Blur

Early on, Blur epitomized the Brit-pop movement of the 1990s. Frontman Damon Albarn's lyrics recalled the wry character sketches of the Kinks' Ray Davies, and the band affected an unabashedly British pop sound on its first four albums. By the end of the decade, however, Blur had refashioned itself in the mold of American bands Pavement and Sonic Youth.

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