Blur Caption Contest 2

It's Friday night, and the Blur world has been quite quiet. Nothing much really happened this week in terms of music. A couple of disappointing award shows where we didn't win anything, and a nice little NME article with Graham and Damon in it.

So...now it's time for another BLURBLOG CAPTION CONTEST! 

Thanks to my friend Tracy Jack Albarn for the picture. This is your challenge for this week. It's pretty easy to think of something creative, interesting or downright dumb for this picture... just looking at this shot makes me laugh out loud!

Finally, thanks to all that left a comment on the first ever BlurBlog Caption Contest (click to see). The picture was actually taken in Israel during a tour there a while ago. 

The winner is TheJollyDummkopf  who posted the caption "I'm Alex, the smug one from Blur!" with inspiration from No Distance Left to Run! Thank you so much for participating and I hope you keep reading and enjoying this blog. It's readers like you that keeps me going!

You get a Blur badge as a token of thanks.

I'm also going to add a page to this blog that features all the caption contests with the winning caption displayed, just so that there's more to this little blog and for everyone to have a little laugh. 


Please leave a caption idea for this new picture and keep reading, commenting and Blurrin'

Blur on NME this week (Feb 21)

Really short post. Just a heads up on Blur on magazines again.
This week's NME features an exclusive interview with Graham Coxon on Blur’s plans for the year, and some odd new ventures of his own...

And if anyone cares, the entire list is: 

25) Brett Anderson
24) Matt Bellamy
23) Nick Cave
22) Joey Ramone
21) Ian Curtis
20) Karen O
19) Damon Albarn
18 Jack White
17) Lux Interior
16) Bobby Gillespie
15) Marc Bolan
14) Joe Strummer
13) Jarvis Cocker
12) Mark E Smith
11) Jim Morrison
10) Kurt Cobain
9) Shaun Ryder
8 Patti Smith
7) Liam Gallagher
6) Freddie Mercury
5) Morrissey
4) Debbie Harry
3) John Lydon
2) Jimi Hendrix
1) Iggy Pop


Buy NME!  

Phish frontman Trey Anastasio covers Clint Eastwood

After stumbling on the Gorillaz Unofficial forum and reading some posts, I came across a thread that is about Phish frontman Trey Anastasio covers Clint Eastwood from Gorillaz in his concert.

Phish'ing

Not knowing anything about Phish, I did a little search and found out that:

a) They're an American Rock band that broke up and reunited in 2009, and
b) According to Urban Dictionary...

Phish can destroy your phavorite band on stage. 

Phish comprised of phour incredibly talented muscicians

Phish sucks, you say? Phuck you!  

Oh the joys of Urban Dictionary and it's little writers. Here's the Gorillaz cover that frontman/ lead vocalist Trey Anastasio did: 

I like this cover - it's funny. The singer has a really high pitched voice, which is totally different from Damon's deep croon. The song sort of gets higher and higher... which is interesting. It feels like a James Blunt song, but I did enjoy it when the girl sang Del's part.

What do you think of this cover? Any comments?

Blur demo tape on eBay - who's got cash?

BLUR FIRST DEMO TAPE SEYMOUR SONGS SENT TO JB"S DUDLEY

THE NEXT TAPE IS ONE FROM A COLLECTION OF A LOCAL CLUB DJ......HE WORKED AT JB"S IN DUDLEY FOR MANY YEARS AND HE HAS THOUSANDS OF TAPES... THESE ARE ALL COMING MY WAY AND I WILL BE LISTING THEM OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS/MONTHS....., HE ACQUIRED MANY RARE DEMO"S, WHICH WERE SENT TO THE CLUB FOR MANY YEARS.... THE TAPES ARE ALL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION HAVING BEEN STORED AWAY FOR MANY YEARS... ,

THIS AUCTION CONSISTS OF ONE OF MY RARE DEMO TAPES ...... BLUR ....... 3 TRACKS , SHES SO HIGH, US, AND FOOL........ TWO OF THE TRACKS APPEAR IN EXACTLY THE SAME VERSIONS AS THE SEYMOUR [PRE BLUR] TAPE..... THE LAST TRACK "US" DOESNT SEEM TO APPEAR ON ANY OTHER RECORDING..... BUT I EMPHASISE, THAT THIS POSSIBLY UNIQUE DEMO TAPE SENT TO THE LEGENDARY JB"s CLUB IN DUDLEY, BY BLUR IN THEIR EARLIEST DAYS, CONTAINS THREE TRACKS IN VERSIONS NEVER RELEASED, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL TAPE AS SENT BY THE BAND, AND NO COPIES HAVE OR WILL BE MADE...... BEST OF LUCK......


