Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Not my thing.
Pretty good tbh 6-7/10
Didn't quite connect with this one. More hard rock / unpleasant instrumental sounds. Might revisit it as I develop my palate for rock
one has to chew through a lot of derivative britrock filler to get to enjoy the (comparatively) more thoughtful and listenable meat of this record. i did like hearing early hints of what albarn might achieve with gorillaz
Muy bueno
Seems like a 2 1/2 for me but will be generous and begrudgingly award Blur a 3. I’m hearing something akin to a band that’s trying too hard. Gimmicky, derivative perhaps. Still some decent hooks, though. The good hooks are oftentimes lost in sound effects and such that detracted from my listening experience.
The day for my final Blur review has finally come. I liked Modern Life is Rubbish (4 stars), but didn't really care for Parklife very much (2 stars). I'm familiar with "Song 2," but other than that, I have no idea what to expect on this album. It looks like it's time to "woohoo" my way into another Britpop album. Overall, I thought this album was fine. The sound was markedly different from the other Blur albums that I've heard, but the songwriting was still really good. I did enjoy the guitar playing in a general sense, but I didn't think that there was anything particularly new or noteworthy about the sound of this album, other than the fact that it marked a shift for Blur. "Song 2" is a fun bump of adrenaline, and the irony that a song making fun of American music is Blur's highest charting song in the states is pretty funny in my opinion. I'm about halfway done with John Harris's book Britpop!, and I'd have to say that "Song 2" nicely summarizes Britpop's view of American rock. "On Your Own" was my favorite song on the album. I really loved the distorted electronic sounds, the guitars, and the percussion. Its rich sound really made it stand out from the rest of the album. "Look Inside America" was really good too, and I thought the string arrangements were done really well. Other than that, there wasn't too much on this album to comment on for me. After all is said and done, I think Modern Life is Rubbish is pretty easily the best Blur album on this list.
This was ok, but I don’t really understand why the Blur v Oasis thing happened at the time - they seem completely different to me.
Eh. Some great songs but the overall songwriting is not as strong as parklife
so far... might take this over my fav Oasis album... but does this have champagne supernova... hm... we will find out... you're so great? whatever it is, this is a proper 4.5. (btw last song def not champagne supernova yuck lol)
I was only familiar with "Song 2", which is decent but maybe overplayed. Besides that, the only song I liked was "Death of a Party". The song "Beetlebum" was borderline.
The Wiki said this album was their "American album" so maybe they are pandering to me a bit, but I love the mix of strummy, fuzzy guitars and droning, lifting lyrics beyond the big singles.
Inconsistent. A reminder of why the album format isn't always great given it felt like a fair amount of this might have been filler. That said, 'Song 2' is a banger and a handful of tracks were reminders of the fun places Damon Albarn ended up going with the Gorillaz.
Some great songs on here... however it's shockingly my first full listen to this album and a LOT of it just felt like an experimental jam session.
„Song 2“ ist eine Stilikone der Zeit und der Generation und ein Song der die Band charakterisiert. Die restlichen Songs sind bandtypisch und anstrengend. Sie stilistisch im Einklang aber kein Song kommt annähernd an das Zugpferd heran. Etwas besser als der Rest sind „You so Great“ und „Look inside America“. Deswegen fehlt dem Album etwas zum Überdurchschnittlichen.
Maybe a 2.5, just Goo by Sonic Youth but worse. Probably an auditory representation of the second section of Celeste 3A, except that level's actually good. End of the album gets a little better, but the start still drags it down. Has some okay songs, Beetlebum, Song 2, On Your Own, I'm Just a Killer for Your Love, but there's too much slop to justify a 3
Only good song is Song 2. Another review called the album "a blur," and funny as it is, yeah. Braindead is another word that works. Song 2 is pretty great though fr.
This is my first time listening to this. I had heard "Song 2" many times but did not know the name of the song or the artist before today. I thought this was OK and could hear the Beatles' influences on some of the songs. I was happier with the songs that had Ian Hunter/ Mott the Hoople influences. I will listen to this again.
It's fine. I like some of the songs if they come on individually, but the album doesn't hold much for me as a singular experience. I don't think I'd actively put this album on, but I wouldn't necessarily immediately skip the songs.
This was some sort of Stange News from Another Star. I guess I’ll be Movin’ On.
God I hope this is the last Blur record on the list.
I listened to this in two chunks. Really liked the first half. Didn’t enjoy the second.
Okay!
Not my cup of beer.
Very enjoyable. Wish I'd paid more attention to them. I can't say it's a 5-star classic, but it's highly listened and I enjoy their vibe.
I can very much remember this one coming along and blowing me away. They front-loaded it with the singles that had come out, so Beetlebum and Song 2 were already familiar but it then did for Britpop what the late-60s Beatles did for beat pop. Took it, threw it out and made a bold shift into a different direction. Britpop carried on doing its thing for a couple more years but with its primary flag-bearers now firmly focused on exploring their American influences, this marked the beginning of the end. Gone were the character-based songs and in comes the more personal writing, heavier riffs and more sonic experimentation. The Great Escape was the album everybody seemed to want them to make after the cultural phenomenon that was Parklife, but this was the album they wanted to make. Graham is absolutely in his element, tearing through guitar lines that are deceptively complex on Country Sad Ballad Man and I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, then throwing together chords and words with effortless effectiveness on You're So Great and Look Inside America, but it's when the band started to push the genre envelope the most, on Essex Dogs, On Your Own and the hidden gem, Death Of A Party, that this dark, growling masterpiece really comes into its own. 1997 was arguably my favourite year of all time for new music and this is the dark horse for album of the year.
Uninspiring British pop-rock. Good musicians. Hate the vocal. Boring.
While there are some timeless classics on this album, the rest doesn't really stand up on its own and all blends together.
It was fine
Fun album with some peppy songs. Nothing really stood out to me as something I'll listen to again.
Solid britpop, indierock, damon albarn
Never really listened to Blur. Always liked Song 2 so this album gets some points just for containing that song. After listening to two Blur albums on this project now I have to say they are a great band. Great musicians. And the singer doesnt have a bad voice. The songs just dont quite hook me in enough to really grab me. But I can see why people can get into them.
