While I like the opening musical spirit Albarn, Gorillaz concept, although imperfect is interesting in its overall but there was a perfect sleeping pill for our winter nights.
It can be intimate, introspective, yes, but this requires to be inspired as Nick Cave, for example, and never bore the listener, what Damon Albarn seems to have forgotten.
It is already being "Léonardcohenisation", provided he does not sing up to 80 years ...