Blur

The Best Of

Virgin Records

Brit-pop veterans Blur have proven themselves to be one of the brightest and best groups in their genre, but their success soars much farther than the adrenaline-packed Song 2, which is still played frequently during warm-ups at most high school and college hockey games.

“The Best Of” was put together with their fans in mind - all the songs complimenting the next as the album flows along without a single downfall.

“There’s No Other Way” is driven by a catchy blues riff, then molds itself into a great Top 40 tune. “The Universal” is a mellow piece complete with a violin and a horn ripping waves into an otherwise calm wake.

The Beatles-influenced “Coffee and TV” struts along like John Travolta in the motion picture “Stayin’ Alive,” while “Parklife” is spoken word rock at its best.

“Tender” rolls along with a drum line from Aerosmith’s “Livin’ On the Edge,” the chorus of a church choir and the downhearted lyrics of a truly depressed poet.

“Charmless Man” marries acoustic and electric guitars with a “na-na-na-na” chorus while “Country House” is a foot-stompin’ good time, with a chorus similar to anything off the Beatles’ “The White Album.”

The band uses some samples effectively on “Girls And Boys” and “On Your Own” while vocalist Damon Alban spits out some intriguing words on the power ballad “This Is A Low:” “And into the sea goes pretty England and me/ Around the Bay of Biscay and back for tea/ Hit traffic on the Dogger Bank/ Up the Thames to find a taxi rank/ Sail on by with the tide and fall asleep.”

The bonus disc features 10 smashing live performances including “She’s So High,” “Girls And Boys,” “End Of A Century,” “Stereotypes” and “M.O.R.”

These pop munchies should be devoured by not just devoted fans, but anyone who appreciates the art of music.