Blur's debut album suffered from a lot of bad timing, coming on the trail end of Madchester and the begining of grunge.* This led some critics to dismiss them as manufactured pop stars or Stone Roses ripoffs.* So Blur went back to the studio ready to reinvent themselves with their sophomore effort "Modern Life is Rubbish" (the title is taken from some London graffiti Albarn saw).*The record is full of life and Damon Albarn spins off contemporary satires that are both clever and humerous.
1.* For Tomorrow - The story is when Blur sent their label the album, the execs told the band there was no single and to write one.* The result is "For Tomorrow".* It's a good start to the album and it's immedietly evident that the band has become a lot more pop oriented since the Blur of 1991 (8.5/10)
2. Advert - The song starts off like some cheesey commercial (hence the name) with a piano line and bass.* Suddenly Graham's guitars explode onto the scene.* It's a very hard rocking track with Damon's echoey chorus "say something else!"*This should've been the opening track.*(9.5/10)
3.* Colin Zeal -* A meandering bassline opens up this track which starts slow,and jumps into a loud chorus.* Great instrumentals here and Damon's lyrics are a satire of the modern businesman (named Colin Zeal of course)* (8.0/10)
4. Pressure on Julian -* This track starts of very strangely with winding feedback and a beat heavy drum and bass.* Graham's indie inclinations show through here.* A decent song.* (6.5/10)
5. Star Shaped - A great pop tune and one of the album's best.* Blur show their talent for crafting clever melodies in the vien of classic British bands like the Beatles and the Kinks.* They even throw in an some wind instruments.* This whole song hints of Parklife. (10/10)
6. Blue Jeans - Here's the ballad you've all been waiting.* It's got a very mellow feel.* It's got some of my favorite lyrics on the album.* Not much guitar here until late in the song, but more wind and brass instruments.* (7.0/10)
7.*Chemical World - With grunge in full swing Blur's American label sent them to record and American single and "Chemical World" is the result.* As you might expect, it's quite guitar heavy, but still continues with the feel of the album.* It's a pretty pop song drenched in overdriven guitars.* (10/10)
8. Intermission - This is an instrumental filler track, but I end up listening to it because it's quite amusing.* Damon starts off a slow piano riffs and the rest of the band joins in gradually getting faster and faster until it explodes in guitar effects and utter insanity. (2.5/10)
9. Sunday, Sunday - A bouncy song with horn sections mixed with loud guitars.* The tempo picks up a lot after the second chorus and theatens to turn into something like the last track before it's brought under control again.* (8.0/10)
10.* Oily Water - Graham starts off with a strange gated guitar and Damon follows with equally strange lyrics about drinking oily water.* It's overall a mellow song and climaxes in a collage of synthesizers, guitars and backing vocals.
11. Miss America - This ballad starts off with a lot of background noise of people in the studio followed by wood blocks and acoustic guitars.* It all makes for a very intimate feel, almost like it's a live recording and not some studio take.* I used to skip this track a lot but it grows on you.*It's very relaxing.*(7.5/10)
12. Villa Rosie - After the most mellow moment on the record the band builds*this intro into a catchy riff with and Damon almost rapping through the verses.* It's an average song overall with a nice solo. (6.5/10)
13. Coping - This is probably my favorite song on this album.* It's got a great beat, very good lyrics and the bands switches nicely between acoustic and electric guitars.* Damon throws in a wild keyboard solo.* The ending is almost humerous with everyone singing "la la la laaa! la laaa! la laaa! la"** (10/10)
14.*Turn it Up - This song has a lot of pretty melodies in it, even by Blur standards.* Your almost tempted to clap along.* Graham throws down some fancy guitar work to keep it in rock territory.* (7.0/10)
15. Pop Scene - This song was originally a single that came out before the record and was added to the album later.* It's very fast paced and opens with a guitar flanger going crazy.* It was the first song Blur used horns in.* Alex James does a great job with the bass here while Rowntree pounds away at the kit.* (9.5/10)
16.* Resigned - As the title suggests, this is a ballad.** A cool guitar riff dominates the song.* Its so peacefull it could put you to sleep - and I mean that in a good way.**The*harmonica fits the mood here perfectly.* (6.0/10)
17. Commercial Break - another instrumental much like "Intermission" except this one is more guitar dominated.* Once again it gets very fast toward the end.* (1.0/10)after this there the tracks are blank until you hit the two secret tracks
62.* When the Cows Come Home -* this track is almost a waltz.* It's almost all horns and drums with some brass and wind sections.* Damon sings like he's performing for small school children.* Not my cup of tea Damon.* (3.0/10)
63. Peach - A very slow moving acoustic song with a very atmospheric sound.* A lot better than the last track.* The lead*sounds like it's played by an E-bow which gives the song a lot of emotion.* The end is a bit annoying though when it sounds like the track skips. (6.5/10)
Overall the album is a big improvement over their debut Leisure and Blur manage to overcome the sophomore jinx with flying colors.* This album is the first in what is known among Blur fans as their "Brit Pop Trilogy" and it sets them up for their 1994 masterpiece Parklife.*
Damon Albarn - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Synths
Graham Coxon - guitars, backing vocals
Alex James -*bass guitar, backing*vocals
Dave Rowntree - drums, percussion*
