Blur - 13
Grade: B-
By Jess Redmon
 Blur trips way out on their latest worthy venture, "13." Starting with "Tender" (which
screams I wanna write my "Hey Jude"), Blur clap their hands in a relaxing campfire song
that tries to be a classic, but lacks heart. After a peaceful start with "Tender," "13"
becomes a full-on drug record and Damon and Graham aren't about to deny it. With the
second track "Bugman," producer William Orbit (famous for Madonna's "Ray Of Light")
and Blur twist the knobs and bend the noise for a hazy, distorted pop song that is really
quite compelling. The third track "Coffee & TV" is probably the strongest track with
Graham's wispy voice over an understated rhythm section. Just one of those simple pop
numbers that only someone like Blur can pull off and make great. After a fairly quiet, but
distant start, Blur gets ever more distant as they delve into the truly inducing core of
"13." In "Swamp Song" and "1992," Blur mess with their usual boundaries and realities
to give you something you haven't heard before. As much as that is an attraction, and
Blur's "13" is certainly a very interesting record with many amazing ideas, it's far too
distant and distorted to follow or embrace. It still makes for a strong record with sounds
and landscapes we've certainly never heard before, "13" is just a bit too out there.
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