Reviews (page 5 of 13)
This album is iconic. Catchy & danceable. Obviously eternally inspirational to Britpop. Standout tracks are “London Loves” and “”Girls & Boys”.
Kind of an odd selection - is it punk band, an Indie band, a Kinks wanna be or a circus band?!?!?! I enjoyed it, just not sure what they were trying for. Standout are Bank Holiday, London Loves and Parklife.
A classic
Decent enough, a little before my time so I missed the hype train as it pulled into the station- still, I didn't realise I knew any Blur songs and for the most part the album was a fun, quirky and easy listen.
Kein großer Fan von britpop, aber blur ist einfach ein Klassiker. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: parklife
Blur has always circled the periphery of my musical universe. Apparently this was the case for lots of Americans as well. While Girls and Boys saw airtime, songs like This is a Low never got the attention they should have. That song alone redeems this band in my estimation. What once I thought was a goofy britpop band, upon listening to this album in full, completely reversed my impression on how deep they really are. Candy crunchy on the surface but with a ton of layers with a deeper dive into the album. Almost a 5. That good.
this album was pleasant, i like the song girls & boys. might give it a listen again in the future.
I really knew a lot less about blur's music than I thought. Being mostly familiar with "Song 2" I wasn't expecting the 80s vibes of this album. I had heard the song "Girls & Boys" plenty of times but I would have sworn that was a Depeche Mode song or some band like that. It turned out to be an interesting combination of songs that sounded like that and some that felt like punk. I enjoyed it overall.
Good album
I liked it in general. I found the whole album to have a nice vibe, but I felt it was a bit too long for me. A bit repetitive, so I give it 7/10
"I get up when I want, except on Wednesdays when I get rudely awakaned by the dustmen" I will never be able to listen to "Parklife" and not stop whatever I'm doing and sing wholeheartedly with my best British accent. Great album, good amounts of amazing songs (Girls and boys, end of a century, parklife, london loves etc) , although few of them felt a bit less powerful. Still, a solid 8/10.
Memorable tunes, gets a little samey towards the second half 4/5
PAHK LIFE 3.5 A little bloated
Blue more like brr good artist
Never listened to the full album. Really enjoyed it
Really good album definitely will be listening to again
A classical album with iconic hits.
Bought this album years ago, but never really spent much time listening to the non-hits. Happy I finally took the time to do it!
I like this album, but not as much as I remember liking it from the Rolling Stone list. That’s it I’m tired and don’t want to write a review
Quirky and upbeat, I like it! There's a good variation of songs here, though some do feel a bit more... wacky than others.
An eclectic mix of styles while still keeping an overarching sound. The first half is the better one, it gets weird in the second one. Was definitely not bored by this one.
shampán
Not the masterpiece I envisioned it to become 30 years ago. Competent interesting pop music! 4+
Boppy
7.5/10
The Britpop on this list should be limited to Oasis and Blur - everything else is superfluous. This is good and varied, and ended just as it was starting to feel a little long. It helps that the songs are (mostly) under 5 minutes, which justifies the length. A good fun album, and I can see why it sparked so many imitators.
Never really listened to Blur before. There were songs I recognized that I hadn’t realized was them. They are more experimental than I had previously thought since I really only remember their big hit which doesn’t really sound like this album. I liked it!
LET'S GOOOOO!! "Girls & Boys" is like one of my top 20 favorite songs ever! I never get tired of it! The rest of the album is comparably not as good, but its still a fantastic album overall. I love how quirky/whimsical a lot of these songs are. This is definitely another album that just gets better upon each revisit. Why can't modern pop music sound like this? "To the End" should be the closing track right??? Favorite track: Girls & Boys
This was very good. Album #3 was the first I was excited to listen to again. I think I played it all the way through 3 times to absorb it. 90s British rock with a lot of Beatles influence. There are strings and melodies that evoke the same Beatles-y feel and the closing (Bonus?) track Lot 105 is just straight up 8 Days a Week. I like this one. I would add it to my library.
This was good, better than most of the UK stuff I've listened to on this 1001 Album journey. That said, I didn't resonate too deeply with this one, but I thought the instrumentals and vocal work were good. I could see myself revisiting this album, or Blur's other stuff at some point. 'This is a Low' was my pick for a fave.
low 4 good stuff, just not quite my tempo
zHONESTLY so much better than i was expecting. i typically have low expectations for blur but this is great.
Wow, this was super good. Super diverse.
surprisingly enjoyed?! maybe I’m being generous since this is my first generated britpop album (of which I hear there are MANY) but I really liked the ‘patchwork’ influences and sounds on this album, I can definitely see myself returning to it solid 8/10, could become a 9
Tää on kyllä hyvä poprokkilevy! Just sellasii idioottivarmoja koukkuja jotka jöö soimaan päähän. 4/5
Erinomainen rallilevy! Paljon nelosia viime aikoina, lisää tätä!
It is a good album
Quintessential Brit Pop.
I really liked this. Knew Ltd of the songs but n ver heard it all together. A bit like early bowie or maybe the tvps in parts, but more polished.
I know Blur have the range, and *gestures wildly at every Gorillaz album*, but I feel like I still wasn't prepared for the sheer level of genre whiplash on here. Still, for all that it sometimes sounds like Damon doing the style of a different act of the 80s and 90s each track, there's more hits than nurses, and the hits *hit*
Classic
Having grown up through the Britpop "wars", I can definitively say Blur won. Come at me. I love a fair few songs off this album, but the album as a whole feels pretty inconsistent - the highs are really high, but there's definitely some real filler here! Faves: Girls & Boys, This is a Low, And of a Century
Hated the first song & thought that was what I was getting into, but it turned around immediately. There's a few songs or pieces of songs that just feel like UK- Beatles vibes. I don't know how you can hear Magic America & not think Beatles. I like a lot of the punk leaning stuff a lot, but the odd ball stuff even more. Like we're really doing some waltz stuff with a woodwind section or some shit? They are cause it works! End of the Century may be my favorite song we've heard so far, London Loves was a close second. There's so much variety in this album, from the laundry list of instruments they use, guitar tones & genres they dip into. Probably my favorite album so far, 4.8, but that's still a 4.
