Reviews (page 2 of 8)
A welcome surprise. You can hear every British guitarist’s inspiration from this album from Jimmy Page to Noel Gallagher.
Not available.
Great guitarist
i'm a huge fan of these older folk records, and while this doesn't disappoint, it also doesn't impress compared to albums like pink moon. a lot of tracks here are just too short, but they're really great when we get a full-length cut.
A pleasant listen from an artist I had not previously heard of.
I really enjoy the melancholy that‘s present throughout the whole album. Jansch clearly was an incredible guitar player and he knew how to use his voice. Yes, the album is quite one-note, but overall the minimalist sound paired with a somber and calming voice hit a nerve with me.
Muy buena música, hay canciones que me jacen acordar a Myles Kennedy como solista, también algo de Silvio Rodríguez, la verdad que muy bueno!
There were na couple of song with some good guitar. The rest was uninspiring.
Another new to me but nothing to say about it
Gesang-Gitarre Balladen
Folky acoustic guitar
Sometimes all you need is a singer and a guitar.
Pleasant, chill but not amazing
the goat
This is good rustic camping music. Or perhaps 4 am can't sleep music. 6/10
I SLEEP
If nothing else, Bert Jansch is an incredible fingerpicker. There are so many great little melodies and chord progression he pulls off with just his fingers. His style is a mix of blues and traditional English folk, combined with a very sparse and isolating atmosphere that makes for a surprisingly emotionally affective listen. The only instruments present here are his guitar and his voice, so it's a testament to his skill that he's able to keep this album as compelling as it is. That being said, he's not that impressive as a lyricist or a vocalist. He certainly is competent, and those aren't as important to this album's quality as his guitar playing, but it does hold this album back from being truly great. I typically preferred the few instrumental tracks, since those gave him more space to experiment with his guitar. That being said, this was still a good album, and I could see how it would influence a lot of other great artists down the line, although I do think a lot of them improved on the base he built here.
Guitar spillet er til tider ret fedt. Nummeret et eller andet Alice var ret cool og spansk i lyden. Generelt en lidt tam Nick Drake.
Fint. Lidt Nick Drake agtigt. Dog med en markant anderledes (og ofte dårligere) vokal
62
Jonninjoutava. 2/5
Very cool chill album. Great instrumental work.
Good guitar playing, but that's about it. I don't like the same 60s acoustic stuff. It's all the same.
While it is not unlistenable, it is a super boring album that never really delivers any energy.
Guitarist from Pentangle, makes sense, the playing is very unique but there's too many instrumentals I don't care about
Acoustic folk, in the British tradition. "Angie" is a banger, and this features some good guitar work; although some of the songwriting is not so inspiring.
Biggest song doesn't even have words
I mean, sure, I guess. This was alright. I like folk a lot and this isn’t bad, but it doesn’t feel particularly groundbreaking either. It’s just there. Some tracks are interesting, and I liked that there were instrumentals. Don’t really feel like this needed to be on the list, though.
Never heard of this guy, went in with no expectations and while it's listenable there's nothing amazing about it.
6/10
I'm sure this gets referred to as 'Britains Bob Dylan' and i can see why. The intimate recording if one man and his guitar, the folk stories and the earnest delivery. Its good and i enjoyed it. But it lacks some of the passion, the anger and the story telling that made Bob great and should be treated as a good not great album
Ovo ide uz original RDR soundtrack, bliže 7 nego 6.
Was only vaguely aware of Bert prior to listening to this album. Really liked the pared back home recording vibe of Bert & his guitar - the playing in particular is excellent - especially on the instrumentals when he really gets going.
three listens, very chilled, very quiet. Coffee shop, busker-esque.
Bored to tears
Meh . Had high hopes but no
Wow, I was very impressed with the guitar work on this album.
That sure is an English folk record that some of my favs liked when they were younger.
I really enjoy a sad boy album from this era.
Pleasant but unmemorable folk
Perhaps I need to listen to this a few more times to appreciate it.
Back in college, a guy I knew used to hang out in folk clubs most nights Whenever I went along, most everyone was trying to do some version of this musical style I get similarities to Nick Drake - same county, but slightly different zip code I wish the guy would cheer up a little - makes it a difficult listen Its okay, but I'm never going to circle back for another listen
Pleasant, folky, I get the Nick Drake comparisons. Excellent finger-picking.
Sounds like a poor man's Nick Drake. But enjoyable
Real nice, simple, short and sweet guitar music. Enjoy his playing, enjoy his voice. Simple as.
Just a bloke chilling with his guitar I liked this
Relaxing folk, sounds like it could be more modern amyhan the 60s tbh. Couldn’t listen all the time but it’s good for what it is
“If cherry trees bore fruit of gold; The birds would die, their wings would fold” SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH YOU STUPID FUCKING HIPPIE AND TAKE YOUR GODDAM ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND YOUR FUCKING BERET AND SHOVE THEM UP YOUR ASS AND GO GET A FUCKING JOB!!! THEY SHOULD HAVE SENT ALL THE HIPPIES TO VIETNAM ARMED ONLY WITH ACOUSTIC GUITARS AND LOVE BEADS AND THEN WE’D HAVE WON THAT WAR BECAUSE THE VIETNAMESE WOULD'VE ALL KILLED THEMSELVES! THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF TREES FOR BIRDS TO EAT FRUIT FROM AND I ASSUME THEY COULD STILL BUILD THEIR NESTS IN CHERRY TREES EVEN IF THE TREES SPROUTED GOLD RATHER THAN CHERRIES! I DON’T REALLY KNOW HOW BIRDS WORK!!!!
