A review by writersrelief
Gorillaz: Rise of the Ogre by Gorillaz, Cass Browne, Jamie Hewlett
4.0
Brainchild of Daman Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, a virtual band that lives in their own fictional universe, couldn’t have been better executed than during the rise of digital music. A “virtual” band hadn’t really been seen before, and the distinct Gorillaz sound—a mix of electronic, alternative rap, and alternative hip hop—most certainly hadn’t been heard before. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2001, and their success landed them an entry in the Guinness Book Of World Records for Most Successful Virtual Band. Spanning 2001 to 2011, the band released four studio albums.
Published in 2006, GORILLAZ RISE OF THE OGRE details the stories that brought the four band members together, their collaboration and rise to stardom, and the strange occurrences along the way. The disclaimer: “It’s best to point out before we start, not all the stuff in here’s true or real. Especially the stuff Murdoc comes out with. They’re just a bunch of cartoons and what they say should be taken with a pinch of salt...” Murdoc Niccals, 2D, Russel Hobbs, and Noodle are all members of one of the most mysterious bands in the 21st century: Gorillaz. What are their unique and fantastical origins? What demon is Russel possessed by and how’d it happen? How did Noodle survive the trip from Japan to Kong Studios via FedEx? Who’s really the leader of the band, and who should be credited for their awesomeness? (Murdoc, undoubtedly, but you should really pick up the book to read the details of his incredible powers.)
If the idea of reading the fake biography of a fake band wasn’t intriguing enough, then what about what about reading the fake biography about a fake band that included awesome illustrations? Because of the crazy universe the Gorillaz live in, Jamie Hewlett & Zombie Flesh Eaters created a plethora of pretty ridiculous illustrations for the book that kept me just as involved as the text did. With witty and raunchy British humor, captivating illustrations, and one-of-a-kind story, GORILLAZ RISE OF THE OGRE is definitely an exciting roller coaster worth riding.
Published in 2006, GORILLAZ RISE OF THE OGRE details the stories that brought the four band members together, their collaboration and rise to stardom, and the strange occurrences along the way. The disclaimer: “It’s best to point out before we start, not all the stuff in here’s true or real. Especially the stuff Murdoc comes out with. They’re just a bunch of cartoons and what they say should be taken with a pinch of salt...” Murdoc Niccals, 2D, Russel Hobbs, and Noodle are all members of one of the most mysterious bands in the 21st century: Gorillaz. What are their unique and fantastical origins? What demon is Russel possessed by and how’d it happen? How did Noodle survive the trip from Japan to Kong Studios via FedEx? Who’s really the leader of the band, and who should be credited for their awesomeness? (Murdoc, undoubtedly, but you should really pick up the book to read the details of his incredible powers.)
If the idea of reading the fake biography of a fake band wasn’t intriguing enough, then what about what about reading the fake biography about a fake band that included awesome illustrations? Because of the crazy universe the Gorillaz live in, Jamie Hewlett & Zombie Flesh Eaters created a plethora of pretty ridiculous illustrations for the book that kept me just as involved as the text did. With witty and raunchy British humor, captivating illustrations, and one-of-a-kind story, GORILLAZ RISE OF THE OGRE is definitely an exciting roller coaster worth riding.