Reviews (page 7 of 9)
Men kom igen... 1001 bästa skivorna.. Någonsin. Inte ens chans att denna platsar. Det suger. Sången är fruktansvärd. Texterna är lite lattjo, bitvis. Men det är ju för att de är "konstiga" (knarkiga). Men som musik, helhet. Nope. Oseriöst. "cellular" är en 13 min lång sång och det är en plåga. Som att sitta vid en brasa när några idioter plötsligt ska förstör stämningen med att försöka spela musik. Men de kan inte spela, sjunga eller skapa en skön stämning (själva tycker de att det är svinnajs). Man vill bara att de ska sluta spela så man kan njuta av brasans sprakande. Eller helst, slukas av eldens lågor så ljudet tar slut!
Jag har gillat mycket av det är psykadeliska på listan så här långt, men här blev det är en rätt otäck överdos. Deras exempellösa talanglöshet gjorde förvisso att lyssningen hade ett visst underhållningsvärde, men ettan är förstås ändå solid.
LSD
Peculiar, unique, and bizarre psychedelic/experimental folk music. Love it or hate it - it’s undeniably an intriguing listen. I’m somewhere in the middle, it’s not going to be a favorite album of mine but I certainly didn’t dislike it and overall enjoyed the experience. Unconventional song structures a a variety of worldly string instruments makes this album sound like no other. Worth a listen and wouldn’t mind coming across it in the future, but probably not seeking it out often.
This is like Fleet Fox's weirdo cousin that lives out in the woods and is obsessed with D&D and probably smells a little. It's quirky and kind of bizarre but the music is really pretty and there's a lot of talent at work here.
Uniquely terrible
a very cellular song
The Incredible String Band is a Celtic folk band that would pair well with early Pink Floyd. This is a folksy side of early psychedelia: a string band with pan flutes, a harpsichord, a sitar, and lyrics with a noticeable Irish brogue. The songs are amusing, but quirky - interesting, but not an album that I will be drawn to listen to again.
This is terrible but if it's considered a masterpiece by people who know better than I do, who am I to judge?
3/13
2 1/2 stars
Hmm iwie hani ned ganz soo chöne vibe demit
was isch ihm??? es isch sehr folk time ich check nöd ganz the minotaurs song. mythologie time?? sie singed em immer alles noh nervten da nöd? witches hat checki scho ehner? aber isch uuuultra nöd mis hooly shit. a very cellular song. jesus time au no? er seit walk in the valley of shadow of doubts oder so. gangstas paradiiise. de shit isch mega laang. bi chli am kämpfe. etz macheds auno de dooioioi frosch grüsch type mundharmonika. s mittelalter isch verbi jungs. wiso rededs vo komische sache? wiso isch d giige irgendwie ungnau? water song au nurscho wies afangt hassis afoch. nocher muni no so bitz ufs wc und s plätscheret afoch so vor sich hii. nai mann höred uf. there is a green crown goht 7:30. kill me now thank you. denn ischs au no mit sitar. wenn mer öpis vode beatles nöd mues überneh ischs d sitar. boah ich hasses
bro s het d review glöscht aber ja s erinneret mich an seeeny todd oder wie au immer das musical gheisse het hans gar nöd gfühlt MIN ERSTE 1ER
Soft southern acoustic pop
Day67 - that was weird
I hear a lot of interesting instruments here but this is a perfect example of "just because you can, doesn't mean you should".
If you're finding this album profound and deep, your immediate future will involve having your stomach pumped and that little wooden box you keep your stash in hidden by a loved one. Odd enough I can't give it an egg, but very much a far more effective warning about the dangers of drugs than any group of jobbing actors touring schools could ever give
Hot ASS
This is insane. It's utterly batshit insane. I hold a minor maxim about art: the more obscure the art, the more the artist actually believes it. There is no rating for ?!?! I think I love it.
This is just a whole jumble of crap. These poor people in these tragically ugly clothes forced into the woods for this horrible photo. I hate this.
Redefines self-aggrandizing horseshit for the Boomer generation. I lost an hour off my life so you don’t have to.
Creative stuff, definitely can see how this influenced a bunch of artists over the years. Weird story but interesting, felt almost like a play/musical in structure
Not the worst thing I’ve ever listened to, but it is close.
bro I'm having a bad day this is NOT helping. weird shit but bonus for trying okay 2/5
I'm not really sure what this album was. In the 60s with some recreational substance this may have made sense but I was just confused!
What in the caucasian fuck is this nightmare? Valuable lesson from this album: if you use the word "Incredible" in your band name, you aren't. Is this Wiccan music? No Wiccans I know would listen to this. I enjoy a good Minotaur song as much as the next person. Their Minotaur song sounds like a showtoon. Just wait till I play this for my Minotaur friend. He's gonna laugh his ass off. I wish Black Sabbath or NIN would've written a fucking Minotaur song. If you are into intangible melodies, erratic song structures, and love music with no rhythm, you'll be totally entranced by this album recorded live from Jim Morrison's bad trip. Jaw harp is one of my favorite string instruments. Cool sitar. Hare Krishna.
