19 Songs, 1 Hour 26 Minutes
EDITORS’ NOTES
Damon Albarn’s discography is as wide-ranging as any figure in contemporary rock. Everyday Robots brings together elements from his singular musical journey. This solo album boasts the haunting, dub-oriented elements of The Good, the Bad and the Queen, Gorillaz’ dazed electronic ambience, and the percussive textures of 2005’s collaborative Mali Music. The result is a stunning collection of deeply emotional experimental rock that only a musician of his range could have created. “We are everyday robots on our phones,” he laments on the opening title track, introducing the album’s theme of isolation in the digital age. But the album that follows is anything but robotic: when Natasha Khan (Bat for Lashes) provides a spectral echo on “Selfish Giant,” a mournful horn solo punctuates “Hollow Ponds,” or the gospel choir sings back-up on the radiant Afropop-influenced “Mr. Tembo,” the result is deeply affecting.
Everyday Robots (Special Edition) Damon Albarn
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4.6, 190 Ratings - $14.99
EDITORS’ NOTES
Damon Albarn’s discography is as wide-ranging as any figure in contemporary rock. Everyday Robots brings together elements from his singular musical journey. This solo album boasts the haunting, dub-oriented elements of The Good, the Bad and the Queen, Gorillaz’ dazed electronic ambience, and the percussive textures of 2005’s collaborative Mali Music. The result is a stunning collection of deeply emotional experimental rock that only a musician of his range could have created. “We are everyday robots on our phones,” he laments on the opening title track, introducing the album’s theme of isolation in the digital age. But the album that follows is anything but robotic: when Natasha Khan (Bat for Lashes) provides a spectral echo on “Selfish Giant,” a mournful horn solo punctuates “Hollow Ponds,” or the gospel choir sings back-up on the radiant Afropop-influenced “Mr. Tembo,” the result is deeply affecting.
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Everyday Robots
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Hostiles
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Lonely Press Play
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Mr Tembo
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Parakeet
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The Selfish Giant
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You & Me
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Hollow Ponds
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Seven High
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Photographs (You Are Taking Now)
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The History of a Cheating Heart
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Heavy Seas of Love
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Father's Daughter's Son (bonus track)
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Empty Club (bonus track)
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| 15 |
Everyday Robots (Track by Track)
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| 16 |
Everyday Robots (Live from Fox Studios Los Angeles)
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| 17 |
Hostiles (Live from Fox Studios Los Angeles)
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| 18 |
Lonely Press Play (Live from Fox Studios Los Angeles)
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| 19 |
Hollow Ponds (Live from Fox Studios Los Angeles)
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Ratings and Reviews
DAMON IS BACK!
I love Damon Albarn and every thing he does in music. Blur, Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad, The Queen you name it! As great as the first single sounds, i think it will be a great album to relax and unwind to for the following spring and summer to come. You rock Damond!
P.s. Is there going to be a new Gorillaz or blur album coming soon? ;)
This is great from what I can tell so far.
The title track Everyday Robots is a very interesting tune. Damon’s previous work with Malian artists has definitely shaped this album. The idea that human’s are becoming more robotic is a bit of an old idea, but Damon takes this kind of worn out concept and makes it into something new. The music video was great as well. For now I’m giving this album a 5/5 despite the fact that it hasn’t come out yet.
A Cohesive Conceptual Album
Generally downtempo and sad, but never boring for its breadth and diversity. It's a very honest and direct exploration of our current state as modern humans. Cell phones and tvs. Bits and pieces of Africa and Britain and places in between. Haunting melodies (something we've all come to expect) and unique sounds. Fabulously unique and deep production.
It's a cohesive work. It mostly lacks the aggression of the Blur or the hooks of the Gorillaz, replacing them with something different and honest to this artistic context. Entirely different than his other efforts, but so complete that it will rival Demon Days as a total album. And I think in some ways Everyday Robots will surpass that effort like in the areas of self examination and lyrical depth. And you can't knock the use of steel drum outside of a Caribbean context. At least I can't.
