A beach to rival any spring break spot

The name “Plastic Beach” is superficial, granting a synthetic quality to one of nature’s most serene settings. Fortunately there is nothing superficial or manufactured about Gorillaz’ newest album.

Really the most impressive element of “Beach” is the plethora of styles and sounds the band is able to capture from track to track, all while maintaining a sense of identity in terms of the album’s overall feeling. A beach is a place of relaxation and at its essence, this “Plastic Beach” is marked by similar elements, methodical tempos and level backdrops that keep the album calm.

A vast array of sounds insulates this pillar of composure, virtually every track could stand alone if necessary and each one fulfills its niche. “Beach” contains something for everyone: “White Flag” is a bizarre, peaceful rap of surrender while “Melancholy Hill” fashions a dreamy conflicting world of doldrums romance.

The lyrics and track-by-track instrumentation match up like a game of “Memory,” coinciding appropriately and fitting together in a way that just works even in the most peculiar attempts at contrast.

Music’s best hip-hop crossover group does it again, combining diverse guests with a diverse sound to create an album with a recognizable core sound that is entirely nondiscriminatory in its influences. The band’s maturation and progress is evident; “Plastic Beach” is quite a listen.