Beyond British and sensationally sociological, Blur and singer/songwriter Damon Albarn weave tales of stifling middle class ennui into clever pop vignettes. THE GREAT ESCAPE is another demonstration of Blur's unique intelligence, more of Albarn's witty commentary, and substantial proof that the group may be bordering on genius.
As usual, Albarn's senses are keen on THE GREAT ESCAPE. His ear for melody and sound textures shines throughout the album's fifteen brilliant tracks. The ska horns and spy soundtrack guitar riffing on "Fade Away" exemplify Blur's knack for pop music, yet elevate the song beyond simple genre-fication, with a dignity reserved for the orchestra pit. The snide humor behind "Mr. Robinson And His Quango" rubs shoulders with the desperation of "He Thought Of Cars," all the while dwelling on what they hope to escape. It's this nagging dread that carries the album--the sense that the people Albarn describes are as desperate to find meaning as Albarn is to capture it within the song's narrative.
THE GREAT ESCAPE may not turn into Blur's great American breakthrough album, but if you're not thrown by Albarn's overwhelmingly British aesthetic, it just might be enough to take you away from the confines of your day to day doldrums.
Blur: Damon Albarn (vocals, piano, organ, synthesizer, handclaps); Graham Coxon (acoustic & electric guitars, banjo, saxophone, handclaps, background vocals); Alex James (bass, handclaps, background vocals); Dave Rowntree (drums, handclaps, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Cathy Gillat (vocals); The Right On Ken Livingstone (spoken vocals); Stephen Street (handclaps); Angela Murrell, Teresa Jane Davis (background vocals).
The Duke Strings Quartet: Louisa Fuller, Rick Koster (violin); John Metcalfe (viola); Ivan McCermoy (cello).
The Kick Horns: Simon Clarke, Tim Sanders (saxophone); Roddy Lorimer (trumpet); Neil Sidwell (trombone).
Recorded at Maison Rouge and Townhouse Studios, London, England between January and May 1995.
- Format: Vinyl, 2 LP
- Genre: Rock, Pop
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Track Listing:
A1 Stereotypes
A2 Country House
A3 Best Days
B1 Charmless Man
B2 Fade Away
B3 Top Man
B4 The Universal
C1 Mr Robinson's Quango
C2 He Thought Of Cars
C3 It Could Be You
C4 Ernold Same
D1 Globe Alone
D2 Dan Abnormal
D3 Entertain Me
D4 Yuko And Hiro
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