ROBERT BRADLEY'S BLACKWATER SURPRISE
''OUT OF THE WILDERNESS''
2009
40:33
1 - Out Of The Wilderness/4:33
2 - Beautiful Girl/3:26
3 - Good Times In My Life/3:52
4 - Alabama/4:55
5 - Americaland/4:46
6 - Love You In The Daytime/3:05
7 - Don't Pour Water/4:18
8 - Cryin' My Eyes Out/4:02
9 - Gotta Find A Woman/4:03
10 - Everybody Wanna Party/3:13
All Tracks By Bradley, Matt Ruffino
Robert Bradley /Piano, Vocals
Craig Krampf /Percussion
Bruce Robb /Organ (Hammond), Producer, Wurlitzer
Oscar Seaton /Drums
Zachary Throne /Guitar
REVIEW
By Steve Leggett
Out of the Wilderness is Robert Bradley's fifth album, and although it's been nearly a half-dozen years since he released one, he still has a fascinatingly hard-to-pin-down style, one that mixes elements of gospel, soul, pop and garage rock into a heartfelt version of blues rock that flirts with the country side of the tracks on occasion. There might be a little Motown in there, too, and considering that Alabama native Bradley was street singing in Detroit when he was discovered, it makes a lot of sense. This new set isn't that different in sound from Bradley's previous outings, but it feels just a little bit more like a personal statement, and there are some beautiful performances here, all highlighted by Bradley's unique voice, which sounds at times like everybody from Tom Waits, Tom Petty, or Randy Newman to a broken-down, hoarse but still soulful Ray Charles. Bradley's songs aren't strikingly brilliant or anything, but when he sings them, a kind of refreshing sincerity and honesty lift up from them, and what might sound simple, trite, or clichéd in the hands of another singer becomes surprisingly poignant. At his best, Bradley just sounds downright wise. There are several clear gems on this new outing, which was produced by keyboardist Bruce Robb, who also produced Bradley's 2003 album Still Lovin' You, including the lead-off (and title) track, "Out of the Wilderness," a scruffy blues that might have fit neatly on Tom Waits' Mule Variations, the simple, poignant, and dignified "Good Times in My Life," "Don't Pour Water," a harsh, hard slab of garage blues, and the impressive "Alabama," a beautifully ragged waltz that sounds like a great lost Randy Newman song. Sure, some of the songs fall a little to the generic side at times, but Bradley's voice usually manages to redeem whatever is there, and this is easily one of his best efforts. He might not be reaching for the moon and stars musically, but there's no denying that Bradley's in touch with his own heart on songs like "Alabama," which sounds more and more like a classic with each listen. In the end, Out of the Wilderness feels like a personal statement, American in every true sense of the word, completely free of pretense, raggedly soulful, and as sturdy, real, and honest as the day is long. Where is anything like this on American Idol?
BIOGRAPHY
By John Bush
An anachronism in the world of late-'90s rock & roll, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise consists of the group's namesake, a wizened Detroit street singer, plus three relatively fresh-faced alterna-kids as a backing band. Robert Bradley was born in Alabama, but gained musical experience and spirit by singing as a child at The Alabama School for the Blind, playing his acoustic guitar at coffeehouses, and piano in Baptist churches. He had spent several years in Detroit by 1994, performing occasionally on the street just to be heard, when guitarist Michael Nehra, bassist Andrew Nehra, and drummer Jeff Fowlkes (formerly in the Detroit band Second Self) overheard Bradley through an open window while rehearsing for a new project. After listening to Bradley sing for an hour, they invited him up to the studio to record several acoustic songs, then invited him to become their vocalist. 
The Nehra brothers' production experience (with Detroit locals Majesty Crush) helped out the group while recording their debut album, 1996's Blackwater Surprise. The band's eccentric background and energetic live show -- almost gospel in feel -- gained them many fans on frequent club dates as well as arena shows opening up for the likes of the Dave Matthews Band, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Widespread Panic, and Maceo Parker. Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise also did well on alternative radio and VH1. Keyboard player Tim Diaz joined up as well prior to the band's sophomore effort, 2000's Time to Discover. In 2002, they released New Ground, followed in 2003 by the softer, piano-based record Still Lovin' You. The next year Bradley starred as fictional bluesman Otis McClanahan in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues, also contributing to the soundtrack, and in 2006 the live two-disc album What About That: New Year's Eve in Bloomington came out, which was recorded during a 2005 concert at the Indiana city's club the Bluebird, one of Bradley's favorite venues.
