Unsung Hero: Graham Coxon
Why is the Blur guitarist so underrated?
Ever since I first listened to Blur’s 1994 breakthrough third album Parklife, I have been somewhat in awe of guitarist Graham Coxon. At the time, I had only been playing guitar for a couple of years and I was still finding my musical identity. Moreover, in terms of UK pop culture, grunge was on the way out (thanks to the untimely loss of Kurt Cobain) and Britpop was on the ascendency. However, at the time I found a lot of guitar-based music to be formulaic and predictable but then I discovered a musician who was able to flirt with the boundaries of guitar-playing by combining conventional chord progressions with experimental sounds and techniques. I immediately listened to Blur’s first two previous albums, Leisure and Modern Life is Rubbish, and became obsessed!
Graham Coxon is widely regarded as a great guitarist due to his technical proficiency, creativity, and versatility. He is also known for his ability to incorporate a wide range of influences and styles into his playing, from punk and indie rock to blues and folk. Coxon is also praised for his use of innovative guitar effects and his experimentation with unconventional sounds. Additionally, his dynamic and emotive playing style, as well as his willingness to take risks and push boundaries, have helped to cement his reputation as one of the most…
