Customer Reviews

Strange Times

5 star:		(130)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

The Moodies were somewhat adrift from the time they released "Long Distance Voyager" to 1993. With "Strange Times" they have found their way back to perhaps where they really want to be.

If you are a Moodies fan, buy this CD. Play it over and over, and loud, but make sure you have time to focus on the music. The first time I heard this CD, I didn't care for it. Now it is one of my favorites, and it seems like I can't play it enough (it's addictive that way).

The music is much more the pure Moodies sound, without some of the overpowering electronics of some or their 80's CDs. The lyrics are much better than the typical 80s CDs as well. There are a number of love songs, but several of the songs contain elements of the transcendental concepts they once entertained in their 60s and early 70s music. Some of the lyrics are directly on point to concepts that try to consider a more objective view of life on planet Terra and life in general.

Onward to the details:

One of the most interesting pieces is Graeme Edge's contribution, "Nothing Changes." This piece could almost be the last Moodies song/poem of the last Moodies album. I was almost suspicious that was the case, though I now know the Moodies are cutting tracks for a new album to possibly be released fall 2002. Nothing changes takes a look back to the 60s music of the Moodies, and reminisces that while they, and many others, thought that all kinds of turbulent and possibly catastrophic events might occur, they didn't. We are still here, and the world is not really all that different from what it was 40 years ago. Somewhat of a reassuring thought for those of us that lived through the 60s.

Ray Thomas has one contribution to this CD, "My Little Lovely," a song that clearly makes use of his wonderful voice, a voice that remarkably has gotten so much better over time. The only drawback of Ray's contribution to this CD is that there wasn't enough of him. Note to Justin and John: More Ray on the next CD.

John Lodge has a significant contribution on this CD, listed as either writer or co-writer (with Justin, of course!) of 7 of the 14 songs. A few highlights of the solo and combined songs:

"Strange Times" (Hayward/Lodge): This song would have fit on any of their early albums. There is an excellent bridge, and had there been 45 minutes of music just like this, you could have called it 8th Sojourn and it could have been released in 1974 (except the orchestration is much improved over the early albums).

"Sooner or Later" (Hayward/Lodge): This song is an upbeat pop song. The lead guitar I really enjoyed. The only drawback is that I thought John's voice was a bit strained in a couple of places.

"The One" (Hayward/Lodge): My least favorite song on the CD. I think had this song not been on there, I wouldn't have missed it in the least. But, now that I have it, I'd rather have 3.5 minutes of less than great Moodies than none at all.

"Love Don't Come Easy" and "Wherever You Are" (Lodge): Both are very good songs. The first is very good, the second is simple, but beautiful. Neither is as good as John's best, but some of the best of the last 20 years.

"Forever Now" (Lodge): This song supports the theme of the CD. It's a contemplative song that harkens back to the themes of the earliest Moodies albums, again with the reflection that we all wish things could just keep on going, because there is so much more that we could do and feel if we had but the time.

"Words You Say" (Lodge): My vote for John's best on this CD. The orchestration is very good. The eerie ending (and the whole song) is best on a mellow day with the music cranked. The transition to "My Little Lovely" gives me a wonderfully weird feeling, like there was a point to be made, and maybe I missed it. But that's the way a Moodies CD SHOULD make you feel.

Justin is last, listed as either writer or co-writer of 8 songs. Having covered the works with John, only the solos remain:

"English Sunset": The lyrics for this are fair, and occasionally a little corny, but the orchestration is very nice and the bridge is outstanding. The song is a one of longing, maybe longing for roots, but it also subtly says: THE MOODIES AREN'T GOING AWAY!

"All That Is Real Is You": An excellent song in its simplicity. The orchestration is great. This song would be killer as a top 40 song.

"Foolish Love": The lyrics sound a little contrived in places, such as "...no danger, no doubt." Give me a break. I think Justin could have done better. The style of this song reminds me of his CD "The View from the Hill." Like "The One," this song could have been lost and I wouldn't have missed it all that much, but you sometimes have to take the mediocre with the good.

