Search - Stratford Mercenaries :: Sense of Solitude

Tim H. (TurnItUpTim)
Reviewed on 8/31/2009...

This is a GREAT album. If you were a fan of Crass in your youth, and you have since matured (I mean that in a positive way), well, Steve Ignorant sings on this album, and he has done the same. He's soulful, spiteful, spewing love and hate at the same time. It's a marvelous cd, although I have it on vinyl. Stand out tracks include "Where Is Love", "Cheap Excitement" and "Sunday Morning Neighbors".

I highly advise to track this album done - it is friggin' splendid!

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STRATFORD MERCENARIES

JOHN M. | BALTIMORE | 03/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stratford is one of those bands that make you think a bit about what punk music is and what it can be. "Sense of Solitude" is an ambitious, wide-ranging, and strong album with a couple of weak spots. Nevertheless, "No More Running" is an instant classic; other high spots include "Where is Love," the fourth song (I forgot the title), "Cheap Excitement," and "Sunday Morning Neighbors." My only criticism is that a couple of the tracks run a bit long. Tony Barber's production gives Stratford a strong Buzzcocks feel, quite opposite of Penny Rimbaud's production of "...Violins." The band sounds incredibly tight and they play well together. Addition of keyboard player was, I think, a good idea, and let's face it, Steve Ignorant has one of the best punk voices ever! "Solitude" is an album which shows that STRATFORD MERCENARIES are for real and not afraid to experiment with their sound; thus they are one of the most exciting bands out there. As usual, some of you out there won't get the point of some of the songs on this record or the general point of this band...but for those of you who remember a time when punk was more than a haircut, this album will make you realize all over again that punk is not dead...even if it doesn't sound the same as it did in 1983."