What happened?
i guess when you start working for a major label you automatically lose any creativity you once had. or maybe it was just a short album instead of the live albums i really dig where you actually feel the music flow and the creative side of O.A.R. come out. this is more of a pop album than anything else, not like the band i've come to know. tempted to give it a 1 star, but i couldnt bring myself to do it. its not a bad album, but its not O.A.R. either.

in between now and then was a good album that captured most of their feel live and put it on a recorded album. i dont get why they didnt stay with more of that style. bands mature and all that, but this was just not a good growing phase for them. i still have hopes, but i'm not holding my breath for the next album...

huh?
this sounds nothing like the OAR we've become to know and love. i mean..."love and memories" might be the queerest song ive heard in my life.

Good but different.
When I first played this Cd in my car it shocked me b/c it was such a different sound coming from them. In my opinion between their older stuff and their newer stuff there is quite a big difference. It took a few days but after constant rotation in my Cd player I was finally hooked!
"Heard the World" is an amazing song and its so catchy.
I'm actually going to their "Stories of a Stranger" summer concert and I'm so stoked about it!
so when you buy this don't throw it out automatically, give it a chance, you might find you like it better than you think!

The Evolution Of a Revolution
Of A Revolution (O.A.R.) has been around for quite some time and in that time has developed a sort of cult-following. Their music has gone through many different stages; their earliest resembling something caught between Marley-esque reggae type-subpop with lyrics that sounded like they could have been freestyled into a mic. What was produced some say is O.A.R.'s best work, it definitely gave them a perfect setting for future success.

Over the years the evolution of O.A.R. has not only come in the ways of highly-improved audio recordings but in the ways of more creative ways of using instruments and deeper, more meaningful lyrics. Their previous album, 'In Between Now and Then' was a beautiful step in the right direction but tried too hard to hang onto their rough roots as a hybrid band.

'Stories of a Stranger' is what comes after many years of evolving from a garage band playing college shows - to a band that can sell out any venue and that comes with a following that will eventually rival even the best bands in the world. The album encompasses every side of the band that has ever been shown and does it all better than any other album they've released has. From the start of the album you are taken on a type of musical journey where you hear everything from Pop, to Reggae-rock, to slower jazzy songs. Every side of O.A.R. shines on this album and even when they are at their slowest you still move to the beat.

This is a huge step in O.A.R.'s launch to stardom. It shows not only a versitile and capable musical style but creative use of instruments through slick bass-lines and dizzying saxophones. 'Stories of a Stranger' is a great album for new and old fans alike, every song offers something new and original that will keep you singing for months to come. The only thing better would be seeing them live, which offers an energy in its own class.

AWESOME!
Everysong is a toe tapping, radio blasting, sing a long! OAR is awesome! This CD really shows how diverse OAR is when it comes to a variety of genres.

Great JOB GUYS!