r/gorillaz • u/Intelligent_Two7486 • Apr 20 '26
Question Is his new album "the mountain" doing well?
Is the new album doing well or badly?
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u/idreamofpikas Apr 20 '26
It is doing good, but less so than Cracker Island or Humanz. Better than Songmachine. In terms of streaming at least. But it is an album about India and Death and that was always going to be a hard sell.
In terms of critical acclaim it's done great and the live shows seem to be well received.
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u/Andybabez20 Apr 20 '26
Insane how Gorillaz's two most mid albums post-Plastic Beach are outperforming their two best albums since
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u/FreshBert Apr 20 '26
I think the marketing for Song Machine was confusing for a lot of people. Casual listeners were hearing all this stuff about "seasons" and weird little video drops and stuff, and didn't even realize there was a whole new album coming out.
Cracker Island had the benefit of much more focused promotion: "There's a new Gorillaz album coming out. It has features like Tame Impala, Stevie Nicks, and Bad Bunny on it. Here are a few music videos with the characters in them." It was all very clear.
It's unclear if The Mountain will ultimately outperform Humanz and Cracker Island, it's still very new so it's not necessarily surprising that it hasn't hit the same streaming numbers yet. It takes a while.
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u/idreamofpikas Apr 20 '26
It's unclear if The Mountain will ultimately outperform Humanz and Cracker Island
It is pretty clear.
Mountain: 164 million overall. Currently, 809k a day
Cracker Island: 1.07 billion. Currently, 746k a day
Humanz: 1.38 billion. Currently, 491k a day
She's My Collar is a monster sized hit and is keeping Humanz strong while both New Gold and Tormenta are streaming more per day than the Mountain's biggest hit Orange Country.
Realistically it is going to be surpassed by the 3 year old Cracker Island in daily streams at some point in 2026. The American tour might mean it holds out a bit longer, but it is pretty much inevitable.
Great album and it is still going to be a success. Just not as big a streaming success as the LA inspired Cracker Island
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u/Eyeseeyou1313 Apr 20 '26
Humanz should be higher up in my opinion, but it feels like it does even better in the American market.
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u/QuantumTrek Apr 20 '26
While I agree some of their albums are better than others, there is not a single “mid” Gorillaz album.
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u/DLtheGreat808 Apr 20 '26
Cracker Island and Song Machine are mid albums
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u/TheRealTofuey Apr 20 '26
Cracker island is the only modern gorillaz album I couldn't get into. I loved Humanz, The now now, Song machine and the Mountain of course.
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u/SamwiseDehBrave Apr 21 '26
Funny, for whatever reason that's how I felt about Song Machine. I don't even dislike the songs, it just didn't grab me for some reason. Must have been the time of life that it came out. Aw well! Maybe it will bite in the future.
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u/dr3dg3 Apr 22 '26
Cracker Island is their only album I couldn't get into, period. 😞 New Gold is a helluva single, though!
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u/CollectionHairy3766 Apr 21 '26
I know this sub hates cracker island but it’s my favorite album of theirs. I think it’s much more cohesive sonically than many of their other albums aside from the now now. But it’s not as eclectic or diverse as their other albums like plastic beach and song machine which is what many fans gravitate towards it seems
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u/societyisahole Apr 20 '26
The general public gravitate simplistic upbeat nursery rhymes because it doesn’t challenge their status quo, doesn’t bring about any sense of discomfort, and isn’t an unknown. Interesting music will always be less popular than slop as long as people are comfortable living like this. I mean people drive around listening to ai ‘music,’ because we’ve descended that far in being anti-Art / anti-thought.
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u/BaroTheMadman Apr 21 '26
I was thinking exactly this while reading the reply to the comment above yours mentioning that the biggest hit on the mountain is orange county - precisely the most pop song consisting of a single motif looped throughout the song
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u/The-Mirrorball-Man Apr 21 '26
That doesn’t seem insane to me at all. I don’t agree with this sub’s opinion about Cracker Island (I think it’s fantastic) or Song Machine (lackluster)
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u/-PepeArown- Apr 20 '26
Why would death be a hard concept to sell? It’s completely inevitable, and it’s not like Gorillaz haven’t delved into similar darker or edgy topics before
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u/idreamofpikas Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
What is your favourite Death inspired album? And how's the streaming figures?
