Parklife

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

About as mid as the other blur album

5/10 some good tracks, but probably won’t revisit

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

De laatste zin van het 3e nummer "End of a Century" vat het album toepasselijk samen: It's nothing special. Staan een paar leuke nummers op maar ook echt een hoop bagger. Voor de Britpop liefhebbers zal dit vast een stuk beter zijn, maar niet in mijn straatje. Kom toch echt niet hoger dan 2 sterren voor dit album.

Gaar experimenteel album. Bank Holiday afgezet want ik was aan het werken en ik werd gek. Als je de rare experimentele kermis muziek negeert zitten en wel een aantal leuke tracks tussen. Het album ga ik never nooit meer in z'n geheel luisteren. Vast allemaal innovatief en boundary/convention pushing voor z'n tijd, maar simply not enjoyable to listen to. Liked Songs: Clover Over Dover

Did not like. Leipe britse bias dat dit in de lijst staat.

Vandaag weer netjes geluisterd, maar was dat echt nodig… UK geezers. Ja wat moet ik zeggen dat is gewoon niet echt iets voor mij. Ik schrijf hiermee misschien een heel genre af wat in de UK populair is maar I don’t like it. Het is beschaafd provocerend. Het is rocky maar ook rustig en vibey. Zo laat ik het positief klinken maar ik vind het geheel eerder een beetje meh. Er zit niks in waardoor ik denk ‘holy moly wat een goede band he’, ‘ken je dat ene nummer van Blur’ Ze maken muziek die je prima ff ergens in een serietje kan gooien uit early 2000s. Ik heb de louterinstrument wachtmuziek geliked - The Debt Collector Het mag op maar je doet me er geen plezier mee - 2/5

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

Those lovable, cheeky, not-Cockneys here with their third album, which gave us Girls & Boys, To the End, This is a Low and of course the mighty title track (Phil Daniels was, is, and always will be a proper lej). Jaunty and fun

I thought it wore its influences on its sleeves a bit too much but a fun listen still!

Some bangers, some flops. I would pull songs from this to put into a playlist, but might not return to the full album very often.

Just didn’t stick the landing for me

I LOVE IIIIT

Radiohead’s greatest musical achievement was killing BritPop.

Started strong but lost the appeal after a few songs. Heavy Beatles influence I think.

Brilliant album, haven’t listened to in years. Having previously been considered one of their weaker records I think it’s rightfully being reappraised as a masterpiece

So I only know Blur as the “song 2” band. Like I’ve always assumed they were a one hit wonder. But I was pleasantly impressed with this album. It starts with the best track on the album “Girls & Boys” which I actually was familiar with. And there were a few other gems throughout like “London Loves” “Tracy Jacks” and “end of a century”. There’s even a few fun little interludes like “Lot 105”. My only big criticisms are that I wish there were more humor or silliness to the album. I found lot 105 super refreshing cause it was super quirky sounding, but it came way too late as the final track. I also think that as whole there was a lot of skippable forgettable tracks that I didn’t remember on second listen and didn’t care for at all. Honestly an impressive album even if I’m not gunna buy it, perfectly solid and respectable radio rock album.

Kinda forgettable album, I liked Parklife and would revisit that, but could not name another song off of this album if someone asked me too. Wasn't bad, just wasn't amazing.

Already loved Girls & Boys and love the fast singing and instrumentals of some of the songs, and the slower, more meaningful lyrics of the other songs. The songs are so different, but they fit.

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

A few standout tracks, including some that had a lot of radio play where I was living when this album came out. There are a few tracks that almost dip into the sounds that would eventually be Gorillaz. And the occasional off the wall song that just don't fit in. They intrigue me. But so much of the rest was a wash. Girls & Boys Parklife

All Bri'ish all the time innit. My 3rd Blur album and they're one of the better Britpop bands I've found during this project. I like this album a lot, but as I've stated before there isn't any 16 track record that wouldn't be made exponentially better by cutting 4 to 6 tunes. That being said, this album is as solid as you'll get from this project. Dig it.

Honestly, once again it is not for me. It sounds just like the last two I listened to. Hoping for something different.

The premier Britpop album that truly should be listened to at least once. Damon Albarn is a great songwriter. The songs vary making it a easy to listen to the entire album. Graham Coxon is a good guitar player too.

Blur is good. like they have some great songs. I play girls and boys like once a week. its really great very catchy and the music video is lit af (young damon albarn is really cute) but they are just so fucking british. it disturbs me. High 3 low 4

So much Brit-pop in this list! So much a moment in time. But this holds up pretty well. Still sounds happy, at least.

Truly one of the greatest britpop albums ever made. It's just so fun and energetic, and unapologetically British in the best way possible. On top of having written some unforgettable songs, Damon Albarn shows off his almost exaggerated British accent and manages to sound cool as hell while doing it.

Great album

Couple of great, lots of okay.

Some absolute classics muddied by lots of filler

i loveee blur i love you damon albarn

this was much more fun than i remembered god i love blur i wish british people were real... it's still not my favorite record of theirs but the guitar on this album is probably my favorite in their discography, it’s just so catchy

Listened to most but only really liked bank holiday.

very fun

already listened to boys&girls and parklife but the rest of the album is kinda meh not really my cup of tea but also not horrible

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this album. Eclectic range of songs, very catching

Very indie

Wonderful

Their third album. Britpop / Indie. In England at the time I thought Britpop was a fun and colourful change from Grunge and hearing how tough and bleak life is for the disaffected. Instead bands like Blur, Oasis and Pulp etc told us we can still be disaffected but live forever, get drunk, fuck, take Es and Whizz, dance with girls and boys and just be common people. This is one of those albums. It's not too serious or dour, it's colourful, upbeat, whimsical and fun for working class people to bop along to and still say fuck off to all the shit.

