March 27, 2015

Lonesome Street by Blur- Song Review

Rating:

Blur's new single Lonesome Street is another hit, not because it's the greatest song of all time, but because it manages to capture the essence of Blur's 90s sound and merge it with new tinges of their album 'The Magic Whip', due out in the middle of this year.

The song begins with a small tune from a keyboard, and launches into Dave Rowntree's signature repetitive drumming- energetic, simple and well, Blur-like. The drumming must be applauded in this song as it forms the baseline of the track. It gives the song a Brit-pop vibe, which will definitely make it different from other songs in the charts these days.

Some say Lonesome Street sounds like a mixture of an early Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett. Indeed this is true. This song could fit right into the early pop tracks, as Damon Albarn sings about "cracks inside the tarmac ride" , "crossing the street" to taking a train to East Grinstead.

Sounding somewhat like a track that could fit right into either "Leisure", "Modern Life is Rubbish" or The Great Escape, this track can fit right in somewhere between "Charmless Man" and "One Born Every Minute". Indeed it could even be a b-side to their earlier 90s albums, because it has the raw energy and touch to the tune.

The only criticism that one can give is that the song sounds slightly repetitive towards the end. Damon Albarn repeats "Lonesome Street" increasingly towards the end, and the lyrics are limited by this phrase. Even so, the song still gives us happy vibes because it does not disappoint.

Again, the release of this track preludes their eagerly awaited album, which should be even bigger, better and will not fail to impress fans.

Check out the lyrics for Lonesome Street and stay tune for more Blur updates, right here on our site.



What would you rate it?


February 20, 2015

Blur announce a new album The Magic Whip in 2015

Blur has officially announced their new album titled "The Magic Whip" to be released on April 27 is available to pre-order from today.

Featuring a distinct Chinese theme, Blur announced their first album as a four-piece in 16 years at a live streamed Facebook event from Chinatown in London.

According to Blur, the recordings began during a five-day break in touring in Spring 2013 at Avon Studios in Hong Kong. Last.  November Graham Coxon revisited the tracks and, drafting in blur's early producer Stephen Street, he worked with the band on the material. Damon Albarn completed the songs by adding his lyrics and thus produced this new album.

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This is fantastic news for Blur fans, as no one expected a new Blur album to be released at such an early date. Previously, the band announced a comeback but had scheduled it for 2016/2017.

The band also announced they will headline British Summer Time Hyde Park on Saturday 20th June 2015. Tickets go on general sale at 9am, Friday 27 February from www.bst-hydepark.com.

The soundtrack for Blur's new 12 song album in 2015 will be:
  1. Lonesome Street
  2. New World Towers
  3. Go Out
  4. Ice Cream Man
  5. Thought I Was a Spaceman
  6. I Broadcast
  7. My Terracotta Heart
  8. There are Too Many of Us
  9. Ghost Ship
  10. Pyongyang
  11. Ong Ong
  12. Mirrorball
Watch the music video for their new single "Go Out" below. 


May 6, 2013

Blur announces plans to record new album 2013

Blur confirms rumours to release a new album 




Blur announces firm plans to record a new album during their Hong Kong concert on May 5th 2013. Not only a new single or a track, but a new album is next up for Blur. 

Yes- it is true , Blur will be recording a new album for release soon and will be starting the recording process this week. We heard it straight from the horse's mouth, live from the Blur covert in Hong Kong's Asia World Expo this evening as Damon announced it to the Hong Kong audience.

"It's a secret" said Damon Albarn before announcing the news to the live audience. The Blur frontman seemed relaxed and excited at the prospects of working with Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree for a new Blur album. 

"We were supposed to play in Japan and Taiwan" he said, "but it was cancelled so we have a week in Hong Kong". 

It looks as if they are planning to use the week to record and plan the new Blur album. Blur plans to tour the city and gain inspiration from the aesthetic views of the city's skyline for new Blur songs. 


blur hong kong 2013, blurhongkong, blur 香港
Blur at Hong Kong - original picture by BlurBalls

This news confirms strong rumours that Blur are recording a new album after their massive 2013 world tour, which brings them to cities such as Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Istanbul and other American,  European and Asian destinations around the world. Check out a full list of tour dates and venues from our site. 

Once again, Blur are definitely recording a new album and going to be releasing new singles , new songs, new Blur B-sides and new albums after their tour. 2014 is looking to be a fruitful year , with many new Blur songs coming your way.

Blur's reunion has been a surprise - a very pleasant surprise for the long time fans and devotees. Perhaps the new Blur album will sound like completely different, unexpected and experimental; or will it be centered around rock and pop ? Who knows.

All we know is that - as Damon Albarn chants : it really really really could (and did) happen. 


