Solid Air

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

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.

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

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.

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

I just can’t get into his voice. The instrumentals are honestly pretty nice, but the vocals ruin it.

solid. i think i could go up or down depending on my mood, but this was solid. it's peculiar, most notably his mumbling style of singing, but i think the genre-blend atmosphere created here is interesting for the most part. the parts of it that felt like they were plainly folk rather than leaning on the jazz or psychedelic influences were the dips for me. "dreams by the sea" for instance is pretty good, so i could see this album warming up for me over time if i ever happen to throw it on in the future.

Okay so the mumbling singing style is definitely not for me, but I'm thankful its only a problem on like, half the tracks. The instruments, on the other hand, are pretty consistently nice throughout. Its very jazzy folk, conjuring the feel of a smokey backroom bar in the 70s. That alone puts it above most folk I've heard so far, and songs like "over the Hill" and "Dreams by The Sea" I genuinely like quite a bit! It's a little uneven with songs like "May you never" feeling more like generic folk for me. The afformnetioned mumbling singing style unfortunately hurts the album a fair bit in spots especially on songs I would otherwise like (for instance "The Man in The Station") but otherwise I like it. It gets a high 3 for me, not quite reaching a 4 due to the hang ups I have.

Decent enough, didn’t really grab me, but a pleasant listen

Weird mix av indie og jazz

Second song is good nothing else really stood out

Nice background music

Nice quality - have my doubts about some of the vocal deliveries, but a nice album overall. Just maybe not one of the 1001 to listen before you die.

Just OK

Not bad. There was more variety than expected.

Not bad...enjoyed it.

Favorite songs: Over the Hill, May You Never, The Man in the Station

I don't have much to say about this, didn't love it, didn't hate it. Middle of the road for me.

Mumbly fumbly vocals, but the music is great

Few really good track here.

Felt a little disjointed towards the end, however there was some flow between the songs

it was ok not much better than that, It would have been better if he had stopped slapping the guitar.

This quickly became background music. It was far from unpleasant though. My ears pricked at I'd Rather be the Devil; that one was good. There atmosphere was nice, but the vocals weren't, and the songs were a bit meh. Not bad for 70s singer-songwriter but not my sort of thing.

Good folk singer. Good voice, and music.

Meh 2.5/5

Not really my kind of music but it was a nice listen

Was fine

A morning with a star sailor - fantastic stuff!!!!! Love “Solid Air” and “Bless The Weather”. Tom. I liked this, nice start to the day. Charlotte

a bit boring 3/5

in a similar vein to nick drake in a lot of ways, especially on the solo acoustic numbers. his voice has a similar timbre and sound to nick drake's, so i suspect if you like nick drake's music, you'll probably like this. however, this one was a bit hit or miss for me. there's some nice stuff on here, but nothing i found particularly remarkable. his voice is pleasant and there are some nice songs on here, but a lot of stuff i could really take or leave too.

An okay album, I liked Solid Air the most.

Didn’t really know what to make of this, the shift of genre all the time made it a little bit unsettling almost. Quite enjoyed it though, will have to listen again

Slow, moody, folky and a bit experimental are words that describe this album. Uninteresting is also a valid descriptor. I think the most valuable aspect of the record is the moody atmosphere brought by the more smooth jazz oriented tracks. There are also a couple of more energetic songs, like the folky 'Over the Hill' and quite groovy and loud 'Dreams by the Sea', but in general, I think it is fair to call the album gloomy. What creates the special ambience is mainly the quietness of the album. It lacks drums and instead, it is primarily driven by acoustic guitar, raspy and mumbling voice and double bass with the occasional incorporation of other instruments such as the vibraphone or saxophone. While I think this moody feeling is the most remarkable trait, I don't think it is that engaging. I love dark and sad atmospheres, but this one wasn't absorbing me as much as I wish it did. If I had to point out anything more, I guess I'll say that the combination of folk and jazz could be very interesting for anyone else but me. There are also some experimental moments, like the song "I'd Rather Be the Devil (Devil Got My Woman)", but they weren't striking enough to be considered the best parts. I may have described this album as a bad experience, but I think it is decent. Is sounds very clear and unusual, and these are some aspects I always value.

Interesting stuff

It was fine, felt a little too “easy listening” to me and I think that’s because I’ve heard a couple of these tracks on The Breeze radio here. Very cleanly produced which adds to that easy listening vibe. Not one I’d revisit but a nice enough Monday morning listen!

The first track didn’t set the tone for wha was actually a good solid album which grew on me as it went on.

Great voice, but no real stand out songs

Cute little album -- I enjoyed it

3.0

Honestly, I was surprised by the range of this album. At the first song I was not hooked, but there are a couple good tunes in there. Not something I'm likely to revisit though

After the experimental nonsense of Talking Heads, this album art and name is giving similar vibes. Maybe this one is actually good? Never heard of it or him. It's mostly dull as dishwater and the dude seems to be yet another white guy with a fetish for black guys in the Southern US, but when the songs pick up the pace and edge it's better. That doesn't happen nearly enough. When it does, this is good. May You Never is also good. Man I The Station is good. More of that, less of t'other.

pretty interesting sound. very textural and hard to pin down on the spectrum between jazz, blues, and rock. title track is really good. not a favorite but i'm happy i listened to it. deserves to be one of the 1001? maybe? probably not. though it does have importance to its niche so maybe.

