Seven years is quite some time to take between albums, especially if you're everyone's favorite virtual band and Damon Albarn's collaboration machine. Gorillaz are back are back with their first record since 2010's The Fall (or Plastic Beach if you consider that their last "true" album"), and it's a diverse smorgasbord of styles and guest features that really do nail the sense of partying at world's end.
Initially teasing the listener with a quick introduction to get you hyped, Humanz comes sprinting out the gate with "Ascension," a manic Vince Staples assisted track that MAKES you get down with your self ("the sky's falling baby drop that ass 'fore it crash"), yet also dabbles in politics, most notably in singer 2D's verse and Staples closing bars with some intense imagery. Even if you don't pay attention, Humanz clearly has something to say about the world we live in. One of the more obvious cuts is "Let Me Out" with Mavis Staples and Pusha T, where the emcee discusses race relations, police brutality, and a need for change that can't be ignored. The rest of the album sees Albarn's role generally pushed into the background to allow for the guest features to shine through, and even though I love the character of 2D, I have no problem with it. Danny Brown and Kelela compliment each other incredibly on "Submission," as they did on Danny's most recent album, and even though Grace Jones' role in "Charger" isn't huge, her appearance still had me hyped. The album closes with the upbeat and encouraging "We Got the Power" featuring Savages' Jehnny Beth and Noel Gallagher from Oasis, which took me a while to absolutely love, but I have no problem saying it now.
Experimenting with alternative hip-hop, electronic, dancehall, R&B and so many other genres, Humanz really is as varied as its guest list. Having seen the list of collaborations over a month before the album's release, it was already one of my most anticipated records of the year, and I can't say it disappoints. Those fans who are looking to hear more of 2D, Brock, Noodle, and Russel's personality will likely be let down, however, if you're ready to party like it really is the end of the world (Trump?), I have the album for you.
