Customer Reviews

No Stranger

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tom Cochrane is "No Stranger" when it comes to his distinct vocals and outstanding songwriting. After an eight-year hiatus since, Tom delivers a well-worthwhile CD.
The opening track "The Party's Not Over" is an appropriate opening as if Tom is saying, "here I am", as it perfectly segues into "Glide". While Tom's vocals and songwriting withstands the hands of time, the disc lacks any rockers. Mostly a softer sound, perhaps the only up-tempo tracks include "Didn't Mean", "Rough and Tumble", "Spirit in the Sky" and the haunting "Since You Left Me". While Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" appears to be an odd choice for Cochrane to cover, he adopts the song as one of his own. Instead of performing the song in the familiar sense, Tom breathes new life into the 60's classic and interprets it so uniquely, that it sounds like it is a brand new song. Overall, Tom has not disappointed this long time fan. Excellent song writing, guitar playing, and vocals, has proven once again that Tom is NO Stranger to the music scene.

Personal Favs:
White Horse
Didn't Mean
Since You Left Me
Rough and Tumble

I've been waiting eight years since the release of X-Ray Sierra, Tom's last album of new material. Great vocals and lyrics, a little more mellow than previous albums, but worth the wait!

An ordinarily satisfactory release from talented Tom Cochrane, but this is no "Mad Mad World" by any stretch of imagination, but has a few gems interpersed within this album. My favourite song from this album is track 2 "Glide": Life's a highway it's been said, Sometimes the road gets rough it hurts my head...,Tom Cochrane sings, great song! Other notable songs are "The Party's Not Over", "White Horse", "Didn't Mean", "Rough And Tumble", "Out Of My Head", "Deep Breath" & "Northern Star". Overrall quality of the release is satisfactory but well below par that of the landmark 1991 album release "Mad Mad World". It's rather mellow, just a bit better than "X-ray Sierra" album (his weakest). Hoping for a better next release by the talented Tom Cochrane!

I've been a fan for years since I first heard Lunatic Fringe. I've been buying everything I can find that he's put out. I never heard of this till I saw it on Amazon. I think it's a good album but would recommend his Live album Symphony Sessions if you want to hear what this guys capable of first. Still a buyer though.

More very listenable, good song writing from Tom Cochrane of Red Rider fame. I liked this album more with each play which is always a good sign. "No Stranger" has a light rock, somewhat country music feel, which is consistent with Cochrane's tendency away from his Red Rider mainstream rock work of the 80's.

Any non-Canadian who is hunting down Tom Cochrane's latest release and not a 90s "One Hit Wonder" compilation featuring "Life Is a Highway" already knows how great of a songwriter and performer this guy is. And if you're that kind of fan, then just settle in and buy this album. This one contains all the signature storytelling and catchy tunes from previous works. The best thing about Cochrane's work is his ability to capture rich imagery and evoke strong emotions with a few simple words in a verse.

"No Stranger" will disappoint to some degree if the listener expects the guitar driven rock of earlier Cochrane efforts. Compared to XS, this is a collection of slower-paced songs for the most part, with more focus on acoustic guitar. In fact, the first part of the album seems almost like one long piece, with the tracks segueing nearly seamlessly into each other.

Toward the end of the disc, things pick up with "Since You Left Me" and "Spirit in the Sky", which also sound as if they were developed on stage as a sort of medley. I don't care for the original recording of "Spirit in the Sky" but TC puts some teeth and grit into it with his cover, making it something I can enjoy. My favorite track on the disc is "Didn't Mean"; it's a great chord progression and rhythm; I was compelled to break out the guitar to play along with it.

I was hoping for another Xray Sierra (an excellent album in all respects) but to be honest I'm simply glad Cochrane got back into the studio. There are plenty of gems on this record, which is rewarding enough for his fans.

The production of this CD is not quite as lavish as Tom's first big solo CD - Mad Mad World, but its probably his best work since. This isn't a big, fast-tempoed, rock record centered around blazing guitar tracks. I would best describe it as compilation of Dillonesque slow-to-moderate tempoed folk ballads. Most of the songs have a very straightforward beat allowing the individual parts "and vocal lines" to "dance" around it, with the occasional crunch guitar to highlight certain parts. The only negative thing I could say about the entire CD is the drum sound on track five (Didn't Mean); great song -- some beautiful guitar highlights during the verses -- but that snare and those cymbals -- ugh! Overall, this is a very good CD with plenty of infectious melodies and - like all of Tom's work - never short on words. I would recommend it.