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Rating: “Happiness in Magazines” by ex-Blur Graham Coxon is his fifth work outside of Blur. Today I am in the mood to review this album. It is the first work after his departure from the band, which he left after Albarn was taking a path that was too “electronic.” The sounds are a mix between the britpop of “Parklife” and the noise of “Modern Life…” and the self-titled album.
The dance opens with the lively “Spectacular”, a rather noisy and at times cacophonous glam-punk… It’s certainly not the gem of the album… However, as we proceed with the listening, excellent tracks emerge such as “No Good Time”, extremely Parklife-ish, “Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery”, though too similar to “Coffee & Tv” (the drum base is identical, and even the chord progression and strumming speed are very similar), the punky “Freakin' Out”, the first single released that will not disappoint those who loved “Jubilee” and “Bank Holiday”.
“Hopeless Friend” approaches the sounds of “The Great Escape,” with a catchy melody and “ah… ah” choruses at 1:53 that couldn't be more brit. “Bottom Bunk” flaunts a very bizarre vocal melody, an even stranger chord progression, a nice Hammond organ, a 100% brit drum... but it’s not the best. Then comes yet another britpop of “Don’t Be A Stranger”, with a marimba/guitar solo in the middle. So far, I've analyzed the britpop sounds, but I will mention the lo-fi/noise ones: “People Of The Earth” is the dirtiest and most cacophonous offering of the album, a fast chorus with spoken verses and dark chords, “Are You Ready” reminds me of Morricone at times (don’t kill me for this observation!), it’s a rather lazy country-folk. There is also room for two ballads: “All Over Me”, overflowing with strings, and the “piano-driven” “Ribbons And Leaves”, ultra-slow.
In conclusion, this is certainly not an album masterpiece, but it contains four or five must-have tracks if you love the sounds of Blur.
I certainly cannot give more than three stars, though. Coxon is creative, but without Albarn's input, he is often too cacophonous and chaotic… I preferred him in Blur! I hope this statement doesn’t spark controversy… I am waiting for a new album from them, and in the meantime, I console myself with the “Midlife” collection.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Spectacular (02:48)
Saw you in my computer
Never seen no one cuter
Posing with a shooter
You got me in a stupor
You are something quite spectacular
I'll give you all my dollar
To have your hand tomorrow
In my heart I holler
I'm gonna have you follow
You are something quite spectacular
04 Bittersweet Bundle of Misery (04:53)
Now the end is in sight, I'm just tired
Lying awake at night so wired
And fired up with biological urge in my belly
And I hunt for the words on my telecaster
Spinning faster, goodnight you
You're beautiful, I love to watch your face in the morning light
You're really cool, I like the way we fight right through the night
And the way we used to kiss was way out of sight
But I can never hope to set you free
Cos you're my bittersweet bundle of misery
As I study the lines on the ceiling
I find the fact you're unkind quite appealing
I'm feeling sure that I have come to the end of you tether
And there's no such thing as happily ever
After it just gets dafter, goodnight you
You're beautiful, I love to watch your face in the morning light
You're really cool, I like the way we fight right through the night
And the way we used to kiss was way out of sight
But I can never hope to set you free
Cos you're my bittersweet bundle of misery
It would take me an age to marry you
Now I've seen you use my razor like you do, its true
You're beautiful, I love to watch your face in the morning light
You're really cool, I like the way we fight right through the night
And the way we used to kiss was way out of sight
But I can never hope to set you free
Cos you're my bittersweet bundle of misery
06 Freakin' Out (03:41)
Nothing to see nothing to hear
Nothing to be nothing to fear
Nothing to prove nothing to say
Nothing to loose nothing to gain
Nothing to feel nothing to hate
Nothing is real it's all too late
What do you do when nothing's wrong
Ain't got a clue ain't got no song
You are foaming at the mouth
You are mad without a doubt
Cos I'm really freaking out
And I'm going out of my mind
TV got me going blind
And I'm really freaking out
Hey man you think you got it made
Groovin' and you stink on your fender bass
Got on your aviators shades
Yeah man you're looking really ace
So what the hell you're doing here
Filling the space between my ears
Why don't you all just disappear
With all your friends just way too dear
You are foaming at the mouth
You are mad without a doubt
Cos I'm really freaking out
And I'm going out of my mind
TV got me going blind
And I'm really freaking out
Nothing to see nothing to hear
Nothing to be nothing to fear
Nothing to prove nothing to say
Lala la la lala la lay
You are foaming at the mouth
You are mad without a doubt
Cos I'm really freaking out
And I'm going out of my mind
TV got me going blind
And I'm really freaking out
07 People of the Earth (03:04)
People of the earth your world is crap
You ain't even on the universe map
People of the earth you do not rock
You are nothing but a fluffy frock
People of the earth you have failed
You still worship The Sun and The Daily Mail
People of the earth are you hearing me
I'm dropping you a line from the cosmic city
There's nothing on the telly and the radio's shite
So I'm gonna blow you off with my meteorite
People of the earth you are not cool
You eat hamburgers and go to school
People of the earth you are bland
You ain't even got a decent band
People of the earth you have no clue
You still wear kagools and tennis shoes
People of the earth are you hearing me
I'm dropping you a line from the cosmic city
There's nothing on the telly and the radio's shite
So I'm gonna blow you off with my meteorite
People of the earth
08 Hopeless Friend (03:21)
Listen my hopeless friend
Listen my hopeless friend
Come inside and drop your coat
Wash your hair you smell like a goat
Listen my hopeless friend
Listen my hopeless friend
Ain't you got no shoes to wear
Ain't you got no blues to share
You used to think about magic
And how to fit in
Now you think about madness
And how to stay thin
How to stay thin
Listen my hopeless friend
Listen my hopeless friend
Ain't you got no shoes to wear
Ain't you got no blues to share
You used to think about magic
And how to fit in
Now you think about madness
And how to stay thin
How to stay thin
10 Bottom Bunk (03:16)
Threw my glasses in the dirt
Tell you 'man that really hurt'
So I'm lying in the bottom bunk
Then he slammed me in the door
Got me feeling pretty sore
So I'm lying in the bottom bunk
Now we've gone too far astray
I do believe you've had your way with me
Not much of a holiday
I do believe you've had your way with me
Your way with me
Very pretty and you're tanned
But I rather sleep with my right hand
So I'm lying in the bottom bunk
Cos baby things just get too rough
When we get together in above
So I'm lying in the bottom bunk
Now we've gone too far astray
I do believe you've had your way with me
Not much of a holiday
I do believe you've had your way with me
Your way with me
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