Scott 2

Saccharine strings at such a high pitch that never seem to cease are subdued by the crooner of a voice. This music was a moment in time that is well past now.

Schmaltzy schtick from a British-American teen heartthrob(?) in the 60's. "Oh, and another thing, from now on we're going to alternate our dinner music, because, frankly--and I don't think I'm alone here--I'm really tired of this Lawrence Welk shit!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRfZQN9cMfo

Nope. There's nothing special enough about this pretentious 60s voice to warrant a second placement on the list, let alone covers of some unspectacular pop songs.

Really stupid lyrics. Nice at first but his voice got very wearing by the end. Honestly, Alex Turner did it better.

Klingt wie Filmmusik und nicht auf die gute Art die ich mir anhören würde

He has singing chops, but this album isn't for me.

This falls under the "what are you rambling about?" Category.

cartoonishly campy crooning. while it probably stood out at the time for being provocative, it came across sounding like a two bit frank sinatra impression.

His voice is almost TOO good. BB couldn’t really take this seriously, to be honest. Nothing else much stood out, either.

Scott Walker, figura importante tanto por sus discos con los Walker Brothers (ni su apellido era Walker ni eran hermanos) como especialmente en solitario. Sin embargo, este 2, se queda a medias entre buenas melodías al estilo Bacharach/David y el estilo de Jacques Brel/Tom Jones y otros grandes cantantes de la época (aquí por ejemplo Raphael). Su influencia fue enorme: David Bowie, Marc Almond, Neil Hannon, Bryan Ferry, Richard Hawley, Edwyn Collins, Jarvis Cocker, Julian Cope, Nick Cave o The Last Shadow Puppets... y sus discos más reconocidos al margen de la tetralogía inicial fueron los posteriores y exeprimentales “Climate Of Hunter” (1984) “Tilt” (1995) “The Drift” (2006) y “Bish Bosch” (2012). En mi opinión, su mejor obra es 4, pero este es muy bueno. Más discos excelentes de 1968y superiores a este: THE BEATLES- White Album , THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE - Electric ladyland, Odessey and Oracle de The Zombies, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - White light, white heat, THE KINKS - The Village Green Preservation Society, VAN MORRISON - Astral weeks, THE ROLLING STONES - Beggars banquet, CREAM - Wheels of fire, THE BYRDS - Sweetheart of the rodeo, THE SMALL FACES - Ogden's nut gone flake, THE PRETTY THINGS - S.F. Sorrow, OTIS REDDING - The dock of the bay, BLOOMFIELD , KOOPER & STILLS - Super Session, JAMES CARR - A Man needs a Woman, Dance To The Music de Sly & The Family Stone, Safe As Milk del Capt. Beefhart, Surrealistic Pillow de Jefferson Airplane, Lady Soul y Now de Aretha Franklin, The Notorious Byrd Brothers y Sweetheart of the rodeo de The Byrds, We're Only in It for the Money de Zappa, Idea y Horizontal de los Bee Gees, For Once in My Life de Stevie Wonder , A Saucerful Of Secrets de Pink Floyd, Spirit de Spirit, Bookends de Simon and Garfunkel, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida de Iron Butterfly, el Soundtrack to 1968 TV special de Elvis, Nuff Said! de Nina Simone, Blood, Sweat & Tears de Blood, Sweat & Tears... Debuts de JEFF BECK GROUP, NEIL YOUNG, THE BAND, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL, OS MUTANTES, SILVER APPLES...

nezábavná dobovka, trochu uninspired, instrumentální část v solidní, jako celek spíše zapomenutelné

Was not aware that the phrase "stupid-ass" was in use in 1968. I got a giggle out of that. "In a stupid-ass waaaaaaaay!" Mention of "slapping ass" in multiple consecutive songs. Compare and contrast the benefits of girls vs dogs for emotional support. Lots of anxiety about military service, low-grade 60's sexism. I like the production, and Scott's voice is amazing, but the melodies and lyrics aren't sophisticated enough to support the subject matter.

I really don't want to listen to this again. Saved from one-star territory by some nice strings arrangements. But this would-be poet was not impressive, either in range or lyricism.

There are a few glimpses of songs, the rest is over the top self-indulgence.

Started okay, became gradually annoying then unbearable. But maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. I'll give it another chance another time

So the music is okay, but what kind of lyrics are these? Very...interesting?

mid ngl

I can see why this is on here… and I love the quality of his voice and machismo. But overall, not for me. Best song was jackie

thought this might be when I first hear Scott Walker for real, but it's a boring early album. listen to a couple minutes of it to have context for the later stuff - which we may not hear on this list, with all the Elvis Costello there is to see yet. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

Scott 2 is right. 2 stars. And that’s a stretch!!

Started very musicly like, almost les mis or sm, then started going a bit more belle and Sebastian esq

Scott Walker made a particular, peculiar version of pop, which is called baroque pop. These songs sound like orchestrated musical theater songs, but are lyrically darker than the sound and style would suggest. For example, the subjects of the songs "The Girls From the Streets" and "Plastic Plastic People" seem at odds with music from a Frank Sinatra album. These are awkward, confusing songs, without the depth to be confusing in an interesting way. When Walker's rich baritone sings, "The Windows of the World are covered with rain.," it sounds trite, not profound. These songs are not unpleasant, but they are not endearing.

No.

