Released 37 years ago this October
Strange Angels
Laurie Anderson · 1989
46 min · 10 tracks
A blend of ethereal soundscapes and spoken word, illuminated by eclectic instrumentation and haunting vocals.
Top tracks — play these first
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Strange Angels — The title track encapsulates the album's ethereal essence with its haunting melody and introspective lyrics, making it a centerpiece of Anderson's artistic vision.
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Monkey's Paw — This track combines storytelling with a rhythmic pulse, highlighting Anderson's ability to weave narrative into music while experimenting with sound.
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Beautiful Red Dress — With its provocative themes and rich imagery, this song showcases Anderson's lyrical prowess and her knack for creating vivid narratives within her compositions.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Innovative structures and eclectic instrumentation create a distinctive sound that rewards multiple listens.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features layered spoken word over atmospheric synths, setting a tone of introspection.
- Several tracks incorporate unconventional song structures, such as abrupt shifts in tempo and dynamics, particularly evident in 'Monkey's Paw' and 'Coolsville'.
- Instrumentation varies widely across the record, with the use of strings, electronic elements, and percussive sounds creating a rich sonic palette.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate storytelling experiences
- immersive soundscape exploration
- reflective, contemplative listening
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Strange Angels is Laurie Anderson's fourth studio album, arriving after her critically acclaimed breakthrough, Big Science, in 1982. By 1989, she was recognized as a pioneering multimedia artist, exploring the intersections of music, storytelling, and technology in her work. This album marked a continued evolution in her sound and thematic exploration.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Brian Eno· Sonic Youth· David Byrne
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Strange Angels 3:52
- 2 Monkey's Paw 4:35
- 3 Coolsville 4:36
- 4 Ramon 5:05
- 5 Babydoll 3:38
- 6 Beautiful Red Dress 4:44
- 7 The Day the Devil 4:01
- 8 The Dream Before 3:04
- 9 My Eyes 5:31
- 10 Hiawatha 6:52
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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