Reviews (page 6 of 8)
This is a beautiful album! I hadn't heard of Emmylou Harris, but I feel I should have! She sounded like a cross between Dolly Parton and Olivia Newton John! I'm not useally a fan of Beatles covers, but her version of 'For No One' gets an exception as her voice takes it to a different level!
Emmylou is not someone I had come across before and makes me questions my general dislike of country - maybe I just like floaty , folksy country? This was really nice
Great voice, solid performances, OK songs. The sappy 70s soft rock production makes this hard to listen to in some places.
Country und Western Album mit sympathischer Frauenstimme. Man fühlt sich mitten nach Cheyenne versetzt wo an einem Lauen Sommerabend Musik auf der Marktplatzbühne spielt. Die Songs sind gut interessant arrangiert. Gut sind „Boulder To Birmingham“, das Beatles Cover „For No One“ und als typischer Country-Song „Queen Of The Dollar”.
Bonito. Country tranquilo.
nice enough bit of country tho she is no Dolly
Not awful for country
Country has a very hard ceiling with me, but this is still one I can appreciate. The honesty and power in songwriting is very apparent, and there is still a clear treatment of the blues that I enjoy. Favorite track: Coat of Many Colors
I like her voice
Album 389 of 1001 Emmylou Harris - Pieces Of The Sky Rating : 3.5 / 5 A visit back to the country music I enjoy. Beautiful voice.
It was fine
Not a country fan but this is ok.
Another quite nice but uninteresting country album
3.08 per track. Good classic country!
Simplistic and lame country music. Must have had some worth at the time i suppose, but not now. Great voice though! 2.5/5
When Emmylou is singing the slow songs, her voice is fantastic. Then the super country twang songs take me out. A very mixed album I wish I could give a 2.5 insteads of a 3.
Emma Lou Harris’s voice is liltingly beautiful. The track Before Believing made me stop and watch the sunrise for a few minutes. The Dolly Parton cover of Coat of Many Colors could have been her original. The Eddy Vedder Ukulele cover Sleepless nights (I know… other way around) was so personal, which I have to credit to her: her honesty drives her music to greatness. I may go vinyl hunting for this one.
This sounded great. Not really the kind of music I dig. But she did cover the Beatles, so she’s cool with me.
It's fine, but probably not coming back to this one.
boring. low 6/10
Another country album. Better than most and Emmylou Harris is an accomplished singer but not more than 3 stars unfortunately
This was pretty good. I hadn't listened to her before but it was nice.
Really good folk/country album from a legend. Her voice is a a treasure and the lyrics beyond great, some songs werent as memorable as others for me but but the ones that stuck out were phenomenal.
She has a lovely voice and is just smooth
Hank and Lefty, or the cover of For No One probably my favourites. I don't naturally gravitate to this type of country, but can still appreciate the beauty of this album
Musically, it was fine. But it just didn't click with me. I like country sometimes, but in this case I just missed a little something. Nevertheless, it's not a bad album
Yeah I just have a hard time caring about country music, but this was fine
It was okay.
Such a gentle voice, that southern lick also helps in her music imo. 3.0
Absolutely love her voice but this album has one song written by her and the rest are covers. Solid 4 if she wrote the songs, but the karaoke factor brings it down to a 3.
Ok
El country es un género que conozco muy poco, por lo que es la primera vez que escucho de Emmylou Harris, apareciendo en una época pre-punk. Por momentos, arriba; por otros, más introspectivo-romántico, siempre destaca la voz limpia y dulce de esta chica. Disco tranquilo, para acompañar un almuerzo.
Before starting this journey, I always said I hated certain genres. Country, Rap, Hip Hop, and the like. But I’m realizing now that I really don’t dislike them as much as I once thought. This is a great country album. My biggest shock, though, is that the Beatles cover isn’t even in my top 3. I was once practically a Beatles superfan, so that says a lot about this album. Also nice to see a cover from my favourite country album so far, Coat of Many Colors. 7/10 Top 3: 1. Too Far Gone 2. Boulder to Birmingham 3. Coat of Many Colors
I used to assume I didn't like country music but I now realise that was a blinkered kind of inverse bigotry. This is pretty great. Still not giving top marks as I'm unlikely to reach for it (I tend towards British folk if I'm looking to scratch a trad. itch) but I did find it a very enjoyable listen.
Honestly, didn't expect to like a country album this much.
That Beatles song snuck up on me. I always preferred old Hank Williams country (though still too twangy for me overall). Very solid album that nods to HW and nails the ballads.
I don't remember listening intentionally to Emmylou Harris before, but I know I've heard her music. I enjoyed this album - more than most country music I've heard. I loved the fiddle (or whatever those strings were) at the end of Bluebird Wine. If I Could Only Win Your Love was the biggest hit single from the album and was also one of my favorites. Other highlights were Before Believing, Coat of Many Colors and For No One (a cover of a Beatles song). I didn't enjoy Bottle Let Me Down or Queen of the Silver Dollar as much.
I was hot and cold on this one. The standout tracks (the opening, for no one cover and a couple of others) were stellar. The rest felt like fairly standard country-fare to me (though I'm not an expert!)
sooo fun i love country folk ballads <3 3.5/5
Favourite Song: Too Far Gone
I don't like modern country and this is how country should be.
Fin röst och fina melodier. Tyckte om det här för det mesta
Really want to try some Bluebird wine.
I would actually listen to country music if it sounded like this. BRING BACK 60s AND 70s FOLK YOU COWARDS
A few bangers including Blueberry Wine. The rest is good, but a touch slow for me.
Decent songs and arrangements. Lovely voice. Country vibes.
Amazing voice but overall was just an ok album.
A little twangy for my tastes, but some nice harmonies. I really liked the cover of the Beatles “For No One.”
