from pitchfork:

Last month, Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn said that he'd been making a new Gorillaz album on his iPad, which he hoped to release "before Christmas." Well, he wasn't messing with us. In fact, it looks like the new Gorillaz album just might be released on Christmas. For free. Your move, Radiohead!

Consequence of Sound points out that Albarn and Gorillaz co-founder Jamie Hewlett recently did an interview with Australia's Perth Now in which they laid out the plans for the still-untitled album. In that interview, Hewlett says, "At the moment, we've got an Advent calendar on our website, and there is a daily door that opens to reveal a gift. On Christmas Eve, a video for one of the new songs from the iPad album will be released. Then, on Christmas Day, fans get the whole album downloaded to their computer for free as a gift."

Albarn continues, "I wanted to make sure that it came out at the end of the tour because I don't want anyone to think I'd tampered with it. I literally made it on the road in America over a month. I didn't write it before; I didn't prepare it. I just did it day by day as a kind of diary of my experience in America. If I left it until the New Year to release it, then the cynics out there would say, 'Oh well, it's been tampered with.' But if I put it out now, they'd know that I haven't done anything because I've been on tour ever since."

That's a lot of effort just to prove to the world that you recorded your album while on the road, but we'll take it! So now we know to carve out a few minutes away from our loved ones on Christmas to download this new Gorillaz album.

-------------

It's also been rumored that with the end of the tour, and the release of this album, Gorillaz would be finished as a "band".

Gorillaz Advent Calendar

Mother. Fuck. Yes.

I was kind of hoping they'd put Doncamatic (All Played Out) on this but it doesn't really fit the tour album restrictions Damon is putting on himself.

I'll be so happy if this actually happens.

Boooooo

Wow, that's some fast turnaround. I loved Plastic Beach, I hope this can match it.

New album will be called 'The Fall'. Apparently because it was recorded in the fall. Cool title...lame reason behind it.

Rumors are now this may only be a free download to fanclub members.

Regardless, new single Phoner to Arizona should get a short preview this week and be released on the advent calendar the 24th.

Well, it might not be a rumor. It's right here on the webpage that there's a "bonus download" for fan club members on 12/25. Oh, well. Hopefully it's not the whole album; I'd love for it to be available publicly.

I was thoroughly disappointed by their last album so I hope this will be something more akin to what I liked about the group with the first two albums. I'm a huge Damon Albarn fan in general but Plastic Beach just wasn't for me.

<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ql7DX0lWfwI&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ql7DX0lWfwI&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>

18 second preview of the new single. Not much to go on.

Press Release:

From Montreal to Vancouver via Seattle, Texas and Toronto, over 32 days on their North American Tour this autumn, Gorillaz recorded a musical diary. The result is a collection of 15 tracks, some with vocals, some without, some combined performances and some solo.

The 15 track sonic journal, titled The Fall, produced by Gorillaz and Stephen Sedgwick, will be available to download for free by Sub Division fan club members on Christmas Day and will also be streamed on Gorillaz.com from Christmas Day.

The music was recorded during spare time while on the road. "I did it because there's a lot of time that you just spend staring at walls essentially. And it was a fantastic way of doing it" says Damon Albarn. "I found working in the day, whether it's in the hotel or in the venue, it was a brilliant way of keeping myself well." Adding that the collection is "..like a diary, I literally wrote everything on the day in each place and there's a strange sort of sound of America and its musical traditions that comes through. It feels like a journey through America."

A physical release is planned for later in 2011

The full track listing is:

1.Phoner To Arizona
2.Revolving Doors
3.HillBilly Man
4.Detroit
5.Shy-town
6.Little Pink Plastic Bags
7.The Joplin Spider
8.The Parish of Space Dust
9.The Snake In Dallas
10.Amarillo
11.The Speak It Mountains
12.Aspen Forest
13.Bobby In Phoenix
14.California And The Slipping Of The Sun
15.Seattle Yodel

First single: "Phoner to Arizona" It's a interesting sounding song, I would have to hear the rest of the tracks to see how they all fit together before I can comment any further.

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SAeUwuUGSaM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SAeUwuUGSaM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

Am I being overly dramatic to call Damon Albarn one of the most talented musicians working today?

Due to the magic of different time zones, only a few moments until Midnight in the UK.

