The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter

4.5. Loved it, need to look into more of this type of music

I was really primed to hate this but god damn it it got me. It seems it’s a real marmite album but I love marmite so you can all go kick rocks. Put me on an acid folk kick for the rest of the morning.

Weird and wonderful psychedelic music. Not surprising this isn't well reviewed but I like this kind of music.

Did I listen to the same album as everyone else? This sounds completely fine to me.

Maaaan, all the one star reviews this got I was expecting some Comus-level weirdness, but it's actually a pretty straight forward listen? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Comus should really be on the list, teach these weeners a lesson in just how far psych folk can twist your melon! Fave track - "A Very Cellular Song", I reckon. "Swift As The Wind" was another highlight...

What a bizarre album. I kinda respect its sheer wackiness and its variety of instrumentation, and the melodies aren’t bad either. Definitely not for everyone, though.

Fun!! Reminded me a bit of Irish bar music and medieval music

Album 791 of 1089 The Incredible String Band - The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (1968) Rating : 3.5 / 5 Want something different? Craving some Scottish psychedelic folk? This is the one. Can't really fit into any category. Some exotic instruments such as sitar, gimbri, shenai, oud, harpsichord, panpipes, and kazoo. Themes of life, mythology, and esotericism and love.

Definitely interesting. Not sure if it's something I would want to listen to in my shuffle though.

Another one that is getting killed that really shouldn't be. Is this amazing? No. Is it terrible? No. All of the 1 star reviews must be new to this thing. There are some really, really bad albums. This wasn't one of them. That being said, it's not good, per se. 2.5

If you like pub songs and swa shanties, you'll like this album

Acid Folk — a genre that could only come out of the 1960s. I don't mind it though.

Strange with moments of beauty. Will listen again.

Psychedelic Folk - spannend zu hören. Nichts für jeden Tag und auf Dauer auch etwas anstrengend. 3/5

not an album id want to put on again but i didnt hate it. it had a lot of interesting things going on

how does this have one of the lowest ratings on the site? at worst, this is the kind of quirky, slightly amateurish-sounding music that would be playing from someone's handmade candle tent at the ren faire. i didn't love it and don't see myself reaching for it in the future, but for god's sake, it's nowhere near the worst of the worst! y'all are ridiculous!

Read a bunch of reviews first. Either 5 stars or 1. Here I go…3 to me. Listenable but not newsworthy.

It's fine and parts I enjoyed. And then there's parts where the singer sounds like he's having an orgasm and I'm like duuuude stoooop.

Unique, I enjoyed the vocal harmonies on this album. I didn't love all the instrumentation but it was certainly an interesting listen. Overall I didn't mind it but probably wouldn't listen to it again.

"I think drugs have done some good things for us, I really do. And if you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight and take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CD's and burn them. Because, you know what? The musicians who made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years... rrrrrrrreal fucking high on drugs. Man, the Beatles were so high, they let Ringo sing a couple of tunes. Tell me they weren't partying. (singing) "We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine." We all live in a-do you know how fucking high they were when they wrote that? They had to pull Ringo off the ceiling with a rake to sing that fucking song. (Beatle voices) John, get Ringo, he's in the corner. Ooh, look at him scoot, grab him! Hook his bellbottom, hook his bellbottom! He's got a song he wants to sing us. Something about living in a yellow tambourine or something. Ringo, Yoko's gone, come down, we can party again! They were real high, they wrote great music, drugs did have a positive effect." -- Bill Hicks

This is closer to a high 2 just based on enjoyability. However, the group really tried to use exotic instruments and maintain their folk roots, which I have to appreciate. I remember it took me AGES to get into some of the Beatles' psychedelic offerings, and I figure this is similar, albeit a bit worse in its execution.

When I first started this album, it didn't really grab me. But it grew on me as I worked through it, and there are some legitimately great songs on here. I like the interesting instrumentation, and the song structures are experimental without being too far out there. I can also see a through-line from this to the modern-day psych rock and fuzz folk that I have listened to, which makes this interesting historically as well. So, even if I didn't really *enjoy* listening to it, I did find it interesting, and that's worth a couple of stars.

Love folk, hippie stuff - better still the band is Scottish!

"Hmm, an experimental album from the 60s. I am not going to like this." It's fine. It gets a little hard to listen to toward the end, but for the most part, the album maintains direction and melody. Those, alongside the more traditional Celtic underscore, really help; it prevents the experimentality from seeming too indulgent. Still, I don't think I need to listen to it again. Recommended season: Spring

Sounds like a modern hipster band

This is what being followed by a friendly but annoying bard must have been like in medieval times...

You know what. It's not OFFENSIVELY awful. It's just AMUSINGLY bad. Would never play this when company's over, but I may relisten to it alone in sarcasm. Some of the musicality isn't half-bad. I enjoy Celtic folk melodies, and there's an occasional tasteful flute. The sitar is wild. But you know what, I can almost appreciate its sheer lunacy. Could rank it even higher when I listen to it on drugs.

Wow. I think this album, more than any of the roughly 700 albums so far, is a powerful testament to the power of John Peel's BBC radio show, both on fans and apparently this project's editors/reviewers, and it makes me (sort of) wish I could have listened to his show at the time. This is in no way the worst album we've had in this collection, but there is *no* way that this could ever have been an album that charted *anywhere* for 21 weeks, or achieve a #5 spot, at least without Peel's outsized influence. (And very telling that it never even got close to even the cul-de-sacs of exurb neighborhoods leading towards US charts.) I'll admit, though, that there's something compelling about this album, almost like how it's hard to look away from a gruesome accident (and it definitely helps to listen with headphones, so you can get the random conversational nuggets interspersed throughout). At times there were hints of Cat Stevens, or of Richard Thompson, but they took the Rennaissance Festival vibe to a whole other dimension, especially on tracks like the painfully eternal "A very cellular song". I think what sets it apart, though, and also baffles me that it was included in lists of great albums, is the pervasive, incredibly poorly, and almost seemingly intentionally amateurish singing and instrument playing. It's like we're listening to an acoustic version of the worst excesses of prog rock, but played by middle schoolers. Maybe that was their appeal: everybody who listened to it and enjoyed it thought "I could probably do that!" But why? Perhaps more importantly, why subject others to this? (I keep staring at the album cover/back photo and feeling really badly for the kids, who of course had no say in participating in rural "folk" life; I wonder how they turned out?)

Weird hippie stuff that sounds exactly like what drug abused hippies would enjoy

Did every semi-talented band have to be odd on purpose in the late 60's? Obscure names and album titles? Also - why the heavy reliance on Medieval references.. I appreciate creativity, but this is all over the place, on purpose. Pass

Renaissance Faire music

I have so many questions. Like, is this meant to be taken seriously or are they trying to be funny? Music is not supposed to make you angry. This does.

Weird

There are some OK moments in the back half of the album, and no one can say it isn't creative, but not every musical idea needs to be recorded. However, if you enjoy mooing sounds, fire kazoo, and grade-school level recorder, this album is for you.

Was hoping for something similar to the incredible bongo band but with strings instead of bongos, I was disappointed

Listened twice, remembered 0 times

It’s a bit too preachy for me!

Heady hippie music with lots of singing in unison and sitars, flutes, etc.. Early psych but not very good. Vocals bring the record down. 3.75/10 (1.875/5)

Irish psychedelic. Weird vibe.

I can hear Colin Meloy telling me how important this album is but that doesn’t make me enjoy it necessarily

2/5 nope nope nope

Shit

Oh boy the lyrics are a real wild ride already. wtf is this album? its real weird, like old hippie at a renaissance fair weird. This guy has a weird thing for lemons. Really starting to lose me by the 39 minute mark. That was kinda bullshit but I can see why others would like it. My ranking is from my perspective.

This felt like being at a Renaissance fair. We need better albums.

Meh. Felt like I was at a renaissance fair and ate too many stewed mushrooms.

When I saw The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by The Incredible String Band described as a psychedelic folk album, I’ll admit my expectations were not particularly high. Still, one of the points of this challenge is to keep an open mind, so I gave it a fair chance. Unfortunately, this album did absolutely nothing for me. I found it baffling from start to finish and struggled to connect with any of the songs. The whole thing felt like an unfunny Monty Python sketch stretched across an album, with bizarre lyrics, strange vocal performances and ideas that seemed more interested in being eccentric than actually being enjoyable to listen to. I can appreciate that it was probably groundbreaking and influential in its day, but I genuinely have no idea how it made the 1001 Albums list. This is one of those records where I finished it more confused than entertained, and it’s not something I can ever imagine returning to. Favourite track: Honestly, I couldn't pick one Least favourite track: The entire album was a struggle for me Album artwork: I can see why people compare them to the Manson Family — it's certainly an unsettling and memorable cover

Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot He was not afraid to die, oh, brave Sir Robin He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin His head smashed in and his heart cut out And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged And his nostrils raped and his bottom burnt off And his penis split and his— Listening to this was worse than the fate suffered by poor Sir Robin.

