Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Wow, I usually don't like Folk that much, but this was refreshing as fuck. Matty Groves was probably my favourite. This also sounds INSANELY familiar for some reason. In my quest to find out why it sounds so familiar, I got to how insane th lead singer of this band was. The chick used to jokingly pretend to fall over all the time, then her husband left her to piss off to Australia and took her kid with her (who she did not care for), and she continued to get blasted and then threw herself down the stairs as her final 'joke fall' which she hit her head on the concrete and ended up into a coma before she died. Lovely. Anyways, incredible album.
Excellent vocals and good instrumentals carry an album that really dragged for me at points. It's good but there is only so much modern medieval knight music that I can sit through for so long. Some of these songs feel like you are listening to a really boring story that just doesn't seem to end. What I enjoyed, I enjoyed quite a bit which drags this into positive review territory. Highlights: Reynardine
Enjoyable. But unless I'm in the mood for something with a Celtic folk sound, it's not going to get a replay.
55 minutes of straight up good music. Gave me Led Zeppelin vibes. I’d never heard of this album before it was given to me, so I was interested in what I was about to listen to, and I was not disappointed. Everything hits and has great instrumentals with an awesome female vocalist to head it all. Really glad I heard this, will definitely listen to more of Freeport Convention’s music.
Good mellow folk listen. 3/5
I was previously somewhat familiar with Fairport Convention and may have heard this album once or twice. This is pretty interesting. It's a nice cross between rock and old British folk. The strings really give this a Ren-faire vibe which is pretty unique across the 1001 albums list. I would listen to this again for sure.
I could get into this. Enjoyed it more than I was expecting, a little more rocky than I had anticipated.
Day814 - adam duritz had a podcast a few years ago and talked about fairport convention. it was my first introduction to them and i’ve been a fan since. sandy denny’s voice is interesting and richard thompson’s guitar playing is amazing
Interesting sound but not for me
Turns out the key to having me enjoy 60s British folk rock is for there to be a woman singer
Like folk rock, except the folk is like medieval British villages.
First off, this is an excellent recording. Rich, full, and very satisfying. The production sounds very modern, and very much ahead of its time. I haven't ever heard of this band before, but English folk sounded interesting. I was immediately in love with the music, and that didn't change throughout the album. This was so good and I'm so surprised about how much I liked it that I can't even think of anything to say. Absolutely blindsided me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Fairport Convention is one of those bands I should know better given my Deadhead roots of adjacently liking this kind of music. And they're totally fine. Sandy Denny I think is what saves this album from being the boring kind of folk music. I have this love it/hate it thing with folk because I prefer uptempo fast paced music or some cathartic jamming, but I love a lot of music close to it. Maybe I'm just particular about it. Fine album.
01) Come All Ye - 7,0 02) Reynardine - 6,0 03) Matty Groves - 6,0 04) Farewell, Farewell - 6,0 05) The Deserter - 6,5 06) Medley - 6,0 I. The Lark in the Morning II. Rakish Paddy III. Foxhunter's Jig IV. Toss the Feathers 07) Tam Lin - 6,0 08) Crazy Man Michael - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,19 (62/100) Current ranking: 640/862
3.5/5
Takes a bit of a dip in the back half. Gonna give this the softest of fours. This is really good.
quite enjoyable. nothing mindblowing but i had a nice time. prob won't return to it anytime soon
its all pretty good but it is a bit ... same-y? isnt it?
Folky and slow. Favourite track: Reynardine
British Folk music done well. Strong memories of my Dad and his love of the genre, but particularly of Fairport Convention. It has a summer's day feel to it, and the intro track is a galloping jaunt through the fun. I don't love Denny's voice, but it cuts against the music in a wavering fashion. Come all Ye my favourite
Folksy and a little modern sounding. Starting sounding all the same at one point
Blue grass, folk
Folk rock
boo
Don't listen to a lot of folk but enjoyed this
I don't really have a lot of strong thoughts on this one. It's a nice folk album that makes for some really easy listening. It sounds like an album I would hear at my grandparents' or at an extended family gathering. The album did start to fade into the background towards the end. Favourite song: Medley: The Lark in the Morning
Kickass trad 4
whimsical
Liked the music, but couldn't really get into Sandy Denny's vocals. They didn't seem to have much emotion behind them. I did enjoy "Matty Groves" and the instrumental medley.
Didn't love it and didn't hate it. Enjoyed the longer pieces.
I absolutely get it
This is pretty solid given I was expecting another folk album. A little bit crunchier. High 2s.
British Folk Music fiddlers
While the idea of turning folk tales into atmospheric sounding songs is not a bad one, the execution is not as well done in the first half as I had hoped. This is especially apparent in Matty Groves, which would have been one of my favorites on this album if the band hadn't decided to fuse the tragic tale of betrayal and horror with a second half that not only contains no lyrics but also clashes with the first half in tone. Best songs are Tam Lin and Sir Patrick. 6/10, interesting in theory, disappointing in practice.
Good folk album!
folk vibes decent
Nice little folky rock record. The woman signing gives me a Jefferson airplane vibe. But the music is more traditional British or Irish type music. Its still got the rock base to go off of though. Not exactly my favorite thing but I see the value in it. My song pick for sure is Matty groves. And there are others that i liked but not enough to save them. All around a good little record. Enjoyable for sure
I didn’t really enjoy Unhalfbricking by Fairport Convention when I reviewed it earlier in this challenge. I usually give 60s British folk a wide berth, but I was interested to see what Liege & Lief would be like today. Unfortunately, this one isn’t really for me either. It’s very whimsical and often feels like the soundtrack to Robin Hood. The singer has a lovely voice and there is some great musicianship throughout, but it’s not an album I can truly get into. Favourite tracks: I quite enjoyed the instrumental medley The Lark in the Morning. It was lively and played at a great pace. I actually listened to it two or three times today. Least favourite tracks: Many of the songs blend into what feels like folk nothingness to me. Overall, I struggled to enjoy this album. Album artwork: When I think of Fairport Convention, this is the cover that comes to mind. It’s probably their most recognisable image.
