Graham Coxon – Love Travels At Illegal Speeds (2006)

This 2006 solo album by Blur guitarist Coxon (he's the nerdy speccy one, not the drumming Labour councillor or the cheesemonging David Cameron lackey), was picked up in a charity shop out of curiosity. I actually thought I had two Coxon albums, but one seems to be missing.

There's a series there - Albums I Was Sure I Had But Can't Find. I've reviewed at lest three of them!

This was one I approached half-heartedly, but this is the point of this blog, to give a listen beyond the favourite hundred or so on the shelves. I'm pleasantly surprised - it's a series of high energy, eminently listenable rock songs, although without anything which massively stands out as a 'great'.

I've really enjoyed the punk sounding You & I and I Don't Wanna Go Out while finding the slower numbers like Don't Let Your Man Know and Don't Believe Anything I Say a little bland and generic, and Coxon's 'mockney' tones irritate at times. Tell It Like It Is bucks that trend, as a slower one which is actually a pretty good listen, unlike the whining Flights To The Sea.

So, without being anything remarkable, most of this consists of decent, likeable rock songs.

Link to full album

3* - where it's upbeat it's good, but the slower stuff drags.