Strangers - Ed Harcourt
Strangers Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: The English singer-songwriter returns with his fourth album in four years.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Perhaps Harcourt's strongest asset is in making the hackneyed sound fresh. [#8, p.106]
  2. If relationships were straightforward they’d be no need for albums like this. Thank god they aren’t.
  3. Harcourt... has done the unthinkable: fallen in love with a laydee and made his "happy" album. Luckily for us, it's the best of his career. [11 Sep 2004, p.55]
  4. 60
    Often he makes a lot of noise without really connecting. [Oct 2004, p.100]

See all 19 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. MusicGuy
    9
    The power of Ed's imagination and musicial skill always amazes on every CD he puts out. You honestly never know what he is going to sing about or the arrangments he will use. This makes him one of the most talented and exciting talents out right now. He is unfortunately unknown to a lot of people because he really can't be tagged with an easy label. Fans of real singer/songwriters would do themselves a favor by picking this up. Expand
  2. matta
    9
    I'm just glad that the pitchfork review isn't included because I'm sure they railed on it (although we still have to deal with the poor taste of Mojo and Q). Beautiful album. Just barely below his last CD in my opinion, but it's hard to really say because the two cd's are so different and he was obviously going for something new, something happier than the gorgeously dark From Every Sphere. His first cd may have been a mixed bag (with at least two classics in Hanging with the Wrong Crowd and Apple of My Eye) but his last two efforts have been all around solid and he has defenitely cememted himself has one of the most vital voices in british music right now. Expand
  3. MrO
    9
    Better than all of the overly sincear piano junk that seems to have caught on lately and far less poular. Strangers features some of Harcourts best songs in the fom of 'Lonliness' and 'The music box' to name a few. The only thing preventing it from getting 10 for me is the dodgy lyrics in the title track and the god awful 'kids (rise from the ashes)' but that's what the skip button was made for right? Lyrically Harcourt kicks the ---- out of most other artists and this, along with a charming oddness, is what really sets him apart. However you read the lyrics there's always something you connect with in either the music or the words. Be warned though... he is a very angry man... with cool hair. Expand
  4. DavisW
    8
    Ed makes some of the best pop songs today and this album brilliantly showcases his importance to music with incredibly beautiful music. "Loneliness" is easily one of the best songs in years. Expand

See all 5 User Reviews