Parklife

Oh. Another britpop album. What a surprise. Honestly, all of these bands are starting to sound exactly the same. Much like their food, British pop music seems to be mostly bland and uninspiring.

So British. Very playful. Sort of all over the place. I think Blur is the most fun of all the Britpop groups.

This album tastes like sunshine. It perfectly encapsulates the energy and colour of the 90s. Even the more reflective, melancholic moments, it glimmers with light and hope. A bright spark in an already illuminating decade. Vorsprung durch technik.

The first half of this album is as good as pop music gets. Sensational. The second part loses momentum , but still has This Is A Low and To The End to pull it round. Easy 5 stars.

Fuckin' Blur albums are too long and filled with shit man.

Excellent album!! So good I listened twice. What a treat, it's got the bangerz yet also somehow they made oompah music sound cool and threw it in there?? I really love the storytelling and the feeling in these tracks. So nice listening to the entire album all together.

This is a contender for my favorite Blur album. The song "Parklife" was a favorite of my brother and me when I was in high school. The overtly British stuff is charming, like "Bank Holiday" and "London Loves." Several great songs on here and I think it covers a fair amount of ground while staying cohesive as an album throughout.

After touring, Damon Albarn became increasingly influenced by the shift in 60s songwriting which is exemplified in the Beatles and the Kinks. These influences are reflected in this album which manages to incorporate a dizzying array of sounds ranging from experimental 60s rock, to more punk like and electronic sounds. The lyrical content similarly treads the familiar ground of disaffected middle class life. What I love about this album is it’s undeniably British aesthetic and its folding of so many styles into something cohesive and new.

British people act like these guys were legends, but its pretty mediocre stuff.

Arguably the definitive Britpop album, Blur's Parklife carries you along with its bouncy pop hooks and dry lyricism.

I forgot how great this record was, the crown jewel of the Britpop genre. Feel like these guys never fully made it outside of the UK, there’s a lot of bands that I will never understand how they didn’t become huge worldwide, Blur is one. I guess Damon Albarn finally got his due with the Gorillaz but really this should’ve been the album that made these guys gigantic stars. Sadly only in the British Isles…

Another easy one for me. I handwrite out all the lyrics when I taped my friend's copy of this so I could sing along. It was the first album that wasn't a pop compilation or PJ and Duncan that I obsessed over. I was 10, and I wanted to be Graham Coxon. I forgot to write any more while I was listening, just enjoying it! It's subtler than it gets credit for.

Nice try posh boys.

MASTERPIECE. ICONIC. GENIUS.

I got into Blur way too late. I really dig this album!

Indie pop classssic. Glamourised the mundane like nobody before. Nothing more to say... I love it!

- i see Blur i press like - I like how at some places it's raw like those dogs on the cover (Parklife, Jubilee, Girls and Boys..), just barking at me and then its mellow and I'm bathing in Damons voice (This is a low, End of a century, To the end). - very fun. i can easily put this and listen to the whole thing and stop doing whatever I was doing

Full of life, angst, and Damon Albarn’s beautiful vocals and bright guitars.

I bet this was the biggest shit ever when it dropped.

Amazinggg SO GOOD

Instant 5 stars from me. While it's not my favourite Blur album, it's still a masterpiece in my mind. Did it influence or capture British culture at the time? The standout 'overplayed' tracks Girls and Boys and Parklife are both fantastic and English music in the 90s would have been vastly different without them. The rest of the album is all top notch with Damon starting to use characters in his songs more and more. The variety is there with fuzz, disco, and beautiful compositions but it all fits to get her as a coherent record and the songs are so well written they have undoubtedly stood the test of time. I have listened to this album regularly for close to thirty years and have not tired of it yet.

