Mr. Albarn sure has been around, hasn’t he? After all his post-Blur extracurricular activities over the last decade and a half, one of this generations most prolific songwriters has decided to settle down and make himself a proper solo album – his “first,” officially (we can argue the semantics of that some other time).
These are the lamenting sighs of a middle-aged rock star who has indeed been around. It’s a fitting effort: a lonely, world-weary mix of minimal beats and lush arrangements carried by an instantly recognizable but sleepy croon. Damon is tired, you guys. He just wants to sit on his four legged stool and chill. Maybe he wants you to listen to him vent a little about tech saturation and other worries. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it at the same time, so lend him an ear why don’tcha?
Possibly more than any of Albarn’s material to date, Everyday Robots demands patient, repeated listens to uncover the inherent beauty within its melancholia. If I had to compare it, this might sit somewhere in between the last Gorillaz album The Fall and Damon’s low-key opera project Dr. Dee. The most obvious layers showcase the light and engaging found-sound rhythms bouncing along in what is now considered typical Damon fashion. Considering the album’s themes, the beats refreshingly organic. But unlike much of his recent material, these blips and bloops aren’t trying to grab you with the groove. They want to lull you into submission and keep your feet on the ground, and once you’ve been anchored, he’s got ya’ where he wants ya’. An inviting layer of strings and synths occasionally fill the gaps while Damon’s voice takes center stage. Most often, he sings about the obnoxious perils of a society over-reliant on technology. It’s not a new theme, not even for Damon. But it is definitely a painfully relatable one these days, and he presents his murmurings with soul.
Early on, the album hits a bit of a bump with “Mr. Tembo.” Written for an orphaned elephant Albarn met in Tanzania, it’s the one “upbeat” moment on the record that doesn’t seem to fit, thematically or musically. It isn’t a bad tune by any means, and would probably fit fine on anything else he’s been a part of, but it’s inclusion here seems slightly odd. It’s really the only negative to an otherwise consistent and pleasantly moody record. The album hits its stride with centerpiece “You & Me“- a 7 minute doozy featuring multiple movements and varying instrumentation. After that, it really is smooth sailing to the end. It’s the uncharacteristically acoustic track “History of a Cheating Heart” that will sock you hard in the feel-goods. On first listen, it was the one I kept coming back to – a song that would’ve made Beck circa Sea Change very proud.
Damon is one of my personal all-time favorites. Everything the man has done has been gold. If you are like me, I can’t imagine you would dislike this record. And if you aren’t, consider this a decent introduction to the man’s genius. Everyday Robots is definitely a grower, and I expect my own opinion of it to sweeten with time. You can bet your bottom dollar it’ll sit pretty on my own EOY lists. So, sit down and let Uncle Albarn tell you a thing or two about what bothers him. I think you’ll find it surprisingly enjoyable.
Rate it yourself below. Do it.
