Reviews (page 10 of 13)
Quirky and very British and 90's. Song 2 is ok, but very much overplayed. Lyrically quite strong but I think Leisure is a much better album.
i feel like. there's some songs on here i realized i Really enjoy... i've listened to this album before but never that attentively and i feel like the reason is because the back half starts to kinda drag. the good parts are great, but the rest of it kinda ... well... blurs together... into a low-fi drone with a british guy saying something to me. and that's okay.
The album starts off promising with some energetic songs including that, Song 2, which I didn't realize was by Blur. You hear that song at pretty much every sporting event as a way of pumping up fans and it's a good solid song. I must admit beyond the first handful of songs, it becomes a blur (sorry!) and loses it's stream towards the end and was a bit of a struggle to get through. Otherwise, a decent listen and apart from a few songs I probably won't be spinning this often.
Unlike the famous Father Ted sketch... I've always liked Blur and Oaisis. I really liked a lot of the guitar work on this album, it was a bit less of a brit pop endeavour for Blur... but it didn't really pull it off for me, so I found this album very middle of the road, nothing stand out.
Song 2 is an all timer but the rest of the album is ok
My mates who did albums were all Team Oasis. The first two tracks are pretty stella hits. I don't think I've ever heard the rest of the album. And I quite like Blur. It's feels a lot more Coxon. It's fuzzier and grimier than you'd expect.
I have to revisit this
1. Beetlebum - instantly forgettable. 2. Song 2. Yeah! Classic quiet-loud grunge format, nonsense lyrics, all about the vibe, too short and classic because of that. 3. Country Sad Ballad Man. Slow string scrape at the beginning reminiscent of a front porch hammock. Silly falsetto vocal amusing. Goes to a very silly place. Fun. 4. M.O.R. Call and harmony response - nice bit of borrowing from Beach Boys/Motown/Do-wap. Good dance track. 5. On Your Own. Filler. 6. Theme from Retro - half-baked idea, could be a song one day. 7. You're So Great. Acoustic cardigan-swinger that goes heavy, nice. 8. Death of a Party - can hear Gorillaz coming in this one. 9. Chinese Bombs - BOSH! Proper punk track. 10. I'm Just a Killer for your Love. I'm a sucker for this head-nodding, foot tapping tempo. Not a fan of the one-note bass in this track. Nice bit of wah in the interlude. 11. Look Inside America. reminiscent of House in the Country. 12. Strange News from Another Star. Nice vibe, bit Bowie - Cold-War Generation blues. 13. Movin' On.Good ol' Rock track - could be Stones. Funky ending. 14. Essex Dogs. Artsy Fartsy. Soundtrack track - not an album track. Filler. Faves: 2, 7 & 12. I'll give it a 3, but I mean 3.5
Not sure why this one passed me by at the time. Interesting change in direction. Knew the hits off this album already (are all Blur hits the ones where they are sarcastic or a comedy take on another genre of song) but the rest is a good mix of Pavement inspired sound mixed with Albarn’s interesting music craft. Would go back to and listen again.
Oh hey its that gorillaz guy
Hmmmm questionable. Bit too much for me. definitely not my style oops. Some songs are okay but medium. Most bearable song: Theme From the Retro
It was okay. Beetlebum was kinda interesting, Song no 2. Is a song you've heard everywhere before in short bursts and listening to it for a longer time is... not much better.
I surprisingly enjoyed listening to this more than I thought I would. A few interesting tracks.
The average Blur album, couple of good tunes, and a few more I instantly forgot.
Not as good as Parklife, The Great Escape or 13, but still pretty good in its own right. It has classics like Song 2 and Beetlebum, but not much else that is massively memorable.
I really wanted to enjoy this one more but all I can say is "it was ok". Solid 3 at best.
So I know that "real music fans" like Blur for all their songs other than "Song 2"...but I just can't get into them. I guess I'm basic. 2.5.
A fun rock album that would be good in most settings
I was excited for this one but found it underwhelming. Vocals are atrocious in places and he has a good voice.
3,5
Allez, faisons un petit crime de lèse-Damon Albarn : Blur c'est sympathique mais ça n'a rien d'incroyable. J'ai bien aimé /Death of the party/ et les chansons que je connais déjà, mais on n'est pas sur du showstopper.
Пацаны напердели от души 7/10
A classic, but never my favorite
Great 80s pop.
Once again, interesting to hear a classic. Otherwise, I didn't find it very interesting.
Sympa, j'aime bien la voix de Damon Albarn mais je préfère Gorillaz
I had heard really good things about this but beyond Song 2 this fell a little flat. I like the sound of it all, and it feels like they’re having fun in the studio, but it’s missing that spark.
Some good songs for an indie disco.
This could be vastly improved by sheer subtraction. I invite you to join me in considering Blur a pretty great 8 track 34 minute album, rather than than the 56 minute sprawl that it actually is. Track listing (rating 4.0): Beetlebum Country Sad Ballad Man M.O.R. On Your Own You're so Great Death of a Party Look Inside America Movin' On Actual rating: 3.4
I like Blur! But.. the tail end of this album feels very off. There are some enjoyable bits. But a lot of it is just unsettling.
I prefer the earlier more cheerful britpop albums, but this one has Song 2 and Beetlebum of course
They won the battle but lost the war. What a strange thing britpop was. Sure Noel Gallagher could write songs and Graham Coxon could on Occassion match him - song 2 is a rightful classic. And the standout on this album. They mostly evade lasting success in America and australia for that matter. But this is a good document of a time in which its first pioneers - the spice girls - are the only band which is still culturally relevant. 2.5. Rounded to 3mainly because of song 2. Maybe song 2 should knock it to 4.
Interesting that around the time this album was released, Albarn was having a drug buddy relationship with Justine Frischmann of Elastica. I was a big Elastica fan, but really thought Blur were neither here nor there. Until I heard Song 2. For me, that song was one of the highlights of the 90’s. Apart from that & the single Beetlebum/On Your Own, which spent a lot of time on my jukebox, I’d never heard this album before. It’s a decent listen (I love the Bowie-influenced Strange News From Another Star), although I don’t think it compares with the best of Oasis.
