Blur

Some of his best stuff!!!

Great album. Blur is one of those underrated bands that everyone seems to respect on the low, but you never hear a ton about. Sure “Song 2” is great but so are tons of other tracks on this record. And I feel like the rest of the Blur albums I’ve heard are similar. Maybe it’s because Blur is one of those bands that leaves me with the impression of yeah it was great, but I can’t really tell you way… I just really enjoyed it.

An album I’ve listened to countless times, but always happy for an excuse to listen again. Over the years since first listen, this has become my favorite Blur album. A vital, crackling, and necessary swerve that propelled the band out of its Britpop containment. Standout moment: I always love the way Essex Dogs revs up in its opening moments.

(5) this is an either you hate it or you love it, I am thinking I just don’t know! I think I love/hate it! Just don’t know.

This album is a classic from my childhood.

I think this may actually be my favorite of the Blur albums, though it is stronger in the first half than the second. I really like Coxon's guitar here.

good

Blur built on the melancholic aspects of Parklife to great effect, and whilst this can be seen as a logical step towards the darker 13, it hits all the right notes. Song 2 and Death of a Party are worth thee try price alone. Outstanding.

I haven’t liked this album that much on previous listens (compared to others by them) but I was really into today. It doesn’t feel as tightly an album as Modern Life Is Rubbish does, if that makes sense, but the songs are all good. I’ve always liked Beetlebum and On Your Own a lot, and some other songs on here have become a lot better to me over time.

Graham for PM

trip hop drums oml so good

This was great. I listened to it three times and enjoyed every minute of it. Five stars.

I enjoyed this album. I feel like this had a more pop feel than I usually associate with 90s music. This, again feels like it fell in the generational gap for my home growing up so it was good to listen to it now.

I never listen to blur, but am a big gorillaz fan. This album was more eclectic than I thought it would be and I'll probably put it into rotation.

masterpiece

woo hoo! or: me and someone else also doing this challenge both got this album today, so i spent the morning trying to find out whether damon albarn had died or: the song 2 music video becomes vastly better if you imagine the gallagher brothers standing just off-screen and, somehow, using telekinesis or: woo hoo!

Really enjoyed this, but I feel like there are so many layers to it that I need a few more listens to really understand it. A varied album with a mix of styles, and I think it took me a bit by surprise. It's all over the place but in a good way!

One of the great britpop albums if not the greatest.

Blur decides writing lame ass Britpop shite isn't fun anymore. Thank God. This album is actually good, interesting, catchy, well written. I'm shocked at how much I like this because I HATED Modern Life Is Rubbish. Cool guitar playing. Glad that it is Pavement inspired. They should have been doing this from the start

Ooh hell yes

Just excellent!

This album was immediately getting a 5 as soon as I realized that it had ‘You’re So Great” on it- I love that song so much! This album is all over the place sonically, but I think it works. Some tracks sound like American rock, some sound really retro- 60s and 70s inspired. I had to look up M.O.R. because it sounds so much like Boys Keep Swinging by Bowie, and sure enough he has a songwriting credit. It’s interesting how Song 2 was the big hit out of this album- because nothing else on the album really sounds like it! Kind of a fun experiment.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS- even with the US sports anthem classic, Song 2- which is, arguably undeniable despite its absolutely nonsensical lyrics- this record is such a vibe. I was immediately inclined to side by side this with Oasis. Much love to Country Sad Ballad Man. A true jam. I thoroughly enjoy the sequencing journey of this record. After not visiting this end to end in quite some time, I was tickled moving through these tracks. You’re So Great- another honorable mention! This may have also hit a little differently today since I just watched Damon on SNL with Gorillaz. 5 buckets of popcorn!

Defining album for Britpop in the 90s this and few others

I knew I'd heard of Blur but didnt know where. I fuck with this shit 🤷‍♂️

I listened to this album as I got ready for the day, pushing through my post-late night exhaustion to go see my sister and her family. While I was very familiar with Song 2 prior to this album, almost all of my familiarity with Damon Albarn comes from his work as Gorillaz, so I was excited to hear his wispy voice and trademark songwriting in a new context. Without the grand worldbuilding and whimsy of that project, Albarn instead leans into an ironic approach to songwriting typical of English rock bands, especially around this time. Knowing that Song 2 was written as a pastiche of meaningless pop songs, I can't help but interpret many of that tracks here as satirical as well, taking the piss out of other musical movements or cliches (most especially in a song like Country Sad Ballad Man), but this is far from being a critique. Rather, the sarcasm dripping through the lyrics provides a personality to the album that helps it stand out from similar sounding bands. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that the music itself is well-written and tightly performed, each song hitting you with countless hooks between the vocals, riffs, and fills, keeping you engaged from one earworm to the next. While I enjoy the more varied and maximalist approach to music which Gorillaz represents, it is refreshing and to hear Albarn sounding so good in this different form; I need to listen to more Blur. Highlights: Beetlebum, Song 2, Country Sad Ballad Man, M.O.R., On Your Own, You're so Great, Death of a Party, I'm Just a Killer for Your Love, Look Inside America, Strange News from Another Star, Movin' On, Essex Dogs

the vibes and aesthetics of this album are quite unique and difficult for me to define. to say that is what i think the british and the UK were in that period of time, would be the best. But more than that, and more than the superficial feeling of this like something similar to Skins (the series), i feel that the aura of decadence, and corrosion, and this torpor that permeates the album, makes it something really special for me. like chemical flashbacks, like tasting the color orange. the odours and spirit of a puke and trash filled street. it's unique in the way that's not really that conventionally dark, or obscure, more happier and mellowdramatic. I think that's what makes it so special . specially essex dogs, paints really well the aura and feeling that i get from this album. perfect for a rainy afternoon, with your brain cooked, coming home.

Enjoying the vibe rocker and chill all at once

Surprisingly, Blur never got past the "one hit wonder" status in the US. This album is top notch!

This is Blur moving past their Britpop phase and looking to American indie/noise rock for inspiration, and since the latter is some of my favorite music and what I grew up with, I'm predisposed to liking this album, but it wouldn't work if they didn't do it well. Damon Albarn dives into the genre quite smoothly and doesn't confine himself to just distorted guitars, diving into a variety of sounds across the length of the album, all of them with strong melodies and distinctive, individual tones. As much as there are homages to other bands across this album, the songs don't feel beholden to anyone other than the band playing them. A terrific, eclectic album that I find extremely joyous and rewarding.

Feels boring to bring it back to Blur vs Oasis, but I honestly think this album more than any other proves that Blur were better because they were daring to try new styles, to have a vision and to pull it off. Some of the musicianship and lyrics across this album and the following “13” is astonishing. The sounds that come out of it are so eclectic but gel together so well Oasis, and this is proven in their respective solo careers, never found their way out of writing arena rock football chants. Appealing to many football fans, but ultimately boring as fuck. This is Blur at their best, and that’s saying something. 9 / 10 Best track/s: Beetlebum, On Your Own, Death of a Party, Movin On

Already knew I loved this album and thoroughly enjoyed listening back to it. The American alt influence filtered through Blur's British POV works so well. Loads of interesting sounds and arrangements on here. A brilliant departure from their earlier stereotypically Britpop sound. The opening few tracks are unbelievable and quality doesn't waver all the way through.

Love this album! Song 2, Beetlebum, look inside America are the best songs

Sounds a lot like Oasis. Definitely a really good album. Pretty essential 90's rock album. Has Song 2 on it which makes it a very popular album. Pretty good, overall.

Sounds galore.

