Parklife

Girls & Boys is so ON. Holy shit. Absolute banger. I love how British people seemingly love being British, like being extra British for the sake of being British. Definitely some heavy British shit happening here, like a slice of England, perhaps a bit more in the posh side here. I used to super-love this album in my teens (was quite the Anglophile in my youth and thirsted for most things British) and remember most of the words even after not hearing it for years While I'm not quite as dick-hard for the Brits now, I still really enjoy this album.

Wenn ich ei Stimm chönti ha, wärs 100% die vom Damon Albern. Macht jedes Album losbar. Aber ned jedes Lied. Paar sind denn doch wider sehr absurt gsi mit dene Chilbi Kläng. Janu, vier Tickets fürd Crazy Mouse

Good

Honestly loved it, I get the hype,

WOW! I remember a few years ago listening to Blur via their self titled album because I was in my grungephase and really liked Song 2... not knowing that it was them mocking grunge. Because of that dissapointment, I didn't really listen to them for a few years. Until today ... this album is incredible! Britpop at its best! Best tracks: Girls&Boys, End of a Century, Bank Holiday 4.5/5

girls & boys - infectious bop, also ppl really do be confused sometimes This is a low-- pretty good Disappointed to find out the woohoo song is not on this album Damien Alpert just legit sounds like everything's all experimental all the time.

Estaba completamente convencido, xa que aquí non hai medios puntos, de chantarlle cinco estrelas a este álbum; pero tan pronto rematei de escoitalo comezou a soar de seguido This is Hardcore no reprodutor e decateime de que igual hai quen merece máis esa valoración. Con todo, malia esta pequena hostia inicial, Parklife é un álbum excelente. Posiblemente, o cumio de Blur como grupo e do britpop canonicamente entendido. Os cinco/seis primeiros temas son todo hits de seguido e, aínda que, como todos seus discos, pareza ter algunha canción que o fai durar de máis, a escoita non deixa de ser desfrutable en ningún momento. 'To the End', 'Jubilee' ou 'This is a Low' completan un álbum magnífico, unha xoia atemporal repleta de temas máis grandes ca a vida. Perfecto para descubrir en calquera momento, inmellorable para volver unha e outra vez. Un engadido: 'End of a century' foi durante un tempo non pequeno da miña adolescencia a miña canción favorita. Oh, it's nothing special (#7 dos 1.001 discos que escoitar antes de morrer: 4,5/5)

graham coxon va nuet durant tot el disco

One of the great Britpop albums.

Thoroughly enjoyed this album. Aside from a bit of a lull in the middle, tons of fun tracks here along with proof that Albarn really always had the sauce. Favorite Songs: “Girls & Boys”, “End of a Century”, “This is a Low” Least Favorite Song: “Far Out” Mid 4.

This is just what my morning needed.

I was pleasantly surprised by this album

This album is a wonderful mess. It's well paced, good contrast, ends right where it feels like it should, and sounds like loads of self-indulgent fun. I had completely forgotten about Blur - so glad to revisit!

I feel like there are 3 different albums/bands happening I n this album.

This was an eclectic and fun album. Favorites: Girls & Boys | Parklife | The Debt Collecter

4.95

Sympa je connaissais pas Blur

Musical personality goes a long way.

Generally fun. Arctic Monkeys may have taken some inspiration from here.

I really really enjoyed this. I bought it back in the day and at the time thought it went on a bit too long, maybe I didn’t give it the time it deserved back then because I was listening to other emerging Brit pop bands that were maybe a bit more “listenable “. But now I’ve given it the time it deserves I’m well impressed now

Genuinely really fun. did not expect to enjoy that as much as i did

Har aldrig lyttet til denne selvom der er ikke kun 1 men 2 goodboys på coveret. Meget bedre end et gennemsnitligt britpop album

All over the place (positivt, for en gangs skyld). Synes allerede man kan høre spor af Gorillaz engang imellem

Great variation - only a few songs I didn't like

Me, supposed Blur fan - this is probably the first time I listened to a full album of theirs before the Best Of from 2000. Parklife (especially the Girls & Boys 'whoop-whoop-whoop' sample) does feature prominently on the best of record. I'm certainly not disappointed, or I am disappointed I didn't listen earlier. I probably was diverted away being aware Blur and Parklife were designated as part of the foundation of Britpop, the genre that notoriously and expeditiously wore itself thin. Well now that the stigma has passed (although I hope to hell there are no Oasis records on this list) I can freely enjoy Blur and just about everything Damon Albarn creates.

4,5 + 💖 Eu amo blur

A great album all throughout, no song felt like it was dragging on and it was kind of sad to hear the album end. Also, while it is not much like Gorillaz, you can sense the precursor to what the Gorillaz will become in this album.

4/5 Rare occassion that I'm begging for an album to continue but I just love Blur so much, and Damon Albarn's voice makes me incredibly happy. There's some bangers on this album that I've listened to a lot growing up. Blur will forever remain one of my favs. I'm only not giving it 5 points because I didn't love every song.

really surprising instrumentals and background vocals!! super fun

That was fun! I really enjoyed listening to this album. It made me feel energized and ready to dance.

A little too cheeky - but some absolute bangers.

Park Life is the best song on the Album. There is a punk\experimental element to much of what Blur does on this album, where there is some passage of the music intended to grate on you. I don't hate it, but it isn't early morning listening.

Very whimsy in a way, I liiike iiit !

Being American, a lot of early Brit-pop is really never made its way to the states, with some obvious exceptions. A severe downside to this is that Song 2 was really the only Blur song I was ever exposed to, and while that song rips, it’s not exactly a testament to musicianship. Parklife, on the other hand, is a cover to cover ripper that showcases some amazing songwriting and skilled musicianship. Given my previous knowledge of the band, I was surprised any album of them would be on the list, but now that I’ve listened to Parklife, I get it.

Always backed Blur over Oasis a much more interesting band through and through. You can see how many bands are influenced by the various sounds on this album and there's enough variety that its a thoroughly enjoyable listen. Playlist track: London Loves

Honestly Graham is a very underrated guitarist, he makes the oddest sounds into such danceable jams

7/10 30 years ago I felt this was no Definitely Maybe, and today I fully agree. Girls and Boys was great, but there is too much novelty here that just annoys me. Too long and a bit flabby.

Blur right after Pulp... nice

Really fun album! Had a few favorites and was not left bored. Really catchie songs. 8/10

Probably Blur's best piece of work. Britpop classic.

What a weird mix of genres and music styles by decade. I'd listen to it again though.

Upon multiple listens, I can conclude that this record is great for being uniquely and unapologetically British. It is jam-packed with many tracks that make it a chore to get through, but once the melodies get you, they get you. There's a lot of great things to be heard throughout this one, my favorites being the title track, End Of A Century, Bank Holiday and Clover Over Dover. In the end, I think the self-titled is more for me. All the people, so many people (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)

I didn't have too much time to listen all the way through, but I can see why people really love this album. They have a lot of experimental elements, especially for a mainstream rock band from the 90's. "London Loves" is an amazing tune, btw! 7.5/10 for me.

Rating: 8/10 Short Review: Parklife feels like it delivers on the colorful and lively feel that the title demands.

It's a very cool album. I really enjoyed the cockney accent and its effective use. Reminds me of punk albums of old, but modernized, of course. I enjoyed listening to it several times, and will gladly go back to it in the future.

i like the concept but somethings missing

Classic 90’s. You can hear foreshadowing of The Gorillaz

Great album. Fun the listen to and upbeat. I love his accent. Parklife is a favorite of mine.

