Details
LP / Format
Art Rock, Experimental Rock, Alternative Rock
Noise Rock
, Space Rock Revival
, Trip Hop
, Post-Rock
, Krautrock
/ GenreFull Credits
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Critic Reviews
91
Once again, Blur has kept one step ahead of expectations and continued to impress.
13y
90
13 is the first Blur record that requires multiple listenings for it to really sink in.
13y
83
Orbit's masterfully sludgy production adds a layer of grime to even the poppiest songs, and his cut-and-paste edits and swooshing studio flourishes create a sense of dizzy late-night anguish throughout.
10y
80
This is electronica the old-fashioned, pre-digital, Krautrock way: Guitars scrape and scream, ancient synths bubble and belch, the rhythm section grooves as if beaming in from a distant planet.
11y
80
It's all so, well, much that even the weak instrumental closer, Optigan, doesn't detract from what is essentially Blur's crowning moment. 13 illustrates, vividly and memorably, what a little heartbreak can do for a band.
4mo
80
With 13, Blur complete their move from cineplex band to arthouse outfit or, to put it in the universal language of Woody Allen, from Bananas to Crimes and Misdemeanors.
4mo
80
A dense, fascinating, idiosyncratic and accomplished art rock album.
3y
70
13's strange, frustrating combination of expert musicianship and self-indulgence reveals the sound of a band trying to find itself.
13y
60
Blur's most inconsistent and infuriating statement thus far. Infuriating, because divested of four solid-gone clunkers '13' could pass muster as the best of Blur.
13y
Probably the most heavy, experimental, and emotionally driven Blur album. Damon Albarn's lyrics reflect himself in a very honest and earnest way that we usually don't see from Damon. The instrumentation is top notch, with glitched out grooves engrossing the whole record. Overall, it might not be for everyone, but it's still a treat.
Favorite Jams: Bugman, Trimm Trabb, No Distance Left To Run
Lest Favorite: Optigan 1
Without a doubt the best Blur album I have heard so far. It is their most artsy, experimental, and noisy album with some of their most interesting arrangements. While I wouldn't say they were on par with contemporaries like Radiohead, but it was definitely a sign of a band maturing with a great end result, even if it is a bit long at times.
Super duper. Blur went far out there and made hyper hip sounds for the post OK-Computer world. Such depth. Such authenticity. Such playfulness. Such capability. Coxon might literally have been on fire caused by his combustable dexterity and mind-bending sonic palate. Albarn... perhaps was never as good as he was here... Tender...1992...No Distance... BU U U UG. MAN. Crikey. This is another Blur album where they live up to their name from the moment you press play to the moment Octagon ... read more
Day 2/30 of Recommendation June.
Recommended by @Anno
When I listened to Parklife I wasnt aware that Damon Albarn was a core part of the band but with 13 I made sure to pay extra close attention to the whole thing. Wow. I didnt expect something from the 90s to sound like this. If this came out today id still say it feels new. I really like Caramel. Especially towards the end of it. Its just some wild stuff. Great album.
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Track List
| 1 | Tender 7:40 | 92 |
| 2 | Bugman 4:47 | 90 |
| 3 | Coffee & TV 5:58 | 95 |
| 4 | Swamp Song 4:36 | 88 |
| 5 | 1992 5:28 | 88 |
| 6 | B.L.U.R.E.M.I. 2:53 | 82 |
| 7 | Battle 7:42 | 89 |
| 8 | Mellow Song 3:56 | 86 |
| 9 | Trailerpark 4:26 | 87 |
| 10 | Caramel 7:38 | 90 |
| 11 | Trimm Trabb 5:37 | 90 |
| 12 | No Distance Left to Run 3:28 | 92 |
| 13 | Optigan I 2:33 | 80 |
Total Length: 1 hour, 6 minutes
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1w
This is such an insane album to unpack oh my I don’t think I’ve ever been so stumped by a listen
1w
i'm gonna be honest, i didn't even know blur had slight fans, i thought everyone fucking hated them