In Brief

*** 1/2 Blur, “Parklife,” SBK/ERG. Having started as one of many vaguely promising bandsin the Jesus Jones/EMF school, Blur has evolved into a distinctively intelligent, entertaining and quintessentially English pop act in the tradition of the Kinks, Mott the Hoople, the Jam and XTC. On its third album, witty social insights bounce on catchy, clever tunes, especially on the delightfully sly single “Boys & Girls.”

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).