Musocity - robertbradley's blog

RBBS - Vintage Guitar Magazine

2009-08-11T22:10:00Z

While Robert Bradleyâs Blackwater Surprise deals in styles of music done by many bands â R&B, rock, soul, and jazz â it always brings an edge most bands donât offer.

Out of the Wilderness, the bandâs first studio record in five years, has that feel. The inherent soulfulness of Bradleyâs vocals lets the band do things others cannot.

For example, the title cut is a droning stomper where guitarists Matthew Ruffino and Zachary Throne weave around each otherâs playing, while Bradleyâs plaintive and soulful voice, dips in and out,displaying on of the strengths that carry throughout this record â slide guitar and loud electric that mix nicely. Some goes for âGood Times in My Life,â aslice of soulful rock with guitars that lock like pieces of a puzzle. âAmericalandâfeatures funky wah chords and single notes that mix beautifully. The rock/soul mix of âCryinâ My Eyes Outâ features churning rhythm guitars, nice fills, and asolo that would make Carlos Santana proud. âBeautiful Girl is a old fashioned soul tune that lets one guitarist play lovely changes while the other pops in and out with single notes.

The interplay and vocals are the key; everything is slightly off-kilter, but in the best way possible.

âJH

RBBS - Honest Tune Review

2009-08-11T22:03:00Z

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise

Out of the Wilderness

Written by Tim Newby

06/22/2009

Five years after his last studio album (and after some shuffling of the line-up of his band), blues-man Robert Bradley is back with Out of the Wilderness. The album was born out of

Bradleyâs desire to return to his roots as a musician; he says that it is as simple as, âme at the piano, with the musicians around me finding my groove.â And find a groove they do.

Out of the Wilderness is a straight-forward, no-frills blues album that is propelled by Bradleyâs distinct, old-timey voice that sounds as if heâs squeezing every last syllable out of each word he sings. It is an album that doesnât aspire to be more than what it is, and that is what gives Out of the Wilderness its life. It is an album that sings of simple things â love, a beautiful girl, thinking about old times, and a longing for home â and it is with those simple topics that Bradleyâs wizened voice shines. For Bradley, this simple approach to his music is what he strives for and what he achieves on Out of the Wilderness. âThis record brings me back to the time when I started out wanting to be a singer-songwriter,â he says, âwhere the music did not need the New York Philharmonic to make it real.â

Out of the Wilderness is out now on Quarter2ThreeRecords.

RBBS - BluesWax Review

2009-08-11T21:52:00Z

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise

Out of The Wilderness

Quarter2Three Records

Hear It! Rate It!

BluesWax Rating: 9

Reader Rating: 8

A Little Bit of Soul,Yeah!, (08/05/09)

I remember the first time I listened to the Blackwater Surprise's self-titled first album. The more soul influenced songs I absolutely loved and still do. The songs that they tried to rock out on didn't suit my pallet. Through the years I haven't sought out any of their other records. So, I was open to hear this new disc. I am happy to say that this album stayed away from any kind of a rock sound. Rather, the album is soaked in a modernized Philly soul. There are natural progressions in life, and Robert Bradley is a natural step away from the O' Jays.

This is a pretty smooth CD with some very memorable songs that make bold statements. "Alabama" and "Americaland" are both greatly crafted songs. I wish the lyrics came with the disc. I can't remember having that thought about an album in along time. "Alabama" is a slow piece about longing for home. Anyone who has moved away from where they grew up could relate to this. Bradley really pours himself in to it. His vocals go from pleading to gut wrenching through the song. The latter number is just about living in America. He hits on the hard times, the war, and Rock n roll. This song has a little more funk in it that adds to the grind of what we call the American life. Those are the two standouts.

The final cut, "Everybody Wanna Party," is a great upbeat way to finish the album. The song order goes smoothly, and the opener and closer are both songs that make you want more. Another aspect of the disc I like is the songwriting. Some of the songs deal with the standard relationship material. Those songs are sung with the wonderful feel of Bradley's gritty voice. Then there are the songs about life. Not just between a man and a woman,but the everyday drudgery that we all go through. For some reason it sounds like Robert has done his time punchin' the clock. Moments when those songs are sung make you realize that we have many of the same headaches as the next guy. Sometimes we just need someone like Robert Bradley to point that out.

Don't take this as a true southern Soul album. That it is not. It is more of an urban Soul album. That modern era has touched this disc,and that is very fitting. Robert Bradley and the Blackwater Surprise have their own sound and this album sports it well. Take the O' Jays, Hendrix, and Motown, and you get a clearer picture. Take a listen, and I think you'll get your groove on.