''OUT OF THE WILDERNESS''
2009
40:33
1 - Out Of The Wilderness/4:33
2 - Beautiful Girl/3:26
3 - Good Times In My Life/3:52
4 - Alabama/4:55
5 - Americaland/4:46
6 - Love You In The Daytime/3:05
7 - Don't Pour Water/4:18
8 - Cryin' My Eyes Out/4:02
9 - Gotta Find A Woman/4:03
10 - Everybody Wanna Party/3:13
All Tracks By Bradley, Matt Ruffino
Robert Bradley /Piano, Vocals
Craig Krampf /Percussion
Bruce Robb /Organ (Hammond), Producer, Wurlitzer
Oscar Seaton /Drums
Zachary Throne /Guitar
REVIEW
By Steve Leggett
Out of the Wilderness is Robert Bradley's fifth album, and although it's been nearly a half-dozen years since he released one, he still has a fascinatingly hard-to-pin-down style, one that mixes elements of gospel, soul, pop and garage rock into a heartfelt version of blues rock that flirts with the country side of the tracks on occasion. There might be a little Motown in there, too, and considering that Alabama native Bradley was street singing in Detroit when he was discovered, it makes a lot of sense. This new set isn't that different in sound from Bradley's previous outings, but it feels just a little bit more like a personal statement, and there are some beautiful performances here, all highlighted by Bradley's unique voice, which sounds at times like everybody from Tom Waits, Tom Petty, or Randy Newman to a broken-down, hoarse but still soulful Ray Charles. Bradley's songs aren't strikingly brilliant or anything, but when he sings them, a kind of refreshing sincerity and honesty lift up from them, and what might sound simple, trite, or clichéd in the hands of another singer becomes surprisingly poignant. At his best, Bradley just sounds downright wise. There are several clear gems on this new outing, which was produced by keyboardist Bruce Robb, who also produced Bradley's 2003 album Still Lovin' You, including the lead-off (and title) track, "Out of the Wilderness," a scruffy blues that might have fit neatly on Tom Waits' Mule Variations, the simple, poignant, and dignified "Good Times in My Life," "Don't Pour Water," a harsh, hard slab of garage blues, and the impressive "Alabama," a beautifully ragged waltz that sounds like a great lost Randy Newman song. Sure, some of the songs fall a little to the generic side at times, but Bradley's voice usually manages to redeem whatever is there, and this is easily one of his best efforts. He might not be reaching for the moon and stars musically, but there's no denying that Bradley's in touch with his own heart on songs like "Alabama," which sounds more and more like a classic with each listen. In the end, Out of the Wilderness feels like a personal statement, American in every true sense of the word, completely free of pretense, raggedly soulful, and as sturdy, real, and honest as the day is long. Where is anything like this on American Idol?
BIOGRAPHY
By John Bush
An anachronism in the world of late-'90s rock & roll, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise consists of the group's namesake, a wizened Detroit street singer, plus three relatively fresh-faced alterna-kids as a backing band. Robert Bradley was born in Alabama, but gained musical experience and spirit by singing as a child at The Alabama School for the Blind, playing his acoustic guitar at coffeehouses, and piano in Baptist churches. He had spent several years in Detroit by 1994, performing occasionally on the street just to be heard, when guitarist Michael Nehra, bassist Andrew Nehra, and drummer Jeff Fowlkes (formerly in the Detroit band Second Self) overheard Bradley through an open window while rehearsing for a new project. After listening to Bradley sing for an hour, they invited him up to the studio to record several acoustic songs, then invited him to become their vocalist.
The Nehra brothers' production experience (with Detroit locals Majesty Crush) helped out the group while recording their debut album, 1996's Blackwater Surprise. The band's eccentric background and energetic live show -- almost gospel in feel -- gained them many fans on frequent club dates as well as arena shows opening up for the likes of the Dave Matthews Band, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Widespread Panic, and Maceo Parker. Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise also did well on alternative radio and VH1. Keyboard player Tim Diaz joined up as well prior to the band's sophomore effort, 2000's Time to Discover. In 2002, they released New Ground, followed in 2003 by the softer, piano-based record Still Lovin' You. The next year Bradley starred as fictional bluesman Otis McClanahan in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues, also contributing to the soundtrack, and in 2006 the live two-disc album What About That: New Year's Eve in Bloomington came out, which was recorded during a 2005 concert at the Indiana city's club the Bluebird, one of Bradley's favorite venues.