Well this is interesting and weird, and kind of fun. Made me feel like I chased a white rabbit down a Scottish rabbit hole. Not necessarily an album I’d ever come back to unless I was tripping on acid, but it gets an extra star for being unapologetically bizarre.
Is this a joke?
The pavement of their day
jesus….
left it halfway sorry
I usually like to listen at least 2 or 3 times all the way through just to give it a fair chance but I just couldn't do it with this one
not doing this for 50 minutes
Really quite odd, not in a bad way but yes very odd
i like this hippie bullshit. kinda dragged at points but was pretty cool and way better than i expected.
Weird
C'était bof.
Enjoyable, not great.
Don't know anything about this going into it, but I'm into the cover and title. Well. This is interesting. Yeah, I kind of hate this. I can appreciate that it was made, but like, the world needs fewer white people making folk music "influenced by world music". No, I don't kind of hate this I hate this so much. I keep checking to see how many tracks I have left to suffer through.
3/10
Well, they formed in my home city but I feel no bias or loyalty here. At times I felt I was listening to a minstrel from Monty Python’s Holy Grail. Except that would have been a spoof and mildly amusing. The best thing about this album is the title. Very much of it’s time and place
Very traditional folk, not with any rock leanings like Fairport Convention. A bit too traditional and old fashioned for me.
Normally I enjoy a little psychedelia. If I was a 15th century Irish stoner this might appeal. Otherwise, I’ll pass…
I did NOT like this one. I did listen all the way through because I'm a masochist. I'm not sure there are enough drugs to ever make me listen to this again. This was like a bad D&D soundtrack gone wrong. I might accept this at the renaissance fair but even then I'd prefer just a dude with lute and some jaunty rhymes. While listening, I mostly debated whether I'm a guy who will give only 1 star. I've decided if I never want to hear it again, it will get a 1-star rating. Congrats to The Incredible String Band for earning my first ever 1-star review.
Thinks so bad
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.
There was nothing incredible about the Incredible String Band. I cannot get back the time spent listening to this album. Not sure why it is considered an album you must hear before you die. It might cause some to want to die. My personal hell would involve being required to listen to this album on repeat in perpetuity.
Ich bin aktuell irgendwie nicht offen dafür, "neue" Musik kennenzulernen und mich drauf einzulassen. Dadurch verliere ich nach wenigen Songs total die Motivation und bin das Album dann nach 4 Tracks nur im Snippet durchgerauscht. Hat mich leider trotzdem nicht abgeholt..
- Noch nie von The Incredible String Band gehört - war aber überrascht, wie gut mir das gefallen hat - diese mittelalter-folkigen elemente aus flöten, hackbrett und Spinnett etc. haben fand ich echt cool, weils auch einfach komplett ungewohnt ist. - die 70er sind auch definitv rauszuhören. Ich habe das Gefühl, dass es sich hier um The Mamas & The Papas handelt, die eine Zeitreise ins Mittelalter gemacht haben - Insgesamt ist nicht viel hängengeblieben außer des overall Styles, den ich aber wie gesagt sehr interessant fand - kann auch verstehen, wenn man das komplett scheiße findet Rating 3/5
- Fand ich streckenweise richtig cool. Leider sehr schwankend - A Cellular Song: Tolle Idee mit dem wiederkehrenden Thema so Kapitel abzuschließen - Manche Tracks und Melodien haben mich total abgeholt (Koeeoaddi Theme, Water Song z.B.) - Andere wiederum sind komplett unregistriert an mir vorbei gegangen. - Alles in allem aber gute Platte, so eine richtige 3/5 3/5
Ging mir gehörig auf den Sack, auch wenn ich sagen muss, dass teilweise coole Ideen drinstecken. Allerdings hat es mich einfach gar nicht abgeholt.
An oddity this. Hard to get into, and clearly of it’s time. But ok
Dour, medieval gallows vibe
One point for creativity
Oh, my head, this was a bit of a slog to get through. This album is a colorful, strange exploration of psychedelic folk, not without a certain sweetness and humor. But I honestly can't pick out a song I would want to hear again. Probably won't listen again (and I really can't see giving this better than a 2), but I give ISB credit for doing something unique. Fave Songs: Witches Hat, Koeeoaddi There, A Very Cellular Song, The Water Song
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.
Meh, not my cup of tea. Going for baroque
Зочэм
2/5. The 13 minute long song is the best one on here but everything else is definitely boring or just bad music. Like, I do understand that it was definitely interesting to listen to but I will need several drugs to “get it.” Trying the George Harrison treatment, just not working exactly. Wish this was better, enjoy the vibe just not good, nothing more to say, but I do really like the cellular song.
Psychedelia mixed with Celtic folk melodies Medieval and Middle Eastern arrangements plus quite some Asian instruments. It's a landmark in psychedelic folk music and influential for years to come. It might not be the best album of all time, but it's intriguing and I'm glad to have listened to it.
Nonsense music.
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.
This did not entertain my ears all that much, nor did it speak to my soul. But it was something a bit different, so okay.
It's not particularly pretty and I don't think I want to hear it again but points for being different.
