Parklife

Released a year before Blur would face off against Oasis in the mid-'90s Battle of Britpop, the group's third album showcases the wit at the heart of their music. The sassy, disco-tinged "Girls and Boys" sets the tone, as jaunty guitar and keyboard riffs mesh with Damon Albarn's flirty vocals. Meanwhile, the melancholic "End of a Century" brings a wistful, Kinks-like touch. But it's the iconic title track, complete with actor Phil Daniels' chirpy Cockney monologues in the verses, that defines its era.