ESTRANGED
"A new alt-folk classic. An album of creatively diverse folk songs that range from the whimsicality of The Fruit Bats to the minimalist vigor of Lou Reed. Like his visual name, Stray collects pieces and fragments from folk’s most risk-taking troubadours and assembles them into one of 2018’s most interesting and listenable records." Glide Magazine
"Brown’s soft voice lulls the listener while atmospheric instrumentation and sound effects softly shape the songs with accordion, a singing saw and odd electronic effects all fluffing up the pillow." Americana UK
“Invokes sun-faded guitars to remind us of glory days that have lost their luster… guaranteed to become your Big Mood as October slips into November.” No Depression
“Jonathan Brown sings about death, aging, nightmares and other ' dark ' topics with rock-solid conviction and melancholic vulnerability (****).” Musicmaker
"A modest folk pearl." de Volkskrant
"This is one of the most beautiful records I've ever made." Kramer
“Beautiful, brittle, intense, intelligent, slightly eerie and overall fascinating songs to listen to, over and over and over and over...” Vrij Nederland
“An album of wonderful songs delivered with great care and love…Brown has made a beautiful record, for the fifth time. Go have a listen!” De Krenten Uit De Pop
“Just off the beaten path, with fascinating consequences." Mania
“Folkunderdog Dusty Stray, since his debut in 2010, has been one of the best kept secrets of Dutch folk music lovers. He does not change a smile into a tear, but instead effortlessly unites the two.” The Daily Indie
“In my humble opinion, more people should throw themselves into the work of Dusty Stray. And perhaps for a newcomer, Estranged is as good a place as any to start. It’s an album that’s both beautiful and sad. We watch through a window as Jonathan writes about relationships that are almost done – but not quite. We listen as his voice grieves over the potential loss; a range of instruments creating a sort of ‘folk-noir’ soundtrack that simply accentuate the mood.” Sonicbreakfast
"Each lyric, note, and melody is like the contents of an old, worn journal with the page just waiting to be read." Vents Magazine
“Like stumbling across a disconsolate folk singer in an abandoned bar from the near future; it’s best listened to while suffering from heartache at 3 a.m.” Songwriting Magazine
"Dreamy freak folk songs, enhanced by keyboards, omnichord, backwards masking and almost church like backing vocal arrangements. Estranged is pretty intense..." Here Comes The Flood
"Walking-speed, wide-eyed, low-key folk...the likes of which Bonnie Prince Billy is great at." Independent Clauses
"I had never heard of anything that could be called synth-folk before this song, but that might be one of the better song descriptions I've heard in ages. It's a great ever so slight change to a classic genre that works magnificently." If It's Too Loud
A TREE FELL AND OTHER SONGS
"A Tree Fell And Other Songs is an album you can put on again. And again. And so on." OOR
"Warm and treacherously lightfooted" de Volkskrant
"Dusty Stray has once again managed to make an album of a level seldom reached in the Netherlands." De Krenten Uit De Pop
"An album that’s more than worthwhile…beautiful songs to acutely listen to about dark topics with a light, comforting and sometimes humorous undertone" VPRO 3voor12
"All the songs together form one big bizarre book of fairy tales, but one with an ugly cover. Only those who want to, will recognize the beauty inside." SOUNDZ
"It's wonderful how genres keep meeting each other... a variation between acoustic guitar, ukulele and banjos versus a xylophone, omnichord and harmonium." The Daily Indie
"...has a beautiful, tree-shaded pastorality to it...when you’re in these woods, you gotta tread carefully. Good tree surgeon jams." Norman Records
"...a superb record, especially when listened to attentively..." Festival Info
"Blood has never sounded so soothing." CJP
"A Tree Fell And Other Songs is a collection of little pearls" Muzine.nl
FAMILY ALBUM
"Astonishingly beautiful songs that everyone in the world should hear" Kramer
“Dusty Stray's forays into the unknown deserve attention" Americana UK
"Fragile voices, dreamy songs and freaky instruments...strong lyrics and a crystal clear production with chilling effects" Trouw
"A singer-songwriter with a good eye for the musical heritage of his country, along with a pleasant twist of the mind" OOR
LIGHT YEARS AWAY
"Brilliant album. What melodic richness." de Volkskrant
"Variation all over the place, plus many beautiful, small songs which in hindsight make Light Years Away one of the most beautiful singer-songwriter albums of late 2011" Kicking The Habit
“Timeless folk music that you can wrap your heart around...a true pearl" FestivalInfo
"Dusty Stray delivers a second cd that draws one into its melodies and surprises with the nature of its lyrics. With music that never sounds stilted, but rather small. And that is certainly so beautiful." MusicFromNL
"Dusty Stray is a cosmic cowboy writing songs that evoke Andrew Wyeth paintings dotted with five-eyed space creatures" Irwin Chusid, WFMU Radio, New Jersey
TALES OF MISFORTUNE AND WOE
"It’s all delightfully dark and the trick of allying beautiful and tapalong music to dark words has rarely been performed as well" Americana UK
“Makes the eyes cry not because of sorrow but joy” Maverick
"...he performed a miracle....Brown’s songs about murder and misery sound intimate, almost cozy. The arrangements are ingenious and controlled...beautiful harmony vocals..." de Volkskrant
"Prima de luxe: Tales of Misfortune and Woe is home to a dozen delicate, high quality murderballads” Altcountry.nl
"The music is beautiful, but you’re guaranteed to get disturbed by the stories that accompany it: topics include depression, suicide, falling into wells, losing loved ones, and freezing to death in the forest while the animals scavenge your parts. This stuff is vital." WUAG Radio, North Carolina
"The concealed bitterness of Tales of Misfortune and Woe lifts the already excellent songs to a higher level" Heaven
DUSTY STRAY LIVE
"A massage for the brain cells. Sounds like Syd Barret auditioning for a club owned by Woody Allen and David Byrne." Enthusiastic Guy After Seeing Dusty Stray Concert For The First Time
"I don't want to ever listen to anything else." Enthusiastic Girl After Seeing Dusty Stray Concert For The First Time