I think I have some music for my next renaissance party! I enjoyed this quite a bit!
ig: @musicwithnessa
Dour, medieval gallows vibe
Just awful. Painful to listen to. Waited for it to get better…it didn’t.
One of the globally lowest rated albums on the list. Pretty weird, experimental psychadelic folk. A lot of drugs must have been consumed. A challenging listen. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: Witches Hat Date listened: 09/02/24
Holy hippie heaven, this is a bit much for me but I appreciate it and glad I listened to it.
"The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" by The Incredible String Band, released in 1968, is a pioneering work in the psychedelic folk genre. The album showcases the band's penchant for experimentation, blending traditional folk elements with Eastern influences and avant-garde sensibilities. Tracks like "A Very Cellular Song" and "Koeeoaddi There" demonstrate the band's musical virtuosity and penchant for intricate arrangements. However, the album's sprawling and occasionally disjointed nature may prove challenging for some listeners to fully engage with. While "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" is undoubtedly a significant and influential album in the folk revival movement, its experimental nature may limit its accessibility to a wider audience. Therefore, it earns a respectable 3/5 rating, acknowledging its historical importance while recognizing its potential to polarize listeners.
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!!!
I wish I could give zero stars.
What the fuck
Honestly, first time I’ve awarded a 1. Just cannot find anything positive about this album.
so insane that I can't help like it a little bit
Hard to get through
Weird
The Pretty Mediocre and Sometimes Sleepy String Band. I can appreciate what this album is attempting, and in a lot of ways, I actually enjoy the idea of it. But in execution, it just falls kind of flat. The use of experimental instrumentation (especially for '68) sounds like something that would've inspired the Elephant 6 Collective, and the odyssey of songwriting on tracks like A Very Cellular Song is ambitious as hell. I just could've used a little more pizzazz, a little more pop.
There's a certain mystifying esotericism and musical eclecticism here that keeps me thinking about and returning to this album, even though it's not something I'd say I particularly enjoy.
So recently I've gotten a few of the lowest rated albums on this list. Just two days ago I got that piece of trash that is Throbbing Gristle. Looking at the lowest rated albums I was expecting something truly trash with this and.. wtf is wrong with y'all. Compared with the other stuff at the bottom, this isn't comparable. It's not amazing but it is super more listenable than the other stuff. Again at least it's not another generic 90s Britpop.
Playful psych folk with lush orchestral backings where everyone's doing their own thing. It's not very enjoyable while sober, fairly exhausting and messy, but I'll try paying attention the lyrics when I'm high. His voice does get tiring but I do like the style. Favorites: Koeeoaddi Theme, Three is a Green Crown
Strange and cult like! Didn’t enjoy
Interesting music. Never listened to this band before.
Pish.
Why was this created, and why the fuck is it on this list? I didn't make it through the whole album, or even half the album if I can be honest but I cant imagine the second half offered anything different
No thankyouu did not understand this one at all, lame compositions, lyrics oscillating between twee sincerity and forced strangeness. Happy to never hear this again. Fave track: Waltz of the New Moon
I lasted until the line ‘A fish on your dish - is that what you wish?’ That’s just great great stuff. Like a Monty Python spoof of an early Genesis album. Need to lie down after that. Half star
So this psychedelic folk apparently? It sounds something was would be considered cutting edge in 1469, not 1969. The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughther, even the title comes from the Middle Ages. At times it was something you’d hear eating a giant turkey leg after a war, sometimes monks chanting in a 1600s church and then sometimes a guy doing a baaaadddd George Harrison impression. 2.3/10
Very eccentric and religious. Worst album I’ve come across yet
Best Songs: Not that kind of album Listen Again: Yes
I wonder what the weather was like on their planet... I'm sure it was quite enjoyable if you'd smoked ALL of the weed... But I hadn't...
NO!!
On behalf of the British people I apologise for the fact that this exists .
Un poco rollo este folk.
Flower children under the influence of Gilbert and Sullivan. Awful. My ears hurt before the end, literally, their microphones picked up a horrible whistle/buzz from the sitar, I think.
I assume when I'm done with this list I will be able to make my own list of 10001 albums I'd rather listen to than that.
Wow, this was pretty irritating. Whenever I want to give something a 1 though I have to think, is it as bad as Aerosmith pump?
Awful
This will be the first album since I started 1001AG that I will unfortunately not finish. Actually irritating to listen to. Hard pass.
Off the beaten path cool funky stuff.
Totally talented!!! Not my sound though.... very irishy but... like renaissance times.... story-telling.... but senseless (i.e. poetry)
😩
Cosa ci può essere di meglio di un gruppo folk scozzese che fa psichedelia?!? Non sono arrivata al secondo ascolto 😵💫
Some great guitar players in here. It's the music that is really hard to assign to any genre. Pretty unique.
yeah😂Hippie Yippie
Not my bag. Just sounds like a day walking around with me saying random words and thought, but now someone put weird music behind it.
Creepy folky. Variety of middle east instruments with vocals
Canciones con aspiración espiritual y experimentales en las que The Incredible String Band utilizan instrumentos como el sitar, la mandolina, el calvicordio o la flauta de pan entre otros. En sus letras incorpora elementos culturales orientales procedente de la India. Podría decirse que todo el disco es un florido ejercicio de "hippismo" orientalizante mezclado con elementos clasicistas que sorprende pero, al menos en mi caso, no apasiona.
