Imagine

love it. I prefer John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band but this is still a timeless, fantastic record

FINE

Absolute shite made even worse by the final song oh yoko

Beautiful love song, stopped me in my tracks.

The title track is the big hit, deservedly so. It did spawn that awful COVID celebrity sing-a-long though. But who can stay mad at Gal Gadot...except for Palestinians, Democrats and Hollywood. I think I love John Lennon. His work after the Beatles is better than McCartney's...although neither of them reach the heights of All Things Must Pass. I bet Cat Stevens loves this album. This album is great, not sure I like it more than Plastic Ono Band though. 4/7

hm ach

Bon, comme pour McCartney, l’oeuvre post-Beatles de Lennon ne me fait pas tripper des bulles. Il y a quelques bonnes tounes (comme How Do You Sleep, une distrack (!) particulièrement entrainante musicalement) et quelques tounes pas trop trop intéressantes. Des fois, je les sens (Paul et John, chacun de leur côté) un peu en perte de vitesse à devoir travailler seuls. Je vais devoir revenir aux textes de la première toune (How?) qui me semble décrire mon état depuis que j’ai ouvert les yeux face à mon enfance.

Lenon is a genius, but his songs are too 70's for my taste.

Fantastic, but mostly melancholy.

Simply great album.

Dropped a little by the end for me, but it's John Lennon. All his talent is on display here.

go, white boy, go!! this album was WAY more corny and insufferable than I expected. the title track (which is the opener) does NOT prepare you for it. I would make a joke about John Lennon hating the whole "celebrity Imagine video during covid" thing if he'd been alive to see it, but I actually have NO idea how he'd feel about it.

Did john lennon ever make a 5 star album. This is as close to it. How is a lovely song full of longing. Gimme some truth is an evisceration of nixon and the culture of the time. Oh yoko is just on the right side of nauseating. Jealous guy is possibly the pick but for me it changes year on year. All of the beatles breakup albums are amazing (apart from ringo)

Pretty good ig, title track is overrated or underrated depending where you look

A bit dull

It’s almost better to approach this one by disregarding the title track due to its sheer overbearing ubiquity and judge it on the remaining nine. There are at least two other bona fide Lennon classics (Jealous Guy & Gimme Some Truth) and one of the more obvious ‘diss tracks’ aimed at Paul (How Do You Sleep). The rest is pleasant enough, if a little lightweight and lyrically saccharine at times.

A perfectly pleasant album but it seems like a regression given the Beatles’ exploration of experimental approaches.

Found it to be quite self absorbed and missing much of the more interesting musicianship and chord progressions of his work with the rest of the Beatles. Might have my judgement clouded by how he came across in ‘get back’ though. Never liked imagine as a song and found a lot of the rest of the album to be trite.

Kind of boring

Shallow indulgent tripe that sounds like it was recorded in the middle of a warehouse.

Muy bueno

Definitely the best Lennon I've heard so far. Songs are well written and around closer to Beatles than his other solo stuff. Knowing how he is as a person makes me unable to shake the feeling that the energy of this album is very fabricated

As a Beatles fan I thought I would like this album more. Aside from Imagine I couldn’t really get into any of the songs in any real way. Not great considering the artist.

I expected a little more for some reason but it’s a good album, politically charged, good lyrics and a variation between the songs by quite a lot actually, not one song sounded the same. The only song I’ve actually heard is obviously the title track so it’s good to hear the complete thing, it feels completely different to the Beatles but that’s to be expected, definitely some John Lennon weirdness as well which helped add to the variety and kept it unique, the instrumentals especially some guitar parts and some of the piano mostly. Favourites: Imagine, Gimme some truth, Paul diss, and Oh Yoko! Overall, 7/10.

3.5

It’s fine. Legendary track or 3. But the slow songs plod along. I also don’t care for the Phil Spectre production.

Seems like the “cool” thing to do in the music community is to hate on John Lennon, but I’ve never been one to give into that. Sure, he’s the biggest wanker of the four Bugs, but he knows how to make music. When he gets out of his own way, like he largely did with this album (petty diss tracks aside), he’s as great as they come. 4/5 Highlights: Imagine It’s So Hard I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama How Do You Sleep?

The songwriting is brilliant. I just can't get past Lennon's hippy egomania and the annoying personality cult around it.

Good, but I never quite grasped the overall vibe to it, so it was weaker than the sum of its parts. Just about held on to a 4.

It's not terrible, not great. Expected a little better tbh.

Mostly a 3 star album but Imagine and Jealous Guy are such classics, think it deserves a 4

Imagine writing a diss track against Paul McCartney when this is the best you've got to offer. A tedious, boring record for the most part

Better than I expected it to be

I - meh - gine More like

It’s a shame imagine is not available on Apple Music, but great album. Didn’t know most other songs

Imagine es uno de esos discos que son prácticamente parte de mi ADN. Es un disco de infancia, de esos que yo escuché y escuché y escuché, cientos de veces. Antes de la era de internet, antes de escuchar un álbum solo una vez para descartarlo y escuchar otra cosa luego de 15 minutos. Y digo esto porque es un trabajo que tiene fallas, pero que aprendí a quererlo mucho a pesar de ellas. Canciones que me parecen excelentes: Para empezar está mi canción favorita del disco "Jealous Guy", una balada maravillosa en la que Lennon muestra su fragilidad en su relación con Yoko. Me imagino que esta canción puede ser criticada por el wokismo porque justifica cierto abuso sobre la pareja (I didn't mean to hurt you, I'm sorry that I made you cry. I'm just a jealous guy). Pero ese es el problema de cierto progresismo que buscó que la gente autocensure lo que siente y lo que dice mientras las trumpetas nazis se reían de su estupidez y ascendían el poder. Nevertheless, me parece una canción fantástica, maravillosa, super honesta que me emociona mucho. Después tenemos la canción homónima: Imagine. Super quemada, super conocida por todos. En mi etapa hipster la critiqué porque yo también soy un pelotudo: oh, una canción que todo el mundo conoce, qué pecado, qué horror. Estupideces. La melodía de Imagine es buenísima, y la letra ES BUENA. Un mundo sin países, sin religiones, sin odio debería ser un ideal de todos los humanos, sobre todo en una época en la que los nazis y extremistas te insultan si criticás un genocidio que se está llevando adelante en un país de Asia. El podio del álbum lo completa How Do You Sleep?, temazo super venenoso en el que Lennon putea a su ex compañero McCartney "lo único que hiciste fue Yesterday, gil". Me gusta el Lennon más punzante. El disco tiene varios otros temazos: La bella canción dedicada a su pareja "Oh Yoko!" es bellísima (exceptuando esa armónica fea que cierra el álbum). Y también me parece muy linda el temita minimalista Oh My Love. Cripple Inside, Gimme Some Truth y It's So Hard me parece que ofrecen un contrapunto un poco más "rockero" frente a las baladas (que me parece que definen un poco más al disco). Destaco sobre todo a Gimme Some Truth por la letra. Me parece la mejor letra política del disco (más que Imagine y más que I don't wanna be a Soldier). Las otras canciones no me gustan tanto y les resta un poroto. I Don't wanna be a Soldier siempre me pareció medio aburrida. No me gusta mucho la música y 6 minutos me parecen un montón. Y tampoco fui fan de How? Creo que Lennon tenía una letra buena acá, pero se olvidó de la música. El sonido del disco es muy bueno. Está producido por Phil Spector como el anterior, pero la producción es completamente distinta. Imagine es un disco fuertemente orquestado y se nota en casi todas las canciones. Parece ser la revancha de Spector por Let It Be, porque acá queda muy bien. En How? (que ya dije que no me gusta mucho) la orquestación hace casi toda la canción. Y sería imposible pensar en Jealous Guy, Imagine o How Do You Sleep sin la orquesta. Le pongo 4 estrellitas.

