Plastic Beach

Five years after the critically lauded Demon Days, and after speculation that they had dismantled, Gorillaz are back with Plastic Beach.

It's totally worth the wait. Plastic Beach is even deeper and more layered than its predecessor. Sumptuous groove and infectious synths make it immediately stand out.

The all-star support cast, including Snoop, Lou Reed, and Mick Jones keep the album different enough throughout. They contribute solidly to the tracks they're on, and one never gets the impression that the features are forced. For example, Lou Reed sounds perfectly in place on the chilled out Some Kind of Nature. The chiming synth over he sings over creates an excellent contrast:



One could voice the criticism that there aren't the same number of incredible tracks as Demon Days, but Plastic Beach is a more complete sonic package. The music flows into and with itself with a cohesion that was someone lacking from the previous album. Of course, there are a fair number of single-worthy tracks, such as Broken, and a track I'm loving, Rhinestone Eyes:



Either way, like Demon Days, it's simply a must-have. A one-of-a-kind album that you'll be playing for years.