Okay, I'm gonna need whoever is on the committee that picked these albums to tell me exactly why this is on the list and who they thought it influenced, besides Ren Faire minstrels. I'm calling bullshit.

Missed opportunity, the ASPCA would have raked in the donations had they featured the dog on the cover in one of their commercials.

I must be on the wrong drugs because I found this really irritating. Tune your fucking guitar, asshole. I hope for their sake this album was entirely improvised in one take. Still, I can't deny that I will be checking out their other albums. Like a moth to a flame, I love weirdos, what can I say?

0.5 Holy fucking hell what the fuck!?! (49:51, 10 tracks, third album, 1967) OK - first the genre is described as "Acid Folk" on Wiki but really this is just trolling before there was the word trolling. What I figure is this was the 1967 version of getting "Rick Rolled" by a hippie. You would get this great advise, probably while stoned, 'hey man you need to listen to The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' and then when you listened to it and realized you were Rick Rolled you'd jump in on the game and insist to your friends and family this was an awesome album and so forth until somehow this got entered in the annuls of music as actually somehow a serious project. These bastards are just trying to annoy you. A kazoo, a slide whistle; bad, I mean really bad sitar, a vibraphone. a whole shit ton of Jew's harp. I mean obviously they are trolling everyone. This should be most clear by the fact they are Scottish and choose NOT to use a bagpipe which would have been waaay too obvious that they were just trying to annoy everyone, Then there are lyrics like: "next week a monkey is coming to stay if I was a witches hat" (yes they spell this wrong too, probably to annoy) "sitting on her head like a paraffin stove I'd fly away and be a bat" AND for those that think I'm cherry-picking bad lyrics I'm not, this was fairly creative most of the other songs were worse. One has something about riding backwards on a giraffes (I'm guessing this is how they'd spell it) back and stopping occasionally to laugh. By the eight track - if you are still listening - you will absolutely wish you were dead. It's 7 hours long and it makes you want to commit suicide. Now get this - best of all I've reviewed 100 Album (this was literally my 100th) and this is the SECOND worst I've reviewed. I'm really looking forward to this Throbbing Gristle guy as I'm not sure how exactly you can trick the public into getting onto a 1001 list with worse than these two (other was The United States) but . . . I guess we shall see This is 100th album reviewed and it was a doozy.

Wow. I feel like this was the inspiration for Spinal Tap's folk phase. Which is parody. Just sayin'.

This is Ren Fair music. It's what people expect pre-Baroque to sound like, which is insulting to both Renaissance music and modern folk. A part of me wanted to give this some slack for at least gesturing toward early music traditions. I would be waffling between a two and three, but... It's 1968. The LP format specifically is 20 year old, and recorded music even longer. As an artist, you should be able to record in the studio. IF I CAN HEAR THE SPIT CRACKLING IN YOUR MOUTH, YOU DON'T DESERVE AN ALBUM.

Absolutely fucking not. I’d rather listen to the meth head at the bus stop down the road beatbox and fart.

This was never meant to be consumed by anyone else then a hippie on acid. No thanks.

Hippies who took too many drugs and mistakenly decided they should be in a band. No one should think this is in the top 1001 albums of all time. Will not listen again

I was asked if I had laser eye surgery because I had stopped wearing my glasses. I explained about 1001 albums generator and how it’s a great way to get out of a musical rut and expand your knowledge. It introduces you to things that may never have been on your radar and you otherwise may never have heard of. I then told them about The Hagman’s Beautiful Daughter by The incredible String Band, an album so terrible it made me regret the endeavour, grudge my Apple Music subscription and ultimately cut my ears off so as to never endure something like this again and that is the reason I no longer wear my glasses 🤓.

I was feeling badly about giving Linkin Park 2 stars when I thought - stupidly so in hindsight - that they made a 1-star album. Then I drew this album and realized this nonsense is what 1-star reviews are for.

Jesus Christ. Fuck anyone who had anything to do with this. This record makes me hate dirty stinky hippies much more than I already did. God damn it makes me so mad.

It's a good thing they didn't tune the instruments, so it matches the vocals. I've never done mushrooms, and if I would want to I kind of guess I'd have to find another part of the woods than where these guys recorded this record, cause it cant be anything left there.

Reading the 1-star reviews of this album was life affirming.

I'm glad it's over

Gear: Focalman Cleardara Artwork: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🐕🌲 Production: 🎧😐🆗 Music: 😵‍💫🥴🤢🤮 Rating: 🦨/5

The 60s were wild.

I dont know what they were babbling about all album long with the same music, but Im hopefull they were able to figure out how to train their dragon.

There’s no words. Unimaginably bad.

Voor sommigen van ons staat er teveel rap of teveel (post)punk in de lijst. Ik heb datzelfde bij elke hippieband waar ik nog nooit van heb gehoord. Allemachtig, wat staat er veel van die meuk in waar je duidelijk een hele grote dikke J bij moet draaien of een of andere psychedelisch pilletje in je mik moet hebben gestopt. Je zou denken dat de boomers dit soort muziek massaal de top2000 in stemmen, maar vermoedelijk waren ze toen zo onder invloed van de middelen, dat ze vergeten zijn waar ze allemaal naar luisterden vroeger. Naar de muziek, het is veel te theatraal naar mijn zin. Een soort Kinks gedaan door Monty Python, of Monty Python gezongen door een mannelijke Joni Mitchell. En dan veel te vaak met zo'n irritante fluit er doorheen. Ik vraag me af of ze zichzelf serieus nemen of juist niet. Ik neem het in ieder geval niet serieus. Ik heb het halverwege afgezet. Ik denk dat die beeldschone dochter zichzelf vrijwillig zou verhangen toen ze dit gewauwel aan moest horen. Wat een flauwekul dit weer. Weg ermee.

Ugh

Why? Why? WHY?!?

No.

Literally one of the most tediously twee things I’ve ever listened to

This album kinda intrigued me before swiftly being replaced by boredom and hatred for the sound. None of the songs are particularly great, but “A Very Cellular Song” is a very clear standout terrible track and imo contains everything terrible about the album. I honestly wanted to tear my ears off during it. The lyrics do not make up for the unappealing music, and there isn’t any reprieve from the awfulness. I expected them to throw one or two palate cleansers in there, but it was just a never ending hurricane barrage of shit. I will not be returning to this album. I would give a 0 if I could. This could be removed from streaming services and I would not notice nor care

Why is this in this list of albums we must listen to ? Why? It probably got its place for its very badness. I didn't have the option to give it a zero rating so reluctantly it gets one although it represents zero.

Dreadful - twee folky background tunes with weird noises on top. The sound quality is awful, the singer is terrible and the songs go on forever without mercy. A shame as I probably like much of what this inspired - perhaps this is "The Velvet Underground and Nico" for folkies, but regardless it's one of the worst things I've ever heard.

“Scottish psychedelic funk” sounds like fun. But loosely translated to English, it simply means, “we have a sitar and nonsensical lyrics.” This album is a 49-minute trip to an extremely awkward Renaissance Fair. I know that’s redundant, but I think that helps underscore the experience of listening to this.

OOOOOF... From the first thirty seconds, this just sounds like a distillation of everything I hate about 1960s psychedelic counterculture horseshit. I sprained my finger trying to get it to stop.

I can only describe this as a mix between Renaissance Fair background music and Spinal Tap. In fact, I would not be surprised if someone told me this band was literally a Spinal Tap spoof.

So many people on the album cover but not one of them stopped to think that maybe this was shit. Sounds like music that a cult would make under the delusion that they're talented musicians. I feel a bit sorry for the children and the dog on the cover - sorry that you've been immortalized as having a part in this album by way of your faces. Unless you actively contributed to making this music, in which case you deserve the shame!!!

Fucking seriously?! I've never skipped through an album on here faster.

I went through all the stages of grief listening to this. Is this from 1968 or 1668??

I caught the influence of this record echoed in Monty Python (listen to The Minotaur Song and tell me you don’t hear The Lumberjack Song). I’d like to give this album a higher rating for the Python association but yeah, nah.

I'm pretty glad that this 60s folk didn't really gain popularity as it's not really for me. If I want to listen to music I may hear in a Dungeons and Dragon's campaign, I prefer Led Zeppelin. Maybe at a Ren Faire this would be appropriate, but outside of that. I don't think I would ever listen to or recommend this music to anyone. It's not for me.

I think I saw these guys performing at the Renaissance Festival. They were groveling for some mutton and goulash. Attendees threw rotten tomatoes.

It's just a bunch weirdo forest hippies making crap music. Even my dog looked at me & wondered what the hell is this. Hard no.

