Omar Khalid
Plastic Beach, the third studio album by Gorillaz, was released in 2010 and received generally positive reviews from critics. It holds an aggregate score of 77 out of 100 on Metacritic and has been described as forward-thinking pop and a brilliant concept album, full of perfect pop singles. Some fans, however, have expressed mixed feelings about the album, with some considering it a black sheep in the Gorillaz discography. Despite this, Plastic Beach has garnered a dedicated following, with some fans considering it their favourite album not just by Gorillaz but of all time. The album's unique sound, strong concept, and memorable live performances have contributed to its enduring appeal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| General Public Opinion | Mixed reviews, with some calling it their favourite album and others expressing disappointment |
| Professional Reviews | Generally positive, with critics praising its uniqueness, strong concept, and Albarn's composition |
| Narrative | Background narrative told through music videos, blog posts, and Instagram posts with multiple endings |
| Genre | Pop, electro-funk-hip-pop, alternative rock, electronic |
| Creation Inspiration | Plastic found within the sand of a beach next to Damon Albarn's house |
| Notable Songs | "Superfast Jellyfish", "Empire Ants", "Rhinestone Eyes", "Stylo", "Melancholy Hill" |
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What You'll Learn
Critical acclaim and fan reception
Plastic Beach, the third studio album by Gorillaz, received generally positive reviews from critics. It holds an aggregate score of 77 out of 100 at Metacritic. Critics described the album as "Gorillaz's third excellent album in a row", "some of the most forward-thinking pop you'll hear this or any year", and "a brilliant concept album, full of perfect pop singles".
However, there are also some negative opinions about the album. Some fans have expressed their dislike for Plastic Beach on Reddit, with one user calling it the "black sheep" of the Gorillaz discography. This user also mentions that the album has received significantly more negative attention compared to the band's other releases.
Despite this, many fans have expressed their love for the album on the same Reddit thread, with multiple users calling it their favourite album of all time. One user mentions that the album has incredible songs like 'Empire Ants', while another user praises the concert videos from the Plastic Beach tour, highlighting the fun and energy of the performances.
Overall, while there may be some mixed opinions among fans, Plastic Beach has received critical acclaim and has a dedicated fan base that considers it to be one of Gorillaz's best works.
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Narrative and themes
Plastic Beach is the third studio album by the virtual band Gorillaz, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett. The album received generally positive reviews from critics, with some calling it "Gorillaz's third excellent album in a row" and praising its "forward-thinking pop".
However, some fans have expressed mixed feelings about the album, with some considering it a black sheep in the Gorillaz discography. Despite this, many fans have also come to its defence, with some considering it their favourite album by the band.
The album has been described as a "concept album", with a narrative that unfolds through music videos, blog posts, and Instagram posts. The ending of the narrative has been a particular point of discussion, with various interpretations and at least four different endings presented in different sources.
The album's creation was inspired by Albarn's observation of plastic pollution on a beach near his house. This ecological theme is reflected in the album's title, "Plastic Beach". The album also explores other themes, with some songs described as having a night-time feel and others characterised by their orchestral elements.
Overall, Plastic Beach has provoked a range of reactions from critics and fans alike, with some considering it a masterpiece and others finding it less appealing. Despite the mixed reactions, it has left a lasting impression and contributed to the diverse and ambitious body of work produced by Gorillaz.
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Comparisons to Demon Days
While Gorillaz's third studio album, Plastic Beach, received generally positive reviews from critics, it has also received some negative attention from fans, with some calling it the "black sheep" of the Gorillaz discography. Many fans have compared it to Demon Days, with some saying that Demon Days is superior due to its commercial success and accessibility, while others argue that Plastic Beach is Gorillaz's most artistic and conceptually ambitious album.
Demon Days, the second Gorillaz album, is considered by some to be a more cohesive collection of songs with a cooler, weirder feel and the right amount of collaborations. It is seen as a more accessible album that anyone can enjoy, with many huge hits such as "Feel Good Inc." and "DARE", and is described as an "accessible EDM opera". The music videos for "Dirty Harry", "El Mañana", "Feel Good Inc.", and "DARE" are also considered superior to those of Plastic Beach.