Might not be considered "cool" but this album is pretty fun.

(4.5) no complaints

it could be sadder

I wasn’t a fan of Blurs earlier material but the Parklife album was the first I enjoyed, with the trend continuing over their next two albums. It certainly was helped by the opening track, “Girls & Boys” as well as the title track, “Parklife”. But there are plenty of good songs to be found here.

Great album. I think End of a Century is probably my favourite track

I think it's more interesting then what oasis makes but it's about as good. 8/10

I enjoyed listening to this album. I knew a couple of songs already but had never really listened Blur. A fun, British rock album with cheeky, relatable lyrics and some surprising references.

Some absolute bangerz on this. Girls & Boys is enough for a high rating on its own.. Album-wise though, it feels like there's a bit of filler that dilutes the overall quality.

love

I can see now that the cheekie chappie cockney thing might sound a bit arch and grating but at the time it captured a mood

This is so british 90's that may be overrated and tired for some, but I had barely listened to anything by blur, and I loved it!

I really prefer “Leisure” and “Modern Life…”. Parklife is a very good album overall, but alas, it hit the mainstream at the time - suddenly everyone was a Blur fan - unless they were an Oasis fan - and if you can stomach the chavs’ holiday favourite, Girls & Boys and Phil Daniels cheekily monologuing about pigeons having sex in Parklife…there’s a lot to like here.

Innit

3.8!

The album starts strong, but it drags after To The End. and it picks up right about the end with This Is a Low and Magic America. Parklife(the song) sounds like a broken Born To Be Wild record. Damon really mastered the art of writing about mundane british characthers.

bri ish 8/10

alo britanski pop rock album nema miss, oseca se britanski humor i satira, opis dosadnog middle class zivota, top album 16 pesama, malo duzi od proslih koje sam slusao, ali brzo to prodje, pesme su pune contenta highlighti: Girls and Boys, End of a Century, London Loves, Trouble in the Message Centre

Very progressive. Did not realise how old this album actually was. I can hear how it influenced Britpop/rock going forward but also the references it draws on from the past. A great link in the chain from the sounds of the 60-80s (The Clash, The Jam, The Kinks) to the future beyond Blur (Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, etc.) Very solid catchy singles, who can resist Girls & Boys? This is a Low is a great album closer.

How much you like this album possibly depends on how much toleration you have for some quite silly English music hall parts (plenty), peak Britpop laddishness, albeit semi-parodic (much less), and general south-east posturing (very little). It's quite tricky to get through all 16 songs without a bit of irritation setting in, especially when Albarn is doing his wideboy schtick. That said, lots of these songs are undeniable - an apotheosis of mid-1990s UK guitar music. Even a good few years after I last listened, I find a lot of it very enjoyable. Coxon's guitar parts are a good match for Albarn's alternating melancholia and ruined boozy hedonism.

-girls and boys -Parklife

Overall rating: 8.5/10 Favourite songs: Girls& Boys (classic), Badhead, To the End, London Loves, This Is a Low

3.7 2x

A classic. Liked, but not as much as I thought I would!?

And I thought the Kinks were British..

Que Oasis soit plus big que Blur, c'est comme si les Monkees étaient plus big que les Beatles. 4.49 étoiles

Très bon album, pas une surprise Blur c'est culte !

Girls & Boys was the first time I had heard same-sex relationships referenced in a major song before (granted I was like 12 - so I may have missed some things). And to have it referenced in this genre of music was pretty cool and says a lot about the band at the time. Some other interesting commentary int heir lyrics as well on this album. This sound is awesome and was quite different from anything else on the radio at the time. Shout out to song 2 by Blur ( not on this album) but still an epic song (like girls and boys) that has stood the test of time.

Gött! Band jag alltid gillat men aldrig lyssnat på ett helt album

Jäkligt märklig blandning låtar men det är ändå härligt överlag, och flera låtar är toppen! Intressant att lyssna på Albarns sound som ändå hintar om hans framtida riktning med Gorillaz osv.

Blur, oh yeah!

I haven't explored Britpop that much but I've always thought that Blur were my favourite. I could be showing my ignorance but they seemed the most willing to try different things (mainly aimed at Oasis, as I think half of their songs sound the same), weaving in different styles into their sound. They're also full of personality Need to listen to more Blur, always enjoy them when I do Highlights: Girls & Boys, London Loves, This Is A Low, Magic America

Parklife by Blur was a wonderful first listen. For an album in the 90's it has aged really well due to its forward thinking blending a lot of different genres of pop, rock, and synth. Listening to this album you can hear the influences of the Beatles on it, but I feel like Blur really brought its on sound on it with how quirky and colorful with lush production. I even really like the interludes on this album, those were always fun to listen to as I felt like they were straight out of a movie. Like "Debt Collector" for example, just made me feel like a rugged 1980's 37 year old brit who is going door to door collecting money from person to person. Just a really fun album 8/10

I dig Blur. I think they're a really good band. Not a favorite, but they still good. When it comes down to the classic Blur vs Oasis debate, I'm always going to be Team Blur. They're superior in every way to Oasis. (Fuck you, fight me.) Parklife - This album was good. I don't feel it was their best, although I don't know enough of their catalog to honestly make that statement. It just didn't hit me like some of their other stuff has. Good album regardless. (I'm keeping this one short. I have other things to say but I'm not interested in writing it out)

What a great album! Loads of good songs, but I feel like Parklife is one of those albums you listen to for Blur, not for specific songs (with maybe one or two exceptions)

90s rock. ok

4.2 Had its highs but also a lot of mid.

Algo me diz que vou ficar obcecado por este.

7/10

One thing it’s nice to think is that an album’s biggest mass hit is kind of the worst song on the album.

There's a lot to this record, in every sense. Rammed full of cheeky-but-somehow-earnest songs about English life in the 90s. Still holds up extremely well 30+ years on. Even the more filler-ish tracks have plenty to earn your attention. And although harking back to earlier times, also quite prescient. It is front-loaded but it was a real pleasure to hear it right through again for the first time in ages

Lige kommet tilbage efter dårlig tour i usa men proceeder til at lave en af de mest identitetsfulde britpop albums fra perioden som virkelig cementerede deres status som nogle af de største. Synes musikken er fed og fuld derudad i alle mulige genre og det er virkelig sjovt at lytte til. Fik et stort smil på læben selv på en dårlig dag. To the end er en af de mest meme potentiale sange jeg har hørt. Det har både new wave, brit pop, art pop, ska og det hele. Massere af synths som giver det et elektronisk touch. Det har virkelig meget personlighed synes jeg.

Damon Albarn is amazing like always. A great album from one of my favorite sub-genres of music ever.

Fun, like britpop probably should be

Album cover goes crazy hard. Strong first half, weaker second, but no outright misses.

Good britpop. Extra points for album cover going so hard. 4/5

Klassiker. Für 5 Sterne hat es mir dann aber doch hinten raus ein paar Längen und Skip-Songs. Bitte endlich wieder auf Tour kommen!

Schwierige Sache - einige überragende Songs, aber auch einige miese Filler. Insgesamt schwache 4 Sterne.

Vom Cover hatte ich doch mehr wyldes erwartet. Hat sicherlich am Ende alles was es braucht. Aber warm werde ich mit Britpop in diesem Leben wohl nicht mehr. Bestätigt nochmal auch warum ich nie angefangen habe, Blur ordentlich zu hören.

