{"product_id":"blur-blur","title":"Blur - Blur","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlur\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is the fifth studio album by the English rock band \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlur\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, released on 10 February 1997 by Food Records. Blur had previously been broadly critical of American popular culture and their previous albums had become associated with the Britpop movement, particularly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eParklife\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which had helped them become one of Britain's leading pop acts. After their previous album, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Great Escape\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the band faced media backlash and relationships between the members became strained.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnder the suggestion of the band's guitarist, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGraham Coxon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the band underwent a stylistic change, becoming influenced by American indie rock bands such as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePavement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Recording took place in London as well as in Reykjavík, Iceland. Drummer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDave Rowntree\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e described the music on the album as being more aggressive and emotional than their previous work. Producer Stephen Street claimed that lead singer-songwriter \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDamon Albarn\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e had started writing about more personal experiences while Coxon revealed that listening to Albarn's lyrics it became clear to him that \"he'd obviously gone off his head a bit more\".\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDespite worries from Blur's label, EMI, and the music press that the change in style would alienate the band's predominantly teenage fanbase and that the album would flop as a result, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlur\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, as well as lead single, \"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeetlebum\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\", reached the top of the UK charts and the album was certified platinum. The album also reached the top 20 in six other countries. The success of \"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSong 2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\" led to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlur\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e becoming the band's most successful album in the US where the Britpop scene had been largely unsuccessful. The album received positive reviews from most music critics, many praising the stylistic change as well as Albarn's songwriting. This is the last album to feature longtime producer Stephen Street, until his return for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Magic Whip\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (2015).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Parlophone","offers":[{"title":"Black Vinyl 2LP","offer_id":59796778778969,"sku":"SDZ-53295","price":63.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/Untitled-Design-95.png?v=1791548085","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/blur-blur","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}