Review Summary: If you’re willing to take the plunge and journey onto the synthetic lands of Cracker Island then you will find yourself enjoying the elements of what Gorillaz does so well.
Voyaging to the next spot on the alternative pop map labeled, Cracker Island, Gorillaz takes us to a destination to explore the mysticism of our own vices and how fragile they allow us to become.
This year Gorillaz seeks to filter out the intricacies of complexity and allow the music to flow as organically as possible. Cracker Island is a 10 track (15 with the Deluxe edition) journey that encompasses simplicity in musical tones but explores a labyrinth of interpersonal themes relating to stan culture and artificial lifestyles.
The virtual band’s eighth studio album features shifts in sonic tones and musical styles that are familiar with fans who have been following the band throughout their discography. Cracker Island brings in a wide array of musical talent such as Thundercat, Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, and Beck. The deluxe edition of the album features even more songwriter producers that give even more life to the existing tracks on the standard edition with various styles of remixes and stripped down variations.
The songs on the record themselves offer a nice simplistic approach that don’t overcompensate on what they aren’t. On tracks like “Cracker Island (feat. Thundercat),” “Oil (feat. Stevie Nicks)” and “Silent Running,” the group sticks to a linear format but provides clean production and tasteful electronic and pop flares.
Lyrics on the record identify themes of a society cult experience in “a cracked screen world” (“The Tired Influencer”) and various other symbols of corrupted morality by ways of drugs and false appearances in “New Gold (feat. Tame Impala and Bootie Brown)”,
“He dates Francesca, they on the Xannies/Liposuction scheduled for Granny,”.
The lines of verses and choruses flow well melodically and complement the production of the tracks. The setlist of the album flows incredibly well with each song acting as its own respective destination marker on Cracker Island and really does take you on a voyage on this uncharted island in the middle of the sea.
Cracker Island plays it safe by serving contemporary electronic styles with a pop (sometimes dance and punk) twist. The production is clean and doesn’t color outside the lines in order to provide a consistent listening experience all throughout. As much as I can respect Gorillaz for taking this route as these songs were composed rather well, I would have also enjoyed seeing exploration of other styles that they tease on the main record. The positive is that they delve into these styles on the deluxe edition of the album, showing that they are very much aware of what they are capable of in their alternative world.
If you’re willing to take the plunge and journey onto the synthetic lands of Cracker Island then you will find yourself enjoying the elements of what Gorillaz does so well. The island is a pleasurable voyage into themes of albeit, topics that at this point are a little too familiar, but musical styles that vary and flow well into each other. Polished and well produced tracks are the main focal point of this record and the sound is impeccable.
Maybe it’s necessary to look within ourselves and see the vices we’re attached too, even if it’s becoming redundant at this point. Stan-culture or other forms of cultism exists to some degree within all of society and the means of how we obtain our desires truly can influence the people we become. It can be bittersweet to think about how mundane our lifestyles can be, but think of Cracker Island as the work retreat you have to attend where you can soak on the beach in the sun with a brisk long island iced tea. Just make sure you’re at the team bonding meeting by four.