Folk pop, maybe with some country there too. Nice enough sound. So this is 60s folk without the psychedelia. Not much to be said. I like the instrumental section in Crazy Man Michael Best track - Matty Groves 3 stars
not my cuppa
Voordeel dat deze plaat zo snel na zielsverwanten Richard & Linda Thompson komt is dat je in ieder geval referentiekader hebt, maar het nadeel is dat je daarmee ook weet dat de kans klein is dat we snel weer werk uit deze kringen gaan tegenkomen. Dit onderscheid zich van het vorige album in de zin dat het nog veel meer geworteld lijkt in folklore en traditionele vertelwijze, waar 'I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight' wel meer het folk-genre naar het hier en nu vertaalt. Veel composities op 'Liege And Lief' zijn dan ook daadwerkelijk een lange tijd - soms zelfs eeuwen - geleden geboren, terwijl Richard Thompson zijn meeste solowerk zelf schreef. Maar ik kan er niet omheen dat die 'whimsical' stem van Sandy Denny echt gemaakt is voor de epische middeleeuwse vertelsels, en dat ik daardoor deze plaat net iets hoger heb zitten. Songs als Matty Groves en Tam Lin komen echt tot leven, en laten ook wel echt horen dat de groep gewoon een uitstekende folkrock-band vormde. Farewell, Farewell zorgt voor een welkome change in pace, en is echt de kers op de taart. Tuurlijk zitten er fases tussen dat het me iets te veel Lord of the Rings wordt, maar vind het wel muziek dat een unieke wereld schetst. 7,5/10 Highlights: Matty Groves Farewell, Farewell Tam Lin
Dit zijn de leukere ontdekkingen van deze generator. Zeker als er twee platen uit hetzelfde hoekje dicht achter elkaar langskomen. Dan kan je even investeren. Fairport Convection heeft me wel positief verrast. Vind de stem van Sanny Denny erg vet. Of was het die andere? Wat betreft de bemanning is dit nogal een complexe band. De bijnaam 'Britse Jefferson Airplane' is wel erg terecht en moet ook regelmatig aan Fleetwood Mac denken. Weer een mooi hoekje in de popgeschiedenis iets verder ingekleurd. Mooi. 7,5/10 Highlights Matty Grove
Felt like an Irish bride in what I think is a good way. Similar vibes to Liz phair’s album.
Jefferson airplane crash
First listen
Liege and Lief fue un deleite para mi. Me encanta la musica que cuenta una historia y la inclusion de Scottish folklore me puso a buscar mas informacion sobre los cuentos. Siento que el vibe era “Ren Faire” lol y me gusta la voz de la cantante 3/5
this is not good
A lot of really great music has come out of England, this sadly is not part of that. Brits can’t do folk.
Not my scene.
A lovely collection of hippie, Irish tinged tunes.
Not for your boy. And that’s okay
Very familiar sounding that I believe that my mom might've listened to (I know I probably said this about the other Faiport Convention / Jefferson Airplane album that we had)
sounds like the ren faire fronted by the jefferson airplane lady
I like some folk music. This was not my cup of tea.
Fun, harmless listen. Makes me want to hike.
Not horrible just not my vibe
Good
n/e
Man this sounds good even for today! Are Irish/British folk dirges something I'd go to all the time, you know what maybe! Man, i oddly enjoyed this!
Ren faire-ass album.
British folk music isn't a genre I'm all that familiar with, but this was surprisingly excellent at times, and may even continue to grow on me.
This is what I think of when I think of 70’s folk rock. If it’s your thing this is probably a great album, if it’s not it’s fine. I am in the latter camp, there are some good tracks and there are some forgettable ones. 2.6
I wasn't sure I'd like this at all, but howling tin whistles - a folk music banger! Abso-lute-ly marvelous! Loved it!
Some lovely folk songs. Some stuff that reminds me of a shite Scottish ceilidh. So a very mixed bag.
Lovely folk album.
i actually really loved this...if this had been assigned in autumn i would've been listening to this all the time. i added some of these to my autumn playlist so they'll make the rounds next year. i think it's an interesting take on folk and i liked how some of them were more drone-like to put you in a trance; it felt like psychedelic influenced folk, which i liked a lot.
'So, come all ye rolling minstrels / & together we will try / To rouse the spirit of the earth.' Everything about that is worth mockery of the folkiest kind, but I can't in good conscience hate Fairport Convention & yet dig Jefferson Airplane or Peter, Paul, & Mary, the American brands/bands of this kind of psychedelic moment. I mostly go for the American rather than the British in musical contexts, & the same remains in this case - I opt for Grace Slick & Mary Travers rather than Sandy Denny, & nostalgias for Hobbit lore don't appeal to me as much as Johnny Appleseed or Sleepy Hollow. But this does have its beautiful, if too Britannic, sequences, and it's far better than either The Incredible String Band or Pentangle. The long tracks drag as fuck tho.
It’s like Bob Dylan went electric in England.
в последнее время оч нравятся такие вещи, приятно слушать, сохранил. напомнило группу мельница, ну фолк типа, не удивительно..
funky ma sommige meh nummertjes 2.5
Really Digging Matty Groves.. .and the medley? Wasn't expecting much from this album. but it's a banger.
