Blur

by Blur

Overview

The Great Escape, for all of its many virtues, painted Blur into a corner and there was only one way out -- to abandon the Britpop that they had instigated by bringing the weird strands that always floated through their music to the surface. Blur may superficially appear to be a break from tradition, but it is a logical progression, highlighting the band's rich eclecticism and sense of songcraft. Certainly, they are trying for new sonic territory, bringing in shards of white noise, gurgling electronics, raw guitars, and druggy psychedelia, but these are just extensions of previously hidden elements of Blur's music. What makes it exceptional is how hard the band tries to reinvent itself within its own framework, and the level of which it succeeds. "Beetlebum" runs through the White Album in the space of five minutes; "M.O.R." reinterprets Berlin-era Bowie; "You're So Great," despite the corny title, is affecting lo-fi from Graham Coxon; "Country Sad Ballad Man" is bizarrely affecting, strangled lo-fi psychedelia; "Death of a Party" is an affecting resignation; "On Your Own" is an incredible slice of singalong pop spiked with winding, fluid guitar and synth eruptions; while "Look Inside America" cleverly subverts the traditional Blur song, complete with strings. And "Essex Dogs" is a six-minute slab of free verse and rattling guitar noise. Blur might be self-consciously eclectic, but Blur are at their best when they are trying to live up to their own pretensions, because of Damon Albarn's exceptional sense of songcraft and the band's knack for detailed arrangements that flesh out the songs to their fullest. There might be dark overtones to the record, but the band sounds positively joyous, not only in making noise but wreaking havoc with the expectations of its audience and critics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/31/2006
Label:	Emi / Food
UPC:	0724385556227

Tracks

1. Beetlebum
2. Song 2
3. Country Sad Ballad Man
4. M.O.R.
5. On Your Own
6. Theme from Retro
7. You're So Great
8. Death of a Party
9. Chinese Bombs
10. I'm Just a Killer for Your Love
11. Look Inside America
12. Strange News from Another Star
13. Movin' On
14. Essex Dogs

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Blur   Primary Artist
Graham Coxon   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Alex James   Guitar,Guitar (Bass)
Damon Albarn   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Guitar (Acoustic)
Dave Rowntree   Drums,Guitar

Technical Credits

Dave Rowntree   Producer,Drum Programming,Composer
Blur   Composer,Producer,Additional Production
Graham Coxon   Composer,Producer
John King   Producer
Mario Caldato, Jr.   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Alan Moulder   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Alex James   Composer,Producer
Frank Arkwright   Digital Remastering,Remastering Engineer
Tom Girling   Assistant Engineer
Hideo Ueda   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Kentaro Oizumi   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
John Smith   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Paul Postle   Photography
Julia Gardner   Assistant Engineer
Simon Mundy   Mixing,Mixing Engineer,Remix Programmer,Mixing Programmer
David Conway   Composer
Matt Butcher   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Arjan Arwert   Engineer
Juergen Moelders   Engineer
Stuart Lowbridge   Engineer
Thijs Peters   Engineer
U.K. Junior   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Alan Branch   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Stephen Street   Producer,Mixing Engineer,Digital Remastering,Remastering Engineer
The Dust Brothers   Producer
Jason Cox   Engineer,Producer,Vocal Engineer,Additional Production
David Rowntree   Composer,Producer
Mike Simpson   Producer
David Bowie   Composer
Adrian Sherwood   Mixing,Remix Engineer
Brian Eno   Composer
Damon Iddins   Assistant Engineer
Damon Albarn   Composer,Producer