Keine 5, auch nicht mein liebstes Album aber eine 3 bekomme ich nicht übers Herz.

Hat viel Spaß gemacht, es kann aber sein, dass das vor allem an der willkommenen Abwechslung liegt. Daher: Vorsichtige 4 Sterne.

The best Blur album. Its uneven, but has some real high-points, including "Girls & Boys", "End of a Century", "Badhead", and "To the End". Its also experimental and has some tracks that are borderline throwaway. Still, it is a worthy album in this list.

oi oi go on lads

Parklife by Blur has a lot going for it. I like eighty percent of the songs. Boys & Girls is so surprisingly funky. Could have been a straight five out of five, if it wasn't for some obvious filler. I'm ashamed to admit that for a long time I only knew blur from song 2, but there is much more to the band, which I'm slowly discovering over this past year.

Day 90 Hard to explain just how massive this album was in the UK when it was released, still some absolute bangers on here I come back to often 8/10 Highlights End of a Century London Loves This is a Low

1. Girls and Boys - Pretty groovy "electronic" song 4/5 2. Tracy Jacks - Best song on the album 5/5 3. 15. This Is A Low - Love Graham's guitar solo in this. 4.5/5

Surprisingly fun listen.

So charming, cynical, and fun innit, jus loik yer blokes down at the pub!

Wait... so you're tellin' me that Damon Albarn isn't a blue haired cartoon character? Fun album to listen to, definitely see my self coming back to it. IT may be more of a 3.5 but rounding up after seeing damon's ass the other day (and because I do love damon's sound which is all over this album).

Plenty to like here, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that several of these songs were attempting to hypnotize me, which is a typically British move that I did not appreciate. 3.5-4

I like Blur quite a bit but I’m not sure I think they ever made a true no skips album. I was literally thinking about it yesterday in terms of them never making an album worse than a 3 or better than a 4. This is me, again, saying some variation of "album too long" and also readily acknowledging that, as much as I enjoy Blur, I will readily acknowledge about 20,000 reasons to find them annoying. Blur requires a bit more active listening than their contemporaries, because their real strength is in the lyrics more than anything. Damon Albarn is pretty much head and shoulders over all the other britpop folks as a lyricist, other than Jarvis Cocker and maybe Brett Anderson. Parklife was Blur’s third album and their last as the unquestioned and unquestionable biggest British band before the Battle of Britpop circa 1995 and Damon subsequently spending the remainder of the 90s taking a series of Ls (getting into heroin, getting dumped by Justine Frischmann, getting bullied by Gallaghers) that culminated in him deciding to make music as a cartoon character instead of himself. And I tend to think that when/if his legacy is being discussed by future generations, there will be more discussion of Gorillaz than anything else. But Blur remains a stadium act in the UK so maybe that's just me not fully appreciating their popularity outside the US, where their last concert was a disastrous Coachella gig. As far as the album itself goes, we're right in the thick of Blur being as aggressively British as possible, which began on Modern Life is Rubbish and continued on The Great Escape (The so-called "Life" trilogy). As in the other Life albums, the big defining feature here is these Ray Davies-style songs about these super mundane things like bank holidays and civil servants and annoyance with US-centrism. Sonically, there's a good amount of variation here; "Girls & Boys" has some pretty gnarly disco guitar, is catchy as hell, and is also probably my favorite song in the world to listen to while running. "Bank Holiday" is a punk song that is mercifully the length of a punk song. Elsewhere, we've got waltz timed oompa-"chimney sweeping music" on "The Debt Collector" and an almost Bond-esque sound on "To the End," alongside something approaching space rock on “Far Out,” some new wave on “London Loves” and, yes, straightforward ‘90s alternative rock on "End of a Century" and "This Is a Low." That refusal to have any set-in-stone sound would later become a cornerstone for Gorillaz, but it's been part of Damon Albarn's work from very early on. It's wild to me that the title track is a thing that was released as a single; I cannot fathom the notion of hearing that song on the radio during my morning commute, even though when you think about it there's really not a better time to hear it? It's sort of the thesis statement of the album and would probably make more sense as the opening track to provide an overview to what the album is going to be about, but I also understand that would be pretty alienating to a new listener. But at the same time, watch them play it at Glastonbury 2009 and see how wild that crowd gets. The key thing here is that most of these character studies feel very "birdseye." Blur is not talking about the mundanity of modern life because *they* can feel it but because the *listener* can. "Tracy Jacks," "London Loves," "Magic America," and "Jubilee" feel voyeuristic and damn near anthropological, rather than relatable. Damon is rocking FILA tracksuits, a gold tooth, and a cockney accent. He's playing a character like the theater kid he’s always been at heart. Again, an interesting prelude of things to come. The best songs on here are the more sincere ones, that feel more intimate and less theatrical. "End of a Century," "To the End," "Clover Over Dover," and "Badhead" all show an honesty and vulnerability that wouldn't really be found elsewhere in Blur's canon until their sad boi era later in the decade. "This Is a Low" is, ironically, the high point here and is the perfect marriage of these two concepts. It's emotionally resonant and intimate, while also being inspired by, of all things, a shipping forecast. Great album. I like it more than I did this morning. “Clover Over Dover” has especially improved in my standings, a tune that never really stood out to me one way or the other but is now one of my favorites on the album. But it could use some trimming (cut: Bank Holiday and Lot 105 for sure. Maybe The Debt Collector and Far Out), and I'm not ready to give it a perfect score.

Blur at the peak of their britpop success. Album filled with great pop tunes, but there are few other Blur records above Parklife on my list of best Blur albums

Still holds up well after 30 years … and still better than oasis

Super

Feels like young summer in a very different way to Oasis - it feels like its soundtracking a fun, warm summer around Britain with all your friends, without any weight of expectations other than the fun times and making friends. A lot of the criticism of this album probably goes on its voyeuristic lyrical content, but I think of that as a plus - it reminds me a lot of late 60s Kinks and Sgt Pepper era Beatles in its catchy ditties about British life. Occasionally the lack of sincerity does grate on you a little after 16 tracks. 'To the End' is a classic that I've never truly enjoyed, but luckily it all feels in spirit of the album. Would recommend listening on a sunny May/June weekend.

Charming album, feels somewhat nostalgic

innit

Not particularly fond of the British, but these ones are alright.

Cor blimey! It's these blokes again! Honestly, I didn't hate this. In fact, compared to the other albums on this list that are tagged as Britpop, this was quite good. Bonus star for surprising me and bucking the trend for this genre.

One of their best before they went weird on me.

Instantly started bouncing. Unfortunate that the best song is first, but the rest is still pretty good 👍

Album on krutskeid täis, aga see teebki kuulamise väga huvitavaks. 10 lugu 14st olid mulle piisavalt huvitavad, et läksid kohe Spotify Liked Songs sekka. Siin on piisavalt satiiri ja põnevat kõla, et saaks albumit ikka mitukümmend korda kuulata. Pole ime, et see on 90ndate britpopi üks defineerivaid albumeid. Oasis vs Blur kakluses olen kindlasti Blur poolel.

Boy and Girls is a great song

Interesting! Varied! Markedly british! But still great and I liked the whimsy and I liked the songs I had never heard more than the ones I had heard. Cool!

Girls&Boys is iconic. The 90s were better somehow. The album is pretty weird. Definitely where the Streets got his style from. A bit Pink Floydy.

