Kevin Bronson on June 2nd, 2009

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Graham Coxon, “The Spinning Top” (Transgressive Records) – In Blur, Graham Coxon provided the necessary counterpoint to Damon Albarn’s ambitious – and most often, fantastic – musical statements.”  The tension between Albarn’s postmodern pop and Coxon’s post-punk/indie rock guitar playing became an intrinsic part of Blur’s aesthetic and provided just the right amount of musical drama, allowing the band to have a successful run of albums during the ’90s. When Coxon began releasing solo material while still a member of Blur, the albums seemed more like sketchbooks, a space where you could hear what he was listening to a particular moment, what was left off of a Blur record, and perhaps his anxieties and frustrations with being in a chart-topping rock band. Purposely lacking structure and cohesion, Coxon’s early solo work – “The Sky is Too High” (1998), “Golden D” (2000), “Crow Sit on Blood” (2001) and “The Kiss of the Morning” (2002) – shows moments of brilliance, but more often leaves the listener wondering what the albums might have sounded like had he spent more time on them. His approach to being a solo artist, however, changed once he left Blur. “Happiness in Magazines” (2004) and “Love Travels at Illegal Speeds” (2006) saw Coxon reunite with long-time Blur producer Stephen Street, with good results.

Now as a member of the recently reunited Blur, Coxon returns with “The Spinning Top,” again working with Street. Primarily a psychedelic folk album in the tradition of Nick Drake and Fred Neil, “The Spinning Top” showcases Coxon’s brilliant fingerpicking skills and is his strongest effort to date.”  The solitude of the record creates a sonic template that places Coxon’s voice – as a singer, guitar player, and songwriter – at the center of the album, positing a humanistic presence sadly lacking in much music today. “The Spinning Top” is one of those special moments in an artist’s career that asks you to re-evaluate everything they have done up to this point and to see the complete body of work as part of a larger, unfolding trajectory. Highly recommended.

– By Ted Jameson