50+ Albums in and Needle of Death is one of the best tracks I've heard so far, definitely the best track id heavier heard before. Unfortunately the rest of the album didn't quite live up to that height but it is still and enjoyable listen. 3.5* Rounded down to 3*
Some great songs here. Enjoyed the more melancholy minor key stuff
7/10
This is a nice low key album.
A gentle acoustic experience. Some very technically proficient guitar playing. He’s clearly got chops. He’s a solid vocalist and he has some great lyrics. Smokey River, Needle of Death, and Do You Hear Me were the standouts, but not much stands out on this album in general. It’s nice, but ultimately it’s a guy playing an acoustic guitar by himself. There’s a ceiling to that kind of thing.
Delicate and intimate little classic folk record here, immediately reminded me of someone like Nick Drake in just how down and almost nihilistic it all feels. Though for a folk album, it was odd that I found the highlight to be the guitar playing; it was just super good, and the instrumentals here (and the playing in general) were just so evocative, balancing atmospheric finger-picking style with a pretty poignant driving melody on a lot of these. My favorites being 'Smokey River', which really sets the mood for the album, 'Alice's Wonderland', and the great closer 'Angie'. As for everything else, it certainly has a very subtle British folk flavor to it in the finger-guitar style and the melody construction, sort of like a more subdued and moody Fairport Convention or The Pentangle. I also see some psych groups drawing from this record; I especially hear a lot of the band Love in this, in the twisted and dreamlike writing and acoustic playing, especially on 'I Have No Time,' which was maybe my favorite song here. And speaking of twisted, 'Needle of Death' was unapologetically blunt in its delivery and imagery in relation to drug usage; it was pretty unexpected in the mix here, but I did like it quite a bit. It's sobering. 'Do You Hear Me Now' is equally as blunt and holds Bert's most in-your-face vocal delivery; I'd say he goes slightly out of his vocal range on this one with those cracks and growls, though. The rest of the songs here also have pretty dark undertones; again, it really plays into the album's overall aesthetic. A solid listen. I did wish for more on the vocal and songwriting front, but it is a very skeletal and consistent record, for better or worse. It establishes its gloomy atmosphere pretty early on, dimming the light and lighting a candle, and then leaves you there for 40-minutes or so.
This was a really good folk album. I haven’t heard a lot of intentional Scottish folk, and it’s quite good. I suppose any place with enough institutional oppression and historical trauma makes good folk music. Angie and the Needle are particularly good.
Great album.
Overall Rating - 3.57/5 (7.13/10). Very much in the mid 60s folk vein. Seriously minimalist, which I like, especially in folk. It's a man, his guitar, and his feelings. Nothing more.
zuca i ja pijemo kafu na jezeru. padala je kisa celu noc
With just his voice and a very skillful guitar playing, Bert Jansch composed a rather unique Singer-songwriter album for its time, and yet it can be a bit lackluster. As mentioned, the most impressive and interesting aspect about it is the very agile guitar playing, specially in the instrumental tracks, as it fills the gap of the voice by being more complex and interesting. Speaking about the voice, I think it is fine. I don't find it to be very emotional or appealing, but at least is not grating. And that's about it. The album is very straight forward in terms of sound, being folk inspired Singer-songwriter with just voice and guitar, so there isn't really much more worth talking about. Actually, I haven't mentioned the lyrics, but that's because I don't get anything out of them, so my point of not having things to discuss still stands. Ultimately, I think it is fine. Not something I'm crazy about and sometimes it even gets close to being boring, but it manages to be decent and interesting enough.
Старина сильно долбит по струнам
This was a real treat. Had never heard of Bert Jansch before listening to this. Loved the Celtic and fingerstyle influence on his well refined folk sound. The added lore around him recording this and selling it for 100 pounds to the record company pushes this into five star territory for me.
I've heard Bert Jansch's name mentioned as an influence by many artists, but I've never stopped to listen to any of his music. This album is incredibly intimate with its very minimal arrangement. I love simple fingerpicked guitar playing and would love to learn some of these songs. Overall, this was a very pleasant listen.
Really nothing special. There are much better folk albums out there.
It's a dude with an acoustic guitar. Cool
Yeah, why not. British folk's great
Perfectly nice folk, but it really makes me appreciate the less affected vocal delivery that developed in the late 60's.
What an insufferable whiny bitch
Like gently lazing down a river in a canoe this album lulls you in and breezes by, wonderful
A beautiful folk rock collection of songs. The guitar is bright and vibrant, and Bert had some interesting things to say. 3.4/5.
It was fine. I feel like maybe I would have dug this more in a different headspace. But as it was, it's perfectly adequate.
kinda messed with it. i’d give it a 3.49
Not bad
Didn’t really grab me. Not bad, just not that interesting. 2.5/5
Basically the same song recorded 15 times. Notable for being one of the first of its kind in terms of folky Americana. Not that listenable though
Sort or samey and what was there was cool...but I yearned for variations.
