3 out of 5

Label: Virgin

Producer: William Orbit

’13,’ I was told at the time, was Blur’s most ‘mature’ album, which meant I was supposed to like it.  I did; I liked all of Blur’s stuff.  But it’s also the album I feel like is most of a trudge to get through, and no wonder – loaded down as it is with 7 minute long tracks.  Blur has shuffled through various brit-pop styles, but basic structure has remained the same – hit a beat from the get-go and write the song.  Whether that song is fast or slow, ballad-y or punky, there’s not really a sense of build with Blur.  So while “Tender” might be a great track taken all on its 7-minute own, when you lead off with that gospel-like track, with its more-chorus than verse structure, the space and expanse of the William Orbit’s electronic-tinged production already apparent, it’s pretty bold to keep tossing the slow, 5 minute tracks at us until the standard Blur rave-up at track 6 with B.L.U.R.E.M.I. – and yes, I’m pretty sure I just stole that ‘rave-up’ term from the allmusic review, but it’s fitting – only to go right in to another 7 minute track…

Interestingly, any one of these songs, played separately, I enjoy and recall and can sing along, speaking to the band’s songwriting prowess – these aren’t filler.  And the sequencing isn’t exactly being called into question, just the rather dour and slow feeling of the album when taken as a whole.  Definitely Blur, just a big sigh of an album before their final bow with Think Tank.