Some very nostalgic songs (family road trip staples) and some new-to-me songs. Overall enjoyable and solid

This was a very fun album. Quite diverse - all over the place! In Tracy Jacks, I love how the first guitar strum isn't synced between the left and right speakers. There is a slight delay. That really caught me off guard when listening through the album. I instantly rewinded to hear that again!

I wanna hear a moody and serious cover of “Parklife” next time they make a Jurassic Park.

Cool album with a lot of variety of sound and styles.

great britpop

Girls & Boys: sploinky a little bit. the chorus is so cunty, I love the queerness of it. I've never listened to Blur before so I wasn't sure what to expect but this is a lot of fun Tracy Jacks: love the snare. it's not bad but it's kind of repetitive. End of a Century: weird chord progression on the verses (positive). I like this song but I wish the chorus gave a little more. Parklife: title track(!) so much fun, it had me smiling. really charming. Bank Holiday: goofy lil punk song. nothing incredible but it's a super fun cut and it makes me excited for other left-turns on the record. Badhead: inoffensive and mid-tempo The Debt Collector: polka? oh it's actually just polka for real Far Out: this is so funky, what an odd track. acoustic circus alien? I can't think of any direct comparisons which is pretty cool. To The End: it's alright but it's a little hokey. I like the chorus. shoutout to the circus music break during the bridge London Loves: ooooooo what is this? LOVE the way it comes in. really liking the sound/vibe of this one. catchy. Trouble in the Message Centre: super duper cool. I want to say it sounds like DEVO but I don't actually know what they sound like Clover Over Dover: this shit sounds like the Goosebumps theme song. I don't feature the verses but the rest is interesting Magic America: I like it but I was already starting to get sick of the chorus by the end of the song so I'm not sure how replayable it is. Jubilee: midpoint between punk and dad rock. chorus hits This is a Low: psychedelic + moody. this one eats Lot 105: roller coaster tycoon reggae. cartoon theme music. ending the album with this is so funny like what was the reason ___ SCORE: 7.5/10 ADDED TO PLAYLIST: Girls & Boys, Parklife, London Loves, Trouble in the Message Centre, Jubilee, This is a Low

Always enjoy blur!

Loved at the time and still holds up today. One of those bands who weren't a favourite but I had all the albums.

Tämä bändi on erittäin tuttu, kuten myös levy. Kokonaisuus ei yllä Blurin parhaimmistoon, mutta ”Parklife” on kullä itselläni bändin Top 10:ssä.

Okay. I'm a sucker for BritPop, and for my money, Parklife knocks it, well, out of the park. Not groundbreaking. Not genre defining. But damned solid and immensely listenable.

Surprisingly good. Plenty of songs that I liked on their own, and the whole album was varied enough to stay interesting the whole time.

Never was a huge Blur fan as compared to Gorillaz, but I really enjoyed this one.

This was an enjoyable 90s British pop album.

Good stuff, obviously as I probably said in the other blur album its weird having my introduction to Damon Albarn be Gorillaz, which I suppose is probably the wrong way round. But I think this is more guitar based than the other one, and I think that's both good and bad, because there are some quite basic songs on here, whereas there were some interesting creative sounds on the other one, but there are some really amazing guitar songs on here, with good guitar tones and parts etc. The more straight-up pop songs on here are a bit hit and miss, not sure I like girls and boys, but parklife and to the end are good, there are also some really catchy choruses which aren't really hits, like the London Loves song. Obviously Damon Albarn is a great singer, even if he's not technically speaking the best singer, and all the other instruments are good. I probably like this the same (if I remember correctly) if not a bit more than the other album. Favourite songs: Tracy Jacks, end of a century, parklife, bank holiday, to the end, London Loves, trouble in the mess, this is a low, lot (this one is a really funny goofy ending). Overall around 7/10

I only knew one Blur song prior to this. Very solid 90s Britpop. Pretty much every song is good or interesting in some way. Moves through a lot of different styles while still managing to sound cohesive throughout. This album is dripping with British influence, from the Beatles to the Who to the Kinks to David Bowie. You can hear it all.

If DEVO made a punk-lite album.

Great - reminder of how much I liked this the first time round. Tempted to give 5 stars but not sure I love it enough to come back to it again and again.

Kinna sick

Didn’t have the highs of Blur but also didn’t have the lows. Pretty solid stuff, so a 4….I think….I don’t even know anymore.

Low 4.

Good clean fun

Close to a 5. Quite a few classics just a couple too many tracks I would want to skip

Fantastic. Fav songs: girls & boys, parklife, bank holiday and this is a low. First half was 5/5 but it got a bit weaker as it went on. This is a low saved the second part and put it at a 4/5 in total.

Very solid (brit)pop album

I found the album strong but start to lag in the middle but To the End weirdly got me and I relistened to it a few times. Feels definitive for what it is.

Great album. Catchy pop tunes. Not sure Britpop deserves its own genre, but everyone should have this in their collection.

an album i knew before and love! big blur fan (not their best album tho) fav song - to the end

This album includes some classics I’d give it a 4.5 it’s not quite a 5 for me

Blur is the gold standard of britpop to me

It's 94 and Britpop certaintly had it's momentum,but though i really liked Britpop bands i was more into Oasis,Verve stuff never really a Blur fan. So i never really heard an entire album only the hits from the radio. Listening to this i liked the following songs excluding the singles: Tracy Jacks(the repetition annoyed me at first but as it progressed it was really nice), End of a century,Badhead,Far out(second favourite),To the end is a moody,60's influenced dreamy number very different to the others,very beautiful, London Loves is great fun with nice guitars but the end could be shorter, Trouble in the Message center is more agressive my top favourite out of this album left me wondering why this wasn't a single, Clover over Dover which i don't know what this means but i really loved it's sound, This is a Low is a hypnotic song with such beautiful tones and guitar playing. Overall is a good album of a great era and a great band that their singles didn't do justice to what they were capable of.

I’ve never really listened to anything but the singles from Blur, but this is a solid Britpop album. An enjoyable listen.

Enjoyable britpop. Tails off towards the end of the album

Is it possible to be an Oasis fan and a Blur fan? I say yes as I'm a fan of both, although I do give a slight edge to Oasis. I love this album, lots of fun songs. Favorites: Girls & Boys, Parklife, London Loves, This Is a Low Would I listen to it again: Yes

This album has a little bit of everything which makes it so incredible that as a whole it's cohesive. Highlights include "bank hokiday" "London loves" "jubilee"

6,81

As a Gorillaz fan who knows next to nothing about Britpop outside of a handful of Oasis songs, I was excited to check this out. It didn’t disappoint! Catchy songs all over the place, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out I already knew a couple. Standouts: Bank Holiday, London Loves

I don't love the majority of Brit Pop but I have a soft spot for Blur. They are both the ideal example of the genre, as well as exhibiting a healthy amount of diversity to keep the sound from getting too repetitive. "Parklife" really demonstrates this with songs influenced by synth-pop, punk, new wave, and Syd Barrett-style psychedelic rock. Throughout it, the spirit of 90s London is strongly felt, which might be either charming or annoying, depending on who you ask. For me, "Parklife" is a great album and a sign of what was to come for Damon Albarn. There are hints of Gorillaz in the eclectic nature of this album. Their previous album "Modern Life is Rubbish" is a better complete album, but this one has some of Blur's best ever songs. The first four tracks are possibly the strongest run of songs the band ever made. The excellent "To the End" features Laetitia Sadier from Stereolab which is a great bonus.

