Tag: Art rock

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Vinyl

Vinyl love: Blur “The magic whip”

(Vinyl Love is a series of posts that quite simply lists, describes, and displays the pieces in my growing vinyl collection. You can bet that each record was given a spin during the drafting of each corresponding post.)

Artist: Blur
Album Title: The magic whip
Year released: 2015
Details: Black vinyl, 2 x LP, Gatefold sleeve, OBI strip, poster

The skinny: Blur’s out-of-the-blue 8th album came about by accident and was only ever released because of how good the band felt about recording it and how great they felt the end product was. For me, it’s like an incredible bonus/hidden track at the end of your favourite album. Who knows if we’ll ever see another Blur album?

Standout track: “There are too many of us”

Categories
Vinyl

Vinyl love: Blur “Think tank”

(Vinyl Love is a series of posts that quite simply lists, describes, and displays the pieces in my growing vinyl collection. You can bet that each record was given a spin during the drafting of each corresponding post.)

Artist: Blur
Album Title: Think tank
Year released: 2003
Year reissued: 2012
Details: 7 of 7 in Blur 21, anniversary box set, black vinyl, 180 gram, 2 x LP, Gatefold sleeve

The skinny: Blur’s 7th album is their first recorded as a trio. Though Coxon appears on the album’s final track, he effectively left the band during its recording, given the usual artistic differences. It continues down the art rock path forged by “13” with obvious influences from Damon Albarn’s time spent working with Gorillaz.

Standout track: “Out of time”

Categories
Vinyl

Vinyl love: Blur “13”

(Vinyl Love is a series of posts that quite simply lists, describes, and displays the pieces in my growing vinyl collection. You can bet that each record was given a spin during the drafting of each corresponding post.)

Artist: Blur
Album Title: 13
Year released: 1999
Year reissued: 2012
Details: 6 of 7 in Blur 21, anniversary box set, black vinyl, 180 gram, 2 x LP, Gatefold sleeve

The skinny: Having written a #1 hit pop song, Damon Albarn and friends seemingly decided to run as far as they could in the other direction, deep into art rock territory, verging on the esoteric. Not the easiest listen at times, but there is something oddly beautiful about Blur’s 6th album and Damon’s heartbreak is almost palpable thoughout.

Standout track: “Tender”