My experience with music in the nineties was, like many, shrouded in the flannel of grunge rock. I dug Pearl Jam and Soundgarden; I did not like Nirvana. (The press criticized the band Bush for borrowing too much from Nirvana. I had set plans on marrying Gavin Rossdale, so I defended him against such claims on every internet forum on America Online, dial-up. I’m not sure how that turned into me hating Nirvana, but I was young and hormonal and it just did.)
But across the pond there were these boys that were rejecting grunge and spewing out brilliant pop music that I could NOT resist. And they were cute.
And that was Blur.
Somewhere there is an entire notebook of scribblings from when I would just sit up in my room and doodle to Modern Life is Rubbish and Parklife. Blur was catchy and quirky and harmonic and oh, so British. If Gavin Rossdale refused my hand, Damon Albarn was my Plan B, as evidenced by their side-by-side photographs in my freshman locker. I’m listening to some Blur on my iTunes right now, and I want to say it completely holds up. Alas, like much of my music library, any criticism I may have is completely drowned by the fondness I had for them in my adolescence.
Imagine my joy, then, in discovering that Blur is reuniting in 2009 for two shows in Hyde Park.
Speaking to Radio 4’s Front Row, Albarn said: “We just went for a walk and bought a bun, I think it was an Eccles cake, and sat in a doorway.” “It really felt like it was back to how it was when we were younger,” the singer added. Source: BBC News.
A great band, reunited over a pastry.
Merry Christmas, indeed.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Blur were — are — great. It’s a shame that in this country they’ll probably always be known as a one-hit wonder who had that “Woo-hoo” song.And Pulp? Don’t get me started on Pulp. God I love Britpop…
December 24th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Truth is, I think Blur mostly likely came into my radar because of Song 2 (and I love that album, too), but I kind of like being in the smaller “club” of Americans that dig them.
I thought about you when I was thinking about all the britpop stuff I listened to, and how you LOVED Pulp. You can’t utter the term “britpop” without mentioning Blur and Pulp. They weren’t in my repertoire (don’t hate me!) but I suppose it’s never too late!
December 24th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Tell me this video isn’t freaking awesome:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61ThRHYFQvU(and no, I’m not Rickrolling you)
December 24th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Dammit, what’s up with the formatting? Can I use HTML tags? <br><a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61ThRHYFQvU”>Link to video</a>
December 24th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Fuck. Guess not.
Jenn Reply:
December 24th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
SEE? C’mon programmer code man, fix it. I will pay you in beers.
December 24th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
so you realize he looks like this now:http://www.usounds.com/images/gorillaz.jpg
December 24th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Scott, please fix mine while you’re at it.