Ethan Clarke
Plastic Beach, the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz, was released on 3 March 2010. It is regarded as a concept album with environmentalist themes, presenting the titular Plastic Beach as a secret floating island deep in the South Pacific. The album has been described as cohesive, consistent, and fun, with a very diverse track list. It features a larger roster of guest artists than previous Gorillaz albums, including Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, and Bobby Womack. With electronic, synth-pop, hip-hop, and orchestral influences, Plastic Beach received generally positive reviews from critics and was later named by several critics as one of the best albums of the 2010s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Pop, Hip-hop, Synth-pop, Electropop, Orchestral, Funk |
| Theme | Environmentalist themes, life on a fictional island |
| Sound | Electronic, mellow, harmonic, cohesive, consistent, diverse |
| Production | Self-produced by Damon Albarn, recorded in various locations including London, New York City, and Damascus |
| Guest Artists | Snoop Dogg, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Mark E. Smith, Bashy, Kano, Little Dragon, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble |
| Promotion | Multimedia created by Jamie Hewlett, including interactive websites, animated music videos, and short cartoons |
| Reception | Positive reviews from critics, debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and US Billboard 200, reached the top 10 in 22 countries |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic Beach is the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz
Plastic Beach, the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz, was released on 3 March 2010. It evolved from an unfinished project titled Carousel, which Gorillaz co-creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett began working on in late 2007. Unlike previous Gorillaz albums, which were recorded with outside producers, Albarn chose to self-produce Plastic Beach, recording from June 2008 to November 2009 in various locations, including London, New York City, and Damascus.
The album features a larger roster of guest artists than previous Gorillaz albums, including Snoop Dogg, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Mark E. Smith, Bashy, Kano, Little Dragon, and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Plastic Beach is a concept album with environmentalist themes, presenting the titular Plastic Beach as a "secret floating island deep in the South Pacific", made up of the "detritus, debris, and washed-up remnants of humanity". This island is described as the furthest point from any landmass on Earth and the most deserted spot on the planet.
Musically, the album adopts a primarily electronic, synth-pop sound, with additional influences from hip-hop, funk, and orchestral genres. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with some praising its well-thought-out sound, cohesive and consistent nature, and immersive quality. The album produced three singles: "Stylo", "Superfast Jellyfish", and "On Melancholy Hill". Future single releases and promotions for the album were planned but ultimately canceled due to budgetary issues.
Plastic Beach was promoted through various multimedia created by Hewlett, including interactive websites, animated music videos, and short cartoons. The album's artwork was also well-received, described as gorgeous with beautiful contrast and exclusive art pieces. Overall, Plastic Beach is considered a successful and innovative album by Gorillaz, showcasing their ability to incorporate distinct new styles and themes into their work through collaborations with a diverse range of artists.
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The album is a collaboration with several artists
Plastic Beach, the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz, is a collaboration with several artists. The album features a larger roster of guest artists compared to previous Gorillaz albums, including Snoop Dogg, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Kano, Bashy, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Mark E. Smith, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, and Little Dragon.
Gorillaz fans should check out the video idents, music videos for Stylo and On Melancholy Hill, and the storyboard for Rhinestone Eyes to further enhance their enjoyment of the album. The album produced three singles: "Stylo", "Superfast Jellyfish", and "On Melancholy Hill". Future single releases and promotion for the album were planned but ultimately canceled due to budgetary issues.
The album adopts a primarily electronic, synth-pop sound, with additional influences including hip-hop, funk, and orchestral. It is a concept album that presents the titular Plastic Beach as a "secret floating island deep in the South Pacific," made up of the detritus, debris, and washed-up remnants of humanity.
Plastic Beach received generally positive reviews from critics, with some calling it "Gorillaz's third excellent album in a row" and "some of the most forward-thinking pop you'll hear this or any year." The album debuted at number two on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200 and reached the top 10 in 22 countries.
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It features a larger roster of guest artists compared to previous Gorillaz albums
Plastic Beach, the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz, features a larger roster of guest artists compared to their previous albums. The album, released on 3 March 2010, includes collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Mark E. Smith, Bashy, Kano, Little Dragon, and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.
Gorillaz is known for incorporating distinct new styles and themes into their work and collaborating with a diverse range of artists. Plastic Beach takes this to another level, with one reviewer describing it as "Gorillaz collaboration on steroids." The album showcases Damon Albarn's desire to work with an "eclectic, surprising cast of people."
The roster of guest artists on Plastic Beach contributes to the album's eclectic sound and style. The album adopts a primarily electronic and synth-pop sound, with additional influences from hip-hop, funk, and orchestral genres. This blend of genres and collaborations with various artists creates a diverse and immersive listening experience for fans.