Brit pop classic

The musicians are talented, but I can’t stand the whiny, affected vocals. The tunes, while varied, all sound directly derived from something else — the Beatles, Bowie, Clash, Cream. Not a good sign if an album makes you think of all the better music it kind of sounds like. A 2.

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

marili akdla. oasis tops

Yeah absolute classic, even on the songs I didn't know so well. Loved it. 4.5* rated up

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

Songs: 9/16 Overall a great album but I’m not a huge fan of the singer. Album has great tunes here and there but mostly sound the same or are an interlude throwaway.

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.

It was super fun. Will revisit. Standout tracks: -Girls &Boys -Parklife -Magic America Least favorite tracks: N/a Listened to on drive home from work. Finished while doing diamond pushups at home.

I've always enjoyed the Girls & Boys song. Not super into the rest of the album, although it was enjoyable.

Uhhhh yeah. So yes it’s better than that shit grunge stuff coming out of the US in the 90s, but comparisons to British Rock of the 60s is a bit of a stretch. That these songs sold well in the UK says more about their music scene than it does about the talent of this group.

3.5

the brits

Sehr British, a bissl fad. Das Album soll die brit-pop-welle losgetreten haben und Blurs Magnum Opus sein. Versteh ich nicht ganz. Anscheinend bin ich weniger brit-pop-Fan als gedacht. 'Boys & Girls' und 'Parklife' sind ganz gut. Der Rest stolpert so dahin, holt sich aus unterschiedlichen Genres Inspiration, kreiert aber selten hängenbleibendes. Ab und zu blitzt was interessantes durch, aber zu selten.

Only familiar with a couple of their songs so this album was good to listen to

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

girls who like boys banger other than not my vibe

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.

This is clown music

Heard it before. I think Blur is something you need to get into as a teen, otherwise you're gonna think their music is very annoying. Nowadays I mostly go back to post-britpop Blur (13 is a masterpiece and the fact it's not on the list is sad). Believe it or not, Parklife is one of my most streamed albums ever. It's so goofy but there's something endearing about it, or I'm just nostalgic 5/5

i like the concept but somethings missing

Heavily on rotation in my house since release. A masterpiece of britpop. 10/10

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

In some ways a difficult album to review because it was so culturally significant at the time. I enjoyed how diverse some of the sounds are, e.g barhead vs debt collector, but that being said I just don't love the style of the album. I find the campy laid back vocals quite annoying after one or two listens. I can respect alot of the lyricism and it's clear the album has a message but I'm not quite keen on the sarcastic cynicism. Rating subjectively as a 2 on enjoyment, aware objectively it could be a 4

I liked “this is a low” and that is it. I really did not enjoy this album and it took me ages to complete. Not really sure why it is so critically acclaimed, the whole thing felt messy and incohesive, just because someone sings with an accent doesn’t make it good.

Pretty good, some solid tunes in there parklife and girls and boys are certified hood classics, last song was pretty funky as well

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

Didn't know Blur had so many albums. They always fell into the category of one hit bands in my universe. So today I learned something new. This album is fine, it even has good songs (sparsely distributed among the overall boringness). Liked tracks: London loves, clover over dover, girls and boys

Pretty creative yet somehow generic britpop album

To the End is brilliant

Couple good songs bit weird

As one of this website's certified Britpop haters, and not a huge fan of Blur in general, I actually quite enjoyed this. And that's saying a lot. I was 100% expecting to hate every moment of this going into it, but I was pleasantly surprised by a lot of the tracks. There's just so much more personality, variety, and genuinely solid hooks, melodies, and riffs here than I've heard from most other Britpop bands. It actually feels like an homage to classic British pop and psych music from the '60s rather than another boring take on '90s alternative. I do, unfortunately, think that it's still pretty frontloaded, but the front is just really damn good. 'Girls & Boys' is a super cutesy and catchy track, and 'End of Century' might be my favorite song I've heard out of these dudes, with such a well-written chorus. The title track was also pretty noteworthy because it feels relentlessly British in its observational lyricism and delivery. And you can't tell me that's not the most Beatles-sounding chorus ever. 'Bedhead' was a nice, slower song, and 'Clover Over Dover' has this mystical and almost '60s psych-sounding lead. So yeah, pretty neat. Not every song hit, but at least most of the songs here felt unique and distinguishable. It was also very heartfelt and colourful, in many ways, I see Damon's Gorillaz sound bleeding through this particular album more than any other Blur album I've heard.

It's fine. Good music with vocals that occasionally get annoying.

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

Despite the comps to Oasis (UK and era) these guys do not compare...at all. You can hear the same influences but the sound and songwriting aren't in the same stratosphere. I read that first, then listened, probably a mistake...if one was a fan of this crap.

Park life describes a very specific type of British working-class council estate life, that is both immediately recognisable and deeply personal to me. Poverty is often turned into a caricature, but this is not what Blur wants to do here. Instead, we get reality mirrored to us: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Picking favourite songs off' this album is a near-impossible task. Nonetheless, I want to highlight "The debt collector" here. Lord, what a song. It's a carnival-esque waltz instrumental, that becomes more eerie the longer you listen to it. I also have to give a shout-out to the gender-fuckery that is "Boys and Girls"

HELLLLL YEAHHHHHHHH BLUR BABEYYYY end of a century this last day of the year.. .beautiful

I never really understood the allure of Britpop. Like, is the whole thing that they are trying to be a modern Beatles or some shit? This album is fine. Just okay. I guess I'm seeing what they are trying to do? It's lame as fuck tho. For the time, tho, would you put this on at a party? Would you dance to this at a concert? I just don't get it, and I love emo.

