing all the treasure and the body
I wanna get down lower than Atlantis
Going toe to toe with an enchantress
Get funkier than funkedelic
While you eggheads is on the wall preparin' answers
Sharing transcripts while we over here
Dipping and dancin'
Rhythm romancin'
Wallflowers
Giving no action no
All hours we chillin' and max the flow
Relaxing
Opposites attracting
I'ma toss my hat in
Floss when the track spin
Like I'm on a crack bend
Jiggiling and wiggling
Freakin' booties speakin' to the cuties so belligerence
No religion just bump the feed on
You'll feel reborn
Negativity we just dead it like decoy
Better lift your feet and just measure the beat on
The pulse when in respond.
20 Slow Country (03:35)
City life.
Calling me all the time
And my soul
Geared to attack
Never get a better chance
So what you doing?
Gotta get money.
ain't quite what you're doing.
(I) can't stand the loneliness.
can't stand your loneliness
can't stand your loneliness
can't stand loneliness
(I) Should not lie,
I'm tryin' not to laugh though,
You won't get money
from doing what you're loving
I'm moving out of city
Victor of a second chance,
Got a lot of problems,
Gotta get rid of 'em
I can't stand the loneliness.
can't stand your loneliness
can't stand your loneliness
can't stand loneliness
la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la la
laaa lalalala laaa la la la la
mmm mmm
Can't stand the lonliness,
can't stand the lonliness
Can't stand the lonliness
Can't stand the lonliness...
(doo doo...doo doo...doo doo...doo doo)
21 New Genious (Brother) (03:56)
Dream of my world.
I live on my world.
Going off my head, down to, somewhere.
I'm going on a dance all tune.
I'm in a pressure today.
I blew a bad man away, today.
Higher ground, had to be told.
I blew a man away.
Brother sister too.
Do what you must do.
Don't trust people you meet.
They may promise you,
that the river ain't deep.
Dream of a street.
People passing through me,yes they do.
Want my friend,
want my heart mend.
I'm going to bring it all back to you.
Brother sister too.
Do what you must do.
Don't trust people you meet.
They may promise you,
that the river ain't deep.
22 19-2000 (03:27)
The world is spinning too fast
I buy lead Nike shoes
To keep myself tethered
To the days I try to lose
My mama said to slow down
You must make your own shoes
Stop dancing to the music
Of gorillas in a happy mood
Keep a mild groove on
They do the bump X7
There you go!
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine! x4
There's a monkey in the jungle
Watching a vapor trail
Caught up in the conflict
Between his brain and his tail
And if time's elimination
Then we got nothing to lose
Please repeat the message
It's the music that we choose
Keep a mild groove on
They do the bump X7
OK, bring it down, yeah, we gonna break out.
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine! x4
They do the bump X4
23 Clint Eastwood (05:34)
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
Aww... Yeah... Ha Ha!
Finally someone let me out of my cage
Now, time for me is nothing 'cause I'm counting no age
Nah I couldn't be there - nah you shouldn't be scared
I'm good at repairs and I'm under each snare
Intangible - bet you didn't think so I command you to
Panoramic view - look I'll make it all manageable
Pick and choose sit and lose All you different crews
Chicks and dudes - who you think is really kickin' tunes?
Picture you gettin' down in a picture tube
Like you lit the fuse - You think it's fictional?
Mystical? Maybe. Spiritual hearable
Appears in you to clear your view when you're too crazy
Lifeless To know the definition for what life is
Priceless for you because I put you on the hype shit
You like it? Gunsmokin' Righteous with one token
Psychic among those possess you with one go
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
The essence the basics without it you make it
Allow me to make this childlike in nature
Rhythm - You have it or you don't that's a fallacy
I'm in them every sprouting tree every child of piece
Every cloud and sea, you see with your eyes
I see destruction and demise, corruption in disguise
From this fucking enterprise, now I'm sucked into your lives
Through Russel, not his muscles, the percussion he provides
with me as a guide
Ya'll can't see me now 'cause you don't see with your eye
You perceive with your mind
That's the inner
So I'ma stick around with Russ and be a mentor
Bust a few rhymes so mother fuckers remember
where the thought is - I brought all this
So you can survive when law is lawless
Feelings, sensations that you thought was dead
No squealing, remember (that it's all in your head)
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
My future is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
My future is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
My future is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
My future is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
My future is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
My future is coming on
Is coming on
Is coming on
My future
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By mantaray
Damon Albarn is a genius? Damon... clever he is, we can’t even argue about that.
Mr. Albarn had a lot of fun with the Gorillaz project. And I, considering the craftiness of the operation, had as much fun.