All for bands/artists developing through their careers, who wants the same thing album after album, or trying to be your teen/ twenty something self when you are old enough to be that person’s dad ( or grandad in some cases). Never spent much time on Blur, so they moved on from their Brit pop sound, good for them. Obviously the album that has song 2, the sampled track heard on every sport highlight or next programme ad at the time, not sure how many times heard the whole song. It’s competent, songwriting, playing, singing and production but it just felt like a bit of a slog, hard work to get through all 50 odd minutes. Presume this means there is at least 1 other Blur album, as can’t imagine many Blur fans thinking this is their essential recording?
No está mal, pero lo recordaba mejor. Inicia con dos trancazos y luego no es tan parejo. Pero no me la pase mal.
“Song 2” was pretty good but that’s about it
It was not bad at times. 2.5
Solid stuff without unnecessary twists.
Not bad, not great. A bit weak if you take out Beetlebum and Song 2
I LOVE BLUR THEY ARE THE BEST SO MUCH BETTER THAN OASIS
Referent
It was fine good beats 2/1001 6/10
Overhyped much? Well yes but they're not alone. In the end I don't really care about Blur or their music.
A couple of good songs but quickly got boring. Can hear some Gorilaz sounds in this album.
One of the big Brit rock records, I was into Oasis even more and I didn't get this album until discounts hit it later. As a metal guy Song 2 hit me harder, while I appreciate the rest of the album too. I remember being quite indifferent to the ridiculous notion where you had to "choose your side" over Oasis or Blur and sometimes Pulp aswell. It's not my favourite, but it's not bad either, quite enjoyable record in fact.
Really enjoyed this
Meh
Didn’t listen to it all but liked what I did. Country sad ballad man was a fav
Kinda cool but not my style
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.
This album didn't need to be an hour long. Outside of Song 2, I don't think there are any I have heard before or have much interest in hearing again. Some of it started to sound a little too Smith's like, which just isn't it. I know they are one of the big British bands of the 90's but this album didn't do it for me.
This is sorta sweet. Ambient enough to entertain me, and not techno buzzy. I wouldn't change the station if I heard it on the radio. 3 stars
oh yeah baby oh yeah final rating: 85/100 this is such a good album there are simply no bad songs highlights: beetlebum death of a party chinese bombs
Very mid. Song 2 was obviously the highlight but the rest was a blur (sorry). Still convinced that Oasis is better.
This album is kind of blah but in the best way possible. I really liked Essex Dogs. It was worth it just to hear that song
Not bad at all. With the classic Song 2 on it plus a few other good songs, makes for a solid album. Trails off a little by the end of the album though.
再听几张这么厌世的专我会疯掉
3.5
I knew the one song. Overall I didn't mind this one but they kinda fade together after a while.
Some bangerz. Need another listen to appreciate the others more.
great work
Look Inside America is one of the top songs to have play during the credits at the end of your life.
Song 2 is great but rest of the album was forgettable.
This sounds just like the other Blue album we listened to. Ok, nothing special. Bit boring.
Meh
90s rock hairball
There are so many great Blur recordings, and this is definitely one of them
Paar echt leuke nummers, maar ook toch echt veel net te meh
Solid album with some good tracks but feeling on the 3 side of 3.5 for me.
2 nothing memorable besides song 2
3.5
this is the first Blur album I've listened to from front to back. I didn't really connect with it, and I think that's for two reasons. first of all, I don't have the context of their previous work leading up to this, which features a much more specific Britpop sound, rather than this album's more general alternative rock palette. and second of all, I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy. it's interesting to see which UK artists manage to make an impact here in the States and which ones don't. our knowledge of the music of the British Isles tends to be pretty scattershot for that reason; Blur didn't really manage to catch the mass attention of Americans until this, their fifth album, six years into their career. is it because they started listening to American "college rock" bands and writing more American-esque songs on this one? well, Oasis made a huge splash with their sophomore album two years before this, and even well before that, there's a well-documented history of Americans being fascinated by a "British" musical aesthetic that dates back to the Beatles and the Kinks. for Blur, I think it may have something to do with how their sound and lyrical attitude reflect a particular kind of English cynicism, one that I don't get much out of since I've never even set foot in the UK, whereas we Yanks tend to prefer a general sense of optimism out of our British pop bands. undeniably, this album feels like it was written for a more international audience; the main way the Americanisms of this album come through, for me, is in this album's rough-around-the-edges presentation. there's still some polish and refinery on display on songs like "Beetlebum" and "M.O.R.", but most of the parts of this album that excite me are ones that start to feel a bit like they're breaking down. Blur were particularly influenced by Pavement when they wrote this batch of songs, and the best moments here definitely feel like they were recorded in view of a shrine of Stephen Malkmus. sonically, I think this record exists in a really cool nineties rock middle ground between the noisier sounds of American indie bands and the sophisticated arrangements of Britpop acts. which is why it pains me to say that I didn't really connect with this album that well from a compositional perspective! I like the opening two tracks, but everyone does. I don't really get as excited about any of the other songs here apart from the last two, and by the time they come on, the album's already over! there's a lot of neat sounds and good songs in the middle (some that remind me of the future sounds of Damon Albarn's Gorillaz), but none of them really blow me out of the water or catch my attention in any big way. there's a couple older Blur albums left on this list, and I hope that listening to them deepens my appreciation of what the band put together here. I appreciate the craftsmanship on display here, but I think having more of a familiarity with where these guys were coming from musically might make this make more sense. as it stands right now, I thought this was good, but not great. strong 6/10.
back half is much better
I liked it. It’s pretty chill while having good songs on it
There's some interesting stuff here but it doesn't quite come together to make a great album. Some highlights were Death of a Party and the Bowie-esque Strange News from Another Star. I also enjoyed the opener Beetlebum. I was a little surprised to see Song 2 is such a massive hit; it didn't really stand out from the rest of the album.
Blur's alternative phase. I really like a lot of it, some of it doesn't quite hit though.
This is #day84 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... woo-hoo! It's because of this challenge that I listen to Blur album-wise for the first time in my life. As I've mentioned in the Parklife review, I've always perceived them as more of a single-song band. "Song 2" was my introduction back in my teenage years, thanks to a Tuborg beer commercial. Since then, I've enjoyed beer more than this band's music. Now, the self-titled... It's a head-scratcher for the most part. Blur is going indie and alternative rock, so? Also, and I must have said that before as well, their records are disrespectfully and groundlessly long: everything up until Think Tank drags on for about an hour or more, which gets annoying sooner or later. In this case, sooner, because halfway through, I felt like turning it off. Ah, let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day85.
