Strange New Places: Some Time off
5/3/25
Just a heads up that we’re taking a little time off from the Strange New Places project where we listen to a new classic album every weekday. A couple of the main participants will be traveling extensively throughout much of May and June. I thought it would also be a good opportunity for those that are feeling a little behind on their listening to catch up. Below is a review submission form and the complete list of albums we’ve listened to so far, in order from least reviewed to most reviewed.
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
Released: 1974
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Satire, Piano Rock, New Orleans R&B, Baroque Pop, Satire, Traditional Pop
Tags: satirical, concept album, conscious, political, sarcastic, male vocalist, history, love, melodic, self-hatred, hateful, bittersweet, humorous, poetic, longing, alcohol
3+3
The Isley Brothers
Released: 1973
Genres: Funk, Psychedelic Soul, Progressive Soul, Funk Rock, Smooth Soul, Pop Soul
Tags: male vocalist, melodic, nocturnal, rhythmic, happy, uplifting, ballad, sensual, psychedelic, technical, warm, summer, mellow
Remain in Light
Talking Heads
Released: 1980
Genres: New Wave, Post-Punk, Funk Afrobeat, Experimental Rock, Dance-Punk, Mutant Disco
Tags: rhythmic, anxious, energetic, male vocalist, playful, abstract, cryptic, repetitive, quirky, philosophical, existential, manic, complex, hypnotic, dense, political, tribal, urban, sarcastic, eclectic, surreal, progressive, avant-garde, technical, introspective, passionate, polyrhythmic, bouncy, angular, futuristic, stream of consciousness, alienation
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Released: 2016
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Chamber Folk, Contemporary Folk, Spoken Word, Poetry
Tags: death, male vocalist, sombre, poetic, dark, introspective, existential, love, calm, breakup, nocturnal, religious, funereal, lonely, spiritual, minimalistic, mysterious, Judaic
Elephant
The White Stripes
Released: 2003
Genres: Garage Rock Revival, Alternative Rock, Blues Rock, Punk Blues
Tags: energetic, raw, male vocalist, playful, minimalistic, rebellious, love, melodic, female vocalist, romantic, passionate, anthemic, noisy, aggressive, introspective
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd
Released: 1962
Genres: Samba-Jazz, Bossa Nova, Cool Jazz
Tags: summer, warm, tropical, mellow, instrumental, rhythmic, soothing, playful, uplifting, melodic, improvisation, calm, peaceful, atmospheric, soft
Weezer [Blue Album]
Weezer
Released: 1994
Genres: Power Pop, Alternative Rock, Geek Rock, Pop Punk, Emo
Tags: melodic, energetic, male vocalist, bittersweet, summer, playful, anthemic, introspective, lonely, passionate, alienation, longing, anxious, breakup, quirky, melancholic, love, uplifting, heavy, sentimental
Rubber Soul
The Beatles
Released: 1965
Genres: Pop Rock, Folk Rock, Psychedelic Pop, Folk Pop, British Rhythm & Blues
Tags: melodic, love, male vocalist, bittersweet, autumn, mellow, romantic, melancholic, eclectic, sentimental, introspective, longing, happy, warm, cannabis
Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space
Spiritualized
Released: 1997
Genres: Space Rock Revival, Art Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Dream Pop, Symphonic Rock, Shoegaze, Noise Pop, Blues Rock
Tags: drugs, lonely, melancholic, psychedelic, space, romantic, dense, atmospheric, male vocalist, eclectic, breakup, introspective, bittersweet, Wall of Sound, lush, love, sad, existential, hypnotic, longing, sentimental, alienation, epic, spiritual, melodic, ethereal, warm, depressive, soothing, poetic, mellow, surreal, bright, progressive
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Released: 1978
Genres: Roots Rock, Blues Rock, Funk Rock
Tags: rhythmic, male vocalist, mellow, warm, calm, playful, atmospheric, bittersweet, poetic, urban, soft, melodic, technical, lush, introspective
The Number of the Beast
Iron Maiden
Released: 1982
Genres: Heavy Metal, Occult Rock
Scene: New Wave of British Heavy Metal
Tags: energetic, male vocalist, anthemic, melodic, heavy, passionate, epic, history, war, violence, death, rebellious, technical, rhythmic, triumphant, infernal, nocturnal, dark, apocalyptic, uplifting
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz, João Gilberto
Released: 1964
Genres: Bossa Nova, Samba-Jazz, Cool Jazz, Samba-Canção
Tags: mellow, tropical, warm, soft, summer, romantic, peaceful, calm, soothing, male vocalist, acoustic, love, female vocalist, lush, bittersweet, longing, sentimental, sensual, happy, uplifting
