Strangers

Ed Harcourt

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: February 1, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B0006ZXJR0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,734 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

NME

"…it’s the best of his career." (8 out of 10)

Sunday Times UK

"flawless and transcendent" (4 stars)

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ed, February 13, 2005

By	Nicholas Soucy (Lansing, Mi United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ed Harcourt usually shows potential, but often only has a few good songs coupled with several filler tracks which are cheesy.

When I had heard Movies of Myself by Rufus Wainwright, I thought that all of his songs would sound more like Ed Harcourt's "Strangers" album. I was disappointed with the light-hearted lounge-style singing of Wainwright, but Harcourt fills in that flavor much more effectively.

In fact, somewhere between Damien Rice's "O" album and Wainwright's "Want One" is where "Strangers" resides. I think Damien Rice's music is more soulful, though.

It's a good listen overall. However, I'd recommend buying it used because it's nothing that amazing. My rating is 3.5.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of the best things I heard this year, February 7, 2005

By	alexander laurence (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Ed Harcourt is one of the most talented guys from England. He is a brilliant songwriter. He has put three albums in the past three years. Apparently he has written 500 songs, so he has a lot. He blends melody with ideas and thought. It is truly more amazing every time. Strangers is his recent album. It sounds incredible. "The Storm Is Coming" employs some hard rock sounds that Harcourt is not necessarily known for. "Born in The 70s" is more like glam rock. The song "Strangers" recalls some of his previous works, but Harcourt doesn't really repeat himself. The song itself has a weird arrangement. This must have been the result of working with a new producer in Sweden. "Let Love Not Weigh Me Down" has a rich sound and has a heart of experience behind it. On songs like "Something To Live For" and "The Trapdoor" you sense that Harcourt has a wealth of solid musical ideas. He hasn't gone dry. Harcourt has created his most diverse and well-rounded album. There hasn't been too many of these really good albums recently.
This is nearly great.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Get Enough Of It, February 26, 2005

By	R. Ellingson "ric" (northwest by northwest, MT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this CD off several reviews in various music trades. I usually don't do that cause more often than that there's 1 or 2 good songs and thats it. This CD is brilliant. Ed has a gift for melody. His lyrics are pretty straight and/or tell good stories too. He touches on many styles while still retaining identity. His voice bends around lots of areas to fit all this variety. Everyone I play this CD for wants it. Virtually everybody. This Cd is making me buy all his others too....and I'll let ya know. Buy this one. Very very good.