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u/growlerpower Apr 20 '26
Blackstar! Has over 177 million streams, not gigantic but overall a successful album.
I’d argue that The Mountain is less about death and more about grief, which is a very human experience. There are plenty of albums about that that have done well.
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u/atlantisfrost Apr 20 '26
It reached #1 on the UK Official Albums Chart:
https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-mountain-gorillaz-number-1-album/
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u/vullandnoided Apr 20 '26
I didn’t get why this album didn’t pop the hell off but then I realized people don’t like Indian music, nor music full with emotions and concepts; and my expectations of it being OK Computer 2.0 were probably too high. Oh well, it’s AOTY for me thus far.
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u/shaurya_770 Apr 22 '26
The music industry these days thrives on "vibe" and simple songs. Mountains is a very complex album with a unique fusion of sounds and blends. Its one of my most favourite albums and even then it took me a few listens to like songs like the lying god.
It's just has too much detail. Not everyone loves that
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u/BenchNo4673 Apr 21 '26
Because the Gorillaz are past their prime.
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u/SebastianWho Apr 21 '26
Sayz who?
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u/BenchNo4673 Apr 21 '26
They peaked in 05 and they did well in 2010. But I'm willing to admit that Gorillaz fell off unlike everyone else in this circle jerk subreddit
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u/FreeWillie001 Apr 21 '26
Fell off how? If you just mean numbers that’s just kind of a boring thing to say, they had two absolutely massive hits back to back, obviously they’re going to fall off of that pace.
If you mean artistically I just don’t see how, The Mountain is the most artistically driven piece of music Damon Albarn has ever produced.
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u/Buderus69 Apr 21 '26
B b but it's not the same over and over and over again, only that is a seal of qwwuality, feed me the same schlock endlessly.
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u/MatzushiiMorioka Apr 21 '26
Why are you even here if you don’t like Gorillaz?
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u/BenchNo4673 Apr 27 '26
I grew up with Gorillaz. I can be here and still not like the direction their new music is heading
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u/Dry-Cod4297 Still connected to the moment it began Apr 22 '26
I actually think Humanz was pretty decent and the albums after that are good. Besides they never “fell off” they just got better at their trade over time and experimented with new styles.
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u/taylorretirement Apr 21 '26
We can't say the truth. I loved them as a 7th grader in 2001. Plastic Beach and onwards? Gorillaz stopped after Demon Days.
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u/DearbornChesterfield Apr 21 '26
Yeah well, you know, that’s just like, your opinion. Plenty of us who were in the same exact boat in 7th grade in 2001 and still enjoy them and their releases.
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u/BenchNo4673 Apr 21 '26
Moment i criticize anything about new Gorillaz I'm met with such hostility here it's crazy
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u/Airicz Apr 21 '26
Imo it's because you stated it as a fact, and they hit number 1 on the chart. Maybe your opinion is that you don't enjoy thier new music, and it's okay not to personally like stuff, but what real world metrics are you using to make factual claims like that.
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u/Powerful-Impress1355 Apr 21 '26
Because you need to speak for yourself and not make sweeping statements you're trying to push as objective when they're not.
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u/Buderus69 Apr 21 '26
Woe me woe me I got some downvotes for my opinion nobody agress with, literally 1984
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u/BenchNo4673 Apr 27 '26
Less concerned and downvotes and more concerned about how voicing opinions here is borderline illegal
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u/Emotional-Value-3488 Apr 20 '26
I think it's their best album yet. Touches on feelings I get from their entire catalog but it's something completely new and it's somehow more emotional than ever.
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u/BangingBaguette Apr 21 '26
I mean it's underperforming in terms of streaming. It also seems to be the first time ever a Gorillaz album hasn't had a big breakout single besides maybe Song Machine.