What a nice little 90’s album. Never really got into Blur back in the day. Probably because CDs were too expensive to take a chance on when all I knew was Song 2 from Q101 radio play, and I had MTG cards and comics to buy. Enjoyed the entire album, but the highlights for me were: Tracy Jacks, Parklife, and Badhead.
First few songs really good, and lots of nostalgia from listening to this album years ago. But it trails off then, some boring filler songs, with a few that are alright. Going to give it a generous 4.
Blur were one of my favorite and most influential bands in high school, and they still hold up quite well. For me, Parklife is maybe the weakest of their Imperial Pop era. It's undeniable that the guys are firing on all cylinders here, but revisting this record, it felt a bit bloated. Girls & Boys is still one of the best songs ever, though!
Bright and energetic, overflowing with melodic ideas and alt-rock guitar sounds. A bit power-pop and a bit psych, it's all extremely 90s and extremely English.
oohhh.. this is the band that sings that "WOO-HOO!" song. I didn't know they sang the Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys Who Like Girls song. That's a good one. They are very Britt-ish and cool. The album is a good mix of songs and doesn't feel stuck on a particular vibe. It's creative. They even do a waltz (The Debt Collector). Great harmonies with the back up singing. Especially liked End of a Century, London Loves, and Jubilee.
I was familiar with a few of Blur's hits but never explored them beyond that. This album was super fun, enjoyed it a lot. It didn’t feel totally cohesive but it was great energy.
Wow long album. Every song feels like it should be the background track at the beginning of an early 2000s teen movie. Interesting album cover. Girls & Boys was a fun beat, got a little repetitive at the end but I was jamming to it. Tracy Jacks was good, loved the weird sounds in this song. End of a Century slowed things down a bit but was still enjoyable. Parklife was alright. Bank Holiday felt more metal/rock and was super chaotic and like they were rushing through the song which was interesting but not my vibe. Badhead is relatable like what I feel when I need to wake up and go to work ugh. The Debt Collector is kinda jazzy and chill. Far Out is unsettling and weird but I guess it kinda makes sense like alien vibes. To the End is good, again with the early 2000s teen movie except this time background for prom scene. London Loves brings back some funk, rock, and an oddball beat which I kinda dig. Trouble in the Message Centre is a head banger. Clover Over Dover uses that instrument typically used in Halloween songs so it’s a little creepy but still a good jam. Magic America was okay. Jubilee brought back the rock but overall I thought it was just okay. This is A Low was a nice slower song with the acoustic guitar really setting the tone. Lot 105 is hilarious. It’s giving baseball game from the 50’s, Napoleon Dynamite, and old timey trolling. That’s a great end of album song. Awesome album - 4/5! Fave song: This is A Low or To the End Least fave song: Bank Holiday
Brit Pop - Fresch, punkig und unkonventionell. Ja diese Songs gibt es auf dem Album und nicht zu vergessen „Girls & Boys“. Ja das Album ist abwechslungsreich mit einigen Facetten. Darum will ich es mal Wiederhören, zu seiner Zeit.
I truly hate Oasis and «Song 2», so I was dreading this. But I was pleasantly surprised. It is a bit too quirky and British at times, but the album as a whole is a charming record that I am happy to know.
Wish I'd gotten hip to them a while ago. I think this may continue to grow on me. 4/5
I liked it, Girls and Boys slaps Blur is goated
Very good album, not rounding up but I would not find it crazy if I chose to. Previous listens were in the song loop headspace and I'm glad this app brought me back to it.
Blur er faktisk stærkt undervurderet
mind the gap between the train and the platform
Sunny youthful days - feel it is a great album more for sentimental reasons than pop prowess- still - some cracking tunes
Classic 90s album by a band finding their feet. Some real great pop songs and some classier mid tempo songs - To The End is great. Not their best work but still a winner.
would be 5 but theyre british
"Girls And Boys", "End Of A Century", "Parklife", "Badhead", "The End", "This Is A Low": Britpop at it´s almost best?! worst: "Bank Holiday" 3,5
я очень люблю girls & boys, и альбик приятный
Always was more of an Oasis guy, but Blur is a great bad nonetheless. A great album with a surprising amount of variety. The great thing is that all songs feel quite different but they still make a cohesive album
It’s so typical 90s. Tongue in cheek, ironic, and blasé, all while rocking’ out. Gen X loves to mock the present tense. Wherever we are, we secretly love it as much as we hate it. Blur really captured that vibe. “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’. I hate how overrated this record is, but I still love it.
It's a good album. The song Parklife was overplayed at the time, and in retrospect it is a novelty song, with much better songs on the album. 4/5
So much better than Oasis. Favorite song: Bank Holiday
The lives explored in Parklife seemed exotic to me as an American teenager. Britpop itself was exploding after grunge and the sounds from Blur appealed to me when this came out. I still listen every once in a while and I still like it. Nostalgia trip? Maybe.
Pretty good!
Thoughts before listening: One thing I have learned from this project is that Blur is not as good as I have always assumed they were. In general I have found that they have a couple good songs mixed in with a bunch of halfassed tracks that sound like good ideas that never really got fully fleshed out. That being said, I know this is typically considered their best album, so maybe this is the one where it finally clicks for me. Review: This does feel like more cohesive songs than ones I have heard from Blur previously in this project. There are some songs here that I really like, mainly the hits like "Girls & Boys" and "Parklife". One thing this project has really highlighted for me is that while deep cuts exist, hits become hits for a reason. This is definitely Blur's best album, so I will give it 4-stars.
