Pop and Jazz Reviews : Blur: British Rock Rookies of Note

Count Blur out from the shoegazers, the crop of new English rockers who seem to be competing to be the least visually interesting performers. At least count out singer Damon Albarn. At the Palace on Saturday, Blur’s other three scrawny members were in fine foot-watching form, but Albarn was a bundle of demonstrative energy, mixing awkward, Morrissey-like gesturing with spasmodic dancing and leaping.

The music mirrored his dynamics often enough to make Blur a noteworthy rookie outfit. Its short set Saturday was plagued by a terrible sound mix that was often all drums, but the band flitted effectively between Buzzcocks-ish momentum and Happy Mondays’ brand of mutant dance-rock, with nods to such other recent British icons as Jesus Jones, the Smiths and--in one extended burst of glorious cacophony--My Bloody Valentine.

But it’s a bit early to tell whether Blur can develop its own direction. Even when it does pull it all together, there’s little sense--beyond Albarn’s antics--of the unbridled electricity and urgency that make for more than just an interesting new entry in a crowded field.