It's not my usual style, but I enjoyed a few of the folky country songs. She has an amazing voice and some of the songs were quite powerful. Some songs reminded me of Joni Mitchell. The second half of the album was solid, especially coat of many colours, queen of the Silver Dollar and a beautiful cover of For No One 1st listen 3.5
Harris has a great voice and it's a perfectly fine album but not a very distinctive one and it suffers from too many slow numbers.
I really love Emmylou Harris, generally, but I feel like this album lacks a solid impact for me, at this point. There are some great songs, but many of them feel dated and not as relevant. I feel her later work holds up better, personally. Again, as an artist, she is a legend, and I'm happy to have listened to this album, but I'm not sure this is the album I'd go back to for her.
Best song - Bluebird Wine
Coat of many colours was a good cover, put Dolly is hard to beat. Overall good album
Meh
Important country record, I can see how this record influenced future groups like Big Thief. Very melancholic. Great instrumentation and production. The standout track for me was Boulder to Birmingham. What a banger.
Country music has pretty much passed me by - apart from the times I've been doing road trips in the US midwest when it's been the only genre available on the radio. I do love this game for making me listen to things that I wouldn't otherwise. Track to listen to again - For No One is beautiful.
Nice to have a good Emmylou Harris album after the disappointment of Red Dirt Girl. A voice that works best in harmonies, a style that works best with a bigger band. Originality isn't the most important thing. is the change in country-folk style in the 2000s (3-4 instruments recorded in isolation with overdubbed vocals, as on Red Dirt Girl) a metaphor for the hyper-hyper-individualism & isolation of the modern era? perhaps! perhaps. music: appreciated. (⌐❀_❀)
1001 Emmylou albums to hear before you die. Like this one considerably more than the early 2000s one we got a while back. Same voice, just a production difference I guess.
Her voice creates a main player in a cast of well thought out country and cover compositions that allow room to see her full potential. She’s versatile but also tends to stay in her lane on this album but you can see the stretching of her legs as something outside of pure country.
3/5 - an enjoyable album
Not a big fan of country, but I found this enjoyable to listen to and it seems like she’s one of the pioneers.
Like the Willie Nelson album, country isn’t my kind of thing, but it’s also not music that I actively dislike. This album, like red headed stranger, is just really chill and nice as background music, makes me feel like I’m walking the prairie on a horse, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it. None of the songs really stood out though, so it’s hard to say any of the songs were particularly good. 3.5/5
Not usually a country music fan, but this is classic country music. Really soulful and emotional. A little slow for my liking, but still a really solid album. Love the instrumentals. Favorite songs - Bluebird Wine (sounds so much like Dolly), Boulder to Birmingham, Hank and Lefty.
This was fine. It reminded me of something my grandpa would listen to in the background, which is not a bad thing.
The sounds of a classic country Belle not unlike the sound of Dolly Parton, of which she had completed a cover of Coat of Many Colours. Pieces Of The Sky is wholly inoffensive and has the feel of "good ol' country music - the way it should be" without being too over the top. Definitely one of the more bearable country albums I have listened to thus far. Best: If Only I Could Win Your Love Worst: Boulder To Birmingham
Very smoothing voice to listen to. Never usually one for country music I had time to kill waiting on an MOT and service. Being completely unfamiliar with country music bar the popular songs that everyone knows, I was finding myself tapping my foot or bobbing my head along to the music. Bottle Let Me Down and Queen of the Silver Dollar were my highlights from this album.
A decent folk country album. Nothing too amazing and most of the songs were fine. The biggest standout of this was Harris’ voice and the well written songs. This was made back when artists had to be actually talented and that’s why Harris does a good job. The style of album is one that I would most likely not revisit as I prefer other country but I do think it is good. 6.2/10
A very nice traditional country album. Not my favorite genre but the quality of the songs, vocal performance and production is undeniable. 3.5 stars
Not that big into country but this was definitely one of the better proponents of the genre, Emmylou Harris' voice is wonderful and the songs are well written
Bonito. Country tranquilo.
I liked it at the time and it’s aged well
Un gran álbum de country, sumamente influyente para la corriente alternativa del género. La hipnotizante voz de Emmylou Harris interpreta con pasión las canciones compuestas por talentosos compositores, evocando con covers a los artistas más grandes que le preceden como Dolly Parton o The Beatles.
Emmylou Harris obviously has an excellent voice and this is obviously a great straight country record. Enjoyable listen for sure.
Dolly Parton influence
Enjoyable, great voice
A little bluegrass, gospel influence. Incredibly powerful voice. Not entirely my cup of tea, but it was nice having on. Favorite tracks: "Boulder to Birmingham", "Bottle Let Me Down"
Not my usual type of music, but very pretty. Easy on the ears!
Overall I am glad I listened to this album. It is very pretty sounding, Emmylou has a timeless voice, and this album sits solidly in the type of country I find palatable. However, it is too twangy for me at points, songs kind of blend together, and some songs are just tooo slow for my personal preference. I think it’s definitely worthy of a listen through for anyone who enjoys music from the 70s. 6/10
Pieces of the Sky is the second album and commercial breakthrough by American country music artist Emmylou Harris. This country album features an eclectic assortment of song styles that appealed to Emmylou, including various covers of popular songs like "Too Far Gone," "The Bottle Let Me Down," "For No One," and "Coat of Many Colors". This is a beautiful album from a talented singer. The album's tracks do a great job of making the listener feel different things while you get swept away by the soothing music. Glad I had the chance to listen to this album.
B- Bluebird Wine 3 Too Far Gone 4 If I Could Only Win Your Love (with Herb Pedersen) 3 Boulder to Birmingham 3 Before Believing 2 The Bottle Let Me Down 3 Sleepless Nights 3 Coat of Many Colors 2 For No One 4 Queen of the Silver Dollar 3 Emmylou Harris with an absolute revenge game. Her album from 2000 was horrendous. I was not a fan. However, she totally redeemed herself here. This was great. Although, I am much more a fan of 1970's country than more modern country, so it makes sense.
