Graham Coxon - Happiness In Magazines

Revenge is sweet and what better way at getting back at your former band than releasing an album that pisses triumphantly over their last. Graham Coxon's solo career has so far stretched across four albums that whilst good, were largely dismissed as a hobby. However, since the guitarist's departure from Blur almost two years ago, fans and critics alike have been waiting with baited breath to see what he'd do – continue with a Camden recluse lifestyle or return guns blazing to prove who really was Blur's driving force? Thankfully, with 'Happiness In Magazines', Coxon has opted for the latter.

For his fifth solo outing, Coxon has handed over production duties to Stephen Street, the man responsible for the first five Blur albums, and as a result, whilst previous self-produced offerings had been slightly rough around the edges, 'Happiness In Magazines' delivers twelve polished nuggets of sonic delight. From the infectious opener 'Spectacular' about 'seeing a picture of Shannyn Sossamon on the computer and just thinking, “Good God what a beautiful woman!”' to the beautiful, bluesy 'Are You Ready' with its hints of Scot Walker, the album lives up to the promise taster single 'Freakin' Out' gave back in March. Whilst his ability as a guitarist has already been proven, 'Happiness' also demonstrates his talent as a lyricist, whether in the tragic-comedy of 'Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery' – 'it would take an age to marry you/ now I've seen you use my razor like you do', the spikiness of 'People Of The Earth' – 'people of the Earth you are not cool/ you eat hamburgers and go to school' or the sneers at Hoxon culture in 'No Good Time'.

'Happiness In Magazines' has a vibe of new found confidence running throughout it which results in an album bolder, brighter and more infectious than anything he's given us in the past, indeed, the album's working title, 'No More Mr Lo-Fi' just about says it all. That'll be check mate then eh Damon?