Summary:The animated band returns after a seven year absence with a studio album featuring guest appearances from Jehnny Beth, Danny Brown, Benjamin Clementine, D.R.A.M., Del La Soul, Peven Everett, Anthony Hamilton, Grace Jones, Zebra Katz, Kelela, Popcaan, Jamie Principle, Pusha T, Mavis Staples,The animated band returns after a seven year absence with a studio album featuring guest appearances from Jehnny Beth, Danny Brown, Benjamin Clementine, D.R.A.M., Del La Soul, Peven Everett, Anthony Hamilton, Grace Jones, Zebra Katz, Kelela, Popcaan, Jamie Principle, Pusha T, Mavis Staples, Vince Staples, and Kali Uchis.…Expand
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Record Label:Warner Bros.
Genre(s): Electronic, Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Left-Field Hip-Hop
Though by no means as complete and satisfying as Demon Days or Plastic Beach, there are enough intriguing moments to make Humanz a worthy addition to Gorillaz’s cartoon universe.
From the hyperactive ‘Momentz’, which sees De La Soul returning to the fold once more, to the creepy, intense Grace Jones-featuring ‘Charger’, Humanz is by far the weirdest Gorillaz album ever released, and a struggle to get through in one sitting. There’s a certain cohesion here though, largely focused around dissatisfaction and rallying together.
Amid a series of electronic soundscapes that incorporate club, dance hall, R&B and hip-hop rhythms and textures, Albarn packs the album with songs that speak to the instability of uncertain times.
Some of the band’s unique flavor still remains, as in the collaboration between Albarn, Pusha T, and Mavis Staples on “Let Me Out,” an unlikely match that wonderfully locks together. But without a unified sound or story to focus on, the album sometimes falls into the modern sinkhole of too many options presented at once.
Humanz is good, because Gorillaz are good, and it distinguishes itself by probably being the band’s most party-orientated record, which is great. But ultimately it feel like Gorillaz are now more curators than provocateurs, locked into a classy, comfortable groove.
Humanz falters not when its concept runs thin, but when Albarn and his cavalcade of co-conspirators begin to run out of the meaty hooks that have defined Gorillaz's best work.
Meus amigos... É assim que se faz um LP! São 26 faixas maravilhosas incluindo alguns interlúdios. Muitas participações especiais, músicasMeus amigos... É assim que se faz um LP! São 26 faixas maravilhosas incluindo alguns interlúdios. Muitas participações especiais, músicas futuristas. Muito SOUL, HIP HOP, ROCK... EU amo o Gorillaz!
As melhores faixas para mim são: Ascension, Saturn Barz, We Got the Power, Andromeda, The Non-conformist Oath (Interlude), Momentz, Busted and Blue, Let me Out, Sex Murder Party, She´s my Collar, Hallelujah Money, New World (Interlude), The Apprentice, Halfway to the Halfway House, Ticker Tape.…Expand
It's weird, it's different, it's Gorillaz at their best.
It's like people don't remember that Gorillaz always did collaborations. It's alwaysIt's weird, it's different, it's Gorillaz at their best.
It's like people don't remember that Gorillaz always did collaborations. It's always been like that. The interludes help keep the pace going, and the constant EDM feel creates an amazing party atmosphere. I can see myself listening to this album many times.…Expand
This is by far the Best Gorillaz Album i've heard so far! i don't unserstand why some People think it's a Bad Album, yes it's different, butThis is by far the Best Gorillaz Album i've heard so far! i don't unserstand why some People think it's a Bad Album, yes it's different, but that's the Reason why i love it!…Expand
Without having seen the cover, a casual listener could be excused for not identifying this as being released under the same band name asWithout having seen the cover, a casual listener could be excused for not identifying this as being released under the same band name as Gorillaz' self-titled debut, which remains their most genuine-sounding release. Not that this should be taken as a serious criticism, since Gorillaz isn't a genuine band. Humanz is much more in line with Demon Days, at least in spirit, though with a significantly updated sound. In short, it's a party record, and a well-assembled one, which should please most long-time fans and new listeners alike, as long as that's for what they're looking.…Expand
Gorillaz’s brand new album ‘Humanz’ has been one of the most anticipated albums in 2017, randomly releasing 4 singles featuring artists suchGorillaz’s brand new album ‘Humanz’ has been one of the most anticipated albums in 2017, randomly releasing 4 singles featuring artists such as D.R.A.M, Popcaan, Vince Staple and Jehnny Beth (Savages) and later a collaboration with Pusha T and Mavis Staple entitled ‘Let Me Out’.
