If you are not a fan of Blur's slightly irritating, overblown early mockney escapades then I hope that does not cause you to overlook this album.
Impressing cult-classic 13 arguably proved the band among the most versatile bands to emerge out of the britpop invasion along with contemporaries such as Radiohead and the Manics. Critics finally had something to sink their teeth into now that Damon was writing lyrics about heartbreak to the backdrop of an electronic range of sounds.
This is not your average breakup album owing to the brave production and sometimes downright bizarre lyrical moments which creates a large amount of depth and replay value to the songs. Deeply moving track Tender kicks off with no surprises as it paves the way for the soundscapes to come with a heart-wrenching opening line and gospel crescendoes harmonising Damon's bassy voice and lyrical depth about overcoming moments of pain and anguish that result from a highly publicized breakup.
Mostly it is a lot of fun and a rollercoaster of a ride from start to finish (for me this was highlighted by my obsession with tracking down the enigmatic Bugman who was certainly the star of the album for me). There is no lack of catchy pop choruses and signature Blur riffs as can be heard in Coffee and TV as well as No Distance Left to Run but the standout moments lie in heart-wrenching tracks Tender and Caramel.
Influential in proving that beauty can be created out of loss and that you can write an album which ranges in themes from insects to the Rolling Stones. It set the way for the rest of Damon's impressive projects and confirmed Blur's reach towards an indie and pop crowd alike (shown by 2003's Think Tank) it will remain one of my favourite British albums.
