Demon Days (album) → Plastic Beach → Gorillaz (2001). For deep fans: D-Sides and G-Sides are treasure troves.
The journey began in earnest with the 2000 EP Tomorrow Comes Today, but it was the 2001 self-titled debut, Gorillaz, that shattered expectations. Propelled by the haunting, dub-influenced single Clint Eastwood, the album introduced the world to the four fictional members: 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs. This era was characterized by a raw fusion of hip-hop, rock, and punk. To satisfy the growing cult following, the band followed up with G-Sides (2001) and the dub-heavy remix album Laika Come Home (2002), expanding their song count and proving that the virtual project was a deep, multi-layered musical experiment rather than a gimmick.
The era closed with The Fall , an intimate, glitchy diary recorded entirely on an iPad during their North American tour. It was the perfect bookend—starting the decade as a high-concept mystery and ending it as a raw, digital travelogue. Demon Days (album) → Plastic Beach → Gorillaz (2001)
Laika Come Home (2002) — remix/compilation (by Spacemonkeyz)
Demon Days (2005)Widely considered the band's masterpiece, Demon Days is a dark, post-9/11 concept album tackling environmental decay, war, and spiritual crisis. Produced by Danger Mouse, the album trades the loose, jam-band feel of the debut for tight, cinematic pop hooks. Backed by the San Fernando Valley Youth Chorus and the London Community Gospel Choir, the album moves from apocalyptic dread to triumphant redemption. It remains a high-water mark for 2000s alternative music. The era closed with The Fall , an
In a surprising move, Gorillaz released their fourth studio album, The Fall , on December 25, 2010, as a free digital download for fan club members. Recorded entirely on an iPad during the North American leg of the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour , the album is an intimate, lo-fi, and largely improvised affair. The 15 tracks, which include "Phoner to Arizona," "Revolving Doors," "HillBilly Man," "Detroit," "Shy-town," "Little Pink Plastic Bags," "The Parish of Space Dust," "The Joplin Spider," "The Snake in Dallas," "Amarillo," "The Speak It Mountains," "Aspen Forest," "Bobby in Phoenix," "California and the Slipping of the Sun," and "Seattle Yodel" , capture the immediacy of the tour and showcase a more spontaneous, electronic side of the band.
A sprawling, star-studded album focused on environmental issues, featuring guest artists like Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, and Mos Def. star-studded album focused on environmental issues
Often cited as their masterpiece, featuring the Grammy-winning "Feel Good Inc."
G-Sides (2002) / G-Sides (2002, expanded releases)