Pure fun! A lot of songs that deliver joy and smiles

Really liked Girls & Boys favorite song on that album

This was such a fun listen - much sillier than expected!

Good

Some songs are really good and some times Blur are so annoying. Sometimes sounds like they had writers block and made some weird noises

Good album. Loved the first song lead singer also with Gorillaz

Still holds up well although maybe dips a little too much into novelty/knees up for me. This Is A Low fantastic although I tend to look elsewhere for my Blur fixes these days, mainly chunks of MLIR or dips into their two later more experimental released.

1001 This album is as iconic a Britpop moment as you can get. It’s the sound of an evolving band, balancing commercial popularity, art, and fun It’s definitely a bit too playful in places, with VERY British references and humour which many outside this sceptered isle would inevitably miss. The mod influence on Blur at this time wee both visual and audible. I can frequently hear the album leaning into the Ray Daviesesque social commentary which dominated their previous release. I was a massive fan of the mod sound and scene at this time and was all in on retro trackie tops, cordouroy trousers as well as being the proud owner of a pair of second-hand Adidas SL72 trainers which were like gold dust in Camden but I’d found for £5 in Neath market 😂 The album is fun enough, yet a trifle inconsistent, although Damon Albarn also delivers some of the quality slower work he later went on to master A fab weekend listen. Sentimentally it’s a 5, but rationally evaluated it’s a flawed but still hugely enjoyable listen.

Yes. For an American I have an unnatural love of Blur.

Great album! Highly recommend!

Pretty fun the whole way through! Lots of compelling twists and turns.

Like this better than the other Blur album, I’m actually surprised at how much I’m enjoying this. So far Girls& Boys is a highlight, I also strangely really like To The End

Fascinating! The first few tracks on the album really cought my attention. I hear a spectrum of British bands, The Kinks, XTC, Reckless Eric, and more. They are an homage to so that and they have their own sound. However some of the experimental pieces didn't capture me and I lost interest about half way through. I'll have to come back to this album.

Parklife is one of my favourite songs from that decade so I had high expectations going into this. To the end is definitely up there. How have I not heard this before?? The second half of the album isn't as good as the first but maybe it'll grow on me

I was working at a bar at Alex James Big Feastival music festival and he had a range of drinks he wanted us to push called “Britpop”. I casually mentioned to him that we were probably the only two people there old enough to remember Britpop. He copped the strop and flounced off in a huff! Still this is probably Blurs best album and his festival was fun to work at.

Every song reminded me of an early 2000s comedy

not as good as their self titled album but theres some good songs on this.

One of my faves

I liked this album! Like many of the other commenters have hit on, this list has so many britpop groups… most of which I am unfamiliar with. This was an easy listen. The genre influences definitely bounce around. I also love the album cover of the greyhounds. I think the first half of the album was stronger.

Happily surprised that I really, really like this. The record sounds fun, loads of variety in songs and vibes, great sound. Really good!

Good listen

Ех, дитинство, фіфа-98 і сонг2 яка грає по колу. Так я вперше почув blur. Нещодавно Алберн сказав ніби ту бритпоп "війну" таки виграли оазіс - і якщо брати популярність, хітовість пісень і так далі - мабуть воно так і є. Ноель Галахер це геніальний сонграйтер, який може взяти ідеальні 4 акорди і написати пісню яку буде співати стадіон. Тоді як Blur пішли іншим шляхом і писали музику набагато більш цікаву - саме з точку зору композицій, аранжувань ітд, але все ж менш хітову і все ж менш масову (хоча все одно мали шалену популярність). Parklife пройшов випробовування часом і зараз слухається свіжо й гарно.

This was one of the most British albums I've ever heard, and I didn't even hate it. The record opens with a Euro-trash anthem that gets stuck as an ear worm, and is probably the worst track on the entire album. The rest was solid. I loved the variety of sounds and styles that Blur put on display all within a single album. They produced a good amount of range than I had originally thought they would be able to pull off. This was a treat to listen to, and I will easily listen to this one again.

Pleasantly surprised by this album. There was a wide-ranging pallet of musical styles and ideas that really kept me on my toes. I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did.

Jag hade jättesvårt att veta hur jag skulle betygsätta denna. Efter en genomlyssning så lutade jag mot en tvåa eller trea. Det är många bra låtar men vissa är lite tråkiga och hänger inte riktigt ihop så bra, exakt så jag känner kring Damon Albarn och gorillaz. Men när jag lyssnade på den igen och verkligen lyssnade så älskade jag verkligen den. Riktigt dunderskiva. Saknar dock den här konceptfeelingen som krävs för en högsta betyg i min mening. Allt måste verkligen hänga ihop. Men älskar verkligen sån här musik och kanske ändrar mig till högsta betyg i framtiden.

Amusant! J'aimais les singles de Blur, j'avais jamais pris le temps d'écouter un album complet... trop bon. Complexe, presque prog des fois dans les formes, mais jamais plate. J'adore les vocals de Damon Albarn, il sonne comme personne d'autre. Les backs aussi, très 60s

A little long but an enjoyable listen with some of their biggest hits.

nice but feels too outdated now! surprised at how much i already knew of it.

Title track is absolutely amazing, the pinnacle of britpop.

J - 4/5 Best Track - "Parklife"

Even after 30 years, 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 still sounds remarkably fresh. It’s a sharp, cheeky, and deeply British portrait of 90s urban life — half pop record, half social satire. Damon Albarn’s character sketches and Graham Coxon’s inventive guitar work make each track feel like its own little world, whether it’s the hedonistic dancefloor of 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 & 𝘉𝘰𝘺𝘴 or the quietly devastating melancholy of 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘐𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘸. The stylistic range is bold without feeling disjointed: Britpop, punk, music hall, synthpop — all filtered through Blur’s knowing wit and restless creativity. It’s an album that laughs, sighs, and shrugs all in the same breath. A cultural time capsule that still speaks fluently to the present.

A fun album, but not consistent in quality - it's a little bit of a roller coaster, moodwise.

Good Rock, good listen. Don’t have it on repeat but did add a song or 2 to my likes

Great album. Not a bad song on it. Most are perfect. I should play this more often.

3.5 rounded up, way easier listen than I was anticipating!

Really easy and fun listen! Wasnt sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised.

It's one of the classic albums from that whole britpop era, featuring some of the best Blur tracks. Not everything is great but it is a very solid listen.

Of it's time but still a fine record. Nostalgia boosts my appreciation, they were fun times

I've always thought of myself more of an Oasis fan than Blur, with the occasional catchy tune, a couple from each album or so. (See my music collection for only owning Blur's greatest hits.) I think this is the first entire album I've listened to of theirs. Besides the kitschy tunes here & there, it's a solid album. Favorite songs I've never heard prior to today are "London Loves" & "Trouble In The Message Centre". Solid 4/5.

Most of the songs are very decent but there wasn't anything fantastic enough in here for me to call it an outstanding album. It's very close, though. I don't think I have one problem with this disc and it's very enjoyable.

