Strange Times - Moody Blues (The) > Reviews > Back with their best yet

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	The distinctive sound of the Moody Blues at their best !
Disadvantages:	Don't be silly !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This opinion is about the single album Strange Times as opposed to the double album containing both Strange Times and The Very Best of the Moody Blues.

Strange Times is the latest album by the Moody Blues released in 1999 and it is well up their usual standard if not better.

It opens with English Sunset (more tea vicar?) which was a great way for them to open on their year 2000 tour. A good strong song with a good beat and lyrics to sing along to all blended with the Moody Blues unique style.

Next on the CD is a track called Haunted which is a lovely ballad sung by a man who has lost his love and is haunted by her memory.

Sooner or Later (Walkin’ on Air) is next and is a light-hearted melody, but still having the distinctive Moody Blues sound.

Wherever You Are is a beautiful love song, followed by Foolish Love which is a bit more up tempo, and then Love Don’t Come Easy, another love song.

All That Is Real Is You is my own personal favourite on this album. It is a lilting love song with lovely words easy for romantics like me to sing along to. The melody always reminds me of the sort of music that ice dancers would use to skate to! Have a listen and you’ll see what I mean.

Strange Times for me is one of the weaker tracks on the album. It’s a bit of a mixture of speeds and rhythms, which I find difficult on the ear.

Words You Say is also a little weak in my opinion as I find the singing a bit strained, if you’ll pardon my saying such a thing about The Moody Blues!

My Little Lovely is Ray Thomas at his best singing of ‘fairy dust and pixie glue’ and all the happiness of childhood.

Forever Now is another ballad and not one of their best.

The One and The Swallow finish the singing on the album leaving Graeme Edge to make the closing speech entitled Nothing Changes.

The CD also includes a copy of all the lyrics so it’s a great album to have a good sing along to.

All in all I think that this is one of the best albums the Moody Blues have recorded and it shows that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the field of popular music.

PS If you want one of the best nights out you’re ever going to get – go and see them live, especially if you can get to see them with a full orchestra. And, if you really want to go the whole hog – see them at the Royal Albert Hall – I thought that I had died and gone to heaven!