Along with grunge, rap, and boy bands, the 90s music scene was notable for the emergence of Britpop. These bands drew on British influences from the 60s and 70s, blended those sounds with elements of American alternative rock, and dressed it all up with distinctly Anglocentric flavor.
Oasis was the most successful of these bands, with Pulp and Suede competing for their scraps along with Blur, today’s featured artist. I guess one-word band names was a thing for these guys.
Blur embarked on a troubled American tour following their debut release, Leisure, and grew increasingly homesick. That led lead singer Damon Albarn to write songs about his native England and lean into the Britpop style and sound. Modern Life is Rubbish was the result.
I’m an occasional fan of this genre, and listened to this album hoping and expecting to like it quite a bit. But I came away rather disappointed. Maybe I haven’t given it enough of a chance, but I just don’t hear the hooks of Oasis, or the charm of The Kinks (a major influence on this record).
Today’s track, the album’s lead-off song and first single, is pretty good. But it’s also as good as this album gets.
He’s a twentieth century boy
With his hands on the rails
Trying not to be sick again
And holding on for tomorrow
London ice cracks on a seamless line
He’s hanging on for dear life
And so we hold each other tightly
And hold on for tomorrow, singing
[Chorus]
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
Holding on for tomorrow (-row-row-row-row)
[Verse 2]
She’s a twentieth century girl
With her hands on the wheel
Trying not to make him sick again
Seeing what she can borrow
London’s so nice back in your seamless rhymes
But we’re lost on the Westway
And so we hold each other tightly
And we can wait until tomorrow, singing
[Chorus]
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
Holding on for tomorrow (-row-row-row-row)
[Verse 3]
We’re trying not to be sick again
And holding on for tomorrow
She’s a twentieth century girl
Holding on for dear life
And so we hold each other tightly
And hold on for tomorrow, singing
[Chorus]
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
La, la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la
Holding on for tomorrow (-row-row)
[Verse 4]
Jim stops and gets out the car
Goes to a house in Emperor’s Gate
Through the door and to his room
Then he puts the TV on
Turns it off and makes some tea
Says, “Modern life, well, it’s rubbish”
I’m holding on for tomorrow (-row-row)
Then Susan comes into the room
She’s a naughty girl with a lovely smile
Says, “Let’s take a drive to Primrose Hill”
It’s windy there and the view’s so nice
London ice can freeze your toes
Like anyone, I suppose you’re
Holding on for tomorrow, oh-ho
Meet Me In Montauk 
Gee- grunge, rap and Britpop…no wonder why I was not a fan of 90’s music.