Did not expect to enjoy that as much as I did. Even had some jam adjacent psych rock… 3.9
Not necessarily my ideal genre, but I found her voice beautiful, and plenty to enjoy here. 7/10 Quite Likeable
I liked how witchy it was. It inspired me to make a witch themed playlist. Not anything super grand but it was fun 4 stars? Maybe 3 ill see how i feel tomorrow.
I can imagine all this spawned but I might have to listen a lot more for it to mean anything more than interesting to me
Not a fan
I Reccomend listening while playing chess, makes the game even more boring.
Didn’t finish but I enjoyed that
I didn’t overly enjoy this I found it a bit boring
3.5
Listening to all three albums that Fairport Convention released in 1969 was one of my favorite discoveries of that dive this was the least of the three, and it was still a four and a half star masterpiece. Between the voice of Denny, and the guitars of Thompson, the Convention could do no wrong. Definitely *Unhalfbricking* was my favorite, but this is a wholly pleasant listen as well. (9.35) ★★★½
Old-timey British folk, but with a rocking edge. It is good, but I prefer it more traditional. 4 stars
This is a good album. I preferred the first half with "Matty Groves", "Come All Ye", and "Farewell, Farewell". 3.5 stars.
Cool Canterbury folk pops with just the thin thinnest leafiest crunch of Led Zep. About level bricking with Unhalfbricking. Lengthy medieval epic Matty Groves definitely the star of the show. Oh nonny nonny nonny nonny nonny no, a 4 for Liege and Lief oh nonny I must go.
Fine. Dated, solid. Never heard them before, but have if ya know what I mean. Lo-end CSN meets Janice Joplin type stuff.
i like this one i like how the voices kinda muddle but are still seperate from eachother
p188. 1969. 3 stars. Late 60s Brit folk-rock. Well done of its kind, but not my thing. Bonus points for Sandy Denny's voice and Richard Thompson's guitar, but points deducted for multiple 7+ minute tracks, and for Ashley Hutchins, because he's a twat.
I don’t hate it, which is saying something for peak 1960s fairy and elf-style psych-adjacent flights of fancy. And this was recorded on the actual day of my birth no less. But Fairport Convention does their mission of honoring Celtic folklore and musical traditions well while adapting them to a rock format. And Sandy Denny does have a great voice.
I had Unhalfbricking less than a fortnight ago. I promised to have a refresher listen to my “History of..” double album to make sure I’m understanding them properly. I did that. I don’t think I misunderstood them before, but this album is fitting my imagined version of who they are much better than its predecessor. To my ears, this is late 60s folk rock whereas Unhalfbricking I described as a band of folky hipsters cosplaying as medieval minstrels. On Liege and Lief, they obviously still take influence from English and Celtic folk traditions, but they blend them with sounds more contemporaneous with their time. I may just be lacking in knowledge about all this and as a result may be “inaccurate” with my preference, but we all (should) know that opinions on music are all personal to the listener and I liked this album where I was a bit uncomfortable with the previous one. I still think I’ll just stick to my compilation though.
Listened Before? N This one had the potential to be just another 60s folk/psychedelic album... it is not. Mostly because of the singer's voice. Another tragic story with her, but she left us some awesome music. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Matty Groves
So I’m torn here. I love Sandy Denny’s voice and how unique her style is, and the music sometimes has these cool medieval jig passes, but overall this is boring to the point of testing my nerves. Getting through the entire album is very hard. But, I mean, Fairport Convention are the main band in their genre. Three stars for notability.
no lo volveria a escuchar salvo algun que otro tema, no es mi estilo pero album decente, ciao!
no clue what this is.
I was a bit disappointed because I loved the first Fairport Convention album on this list, but this one was a lot drearier, had a lot less energy and just sat a bit worse with me. I’m still a fan of their sound, but this one didn’t do it for me.
Suenan muy bien, viendo el año del que eran y lo que recuerdo de comentar su música por otros en la radio creo que fueron un hito en la integración del folk como música para gente joven. Debería escucharlo de nuevo alguna vez para guardar alguna canción, pero de momento le pongo 3 estrellas.
Sonido crudo y muy buena versión de Black Diamond, de Kiss.
Utterly forgettable.
I really liked this, it just falls a little short of 5 stars.
It’s fine. Didn’t blow me away but a decent listen on a quiet afternoon. This type of music could have been used in a forest scene in Game of Thrones.
Not a band I had heard a lot from though I remember listening to Unhalfbricking years ago and I thought it was better than this. Look, I wanted to like this, but maybe it's just not my thing. Found it painfully tedious. Whenever a song started and I thought it might be one I liked, it soon reverted to just like all the others. Not my cup of tea.
I’m a little fairy in the forest
Sounds like a pub in the 60s
Excellent album and a total surprise to me (which is always appreciated). I've always enjoyed folk rock and folk/folk-inspired music generally, but I'd never heard of Fairport Convention. Denny's voice is rich, certainly an aspect of the album that substantially improves the listening experience. I'm now interested in checking out her other albums when she was a part of Fairport. The adapted songs and original works blend quite well together. Notable Highlights: Matty Groves, Crazy Man Michael
Such a strange genre built around pretending you’re in the woods in the Middle Ages. That style of voice gets to me after a while. My favorite was the medley because it sounded more Irish and had no lyrics. Other than that it was fine. If this was the first of the genre I get why it’s on the list.
British folk music with a tinge of rock and roll hidden underneath. I (mostly) like it but it would be better with more rock flavor.
Basically everything I know about Fairport convention comes form the Andrew Hickey podcast episode and I feel like this was a good version of something I just don't like very much. British folk does not do a ton for me, and her voice doesn't either. The arrangements were solid though and I guess this is England's version of the Band in what they are trying to accomplish.