Well , it's Britpop, so you get what you paid for. I found it to be a bit boring.

One my all time fav album and what showed why burns the better band

I feel like I’ve been giving a lot of threes lately, but they’re all honest threes. This is another one of those albums. There are great songs here, but there are also a lot of good songs that are just that. Nothing wrong with them at all, and I really enjoy them, but they aren’t on that “great” level. Conversely, there isn’t really much here that I didn’t care for, and I like Blur in general, so it was a very good album with some great tracks.

6/10

Carino, niente di che, qualche canzone l'ho trovata proprio insignificante ma altre mi sono piaciute di più.

Fun pop album from Blur here. I think this is better than the other on this list with Song 2 which is an epic song. Im a fan so this gets a bump to a 5.

Opening with Girls & Boys is AMAZING!

very good

So I generally like Britpop, and this is a seminal Britpop album- and yet- I hate significant portions of this album. I’m not sure why it took me so long to realize why- Damon Albarn is a horrible vocalist and generally speaking an insufferable twat. “Oh no! American culture is having an outsized impact on the world at large! Especially my precious England!” Jesus dude. There are no other topics around which to base your concept album? There are still enough good songs on this record (“Parklife,” “This is a Low”) to justify a decent score but for me this is a verrrrry soft THREE STARS

(4.5) no complaints

it could be sadder

Really liked a few songs, some were not great though

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.

Enjoyed the two well known tracks

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

I could get into this!

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

Too poppy

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.

odličan album, vesel, živahan, dinamičan, malo punk, jasno mi je zas imaju beef s Oasisom; nadam se da ce mi u buducnosti opet doc neki blur album

Good album some great songs and a great flow to it, but didn't WOW me yk? Little bit TOO britpopy, but I can appreciate the social influence it had. Can't decide how I feel about Girls & Boys. Favs: Tracy Jacks Badhead To the end Clover Over Dover This is a low Didn't love: Bank Holiday The debt collector

0/16 bekannt 6/10 Beste Songs: Girls & Boys, Bank Holiday, magic america

“It’s nothing special” - Blur. Except especially too long. Almost gave it a 2 because Girls and Boys has some precursor/ancestral hints to The Killers Somebody Told Me. But dragged down by too much rubbish as the Brits would say.

I do not like Blur. I went in with an open mind as to not ruin my listening experience, but this just reminded me why I don’t like blur. It sounds like several different bands fighting for attention on this record and all of them band. Stupid, pretentious, postering nonsense. Get to fuck.

Fine, even good I say. Could share this, not itching to but could also see it catching me on later.

love

It’s leaning more toward 2 stars because of songs that stood out like “To the End”. Title track is garbage and it seems like the most popular tracks were my least favorite. Flows okay as an album, but the highs were very high and the lows were very low. I found the ending more enjoyable but there were some great songs along the way. Pretty solid.

A little longer than it needed to be. A couple decent songs but mostly generic brit pop. Standout Songs: End of a Century Badhead To the End Jubilee

hate his voice

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

the only decent britpop band turns in another fine one

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!

Really loved this one, honestly, 5 stars

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

Better than Oasis

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

this was a good fun listen. i recognized one of their albums stand outs: girls and boys, london loves, bad head 6.5/10

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.

Parklife represents a big part of my youth, so there is definitely some nostalgia involved in this rating. But what I really love about the album is Blur’s playful and often self-ironic take on Britpop and British culture. They never seem to take themselves too seriously. In general, I find Blur more interesting than many of their contemporaries because of their willingness to experiment, play with different styles and constantly shift direction. Parklife captures that perfectly. 4/5

Loses momentum half way through. Some great songs I had never heard before on here.

i like de orgel intermissions

Weetje its prim, maar ik zou t zelf niet opzetten. Maar ook niet afzetten 🧣

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.

Nice

-girls and boys -Parklife

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

Solid enough album. A good 3/5. But didn't do anything too exciting, and seemed like a bit of a slog toward the end. Solid Britpop, not much else to say.

The very definition of mid in my opinion. A few stand out moments, but mostly average tracks, most of which I found pretty forgettable. Was ready for it to be over by the end. 2.5 ->2

3.7 2x

Blur is always a tricky one for me. I don't like Britpop really at all, but there's something about Blur that's so charming. It's not all great. It's a bit hit or miss if I'll like a song or not, and I felt that the second half of the album was significantly stronger than the first part. I prefer Damon Albarn's work in Gorillaz, but his charm and character is still present in his work with Blur. While this wasn't always great, it was fun and I did enjoy it.

The happy nature of this album contrasts significantly to the grunge movement in the states that was also popular at that time, but very much conforms to the sound of other British rock bands also prevalent in the early 90’s. A very solid album. Highlights: End of a century, title track, boys &girls

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

They flip the pages of the book and have a go at every style they see, but it ranges from upbeat-rocky tracks to eclectic-novelty tracks that are mostly all there for a moment of fun, not really anything that would stick with me outside of the album listening experience and saying "those lads sure are kooky for that one"

Very nineties sounds. We liked the album because it had variety, some surprising songs and was well composed. Music was not our preferred genre.

On first listen I really didn't like any of the first half of this album, something about the instrumentals just really bothered me. Then the second half was a lot nicer to the ear so I tried the first half again and noticed it was quite decent, it definitely is growing on me

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

Good album, nothing too crazy though, probably wouldn't listen fully again, the few songs I did like were alright

Boring

I kind of like this album, but this wasn’t really what I felt like listening to this morning.

