Personnel
Al Langlade lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Andre Pelletier lead and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Rolly Saunlier bass, backing vocals
Peter Martin drums
Jim Flynn keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
Track List:
1. Paradise 3:31
2. Bed of Lies 3:45
3. Shy Away 4:52
4. Can't Stop 4:26
5. Yesterday 3:54
6. Guardian 2:40
7. Can't Win for Losin' 3:54
8. Nothin's Missin 4:37
9. The Mask 3:54
10. Big Dream 3:47
11. Shoulder to Cry On 4:28
12. To the City 4:21
13. Paradise acoustic version 3:25
Not a lot of people know this, but Total Stranger had a s/t, mini-lp out on vinyl, in the mid 80's (see soundbyte below). Judging by the nature of the cover, it could in fact be a promo. I await clarity! Then a self-titled album in 1990. 5 years later, came their classy 2nd(and self-titled) effort (produced by Von Grooves' Mathew Gerrard) that blew away the cobwebs of mundanity that were the mid 90's. Finally in 2002 a new album that included their 96 effort, as a bonus disc, plus a couple of unreleased. "Obsession" had a more contemporary hard rock feel, their ep was a more Aor/Pomp affair, but the jewel in TS crown will allways be the fantastic s/t album with its massive hooks, and wonderfull vocals and harmonies. Al Langlade was last heard on Any Day Nows' "Millenium" album.
He also performed on Ian Crichtons' (Saga) solo albums "Ghettos By Design" and co-wrote "Dare to Dream".
Al Langlade also released a solo album in 2005 entitled "Sad Lullabies".
Band Members : Al Langlade - lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Andre Pelletier - guitars, b/vocals
Rolly Saunlier - bass, b/vocals
Peter Martin - drums
Jim Flynn - keyboards, guitar, b/vocals
Steve McPhail - Vocals, guitars(1)
Rolly Papier - Vocals/bass(1)
John Sampson - Drums(1)
bought this album for the "S/T" bonus disc. Excellent hard rock, and even the fillers sound good. "Obsession" on the other hand, is a bit unusual. Progressive, melodic, and modern all at once. Aside from the title track and "Rising Sun," the rest of "Obsession" does nothing for me. Geoff summed it up very well.
class melodic rock .imagine a mixture of von groove with tower city a you get a pretty good idea of how good this is
This rare 11 track CD was released on the Semaphore label of Germany back in 1997. This is the debut from the Canadian band which has become difficult to find these days. Be sure to make this one a part of your collection. Their sound is a cool melodic hard rock in the style of HAREM SCAREM, VON GROOVE's debut, WALL OF SILENCE and CONEY HATCH. I highly recommend it.
