Reviews (page 4 of 8)
After a few listens this album was actually a lot better than I gave it credit for at the start. I never really got used to his way of singing, but the songs are diverse and of a high quality
pretty ok
4.0
At first I thought this was going to be a weird as hell album. I was right. But, it had great variety of easy listening and very much kept my interest. Go Down Easy and Man In The Station stood out to me the most. I appreciated this a lot and I’d definitely listen to some of the songs again.
Eltrapeze et moi sommes d'accord là-dessus, John Martyn s'est très bien appliqué à nous baiser la gueule avec cet album.
John Martyn se propose ici de venir nous Gene Clarkiser la gueule sans vergogne, et on en redemande.
Classic
Very relaxing listen, nothing really stuck out to me, but some great soothing music.
Röddin aðeins of kæruleysisleg á köflum, og sumt ekki grípandi við fyrstu hlustun, en mörg lögin ansi góð og hljóðheimurinn er mjög töff.
Molto bella 'Solid Air' calda, suadente, sexy È tutto molto bello!
Took me awhile to get used to the singing style, but I really liked the variety of styles and instrumentation on this album. Some really great understated saxophone, electric piano and vibraphone runs on many of the songs. The more straight forward blues tracks were a bit forgettable, but overall a solid album.
This album has been on my radar after Produce Like a Pro’s excellent video, but I only now got around to it. Good sfuff! Martyn had an exceptional ear for influences and melds sounds together that work better than they should. I definitely will look harder for a copy now. B
Good stuff., a variety of folk and groove. Check out more of his stuff, there’s a lot.
Never heard of John Martin and expected to not enjoy this based on the reviews. But while reading about him and listening, I grew intrigued and enjoyed this album. 4/5.
one of the gem from the 1001. Nick Drake vibe - love it.
Very great album! Jazzy folk in the style of Nick Drake, how can we not love it?
Completely new to me. Enjoyed much more than I expected to given the genre, and will be checking out his other work. Love the cover art as well. Decent discovery.
To me, there are few more perfect songs than “Over the Hill,” so I was disappointed to learn that the rest of the album is not equally great. It’s still a solid album, I just wanted a little bit more
The singer's mumbling doesn't always work, but I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt and let it grow on me. The reason I want to do that, is the band on this album is superb and the arrangements are lively, interesting and diverse. The double bass, the organ, so tasteful, so subtle yet effective. This all coming from someone who is not a fan of this kind of mellow folk-rock, but John and the band won me over. Dreams By the Sea in particular is just a wonderful song. I award John 4 devils to help him get his woman back! 😈😈😈😈
Very nice, reminiscent of Nick Drake. I'd heard a couple of these songs before but it was great to listen through the entire album. 4 stars.
Kinda ethereal, jazzy, pretty interesting.
folkzao bem tri
This really helped me to understand where a lot of the psychedelic indie sound of the Y2K era came from. If you're a Gomez or a Beta Band fan, it helps to know your roots.
Kinda chill folksy feels. Pleasant.
So far so good, like a few songs like may you never, don’t wanna know etc.. very nice drakey vibes
That is a pretty good album cover
Just weird enough for me to like. Sounds like 70s psychedelic prog mixed with a bit of country & Funkadelic's Maggot Brain (which I listen to on a weekly basis). What an odd album - and I mean that as a compliment. I'm adding this to my chill/funk playlist.
Soft and sweet but too quiet for me
A really interesting blend of genres that I did not expect to like. 8/10
Interesting. I’ve never heard of him before today. Pseudo Nick drake, part James Taylor.
Never heard of John Martyn before, but really enjoyed this, good mix of folk, jazz and even some blues near the end, an album I’m going to come back to.
not my favorite style but good.
Beautiful album. Never heard of it. Amazing. Wow.
A very long time since I last heard this. Of the time but remains a fine collection.
Perfect for my mood today
Glad I’m back in time for mr John Martyn. Never heard of him. Unique and ahead of his time way back in 73? I love the guitar work. Some of it reminds me of James Taylor without the nasal. Night club psychedelic. Brown shag carpet and beads for doors.
First listen started slow and then the last bunch of songs were really good, going to listen again and report back. Why does he sing about jelly so much? He’s a jelly guy ig 🤷🏻♂️
Pretty good I liked it
I've never heard this but really enjoyed most of the album. I will definitely check out more John Martyn. Thanks 1001 Album Generator
I hadn’t heard any John Martyn before and wow, this album is incredible. I’d immediately made comparisons to Nick Drake before reading that he and Martyn were friends and Solid Air was written as a warning and homage to Drake who sadly died 18 months after release. I’d Rather Be The Devil (a Skip James cover) evokes the grittiness of Nick Cave which I love. My only gripe is this track goes on probably 2:30 too long with an instrumental. Also not massive on the sax solo on Dreams By The Sea though the rest of the song is great. Highlights: Solid Air, Over The Hill, Don’t Want To Know, I’d Rather Be The Devil, Dreams By The Sea, The Man In The Station Were it not for the 2 gripes listed above I’d have given this 5/5. I’ll be looking for this record on vinyl
Really enjoyed this album, listened to it 3 times and added a few songs to a playlist.