Solid Air was quite a good album. I didn't really know what to expect going into this album because i have never heard anything John Martyn has made prior to this so i would have thought this might have been experimental music but as it turns out, its a blues rock album. It sometimes even gives me a Tom Waits sort of vibe (especially with that cover of Devil Got My Woman or I'd Rather Be The Devil as it was retitled) which i really enjoy. The album does feel a bit samey at points but i still liked the album as it had some really good elements, those mainly being the guitars and the vocals. I thought this was a pretty good album. Best Song: May You Never Worst Song: Over The Hill

3.5

Beautiful album, great player and writer I didn't know about, easily worth a 4 or even a 5 within its genre if I knew more of its genre, but my personal rating system is settling more towards I'd buy the album = 5, I'll favorite the album on Spotify = 4, I might favorite a couple songs = 3, so, nice album, might favorite a song or two.

Not my favorite

Enjoyed this! Little bit more interesting than just a straight up folk album, some blues, some electronic experimentation. Listened twice through but nothing was super memorable other than the first song for me. Got groceries up in gimli while listening to this late in the eve. 7.5/10

Super fun. Not an everyday listen

Had its moments, I liked I'd Rather Be the Devil most

Wasn’t a huge fan at first but it grew on me a bit on a second listen. I did like the guitar harmonics, quite a 70s start. Singer/songwriter genre doesn’t generally suit me and ratings are lower but this was tolerable.. 3/5

Revisit

Unexpected, considering dude looks like a substitute teacher.

Nice, chill and atmospheric. Maybe not the album that stands out the most but there are plenty of good songs on this record. “Over the hill” I knew from before and it’s a nice track. Another favourite was “The Man in the Station”. Not much to say, a decent album. Strong 3!

Good but just good.

At first I could not stand his mumbles but then it got interesting.

Bluesy folk music. I didn’t hate it! Sounded good overall.

A little hippie, a little jazzy

John Martyn - Solid Air I quite enjoyed this, expected it to be more folky but it was quite jazz tinged. Pleasant.

This was the first album I had never heard of the artist or any of the songs.

This album really helped through a particularly difficult day for me, so my rating may be a bit biased. Objectively good and interesting songs.

Artiste inconnu. Tiens, un album de folk plus varié que les 60 précédents. C'est ce que je me suis dit à l'écoute du premier morceau, avec un son de contrebasse très agréable et quelques chorus. Mais le second morceau redevient très (trop) standard. Et le troisième est plus original. Et ainsi de suite. En tout cas cette variété m'a donné envie d'aller jusqu'au bout, ce qui n'est pas le cas de la majorité des albums de folk que j'ai subi jusqu'ici. Et à la fin je me suis dit que j'apprécierais peut être de l'écouter de nouveau ! Une découverte intéressante donc, mais qui ne rejoindra pas ma collection (quelques morceaux trop standards). =>3/5

Listened for a while, got bored and listened to Elvis Costello's, Next Year's Model again instead. Went back to try again and practically nodded off. Ambien on vinyl. Don't Want to Know picked things up a bit with a good message and I'd Rather Be the Devil was experimental and bluesy. Then the song, May you Never was really good and reminded me a bit of Yusuf Islam's early stuff and the album finished out pretty well.

I think I like it. Deserves another listen.

I liked the guitar more than the vocals on this one. To be honest as a person whose first language isn’t English i didin’t understand a single word without lyrics in front of my face. Overall it was great and unique experience listening this album.

Yeah. Like Nick Drake only less pleasing.

Some truly gorgeous high points, with some quite annoying fretless bass'd, over-produced noodling. This appearing today was actually a minor case of cosmic alignment: I was attending a funeral at which the closing track happened to be May You Never. What are the chances!?

Not really my cup, but the guitar is rather good. A listen at least once just to hear him. A solid 3 for me.

Más o menos

Interesting album, music shifts that were unexpected, but delightful

Lacking in energy. Understand the artist but not for me.

On some of these tracks he needs to take the marbles out of his mouth…makes Dylan sound like James Earl Jones. Some of the other tracks I really liked and thought they held up pretty well after 50 plus years. The album is just a real mixed bag, and sounds like the artist didn’t really know what he was shooting for…and too many of the songs are a mumble-fest. I guess I will land on three stars for this one. Coulda been four if not for all the mumbling.

Good Album. Calm, bluesy, bit like Fleetwood Mac.

Slightly more grit than Nick Drake, but still on the boring side.

this was just fine for me.

Started really well but died out quite a lot

beds of flowers where we lay half asleep will you hold til the other half comes to me

A solid bit of easy listening!

I liked it. Kind of has a slow start.

sure was fine

Folksy, jazzy, and spacey at times, this album was a pleasantly warm interlude on an otherwise chill, gray, fall day.

It's ok. 3/5

Kad vidim zapadnjački folk odmah mi nije dobro, ali je ovo bilo fino. Neki dijelovi su vizionarski, genijalno mi je koliko ima nestandardnih instrumenata. A neki su više u country smjeru, bar meni tako zvuči. Podijeljeno mišljenje ali ok.