Joe Strange is a seasoned performer, beginning his live career at the age of 14 playing the "Roadhouse" style venues in rural North Nottinghamshire,he has paid his dues time and again both as a solo act and a band leader. Forming The Joe Strange Band in 2004 and moving to the city proved to be a leap forward both creatively and commercially, the band have accrued a large following in the city playing residencies every weekend over the last eleven years. Two original albums followed ( Angel Row 2005 and The Benefit Of Hindsight 2007) as well as the songs for the musical film Frontman 2011, Joe embarked on the writing of A History Of Birds in 2011. Out of the 64 songs originally written and 25 demoed only 9 actually made the album.This commitment to quality has meant the album has been a long time coming but its definitely worth the wait. If you like classic songwriting (Think Dylan, Young,Springsteen and Tom Petty) with sun drenched harmonies and chiming electric guitars, please download and enjoy,if you're still not converted..... "For anyone who is a connoisseur of the Nottingham music, Joe Strange is familiar name. He's a hardy stalwart of the live scene, regularly braving the 'Roadhouse' environment of his restidency,The Approach pub in town. This is Strange's first solo studio album and is a collection of self penned songs, which he has been quietly slipping into his live set for sometime now.It comes as no surprise therefore, to find the album's first song to be a guitar driven country rock number. Much like his live act, most of the songs on the album will get your toes tapping from the outset. If you take time to peruse the album cover, two long billed sea birds sit strangely back to back, you may ponder Strange's choice of album title and image. But, this is no song book for ornithologists, but rather a catalogue of loves won and lost along the way. Sometimes sad and sometimes uplifting, these are songs that always find a groove in your soul. The Track 'No Other Girl' has such a relaxed snare driven shuffle, that you almost lose yourself in it. Strange's Voice is easy on the ear and almost re-assuring.His mournful lo-fi harp provides the ideal accompaniment to the slower compositions. JS can rock you ( the heavy gospel of Down In The River ) and he can break your heart(Caught In The Middle) and one things for sure, there ain't nothing stranger than birds...Allow Mr Strtange to explain, you won't be disappointed. Alan J Taylor - Americana-UK/Maverick/No Depression Magazines