Wooo Hoooo!
The album starts off pretty hot. The indie style seems like a great choice for them, but I also never listened to a Blur album before. It starts off with a band, but kind of slowly fades. After the first 6 or 7 songs, you've heard everything that you need to from them. The only song in the back half that really does anything for me is Look Inside America, but I always end up enjoying European songs criticizing America. Save yourself 45 minutes by just listening to Song 2, You're So Great, and then something else randomly chosen from the album, and you've heard everything important. Favorite Song(s): Song 2
Really varied album, some great songs, some not so great. Probably a bit too long. I’m going to keep listening to see if it grows on me. Highlights: Song 2, Death of a Party, Strange News From Another Star, Essex Dogs.
Not a very fun album for me. Similar thoughts to the Oasis album that I listened to a while back, but instead of sounding phoned in it just sounds uninteresting. I can’t quite pin why. The instrumentals were strange in a way that I probably should have enjoyed, but it didn’t hit like that. Oh well. Standouts: Song 2, M.O.R., and Death of a Party.
This is definitely a slow burner that repays multiple listens. And it is one of those albums that sounds better on the headphones for some reason. Goes on just a bit too long to earn a 5 from me
Mere interessant end alt andet britpop vi har haft indtil videre, men en time er langt for et album der brænder sine bedste numre af helt i begyndelsen
Sjovt lyt, lyder overhovedet ikke som det jeg ellers forbinder med britpop scenen
I've only ever heard Song 2.... Now I know why. Beetlebum was fun, but the rest is pretty weak? I like the style though.
Song 2. Song 2. Song 2! WOOOOO HOOOO I like this album. But ... So, we have Beetelbum, Song 2 and then Country Sad Ballad Man. Not a bad way to start an album, at all. But then it all tails off a bit. This is cool, tho, and just shows the breadth of Damon's creativity. A solid 3 stars.
I like Song 2, Song 5, Song 7 and Song 8! The rest is mixed and for me it tails off badly from Song 9 onwards. This is Blur going alt-country, sounds like Wilco in places but they did it better. Just listen to 'Misunderstood'
Gonna say it, Song 2 is overrated 😳 The rest of the album hardly grabbed my attention, either.
I like Blur a lot, saw them at Wembley in their comeback tour last year which was amazing, but I’d be lying if I gave this anything above 3. Beetlebum and Song 2 are brilliant, but the tracks that follow don’t live up to them at all. Modern Life Is Rubbish, Parklife, The Great Escape, and their 2023 album The Ballad Of Darren are all better than this.
curti
One of those albums where you realise why you only know one song from it. But overall not terrible.
Thought I would like this more than I did.
I am probably more in the Britpop camp when it comes to Blur. This is a decent album but the first half is a lot stronger than the second which I found tails off a bit. Says a lot that the 4 singles are in the first 5 tracks, I guess
Best Blur album I've heard so far. Most songs are quite good. Most of the experimental things worked out well.
I liked the hits but there's some rubbish on here.
It was the summer of '97, a time etched in my memory, filled with mischief and the thrill of youth. My best friend and I revelled in the art of waking my younger brother in the middle of the night, timing our antics so that when he burst into my room, furious and bewildered, we would blast the iconic “Woo-hoo!!!!” chorus of "Song 2." Looking back, I realize how intertwined this album is with my teenage experiences—a cherished relic of my formative years. Blur stands as a pivotal moment in the band's evolution, and despite its radical departure from earlier sounds, it remains a highlight of their discography. So how does it compare to those hazy memories, especially following the wicked one-two punch of Parklife and The Great Escape? First things first: while Blur may have won the battle with "Country House," it was Oasis who won the war in terms of sales and international success. So, despite the shock at the time, it is perhaps not so unexpected that Blur represents a radical shift in aesthetic for the band. Truth be told, while I enjoy those earlier albums, the self-titled album better fits the sound I was listening to at the time and still holds a special place in my heart today. While these songs share a common grunge-lite aesthetic, Blur offered 14 distinct tracks, and the consistently strong quality is surprising upon revisiting the album. "Beetlebum" is as good a song as the band has ever released, blending lush melodies with a dirty, distorted sound that reflects Blur's move toward a heavier, more experimental style. It may lack the pop chops of "Girls & Boys" or "Parklife", but it boasts one of Graham Coxon's best riffs and a chorus that feels cathartic. As an album opener and lead single, it is quite the declaration of intent. What can I say about "Song 2"? A track that is as ridiculous (by the band's admission) as it is fun! With just five chords played to exhaustion, Blur figured out the quiet-loud formula and took it supernova. This song helped the band finally crack America and was used in more games, films, and commercials than I can fathom. Its simplicity is part of its brilliance, running at just over two minutes with straightforward lyrics, repetitive riffs, and a punchy structure. At its root, it still sounds just as fun as the first time I heard it, standing as one of the most instantly recognizable songs of the '90s. "Country Sad Ballad Man" marks the first detour on the album; its blend of lo-fi aesthetics, acoustic instrumentation, and raw sound reflects Blur's shift away from the energetic optimism of their earlier work, moving toward a more introspective and darker content. It’s marked by a loose, almost lazy rhythm, distorted guitars, and dissonant production, giving it an intentionally rough around the edges sound. "M.O.R." is a high-energy, fun track that showcases Blur’s ability to mix straightforward rock with a clever, ironic edge. Its Bowie and Eno influences help tie it to the glam-rock tradition, making it technically better than "Song 2," driven by a catchy guitar riff, pounding drums, and Damon Albarn's assertive vocals. "On Your Own" features a blend of lo-fi rock with electronic elements, driven by a looped drum machine beat and featuring synth textures alongside garage rock-style guitars. Notably, "On Your Own" was the first Blur song to be self-produced by the band, representing their shift towards further creative independence. Following the eerie detour of "Theme From Retro," with its minimal sound, we are gifted "You’re So Great," a hidden gem fronted by Coxon that combines acoustic and electric elements for a dynamic texture. The verses are mellow, driven by gentle strummed chords, while the chorus features a more energetic sound. The catchy melody hides an underlying sense of melancholy in the lyrics and delivery. "Death Of A Party" offers a poignant moment, sounding almost like