One World

Low key vibes

really came around to that one. thought this was super lame soft rock, but actually kinda good

I'm not sure what it is about this album that I love, but I love it. Vibes. As the kids say these days.

A very high 4 where have you been all my life John Martyn I love you?

dude has the lowest voice i have ever heard pretty interesting album, with a really gorgeous last track. small hours is really a masterpiece of a track.

Okayy

I love Solid Air, but this is my first time listening to One World. Along with folk, there’s definitely jazz, ambient, dub undertones, and whatnot. Interesting album!

This is the definition of a middle of the road album for me. I’d give it a 2.5 if I could, but can’t justify a 3. Don’t hate it but nothing stands out to me. 2/5

This album has a smoothness to it that makes it easy to listen to - almost like well selected elevator music that actually makes the elevator ride interesting and calm. I enjoyed this, but it definitely isn't something I'll turn to time and time again like a 5 star album

It was ok. Better than I expected, but still just ok.

I found this very pedestrian and lacking anything that stood out as being particularly interesting. Not one for me.

eh

i was so bored

This really didn’t grab me. Was it Prog? Was it Yacht Rock? It was definitely rubbish!

Acho que não consegui filtrar direito esse disco. Tem algumas coisas interessantes mas nada que seja único ou que se difere, fora que a voz dele me irritou em algumas músicas. Não é um 1 porque existem coisas realmente horríveis nessa lista, também não é nada além de um 2.

This album almost, proved me wrong about the 70s. I really enjoyed this until the end with an unnecessary instrumental

Nope, nope, and hell nope! If this album is supposed to take me on a musical journey, I’d like to know where the heck we’re going and when we’ll get there.

Huokailuks ja perusjammailuks jäi.

Nauratti kun laulajalla oli ääni käheenä levyn alussa, mutta mitä pidemmälle edettiin niin sitä enempi lähti aukeemaan. Artisti on ennestään ainaskii täysin tuntematon. Pitkän uran näköjään veistellyt. No, ol tässä ihan hyviä hetkiä.

Oli vahe tulsaa muniinpuhaltelua. Pari kertaa oli jo että josko se sittenkin lähtisi, kun vähän pornofunkkia lähti soimaan, mutta ei sitten kuitenkaan.

307. ok

I really liked this. Of course I’m a sucker for this sort of sound. I think this will be revisited. 4/5

Another discovery for me. Intriguing sound for 1977.

5/10

Going with 4 just because it's different, funky, and interesting.

Why not Bless the Weather, if you're going to list two John Martyn albums? Otherwise, great!

I wasn’t particularly excited about there being 2 John Martyn albums in the 1001 and hearing this one hasn’t enthused me about the other one. I must’ve caught him on a repeat of a Whistle Test or something to already have knowledge filed away that he wasn’t my cup of tea. Or maybe some footage was shown when he died. To be fair, I did find One World to be less annoying than I had expected. Hanging out in Jamaica or whatever seems to have vibed him up a bit from the kind of stuff I had heard previously. But the difference was far from enough. I get why people get into it, but it’s not for me.

Do we really need multiple John Martyn albums? Music is decent but also nothing special 3/5

Gorgeous guitar with rough vocals. Pretty good 3.5/5

This guy sucks, I learned that after enduring his "Solid Air" album. I hated that record so much I blacklisted the artist and can't listen to it on Spotify. I had to unlock him so I could review. The opening track, "Dealer", had cool percussion but went nowhere in 5 minutes. Then the real JM showed up with his awful voice and cringe-worthy inflection starting with track two. Holy shit, so painful. His "hit", "Could Love You More" with 7M listens (head and shoulders above every other track) was oversung and agonizingly drawn out. The only song I found remotely tolerable was "Dancing". What's "Must Hear" listening on this album? What justifies it's inclusion? This record is for fans only. I think the author of the Top1001 might have Martyn as a last name, is this is grampa?! 2 stars and that's generous.

These tunes are really cool, and the singer is basically unlistenable

I'm not usually one to accuse music of being pretentious, but in this case, I can't think of a more fitting description. It's like this album is so desperately trying to be a really cool and unique art pop masterpiece, but all of the ideas it uses have all been done before, and done much better. The vocals too are really annoying, I genuinely think if this were instrumental it would already be leagues ahead of what it is. While still pretty generic, the instrumentals still provide a nice atmosphere, even if it's nowhere near as groundbreaking as it's trying to be. But with the vocals in the mix, it just drags the whole experience down so much.

