I've heard some music by Gorillaz, the band created by Blur's frontman David Albarn, so I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting. All I knew was that this was gonna be some of the typical surburbanite core/melancholia/descending chord worship that defined most Britpop of the mid 90s. Sure enough, I was right. I've always wanted to hear a Blur album, but maybe this just wasn't the right one. It's sounds so very unsure. It's muddy -- like a paint smear -- starts out bright and focused then gradually gets messier. The album artwork is absolutely gorgeous though, had fun staring at it!

Joni Mitchell's greatest strength has always been her wit. Listening to her music feels like having a casual conversation. Whereas Dylan was lauded at the time for being a very very serious auteur, Joni always seemed less focused on making grand, complex statements and more concerned with ruminations on the scene happening below her bedroom window. Blue is Joni's essences boiled down and supersaturated: effortlessly poetic but never overbearing. Unfortunately, only recently has she been receiving a reappraisal; largely by younger audiences, but it makes complete sense -- Blue is timeless. It's an intricate study of love and time: the platonic, romantic, and familial. Her superpower is highlighting these 60s scenes and making them appear right in front of you.