Slopes and Sam

14-05-05 by Sam

The issue peripherally touched on by today's strip, namely the seemingly bizarre propaganda for the new Gorillaz album - "Demon Days", is not particularly interesting, once you get to the bottom of it.  Whether it's supposed to be aggressive, or clever, or ironic, really doesn't matter, and I'm pretty sure the money counters in Virgin Records' marketing department don't have an answer for you.  You'll have to figure it out for yourself.

Got it yet?  It's simple.  It's designed to sell records.  To do this, they're endorsing a limited form of civil disobedience.  What better way to get the kids psyched for the new album?  You come for the delinquency, stay for the music.  It's impressive in the same way Hitler was.

I enjoyed a couple of songs from the previous Gorillaz album, but it mostly passed by unnoticed by me.  But the new one?  Well, let's just say that I haven't been totally consumed by my precious Nine Inch Nails album.  I am most impressed with this particular effort from the cartoon band.  Apart from track 12, an incongruous little dance number that fits this album like a dick in a shirtsleeve.

But the album boasts at least fourteen other tracks, and listening to them is like pouring smooth liqueur into your ears: hot, somewhat painful, and probably not very good for you.  But fuck if you don't enjoy the experience.  You might come away with a bleeding brain, but you'll be better for it.  And at the end of the day, whatever vile method they're using to push this particular pill on the youngsters, the fact that they're exposing them to something better than the Strokes is probably a good thing.

What's that?  You can't remember who the Strokes were?  Don't worry, that too, is a good thing.

You'll note that this is the second comic in a row which is lacking in everyone's favourite Asian.  Well, he's my favourite Asian anyway, and I've known at least three.  One of them may have been Hawaiian, but I'm told it still counts.  It's also the debut disappearance of my own character.  But rest assured, this isn't the start of some kind of God & Gabriel type strip.  As much as I'd love to see these two tear it up around the afterlife, it doesn't leave me much room for the good things in life.  Such as ludicrous racial stereotypes and the odd joke about knobs.  I'll go out on a limb right now and suggest that the next strip will concern far more earthly delights.  Stay tuned.

-Sam

16-05-05 by Sam

Just a little note to say that I spent the weekend getting drunk for the first time in several months and dancing like a knob (the only way to dance).  Not in a nightclub, just in someone's living room.  They eventually asked me to leave, but not until I'd been there long enough to sufficiently not produce a comic for today.

With this project I like to give myself twenty four hours per comic.  In business jargon, that's called a dynamic deadline.  Sounds professional, but isn't.

So hopefully the next one will be penetrating your ocular cavities before midnight (Australian time).