Blurred

Editorial Reviews
All Music Guide
Bill Ryan's idea is rather simple: to write pieces using a single motif that will slowly evolve

by Francois Couture

Album Description
Bill Ryan has clearly found his niche - and the dream band of musicians to collaborate with. In his debut album "Blurred," his band (called "Billband," so there's no confusion) finds their groove right out of the gate, and keeps pace throughout the disc. Individually, Billband members have an astonishing list of credits, including Prince, Yo-Yo Ma, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Blue Man Group and the Steve Reich Ensemble, among others. As a collection, they take no prisoners.

With a difficult-to-describe musical structure and style, Bill Ryan's tunes contain elements of familiar and attractive aural cues -- minimalistic ostinato figures, jazz, rock and, yes, even classical flavors in a tour de force that clearly projects Ryan's compositional command and artful constructions. Performed with a sense of spontaneity and high energy, Ryan's sometimes complex (but never overly so) textures project an aura of improvisation and integration, as though all of his players were just having a great time "jamming" together.

Tracks:

Almost With You
When You Were Mine
Fields of Mars
Interlude
Secret Corners
Just for You
Fire Burns
To Be in Your Eyes
You Took
Don't Look Back

Album Description

Import edition of the Aussie alternative rock act's 1982 album that's out-of-print domestically.

Album Details

Sophmoric, 1982 Release from One of the Leaderd of the Early 80's Goth/New-Wave Movement. This Full-Length from the Sydney, Australia-Based Group Contains Ten Tracks; Among Them: "When You Were Mine", "Almost with You", "Don't Look Back" and More.

Customer Reviews:

A delight.......2007-01-16

This is a solid CD start to finish. I bought it 15 years ago and it's now one of my 20 favorite CD's. Terrific mix of music and easily the best Church CD that I own.

Nearly Perfect.......2005-12-25

This is probably the best Church album. I remember saving and saving to buy the import vinyl version of this - I don't believe that it was issued domestically until Arista tried to cash in on "Starfish" by re-releasing the first 5 Church albums in 1988. Lovely, lovely.

(four and a half stars) No sophomore slump here.......2005-07-20

I'm a huge Church fan, and have all their studio albums of original material (13 at latest count). "The Blurred Crusade," has always been one of my favorites. The songs are consistently high quality, and begin to define the signature sound of the band, which one reviewer astutely describes as "space-jangle-psychedelia style." This phrase is as good as any to describe the unique swirling sound of this guitar driven, extremely underrated band.

One of my favorite songs on the album is "Almost With You," with its fine acoustic guitar solo. I can't figure out why this listener-friendly song never received radio play. Another favorite is "Interlude" with its curious lyrics, and several changes of pace. The two short songs, "Secret Corners" and "Don't Look Back" are poignant, as is the album's love song "To Be In Your Eyes." The eight minute "You Took," reminds me of "Is This Where You Live" from the band's previous (debut) album "Of Skins and Heart."

What prevents me from giving this excellent album five stars is, what I believe to be, the absence of a truly knock-out song. Later, the band would cut such masterpieces as "Shadow Cabinet," "Myrrh," "Reptile," "Anesthesia," and several others that I would put in this category. However, all-in-all, "The Blurred Crusade" is one of the best of The Church's body of work, and displays Kilbey, Koppes and Wilson-Piper in top form.

How'd this one fly under the radar in the U.S.?.......2004-01-02

"The Blurred Crusade" is so full of should-have-been radio hits that I wonder how it took the U.S. so long to find this band. A success in Australia, it wasn't until "Under the Milky Way" on their Starfish album did the Church get any mainstream radio airplay in the States. It's a shame, because as wonderful as Starfish is (my favorite album of all time), "The Blurred Crusade" had many more radio-friendly songs, most noteably "Almost With You," and "When You Were Mine." I love the lyrics of "To Be In Your Eyes," and the driving beat and guitar riffs in "You Took" are fabulous.

the cover got uglier; but the music got prettier.......2002-04-13

This album's twenty years old, but still stands as a brilliant guitar manifesto--putting Australia on the psychedelic map.
Possibly their most cohesive work, where clarity lent a beauty probably no longer relevant to their work, as they grew to be an experimental band--no longer a rock band.
Like it or not, The Church captures something from a dim human past and engages it. It's something shadowy and I can't describe it...Blurred Crusade captures this brilliance like few others.

