Which FS MTB? Options

[Freeride]

I know this will be a holy war, but I need a new MTB and some recommendations. I know everything about road bikes and basically nothing about MTB's. I have an old Raleigh Hardtail with Judy shocks and XTR caliper brakes - yeah - I'm old school.

Anyway, I tried one of the Epic Brain FSB's last year in Moab and just loved it. I tried another FSB in Durango but can't remember what it was. Long story short I would like to convert my hardtail to a bar bike and be done with it.

So, I know I don't need/want a full 50lb downhill machine, so mega-travel isn't a worry. I want something more XC to do singletrack on and don't care about giant Northshore teeters and drops.

I know Alpnsk8 was into the Santa Cruz Blur a couple years ago and I've heard lots of goodness about those.

So - help me out - what should I look at and expect to spend?

TIA!