NEW BLUR ALBUM - The Ballad Of Darren

[Sledge Hammer]

The only track I'd swap for the extra stuff would be Goodbye Albert with Sticks and Stones. That would really elevate the album to top tier. I understand S&S doesn't fit the overall mood of the record, but come on guys, it's too good of a song to leave out.

Agreed, its a superb song.

[munch]

The only track I'd swap for the extra stuff would be Goodbye Albert with Sticks and Stones. That would really elevate the album to top tier. I understand S&S doesn't fit the overall mood of the record, but come on guys, it's too good of a song to leave out.

Agreed, its a superb song.

It's so good

[101reykjavik]

The only track I'd swap for the extra stuff would be Goodbye Albert with Sticks and Stones. That would really elevate the album to top tier. I understand S&S doesn't fit the overall mood of the record, but come on guys, it's too good of a song to leave out.

Agreed, its a superb song.

It's so good

You’re all banished. Goodbye Albert is FAB. It’s weird in a fabulous way this album. GB didn’t do it for me the first time but it’s become one of my favourites and I’ll go to it specifically to listen to as a one-off track. Like Baxter though, I’m trying to limit my listening now though after such a long binge period as I don’t want it to get stale. On holiday this week and I’m distracting myself from it with other stuff. Still thinking about it though!

[Sledge Hammer]

Just watched the Sticks And Stones video, such a great song but also love the video showing great moments right back to Seymour days, would love somme more details on the song, was it Graham on his own or a full band song, hoping Blur album 10 follows this type of material...

[rich]

Just watched the Sticks And Stones video, such a great song but also love the video showing great moments right back to Seymour days, would love somme more details on the song, was it Graham on his own or a full band song, hoping Blur album 10 follows this type of material...

The tinkly piano does sound like Damon, but other than that, it could be Graham playing everything. The drums sound like him...

[seja]

Agreed, its a superb song.

It's so good

You’re all banished. Goodbye Albert is FAB. It’s weird in a fabulous way this album. GB didn’t do it for me the first time but it’s become one of my favourites and I’ll go to it specifically to listen to as a one-off track. Like Baxter though, I’m trying to limit my listening now though after such a long binge period as I don’t want it to get stale. On holiday this week and I’m distracting myself from it with other stuff. Still thinking about it though!

Goodbye Albert is probably one of my favourites from the album. It was when I first heard it and still is... I like it way more than Sticks and Stones. Honestly, Sticks and Stones is cool but all the album tracks imo are better. It should atleast be on the deluxe version though, not Japan exclusive.

The guitar riff is brilliant classic blur , like Graham said it's like a MLIR bside and i couldn't agree more. I love how desperate and sorrowful it sounds overall with that build up to the chorus lyric there is still swagger to it. I love it live aswell, Damon just sounds so be full of sorrow when he sings it... Very reminiscent to when they played some 13 tracks live.

[Redneck]

I would not be surprised if Sticks and Stones was recorded in The Waeve sessions.

[Redneck]

It's of no real consequence, but I was playing my ten year anniversary singles set yesterday and noticed that the nine-song CD single of For Tomorrow is longer than the entire ten-song Ballad of Darren album.

Even discounting the multiple versions of For Tomorrow (for example leaving off the acoustic and album versions), that still leaves a satisfying seven song set that clocks in at just a few minutes shorter than Ballad. Same goes for Sunday Sunday and Chemical World, though obviously the quality of those B-sides are more varied.

What does this mean? Not much, just that Blur spoilt us in the 90s by putting out nearly an album's worth of material with each single.

[munch]

Agreed, its a superb song.

It's so good

You’re all banished. Goodbye Albert is FAB. It’s weird in a fabulous way this album. GB didn’t do it for me the first time but it’s become one of my favourites and I’ll go to it specifically to listen to as a one-off track. Like Baxter though, I’m trying to limit my listening now though after such a long binge period as I don’t want it to get stale. On holiday this week and I’m distracting myself from it with other stuff. Still thinking about it though!

I love Goodbye Albert! I was just agreeing Sticks and Stones should have been on the album! As well as The Swan

[rich]

I would not be surprised if Sticks and Stones was recorded in The Waeve sessions.