eavesdropping on a circus act from outside the tent. Here, the melancholy is heightened, with layered instrumentation and vintage synth sounds creating a dreamy, surreal quality, marked by a hypnotic rhythm. "Chinese Bombs" represents the most aggressive moment of the album, drawing on punk influences. The tight, punchy instrumentation delivers a fast tempo, driving guitar riffs, and infectious energy, making it one of the more upbeat tracks. Somewhere beneath the noise, the track boasts catchy hooks. "Killer For Your Love" continues the noisy detour, offering a bluesy, funky sound combined with introspective lyrics about desire and obsession. It feels more like a vibe than a traditional song, but within the album's context, it doesn't feel out of place. "Look Inside America" is a standout moment with its energetic sound and cultural commentary, perhaps the closest Blur comes to the Britpop anthems of old. Catchy melodies and relatable themes create a timeless feel, enhanced by fabulous orchestral touches that elevate the arrangement. Among the non-single tracks in the band's discography, this is a strong contender for my favourite, showcasing Blur’s ability to blend infectious hooks with thoughtful lyrics. "Strange News from Another Star" is characterized by its dreamy sound and abstract themes. Its sparse sound and clever instrumentation give it an ethereal quality before it descends into prog-adjacent territory in its epic final third. "Moving On" closely walks the line between the Blur of the past and the "new" Blur. With slightly different production, this track could fit well on any of their previous albums. It’s a slight return to the clear-eyed cheeky chappies who dominated Britpop, albeit with a shiny new box of effects and toys to experiment with. The album closes with "Essex Dogs," a gritty portrayal of suburban life and quite possibly the weirdest track Blur has ever produced. That is a compliment. The song is dominated by a minimalist, industrial-like soundscape, with distorted guitars, electronic effects, and repetitive beats. It feels cinematic and deliberately unsettling, drawing heavily from post-punk and krautrock influences with its dystopian vibe and brooding spoken-word delivery. More than any other track, this hints most at the work Albarn would go on to do with the Gorillaz. While Blur may not be the most indicative album in the band's discography, sounding nothing like what came before and little like what came after, it contains some of the band's best-known singles and some of their most daring album tracks. Given my prior experience with this album, I admit I can't be totally objective when rating it. However, for a release that runs close to an hour, there are few, if any, lulls in the track listing, marking this, at the very least, as the band's most consistent work. Did/Do I own this release? Yes, on compact disc. Does this release belong on the list? Yes, but I am biased. Would this release make my personal list? Strong contender, although the previous two albums may have something to say. Will I be listening to it again? Frequently.
Brit Pop…my average nemesis…
first listen really solid with some standout tracks that are legitimately cool
Really not a fan
Woohoooo
I really dislike Damon Albarn's whiney, sarcastic sounding vocal delivery. I just can't bear to listen - two minutes of the first track was enough for me.
I'm probably gonna be incredibly biased for this one because Blur is one of my favorite bands and I just saw them live a year ago. This album is britpop masterclass. Beetlebum is one of the best album openers ever, and this album also has a lot of great album-only tracks like M.O.R., Death of a Party, Chinese Bombs and Strange News from Another Star. So sad that americans sleep on Blur and britpop as a whole. They're really missing out. And it's not even my favorite Blur album, that award goes to The Great Escape
Good album, top band
As an American, I'm a casual Blur fan as they were little more than "Song 2" on this side of the pond. That being said, this is a solid record overall. Certainly a staple for 90s Brit-pop/power-pop. I know Song 2 wasn't their typical sound, but beyond just the wall of guitar and quiet/loud production, there's something in the writing of that song that isn't found anywhere else in their catalog that I've found.
Not convinced on this album, think it needed a bit of an edit. The placement of Beetlebum and Song 2 right at the start is strange too. You go from pop singles into indie navel gazing. Who is the album written for?
Didn’t do it for me
Not bad
A band I’m familiar with and happy to explore more of. Some good radio hits and some other new-to-me songs. A good mix, lots of good songs and something I could see myself listening to again.
First listen great album
This starts out pretty well, but within a couple songs it completely falls off the rails. Songs like "Theme From Retro" are a disaster - slow, boring, and grating, the triple-whammy. After that point it never recovers. "You're So Great" they should've only used the demo as a template to record the real song, rather than putting the demo on the CD. "Death of a Party" the hook is funny but the song itself is once again the triple whammy. "Chinese Bombs" is a more-unpleasant cover of "Territorial Pissings". And every song thereafter has one or more of all those same problems. So what you've got is like 4 pretty good songs totaling 15 minutes and a huge pile of crap totaling 40 minutes. This is a great example of a CD that would've been OK if it were only 35 minutes long, only relative to that OK CD they've doubled the filler and left the killer unch. I would've given this a 1 except for "Song 2", which buys it a 2. I really like "Song 2".
Not good. Just not a good one. Very weird and didn’t sit well with me. Favorite song: Song 2
ouvir. Britpop em geral é chatinho, mas o albarn é criativo. E tem aquela música do "UHU!!! " Uns timbres, fuzz e tal. Uma chance. Ouvir.
If only ever heard of their second song. The rest weren’t terrible but lot very interesting.
meh
WOOO HOOO
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
So, it's the album with Song 2 on it. I'm trying to find other things I like here, and You're So Great is a pretty good acoustic number. The track after, Death of a Party, is catchy in a plodding sort of way. It's followed by Chinese Bombs, a short punk rocker. There's a lot of variety here, and some of it is weirder than I expected. I wish it was more cohesive though, or that I liked more of the individual songs.
Very good
so tell me now, what you are made of this is what, graves are made of very, very good album
Day 5 - Blur's Blur This was fine. None of the tracks impressed me, and I only found a couple that I wanted to skip. I was starting to get really bored by the end. Song 2 is an old favorite, so I'm biased for that. But I still have to give it a 1/5 because that's the only song I particularly enjoyed out of the 14.
Not a bad Brit pop record!
Just okay
Another boring rock band.
A slightly better album of theirs but the singer’s voice is still rough on the ears.
