release date: Nov. 19, 2007
format: 2 cd (2017 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,45]
producer: Gorillaz, Jason Cox, James Dring, Danger Mouse
label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: CD ONE: 3. "Hongkongaton" - 4. "We Are Happy Landfill" - 5. "Hong Kong" - 8. "Bill Murray" (feat. The Bees) - 11. "Spitting Out the Demons"
CD TWO: 1. "DARE (DFA Remix)" (feat. Shaun Ryder) - 2. "Feel Good Inc. (Stanton Warriors Remix)" (feat. De La Soul) - 4. "DARE (Soulwax Remix)" (feat. Shaun Ryder) - 5. "Kids with Guns (Hot Chip Remix)" - 7. "DARE (Junior Sanchez Remix)" (feat. Shaun Ryder)
Compilation album by Gorillaz much like the G-Sides album a compilation containing B-sides, remixes and bonus tracks from their most recent album Demon Days (2005), thus both referring to that album [as "Demon Days-sides"] and also, I guess, as a suitable title extending the notion of something other and more than just "B-sides".
The idea of putting out a 2-disc compilation album of compositions, which are not best of material but "just" more of your favourite (project) band may seem over-the-top, but with Gorillaz it just falls out quite all right, 'cause fact is, the band builds its compositions on 'dub' and mixes, so new and quite different versions are easily constructed. CD ONE is reserved for actual single versions and more traditional (extended) mixes, whereas CD TWO contains new remixes of tracks from Demon Days and e.g. no less than three different versions of "DARE" and "Kids with Guns".
With some tracks you may ask yourself as to why they are here, but the longer you get into Gorillaz' world of sounds, it does make sense. Almost as usual with their albums - initially, I tend to have more luke-warm feelings to a new album, and then rather quickly I change my verdict to a more positive one. It's strange, very original and yet quite simple music, but I like it, although, I'm not listening to it that often, but when I do, I often end up thinking "It's actually pretty neat" 'cause fact is it basically sounds more like a new studio album than remixes of familiar tunes. It's really more than just Okay and definitely worth more than a listen or two and ultimately also has more to offer than the first compilation, G-Sides.
[ allmusic.com, NME 4 / 5, Uncut 3 / 5 stars ]