Acid folk. Se me ha hecho muy pesado. Un 2.
Un poco rollo este folk.
I see why this Album is included in this list. In '68, it was surely a groundbreaking mix of folk, psych, and world music that inspired many many acts. That said, it sounded dated to me, and I did not enjoy it.
Echt alsof mijn koortsdroom op muziek is gezet
Vast heel leuk met de boys van de cult naast het kampvuur maar nu echt vreselijk
Lijkt wel op die meme muziek. Klinkt een beetje bij elkaar geraapte muziek. Weet niet wie dit in de 1001 albums die je gehoord MOET hebben heeft gegooid, was veel beter af geweest zonder dit gehoord te hebben.
This was fine, but nothing special.
Some hippies on acid with their unlistenable shit. Easy 1/5
Fucking seriously?! I've never skipped through an album on here faster.
Just want my scene. Whimsical, silly songs set to jaunty tunes.
Rather too earnest and certainly too much kazoo, let alone the other weirdnesses contained within.
I like folk music, I like Bach, and I like Gilbert and Sullivan. But I don’t like them all mushed up together.
I love this kind of thing—psychedelic, bizarre, folky, funny. I enjoyed their use of unconventional song structure and ethno-folk traditions (really working the WEFT in there before it was chic). Some of the material ran on for too long or felt rather made up on the spot, but as far as creating something unique and experimental, and evidently influential, it earns the 4 stars.
Nope.
Started out surprisingly strong, but gradually became unlistenable. 2⭐️
Ugh. Hippy bullshit. Awful whiny folky rambling wannabe psychedellic nonsense. It sounds like Rubber Soul if the Beatles had not been very good songwriters and had smoked way too many joints, never stopping for breath. Ugh. Terrible.
3.5/5
This one was really challenging for me. The music was almost atonal at times and then the would be this gorgeous melody. It felt like experimental jazz got mixed in there or something.
Didn't do it for me. Too much random 60s psychadelia. There are definitely some highlights, but they don't last anywhere near long enough.
OK, so it’s nowhere near as bad as reviewers on here will have you believe but I can see why people hate this. It probably drags a bit towards the end and has a touch of the Monty Pythons about it, but personally I generally liked it and I think if nothing else it’s worth listening to for ‘A Very Cellular Song’ which is the centrepiece of the record.
I think this is a horrible album. I played it several times and it just set my teeth on edge. I just dislike folk rock. Taking advantage of the new edit facility, I have upped the score to 3 as it grew on me!
Not great. Should be much better
Now this is what I call psychedelic music! All that other stuff is just watered down imitation psychedelia.
Hippien metkuja saatana 3/5
Jännä tapaus, välillä kiehtovaa ja odottamatonta menoa ja välillä taas menettää otteensa kokonaan. Ehkä näitä jälkimmäisiä hetkiä oli vähän liikaa, että voisin väittää levystä tykkääväni. Mahdollisesti arvostan iän karttuessa enemmän.
Tulee mieleen Wicker Manin soundtrack. Kolmosen ja nelosan välillä keikun.
Wtf man. I can definitely find 5000 albums better than this. Painful to sit through.
What the fuck is this shit? They gave these Scottish people a bunch of instruments they didn't know how to play and they banged on them and chanted shit
Kind of weak. Way less exciting Simon or Crosby. Want to turn off after track 1. Track 2. Track 3. Track 4. Not sure I’m making it much further. Obviously very repetitive but song is called circular song so forgiven. Overtones of religion make me dislike it even more. Track 5. Can’t do much more. I cover up my emptiness with rush because they’re a much better band.
One word: Bizarre. It’s like if a fever dream and LSD had a child, this would be it.
This is the shittiest shit I have ever heard
Psychedelic is becoming a red flag.
go away
I wasn’t really feeling this until the segment from 0:45-2:40 on “A Very Cellular Song.” It’s a 13-minute suite but that little stretch there sounds like something I might hear on a Paul Simon or Vampire Weekend album. The rest of the track is more in line with the other songs — heavy on British folk and old medieval-sounding melodies. (There’s gotta be a better word than medieval for this sound but that’s always what it makes me think of.) “Mercy I Cry City” has a little touch of that Paul Simon sound again. A little Bob Dylan too (especially with the harmonica). Those flashes of modern style drew me in but the emphasis on older styles and structures kept the music at a distance. A lot of songs incorporate psychedelia into the music and I guess that's the modern edge here. But when the base song is still rooted in older, baroque genres, I can find the music grating.
It's kind of experimental and interesting at times but at the core of it's sound is a sound that doesn't really jive with me. I don't love the singer's tone or delivery at all. I'm really finding this to be a pretty annoying record to listen to. I feel like I tend to find most if not all music valuable to some extent and I can find some kind of beauty in it but I just find this to be erratic, directionless, and at times a chore to listen to.
it was like medieval themed
Weird
so so album very whimsical not my favorite
A bunch of hippies that can’t sing
Sometimes hippies make great music. Not this time. They're just being hippies.
