I Am a Bird Now

Absolutely stunning and haunting.

surprising and impressive! one of the issues i've had with classic rock is that songs are all the same intensity. this feels like each song as a specific idea and it's walking you through all the points of the idea. this culminates in imo the best song on the album, fistful of love, which starts softly and understated and builds piece by piece up to a shouting crescendo by the end. it always feels like something new is happening

i am so tired

The reviews on here I swear. I’m guilty of this too at times, and it’s not going to be everyone’s taste (which is fine), but are we serious? God forbid a voice be unique, especially in how it gets its pain and sorrow across. WEAK. Anyway I knew this was a five before we reached it but definitely by the time Fistful of Love needed to be replayed three times over. What an immaculate and sorrowful album.

BEAUTIFUL

A really good album, I liked Hope There’s Someone, For Today I Am A Boy, What Can I Do and Fistful Of Love the most.

Listened to before? No Context? The band's second album; very critically-acclaimed. At the first song, I was unsure. That vibrato was too much. I couldn't tell what she was saying whatsoever. The piano was very lo-fi but not charmingly so—just sort of grating. However, by the three minute mark, they'd won me over. It's raw. It's beautiful. The piano ended up being absolutely fantastic. The vocals remind me a lot of Nina Simone in the expressiveness and range. It also very much comes off as soul-influenced, even though it's more art-pop. It's easy to get so caught up in the raw vocals and beautiful piano and strings that you almost miss the lyrics, which are deeply personal, yet still highly distilled. They explore themes of transgenderism in a very interesting way, with a hopeful, almost childlike sentiment ("For Today I Am A Boy") as well as a sort of horror that drowns under the beautiful arrangements ("Lady Story"). There's also discussions of relationships, both good ("You Are My Sister") and bad ("Fistful of Love"). Speaking of the latter, it's easily the best song on the album. Just absolutely stellar. Somebody tried to talk to me when I was listening to it and I shanked them on the spot. There was a lot of blood. Jokes aside, it nearly moved me to tears. The brass section—the passion in her voice—the lyricism—just 100/10 all around. On the subject of what this album does brilliantly, man, the cover being a picture of a transgender Warhol actress on her death bed while the title is "I Am a Bird Now"? Just...wow. Real quick, I will say some things I really didn't like, though. For one, I've listened to this album four times now, and I still can't stand the first three minutes. Maybe because it takes me some time to adjust to her voice. Oh, man, her voice. It's not bad by any means. In fact, it's quite good. But that doesn't change the fact that I want to shake her by the shoulders and yell "CUT IT OUT WITH THE VIBRATO." Similarly, the mixing for the vocals isn't great. Especially the backing vocals. For the record, I don't mind lo-fi whatsoever—my favorite genre is punk—but it can be grating when there's a genuine attempt for it to be good, and it isn't, while at the same time there is a disgusting amount of vibrato. As a side note, I'd like to see Anohni sing a Green Day song, because Billie Joe Armstrong uses, like, absolutely zero vibrato in his voice. It would be really funny. Despite all that, I can't bring myself to dock a star from this album. It's just so beautifully raw. It's so artistic and poetic and all of those good things. The beauty here outweighs any overused vibrato or bad mixing. While reading the Wiki page, I saw that it mentioned a music critic from Tiny Mix Tapes who said "I'd put on my music critic's cap and dive into scrutiny, but I am too enraptured by the artist's music." And yeah, that's exactly how I feel. 100%.

So simple yet so effective, powerful and intimate.

She’s great. The album is expansive

This is a longtime favourite album of mine, I was so happy when it came up on the list! Anohni has such unique and gorgeous voice- the way the vocals have that tremolo is so beautiful. Nothing else quite sounds like this album- and it is so powerfully emotional. Love it!

Trop aimé, petite vibe Isaac Delusion, instru piano au top

Très touchant et de bon goût. Artistique.

"I Am a Bird Now" is the we second studio album by British singer, songwriter and visual artist ANOHNI's band Antony and the Johnsons. Chamber pop is the sole Wiki-listed genre. Hmmm? It could fit into a few more. The album had very positive reviews and won the 2005 UK Mercury Prize. ANOHNI Haggerty sang lead vocals and played organ and piano. The core bandmembers included Tahrah Cohen (drums), Julia Kent (cello), Parker Kindred (drums), Jeff Langston (bass), Maxim Moston (violin), Joan Wasser (viola) and Doug Wieselman (saxophone). Guest appearances included Rufus Wainwright, Devendra Banhart, Boy George and Lou Reed. Commercially, the album shot up to #16 on the UK Album Chart after winning the Mercury Prize. The first single released "Hope There's Someone" opens the album. A melancholic piano and ANOHNI with a strong and emotional tenor-contralto voice and a vibrating timbre. It's a ballad about loneliness and mortality and wishing for comfort in her final moments. The song goes crazy fast with the piano followed by strings and the vocals leading toward a dramatic ending. Boy George joins ANOHNI in a duet of sorts in "You Are My Sister." A slow piano and layered, harmony vocals. Absolutely fantastic vocals in a gospel-like and spiritual song celebrating their LGBTQ+ family. Lou Reed gives a talking introduction in "Fistful of Love." A piano and ticking drums as ANOHNI takes over the vocals. The pace picks up and music builds with added strings, a saxophone and backing vocals. Reed lends in some guitar kicks. A great song that just takes off. The album closes with "Bird Gehrl." A softer piano and bass as ANOHNI emotional vocals are a whisper. Instruments come in one at a time: strings, drums, loader vocals. ANOHNI's transformation is complete: she is liberated and can fly now. A tearjerker in a good way. This is simply a stunning, gorgeous and liberating album. Very compelling, dramatic, soulful and spiritual. I said yesterday in my John Prine write-up that I've yet to come across a more compelling album than his debut; well, now I have. The central story and album are a journey from loneliness and questioning, to accepting who she is, making the gender transformation and being liberated. The songs are mostly piano led but are enhanced by strings, the sax, drums and bass. The musical highlight, though, is ANOHNI's vocals: a unique tenor-contralto with a vibrating timbre that's strong, emotional, soulful and spiritual. This is s wonderful album and recommended for absolutely everyone.

I really needed to listen to this today, its one of my fav albums ever

1001 albums to love or hate by hearing them before you die 22# DAMN I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. I already had a deep dive into this album before, but any excuse to return to it is welcomed. Starting to realise the wikipedia resume of the albums doesn't help a thing. Not one reference to what the album is about or who is Anohni, which is important to appreciate this album more than just it's extraordinary vocals and instrumentation. That voice.. is wrecking, in the verge of falling apart from start to end but at the same time so controlled and passionate. I'd say my second favorite singer of all time, doesn't beat Nina Simone. Such a simple record in terms of instruments (acoustic and string oriented), but it carries so much emotion and has really high levitating moments, like on the end of the opener Hope there's someone. The pacing is extraordinary too. It never feels too much, gives you time to approach each song with its demanding themes. Now delving on the theme. What's it like to not feel at peace with your own body and the mental process to change it, I mean, your genre. I can't begin to imagine the pain of that, but in here it makes me understand a bit of it, in a beautiful open authentic empathic way. Not preachy at all. I have nostalgia attached to at least on of these songs, because my dad bought a song or two from this and used to play on his playlists. That factor helps to appreciate this even more, it's nice to come back to that place and time. Next thing I'm going to do is listen to their debut album. Let's see where they come from, to reach this beautiful accomplishment.

First impressions are strong! This is partway between Nick Cave and Rufus Wainwright. Unique voice and strong songwriting. A little morose though. End of first listen: wow! By four songs in I was fully sold. Then Wainwright himself showed up LOL (I didn’t know that was coming when I made the comparison above). For real though, what a gorgeous,singular vocal sound paired with deep, emotional, evocative songs. Great melodies and beautiful lyrics. I kept imagining myself in a smoky lounge full of people captivated by this tragic and uniquely alluring singer. I’ve bounced off Anohni’s work in the past, but this one clicked and I’m going to go deeper into her discography now. Must-listen #303.

