Blur's Top Ten Songs

Stompbox

I'm usually keen to avoid lists of this type due to their subjectivity but sometimes they can turn you on to songs that you may have overlooked on first glance or just plain under-appreciated. Some of the tracks included might raise eyebrows at first but I think it's a pretty well-rounded and considered list.

Personally, Blur have been one of the most omnivorous and adventurous groups of the last two decades so any excuse to chew the fat and shoot the breeze over their discography is one that I will exploit to the max. Here's the list:

10. On The Way To The Club
9. He Thought Of Cars
8. Clover Over Dover
7. Trimm Trabb
6. Out of Time
5. Under The Westway
4. This Is A Low
3. Caramel
2. The Universal
1. Blue Jeans

Notable omissions for me would include 'Music Is My Radar' and 'Battle' but hey, it's an opinion piece, I'm not gonna lose sleep over it.

While we're here, we may as well have a general discussion about the band. What did you make of the recent singles 'Under The Westway' and 'The Puritan'? I think the former is a stellar ballad, haven't really listened to the latter yet. Would you like to see an album's worth of material?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Uw1uD6lXs

By the by, if you activate the red button section of BBC1 you can catch their recent set in the Maida Vale studios (their rendition of 'This Is a Low' is impeccable!)

Birneybau

I'm not gonna go ten but I would definately put "Trouble in the message centre" in there.

Fishooks12

Distance left to run is my favorite Blur song

D-FENS

That list needs more Leisure

As for the new stuff, love Under The Westway, a outstanding come-back single. The Puritan is not bad, would love to hear a full new album

Rothko

Not a huge fan of Blur but these would be my top 10:
Coffee & TV
Tender
The Universal
Tracy Jacks
Beetlebum
Trimm Trabb
No Distance Left To Run
End Of A Century
Badhead
This Is A Low

RikkFlair

To The End
Ambulance
On Your Own
This Is A Low
Sing
Yuko & Hiro
Coffee & TV
Good Song
Blue Jeans
Bugman

cherryghost

Popscene
The Universal
Globe Alone
Bang
Caravan
Tender
Trimm Trabb
Chemical World
You're So Great
For Tomorrow

In no particular order. Kind of want to change my list already xD

nlgbbbblth

Need more time but

current contenders

Popscene
Inertia
High Cool
Badgeman Brown
This Is A Low
Never Clever
Young and Lovely
Colours
Advert
Essex Dogs
Battery In Your Leg
Coping

Blur 21 = great

Stompbox

Wow, their B-Sides must be excellent if that many made yer list. Haven't really trawled through much of them, I must investigate further.

Anyone tune in to the live stream of their gig last night? They were absolutely fantastic, just a shame that those who were in attendance weren't able to hear it.

nlgbbbblth

The forthcoming Parklive box will be good.

Amirani

I'm surprised nobody has opted to include "There's No Other Way Yet".

highnc

in no particular order:

Sing
For Tomorrow
End Of A Century
This Is A Low
The Universal
He Thought Of Cars
Beetlebum
Tender
Ambulance
Under The Westway

G.K.

Not really heard B-sides so It'd be unfair to judge those.

In no particular order:

For Tomorrow
Bang
Coffee & TV
Advert
Out of Time
Under The Westway
Charmless Man
Clover over Dover
Moroccan People's Revolutionary Bowls Club
Bank Holiday

eviltimeban

She's So High
Bang
Slow Down
Repetition
Bad Day
Sing
There's No Other Way
Fool
Come Together
High Cool

with honourable mentions to:

Birthday
Wear Me Down
Mr Briggs

kingtubby

Here is my list(In order) :
Coffee and TV
Good song
This is a Low
Tender
Beetlebum
The universal
Tracy Jacks
Blue Jeans
Girls and Boys
Shes so high

Stompbox

Would yiz like to see them continue on and release some more material or do you think Hyde Park was a fitting farewell? I streamed the gig myself; they sounded fantastic! Might invest in the Parklive boxset when it hits stores.

Prettyblack

If they made an album that sounded like Leisure, then yes. Not if its the electro nonsense they've been doing recently.

kunst nugget

Prettyblack wrote: »

If they made an album that sounded like Leisure, then yes. Not if its the electro nonsense they've been doing recently.

Bar a couple of decent songs, Leisure is pretty forgettable baggy piffle. Give me Think Tank over that any day.

Stompbox

I must admit that I haven't really checked Leisure out that much for some reason. You're right about Think Tank though, fantastic album.

nlgbbbblth

eviltimeban wrote: »

She's So High
Bang
Slow Down
Repetition
Bad Day
Sing
There's No Other Way
Fool
Come Together
High Cool

with honourable mentions to:

Birthday
Wear Me Down
Mr Briggs

Leisure fan!

The only and one time I saw Blur live was when they toured Leisure. McGonagles in October 1991. It's an underrated LP and the associated b-sides are deadly.