I never really understood the cult of Blur. Some great singles, but over-rated albums. It's a British thing, isn't it? Maybe you had to be doing coke in Camden in the 90s with the Britpop crew to really _get_ it. And I don't know why they have THREE albums on the 1001 list. I found the Parklife album far too Anglo-centric for this Australian listener. I just didn't get it. But the increase influence of Amercian indie rock on this next record and more immediate and aggressive production style makes it more palatable in my opinion. That said, there's not too many songs to write home about, except for Song 2, which is an absolute banger and far and away the best track they ever released. I happened to be in U.K. around the time it was released, and it was everywhere. I could immediately sense that this was a track for the ages, and bought the 7" from a record store in North London somewhere. I still keep it in my DJ crate; crowds go bananas when you play it, even to this day. I wonder if this album would be more listenable if they pared all the songs down to a fat-free 2 minutes like this track? Maybe much better than the versions here, which are typically over 4 minutes. And when they geta bit 'experimental' towards the back half of the album, I just want to jam a fork in my ear. It's aimless and not very enlightening. This is a 2.5 star album for me, and it is growing on me a bit after a few listens. it's my favourite Blur album of the three I have listened to for this project, although that the constant over praise from the British music press still annoys me. Rounded up for Song 2.
By far the most interesting of all the Blur albums. It killed off Britpop (hurrah!) and turned towards smack instead. Happy, happy, joy, joy. Damon's voice sounds great, especially on Beetlebum. I had to skip Song 2. There's only so many times you can tolerate the grunge piss take. There's some killer melodies with On Your Own. It gets dark with Death of a Party. I sniggered at Essex Dogs. Not a lot has changed.
It's ok.
First 2 songs were good, maybe 1 or 2 more. Couldn't hold my attention.
Really liked Beetleburn, did not really listen attentively to the rest of this album. Would love to revisit it at some point when I'm more in the mood for this type of rock.
Gorillaz > blur > the good the bad and the queen
An ok album not my favourite Blur offering. Look Inside America and Your So Great the outstanding tracks on the album which contains a lot of experimental pieces, which may take a couple of listens to appreciated fully?
This album was good. Their song “Song 2” is very popular. The style of their music is cool; just not necessarily my style.
3/5 close but no
song 2 still great, other songs fine
A solid collection of 90’s grunge tunes. On my side quest to get some background info on the band, I found out that this was Blur’s official departure from making mainstream-aimed pop-rock, and that really comes across in the sorta rebellious and carefree sound of the record, and how the songs jump from style to style while maintaining a roughness around the edges. The album sorta reached a lull for me around the midpoint, but the songs really pick up steam in the final stretch. I will say though that the lead singer’s voice isn’t always easy on the ears, though I guess people don’t really go to slacker rock or grunge for immaculate vocals anyway lol. Fav tracks: Beetlebum, Country Sad Ballad Man, Strange News from Another Star, Movin’ On
Song 2 is great but Damon Albarn is much better suited in Gorillaz.
Song2/5
Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it? Anyway, the second part was a tad bit better. Song 2 will be a classic always, other than that, this was all just a blur.
It's tough to rate this one. I've never been a huge Blur fan outside of their big singles, but it seemed like this was supposed to be the point where they branched out from the brit-pop sound to experiment a bit more, and you can hear that pretty clearly. It does make the album feel a bit disorganised, but also not that much of a chore to listen to even with it being nearly an hour. Only had the chance to give it one listen, but i will come back to it in the future. Feels like an album that will really benefit from more listens to let all the different ideas and sounds sink in.
Fun fact: Disney World queue lines are not the best place to attempt serious album listening. Don't worry, I came back to it later. Album #8. Unfortunately, I've never quite caught the Blur virus beyond their few ocean-crossing singles, which I will admit to loving wholeheartedly. Yes, even "Song 2". There was a chance of this completely winning me over, but it's difficult for me to holistically appreciate it outside of the context of the overall discography. Blur is a good album, but you can hear that it's an experiment, even if "Beetlebum" puts a foot confidently forward in the intended direction. Plus, it's still jarring to hear Albarn singing on a track that isn't remotely connected to Gorillaz. It's like seeing young adult photographs of one of your parents. Some moments and ideas popped out of the mix, but I'm not cultured enough to appreciate this yet.
I still have a hard time knowing the singer of Blur is the singer of The Gorillas. This album is better than I expected. Song 2 is like a fight for your right to party in that it's a hit but isn't really what the band is like. They sound way more like pulp on a few songs than I would've expected but they are contemporaries. Not a bad album, it makes me wonder if they ever did anything interesting on later albums as they grew.
This album is alright. Nothing too bad or great that stands out or is ground breaking. I'm not opposed to listening to it but I also don't think I'll be searching it out again for a relisten any time soon. Solid 3 out of 5.
Favorite Track[s]: Beetlebum Song 2 Death at a Party
The first two tracks were great; the rest was rather average.
Technically admirable, but after a while I find Albarn's schtick a bit tiresome. It feels a bit forced and try-hard for the sake of catchiness, getting duller on repeat listens rather than revealing anything more.
Just an okay album. Only a couple of songs grabbed me and it wasn’t the overplayed Song 2 which reminded me of being a kid at a school dance again. Song 2 is the only song I’d heard off this album before. Beetlebum and Death of a Party were best to me. Some interesting sounds but meh.
Blur is leuker dan ik wist
Classic Brit pop album. Some classic tracks. Some tracks Bowie would be proud to have written. Lays the blue/Damian sound that evolved and made the band instantly recognizable
2.5
55/100
First five track sound like 90s filler. Hard to get through. "Theme from Retro" thru "Death of a Party" sound like a different album. Way more interesting. You can definitely see the scaffolding for Gorillaz. This album is an incoherent mashup of very boring britpop and something much more brilliant.
Pretty mid.
Imo it will always be Blur > Oasis. Classic Blur sound, live Damon's voice and the good guitar riffs on this album. Throughout the album there is a good mix between heavy guitar riffs and slower, more emotional songs. Obviously, we can't talk about this album without acknowlodging the greatness that Blur has achieved with Song 2. Because let's be honest, everyone in the world has heard at least someone chanting that song once, it's just iconic. Anyway, it's a good album, not my most favourite of theirs, but definitely a good one Favourite songs: the punky sounds from Chinese Bombs & I'm just a killer for your love.
