The+stranglers

What an out and out shock. The Stranglers have gone sensual, sounding sincere, serene, and sensitive (and philosophically introspective). And it's perfect. It took 'em nine years, but they're at their peace now. Which isn't to say that this is preferable to putting on their first couple albums and early singles and rocking out to the sheer unrepentant, harsh rock of greats like "Hanging Around," "Straighten Out," or "No More Heroes"; but it sure is OK to veg out and dream along with these lithe little pop songs, with Hugh Cornwell now cooing instead of growling the likes of "Let Me Down Easy" and "No Mercy," and especially "Skin Deep."…

Another Stranglers concept album, but a much lesser work than forerunner La Folie. While not an instant classic, it does repay repeated listening – especially the rustic English charms of "Midsummer Night's Dream" and the more Eurocentric "Last Tango in Paris" and "All Roads Lead to Rome." Instead of the belligerent tunefulness of yesteryear, the Stranglers were trying to expand their sound and reach…

What an out and out shock. The Stranglers have gone sensual, sounding sincere, serene, and sensitive (and philosophically introspective). And it's perfect. It took 'em nine years, but they're at their peace now…

Despite its rather cheeky title, Greatest Hits 1977-1990 is a good place to sample the entire Stranglers output. From the squalor of the late-'70s material, to the smoothed-out gloom pop of songs like "Skin Deep" and other mid- to late-'80s neo-goth rock, this is a solid anthology that values substance over style and exhaustive track selection. For sure, a well-edited Stranglers anthology is the only way to enjoy them; they recorded way too much dross to spend time searching out all of their plentiful, marginal records.

The Stranglers - Dreamtime
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 280 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Epic # 463366 2 | Country/Year: Europe 1986
Genre: Rock | Style: New Wave, Pop Rock

…Epic Records were certain this album would be a big success on the back of the much hyped single "Always The Sun" which Epic were sure would go 'top three', and early signs were good with the single receiving substantial radio airplay. However a lacklustre PR campaign led to its disappointing chart placing in the UK singles chart (#30). However it should be known that the UK album chart at this time still included compilation albums as well as studio albums, unlike today. In terms of today's charts Dreamtime would have appeared in or around the top 5. Still, the band felt that the album's commercial potential was never fulfilled, especially with regard to the lead single.

Feline is the seventh studio album by The Stranglers and was released in January 1983 (on the Epic record label in the United Kingdom). The first edition came with a free one-sided 7" single "Aural Sculpture Manifesto". Feline drew heavily on two of the dominant musical influences in Europe of the time, by using primarily acoustic guitars and electronic drums as well as Dave Greenfield's synthesizer…