It was the turn of the century when Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett formed Gorillaz. As Blur frontman and Tank Girl mastermind, respectively, the pair was primed for success. Gorillaz fused styles—trip-hop, punk, electronica, art pop—with eye-catching comic book visuals. The project followed in the footsteps of Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Muppet Show, and Fire Bomber. It was an edgy, sundry, and modernized entry into the eclectic lineage of virtual bands. Indeed, Gorillaz’s self-titled debut remains a remarkable starting point.
A Response to No Substance
According to Hewlett and Albarn, Gorillaz began as a commentary on how “MTV was providing nothing of substance.” This was especially regarding the recent “explosion” of boy bands. Plus, the pair wanted to share the myriad cultural influences they were ingesting. First, they crafted a foursome of peculiar avatars. Vocalist 2-D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs, and guitarist Noodle were loveable oddballs.
Next, they rounded up a crew of collaborators. These included Del the Funky Homosapien, Jason Cox, Tina Weymouth, Kid Koala, Miho Hatori, and co-producer Dan the Automator. Finally, they crafted a diverse, inventive release at England’s Studio 13 and Jamaica’s Geejam Studios.
"According to Hewlett and Albarn, Gorillaz began as a commentary on how 'MTV was providing nothing of substance.'"
Fresh Sound—Fresh Start
Released on March 26th, 2001, Gorillaz afforded Albarn a fresh start. He now had a place to incorporate elements that “never really seemed to manifest” in Blur. It debuted at #3 on the UK Albums Chart and #14 on the Billboard 200. The album went on to sell millions of copies thanks to a few key factors. To start with, there was the international “Gorillaz Live” tour. The show featured actors giving voice to projected characters while musicians played behind a screen.
Then there were the band’s imaginative videos for “Clint Eastwood,” “19-2000,” “Rock the House,” and “Tomorrow Comes Today.” The critics loved it as well. AllMusic, Pitchfork, The Guardian, and Alternative Press praised Gorillaz. Spin, Kludge, Slant, and Complex named the LP amongst the best of the year and/or decade.
"Gorillaz's introductory disc inspired the music and aesthetics of Dethklok, Tyler the Creator, and many others."
Musical Foreshadowing
Twenty years later, Gorillaz remains a wonderfully varied collection. The album foreshadows nearly every direction the band would go in on its half-dozen follow-ups. For instance, standout “Clint Eastwood” hints at a trip-hop/alternative rock influence. This sound would come to further prominence on 2010’s Plastic Beach.
Or take the lo-fi catharsis of “Tomorrow Comes Today” and the sleek digital vibe of “19-2000.” They predict the darker flavor of 2005’s Demon Days and the chill programming of recent outings, respectively. Of course, there are many other heavy hitters. The hypnotic “Re-Hash,” raucous “Punk,” sparse “Sound Check (Gravity),” and smoky flair of “Latin Simone (¿Qué Pasa Contigo?)” flesh out the wide-ranging LP.
"Twenty years later, Gorillaz remains a wonderfully varied collection. The album foreshadows nearly every direction the band would go."
An Influential Debut
In addition to kicking off its monumental trajectory, Gorillaz’s introductory disc inspired others. For proof, look to the music and aesthetics of Dethklok, The Amazing World of Gumball, Flatbush Zombies, G-Unit, and Tyler the Creator. This is to name just a few.
Hence, Albarn and Hewlett influenced modern pop culture both directly and indirectly. Gorillaz deserves all the praise possible for making it happen in the first place.