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.
Twee eccentric stuff. You gotta be in the mood for it. Acoustic sitar with thingy noise and odd song structure.
It was a good album, the only thing was it seemed a little repetative
Pure hippie tripe. The abstract hilarity behind lyrics such as “he can't dream well because of his horns” followed by a choir of moos was not enough to redeem itself from a single star. Awful.
I was tempted to give this a 5 just for excelling at being bad, but I can't. It's terrible. "Incredible String Band" -- yeah, incredibly BAD.
Beim Blick aufs Cover: oh weh, The Kelly Family is back. Beim Hören: oh weh, die Kelly Family auf Drogen. Ich musste das erste Mal mehrfach auf >| klicken.
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.
Like from an old movie. Chaotic.
Ok
Þetta leit svo vel út. Hljómsveit frá tímabili í tónlistarsögunni sem ég held sérstaklega upp á, ég hafði aldrei heyrt um þetta band svo ég var spenntur. Svo var þetta bara eitthvað hipparöfl sem var hundleiðinlegt.
Total crap.
I went through all the stages of grief listening to this. Is this from 1968 or 1668??
I listened before Christmas, gave it a few days and listened again today. Nothing changed. This is a very unusual album that was more annoying than intriguing. The more it played, the more I was annoyed. Crazy sounds and even the singer sounded a bit like the munchkins from Wizard of Oz at times. Add the flute and you have an album I am anxious to forget about. Did the water song incorporate the audio of someone taking a leak? I know it made me want to pee. This was a very tough listen to complete, let alone twice. I only have myself to blame. 1
1.5 So, this started off kind of weird, but bearable… then Jesus Christ, about halfway through A Very Cellular Song I contemplated if I would have more fun drinking bleach. Clearly these guys weren’t tripping on the same quality acid that The Doors and Pink Floyd were - if all psychedelic bands sounded like this, then I could be convinced that the war on drugs was a good idea. Or, maybe this is just a reminder that psychedelic drugs don’t automatically make you a good musician, there needs to be a base level of talent there. After giving this thing a few subsequent listens, I’ll admit there are some moderately enjoyable aspects buried in here, especially with some of the more sitar-driven stuff (which I imagine could be fun on psychedelics), so I’ll bump up a half star, but that kind of stuff is few and far between a lot of crap. And I mean A LOT of crap. If I never hear The Water Song again, that would still be too soon. Supposedly this album was a big influence on Robert Plant for Led Zeppelin’s debut, and while I’m glad he saw something in here that led to the creation of that album, I’m even more now appreciative that Jimmy Page was the one in charge of producing it.
This albums surely influenced the World Music Genre and is really soothing to listen but, being of Psychedelic era sounds experimental. Music wise it's solid but, vocal and song keys sound off.
The sitar is giving me George Harrison vibes. Not sure what to make of this genre, very much of its time but I'm not sure it has held up over time. But the singing could be straight out of 2000-2010s alternative. The more I listened the worse it got. 1*. Feels like a random array of words. Why is this on this list?? Fuck was it hard to tolerate the longer it went on. That weird dual-channel sax album was better than this. It's white people trying to emulate Indian music in the worst way possible. No dawg, you can't sing in quarter tones, you're just a terrible singer.
Acid folk. Se me ha hecho muy pesado. Un 2.
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.
The Incredible String Band is Scottish psychedelic folk... The highly irregular instrumentation, vocables, harmonies and dissonances... This album is absolutely atrocious.
That was a painful struggle to endure. I think their name got me a little too excited and it all came crashing down immediately and I was pining the whole time for The String Cheese Incident for some reason.
"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 was terrible and I could not get through it
Really pretty noot my style sounded like a cult in the woods in the UK somewhere... strong narratives in the songs... pretty but ignorable and forgettable.
Psychedelic sitar, cheesy vocals.
I had heard good things about this album before, but upon listening, I was pretty disappointed. They have some interesting things going on, but overall I found the album to be a bit annoying.
Weird but not bad. Some ok songs or song but some weird trippy medieval folk stuff.
I was surprised to see this on the lowest-rated list at first because it was a band that played Woodstock and probably had a big cultural impact or something but in reality it makes total sense that everyone hates it because it's the embodiment of the worst stereotypes of psychedelic/hippie music. From shittily recorded shitty vocals singing shitty nonsense lyrics to grating instrumentals made from whatever the band had lying around in the shed they were recording in, I just couldn't make it to the end. There's about 2 minutes at the start of A Very Cellular Song that I liked (goodnight) but I couldn't take any more when i got to the water song and saw there was another 5+ minute song queued up. The only other positive??? is that it really does give off the vibe of being recorded in a dirty commune somewhere in southern California while everyone was on mindblowing amounts of LSD.
Oof, no. Struggled through this. Way too esoteric for me.
Not my style of music but it was interesting.
Didn't like it
The album started off okay. I enjoyed the instruments but then it got worse. This album was hilariously horrible. At least it made me laugh.
I'm no stranger to art for art's sake, and as someone who appreciates post-modern classical and avant garde jazz, the difficulty of this album shouldn't be too off-putting for me. The problem is, I'm just not sure the Art is actually there. Much of the post-modern classical revolution was about challenging the rules and expectations of the prior history of theory and technique. Were they doing that with this album or were they just too fucking high? I simultaneously feel like I need more time with the album to digest and think, but also really don't want to subject myself to more of this. My brain says this might be genius and important; my gut says it's utter garbage.
Folk sicodélico impresionante
I can’t decide if I love this or hate it. Psychedelic folk with entirely too much kazoo. This is an album I most likely will not listen to again, as I don’t do drugs. I’ve decided—I hate it
Old folk music. I quite liked it until the final three songs, which sucked, frankly. Stand-out: Mercy I Cry City
Find this a decent folksy and psychedelic album. Something you would hear at a Renaissance Festival. I think this album would be best served with a few edibles and a glass of mead.
A very curious album, but a bit creepy at times, and not something I would actually listen to. The musical style varies from regular folk/prog to medieval-inspired, with some world music touches. The lyrics are the usual '60s mix of ironic and just plain weird.
Sounds primitive, like a bunch of tripping people playing at a village party. The singer's voice is annoying.
Absolutely dreadful
If you ever wondered what Bob Dylan would sound like if he was a bard in the Middle Ages, here’s your chance. I think you have to be a certain kind of high to really enjoy this album. 2/5 Won’t listen again
awdoawd
Wow. That was a ride and a half. A well earned 3.5 stars.
very weird. 3 sitars.
This is a tough one. I really like the onslaught of avant garde sounds and the wide assortment of instruments especially given that it was recorded in 1967. The downside is the songs - they really aren't doing it for me.
The lyrics (we are the tablecloth, also the table, also the fable of the dancing leaves) and lead vocals are hilarious and stoned out. This sounds like it could have been pulled from the Holy Grail soundtrack. It’s totally late 60s with the combination of folk, Indian, psychedelic and prog. It says alot about UK mainstream radio (or at least John Peel) that this LP would have cracked the top 10 in ‘68. I’m surprised the 1001 score is at low as it is: the instrumentation is nice and it’s the best, IMO, of the worst 10 LPs.
A long, long time ago, and in a galaxy far far away psychedelic folk may have been a popular genre. This music seems very quaint and very very out there today. Perhaps if I grew up listening to Scottish Folk music it would have given me more reference points to get a toe hold. But when you hear unfamiliar stuff like this you it makes you think and it gives you a bit of discomfort but that’s a healthy reaction and it’s helped me discover many new music genres. Nevertheless, it was very difficult to get into this. In particular Swift as the wind was pretty unsettling.
Wasn’t sure if the band was a parody band or not. I had to look it up on song 2 because it sounded like a joke.
I've taken shits far more enjoyable than this.
Eh. Very 60's hippy-dippy. Lots of flowing vocals and Indian instrumentals. Couldn't really distinguished from other albums of similar musical styles, but that might just be because it's not my scene.
I can see how this was revolutionary at the time, and how it influenced music, but it sounded dated to me.
I wish I could go back to when I never knew this album existed 1/5
2/5 nope nope nope
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.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: 1968 automatically sets off red flags in my head. I hope this is interesting & not more homogenous folk/psych from this era. What in the Medieval Times is this? This feels weird for the sake of being weird. But I feel like this band is supposed to be Important so here we go... AFTER LISTENING: well the first couple of songs were a good indicator of the rest of the album. I'll remember this as an Important band to Avoid in my personal listening. AFTER LEARNING MORE: Important due to weirdness/originality. Can't argue with that, I guess. RECCOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: ren faires, bob dylan, acid, the idea of watching a busker in san francisco during ~a certain era~, bands adapting a vaguely ethnic sound to be edgy [#338 generated / #487 reviewed]
Es una especie de folk extraño.
Genuinely diabolical
Too campy for me
I liked this one
Ethereal and weird.
the incredible string band sounds familiar. close but no cigar -excited to listen tho! album cover is cool -very folky which i always really enjoy -loving this minotaur song and all the voices in the back -this is Totally mystical fairy music and i dig it -not loving the loving jesus song especially because its like ten minutes long -water sounds in the water song. everything i could have wanted -some of these songs are really good and some are not hitting the mark for me -overall i’m giving it a 3, because i didn’t love it but did enjoy listening to it -first two songs drew me in and then the rest were eh
I don’t know. I get why this would be hugely influential but it’s tough to listen to. Gotta be in the mood for it.
There is zero chance I ever listen to this again. Every song lasts 45 mins and feels like it lasts 50. Getting through one listen would be a point of pride
eh Will I listen to again: 0%
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.
The people in the reviews rating this 4 or even 5 stars have to be smoking penis and I want the creator of the 1001 list of albums to go to jail for this. This sounds like it's a few guys at a medieval festival throwing a music session for unfortunate kids that were dropped off there by their parents - totally talentless. I've heard some worse garbage on my 700+ album journey so far but near the bottom. And speaking of 700 albums and counting, I can definitively say that the album cover is almost always a tell if the album is going to be decent or not. Turns out you *can* judge an album by its cover. 2/10.
very very folk-y folk music, in the style of most 60s folk bands who thought that a vague attempt at harmony and some plucked banjo makes a good song. it's not BAD, but it is ... a lot.
