STRANGE DAYS

Strange Days is the second album from The Doors. Their debut introduced the now classic Doors sound of Carnival/ circus organ music mixed with dark sixties rock. A strange mix then as it is a strange mix today. Strange Days shows The Doors at their most creative and inspired. All the rough edges from the debut are gone and this is a masterpiece album. Not a single note on this album is unneccessary. This is the Doors album that I always return to. Like many others my age I was introduced to The Doors through the Oliver Stone movie from 1991 and allthough it took my a while to appreciate their music I was eventually sold. But what really tricked my excitement about The Doors was an auto biography by John Densmore I read a couple of years back. It was such a great insight into a world of drugs, internal fighting, ladies and a dark philosophy that I as a metal head embrased with joy. Jim Morrison was a troublemaker no doubt. The mans personality often resulted in fights with the other members of the band and his drug abuse didn´t make things any easier. It´s really a wonder they made six albums together with the original lineup. The first three albums were their most psychadelic albums and Strange Days is probably the most psychadelic of those three albums.

I want to mention some highlights on Strange Days even though the whole album is really one long highlight. It´s very seldom you come across an album where you like everything about it. The title track starts the album and it´s a psychadelic track which has always been a favorite of mine. Great obscure vocals from Jim Morrison, and some really eerie carnival organ parts from Ray Manzarek. Note the changed bassline after the second chorus. Simple gimmick really but great. You're Lost Little Girl is another favorite of mine with the beautiful sensitive vocals from Jim Morrison and the melodic acoustic guitar from Robby Krieger. This is another favorite of mine from Strange Days. Love Me Two Times is the most known song from Strange Days but it´s a great track and another highlight on the album. People Are Strange have always had a strange attraction on me and it´s a song I will always love. Of course I also have to mention the last song When the Music's Over. It´s a Doors classic and a live favorite. Absolutely one of the best songs they ever made. As mentioned the rest of the songs are also great dark sixties pop/ rock songs that shouldn´t be missed.

The musicianship is even better than on the excellent debut. These musicians just seem to come up with new tricks all the time. I especially noticed that Robby Krieger really evolved since the debut.

The production is really detailed and very good for the time and even in today´s standards this is a great sound quality. Of course it´s obvious that the album is made in the sixties but it´s really great.

The cover needs to be mentioned as well. It´s always drawn me in with it´s eerie and dark atmosphere. Clowns and circus freaks have always scared the shit out of me.

With Strange Days The Doors superseeded all expectations after their brilliant debut and delivered what I think is their crowning achievement. I´m so happy every time I give this one a spin because I know that my love for this album will last forever. A true psychadelic evergreen. The 5 stars is a matter of course for this masterpiece album. If you´re curious about The Doors, start here.