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Cracker Island

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For the album's title track, see Cracker Island (song).
Cracker Island
File:Cracker Island.jpeg
Studio album by
Gorillaz
Released24 February 2023 (2023-02-24)
Recorded2020 – May 2022
StudioStudio 13 (London)
Genre
Length37:26
Label
Producer
Gorillaz chronology
Meanwhile EP
(2021) 		Cracker Island
(2023)
Singles from Cracker Island
  1. "Cracker Island"
    Released: 22 June 2022
  2. "New Gold"
    Released: 31 August 2022
  3. "Baby Queen"
    Released: 4 November 2022
  4. "Skinny Ape"
    Released: 8 December 2022
  5. "Silent Running"
    Released: 27 January 2023

Cracker Island is the eighth studio album by the British virtual band Gorillaz. It was released on 24 February 2023 via Parlophone and Warner Records. It features collaborations with Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Bootie Brown and Beck. The album received mostly positive reviews.

Background

The majority of the work on the album began in 2021. "Tormenta", a song made in collaboration with Bad Bunny, was the first completed track for the album. It was originally intended to be the lead single for the second season of the web series Song Machine, before the project was shelved in favor of a traditional studio album (as was "New Gold", which would become the album's second single).[4][5] According to Damon Albarn, permanent collaborator for Gorillaz, the new album was already completed in May of 2022.[6] American record producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Greg Kurstin served as the main producer for the record, alongside British music producer Remi Kabaka Jr.[7]

Singles

Gorillaz released the first single "Cracker Island" (featuring bassist Thundercat) on 22 June 2022.[8] Along with the release of the single, Gorillaz announced that the band would be following up the Meanwhile EP with a full new album. The name was announced as Cracker Island, with its release date, artwork and tracklist being revealed on 31 August, alongside the release of the second single, "New Gold", (featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown).[9][10] The third single, "Baby Queen", was released on the FIFA 23 soundtrack on 30 September, after being leaked earlier that month.[11] It was later officially released as a single on 4 November.[12] The fourth single, "Skinny Ape", was released on 8 December, alongside the announcement of two virtual shows in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus on 17 and 18 December, respectively.[13] The fifth single, "Silent Running" (featuring Adeleye Omotayo) was released on 27 January 2023, with a music video released on 8 February.[14][15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10[16]
Metacritic81/100[17]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[18]
Clash8/10[19]
DIY[20]
Exclaim!7/10[21]
The Guardian[2]
The Independent[3]
NME[22]
Pitchfork6.5/10[23]
PopMatters9/10[24]
Slant Magazine[25]

Cracker Island received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the release received an average score of 81, based on 19 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[17] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album a 7.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[16]

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "less an exploration of new sonic territory so much as it is a reaffirmation of his strengths" and felt that "there's a clean, efficient energy propelling Cracker Island that gives the album a fresh pulse."[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Damon Albarn and Greg Kurstin, except where noted

Cracker Island – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cracker Island" (featuring Thundercat)
3:33
2."Oil" (featuring Stevie Nicks) 3:50
3."The Tired Influencer" 3:31
4."Silent Running" (featuring Adeleye Omotayo) 4:26
5."New Gold" (featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown)
3:35
6."Baby Queen" 3:40
7."Tarantula" 3:31
8."Tormenta" (featuring Bad Bunny)
3:13
9."Skinny Ape" 4:41
10."Possession Island" (featuring Beck)
3:26
Total length:37:26
Cracker Island – Japanese edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Crocadillaz" (featuring De La Soul and Dawn Penn)
2:33
Total length:39:59
Cracker Island – Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Captain Chicken" (featuring Del the Funky Homosapien)
1:51
12."Controllah" (featuring MC Bin Laden)
2:30
13."Crocadillaz" (featuring De La Soul and Dawn Penn)
  • Dawn Penn
  • Albarn
  • Jolicoeur
2:33
14."Silent Running" (featuring Adeleye Omotayo) (2D Piano Version) 4:23
15."New Gold" (featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown) (Dom Dolla Remix)
  • Albarn
  • Kurstin
  • Parker
  • Robinson
4:34
Total length:53:17

