Strangest Places

Abra Moore | Format: Audio Cassette

Product Details

• Audio Cassette (May 20, 1997)
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000002VRA
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,425,061 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Four Leaf Clover

2. Don't Feel Like Cryin'

3. Strangest Places

4. Happiness

5. Never Believe You Now

6. Say It Like That

7. Your Faithful Friend

8. All I Want

9. In Light of It All

10. Keeps My Body Warm

11. Guitar Song

12. Summer's Ending

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Once part of Hawai‘i's eclectic folk-pop troupe, Poi Dog Pondering, Abra Moore reinvents herself as an Austin-based electric folk rocker with a sultry, smart vocal attack and a clutch of equally attractive songs. Her 1997 debut, Strangest Places, displays Moore's skill at crafting hooky, melodic rockers like the jangling "Four Leaf Clover" and the jaunty "Don't Feel Like Cryin'," propelled by producer Mitch Watkins' muscular guitars and earthy keyboards. Moore downshifts effectively into the set's gentler ballads, but she's at her most satisfying on the spirited uptempo tracks that thankfully dominate here. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The otherside of Folk Rock., May 17, 2000

By 

Abra Belke (Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strangest Places (Audio CD)

It is rare in the world of music that you find an artist who can blend both the genres of folk rock and pop to create a style all their own. The CD Strangest Places buy up and comer Abra Moore is such a CD by such an artist. Combining the emotion of folk rock with the essence of popular music makes songs such as Four Leaf Clover and Strangest Places appeal to a very wide audience. The album also combines more upbeat popular songs with sultry folk recordings to create a truly unique sound, which until now had non one to bring it into the main stream. Abra Moore was a shining star on the recent lilith Fair tour, and as soon as you hear the CD Strangest Places it isn't difficult to see why. So if your in the mood to see the other side of Folk rock take a listen to Strangest Places by Abra Moore an unparalelled combination of popular culture and folk rocker soul.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3½ stars, April 10, 2000

By 

"high_life2" (Rockville, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strangest Places (Audio CD)

I bought this CD by chance -- good chance. I had just bought my Lilith Fair tickets, and Abra was one of the second stage acts; I'd never heard of her, but a local music store had Strangest Places available to listen to, and I'd be willing to bet that one listen will be enough to grab you, too.

Her fabulously down-to-earth, pop-chorus rock isn't ground-breaking or technically amazingly, but it sounds great, and isn't that why we listen?

The entire album is fairly solid, but about half the songs -- "Don't Feel Like Cryin'" is my favorite -- capture the blend of rock and pop music perfectly. Listen to this album on a rainy day, or drag your speakers onto the lawn and listen to it while you lie in the sun. This is accessible music, with Abra's great vocals (on most songs) backed by solid, catchy guitar tracks.

If my glowing recommendation seems to conflict with my rating of 3½ stars, it's because among the standouts are a few songs which, while not unpleasant to listen to, aren't quite up to par. I prefer her faster, rockier tracks, but the fan who also enjoys slower tunes like "Happiness" should be thrilled with this disc.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STRANGEST PLACES Slams Sophomore Slump, April 13, 2004

By 

M. Carter "divineragbag" (Rock Hill, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strangest Places (Audio CD)

If there is one thing a singer/songwriter dreads, it's the "sophomore slump." (Just look at Liz Phair's second album WHIP-SMART!) A precious few artists, though, have the talent and tenacity to avoid this VH1-"Where Are They Now?"-one-hit-wonder fate. Abra Moore is one of those lucky few.

STRANGEST PLACES is filled with rollicking, upbeat tunes like the Grammy-nominated "Four Leaf Clover," the album's slinking, catchy title track, "Don't Feel Like Cryin'," and "Never Believe You Now." But Abra also shines on ballads like "Happiness" and "Summer's Ending," where her idiosyncratic gossamer vocals take center stage. Combined, all of the songs on STRANGEST PLACES make the album an upbeat, life-affirming, ecclectic, and altogether irresistible experience.

Ultimately, STRANGEST PLACES does exactly what a sophomore album should: Build upon the strengths of its predecessor (in this case, Abra's hard-to-find SING) while progressing toward a distinctive new but equally-appealing sound.