Came here for the yanks moaning about brit-pop, never disappointed.

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

I found this album very uneven. The forays into punk and polka were not my thing but there are some great pop/rock songs on here. In my opinion this eclecticism worked for Damon Albarn much better on the Gorillaz albums than this one.

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.

I don’t connect with Blur this side of their self-titled album, but a handful of Parklife songs are among their best (This is a Low, To the End, End of a Century) and point towards the band that Blur eventually settles into. These earlier Blur albums sound like a band influenced more by the whimsical Beatles songs than the more serious/thoughtful ones. As awhole, there’s more here that annoys me than delights me, even if they're pretty well written and performed and beloved "across the pond".

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

It's fine, is it really a landmark album? Eh

Kind of sometimes kind of not, in the middle, I think I'm missing something Will I listen to again: 75%

There's only so much la la la and whoo whoo whoo one can take.

Meh

Not much to say about this one. Mixed responses to the tracks. Some of them I enjoyed very much, others came across as noise. It's very British.

Like Oasis but with more calories. I don't know if Blur still sells out arenas but perhaps they should. Maybe too British, in the grand tradition of bands who never really translated over the pond. See also: The Jam, The Smiths

Don't get the need for 3 Blur albums. There's a couple outstanding tracks, the rest is meh.

Didn't finish but liked what I listened to

I only liked one song.

Yeah this is my first perfect score. I’ve always really liked this album but with this listen I realized there’s really not a single moment where I’m ever bored or not in slight awe of what they’re doing with these tracks. Girls & Boys is one of the greatest rock singles of the decade honestly. Entire band on point, but I’m most in love with Graham Coxon’s playing on this album, so off kilter and choppy but it works perfectly, almost post-punk at points. I still haven’t even heard any other Blur album lol, maybe I should get on that.

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)

🤮

Was a big fan at the time of this album's release in the mid 90s as a preteen, had a resurgence some 12 years later in my 20s and now in my 40s my own teenage son is discovering a love of Blur. Been a while since I listened in full, but beyond the obvious hits there are some absolute gems of album tracks like London Loves, Trouble in the Message Centre and This is a Low. Full 5 stars from me

Fun and catchy BritPop that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Easy math: 4stars for being good, averaged with 2stars for being yet another britpop, and it’s a 3star album.

"If you've read some of my other reviews on brit pop bands you will know that this is the best Blur album of all time, hands down, no arguments no fighting me on this, just accept that you know deep down this is the best Blur album of all time." In my opinion, this is the best, most accurate summation/review. I can not do better than this...way to go, mate.

If you've read some of my other reviews on brit pop bands you will know that this is the best Blur album of all time, hands down, no arguments no fighting me on this, just accept that you know deep down this is the best Blur album of all time.

90s rock. ok

3.5

Fun, but maybe I should give it a few more listens to have it shine.

I get why people like this, but it’s not something I’ll be coming back to.

Probably Blur's best - Modern Life is Rubbish is close - and possibly the peak of Britpop. This is a very British album, with all kinds of references to culture and places. But unlike certain songs by The Kinks that celebrate the country, it's not cloying or overly sentimental, it's just charming. And unlike music from a certain other (inferior) Britpop group, it's proper pop music. It's got hooks, like on the opening track. It's got lovely melodies; my favorite might be "Clover over Dover." And the entire thing feels fun and effortless. There are some weak tracks, especially in the middle, and it could be about 10 minutes shorter. But it's always charming to listen to and doesn't feel dated despite being a very 90s album

Learned that I'm not really a big fan of Britpop after this album and the previous one I had from The Jam. Bank Holiday was a good listen but nothing else really hooked me on here.

Expected to enjoy it more than I did. Maybe leans a bit too much into the pop of britpop. A few great songs, but too much forgettable filler.

Run of the mill Britrock.

4.2 Had its highs but also a lot of mid.

When it comes to 90s Britpop, this is probably my favorite album. It’s just a fun, lighthearted listen that captures the upbeat spirit of the time. There’s a lot of variety on here, some songs have orchestral arrangements, others lean into dance rock, but the whole album feels consistent and cohesive from start to finish. It’s just a great blend of different styles while still keeping that classic Britpop sound.

I liked it a lot more on a second listen. It sounds very 90s, but I like the variety of influences and vibes across the track list. None of the songs really stood out enough to want to put them on a playlist but it was an enjoyable listen.

Tempted to do five. Almost perfect example of Britpop.

Peak Britpop. Distinct Sgt. Pepper vibes.

It's hard to listen to this objectively as it's been part of my life since it came out. I've been a fan of Blur since Modern Life is Rubbish, their best record in my view; I was lucky enough to see them touring the university circuit when Parklife came out, just before it launched them into the stratosphere. They were always a great live band, and this is a great, fun, pop record, bursting with Kinks-esque songwriting, wonderful tunes and just enough quirky twists and turns to keep it interesting, even after all these years.

I think Modern Life is Rubbish is my favourite Blur album but I still think this is really, really good. Pop music with something to say, a bit of variety (not like that other five-letter band). Enormous amounts of fun, interesting lyrics, musical twists. Even though at the time I dearly wanted to escape Boys and Girls, that is still a great pop single. Deservedly on this list and I do listen, and will listen, again.

Some of these songs were hittin

Having started college in 1990, the music of this decade is the soundtrack of my young adult life. I was very aware of (and like) the singles from this album, but at that time I was MUCH more focused on music coming out of the US and had never listened to the album. I can't believe I've been missing out for the last 30+ years. I think the album is amazing. There's a good bit of weirdness and some musical experimentation (that probably breadrumbs Damon Albarn's musical future), I love the ways it captures 90s British life (Blur turns out to be the Kinks to Oasis' Beatles!), and there's always a great alt pop sensibility throughout. Fantastic listen - one I'll actually go back to.

