Is Humanz a good place to start with Gorillaz?

Yes, Humanz is recommended as a starting point for new Gorillaz listeners. A genre-blurring tapestry of sounds that fuses hip-hop, electronic music, and art pop into a vivid dystopian narrative. Released in 2017, Humanz marked Gorillaz's first studio album in seven years following the critically acclaimed Plastic Beach. The album came during a period of artistic evolution for frontman Damon Albarn, as he sought to address contemporary social issues through a diverse array of collaborations across various genres.

Humanz works well if you're into short, immersive listening sessions, dynamic emotional journeys and layered, dense sonic textures.

How many songs are on Humanz?

Humanz has 20 tracks, running approximately 49 minutes.

Humanz

Gorillaz · 2017

49 min · 20 tracks · alternative rock

A genre-blurring tapestry of sounds that fuses hip-hop, electronic music, and art pop into a vivid dystopian narrative.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Ascension Start here — This track features a powerful collaboration with Vince Staples, tackling themes of despair and the struggle for personal empowerment amidst societal chaos.
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Strobelite — With its infectious groove and danceable rhythm, this song embodies the celebratory yet surreal atmosphere of nightlife while exploring fleeting connections.
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Hallelujah Money — The track serves as a poignant critique of capitalism and political apathy, featuring Benjamin Clementine’s haunting vocals that elevate its message to a profound level.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album's diverse sound and narrative structure create an engaging but uneven listening experience.

What we noticed

The album features a series of interludes that break up the main tracks, creating a fragmented narrative structure.
Several songs incorporate contrasting tempos and moods, such as the shift from the upbeat 'Ascension' to the more introspective 'Busted and Blue'.
The final track, 'We Got The Power', serves as a climactic conclusion, bringing together themes from earlier songs in a celebratory manner.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

short, immersive listening sessions
dynamic emotional journeys
layered, dense sonic textures
contemplative interludes and transitions

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Represents a departure in sound and structure, incorporating diverse collaborations.
Themes: digital dystopia· capitalist critique· neon-lit nightlife
Career context: Released in 2017, Humanz marked Gorillaz's first studio album in seven years following the critically acclaimed Plastic Beach. The album came during a period of artistic evolution for frontman Damon Albarn, as he sought to address contemporary social issues through a diverse array of collaborations across various genres.
Stylistic neighbors: Blur· Beastie Boys· Massive Attack