Gorillaz

Plastic Beach (Virgin)

By Melissa Bobbitt
Published: March 23rd, 2010 | 1:00pm

Apparently, Damon Albarn still thinks modern life is rubbish. He's always had a sharp cynicism about him, whether fronting Britpop band Blur or lending his likeness and talent to the primate cartoon group Gorillaz.

In Blur, we got a playful sourpuss; in Gorillaz, we get his avatar, 2D, a scrawny musician who sups on self-loathing and sinfully addictive beats. "Feel Good Inc." was the nihilistic, hedonistic hit of 2005, and the entire Demon Days album from which it spawned was a rock/hip-trip-hop triumph. So, it's understandable that Plastic Beach takes a sabbatical from chart-friendly theatrics. It's a decidedly mellower offering, but continues the tradition of phat guest overload: Snoop Dogg does his thing on one trumpeting tune; De La Soul makes another memorable appearance; even veterans like Lou Reed and Mos Def get in on the chilled-out action.

There are glimmers of exuberance here and there — "Superfast Jellyfish" feels like something SpongeBob could get down to; "Sweepstakes" is a skritchy delight, with Def's cool rap stylings that crest through. But it seems Albarn's cup of tea these days is a new New Jack Swing that might not have widespread appeal. Still, not bad for a bunch of animated monkeys that could've easily been lumped in with Alvin and the Chipmunks upon their debut a decade ago.

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