The best guitar playing in Blur’s catalogue. There’s not a bad song here.

mera chimba de álbum, me gustó mucho, la buena pa blur

The guitar and bass throughout this album are constantly surprising and inventive

vibe

hell yeah

Det ukarakteristiske Blur album hvor de søger væk fra Britpoppen og over i en mere amerikansk Indie lyd. Blur var altid mere et single band for mig end f.eks. Oasis. Men hold nu op der er noget guld gemt på albummet her. Beetlebum, Song 2 og This Is A Low er selvfølgelig fantastiske gamle bekendskaber. Men sange som Death Of A Party, You’re So Great og I’m Just A Killer For Your Love er hermed blevet nye favoritter.

Forza 4 Vibes 🤨

this song makes me feel like a small ant going to work my blue-collar ant job at four o clock in the morning. i am a bit grumpy about the early wake up but find beauty in the rising sun on my commute to work. maybe ill grab a beer with the boys after i clock out.

Sick album

INPUT = {"artist": "Blur", "album": "Blur"} LINEUP = {"men": 4, "women": 0} FEATURED_ARTISTS = {"men": 0, "women": 0} TOTAL_MEN = 4 TOTAL_WOMEN = 0 WOMEN_PERCENTAGE = 0 OUTPUT = "Maximum score awarded. 5/5"

OK it's not so good at the start but it gets better. Songs like 'M.O.R.', 'You're So Great', and 'Chinese Bombs' really pick it up, and it finishes with the quintessentially British 'Essex Dogs'. And 'Song 2'?!?! Beautiful. I think we can all agree it's one of the coolest songs ever, right?

Høyrt 1000 gongar 10/10

The death of brit pop in album form. Sounds like 5AM at the after party. Be good if you stopped picking me fave albums of all time Stand outs - beetlebum, your so great, death of a party, strange news from another star

I really do have a lot of admiration for Damon Albarn’s versatility as an artist. He could do grunge—simultaneously hilariously and convincingly, here—but none of those grunge guys could have done anything on Parklife. He could do Pavement, if Pavement didn’t grate to listen to. (Don’t come at me—I do like a couple of tracks here and there, but—). Anyway. Is it embarrassing to have a Blur phase in the year 2025? Yeah but also whatever. I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent a lot of time January-March this year with these guys. Kind of neat/funny to get this album right at the end of the year—invites reflection. I do really like the overall vibe of this one, even aside from any nostalgia—it’s one of those “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” things for me, I think. Not that the parts themselves are bad. This album has Beetlebum and Song 2 on it and that’s just for starters. But listening to it start-to-finish… it’s an experience I’m always happy to take the time for

I love Blur! And I love this album, it's such a perfect description of this band :) Chaotic, young and british.

woo hoo

we've got another blur album, already a good sign as soon as i read the album title. am i a britpop guy? maybe i just like this group in particular. this album is the "nevermind" of 1990s british rock. the album represented a little shift to their usual sound, whatever that shift was, it hits hard. the title of the band and the album art pretty much set the aesthetic in place... rock music that's delightfully blurry and hazy... you're lost in a whirlwind but you're not minding it in the slightest.

Boom! Super excited about this one. While i was a fan of their major radio hit, i never took the time to listen to the whole album. They are making some great, fun music on here. Greatly enjoyed!

This album is amazing. The jams are Phish-esque, singing is incredible and guitar is obviously great.

I can’t believe I got this as my second one… I listened to the entirety of this a week ago. Obviously love it!!!! Favorite songs from this are You’re so Great and Beetlebum. Lowkey depressing lore but I love it anyways, I also wish The Great Escape was on this list too but I get why it's not (also this album is probably just on the list because Song 2 is on it but that's ok) 10/10

The 90's are the best!

Auditory

01) Beetlebum - 10,0 02) Song 2 - 10,0 03) Country Sad Ballad Man - 9,5 04) M.O.R. - 10,0 05) On Your Own - 10,0 06) Theme from Retro - 8,5 07) You're So Great - 8,0 08) Death of a Party - 10,0 09) Chinese Bombs - 8,5 10) I'm Just a Killer for Your Love - 8,5 11) Look Inside America - 8,5 12) Strange News from Another Star - 8,5 13) Movin' On - 8,5 14) Essex Dogs - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,07 (91/100) Current ranking: 58/754

Ok full disclosure - the full album is closer to a 4 star rating for me, but I NEED to add Beetlebum to our playlist, so its getting a bump! Beetlebum is one of my all time favourite tracks ! I vividly remember when Song 2 was released - I was 12 years old, sitting watching Rage one Saturday morning and it totally blew me away! I was really just starting to figure out my music taste, had just started learning the bass, and the chunky bass riff juxtaposed with the lighter guitar just really got me. Plus I thought Damon Albarn was hot. Great flim clip! I just slip away and I am gone

YA LO HABIA ESCUCHADO, ME ENCANTA Y LO VOY A VOLVWR A ESCUCHAR GRACIAS PAGINA 🙏🙏🙏🙏 temas fav: M.O.R. death of a party chinese bombs

Blur goes American, Blur goes global.

Another pleasant surprise. I knew the hits off the album and was familiar with the band by name, but I guess I never sat down for a solid listen before. Very reminiscent of the Manchester invasion of the early 90s to me (Inspiral Carpets, etc.). This is also going on my re-listen pile.

About an hour of what I consider some evolved Britpop, some of it about as good as you could get, especially both the beginning and end tunes (the last tune is just 11 minutes of interesting beat/drone). If you want to hear some evolved Blur, one starts here.

un clásico, la primera vez que lo escuché fue por una persona que era muy especial para mi, en especial you're so great es top canciones del albúm para mi

Own it. Love it.

Not to rekindle a silly manufactured beef, but the answer to the question "Liam or Noel?" is Damon fucking Albarn. The man has more creative ability and vision than either in his pinky finger alone, and this one is proof. Starting with Beetlebum is one of the best ways you could start an album, and it goes full throttle from there. The sonic variety on this, compared to a lot of Britpop acts at the time, is really impressive, from punk to slacker rock to foreshadowing of modern indie. The transition from Strange News to Movin On is one of the highlights of the whole thing for me. Its not perfect, definitely can be self indulgent like with the closing track, but I love it, probably my favorite Blur album

Ich liebe dieses Album sehr, damals mit 14 oder so wegen Song 2 gekauft. Dachte alle Blur Songs sind so. Sind sie nicht. Blur hat viel mehr Tiefe und Substanz in ihren Songs. Beetlebum mein fav blur song, aber auch death of a party, strange news from another star, you're so great and i love you sind geil

Woohoo

Remindera of England

really fun britpop album. i find i have quite the liking for blur's output so far, although i do find them to be firmly my #2 britpop band. this one is a really good, fun record, especially with the incredibly nostalgic and bash-you-over-the-head "song 2" which definitely buoys this album a little bit. the rest of the album is pretty solid and satisfyingly sneering, but, hey, it is predominantly defined by its most famous song.

Forgot how good this album is. No more cheeky Chappy Britpop (although I liked that too). Now time for Angst and songs about heroin. Great guitar work and vocals and all the tracks are strong.

o supriza foarte frumoasa, iconic albumul as putea spune, chiar 10/10

Bang bang bang bang BANG

Each song here on its own, except for Song 2, would get about a 3-4 on its own. This album is a great example of an album being more than the sun of its parts. The album avoids repetition while feeling cohesive. I didn't get bored listening to it, but it also didn't feel like too much. The parts worked together well and I think it deserves a 5.