This contains some of the worst writing imaginable - and the style morphs out of Frank Sinatra and other crooners, Tom Jones or newer ones - Barry Manilow, (sp?), Neil Diamond, et. al. ad nauseum. No thanks.

It isn't possible to unhear Scott 4 before listening to this, which is unfortunate. I can say, nevertheless, that Marc Almond's cover of Jacky is better than Scott's. (Yes, this means nothing, obviously. Just wanted to say it.)

Märklig upplevelse. Vet inte vad det är för något. Vad vill han? Musikal? Det är svulstiga på något sätt. Intressant text i Next. Men är det bra. Nja.

Inte dåligt direkt, men det här är inte min typ av musik och jag har svårt att behålla intresset genom en hel skiva. Halvvägs in ville jag mest att det skulle ta slut.

Couldn’t stand this guy’s voice by the third or fourth track. The album really dragged and I lost count of how many times I hopefully check whether or not I was on the last track only to find the end was nowhere in sight

What in the actual fuck?!? I'll show mercy and withhold the one rating, considering how absurd and hilarious this is...🥴...2.

Pop barroco. Dura 43 minutos y me ha parecido tres horas... Un dos.

Had never heard of Scott Walker. Different...but no idea what that was. "I was still just a kid When my innocence was lost In a mobile army whorehouse Gift of the army, free of cost Next, you're next" Had to laugh at the last sentence of his bio on Apple Music: Walker blurs the line between the showman and the defiant songwriter who knows more about his subjects than he lets on.

Lord Farquad bequeathed his lute and bellowed a tune most trivial.

Not for me

After reading some reviews, it's apparent to me this album is supposed to be a joke. I get the joke, and it's not funny. I would have also independently described it as a joke, but not in the way the artist intended

Most likely a 2.8 or something. It was fine, but I'm ready to move on.

In the era of the swinging sixties, such male hubris could be marketable. The voice is a pale imitation of a Robert Goulet. I weep for the folks that had to listen to Scott Walker one. I weep more for those that thought Scott Walker Two was needed... apparently really bad judgement from really good drugs

I found this a little tiresome. Jackie was a good song though

Can we have Neil Diamond? No! We have Neil Diamond at home. The Neil Diamond at home...

Enjoyed the humour... but the songs themselves are irritating

Listened Before? N No idea why this is here. Clearly I need to be more British. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Jackie

The positives on this album are that it's like nothing else I've heard before, his voice is clear and on key, and the instrumentals are solid. The negatives are how bad the lyrics are and the songs are out of place in any genre, which would usually be a positive for me, but not this time. Wouldn't listen again.

Ok another crooner, I just don’t care for this theatrical fluff. Sure, Walker’s voice is smooth but this genre can eat a dick. So obnoxious, you can tell this dude had an inflated ego. He barely wrote any of these tunes himself too, just join show tunes man. This was tough to get thru. Scott 2 stars

This was... an album. I know for a fact that I'll never listen to it ever again. **Shrugs** and carries on with my day.

Kudos to this guy for getting more than one album under his belt. I cannot fathom how this guy was remotely popular with his haphazard songs and lounge lizard singing, but you do you Britain.

Kinda like a worse Tom Jones. Sorry, but not sure I can take the singing seriously as it sounds a little silly? Like a bad singer on a cruiseline. 4/10.

Nice voice but not really my thing.

Really not my vibe, the musical/operatic singing

Some good music, but I just can’t appreciate the lyrics or singing. Second Scott Walker album I’ve heard and just not my thing. 2/5.

I didn’t expect it to, but it got really annoying. Why did he keep singing the same song over and over? There’s just no range. For 1968, this style is a little late to the game. Singer’s like this didn’t last past ‘63. There weren’t any interesting choices with the instrumentation or production. His vocals are technically good, but subjectively bland. The whole thing begins with a little cheekiness that quickly fades away. I enjoyed the first two, maybe, and then was either indifferent or annoyed by the rest. 2/5

Not a fan poo sorry

De tracks waarop het orkest een klein beetje de rem erop houdt zijn het best. De overige tracks zijn een beetje een schelle bende. Het helpt daarbij ook niet dat alle instrumenten met hoge geluiden (strijkers, blazers) vol op je rechteroor gepanned zijn, waardoor je rechter trommelvlies al het zware tilwerk moet doen. Je linkeroor krijgt wat percussie en wat bas-tonen. Het is me ook wat te theatraal. Mary Poppins. Ik kan hier niet zo heel veel mee. Naarmate het album vordert groeit m'n zin om een één te geven, maar ik denk toch dat ik het op een 2 hou.

Really nice string and horn arrangements. Scott has a nice voice as well, but there's nothing on this album that I'm gonna have an itch to return to.

I can see why folks might enjoy puzzling through the bizarre lyrics here but the pop crooning is just not my thing.

This guy is what I’d call an experimental Frank Sinatra. By that I mean, instead of clearly laid out songs and well thought out lyrics, Scott writes a bunch of lines, tears the lines up in strips, drops them in a hat and writes his songs by pulling those strips of paper out one by one. It’s like if druggy David Bowie wrote lounge music. I didn’t turn it off but I also don’t remember it a day later

I've had 2 and 4 now. If I get Scott's 1 and 3 on this list I'm going to stage a mass burning of the 1001 albums book.

The title "Scott 2" implies the existence of a "Scott 1," which is not the best thought -- especially since this dude shares a name with one of Wisconsin's most odious politicians. This mashup (or at least that's what we'd call it now) of The Divine Comedy's baroque storytelling and cut-rate Neil Diamond vocals absolutely doesn't work for me. Sure, there's some wit here -- and that raises it higher than Slint, but I'm not going back to this one.