This would be at its best on an old phonograph. In HD on a modern streaming service, it's alright. 2.7/5 -> 3/5
Great artist.
brilliant soul on strings not too far gone to feel lost a commune of sound
2.5/5 Very calm, almost like you’re traveling through nature. Not bad, but probably wouldn’t listen to it again. I’ll do 3 stars cause if it played somewhere I wouldn’t mind. Cant really give it 2 cause it was not bad at all.
i love the guitar, and also i just overall really liked it, i would give it a five because i liked it but im kinda doubtful now be a play i don’t know much about the genre..? but honestly ill give it a five lol whatever
Hans guitarspil går direkte i fyldepennen
*83 Et album jeg har hørt ofte i år. Beroligende og dragende - det kalder på eventyr.
Første tanke: Hold kæft noget svedigt guitar. Jeg forstår godt hvorfor man sætter pris på, men når alt kommer til alt, så bliver det altså også en smule kedeligt. 3
Jeg har ikke meget hverken godt eller ondt at sige om dette. Det gør ingen skade, men det siger mig heller ikke alverden. Jeg har det med dette, som mange har det med jazz - det er fint til baggrunden. Det fader lidt for meget ind og ud af de samme sange til, at jeg kan differentiere det fra hinanden Mit lyse sommerhumør lader det lige akkurat snige sig op på en: 2.8 Havde det været vinter, var det en 2'er.
ret lækkert - omend tangerende til det lidt kedelige en gang i mellem. Kan godt se mig får løst til at høre dette album i bestemte situationer, men ikke revolutionerende nok til at trække mig over 3 stjerner, selvom jeg mistænker den nemt kunne komme højere, hvis/når jeg får tid til at fordybe mig i både lyden og teksterne
Cool stuff for a mellow evening.
Boring
immaculate
Nice album of folk songs, I really liked the instrumentals. The lyrics and vocals can be melancholy. This would have been better to listen to in colder months than during a hot July. Favorite songs: Courting Blues, Smokey River, Casbah, Angie
I really enjoyed this, I thought there were some similarities to Nick Drake. It's not very polished but that gives it an honesty and sincerity to me. The guitar playing is interesting, I much prefer this picking style over chords in this context Bonus that this is only the third Scottish artist I've had after the Jesus and Mary Chain and Primal Scream (I think) Highlights: I Have No Time, Strolling Down The Highway, Smokey River, Courting Blues
Gorgeous guitarwork
Love the guitar on this one
I really can’t think of what to say … I guess it was OK but sounded a bit dated.
This list is very UK centric. Sorry but boring…
Solid
I'm generalising this as the kind of music an aging hippie, who's taken up art and moved to Cornwall might reach for. I'm not digging it. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ most Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆(5/10) Total reviewed : 372 Already owned : 81 Purchased : 16 To buy : 7 Nope : 268
I get nervous when the singer sounds out of tune. Thankfully, it got better! Easy listening, very folksy. Some activist songs here. I like "I have no Time" and "do you hear me now?" Very mellow, even during the more passionate songs
Just a guy and his acoustic guitar. Simple and excellent Added to my personal collection ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don't mind some sleepy folk music but this was a little too sleepy.
Great guitar picking music ok but feels dated. Lyrics don’t cut it. Would be better if only acoustic without sappy lyrics,
10 minutes in and I already knew it's going to be an album that I love. An expert behind his instrument, pleasant voice, strong lyrics, it has all the ingredients to be loved. It strongly reminds me of Nick Drake, who, artistically, I also admire a lot. Love it!
Keby to tu nebolo, vôbec by mi to nechýbalo.
Amazing pick work. Very catchy melodies. he must have spent every waking moment with a guitar in his hands. His talent can not be overstated.
Rentoa kesäistä akustistafolkkia, tosi mökkikamaa. Tuosta laulajan äänestä tulee toinen folkkilaulaja mieleen, mutta en saa mieleen kuka. Mukana myös instrumentaali kappaleita. Parhaat: Running From Home, Angie
Pretty boring. Idk what else to say.
Not in love with it
A very quiet and mild folk album. I like the guitar playing and some of the songs, but it’s hard to feel too strongly about it.
Really lovely! Soothing and swift, in and out, and I appreciate it. Nothing jumped out, unfortunately, but it was worthwhile.
Really liked it. 4.5
Underappreciated folky 60s bloke is a classic archetype of the list and Bert is a good example. Like similar artists, I like a lot of this album but not enough to consider another listen. A very 'live' sounding recording, some nice guitar parts and a good voice, would be nice in the background on occasion. No clear standout bangers that would make me want to repeat though.
Lovely and refreshing. I loved Smokey River, can't go wrong with a well-crafted instrumental number, and Strolling Down The Highway was also fantastic, as was Needle of Death. Simply, jolly good.
No idea what to expect with this, but it was really good. Some great intricate sounding guitar. I spent a fair amount of it trying to work out who he reminded me of and I could not work it out..... Any ideas? Strolling down the highway, needle of death, running from home, Alice's wonderland (riff sounds really familiar) and Angie were my favourites. Really good
This guy seems pretty chill. What’s up Bert Jansch? Bert Jansch: Ah you boys here for the boat? The rest is history
I have read on his Wikipedia that he is a member of Pentangle, so I’m hoping that by praising this album, CMAT will notice me.
