Label: Parlophone

Reissued 2011, Originally released 2001-2011

It is no great surprise that a group designed as a concept would eventually specialize in concept albums, so when Gorillaz abandoned the giddiness that fueled their 2001 debut in favor of dense dystopian dance-rock operas, it seemed logical and the transition was eased by Albarn's cunning knack for sharp crossover singles. Released in 2011, The Singles Collection 2001-2011 rounds up 15 of those singles -- including remixes of early hits "Clint Eastwood" and "19/2000" and "Doncamatic," which was added to later pressings of 2010's Plastic Beach, but nothing from their iPad-recorded 2010 detour The Fall -- and they make for an impressively consistent body of work, with Gorillaz finding many variations within their blend of Brit-pop, hip-hop, dance, and rock. In this context, it is clear that the three singles pulled from Plastic Beach -- "Stylo," "Superfast Jellyfish," "On Melancholy Hill" -- didn't reach the same heights as those from Gorillaz and Demon Days because they were cobbled by a certain dourness -- a quality lacking from the singles from the similarly pessimistic Demon Days and from "Doncamatic" -- yet they don't offer a sour coda on this Singles Collection; instead, they indicate the complexity of this cartoon pop group, which means this compilation isn't merely a good collection of hits, it's a fine introduction to the multifaceted pleasures of Gorillaz. [The Deluxe Edition contains a bonus DVD with the group's videos (essential to the understanding of the group), a documentary called Charts of Darkness, two BRIT Award performances, and three trailers.]

Track Listing:

1. Tomorrow Comes Today
   
2. Clint Eastwood
   
3. 19 -2000
   
4. Rock the House
   
5. Feel Good Inc.
   
6. DARE
   
7. Dirty Harry
   
8. Kids With Guns
   
9. El Manana
   
10. Stylo (Feat. Bobby Womack and Mos Def)
    
11. Superfast Jellyfish (Feat. Gruff Rhys and De La Soul)
    
12. On Melancholy Hill
    
13. Doncamatic (Feat. Daley)
    
14. Clint Eastwood (Ed Case/Sweetie Irie Re-fix Edit)
    
15. 19 -2000 (Soulchild Remix)