STRANGERS is the third album from singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt, and continues the artist's move towards an all-inclusive pop universe. If Harcourt's tunes sound familiar, it is because he draws on everything from Tin Pan Alley to mainstream classic rock to psychedelia to the contemporary indie-rock scene, brandishing his knowledge with an aficionado's flourish. Above all, Harcourt is an accomplished tunesmith, and everything on STRANGERS--from the electric piano-driven Beatlesque pop of the title track to the shimmering acoustic textures of "The Trapdoor"--demonstrates his talent.
Whether the songs are dreamy, as on the drowsy, hurdy-gurdy vibe of "The Music Box," or impassioned, as on the dense, thunderous "The Storm Is Coming," Harcourt packs each track with tons of sonic detail. Guitars, drums, and keyboards are layered with precision to create a wash of sound that suits Harcourt's emotive voice nicely. With such pop finesse applied to rockers ("Loneliness"), dramatic ballads ("Open Book"), and chiming power-pop ("Born In the '70s"), it's easy to appreciate Harcourt's wide-ranging, consummate craftsmanship.
Professional Reviews
Uncut (p.78) - Ranked #55 in Uncut's "Best New Albums of 2004" - "[A]n intimate collection of call-outs and confessionals."
Magnet (p.100) - "It opens with a surge of ambition, tumbling from the thundering 'The Storm Is Coming' to the steady-percolating 'Born In The '70s'....Pretty and pleasant..."
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