From the beginning, as Cerys sings “The sun is shining/ we should be making hay” on the track “Dead From The Waist Down”, I thought the little girlie voice was a childish joke. Her vocals sound like a bad impression of a cartoon character, but after I listened to the whole album I began love this track. After my initial reaction faded, I realized this is the album’s best track. It’s bizarre how a few listens can change your outlook.
“Post Script”
finds that little girlie getting gritty, snarling seductively, “but I’m a good girl/ oh I’m good girl.” The snarl makes me want to believe, but it’s that same snarl that tells me it’s just not true. The grit returns on “Shoot The Messenger”. It’s grand to get the dark brooding along with the sweetness.
“She’s A Millionaire” finds Catatonia getting into the bubbly pop they seem to have perfected. Cery’s voice just grows and grows and grows. If you don’t enjoy it the first time around, you must give it another try. You’ll be addicted, especially if you get a taste of “Bulimic Beats”. A harp rolls throughout as the strings sweep you away. This is a fabulous ballad. “Storm The Palace”, though one of the swifter tracks on the album, is really just a filler.
The stellar “Dazed, Beautiful And Bruised” comes right on the heels of two bonus tracks. “Road Rage” and “Mulder And Scully” were released on Catatonia’s previous album and are both international hits. These additions make this album worth every penny and then some. Leave these off and you still have a great album, but the addition moves it up to another level altogether. Without hype, Equally Cursed And Blessed is good. I’ve given it about twenty spins in only a few days and I’m still enjoying it.
+ rae gun
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