Blur (Read 12,941 times)

[andymorris]

As for Noel Gallagher, same as Blur. Maybe we're just expecting too much from 55 year old musicians. I don't know.

[oasisserbia]

Well, yes Strokes are younger but their last record was good, at least they managed to bring some joy and feelings. If you lost that and you are old now, just give us some good music, you know, good production, key changes, 9/8 time signature and stuff like that :-) Great and creative use of instruments...

Blur's last record was creative and it had it own distinctive sound, album cover etc. It was bringing us in the world of Magic Whip 😁

This is one big nothing. Like some lost recordings, not good enough to be on past records.

[andymorris]

Jul 19, 2023 4:46:12 GMT -5 oasisserbia said:

Well, yes Strokes are younger but their last record was good, at least they managed to bring some joy and feelings. If you lost that and you are old now, just give us some good music, you know, good production, key changes, 9/8 time signature and stuff like that :-) Great and creative use of instruments...

Blur's last record was creative and it had it own distinctive sound, album cover etc. It was bringing us in the world of Magic Whip 😁

This is one big nothing. Like some lost recordings, not good enough to be on past records.

Well, Blur's Last Record was a collage of bits recorded by the band... from Graham Coxon. That's why it sounds inventive and fresh. I enjoy this record, but like this one, it doesn't really sound like Blur bar the few singles.

As for the Strokes: yes the last record was kinda nice, but there's too many bits stolen from other songs. They are credited, but that bothers me.

I'd say if there is to be another Blur record, maybe Damon should open the writing of song to Coxon.

Take half of that and some Waeve songs and you got an amazing album.

[oasisserbia]

And also, I am sorry but Damon singing is really bad. Like he didn't even try, like everything is recorded in one take and he was hangover and smoked too many cigs.

Everything feels like not too much effort was put into it. Damon was probably like - let's get this done so we can tour and then I can go and write an Russian opera.

[theyknowwhatimean]

Jul 19, 2023 7:30:18 GMT -5 oasisserbia said:

And also, I am sorry but Damon singing is really bad. Like he didn't even try, like everything is recorded in one take and he was hangover and smoked too many cigs.

Everything feels like not too much effort was put into it. Damon was probably like - let's get this done so we can tour and then I can go and write an Russian opera.

Everything Damon puts out these days feels like this to me.

[andymorris]

Yeah Damon probably suffer from the established genius syndrome : no-one is able to say no to. The other 3 are a bit scared of him really, and there is no record label executive to tell him to rewrite.

A bit like Noel Gallagher and his last album.

Both could have been way way better.

[defmaybe00]

This is truly average honestly
A shame because The Narcissist grew on me a lot and I liked the sound on St. Charles Square but the rest basically sounds like a forgettable Damon solo record, there's not one single memorable hook
Luckily for him he has Graham doing some cool shit on the guitar

[andymorris]

Jul 20, 2023 17:34:27 GMT -5 defmaybe00 said:

This is truly average honestly
A shame because The Narcissist grew on me a lot and I liked the sound on St. Charles Square but the rest basically sounds like a forgettable Damon solo record, there's not one single memorable hook
Luckily for him he has Graham doing some cool shit on the guitar

Harsh !

First Half is damn good and the Official release sounds way better i gotta say. The rip from the leak is bad. Russian Strings is a little gem but needs a few listen. Same for Barbaric.

Maybe Damon should have included the best songs from his solo album on this : Royal Morning Blue, Tower of Montevideo would have fit right on the second half In place of Far Away Island and Goodbye Albert or the Everglades. Agree though that it sounds too much like a Damon solo Album.

There’s also two bonus tracks but i have not found them yet.

[chamu]

After the two singles i was expecting something different, but this is a bit of letdown.

Like all of you have said, this should be better. We are talking about one of the greatest british band from 90s. Inventive, fresh and energetic. But in this album . we rarely see it.

[andymorris]

hold on, give it a few more spin, really. It's a laid back album and not what we were expecting, but its not THAT bad.

Probably the first album i will actually buy in shop in like 10 years. I need the two bonus tracks i smell they will be closer to the "Blur" sound. But they are nowhere to be found online. Weird.

Stay tuned, maybe this afternoon.

[jmp111181]

Ok friends, looking for some guidance here. As a Yank who was staunchly team Oasis in the 90s, I didn't ever dip my toes into the Blur catalog aside from the big singles you'd hear in the 90s (in the US, that mainly was Song 2, but Girls & Boys, Coffee & TV, Country House, There's No Other Way and a few others were certainly on the radar). I came to the catalogue a year or two post-Magic Whip though, and fuck me, I missed a lot.

First listen to Ballad of Darren...definitely more mellow than I thought, but at 41, I've got plenty of space for a record like this.

Seeing lots of comments on tracks ebbing closer to Damon or Graham solo stuff, and that's a world I haven't really ever ventured into aside from the Gorillaz stuff we've all heard. Would anyone be able to point me towards some good introductory places in their solo catalogues?

