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Track Listings
| 1. Girls And Boys |
| 2. Tracy Jacks |
| 3. End Of A Century |
| 4. Parklife |
| 5. Bank Holiday |
| 6. Bad Head |
| 7. The Debt Collector |
| 8. Far Out |
| 9. To The End |
| 10. London Loves |
| 11. Trouble In The Message Centre |
| 12. Clover Over Dover |
| 13. Magic America |
| 14. Jubilee |
| 15. This Is A Low |
| 16. Lot 105 |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Although Blur had long been recognised as one of the premier bands responsible for the reinvigoration of Britpop in the 1990s, it's 1994's Parklife that truly provided the template for the entire movement. At a time when Oasis were aping the sounds of their pub-rock heroes on Definitely Maybe, Blur drew from the legacy of the Kinks and Small Faces to create an album that's as English as a rainy Sunday in front of the gas fire. Parklife is full of songs that, quite frankly, don't make much sense outside of the British Isles, songs that find joy in the mundane, like "Girls & Boys" (a song about working-class holidaymakers in the sun) and "Parklife" (a day in the life of a cheeky, unemployed bench-sitter). Witty, ironic and irreverent, Parklife remains one of those rare albums that sum up a specific place and time (Britain in the mid-1990s). For that reason alone, it can be considered one of Blur's finest albums. --Robert Burrow
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is the point in Blur's rambling musical career where it all came together. The band may well disagree with this, but this is the most cohesive album they produced. Rather than remembering Blur for two and a half minutes of screaming (Song 2) or for their tussles with Oasis (Country house, Charmless man), I'd suggest you take a look at this album.
Its simply a very very perceptive interpretation of a British way of life . 'Girls and Boys' takes you on a club 18-30, 'End of a Century' returns you to suburbia. 'Parklife' makes a slob of you, 'London Loves' deposits you in the rush hour and 'Magic America' gives you the dreams of escaping to bright lights. Finally, in one of the most beautiful moments of the nineties 'This is a Low' leaves you soaring over the land you know and love before 'Lot 106' brings a stupid grin to your face.
Its an evocative album, musically great, and most importantly its the best thing Blur ever did. Don't get the greatest hits, buy this instead. And then buy the rest of the albums.
Its simply a very very perceptive interpretation of a British way of life . 'Girls and Boys' takes you on a club 18-30, 'End of a Century' returns you to suburbia. 'Parklife' makes a slob of you, 'London Loves' deposits you in the rush hour and 'Magic America' gives you the dreams of escaping to bright lights. Finally, in one of the most beautiful moments of the nineties 'This is a Low' leaves you soaring over the land you know and love before 'Lot 106' brings a stupid grin to your face.
Its an evocative album, musically great, and most importantly its the best thing Blur ever did. Don't get the greatest hits, buy this instead. And then buy the rest of the albums.
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Music critics have never had shorter memories than when they have dealt with Blur. When 'The Great Escape', the sequel to 'Parklife', was released, they rightly hailed it as a classic. Ask them now, however, and you won't find many who will even admit to ever liking it - the music press follows fashion just like the rest of us. But all this is a round-the-houses way of saying that only the most ardent Blur-haters will think the same of 'Parklife'. Not a note is out of place, not a song fails to captivate. From the initial shock of Girls and Boys to the monumental, magnificent ending of This Is A Low (not forgetting the playful coda of Lot 105, a trick they tried again with less success on '13'), this is arguably the album of the decade. With pop music in possibly its unhealthiest condition since it was invented, we can only look back in wonder at albums like 'Parklife' and hope that somehow, somewhere, rock and roll will return for that one last encore all over again.
Blur, meanwhile, are just as interesting now as they were then, perhaps even more so, but will they ever release a record of this stature again?
Blur, meanwhile, are just as interesting now as they were then, perhaps even more so, but will they ever release a record of this stature again?
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By dynamitekid156
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
A quasi-concept album about Britain and its Americanisation, Parklife is the peak of Blur, coming as the second part of their Britpop trilogy, after the poorly received (commercially at least) Modern Life Is Rubbish and before the decent The Great Escape. It also came out in the same year as Oasis' debut album shook the world's foundations and the Blur vs. Oasis battle began. Funnily enough, unlike the Beatles vs. Beach Boys rivalry thirty years earlier, both bands produced their greatest work before even beginning their competition, Oasis with their debut and Blur with this masterpiece.
Countless elements of Britain and its people are explored across this album's 53 enthralling minutes; monarchism in 'Jubilee;' everyday proletarianism in the title track; fashion trends and subcultures, as well as millenial interest in 'End Of A Century'; bank holidays on...well, 'Bank Holiday'; taxation and debt on 'The Debt Collector.' No stone is left unturned.