“One day I’ll grow up, I’ll be a beautiful woman One day I’ll grow up, I’ll be a beautiful girl But for today I am a child, for today I am a boy” I went into this completely blind not knowing at all what to expect. This led to quite an interesting and objective experience that allowed me to figure the album out thematically once I’d settled into the sound of it. The vocal performance is immediately striking and I instantly associated it with the intense vibrato you hear from Nina Simone. It is not something I have heard many other vocalists get close to achieving and any comparison to Miss. Simone is of course the highest of compliments. Musically it reminded me very much of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” album which has a weary and wisened Lounge feel to it. Lyrically “I Am A Bird Now” feels very well crafted. You can feel the journey of self actualisation and discovery of gender and what it means to the artist as you move through the album. I was impressed that the record achieves this despite only largely subtle changes to the instrumentation as the album progresses. “I Am A Bird Now” feels like a very progressive and genuine expression of a person’s personal journey to understanding who they are and despite having never struggled with anything similar myself I found it incredibly affecting. That to me is a key element of what makes music, and ultimately art, so important.

A delicate masterpiece. With splendid chamber arrangements and one of the most gorgeous voices to ever exist from Antony Hegarty (now ANOHNI). I first was introduced to this artist by my parents when their following album, the also great The Crying Light from 2009, was released and even went to see them live (it was great). At the time the music and subject matter seemed so otherworldly and mysterious. Now, with the advances in social politics, the mystery has somewhat subsided, but the songs remain stellar. Key tracks: Hope There's Someone For Today I Am a Bouy You Are My Sister Fistfull of Love Spiralling Birg Gerhl

Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Album #12. I did not expect to give this five stars when it came up this morning. I have a real soft spot for this album. I remember when it came out, and weirdly enough I remember listening to it the year it was released. Looking back, I don’t know how I got into this as a 13 or 14 year old, but I did. I think it was because of My Lady’s Story. My Lady’s Story is one of my all time favourite songs. I think it was the only track I’d heard at the time. I must have come across it on some compilation somewhere, and that’s why I bought the album. I’ve been listening to it on and off for years. I’m absolutely not made of stone, I love a good weepy film and a weepy song, and this one routinely brings me to tears. I don’t even relate to the subject matter at all. It has nothing to do with my life. But the composition, the performance, and the lyrics are just staggeringly beautiful. As for the rest of the album, I hadn’t listened to it in years. Looking at the tracklist beforehand, I recognised some titles and thought I could hear them in my head, but I was completely wrong. I didn’t know this album at all. It is so beautiful and so well performed. Antony’s voice is incredibly unique, I genuinely can’t think of another singer who sounds like him. Beautifully emotive. And the lyrics are even better. There’s not a wasted line on the whole record. Nothing feels off or out of place. The imagery is gorgeous throughout. The guest appearances are great as well. Boy George is fantastic on You Are My Sister. And it’s got Lou Reed on it, for fuck’s sake, that tells you all you need to know. I’m loving this 1001 albums exercise because it’s forcing me to re evaluate records I thought I knew. I did not know this album at all. It absolutely deserves your full attention, so when it comes up for you, sit down and really listen to it.

De eerste track klinkt als een gevoellige act die niet zou misstaan op het songfestival. Specifiek de inzending van Portugal in 2017, maar dan in plaats van het melancholische een dosis Nick Cave na hormonentherapie. Een soort witte Nina Simone met duidelijke instructies aangaande de pronouns. In kleine porties vind ik dit wel aardig en het album is met z'n 35 minuten ook niet heel lang. Het is wat gekkig, het is zwaar dramatisch, maar ik vind het eigenlijk wel lekker even tussendoor. Heerlijke productie, alle instrumenten (over het algemeen zijn het er niet zoveel) klinken heerlijk. De zang klinkt wat typisch, maar typisch is niet altijd verkeerd. Al kan ik me ook voorstellen dat mensen er op afknappen. Ik ben heel verrast maar ik ga 5 sterren geven, want ik heb dit album echt met plezier geluisterd.

Excellent

Whatever I was doing on 2005 I totally missed this. Utterly brilliant LP and only the second time I've gone out and bought an album based on this aps suggestion. Thank you 1001

A real treat, never listened to this artist before but I was extra pleasantly surprised by this glorious work of art. Majestic and poignant pianos and truly exceptional vocals

This album was exactly what I needed exactly when I needed it. I’d heard the odd song by them before, probably in films and liked it but never revisited. But this blew me away, truly. The first album I’ve had which I hadn’t heard before that I wholeheartedly agree is a must listen. I’ve already been exploring more of their discography and it’s made a fan out of me, that’s for sure.

I really enjoyed this one. Eccentric yet mellow!

Lloré.

What always I appreciate of listening to an Antony record is how beautiful and how sad it is. Hearing to any of his records can't be casual listening, it's always an experience that asks for attention. Amazing record.

j’ai vraiment adoré

Невероятно красиво и эмоционально. Вообще ничего смешного о этом альбоме.

So good

That's a great one.

I keep crossing paths with Antony and the Johnsons, a track here and a track there, and the hushed, tremulous style just captures my attention. But I’ve never really felt compelled to listen to an entire album. I just figured it’s a bit odd and maybe doesn’t weather an extended sit. Am I ever glad I listened to this one. A beautiful and intriguing spin, with some guest artists who I didn’t see coming, but who worked great. I want to go listen to it again right now.

We’re not here to suck farts out of dead seagulls. We’re here to rate albums. And all you pussies better recognise that this is a damn fine example of one.

Extremely beautiful and strange, music that will make you feel. People do not like Ahoni's singing, but I find it so unique and honest.

Un album intimissimo, profondo, struggente. Una bellissima sorpresa

AHNONI and the Johnsons are a chamber pop ensemble out of New York City, fronted by singer-songwriter AHNONI. If there was ever a throughline for this group that helps give it a bit more identity, it is transgender rights. After all, part of their name comes from trans and human rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, and AHNONI herself has transitioned, which is why I'm not going to deadname them or the group. If anything, getting into the sound of I Am a Bird Now, AHNONI has this soulful vibrato delivery akin to Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, very much rooted in that sincere yet quietly powerful command behind the mic. Her lyrics provide insight into the mental process of transition, striving for one's happiness and self-worth against the perceptions society places on them. It's a sentiment that remains relevant in today's sociopolitical climate. It certainly helps to have some notable collaborators, such as the heartfelt duet with Boy George on "You Are My Sister", Rufus Wainwright taking lead on the elegant piano-driven interlude "What Can I Do?", and the spoken intro from Lou Reed that gives way to the low-key doo-wop swagger of "Fisftul of Love". That's not to mention the rich, organic instrumentation that pervades this record, elegant without overwhelming the vocal performance at the center. I will admit I was not expecting such a profound record like this on my album journey. I Am a Bird Now showcases the kind of uncompromising strife to exist. It's not something I usually seek out, speaking as a straight heterosexual male. But I can't deny how well AHNONI and the Johnsons reigned it in.

Una maravilla

Gotta listen to this more often. Such a vibe, especially this time of year. 4.75

Anohni’s voice still sends shivers. What a record

Very emotive with an unique vocal approach and overall sober in its instrumentation, yet daling at the same time.

At times I felt I was in church listening to a worship song, then in a dark smokey jazz club, then later in someone’s home listening to them express their love to the silence in night. Deep, moving, soft, lyrical, and soothing for my soul.

Stunning better than a 5

"for today i am a boy" made me cry

Listened Before? N What an amazing surprise! Beautiful music and voices here, and razor-sharp lyrics. Timeless feeling. I will revisit this. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Hope There's Someone

I remember watching the Mercury awards the year this album won. I’d not heard any music from Anohni before, so I was really unprepared for when the band played Hope There’s Someone and just how hauntingly beautiful it was. I bought this album immediately and was in love with it from that point on. The features on this album are so perfectly chosen, each one compliments Anohni’s voice beautifully. The album runs through so many emotional peaks and troughs before ending in the triumphant Bird Gerhl, which not only feels like a perfect end to the album, but like a real milestone in Anohni’s life and journey. I genuinely love this album, and it disheartens me to see how poorly it’s been reviewed on by users of this site.

This is one of those albums that is so deeply emotional that its brilliance is almost hard to bear, like a flashlight in the pitch black of night. There aren't many of them, and I find them difficult to revisit, but they're undeniable.