Started fine but it's not a great sign when an album starts dragging 3 songs in. 2/5
Couple good songs, rest was a blur haha get it
3.5
3.5
Back in 2022, I gave this (7.5) ★★★½ on my 1997 dive. After giving it a relisten, we'll, it is very front loaded. The first eight tracks I was like what was I thinking... 4½ easy. But from "Chinese Bombs" on it's a flat 3½. To make matters worse I truly disliked "Essex Dogs" (ending on a song I kinda hate is a good way to bomb a score) But this time I'm going up to a light 4... It's easily the best Britpop album we've heard so far. It's not a carbon copy of other Britpop acts. It's got it's own swagger, and I like that about this album. Even if the back half falls off a bit. Blur [1997] (8.1) ★★★★
Not bad, but not that engaging either. Low 3.5 stars
Excellent Blur album. 4.5
Scraggy, smack-induced, Pavement-inspired semi-comeback after their burnout with Britpop on The Great Escape. This holds up much better and is a great record overall, kickstarting with two of their most iconic and enduring singles with the Beatlesy Beetlebum and sports arena mainstay Song 2. There’s cool, lo-fi slacker elements on Ballad Of A Country Sad Man and Graham Coxon ballad You’re So Great, tinge of techno on thumping, titanic On Your Own, haunted pier vibes on Theme From Retro and Death Of A Party, a burly blast of Bowie Boys Keep Swining rip-off on M.O.R and grisly urban/East End safari on experimental closer Essex Dogs. First half has all the hits but album is loaded with solid tunage from practically start to end and still sounds fresh and modern. 4.5 stars.
Going 4 on this, always liked this album a lot but it is a bit too long. There’s an easy 4.5 to 5 star album here if they trimmed it down a bit.
It's a really good 90s rock album. The funny thing is, I've heard a bunch of the songs before, but I don't know who the artist is. The sound of this album is utterly nostalgic, brave, and impressive. I feel like being transported back to the time and doing things that I've never done before. Overall, a solid album that deserves every attention.
Somewhat derivative but moderately enjoyable.
Boring britpop, drivel
There's a lot going on in this album and it has infectious energy. Beetlebum, Song No.2 and Essex Dogs were standout tracks for me.
Beetlebum and Song 2 are phenomenal. I guess there's a reason why they're the only two songs I know from this album. The rest of the album was fine but they really put their best songs right at the beginning. Just barely giving this one 4 stars.
This is Oasis’ Third best album! And it’s also Radiohead’s worst.
Blur - Blur (1997) Esperado. Nada surpreendente, a sonoridade é legal, e já era esperado, um bom álbum. Melhores músicas: N/A Piores músicas: N/A 3/5
Pretty cool stuff aside from Song 2, which honestly seems like a weird fit with the rest of the album, solid song just so wildly overplayed. I'm really digging the rest though, kind of an interesting alternative sound going on. Gets a little boring and one-note as it goes on.
Blur's Song 2 was recorded as a joke but it ended up being their greatest hit. The rest of the songs on the album are a bit meh, nothing too exciting but not too bad either.
Best blur album in my opinion
A few good songs
it’s rock and I like it. Is it my favorite? no. But plenty of bangers. Deserves more attention from me
Blur's self-titled album was their fifth, and a departure from their previous work. The band was among the successful brit-pop acts of the early nineties, and this album is more aggressive, edgier alt-rock than their first few albums. This led to mixed reviews in Britain, but was very well received outside of the UK. The single "Song 2" was the band's biggest hit single in the US, and pushed this album to be the band's most commercially successful. With punchy guitars from punk or grunge, and electronic effects giving a psychedelic hint, these are not typically brit-pop songs. These songs sound like the band was influenced by other 90s artists like Pavement and Beck, and the result was an interesting development in the band's sound.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/743593830066159697/1289298419646730311/funny.mp4 (wrong album but fuck it) its not bad, id say its a pretty good project Best Track: Beetlebum
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.
I’m at a 4.5 that I'll bump down to a 4. I just thought this was good music. It’s a very fun album, and a very good listen, but it also sort of feels like the beginning of the sunset for this era of 90s rock. Maybe I’m wrong, but I just don’t remember many albums with this pseudo-grunge style from like, 1998 onward having this much success and acclaim. It feels like this is right at the split of say, Matchbox 20, the Goo Goo Dolls, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and others bringing the more acoustically-driven and poppier style of rock back into the forefront. Is it Blur’s best album? I dunno. I liked it more than Parklife though. There’s not a bad track here, though it does sort of dull out around the middle before rising back up near the end. Obviously, Song 2 is like, the big eternal hit of the album, but within the context of the entire thing and not just as a single, it just sort of blinks by as a burst of energy. This album feels like an experiment in soundscapes and sonic tones more than any kind of solid messaging in the lyrics. I won’t go so far as to say it’s a secret Gorillaz record or anything, but my read on this album is that for as much as it’s inspired by American soundscapes and the sort of grunge rock that dominated the first half of the 90s, it deconstructs the genre. That is to say, Damon Albarn doesn’t take this anywhere near as seriously as Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder, or Billy Corgan. He’s sort of taking the piss out of it, and Song 2 kinda proves that – it is entirely nonsensical from a lyrical standpoint, fully driven by the rock melodies and huge energy it brings, but it was a monster success. It sort of begs the question of “were people ever actually listening to those bands, or did they just hear the melodies and rock out?” That’s not to say every track on here is nonsensical, or to imply that Damon Albarn doesn’t care on this record – there’s a few tracks that take themselves a bit more seriously (namely, Death of a Party & Strange News from Another Star), and they obviously gave a shit about making it sound as sonically complete and fulfilling as possible… but this isn’t that serious of a record in the long run. It’s got great writing, but it’s never the focus here. I know this all reads like I’m complaining, but if anything, I sort of admire this for being such an effective distillation of a genre and a time that feels so captivating to so many people, myself included. To close out, I’m not at a 5, mainly because the album dips from Tracks 6-10 for me. Those tracks aren’t bad, but they just didn’t feel as captivating or as interesting to me. Track 11 and onward are a pretty good way to close out the album though. It’s a pretty good 4, though – the soundscapes are great, the melodies complex, and Damon Albarn’s voice cuts through like a knife. I liked it a lot.
Fine britpop but not as good as their other albums
Didn’t get through all of this one. Not much to say other than a interesting Beatles tribute song into the Woo whoo song that feels like it was ahead of its time
Uma mistura de britpop com indie que me agrada bastante, se fosse descrever diria que parece um Oasis "Lo-Fi". Mas não querendo dizer quec opiaram mal a banda, mas por trazer uma atmosfera semelhante nas músicas (algo meio "feliz-triste") com distorções e samples característicos de produções mais independentes e caseiras.
