Personally one of the best albums of the 2000s.
The self titled debut of Gorillaz is still probably one of my favorite albums ever. It has this feeling thats best described as someone making the soundtrack to some underground indie comic in 2001. Which makes sense since as you probably know(or dont), Gorillaz is a side project from Blur frontman Damon Alburn with comic book artist Jamie Hewlett, who created Tank Girl, genuinely one of the most insane comic books ever. Go watch the movie with Lori Petty, its actually pretty friggen sweet.
Alongside Damon, Bay Area DJ Dan the Automator was a producer on the album, and honestly you can tell. Dan the Automator is one of my favorite DJs(Noticing a Trend here), and his work with Del The Funkee Homosapien in Deltron 3000 is some of my favorite work of his. Sidenote, check out his album Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By under the name Lovage or Nathaniel Merriweather. Its was a side project with Mike Patton of Faith No More and Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields(no I never head of them prior to them but maybe you have). Best I can describe it is "Outta pocket" the album.
Anyway, the album was influenced by all sorts of genres. Dub, hip hop, latin, punk, and ska, which makes sense considering the fact Terry Hall of The Specials later helped produced the remix album, Laika Come Home.
Speaking of The Specials, the song on the album, Slow Country actually samples one of their songs, Ghost Town. Listen for that drum. It kinda gives it away.