Blur (Blur album)

Blur (Blur album)
Blur
Studio album by Blur
Released 10 February 1997 (1997-02-10)
Recorded June–November 1996 at Maison Rouge Studio and Mayfair Studios in London, England and Reykjavik, Iceland
Genre Alternative rock, lo-fi, Indie rock
Length 57:01
Label Food
Producer Stephen Street, Blur
Blur chronology
The Great Escape
(1995)		 Blur
(1997)		 13
(1999)
Singles from Blur
  1. "Beetlebum"
    Released: 20 January 1997
  2. "Song 2"
    Released: 7 April 1997
  3. "On Your Own"
    Released: 16 June 1997
  4. "M.O.R."
    Released: 15 September 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[1]
The Austin Chronicle 3/5 stars[2]
Entertainment Weekly B+[3]
Robert Christgau (choice cut)[4]
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars[5]
Select 4/5 stars[6]

Blur is the fifth album by English alternative rock band Blur. Released on 10 February 1997 in the UK through Food Records, it reached the top of the UK album chart.[7] It spawned several hit singles in the UK, most notably "Beetlebum" and "Song 2". Blur was also a hit in the US, with "Song 2" becoming a hit and the album being certified gold.

Contents

Style and conception

The album's style was resultant of Blur's dropping their previous Britpop mantle in favor of lo-fi and alternative rock recordings, reportedly at Graham Coxon's urging. As a result, Blur was a hit primarily because it proved that Blur could evolve beyond their Britpop roots. The album's move from Britpop was emphasised by this being the first Blur album not to use Stylorouge cover-art and also not to have lyrics and chords printed in the liner notes, instead having a composite photo of the band in the studio spread out over three panels. The album featured the first song in which Graham Coxon not only wrote the lyrics, but also provided lead vocals, for the song "You're So Great". He would later do the same for "Coffee & TV" for Blur's next album.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, except where noted. 

No. Title Length
1. "Beetlebum"   5:04
2. "Song 2"   2:02
3. "Country Sad Ballad Man"   4:50
4. "M.O.R." (Albarn/David Bowie/Coxon/Brian Eno/James/Rowntree) 3:27
5. "On Your Own"   4:26
6. "Theme from Retro"   3:37
7. "You're So Great" (Coxon) 3:35
8. "Death of a Party"   4:33
9. "Chinese Bombs"   1:24
10. "I'm Just a Killer for Your Love"   4:11
11. "Look Inside America"   3:50
12. "Strange News from Another Star"   4:02
13. "Movin' On"   3:44
14. "Essex Dogs" (includes hidden track "Interlude") 8:08
Notes
  • The American version of the album has "Dancehall" as a hidden track after "Essex Dogs" but before "Interlude", making the entire track 14 length now 11:24
  • The European version came with a live CD recorded in Holland (also with selected B-sides from the "Blur" singles) that was also released separately in Holland as simply "Blur Live E.P."
  • The Australian version came with a second CD features the complete PeelAcres sessions (as released in the UK on the "On Your Own" singles)
  • The Japanese version of the album has "Dancehall" as a separate, listed track (15), which includes "Interlude."
  • "Death of a Party" was demoed in 1992. That recording was released to the fan club prior to the version which appears on the album.[8] The 7" remix version appears on Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur.

Personnel

Preceded by
White on Blonde by Texas		 UK number one album
22 February 1997 – 28 February 1997		 Succeeded by
Attack of the Grey Lantern by Mansun

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Blur -Blur". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r2102968/review. Retrieved 3 August 2009. 
  2. ^ Moser, Margaret (25 April 1997). "Record Reviews: Blur (Virgin)". The Austin Chronicle. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid:528006. Retrieved 3 May 2011. 
  3. ^ Sinclair, Tom (14 March 1997). "Review: BRITISH INVERSION (1997) - Blur". Time Inc.. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,287092,00.html. Retrieved 3 May 2011. 
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Review: Blur (Virgin, 1997)". http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=blur. Retrieved 3 May 2011. 
  5. ^ Hunter, James (6 March 1997). "Review: Blur - Blur". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/blur-19970306. Retrieved 3 May 2011. 
  6. ^ Harris, John. "Review: Blur - Blur, Food/Parlophone". Select (EMAP Metro) (March 1997): 98. 
  7. ^ Official Charts Company
  8. ^ "Blur - Blur Album Info". vblurpage.com. http://www.vblurpage.com/discography/albums/blur.htm. Retrieved 3 May 2011. 
v · d · eBlur
Studio albums
Leisure · Modern Life Is Rubbish · Parklife · The Great Escape · Blur · 13 · Think Tank
Live albums
Live at the Budokan · All the People: Blur Live at Hyde Park
Compilations
The Special Collectors Edition · The Brit Pop Blur Box · The 10 Year Limited Edition Anniversary Box Set · Blur: The Best Of · Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur
Other albums
Bustin' + Dronin' · Blur: The Best of...The Radio Show
Video releases
Singles
Other songs
"This Is a Low" · "Bugman" · "Caramel"
EPs
Live personnel
Phil Daniels · Diana Gutkind · Mike Smith · The Kick Horns · Cara Tivey · Simon Tong
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