Posted on by Rob Jones · 1 Comment

Former Blur Guitarist Graham Coxon Performs ‘Standing on My Own Again’

Here’s a clip of unsung Brit-pop architect and understated, yet imminently skilled guitarmeister Graham Coxon with “Standing On My Own Again” as taken from his Love Travels At Illegal Speeds album from 2006.

Graham Coxons interest in American indie rock allowed his group Blur to make a quiet exit from the Brit-Pop ghetto. His continuing interest in bands like Pavement and The Pixies continues in his solo career.
Graham Coxon's interest in American indie rock allowed his group Blur to make a quiet exit from the Brit-Pop ghetto by 1997. His continuing interest in bands like Pavement and The Pixies continues in his solo career.

Coxon of course is known for his work with Blur, having come up with instantly recognizable and extremely ‘hooky’ guitar figures on singles like “There’s No Other Way”, “Parklife”,”Song 2″, and others.  But, by 2002, Coxon was restless, wanting to stretch out on his own.  His initial solo efforts had a decidedly experimental feel, leaving behind the right angles of pop structures for music that was a little less expected from a songwriter and guitarist from a pop band known for their accessible singles.

Some critics noted that Coxon was resisting his own instincts for pop writing on these records.  But, by the time he’d recorded this tune and the album, he had clearly embraced them again.  His touchstones of Kinks-influenced writing, mitigated by the intensity of statesmanlike punk-pop were once again allowed to take centre stage.  And yet, this isn’t a safe record either – it rocks, and on its own terms.

For more information, check out the official Graham Coxon website

And for more music, there’s always the Graham Coxon MySpace page.