Can I make a confession. Can I say something that’s going to make some people very mad. I don’t like Imagine. The track, I mean. The rest of the album’s fine, or better than. Crippled Inside? Banger. Oh Yoko!? Banger. How Do You Sleep? Jesus Christ but I’d hate to be Paul McCartney listening to that one. Banger, though, for better or worse. Jealous Guy? Jesus Christ but I’d hate to be Paul McCartney listening to that one, for an entirely different reason. Doesn’t it just tear your heart out? (Yes, I am a “Jealous Guy is about Paul” truther. While I’m out here saying things that are going to piss a certain kind of Lennon fanboy off anyway I might as well get that one off my chest too.) Isn’t that piano just the most beautiful thing? …But Imagine? Like yeah I mean personally I don’t think he deserved to die for it but those lyrics from his voice at that point in his life… they do grate. They wouldn’t even be good lyrics coming from anyone else, to be honest. Some “Karl Marx for two year olds” shit we’re all supposed to pretend is profound. And the melody and instrumentation are not interesting. Sorry! It would bother me a lot less if it weren’t for the entire rest of the world deciding that it’s his masterpiece and playing it twelve thousand times. But as it is… I just don’t get it. I say enough! Stop it with that song! So I’m knocking off a star for that. Still, it does earn the other four, though, I think. My feelings about John Lennon at this point in my life are much more complicated than I have time to get into right now (maybe whenever John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band turns up in my queue I'll give that particular topic its due. Or maybe when I get Rubber Soul…) but I can and will say: I do respect him for being brave enough to so often put the ugliest and most vulnerable parts of himself out there into the public eye for us to pass judgement on. Probably he shouldn’t have done all that, to be honest—I don’t think it was any better for him than the primal scream therapy, in terms of actually leaving him in a mental state conducive to leading a healthy and productive life during much of his last decade. But it means I get to listen to Jealous Guy, so for me it's a win.

I haven't really got anything witty to say about this one. It's brilliant in patches (the opener in particular is a generational statement, maybe even an all-timer), but much of the album from therein ranges from being decent to decidedly average - it hits a real lull towards the middle, and I never need to hear "Oh Yoko" again. It's John Lennon so of course it was going to find its way into this list, I'm not averse to it being on here but the multitude of other Beatles related selections does call into question how many albums truly are vital listening.

un classique parmi les classiques. c'est très fort de faire quelque chose pareil en après des sorties avec les beatles, génie de la musique.

On enchaine un peu entre les hauts et les bas, et je crois que les sons que je préfère sont ceux les plus « Beatles-esque »

mooie muziek

Overall I liked it. Imagine is iconic, but my favorite song is "jealous guy". There's some hits and some misses, but too me not as good as a full beatles album (the whole being greater than the sum of the parts). Good instrumentation.

Just like Mark David Chapman, it's always the religious wingnuts fucking it up for the rest of us. This album kicks ass. Imagine has been overplayed but it doesn't make it any less classic. And look at his backing band, I see any of those names on any record and it's a good bet it will be worth a listen.

Ehhhhhh

Ännu ett album som man förstår varför man bara har hört en av låtarna. Resten är ärligt talat generisk rock. Inget sticker ut speciellt mycket

This has always been a strange album for me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Beatles. This album has some absolute highs and some skippers for sure. Overall its OK. I own it on both vinyl and cd though it rarely gets played.

Another great solo album by a former Beatles member. Imagine is obviously a classic, also have always loved oh yoko. Still below “All things must pass” for my ranking of solo Beatles efforts, but still very good.

⭐️ How?

omg finally a beatles adjacent album. I've never listened to the album in full, but I know many of the songs from it already. I really enjoyed it honestly, it was nice to get an album I had actually heard of and had been planning to listen to at some point. 5/5

A bit overrated. Hinges on the song Imagine... which is overrated.

Vind dit wel een klassiek voorbeeld van een album dat geweldig klinkt, maar als je verder dan dat probeert te kijken blijkt het niet heel veel om het lijf te hebben. Dat is dan ook wel direct symptomatisch voor veel producties van Phil Spector. Het eerste deel pakt me wel, met zijn folksy en bluesy composities. Het tweede deel daarentegen is cliché filosoof John Lennon, en hij lijkt daar vreemd genoeg soms een beetje op een parodie van zichzelf, hoewel het wel écht en oprecht is. Ik vind het niet zo heel sterk. Het slappe en kinderlijke 'Oh Yoko!' is tekenend. 6/10 Highlights: Imagine Jealous Guy It's So Hard

Wel een mooie plaat waar de kracht van Lennon echt wel naar voren komt. Vind echter dat hij wel wat te vrij is gelaten. Is het misschien het ontbreken van McCartney of iemand anders die hem durft te beperken? Weinig mensen zullen dat gedurfd hebben. De nummers zijn namelijk wel erg divers. De overgang van Imagine naar de tweede song is erg groot, en het geheel voelt dan ook niet zo. De klasse van Lennon had iets meer sturing mogen/moeten hebben in mijn opinie. 7,5/10 Highlights Jealous Guy

An ambitious exploration of Lennon’s vocal range. There are thematic similarities across the board with this album, but they are presented in unique ways throughout the project.

Eu adoro Beatles e o John sempre foi meu favorito, mas este é um disco bem desbalanceado. Não chega nem perto de ser meu favorito da carreira solo de Lennon, acho que ele possui muitas falhas. Pra começar, acredito que seu primeiro lado seja bem entediante. Claro, temos a icônica e infame canção titular do disco, Imagine. Eu nunca gostei dessa música, sempre a achei hipócrita, tosca, esdrúxula, e representa um lado do John que eu prefiro esquecer, passar pano. Seu pêndulo político pessoal sempre foi confuso e desnorteado, mas nessa canção ele estava indo em uma direção completamente desconexa e brega. E infelizmente, não há muito conteúdo melhor no primeiro lado deste álbum, é tudo bem maçante de se ouvir. Mas vou te dizer, não desista do disco na sua primeira metade. Seu segundo lado consegue animar e desprender esse álbum do tar grudento de sua outra face. Gimme Some Truth, How Do You Sleep, How, Oh Yoko, várias canções boas e memoráveis, e sempre com o tom sardônico que esperamos de Lennon. Se o disco inteiro fosse assim, seria um dos meus favoritos de sua discografia. Uma pena que não é o caso, mas ainda sim, é um álbum OK. 3.5/5

De opener (en titeltrack) is echt niet meer serieus te beluisteren. "Crippled Inside" is wel meteen leuk. "Jealous Guy" is beter in de live-uitvoering van Donny Hathaway, maar zit natuurlijk ook goed in elkaar. Ik denk dat John Lennon in de jaren 80 goede yacht-rock had gemaakt. Voorts ben ik een enorme fan van de afsluiter "Oh Yoko!".