Languages: Portuguese, English
The Who Sell Out
The Who
Released: 1967
Genres: Freakbeat, Pop Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Psychedelic Pop, Jingles, Satire
Scene: Mod
Tags: concept album, satirical, humorous, playful, jingle, male vocalist, psychedelic, quirky, melodic, energetic, surreal, eclectic, sarcastic, progressive, conscious, love
Goodbye and Hello
Tim Buckley
Released: 1967
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Chamber Folk, Baroque Pop
Tags: psychedelic, poetic, melancholic, male vocalist, passionate, melodic, cryptic, warm, romantic, spring, love, mellow, bittersweet, mysterious, political, autumn, bright, rhythmic
MTV Unplugged in New York
Nirvana
Released: 1994
Genres: Acoustic Rock, Alternative Rock, Grunge, Folk Rock
Tags: acoustic, male vocalist, melancholic, melodic, passionate, introspective, sombre, lonely, pessimistic, alienation, depressive, raw, bittersweet, anxious, lethargic, longing, mellow, death, apathetic, nocturnal
Animals
Pink Floyd
Released: 1977
Genres: Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock
Tags: political, philosophical, concept album, pessimistic, sarcastic, progressive, satirical, male vocalist, animals, alienation, angry, atmospheric, complex, passionate, misanthropic, protest, rebellious, conscious, urban, epic, existential, dark, psychedelic, anxious, dystopian
A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
Released: 1960
Genres: Close Harmony, Teen Pop, Pop, Rock & Roll, Brill Building
Tags: male vocalist, love, melodic, vocal group, romantic, playful, bittersweet
A Wizard / A True Star
Todd Rundgren
Released: 1973
Genres: Art Pop, Experimental Rock, Progressive Pop, Art Rock, Psychedelic Pop, Glam Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Psychedelic Pop, Progressive Pop, Psychedelic Rock, Electronic, Zolo, Progressive Rock, Space Age Pop, Progressive Soul
Tags: manic, eclectic, psychedelic, surreal, playful, dense, male vocalist, futuristic, progressive, love, quirky, satirical, melodic, chaotic, suite, complex, avant-garde, anxious, lush, ethereal, Wall of Sound, uplifting, optimistic, energetic, warm, introspective, technical, happy, theatrical
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
Released: 1987
Genres: Synthpop, Darkwave, Electro-Industrial, Neoclassical Darkwave
Tags: male vocalist, atmospheric, dark, cold, passionate, melodic, rhythmic, sensual, romantic, nocturnal, sombre, melancholic, sexual, bittersweet, longing, mechanical, introspective
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
Released: 1988
Genres: Political Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop, Turntablism, Experimental Hip Hop
Scene: East Coast Hip Hop
Tags: political, angry, protest, sampling, raw, male vocalist, urban, conscious, dense, energetic, rebellious, noisy, rhythmic, violence, playful, boastful, passionate, anxious, aggressive, progressive, anthemic, socialism, dystopian, hypnotic
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Released: 2000
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Indie Pop, Chamber Pop, Indie Rock, Indie Folk
Tags: melancholic, melodic, bittersweet, male vocalist, lush, introspective, poetic, love, breakup, alienation, lonely, pessimistic, warm, eclectic, longing, self-hatred, sentimental, depressive, sad, urban, abstract, psychedelic, serious
Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
Released: 1957
Genres: Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, New Orelans R&B
Tags: energetic, playful, passionate, party, male vocalist, happy, uplifting, raw, rhythmic, melodic, rebellious, sexual, hedonistic, love, anthemic, longing
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Released: 1973
Genres: Smooth Soul, Philly Soul, Progressive Soul
Tags: sexual, romantic, sensual, love, passionate, male vocalist, warm, melodic, lush, longing, nocturnal, soft, sentimental, mellow, soothing, urban, peaceful, optimistic, uplifting, orchestral, concept album
(pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Released: 1973
Genres: Southern Rock, Blues Rock, Hard Rock
Tags: male vocalist, energetic, warm, sentimental, bittersweet, passionate, melodic, pastoral, love, uplifting, rhythmic, playful
Hot Fuss
The Killers
Released: 2004
Genres: Post-Punk Revival, Pop Rock, New Wave, Synthpop, Big Music, Dance-Punk Revival, Funk Rock
Tags: male vocalist, melodic, energetic, bittersweet, anthemic, anxious, romantic, rhythmic, passionate, introspective, sexual, melancholic, urban, love, longing
