Blur are the second best band behind The Beatles imho. Consistent song quality, great at trying different styles, and were part of a phenomenon (maybe one of the last?) proper musical movements/scenes for fans. I didn't like this album at first, but it's grown a lot on me since first listen. It is much better with the 2 deluxe tracks though.
It's a good album and a bit of a grower. 7 is probably about right. For me it wouldn't make Blur's top 5. Still think Park Life is their defining album. I also wonder if Damon has either lost, or isn't using, his whole vocal range here. Accordingly all the songs seem a bit constrained within a middling sound range.
This is a break up album.... mellow and pretty down beat. The production is fantastic but realistically Damon should have released this for himself and not for Blur an indie band. For me many of these tracks actually sound very much like John Lennon....heres hoping he will write a more positive up beat album once he is over his heart break and loss . This album is a huge reflection on his own state of mind. After the recent return to blur & the incredible love shown for them i do hope he finds direction again....
@@OnTheFlipSideShow I personally find this album very monotonous. I am a huge fan attended the recent concert on Sunday 9th at Wembley. The atmosphere was estatic so much happiness from the public towards the band. This album has received so much hype yet it doesn't deliver the right statement....Blur are back in town..the Indie rock band it delivers sadness loss too much melancholy. The only two tracks that have any real edge to them are St Charles square & the narcissist. The rest are a reflection on Albarns broken heart and his own personal state of mind. Downbeat. Quite frankly as a returning band it' not very fitting to be honest very bland like supermarket music. This album is like a white elephant. Something you aren't quite sure what to do with. Excellent production meaningful words etc yet do you want to listen to something so sad & motionless all the time? As a returning band I don't think this feels right .
I have to agree. I am also a massive fan of Blur and Damon's other work but you hit the nail on the head here. I was sorta prepared for the overall "one note" mood of the record from reading Damon's interviews where he noted to Jo Wiley on BBC Radio 2 that "all the songs are like that" (ie about heartbreak and downcast) which is now very very obvious. On a personal level, I have great empathy for what he is going through and hinting at in interviews. He has every right to both write about this but also guard his privacy from prying eyes. But having relationship trouble and a breakup after a decades long partnership and a child has to be hell and it is very obvious from the lyrics and from interviews he is still quite upset by it. But on a musical level, it sadly becomes a bit repetitive from the listeners point of view. I've heard the bonus tracks and really think they should have added them into the whole thing and reworked the track list which might have helped in that way.
@@OnTheFlipSideShow most of their records are on long side but you’ll find the tracks you love 1) Parklife (most classic album. Britpop sound) 2) 13 (experimental and emotional record similar to this but more distorted guitar , jammy and 90s sounding. Might take awhile but it’s worth it) 3) Modern Life Is Rubbish (classic songwriting in vein of Kinks with 90s alt rock) 4) The Magic Whip (mature album like this . A little scattered but it basically touches in every point of their career) 5) The Great Escape (This is pure britPOP. Definitely has most sheen production and loudness , however lyrics are very very cynical) everything else is good 6) Think Tank (album without Graham in the band it’s more experimental. Basically a dub version of Gorillaz 7) Self Titled (Change in sound. Some people really love it. It’s not for me anymore but it has Song 2 and is great if you like Pavement , Beck and that kinda 90s rock. It’s still a Great album and don’t skip on it. Check it out maybe even before some of one’s I said because this is some people favourite)
No!!!!! You're trolling. You're trolling right? Tell me your trolling. I mean, you claim that Suede is superior, yet you're here you are watching a Blur album review. Got to be trolling for sure.
@@thomasoconnor246 no some people actually believe songs like pantomime horse, the wild ones, I don’t know how to reach you, what am I without you and so on are better than woooooo hoooooo and lives in a house a big big house in da country
@mojopin1997 Oh, that's right because that's what Blur is limited to right? Just Country House and Song 2? So, you're going to use strong Suede songs against weaker Blur songs. Great formula for debating the quality of bands. Also, you said Blur are nowhere near as good as Suede. That's just a preposterous statement in itself. If Suede were better, which they are not, it would be by a hair if anything. Again, you are here on a Blur video and I wouldn't watch or listen to Suede if you paid me. So, I win. One last thing, you originally meant "They ARE nowhere near as good as Suede." Proper nouns are capitalized and the missing "are" is just embarrassing. Your opinion on English music doesn't mean anything if you can't speak the language. You must love Oasis too. Keep giving Blur views though, you're very convincing in your opinion. I mean, if you want to talk about Suede, go watch a Suede video. Why are you here?
Avalon and The Heights for me are the pinnacle of this album.
Great album! Blur do melanchony as well as anyone and always have done! Defo get the Bowie references as well!
Very good review! Can't wait to hear the whole record 🍻🍻
Thank you! I've been enjoying it quite a bit!
Blur are the second best band behind The Beatles imho. Consistent song quality, great at trying different styles, and were part of a phenomenon (maybe one of the last?) proper musical movements/scenes for fans.