British folk rock
Was really grooving with the first several tracks, and I was intrigued enough but their explorations of folk songs to listen carefully all the way thru. Several arrangements felt cumbersome or like they didn't quite hit. But I will give them credit for the stuff that entertained me.
Ugh female led vocals from a hippy era. Please tell me she isn’t the every day lead vocals. I’m never a fan of it. It’s like every hippy woman from the 60’s had to sound like Joni Mitchell. Which is the equivalent of dragging your nails down a chalkboard and biting into ice at the same time. This is sad. Sad as in the music is damn solid but the vocals. Gosh almighty. What a terrible terrible hippy whiney voice. The 3 score is based on the band. Not the singer. The singer gets 1 star. Terrible
This is abby bait like a lil cheese for a mouse
I liked Matty groves and the medley but a lot of this kinda blended together for me
Favorite by far is the Medley, because it's just actual traditional fiddle tunes lol
An absolutely magical album
love me some good fiddle-laden folk music but this just seems a little too much. Matty Groves has this repetitive cadence to it that makes me ignore the lyrics and just get annoyed. I love some good storytelling, but how many times can you sing about being sad and heartbroken? I've also just never been partial to this style of vocals, I think it works better for something more traditional, when you start adding more instruments it kinda breaks apart.
Enjoyable enough folk music but man some of the song writing got so annoying. I particularly disliked the rambling repetition “story telling” of Matty Groves.
Lorena McKinnett, Nickel Creek, and every band in every Irish bar owes a lot to this band for paving a path to the mainstream.
Nicht mein Ding, aber gut! Erinnert mich an die folkigen Songs von Led Zeppelin.
Alright Medley has me toe tapping. I feel like this starts with me traveling around a town in the past and hearing a wandering band of minstrels. The sound is fantastic. I ended up listening to it multiple times and just enjoyed it more than soaked anything in. Worth being on the list.
Starts off with a very country, singer song writer vibe. Solid song construction and a good voice. Which made my mind drift away. A few moments peeked my interest, but I didn't lock in and got distracted. On the third listen Tam Lin broke through and smacked me. This song sounds like it wants to be a metal song. Like a folk cover of a Led Zeppelin song. I see it's based on a traditional ballad. Crazy Man Michael had a heavier vibe to it too, so I went back to the start thinking I had missed something. I did not. I had not heard of them before and I do look forward to seeing what else this band has to offer.
This sound is what I imagine characters from Lord of the Rings would listen to if they listened to modern music (or existed). I was a bit surprised to have enjoyed the first Fairpoint Convention album on this list, as British hippies doing folk music feels very much outside of my wheelhouse. I did not enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed Unhalfbricking but it also did not grate on me as much as I normally would expect it to. My favorite tracks: Come All Ye Matty Groves (with a really nice guitar outro) Farewell, Farewell Tam Lin.
Não gostei muito.
Really enjoyed this album, the folkyness, harmonies and rock and roll really blended
I loved Unhalfbricking, but this one just seemed like regular old folk music. None of it stood out
That's not my taste in music - But some pleasant songs
Actually ok
Incredible.
BEAUTIFUL. immediately after the first 3 seconds i know i would rate it a 5! the backing is such a perfect platform for her wondrous voice. the stories of the songs are interesting too. just beautiful. it reminds me a lot of bob dylan and joan baez's lyrics
Decant a flagoon of fineste mead and embrace ye beloved maiden or lord, for verily, this slappeth.
A few years ago, during COVID lockdown I think, I was listening to the Led Zeppelin tune "The Battle of Evermore" - which I have heard hundreds of times and love - and got to wondering "who is that woman singing with Robert Plant?". That led me to Sandy Denny, which let me to Fairport Convention. And after going down that rabbit hole, I ended up having 10 songs from them "liked" on Spotify. But for some reason the only song from this specific album that I clicked like on is "Matty Groves". I think I just got sidetracked and never deep dived on this one. So.... I'm so glad this website got me to spend time with this one. I dig their whole British Folk/Folk Rock vibe. And her voice sounds like it's an angel's voice coming from another time. I can totally see why Led Zeppelin let her be the only outside singer on any of their awesome songs. It fits perfectly with the Folk Rock and mystical sound they wanted for that song. I listened to it all 3 times in a row with no other distractions. This was great! I was getting into every song and never once was wondering when it's gonna end. It has this great vibe where it sounds modern and ancient at the same time. It's cool how the songs they wrote sit side by side so well with old, traditional English folk songs. I ended up with all songs liked and I am excited to hear these songs show up on my automated playlists Liked songs on Spotify: 8/8 (Perfect Album) Rating: 5/5
There are many folk bands I prefer but this is okay. 3 stars or C+.
Me gustó. Mientras lo escuchaba, recordé a The Wicker Man, una de las mejores películas de folk horror de la historia. Hay una secuencia en la que Britt Ekland, despampanante como siempre, baila desnuda y canta una canción folk que se acomodaría perfectamente en este disco. Temas folk que pueden sonar románticos o hasta melosos, pero cuyas letras tal vez escondan significados más inquietantes. Buen álbum.
I’ve got a soft spot for country and there are some of my favourites on here. I LOVE Matty Groves
Mostly really enjoyed. The drumming is so good. Murdered Matty Groves but forgivable. The jig medley is epic and needs a snappy 909 kick!
*1969. British folk rock. *I listened to this several times throughout the day - it's soft, pleasant, and calming. Good background music. *Has elements of Celtic music, British folk, and also 60s hippie music. RATING - 6.5/10
Joo. Ei huono
En ole aikaisemmin kuullut kyseistä orkesteria ja tykkäsin kovasti. Harvoja bändejä (toistaiseksi) tässä projektissa, joita en ole kuullut saavat ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mukava tunnelma ja hyvää sovittamista! Vähän tulee mieleen SMG paikoittain.
