Cracker Island

Gorillaz’s Cracker Island is a fully committed attempt to explore the multitude of sounds that could fit into an almost pure electropop fold. It’s an album rich in influences, ranging from the nu-disco of Villain and Silver Screen, to the dance pop of New Gold, to synthpop (with the house influence of Moon) through to psychedelic rock (with its Tame Impala-like vibes heard in the title track, Bitter Springs or She’s Magic). The permeating sonic thread connects those songs into a cohesive representation of the band’s sonic agility; noncommittal and explorative, they often embrace multiple sounds in a single track. The Gorillazian spirit embraces them all. The theme of collaborations that’s been a constant of the band’s sonic tapestry has become even more compelling on this record, with Gorillaz welcoming a steep ramp of collaborators – especially consider that half of the album’s tracklist has been pre-released as singles. For many listeners, the bite-sized single could’ve sufficed. Some moments on this record rank among Gorillaz’s finest, with songs like Oil and Baby Queen standing out among many good ones. Both Stevie Nicks and Beck lending their voices and songwriting finesse to those tracks especially, weaving in elements of flair.

GORILLAZ - Cracker Island

RATING - 7.5/10

FAVORITE TRACK - Baby Queen

GENRE - Funk, Pop, Synthwave, Electropop