I listened to this all the way through. I found it pretentious and dull and tuneless and twee and with so little redeeming anythign that I went past boredom into active loathing. The 1001 list LOVES under-rated lost psychedelic 'gems.'. And this album is possibly the worst example yet. I am sick of it.

This sounds like the band was high on LSD and stayed up all night reading Lord of the Rings and The Bible. First, the instruments other than the guitar sound extremely sloppy. Also, the lyrics are absolute crap; I’d highlight one, but there are so many. The singer sounds bored, too.

I'm usually open to most genres of music and I enjoy most folk music and can appreciate the musicianship and skill. After listening to The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, I realize there are exceptions. If you take the worst aspects of Donovan's psychedelic period, mix it with the most intolerant Irish Rovers songs fronted by a horrible singer, you have the Incredibly Horrible String Band. My lowest rating on this list is reserved for unlistenable, grating, abrasive music I can't stand (usually metal and rap) and I can add this to the lowest of the low. More proof that "folk" music can be played by all, it's just somehow someone thinks this is essential, what???

I think this is the most awful album I’ve ever heard. The singing and music is often off-tone. Songs are uninspiring and bland. I can’t understand why it is on this list. Maybe because it’s from the 60’s and everything from that area is supposed to be worth listening to? 🤢

This album’s being on this list and lauded by so many people I respect makes me feel like it’s a big joke and I’m not in on it. I wish there are a 0/5, because 1 feels too generous.

Sorry. I'm sure that the Incredible String Band thought they were creating something beautiful and groundbreaking. But this is fucking horrible.

One of the few albums that compelled me to check the Wikipedia entry. Who was responsible for this travesty? There was a surface resemblance to traffic and john barley corn. But scratch the surface and it was quite unattractive underneath. Yikes

Worst album on this list so far. I listened through once, never again. I didn't enjoy the parts where they sang gibberish and played a tin whistle out of tune in the background. So all of it. Interestingly, I listened to the first album by ISB and they CAN sing and play so presumably this album was a conscious decision to be microtonal. However, on this one, I'm sure I could hear the singer getting surprised by how out of tune he was. Strange.

Even if you're not a big fan of the kazoo, these fuckers have you covered with panpipes and harpsichords. The big rumor is apparently Robert Plant once went on record suggesting Zeppelin wanted their first album to sound like this. Thankfully, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham didn't agree. Two hundred albums in, and already I have an easy candidate for the worst album on the list. And frankly, it's not even close. To paraphrase the late Roger Ebert, I HATED this album. Hated, hated, hated, hated, hated the this album.

I usually get some satisfaction out of guessing an album by its cover, but today there was none. It was never going to be anything but psychedelic folk rock crud. To be honest, it was even worse than I expected: some ultra-stoned combo of renaissance fair-type ditties and sitars. spaaaare me. There's a part of me that hopes the, uh, "over-representation" of albums from this time period is mostly just to fill the 1001 total goal and serve as placeholders for future editions, but I know that's not true. This crap will stay in every edition of the book ever, and albums like Arise and Rust in Peace will be cut to make room for future Drake albums or some shit. 1/5.

The hangman should of hung his beautiful daughter before she released this fucking garbage. Album cover looks darker than an episode of jim’ll fix it too. Would not recommend even to a deaf person.

Perhaps the right music if I were in a forest visiting Tom Bombadil for a weekend pipe-weed smoking getaway while hiding the One Ring. As I'm listening it's impossible to not imagine a number of hilariously-dressed flautists prancing around a stage while singers are skipping in different directions while gently tossing flower petals into the audience. Very much of the era (late 60s) and I had to try to dial in a wider acceptance rather than judge this in a standard pop/rock vein. Points for usage of many non-traditional (in a pop sense) instruments which is what I ended up trying to focus on. I really tried. But wow - this one is tough to get through. Very tough. Completely unfamiliar with the band before today, I had no expectations. After a few minutes I was hoping and wanted it to go off in a truly weird/fun/trippy direction (ala Gong) but instead just stayed odd in a tiresome way for me and went south from there. The vocals carry a nearly extreme cringe factor for me which makes this unrecoverable overall. I can't definitively say that "Three Is A Green Crown" is the worst song I've ever heard but I'm not going to argue with anyone who claims it. holy hell..... somebody put the wounded animal singing it out of its misery already. ...which only leads into "Swift As The Wind" ... oh. oh my. I've just come across their previously-hidden pre-production notes: "how can we make a song worse than having one wailing vocalist?" "......TWO wailing vocalists??" "genius." I'm resisting a reflexive "I really don't like this" because I was hoping upon a second listen I get it a little more but .... there's no way I can get through it again as it just kept getting worse and worse and yes: *I really don't like this.* 2/10 1 star.

I will never smoke enough dope or drop enough acid to make me want to listen to this again. Minstrels at a Renaissance fair.

Not really sure who the audience is for this record or this band? This feels like music that would have killed in Greenwich Village in the early 60s. I do like how weird it is, but also firmly rooted in tradition. I really like A Very Cellular Song, I sing this one to Goldie when I put her down at night. I can see Jerry Garcia loving this and incorporating it into their encores. I don't know if there is a direct line from this style of music to more contemporary bands, but this feels like the source code for an Arcade Fire or King Gizzard or Edward Sharpe or Lankum or even Flogging Molly or The Pogues. An *event* band with lots of members doing weird things and just kind of leaning into the fun of all of it. Its not for everyone, but when it finds an audience, its kills.

Incredi-BULL. Det er ganske enkelt forrygende. Fløjte, mærkelige instrumenter og lydeffekter, skør tekst og lalalala. Forstår hvorfor medieval er et keyword i reviews - men det er kun godt. Særligt de første fire numre, "Koeeoadii There", "The Minotaur's Song", "Witches Hat" og "A Very Cellular Song" alle rigtigt fine fine fine numre. Stærkt afsluttet med "Nightfall". Der er intet på dette album der trækker ned.

Stunning, strange, beautiful even though I'd never heard of the band. Exactly the reason why I listen to this stuff.

so many psychedelics

I might never listen to this ever again, but i loved it and I really admire them for their totally out there vision. Waltz of the new moon is beautiful. Three are some Susan's or lyrics as well. Tightrope walker taking one step at a time. I hear that the emperor of China used to wear iron shoes with ease. We are the table cloth and also the table. Brilliant. I'd love to hear them with drums

Yes! This is my jam. Give me more of this any day of the week. Love it.

Different

It's one of the lowest rated albums on this list but I absolutely love this album. First, I love late 60s psychedelia and British folk, so it's my genre. This album was highly successful in 1968 and was praised by the critics at that time (it's one of the favourite akbums of Robert Plant, too and it influenced Led Zeppelin's debut album). The album is quirky and weird, with plenty of interesting Eastern instruments, and some really beautiful melodies. Sure, the lyrics are hazey and crazy, but it's perfect for this music. These guys were very talented songwriters so it's not a surprise this - and their 1000 Spirits... - album was such a success. For a personal note, I live next to a forest, and I spent some gorgeous time on the island of Capri, Italy, wandering aroung alone on the island, in the forests some 15 years ago when I listened to this album a lot. The last few songs fall a bit flat but it is still a five star album from me.

Great album loved this.

Weird and unlistenable.

I skipped not my cup of tea.

precioso

10/10 I’ve heard this one a few times, and I don’t know why I love it so much; I guess it just has such an effortless talent at melting you into this Eastern-inspired, avant-garde rock atmosphere

Exceptional, fun time, really liked it, everyone hating on it doesn't have any whimsy and joy in their life 5

This band certainly took on the 67 summer of love Indian music influences 100%. It has a poetic and dreamlike quality to it. There is a certain pastoral Englishness that makes for a unique sound. I really enjoyed this album and the Cellular Song is a masterpiece.

This gives me early Pink Floyd vibes and I love early Floyd. A very psyched out and rich instrumented record. I’m amazed!

