this is just my opinion btw, and this is my fav gorillaz album so i dont hate any of the tracks. heres my explanation for each track:
S TIER
empire ants - my favourite, but its very close with the rest of s tier. its just so beautiful and the riff that starts halfway through the song is incredible, yukimi's voice, etc.
pirate jet - this track is so underrated in my opinion, but it's one of my favourite closers of any album in my opinion, feels so cold and final if that makes sense, like you're isolated in the sea forever in the dark, which i suppose is the exact situation 2d is in in this situation. it feels so cold, and then you get a hint of warmth in the "still connected to the moment it began"
to binge - one of the last tracks in the album, and it is very warm. feels summery and like a holiday, but theres parts where it feels off, melodically, and this makes it feel slightly eerie. as i think murdoc put it in an interview, it's a beautiful harmony between 2d and yukimi's voice.
broken - my favourite part of this song is the intro and chorus background riff. feels isolating, a bit like pirate jet, which is one of my favourite themes of this album. it feels distant if that makes sense, with the whistle-like sounds, idk how else to describe it. and the lyrics and verses make me think of stars, with the constant references to them. i have actually done a painting inspired by this song.
A TIER
plastic beach - close to being s tier. the gorgeous arpeggios and verse feels hypnotic, and this song i associate with 2d a lot, since it's basically just his experience in plastic beach.
rhinestone eyes - i love the themes of environmentalism in this song, because it is stronger than others. the vocals are my favourite part of this song, which is uncommon for me. the lyrics are just extremely strong, and beautiful. and the synths in the chorus/instrumental sound electric and there's no other way to explain it. which fits the theme of electricity in both the song and the album as a whole.
superfast jellyfish - this song is just fun and a vibe. the verses from de la soul have amazing rhythm and flow, and even though it's a parody and hard to be taken seriously sometimes, it's still really good, especially the "machinery slowing down" noises throughout and at the end of the song (idk how else to describe them i hope you know what i mean) are one of my favourite parts. this ones crazy fun to sing along to but doesnt have me crying at its beauty like the ones above this. and the transition to empire ants is incredible, like the calm after the storm.
on melancholy hill - this one is slightly overplayed for me, but is very gorgeous. the main melody of the instrumental (you know what i mean) is so familiar and comforting but it never gets old. my favourite parts are actually 2d's muffled vocal at the start before the actual vocals begin, and the ending note, which is haunting after such an upbeat and beautiful song, a perfect segway to broken. this one is interchangeable in the ranking with superfast jellyfish tbh
white flag - bashy and kano's vocal performances in this song are amazing, and the beat it such a vibe. suits the flow so much, and still has an "ocean morning" theme in my eyes, which suits the start of the album. i tend to connect songs to a time of day. lyrics are amazing, just a fun song overall. one of the few times i can say a song sounds amazing without 2d.
stylo - very close to being above white flag. this one would probably be higher if it wasn't for bobby womack, i am just not a huge fan of his voice. i do think it suits the song though. other than that, lyrics, riff, etc, all perfect. fits the theme of electricity, and does really sound like a car chase, suits the video.
B TIER
glitter freeze - a song without vocals (the talking doesnt count) adds a lot to every album i think. gives you a break. but it still loses some points as a standalone song because you can't sing along to it. the production is incredible though, not much more to say. fits the sound perfectly, and adds a lot to the flow of the album in my opinion.
welcome (etc) - i really like the "just like that" and the production, and snoop dogg's performance and voice. it just doesn't really stand out to me that much. a good song, a good opening track (not including orchestral intro). introduces the very electronic sound well.
some kind of nature - sounds very weird in a good way. i think it's a good addition to the album. pretty upbeat, and "all we are is stars" is my fav part, fits right in with the album. my only dislike is lou's voice, its just not for me and the way he talks kind of annoys me every time i listen, but overall i do like the song. i think his voice adds something, its just not for me.
C TIER
cloud of unknowing - once again i am not a huge fan of bobby womack's voice, and here i just like the 2d vocal version better. unlike stylo, theres not much else to like. the quiet backing, the songwriting, the meaning, all amazing, but because his voice isnt my thing i can't really enjoy it as much as he sings the whole song.
orchestral intro - good opening track, sounds like the ocean, fits the theme, but theres not that much happening in it. like as a standalone song its a whole lot of nothing.
D TIER
- sweepstakes - my only skip on the album. i really want to like this song, because i like the theming and lyrics so much but it just feels really out of place. i mean, once it's built up it is listenable and has synths like the rest of the album, but it just sounds kind of boring and repetitive and way too long for what it is. if it was 2 or 3 minutes i wouldnt really mind
Conclusion
if you read all this thank you so much!! this is just my opinion and i do like all of the songs still, i just wanted to like infodump about my opinions of this album because i love it so much. by no means do i know what im talking about with music production, im no expert, so correct anything wrong. id love to hear what you all would change in this tier list too