4/1001 This is the third album in a row I've been excited to listen to. Another artist I'm familiar with from "Song 2" and later Gorillaz. Right away "Girls & Boys" brought me back to the 90s when I probably last heard that song. Somehow this album escaped me for 30 years, but no bother regretting that now as getting to hear a fantastic album like this for the first time in a treat Full of that great British rock style. Favorite track: "Girls & Boys" 5/5

I didnt think this was particularly "good" for lack of a better word, but I loved almost every second of it I found myself singing along to the chorus of several songs, despite it being my first time listening to them, they were that encapsulating. I loved the instrumental track, and songs like The Debt Collector are incredibly charming. Felt myself dancing around a little as I was listening to it. I have rated music I thought was "better" lower but thats simply because, despite it not being as artistically innovating as some of the other albums, its genuinely just so nice to listen to. Will listen to it many times in the future

Looking for girls who want boys Who like boys to be girls Who do boys like they're girls Who do girls like they're boys Always should be someone you really love

Awesome album! I'm constantly surprised by how varied Blur is while keeping their almost comical signature sound.

I had just relistened to this for the umpteenth time a couple of days ago, it's one of my favorite albums, the best album of the 90s if you ask me. I was originally hooked by Boys and Girls but every time I listen to it a different song jumps out as a new favorite, the title track, "End of a Centurty," "This Is a Low," even "Jubilee." Currently it's "To the End."

I liked this album very much. It sounds so true and so fun. It sounds like "good days". I didn't know Blur much more than "Song 2", but now I'll search for all other albums to know a little bit more. Definitively, worths it!

Throwback to the 90s "Britpop rivalries" - I was originally more in the Oasis camp but as time has gone on even though Oasis may have a few singles that have higher peaks I think Blur is more listenable over the long haul (i.e. for an entire album). Tons of cool/odd melody on this album with a lot of British influences. "Tracy Jacks" could very well have been a deep-cut old-school Who song. There are some annoyingly-overly-British songs here (e.g. "Bank Holiday") but that's more my lack of preference for punky fast-paced chanting. Fortunately for any irritating moments they are either short or countered quickly; for example "Badhead" is a very mellow tune with some simple and nice guitar lines weaving throughout the song. Then they go from "Far Out" through "To The End" and "London Loves" - that trio typifies this surprisingly diverse and melodic slice of the 90s that for me was a welcome diversion from the angsty-Nirvana trend. 7/10 4 stars.

The year is 1995: UK media is giving generous coverage to the like of Blur and Oasis as a "Battle of Britpop" rages on the charts with a battle between the leading singles for each band's subsequent albums, "The Great Escape" and "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?", respectfully. The media was late to the party though, because "Parklife" was the real big hit for the lads and the prime definition of britpop. These are great songs, too. Catchy as hell, good fun, and tons of personality from Albarn et. al., all culminating in a definitive album for the genre. This is nothing if not exemplary by the album's title track "Parklife", in which does an exaggerated accent of a very content englishman, followed by the chorus where we all sing "ALLLLLL THE PEOPLE. SO MANY PEOPLE" and then we go hand-in-hand through our parklife. The back half of the album is not nearly as good as the first half, dropping off all Bank Holiday, picking up with To The End and the last three tracks. Still worth a listen for Britpop history.

The closest an album has ever got to a good British sitcom. A vivid portrait of eclectic ordinary people experiencing the funny parts of life mixed with real pathos. Fun, witty, bouncy, poppy. At the same time; cynical, bitter, aggressive, and reflective. Something most of Blur's contemporaries and copycats couldn't reproduce (and something that Blur themselves couldn't balance on their poppier but lyrically darker follow-up The Great Escape).