Very tempting to give this one a perfect grade given the bad rep the ISB have gotten on this app (see also: Robert Wyatt's *Rock Bottom* and Einsturzende Neubaten's *Collapse*)... As stated on the wiki page, each track on *The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter* is closer to a suite than a song, with Celtic folk, rock 'n' roll, gospel, plainsong harmonies, near qawali moments, and North African, Indian and Bahamian sonics meshing together to form a rather perfect union -- obviously ripe with patchouli scent, but still retaining its sheer originality to this day. The near qawali moments are especially striking here. And centerpiece "A Very Cellular Song" -- which includes an ode to mitosis, sung from the point of view of an amoeba (!!!) -- is a whole trip in itself, worth the price admission on its own. And the last part of this composition, which saw Robert Plant and Jimmy Page take notes, is an epic affair. You just need to hear that chant "May the Long Time Sun Shine" once, and then your shakras open as if by magic. At least if you're attuned to music that takes a risk and tries to go places... The only very minor issue I see in this record is that it is missing a more straightforward cut such as *The Hedgehog's Song* (from the preceding album). Believe it or not, The Incredible String Band were good at that, too. But I guess that's a story for another time, kiddies.... In the *meantime*, I gotta grade this LP, and I think I'm gonna grade it to something I can round up to a perfect 5. *The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter* is OF its time, sure. But it also feels timeless to me. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 445 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 267 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 323

PEAK

its easy to tell its a 60's album even if you didn't know off rip. its an interesting folk/psychedelic sound with an interesting mix of choir vocals and a really interesting mix of instruments. A Very Cellular Song was one of the most interesting and unique songs I have heard, it felt like it had like 8 different styles Favorite Song: Mercy I Cry City

People hate this? Really? I know it’s one of the lowest rated albums on this site, but it’s actually really good. It’s wonderfully weird in that 1960s way, but it’s also innovative and influential. Reading that this album influenced Robert Plant is totally evident in early Led Zeppelin songs. I hope people give this an honest chance because it’s actually fantastic and completely deserves it’s critical acclaim and place on the list.

This is so fun and goofy! I love how they just randomly throw every single instrument they can in at random intervals just to be silly. Doing that in a way that still manages to keep a cohesive album is insanely impressive. The core folk backing here has to be very strong to hold it all together and it does.

A psych folk trip thru the cosmos.

This is terrible but if it's considered a masterpiece by people who know better than I do, who am I to judge?

HL: "The Minotaur's Song", "A Very Cellular Song", "Waltz of the New Moon", "The Water Song", “Nightfall” I have to confess, I listened to THBD before, since among the worst-ranked albums on this website, it was the one I was most curious about by far. How could a 60's psychedelic folk album be that bad, I wondered. I just wanted to put on a couple tracks for a laugh, but ended up listening to the whole thing in a daze. Now, the worst thing I can say from that experience is that the violin in "Cellular" felt like the sonic equivalent of chewing aluminum foil, but since it's just one element in this sonic maelstrom of kazoos, mandolins, & nursery rhymes, I didn't find it all that offensive. In fact, listening to it again today, "A Very Cellular Song" may be my highlight of the album. And that violin is easier on the ears when it returns in "Three is a Green Crown". I know in the past, I've put on an album with low expectations and have been pleasantly surprised. But here is a moment where, bracing for an absolute slog, I instead found one of my favourite psychedelic albums. To be fair, the album cover is less Odessey and Oracle and more The Wicker Man. The vocals are unrefined, it's true. And the album as a whole is a dog's breakfast, with instruments thrown together with little regard to how they'd actually sound in the same recording. But I can't detect any cynicism in the experimentation the way other contemporary rock acts introduced "world music" elements. While on paper, the concept behind this album sounds like the most pretentious thing ever, I can't recall a single moment where THBD takes itself seriously. In my opinion, that’s its greatest strength.

Super weird, super cool. Loved this.

Star ratings suck.

9/10. Kinda bad really, I can't say I really like any one element of it, but somehow strangely it makes sense in the end. And it's the most calming album I've ever heard. it puts me in such a good mindset. great bus music.

Fantastic album

my kind of stupid nonsense

I have a soft spot for this as I used to listen to my dad's old ISB records. I mustn't have listened to this one as much as the others though, I'm not so familiar with it. It seems more mystical and less whimsical and silly than the others. I suspect I'd find it a harder listen if I came across it for the first time now.

Incredible stuff. “A Very Cellular Song” is one of my very favourite all time songs of all time. Thank you RGP and thank you ISB!!!! 4 stars. Tom.

absolute bullshit and i, weirdly enough, loved it

Je pensais mettre un 5* mais je me dis que je m'approche surement plus du rageait que de la véritable adoration du projet. ça reste pourtant une très bonne surprise et j'ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à l'écouter. Très original

Very cool nice Wicker Man freak folk. Loads of gems in the first half. Gets gnarlier and knobblier and slightly more parched of true highlights in the second half but still pretty cool. If I had a message for The Beautiful Hangman’s Daughter it would be “You are beautiful no matter what they say cause mean 1001 random generator reviews and low site rating can’t bring you down.” A big influence on Boards Of Canada’s first album also on this list and top of that Led Zep’s first album too because Robert Plant is a huge fan. Highlights are A Very Cellular Song, Shooeewaddywaddy There and of course the jolly jaunty Minotaur’s Song. “I'm the original discriminating buffalo man And I'll do what's wrong as long as I can. HE’LL DO WHAT’S WRONG AS LONG AS HE CAN!!!”

This sounds like a minstrel jam night Love it

Det er utroligt spændende og utroligt underligt. Det er svært at vurdere på en godt/skidt skala, men jeg var interesseret hele vejen igennem. Det skal det have cadeau for. Det er heller ikke en plade man lige glemmer, og hvem vil ikke altid gerne have psykadelisk folk fra 60'erne i ærmet når samtalen går kold. Det får en ekstra stjerne bare fordi det er noget af det mest autentisk psykadeliske jeg længe har hørt...

"your wish is not granted unless it's a fish" indeed A very cellular song is absolutely bonkers and brilliant, fuck yes kazoos

When it comes to folk, The Incredible String Band outshine Dylan — more inventive, more daring First time listening ISB and love it!

Jamás había escuchado algo de ellos. ¡Qué emoción! Me da Joanna Newsom vibes.

Folksy psych interesting

Sheesh people do not like this album on this website. As a Deadhead who likes psych folk music, I don't think they can be THAT bad. Then again I like the Grateful Dead and their 20+ minute songs they play live. So am I really the best judge of character for all this? Yes. Yes I am. Pay attention to me people, I'm an expert. People declining to listen to expertise is exactly what went wrong with this country promoting anti-intellectualism since people thought Alex Jones was a smart person. Wait where was I Oh yes, The Incredible String Band. Didn't hear them until this album, and it's a pleasant surprise. A bit over indulgent at times, but really just a hallmark of 60s music up to that point at times. The eclectic mix of instruments make this a pretty ambitious album for its time and it's executed mostly well. Some criticisms people have of this album are a little valid, but come across as a people whining and being vapid. It's very much a 60s album to the T, but I can think of much worse music of this type that isn't on the list. A Very Cellular Song is something that would benefit from streaming if you could just pick parts of the suites you want to hear and ignore the others. My Deadhead senses tingled during the "We Bid You Goodnight" from the beginning, so I can't fully dislike it. Some stuff like The Water Song is simply below cromulent. But overall, not too shabby. It's very much for people of a certain music taste, but this album and the band influenced British counterculture to a degree that affected the rock music of the time. Alright I'm out of things to talk about this band I got more albums to sort through. Just remember: don't trust people on this website and trust your gut. Trust me, most of those "lowest rated" albums on this list are fire. Find the good in people, seek out the cost of freedom, and buy real estate in an imaginary place. tl;dr: scottish folk album in the 60s with an eclectic usage of 'eastern' instruments that's pretty good aside from a tiny percent of cringe stuff you would expect from a normal 60s record

This was a wild, wild listen. So much going on. I found it pretty distracting in bits and I wouldn't eat it in one sitting again in a hurry, but it was definitely a ride.

first listen super weird and i love it

Awesome band from the era, influential in many levels

Absolutamente increíble

Look at that photo - how can you not like those people? British (mostly Scottish, I think) hippies, late 60s, letting their freak flags fly freely. So, you know, I'm already disposed to like them. Which is handy (for them) since their singing is, um, not the most tuneful. (That's how you know they're folk singers, lol.) But not just folk - psychedelic folk; listen to all the groovy stuff going on, all of the exotic instruments (sitar, gimbri, hammered dulcimer, penny whistle, pan pipe, etc.). Because of when I was born, I'm probably overly inclined to think hippies were the coolest people ever, which might translate into me overrating this album. But I think I have to end on 4, because of the singing (and also, I think, the melodies themselves were, at times, sort of . . . meandering?). I think we're rating these albums based just on the music, but if we included things like influence on future acts, and strength of artistic concept and ambition, I might be slightly tempted to give them 5 stars. But, as it is, 4 stars, for me.

Such a cool record, perfect for a foggy wednesday morning in Norfolk :)

when I was listening to it, my wife came in and gave me a wtf look

Acid folk

Alright this album is clearly ridiculous but I kind of appreciate how every song is just a bunch of different shorter vignettes and the Minotaur’s song fucking cracked me up so a 4 it is

IMO this is way better than its rating. I totally get this isn’t for everyone.

Marvelous job by the lads from Edinburgh. We’re well aware that the album is kind a “different” — but that’s actually its greatest strength. It’s melodic, incredibly rich musically, and you can clearly hear many influences from the region the artists come from. The metaphorical lyrics perfectly complement the fantastic atmosphere. Seriously, people — how can anyone not like this?