A consistent, loving album from Emmylolu Harris. Rings with all of the classic old country tones you'd want but with her own spin on it. The covers were especially interesting
Standout track- Coat of Many Colors
I gave more than one star to a country album. The world's gone topsy-turvy
Qué chulada de voz, pero hasta ahí.
A solid listen but Emmylou Harris can't keep me with her voice for the length of an album.
Good album overall, I definitely recognised the "Toy story" vibes. Not sure I'll get back to it though
Ia aight, good voice, the country songs meh
Pretty standard progressive country album, but all in all I really enjoyed it!
Above average country. Standouts: Too Far Gone, If I Could Only Win Your Love, Coat of Many Colors, For No One. 3/5
I typically don't go for the more folksy style of country, but I found myself really liking this one. My thing will always be on the use of instrumentals, and Emmylou nailed them here. All of them were interesting uses in the background, and they paired with her voice very well. Favorite track: Queen of the Silver Dollar
not bad, but not alot of relisten in there for me
Didn’t love but didn’t mind having it on. A solid 3
Getting some more country music, always glad to see an album pop up on here that isn't from a genre i'm as familiar with. I love her voice, songs like the Beatles cover and the closing track Queen of the Silver Dollar are great listens. Will probably end up coming back to this in the future for some more listens because I had fun. Hoping there's still more to come on this list that'll help me expand my tastes.
Niet veel specialer dan andere country albums
Nice vocals
Not bad 3
good stuff. Will explore more.
Beautifully produced country pop, soaked in reverb. Really pristine sound. Emmylou Harris has a gorgeous voice. When she holds out a note, it sounds so clean. So strong. “Bluebird Wine” is a clear standout for me. It’s got real power to it. I love that forceful country style. I wish there were a few more peppy tunes like this but hey, maybe that’s jus another album. “Bottle Let Me Down” is fun too. The Beatles cover “For No One” has some incredible guitar on it. “Before Believing” is beautiful. I love these lyrics: “How would you feel if the world Was falling apart around you Pieces of the sky were falling In your neighbor's yard but not on you Wouldn't you feel just a little bit funny, Think maybe there's something you ought to do?”
She's got a beautiful voice and the music compliments it well. The record doesn't blow me away but it's definitely not bad either. I think it's a pretty middle of the road 3/5, which totally isn't a bad thing for this list. I think a lot of singer-songwriters that I like have been influenced by her sound and I appreciate that.
1st track probably everything I still don't like about country, come on good ol' boys, slap your thighs down at the hoedown. Similar with Bottle let me down. I've started to really like some country, but I don't like that. Gorgeous voice, obviously. I can't argue with Boulder to Birmingham, lovely song. There are several more objectively beautiful songs. Beautifully done, not for me really, overall.
3.5 stars. 70's Country Western that is carried by Harris's beautiful voice.
Amazing voice with very decent songs
Kinda sounds like Doll. Turns out she covered one of Dolly's songs. This is ok I guess. Not terrible, but not super good or interesting. A low 3/5
Very country, great voice.
A decent singer-songwriterish country effort. Not entirely wowed on the songwriting front (I’d already heard Dolly do ‘Coat of Many Colors’ much more justice a few albums ago), but the vocals were pleasing and the instrumentals well done.
Very repetitive genre
3 Emmylou!! Ok, admittedly, I’ve never listened to any of her personal work, but she was featured on a few tracks from one of my all-time favorite albums, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning by Bright Eyes. Her voice pairs beautifully with Conor’s music and adds so much to the album, especially on the track We Are Nowhere and It’s Now, which is not only my favorite song from I’m Wide Awake, but also what I would consider one of the greatest songs ever written. Anyway, we’re not here to talk about Bright Eyes, but all that to say I had a very high regard towards Emmylou coming into this because of them. And I gotta say, she sounds as great as I could have hoped for here, but musically… I mean, I wasn’t expecting it to sound like the work of a sad Nebraskan indie icon, but yeah this is pretty standard country fare. The slower stuff is the better stuff here (mostly because it highlights her vocal performance), with Boulder to Birmingham being by far and away my favorite song on the album - the ballad-like nature of the song is something I feel is so much better suited for her chops than something like Bottle Let Me Down. Speaking of which, I gave myself a pat on the back for recognizing it as a Merle Haggard cover, a connection I would have never made in a million years if not for this list… and then I proceeded to completely miss The Beatles cover three songs later. So, that prompted me to take a look into every song here, and as it turns out, they’re all covers except for one… Yep, it’s Boulder to Birmingham. I really hope the success of that song gave her the confidence to start recording more of her own original compositions, because if so, I’ll definitely be giving a listen - maybe it was a fluke, but it’s by far the best moment of the album. Though hell, even if her other work is just more basic classical country, I’d still give a listen - it’s hard to find something to hate with a voice like hers. Now that being said, I’m going to go listen to some Bright Eyes.
emmylou harris, containing a first name worthy of any country star, has a sweet voice that's particularly perfect for these tender songs on pieces of the sky. "far too gone" is a great example of this. it's already a beautiful song, but something about harris' voice knocks her songs up a notch. that song with the only single, "if i could only win your love," are the stand outs. the rest of the album could be a little lackluster in comparison, but her voice makes the album enjoyable in the long run. and linda ronstadt providing backing vocals on "queen of the silver dollar" (containing cute lyrics by shel silverstein) is the icing on top of the cake! 3.5
Emmylou Harris did not have as "easy" of a start as some other female country artists, but this album really cemented her place in country music legend history, and it's understandable why. This album is a very pleasant listen with a lot of dynamic and range shown on Emmylou's part. Her voice is really allowed to soar on this album, showing her off as being in league with the best of the country classic divas, all while still being her own thing. My favorites from the album were probably "Bluebird Wine", "If I Could Only Win Your Love", and "Boulder to Birmingham". Each, in my opinion, probably showcase Emmylou's talents the best on this already very solid album. And I will add that her cover of "Coat of Many Colors" does Dolly Parton justice, for sure. If country music is to be represented on this project (and it should be), Emmylou Harris is an excellent contribution. Her path was a bit different than many female country music legends, but her contributions to the genre are still many. She would go on to be an influence for many female country acts to follow. This album is probably around a 3.5 for me.