What were the Brits doing in the 90s man? I've never been a huge fan of Blur, in fairness I've never really given them a fair shake, but upon listening to this album it cemented my distaste for them. I just don't get it. Sure, Parklife is out there and does some cool things; found myself bopping along to To the End and Girls & Boys, but overall the album just kinda went in one ear and out the other. Maybe with repeated listens it would grow on me, but something about the sound they're going for here feels very ignorable and stale. Banger album art though.

This was the opposite of strangers. I was expecting to like it more. However I found, while still good, it was a bit lackluster

Algo me diz que vou ficar obcecado por este.

Very underwhelming....I don't understand it.

so musically fun and interesting and awesome

Blur are very British. I think this is the main thing holding me back from loving them, along with a number of other artists. Some British artists wear their culture on their sleeves, and I can feel like an outsider looking in. I enjoy their music, but I don't deeply connect with it. It feels as though it wasn't made with me in mind. I get the sense that this music contains dozens of nostalgia triggers that would get pressed if you had grown up in England: music your grandparents listened to, old TV theme songs, character types from the neighborhood, and just a general English sensibility, along with any number of other cultural references that go over my head. If you grew up in England, you would get all the jokes and winks and nods. But as an American born shortly before this album came out, I'll always be a step behind. The other day, we had a different Damon Albarn album on this list -- The Good, The Bad & The Queen -- and I noted that they sounded like The Kinks. Blur sounds like The Kinks too. I like The Kinks a lot, and they're definitely very British, but there's something about the songwriting on most of their albums that transcends culture and lands that emotional connection for me. Sometimes it's here on "Parklife," sometimes it's not. A lot of Damon Albarn projects have one or two major standout tracks, and then a lot of forgettable songs. "Girls & Boys" is the standout here. Great song. It really captures a fun, youthful, and horny energy. There’s an impressive mix of styles on this album. There’s a lot here. I’m impressed, even if I’m not totally wow’ed. Incredible album cover though. I’ve wanted to listen to this album for years because I saw the album cover and thought, “That must be a great album.”

I like Blur but this one caught me at a bad time I think. The first two songs I found kind of annoying with how they take the song title of each and say it constantly throughout each song. It felt like I had heard "Tracy Jacks" a good five hundred times by the time the song was over. I think it might just be a tinge more punk than I was wanting and that led me to be. Ok, by the time it gets about halfway in it redeems itself a bit for me, it's more dynamic and actually kind of "chamber pop-y"? It's nice! Overall though this one needs more listens from me before I think I would enjoy it. Really great album cover. I love the motion and energy in it.

7/10

Yeaahh

**In-Depth Review of *Parklife* by Blur: Lyrics, Music, Production, Themes, Influence, and Pros & Cons** Released in April 1994, *Parklife* is the third studio album by Blur and one of the definitive records of the Britpop era. More than just a genre milestone, it’s a vivid, satirical, and often poignant snapshot of mid-90s British life. Here’s a deep dive into what makes *Parklife* a classic—and where it falters. --- ### 🎤 **Lyrics: Satire, Storytelling & Social Commentary** Damon Albarn’s lyrics on *Parklife* are a masterclass in character-driven storytelling and cultural satire. Drawing inspiration from British kitchen-sink dramas and the everyday absurdities of modern life, Albarn paints a gallery of fictional yet familiar characters: - **"Tracy Jacks"** follows a middle-aged civil servant who snaps under the weight of suburban monotony, ending in nudity and bulldozers. - **"End of a Century"** captures the quiet despair of a couple numbed by television and routine. - **"Magic America"** satirizes British idealization of American consumer culture. The lyrics often walk a fine line between affection and mockery, using **third-person narratives** to explore **class, consumerism, and ennui**. The use of **Cockney vernacular** and British idioms gives the album a distinctly local flavor, helping to define Britpop’s obsession with national identity . --- ### 🎸 **Music: Eclectic, Energetic & Genre-Blending** Musically, *Parklife* is a kaleidoscope of styles. Blur fuses **punk, new wave, music hall, synthpop, and even orchestral balladry**, often within the same album: - **"Girls & Boys"** is a dancefloor-ready track with a Eurodisco bassline and biting social commentary on hedonistic holiday culture. - **"Bank Holiday"** is a 90-second punk burst of energy. - **"To the End"** is a lush, cinematic ballad featuring French vocals from Lætitia Sadier of Stereolab. - **"Far Out"**, sung by bassist Alex James, is a whimsical, Syd Barrett-esque ode to astronomy. This eclecticism is one of *Parklife*’s greatest strengths, showcasing the band’s versatility and refusal to be pigeonholed . --- ### 🎧 **Production: Polished Yet Playful** Produced primarily by **Stephen Street**, *Parklife* strikes a balance between **polished pop sheen** and **quirky experimentation**. Street’s production allows each instrument to shine—whether it’s Graham Coxon’s jagged guitar lines, Alex James’ melodic bass, or the band’s clever use of synths and sound effects. The album’s **sonic clarity** and **dynamic range** help elevate even the more whimsical tracks like **"The Debt Collector"** and **"Lot 105"**, which might otherwise feel like filler . --- ### 🧠 **Themes: British Identity, Class, and Modern Malaise** At its core, *Parklife* is a concept album about **British identity in the 1990s**. It critiques and celebrates the mundane: council estates, Sunday rituals, package holidays, and the illusion of the American Dream. The album captures a nation in transition—**post-Thatcher, pre-internet**, grappling with consumerism, media saturation, and social stagnation. There’s a **theatrical quality** to the album, with characters and vignettes that feel like scenes from a play. This theatricality is amplified by **Phil Daniels’** spoken-word performance on the title track, which became iconic in its own right . --- ### 🌍 **Influence: Defining Britpop and Beyond** *Parklife* was a **cultural earthquake**. It helped cement Britpop as a mainstream movement, positioning Blur as the thinking person’s alternative to Oasis’ working-class swagger. The album’s **ironic wit**, **musical diversity**, and **British-centric themes** influenced countless bands, from Pulp to Arctic Monkeys. It also marked a turning point for Blur themselves, giving them the confidence to evolve. While later albums like *13* and *Think Tank* ventured into more experimental territory, *Parklife* remains the band’s **commercial and creative apex** in the eyes of many . --- ### ✅ **Pros of *Parklife*** - **Brilliant songwriting**: Sharp, funny, and emotionally resonant lyrics. - **Musical diversity**: A genre-hopping journey that keeps listeners engaged. - **Cultural impact**: Defined a generation and helped shape Britpop. - **Strong production**: Clean, creative, and full of character. - **Memorable characters and stories**: Adds literary depth to the album. --- ### ❌ **Cons of *Parklife*** - **Mockney affectations**: Some critics argue the band’s adoption of working-class accents and themes feels **affected or performative** . - **Uneven pacing**: Tracks like **"The Debt Collector"** and **"Lot 105"**, while charming, can feel like filler. - **Over-saturation**: Its immense popularity has led to **backlash** and **overexposure**, especially in the UK. - **Lyrical vagueness**: While clever, some lyrics **skim the surface** of deeper issues without fully engaging . --- ### 🏁 **Final Verdict** *Parklife* is a **landmark album** that captures a moment in time with humor, heart, and musical brilliance. It’s not without its flaws—some tracks feel like sketches, and its cultural ubiquity has dulled its edge for some listeners. But as a **time capsule of 90s Britain**, a **masterclass in pop songwriting**, and a **bold artistic statement**, it remains essential. Whether you see it as a **conceptual triumph** or a **cleverly packaged product**, *Parklife* is undeniably one of the most important British albums of the 1990s—and still sounds fresh decades on. --- **Standout Tracks**: - *Girls & Boys* - *Parklife* - *End of a Century* - *To the End* - *This Is a Low* - *Tracy Jacks* **For Fans Of**: Pulp, Suede, The Kinks, Arctic Monkeys, The Smiths

