13 is the best album of the 90's. I would be on the edge of my seat :)
3 года назад+21
@@deathkampdrone Yeah, I think blur peaked there. Even though I'd say their best songs are somewhat evenly spread on all their albums, when it comes to the best album, 13 is probably the one (not only from blur, but from the 90's, like you said).
Even just the second half. I spent years wondering if I even liked it, but I could not stop listening to it. Of course I realize I was in love in a way that could only reveal itself slowly. I have spent days just listening to Battle.
I don’t think people appreciate enough Graham’s work on Oily Water. He almost single-handedly made an indie rock masterpiece. It’s one of the best tracks on the album.
My favourite guitar part is the super reverbed, tremolo picked high notes during the outro, which are slightly buried in the mix. Such an emotional and beautiful melody hidden in plain sight
I met Graham in Camden market about twenty years ago. He was looking after a t-shirt stall for his mate who had gone to get a cup of tea. He seemed a bit nervous when I approached him but when I told him how much of a fan of blur I was he was cool- maybe he thought I was an Oasis fan! Lol I said to him how much I loved Modern Life Is Rubbish (that was a very big album round these parts) he said “yeah I always liked that one”. I didn’t know what to say then so I said “I hear Damon has a new thing coming out called Gorrilaz I’ll have to check it out”, Graham said “I wouldn’t bother if I was you”. 😂
I saw Blur at Brixton Academy in the early nineties. They were amazing. Next day me and my mate were waiting for a tube to Paddington. Looking down the platform I saw a bloke walking towards us carrying a guitar and one of those hats with big wool year flaps. It was Damon Albarn. I told him we’d been at the gig last night. An amp had dropped on his ankle when he was hopping round the stage and he asked if we saw that. Then as a train pulled up he asked where we were heading. We told him Paddington and he held the doors of the train open for us telling us this was the train we needed. We chatted to him for about three stops before he got off. Such a nice guy. Never met any of the other band members.
@18:15 "I don't know whether I can play this." Proceeds to play it perfectly. Dear Lord in the heavens above, thank you for giving us Graham Coxon. Icon, inspiration, legend.
Graham is a very talented Guitar player but I also think Crispian Mills is an incredibly talented Guitar player, with his own techniques unique to the band. Listen to the album k Crispians Guitar play throughout every song is out of this world, also extra talented as also being the lead singer.
Graham’s backing vocals are the best! When I used to sing-a-long to Blur songs in the early 90s I used to try and sing Graham’s harmony lines. It taught me how to sing harmonies.
I'm 51, American, guitar player, huge guitar fan, classic rock and alt rock. No Idea how I missed this album! Thank you so much for turning me on to this record!
Yes!! So grateful. Such an entertaining interview that lead to discovering a special album. Anyone who had the same feeling likely went on a Blur binge at that time!
Ah, I was wondering if this was the previous video. Well worth another watch, as I am right now. Two really nice guys just having a chat about a top album.
Modern Life Is Rubbish Breakdowns: For Tomorrow 5:24 Advert 27:13 Colin Zeal 31:30 Pressure On Julian 36:12 Star Shaped 42:08 Blue Jeans 45:36 Chemical World 51:00 Sunday Sunday 20:36 Oily Water 56:08 Miss America 1:02:22 Villa Rosie 1:08:30 Coping 1:13:00 Turn It Up 1:16:46 Resigned 12:54 Bonus Parklife Breakdowns: Girls And Boys 1:24:40 Parklife 1:28:12 Jubilee 1:26:56
This is great. Coxon is a very 'clean' guitarist, like Johnny Marr before him there's a crispness to his playing along with his quirky chord choices and tonality. I respect him greatly.
I swear I could listen to 'For Tomorrow' for the rest of my life and not get bored of it. A beautiful song. There's something kind of melancholy about it. And there's obviously a load of nostalgia for me too which possibly adds to that very slight sense of sadness.
That ‘Villa Rosie’ riff is incredible. I love the fact that Graham always seems to really want to push himself ‘physically’ in his playing. Those hand contortions to achieve the sound are amazing.
@@lukather1 so Christopher, can you clarify what you feel is over rated ???? I could understand if you were comparing him to say, Allan Holdsworth or Steve Vai..... Each guitarist has "their own thing" they do, and Graham is uniquely clever with mating his sound within the context of Blur's songs..... Maybe you are saying, "his playing is Not your cup of tea"(Yorkshire Gold, I hope)...... ;)
Graham is a genius. Love his solo work. You could tell he was a lot of the power behind the blur albums. Modern life is rubbish wasn’t a huge American hit but I was in love with it. I wore out my cassette tape, wore out my CD and somehow managed to wear out Spotify listening to it. But then there’s park life as well. And fuck oasis :-)
Blur’s unsung masterpiece from 1993. This blew the 1991 debut Leisure away and rightly so. I can hear The Kinks, The Beatles and other 60s British bands on this and obviously Bowie. Great album.
I can't believe that for the last ~25 years, I've been trying to figure out why Resigned has that change just after the chorus, where the effect just kinda 'drops.' "I wish the sun..." *Effect stops* "...could just keep me warm." It always puzzled me. It sounds great, but I always wondered what the thought behind it was. So at 15:05, Graham has just answered my question. It was a mistake!! Great episode. Would love to hear about 13 - I bet it's fascinating.
What a band. The guitar playing is inspirational. I remember the first time I saw blur live. They had a funfair as a stage set with huge hamburgers as lights. Legendary and still makes me smile to this day.