Its John Lennon, how could it not be good? Its John Lennon, how could it not be pretentious?

One thought provoking, timeless track, the others not so.

Goddamn hippies make me wanna hate John Lennon and especially the title track but it's damn good. Buncha dull tracks on side B but then he closes with a stunner. Have to count three obvious perfect tracks: "Imagine", "Jealous Guy" and "Oh Yoko!" But so much of what is left I never need to hear again that I think I have to average this out to a 3.

The last great Lennon album IMHO.

This album had a strong start with Imagine, even though I've personally found it a bit questionable given how similar that opening is to The Who's Getting in Tune (which is also on this list, and released a few months before Imagine). No idea if I'm reading into things there, though. By the time you get half way through it is plainly obvious that this album is musically all over the place. While there are some good tracks, they're generally overshadowed by the rest of the album.

Ok

Not too bad, fine to listen to. Few duds towards the end of the album.

top

I wasn’t that excited to listen to this album since I’m not a big Beatles fan but I actually enjoyed this listen. Favorite song: Imagine, Oh My Love, Oh Yoko!

8/10

I’m trying to Imagine, John

Great album

A crime that this album is best known for its incredibly cliche title track, honestly.

Saved from 2 stars on the title track alone

I really liked it. He sounded dissatisfied. A bit more jaded.

Ofcourse John Lennon is a musical genius, and you hear his brilliance shining through some of the songs. But this album has one big issue for me: a lot songs feel like straight out of a time capsule - which ofcourse isn't far from the truth. That makes songs like I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama sound a bit outdated.

Wiadomo że cool, ale nie lubimy pana Johna

Some really dark lyrics even with happier sounding music. I hear some Rolling Stones similarities. Not something I’d listen to, but it’s a decent album.

Listened through ~12 times. I really like solo John's mix of pretty Bowie croon and dive bar folk aesthetic. Lots of nice texture across these tracks, but they're all pretty simple songs. Vocally, I've always liked that John seems to experiment with his voice being more of a sound, like just another instrument, than being clearly 'above' the music. I'm a Lennon fan ❤️

This album is all about the first song but other than that song it’s pretty below average over all.

Imagine is and always will be a great song. Jealous guy is another that I like but I didn’t really care for the remainder of the songs. They don’t stand up with the time or era.

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. Not the biggest fan of Lennon solo work. Imagine is what it is.

Some nice moments. 2/3 stars

Great album, one his best post-Beatles efforts. Imagine, Jealous Guy, Gimme Some Truth, Oh Yoko are big hits. Other notable songs include Crippled Inside, Oh My Love, How.

'Imagine' carries this album. The rest range from mid to decent.

amazing as imagined, as figured. my only hesitancy for a 5 is that some tracks flow in and out more abruptly than expected. But who am I to judge that really. Imagine almost makes me cry each time

i mean it's a beatles album without the beatles refinement. i have to confess, jealous guy still fucks as a song. liked: jealous guy, it's really hard, oh my love.

Better than Coldplay

Meh.

Imagine as a first song is pretty good but honestly the rest of the album is okay.

Really good album. Starting off with Imagine is strong

Eh

Pretty good honestly. Sounded different enough from Beatles stuff.

do you remember the covid celeb video

Don’t get the hype. Imagine and Oh Yoko are good.

# Album Name: Imagine # Artist: John Lennon # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: It didnt hit me in the face like i thought it would. Its a grower. However, It makes me realise that lennon was at his best in the beatles, mccartney was the best solo artist and harrison actually had the best solo album. Theres some 5/5 songs on here like imagine and jealous guy. Theres some good songs on here like its so hard and how do you sleep. These took a bit more time to grow on me. Either way a very good album. Especially when i compare it to some of the dross ive had on this list recently # Top Tunes: imagine / JG / its so hard / how do you sleep # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Not nearly as good as most of his stuff with he Beatles. It's kind of an awkward mix between him trying to be very sincere and emotional/virtuous/political and hating Paul McCartney. He takes himself way too seriously and seems to have very little interest in experimenting musically, it's mostly just piano ballads and fairly basic rock n roll type stuff. The music is decent but kind of "dry", I'm more interested in it as a concept and history than actually enjoying listening to it, although it's still mostly enjoyable: 3.5 stars

White boy why.....

A few good mentions include "How do you sleep" and "how?" But Oh Yoko is not a good song in my opinion. I don't see myself really revisiting this album.

Amazing album.

Ok I’m not going to lie, I did come in with some preconceived ideas about how I was gonna hate this album and I didn’t hate it! Peg and black cow do feel like the only reasons I’d come back to it but overall not too bad!

I can’t think of a world without Imagine. This is John’s best solo album

The title track is a good song- the rest is largely Beatles filler- ok, but not memorable.

Appreciate the talent but wasn’t grabbed by most of the songs.

3.5

Perhaps the most overrated and overplayed song of all time, paired with mostly uninteresting album cuts. He wrote a lot of great songs for The Beatles, but I was never the biggest fan of Lennon’s solo material.

I had never heard this album. I've heard Imagine of course, and Oh Yoko. I really liked Oh My Love as well, a good 4 star album for me that I may come back to

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

The closest Lennon came to the level of songwriting he perfected with the Beatles, in my opinion. If this was a Beatles album it would be my least favorite, but it is still better than 99% of what came out of their members after their breakup. Definitely has its moments, and I wish I could hear Imagine with new ears versus what it has become due to overuse and terrible covers in the 50+ years since it came out.

It’s good. Some great… like Imagine.

I’ll be honest, I skipped the bad third form poetry that is Imagine and Jealous Guy because Bryan Ferry does it better. Everything about this album is so thin, from the production to the vocals and the lyrics. This is John Lennon being a pissy wee bitch as usual. It’s really not that great.

creepy ahh albumcover but banger songs

Classic

- it was fine - I liked how and how do you sleep - a lot of it I zoned out to tbh

No longer doing 0-10/10, only 0-5/5! Anyways 5/5

I had no idea how much some people hate John Lennon until reading the reviews. I don't hate him that much. But I do think Phil Spector made this a record that you can enjoy, until you start thinking too much about it.

Hey guys what if world peace? 😎 - John Lennon, ett geni

Ett par ordentliga bangers, i övrigt varvat mellan helt okej o tråkigt. Nästbästa beatlen?

Oförglömade låtar

En megaklassiker, någon halvklassiker och så resten minst ganska bra gör det svårt att sätta lägre än 4!

geni

Enjoyable, wouldn’t revisit but had some great emotional songs.

Ten years ago I might have listened to this, seeking to understand the genius behind it. Today I find it not really noteworthy, not really outside the zeitgeist of its time. Mere mortals, all of us.