I have always considered Blur to be a great singles band but never a solid album band. The first half of this had me convinced I was wrong, everything after To the End helped me realise I was right. The thing is, there isn't a bad song on this album, but there are a lot of songs that feel like waffle or haven't stood the test of time. On the other hand we have some of the greatest pop rock songs of all time here. Girls and Boys is one of the greatest songs ever written, super basic synths, a bass line on the cusp of being too busy, some of Graham Coxon's best guitar playing and fx usage, all tied together with an absolutely droll performance by Damon climaxing with one of the catchiest choruses of all time. Tracy Jacks, great song. End of a Century, great song. Parklife, I never need to hear it again in my life but absolutely great song. Bank Holiday was a pretty enjoyable little punk tune. Skip along to To the End, one of the first moments in the Blur catalogue where they aim high and deliver on a beautiful ballad, some of their best songwriting. Everything after is eh to mid level enjoyable. So not quite a 5, but a strong 4 and enjoyable listen.

Enough bangers to salvage the weirder/less well put together album-tracks. Mostly strongly written, well produced, and memorable. Shout out to Graham Coxen’s lovely guitar work which, while not the focal point of the many songs, is probably the elevating instrument on the album. Girls and Boys (10/10) Tracy Jacks (7/10) End of a Century (10/10) Parklife (10/10) Bank Holiday (7/10) Badhead (7/10) The Debt Collector (N/A) Far Out (5/10) To the End (8/10) London Loves (8/10) Trouble in the Message Centre (7/10) Clover Over Dover (9/10) Magic America (7/10) Jubilee (6/10) This is a Low (8/10) Lot 105 (7/10) 7.7/10

First half - 5/5 Second - 3/5 Overall pretty cool!

I am beginning to hate Britpop, but I do like Blur. It’s fun. It’s easy. It starts to run out of gas near the end, but not too bad.

Great band, great album, great hits. Just love the general vibe of this record. Maybe just a bit too long and the second half isn't as good as the first. 8/10 fav songs : Parklife & Jubilee

not usually a fan of britpop, but this album is just fun 8.5/10

I respect this album but it’s too peppy to love

J’pense pas que j’aime tant que ça blur. Genre en 1994, je choisis Definitely maybe de Oasis, tout le temps. Ou different Class de Pulp l’année suivante. Et en matière Damon Albarn, je crois préféré Gorillaz, avec lequel j’ai grandi. C’est pas mauvais clairement! Girls and Boys, Parklife, Badhead, la rockeuse Trouble in the message centre; toutes des tubes! Mais des fois on dirait qu’ils se prennent pas assez au serieux à mon gout, peut être la façon très « désinvolte » de Damon de chanter qui ne vient pas toujours me chercher.

Rating forthcoming

Never cared for Blur that much, or a lot of britpop in general at the time. But since hearing Pulp’s Different Class and now this album, I admit it must have had something going for it. 
I know this album is ‘famous’ and highly regarded. I’ve even been asked a pub quiz question about the album cover so it must be well known And yes listening to it in full a few times now, that reputation is deserved. It’s a good collection of songs. Tracy Jacks is the best track on the album so it’s really surprising that it was never released as a single at the time. I liked it. But not quite to a 5 level.

Iconic slice of 90's pop.

Gotta respect the local leytonstone lad

82% Best: Girls and Boys; Parklife; London Loves Must-Hear? Sure

For me, easily Blur's best and most consistent offering. Possibly the album which first springs to mind when Britpop is mentioned, for me at least - some 30-plus years later, this stands up as a decent album despite the considerable albatross of being associated with that particular movement. The title track does grate on your eight-millionth listen, and a couple of the less subtle tracks - Bank Holiday, Jubilee - now come across as a bit too on the nose. Otherwise, there is enough variety and depth to ensure this is Blur's peak pop statement. Parklife spawned four singles (five if you include the US release of Tracy Jacks) - I'd argue there are at least three or four other tracks which could easily have made the grade.

Look, I liked it. I see the Oasis connection and it's a bit jaunty and fun. I knew the song Girls & Boys and have listened to it a ton without knowing it was Blur. It's wild that this is where this sound comes from

I've heard a lot about how Blur is much better than Oasis, but Oasis got popular. While this album is good, I'm not sure that I'd agree with that based solely on this album. It's still good, it feels almost experimental at times and it's played and sung damn well. I think I'd need to listen to more Blur, but I'd be willing to listen to this again.

I wasn't too familiar with Damon Albarn's work before Gorillaz, but with that being said I really enjoyed this record. The majority of this album was quite lovely. I was initially a bit put off from listening to another Britpop record but I was pleasantly surprised having listened to this a few times. There are a few songs that get a tad too wacky at times excluding that this was a fun listening experience. I'd prefer listening to this over Oasis. These gents sure know how to play some smashing tunes. Top 4: To The End (fav), This Is A Low, Girls And Boys, and Tracy Jacks no bad songs 4.50/5

I liked it. It was pretty fun.

I haven't listened to Parklife in a really long time, but it still holds up well. I don't connect with it on an emotional level so much, but that's okay. I understand why it made a splash and has been included on lists like this one. My favorite song is the energetic opener, Girls & Boys, but I also like This Is a Low, a slower-tempoed, pensive song about the BBC Shipping Forecast.

This was mew for me, but I did enjoy. Will be listening to this again.

In 1994 I lived in London and this album blasted through my headphones as I worked a terrible job. I still know all the words and that's really where this album shines. The songs have small observations scattered throughout them that Albarn never bettered. It's not the romanticised seediness of Suede's concrete estates in small towns, but rather middle-class mundanity: cheap holidays abroad where you shag whatever; going through the motions while dating; compulsory family get-togethers; traffic radio because you are stuck on the motorway; the routine of everyday life in an England where the dreams of Swinging Sixties are peeling away. Parklife is an era-defining album. Its ordinary Englishness set to music deeply indebted to Beatles and Kinks resonated with a generation growing up under the austerity of Thatcherism. The album also led to some utterly terrible copy cats (notably Blur themselves on their awful follow-up The Great Escape - the less said about that album the better). Parklife's actually not my favourite Blur album (and Blur isn't even one of my favourite 90s acts) and it's a high 4 album for me. (Don't miss This Is A Low - possibly the most beautiful song ever about the Shipping Forecast.)

Fond memories of this album. However, did not realize the number of fillers. Still worth of the list.

Just like last weekend's supertramp album. The more I grow older I realize britpop is so awesome. Cheery, rooted in punk and alternative sounds, bitchin riffs, beautiful melodies. And just enough sarcasm and cheeky direct british influence to make you smirk a bit. I'm glad also to have listened to both albums from the 1994 britpop battle phenomenon. Because critically examining both have lead me to say. I wouldn't have been able to make a proper assessment and would have caved to whatever my friends said. I lean more oasis, this album was at times lulled by british humor and irony. I can't sometimes deal with it. In summation britpop yay.

From the jump I'm in. My only experience with Blur is Song 2, and I'm deeply into this. I don't know how I've never heard Girls & Boys before but it's still such a bop 30 years later.

