Think Tank | ||||
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Studio album by Blur | ||||
Released | 5 May 2003 (details) | |||
Recorded | November 2001 – November 2002 in London, Morocco and Devon | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 56:04 (including hidden track) 49:16 (excluding hidden track) |
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Language | English | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Producer | ||||
Blur chronology | ||||
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Singles from Think Tank | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 83/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Entertainment Weekly | C+ |
The Guardian | |
Los Angeles Times | |
NME | 8/10 |
Pitchfork Media | 9.0/10 |
Q | |
Rolling Stone | |
Spin | A |
Uncut |
Think Tank is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Blur, released in May 2003. Jettisoning the Britpop sound of Blur's early career as well as the lo-fi indie rock of Blur (1997), Think Tank continued the jam-based studio constructions of the group's previous album, 13 (1999). The album expanded on the use of sampled rhythm loops and brooding, heavy electronic sounds. There are also heavy influences from dance music, hip hop, dub, jazz, and African music, an indication of lead singer-songwriter, Damon Albarn's expanding musical interests.
Recording sessions started in November 2001, taking place in London, Morocco and Devon, and finished a year later. The album's primary producer was Ben Hillier with additional production by Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), and William Orbit. At the start of the sessions, guitarist Graham Coxon had been in rehab for alcoholism. After he rejoined, relationships between him and the other members became strained. After initial recording sessions, Coxon left, leaving little of his presence on the finished album. Think Tank is a loose concept album, which Albarn has stated is about "love and politics". Albarn, a pacifist, had spoken out against the invasion of Afghanistan and, after Western nations threatened to invade Iraq, took part in the widespread protests against the war. Anti-war themes are recurrent in the album as well as in associated artwork and promotional videos.