Neighborhood Strangers - Stranger (Album)

It's bittersweet when someone you once knew is now a "Stranger," but ironic that we're just now getting to know the Neighborhood Strangers. Their a group from here in our beautiful city of San Antonio, who I automatically knew upon jumping into this album would become a new favorite. Debuts can be tricky, but I feel they executed something special with this one. Right off rip, "Lonely For Now" grabs you with that soothing beginning, which sounds a bit like something from the '80s, maybe even early 90's until things kick into high gear. We get this poppy feel that bleeds & blends into an Indie Alternative sound and is instantly infectious with its relatable lyrics & catchy melodies, definitely an instant favorite of mine.

I like my artists to have at least some versatility & already two tracks deep; these guys are giving me more than I anticipated. On "A Duck's Foot," we get a near 6-minute Neo-Soul, Jazzy ballad that is so velvety smooth. The R&B crooning is coupled with some spoken word poetry that flows so seamlessly over the instrumentation. Now I'm sending some subtle country vibes mixed in with some Hard Rock; I swear the genre-bending so far is incredibly impeccable. Not only that, these songs are great, so make "No Mistakes," these guys know what they're doing, so sit back & enjoy the ride. Naturally, we take what we please with no regard for the seas & the skies, such profound lyricism that'll really get you thinking and evoking that emotion in you to move. I can already envision these dudes' live; what a show that would be.

Did we just travel back into the '90s now? This sounds exactly like something I'd hear on FM radio just skimming through stations. "Tiny House" is another favorite for sure, just for the nostalgia alone, a bittersweet tearjerker. I swear, the vocal range as well so far is astonishing as well as the songwriting, records like "Old Man" showcases our shared fear of getting older cause we are the only creatures on the planet aware of our own mortality & understand that time waits for none of us. It just flies by & continues, even when we run out of it. Be it the mid-2000's alternative feels of "Flash Sale," the stripped-down acoustics of "Not So Easy," & "Channel(s)," the Folk of the albums title track. All of these records embody a sense of poignancy, resulting in a flawless, must-hear debut from a more than promising band & I sure hope it isn't the last we hear from them. Still, I wouldn't be mad if it was cause this album is enough for me. This is music that'll strike all the right chords in you, get you right in the feels, impeccable body of work, a true magnum opus.