Some of the lyrics were interesting, but it was a fairly junk album

Baroque pop/rock is very hit or miss to me. This one was a drag, sorry.

Bit too show time for me

88/1001 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑

I feel like I’ve spent 45 minutes trapped in my parents house. Walker has a lovely voice and decent range. But I enjoyed listening to him not at all.

Unnecessary redundancy, but better than SW 4.

Guy's got a good voice, sounds a lot like Neil Diamond. But my God, the material is horrible. Campy and over-dramatic.

When I was a kid, I had read a Spider-Man comic that made mention of “Mantovani”. “Mantovani? What group does HE play in?” At the time, I didn’t totally get the joke, but I understood the point: the character was out of touch and out of date. It’s what I felt listening to every bit of this album. Well, maybe not the first song. That kinda felt like it had a bit of charm. But after that, it just felt so… dated. Next.

he had me with Jackie” but kinda devolved into martinis con queso

Very orchestral and boroque style.

I didn’t hate it, so not a 1, but I really didn’t get anything out of this album. It’s like a crooner so except he swears so most people who do listen to that type of music wouldn’t really listen to this. That’s really it. It’s just kind of nothing for me, even though the lyrics are alright.

Very much of its' time and that's a time in which I don't belong.

Not for me. Wasn't paying though attention to pick up on the lyrics.

Some interesting lyrics but the music style is not my vibe

Bit weird at times, and occasionally creepy lyrics

I’m not really sure what I just listened to; that first track totally disoriented me. He is reminded me of Martin Short’s style when he does his Broadway schtick, with a little Shatner-esque delivery on Next. I didn’t hate it, but it has no business being on anyone’s “must listen” list.

Just way too much pleasantness and pomp and circumstance and pathos.

Such a strange album, especially for its time. Lots of just weird lyrics. Not really bad, but not that good. Kind of funny though. 2/5 Won’t listen again

Scott 2 deserves a 2

# 201 : meh! "In a stupid ass way" ... Custard!

First half was pretty good. Interesting lyrics in Jackie and Next. Don't like the sound of the second half, the music is slower, it bored me HE HAS A COLLABORATIVE ALBUM WITH SUNN O)))????

Если бы каждый раз как скотт уолкер выпускает альбом названный в его честь я получал 10 рублей то у меня было бы 20 рублей. Это, конечно, не так много, но странно, что это случилось два раза. Что по музыке. Оркестр, чистый вокал. Такое ощущение, что это саундтрек для старого фильма какого-то, но какого? А, это ещё и кавер альбом. Ну круто вообще. А почему он здесь? Нет, слушается хорошо, но никаких ощущений не вызывает. Музыка это прежде всего для меня способ чувствовать эмоцию. А тут... это даже не оригинальные песни.

I love Scott Walker's voice. However, in the late 90's in the UK there was a comedy singer called Divine Comedy ( if you are interested search his version of the Oasis song Wonderwall and also National Express ) who sings in the same fashion as Scott.....and I can't take Scott seriously any more. Nonetheless, I don't think this was the best example of Scott work. Also...Marc Almond did Jackie much better. Sorry.

I get it, it was the 60s. These songs would have been huge hits on Merv or the 1967 version of Carson. I'll give it two stars for the novelty factor and the fact that Scott Walker could clearly sing. But that's it. Can't think of a reason to return other than as part of a pop music history tour of some kind.

Some pretty typical crooner pop music full of covers. I'm pretty surprised this topped the UK charts in the late 60s. Seemed like more of an early 60s thing. Walker lacks the essence of a Sinatra or a Bing Crosby, but I do respect him for pushing crooner pop to its limits. This is evidenced by the tracks on here banned by the BBC and some of his originals that have some psychedelic influences.

Scott's really singing his heart out here, but it's all a bit too much – they lyrics are overly dramatic for the narrative Walker is trying to tell, the emotion is layed on a bit too thick to be genuine, and while the instrumentals are great every track feels like it's the climax of a different album. There's great talent going into each part of this LP, but it would have come out much better if some restraint had been shown along the way.

Scott has a big voice. Sometimes I love it, sometimes it is too much for me. And what is with everyone slapping ass?

This one was a bit painful to get through. Heavily orchestrated with lyrics and a singing style completely at odds with each other. Definitely not sure why I had to hear this album..

Kind of weird, reminded me of show tunes

enjoyable but not my groove 👍✨️

I love his voice. I don’t love how overproduced this album is. Black Sheep Boy is a favorite of mine. Tim Hardin being one of my favorite singer/songwriter artists.

While the writing is interesting, I could find no connection to the plastic crooner voice and schmaltzy accompanying arrangements. This is music out of time and space and the world is better for it.

Old school crooner stuff. Not for me.

jackie- 4 best of both worlds- 2 or 3. bro thinks hes sinatra💀 black sheep boy- 3 amourous humphrey plugg- 2 next- 3. hey what in the fuck are these lyrics girls from the streets- 2 or 3 we're gonna have to ask you to give up the table, scott

Strings carried this mess

I wasn't a fan really. I could get the Neil Diamond vibes... but he didn't get there for me. I wonder if it's just missed me on too many fronts - not my genre really, not part of my 'upbringing' so no nostalgia, first time through so no familiarity...

