Reviews (page 3 of 8)
I like folk music and some of this is pretty good. Some, also, is pretty bland.
Dylan becomes good but forgettable when you take away the harmonica and improve his voice, although this is elevated by some solid guitar work.
I guess I prefer the musicians he influenced.
I have a soft spot for American fingerstyle blues and folk. Give me some Doc Watson any time and it'll take me to a happy place. I hadn't heard of Bert Jansch but I was immediately pleased to hear that guitar work. I know this kind of music isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's MY cup of coffee by a campfire. 5 stars
like lying in the grass on a sunny day when it's just a bit not sunny and warm enough. plenty of acoustic guitar and works great for reading
That 60s folk guitar sound is absolutely gorgeous.
A beautiful album, that really highlights his guitar playing, which is excellent, and compelling vocals. It has a weight to it that few can generate. One of those artists tapping into the wellspring of earthly emotion.
This is like if Bob Dylan didn't have an annoying voice (I love Bob Dylan). It was cosy, rambly, and country. I wasn't the biggest fan, but I think it was a good album, just not very suited to me. The songs were a little same-y and lacked some of the Bob Dylan raunch.
This was a nice surprise! I had no idea this guy existed. This style of acoustic playing is my jam. I love the quality of the recording. It gives a Nick Drake tone on the lower strings with a bit more brightness on the top three. Nice contrast. I will be picking this up if I find a copy out in the wild.
Bravo Bert pour ton fingerstyle.
Je ne connaissais pas, excellent guitariste! Assez iconoclaste. A réécouter. Dur à saisir les subtilités dans l'auto dans la pluie battante en revenant de Québec...
D’la belle tite guit acoustique
A really simple album production wise. It's nice to hear but is pretty one note. However, my girlfriend liked a few songs from it, so that's neat Favorite Song: Needle of Death
Downer. Best saved for a movie soundtrack
Love folk and the style but too slow for me
When I want to chill I want to chill with Bert.
Kind of meh.
A very pleasant acoustic album. It has a distinctive but very subtle taste. You like it or you don’t notice it. It’d be very interesting if we could see him collaborate with someone else.
this album was everything it needed to be. its got some good guitar licks, some awesome lyrics, and you can just kind of melt into the album. i really didn't expect much out of this, as folk isn't generally my genre of choice. but i was really blown away by it. the lore of it being recorded for 100 euros and then sold is also fire. fudge it, give it a 5 stars.
Such a chill and relaxing album, the guitar skills shown by Bert Jansch are incredible. I'm not surprised that I hadn't ever heard of this artist before since most of his debut release is instrumental tracks, but I'm glad I've been introduced to him. This was a great listen, but getting to hear it while sitting on the porch during some 70 degree weather in early March boosted its rating. Great for throwing something chill on in the background.
A very pleasant acoustic album. I could have this playing in the background all day long and not get bored of it
Respect the handmade sound and the honesty. However, sounds just like any other good singer-writer you'd meet at your local pub. I don't see any originality or relevance
pffff! Dull.
Some decent guitar in there but no really my bag
Peaceful relaxing sounds that one could fall asleep to or enjoy at a moderate volume with morning coffee or quiet alone time while trying to concentrate on other tasks.
Aight
From the first song I expect to absolutely detest this album. Yet, I got to a point where the somberness just hit me and I was able to attach feelings into the songs that surprised me.
Definitely not bad by any means, but just not very remarkable to me. Like listening to Simon and Garfunkel without all the interesting bits.
Wish I could rate this 3.5 stars as I enjoyed it more than a lot of 3 star albums so far. I knew Yo La Tengo's cover of Needle of Death and never heard the original and it's beautiful. Heroin is awful.
This is #day569 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to the last-day-of-winter record. Some inoffensive mid-'60s folk with occasionally interesting guitar work. Let it be a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day570, aka the first day of spring, 2026.
I didn’t have high hopes for this (another artist/album I’d never heard of), but it’s very pleasant folk. Minimalist in a delightfully handcrafted way - just a singer and an acoustic guitar. It actually reminds me a lot of Nick Drake. A happy surprise. Smokey River, I Have No Time, Veronica, Needle of Death, Angie 3.5
Love it!!
Pleasant.
Good guitar play, but I kept feeling this was the type of folk artist that drive Dylan electric.
Wasn't sure when it first spun up but ended up really enjoying it -- was good, soothing background music as I worked, enjoyed hearing the acoustic picking and his voice. Felt like a vibe I'd revisit on a chill day
Sobbing at Needle of Death so I guess it gets a 4 based on eliciting an unreserved dramatic emotional response
Meh it's fine, Nick Drake came out less than 5 years later
Folk clásico Un álbum que con solo una guitarra logra transmitir sus puntos Considerando su calidad vs sus escuchas se nota lo infravalorado Angie que es una instrumental mi favorita del álbum
It was alright, average folk music. Good simple guitar music.