This is not my genre.
fun.
Well, guess Oasis won Britpop
Blur have some great songs, but at other times, Damon Albarn’s whining singing voice is too much for me.
I’ve been using an overly broad definition of Britpot for these reviews, there’s way too much of it and most of it pretty mid. It’s nice to get an actual OG of the Britpop scene from the 90’s. it’s still not for me though.
I quite liked this album. It was interesting and fun.
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.
Did not meet expectations. A couple good tracks, but overall not that amazing.
Many great tracks, like the distortion they use throughout the album
It’s ok
Very Blur-y, quality Brit pop.
Höhrenswertes Album.
Very hard to get into, it felt like a chore. The only positive about it is Beetlebum.
Está la canción esta tan famosa de WoooHooo (Song2)
I enjoyed it, but some of the stuff that wouldn't be in a 'greatest hits' is a bit of a miss.
Solid, been a minute since I’ve heard (3.5/5)
I tried to like this but it was just ok. I’ll take Oasis over Blur any day.
Wooo-hooo. Well at least for the first half of the album. 3.3
Pretty darn good, but loses steam in the second half
Love this album
I thought I liked Blur more than I actually do, I found this album quite dull.
Good
It's alright, but didn't really catch my ear
It was good but just a little too long
Fine but generally fairly boring
Woo hoo (this album is overrrr) woo hoo (I don’t have to listen to blurr). This album was fine and rather uneventful
nothing too memorable (Besides song 2) but nothing too off-putting. Getting a 3 due to the rating needle's inertia rather than any deep thought about this album.
Blur is hit or miss for me
Very good. Enjoyed listening to for the first time.
a bit different to the previous releases, has a couple of bangers
Notable tracks: Beetlebum, Song 2, Strange News from Another Star
Blur is great. This album is great.
Love how the band change their style for this record but are still recognisable. Beetlebum and Song 2 have got to be up there as one of the best opening two tracks on any album. Death of a Party is a real highlight, as is Graham Coxon’s You’re So Great.
Good band but not my favorite.
“Blur” is how I’d describe this album. A long, boring, uninspired, and ultimately forgettable blur. Not bad per se, but I’m struggling to understand why I should care about this album. I finished it and immediately forgot everything I’d just heard. Even attempts to do something somewhat interesting like (rather blatantly) channeling Bowie on Look Inside America and Strange News from Another Star fall mostly flat. But some credit given for trying. A couple cool tracks, but ultimately this album is a low 3 for me and one I don’t plan to revisit. 3/5 Highlights: Beetlebum Song 2 Look Inside America Strange News from Another Star Essex Dogs
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.
There is some interesting stuff on here. But you know how it goes when you try something new sometimes some parts don’t work. I would give it a 3.5 if I could.
Decent hip album
Rather bland and one-note.
Wonderful stuff from one of the greatest British bands.
Rock alternativo. Un megahit. Un 4.
I was VERY stressed while listening to this album. Don't know if it's the album's fault but I was just stressed. Unsure if I liked this
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.
I had a very anti-Britpop reaction at the time, but this album marked the beginning of Blur putting some space between themselves and Oasis, and becoming not totally contemptible to me - "Song 2" was obviously an olive branch to my metalhead self, and quickly become a staple at every rock club. 🤘 Listening now, I enjoyed the various flavors of indie rock experimentation here. Fave tracks - "Beetlebum" and "Song 2" are still pretty decent, even if a little overexposed. Huh. "M.O.R." was apparently a single as well? Ok, then, "I'm Just A Killer For Your Love" from the non-singles...
I love Blur & Gorillaz (All the Damon Albarn bands). But this is not my favorite album.
i don’t think it’s for me but i enjoyed
6/10. I did like a lot of it but was inconsistent for me and got bored at certain parts.
Good album. Funny how making fun of Nirvana makes you famous
Thought I’d enjoy this one more. Starts off solid with the first three tracks but lost me in the middle. Sings started sounding samesy Fav songs: Beetlebum, Song 2, Death of a Party, Youre so great
my album
song 2 is annoying af but this has its moments
Durchschnitt!
The transition from britpop to indie rock, and yet most of it sounds very much the same... Song 2 remains a banger and the official celebration music of your favourite hockey team scoring a goal 25 years later
Love a bit of blur, classic songs on there
A fun album, and on the top of my list of my favorite Brit-pop albums (admittedly not a long list). I wouldn't death stare someone who put this on at a party.
This is my 4th Blur album on here. I'm pretty sure there's only one or two other bands that I've gotten 3 albums from yet. I've given them all 3 stars so far, but I can confidently say that there's too much Blur on this list. I guess it's what you get when the author of the book is a British man that was around during the Britpop era. With all that said, I am very sure that Blur is not a band that is ever going to be life changing to me, but this was also my favorite Blur album yet. I feel obliged to give it a 4 to make it stand ahead of all the others. I think I've probably said enough about Blur the band in previous reviews. Blur is barely known in the US at this point, with one major exception. "Song 2" is undoubtedly one of the biggest sports anthems still today. "Song 2" is the second song on this album, so I can finally comment on it. My take is that it slaps. Overplayed? Sure. Did Blur write it as a parody of American rock bands? Possibly. Doesn't matter, still slaps. Woo-hoo. This album is a bit long (56 minutes) and it definitely has a few weak spots, but there's a lot of good stuff on here. It's definitely a more late-90s American-sounding rock album than their previous albums (though they're still aggressively British). Lots of fun songs though, the vibe is good. I feel like it's probably blasphemy to a Brit to say this is your favorite Blur album, but here we are. Favorite song: Song 2 Other: Beetlebum, M.O.R., On Your Own, You're so Great, Look Inside America, Movin' On, Essex Dogs 8/29/24
Oo song 2
The irony. Today the big news is, there's an Oasis reunion and I get this record. Blur, proving once more how much more creative and versatile they were than their rivals. Good album. Could have been shorter. There's 3 Blur albums on the list. I think 2 would have been enough and this should be one of them. Favorite song: Song 2.
