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Blur
Blur


4.5
superb

Review

by USER (2 Reviews)
June 29th, 2005 | 70 replies


Release Date: 1997 | Tracklist


Blur’s eponymous album represented a turning point in their music. Prior to this album Blur had been a straightforward Britpop band who had never quite made it in America. Two minutes and one second of pure pop genius later and they were being played on almost every radio station in the country. Who can forget the shouts of “Woo Hoo” as Graham Coxom kicked the distortion to 11 and rocked out with one of the most memorable riffs of the 90’s. That song was, of course, “Song 2”, perhaps one of clearest song names of all time (it’s track two on the album as you may have guessed). It may be surprising to learn, however, that the rest of the album lives up to this high standard set early on.


Usually, when the press mentions that a band, especially a BRITPOP band, has “become more sophisticated” its best to stay as far away as possible and hope that no one corners you and forces you to listen to how much the band has “grown” (Radiohead comes to mind as one of the few exceptions). Instead of using their “maturation” as an excuse to write lame ballads about growing up, Blur has stuck with their sense of humor but broadened their horizons to including many different styles of music. From the punk leanings of Chinese Bombs to the Sonic Youth inspired Essex Dogs, Blur has created an amalgam of different sounds with the only constant being Damon’s heavy British accent. The album really lifts off, however, care of Coxom’s guitar work. Riffs such as the ones in “On Your Own”, “Beetlebum”, and the obvious “Song 2” quickly become unforgettable but it’s also the little details that make each song that much better. Many of the songs include subtle guitar work that can only be picked up on repeat listens. In fact, the only real low point of the album is “Theme From Retro” although “Essex Dog” might run a little too long to stay interesting.


Even though they have started to embrace new styles, that doesn’t mean that Blur have left Britpop for good. Most of the songs on this album are tinged with a layer that is famously Britpop. Be it the vocal harmonies of “M.O.R.” or the quirky verses of “Song 2” Blur never seems to loose sight of the sound that got them famous in the first place.


This album displays wonderful versatility from an already wonderful band. Subsequent albums only intensified Blur’s obsession with being different and distant so this was really their last helping of good old fashioned pop, served in such a way as to refresh the listener’s view on what kind of band Blur really was. In other words, this album was the “Death of Blur’s Party” and their last chance to have some fun yelling “Woo Hoo” at the top of their lungs.


user ratings (868)
3.7
great
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Comments:Add a Comment 
leyleys93
June 29th 2005


5 Comments


Oh My God! I love blur. i must admit Parklife is my favourite, but this is still amazing. On Your Own is gold.

Little Man being Erased
June 30th 2005


87 Comments


Great review. I've always been meaning to get into Blur...

Ian Curtis Is Dead
June 30th 2005


11 Comments


Oh My God! I love blur. i must admit Parklife is my favourite, but this is still amazing.


With proper capitalisation, this would have been my exact post.

Justanothernimrod
June 30th 2005


478 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Their Best wrok in my eyes, fantastic album.



good review too.

NEDM
September 18th 2005


1113 Comments


Song 2 pwns.

Krash100
November 3rd 2005


37 Comments


M.O.R. pwns

Morvit
November 4th 2005


71 Comments


death of a party pwns

blurkom
May 5th 2006


19 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

chinese bombs pwns

Fade.To.Black
May 13th 2006


85 Comments


Your So Great pwns

rustysurf84
June 3rd 2006


327 Comments


Song 2 pwns sus pantalones

Pechorin
October 3rd 2006


160 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I dunno about this album. It's not bad, but I prefer the earlier stuff. And I cannot stand "On Your Own" whatsoever. It never really stood out in my mind.

SamuelH
July 4th 2008


3 Comments


This album sounds like a really bad tribute to pavement.

Bleak123
October 15th 2008


1900 Comments


Song 2 = the two most intense minutes of blur's career.

Gore
November 9th 2008


349 Comments


Song 2 is sexy

DethThrasher
November 9th 2008


458 Comments


It was good 10 years ago

Bleak123
November 9th 2008


1900 Comments


It's still good today too.

DethThrasher
November 9th 2008


458 Comments


whatever floats your goat

Bleak123
November 9th 2008


1900 Comments


typical metalhead amirite?

Disconnected
October 27th 2009


487 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I think all of the songs are great on this album. I can't believe that the band passed me by for so long; they're so good.

greg84
Emeritus
August 29th 2011


7654 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Some downright amazing song writing on this album. I've only recently realized how much I dig this.



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