Graham Coxon new blur album

hopefully. i seemed to enjoy the second half of the album more than the first

good songs

That William Orbit anecdote

not a fan then?

I really like it. Some of the songs are definite growers. First time I heard New World Towers I thought it was rancid but now I love it; same goes for Ice Cream Man.

For me, it's lacking a bit of energy.  Outside of Go Out and I Broadcast, the pace is pretty tepid.  The production across the board is really nice and there's lots of little interesting things going on but sometimes it feels like I'm listening to solo-Albarn and not Blur.

invest some time in them Karl- like the Albarn solo record it's a definite grower

I think that might be what's bothering me.

Yeah, I guess that's what's Albarn's up to these days and Graham was probably a bit too respectful in that sense.

I've given it a few spins now, and I'm of pretty much the same opinion a most folk: there are a few bangers, a couple where it veers dangerously close to Albarn by numbers, and one or two songs which never really get off the ground. Then again, with the exception of the self titled LP, I'm not sure Blur ever made a consistently brilliant record. A lot of their stuff tends to grow on me too.

This is not intended as a dig at all, but what do you consider to be Albarn by numbers? Blur, The Good The Bad and The Queen, Gorillaz, solo stuff, Africa Express, Rocket Juice and The Moon or Opera.? To me they're all very different

Take a line from Good Song, through On Melancholy Hill and Hostiles to Terracotta Heart, and you should get know what I mean. He's got a definite sound these days.

(I like all of those songs, btw, but I think he's best when he has a foil)

I really like the album, its a definite grower, but I can understand where people's comments are coming from. I can sort of see the point on the energy, but I don't really think its really the energy in the songs as such. For me, and its probably unfair of me, but I don't and have never really enjoyed Stephen Streets production on anything. The Smith and 90's Blur made great records 'in spite' Of Street's tepid production, it's juts so safe, there is nothing happening with the drum sounds on this, other than the occasional 'programmed' pattern.

This has always irked me a bit, I know he produced 'Blur', but there is definitely a lot more of Coxon's influence on that, and the production of 13 is superb and lifts some average songs. The Great Escape I think actually has some really great songs suffocating under extremely tedious and safe production.

Its a minor qualm on this new record, I do really like it.

Anti Stephen Street rant over.

Just wanted to see if anybody would bite.

Though I'm underwhelmed thus far. It is all pretty solid, yet nothing really grabs me as a standout moment. I'm sure it'll grow on me a bit (only heard it twice), though I'd be surprised if it grew a great deal.
I don't know the scenario but it feels too much like Damon wrote a bunch of tracks and Blur tried to fit in around them. Wanted more of a Coxon influence & minus a few moments it just feels like a Albarn solo project aided by a band in second gear. I second Kev's issues with the production. As the record was apparently made quickly I was expecting a more energetic feel to the tracks & that isn't the case.

Though tbh I'm not really feeling much alternative/rock/guitar type stuff lately so perhaps that doesn't help.

im really really enjoying this on first listen. i think albarn has matured well as a songwriter and vocalist. loved his solo album from last year and loving the sound of this. the only criticism id have is that yeah it could easily be an albarn solo record for the most part but lets face it coxon is the only decent one out of the other three anyway.

Alex is a fantastic bass player tbh

Japanese bonus track is quite quite cool btw

Absolutely.

There seems to be a lot made about how this time Damon brought the ideas for songs and then Coxon fleshed them out with the band. Thats always been the case hasn't it?

I read that it was more the other way round this time. Coxon was in charge of the sessions, Albarn loved what was happening and agreed to push them on.

Yeah, but he took charge once the sessions were already recorded and those came from original Albarn ideas. That's what I meant when I said he was respectful, he did a good job but probably should have put more of his own.