Liked the ones with a bit more emphasis on the rock part of folk rock. First track was good, second not what I want. Matty Groves was a good tale - though the name sounds like someone who had a good cup game for Rochdale ‘little Matty Groves impressed in midfield’. Second Fairport Convention album for me so far and again better than I expected. Bit of Jefferson Airplane like vocals at times. Solid 3.
Above average folk folks!
I didn't like too much of their earlier album, but they took what I did like and ran with it here. Really enjoyed the trad.arr's - great argot, almost pagan-y feel and wouldn't be out of place on Wicker Man soundtrack - huge compliment! Though not strictly on the original release, Quiet Joys of Brotherhood together with Sailors Life from Unhalfbricking are almost drone folk - excellent, as are Denny's vocals throughout.
People who liked this were probably into D&D.
I don't love this but I liked some of it better than Unhalfbricking or whatever that was called.
I loved this album. Great blend of traditional songs and rock sensibilities. Her voice is smooth and compelling.
huh. I do not like Folk Rock and was so getting ready to hate this, but... surprisingly not too bad! 'Matty Grove" & "Medley" saved it [However, I must add that I doubt I will ever listen to this again....]
Fairport Convention is one of those bands I can have playing in the background when I'm doing other stuff, but also one of those bands where I can put one or two of their albums on and just sit and enjoy the music. They're super chilled and genuinely a pleasure to listen to. Definitely music from a happy time in my life. 4.5 out of 5 stars
An album for its time. Good players, good harmonies, but just not for me
This album makes me think of a quieter version of Flogging Molly. I like them both!
British folk rock. Better than British bands doing American folk rock. Still probably not my cup of tea.
There's a lot of wanky folk music on this list, but this is the exception! The band are really tight, each instrument adds something to the mix, it's well paced and doesn't get boring. Bravo
There’s been a lot of late 60s slop so I didn’t have high hopes. However this was very enjoyable, especially the first song.
very fitting for a grey miserable glasgow day
Best Track - "Matty Groves"
It is a good record, well-produced and an amazing singing performance. The guitars are good. I enjoyed listening to this record.
Pretty fun style and I like the lead singers voice. 3.5/5
I kinda liked this. 3.5
Not a bad first folk album to listen to. “Matty Groves” is a very good track! I haven’t been brought up to English and Celtic culture, however, so I can’t appreciate folk music all that much.
After seein Regnix giving this a 4-Star review I had to listen in - what a lovely, folky album with some lovely singing. Matty Groves is a banger!
A welcome break from some of the crap we've had so far.
It would make my dad exceptionally proud to hear that I sat through an entire Fairport Convention album without turning it off, and even prouder to hear that I enjoyed it.
was nice, bit too celtic sometimes haha
A refreshing and well-crafted exhibit of a genre I rarely get in touch with. Hopefully that'll change, because this is absolutely wonderful.
This was nice. A pleasant album, even if it didn’t blow me away. Folky and gave the impression of being in the English countryside
Thank was much better than I would have guessed by the band name who I’ve heard of but never listened to. Standouts were “Matty Groves", "Tam Lin", and "Medley". Will definitely have to listen to this again.
Not my taste in music, but enjoyable. I'd give it 3.5 if I could.
Psychedelic. Droney. Folky. Just great. Will be coming back for more.
Yipes. Well, I can't give a 1 to the creators of Who Knows Where The Time Goes
This had a strong start, but didn't necessarily sustain throughout whole album. Never heard of this group, but an interesting ride.
I’m tickled by the existence of this. “Old British folk songs set to electric guitar etc” is just a great concept. And “Matty Groves” goes hard as a motherfucker. I do wish the singer had a more compelling voice — she’s fine, nothing special.
This is my shit for sure
woah. weird. cool.
Someone I respected said that this was the best folk album of all time. I will give it another listen. I tried to think it was amazing but mostly I just liked it.
Very good.
Legal porém não é tao cativante quanto o primeiro que escutei
Quite annoying - I don’t mind folk but found this a little hard work.’
Temp
Meget godt
Gaman að kynnast þessu enska fólk rokki sem er dælt í okkur núna. Smá miðaldastemmning í þessu.
Freakin' love this album, Matty Groves and Tam Lin would be enough for the 5 tbh, there are a lot of other great songs here too though.
lovely, matty groves crazy
pretty much this album really pissed me off. It’s the reason that I have to take a three month hiatus from 1001 albums. I’ve decided to come back and this album is the demon that I have to face. I’m sure there is something cool in it somewhere … but I don’t like it. I think it’s bad. I think it’s boring. I feel like I’m at the tavern (derogatory). maybe one day I will be able to appreciate fairport convention the same way the UK did in the late 60s when it was number 17 for 15 weeks straight. I literally can’t even make it through it. I think I might not give it a one because there is one song that I thought was kind of cool and I’m being a little bitch about it but mostly hate this album. ok no i decided im giving it a 1
Celtic revival meets sixties rock in a glorious fashion
Folky nonsense. Not my thing.
This feels like an important album. It also rambles in places. The songwriting is crafted, the musicianship is outstanding for a band that was still so young. Sandy Denny sounds delightful throughout. It gets a little dark in places. This was the late 60's and bad drugs, natch. Somehow the Dungeons and Dragons elements are seen off with more uplifting, almost soulful songs.
This was fun. Add this to the list of discoveries made possible by this project. I don't think there's a way I could have discovered this record on my own. Maaaaybe with those twist and turns of fate and destiny. you know the ones, those random sequence of events that somehow end up on something like this. It was actually pretty spot on for my mood this sunday.