Neutre. Difficile de déterminer le style de l'album, ça fait parfois penser à une BO ou au présentateur d'un spectacle de cirque.

Some crooner shit today. Alright. I didn't get laid listening to this so that didn't work as expected. Taking another start of for that.

This album reminded me of singers like Tom Jones or Wayne Newton. The songs sounded like the type of music that would have been in an old James Bond movie. Overall, a throw back album that doesn't really hold up in 2024.

Old Western show tunes mixed with some crooner flair?

'eh some interesting tracks but kinda slow and whiney and not my style. Skipped a few then had to stop listening.

It was ok, though his obsession with girls started to get uncomfortable

not for me

You can hear the influence on people like Jarvis Cocker, Divine Comedy and Arctic Monkeys. But this was too much the balladeer for me.

Not my type of music, didn’t really enjoy any of it 4/10

This was wild, maybe would’ve landed in a different context but I was not vibing with this at all

Scott Walker's "Scott 2" is the epitome of niche taste, a musical journey that serves as the equivalent of a unique kink. Walker's music tends to be either cherished or met with puzzled looks and grimaces, making it a divisive yet fascinating experience for listeners. The album opens provocatively with "Jackie," a Jacques Brel cover that immerses the audience in a captivating melodic arrangement of strings, winds, and percussion. Walker's lyrical narratives, once shrouded in ambiguity, take a more explicit turn, exploring decadence and hedonism while yearning for simpler times. "Next" delves into the explicit, narrating the story of a sexually distraught man. "The Amorous Humphrey Plugg" presents a deflated husband finding solace in the red-light district, inviting listeners to contemplate the characters' elusive pursuit of glory. "Scott 2" often embraces a highly orchestral approach, utilising bowed strings and French horns to create melancholic and dramatic harmonies. However, the album also explores diverse styles, introducing country ballads like "Black Sheep Boy" and poppier melodies in "The Girls And The Dogs." Despite comparisons to David Bowie, Scott Walker carves a distinctive space in music, remaining uncool but indispensable. "Scott 2" stands the test of time by defiantly staying out of step with prevailing trends, making it a timeless and unique musical endeavor.

It’s not my style

Weird lyrics, good voice

Not my style at all. But I can recognize a distinctive voice and an orchestral effort. It would probably be great for a film score. I'll still never seek out this album again, though.

A confusing blend of the style and the lyrics. Wouldn't want to listen again.

Scott kveikti ekki í mér.

An okay album but not really my style of music.

Very theatrical sounding, not in a good way

This one is pretty much a Jacques Brel album. I sort of feel bad for baritones in music. They aren't allowed to have any simple feelings. They always have to play the heavy or the sad old man. The definitive version of "Next" for me is the Alex Harvey version. I love that one. Honestly this cabaret stuff only makes sense to me once it's married to punk or whatever you want to call what Tom Waits does. I've also had great experiences with the later Scott Walker albums, but it's fairly dense stuff. Not something you can listen to in any context except to sit and listen to.

reminded me of Barry Manilow, but I would have preferred to listen to Manilow instead.

2 sterren omdat het z'n tweede is

This feels dated for the late-sixties. He feels like a parody of himself. Like, is it supposed to be a little silly? Because it makes me laugh when I imagine him singing this way ironically, and it also makes me laugh when I imagine him singing it sincerely.

I like his voice... he's sorta funny, and the beat is fun...it's definitely old (1968)...a lotta vibrato though... kind of a musical feel. actually, now he sounds like Hugh Jackman - not in Love with the lyrical content either.... I'm out.

He's got a good voice and and the orchestration is pleasant but cannot get into any song. i guess his lyrics were a novelty- never thought i would here the term Stupid Ass in a ballad. Also he covers Jacques Brel- an album i recetly listened to and didnt particularly like- so his style is a bit grating for me. I am a big fan pf the band Sparks and they have a plethora of whimsical songs and humorous lyrics but this guy seems just odd. Strange album.

This guy is wilding

Theatrical, poppy, not my bag

As if the other Scott Walker album wasn't enough - but wait, there's more! He strikes me as the kind of artist that should be on the list so people unfamiliar with him can be exposed - then search out his catalogue on their own (and then leave the 2 Divine Comedy albums off entirely - we don't need the modern retread). That said, I found this slightly more enjoyable than Scott 4, passably clever songwriting and a good singing voice. But much like Ackles' "American Gothic", there's something uncannily off about the meters and rhythms of the songs - and not in a good Tom Waits-y way. Glad for the exposure to a unique figure in pop music, but the albums just aren't for me.

It's definitely something.

Not quite my cup of tea

Edgy lyrics set to showtune music makes for an odd album

Ok

Started off really promising but became a bit of a chore.

This album was cute-cute in a stupid ass way Best song: Best of Both Worlds?

I am absolutely stunned that there's two of these albums on this list. More bizarre crooning and genre defying.

Boy, this really is dog shit.

Not my cup of tea, though he has a fine voice. You can hear the cracks starting to appear in the Pop Phenomenon - particularly in Plastic Palace People which is a deeply wierd track. Jackie an absolute tune.

I was not a fan of this album. The lyricism was interesting and explored darker themes, but the music was so over the top that it felt like a parody of itself. It was overly cinematic and the vocal performance itself was too much. I won’t deny that Scott Walker is talented, but I found this album very puzzling.

Er ikke lige til disneymusikken

First song is good, others insignificant

Es interesante, pero lo único que me ha gustado de Scott Walker es la banda sonora que hizo para The Childhood of a Leader.

