When you put Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong, and Tony Allen together with dub producer Danger Mouse in a studio and make a record, it’s not surprising that you get a dark, postcard from London dub mix. The Good, the Bad & the Queen is an impressive but uneven record from Albarn, Simonon, and co producer Danger Mouse (who also worked on Gorillaz) that came out in 2007.
If you’re a vinyl fan collecting rare singles, there’s some great songs on this double LP that will grab your attention. Instead of the cartoon rock of Gorillaz or the young, restless post punk of Blur, The Good, the Bad & the Queen oozes reggae, dub, and afrobeat, with a strong touch of the Clash era Simonon’s great bass playing.
The following is the track list of this famous supergroup’s chart topping album.
History Song
The album’s opening track has a great bassline from Simonon that gives the song its rhythm throughout, bringing back memories of “Guns of Brixton.” Albarn sounds tired of the world as he warns listeners, “If you don’t know it now, then you will do,” giving a very British message about life.
80s Life
This slightly sad sounding pop song has some of the best acoustic guitar playing on the album. It has a strong feeling of missing something as Albarn sings about getting lost in the woods. Like many songs on this album, it has a slow, end of the world feeling.
Northern Whale
A strange, unclear take on a “tide end town” with some very interesting guitar work from Tong gives this mostly psychedelic track a rough around the edges feeling. It feels slightly broken and unusual, but that adds to its charm.
Kingdom of Doom
Possibly the best song on the album, this track mixes strange pub piano at the start with Tony Allen’s brilliant drumming later on. Albarn sings, “Friday night in the Kingdom of Doom / Ravens fly across the moon,” showing the feeling of wasting away in a small town bar with great detail.
This is a perfect mix of rock and dub that brings back the best days of Jamaican music in the early ’70s while still sounding fresh today.
Herculean
The band’s first single is a great listen, as Danger Mouse’s production brings out the many different acoustic sounds. It has a strange mix of rhythm and energy with some great, but quiet, choruses.
Behind the Sun
This track has a powerful rhythm that is almost punk rock in style but still has a strong dub feeling. Simonon and Allen create an almost perfect rhythm for Albarn to sing over.
The Bunting Song
A very slow and moody track with beautiful guitar playing. Sounding like a western film mixed with the ghost of an old London pub. The acoustic guitar carries the song, with soft background sounds added to complete the feeling.
Nature Springs
One of the most beautiful songs on the album. It uses strange electronic sounds hidden underneath the music, while the backing vocals almost sound like a choir. This song feels like the clouds open up and show a small piece of blue sky.
A Soldier’s Tale
Simonon’s bass playing becomes the main focus with a light, almost old music hall feeling that carries a sad mood. Albarn’s singing is just as powerful, sounding like someone who has spent years working underground in the mines.
The Good, the Bad & the Queen
The title song is the only real low point on the album. Albarn, Simonon, Danger Mouse, and the rest of the band simply relax and let the music speak for itself. It has a dramatic feeling that grows until Tong’s guitar bursts through and Allen enjoys himself behind the drums.
Final Verdict
The Good, the Bad & the Queen isn’t an easy album to listen to, but it is still an important one. This record brings together five incredibly talented people from very different parts of the modern music world, who have managed to colaborate and create something truly unique. It captures a feeling that’s both very English and very dark. While it doesn’t have the easy listening style of a Gorillaz record or the big confidence of Blur’s best years, it becomes something much bigger than just the people who made it.
Verdict: 8.5 / 10
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