I love Britpop

YES YES YES

I love a the satirical lyrics of the album and its depictions of different characters and aspects of modern life. Instant British classic with its mix of humor, timeless melodies and harmonies, and its new take on musical influences like the Kinks (harmonies and instrumentation of end of a century) and the jam (on songs like trouble in the message center and Tracy jacks). Even though the melodies seem familiar, all of the songs seem fresh and unique from each other so there was very few dull moments. It might not be perfect but my enjoyment of the album was a 5. Solid album but I also listened to all of Oasis-wtsmg today and they still are by far the best of Britpop. 👍: Tracy jacks, parklife, end of a century

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🫶🫶🫶🫶

blur is always a joy

It's the sound i love the most: tidy chaos

One of the best British albums from this era. It is a stylistically very versatile record (synthpop, instrumental waltz, punk-rock and so on) with excellent songwriting and lyrics.

Iconic. This was the beginning but really a continuation of the vibe that goes from the Kinks, The Who, The Jam and Squeeze to name a few. Quirk, fun and constantly re-inventing itself thanks to Damon's skill and inventiveness.

I might just like everything Damon Albarn does

I though Modern Life Is Rubbish was pretty good but I think I liked this one more it still felt proggy but with a lot more tasteful instrumentals I think also Lot 105 and Supa Shoppa made me feel like I was in Napoleon Dynamite which is a massive plus overall super enjoyable album, I don’t think I have any complaint other than the super corny bri*ish accents still I think this album deserves a 10/10, I really loved it

nice blur!

Great album and much more varied than I remember

I'm not sure why I disliked this album so much in the past. It's a belter.

Some of my favourite blur songs are on this album. I even enjoyed the interludes.

<3. London London London as a mysterious otherworldly place. It's not romantic and that's what I love, it's just big and urban and different.

Much better than ’modern life’

British anthem. Loved Jubilee and Bank Holiday and the playful closing song. An album that transports you to the beginnings of a significant cultural era in 90s Britain. Couldn't help but bop my head along to the songs as I was listening. Not usually my "type" of music but this is exactly why I signed up for 1001. Album has been saved in my collection and my musical horizon has been expanded. Overall a pleasant surprise. Didn't give five star because I reserve that for music that really stirs my soul (it's a high bar).

I tried my hardest to hate this band in my youth but I just couldn’t. They won the battle of Brit pop with country house. I mean it was up against roll with it so they kind of gave you that one didn’t they eh Damon? Got absolutely smoked in the album sales though didn’t you? Cockney twat. Sorry I got carried away there anyway park life is a brilliant album. I mean it’s no definitely maybe but it’s pretty good isn’t it.

This has aged terribly. Shite like the Debt Collector and Far Out. The highlights (Parklife, End Of A Century, To The End) are just about enough to give it a 4 though. Oasis shit/shat all over Blur, from a massive height.

I wake up when I want, except on Wednesdays, when I'm rOOdely awakened by the dustman

British Weezer.

I had only really heard Song 2 by blur before so o was expecting something like that. What I got was really Brit-pop, Beatles-esque music. I enjoyed it. It’s crazy this came out right around when Nirvana was just getting big. This is completely different from that and from what everyone else was doing.

Fun nostalgia-filled album that is very much of its time. Blur make me smile, they always sound like they're enjoying themselves. It's never a chore to throw some Blur on, singalong, and enjoy the anthems. Nice happy stuff.

I don't much care for British people

Maybe I am just in a bad mood but this was straight up annoying to me. I had a hard time finishing the album.

ну я не знаю что написать у меня сегодня плохой день....

Captures a particular place and time yet still sounds current . Fun, great hooks, incredible range, stellar songwriting. This is a Low is 🤌

Los 90 son un mundo hermoso

Confidence is a preference for the habitual voyeur of what is known as (Parklife)

Very good, my favorite Blur album

Liked it!

One of the most British albums to exist, but charmingly so.

I’m mature enough to admit that Blur won the Britpop wars of the 90s.

one of the best albums ever by anyone ever

Peak nostalgia

Did not use a private spotify session for this. I got into Blur when I lived in London and couldn't figure out why we Americans embraced Oasis, but "Song 2" was Blur's only Top 40 song in the states.

