Stranger Things (Dig)

Edie Brickell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fantasy
• ASIN: B000FO0AO2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,540 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Reconvening for a new studio project after a fifteen year hiatus can be a shortcut to a disappointing release (see: Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe & the Fish, Poco, and way too many others). Edie Brickell and New Bohemians may actually be stronger now than they were with their late eighties and early nineties pair of hit albums. Brickell's lyrics mix a sense of serendipity with craftsmanship--in fact, the whole band pull off the difficult task of hiding formidable chops under casually friendly garb. Catchy hooks don't just happen, but the band's ability to roll them out without shining spotlights on them is laudable. The musical figure which opens and defines "Early Morning" shows their prowess at even ballad-paced grooves. Brickell's singing throughout is confident, capable of putting across everything from playfully dynamic playground melodies to dream-infused reveries. --David Greenberger

Product Description

Trailblazing combo Edie Brickell & New Bohemians have released their first studio recording in nearly 16 years. Stranger Things, a collection of 13 new songs, was produced by the band and Bryce Goggin, and features Brickell; original New Bohemians Brad Houser, Kenny Withrow, Brandon Aly, and John Bush; plus newly recruited keyboardist Carter Albrecht. This new recording represents the honest, unadulterated, and utterly charming sound of a longtime band just being itself, with tracks that include "One Last Time" and "Oh My Soul." Brickell calls this album a "true beginning," the one effort in which she and her original bandmates perform together as a bonafide group. "It's as close to the combo's live sound as a studio recording can get," she says.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Beginning, August 4, 2006

By 

prisrob "pris," (New England USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Stranger Things (Dig) (Audio CD)

"Brickell calls this album, (the combo's first studio release in 16 years) a "true beginning," the one effort in which she and her original band-mates perform together as a bonafide group, without the addition of session players or too much production sheen. It's as close to the combo's live sound as a studio recording can get. Opening with an addictive little fuzz-toned guitar riff from guitarist Kenny Withrow on the title track, Stranger Things establishes a loose, playful and confident tone. "

Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians broke up 16 years ago after a long tour and at a tine when they forced to fire a teammate- they never got over it. The next year Edie married Paul Simon. During that time they all went their separate ways but kept in touch. Last fall they got together when Edie found a great producer to help them put their sound back together. Edie says that her husband, Paul Simon, is a role model. "He does what he wants to do, he finds a way to get things done" says Edie. And that is what this group has done they have put themselves back together again.

The 13 songs on this CD are well written and sung. They have a sound of rhythm and blues at times and then light and airy. My favorite is "Buffalo Ghosts" and then the title song "Stranger Things". "Early Morning Breakup" has the wistful, longong tones of a romance that could halve been. Al in all, the 13 songs are strong and this group has found their rightful place again. Edie's voice is as strong as ever and at times you wonder if the group ever left. My best friend and I remember Edie Brickell and are glad she brought back her musical repertoire.

Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians remember them? They are a more mature group but their early years are found in the lyrics and tones of love and loss. Highly Recommended prisrob 8-4-06

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Respectable, Just Not Their Best..., August 25, 2006

By 

S. King (Enfield, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stranger Things (Dig) (Audio CD)

I have been a fan of Edie's since her popular debut album with the New Bo's "Shooting Rubberbands".

Natuarlly, I was a bit surprised at her reuniting with the New Bo's especially since I had no idea this new recording was coming out. However I did look forward to listening to the whole of "Stranger Things".

Let me say after repeated listens their album "Ghost Of A Dog" comes to mind...(If you'll forgive the comparision)
"Stranger Things" definetly picks up where "Ghost Of A Dog" left off. I thought these 2 albums sound a great deal alike.

But is that a good thing?

A majority of the songs are respectable, but not all that captivating. They obiviously don't measure up to "Shooting Rubberbands".

"Oh My Soul" has a catchy chorus and bridge but Edie sounds like she's trying to keep up pace of the rhythm section on her verses to this song.

The 3 Stars:
I did enjoy their slower grooves like "Lover Take Me" (I Love that bass line) and "Early Morning". "Early Morning" reminds me of Edie's solo material (Picture Perfect Morning) and the her vocal melody works quite well here. "Spanish Style Guitar" is an interesting experiment of the New Bo's and grows on you a bit.

However, I felt Edie and these guys should've worked on this project further before letting "this horse out of it's stall".

The production on the first 2 songs is lacking and though these songs: "Stanger Things" and "Oh My Soul" have good chorus'es/bridges I felt the music and verses were mediocre at best. There's nothing wrong with Edie's wonderful warm voice (she sounds as great as ever!) but the songwriting of this album is just so-so.

A majority of "Stranger Things" sounds like Ghost Of A Dog": Part 2. Not all that bad, but not all that great either.

However, if your a fan you'll want to own a copy, and "Stranger Things" is good enough for my purchase.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's like this: Buy this CD and tell all your friends!, August 1, 2006

By 

Lon Moore (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stranger Things (Dig) (Audio CD)

No, don't flip through the samples and make a snap decision based on fragments. Do it the old fashioned way... Just buy the CD! Now unwrap it and listen to it once, set it aside, then listen to it twice the next day and you'll be hooked!

However you get this CD into your collection, don't pass up this great little summer of '06 surprise from Edie and the boys from Booker T. Play it on your summer vacation. Play it on your way back to college. Play it on your back porch while you're sweltering in the record heat.

This CD is 100 percent real music from a genuine group who's been jamming together since they were teenagers. It drips with authenticity -- and it should -- because it's clear these talented musicians made this record solely because they want to make music.

Considering the musical ups and downs and sideways turns the members of this band have taken over the past 20 years, this CD comes across as the outward expression of a collective mellow epiphany, a six-way harmonic convergence (a full seven years before Earth is due to become the Galactic Seed, too!) Then again, it comes across even stronger as a bunch of musician friends -- exceptionally good musician friends -- who called each other up and said, "Hey, let's jam."

It's the original lineup -- free from the meddling hands of shortsighted record company pricks and impatient producers -- doing what they love to do in their own.. particular... idiom. Close your eyes and let the groove laid down by Brandon, Brad, and Bush on Mainline Cherry and others take you back to a breezy '80s summer night under the trees and stars behind Club Dada -- even if you'd never been there before.

As a bonus, they've added keyboardist Carter Albrecht, who's about to become a lot more well known than he already is around town. He channels the late great Billy Preston on 45 speed (that's a record player reference) as he barrels through Long Lost Friend, and adds rich, full-bodied flavor throughout.

I don't know how hard they plan to push this record into whatever the "music industry" has become. I gave up long ago trying to figure out what makes a hit record these days.

It seems more than one potential "hit" lurks within the bits of this CD. But if you just go ahead and buy this record you probably won't care any more than the band itself about hits and charts and all that crap. As long as you like the music, that's what they're after here. It works for me!

Check it out...