A-list guests and King Kong-sized hits: Gorillaz get serious
If Gorillaz began life as a playful comment on artificiality in music (and a way for Damon Albarn to escape the shadow of Britpop) then Demon Days is their coming of age. Laden with A-grade guests—ranging from Roots Manuva to Dennis Hopper—and expansive in its scope, this second record delivers everything from off-kilter hip hop (“Dirty Harry” and De La Soul feature “Feel Good Inc.”) to neo-rave bangers (Shaun Ryder assist “Dare”) without putting a foot wrong.