Released on September 11, 1995, The Great Escape is Blur’s fourth studio album and the final installment of their Britpop trilogy, following Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993) and Parklife (1994). The album sees the band at the peak of their commercial success, but also at a turning point, with tensions beginning to surface within the group. Musically, The Great Escape builds on the lush, orchestral, and satirical style of Parklife, but with a darker, more cynical edge. The lyrics focus on themes of loneliness, materialism, and the emptiness of modern life, reflecting a growing disillusionment despite the band’s success. The album spawned several of Blur’s biggest hits, including Country House, The Universal, and Charmless Man. It won Best British Album at the 1996 Brit Awards and was a massive commercial success, but it also marked the end of Blur’s Britpop era, as they would later shift towards a rawer, more experimental sound.

Tracklist:

Side A
A1. Stereotypes
A2. Country House
A3. Best Days

Side B
B1. Charmless Man
B2. Fade Away
B3. Top Man
B4. The Universal

Side C
C1. Mr. Robinson’s Quango
C2. He Thought of Cars
C3. It Could Be You
C4. Ernold Same

Side D
D1. Globe Alone
D2. Dan Abnormal
D3. Entertain Me
D4. Yuko and Hiro