Gorillaz have made some of my favourite albums of all time, and I have never heard a Blur album in full before, so when this album loaded I was eager to listen to it. However, the experience ended up being somewhat disappointing. While there were good songs sprinkled throughout the tracklist, the deep cuts were very bland and forgettable. The overall sound of the album was pretty bland too. There weren’t really any tracks I disliked, but I don’t ever see myself returning to this album.
The Brits still got it
Great guitar driven indie rock album. Awesome and catchy vocals, playing, and songwriting. Interesting and strange guitar and keys parts that sound phenomenal even when they are dissonant. I’m surprised that the only song that got big from them was Song 2, they deserved a bigger following than they had for sure.
I haven't been more excited by an assigned album than when I saw I got Blur by Blur. I love the Gorillaz and listened to Blur's 13 a ton when I was a kid, but other than Song 2 and Beetlebum I didn't know this album very well. It was definitely a nostalgic delight. I know Song 2 is a bit of a parody, but it still slaps, and the rest of the songs where all the excellent britpoppy "fun" that we know Blur for. Will listen again.
I don’t remember much from this album when it came out other than song two, but not the best. I like the Gorillaz more now.
-waow this is awesome… I have only really listened to the Gorillaz before this and put off p much all of Damon Albarn’s earlier stuff. The self-titled album is absolutely badass though. As an additional note I’ve been looking for Song 2 for like years without knowing what it’s called.. now i know -Favorites are Beetlebum, Song 2, and Movin’ On
5/5
6/10…abwechslungsreicher als so manch anderer brit rock/poo
Yeah this album seems iconic and definitive for that 90s grungey pop-punk sound. Hard to believe there was a world where Song 2 didn’t exist. Fun album I will return.
Woo hoo
not sure what made this a must listen
Woohoo! Can sort of hear 2000s alt starting to develop here
Pretty standard Brit Rock. Not terrible
good
Ein Knaller macht noch kein gutes Album.
Yllättävää, miten vähän tästä pidin. Song No. 2 on päheä, muuten mikään ei kolahtanut.
this felt chaotic and discordant to my ears. after listening to this album twice, i found my initial positive reaction to the funky vibes overpowered by the general messiness of the music. i could definitely see myself giving this another shot, but it really isn't my type
Felt like I was almost into it a lot of times, but it just never really clicked. Didn’t hate it and liked some elements of it, but I just didn’t love it.
I've tried to like Blur and the Gorillaz. But it's just the wrong mix of styles for me. Whatever that regge influence is just annoys me. Song 2 is a banger for sure though. It's simplicity does a lot of work here.
I've rarely listened to a full Blur album. I generally either love or hate their singles and never really dived into the rest. I like the variation here and some interesting parts; nothing elevating it to "great" (4), so I'll probably give this a "good" (3).
The second song was really nice. The rest was on the shite side
1 good song += 1 Do yourself a favour and listen to the stokes, the smiths or the cure.
Song 2 is brilliant obviously, but the rest felt really complainey.
A couple of really nice songs, the others didn't really impress me
Song 2 is a super famous hit, the rest of the album is meh
Easy to listen to. I was expecting a little bit more than song2, but still quite enjoyable
I found it quite boring overall, had higher expectations based on Song 2
3.5/5.
I like the second song, can't remember the name...
has song 2 & beetlebum but kinda falls off a little after that.
Okay, wasn’t a fan of the step back from britpop but some bangers here and there
This album started off strong with Song 2 and Beetleburn but got a bit weaker from that point onwards, though I still enjoyed it and enjoyed the quiet rock sound that the album had throughout. My favourite tracks other than the two that I already mentioned are Chinese Bombs and Movin' On.
I had only heard Song 2, as far as I know, so I wasn't expecting much (thinking one-hit wonder). However, it was an interesting mix of music!
Painfully long (and I'm talking about the shorter, original version, not the Special Edition - - why anyone would want over 2 hours of this drivel is beyond me). First song was okayish, second is well-known but that doesn't make it "good", the rest was just awful
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.
A fantastic showing by one of the most notable British alt-rock acts of the 90s and 00s. With influences of straight-forward rock, glam, punk, and electronic, there's a little on this album for just about any fan of rock at large. Notable Tracks: - Beetlebum - Song 2 - iconic - M.O.R. - On Your Own - Death of a Party - Chinese Bombs - Movin' On 7/10
In the great Oasis vs Blur debate of the late 90s, I was squarely on Team Oasis. That’s not to say I didn’t listen to or like Blur, but they weren’t “my” band. With the distance of time, I can appreciate why folks were pro-Blur. It has a neo-Beatles/Rolling Stones vibe (more Rolling Stones, whereas Oasis were definitely more Beatles). That sound just hits something fundamental in a lot of people. Songs on the album I liked - Beetlebum, Song 2 (obligatory), M.O.R., On Your Own, Look Inside America, and Movin’ On. 4 ⭐️
Song 2 overtook this album, but it's nice to finally hear some decent britpop on a list that has waaayyyyy to much britpop. Also crazy to think of the artistic impact of Damon when most people in the states wouldn't even look at him twice.
Loved it
Not your generic britpop album. This has a breath of fresh air, both lyrically and instrumentally. It's also not all sunny happy songs. There's a shade of grey and melancholy too, especially the second half of the record. First half is pretty sunny tho. Song number one Beetlebum is beautiful and gentle. Song number 2 song 2 is woo ho. The instrumental 'Theme for the retro' brings the tonal change. There's weird, trippy instrumentation through out the second half. Other favorites: Death of a party (eerie organs), Essex Dogs (mysteriously badass vibes)
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.
Much like Deloused in the Crematorium, this is one of those albums where I’ve listened to the first two songs dozens of times but never bothered continuing past that. Definitely miss the fun of earlier Britpop sound.
Enjoyable, but not life affirming or life altering- which are the only ways to get 4 or 5 stars
Blur's self-titled album is a curious beast. It's undeniably a product of its time, capturing the Britpop zeitgeist with infectious melodies and a sense of youthful exuberance. Tracks like "Song 2" and "Beetlebum" are undeniable anthems, showcasing the band's knack for crafting instantly memorable hooks. However, the album suffers from a lack of cohesion. It veers wildly between catchy pop, experimental soundscapes, and moments of introspective balladry. While this eclecticism can be refreshing, it often feels disjointed and prevents the album from achieving a strong overall identity. Despite its flaws, Blur remains a solid effort from a band at the height of their popularity. While it may not be their most consistent or groundbreaking work, it undoubtedly has its moments of brilliance.