C’est reparti... J'ouvre ce bouquin, ce pavé qui me sert de boussole et parfois de poids mort, pour m'attaquer à une autre "légende". Aujourd'hui, on remonte le temps jusqu’en 1965. L’année où tout le monde commençait à brancher des amplis pour faire saigner les oreilles des parents, Bert Jansch, lui, décidait de s’asseoir sur une chaise avec une guitare acoustique et de la jouer fine. L’album s’appelle sobrement Bert Jansch. On ne s’est pas foulé sur le titre, mais à l’époque, on allait à l’essentiel. Je lance le truc. Première impression : c’est sec, c’est nu. C’est le genre de disque qui te donne l’impression d’être coincé dans un studio minuscule avec un mec qui ne parle pas beaucoup mais qui a des doigts qui bougent plus vite que son ombre. Je ne vais pas tourner autour du pot pendant des plombes. On me vend ça comme le Graal du folk britannique. Le truc que Jimmy Page a écouté en boucle en prenant des notes comme un écolier fayot. Et c’est vrai, techniquement, c’est une baffe. Le mec joue du picking comme s'il avait dix mains. C’est fluide, c’est propre, c’est du travail d’orfèvre. Mais voilà le problème. Je l’écoute, je reconnais le talent, je salue la performance... et puis je regarde ma montre. Parce que le folk pur jus, seul avec sa gratte, ça finit par me donner des envies de m’ouvrir les veines avec un médiator. C’est beau, hein, mais c’est aussi un peu monotone si on n’est pas un fétichiste des cordes en acier. L’ambiance générale ? C’est mélancolique, c’est sombre, c’est très "je regarde la pluie tomber sur les pavés de Londres". Il y a ce morceau, "Needle of Death", qui calme tout le monde. C’est sobre, c’est triste, c’est sur l’héroïne, et ça ne cherche pas à faire de l’esbroufe. Là, je dis bravo et c’est là qu’on sent que le mec a du vécu et qu’il ne fait pas juste des jolies notes pour épater la galerie. Ensuite, il y a "Angie", le morceau de bravoure. Le cauchemar de tous les mecs qui ont un jour essayé d’apprendre la guitare acoustique pour draguer en soirée. C’est impressionnant, c’est une démonstration de force. On sent que le mec a digéré le blues, le jazz et le folk traditionnel pour en faire une mixture bien à lui. C’est le chaînon manquant, la base de tout ce qui va suivre. Mais est-ce que ça révolutionne ma vie de mélomane ? Soyons honnêtes : non. Bert Jansch n’a pas inventé la roue. Il a juste pris une roue qui existait déjà, il l’a polie, il l'a graissée et il l’a fait tourner dans le bon sens avec une classe indéniable. C’est du folk classique, très classique, trop classique pour me faire sauter au plafond. C’est le genre d’album que je respecte énormément mais que je n’ai pas envie de me coltiner tous les quatre matins. C’est une pièce historique, c’est comme aller au musée pour voir un outil préhistorique parfaitement conservé. Tu te dis "wow, ils étaient balèzes à l’époque", mais tu ne rentres pas chez toi pour essayer de fabriquer le même. Alors, je lui mets un 3 sur 5 car c'est la note de l'honnêteté. C’est "sympa mais ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard". C’est l’album parfait pour un dimanche après-midi où on n’a pas envie de réfléchir, ou pour faire semblant d’être un puriste quand on reçoit des potes qui pensent que la musique a commencé avec MTV. Je sais, les gardiens du temple vont hurler. Ils vont me dire que je ne comprends rien à l’essence du folk, que c’est un disque séminal, que Jansch est un dieu. Je m’en fous. Un dieu, peut-être, mais un dieu qui joue un peu toujours la même chanson sur un ton un peu trop poli pour mes oreilles qui ont besoin de plus de relief. Le projet des 1001 albums, c’est aussi ça : se confronter à des monuments et se rendre compte qu’on préfère parfois les petites maisons de briques avec de la distorsion. Jansch, c’est la fondation, c’est solide, ça tient la route, mais on a le droit de trouver que la déco manque un peu de peps. En résumé, c'est l'école de la guitare, c'est pur, c'est intègre. On sent que le mec en a bavé et qu'il met ses tripes dans ses cordes. Mais au bout de trente minutes, j'ai quand même une furieuse envie d'entendre un batteur qui tape comme un sourd ou un chanteur qui hurle sa rage. C'est l'album qu'il faut avoir entendu une fois pour comprendre d'où vient une partie du rock moderne. Une fois que c'est fait, on peut le ranger entre un disque de blues poussiéreux et une compilation de ballades irlandaises. On le ressortira dans dix ans, pour vérifier si le bois de la guitare a bien vieilli. Allez, je raye la ligne sur ma liste... Bert Jansch, c’est fait. On passe à autre chose. J'ai besoin de quelque chose qui me bouscule un peu plus, qui me sorte de cette torpeur acoustique. Parce que le folk, c'est bien gentil, mais à petites doses, sinon on finit par porter des pulls en laine qui grattent et par voter pour des trucs barbants. C’était mon ressenti, sans filtre. 3 étoiles. Pas une de plus, pas une de moins. C'est la note du mec qui reconnaît le génie technique mais qui s'ennuie un tout petit peu quand même. Rideau sur 1965 pour l'instant. Je referme le bouquin, je range le vinyle (ou le fichier, on ne va pas faire les snobs) et je pars en quête d'un frisson plus électrique. La suite au prochain numéro, en espérant que le canard ait encore ses trois pattes pour que je puisse lui en casser une moi-même.
This was a cool discovery
Excellent acoustic guitar work. Highlight: Needle Of Death and Running From Home. 3.0
again first listen. some nice fingerpicking good tunes
Bert Jansch is quite a mouthful
Pleasant but not what I was in the mood for today
You honestly could have played the same song 9 times and the album would have sounded more or less the same. You need more than a man and a guitar to make a good album.
It was fine, sounded nice I guess but wasn’t super exceptional
Vibe cowboy triste avec sa guitare acoustique, pas ma came
C’est quand même joli mais peut-être trop calme À écouter que dans certains contextes
Assez boring aussi...
Pleasantly boring.
This is a wonderful little jaunt through the Scottish highlands. If you like instrumental/folk music, you should definitely give this a listen.
Scottish low-fi folk from '65. Influenced Nick Drake.
nice
It was ok
Folk singer not my bag
5/5
Kinda generic folk. Pleasant enough
5/10 - a bit boring, harmless though
Favorite track(s): Oh How Your Love Is Strong, Needle of Death, Angie
Feels like a worse Bob Dylan, and it's interesting cause he got screwed by a record company?
Yeah alright
This has more blues and fire than I was expecting. I know some Pentangle, know how my dad and Jimmy Page worship Jansch, and I’ve seen his old bandmate John Renbourn fill a little community hall with light, so I’m not surprised this is incandescent, as great a recording from one dude with his voice and guitars as any of the most hallowed blues classics. It’s a little narrow, clearly the work of someone bashing something out quickly to move onto the next thing, a majestic purity. It’s not perfect, but it’s true.
The cover and the sound are deeply familiar to me, the guitar picking very lovely, the album itself quite ephemeral
decent
Unexpectedly good. Be sure to listen to the last song on the album.
BERT. YOU MADE A MISTAKE. YOU NEED TO RERECORD THAT ONE.
Pretty classic folk, basically exactly what you think of when someone says folk. Needle of Death and Alice’s Wonderland were the best tracks
I saw Bert Jansch live about twenty years ago in the basement of the Komedia, Brighton, and it was the most magical gig I’ve ever been too. I get a similar feeling from this album.