Parklife by Blur has a great vibe, and while it’s hard to find anything bad about it, there's also nothing particularly groundbreaking about it. Overall, it’s a solid album with enjoyable tracks that capture the mood of the time.
Britpop at its best. A real mix of genres on this one all telling a tale of 90s Britain. Good stuff
In the Blur vs Oasis war, I'm team Blur
This takes me back! The essence of Britpop and their best album. Fake cockney laddishness abounds but it's an album with a heart; that Parklife verse about feeding the birds, Badhead, To The End, This is A Low. I like the short, energetic and quirky tracks too, they hold it all together. 30 years later this still sounds pretty good to me. 9/10 but I can't quite round it up.
Jaunty, mundane, irreverent. A snapshot of London in the early 90s. Nicely crafted pastiche that apparently defined Brit Pop. Gotta be in the mood for it. Today I was wasn’t sure if I was but by the time Lot 105 came around I was enjoying it.
Rating: 9/10 Unbelievably catchy with excellent production and instrumentation. A dip in quality in the second half but still consistently great and an absolute blast to listen to. Favorite songs: Girls & Boys, Tracy Jacks, End of a Century, Parklife, Badhead, London Loves, Clover Over Dover, This Is a Low. Worst song: Far Out.
A Britpop gem. IMO, the most solid Blur album.
This was so fun!! My favourite tracks were Girls and Boys, Bank Holiday, To The End and London Loves. Whew I struggled to pick favourites...so many bangers. In all fairness I do have to say the second half of the album was a bit weaker. Excitingly British (who could've guessed britpop would be?)! Playful! Beautiful! I really like the way this album juggled the calm songs with the more energetic ones: there was no jarring switches in mood. These different songs fit together like puzzle pieces, managing to have both fun and serenity without one trivialising the other. This album is quirky. And sometimes silly. But also...soothing? I finished this album feeling very satisfied.
This feels like a natural extension of the Kinks. Some great snark and ambitious musical treats. The last third of the album feels like a let down.
Reading the global reviews, man do people hate on 90's britpop (to be fair, the list seems to skew heavy on it). I liked this one. I recognized a few songs (the decade from 1995 to 2005 is sort of a sonic black hole for me as I was way too focused on growing my career). (Ironically, due to a website snafu, I left this same review on a Madonna album)
I honestly didn't like most of it, but then it would somewhat hit and I would get really into it. I just think Blur will always be super varied for me--overall great especially by the end
Good
did you know britpop is short for british twink music
the peaks are so high even if they can't quite sustain them for the length of the album
Said I didn't like Blur albums, there's parts of this I'm not keen on but the good songs outweigh it somewhat.
This is the second Blur album I've gotten to listen to. The other had Song 2, which was the only song I could think of from them. I learned on that album that the band has a much more diverse style than I had expected, and that continued to be true on this album. In addition, there was a song that I did not know was theirs. Pretty good all around.
I actually think this is the album I personally most associate with 'britpop'. Damon Albarn is a mastermind and he proves it with an album with amazing singles. A very strong 4.
Geweldig album. Parklife blijft echt een schijf. Hoe kan je nu niet luid meebrullen. Girls & Boys blijft ook echt geweldig en verder staan er ook een aantal degelijke nummers op zoals Tracy Jacks en End of a Century. 3.8 ALL THE PEOWPLE, SOW MANY PEOWPLE
First 4 tracks make it a 3/4 The rest is pretty forgettable. Over hyped.
CAM ON INGERLAND🍺🏴
parklife has been one of my fave songs for years so it was fun to hear the rest of the album, but it’s def the best song on it. fun fact: blur and gorillaz are the same man
Odd that this comes up just a week after revisiting Leisure. Boys and Girls is the pop song of the 1990s. The end.
This album feels like it spans several genres, but all unifies together under the vibe of being incredibly British. Girls & Boys and To The End are both great.
Easy 4 for Blur.
Really great and important Brit-pop. I wasn’t aware of Blur before Song 2, so I had to go back in time to figure out this band’s roots. But I have loved this album as long as I’ve known it. A gem.
Good album
Blah
Strong point of view from beginning to end.
I honestly like this more than the self titled song 2 is great and all but this is so mellow and fun girls and boys is just a soild album this feels more underrated and consistent. You can hear Damon energy in this from track to track. To the end is amazing what a nice gem of a song.
I really enjoyed this, and while I might not remember to listen to it in the long run, a relisten after the weekend maintains.
90s bangers aged well with varied soundscapes.
Upbeat album, timestamped 90s vibe! Cute surprise with Françoise Hardy! Blubby loves this album so I’m slightly influenced.
Loved it
mid-90s Britpop, with a few songs everyone knows
So blur has been getting surprisingly (for me) positive reviews from me. I'd say I would give this a five star rating if it felt more like an album.
On face value, some people might write this off as just another Britpop album but that’s a discredit to the variety, creativity, and personality here. There’s a lot that I could go over, but I would instead just like to mention that the harmonies on this album are so good.
This is one of the most British albums of all time. It's like it was engineered to be kind of annoying, but somehow overcomes all of that with its slick productions and catchy tunes. I almost feel embarrassed with how much I like Tracy Jacks. But hey, it is what it is. Damon Albarn is a talented guy and this is a classic piece of britpop. *Heard before.
Album 518 of 1001 Blur - Parklife (1994) Rating : 3.75 / 5 Some pretty good British Pop. In the vein of Oasis or Teenage Fanclub. I could play this a few more times.