A deeply beautiful album about transformation that hits me right in the heart, which is maybe what all good music should do to you most.

Lovely tunes in this one. (plus Trans Rights.) 4.5 bumped up to 5.

Heard one and a half (cover) of their songs before and always meant to look up their others. Really enjoyed it, would like to do a closer listen with lyrics sometime.

Thrilled that this album is on the list. Antony obviously has an unconventional voice and I wouldn’t say this music is for everyone. But I think that many artists attempt to do what this album does and fail in the process. Theatrical and sweeping. A gift.

So ethereal is Antony's voice it is difficult to believe a person could produce such perfection. And then there's the piano ... I absolutely adore this album - as I'm sure Sam and Joe remember, I player it LOADS (sorry!). From the first moment I saw this guy perform I was transfixed. Like an angel. Or an alien. Astounding, quite honestly.

The beautiful simplicity of the vocals and arrangement veil the complexity and stark realism of the lyrics. The vibrato is a bit much on the opening tracks but it doesn’t bother me that much.

This is honestly breathtaking as a complete piece, there's a purity in trans gospel music I've rarely heard anywhere else and this piano work just kills me (and if you enjoyed that, I implore you to go listen to Transangelic Exodus)

9/10. Fantastic all the way through. Great shift of pace as well. Added about half the album to the playlist.

elated to have been forced by this project to give Anohni another shot...cuz this is instantly one of my favorite albums ever hufhufduh...somehow despite my usual aversion to singer-songwriter/soul-adjacent music this makes me want to know everything about that world, some of the most achingly beautiful and affirming music ahhh 10/10

When this album came out, and won the Mercury, I thought it was very good. I think it's only now, 19 years on and considerably more in touch with my emotions, that I really feel the full extraordinary power of the feelings that shine through this. Their voice is filled with pain and sorrow, but never weak, the instrumentalisation is pitch-perfect and resonant, and the lyrics! My god. So many songs - You Are My Sister, Fistful of Love and Hope There's Someone for instance - have that perfect lyrical balance of simplicity and elegance that is so hard to reach. I could talk for days about this record. And do.

*should be listed as Anohni and the Johnsons Anohni has one of the most beautiful voices ever recorded.

Absolutely incredible

5☆/5 07.17.2024

Hope There's Someone is perfect. I remember when it won the Mercury Prize in 2005, and everybody (including the right) all thought "Oh that's nice, a trans person* has written a beautiful album of ballads about not feeling like he belongs, that seems like the sort of thing that can and should win this prize". If it happened today they'd all lose their minds and scream woke. It's all manufactured outrage and is silly and hurtful as fuck. Very annoying and sad. *Okay... They wouldn't have said trans person. I wouldn't have said trans. It was 2005 and I wasn't educated enough+. But you know what I mean. +Which ironically is the source of the word 'woke'. I think it came from the Nation of Islam - IE they would ask if a young black man was 'woke', meaning 'are you aware and educated about the structures white men have put in place to hold you back from realising your potential.

I was not expecting to like this at all - when it started I instantly thought it would be extremely indulgent and pretentious for no reason and I was more than ready to give it up after the first minute. But I quickly realised that there was a story behind it all, a message of uncertainty and transition that I found extremely moving.

amazing

There's something about this album that is touching and truly moving. ANOHNI's voice is such a rare and precious thing - and hearing this album for the first time back in 2006, I was enraptured. I find some of the album to be a little strange and fractured, but the whole creates a sense of yearning that I feel is both masterful and necessary. This is the definition of essential listening to me. To top it off, "Hope There's Someone" has stuck with me for almost two decades as one of the most powerful and touching songs I've heard. The fear of being alone, dying alone and unloved, creates such fertile soil for this album to blossom in. It makes putting a score on this album easy - it's a masterpiece.

Nice to have at least one truly great album from the 00s.

Absolutely beautiful. What a find

A beautiful bummer. The kind of raw honesty and emotion that makes you go “I hope things worked out for this person”. Loved it

An unbelievably beautiful album. I've never heard anything like it, and most likely never will again. One of the most enchanting sounds I've heard.

loved this

With sheer elegance and never-ending beauty, I Am a Bird Now is the detailing of the former Antony (with the Johnsons) unfurling to become what she was meant to be. Having faced with death (the ailing Candy Darling posing with grace on the hospital bed), we become accustomed to what was seemingly a fleeting series of songs that become tethered upon further listening and a home stretch that knocks everything out of the park towards the end. For those who come across it for the first time, they might not know what will come to them but eventually they'll see that this is a kind of musical experience that doesn't come every now and then; a effortless fusion of soul, classical, folk and anything in between. It will serenade the listener towards submission.

This stunning piece of art came to me upon its release in 2005. Antony’s voice is both delicate and powerful. “Fistful of Love” is easily one of my all time favorite songs. Antony’s wild emotion in the last minute of the song always wrecks me. The emotional “Spiralling” follows and the tears flow hard. The message behind this album is captured powerfully in its cover: Candy Darling, legendary Andy Warhol actress, on her death bed in 1974 from cancer caused by experimental hormone shots to transition physically from male to female. She lived her truth out loud, to death, with grace, dignity and strength. Candy had more courage in her pinky fingernail than most people can muster up over lifetimes. She may have died young, but she won the test of life in every way possible. Every song on this perfect record is about the joys and heartbreak of the queer experience and rising high within that glorious colorful light. It brings tears to my eyes every single time. Easy 5+ stars and definitive top 3 albums of the 2000’s, and top 10 albums of all time for me.

When this won the Mercury I was horrified. Since then I've grown to realise I was wrong. This is a work of fragile beauty in a brutal uncaring universe.

Fantastic voice! Sounds like if Tiny Tim and Sampha had a love child. Incredible. Did not know what to expect but someone said it sounds like you’re reading someone’s diary and that fits it perfectly. Cover for the album is so sick too (no pun intended).

Awesome album . No skips . I loved it so much . Especially how the songs just start of nice with an underlying piano instrumental and some vocals and gradually increase the energy and the instrumentalism . Probably one of my favorite records so far from this list

fuck isch da schön hahahaha hope there's someone würdi am liebste brüelle oke klavier nochli am gäse geh alsooo wie gseit huere schön aber wenns so wiitergaht find ichs vlt iwenn chli langwilig :( OHH UND ES CHÖMMED STRIICHER es isch so fucking schön chans gar nöd handle hahahah au you are my sister isch viiill zu schön omg ich bin doch nöd im mentale zuestand zum das chönne handle fuck it da isch e füfi weiss nöd wenn ichs letscht mal vo musig usserhalb vo mim normale musiggschmack so berüehrt worde bin

This is what I want from this project. Something I never would have listened to otherwise, but was still beautiful in many ways.

I had the most intense experience listening to this album that an album has put me through in a long time. At the beginning I was struggling to find something to latch on to, but by the time it ended I was so into it I immediately played it again, like the kid who survives the roller coaster and after disembarking sprints to get in line to ride again. However, as amazing as it was, I have a funny feeling I may never listen to this album again.

I definitely wasn’t sure I’d come across an album I truly fell in love with on this list but wow. This is totally my taste in music, added to my playlists. The lyrics, the timbre of her voice, the instrumentals. The amazing features. Love

Mágico, el piano envuelve todas las melodías y la voz es magnífica. Romántico en el más amplio sentido de la palabra. Imprescindible. Belleza y paz serían buenas palabra para definirlo.

The most stand-out aspect of this album to me is the very unique voice of the singer which enhances the extremely sorrowful and sad tone of the album. There are heavy themes of death, identity, and the want to escape. The soft and sad piano ballads might be boring in another context, but the haunting nature really brings a huge amount of intrigue to the experience.

Beautiful emotional album love it

A great singer. Very sad and emotional but fantastic album

Todas las canciones son impresionantes. No sobra nada.

Surprisingly nice to listen to - amazing piano and string arrangements

Cool cool cool

Beautiful, but doesn't really feel like music - feels more like a painting or an extremely delicate sculpture. Haunting vocals, engaging lyrics, but so sparse musically that I struggled to get a good hold on it. Certainly intriguing and worth a listen though - and a worthy inclusion on the list

This rules, I’ve been listening to quite a bit of Sufjan Stevens lately and this has a similar emotional heft and haunting sound to it that I really love.

