D-Sides

Performer: Gorillaz
Engineer: Jason Cox; Charles Lam; Steve Sedgewick
Producer: Joseph Mount; Ann Yeung; Tung Tang; Cox; Joel Martin; Soulwax; Gorillaz; Junior Sanchez; Matt Edwards; Dring; Hot Chip; Danger Mouse
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Gorillaz: Noodle, Russel Hobbs, Murdoc Niccals, 2-D. Additional personnel: Jacqueline Fu, Mazy Yap & Kids From Lok Sin Tong Primary School, Neneh Cherry (vocals); M.C. Yan (rap vocals); Joseph Mount (various instruments); Mr. Chen Wei-Man (zither); Oli Langford, Antonia Pagulatos, Alice Pratley (violin); Hou Shih Chieh (erhu); Emma Owens, Stella Page (viola); Izzi Dunn (cello); Johnny Yim (keyboards); Al Mobs (double bass); Danger Mouse (drums, programming); Tung Tang (percussion, programming); James Dring (programming); Rosie Wilson (background vocals); The Reykjavik West End Brass Band, Hrafnkell Floki Einarsson, Katrin Palmadottir, Ashildur Akadottir, Olafur Bielawski, Haraldur Prastarson, Einar Palmason, Magnus Andersen, Hugi Beyer Gunnarsson, Oskar Volundarson, Horour Bjarkason, Larus Halldor Grimsson, Morton Wilson, Jamie Hewlett, Curver, DJ Magic, De La Soul, Einar Orn, Kaktus, Shaun Ryder, The Bees , Ghostigital. Although the grand collaborative project of the first Gorillaz album had been mostly narrowed down to Damon Albarn and a few cohorts on 2005's DEMON DAYS, the music remained no less genre-smashing and fun. D-SIDES, a two-disc set of B-sides and remixes, proves just how inventive and appealing even the Gorillaz' loose ends can be. Like most B-sides sets, D-SIDES lacks the cohesion of a regular studio album, but therein lies its charm. The stylistically freewheeling, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach Albarn employed with later Blur albums is here, but pushed further, encompassing everything from doo-wop to dub to hard rock to film music. The remix disc, which features work by the DFA, Metronomy, and Hot Chip, is sharper and more focused, without sacrificing the feeling of wild pastiche that makes the Gorillaz tick.

Spin (p.98) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[This collection] has some surprises, especially the zither-adorned 'Hong Kong' and protest song 'Stop the Dams'..." Uncut (p.94) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Gorillaz' second round-up of offcuts, noodles and sketches still has an excellent strike rate." Q (Magazine) (p.133) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t's fascinating to discover tracks such as 'People,' an early sketch for 'DARE' with vocals by Albarn himself..."

The Gorillaz is Blur frontman Damon Albarn's hip-hop/electronica cartoon concept band. While real-life participants have included such luminaries as Dan the Automator, Danger Mouse, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, De La Soul, and Shuan Ryder, the Gorillaz are represented by 2D, Murdoc, Russel, and Noddle--four animated rock-&-roll apes created by comic book artist Jamie Hewlett. One might imagine a virtual band to be a tough sell, but in fact the Gorillaz have released two successful full-length albums and scored international hits with 2001's "Clint Eastwood" and 2005's "Dirty Harry."

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