Simon's favorite! :)

No private session used for Spotfiy. I like Blur a lot, more than I like Oasis, but let's not go there, leave it alone. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the songs on this album, there are a lot of great ones, including Song 2 that finally gave the band much deserved attention in the US.

I love this album. My first real foray into Brit pop rock, and at the time I was all for it. I still come back to it occasionally. If you look at the songs outside of Song 2, it was almost like a window into what Damon Albarn would do with Gorillaz later on. I know it didn't really land that well with American audiences, but I found it, and I'm glad I did.

This is my favourite blur album, haven't heard it for years - very nostalgic and a bit emotional tbh

This album is definitely not a blur. Every song is curated to make you feel something by the end of it. The melancholy eats you at some parts and you just have to take it. It’s probably the realest music I’ve heard in a long time. There are both slow and upbeat songs tied together with lyrics to make you think about the world and yourself.

Ya era hora. Que puedo decir. La gente, la crítica musical y los fans de la banda han dicho en numerosas ocasiones que este fue "El álbum que mató al Britpop" y menos mal porque menuda puta mierda de género. Este álbum hizo de Blur todo lo que sus compañeros de escena no fueron capaces (a excepción quizás de Pulp) es un soplo de aire fresco y actualiza un montón el sonido de la banda. Quiero decir, ¿Sabes lo buena canción que es Beetlebum? y por no hablar de los momentos tan tan guays que hay a lo largo de todo el album. Hay veces en algunos momentos en los que he llegado a pensar si realmente estaba escuchando un album de lla 90 y no un trabajo más actual. Asi de bien ha envejecido. Este album iba a ganar el Grammy a menor album en 1997, pero le ganó "OK Computer", asi que lo entiendo perfectamente.

Cuando me piden dinero, wuu huuu

Beautiful music

My hot music take is that despite the success of Blur and Gorillaz, Damon Albarn doesn't get enough credit for being one of Britain's best songwriters. Blur weren't a one-man band though, and they all get to share the praise for realising they'd hit a dead end with The Great Escape and massively course correcting with this album.

Another Blur classic. Bruised and aggressive

Um disco praticamente impecável. Mais se assemelha a um Greatest Hits do que um álbum regular. E além de tudo, um flow incrível de faixa pra faixa. Tipo de álbum que faz o tempo passar rápido, que te mantém totalmente investido de capa a capa, sem perder tempo. Até o interlude semi-instrumental Theme From Retro encaixa perfeitamente bem na ordem. Blur têm os melhores álbuns de britpop na minha opinião. Oasis possui os melhores singles. Mas quando o assunto é fazer um disco coeso e repleto de melodias memoráveis e refrões chicletes, Blur é imbatível. Este álbum em específico possui uma energia bipolar inigualável. Impossível ficar parado ouvindo faixas como Beetlebum, Song 2, On Your Own, que fazem parte do seu primeiro lado, mais animado e mânico. Após o Interlude Theme From Retro se inicia o segundo lado do álbum, com faixas mais introspectivas, e algumas baladas maravilhosas, capazes de arrancar lágrimas, como Strange News From Another Star. E não posso deixar de mencionar minha canção favorita do disco, Death Of A Party, uma vibe que me lembra bastante Crawling Up The Walls do Ok Computer. Impecável! Meu centésimo álbum! Só mais 900 e poucos... 5/5

I was always a blur fan seen them many times. Would make this 10/10 if I could so 5/5 will have to do. Highly recommend

4.5 stars, rounding up because i love blur and this album is so good

Muy muy bueno Buen inicio y buen final Song 2 es una de mis canciones fav

Hard rock rocks hard

Yes!! One of the best albums!

This eponymous 1997 album marks a pivotal moment for Blur, the band that helped define 90s British music. Moving beyond their Britpop roots, Blur embraces a raw, stripped-down sound, reflecting a burgeoning interest in American indie rock and even grunge. It captures the pent-up energy of a post-punk youth, channeling the era's restless spirit. This album stands as a testament to the band's evolution, showcasing their versatility and willingness to reinvent, cementing their place as key figures in the alternative landscape of the 90s.

Great album! I really like Coxon’s guitar style. Listened from beginning to end and enjoyed every track. 5

이거야뭐 ㅎ

ITS A CLASSIC! YOU'RE SO GREAT BLUR! LOL

Song 2 - obvious banger Love the dynamics

Extremely consistent album which elevates their style from earlier albums mixing it with more hard rock. Blur is just a really great listen which captivates the whole way through.

Love this one & love that everyone is surprised that not at 14 tracks are Song #2

Bloody brilliant

This was their comeback album after the shockingly shite great escape. Heavier sound for them that works. Some great sounds song2 beatlebum and on your own great standout tracks.

Very enjoyable; indie pop classic.

9.5/10

Wow, pretty blown away that I’ve slept on this one until now but previous Blur albums failed to grab me so I’d probably just naively assumed they were all similar. The variety on this album keeps it from getting boring, something I thought was missing on say Modern Life. The lack of their brand of (for me) corny, pseudo-quirky Cockney thing that was there in abundance early on is a great progression imo. I can definitely hear early prototypes of the Gorillaz sound in this album - as well as parts sounding slightly darker, almost Radiohead-esque, with a hint of a trip-hop influence. No skips on this album, every track had something different, and considering I only knew of two songs near the beginning that is quite impressive. Amazing guitar work by Coxon as per usual, some really cool and interesting sounds. Will definitely be listening again. I can’t think of a reason to not give this my first 5/5. Standout tracks on first listen: Beetlebum (obviously) On Your Own Theme From Retro Death of a Party

Deep soundscapes. Need to relisten.

I really enjoyed this. Probably partially nostalgic.

Having won the Britpop battle but effectively lost the war, the only thing for Blur to do now was retreat towards uncharted, hazier territory. Diving headfirst into murkier waters, they came out of it a different entity, one less fixated on Kinksian topics and brass accompaniments and more inclined to become buzzier, abstract, abrasive and taciturn. With a low heart rate, facing sped-up lights on the gurney, Blur roared back to life to reject what came before once again. But what would come afterwards only indicated that the clock was ticking and all good things must come to an end.

Quite the enjoyable listen. This album is very experimental on many of the tracks which i dig. I will likely go back to this album. It has a very unique theme to it which I haven't seen before. Overall solid album, with a couple of songs saved to my main playlist.

it’s alright i guess. OK you got me. that was just a little joke. :P but in all seriousness i have spent so much time listening to and thinking and talking about this album that writing my thoughts down here seems like an entirely futile gesture, mostly because i STILL can’t put into words why i love it so much and what it means to me. it defies categorization on every level. well you know what they say…WOOHOO!!!!! fav tracks: essex dogs; you're so great; country sad ballad man; death of a party; i'm just a killer for your love; beetlebum; look inside america; strange news from another star; song 2

I don't remember ever listening to this entire album in the past. The last track was a real surprise.

People dismissed Blur in the 90s as little more than a boy band. Hopefully that opinion is being reevaluated now that there’s distance on it. They crafted smart, interesting art that it just so happens had massive sing along choruses. This record is a departure from their Kinks-like British slice of life schematics,but ultimately yielded the hit that broke them in the US. Skip Song 2 if you must, but give the rest of the record a listen.

14 cançons per quedar-s'hi a viure dins totes elles. El més interessant és que consolida a Damon Albarn com el major compositor/productor contemporani. Aquest àlbum és un calaix de sastre, una proveta d'assaig de tots els sons que, anys després, enlluernaran el món. Potser no totes lliguen les unes amb les altres, però totes elles són hipnòtiques o espurnejants. Només per l'audàcia mereix totes les estrelles que hi càpiga.

