Blur is the fifth album by English alternative rock band Blur. Released on 10 February 1997 in the UK through Food Records, it reached the top of the UK album chart.[citation needed]Blur was also a hit in the US, with "Song 2" becoming a hit and the album being certified Gold. It also spawned several hit singles in the UK, most notably "Beetlebum" and "Song 2".
Style and conception
The album's style was resultant of Blur's dropping their previous Britpop mantle in favor of lo-fi and alternative rock recordings, reportedly at Graham Coxon's urging. As a result, Blur was a hit primarily because it proved that Blur could evolve beyond their Britpop roots. The album's move from Britpop was emphasised by this being the first Blur album not to use Stylorouge cover-art and also not to have lyrics and chords printed in the liner notes, instead having a composite photo of the band in the studio spread out over three panels. The album featured the first song in which Graham Coxon not only wrote the lyrics, but also provided lead vocals, for the song "You're So Great". He would later do the same for "Coffee & TV" for Blur's next album.
The American version of the album has "Dancehall" as a hidden track after "Essex Dogs" but before "Interlude", making the entire track 14 length now 11:24
The Japanese version of the album has "Dancehall" as a separate, listed track (15), which includes "Interlude." The album lists it as a "Japanese bonus track," though there is no additional music.
"Death of a Party" was demoed in 1992. That recording was released to the fan club prior to the version which appears on the album.[7]
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