I'd listen to modern folk rock if it sounded like this
Most Influential Folk Album of All Time ? 5/5 An album so good it defined an entire genre of folk rock ( uk version) . Even the intro to a song that never starts ( Raynardine )is excellent. “Your beauty so enticed me I could not pass it by”
This album really hooked me... Has a real Jefferson Airplane (not Starship) vibe, and I can appreciate it for being both similar and being unique. I'd be stupid not to give this 4.65 stars
I felt like I was visiting a Renaissance Fair and this was a ministerial sharing all the local legends. I don't hate it, I sometimes even enjoy it (I really liked Come All Ye). But I am not sure this will make the normal rotation. I also find it interesting that they say this was the introduction of British folk, but it felt so old at its core that I don't see how it was really new. They used old fashioned instruments and music and threw in a guitar or a synthesizer every once in a while. I also saw a lot of aspects of Celtic music and her voice was very old style.
I especially liked all the fiddling. And the drummer is pretty fabulous! I especially liked Matty Groves, Medley: Lark in the Morning and Sir Patrick Spens even though that one wasn't on the original album. It's an interesting fusion of folk, trad, & 60's jam band. It's like a cross between the Clancy Brothers and Jefferson Airplane only not as great as that sounds. I'm like 3 with this but it could grow on me if I had time for more listens. I'd come back to this.
This is renaissance faire music. I dig it but I can only take so much of it when the lead singers voice, which exists in the higher range, comes dangerously close to being unlistenable. If you close your eyes, you might imagine these songs being sung in the medieval past. That’s cool.
This was comforting and cozy. Musically, I liked the other Fairport Convention album we've had over this one. This had great storytelling though. I was particularly invested in the Matty Groves saga. I like that they take old folklore and put their own spin on it, while also contributing their own stories for future generations.
Really pleasant, folky without being boring, jammy without being repetitive.
прекрасный альбом, светлые чувства, похоже на ощущение от спирита, это кантри мне больше нравится, чем after the goldrush ощущение, что я в каком-то приятельском баре, у нас оживленная беседа и на фоне играет похожая музыка, the deserter🩷 tam lim Просто помадка для ушей, я не могу от того, насколько это вкусно quiet joys of brotherhood - take 1
I have never heard of Fairport Convention or their album Liege & Lief but after listening to this album I can see why someone would want to point out this very cheery and joyful Folk Rock album, but calling it an album "to hear before you die" seems a bit extreme. I am all here to listen to some new Folk music and while I wouldn't say a lot of the compositions really grasped me here, they were still interesting and refreshing as I had a new voice to pick apart and dissect. I personally found the track Farewell, Farewell to be my favorite of the bunch, but even that track can't hold up this slightly forgettable piece of 60s history. I don't see why this album would be influential on face value, but maybe I am missing some kind of context. Anyways Liege & Lief is cool but pretty unremarkable in the grand scheme of things and when it comes to Folk as a whole.
I had never heard of them before, but wasn’t expecting to like them much. But I enjoyed more than I thought I would.
medieval rock revival please!
This was either going to be terrible or amazing thankfully the latter 4.5*
Fun and weird little album. Very good Celtic folk stuff. Not my usual pick, but thoroughly enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the first track and this raised my expectations. The rest truly annoyed me. In fact, it put me in a bad mood for hours after.
pretty good but im fs gonna forget about this tmrw morning.
Own it -- prefer Morning Phase
78/100. A really beautiful folk record and a strong follow-up to Unhalfbricking. Sandy Denny’s vocals are the clear highlight here, so expressive and warm. The kind of record that feels best listened to on a quiet evening, preferably when nothing else needs your attention.
I couldn’t wait for this to end. It’s rambling pagan babble with little notable melody.
Parts of this I love, parts of it are a little too Age of Aquarius for me. Mainly it goes on a little too long, and gets a little too hippie. The folk leans Irish Folk music, which I really enjoy, even though I know the band is English. The story telling and the instrumentation is really cool.
I don’t like how my comments from yesterday’s album sometimes sticks around for today’s album. This is definitely not yacht rock, like yesterday.. it’s also not my jam, like yesterday was.
Okay, but not my jam.
I gave it a full listen, but mostly found it so background that I preferred it stays back. No need to listen to again. Joan Baez did this so much more beautifully.
The ren fair vibes on this one were a little too strong for me. I get the historical and folk importance, but it felt more like background music for a medieval festival than something I actually wanted to sit and listen to. That said, the medley was pretty cool and easily the best part of the album. It showed some real skill and creativity, even if the overall sound just wasn’t my thing.
Found it boring
Perfectly cromulet folky listen.
I find Folk Rock awkward as I love Folk Rock and I love Rock. But somehow don’t particularly enjoy the combination of both into one. Having said that it was an enjoyable listen.
That was pleasant. But I can't see why is on the list. Sounds a bit too regular, nothing too impressive. 3 stars.
Had pretty low expectations for the genre, but got a lot out of it - it's a really good blend of folk and rock, both old and (at the time) new. Some lovely songwriting and strong, nuanced execution. Still not exactly my thing, but I can admire it.
Resumo breve para deixar registrado: - estética medieval, com instrumentos regionais. Inspirou Led Zeppelin e foi inspirado pelo folk do grassroot americano. Também traz outras influencias como blues, prog e música celta.
wow, so old
Liked the first song on this album a lot, as well as Medley: The Lark in The Morning. The rest of the album didn’t land as much for me, though I do love a good fiddle. I can see its impact on a lot of folk music I listen to today.
seems like just filler these days.