Top track: Imagine

It was okay.

If this wasn’t by a Beatle, it’d be a one-hit wonder no one paid any mind to.

Some nice songs here, with my favorite being Crippled Inside. Otherwise I wasn't really grabbed all that much.

The title track alone makes this almost five stars. The other tracks don't quite keep up. 54 years later, we're still imagining all of the same apparently unachievable things 😢

While a questionable human being, John Lennon was certainly musical a genius. I just wish he had used more of that genius on this record. Also, I’ve always been (and still am) a Paul guy.

Further proof that P-Mac was the better songwriter. A couple good tunes on here but it’s mostly average at best. The last few seconds bumped John up a few notches on my list of worst harmonica players ever (he’s giving Bob Dylan a run for his money).

Even though most inescapable Beatles songs still somehow find ways to sound fresh to me when listening to albums. However, other than imagine, this album is a bit simple and boring for me. I always figured Lennon was the one that worked less for me, which this mostly confirms. I get why people would love it, but I don’t need to ever hear this again

Much as I love Lennon’s solo work, and famous as the title track is, this is probably one of my least favourite of his records - Walls and Bridges, and Mind Games are my own faves and this one just doesn’t come close to them. He was in a pretty bitter and angry place when he recorded it and it shows in its disjointedness - it just doesn’t hang together as well as many of his other records. I find him and his life story endlessly fascinating though, so I know it’s a record I’ll always come back to.

Off the cuff remark: at times this album does feel quite sublime, even Imagine still sounds gorgeous. Though it isn't perfect. Standout track: ignoring the title track as that's too easy I really like the opener, How? Revisit?: I astounded myself in the feeling when I listened that I don't think I have ever listened to the whole album before though familiar with most of the songs. I will be listening again.

I'm a massive Beatles fan. I love a lot of Paul and George's solo work (sorry Ringo, I haven't listened to yours yet), but over the years I've learned I just don't care much for John Lennon without the other three. A couple of good songs here, but I found most of them to be just okay.

Enjoyed it, but nothing crazy

A masterpiece. A perfect album. 10/10. Nothing more needs to be said. Fav track- i don't wanna be a soldier mama

Against my own will, I really liked this album. I try to separate the artist from their (messy) lives, but Lennon's history of abuse, child neglect, and conceit played in the background as I listened. But that was reflected in the listen and I have to admit that he tells his truth through the music, which was refreshing.

If only for Imagine, this album deserves a lot of stars. A song, which still manages to capture the mind of young people. But the album also contains further "nice" songs. Definitely worth listening to.

I think we all recognize that the Beatles are one of the great bands of all time. But this is the second time I’ve had a post Beatles album from one of the band members that I have been disappointed with. Imagine is a great, great song, but the next few on this album are really subpar. It’s not until I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier Mama that this album picks back up. After that, it’s better but still far from great. I did think How Do You Sleep was excellent and I actually somewhat enjoyed Oh Yoko. However, that was counterbalanced by Oh My Love, which is about as elementary a song as I’ve heard in a while, which is saying something given the amount of shitty not-even-a-hit-in-the-UK English bands that I have heard on this 1,001 album list. Overall, this record was not terribly inspired other than Imagine and the few politically driven tracks. It is, at best, average for me.

probably underrated compared to beatles work, super classic

"Imagine", a música mais escutada deste álbum, contém um viés comunista de um "mundo ideal". A maioria das músicas possui uma melodia repetitiva. As músicas que eu mais gostei foram: "Oh, my love" e "Oh Yoko!".

DNL

imagine all the people czemu john lennon śpiewa o tym będąc takim złym człowiekiem nie kochanie, nie jesteś fajny i nie jesteś dobrym człowiekiem przestań się użalać nad sobą male manipulatorze life is so hard for you sweetie!!!!! HIPOKRYZJA I TYLE a muzycznie denerwujace i bez polotu

Great songwriting. Boring music.

Not my favorite Lennon album but the fact that Jealous Guy and Imagine are on here makes it a classic must listen.

Imagine is of course one of the best songs of all time. Crippled Inside was also a great song, which I hadn't heard before. Obvious political texts of that time.

Dumb abuser music

Nothing will hate me make this man less, especially his music. Fine album, some of the songs were even decent.

i sleep in a big bed with my wife

This was pretty terrible. I feel like at this point he was so far out of touch with a normal human experience that none of his songs make sense. They're also not good musically.

Very good - a singer/writer working through post Beatles fall out.

completamente distante do que eu gosto camarada conseguiu fazer uma diss track musicalmente chata devia ter ficado quieto aceitando o fim dos beatles

john lennon sem os beatles = tudo de ruim chato demais.

he was crying about his love life i hate it.

Not a big Beatles guy. Album's fine I guess, but nothing really stuck out to me afterwards. Favorite's probably "Gimme Some Truth".

6/10

I like the song Imagine. it's kind of inconceivable that it came from John Lennon alone when you look at the rest of the songs here. everything else is meh

3/5

It’s fine. He needed the other Beatles

Quebecois Review : Pas aussi bon que les Beatles. Translation : Not as good as Beatles

Each song is a really strong statement in both sound and lyrics but they get so boring and tedious so fast. The repeating melody and lyrics line. I got bored of these songs a few years ago and I still can’t listen to them without getting bored

Not the easiest album to love as it's tinged with a fair amount of bitterness, both at the people in Lennon's Life (e.g. How Do You Sleep) and the wider world (Gimme Some Truth). It is a great set of songs though and reins in the experimental nature of his writing to be a little more traditional rock. Thankfully he got that out of his system with the Two Virgins rubbish! Not super immediate but great

Absolute masterpiece

Brakuje tu Paula, ale bez niego John jest jak bez hamulca Bezpieczeństwa, pędzi po różnych gatunkach i tematach nie zatrzymując się ani na chwilę, aby przemyśleć, czy to wszystko ma w ogóle sens. W efekcie powstaje niespójny miszmasz, który zaskakuje z każdym kawałkiem. 7.5/10

I'm more of a Paul guy

Highlight Song/s: Imagine, Crippled Inside, Gimme Some Truth and How Do You Sleep? My 100th album from the generator! The album is quite melancholic and is sombre on most of the songs. This is album is great lyrically, nothing too bad is on here. This one starts with the title track, which has lyrics that aren't asking for anything too much. For example It simply asks you to imagine a world free of religion, which some psycho decided that it was too much to ask for and decided to commit murder because of that song.

Its jhon lennon. Just listen. I would listen to it again 8/10

Pretty good - 4.1

Favourites besides Imagine: Oh My Love, Jealous Guy,How?, How Do You Sleep?, Oh Yoko! . The slow melodic songs are the best parts of the album

He was the least talented of the Beatles!!!

problem z tym albumem jest taki ze przyjemna jest jakos co druga piosenka wiec niestety polowa do wyjebania

Other than Imagine nothing else really stood out to me.

It's alright. Not really finding it especially interesting.

An archetype of a 7 out of ten. Imagine and Jealous Man are your classics, the rest of the album isn't bad but not up to the standard of these. Nice string arrangements and solid songwriting as you'd expect from an ex-Beatle, but nothing incredible.