I still really enjoy Emmylou Harris' vocals, and I actually like country music more than I thought I did, but still not THAT much. She's got a few better songs on this album as well, but not quite cutting it as a higher rating. Again, it gets a bit bland.
It’s kind of pleasant but not for me.
Incredible voice. I get why people like her, but it's just not for me. Every song felt like it had one or two "mistakes" that took me out of the moment. 3.5 stars
Estilo country femenino antiguo. Muy buena voz y, sin duda, para los amantes del género. Escuchable en un ambiente tranquilo
Not to diminish Emmylou’s talent and legacy in any way, but these songs are just a bit too squeaky clean for my taste. Pristine where I prefer my country more scraggly, found, and rough around. But it’s worth a hearing just for history alone, as it finds a young Emmylou climbing back to her feet after the tragic overdose of her singer and friend Gram Parsons just a year earlier. “Boulder to Birmingham” perfectly encapsulates that history and heartbreak, just as it plays to Emmylou’s strengths as an ever-elegant, country-western singer and songwriter. That’s a classic tune. I just don’t care for how clean it sounds.
I'm pretty much exactly with Charlie on this one. Discovered a whole new singer who I had never heard of and fell for her voice hard, she just has this incredible emotional range in her voice. But the background is pretty straight and feels uninspired. Could have been way, way more interesting. But as a vehicle to carry her brand of heartbreak, I think it's great. 3/5
I enjoyed this album more than I thought. I'm not the biggest fan of folk/country, but Emmylou has a gorgeous voice and I really liked her cover of "For No One". I knew I recognized it, but I didn't know from where, and assumed I must have just heard it before. Looked it up just to figure out it was a Beatles tune and that a lot of this album was covers. That's not very common nowadays, but I think it's something that should be explored more. She really made each one her own, they sounded like they belonged to her. That's a quality not many vocalists have.
Not a big fan of country music, but this ain't bad
Better than I though
Nothing interesting here
This is the 4th album on this list I've reviewed by her, and I think this is the one where she establishes her position as an influential country folk artist. Her work with Gram Parsons was fantastic, and she continues with a great voice, excellent songwriting, and versatile instrumental. It's somber and relaxing with some emotional pieces and powerful moments, but I wasn't too impressed by any of the songs. I did enjoy the "Coat of Many Colors", "For No One", and "If I Could Only Win Your Love" covers. But really, nothing left much of an impression.
Not my type of country musically, but Harris’ singing is graceful and iconic
Fun twangy time
I think I'd have to be in a particular mood to really get much out of this kind of music.
I liked this. It seemed more personal and less of a cheesy stereotype than a lot of country music. It was also elevated by Emmylou Harris' beautiful and emotive voice. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Boulder to Birmingham Date listened: 04/04/23
3.75
Very similar to Dolly Parton
i love everything about classic country except listening to it
Well. Country music - can it ever get more than 3 stars? Is there a genre with less musical complexity than Country, with it's simple chord patterns, vamp bass, straight-lace drums and songs about dogs? Some nice guitar work though. Cancelled out by the banjo. Emmylou has an expressive voice, she really does a great interpretation of the songs (I enjoyed 'For No One', and again sweet guitar noodling in this). But it's a cover album of country music, I'm not sure why it makes the 1001.
No sig comments
pretty but little country
Dolly era country, pretty good / underrated
Her voice is utterly beautiful and incredibly fragile. I didn’t think the music quite lived up to her voice as it felt a little country by numbers
nice country album, reminded me of the music my mom listened to growing up. may recommend it to her if she hasn’t heard it
5/10 nice voice but it’s really not my style of country
A pretty boring collection of country covers. 5/10
I'm not a country fan, but she can certainly sing.
Nice voice, unexceptional songs. Country has never been a favourite genre. This one won't make my exception list
This is pretty good country. It’s not really my style, but I can understand the appeal nonetheless. I really liked the instruments, and her voice compliments them pretty perfectly. It’s relaxing due to its folksy vibe, but it’s just not for me. Favorite track: For No One
Country
"Pieces of the Sky" is the second studio album and major debut by American country music artist Emmylou Harris. It was the album that launched her career and included a fairly eclectic selection of original and cover songs. During the recording, Harris was still reeling from the death of Gram Parsons who had a major influence in the direction of her career. The album was produced by Brian Ahern and recorded with a mobile studio set-up in a Beverly Hills house. Ahern also helped bring in a stud group of musicians: members of Elvis' Vegas band, James Burton (guitar legend), ex-Cricket Glen Hardin (piano, string arrangements), Eagles' Bernie Leadon (guitars, banjo), Little Feats' Bill Payne (Piano) and ex-Dillards' Herb Pedersen (guitars, vocals). This is a fantastic sounding album and, needless to say, Emmylou's vocals are terrific. The album begins with a very rollicking country sounding song in "Bluebird Wine." Guitars. Banjo. Fiddle and a fiddle jam. Things slow down in the cover of "Too Far Gone," a 1967 hit for Tammy Wynette. A ballad with piano and strings. Subtle guitar and guitar solo. Emmylou made the 1958 Louvin Brothers' cover "If I Could Only Win Your Love" a hit. It's essentially a duet with Herb Pedersen. Very country-rock. A mandolin jam. Yes! "Boulder to Birmingham" is a song Emmylou wrote about Gram Parsons. A sad, beautiful song and hands down the best song on the album. Great, strong vocals and backing vocals. Soulful. Slide guitar. Kacey Musgraves needs to cover if she hasn't already. Dolly Parton covered. The second half of the album is dominated by more heavy-hitter covers. She goes more straight-forward country covering Merle Haggard's "The Bottle Let Me Down." She gives a great vocal performance in Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors." Had to attempting to cover this. Also great backing vocals and acoustic guitars. An interesting choice in Lennon/McCartney's "For No One" but the arrangement is great and I don't think Emmylou could ever sound really bad on any song. The album ends with the fun "Queen of the Silver Dollar." Very pop sounding. Of note, Linda Ronstadt singing back-up. This was a enjoyable and fun album. One outstanding original in "Boulder to Birmingham." And Emmylou (as well as the producer Ahern) flexing her vocal and musical muscles and talent on the rest.