Exclusive Blur news from Blurballs.com, live from the Hong Kong gig. new blur single


July 13, 2012

William Orbit leaks his version of new Blur single

Fresh update: William Orbit has posted up his version of Blur's new single 'Under the Westway' for all to listen to. This followed several angry tweets about the band a few weeks ago, where the band and the ex-Blur producer's relationship seem to be on the rocks.

under the westway, blur new single 2012, new blur song
Gigwise reports:

Producer Orbit was working with Blur earlier this year but went his separate ways from Damon Albarn and co. after Tweeting about the secret sessions. It is perhaps ironic (or totally unsurprising?) then that Orbit has shown his indiscretion once more and placed an alternative version to the single on Twitter today.
The version is still recognisable as the song which was premiered via a live online stream earlier this month but features far more electronic production and a less epic, windswept feel.
Speaking to BBC's Steve Lamacq on a show yesterday, Alex James said that the band are on good terms and that they are "not having fist fights anymore". Alex also said that the band's future seems to be going well at the moment, although their future has remained undecided. 

"I've got no idea what happens next, or if it ever happens again," he said. Discussing the way in which he, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree work together, James added that "we click back into it like a family at Christmas."

Currently, Orbit's version of the track is unavailable off Soundcloud. However, many have heard the track and the general review from fans seems to be negative. Perhaps it is the fact that Orbit has publicly made his disappointment (for the band to not choose his track) about Blur's choice, or perhaps it is the auto-tuned vocals which made the song less hymn-like and more "13"/ single like.

Different lyrics, more bouncy chorus, the single is completely changed to a semi-electronic feel. It also has much more heavy sounds than the current version. It is definitely not bad, but the track definitely sounds very different to what the band has released. 

Download the track HERE (Sendspace) and give it a listen. *Note: The file may be unavailable 

Leave a comment below or vote in the poll - do you like this better than the official release, which Damon Albarn decided to self-produced?


Order the new Blur vinyl HERE
The Puritan- new track HERE
Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE
Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE
Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE

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If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

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Stay Tuned, leave us a comment below and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!


July 12, 2012

Blur to release exclusive CD of Under The Westway

Members of the official Blur forum have been petitioning for nearly a week for the band to release their new single via an official CD. After nearly five pages of posts filled with fans' excitement and desire for a potential release, the wish has finally been granted.

Blur and their management has announced that 'Under the Westway' and 'The Puritan' will be released in a CD format for all to buy. The CD will be limited to 5000 copies worldwide and is a Blur store exclusive product.

blurcd, blurpromo, blur under the westway
The new CD Cover promo
Furthermore, the CD will include extra bonus tracks. Yes, you read that right - Blur will be releasing instrumental versions of 'Under the Westway' and 'The Puritan', plus an acoustic version of the leading title track.

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blur 2012, blur under the westway instrumental
It's practically a new Blur EP! 
This new CD will be released on 6th August 2012, in time for the summer Hyde Park live gigs where Blur is leading the London Olympics closing ceremony. Blur released the two new tracks on July 2nd 2012, after performing them live on top of their West London studio, complete with a twitter live video stream. The 7 inch vinyl can also be purchased via the official store.

Click HERE to read the Blur forum thread which led to this rare and exciting development. Blur seems, these days, to be very fan- orientated, which is indeed what people need nowadays.

As it is only available via the Blur store, pre-order your copy of Blur's exclusive new CD (£3.99) by clicking HERE 



Order the new Blur vinyl HERE
The Puritan- new track HERE
Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE
Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE
Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Stay Tuned, leave us a comment below and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!


June 19, 2012

Blur to release single 'The Puritan' on July 2nd 2012

Blur is set to release a new song 'The Puritan' on July 2nd 2012, at exactly 7:15pm.

The Blur official facebook page updated it's cover photo to the lyrics of the new song 'The Puritan' - "The Flash of the blade is one less of getting paid" was the words on the neon-lighted cover of the band's page, which has been filled with cryptic, mysterious messages for the past few days.

A tweet stating the time and date - July 2nd 2012 at 7:15pm, followed the update in cover image.

blurpuritan, blur the puritan, the puritan, damon albarn puritan, flash of the blade is one less getting paid, hey puritan, new blur song, blur lyrics

Coincidentally, the Zane Lowe BBC Radio show also begins at 7:15pm - could this song be debuted on national radio when it's set for release? Zane Lowe has always had the first play on Blur and Damon Albarn's new material (think Gorillaz, the 2008-2009 tracks and more) and this definitely could be the reason for the unusual, specific time.

The single was debuted live a few days ago in a Damon Albarn Dr Dee concert. Listen to what Damon played to live audiences below. It definitely sounds like the old Blur, with traces of tunes from 'Modern Life is Rubbish' and the britpop-era tracks.

Let the countdown begin!



The Puritan- new track HERE
Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE
Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE
Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Stay Tuned, leave us a comment below and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!


Blur to launch surprise treat for fans today!

Something's brewing in the Blur camp, and it's going to reveal itself today! Blur's management, Eleven Management, posted this on their Facebook feed today:

blurmanagement, eleven management, blurnews, blur fans

What could this mean? Some early speculations include Blur announcing a new single or even album, or there's truly more than one new piece of material by the band coming out soon. Damon Albarn recently premiered a new Blur song 'The Puritan' in his recent gigs, albeit it being not complete.

Listen to 'The Puritan' below - could this be another B-side for their track 'Under the Westway' ? Or could it be the start of a new album or a new era of Blur?



Stay tuned for some exciting Blur news later on today.


The Puritan- new track HERE
Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE
Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE
Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Stay Tuned, leave us a comment below and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!


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