Tracks:

Almost With You
When You Were Mine
Fields Of Mars
An Interlude
Secret Corners
Just For You
A Fire Burns
To Be In Your Eyes
You Took
Dont Look Back
Life Speeds Up (Bonus Track)
The Golden Dawn (Bonus Track)
The Blurred Crusade (Bonus Track)

Album Description

2002 Aussie remastered reissue of 1982 album includes a three track bonus disc featuring B-sides & videos. Bonus tracks, 'Life Speeds Up', 'The Golden Dawn' & 'The Blurred Crusade' (enhanced short film). Includes original artwork from the vinyl release & revamped booklet with never before seen archive material.

Album Details

Featuring Original Art from the Vinyl Release Including Never Before Seen Archival Material. Disc One Includes the Original Album, Remastered While the Second Disc Includes Film Clips, B-sides and More!

Average customer rating:

The Blurred Crusade
The Church
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Of Skins and Heart
Heyday
O3

ASIN: B000008EB0
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Almost With You
When You Were Mine
Fields of Mars
Interlude
Secret Corners
Just for You
Fire Burns
To Be in Your Eyes
You Took
Don't Look Back

Average customer rating:

listening to him watching the devil die
Authentic blues flavor
Mr.Cotton did it in the kitchen with a six string razor

I Watched the Devil Die
Chris Cotton
Manufacturer: Yellow Dog Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music
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Nothing But the Water

ASIN: B0007UVXLS
Release Date: 2005-03-08

Tracks:

Morgan City, Mississippi
Come On
I Watched the Devil Die
Dying Crapshooters Blues
Thats It
Im So Glad
Was it low?
Black Night
Louis Collins
Blues for Big Bill
Bill Bailey
Goin Back Home

Amazon.com

Ex-Blue Eyed Devils singer-guitarist Cotton pursued his muse from his Bay Area home to Clarksdale, Mississippi, for this solo debut. What he found in the Delta with some aid from producer Jimbo Mathus--who played guitar on Buddy Guy's last few albums and leads his own rockin' Knockdown Society--and guitar ace Big Jack Johnson was the inspiration to blend the essence of old-time string band music and pure country blues with his folk-inclined sound.

Cotton's not much of a storyteller, but his fleet picking style, delightfully raggedy vocal cords, and taste for flat-four rhythms propelled by loose-tuned snare drums create a juke joint party feel that makes for easy listening and serves covers of Skip James's "I'm So Glad" and John Hurt's "Louis Collins" well. The best cut is Cotton's own "Black Night," where his howlin' warnings about a cuckolded husband get slicing support from Johnson's thick fills and keening slide. And the album ends with the poignant wish "Goin' Back Home," where Mathus's slide resonator guitar helps brings Cotton's pining lyrics to life. --Ted Drozdowski

Album Description

An aural portrait that owes a debt to Southern bluesmen and Americana pioneers alike, Chris Cotton's Yellow Dog Records debut sounds like a house party caught on tape - world-weary men effortlessly strumming their guitars and bass, while passing around a jug of whiskey for sustenance. The barrelhouse piano, is, of course, pushed up against one wall; Cotton's gravelly voice reigns over the debauchery. The scene is timeless - harkening back to days when the distinction between blues and country was hopelessly blurred.

Former Blue Eyed Devils frontman Cotton traveled to Clarksdale, MS to record I Watched the Devil Die at producer Jimbo Mathus' vintage-equipment studio, housed in the city's historic WROX radio building. Employing Memphis and Clarksdale sidemen including special guest Big Jack Johnson, Cotton and Mathus concocted a modern-day jam session with all the boisterous spirit of a classic down-home revival.

