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Strange Trails
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Strange Trails Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 47 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length release for the indie folk band led by Ben Schneider was originally started as an idea for a feature film.
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Top Track

Fool for Love
I'm leaving this place behind And i'm heading out on the road tonight I'm off for the winter lands Where i'm known to have taught you to stand Before... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Apr 8, 2015
    100
    Strange Trails is brilliantly paced, and each song itself is brilliantly paced.
  2. Spin
    May 7, 2015
    80
    Pulling a Bon Iver-gone-to-Walden Pond move might be grossly overdone by now, but Lord Huron has skillfully overturned the tired mulch in favor of tuneful new growth.
  3. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 2, 2015
    78
    "Fool for Love" wouldn't have survived the twisting soundscapes of the frontman's initial EP, but it offers the same sweeping vistas.
  4. musicOMH.com
    Apr 8, 2015
    70
    Occasionally the wish remains Lord Huron would vary their delivery a bit more.
  5. PopMatters
    Apr 9, 2015
    70
    At nearly an hour, Strange Trails tends to drag in its back half, the songs there largely slower retreads of those that have come before. For background music it is quite enjoyable, but under closer inspection much of the material simply doesn’t hold up.
  6. Drowned In Sound
    Apr 8, 2015
    60
    The band ensure they make music, which matches their aesthetic: airy, welcoming story-telling indie folk, which just happens to be painstakingly well considered and recorded. Ultimately though, where all this world building and curatorship comes to fall short is where it matters most: the songs.
  7. Uncut
    Apr 8, 2015
    60
    This appears to be a case of limited resources and/or dubious decisions undermining a potentially captivating album. [May 2015, p.76]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. EVERLEDIS
    Apr 28, 2021
    10
    ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ⁱˢ ˢᵒ ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ
  2. ZeroDeaths
    Jul 14, 2020
    10
    I absolutely love this album, its so chilling and immersive, its a masterpiece and it really bothers me how underrated lord huron is, theyI absolutely love this album, its so chilling and immersive, its a masterpiece and it really bothers me how underrated lord huron is, they deserve way more attention than they’re getting… Expand
  4. i_exist
    Jul 10, 2020
    10
    Even 5 years after it first released, this album is still fantastic. It improves upon the very small problems with Lonesome Dreams, and all 14Even 5 years after it first released, this album is still fantastic. It improves upon the very small problems with Lonesome Dreams, and all 14 songs are fantastic.

    Top 3.
    3. Fool for Love
    2. Frozen Pines
    1. The World Ender    … Expand
  5. Jakedmonkey86
    Mar 16, 2023
    10
    One of my favorite albums of all time. It's an immersive album dealing with life, death, and confronting both. Each track is great in its ownOne of my favorite albums of all time. It's an immersive album dealing with life, death, and confronting both. Each track is great in its own way and the album tells a great story. It feels like being immersed in in the American southwest folklore.… Expand
  6. Jeff-S
    Apr 21, 2015
    10
    Strange Trails hits right where it should with what was loved on Lonesome Dreams, songs, melodies and imagery. On first listen of StrangeStrange Trails hits right where it should with what was loved on Lonesome Dreams, songs, melodies and imagery. On first listen of Strange Trails I liked the melodies and in some ways reminded me of the BoDeans (Hurricane) but on subsequent listens it proves to be a worthy, solid Lord Huron style album. This is an excellent followup which has really grown on me- I like the album cover art as well.

    Critics of the album want them to change things up, pry the door open, surprise people but if they did the same criticism would come down about over-reaching. I feel they played their second album smartly.

    The mix of songs runs from haunting melodic Yawning Grave, Frozen Pines, Love Like Ghosts, Louisa to upbeat Fool For Love, Dead Man's Hand, Until the Night Turns. For a fan or first time listener of the band this is an excellent album worth listening to often.    … Expand
  7. imthenoob
    Mar 19, 2019
    10
    As much as I love all of their albums, Strange Trails has to be my favourite. Each track is very much a different trail both musically andAs much as I love all of their albums, Strange Trails has to be my favourite. Each track is very much a different trail both musically and lyrically. And trying to tell numerous stories through these lyrics is a challenge that they more than accomplish.… Expand
  8. Zack1234
    Jun 21, 2017
    9
    Lonesome Dreams was a great album, but this is a major step up nevertheless.
    Top 3 tracks:
    3. Fool for love 2. the night we met 1. Meet me    Lonesome Dreams was a great album, but this is a major step up nevertheless.
    Top 3 tracks:
    3. Fool for love
    2. the night we met
    1. Meet me in the woods    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Most Shared Album of 2015

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