The Road to Cracker Island
Gorillaz' New Album is packed with new sounds and features. February 24 is close, very close.
Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez came out in 2020. While it’s not my favorite Gorillaz project, it’s got some bangers on there that are hard to miss. I distinctly remember listening to that album on my balcony, wondering when the next Gorillaz EP would grace my ears. Last year, the band announced their new project: Cracker Island (with a title single), and ever since, I’ve been waiting - elbows on knees - for another lineup of songs to pick from for my playlist. We’re almost two weeks away from the official release of Cracker Island, and honestly, I can’t wait. I want to touch base on the singles from the album that are already out, and what better song to start with than the title track itself.
June 22 was when Gorillaz dropped Cracker Island, the lead single for the album. The song brings together a funky synth and energetic drums to create a very dance-y atmosphere that is prevalent throughout the track. Damon’s FX-infused vocals sound just perfect as usual, and the higher-pitched adlibs and backing vocals (well, not exactly) make the chorus very contagious. It was one of my most played Gorillaz tracks last year, third to Empire Ants (from Plastic Beach) and Andromeda (from Humanz). Undoubtedly, my favorite part of the song is the metronome (I’m hoping) in the background, the same metronome clicks that start off the track. And can we talk about Thundercat? The man adds such a vibe to every track he’s on. The strings on Cracker Island sound so good, and that’s an understatement. He’s one of my favorite instrumentalists in the game right now, and I doubt that will change anytime soon.
New Gold was the second single dropped by the band, and you best believe that I SQUEALED when I first saw Tame Impala featured on the track. Two artists that sound like the god of music and the god of love decided to have a baby, and then they glazed the baby in gold. I had high, high hopes for this track when I heard it for the first time. I hate to say this, but unfortunately, it fell a little short of my expectations. And weirdly enough, it wasn’t Bootie Brown. It was Tame Impala, but not Tame Impala in the sense that I felt he wasn’t utilized in all his glory in the song. The sections in the track sound a little redundant (which is something that Gorillaz are not synonymous with, AT ALL). Kevin’s voice is great, the bass is to my liking, and the outro is something I really adore. The rest of the track kinda threw me off, which is okay, because not everything makes sense to everyone. It’s just that this track could’ve been a lot, lot more than this.
Baby Queen was released on November 4, 2022. I missed the release of this track, but as fate would have it, I saw it on my recommended feed. It’s one of Gorillaz’ slower tracks, set in a beautiful key that put my mind at ease instantly. Damon’s crisp, reverb and delay-laden vocals sound gorgeous on this record. One thing that draws me to Gorillaz as a whole is the bassline on their tracks. This track is no different. The chorus is painstakingly beautiful, a joyful synth cascading over dreamy backing vocals and a melancholic pad - all of which blends together like a perfect lasagna. Yes, this track is an aesthetic, delicious lasagna. I fell into the vanity, The mirrored lights of our dreams… I found myself dreaming of better times as the ten-second outro panned left and right across my headphones.
A couple of weeks after Baby Queen, Gorillaz dropped the 4th single from Cracker Island - Skinny Ape. Right off the bat, the track is structured around this surprisingly funky yet melancholic bassline that stands out distinctly. There are traces of a faint soundscape that add some sort of a vibe to the song - I can’t put my finger on it. The percussion throughout the record is coupled with the sound of echoe-y stab keys, the amalgam of which grew on me slowly. As for the vocals, they are infused with noise and are a little louder than usual, but I can tell that’s intentional. Skinny Ape enters a faster tempo at 2:40, with the synths brightening up the song to a fair degree. I personally don’t like when the vocals go apeshit (literally) right before the end - it somewhat ruins the atmosphere for me. I like Skinny Ape, just not enough to play it at my wedding.
Silent running pushes you into a fantasy world with a colorful synth and a sick, sick bassline that’s very reminiscent of Daft Punk. The dreamy whistle only adds to the experience, making this my favorite opening to any track from Cracker Island so far. This song is so well-mixed that I keep going back to it, time and again. I wish I could have Damon sing to me for the rest of my life, he sounds so relaxed on this track. The chorus provokes something inside of me that’s hard to explain - it captures the art of escaping so profoundly that I’m forced to close my eyes. The keyboard synth that plays in sync with the vocals “Silent Running, Run-Run-Running” is delicate yet alluring, elegant and stunning. It’s hands-down my favorite part of the song. Silent Running has so many exquisite elements, Adeleye’s vocals being one of them. Such a well-orchestrated record, this has me pleading for the full album.
Below is one of my favorite substacks for keeping up with music. Give them a try.
Keep your eyes peeled for February 24 as Gorillaz releases the whole LP for the world to witness. Cracker Island is bound to be a ride, just make sure you get in line.