Now this is an album! Everything from the title, to the cover, to the music contained within is so beautiful and intimate and enveloping. This is without a doubt, the best album The Ocean Blue has ever made. With its being remastered and brought back out into the public, now everyone can hear how wonderful alternative music could be without all the angst and hostility.
The album kicks off with one of the best opening tracks I’ve ever come across: “Breezing Blue” builds on a drum beat but then lifts into one of the most serene, contemplative rock songs from the last 25 years. It’s just an absolute masterpiece and one of the best songs ever, in this writer’s humble opinion.
This is also the album that gave us one of the greatest singles to ever grace the radio, “Ballerina Out Of Control,” an absolutely amazing track that tugs at your heartstrings when you’re not busy dancing to its hypnotic rhythm. The other great single, “Mercury,” also ties into the fall/winter vibe that the whole album gives off. The first two Ocean Blue records are perfect for listening to when the weather starts to get a little cooler. Even the videos for this album’s tracks give off that vibe and it is amazing that even all these years later, listening to this record still gives off the feeling of cooler weather.
This time around, the band managed to find their own distinct sound, particularly on tracks like “When Life Was Easy” and another personal favorite “A Separate Reality.” They also manage an homage/tribute to one of their biggest influences, The Smiths, on “I’ve Sung One Too Many Songs For A Crowd That Didn’t Want To Hear.”
Overall, out of all three Sire records getting the vinyl treatment from The Ocean Blue and looking over their discography as a whole, Cerulean is the best record they’ve ever put out.