Such a fun interview and Graham is such a lovely man, so very British ;) I have a fun story about Mr coxon, some friends met him in LA and he ended up calling another friend of ours at 3 am to say hello and really freak him out. The conversation went: Hello? Allo Dean? It's Graham Who? Graham ... Wha? Coxon is me Graham Confused silence... A'right well ave a nice evenin bye now ... click
I’ve watched this 3 times already. I could listen to Graham talk about Blur albums all day. When the pandemic gets under control can you bring him and Stephen Street together to talk about Parklife? Or just Graham with 13. Or the two of them with the self titled, even though they’ve done that one on another channel. I’d watch another. I’d watch them all. Great interview. What a pleasure. Thank you.
This made me very emotional. Oh the nostalgia...I was suddenly a devoted 13 year old again. I got this album on CD a bit late in 1995 having discovered Blur via Parklife but by far this is their finest moment ...adore every song and yes it’s a proper album with so much treasure! A beautiful and rich journey
Thank you so much for doing this! Please invite Graham again to talk about the other albums too! Warm wishes from a Blur fan for almost 30 years in Hong Kong🙂
This is a prog-rock record. So much of what these guys did on this record appears in some form on The Bends and OK Computer. And I don't say that lightly as Radiohead is my favorite band. I wish Blur hadn't been categorized as "britpop" so early because I feel that title doesn't do a lot of their early music justice.
I would say more prog-influenced than actual prog-rock. Still an incredible album, and I absolutely agree, Blur have always been more than just "britpop".
You're right. This is a progressive record, no doubt. People who think prog is only prog if it sounds like Genesis or King Crimson will disagree, but they're wrong.
I saw blur twice when they toured this album once at the start of the tour and once at the end. By the end they were playing a version of parklife and girls and boys. Park life didn’t come across so well but I remember raving to everyone at school about this new disco tune they had. The mosh pit was mental and Damon stage dived into the crowd and a load of us caught him and threw him back on the stage. Years later I met Alex in a dive bar in Cambridge we were dancing to Blondie I believe. This has brought back a lot of good memories! It was really great to be part of it. I remember us all going in our DM’s, parkas, Ben Sherman’s and Fred Perry’s- and when we got there everyone else was dressed that way too! I remember thinking at the time ‘something is happening here’ great times. It really was the start of Britpop.
What a lovely set of recollections. I remember being in my university halls of residence and hearing Girls and Boys’ debut on John Peel’s (RIP) radio show. Really left an impression. Thanks again for sharing, Matthew. Really took me back. Good times.
Such an amazing grace the earth have founded us a band this eclectic. from 'bang' to 'blue jeans', every one of their albums have a master piece. GBU graham coxon 🎉
If you are a guitar player and you listen to "Villa Rosie" or "Chemical World" , even if you don't like "britpop", it's really hard NOT to think Graham is a genius, one of the most important guitarist's of modern times.
I just loved this analysis of the record and I just think Graham Coxon is lovely! I moved to the UK from Australia, when I was 21 and I got to see Blur play for their "Parklife" album in the South of England in 1994 and it was amazing! They are a band whose music really stands the test of time. All of their records are brilliant! Thank you for this great video. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
4:10 For Tomorrow 12:55 Resigned 20:37 Sunday Sunday 27:11 Advert 31:30 Colin Zeal (talk of Alex James) 34:49 Pressure of Julian 42:10 Star Shaped 45:40 Blue Jeans 49:44 Chemical World 56:09 Oily water 1:02:22 Miss America 1:08:31 Villa Rosie 1:13:00 Coping 1:16:46 Turn It Up (talk of Dave Rowntree)
Love this album as much as Park life take me back to my mid 20s and an amazing girlfriend of mine, we loved these songs, everytime I hear these songs, I think of her, and summers in Harrow on the Hill. 25 years later we still remember this album when we speak (we never did marry).
Great interview. Not just a load of Bowie and Cope in there; loads of Cardicas and XTC in there too. Sums up the major influences into early to mid nineties indie perfectly.
Love all your videos Warren, this one keeps getting watched the most, be great to see a Parklife and Great Escape epsiodes as well .. who couldn’t love Graham eh .. take care all the best for 24
This was a fantastic video. I loved that Graham pointed out the simple brilliance of Blue Jeans' drum part, and how it shifts emphasis through the song without changing anything at all. I remember first playing along to it and thinking 'wait, am I hitting the bar with the snare at the right time?'. Turns out I was, and another listen later I cracked it. At the end of the video where you touch on Parklife, you can really hear a Villa Rosie-esque riff during the verses of Jubilee. Graham's guitar lines, which I always define as being 'spidery', are so unique and, along with the equally lively bass work of Alex James, really give the songs a lot of vibrancy, spikiness, and life. You can definitely hear an evolution in the band's sound on Parklife, with more varied sounds and a little more maturity in the songwriting. However, for me, Modern Life Is Rubbish is my favourite of Blur's three britpop-era albums. Chemical World, Colin Zeal, Star Shaped are all brilliant songs that I ended up pushing myself to learn when I decided to pick up the guitar. Oily Water is a huge highlight. I love the psychedelia-fuelled outro; shades of The Beatles' I Want You (She's So Heavy) in the repetition, providing a real sense of sinking into another realm entirely.
i've been listening to this one the whole duration of lockdown without even thinking about the fact that the title of the record was describing our period perfectly. Sounds like a prophetic vision
Absolutely love this video, thanks! On the subject of singing with an English accent (24 min), Syd Barrett deserves a mention. A quote from David Bowie: "Syd was a major inspiration for me. The few times I saw him perform [...] during the 60s will forever be etched in my mind. He was so charismatic and such a startlingly original songwriter. Also, along with Anthony Newley, he was **the first guy I’d heard to sing pop or rock with a British accent**. His impact on my thinking was enormous. A major regret is that I never got to know him. A diamond indeed."