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
Released: 1989
Genres: Baggy, Jangle Pop, Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Britpop, C86, Paisley Underground
Tags: psychedelic, melodic, uplifting, energetic, male vocalist, playful, lush, summer, rhythmic, optimistic, love, ethereal, hypnotic, dense, anthemic, warm, atmospheric, boastful, bittersweet, drugs, romantic, sensual, poetic, bright, rebellious, conscious
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Released: 1975
Genres: Outlaw Country, Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Western, Old-Time
Tags: concept album, calm, mellow, melancholic, male vocalist, crime, acoustic, lonely, death, pastoral, bittersweet, soft, sombre, sad, passionate, love, minimalistic, introspective, sparse, melodic
The Score
Fugees
Released: 1996
Genres: Conscious Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Neo-Soul, Reggae, Hip Hop Soul
Scene: East Coast Hip Hop
Tags: female vocalist, male vocalist, political, crime, conscious, introspective, boastful, urban, nocturnal, sampling, lush, rhythmic, melodic, passionate, drugs, lethargic
At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
Released: 1958
Genres: Vocal Jazz, Standards
Scene: East Coast Hip Hop
Tags: female vocalist, melodic, urban, longing, humorous, mellow, ballad, sensual, improvisation, nocturnal
Crime of the Century
Supertramp
Released: 1974
Genres: Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Progressive Pop, Pop Rock
Tags: melodic, male vocalist, progressive, lush, existential, alienation, bittersweet, introspective, sarcastic, quirky, anxious, complex, playful, lonely, nocturnal, epic, melancholic, passionate, autumn, eclectic, rebellious
First Band on the Moon
The Cardigans
Released: 1996
Genres: Indie Pop, Pop Rock, Indie Rock, Twee Pop, Neo Acoustic, Lounge, Cocktail Nation
Tags: female vocalist, playful, bittersweet, longing, melodic, sentimental, sarcastic, love, sensual, introspective, sexual, eclectic, dark, energetic, quirky
So
Peter Gabriel
Released: 1986
Genres: Art Pop, Pop Rock, New Wave, Ambient Pop, Sophisti-Pop
Tags: male vocalist, passionate, melodic, warm, lush, introspective, eclectic, bittersweet, poetic, sentimental, melancholic, rhythmic, atmospheric, nocturnal, soothing, conscious, longing, progressive, rain, ethereal, urban
Discovery
Daft Punk
Released: 2001
Genres: French House, Electro-Disco, Funky House, Dance-Pop, Synth Funk, Nu-Disco
Tags: party, sampling, futuristic, energetic, rhythmic, repetitive, playful, happy, male vocalist, uplifting, optimistic, melodic, space, love, nocturnal, atmospheric, lush, romantic, androgynous vocals, concept album, eclectic, sentimental, warm, bright, bouncy, summer
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Released: 1988
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Folk Rock, Folk Pop, Acoustic Rock, Heartland Rock
Tags: conscious, female vocalist, political, love, melancholic, sentimental, melodic, acoustic, passionate, androgynous vocals, protest, bittersweet, socialism, philosophical
Bossanova
Pixies
Released: 1990
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, Surf Rock, Post-Punk
Tags: energetic, male vocalist, anxious, noisy, melodic, quirky, science fiction, warm, rhythmic, abstract, summer, love, female vocalist, psychedelic
The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Released: 1963
Genres: Contemporary Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic Blues, Talking Blues
Scene: Greenwich Village Scene
Tags: poetic, acoustic, protest, political, male vocalist, conscious, mellow, introspective, autumn, passionate, bittersweet, philosophical, humorous, warm, melodic, melancholic, playful, war, breakup, love, romantic, sarcastic
Court and Spark
Joni Mitchell
Released: 1974
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Folk Pop, Jazz Pop, Soft Rock, Progressive Pop
Scene: Laurel Canyon Scene
Tags: female vocalist, poetic, lush, introspective, melodic, soft, love, mellow, bittersweet, longing, romantic, passionate, acoustic, warm
Jazz Samba - Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd
Listen Party: 5/2/25
Released: 1962
Genres: Samba-Jazz, Bossa Nova, Cool Jazz
Tags: summer, warm, tropical, mellow, instrumental, rhythmic, soothing, playful, uplifting, melodic, improvisation, calm, peaceful, atmospheric, soft
FYI:
Tidal has an extra version of Desafinado listed as the eighth track. Officially, we’re only reviewing the first seven tracks that were part of the original album.