Plastic Beach received generally positive reviews from critics and was named by several critics as one of the best albums of the 2010s. Reviewers praised the album's well-thought-out sound, cohesive nature, and immersive quality. The diverse roster of guest artists likely contributed to the album's critical acclaim and commercial success, with the album reaching the top 10 in 22 countries.
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The album adopts environmentalist themes
The album *Plastic Beach* by the virtual band Gorillaz is noted for its strong environmentalist themes and messages. The record is a concept album that explores the issue of plastic pollution and its impact on the environment, particularly the world's oceans. Through its lyrics and musical content, the album presents a commentary on human consumption and the consequent waste that is polluting and damaging the natural world.
Damon Albarn, the co-creator of Gorillaz, has spoken about the intention behind the album, stating that it is a response to the "throwaway nature of our society". The album's title, *Plastic Beach*, is a play on words, alluding to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive accumulation of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. This patch of floating trash, primarily consisting of plastic, has been referred to as a "plastic soup" and is a stark manifestation of the environmental concerns the album addresses.
Lyrically, the songs on *Plastic Beach* delve into themes of environmental degradation, consumerism, and the consequences of human actions on the planet. For instance, the song "Rhinestone Eyes" criticizes materialism and the pursuit of superficial desires, while "To Binge" explores the idea of ecological balance and the disruption caused by human interference. The track "Some Kind of Nature" featuring Lou Reed, addresses the issue of wildlife affected by plastic pollution, with Reed's spoken-word interlude describing a "fox caught in plastic".
The musical guests and collaborators on the album also reinforce its environmentalist message. The inclusion of artists like Bobby Womack, who experienced a career resurgence after appearing on the album, and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, an all-male brass ensemble from Chicago, adds a layer of social commentary and a call for unity in addressing environmental issues. The diverse range of contributors to *Plastic Beach* reflects the global nature of the environmental crisis and the need for collective action.
Additionally, the artwork and visuals associated with the album further emphasize its themes. The cover art features a surreal image of the Gorillaz band members standing on a plastic-covered beach, with a vast ocean of garbage stretching out behind them. This striking image sets the tone for the album's content and provides a visual representation of the environmental devastation it addresses. The accompanying music videos and promotional material also continue this aesthetic, often incorporating images of plastic waste and polluted landscapes.
Overall, *Plastic Beach* is a powerful statement on environmental issues, specifically the problem of plastic pollution. Through its music, lyrics, collaborators, and visuals, the album presents a cohesive and thought-provoking exploration of humanity's impact on the natural world, encouraging listeners to reflect on their relationship with the planet and consider the consequences of their actions.
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It received generally positive reviews from critics
Plastic Beach, the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz, received generally positive reviews from critics. The album holds an aggregate score of 77 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics praised the album's electronic, synth-pop sound, as well as its hip-hop, funk, and orchestral influences. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone called it "Gorillaz's third excellent album in a row", while Q magazine's David Everley described it as "some of the most forward-thinking pop you'll hear this or any year".
Uncut's John Lewis called Plastic Beach "a brilliant concept album, full of perfect pop singles", and Michael Kabran of PopMatters wrote that "the band's trademark brand of electro-funk-hip-pop is more focused, with tighter production and more sure-fire hooks." Kitty Empire of The Guardian noted that the album's "electronic pop songs are more sneaky than sure-fire ... it is probably Gorillaz's most engrossing project so far." AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine attributed the album's success to Albarn's growth as a composer, stating that he "accentuates moody texture over pop hooks".
Plastic Beach was also well-received by fans, who found it to be one of Gorillaz's best works. One fan on Reddit called it a "masterpiece", while another praised it as a "cohesive, consistent, and fun album". Some fans noted that the album felt less "menacing" than Gorillaz's earlier work, but still considered it a strong addition to the band's discography.
In addition to its critical and commercial success, Plastic Beach was also recognised for its creative promotion. As with other Gorillaz albums, it was promoted through various multimedia created by Jamie Hewlett, including interactive websites, animated music videos, and short cartoons. The album produced three singles: "Stylo", "Superfast Jellyfish", and "On Melancholy Hill".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Plastic Beach is a concept album by the British virtual band Gorillaz.
The album adopts environmentalist themes, presenting the titular Plastic Beach as a "secret floating island deep in the South Pacific".
Plastic Beach was released on 3 March 2010.
The album produced three singles: "Stylo", "Superfast Jellyfish", and "On Melancholy Hill". Other songs on the album include "Empire Ants", "Rhinestone Eyes", and "To Binge".
