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Released in conjunction with their 2009 reunion, the double-disc career retrospective Midlife emphasizes Blur's early psychedelic grind -- halfway between Syd Barrett and shoegazing -- along with their post-Brit-pop indie makeover, giving somewhat short shrift to the band's pop prime, cutting out four of the band's big hits ("There's No Other Way," "Country House," "End of the Century," and "Charmless Man") in favor of album tracks that play into the thesis that Blur were as somber and serious a guitar band as Radiohead. Of course, Blur did rival Radiohead, recording some of the greatest guitar rock of the '90s, but that was only one facet of the band: they were also a bright, artful pop band, cleverly twisting '60s traditions and post-punk styles into the present. Elements of this Blur are evident in "Girls & Boys" and "Parklife," hits so big they couldn't be ignored, and while Midlife could have used a heavier dose of this side of Blur, there's not a bad track here, and the set also brings their glorious, epoch-creating single "Popscene" back into circulation, so Midlife has some considerable value.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, MixingEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1997 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, MixingEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1994 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Rick Koster, Violin - John Metcalfe, Viola - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - Helen Kamminga, Viola - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, MixingEngineer - Miriam Stockley, Background Vocals - Mae McKenna, Background Vocals - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Ivan McCermoy, Cello - Lousia Fuller, Violin - The Duke String Quartet, String Quartet
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1993 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - WILLIAM ORBIT, Producer, Engineer - Iain Roberton, AssistantEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Jason Cox, Engineer - DAMIAN LEGASSICK, Pro-Tools Engineer - Sean Spuehler, Pro-Tools Engineer - Gerard Navarro, AssistantEngineer - Addi 800, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1999 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer, Background Vocals - Ben Hillier, Producer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - James Dring, Engineer, Drum Programming - Howie Weinberg, MasteringEngineer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Jason Cox, Engineer, Assistant Production - Groupe Regional Du Marrakech, Orchestra - M Rabet Mohamid Rachid, Violin - Gueddam Jamal, Cello, Violin - Hijaoui Rachid, Violin - Abdellah Kekhari, Violin - Bezzari Ahmed, Fiddle - Mohamed Azeddine (MD), Lute - Moullaoud My Ali, Lute - Kassimi Jamal Youssef, Lute - El Farani Mustapha, Miscellaneous - Dalal Mohamed Najib, Drums - Ait Ramdan El Mostafa, Zither - Desyud Mestafa, Orchestral Arranger
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2003 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, Tambourine, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Piano, Vocals, Writer, Melodica
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1993 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, MixingEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - WILLIAM ORBIT, Producer, Engineer - Howie Weinberg, MasteringEngineer - Iain Roberton, AssistantEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Jason Cox, Engineer - DAMIAN LEGASSICK, Pro-Tools Engineer - Sean Spuehler, Pro-Tools Engineer - Gerard Navarro, AssistantEngineer - Addi 800, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1999 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, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1995 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Produced by - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1997 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, MixingEngineer - Neil Sidwell, Trombone - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Saxophone, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer - Ivan McCermoy, Cello - Angela Murrell, Background Vocals - Theresa Davis, Background Vocals - Lousia Fuller, Violin
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1995 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - Steve Power, Producer - Graham Coxon, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1990 Parlophone Records Limited
John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, MixingEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1994 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
DISC 2
John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Double Bass, Writer, Background Vocals - The London Community Gospel Choir, Choir - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - WILLIAM ORBIT, Producer, Engineer - Iain Roberton, Pro-Tools Engineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Jason Cox, Engineer - DAMIAN LEGASSICK, AssistantEngineer - Sean Spuehler, Pro-Tools Engineer - Gerard Navarro, AssistantEngineer - Addi 800, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1999 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - Steve Power, Producer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Steve Lovell, Producer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1990 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
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1993 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer, Background Vocals - Ben Hillier, Producer, Engineer, Turntables, MixingEngineer - James Dring, Engineer, Drum Programming - Howie Weinberg, MasteringEngineer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Jason Cox, Engineer, Assistant Production
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2003 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, MixingEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Saxophone, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Phil Daniels, Narrator
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1994 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, Tambourine, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Tannoy
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1993 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - The Kick Horns, Section Horn - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Vocals, Writer - Steve Lovell, Producer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1992 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, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Tom Girling, AssistantEngineer - Julia Gardner, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1995 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Writer - WILLIAM ORBIT, Producer, Engineer - Howie Weinberg, MasteringEngineer - Iain Roberton, AssistantEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Jason Cox, Engineer - DAMIAN LEGASSICK, Pro-Tools Engineer - Sean Spuehler, Pro-Tools Engineer - Gerard Navarro, AssistantEngineer - Addi 800, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1999 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
John Smith, Engineer - Alex James, Bass Guitar, Writer - Roddy Lorimer, Trombone - Tim Sanders, Tenor Saxophone - Simon Clarke, Baritone Saxophone - Dave Rowntree, Drums, Percussion, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1994 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, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Alex James, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Dave Rowntree, Producer, Drums, Writer - Ben Hillier, Producer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - James Dring, Engineer, Drum Programming - Howie Weinberg, MasteringEngineer - Graham Coxon, Guitar, Writer - Blur, MainArtist - Damon Albarn, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Jason Cox, Engineer, Assistant Production
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Album review
Released in conjunction with their 2009 reunion, the double-disc career retrospective Midlife emphasizes Blur's early psychedelic grind -- halfway between Syd Barrett and shoegazing -- along with their post-Brit-pop indie makeover, giving somewhat short shrift to the band's pop prime, cutting out four of the band's big hits ("There's No Other Way," "Country House," "End of the Century," and "Charmless Man") in favor of album tracks that play into the thesis that Blur were as somber and serious a guitar band as Radiohead. Of course, Blur did rival Radiohead, recording some of the greatest guitar rock of the '90s, but that was only one facet of the band: they were also a bright, artful pop band, cleverly twisting '60s traditions and post-punk styles into the present. Elements of this Blur are evident in "Girls & Boys" and "Parklife," hits so big they couldn't be ignored, and while Midlife could have used a heavier dose of this side of Blur, there's not a bad track here, and the set also brings their glorious, epoch-creating single "Popscene" back into circulation, so Midlife has some considerable value.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 25 track(s)
- Total length: 01:47:07
- Main artists: Blur
- Label: Parlophone UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
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