Perfect.

I really like the direction Blur took on this album. It's an odd mix of lo-fi with Street's slick production. The album's packed with great songs. I love You're So Great, but I've never been a fan of Beetlebum. (Sorry I prefer Coxon over Albarn!) Liked Songs Added: Song 2 Country Sad Ballad Man M.O.R. On Your Own You're So Great Look Inside America

A great sound that seems like it would be pop but it isn’t exactly. Like if the Beatles were influenced by the 80s

Blur's second-best album after *Parklife*, simply put. First, it's got the essential one-two punch opening the proceedings, i.e. "Beetlebum" and "Song 2" (which are part of the most iconic Blur songs, along with "Girls And Boys", "To The End" and "Parklife", from... *Parklife*). Sure, "Beetlebum" can be considered as a White-Album-era Beatles pastiche, but it's one that's pulled off in such a stellar way that it just becomes irresistible. The song goes from ominous to elated in a blink, and it's a perfect opener to state what the whole record's about (but more on that in a second). As for "Song 2"... WOO-HOO! That goddamn guitar riff! Those vocals hooks! That sudden turn into a short and oh-so-impactful saturated mayhem! You got to be allergic to simple fun pleasures not to recognize the stroke of genius behind such a banger. Yep, you can use the words "fun" and "genius" in the same sentence. That track is one of Blur's most recognized songs for a reason after all. Secondly, *Blur* is the album where Albarn and co. understood they had to get out of the dead-end that "Britpop" had become around 1997 (a year where Radiohead also did the same in a strikingly different fashion, by the way). Not that the record doesn't have its share of British references ("M.O.R." still sounds like the Kinks, even if it's on steroids this time around! ; "On Your Own" indeed winks at Bowie, as another reviewer in here smartly remarked ; punky "Chinese Bombs" pays a tongue-in-cheek tribute to The Clash...). Yet clearly, the band had also listened to pivotal American acts such as Pavement, The Flaming Lips or Guided By Voices before recording this thing, yielding to more abrasive or more ambiguous-sounding results. One good example is the lo-fi-albeit-touching Graham Coxon number 'You're So Great" (where the guitarist taking on lead vocal duties in such a vulnerable manner brings unmistakable emotion to the tune). Or it's dreamy and moody cuts such as "Strange News From Another Star", replete with Rhodes piano tones and spacey, echoey soundscapes... Thirdly, and going beyond the America-against-Britain debate, this adventurous-yet-still-cohesive-enough LP develops a knack for endearing weirdness that makes it stand out from the pack decades after its release. It's those evocative carousel sounds in "Death Of A Party" (and also the quasi-instrumental interlude "Theme From Retro"), suggesting an atmosphere akin to Ray Bradbury or Stephen King yarns. Or it's the equally hypnotic "I'm Just A Killer for Your Love", part trip-hop, part Primal-Scream on valium. The pop songwriting is rarely left aside in the album though, even in those "weird" cuts, very fortunately. Except on the instrumental closer "Essex Dogs" ending the album on a question mark instead of a bang. Were The Fall or The Residents the key influence here? Your guess is as good as mine... Weird is weird, whether it's British or American. Interesting conclusion, at least, even if a bit underwhelming. Doesn't matter if the album ends in a valley anyway. The many peaks speak for themselves, don't they? Few bands have managed to reinvent themselves from scratch this gracefully and this effectively. Which is why this record MUST be included in a list such as this one. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) Number of albums left to review: around forty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 456 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 271 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 331

Another 90s album with bloat, but the songwriting is really good - full of unexpected moments and melodies.

Peak

As a step away from the Britpop sound that Blur were known for, they do a very great job at making music that sounds more like the stuff that you'd hear in America, even if they were doing it in a joking manner. Mid 9

Excellent and inventive

A. Ritpop classic with some interesting and iconic sounds. Classic song2 has stood the test of time, Daemon Alban's lyrics and iconic stamp really set the album apart

experimental by blurs standard at that point, more influenced by american guitar and a departure from pop central. Good times

Yet another amazing offering from my favourite band. A clear influence from American slacker rock/lo-fi bands like Pavement, whom I find alright, but Blur take this subgenre and make it their own. ‘Death of a Party’ is a FASCINATING song with plenty of subtext as well as a great hook. 10/10

I LOVE BLUR THEY ARE THE BEST SO MUCH BETTER THAN OASIS

Referent

Didn’t listen to it all but liked what I did. Country sad ballad man was a fav

Though the Beatles influence is blatantly apparent, this is a wonderful mix of everything I love about 60s music and 90s music, with a couple moments that you can imagine singing in large groups at a bar that is mostly absent in American music. The darker moments like Death Of A Party, You're So Great and Beatlebum are poignant and raw. This is an easy 5 that I wish I'd heard sooner.

Look Inside America is one of the top songs to have play during the credits at the end of your life.

First listen great album

I don't think i was expecting this much out of Blur, i was just expecting a good album just like the previous album i did by them but this was more than just a good album, it was great! The instrumentals were actually really great here especially the guitars because those could be the right amount of both rough and refined. While there were some songs where they mostly sounded like noise, the noise just somehow managed to blend well together and click with me to the point that it didn't really hamper my enjoyment of this album. It might not be perfect but it is a really great album that's more than worthy of a 4.5 Best Song: You're so Great Worst Song: Theme from Retro

Very good

Best blur album in my opinion

Y'know, I'm really glad that there's another blur album on this list, and not just because I enjoyed the last one of theirs I heard as much as I did. No, I'm glad I have a second chance to review them, after my first was some Letterboxd/Stan Twitter-type nonsense that amounted to "hurr, Gorillaz, am I right?" These days I kinda really hate that style of "review," so it's nice to have an opportunity to say something more. Though, to be 100% to start: I still kinda just hear 2D whenever Albarn sings. Like, yeah, I know, that's just how he sings, but you spend as long listening to PLASTIC BEACH as I have, it's hard to hear anything else. That said, I really do like that voice in this musical context, all rock-y and pop-y and... British. Come to think of it, maybe I just like Albarn's voice in general, or at least the beds of music he chooses to place it in. And let's talk about that music by switching lenses, from Gorillaz comparisons to Oasis ones. For the longest time, I'd always tended to listen to Oasis more because of--well, to be blunt, their Beatles-ness. As much as that's an insult hurled against them, it **is** why, alongside the general hugeness they aim for, I'm more likely to put one of their songs. The fact that general Western pop culture is aware of more Oasis songs than just one like blur doesn't help. But actually putting on blur, honestly, they interest me way more. I feel like they're more keen to experiment than Oasis is, who, meanwhile, tend to stick in their Beatles-inspired wheelhouse (from what I've heard, anyway). It's something I can hear clearly carried over to Gorillaz and their tendency to play genre roulette. Of course, blur still fits pretty nicely into "Britpop" (and they're **very** "Brit", goodness), but I really enjoy their willingness to try other tones, textures and soundscapes. Of course, that experimentation (not to mention, again, the Brit-ness of it all) is probably why Oasis won the "Britpop wars" over on this side of the pond, and why Albarn didn't really get his time to shine until he put himself behind cartoons. That's really a shame. Don't get me wrong, "Song 2" is great, but I kinda wish a few more blur songs had become hits. Wha'cha gonna do, though, eh? In all... Y'know, from what I remember, I believe I gave PARKLIFE a 4. I liked that album a lot, but I think what kept me from pushing it over into a 5 was... Like, I think you got the sound of this album pretty early on, and I don't recall very many exceptions or deviations except for a few. PLus, if you care about lyrics but you're not a Brit at that specific point in the 90's, you may as well not bother with 'em. Lucky for me, I don't tend to, and this album has way more sonic variation than PARKLIFE. So, yeah, I'll happily give this one a 5. Makes me feel pretty "heavy metal," as one might say. "Woo-hoo," indeed.