Love this Album, added it to my favorites.
I liked these chill vibes. Really pleasant for driving around and doing housework, which is what I was doing as I listened to this. Probably wouldn’t listen again but I liked this.
Nice soothing sounds. Enjoyable album
A very impressive album — I love how it transforms from seductive psychedelic music to mellow folk-rock to Doors-y hard blues to jazz. Very cool for a folk rock album to be so dynamic and eclectic. Highlights: “Solid Air,” “Go Down Easy,” “Dreams By the Sea”
Quite a comforting route down the ever expanding worldview of one John Martyn. With this listen, I can see what the fuss is all about whenever this record was concerned and its dive into proto-dub experimentation is an all together worthwhile experience. Solid, indeed. Favorites: Solid Air, Over the Hill, Don't Want to Know, Go Down Easy, Dreams by the Sea, May You Never, I'd Rather Be the Devil (Devil Got My Woman) - Live.
has a few hidden gems: don't wanna know, dreams by the sea, the main in the station. 7/10 empassionate, gritty
Never heard of John Martyn. Great voice... Nice and Chill. Really good album added my playlist.
Mellow Moodz
It took me a time to really warm up to this album, but I did. It has a nice variety of easygoing sounds in different genres: folky, bluesy, funky. Good stuff.
On first listen, I gave the album an "okay". There was definitely enough there to compel me to listen again, and it grew on me. I liked the variety of song styles, and it ended at a "good" for my rating.
This was new to me. Definitely heard the influence of Nick Drake in early tracks. But then I might've mistaken Dreams By the Sea for Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield. Nice mixture of sounds. Solidly enjoyable.
Interesting... reminds me of Nick Drake.
Jack johnson, Dat chu??
Wanted to give it 3.5 but since that doesn’t exist, I’ll give it 4. Very unique sound and flow to the album that had me entranced. Very cool!
S'écoute bien, un bon son et une bonne ambiance.
I grew up listening to a lot of 70’s albums in this psychedelic/jazz/folk fusion kind of style so this felt very much like a warm hug. I can totally see this not being everyone’s cup of tea, and the mumbling was a little ridiculous at times. But overall I loved this album and am so excited to tell my dad about it (I’m sure he’s already familiar!).
I genuinely enjoyed the funk and groove in this album. There was enough to keep me interested and excited to come back for more. The first track is odd with the slurred vocals, but the rest of it really slaps.
Really enjoyed it.
This is a great album, John Martyn is an artist in the true sense of the word, painting lyrical pictures with his voice and his use of, then, Hi-Tech equipment. I love the stories about John and Danny Thompson and there antics when on benders, but more than that I love the chemistry they have on this record. Guitar and Double Bass in synchronicity like I have never heard before. I love the eclectic nature of this album, from complete folkiness to the soul inspired Dreams by the sea. Favourites on this are "Solid Air" "Go Down Easy" "Dreams By The Sea" and of course the classic, and probably John's signature track "May You Never"
Interesting, parts reminded me of Gomez
Yo this was cool. Weird story about the song solid air, too. Will listen again.
I have never heard John Martyn before but really liked it. Very chill. Super relaxing.
This is possibly the most laid-back album I have ever heard. Smooth, jazzy, mellow without being mere wallpaper. The mixture of jazz, folk, blues and a little bit of rock is wonderful. I knew the title track already, but was surprised at how much each song has its own identity. I listened to this three times through in a trot. This goes onto my want list. Was it massively influential? Possibly not, but a great, great record.
A delightful album, moody and captivating, there is something very satisfying hearing his vocals and guitar together. Jazzy, folky, sometimes a bit rocky.
Previous to this listen I only knew JM from the Church with One Bell covers album. His cover of Portishead is transcendent. This album is dynamic, arty, folky, a little druggy… I’m all about it! Solid 4.5 stars! Rounding down because I heard Nick Drake in my late teens/early twenties, so the laws of imprinting mean his albums get the round up.
Love this album. Mood, feel, sound, all great. A few songs are auto skips for me though so not a 5 star record. The good bits are still great though.
pretty nice discovery
This one didn't grab me as much as the other one but still I think it deserves a bit more time. Fave: Solid Air
Solid selection! Though different from, it would fit well in a listening party with Steely Dan and Neil Young, maybe Allman Brothers Band. Unhurried, soulful, unique.
riktigt starkt!
Love it. Jazz, Blues, and Folk make a mix of great sounding music that I’m surprised isn’t more common. Very chill easy listening album. this album is great cover to cover.
This was a grower
Mama said finish your British jazz folk before you eat your dessert and I said fill me up mommy
Never even heard of this guy before, can't believe that, this was more than a folk record. I loved it.