I want this tape! It should be genuine as JBs used to go to the Blur studio regularly. Plus look at that NEW SONG "Us"! Apparently it's a never released song that is recorded during the making of Leisure. Oh god! Really pleased if the winner of the bid shares the song "Us"! Then we'll have a new Blur song released to the public!


Previously the new Blur song "Superman" was leaked online from a man who recorded an early gig where it was performed. Listen to Superman on my youtube channel here.

Bid here! 

(Thanks caitlin from the forums)

  

Site Competition: Blur Caption Contest !

Friday afternoon. Library. Work. Procrastinating. BLURBLOG CAPTION CONTEST!

Anyways here's a new thing for the Blog - every Friday afternoon I will post up a picture relating to Blur/Gorillaz and you guys got to make up a caption to go along with it.  Think of the best, wittiest, funniest caption for the picture and submit it in the Comments section at the bottom of the post.

The winner will be selected based on originality and of course creativity. Feel free to leave votes and comments about the captions!

Thought I'd post my current favourite Blur picture.

Blur for thought... Anyone know who that 5th guy is? Any guesses where this picture was taken ? What are all the boys looking at ? Why is Alex shirtless?

Leave a comment and caption below!

Winners announced every week. Stay tuned.

Blur are back in the studio and recording new material - Feb 2011

Exciting news for you all.

Graham Coxon has explained that Blur are currently jamming in the studio regularly and is very likely to record new material in the year 2011. Earlier this month the guitarist revealed that Blur were reconvening and could "switch a tape recorder on, and even tweeted about Blur meet-ups with the boys. 

Now he has told NME Magazine about the recording process. Graham explained that the meet-up was one of many the band regularly undertake (a bonding thing!) and was not really for any specific new release. 

"Every now and then we like to meet up and record a few things," he said. "We just do stuff when we feel like it."

Graham - bringer of good news

He added that the band will "definitely" continue to meet up and play music together in this way, but fans shouldn't hold out for new music being released anytime soon. 

Also, as usual, Graham cracked a line to tease us fans. 

"I suppose it might turn into an LP in six years or something," he said. "Meeting up every now and then… maybe turning the tape recorder on and jamming around a few ideas."

Coxon said that even though Blur hasn't planned any releases yet, he had two solo albums to be released in mind. He also mentioned that these are probably going to be the last 2 solo albums released and that they're more "youth" sounding. 


One of the album is also called "A&E"... I wonder what that stands for ? 

Graham met up with the Boys for sugary tea, coffee and TV )

He's also releasing 'Desire', a collaboration song with Paloma Faith and The Coral's ex-guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones, for the promotional music campaign for shoe company Converse in April 2011. 

Exciting times! I am positive we will hear something from Blur in 2011. Perhaps a surprise single or even a complete album will spring up, but one thing's for sure: Blur are back, older, wiser, better and with much more surprises in line.

Who knows what will happen? 

Read the full article on NME and check out my early coverage of this speculation-turned-truth. 

What's your reaction to this piece of news? Mine's:

Blur and Gorillaz lose out on Grammy Awards 2011

Previously, I wrote about how Blur and Gorillaz were nominated for 3 awards in the Grammys 2011. Some awards were handed out yesterday afternoon. Sadly both bands did not pick up a trophy. 


...and the winners were:


When You're Strange: A Film About the Doors (Best Long Form Music Video)

Bad Romance – Lady Gaga (Best Short Form Music Video)

Nessun Dorma -- Jeff Beck (Best Pop Instrumental Performance)

Blur's "No Distance Left to Run" was nominated for the same category but lost out to The Door's film "When You're Strange". 


As much as I love The Doors, it's a pity indeed that they robbed Blur of its nomination.

60s Rock Band The Doors

I've included links in the post to the winners' work. Feel free to leave a comment on what you think of the pieces. Personally I really think Jeff Beck's instrumental is nothing compared to Gorillaz's. It does not have flair, and sounds like an orchestral piece rather than a "pop" performance.

Gorillaz screams "Pop" in their sound, artwork and just everything!


Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/List+2011+Grammy+winners+nominees+updated+evening/4268723/story.html#ixzz1DtTyYZ8N

Blur and Gorillaz - nominated for Grammy Awards 2011

I'm watching the Grammy Awards Clive Davis Party live online. Still a day before the real awards. Both Blur and Gorillaz were nominated this year, and it's the FIRST TIME Blur's ever received a Grammy Award. Ironic isn't it, how it's been years since they made any album and it's still the first time ever that they got nominated. 