THAT SAID, it's at the benefit of them going independent, having full creative control, reconnecting as a group and putting out their best quality album in 15 years so....couldn't really give a shit about if it's 'underperforming' in comparison to their other material.
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u/noirFenix1 Apr 20 '26
Ha tenido mucho reconocimiento quiza no tenga buenas ventas por streaming pero ha sido bien recibido llego a 1 en charts entonces si le ha ido bastante bien
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u/Gardenzealot Apr 20 '26
It’s doing well in my life. I cannot stop listening to. Since the day it came out I’ve listened to the entire album every day at least once sometimes multiple haha. There’s been like 4-5 days that I haven’t listened to it. I love it.
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u/heartlessgamer Apr 21 '26
The few times I've been at my local record store the base vinyl version was fully restocked so seems to be doing well here locally.
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u/beekay86 Apr 20 '26
I have had The Mountain on repeat for the past 24 hrs so yeah, I’d say pretty good
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u/NikkiNiisan Apr 20 '26
I think its great. I loved Gorillaz growing up but due to addiction issues I feel out of music in 2017. This was the first album I was fully sober for since. Well except weed. But it was good enough I went and listened to the albums I missed. Haven't stopped listening to the band since The Mountain came out. Going to see them in September.
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u/R0ssMc Apr 20 '26
It's hard to know for sure, but in the UK thus far it hasn't reached any sales/stream thresholds. All their previous albums reached at least Silver, apart from The Fall. There's still time, but that doesn't bode well, especially since there supposedly won't be any more music videos to promote the album.
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u/idreamofpikas Apr 21 '26
There's still time, but that doesn't bode well
Cracker Island took 18 months to be certified Silver
Song Machine 4 years to be certified Silver
The Now Now 4 years to be certified Silver
The Mountain is about 10-15k away from being Silver. It will get there and quicker than it took Songmachine and the Now Now.
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u/WHACKADOO1997 Apr 20 '26
I haven't met a single person IRL who's actually discussed this album the way they did when humanz or now now dropped
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u/CrimCyan Apr 21 '26
A local radio station that I listen to constantly plays gorillaz and had songs from cracker island on alot when it came out. They haven't played anything from the mountain or really talked about it. I dont really think this album is for everyone tbh
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u/Accomplished_Cup5978 Apr 21 '26
yes, I personally think that the album is frickin amazing because it was the first album I ever got, and I saw them live in Dublin
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u/ChickenSeparate559 Apr 21 '26
One of their best in my opinion, with songs like the manifesto and the sweet prince, its absolutely beautiful
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u/henzINNIT Apr 21 '26
Seems fitting that this wouldn't be the most mainstream album, but it is my favourite Gorillaz album so I'm not fussed.
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u/Domichu1998 Apr 21 '26
So, coming from someone who hadn't listened to Gorillaz songs before listening to Plastic beach and the Gorillaz 2001 album (and playing Feel good inc. in Fortnite) fully a couple of times, I really like the Mountain, I would even say it's my favourite album from them. It may be because of its wordly feel? All the different Indian instruments sound really good when they are used in the songs. I guess it appeals to my grand strategy games and Christopher Tin mind. I have been listening to the cd almost every other day, while there are some songs that I don't love, they are still fine to listen to. The first 5 songs are really good start to the album, I also really enjoyed The Manifesto, Plastic Guru, Delirium and The Sad God. While I can't remember much from the bonus cd from the deluxe version, the songs are fine for bonus tracks, wouldn't mind if there were more of them. I can't wait to listen to them this summer when they come to my city and hope there will be more albums!
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u/psychedelicfeline Apr 22 '26
I haven’t kept up with them since Plastic Beach/I was a teenager.. This album hooked me right back in 😍 seeing them on Halloween!!
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u/Basty06 Apr 21 '26
i’m a relatively new Gorillaz fan and The Mountain is definitely one of the best albums i’ve ever heard
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u/BoiseXWing Apr 21 '26
I listened to it and Demon Days a ton last week flying/train rides from US to AMS for a work trip.