This music is executed very well. John Martyn is exceptionally musically literate and manages to bring together folk, jazz, and soul into one coherent whole. Incredibly, his playing and song structures reflect an incredibly nuanced understanding of his music works such that it doesn’t sound like he’s just adding jazz flourishes for color, he understands what he’s doing and why it works. The vocal delivery is reminiscent of Nick Drake and overall this music is identifiable at the outset as part of the British folk movement
Throughly enjoyed this, weired in places but incredible in others
An album to listen to after an all night party, you're having a night cap and the sun is just beginning to come up. Just great. Best Tracks: Solid Air; Over the Hill; May You Never
Thoroughly enjoyable album. Like a more-accessible Nick Drake meets Jonathan Edwards, both of whom I enjoy quite a bit. It's simple in one sense; acoustic guitar, Rhodes piano, bass, some drums, vocals. But for every nice simple tune like "May You Never" there's quiet jazz like "Solid Air" and spacious and anticipatory latter part of "I'd Rather Be the Devil" - the other standout is "Over The Hill" The album ends a little weakly with a few straight blues tunes... "The Easy Blues" wouldn't be a favourite of mine with the affected blues vocals but the great acoustic playing overrides it and makes it a good listen. Still, it is more diverse than I'd expected and all in a nice and tidy 34 minutes. 7/10 4 stars.
Pretty good singer-songwriter fair. I like the wide range of influences and styles but also the consistent dreamy quality and undertones.
Proljetni za proljeće. Sretna godina dana ❤️
Ovo je stvarno zanimljiv, ležeran i dobar album. Takve kombinacije su me baš ugodno iznenadile i sviđa mi se. Kombinacija folka, đeza i bluza strpanom u 35min ljepote. Stvarno zaslužena četvorka i drago mi je da je kvalitetan album obilježio 365. album.
At first I thought this was going to be an annoying 70s folk, singer/songwriter thing but it turned out to be a really interesting mix of folk, jazz, funk, blues. I've never heard of this guy but glad I got this album
Heard this a lot as a kid at home. Happy trip down memory lane
Belle découverte, certaines chansons ont une esthétique atemporelle ; elles auraient pu sortir aujourd'hui.
Ended up with this mainly as background music. Enjoyed it and may need to get hold of it.
Lovely (except the first track, a real mumble fest)
Nice and relaxed, with some catchy melodies and interesting production. I liked it a good deal, but my man sounds absolutely zooted out of his gourd half the time lol
Soulful blues, this is good depression muzak.
calm, need to listen again in a different mood
I prefer the unplugged songs. Makes me wonder myself enjoying the sunset at some nice place.
Solid 4.
Okei. Kansikuvan perusteella odotin jotain full scifi-syntikkameininkiä, että siinä oli heti lievä pettymys. Sitten heti ensivaikutelmana hidastemposta valittavaa mies-ja-kitaramusaa ja vielä ärsyttävällä lauluäänellä, niin suhtauduin kyllä aika nuivasti. Mutta lopulta kuitenkin lämpenin tälle fiilistelylle, ja oikeestaan tykkäsin aika paljon. Lämmin ja miellyttävä kitarasaundi ja paikoin tosi meneviä ja tarttuviakin biisejä.
Ah nyt on herkkää. Hienosti siirrytään isosta tunteesta pieneen ilmaisuun. Go Down Easy kaunis värssy. 4/5
I really enjoyed this one. There was some other John Martyn album earlier in the list that I listened to and didn't care for, but this one was great!
Really enjoyed this!! Felt a bit slow at first but picked up around 3 songs in and then I was IN! I'd Rather Be The Devil was a highlight, also liked the way he sings in Go Down Easy
Solid and chill. Totally lovely
Proper lovely, diverse and interesting album. A bit jazzy, a bit folky, a whole lot nice
Possible John Martyn's best album?
One of those artists I've head mentioned many times over the years, but never listened to.
Trippy, bluesy, spacey, raw vocals loved it.
Oh, now this was really good - smokey jazzy bluesy - right up my street - a couple of tracks added to the favourites list
Sounded like a lot of different genres rolled into one. I had never heard of him before, but this was definitely pleasant to listen to. Nothing really stood out, but overall I liked the album. First song was probably my favorite - Solid Air.
Great
This is the kind of jazz influence I can dig. I'm a fan of folk/singer-songwriter in general, and this album really hit the spot for me personally.
Never heard of John Martyn before. Nice relaxing folk album, great for a quiet night. This is going on my replay list.
Solid Air: is he drunk?!
Really nice. Guitar focused so that immediately grabs my ear. I thought the whole album flowed well and blanketed the ear nicely.
Low-key vibes and songs that draw you in, even on the first listen. A clear outlier in the singer/songwriter genre, at times recalling the jazzier phrasing of Joni Mitchell. A solid listen that has me interested in exploring more of his catalog.
Folk-rock-jazz.