The idiocy of border restrictions on music on a so called globalised world. This is a brilliant album. Pity we can’t stream it in Australia. Jansch is one of the greatest guitarists to have played. He just gets better after this.
I've often wondered whether Bert and Davy Graham thought about going round to Jimmy's house and, you know, had a word. This is an extremely enjoyable listen, from that strange British folk era. Bert can play, and you can hear his influence on so much of 60's music, for British rock and roll in particular. Nice too that he does Davy's Angie. A really good record and extremely talented artist and well worth a listen before you cark it.
This album is really impressive for someone banging out some tunes in a kitchen with a revox and a borrowed guitar. I like the unpolished immediacy. I can appreciate how influential this record was on a whole generation of English acoustic players (and some rock players who dabbled in this realm, I'm looking at you Jimmy Page). Plenty of people took the ideas set forth in this record and ran with them to some pretty impressive places. Jansch deserved more than the hundred quid he got for this record. But it isn't really my jam. I have listened to it four times in a row and it doesn't grab me. 2.5 stars, rounding up for being an influential gem.
This guy is good Guitar player, but these songs are a bit boring. 4/10
the most solid 3 on my list, simple arrangement with strong lyrics
8/10
1. ztrolling - 1.5 2. river - 2 3. ztrong - 1.5 4. Time -1.5 5. Finches - 2 6 Veronica -2 7. Needle - 1.5 8. Hear - 1 9. Death - 1.5 10. Alice - 2 11. Home - 2 12. Blues - 2 13. Casbah - 1.5 14. Love - 1.5 15. Angie - 2
Another not available “in my region”. So it’s either a great or crappy album.
Reminded me of a Bob Dylan style, but with more talent.
Nice pickin' on Bert. He's best when he shuts up and let's the 6 string do the talking.
a pleasant 40 minutes of finger-pluckin' goodness form the self-titled debut album of Scottish guitarist and singer-songwriter Bert Jansch. this was recorded by Jansch at the young age of 21, along with engineer Bill Leader, to a tape reel which he sold to the Transatlantic label for a meager £100. that's over £2,600 in today's money, which is better, but still pretty meager. I'm always kind of blown away listening to skilled fingerstyle guitarists, and the way they create sophisticated polyphonic textures on six independent strings. the counterpoint is pretty staggering at times! as a singer, Jansch is sometimes a bit dodgy (his pitch can be ever-so-slightly flat), but his skills with a guitar make up for it pretty well. there's even some short instrumentals which actually account for some of the best moments on the album. there's hints of jazz and the blues to be found in Jansch's style, an addition that further endears me to his work here; check out the interpolation of Nat Adderley's "Work Song" on his cover of Davy Graham's "Angie". strong 7/10.
British white guy playing the blues. He can pick a little bit, but other than that damn this one was boring. Wonder Bread and mayonnaise sandwich
It was okay. Nothing stood out to me.
Folky style with a bit or ragtime. Great folk guitar playing, songs are a mixed bunch, with most not holding my attention. A few standouts like Angie and Smokey river.
British folk. Yay. How could my night possibly get any worse after rating Bob Dylan? God only knows. I am sorry, but there is nothing more boring in this world than folk music to me. I would rather watch paint dry, grass grow, or the sun move across the sky all day long. I would rather listen to ten babies crying. Anything. Literally anything else rather than listen to British or American folk.
Ah oui, mon genre musical préféré: un gars qui chiale dans un pièce vide en zignant approximativement sur sa guitare acoustique
This one flew by thankfully, perfectly fine but kind of boring and not a lot of substance. The guitar work is mostly impressive, the instrumentals are the album highlight. However folk is kind of like the poetry of music, can be good but mostly uninteresting.
Very chill, easy to listen to in the mornings
This should be right up my alley as a certified folk/folk-rock enjoyer. However, it is definitely from the 60s, every song sounds pretty much the same making the album overall less impactful, I can understand why people love this, I can understand why people hate this. I just want to grill 3.5/5
This lad can play guitar. Unfortunately, the songs and style weren’t really for me.
Talented guitar, kinda folksy
Really enjoy his vibes and guitar, this is some good folk, def worth listening to another time
Running From Home
I had a girlfriend many moons ago that was massively into folk music, so I have heard this before. It's a good album, but I've really got to be in the mood for folk music, and this style in particular. I love the music that was influenced by folk and one of my favourite genres of music is folk metal. I find this type of folk great live, or when played at home with other people around, but on my own it's just a little boring. 3/5 great talent and ability, just a little boring for me.
The standard folky songs that are heard here generally don't do a lot for me. I have to say there were some nice surprises on this album. As a guitar player, I loved a lot of the guitar work here, with all the instrumental tracks arguably being my favourite. "Angie" features some stunning guitar lines. Overall it's not necessarily my thing but the instrumentals and guitar work make this a 3 for me.
I don't believe I've ever heard of this artist before. This is pretty neat. The instrumentals are particularly interesting. He's not the greatest singer, but it's not that it doesn't work for the songs either. I think I'll add this to my list of albums to revisit.
Folk music isn't usually something I like but I really enjoyed it!
The guitar playing on this album is very advanced for its time. It sounds so technically impressive, always something to latch onto in the background. Smokey River is an awesome display of that. His vocals are very sombre and sad. He's not one of the best of the era but still very good. It's a very good album overall.
Dig. Enjoyed reading about this cat's impact & influence as well. Think I'll need to dive a bit deeper to appreciate much of that, but this is a strong to quite strong debut effort & I do not doubt he's got the chops to take it much further. I'mma say three & a quarter.
Dude with a guitar sings softly. Good? Yes. Outstanding? Nah
Bert's looking at me like "who the hell are you?", and i'm looking back at him like "who the hell are YOU?" This album needs another listen because the rating should be 100% dependent on the creativity and uniqueness of the guitar style, given that it's 99% of what's offered by the album. He has some elements of an early Elliott Smith playing style which I really enjoy. Whether that floats an otherwise static album to a 4 or 5 is harder to say... 4 it is
-Really really sold folk. Exactly the kind of good, if 2-dimensional music that set the scene for Bob Dylan to really take it and run with it, but which is quite strong on its own merits. -Angie is a really interesting historical document in the development in three different Simon and Garfunkel Tracks, so that's neat. I'm gonna try to just do the new ones moving forward for fun. No plans for catching up this time, so that I don't overdo it.
