Blur: A retrospective

[jakartajive]

I KNOW there's something very meh about the video on the roof and the hints of LET IT BE in The Final Track They Will Ever Release, and I know Alex James looks like a very punchable twat - never more so than when in shorts, and I know he witters on about cheese far too much for his own good, but I can't help finding this latest Blur track profoundly moving.



I may, of course, be utterly out on a limb here, but if ever there's a pop band underrated by the cognoscenti, it's Blur.

They've maintained an experimental edge right the way through their whole career, they've survived the BritPop wars, heroin AND Elastica, they have a guitarist who's championed Syd Barrett since way back when and have great tracks littered throughout their career.

Any other love for them out there?
And any favourite tracks?

I've long held a dimly glowing twilight torch for Luminous, an early B-side . . .



Of course, I now fully expect a proper flaming . . .

[Aggie]

I KNOW there's something very meh about the video on the roof and the hints of LET IT BE in The Final Track They Will Ever Release, and I know Alex James looks like a very punchable twat - never more so than when in shorts, and I know he witters on about cheese far too much for his own good, but I can't help finding this latest Blur track profoundly moving.



I may, of course, be utterly out on a limb here, but if ever there's a pop band underrated by the cognoscenti, it's Blur.

They've maintained an experimental edge right the way through their whole career, they've survived the BritPop wars, heroin AND Elastica, they have a guitarist who's championed Syd Barrett since way back when and have great tracks littered throughout their career.

Any other love for them out there?
And any favourite tracks?

I've long held a dimly glowing twilight torch for Luminous, an early B-side . . .



Of course, I now fully expect a proper flaming . . .

Not from me. It's 40 C here and will be for the rest of the week so I don't have the courage to argue In any case I don't adore Blur but I like them a lot. The first song you posted is really, really nice. Thanks for posting it.

[ginghamkitchen]

I think Blur have made some great records, and the '13' album is my favourite album of the nineties. That said, not too keen on this track, reminds me of 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' + 'Ain't No Pleasing You' and smacks of one of Albarn's least endearing characteristics - glibly slipping into a mode which seems more about mannerisms than a real connection.

I've always had three main problems with Blur - Albarn's arrogance, Alex James and, somewhat pathetically, the fact that I was in a group in the same place at the same time who were utterly and irrevocably eclipsed by them - but their music is, more often than not, infuriatingly good.

[LDJB]

I really rate Blur and would have 'Modern Life is Rubbish' in my top ten LPs. The quality control has always fluctuated a bit (especially immediately after 'Parklife') but they've always remained at least interesting and at their best wonderful! I've seen them live on a number of occasions and they can proper play!!

....can't sand any of Albarn's solo stuff though! Coxon on the other hand...

[Sie-Fly]

of their time - and for me the time has long gone - Tracy Jacks is a good tune i must admit .... London band for London people - stick to making cheese and operas

[Mang]

I'm not that keen on the new track either - alongside the Procol I can hear traces of "I'm Mandy Fly Me" and, er, Elbow - but Blur have loads of great, skewed pop tracks littered throughout their oeuvre. I'd nominate "Garden Central" from the B side of "Popscene".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl71vUSYcL0

[Great Day]

[e3sa934]

Love for the Blur boys here (favourite album "Modern Life Is Rubbish", and ""Song 2" is a permanent fixture on the jukebox); one of the first bands I took my eldest lad to see, albeit at an arena show, when he was a pre-teen. We're off to see them in Wolverhampton next month, too - apologies in advance to anyone else going on the Monday night, you may not get a good view as we'll both be down the front (6'3 and 6'5)