The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Damon Albarn’s new band is a star-studded affair and his most significant output since 2005’s Demon Days. Playing keys and singing lead, Albarn is backed by fellow Brit rockers Paul Simonon (former Clash bassist) and Simon Tong (guitarist of Blur/The Verve/Gorillaz fame). Africa ’70 drummer Tony Allen adds soft beats that stand out as one of the main departures from Gorillaz. The album was produced by King Midas impersonator Dangermouse (who also contributes the percussion on “Kingdom of Doom”).
Though Gorillaz tracks like El Manana could almost fit right into The Good, the Bad, and the Queen, Albarn has mostly put aside the hip-hop and electronica elements he has become known for to create darker songs with crooning vocals that dwell on themes of seafaring and war. Sounds a little weird, and it is, but it’s also damn good music. The album opens with “History Song,” a wistful acoustic number with a great beat and some well-placed organ. Other notable tracks include “Northern Whale,” another foot-tapper with Dangermouse’s fingerprints all over it, and “Kingdom of Doom,” a soaring, reverb-soaked war-time ballad.
The contributions of Albarn’s band mates are noticeable but never more so than his; the music is often pretty stripped down until you reach songs such as “Three Changes,” where Allen’s drumming gets a little more of the spotlight, or the title track, which the band cranks into a frenzy as the album ends. Despite all the tidal waves and gloomy anti-war sentiment, The Good, the Bad, & the Queen is a worthwhile listen and a solid debut.
B+
Devin Corrigan