Ok, I have to admit I was pretty high and had two scotches when I listened to this album. At first I was going to give it a 3 rating. But once I got right, damn, the album got somewhat good. Got to give them 4 stars.

Folk, psychedelic folk, indescribable... Many love it, many hate it. I for one love it!

feels like folk stories and childrens tales were adapted into song, very peaceful yet fun

Absolutely mad - I love it.

Quelques morceaux chiants mais un bon ensemble

Quirky, remarkable, ground breaking in a way. A difficult listen unless you allow yourself to sink into the strange sonic world of ISB

Incroyable album acoustique.

Who's ready for some naked bonfire dancing?? This music will take you there. This could be the soundtrack to the original Wickerman, the one with Christopher Lee. Will you be part of a ritual sacrifice after listening to this album??...Only time will tell.

At the time of my listen this is #8 lowest rated of the project, but this was so much better than that. It did sound a bit novice in a folky way, but the music was so serene and chill that it was easy to get lost in the soundscape. I do tend to tune out lyrics so that probably helped in my case, but this was overall a mellow and nice listen.

Acid folk right in the heart of the 60s revolution.

Thought this was bloody lovely

they are clearly very dirty hippies but i like it

Well it's hard not to be biased when an album you haven't heared before is rated that low. In some moments in it's begining I kinda felt like I might force myself to like it. But luckily, I didn't had to. Did I loved it from the first listen? I can't tell, but I guess only a bit. But after a lot of pop or mainstream rock albums this one feels SO refreshing, so stimulating to listen to an album that doesn't follow any conventional tropes. I'm starting to feel like a lot of albums in this list (especially towards 21st century) are here for a reason that they've started some short-lived trend or had some popular single, but albums like these remind me that there's also an albums, that offer a new unique experiences, new thoughts and new feelings. It's when the limits of music are vanishing is when I'm starting to remember why I loved music in the first place.

Apparently, this album is one of the lowest rated ones on the whole site, which seems like a weird call. I dug this one. Solid 4 Stars.

a classic

Going in blind to this one, except knowing that it's one of the lowest-rated albums on the list. Trippy, gentle, playful psych-folk. I think this is more about impressions and feelings than it is about structure. (I see Wikipedia says "dreamlike".) Reminds me of early (Syd Barrett era) Pink Floyd and The Kinks' We Are The Village Green Presentation Society. Loved the childhood memories from Koeeoaddi There. Witches Hat was too self-indulgent. This is a mess, but it makes me feel emotions.

Whimsical, psychedelic, mysterious, inventive, eccentric, strange, unique. A bizarre blend of folk and magic. Traditional musical styles melded into wild and colourful arrangements. Had no idea they were Scottish - another band for me to be unreasonably, patriotically proud of me! I've never heard anything like this. Favourite track - The Minotaur's Song or A Very Cellular Song. 8/10

liked this

This was hard. This is not party music or tailgate music so I am not going to judge it for not being danceable or whatever. This demands your whole attention. On my first listen I wasn't really sure what to think because I had no frame of reference. On my second listen I decided to handle it similarly to Mothers of Invention. When I started listening closely to the lyrics I was really impressed (MOST of the time....there is some questionable writing on here). However, for everything that confused me or made me shake my head there were three things I appreciated. I loved the instrumentation, which I thought was rich and varied. Most of the songwriting was thought provoking and there were some lines that really made me say hell yeah. I think they are better suited to the long and intricate songs than the short ones, which sometimes felt like they had more to say. Overall, I really enjoyed this, but i do think it is more of an "event" album than a casual listen.

Virtuosic chamber folk free association on the edge of sanity

Makes me want to quit my day job, do drugs, get naked and dance in the woods for a while. That is a good thing, in case you weren't sure.

Deep-rooted folk music, dark and weird and mysterious and magical

Very interesting album, there is a lot of detail and dynamic range to look out for. The voices and instruments are very well recorded and everything sounds pleasing and nice.

Unusual, although not at the time. Not one of my favourites and prefer the earlier works.

Soms beetje langdradig, wel echt mooie muziek met leuke instrumenten

Well that was an interesting listen. Considering my family background, I’m amazed I haven’t heard this before. I think I’d need to be in the right frame of mind to listen to it, but fortunately today I was. Will definitely listen to it again.

I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up liking this more than not. Someone else wrote that it reminded them of the music from the original "The Wicker Man" film and, having seen it recently, I totally agree. And that is a positive thing in my mind. My main complaint is that this album is just a bit too long, but I like more of it than I don't. It's a 3.5 that will increase to a 4 in the ratings.

Time to set the balance back. Sure it sounds like living an actual acid trip and I wouldn’t want to be there every day. But that’s why there’s other music to listen to. This also is perhaps the biggest influence on my last musical obsession: Freak Folk.

Was great as background music

Запись интересная. Фолк с психоделией и прогрессивом.

jako mi je drago da sam ovo čuo. žešće brije, ali sviđa mi se. ima užasne ocjene na ovoj stranici, stoga dajem četvorku :)

Mythical vibes

Bit weird but ok I guess

An album so wild and weird I have to give it some positive praise. While at times it can veer into a cacophony, I discovered that all the pieces intentually and thoughtfully fit somehow. Fans of the Strawbs and Robert Wyatt will find quite a bit to enjoy here.

What a beautiful first minute or so; I was not expecting it to be so pretty. I had to make a concerted effort to temper my expectations; it would be such a shame to be overexcited for the album after such a short time. The rest of the album certainly engages my folk nerd brain a lot more. I love the recording that makes the instruments sound like they're right next to my head. So refreshing compared to modern production techniques. I love the utterly unpredictable melodies and sound palettes. The unabashed extended vocal techniques only add to the folky charm. Great stuff, albeit slightly inaccessible depending on my mood.

fantasy campfire realm

óheyrilega tilgerðarlegt og innblástur margra myrkraverka ímynda ég mér. þrátt fyrir það finnst mér þetta skemmtilegt og betra en margt breskt fólk frá svipuðum tíma.

What a vibe. Liked it way more than I thought I would. The different styles all worked well. Not sure if any one song would be a “single” but loved it all.

pretty cool sound

Like a hippie tavern band

"The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" is the third album by Scottish psychedelic folk group the Incredible String Band. Acid folk is the Wiki-listed genre. The key word there is acid. The album uses a wide array of exotic instruments, utilizes multi-tracking and overdubbing and continues the band's development into the elements of psychedelic folk. The bandmembers included Robin Williamson ( lead vocals, guitar, gimbi, penny whistle, pan pie, oud, mandolin, Jew's harp, water harp, harmonica), Mike Heron (lead vocals, sitar, Hammond organ, guitar, hammered dulcimer, harpsichord), Doug Collins (flute organ, piano), David Snell (harp), Licorice McKechnie (vocals, finger cymballs), Richard Thompson (vocals) and Judy Dyble (vocals). Commercially, the album amazingly reached #5 in the UK and #161 in the US. Robin Williams' clear voice and an acoustic guitar begin "Koeeoaddi There." In comes a sitar and the pong-y noise of a Jew's harp. He's singing about gardens, trees and skating on ice. Are we in a commune? Oh boy, we're in the midst of a psychedelic ride now. "The Minotaur's Song" tells a story from the point of view of a minotaur. It's a faster song. Lots of backing vocals. It makes sense now that minotaurs have Scottish accents given Shrek and all. Mike Heron takes lead vocals on the 13-minute long and heart of the album "A Very Cellular Song." Multipe parts with a wide variety of instruments including the harpsichord, kazoo and Jew's harp (again). The first part is about a family who keeps repeating good night. There's a part about the life of an amoeba and the song finishes with an Irish blessing. I didn't see that Irish blessing coming. "Mercy I Cry City" might be the most straight-forward "folksie" song on the album. Acoustic instruments, the harmonica and extensive use of the penny whistle. I was thinking a waltz would be good now and what do you know on comes "Waltz of thr New Moon." Layered acoustic instruments including a harp. This song could have fit in nicely in "Led Zeppelin III." The words psychedelic and acid do not do justice to how "out there" this album is. I was getting medical treatment and somewhat under the influence while listening to this; therefore, I thoroughly enjoyed this album. The lyrics are psychedelic, dreamy and fantastical including mentions of communes, a minotaur, witch hats, a fire king, a whole moon and mitosis of amoebas. I'm not sure this album works anytime but in the late 1960's. How did this album reach #5 in the UK? It is interesting listening to, if just for all the instruments used. Instead of demanding more cowbell like the SNL skit, I think producer Joe Boyd was yelling more penny whistle. That thing's all over the place. Robert Plant said this album was a big influence; I could also see Jim Morrison being influenced. It you're in the mood for a wild and trippy ride, look no further.