Country is probably one of my least favorite genres, but this comes from golden age of Country music where it was creative, unique, and told interesting stories. Modern country music is muddied with boring generic crap. I do really like the sound of her voice as well.
I'm not usually a big country listener but this was some good classic country. If I do listen to the genre, it's usually for artists like Townes Van Zandt or folkier stuff like John Prine and this album is closer enough to the style of country that I can enjoy. Emmylou Harris has a beautiful voice and I definitely gravitated towards the more upbeat songs on the album. I don't know how much I'll go back to it but it's a good listen. Standout Tracks: If I Could Only Win Your Love, Before Believing, Bottle Let Me Down, Coat of Many Colors, Queen of the Silver Dollar, Hank and Lefty.
Klassiker som är helt ok.
Hailing from somewhere between Virginia and North Carolina, Emmylou Harris had a false start in 1969 with the folk about Gliding Bird. Pieces Of The Sky would represent her true debut, marking a country sound that is almost all covers. Harris has a nice country voice, and it's my understanding that her sound would evolve over time, so this seems like an underwhelming starting point. Not bad by any means, but unremarkable. While listening to Coat of Many Colors, I was wondering why I wasn't listening to the Dolly Parton original recording instead. Much of the album is slow and melancholic, making the opening track stand out as a black sheep (a cooler, more fun black sheep). Not much else to say. There's been better, and there's been way worse.
Sweet, smooth, and safe. The Dolly Parton influence shows throughout. Good enough but I would have liked to have seen some emotional and vocal range on the album.
I didn’t mind this. Good tunes and good voice. I wouldn’t listen again but it was okay!
It’s mostly okay but that for no one cover is so beautiful 3/5 for the album 5/5 for that track.
On hearing Bluebird Wine, this album's first track, I had high hopes, but was a bit disappointed to find that the rest of the album didn't live up to that song. It's not bad by any means, but just middle-of-the-road Country without anything that would make it stand out from other albums of the genre. 2.5/5
It was ok
Didn’t love it.
Nice voice, soft country
This was pretty good. I was a bit disappointed though. This 70s country singer thing is usually my type but not so much this. I did like it though
country isnt my thing but some songs were enjoyable
A little too country for me
meh. 2.5/5
country.. aighttt
My opinion changes song by song on this a here LP. The first couple tunes were just fine. By the time we get to "Coat of Many Colors" I'm not having the same experience. But then I quite liked the cover of "For No One." Ditto "California Cotton Fields." That one feels like it should've been used as montage music to a 1970s comedy that's set in the 1930s and has a bunch of kids running around in overalls. I'm here for that. I like her voice overall, but I don't know that it stands out to me in such a way that I'll get excited if another one of her albums shows up on this list. I'd be just as happy to listen to Dolly Parton or Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn, ya know? But if she's got an album of nothing but sad Beatles covers I'd be all over it. Also, I got hosed on seeing that The Whole album was up next. Will have to listen to that one (all 144 tracks) later.
J'aurais probablement apprécié cet album si j'avais été un Américain moyen passionné de rodéo et de soda. Malheureusement, il n'en est rien.
Il faudra un jour proposer un grand débat sur la place de la country dans l'histoire de la musique, ce genre est absolument ringard, et ça même la superbe voix de Emmylou n'y peut rien.
Enjoyable, a little samey but liked the vibes
Genre: Country 3/5 An exercise in bland, Emmylou Harris' Pieces of the Sky is certainly a country album. Full of very little surprises and rife with the usual substance, this album plays like your downtown neighborhood fair might play out. In all seriousness, this isn't a bad album by any measure, and it's quite easy to listen to, but its distinct lack of spice leaves this project falling short for most of its runtime. Bluebird Wine, the album's twangy opener, is a great way to start the album off, but that's the big highlight of the tracklist unfortunately. An album mostly filled with covers, it was nice to hear some interesting takes on some old tunes. The Beatles even make an appearance, as Emmylou covers Paul's For No One, a great track from Revolver, and it's recreated quite gracefully here. Overall, this is an inoffensive album with light production and decent vocals from our leading lady, but not much in the way of exciting material. Quite milquetoast.
Not a bad album, classic country music. 6/10.
i liked this album, but i’m not really sure about it — this is a high 3, could be a 4 under other circumstances
This process is softening me up on country. This is a nice, mournful, gentle album of plaintive loveliness. Now I know the context (it's an album mourning Gram Parsons, essentially) it makes a lot of sense. It didn't blow my mind or anything, but I could listen again, in the right mood.
I really don't like this shit. Dum de dum (twang), dum de dum (twang) words.
Ah yes, a transition album, here's what she was, here's what she became. I read that Boulder to Birmingham is the only track she wrote on this album and on each listen I realised it had gone past without me noticing so I went back and listened to it again, it's a nice enough vibe. Faves? Bluebird Wine, California Cotton Fields.
I enjoyed this album more than I expected. I feel like there are a handful of quite stand-out songs (Bluebird Wine, Boulder to Birmingham, Sleepless Nights, Coat of Many Colors), but the rest seem to not make much impact. Might come back to this one later still. 6/10
Not my style but pleasant and an old time feeling that I like.
She's like a character actor but for country music. Great support but just not good enough for her own time in the spotlight. Best Tracks: Bluebird Wine; Boulder to Birmingham; For No One
L'appréciation de la musique a beaucoup à voir avec notre culture. La musique country ne fait pas partie de la mienne. Si j'ai appris à apprécier Johnny Cash ou Merle Haggard, j'ai du mal à aller plus loin. La voix d'Emmylou Harris est magnifique, c'est ce que je peux dire.
