Blur

 

Artist:  Blur
Origin:  London, England
Genre:  Alternative Rock, Britpop, Indie Rock, Contemporary Pop

Original line-up:
  
Damon Albarn:   Vocals, Keyboards
Graham Coxon:  Guitar, Vocals
Alex James:  Bass
Dave Rowntree:   Drums

Blur are an English Alternative Rock Band from London, formed in 1988, consists of Damon Albarn (Vocals, Keyboards), Graham Coxon (Guitar), Alex James (Bass) and Dave Rowntree (Drums).  The band influenced by English Guitar Pop Group such as The Beatles, The Kinks, The Small Faces, The Who, The Jam, The Smith and XTC.  The band helped to popularise the Britpop Genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a chart battle with Oasis in 1995.  In 2012 the group received a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

Title:  The Ballad Of Darren (Deluxe Edition) (2023)

Genre:  Alternative Rock, Britpop, Indie Rock, Contemporary Pop

Label:  Parlophone

Rating:  *****

Format:  CD 

Tracks:

 1.  The Ballad (3:37)

 2.  St. Charles Square (3:55)

 3.  Barbaric (4:09)

 4.  Russian Strings (3:38)

 5.  The Everglades (For Leonard) (2:56)

 6.  The Narcissist (4:05)

 7.  Goodbye Albert (4:17)

 8.  Far Away Island (2:58)

 9.  Avalon (3:05)

10. The Heights (3:24)

Deluxe Edition CD Bonus Tracks:

11. The Rabbi (2:44)

12. The Swan (3:42)

Personnel:

Damon Albarn:   Vocals, Keyboards, Piano, Backing Vocals
Graham Coxon:  Guitar, Backing Vocals, Vocals on "Sticks And Stones"
Alex James:  Bass
Dave Rowntree:   Drums

Additional Musicians:

James Ford:  Keyboards on Tracks:  1-6, 8, 10

Izzi Dunn:  Cello on Tracks:  1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Ciara Ismail:  Viola on Tracks:  1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Kotono Sato:  Violin on Tracks:  1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Sarah Tuke:  Violin on Tracks:  1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Alistair White:  Trombone on Track 9

Nichol Thompson:  Trombone on Track ต

Chris Storr:  Trumpet on Track 9

Danny Marsden:  Trumpet on Track 9

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side A:

 1.  The Ballad (3:37)

 2.  St. Charles Square (3:55)

 3.  Barbaric (4:09)

 4.  Russian Strings (3:38)

 5.  The Everglades (For Leonard) (2:56)

Side B:

 1.  The Narcissist (4:05)

 2.  Goodbye Albert (4:17)

 3.  Far Away Island (2:58)

 4.  Avalon (3:05)

 5.  The Heights (3:24)

The Ballad Of Darren is the ninth studio album by Blur, released on July 21, 2023 by Parlophone.  Deluxe Edition CD with 2 Bonus Tracks, and Limited 140 Gram Red Vinyl.