An eclectic yet pretty damn good selection of tracks, which while including Song 2, feels like sort of a predecessor to the first Gorillaz album more so than your typical Blur tracks. Solid 5 for me.

After the successes of Parklife and The Great Escape came the eponymous album, and I remember buying it at the time - the darker, rockier sound of Beetlebum and Song 2 being quite alluring. I don't know that I would rate it as better than the aforementioned preceeding albums but there's some good stuff on here beyond the single releases, and it was quite a nostalgic listen.

This album has a fantastic and diversified sound. I really enjoyed it. The first song or two might be familiar to you. A couple favorites on first listen were "You're So Great" and "Death of a Party," but that could change on the next well-deserved listen.

Wonderful stuff from one of the greatest British bands.

Another enjoyable listen from Blur. I never really understood the hoo haa with Oasis but I'm glad they found a way out of it. Faves: Well I gues Song 2 is iconic, Beetlebum is cool, and Death of a Party is a fave.

my album

The Brits still got it

5/5

good

Amazing lyricism. Biggest fan of killer for your love and look inside America. I like how they don't shy away from discussing their life as it is, in music business, with the public as it can still relate to the everyman for the messages in between the l8nes. Essex dogs is a masterclass in painting with sound.

Loved it

This was the album that got me into Brit Rock, and I still think so many of the tracks are incredibly brave and innovative. "Song 2," for all the overplayed flack it may get at this point, is still a great song and hits hard - just like "M.O.R." and "Chinese Bombs," and there are just so many other atmospheric odd-ball brilliant tracks like "Essex Dogs" (a favorite song of all time for me) and "Death of a Party," "I'm Just a Killer for Your Love," "Strange News from Another Star" plus beautiful songs like "You're So Great" and "Look Inside America." I genuinely love every track on the album. "13" may be one of my favorite albums of all time, and "Modern Life is Rubbish" is my go-to Blur album, but the self-titled album is just as special and wondrous to me.

cool

It’s not a 5 but also not a 4. Behind Beetlebum and Song 2 are some really great tracks and showed how much Blur had evolved musically. I’m biased as I love the band, and it was a great antidote to the Great Escape. There’s even a little Bowie plagiarism thrown in for good measure.

Blur This was the album that really got me into Blur. I’d liked their big singles previously and had the Great Escape but hadn’t really really liked them until this album. I loved the Beetlebum single, it came out right in the middle of A-Level mocks right as I passed my driving test. Strong memories of it being on cassette mix tapes that I played as I drove on my own for the first time. It really is a superb album, it felt really different at the time and still sounds excellent. Lots of of oddness and strange atmospheres, with some great catchy pop hooks and, obviously, loads of fantastic guitars, whether big, loud and crunchy, or more subtle, complex and loving. When it came out I loved Beetlebum, On Your Own and MOR, and they are still fantastic, with On Your Own being one of my top 5 Blur songs. Listening over the years since it was released a lot of the songs I’d is t immediately love on release are now some of my favourites - Country Sad Ballad Man, Theme From Retro, Death of a Party, Strange News From Another Star, Essex Dogs. Look Inside America is interesting, not sure whether it was a holdover from around the time of Park Life and The Great Escape or a deliberate evocation of those albums. It bears quite a strong resemblance to End of Century so I guess it probably is a deliberate contrast between their old style of music with their newer more ‘Ameriphillic’ outlook. Also, never really noticed but some of the guitar breaks towards the end are very Harrison. Alongside their stated influences like Pavement etc, there is clearly a lot of Bowie and later Beatles across a lot of the album. Strangely I find myself almost wanting to skip Song 2 nowadays, having loved it so much when it came out. Maybe it’s its ubiquity and its overuse in media to lazily indicate excitement, but it feels flat to me now - I don’t hate it, but it’s not that interesting anymore. Knowing it’s genesis as a kind of semi joke, that’s why it probably feels a bit too knowing and contrived.. The only other, very very minor criticism is that it’s quite long, possibly a victim of CD bloat. I’m not sure what you could actually take off the album, but for such a lyrically and musically dense album an hour is perhaps a lot to process. But that can’t take away from what a great album this is. Possibly my favourite one of theirs, it’s an easy 5 🪲🍑🪲🍑🪲🍑🪲🍑🪲🍑🪲 Playlist submission: On Your Own

With Song 2 being so overplayed, I’d kinda forgotten how good this was. Very few misses on this diverse album

Fuck Oasis. This is real britpop

From the first song I was hooked. I've never heard of Blur before but this was a standout.

I will stand by this album until I die. This is Blur's masterpiece, and every song on is as good as, if not more, than "Beetlebum" and "Song 2". It's just really experimental and fun, even surprisingly beautiful at times (I'm talking about "You're so Great". Absolutely incredible song). Like, how can you listen to something like "Theme from Retro" and call this a generic Britpop album? Damon Albarn ate the forbidden fungus and the masses couldn't handle his spore fumes. Happens to the best of us.

woo-hoo

Brit pop at its finest, debate and recreate but here we are.

I didn't know the history of Blur and how they changed their sound for this album. I really like the sound and energy of it and am glad they made the change. Especially because we got that Whooohooo song out of it.

Surprisingly good the whole way through

Wonderful.

Blur have always made good albums and this, their post Britpop album is no exception. My least favourite track is 'Song 2' woohooo.... but probably their finest moment ever is 'On Your Own'. Every time I hear it, it makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck (apart from when I've had my hair cut, that is). The drum machine, that abuse of a guitar, the wonky melody, just perfection! To run away from a scene of which Blur were so central, was a bold and thank goodness, a very good move. It made me really sit up and think. I'd already realised Graham Coxon was a very good guitarist, and one of my favourites of the 90's, but this reinvention put him up there in my opinion, one of the most underrated greats. A 5 star.

relisten. my 2nd favourite album of my favourite band of all time. i love everything Blur has done but this record and 13 (1999) changed my life and music taste forever. its the epitome of the late 90s music and everything ive ever wanted from an album. i also appreciate how balanced and diverse it is with fun tracks like On Your Own, moody tracks like Beetlebum, devastating tracks like Strange News from Another Star and the experimental tracks on which they really let their imagination flow like Essex Dogs and Death of a Party. i also think this was the first time they implemented that spooky sound (Theme from Retro, Death of a Party) that they later perfected on 13 and Damon carried over to Gorillaz (which was always my favourite part of Gorillaz early projects). long story short: amazing album that influenced even more amazing music

Well, this certainly takes me back to high school. Love it.

Old classic I haven’t listened to in years. Immensely enjoyable

Schon ganz gut, wenn man's mag. Ich gebe mal 5 Sterne.

Surprisingly good and a fitting treat for my 100th album from the list. "Strange News..." especially was right up my alley.

I really enjoyed this album. A mix of rock and angst and just a very listenable album. Makes me want to go listen to more of their music. I will also listen to this album again.

My favorite Blur album, and one of my favorite British albums of all time. Beetlebum lived in my brain for a whole summer, and overall the whole album is guaranteed to put me in a good mood so…… 5 wholly deserved stars.

my favourite band when i was 10 and i still love them

Classic. Blur always kills it. Great relisten

Guter alternative rock

I lived this album when it first came out. Although I've listened to my favourite tracks from it since, I've not listened to the whole things through. I listened to it in its entirety several times yesterday and reminded myself what a masterpiece it is!