ALL THE PEOPLE. SO MANY PEOPLE!!! Ok, now that I've got your attention, it's time for Blur. This album isn't massively different in style from the wonderful 'Modern Life Is Rubbish', but it doesn't need to be, since there's still enough creative juice in them to make it work. (Another example would be Queen's Night at the Opera and Day at the Races) Parklife's concept seems to hang together a bit better compared to its predecessor, and the band experiments more with studio trickery and different styles. (I couldn't imagine Girls & Boys or To The End on the previous one, for example. That's the difficult thing when you have two really great albums in a row from the same band in the same style that you love equally, you either go into detail about the differences between the two or you just shrug and say 'It's good, innit.' Tangent: It's good, innit. Fave: This is a Low Least Fave: Lot 105

This is a very cool album. Sounds great still. I had forgotten how much I like tracks like End of a Century. And Badhead. Full of fun, sing-a-long lyrics - pure entertainment. But also so much more than that. Both loud and quiet. A textured reflection on society: songs like Park Life, that everyone sings along to, are great, but it also reflects the other side of all of us. As in, even when we are all so jolly at the party, we have other things we are dealing with in life. To the End. I really enjoyed listening to this again, and Damon's voice (both written and singing) is strong throughout. Not quite a five star because I don't love every track ... but a 4.5, for sure. Oh, actually, what the heck - l enjoyed it a lot - let's go 5!

Peak Britpop. Lighthearted, fun, with great lyrics and stories throughout, and unmistakably British. Girls & Boys, Tracy Jacks, End of a Century, Parklife, Badhead, To the End. This is Blur firing on all cylinders.

Belter and light years ahead of Oasis - think we all know who won the britpop battle really ;)

Song for song I still prefer Modern Life Is Rubbish (which was 2 years ahead of it's time) but Parklife is still a essential album.

The high water mark of britpop and Blurs best album.

Absolute 5*. A perfect album. Can't put in words how much this record meant and means to me so I won't.

Great!

Every track is a little pop gem of yummy goodness. Makes me happy and pumped up just to hear it!

Wow! Just so good.

Great album. Blur are a great band!

Great album. Fast then slow. Soundtrack to my student ( mature ) days. Every song is a banger.

Listened already. Love it. Always loved BLUR. Specially Parklife as an album. And I thank my cousin for letting me listen to it. 5-5-5-5-5. It’s a 5

This album succeeds as being a classic because it’s 1) unabashedly British 2) is well crafted, both individually and collectively and 3) defines a genre and an era without exception.

All my life, only Blur song I knew was Song #2. Shame on me, this is one of the best albums I've heard all year.

this was fantastic! the guitar work and the drumming were amazing through out and the cheeky lyrics about pop culture and the new wave elements were all super fun. definitely a new favorite.

I love Blur and I love this album. The blend of so many different styles of music on one album and they all seem to work together in a way few bands have been able to do. I'll gladly listen to this one (and, honestly, pretty much any Blur) again. Actually, I might go listen to it again now.

Love this. Hadn’t really listened to blur properly before but really enjoyed this with some big hits on it. Will listen again.

Instant 5 star. The album cover is even my phone background rn. This is one of the only albums to feel like it matches the BritPop name. Only 1 or 2 I don’t really care for. So good Rating: 4.9

Remember buying it when it came out and saw them on The Great Escape tour a few years later, love both albums, listening back to Parklife, it was so influential

Part of the fabric of life in the UK in the 90s, but still with a few lesser known tracks as well. This is a low was a highlight for me; one of my favourite blur songs, and of course the title track is one of the great memes of our time. An absolute joy to revisit, and a reminder of how good the charts of the era could be!

Girls and Boys was a monumental discovery for me... what I would give to hear this album again for the first time. Trouble in the Message Centre, Badhead, End of a Century and Tracy Jacks are long lasting favourites from this album. Still can't make up my mind whether this is my favourite album from blur...