Pleasantly sung but not many of the songs are great material - I suppose the problem of an album full of covers. If there's any more Emmylou on this list I hope it features more of her own work.
Gentle.
Bon album de country, les musiciens sont super tasty, c'est dans le style mais pas trop cliché, tout le monde sert les chansons, elle a une belle voix pis toute. Ça sonne vraiment bien. Je connaissais le nom mais c'est ma première écoute. Plus pertinent, à mon avis, sur cette liste que bien d'autres passés et à venir
I’m not usually a country fan but I enjoyed this album. 3*
Now then... this was good. Best album for a while... a high 3.
Classic country...so much better than modern country. Have always enjoyed Emmylou's sound. 3/5
Country gostosinho.
3.5/5 it had potential, i'll have to relisten.
😇😇 Loved Bottle Let Me Down and Coat of Many Colours
ok, ekki ég en ok
Liked it!
My knowledge of country music is close to none. Even the ones I know and like (Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash) has more folk in them than Emmylou. This is country front to back, and while I can't say that I was crazy about it, it's easy to see why people would like that one. Emmylou has a great voice and most of the songs have a bright, uplifting vibe that is comforting. From what I gather this is mostly covers, but I didn't really recognize the originals except for For No One, which was kinda nice.
A nice country/folk album. Quite a pleasant listen
Da je manje tužaljki bila bi 4.
Для ковбойского салуна - вполне нормальное музыкальное сопровождение. Но ощущение, что ровно такая же музыка звучит в ковбойских вестернах про 19-ый век. То есть менялась она не сильно даже с тех времён. Надо отдать должное, что есть заимствования из других жанров и хороший голос.
2 really nice songs before believing . For no one. Less twangy I suppose . Mainly less twangy voiced
Bueno
This kind of country is not really my thing, while I can recognize it’s quality. The rather apocalyptic title song was an interesting detour.
Känns mera som något intressant att lyssna på än något jag vill lyssna på. Det verkar vara fantastiskt inspelat och välskrivet, men har svårt att komma över country tropesen.
bra folk. helt enkelt!
Emmy Lou Harris has a great voice and I enjoyed this - for country music which is not really my thing. Would I listen again, yes, but wouldn’t go out of my way. 3
Good country, not my deal
All in all it sounds beautiful both the compositions and her voice. A lack of variety brings the score down a bit
De va bra!
Rätt bra!
Emmylou has such a lovely voice, like a warm quilt. While I've never been a huge fan of country, I am beguiled by this album. Emmylou tackles various new country classics and give every song the interpretation it deserve.
Not great, not too bad for a country album. The sad type of country. The Beatles cover was a welcome surprise
She has a beautiful and pure voice. The first Songs are pretty good. (6/10) FT: Boulder To Birmingham, Too Far Gone
Beautiful album not something I would normally listen to though.
Two country albums in a row what a lucky boy I am! haha jk this isn't too bad, just good old timey country. 3/5.
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Southern point, Two weeks, Fine for now, Ready,able,
country, sing/songwriter, /pj harvey
Not something I would usually listen to but I can appreciate some of the songs. I particularly enjoyed the lyrics of "The bottle let me down"!
No way in any possible universe that Kacey Musgraves didn't craft her entire career around Emmylou Harris. We've got my first country music here. I am generally not a fan. Bluebird Wine was a decent little toe-tapper though. I can see why it's a hit! She follows up the fast song with a very slow ballad, "Too Far Gone," which has Nelson/Cline "Crazy" vibes. Also has a Linda Ronstadt/Eagles sound. I like it. So I looked and Linda Ronstadt is listed as backing vocals on this album - so there you go! If I Could Only Win Your Love is a cover it seems. Pretty standard, but musically decent and good harmony with the male backup singer. Again - sounds like early Eagles. Boulder to Birmingham showcases Harris's vocals. She's a talented singer. A lot of heart and range in her voice. Before Believing is a sad song. She's really taken the tempo down at this point. There's a Joni Mitchell vibe here. Easy listening to the n'th degree. Bottle Let Me Down - All the up-tempo songs are drinking songs. What's that all about? Country music can be so predictable, shallow, and silly. Sleepless Nights: This is an album about an alcoholic whom in between fits of drinking is sad about stuff, so she drinks again. Pretty tragic! Coat of Many Colors - Here's a story song - very sweet song about love, family, and of course the cruelty of general mankind. Powerful song. "One is only poor, if you choose to be." Heartbreaking. Best song so far. For No One - Beatles cover. I heard it right off the bat and thought it was just a similar lyric and sound, but upon closer listening, it's a cover. Definitely a beautiful rendition. Overall, if I'm going to listen to country music, this is the kind I'll listen to. I'm not sure how to categorize it, but the Nashvillian, Dolly Parton/Kasey Musgraves type of stuff is impressive at times.
Not my style, but seems high quality.
Nice. Some songs a little slow, some a little honky tonky. Before Believing was the highlight for me, brilliant tune.
Good stuff but have to be in the right mood
It's probably a sin to say that this was just "pretty good," but a few of the standouts were covers and the rest were good, but not amazing.
not my cup of tea but amazing voice
Love me a slide guitar.
Very nice
Super classic country. I like it. Emmylou has a beautiful voice. This is her first album and you can definitely tell- some of the songs sound same-y. However, she has a huge discography and I bet her music has evolved so much over the years!
Very nice and good in the background, but only a few tracks really stood out.
This album has a couple bangers and Emmylou is an icon.
Te country naar mijn smaak maar ook wel weer te hebben.
This wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t in the mood for it either. I enjoyed what I heard, but getting into it was very difficult. Might revisit. Might not.