So much better then Oasis

This was an album that closed the door on britpop as everyone came to think of it at the time. Whether you liked Brit Pop or not? There was no escaping the impact of this album. It closed the book on an entire genre. I truely that if Blur didn’t do this album then Radiohead doesn’t do ok computer.

Albums like these make me wish I had a car so that I can drive down to the beach jamming to these

Play FIFA Song...

Great album, always love listening to this one.

Great album!

So many solid amazing tunes on one record. Nice.

El homónimo de Blur es un LP que hasta el día de hoy se escucha sumamente fresco. La mezcla entre Britpop y música alternativa estadounidense, fuertemente influenciada por la propuesta de los californianos Pavement, crea un disco radicalmente diferente al resto de la discografía de la banda de Albarn y Cox. En ocasiones denso, y en otras sumamente divertido, este es el primer trabajo que cimentó a Blur como una banda de culto, en comparación a sus enemigos Oasis, quienes solo alcanzaron el estatus de estrellas de rock de estadio.

absolute banger

automatic 5 stars for having song 2 on this album

song 2 is the worst track on the record

Great

Undeniably Blur - great riffs, interesting lyrics, eclectic mix of eccentric songs... Great to hear and one that's already in the collection

Yyy

Wow, each track in this album is a banger. Blur really went all out for their eponymous album.

listened - 2:10

Touches of Beatles, The Fall, Bowie, and even Pulp. And you can hear the beginning of Gorrilaz. The MOR riff, the You're so Great vocal melody, and "Good Morning Lethargy" have been bouncing through my head for almost 30 years.

Blur had a battle with everyone in the 90's. Whilst Oasis did their thing without care, Blur wanted to win over the critics and the fans. No doubt for me that they were the better band with a greater range, as evidenced by this banger. Beetlebum sets the scene for some classic 90s alternative music, Song II is throw away hit but there is depth in the rest of the album. Can't believe Gorrillaz are the better regarded band for some - Blur is where it's at.

Actually owned this one back in the day. Not perfect, but still pretty great. Damon Albarn is still a dreamboat.

I remember buying this from Sanity Cannon Hill after seeing it had Song 2 on it and then happily discovering that Beetlebum was an absolute tune as well - it verges on perfection as a car sing along. Unfortunately I never really connected with the rest of the album and nothing changed after these most recent couple of listens. I also misjudged where this fell in their discography - I thought for sure it was one of their first releases so it was weird to hear that it's actually their fifth. To me it makes way more sense as pre-Parklife release. The Blur/Oasis rivalry is still such an interesting phenomenon - despite my lack of connection with these tracks I still find it difficult to fathom why or how anyone could claim Oasis as superior; at least Blur always kept things innovative (if somewhat challenging) and varied in sound and style. Five stars for Song 2.

Just an incredible album, second best of them for me, right after The Great Escape

Good

very good album i vibed the whole way through

Love a bit of Blur. While it might not have as many catchy hits as some of the others, with exception of The Banger that is song 2, it has more depth. It's a really good album and given the lack of nuance in the scoring system, vs other things I've given a 4 to, this gets a...

great album! Its like if Gorillaz stayed in rock, Damon Albarns lyrics are fantastic. its a shame only Blur was the worldwide hit, so many good songs, I'm glad this one popped up.

Loved it! Gorillaz minus the hip hop. Damon Albarn is such a unique musical mind.

An alternative album I really liked!

Always amazing.

Such a good Gorillaz album. I love everything Damon gets his hands on. 10/10

Absolutely gold

Banger

waffled a lot between 4 and 5 but at the end of the day Essex Dogs clinched it

Great alternative rock album from Gorillaz's Damon Albarn!

Imagine if David Bowie was punk rock. This has punk vibes to it but it is a "happy punk" if you will

Fucking love the 90s. I dont care what you say. "It's not my problem" - Damon Albarn WOOOO-HOOOO!

Really liked this album. I have heard Song 2 3,443,679 times on the radio, just today. But have never heard any other songs by Blur. If I had heard this album when it came out and I was a teenager, it very well could have been one of my favorites.

Fabulous

Wow what s great record! When I first listened to it I was already amazed but this time it just blew me away!

MOREEEEE: I love blur and it’s been like this a long time. I find their music full of passion and just slaps perfectly. As amazing as Oasis are Blur will always be better (+ Damon Alburn is the Gorrilaz man). Beautiful album full of bangers and passion. Would listen again and again.

Absolutely timeless classic. I had a girlfriend who's brother was Blur crazy before this record was released. I didn't really get it. This album changed that for sure. I saw them live on this tour in Sydney, apparently Tom was at the show too. Graeme using a theremin on stage blew my mind. I'm going to listen to this again now. See ya.

Oh wow. So timely. Been reconnecting with Blur a lot recently. This album was HUGE the year I started uni, in fact it became an obsession of mine. Beetlebum was the song that served as my gateway Blur drug, and Song 2, despite being overplayed, is still a mad headbanger. I saw Blur twice in Sydney in a couple of days, the second concert at the Hordern we managed to catch Dave's drumstick after it flew into the audience during Song 2. I still don't know what happened to that, I had it for years. We managed to blag our way into the after party in Kings Cross, and I sidled up to Graham Coxon at the bar, and what did I say? 'Great guitar Graham'. Damn what a loser. Oh and the album is a real mixed bag, some I love, some I'm a bit indifferent, but as a package and a statement and a disc full of memories, this has to get full marks.

Wall to wall banger

Brilliant as always

DIG IT. Such a fun mix of feelings and sounds

I am a big fan of early Gorillaz albums, and all throughout this self-titled record by Blur I couldn't hear anything else other than demo recordings from the cartoon-band (plus Song No.2, which is a great addition on its own, from the early days of Fifa, up to gym session yesterday it keeps me company for the better or worse). I have to say, I just really like Damon Albarn's vocal, he is one of those pop/rock singers that I can just listen to anytime, even if the instrumental parts are total garbage - and in case of Blur, they are on the other end of spectrum. I love songs like "Beetlebum" and "Essex Dogs". Both aren't alike, but both have that quality of slow introduction, leading into a bigger or smaller eruption of noise. Great guitar work as always, thanks to the mighty Graham Coxon. Probably this is my favourite Blur album, but still it's not as good as Demon Days. In general, I would give it a weak 5 stars.

Cool album, really big in the 90s

Me gustó mucho, me gusta la variedad de sonidos y la mezcla de instrumentos y sonidos del rock con los toques electrónicos y efectos de voz, me dio ganas de seguir escuchando

Beetlebum has always been one of my favorites, but this was the first time I had listened to this whole album. I enjoyed every single song, and liked it more that I expected. So many of these tracks are hauntingly charming. Fave track(s): Beetlebum, Song 2, On Your Own, Death of A Party

Great album, nice to hear again

Brilliant segue album between „Oily waters“ of the past. Not „The Great Escape“ in total from everything that defined Blur so far but at least a two sided head facing also towards more experimental approaches of the following up Pop-deconstruction on „13“. 4.6

An excellent indie britpop classic. There's some heavy bias towards one song in particular for me, but generally this was just great. It felt like both a mixed-bag jam session and a cohesive album. I think this is one of those albums I certainly need to seek out on physical media as it's just a classic. Favourite: Song 2

Best: Beetlebum Worst: Essex Dogs woooooooohoo

Song 2 is great even if it was overplayed for a while. The rest of this album works for me. I thought it was funny reading the wiki that it was influenced by Pavement.