Bon Iver che entra in un saloon e si mette al piano. Non sparategli! Perfetto sottofondo, tutto l'album
Loved this one, wow! Same vein as Nick Drake was my first thought, and cool to hear he dedicated at least one track on here to Nick. Love the quieter tunes, especially opening the album. Also cool that he explored some jazzy/bluesy territory, but all in the singer-songwriter style. Might be lame to say, but this is a great album to put on and just catch a vibe. I'm very into this project. Favorite tracks: Solid Air, Over the Hill, May You Never, The Man in the Station, Gentle Blues. Album art: Really awesome cover. I feel like I've seen this before, but not sure. Love the simplicity of it, and the art is just really fascinating. Apparently an image meant to demonstrate that air is, in a sense, solid. Hell yeah. 4.5/5
3.5.....4 or 5 good tracks ...from the past May you never lay...
Had not heard of this guy. This was a cool, soulful album, and ai really enjoyed it.
This was very pleasant. Enjoyed it.
jazzy and quiet title track. over the hill is a cool song. strange cover of devil got my woman, interesting. some songs kind of like nick drake, with some stangely funky and atmospheric, interesting, may take more listens. The easy blues is nice
Such a beautiful album, but "I'd rather be the devil" is two songs ... That didn't have to be on the album at all imo. "Over The Hill" is the perfect song to leave work to! "Don't Wanna Know" is so chill. "May You Never" is probably the best song on the album, but I'd gotten familiar with "The Man In The Station" some time ago, and I absolutely love that too. Almost a 5'er, if two songs weren't included. 4/5
The first track is very moody, as a tribute to Nick Drake should be. I like the breathy sax solo and the spacey electric piano (throughout). Overall, I prefer the moody and introspective folk numbers. When he kicks it up, the instrumentation is great but his voice, to me, is better suited to mellower tracks. Eric Clapton and Beth Orton covering a couple of these songs says a lot about his composing skills.
Sounds low key and mellow what i want today.
Non conoscevo John Martyn manco di nome. L'ascolto è stato interessante e ho trovato il suo stile davvero personale e avanti coi tempi. L'uso che fa della voce potrebbe forse stancare ma io l'ho trovato invece interessante e abbastanza originale, alla fine va un po' in direzione Tom Waits ma con una vena più blues e meno sbroccata. Per me è un 3.75 però me s'è incastrato il dito sul 4.
Hadn't listened to this album for years and had low expectations but after some repeated listening could appreciate it much more now. Thank you 1001albumsgenerator :-)
Initially thought this was a bit pedestrian, but as the songs progressed, I got more into it. On the second listen, I could appreciate the musicianship more (especially the jazzy elements), even got used to the voice and really enjoyed the album overall.
Again slow music, but good!
True Rating: 83/100
May you never, great tune - album is solid! Will be looking for this guy to add to the collection!
Big fan of this one!! Bring more like this!
Cool album. Warm, summery vibes, surprisingly jazzy and soulful. Beautiful guitar work. I love Martyn's voice. Spotify had recommended "The Man in the Station" to me before, which I enjoyed, but I hadn't taken the time to explore him further. So glad I had the opportunity to hear more today. Fave songs: The Man in the Station, Don't Want to Know, May You Never
Great little find. Wonderfully sung, great songs and great vibe
Definite traces of Nick Drake and Richard Thompson with lilts of jazz.
Great sound
Heel afwisselend album, met hier en daar wat mosterd voor o.a. Bon Iver. Ik vond het een leuke verrassing, en eentje om te onthouden, maar net geen 5/5 waard
Two songs to this never heard before album or artist; I LOVE his jazzy voice and arrangements. Great, percussive guitar playing. Really enjoying this first listen.
some brilliant songs, and varies from track to track, no two sound the same.
Infesting album. Lots of rhythm and blues based music. Straight up blues along with music that sounds more like Jim Croce. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. I
Smooth and great!
Sonido jazz , y guitarra acústica me gusto
Smooooth! Love Solid air, dreams by the sea, Easy blues, solid air, over the hill, and don't want to know. I give it a 9/10. Tons of genres explored on this album, which keeps it fresh. I can hear some similarities with Nick Drake, but this is way better. This probably deserves to be a household name. It's not really my genre, but I have grown to respect it after about 4 listens through the album.
Não é muito a minha vibe, mas havia músicas excelentes, destaco o Don't Want to Know. Não tenho muito a dizer é o que é, um álbum com uma vibe de jazz e rock bastante agradável. Nota:7/10
My dad brought this to my attention last year. Folk rock is not really my thing, but damn this is quality. He has a deep, smooth, sometimes almost slurred voice. The music is clean and detailed folk rock, with some strong touches of blues. Tracklist is slightly weird, as it feels the first side is folky and the flipside is more rock. I'm not a fan of that division. The whole thing has aged really well! Sounds fresh as the day it was bottled. 4/5
is good
Great album. Martyn has nice voice. Good lyrics.
Enjoyed this very much!
Over the hill is a club masher. Good vibe, but feel like I prefer other JM. Going to investigate ****
I can only describe this as psychedelic country/folk music. He has such an interesting way of playing guitar, but it makes it very worth listening to. I loved this album!