This album really brings me back to getting stuck riding in my dads car. In general, I enjoy the faster songs more. Some of those slow, country- folk songs are very boring. "Boulder to Birmingham" and "Sleepless nights" make me want to smash their guitar John Belushi style #igavemyloveacherry. Her voice is great. Its sounds like a prettier version of Stevie Nicks (still like Nick's more). "If I could only win your love" is great. She really brings that California country sound that I know her from her collaborations with Graham Nash. Her cover of "For no one" is fantastic. And so are her other covers; you start to understand why she was always invited to play with other bands.
Nice enough without anything really standing out and making me want to listen again.
Needs a re-listen but some surprisingly good stuff here. Including a Beatles cover.
beautiful country record... not an essential listening though imho
Not really my taste.
I liked it. Might revisit when the mood is right. Nothing amazing, but pleasant listening.
I listened to the first half of the album. I like her voice, and some of the songs were in my head later. I listen to most of my music now sitting on the back porch crushing beers. Emmylou Harris is not what I want to listen to when I'm getting after it. But, I appreciate it.
Super country pero con una dosis de folk suficiente para poder disfrutarlo. Es un disco de 1975 y suena atemporal (es lo que tiene el country). Me ha gustado bastante Queen of the silver Dollar, For No One y también muy bonita Boulder to Birmingham.
I love her music and voice. None of these tracks really stuck with me though.
Usually I find country stuff isn't my thing, but actually found quite a lot of this really soothing. Did enjoy!
A bit too country for me, but pretty good overall. Emmylou has a beautiful voice. 2.5 stars.
Impressive but not really my style.
Le voy a poner 3 solo por qué es un country muy limpio y por la voz tan perfecta, no hubiera notado que son covers hasta leer los créditos en wikipedia
Para tener la mano de Gram Parsons, me parece un disco infinitamente más entretenido que el que puso a The Byrds a hacer. El country se siente más como lo que me gusta, quizá a ratos pasado de meloso y melancólico. La voz es muy agradable y adecuada para el género, al menos más que la de Joni Mitchell, y el cover a The Beatles me gustó mucho (aunque obviamente no se compara a la original, que es de mis favoritas). Sin embargo, no le veo mucho la razón de estar en la lista.
Sweet album
A nice country/folk album that I didn't know anything about the singer.
Emmylou oli aiemmin tuttu vaan nimenä SMG:n ja First Aid Kitin biiseissä. Artistin genre toki oli tiedossa, mutta muuten varsin vieras tuttavuus. Ihan miellyttävää countryfiilistelyähän tämä oli, vaikkei sinänsä mitään suuria elämyksiä tarjonnutkaan. Tämä jos joku on peruskolmonen.
Old country music. Something mom would put on in the car I feel like. Not bad by any means, so it broke into 3 instead of 2, but not my type personally.
É country. Até que é legal só não me chamou atenção
A voice that I'm used to hearing in background harmonies. When it's front and center in the spotlight, it takes on a different quality. Like yesterday's album (by Joni Mitchell), I am often too busy listening to her voice to pay any attention to the words being sung. She could sing jibberish and I'd listen. Lots of covers on this album make me wonder about her songwriting. Her voice is the focus for sure.
+
Alright if you like a bit of Country. Lovely voice. 3/5.
The tribute to Gram Parsons is worth the price of admission, but otherwise it's kind of a standard country album. Best track: Boulder to Birmingham
not my genre, but a good album
Old white men country
It's a solid album, but it's just not for me. A little bit too country.
A pretty average country album with the Beatles cover the only real highlight.
Well it’s all quite listenable I guess. But given she didn’t write any of the material and the Dolly Parton cover isn’t as good as the original, it’s set itself some severe limitations on scoring potential.
All the country albums i’ve heard on here so far have been at least interesting, but this one has nothing going on at all.
Boring. I couldn't see me ever independently putting it on.
Started off really strong, did not really fuck with the rest of it. Maybe I just need to give it another listen.
She has a great voice
..
It's mostly covers, all sung flawlessly, and most of them sit honestly. "Queen of the Silver Dollar" is an obvious character piece, "The Bottle Let Me Down" is honky-tonk costume, and "For No One" is a polite interpretation, for whatever that's worth. None of them pretend to be confession. "Boulder to Birmingham," her own grief for Gram Parsons, is the real thing, and you can hear what it cost. That contrast is why "Coat of Many Colors" jars. It's Dolly's childhood, and nothing in Harris's life taught her what it's like to be mocked for being poor. The closer she gets to Dolly's emotional pitch, the eerier it sounds, less like tribute and more like borrowed testimony. Earlier on the record she shows us what presence sounds like. Here she can only give us a portrait, in tones that make it clear she was never inside that coat herself. It tainted the album for me, and that's probably unfair. Honest isn't the same as meant, though. Outside the one song that's truly hers, it feels like a performer rather than an artist, and that uncanny valley is unpleasant in songs built on emotion. I suspect I'd have liked an album that was more hers more, and I notice there's another on the list. Hopefully she matures.
It country. I don't have particularly fond feelings for the genre, but I'm attempting to overcome any prejudice. Pieces Of The Sky is fine. I would never choose to put this on, but while I'm listening, I don't mind it. Emmylou Harris has a great voice, it's just the genre that puts me off.
Wavered between being charmed and bored by Emmylou, kinda liked her country voice but ultimately didn’t really connect with it. Thought the Beatles cover was well done. 2.4
Has a lovely voice but country music does nothing for me at all unless it's very special. I wouldn't listen again.
this album just reinforced my dislike for country music
Uff
Zzzzzz 2.5
Not my thing
OK, not really for me. Wasn’t a fan of the For No One cover.
Nothing I didn't like about it -- maybe a little too samey. Nothing really grabbed me. Good folky county music.
Meh.
This is like a 2.7 - I like it though, someone to remember. I didn't really like Red Dirt Girl (album)
60s-70s folk in small doses only, not a full album and not her. 2
Crappy country music.
Well executed country but still a sort of melange of country that I find tough to swallow.