Simply just some nice folk, nothing else to say. Solid 4 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I think I’ll bump up to a 5, just because I really liked it. British folk rock, or as some might call it, “not quite the Beatles”, though their DNA is scattered here a little bit, at least in the feel of the instrumentation. These are folk songs, but the extra rock instrumentation gives them a kind of contemporary depth that just feels super nice in the ears. Their additions don’t do anything too crazy in terms of solos or technical stuff, but they enhance the atmosphere in ways that can still build and release tension. It’s super effective, and hearing that instrumentation blended with traditional stuff like the fiddle or violin makes this album feel like it’s from out of time, in a cool way. Sandy Denny has a lovely voice, occasionally reminiscent of Emmylou Harris; she really does glide on a lot of these tracks. The only thing I can knock her on is some occasionally confusing vocal structures (namely on “Tam Lin”), but even then, that might just be a carryover from how these songs were performed. Sandy Denny, by the way, is featured on Led Zeppelin IV’s “The Battle of Evermore” – that’s a track perfectly suited for her talents, given a similarity in styles, and she gets to showcase those talents across a whole album here, which is really nice. The only reason I’m at a 4.5 as opposed to a flat 5 is just because “Farewell, Farewell” didn’t really grab me lyrically & “Tam Lin” feels a little bit disjointed in terms of blending its storytelling, instrumentation & vocals, compared to how smoothly the other 7 tracks do it. Past that though, it’s music that speaks for itself. I think the floor here is a 3, and it’s one I’d understand, especially if the slower storytelling style doesn’t feel as gripping, or if the extra instrumental flair feels like it’s trying to dress up some perceived mediocrity on these traditional songs. I thought it was enjoyable enough to sit at a 4.5, and I think it’s just aligned enough with my tastes to bump it up to a 5 – it could go back down to a 4 if these tracks don’t click as nicely on more casual listens, but for now, I feel pretty safe bumping it up. I’m glad it’s on the list.
good folk rock record, i enjoyed the first track a lot, good vocals and structure, didn’t blow me away but it was good
< The Beatles No thank you
Grace Slick goes to a Ren Faire
y'all mind if a Yank speaks a little British? I reflexively assumed I wouldn't enjoy this very much, since I tend to prefer (or at least I'm more familiar with) American folk music over that of the British Isles, but Fairport Convention really sold me with their electric approach to this repertoire of traditional songs, and the original compositions inspired by it! there's hints of psychedelia, prog and the blues lurking underneath most of this material (especially the extended jam that makes up the second half of "Matty Groves"), but the band can also do a lot with a more contemplative, pastoral approach. the biggest highlights for me are Dave Swarbrick's dynamic fiddling and Sandy Denny's delicate, almost mournful vocal performances. Swarbrick in particular really shines on the instrumental medley on side B, which also incorporates a few Irish tunes alongside the British ones; and Denny, who died tragically young less than a decade after recording Liege and Lief, casts a haunting shadow over many of its finest moments as an album. decent 8/10.
This album BLEW me away! This is a hidden gem. 10/10
Too minstrel but OK
3.5
3.5
3 stars - Made it real hard to not fall asleep while listening to this
good background music
I was so happy to see this today. Possibly the greatest folk rock album. If you need proof, listen to Matty Groves. Sandy Denny's vocals are amazing throughout, as are the rest of the band. I especially love the strings on opening track Come All Ye and Crazy Man Michael.
Very traditional british folk - maybe a bit too traditional for me personally. Sandy's vocals for some reason don't really land for me here - there are some good moments, but in general it doesn't sound very ... round. Still not an unenjoyable listen.
On first listen, I'm not as high on this as *Unhalfbricking*, but it's still uniformly excellent, especially in direct comparison to yesterday's Pentangle record. Sandy Denny is just fantastic, Richard Thompson always crushes, and the arrangements in general are equally hearty and tasteful. 4/5
Good British folk music. Almost folk-rock, but that'd almost be a disservice.
bell’atmosfera buona vigilia a tutti
Sicuramente meglio dell’altro album loro, ci può stare come sottofondo musicale e poi alcune tracce sono meno folk e piú blues e rock. Approvato
Wow, Brit psychedelic folk + Grace Slick sounding singer.
Great voice
This isn't really the kind of music I like. But I guess it's pretty well delivered, though nothing is really memorable for me. Denny's voice is mixed a bit too much in front.
Vaguely heard of them. This was my first listen. Happy and relaxed. Perfect for a pre-Christmas rush. Slow down and enjoy before you rush off.
Folksy female vocalist soft and whispy.
Is this this ultimate British folk rock album? Maybe. I'm not going back to listen to the others, so I'll just say yes. This list has worn me down, and I now look forward to something that (1) I haven't heard, and (2) I don't hate. This would not be a daily (or monthly) listen, but it hit all the beats to get the stars.
A rocking British Folk album. And a good one.
If I said 60’s English folk-rock to you this band and album is exactly what you would expect.
Odd but ok
3.0/10
Meh. Music was pretty dull and vocals were pretty meh so not much in this for me.
Really liked that. Definitely going to be listening to this one again, sounded like a cool halfway point between Vashti Bunyan and Led Zeppelin. Is that a crazy way to put it? Whatever, that's what I was thinking as I listened to it. 7/10, four stars.
60's British folk rock. Lead singer has a pleasant voice which makes it a decent listen. "Medley: The Lark In The Morning" is a really fun little jig. Standout is "Matty Groves".
3 Stars (8/15)
Didn't care for on my first listen. Grew on me during a second listen.
Rather dull/not for me.