This is smooth as hell. John Martyn has a voice that makes this record so crisp, it's hard not to enjoy it. Also comes with interesting and varied instrumentals that keeps things fresh. Solid record.
I loved that I'd never even heard of this guy and he's soo talented! Good first listen, hope the rest of the albums are as good.😊
First time listen and a really surprisingly enjoyable one. Will listen again.
Surprisingly good. Listen again
Guter Typ der seine zwischen verschlafenerer Melancholie und barbituratiger Verwaschenheit unentschlossene Stimme über psych-jazzige Stücke auslegt, wie der Dude seinen Teppich. Ein vergleichbar freier, kauziger Geselle könnte in Ryley Walker gefunden sein, dessen Kombo ebenfalls aus der Jazz Szene zusammengesucht ist und dem Sound eine handmade Wärme verpasst. 4.2
Folk-rock-jazz.
Very mellow. Enjoyed listening to this. Like a male Joni Mitchel at times.
1973, folk Rock, folk Jazz, folk, Chilliger vibe, paar Lieder die eher einen traurigen klang haben sind einfach banger
Solid album. Fantastic acoustic guitar playing. He plays it almost like it’s a percussion instrument. I enjoyed the double bass on the album and the overall production. Good album!
Liked it.
Really enjoyed
Gritty and moody. Really vibe-y album that is worth another listen to. Especially ‘The Easy Blues’ and ‘Go Down Easy’
Folksy Nick Drake Vibes Bluesy, jazzy, folksy in parts. Upbeat but sad.
Really cool album. Slick folk guitar and interesting vocals. 8/10
Good vibes. Bounces between acoustic blues to funky jazz. Deff an album I would throw on for certain moods.
holy crap this album came out of left field and i loved it! the soothing songs mixed with the longing, hard-to-swallow and well crafted lyrics and composition made for an amazing listen.
Wide-ranging and really interesting listen throughout. Reminiscent of Nick Drake, but more ambitious and harder hitting.
I feel mixed about this album. I mostly like it, but there’s stuff that sort of annoys me on it, like I can only understand what he’s saying about half the time.
surprisingly pleasant for music that is not my style
Very nice.
Great introduction to John Martyn, I will definitely be adding him to my rotation. Excellent guitar and good ambient sounds mixed with folky tunes/lyrics. Highlights: -Over The Hill -Go Down Easy -The Easy Blues
Hella funky. Great album.
Dreams by the Sea feels like I'm in the start of Dirty Harry. Dripping with 70s cop movie. Liked it way more on the second listen.
Não é muito bom, mas eu gostei. Tem clima de surf rock.
Rich sound- both guitar and voice. I liked the 5 songs I listened to. Would listen again. Didn’t feel dated.
Very nice. Kind of cozy and relaxing.
Folk to funk to folk.
very very good
Sweet bass
Sweet marriage of folk and jazz.
Great album that is genre bending and never boring. Dilling into folk, pop, rock, jazz, blues and doing it all great
Not half bad! A precursor to soft folk rock singer songwriters like Jack Johnson and Citizen Cope. Something I could see myself coming back to.
Surprisingly great folk album with some psychedelic elements
Whattawow
Best leuk. Sommige liedjes erg mooi, sommige een beetje saai
Для фолка это необычно и даже интересно
Musically quite nice, vocally very weak and mumbling. Evens out to a 3/5
pretty decent
There some interesting stuff going on in this album, a bit of jazz, a bit of funk, some blues, some folk. But Goddamn I hate those mumbling tracks!! The rest was pretty good, Go Down Easy was the standout. 3.5* rounded down to 3* for the mumbling.
this was fine, but more like background music for me
Not really my speed. The fella's voice grated a bit. Wasn't awful, I did really dislike the title track though. The rest was a relatively easy listen.
Dude I literally fucking love nick drake. I'm so excited for this. This is hype as hell. Big big fan. It goes so well then he just hits you with some bullshit. What is this funky beat. No we're so back it's soo comfy. Just funky little tunes. I like them. Easy listening. Just nothing particularly special. Idk just enjoyable tunes but nothing to write home about. Why is this song here again Favourite: Go Down Easy Least favourite: I'd Rather Be The Devil (Devil Got My Woman)
This was interesting, it sounded very modern and I liked his voice. I read he was friends with Nick Drake whom I prefer, but it was good, I just don’t know that I would revisit.
No se que pienso. No es nada del otro mundo pero tiene momentos muy chulos, no está mal.
Kinda repetitive
Well performed if slightly unremarkable. Gentle and pleasant, which has its time and place
He was trying to hard to sound like an American blues/R&B singer.
