Billy Joel

The Stranger

Mar 14, 2020

100

This is an album I have been streaming so much lately, I’m really getting into different music more while I’m here enjoying my time as a student. It’s such a different life and I’m really enjoying it so far, what this does mean is that I have a little less time on my hands to listen to music.

This album resonates with me on so many levels, it’s incredible. I don’t even know where to start.. is it the incredibly beautiful and lively instrumentals? Is it the relatable lyrics weaved in the vividly memorable melodies? Is it the perfect singing by Joel? Honestly I don’t know, all that I know is that this music just works amazingly well for me and that this is an album I’ll be playing for ages. There’s not a dull moment on this record and that’s a feat only a few albums can achieve. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” encapsules what this entire record does for me, it is a journey from song from song; whilst this is an extreme form of it of course I do see similarities between this song and the 42:33 runtime of this album.

I don’t know how an album from 1977 can sound so fresh to this day, it might be because it’s obvious that Joel is having fun on this record and fun is timeless.

Normally I’d point out my favorite moments on the record, but if I were to do that I’d be writing too much. Just listen to the record!

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4 Comments

this used to be my favorite album oat before I started listening to more music. I still love Billy Joel to this day though and he is still my favorite solo artist. My only reason for not giving this a 10 too would be the last two tracks and how they are both kinda lackluster in lyricism (at least, compared to the rest of the album). Still one of my all-time favorites though and I'm thrilled to see someone else enjoy it as much as I do. I encourage you to check out the rest of Billy's discography if you haven't already. It's one of those collections of music that will make you wonder: "where has this been my entire life?"

Kuru

I'm definitely planning on listening to the rest of his discog, I have now listened to 52nd Street, which is an excellent album as well. Interested to see what more he has in store.

Mathieux

Billy Joel, the best in the game.

Mathieux

This review was really cool and I really like the fact that you open up to new musical styles and old decades. You really made me want to listen to this album, I know some of Billy's songs, but I've never listened to any of these albums in their entirety.