Celtic folk tunes. It's cool in its own way, but I can't listen to an entire hour of it.
Didn’t really get it. I’m sure from some perspectives it is amazing. I’m just not sure what perspective that is.
yeah no
It was decent. Not sure why they call themselves a string band though.
interesting listen with a lot of irish influence! nothing i listen in the regular but i respect it
p132. 1968. 1 star. 60s folk addled by too many magic mushrooms. Meandering, tuneless songs, pretentious lyrics, and a vocalist singing flatter than a witch's tit. And it has a random sitar and a kazoo. This is an absolute clusterfuck of an album. Avoid. "Never trust a hippy" - John Lyndon
Not completely unlistenable, but something about it just doesn’t mesh well. I wouldn’t listen to it again.
This is a SNL parody of 60s folk music. Utter garbage and completely unlistenable. I like music less after having listened to it. The Water Song is where I gave up. May God have mercy on my soul.
I appreciate the free spirit of this album, though at times it gets off kilter and out of tune to the point where it's hard to listen to.
This one took me several listens to fully digest. This is one strange beast of an album. It almost sounds like incredibly articulate outsider music. I vacillated between being charmed and annoyed by it. The one thing that stood out head and shoulders above everything else was "A Very Cellular Song." I love the way they weaved that one together. A real musical journey. Almost makes me wish they'd stretched it out to a full side of an album and then did the same thing with a medley of their stronger material on the other side. Although I wouldn't put this album on for my own enjoyment, this is exactly the sort of musical challenge I signed up for.
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.
Tried to listen but only got in three songs and couldn’t take it anymore. “What do you mean incredible?? This is not incredible!” Says Aleena 😂 Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: none
Truly horrible.
Yea not bad
Scottish Psychedelic Folk.
Way too many different sounds at once. Not my thing.
Very much of its time. Interesting but not particularly enjoyable.
I didn’t want to listen but I’m glad I did. What a fantastic box of frogs. Could do with a little less tin whistle and sitar, but that’s just a general rule for life.
Were they serious with this one? Not for me.
Not my bag. Not something I will listen to again.
For a long time I’ve wanted to like this band much more than I actually do. They’re a couple songs on their album before this one that I like. Wasn’t getting into this one all that much.
Mouth organ playing alongside a sitar to underlying celtric folk tunes makes for a bizarre listening experience. Perhaps an influence on Comus although less demented. The eclectic mix of instruments seems to get in its own way sometimes, with the occasional fife coming in to play what sounds like a different song. Three is A Green Crown is probably my favorite track on the album.
Some great trippy melodies on this one.
This is some whimsical shit. Not everyone is gonna like this (evidently). I think this record is best experienced through a thick haze of nag champa incense and weed smoke. You're transported to 1967 at the height of the counterculture. There's also a lot of medieval music influence on here which is dope to me. The singer's voice can be a bit much on here at times but I really appreciate the diverse instrumentation the band provides.
This was painful to listen to. It had all the worst elements of the 60s and jam bands. I am worse for having listened to it.
First impression: it sounds like if John Lennon grew up in a small town. Yeah, I can understand why this was really popular in the late 60s. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I love the combination of psychedelic and folk. Kind of wish the singer wouldn't push the bottom of his range so much. He sounds much better in the mid and upper ranges of his voice. The low stuff ends up losing a lot of his nice tonality. And as soon as I typed that out, he hit that really beautiful low note on Nightfall.
I can’t sing and I can’t play a music instrument so save my life. However, neither would prevent me from being a member of this band. What on earth were they on?
I wanted to like this, but all the pitchy tones and excessive jangle just wore on me
Nope
Jokes and the rest of the album aside, the last 2:40 of A Very Cellular Song are absolutely beautiful
Based on the reviews on here, I'd expected a very polarising album. However, that's not my experience. It was silly and sloppy at times, but it was endearing and had its own charm. I'm not going to say it was a transcendental experience or anything, but there were enough moments of interest to keep me hooked. It is silly, though.
(gif of that little girl side-eyeing the camera, the one from the video where her older sister finds out she's going to Disneyland)
Psychedelic folk is not my thing. Listened once and didn't enjoy it. Mythological trippy folk just wasn't what my ear was looking for.
This was a struggle to get through for 49 minutes. At times felt like a joke.
I was distracted a lot while listening but mostly I was like “this is a lot” and was okay being distracted
I wish I hadn't known this was one of the lowest rated albums on this entire list. I really do, because I think I probably would have given it a 2 or 3. It's fine, if a bit amateurish. I like the hippie folky weirdness of it. But y'all are overreacting so much that I need to offset your frankly insanely low ratings and adjust the average rating here a bit. This album isn't great, but it isn't even in the bottom 100 on this list.
at any point in this album you may hear: harmonica, a jaw harp, a harpsichord (i think), maracas, a piccolo. at one point, i’m pretty sure i heard a kazoo??? all of this music is played during nonsensical medieval-inspired lyrics. in other words, this sounds like a parody of a band that you would hear during scarborough fair. please, don’t ever make me listen to this again.
