Talk:The Fall (Gorillaz album)

Genre

I don't know about you, but I don't hear a single ounce of hip-hop on this album except for the drum beats. Seems like anyone with ears would be able to tell that this is clearly Experimental rock. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.197.58.104 (talk) 21:57, 25 December 2010 (UTC)

Agreed. This is without a doubt NOT hip hop at all. I think it's ambient / ambient house. Experimental rock is close. But not hip hop, seriously.--67.248.1.244 (talk) 00:32, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

No one's arguing that this is regular hip-hop, but alternative hip-hop? Definitely. It could be labeled as dance or techno, or an infinite amount of subgenres, but like most Gorillaz releases, "Alternative hip-hop" is the best word to describe it as a whole. Genres are always open to interpretation, and people seem to think that the infobox is for describing everything they happen to hear. For consistency with other Gorillaz articles (which have reached consensus on this) I'm going to change it back. Though techno is definitely a word that could be used to describe any of these tracks, so if anyone agrees with that I'm not against adding it too. Friginator (talk) 18:00, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

You can't necessarily label every Gorillaz album with the same genre. Gorillaz are a perfect example of a band who definitely don't fall under the same music genre for every album. I would say this album does not fall under the category of alternative hip-hop and the previously given genre of ambient / experimental rock is far more accurate - there is very little to suggest hip-hop about The Fall and certainly no vocals to speak of which fit that description. Officially Mr X (talk) 18:58, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

Again, alternative hip-hop. The entire album is rhythm-driven, with a heavy use of synthesizers and programmed sounds. This is exactly what alternative hip-hop sounds like. Experimental rock is entirely different. But how are the vocals relevant? Hip-hop doesn't have a specific vocal style in the first place. Friginator (talk) 19:30, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

Just as an example, see this from the alternative hip-hop article:

Allmusic defines it as follows:

Alternative Rap refers to Hip-Hop groups that refuse to conform to any of the traditional stereotypes of rap, such as gangsta, bass, hardcore, and party rap. Instead, they blur genres - drawing equally from funk and rock, as well as jazz, soul, reggae, and even folk.

That's exactly what I'm talking about. That uses the word "alternative rap" (rap being usually lumped in with hip-hop), but it describes exactly the sort of sound that this album, and much of Gorillaz' music has. Friginator (talk) 19:46, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

Have you ever listened to alternative hip hop, a la De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest? They have rap. The definition of alt hip hop says it contains rap. This has no rap. Not every album released by a certain artist sounds the same (see Damon's other project, Blur). It's clearly experimental or ambient. I won't revert your change because obviously you're very determined that you're correct and will likely just complain about my change and revert it again, but considering how everyone is is in agreement that this isn't alt hip hop, I hope someone else will. Whether your edits are in good faith or not, you are making this article inaccurate. --67.248.1.244 (talk) 06:42, 27 December 2010 (UTC)

There isn't a single bit of rapping or hip-hop on this entire album, besides the drum beats certainly having hip-hop influences. Gorillaz have alternative hip-hop songs but that doesn't mean they are completely alternative hip-hop, since most of their songs are NOT alternative hip-hop. It seems like the person enforcing this genre upon every Gorillaz page has only listened to Clint Eastwood and Feel Good Inc. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.197.58.104 (talk) 06:48, 27 December 2010 (UTC)

It doesn't have to have rap. That's part of what I'm saying. Friginator (talk) 14:33, 27 December 2010 (UTC)

Why don't we just call it "funk" or something that captures what the album actually sounds like?--mikomango (talk) 15:05, 27 December 2010 (UTC)

Seriously, Friginator, the album is not hip-hop. The tone and musicality of the album most parallels with Radiohead's Kid A, another avant-garde creation which is itself listed as alternative rock, electronica. That is much more accurate for this album also which could scarcely bear any more loosely the characteristics of a hip-hop album. Officially Mr X (talk) 15:08, 27 December 2010 (UTC)

I don't think you're understanding what "alternative hip-hop" means or sounds like at all. But there seems to be consensus on "Alternative rock" so let's just add that. Friginator (talk) 16:28, 27 December 2010 (UTC)

Disagree on the alternative rock as this is clearly an electronic album with less rock influence. Standing by the aforementioned that includes the words ambient or experimental. Electronica is good too, but not very descriptive. Alt rock is a bit more accurate than alt hip hop though (which, let me add, it clearly is not and is inaccurate to brand it as such), so I can't complain as much, can I? --67.248.1.244 (talk) 17:17, 27 December 2010 (UTC)

How about "experimental"? The only track that seems heavily hip-hop influenced is "Shytown" to me...isn't it fair to say that with the iPad-of-it-all this whole thing was just an experiment anyway? Sooooo what about "experimental" as a genre? Because I really agree with Officially Mr X, I can barely hear a drop of hip-hop in this thing, and it was so obviously an experiment...--mikomango (talk) 18:24, 27 December 2010 (UTC)

This album is clearly experimental rock/experimental house or ambient house in my mind.