"Haunted" and "The Swallow": Justin really does the moody part of The Moody Blues with these two. Both are reminiscent of the early Moodies music. "Haunted" particularly seems to have a double meaning, exactly what the words say and the reflection back on the Moodies' past. "The Swallow" could be Justin's best song on this CD, and perhaps THE best song on the CD. It would have fit on "In Search of the Lost Chord."

Enough of my blathering on. Stop reading what I wrote and go buy it. This CD is how the Moodies should sound in 2002. You can't recapture precisely the sound of the 60s and early 70s. But you change your sound to fit the (Strange) times, have the flavor of how you started, incorporated with the lessons of what you learned. We all do this in our lives, the Moodies did it in theirs. Go enjoy!

We waited eight long years for "Strange Times", almost a decade and while we have all grown older and have changed,why then is it surprising to find that the Moody Blues have also matured and changed as a band?

I like this CD for what it isn't! It isn't a dinosaur of a band trying to be what they once were. It isn't "Core 7" revisited!

I like the interweaving of the decades on this CD, it's like they have given us a very subtile version of Day's only this time, the CD opens with the very modern technopop sounds of "English Sunset" and ends with a very sharp reminder of where this all began with Graeme Edge's "Nothing Changes" and that ladies and gentleman is why I find "Strange Times" such an appropriate album for the Moodies to give us at the close of this century. A reminder of where we are and a chance to look back and see where we have been.

The Moody Blues very simply gave us the fans our own little time capsule called "Strange Times" in which if you simply listen will hear strains of the very new and touches of the past.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone who has ever listened to a Moodies album and been transported to another time and place, and also to anyone who can appreciate truly exquisite music.

The Moody Blues have been my favourite band since I was a child in the 60's, and I was one of the many who dreamed with "Tuesday afternoon", "Legend of a mind", "Have you heard", "My song"...

I liked what they did afterwards, too, but until a few weeks ago I thought that the real Moodies magic had gone for good with Mike Pinder. Then, oh miracle... I heard some samples from "Strange Times" (thanks Amazon!), immediately bought the album and have listened to it about a hundred times since, each time better than the previous.

Simply put, the magic is back. I love all the 14 tracks: it's uplifting, soul-warming music, with great sound production and arrangements (for example, the mysterious flutey sounds in "Wherever you are" send shivers down my spine).

Each one of the Fab Four gives a superb contribution here: Justin's songs are as beautifully romantic as ever, with his evergreen voice and guitar plus a terrific rhythmic texture in "English Sunset" (one hears and sees the train running through the English countryside) and "The Swallow". John's sound like short symphonic pieces, with a great use of the orchestra and the music developing through the songs in the unique Lodge way... remember "Talking out of turn"?. I agree with many other reviewers that it's a pity Ray composed only a short, though delightful, song here: on the other hand, he sings most beautifully in "Sooner or later" and "Strange times", too. And Graeme... what a joy hearing his deep voice again, and drums played by human hands.

Also, I am a little proud that "Strange Times" was recorded in Italy, a few miles from my home, with Italian engineers, and Danilo Madonia at the keyboards has been, hands down, the best since the unforgettable Mike.

Let's all hope that this has not been the Moodies' magnificent sunset, and that they will keep delighting us... but in any case, thanks, really thanks old boys for all the joy you have given us all these years!

For me, this album has a certain poignancy. My favorite band since I was 11 yrs old, they are like old friends. They are still as creatively strong and versatile as they were when I was so young. Many of the songs are very emotionally honest - from Hayward's anguish on "Haunted" to Lodge's confrontations with finality and loss on "Forever Now". "Strange Times", the song, starts out with a full-blown guitar intro and segues into some pretty swift grooves as the prophetic story continues. "Sooner or Later" and "My Little Lovely" are very listenable tunes. "The Swallow" is a refined and beautiful piece - a real cool, clear song. There is no lack of drama on this cd, to which the well-proportioned orchestrations add nicely. This album is insightful, and there are some really lovely things happening here. Sounds like the Moody Blues just can't stop making great music.

