The Best Of - Blur

Advantages: Timeless, brilliant pop music
Disadvantages: Some key songs have been excluded

The heady days of Britpop seem a long time ago now, don't they? Remember when there was the great rivalry between Oasis and Blur? Or Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker shaking his skinny bottom at Michael Jackson at the Brits? It seemed that for a brief moment, British guitar music was well and truly 'in', and would be around forever. But, sadly, it didn't last. And let's be honest, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be, was it? Britpop may have spawned ...
...their greatness by some of the direst British bands of recent times. For every Oasis there was a Shed Seven. The charm and wit of Blur was countered by the witless nonsense of Mansun. For every spiky, cool Elastica, a clumsy, shoddy Republica lay around the corner. For every Pulp, a Menswear. Indeed, the Britpop graveyard is littered with former bands who had a brief moment in the spotlight and then suddenly faded away when the media, and the British ... Read review

Advantages: excellent compilation of one of the key British bands of the 1990's
Disadvantages: 1 or 2 songs missing

...only have come from Britain.Incorporating the influences of classic English pop such as The Kinks and The Small Faces, as well as the punk sensibilities of bands such as the Clash and The Specials,they carved out sound that was all their own and pioneered Brit-pop,one of the most exciting musical movements in recent years. Having said that Blur could only have come from Britain,their career has been remarkably similar to fellow indie-giants REM.Both ...
...their career being called Seymour,before the name change.They comprised Graham Coxon on guitar,Damon Albarn on vocals and guitars,Dave Rowntree on drums and Alex James on bass.This compiles the majority of their singles from the 'Leisure' album up to '13'.Therefore songs from the excellent most recent album 'Think Tank' are absent.Most of the songs you'd expect and want to find are here.The notable exceptions, being early hit 'Popscene', 'Stereotypes' ... Read review

Advantages: the best of one of the 90s' best bands
Disadvantages: 'Music is My Radar'

...is in jukeboxes all over the U.K. Or if you haven't seen it there, you may have seen the cover art in the National Portrait Gallery. Yes, Blur are that mainstream. But, just because they are popular, doesn't mean that they are shallow. Several of the songs on this album address the theme of the future, specifically, the turning of the century and the NEW MILLENNIUM . More than typical pop with its cheesy love songs, Blur's lyrics are meaningful, ...
...they are talking about... The peppy tunes often contrast the dark lyrics and depressing social commentary. Blur are also musically diverse, making brave attempts to tackle many different styles including neo-disco, neo-gospel, and, of course, BritPop, a sound they pioneered. 1. 'Beetlebum' (from 'Blur') (5:05) This is a love song about a dangerous girl who sleeps around. Damon sings, 'There's nothing wrong, she turns me on,' but also, 'She's a gun.' ... Read review

Advantages: Eighteen superb songs that defined Brit Pop
Disadvantages: Nothing

..."Greatest Hits" compilation. Bur played The Kinks to Oasis' Beatles fixation. The locations were near enough , for Liverpool read Manchester and Blur and The Kinks were both London bands. The rivalry between Blur and Oasis had its first major impact when Blur released "Country House" and Oasis (or Oasis Quo as Damon Albarn christened them) releases "Roll With It". Blur won that one I seem to remember. Anyway whereas The Beatles commercial success ...
...in the sales, and definitely in the originality stakes. Blur , whilst maintaining the spirit of the Kinks have always managed to sound original, continually re-inventing their sound , whereas Oasis now sound like a stuck record. Sorry about the anti Oasis rant but , when it comes down it Blur are simply a better band. This album is available in two formats one, comes with a live CD recorded at the Mile End Stadium, this is a welcome though not essential ... Read review

Advantages: Best by the Best
Disadvantages: Like any best of, you have to leave some off

Blur are arguably the great quintessentially English band of the 1990s. They are survivors, surviving unpopular music direction, changes in fashion, the Oasis battle, and they have always bounced back. And this album is no exception. The 'Best of' is traditionally an album of popular numbers, well known tracks and signature pieces, and this is no exception here. All the main tracks that made Blur they band they are here, with one or two exceptions ...
...'Popscene' and 'Chemical World'. But the trouble with selecting 18 excellent tracks is you have to ignore a 100 of equal brilliance. The track listing runs through 'The Best of' like an exploration of the 90s. BEETLEBUM Taken from their eponymous 5th album, Beetlebum finds Blur's darker edge, Pavement influence, ending the Brit Pop style that had gone so wrong for them the album before SONG 2 Nirvana-esque track that spawned a million adverts. ... Read review

Advantages: A lot of fantastic songs
Disadvantages: No "Popscene" =[

...the other goods aswell. Worth every penny. It includes some of Blur's best, from "Coffee and TV", to "Country House" and "For Tomorrow". It also includes the previously unheard "Music Is My Radar", which was recorded for the compilation. Being called "Best of" though, is all down to a matter of oppinion. It missed out some great singles Blur had, like "Popscene", "Bang", and "Sunday Sunday". Although, you could say that "Music Is My Radar" is some slight compensation to the lacking singles. Despite some of the downsides, if you look at what it actually has, this album still packs a great host of songs all arranged neatly to give a great effect. Its also a very varied collection, displaying Blur's ability to adapt to many different Music Cliques. They magically fill Rock, Accoustic and Experimental genres very nicely indeed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Rocks, superb.
Disadvantages: None

...Coming after the poptastic Great Escape, the self titled Blur album is to my mind the best one. Not many bands can change styles like Blur have over their albums, but this was the biggest shift yet. From Beetlebum to Song 2 theres so many different styles and paces. Even the very experimental Essex Dogs is a must listen, just to hear a band at the top of their game. The rock influence of Graham Coxon is evident on this album as he had grown sick of the pop stuff, a shame he left as the pop sensibilities of Damon Albarn combined with the alternative loving Coxon on guitar is what made Blur very special. With the four great singles this is a must have!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Classic but still exellent
Disadvantages: -

...Blur are classic indie and everyone loved them in there older days .. even though they are not the new style everyone craves for .. everyone needs abit of the old back in their lives and this was the way to do it for me .. they have a fun and exciting atmosphere with them that is never ending .. as you listen to this ablum it will remeind you of your younger days when you where carefree .. I love the classic english comedy that comes with the music of this band in songs like "Parklife" and the other not so funny but still stunning to listen to "Tender" the best to me by far was the ground-breaking smash that had before the end "Song2" .. Now thats a song to remeber !!!!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful