Damon Albarn vs Bernard Sumner

I remember in Time Out magazine, at the end of 98, mention of a rift between that t*t Albarn ("Sumner's lyrics are shit") and our Barney ("He's a cockney w*nker who isn't even a cockney" ).

As DA makes my toes curl, I would be interested in reading more. Anyone got anything?

PS note to DA:

(clears throat)

"He lives in a house A very big house In the country He's got a lot on his chest So he needs a lot of rest in the country"

REAL deep

I hadn't heard about this. Damon Albarn is a cock. Blur are/sorry WERE shite

Nothing compares to Barney...less Albarn

marcus mee wrote: a rift between that t*t Albarn ("Sumner's lyrics are shit") and our Barney ("He's a cockney w*nker who isn't even a cockney" ).

To be fair, he wasn't lying though was he?

Depends what you call sh*t. And judging by the fanbase NO have, I think it's fair to say that ol' Barney's lyrics work well within the contexts of his band's songs. True Faith, 1963 and Flicker are all quite lyrically intense, but more simple stuff like Mr Disco, and even Temptation work because it just..fits. And it's not kn*bby like THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE QUEEN.

Oh, sorry that's not the band name, is it? Because the concept is there is no band name. How clever! Almost as clever as the gimmick of a "virtual band".

Tube (Albarn, that is)

Give me a break. Damon Albarn is extremely talented. Gorillaz, TGTB&TQ and Blur are amazing bodies of work. I love the Demon Days album.

I don't particularly care for so-called quarrels between talents, wherever you see it printed. The Oasis vs. Blur thing years ago was lame. You all already know NME is an incredible piece of bullshit rag anyway, and I wouldn't put any credibility in the other pieces of UK music press I've seen, honestly. Both Bernard and Damon are talents, so this 'versus' thing is pretty pathetic.

Demon Days was ok, never bothered with with TGTB&TQ. But the idea of restarting Blur has got to be a joke? If Blur were one thing it was that they were very much a product of their time.

One come back i think will fall short of expectation.

all of this is just a blur to me.....

marcus mee wrote: "He lives in a house A very big house In the country He's got a lot on his chest So he needs a lot of rest in the country"

REAL deep

Not his finst hour, I'll agree, but there was a lot more to Blur than Country House, very much of their time in many ways, but creative and interesting enough to reinvent themselves on more than one occasion and while they might not have been groundbreakingly ahead of their time, both Blur and 13 did predate trends in British mainstream-alternative (?) music... Gorillaz and TGTB&TQ But Modern Life Is Rubbish is one of the best albums of the 90s for me... And Graham Coxon is a legend...

Snorri xxx

Snorrimon wrote:

marcus mee wrote: "He lives in a house A very big house In the country He's got a lot on his chest So he needs a lot of rest in the country"

REAL deep

Not his finst hour, I'll agree, but there was a lot more to Blur than Country House, very much of their time in many ways, but creative and interesting enough to reinvent themselves on more than one occasion and while they might not have been groundbreakingly ahead of their time, both Blur and 13 did predate trends in British mainstream-alternative (?) music... Gorillaz and TGTB&TQ But Modern Life Is Rubbish is one of the best albums of the 90s for me... And Graham Coxon is a legend... :smoke:

Snorri xxx

Hmmm, not sure there is much more to Blur than this kind of lightweight stuff, really. To be fair there are a few good songs scattered through their back catalogue (The universal, This is a Low, She's so high, Sing) but there's much more dross (Almost the whole of Blur's Cunt-ry House, 50% of parklife, and the earlier albums only have a hndful of standouts)...

And Coxon really is the most annoying, over-rated, affected twat to walk a stage...

The Gallaghers might be swaggering boasters but at least they're funny. I reckon Albarn would give his eye teeth (whatever they are) to have had the adulation that Oasis had in around 95-96. Obviously Oasis are really poor now, but for a couple of years they ruled British music

Hmm, agree to disagree methinks...

Snorri xxx

Snorrimon wrote: Hmm, agree to disagree methinks...

Snorri xxx

Ha ha... fair enough. Isn't it good how divisive opinions about music can be though? I love being out with mates and someone bangs on about a great new album by (insert name) and then gets the shit ripped out of them for poor taste, which is of course subjective.

Peace

Absolutely - I'm not really into the 'dancier' end of the spectrum myself - more of a (jangly) guitar man at heart - Blur just happened to be something which was part of growing up and exploring music (Modern Life...), which happened to grow with me... So much from that same period lies abandoned (and quite rightly ridiculed) far behind... NO were exactly the same for me - something from a moment in time that clicked, but which kept on clicking every time I heard something new (or old) by them...