On Blur 21 there's a great version of High Cool on the rarities disc [7" master it's called].

kunst nugget

I've been thinking about this over the last couple of days:
Popscene
Chemical World
To the End
This is a Low
End of a Century
The Universal
M.O.R.
Coffee and TV
No Distance Left to Run
Ambulance

Honourable Mentions:
Far Out
I Know (Extended)
Pressure on Julian
On Your Own
There's No Other Way
Tender
Out of Time
Moroccan People’s Revolutionary Bowls Club
Best Days

Petrolium Hat

Sing
Popscene
For Tomorrow
Blue Jeans
Beetlebum
Coffee and Tv
Tender
Bank Holiday
Advert
Tracy Jacks

Honourable mentions:
The Universal
This is a low
Mr Briggs
I know
There's no other way
Caramel
Young and Lovely
Chemical World
Woodpigeon Song
Girls and Boys
People in Europe

I'd prefer them not to release another album than one as bad as the last one.

BornToRun88

For me, and in no order, the following

The Universal
Parklife
Trimm Trabb
For Tomorrow
Ambulance
Beetlebum
Song 2
Tender
Out Of Time
Coffee And TV

G.K.

I'd certainly like to see more material. I'd prefer if it was more 'rocky' material, but TT is growing on me.

Still don't like 13 or Blur that much yet.

Stompbox

Wait, you'd prefer it if was more 'rocky' but you don't like their two arguably rockiest albums?

G.K.

Just my take on it.

Perhaps I should have said 'Britpop-y' but that's the era I was deviating toward by saying 'rocky'.

Decuc500

nlgbbbblth wrote: »

Leisure fan!

The only and one time I saw Blur live was when they toured Leisure. McGonagles in October 1991. It's an underrated LP and the associated b-sides are deadly.

On Blur 21 there's a great version of High Cool on the rarities disc [7" master it's called].

I was at this too. Damon Albarn hanging upside down from the ceiling and still singing!

BornToRun88

G.K. wrote: »

I'd certainly like to see more material. I'd prefer if it was more 'rocky' material, but TT is growing on me.

Still don't like 13 or Blur that much yet.

Those are my favourites. Their later stuff, for me, was amazing.

Temaz

G.K. wrote: »

Still don't like 13 or Blur that much yet.

Best Blur albums for me.

G.K.

It's great that we can have such differing opinions. Shows the strength of their music.

Can'tseeme

Love this band. I'm leaving out a load of songs I like. But in no particular order.

beetlebum
For Tomorrow
Best Days
On Your Own
M.O.R
This is a Low
Sweet Song
Sunday Sunday
He Thought of Cars
Coffee & TV

Honourable mentions:

Girls & Boys, Ernold Same, Out of Time, Under the Westway, Crazy Beat.

Stompbox

I suppose I may as well post mine, too:

10. Chemical World
The chorus gets me every time. The way the melody pans out against the descending chords is gorgeous.

9. Blue Jeans
Another MLIS cut, and this one all about the harmonies. I love this song because it seems so passive, it just drifts in and then out but the melody lingers in your brain for days.

8. Caravan
Think Tank is possibly Blur's second most accomplished album sonically (after 13) and the languid vocal delivery and guitar pieces grant this tune a disarming beauty; it's placid and sinister in equal doses.

7. Out of Time
Mesmerisingly pretty, and that oud solo is dazzling.

6. No Distance Left To Run
Catharsis fits Damon like a glove. Everyone should get their heart broken more often if only they were able to channel the pain like Damon. Graham demonstrates how he was one of the most versatile guitarists of the nineties, especially when you consider this tune was featured on the same album as 'Bugman' and 'Trimm Trabb'.

5. Coffee & TV
The most beautifully ugly guitar solo you are ever like to hear.

4. Battle
Anyone who dismisses Blur as foppish purveyors of socially conscious Britpop should realise that Blur were as innovative and dynamic as Radiohead. 'Battle' is the best way to demonstrate that.

3. He Thought Of Cars
Damon's a very underappreciated lyricist. The narrative running throughout this song is so beguiling that you almost neglect the musical tapestry until the chorus harmonies bring you back around.

2. Music Is My Radar
Another demonstration of Blur's omnivorous musical stylings; flavours of Afrobeat underpin Graham's cacophonic riffing and Damon's garbled vocals sound as though he was chewing on marbles while laying down the track.

1. Beetlebum
It sends me into a druggy stupor; it's so noxious and menacing but sexy all the while. Then the chorus kicks in and you feel as though you've just plunged into warm waters.

admiralofthefleet

In no particular order:

sunday sunday
chemical world
for tomorrow
intermission
beetlebum
crazy beat
charmless man
on your own
girls and boys
song 2

i think the puritan is fantastic but havent really listened to under the westway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuDUImvxm7Q

Pighead

My musical tastes have always been heavily geared towards strong melodies so most of my selections are a tad on the obvious side. Badhead and You're so Great are just two really simple tunes that have stayed with me for years. Love them.

Chemical World
End of a Century
To the End
Badhead
Best Days
Beetlebum
You're So Great
On Your Own
Tender
No Distance Left to Run