Total Stranger
s/t

Tracks
1. Paradise
2. Bed Of Lies
3. Shy Away
4. Can't Stop
5. Yesterday
6. Guardian
7. Can't Win For Losin'
8. Nothin's Missin'
9. The Mask
10. Big Dream
11. Shoulder To Cry On
12. Signs (Bonus Track)


Band:
Al Langlade - lead vocals, guitar and keys
Andre Pelletier - lead guitar and backing vocals
Rolly Saulnier - bass guitar and backing vocals
Peter Martin - drums and percussion
Jamie Flynn - keys, guitar and backing vocals


Discography:
Total Stranger (1997)
Obsession ‎(2002)


Guests:
Matthew Gerrard played and wrote the keyboard part bass line on Shoulder to Cry on
Additional backing vocals on Shoulder to Cry on by Steve McPhail, Ron Fathers, Howie Turner, Matt Castelli and Jeff Lahde
Sean Brush - mandolin on yesterday


Info:
Paradise, Can't Stop, Nothin's Missin' and Shy Away were recorded, engineered and mixed by Matthew Gerrard in his home studio called "the lab" in Toronto.
Bed of lies, The mask, Big Dream and Shoulder to Cry On were recorded at ”Audio Tech" and ”T.R.W” and ”Wesley Sound Studios" in Toronto.
Engineers: Steve Major, Matthew Gerrard, Brad Rodger
Yesterday, Guardian and Can't Win for Losin' recorded at "mainway recording studio" in Burlington Ont.
Engineers: Steve Negus, Atila Turri and Sean McKim
These songs were mixed and mastered by John Punter

Released 2019-04-29
Reviewed 2019-08-15

Links:
lions pride music

This is a bit of an old one, in more than one way. Firstly it was released in its original guise back in 1999 and secondly the reissue was issued on April 29 with a new cover and remastered sound. Total Stranger is an obscure Canadian band, or at least they are obscure to me as I have not heard them before so they question is if it is worth releasing again, the cover is pretty good.

No surprises when it comes to the music, AOR or melodic rock with catchy choruses and distinct melodies. Classic sound, no surprises. Decent vocals, but he doesn’t stand out either. The remastering is good; I didn’t think I was listening to an old album when I played through this album so they have done a good job in the sound department. The songs press the typical AOR-buttons and should appeal to fans of that genre, and it offers a decent variation of songs and a sensible playing time.

It is a good album with good songs, it is fairly entertaining and it is an album that no one should dislike. It works well to play through and you can play it a few times before growing tired with it. So it is good, but it isn’t a standout album, it will most likely just drown within the noise that is the AOR-genre where most of the stuff is quite good like this album. I am not sure it was really worth reissuing this album, but I guess the sells will tell how good it was – the album itself is good but not that special.

This album really needs a hit song, or several hit songs, to rise above the masses but as it doesn’t I guess I could claim that it is a good album that never really takes off. If you like AOR you should have a look at this album as it should press the right buttons for you, but chances are that you have heard enough albums like this one already. The album is pretty good but I am not sure it really needed to be reissued.

HHHHHHH

 

 

 

 

Label: Lions Pride Music
Three similar bands: L.A. Guns/Def Leppard/Europe

Rating: HHHHHHH (4/7)
Reviewer: Daniel Källmalm


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