This is not a single day listening challenge album, or something to casually put on in the background! That "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" appears on the 1001 Essential Albums further indicates that this reference tome is compiled by British critics because the rest of the sonic world would firmly situate it on the 50-100 strangest albums ever made with Os Mutantes, Alexander "Skip" Spence and other hip oddities intended for the smuggest of bargain bin scavengers and psychedelic damaged exotica collectors. In the late 1960s "acid" was being inserted in front of existing genres creating louder and more claustrophobic sounding musical classifications of existing idioms. The Incredible String Band would definitely be considered acid folk, and the Hangman's Beautiful Daughter meanders through fractured variations on traditional English folk music and instrumentation with lysergic Dr. Suess/Lewis Carroll rhyming lyrics that are almost spectacularly bereft of conventional melodies, pastoral instruments enter and exit a composition jarringly, a sitar plays on "Koeeoaddi There." I kind of love the intense creativity, but don't know that I can sit through an entire album... The irony being that I owned a CD copy of this album while living in Seattle and never listened to the entire record....still haven't.

Elfos e duendes planejam cruzar o hippie trail enquanto colhem cogumelos selvagens. Folk psicodélico é a definição musical de bicho-grilo. Esse álbum estar entre os primeiros do projeto é indubitavelmente uma homenagem a mim.

Good, but not my thing

3.6 - I liked at start but started to drag a little in terms of its usp

my head says no, but my heart says YES!!!! i’m not gonna lie this is not what i’d normally get down to at all, but i really liked it (against my better judgement). the “exotic” instrumentation (thanks wikipedia) was so funky and nontraditional that i couldn’t help but giggle to myself. also, i’m pretty sure this album told a story (not 100% but it felt like it did so i also like that). thank you psychedelic folk. 4/5.

My first impression was not favorable, but by the end I realized this is a crazy good/bad album. It really needs a few more listens to appreciate everything: song structure, lyrics, instruments, vocalization. Very weird, very cool.

Music budget < acid budget I really don’t understand how this is so poorly rated on here? Highly imaginative and interesting - but also too long.

If you’ve ever wondered what a fever dream in a Hobbit village might sound like, this album is pretty close. The Incredible String Band leaned fully into psychedelia here, and it’s oddly charming in that medieval-folk-on-acid sort of way. Psychedelic music was easily one of the best by-products of the 60s, and it’s hard not to credit a lot of that to mind-altering substances. This isn’t a casual background album, but if you’re in the mood for something strange and beautifully layered, it’s worth the ride.

What an interesting album and unlike anything I've ever heard before! The folky melodies combined with a variety of instruments from around the world is very innovative and for me it comes together well. Surprised to see such a low score on the app for this as I found it very beautiful and intriguing. Docked a point for Cellular Song which goes on a bit

Lovely folk

Kinda cool stuff. Creative writing. I can see where many bands were influenced by them.

Wacky and fantastic, but these are hard bardy types of tunes dipped in hippy dust. Thus, it's a tough listen.

The beginnings of freak folk. I thought they could use some more string though and maybe a bit of brass.

Waltz of the New Moon is too slow; other songs are also kind of slow

Very interesting instrumentation. I’m sure it was groundbreaking when it came out in 1968. I’m not sure it’s aged as well though.

A psychedelic folk album of pure sound of acoustic instruments, strings and human voices.

This scratched an itch I didn't know I had. The Water Song spoke to me. A Very Cellular Song feels like a 13min masterpiece.

7.5/10

zvery wierd but at the same time enjoyable and interesting. Liked it

Pretty interesting folk album with a lot of really cool instrumentations.

Whimsical and slightly archaic. I struggled to place what this reminded me, some kind of mixture of Roy Harper and the theme music from Easy Rider, with medieval ballads thrown in. It was certainly odd, but in a good way, and I enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars.

I didn't really care for this album at the beginning, but as it went on I found myself enjoying it more and more (and I think that it will continue to grow on me on repeat listens). Favorite tracks were "Waltz of the New Moon" and "Three Is a Green Crown."

so whimsical fuckkk

It's nice folk rock album with lots of energy.

A different world, a different time

Звучит как... Академический, но такой прямо истеричный Neutral Milk Hotel. Неплохо, но мне нужно больше времени с этой музыкой, чтобы прямо заценить ее. Лучшая песня - A Very Cellular Song.

Enjoyed it! Good songs

Weirder than I thought it would be, kind of mental. Funny that Neil performed it in the Young Ones. And all the Kazoo, Jaw Harp, and other strange instruments. I'm glad I was exposed to it here

Charming and strange. I vibed to it, Not perfect but for weirdness of it I give it a 4

Psychedelia in music, different

I really want to give this a 5 to spite its low rating, but it’s really not THAT good. Still definitely doesn’t deserve to be one of the bottom ten rated albums on this site though.

3/13

i like this hippie bullshit. kinda dragged at points but was pretty cool and way better than i expected.

Enjoyable, not great.

I think I will give this one extra credit for being interesting and creative, although I don't know that it's something I'd ever probably play again. Although, if I did, I have a suspicion it might grow on me quite a bit.

I think I have some music for my next renaissance party! I enjoyed this quite a bit!

Interesting music. Never listened to this band before.

Now this is what I call psychedelic music! All that other stuff is just watered down imitation psychedelia.

It's intriguing. The album can be loved and hated at the same time. It got better with time, although you shouldn't listen to it on replay.

It was a good album, the only thing was it seemed a little repetative

Lyrics (Pros): The lyrics of "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" are a kaleidoscope of mysticism, nature, and poetic imagery. Drawing inspiration from various sources, including Eastern philosophy and Celtic mythology, the album's lyricism showcases a rare depth and complexity. Songs like "A Very Cellular Song" and "Koeeoaddi There" demonstrate a keen sense of storytelling, inviting listeners into a world where whimsy and contemplation coexist. The use of non-traditional instruments enhances the otherworldly atmosphere, contributing to the album's immersive storytelling. Lyrics (Cons): For some listeners, the esoteric nature of the lyrics may be a barrier to entry. The heavy reliance on symbolism and unconventional narrative structures might alienate those seeking more straightforward and relatable content. The abstract nature of the lyrics can also lead to a lack of concrete meaning, making it challenging for some listeners to connect emotionally with the songs. Music (Pros): Musically, "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" is a tour de force. The album showcases a diverse range of instruments, including sitars, tablas, flutes, and a myriad of string instruments. The Incredible String Band's incorporation of folk, blues, and world music elements creates a rich sonic tapestry that defies easy categorization. The intricate arrangements and skilled musicianship contribute to the album's timeless quality, as each listen reveals new layers of detail. Music (Cons): Some listeners might find the album's eclectic instrumentation overwhelming, especially those accustomed to more traditional folk or pop music. The unconventional song structures and abrupt transitions between musical styles can make the album challenging to digest for those seeking a more straightforward listening experience. Production (Pros): "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" benefits from the innovative production techniques of Joe Boyd, who skillfully captures the band's multifaceted sound. The use of stereo panning and studio effects creates a spacious and immersive listening experience. The production choices complement the experimental nature of the music, contributing to the album's overall sense of sonic exploration. Production (Cons): The recording technology of the late 1960s imposes limitations on the album's fidelity. Some might find the lo-fi quality charming, but others may yearn for a cleaner, more polished sound. Additionally, the occasional uneven mix of certain tracks might distract listeners who prefer a more balanced sonic presentation. Themes (Pros): The album's thematic richness lies in its exploration of spirituality, nature, and the human experience. Songs like "A Very Cellular Song" and "Mercy I Cry City" delve into existential questions, while others celebrate the beauty of the natural world. The infusion of Eastern mysticism, evident in tracks like "Three Is a Green Crown," adds a layer of depth to the album's thematic content, resonating with the countercultural spirit of the era. Themes (Cons): The esoteric themes might not resonate with everyone, and some listeners may find the album's spiritual and philosophical explorations inaccessible or pretentious. The lack of a cohesive, linear narrative could leave some feeling disconnected from the overarching themes, as the album opts for a more fragmented and impressionistic approach. Influence: "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" has had a lasting impact on the folk and psychedelic music scenes. Its fearless experimentation with non-traditional instruments and fusion of disparate musical styles set a precedent for future artists. The album's influence can be heard in the work of later folk and psychedelic bands, as well as in the broader realm of experimental music. Conclusion: "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" is a groundbreaking work that captures the spirit of a transformative period in music history. Its blend of folk, psychedelia, and world music, coupled with thought-provoking lyrics, makes it a unique and enduring piece of art. While its unconventional nature may not appeal to everyone, those willing to embark on a musical journey of exploration and introspection will find a wealth of rewards within its grooves. The album's influence continues to reverberate, solidifying its place as a classic in the annals of psychedelic folk.

Folk sicodélico impresionante

Ethereal and weird.