I like Blur. I like this Blur album. This is one of my most played albums my senior year of high school and freshman year of college. Always happy when Blur comes on.

At a time when I seriously thought Blur were going to either call it a day or deliver another Brit Pop follow up to Great Escape, they go head and release what is my second favourite album of theirs. Definitely their most ambitious and successful album. Sure Song 2 got a flogging but it is a fun tune which is world's away from Country House but a natural sequel to Popscene.

Liked it!

adoro

This was great. I've listened to a couple of songs by Blur, but didn't hear the similarities with Gorillaz and make the connection that there is an overlap in members. I went on to listen to all of the Blur albums and it was fantastic.

I unexpectedly, quite unexpectedly, LOVED this album!

it says a lot that the song done entirely as a joke on the of-the-moment alternative rock is one of the better alternative rock songs of its era blur albums are like episodes of seinfeld. they're not really about anything, and nothing really happens. that's completely alright, because damon albarn is really good at putting together an album that doesn't say much, doesn't do much, but is still really enjoyable. it's kind of wild that blur was pitted up against oasis back in the day, but none of these songs other than song 2 are the cultural staples that songs like wonderwall and don't look back in anger are today. there's no one playing beetlebum or on your own on an acoustic guitar at a party, even though both of those songs are better than wonderwall blur is cool. they've always been cool, and they'll probably be cool forever. there's a very kinks-ian "i don't care" kind of attitude to so much of their music, but they're a little more innovative than their equally pompous predecessors.

9/10 there’s some really, really good moments here I did get a little bored with the pop but I really loved it for the most part

I love this album definitely blurs best one of their longest but the only one that doesn’t drag for a minute. Obviously (like most albums) the album is known for a couple of hits starting with the 1,2 punch of the drowning beetlebum followed by song 2 a mockery of grunge that actually sounds like the best grungy song of the 1990’s. M.O.R (like what it stands for) is a middle of the road track that stolen so much from David Bowie that blur had to add him as a writer. On your own is the ultimate party with one of the catchiest choruses on the album. All of this happens within the first 5 songs so on the surface level this could be seen as front loaded but some of these non singles really make this album special in particular : You’ve got the beautiful you’re so great filled to to the brim with little crackles and pops like it’s been on a record player. Death of a party provides a dark side to the album that only gets more prominent as time goes on, with a riveting bass line and a darkly memorable hook. Strange news from another star reminds me of early 70’s David bowie and serves as my personal favourite track; the track ends in a rampaging march intro the punky moving on before going into the spoken word closer Essex dogs a very off putting but unique song. The other tracks certainly each provide a new layer to the album and blurs career going away from a greater but catchy Britpop singles act to a dark album track act showing their verity in a consistent album definitely deserves a 5!

Brilliant, really reminds me of being a teenager back when it was out. Some big hits (in the UK at least), including song 2, but i think some of the lo-fi low key tracks are my favourites.

uh uh

I see it now!

This is 1000 times better than that twee stuff they farted out when Britpop was a thing. (In England, mind you. Here in Oz we liked Oasis, but Blur and Pulp? Nah.) It rocks in places, there is homage paid to psychedelic Beatles, and a couple of tracks score quite highly on the weird shit-o-meter. Great stuff. Much better than I thought it would be. Woohoo!

Liked

Beautiful

So why was the blur/oasis thing even a thing? This album is fkn gold. Also how did we not know Damon albarn was gorillaz. I have a 2 disc version of this with some great bonus stuff, definitely gonna dig it out again. I recently read that when Malkmus left pavement the other guys were largely relieved cos they weren’t that good at being musicians, I wonder how the rest of blur feel post blur. Didn’t know I’d been missing this one, it’s not faith no more’s the real thing, but it’s certainly one of the greats

Este es un disco fundacional para mí. Beetlebum fue una obsesión y Song 2 una canción inescapable durante ese año.

Удивительно странный, но очень классный альбом.

favs: - strange news from another star - beetlebum - country sad ballad man - you're so great - death of a party - song 2 - m.o.r.

A band really hitting their stride with this album. A brave move away from Brit-Pop that really delivers.

More eclectic and willing to experiment than MLIR, and I really feel it benefited from it. I can even hear some underpinnings of what would become Gorillaz sounds in here. Not to mention Damon Albarn really comes out as a great songwriter. Great record.

really enjoyed this. good album and will listen again

Espeso

Sticks in you like a burr. Bull-at-a-gate kind of energy, which I enjoyed very loudly on a road trip

Man, I have really slept on this band, this album slaps. I also learned something new today (i.e. Gorillaz)

Fab! Classic. Loved it!

This album came out the same week as Pavement's Brighten the corners. The two best indie albums of the decade in my view, and both share a sonic signature. It was definitely Pavement influencing Blur rather than the other way around, but it doesn't matter. This is my favourite Blur album by a country mile, and just edges Pulp's "a different class" for best britpop album

oh, i know song 2 haha

Perfect

Det kan jeg godt lide

Not much to say, classic Blur.

Brilliant.

The album which showed that Blur could do more than just Brit-Pop (and could actually evolve unlike some other band at that time).

Mijn favoriete Blur album! Hier kwamen ze echt los van dat 'Britpop' stempel en kwam er veel meer diepgang en experiment in de muziek. Erg fijne plaat.

My favourite Blur album for lots of reasons. So many good tunes on here that turned my attention away from Oasis and towards Blur. Beetlebum is probably my favourite Blur song if I were to think about it, and it sets the tone for the whole album. Can’t give it anything other than 5 stars.

Such a varied album. Psychedelic moments, electronic elements, straight up acoustic songwriting, rock, punk, hiphop beats, fun singalong vibes but also some slightly more challenging/experimental songs. This is why Blur are one of the best British bands of all time and why this album is one of their finest. It also resonated heavily in the US and is a favourite of the band themselves. 10/10

Loved it when it came out and it still sounds great today.

Chilllllllll

Nice!

8,5/10. Relativamente variado.

It's a shame that in America they're mostly known for Song when they have so much more to offer.

Alright, I've finally gotten all of the albums on this list to prominently feature Damon Albarn. Here we have Blur's 1997 self-titled album. With other "self-titled non-debut albums" that I've heard, it's been a little unclear as to why the album was self-titled, but I can definitely see why this was the case for Blur's album. This album was a pretty big stylistic shift for the band. Of course, Blur's music had always had a good amount of diversity in its sound and influences, but starting with this album of theirs, the band effectively abandoned their britpop roots in favor of something closer to art rock and alt rock. I think they pull off the sound pretty well here. Sure, this album isn't quite as good as Parklife, but it's still a great time. I mean, you've got the funny whoo-hoo song that us Americans know the band for! That's gotta count for something, right? For real though, I've always liked "Song 2" quite a bit. There are probably better Blur songs out there, but "Song 2" is still a great deal of fun that I really don't have anything against. "Beetlebum" comes before it on the album and I do really love that song too, maybe even more. This is one of those openers that does a great job of showing you what you're in for with the album. After that, songs like "Country Sad Ballad Man," "On Your Own," and "You're So Great" continue the experimentation streak that Blur had been on for a while with a new lo-fi attitude to it. At the end of the day, despite the changes to the band's sound, this is still a Blur album. Seeing as I happen to really like Blur, I'd say that's a good thing. This isn't the band's best outing, but it's still worth a listen in my eyes. Good album. Solid 4/5.