I have a soft spot in my heart for traditionally-inflected folk music, especially when it wasn't slickly polished or recorded. This album checks those boxes and is a beautiful representation of the folk sound of the 1960s.
I recognised the name of Bert Jansch, but hadn't heard any of his solo stuff before. (Actually, I knew Needle of Death via the Yo La Tengo cover version.) So, this was a new experience, and rather enjoyable. Basically, one man, acoustic guitar, some vocals...a lovely stuff. I may not listen to it again, but you never know.)
mis años 13 con el mp3 era esto
Es un tipo con un guitarra y una grabación precaria y sin embargo parece mucho más que eso
Reminded me of James Taylor
7/10 A nice, sweet, and short listen that’s easy to sink into. Some songs that don’t stick for me, but the album’s relaxed, understated mood makes it an easy and calming listen. More soothing than striking, but still very rewarding in its own way. It would be great on a walk in the park or while studying. Favorite song: Needle of Death Least favorite: Dreams of Love
Boppy folk tunes. This is not really my genre or taste but I appreciate this for what it is- well-crafted sweet songs with a touch of darkness from a gentler time. Great guitar playing, this feels real- he makes mistakes is sometimes a touch off, but that;s human. Wholesome
Boring
Boring
Was not familiar
A Scottish Folk musician who passed away in 2011.
That guitar tho! Shreddin licks
easy to listen, the type of music everyone can enjoy 💙
Boring. Nothing to cling onto here. Almost fell asleep.
It’s like Nick Drake’s music’s dad.
Chill listening vibes like when you’re sitting on your porch and just drinking your beer. Not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the music for what it is.
Stripped down simple sweetness.
2/10
Bit of a curio. Didn't take much from listening to it today but probably included more for the influence
3/5
Too many white-guy-with-a-guitar albums on here. It’s starting to sound like white noise.
There’s probably a literal hundred blues albums that have better guitar playing & it’s not like this guy is singing about anything new or with any distinction. That said, liked some of the instrumental tracks, but I’d never put them on before like Skip James.
I wonder if any singer/songwriters have ever been either of those things?
It’s okay. You can hear how influential this album was and Bert clearly had a musical identity, but it’s a bit dull and depressing at times.
This was a surprisingly pleasant listen. I am usually not a fan of these old folk rock albums, but this one was very charming. It sort of became background music as I was listening, but I still had a good time while I listened. I still don't think it is anything spectacular, but it was worth the listen. High 3.
These albums are absolutely bombing my Spotify DJ
This is a fine folk album. Sounds good but also feels like nothing special. Just a man and his guitar.
Great guitar work, next step on from Davey Graham
the guy who this project belongs to is a racist that grabbed the username "album" so if you typo the URL while trying to get to the album page you'll end up on his project. he only rated 17 albums and gave low end theory a 1 and guided by voices a 5. what a dumbass
Songs blend into eachother. I check my Spotify to see if the album restarted. Overall not bad 3/5
6/10 – Decent
Quite pleasant but I would have preferred a bit more variation rather than the repeated motifs, or at least kept them as just bookends, rather than being throughout the whole thing.
Not bad. Not hard to hear how this influenced lots of people that came after, but to be honest I prefer them to this or people like Dave Van Ronk
idk, like they are not bad, i just really dont like them,
Not much character to these songs. Just finger picking on a guitar, one song not much different than the next. Not bad at what he does, if you throw a Banjo in the mix here it would improve greatly.
Lubię taki mellow folk, ale mam złe przeczucie, że połowa tych albumów jest z lat 60
Niezwykle przyjemne do pracy, tak mi plumka delikatnie po mózgu. Nie ubiega się o moją uwagę, tylko siedzi na spokojnie obok mnie zapewniając mi dużą ilość niewymuszonej rozrywki. Jest na tyle przyjemna i taka niezajmująca, że jak chcę się skupić to sama mi się wycisza i ląduje z tyłu głowy. Wielce przyjemne doświadczenie. Album sobie zapisuję i będę do niego wracał
A nice guitar jam session. Still a bit boring for me, though. Favorite Track: Not on the OG edition but Instrumental Medley 1964 was really nice
More dull than Peter Brady
This was kinda boring
2.93
I mean it's tolerable, but it's just not that great. I don't really know why it became so popular. I also knew almost nothing of this man and his work, even though I thought I was a doctor in Rock (and related) music.
Super, nekaj totalno nepoznanega! S fotke sicer očitno, da bo singer songwriter (jap, škotski!). Prvi komad je čist fletn ("Strolling Down the Highway"), se pa mal iznenada konča. Ta drug, ki je instrumentalen, je pa hud ("Smokey River"). Potem, honestly, so mal dolgočasni komadi. Navdušta me spet instrumentalna, "Finches" in "Veronica" (in kasneje "Alice's Wonderland", "Casbah", "Angie"). Komadi z vokali mi fulkrat zvenijo, k da ni vedel, kako jih zaključit, medtem k ta instrumentalni so bli pa vsi hudi in res izkazal njegovo spretnost s kitaro.
Just a guy and a guitar. I got bored with this pretty quickly. He’s talented, but not something I’d go out of my way to listen to again.
Great album but not really my thing
The album sounds like the lack of production is a choice, but really just a marker of the time it was recorded. Intimate, simple, and unpolished which compliments the artist-and-their-guitar format well. But it also feels like going to a café to hear a local musician trying out their original songs for the first time. You can hear something good, but clearly needs more input from others. 2.5⭐️
Very Nick Drake. Before Nick Drake too! It's very good and I'm surprised and disappointed I didn't know about him before! Reading more about him the more I'm shocked that he's never came up for me before! The main issue is that it doesn't vary massively but it's not long and it does what it does well. If you're in the mood for this then it becomes an instant reach. Highlight: Oh How Your Love Is Strong
Good album, just not really my kinda music.
When to listen: mellow background banjo. Amped up my yen to learn the banjo. Lovely music, blended into the background though nothing really stood out to me.
