Three of the Partridge-produced cuts were included in the 4 disc rarities set that was part of last summer’s box set. There’s one totally new song that was never used anywhere else along with Partridge-produced versions of “Coping” and “Sunday Sunday” that sound dramatically different than the Stephen Street versions; the entire song structure of “Sunday Sunday” was changed significantly and this version of “Coping” sounds like an attempt to have a US radio hit, circa 1993 (lots of reverb! probably why Albarn didn’t like it). Fans seem to be divided about these three cuts; they’re much bolder/louder than the Street productions and hint at a much different record than MLIR turned out to be. I, for one, would love to hear the rest of them though.

Aside from the fact that it’s the first song many Americans heard of theirs (which might elevate it, nostalgically, for many), I don’t think that there are many serious Blur fans who would put it in a top ten. It’s enjoyable enough but it’s not a high water mark.

Has Beck lost interest in making albums? It’s been four years now…