Blur's documentary No Distance Left To Run was nominated for Best Long Form Music Video. 

Best Long Form Music Video

• 1. NO DISTANCE LEFT TO RUN -  Blur
• 2. WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE - The Doors
• 3. THE GREATEST EARS IN TOWN: THE ARIF MARDIN STORY -  Arif Mardin
• 4. RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE - Rush
• 5. UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS - The White Stripes

Gorillaz's were nominated for 2 awards:

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

• "Flow" -- Laurie Anderson
• "Nessun Dorma" -- Jeff Beck
• "No Mystery" -- Stanley Clarke
• "Orchestral Intro" -- Gorillaz
• "Sleepwalk" -- The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Best Short Form Music Video

• Johnny Cash – "Ain't No Grave / The Johnny Cash Project"
• Eminem and Rihanna – "Love the Way You Lie"
• Gorillaz, Mos Def and Bobby Womack– "Stylo"
• Cee Lo Green – "Fuck You!"
• Lady Gaga – "Bad Romance"

Bruce Willis in Stylo

Lets see if Gorillaz or Blur notches up an award! Keep checking this site for updates!   

Damon Albarn to sing with Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg's official site confirms that Gorillaz will feature on his new album "Doggumentary", due to be released on March 29th. The album art was unveiled a few days ago to fans. 

Guests on the album include Kanye, E-40, Gorillaz, R.Kelly, Wiz Khalifa, Jeezy, T-Pain and more. Below is the tracklist for Doggumentary.

01. Toys In The Hood (feat. Bootsy Collins) /Produced by Jake One

02. My Own Way /Produced by Denaun Porter

03. Eyes Closed (feat. Kanye West & John Legend) /Produced by Kanye West

04. Something Like This (feat. Gorillaz) /Produced by Gorillaz

05. Take You Home (feat. Too Short, Kokane & Daz Dillinger) /Produced by Meech Wells

06. El Jay (feat. Marty James) /Produced by Scoop Deville

07. Cold Game (feat. LaToya Williams) /Produced by Rick Rude

08. Don't It Feel Good (feat. Ne-Yo) /Produced by David Banner

09. Dirty Dancer (feat. Trey Songz) /Produced by Trylogy

10. Superman (feat. Willie Nelson) /Produced by Willie Nelson's Band

11. Raised In The Hood /Produced by Warren Campbell

12. Choose /Produced by Black Mob

13. This Weed Is Mine (feat. Wiz Khalifa) /Produced by Scoop Deville

14. Gangbang Rookie (feat. Pilot) /Produced by J-Kwon

15. New Year's Eve (feat. Marty James) /Produced by Scoop Deville

16. Wet /Produced by The Cataracs

Click here to check out Snoop Dogg's official website with the good news.

I'm glad - this means we will get to hear Damon sing again. One more of his fantastic collaborations with different bands can be added to our Blur collection!

Seeing as Snoop Dogg sang in Plastic Beach (Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach, watch below), I wonder if Damon will even tour with him in 2011 ?




Guys, 2011 seems very promising so far. Damon's back on track, Gorillaz is not splitting up (yet), Graham, Dave and Alex seems optimistic and open about Blur doing some more tracks and jamming together and don't forget Damon's new opera and Graham's film soundtrack!

Oh, and don't forget, Alex James is hosting a music festival and Dave's running for politics again.

Now if only Jamie and Damon can just get along.... then we might even get to hear those Gorillaz B-sides that they never released.

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Alex James on the possible Blur reunion

Blur bassist Alex James has refused to talk about rumours that the band are recording new material.

Last month, Blur's drummer Dave Rowntree told Gigwise the band would “definitely” do something together again in 2011.

The band were planning to reunite and gather in the studio together again at the end of January and into February. 

But when asked about the speculation, James told BBC Newsbeat: "Musician makes record, that's not news, but musician makes cheese and puts on festival that's news.

"Nothing to report from Blur, we're mates and we always will be. We'll always get together now and again."
 
James added that he was currently concentrating on his forthcoming musical festival, Harvest, which will take place at his home in Oxfordshire in September.

"Would Blur play? You should ask them. One day. Who knows? Could be good," he said. 

Just a little update on what's going on in the Blur world... Alex's keeping it positive and Dave and Graham have tweeted and facebook'd about this. All up to Damon now!

Read the original article: Gigwise