Wow!

Wow, just wow!

Such haunting beauty.

Very good 4.5+/5

A beautiful voice, recalling the talent of Nina Simone, and a lyrical story rarely heard in popular music. ANOHNI is a very rare talent. It was a nice surprise to hear Lou Reed on this album. Fistful of Love is definitely a highlight.

🩷

Wtf? 5 stars

This album was unexpectedly intimate. It feels like stepping into the musings of someone else's life or a ghost caught in reflection before moving forward. It may not be for everyone, but it's worth listening to. “There’s a surprising level of vulnerability here. It’s almost like stepping into someone else’s story—quietly powerful, though maybe not universally relatable.”

Immediate 5 star album. The best.

Such simple but extraordinary concepts expressed so beautifully with such an arresting voice. This album hit me emotionally harder than any before. Anohni is truly amazing.

Having never listened to this before, lead singer Anohni's voice was a bit of a shock at first. I wasn't sure I was going to take it. Soon I began to embrace the uniqueness of it as it was sung over such beautiful music and expressing such feelings. And what a collection of interesting guest voices to add to the mix! I don't imagine that I'll listen to this all of the time, but listening to it was indeed quite a special experience.

As I settled into my seat in the bus for a 6-hour ride, I started this album. By about 5 tracks in, I was bored and ready for the album to be over. Then over the next few tracks the beauty of this album reached in and started squeezing my heart to the point that I was (unsuccessfully) fighting back the tears. I couldn’t wait for it to end…so that I could start it over! Maybe it was bus magic, but I fell in love with this one!

I'd never heard the music of Anohni and the Johnsons before, but it took approximately 30 seconds to be completely spellbound by this album. Anohni's voice is perhaps the most emotionally affecting I've ever heard. Every second is beautiful and somehow makes you feel feelings. The opening and closing tracks, 'Hope There's Someone' and 'Bird Guhl' (and the opening and closing lines within them) bookend the album perfectly, acting as the start and conclusion of an intensely personal story. In between, 'For Today I Am A Boy' spells out the theme of the album and 'You Are My Sister' had me welling up. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Fistful Of Love Date listened: 11/08/23

Pop barroco. Me flipa la voz. Vinilo.

This blew me away. Anohni’s deeply soulful musings on her sexuality is insanely impactful to hear and I am grateful of this website for giving me the opportunity to hear it.

I first heard this a year or so ago when listening to previous Mercury Prize winners and thought it was absolutely gorgeous. Relistening has made me appreciate it even more - it’s just such a tender and affecting record

Fantastic, beautiful, loved it

Quite absurd, like why is there flying burgers, but I love it

GORGEOUS.

Pop barroco. Me flipa la voz. Vinilo.

The production, features, songwriting, incredible vocals, all of it comes together to form a perfect little window of intimacy into someone's personal struggles.

Simply one of the most beautiful albums ever.

Pretty tremendous

Haunting; full of pain, pleasure, and beauty. I think Anhoni may have been my first exposure to a trans person. I discovered this album shortly after it came out and was completely captivated by it. Still love it today. I think it has aged very well!

What a beautiful album. Such strong opening track too. You can feel the rawness and emotions in most of these. I found “For Today I Am A Boy” very powerful, especially after reading up a bit about the band. Saved songs: Hope There’s Someone, For Today I Am A Boy, Spiralling

This album was very interesting, I'm still not exactly sure where I stand on it. However, it felt good to sit through as it comes from the perspective of someone who paints a grief filled picture of what it's like to be transgender. And I think it's a very necessary one to listen to in the current climate. It makes me realize that 2005 wasn't very long ago and we still very much are dealing with the same mindset about some things. You can very clearly hear the pain in Anohi's voice and while it might not be technically perfect, she still gets the point through. I've never heard an album that so blatantly talks about being trans, especially not one from 18 years ago. As sad as it starts, and the heavy topics it deals with, the album does end on a happy note. As our protagonist is no longer dealing with the things tying her down, whether that be the body she was born in or an abusive relationship. It serves as a reminder that there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

Never heard of this band or album. Blown away. Great listen that I will return to. Chamber pop.

i went into this thinking it would be a boring indie rock album based exclusively on the cover and i am very glad that i was wrong. i'm definitely happy i checked this out and i'm very interested in checking out anohni's solo work.

It is a masterpiece.

Where was I in 2005 that I didn't know about this album or this band? For today, I think this is a little bit exaggerated on the sad environment, but it looks perfect for the 15 years old me.

Really glad to hear this - I had listened to some Anohni in the past and loved it, but forgot about it. Now have listened to everything from both

I don't think I ever truly enjoyed the (main) vocals 100% but I sure as hell could appreciate it. It's quite emotive, and while the vibrato is a bit quicker than I usually prefer, it worked for the music. And the music? Beautiful. It's a very tough call to make because the vocals were still my least favorite part of it all, but I have to give this a 5 because of all the parts coming together perfectly.

I think I only knew Hope There's Someone before which is a real stunner!! But 100% untapped love for me in the rest of the album. My GOD the feeling and raw almost diary entry poetry on this album. It made me cry. I'm so so glad this album was written and put together by Anohni because it's a true gift to the world. The vocals and the ochestral sounding expansive instrumentation on tracks like Spiralling... wow. Every piece/part/instrument/vocal adds so much to every track too. A genius piece of work. PS I love the marmite vocals, they portray so much authentic feeling and they're certainly not overdone in my opinion. There are some parts where the vocal is completely pure and straight forward and that contrast is delish. Wonderful stuff! What a journey.

Haunting, somber, achingly beautiful, and powerful.

Incredible record!! Loved it. The voice and emotions are so powerful! I am not so found of the guest voices as the main voice is so freaking nice. 4.5/5

Haunting

Forgot how much I liked this album!

I wasn't convinced I was going to like this after the first track, it sounded a bit unfinished, like a demo or something. But as I got into it I realised that this just works, and ended up enjoying it a lot.

Crazy to think how far we are from 2005 when you could make a beautiful piece of art about your personal trans experience and get critical recognition and awards from it. Anyway, I really like the lush chamber pop feel of the music, I think Anohni’s kinda-operatic vocal style and the lyrics create a sort of overwhelming emotional energy, and there’s a beautiful 6 minute gospel-esque song about understanding the love of your domme through their work. I don’t know how often I’d come back round to listen to it, raw and emotional as it is, but I do really quite fw it.

This got better as it went on. I think the sombreness expressed on this album is simply fantastic. You can really hear the sincerity in her voice, you know this stuff is for real, not fake. The instrumentation is very lush, it's so beautiful. It does a great job at supporting and creating the impeccable mood the album has. One big wish I have with this one, is that the song "What Can I Do?" had another minute and half to it, that song is literally to die for. An extended version of having it build up over a slightly long time would be an amazing thing to have. I think is pretty good, I also believe it has a earned place in the 1001 list. Highlight Song/s: "What Can I Do?" and "Fistful of Love"

ANOHNI

awesome sad record

I vaguely remember this when it came out. Really glad I listened to the whole album. Such a haunting voice and minimal production.

I've always kinda struggled to get into A&tJ and ANOHNI's work - they have an incredible voice but I don't find it the most pleasant to listen to. Undoubtedly there are real moments of beauty on this album, so I can't really knock it much. Fave Tracks: What Can I Do?, Fistful of Love, 3.5/5

Beautifully executed chamber pop anchored by a unique voice. I have heard Anohni’s music sporadically and remember this album making a small splash back in its release time but never gave it the listen it deserved. Anohni’s real talent is using her voice to make you feel emotions you never you would by vocals alone. An album that falls into the “great but may not listen again” category. It can be a little too morose for repeated listens but the two listens I did give it are worth four stars.

I liked it.

This is such a strange but surprisingly beautifully written album. Yes, there is probably too much vibrato in the vocals and there were 2 or 3 moments it started to feel quite annoying, but it doesn't take away from how emotive and passionate the songs felt. The opening track in particular was superb. It felt interesting and engaging to listen to, and not like anything I'd heard before. I definitely prefer the first half of the album than the second but overall this was a great listen.