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

Fun fact: at 1:32 in the video for Girls & Boys a young Simon (aka The Red Wiggle) can be seen having a good time ON HOLIDAY

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

Some quirky songs

This is a monument to 90s Brit Pop and a pivotal album for Blur. I love this album and I love Blur. They were key to defining the sound and an era of music that inspired other genres. You aren't obliged to like it, people gonna hate regardless, I don't care.

It was good. I knew Girls & Boys and Parklife. Very British which I liked

Always had a low tolerance for "Britpop" back in the day. Still do. Ok in small doses, but an album end-to-end? Not for me, thanks. Tiresome.

Seriously, this list has more than one Blur album?

Parklife is my favorite Blur album. It is also, to date, the only Blur album I have listened to. Equal parts jaunty and melancholic, with a nod to the sixties, Parklife is a fine entry in the annals of Britpop.

ah okay, NOW i've reached the point where i can clearly see (or rather, hear) what this britpop divide is all about - this is the first blur album i've listened to in it's entirety (yes i do know and like gorillaz, yes i did know this is what damon albarn did before all that). unfortunate for me i've watched a video essay or two (plug for trash theory on youtube!! go watch his stuff!!) and have some background context on blur and this album in particular, as i think that gives this album a bit more weight (or, to be germane: a bit more bite) for me in addition to just being a solid album. still, to think about the music itself, i had no problem listening to this on repeat for a few days getting through the holidays and just needing SOMETHING to listen to in the background. now that i'm back to pass judgement, it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation for me: do i like this album because i listened to it on repeat and got familiar with it, or do i like this album because it's good enough to put on repeat without complaints? it's a little bit of both at this point, which puts the album at a solid 5 for me even though on first pass it was probably more like a 4. looking forward to listening to the other blur and britpop albums on 1001 and comparing notes!! random tangent: the jovial thematic asides in the debt collector and to the end reminded me of kingdom hearts (traverse town and twilight town themes, notably) which REALLY hooked me on the more subdued moments of parklife. so on totally arbitrary and personal metrics parklife has nostalgic pull on me despite this being the first time i've ever listened to it!! highlights - girls & boys, end of a century, parklife, badhead, the debt collector, far out, to the end, london loves, trouble in the message centre

I would have leaned more to the side of Blur being a gay band had I heard this album first . It’s not as hard and to the point as the Song 2 album. Side note: Blur and Damon Alburn to that fact have been one of the few British bands/ people that don’t hide their accent in their songs. Sometimes is surprising when you find out a band is British because they sing so normally. Anyways I don’t think I will ever give a Damon Alburn project 5 stars. It just lacks a little extra something. And this album seems to lack direction. I can see why they would get signed, even if it were based on a demo of this album. But it just lacks a little more of something. It could be that the energy of the vocals never matches the music. It’s also the other way around. I’m not impressed. Good thing I was prepared for that. Choice cut: Girls and Boys

Identity pop, fun for the moment

nothing extraordinary

This album was ok, I could listen to it but I don’t think I would ever choose it 2.5 stars

There are some amazing songs on here. And some mediocre ones.

