Customer Reviews

Strange Kind of Love

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hearing "Hallelujah Man" for the first time on the radio moved me like nothing I'd heard since "Sultans of Swing." It was so deliciously perfect and superior to the usual FM drivel I knew it would never be allowed to be a hit. Ultimately the Lords of Radio realized their error and let it die. But I bought the CD and found to my amazement that every other song on the album was just as good. "Strange Kind of Love" is by far the best of the albums to come from the British "Romantic Rock" groups of the 80s. Steely Dan producer Gary Katz really makes the music shine, and James Grant's vocals are dynamite. That "Hallelujah Man" predates the emergence of David Koresh by several years only adds to the spell. I still come across this CD at used record stores, but if you're in a hurry spend the money and buy it new. If you're a lover of mature, intelligent rock I guarantee you won't regret it.

There once was a group called FRIENDS AGAIN. Radio stations
all over my hometown (Thessaloniki, Macedonia Hellas)
played their two magnificent pop songs, South Of Love &
State Of The Art, over and over again. The group split
after a while. Stu the drummer went on to form Texas after
a few years with Hipsway's bass player Johnny. James (the singer) & Paul (the sound wizard) formed LOVE & MONEY.
Til' now it remains a mystery to me why this 2nd LP
(not to mention their first) never made it up the
British charts. Not even the singles. There doesn't
seem to be any logical explenation except the old Hellenic saying: No prophet is welcome at home. James Grant though,
never was as cynical as MATT JOHNSON (Heartland: this is the 51st State of the USA). This album's A-side is the 2nd
best first side of an LP (after PREFAB SPROUT'S Steve
McQueen). Jocelyn Square is an absolute pop masterpiece,
the late Jeff Percaro & Gary Katz are superb, James' guitar
is singing along wanly. I can't ask for anything more.

One of the pinnacles of chinky-ckinky guitar meets bass. A beautiful balance between rhythm and aching blues lyrics. Scotland was invented for Love and Money and The Blue Nile. Dogs in Traffic their other album is equally exceptional

What can I say that hasn't already been said? I've had this album since it first came out in 1988. Bought it when our local radio station played "Halleluiah Man". I was absolutely stoked to find that every song on the album is an absolute masterpiece. I'd be hard pressed to pick a favourite, with "Strange Kind of Love" and "Inflammable" vying for first place and "Halleluiah Man", "Shape of Things to Come", "Strange Kind of Love", "Walk the Last Mile" and "Avalanche" an extremely close even second and the rest an even third place - there really are no bad songs on this album. I have to also say that I'm partial to the message in the lyrics of "Razorsedge" and "Up Escalator". Based on this album, I'd love to hear their other albums, but of course, they're particularly hard, if not impossible to find at our traditional record stores. This album has consistently been one of my very favourite records since I've had it.

I must say that having owned this CD since it was released some ten years ago or so, that I still play this disc a lot. As a matter of fact, it's playing in the background as I'm typing this review. I was turned on to this band back in 1988. Every song on this CD is a real gem, and is a great example of the marriage between great songwriting, intelligent, deeply moving lyrics, excellent musicianship and great grooves. I agree with the others who have stated that it's too bad that most of the US, and indeed the world, didn't get to hear one of the greatest bands of all times. I only saw their video to "Halleluiah Man" once late night on MTV. But I was instantly hooked and rushed out to get the CD "Strange Kind of Love". I immediately fell in love. And I'm glad I bought it, since it's only available as an import now, having been out of print for so long. Thanks, James Grant, and others on this album, for giving us such a great example of what popular music can be! I also have "Littledeath", which had to wear on me, but I love for different reasons. It really is a different record, but still a beautiful one. I'll have to locate a copy of "Dogs In The Traffic". Guys, any possibility for a reunion, recordings, tour? One can hope!!!

Way back in the day, I bought L&M's first album All You Need Is... on the basis of Candybar Express. It was a cool album, so I kept my eyes open for a second album. After what seemed like years (and probably was), I heard Halleleuiah Man on the radio. The DJ didn't say who it was, but the vocals were unmistakably James Grant's. And what an excellent song it was - tight, upbeat, and powerful. Like something you could imagine Simple Minds doing in their 'Live in the City of Light' period (if Jim Kerr was as good a lyricist as James Grant). I knew the album the single came from would be astounding, and rushed out to buy it the day it was released.

I wasn't disappointed, although the album was a lot more subdued, for the most part, and didn't carry the same groove and swagger of Halleleuiah Man throughout. But it does contain some of my favorite songs of all time. My absolute favorite is Shape of Things To Come, which is just simply beautiful. The perfect love song. The whole album is good (though I'm not overly keen on Up Escalator), and one of the few albums I bought in the '80s that I keep coming back to (the other being The Bible's Walking the Ghost Back Home - which you sould also check out!).

I prefer this album to Dogs In The Traffic (which James rates has his best), and I don't have All You Need Is... on CD (and my turntable is in storage) so I can't compare it to that one. It's a shame L&M split when they did, but to be honest, I really don;t think they could have surpassed this masterpiece if they'd kept going another 20 years.

Why this release never really made it big is puzzling. If you like croony or even funky tight pop (like Bryan Ferry, Cousteau, The Beautiful South, etc.) with great instrumentals, this CD is a MUST! The songs are great, and the arrangements and production akin to the high-standards quality Steely Dan puts out! One of rock-pop's most tasteful and lofty moments! Listen to it on a 'better' stereo system and the vocals will blow you away!

I just want to say that I have just heard "Strange Kind of Love" cd for the first time on 4/6/02. I was traveling to the beach with someone very special. She put the cd in and I fell in love with this wonderful music. The lyrics and music are just incredible. It is warm, sexy, upbeat and romantic. Hard to find music where every track is very good. I favor track 2, "Shape of Things to Come". Thanks Raye.

It's amazing how a pop masterpiece like SKOL was almost completely ignored by the public, even in the UK. I was living there at that time and couldn't understand how was posible to the people in general not to fall in love with the marvellous tunes that filled this album. Good musical taste, obviously (as in other areas of art) is not heritage of the masses, nor of some of the press critics at that time either.

Katz produced all Steely Dan's albums, but the last one had been in 1980 or so. By '89 I was more than ready for some new music.

After a few listens, I went out and bought the CD -- I knew this one would be a keeper.

The songs are clear without being obvious, and Katz' production makes L&M sound smoother and fuller than on "All You Need Is..." Grant and his mates can be proud of this one.