Search - Blur :: Parklife

A genuine cultural and musical masterpiece

M. D. Lewis | Ravenstown, Maryland | 03/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It does, in some ways, bother me to give five stars to a Blur album (my self-admitted favourite band is Oasis, after all), but this CD is simply magnificent. Nowhere, not even on the best Oasis album, is 1990's Britain best captured in song. These are the best non-personal lyrics penned by Damon Albarn (his best lyrics being found on last year's "13") and this is Blur at their musical best (coincidentally, or perhaps not, at their most "British"). Some songs are better than others, yes -- "Parklife", "End of a Century", and "To The End" sit on the classic side, while "Far Out", "The Debt Collector", and "Lot 105" are somewhat strange, and in isolation would be simply weird...but all are so very necessary for "Parklife" to be what it is! This is unassailably brilliant music -- and this is coming from an Oasis fanatic. Take that as you will..."

Enchanting, Even If You're Not English

Sierra Wilson | Rhode Island | 10/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blur is one of the last true 'album' bands in existence--that is, they focus their primary energies on making brilliant and adventurous records, à la The Beatles. Almost no band in the past decade has been so amazingly consistent, so cutting-edge and daring. "Parklife," their epochal 1994 release, still stands as the gold standard in the elustrious Blur back catalogue; it is a record that is boldly representive of its time period, yet light years ahead of it. Safely said, almost no band has ever made such a pure, diverse, and enthralling pop record, one that seems to encompass the very history of rock 'n roll. "Parklife" overflows with melody and atmosphere and Damon's lyrics unfold like a great story, jumping from one idiosyncracy of English life to the next. His characters, pulled from the everyday pages of English life, are rich and complex figures whose lives and actions beg for the listener's full attention. Yet, even if the listener is oblivious to the this record's staunch Englishness, the music is more than capable of enchanting your ear and enriching your mind. Beautiful guitar riffs, sonorous and thick bass lines, spacey organs, and sweeping horns and strings permeate these tunes. On "Girls and Boys," the catchiest bass line in the history of recorded music is intertwined with a minimalist guitar figure and a bleepy synth to make one of the best pop singles in history. On "This Is A Low," a backwards guitar figure cascades over light cymbal splashes, eventually giving way to Damon's echoey, melancholy chorus--when he longingly enunciates "This is a low/But it won't hurt you when you're alone," the hairs on my neck stand up. The instrumental track "The Debt Collector" is whimsical and memorable, "Bank Holiday" is a thick, tasty slab of mod punk, a journey to garage rock heaven that remains far beyond the reach of many latter-day bands, and "Far Out" is a mysterius space-rock mini-suite, as bassist Alex James takes the mic with his melodramatic voice. Clearly, a slightly avant-garde/psychedelic aura edges this album, adding to the thick, superbly arranged pop melodies the genius of Coxon's angular guitar work (the solos on "This Is A Low," "London Loves," "Bank Holiday," "Jubilee," and "Tracy Jacks" are all quite impressive, proof that one doesn't have to reel off raging blues motifs to be a guitar virtuoso) and Damon's restless experimentalism. Each tune brings something different and enchanting to the table, whether it's the chiming harmonics of "Badhead" or the lush accordion and strings orchestration of "To The End." "Parklife" is loaded with surprises and left turns, and its artistic diversity keeps things interesting throughout. Blur have finished what The Kinks started, and in the process have made the best British album since "The La's" or maybe even "The Queen is Dead." A must have."

REALLY CLASSIC

Sierra Wilson | 02/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh man, this is just one of the BEST albums! I have to say that I'm always going back and forth between the album "Blur" (The one with the "woo-hoo" song on it) and "Parklife" for my favorite Blur album. I really wish they got more attention over here and more radio play because they always kick out great songs. "Parklife" is thoroughly enjoyable. I especially like "Tracy Jacks," "End of a Century" and "Girls and Boys." And of course that ubiquitous title tune, "Parklife." Damon Albarn isn't afraid to sound silly and really plays up that whole quaint-but-cocky British thing. This album is really a fun piece of work; you need to own it and love it! One more note: I saw Blur back in 1997 in this tiny lame club in Seattle (I'm sure they were humiliated because they place was so small and filled with teenyboppers) but they put on a GREAT show, the best live show I've ever seen. They're teriffic showmen and just darn fine musicians. Get "Parklife" and everything else they've done, they are great!"