Gorillaz - Gorillaz

This one will test out whether your woofers are up to it, and it is also quite likely to help you ascertain whether you have any loose fillings as well. Because the throbbing bass sounds of this languid rub a dub dub summertime work out by faceless cartoon characters (sorry CHARAKTERZ) are everywhere, creaking the speakers in your car, wobbling your floorboards and rattling your windows. In theory, this always makes for a good idea, but doesn't always come up with the goods in real life. I am still pretty much at a loss to know whether Gorillaz actually makes any sense, but it certainly is different in a world of S Club 7, Five, Blue and the like. ...

Popular music has always been afflicted by the curse of the Engineered Band. Beautiful people Superglued together in an unholy union with the express aim, the vain hope, of creating the next Big Thing. And also a few million bucks. It happens. A lot. And the uncomplicated buying public love listening to the Pot Noodle sounds that result. Keeping the charts crammed with high kicking and higher cheek boned, thrusting bosomed, fake tanned, recyclable plastic people and their deliciously disposable tunes. That's not a bad thing. If they didn't, I'd not be able to adopt the posture of a pretentious twat who thinks it's cool to listen to ...

This is a highly unusual album from my point of view. Personally most of the albums I buy have been out for months, and quite often years, but for some reason I felt the need to buy this on the first week of release. This is basically Damon Albarn's (of Blur fame) and Jamie Hewlett (cartoonist, did Tank Girl??) pet project. They roped in a few more people and the result is an "animated super group". Without a doubt their videos are stunning and give all members an altered ego, which brings the interesting question of what live performances will be like. The whole album has a relaxed tone, there are a couple of guitar bits though ...