Gorillaz' third album finds Damon Albarn stepping back as composer and producer, letting an impressive roster of guests—Lou Reed, Mos Def, De La Soul, Bobby Womack, and others—take the spotlight. A sequel to 2005's Demon Days, Plastic Beach expands that album's eclectic blueprint with lush, genre-blending production that shifts between hip-hop, Brit-pop, and world music influences. While Albarn's vocals occasionally fade into the mix, the album shines brightest when he's orchestrating the arrangements, crafting intricate sonic collages that reward close listening. The result is moody, textured, and cinematic—less hook-driven pop anthem, more immersive musical journey.