Ed Harcourt: Strangers : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Ed Harcourt's first two albums weren't much fun. 2001's doomy, romantic Here Be Monsters and 2003's similar From Every Sphere saw the British singer-songwriter emoting in an eerily Jeff Buckley-like tenor over grandiose arrangements. They left little doubt that Harcourt was a serious talent and that he needed to lighten up. Thankfully, the now twenty-seven-year-old did just that for his third try. High points include the shamelessly poppy single "Born in the '70s" and the perky title tune, all pinging guitar chords and chugging keyboards. Sodden ballads rear their mopey heads in the second half, though: "We're only happy when we're high," Harcourt sings on the final track. Here's hoping he gets a new stash before album number four.