Gorillaz - The Singles Collection 2001-2011

It is hard to believe it’s been over ten years since we were introduced to four cute cartoon characters by the names of 2D, Noodle, Murdoch, and Hobbs. Gorillaz was the project was the brainchild of former Blur front man Damon Albarn and Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett, and to describe it’s success as ‘wild’ would be an understatement. Now, after four studio albums, Gorillaz have released their best of: The Singles Collection 2001-2011.

When the self-titled debut album blew up in 2001, it was celebrated as an amazingly successful fusion of pop, hip-hop, and dub (with a bit of Ennio Morricone thrown in to boot). Such an eclectic mix would not normally make for chart success, but then, that’s the genius of front man Damon Albarn. Inclusions from this era include the Augustus Pablo-influenced Tomorrow Comes Today, 19-2000, and Del Tha Funky Homosapien-helmed Clint Eastwood and Rock The House.

Fours years is an extremely long time in the fickle world of pop music, and yet, in 2005Demon Dayz exploded onto the charts. Hits from the the second album to grace the collection include the De La Soul collaboration Feel Good Inc., Dirty Harry (featuring a fantastic rap by Pharcyde member Bootie Brown), and Neneh Cherry makes a guest appearance on Kids With Guns.

Damon Albarn certainly knows how to pick his guests. Who would have thought Shaun Rydewould have been hitting the charts years after people had written him off with the biggest success of his career, the anthemicDare. This song truly transcended genre: indie kids, hip-hop heads, and pop tarts all joined in for an unbridled sing-a-long any time a DJ happened to drop this tune in 2005.