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9.0
134625
9.0 |
Clash
Closer ‘The Heights’ appears to nod to the faithful, treasuring the connection that exists between band and audience. Tense, manic strings chop away at the languid celebration, presaging a gathering storm of noise that reaches its peak only to be plunged abruptly into silence. No neat resolutions here, folks. Onwards.
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9.0
134650
9.0 |
XS Noize
The Ballad of Darren has impressive material that will add to an already remarkable legacy spanning over three decades
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9.0
134652
9.0 |
Gigwise
Crackling with wit, bristling with hooks
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9.0
134656
9.0 |
The Independent
Songs that elevate Damon Albarn’s suburban tristesse into moments of sheer ecstasy
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9.0
134659
9.0 |
All Music
An album that feels age-appropriate without being stodgy: it's mature and nuanced, cherishing the connections that once were taken for granted but now seem precious
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9.0
134663
9.0 |
Under The Radar
Blur have proven the exception to the tired formula of the heritage rock revival by releasing a brilliant, brave, and perhaps most importantly, truly creative album just when it was least expected
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8.2
134661
8.2 |
Spectrum Culture
A reflective and often somber album that takes the ballad part of its title as a crucial part of the task
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8.0
134664
8.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
The Ballad of Darren marks Blur’s triumphant return
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8.0
134682
8.0 |
The FT
Lyrics explore loss and confusion and guitar textures add musical depth in the band’s latest record
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8.0
134683
8.0 |
The Observer
Comparing it to a surprise baby, late-life Blur’s ninth album finds them on eloquent, emotional form, casting a wistful eye over past glories while pushing forward musically
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8.0
134657
8.0 |
The Guardian
Nostalgic melancholy fills Blur’s ninth studio release, a courageous album that shows the band have something germane to say about getting old
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8.0
134655
8.0 |
Dork
Arriving 32 years since their debut, it’s a perfect mix of past and present – while also proving there’s always going to be a future for an act that always shines brightest when fate brings them back together again
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8.0
134638
8.0 |
God Is In The TV
The two singles possibly pointed towards a different Blur record than the one we have been given, but is this actually the one we should expect? This isn’t 1993 Blur, even if life is rubbish, this is 2023 and we’re all older, a little wiser, a little sadder and maybe less hopeful
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8.0
134626
8.0 |
DIY
Older, wiser and more reflective
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8.0
134627
8.0 |
NME
The band's joyous reunion only gets more emotional with this tear-jerking, soaring epic
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8.0
134628
8.0 |
Record Collector
They’ve peaked again with this one
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8.0
134629
8.0 |
The Quietus
If their late 90s records were marked by the fallout of Britpop and the fallout of relationships, The Ballad Of Darren is marked by this existential contemplation — not quite a breakup or a crisis, but the weight of the changes through the years. It’s a statement of where Blur are now
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8.0
134630
8.0 |
The Skinny
Britpop icons Blur are finally at ease with their middle-aged selves, opening up the possibility of a thrilling third act of their career
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8.0
134632
8.0 |
Uncut
Better than simply a personal or a confessional album, The Ballad of Darren is clever in what it does and doesn't say about its creator's life. Print edition only
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8.0
134633
8.0 |
Mojo
For all these disturbances, this grappling with difficult stuff of life and death, there is lovely, graceful ease to The Ballad Of Darren. This isn't the sound of a band trying to react against their past, or challenge their Britpop audience with US noise, or justify their existence - it's Blur simply showing what they do best. Print edition only
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8.0
134634
8.0 |
musicOMH
The returning four-piece’s ninth album is a captivating sonic journey that offers proof of their ability to blend genres, experiment with sound and deliver thought-provoking moments
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7.5
134700
7.5 |
Paste Magazine
The quartet’s ninth studio album is a diaristic take on the difficulties of being an aging rockstar
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7.2
134660
7.2 |
Sputnik Music (staff)
Much like The Magic Whip, it maintains multiple sonic doors open for a follow-up, whenever it might happen
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7.2
134635
7.2 |
Pitchfork
The Britpop icons contemplate middle-age turbulence and inertia on a meticulously polished reunion album
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7.1
134697
7.1 |
Beats Per Minute
The Ballad of Darren is Dad Rock. Fairly enjoyable Dad Rock, true, and still a record hundreds of bands can only dream of making, but one that would likely fall by the wayside if anyone else had made it
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7.0
134640
7.0 |
Loud And Quiet
A genuine and confident record that could well find a significant place in Blur’s discography
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7.0
134631
7.0 |
Slant Magazine
The album affirms that the band isn’t ready to get comfortable quite yet
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6.0
134639
6.0 |
The Arts Desk
Its power lies in the ruminations of age
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6.0
134651
6.0 |
Northern Transmissions
There are glimmers of good in The Ballad of Darren, however, listening to these new songs makes you yearn for the infectious and boisterous nature of their previous material
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