Equally Cursed And Blessed

Catatonia

February 2, 1998

41 ratings

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Equally Cursed And Blessed

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MP3 Music, February 2, 1998

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$9.49

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Audio CD, Import, May 25, 1999

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Audio, Cassette, January 1, 2000

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	Sample this album Title by Artist 0:00 / 0:00
1	Dead from the Waist Down	4:02	$1.29
2	Londinium	4:35	$1.29
3	Post Script	4:56	$1.29
4	She's a Millionaire [Explicit]	4:19	$1.29
5	Storm the Palace	2:38	$1.29
6	Karaoke Queen	5:03	$1.29
7	Bulimic Beats	3:43	$1.29
8	Valerian	4:20	$1.29
9	Shoot the Messenger	3:58	$1.29
10	Nothing Hurts	3:11	$1.29
11	Dazed, Beautiful and Bruised	3:41	$1.29
12	Road Rage	5:08	$1.29
13	Mulder and Scully	4:11	$1.29

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Customer reviews

5 star		71%
4 star		15%
3 star		12%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Brlane

wonderfully catchy tunes

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2017

Verified Purchase

catatonia is one of those great bands that never got any real mainstream exposure.. the songs are super catchy and entertaining
i actually first heard of them from a pepsi promotion some years ago in the late 90s where you picked some songs from a list and mail it into ge ta cd, so after loving the 2 songs i got (londinium and storm the palace) i bought the full album. take a chance and try the music its too good to pass up

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Carlos Rodriguez

Great band

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2011

Verified Purchase

I search for catatonia's music and I buy almost five cd,s from this band, really i love the music from catatonia and Cerys voice is so sweet really i'm in love by these songs, and the costumer was the best thank,s.

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Mr. B. G. Fowler

Great follow-up to 'International Velvet'

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2002

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.

One person found this helpful

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Steven G. Harms

I love this album, I love Cerys, I love the Lyrics.

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2002

Let's state the obvious. Cerys Matthews is a total babe. See cover.
OK but can she sing?
Well, yes, but sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes she does. She's a bit like Bjork this way. I'm not sure it's singing and I'm not sure it's good, but I sure as hell like it.
The song opens with "dead from the waist down" a lounge-act song about the nihilism of our consumer age. It's so lovely it's the kind of beautiful music that goes with a horrible disaster.
But the indictment doesn't stop there, Cery's interesting voice indicts London for the cesspool it is (interesting as a comparison point in Tool's AEnima). Cursing the 'black cabs' in 'the neon disease' you can feel the Welsh angst about Londinium.
Tracks 3 and 4 mark a waning in my interest, a complaint about using the church to fix mental problems and something about rich chicks. However, the writers of the catatonia lyrics have a gift for clever lyrics so these are even fairly interesting (D.I.Y gynecology?).
Storm the palace again attacks the monarchy. Rinse. Repeat.
We return to the melodic dissociation of track one with bulemic beats and valerian. valerian is great -- it has this great craggy oceanside vista on the english coast feel about it. I love these two tracks. 'Nothing Hurts' a little later falls into this same genre.
Shoot the messenger isn't al that great.
But then comes dazed beautiful and bruised. god what a song and Cerys totaly belts it out. She's putting her all into this song. Something about being a survivor and being beautiful for it. This is the song for everyone who wants someone out there and is not willing to settle. Man that's totally inspiring.
Now on my CD I also got Road Rage and Mulder & Scully which were released on the 97 "International Velvet" record. They're pooppy and accessible tunes -- and mighty fine at that.
With the demise of Catatonia this year, I believe this record (or IV) will stand as their crowninng achievement.

3 people found this helpful

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glenn p hefner

Good, but get ahold of their previous two albums

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2000

I bought Equally Cursed and Blessed in the UK nearly a year ago. It's interesting that it was (just) released in the US with two extra tracks - very good ones - from their previous release International Velvet, which I feel is a superior album. I like the band's sound. Cerys has an oustanding voice, and the rockier songs are as good, maybe slightly better, than their ballads. Also, one has to be impressed with their lyrics; there are some really clever lines. Nevertheless, EC&B has its good moments and its not-so-good, and I find the album fairly uneven, especially after having long-admired International Velvet and their first album, Way Beyond Blue, both of which are must-haves. It's doubtful they'll experience success here; they certainly won't replicate the considerable success they have in the UK, and I doubt they even care: their anti-American stance has been pretty well documented. In any event, I'll just appreciate their music from afar.

One person found this helpful

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Paul B.

ooo sha la la

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2000

This is a spirited, lively group of songs by a very talented band. It's part moody/introspective, and part bouncy hooks. It doesn't get monotonous or repetitive. Standouts include "Karaoke Queen", "Mulder and Scully", "Road Rage", "She's A Millionaire", "Londinium",... have I named the whole CD yet? The sound is in some ways reminiscent of Blondie's "Eat to the Beat" -- driving rhythm and melodic in places, pop yet unique. You may be put off at first by Cerys' voice -- but you'll soon be captivated and surprised at the range of emotions she delivers.
Take a look at Blondie's second album, "Plastic Letters" (listen to it too!) -- do you see the similarity between that cover and the U.S. cover of "ECB"? Promo shots of the band on the Atlantic site also mirror the "Blondie" look, accenting Cerys by putting the rest of the band in black. Interesting.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Simon Brown

Sublime

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2007

Verified Purchase

I ordered this album without great expectation after seeing an average score of 4 stars here on amazon, but it has greatly exceeded my expectations. In my opinion it's every bit as good as Way Beyond Blue and International Velvet.

As always with Catatonia there's real variety of musical style here, from the ultra pop melodies of Karaoke Queen, Londinium and She's A Millionaire to the more serious and sophisticated Bulimic Beats and Shoot The Messenger and the awesome and powerful Dazed, Beautiful and Bruised, which is possibly Catatonias best piece of music, and would be one of the best songs I've ever heard if it had an extra verse.

As well as the variety there's the same top notch songwriting all the way through the album, and of course Cerys Matthews wonderful voice. Maybe it's not pop enough for some people, but Catatonia albums have always had this same variety. Otherwise I'd have to figure some people made up their minds after only one listen, which doesn't work with any music.

If you like any of the other albums you need to own this one too. Only tiny downside, no welsh language songs.

2 people found this helpful

Robert Rocks

Good, but not as good as its predecessor

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

The follow-up to International Velvet struggles to match the excellence of its predecessor. However, this album is still worthy of your consideration in many respects including as it does the lilting 'Dead From The Waist Down', the classy 'Londinium' and the unusually titled, yet lovely, 'Bulimic Beats'. I would recommend adding it to your collection if only to compare and contrast with its predecessor.

Mrs G Steadman

I just love it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 26, 2013

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I am maybe too old for this type of music but I must admit I love Catatonia & really enjoy this album.

Wazzer

Pretty average

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2014

Verified Purchase

Apart from the obvious singles which begin this CD, I get bored usually halfway through and don't play the remaining tracks - music is a little predictable and voice samey - the slower tracks providing some depth - otherwise very average.

lee jones

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2016

Verified Purchase

Got it thanks

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