13
by Blur
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Q Magazine
    80
    A dense, fascinating, idiosyncratic and accomplished art rock album.
  2. Pitchfork
    91
    Blur have finally found a sound to match their name.
  3. Almost Cool
    80
    If you're a fan of the old Blur material, this disc may not be your thing.
  5. PopMatters
    80
    13 is the first Blur record that requires multiple listenings for it to really sink in.
  6. The A.V. Club
    80
    At first listen, it may be hard to figure out whether 13 is some sort of twisted masterpiece or the work of a once-great group losing the plot. Those who stick around to find out will be rewarded.
  7. Ink Blot Magazine
    70
    If Blur was a tentative step away from the pop past, 13 is a suicidal leap - the little girls are not coming back after they hear this.
  8. Rolling Stone
    70
    Their sloppiest, most playful set yet.
  9. E! Online
    58
    Little gems are overwhelmed by sprawling jam tracks that, well, blur into each other.
  10. Sonicnet
    80
    Methodical, often sprawling and sonically messy, 13 isn't a charmer, but it is awfully seductive.
  11. AllMusic
    80
    13's strange, frustrating combination of expert musicianship and self-indulgence reveals the sound of a band trying to find itself.
  12. CDNow
    60
    The best results are in the vein of Low-era Bowie. The duds turn up, surprisingly, in the area that Blur is strongest -- songwriting.
  13. Entertainment Weekly
    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.
  14. New Musical Express (NME)
    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.
  15. Nude As The News
    80
    With patience, 13 reveals itself as sort of a poor man's OK Computer, only instead of Radiohead's airborne sonic journey through the future, Blur investigates the murk of its inner-city swamps.
  16. Launch.com
    60
    If there's a downside, it's that 13 may sound more like a sampler of ideas than a single-minded effort.
  17. Salon
    70
    A shitty Blur album is still better than a lot of bands' best efforts.
  18. MTV.com
    80
    Despite all this experimentation, Blur still sneaks in perfect pop nuggets such as "Coffee & TV," where cheery harmonies share space with a squealing guitar.

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Album of 1999
4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 1999
5
#5 Most Shared Album of 1999

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 85 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 78 out of 85
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 85
  3. Negative: 2 out of 85
  1. j30
    Dec 7, 2011
    8
    The artistic 13 is blur's most ambitious album to date. Despite 13's flaws, it's hard not to recommend this record when there's so much soulThe artistic 13 is blur's most ambitious album to date. Despite 13's flaws, it's hard not to recommend this record when there's so much soul and risk involved.… Full Review »
  2. MoonNGloom
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    A beautiful, heartbreaking, strange, yet ever so endearing masterpiece of it's kind. Definitely the peak of Albarn and Coxon's musicianship,A beautiful, heartbreaking, strange, yet ever so endearing masterpiece of it's kind. Definitely the peak of Albarn and Coxon's musicianship, as well as the peak of their emotional toxicity, giving this album a strong sense of a bitter heart beaming with tons of passion and despondency.… Full Review »
  3. rextree
    Feb 19, 2019
    10
    A beautiful, underrated masterpiece. This is what ear-candy sounds like. "Trimm Trabb" is the highlight out of this one.
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