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A story for all. Last night, I wound up having a conversation with a pair of Spaniards traveling the states for a little while. It reminded me of how it’s been over four years since I’ve returned to the states after studying in Spain. It also reminded me that I still have this burning desire to go back there. It also reminded me that I have a pen pal from Morocco who’s coming to study here soon. Where the hell is she?

Anyway, edging Belle & Sebastian as the band that provided most of my soundtrack to my time living over there is Blur. I’m not entirely sure how that came about, since Blur hasn’t actively toured since right before I left for Spain in January of 2004. But their swan song, Think Tank, became the album I listened to more than anything else while I walked around the streets of Madrid. It also inspired a particularly life-changing trip to Morocco that spring (the bulk of the album was recorded there, with Moroccan musicians). Needless to say, for an expansive period across the year 2004 and intermittently since then, Blur has been my favorite band.

I went on record on my good friend and fellow DC comic Eli’s blog site about my five favorite Blur songs. His is “Tender,” a long, envelope-pushing, choir-utilizing, upright bass-utilizing intro to their earth-shattering noise-rock tinged album 13, that still managed to be a single. That’s how damn impressive this band was and still is, in some respects. Here are my top five…no, you know what? TEN, bitch. Ten favorite Blur songs. Suck on these.

1. End of the Century (Parklife, 1994)
   Blur’s cynicism about British society, and society as a whole, were never reflected better than in this song about a couple who rots while watching TV. The most remarkable thing is how epic it seems, despite the fact that its only 2:46. Good songwriting builds in a succinct way, I guess.
   Best line: “The mind gets dirty, as you get closer to thirty.”
2. Chemical World (Modern Life is Rubbish, 1993)
   At the height of my Blur fandom in 2004, I was living in Spain, and by the year’s end I owned both the US and UK versions of Modern Life is Rubbish. They had a ton of good songs early on, but I think this was their first great one. I preferred the UK version.
   Best line: “The peeping Thomas has a very nice view, across the street at the exhibitionist.”
3. Country House (The Great Escape, 1995)
   Blur’s first post-Parklife single won out in the great Britpop battle of ’95 against Oasis’ “Roll With It.” All of that drama aside, and despite the fact that Albarn’s “society rots peoples’ brains” cynicism was wearing thin by this point, this song still kills. The Kick Horns make a perfect appearance in the last forty seconds to drive it home.
   Best line: “he’s got morning glory and life’s a different story, everything’s going jackanory.”
4. Ambulance (Think Tank, 2003)
   Graham Coxon ditched the band in Morocco en route to Think Tank. Was Blur going to pull it out without their lead guitarist? 30 seconds into the first track on that album, it hit me that they may actually be better for it. A strange, interminable groove and a bunch of perfectly buried keyboard trails.
   Best line: “I was born out of love; it’s the only way to come into this world.”
5. Trailer Park (13, 1999)
   Wow, fellas, you keep pouring more and more sludge into this “13” record and it keeps getting more interesting as it goes along. I don’t think any British band, even Supergrass, have conjured a more right-on keyboard lead.
   Best line, ever: “Don’t sleep at night, the world’s growing old; I lost my girl to the Rolling Stones, I lost my girl to the Rolling Stones.” DAMN.
6. On Your Own (Blur, 1997)
   The ’97 S/T was the first Blur album I ever owned, which was unfortunate in ways, because I got to know the band without any context of the mid-90’s Britpop explosion. Come to think of it, I’m still discovering bands that hit during that era. The s/t album was the beginning of Graham Coxon’s infusion of American indie into the band’s sound, which was a huge boost for them, though it ultimately led to him leaving. “On Your Own” is the best track on this album, and probably the best sing-along chorus Blur’s ever written, except for, okay, the tune I alluded to in the post title, "Parklife."
   Best line: “No psycho killer, hooligan guerilla, I dream to riot, oh you should try it.”
7. Look Inside America (Blur, 1997)
   A sweeping fusion of Britpop, chamber, and Pavement that provides a big smile at a country with which Blur was typically at odds.
   Best line: “Annie Hall leaves New York in the end; press rewind, Woody gets her back again.”
8. On the Way to the Club (Think Tank, 2003)
   Blur’s own contribution to both the Quiet Storm and the subgenre of triphop. So damn simultaneously groovy and creepy. Well done, rhythm section Alex James and Dave Rowntree!  How could his constituents not elect him after hearing this?
   Best line: “My eyes are blue, there’s nothing I can do.”
9. Clover over Dover (Parklife, 1994)
   I’ve never been to the UK, but hearing the sea gull sounds and the harpsichord at the lead-in help me picture the southeast edge. Granted, the cliffs of Dover are England’s top suicide spot. Sordid!
   Best line: “I’m on the white cliffs of Dover, thinking it over and over.”
10. We’ve Got a File on You (Think Tank, 2003)
    The punk fan in me nudges this one onto the list. It sounds even cooler in the context of ‘Think Tank’ as a whole album. I love the aggressive Sufi music that leads into Roundtree beating the shit out of his drums and the shouted leitmotif over the chaos. Probably the best Blur song ever you could easily crowd surf to.
    Best/only line: “WE’VE GOT A FILE ON YOU!!”

