Modern Life Is Rubbish
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Modern Life Is Rubbish is the second album by the British rock band Blur, released on May 10 1993. With Modern Life Is Rubbish, Blur incorporated more psychedelic and grunge influences into the album, and it was generally well-received, keeping the band relevant during the grunge era in the UK. It is, however, often stated that Modern Life Is Rubbish is also the first britpop album and has grown considerably in stature in since its release, when it initially peaked at #15 in the UK.
In 1993, "For Tomorrow" (which reached #28), "Chemical World" (#28) and "Sunday, Sunday" (#26) were released from the album in the UK. The single "Popscene" (#32), from the Modern Life Is Rubbish sessions, was dropped from the UK release of the album. Although reinstated for the US (and later Japanese) release is currently only available within the UK on the DVD version of Blur's best of album.
The tracks "Intermission" and "Commercial Break" were originally used at the beginning and end of Blur's early live performances as "Intro" and "Outro", respectively.
On Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart in the US, "Chemical World" peaked at #27.
Track listing
- All tracks by Damon Albarn/Graham Coxon/Alex James/Dave Rowntree.
- "For Tomorrow" - 4:19
- "Advert" - 3:45
- "Colin Zeal" - 3:16
- "Pressure on Julian" - 3:31
- "Star Shaped" - 3:26
- "Blue Jeans" - 3:54
- "Chemical World" - 3:45
- "Intermission" - 2:29
- "Sunday, Sunday" - 2:38
- "Oily Water" - 5:00
- "Miss America" - 5:34
- "Villa Rosie" - 3:55
- "Coping" - 3:24
- "Turn It Up" - 3:21
- "Resigned" - 5:14
- "Commercial Break" - 0:55
- The Japanese release includes "Young And Lovely" (and "Popscene" in a re-release).
- The US version includes "Popscene", "When The Cows Come Home" and "Peach". It also has a different version of "Chemical World".
Personnel
- Blur - Producer
- Damon Albarn - Organ, Synthesizer, Piano, Vocals, Melodica, Bells
- Graham Coxon - Synthesizer, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Tambourine, Vocals (bckgr), Moog Synthesizer, Slide Guitar
- Alex James - Guitar (Bass)
- Dave Rowntree - Drums, Timpani
- The Kick Horns:
- Tim Sanders - Sax (Tenor)
- Roddy Lorimer - Trumpet
- Neil Sidwell - Trombone
- Simon Clarke - Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
- Paul Spong - Cornet
- The Duke String Quartet:
- Louise Fuller - Violin
- Rick Koster - Violin
- John Metcalfe - Viola
- Ivan McCready - Cello
- with Helen Kamminga - Viola
- Steve Lovell - Producer
- John Smith - Producer, Engineer
- Kate St. John - Oboe, Sax (Soprano)
- Stephen Street - Producer, Mixing, Percussion, Bells, Handcalps, Clarinet (Alto)
- Simon Weinstock - Mixing
- Jason (no surname given) - Sound Effects
- Paul Gribble - "Mallard" painting
- Paul Stephen - Blur painting