Blur
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Ik schrijf al een tijdje voor Tinymixtapes, een Engels indie webtijdschriftje wat best redelijk wat bezoekers trekt. Ik had ook een recensie geschreven voor Blur’s “Think Tank”. Maar helaas, iemand was me voor, en scapusio schreef ‘m. Om de recensie niet ‘verloren’ te laten gaan, daarom hier mijn (engelse) recensie:
Blur – Think Tank
Virgin Records, 2003
Rating: 8.5
There’s something with ‘classic pop records’. My previous review for TMT was The Delgados ‘Hate’, which somehow sounded like the new musical direction of Michael Jackson instead of a standard indie record, which was what I expected. And now, again, I have stumbled upon a record that sounds like it could become a classic pop record. I don’t know whether this was Blur’s intentional thought when they started recording this stuff, but Think Tank has all the ingredients that such a classic pop record in the should have in the year 2003:
– slow, laid-back, relaxing stuff that could be an alternative hit single (Out of Time, Good Song)
– something to dance to (Crazy Beat, On the Way To the Club)
– something that sounds like a bad Red Hot Chilli Peppers song (We’ve Got A File On You)
– a song that is in line with the current 80s-retro-electroclash sound rage (The superb Moroccan Peoples Revolutionary Bowls Club)
– a sweet love song (the very appropriate-named Sweet Song)
and off course a boring, why-the-fuck-did-they-put-this-six-minute-rehearsal-on-the-album song (Jets)
Just like with every other classic pop record, recording the album didn’t went as it should. There were some internal problems: long-time guitarist Graham Coxon left the band, making this the first Blur album that doesn’t include his contribution. Unfortunately for Coxon, and good for us, this didn’t have a bad influence on the recording process. On the contrary, focus was shifted from Coxon’s guitar to the bass and drums from Alex James and Dave Rowntree. This gives Think Tank a more dance-orientated feel, which seems to be only logical, following earlier flirtations the band had with dance music, and Damon Albarn’s adventure last year with the Gorillaz (you know, those animated, MTV-adored cartoon heroes who had a hit with Clint Eastwood).
So, there you have it. Another classic pop record (I’m getting sick of that word) released this year. Have fun with it. Just to be sure that I don’t review another classic pop record (blegh!) next time i’m trying to find a record now that doesn’t have guitars, drums and any melodies whatsoever.