Gorillaz

G-Sides

Virgin Records

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The Gorillaz released their self-titled debut last August and exploded onto the music scene with the catchy vocals of songs such as “”Clint Eastwood”” and the bouncy melodies in “”19-2000.””

Part of the magic behind the Gorillaz was the fact that they were all cartoon characters who — strangely — sound like Damon Albarn of Blur and producer Dan the Automator.

The magic is back with a release of the “”G-Sides,”” which offers clever reworkings of the original songs. These remixes are relatively simple and really don’t offer anything new. But then again, the fresh and unique sounds of the Gorillaz really don’t need to be revitalized with slick remixes.

The Soul Child remix of “”19-2000″” is a bright twist of the original. Weighing in at three minutes and 30 seconds, it is the perfect pop length. The Wiseguys House of Wisdom remix of “”19-2000″” has a funky house sound and is great for the dance floor. The song itself is stripped down and leaves only the bare essentials of the original version.

“”Clint Eastwood”” is also stripped down in the Phi Life Cypher mix. The original melody and beat are present, but the sunny vocals from Albarn are replaced by an awesome lyrical flow.

The sounds of the pseudo-spiritual-soul-electro song “”Ghost Train”” move along with a beat that is reminiscent of, well, a train. The concept of the song is brilliant. The techno-soul tune starts slowly, but then steams up to a frantic pace with thick, punkish guitars.

“”G-Sides”” retains that odd sound and rhythm from the original Gorillaz album, but the remixes and production are minimalistic. That straightforward approach makes for a great companion to their self-titled release.

— Joseph Lee

Hiatus Editor