Jokes and the rest of the album aside, the last 2:40 of A Very Cellular Song are absolutely beautiful

Das erste Lied hatte mich fast soweit, direkt wieder auszumachen und 1 Stern zu geben. Allerdings geht es danach erstaunlicherweise steil nach oben, und dass es nun 4 Sterne von mir gibt überrascht niemanden mehr als mich selbst. In der richtigen Stimmung ist dieses Album einfach richtig geil.

For a moment I thought I'm listening to some Indian music lol.... quite cute in some ways

There's something about Celtic music that just goes unreasonably hard. Combine that with Sgt. Pepper-like instrumentals and you got yourself a certified banger.

Nothing but good vibes, listening is like hanging out with a group of friends and just jamming together having fun.

A lot better than my previous album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers. These guys blow them away. Pretty listenable and not worthy of the 1 star hate though all the funny reviews did make me laugh.

Why the shit is this rated so low??? I really enjoyed this listen a lot, a magical pastoral folksy trip back in time The only criticism I could think of are the “rough” vocals, but they’re no worse than Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen, and they fit perfectly with the music

Give a bunch of Hobbits acid and this is what you'll get. I was really excited after I hit play and was met with the style of this record. And although I can't say it got worse, it's hard to say if it got any better. I got tired of the mediaeval theme relatively quickly but I would be lying if I said I didn't like the idea. It's quite unique. No songs really stood out to me unfortunately it was all good but not amazing. Personal Enjoyment - 6.5 Songwriting - 7.5 Lyrics - 8.5 Originality - 10 Production Value - 9 Artwork - 9 Overall - 8.1

Despite other reviews, this is a great unique album that really shows inspiration. I have yet to dive into the meaning of everything but it’s already great, love his vocals at well

I think this is the Incredible String Band's best release. A great example of late sixties psychedelic folk. It may have sounded dated in the 80s and 90s, but so many artists have jumped on the train, this sounds refreshing now. There are great individual tracks (A Very Cellular Song), but overall, this floats along like a single work in a dream-like manner. A great listen.

ouais ouais ouais ça me parle

I've seen people say this is a "love it or hate it" sort of album, with quite a few people on this generator going for the "hate it" route, but quite honestly, I've neither. I just think this is alright and really interesting, with a sort of folk-psychedelic vibe going on that may be annoying at times but really works at times. There are times when the hard acoustic guitar, such as on "Swift as the Wind", goes really well and sounds great, with the dreary vocals adding to it. I just fail to understand how this apparently the fifth worst album on this whole list, as it reminded me a lot of Pink Floyd's first album on here, and yet that has a almost a whole star on this album. Guess it just goes to show that artist bias is most certainly a thing. You know what? This gets a 4, it may not have earned it totally, but it won't move the number too much any way, and I wanna help it get up a bit.

4.5

Really nice! Super hippie vibes, with great and different instruments sounds.

Weird album, but actually it grew on me over the listen, so I listened again and liked it more. Weird shit, but in a good way. 3.75/5

I recognized the title, and that's because it's one of the worst reviewed albums on this website. So imagine how much I start sweating when I immediately get lost in and enjoy the first track. Do I have brain damage? Short answer is no. I'll be honest, there's quite a few tracks on here that really work for me, and there's another chunk that ranges from just okay to pretty grating. Like "Swift as the Wind," the moaning on that one earned a skip from me. I can understand someone hearing this album and hating it. But for me, the sitar/jaw harp psychedelics on here is done quite well. I'll take something this weird and inconsistent over a lot of the barely psychedelic '60s rock albums we get. If you're gonna do this, you gotta commit! ISB here seems to have committed, perhaps to a fault (and maybe they should be committed in another sense), but a lot of this scratched an itch for me. I quite like it, this makes three great and unique listens in a row for me! Favorite tracks: Nightfall, Koeeoaddi There, Water Song, Green Crown, Very Cellular Song. Album art: A (Manson-y) family photo, I know we've had at least one album already that looked like this, maybe a Crosby Stills Nash? I wish it were something crazy psychedelic. 4/5

A difficult album to judge. As a pop/rock/dance album it's utter shite. I doubt even folk fans would rate it. But there are moments of sheer originality in the songwriting and performance that makes it a worthwhile listen (if you're into something a bit strange). In particular I enjoyed the opening Koeddi there and the sublime witches hat.

Is this genius? or utter shite? (both?) It's brilliantly bonkers, without doubt one of the highlights of this list so far.

Psychedelique Folk, c'est surprenant mais j'ai toujours aimé la flutte et la production de cet album est très bon pour ce genre. C'est psychédelique ca il n'y a aucun doute. De la a mettre un 1 comme certain, je crois que c'est exagéré car il y beaucoup d'album coté très haut qui son influencé par ce type de musique. On donne crédit ou le crédit est dût. 3.90

Классный альбом. Я их с 1-ого курса университета знаю по песне Water Song, когда услышал её на радио "Аэростат". Альбом цельный, музыка хорошая.

Ja gilla de!

The jesters making it out of the castle with this one, such an interesting listening experience. A combination of fairytale atmosphere and Dylan like inflections really make this such a fantasy like experience. With medieval melodies accompanied by haunting vocals with religous subject matter really make this one of the most baffling albums I’ve listened to. I will say the vocals do get a bit whiney at points and aren’t so comfortable to listen to. While kinda joking in my first sentence, it does actually sound like a jester performing his life’s work to the king in hopes he doesn’t kill his family. Can’t say I’d return to this album a lot, it was a really fun listen, I’d definitely recommend it to those who wanna divert themselves into some really experimental and haunting environments.

*1968. Scottish psychedelic folk... *This is so strange. Sometimes it's like the parts of Beatles' albums where you can tell they were doing many drugs. Other times it's like a sea shanty. And then most of the time it was like being at a very strange Renaissance Faire. *It was kind of fun, but I also frequently wanted to skip songs. RATING - 6/10

I like the ISB...this is not their best though

This one was a bit odd. The vocals make this really difficult to listen to, but I enjoyed the rest of the package.

As Jason said, probably a grower - but I enjoyed it enough.

Hippy strings

3/5

Really odd, and I love it for that. The genre ascribed to this by Wikipedia is "Acid Folk," and that pretty much sums it up. Just... odd. Good for them.

The sitar was the only redeeming thing about this album

RATING: 7/10 HIGHLIGHT: The Minotaur's Song LOWLIGHT: Mercy I Cry City

I sure am glad to have discovered this. Done some research, a fun and interesting deep dive into their history, how its come about, the fact that the Beatles were fans. Could have been about 10 or 15 minutes shorter though.

The Water Song war cool. Zeitweise klingen auch die anderen Lieder gut, aber andererseits auch unangenehm zu hören.

es medio raro, m hace acordar a la musica celta

Das schottische Duo Robin Williamson und Mike Heron nahm sein drittes Album im Dezember 1967 in den Sound Techniques Studios in London auf, produziert von Joe Boyd für Elektra Records. Was dabei entstand, war weit mehr als ein weiteres Folk-Album: ein Klangkosmos aus Sitar, Oud, Hackbrett, Hammerklavier und unzähligen Perkussionsinstrumenten, der sich gegen jede Schublade sperrte. Der Begriff Acid Folk greift hier noch am ehesten – doch auch er bleibt Annäherung. Das Album trägt seine acht Stücke wie Rituale, nicht wie Songs. „Koeeoaddi There" eröffnet mit magischem Nonsens und verschlungenen Melodielinien, während „A Very Cellular Song" – mit über dreizehn Minuten das Herzstück der Platte – Amoeben, Liebe und Kosmologie in eine einzige mäandernde Komposition fasst. „The Minotaur's Song" changiert zwischen Volksballade und psychedelischem Theater. Williamson und Heron singen oft schief, nie egal – und genau das verleiht allem eine seltsame Wahrhaftigkeit. The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter erreichte bei seinem Erscheinen Platz fünf der britischen Albumcharts und brachte der Band eine Grammy-Nominierung ein – bemerkenswert für Musik, die sich so demonstrativ der Konvention verweigert. Wer sich auf dieses Album einlässt, betritt eine Welt, die gleichzeitig uralt und vollkommen fremd wirkt. Ein Werk, das man nicht so sehr hört, wie man es durchquert – und das man verändert verlässt.