Album #945 is a second Scott Walker one. And here I was, thinking one was way more than enough. Anyway, as for Scott 2: inconsistent retro, nothing the vast majority of folks today would voluntarily ask to listen to.

First things first. The guy can sing. The songs vary between cabaret and 1970s variety show tunes. Just okay.

This album is cuckoo bananas.

A bit too bland and boomery for me

He was a huge Jacques Brel fanboy, and you can hear it in his chanson singing style, incorporating folk and classical instrumentation, making for some very dramatic songs. There are some cool moments on here, but I struggled to find any song I liked from start to finish. Half the songs are just completely lame, at least a Sinatra-wannabe. I thought I was critical of his next 2 albums, but at least he knew his worth. This just feels way too commercial and derivative. Favorites: Next, Plastic Palace People

I'm honestly not sure what to make of this - it's quite nice in places - there's a kind of performative, theatrical element to it. There's some nice instrumental bits, with sweeping violins and things. The first song is certainly something - It's very grandiose. There's plenty of other meandering songs though that are hard to latch onto, and a lot of other songs that are just really slow and drag. Overall it's just... a bit weird? Hard to digest as a pop album? I like the ambition, but it's not for me.

Wanted to like the music, couldn’t do the lyrics

Pop barroco. Dura 43 minutos y me ha parecido tres horas... Un dos.

Well, this guy is certainly a guy who sings songs. I kinda like the schmaltzy showtune Tom Jones vibe, but definitely in small doses. The songs themselves are meh as compositions and cover choices, except a couple.

Es onda un Frank Sinatra, me aburrió bastante, no es lo mío.

I was thinking a 3, then my dad said it should be a 1 as it was so much saccharine 60s orchestra bits with the same wavering vocals. So let's be mean and give it a 2.

No thanks.

Just kind of sounds like a whole lot of nothing, nothing memorable about this album at all. He slso sounds like he is trying to copy someone but I can't put a name to them.

This is... so weird. It sounds like the music my grandparents listened to in the car on a rainy evening, while I'm slowly waking up in the backseat having cigarette smoke fill my lungs. I respect Scott's songs about having his "ass slapped like a faggot" and gonorrhea. That must have been bold for 1968.

This sounded to me like a parody album of a parody album. To paraphrase the late Wavy Gravy, it was 'specifically, not good'.

This was just a really weird album. The vocals and lyricism were pretty good, but the whole thing just came across as overly theatrical and pretentious. I could never take it seriously. To add to it, I just thought it was quite boring. I cannot fault his talent, but this is absolutely not my thing. Also I thought there was a Jacques Brel feel to this whole thing - Funny to see that a few of these are Brel interpretations. I thought Olympia 64 was good but maybe I would have found him pretentious too if I was from a French-speaking nation. Favourite: Jackie

Buena voz. Estilo clásico en plan cantautor. Un tanto de la época. Me han parecido muchas canciones iguales

This is like a play. Not interested after the first song

Well, I don't know what I expected. I'm really stuck on this one. On one hand, I appreciate the almost cinematic orchestrations here with wild lyrics and showmanship. On the other, this is tough to get through. I can appreciate the move from mainstream pop to avant garde like this though. I want to say this was ahead of its time for 1968, but it also sounds like a complete product of its time. I don't think I'm educated enough to rate this one so take these stars with a grain of salt and make your own call.

It’s a “Scott 2/5” for me, but I have to say that this dude’s voice was made to croon over the big brass and smooth strings of a Bond theme (Fun Fact: Walker’s “Only Myself To Blame” was originally intended for the closing credits of 1999’s The World Is Not Enough before being replaced with a techno remix of the classic Bond theme…tough break).

not my tempo

A belting, deep wavering voice, odd lyrics, chamber pop - it's Scott Walker of course. I know people love this man with a passion but it's just not my thing. I get it, but I just don't like it that much. Or maybe I don't; they all sound like off cuts from a dated musical. Best Tracks: Jackie; Black Sheep Boy; Next

Sounds like a movie soundtrack for a movie that was on the cutting edge of technicolor. Did Bo Burnham write "Next"? I could see a lot of these songs (Next / Girls and the Dogs) being in a Frank Sinatra Jr. Family Guy Episode with how crude/humorous some of the lyrics are. Good voice, but I don't really understand the album.

Interesting album not my cup of tea but maybe in the right setting.

What a weird album. I can't tell if this guy takes himself seriously or not. Some weird ass shit happening but Jackie was cool.

I like the orchestral aesthetic, I just didn't love any of these songs. The songs all felt far too similar to all the other songs.

1.5

Good voice but old music

Lyrically brilliant - political, powerful, angry at moments. But the juxtaposition of the music with the lyrics is really weird for me to the point where it almost feels as if he's lampooning the protest music of the late 60s. Sadly, the song I liked best on the album (Black Sheep Boy) isn't his. Next, while a tough listen, is an incredibly poignant look at how much war fucks you up. But overall, it's just not for me.

all this makes me think of is going back to stockport (that's where it's at) https://youtu.be/yKG8SSSAvPQ

Operatic type music.His voice was ok but I didn’t really like it to be honest.Didn’t vibe with it.Ignore my other review that was by accident.

vittyu mikä pervo äijä.. orkesteri morkensteri instrumentit pijauttaa kivaa melodiaa mutta mieliala pistää vaikeasti nautittavaksi. vanhahtava recording ei tällä kertaa toimi.. teveisin audiofiili audio phile i have 2 sides...nice..FUCKING AUDIOPHILE!!!! jackie

Unbearably cheesy, timelessly cheesy.