The music isn’t bad, but did the cunt singing have laryngitis when they booked the studio time for this record 🤨

A little too out there for me.

This one could’ve used a bit more enunciation in my opinion, but the music was pretty good.

It's alright.

My daughter walks in as I am playing this album and she immediately says "Another bad album day, huh?" and that pretty much sums up the bulk of this project

I’m not sure why this is on the list at all, it sounds fine? Nothing I would ever go back and revisit though, between one and two.

Don't like his singing or his songs. Turns out he was a truly awful human as well. Rounded down to 1 star.

I can see why this would be beloved by the British noodly guitar industry, but it doesn't do a lot for me.

It's OK. Decent enough tunes, but a bit too experimental for my tastes. Saw that Steve Winwood had a hand in this one which is pretty cool

I read reviews here before listening and they're all over the place. One five star review called this "yacht prog" which piqued my interest, so I went in with that expectation, and I was not disappointed. I think this was a great album and if I came across it on vinyl I'd snatch it up. Only 4 stars though because I think there are some lackluster tracks here and nothing really peaks as a must-have track.

Heard the name but never listened to him before. Bits reminded me of Dire Straits, Nick Drake, Van Morrison and Pink Floyd. Which is a pretty good mix really. I like it and might end up adding it to my collection

Did I find some long stretches of this album interesting? I did. Is it my favorite John Martyn album? Probably not. While I still enjoy Solid Air a little more, it's interesting to see how much of a different direction he took his music into throughout the 70s. Some people smarter than me will tell you this is the first trip hop album, and it may be. But, you can keep your trip hop and I'll take the beautiful ambient track that ends One World. John Martyn had a long and impressive career and was instrumental in the British folk scene that produced the likes of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, but I recently learned that he was a TOTAL piece of shit to his wife. Like Warren Zevon-level bad. While that has little to nothing to do with this particular album, you guys know I'm a "warts and all" kind of reviewer.

sometimes john martyn is good, sometimes i feel like he's trying to sell me crystals & potpourri

No private session used for Spotify. Sounded like music one would hear in a movie, but with mumbling on top of it.

I didn’t understand I word this man said for 40 minutes

There is this deep, kind of scratchy, vaguely monstery voice that Stevie Wonder uses only when he is absolutely feeling it. It’s like that “uh” that musicians do when the music is so good that they have to make a noise like they just got hit or took a bite of food so good they could hardly stand it. Stevie saves that voice for only very rare moments when it is absolutely the perfect time to use it because Stevie is one of the best, if not the very best, pop musician of all time. This guy uses it in his entire first song. Then he sings like a One Direction singer in the second song. However, voice aside, I like this album just as I liked the first one of his assigned in this project. God help me, I find this guy kind of funky. He has a real laid back groove that I enjoy. It’s like folk funk.

"Not sure if I liked that, I'll give it a second listen". Four times, I listened. I think I really like it. Not my typical wheelhouse, but really enjoyed it.

This was very relaxing and chill. A little bossa nova, a little drunk on a big boat, a little listening to your parents sing to eachother while they dance in the kitchen. I listened to it once, had no idea how I felt and then listened to it again and I liked it a lot more. I think this would be elite as a live album. It wasn't boring to me though, just the perfect chill nostalgic easy listening. The last song specifically was so transcendent!

I don’t really mind this album but it also wasn’t anything incredible I actually kinda liked his voice and it’s very pleasant sounding on a few of these songs like such as certain surprise Reminds me of Randy Newman in both vocal style and instrumentation Favorites: certain surprise, small hours 3/5

It’s fine, it’s good, it’s 1977.

