A Decade of Damon: Part 2, 2004-2006

Check out part one here.







2004:
2004 is a quieter year for old Damon. He does lend his genius to two albums. For his friend, and Think Tank collaborator Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), he lends vocals to "Put It Back Together". By now Damon has perfected his disaffected ghostly singing voice. It's not his "cheeky chappy" Parklife persona, or his beautiful "belt-it-out" crooning Universal/Black Book voice. It's something else entirely...and it sees him well through the 2000's. He also helps out Marianne Faithful on Before The Poison by penning "Last Song"...He may or may not have given the song up willingly, but it's lovely and makes another appearance later this decade.




2005:
The epic Demon Days is released. Another critical triumph, the album also sells over six million copies and reaches number one in the UK. In the US it reaches number 6, cementing Gorillaz as a global phenomenon. Victorian Horror's favorite track? It's so hard to pick one, but lately I've been jamming to "Dirty Harry". Gorillaz also play five nights at the Manchester Opera House in November. A Grammy nominated live DVD of the shows is later released featuring almost all of the Demon Days collaborators. Damon also helps out Gorillaz collaborator Roots Manuva on his Awfully De/EP, reworking "Awfully Deep" into "Awfully Deep (Lambeth Blues)".




2006:
2006 is a year full of anticipation for Damon Albarn fans. Early rumblings of a supergroup with Damon, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen, and Simon Tong abound. In October the wait is over as The Good The Bad And The Queen release the single "Herculean". Released on Damon's Honest Jon's label, the single reaches 22 in the UK...excitement builds for the January 2007 release of the album...