Rating: 5/10 Really wanted to like this more than I actually did. It might click for me more if I gave it more listens but I found it inconsistent track to track. The shifting vocal styles and songwriting felt hit or miss, despite what was really a unique interesting mix of jazz and blues instrumentation by who I think is a folk rock artist. The title track and I'd Rather Be the Devil didn't really work for me, The Man in the Station did. Well made, unique, not just typical music for 1973 so it was a solid effort
This was fun. Definitely felt like if Nick Drake got a little more experimental and blusey, but still felt very Nick Drake coded. Some songs almost felt like The Doors in a weird way. Overall, I enjoyed it!
it wasn't that bad, but not really my type of music.
An excellent well constructed album. Plenty of decent tunes more accessible than his previous works
Listened
Is it possible to create a sound so perfectly polished and appropriate for what you're trying to convey that it ends up ultimately kind of boring? This album seems to raise that question. Martyn has created such a skillful mix of jazz and blues with his folk roots that the result often comes out sort of . . . bland? That description feels unfairly harsh, but I can't come up with another more apt. It's almost like in choosing the parts of his different source genres that best blend together, he's had to deflate what often makes each most powerful. I like the title track, "I'd Rather Be the Devil" and "Dreams by the Sea," but I'm not convinced they or anything else will linger in my mind for much more than a day or two. I guess I'm saying that while this is a pleasant enough way to spend three-quarters of an hour, don't expect it to be any more than that.
In places, he sounds a lot like his friend Nick Drake, but I feel like Martyn brings a wider range of influences. Sometimes they work pretty well, like the jazzy bass, other times not so much, like I could do without his attempts at the blues.
Good voice, good vibe
Not more folk, generator, haven’t I had enough lately?? Thankfully, this is more interesting that most, with elements of jazz and avant-garde sort of stuff. I didn’t mind his voice (much better than a lot recent folksters that I’ve heard) and the arrangements were worth a listen. Not something I’d be likely to go back to, but worth hearing once at least.
70s folk rock. " Folk, jazz, blues and space rock, wrapped around riveting, unforgettable melodies.""
Dulcet tones.
An enjoyable easy-listening album.
Not bD
Second track “over the hill” tells of Martyn’s drunken walks home from the pub in Hastings a town he lived in and one I’ve called my home for 20 years. There’s a terrible mural of Martyn in town which really isn’t a tribute to this album. His voice has far more depth than you imagine and he adds interesting musical ideas that stray into the world of jazz often. A slightly less intense Tim Buckley or a more chaotic Van Morrison
ok getting back...
this was fun
Solid Air 3 Over the Hill 3.2 Don't Want to Know 3.3 I'd Rather Be the Devil 3 Go Down Easy 3.1 Dreams by the Sea 3.4 May You Never 3.2 The Man in the Station 3.3 The Easy Blues 3 Score: 3.166666667
Eclectic and enjoyable listen
não ouvi todo mas achei ok
A solid album to have on in the background when very high.
This is a tough album for me to rate, some songs were a 5 (Over The Hill), and in some the singing made me feel like I was having a stroke (Solid Air). It's like in some songs he just decided he didn't feel like properly saying words anymore. Style was all over the place which would be cool if each style was executed well, but they weren't. Holistically, I have to go with a 3.
Ei tämä niin kauheaa ollut kuin aluksi pelkäsin. Ihan mukiinmenevää taustamuzaa ruoanlaitolle oli.
Erikoinen levy, välistä vähän jotain folkkia, mies ja kitara -hommia, sit joku ihme hillobiisi?? Taustalla meni oikein mukavasti kuunnellessa, ei myös kolahtanu mikään kovin ihmeellisesti. Keskivertoa taas pukkaa, tylsää arviointia.
6/10
This record brings together quite a bit of talent from the British folk scene to create a record that combines folk music and the blues with a significant amount of jazz, bringing in quite a bit of improvisation. There's a lot of talent here, but I generally would rather listen to Pentangle or Fairport than this. Still its a solid album and it might be something I develop more interest in in the future.
Solid air is the standout lyrical track as it conceptually captures Nick Drakes state of mine and difference among us. Clever, but Martyn never progresses. Musically, the most interesting track is "Id Rather Be the Devil", but I think it and all the tracks are held back by Martyns seemingly performative vocalizations. The jazz infusion gets an affectation that, for reasons I cant quite figure out, turn me off. The album catches a groovy dude...yes I said that....in a troubled time. And its interesting, but interesting isnt insightful and ive apparently read too much Bloom to enjoy anything but the sublime at this point. The album never crosses over from "unforgettable".
calm luh album
alright
I have not heard this before. There is an interesting mix of folk and early seventies funk alternating in these songs which was unexpected. The folk songs are very reminiscent of Nick Drake, who apparently the title track was dedicated to. It’s funny because that’s the only weak track on the album, which is otherwise pretty great.
3.3 1x want to listen again
Nice.
Alright
Ehhh is pretty alright. The other John Martyn album on this list was okay but nothing to write home about either, so I think my experience with Martyn can be summarized with: ehh.
Solid record
It's alright
atmospheric folk rock Favorite track: Solid Air other picks: may you never, I'd rather be the devil
It's folk, but folk with a little more pep than typical folk. It ramped up at times, and has an out of place closing track. Favorite Track: "Don't Want To Know".
