Blur Vs Oasis? There’s no contest. And there are no words to describe our excitement about Blur's first album in 12 years, The Magic Whip (out 27 April). We only wish we could pop down to a Virgin Megastore to pick up a copy. Scroll down for more Brit Pop nostalgia (and LOLsome pics)...
They knew how to work a ‘curtain head’ – leaving the vintage mod look to the Gallaghers. This was the 1990s; the era of floppy hair. They were on trend. Wholesome, even. Even if the rest of them wasn’t.
Country House didn’t just beat Oasis’ Roll With It to the number one spot in the summer of 1995, it had THE BEST VIDEO EVER. Keith Allen, Matt Lucas and a Benny Hill tribute – all directed by Damian Hirst. You couldn’t make it up.
They gave us Damon and Justine. Sigh. Blur’s frontman and Elastica’s frontwoman were a match made in 1990s heaven. Like Kate and Johnny. With a better soundtrack. And possibly even better hair…
…And without their break-up we wouldn’t have the astonishingly sad and very beautiful album 13.
They’ve made us shout ‘Woo hoo’ in an indie disco, a house party, the shower... more times than we’d care to admit. All thanks to the two minutes, two seconds long, smash hit Song 2. Dave and Graham played it on two drum kits, which is why it sounds so darn good.
Alex James never let us down. A cheeky grin there, a mad little dance there, he is a Brit pop bass player like no other. We can even forgive his very un-rock ‘n’ roll foray into cheese.
Like some lead singers (mentioning no names, ahem, Liam Gallagher) it wasn’t ALL about Damon. The genius of Graham Coxon was given the space to shine on a selection of the band’s most memorable tracks. Case in point: Coffee & TV, written (and sang) by Coxon about his struggle with alcoholism. And the video. That video. Sigh (again).