Artist: Blur
Album Title: Think Tank
Label: Virgin
Bones:
Summary: They can still turn you on
Reviewed By: Tamara McCollough

Blur are a classic British pop-rock band that have been around roughly since 1989 and have released 7 studio albums to date, including their latest release, "Think Tank." So when guitarist Graham Coxon left the band due to conflict with guest producer Twatboy, oops, I mean Fatboy Slim and was only contributing to one track out of 13 on the band's new album, it was assumed "Think Tank" would be the epitome of poorly composed electronic crap and that this insanely creative band would pathetically fade away and become forgotten. WRONG.

The release of "Think Tank" has been highly anticipated by Blur fans, especially after hearing lead singer Damon Albarn's work with the animated hip-hop phenomenon, Gorillaz and African world music group, Mali Music, both of which highly contrast with Blur's previous releases (the mellow guitar-driven debut "Leisure," the folk-tinged and very posh "Modern Life is Rubbish," the Euro-disco trashed "Parklife," the cocaine drizzled, organ bashing "The Great Escape," the indie-rock homage "Blur" and the experimental electronic "13").

Let it be known that Blur are capable of composing songs far greater than the insanely popular 1997 Nirvana-tinged rock anthem "Song 2," or "the woo-hoo song," as it is better known. The opening track "Ambulance" is an intense one. Albarn sings "No I ain't got nothing to be scared of," yet he does so chillingly, over bellowing horns and seductive synthesizers. It's like getting ready to open a closed door and not knowing whether you'll see a rotting corpse or a beautiful naked body patiently waiting for you on the other side. "Out of Time" follows as the second track and has Albarn gently crooning in response to this year's war in Iraq: "And you've been so busy lately that you haven't found the time/ to open up your mind/ and watch the world spinning/ gently out of time." The band visited Morocco to record some of the new record, which would explain the guest appearance by Moroccan orchestra, Groupe Regional du Marrakech on "Out of..."

No worries- "Think Tank" isn't all intensified melancholy. "Crazy Beat" is a rockin' track that sounds like 7 kinds of cool; it's ideal for a drunken frat party with Albarn slurring "I love my brothers on a Saturday night," in conjunction with some "yeah, yeah, yeah's," and a robotic voice squealing, "Crazy beat, crazy, crazy beat, yeah!" "Good Song" really is good with a mellow bass line and sweet horns creating a Marvin Gaye vibe. And with a line like "You seem very beautiful to me," there's no way your girl will say no, fellas. Try it- it's more modern than blaring "Let's Get It On." "We've Got a File on You" is a minute-long punk-rock sing along that will get the kids jumping no doubt, but later they will stop, catch their breath, and wonder if they really are under 24-hour government surveillance. "Caravan" is another placid jam with mild keyboards and Albarn blowing into his trademark melodica (kind of a cross between a harmonica and an old-school hand-held Casio synthesizer), perfect for staring at the sky.

The album closes with "Battery in Your Leg," which is the only song featuring Coxon. Aside from that knuckle-biting fact, it's a relatively memorable closing track, with a somber piano intro flowing into a distorted outer space environment created by Coxon's bewildering guitar hooks.

After nearly 15 years of making music, Blur have once again topped themselves and have proven that even after the loss of their God-like guitarist, they can still turn you on, make you dance and maybe even make you "Think."