I Ain't Got Nothing To Be Scared Of
I just realized I've had Blur's new CD Think Tank for somewhere around four months, and I haven't had an 'apprecation' post. God knows I do it with every other new CD I buy. ;)
It sometimes seems like people are divided into those who like the Britpoppy Life trilogy [Modern Life is Rubbish, Parklife, The Great Escape, and I would assume Leisure is semi-lumped into this category] and those who like the newer, odder sound of the selftitled album and 13.
But if you've been reading my journal for a while, you'll know that I love pretty much everything. I'm sickeningly enthusiastic and appreciative.
So I guess it goes without saying: I love all of their albums. I love the breezy Leisure, the upbeat MLiR, the laidback sarcastic Parklife, the horn-filled weirdness of GE, the alt-rock oddity of "Blur", the alienated moodiness and sorrow of 13, and the funky/mellow uplifting journey of Think Tank.
Here's my review,
1. Ambulance - I was born out of love...The bass line gets you moving and grooving, the chorus is melodic and eerie, and already the drums introduce you into the Morrocan flavor of the album.
2. Out Of Time - Where's the love song to set us free...Again, the beats are lovely, with Damon's guitar rhythm carrying you along until it gets to the Moroccan musicians, who are fantastic. This is a definite highlight of the album.
3. Crazy Beat - Gets the people dancing on their feet...It's produced by Fatboy Slim, but it's right out of the Bugman/Song 2 arena. Like the song title, it has a crazy beat that just makes you want to get out onto the floor and dance. The music video is brilliant.
4. Good Song - And you seem very beautiful to me...Without Graham [sob], Blur is left with Damon to add soothing, lullaby-esque rhythms to their songs, as is in this case. It's very mellow and chill.
5. On The Way To The Club - My eyes aren't blue there's nothing I can do...This is one of the songs when the absence of Graham really shows, though not in a bad way. Alex leads it with the bass line, and it's another funky/mellow mix.
6. Brothers And Sisters - A cartoon in a ketamine, Jelly mixed with margarine...Another Blur song where the lyrics are almost fatalistic, yet the beat and the tune is all fun. The melodies/harmonies are original, and a irony in comparison to the lyrics which describe the drug addictions of our society -- both socially acceptable drugs and the less legal ones.
7. Caravan - Sometimes everything is easy...Easily the most depressing song on the album, yet like the others, it is soothing with its heartbeat-like drums. Conjures up an image of camels plodding across the desert, with no end in sight.
8. We've Got A File On You - WE'VE GOT A FILE ON YOU! Starts off with sitar and Damon's scratchy guitar melding together. Another short punkrock shout-fest, but with usually ignored political meanings. Alludes to the American Patriot Act and other invasions of privacy. Very fun to drive to.
9. Moroccan People's Revolutionary Bowls Club - If we go and blow it up then we will disappear...The first thought that comes to my mind is that the boys must have watched Labyrinth before writing/recording this. It harks back to "Jump Magic Jump" with its upbeat bass and a freakin' synthesizer. They throw in the eerie Moroccan melodies in occasionally. Even though the lyrics are a warning sign against man's domination over nature, it's a fun song and you can't help but imagine David Bowie dancing along.
10. Sweet Song - Stop crying now here comes the sun...Another lullabye tune, could send me to sleep. Starts with a soothing piano tune, slowly shifts into the quiet happiness of the song. It's a "through the darkness" type song, almost bittersweet. It's very lovely.
11. Jets - Jets are like comets at sunset...Funnest. Song. Ever. Dance to it. Sing along, the lyrics are simple. And teach yourself the opening guitar line. Damon's guitar once again provides an incredibly catchy rhythm which launches off the song until we get to Alex's sliding bass. A slight Moroccan feel, with an improv sax solo towards the end. It's syncopated, it's funky, it's really well done.
12. Gene By Gene - I got a brain in lefthand drive...The other track produced by Fatboy Slim, it's funky and full of beats. Depressing lyrics, melodic chorus, with all sorts of ambient noises turning into the beat. Ends very strangely, but creative and original.
13. Battery In Your Leg - This is a ballad for the good times...I'll say it is. This is the only track Graham played on. I'm not sure if this song was written, and then they asked Graham to come back and record for one last track, or it was the last song he ever recorded as a member of the group. Either way, it's a heartbreaking ultimate track, a perfect swan song for the glorious Graham Coxon. It starts out with slow, mourning piano chords, then all of a sudden Graham bursts into the song, and as Pitchfork Review said, "Coxon makes his guitar twang like high tension wires snapping and erupts in Saturn-rocket blasts." Finally it slows down, if you want to be, you can be with me into a final piano-guitar slowdown duet. And then, if you're anything like me, you feel like you're going to cry.
Me White Noise, the hidden track, is insane. I love it. I can't describe it. Won't even try. Could be called "Essex Dogs" goes to a club.