A showtimes sounding album made for crass listeners. It is odd with how good his voice is and how old school it sounds with the vulgar and odd lyrics of the songs. Overall it wasn’t great and I found myself wanting to skip a few songs. As good as the voice is it can’t make this album worth listening. Scott 2 deserves a 2. 4.2/10

Vegas show tunes vibes

Not for me. Next is wack 2

The schtick wears out pretty quick. Could see enjoying it in the right context, but a whole album is just too syrupy and in-your-face.

boring

Meh

First impression was just lounge act but it was more than that but not really my thing.

uh

Meh

60s orchestral vocal pop with naughty lyrics. I still don't like crooners.

Oklahoma part 2

What in the literal fork is this shirt? I can see where, after hearing one or two of the tunes, you might say to yourself, "Self", says I, "this be nought but a store brand Sinatra, not unpleasing to the ear". The kids said a couple of the songs reminded them of bad Christmas music from 60's claymation specials. But Scottie boy doesn't leave us that option. No siree. Track 1 is some of the weirdest crap I've ever heard - and I like weird. Alex said that even William Shatner's spoken word albums are better than this. I. Agree (cue Shatner voice with lots of pauses).

Incredible. True artistry, poetry. Highly unenjoyable. I picture Andy Warhol playing this at one of his parties, and everyone nodding and smiling, sublimely aware that this music should only be enjoyed at that moment, as one day it will become deeply and rightfully buried by the sands of time.

Something you would hear in a movie.

Definitely interesting...

It was easing its way into self-parody.

I don't know this guy...at all. So I put on the first track, Jackie and liked it, reminded me the bastard child of Neil Diamond and Tom Jones...but as it went on, it began to feel like Jack Black would have a field day singing this album.

Definitely hasn’t aged well. While the lyrics and intense and his voice is clear and talented, the pieces just don’t add up to a good sum. Next

no

Beetje theatraal, opera.

Barf. These are the worst Bond theme songs by far. The movie soundtrack background music is great but that Scott guy needs to shut the fuck up.

Boring and corny. An album of the time. Does not age well, but well produced pop.

That was…a lot. Not my cup of tea, but I do appreciate the spirit of the record! Scott Walker had a unique vision and he went the $&@# after it!

I tired, but couldn't finish it. It's not bad. I just can't though.

the entire time i was listening i felt like i was in a musical of some sort. it was uninteresting however the actual music was impressive at some times.

Not feeling it.

Starts off sounding like a cowboy-themed musical but by the end it's just crooning, which is much less interesting.

"Cute cute in a stupid-ass way" is the obvious (also fitting) snark. Great voice, if a little too theatrical in the phrasings -- a bit too rooted in Sinatra-era and vaguely Shatneresque, too. Arrangements are way overdone – a near blizzard of schmaltz, the aural equivalent of polyeste, velour and Sansabelt slacks. The oozing, melodramatic orchestrations also undercut the social commentary on "Next" and other songs, which seem as if they're meant to be taken more seriously than the music allows. Same with the stiff, neutral and occasionally smiley vocals. The vibe and aesthetic are very1960s television variety show and not sure who came first, SW or Neil Diamond, but one's decidely not hip to either.

Thinking of Jacques Brel. Might not have felt so tacky and overdone if it had been in a language I can’t understand. Not awful, just a very specific type of music.

"I didn't think he'd do Moon River, but then - BAM! Second encore!" The songs are really well written. But... it's really boring for the most part. I can't imagine being at this show.

Not for me. It’s like a musical, and I don’t like musicals.

Not my style

similar to a less horny divine comedy very ballady 2.5

Olihan tylsä

Can see why this is on the list, but didn’t do anything for me, sounds very dated.

sure you could make one of these pop in a quirky soundtrack

I agree with the liner notes that say maybe one day Scott Walker would do something good

Wow, I really did not like this. When I saw it was a pop album from 1968, I thought we were golden. Not so much. I’d never heard of Scott Walker and reading through his Wikipedia page, it’s surprising (and maybe embarrassing) that I hadn’t. “Next” was the bright spot for me on this album. I would not choose to listen to this again…as, uh, unique as it was.

Crooner stuff. No thanks.

** furiously watches "Shrek 2" **

Ewwww. I GET that this dude is being pretty unorthodox in his lyrics for that era, but that super corny delivery with the wide vibrato in his voice, plus the schmaltzy band arrangements just make for one overly earnest twee album. My late father loved this dude when he was a young man, but Daddy-O let's agree to disagree on this corny motherfucker.

Goed gezongen, maar de songs zelf vond ik niet zo super. De originele Brel is beter

Sounds like the kind of obscure album Tarantino would mine for soundtrack material. Scott sings in a voice that is peak old timey crooner, so it's not very exciting as a new discovery to me. Maybe if there was a recognizable nostalgic recollection I could latch onto I'd like it more. But for today, I don't have the time to appreciate this old shit that never made it onto my radar. Meh *shrug*.

Quite interesting for its obvious influence on the subsequent vocal stylings of Neil Hannon and Marc Almond, to name a couple. Not really my thing though ...

I really didn’t like this. More elevator music then the pop category it’s placed under. This was a boring piece. Cannot recommend. The second star is for solid musicianship

rimelig kedeligt

60’er pop, UK, fortællende, teatralsk,

Just not my bad. The chap has a good voice but it's not for me.