That kinda makes sense. Sticks & Stones is about departure and endings. The Waeve ST is about arrival and beginnings - I can see why S&S wouldn't sit easily within its air of optimism and positivism. Lyrically it would clash. If this was recorded then, I can see why it was left off the Waeve album...

The Ballard of Darren on the other hand is a touch gloomy, lyrically speaking (understatement of the year!). So with James Ford working on both albums, I can see why it made it onto the end of Darren as a limited-availability extra. Sonically it doesn't fit, but lyrically it does...

On the other hand, I could be talking complete bollocks...

[Rubi]

The guitar riff is brilliant classic blur , like Graham said it's like a MLIR bside and i couldn't agree more. I love how desperate and sorrowful it sounds overall with that build up to the chorus lyric there is still swagger to it. I love it live aswell, Damon just sounds so be full of sorrow when he sings it... Very reminiscent to when they played some 13 tracks live.

Graham really said that? Interesting, cos those were my initial thoughts as well.

Look, Goodbye Albert is a good song. I really enjoy it, and the band clearly does too considering they're playing it live now in every show. But it's the song I least enjoy out of the ten standard tracks on the record. It's between that and Far Away Island for me, but Far Away Island has a very distinct sound for a Blur song, and that's why I appreciate it a bit more.

[idreamofpikas]

I would not be surprised if Sticks and Stones was recorded in The Waeve sessions.

Only a few weeks ago people were claiming with certainty on this forum that not only was Y'all Doomed only written by Graham but that he played all the instruments on it as well and now we are saying the same about Sticks and Stones?

If it was done during the recording of that album why would it not feature on that album? Would Rose be fine with one of the best songs recorded in that session not being used on their album to be saved for a Japanese exclusive track? Would Graham even be happy with that?

[joaogabriel_lf]

The guitar riff is brilliant classic blur , like Graham said it's like a MLIR bside and i couldn't agree more. I love how desperate and sorrowful it sounds overall with that build up to the chorus lyric there is still swagger to it. I love it live aswell, Damon just sounds so be full of sorrow when he sings it... Very reminiscent to when they played some 13 tracks live.

Graham really said that? Interesting, cos those were my initial thoughts as well.

Look, Goodbye Albert is a good song. I really enjoy it, and the band clearly does too considering they're playing it live now in every show. But it's the song I least enjoy out of the ten standard tracks on the record. It's between that and Far Away Island for me, but Far Away Island has a very distinct sound for a Blur song, and that's why I appreciate it a bit more.

That’s the grace for Blur and that’s why this band is so fantastic. Goodbye Albert is my favorite of TBOD. I listened the live version of Way Out West Festival with some subtle variations Damon always do when singing live, and is official for me, this song is absolutely classic!

[Redneck]

I would not be surprised if Sticks and Stones was recorded in The Waeve sessions.

Only a few weeks ago people were claiming with certainty on this forum that not only was Y'all Doomed only written by Graham but that he played all the instruments on it as well and now we are saying the same about Sticks and Stones?

If it was done during the recording of that album why would it not feature on that album? Would Rose be fine with one of the best songs recorded in that session not being used on their album to be saved for a Japanese exclusive track? Would Graham even be happy with that?

Not saying anything with certainty, but who knows? Maybe it was started during Waeve sessions but not finished? The prospect of Graham bringing a song that’s 90% complete - recorded with the same producer no less - to the sessions and having the others add stuff seems as equally plausible as him offering up (or being asked to provide) an entirely new song for an extremely personal album someone else has written entirely. And no one from Blur has said a single word about it yet.

That’s no slight on them either way - they’ve avoided being specific about instrument credits for years, so I suspect there’s more than a few cases where it isn’t Damon keys Graham guitars Alex bass Dave drums.

[rich]

Well I’ll say it again

I would not be surprised if Sticks and Stones was recorded in The Waeve sessions.

That kinda makes sense. Sticks & Stones is about departure and endings. The Waeve ST is about arrival and beginnings - I can see why S&S wouldn't sit easily within its air of optimism and positivism. Lyrically it would clash. If this was recorded then, I can see why it was left off the Waeve album...

The Ballard of Darren on the other hand is a touch gloomy, lyrically speaking (understatement of the year!). So with James Ford working on both albums, I can see why it made it onto the end of Darren as a limited-availability extra. Sonically it doesn't fit, but lyrically it does...

On the other hand, I could be talking complete bollocks...