Modern Life Is Rubbish is also one of my very favorite Blur albums. My favorite changes from time to time based on my mood, but if I can't decide what to listen to I can always play this one and I love it every time. It's one I always go back to. Great video, appreciate it.
oMg what a fantastic interview!!! The Drill?!?! Reverse. The British still have the best sense of humour. I never really focused on Blur until now but this album is brilliant!! Enjoying it now in my studio on the Revels. So clean sounding and a refreshing and rewarding exploration of melody and taste. Thanks so much Warren. You’re truly a golden goose!
Every time I watch to this I always pick up on something new. One of my favorite videos on RUclips! I’d love to see another collab with graham at some point.
More please. I love getting to hang out and listen to music with people who are passionate about it, let alone chilling with one of the creators and getting to see how they feel about it. I had never really listened to Blur until watching this channel but have become hooked. What an amazing band.
I used to listen to this at bedtime with my headphones on, plugged into my boombox. This album really solidified my fandom, I didn’t expect it to be so good after the first one (which I still loved). It was just amazing.
Fascinating interview, thank you. This is my favourite Blur album, so carefully crafted. I remember having it on cassette and driving from Kent to Italy on holiday, playing it over and over. Fantastic tunes, and happy memories.
Were you guys friends before this? Warren, you seem so chill and genuine, but also seems like you were more excited to do this segment than others! I never tied the early floyd and Barrett influences into Blur, but makes so much sense! despite not being a technical episode, it was very rewarding!! cheers sir!
Funnily enough, i was thinking about this, and how it never showed up on the channel. i was going to email and ask, but i dont need to now because its here. YAY. The album that changed my life.
My favorite Blur album. The chord progressions in the liner notes of the CD were very helpful when trying to figure out what they were playing. Thanks for the great Inside the Album!
Warren you really did well with this interview, not only is there a lot to learn about Blur's album but this is a great example on how to keep an interview focused and on track as well. Enjoyable to watch as usual. Thank you for this rich and informative content, it is an absolute joy to be a subscriber here.
no more watching this on vimeo! haha, but in all seriousness the amount of times i’ve seen this is crazy, amazing album, the trem on “oily water” blows my mind, “miss america” is gorgeous sounding, “coping” is fantastic, great album from top to bottom, great work on the video warren!!
@@Producelikeapro also, if you get the chance to do another video with graham, hopefully you’ll breakdown “Leisure”, i know “parklife” would be the obvious choice, but their first album is also great top to bottom and one of my favorites!
I would really love to hear a breakdown by Graham of 13! My favourite Blur album and one of my favourites of all time. Even more crazy sounds, even more weird arrangements. Just a wild ride of an album
What an absolute treat! The twin vocals on Blue Jeans is just heavenly. Always remember playing along to this albums chords from the CD booklet and never remembering the order of the unpredictable progressions 👌
"Howd that frog get in there?" Answer: someone in the control room was super into Bowie. 👌 after living in England in 90-91, returned to the States in 92, and worked in a record store. In the States nobody had had a religious moment with Loveless yet, and Blur’s first album wasn’t widely known. When Modern Life came out it was my fave (i had seen them live in England on their first album)… the other people i worked with only liked Nirvana and would groan in protest when i put this album on in the shop. We sold a lot of copies of Modern Life as a result, but eventually the manager gifted me the promo copy so they’d never have to hear it again and they could play Stone Temple Pilots over and over (cringe). Graham’s one of my favorites as far as making up great rock riffs. His respect for Hendrix and the Kinks shines through, but he’s always an original, always does his own thing. Lots of respect for his musical voice. ✨
Blur are a band where four exceptionally talented musicians challenge and stretch each other into a combined musical strength that’s even greater than the sum of their already considerable parts. I think you only get bands like that once or twice a generation. Modern Life I love because it’s the raw, unbridled version of parklife. Graham coxon is the flagship antidote to those who confuse technical shredding with musical ability. Best guitarist for 30 years or so in my opinion.
This has always been my favorite blur record (plus all of it's b-sides!), it's great to hear you talk in detail with a similar enthusiasm about this record, as I have always had for it... sadly few people actually knew this record at the time and I'm glad to see it get some major praise for once.
the timing on this video could literally not have been better! been listening to this album a lot lately, and I've literally just made myself a cup of coffee. Lets go!
Graham Coxon one of my all time favourite guitarists. Created some amazing hooks and made sure Blur sounded top class. Beetlebum is one of the greatest guitar-driven songs ever, and nobody reading this knows when those drums are gonna come in no matter how many times you listen to it. WTF how is that where the drums come in?!?!
This album soothed so much of my ennui and depression during the early 00s when I was in my early 20s and dying from the monotony of day to day existence and realising nothing greater was ever going to happen. Which is essentially what Blur's songs are about. And though Parklife is fine I always related to this album moreso and consider it the more interesting work with the energy and off kilter tunes. So cheers to Graham and the Blur lads from Australia.