Customer Reviews:

listening to him watching the devil die.......2005-03-15

As one of the privileged folks to get an advance preview of the new album, I just want to say, f***ing awesome! This is easily Chris' best album to date. Black Night is an absolute masterpiece of live blues. Yet the album is also breaking out of the restrictions of 12 bars into uncharted territory. It's a new Chris, yet beatifuly blended with the best of the old Chris. Vocally he covers new ground as well, like the heartfelt and soul stirring IM SO GLAD. I feel an autobiographical flavor to the new songs like Morgan, Mississippi or in Come On, where he admits to never having killed a man. I love it!Kind of reminded me of a rapper admitting he's not in a gang but he can still flow. All in all, a pleasure to listen to from the first track to the last. Keep up the good work and see you at the cd release party

Authentic blues flavor.......2005-03-12

I Watched the Devil Die is a great down-and-dirty blues album. Whether you're a blues enthusiast or new to the genre, this is a must-have album. A mix of original songs and covers, Chris brings his own flavor to to the set. Chris plucks the guitar with so much intensity he breaks strings, while his voice captures pain, desperation, and longing with true authenticity. The recordings sound live, not heavily mixed, making the album feel like an authentic down-and-dirty gem from a true bluesman.

Mr.Cotton did it in the kitchen with a six string razor.......2005-03-09

"...the human word is like an outworn, battered timbal upon which we beat melodies fit for making bears dance when we are trying to move the stars to pity." -Flaubert

Which is my big ol' ham-fisted way of saying when it comes to Real Blues or what The Straight People (More Sugar!)call blues I ain't so sure I got my homework done enough to know what the heckfire i'm talkin' about. However in the spirit of MY Real Blues (and Mr.Cotton's) to hell with the damned stars and bring on the dancing bears!

I just finished listening to Chris Cotton's new CD titled I Watched The Devil Die. I'm awful sorry to say the best language I could come up with at the final note (without my usual swearing) was WOW! You'll be adding your own abundant and imaginative expletives after you hear it for your self. I'm at least honest enough to admit I know about enough about Piedmont style and other finger pickin' styles to keep my mouth half shut about Mr.Cotton's technical skill. On the other hand the fellow I work with is versed. His word as nail-hit-on-head upon listening was Exceptional! Most finger-pickin' sorts have sounded high-brow, tight and too pretty clean to my mud and woods tuned ears. Mr. Cotton despite his dangerous knowledge makes it roll out and around the ol' dirt road just as natural and rockin' as can be not forced faux and special. Mr. Cotton covers some of the masters works here. Mr. Willie McTell's Dyin'Crap Shooters Blues, The Mississippi Sheiks' That's it, and of course Mr's Hurt and James with Louis Collins and I'm So Glad. But this man's a fine songwriter too. Six of the twelve here are his and fit quite comfortably up against the old
timers. Each song sounds like it was played (not performed) at a late night pickin'party among good friends. The song Black Night sticks out for the help and heft of Mr. Big Jack Johnson's after-hours slide and as well for Mr. Cotton's xtra fine band's joyful playing on such a dark and menacing song. Mr. Jimbo Mathus' production here as usual brings you in to the room and sets you nicely in the hot seat front and center of the action goin' down live and naked and steamin' in the Mississippi midnite hour. I just gotta hope Yellow Dog Records P.R. Machine is fired up to overheatin' overdrive on this disc 'cuz if work this good isn't hailed in all the so called blues mags and beyond then sombody someplace ain't payin' attention.
Of course most folks don't Listen cuz they're too busy bein' dazzeled by the stars and wouldn't Hear great music if it was a dancing bear bitin' their ass.

Average customer rating:

buy this CD

Favoring Blurred Lines
Upper Class Trash
Manufacturer: School Night Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Chroma

ASIN: B000BNTMKA
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

Intro
Sunsets of Bullets
Far from Rescue
What's to Stand For
Third Wheel
Predictable Setup
Winter's Over
So Long
Intermission
Fall Back Together
Under the Whether

Customer Reviews:

buy this CD.......2006-09-08

Overall this CD is one of the best that I have purchased recently. The CD is pretty short, only a little over 30 min. But I will forgive this due to the excellent vocals and interesting lyrics. Songs range from pop-punk to a touch of Screamo. This CD is for fans of Taking Back Sunday and Saves the Day

Average customer rating:

King Black Acid - 'Sunlit' (Cavity Search)
Buy this CD right now
A sonic masterpiece

Sunlit
King Black Acid and the Womb Star Orchestra
Manufacturer: Cavity Search
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | CD Singles | Pop | Styles | Music
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Royal Subjects
The Mothman Prophecies

ASIN: B000003D9O
Release Date: 1996-08-20

Tracks:

Some Things Must Be Believed To Be Seen
Headfull
Think Away

Customer Reviews:

King Black Acid - 'Sunlit' (Cavity Search).......2006-11-26

Looks to be King Black Acid's second effort. About as good as 'Womb Star Sessions' (see my review). This is just plain good 'ol dreamy space-like rock. Three lengthy tracks, are "Some Things Must Be"(20:35), "Headfull"(18:10) and "Think Away" (21:49). Personnel: Roger Campos-guitar&vocals, Daniel John Riddle-guitar&mixing, Geoff Harrington-keyboards and Scott Adamo-drums. Sit back at drift way-off in another atmosphere. Nice!