This is like the quintessential sound of singer/songwriter. Except for a little bit of bass, it’s just a dude with a guitar, and it’s a really comfortable sound. It sounds like sitting by a crackling fire in a snowy winter. Really just a pleasant time. Favorites: Oh How Your Love Is Strong, I Have No Time, Needle of Death
Vocais belos e instrumentos de corda marcantes. Kawanoaudio Horaiko.
Pretty lovely. Great lyricism, expert guitar playing, smart songwriting. It's perhaps a little dull and a little repetitive, but at the end of the day it's beautiful and highly influential. An album I've always enjoyed. Stand-out track: - Needle of Death
pretty good but nothing crazy & kinda forgettable. im usually ljke this when it comes to folk music. I think the lack of instrumentation makes it a bit boring for me.
I admit to never hearing of him before. Really liked this album
I really liked this, I just feel like I didn’t have to listen to it before I die!!!!!
when I was in middle school I took one guitar lesson and when I didn't sound like this I cried and quit
Stunning
Some good songs I enjoyed the instrumental
It's not that interesting.
This was probably the most revelatory of the 1001 albums for me. I'd never heard of Jansch and omg what a guitar player. Reading about him a little I saw that Neil Young called him the Henrix of the acoustic and I don't disagree. His playing has a vitality that's rare in fingerpicking, which I often find too weak in its folksiness. But here, there's so much power and musicality. Alice's Wonderland is a fav, and Smokey River and Casbah, and then of course Angie and Needle of Death of both gorgeous. Makes me want to buy a record player and start collecting vinyl--because listening to this across multiple "full" albums on youtube was annoying.
Previously unknown, very pleasant fingerpicking folk. A fine example of the period without much sense of innovation, at least on this record. But I’ve always tried to play guitar like he does, so I would listen to more.
Really digging this, clearly the inspiration for Donovan and Nick Drake. Phonomenal compositions, pleasant voice, great authentic sounding guitar playing - production quality is up close, honest and pure. Amazing stuff
I'm enjoying Jansch's technical and creative guitar playing, particularly exhibited on the instrumentals "Smokey River", "Alice's Wonderland", and "Casbah" (where you can practically feel a younger Jimmy Page soaking up riffs). Oddly, "Angie" was the instrumental I least invested in. Where I don't hear the greatness in Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, or Bob Dylan, it is so obvious that Bert Jansch has the goods and is totally a giant. I am surprised I have not heard more about him during my musical adventures. Sort of sounded like Scottish goth folk. Enjoyed the way he structured his songs with understated moodiness without seeming overly wrought. A part of me feels like he has a bit of Hank Williams drawl and is cloaked in Johnny Cash's black coat. I don't if he ever got to perform with Johnny Cash, but I certainly hope so. I think that it would been well matched pair.
If I could give this negative stars I would
pretty ass guitars, really folksy but probably won't revisit
Not bad but also pretty forgettable. I'm also not really the target for this, I'm not huge into folk music. It's a better Elliott Smith album, which isn't saying much since Elliott Smith is just garbage. I think the best thing on here was the track Smokey River...no singing, just a nice guitar track. Really great guitar all throughout. Glad I listened to it, probably won't listen to it again.
Scottish folk leader of the pack.
Some of the guitar was really pretty, but overall this was a very boring experience. I guess Scottish folk(?) just isn't my thing.
I enjoyed this album. The guitar work is pretty intricate and interesting, and the songs seem to be thoughtful. This would definitely grow on me if I listened to it a few more times.
good, not mine
I liked it more than I thought I would.
Fine
The guitars a good but the singing is tough to listen to.
There are other instruments besides acoustic guitar
Det finns ett vemod som är svårt att inte känna av genom hela. Väldigt äkta, väldigt ärligt, skottskan är toppen
I like some folk music but this one doesn't do anything for me.
This singer songwriter is good enough, but a lot of the songs lack variety. It's just Guitar and vocals. Makes me wonder, where the hell is Al Stewart on this list, how come he gets nothing and Metallica get four shit albums that all sound the same? Year of the cat, time passages or the outstanding past, present and future. One of those should be on the list.
Bert Jansch is an artist I have personally never heard of before, but as soon as I saw I was going to be listening to a Contemporary Folk album I became very excited. Folk music is a genre that always really hits for myself in ways not even I expect or anticipate even if it is just a dude playing guitar and nothing grand or special about it. The words are able to speak more towards myself and I always appreciate the more raw and stripped back environments. Bert isn't doing anything revolutionary here but he makes for such a great story teller across this very short and sweet 38 minute album. Once again, wouldn't call this essential but hey it is still something I was happy to give half an hour of my time to. Nuff said.
Lovely on a rainy day.
Nice folky guitar playing but none of the songs stood out. 7ish
To country for my liking
so dull I cant remember what it was.
Boring. Dull and boring.
Meh…
The instrumental medley was the best song. Not great for a singer-songwriter.
Nothing remarkable from my end.
Vocals are a mix of Bob Dylan, Nick Drake with a dash of Eddie Vedder. Good.
Strolling Down the Highway 3.4 Smokey River (instrumental) 3.3 Oh How Your Love Is Strong 3.3 I Have No Time 3 Finches (instrumental) 3.1 Veronica (instrumental) 3.2 Needle of Death 3.3 Do You Hear Me Now? 3 Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me 3.3 Alice's Wonderland (instrumental) 3.1 Running From Home 3 Courting Blues 3.4 Casbah (instrumental) 3.2 Dreams of Love 3.1 Angie (instrumental) 3.4 Score: 3.206666667
There’s something delicate about Bert Jansch. Very intentional and it works.
I spent my late 20s relearning the guitar listening to Bert Jansch and John Fahey. This album kinda changed my life.
I like the sounds this guy makes with his guitar. His fingers are clearly very talented. Mellow, chill. Great coffee shop vibes.
Interesting album. Music and lyrics are off the beaten path.
Not a vibe
Ever heard of this guy. Super chill. I enjoyed. And I would listen again.
5/10… folk / singer-songwriter / *1965
I had no idea that Simon and Garfunkel covered this guy
Enjoyable. 4 stars
Meh again,. 3*
For lovers of folk and acoustic guitar, Bert Jansch and this album is surely a good thing. But it is not something you have to listen to before you die. Never, ever. And there is no question about it. There are so many folk musicians out there doing the same thing as Mr. Jansch is doing here. His music is not bad and he is a skilled guitar player. But on this list ... ?? Well, maybe it was supposed to be a joke.