It's 3.5
Good enough, solid, even. Ticks all the boxes and sounds very of it's time. There was quite a lot of this Prog-inspired Folk music going around at the time. I don't think it did anything bad, the album just didn't do all that much for me.
Fine but forgettable
I think that I wanted to like this more but just could not get into it. Obviously good musicianship, but it never caught me.
Somewhere between a folk album and the soundtrack to a very mellow maritime drug experience. There was wandering. There was mumbling. There was also enough atmosphere to make me consider buying bell bottoms and staring at the Pacific for an afternoon.
Engaging at times but overall forgettable
Easy listening but nothing special
Kinda interesting at times.
Experimental, interesting and challenging to rate, this album has highs and lows for me. Plenty to like (enjoyed Over the Hill, Don’t Want to Know, Dreams By The Sea, May You Never, elements of the varied The Easy Blues, ) but the vocals can be grating, as can the extended musical interludes. I think also his contemporary and friend Nick Drake made much better use of the bass and instrumental aspects. Rounded out at a 3 but had to listen twice to get there as I did toy with a 4, just never quite got there.
mi colega no sabe hablar
Had an interesting variety that made for a pleasant listening experience. But, not much else. 3/5
Pretty cool discovery. Some of the mumble singing was a little too cartoonish for me though
Decent.
Even thought not all of it works for me, I have to say this was impressively diverse.
This is Fairly unique although annoying in parts but I could see myself not being displeased with this on in the background. Vocals are weird and I'm not sure I would like it live but works as a recording for the most part
OK, though it might not fit my mood at the moment so I can't really enjoy how slow it is.
13/05/2026 I always appreciate new music and this was new to me. Standing solid in the middle of the road. Didn't hate it, but nothing stood out. Spotify listeners: 658.5k
No private session used for Spotify and no idea what I was getting into. Started out with a sad face, but then I started getting into all the different instruments being used and the impressive guitar work. We got some blues, jazz, folk and some rock. The problem with albums so diverse is that I never know when to put it on, like am I drinking my first cup of coffee then "Solid Air", "Go Down Easy" and "Over the Hill" work.
I thought that I had already gotten two John Martyn albums from this book. Guess not. As I felt when listening to One World, I remain a bit confused as to what Martyn's music is doing that creates a need for this album to be in the book. He was friends with Nick Drake, so perhaps that explains it. Nick Drake is the Sean McVay of music and whoever is affiliated with him is deemed to be a great musician as well. Solid Air is less jazzy and more folk than One World was. So back to my original observation...what separates this music out from all the other 70's folk artists? I would argue there is not much. My favorite tracks: Over the Hill Don't Want to Know May You Never The Man in the Station
A lot of aimless singing and strumming which I don't really care for, but this had some interesting jazzy elements that changed things up and didn't really overstay its welcome
odličan album potpuno zanemaren
Mysigt sound, singer songwriter blandat med blues och jazz. Behagligt men inte speciellt medryckande eller engagerande. 3:a
01) Solid Air - 7,5 02) Over the Hill - 8,0 03) Don't Want to Know - 8,0 04) I'd Rather Be the Devil - 7,0 05) Go Down Easy - 6,5 06) Dreams by the Sea - 6,5 07) May You Never - 7,5 08) The Man in the Station - 6,5 09) The Easy Blues - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,11 (71/100) Current ranking: 473/897
It’s…really quiet and subdued. Maybe just the recording I was listening to but I had a hard time parsing things out at times. It’s pleasant but I’d rather listen to something like Nick Drake.
some songs were really nice but overall it was ok
This reminded me of the Nick Drake album on this list previously. Although I liked this one more I think. Jazzy, bluesy and folksy
I had never heard of John Martyn before this. I dug this album. It is definitely going into the rotation.
Enjoyed this one..will play again.
I like how chill this album is but I must admit sometimes it can be too spacy, with it creating an atmosphere that isn't that interesting and drags on. I would say the positive out weighs the negative; Songs like Over the Hill and Dreams by the sea really grasping my attention and positively reflect what I think Martyn was trying to accomplish with this album. I have never heard folk music like this before so this new landscape has been fun to wrap my head around. Fav tracks: Over the hill, I'd rather be the devil, dreams by the sea, and The man in the station
It’s good, not my genre but I appreciate it. Favorite songs: I’d rather be the devil, dreams by the sea.
Best Song: The Man In The Station. I really liked that mumbling, downhill-rolling style of delivery he used in this song. Worst Song: I'd Rather Be The Devil (Devil Got My Woman). It's a pretty mediocre jazz track. Overall: Fairly forgettable singer-songwriter fare. I didn't hate it, didn't love it, won't remember it tomorrow.
This was fine, but forgettable.