One thing I can certainly say in favour of this album is that it’s very eclectic and unpredictable. It doesn’t ‘do it’ for me but is clearly a highly accomplished album
Song 2 is a classic
Typical 90s rock album with a little accent.
Certainly Blur’s most interesting and eclectic album, especially sonically, with shades of electronica and hip hop added into their usual mix of (brit)rock and psychedelia. ‘Song 2’, ‘Country Sad Ballad Man’, ‘Death Of A Party’, ‘I’m Just A Killer For Your Love’, and ‘Movin’ On’ are my faves here.
While Song 2 and M.O.R are great tracks, I don't think this album would be regular rotation for me.
Wasn't a particular fan at the time. But I love the gorillaz having the same singer makes the blur stuff more accessible for me
Etwas planlos reihen sich die Songs aneinander. Blur kombiniert alles zu einem Chaos aus lärmenden Punk, langweiligen Pop, verstörender Trance und Jahrmarkt-Fiebertraum. Auch die an für sich gute, rohe Produktion, die vocals aus dem Festnetztelefon, können manche der einfallslosen Songs darunter nicht mehr retten. Der Sound der Instrumente ist von Zeit zu Zeit großartig und immer mal wieder blitzt ein interessanter Akkordwechsel auf. Trotz der vielseitigen Instrumentation (Hammondorgel, diversen elektronischen sounds, Slide Gitarren, schwere drum beats) überschreitet das Album über weite Strecken nicht die Schwelle, wirklich interessant zu werden. Viele Songs starten spannend, dümpeln aber irgendwannn nur noch vor sich hin, beispielsweise "Death of a party" oder auch "I'm just a killer for your love". Trotzdem gibt es einige memorable mentions: sad song ballad man ist mit Melodie, Chord Progression und Songstruktur der erste Interessante track, Chinese bombs lockert das träge Album mal kurz mit etwas punk auf und sorgt für Abwechslung. Auch "Look inside America" ist eine unerwartbar schöne songwriting-Achterbahnfahrt. Alles in allem ein schön abwechslungsreiches Album mit Reizüberflutung, weshalb seltsamerweise aber nicht viel hängen bleibt. Trotz mancher eingängiger Refrains, wird kein Song ein wirklicher Banger. Vielleicht wären die einzelnen Tracks auf verschiedenen Alben besser aufgehoben gewesen, wo sie stärker herausragen könnten. Eine starke 3 (3,8)
Hatte bei so einem abgekultetem Album mehr erwartet…? Sounds fand ich durchgehen zu schraddelig-Bandkeller mäßig, aber nicht auf ne dezidiert noisy Art. Songs haben mich auch nicht beeindruckt, hab mir zumindest nichts davon gemerkt, lief so durch.
Einzelne Lichtblicke gepaart mit belangloser Edgyness. Hat sich auf eine Weise sehr unreif angefühlt und vermisste trotzdem die ungefilterte Brutalität der Jugend. Hatte das starke Bedürfnis zu sagen "Bro du bist 30". Am Ende hat Essex dogs für mich das Album total gerettet, weil es viel aufrichtiger wirkt. Die Edgyness ist nicht so aufgesetzt. Hat mich so überzeugt, dass ich eine 2. Chance gegeben habe. Dann konnte ich etwas besser damit connected.
I can see Blur starting to branch out from the Britpop sound with more experimentation, eventually culminating in the Gorillaz sound. Some songs are not catchy but I respect the effort. Outside of the obvious big singles, I enjoyed Death of a Party
Solid three as this is my childhood sing star track - 'song 2'
Not interested in this music.
Beetlebum and Song 2 are fantastic songs but the rest (forgive me) blurs into a rolling soundscape with not very many highlights. I kind of liked I’m just a killer for your love even though it’s lyrically nonsensical. This album starts off with a bang and ends on a whimper.
I enjoyed this. Can't recall what I rated other Blur albums we've listened to but this one sparked nice memories of catching a song like Song 2 on the radio or at a party and how good that felt. Country Sad Ballad Man, M.O.R., Moving' On .... all just brought me back to a simpler time when the biggest question of the day was where am I meeting Jen after work.
Goid
Apart from the massive "Song 2" - woo-hoo! - and the hit single "Beetlebum", I wasn't overly impressed with this album and found some of the tracks a bit of a dirge.
I remember being 17 and working in Pizza Hut and wanting to treat myself to a new album. At the time, I loved Song 2 but hadn’t heard much else so I bought the album to listen as a whole. As a stinky teen, I was disappointed by the album, but then years later I listened again and enjoyed it. So who knows what I’ll think today? Songs I already knew: all of them Favourites: Song 2, Beetlebum, M.O.R. I enjoyed this, but I do see why I felt disappointed in my younger years. This album starts strong and finishes strong, but the middle is notably weaker. I enjoyed most songs, but there are definitely some skippable ones (I’m looking at you, You’re So Great). I’m still a much bigger fan of Damon’s side hustle Gorillaz, but this was still overall a good listen.
4/14, 29%
Classic, but not really nice 😅3*
I definitely preferred this to Park Life and the more Britpop stuff I’ve heard from Blur. Did kind of just make me want to listen to Pavement, but Song 2 and Strange News From Another Star were quite good.
Hoge hoogtepunten, maar het lukt me niet om hem in een keer door te luisteren
'Song 2' came out the year I was born and other than 'Parklife' and 'Girls and Boys', I didn't know any other songs by Blur. They have such a variety of sounds. Loved opening song 'beetlebum'. 'You're so great' was really feel good, lyrics were so catchy. Psychedelic at some points like in 'Strange news from another star'. The singer sounds a lot like the vocalist in the Gorillaz.
not only woohoo
Love Blur, but this album as a whole is pretty weak
Song 2 is one of those songs that Lisa and I always sing but never remember who sang it so I'm glad it finally popped up for confirmation. We were just trying to find it the other day. Blur is one of the few UK bands I hadn't heard before that I'm learning to like. I enjoyed Parklife and in real life, they just released a new album last week I think so they are still kicking.
Album 119 of 1001 Blur - Blur Rating : 3 / 5 Favorite Track : Song 2 Has that 90s sounds, for sure. Was quite familiar with Song 2 from the radio and also from commercials, I believe. Good album. Sounds like a lot of others from the time. Some good tunes but none quite as strong as their big hit. Worth a listen but nothing to write home about.
