9/11 was undoubtedly one of the most horrific and catastrophic events in the early 2000’s. Its effects could be seen across the world and still affect us today. Demon Days in many ways reflects the destruction and loss in faith in humanity that came with 9/11. Songs like All Alone, O’ Green World and Every Planet We Reach is Dead tell you all you need to know about the world Demon Days takes place in: it’s cold, it’s bitter and it’s lonely.
The album starts with a short intro and then we get straight in with the first song. Last Living Souls (another cheery name) really sets the precedence for what the album is about. It’s dreery and existential with its message which carries on through many tracks. Songs like Kids With Guns, O’ Green World and El Manana seem almost like desperate plees (especially O’ Green World).
As with all Gorillaz albums, there is a superb blend of styles. From Hip-Hop, to Rock, to dance pop on the infectiously catchy DARE and even spoken word on the track Fire Coming Out of the Monkey’s Head – delivered by Dennis Hopper- there’s a lot to be seen. The Hip-Hop side of things include an outrageously passionate and shouty verse from Bootie Brown on the tail end of Dirty Harry as well as the memorable verses from De La Soul on one of Gorillaz biggest songs Feel Good Inc (kicked off by the iconic laugh from Maseo at the beginning). Another notable rap song is All Alone which features Roots Manuva and Martina Topley-Bird which showcases a thunderous outburst of lyrics from Manuva and almost angelic singing from Topley-Bird at the end. But perhaps the best rap song on the album is November has come which is so clinically delivered by MF Doom whilst keeping in with the overall tone of the album.
On the rock sid of things, tracks including Kids With Guns (which features one of the best outros on the album) and the manic White Light. But without a doubt in my mind the best rock song on the album is Every Planet We Reach is Dead. It starts off with screeching guitars and wubby baselines, accompanied by some of the most hopeless lyrics and vocals on the album. What sets this song apart though is the outro. When I said Kids With Guns had “one” of the best outros I meant it, because this song has the best one. The way the pianos (provided by Ike Turner), the guitars, the strings, the drums, the symbols and I assume every instrument the band had laying around spiral into madness and crescendo until all that’s left is the piano is nothing short of awesome.
Now you can’t talk about Demon Days without talking about it’s conclusion. Why? Cause it’s outstanding. It starts with Don’t Get Lost in Heaven which is a charming little ditty that does inspire a whole lot of instrumental creativity, but also is leaves us with a singing choir and violins that flow seamlessly into the last song on the album Demon Days. After the soulless, hopeless journey the album took us through, Gorillaz give us a little light at the end of the tunnel. This song is so euphoric and hope-filled that I can’t help but feel invigorated when listening to it. But in truth it’s the cohesion between the last two songs that makes the closer of the album so memorable. Infact its the cohesion throughout the whole album that makes the album itself memorable. Its tone is linked in every song, it’s musically consistent and yet nothing feel repetitive and every song feels fresh. It’s this thread of harmony that is weaved through the album that makes this album just that bit better than its predecessor and what makes it so deserving of all the praise, awards and money it has received.
And yet somehow, despite the unquestionable perfection, the album only sits with a 3rd place medal in my ranking of the Gorillaz discography! What could possibly be better?
Music Worth Hearing 