I suppose I have a Damon Albarn-bias, but I don't want my list to ignore his creative foil, the bespectacled, reluctant guitar god Graham Coxon. His solo accomplishments were impressive, even before he left the band angrily in 2002. At the risk of omitting a few bonafide classics from the band's catalog, here are 3 GREAT SONGS that he sang and/or wrote.

• Swamp Song (13, 1999)
  Graham Coxon’s fuck-it-all, bang-bang detuned guitar intro to this song kicks so much ass, the singing that follows (and matches) are almost unnecessary. The title’s pretty apt, since the song itself is sweaty, aggressive, and relentless in its attack. Damon’s pseudo-apathetic background vocals are pretty badass, too. Stick it in my veins!
  Best line: “Give me insane; give me space brain.”
• Coffee & TV (13, 1999)
  The Milk Carton video is so great that some forgot what a good song it was behind it. Another outstanding anthem-chorus. Damon’s acoustic lead drives this one. Coxon’s self-deprecating lyrics are pretty legendary, too. And oh, yeah, it’s a major pop single with straight up guitar noise courtesy of the bespectacled one.
  Best line: “Do you go to the country? It isn’t very far. There’s people there who’ll hurt you, just for who you are.”
• You’re So Great (Blur, 1997)
  This is probably the only Blur song proper that’d fit better on one of Graham’s six (count ‘em) solo albums. Actually, this is easily the only Blur song that’d fit onto any of Iron & Wine’s or M. Ward's early albums. I’m surprised that Albarn let Coxon get away with this one. Maybe he wasn’t as stubborn as they made him out to seem. Or maybe the coke just made them all lazy, if they were still using enough.
  Best line: “Wandering lost in a town full of frowns, sad drunk and poorly, dogs digging up the ground.”

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Hey, a quick note for a...quick...Wednesday. A friend of mine is working with a very talented group of teachers in New York to start a nonprofit called "The Critical Educator Network." Here is the description of what they are aiming to get off the ground:

The Critical Educator Network is a not for profit organization founded by New York City teachers. The Critical Educator Network provides professional development and resources for teachers to help their students become the critical thinkers society needs and demands.

While we have some funding on its way, starting on Thursday, August 8th, we are entering an online contest to win $10,000 of start-up funds through ideablob.com. Voting starts Thursday, August 8th and ends Friday, August 15th at midnight.

Steps to Vote for Our Project on IdeaBlob:

• Go to www.ideablob.com/signup
• Click on the register button at the top of the page and follow the instructions.
• After you have registered activate your account by following the instructions given in the confirmation e-mail you will receive.
• Once you have activated your account you will be free to search for our idea
• Enter “Critical Educator Network” into the search box at the top right of the page.
• Click on our name which will appear in red.
• Click on the green VOTE button to vote for our idea.
• Thank you. We appreciate your support and we will need it again to win the final round of voting at the end of August.

There you have it! Please take a couple of minutes and help this organization get the funding they need to get their program off the ground!

Here's a reward for the people who do:

[tws]



The number of times that the XM Radio 90's Station has played the Nelson song "(I Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" in the past two days:

3

The number of times that the Nelson song "(I Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" has been played elsewhere in the past 48 hours on other outlets, including major radio stations, music networks, personal computers, iPods, and any piece of audio hardware belonging to Matthew or Gunnar Nelson:

Probably less than 3

What's up with that, people?

Okay, I'm hoping to upload last night's episode of The Big Takeover soon! Thanks to Joe of the excellent NJ punkers The Ergs!, old TDC head Ian Stewart, "Edmund" and Jake Young for calling in. Herbie, Anupama, and I had a great time. Ideally, you'll be having a great time listening to it via the Podcast soon. Stay tuned.

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Alright! News!

Radio show tonight! Listen in, we've got some great call-ins from surprise musical guests and high-octane new music.
THE BIG TAKEOVER
TONIGHT (TUESDAY) 10PM ET - MIDNIGHT
WGTB WWW.GEORGETOWNRADIO.COM
STREAM IT HERE (iTunes and/or Winamp and/or Realplayer, I think).
YOU'RE WELCOME.

Okay, in other, even more exciting news, Ra Ra Riot, a pretty solid band formed by some old college chums is dropping a highly anticipated album today. It's called "The Rhumb Line" and you heavily consider buying it. Here's a video of them performing their biggest single yet, "Dying is Fine," in some attic in Syracuse. Directed by another SU alum, Taryn Gould. Checkit.

[tws]

Ideally it'll be up and on the 'cast very soon, but I'm very, very happy with how things went last night on "The Big Takeover." Thanks to all who tuned in and heard our exponentially growing brand of insanity. And John Fogarty was somewhere in there.

In political news, in the light of Barack Obama's DNC-ization (that is, compromising and watering down everything that made him interesting to appeal to Walmerica and satisfy his backers) and John McCain's being John McCain, I'm happy to announce there's finally a new candidate out there I can truly get behind! Hope you guys like his message as much as I did.