Equally Cursed & Blessed

Catatonia

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 28, 2000)
• Original Release Date: March 28, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00004NRTD
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #158,142 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If International Velvet was Catatonia exploding into the public sights, Equally Cursed and Blessed is the sound of a band realizing what's happened. As such, it is a much more personal album. The opening track "Dead from the Waist Down" provides a tour-bus perspective on America while "Bulimic Beats" is glassily fragile and backs Cerys Matthews's voice with a harp. Catatonia continue to stomp about while displaying wit, particularly with "Londinium" ("I come alive outside the M25") and the wonderful, Clash-influenced "Storm the Palace," an anti-Royalist song suggesting what we can do with the Queen and her house ("Turn it into a bar, let them work in Spar"). Finally, on "She's a Millionaire," Matthews delivers the best pronunciation of the word "gynecology" ever recorded. --Emma Johnston

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pretty good L.P., September 26, 2001

By	D. M. Farmbrough "Dave Farmbrough" (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Stand out tracks are Londinium, Equally Cursed And Blessed, and Mulder And Scully, the strengths of Catatonia are manifold. The lyricsl quality is not only high, it's different, so in the above three examples, we have songs about city life, Princess Diana, and peculiar stuff happening, which make a nice change from love songs. The best thing about this group however has to be the melodies, which are always strong, bear repeated listening, and maintain the quality throughout the album. The vocal oddities of Cerys Matthews just make it that bit more interesting.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, fun pop music., June 12, 2000

By	Donnie L. Tucker "donniet" (usa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Catatonia haven't reinvented the wheel, but they don't need to. This album is really great, fun music. The kind of songs you'll tap your toe to and sing in the shower the next day. There are no skippers on this album, and the US release adds Road Rage and Mulder & Skully, both taken from their excellent, but now sadly out-of-print, International Velvet album.

And I must say that Ms. Matthews has probably the coolest, and cutest, voice ever.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great follow-up to 'International Velvet', January 29, 2002

By	Mr. B. G. Fowler "ben1283" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Most people first heard of Catatonia when they released previous album 'International Velvet'. This, their third album and follow-up to their breakthrough album was anticipated heavily. In many ways this is a more accomplised album, with witty lyrics and a variety of style.

It begins with the single 'Dead From The Waist Down', a rare smoothly seductive tune sung by the ever-gorgeous vocals of Cerys Matthews. This is followed by a little swipe at city life in 'Londinium', with nice little details thrown in such as the M25. In fact, the general feel of several songs on the album seems to be an affectionate, lighthearted swipe at everything varying from the monarchy (the infectious 'Storm The Palace') to millionairesses ('She's A Millionaire'). In this it can often raise a smile, yet it is also an album that is quite capable of a softer undertone. This is particularly evident on the slow number, backed by harps, 'Bulimic Beats'. In many ways its in a similar style to 'Don't Need The Sunshine' from 'International Velvet' or 'Godspeed' from 'Papers, Scissors, Stone', but is definitely a surprise from a band normally famed for its loud and enjoyable vocals.

There's not one filler track here and although it's perhaps not as good as Catatonia's other albums, this is merely because the others are all so excellent. 'Equally Cursed And Blessed' is a real gem.