Cracker Island
| Cracker Island | ||||
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| Released | 24 February 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2020 – May 2022 | |||
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| Length | 37:26 | |||
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| Gorillaz chronology | ||||
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| Damon Albarn chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Cracker Island | ||||
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Cracker Island is the eighth studio album by the British virtual band Gorillaz, released on 24 February 2023 via Parlophone and Warner Records.
Cracker Island evolved from the shelved second season of the band's web series Song Machine, with the band instead choosing to release an entirely separate new studio album. Most of the album was recorded in 2021 in Los Angeles with Greg Kurstin producing, and was completed by May 2022. Musically, the album adopts a decidedly pop and synth-pop sound, and includes collaborations with Stevie Nicks, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Bootie Brown, and Beck, among others. Gorillaz co-creator and frontman Damon Albarn has described Cracker Island as a loose concept album inspired by modern-day conspiracy theories and online echo chambers.
Cracker Island debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the first Gorillaz album to reach number one in the UK since Demon Days (2005). It also peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200 and reached the top 10 in 19 countries. The album received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and described it as a safe, but effective showcase of the band's style. It was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. The album's release was preceded by an extensive six-month world tour in 2022, the longest in the band’s history, and was followed by performances at the 2023 Coachella Festival.