One song wonder

One point penalty because of Yoko

Perfect listening for my beautiful Sunday

Instant karma, instant 5 The juxtaposition of “Oh My Love” against “How Do You Sleep?” is 😳

Imagine is the least interesting thing happening here

banger first songs, rest kinda ok, good songwriting.

Yes

I have found the reverence for solo John Lennon somewhat perplexing. His three solo records prior to the breakup of the Beatles are universally unlistenable. "Plastic Ono Band", because of its raw confessionalism, overrates what is a fairly weak set of songs. And then there is this record, where Lennon's self-importance and insecurity wrestle with each other. I generally preferred Lennon's Beatles material to McCartney's, but as solo artists I have the opposite opinion. All that said, this is probably front-to-back the strongest and most consistent of Lennon's solo output, with strong rockers ("Gimme Some Truth") and ballads ("Jealous Guy"). Things mostly went downhill from here, so this is Lennon at his solo peak.

No notes. 👩‍🍳😘

4/10

This should be on the list. Imagine is a great song and so too is How do you sleep? The rest of the album sounds good but nothing stands out.

1001 Albums has been handing me a lot of great albums lately. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the reception of the album. I can't wait for the people who call John a domestic abuser for hiting Cynthia once to learn about Ringo Starr and Elvis Presley. If John deserved to die, may Elvis burn in the deepest, most excruciating pits of hell /s The music itself is fantastic. I mean, c'mon, it's John Lennon. He wrote most of The Beatles's greatest hits. "Imagine" is one of the most influential songs of all-time, "Jealous Guy" is an honest but incredibly depressing song, and the twinkling piano infinitesimally improves the record. I also find it funny that people claim John's an antichrist for writing "Imagine there's no heaven," when all his songs are focused on promoting peace and unity by imagining a world without religious divisions.

Should have stopped after imagine

Seemed like it was going to get carried by Imagine for the first few songs. While I’m sure the lyrics were edgy at the time, he really didn’t say that much. But the longer I listened I did feel I got into a grove of the album. The Yoko song was wired

Just some classics. Typically you can’t go wrong with a beatle

Kjedelig

Imagine og Gimme Some Truth er bra. Ellers er dette ganske kjedelige greier. Harrison var det ekte geniet i The Beatles.

Only 2 songs were not 4/5 stars: Crippled Inside and How? The rest were 4 or 5 stars with most of these 5 stars. I could and will listen to this going forward....

Might be blasphemous, but Lennon is an inspired lyricist, but the actual tunes here are pretty slight.

What an odd collection. In some respects, it feels a bit skin deep, the exposing of every last little thing that was happening in Lennon’s private and public life at the time. But, like most great art, it’s finding universality from personal stories that elevates most of these songs (oh and having some of the best musicianship of the 20th century at your disposal). It’ll always be a bit tough for me, a fan who just wants to see a band get along in some impossible ideal of sharing/creation/performance, watching the Beatles hash it out over several records in the early 1970s. I can’t imagine how petty that must’ve looked at the time - not as ridiculous as the Gallagher brothers but not far from it. Pusha subtweeting or outright (reasonably) hating on Kanye, etc. But today and when I first heard How Do You Sleep? I just find it so cheap and it will always be lingering in the back of my subconscious every New Year’s Eve when they fire up Imagine as some sort of world-uniting song of peace from the guy who (at least on paper) was as vicious as they come. And that spineless sap George throwing in. I’m not even that big a Paul fan but if the stories are even half true, he was carrying a junkie and a malcontent (and also Ringo) for several years there after the 1-2 of Rubber Soul and Revolver. Meanwhile in John and Yoko land there’s Oh Yoko! one of the best slices of love ever committed to music. And then the flip of that elsewhere with John meditating on his jealous streak, something I definitely related to at one point. The rest of the album, like a lot of Lennon solo work, is unfortunately full of filler, from Crippled Inside and It’s So Hard’s rote blues band backing his acidic commentary to an interesting, but mostly half-assed John the society crier man back burner I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier Mama and Gimme Some Truth. Right on man.

Sorti en 1971 et conçu comme "le sucre pour enrober la pilule amère" de son précédent album, le très brut "Plastic Ono Band", "Imagine" a bénéficié d'une approche radicalement différente. Lennon a fait appel à Phil Spector non pas pour un "Mur du Son" écrasant, mais pour une production ample et accessible. C'est la grande force du disque : cette production riche, où le piano de John Lennon dialogue avec des arrangements de cordes élégants, crée une formidable cohésion. Elle lie les ballades les plus tendres aux rocks les plus acérés, offrant à l'auditeur un voyage fluide à travers les états d'âme de son auteur. "Imagine" expose avec brio les deux facettes de John Lennon. D'un côté, le rêveur et le confesseur avec l'ouverture de l'album par le triptyque de la paix et de l'amour. "Imagine", bien sûr, est un chef-d'oeuvre de composition. Une chanson si puissante dans sa simplicité qu'elle en est devenue universelle, parfois au risque d'être mal comprise ou vidée de sa substance politique radicale ("Imagine no possessions..."). Suit "Crippled Inside", un rockabilly sautillant au sous-texte sombre sur l'hypocrisie sociale. Puis vient "Jealous Guy", l'une des plus belles chansons de Lennon, toutes périodes confondues. Sur une mélodie poignante, il livre une confession d'une vulnérabilité totale, admettant ses insécurités et ses failles en tant qu'homme. C'est un moment de grâce absolue, un sommet d'écriture. De l'autre côté, le polémiste et l'agresseur car le disque est aussi le théâtre de ses colères. "Gimme Some Truth" est un rock cinglant où Lennon crache son dégoût pour les politiciens, les hypocrites et les charlatans. Mais cette agressivité atteint son paroxysme avec le tristement célèbre "How Do You Sleep?". Pique acide et directe adressée à Paul McCartney, la chanson est d'une cruauté chirurgicale. "The only thing you done was yesterday / And since you've gone you're just another day", lance-t-il, tandis que George Harrison lui-même livre un solo de guitare slide venimeux. Si la chanson est musicalement excellente, elle installe un certain malaise et rompt avec l'idéalisme du début de l'album. Elle est cependant essentielle pour comprendre l'état d'esprit complexe de son auteur à cette époque. L'album se conclut sur une note plus apaisée, une magnifique déclaration d'amour à sa muse avec "Oh My Love", co-écrite avec Yoko, d'une pureté cristalline, et le joyeux et presque naïf "Oh Yoko!", où l'harmonica enjoué semble refermer la parenthèse des conflits. Ce contraste saisissant entre l'idéaliste et l'écorché vif constitue le véritable coeur de l'album, le rendant si profondément humain. Au final, l'album s'en sort avec un 4 sur 5, car l'album tient sa force et sa faiblesse à sa production qui, si elle était excellente et même avant-gardiste en 1971, commence à sonner "datée". Ce n'est pas une critique, mais un constat lié à l'évolution des techniques d'enregistrement. L'usage parfois massif de l'écho et de la réverbération sur la voix de Lennon et sur la caisse claire, signature de Phil Spector, ancre très fortement l'album dans son époque. Les arrangements de cordes, si beaux soient-ils, peuvent paraître aujourd'hui un peu sirupeux en comparaison de productions plus modernes et organiques. On sent le poids des années 70 dans le mixage, ce qui peut légèrement distancer l'auditeur contemporain habitué à un son plus sec, plus direct et avec une plus grande dynamique. C'est ce voile sonore, cette patine du temps, qui l'empêche d'atteindre l'intemporalité sonore d'autres classiques. En conclusion, "Imagine" est un album qui offre une collection de chansons exceptionnelles et capture le portrait d'un artiste complexe, tiraillé entre ses aspirations pour le monde et ses conflits intérieurs. C'est un chef-d'oeuvre imparfait, dont la légère patine sonore n'enlève rien à la puissance émotionnelle et à l'honnêteté désarmante.