Not a bad album just kinda whatever
Some bangers on this. Reminds me of Ed Reed a little. Whole album does kind of fall slightly flat tho.
Acoustic guitar noodling. Not bad, but not my style of music. I dont remember much from it after one day.
It was boring! Normally, I do not have a problem with albums where it is just a man and a guitar. His voice was a little too wobbly.
I am not a fan of folk music but this was a pleasant listen, even if somewhat dull. I think this would have benefited from having an actual band supporting the really excellent guitar playing. I am still glad I found this artist because I checked out their other stuff and really like the first song from the LA Turnaround album, FreshAs A Sweet Sunday Morning.
4 - BAD
Perfectly pleasant jangly-jangly folk, but I prefer a bit more folk-rock to straight ahead folk. It’s ok.
Little bits of this record stood out, but overall it was a fairly decent experience. Favourite Track(s): Smokey River, Needle Of Death, Alice's Wonderland Least Favourite Track(s): I Have No Time, Courting Blues, Dreams of Love
Very much up my street, perhaps a little repetitive?
Angie is a classic, but otherwise not my cup of tea
I can hear the influences of a lot of singer songwriters in this album, Elliott Smith especially. Bert has quite a haunting voice that adds an edge to these folk songs, and his guitar work is very textured and exciting.
8 points out of 10 !
I like Bert Jansch. This album for me is three five-star songs and a lot of other stuff that is merely good.
This was fine but I’m not really into a lot of folk
Nice little folky, singer-songwriting record. Very simple in nature, but that makes it even easier on the ears. The melodies that are played on Bert's guitar are gentle and whimsical, making it a very pleasant listen. The lyrics are easy to get along with and capture the mood of the record and each song. Nice one.
Sparse acoustic folk, just a finger-picked guitar and Jansch's voice. It sticks closely to folk traditions, alternating between instrumental and vocal songs. Jansch's playing is lovely, and his lyrics are great, especially on "Needle of Death" and the protest songs. But his adherence to folk traditions means the songs all play out about how you'd expect, with few surprises. Your interest in this one then likely depends on how much you like the acoustic guitar or can appreciate the intricacies of his playing. I'm neutral on the former and have no experience playing so I can't evaluate the latter, so for me this is just a pleasant album that passes by me without leaving much of a mark.
This is a really gorgeous album that I'd never heard of before. It has the simple beauty of a man and his guitar that reminds me of the intensity of Nick Drake, without his bleakness (for the record, I love the bleakness of Drake's albums). A bit of digging reveals that he was a member of Pentangle but I personally enjoyed this solo album much more.
Folksy - talented on guitar
Han må da skjønne at det ikke er lurt å gå langs motorveien
Kinda Nick Drake-y
When it's good it's really great, the rest is lukewarm.
Solo guitar twiddling and mumbling can be hard work. Fortunately this has a really honest, effortless vibe. It's absolutely timeless and gives strong Nick Drake vibes. A really pleasant surprise.
Liked it. 6/10
Smori me ovaj čovjek. Folk stvarno nije za mene.
It's ok, some of the guitar playing is nice, but it's the kind of one-man and his guitar folk that doesn't do that much for me though can see why others might like it.
Somewhere between Nick Drake's Pink Moon and Dave van Ronk, a charming listen. I wouldn't call it the most original and it didn't grab me say as Nick Drake would, but it's pleasant, charming and a very warm record.
Pleasant enough but probably will not revisit
its okay, pretty standard folk music from the sixties. Despite a 39 minute runtime it somehow feels longer. Also I cant get into Bert's vocals. Its pleasant enough to have on in yhe background but borders on annoying at times. Maybe I am just not familiar enough with his music.
Started out decent but every few songs I knocked a star off. Just kind of bland folk music. I’ve heard that this album is super highly regarded but I just don’t get it. It’s fine
Greit med alt som er gjort
I love the sound of guitar pickin' like this, whether it's bluegrass or folk, I dig it. I find it to be hypnotic at times. Although at times, it can get old & begin to blend together but that's where the words come in. Bert, here, can write a chilling song. Needle of Death is great example as well as Rambling. Reminds me of Billy Strings. 3.5
Bestimmt gut, aber nö
This was damn fine music for sitting in a coffee shop in Ireland around 11am. Driving down the road it makes me sleepy. 2.5
Solid, better than most Dylan.
Really beautiful man and his guitar. I really liked the simplicity but also the melancholy he's able to portray with only his guitar. Lovely stuff.
Folk music in general, especially from the era this was released, never really jumps out at you. That allows you to appreciate the songwriting and guitar playing a little more. Both are fine enough here, although I think the acoustic guitar shines a bit brighter, especially in the instrumental sections. Didn't know much about this fellow going in, and probably won't remember much going out.
Who? Confirmed, this is a British Top 1001, no one in the US has ever heard of the Bertster. Wow, started out wobbly. Britain's Bob Dylan? Unless we're talking about his amazing lyrics, which I didn't hear, I have no idea how this is groundbreaking, even for 1965. It's a folk singer and his acoustic guitar. No hits, nothing unique, no staying power, below average voice, unsure if he was an influence but I've never heard his name mentioned, and I've never heard a cover song... how important could this album or artist be outside of England? Guess you gotta be into folk music, and I'm clearly not. B for Boring. Every song sounded like the last. 2 stars period.
I stopped listening to Avenged Sevenfold for this? This Simon and Garfunkel meets Bob Dylan influence? Sheesh And when I make the comparison to Dylan, I mean only in the frolicking guitar sound. The lyrics are weak like Lou Reeds but it’s far less exciting as Lou’s. This is blah This is a head shaker This is going to my lawyer to see if I can sue for lost time from listening to this I even skipped to Angie thinking maybe, just maybe he wrote the Stones Angie and that was this guys claim to fame. I’d get that. Butttttt no. Not the same song though I will say I think it’s the best song on the album. So, there. Choice cut: Angie
Loved Running from Home Never heard of Bert though very much my style of folk Listened twice yesterday
kids in williamsburg wish they sounded half as good as bert
Not bad but not my kind of music.
Awesome!
