Tuesday, 6 December 2022

Foreigner - CAT STEVENS*****

Foreigner Suite/The Hurt/How Many Times/Later/100 Dream

The highlight of Foreigner is unquestionably the song suite that fills the first side. This is a masterpiece and must rank as one of Cat Stevens most accomplished works. The shorter tracks on side two are also of very high quality. (US:3 UK:3)

“I love the long first track, which took up the entire first side of the LP, with its recurring themes and the sound based around electric piano rather than acoustic guitar.”

“An artistic highpoint for Cat Stevens, and a timelessly solid and capturing sound, the suite crosses between many different moods and, as with the arrangements, it's very touching.”

“The suite side of this record is absolutely transcendent music that makes me think of the higher, untapped, potentiality of humankind. Majesty and simplicity meeting at the first light of dawn.”

“He completely abandons his previous style of short, baroque style singer-songwriter music here and turns his attention towards focusing the whole first half of this album towards the title suite, which is significantly longer and doesn't depend as heavy on song craft as it does harmonic and melodic progression. The other half of the album features shorter songs but again they are similar in style.”

“It is indeed a suite in the truest sense with an introductory movement, various themes, and a clearly defined ending piece. As in a classical suite, the pieces have their own identity, but combine to form a single unit. It's really one of Steven's best works.”

“Many fans and critics considered that Cat Stevens overstepped with this album. I couldn't disagree more I recognize the title track for what it is - a masterpiece. I have been listening to this track for thirty years and I still discover musical nuances that I hadn't heard before. The arrangements, orchestrations, phrasings and lyrics in this opus are nothing less than genius.”

“I love this album; it was really interesting to see him dabbling in other musical styles. I never tire of Foreigner Suite, and all in all, this is a really underrated album.”

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