Of all the Britpop bands of the 1990s, Blur was the first to feel straitjacket by the genre's limitations. With their fifth self-titled album, they let go of the success formula (catchy songs with satirical lyrics รก la The Kinks) of the predecessors Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995), to reinvent themselves with a strongly American guitar underground approach. find. Since then Blur stubbornly
… refuses to keep making the same album. Although the superior form of the mid-nineties was no longer achieved, the new direction again yielded highlights such as Tender and Song 2. Think Tank is the first album since the departure of guitarist Graham Coxon. The record seems to be mainly determined by the musical interests of singer Damon Albarn. The emphasis is on atmosphere instead of elaborate songs and on electronica instead of guitars, apart from some African-like loops by Albarn. Although the urge to experiment evokes admiration, it does not hide the lack of memorable melodies. Production assistance was provided by William Orbit (Sweet Song) and Fatboy Slim (Crazy Beat, Gene By Gene). (MS)more