Submit Your Review
Let’s Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Listen Party: 5/1/25
Released: 1973
Genres: Smooth Soul, Philly Soul, Progressive Soul
Tags: sexual, romantic, sensual, love, passionate, male vocalist, warm, melodic, lush, longing, nocturnal, soft, sentimental, mellow, soothing, urban, peaceful, optimistic, uplifting, orchestral, concept album
Submit Your Review
Elephant - The White Stripes
Listen Party: 4/30/25
Released: 2003
Genres: Garage Rock Revival, Alternative Rock, Blues Rock, Punk Blues
Tags: energetic, raw, male vocalist, playful, minimalistic, rebellious, love, melodic, female vocalist, romantic, passionate, anthemic, noisy, aggressive, introspective
Submit Your Review
You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen
Listen Party: 4/29/25
Released: 2016
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Chamber Folk, Contemporary Folk, Spoken Word, Poetry
Tags: death, male vocalist, sombre, poetic, dark, introspective, existential, love, calm, breakup, nocturnal, religious, funereal, lonely, spiritual, minimalistic, mysterious, Judaic
Submit Your Review
Remain in Light - Talking Heads
Listen Party: 4/28/25
Released: 1980
Genres: New Wave, Post-Punk, Funk, Afrobeat, Experimental Rock, Dance-Punk, Mutant Disco
Tags: rhythmic, anxious, energetic, male vocalist, playful, abstract, cryptic, repetitive, quirky, philosophical, existential, manic, complex, hypnotic, dense, political, tribal, urban, sarcastic, eclectic, surreal, progressive, avant-garde, technical, introspective, passionate, futuristic, polyrhythmic, bouncy, alienation
Submit Your Review
3+3 - The Isley Brothers
Listen Party: 4/25/25
Released: 1973
Genres: Funk, Psychedelic Soul, Progressive Soul, Funk Rock, Smooth Soul, Pop Soul
Tags: male vocalist, melodic, romantic, nocturnal, rhythmic, happy, uplifting, ballad, sensual, psychedelic, technical, warm, summer, mellow
FYI:
Tidal only has the deluxe version of “3+3”. Officially, we’re only reviewing the first nine tracks of the album, ending with “The Highways of My Life”.
Submit Your Review
Good Old Boys - Randy Newman
Listen Party: 4/24/25
Released: 1974
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Satire, Piano Rock, New Orleans R&B, Baroque Pop, Traditional Pop
Tags: satirical, concept album, conscious, political, sarcastic, male vocalist, history, love, melodic, self-hatred, hateful, bittersweet, humorous, poetic, longing, alcohol
Heads Up:
There’s some pretty shocking language on this album. Most notably, in the song “Rednecks”, Newman, a white man, uses the N-word repeatedly. He also opens the song by referring to Jews in a derogatory way. We discussed at length, about whether an album like this deserves a spot on Strange New Places. After listening to the song, and reading up on Newman’s intent, we discovered the satirical nature of the lyrics, and decided that censoring something like this would be akin to censoring Huck Finn. There is an important message here, and we think it will prompt an important discussion. That said, we’re a couple of white gentiles who are not directly impacted by the language on Good Old Boys. The album’s inclusion was done with a great deal of thoughtfulness, but of course, we are not infallible.