Super sentimental. It feels like the lead singer is spilling their heart as they sing… with an insane vibrato. I didn’t like their voice at first, but I grew to enjoy it pretty quickly. And the guest appearances are pretty cool, since they change things up a bit in the midst of an album that might’ve sounded a bit too samey if not for that.

You know this isn’t my typical stuff but I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this. This is why I do this project, to find things outside my comfort zone.

ну понятно почему все залупились. но мне нравится такое. хотя шутки про обилие вибрато это точно имеет место быть

Hell of a personal statement. Not my style musically but I can appreciate how much 'self' is in this. It's heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure. It's beautiful.

I have no idea what's going on here, but I'm liking it.

Anohni!! What a talent. I already really like “Hopelessness” and “My Back Was A Bridge…”, so going back to earlier in her career is cool. The first song took a minute to get going, but WOW what an outro. I also respect her vocal abilities, but the vibrato can be a little much, especially on the opener (she reminded me of Tiny Tim on that one, lol). The atmosphere with the piano was really pretty. And I loved hearing the different singers coming in as features. I love her unique musical style, and as usual, there’s some solid storytelling on here. She definitely evolved in a good way since this album, but even here she has such a powerful vision. If you’re reading this and on the fence about her, please listen to her more recent work. It’s worth it.

Wow, what a beautiful, crooning voice she has. Not unlike Nina Simone (not as great, either but the comp still stands). This album is too sad to listen to on a regular basis but it has a desolate kinda beauty to it. Some really cool features on here as well, ranging from Lou Reed to Boy George to Devandra Banhart.

Painfully honest. I don’t wish to hear it again.

I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. I think the vocals will be the main talking point here. I quite liked them but Becky hated it. Musically this is very pleasant and it has enough variety to be interesting whilst also being beautiful for the most part. A nice surprise for me, but your mileage may vary depending on tolerance for vibrato.

Mike, I do know this group - the singer is transgender and I learned about her through a hauntingly beautiful track called It Must Change. The honesty and raw emotion I hear in the lyrics are brave and heartbreaking, the music is lovely. For Today I am a boy makes me want to hug her

Would I listen again: yes I wish I liked her voice more but this was really nice. I’m really looking forward to the Rufus Wainwright albums now. This was smooth and had a lot of feeling in it.

Beautiful, soulful album. I don't normally feel that I can understand and hear an album's story, but this one was clear and the message vulnerable. I listened to this while I was working and it really kept me centered.

Not really sure how this qualifies as an essential listen, but I like it! Rather calm and beautiful and the guests fit right in without standing out very much.

This is a beautiful album, especially with the context of Anohni's journey. I love how this album explores her singular perspective, and I really admire her evocative lyricism and her voice (both singing-wise and narratively). My small critique would be that there could be a bit more variety in the tracks as the album progresses, but overall, this is a moving and exquisite work of art. Favorites: For Today I Am A Boy, You Are My Sister, Fistful Of Love

The lyrics were so beautiful and poignant. There were songs that I was deeply moved by, but there were also songs that I had to grit my teeth to get through. The high vibrato is not for me, but the rest of the songs are so gorgeous that it makes up for it. The whole album was so impactful on me that it bumped it up to a 4.

This was a very nice album. The vibrato took a little getting used to, but it was very expressive. There were some really cool musical moments throughout the album, and the lyrics were heartfelt and personal. Pleasant surprise.

I think you can say one thing for sure - it’s impossible not to be moved one way or the other by this album. I’ve listened to a few of the songs before so I am familiar with the extreme falsetto singing. I think it both can be very moving, but also a bit much at times. Even though I don’t like the album all the way through there are some really nice moments. I also definetly think that the album deserves it’s spot on the list. Favourites: Hope There’s Someone, Bird Guhl,

This is art. Almost seems like a play or musical or something.

Very different album. I did enjoy it though! I at first thought the vibrato was too much but it settled down after awhile and I got to appreciate it.

Honestly a really solid album.

Her voice is polarizing and there is a bit too much torch singing on this, but I like several tracks a lot and I have since it came out in 2005. At that time, I was pretty ignorant on transgender issues. On Hope There's Someone, she expresses a very basic desire that she not die alone. It moved me. Incels notwithstanding, I don't think most heteronormative young people have a deep-seated fear that they are unlovable freaks, destined for a lonely end. The cover art is on point, too.

Quite a lot of transphobia in the top 1 star reviews which is disappointing but not unexpected. From the thinly veiled to that one guy who says he "can tell that's no woman singing". Not to mention all the geniuses pointing out the (obviously intentional) British slang interpretation of the album's title. Now that's out of the way, like another reviewer said, the album lives or dies on whether you like the vibrato or not. Personally I thought it added to the emotion. It's a beautiful album. It might not be something I would listen to very often, but I enjoyed my time with it nonetheless. 🏳️‍⚧️

Really personal, passionate melancholy, but an amazing vocal and very powerful. Not one I’d play on repeat but a really good album, one to revisit. 4.2/5.

Une belle découverte. J’a hésité à mettre 5.

Reminds me of James blake and Perfume Genius. Honestly, I really liked this album, the whole album is very strong through and through. Phenomenal song writing and singing; it feels that every few minutes on this album everything just comes together into a lush explosion of sound 8/10

Absolutely beautiful! What a voice! What a find.

I liked the album!!! Deep lyrics and chill music

A little bit weird, but nice, I can feel it, or at least I think I can...

Gute ruhige Musik für nebenbei.

Music has always been a way to explore the fluid nature of gender and sexuality from Little Richard, to Bowie and beyond. It’s deeply troubling that we seem to have gone backwards from the days when most people were generally accepting (with certain politicians and newspapers being the exceptions the proved the rule) to today’s situation. Anohni has a beautiful vibrato voice and uses it to sing songs from the heart about her experiences as a trans woman. The highlights are the starkly honest For Today I Am a Boy and the heartbreaking You Are My Sister featuring guest vocals from Boy George. The musical accompaniment is kept fairly plain, mostly simple piano with a couple of torch songs.

I liked it! Really unique voice and vibrato, beautiful songs. Had never heard of them but would happily listen more.

A beautiful record with very soulful singing and intimate lyrics detailing Anohni's inner thoughts and feelings regarding her transition, and how she sees herself. It's complex themes and bare emotions make it a hard pill to swallow sometimes, but simultaneously her earnest lyrical delivery pulls you right in.

So much for a quick, easy listen while I work on an assignment. This hit me in a place I didn't expect any album on the list to hit. I've never heard of Anohni before, nor this band and had no idea what to expect. This is an album, written and recorded over 20 years ago, that chronicle's a trans woman's thoughts and feelings. The same thoughts and feelings I'm grappling with now. In today's climate, where disinformation and trans hate are so rampant, it's important to remember that we've always existed. I really started to feel this during "For Today I Am A Boy," and it was only strengthed the more I listened. Reaching the final song, "Bird Guhl," and hearing the phrase "I am a (bird) girl," a phrase I have struggled so much to say, was both cathartic and slightly painful. I am so happy that Anohni is able to live her life as she wishes, and I hope that I'll look back on this one day and feel the same about myself. For a quick review of the actual music, and not the devastatingly close to home subject matter, I dug it. The more upbeat songs were my favourites, but the quieter moments were all welcome too. Anohni's got a unique vocal style, and the vibrato may have been a bit intense in the first few songs, but I never found her to be as annoying as many of the reviews here made her out to be. The guest vocalists were all nice to hear, and they never felt like they were haphazardly thrown in to push album sales. I don't know if I'd be rushing to revisit any of these songs unless I was in a specific mood, but I know that the album is there for me to come back to if I feel that I need to. Favourite song: Fistful of Love

Loved this album for many years now. A wonderful collection of music full of compassion, beauty and Anohni's unique voice. A true gem.

