Blur - 13 (Live Blog)

After a conversation with the NESF a few weeks ago I've decided to live blog the Blur album 13. For those of you that don't already know it is my favorite Blur album, if not my favorite album period. I'm not going to go too much more into it since you're going to be getting a play-by-play. I've also included Youtube clips so that you can listen along if you'd like. Youtube clips suck. You'll have to have the album. You should have it anyways. This is a bit of experiment so I'd love to hear your thoughts. If all goes well it might turn into a regular feature.


Track 1 - Tender

0:20 Alright Blur, if you want to start off slow let's do it.
1:22 Break out the choir!!!
1:50 Yes it is. Yes it is! I feel like I should be in a church pew.
2:15 This guitar rift is hypnotic.
2:57 I really hope they hired an actual baptist choir for this track.
3:50 If I ever meet the girl that did this to Damon I'm not sure if I'd thank her for inspiring such great music or if I'd punch her in the jaw.
4:55 Gotta turn this up.
5:50 This choir is getting more intense by the second.
6:20 We're all waiting
6:40 The harmony is perfect.
7:12 I don't want this to ever end.

Track 2 - Bugman
0:01 I don't know if I should turn it down a bit or crank it up.
0:10 Okay I've got to blast this, we're kickin' it up into overdrive.
0:31 We've traded the choir for rockin' distorted guitars.
1:06 Catchy "na na na"s.
1:24 Who or what is Bugman?!?!
1:54 This is turning into a jam track. Lots of drive but no definitive path.
2:40 Oh, I will.
3:23 Great fade out return.
3:50 Toning back the distortion. Great guitar work.
4:11 Hold up! How'd we end up in outer space?
4:25 You know what, I don't care, I'm just glad I'm here.

Track 3 - Coffee and TV
0:14 This is the closest thing to the Brit Pop roots so far.
1:12 Not blowing me away like the first two tracks, but still very solid. Anyways I need a break.
1:47 Definitely radio friendly single material
2:16 I could use some coffee myself.
2:50 Great line: "agree to marry me so we can start over again".
3:47 Very light hearted music for such depressing vocals. Works well.
4:52 I guess blur gave up on 3 minutes tracks. It's for the best.
5:23 Organ outro FTW

Track 4 - Swamp Song
0:06 Is that water or aliens?
0:11 Definitely aliens.
0:20 Okay, this is going to get real good real quick.
0:40 Bringing it out of the background.
0:46 Space brain?
1:10 Faint back vocals are creepy, in a good way.
1:35 Perfect song for prefunkin' on a Saturday night!
2:32 Distortion is back. Did it ever leave? I can't remember.
2:57 Desperate pleas to the world.
3:21 "Stick it in my veins!" If I could, I would.
3:43 "La la" screaming. This isn't your fathers pop music.
3:53 Maniacal laughter. Fits perfectly but I have to question whether someone is being tortured.
4:21 Classic trail off.

Track 5 - 1992
0:13 Time to chill out again.
0:36 I'd punch her.
0:59 Very haunting.
1:07 Now even more so.
1:40 Very minimal sound but extremely effective.
2:10 Good use of the "wah".
2:36 Love the whistle.
3:05 It's like being dragged into a black hole full of bees.
3:20 Pulling the vocals back and the wah forward - clutch.
4:30 Crashing and spiraling.
4:45 It's starting to break apart.
5:17 This track should really be listened to alone. Just let it absorb you before it seeps into your pores.

Track 6 - B.L.U.R.E.M.I
0:04 Do do do do do...
0:19 YAY!
0:32 Great beat.
0:46 Duck voice!
1:01 Reminiscent of "Chinese Bombs" or "Bank Holiday".
1:18 Are we on Sesame Street?
1:40 Doesn't matter, it's all in good fun.
1:55 !!!
2:06 Why E M I?
2:15 Dropped back into another killer outro. Nice let down.