Probably one of the most underrated albums ever released and completely slipped under the radar at the time. Glad it's getting the recognition over two decades later, my favourite Blur album by a mile and a half.
Great session!! And I again realized what a superb album that was. Haven't heard it for a time. I followed Blur from the 1st single and album. But with "Modern Life" I thought "yes, they've grown up. The songwriting is excellent, they getting better and better." To be proved with "Parklife" and "Blur". ..
I was looking for this vid the other day after watching the 'Song 2' video. Glad it's back up now. Somehow, I seem to have completely missed this album at the time, but this surely is a trigger to have a listen, or two. I could watch and listen to a great musician like Graham Coxon for hours. Such a pleasure to hear him about the creative processes and how he plays his own complicated licks with so much ease. Great stuff!
Thank you for posting this... the God-like genius that is Graham Coxon. I thrashed MLIR when it came out... loved it. Now, I always think of Parklife as my go-to Blur album, but hearing this again, I've remembered how frigging awesome MLIR is. Thank you 🙏🏻
Days before the coronapocalypse ruined the world I finally made it to London from my side of the globe for a few days. The weather was self-indulgently, parodically pissy, and as I was crossing the bridge towards Westminster in the chilling rain I was humming "For Tomorrow" under my breath to make the most of what I imagined to be the authentic British experience. You do know that once you've done "MLiR" you have to do every other Blur album, don't you? I think it's the law or something.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
What other albums do you want us to breakdown?
HOLY BIBLE !! MANICS !!!!
I would love something by Beck. If I had to choose, Seachange or Mutations simply because of the production.
Pink Floyd - Wish you were here
Floodlands sisters of mercy... pretty please
The Queen Is Dead!
If someday you can get Graham to breakdown 13 with you that's the day my life will turn around.
Marvellous idea of
Blur (1997) or 13. To have those records discussed with Graham would be so fantastic.
13 is the best album of the 90's. I would be on the edge of my seat :)
@@deathkampdrone Yeah, I think blur peaked there. Even though I'd say their best songs are somewhat evenly spread on all their albums, when it comes to the best album, 13 is probably the one (not only from blur, but from the 90's, like you said).
Even just the second half. I spent years wondering if I even liked it, but I could not stop listening to it. Of course I realize I was in love in a way that could only reveal itself slowly. I have spent days just listening to Battle.
I don’t think people appreciate enough Graham’s work on Oily Water. He almost single-handedly made an indie rock masterpiece. It’s one of the best tracks on the album.
Thanks ever so much Oscar!
I've never heard tremolo used so well, the man is a genius.
Probably my favourite blur song !! Certainly one of them…the outro that goes on forever is just otherworldly
My favourite guitar part is the super reverbed, tremolo picked high notes during the outro, which are slightly buried in the mix.
Such an emotional and beautiful melody hidden in plain sight
Oily Water is a shoegaze-y masterpiece. That outro could play forever in a loop without getting any less dreamy.
Graham is one of the most criminally underappreciated guitarists of all time. His work on Miss America is just that extra bit special.
I met Graham in Camden market about twenty years ago. He was looking after a t-shirt stall for his mate who had gone to get a cup of tea. He seemed a bit nervous when I approached him but when I told him how much of a fan of blur I was he was cool- maybe he thought I was an Oasis fan! Lol
I said to him how much I loved Modern Life Is Rubbish (that was a very big album round these parts) he said “yeah I always liked that one”. I didn’t know what to say then so I said “I hear Damon has a new thing coming out called Gorrilaz I’ll have to check it out”, Graham said “I wouldn’t bother if I was you”. 😂
And look where Gorillaz went after that...
Lol they weren't on good terms back then
🤣
Oh man that's great! 🤣🤣 I've warmed to Gorrilaz over the years, but at the time was like "WTF is Damon doing??"
He was right.
Lets not forget how singalongable his backing vocals are, a national treasure for sure.
Agreed! Thanks ever so much!
I saw Blur at Brixton Academy in the early nineties. They were amazing. Next day me and my mate were waiting for a tube to Paddington. Looking down the platform I saw a bloke walking towards us carrying a guitar and one of those hats with big wool year flaps. It was Damon Albarn. I told him we’d been at the gig last night. An amp had dropped on his ankle when he was hopping round the stage and he asked if we saw that. Then as a train pulled up he asked where we were heading. We told him Paddington and he held the doors of the train open for us telling us this was the train we needed. We chatted to him for about three stops before he got off. Such a nice guy. Never met any of the other band members.
@18:15 "I don't know whether I can play this." Proceeds to play it perfectly. Dear Lord in the heavens above, thank you for giving us Graham Coxon. Icon, inspiration, legend.
Praise God 🙏🏽✝️ in Jesus name, amen.
Coxon is one of the best British guitarists of all time, good singer, good songwriter, good musician, good artist.
Graham is a very talented Guitar player but I also think Crispian Mills is an incredibly talented Guitar player, with his own techniques unique to the band. Listen to the album k Crispians Guitar play throughout every song is out of this world, also extra talented as also being the lead singer.
Johnny Marr 👍🏻👍🏻
It's so nice to see Graham happy. He's a genius player and a real treasure.
Graham’s backing vocals are the best! When I used to sing-a-long to Blur songs in the early 90s I used to try and sing Graham’s harmony lines. It taught me how to sing harmonies.
Fantastic!! Thanks ever so much for sharing
I wish he sang lead a bit more as well.
TRACY JAKES!
@@deadstar44 Jacks
Me too! Especially on There’s no Other Way.
