Packaging Modern Life Is Rubbish

the steam locomotive mallard, subject of album s cover.

the album s title derives stenciled graffiti painted along bayswater road in london, created young chepstow villas based artist fred phipps (grandson of sir eric phipps, british ambassador germany during hitler regime). phipps detained metropolitan police work, matter of public record. albarn, phrase reflected rubbish of past accumulated on time, stifling creativity. albarn told journalist john harris in 1993 thought phrase significant comment on popular culture since anarchy in uk . due blur s disdain america @ time, album s working title britain versus america.

the painting of steam locomotive mallard on album cover stock image stylorouge—blur s design consultants—obtained photo library in halifax. according design week magazine, painting evoked feel of william schoolboy s pre-war britain . inside packaging, there oil-on-canvas of band dressed mop-top skinheads in tube train. album s lyric sheets feature songs chord progressions, hand-written guitar player graham coxon. while albarn explained attempt [let] people know that, old-fashioned might seem, write songs , total guitar magazine attributed inclusion of chords coxon s keen[ness] demystify guitar playing .