It's possibly the world's most boring album. Just invite a random middle-aged man in your basement, have him strum an acoustic guitar, and have him periodically mumble for nearly 40 minutes, and ta-da!; that's this album in a nutshell. Favorite Track: "Smokey River".
[yawn]
As someone born and raised in the UK, I must admit that British folk music is a genre I have not previously explored in any great depth. Going into Bert Jansch’s 1965 self-titled debut, I was certainly well aware of his reputation as a musician, but I had never actually sat down and listened to his work. The immediate impression the album leaves is one of extreme minimalism. The record is incredibly sparse, stripped back entirely in its arrangements, production, and performances. While I thoroughly enjoyed the listen, I wouldn't necessarily class the album, as a collection of songs, as "essential". Beyond the songs themselves, perhaps the primary reason this debut remains such a landmark is Jansch’s profound legacy as a guitarist - he went on to shape an incredibly diverse array of players, from Neil Young and Paul Simon through to Johnny Marr and Graham Coxon. This influence, for me, was the most striking revelation of the entire listen. Upon a first listen it is immediately obvious, if you are familiar with Led Zeppelin's catalogue, just how heavily Jansch influenced Jimmy Page’s acoustic guitar playing. If you listen to any of Page's acoustic performances with Led Zeppelin, and especially his live acoustic playing, Jansch’s distinct fingerpicking style shines through with absolute clarity. Ultimately, I found this album to be a pleasant, engaging, and eye-opening piece of musical history. Four stars. 1 "Strolling Down the Highway" (3/5) 2 "Smokey River" (Instrumental) (4/5) 3 "Oh How Your Love Is Strong" (4/5) 4 "I Have No Time" (4/5) 5 "Finches" (Instrumental) (3/5) 6 "Veronica" (Instrumental) (3/5) 7 "Needle of Death" (4/5) 8 "Do You Hear Me Now?" (3/5) 9 "Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me" (5/5) 10 "Alice's Wonderland" (Instrumental) (3/5) 11 "Running From Home" (3/5) 12 "Courting Blues" (3/5) 13 "Casbah" (Instrumental) (4/5) 14 "Dreams of Love" (3/5) 15 "Angie" (Instrumental) (5/5) Total - 54 Average - 3.60 357/1001 191/357 albums reviewed were new to me.
Good guitar play.
An easy-going folk album; not much going on in. Nothing stood up for me in particular but it was an enjoyable album and I liked the vocal delivery, too. Would put it on the background when I'm just chilling. It was home-recorded I think? Meaning that it's somewhat an independent release, imperfections can be found like hitting off-key notes here and there throughout the LP but it only enriches the overall cozy sound of the album I'd say. Favorites: Strolling Down the Highway, Smokey River, Veronica, Needle of Death, Dreams of Love, Angie
Pretty good lyrics get repetitive though
That wasn't half bad. Not my jive, folk music but this was OK.
Way too twangy for my taste.
Mysig singer songwriter typ
The parts where he's not singing 👍
Clearly a very talented folk guitar player, I always wanted to check him out on the back of Johnny Marr saying he was a major influence, but for me this album lacks something, it sounds like a sort of pound shop Nick Drake, none of the songs really grab me and there are no memorable Melodies, it played, it didn’t grab me, it didn’t offend me and when it finished I had no inclination to listen to it again. 2.3
Prefer other albums by Bert Jansch, but I enjoyed this. Anji specifically.
Pleasant enough without being spectacular at any point.
noice man met gitaar
dit is nick drake maar dan YEEEHAWWWW cowboy
Okay
Splendidly melancholic and beautifully crafted guitar
Gorgeous folk/acoustic
Fantastic guitarist. The songs are complex but nice to listen to. Influencal. Not for anyone though as it sounds quite dusty but it is just old stuff...
jovial, soulful, skillful, jumpy, snappy, percussive, driving acoustic guitar. interesting folk vocals. favorite song: needle of death.
Not on AM
Great for the morning train
Enjoyable guitar and singing. Bookmarked Angie as I quite liked it.
I liked his folky voice, his kind of moody style. Not bad.
No thanks Bert
It was quite boring. Once he opened his mouth it got immediately worse.
Uninspiring
This was bad
Dire
I dont like country im so sorry
Sounded like one very long boring song.
Boring folk.
I can’t believe I liked this the first time around. What was I thinking?
Good little rambling album
++: Strolling Down the Highway, Smokey River, Oh How Your Love Is Strong, I Have No Time, Finches, Do You Hear Me Now?, Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me, Alice's Wonderland, Courting Blues, Casbah, Dreams of Love, Angie +: Veronica, Needle of Death, Running from Home 9,7/10
Bert Jansch played by Bert Jansch performed by Bert Jansch created by Bert Jansch curated by Bert Jansch Jansched Bert Jansch, Jansch. 5/10
Just a guy chatting. 3/5
Pleasant enough, nothing special
Great guitar
не зацепило.
My kind of country music even though it got a bit repetitive towards the end.
This one was cool. James Taylor-esque
Literally nothing to say about this. Pleasant folk.
Pleasant singer-songwriter acoustic folk. The tunes began to run together after a while. | added “Needle of Death” to my playlist.
I like this! Took me a couple of listens, first go through I was more on the fence. Can see how Nick Drake was hugely influenced by this, which probably is why I like it!
A golden folk platter!
