Hello Stranger [Import]

Darren Hanlon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 21, 2002)
• Original Release Date: March 21, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Drive-In
• ASIN: B000065SZ5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,286 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Hello Stranger, Darren Hanlon's highly anticipated debut album is a splendid collection of musical alchemy. The eclectic ten songs produced by Chris Townend (producer of Portishead/ member of Sun) highlight the unique Darren's songwriting and singing talent. After the promise of his successful "Early Days EP" the new album continues his pop exploration with its varied arrangement and instrumentation. The album is a snapshot of the Hanlon world - charming, naive and just a little bit different. Darren's songwriting continues to shine with his unique twist on everyday life. Glorious pop moments fill the album in "Hiccups (how to cure them)" and "Punks Not Dead (an ode to a flatmate)." The humble bike stand gets its moment in the song, in the aptly titled "Kickstand Song." Frida Eckland from Sweden takes the lead vocals duties on "Cast Of Thousands," taking delight in someone else's pain. Amongst the many highlights on the album, the trilogy of "Don't Cheat The Future," "Security Leakâ" & "That's How I Knowâ" show Darren's skewed take on the world and his ever impressive songwriting. And like he showed with "Falling Aeroplanes," Darren does the heartfelt without the saccharine on "He Misses You Too, You Know" and the wonderful closer "Last Night Of Not Knowing You." Hello Stranger is a journal of stories that Darren has gathered in recent years travelling. In the last two years he has toured the USA, UK, Sweden and Japan. Darren's live shows are simply amazing. Already he's played with the likes of Billy Bragg, Magnetic Fields, Evan Dando and Augie March. His "Early Days" Australian Tour sold out in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. "Hellos Stranger" debuted at No.15 on the ARIA Alternative Album Charts. The "Early Days" EP reached No.17 on the ARIA Alternative Charts and still remains at No. 3 on the AIR Charts after 52 weeks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music for happy days, September 26, 2002

By 

"nbmoore2" (Canberra, ACT Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hello Stranger (Audio CD)

Hello Stranger is a great collection of songs that show what great indie rock is coming out in Australia. Sticking pretty closely to what could be described as the "Candle Records" sound, Darren Hanlon has recorded a set of songs that nicely capture moments (Last Night of Not Knowing You) or characters (The Kickstand Song). The songs are humourous in a goodnatured way, and the tunes are catchy without being too unusual. If this make it sound a little safe, it's not. Varying from the jolly punning of "Punk's not dead"("Punk's not dead, she's just gone to bed) to the comforting "He Misses You To, You Know" this is heartfelt, funny, and melancholy, often all three at once.

Some people find this a little too "cute", but if you are a fan of The Lucksmiths or The Simpletons, then I reckon you would get a kick out of Darren Hanlon.

5.0 out of 5 stars Darren Hanlon is silly and amazing!, October 21, 2005

By 

Jonah L. Walker "Video Editor, Compositing Ar... (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hello Stranger (Audio CD)

This is such a great album. Folky rock with a very good sense of humor. Australian Hanlon formerly of the Simpletons is a great listen. My favorite song is Operator...Get Me Sweden about a long distance love affair, where he is trying to connect to his love with the help of an operator, and hope his loves stays preserved like the Vasa (a sunken ship and superbly presered ship in Sweden), and Punk Rock Girl will be a new anthem for any punk rock girls you know. You can't go wrong with Darren Hanlon.

5.0 out of 5 stars Do you need to smile?, October 18, 2002

By 

"cheesy_dave" (Hobart, Tasmania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hello Stranger (Audio CD)

I really loved this album. If you liked all the early Belle and Sebastian, or like the quirkiness of They Might Be Giants then this should be sitting right next to them on the shelf.

However, if you don't like enjoying your music, go listen to some math rock and stop whinging about music being pretty, humourous, fun and/or beautiful.