Decent brit pop! Not a song on here that I'm like "wow gotta add to the daily rotation", but that's show biz
Enjoy Song 2, but the rest was a blur.
Wasn't previously familiar and enjoyed it!
I only knew Song 2 from this band, but I've heard they were the 90's Beatles. So I had my hopes up a little too much. Only the first track sounded Beatle-like to me, and the sort of throwaway Song 2 was the best track. The rest was either kind of boring or heavily distorted. All in all, it was average.
Song 2 awesome couldn’t get through the rest
For me there is no Blur album that I enjoy from beginning to end. There are some decent songs on this one but the style jumps all over the place and I feel like a few songs could’ve been cut. The album is a mixed bag and doesn’t feel like a ‘journey’. I like Graham Coxon’s tracks but they might’ve been more suited to a solo album. It feels like they just threw everything into this and it is a mixed bag. I do really like what each member brings to the band, I’ve always liked Albarn’s vocals and the guitar and bass tone is really satisfying. I think James is an underrated bass player and I enjoyed his work on this album.
Very fond of Song 2🤟
A quirky and interesting album with one known song, it was ok for me but not likely to listen again.
This is about the same as their Parklife record I listened to on this list as my first album. It's solid British alternative rock for that time, only this one has the catchy Song 2 on it everybody knows. I did like anthem quality of On Your Own, that one was a favorite.
Yep, een Britpop stem. Er zijn veel ergere voorbeelden. En vaak matcht het ook wel met de muziek. Vooruit, drie sterren.
Battle of the Britpop, deel zoveel. Zoals gezegd ben ik meer van het recht voor je raap geluid van Oasis. Blur is wat te artsy fartsy af en toe, maar dit album verrast me toch weer positief, net als eerder dat album met die trein erop. Het rockt voldoende om niet teveel dat zeikerige Britpoep te zijn. Dat gezegd hebbende, kan ik na 2x luisteren alleen die 1e 2 nrs opnoemen. Dus het beklijft te weinig voor 4 sterren
Song 2 - Banger woohoo (4) Death of a Party - Decent (3) Everything else meh (1.5-2.5)
I was listening to this while working, so I wasn't being super intentional about the music. Overall I didn't hate this album, but I don't think I particularly liked it. I definitely heard the British roots and liked the rock-ish aspect of it, although it did feel a bit muted overall. I found it very interesting that there was so much drama around the mastering of this album; I expected to be blown away by some unique sound, but I don't think it was really there for me. Maybe it was more influential when some of those sounds/techniques were less common, but I don't know enough about the subject.
Album #: 192 first impressions: Yeah, I know this band. Song 2 is a certified banger. The rest of this ranges wildly from sounding like a less fun version of that song to basically unlistenable 90's crunchy guitar noises w chaotic drums and extremely disaffected vocals. after listening through: There were a few catchy songs. I can see how this is an album emblematic of the 90's. post-reading reviews/wiki: I always forget Damon Albarn did blur before Gorillaz. It's weird bc I really enjoy Gorillaz usually...I guess he really shines when he's out of that 5-piece rock band kind of mold. Even though a lot of the reviews praise Blur's versatility, it just feels directionless in a lot of spots on this album. relisten?: probably not, other than song 2 ofc, and maybe Beetlebum (which is like a 90's-ified 70's singer/songwriter vibe) & M.O.R.
I enjoyed this Blur record a lot more than the last one I got. I could tell they were moving more towards an indie-rock sound than their previous britpop sound. Of course everyone knows them for “song 2” but there’s a lot more cool songs on here.
Eh. 3 stars.
Just because you have found a new, well-polished sound, doesn't mean you can just be patting yourself on the back for an hour. All of the intrigue of their earlier albums is gone in favour of something reliable, and totally serviceable, but mostly just knockoff Pavement. If the book wanted something from the art rock era of Blur, they should've went with the album 13, which does something purposeful and innovative with the change in style.
Three stars good but nothing special
I enjoyed this album.
as a fan of blur, this isn't my favourite but not a bad album either
OK album, not exceptional and a little too noisy from time to time.
Ok, not really that special. Didn't mind at all when my playlist started when it finished
Listened to this album 3 times now and forgot about it every time. Therefore 3 stars.
Not as good as Parklife!
The album is fine, but nothing to write home about. Seems like a filler album for this list to pad out getting to the 1,001 number.
Seeping with britpop charm this is an album full of really good songs but only a few truly excellent ones. This album was more important for what it became than what it was at the time. It still sounds pretty good in the modern time as well.
Get rid of the last 15 minutes from the album and I think it's a solid 3. I'll still give it the benefit of the doubt because of the very strong start and some gems scattered in between, but a disappointment overall. Came in with high expectations and left feeling underwhelmed.
A few classics. A lot of dross.
Obviously some bangers, but i think they have some stronger albums
I do not know anything about this band at all, aside from knowing "Song 2" was a bit radio hit. And then I realized who Damon Albarn after he tried to discredit artists who are not singular writers of their songs because co-writing doesn't count. The dude seems like a bozo. Anyway, this album was a lot more poppy than I thought it would be, I assumed that with the breakout of Song 2 as having an underground (at the time) sound, that rest of the album sounded like that. But no this is just straight pop. There are a handful of songs that feel like they could have been pulled straight from a Kinks record--in a good way. All in all this record was fine.
This is an old favorite from way back.
My wife loves this record and it was one of her faves as a teenager. I didn't really love it though. It's interesting and innovative and to people of my generation definitely historically important. I will give it a 3 but it barely makes it.
Light-decent 7/10
3.5/5 I was a lot more careful to listen, just listen and read the lyrics this time. I enjoyed the first song the most. It seemed so sad and raw. I think Britpop could grow on me. It might just be a mood thing, or a time to day thing.
Blur aren't my favourite - I was always an Oasis girl - and this hasn't changed that. I felt like this went on too long and some of the tracks were too experimental for my tastes but the hits HIT and that's okay.