I'm 51, American, guitar player, huge guitar fan, classic rock and alt rock. No Idea how I missed this album! Thank you so much for turning me on to this record!
That's wonderful to hear! Glad to be able to help!
Finally this video is back!! Anybody here who watched this interview at the time of its original release?
Yes! Glad to be back!
Agreed I had never really checked out blur and this video made me go through all their music glad this is back so other people can discover this album
That’s amazing to hear!!
Yes!! So grateful. Such an entertaining interview that lead to discovering a special album. Anyone who had the same feeling likely went on a Blur binge at that time!
Ah, I was wondering if this was the previous video. Well worth another watch, as I am right now. Two really nice guys just having a chat about a top album.
Modern Life Is Rubbish Breakdowns:
For Tomorrow 5:24
Advert 27:13
Colin Zeal 31:30
Pressure On Julian 36:12
Star Shaped 42:08
Blue Jeans 45:36
Chemical World 51:00
Sunday Sunday 20:36
Oily Water 56:08
Miss America 1:02:22
Villa Rosie 1:08:30
Coping 1:13:00
Turn It Up 1:16:46
Resigned 12:54
Bonus Parklife Breakdowns:
Girls And Boys 1:24:40
Parklife 1:28:12
Jubilee 1:26:56
Legend 🙌🏼
Thanks ever so much!
Someone called for me?
pin this 📌 plz
I met alex (bassist) a couple years back. And he was a lovely guy and gave us plenty of time for autographs etc. Great guys with great music!
Marvellous!
Such a great bass player, I love his melodic lines on Blue Jeans, Out of Time and the funky Girls and Boys
Did you get any free cheese samples? :)
Derek Bolli haha. Of course!
This is great. Coxon is a very 'clean' guitarist, like Johnny Marr before him there's a crispness to his playing along with his quirky chord choices and tonality. I respect him greatly.
I swear I could listen to 'For Tomorrow' for the rest of my life and not get bored of it. A beautiful song. There's something kind of melancholy about it. And there's obviously a load of nostalgia for me too which possibly adds to that very slight sense of sadness.
That bittersweet melancholic feeling is such a Damon Albarn trademark
Not being obvious - that’s why I love Blur
That ‘Villa Rosie’ riff is incredible. I love the fact that Graham always seems to really want to push himself ‘physically’ in his playing. Those hand contortions to achieve the sound are amazing.
Graham is such a talented guitarist, very clever and above all else, he seems like a really decent guy. Great video man
Agreed 100%!!
....and he hates his younger self for creating rediculous riffs. Bless him!
He was really fun on Ron Woods show !!!!!!!!!! Very nice fellow !!!!
2 words - over and rated ! 😎
@@lukather1
so Christopher, can you clarify what you feel is over rated ????
I could understand if you were comparing him to say, Allan Holdsworth or Steve Vai.....
Each guitarist has "their own thing" they do, and Graham is uniquely clever with mating his sound within the context of Blur's songs.....
Maybe you are saying, "his playing is Not your cup of tea"(Yorkshire Gold, I hope)...... ;)
Graham is a genius. Love his solo work. You could tell he was a lot of the power behind the blur albums. Modern life is rubbish wasn’t a huge American hit but I was in love with it. I wore out my cassette tape, wore out my CD and somehow managed to wear out Spotify listening to it. But then there’s park life as well. And fuck oasis :-)
What an album, what a band, what a musician, what a humble dude!
Agreed 1200%!!
As a guitar player this album totally made me rethink how i approached playing. Graham is a total legend and my favorite guitar player of all time!!
That’s exactly what it did to us as well!
Love the way he speaks about Alex’s playing.
Blur’s unsung masterpiece from 1993. This blew the 1991 debut Leisure away and rightly so. I can hear The Kinks, The Beatles and other 60s British bands on this and obviously Bowie. Great album.
Agreed 100%!
XTC
I can't believe that for the last ~25 years, I've been trying to figure out why Resigned has that change just after the chorus, where the effect just kinda 'drops.' "I wish the sun..." *Effect stops* "...could just keep me warm." It always puzzled me. It sounds great, but I always wondered what the thought behind it was. So at 15:05, Graham has just answered my question. It was a mistake!! Great episode. Would love to hear about 13 - I bet it's fascinating.
Fantastic! Yes, would love to do more with Graham when travelling permits
13 is just mesmerising. Probably for good and bad reasons for the band. But it’s a masterpiece for sure
It was a great mistake. My favorite part of the song is that spot
Oily Water. Still my go-to song for testing earphones.
You've swallowed too much oily water my friend.
Nice...
Mine's Radiohead 15 Step, but I shall try this out too
😂🤣
now thats gotta be bugman
What a band. The guitar playing is inspirational. I remember the first time I saw blur live. They had a funfair as a stage set with huge hamburgers as lights. Legendary and still makes me smile to this day.
Graham definitely is a wonderful guitarist!
MLIR continues to be an album that once started cannot be stopped until the last note ends - a true sonic delight.
Agreed 100%! Masterpiece!
1:11:15 to 1:11:45 = pure bliss
Marvellous
Such a fun interview and Graham is such a lovely man, so very British ;)
I have a fun story about Mr coxon, some friends met him in LA and he ended up calling another friend of ours at 3 am to say hello and really freak him out.
The conversation went:
Hello?
Allo Dean? It's Graham
Who?
Graham ...
Wha?
Coxon is me Graham
Confused silence...