Neil Young definitely listened to Bert Jansch
Take na 3
Didn't make much impression on me, except the last song, Angie - which I then realized is a cover song. Oh well.
05/23 Meh
A debut album that is superb in its simplicity, just a singer and his guitar for some wonderful folk blues. Loved it.
A few times during this journey I've said, "Oh Wow! How have I never heard of this?!" Not this time. I said, "No wonder Ive never heard of this!"
Nice!
He thinks he is Bob Dylan but he is not.
I really enjoyed this one. It's up my alley - a folk tradition, just a man and his acoustic guitar. It's profoundly sad, but I really like it. I can hear a lot of traditional folk influences particularly in the instrumental interludes. I had no clue who Bert Jansch was, but I will absolutely be going through his catalogue. Playlist Pick: Angie. Does anyone else hear "Work Song" about 1:15 into it?
In the realm where others strive for perfection, this record embraces imperfection, and it's all the more captivating for it. A guy simply enjoying his guitar and some songs. Errors punctuate the tracks, but they only enhance its warmth. It's all about sincerity. I liked lots. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions - Smokey River - Finches - Veronica - Needle of Death - Alice's Wonderland - Casbah - Dreams of Love - Angie
I liked it the first time through, then unexpectedly listened to it on repeat for the rest of the day like I was under a spell. So okay, I’ll bump it up to 5 stars.
This album wasn't exactly what I needed the day it was offered up. But as I listened into the second half, it grew on me. I love the guitar playing. Some of the instrumental tracks are stellar. A 3.5 album for me.
Dit is echt precies de folk muziek waar ik een hekel aan heb. Het genre "Witte folk goos met een gitaar", er zit meteen 0 fun in. Niets van funk, geen drums, helemaal niks. Gewoon een goos met een gitaar. Prima, maar het word zó snel, zo ontzettend saai... Dan moet je je ontzettend gaan focussen op de lyrics, maar met zn manier van zingen, beetje klaagzang country achtig merk ik echt dat ik totaal geen focus kan houden er op. Het album duurt maar een half uur, maar ik heb al minstens 10 keer gekeken of het al bijna klaar is. Er zitten wel wat leukere instrumentale nummers tussen, maar grotendeels is dit gewoon niet echt mijn ding. Heel erg Art & Garfunkel, en daar ben ik ook niet zo wild van. Een album wat zo kort duurt, maar zo lang voelt. Het is toch bijzonder... Ja, uiteindelijk is mn favoriete nummer van dit album het instrumentale afsluitnummer. Das geen al te best teken. FAVO: Dreams of love, Angie
Quite cozy, but also a bit anonymous. There is nothing that really stands out here. Maybe it would've been different if I heard this first time on a rainy autumn day on my way to the cabin, not sure. Folk album in '65 feels like a saturated marked and hard to sell. Guess it must've been quite early with this sound, perhaps. Didn't really manage to break my concentration at all when working, just felt like background noise. It's lacking in the hooks department, and in the singing. Strong 2.
I recently learned through Spotify’s 20th anniversary celebration (God, I’m getting old) that my most-streamed artist was Tallest Man on Earth. I blame my early twenties and the fact that his music was great to study to. Anyway, I remember him saying that he got a lot of criticism for supposedly trying to mimic Dylan, but he always claimed he borrowed more from other artists. I think you can hear a lot of his technique in this album, so maybe Bert Jansch was who he meant. I really enjoyed the fingerpicking style and the vocals. It felt chill and cozy. The fact that it was recorded in one take, mistakes and all, made it feel raw and intimate. Not many songs really stood out, though, so I’m going to land on a solid 3.
Bert Jansch influenced a lot of musicians. Nick Drake and Donovan were famously inspired by his guitar playing, dedicating and naming songs after him, or recording their own cover versions of his music. Neil Young and Jimmy Page took their influence from Jansch in a much more direct way. Neil has openly said that he realised, after it was recorded, that his song “Ambulance Blues” was essentially just a subconscious reworking of Jansch’s “Needle of Death”: “I picked up the melody from his record, the guitar part exactly, without realising that I had completely copped the whole thing.” Jimmy Page was a bit more blatant. I originally discovered Bert Jansch through Led Zeppelin. I was borderline obsessed with the song “Black Mountain Side” and Page’s insane acoustic guitar playing in that strange tuning. So when I found out that he had essentially lifted the melody from a folk musician, I had to check him out. Bert Jansch is one of the greats of the world of folk. There's a sort of bluesy twang to his folk guitar, which aligns perfectly with my taste. Songs like “Strolling Down the Highway” (my favourite song on this album) and “Rambling’s Gonna Be the Death of Me” (among many others) really lean into this blend of blues and folk. And he's a fantastic acoustic guitarist of course. You can hear his otherworldly acoustic picking skills throughout every song, but particularly in tracks like “Casbah”, “Smokey River” or “Angie”. “Angie” is the perfect example of how Jansch can make his guitar sing. He has a decent soft voice himself that works very well with his music, but many of these tracks don’t need a human vocal. He somehow manages to produce layers that give the full range of backing instruments and vocal melody out of just one acoustic guitar. Jansch didn’t write “Black Water Side”, it was an arrangement of a traditional folk song that had been played by many folk musicians. But he transformed it with his insane guitar abilities to something that sounded so unique that Jimmy Page created an entire Zeppelin song out of it. I’m glad he did, because it helped me discover Bert Jansch and this fantastic album.