On the other hand, Plastic Beach is viewed by some fans as the band's most artistic and ambitious album. It is described as having a more consistent sound and being more conceptual and immersive as a full album experience. It also features more memorable guest appearances. While it may not have had as many massive hits as Demon Days, Plastic Beach has been praised for its humanitarian themes and insightful commentary, and growth as a composer by Damon Albarn. The album tackles issues such as pollution, war, and battling addiction, showcasing Albarn's mastery of subtly shifting moods and intricately threaded allusions. The artwork for Plastic Beach is also considered superior, with Jamie Hewlett's progression in style resulting in cleaner and more stylistic designs.
Some fans have argued that Plastic Beach is the proper evolution from Demon Days, and while it may have been overshadowed by the success of its predecessor, it is an underrated album that deserves more recognition. They believe that Plastic Beach has better opening tracks and that songs like "Empire Ants", "Stylo", "Rhinestone Eyes", "White Flag", and "On Melancholy Hill" are on par with, if not better than, Demon Days' tracks.
Overall, while Demon Days may have had more commercial success and a broader appeal, Plastic Beach is an artistically ambitious album that explores humanitarian themes and showcases the growth of Gorillaz as a band. Both albums have their strengths and weaknesses, and the preference between the two ultimately comes down to personal taste and the individual listener's connection with the music.
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Collaboration and features
Plastic Beach, the third studio album by Gorillaz, was created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett. The album features a wide range of collaborations with various artists. De La Soul features on the song "Superfast Jellyfish", and Gruff Rhys recorded two songs for the album: "Superfast Jellyfish" and "Leviathan". Mos Def collaborated with Albarn on three songs, two of which made it onto the album. Damon Albarn had also announced that musician Barry Gibb would feature on the album, but Gibb did not attend any recording sessions.
The album also includes contributions from other artists, such as Orchestra sinfonia ViVA, who appeared on the demo for "Electric Shock", and Derby-based Orchestra, whose elements were used in "Rhinestone Eyes". The song "Stylo" was also premiered as a demo on BBC Radio 1, along with "Broken" and "Electric Shock".
Plastic Beach received generally positive reviews from critics and fans. It scored 77 out of 100 on Metacritic and was praised by publications such as Rolling Stone, Q magazine, Uncut, PopMatters, and The Guardian. Many fans also expressed their love for the album on Reddit, with some calling it their favourite Gorillaz album and highlighting the strong concept and unique sound of the record.
However, there were also some mixed reactions to Plastic Beach. While some fans appreciated the electronic sound, others preferred the rock-oriented style of previous albums like Demon Days. Some fans also felt that the album had a negative reputation among Gorillaz fans, considering it the black sheep of the band's discography.
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Live performances
The Plastic Beach Tour, Gorillaz's first live performances in full view of the audience, received positive reviews. A Reddit user who attended the Chicago performance noted that the tracks worked really well live. Another user who saw the show in Toronto described it as an "epic capstone" on their experience of listening to the album.
The Escape to Plastic Beach Tour featured performances at various global music festivals, including Coachella. A Reddit user also recalled a headline performance at the packed Coachella music festival.
Damon Albarn, one of the creators of Gorillaz, expressed his desire to incorporate 3-D holograms into live performances, stating that while the technology was not yet available for loud, energetic gigs, it would be brilliant to have the virtual Gorillaz members dancing on stage with the band.
Plastic Beach, the group's third studio album, marked a turning point in Gorillaz's history and was hailed as a career-defining project for the virtual band. The album's songs were described as flowing seamlessly into each other, creating a cohesive listening experience.
The live performances of Plastic Beach showcased the band's eclectic sound, blending elements of hip-hop, funk, alternative rock, pop, world music, and electronica. The album's themes of environmentalism and the impact of plastic pollution on the natural world were also reflected in the live shows.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic Beach is the name of Gorillaz's third studio album.
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. In Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield called it "Gorillaz's third excellent album in a row". Q magazine's David Everley described it as "some of the most forward-thinking pop you'll hear this or any year".
Fan reviews are mixed. Some fans have called it their favourite album of all time, while others have said there is significantly more negative attention around Plastic Beach compared to other Gorillaz albums.
Fans have listed Melancholy Hill, Rhinestone Eyes, and Empire Ants as some of their favourite songs on the album.
De La Soul features on one song, titled "Superfast Jellyfish". Gruff Rhys recorded two songs, "Superfast Jellyfish" and "Leviathan", the latter of which didn't make it onto the album. Mos Def appears on two songs on the album, despite having reportedly collaborated on three.
