Back in a Blur
Matthew d'Ancona 6:33pm
Old rockers don’t die, they just go to Glastonbury. Or, in the case of our own Alex James, write a column for The Spectator. It is nine years since Blur played together and, though their forthcoming reunion tour has been public knowledge for a while, there is a special frisson in today’s disclosure that they will be headlining at the summer’s main festival: the annual riot of mud and noise known as Glastonbury. As anyone who has read John Harris’s masterly book, The Last Party, knows, the band were the defining force not only in the movement that became known as “Britpop”, but also minstrels to the political spirit of the mid-Nineties: variously known as “Cool Britannia”, “New Britain”, or (by sceptics) “Blairite Hell”.
How very long ago that prosperous, decadent time now seems. Britain is grey again, deep in a recession of unknowable depth and duration, and as far from the era of Blur’s greatest records as it is possible to imagine. Still: this 41-year-old cannot suppress his excitement at the prospect of once again hearing live renditions of “Parklife”, “Tender”, “There’s no Other Way”, “Girls & Boys”, and all the other classics that were the soundtrack to the generation that grew up between the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11. They don’t make tunes like that any more, you know.
Just make sure you file your copy on time, Alex
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THX1138
February 26th, 2009 7:56pm Report this commentGreat Post - My Fav Blur Track, the underrated classic Me, White Noise also with nice bit of Phil Daniels chat.
http://tinyurl.com/6ej37d
(the not so good alt version)
Still the track that really defines Britpop for me was Pulp's Common People
http://tinyurl.com/4n6fe7
Majestic, superb, brilliant, soaring and Northern working class unlike the middle class Southern Blur.
"They don’t make tunes like that any more, you know."
Yes they do:)
LCD Soundsystem The best band in the world at the moment cover the best band in the world ever Joy Division.
http://tinyurl.com/bxa9r3
No Love Lost-
I saw Joy Division at the Rainbow on Seven Sister Road, Curtis had a fit on stage and killed himself a week later- how I love that band I want Atmosphere played at my funeral!
Francisco Mendes da Silva
February 26th, 2009 8:10pm Report this commentBlur + The Speccie is the perfect mix.
Ray
February 26th, 2009 8:56pm Report this commentNice to see that the generation born in the 1970s are now reduced to reminiscing in the manner that we children born in the 1960s do over our iconic heroes of yesteryear.
Practice after me: "Kids nowadays, don't know their born..."
Alex
February 26th, 2009 11:01pm Report this commentBlur? So what.
Even more importantly, Depeche Mode are set to play at Glastonbury this year
Swiss Bob
February 27th, 2009 8:14am Report this commentNebworth, 1979 (though I thought it was 77) and Led Zeppelin kicks bands like Blue into a cocked hat. The summers were better the drugs cheaper and the women more beautiful. Well I was only seventeen.
Terrace Stomp
February 27th, 2009 9:37am Report this commentFor once, THX says something sensible - Pulp were funnier, less pretentious, more intelligent and more durable (I spy) than any of their peers. Who included, lest we forget, utter dreck like The verve, Marion, Menswear, Northern uproar, Elastica...
The rest of 'Britpop' is unlistenable, except as an exercise in nostalgia, or possibly a cautionary tale: "I will not rip off Madness and the Stranglers; flirting dangerously with notions of sexuality is actually quite boring, not provocative; I will try not to look like a monkey." I'd rather listen to Shampoo or PJ and Duncan. At least they were straightforward and unpretentious.
The best British bands had nothing to do with, and no need to embrace, 'Britpop': Billy Bragg, St Etienne, Pet shop boys, Morrissey, the Divine comedy, Black box recorder just kept making intelligent and interesting records, they didn't need the media to tell everyone how thrillingly British they were.
Al Wood
February 27th, 2009 9:43am Report this commentAh, the 90s. Happy days. I'm going to the Hyde Park gig and can't wait.
The Great Escape is an under-rated gem of an album and possibly- and I'm sticking my neck out here- their best.
Paul B
February 27th, 2009 9:55am Report this commentJoy Division, best band ever ? THX, what you on mate? Music to kill yourself to. Ever see the late & great Joseph Strummer and the boys tear up stage? Awesome sight & sound to behold on a good night. The Boss-also at Glastonbury this year- in his heyday was a monster, with Clarence Clemons incinerating audiences with his flame gun Sax`. Was truly awe inspiring. I to love Common People by Pulp and Parklife still does it, all the people so many people. This aging rocker is thinking he is going to have get tickets for this years bash. Matt can we you have a luxury Speccie tent, discounts for regular coffee housers ;-) I promise to behave, and cut off my comb over.
Yorkshire Steve
February 27th, 2009 11:29am Report this commentKnebworth please. Led Zep, Pink Floyd and then the Rolling Stones. Oh for the end of the 70's.
Blur V Oasis just lacks thr quality
THX1138
February 27th, 2009 12:25pm Report this commentPaul B I'm a huge Clash fan too and saw them many times I remember a great gig at the Lyceum for the Sandinista tour but still Joy Division that Manc gritiness and that Martin Hannett production does it for me every time, if you ever get the chance read the Paul Morley book on Joy Division.
Saw The Boss last year at The Emirates, great gig yep I'm up for a bit of Speccie Hospitality at Glasto too. Matt d'Ancona is a bit of a closet Led Zep fan too my sources tell me that he got a ticket for the O2 gig lucky bastard.
If you get a chance check out LCD Soundsystem & Fleet Foxes two really special bands around at the moment.
BTW hope you don't mind but I was really moved by your post on your special needs child. I have felt slightly weird all week arguing about politics after the Cameron's tragedy It's good to talk about something uplifting like great music.
Just to remind you why your wrong about Joy Division.
For Ivan Cameron RIP the hauntingly beautiful Atmosphere
http://tinyurl.com/cbxbrv
Take care
Paul B
February 27th, 2009 12:28pm Report this commentYorkshire Steve , I was at the Stones gig at Knebworth, 76 I think it was. On the day they were totally mullared by the good ole boys of Alabama namely, Lynard Skynard. Their performance on that hot, soporific afternoon, still burns brightly, fly freebird.
Paul B
February 28th, 2009 12:09pm Report this commentThanks THX, my son who is 7 has profound learning difficulties or more correctly disabilities. He`s on the autistic spectrum,cannot speak, is unable to take of his personnel and intimate hygiene and has many complications. However , he is physically perfectly fit and is a immense source of joy for me and Mrs B. We are very proud of him. Cameroons understanding of the problems & issues carers face, makes me optismistic about future policies , should he win the next GE. I actually quite like Joy Divison and will give the bands you recommend a listen. I have heard of the Fleet Foxes but the other band you mention are new to me.
Regards
THX1138
March 1st, 2009 10:41am Report this commentPaul I wrote a long and detailed reply to your post but it got spiked for some reason.
If you want those albums please mail me on thx1138@hotmail.co.uk & I will send them over.
A great present for a music lover like you the Rough Trade album club.
http://www.thealbumclub.com/
I'd start dropping hints right now.
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