What can I do is an INSANE song, very radiohead vibes and fully increases the rating of the album by a point. Would rate it 3.5 but I'm feeling happy today so sure let's go with a 4 - chase and status good vibes

Je connaissais Bird Guhl, visiblement j'étais déjà tombé dessus et j'avais liké. C'est sympa, un peu déprimant mais l'album est équilibré et a des sonorités sympa

Fistful of emotions

Heart-breaking chansons, swirling into hypnotic developments - really plays with texture and voice. Favourite tracks: Hope There's Someone, Fistful of Love

Conmovedor. Excelente uso de las cuerdas. Muy distante de otros discos de la misma época.

the trans experience is one i can not claim to understand, but this certainly gets me close Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: yes 3.5

So beautiful it's hard to put into words, but definitely need to be in the right mood for it

Very pretty, though a little slow. Beautiful, just a bit samey.

No. 115 This was incredible. Beautiful vocals, really subtle yet moving music

Lovely album. First song is the best.

Not hugely my thing, but the artistry is undeniable. This list would be in much better shape if it replaced 80% of the britpop and 70s dad rock with stuff like this.

Hope There’s Someone // My Lady Story // Fistful Of Love // Spiralling // Bird Guhl // 4.5/5

Worth listening to at least once. Yes the voice has way too much vibrato, but the vocals were beautiful and melodic. The background instruments were fantastic. And the lyrics were intriguing. I don't plan to listen to this against but I'm glad I did at least once.

Mixed bag here. There are some truly gorgeous songs on here that I couldn’t hope to ever write next to some songs that I feel like I’m being punked. However, this album was not made for me, and I am trying to be aware and upfront about this. This is such a personal look into Anohni’s life, coming to terms with gender identity and celebrating that in such a beautiful way. Does she use way too much vibrato while doing it? Yes, detractingly so. But it truly is a very intimate window into the trans experience that I’ve never witnessed before; another reviewer likened it to reading a diary and I couldn’t agree more. Lyrically dense and while some of it is silly on the surface, if you really give it time to breathe and do some research, it all makes sense. I’m teetering between a 3 and 4 for personal enjoyment but I fully understand how this could mean so much to someone and be a 5.

Interesting and unique

It was really good but not in keeping with the vibe of the day. Some beautiful singing.

Well this one was really interesting. Never heard of this artist before. Wasn’t sure what to make of it at first. First thought on first track was something about this reminds me of James Blake. Piano, emotive vocals. The vocals are so unique… vibrato… gender fluid too. That fluidity matches the lyrics and the themes. What is going on here? Beautiful… odd.. so soulful and moving. Gorgeous and melancholy. Clearly the singer is recounting some very personal feelings and the authenticity of their emotions translates into work of art that is hard to turn away from. I think this album is something special. Even if I never listen to it again. Regardless of the star rating, albums like this that I never would’ve listened to but for this list are what I love about this project.

Antony and the Johnsons (now Anohni and the Johnsons) is basically just Anohni and a revolving ensemble of musicians performing their work. The "Johnsons" refers to Marsha Johnson, a trans rights activist in the early 90's who died under suspicious circumstances. Overall it's a beautiful album that outlines themes of pain, anxiety, fear of acceptance, isolation, longing for self-acceptance....feelings that are very common for everyone, but obviously being trans adds another very thick layer to this. At the end of the day, at least I don't need to worry about socially recognized as a man since I am a cis-man, so I can't imagine the isolation of "society" not accepting your entire identity based on their own ideas of what your identity should look like. What Can I Do? is particularly short, but so powerful. Covering feelings of compassion and helplessness in the face of another person suffering. I think of someone suffering from mental health issues or depression. They're suffering every day in unimaginable ways, and you want to help.....but.....What Can I Do? Just tragic and somehow this one minute 40 second long song captures that feeling. Just incredible. Fistful Of Love is another complex song where the speaker is stuck in a violent relationship and interprets their partners physical violence towards them as expressions of love. This is probably why it's so difficult for people to leave violent relationships as they're trying to understand their partners actions and justify it as loving. Of course, they are not hurting you because they love you and you should definitely leave this relationship. I will say, I hate the electrocution vibrato singing style. I hated it with The Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey, and I hate it here. But something about it here adds to the authenticity and the pain of the music. The album is full of pain and longing for love, acceptance, reassurance, that it isn't hard to find how these emotions apply to our own lives. For people who hate the singing style, try reading and focusing on the lyrics. I knew this was going to be a low rated album, so it took a bit more effort to "get it". Once you get passed the vibrato, which I know it's a tall mountain to get over, you can see how incredibly emotional it is. The ensemble is awesome too. I want to give it a 5, but I just can't because the voice really just is too much.

This reminded me a bit of Tom O'Dell. I liked this album a lot but do not care for the very heavy vibrato. I still really enjoyed all the tracks. Four stars

A beautiful album. I hadn't heard of this artist before but they're a great songwriter, and the music is striking and very pleasant. There's no song that I think brings the album down, and the vibe is like a lounge singer in some ways. My favorite track is probably Fistful of Love, but they're all great sounding tracks. The only demerit I can come up with is, I don't see myself coming back to this album unless I'm in a particular mood. It doesn't feel like one I can just throw on. But what it is, is a thoughtful, haunting, and pretty album.

Another one of these bands I've never heard of before. Pretty mellow but beautiful music. Not really my normal vibe but I did enjoy it.

I am genuinely surprised to see the negativity towards this album. It’s full of genuine emotion, story and beauty and stands apart from so much mediocrity on this list.

Anohni has an incredible voice, and the instrumentation is beautiful. This music normally isn't my cup of tea, but it's impressive none-the-less. What Can I do is a particular standout track on this solid album.

i really liked the vocals and lyrics and intimacy on this, great features from rufus wainwright and devandra barnheart too, good vibes

This artist completely passed me by, having known the name and just assumed they were Jake Johnson or the like so this was a real surprise. Great voice simple music, easy 4 star. Probably 4.5 but not going 5 yet.

Greta album, very poingnant.

Ugh. Heart wrenching.

An unbelievable debut album. Anthony’s spectacular voice, the sparse but all enveloping music marked this out as a special album by a special artist.

Cantado con sentimiento, gran álbum, se disfruta ese poco tiempo que dura Mis respetos para Anohni y los Johnsons Concierto en vivo me sacaría los mocos con la calidad de show que deben tener

lovely voice and i loved the calm songs

Wow! I didn't expect that beautiful voice.

wunderschön

Bleak as midwinter, but beautiful with it. The opener’s a slow start, yet stick around—Antony’s voice will floor you. Fragile, haunting, and deeply human. I'm used to Steven Wilson-levels of gloom, so the extreme melancholy didn't bother me!!

I can see why some people find the vibrato vocals on this album annoying, but personally I loved them. I Am a Bird Now, at it's best is a hauntingly beautiful album. It tails off a bit after the excellent Fistful of Love, which is why it's not getting the full 5, but it's a strong 4 for me. I'd not listened to this album for years and this was a good reminder to get it back out again.

Teilweise ganz tolle Musik dabei, auf Dauer ist mir das vibrato zu viel

This album is beautiful. I really don't know or understand the trans experience, but I feel I do slightly more now than I did an hour ago. Yes, the vocals can be a bit much at times, but they do have a haunting quality that I can't deny. This album is full of stunning lyric writing and raw emotion, and does an excellent job of not ruining that by being over the top with the music. There's a simple beauty and elegance on display here, and Anohni and the Johnsons kill it.

Æ falt aldri egentlig for Antony and the Johnsons da dem først dukka opp, og nu når æ hadde grunn til å høre hele albumet fortsatte æ å ikke falle for det. Det e helt ok, men det finnes andre æ heller vil høre på innafor den stilen – eller så vil æ høre på andre som ikke e helt den stilen, men i sånne retninger æ like.

Meget fint

Skøn plade. Det er en stemme som ikke altid fungerer men når den gør gør den VIRKELIG, og det her er hendes bedste plade. All timer åbner.

This album is a mood. Loved it when I first heard it in 2006ish. Still love it. Vocals are stunning and the arrangements evocative.

A consistent feel and enjoyable music.

Pretty pleased with myself for recognizing Rufus Wainwright on What Can I Do? - however he does have a distinctive voice. Hope There's Someone is the main reason for the 4 - not a massive fan of the wailing breakdown at the end, but the rest of the song is pretty special. His songwriting is immaculate - vivid, spectral, understandable. Lovely business.