This was almost offensively pleasant. For my money, Bert's voice just wan't interesting enough to carry a whole album of minimal and somewhat fragile compositions. It got old, fast. But I enjoyed the guitar on Angie enough to bump it back up to a 3.
Nice mellow music, love the simplicity of guitar and vocals.
An amazing guitarist, and I enjoyed the songs.
Sound like Bob Dylan without the interesting voice, good songwriting, and death rattling harmonica. So, there's not much here to listen to. Sounds like what you'd hear in the background of a TV show. This was completely unremarkable and I have literally no thoughts on this positive or negative. No wonder this thing has a perfect "3" rating, it's so middle of the road and I will happily go on with the rest of my life not remembering I ever listened to this thing.
I had a significant gap between my first listen of this album and writing the review, and unfortunately I really did need another listen to jog my memory. It’s a shame I somehow put this in the mental filing cabinet rather than having it stick a bit more firmly, as it’s really a delightful listen. I was extremely surprised to find out Bert Jansch was Scottish, as both his spectacular guitar work and his vocal style reminded me strongly of the American folk tradition, in Doc Watson and Woodie Guthrie respectively. Listening further though, I could pick a few affectations on lyrics that reminded me of probably the only other Scottish singer I’m familiar with, Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull). Overall fantastic listen, near enough to a 5 that I may rate as such in retrospect.
Worse than just about every other folk album on this list so far. Which is to say its just good as opposed to phenomenal. Pretty forgettable even though it was enjoyable while listening 7/10
Intimate and minimal. It's quite fascinating how much you can get out of just one bloke and a guitar. Reminds me of that Beethoven line about the guitar being an entire orchestra within a single instrument. Poor paraphrasing of composers aside and in the interest of brevity, it's a fine album. Highlights: Needle of Death, Running from Home, Angie
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.
Bert Jansch I’ve never listened to this, and I only really know Angie and maybe Needle of Death. But it is as much as I expected, i.e. superb. Occasionally, but charmingly, it's a little rough around the edges, but over the course of 40 minutes it's a brilliant, moving and hypnotic album of stellar blues and jazz tinged folk guitar playing. The fact it was recorded in the producer’s house only really adds to its appeal, giving it an intimate, but loose feel, as though he is actually performing just for you. Angie of course stands out, as do many of the instrumentals, Smokey River, Veronica, Alice’s Wonderland and Casbah in particular, where his superlative guitar playing really shines, but there are also fantastic songs throughout; Oh How Your Love is Strong, Needle of Death, Rambling’s Gonna Be the Death of Me, Running From Home. Although he doesn’t necessarily have the greatest voice, it is very characterful with a lovely folky-hushed intimate timbre to it, and it complements the guitar playing and dark tinged lyrics extremely well. Glad the list finally prompted me to listen to this. It may not be the greatest album, but his playing and the charm of the whole thing pushes it to a 5. 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌 Playlist submission: Angie is superb, but for some reason I’ve heard it many times, so I’ll go with Oh How Your Love is Strong
I love the recording of this album; it feels like an old blues recording. A DIY mono recording, intimate, one man and his guitar. Can't beat it. 'Needle of Death' is a stunning lamentation on drug addiction, which Neil Young borrowed for 'Ambulance Blues' and which he ended up covering on 'A Letter Home'. The lyrics are devastating ('your Mother stands a-cryin, while to the earth your body's slowly cast; your father stands in silence caressing every young dream of the past'). The vocals are an acquired taste, a bit plummy but tuneful and with a hint of power, and over time they become one of the albums greatest assets. The guitar playing is second to none. It has such a groove and a feel. He carries the melody, bass and rhythm on solo guitar with marvelous aplomb. Overall it's an utter gem; and a travesty he sold it for £100 to the record company bigwigs when it then went on to sell 150k copies.
A dark folk style that is a template for the the spare, brooding, and introspective approach of Nick Drake a decade later. Bert Jansch is an exceptional acoustic guitar player, incorporating diverse influences including Spanish, folk, and even some blues. Some of the more interesting tunes are those without words - such is the strength of his playing - like "Angie" and "Alice's Wonderland". A great folk record that is many years ahead of its time.
3/5
Loved this! First time listener. Reminded me of Donovan.
never heard before - incredible playing here, made for me
Super duper solid if samey.
I enjoyed the fast Spanish guitar-like touches and the general vibe of the album, but it did a bit boring and feels monotonous
This record feels effortlessly timeless - just a man, a guitar, and songs that sound carved out of old wood and late nights. His playing is sharp but never showy, his voice plain yet full of soul. There’s a quiet confidence here, the kind that doesn’t need polish to hit deep. Simple, honest, and beautifully grounded.
British folk, who knew? Never heard of Bert, always thought folk was an American thing only. I enjoyed it.
Nick drakey Roger Fakhéry british folk with amazing guitar soundscapes. Right in my taste
Meh
Great album. Does one thing and does it well. Normally I'd call that one-note, but it's a good note and he's really good at it. Still gets dinged, but pleasant, stripped down acoustic guitar with some instrumental mastery thrown in.
You Don't Seem To Care That Your Love Is Blind 1001 Albums Generator 150 (10/29/2025) 150 albums in! Man, this Bert Jansch can really play the guitar huh? Am I crazy for thinking that parts of this guitar work are almost reminiscent of, like, John Fogerty style American Primitivism? This is also an album with quite a wide array of sounds, from the bluesiness of Strolling Down The Highway to the very gentle, beautiful instrumental Alice's Wonderland, Jansch kind of runs the gamut of what can be done with simply a guitar and a voice. Needle of Death is Jansch's best known song and it is one of the finest songs here. The repetitive finger picking pattern hypnotizes while Jansch sings heartbreaking lyrics about the death of his friend. I think that Bert is much better at guitar than he is at singing, but the vocals here are really not bad. Also, what these songs lack in length, they often make up for in substance. The sub-1 minute Finches is one of my favorite tracks here. However, the short length of the songs and the consistency of the palette here do cause the album to fail to stand out if one is not listening very actively. With that said, Bert Jansch is a pretty good album that is really easy and fun to listen to. 3.5/5, rounded up to a 4. Favs: Needle Of Death Alice's Wonderland Running From Home Least Fav: I Have No Time
Not enjoyable for me
I was down the Hyde Tavern last night and pretty sure this is a live recording of his spot there. He seemed to go down pretty well although everyone had had a few tbh.
