Live At Budokan - Blur

Blur are an exhilarating live experience and this albums has them doing basically all their Britpop stuff for you, so it's "The Great Escape" plus "Parklife", bits of "Modern Life", a few early singles and, a few bonus bits and pieces like the mock military march opener "The Great Escape" and another comedy instrumental "Supa Shopper". They play everything twice as fast live, the guitar work is always exciting and varied, never letting up whilst Damon gasps trying to keep up, the bass end still sounding as lazy as ever. Mostly they keep it punk-pop but there are a few more delicate moments, like 'Yuko and ...

This album is a great collection of early Blur, recorded live in Japan. The songs are obviously a bit different than those on the polished albums, and this gives it a charm all of its own. It also includes the raucous single "Popscene", not released on any other album, and the brilliant b-side, "Supa Shoppa". Isn't this enough for any Blur fan to want it? Not to mention Damon's hilarious attempts to thank the screaming audience in Japanese - "Oregato...um..Oregano....Origami!" The double album gives a new perspective on the band to those who haven't been to gigs, and will evoke brilliant memories for those who have been more ...