TL;DR: Captivatingly weird, hard to pin down, brilliant. BEFORE: Don't know much about it but my quick Google was pretty promising in terms of the music itself, but less so when it comes to Martyn's behaviour. AFTER: Pretty interesting straight out of the gate with a mix of electronic and analogue instruments, lots of genre-hopping and surprising choices with both the vocals and lyrics. I actually went back and listened to it again just because there was so much going on. It also sounds incredible. HIGHLIGHTS: Dealer's electro-funk sounds ahead of its time. The title track and Couldn't Love You More are gentle and sad, and the former has some incredible lead guitar buried in the mix. Smiling Stranger is psychedelic and sinister. The Lee Scratch Perry collaboration is a hybrid of dub and pop that provides some welcome lightness and a good transition to the back half of the album. Certain Surprise is off-balance yacht rock that sounds like a drunk singing along to Little River Band but somehow works. Dancing pairs Afrobeat-style guitar and bass with an un-danceable rhythm and odd lyrics. Again, it somehow works. Small Hours sets you down gently with swelling, echoing guitar and fusion keyboards. VERDICT: This weird, idiosyncratic, compelling music was an unexpected delight. 5 stars.

Weird. Kinda good.

Neutral

Did not like this one as much as his previous entry on this list, Solid Air. Instead of pleasant singer-songwriter music with solid guitars and backing instruments, he went more of a funk/soul route with this album and it didn't quite work for me. I enjoyed the opening track, but it quickly went downhill from there. He tried to make his voice rough and gravelly in subsequent songs, and it just sounded silly. 2/5

I liked it a lot, not perfect, not a 5 but above average

I'm honestly shocked that I had never heard of John Martyn before. He was a good friend of Nick Drake, trained in classical folk music, and Chris Blackwell of Island Records was a huge believer in his music. So imagine my surprise when I read the following top "reviews": "NO MORE BRITISH SHIT I HAVEN'T HEARD OF" "a mix between garbage and porn soundtrack" "This fucker wrote a song called Big Muff." Hmm. Are we reviewing the same artist here? So, here's the quick story behind this album. Martyn was tired of constantly recording, producing, and touring, and had had enough of music at this point. Blackwell invited him to Jamaica, where he stayed for 7 weeks—or maybe 7 months (he doesn't remember how long, only that he overstayed his visa)—soaking up the sun, music, and perhaps copious amounts of cocktails and marijuana. This album is the result of that stay, along with his return to music. And you know what? It is utterly fascinating. I have never heard an album like this in my life. It has jazzy, prog-rock, and reggae/dub influences. The whole thing sounds warbled and muffled, almost as if he's singing and playing underwater. There are weird, funky guitar effects, off-beat rhythms, string arrangements, guest appearances from Steve Winwood (again!!), Danny Thompson (from Pentangle), and even dub god Lee "Scratch" Perry. They even recorded the pond near the studio to add to this washed-out effect. It's a bit dated production-wise, sure (I'm not a fan of the "sexy" bass slapping), but has anything sounded like this since? Imagine how alien it must have sounded at the time! I enjoy the second half as well - docile, heartbreaking folk ballads and more moodier, subtle arrangements, with the final track truly evoking a beach at sunset (or something similar). Apparently his marriage was disintegrating at the time, and these songs must have been a way of him figuring out how to cope emotionally. I'm OK with weird or unconventional vocalists, but Martyn isn't really that out there, to be honest. He's got a soulful voice, as ugly as it may sound to the unsuspecting listener. He clearly found his mojo again and really made an impression. I just wish I had discovered his stuff earlier. Easy 4-star album. I doubt there's anything else quite like it on the list. Really cool, in its own twisted, psychedelic way.

3.5?

Interesting but not sparkling he sounds jaded but it’s praised for being experimental.

Didn't like this one much at all at first, but it grew on me. It wasn't a terrible overall experience, and I quite liked the final song. Overall it's still probably only a 2.5

5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background I just don't get it.

An artist I’ve rarely visited, I was interested to try this one. I know Solid Air gets the critical acclaim so was intrigued the album chosen wasn’t that. Despite some high points (especially the superb “Couldn’t Love You More”) this feels decidedly middle of the road. Nice Canada geese on the final track though…

Although this album may fall short of five stars, it’s far from deserving harsh criticism. I found it forward-thinking with Martyn’s blend of folk and electronic elements that makes me think of early pioneers of electronic music such as Giorgio Moroder, and Jean-Michel Jarre. Over all this album definitely pushed boundaries for its time and place.

Peaceful and relaxing. Not the wildest album ever. 6.1/10

I have a violent reaction to his voice, it just sounds so forced on some tracks (particularly track 1). That said the instrumentation is so good, very tight with unusual guitar lines that seem ahead of its time in 1977.