This is #day19 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… Sally was able to wait, as today Oasis announced their first reunion gigs in 16 years. Well played, random generator. I've always belonged to the Oasis camp, with (What's the Story) Morning Glory? being my favorite of theirs. When it comes to Blur, though, I'd only ever heard selected songs. So today, more than 30 years after its release, I finally sat down and listened to this one from start to finish. It's a fun and versatile record: full of attitude, very London, sometimes almost too London. But that was the point back then. Britishness and all that. I also like the album cover. So if there's one Blur album you kind of must hear before you die, I suppose it's this one? This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day20.
Blur is at the very least an interesting band. At the most, they’re geniuses. This falls somewhere in the middle. They lean into their Britishness HARD. The title track (the meaning of which escapes me) is perhaps the most the most British song of the 90’s, if not the 20th century. This is an eclectic album, which runs a little long. I probably feel this way partially because of the fact that it stars hot, with multiple tracks that grab you and keep you there. Then it starts to run a little long. Tracks that, while they all have clear direction and intent, don’t keep me all the way there. This could’ve been 10-15 minutes shorter and I don’t think I would’ve thought less of it. That’s a bummer, because I really like Blur and do find them to be one of the more creative bands, one that doesn’t just settle for making fun songs, but ones that try to push boundaries and move music in new directions. That alone deserves three stars. So that, combined with quality, earns it four. Standout Tracks: Girls and Boys, Parklife, Bank Holiday, London Loves, Clover Over Dover, Magic America, Jubilee
Beautiful poetic stuff
A good listen. I'm adding this one to my library.
Great brit pop
Amazing that this album grew on me the more I progressed. As first I said it had all be done better. But the diversity and musicianship got better as it went. Diverse and interesting. I really like it.
Definitely on the long side, but pretty fun for britpop
This one's really hard for me to rate. It's British, like REALLY British, but somehow it doesn't suck? It doesn't really make sense in my brain. The instruments mix really well with the wacky crap they add in. Favorites here are Girls & Boys, End of a Century, and Magic America
Solid contender for the most British album ever made. It’s a lot of fun. Dips a little in the middle. Favorites were Tracy Jacks, Parklife, To The End, and Magic America.
I think this was very good, I zoned out from frustration doing some leetcodes...
I listened to the band way back when they were first famous and I wanted to recapture my youth as a 50 something. The album content is a spread of the styles that made them memorable in their part of the production of a social documentary of British Life. Nostalgic rather that brilliant.
i listened to this album sooo much during my first summer in london. on reflection it's a bit baggy and has a couple too many songs about 'characters' but ... PARKLIFE!
A sardonic masterpiece. A much more interesting riff on the Beatles than Oasis could manage. I was very pleasantly surprised re-listening to this album. In my mind I have been more of a Graham Coxon fan than a Blur fan. But this album is an amazing band effort. 👌
Хороший, на удивление, альбом. Не все попадало в меня, конечно, но группу слушать продолжу
I was always team Oasis growing up that I didn’t listen to Blur. Now in my 30s I have come to appreciate Blur and their latest album was one of my favourites for 2023. Parklife to me sounds like it could all be played over a theatre show. Enjoyed the album and my stand out tracks are End of A Century, To The End, Tracy Jacks and Trouble in the Message Centre
I'm more of an Oasis fan myself, but this was very listenable. Although my ears are probably tuned in favour of britpop, I know there is a lot of shit britpop on this list. "Parklife" is not that. I was already familiar with "Girls and Boys" and "Parklife" but the other singles are also really great, so it deserves 4 stars in my opinion.
Doggies. “Girls & Boys” is iconic. These other songs are okay. I think I like “Badhead” too. And also “Magic America.”
i guess you gotta listen to thirty cruddy britpop albums to appreciate the britpop masterpiece huh
I've tried this album so many times, and this is the time I've enjoyed it the most. Varied and sparkly production, great songwriting, worth its weight in gold. Also, probably one of my favourite album covers.
Can't wait to listen to this one more and I love the title track.
There are some cracking tracks on here. I hadn't heard This is a Low before; I love it. It's kooky and very, very England; glad I listened to it through.
muy playful y divertide como su portada
Me gusta la onda britpop/Beatles q tiene Blur pero tampoco estoy rateando la nostalgia que sentía xq no existía yo en los 90s, igual es valida! Pero hay algunos momentos medios quirkys que no terminan de convencerme, de todas formas gran álbum
пока не послушал оазис, думал, что blur лучшие в брит-попе. отличный альбом
I’m a Damon Albarn fan. I think he’s made some really cool music and was way ahead of his time with the inception of The Gorillas. Plus, he’s a bit of a crooner. This album sounds quintessentially British- I mean, a whole song about Bank holidays! - which is obviously why it was so successful over there. I really like the mix of song styles here and find this album to be a really fun listen. 4.0
This album is soooooo British. Even though I've never been exposed to the sheer level of britishness, I really enjoyed the listen. It ranges from slower sappier stuff to fast punkier songs, with the former being my favorite. Reminds me a bit of a British ween.
This is so British I'm craving Fish and Chips. Other than Girls & Boys, I have no knowledge of the album, but it's very tight. I would 3.5 this, but going 4 for consistency and cultural relevance.
Fun album, but feel like I needed to "be there" to fully appreciate it.
Ne avevo sentito parlare molto bene e a ragione. Il massimo dei voti sarebbe un po’ troppo, però un 4 se lo meritano tutto
Effettivamente come dice qualche review il britpop/rock ha un suono distinguibile, le band possono somigliarsi un po’, con una bella produzione e voci un po’ più sgangherate. Comunque l’ascolto ha avuto i suoi bei momenti, è un suono giocoso, un po’ ruvido ma comunque apprezzabile. non sono un fan dei Blur ma mi stanno a cuore dopo aver visto un documentario sul loro attivismo (tra l’altro il cantante è la voce dei Gorillaz, what?), quindi forse ho ascoltato con la bilancia già un po’ in loro favore. Unrelated ma quanto erano gnocchi? Ridateci boybands composte da twink
Surprisingly good. Very varied I was surprised at the quality of the music.