Wait I really did love this album. Each song had this alternative-electronic-rock fuzziness to it with a through line of melodic electricity. Contrary to the album title, all the songs felt distinct and individual. I don’t think it’s necessarily a five star record, but surely a strong four! STAND-OUT SONG: “Beetlebum” HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Song 2”, “On Your Own”

Album #114: Blur Genre (W): Indie rock, lo-fi, alternative rock, art rock Singles: Beetlebum, Song 2, On Your Own, M.O.R. I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: I love the new, harder, ear-blasting influences this album has. After listening to Parklife, I was wondering what this one had to offer, and I believe Albarn’s lyricism has improved. Song 2 is one of the best alternative rock songs of all time. I’m pretty impressed. Favorite songs: Beetlebum, Song 2, M.O.R., On Your Own, You’re so Great, Death of a Party, Chinese Bombs, I’m Just a Killer for Your Love, Look Inside America, Strange News from Another Star, Movin’ On

Really enjoyed this album. It was at the height of the Britpop era, but you can feel at times where Damien would eventually go with Gorillaz. Overall a really fun romp in one of (IMO) music's finest eras.

A fun, nostalgic ride. Lots of variety in style.

Good pop album Song 2: famous song. Lots of guitar hooks. Catchy songs Male vocalist:: good Beetle bum: good song A great album: four stars.

Pierwsza piosenka narazie mi sie podoba tak fajnie brzmią spokojne ale jednak coś tu sie dzieje fajne Perkusja boss Mega good serio podoba mi sie naprawde dobre to bylo daje temu 8/10 aha w ostatniej piosence sprankowali mnie że album sie skończył a tak naprawde dalej jest troche

Man this is great! I always loved Beetlebum and MOR but haven't listened to the whole record. Song 2 is great too, but it's been so overdone in my life that it's kinda annoying now. But this whole album is awesome, I'll listen again

It's.... Really good. Man. He just doesn't write bad music.

I was shocked to learn that Blur was the fifth studio album from Blur. I had always assumed that the self titled album was a debut and they faded away from the spot light afterwards. I guess with a change in style from Britpop it is a bit of a debut of sorts for this style of Blur. One of my high school bands often played Song 2 at community shows. One of our friends who had recently shaved his head of his long hair sang for us. Not knowing that the lyrics were actually “I got my head checked” instead of shaved. We mainly recruited him entirely off the notion that he shaved his head. He spent the time learning the song to play with us either way. We had a ton of fun playing it at random shows for practically nobody at weird small town events. Those exposure bucks were so much fun to earn and look where it took my music career. Song 2 is the only song I knew from the album. It was popularized from some Labatt Blue beer commercials showing feral youth racing shopping carts, etc. Nostalgia aside the rest of the album is actually what I enjoyed most today. Though Song 2 will always have a special place in my heart.

Woooo oooooo When im pins and needles Wooooo oooooo Well i lie and im easy Woooooo oooooo

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/blur/blur/ For some reason, even though I love all of Damon Albarn's other projects, I've never reaally got into his main thing (if that's what you can still call it). I always like it when I listen to it, but it never captures me in ways that Gorillaz and The Good, the Bad and the Queen have. So yea, of course I like this album (although not their best), but at the same time it's also overlong and not always as exciting.

Liked the first song immediately "Beetlebum" - unique sound, good movement Song 2 is obviously a great song, cool vocals, good feel Enjoyed Country Sad Ballad Man Really like the vocal layering in M.O.R. On Your Own and Blur started sounding to me like additions to a movie soundtrack

this helped me get through my calculus homework.

I want to like Blur but it is just...missing something. That being said I still enjoyed this album a lot. A 4 is fair here.

already listened to it and i listened to it again. absolute banger, been listening to it since i was 12 peak

Not what I expected at all. All over the place sonically but always feels like Blur. A seriously good time

I enjoyed this

It’s all going a bit Kid A! Good album, although it does feel a bit like a Special Edition where they’ve tacked on some demos and studio outtakes to beef up the run time.

I had a really good time with Blur!

I grew up in such a big Blur household so I am very aware of their discography, however it was primarily restricted to their Greatest Hits DVD (I would often come home on a Friday afternoon from school and my mum would be watching it while baking something). So I know the singles and their videos very well (and there are some GREAT videos. I even seem to recall the M.O.R. video was filmed in Sydney), less so everything else. Song 2 is still just a huge jolt of energy and fun and so powerful, Beetlebum and On Your Own were always my favourites. Some very intruguing and sometimes spooky sonic exploration on here which I enjoyed even if it didn’t always become a memorable song. Hope maybe their self-titled or Parklife will be on this list in the future?

This is nice and got a lot weirder than I expected, in a good way. Song 2 is overplayed but slaps. It pleases me that it is the second song on the album. And that the album cover is a blur.

A rough listen, edging on a feel of unfinished or constant movent. Somehow it feels unresting, going somewhere in the traffic and with a ticking clock. It makes me feel late, but in a laid back, unavoidable way. Weird record, which I quite like. To me, this was the first step for Damon towards the Gorillaz, with a mixture of indie rock, experimentalism, and with an eye to the future.

-personal storylines -experimental -contrast to the brit-rock culture -raw, grunge guitar

Discazo, blur > oasis y que lo lloren, pero le bajo un punto porque song 2 es plagio de windows down de Big Time Rush. Sape

1001 albums to hear before you blur out of this world 130# I love Damon Albarn, he makes things with character and texture like nobody. More experimental than I thought it would be. Some experimentations fail but it is pretty good nevertheless.

ive already listened to this album the whole way through multiple times but im excited to hear it again. death of a party will always be my favorite song by them

Now I'm wondering if all of their album covers are blurry. I enjoyed this! Song 2 is a classic (and now I know why it's called that), and I was getting down with a lot of the other tracks too. It's low-fi rockin' in just the right way.

Starts very well, maybe a bit of filler in the middle 3rd. You can hear the influence of American bands like Pavement and Sonic Youth. The singles are all great, Beetlebum might be my favourite Blur song. Overall a strong record and given it’s came 18 months after The Great Escape it’s Testament to the Blurs ability to sound completely different from prior themselves and pull it off. 4.2

Much better than expected. And not thanks to song 2. They surprised me for good. 3,5/5.

Carries by two of their best songs in the beginning of the album. The full album is more average. Favourites: Beetlebum, Song 2 and Death of a Party

8 - GOOD

Some bangers on this one ("Song 2", "Chinese Bombs", "M.O.R.". A bit on the long side, but I didn't hear any specific tracks I would cut. On the better end of the 90s Brit-pop scale.

Great

Me gustó muchísimo, voy a escucharlo más

I want to keep my reviews on this site fairly atomic, and don't want to base things off other albums, or the order i listen, but just having listened to "Modern Life is Rubbish" YESTERDAY I feel like this is a refreshing follow up. I was super underwhelmed by the sophomore album, and felt exhausted when I saw this album pop up the very next day. But even with that feeling of minor dread, this one was such a pleasant listening experience. I can tell they evolved (quickly, too, 4 years??) past your average (and severely lagging to American counterparts) Britpop and created almost like a post-Britpop album of sorts. Love the melodic slower songs, riffs, and even some trip hop experimentation. Much much much better harmonies and song structures. A treat of a project given what I listened to yesterday. Is that Noodle featured in On Your Own?? 🧐👀

Fav song: Beetlebum

Mostly clever and cool stuff

In an album where Blur went looking for influences they managed to find a happy medium between serious (and often self serious) sonic experimentation and slacker-than-thou goofing off. It's quite impressive how many ideas, hooks, sounds and textures are crammed in here, with most of them landing. Very good fun.