Solid 90s album. Song 2 is a bop, despite it being a joke. Dunno. Solid 3.
This album is so weird to me. On the one hand song 2 is the best song by far on this album. On the other hand, song 2 sticks out like a sore thumb.
Although I like a lot of Blur's singles I've never been enamoured with any of their albums I've listened to. I'd say the same about this, some decent but too much fuzzy distorted stuff that doesn't amount to much. But special mention goes to 'On Your Own' which is good fun. Damon Albarn said it was basically an early Gorillaz track which probably explains why I like it.
Some neat tracks for me. Everyone's heard song 2, but damn, it explosive even on the album. Country Sad Ballad Man and BeetleBum were my other favorites. The second side of the album was a little less interesting and for that ill knock it back to a 3 star rating
Like the idea overall. Great musicians, nice song writing, but the album just doesn't hang together that. I wanted it to either be catchier or weirder and doesn't feel like it went in either direction.
Pretty good album. I think it's only drawback is the CD era bloat. Cut a few tracks and it would be stronger. I feel like I should check out some of their other albums. I like this a bit more than some of the other 90's Brit pop I've gotten from the generator.
It was an interesting album with a lot of different vibes from a lot of different songs. Song 2 is an all time classic, M.O.R. was really fun, and the Theme From Retro had impeccable vibes. I can see how the Gorillaz came from this!!
I really liked beetlebum and song 2, the rest was ok
Pretty good, but definitely stuck in the 90's. Song 2 is the clear standout.
Песня номер 2 оказалась очень обманчивой
Me fait par moments penser à The Cure. Je pense que Song 2 est appelée à rester un classique, indémodable.
Definitely better than the last Blur album we listened to--this almost gets to 5 for me and might get there eventually. That Song 2 will never die.
Pretty good - not my favourite Blur album. But there is a handful of good songs that I really enjoy. They are more experimental here than earlier
mui beetlebum- is OK. 5 song 2- we all know. 5 country sad ballad man- 6 mor- idc 4 on your own- ew. 3 or 4 theme from retro- dont remember you're so great- don't remember death of a party- don't remember Chinese bombs- don't remember I'm just a killer for your love- ew 3 look inside America- dont care too British
One hit wonder.
cool
Risking to be repetitive, I dislike this album almost to the same extent I loved "Parklife." I don't know if it's too indie for me, but I found it almost annoying. It won one extra star from me for song 2 and all its history of a joke that became a success.
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.
It was a bit of a letdown. I prefer Damon on other projects, his voice is nice but the tracks aren’t my jam. I prefer the ones where the instrumentals are a bit more different and loud, otherwise the tracks don’t excite me.
Boring expect for the mythic song 2 of course
Good album with some great highlights (BEETLEBUM!!!!) but not as consistently good as a couple of their other albums
As much as this is mostly played out at this point... this is a solid record, gotta be a 3.5+
со всем уважением к Деймону я чуть не уснула) надо будет в какой-нибудь недождливый день заценить
Its different its hip and i enjoy it
woohoo
This is not my all-time favorite album of Blur, but it’s still a damn good one with lots of experimental rock tracks. I kinda wish this album list had 13 instead of blur but I’m glad this one is being recognized as well (especially over TGE) . 7.5/10 favorite songs: Beetlebum & Chinese Bombs
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
OK. Not too exciting
First time listening to this band. Song style switcheroo was all in this album i wasnt a fan of it
Damon Albarn is one of my favorite artists, primarily because of his work on the Gorillaz, but this Blur album is just ok. It's good Britpop, but he definitely comes across as uninterested in a lot of this album. My favorites are Beetlebum, M.O.R., and Death of a Party. I look forward to some eventual Gorillaz on this setlist.
Blur aren't normally an album band for me. Enjoyed this listen though. Song 2 is a skip just due to its deserved ubiquity.
I love Blur. This album starts really well with Beetlebum, Song 2 and Country Sad Ballad man. 3 great songs There is some filler on the album like chinese bombs and theme from retro. Apart from that it is a strong indie album. Blur are good, but they are not Oasis!!! Favourite song: On your own and Beetlebum Least favourite: Theme from retro Album artwork: Love the cover
Sounds of its time. A lot of experimental electronic sounds mixed in.
I'm not super well-versed in Blur, but I can tell that this album was a departure from their early Britpop sound. Britpop was largely through by this point anyway, so perhaps it was the right time to change things up. Of course, "Song 2" (or the "Woo Hoo" song as many likely know it) sticks out like a sore thumb. A song that wasn't supposed to be that massive, as it was apparently intended to be a joke for the record company. 25+ years later, that short song has been covered, sampled, and featured almost everywhere. But that's only two minutes of an album that could be seen as a canvas for all sorts of alternative rock-adjacent sounds from a Brit-based group. Most of it is pretty noisy to be honest, but I did hear some hints of what would later become Gorillaz in Damon Albarn's vocals, a group I'm quite fond of. Not bad.
British pavement. I liked it 👍
Wechsel von Brit-Pop zu Rock. Song 2 ist sehr bekannt. 4/5
That was... definitely an album. A style of music that I had not heard of before from Blur. It was a nice surprise for a Monday morning. It was easy listening and not the most complex experience, but definitely enjoyable.
Enjoyed
I'm surprised I've never listened much to these guys considering how much I like gorillaz. I now know why I don't. Oasis is better
Song 2 stands out but the rest doesn’t 2.8
Was mediocre at best, not my taste
I was really close to giving this album 4/5 stars, and I suppose that in its context, it does deserve better. In the end, however, I just felt like everything slightly underwhelmed. In other words, I was closer to asking why this album is on the list rather than getting the sense that it clearly belonging here. The sound is good, and the overall vibe is engaging, but I likely won't return to it. Hopefully, I am wrong, and it will just grow on me.
meh...
Yeah, I’m old. I remember when song number two was a hit. We used to play it. Honestly, I wish there were more songs like that on there. I’m gonna call it in the middle of the road.
Two hit songs at the start. The rest perfectly pleasant but not special.
Ухуууу. Постоянно у блюр мне кажется, что звук не дожат, хочется прям еее драййф роок, а по факту просто "покатит" Искренне люблю облогу альба, интересный посыл в ней)