Great Songs: Good Songs: Strolling Down the Highway, Smokey River, Oh How Your Love Is Strong, Finches, Veronica, Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me, Casbah, Dreams of Love, Angie Mid Songs: I Have No Time, Needle of Death, Do You Hear Me, Alice's Wonderland, Running from Home, Courting the Blues Bad Songs:
Based on most of the folk music that has been on this list, especially anything from the UK, I rolled my eyes when I saw that it was a Scottish folk album from 1965 and expected to hate it. I was wrong though. This album was a lovely listen with beautiful, elegant guitar work and a soothing voice without an abrasive accent.
Okay, so I'm not usually a huge folk guy, but there's this seriously beautiful, intimate vibe to the recording, they made it in a kitchen on old reel-to-reel tape, so no fancy, overproduced stuff. It's just raw, analog, and feels like you're at an unpolished, handmade gig in your living room. Perfect for chilling on a lazy Sunday. Jansch's voice is a bit of an acquired taste, a bit raspy, but characterful, and it works great with the serious, dark lyrics. But honestly, the guitar playing? That's the real show. The fingerpicking on tracks like "Smokey River", "Casbah", and his "Angie" cover is insane, mixing blues and jazz. After hearing "Needle of Death" I get why Nick Drake and Neil Young looked up to him. It's a simple, hypnotic record that packs a ton of emotion... just a man and his guitar.
I was not aware of Jansch but it seems evident that a lot of the folk scene of this era was. I knew I’d heard Angie before, which led me to wonder why Simon & Garfunkel titled it Anji; that then led me to the composer, Davy Graham’s version and some exploration of his work. Another excellent addition to 1001
Long, too noisy, and not noisy enough.
Oh, now I see why I have never heard of this. I don’t like this kind of music much. (ntm.)
I only like the little instrument solos
Moody strumming
Easy to listen to. Not as lyrically impressive as some other folk albums, maybe because his voice was distracting at times. I really enjoyed the needle of death song especially the lyrics: Through ages, man's desires To free his mind, to release his very soul Has proved to all who live That death itself is freedom for evermore.
Kinda sweet
Eh
I really don't enjoy this style of music or this style of singing, but there is some really good guitar work on this album
nothing special here. already forgot about this and moved on.
I thought all the song had a nice sound to them. I did think the album went by way to fast.
Good
Jamais écouté avant. Découverte totale, et une vraie claque. Comme quoi, parfois, une guitare acoustique et une voix pas complètement assurée (et encore, pas sur tous les morceaux !) portent en elles plus de plaisir musical que les arrangements orchestraux les plus sophistiqués. Un sommet d'intimité et de mélancolie folk dépouillée, émouvant de bout en bout, jamais répétitif ou ennuyeux. Impossible bien sûr de ne pas mentionner la maîtrise de son instrument de Bert Jansch, sans ostentation mais diablement épatante. Un chef-d'œuvre qui mériterait d'être beaucoup mieux connu ! Top : Needle of Death Flop : Courting Blues
I really enjoyed this. It's been a long time since I've heard an artist who feels honest and real and genuine. The little imperfections just enhance the album and the guitar work is outstanding. Possessed by Paul James, another artist who also exudes that honest and real feeling, came to my mind while listening to this album. Do You Hear Me Now and Angie are the highlights for me.
Just dull
Nice if on mushrooms in a cabin somewhere, otherwise kinda dullish folk tunes.
Guitar playing is good. Just didn’t care for the songs - most of them anyway
Less good than Croce
Pleasant. Not that interesting
This is fine, and the dude has a nice voice, but truth be told I liked the instrumentals the best.
This was great. 4/5
Not a fan of the instrumentals. However, I thought his melding of blues and British folk was well done with interesting lyrics.
Meh
I don’t know, at first I thought it was nice. But for example, the song Do You Hear Me Know sounds so whiney with the breaking voice in the middle. I don’t know.
Generic sad boy guitar
Great guitar work for a folk album. Otherwise solid but nothing particular that stands out.
Helt alright søndags-folk eller? Får meg egentlig til å ønske at jeg heller hørte på Jackson C. Frank eller Nick Drake.
Jeg skulle mye heller sett Birthday Blues i lista. Dette er helt grei folk. Interessant gitarspill, men jeg hører heller på Donovan.
I liked this. I'd heard of him but had never listened before. Was unaware he was Scottish! I particularly liked the instrumental "Alice's Wonderland" and recognized Angie from the S&G cover. A strong three.
Beautiful stuff I love this whole school of floaty technical guitar playing. This in particular has some beautiful tender atmosphere. Love the stripped back arrangements and bluesy compositions
The perfect album to listen to when you're wallowing in melancholy.
Been meaning to get around to Bert's music for a while, and this didn't disappoint! As the inventor of the "folk baroque" picking style, Bert delivers a unique and refreshing folk album, replete with really interesting chords and some great traditional folk stories.
I went into this expecting to hate it more considering it’s just a guy and a guitar with basically nothing else. But overall it was pleasant. At least he could sing well, and play a pretty good guitar.
imagine a bloke.... with a *guitar*...... and get this, he *sings*........ Standouts: Finches • Needle of Death • Angie
I usually like the genre of guy finger picking and telling stories, but other than Needle of Death, which was stunning, I found very little of interest here.
