Modern Life Is Rubbish

Modern Life Is Rubbish
LP by Blur
Released	May 10, 1993
Recorded	1992
Genre	Britpop
Length	73 min 00 s
Record label	EMI
Producer	Blur, Stephen Street, Steve Lovell, John Smith
Professional reviews
NME	7 out of 10	(5/8/93, p.31)
Allmusic.com	4.5 stars out of 5	link
Q	4 stars out of 5	October 2000
Blur Chronology
Leisure (1991)	Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993)	Parklife (1994)

Modern Life Is Rubbish is an album by Blur, released on May 10, 1993 (see 1993 in music). The second album by the British rock sensation, Blur incorporated more psychedelic and grunge influences into Modern Life Is Rubbish, and the album was generally well-received, keeping the band relevant during the grunge era in the UK. It is, however, often stated that Modern Life Is Rubbish is also the first britpop album and has grown considerably in stature in since its release, when it initially peaked at # 15 in the UK.

In 1993, "For Tomorrow" (which reached #28), "Chemical World" (#28) and "Sunday, Sunday" (#26) were released from the album in the UK. The single "Popscene" (#32), from the Modern Life Is Rubbish sessions, was dropped from the UK release of the album. Although reinstated for the US (and later Japanese) release is currently only available within the UK on the DVD version of Blur's best of album.

On Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart in the USA, "Chemical World" peaked at #27.

Track listing

All tracks by Damon Albarn/Graham Coxon/Alex James/Dave Rowntree.

UK version:

1. "For Tomorrow " - 4:19
2. "Advert" - 3:45
3. "Colin Zeal" - 3:16
4. "Pressure on Julian" - 3:31
5. "Star Shaped" - 3:26
6. "Blue Jeans" - 3:54
7. "Chemical World " - 3:45
   • "Intermission" - 2:29
8. "Sunday, Sunday " - 2:38
9. "Oily Water" - 5:00
10. "Miss America" - 5:34
11. "Villa Rosie" - 3:55
12. "Coping" - 3:24
13. "Turn It Up" - 3:21
14. "Resigned" - 5:14
    • "Commercial Break" - 0:55

• The Japanese release includes "Young And Lovely" (and "Popscene" in a re-release).
• The US version includes "Popscene", "When The Cows Come Home" and "Peach". It also has a different version of "Chemical World".

Personnel

• Blur - Producer
  • Damon Albarn - Organ, Synthesizer, Piano, Vocals, Melodica, Bells
  • Graham Coxon - Synthesizer, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Tambourine, Vocals (bckgr), Moog Synthesizer, Slide Guitar
  • Alex James - Guitar (Bass)
  • Dave Rowntree - Drums, Timpani
• The Kick Horns:
  • Tim Sanders - Sax (Tenor)
  • Roddy Lorimer - Trumpet
  • Neil Sidwell - Trombone
  • Simon Clarke - Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
  • Paul Spong - Cornet
• The Duke String Quartet:
  • Louise Fuller - Violin
  • Rick Koster - Violin
  • John Metcalfe - Viola
  • Ivan McCready - Cello
  • with Helen Kamminga - Viola
• Steve Lovell - Producer
• John Smith - Producer, Engineer
• Kate St. John - Oboe, Sax (Soprano)
• Stephen Street - Producer, Mixing, Percussion, Bells, Handcalps, Clarinet (Alto)
• Simon Weinstock - Mixing
• Jason (no surname given) - Sound Effects
• Paul Gribble - "Mallard" painting
• Paul Stephen - Blur painting