A fan favourite, Blur’s 1993 sophomore album flew in the face of music created by their peers, and presented a pop encyclopaedia of England to battle the influence of American grunge and the shoe-gazing, baggy affectations of their debut. It suffered from several false starts, with an initial track listing rejected by their record label spooked by the commercial failure of single, Popscene. Ill tempered tours of the USA and financial collapse didn’t help. However, the difficult gestation gave Blur the opportunity to find an identity that would inform their next two albums in the process.  Filled with melody, strings, brass and quintessential Englishness (demonstrated on the classic single and opening track For Tomorrow), the album’s modest success was followed by a successful UK tour and new found respect evident in the end of year polls.

Modern Life Is Rubbish, along with all the other Blur albums, is available now remastered and expanded in Blur 21: The Box as well as individually in 2CD and 2LP formats.