2 eh
More country covers. Not my thing, even though Emmylou seems likeable. The only song I actually knew was 'Coat of Many Colors', and "know" is a strong word since I had heard it exactly once before (on this list). Even so, I think the original was better. (I didn't even know the Beatles song, which means I bet we still have one more Beatles album coming up.) Stuck between a 2 and a 3 for this - it got better in the second half, but ultimately I don't think I'd ever listen to it again. Anyway, enough about that. I'm intrigued by this Bluebird wine. Is Bluebird a vineyard? A grape? My research turned up nothing conclusive. Highlight: 'Boulder to Birmingham' (the only non-cover! and it has the fun line "would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham", which is like, whoa, 'Boulder to Birmingham' kinda sounds like 'Bosom of Abraham', and a boulder is a rock, there's layers here)
Sounds Dolly Parton-y. Still beats modern country.
Well performed, well recorded. Lovely vocals. Still a country album. I am baffled by country music. It's a very saccharine, very uninteresting acoustic version of christian rock with fiddles, slide guitar, and everyone wears the big hat, puts on the accent, and pretends to be a cowboy. It's so clichéd and performative. Why is this inauthentic, bland, hokey genre so popular? This album is okay, it's kind of boring like a lot of 70s music was, slow, mournful singer-songwriter ballads, chirpy, plonky hoedown stuff, the usual. She is so talented, with such a wonderful voice, yet she wastes it on such a corny genre. What a shame. Good country album I suppose.
very pretty voice but not really my thing 2.5
This was fine, but I had previously wondered if I'd like her voice as much without the heavy reverb on "Red Dirt Girl" and I have my answer.
Such a lovely and promising looking cover and then you realise it's country. Bummer. Luckily, it's not too bad. This kind of "alt-country", as they call it, I can somewhat tolerate. Couple of rather good songs here, even. Most of it doesn't really do much for me though. Shame.
No me gusta el country nada creo.... no hate to his lovely lady but I just could listen more than 3 songs.
The first track gave me hope but the rest of this album is very boring. It combines country with the most 1970’s of schmaltz. Now, I don’t have an unconditional hatred of schmaltzy music, but I don’t think that it should be anywhere near country. The best part of the record outside of “Bluebird Wine” is in “Boulder to Birmingham” where the inflections and accent on the words “my soul” make it sound like “my asshole.” 2/5
country, 1975 -> 2
Me aburrio bastante. tiene lindo sonidopero no me transmite mucho
generic country
Some nice down home tunes, but it’s a bit boring.
I wanted to love this but it was too, too twangy for me. Two stars
Just not for me.
Rigtig smukt nogengange, generelt lige en tand for *pænt*.
Wasn't my cup of tea this, which is not justice to the album.
Nett. Hooked mich aber nicht so besonders
Her voice is pretty but I just hate this genre
Fine. Inoffensive country music. None of it really does it for me. As I listened it just kind of kept fading into the background. Didn't outright dislike anything but again nothing connected.
Boring country. My ears pricked up for the Beatles cover (love that song normally!). Actually the guitar solo was quite cool, but nothing on that french horn. She sung very well. It was just a shame it was benign country gibberish. 2 Stars.
This is like being on holiday in America. You’re making your way from New Orleans to New York, but you need to stop for a night in the middle of nowhere to break the trip up. You and your partner rent an AirBnB in a place you’ve never heard of. To your horror, you arrive to find it is one of those awful AirBnBs where the host just rents out one of their rooms and still lives in the house. Even worse, it is a woman in her late 60s, living with her 46 year old son, who has never left home. They are friendly enough, and even offer to cook dinner for you. You don’t ask what the meat was, because you think maybe it was a marsupial and sometimes ignorance can be bliss. You wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and are surprised to hear the mother and her son are still awake, talking. At 2am. You don’t want to overhear whatever messed up shit they are talking about, so you block your ears as you make your way down the hall. You’ll leave before the sunrise.
Meh. Each song sounds the same. Too many religious references and just boring stories of her growing up.
Eh just not super my favorite genre
Respec but not enjoi
I do like a bit of C&W, but not this album, very average
There’s no denying she has a very clear lovely voice. I personally don’t care for pretty, high-register folk music, so this album is not for me. I did however really like the one country honky-tonk song that snuck in!
I'm sorry to rate this low but I have no interest whatsoever in country music. This does absolutely nothing for me.
Hmmm, unfortunately, this was boring.
Sounds like a crackerbarrel.
dull and twee
La voix est bien, la première chanson commence bien Et aïe au bout de 10 sec ça y est c’est COUNTRY Je crois que j’ai aucune idée de comment reconnaître un bon album de country Ça sera un 2 à priori. Mais en vrai si aucun moment ne ressort jusqu’à la fin pq ne pas mettre à 1 ? C’est juste pas inaudible et pas énervant à écouter, c’est tout ce que j’y trouve. Le top titre est passé totalement inaperçu ! Je suis à la moitié de l’album est c’est du yaourt NATURE
good background music. enjoyable but nothing earth shattering. Don't need to hear it again.
Pretty crap really. I guess it’s not terrible
I often struggle to enjoy country arrangements and instrumentation on the one hand, and I've been known to be particularly tough on US folk music on the other. Emmylou Harris has a beautiful voice and an eclectic taste, but every moment that's too country or folk pulls me out of enjoying her talents. My expectations for sophistication from popular music in the 1970s of any genre may be too high — in the emotional openness and writerly transparency of both musics, the commercial genre impulse demands gestures towards the most common elements (generic and genre share the same root after all). But the moments that are more sophisticated, less generic and more subtle are breathtaking on this record. It's a shame there are fewer of those than the moments that have now become cliche — and that's the trick of listening to something "through time"; I'm sure those cliches were less built up and the moments resonated differently when their release was contemporary with their listener. But here I am listening now and having my reaction — for every 5-star moment, there's at least one 2-star lick that's become tried and true or a way of expression that's tired now.
great vocals, but not for me