Blur – The Ballad Of Darren (2023)

"The Ballad of Darren is the first legit [Blur] album since 13," Blur vocalist Damon Albarn recently told Consequence of Sound. Putting aside Think Tank (2003), which saw guitarist Graham Coxon's exit, and 2015's The Magic Whip (which was reportedly pieced together by Coxon after Albarn threw in the towel), that's 24 years.

"The Ballad of Darren is the first legit [Blur] album since 13," Blur vocalist Damon Albarn recently told Consequence of Sound. Putting aside Think Tank (2003), which saw guitarist Graham Coxon's exit, and 2015's The Magic Whip (which was reportedly pieced together by Coxon after Albarn threw in the towel), that's 24 years. The world has changed… a lot. The band has changed… a lot. (Check out now-sober Coxon's entertaining memoir Verse, Chorus, Monster! for more on that.) But listening to "St. Charles Square," it's like Blur picked right back up from 1999. Coxon's woozy guitar is all over the place, a stumblebum determined to lead the way to fun. Albarn opens up the song by declaring "I fucked up" and unleashes fright-show screams and haunted-house howls. It could have been right at home on 13, and it's a delight. "Barbaric" sounds crisp and sunny—maybe the sunniest song Blur has ever done, versus the blinding camp of, say, "Girls & Boys"—even as the lyrics devastate: "And I would like if you've got the time/ To talk to you about what this breakup has done to me/ I have lost the feeling that I thought I'd never lose."

Since announcing their arrival with debut album in 1991, Blur went on to revolutionise the sound of English popular music with six successive UK #1 albums and a string of Top 10 singles, including two No 1s, helping to propel the band to mass popularity at home and abroad. One of the biggest British bands of the last three decades, Blur have released eight studio albums and collected ten NME Awards, six Q Awards, five BRIT Awards and an Ivor Novello Award, and played live to millions of devoted fans across the globe.

One of the most successful British bands of the last 3 decades, blur are back on 21st July with their first new album in over 8 years: The Ballad of Darren. Preceded by first single The Narcissist on 18th May, the album was produced by James Ford and recorded in Studio 13, London and Devon, and is the sound of a band at the very top of their game.

One of the most successful British bands of the last 3 decades, blur are back on 21st July with their first new album in over 8 years: The Ballad of Darren. Preceded by first single The Narcissist on 18th May, the album was produced by James Ford and recorded in Studio 13, London and Devon, and is the sound of a band at the very top of their game.

Japanese edition inc. the two Special Edition tracks (The Rabbi, The Swan) and featuring 1 Japan-only additional track (Sticks and Stones). Housed in a 4-panel soft-pack with matt finish.

Japanese edition inc. the two Special Edition tracks (The Rabbi, The Swan) and featuring 1 Japan-only additional track (Sticks and Stones). Housed in a 4-panel soft-pack with matt finish.

Japanese edition inc. the two Special Edition tracks (The Rabbi, The Swan) and featuring 1 Japan-only additional track (Sticks and Stones). Housed in a 4-panel soft-pack with matt finish.

Blur celebrate the one-year anniversary of their Live At Wembley Stadium show with this exclusive double picture disc release of the concert, limited to 4,000 copies and hand-numbered to order.