| | | Ratings (8) |
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| 5.0 classic | bewdragon | June 5th 08 |
Forget blue and black—this ought to be PLATINUM!
This is my favorite album by the Eric Stuart Band. ESB has a wonderful, unique style that puts it in an irresistible class of its own. The catchy, driven tunes capture your interest immediately and never let go, yet the complex orchestration of sounds ensures that you hear something new every time. It’s always an enjoyable and fresh experience. The lyrics are strikingly superb, with masterfully composed rhetorical devices and plays on words—the like of which you won’t hear anywhere else. No matter how many times you hear the songs, they still give you something to think about. And then of course, there is Eric’s marvelous dreamscape-conjuring voice. Like a master craftsman, he continuously refines his vocal style with each word to polish his story to perfection, and you are cast headlong into a vivid dream world filled with convincing feelings that are always close to home!
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | chill | July 16th 08 |
Of the 3 ESB (Eric Stuart Band) albums I own, this is my favorite. It exemplifies the variety of styles that the band can achieve--all with the trademark ESB commitment to quality and excellence in every line. This album has it all: from their most rock type song without any drawl (Staring You in the Face) to their most western type gun ballad (God's Roof); from their most beautiful heartbreak song (Corner Booth Chronicles) to their best party song (Raise a Little Hell); and from their most cleverly crafted lyrics (Lost Innocence) to their best use of instrumentation (Heaven in a Cadillac). More than in any other album, voice actor /voice director /singer /songwriter /guitarist Eric Stuart shows not only that he puts 100% into everything he does, but also that he and his band can do anything! Also check out his other two albums: Bombshellshocked, and In the County of Kings!
Some extra notes on this album:
Lost Innocence--has the best lyrics of any ESB song, eg. "I've been sick and I've been well, at heaven's gate and on the road to hell, I've been smooth and I've been rough, I've wanted more, then had enough."
Heaven in a Cadillac--is perfect. Voice, lyrics, and instrumentation are all superb and blend together so perfectly that it actually feels like you're in a dream.
Home-- a heartwarming ballad full of hope which demonstrates how Eric loves to write songs that tell a story.
Corner Booth Chronicles--won the John Lennon Songwriting Award, and rightly so!
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | sternkind | July 18th 08 |
All it takes is the opening lines of "Staring You in the Face" to fall under the spell cast by Eric Stuart and his music, lyrics, and voice. From this power-filled opening song, he switches gears to the moving "One Good Reason," the heartfelt plea of a lover scorned. The thought-provoking "Lost Innocence" and the award-winning "Corner Booth Chronicles" add to the already-established superiority of the CD. And the moods, scenes, and feelings continue to change to paint very different pictures, for just as two snowflakes are never identical, each song of Eric Stuart is a unique treasure all on its own. He is truly an artist with unmatchable talent.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | BlockHeadHancho | July 24th 08 |
Compared with other available ESB albums, “Blue, Dressed In Black” showcases a wider range of musical styles and makes for a wonderful sampling of what the band is capable of achieving. Songs like “Staring You In The Face” and “Raise A Little Hell Tonight” rock out so much that if a normal person tried to sing their heart out like that, they would turn blue and pass out in less than a minute. “Lost Innocence” contains lyrics so clever and multi-faceted that you could spend a lifetime trying to analyze it. “Corner Booth Chronicles” won the John Lennon Songwriting Award--like many ESB songs, it is about heartache, but Eric sings in such a Neil Diamond-like, “Song Sung Blue” way that it becomes therapeutic. Each song in this album is priceless! Sing out your blues, captivate your imagination, and lose yourself in this treasure chest of superb ESB songs!
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | pigmon | July 9th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | beau99 | March 27th 08 |
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