Thoughts on: The Good, The Bad & The Queen

As hard as it is for this Radiohead fan to admit, while everyone was looking elsewhere, Damon Albarn established himself as Britrock's most consistent and innovative artist. His motives may have been questioned since he told us that there's no other way, but the results speak for themselves: the Blur behemoth, obviously, but also Gorillaz--a hugely popular group that manage to remain indie in the best sense of the word. Albarn's voice and melodies now have an instant familiarity that make his albums the aural equivalent of comfort food. In other words, he's become the Sting that doesn't suck.

Now comes "The Good, The Bad & The Queen", ostensibly an Albarn solo album with the help of an all-star cast (Danger Mouse on production duties, Tony Allen on drums, etc.). Beneath the album's pleasant melodic exterior, there's a darkness to Albarn's lyrics that make this a fitting soundtrack to 2007.

When one sees the fervor over Steve Jobs' keynote and the accompanying iPhone eclipse the fact that people are dying in a bloody war half a world away, it's a painful and embarrassing reminder of the fact that "reality" today has a lot more to do with escapism than with hard facts. Albarn addresses this uncomfortable truth: on "Kingdom of Doom" he sings about how people "Drink all day cause the country's at war." Likewise, on the stunning "Green Fields" he sings:

Before the war and the tidal wave
Engulfed US it’s true
How the world has changed
And I was learning how to change with you

This is an album that, unlike Blur and Gorillaz, doesn't shine through on its singles. It's an understated collection of well-crafted songs that deserves to be listened to in its entirety, both for its compelling musical and lyrical themes. Damon Albarn has done it again.

Verdict: Buy the CD

Listen to "History Song":

[Download Their BBC Show]
Watch "Green Fields":