Epitome of 3
medium-low energy generic brit rock with one well-known song. most songs feel low effort and all... blur together. 2.5/5
the first two songs are beetlebum and song 2 the first half of the rest tries to stick with that sounds the second half is barely music 3.5
Pretty much the same review I gave Park Life. Good enough but, other than Song 2, not fully memorable. As in hearing a song, knowing you've heard it before, but, for the life of you, you can't remember why.
Song 2 was not representative sadly
Mum: We have OK Computer at home The OK Computer at home:
Blur
song 1 is better than song 2
Yup, this is the album that has that one Blur song that everyone knows. It’s also got a bunch of other good songs though. Would rate it 3.5 if I could, because it’s definitely better than other albums I rated a 3/5 (not reaching a 4 though)
Blur in a more playful mood perhaps influenced by American indie. Not all the tracks work but at least they expanded their horizons a bit. Beedlebum and Song 2 open the set then it is a voyage of discovery. 3.5
Rinky Dink is standout here
Standard Brit Pop fare; decent singles, a bunch of filler tracks, and couple of awesome album tracks (Death of a Party and Essex Dogs)
There were some decent tunes, but the lyrics were pretty clique and it was a stagnant album. There are lots of good synth pads and tiffs though. It deserves to be on the list, but just not my list.
Heb het gevoel dat zo veel 90’s muziek langzaam aan wordt vergeten, dit was mega toen nu hoor je het ‘woohoo’-nummer alleen nog als gimmick ergens. Prima album, song 2, Chinese Bombs en Essex Dogs m’n favs
A satisfying 90s album full of okay songs. Considering Blur were at their prime during my young years I'd have thought this album could bring a twinging nostalgia but nothing. Ready Salted record, less good than their more famous album, and a fair precursor to better material from Albarn's later projects.
The first two songs are awesome. Song 2 is the background music from a childhood viral video that I was in love with, Warthog Jumping in Halo. A lot of this album sounds kind of the same after those first two songs. I enjoy this style of music. It might be too similar for me to listen to while working because a lot of it is forgettable. 3.5 mostly because 12 of the songs are forgettable.
Always have been a fan of Song 2, gets me hyped up every time. The rest of the album was decent.
I swear this generator is messing with me. Yet another 2 consecutive albums from the same artist! Well, at least it's easier to compare and assess the artist's progress that way. Blur in particular seem to actually dive right into the rock territory in the beginning. "Song 2" in particular is an almost metal-ish banger. They do not shy from other areas as well, like punk, art-rock, funk-rock, etc. This isn't necessarily a good thing, however. Because as a result, this debut is quite messy and much less concise than "Modern Life is Rubbish". It has great moments, but as a whole, it sounds like a typical generic pop-rock like most britpop albums do. At least they clearly improved later on.
I've listened to and enjoyed their "Brit-pop" albums, but hadn't heard this one before. I think I was put off by "Song No. 2" which was really over played. There were some nice songs on this one, and I really liked some of the guitar work
3.75
Song 2 is an absolute classic rest of the album solid but not mind blowing
songs waren hit or miss
Great record.
Beyond the songs I already knew (Essex Dogs was an exception) there wasn't much on this that genuinely stood out. Fair amount of noise generated, betcha it felt more rebellious and exciting back in the day.
Was okay… call me a normie but I much prefer Gorillaz
I enjoyed this album more than I expected to. It isn't as interesting as other selection from the Album Generator lately, but it moves along nicely and is easy to listen to. I'm not 100% convinced it should be on this list. Song 2 deserves a better name.
Eh, not my favorite. I like Song 2 but only because it reminds me of going to hockey games growing up.
Not a fan
I like Blur. Musically, they are better than Oasis but they do lack something. This album is kinda 30% belters, 70% filler. The fillers are presented very well and the effort is appreciated. Their best of album from about 2000 is wall to wall banger. Listen to that instead.
I love Blur, but outside of a couple of notable highlights, the album as a whole doesn't live up to their earlier 90s work. 3/5
Just not all that. Neither as clever-good as Pulp nor as epic-good as Oasis. And don't even go \"modern-day Kinks,\" as that's just an insult to the Davies (and an illustration of dodgy taste, generally). There are moments of undeniable quality here but not so many as to justify Blur being so impressed with themselves.
Take this with a grain of salt as I was listening to it on the train and fell asleep for a decent chunk. But for me aside from a couple classics all the songs do kinda... blur together. It's ok but I'm unlikely to think of this album if I'm looking for some to rock to listen to and maybe if it was more interesting I wouldn't have fallen asleep. Favourite songs are beetlebum and song 2 which is by far their biggest hit and for good reason.
I found Blur to be quite overrated... I think this is a bloated album. Can't stand all of the songs where the vocalist is belting them out just no thank you. Saved tracks: You're So Great, Death of a Party, I'm Just a Killer for Your Love, Strange News from Another Star
The midway point between two Blurs. I don't ever recall being that in love with this record, I enjoyed it and played it a lot, but I'm never compelled much to go back and listen again over the years. A fan since the first album, I enjoyed the experimentation on the Great Escape, which was critically panned, but well received on this - for me it just feels less...warm. Or maybe it's just that the tunes aren't as good, generally. I've not much time for the 'old' Blur songs here MOR, On Your Own, Look Inside America. They're fine but stick out, out of place. Beetlebum is still great. Song 2 is massively overplayed. Theme From Retro and Death of the Party still manage to sound vaguely Margate Pier underneath the weirdness, the chorus of the latter is the most Great Escape sounding thing here. Graham Coxon the solo artist is announced on You're So Great. The sludgy groove on Just a Killer For Your Love is excellent. A record I admire for the change in direction rather than love for the music on it.
the first two tracks are great but nothing thereafter is quite so engaging
An inventive mix of songs, mostly ok with a couple excellent.
Not their best offering but still quite good.
Some genius tunes and some absolute shite. Blurs career summed up in an album
Generous 3 some complete rubbish on here, saved by some quality singles.
The success of Oasis' (What's The Story) Morning Glory and the increasing tensions within the band led to Blur rethinking their musical direction. Blur (1997) borrows the alternative rock and slightly grungy sounds from across the pond to make something that's cooler and way more appealing to audiences outside of the UK. The result is a wildly successful Blur with a new international hit. It's not bad. I think if Blur did a full commit to songs like Chinese Bombs then we'd be having a different discussion, but most of the album feels like a half-committed attempt to pivot Blur's sound. It's also too long to keep my attention, sadly.