I've always liked this album and find it very pleasant to listen to.

While I don't specifically love ANOHNI's voice, this album is full of some really beautiful songs and I have to say I didn't mind going back for a few relistens. Hope There's Someone is a vulnerable piano ballad that swells around the 3 minute mark into something reminiscent of Sampha (love me some Sampha). Other standouts were For Today I am a Boy, Fistful of Love, and Spiralling. Very soft 4 in my book.

this was a life-changing album for me in 05/06 - i saw antony in '07 and i'll never forget it i'll accept that i am a "harsh" rater in this app's estimation - recently even upgraded to "critic" in bold red font! - but please note that i LOVE this album and am rating it at 4 stars. there are 10-star songs on it, yes, but the album as a whole? i won't lie and say it's 5 stars. i won't pretend i like another album because it's a "classic" or because it's "foundational" or "seminal" or whatever else. this project is rapidly turning me into an anti-stan for whatever clown assembled this list

Quite a haunting voice, backed by beautiful, melodic instrumentation. The piano and strings are lovely, peaceful, and serene, which contrasts well much of the messaging of the lyrics. It is obvious that the artist has put a lot of personal messaging in the songs, which is further exemplified in their vocal style. Themes of longing for change and wanting are evident in the lyrics, and you can feel some of the desperation in their voice. Heavy vibrato but so much control. The piano is relatively simple, but so beautiful.

Deeply personal, beautiful songs. The singer's voice takes some getting used to, but this album absolutely belongs on the list. 4/5

Rating: 8/10 after some big stinkers for 2000’s albums in my opinion, I didn’t expect ANOHNI to be featured and this is a really cool and unique piece of music. Born from painful personal experiences but also filled with hope

Cool chill vibes

Honestly, this is pretty gorgeous. I had no idea going in, and it’s certainly not the type of thing I’d normally reach for, but there's just something about this.. It feels like an emotional exorcism of sorts. It’s got a weird, wonderful gravity to it. Definitely glad this met my path. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Hope There's Someone - For Today I Am A Boy - Fistful Of Love - Bird Guhl

Strong vocals and strong instrumentation. The constant vocal vibrato is a bit distracting, but it's so distinct and, at times, inviting that you learn to love it by the end of the album. Fantastic album that feels like it's bearing a heavy load that asks you to share.

Musically beautiful, heavy-handed trans message

Pretty weird but I liked it

Unglaubliche Stimme, viel von Brian Ferry und dann wieder nicht. Eine Entdeckung.

Didn’t get to spend as much time listening as I needed to, but Anohni’s writing is the key of this record from my listen and their singing style is noteworthy as well. My fav song is What Can I Do? Still wish there were half star ratings it would get 3.5 if so

A beautifully depressing album. Genuinely makes you think while you're listening to it, and I can see why it was nominated for a mercury award. I believe there is too much vibrato (it does not to be on seemingly every note, as that reduces the impact if you ask me) but other than that, it was something that made you slow down.

Love that this has a quality of stumbling into a late night jazz club where a drag queen starts singing about their feelings. 4.5/5

Strong album. Vocals are shakey but it works here. I could see this being amazing live but largely not for me

chirp chirp

A beautiful, intimate and personal album.

I.... actually kinda enjoyed that! Coming in I expected to be sour on it based on the description and the less than stellar reviews, but I kinda dug it actually, not as bad as most people on here say. 7/10

Even though this is not their best work - this would be the incredible gut punch of 2023's "My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross" - this is still music that radiates with beauty. Anohni's voice is not too far from Klaus Nomi's unique high-pitched vibrato, though it does have a more mellow quality, almost like David Sylvian. I'm quite fond of this, musically, and have a huge respect for Anohni, both musically and as a human.

Great chamber pop and good voice.

here i am. sick as a FUCKING dog. it hurts to talk and to swallow and to sit and to be. i do NOT need to be hit in the chest emotionally as well but maybe it wouldn't hit as hard if i weren't able to describe myself as "frail". but yeah the songs are tender and fragile, and the sentiments are rich and complex. wonderful album deserves to be one of the 1001? for its importance to 2000s indie yes

A magnificently rich and deep sound that tests your limits.

"What Can I Do" is a great song. It was my favorite song on the record. I really enjoyed this album. The vocals are cool, and I liked all the instrumentals. I'd never heard of the band before. I really enjoy orchestral "Chamber Pop" type music. Lots of horns and strings are always great for me. 7/10

Although the singing style may be an acquired taste for some people and could probably be better balanced out with additional voices and delivery styles, the passion behind many of the songs is striking and strong. An album like this definitely deserves to be heard as it is not only an artistic statement, it is one about core human identity.

An unexpected joy to listen to. Soft, delicate, vulnerable, this album felt personal. You felt the pain and the emotion really strongly.

severely underrated by this website to be honest. the vib is literally only annoying for like 1-2 songs, and the rest is just beautiful chamber folk

Never heard of this before which is always shocking whenever I look at a post 2000 album. Ugh imagine deadnaming yourself for all time on your own album. Anywho. This album is pretty great! It sounds pretty and touches on topics and perspectives that really don’t get talked about in music, certainly not in 2005. I think I agree with the consensus that sometimes her vocals are a little over the top they distract from the rest of the music. But overall it’s very good.

Never heard of this, and got caught off guard by the rich soulful vocals, and rich instrumentals. What Can I Do ?, features Rufus Wainwright and is a favourite. The Lou Reed spoken word intro on fistful of love took me by surprise, and somewhere on this record is a Boy George feature too. Great record, no wonder it won the Mercury. Not sure what the fuck is going on with the singer mind… worth a google. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Más allá de la persona no puede gustarte la música y no disfrutar de "Hope There's Someone". Otra que tenía guardada era "For Today I Am a Boy" y otras igual de interesantes "My Lady Story", "Man Is the Baby", "You Are My Sister" y "Bird Gurhl".

10 seconds in and im reminded of noel fielding's character in IT crowd

so thats where shes from ohhhhh

I’d first heard Anohni’s voice singing backup on some Lou Reed tracks. I can’t say I loved all of this, but her unique voice certainly has a power to it that I respect.

A lot of vibrato, but the passion throughout the album is compelling. Modern gospel?

Feels like something to listen to privately - so that you can really sit with it. This is art. This is human emotion. This is how music stretches you.

Uwielbiam ten zespół. Kiedyś słuchałam bardzo dużo, ale z czasem zupełnie o nich zapomniałam. Dobrze, że ta lista mi przypomniała. Niestety to jeden z tych tworów, który najlepiej przyjmuje się w małych dawkach. Przy całej płycie vibrato zaczyna męczyć i przytłaczać, a całość topić swoim smutkiem i liryką. Mimo tego 8/10

I thought it was really pretty. I liked it.

Well, the voice is really something to get used to, especially in the first song, but the music is awesome and the lyrics quite focused on transsexuality and mental health. Liked to listen to it a lot.

Lidt genkendelse, der trækker op. Jeg synes, det er et godt album, og jeg har været glad for det i mange år. Kan man abstrahere fra trans-aktivismen anno 2025? Det er godt nok svært, men ikke fair at idiotien skal trække ned.

What a lovely voice and brilliant arrangements. This is a keeper. 4.5/5

The first thing I thought when checking this out was "wow, those vocals are a lot", then I went to eat a piece of cake, which was, I guess, the art digestion buffer I needed, because when I came back I found them much more palatable. Whether or not this entirely mundane series of events actually changed my relationship with this art, I'm glad I was able to adjust to the sound here, because, there is a *lot* of interesting stuff here. Firstly, I would like to mention how glad I am that there is some trans representation on the list. Especially since Anohni (her name chosen after the release of I Am a Bird Now) speaks so frankly about gender, her trans experience and how it has effected her life and her perception of herself. There are some songs here that I feel pretty deeply, a lot of these ideas hit *awfully* close to home, I'll leave it like that. Anyways, the music here feels beautiful and fragile. It didn't take me long to fully acclimate to her voice, and I think that it suits the art here very well. The instrumental arrangements are just as important, the strings and piano are just incredibly beautiful across this whole album. The vocal guests also do a fantastic job here: Boy George, Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed, Devendra Banhart, and Julia Yasuda all feature and all do amazing work. Honestly, most of these people are really legendary in their own right. If I have to nitpick a little, my biggest problem here is probably that Hope There's Someone, the first song here, is probably the best. I'd have to give this one more time before deciding if it deserves a 5, but I do feel comfortable with a strong 4.

have distinct memories of listening to this record, walking around my college town and NYC. Beautiful, haunting, operatic. I miss when pop music went baroque. Rufus Wainright pairs perfectly.

