Whatevs Wednesday: Gorillaz Plastic Beach

From start to finish Plastic Beach is a full frontal assault on all of your senses, and probably ones you didn't even know you had. It's one part hip hop, one part trip hop, one part tripping balls, and all parts unique. Gorillaz storm ahead like this is Normandy Part Deux into what can only be described as a concept album not trying to be a concept album but working together as a greater sum than its individual parts. Please, I beg of you, listen to it.

If you're not aware, here are the logistics: While living together in London, Jamie Hewlett (creator of Tank Girl) and Damon Albarn (frontman of Blur) one day had a conversation that I'm guessing went something like this "Hey do you want to get something to eat? And oh by the way I think we should start an imaginary virtual band that's made up of cartoon zombie-ish people with monkey features." That is pretty much the only way I can rationalize in my brain how the concept for Gorillaz was born. The virtual band members Russel Hobbs, Murdoc Niccals, and Noodle are led by Albarn's alter ego 2D. Everyone except 2D represents the revolving door of musicians who have contributed on the previous two Gorillaz ventures. On both their debut album Gorillaz and the follow up Demon Days, the sound ranges from club like discotheque ragers to melodic swoons that put you into some type of absinthe induced haze. Plastic Beach is no different.

Rumor on the street is that Albarn was motivated to put together an enviromental themed album after visiting a landfill in Africa. Now I have never been to a landfill in Africa but I'm sure that if anything would want to motivate someone to write about the environment, that would probably be it. This may or may not have been the idea behind Plastic Beach when work on it first began in 2007 under it's original title Carousel. However through time, the evolution of creativity, possibly illegal substances, and God knows what else the album moved away from this focused of a narrative. That is not to say that the green-concious message doesn't still pop its head in and out, significantly on "Superfast Jellyfish" which rails against consumerism over a beat that sounds like it could be the theme for a new sugar coated breakfast cereal.

More than their previous efforts, Plastic Beach primarily serves as platform for Gorillaz to collaborate with other artists. With the exception of Snoop Dogg, who stopped being sweet when this happened, every single one of the guest spots fit perfectly with the flow and tone of the album. The standout being Mos Def and Bobby Womack on the album's first single "Stylo" (watch the video because its awesome) which is probably one of the most infectious songs in recent memory, making me seriously reconsider my choice of personal theme songs.

Other highlights include "Some Kind of Nature" featuring the dulcet tones of Lou Reed, a stripped down "Melancholy Hill" where Albarn is featured over what sounds like the sample track on a Casio keyboard, and "Glitter Freeze" which makes me want to do uncontrollable things which I can't explain but would more than likely have a great time while doing them. The rest of the whos who list consists of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Kano, Bashy, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Little Dragon, Mark E. Smith, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, sinfonia ViVA and The Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music. Yes you read that right, none of those were typos.

However, "Rhinestone Eyes" is the king of the sand castle on Plastic Beach. One of four songs not featuring a guest spot, "Rhinestone Eyes" is an example of everything that makes Gorillaz brilliant. A progressive and growing beat combined with Albarn's hypnotic delivery, turn what starts out as a simple track into something that will have you pumping your fist through the roof of your car. I'm serious, it's incredible.

Throw your preconceived notions out the window and do yourself a favor by adding Plastic Beach to your arsenal. Samples of a few tracks have been included in the player below for your listening enjoyment. Although this album deserves to be played in your car, hopefully not a Dodge Neon, with the volume needle buried.



Judge Smails

Things you might not know about but you probably should: Music Edition vol.2

No need to pussyfoot around at this point with what you're going to find here. Continuing the Bushwood tradition of enriching your existence, we give you some things you might now know about but probably should! Music Edition! Vol.2!

Once again you'll find a selection from each in the handy player below. Vamanos!

Them Crooked Vultures: Very rarely do a group of individually talented people come together to form an unstoppable juggernaut. However, Them Crooked Vultures seem to have done just that. John Paul Johnes (Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) get downright nasty on the bands self-titled debut album. Rock on.

Grab these: Mind Eraser No Chaser, New Fang

Mumford & Sons: There has been an eerie connection between the musical choices of David Letterman and The Bushwood Staff as of late. After recently showcasing the network debut of Fanfarlo (mentioned in vol.1), these swarthy Brits recently took the stage at The Ed Sullivan Theater. A fast rising act in the United Kingdom, the London based Mumford & Sons are making their way to the land of freedom and awesomeness, hopefully to a pub or pitch near you.