The album starts off with the Vince Staple collaboration ‘Ascension’, a 140 bpm fast drum loop with Vince rapping the chorus (‘The sky's falling, baby Drop that ass 'fore it crash’) letting the listener know with it’s dark sounds in the back that the world is somewhat ending. The track is a good introduction to the album with it’s theme but I didn’t find it to be a good track to represent Gorillaz but instead become more of a Vince Staple track.
Afterwards the track ‘Strobelite’ starts with a completely different theme and sound, a house style track with Peven Everett on vocals who fits so perfectly with Gorillaz’s style but just doesn’t have a great transition between ‘Ascension’ and the next track ‘Saturnz Bar’ featuring Popcaan with their dark themes.
Later after ‘Momentz’ with De La Soul, which would’ve been a fantastic track without that awful kick, we start to see some problems with the album on the track ‘Submission’ that features Kelela and Danny Brown. Kelela ends up taking the whole track with Danny just on the bridge which is disappointing because Danny Brown is such a unique rapper with a dark but fun style which would be the perfect fit which didn’t happen whilst Kelela’s generic lyrics and vocals take over the track.
You start to see so many missed opportunities they could of had with their collaborators like Grace Jones only singing a few lines in the back of “Charger”, barely hearing D.R.A.M in ‘Andromedia’, Anthony Hamilton’s vocals on ‘Carnival’ not fitting with the instrumental and so many empty spaces which could of had vocals on ‘Sex Murder Party’.
The deluxe edition isn’t worth getting, most of the tracks were either fillers or not as big as they should of been (‘Out of Body’, ‘Halfway To The Halfway House’) BUT the tracks ‘The Apprentice’, which features Rag’n’Bone Man, Ray BLK and Zebra Katz, and my other favourite ‘Ticker Tape’ featuring Carly Simon & Kali Uchis are worth giving a listen.
Overall this album is good, but it won’t be a classic as Demon Days and Plastic Beach was because these songs are so serious and deep with its political statement that has made me forget that the whole point of this band was that Gorillaz is a fun cartoon band.
Good: Strobelite, Ticker Tape | Least: Ascension, We Got The Power…Expand
I waited for them for years, and see the album with full of Featurings makes me sad, this album really needed more from Noodles and 2D, i feltI waited for them for years, and see the album with full of Featurings makes me sad, this album really needed more from Noodles and 2D, i felt i was listening to other people the whole album, seriously.
For moments it's enjoyable, but i needed more from then than the feats that sometimes don't feel natural for me. It really has it's moment but most of the songs don't sound ''full of Gorillaz'' for me.…Expand
Humanz is, in my opinion, quite disappointing. I am a very big gorillaz fan, and this has left me kind of sad. I was very excited for thisHumanz is, in my opinion, quite disappointing. I am a very big gorillaz fan, and this has left me kind of sad. I was very excited for this album, because all of the singles that were released before the album were fantastic. I heard those songs and felt like I was listening to Gorillaz. Unfortunately, I can't say that for the rest of this album. All gorillaz albums usually have that charm, that weird vibe to them that perfectly coincides with the characters of the band. This album does not have that charm. When I listen to it I don't hear Murdoc, 2D, Noodle, and Russell, I hear collaborators. Gorillaz has collaborated in the past and it's been great, but this doesn't feel like a collab between gorillaz and the other artists, it just feels like a song from that artist with some synths in the back. I don't think this album is all bad, songs like busted and blue really feel like gorillaz, but most of the album doesn't.…Expand