I don’t really understand the vitriolic hate this album seems to get here. Not that I loved it, but it’s quaint and charming and raw in a way that feels like it’s bristling with human experience. Whatever that means. I’m struggling to articulate exactly how it made me feel but it definitely did make me feel, so even though I may not have enjoyed the musicality of it at some points I think it deserves a 3

On the morning, I listened to this album, I rushed to get out the door thinking I was running late, only to realize partway through my drive that I still had plenty of time to get to work. This album was certainly one of the most interesting and challenging listens so far: the lyricism and vocal style was consistent with folk and traditional music I often love, but the instrumentals were absolutely unhinged the entire time. I suppose that when a band is called The Incredible String Band, I probably should expect a lot of wild strings. Rarely do the instrumentals ever rest, often sounding like a collage of every single string instrument I could possibly imagine, and even including what sound like flutes and kazoos and cartoon sound effects on top of that. The instrumentals are genuinely so overwhelming that I frequently lose track of the songs. I respect the ways in which the band incorporates elements of musical influences from other cultures, and the band's commitment to their own artistic vision, but it just doesn't hold me most of the time. The earlier half has quite a few more songwriting moments which click with me than the later songs do, but there is still just a general disconnect between me and most of this album. Highlights: Koeeoaddi There, A Very Cellular Song, Mercy I Cry City, The Water Song

It reminds me a lot of Syd Barrett. Many of the lyrics have a childlike quality to them with the simple rhyming couplets but there is the occasional disturbing imagery. Maybe that’s the meaning behind the title. The Hangman is the cruel, messed up world and his Beautiful Daughter is the childlike perspective. The band said that the title’s meaning was up to audience interpretation, so there’s mine. There are some pacing issues, the album feels very long for being less than 50 minutes. Despite that, I thought that the longest song was the best one. 3/5

Incredible String Band Love the fact that some guys mixed up Gaelic folk with Indian sounds with a heady dose of psychedelia and made this. And even more so that folks bought it and lived it. That is what was great about the 60s, that willingness to embrace experimentation without fear. Best Track - that long one about the amoeba Worst track - the one with just too much sitar about a green crown 7/10

Hey, look! A bunch of pub singers got together, pooled their spare change, bought a sitar and an Irish flute, and then made a Donovan album. Cool, cool. Also, it kind of sounds like they kidnapped Nico and made her sing for them here and there. Also cool. Kidding. None of this is cool. I made it through 3 songs that sort of just fine and decided this was 3 material and moved on.

3/5 - Well, this is a perfect back-to-back with Frank Sinatra. Could anything possibly be farther from Songs For Swingin' Lovers!? This is anything but professional, and it's not traditionally pleasant. You have no idea what the group of trick-or-treaters on the album cover has in store for you. This isn't "good music" in any normal sense, but it has to get points for swinging for the fences with all the instruments and utterly bizarre lyrics. Will I listen to this again? Almost certainly not. Am I glad it exists? Definitely. I'm sure many people heard this album and decided they too could sing of minotaurs, witches, and amoebae. That counts for something.

My kinda shit, somewhat nonsense, but there's a lot going on that I enjoy too.

very hippie, not as long as i expected, and wdym one of the original members was last seen hiking arizona ?!?!?

뭐라 쓰지

I feel similarly about The United States of America's self titled album as I do about this one. I think this takes some really big swings that often pay off. That being said, this album is not as good as The United States of America. Many of its big swings fall flat, but many do not. I may be particularly primed to like this. And so I do. Far from flawless, far from "a cancer diagnosis" (jesus christ some of you are monsters in the reviews). 3/5

Interesting listen. The hate is real, but I found myself much more bored while listening to the Stones or Led Zeppelin. I listened to it all with just one short lunch break in the middle, and it was kind of enjoyable. Swift as the Wind fucking sucks tho, it's an awful performance from everyone involved. I can't give anything higher than a 3, because I'll never listen to it again out of my own free will.

meh, empezo bastante bien, pero no me mantuvo. nose, no me transmitio mucho, pero bueno me hizo acordar un poco a estilo irlandes

Very interesting album, I enjoyed the amount of sitar. The album felt very 60s flower power but also felt at times very Irish folklore-ish along with elements of world music.

INPUT = {"artist": "The Incredible String Band", "album": "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter"} LINEUP = {"men": 2, "women": 1} FEATURED_ARTISTS = {"men": 0, "women": 0} TOTAL_MEN = 2 TOTAL_WOMEN = 1 WOMEN_PERCENTAGE = 33 OUTPUT = "Score adjusted accordingly. 3/5"

* 52 Jeg bøjer mig i støvet for deres ihærdighed og originalitet - men der var lidt for mange instrumenter/elementer, der ikke blev håndteret specielt godt. Desuden troede min kæreste, at jeg var ved at gå fuldstændig fra sans og samling, da den dejlige backing vokal "lal al al al al al la la lal al" kørte parallelt med den psykotiske fløjte på Witches Hat. De får 3 meget små kuriøse stjerner herfra.

*shrug* That's fine.

Psychedelic hippie folk rock. Interesting and boring at the same time. Talented artists.

3/5 80% of the time pretty Main singer needs to be quiet sometimes.

Man the Celtics fucking suck. Fire Joe mazzulla and trade Jaylen brown for Giannis. I didn’t listen to this album.

For those who don't know, The Incredible String Band was a Scottish psychedelic folk group founded by songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Robin Williamson, Mike Heron, and Clive Palmer, though the latter left the band early on. They are considered pioneers of the genre, alongside the development of world music and the British 1960s counterculture. In fact, this third record of theirs, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, proved influential on the direction of Led Zeppelin's self-titled debut. So already, the historical and cultural significance of this band and this record has been laid bare. How does it all hold up? Well... It's definitely a psychedelic folk album, that much is apparent. I apologize if that's not much of a statement for or against this record, but I'm realizing after getting a couple of records in this genre that it might not be my thing. I wouldn't say anything on this album is played badly, as the musical prowess of Williamson, Heron, and the rest of the session personnel is well illustrated across a variety of instruments. The guitar playing from the main duo serves as a nice anchor for these compositions, which are further embellished by harpsichord, Hammond organ, sitar, and so on. Plus, Williamson and Heron themselves have soft, reasonably good vocal deliveries for their respective penned tunes. Yet, by the same token, I don't feel like I connect well with how these songs are largely ramblings on mythology, religion, and general mysticism and esotericism, applied loosely to a modern context. We run through the likes of minotaurs, witches, wizards, and all manner of mythical beings and fables riddled with mystique and obfuscation for the sake of it. Hell, the centerpiece of this record, the 13-minute stop-and-go of "A Very Cellular Song", is all about personifying an amoeba, with an entire passage describing the process of mitosis as making a new friend for the cell. It certainly makes me wonder how many drugs were partaken during the writing of this record, cause it is bonkers at the cost of focus as these tracks seem to wander. Again, I don't hate it, but I feel indifferent to these meandering tales of whimsy. I can recognize the cultural and historical significance of The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter and The Incredible String Band in general, and there is some artistic merit to it. But I'll admit that I'm not certain about listening to this record again anytime soon.

This was very interesting. One foot in hippie 60s and another in world music. Sounded a bit dated, but it still was an fun listen.

Folk ain't my thing but good

I understand people hating this, because listening to this at work, my mind was really focusing on the more "grating" elements while I was doing other things and it just felt like it wasn't working. But for the last songs I payed more attention and it was quite charming. I do understand that this is how most people listen to music so the rating isn't surprising really. Swift as the Wind I really like.

Get's me ready for the Renaissance Festival I guess it is fine for the time and context

This album, and more specifically its sound, belongs in a Renfest. For clarity, that’s not an insult from me. Were it to be an unheralded act at a random bandstand with haystack benches and sunwarped floorboards ‘neath a gnarled oak, I would watch the whole show, sipping my cold ale and munching my scotch eggs and welsh cakes. I would probably even tip.

After reading the reviews first I procrastinated listening to this one, but now I've gotten around to it and was pleasantly surprised. Is it good music? No, absolutely not. It makes me want to do a shit ton of LSD and dance in the forest with my pants off. But was it entertaining? Yes, yes it was.

Ok, a whole album is a bit much but with the right chemicals I’m sure this is a lot of fun

what actually is wrong with it though. Just cuz its got some boing boing sounds in it who doesnt like a boing sound.

This is pretty odd, very much folk psychedelic.

Not as bad as reviews would have me think! I think the experimental aspects of this album turned people off, but it's fine. This album is fine.

This one was a weird one. It's like acid-folk or something. Personally I think it sounds like: "Song night at the local semi-christian savior cult. With the cult leaders garage band who plays whatever instruments they could get a hold of, likely because nobody used them so they were cheap/free". If you told me that this group had never written a song before but just showed up and improvised the entire album in a day, then based on the lyrics and how the music doesn't keep rhythm with the vocal at all, I'd believe you. The most positive thing I think I can say is that it was so weird and B-movie bad that I was never bored and it was always kind of funny how lazy, weird, made-up-on-the-spot, the rhymes feel. I honestly planed to give this a 2, but the sheer morbid curiosity I feel for it manages to drag it up close to a 4 because I might actually return to this some day. Don't do drugs or join cults, kids Standouts The Minotaur's Song A Very Cellular Song 3/5

Pretty good folk