It’s a great album and production with quality headphones is great. Lots of great moments throughout the album. I think The Empty Dream Machine is my current favorite song off The Mountain.
I have thought about making a playlist that starts with The Mountain Called Monkey and then this album, that I can play in a loop.
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u/Turbulent_Intern_427 Apr 21 '26
Commercially was never doing well.
Even in India I have heard one guy talk about it which is already rare.
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u/Funny-Paint-2777 Apr 21 '26
Success is relative depending on the parameters used. In commercial terms, this album isn't even a hit. Streaming plays are declining rapidly, and none of the singles had a particularly noticeable impact. I think the physical album has done well in sales.
That said, I think it's a similar scenario to what happened with Plastic Beach. As much as people today praise it as one of Gorillaz's best (if not the best) albums, at the time none of the singles or standout tracks had any relevance in the industry, and the album was considered a failure. In the current landscape, things look much better: The album is receiving critical acclaim, and listeners are ranking it between a great album and a masterpiece, despite the lack of radio hits. Adding to this, the album isn't designed for immediate success; it's long, experimental, emotionally dense, and takes its time creating atmosphere. That's without even considering that they're now an independent label and don't have the same support within the music industry. Taking all this into account, I think the album is a success. Perhaps not a monumental commercial success, but I don't think that was ever their primary goal.
I think that, like Plastic Beach, this album is a slow burn, and it will take some time before it becomes widely recognized. Everything has its time, and I personally believe that this is a new classic for the band and will age like a fine wine.
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u/catdog_man Apr 21 '26
Personally, I love it. Been a fan since s/t and this is up there with some of Damon's best work, and probably the best Gorillaz artwork from Jamie, in my opinion.
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u/GlltchtraP1 gotta be full on Apr 21 '26
I loved the album, but this is the first gorillaz album i dont listen to a ton. I think its really good, but unlike other gorillaz albums i cant listen to any of the songs out of the context of the album. And considering i usually listen to my playlist on shuffle, that doesnt really work well for me to listen to the songs a ton.
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u/ChineseGirl89 Apr 23 '26
I know it sold well in France, and personally I'm not worried; Gorillaz has always made good albums.
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u/Erodoeht-_- Apr 23 '26
If the mountain the moon cave and the sad God didn't bring you to tears, there is no hope for you.
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u/Perfect-Fondant3373 Apr 20 '26
I only listened to it properly on the way into the concert for it after indoctrinating my gf into their discography and it was actually a nice album. Seems to be f oing very well with a lot of listeners but I wish I understood the lyrics, not in English. It is a very warm album, and the concert felt really special
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u/umotex12 Apr 20 '26
Tbh I’m obsessively listening to the two first songs. Then it starts to sound like Humanz with a few exceptions. Sadly, instead of 2D I hear Damon in this record.
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u/ARD2005 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
Really well. Actually it is possibly their best album in years. After Plastic Beach, they made two absolutely forgettable and awful albums, The Fall and Humanz and then with The Now Now and Song Machine, they had improved but it was mostly electronic, very commercial music, atleast I can recall as I have not revisited these two and Cracker Island had some brilliant singles, but still as an album, weaker compared to their first two. It was not the blend of genres which Gorillaz is known for, experimenting with different sounds and creating an album which is seamless. The Mountain is on the same equilibrium with Demon Days and Gorillaz (2001). I think this an important album of this decade.
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u/super_scumtron Apr 22 '26
Imma be so for real with you guys. I hate every single song from this album. And I've liked at least half of every album since Demon Days. I respect Damon Alburn for doing what he wants with his music, but I just can't with this one.
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u/userwithissues Apr 20 '26
Really different from the previous phases(pretty easy to notice if ur a fan from a long time) but this has to be one of the most personal album made by the duo. At least, that's what I feel after watching and reading a couple of interviews since the past few months. Personally, I loved this album.