Blur Share ‘Sticks And Stones’ From Japanese Version Of ‘The Ballad Of Darren’

Blur have shared a new track, “Sticks And Stones,” from the Japanese exclusive edition of their latest album, The Ballad Of Darren.

Guitarist Graham Coxon, who provides lead vocals on the track, sings, “It’s written over my face / No sleep zone / Open up my suitcase / Sticks and stones.”

The band released a deluxe expanded version of The Ballad Of Darren, featuring the original tracklist plus two bonus tracks, “The Rabbi” and “The Swan,” on July 21.

“The older and madder we get, it becomes more essential that what we play is loaded with the right emotion and intention,” Coxon explained about The Ballad of Darren before the LP’s release. “Sometimes just a riff doesn’t do the job.”

(Photo: Reuben Bastienne-Lewis)