The Now Now

The Now Now is the sixth studio album by the British virtual band Gorillaz, released on 29 June 2018 through Parlophone and Warner Bros. Records. Gorillaz co-creator and frontman Damon Albarn began writing and recording the album in late 2017 while on the Humanz Tour. The majority of the album was later completed in February 2018 in London during a break in the band's touring schedule, with James Ford serving as producer. Albarn stated that the album was written and recorded in a brief period of time primarily to allow the band to perform new material on their upcoming tour dates, which were later rebranded as The Now Now Tour following the album's release. Influenced by 1980s new wave and synth-pop, The Now Now eschews the large roster of guest artists featured on the band's previous album, Humanz, instead pursuing a spacey, simplified sound focused on Albarn. As a result, the album includes only three guest artists: George Benson (on lead single "Humility"), and Snoop Dogg and Jamie Principle (on "Hollywood"). The Now Now debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and at number five on the UK Albums Chart. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its cohesion and musical and lyrical simplicity, though some criticized it for a perceived lack of ambition and experimentation.