The Album Club: "The Blurred Crusade" by The Church

[Trollheart]

First effort from Neapolitan as an actual contributor. Let's try to be nice, people! Comment, rate, review, vote and discuss here.

[OccultHawk]

I’m gonna go ahead and break the ice a little early on this one. I had never heard it before so I’m going off one initial listen. I cannot believe what beautiful hidden gem this is! This is why Music Banter pays dividends. Waking up on a Sunday morning and discovering this. This record wonderfully encapsulates that certain triumphant pop sound that defines so much of the 80s. I don’t want to overstate what I understand from such a new discovery but my initial reaction is why wasn’t this floating around in my head like Talk Talk Talk and After the Snow? Better late than never. Great pick!

[Neapolitan]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I’m gonna go ahead and break the ice a little early on this one. I had never heard it before so I’m going off one initial listen. I cannot believe what beautiful hidden gem this is! This is why Music Banter pays dividends. Waking up on a Sunday morning and discovering this. This record wonderfully encapsulates that certain triumphant pop sound that defines so much of the 80s. I don’t want to overstate what I understand from such a new discovery but my initial reaction is why wasn’t this floating around in my head like Talk Talk Talk and After the Snow? Better late than never. Great pick!

Thanks. In a way that is all what I was looking for: one person to connect to the music of The Church.


^ click the jpeg for a vinyl recording on YouTube complete with skips.

[rubber soul]

The Church- The Blurred Crusade (1982)


Best Tracks: When You Were Mine, Field of Mars, You Took


Weakest Tracks: An Interlude, Secret Corners.


To be honest, I always thought of the Church, particularly later period Church, as kind of ‘meh.’ Their albums are certainly listenable but, in general, they don’t really hit it out of the ballpark for me.

This is an earlier album though, and they sound fresher than they would later. At their best, they stay close to their jangly pop roots. I especially liked When You Were Mine in that regard. There are a few songs that I would rate as ‘meh’ though none that I actually dislike. A few songs I like quite a bit, notably the songs I have in my best tracks. Overall, it’s a decent collection of modern folk rock.

So, I’m going to rate it a like. Nice pick, Nea.


7/10 (the Word has spoken )

[TechnicLePanther]

Gotta agree with rubber on this one. It's a decently good jangle pop record that lacks many particularly unique or exciting elements, but isn't bland enough to drown out my enjoyment. I also agree that When You Were Mine would be a favorite, alongside To Be in Your Eyes.

7/10 AKA Liked it.

[GunmouthGrace]

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[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by GunmouthGrace

Are... are non-club members allowed to vote?



Either way... I've never heard this before. Truthfully I thought this was gonna end up being kinda meh from the opening track, but then An Interlude grabbed me by the ear with the ending guitar solo, giving me that little nudge to keep listening.

I do think there were some low spots - specifically, the opener Almost With You, Just For You and Secret Corners - but overall I actually liked this. Not as very active listening, mind you, but damn do I dig the laidback vibe.

Anyone can vote, or comment. You just can't suggest an album. Gotta be on the Greenlist for that. Anyone who's no-one is on the Greenlist.

[GunmouthGrace]

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[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by GunmouthGrace

K, thanks I'm perfectly content just hearing these suggestions and offering my take on it.

We're glad to have you. The more the messier. Sorry, I meant to say the mole the messier. No, that's not it. What was it I meant to say? I get so confused... what time is it? Are those my feet?

[Psy-Fi]

This one was a "meh" for me. Never got into them back in the day and the passage of time hasn't changed my opinion of the band. They sound like a lot of other bland, boring, early 80's/mid 80's pop/rock groups of that time. The musicianship is good but nothing in the music, lyrics, or vocals stands out or seems particularly exciting. The production sounds typically bright/clean and treble oriented for albums of that style and time, which is something I've never liked. If there were any rough edges to the music, it's as if they were smoothed off and polished to the point of blandness.

The last 3 tracks were the only songs I found slightly interesting enough to listen to a second time but I probably won't return to them again. Not a particularly bad album, it just went in one ear and out the other without captivating my attention or imagination.

5/10