Customer Reviews

A Watched Pot

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before we get to the meat of it, know that despite the free use of [Explicit] all over the track list. Only one song has a profanity and that is track six. It is littered with the F-bomb, but because the song is so good, it works.

All I'm saying is don't let that curb your interest or use that as a reason to overlook the album. You'll be sorry if you do.

A Watched Pot is an album that Bleu has been working on for several years and has finally made it to our hands. When you hit play, you'll find a solid mix of musical styles and moods with top notch production quality all carried by the wide range, strength and solid tone of Bleu's voice. Each tune is a nugget of aural goodness.

Bleu's influences like the Beatles, Jeff Lynne (ELO), Harry Nilsson, the Beach Boys and others is evident but not so much that it sounds as though he recreating their sound or copying their various styles. He uses those influences subtly so that his own gifts come through and shine brightly.

I'll resist going through each tune to tell you about what you'll hear. you can listen to the samples above and get an idea of what the album is. And if you do that, you'll find a sample isn't enough. You'll miss some excellent songwriting (Save Me, Come 'n Go, No Such thing as Love...others), cleaver chord progressions (Come 'n go), powerful classic Motown styled rhythms (Kiss Me), an awesome duet with Sandra McCracken (When The Lights Go Out), the simplicity of a good, solid song (Go) and more.

All in all, if you skip over A Watched Pot, you'll miss a great album. Who wants that?

It's a cheap shot to get your attention, I'll admit it. But here you are reading this, so...
What can I say about this cd? If you're not yet familiar with the singer/songwriter Bleu, you should be.
Why? He's one of the best out there. Great songs,performed well,with real passion and conviction.
Comparing this cd with his other releases is hard for me. I like this one because it's more intimate than others, both in it's production, and in it's performance. You get the feeling he could sit down and play these songs for you with just his voice and acoustic guitar and still blow you away. His other cd's are more Power than pop, and I really like them.
If you like yours more mellow, then this is more for you. If you like your Powerpop with more edge, his other releases will make you a fan.
Seeing him perform recently at a small club, I was impressed at how accessable he made himmself to the audience. No rock star ego here. Just a real, talented human being, reaching out to touch those who share the love and pain that life can dish out. His cover/tribute to Michael, performing "Human Nature" was pure genius! Dig it.

Amazon suggested I'd like Bleu based on my purchase of Jelleyfish music a few years back. They were right! In fact, 'Redhead' contains a song Bleu co wrote with the amazingly talented Jellyfish founder/drummer/vocalist Andy Sturmer.

As I understand it, 'A Wathced Pot' was supposed to follow 'Redhead' but was tied up by Bleu's former record label for a number of years. I am glad Bleu was able to finally get this music out...

Highlights for me: 'There's No Such Thing as Love' - beautifully arranged - an amazing song that should be listened to while watching the video (check it out on youtube). 'Boy Meets Girl' - more hooks than... 'What Now?' - perfectly conveys the imperfect relationship... "cause your the only one that I know who can make me feel lonely and so...what now?"

Looking forward to Bleu's next release 'Four' due out in Novemeber. An amazingly talented "jack of all trades" who deserves to be livin large!

While listening to a web site that plays Pop that Bangs (can't say the URL!), I stumbled on this song by a band called L.E.O. with obvious nods to E.L.O. (Electric Light Orchestra... alias Jeff Lynne... alias Clayton Wilbury). A guy named Bleu was behind that album which was called "Alpaca's Orgling". It was a tribute to E.L.O. (or rather, the recording style of E.L.O. with LEO's original tunes) and the band on that album was a "supergroup" (yeah, I know...) of performers including members of JellyFish (?!!!) and even Hanson (Hey, cut Hanson some slack, they're actually decent players and singers even though they got lumbered with Mmmmbop... but I digress). That album was great and so I wanted to hear more.
I checked out all his albums via Amazon and Itunes. It was one of the best musical decisions and subsequent purchases I ever made. I ended up buying 3 Bleu albums IMMEDIATELY. I still play all these albums a few times a month.

Then another cool group project came out called "The Major Labels", (Also heard on a web site that plays Pop that Bangs for the first time). It was like "Band on the Run" was re-recorded for the 00's. Not the same songs, but just the style and the feel of it, at least to me. I'm a huge Wings/McCartney fan and I just really loved "The Major Labels" album.

At that point, I geeked out and signed up for Bleu's email list so that I wouldn't miss future releases.

That brings us to "Watched Pot". I may have this wrong, but I seem to remember reading that Bleu's label held this album up for years and only now, he's able to release it. Bleu fans can crucify me if I've messed that up. THIS JUST GOES TO SHOW WHAT FOOLS THE RECORD COMPANIES ARE THESE DAYS.

Out of all the "new artists" I've heard over the past 10 years, THIS GUY should've gotten the biggest push. Seriously brilliant pop songwriter and singer. His songs just "Hit" you in that HappyMusicPlace. This guy is the real deal.