[oasisserbia]

I fucking love Damon's first album Everyday Robots

[AllOrNothing]

I'm disappointed by the amount of slow songs on this. After one listen I can't tell I've been impressed by a lot of songs.

[andymorris]

Jul 21, 2023 9:13:59 GMT -5 jmp111181 said:

Ok friends, looking for some guidance here. As a Yank who was staunchly team Oasis in the 90s, I didn't ever dip my toes into the Blur catalog aside from the big singles you'd hear in the 90s (in the US, that mainly was Song 2, but Girls & Boys, Coffee & TV, Country House, There's No Other Way and a few others were certainly on the radar). I came to the catalogue a year or two post-Magic Whip though, and fuck me, I missed a lot.

First listen to Ballad of Darren...definitely more mellow than I thought, but at 41, I've got plenty of space for a record like this.

Seeing lots of comments on tracks ebbing closer to Damon or Graham solo stuff, and that's a world I haven't really ever ventured into aside from the Gorillaz stuff we've all heard. Would anyone be able to point me towards some good introductory places in their solo catalogues?

Here is my advice

Graham Coxon

1st >>>> Happiness in Magazines... To me It's... a Blur record without Damon. Produced by Blur's soundman Stephen Street. The masterpiece from Graham an also some great bsides.

Then The Waeve released this year. It's truly an amazing record and there's also 5 extra tracks that for some of them are better than the actual record.

Then The Spinning Top: Graham's acoustic record. Fantastic. Simply fantastic what he managed to do with (almost) just an acoustic guitar. A wild ride.

Then A&R. Graham's 13, sonically amazing.

Then you got the more rock n roll Love Travels at Illegal Speeds. Some pretty good songs, but for this one i actually prefer most of the bsides: Livin' and Light Up Your Candles, Outta My League, Dear are gems.

The first two or three Graham records are pretty weird, so maybe wait until the end for those. Superstate project is a bit long, but there's also some good songs on it. Maybe wait a bit too for this.

You can also check his songs for netflix series "The end of the fucking world". There's many stuff, some good, some okay. With the two seasons soundtracks, you can make a pretty good compilation. And Bloodwitch, which is him and a female singer for another netflix series.


Damon Solo

The last one called "The Neared the Fountain" relies a lot on atmosphere but lack 2 or 3 sung tunes. I really like it because it has a world of its own. But its not for Everybody. If you liked "Darren" then you will like "The Neared the Fountain".

Everyday Robots is ok. but Not his best work. A bit like Blur's Think Tank. only less good songs.

The Good, the Bad the Queen

1st : the First one, which is a very strong record. The second one "Merrie Land" is also weird and Damon entering his age of weird songs where it sounds like he's making them melody up on the spot. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but i enjoyed this record.

The rest: Gorillaz, Damon's side projects i could never get into

the other two ? getting fat and rich

Last advice: when you're deep into Blur, just buy the boxset "21" which has bsides, unreleased tracks... etc It's huge. Really huge.

[yogurt]

Pretty average in my opinion

And I say that as someone who thinks Blur's 90s albums are better than Oasis, but that's for another topic..

The Magic Whip was good in parts, it did essentially sound like what it was, songs cobbled together from some ideas they put down but the material was good enough that it worked, although it's nothing special but it has its moments.

This one is bang average really. It sounds like even more half baked ideas but not particularly great ones either. It doesn't even sound like Blur, which in theory is fine if its something unique, but it's not.


I don't know, maybe I'm off the mark but it sounds like Damon is basically using Blur as a vehicle to release some songs that don't fit with his other/preferred endeavours and not worrying too much about the quality of the actual songs. Maybe just out of loyalty to keep it going with his good mates.

Can't see me giving this too many listens. But as I say about most bands including Oasis, if they can produce a few of great albums I can go back to, that's alright with me, and the rest I won't bother with.


Also Barbaric sounds nothing like The Strokes really. I'd be slightly offended if I was Mr Casablancas and someome told me that. But it's catchy enough I guess.

[andymorris]

It’s clearly a rushed record

Question is : why ? What’s the rush ? Are you guys paying taxes in July in England or something ?

I maintain that barbaric sounds like an outtakes from the new abnormal. Same guitars, same kind of song, of course Damon voice changes it completely but put Casablanca’s vocals and there you go

Maybe I’ll do an ai just to prove my point 😂 😜

[AllOrNothing]

Blur are clearly still the darlings of the musical press. This record is mid at best, had it been made by a younger lesser known band I wouldn't have thought much of it (the songs are samey and there's a strong lack of energy). I'll be going back to punk for getting my intense music fix because it seems as if no pop-rock act is capable of providing groove and upbeat stuff these days.

It's truly puzzling that this effort got so many 4 star ratings. To be frank I find CS to be a bit overrated when it comes to numeral ratings, but the written critics are falling over themselves about Damon's seemingly sacred melancholy bits, while they were often glad to get all smug about oasis when reviewing CS.

In my opinion, in these bleak times, it'd be actually harder to provide some upbeat music than depressing songs. We all know there's a war, there's been a pandemic, breakups are tough.