Giving a voice like that money to produce a record is certainly a choice.

I’m really not sure what I thought of this album.

I don't know why I listened all the way through.

Oh my, this is snoozelicious.

Cool. Funky

Kinda groovy

Love some of the reviews on this, and I match the sentiment of the one who mentioned the vocals and the bit about the applesauce. However, some of the instrumentals were pleasant enough.

Probably one of the grooviest white boys across the pond. I had an alright time with this.

I like John Martyn and this was a pretty decent chill, acoustic album. Quite in line with my tastes although nothing spectacular.

His promo photo makes him look like Krist from Nirvana. The music sounds like Barry White and the singing sounds like a poor David Gilmore interpretation . Go on, let’s see what else this guy has got… Ya well, I’ve heard what I need to hear. It doesn’t get better and it doesn’t get worse. Lyrically it’s terrible but the music keeps it afloat.

Nothing interesting at all

Decently chill album, got a bit boring but it was short enough overall that it didn’t get too bad. Overall 2.5/5 not sure I’d be seeking this out often but it was fine

I really appreciate this project’s commitment to John Martyn, someone with virtually no presence in American music fandom. He’s such an interesting blend of someone like Nick Drake and someone like Steve Winwood. Soulful, shy and spooky, and incredibly English. I’m sold and need to keep digging deeper.

this album was a one for me until i heard the last song, which bumps it up to a three, it was so beautiful

I thought solid air was dreary. This isn't. I quite enjoyed it. Better than average.

전체적으로 잔잔하고, 평범한 느낌의 앨범이었다. 앨범 커버 디자인이 마음에 들었다. Overall, it was an album with a calm and ordinary feel. I liked the album cover design.

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i hate album covers which are so cool but the content of the songs are a let down. it's the bad side of art rock.

Man, I don't really like Martyn's vocals. For some reason, it is just unpleasant, and I can't really pin it on anything (maybe it doesn't jam with the music). Maybe if it were an instrumental album, it would be a lot better? It's got the right elements to work well. Also, what's with artists putting stupidly long songs at the end of albums? I just don't get it.

What a weird album. Especially from what I've heard of Martyn before. Last track was mesmerising, rest was challenging in the wrong way.

More like 1.5. At time, I thought it was a bad impersonation of Dr.Teeth.

I really don’t know what to feel about this one. The music was really good. It’s just that his voice gets really gravelly in parts. Maybe, this is worth another listen sometime.

Had never heard of this guy and while this was a little hit or miss, I loved Dancing and Couldn’t Love You More

Meh. Its alright

like 70s Tom Waits if he sounded like the posh 1970s instead of the gutter 1940s. so not very waitsian at all yada yada. i like the weird modulations. and the occasional nugget of dub influence. very happy this isn't as yacht rock as the cover art implies. has some real subtlety to it. deserves to be one of the 1001? idk i really don't think John Martyn needs two entries tbh. Solid Air is more canonical but i like this one more. cut one and leave the other.

Not nearly as a good as his last album. Record on the vocals is so poor. But maybe he is trying to hide the fact he is a poor singing

I don’t really know what this is. Soft Jazz Progressive Folk Rock? It’s kind of hard to define. Say what you will about John Martyn, he’s a great guitarist who developed his own unique, recognizable sound while making some very nice, relaxing sleepy time music. I don’t know if I haven’t had enough coffee or if this wizard is trying to lull me to slumber but, one of those things is true. This album is well performed and produced but, really only has one great song, the gorgeous Couldn’t Love You More. I personally prefer his album Solid Air which contains two of my favorite songs to play when I’m horsing around with my acoustic guitar, Over The Hill and May You Never. I would give Solid Air a solid 4 so, One World gets a 3.5 from me. Don’t ask about my system. I don’t even understand it myself.

Some interesting stuff in here, I enjoyed this listen, but I think this could grow on me with some repeat listens. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Don’t like it

Not interesting

Whaaa??

Surprisingly dug this little beachy number.

Not bad. Sort of like Nick Drake, or other more recent folk artists

Great album. Singer songwriter style mixed with jazz and pop rock that sounds like it’s from a decade later. Smooth. Really well crafted songs and lyrics.