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

  • Damon Albarn – production
  • Jamie Hewlett – artwork, design
  • Greg Kurstin – production (1–7, 9, 10), engineering (1–9)
  • Remi Kabaka Jr. – production (1, 2, 6, 8)
  • Kevin Parker – production, engineering (5)
  • Tainy – production (8)
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • Samuel Egglenton – engineering
  • Julian Burg – engineering (1–9)
  • Matt Tuggle – engineering (1–9)
  • Henri Davies – engineering (2, 3, 6, 10)
  • Joel Workman – engineering (2, 3)
  • David Reitzas – engineering (5)
  • Federico Fogolia – engineering (5)
  • Matt Wolach – mixing assistance

References

  1. ^ Herlingshaw, Brett (22 February 2023). "Album Review: Gorillaz - Cracker Island | Gigwise". Gigwise. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (23 February 2023). "Gorillaz: Cracker Island review – smaller, subtler, and better for it". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Helen (23 February 2023). "Gorillaz, Cracker Island review: Damon Albarn's band of apes return with their best album since 2005". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. ^ Langford, Jackson (20 September 2021). "Damon Albarn confirms Gorillaz collaboration with Bad Bunny". NME. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  5. ^ Lim, Eddy (28 October 2020). "Damon Albarn hints at Gorillaz and Tame Impala collaboration for 'Song Machine: Season Two'". NME. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  6. ^ AllEyezOnGorillaz (31 August 2022). Gorillaz Interview 2022 - New Album Announcement - BBC Radio 1 (video). Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Garcia, Thania (31 August 2022). "Bad Bunny, Stevie Nicks and More Featured on New Gorillaz Album". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  8. ^ Caraan, Sophie (23 June 2022). "Gorillaz Tag Thundercat for New Single 'Cracker Island'". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  9. ^ Chow, Katie (31 August 2022). "Gorillaz announce new album Cracker Island, out in February". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  10. ^ Krol, Charlotte (31 August 2022). "Gorillaz announce new album 'Cracker Island', release 'New Gold' with Tame Impala and Bootie Brown". NME. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  11. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (4 November 2022). "Gorillaz release FIFA 23 song 'Baby Queen'". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  12. ^ Uitti, Jack (5 November 2022). "Gorillaz Release New Song Inspired by Meeting with Thai Princess, 'Baby Queen'". American Songwriter. Savage Media Holdings. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  13. ^ Jones, Damian (8 December 2022). "Gorillaz share upbeat new single 'Skinny Ape' and announce virtual shows in London and New York". NME. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  14. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (26 January 2023). "Gorillaz – 'Silent Running' (Feat. Adeleye Omotayo)". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  15. ^ Jones, Damian (8 February 2023). "Gorillaz share new animated video for 'Silent Running' with Adeleye Omotayo". NME. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Cracker Island by Gorillaz reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Cracker Island by Gorillaz Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  18. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (24 February 2023). "Gorillaz - 'Cracker Island' Album Reviews, Somgs & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  19. ^ Harrison, Emma (22 February 2023). "Gorillaz - Cracker Island | Reviews | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews". Clash. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  20. ^ Wright, Lisa (24 February 2023). "Gorillaz - Cracker Island review". DIY. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  21. ^ Hudson, Alex (24 February 2023). "'Cracker Island' Makes the Case for Gorillaz Being Damon Albarn's Quintessential Project". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  22. ^ Smith, Thomas (23 February 2023). "Gorillaz - 'Cracker Island' review: conventional, but richly satisfying". NME. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  23. ^ Cardew, Ben (23 February 2023). "Gorillaz: Cracker Island Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  24. ^ Mason, Adam (21 February 2023). "Gorillaz: Cracker Island (Album Reveiew)". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  25. ^ Attard, Paul (22 February 2023). "Gorillaz 'Cracker Island' Review: The Misfit Toys Misfire". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
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