I think a big reason this album takes a little more time to get accustomed to is that thematically it's all about the changes the world is experiencing as far as nature goes, and how the human element of pollution is shaping a brand new nature, and the sound reflects that. It's weird, full of wild sounds and different blends, no two songs on the record really sound the same and they all take familiar sounds and twists them into something that sounds like a radioactive version of that thing we're used to. Superfast Jellyfish is one especially that took a long time to click with me, but now it's one of my favorites. It's such a recognizable vibe up front, yet at the same time the further into the song you get it becomes such a funky weird twist on that vibe which feels irregular and purposefully warped. The song title itself is a reference to how a Jellyfish, typically very slow moving creatures, is now somehow "superfast", something changed it. Not visibly, it's still a Jellyfish, but there's something fundamentally warped about it.
I agree on the nature and pollution, it's the basis for the album. As for Superfast jellyfish, it's both about the commercialisation of nature and the music industry. It sounds the way it does because it's making a point about "superfast" produced, generic music/food products. Both the food and music industry use marketing tactics like "pretty packages" or "toys" to try to increase sales and despite being marketed as a unique "flavour" it "tastes just like chicken" aka generic. Tl;dr, Superfast jellyfish is about how mass produced music is like store bought pre packaged meals and ruining the industry/ocean.
@@bigbungubingu8291 and hey even now-a-days it's even more relevant with Micro Plastics. This album ages like the title. It is eternally relevant, like most of their albums
I know that you guys aren’t going to launch into another Gorillaz project immediately, but you’re doing yourself a huge disservice if you don’t do Song Machine at some point. If you want the best modern Gorillaz album, that’s it. It doesn’t have the highs of Plastic Beach, but it has consistently 8-9 rated songs for pretty much the entirety of its main tracklist. It’s worth the listen, truss.
getting this notification after spending half the night dissecting your demon days review is like receiving water in the sahara when you didn't even realize you were outside
Radiohead - In Rainbows If you want to talk about crazy “runs” Going OK Computer - 22 a million - Plastic Beach - In Rainbows would be like LeBron 2012-2018 run type shift
For most people it’s just taste in music. Both are very good but people who don’t like this more experimental and mechanical sound and the different type of rap just simply won’t like Plastic Beach as much as Demon Days. I enjoy Plastic Beach more because I just enjoy the sound of it more. (Also Empire Ants is just a masterpiece so)
What? When I first heard of Gorillaz EVERYONE said that Demon Days was a flawless masterpiece and all that stuff. Rarely I'd hear someone saying that Plastic Beach is their favorite(which seems to be more common now and that's good!)
@@Vitorio582 Yeah it's the same as I had said. When plastic Beach first came out not many people liked it and saw the talent it had because they weren't used to that type of experimental music compared to what Demon Days was. It only began to really be respected a couple years ago since people began to give it a chance and realized what they were missing out on.
Sad that you didn't watch the music video in the album because This is the most artistic album that gorillaz ever made. The album cover is actually real and not CGI and you can see it on the intro song, the album is not complete without the music video they put.
I have a couple things to say. First off, Plastic Beach is a grower. It's a very abstract concept album, so songs on the first listen aren't going to hit. Most of us hard core Gorillaz fans understand this for basically every Gorillaz album. Now I have to say this, Rhinestone Eyes is poetry. Listen to the lyrics more next time. Stylo is an amazing song, idk how yall rated it so low. Superfast Jellyfish is kind of supposed to sound silly and stupid because of the subject matter. It's like a commercial for shitty food. Watch the music video for more context. It's definitely not a come back and listen song. And sweepstakes again is not a come back and listen to song but its anything but repetitive. It kind of matches the subject matter in that it's controlled chaos with many layers being added as it goes on. I think in general you guys kind of missed the mark on honing in on the subject matter of the entire album. This isn't a happy beach, this is a Plastic Beach. It's in my opinion, a commentary on not just the pollution of the Earth but also how we ignore the poison we surround ourselves with and put in our bodies even though we are fully aware that it is poison.
You’re so right about that. PB came out when I was in college and I HATED it at first. Only recently (like 3 years ago?) did I give it another chance and now I wonder what the fuck my problem was because this is absolutely peak lmao
To me, I know that Sweepstakes is repetitive, but it kinda feels better being repetitive based on the emotion of it. It's like slowly walking up to a carnival in the middle of nowhere, where you're being offered all these prizes and winnings if you can take the risk, and you're being encouraged to try everything. And as you walk through the carnival, it gets bigger and louder and wider and brighter, and you're just bombarded by this feeling that everything is there as you're passing through; there's games of all kinds for all ages, and you don't have an idea of what to do next. And before you know it, you're already passing through, and you just hear the carnival behind you, fading out but still calling to everybody who was where you were what feels like just minutes ago. Then you realize that you weren't moving through the carnival at all -- it was passing through, and you were just standing still the whole time as the lights and sounds passed you by. Sweepstakes is life, bros. Have fun while you can.