Submit Your Review
Discovery - Daft Punk
Listen Party: 4/23/25
Released: 2001
Genres: French House, Electro-Disco, Funky House, Dance-Pop, Synth Funk, Nu-Disco
Tags: party, sampling, futuristic, energetic, rhythmic, repetitive, playful, happy, male vocalist, uplifting, optimistic, melodic, space, love, nocturnal, atmospheric, lush, romantic, androgynous vocals, concept album, eclectic, sentimental, warm, summer, bouncy, bright, progressive
Submit Your Review
Here’s Little Richard - Little Richard
Listen Party: 4/22/25
Released: 1957
Genres: Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, New Orleans R&B
Tags: energetic, playful, passionate, party, male vocalist, happy, uplifting, raw, rhythmic, melodic, rebellious, sexual, hedonistic, love, anthemic, longing
FYI:
Tidal only lists the deluxe edition of “Here’s Little Richard”. We’ll only be reviewing the first 12 tracks, ending with “She’s Got It”.
Submit Your Review
Figure 8 - Elliott Smith
Listen Party: 4/21/25
Released: 2000
Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Indie Pop, Chamber Pop, Indie Rock, Indie Folk
Tags: melancholic, melodic, bittersweet, male vocalist, lush, introspective, poetic, love, breakup, alienation, lonely, pessimistic, warm, eclectic, longing, self-hatred, sentimental, depressive, sad, urban, abstract, psychedelic, serious
Submit Your Review
Hot Singles in Your Area
Just the new songs I like most, ranked. Are you listening to any of these?
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
Listen Party: 4/18/25
Released: 1986
Genres: Political Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop, Turntablism, Experimental Hip Hop
Scene: East Coast Hip Hop
Tags: political, angry, protest, sampling, raw, male vocalist, urban, conscious, dense, energetic, rebellious, noisy, rhythmic, violence, playful, boastful, passionate, anxious, aggressive, progressive, anthemic, hypnotic
Submit Your Review
So - Peter Gabriel
Listen Party: 4/17/25
Released: 1986
Genres: Art Pop, Pop Rock, New Wave, Ambient Pop, Sophisti-Pop
Tags: male vocalist, passionate, melodic, warm, lush, introspective, eclectic, bittersweet, poetic, sentimental, melancholic, rhythmic, atmospheric, nocturnal, soothing, conscious, longing, progressive, rain, ethereal, urban
Submit Your Review
First Band on the Moon - The Cardigans
Listen Party: 4/16/25
Released: 1996
Genres: Indie Pop, Pop Rock, Indie Rock, Twee Pop, Neo-Acoustic, Lounge, Art Pop, Cocktail Nation
Tags: female vocalist, playful, bittersweet, longing, melodic, sentimental, sarcastic, love, sensual, introspective, sexual, eclectic, dark, energetic, quirky
Submit Your Review
Crime of the Century - Supertramp
Listen Party: 4/15/25
Released: 1974
Genres: Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Progressive Pop, Pop Rock, Progressive Pop
Tags: melodic, male vocalist, progressive, lush, existential, alienation, bittersweet, introspective, sarcastic, quirky, anxious, complex, playful, lonely, nocturnal, epic, melancholic, passionate, autumn, eclectic, rebellious
Submit Your Review
At Mister Kelly’s - Sarah Vaughan
Listen Party: 4/14/25
Released: 1957
Genres: Vocal Jazz, Standards
Tags: female vocalist, melodic, urban, longing, humorous, mellow, ballad, sensual, improvisation, nocturnal
Submit Your Review
Music for the Masses - Depeche Mode
Listen Party: 4/11/25
Released: 1987
Genres: Synthpop, Darkwave, Electro-Industrial, Neoclassical Darkwave
Tags: male vocalist, atmospheric, cold, passionate, dark, melodic, rhythmic, sensual, romantic, nocturnal, sombre, melancholic, sexual, bittersweet, mechanical, longing, lush