Woebot
Well-known member
I've always not felt so great about this thing. For quite a handful of reasons.
I never liked Blur, and not just from cultural snobbishness, i just never liked the sonic. Strongly remember an article of blissbloggers in freize around the time of Britpop (which seemed like it was happening in a separate wholly imaginary universe peopled entirely by journalists) which pointed to the paucity of Bluroasis compared to the lofty heights of Jungletricky- and that pretty much encapsulated how i felt about.
Never that keen on the "Damon Albarn persona" either. Seemed to be a white middle class bloke, rather like myself, and to be overly interested in him, well it seemed like a bit of a cultural lockdown. The other is always far more intriguing innit, even if its happening right on your doorstep.
The Gorillaz thing felt a bit sort of exclusive as well. I'd always had a kind of awe for Jamie Hewlett's drawing (being rather crap if characterful myself) but the whole combo seemed dead west-london, like a conceptual joke that lacked much generosity, that required submission.
Carrying on in this negative vein i didnt really like "Clint Eastwood" at all. Damon's vocals put me off. And even the hip Garage remixes did nothing for me.
But have you heard "Demon Days"? Well all doubters and haters would do well to check it out cos I reckon the tracks I've heard are, well, stunning.
"Dirty Harry" with it's shambling undulating bleepy-bassline, children's choir and little middle eastern touches is the bomb. "Feel Good Inc" was pretty great, again a great bassline. "Dare" (with Sean Ryder) is the kind of thing that if it came from the underground would get insane props. And I just LOVE "Demon Dayz" the title track with the big gospel choir. Thats all I've heard, but the strength of these tunes is kind of amazing.
Where did they go right? Well it appears that Albarn has sunk right back in the picture. Hardly any vocals but just concentrated on writing superb Pop/HipHop tracks. Perhaps Dangermouse the producer is the answer its all gone right? But to be honest, I never liked that Grey Album... The fact that theyve gone on to do a second LP, has meant the whole thing feels a lot less like a "project" too. Like Albarn and Hewlett really believe in it what they're doing, it seems a lot less contrite. More heartfelt. Anyways you should do yourself a favour and check it out, you'll get Shaun Ryder, De La Soul, Martina Topley-Bird and Dennis Hopper chucked in the bargain.
I never liked Blur, and not just from cultural snobbishness, i just never liked the sonic. Strongly remember an article of blissbloggers in freize around the time of Britpop (which seemed like it was happening in a separate wholly imaginary universe peopled entirely by journalists) which pointed to the paucity of Bluroasis compared to the lofty heights of Jungletricky- and that pretty much encapsulated how i felt about.
Never that keen on the "Damon Albarn persona" either. Seemed to be a white middle class bloke, rather like myself, and to be overly interested in him, well it seemed like a bit of a cultural lockdown. The other is always far more intriguing innit, even if its happening right on your doorstep.
The Gorillaz thing felt a bit sort of exclusive as well. I'd always had a kind of awe for Jamie Hewlett's drawing (being rather crap if characterful myself) but the whole combo seemed dead west-london, like a conceptual joke that lacked much generosity, that required submission.
Carrying on in this negative vein i didnt really like "Clint Eastwood" at all. Damon's vocals put me off. And even the hip Garage remixes did nothing for me.
But have you heard "Demon Days"? Well all doubters and haters would do well to check it out cos I reckon the tracks I've heard are, well, stunning.
"Dirty Harry" with it's shambling undulating bleepy-bassline, children's choir and little middle eastern touches is the bomb. "Feel Good Inc" was pretty great, again a great bassline. "Dare" (with Sean Ryder) is the kind of thing that if it came from the underground would get insane props. And I just LOVE "Demon Dayz" the title track with the big gospel choir. Thats all I've heard, but the strength of these tunes is kind of amazing.
Where did they go right? Well it appears that Albarn has sunk right back in the picture. Hardly any vocals but just concentrated on writing superb Pop/HipHop tracks. Perhaps Dangermouse the producer is the answer its all gone right? But to be honest, I never liked that Grey Album... The fact that theyve gone on to do a second LP, has meant the whole thing feels a lot less like a "project" too. Like Albarn and Hewlett really believe in it what they're doing, it seems a lot less contrite. More heartfelt. Anyways you should do yourself a favour and check it out, you'll get Shaun Ryder, De La Soul, Martina Topley-Bird and Dennis Hopper chucked in the bargain.