Beatles solo stuff is basically a hit or dud for me. This could be played with a lot of skips. I’d rather have their greatest hits than individual albums.

It’s a fine, all be it a bit depressing, little album. The Beatles, for me anyway, were always greater than the sum of their individual parts, and most of their solo works tend to be hit or miss for me. Being more of a Paul guy, I found this to be about what I expected. The hits are great, the rest is filler for me. Still solid for filler 3.5⭐️

It is not my favorite album, but it is listenable. I would listen to it when trying to relax.

I tried, I even got high and tried again. A couple of really good songs and a lot of fair songs. I'm not going to dwell too long here because I've tried several other times and have determined that this album doesn't excite me and that is okay. Peace out!

Imagine is an incredible song. Rest of album was ‘meh’

Remember when Lorde put out the pandemic record about how if you go outside things will be better? This is that but the 70s.

This album is pretty good overall, some nice songs. Love John’s voice too. Fav tracks - Imagine - Crippled inside - I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama - Oh My Love - How Do You Sleep? - Oh Yoko!

Standout Songs: Imagine Crippled Inside It's So Hard Gimme Some Truth Oh My Love Oh Yoko!

A very solid 3, but ultimately drifted into the background rather than holding my attention

Meh

I used to love this album. What seemed profound as a teenager now just seems sanctimonious. Underwhelming

A lot better than I was expecting. Nice Spector production.

Great album, really enjoyed this

Ugghh

For me, this is the first Beatles related album to crop up in this exercise. . I've never been made keen on the production of this album, and the mix now sounds somewhat dated. That said, it's an excellent album with a number of truly great songs on it. The other songs are at worst 3 star songs but being a fan of The Beatles and their solo work I rate them a little higher. This is a 5 star album. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? I did. 1. "Imagine" - An iconic song. It's just a lovely, mournful, ballad with a beautiful sentiment. - (5/5) 2. "Crippled Inside" - A Country, Rock a Billy sounding number, that has a jauntiness that cleverly disguises the lyrical meaning. - (5/5) 3. "Jealous Guy" - Arguably the best song on the album. - (5/5) 4. "It's So Hard" - (4/5) 5. "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier" - This still sounds fantastic. - (5/5) 6. "Gimme Some Truth" - Visceral. - (5/5) 7. "Oh My Love" - (4/5) 8. "How Do You Sleep?" - Was he glad that he got this off his chest? This is a fantastic song. Great slide guitar solo by George Harrison. - (5/5) 9. "How?" - (4/5) 10. "Oh Yoko!" - (4/5) Total - 46 Average - 4.6

IMO. Not as great as some people make out.

Yoko OH NO!!!

The Beatles are probably my favourite band but apart from George Harrison I’ve never been that fussed on checking out their solo work. That being said I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this all the way through until today. I bloody LOVED it. I kinda expected the title track to stand above everything else but there are great tracks right there way through. At some point I’m going to have to do a Beatles solo binge and see what else I’ve missed. Top Track - Jealous Guy

Despite Ethan Hawke’s “Black Album” concept, in which he entwined post-Beatles solo tracks into a compilation to simulate a Beatles record, those solo recordings never held a candle to the Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr team at their finest, in my opinion. However, I feel the songs “Imagine” and “Gimme Some Truth” on this Lennon album outshine most Beatles songs. If only all ten tracks of this record were as brilliant as these two; however, I find the balance middling and lacking the staying power of the opening tracks of each side. It’s always hard to listen to a recording separated from its era and give a contemporary analysis; if I were a teenager or young adult in 1971, I may have felt differently about this record and may now have some nostalgia toward it. But as it stands in 2025, I can’t say I would ever listen to this album in its entirety again.

Spank my monkey, it’s John

Phenomenal post-Beatles music!

4.2

One of the greatest songs ever written for the opener and a continuously good album throughout. Maybe trails off a little bit in the last half but I love Oh Yoko as the finisher

A bit dated overall, but nice songs.

1 banger, 9x ???

Couple of good songs and I admire Lennon for what he did for rock music especially with the Beatles but I wouldn’t listen to this again.

Really good stuff

Unparalleled excellence

I mean he is a pretty good songwriter.

Good but not great. RIP.

Too bad I can't give it zero stars. I get it, the Beatles were completely revolutionary to a generation. Blah, Blah, Blah. Please make it stop.

Aside from Imagine I found this album a bit boring personally.

Imagine criticising Paul for writing bland tracks while doing Oh Yoko... John Lennon was a flawed individual that liked to lash it out, but couldn't stand when there was some pushback. How Do You Sleep? still bangs tho and I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama follows the path set by former Beatles track I want You (She's So Heavy). 3/5

all 10 songs have wikipedia articles

7/10 Should’ve imagined no Snub-Nosed Charter Arms .38 Special revolvers

Great album with one of the best songs of all time on it

Overall, this album to me is actually good. But in general, how I feel about the Beatles after they broke up and went their own separate ways was that they just went from amazing to okay due to the chemistry not being there for them. This was more apparent with John Lennon though. I feel that other than Imagine and a few other songs, the album can get a little repetitive and bland at times. However, the album's lyricism is pretty great but that is to be expected considering it is John Lennon. Other than Imagine, I really liked the song How Do You Sleep? Even though it is a diss track toward Paul McCartney but it's just a great song in terms of composition and even having a Beatle cameo in the form of George Harrison providing slide guitar. But other than that, this album is just pretty good. I think it has its hits and some filler songs that nobody really ever talks about. But I don't think its too overrated to the point where it doesn't deserve it's praise, I totally see where people come from where they think that this is one of Lennon's greatest solo albums. But honestly, I don't think it is so amazing that it clears anything the Beatles ever made. Favorite Tracks: Imagine, Jealous Guy, Oh My Love, How Do You Sleep?, Oh Yoko! Rating: 4/5

Un classique.

Un maître de la mélodie J'ai tout aimé de cet album, des jam blues aux ballades et aux grosses tounes de buzzés (oh my love). Crippled inside est cool même si c'est un country un peu convenu. Mais franchement il aurait pu se retenir de rentrer dans la guéguerre avec McCartney (how do you sleep)

Album inégal. J’ai bien aimé la seconde moitié, moins la première. Commencer avec Imagine me semble étrange, c’est clairement une chanson de fin d’album. It’s so hard, I don’t wanna be a soldier mama: meh Pas contre la 2e moitié, bien meilleure. Gimme some truth, how do you sleep? Oh yoko!… toute des hits!