And from this concept/theme you get some of Blur's finest songs. The title track is famous thanks to Phil Daniels, but really not one of the standouts here. The elegaic 'Badhead,' with its chiming guitar and tasteful brass, is lovely, while 'Tracy Jacks' addresses stereotypes (better than the other Blur song of that name) with the line 'I'd love to stay here and be normal but it's just so overrated.' ]
Throughout, Albarne's cockney - or mockney depending on who you ask - voice and Graham Coxon's always dazzling guitar work hold everything together beautifully, and despite Coxon's apparent dissatisfaction with it, this is truly an album to be proud of, the jewel in Blur's crown.
Countless elements of Britain and its people are explored across this album's 53 enthralling minutes; monarchism in 'Jubilee;' everyday proletarianism in the title track; fashion trends and subcultures, as well as millenial interest in 'End Of A Century'; bank holidays on...well, 'Bank Holiday'; taxation and debt on 'The Debt Collector.' No stone is left unturned.
And from this concept/theme you get some of Blur's finest songs. The title track is famous thanks to Phil Daniels, but really not one of the standouts here. The elegaic 'Badhead,' with its chiming guitar and tasteful brass, is lovely, while 'Tracy Jacks' addresses stereotypes (better than the other Blur song of that name) with the line 'I'd love to stay here and be normal but it's just so overrated.' ]
Throughout, Albarne's cockney - or mockney depending on who you ask - voice and Graham Coxon's always dazzling guitar work hold everything together beautifully, and despite Coxon's apparent dissatisfaction with it, this is truly an album to be proud of, the jewel in Blur's crown.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
From the pogo-bop pop of 'Girls & Boys', to the rich and beautiful 'This is a Low', via punk, rock, indie, and music hall, here are 16 tracks with genuine variety, originality, freshness and quality. There isn't a moment that bores, and every note is brilliantly crafted, and expertly delivered. Without doubt THE album of the decade. My personal album of all time.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
How does it get any better than this? From the bouncy opener, through shouty pop and rock (Parklife, Bank Holiday) to classic love songs (To The End) and finishing with their most beautiful track that can make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck (This Is A Low), this album is sheer quality. If you don't already own it, consider yourself mocked. This one could change your life.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
This is Blur's finest work and is Britpop at it's best in the days of Blur and Oasis. From the dancing raving Girls And Boys, Magical Magic America, to the classis Parklife this album will fullfill your music taste in many ways and leaving loving Blur once again.
London Loves, Trouble In The Message Centre, Clover Over Dover are all masterpieces which will make you just get up and dance around.
My favourite Blur Album this will be worth your money and will take you back to the mad lads that are Blur...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
until I listened to it the other day for the first time in years. I was startled by how many different musical styles and influences there are here - it's a very experimental album, and one that works brilliantly. It's the best Blur have done so far, and is one of the few albums that have stood the test of time - it really is as good as the critics said at the time - and it isn't often that albums said on the day of their release to be destined for classic status actually achieve it, but this is a CLASSIC.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent
everything was good. there was nothing wrong with this great great album! i m really happy with my choice.thats all.
Published 4 months ago by christina
5.0 out of 5 stars
Third Time's Certainly The Charm In What Is Known As...Parklife!
"Parklife" was the third studio album from Blur. Released in 1994 it marked a strong upturn in both the popularity of the London band and the quality of the songs they produced. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Matthew Stoneman
5.0 out of 5 stars
blur parklife
great classic tracks from 90's britpop legends blur parklife and tracy jacks are highlights for this cd which features the iconic greyhound track shot !
Published 7 months ago by white
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasently surprised!
Starts off with Girls and Boys, which in turn merges into Tracey Jacks, End of The Century, then it's on to Parklife. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr Ogden
1.0 out of 5 stars
poor!
One of the most dated albums of the 90's.I'm not sure which of BOYS AND GIRLS or PARKLIFE is the worse.
Published 8 months ago by Gholby
4.0 out of 5 stars
London Loves...
We all loved this one back in the 90's but I always thought it was let down by the comedy songs and novelty tunes. A good solid band but Damon Albarn isn't Ray Davies (The Kinks).
Published 10 months ago by Lord Anon
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant
These blur reissues are brilliant for the price.
A smart box including a double cd in a gatefold mini album sleeve.
An Interesting booklet with full details. Read more
A smart box including a double cd in a gatefold mini album sleeve.
An Interesting booklet with full details. Read more
Published 10 months ago by G. V. Best
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's all a bit of a... Blur. Well not really
As the album that made Blur the defining Britpop band, it's also the definitive Britpop album. As an exploration of working class Britain to doolalling over the thoughts of Magic... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jonny X
5.0 out of 5 stars
A trip to an era
Listening to Parklife almost two decades after its original release is like reading a history book about the human behaviour of the 90s (in Britain to be specific although it... Read more
Published 14 months ago by HB
4.0 out of 5 stars
Parklife, the classic Blur
This was the second Blur album I have purchased, after Great Escapes. I listened to the band way back when they were first famous and I wanted to recapture my youth as a 50... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Doctor Pete
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