Welcome to the first installment of what I shall be calling "Celine cries over music" a.k.a. a listing of my favourite albums. These won't necessarily be in any order (partly due to the fact that I have a very difficult time deciding on a favourite Beatles album) and I don't have super varied tastes in music, so consider yourself forewarned. And as excited as I am to share my favourites, I'm horrible at articulating my feelings about music because mostly I just want to gush and sigh and cry when I listen to music I really enjoy...
First up: 13 by Blur (1999)
Surprise, surprise, I know. A big shocker (especially for anyone who has seen my tumblr) that I'm starting off with this. The penultimate album by Blur (not including compilations) and the last one before Graham Coxon's departure from the group. Cue uncontrollable sobbing.
I suppose the album isn't exactly an easy listen. Even after having listened to the album more times that I could possibly count, it still manages to stir up a whole sea of emotions for me. I don't want to get super pretentious and delve into a review of the album; that's what critics (ha!) are for, so I'll just share the following about my two favourite tracks:
1. When I listen to "Caramel", I find myself wondering how this it isn't everyone's favourite song. It has everything I look for in music: it's familiar, yet otherworldly; it scares me, yet it's oddly soothing. The layers of sound, the lyrics and Damon's voice, the slow build-up to the controlled chaos toward the end of the song, only to have it calm back down and fade out the way it began - it blows my mind every single time I listen to it. I've got chills now just thinking about it.
2. I first became aware of Blur through"Coffee and TV". I remember seeing the video and thinking it was cute and sad and loving the singer's voice. (It came as a bit of a shock when I later found out that Graham wasn't the usual singer in the band, although I love Damon's voice as well.) I like the contrast of the upbeat sound of the song and the rather melancholy lyrics. And the guitar solo? Pure awesomeness.
Great post! I'm such a huge Blur fan too.
ReplyDeleteGod, I love 13. That said, I haven't listened to it for months (possibly even years?)
ReplyDeleteI used to invest so much emotion in my relationship with blur ("relationship") that it’s somehow really weird to go back to it now, being less obsessed. There is something quite painful about it, I guess it’s nostalgia for my lost innocence or something. All I know that I don’t really listen to Blur (or Graham Coxon) that much any more. It’s the ex-boyfriend phenomenon, or something. Friendship might not be an option. I don’t even know why we broke up in the first place. Quite mysterious.
But I ramble uncontrollably using weird extended metaphors. Please forgive.
That said, I’m completely with you on Coffee & TV. I think I might go and listen to it right now, pain or no pain.
It is quite strange how we go through phases with music, just like with people. There are some groups/singers that I feel like I rushed into a relationship (to borrow your word!) with and then things just fizzled out...It is quite mysterious.
ReplyDeleteI don't let a single day go by without listening to at least one track by the Beatles and Graham Coxon. Perhaps that's a bit obsessive, but then again, I am quite obsessive when it comes to music.
Ooh i'm quite tempted to do a similar series of posts on favourite albums now! Of course, i'm a massive blur fan as well. Off 13 i'd maybe pick trimm trabb as a favourite. But coffee & tv is so lovely and comforting to listen to as well.
ReplyDelete