I found this deeply boring, sorry, Bert!
Really enjoyed this. Great guitar work.
Mildly interesting voice. Mildly interesting guitar parts. Mildly interesting songwritting.
This was a nice discovery. A good quality folk album for the time. Better than I anticipated.
Nice guitar, singing style does nothing for me. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Enjoyed it.
This was pleasant. I could take it or leave it
Impressive guitar-play. But not exactly my jam. favourite: "Angie" 2,5
bon ok
He’s got a good voice and sound but none of the songs were very memorable to me and the whole thing feels a little too plain. Maybe on repeat listens some of it would grow on me.
Een zangert liedjesschrijvert die ik eigenlijk alleen ken van de platenbakken in kringloopwinkels. Aangezien je tegenwoordig weinig tot geen fatsoenlijke platen tegenkomt in kringloopwinkels stemt dat me niet heel hoopvol, maar tegelijk mogen we ook wel een beetje vertrouwen hebben in Robert Dimery en z'n team. Ik vind het wel aardig. Het begint me op te vallen dat ik deze week vrijwel alles wel aardig vind, maar misschien ligt het ook gewoon aan wat me voorgeschoteld wordt. En och verrek: 'Running From Home' staat in één van m'n zorgvuldig samengestelde playlists. Hij wint het bij mij niet van een aantal conculega's (om misschien wel het meest verschrikkelijke woord in de Nederlandse taal maar eens te gebruiken) die in deze lijst staan. Drie sterren.
The guitar playing is exceptional, vocals you could take or leave 4*
This is really nice. Pleasant plucking and a friendly voice. Simple and stripped down home recording.
Not really for me- kind of hokey rock. Bob Dylan adjacent. I could see this being an influential album for some musicians.
Bert Jansch é um daqueles nomes que eu nunca ouvi falar, e que ao gerar na lista eu fiquei com baixas expectativas. Uma coisa é fato, seu estilo musical não é minha pira. Mas surpreendentemente, o disco me cativou e eu acabei gostando bastante até. Ajuda que a voz de Jansch seja bonita e agradável, e as canções por mais simples que sejam possuem instrumentais legais. Mesmo com instrumentalização simples do estilo folk, as composições são variadas o suficiente pra escapar da monotonia comum do gênero. Uma surpresa agradável. 4/5
Scottish Singer-Songwriter? Yes please! But this seemed quite generic and although lovely vocals and melodies the only song I found interesting was Angie, not one I would buy sadly.
Beautiful and stirring, I’ll def listen to some more of his stuff.
One of the most influential guitarists to emerge from the burgeoning folk scene. It’s not the range of Melodys in this 1965 album that stick out, it’s the playing styles and techniques that the likes of Jimmy Page, Paul Simon, Nick drake and Mike Oldfield used in more significantly acclaimed music later on. Donovan may well have passed fellow Scot Jansch’s picking technique to Lennon around the time of the White album. Pentangle awaits……
A solid folk album that I had not heard before. Really liked this one.
Some of this is lovely, but marred by the faux American hobo bits. I can see its influence across a lot modern artists, particularly in the chord changes he used
66/100. A beautiful, calm folk record that leans fully into simplicity and mood. It has a gentle, almost weightless quality to it. There’s a warm, summery feel running through it, like sitting outside on a quiet afternoon with nothing to rush toward.
classic acoustic guitar
2,5
I enjoyed this one, hadn't heard it before. The guitar playing is excellent and some very good songs. I can only listen to so much of the folkie with a guitar thing, so I did get bored by the end. But overall it's a good record and I’m glad I heard it
Not my idea of fun music. Would be good for a coffee shop.
Fairly solid folky-singer-songwritery stuff.
There’s just something about a soulful, earnest white dude with a lot of feelings and a well-played guitar (see also:Nick Drake) that does it for me.
some good songs i like the instrumental ones
So chill and yet sometimes eerie. Love a spookyish calm vibe.
One of the best surprises of this project so far and I'm over 900 albums in. Absolute guitar master with a beautiful voice. Reminiscent of Nick Drake.
It was nice, not really my speed
Song construction and sound reminds me of Nick Drake, but with a touch more twang. Really like it. Never heard of him before.
fine
I can definitely appreciate this, but it's not something I'm gonna get too deep into.
My mum likes this album, I'm sure. My dad has a beard because of this album, I'm sure.
Fun fingerpickin
A pleasant listen to some original simple folk music. Liked some songs and instrumental tracks, but sometimes it lacks something more. 1. Needle of death 2. Angie 3. Dreams of love
It's not a bad album, but I've heard this before done in more interesting ways.
Masterful guitar work.
The start of a great career, this understated, grass-roots album introduced the world (or a very small part of it) to this genius folk guitarist. Includes the chilling 'Needle Of Death'.
Imposible separarlo de Pentangle, de la que aquí figura basket of light. Su influencia es enorme, solo esto figura en wikipedia: Al Stewart, Paul Simon, Johnny Marr, Elton John, Ian Anderson, Bernie Taupin, Bernard Butler, Jimmy Page, Nick Drake, Graham Coxon, Donovan, Neil Young, Fleet Foxes, Devendra Banhart, Neil Halstead y Roy Harper... Aquí tenemos su debut, con temas acústicos, fingerpicking y su voz, apenas más. grabado en una casette, sin lujos, es un disco íntimo y cálido. Incluye algún tema instrumental como "Angie" de otro imprescindible como es Davey Graham, que es uno de los temas básicos de cualquier músico.
