Humanz (Deluxe)

Pitchfork 6.9/10 Humanz mostly feels like a playlist as a result, with each song acting as a self-contained referendum on how this particular guest fares in Gorillaz World.

A.V. Club C The tracks are all good—they are all “fun”—but there’s a manic intensity to it that doesn’t add up.

The Needle Drop 5/10 Humanz has its share of strong performances and musical highlights, but all too often its guests are misplaced or poorly utilized and the songwriting/production just isn't up to the Gorillaz standard.

NME 4/5 The lawless, world-altering scenario ‘Humanz’ presents us with is not a poorly attended inauguration but a massive, cross-genre party, composed largely on an iPad by Albarn and illustrated by his mate Jamie Hewlett.

Evening Standard 5/5 It’s hard to imagine how he’ll turn this army of performers into a coherent live spectacle at Gorillaz’ own festival in Margate this summer, but as a headphone record Humanz is a dazzling experience.

Rolling Stone 3.5/5 This mix-and-match mob is never dull, but it yields magic just intermittently. When it does, however, it's something to behold.

DIY 4/5 Gorillaz’s new album sees the characters handing over the reigns to the humans, and creating their biggest, most political statement yet, via the mouthpiece of some of the music world’s most vital voices.

The Independent 4/5 Though by no means as complete and satisfying as Demon Days or Plastic Beach, there are enough intriguing moments to make Humanz a worthy addition to Gorillaz’s cartoon universe.

All Music 3.5/5 Even with its heavy, heavy R&B vibe and roiling politics, Humanz feels strangely uplifting, as if every musician who entered the studio found solace in the act of creation.

The Skinny 4/5 This is intelligent party music, but it’s also headphone listening.

Under The Radar 6.5/10 While Humanz is the biggest departure Gorillaz has yet attempted, it is also their biggest grower.

Clash 8/10 They have created their most youthful album yet; a vibrant record which paints a picture of the near future so vivid it seems convincingly real.

The Observer 3/5 As ever ... the achievement of this album lies in Albarn marshalling an array of talents, and hauling the mainstream to a stranger place for a little while.

Loud and Quiet 7/10 ‘Humanz’ is largely an impressive showcase of how Albarn’s eclectic tastes are something he’s more than capable of harnessing and tying together with intelligence and nuance.

Slant 3/5 Albarn effectively weaves together his guests' ostensibly disparate styles.

Pop Matters 7/10 Humanz is another strong entry in Albarn’s lengthy and brilliant catalog. At its best, it doubles down on what Albarn has done right all along while also pointing in new directions he can go.

The Guardian 4/5 As usual, he displays exquisite taste in collaborators ... and an impressive ability to get the best out of them by throwing them into unlikely circumstances ... On the downside, it seems a little light on hooks, as if the business of experimenting with production and the excitement of juxtaposing incongruous musical bedfellows took precedence over writing hits.

Spectrum Culture 75% This is a different kind of Gorillaz record, and it’s likely to be a grower if only because most fans will find certain expectations quickly shattered.

The Telegraph 4/5 Humanz is a giddy celebration of unity in difference, the sound of eccentrics, weirdos, outsiders and freaks partying together in defiance of convention. It is music where anything goes, as long as it’s got a groove and a heart.

The Irish Times 4/5 Albarn's fondness for melancholy and melody means each track packs a punch with both its hook and its general demeanour, but these are aligned to sound clashes from disco to dancehall.