Classicaço do brit-pop tem algumas pérolas e outras músicas enjoadinhas, mas é um belo álbum
yay blur
Blur is always a good time, this is no exception
I liked some of the songs well enough, but too many that didn’t click with me. 3.5
Some good stuff here for sure
Some great stuff here. “Girls and Boys” was one I already knew, but really enjoyed hearing “End of a Century” “Badhead” “To the End” “Jubilee” and “This is a Low” for the first time. Some skippable tracks, but overall really enjoyable.
I was a bit surprised and slightly disappointed. That another blur album popped up within a couple weeks of the last. But I did enjoy this one more than the previous. Was the whiskey finer, was I just in a better mood or is the album actually superior. I don’t know but giving this one a 4.
I like Blur, Damon Albarn is a great musician. I like his later stuff more like the Gorillaz but this is some catchy stuff
Fun album. I enjoyed some songs more than others, btw never for bored.
Very nostalgic album. First side is strong ( except for 'parklife' which still feels like a novelty record) . Second side has a quite a few dips but finishes on the incredible 'This is a low '.
Жесть, как же долго я не хотел слушать блюр. Окей, я послушаю! А в целом с кайфом. Этот альбом лучше другого что я слушал.
01) Girls & Boys - 10,0 02) Tracy Jacks - 7,0 03) End of a Century - 8,0 04) Parklife - 10,0 05) Bank Holiday - 7,0 06) Badhead - 8,0 07) The Debt Collector (instrumental) - 6,0 08) Far Out - 7,0 09) To the End - 10,0 10) London Loves - 8,5 11) Trouble in the Message Centre - 8,5 12) Clover Over Doveri - 8,0 13) Magic America - 8,0 14) Jubilee - 7,5 15) This Is a Low - 7 5 16) Lot 105 (instrumental) - 6,0 TOTAL: 7,94 (79/100)
Another surprise for me. It is clear that some good music flew under my radar during those transitional years through law school, marriage, new jobs and two moves in the 90s and has eluded me since. Until now.
so beautiful and of its time, in the best ways, 90's to the core, and I'm in love with the vibe, but it can kind of drift into meaningless in my head sometimes with its carefree attitude
Just had their self-titled album three days ago and I loved it. This one isn't as creative or interesting as that one, but it's still a really fun listen. Sometimes you just really need to sit down and listen to Damon Albarn singing about what he had for breakfast or whatever. In the "Top 3 Most British Albums Ever Written" list, and the other two spots are both taken up by Kinks albums.
Britpop has never really been a preferred genre for me. Oasis is fine. I found from this list I surprisingly enjoy Suede. Blur, I've appreciated, but never really loved. I think I can see why this is the magnum opus for them: a wide swath of styles and genres, all feeling cohesive yet fresh. It's just a good album. Favorite tracks: "Parklife", "Clover Over Dover", "Magic America", "Girls & Boys"
This album was so fun to listen to especially for my run this morning. Shoutout to Brit Pop 🔥
Not my favorite Blur album, but pretty good
Solid 90s Brits at it again
Some great songs on here!
Such a great and classic 90s Britrock album. An essential. A few flaws but man this album hits.
Surprising. Felt like the music could have come from almost any time period, not specifically the 90s. Was fun to listen through - never had heard the whole album before.
Nice slice of 90s brit rock.
I'm on a streak of albums I'm really enjoying. I wasn't sure how much I would like this at first but it ended up being really fun and creative.
With every album in their early career, Blur simply got better and better, with this being a defining album of ‘90s Britpop. The versatility on here is exceptional and it really seemed like Damon was honing his songwriting craft
It was good. 👍
Buen brit pop. los kinks de los 90. Conjuntodesigual de canciones pero la mitad son excelentes.
This is a classic album from my teens, but a few songs just did not hold up and made me hit skip. With their self titled album already on the list, this album was not needed here imo. I gave it a 4, but it's more like a 3.5
Many good/great well known pop hits. Overall, it is a solid album. Great? Probably not, but i’ll keep listening in the future. Standouts: Girls & Boys, Parklife, Far Out, To The End 4/5
This is a fun listen.
4.5, bangers everywhere
Heel goed! Niet alle nummers even goed maar girls&boys is zo’n goed begin can’t really go wrong after that
Girls & Boys End of a Century Parklife To the End This Is a Low
Great album. A classic. Varied musical style throughout
Good album
I liked this more than expected. Fun variety of instruments.
Only previously listening to Leisure, which I thought was good, Parklife feels like a big step forward. A pastiche of different things which creates a fun and unique experience I think would reward with repeated listens. Definitely lengthy but it never feels overblown. Very much similar to Pulp but less dark. Sort of funny how this is the same band who did Song 2.
its decent, im just not the biggest britpop fan. 7/10
I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. I agree with another reviewer that the second half wasn’t as strong as the beginning, but overall I found the music light and fun, a little bit of sunshine.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Girls & boys, End of a century, Parklife, London loves
This album has a lot of cracking tracks
This one has slowly shrunk on me. I love the production but it's something I'd like to go back to in order to completely understand it.
I feel like i could easily beat the shit out of damon albarn if i wanted to, he looks as light as a bird, I'd just knock him out with one blow to his pretty face, no effort, i know i could do it
brit
Pretty solid album though there's a little filter in it.