@@MasterAndreRaven an interesting take , never heard that before but definitely a cool way to take the song. it's my personal favorite gorillaz song of all time. i always interpreted the song as very evil in nature and basically being a trap. you begin with nothing as you get caught by the narrators promises and eventually gain a great deal (reflected in the instrumentation). but in the end it takes no time at all to lose everything that was gained, and you end with less than you had to begin with, while the narrator spouts the same falsities in loss
Little backstory on bobby x gorillaz Damon the singer and music guy behind gorillaz basically saw bobby as one of his idols. He really wanted to work with him. During the making of this album Bobby was suffering from Alzheimers relating to his last song and his final song with gorillaz and i think recorded, bobby in Phoenix on their album The Fall. After that he passed away which broke Damon. Another fact about this album. This album and overall project of plastic beach was supposed to be a movie/series/story about life. The overall story was on plastic beach island and on the boardwalk on the island this carnival was there aka sweepstakes. The carnival will take u through the broad walk, through the journey of life u till the end where is death. U can see this all in the music vids and hidden messages on their old website etc. Unfortunately it never got finished cause of complications in the band itself between damon and jamie(the artist) The both butted heads about where to take the band so after their tour they made one final song called “do your thing” for a converse commercial and then disappeared for 10 years i think. The fall came out during the tour. It was an on the road album made on an ipod or ipad i think. Using garage band and apps like that. Its not the greatest gorillaz album in manys eyes and some say it isnt even album cause of how different it is. I still love it however for how different it is. Some of the “songs” are fire tbh. But if ur looking for something different, fuck it yall should listen to it. It would be a great laugh honestly. But next yall got Humanz TheNowNow Song Machine season1 (listen to the deluxe Then Cracker Island
oh my god, please check out their first/self-titled album!! it's very much in the alt/grunge range but i'd argue it's their tightest production next to demon days, and some of their best songs are on there: clint eastwood, tomorrow comes today, que pasa contigo, punk, etc. a vibe throughout.
Loved the video! Found you guys through the recommended videos and been sticking around now for the great vibes. :D Since some of you enjoy some darker, more eerie sounds, i'd recommend giving "Dummy" by Portishead a listen. I think their ambient trip hop style could bring some new flavor to your playlists!
HOLYYY I been waitin for this one, Empire Ants one of my favorite tracks ever (AND YOUR REACTION DID NOT DISAPPOINT) If you guys could PLEASE listen to Brat by Charli XCX I think people would kill for that
Ive been waiting for this since Demon days. Love your guys reactions i do think some of the early songs grow on you when you listen to them. If you listen to anymore Gorillaz in the future then song machine is a banger and is quite an underrated album
Im curious what theyre gonna think of Humanz. I feel like it's going to hit different for people didnt have to wait years for the next album. Or dont care about the cartoon lore.
Giving Plastic Beach an 8 is great for a first listen. Go through it at least once a year. It’ll grow on you for sure Also a 20 second intro clip is crazy. Skipped through it to get to the review. Try it on the end of the video as the icing of the cake maybe edit it down too. Less is more
YOOOOOO gorillaz fans are here!!! fun gorillaz fact: the cartoon singer in plastic beach was held captive by the basist, because he vouldnt recreate his voice. theres a lot more backstory to these characters, yall find that out yourself. demon days is also very hard to find on vinyl! it took me a couple months NOW DO SONG MACHINE!!!
If you guys are going to continue listening to Gorrilaz I suggest either Song Machine or their self titled album. I personally think Song Machine is better, but those are just my suggestions
I feel you guys would like their album The Now Now, just a pure melancholy through all album. Humanz pretty good too though but it's like an album for nightclub and feature a lot of collabs
Humanz has like 1 song without a collab and the now now has only 1 song with a vocal feat. I like both a lot, but I feel like these guys might enjoy the now now more, but who knows lol
Appreciate both your Gorillaz album reviews. Song Machine is probably more the speed of you guys -- it's almost all 'singles' with radically different sounds. The deluxe edition has some wild tracks like MLS with JPEGMAFIA
Also thought I'd add, that Plastic Beach is very much that concept album where the first bunch of songs are lulling you into this world (in a similar way to Demon Days). I similarly thought Demon Days was a masterpiece and didn't really understand the praise for Plastic Beach until I listened to it a couple times and it clicked.
If you want a Gorillaz album that’s a full run then ENTIRE ALBUM, then Song Machine is the one, and the bonus songs on the deluxe aren’t slouches either
Can’t wait for you all to do HUMANZ! 🎉 I feel like some of the older Gorillaz fans dismissed the more recent albums because they are more rap & dance beat heavy.
As a Gorillaz fan since day 1, I think you guys summed it up well! There are some amazing songs on Plastic Beach that I will play til my dying days, and I love the theme of the album, but in general I'm personally not a fan of the synth poppy sound, a lot of it is either too chaotic and messy or bland and cheesy. I much prefer their first two albums, a perfect blend of trip hop, reggae, dub, lofi, with insane production from Dan the Automator and Danger Mouse respectively.
@@blitz1904 For sure and the fact that Gorillaz spans so many genres means that there's something for everyone 🙂 And I do love the album (Rhinestone Eyes, Empire Ants, Some Kind of Nature, Pirate Jet ❤️) it's just not as replayable overall as DD was for me personally