A'right well ave a nice evenin bye now ... click
I’ve watched this 3 times already. I could listen to Graham talk about Blur albums all day. When the pandemic gets under control can you bring him and Stephen Street together to talk about Parklife? Or just Graham with 13. Or the two of them with the self titled, even though they’ve done that one on another channel. I’d watch another. I’d watch them all. Great interview. What a pleasure. Thank you.
Marvellous idea Stefanie! Thanks ever so much for sharing!
One of the greatest albums ever.. Period.. Seen Blur twice by the way.. massive fan. I was totally obsessed..
Yes, truly wonderful band!!
This made me very emotional. Oh the nostalgia...I was suddenly a devoted 13 year old again. I got this album on CD a bit late in 1995 having discovered Blur via Parklife but by far this is their finest moment ...adore every song and yes it’s a proper album with so much treasure! A beautiful and rich journey
Wonderful Jessica I hear you 👍
Thank you so much for doing this!
Please invite Graham again to talk about the other albums too!
Warm wishes from a Blur fan for almost 30 years in Hong Kong🙂
Whenever I hear Blue Jeans I just wish it would keep going on longer. One of my favorite songs
I allllllways dreamed that one day i would see Grahan playing Villa rosie..and here it is!!!!!thanx a looooooooooot❤
Thanks ever so much
This is a prog-rock record. So much of what these guys did on this record appears in some form on The Bends and OK Computer. And I don't say that lightly as Radiohead is my favorite band. I wish Blur hadn't been categorized as "britpop" so early because I feel that title doesn't do a lot of their early music justice.
Agreed 100%! Thanks ever so much!
But the Bends and OK Computer aren't prog rock either. The closest is Paranoid Android.
Definitely not a prog-rock record at all.
I would say more prog-influenced than actual prog-rock. Still an incredible album, and I absolutely agree, Blur have always been more than just "britpop".
You're right. This is a progressive record, no doubt. People who think prog is only prog if it sounds like Genesis or King Crimson will disagree, but they're wrong.
for me this is their best album...it's kinda timeless... I still listen to it regularly...so glad to find this !!
Agreed! I love this album!!
I saw blur twice when they toured this album once at the start of the tour and once at the end. By the end they were playing a version of parklife and girls and boys. Park life didn’t come across so well but I remember raving to everyone at school about this new disco tune they had. The mosh pit was mental and Damon stage dived into the crowd and a load of us caught him and threw him back on the stage. Years later I met Alex in a dive bar in Cambridge we were dancing to Blondie I believe.
This has brought back a lot of good memories! It was really great to be part of it. I remember us all going in our DM’s, parkas, Ben Sherman’s and Fred Perry’s- and when we got there everyone else was dressed that way too! I remember thinking at the time ‘something is happening here’ great times. It really was the start of Britpop.
What a lovely set of recollections. I remember being in my university halls of residence and hearing Girls and Boys’ debut on John Peel’s (RIP) radio show. Really left an impression. Thanks again for sharing, Matthew. Really took me back. Good times.
Amazing. Graham (and Warren) so genuine, humble and talented
Thanks! Yes, Graham is wonderful
I’ve been wondering about some of the guitar sounds on this record for decades! Still one of my all-time faves. Great video!!
Thanks ever so much! Yes, huge fan of Graham’s guitar work on this album!
Such an amazing grace the earth have founded us a band this eclectic. from 'bang' to 'blue jeans', every one of their albums have a master piece. GBU graham coxon 🎉
Thanks ever so much for sharing
If you are a guitar player and you listen to "Villa Rosie" or "Chemical World" , even if you don't like "britpop", it's really hard NOT to think Graham is a genius, one of the most important guitarist's of modern times.
Graham is one of my favourite guitar players ever!
I just loved this analysis of the record and I just think Graham Coxon is lovely! I moved to the UK from Australia, when I was 21 and I got to see Blur play for their "Parklife" album in the South of England in 1994 and it was amazing! They are a band whose music really stands the test of time. All of their records are brilliant! Thank you for this great video. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks ever so much! So glad you enjoyed the video!
4:10 For Tomorrow
12:55 Resigned
20:37 Sunday Sunday
27:11 Advert
31:30 Colin Zeal (talk of Alex James)
34:49 Pressure of Julian
42:10 Star Shaped
45:40 Blue Jeans
49:44 Chemical World
56:09 Oily water
1:02:22 Miss America
1:08:31 Villa Rosie
1:13:00 Coping
1:16:46 Turn It Up (talk of Dave Rowntree)
📌
Love this album as much as Park life take me back to my mid 20s and an amazing girlfriend of mine, we loved these songs, everytime I hear these songs, I think of her, and summers in Harrow on the Hill. 25 years later we still remember this album when we speak (we never did marry).
Great interview. Not just a load of Bowie and Cope in there; loads of Cardicas and XTC in there too. Sums up the major influences into early to mid nineties indie perfectly.
Yes, indeed and most importantly Wire, who were a huge influence for Graham.
Love all your videos Warren, this one keeps getting watched the most, be great to see a Parklife and Great Escape epsiodes as well .. who couldn’t love Graham eh .. take care all the best for 24
This was a fantastic video. I loved that Graham pointed out the simple brilliance of Blue Jeans' drum part, and how it shifts emphasis through the song without changing anything at all. I remember first playing along to it and thinking 'wait, am I hitting the bar with the snare at the right time?'. Turns out I was, and another listen later I cracked it.
