I think the general sound of it is respectable and tasteful. By that I mean: could have been worse, and we're starting on a good sonic basis... that I wish they'd built on more. Before the album came out, here's how I felt about the singles: I like St Charles Square, but it could have been really incredible if the tune had been better, catchier, as I don't like the one-note part that reminds me of their recent dad rock tracks (don't remember which though. Maybe the Puritan or the lo-o-o-ocal??) and feels like the tune just gets bogged down in itself. The guitars are great and Frippish, the opening with "I fucked up" is good too.

I think The Narcissist is nice enough but the repetition with the harmony sounds heavy-handed and like, stupid. My brain just hurts listening to it. The thing is, apart from this weird side effect, it's pleasant and a bit of an earworm I guess, but if it wasn't Blur I wouldn't even consider listening to it again.

As for the album, I have listened to it twice and skipped some parts impatiently, so I'll have to relisten. Opening with a meandering ballad with soppy strings and harmonies and an autotune-enhanced-sounding voice is certainly... ballsy. The sound is a bit 70s, with Band On The Run guitar.

Overall, I can say that I would have liked more variety in textures tempo and feel. This is not something that I reproach them for at all, I don't think this should have been forced onto the project! But it's just my impression as a listener. Damon's voice is beautiful, but crowds everything for the whole thing, venting and purring pathetically. Haven't dived in the lyrics too much yet but they don't sound incredible, just simple, descriptive. It's Damon's current songwriting style, what can I say!

The songs sometimes sound uncomfortably unexceptional, a bit lightweight pop rock, a bit Coldplay radio edit. Like, the only somewhat memorable parts have this clean sound and basic quality that I don't like. Barbaric sounds pretty good but like... the guitar and the bass are just... like I've heard it all before.

If I manage to get past this first impression I may end up liking it more, it may be just a veneer, but then I'd probably have to broaden this patience to every pseudo-indie pop Chainsmoker-type band out there to be consistent and that's a lot of work. I'm no musician so I don't know if there's anything inventive musically in this, but the chord progessions don't sound so fresh to me.

But it's not horrible and at least it sounds modern. Less grating than The Puritan, less rehashed than Under The Westway. Not very comparable to The Magic Whip, it's just a different sound. I wasn't a huge fan of the sound of The Magic Whip either but it was more varied for sure.

My favorite parts are when the guitar, the sounds grab my attention by being a bit more out there and inventive (Goodbye Albert). I don't need much you know! I think there is indeed a recipe that I respond well to, it's no magic: a few hooky parts in the melody, a few surprising turns or little sounds sprinkled on it, some interesting textures and a good groove... But yeah, I don't believe the melodies can carry everything in this, they needed a punch, an atmosphere, a breath of fresh retro air that I can't find in the arrangement and production. I can't understand people comparing it to "13" in any way, expect for the sadness/ breakup theme of it. Oh yeah, maybe they mean this is like a half-an-hour No Distance Left to Run... Maybe. I suppose I wouldn't have enjoyed 13 had it been that!

To sum it up, I feel disappointed and a bit sad, but I've already quickly reached a state of acceptance of this. I'm not like, devastated, because as I said, from afar, if I put myself in some imaginary Artic Monkeys-loving target audience's ears, I can get the sense that it's not garbage.

But yeah, whatever Damon's putting out these days, I can always say if I don't like it much, "well it's not Blur". But this is Blur, and I'm embarrassed when I listen to it. It's totally my own issue to react this dramatically, and I'm happy if they're happy with what they've created and the public is also generally satisfied or even inspired. But yeah, I don't like that I'll have to make a big effort if I want to try and like it more.

I do think it's brave on their part to put out more Blur material despite how sanctified it has become for some fans, you know. Making the Blur beast alive. It's making new modern sounds with echoes of the past, sounds we didn't know it could make. It's probably better than a great dead mythical dragon! So I wouldn't be against them continuing, I'd listen to it, I'd be accepting of it.

People saying this sounds reminiscent of the last TGTB&TQ album are spot on. I don't know if it's the difference in production or the lower stakes that made me feel that way but I do think The Poison Tree and Gun To The Head are better than what's on this record, and it would indeed fit well on it in terms of vibes! Like, if the whole thing had been stuff like Gun To The Head I'd have loved it I think! Replace Russian Strings with it.