I was expecting not to like this. I've always disliked the title track (disingenuous, overplayed). In the end it was not as bad as I expected, even enjoyable at times, so I will give it a generous 3 stars (although the harmonica at the end nearly brought it down to a 2).

Two timeless gems, and a final track that feels like I landed up in the middle of their morning cuddle, awkwardly holding toast.

Loved this. Imagine is the most popular song on this album, and it's the safest, most boring song on it as well. Really enjoyed the use of horns.

John Lennon proves he's the melody-maker on this album. He definitely had a chip on his shoulder with this one With songs like Gimme Some Truth and How Do You Sleep? Yoko made him woke-o.

Tough to rate. Coming off the Plastic Ono Band album, this seems like a step down. Imagine is great (if WAY overplayed), and Jealous Guy is one of Lennon's best ever, including the Beatles. But I am conflicted about How Do You Sleep? It comes off as overly mean from John and George, even if Macca 'started it'. And then to put the sappiest Macca-like ballad directly after it...idk. Oh Yoko is a nice song to end the album though. I'm struggling between 3 and 4 stars, as this is the ultimate 3.5 star album for me.

He was better with the other guys. Love me some beatles, but not so much JUST John Lennon. Damn Yoko.

Another day another 3. Maybe it's just the older styles we've been getting. I don't hate them, but most of them haven't really pulled me into them. I even tried listening a couple of times in the evening and morning after and felt the same. 1 - would not listen to again 2 - if some one played it, I'd probably just zone it out 3 - didn't hate it, didn't love it 4 - saved some songs from the album 5 - would buy the album or already own it

A couple bangers but the rest didn't do a ton for me.

mostly cheese

Half these songs were on the definitive John Lennon collection I had on repeat back in college. I personally enjoyed this album as a whole but it’s not something I would really go out of my way to recommend that you have to hear before you die. If anything, you should hear Corey Feldman’s version of “Imagine” before you die. Overall, I still really dug this.

I dont know. How to you rate this? Last time I gave it a 4 but knowing more about Lennon this time and honestly it just didnt grab me as much as it did on the orginal run. Knocking it down a star.

I think the only song that really stuck with me was "I Don't Wanna Be A Solider Mama". The production of that song really feels like something much later, late 70s. From the wailing saxophone, pure keyboard sounds, and crunchy guitar, it feels very in place in even the 80s. No surprise, Phil Spector. I do think this album was a bit ahead of it's time. Up there in that regards with something like Nilsson Schmilsson or Hunky Dory.

As I get older, I realize I'm much more of a George guy

slightly bummed out to have to admit I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit

The greatness of Lennon's songs is inversely proportional to how much of a prick he is in them.

First two songs were great, there are a lot of references to Yoko/their relationship in this which was interesting.

I found it half excellent and half hit and miss. "Imagine", "Jealous Guy" are amazing, but I struggled with some of the rest.

I am trying to separate the person (or his wife) from the music otherwise I'd be sitting here pointing out endless contradictions. I am more familiar with "Best of the Beatles" and the big ones (frog chorus obviously). I don't Wanna be a soldier while the lyrics were simple I loved the tone of it like walking into the bar from Roadhouse (the original). As with most of the songs I preferred the instrumentals vs lyrics, case and point Oh, Yoko!. Side note, if you've not seen Chuck Berry reacting to Yoko screaming during a performance before they muted her mic, then watch it.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts (Not meaning the album itself)

Legendary album. Get listening to it.

classic!~

♫ Listening to "Imagine" by John Lennon (Imagine, 1971) ♫ One of the greatest songs of all time!

this was rubbish - couldn’t even get through every song without skipping. so bland and boring. just cos this guy was a beatle doesn’t make everything he does good

*Some hits and misses. *Fave track - Imagine RATING - 6.5/10

Varied musically with splashes of the Beatles all around, but feels like it relies too heavily on Imagine.

Wet slime. 1.5 for some nice melodies which cannot surpass the gross tinge on everything.

Great album.

I always want to like this album but find it a bit overrated. I think the second half of this album is much stronger than the first half. Imagine is basically a cliche at this point which hurts it I think. Standouts include: Oh My Love and How Do You Sleep?

3.5 - second half of the album is a solid 4/5, I enjoyed this. Standout tracks: - Imagine: OBVIOUSLY 4.5/5 - Oh My Love: 4/5 - How?: 5/5 - Oh Yoko!: 3.5/5

The Beatles are my favourite band, but I've never listened to any of their solo albums all the way through, mostly because the bromance breakup between John and Paul depresses me, but also because I didn't think any of their solo work could ever live up to what they made as a group. I actually really enjoyed this, and now I'm looking forward to hearing the other solo ex-Beatle albums on the list.

Although he's John Lennon he does know how to make good music

Ranking of the best Beatles: 1. George Harrison 2. Ringo Starr/Paul McCartney (tie) 47. John Lennon This album wasn't bad, but there's a missing magic the other Beatles brought to the table John just doesn't have by himself. He was very lucky to have the other three members as contributors ⭐⭐⭐

Goodstuff

First I listened to McCartney’s Wings album and now I guess it’s time for ol’ Johnny. I know very little about Beatles lore, though I’ve picked up in passing that John was the creative spirit of the band and the rest of his crew were the ones holding him in place. I’m curious to see how Lennon fares on his own. While I didn’t like Band on the Run save for one track, Imagine is pretty alright from start to finish. You can’t go wrong with an album comprised almost entirely of piano ballads and subdued instrumentals. The title track is subversive, communist liberalbabble, though I can’t deny that it’s a good song – the best on the album. The piano is paired beautifully with the backing strings and the lyrics work very well from a songwriting perspective. Oh My Love is another good tune. Very reminiscent of Julia from the White Album, though I can’t complain. The song is very pleasing, and the addition of the piano goes a long way in differentiating the track from its predecessor. The fragile sound of it is beautiful. How? has a soft sound which I enjoy, especially as a follow-up to the more intense How Do You Sleep? I care much less about the tracks that I've left unmentioned, but overall this was a pretty worthwhile listen. Can't knock this inclusion.