At the end of the video where you touch on Parklife, you can really hear a Villa Rosie-esque riff during the verses of Jubilee. Graham's guitar lines, which I always define as being 'spidery', are so unique and, along with the equally lively bass work of Alex James, really give the songs a lot of vibrancy, spikiness, and life.
You can definitely hear an evolution in the band's sound on Parklife, with more varied sounds and a little more maturity in the songwriting. However, for me, Modern Life Is Rubbish is my favourite of Blur's three britpop-era albums. Chemical World, Colin Zeal, Star Shaped are all brilliant songs that I ended up pushing myself to learn when I decided to pick up the guitar. Oily Water is a huge highlight. I love the psychedelia-fuelled outro; shades of The Beatles' I Want You (She's So Heavy) in the repetition, providing a real sense of sinking into another realm entirely.
Well, after that... New Blur fan here
That's amazing to hear!
Im jealous.
For the love of god please get him back to to the same for some other blur albums. This was amazing
That would be amazing!
Seconded!
I really like Graham and you can tell you both had a lovely, chilled, enjoyable time doing this. Fab to listen to.
Thanks ever so much
i've been listening to this one the whole duration of lockdown without even thinking about the fact that the title of the record was describing our period perfectly. Sounds like a prophetic vision
Absolutely love this video, thanks! On the subject of singing with an English accent (24 min), Syd Barrett deserves a mention. A quote from David Bowie:
"Syd was a major inspiration for me. The few times I saw him perform [...] during the 60s will forever be etched in my mind. He was so charismatic and such a startlingly original songwriter. Also, along with Anthony Newley, he was **the first guy I’d heard to sing pop or rock with a British accent**. His impact on my thinking was enormous. A major regret is that I never got to know him. A diamond indeed."
What a lovely treat! I remember this being announced but then for some reason not being available in the UK. Glad it is now!
Thanks ever so much! Glad you enjoyed it
Popscene came out then we had to wait for ‘for tomorrow’ absolutely blown away couldn’t wait to buy the single. Then the album Booooooom!….
Such a masterpiece
Modern Life Is Rubbish is also one of my very favorite Blur albums. My favorite changes from time to time based on my mood, but if I can't decide what to listen to I can always play this one and I love it every time. It's one I always go back to. Great video, appreciate it.
oMg what a fantastic interview!!! The Drill?!?! Reverse. The British still have the best sense of humour. I never really focused on Blur until now but this album is brilliant!! Enjoying it now in my studio on the Revels. So clean sounding and a refreshing and rewarding exploration of melody and taste. Thanks so much Warren. You’re truly a golden goose!
Thanks ever so much Fred!
That was a joyous pleasure! Thanks Warren.
Thanks ever so much
13 PLEASE. I COULD LISTEN TO COXON ALL DAY.
Every time I watch to this I always pick up on something new. One of my favorite videos on RUclips! I’d love to see another collab with graham at some point.
More please. I love getting to hang out and listen to music with people who are passionate about it, let alone chilling with one of the creators and getting to see how they feel about it. I had never really listened to Blur until watching this channel but have become hooked. What an amazing band.
Thanks ever so much Dennis!
Nice job with this interview! Graham is so great, as is the whole band…. Thanks so much! 👏👏👏👏👏
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for reuploading!!! I didn’t get to finish it the first time around
You're very welcome!
I used to listen to this at bedtime with my headphones on, plugged into my boombox. This album really solidified my fandom, I didn’t expect it to be so good after the first one (which I still loved). It was just amazing.
Thanks ever so much!
Fascinating interview, thank you. This is my favourite Blur album, so carefully crafted. I remember having it on cassette and driving from Kent to Italy on holiday, playing it over and over. Fantastic tunes, and happy memories.
Sir Warren, wonderful! You remind me to let go... Music is PLAYING. Have some bloody fun... Fun is an emotion too.
Thanks ever so much Brian!
@@Producelikeapro I'm also @ballinthejack @briankingart @ArtBrothel @thekingsthings
Peace out, friend.
Were you guys friends before this? Warren, you seem so chill and genuine, but also seems like you were more excited to do this segment than others! I never tied the early floyd and Barrett influences into Blur, but makes so much sense! despite not being a technical episode, it was very rewarding!! cheers sir!
Yes. We’ve hung a few times. Graham is a great guy, a truly wonderful guitarist and songwriter!
Funnily enough, i was thinking about this, and how it never showed up on the channel. i was going to email and ask, but i dont need to now because its here. YAY. The album that changed my life.
My favorite Blur album. The chord progressions in the liner notes of the CD were very helpful when trying to figure out what they were playing. Thanks for the great Inside the Album!
Warren you really did well with this interview, not only is there a lot to learn about Blur's album but this is a great example on how to keep an interview focused and on track as well. Enjoyable to watch as usual. Thank you for this rich and informative content, it is an absolute joy to be a subscriber here.
Aw shucks!! Glad you enjoyed it!
no more watching this on vimeo! haha, but in all seriousness the amount of times i’ve seen this is crazy, amazing album, the trem on “oily water” blows my mind, “miss america” is gorgeous sounding, “coping” is fantastic, great album from top to bottom, great work on the video warren!!
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks ever so much
@@Producelikeapro also, if you get the chance to do another video with graham, hopefully you’ll breakdown “Leisure”, i know “parklife” would be the obvious choice, but their first album is also great top to bottom and one of my favorites!