Track 7 - Battle
0:10 I think we've left Sesame Street and are back in outer space.
0:40 Imagine being lost in nothingness with only a space suit.
1:35 If you've even been in a relationship that all you do is fight you'll understand - this is the moment you gave up.
2:20 Nice add of grunge.
3:06 Everything is going wrong in space. I can see the metallic debris.
3:24 BATTLE! Love the accent.
3:58 Mellowed out, but no sign of stopping.
4:22 Did we just lose our deflector shields?
5:18 We most certainly did. Nothings protecting us for the echo.
5:52 Can't tell if I'm floating away or if I just spontaneously combusted.
6:09 Screeching bliss, another side effect of the missing shields.
6:35 Cue the organ for the wrap up.
6:42 This must be the rescue anthem.
7:30 Genius. Pure genius.

Track 8 - Mellow Song
0:22 Living up to the title. Seems more orthodox than the last few tracks.
0:41 Guitar and vocals, that's it. Maybe the band didn't make it?
1:08 Add in some kind of flute? Perhaps it was found in the Battle. Perhaps not.
2:00 There's the rest of the band. Glad they were left behind.
2:05 Complete with space flute!
2:27 Is that a xylophone? Sure, why not.
2:33 Zoning out a bit, still very mellow.
3:12 I want one of those flutes.

Track 9 - Trailerpark
0:24 Down tempo dance thing, I could get to this.
0:30 Always love a good freestyle.
0:47 Bob your head.
0:56 Sorry bro, that sucks.
1:09 Drop the beat.
1:32 Pick it up.
1:57 You want to know where the Gorillaz came from? Listen to this.
2:42 I could listen to this for hours.
3:20 Drop it again.
3:51 Bring it back car chase style! YAY!!!

Track 10 - Caramel
0:16 We're lost in space - again.
0:47 Disoriented
1:51 Great back chanting.
2:20 RIP Brit Pop
2:34 Right here.
3:00 Simple and eerie.
3:09 Get in there cymbals.
3:52 Picking up.
4:02 Quickly.
4:22 Time no longer hold sway here.
5:10 Okay I wouldn't hit her.
5:36 Beautiful.
6:22 WOW!
6:40 Strolling through the wreckage.
7:04 Actual cars! Red line that shit!

Track 11 - Trimm Trabb
0:08 Is that her address?
0:30 I'm going there.
0:42 You got more style that you know what to do with.
1:15 I don't know what Trimm Trabb is but right now I feel like I have it too.
1:30 We all do from time to time. Some more than others.
1:55 This beat is addictive.
2:03 Flash boys? Who are they?
2:11 I don't want to go back.
2:31 Okay so I'll hit her, but only once.
2:54 Turn it up a notch.
3:26 Perfect vocal effects.
3:30 Back to a sort of normalcy.
4:10 Best track so far.
4:35 It's clambering onto itself.
4:52 The sounds are attacking each other.
5:10 So massive it's collapsed upon itself much like a black hole. Apparently we haven't made it back into the atmosphere yet.
5:20 Nice mumbles.

Track 12 - No Distance Left to Run
0:07 Good. I needed something a bit more mellow.
0:39 I feel like I just broke up with someone.
1:06 Slight snare and cymbal. It's all we need with this guitar.
1:31 The chorus is dragging me into an abyss.
2:20 Beautiful lyrics. Painful eloquence.
2:49 Perfect vocal pitch. The agony.
3:15 Speechless.

Track 13 - Optigan 1
0:05 We're back in space again, but it seems like we're about to land.
0:43 Very soothing instrumental. Like coming down from the best day of your life. If heroin was like this everyone would be a junky.
1:48 The sounds ebb and flow like a calm cerulean sea.
2:20 And with that it's over. Master piece.

Like I said, hit me up in the comments and let me know what you think of the format. I actually enjoyed the project so I'm definitely going to do it again. Mostly I'd like to know what you liked and didn't like so I can fine tune the process. Next up: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

"Nothing to be scared of"...I wish that were true

With all the gyms out there, why can't we hook generators up to the stationary bikes and such and use those to produce energy? In order to cut down on the energy used in the gym itself ban treadmills and other unnecessary energy consuming equipment. Just turn them into human powered energy facilities. We could make the facilities free to use to encourage more people to participate. Help solve the energy crisis while also making it easier for the population to stay in shape at no cost, hence lowering our health care cost. I guess I just don't want to have to pay to go to a gym...