The songs on this album are so great that other artists (BIG ONES) are recording them hoping to have hits. Hanson did a good job of "Go"- But Bleu's is MUCH more deep and personal sounding.
Another artist recently is covering "Boy Meets Girl" (don't recall who it was). I cannot believe it will be as infectious as Bleu's recording.

For me the album highlight is "Come n Go". You get this slow-ish song that picks up into just a brilliant chorus with Bleu's sky-high falsetto. By the way, I caught Bleu live last week in Seattle and as a singer myself, I was amazed at his ability to switch in and out of a falsetto voice that seemed to never reach a ceiling. The voice you hear on the album is the voice you hear live. It's really amazing.

If you're looking for a way in with Bleu- try "Redhead". If you want something a bit slower and deeper, yet just as good, go with "Watched Pot".

As another poster said- the "Explicit" tags are incorrect. Only one song features that. The rest are plenty accessible.

BUY THIS GUY'S STUFF.

As a professional musician based in Las Vegas, I've pretty much seen and heard it all so when my drummer gave me a copy of Bleu's "Redhead" album a few years ago, I didn't have very high expectations. What I discovered was probably the single most talented and inspiring artist I've heard since The Beatles or Brian Wilson. "A Watched Pot" picks up where "Redhead" left off and the results are nothing short of pure genius. This guy is absolutely brilliant. I find myself listening to this album at least twice a day. It's THAT good. Not only is the songwriting among the best I've heard in recent memory, Bleu's voice is nothing short of amazing. Effortlessly flowing from pop to rock to soul and even a few operatic moments, Bleu can hold his own with the best vocalists in music both past and present. It's truly a crime that artists like Bleu have to take a backseat to the dreck that passes for music these days. Anyone that tries to tell you that good music ended in the 70's, needs to take a listen to this album. This is just as good if not better than anything that has come before. Artists like him give me hope for the future of music. Do yourself a favor and pick this album up. It'll more than likely be the best musical investment you've made in a loooog time.

Jeff Celentano
[...]

This album is nothing short of brilliant. The biggest criticism people have of this album is that it doesn't have enough uptempo songs on it. I too wish that it had more songs like "I won't go Hollywood" on his last album, Redhead. However, the songs on this album are so good that it doesn't even matter that they are mostly slow to mid tempo songs. Of the 11 (or 12, if you count the secret song) songs on here, there are only 2 that I don't really like all that much. The rest of the songs are for the most part genius. The production is amazing and Bleu's vocal skills are stellar. Almost every song on this album has "that" sound that most albums only have on one or two singles. You can tell that a lot went into the production of this record, and the more you listen to it the more you want to listen to it. The bottom line: If you are a fan of good music you will love this album. If you're ONLY a fan of rock then you probably will think it is too slow, but if you just appreciate good music then you will love this album. It is a shame Bleu isn't more popular, he is truly a brilliant artist.

As usual Bleu produces a terrific album where the more you listen the more you want to hear. This is one of his best and he get's better every time - this is a definite buy. I'm loving it.

I was originally introduced to Bleu when National Public Radio played a fifteen second clip from his "Redhead" CD before going to commercial break. I was stunned. "What was that?" In those few seconds I felt that I heard musical brilliance. I immediately searched out and picked up that CD and just couldn't put it down. The songwriting, the production, the vocals and mostly the emotions that it stirred was unlike anything I heard or felt in a very long time (and I'm 53 years old!).

I followed his progression and listened to whatever mp3's he made available on his Bleutopia website. After hearing "No Such Thing As Love" and "Go" I could only smile and shake my head. This guy is the real thing. Not only are his vocals perfect, but he knows how to craft a song that takes the listener on a emotional journey. This CD is filled with great songs. No, it doesn't have the power pop energy of "Redhead" but it is great for all the same reasons. Well written songs, masterfully performed, carried by stellar vocals. This guy is amazing.

I have never seen Bleu perform live simply because he never plays anywhere local. He does appear in Manhattan every so often, but a two hour train ride to see a show that starts at 10:00 at night is rough for me these days. Still, I may have to cash in my 7-11 coupons, take in as much coffee as I can hold, and make the trip. Someone this special doesn't come around that often. Brilliant!

I first learned about bleu through myspace and later purchased the ELO-tribute album "Alparcas Orgling" from the band L.E.O. feat. bleu! This here is his newest solo effort, and I like it very much. Being a pro musician myself and a great Beatles admirer, this is a great bunch of musical tunes!

Bleu has a campaign for his new album! You can now preorder the new CD called "Four" (scheduled for autumn 2010).
But that's not just it! Let the man himself explain it here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/135544614/the-best-bleu-cd-release-of-all-time-because-of-yo

To sum it up, if you spend money for promoting this CD you can get
- the CD (not very surprising) - also with an autograph
- unreleased stuff
- a handwritten 'Thank You' card
- tickets to his show
- he will COOK for you
- a video chat
- a birthday song written by him
- a house concert (in the USA)
- produce a song with him
- choose a song title for the next CD
- and finally: his big "Thank you"
So people - you know what you have to do!