Grab these: Little Lion Man, The Cave

Gossip: If Ann Wilson and Stevie Nicks placed their eggs in an atom smasher and fertilized that egg with the seed of Roger Daltrey, the result would be Beth Ditto of Gossip. Visually weird as shit but smooth as a McGregor 3-Wood to the ears, the nod to the female fronted classic rock band is in your face and much appreciated. Not since the days of hair like this has a sound been so fresh.

Grab these: Heavy Cross, Keeping You Alive

Matt and Kim: So, yeah. It's a guy named Matt, a girl named Kim who make pop-punk-dance-hip hop music with mostly a keyboard and drum machine. I don't know either but it works. Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare is the type of song that you get uber into when you're by yourself in the car but you might not want other people seeing you sing along to.

Grab these: Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare, Daylight

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: BRMC are by no means a new face on the scene but Beat The Devil's Tattoo is such a rad song it had to be here. The new album of the same name hits your local Sam Goody on March 9th. Check it.

Grab these: Beat The Devil's Tattoo, pretty much everything else

If you have a suggestion for someone you'd like to see featured let us know!

Judge Smails

Things you might not know about but you probably should: Music Edition vol.1

As we said prior, our goal here at Bushwood is to enlighten you on the finer things in life. Whether that's movies, music, television, beverages, or the best place to find underground goldfish races in San Diego,our goal is to improve your quality of life by making it more awesomer.

With that being said the first edition in this ongoing series will be about the time honored tradition of music. I don't think that makes sense now that I wrote it, but you get the point. I'm not going to pretend that any of these bands/artists are unheard of nobodies, but they might be to you. If they're not, let us know what you dig or don't dig about them because this is America and the Internet so you can say those things without fear of having your hands cut off.

On with the show, you'll find a selection from each in the handy player below. Now continue reading.

Matisyahu: Matisyahu is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae musician. Go ahead and read that again, I can wait. Now that you've had a chance to process that, let me confess this: I don't really like reggae nor am I Jewish. That does not mean that I haven't done the impaired white man dance to Bob Marley at island themed events, or ever turned down a high stakes dreidel game. Regardless of any of these things, this is music I can firmly get behind. A wicked sick lyrical flow and simplified beats highlight Matisyahu's talents, even if you don't like drinking Red Stripe with your latke cakes.

Grab these: King Without a Crown, Glavanize w/ The Crystal Method

Crash Kings: If I had a theme song that played when I walked down the street I would want it to be Mountain Man by Crash Kings. Best described as what Maroon 5 would sound like if they weren't terrible, this trio from Los Angeles brings the thunder with only a bass guitar, piano, and drums. Opening for Chris Cornell,The Stone Temple Pilots, and The Bravery should help give you a better idea of their sound. Once you listen tho I promise you you'll be thinking one thing, I want that for my theme song too. Go ahead, we can share.

Grab these: Mountain Man, You Got Me

Fanfarlo: How Fanfarlo haven't turned up in a movie starring Michael Cera or directed by Wes Anderson is a mystery to me. Fanfarlo wreaks havoc with violins, pianos, guitars, trumpets, those washboard things people in cults use to clean their clothes in rivers, and God knows what else. Fitting snugly into the Indie Rock genre, they bring a unique sound that puts their British roots on display. These crazy snaggle toothed kids have success written all over them.

Grab these: Harold T. Wilkins, The Walls Are Coming Down which has a sweet video

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: If before you listen to Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros your first see a picture of the band, you might think to yourself "Huh, I didn't know they gave homeless people recording contracts." But this visual train wreck comes together to create something that must've been teleported here from 1976, but works amazingly well. Part The Doors, part Fleetwood Mac, and all original in 2010, you need to hear it to possibly get it. But I guarantee Home rekindles your interest in whistling.

Grab these: Home, 40 Day Dream

Phoenix: Yes, 1901 is that song from the Cadillac commercial. And yes, if anyone from Cadillac is reading this I would gladly take a free one, but i want an old one like Doughboy's. Phoenix is French but we're not going to hold that against them because frankly, they're wicked. It's like indie-rockish music was thrown into a blender with synthesizers and The Killers, and out comes a delicious jamming smoothie.

Grab these: 1901, Lisztomania

So there it is, the first installment in an ongoing series to make your life more enjoyable. Spread the word.

Judge Smails