A few years back while reviewing Ed Harcourt's From Every Sphere album, I praised Harcourt as being one of the best up and coming singer/songwriter talents, but accused his music of being to intricately detailed for it's own good, suggesting that if he were to simplify his approach it would ultimately strengthen his music. This single complaint was the reason I felt Harcourt was still a ship without a sail - a singer without an audience willing to listen. Evidently someone shared my opinion, because Strangers is the streamlined masterpiece that I knew all along Harcourt was capable of.

Strangers starts off with the sonic boom of "The Storm Is Coming," a rousing opener to end all openers. Right on it's heals comes "Born In The 70s," a direct wink to The Police's "Born In The 50's" for a new generation. "This One's For You" is a terrific tune that he dedicated to Johnny Cash and that I saw Harcourt perform live - while he was still in the process of writing it. Hearing this wonderfully fleshed-out studio version (with it's tasteful touches of tinkling, saloon-type upright-piano) was a real treat for this reviewer. Strangers is literally bursting at the seams with Harcourt's considerable gifts - whether it be the lush, violin-driven "Let Love Not Weigh Me Down," or the pallette-cleansing, pace-change of "Something To Live For" - a ballad so beautiful that they used the four-track demo version. "Loneliness" feels like something right out of Ryan Adams back catalog, and I could've sworn to God that Jeff Buckley had returned from the grave to sing on "Open Book."

Awash in compelling pop hooks, thoughtful and literate lyrics, and a simpler, cleaner presentation - Harcourt's Strangers is dream-come-true showcase for this songwriting wunderkind. At last the planets have aligned, the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place and Harcourt is swinging some mean wood in his wheelhouse. Strangers is the kind of album that is so undeniably good, that if the world doesn't stand-up and take notice of Ed Harcourt now, I may never again have faith in the music buying public. Take a hint folks.