I am surprised at how many lyrics I remembered despite not listening to it for about twenty years! I think I preferred it twenty years ago, but it's still a pretty good album. I liked the instrumental tracks, they were fun.
Very enjoyable album, the better half of the Battle of Britpop which brings a more varied and distinct sound.
"...it gives me a sense of enormous wellbeing (Parklife) And then I'm happy for the rest of the day..."
Always heard that this was their best album and it is solid. Doesnt quite make classic status for me but damn good.
Solid album, kinda weird, but whatev
I really liked the front half of this album. The first track was massive back when it was first released, so that was fun to hear again. Somewhere in the middle of the album, it really loses focus before getting it back again.
То, что выделяет Blur на фоне других брит-поп команд - мультижанровость. Албарн и партнёры берут всего помаленьку, играются с этим, вставляя бритиш айндентик. Молодцы ребята епт
3.7, absolutely expected more
This is not the kind of music i usually go for, but it felt like a itch i didn't knew needed scratching. I love that the length of the songs variates, and there is no songs that are abnormally long. This album is also the perfect length. I loved a lot of the songs from this album, and i will most likely continue to lissen to several of them:D
Enjoyed it
Awakening
idk if 90s beat poetry is a thing but that's what Parklife feels like - UK suburbia seasonal affective disorder thoughts
Good Listen. The best album that ive heard from the blur yet. many god sngs but for me nothing felt like absolutely huge...
A britpop gem. From here, Damon Albarn really comes into his own. Super clean production on this one as well. Everything shimmers and jangles along.
Blur is a good band in my opinion. This is the album that made them a household name. What do I think of it? It's really good. Highlights include "Girls and Boys" and "Parklife".
I really loved this when it came out, still enjoyable.
Great album!
Britpop is my jam. Parklife is exquisite in its Britishness. This album is like an ode to British working class of the 90s. Lot 105 - what the inside of my head sounds like a lot of the time Favorite songs: Parklife, Jubilee, Lot 105
J'avais déjà une bonne opinion de Blur et j'ai toujours trouvé qu'ils étaient plus intéressants que Oasis. Excellent album de bord en bord.
Solid 3.75 stars. An emblematic Brit pop album, especially in the sense that many songs sound very British. Specifically "Bank Holiday," the title track, and, even though there are barely any words, "Lot 105." "This is a Low," pretty good song; have no idea where the places it lists are. "Tracy Jacks" and "Trouble in the Message Centre" illustrate the banalities of suburb/modern working class life. Big hits include "Girls & Boys," "End of a Century," and "To the End"
great listen with some bangers, few weaker tracks but got some really good highlights
I was unaware of the Oasis/Blur schism until I got my first Blur album from the generator and read through the reviews. As a lifelong Oasis fan, it's hard to listen to Blur objectively, knowing the world has picked a side. That said, this is an objectively great album and I especially liked "Parklife" the song. It wasn't love at first listen, but I plan to keep this on my phone. P.S. In regards to the Oasis vs Blur debate, I think it's telling that "Oasis" is mentioned 68 times in the 11343 reviews for Parklife (excluding this review), but "Blur" is only mentioned 48 times to What's the Story's 11538 reviews. So Blur is being compared to Oasis more than Oasis is being compared to Blur. Heh.
High 8 amazing rock/alternative rock
I used to own this album and really liked it (apart from the awful title track) but hadn't heard it for 20 years, contenting myself with the Best of Blur compilation, which is pretty perfect (apart, again, from Parklife and Country House!) However, on relistening to the album, I'm reminded that it really is excellent. A perfect opener in the infectious Girls and Boys, it has a great range of styles, from the wistful Bad Head to the punky Bank Holiday, which shows that Song 2 wasn't an aberration in the Blur Canon. Even the silly little organ led instrumentals are fun, and of course, This is a Low is an outright classic. Now if only they'd thought again about that awful title track!
Stands up surprisingly well. Fun, and you can hear the influences of The Kinks running through. I mean, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain was released in '94 too, which puts this in perspective, and I love Pulp's His'n'Hers from the same year more than I'll ever love this, but this was much more interesting and enjoyable to return to than I'd thought. There is some filler, particularly in the second half, would have been a stronger album if a few songs shorter.
Full of bangers and British dissonant screeching guitars. Decent album
4 Stars (11/15)
Brilliant indie pop and a proper rush of nostalgia for me. Parklife takes me straight back to my teenage years. It captures that mid nineties energy perfectly. Witty, sharp and full of character. The songwriting is clever without being pretentious, and the melodies are instantly memorable. Girls and Boys is pure Britpop. Catchy, confident and impossible not to sing along to. Parklife is just as iconic. That spoken word delivery and the everyday British observations make it completely unique. These songs were the soundtrack to my youth and they still hit the same way now. The whole album feels vibrant and full of life. It is playful, observational and very British in the best possible way. Favourite songs: Girls and Boys and Parklife Least favourite: None that stand out negatively Album artwork: Instantly recognisable and completely nineties. A perfect match for the era and the sound
6 / 10 Brit-pop noventero, con algun gran éxito de Damon
I like this album. some tracks are really funny.
posh, quirky, and still absolutely fresh sounding to this day. i've already known about the first track for ages and it's been getting plenty of replays in my spotify account. the rest of the album is just... genuinely solid, pop that feels both spunky and almost... regal. love you damonnnnn
4/5
Fun album. Parklife and Girls and boys were highlights. Good background music to be in a good mood.
Much more than Song2. Too bad the States didn't grasp this.
