Blur
Modern Life Is Rubbish LP vinyl

Following Leisure, a debut featuring many exquisite moments of melody, Blur began their chameleonic artistic journey with Modern Life Is Rubbish, a record that eschewed massive sonic edifices and swirling harmonies for more basic guitar rock. However, there was little simple about the foursome's creations, as singer/chief-songwriter Damon Albarn fulfilled the promise he hinted at on the prior album: a beatle-esque ability to pour an incredible amount of drama and adornment into small spaces and emerge with delectable pop. Leadoff track “For Tomorrow", with its jangly guitar and "la la la la la" chorus sets the tone of the album as well as an opening song can. Its lyrics dance with a subtle complexity, examining optimism while mired in the repetition of modern life (and its rubbish) as renegade strings pop in at just the right points. It's the surprising little touches that really define the band and make blur's concoctions soar above the rabble. Modern Life Is Rubbish is one of those records that improves with each listen, with the quiet brilliance of story-songs like “Colin Zeal", “Chemical World", and “Pop Scene" (a smart addition to the us release). Modern Life Is Rubbish is a testament to Albarn's maturing songwriting gift and a tightly wrapped pop record simultaneously behind and ahead of its time.

NEW / Released in 1993 / Reissue 2012

Tracklist:

A1 For Tomorrow

A2 Advert

A3 Colin Zeal

A4 Pressure On Julian

B1 Star Shaped

B2 Blue Jeans

C1 Sunday Sunday

C2 Oily Water

C3 Miss America

C4 Villa Rosie

D1 Coping

D3 Resigned

D4 Commercial Break