Langweilig, bin aber auch biased weil Lennon 1 Frauen schlagender Hund war

10/10

I love the Beatles, but it's almost like the more I hear about Lennon, the less I like him. I am a Paul guy--the hard driving coach, whereas John was the deadbeat dad slacker. OK, done with the virtue signaling. But while "Imagine" has dipped a bit as a song for me--so schmaltzy--this album is still really good. "Jealous Guy" is fukken tremendous (and spawned an incredible Donny Hathaway cover). Top tracks: "Imagine" (even after bashing it), "Jealous Guy," "Oh Yoko"--fuck you Kopech, "Oh Yoko" rips.

wow, an album by the third best Beatle! (fight me) Look, I'm not going to say this isn't good. It's John, it's categorically very good. But...not really for me. I'm more of a Beatles guy than any of them solo, but that's a product of my musical upbringing more than anything. Imagine is an important song, I've heard it a zillion times, I've sung it in concerts before (shoutout Harmony Project), and I watched a video of a zionist pig singing it during Covid. Stands the test of time that it is still amazing even after Gal Gadot ruined it. Jealous Guy is great, I've heard a better cover it it tbqh. Oh My Love is a wonderful song, beautiful in it's simplicity. Etc. Wish this shit at half ratings because this would be a great 3.5 for me. Just depends on which side of that I want to go on. Nvm he ended with a song about Yoko, fuck this. 3

--Imagine...cheesy? cliche? overplayed? overrated? I understand why someone may feel these things about this song. I think it's timeless --Crippled Inside...a fun groove with cynical lyrics. Not one of his best but still classic Lennon --Jealous Guy...kind of sluggish but it works somehow --It's So Hard...sounds like one of his pre-Beatles rockabilly obsessions. meh --I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama...not a good enough song for it to be the bold statement he wants it to be --Gimme Some Truth...subtle as a sledgehammer. I want my Lennon anger counterbalanced with some dry British wit. There's no wit here --Oh My Love...sappy but nice --How Do You Sleep?...mean-spirited song from a mean-spirited man --How?...more sap but nice production --Oh Yoko!...a total delight. Saves the back half from being a slog

Classic! Opening track hits like nothing else

Wow people really have strong opinions about this album lol. I found it okay. Kinda depressing and woe is me, but also funky. Odd juxtaposition.

It’s hard to rate an album that contains such an iconic song. It’s hard to imagine a world without “Imagine”, but you can do it if you try. But like so many one hit wonder bands, we ignore the wider scope of their music for one smash. I like the varied tone of Lennon’s solo work, at times playful, scathing, and hopeful.

Strange to say but I hadn't heard this all the way through before. Excellent album but I put "All Things Must Pass" and the first "McCartney" above it. Love "Gimme Some Truth," "How Do You Sleep," and, of course, the title track. Sad to say that song has never been truer now.

Lennon keeps things simple on this, and it works so well. The title track has been so widely covered and used in so many campaigns that its become almost trite, but its message really is radical and powerful at its core, even if John never lived up to his activism. Love the countryish vibes of crippled inside, with its ragtime keys. Jealous guy is confessional and raw. Gimme Some Truth is a snarling, fantastic rock song. Oh Yoko is one of my favorite love songs, such minimalist lyrics with the jangly, melodic instrumentals doing the heavy lifting in conveying so much emotion. One of the best solo Beatles releases

-2 points for imagine, +1 for george harrison

ohhhhh yoookoooooo

Very 60s, verging on hippy, but decent listen.

I didn’t think much about it besides liking it as a Beatles-esque album. None of the songs were bangers upon first listen. Imagine frustrates me so much, ugh. 3/5 because I like the style, but I don’t see adding it to my rotation.

the celebrities’ version of imagine during covid ruined forever john lennon music to me 3,5/5 🪳

Better than I expected, worse than its level of praise. Sometimes an excellent pop record sometimes boring droning bullshit.

Nice mix of songs

Has classics like 'Imagine', but John Lennon (as a solo artist) isn't quite for me

Oof, what a disappointment this would have been at the time. Great first track obviously and then... nothing to write home about.

It is for work such as this that John was my favorite Beatle. Paul may have had a knack for catchier melodies, George a better guitar player, and Ringo a better Ringo. But John’s ability to sing about hard truths with a simple honesty tops all that.

Easy to sing along with. There is a simplicity to the tunes, yet they cover the emotional gamut, with some repetitive mantra in most. 4.5

I mean, Imagine's a good song. But it's not my bag, baby. Rest of the album's fine, but still not my bag. Feels like heresy, but 3* is all I'm giving it. Sorry, Dave.

Len Houmous tried to get John to join us on tour. I remember him shouting ‘imagine, John. Imagine Houmous, Chutney & Lennon. He just flicked the bird at him and walked off. They never got on. We both always preferred the first Paul McCartney. The Beatles went down hill after his car crash. 3.7 6/10 Gimme Some Truth

3.5

Classic

A good album with some notable tracks - the title track being perhaps his most famous post-Beatles. Nevertheless, I’ve always considered The Beatles a sum of their parts - members’ solo work never reaches the quality they produced even when nominally together - and this album cements that belief. Good, but not great.

M/v

Hit after spectacular hit!

The good songs are great but the filler's not killer and overall I think John was never the same after the Beatles. He seemed to put less effort into the craft of songwriting and used songs more to express smaller ideas. I prefer the sparse production of his first solo album to this one. All I want is the truth!

I may be one of the few people left who's only heard the title track and nothing else from the lauded "Imagine" album, but now I can no longer say even this. I'm glad to have heard it at long last (and I can see I'll get to listen to his debut album eventually too), but I'll admit that I was a bit disappointed that it didn't really blow me away. "Imagine" (the song) is so ingrained as a cultural touchstone that it's impossible to really evaluate fairly, but the rest of the album doesn't really match "Imagine"'s style or reach. I like it that Lennon seems comfortable exploring his own directions as a post-Beatle (and fun that George Harrison played on so many tracks), but if I hadn't known that John Lennon was a former Beatles member, I'm not sure this album would even really register. I *did* enjoy "Gimme some truth", especially with the quasi-video of him singing the lyrics in a studio, and it has an almost "Subterranean homesick blues" feeling. And I appreciate Phil Spector's restraint in not overwhelming the album with strings and walls of sound. But aside from "Imagine" (the song) there's not a lot that pulled me in (and his anti-McCartney rant "How do you sleep?" is mildly off-putting, a 70s version of a diss track, albeit with a solid backing rhythm).

While I've heard the title song a bunch of times, I never listened to the album before and you know what? I didn't miss a lot. For diehard fans, I think.

The song Imagine is beautiful, if naive. The rest is largely forgettable.

I'm not a fan of the Beatles and particularly John Lennon. I knew a guy in college who was way too into JL, so much so, he posed with his fingers touching the Imagine sign in Strawberry Fields, New York. He was also wearing his round, JL sunglasses to perfect the look. It's as douchebag as you would think. I hope he ended up in a cubicle farm. So my opinion was primed to be a contrarian, but I kinda liked much of this album. "I Don't Want to be a Soldier" and "How Do You Sleep?" were my favorites. "Oh Yoko" was doofy but weirdly sweet. The production is fantastic but it better be with Phil Spector at the helm. I don't like "Imagine" but I'm not into hating it either. It's naïve, hippie BS that doesn't need much thought because no thoughts went into the lyrics. Now... "Jealous Guy". This song is insufferable and everyone should he ashamed. JL is clearly playing the "Baby I'm sorry I punched you in the face, but you have to understand how I feel" card. It's gross. Just say you're a jerk and you will work to be better person. I cannot stand ppl who identify and know their flaws, and then turn around and use those flaws as the excuse to not be responsible for their actions.

Está bastante bien. Es mi disco favorito de John Lennon, ya que es bastante "Beatles" y no demasiado "Lennon".

I like this a lot, probably a 4.5 for me

he's real whiney