Blur

by Paul Lester

Book by Lester, Paul

Genres: Music, Biography

1 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am incredibly glad I understood the connotations of "a Melody Maker book" before I read this book. It's hardly ground breaking journalism. I can't be sure without checking but I think it had a few incorrect facts. The content ranges from filler facts and fairly perfunctory information to far too analytical readings of Starshaped which seems to suggest the film is a doom laden portrait of a band at its lowest. I'm sure most who've seen it will agree drunken romp with at best a slightly menacing undertone (suggesting that all that drinking may come back to haunt them)is a better description. As for the illustrated part the book does contain some less common shots, but it also uses some photos twice and throws in a few pictures of other bands with fairly tenuous connections. For example apparently quoting one reviewer who likened their energy to the Sex Pistols is enough to warrant an inclusion of their picture. All in all the book definitely isn't aimed at Blur aficionados. Chances are you won't find out anything new, but what it does do really well is give glimpses into the kind of press Blur were receiving in the first half of the 90s.