Gaz Should Blur The Lines More

Today you are getting hit with some 90s Brit stalwarts standing up and putting their back into it - with differing results...


I love Supergrass. LOVE them. Great live band too. I was lucky enough to see their covers band The Hot Rats also, and it too rocked the casbah. Now lead man Gaz Coombes is heading out on his own with Gaz Coombes Presents… Here Come The Bombs on May 21st on his own label Hot Fruit Recordings. The first single is 'Subdivider', and...it's pretty underwhelming. I mean, it ain't bad, but it ain't great. It does grow on you after a while though. Maybe the mixing leaves a little to be desired? That said, this is not the single, just a taste of what to expect. My verdict? Aim higher, Gaz!

Gaz Coombes - Subdivider


Next is a couple tracks from Blur guitarist Graham Coxon's newie, A+E. Now Coxon is a veteran at the solo game, so we can expect that not only will he have a handle of the game, but he will be stretching those boundaries like he normally does. After a couple of listens to 'The Truth' and 'What'll It Take', the new LP sounds very promising indeed. Embrace the electric boogaloo, Gazza! It has all the classic Coxon hallmarks, and is a lot of murky fun. I likee.






Finally, and most importantly, you can't get more like Blur than Blur itself, can you? So here is the news that Blur have unearthed a new track. Called 'Under The Westway', performed at a War Child charity by Coxon and Damon Albarn, playing the piano and offering what is essentially a Blur ballad. The recording has flubbed notes, poor attempts at whistling and some girls losing their shit, but the main thing to get from it all is that BLUR ARE WRITING AGAIN. And to me, that is fucking amazeballs. Taking the hint yet, Gaz?

BLUR – SONG 2 (FOOD)

BLUR – SONG 2 (FOOD)

With “Song 2” I have always felt Blur managed to tap into the sound and vibe of Nirvana more than any of British band. In the way that Bush appeared to completely miss the point (blinded by dollar signs and pound notes) of the jagged pop sound of Cobain, here Coxon nailed it.

That said it is something of a travesty that this remains one of the most recognised songs in the Blur arsenal as in essence it is only really a plundering, direct track resembling more a burst of energy than an actual piece of songwriting.

What this song probably represents is a band in transition, in flux looking to mess with its audience, taking in casualties and scoring points along the way. To think this is the song that almost broke Blur in America by taking on sports bar connotations and the appearance of an alpha male macho jock persona.

In some ways it is a natural sequel to “Popscene” but for a band that has also produced songs such as “For Tomorrow” et al, for such a rapery burst of energy you would hope that the hedonism of the music be coupled with smart and intelligent lyrics such as displayed on “Charmless Man.”

This was the Blur equivalent of a bottle of alcopop. Wicked.

Thesaurus moment: bustle.

Blur
Food