I don’t need to listen to Parklife to know it’s a five star album. I still listened to it again, because it is just fantastic. What I think is really overlooked is the Pop aspect of Blur’s early work. To The End is not only one of my favourites from the album, but it’s also just a classic, very 60’s almost Chanson-esque, Pop structure. It’s a true spiritual successor to the work The Kinks and The Beatles were doing, bringing modern sensibility to classic song structure and creating a new standard for Pop music. The conventional wisdom is that Blur might have won the battle of Britpop, but Oasis won the war. I’m not so sure. More music not only sounds like Parklife nowadays, but also takes it’s cues from their songwriting and ethos. The mixture of humour and heartbreaking sincerity plays much better than Oasis’ self-aggrandising, and has been much more influential on the recent character and story driven direction Indie Rock has taken in recent years. And also, it’s just a fucking good collection of music. And that’s all it needs to be

This Is A Low, To The End, End Of A Century, all absolute bone fide classic songs. This album is near perfect pop, Damon Albarn is almost definitely a genius, the man doesn't stop working and has so many musical projects. Blur deserve their place among the great British bands. And, I always preferred Oasis!

I wasn't into 'Britpop' at the time. I was into dance music and DJing to an adoring bedroom wall. But my mates lived it. A lot of it sank in by osmosis. I have a lot of fondness for it. They didn't do Blur, though. But I've alway appreciated them, without ever really exploring them. I thought I would like the album. It's got a couple of quintessential Blur tunes, but I didn't know what to expect of the rest. And I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Definite Kinks influence, lots of experimentation, styles all over the place. Just more interesting that a bit of Rock and Roll. I'm xennial biased, but I like it.

Was a blur fan in the mid-90s so this was a nice trip down memory lane. It held up well and I enjoyed it just as much as I did back then.

I was 15 when this came out and Britpop was huge in the UK at this time and me and my friends dived into as many bands as we could. Blur were always one of my favourite Britpop acts (I actually preferred them to Oasis, but didn't tell my friends that as they were all huge Oasis fans) I love there ability to adapt and change musical styles. This Album is fantastic and relistening to it reminds his good. The hits are great Girls & Boys, Parklife, End of the Century and To The End are all great, Tracy Jacks, Bank Holiday, London Loves and Magic America are catchy as hell but stand out This is a Low is swirling melodic and beautiful.

What a goddamn classic. Wonderful pop songwriting, the Alice of life lyrics, just an absolute gem.

Can hear the Gorillaz sound peaking in here and there

I get up when I want Except on Wednesdays When I get rudely awakened by the dustmen

Damon Albarn album count (not just this website): 6, or 3 Blur (Modern Life is Rubbish, The Great Escape, self-titled) 2 Gorillaz (self-titled & Demon Days) The Good the Bad & the Queen (self-titled) ...And yet at times I still feel I haven't *gotten* it yet. Perhaps Parklife will spark my understanding of the Albarnsphere. There are definitely some sparks happening The racing hound cover is surprisingly accurate to the rate in which this album fires out creative ideas. The Kinks/Bowie comparisons are almost too easy to make, but like what 69 Love Songs does (more aggressively), it also checks in with styles of dance, punk and new-wave that preceded it a few short years prior. Okay, Damon’s voice is same-as-it-ever-was, but... scratch that. "To the End" is the best thing I've heard that guy do vocally. Ridiculously fun album, and I don't even consider myself a Blur fan (*cues up The Ballad of Darren right afterward to possibly contradict myself*) HL: "Girls and Boys", "Tracy Jacks", "End of a Century", "The Debt Collector", "To the End", "Clover Over Dover", "Jubilee", "This Is a Low" June 23, 2024

Favourite early blur

One of the if not the best brit pop albums. Eclectic with brilliant guitar work.

This cover is all I needed to know that this was a 5 star album. Helped that the songs were also really good. Literally all of them are good and some are just amazing. My favorites are "Girls and Boys", "Parklife", "To the End", and "Badhead".