GIRLS OF THE NITE

Surreal Madrid

Well, this is spooky. Close your eyes when (or if) you get to hear this song and you could almost be back in 1983, trying to breakdance with your mates at school and making a right royal prat of yourself doing it. Perhaps it was the total absence of any Adidas-branded clotheswear that counted against me, I don’t know, but all those meaningless raps and funky beats (included here) can really do your head in after a while and I think that’s why I was rubbish. I probably still am, but I’d like to think I’ve grown out of spinning aimlessly on a playground. Hang on, was I meant to review a single?

TENDER

Blur

Oasis? Why bother with that jaded bunch of pub rockers when you’ve got Blur to keep you company? Hang on a minute, before my loyal army of readers (Mr and Mrs Phillimore) reach for their "Sir, I really must protest" letters, let me prove my point. A band must change to survive, right? Ah, so you agree. Right then, look at the Blur back catalogue. There’s No Other Way would never fit on the Blur album, just like Song 2 and Beetlebum would never make it on The Great Escape. With me so far? Good. Try that method with Oasis. I’m sorry, what was that? Any Oasis song could go on any Oasis album? The defence rests. Gospel choirs, soothing melodies, a tune you can remember, the video for Song 2 included on CD2 (yes really), this is the way a comeback should be done. Somehow, the world seems a better place with Blur around and if you think Tender’s good you wait until 13 (that’s the new album) arrives.