By: Emily Tonna

90s British rock legend group Blur has returned to the scene, pushing alternative rock chart boundaries across the pond with their July 2023 record ‘The Ballad of Darren.’ Frontman Damon Albarn is no stranger to the 2023 music atmosphere; his other project, Gorillaz’s ‘Cracker Island’ reached #3 on the US Billboard 200, released on February 24, 2023. After a tumultuous and triumphant year, Albarn
has reconnected with guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James, and drummer Dave Rowntree to create a beautiful rock reunion album teeming with airy nostalgia.
This record is their most cohesive to date; Blur has a long history of experimenting with numerous genres throughout their discography within albums, such as shoegaze, Britpop, world music, trip-hop, and the American alternative rock scene (woo-hoo!).
Their premiere single ‘The Narcissist’ features elements of summery indie rock, while their following single, “St. Charles Square,” is a heavier percussionistic song that echoes their 90’s anxious, paranoia ridden sound. This initial sonic whiplash made it hard to predict the mood of this new release, but I’m no stranger to their experimental tendencies.
On first listen, I’ll admit, as a Blur fan, it was not entirely what I expected. This is the sort of album you need to close your eyes and listen to, feeling every song’s polished layers and the atmosphere they create. Many songs, particularly “Goodbye Albert” and “Avalon,” feature Graham Coxon’s genius riffs underneath Albarn’s intimate vocals of lost love. Albarn’s heartbroken lyrics and the desperate whine of Coxon’s guitar complement each other perfectly throughout the record, allowing listeners to dive deeper into the aural space of moving parts on every listen.
To me, ‘The Ballad of Darren’ feels like a heartfelt bow wrapped on their 35-year successful career. While I hope this is not their swan song (although their deluxe release features an additional ballad titled ‘The Swan’), the wistful atmospheric presence and resigned lyricism lingering throughout each track cultivates a melancholy introspection as wiser people now.

4.5/5