For a rock album, this featured a lot of jazzy, folky sound. Pretty enjoyable and calming. Listened twice.
solidno i lijepo, no malo što se kvalitete tiče vrludavo. neki momenti baš dobri, neki znatno slabiji, neki čisto okej. sve u svemu jedna jako lijepa trojka
3.5
I liked Over the Hill, but the rest was pretty kid folk
folky vibes
I really enjoyed the singer songwriter-ness of this very pleasant album. Except for the last two songs. They took me out of it a lot.
Never heard of him before but enjoyed listening to this album. I thought each track was significantly different than the previous felt like I was on a wild unexpected ride.
nice
I was not feeling this on the front end. Seemed like hipster coffee shop fodder. It grew on me as it played on. I liked the last couple tracks.
A couple tracks on here that I liked (Over the Hill, in particular), but overall I felt like I needed to grow a ponytail in order to enjoy this one more. I’m sure that makes sense.
Thought this could be a 4* based on the strength of Over the Hill. But the rest of the album was a bit lackluster in comparison. Still a cool find since I never listened to his stuff before. 3.25/5
EZ listening but nothing *special*
I’m honestly surprised I’d never heard of one of those quietly influential records that’s been hiding in plain sight. Solid Air drifts between folk, jazz, and a hazy late‑night blues vibe, and Martyn’s slurred, smoky vocals give it a strangely hypnotic pull. The title track sets the tone: warm, intimate, and a little otherworldly. Not every moment lands, and some tracks wander more than they build, but when the album locks into its mellow groove, it’s genuinely captivating. A solid 3.25 out of 5 — not a life‑changer, but definitely worth the listen, especially if you like discovering classics you somehow missed.
I have never heard of this artist. Very laid back vibe. It kind of grew on me as I listened more, but it never really clicked. I'd rather listen to Nick Drake. Not bad, not great. I have to say the picture on the album cover is pretty cool though.
Great album! Really liked it.
Light cool fun good times all around
Pretty interesting album. Standout songs: Over the hill I'd Rather be the Devil Dreams by the Sea
Good
Unknown. Good album.
An interesting album that grew on me as I listened. I can hear musical roots in other music from around the same time but the vocals are different than anything else I know from that era. I wasn't sure about the vocals at first - deep almost rumbling tones - but they grew on me the more I listened. Not sure I'll seek John Martyn out again but I wouldn't move on if any of his music was presented to me again.
Some of this I like a lot, and some is just fine. I’ll go 3 for the songs that are really good.
I’ve heard the name before, but I’m not sure I actually knew any of his music. This album is fine overall, nothing really grabs me, but nothing stands out as bad either. It just kind of drifts by without leaving much of an impression.
I enjoyed this more than the first John Martyn album I got, but I still don't like his singing. I've listened to far too much of this guy over the past half year or so. I'm happy to take a break for the next 40 years or so, godwilling.
2026.03.15
Ok but forgettable
Interesting album, based on the first song I was expecting to NOT enjoy but it actually became quite varied and good! I would say that each song had one thing off about it. I couldn't fully connect with it. Still solid though and I like the 70s folk-esque genre.
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. It's a sort of acoustic, jazzy sound. The vocals are interesting, and while I would not mind listening again, I would not necessarily seek it out either.
fair play
It's like if Nick Drake got into funk
A folk classic! I really enjoyed this first foray into John Martyn’s work the title track is great, ‘Dreams by the Sea’ and ‘Easy Blues’ were other tracks that I felt drawn to. It’s such a cozy body of work. I really enjoyed listening to it as a whole, colour -wise this is a very blue, teal, forest green, mustard yellow tinged piece. It made me feel like I was in a creek in a forest at some times and a hazy farm surrounded by a lush wheat field the next. ‘Dreams by the Sea’ and ‘Over the Hill’ show that beautifully. Ratings wise it’s getting a 3.9/5. I don’t want to seem like i’m overrating a lot of the albums I have enjoyed. That being said it’s a been a good streak!
*1973. British folk. *Odd combo of some cool folk numbers (which I like) and then some much more off-the-wall experimental tunes that sound like a cheap David Bowie. There are also some jazzier and bluesy songs thrown in - it's all over the place. RATING - 5.5/10
Appropriately, it’s solid. I liked it more by the end, as the songs had a bit more force to them that made them more compelling. Earlier songs are still a good listen, but can fall into too much ‘man mumbles over acoustic guitar’.
Had never heard of this guy, but I thought it was a good listen. Very soothing blend of folk and blues. The instrumentation/production in particular stood out to me.
siento que es un muy buen album para poner en un bar
Generally solid album with some nice variety. I don't know if I'll ever have a desire to relisten to this one, but I'm not upset about being forced into this one bit.
I was pretty annoyed with this the first time through - why is this - of so many incredible albums over the last 70 years - on this list? Thankfully I listened again, relaxed a little, found some tracks I like, and am happy to let other songs on the album drift into the ether.
Interesting sound, it remains me of the band call The temptations, a mix of old funk and soul. I liked the first songs, then it became kinda repetitive.
What was that line about jelly rolls? My man got a sweet tooth?
definition of mid
Liked some of it