Buy this CD right now.......2002-04-25

This is one of the most amazing albums I've ever been fortunate enough to experience. KBA is really on to something here-- the whole CD consists of three very long tracks, each one focusing on one distinct rhythm without much singing. It allows the band to find basically one good sound for each track, and let it gradually develop into something very powerfully emotional and unforgettable. You won't be able to get this stuff out of your head for days after you listen to it, and eventually it sort of becomes like the musical score for daily life.

Just buy it. It's that good.

A sonic masterpiece.......1999-09-14

Sunlit, King Black Acid's second album is quite an undertaking. The album consists of three songs that each border on about twenty minutes in length. For some bands, a song of that length would dissolve into boring repetition or even worse a god awfully long guitar solo. That is not the case with KBA. This album is a treat. It begins with my favorite KBA track, "somethings must be believed to be seen". Daniel's voice on this song is amazing. I get lost in the lyrics almost as often as I do the music. "headfull" continues in much the same vein as the first track which is a welcome treat. The final track "think away" is an immense construction. The calm, blissed out tone of the first two songs is replaced with an unnerving urgency that leaves you addled and longing for the finer moments of the first track. So that is what you do. The album demands multiple listenings and soon it is so intertwined within your psyche that it becomes your own personal soundtrack. A perfect album with which to lose yourself.

Average customer rating:

Simply Awesome

A Blurred Sense of Divine
Nobis
Manufacturer: Corporate Punishment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000EWBMFG
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Tracks:

Brand New Slave
Shadow Of Doubt
9 Pages
20/20
Embrace The Horror
Rain Or Shine
Manic Dissolve
Drowning Shallow
It's Only Blood
Reel In Rewind

Product Description

1. Brand Name Slave
2. Shadow Of Doubt
3. 9 Pages
4. 20/20
5. Embrace The Horror
6. Rain Or Shine
7. Manic Dissolve
8. Drowning Shallow
9. It's Only Blood
10. Reel In

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Simply Awesome.......2006-05-17

This Album is simply amazing. It is my absolute favorite cd in my collection. I have been a very avid follower of their band for over 7 years and they have evolved into this heart pounding, menacing sound that will put a smile on your face and give you a rush of adrenaline. I absolutly recommend this CD.

Average customer rating:

Blurred in Six
Friction
Manufacturer: Allied Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008EN3Y
Release Date: 1994-04-15

Tracks:

Squelch
Twenty Second/Sundial
Terra Cotta
Rule of Elevens
September Issue
Bowl Cut
Cassyflies
Box Turtle
Subsequently
Makeshift Chimney [*]
Compactor Room [*]
Milt [*]
Wheels [*]
Box Turtle [2nd Version][*]
Shoot Don't Shoot Test [*]

Average customer rating:

BLURRED:RYAN
Billband
Manufacturer: INNOVA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0001Z5356
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Tracks:

Original Blend
Capacity
Blurred
Drive

Album Description

Bill Ryan has clearly found his niche - and the dream band of musicians to collaborate with. In his debut album "Blurred," his band (called "Billband," so there's no confusion) finds their groove right out of the gate, and keeps pace throughout the disc. Individually, Billband members have an astonishing list of credits, including Prince, Yo-Yo Ma, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Blue Man Group and the Steve Reich Ensemble, among others. As a collection, they take no prisoners.

Recorded with an almost "spit-noise-on-the-back-of-the-reed" visceral presence, the sureness of Ryan's vision literally jumps out of the speakers. Billband is an experience, a band, and a sound that defies characterization. And, "Blurred" is a terrific first outing for this group.

Hand Me a Mic
Average customer rating:
Hand Me a Mic
Mad Maxx
Manufacturer: Blurred Insight Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAK382
Release Date: 2003-09-30