Word: albarn
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...never been easy to understand the connection between—let alone the mass market success of—a band made up of Britpop star Damon Albarn, comic book artist Jamie Hewlett, and a series of featuring artists that now includes hip-hop producer Danger Mouse, rock legend Lou Reed, and the Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music. It is even more surprising that these disparate figures, who collectively form Gorillaz, have built a reputation as a hip-hop group. In fact, Gorillaz has always been more influenced by comparatively esoteric genres...
...following track, and arguably the album’s best song, “On Melancholy Hill,” provides a rare moment where a developed storyline expands on the album’s themes. Albarn is pitch-perfect in his contribution to a gentle, wistful synth line and light drumming, singing, “Up on melancholy hill / There’s a plastic tree / Are you here with me? / Just looking out on the day / Of another dream.” Reality does not exist in this world where nature is “plastic?...
...dwelled upon. Through a series of interviews with the four band members, “No Distance Left to Run” probes their feelings on their career and reunion, clearly revealing how important getting back together was to all four members. On meeting with Coxon again, Albarn says, “All that rubbish on both sides seemed to have evaporated.” Bassist Alex James talks about playing “Tender” at Glastonbury as a life-changing experience. The shy and awkward Coxon is particularly fascinating. Of the aftermath of Albarn throwing...
...past, “No Distance Left to Run” places the focus squarely on this healing process, on how the bitterness of the past turned into the joy of last summer. Even when the group is talking of their absolute lows, such as when a visibly moved Albarn explains how “Beetlebum” describes other people’s (and presumably his) experiences with heroin, right around the corner is another gig or interview of the band once again enjoying themselves. Though this focus on redemption could have been cheesy, in reality it?...
...lesser known tracks like “Oily Water” and “Trimm Trabb.” The concert is the perfect accompaniment for the documentary, proving once again how remarkable and joyous the reunion was. At the beginning of the encore at Hyde Park, Albarn tells the audience, “We feel privileged to be able to do nothing for so many years and then come back to this.” As “No Distance Let to Run” proves, through their character, their history, and always through their music, Blur...