Geht so

This album grows on you even if I don't really like Blur much at all

Classic throw back for the UK in the 90s A real journey for me. Have it on CD in my car for a BB ad drive hole

miss when British people sang in British accents, let’s bring that back

When it comes to 90s Britpop, this is probably my favorite album. It’s just a fun, lighthearted listen that captures the upbeat spirit of the time. There’s a lot of variety on here, some songs have orchestral arrangements, others lean into dance rock, but the whole album feels consistent and cohesive from start to finish. It’s just a great blend of different styles while still keeping that classic Britpop sound.

I remember first listening to this album after the sensation of "Song 2" when I went through the Blur back catalogue. "End of the Century" and "Girls and Boys" both caught my ear. I've had this album in my rotation ever since, "Girls and Boys" being the track I probably hear most often. I had been out of touch with music for a while so had missed the Brit Pop trend of the early 90s until being introduced to this album. I preferred Blur to Oasis as more direct successors to The Housemartins.

Oasis won.

Very British The Debt Collector sounds like carnival music (good) VERY British

Decent Rock

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.

Some good ones, similar sound to other brit bands of the time.

Blur is a band I feel like I’m supposed to like. But I just don’t. They are certainly not bad, and I don’t dislike the is record. It just does absolutely nothing for me.

It started out fun then the debt collector sounded like straight up clown music which I hated and it kept getting weirder throughout. Overall it was fine though.

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.

Ich möchte Blur eigentlich mehr mögen und feiere ihren Expertenierwillen. Nur leider geht am Ende einiges nicht für mich auf und selbst ihre besseren Songs fallen für mich meist nur in die Kategorie "ganz gut". So verhält es sich auch hier.

This is definitely not a low.

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.

Mein liebstes Blur Album. Hier ist vorallem am Anfang eine Riesen Hitdichte und trotzdem zeigt sich, dass Blur die experimentierfreudigere und mutigere Band sind im Vergleich zu Oasis. Ganz großes Britpop Kino

The younger version of me loved it.

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.

when your only memorable song off the album is also the most annoying one

oi oi go on lads

I liked the part when they yell Blur!

Girls and Boys 4evaaaa

It gives me a sense of enormous wellbeing. Parklife!

Favorite Track: Baghead

Not my favourite Blur album by a long shot.

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.

Objectively, this album is probably 4/5. But for me, this was one of the albums that helped me get into alternative rock sound that is undoubtedly my favorite. I've always much preferred Albarn in Blur as opposed to Gorillaz. Cant say the same about ALLLLLLLLLLL THE PEOPLLLLLLLLLLE. But this is a 5/5 for me.

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

Fine album, catchy at times. Felt longer than it was. 3/5

Surprisingly fun listen.

What am I missing here? All of the accolades I read about this album - best album of the 90’s, the definitive Britpop album, etc. - I was expecting so much more and it was so mediocre. Don’t know why they’re so popular. I’d rather listen to Oasis.

WTF did I just listen to?? (Just about) Every song is a collection of random thoughts that don’t seem to have a single common thread or theme worth giving a crap about. And I normally dig a fine English accent but for some reason it didn’t help this album at all (Parklife was God awful and Bank Holiday might be the dumbest sh*t I’ve ever heard). This album/band should be removed from the interweb. And it looks like I made it to the end…finally.

I had a tinge of irony today when I listened to ‘Bank Holiday’ on a Bank Holiday. Unfortunately, that’s the closest I came to any sort of feeling other than complete disbelief and boredom at this pisspoor excuse of an album. The dogs on the cover are running away from a Blur live show, no doubt. This is absolutely awful, kitschy pop.

The Brits have given us many great bands, Blur doesn't appear to be one of them. I was looking forward to this one, but was left dissappointed and scratching my head. First the upside, I learned who sings boys & girls, that annoying song that worked its way into countless movie soundtracks. Not the greatest start, but mystery solved. The title track Parklife epitomizes this album for me. Lots i like about the song, good backbeat groove, snarky spoken word lyrics that flow nicely into sung chorus, and a good bit of attitude. I should love this song, but I don't. It doesnt come together for me, for everything they did right there is something wrong. It's missing something, actually, it's missing a few things but I cant put my finger on what they are. I didn't like or dislike anything about this album. It just seemed off. I was hoping this would be a great find, but it's not. It's okay at best. The Brits love Blur so I'm certain there will be another album, fingers crossed that will be better.

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

Ikke favoritt. Helt ok

Not a bad album and certainly more than just the hits. A few different genres which I wasn't expecting too.

Not bad. A couple I liked. 3/5.

It's a fun pop album with some good songs. Yet it is two unfocused and you could really tighten this album by cutting a fair amount of songs. Really could probably closer to a 3 1/2 tbh

Sounded punk to me at first listen but upon further inspection it is technically Britpop. I just let Modern Life is Rubbish play after this and got through like most of that because I couldn’t get away from Blur’s sound. Parklkfe is an awesome album with attitude.