Muy interesante para ser primera vez que los escucho

Altså med det som jeg kendte om albummet blev jeg ikke skuffet. Der er mange følelser som skal forklares på kun 35 minutter. Vokalen er som ingen andre vi har hørt. (Tætteste på må næsten være Nina Simone?) Det er dragende, lidt creepy, men også bare pisse godt. Det får kun en 4er fordi jeg ikke har lyst til at lytte til den igen.

Smukt arrangerede piano-ballader. Dragende vokal. Dystert og smukt.

Hope There's Someone You Are My Sister Fistful of Love Bird Gehrl

easy listening, nothing pushing any boundaries, but the tone of his voice is great and I could have listened to this again

Was surprised but enjoyed this album.

Once the vibrato eases up this is a really good album.

Surprisingly beaufiful!

Genial y único. You are my sister es una delicia. Imprescindible, y sigue con discos fabulosos.

Thought the falsetto would get annoying but I think it works. They have used a recording that sounds really live which I think is actually the best part 4*

Some really gorgeous songs in here. I was big into this album in college and I’m glad it holds up years later.

I think I listened to this album when it was new. I liked it then and I like it now. Antony (AHNONI) has a beautiful, sad, voice that is lovely, and the band really accompanies her voice well. 3.5/5

Sometimes a dirge, but a heavenly one. Wasn't really put of by the vibrato.

I am mixed on what it objectively a good album. Amazing vibrato control, very personal and progressive themes, and well executed. But for my personal taste, there's a bit *too* much vibrato, to the point of feeling that most of the album feels unsettled. Which again, fits to the theme, but it's not the top tier type of album I'll want to return for again and again

This album is what this whole experience is about and why it should be done. Never would this have crossed my radar if it wasn't for this, and it was a great listen throughout with extremely memorable and distinct vocals and great instrumental accompaniment mixed with the strong lyrics. It's difficult to give this quite a 5/5, but it will receive a strong 4.5/5 and be bumped to 4.

Really enjoyed this album. Great vocals throughout and the lyrics evoked a range of emotions somehow going from sad/mournful vibes to a more hopeful sound. It was my first time even hearing about Antony and the Johnsons but what a find. Fav track: Fistful of love

Great album, deeply personal lyrics with haunting and unique vocal. 4/5.

Say what you will about the singing, the music and singing here is in fact music. That’s more than can be said for many albums on this list.

8/10 really beautiful stuff, loved the singer’s voice but most of the compositions and arrangements were a little plain, I still really enjoyed it :)

I enjoyed this. It was very mellow, with evocative gender questioning and confirming lyrics. Any album with Rufus Wainright can’t be all that bad. I want to listen to more of their music.

yeah, me too sister

She certainly is.

No idea how I never heard of this, but really enjoyed it. Give me British chamber pop over Brit Pop any day

Objectively very beautiful but, felt very similar throughout

I had written up a few paragraphs of a review for this but unfortunately my computer had a random restart and I didn't save them in the browser, so I'll have to sum it a bit: this album really floored me. At the first few tracks I wasn't sure what to think, as the vocalist's wavy vibrato was so thick and the ends of the first few songs were so heavy that I almost felt like I was listening to a villain in a movie sing cabaret. Almost hauntingly scary? I've listened to a lot of really heavy death metal in my life and I don't usually get that response so this surprised me. By the end of it I was really captivated though. Some really beautiful and wonderfully heavy (not just tonally, but lyrically) stuff inside. One of my favorite surprises to pop up here.

Poignant distinctive not an easy listen

Very melancholic and atmospheric

I really liked the music and the vocals and the concept but holy fuck there's so much vibrato that my chair started vibrating

À la fois dense et à fleur de peau: structuré et riche, mais empreint de vulnérabilité, un pacte d’honnêteté. Le calibre des artistes invité•es est très impressionnant

Increasingly moving. Poetic. Unique and meaningful.

discovered anohni in 2023 with her latest LP, and immigrated fall in love.

this comes in hot with a voice tailor made for me to hate, but the history it's drawing on, the whole aura around it, the arrangments and music, it all builds up together until i realize the voice is not really bothering me at all

I don't think I'd quite have got what this album was about in 2005. Slow learner. Going in I expected it to be ok but the big vibrato & pop leanings to not be for me. Was expecting my review to be "music for people who like pop a lot but are still pretty cool". Think the vocals are working better here than in some scattered other songs I've heard. Really good when the harmonies are there. Lots of simple songs with a ton contained in them. It makes sense that Lou Reed was big on Anonhi's talent. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

Another new album for me - it is absolutely beautiful 4/5

I liked it. Kind of artsy fartsy but well composed in my opinion and I think the vocal performance is great.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I was going to. I remember this album coming out and not really being taken with it, but I was a teenager back then so that's probably not too surprising. I totally understand why some people hate this. It's a polarising kind of sound, that's for sure. It's not something I'll be listening to regularly, but I enjoyed my time with it. Very personal, very open, and laced with morose introspection.

A really solid singer songwriter album. Antony has a cool voice. Very dramatic. The songs are very emotive. Rufus wainwright on a track too?? nice.

Wow this first song really caught me off guard and went places I really didn't expect. I struggle with the vibrato in the vocals a little bit but it is interesting so I don't hate it. One thing I love about this album is how powerful and emotional it often sounds. I don't think I'll ever go out of my way to listen to this again but I really appreciated listening to it. It felt like reading someone's journal about transitioning from a man to a woman and it was very powerful.

I had never listened to Anohni before. This record was brilliant. It was all the feels. While I'll never understand what it's like to be transgender, I feel like this record really captured all the feels. It was sad, lonely, joyous, hopeful, doomy. It was kind of the full spectrum of what someone could experience. Musically, I really liked the ballads and rock songs. This was really cool and enjoyable.

Today I learned about the chamber pop subgenre. I'm not sure that it's ever going to be one of my favorites, but I like the level of care that goes into the works of this genre, and this album is no exception. The music is beautiful the whole way through, and produced with a lot of attention to detail. Not one I'm probably going to come back to, but still very much worth listening to 4/5

So excited to see them at Glastonbury! Big props have to go to Mum for already etching many of these tracks into my long-term memory. Fistful of Love, especially, is a truly magnificent and emotional ballad that shows the incredible range of Antony’s voice, the power of his words, and the strength of the backing band. Thanks Mum for introducing this one many years ago, and thank you to AatJ for sticking around until I was old enough to fully appreciate the work!

One of them where it’s not my usual thing but I can tell it’s really good and deserves praise. Very talented singer with a unique voice, and the musical arrangements are done very well. Emotive. I was already familiar with this album as it was played a lot by mum & dad when I was younger. Was a nice surprise when I pressed play and recognised it immediately!

lyssnade väldigt mycket på antony and the johnsons när jag gick i gymnasiet men har nog inte lyssnat sedan dess. det är ju bra alltså. spiralling är utan tvekan den bästa.

A bit dull at times but for a certain sad boy-day, this would be absolutely perfect. I did miss some guitar but then the solo on «Fistfull of Love» made me regret my wishes.

I liked this album. It’s amazing for a trans artist to get this level of attention and songs like For Today I Am A Boy and Bird Guhl are amazing. Personally I thought her signature vibrato can be amazing, but it can also be a little much at times. Wainwright’s song was also one of my favorites. Overall a strong album!

This was a pretty emotional ride. That voice was just captivating. The music wasn’t bad either, but the vocals definitely steal the show. There were a couple points where I started to get a bit bored, but overall this is a high 3 that I’ll round up to 4. Fistful of Love was an excellent tune.

I was prepared to write this album off but then I got hit with a Fistful of Love. ❤️

Beautiful vocals.

So poetic, if a book could sing, this is album comes across that way.