Reviews (page 8 of 8)
Nicht gut
I thought about giving this a 2, because it obviously does have a lot of technical proficiency. But you only live once, and it’s hard to imagine something I would pick this over. Unless I was soundtracking a scene in a movie that was meant to make fun of the vibe of coffee shops in the late 90s. Then I might pick this.
On a streak of albums I really don't care for. I couldn't take his mumbling for very long. On to the next.
# 578 : Solid Air Solid Air – More Like Stale Breeze Clocking in under an hour, the best thing about this album is that it ends. It starts slow and dull—like watching grass grow, but without the beer or the satisfaction of lawn care. Not really my cup of tea, unless that tea is lukewarm and served with a side of confusion. Martyn mumbles through most of it like he’s trying to win a game of musical charades. The vibe? Imagine a yuppie couple dimming the lights and putting this on to set the mood. Now imagine trying to un-hear that. There are moments where I almost dig what’s going on, but they vanish faster than my interest. This album is all over the place, and none of those places are worth visiting. Verdict: ★ for brevity. File under “albums that make you grateful for the stop button.” Best Track (if you must): None worth mentioning. Listened: 29/09/2025
Dull folk- and jazz-inflected soft rock with affected hippy-dippy singing. Detours into some heavy post-"Tomorrow Never Knows" grooviosity on "I'd Rather Be The Devil" but for all of its bluster it leaves little impression.
Nope.
Absolutely loathe this style of vocals and I accidentally did two albums of jazz vocalists in a row, woops. This was perhaps to the detriment of John Martyn's rating. 1.5
This is the 479th album I've listened to, and so far this is my least favorite. Personal enjoyment: 1/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5
But too slow. Wasn't really in the mood for it. Might be better with the right mood.
The first song had me cringing and worried that I was going to have to listen to an entire album of that crap. The rest of the songs weren't as bad but honestly the album is not memorable
No thanks, sweet message tho
11/1001 :: John Martyn - Solid Air Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: 2 Fav Tracks: Over The Hill, Dreams by the Sea I don’t know… I never heard of this album or artist before. There were some Nick Drake / Amigo The Devil type things going on here but honestly I listen to a lot of music like this and frankly I just didn’t find this one that interesting. Some cool acoustic guitar work with some atmospheric elements sprinkled in but I think if the music is gonna be this sparse the vocal needs to be more captivating. Maybe if I spent more time with it I’d find things to love but I got 990 more albums to go…
First listen
This fella is bad at singing.
Ok. I've listened to it only as I decided to listen to every album. It is truly not what I like. Some of the music was good for me, but his singing was an ordeal as was the experience listening to the album but, hey, I listened through. I hope noone ever invites me to have a smoke and listen to it as I would be stuck in an eternal hell.
Weird shit singer
I don’t think weird ass albums like this are must-listens at all. Felt like a waste of time. There were some slightly interesting parts of very few songs but nothing made me want to ever listen to it again.
Not really my type. Too jazzy
Langeweile in der krassesten Form!
I think I found the first number rap album. I'm digging the ambiance. Ok it's the classic first track doesn't sound like the whole album.It's like experimental jazz had a baby with a folk singer. I get what he is going for but it's not landing for me. Usually albums have a flow to them, this album would be better on random I think. The first track is jarring compared to the rest of it. The B side is far better than the A side for me. Overall this album is just an experiment to experience. It's worth a listen although I don't think I'm going to revisit this album.
I'll be honest, I turned this off halfway through. Nick Drake if you neutered and lobotomized him.
mumbling shite, couldn't get past 3 tracks
this was a spectacularly boring album except for the last song: I'd Rather Be the Devil (Devil Got My Woman) which was pretty fun. but the rest... yikes. 1.5/5 stars.
Not available in my places
He was hard to understand in 85% of the songs! The ones I could understand, I really liked.
Awfull
Not for me. 1/5
Why does drivel like this make the list? Too many ageing hippies who think this stuff is relevant to anyone. Hated it.
This sucks. Easy listening Jim Morrison. Whatever this is trying to do you can find better versions.
i give it 1 out 5 because its boring and i dont like it for first songs dosent hype me up. and for rest songs they really dont hype me up.
Do you like music where you can't understand the lyrics? Then this is the album for you! I don't like anything about this album. I can't understand anything he is singing. I don't like the background music, I don't even like the lyrics. That is why I recommend you DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM!
Not my cup of tea.
Eww no
Boring.
Skip…Skip…Skip… 2/10 for one good song
Dill just does nothing for me
This sentence made me throw up in my mouth a bit... "Solid Air is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk singer-songwriter John Martyn, released in February 1973". Everything about that screams RUN! RUN NOW! PURE SHITE! I was mostly right. Dreams by the Sea and the "Jelly Roll" part of The Easy Blues are good. As for the rest... well you know... RUN! RUN NOW! PURE SHITE!