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).

sorry brandon. even blur can't make me tolerate british people. also the title track fucking sucks. (that said, this album is fun and energetic, and yeah, fine, i love damon albarn, especially because he talked shit about t swift a few years ago and that made me kinetically sexually attracted to him)

This is the most br*tish thing I think I've ever heard. But I had quite a bit of fun with it. This may come as a surprise to everyone when I, an American, have never listened to Blur outside of Song 2. I know, I know hold your questions. Some more well-rounded people have been waiting for this one and I cannot lie, I think I understand why. Parklife was an absolute hoot. Lot 105 was a very fun album closer. My biggest gripe is that Trouble in the Message Centre spells center all fucky. I do not know that much about Damon Albarn. I'd kinda prefer it that way because every time I do hear about him he seems somehow more br*tish or like more of an asshole (read br*tish). He said something about Taylor Swift "not writing her own music" which caused some online drama I suppose. I'm neither here nor there on it, but what does my opinion matter I'm just a white guy? Any-who, this album was a great time and I feel better having listened to it. I've thrown it on more than I normally throw on the albums of the day and I'll probably throw it on in the future, so it's getting an a-okay from me. Dips and Dive/5 (that's a little Cockney Slang for you, Erik (I'll appropriate redcoat culture all I want they deserve it))

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'm admittedly a Damon Albarn hater, and it's nice to know that the Oasis bros share my opinion of him. That being said, I like Blur regardless of Damon's involvement. I discovered them backwards when they reunited for 'The Magic Whip' in 2015. I think I heard 'Leisure' next, then 'Parklife,' my least favorite of the three. I appreciate the concept behind the album and enjoy some songs, but there are also some complete misses for me. The title track sounds like a song that plays at the end of a Bob's Burgers episode. "End of a Century" absolutely rips.

I wish it had more of a distinctive quality to it. It’s fine, just could use something to make it memorable.

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.

Some solid, whimsical, sarcastic rock. More albums should have an interlude of old timey carnival music

I listened to Parklife a few times in college, getting into the headspace of young brit punks as I wrote a thinly-veiled ripoff of Trainspotting. Blur was also often just a few lines of lineage back from all the UK EDM sounds that were starting to invade the states. I couldn't get past the blandness back then. Needed the spice of the drum & bass remix. The Gorillaz Blur aint. Now years of banal adulthood have worn away my youthful predilections. I eat plain rice and beans every day and I have the patience of an old oak tree. It's still pretty bland. End of Century, Parklife, and Badhead are good. I can see liking Magic America. It all probably hits better in the UK, I'm sure. But it's gonna be a 2 from a 'murican who wasn't there.

I think if I gave this album a few more listens it might grow on me? Is there something there? It’s definitely in the area of what I like I just don’t know if I like this yet?

I experienced the Brit Pop wars more through criticisms and Wikipedia entries than studied listens of Oasis and Blur. Maybe it’s my love for Radiohead. They’re the undisputed kings of any modern music from Britain. But I always sided with Blur because I like Gorillaz and think the Gallagher brothers are cunts. I’ve seen Noel. He was a massive prick. Great tunes, but actively shitting on the crowd in between. I’m sure Damon is an arrogant guy but people seem to love working with him so maybe not. But this isn’t an oasis review, this is a Parklife review. This album feels mad British. It’s meant for those ears, not mine. It’s solid though. I love the titular track. Dont always love the rapping bits on the album. It feels like each of these songs has something to it that I really like coupled with things I really don’t care for. (Ex. I love the intro to Teouble in a Message Center, I dig the backing vox in the chorus. Don’t care for the verse vox.) Girls and Boys is a bit of good fun. I feel like I hear The Specials and their Muzak sensibilities, I think they borrow from the club scene with their drum work and the danceabikity This actually ended up being a double listen. It’s definitely growing on me. The first half of this album has some fun stuff. End of a Centruy has some good ballad vibes. Badhead is so fucking good. A follow up with Debt Collector and Far Out is certainly a choice. My first thought was “this must be some British shit I don’t understand” which is probably correct and my follow up though was “o it’s Damon Albarn, he just loves to make sounds.” And I dig that when I view it through that lense. I mean, I still don’t like the music but I like the spirit. I thibk this album worked its way from a 2 to a very solid 3.

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

Solid stuff with lowering quality when album reached its end. I started to feel repetation in songs but rather good feeling continued throughout album

I’ve always been more Blur-boy than Oasis-boy back in the day — still am, really. But this album was about 50% too long. First half was good.

I've always been more of a Oasis guy, while Blur was fine and good, it didn't really pick me up. This album has too much still moments, while the good songs are really good, the slow stuff takes all of the momentum away.

Well, well here's yet another post-punk Britpop album that sounds exactly like all the others. Sleepy go night-night. Influence 2. Hits 2. Quality 3. Intangibles 2. I do not like boring post-punk Britpop, but if I must choose one, I guess it would be Blur. 3.

One of the classics from the Britpop era. Lots of hit singles on this one, along with some equally great album tracks. Trouble in the Message Centre is my favourite Blur song. And I’d argue that This is a Low is Blur’s best song overall (and maybe Damon’s best vocal). I’ve always been impressed by how unconventional Graham Coxon’s guitar work was throughout all of Blur’s discography, even on their more acclaimed albums like this one. Along with albums from a handful of other bands, this helped define the 90s in Britain.

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

Ok, so I was dreading a Britpop album which I knew this list has plenty, but this is actually much better than I expected, not half bad. Will probably give it 3 stars, cannot see going above that because it's a bit boring to me still. Album opener really stands out to me "Girls & Boys" and it reminds me of Bowie style which is a good thing. Skipped quite a few tracks on 2nd listening and couldn't get to listen for the 3rd time so no more than 3.

1, 3, 6

not bad, but didn't do anything for me

Okay

Super

Hmmmmm gad vide hvordan det er 🙀🙀🙀🙀

Slet slet ik fan :))))!!!

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.

Parklife

Day670 - i’ve had a few tom waits albums albums and now i’m a tom waits fan. this is my third blue album and now i hate blur

There’s a few hits in here, but much like other Blur or Gorilla albums, I can’t fully get into them. Specially Blur.

I don't find this very compelling, but it's ok.