Blur - Good (Awesome 2)

Member Name: OllyH

Product:	Awesome 2
Date:	23/09/01 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Original, Well-Balanced

Disadvantages: Sometimes a little too weird.

I've been a keen listener of Blur ever since I purchased the album 'Parklife' way back in 1994. It was one of those CDs that stayed in the CD player for a very long time, that and the fact I only had two or three other CDs at the time. I was inspired to buy this off the strength of the title track, 'Parklife', seeing as it seemed like a lot of fun and I loved the way it sounded, mainly due to a genius guest vocal spot by Phil Daniels.

I was amazed to hear such a good mix of different sounding songs on one album, from the plastic-pop-like 'Girls & Boys' to the sadness of 'This Is A Low.' And all of the points inbetween. This was a trend that I was to find in the other albums, a variety I hadn't really gotten from a band before.

I went on a quest (of sorts) to buy the other albums from their back catalogue, first up was Leisure, I figured if was going to be a proper fan, I'd start at the beggining. Leisure is their first album and is almost ahead of it's time, because it seemed to catch the ninties right off the bat. This album was released in 1991, and it sounds like it could quite easily have been released anytime in the 1990's. From 'There's No Other Way', probably the most well known track off the album to 'Bang' one of the more edgy tracks, this album was again, a great mix of sounds. Something that some bands tend to struggle with. By the time I got this album, Blur had just released their newest record at the time, 'The Great Escape.'

'The Great Escape' was seen by most of the people I knew to be an album that wasn't really serious enough, and wasn't well-liked in the circle of friends I had at the time. In retrospect I can see their point, but this is a fun album, more than anything else, this is just a good laugh. Tracks like 'TOPMAN' and 'Mr.Robison's Quango' go to proove this. But the really star of the show on this
album is 'The Universal'. This is among the most touching and heartfelt songs I have heard in many a year, it grows and grows on you and remains a modern classic. I defy any fan not to include this track in their Top Ten of blur tracks. It's pure genius.

So after I got that album, I was back on my quest to get all of the Blur albums. The only other one I didn't have now was 'Modern Life Is Rubbish.' Out of all the albums, this is my least favourite, seeing as it doesn't have as many stand out tracks that really appeal to me. I realise all the songs are good on here, it's just there is something that doesn't quite gel for me. But having said that, a couple of tracks are OK. 'Villa Rosie' is probably my favourite off this album, quite upbeat and fun. But it isn't an album that I listen to or enjoy too much.

The next album to get into my now growing collection is 'Blur', the self titled album. Now, this is a tricky one, for me, it has a lot of good tracks on it, but it was spoiled, for me at least, by the over-use of Song 2. For me, that track was fantastic, before it was used too much on many adverts and 'crazy' TV programs. But having not heard it for a long time, and now hearing again recently, it got it's magic back. The whole album has a strange quality to it, to me, it seemed slightly empty, a kind of coldness to it. I wouldn't say that this was my favourite Blur album, but it's better than 'Modern Life Is Rubbish.'

The next album, and the last 'proper' one, other than the 'best of' one, is '13'. This was a departure for Blur, as far as I was concered, it came across as quite dark and sinister, alot of negative emotions were put into this, with them some demons I don't doubt. The odd tinge of madness comes in 'B.L.U.R.E.M.I' which is completely off the wall, very fast and very loud, something Blur do so well. And '
;Mudman' is also of a similar ilk, completely mad. This is, in relation to the rest of the album.

I'd have to say, my time with Blur has been well spent, aqquiring the album, and being one of the most important groups to come out of the ninties. It's always a pleasure to listen to them.

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