Snorri xxx

Snorrimon wrote: Absolutely - I'm not really into the 'dancier' end of the spectrum myself - more of a (jangly) guitar man at heart - Blur just happened to be something which was part of growing up and exploring music (Modern Life...), which happened to grow with me... So much from that same period lies abandoned (and quite rightly ridiculed) far behind... NO were exactly the same for me - something from a moment in time that clicked, but which kept on clicking every time I heard something new (or old) by them...

Snorri xxx

Stuff left behind where it should be might include Elastica, Echobelly, Sleeper, Menswear, Corduroy IMHO... Oh yeah, Northside, the Inspirals...

I wish that that whole Blur v Oasis thing could be left behind in that slow news week in 1995 because they weren't really comparable bands. Blur were definitely from more of an Art-rock bias, whereas Oasis always seemed to be going for balls out rock with little subltety in either music or lyrics...

For me it isn't really down to who is "better" because in music that is such a meaningless term, but who seemed to capture the mood of the nation more and that seems to have been the Gallagher brothers... 250,000 people at Knebworth. Bet Albarn and Coxon were sick...

Eric Wang wrote: Give me a break. Damon Albarn is extremely talented. Gorillaz, TGTB&TQ and Blur are amazing bodies of work. I love the Demon Days album.

I don't particularly care for so-called quarrels between talents, wherever you see it printed. The Oasis vs. Blur thing years ago was lame. You all already know NME is an incredible piece of bullshit rag anyway, and I wouldn't put any credibility in the other pieces of UK music press I've seen, honestly. Both Bernard and Damon are talents, so this 'versus' thing is pretty pathetic.

Didn't actually question his talent, although he is nowhere near as talented as he thinks he is, but I was just interested in reading the rest of these interviews. As a matter of fact, the reason he gets on my nerves is because he is self-obsessed prat. my favorite example was the NME tribute to John Peel, when he turned up on stage gurning and grinning and posing whilst talking about the great man.

I think we can all agree that Albarn is a twat, whether you like his music or not

Actually Mr Allbran is right, Barny's lyrics are sometimes a bit cack. But I always feel bafffled when critics go on about lyrics (e.g. when praising Arctic Monkeys, a band I still refuse to listen to solely because of their crap name. Or when worthy-but-dull US-college-student-fave Elvis Costello slagged off REM's lyrics - who f***ing cares?)

If I wanted _words_ I'd read a f***ing book. Gimme Charles Dickens, not...er...Bernard Dickens.

Anyway I've always found blur really dull, like most Britpop, without even the easy-listening charm of the equally pedestrian Oasis. Gorillaz aren't too bad though.

Both are genius twats.

NO Regret wrote: Both are genius twats.

In what way is Albarn a genius? Certainly not in the same category as BS. Don't remember any of his bands creating a genre of music of their own. I'm not dissing you if you like Blur, but do people really think he's a genius? Is it just me?

And he supports Chelsea

404 error wrote: Arctic Monkeys, a band I still refuse to listen to solely because of their crap name.

now THERE'S a good reason to not listen to a band

"It's beggar's belief you're accusing Albarn being self-satisifed when there's no bigger gobshite in that category than a certain Mr N. Gallagher."

?

I never said Noel Gallagher wasn't. I think people need to actually read the initial topic. I'm not bothered if anyone agrees with me about Albarn being a kn*b- noone's going to change my mind.

Only End of a Century really ever did anything for me, although i was 18 in the summer of `95 and just finished A-Levels so some happy nights out memories of the Blur stuff. I thought Albarn was a bit of a helmet when he said that, but each to their own.

Bet Barney would have flattened the streak of piss in a fight though

ally wrote:

marcus mee wrote: I never said Noel Gallagher wasn't. I think people need to actually read the initial topic. I'm not bothered if anyone agrees with me about Albarn being a kn*b- noone's going to change my mind.

I got your point.

I just think you're running it into the ground and there are bigger gobshites out there than Albarn (Gallagher is the king).

The quotes from Select - I remember them too - sound incredibly er, selective which was my point. The muso press love inventing these little fueds on slow news days.

For instance, Barney supposedly "attacked" Monaco in 1998 but the whole thing turned out to be a really bad misquote and there was zero animosity between both camps. NME are particularly guilty of these fabricated fued storys (see the latest "Hook attacks Control" article).

I actually prefer NG, but I think we'd best leave that for another thread.