Kyle M. Palarino is a contributing editor at BluesWax. You may contact Kyle

atblueswax@visnat.com.

http://www.visnat.com/entertainment/music/blueswax/albumreviews.cfm?#R3013

RBBS - Blues Bytes - What's New Review

2009-08-11T21:52:00Z

Out of the Wilderness (Quarter 2 Three Records) is the first studio album in five years from Robert Bradleyâs Blackwater Surprise. Bradley,the blind former Detroit street singer, has amazed listeners for the past dozen or so years, with his intense,gospel-influenced vocals and his unique lyrical vision. Combining his gifts with a more alternative sound from his band forms a distinct fusion of soul, blues, and rock.

For this latest release, Bradleyâs soul roots take center stage. Bradleyâs songs usually deal with loss or yearning or hopes for better days,and there are plenty of representative songs on Out of the Wilderness.âBeautiful Girlâ deals with his daughter leaving home for the first time. âAlabamaâ is a longing tribute to Bradleyâs home state (one which earned him a Certificate of Commendation from Alabama Governor Bob Riley), and âAmericalandâ is a song about trying to get by on a daily basis. âCryinâ My Eyes Out,â and âGotta Find A Womanâare two other standout tracks of this type.

Not all the songs are downbeat though. âLove You in the Daytimeâ and âEverybody Wanna Partyâ are both cheerier fare, and the title track finds Bradley optimistic that things will be better. Three songs on the disc (âLove You in the Daytime,â âCryinâ My Eyes Out,â and âEverybody Wanna Partyâ) will be featured in an upcoming motion picture, Love Nâ Dancing. Bradleyâs backing musicians have changed completely since the band got their start recording in 1996. Featured are guitarists Matthew J. Ruffino and Zachary Throne, bass player Larry âBonesâ Dennison, and drummer Oscar Seaton along with percussionists Craig Krampf and Scot Bihlman. Producer Bruce Robb also plays keyboards. The disc was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, which gives the disc more of a vintage R&B sound.

If youâre a fan of classic soul and R&B and are unfamiliar with the talented Robert Bradley, Out of the Wilderness is a great place to start. With his great vocals that recall Ray Charles and his incredible songwriting that rivals anyone currently active in blues or R&B, he deserves to reach a wider audience.

--- Graham Clarke

"Out Of the Wilderness" by Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise is available on iTunes, Amazon, and most other digital distribution outlets.

RBBS - Americana Music Times Review

2009-08-11T21:45:00Z

Robert Bradleyâs Blackwater Surprise â Out of the Wilderness

One of the coolest things about being a music critic is getting the CDs. They comein the mail and many are new to us from someone we have never heard of. Most ofthose are not worth listening to, but once and a while we dump one in theplayer and our ears are treated to pure magic. Robert Bradleyâs BlackwaterSurprise Out of the Wilderness is one of those CDs. It is not a surprise thathe is well known in the midwest and west coast of the US It is also no surprisethat fellow Detroit citizen Kid Rock has used Robertâs smoky voice on some ifhis recordings. Out of the Wilderness is a killer record that grooves and vibesfrom the first note to the last. Robertâs voice has just enough gravel to be delightfuland he gives off some nice memories of great past bluesmen like Muddy Waters.Some of Bradleyâs music is part of the musical score in the movie Love NâDancing to be in theaters summer 2009. Bradley may be blind but his music makespeople see. (KH)

RBBS - BluesNotes Review

2009-08-11T21:44:00Z

Robert Bradleyâs Blackwater Surprise â Out of the Wilderness

On one hand, thereâs blues music. On the other, thereâs soul music. Somewhere in between is Robert Bradleyâs Blackwater Surprise. Bradley is a blind,piano-playing singer songwriter whose gritty vocals power the band through music thatâs as much melodious pop as it is rootsy soul.

The bandâs latest album, âOut of the Wilderness,â (Quarter2Three) is the first studio session for the group in six years, and Bradley says the CD brings him back âto the time when I started out as a singer-songwriterâ¦I wanted to do a record that was innocent. Thatâs why I say âOut of the Wilderness,â because itâs like Iâve been reborn.â

Itâs a fine album. Itâs well written by Bradley with poignant and upbeat songs. Itâs nicely produced and played with precision and passion by a tight band. If youâre a traditional blues fan, however, you might be left scratching your head and wondering where the blues went. Or why BluesNotes is even writing about it.

Good questions. BluesNotes is writing about it not because itâs a traditional blues album, but because, like a lot of rootsy music, it has deep origins in the mists of the blues. And because you can hear the gritty soul in Bradleyâs voice, no matter what he sings. And also because heâd like you to try music that might be a little bit outside the usual blues once in a while.

Billboard Magazine Loves Robert Bradley!!!!

2009-05-05T23:03:00Z

Read the Review:

May 02, 2009 ET