Fine album
Outside of "Song 2", which is the most popular song by a mile on the album, I thought it was alright. Not crazy about it. 6/10.
Song 2 was great, but the rest of the album is quite meh
Sadly didnt really do it for me :( i knew it wasnt going to be more like song 2 cuz i know thats kind of a parody song but i wish it was more like song 2 anyways
Obviously, I remember Song 2, but I had never listened to this entire album before. It’s good, I like it, but not as much as Parklife.
Not the best Blur album but it definitely has it moments and surprises.
One great track and half a good album.
2 Songs
Song 2 is a definite 90s hit, up there with "Teen Spirit" and "Loser" . The songs on the album in the same vein I'm not to fond of. I preferred the moodier songs like "Country Sad Ballad Man", "Death of a Party" as well as the opener. Damon Albarn's is a good vocalist and I'm glad he went on to form Gorillaz.
Decent, kept me engaged
Solid
Huske kje så masse, men va vel et par sanga med kule synthlyda??
Not really my style, but I was happy to hear where Song 2 came from.
I can see why people think blur are really good
It's not bad, but there's a reason you only know Song #2.
Beetlebum and Song 2 are both incredible songs and a huge statement to start the album. While there are some strong ideas throughout, with a great variety of styles and sounds with clear influences from all over the pop and rock spheres, none of them result in a complete song that is quite innovative or interesting enough to stand out
Good. A solid body of work. Only a couple of songs I didn't like that much.
It really is an album that jumps between two ideas. The older Britpop era of Blur combined with the more adventurous new era about to come. It makes the album feel a bit disjointed, and not all songs are strong. On the other hand, Beetlebum might be the best song Blur has ever released.
OK, not really for me
Typically barbed and sour, but rougher and harder-edged, too, adding some grunge to the glammy bits while staying within bounds of vintage Britpop. As with all their records, this is a decidedly mixed bag. Beatlesque opener is quite good and "Song 2" has that hook for the ages, but feels just the slightest bit gimmicky. The inevitable song about America is slightly above replacement level compared to their other Yank takedowns. "Strange New from Another Star" is a highlight. The general sense of experimentation feels jokey and very much in the spirit of taking the piss; a non-impressive percentage of the larks come off, however ("You're So Great" mostly does, while "Theme from Retro" does not, decidedly), causing one to wonder just how seriously to take any cut. Also, the surfeit of songs would have benefitted from a trimming – starting with "Chinese Bombs." One always feels close to liking Blur, but then feels the liking might be sort of beside the point from their perspective. Hence the rounding down from 3.5.
a WOO HOO - bmw clive owen track fuck yea. rest of album was meh
A fine album. Overrated. Song 2 was the only one that I really remembered.
More strong Britpop from Blur, this time with an emphasis on guitar rock. I dug the energy but didn’t quite connect with the songs on a first listen. I’ll have to revisit this one. “Song 2” is great! One of those insanely catchy songs that takes on a life of its own and becomes more famous than the band. I didn’t know that song was by Blur.
Not my jam
Woo Hoo!
Song 4 is a Bowie tune they adapted and somehow made super boring called M.O.R., which stands for Middle of the Road. Middle of the Road should have been the album title; with the notable exception of the woohoo song, it sounds like every other one-word-band-name 90's Britpop act. Best track: Song 2
A great, guitar-driven relic from the late 90s that’s aged quite well. Many have already mentioned the Blur v. Oasis debate here and even as an Oasis fan I have to side with this band - there’s a greater sense of raw feeling, performance, and overall fun to this LP that makes it glide through time a bit better than the sometimes preachy nature of the Gallaghers’ output.
Man, after the first five songs I thought this album was awesome! Trouble was nothing else really came after them. By the end of the album, I was a little bit glad it was over. 'Beetlebum' is a strong opener and of course everyone knows 'Song 2'. But for me, 'Country Sad Ballad Man' is the best song. Outstanding mix and groovy instrumentation. I think the last six songs could be entirely cut from the album, they all just seemed like filler honestly. 'Essex Dogs' is a strange experiment that just doesn't keep one engaged for the 8 minutes it occupies. Overall it is a bloated album that contains a few decent songs. 3/5
Highlights: Song 2, Strange News FromcAnother Star
Unfortunately I read some negative reviews of this album before I listened to it, and I was unable to listen to this impartially. Why do I keep doing that to myself? But like…this was Oasis’ main rival? They’re so dissimilar and Blur isn’t nearly as good. I definitely prefer Damon Albarn as Gorillaz.
While this was the best blur album I’ve gotten, I really hope it’s the last cuz I’m tired of them. Song 2 of course was a standout and death of a party was a cool smiths like song but otherwise I still am not a fan of blur
Some of it sounds a lot like a newer Mott the Hoople. Not bad.
UK pop/rock feeling, can't say much more than that
This album was definitely better than the other Blur album I got. This one felt like it was leaning further away from being Britpop, and that's a good thing for me. It's funny, for someone who likes Gorillaz quite a bit, Blur doesn't seem to click with me as easily. I guess they are different, but still. Most of the songs on this album are okay, with a few duds and a few standouts. My issue is that nothing really stands out to me besides the first two or three songs. I didn't enjoy the album enough to give it a higher rating. My favourite songs were Beetlebum and Song 2.
It's all a blur, man.
An enjoyable album that never really reached the heights I was hoping it would get to. The first two songs, 'Beetlebum' and 'Song 2' are really great, and I also enjoyed 'On Your Own,' but the rest of the album feels a little dull in comparison. Also the only thing I could think after a while was, "Wait, is that the guy from Gorillaz?!" And it is!
Not my favorite.
Getting a little tired of the 90s Brit alternative stuff
Was aiight
Pretty indifferent on this one, just not my cup of tea.
It was ok! It was easy to listen to, but didn’t catch my attention. Still, not a bad album
I liked the more experimental “grunge” sound.
Solid
Blur always kind of lived in the shadow of Oasis. This album tries to stray from their earlier brit-pop albums but imo does nothing of the sorts. Their biggest song on the album (song 2) is iconic with the 90s. The rest of the album is a bit lack luster.