Yeah, liked it. Chilled, but engaging, and with a sound that obviously impacted a lot of stuff that came later.
It does follow in the style of music I usually enjoy, but unfortunately nothing really stuck out.
I enjoyed listening to the album in the background, but wouldn't intentional go to it.
A little on the snoozy side. I might like this better in a different mood.
Great guitar, nice vocals, interesting lyrics. Overall, I really liked it. Super cool that is was recorded in his kitchen, really talented. Surprised that I hadn't heard of him before.
Vocals killed it for me, not much there.
"Bert Jansch" is the debut studio album by Scottish folk musician Bert Jansch. Folk is the Wiki-listed genre. Yep. The album was made at the house of engineer and producer Bill Leader on a reel-to-reel tape recorder and sold to Transatlantic Records for €100. The album opens with "Strolling Down the Highway." Jansch with an acoustic melodic guitar. A very nice tenor voice. Sparse. A song about traveling and forging your own path. Six of the fifteen songs on the album are instrumentals. Instrumental "Smokey River" has an ominous guitar with some very nice finger-picking. "I Have No Time" is an anti-war song. The music is softer and has gentler vocals. A subdued mood. Jansch gets serious in "Needle of Death" as he sings about the death of fellow folk singer Buck Polly from a heroin overdose. Melancholy music and emotional vocals. Jansch moved from Scotland to London and wrote about his alienating and confusing experience in "Running from Home." The song has a 60's hippie vibe. The album ends with the instrumental "Angie." Jansch really showcases his guitar expertise. Multiple melodies. Impressive stuff. Jansch has a great tenor voice and is an excellent guitar player. These attributes are throughout this album. The music is mostly gentle and folk based but the music also has vibes of country and bluegrass. The lyrics are poetic with various subject themes including anti-war, death, traveling and love. The mix of vocal-based songs and instrumentals give a nice flow to the album. I really enjoyed this album especially for Jansch's talent. A recommend for everyone.
Excellent. Really enjoyed the guitar.
6/10
Very topical stuff.
Pristine, pure and austere – as early, obscure-but-influential folk music should be. Now haunting, now lovely, i still packs a punch, mainly due to the artful, subtle and accomplished playing.
He is good at being the acoustic guitar folk guy. The accent helps in this case as the album is very low key and relaxed. Like he is giving you a concert in your living room. It has that vibe. I think being fall as I listen helps too. This isn't a summer play it in the car album. You want to be kinda cozy with a coffee or tea in the morning when listening to this.
I have no opinion. It wasn’t for me though.
Well that is certainly an album to which I have now listened.
It’s fine — a soft three stars. The guitar work is lovely and intricate, but it leans a little too folksy for my taste.
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Definite shades of early Dylan and undoubtedly a source of inspiration for Neil Young. Rating 7/10
2/10 Nothing great
I'm not really a fan of folk music, but this album is really nice. Not so keen on the vocals, but the guitar playing is really nice here.
Very nice folk album, listening on a snowy day in January and that felt right.
this is pretty Nice
This is a gem, and I'm pretty pleased to rediscover this album here, having lost my 4TB hard drive of music a couple of years back. Still recollecting, but the odds that you will forget some of the pearls in your previous collection are always around. So, I'm glad this came across. I used to listen to it on those dark and rainy days in my head, together with Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen. Luckily my days aren't that dark and rainy anymore, but still can appreciate this album that helped me through some of my hardest adolescent times. 4/5
One should always tread with caution when the opening track – normally a punchy, exciting number that throws you right into the action – is a jaunty but ultimately extremely simple song with just acoustic guitar and vocals. What if the rest of the album is the same? How will I maintain my enthusiasm, my sanity? The bad news: the rest of the album is the same. The good news: in spite of this, musically, Jansch really goes places. Without a bass or any kind of percussion, it was a little hard to get my bearings – particularly in some of the more technically complex instrumentals, like Smokey River and Angie. Others, such as Finches, Veronica, and Dreams of Love, are just uninteresting and go nowhere. A key element of good music is finding a balance between these, and Bert Jansch only sometimes manages to do that. Needle of Death strikes a good balance, and also manages to have some pretty harrowing lyrics that whose effects are only exacerbated when you know the backstory. I like Smokey River. Reminds me a bit of Led Zeppelin's Black Mountain Side (but with a faster tempo). A lot of the instrumentals fit a similar description, which makes me think I should probably listen to more acoustic guitar instrumentals from that period. But it does kind of feel like a sonic copout. It's 1965. The year of Rubber Soul, Highway 61 Revisited, A Love Supreme, and My Generation. You have to *really* justify your inclusion if you rock up to the party and you're Bert Jansch, with your primitive technology (guitar) and unremarkable vocal. 3/5 Key tracks: Oh How Your Love Is Strong, Needle of Death, Running from Home
Gitarrspelet är fantastiskt men annars inget speciellt. En trea
Boring. That is all.
Good listen, but ultimately I'll probably forget about it as time goes on
I enjoyed this album, it was quiet and pretty. Bert has a nice voice and I like his guitar arrangements, beautiful stuff Bert.
I really don't know enough about this type of music to really give it any substantive rating. That said, some of the tracks seemed perfect to play at place like Nowhere or out in a national park. I'm giving it two stars, only as a measure of my personal preference.
This had the makings of something I would surprisingly love.... 60s era folk with a Glaswegian twist. But in the end it was what I would describe as... fine.
A lot better than I thought it would be, it's got that 'rough around the edges' feel to it that is endearing.
Really straight forward but nice sounding folk album. Didn't change my day but didn't make it worse.
Very nice music, but I'm failing to grasp the significance. Why is this required listening? I liked it, but nothing memorable.
The guitar work is amazing. Smokey River is incredible. Folk and Spanish guitar in one. I don’t know the impact of Jansch’s music as this is my first time hearing it, but it is 10x more beautiful than Dylan, but probably more true to folk tradition or obscure. Very impressive nonetheless. And so beautiful. Casbah, so intense. Finger plucking acoustic is something else. Like blues, but folksy. Dreams of love, so beautiful.
I don’t how to rate this one! I started off disliking this and then got Needle of Death where it picked up.
I don't like folk