Part of British 90s AltRock-Britpop invasion. I think opening cut, GIRLS & BOYS, was a hit and found its way onto my Spotify playlists over the years. 3rd cut, END OF A CENTURY, is very different - slower beat, acoustic guitars, jangle electric, great harmonies and background vocals (possibly Beatlesque). #4, PARK LIFE, is mostly spoken word, with lots of "Ooooo-ooo-oooh" in the background. Sorta reminds me of early Kinks. My memory tells me that bands in the 90s Britpop invasion modelled their sound on the bands of the 60s invasion. I'm surprised at the inclusion and quality of the slower songs, quite the opposite of the kind of punky vibes of what I expected. THE DEBT COLLECTOR - a nice little 2-minute carnival carousel instrumental! TROUBLE IN THE MESSAGE CENTER straight out rocks! Put it on repeat! Seagulls and harpsichord 🙂 on CLOVER OVER DOVER...and excellent harmonies - this album keeps making me smile. JUBILEE shows heavy influence of the ZIGGY STARDUST album. This album has really surprised me. I'd always assumed the rest of the album would be just like GIRLS AND BOYS. However, it includes a variety of genres and little musical twists and tricks, and shows that the band wasn't afraid of experimenting with their sound. While I'm not crazy about all of the songs, this is closer to a 4/5 than 3/5, so I'm awarding ⭐⭐⭐⭐. __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 19 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 982 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 8 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 4
Kinda vibed
I didn’t know of Blur until “Song 2” came out about 5 years after this album, and if I hadn’t known, never would’ve guessed it was the same bad. This album was fun, and I give it an extra star for pro-LGBTQ lyrics.
I really enjoyed this album, very British, very creative and diverse sounding. I think if I listened more to this album it’s the type that would grow on me and probably rate it to a 5 over time. But on one listen a solid 4.
PARK LIFE. A selection of great songs. Some tripe in there though. I wonder how many people bought this off the back of the single and were disappointed lol.
Blur has been in my to-listen list for a long time and this has been the perfect chance to do it. Great album. Really enjoyed End of a Century, Far Out, To the End, This Is a Low.
Cool, ça n'a pas trop mal vieilli
Slaps
Great tunes and interesting sounds
duplicate
A short, non-exhaustive list of things I liked about Blur's "Parklife": Eclectic song styles keeps it interesting - a little dance music, a little post-punk, a little smooth Continental pop (I don't know what I mean exactly by that, but a lot of this album has a very "European" feel), a little new-wave, a little of that atmospheric Britpop sound but with *just* a hint more edge. Drums, bass, guitar and vox all pretty resplendent, and excruciatingly tight even when purposely breaking into the sloppier compositions. Incredibly well balanced and "fresh" without sounding forced. This Is a Low is a great example. Unapologetically anglo-centric. Different and a wee bit odd without being overly challenging. Everything has a familiarity. But not predictable. Again, nicely balanced. Has a good beat, you can dance to it :)
Easy 4. Some great tracks (parklife, end of a century, bank holiday) and all above average imo. Great mix of musical styles. You can see even in a “rock” band how this guy went on to do Gorillaz.
Better than self titled Great singles Album tracks are okay 4
Loved this album. Some classic tunes
I genuinely wasn’t expecting to like this album based purely off of only knowing ‘song 2’. Imagine my surprise when it’s my favourite of the year so far! I love how experimental the instrumentals get especially in the second half of the album. Two thumbs up!
British sound of the 90s. Seems to be popular in the UK, but I didn't know about it.
A good example of britpop, a number of fun songs and some I knew.
Early Rock'nRoll.
Rizz
Very British but I can forgive them
aw man i love gorillaz :) and british people too ig
Probably the best modern Brit rock album I've ever heard. Only knock on it is how long it is.
If Oasis were the Beatles, Blur were the Kinks: not as beloved worldwide, but still an interesting listen for their willingness to experiment and their skill at both lambasting and celebrating British culture. Not sure if Parklife is their best album, but it’s up there.
Briish?!
Quality music from my youth
pop classic
Good, almost 4
The creative high point of Britpop, and also of one of the most enduring British bands of the last thirty years. Come for Phil Daniels comedy stylings, stay for Albarn's knack for finding the melancholy and downbeat (This Is a low) as well as the party anthems (Girls and Boys).
Yeah sex is pretty cool but have you ever tried singing along to Girls & Boys or Parklife?
Great britpop, forward thinking music, very playful. Their most enjoyable album
I didn't have this at the time, and I still have this bias that Blur didn't put together great albums but this is as good as they got. Enough songs to establish itself as a really good album but not quite consistent enough to be great.
Hard to put a rating on this - one absolute ripper of a song (Girls & Boys), a few good ones, and several that get your attention in a good way. Still don't know if I'd reach for the album though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Interesting listening to this after Adam Ant, as you can hears echoes of it
Youthful, confident and fresh. This was Blur’s breakthrough album and probably their most likeable. And before the later competitiveness that would inevitable come with Oasis. Though that was mainly media fuelled. It’s difficult to be objective about an album which was one of the musical definitions of the early nineties. Good songs well presented, influences worn clearly on sleeve but effectively so.
How is it possible this album is almost 30 years old? Seems like yesterday that Blur topped the charts with this. Although their third album, Parklife was the first of 7 number one albums. The beginning of Britpop. Surprisingly, with many great songs on this album, none of the singles made it to the top of the charts. Blur fans would have to wait for the next album for that. Lots of hits, some misses. 4/5
4 stars, really like this one but kinda weird
Good britpop, some classics on here but was surprised by how much I enjoyed to the end
Totally personifies early '90s London. Indispensable in creating the Britpop sound of the end of the 20th century...and way better, musically and lyrically, than anything Oasis ever did!
why do you HAVE to review everything on this site good, working-class feel, good for larping
Never heard this one by blur before but it was pretty good! Britpop baby yeah
Love it. Sound of my second youth.
This album has a quirkiness that I appreciate. It's not overly serious, but light and friendly, as if band had fun recording it.