Bette than Coldplay

I enjoyed this album lot. Good variety

Trochę smutek, że najlepsza piosenka jest na początku płyty, a potem jest już tylko gorzej, ale nadal jest to porządny kawałek brytyjskiego pop-rocka. Dobry na imprezy, do słuchania w samochodzie i jako muzyka w tle. Nic wybitnego, ale potrafi wkręcić jak palce w pralce. 7.5/10

Cool

at long last!!! a damon albarn project where the songwriting doesnt feel like its slipping through my fingers! idk if that will necessarily translate to a wider appreciation yet but i found this very effortlessly enjoyable...just great great tunes in a variety of flavors. his eclectic sensibilities are in place, but the record still feels crazy cohesive,,,urban landscapes, uncomfortable heat, encounters with remnants of History and Culture that are all well and good but they aint helping you pay your next rent. the writeup in my copy of the book talks about this record as placing blur within a larger lineage of disillusioned british Youth Culture, which was a thought i was already kinda baking while listening given how much this sounds in parts like a revival of both mod rock and the kinks. that seems like p much the heart of All britpop, and of its Definitive entries this has gotta be close to my fave ive heard so far. even tho i dont know why br*tish "people" make music in the first place

brit pop classic! I wasn't a big fan of this album when it first came out. I found it too much pop and not gritty enough. I've converted over time to get the appeal. To the End and This is a Low are the stand out tracks.

at first this album felt very 80s to me and i was surprised to see it came from the 90s. a couple of songs in, it became clear it was 90s but genre bending and very explorative. i liked how i couldn’t predict their sound from song to song. standouts: tracy jacks, the debt collector, to the end, trouble in the message centre (!!!), and jubilee.

Shockingly good

the original bisexual for clout

I'd spin this again, however I am not sure what mood this album is for, Lads weekend?

30/05/2025 It's classic Brit pop isn't it.

Når inte riktigt ända fram men bra är det ju.

Couple of classics, a few misses

Britpop at its finest. Starting off with perhaps the besr bass riff of 90s pop.

Nice

Obviously a defining album of the nineties and the first five tracks, To The End and This Is A Low make it impossible for me to score this lower than a 3. But i’d also forgotten the dreamy elegance of Badhead and the joyous bounce of London Loves. Ultimately though i will always be more Oasis than Blur and the remaining tracks to push it over the top. A really good listen but not a classic

I fully anticipated despising this, having been on the Oasis side of the debate in the 90s. However, listening to it as an adult has me realising that they were a lot better than I remembered. Still can’t stand Damon Albarn’s voice, mind you.

Not really saying anything controversial when I say that Blur is a good band. Britpop gets a lot of flack here, but this Blur album still seems pretty well regarded. There's quite a number of songs I like here, Girls and Boys and Parklife, the biggest hit singles, first and foremost. The album is full of humour and wit and brings a lot of variety to the table. There's a few weird oompa loompa band esque songs and interludes on here, but they don't detract from the listening experience too much.

new discoveries: Badhead, Far out, London loves, Trouble in the Message Centre, This is a low richtig gutes Album!!

Just like their great Britpop rivals Oasis, Blur wear their influences openly. I hear The Kinks, The Small Faces, even Syd Barrett at times. It all makes for a great pop confection, but really one for those like me who don't really care for the cheeky chappie persona. Still, the album and its singles enlivened the UK music scene for a while, and I guess made an impact on popular music at the time.

The pinnacle of Britpop, whatever that means. Still, for a subgenre I don't have an abundance of love for I do enjoy this album. Fun and catchy, and British in a way that reminds me of the Kinks (not in sound, but in approach). Worth a listen.

I liked Boys like Girls and the Parklife one

I wanted this to be 5 star album but it starts to drag in the middle. Lots of fun ideas and interesting songs here. Can understand why they were competing with oasis!

An album packed with Britpop classics. Take away the big hits though and the rest is very inconsistent .

Aaaa! Girls and Boys! That was a good time of life. Enjoyed the rest of the album, too. It has good energy and stays interesting.

Brilliant early Gorillaz album. No cartoons though. Some classic hits and the rest - which I hadn't heard before - is pretty great too. 75/100, rounded up to 4*.

There's enough quality here that it could be an easy 5, but there's so much filler as well.

blur or oasis?

Uh yeah

Very British, innit?

Oooooh. Ok. I get blur now. I always was confused by them, and how I never really clicked with most of their big singles despite liking britpop and especially loving Damon albarn’s later project, gorrilaz, but this listen helped me understand what I was missing, their singles fit in a lot better when listening to their frankly bizarre albums, I love how strange they get with instrumentation, melody and chord choices. The summary mentions the Beatles and kinks, which I certainly hear, but i also hear madness and cardiacs, which was unexpected, but extremely welcome. I understand why they’re so beloved in the UK.

This is pretty funky and cool

Schon banger, geiles Cover und Damon Albarn war ziemlich Hot früher Liebling: Magic America Schlechtester: the debt collector

Beschissensten Lied: the debt collector Unerwartet: beard Lieblingslied: bank holiday

Solid. Going to do a Blur deep dive because of this.

Hmmm, defintly taking A LOT from the Village Green era of The Kinks here. It's fun and catchy, but also weird... very weird at times. They don't just sit on the approachable brit pop sound and capitalize off of it like they could, they innovate on it. We could probably argue all day about how it lands. Some of it leaves me scratching my head, but a lot of it is solid. Overall a pretty enjoyable release.

Classico, grandi brani all' interno, bello lo atile inglese dell' epoca, c'è damon

Funky fun

Listened before

Iconic cover. Was at secondary school when this hit, Girls and Boys an absolute anthem. Love this so much.

Well I recently listened to two other Blur albums for the first time of my own volition, so this is good timing. After listening to this, it further supports my opinion that everyone is better than Americans when it comes to making music.

Mmm gymnasiet

Finde spätere Alben von Blur besser

I like blur

Acceptable

I kinda rock with this.

3.5 Stars.

Two things immediately struck me about this one: 1. The best tracks are the singles. I mean, I’m sure that’s true of a lot of albums, but nothing else on here touches them in terms of quality (and that isn’t a knock to the rest, which I enjoyed - it’s just that the singles are really great) 2. I was surprised by how many tracks on this album felt like they could’ve come off a 70s punk album. Like, I knew that Blur were influenced by Punk, but listen to Jubilee - from its name to its sneering adolescent aesthetic - and tell me it wouldn’t have fit right in in 1977. Overall I’d say this was a really good, enjoyable album. 4 stars for me.

Gorillaz!!

“I’d love to stay here and be normal, But it’s just so overrated.” If that doesn’t sum up the ethos of Gen X, I don’t know nothing. 4/5

Hey it's the gorillaz for the British. But actually this is real good. Keeps my attention with the slower songs. It's just amazing that they can do this on a 1st or 2nd try. Wild. I don't understand how Americans like me just decided it's just song 2. This is the song 2 band. They have sooooooo much more

Girls & Boys - What a song!! 🔥 A++ I knew I'd probably enjoy this album based off the Blur songs I know. I only knew two from this album - Girls & Boys and of course Parklife On the whole I enjoyed this album. But some of the songs didn't have the same energy as the rest, just fell a bit flat? Album filler A few of these songs will be stuck in my head all night now. Mega catchy Allllll the peeeeopleeeeee 4 ⭐️

I like it!

This album was stuck in my head for weeks after listening, and I kept coming back to it. It definitely resonated with me more than the previous Blur album on the list. Super catchy, makes me want to sing and dance along every time I hear it. Highlights: Girls and Boys, Tracy Jacks, End of a Century, Parklife, London Loves, Magic America.

Punky Britpop. Works.

Girls and Boys was the only song I had heard before and I always thought it was cool. Loved the variety of songs on this album. Never would’ve heard them if not for this project. A true hidden gem for me.