EDIT: Pulp's "This is Hardcore" kinda has the same vibe (lyrics and theme excluded of course) to me and it's miles better in every aspect (except maybe the length; I like short albums)

[oasisserbia]

What do you think, would it be fair to give albums like this 1/10 or 2/10?

I mean, it is not bad. You take piano, basic chords and song structures, it can never sound that bad. It will always sound like 6/10 or 7/10 music.

And critics will always destroy someone who is trying something new and fail, never records like this.

What's your opinion, is it fair to say that 6/10 basic ballad is actually 1/10? If you know what I mean.

It is meaningless, there are lot of people who can do the same, not much emotions, if any are involved in it... Completely pointless especially in 2023 and in the age of AI.

[AllOrNothing]

Jul 22, 2023 9:17:07 GMT -5 oasisserbia said:

What do you think, would it be fair to give albums like this 1/10 or 2/10?

I mean, it is not bad. You take piano, basic chords and song structures, it can never sound that bad. It will always sound like 6/10 or 7/10 music.

And critics will always destroy someone who is trying something new and fail, never records like this.

What's your opinion, is it fair to say that 6/10 basic ballad is actually 1/10? If you know what I mean.

It is meaningless, there are lot of people who can do the same, not much emotions, if any are involved in it... Completely pointless especially in 2023 and in the age of AI.

It's mid, it does the job it's supposed to do.

I guess it'd be a 5 in my book, but I see where you come from with your "1/10" comment. Bands with this amount of fame, budget and entourage cannot really make something worse than this if they play it safe. I'd still keep the very low marks for true trainwrecks like "Cut the Crap" by the Clash though. Even if you could argue that at least "Cut the Crap" is indeed different to the rest of the Clash and Strummer's music (because it hardly is the Clash in the first place)

EDIT: I really should flesh out my posts a bit more before posting...

In addition to my comment, I would point out that I see music critics being more akin to buyers' guide than the authority over creativity. In that sense, it's logical to give mid ratings to mid, safe music because if one buys the album, they surely won't be put off completely by it, hence it is a objectively alright purchase. But it's still not exciting at all, like buying a safe mid-range car is not as exciting as buying a more dangerous but more rewarding sport car

[oasisserbia]

Ffs

[AllOrNothing]

Jul 22, 2023 9:42:03 GMT -5 oasisserbia said:

Ffs

Yeah but you know, Blur is more "complex", more "refined", more "grownup"

Nevermind the raw emotions, what counts is that there's "intricate guitar" here and there (thank god for Graham's talent btw).

[oasisserbia]

Blur is great but look at that 5/5 stars review 🤣 I don't think, actually I am sure that members of the band wouldn't give 5 stars to themselves.

[andymorris]

Jul 22, 2023 9:07:59 GMT -5 AllOrNothing said:

EDIT: Pulp's "This is Hardcore" kinda has the same vibe (lyrics and theme excluded of course) to me and it's miles better in every aspect (except maybe the length; I like short albums)

[/div][/quote]

Oh no you didn't ! Stop it right there.

Cant compare this masterpiece to the new Blur album. TIH is one of the best albums ever, this one is not even in the Top 5 blur...

I'd rate the new Blur record 6/10 on speakers, and 5/10 on headphones (it's really a let down on headphones).

Still hoping the two bonus tracks will save the overall feeling, but yeah. Kinda disappointed there.

Don't read the press reviews, the music press desperately need something big this year and it's britpop. So everything any band from the 90s will release will be great. We know how it works.

Gotta love the 7.2 from Picthfork. Can picture the meeting behind the rewiew "Is this a 7.23899 or 7.24244 record john ? Obviously just a 7.2 !"

[AllOrNothing]

Jul 22, 2023 11:48:40 GMT -5 andymorris said:

Jul 22, 2023 9:07:59 GMT -5 AllOrNothing said:

EDIT: Pulp's "This is Hardcore" kinda has the same vibe (lyrics and theme excluded of course) to me and it's miles better in every aspect (except maybe the length; I like short albums)

[/div][/quote]

Oh no you didn't ! Stop it right there.

Cant compare this masterpiece to the new Blur album. TIH is one of the best albums ever, this one is not even in the Top 5 blur...

I'd rate the new Blur record 6/10 on speakers, and 5/10 on headphones (it's really a let down on headphones).

Still hoping the two bonus tracks will save the overall feeling, but yeah. Kinda disappointed there.

Don't read the press reviews, the music press desperately need something big this year and it's britpop. So everything any band from the 90s will release will be great. We know how it works.

Gotta love the 7.2 from Picthfork. Can picture the meeting behind the rewiew "Is this a 7.23899 or 7.24244 record john ? Obviously just a 7.2 !"

[/quote][/div]

I totally agree with you, I tried to say that if you want a good "melancholic" album (which isn't afraid to be at least a little intense unlike this new Blur effort) you should run to This is Hardcore or any Verve record

[yeayeayeah]

There's some really great stuff on there but also some that's too Damon solo sounding. Starts of brilliant but then sags and doesn't really recover. The two singles, Barbaric, The Ballad and the Heights are the highlights for me.