Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise
Time to Discover (2000)

review by: Glenn Pfeifer
Date: 10/26/00

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise may be one of the last hopes for straight-up, funky R&B...you know the kind of good music that you can't find on the radio anymore. Some of the tunes on this disc (which I think is either RBBS' second or third major label release) may be a bit simple and non-lyrical for some – but it's refreshing to hear great melodies that are rooted in inspirational soul tunes, rather than the predictable pop that has taken over the world. Check this disc out if, like me, you're tired of formula-driven, TRL-inspired garbage and techno-laden overdubs....R&B shall survive! gp fife

Three cheers for 2 Walls Webzine. When I first logged on to this site, at the request of the best looking reviewer, Mike Webb, of NY, NY, the Robert Bradley review was among the first I read. I purchased the CD and what I found out was that Time to Discover is definitely the best record of 2000 and could possibly be the best record by an American artist in decades.

I have played Time to Discover for numerous friends. The first was Webb, who played air drums and guitar to the record as if he heard it a million times before. The second was a restaurant owner buddy of mine who was sold the minute he heard Robert Bradley's gravely voice. He promptly burned the CD and plays it repeatedly in the restaurant.

I also recommended the record to two friends who were passing through the big, bad apple one night. They called me from the road, somewhere outside of Boston, to tell me that it was the best purchase of music they made in years.

Four people, with four different preferences in music have all rallied around this record. Time to Discover is so good that it will make you like Kid Rock, who appears on the first track of the album. Any end of the year list that you read that doesn't include Time to Discover is as fraudulent as the Florida election process.

Two 2 Walls Webzine reviewers can't be wrong. With ringing endorsements from Glenn Pfeifer and Alexander Washburn, I went online and purchased Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, Time to Discover. Looks like I'm jumping on the RBBS bandwagon.

Wow. I don't know what to say that hasn't been said. I think Glenn has already coined the perfect description. "Straight-up, funky R&B." That says it all.

When I got this CD in the mail, it was at the end of a very long, stressful day. By the time I got home from work, it was dark and cold, my young son was in already in bed, and there was leftovers waiting in the microwave. After eating dinner, I plopped down on the couch and flipped through the mail and surfed through some god-awful television. When I found my RBBS CD I decided this was as good a time as any to give it a spin. So in the dark I listened.

As soon as you hear Robert Bradley sing, "I saw lightning, I heard thunder…", you know you've got something special. I don't know how to describe this. It's mellow enough to sit and enjoy, but it's also impossible to keep your head from bobbing and toes from tapping. It's just really great music. It's the type of music that makes you appreciate music. If that makes any sense.

I haven't written a review about a CD that I didn't listen to for at least a month or two. I've only had this CD for two days and I can't imagine what type of person would not enjoy this. Thanks guys.