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In the simplest terms, The Great Escape is the flip side of Parklife. Where Blur's breakthrough album was a celebration of the working class, drawing on British pop from the '60s and reaching through the '80s, The Great Escape concentrates on the suburbs, featuring a cast of characters all trying to cope with the numbing pressures of modern life. Consequently, it's darker than Parklife, even if the melancholia is hidden underneath the crisp production and catchy melodies. Even the bright, infectious numbers on The Great Escape have gloomy subtexts, whether it's the disillusioned millionaire of "Country House" and the sycophant of "Charmless Man" or the bleak loneliness of "Globe Alone" and "Entertain Me." Naturally, the slower numbers are even more despairing, with the acoustic "Best Days," the lush, sweeping strings of "The Universal," and the stark, moving electronic ballad "Yuko & Hiro" ranking as the most affecting work Blur has ever recorded. However, none of this makes The Great Escape a burden or a difficult album. The music bristles with invention throughout, as Blur delves deeper into experimentation with synthesizers, horns, and strings; guitarist Graham Coxon twists out unusual chords and lead lines, and Damon Albarn spits out unexpected lyrical couplets filled with wit and venomous intelligence in each song. But Blur's most remarkable accomplishment is that it can reference the past -- the Scott Walker homage of "The Universal," the Terry Hall/Fun Boy Three cop on "Top Man," the skittish, XTC-flavored pop of "It Could Be You," and Albarn's devotion to Ray Davies -- while still moving forward, creating a vibrant, invigorating record.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Roddy Lorimer, Trumpet - Tim Sanders, Saxophone - Simon Clarke, Saxophone - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Neil Sidwell, Trombone - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Saxophone, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Organ, Piano, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Roddy Lorimer, Trumpet - Rick Koster, Violin - John Metcalfe, Viola - Tim Sanders, Saxophone - Simon Clarke, Saxophone - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Neil Sidwell, Trombone - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Saxophone, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Organ, Piano, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer - Ivan McCermoy, Cello - Lousia Fuller, Violin
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer, MixingEngineer - Graham Coxon, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Roddy Lorimer, Trumpet - Tim Sanders, Saxophone - Simon Clarke, Saxophone - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Neil Sidwell, Trombone - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Saxophone, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Organ, Piano, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Roddy Lorimer, Trumpet - Rick Koster, Violin - John Metcalfe, Viola - Tim Sanders, Saxophone - Simon Clarke, Saxophone - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer, MixingEngineer - Neil Sidwell, Trombone - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Saxophone, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer - Ivan McCermoy, Cello - Angela Murrell, Background Vocals - Theresa Davis, Background Vocals - Lousia Fuller, Violin
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Roddy Lorimer, Trumpet - Rick Koster, Violin - Tim Sanders, Saxophone - Simon Clarke, Saxophone - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Neil Sidwell, Trombone - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Saxophone, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer - Lousia Fuller, Violin
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Roddy Lorimer, Trumpet - Rick Koster, Violin - John Metcalfe, Viola - Tim Sanders, Saxophone - Simon Clarke, Saxophone - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Neil Sidwell, Trombone - Graham Coxon, Banjo, Guitar, Saxophone, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer - Ivan McCermoy, Cello - Lousia Fuller, Violin - Ken Livingstone, Narrator
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Percussion, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Piano, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer - Cathy Gillat, Additional Vocals
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
DISC 2
John Smith, Producer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Mixer - Alex James, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Writer - Françoise Hardy, Vocals, MainArtist - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra - Stephen Hague, Production, Original Producer - STEPHEN STREET, Mixer, Remastering Engineer, Digital Remasterer - Graham Coxon, Writer - Blur, Additional Production, Lead Vocals, Performance, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer, Digital Remasterer - Rick Wentworth, Conductor, Orchestra Leader - Khalil Chahine, Strings - Jacques Bolognesi, Accordion
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Piano, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, Assistant, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, Assistant, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, Assistant - Julia Gardner, Assistant - Live It!, Additional Production, Remixer - George Schilling, Engineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Producer, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer, Instruments - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Producer, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Producer, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, Vocals, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Keyboards, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Vocals, Writer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - David Rowntree, Producer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - David Rowntree, Producer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Tom Girling, AdditionalEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Editor, Remastering Engineer, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Dave Bernez, Editor, MasteringEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Editor, Remastering Engineer, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Dave Bernez, Editor, MasteringEngineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Remastering Engineer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Album review
In the simplest terms, The Great Escape is the flip side of Parklife. Where Blur's breakthrough album was a celebration of the working class, drawing on British pop from the '60s and reaching through the '80s, The Great Escape concentrates on the suburbs, featuring a cast of characters all trying to cope with the numbing pressures of modern life. Consequently, it's darker than Parklife, even if the melancholia is hidden underneath the crisp production and catchy melodies. Even the bright, infectious numbers on The Great Escape have gloomy subtexts, whether it's the disillusioned millionaire of "Country House" and the sycophant of "Charmless Man" or the bleak loneliness of "Globe Alone" and "Entertain Me." Naturally, the slower numbers are even more despairing, with the acoustic "Best Days," the lush, sweeping strings of "The Universal," and the stark, moving electronic ballad "Yuko & Hiro" ranking as the most affecting work Blur has ever recorded. However, none of this makes The Great Escape a burden or a difficult album. The music bristles with invention throughout, as Blur delves deeper into experimentation with synthesizers, horns, and strings; guitarist Graham Coxon twists out unusual chords and lead lines, and Damon Albarn spits out unexpected lyrical couplets filled with wit and venomous intelligence in each song. But Blur's most remarkable accomplishment is that it can reference the past -- the Scott Walker homage of "The Universal," the Terry Hall/Fun Boy Three cop on "Top Man," the skittish, XTC-flavored pop of "It Could Be You," and Albarn's devotion to Ray Davies -- while still moving forward, creating a vibrant, invigorating record.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 33 track(s)
- Total length: 02:09:12
- Main artists: Blur
- Label: Parlophone UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2012 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
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