Artwork:

Credits:

1. PHONER TO ARIZONA
Recorded in Montreal on 3rd October
2. REVOLVING DOORS
Recorded in Boston on 5th October
3. HILLBILLY MAN
Recorded in New Jersey and Virginia on 10th and 11th October
Additional Guitar: Mick Jones
4. DETROIT
Recorded in Detroit on 13th October
5. SHY-TOWN
Recorded in Chicago on 15th October
6. LITTLE PINK PLASTIC BAGS
Recorded in Chicago on 16th October
Additional Keyboards: Jesse Hackett
7. THE JOPLIN SPIDER
Recorded in Joplin on 18th October
Additional conversations with: Darren ‘Smoggy’ Evans
8. THE PARISH OF SPACE DUST
Recorded in Houston on 19th October
9. THE SNAKE IN DALLAS
Recorded in Dallas on 20th October
10. AMARILLO
Recorded in Amarillo on 23rd October
11. THE SPEAK IT MOUNTAINS
Recorded in Denver on 24th October
Stream and forest recorded in Santa Fe on 25th October by Mike Smith
12. ASPEN FOREST
Recorded in Santa Fe on 25th October and in Vancouver on 3rd November
Additional Bass: Paul Simonon
Additional Qanun: James R Grippo
13. BOBBY IN PHOENIX
Recorded in Phoenix on 26th October
Vocals and Guitar: Bobby Womack
14. CALIFORNIA AND THE SLIPPING OF THE SUN
Recorded in Oakland on 30th October
Train station announcement recorded at LA Train Station. Additional conversation with: Darren ‘Smoggy’ Evans, Mick Jones, Jamie Hewlett and Tanyel Vahdettin.
15. SEATTLE YODEL
Recorded in Seattle on 2nd November
Featuring the Archie McPhee Yodelling Pickle. Copyright 2008 Archie McPhee and Company http://www.mcphee.com/shop/products/...ng-Pickle.html

Wow...only two songs in but....wow.

Here's the album:

**sorry folks it's gone**

Mods: Damon & Gorillaz have asked fans to share the album. However, should you find this post inappropriate, please delete or let me know and I will.

He's definitely talented, and has shown a lot more longevity than many of his contemporaries. Can't wait to hear this album!

EMI might have a problem with that, based on the results of clicking that link.

It's good, but doesn't stand up to Demon Days or Plastic Beach, imo.

Pretty meh to be honest.

It's pleasant enough, but thank goodness I didn't pay for this.

I could spend a few days in Fruity Loops and come up with the same stuff.

decent enough for a free ipad album

More Gorillaz goodness. Gorillaz Unofficial has compiled a live album as a gift for fans. It's a free download. Details:

'Plastic Beach Live' live compilation - G-U New Year's Gift

Happy New Year to all Gorillaz-Unofficial visitors! What a Gorillaz year it has been. We will as usual be taking a look back over the last Gorillaz year, expect that in the next few days. For now, please enjoy a small New Year's gift (originally intended for Christmas, but The Fall got in the way!).

'Plastic Beach Live' is a 2 disc compilation paying tribute to Gorillaz live in 2010. Disc 1 features the whole of Plastic Beach live including ALL the collaborators recording live (apart from Snoop who never performed WTTWOTPB live, but additionally including the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble on Broken and Plastic Beach) compiled from various gigs from the best possible sources. Disc 2 is the best recordings of the other 17 tracks performed around the world, featuring collaborators where possible. All tracks have been normalised for volume and are taken from the best sources available. Disc 1 is all from tv or radio - Disc 2 is more mixed, a couple of the tracks were taken from Youtube recordings and a bootleg. Thanks to Rust for the cover - other alternate covers are also available in the zip. Re-encoded only once more from sources, at 320kbps mp3. For all source info see the include release notes or click 'Read More' beloe.

Download

Disc 1
1. Orchestral Intro 2. Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach (featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble) 3. White Flag (featuring Kano, Bashy and the Syrian National Orchestra For Arabic Music) 4. Rhinestone Eyes 5. Stylo (featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack) 6. Superfast Jellyfish (featuring De La Soul and Gruff Rhys) 7. Empire Ants (featuring Little Dragon) 8. Glitter Freeze (featuring Mark E. Smith) 9. Some Kind of Nature (Featuring Lou Reed) 10. On Melancholy Hill 11. Broken (featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble) 12. Sweepstakes (featuring Mos Def and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble) 13. Plastic Beach (featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble) 14. To Binge (featuring Little Dragon) 15. Cloud of Unknowing (featuring Bobby Womack) 16. Pirate Jet

Disc 2
1. Last Living Souls 2. Kids With Guns (featuring Neneh Cherry) 3. O Green World 4. 19/2000 (featuring Miho Hatori) 5. Tomorrow Comes Today 6. DARE (featuring Roses Gabor and Shaun Ryder) 7. Dirty Harry (featuring Bootie Brown) 8. El Manana 9. November Has Come (featuring MF Doom) 10. Doncamatic (featuring Daley) 11. Punk 12. Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head 13. Don't Get Lost In Heaven 14. Demon Days (featuring Bobby Womack) 15. Hong Kong (featuring Zeng Zhen) 16. Feel Good Inc (featuring De La Soul) 17. Clint Eastwood (featuring Kano and Bashy) Bonus tracks: 18. Clint Eastwood (featuring Snoop Dogg) 19. Clint Eastwood (featuring Eslam Jawaad) 20. Clint Eastwood (featuring Tinie Tempah)







Plastic Beach Live

A compilation of the best available versions of all the tracks played live by Gorillaz in 2010.

