Blur — Think Tank

Blur is my latest musical obession, after obtaining most of their back-catalogue in the last three months, they also released a brilliant new album: Think Tank. I've never really gotten into Blur because frankly, I never knew much about their music. I had the impression they've been doing the same thing as Oasis: releasing crap album after crap album. But obviously I was very wrong. I guess I'm one of the few who first got into Gorrilaz and then into Blur. I must say I enjoy Blur a hell of a lot more than Gorrilaz. Damon Albarn's sideproject is okay, but in the end doesn't statisfy me as for instance Think Tank. And that's odd because Think Tank does contain some of the Gorillaz style hip-hop stuff. And there are some small other Gorrilaesque things. But Think Tank is more consistent and a stronger record.

Like all famous British bands, Blur had their new album put on the net way before the releasedate. I'm sure someone at EMI is responsible for this, he/she also put Hail To The Thief online. But if there is an oppertunity for me to hear the album before it's release I take it. The first time I listened to Think Tank I wasn't really thrilled. I had a hard time enjoying the songs. There was a a bit too much experimentation going on. Replacing good songwriting for the sake of experimentation isn't a good thing. But I felt there was more to the album. Now after two months and buying the album I can say that Think Tank is one of my favourite albums of this year.

Blur's current single Out Of Time is a beautiful and fragile song which perfectly sets the atmosphere for the album. Like a couple of other tracks this one was recorded in Morroco and you can hear how the band tried to incorporate an Arabic atmosphere. Crazy Beat is a jumpy song, quite similar to Song 2, still pretty interesting. Good Song and Sweet Song (The songtitles don't get any better) are indeed good and sweet. On The Way To The Club is one of my favourites together with Caravan, which is my favourite track on the album. Damon's vocals sound like he is singing on an AM radio frequency, which is actually a brilliant idea. We've Got A File On You is a punky one minute track with some noisy guitars. Jets features a saxophone and Gene By Gene starts out like a When track because of it's cartoony sample in the first minute. It does develop into a different direction and can be considered as one of the most interesting tracks on the album.

Think Tank is a brilliant album. Even without departed guitarist Graham Coxon Blur recorded something very interesting. It might be considered blasphemy, but maybe it was a good thing he left, otherwise we would've never gotten Think Tank. My opinion might not be considered much since I just discovered the band, but Blur definatly recorded their best album. On the other hand, I listened to every other album as much as I did to Think Tank, I all discovered them over the same period of time, so I guess that says something. It's at least a different perspective. All I can say is check out Think Tank, you won't regret it.