I didn’t really follow the Brit Pop thing, other than being vaguely aware of the rivalry between Blur and Oasis. Aside from Song 2, which was everywhere for a while (and still pokes its head up Now and then) none of this was familiar. I wish this list features more real indie acts (Bedhead? Silver Jews? Mountain Goats? Smog? Given time I could probably come up with a hundred contenders) rather than a third album from this rather mainstream band looking to reinvent itself by way of their sound.
Blur goes Pavement, kinda, and like most of their albums, the highs are great but there are too many lows for me to really enjoy this. I think this is the kinda band that owning their greatest hits would be more than enough for me.
A more exciting sounding Brit pop album, cool guitar sounds and tones, moody and grunge at points, but some songs are blander than others
Woohoo! That song is the most recognizable but I don’t know if I like it. They say it’s a parody on grunge. Hour long album. M.O.R. Isn’t bad. I was skeptical but it ended up being okay.
so this is where that wuhoo song came from
Har nokken bangers, men masse rot
Classically british Fun Just not hugely my cup of tea, but can respect
It's ok. Enjoyable. Not really notable.
3/5 Fit the classic 90s acoustic rock vibe for me. Pretty good, I had no idea that Song 2 was from these guys.
I tried to listen to this attentively, but looking back it's all a blur. Two words that don't seem to go together came to mind: "interesting" and "tedious." How can it be both? I suppose there are interesting moments of '90s alternative experimentation, but that they are lost in an overall tedious experience. "Song 2" stands out on this album, however, as a track that still rocks like it did as a fave 25 years ago (although I only knew it for years as the "woo-hoo" song).
Different than the previous Blur album Modern Life is Rubbish, like a little grit got into the pop confection? “Song 2” has been drilled into my head by a cruise line ad or something, but it is good to hear the whole thing and easy to see why they use that song. Some real variety with a country-ish tune, a cool instrumental, and a lot of other unique tracks. I liked this but not as much as the previous Blur album. I would tend to go back to that one for my Blur fix.
song 2 brings me back to middle school. a lot of nostalgia for that song, and I love it. I hadn't heard the rest of the album... and really enjoyed it. Favorite tracks: song 2 obvi on your own death of a party (The Smiths vibes) 3/5
This music is fine!
Not my favourite album from Blur. It partially marks the end of "Bitpop" It starts off strong but progressively gets weaker.
More brit pop, less noise rock needed.
Ultimately boring to me. Dunno why, just is.
Ill forget about this album in an hour.
Yeah. Alright. But I still don’t like beetlebum.
Non mi è mai piaciuto troppo lo stile dei Blur, ma ho sempre apprezzato molto 'Song 2'. Il tono è più cupo di quanto mi aspettassi
I liked the top half of the record, but then it started to get a little bit tedious and repetitive. Meh. Made me wish I was listening to Squeeze instead, just craving a different kind of British sound today. I want less moody meandering 90's and more zany new wave. It's Friday! I want to have fun! Squeeze should have a record in this list, but I'll be quite disappointed if they don't, especially given the heavily biased UK listmakers influence on the chosen records.
WOOHOO! Was better than I thought it'd be. 3.5 stars
Song 2 carried the whole album imo. Most songs felt as if they all merged into one - probably because this is my 3rd new album today...
Blur's self titled album is an interesting one. For one thing, it's got one of the most recognised hype songs in the world on it, on the other hand, it was jarring to go from Song 2 to Country Sad Ballad Man, mood went way down, and it never really picked back up. I'm really torn with this one, if it wasn't for Song 2 I don't think this album would make the list. That being said I don't think its a bad album, just a little lack-lustre. Best: Song 2 Worst: Essex Dogs
Op zich wel lekkere rockmuziek, maar soms ook wel erg wazig. Soms het gevoel dat The Beatles op steroïden zitten en dan weer een punkrock gevoel :-). Wel lekker gevarieerd. ***
Very much a nostalgic album for me. I have a bizarrely specific memory of driving to Hartland Point with my parents while listening to this. Which isn't to say it's good. Beetlebum is better than I remember; Song 2 is worse, time has softened its grunge punchiness. The rest is patchy as hell, often irritating, and low on ideas. Still better than Oasis though.
remember being underwhelmed by this when it came out despite the great single and awfulness of the prior album. Also, Pavement being upset they were ripped off somehow? Hasn't improved with age, Beetlebum is great, rest meh
Ok album, enjoyed the music
3.5 / 5 Really enjoyed this one. Knew "Song 2" but never knew that was what it was called. Wooo hooo! The rest of the album is really great.
wooohoooo Beetlebum and song 2 are good
3.5 + Some great songs (“Beetlebum”, “Country Sad Ballad Man”) mixed in with mediocre ones (“You’re So Great”, “Chinese Bombs”, “Essex Dogs”). Compared to the highs of “Parklife” and “Great Escape”, I remember this album feeling like a letdown - rougher, moodier, more depressing (all in a bad way) - and that feeling remains.
I think this is a confused album. Blur were looking for a new sound and ended up with several. Post-grunge, indie alternative, britpop etc. I expected to love this and just never did. I'm not sure if a band like Blur would make an album just peddle singles but the filler on this album made it feel as though.
Honestly, give me either the raw Britpop of Parklife or the more experimental rock of 13 - this has the problem of being in the middle. Gotta respect this as a transitional album. Oh, and obviously Song 2 is unimpeachable.
Alot of filler on this. The best stuff is where is sounds like Gorillaz
Fair
This is kinda bussin bruh fr
Bruh
I usually like Blur but this album is not really that good. Besides the first two songs which are great, the rest of the album feels... not up to the task.
Was expecting this to be better, TBH
It's remarkable how deftly the band flirts with and yet ultimately rejects a purely pop quality. Each song teeters on the edge of falling into the catchy pop tune chasm, threatening to fall in, if it weren't for the chaotic and dissonant anchors, holding it back. While not a terrible song, 'Look Inside America' shows what I'm talking about. Compared to every other song on this album, it's quite straight forward. It's nice, but it feels a little flat amongst the crowd. All told though, the album is a better listen than I recall, and with the benefit of hindsight, a noteworthy standout from the "alternative" crowd of the time.
Some classic tracks, and some good variety. Not super exciting though
"Song 2" is an all time classic song. However the rest of the album is pretty lackluster 90s alt rock.