It's all about wood carving. I've decided that the ultimate goal is to carve a four character totem. However that is a bit extreme to start off with so I'm developing a plan of attack. Probably start with a small wood carving, like a little orca or maybe some sort of mask. Then move onto to a single character. And if all goes well then onto a bigger piece. However I'm already ahead of myself. First things first, I need a nice set of carving tools...


The situation in Arizona is deeply concerning. The idea that ANYONE could be stopped on the street and asked for proof of citizenship is a little scary. There are many examples in history of people repeating the mistakes of the past and this is beginning to sound a lot like 1930's Germany. I have to hope that the judicial system steps in to overturn this atrocious law. If they don't I afraid what will happen next...

I can't get enough of this track...

If only it really existed

The future's been sold

I know I just posted a Blur video, but this one is too perfect to pass up...

We're all gonna die out here

This town is so hot. They're saying that we could break the overall high temperature ever recorded. It's horrid. Last night in an effort to find ways to keep the house cool I shaded out all the windows and pried open the windows in the living room. I'd really love to kick the person that painted all the windows shut...

I really need to make a list of all the things I have left to do for the festival. I feel like something major is being over looked, but I usually feel that way it seems...

I can't get enough Blur. There are two things that I listen to when the mercury rises: blur and outkast. Nothing better...

I like the President's style. Like this whole nonsense between Gates and Crowley. So on Thursday both men will be joining the President in the White House for a meeting "about having a beer and de-escalation." This is great. If I had beef with someone thats how I'd go about solving it. Nice work Obama, but it does make me wonder...What kind of beer will they drink? Do they have a tap system in the White House or is it going to be served from bottles? Could the President make the mistake of serving macro brewed swill and only inflame the situation more? Hopefully we'll learn the answers to these questions and many more in time...

I sleep alone

I am the ex-offender

Strange dream last night. I don't remember much. In the beginning I was at home. The neighbors across the street had switched houses, no explanation why. Fast forward and I was in White Center at an old friends house, but he was no where to be found. There were a lot of people there and I didn't know any of them. I sneaked out to run to the convenience store and ran into an old girl friend. Her hair was long and curly. She was with a group of guys that appeared to have gang affiliations. Her face was withered and appeared as though she hadn't slept in days. It was sad and beautiful at the same time...

They let me out in the summer...

I really need to take some initiative on getting the yard ready for the festival. It's a month away now and I still have to build a table. Last night we also worked up a plan for an outdoor bar of sorts. It should be pretty sweet when its done. I'm also getting close on the Tiki stand. I should stop and buy some wicks tonight...

I think I was in a coma...

BLUR! The NESF reminded me of their greatness last night. Now I can't get enough. If there were ever two songs that described me very well I think that they would be Bugman and Trimm Trabb. Kind of a strange contrast, but I guess I am too...

I didn't know what to do...

Quote of the Day: fucked up is not an excuse to piss in the fish tank...

"Twitter slandering"

I just got tickets to see Handsome Furs a week from Friday at Neumos. Should be a good time. I'm anxious to get back out there and feel like a part of the scene again. That's just the beginning though. I also snapped up tickets to see Deerhunter at the Capitol Hill Block Party. I am going to be counting down the days...

I'd like to share some words of wisdom from P.:

dont support puppy mills
outing people on the online
facebook divorces'n shit
twitter slandering

The theoretical existence of naked singularities is important because their existence would mean that it would be possible to observe the collapse of an object to infinite density.

never go to bed without a piece of raw meat

if you do go on the price is right you should tell drew carry to perk up a bit, then thank him for soccer in seattle

He mentions another thing in the end there. I think that I'm going to go on the Price is Right with my dad. It would be AWESOME!!! Maybe I'll win a trip to Europe or a new car. Even if I don't I'm sure it will be fun, I just need to figure out what else we should do in So Cal...

I'm trying not to be disruptive at work. Its difficult since on of the people I'm talking to is making me laugh hysterically. I tried to suppress the outburst and the laughter came as tears...

Today is a blur kind of day...