Blur Albums Ranked

Blur are an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1988 originally under the name Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James, and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur’s debut album Leisure (1991) incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing. Following a stylistic change influenced by English guitar pop groups such as the Kinks, the Beatles and XTC, Blur released Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995). As a result, the band helped to popularise the Britpop genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a chart battle with rival band Oasis in 1995 dubbed “The Battle of Britpop”.
Blur’s self-titled fifth album (1997) saw another stylistic shift, influenced by the lo-fi styles of American indie rock groups, and became their third UK chart-topping album. Its single “Song 2” brought the band mainstream success in the US for the first time. Their next album, 13 (1999) saw the band experimenting with electronic and gospel music, and featured more personal lyrics from Albarn. Their seventh album, Think Tank (2003), continued their experimentation with electronic sounds and was also shaped by Albarn’s growing interest in hip hop and world music, featuring more minimal guitar work. Coxon left the band during early recording sessions for Think Tank, and Blur disbanded for several years after the end of the album’s associated tour, with the members engaged in other projects. Here are all of Blur’s albums ranked.

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8. Leisure (1991)

“Blur started their recorded existence sounding like baggy trouser Mancunians, and even with the sometimes wild career swings this was a good start. It comes off a bit stodgy in places, at least in comparison to their later looseness, but songwriting prowess comes with age and experience and this was proven in this particular case. The shuffling beats are a solid encapsulating of the band’s energy, and indicative of their ability to morph according to their times and tastes without it coming off as ridiculous. Leisure won’t make anyone forget Parklife or The Great Escape – unless said ‘anyone’ is patently ridiculous themselves – but is certainly worthy of having, especially as “There’s No Other Way” and “Bang” slay when coming out of the speakers on a good day.”

7. Think Tank (2003)

“Despite containing the beautiful “Out of Time”, my favorite Blur song, there’s sadly not much to recommend Think Tank. Full of forgettable fillers, this has to be Blur’s worst album yet. Worst of all, juxtaposed to “Out of Time” is the horrifyingly bad “Crazy Beat”, which wants badly to be the next “Song 2”, but fails miserably. “Good Song” and “Batttery in Your Leg” are decent enough.”

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6. The Magic Whip (2015)

“”The Magic Whip” is surprising on a number of levels. First, the fact that it arrived at all, in 2015, 12 years after Blur’s last effort which caused a schism in the band. Secondly, and this is less of a surprise, is how good it is. “The Magic Whip” is arguably Blur’s most consistent record played through from start to finish. While they undoubtedly have better songs scattered throughout their back catalog, and have a couple of albums that shade this overall, I don’t think any of their previous work has started on such a strong note and proceeded to maintain that level without a single dip in form. Opener “Lonesome Street” parties like its 1997 again – on the surface a throwback to the heady days  of the height of Britpop but underneath it is a meld of Blur at their most melodic and experimental. “Go Out” is a similar affair, akin to the material off their eponymous 5th album. “

5. The Great Escape (1995)

“My favorite Blur album, not a very popular choice. I don’t care, because I like it. The storytelling songs are very funny in my opinion. I still don’t know if that’s on purpose, but I find myself laughing on tracks like ‘Country House’, ‘Charmless Man’ and ‘Ernold Same’. Of course the album has some slight flaws, but overall it’s very enjoyable. The riffs are awesome, Damon Albarn had great lyricism and everything is very catchy. I always find myself looking for a Blur track to put on, instead of searching for a sole track, I just put on multiple songs from this album.”

4. Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993)

“I like this album a lot. It’s quite long, and a couple of songs are not as good as some others, but overall I think that this is Blur’s 2nd best album. I feel that Parklife feels too much like a novelty album when I listen to it, whereas this album has more prominent guitar and that prevents such a feeling from arising. For Tomorrow, Blue Jeans, Chemical World, Sunday Sunday and Popscene are just brilliant songs. Most of the other songs on the album are good too, but not all of them can live up to the standard those songs set.”

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3. 13 (1999)

“Differcult, challenging art rock forms Blur’s best album. The opening 4 tracks all rank as Blur’s best. The affecting cozy Tender, the ranting noisy Bugman, the anthemic coffee and tv and ambigious Swamp Song. The album then transitions into the spooky ambient wilderness of heart break and sorrow. Yet delivering such melodic brilliances as Battle, Caramel and the low-key finalie Trimm Trab.”

2. Parklife (1994)

“The undisputable high classic of the Brit-pop revolution, Parklife does more than any other single record to bring the sounds of the Beatles to a new generation.  The comparison is perhaps not fair but it’s difficult to avoid the similarities in both sound and subject matter: quintessential Britishness as expressed through four minute textured pop- song-sing-alongs. Blur acquits itself well in such distinguished company, adding its own form of ironic instincts to re-invoke dead 60s and 80s styles–high harmonies, jaunty instrumental passages and general bouncy energy– and employing them to new ends.  The Euro-trash romp of sexually curious British youth in “Girls And Boys” pushes generic excess to the point of parody, while songs like “Tracy Jacks” and “End Of The Century” comment on general boredom with upstanding British institutions by ruthlessly satirizing them.  

1. Blur (1997)

“Apparently, Blur discovered American indie rock all of a sudden in 1996 or so, and that caused them to “reinvent” themselves.  Aside from the part where Albarn felt it necessary to mention Pavement in every single interview he did for over a year, this change was the best thing that ever happened to them. Blur is a particularly fascinating album, as it’s a cross between their new influences and the perfected Britpop of The Great Escape.  It’s nowhere near as weird as 13, but it would be difficult to believe it any less creative.  Probably the most enjoyable – if not the most interesting – album they’ve ever made.”