As part of the MelodicRock Classic’s 500 Series, for the first time on CD the archival turn to Canada for the release of melodic rockers TOTAL STRANGER very early recordings. Total Stranger got released a self-titled album in only Japan in 1997, reissued later as part of a double disc version of their 2002 album ‘Obsession’.
But before both of those albums came the band’s initial recordings in the form of a 1990 cassette-only release titled “Mean Season“, and a self-titled 1986 EP appeared on vinyl only.
Now in 2023, with remastering as per usual by JK Northrup, Total Stranger’s original output has found its way onto CD for the very first time with a pristine sound quality.
‘Mean Season’ (1990) style is very melodic and typically Canadian, with Honeymoon Suite, Worral, Beau Geste kind of sound, and even some Glass Tiger.
On their early recording, the 1986 EP we find a more poppy sound with syths very mid-Eighties all over. You can hear the difference in production between both releases on the track ‘On The Outside’ as example, the track appears on both the ’86 and re-recorded later for the ’90s album. Also, the lead vocalist for the entire ‘Mean Season’ is different.
Really cool ’80s / early ’90s Canadian melodic rock.
Highly Recommended
Track Listing:
'Mean Season' (1990)
01. Mean Season
02. All Or Nothing
03. Soap Box
04. Easy In The Nite
05. Chance On Us
06. Take Me
07. Are You Alone
08. Experience
09. On The Outside
10. By Chance
'Total Stranger' EP (1986)
11. On The Outside
12. By Chance
13. Total Stranger
14. One Nite Stand
15. Things You're Missin'
16. Reason Why
TOTAL STRANGER – Mean Season – 2023 LIMITED TO 500 UNITS ONLY, MP3+FLAC, CD w/ Scans
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