What is it now? Over twnety years since “Popscene” so apparently Damon Albarn, with guitarist Graham Coxon back on board, hasn’t learnt any new tricks. This sounds more like old time Blur than, say, 13 or Think Tank. The “he’s going to the lo-hoho-local”” is very disco Blur-y and the solo, a tasty little piece of electricity, is awful fun.
Damon sounds older, his voice a little thicker, but compared to the years of crap we’ve had to sit through, last years painful rotten and boring Everyday Robots for one, it sounds like Fidlar. Truthfully it is drone rock, maybe more Blur than anything else, but a hooky one, it is like a treadmill of a song going round and round and leaving you grinning at the slay em stadium steadyness of it all.
Reminds me why I loved the band and figers crossed Blur make it to the States this time, last time, the last hurrah greatest hits set, all we got was a lousy DVD but let’s hope Damon recovered from his tedious solo stuff is ready to come out and put on a performance. I caught his solo gig and it was beyond band, it was like being attacked by a rusty hammer of sound.
Or am I being mean? I sure hope so.
Meanwhile, what a rotten video. The band recorded it in Hong Kong (the planks) and than Stewart smith policed it off in the UK.
I am now
a) excited for the album
and
b) excited for the tour.
Grade: B+