I would really love to hear a breakdown by Graham of 13! My favourite Blur album and one of my favourites of all time. Even more crazy sounds, even more weird arrangements. Just a wild ride of an album
My fave album of all time, I will never know how it didn't sell Multi-Millions od copies, it's outstanding.
this album is in my top 5 of all time, I can't describe how much it meant to me at the time
Thanks ever so much
mine too
This is so great. Loved these guys from the out (1991, when I was 19). Never stopped!
Fantastic!!
What an absolute treat! The twin vocals on Blue Jeans is just heavenly. Always remember playing along to this albums chords from the CD booklet and never remembering the order of the unpredictable progressions 👌
I already listened to a bit of blur but this definitely convinced me to properly go through more of their stuff!
Thanks Jordan! Good to hear!
"Howd that frog get in there?" Answer: someone in the control room was super into Bowie. 👌 after living in England in 90-91, returned to the States in 92, and worked in a record store. In the States nobody had had a religious moment with Loveless yet, and Blur’s first album wasn’t widely known. When Modern Life came out it was my fave (i had seen them live in England on their first album)… the other people i worked with only liked Nirvana and would groan in protest when i put this album on in the shop. We sold a lot of copies of Modern Life as a result, but eventually the manager gifted me the promo copy so they’d never have to hear it again and they could play Stone Temple Pilots over and over (cringe). Graham’s one of my favorites as far as making up great rock riffs. His respect for Hendrix and the Kinks shines through, but he’s always an original, always does his own thing. Lots of respect for his musical voice. ✨
What a humble man, an absolutely inventive and legendary guitarist. The worlds better with Graham in it👍
Thanks ever so much!
Blur are a band where four exceptionally talented musicians challenge and stretch each other into a combined musical strength that’s even greater than the sum of their already considerable parts. I think you only get bands like that once or twice a generation. Modern Life I love because it’s the raw, unbridled version of parklife. Graham coxon is the flagship antidote to those who confuse technical shredding with musical ability. Best guitarist for 30 years or so in my opinion.
Thanks ever so much for tour wonderful comment
I wondered where this vid went. So happy it's back!
Thanks ever so much!
This has always been my favorite blur record (plus all of it's b-sides!), it's great to hear you talk in detail with a similar enthusiasm about this record, as I have always had for it... sadly few people actually knew this record at the time and I'm glad to see it get some major praise for once.
I love this album. The first Blur album I ever bought. The drums and guitars on Sunday Sunday 🎉🎸
Yes, agreed Masterpiece!
the timing on this video could literally not have been better! been listening to this album a lot lately, and I've literally just made myself a cup of coffee. Lets go!
Thanks ever so much Dustin!
Great choice! For Tomorrow will always be one of my favourite Blur tracks for sure.
Mine too!!
Graham Coxon one of my all time favourite guitarists. Created some amazing hooks and made sure Blur sounded top class.
Beetlebum is one of the greatest guitar-driven songs ever, and nobody reading this knows when those drums are gonna come in no matter how many times you listen to it. WTF how is that where the drums come in?!?!
This album soothed so much of my ennui and depression during the early 00s when I was in my early 20s and dying from the monotony of day to day existence and realising nothing greater was ever going to happen. Which is essentially what Blur's songs are about. And though Parklife is fine I always related to this album moreso and consider it the more interesting work with the energy and off kilter tunes. So cheers to Graham and the Blur lads from Australia.
Probably one of the most underrated albums ever released and completely slipped under the radar at the time. Glad it's getting the recognition over two decades later, my favourite Blur album by a mile and a half.
Graham is the reason I picked up the guitar. For that I shall be forever in his debt.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Same!
Me too
And IN debt. :)
me 2
Now do Parklife, Great Escape, and Blur s/t.
Yes!
Please l
It's Graham's Birthday!!
YES! Happy Birthday Graham!
This is so precious to me I wish graham could break down all his albums for us he seems really happy being able to.
Got no time now. Will finish this at another time. I just wanted to say I love how this guy conducts the interview.
Wow! Thanks ever so much
Great session!! And I again realized what a superb album that was. Haven't heard it for a time. I followed Blur from the 1st single and album. But with "Modern Life" I thought "yes, they've grown up. The songwriting is excellent, they getting better and better." To be proved with "Parklife" and "Blur". ..
Loved this the first time it was posted, Graham's one of my favourite guitarists
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was looking for this vid the other day after watching the 'Song 2' video. Glad it's back up now. Somehow, I seem to have completely missed this album at the time, but this surely is a trigger to have a listen, or two. I could watch and listen to a great musician like Graham Coxon for hours. Such a pleasure to hear him about the creative processes and how he plays his own complicated licks with so much ease. Great stuff!
Thank you for posting this... the God-like genius that is Graham Coxon. I thrashed MLIR when it came out... loved it. Now, I always think of Parklife as my go-to Blur album, but hearing this again, I've remembered how frigging awesome MLIR is. Thank you 🙏🏻
You’re welcome I love Parklife, but Modern Life Is Rubbish is what started it all off for me!
@@Producelikeapro I hear you. 💪
Thanks ever so much
I am resigned, one of my favourites. My favorite blur's album anyway
Marvellous
Days before the coronapocalypse ruined the world I finally made it to London from my side of the globe for a few days. The weather was self-indulgently, parodically pissy, and as I was crossing the bridge towards Westminster in the chilling rain I was humming "For Tomorrow" under my breath to make the most of what I imagined to be the authentic British experience.
You do know that once you've done "MLiR" you have to do every other Blur album, don't you? I think it's the law or something.