Damon Albarn forms yet another new band, the world goes comatose with boredom

yeah, but that's just to say "they suck". hardly the worst thing ever. worse than limp bizkit or barenaked ladies or whatever else you happen to hate? anyway, was never much of a RHCP fan, but flea's pretty great, and the idea of some adventurous production on top of him & tony allen getting down is pretty appealing, i gotta admit.

And, what, maybe a total of 6 songs in their entire discography with "over the hill backpack rappers"?

"Stylo", "Sweepstakes" (Mos Def)
"Superfast Jellyfish", "Feel Good Inc" (De La Soul)
"Clint Eastwood", "Rock The House" (Del The Funkee Homosapien)

Seven, if you want to count MF Doom as an "over the hill backpack rapper".

plus "clint eastwood" rules, hardly matters what the dude carries his school supplies in

so just their biggest singles

xp

Point taken, although, "DARE" with Shaun Ryder was actually their biggest UK single.

Damon Albarn doesn't have any art-prog tendencies

Depends on your definition. Parts of the "13" album were heavily influenced by krautrock.

it's practically the same bunch he's been working with on and off for the last 5-10 years, non?

Non.

Has he ever explained his wandering focus by noting that "Damon" is an anagram for "Nomad"?

Also "Anal Nob Dram".

or damn banal

Banal? Damn.