7/10…madchester / britpop

On est en 1994 et le paysage musical est en train de se prendre un sacré retour de manivelle dans la gueule. Kurt Cobain vient de se tirer une balle, laissant le grunge orphelin et une génération de gamins en chemises à carreaux complètement paumés. C’est là que débarquent ces quatre branleurs de Colchester avec leurs gueules de mods mal dégrossis et un album qui va redéfinir l'arrogance britannique pour la décennie à venir : Parklife. On ne va pas se mentir, avec mes goûts habituels qui penchent plutôt vers la noirceur, les larsens ou le béton armé, voir débouler Blur avec leur pop colorée aurait pu me donner de l'urticaire. Mais voilà, je sais reconnaître un chef-d’œuvre quand il me saute à la gorge, même s'il porte un survêtement de sport et sent la bière tiède. Parklife, sorti sur le label Food et produit par le magicien Stephen Street, c'est l'essence même de ce qu'on a appelé la Britpop. C’est le disque qui a sauvé Blur de la banqueroute après l'échec relatif de Modern Life Is Rubbish. Ils étaient fauchés, désespérés, et ils ont pondu ce truc. Ils voulaient même l'appeler "Soft Porn" au départ, avec une photo de Buckingham Palace en couverture. Finalement, on a eu des lévriers de course du stade de Walthamstow, et c’est bien mieux comme ça : c’est hargneux, rapide et ça tourne en rond avec panache. Ce qui me troue le cul avec cet album, c’est son côté kaléidoscope. On passe du disco-punk épileptique de "Girls & Boys" à des ballades qui te filent le bourdon en deux accords. Ce n'est pas juste de la pop de supermarché, c'est une étude sociologique de la classe moyenne anglaise, vue par le prisme d'un Damon Albarn qui joue au sociologue de comptoir avec un talent insolent. Moi qui adore le post-punk et les ambiances sombres, je retrouve dans Parklife cette acidité typiquement british, mais passée à la moulinette des années 90. Le groupe explore tout : la pop, le punk, la new wave et même ce côté music-hall un peu ringard mais totalement assumé sur le morceau-titre, narré par Phil Daniels (le mec de Quadrophenia, s'il vous plaît). C'est là que Blur gagne son pari car ils arrivent à rendre la monotonie quotidienne captivante. Ils parlent des vacances à bas prix, des types qui mangent des céréales le soir, de la culture ouvrière et des excentricités d'un pays qui ne sait plus trop où il en est. Albarn livre des textes qui sont des portraits au scalpel, souvent drôles, parfois acerbes, et toujours d'une précision chirurgicale sur la société de l'époque. Et puis, il y a ce final (ou presque), "This Is a Low", un putain de morceau. Basé sur un torchon de cuisine représentant la carte de la météo marine que le bassiste Alex James avait offert à Albarn. C’est une ballade mélancolique, portée par une guitare de Graham Coxon qui semble imiter le bruit d'un moteur hors-bord. C’est beau à en crever, et c’est là qu’on voit que Blur n’est pas juste un groupe de petits rigolos qui sautent partout. C'est l'une de leurs plus grandes réussites. Quand je repense à mes années radio, cet album tournait en boucle. C'était frais, c'était moderne, et ça avait cette morgue que j'aime tant et je ne peux pas nier l'impact de cette galette. C’est un paysage sonore riche, captivant, et surtout, c’est foutrement bien écrit. Alors oui, ce n'est pas le disque le plus "sale" de ma collection. Ce n'est pas du neofolk dépressif ou du post-rock interminable. Mais c’est un album essentiel, c'est un miroir tendu à une époque qui voulait juste s'amuser avant que tout ne parte en couille avec la fin du millénaire. Pour moi, Parklife mérite un solide 4 sur 5. Pourquoi pas 5 ? Parce que parfois, l'humour d'Albarn frise un peu trop le "trop poli pour être honnête" et que certains passages sont un poil trop "cabaret". Mais ne boudons pas notre plaisir : c’est l'album qui a consolidé la place de Blur comme l'un des groupes les plus importants des années 90. C’est un disque qui sent l'Angleterre des pubs, de la pluie fine sur la banlieue et de l'arrogance d'une jeunesse qui se croyait invincible. C’est le son d’une génération, et même si j’ai passé ma vie à chercher les sons les plus obscurs dans mon magasin de disques, je dois admettre que sur ce coup-là, les mecs en haut des charts avaient raison. C'est brillant, c'est varié, et ça n'a pas pris une ride, contrairement à nous. Si tu ne l'as jamais écouté, je ne sais pas ce que tu fous de ta vie, mais sors-toi les doigts et pose ce diamant sur ta platine. C'est du concentré de pop intelligente, acide et irrésistible. Et voilà, c’est ça le projet "1001 Albums". Se confronter à des trucs qu'on pense connaître par cœur, ou qu'on a un peu méprisé par snobisme, et se rendre compte que la qualité est là, tapie sous les refrains accrocheurs. Blur, c'était le haut du panier, et Parklife en est le plus bel emblème. Note : 4/5. Indispensable, même pour les vieux cons dans mon genre qui préfèrent le post-punk déchiqueté. C’est la vie, c’est Parklife.

Mostly holds up

If you wanted to quickly summarise English rock music would be easiest just to listen to this. Still a quality album that holds up well. 4*

This is as good as britpop can get I guess. It's an honest record, there are not stuck in repeating the same song over and over again, which also implies highs and lows. It's a bit too long too, they might have opted for a tighter album. It's honestly a 3.5 but I already rated an Oasis record 3 stars.

3.5 Stars.

I didn’t hear much of their music contemporaneously and I’m only tangentially familiar with it. Blur is really good if not great. I can’t say I’m a fan, but I can see why they have a good following. Good but not great. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-blur-by-blur?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Fine artpop

best blur album i've heard so far. very enjoyable

So good. Not much to say, just playing it again. And again. That album cover is mesmerizing. I wonder who won.

WOOF WOOF BARK WOOF Girls & Boys - PZK les filles adorent ???? Banger tho Having a really good time Love the occasional fast-paced, almost goofy songs (bank holiday, lot 105) 4 tbh

GIRLS WHO WANT BOYS WHO LIKE BOYS TO BE GIRLS WHO DO BOYS LIKE THEYRE GIRLS. The Debt Collector is what I'll be playing while vandalising ppls housing in red paint. Clover Over Dover was another fave. Good mix of songs, would listen too again and they're all bangers.

Some really good songs mixed in with some random crap like circus music because nobody had the balls to tell Damon it was dumb. Still, it's a good album. Other than the obvious ones, I really liked End of a Century and To the End.

One of the holy trinity of Britpop albums (the others being What's The Story... and A Different Class) but this definitely isn't my favorite Blur album. It's a lot of fun, but I find the almost cartoonish levels of Britishness slightly grating at times.

Kind of like a space-age Kinks, it's a celebration of the pseudo-intellectual side of the 90s lad demographic - the sort of guy who joins the Socialist Society at uni in hope of better odds than the Young Tories. Great variety of guitar effects, charismatic vocals, but the rhythm section is far and away my favourite element. Love the way that other instruments like organ and brass intervene! Favourite songs: End of a Century, Parklife (why not)!, Badhead, To The End, This is a Low

PARKLIFE

I really like Blur but honestly hadn't heard this album all the way through before...now I like them even more. I hear Damon is kind of a jerk, but I think he's musically brilliant. Really enjoyable catchy tunes.

Good nostalgia for a Friday AM.

Fun britpop punk, I don’t mind

Awesome

First half is strong enough to make up for the lacklustre second half. Almost to varied, but hey, at least it’s unpredictable.