Gorillaz is back with a new album “Song Machine, Season one Strange Timez” their 7th studio album (their 20thanniversary) which is a part of a web series consisting of a collection of singles and music videos, dubbed “episodes” each featuring different guest artists. For those who do not know about this band they are an animated band created by British musician Damon Albarn who is the lead singer and songwriter of the band. It consists of four animated members: 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs. They blend many genres from punk/alternative rock, R&B, Hip Hop and electronica music into a unique style of music that also is famous for having many guest artists on their tracks. This album has fifteen of them like Sir Elton John, Beck and Robert Smith of the Cure to name some. You get the feeling the various artists are there for what they can bring to the song, rather than who they are, which means they meld into a fluent whole.
This album has two main themes: getting over a long-term relationship since the last album (with drugs and alcohol), and the current state the world is in politically and socially. The opening track “Strange Timez” has an eerie sound to it talking about the economic and political world is in 2020 with the lead singer of the “Cure” singing the lead. In “Valley of the Pagans” which is a catchy-funky song that Beck is on touches on how the world hides behind the fakeness of Hollywood while ignoring the real problems we face, and how everything is shallow or plastic in that world. “The Last Cord” is about feeling lost in the times we are facing that we need something or someone but the song actually makes you feel safe when listening to it. While “Pac-man” has sounds from the iconic game it is about feeling stuck in a place during these times and wanting to “Level up”, where he is trying to fill a void with the wrong things which could be destructive.
The song “Chalk Tablet Towers” he is escaping from stress which could be due to the pandemic or about getting over that ex. While “Friday the 13th” is how he is dealing with getting over the ex with drugs or alcohol or the strip scene in Vegas. The song that is really beautiful is “Pink Phantom” which features two artists including Sir Elton John, which is about getting over an ex during the summer. The other two songs have artists singing in French and Spanish in “Dead Butterflies” and “Desloe” (Sorry). The first one is about a failed relationship and how he was left alone in a time of need, and believes he is now a “dead butterfly”. The latter is about moving on from a bad relationship.
The final two songs “Aries” and “Momentary Bliss” aren’t part of the two main themes, just good songs maybe about the astrological sign and maybe hoping to have some bliss when the pandemic is over. They have many times taken inspiration from the Beatles and this song mentions a girl name Rita which is an interesting choice.
Overall Gorillaz never makes bad music. It might make music far out there in the confines of what people think Rock or Pop should be, but they also do a good job blending many genres and guests artist to many hits. They aren’t a band that makes great albums as a whole but they are ones that make great songs as they are just a song machine.