Personnel: Damon Albarn (vocals, keyboards); Simon Tong (guitar); Antonia Pagulatos, Alice Pratley, Gillon Cameron, Sally Jackson (violin); Emma Owens, Stella Page, Amanda Drummond (viola); Izzi Dunn (cello); Danger Mouse (synthesizer, percussion); Al Mobbs, Emma Smith (double bass); Tony Allen (drums); James Dring (programming); Paul Simonon (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Danger Mouse.

Audio Mixer: Jason Cox.

Recording information: Studio 13 (04/28/2005-10/05/2005).

Photographer: Pennie Smith.

Expectations run supremely high for a group like The Good, The Bad & The Queen. In addition to being Damon Albarn's first project since the Gorillaz, the GB&Q are also quite the super group, with Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong, and legendary drummer Tony Allen--the man who put the beat in Afrobeat--rounding out the line-up. Adding to this stellar cast is producer/DJ Danger Mouse, who mans the boards and twists the knobs.

The group's 2007 self-titled debut is supremely well-crafted, featuring deeply layered electronic textures that recall the Gorillaz at their most atmospheric and warp the propulsive piano and guitar lines in a playfully foreboding manner. And while Allen doesn't exactly open up the way fans of his work with Fela Kuti might hope, he expertly anchors the whole affair, gently shifting the rhythms and pacing of the tracks without disrupting Albarn's expansive, slightly noir-ish new approach to Britpop.