If burning to 2CD, use the overburn functionality on your CD burner for Disc 2, or drop one of the bonus tracks, to fit it on one 80 minute CD-R.




Disc 1


1. Orchestral Intro
2. Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach (featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
3. White Flag (featuring Kano, Bashy and the Syrian National Orchestra For Arabic Music)
4. Rhinestone Eyes
5. Stylo (featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack)
6. Superfast Jellyfish (featuring De La Soul and Gruff Rhys)
7. Empire Ants (featuring Little Dragon)
8. Glitter Freeze (featuring Mark E. Smith)
9. Some Kind of Nature (Featuring Lou Reed)
10. On Melancholy Hill
11. Broken (featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
12. Sweepstakes (featuring Mos Def and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
13. Plastic Beach (featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
14. To Binge (featuring Little Dragon)
15. Cloud of Unknowing (featuring Bobby Womack)
16. Pirate Jet


Orchestral Intro
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach
featuring the Hynotic Brass Ensemble
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

White Flag
featuring Kano, Bashy and the Syrian National Orchestra For Arabic Music
(Live at Damascus Citadel 25/07/10)
Taken from the NPR radio broadcast

Rhinestone Eyes
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

Stylo
featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack
(live at the Roundhouse, London 30/04/10)
Taken from the MTV World Stage tv broadcast

Superfast Jellyfish
featuring Gruff Rhys and Del La Soul
(live at the Roundhouse, London 30/04/10)
Taken from the MTV World Stage tv broadcast

Empire Ants
featuring Little Dragon
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

Glitter Freeze
featuring Mark E.Smith
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

Some Kind Of Nature
featuring Lou Reed
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

On Melancholy Hill
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

Broken
featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

Sweepstakes
featuring Mos Def and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
(live at the Roundhouse, London 30/04/10)
Taken from the MTV World Stage tv broadcast

Plastic Beach
featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

To Binge
featuring Little Dragon
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

Cloud Of Unknowing
featuring Bobby Womack
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

Pirate Jet
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast



Disc 2


1. Last Living Souls
2. Kids With Guns (featuring Neneh Cherry)
3. O Green World
4. 19/2000 (featuring Miho Hatori)
5. Tomorrow Comes Today
6. DARE (featuring Roses Gabor and Shaun Ryder)
7. Dirty Harry (featuring Bootie Brown)
8. El Manana
9. November Has Come (featuring MF Doom)
10. Doncamatic (featuring Daley)
11. Punk
12. Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head
13. Don't Get Lost In Heaven
14. Demon Days (featuring Bobby Womack)
15. Hong Kong (featuring Zeng Zhen)
16. Feel Good Inc (featuring De La Soul)
17. Clint Eastwood (featuring Kano and Bashy)
Bonus tracks
18. Clint Eastwood (featuring Snoop Dogg)
19. Clint Eastwood (featuring Eslam Jawaad)
20. Clint Eastwood (featuring Tinie Tempah)


Last Living Souls
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

Kids With Guns
featuring Neneh Cherry
(Live at Berlin Velodrom 21/11/10)
Taken from the Berlin Velodrom bootleg

O Green World
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

19/2000
featuring Miho Hatori
(Live at Gibson Amphitheatre, Los Angeles 27/10/10)
Taken from a Youtube video uploaded by GilW

Tomorrow Comes Today
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

DARE
featuring Roses Gabor and Shaun Ryder
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

Dirty Harry
featuring Bootie Brown
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

El Manana
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

November Has Come
featuring MF Doom
(Live at Le Zenith, Paris 23/11/10)
Taken from a Youtube video uploaded by murelore

Doncamatic
featuring Daley
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

Punk
(Live at Berlin Velodrom 21/11/10)
Taken from the Berlin Velodrom bootleg

Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

Don't Get Lost In Heaven
(Live at Berlin Velodrom 21/11/10)
Taken from the Berlin Velodrom bootleg

Demon Days
featuring Bobby Womack
(Live at Berlin Velodrom 21/11/10)
Taken from the Berlin Velodrom bootleg

Hong Kong
featuring Zeng Zhen
(Live at AsiaWorld Arena, Hong Kong 03/12/10)
Intro taken from a Youtube video uploaded by powerrangershk, song taken from a Youtube video uploaded by Iawakchan

Feel Good Inc
featuring De La Soul
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

Clint Eastwood
featuring Bashy and Kano
(Live at Studio 207 Plaine St Denis 24/10/10)
Taken from the Canal+ La Musicale tv broadcast

Bonus Tracks

Clint Eastwood
featuring Snoop Dogg
(Live at Glastonbury Festival 25/06/10)
Taken from the BBC live tv broadcast

Clint Eastwood
featuring Eslam Jawaad
(Live at Damascus Citadel 25/07/10)
Taken from the NPR radio broadcast

Clint Eastwood
featuring Tinie Tempah
(Live at BBC Studios 19/05/10)
Taken from the BBC broadcast of the Jonathan Ross show

Mos Def, Lou Reed, and MF Doom.