Very much chanson - big theatrical songs, clearly Jacques Brel influenced. I don't like this at all. Great voice but I loathe the material. I managed the first 6 songs, but that was more than enough.

More like Scott gets a 2.

nawwwwwwwwww - couldn't finish

Sounds like a Disney movie or musical score where only the same one character sings endlessly. Surely it was unique and novel in its time but I don’t think this has aged well.

When you pull off the crooner thing, you're cool and refined. When you don't, you're schmaltzy. Scotty 2 Hotty is very schmaltzy. Best track: Jackie

Schmalz in der Stimme, Himmel voller Geigen und Fanfaren und das Haarspray brennt in den versoffenen Augen. Selbst vor Weihnachten ein zu starker Pun(s)ch in die Magengrube. 1.8

Nogal bombastisch vrouwonvriendelijk en croonerig

Elevator music

Went into this not knowing what to expect, but based off of the album cover I'm thinking something like the Carpenters or Donny and Marie. After listening, well that was weird. It's kind of like if Richard Cheese went on Lawrence Welk, but instead of covers just sang his own oddball original songs. Did not like.

Bit too easy listening for me

Hit and miss. One good song, followed by one that was just noise

When "Odyssey and Oracle" is the album that you had to listen day earlier, it's clear that "Scott 2" cannot be rated as high as its predecessor.

The Brel songs save this record somehow, but I prefer Brel himself. This is not for me…

Sounds like a bad movie soundtrack.

Not my cup of tea. Too theatric and comes off a bit immature. He can clearly sing and has great control, but this style of crooning is a little irritating to listen to.

Really odd album this one. I'd heard Jackie before and assumed all the songs would be pretty much the same - I was half right. Baritone voice singing songs written by other people, but Next was a really weird and chilling track.

Lush instrumentation, whiplash subject changes from love songs to getting gonorrhea as part of an army-run brothel (along with the subsequent PTSD). Interesting if nothing else.

Weird

The lyrics were so nonsensica. absolutely killed the album for me. I did like the melodies though

boring, not 4 me.

Well this was different. Sounded like Neil Diamond but the lyrics of some songs were crazy. Glad I listened to it, but not again.

Such a weird album. It was as if Tom Jones had recorded an album about prostitutes, venereal disease, why dogs are better than women, drugs, and psychosis.

This was okay

Great voice - very Jacques Brel. Quite pretentious!

Weird. Not great singing, very dramatic music.

Not sure is parody or not

Interesting sound….

Somehow I managed to miss Scott Walker the first time around. All the Jacques Brel comparisons from other reviewers are apt, especially regarding the orchestrations, which are pretty over the top. I had no idea that Brel's lyrics were so rude--makes me want to learn French! And Scott Walker hyper-enunciates the lyrics so they are easy to understand. The overall effect is comical, which works for the songs that are intentionally rude and/or scabrous. Unfortunately, many of the songs on Scott 2 are ballads played straight. Scott's overripe vocals paired with the overbearing orchestrations and soaring strings effectively rob the songs of any power they might have had. Now, if you're actually into this kind of early 60s cabaret style, it's technically done very well. Personally, I think the style is only good for comedy. So, how to score? I'll give this 1 point for competence. Scott 2 really is a well-realized example of the cabaret style. And I'll give 1 point for the satirical songs. 2/5

Amerikaanse chansons gemixt met Ennio Morricone: nee.

I'm not even sure what I'm listening to. I like his voice but not a big fan of the lyrics

Boomer music

Solid crooning, I dig the pipes. Not as many memorable tunes on this record, but still a fun listen

First I've listened to Scott Walker outside of "30th Century Man" and nothing really matches that. This album has its moments....the orchestration made some of the songs feel in the vein of Bond themes. The songs that stood out I found out were by Jacques Brel. Guess the name "Jackie" makes a lot more sense knowing that. Wasn't sure I was much of fan of many of his original songs however and didn't think he was suited for a version of "Windows of the World".

Never heard of Scott Walker, or "The Walker Brothers." The book this list is based on is written from more of a UK point of view, and I think this is one that might be a little specific to that region. That being said, it was OK. Kinda weird. Like a worse Sinatra, with a louder cacophony of instruments and weirder lyrics. Might try a Walkers Brothers album in the future, but this one was super fuckin weird.

Enjoyed a couple of the more silly tracks but aside from that I lost interest. He's a decent enough singer but his tone was pretty average. I wouldn't choose listen to the album as a whole again. Couple of the tracks I would though for funsies. 2*

Jackie - Ez ilyen amerikai sanzon album? The Girls from the Streets - Nagyon nem tudom magam annak a közönség részének érezni, aki ezt előben hallgatja. The Girls and the Dogs - Ja, ez ilyen amerikai sanzon, not my type

Feels like someone giving a condescending rant, I don’t think that’s the case but that’s the vibe

PRE-LISTENING: Never heard of this, or him. When I first saw the artist, I thought "The guy from Fast & Furious?" Having read the description, I'm chalking this one up to "You Must Hear This Before You Die Because Rob Dimery is British." LISTENING: First song ("Jackie"): LOL, what? This is ridiculous. I definitely did not need to hear this before I die. Two songs in, the only question is between 1 or 2 stars... Four songs in, it's 1 star. Absolutely. Song 5 ("Next"): Seriously. WTF. This is dreadful. I may need to go back and listen to some of my other 1-star albums to verify, but this may be my LEAST-favorite album so far. Kudos to Walker for not actually WRITING any of this drek, I suppose? Reading the other 1-star reviews on this site is pretty entertaining. Highly recommend.

