Welcome back to the wonderful world of Mikey Album reviews! It’s been too long, really truly. I think coming back on a high note would be nice, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately for us we have a real 50/50 album coming from the mind of Damon Albarn. In all honesty, I had no idea this record was coming out. I was just surfing through metacritic and BANG–a new Gorillaz project.
Right off the bat we have a pretty mid track. I hate to even associate Thundercat with the term “mid,” but it’s just uninspired. It feels like a Gorillaz track, yes, but it’s a bit repetitive. Not a real high point to start a record off on Monsior Albarn. We get a pretty decent Stevie Nicks feature and Tame Impala pops in to say hello. “The Tired Influencer” is notably soft. Feels like a summer drive in Roku city.
The album really comes to life in the second half. “Baby Queen” is a nice ambient, vapor-esque track. It feels like someone wanted to remake any number of the slower tracks off their 2010 record, Plastic Beach, with less originality (Gorillaz are original, don’t get upset, all I’m saying is they did this a decade and a half ago with Demon Days and Plastic Beach, I want some new crazy stuff).
Here it comes, the shining star of the record; “Tormenta (feat. Bad Bunny)”. BANGER ALERT, BANGER ALERT!!!!! This track HAS inspired me to start my “Summer 2023” playlist already. I might have said these words on an album review before but, feature Bad Bunny on your album. It’s really simple. Never ever does he miss on a self-made track, but his features are always highlight moments on other artists’ records. Not only is his performance just tasty as all can be, but Damon’s work on the instrumentals seem to flourish! Just the simple feature has made this track explode with vitality.
“Skinny Ape” and “Possession Island (feat. Beck)” honestly are good. “Skinny Ape” is kind of a sly banger. Not the track you blast at the club, but a really solid car speaker track. The track feels full and has a phenomenal rock out drop half way through. The drop is a bit bright, but I’d rather be blinded than bored. The final track is sweet. I don’t have much else to say, it’s a Beck feature; it’s nice and sweet. Cute little moment with two music legends who have strikingly similar voices.
Cracker Island by Gorillaz gets 2.3 Mikey Heads out of 5. Polly does not want a cracker.
