Blur - Think Tank
Reviewed by Bang, April 2003

INSPIRATIONS: love, loss, regeneration

Seven studio albums along and one founder member down, Blur release their first long-player in four years. Time has been kind.

Neither epic opener ‘Ambulance’ or the clanking, tricksy ‘Gene By Gene’ are a million miles from Mali (Music), and there’s a warm, communal feel that belies the (now permanent) absence of Graham Coxon’s considerable creative influence. Indeed, Graham’s only contribution appears on the Vangelis-tinged ‘Battery In Your Leg’, a mournful lament ('This is a ballad for the good times/And all the dignity we had’), The sparse, squeaky ‘Out Of Time’ is a continuation of ‘No Distance Left To Run’ and, while it loses points for a Santana-esque solo, it showcases a careworn tenderness to Damon’s voice that’s the highlight of the record.

Think Tank might not be Blur’s most original outing – ‘On The Way To The Club’ is like a mellow ‘I’m Just A Killer For Your Love’, while ‘Brothers And Sisters’ revisits Happy Monday’s mighty sleaze anthem ‘Dennis & Lois’ – but that’s because there’s none of 13’s expectation-fighting experimentation.

This is the sound of a band in love with music, enjoying the artistic freedom that sales of several million albums have afforded them: Damon’s finally over Justine, Blur are happy being Blur, and Think Tank is a joy.

 (4/5)                                                                    Reviewed by unknown