Editing Damon Albarn (section)

====Post-Britpop and hiatus====
An early 1996 ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' interview reported that relations between Blur members had become strained; journalist Adrian Deevoy wrote that he found them "on the verge of a nervous breakup."<ref name="select"/> Coxon, in particular, began to resent his bandmates<ref name="select"/> and, in a rejection of the group's Britpop aesthetic, made a point of listening to noisy American alternative rock bands such as [[Pavement (band)|Pavement]].<ref>Harris 2004, pg. 259–60</ref> Albarn grew to appreciate Coxon's tastes in lo-fi and underground music, and recognised the need to change Blur's musical direction once again. "I can sit at my piano and write brilliant observational pop songs all day long but you've got to move on," he said,<ref name="select"/> and decided to give Coxon more creative control over their new album. Albarn visited Iceland during this period: "I used to have a recurring dream, as a child, of a black sand beach. And one hazy, lazy day [laughs], I was watching the TV and I saw a programme about Iceland, and they had black beaches. So I got on a plane ... I was on my own. I didn't know anybody. I went into the street, [[Laugavegur (Reykjavík)|Laugavegur]], where the bars are, and that was it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://damonalbarnunofficial.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/damon-albarn-gorillaz-heroin-and-the-last-days-of-blur-the-guardian-april-2012/ |title=Damon Albarn &#124; 'Gorillaz, heroin and the last days of Blur' – The Guardian: April 2012 &#124; damon albarn unofficial archive |publisher=Damonalbarnunofficial.wordpress.com |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=30 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221193335/http://damonalbarnunofficial.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/damon-albarn-gorillaz-heroin-and-the-last-days-of-blur-the-guardian-april-2012/ |archive-date=21 February 2014 }}</ref>

After initial sessions in London, the band left to record the rest of the album in Iceland, away from the Britpop scene.<ref name="select"/> The result was ''[[Blur (Blur album)|Blur]]'', the band's fifth studio album, released in February 1997. Although the music press predicted that the lo-fi sonic experimentation would alienate Blur's teenage girl fanbase, they generally applauded the effort. Pointing out lyrics such as "Look inside America / She's alright", and noting Albarn's "obligatory nod to [[Beck]], [and promotion of] the new Pavement album as if paid to do so", reviewers felt the band had come to accept American values during this time – an about-face of their attitude during the Britpop years.<ref>Collins, Andrew. "Blur: Keeping It Simple". ''Q''. March 1997.</ref> Despite cries of "commercial suicide," the album and its first single, "[[Beetlebum]]", debuted at number one in the UK.<ref name="melody">Sutherland, Mark. "Altered States". ''[[Melody Maker]]''. 21 June 1997.</ref> Although the album could not match the sales of their previous albums in the UK, ''Blur'' became the band's most successful internationally,<ref name="melody"/> particularly in the US, helped by the successful single "[[Song 2]]". After the success of ''Blur'', the band embarked on a nine-month world tour.<ref name="select"/>
[[File:Damon Albarn live29.07.2013 in Rome 4.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Albarn with [[Blur (band)|Blur]] at the [[Rock in Roma]], 2013]]

Blur's sixth studio album ''[[13 (Blur album)|13]]'', released in March 1999, saw them drift further from Britpop. Albarn's lyrics – more heartfelt, personal and intimate than on previous occasions – were reflective of his break-up with [[Elastica]] frontwoman [[Justine Frischmann]], his partner of eight years.<ref name="guardian">Sullivan, Caroline. "[https://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,,313434,00.html Down and outstanding] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174209/http://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,,313434,00.html |date=3 March 2016 }}". ''[[The Guardian]]''. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2012.</ref> Recording for Blur's next album began in London in November 2001. Not long after the sessions began, Coxon left the group.<ref>Greeves, David. "[http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul03/articles/benhillier.asp Recording Blur, Tom Rae & Elbow] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307205637/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul03/articles/benhillier.asp |date=7 March 2012 }}". Sound on Sound. July 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2012.</ref> Coxon stated "there were no rows" and "[the band] just recognised the feeling that we needed some time apart".<ref>"[http://www.the-fly.co.uk/news/article/4812/Graham-Coxon-Explains-Blur-Split/ Graham Coxon Explains Blur Split] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606144707/http://www.the-fly.co.uk/news/article/4812/Graham-Coxon-Explains-Blur-Split/ |date=6 June 2012 }}". ''[[The Fly (magazine)|The Fly]]''. May 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2011.</ref> ''[[Think Tank (Blur album)|Think Tank]]'', released in May 2003, was filled with atmospheric, brooding [[Electronic music|electronic]] sounds, featuring simpler guitar lines by Albarn, and largely relying on other instruments to replace Coxon. The guitarist's absence also meant that ''Think Tank'' was written mostly by Albarn. Its sound was seen as testament to Albarn's increasing interest in [[African music|African]] and [[Middle Eastern music]] and to his control over the group's direction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1475339/20030804/blur.jhtml|title=Blur: The Undiscovered Country|last=Bottomley|first=C.|date=12 August 2003|website=VH1 Interviews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001030713/http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1475339/20030804/blur.jhtml|archive-date=1 October 2007 |access-date=9 May 2016}}</ref> ''Think Tank'' was another UK No. 1 and achieved Blur's highest US position of No. 56.<ref name="UKChart" /><ref name="allmusicawards" /> The album was also nominated for best album at the 2004 [[Brit Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/2004 |title=2004 |publisher=Brit Awards |date=17 February 2004 |access-date=30 April 2014 |archive-date=7 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807024604/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/2004 |url-status=live }}</ref>