I remember that Monaco, reading it whilst walking down the street, it was supposedly showing a new low in NO's relationship...quotes amounted to "erm...Monaco sound a bit like me". Fierce!

"I got my head checked By a jumbo jet It wasn't easy But nothing is no?"

Terrible! And it's the biggest hit from them too!

marcus mee wrote:

NO Regret wrote: Both are genius twats.

In what way is Albarn a genius? Certainly not in the same category as BS. Don't remember any of his bands creating a genre of music of their own. I'm not dissing you if you like Blur, but do people really think he's a genius? Is it just me?

Ive seen Blur twice live and they were very good. I definately think they were of a time but at the time 92-96 I loved them. They went downhill with The Great Escape album and from then on, until Think Tank which I thought had some excellent tracks. I also love some of the Gorillaz stuff but not heard any of The Good The Bad and The Cook (or whatever theyre called).

I use to like Blur more than Oasis, then Oasis more and then wasnt bothered by any (post 1986). But any song with Cunt in the title, that gets to number one is no excuse for liking Blur.

I think Albarn is a genius because he captured a time with the blur music about drinking, surburban everyday life, holidays, etc. But then has gone onto to do other bodies of work which are also quality and that he;s had the longivity that other Brit Pop misfits and such havent.

Ok, he can be a knob (but name me one artist who hasnt been?) but he sure can write some good little songs.

El Jarvo wrote:

NO Regret wrote:

marcus mee wrote:

NO Regret wrote: Both are genius twats.

In what way is Albarn a genius? Certainly not in the same category as BS. Don't remember any of his bands creating a genre of music of their own. I'm not dissing you if you like Blur, but do people really think he's a genius? Is it just me?

Ive seen Blur twice live and they were very good.

I saw Blur two nights running at Xmas 2003.

Then me and my ex-wife split the following week.

Coincidence? I think not.

It wasnt anything to do with badly purchased Christmas presents then?

Well, Hooky (in his latest blog), doesn't seem to have anything against Damon - he says that he recently went to the Gorilaz (sp?) gig - seems to have lots of praise for Damon.

For those who DO like Damon or Gorillaz, you may be interested in this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/imagine/episode/damon\_and\_jamie.shtml

Gotta say i do quite like albarn even though he did seem like a bit of a tit in the blur days. I think he always comes across well in interviews these days though and deserves respect for the gorillaz stuff!

Wankers! hate blur but hate oasis even more,both hyped up drivel! Was billed as battle of the "britpop" bands,motre like shitpop!

I can't fookin' stand Albarn,heads too far up his arse,pretentious prick.

To quote our Barn','Bow down to the tune.The tune is god'. So fook the lyrics!

Now & again tho',they do get a bit crap:\ohwell:

i couldnt quite underrstand the fascinations people have for blur and that idiot albarn, i have never liked blur or that albarn geezer, and i dont think i will ever

Albarn is a twat. Full stop.

Was reading a book by an ex journalist recently about the grunge era where he said Nevermind was the most important alternative album ever

And that New Order were goffs.

Damon Albarn comes across to me as a more pretentious version of Sting. Sting can at least laugh at himself, Albarn seems a bit humourless and incapable of laughing at himself, though I could be wrong. I thought Noel Gallagher's assessment of him in the Britpop documentary film "Live Forever" was both funny and probably accurate, especially the bit about Albarn's views about American culture's effect on Britain. Blur were a bit shit apart from some good singles, "Coffee and TV" was a great song, the guitars are a bit New Order meet Fugazi to me. Gorillaz are good too.

I'd be very surprised if Barney could scrap. He looks like a slow pudding.

I'd back Daymo.

I remember somebody from Blur reviewed joy division's Permanent in NME and gave it 10/10 and said they were the greatest band of all time.

Probably just typical stupid overblown and misleading crap from the music press.

In fairness that was probably Alex James,who loves Hooky and is mates with Bernard.

anyone for a bit of Draculas Country House?

Damon+Bernard

Maybe is a good combination but not for musical purposes

Alex James is also a JD fan. He said they're the reason he plays music.

Have just seen Albarn & Hewlett's Monkey opera at Mancland Palace Theatre and it was amazing. With the Gorillaz, The Good the Bad & the Queen and Blur's last album 'Think Tank' he has to be recognised as one of the most talented musicians of the last few years. I vote for Genius status.

It is interesting to note that Albarn has taken the premiere of the Gorillaz' Demon Days and Monkey to Mancland's 2 finest theatres. Can you really imagine the woeful Oashits coming up with anything as amazing as that in their home town?