Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Blur

 
Album Review: Blur
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Albums

Blur

Buy Now

Similar Albums:

Good Humor, This Is Hardcore, Radiator, Urban Hymns, Bakesale
  • Artist: Blur
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: February 10, 1997
  • Genre: Rock

Review

The Great Escape, for all of its many virtues, painted Blur into a corner and there was only one way out -- to abandon the Britpop that they had instigated by bringing the weird strands that always floated through their music to the surface. Blur may superficially appear to be a break from tradition, but it is a logical progression, highlighting the band's rich eclecticism and sense of songcraft. Certainly, they are trying for new sonic territory, bringing in shards of white noise, gurgling electronics, raw guitars, and druggy psychedelia, but these are just extensions of previously hidden elements of Blur's music. What makes it exceptional is how hard the band tries to reinvent itself within its own framework, and the level of which it succeeds. "Beetlebum" runs through the White Album in the space of five minutes; "M.O.R." reinterprets Berlin-era Bowie; "You're So Great," despite the corny title, is affecting lo-fi from Graham Coxon; "Country Sad Ballad Man" is bizarrely affecting, strangled lo-fi psychedelia; "Death of a Party" is an affecting resignation; "On Your Own" is an incredible slice of singalong pop spiked with winding, fluid guitar and synth eruptions; while "Look Inside America" cleverly subverts the traditional Blur song, complete with strings. And "Essex Dogs" is a six-minute slab of free verse and rattling guitar noise. Blur might be self-consciously eclectic, but Blur are at their best when they are trying to live up to their own pretensions, because of Damon Albarn's exceptional sense of songcraft and the band's knack for detailed arrangements that flesh out the songs to their fullest. There might be dark overtones to the record, but the band sounds positively joyous, not only in making noise but wreaking havoc with the expectations of its audience and critics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Beetlebum (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (5:04)
Song 2 (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (2:01)
Country Sad Ballad Man (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (4:50)
M.O.R. (Lyrics) David Bowie, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Brian Eno, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (3:27)
On Your Own (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (4:26)
Theme from Retro Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (3:37)
You're So Great (Lyrics) Graham Coxon Blur (3:35)
Death of a Party (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (4:33)
Chinese Bombs (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (1:24)
I'm Just a Killer for Your Love (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (4:11)
Look Inside America (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (3:50)
Strange News from Another Star (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (4:02)
Movin' On (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (3:44)
Essex Dogs (Lyrics) Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Blur (11:24)

Credits

Blur (Producer), Blur (Main Performer), Damon Albarn (Vocals), Graham Coxon (Guitar), Alex James (Bass), Dave Rowntree (Drums), John Smith (Engineer), Stephen Street (Producer), Graham Coxen (Guitar), Paul Postle (Photography), Jason Cox (Engineer)
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Blur (album)
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Blur
Studio album by Blur
Released 10 February 1997
Recorded June–November 1996
Genre Alternative rock, indie rock
Length 57:01
Label Food, Virgin
Producer Stephen Street, Blur
Professional reviews
Blur chronology
The Great Escape
(1995)		 Blur
(1997)		 13
(1999)

Blur is the fifth album by English alternative rock band Blur. Released on 10 February 1997 in the UK, it reached the top of the UK album chart. Blur was also a hit in the US, with "Song 2" becoming a hit there and the album being certified Gold. It also spawned several hit singles in the UK, most notably "Beetlebum" and "Song 2".

Contents

Style and conception

The album's style was resultant of Blur's dropping their previous Britpop mantle in favor of lo-fi and alternative rock recordings, reportedly at Graham Coxon's urging. As a result, Blur was a hit primarily because it proved that Blur could evolve beyond their Britpop roots. The album's move from Britpop was emphasised by this being the first Blur album not to use Stylorouge cover-art and also not to have lyrics and chords printed in the liner notes, instead having a composite photo of the band in the studio spread out over three panels. The album featured the first song in which Graham Coxon not only wrote the lyrics, but also provided lead vocals, for the song "You're So Great". He would later do the same for "Coffee & TV" for Blur's next album.

Track listing

All songs by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, except where noted

  1. "Beetlebum" – 5:04
  2. "Song 2" – 2:02
  3. "Country Sad Ballad Man" – 4:50
  4. "M.O.R." – 3:27 (Albarn/David Bowie/Coxon/Brian Eno/James/Rowntree)
  5. "On Your Own" – 4:26
  6. "Theme from Retro" – 3:37
  7. "You're So Great" – 3:35 (Coxon)
  8. "Death of a Party" – 4:33
  9. "Chinese Bombs" – 1:24
  10. "I'm Just a Killer for Your Love" – 4:11
  11. "Look Inside America" – 3:50
  12. "Strange News from Another Star" – 4:02
  13. "Movin' On" – 3:44
  14. "Essex Dogs" / "Interlude" (hidden track) – 8:08
Japanese bonus track
  1. "Dancehall"
  • "Death of a Party," was demoed in 1992. That recording was released to the fan club prior to the version which appears on the album.[7]

Trivia

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (September 2008)
  • The album was nearly called "Five" and the nurse on the cover originally sported a halo.[7]
  • "I'm Just a Killer for Your Love" was recorded as a "test tune" at Albarn's new studio in London. It was the last track recorded for the album and was originally meant to be a B-side.[7]
  • Strange News from Another Star is the title of a collection of eight short stories written by the German author Hermann Hesse between 1913 and 1918.
  • "Song 2" is the intro for the video game FIFA Road To World Cup 98 for the PC and Playstation versions.
  • "Dancehall" contains a sample of "Suzy Creamcheese" by Teddy & His Patches (1967).
Preceded by
White on Blonde by Texas		 UK number one album
22 February 1997 – 28 February 1997		 Succeeded by
Attack of the Grey Lantern by Mansun

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Blur - Blur". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:mycibkj9jakn. Retrieved 3 August 2009. 
  2. ^ Moser, Margaret. "Record Reviews: Blur (Virgin)". The Austin Chronicle 25 Apr 1997
  3. ^ Sinclair, Tom (March 14, 1997). "Review: BRITISH INVERSION (1997) - Blur". Time Inc.. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,287092,00.html. Retrieved 3 August 2009. 
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Review: Blur (Virgin, 1997)". http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=blur. Retrieved 3 August 2009. 
  5. ^ Hunter, James (March 6, 1997). "Review: Blur - Blur". Jann Wenner. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/226000/review/5942039/blur. Retrieved 3 August 2009. 
  6. ^ Harris, John. "Review: Blur - Blur, Food/Parlophone". Select (EMAP Metro) (March, 1997): 98. 
  7. ^ a b c http://www.vblurpage.com/discography/albums/blur.htm
v • d • e
Blur
Damon Albarn · Graham Coxon · Alex James · Dave Rowntree
Studio albums
Other albums
Singles
Live personnel
Related articles

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Blur (album)".  Read more