Blur – No Distance Left To Run

Releasedate: 12-02-2010; Label: EMI
By: Nina Mende

Blur were an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consisted of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur’s debut album Leisure (1991) incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing. Following a stylistic change—influenced by English guitar pop groups such as The Kinks, The Beatles and XTC—Blur released the Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995) albums. As a result, the band helped to popularise the Britpop genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a famous chart battle with rival band Oasis dubbed “The Battle of Britpop”. In recording their follow-up, Blur (1997), the band underwent another reinvention, influenced by the lo-fi style of American indie rock bands such as Pavement. “Song 2”, one of the album’s singles, brought Blur brief mainstream success in the US. The last album featuring Blur’s original lineup, 13 (1999) found the band members experimenting with electronic music and gospel music, as Albarn wrote more personal lyrics. In May 2002, Coxon left Blur during the recording of their seventh album Think Tank (2003). Containing electronic sounds and more minimal guitar work, the album was marked by Albarn’s growing interest in hip hop and African music. After a 2003 tour without Coxon, Blur did no studio work or touring as a band, as members engaged in other projects. Subsequently, Blur reunited in 2009 with Coxon back in the fold. Following a series of successful concerts, Blur members have stated that the group has no immediate plans for the future.

But even though no plans for the future are state as of now, they recorded a DVD with the story of Blur and the live concert at Hyde Park. Two DVDs are in the “No Distance Left To Run” package: one for the story, one for the concert. The story DVD includes interviews and behind the scenes material, Blur talking about the band the way it has been, the break up, and the steps from the thought of a reunion to the actual reunion. Also do they talk about each members past, the beginning of the band and a strong friendship between them. Very interesting to watch with a lot of information, not only about Blur. The concert itself is sold out and you can see the masses freaking out when Blur comes on stage. The stage seems huge. The show is still in daylight so you can’t see too much of the light effects they have on stage, but throughout the show it’s getting darker and you can see the great light. The crowd is constantly cheering, clapping and singing along loudly. Sometimes the audience sings even louder than the band. Even by simply watching it on your DVD player at home you can feel how energetic and powerful as well as thriving the show must have been. You just had to go along. The singer even goes down to the pit a couple times throughout the show. The feedback the band gets from the audience is overwhelming. Such an amazing show. The atmosphere comes along with the DVD, straight to your living room. Get Blur live in your home. Get the DVD.

Disc 1: 01 Blur Dokumentar Film “No Distance Left To Run” 02 Film Trailer Disc 2: Blur Live in Hyde Park, July 2009 01 Intro 02 She’s So High 03 Girls & Boys 04 Tracy Jacks 05 There’s No Other Way 06 Jubilee 07 Badhead 08 Beetlebum 09 Out Of Time 10 Trimm Trab 11 Coffee And TV 12 Tender 13 Country House

14 Oily Water 15 Chemical World 16 Sunday Sunday 17 Parklife 18 End Of A Century 19 To The End 20 This Is A Low 21 Popscene 22 Advert 23 Song 2 24 Death Of A Party 25 For Tomorrow 26 The Universal

Links:
Blur Official