Barely better than his first album on here. Actually, not really. Very dull. Amazing he gets two listings and others get none.
This was poisoned before listening by sharing a name with one of my least favorite people. I also hated it.
Mumbly, droning, dull singing-songwriting. This is the sound of one of the forgettable background musicians in Inside Llewyn Davis, except for the excellent reverberting live version of I'd Rather Be The Devil at the end of the album. Apart from that, I couldn't wait for this album to be over.
Not my style
A bit boring to me. I didn't understand what makes it something in the 1001 albums list.
Not particularly anything.
I don’t have the bandwidth to listen to this
thanks i hated this too
The perfect soundtrack for falling asleep in an MRI tube or filling out a questionnaire at the doctors office.
I don't understand why I keep trying these fucking albums. This is so goddamn terrible...how can anyone think this is vital listening? This site makes me feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
This is why punk rock was started.
Did not listen to it completely.
smooth, slow, boring
I'm not really sure what to make of this. I'm not a big fan of the sound of his voice. Is it folk? Is it funk? Pop? It makes me feel a bit uneasy.
First impressions not great. Track one just sounded like a drunk mumble. But that might be ‘jazz’. Never understood it. Warmed to the next couple of tracks marginally but lost complete interest soon after. Reading wiki I just can believe this fella has recorded so many albums yet I’ve never heard of him. Not saying I know everyone and everything, but if I’ve not come across him in all my years on the planet then maybe there’s a reason.
I can appreciate the fusion of folk, jazz, and funk and the clear impact he had on many musicians. However I can’t help but think maybe someone did it better? Or before him?
J'aime pas du tout.
From the first song I think I’ve heard every John Martyn song. I think I have an irrational dislike of him and Joni Mitchell. Don’t understand it. I suspect it’s because he must take himself wayyyy too seriously. Far too earnest.
This album was jus boring did not really have much to keep me interested
I didn’t initially think I’d ever come across this guy before. I have a deep dislike for singers with lazy enunciation which I had to try to put aside in order to listen objectively. This is, in essence a good collection of songs that I probably would have liked more if sung by someone else. It just feels like an English guy trying too hard to sound American blues-y Too much affectation for the sake of it, too much twangy guitar. I realised when I got to ‘May You Never’ that I had in fact heard it before, it wasn’t my thing then and it still isn’t. That being said that is probably the best song on this album. Overall, really irritating but at the same time bored me to tears.
Lahmer britisch Folk.
Det här var uruselt.
Yeah it’s a mood, right? Masterful guitar picking, just nothing I’m going to crave at a later date. I was distracted away from the album multiple times by other songs that I wanted to hear more.
Meh.
Man, what is that singing on the first song? It's nearly appalling. In fact, this whole album is kind of torture. It's so BORING. Usually that'd be a two star, but this album has zapped motivation from me for the rest of the day, it was that bad. Haven't had an album that boring since all the way back with my first one star. God, I'm falling asleep just thinking about it... zzz....
Yawn
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: not really just too somber and quiet for me Favourite song: didn’t have one
Listened to his top 3 off the album and decided to pass
Seems I've tapped into an especially rich vein of middling sonic crap given the past few days of records. Who will break this cursed streak of unremarkable junk? This mush-mouth mumbling motherfucker just isn't doing it for me.
Boring
1/5
I listened to this album a few separate times over the weekend and I swear I don’t remember it at all.
What is up with that singing voice? Yeesh. The music didn't grab me either. Couldn't wait for it to be over. Never again.
Good god. Wth early 70s? Listen John, enunciate! What a mumbled! This was first album I couldn’t finish, a feat neither Roxy music or napalm death couldn’t claim.
Un poco inaguantable
Not great
Could have sworn this was a parody.
Remember Chantelle and Preston, the celebrity super couple from the 00's? How can you not? Big Brother and the Ordinary Boys were box office and made many a man cry from their penis. Anyway, this record by John Martyn reminds me of the time Preston stormed off Never Mind the Buzzcocks in a glittery cardigan because his wife's book was so fuckin' stupid and he couldn't handle it. I wonder where they are now
Nope
Niet te doen. Als je je album vernoemt naar het eerste nummer op de plaat dan snap ik de artiest niet. Maar goed, vast dat er fans zijn
Did not like
In some placed bad, but mostly just not for me.
Not something I would come back to. The album didn't flow well in my opinion. So many different styles
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood but the album just kept drifting into the background for me. Not sure when I would be in the mood for this but it’s not Tuesday evening.
Meh.
not for me
Meh
paia
Brilliant
Not my favorite. A little too experimental for my taste.
Smooth, jazzy at points, strong voice yet soft when necessary. Didn't grab my attention right away but still vaugely enjoyable at some points 5/10