Been listening 2 Strange Times for over a week now. This band is from God. The cover art is becoming, and what a treasure of song inside! Hayward's emotional reach and intensity are phenomenal. On "Haunted" - he's chilling, on "all that is real is you" - he gets real, well sorta. "The Swallow" is framed in cameo by strings, reminds me of a song about a mythical bird, really a well-crafted piece, delightful, tender and doting. It's the only one of his songs that doesn't tear me apart to listen to - take care, my heart. John Lodge's songs are poised, eloquent, full of wisdom and encouragement. The title track, "Strange Times", has great contrasts and energy. "Sooner or Later" is upbeat, inspirational - timely indeed. Ray Thomas and Graeme Edge are on call as flute, drum, english tenor in "My Little Lovely", and veteran cosmic rapper in "Nothing Changes". This cd is as wondrous and moodies as ever & more. The tides of time are indeed strange, and have brought us a great new collection of moody magic and melody.

I've been listening to The Moody Blues for,(I hate to say it,) 30+ years.I like the first seven albums the best and "Blue Jays", but I have to say "Strange Times" is my new favorite. The only song I don't care for that much is "Sooner or later". It sounds a little "bubble gum" to me. Although John made up for it with his other songs on the album. I think that the instrumental arangements are excellent! For example, the orchestral arangements were beautiful. I'm still trying to figure out how much was real strings and how much was synths. I also think that The Moodies were much more creative on this one, maybe because they produced it themselves instead of having to listen to some record company tell them how to play, sing, and arange.I wore my cassette out and I'm going to buy the CD. Dave

Being a big fan of 60's and 70's psychedelic and progressive stuff, I have always been a big fan of the Moody Blues' earlier, more "progressive" albums. So naturally, upon first listen, I was quite disappointed with most of the material on Strange Times, although I can't say that I am now. This is an album that requires a few listens to really appreciate. The lyrics on most of the songs certainly aren't as "mentally challenging" as the Moodys' lyrics of the past, but this should NOT be a deterrent.(At least the songs are about LOVE, and not the vitriol we hear in so much of the other rock music today.) The group is really in fine form here. Lushly beautiful guitar and keyboard arrangements abound and help to really strenghten the music and I'm very pleased with most of the songs. However, except for the great Hayward-penned "English Sunset", I feel that it is John Lodge's efforts on this CD that really shine. I don't know why so many others tend to feel the opposite. Lodge's "Love Don't Come Easy" and "Forever Now" are two of the most beautifully melodic and memorable songs on this CD.(Actually, "Forever Now" would make a great hit single.) The cowritten Hayward/Lodge tunes such as the title track and "The One" are also winners. Unfortunately, much of the Hayward written material is not up to his usual standard of writing and sounds a little tedious. Ray Thomas' only song on the CD, "My Little Lovely" helps to add a breath of fresh air- as his songs always have a way of doing. Too bad that was his only contribution here. Graeme Edge rounds things out very nicely with spoken poetry and music on "Nothing Changes". Strange Times should more than please most anyone.

This CD is an absolute MUST for any die-hard Moodies fan. I fell in love with this CD from the first moment I heard it. The range of music on this album is superb, from Ray's "My Little Lovely" to (my favorite!) Justin's "Foolish Love." Actually, I first heard a lot of the new songs in concert back in August of 1999, and I found them so irresistable that I had to go out and buy the album. I wore my first copy of the CD completely to ruins, and had to buy a second copy! THAT is how good this album is. Once you start listening, you just can't stop. I agree with another reviewer - long live the Moodies!

Even as a long time fan, "Strange Times" is a major disappointment. Justin Hayward's contributions are okay but certainly nowhere near the quality exhibited in his recent solo work (View from the Hill). I listened to it the album twice but nothing truly remarkable.

It was nice to see that Ray Thomas was allowed to make a contribution again. However, John Lodge's contributions largely detract from the album. I couldn't listen the whole way through any of his maudlin songs. I certainly agree with another Amazon review that John Lodge needs to leave the singing to Justin & Ray.

If you're a fan, you'll probably buy it anyway. Otherwise, "Strange Times" is just not on.

Wow, they've done it again! I saw them in concert, and when they played "English Sunset" and "Haunted" for us, I just had to get the new CD. What a great surprise! They sound as fresh and young as ever, and I'm very proud to be one of their devoted fans. "All That Is Real Is You" is a reality check for the heart. If you're reading this and you are a true MB fan, you won't be disappointed with this CD. :o)