I didn't like this album at first, but it's grown a lot on me since first listen. It is much better with the 2 deluxe tracks though.
It's a good album and a bit of a grower. 7 is probably about right. For me it wouldn't make Blur's top 5. Still think Park Life is their defining album. I also wonder if Damon has either lost, or isn't using, his whole vocal range here. Accordingly all the songs seem a bit constrained within a middling sound range.
This is a break up album.... mellow and pretty down beat. The production is fantastic but realistically Damon should have released this for himself and not for Blur an indie band. For me many of these tracks actually sound very much like John Lennon....heres hoping he will write a more positive up beat album once he is over his heart break and loss . This album is a huge reflection on his own state of mind. After the recent return to blur & the incredible love shown for them i do hope he finds direction again....
Thank you for your insight!
@@OnTheFlipSideShow I personally find this album very monotonous. I am a huge fan attended the recent concert on Sunday 9th at Wembley. The atmosphere was estatic so much happiness from the public towards the band. This album has received so much hype yet it doesn't deliver the right statement....Blur are back in town..the Indie rock band it delivers sadness loss too much melancholy. The only two tracks that have any real edge to them are St Charles square & the narcissist. The rest are a reflection on Albarns broken heart and his own personal state of mind. Downbeat. Quite frankly as a returning band it' not very fitting to be honest very bland like supermarket music. This album is like a white elephant. Something you aren't quite sure what to do with. Excellent production meaningful words etc yet do you want to listen to something so sad & motionless all the time? As a returning band I don't think this feels right .
I have to agree. I am also a massive fan of Blur and Damon's other work but you hit the nail on the head here.
I was sorta prepared for the overall "one note" mood of the record from reading Damon's interviews where he noted to Jo Wiley on BBC Radio 2 that "all the songs are like that" (ie about heartbreak and downcast) which is now very very obvious.
On a personal level, I have great empathy for what he is going through and hinting at in interviews. He has every right to both write about this but also guard his privacy from prying eyes. But having relationship trouble and a breakup after a decades long partnership and a child has to be hell and it is very obvious from the lyrics and from interviews he is still quite upset by it. But on a musical level, it sadly becomes a bit repetitive from the listeners point of view. I've heard the bonus tracks and really think they should have added them into the whole thing and reworked the track list which might have helped in that way.
Number 1 album. The direction is fine.
Their albums have bunch of range. Really only first album isn’t my thing. Everything else is solid to ranging degrees
I'm going to have to dig deeper, where would you suggest I start?
@@OnTheFlipSideShow most of their records are on long side but you’ll find the tracks you love
1) Parklife (most classic album. Britpop sound)
2) 13 (experimental and emotional record similar to this but more distorted guitar , jammy and 90s sounding. Might take awhile but it’s worth it)
3) Modern Life Is Rubbish (classic songwriting in vein of Kinks with 90s alt rock)
4) The Magic Whip (mature album like this . A little scattered but it basically touches in every point of their career)
5) The Great Escape (This is pure britPOP. Definitely has most sheen production and loudness , however lyrics are very very cynical)
everything else is good
6) Think Tank (album without Graham in the band it’s more experimental. Basically a dub version of Gorillaz
7) Self Titled (Change in sound. Some people really love it. It’s not for me anymore but it has Song 2 and is great if you like Pavement , Beck and that kinda 90s rock. It’s still a Great album and don’t skip on it. Check it out maybe even before some of one’s I said because this is some people favourite)
Thanks for the guide!
Takes years to properly review an album.
The algorithm is fickle, I don't disagree. My opinion on albums is generally not concrete.
They nowhere near as good as suede
No!!!!! You're trolling. You're trolling right? Tell me your trolling. I mean, you claim that Suede is superior, yet you're here you are watching a Blur album review. Got to be trolling for sure.
@@thomasoconnor246 no some people actually believe songs like pantomime horse, the wild ones, I don’t know how to reach you, what am I without you and so on are better than woooooo hoooooo and lives in a house a big big house in da country
@mojopin1997 Oh, that's right because that's what Blur is limited to right? Just Country House and Song 2? So, you're going to use strong Suede songs against weaker Blur songs. Great formula for debating the quality of bands. Also, you said Blur are nowhere near as good as Suede. That's just a preposterous statement in itself. If Suede were better, which they are not, it would be by a hair if anything. Again, you are here on a Blur video and I wouldn't watch or listen to Suede if you paid me. So, I win. One last thing, you originally meant "They ARE nowhere near as good as Suede." Proper nouns are capitalized and the missing "are" is just embarrassing. Your opinion on English music doesn't mean anything if you can't speak the language. You must love Oasis too. Keep giving Blur views though, you're very convincing in your opinion. I mean, if you want to talk about Suede, go watch a Suede video. Why are you here?
Both different but very good bands. My Dark star is one of my favourite songs ever though.
@@thomasoconnor246 is this Damon Albarn writing this ? Lol