release date: May 17, 2004
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,28]
producer: Stephen Street
label: Transcopic - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 2. "No Good Time" - 3. "Girl Done Gone" - 4. "Bittersweet Bundle of Misery" - 6. "Freakin' Out" - 12. "Ribbons and Leaves"
5th solo album by Blur-guitarist Graham Coxon is an alt. rock and garage rock revival-styled album, which nicely demonstrates the musical direction of one of the major driving forces within Blur. Yes, Coxon wanted it scrappier and raw, whereas Albarn dragged towards a more experimental style within a more contemporary pop universe.
It's not just a rip-off, although I hear clear inspirational sources from Kinks, Velvet Underground, The Who, Neil Young and the like. The album showcases Coxon's writing abilities, his ear for simple pop / rock hooks making this one of those albums that you wish you didn't have to search so hard to find, 'cause it really deserves much more attention.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Q Magazine, Uncut 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]