Like it but there’s nothing particularly different from the pack to make it jump out as something special. Cracking guitarist though and the simplicity of the recording is appealing
Interesting folksy stuff, kind of background music adjacent for me. I dunno, not blown away but totally listenable
Folk album from 1965, with a couple pretty good songs. Not all of them got me. Fun fact the original tape was sold for 100 £ in
Not really my thing
Raw and beautiful throughout. There's a lot to be said for just sitting a musician and their instrument in front of a tape recorder and letting them go at it. It feels very intimate because of the lack of tampering or polish. Bert Jansch is something of a legend in the UK, mostly for his work with Pentangle, which I'd definitely recommend people checking out if they enjoy this.
Maso
Nice guitar
Not bad! First time I listened, there was a problem with Spotify, skipping, stopping, fading, so I quit. Tried again later and everything worked. This was a good listen, I've never heard him before, so wasn't sure what to expect. Great guitar work, pleasant voice and a good easy listening songs.
3/10
Man with a guitar. Just chill folk, nothing really amazing but its nice.
How many 60s singer songwriters are in this list…. I mean it’s ok…
Oh sure. Some real folk here. Record Store Guy loved Bert Jansch and Pentangle. Not sure if that’s a count for or against. I enjoyed, but not enough to listen again.
Holy mid. Like the vibes, tho and the guitar sounds crisppppp
Folky
Must admit this won me over. Never heard it before. Simple recipe, but it works. Mad that this is 60 years old….because it’s just guitar and voice, it could have been recorded yesterday. Timeless really. 3
not for me, all the songs kinda sound the same. felt like background sleepy music
stomp und holler
Authentic folk Dylan esque crappy chappy lyrics tickled me
yet another 60s folk album... not unpleasant though & made better by all the songs being original
nice folksy album, it did make me inexplicably sad
This is fucking woeful Dull, boring, bad
A decent old album. Enjoyable to have on in the background but nothing too stimulating.
una sorpresa... empezó mal pero me ha acabado gustando mucho. pienso que pudo haber inspirado a elliot smith y jeff buckley y tal
I enjoyed this album, it felt very intimate. Worth another listen I think
What time signatures are these songs in!? Good stuff, I liked the instrumental songs because even without lyrics the guitar had SO much feeling.
Pretty insane story and great album
Folky, acoustic. Very good really. Needle of Death stood out to me but I enjoyed a lot of this.
I feel fortunate to get this album on a lazy Sunday morning. What a great start to my day, and one of those unexpected surprises from something Ive never heard before. Lots of great songs, but "Courting Blues" is my favorite.
Let me start off by saying this album is fine sonically. It sounds good and the singing is fine and theirs nothing egregious about it at all. However, this album is just not for me. I enjoyed the instrumentals, but his singing was a net negative for me and idk what it is about it. My favorite parts of this album were the instrumental songs.
Recht roh für Folk, aber hat mich nicht bei der Stange gehalten.
It's not really my thing... pleasant but a bit boring. As it is *just* him and his guitar it doesn't have a huge amount of oomph. 2.5 rounded up.
Horrible.
It’s a nice pleasant album.
Zzzzz
Favorite tracks: Needle of Death, Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me, I Have No Time I'm surprised how much I loved this album. It somehow all at once made me yearn for adventure and want to slow down. The interspersed instrumentals are interesting enough to keep me engaged in the album, but somber enough that I cannot help me continue reflecting on the lyrics in the previous song. Very bluesy and not my typical style, but I will definitely be saving this one to return to.
Makes me respect Dylan more as this doesn’t sound that much different from early Bob but I don’t find it nearly as compelling. I checked to see if Bert went electric eventually…..he did not.
3.9 Enjoyed quite a bit, dude can rip
Not super exciting but also not bad.
Like going to an art gallery of 1001 paintings and one of them's just a detailed sketch in a frame
The kind of folk music that makes you buy an old convertible and go on a road trip in the back country.
This whole album sounds like one song being played for forty minutes. I actually really liked it though. This is an album I think best enjoyed putting on in the background. Three stars. (Favorite track: Needle of Death.)
Okay.
The cringe vinyl bro who picks up a guitar after listening to free wheelin’ Bob Dylan one time. This is an actual war crime to have this and Aftermath in a 3 day stretch. Yet another fucking snooze fest. Sure, he’s a good picker but god damn this is so lame. It makes me appreciate the Dylan’s, The Nick Drakes, The Neil Youngs so much more. I genuinely felt like this was one 30 minute song. The lyrics on paper seem deep but I feel empty, hopeless, bored and not moved. AND NOT EVEN IN A GOOD TIMMY WAY.
I do not have much to say The guitar playing it is nices some songs have some great finger picking needle is the highlight for sure it is cool that it was recorded at home but I have no idea what the point of it being here is. In the grand scheme of things, I will never relisten to this. not for me but I enjoyed it. I just can't give it higher than a 1 it is a 2/10 imo
I've heard the name but not the music, to my knowledge. Stunning. Bit like a more earthy Nick Drake. Really bowled over by his playing. Had no idea he was Scottish either. How could I not know that?