Blur’s back, but they’re not quite better than ever. Maybe that’s because frontman Damon Albarn’s been heavily involved with his side project – Gorillaz – and the band didn’t have his full attention. Or maybe it has to do with the lack of guitars. (The guitarist, Graham Coxon, only plays on one song). It’s evident that on their seventh album, "Think Tank," Blur gallantly tries to break new ground by replacing their old, gritty guitar-based rock with a more bass-heavy flexible, experimental sound. However, they come up short, especially when compared to their fellow Englishmen Radiohead, who are renowned for dropping guitars in the name of experimentation. However, putting aside all comparisons, Blur still manages to hold their own giving listeners a taste of an older, more mature band, but they were better when they rocked.
Since 1998, Blur have divided their attention between various musical styles, which are evident when listening to "Think Tank." The first single off the album, "Out of Time," shows Blur’s new appreciation for world music. This slow and quite beautiful song involving Andalusion strings, makes you want to weep and smile at the same time.
I found most of the other songs similar. The majority of the album gave me that feeling of half-depression/half-contentedness, but unfortunately, left me half satisfied. Woo-hoo. •