Blind album, know the artist and the hit song. Quality catchy album I enjoy a good amount
guau!!!!
this is like the secret love child of tom petty and simon lebon. “girls and boys” is very decade and i’m getting some british invasion vibes from “tracy jacks”. very kinks and the who. i appreciate a group with range. will be putting this on the heavy rotation.
lots of bangerz but not my fav music ever
Better than I remembered it being. Still much prefer Oasis to Blur though. I'd say 3.5 stars
Some great tracks but some did sound like novelty records
First album I went out and bought (in a fopp shop in Borders, how early 00s). Really nostalgic for me, and some bangers, obvs Parklife and Girls and Boys are iconic but also really love End of a Century. Some novelty songs though, it's true.
Beatles/Sex Pistols/2000s Indie
I don't really know to be honest it was a strange sound, but its Damon so 8/10
A solid bit of britpop but as I know more of their catalog, the less impressive it is.
Classic
Very nice, it starts blending together towards the end.
Always enjoyed this one.
Fun, quirky album. Classic in the genre, but not a classic for me, I’m not a big Blur fan. They write some nice songs, but Damon Albarn’s voice jars me. 7,5 out of 10
JA WEEENO. De 3, 2 que conozco y he escuchado vehementemente. Lo escucharé again. No es la gran vaina pues, le doy como 7 de 10 porque tiene Parklife, Tracy Jacks y Magic America
There’s a few great songs on this album, but mostly this feels like an artist’s exploration of their own sound. The album doesn’t feel cohesive.
One of my favourite album covers and a good collection of songs from Blur's Britpop peak years. Title track stands out along with Girls and Boys but some other gems among the lesser known songs - Badhead, Clover over Dover, Jubilee for example. Interesting influences abound - Bowie, Kinks, even Cockney Rebel in parts.
Really enjoyed it. Another very British record. A little more Kinksy than I expected. May need to go back to it to see how it sounds a second time.
Hey.
Very interesting, not great all the way through in my opinion, but parts of it were truly excellent. Bends genres for sure, expands my own appreciation for and awareness of music.
typical British style
Multiple listens, and it got better each time. The whole album gives me a sense of enormous well-being.
I liked this album quit a bit. Boys and girls is a strong opener. The frantic energy of bank holiday captures the peculiar feeling of a bank holiday. Feeling rushed to go have fun and not waste your day off work.
Quirky and melodic Britpop that I disregarded as a teen in the 90's, but holds more appeal every time I hear it. A grower.
This is alot of fun, starts to lose it towards the end, but overall this was a great listen 4
Range of styles, from their big hit (90s electronic) to rock, punk and almost acoustic. Some good funky beats, some forgettable tracks.
Overall, this has been favourite album so far. I liked the style, but some of the songs didn't fit on the album, they were all enjoyable though.
I’ve spent lots of time listening to this album prior. The aspect that really makes me enjoy this album is the “slice of life” it gives of 90s England. Favorite songs on this one would be london loves, girls and boys, and end of a century
I see the line from The Kinks to Blur from this album with a small nod the The Jam though they lack the toughness of The Jam. The album starts of very strongly on three opening tracks, loses it's way for a little after that but soon finds its way agin with the fine To the End and keeps the moment through to the epic sounding This is a Low. A fine album that seerms to sum up the history of British pop music quite nicely. 4 stars
Not really my bag, but Boys & Girls is a respected banger of course. I do think this is probably Blur's best work. I didn't mind it, 90's Blur is a different kinda mood, one that doesn't exactly resonate with my youthful 90's days as much as other artists did. Respect for a great album cover, and some very influential work produced here.
British pop from the 90s. Almost every song in here is fun. I was familiar with the 1st track Girls and Boys but the rest were new to me. I liked Tracy Jacks, Parklife, Bank Holiday, and London Loves
This was fun! I didn't really take notes but overall enjoyed this in the same way that I enjoy bands like Wham! It's danceable and I'm sure if I paid closer attention I'd hear some neat stuff, but I just don't feel like it and/or don't like the genre quite enough.
It's Britpop, it's decent. It has a cool vibe to it but it's not the kinda thing I'd listen to regularly. Some of the songs go hard but it's hard to dance and groove to them, they're more punky and all downbeats which is not my bag baby. Still fun to listen to I like the surf rock kinda vibes some of the songs have. And I love The Debt Collector and Lot 105, very out of place but in a great way. Overall I enjoyed it, don't think any songs will be thrown on again intentionally except maybe The Debt Collector or Lot 105.
Tracy Jacks is a Blurred Jam with a few Kinks 👏
Love Gorillaz but never really explored Blur. It's cool to see the roots of where Damon Albarn came from.
I can see why this album is important. It feels like the beginning of something special. Captures 90s culture well.
It feels like a seminal album. A moment in time. I'm not a huge Blur fan overall, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
It's hard not to like this album even though some tracks are played to death now. I snapshot of energy and the epitome of Brit pop.
I go into this album today with high hopes. This year seems to have been my Damon Albarn awakening - I love the new Gorillaz and Blur albums, and having listened to more since then I’m loving everything I hear. Naturally, I’m hoping that this continues the trend. Songs I already knew: Girls and Boys, End of a Century, Parklife Favourites: Girls and Boys, Bank Holiday I’m happy to be unsurprised, as I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I’ve mentioned a few times before but I love an album that likes to dare into other genres, and here we find the likes of Britpop with occasional dashings of oompah. It’s a mash that sounds ridiculous on paper, but does make such a pleasant listen. As a little child in the 90’s living next to Manchester, I was much more into Oasis than Blur, but I’m finding that I’ve missed a lot by not listening earlier.
Nostalgia
Very uplifting album, provides good vibes. Also just really relaxing and easy listening for riding/walking through the city!