The 50 best albums of 2023, No 8 – Blur: The Ballad of Darren
Blur’s ninth album is a perfect combination of middle-aged regret with swooning pop, a powerful career summation
July 2023
On my radar
On my radar: Graham Coxon’s cultural highlights
The musician from Blur and the Waeve on the magic of Spain’s Alhambra, chip butties and his love of jazz biographies
May 2023
Blur: The Narcissist review – a band finally at ease with themselves
The first single from upcoming album The Ballad of Darren chugs along to a motorik beat, rising to an anthemic chorus that seems to be reflecting on the band’s career path
January 2023
Blur’s Dave Rowntree: ‘I still wake at 3am thinking I’ve frittered my life away’
Drummer, lawyer, composer, politician… Blur’s busiest member on the troubled childhood that influenced his new solo album, and the band’s summer reunion gigs
November 2022
Blur to reunite for one-off Wembley show next year
Band will headline at the London stadium on 8 July for their 35th anniversary, supported by Slowthai, Self Esteem and Jockstrap
October 2022
Verse, Chorus, Monster! by Graham Coxon review – Britpop’s unlikely lad
In a disarmingly candid memoir, the Blur guitarist relates the madness of fame and addiction, his unease with Britpop, and how folk led him to greener pastures
September 2018
Graham Coxon: 'I was a mardy brat in my 20s … I'm quite mellow now'
Blur’s guitarist reflects on the state of pop music, swearing, and why he’s glad he doesn’t have to wear makeup any more
February 2016
Bert Inspired: a Concert for Bert Jansch review – fond renditions and a lot of guitar tuning
Graham Coxon, Bernard Butler and Robert Plant join a diverse, stellar lineup and pay handsome tribute to the guitar hero
January 2016
Music blog
Graham Coxon: Bert Jansch's music is a great gift for everyone
Ahead of two tribute concerts this weekend, Blur’s guitarist remembers the nerve-racking experience of meeting one of Britain’s greatest musicians
October 2015
From Bat For Lashes to David Lynch: 10 years of Loud and Quiet magazine
To celebrate a decade of Loud and Quiet magazine, they’re throwing an exhibition of stellar rock photography. Editor Stuart Stubbs takes us through some of his favourite shots …
July 2015
The G2 interview
Blur: 'We used to take it in turns to punch each other'
Back in Hong Kong, where they recorded their album The Magic Whip, Damon, Graham, Alex and Dave talk about falling out and making up, the state of British pop music and why 90s Britpop was a wasted opportunity
All in the Downs review – a memorable Shirley Collins celebration
An emotional star-studded tribute to a folk legend, with a rare appearance by the singer herself
Are we out of time? Damon Albarn carried off stage following five-hour set
Blur frontman’s show with Africa Express at Roskilde in Denmark lasted until 4am, and was only stopped once ‘Big Dave’ intervened
May 2015
On my radar
On my radar: Thea Gilmore’s cultural highlights
The singer-songwriter on the return of Blur, the loneliness in Edward Hopper’s paintings, BBC TV satire W1A and the inspirational atmosphere of Liverpool
April 2015
Alexis Petridis's album of the week
Blur: The Magic Whip review – friends reunited for a beautiful comeback
Graham Coxon, Olivia Chaney, Alasdair Roberts and others: Shirley Inspired review – starry Shirley Collins tribute
March 2015
Listen up
Graham Coxon: Cruel Mother – hear his musical tribute to Shirley Collins
Graham Coxon on the Blur reunion: ‘Pop doesn’t have to be a fleeting thing’
February 2015
Blur announce The Magic Whip, their first new album for 12 years
Album features full quartet of Albarn, Coxon, Rowntree and James, and fans can celebrate with summer gig in London’s Hyde Park
August 2014
Music blog
What are the best anti-riffs in rock?
BBC Radio 2 listeners have picked their favourite riffs in music, with Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love topping the list. But what of the more unconventional methods of playing?