Some decent songs and some pretty weak ones. Song 2 was cool the first 100 or so times I heard it, it does nothing for me now. I'd of rather had a Gorillaz album. A generous 3 I guess.
Decent album. I guess I hadn’t ever listened to much Blur, but it wasn’t as hard as I was expecting which was a nice surprise. Well-written songs and everything, but not 100% my type of music. 5/10
Couple of decent songs
Other than "Song 2", burned in my mind bt FIFA98, I didn't find any song that stuck after the first pass.
Pretty good. Not much else to say about it. 3 stars.
Blur really benefited from moving away from britpop a bit in my opinion. This album takes that aspect and mixes it with more indie rock and alternative stylings to create something much better.
Blur proves once again that the only good song in their discography is Song 2. 5/10
Not the best Blur album, but still listenable. Loved Song #2 when it came out, and it is still and enjoyable song. 3/5
J'ai pas trop fait gaffe
J'aime bien Strange News from Another Star on dirait David Bowie. Sinon dans l'ensemble album OK tier.
« Blur » est à peu près l'onomatopée qui ponctuait mes vomissements pendant l'écoute de ce projet.
Didn’t like it as much as Parklife.
Its Blur
Blur is having a lot of fun on this record, experimenting with the sonic sounds of their poppy guitars. Some of it stands out and some of it is forgettable. Favs: Beetlebum, Song 2
Decent outing from Mr. Alburn! I can see why it made the list. It gets a little long in the tooth and the lyrics are a little unrelatable and navel gaze-y at times, but some of the pure pop guitar moments are undeniably great. Favourite tracks: Beetlebum, M.O.R., You're So Great, Look Inside America
История одной песни на альбоме
Song 2 is super tired at this point, it was a huge hit in the U.S. Doesn't quite have that edge that it used to have. But luckily the rest of the album is much weirder and more interesting than I remembered. Beetlebum seems like the strongest, though, and since it's the album opener, there's less to look forward to later.
Альбом, который уже стал классикой. Есть несколько хитовых песен. В Country Sad Ballad Man чувствуются первые намеки будущего стиля Gorillaz. Несмотря на то, что люблю британский рок - не могу отнести себя к фанатам группы (хотя несколько песен и нравятся у них) и этот альбом подчеркнул это. Некоторые песни показались мне изобретательными и отличными, а некоторые все так же прошли мимо меня. Возможно, стоит ещё раз вернуться к альбому спустя время. Помимо очевидных Beetlebum и Song 2 отмечу Death of a Party, Strange News from Another Star и Theme from Retro.
Britpop
I guess if you’re going to have a Blur album on this list it’s going to be the self titled one. I think The Great Escape and 13 both have better songs. I have once heard that One Week by Barenaked Ladies is the most recognizable first second of a modern pop song. Song 2 is a very close second.
The sound that made them great is lost in their transformation on this album. I couldn’t get behind it.
A great Brit Pop band forsakes Brit Pop in an effort to sound more American and produce an average album that could have been by any of the thousands of alternative rock bands
Meeh
Fundamentally not bad
Very listenable pop music.
I had only really listened to Park Life before this and it was very fun to listen to. Made me definitely want to check out more. But, it's likely I'd need someone else to encourage it, rather than seek it out myself.
I get that this record is pivotal in their career, but it’s hard for me to get it. Beetlebum is one of my fav Blur’s songs definitely and think that there are other hidden gems in the album. I will give it another listen and see how it grows in me.
Salvo Song 2 el resto son un poco extrañas.
WOO HOO
OK album. Would most likely not listen to again. Favourite song off the album: Strange News from Another Star
I never had the respect for Blur while loving a couple of the songs
Well, there is a couple of ok songs but too many fillers..
I really want to like this, and I do really like “Song2”, but even a cool lyric (“when I feel heavy metal”)isn’t enough to push this to a four. Average. 😐
Don't bother having two blur albums on this list. Keep this one, and cut the other.
I always expected them to be a 1 hit wonder group, and while the other tracks on this record probably won't get a lot of repeated plays out of my speaker, Blur shows their value as a key 90s group. The guitar tones and textures are sublime, but the vocals and lyrics leave much to be desired (though I will admit I am no fan of Brit-pop).
Minulla on tämä levy ihan CD:nä, joskus silloin nuorisolaisena tuli hankittua. Yllättävän hyvin palautui vielä laulujen sanoja ja säveliä muistiin, vaikka ei ole varmaan kahteenkymmeneen vuoteen tullut kuunneltua tätä. Vähän sellaista taskulämpöistä ja laahaavaa menoa. Levyllä on tietysti hittibiisi Song 2, siitä plussat. Vanhoilla meriiteillä kolmonen.
Solid alt-rock album, I'll have to relisten to it and see if there were any duds or ones that I missed BEST TRACKS: Song 2, M.O.R., You're so Great WORST TRACKS: Theme from Retro
Solid alt rock, I wish I liked it more than I did. The second half dips in quality a bit, but overall it is very good. I wish I could give it a 3.5/5, but unfortunately I cannot, so 3/5.
Some good songs, and a fair bit of nostalgia. But overall a bit dreary for my tastes
6/10
Finding out I'm not a big blur fan. I've always liked Gorrilaz, but I think I find Damons Blur singing voice is grating honestly. I don't think the singing voice is bad, or that he is a bad singer. Just it isn't for me. I've enjoyed fhis album quite a bit more than I enjoyed Parklife.
I like Gorillaz but this album doesn't do much for me.
I liked the first few songs, but then it sort of faded away.
Beetlebum Song 2
Very good
Full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. I liked Beetlebum, You're so Great, Death of a Party, Look inside America. Strange News from Another Star was pretty nice.
would probably have given it a higher score when younger, beatlebum and song 2 still great, rest sounds like proto gorrilaz
The one song is good.
I liked this album. Had more of the Blur sound that I love than Parklife did.
No 2 always good
not my favourite style of music but a couple of bangers in there. the lead singers voice is really charismatic. it has a certain feel to it, like its rough around the edges but thats what gives it character and this album was a very welcome change of pace compared to all the over produced stuff out right now. feels like im listening to them in a bar live. standout tracks:beetlebum,song2,on your own, death of a party
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