Is There Any Magic Left?
Blur: The Magic Whip
7.6/10
Blur don't have anything left to prove at this point. They are Brit-Pop legends and many of their works have really stood the test of time. In addition to this, many of their members have continued on with notable success outside of the band (most notably Damon Albarn). So it kind of begs the question: why? Why are we getting this Blur record after 12 years of pretty much silence. I guess the answer to that is why not. This groups fans absolutely adore their work, Damon Albarn has been everywhere lately, and they simply are still popular enough to comeback, so it kind of does all make sense. Still, many people never thought they'd hear this album, and it is kind of cool to see it finally come to fruition. So does this thing live up to their previous works? I'll answer that quite simply: no, but that is not necessarily a terrible thing.
Some of the band's earlier work is so potent and destructive, so it was kind of unreasonable to expect so much out of this thing. That being said, there are still some very good tunes on here. The best tunes on here are super eerie and haunting. Tunes such as Ice Cream Man and I Thought I Was A Spaceman both create very dense, teeth chattering melodies that feel so bitter, but so right at the same time. Go Out is another tune I enjoy a lot. It has a more rock and roll sound, and its attitude and charisma let it shine. I Broadcast is also not very different or challenging to the ears, but it is pretty catchy and enjoyable. Ghost Ship is another tune that is very interesting and has a very chill atmosphere. The tune feels pretty ethereal and very meaningful. I have a fun time decoding what this track is about, but I know I like it a lot. Lonesome Street and Pyongyang both give me David Bowie Low vibes with their very textural instrumentals as well as Albarn's strange vocal deliveries. These tracks are very groovy and probably the most memorable tunes on here for me. Lonesome Street is such an awesome way to start the record in my opinion. It feels like Blur hasn't lost a step on this tune. Lastly, My Terracota Heart is an absolutely stunning track that is definitely among some of the band's best work to date. The guitar work is Radiohead-esque and the vocals are haunting as many of the songs on this album are. The lyrics are pretty perfect for this tune, and the tune is cryptic and catchy. Absolutely adore this track. That pretty much sums up every highlight on here for me sadly though. The tracks that are weak to me are pretty bad. New World Towers never grips me at any point of its running, and it is perhaps one of the weakest tracks on here. It just feels so boring in comparison to the rest. There Are Too Many Of Us suffers from a similar problem, but it is not nearly as bad. This track was actually initially pretty gripping, but it failed to develop and blossom into what it could've been, so that really turned me off. A lot the instrumentation here had a lot of potential actually, but it was not harnessed well enough to make a good end result. Ong Ong, while fun, is painfully cheesy and sounds like it was made by a children's band. I can dance to it, but I definitely do not like it. Lastly, Mirrorball seems so half-assed to be the closer of this record. The record people have been waiting for so long ends with such a whimper, and to me that is really sad. This track isn't awful actually, but considering the last two songs are both pretty forgettable, the disappointment is felt pretty heavy when you hear this song.
Although the band made plenty of blunders on this record, I will say this is a fairly good comeback record. Some tracks are absolute treats, and some are just pretty good, but nothing on here is horrendous or anything. I have to say Blur did a pretty good job considering they are aging pretty fast at this point. I think if anything, this album will show people that while they may have lost a step, this band still can pack a punch. The album may not be amazing or anything, but it is solid, and that I cannot deny. So every time I hear New World Towers, I can live knowing that there is still a lot to enjoy. Overall, I am still pretty happy with this record, and if you love the band, so will you.
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