Stop trying to kill me!
Mad. Mixtures of prog folk and psych.
I appreciate the sentiment of experimentation and psychedelia, although it did not pan out so pleasingly here. I liked more tracks, but they felt a little stale. Better luck next time. 2/5
L'acid folk és un d'aquells géneres necessàriament minoritaris. No he pogut penetrar ni en un sol dels discos etiquetats sota aquest paraigües. No només són imprenetrables, sinó que a més et deixen amb un maldecap intens, per més breu que sigui la seva escolta. Conglomerat d'influencies que abarquen rock, psicodèlia, jazz i, obviament, el folk més tradicional, la suma de tot plegat és un batiburret que sona a tot i a la vegada no sona a res. El disc que ens ocupa és un perfecte exemple de tot l'anterior. Hippie en tota la seva extensió, rural i pretesament bucòlic, deu ser un fill molt propi del seu lloc i moment, perquè escoltat en ple 2023, no pot sonar més desfasat i obviable
I surprisingly liked this
1- rerating
DNF
Es un embole. Musica antigua con sitares y eso. Tiene alguna safadita.
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.
A mess of psychedelic folk experiments, but it's oddly endearing. I can see why this would be a love it or hate it kind of record. I can't imagine being in the mood for it often, but it was interesting to listen to.
Ikkje for meg. Kan setta pris på de psykedeliske elementene, men blir for masse erketypisk britisk sånn ellers
Not feeling this Celtic Hippy Shit
This is odd coming on the heels of King Crimson, because we're back at the shire. It's just that it's a lesser one.. Better than Jethro Tull's shire, but still derivative and weird.
I think I saw these guys performing at the Renaissance Festival. They were groveling for some mutton and goulash. Attendees threw rotten tomatoes.
The Hulk is incredible. That lovely animated family of Fantastic Four rip-offs is incredible. Kimmy Schmidt is incredible. Walter Mitty’s life was… kind of incredible. This is not incredible. This is awful British hippie folk worse than Pentangle. And I partly blame the Beatles for bringing Indian and eastern music back to people who abused it.
I think when you put the word Incredible in your band name, you’d better bring it. And I don’t think “use a lot of sitar” really gets you there. Also this is our second day of use of flute and let me just say, as a former flute player, no thank you.
Renaming them The String Band. There is nothing incredible about this album. There were less than 2 minutes of tolerable music from about 1:00 to almost 3:00 of The Very Cellular Song. The rest of the album is various antonyms for incredible: unspectacular, terrible, bad, and poor.
60s hippies playing weird, but not always bad, folksy/medieval/psych music
me recordó a los beattles salvando las distancias
Feels like one massive joke on the listener and maybe that’s the intention. If they act like this in real life they’d be insufferable. On record? Also insufferable.
🥱
Couldn't listen this one to the end. Pretty boring for me and nothing especial
If this were playing at a medieval faire, I would not leave.
For a moment I thought I'm listening to some Indian music lol.... quite cute in some ways
Not for me
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.
You can only imagine the amount of Acid that was consumed in the making of this album
Nothing but good vibes, listening is like hanging out with a group of friends and just jamming together having fun.
No
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.
Yikes, this was terrible.
Witches Hat sounds cool so far. Some of it reminds me a little of Bob Dylan vocals (not all of them).
When it first started I thought the very low rating was perhaps too harsh. It didn't take too much time into the record before I really started to hate it. I just want to know how it got on this list? Just awful.
2.5
Each song is in an 'ok' world of its own. But as a collective on an album devoid of talent and creativity.
Most listened tab looks as if only 1001-ers try to endure this cacophony and fail right about midway. Peculiar, isn't it? Let go, let it become history. Please.
Padaka
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.
3/5
Not a fan of this one.
Bit too hippy for me.
It's a hot mess tbh, but so is a lot of stuff I like. Not boring at least! Also don't feel like I'll ever really want to come back to it (if the lyrics were a little less silly then I honestly might). I guess that's a 3?
Mumford and Sons meets Belle & Sebastian, a sitar player, Nico, an 18th century sailor & Bob Dylan. I don't need to listen to again but not unlistenable. Actually went on a bit.
So... the vocalist is just bad. Can't hold a note, just offkey through everything. I wish autorune existed in this era so that at least they could have fixed that. There has to be other albums that are actually good that showcase the techniques found in this album. At least I know that if I see this album on a list of best albums of all time, I should dismiss the list as trash.
You know, it's rare that I encounter an album that I instantly dislike as much as this album. I'm generally not a folk person, and I'm especially not a this-kind-of-folk person. A lot of these songs sound like Monty Python songs that were cut when they realized they forgot to put jokes in. I will say that the album starts to pick up around A Very Cellular Song, though that only lasts for a few tracks, and then we're back in the doldrums Reading about it, I guess I can understand why this album is significant, but listening to it, I just don't understand at all. Looking at the other reviews of this album, it seems like lots of other people felt the same. It's either 5 stars or 1. 2/5 There were moments that I thought this was okay, but otherwise this is the type of album that we should probably destroy every copy of for the advancement of the human species