The weather was less friendly today, cooler and windy. Now my eyes are all bloodshot from the EVIL acacia plants. Stupid allergies.
Happy Birthday, bailunrui!
It sometimes seems like people are divided into those who like the Britpoppy Life trilogy [Modern Life is Rubbish, Parklife, The Great Escape, and I would assume Leisure is semi-lumped into this category] and those who like the newer, odder sound of the selftitled album and 13.
But if you've been reading my journal for a while, you'll know that I love pretty much everything. I'm sickeningly enthusiastic and appreciative.
So I guess it goes without saying: I love all of their albums. I love the breezy Leisure, the upbeat MLiR, the laidback sarcastic Parklife, the horn-filled weirdness of GE, the alt-rock oddity of "Blur", the alienated moodiness and sorrow of 13, and the funky/mellow uplifting journey of Think Tank.
Here's my review,
1. Ambulance - I was born out of love...The bass line gets you moving and grooving, the chorus is melodic and eerie, and already the drums introduce you into the Morrocan flavor of the album.
2. Out Of Time - Where's the love song to set us free...Again, the beats are lovely, with Damon's guitar rhythm carrying you along until it gets to the Moroccan musicians, who are fantastic. This is a definite highlight of the album.
3. Crazy Beat - Gets the people dancing on their feet...It's produced by Fatboy Slim, but it's right out of the Bugman/Song 2 arena. Like the song title, it has a crazy beat that just makes you want to get out onto the floor and dance. The music video is brilliant.
4. Good Song - And you seem very beautiful to me...Without Graham [sob], Blur is left with Damon to add soothing, lullaby-esque rhythms to their songs, as is in this case. It's very mellow and chill.
5. On The Way To The Club - My eyes aren't blue there's nothing I can do...This is one of the songs when the absence of Graham really shows, though not in a bad way. Alex leads it with the bass line, and it's another funky/mellow mix.
6. Brothers And Sisters - A cartoon in a ketamine, Jelly mixed with margarine...Another Blur song where the lyrics are almost fatalistic, yet the beat and the tune is all fun. The melodies/harmonies are original, and a irony in comparison to the lyrics which describe the drug addictions of our society -- both socially acceptable drugs and the less legal ones.
7. Caravan - Sometimes everything is easy...Easily the most depressing song on the album, yet like the others, it is soothing with its heartbeat-like drums. Conjures up an image of camels plodding across the desert, with no end in sight.
8. We've Got A File On You - WE'VE GOT A FILE ON YOU! Starts off with sitar and Damon's scratchy guitar melding together. Another short punkrock shout-fest, but with usually ignored political meanings. Alludes to the American Patriot Act and other invasions of privacy. Very fun to drive to.
9. Moroccan People's Revolutionary Bowls Club - If we go and blow it up then we will disappear...The first thought that comes to my mind is that the boys must have watched Labyrinth before writing/recording this. It harks back to "Jump Magic Jump" with its upbeat bass and a freakin' synthesizer. They throw in the eerie Moroccan melodies in occasionally. Even though the lyrics are a warning sign against man's domination over nature, it's a fun song and you can't help but imagine David Bowie dancing along.
10. Sweet Song - Stop crying now here comes the sun...Another lullabye tune, could send me to sleep. Starts with a soothing piano tune, slowly shifts into the quiet happiness of the song. It's a "through the darkness" type song, almost bittersweet. It's very lovely.
11. Jets - Jets are like comets at sunset...Funnest. Song. Ever. Dance to it. Sing along, the lyrics are simple. And teach yourself the opening guitar line. Damon's guitar once again provides an incredibly catchy rhythm which launches off the song until we get to Alex's sliding bass. A slight Moroccan feel, with an improv sax solo towards the end. It's syncopated, it's funky, it's really well done.
12. Gene By Gene - I got a brain in lefthand drive...The other track produced by Fatboy Slim, it's funky and full of beats. Depressing lyrics, melodic chorus, with all sorts of ambient noises turning into the beat. Ends very strangely, but creative and original.
13. Battery In Your Leg - This is a ballad for the good times...I'll say it is. This is the only track Graham played on. I'm not sure if this song was written, and then they asked Graham to come back and record for one last track, or it was the last song he ever recorded as a member of the group. Either way, it's a heartbreaking ultimate track, a perfect swan song for the glorious Graham Coxon. It starts out with slow, mourning piano chords, then all of a sudden Graham bursts into the song, and as Pitchfork Review said, "Coxon makes his guitar twang like high tension wires snapping and erupts in Saturn-rocket blasts." Finally it slows down, if you want to be, you can be with me into a final piano-guitar slowdown duet. And then, if you're anything like me, you feel like you're going to cry.
Me White Noise, the hidden track, is insane. I love it. I can't describe it. Won't even try. Could be called "Essex Dogs" goes to a club.
The weather was less friendly today, cooler and windy. Now my eyes are all bloodshot from the EVIL acacia plants. Stupid allergies.
Happy Birthday, bailunrui!