"Song 2"

Blur
(Virgin, 1997)

Pavement began their career by pillaging the British postpunk institution known as the Fall, so it was only fair when another British institution -- Blur -- relaunched their career by pillaging Pavement in one of the more interesting examples of rock's accidental evolution in the '90s. Pre-Blur Blur were a self-conscious holdover from the new-wave '80s, and descendants of a long line of Brit bands who were a little too British for America (i.e., the Kinks and the Jam). But with its abraded guitars, lo-fi-tinged drum production, free-associated "lyrics," and a chorus call stolen from Homer Simpson, "Song 2" made modern rock gold and brought Blur belatedly into the '90s.

-- Matt Ashare