Strength

The Alarm | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002O2G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,675 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best in the Alarm Catalog Gets Better, August 7, 2001

By 

Jeff Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strength (Audio CD)

If you like the Alarm, you probably already own this album. Do yourself a favor, buy the new disc. The disc benefits from a crisper, cleaner sound that brings Mike Peter's voice front and center, not to mention the rest of the band. The additional material, especially the live cuts, illustrate what a great band the Alarm were when the cuts were recorded. It's a shame that the Alarm always seemed to be in U2's shadow in the US music press; it's an unfair comparison. I've always felt the Alarm were a more upfront, emotional band. U2 is a favorite, but there's a sense of detachment that isn't present in the songs of the Alarm.

If you you've never heard this album, you're in for a treat. Strength was one of the first "alternative" records I ever owned, and while I'm not the most critical reviewer in the world, you will not be disappointed. Half of this disc comprised the original release, and the additional material adds to the impact of the disc. You'll find yourself singing along very quickly. The Alarm were doing Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door" long before Guns and Roses, it's a much better version than the Axl version.

This may have been originally released in the 80's, but I think the music is timeless. This version of Strength is part of the complete re-issue of the Alarm catalog, which is long overdue.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Classic, April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Strength (Audio CD)

Fourteen years after this album was released and I still find myself listening to it in it's entirety. "Spirit of '76" is one of the greatest songs of all time. As is "Walk Forever By My Side" which has to be one of the greatest and most underplayed single ever. I would play any of their albums for my friends and they all became instant fans. On top of writing and composing wonderful songs they also put on a great live show. I own all of the Alarm's recordings on some sort of media but I am really looking for their first album "The Alarm" on CD which is out of print. If anyone can find me a copy I would appreciate it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In a Deeside Town, the Lights Went Down, February 6, 2004

By 

Pax (Greensboro, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strength (Audio CD)

I am an Alarm fan. There, I said it. I can't be held responsible for any objective analysis from this point forward. Srength is a particulary defining album for myself and my personal history. I was 15 when it 1st came out and it had a huge impact on me. I was a pseudo punker at the time, but my tastes ranged from XTC to Big Country. The Alarm were my favorite. It seemed like the perfect album for a fifteen year old. Strength? Knife Edge? I could relate, man. I was ecstatic to find out they were coming to town in concert back in 86. They were the first band I'd ever seen and it was quite an experience. I went on to see the Alarm more then any other band, around 8-9 times.

Having said that, the Alarm's music has not aged exceptionally well. In fact, their canon is pretty creaky and hasn't held up against the years. Strength is definitely their best effort and this remaster helps bolster the dynamics to some extent and the additional songs are brilliant. Majority rocks and it's cool to have Sharps "One Step Closer" for the library, even if it sounded way better in concert.

Perhaps this is beating a dead horse, but it might be sort of cool to see the Alarm attempt to record a new album. God Bless Mike Peters for continuing his musical Odyssey and you have to admire Sharps veracity down there in New Orleans (or has he moved?), but let's get Twist out of San Frabsisco and back to the coal town's of Wales. Considering they opened the door for Welsh acts, it's time to see what the 4 lads can do in the 21st century.....