Not quite sure why, but I did enjoy this
I liked all the more rock-adjacent folk songs on here but some of the other ones I really didn't care for. Somewhat enjoyable
From something like Irish folk to super trippy. Was ok. Too much reverb and echo though. 3.5
Oohly oogly oi louks moi zoidor
absolute banger, the guitars, the vocals, the fiddles, it fits so well and it’s just a beautiful wave of sound with themes of musicians coming together creating this a love song about longing and heavenly waves really long got disinterested a little too long but i like how psychedelic it is like i would be melting on lsd come all ye is one of the greatest songs ever lmao holy smokes amazing songwriter each song tells a story
Folk that isn't boring, it was different but very welcoming, interesting and listenable. Will listen to it more.
No tiene nada que ver con lo que esperaba. Hay buenas canciones.
Folksy pub sounds. Tracks got a bit too long towards the end, but other than that alright
Folk rocky, but would listen again
kind of liked that
Not really into medieval re-enactments myself
Day 119 Four stars for Liege & Lief. “Matty Groves” rips with gleeful drama, and “Tam Lin” charges ahead like a horse that’s late for battle. Those two alone carry the album into classic territory. The rest is solid, but those tracks make it shine. 8/10 Highlights Matty Groves Tam Lin
Well, I never thought going into this that I'd end up a Fairport Convention fan, but here we are. I liked this for many of the same reasons as I liked Unhalfbricking; several tracks have a driving, hypnotic feel that tickles my krautrock receptors.
Mellow 60s music like Jefferson Airplane but not as trippy. Enjoyable, mild, nothing exciting.
Rolled my eyes at this one thinking I was going to hate it, but this was a great album. I always assumed Fairport Convention were very dry folk but this was quite experimental and gritty in parts. Big surprise.
Mid
Every time I listen to Fairport Convention, I am reminded that I need to listen to them more often. Out of the albums I've heard of them so far, this one does the best at combining Medieval music with the Contemporary sounds of the 60's. There's less vocals and more focus on improvisation here. It's a very easy listen and also manages to combine some very different musical styles. Just another solid record from 1969.
It’s not as bad as the previous album of theirs that I listened to. Still not really my thing, but I can hear more of the “rock” in folk-rock this time. On some of the tracks at least. I’ll call this one meh.
What a sparkling example of English folk/rock. Striking vocals and bristling musicianship.
Kind of a boring album, but a well-made one that executes a cool concept, applying the American folk rock approach to British folk music. I can appreciate it. Best song: Matty Groves
Tfw the couple at the Ren Faire comes over and says they like your style.
I thought I'd like this more, as I'm a huge fan of Richard Thompson. It was good, but didn't rise to the level of greatness for me.
This is REALLY good. I'm a sucker for traditional British/Irish music. It definitely drones after a bit, but Sandy Denny's voice is tremendous, and I love the late 60s production that utilizes stereo in nice ways. Also, Richard Thompson is a tremendous guitarist. I will return to this for sure. 7/10
Funny that this appears very soon after the Pentangle one and I had just compared the two bands. I'm a little biased toward FC, mainly because I have long loved Richard Thompson, whether with FC, with Linda Thompson, or solo. I also love Sandy Denny's vocals. And "Liege and Lief" is the OG British folk album. Such a great blend of traditional and rocking elements. I especially love the story songs like "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin." Though I like the album before this, "Unhalfbricking," a little better, this one is fantastic and exemplifies all that is great about FC: gorgeous vocals, stellar instrumentals, and great songs reimagined and amplified.
Like dropping acid and hitting up the ren faire. Love Sandy Denny's voice, would listen to her sing anything. Unlike some contemporaries who just wanted to do the lame medieval folk band thing, these guys built on that really rich tradition by imbuing it with a bunch of 60s psych rock tendencies. I love the sound of electric guitar blending with the fiddle on folk stuff like this. Also lyrically, a lot of the songs are pretty engaging, which is cool considering theyre centuries-old ballads.
Gorgeous
Nice but not as moving as the last Fairport album. Lovely storytelling though.
First song really is a banger. Second more slow and folksy. Still pretty beautiful. Loved the third track Great guitar violin solo at the end there. Farewell Farewell is a beautiful song with great arrangement. The deserted is less of a favorite but still fine and good. 6 is really pouges 15 years before. I like it. Yes, I do. Tam lin is very traditional with new arrangement. The closer is one of the strongest on the record. A lovely song. It's a high 3 Very very nice album.
Фолк рок
traditional folk my beloved
Fine
very very good
I only knew Autopsy before (discovery via Groove Armada many years ago). At first I thought this was like the music my parents listened to (in a good way) - kind of folky. I enjoyed it and then the last few tracks really grew on me. Really liked Tam Lin.
Matty Groves fucking slaps. Amazing beat. Sandy Denny's voice and the jam at the end of the song is awesome. Unfortunately, that's all I really liked. I'm not huge into folk music but this was actually pretty good. Happy I listened to it and know about it, don't want to listen to it again.
British folk music. It was fine. I powered through the outtakes as well. It was fine.
Meh
Ret fedt? Rimelig unik instrumentalt :)
If they had made the LOTR trilogy in the late 60s, Sandy Denny would have sung all the Sindarin/Quenya songs.
I thought I would hate it but I really enjoyed this album.
Honestly torn between a 4 and a 5 on this one, but I think it'll probably land on a high 4. I love English Folk Rock so this was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the mix of traditional ballads with original pieces.
Not my bag BUT well played, sung, and written. I probably won’t go out of my way to play it again but I’m glad I heard it!
Legendary.
interesting folk album
Really nice album
Heard some song from them before. What a great album of folk music. This is exactly what I expect from a folk album. And at no point did it get boring or repetetive 3/5
Legendary sunday morning album pull. Went on a nature walk with this album and it was an amazing experience. Might return for the 5th star but for now high 4*/5
Chill and pretty modern faux medieval troubadour rock.
..
These guys have a nice vibe