This was just weird. It felt like off-brand, less talented Neil Diamond lol. I did not enjoy this. It wasn't unlistenable, but it definitely wasn't good. His voice was too operatic. Actual rating...1.5 Liked Songs: "Jackie" , "The Amorous Humphrey Plugg" , "Wait Until Dark" , "Come Next Spring"

Sounds like Broadway. Shouldn't be on this list!

Wat is er met zure broeder Eric gebeurd? Dit heeft alles voor een keiharde 1 ster. Gedateerde 60s muziek, ellenlange lettergrepen: "the best of bohohohohohohoth wohohohohohorlds!". En hij geeft het 3 sterren? Wij willen onze eigen zure Eric terug! Dan kraak ik het wel in zijn plaats af. Dit is een soort Neil Diamond die Jacques Brel zingt. Dan krijg je deze Scott Walker. Ik vind het iets enorm potsierlijks hebben en kan het moeilijk serieus nemen, laat staan als een eerbetoon zien aan Sjaak Brel. We krijgen blijkbaar nog een album van deze halfgare kroket. Laat ik dit alvast na 3 nummers afzetten en op de 1 ster klikken.

uma das piores coisas que já ouvi na vida

Is this our first easy listening selection? A lot of these songs sound like show tunes, or maybe a Vegas casino stage. Jacques Brel lyrics are very strange. Very, very strange, and very (male) '60s. Not really a genre for me, or an album I will ever revisit. But this was definitely an interesting experience. It was so incongruous, the dramatic vocals and orchestration contrasted with lyrics about girls, ass, piss, being naked in a towel, polka dot underwear, and STIs.

Not my thing at all

This drama is dramatically dramatic

Sounds like my parents music. And not the good stuff.

This is a complicated album to grade. His vocal style, lyrics and instrumentation was all heavily influential on people like David Bowie. His way of matching almost classical-esque style of music has been done better, the likes of Raye and Rosalia most recently. I find it hard to completely remove his influence from my grade. That being said, I generally don't look into the singer when I listen to these albums, this, however, was an exception. In the track "Next" Walker uses "Fag" as a slur twice. Up until his death, Walker advocated against gay marriage. If I should account for his influence and legacy regarding his music, then why not his advocacy against my own rights, which itself is baked into his music? That aside, Plastic People Palace is an assault on my ears. It's not good, id rather every hair on my head be ripped from my scalp then listen to it again. I can't understand how he even wrote something so bad and then thought that it was alright to put that out into the world. While it was influential and should be remembered as such, I cannot find a good reason as to why I need to listen to this before I die. Undoubtedly, there is an album somewhere that should be on this list instead of this album. 2/10

Lounge act.

Good lord that was terrible. Not sure why it was so bad, it wasn't much different than any of the random artists I've never heard of when flipping through records at a thrift store.. maybe the lack of any decent rhythm section?

I feel like "It insists upon itself" adequately describes this album. Man. I'm happy to be past this one.

Estoy cansado jefe

deeply boring crooning. i don't outright loathe it but it just really does not hit i don't think. scott walker's voice is finw enough, and i enjoy the baroque elements when they work ("wait until dark" and "come next spring" are mostly solid), but a lot of this feels nauseatingly theatrical and over the top. it's 43 minutes of very boring music. there's also the appalling misogyny of tracks like "the girls and the dogs" which grated on me heavily. insulting as both a woman and an appreciator of art to suggest this album is in any way a Must Listen.

This list is lacking in both post-2000s and pre-1970s music. There's no Supremes, no Roy Orbison, no Lovin' Spoonful, and no The Animals. There is however this slop. Amongst the many crimes of Phil Spector, one of the lesser but still heinous offences is the introduction of the Wall of Sound. This album sounds awful. The best song on this album is "Jackie", which is one of the many instances of "I got popular covering a Jacques Brel song in English" in history. It's also one of the weakest examples of it. But compared to the rest it is a ray of sunshine because oh my god. Overwrought white pop cover crooning filtered through headache inducingly compressed production. If this was a type of food it would be a plate stacked high with entirely unseasoned, overworked, waxy mashed potatoes with the dairy substituted for water.

Kan me hierin niet vinden

The second album by a British singer nobody has ever heard of. Why has nobody heard of him? Because he sucks. This album is not enjoyable, even in an ironic way. Not at all. Lyrics: self-indulgent, clunky, offensive. Vocal style: ranges between ho-hum and awful. Musical arrangements: boring.

Please don’t make me listen to any more shmaltz. I had my fill with Ute Lemper. 43 minutes has never felt more like an eternity, I had to shut this down halfway through. My grandma would love this though.

Not it (for me)

Such uninteresting pining lyrics throughout

I started being able to tolerate this album when I imagined it was Martin Short playing a character. Try this and listen to the very annoying song "Next." Makes it almost palatable. Works also on "The Girls From the Street." I thought of another way to describe this album, and I suppose it's similar to imagining Martin Short playing a character. This album sounds like the soundtrack for a really shitty fictional musical.

weird dude, weird album

Dollar General Frank Sinatra singing his heart out in some odd community theatre one-man production. He seems to having a blast. I wasn’t.

Unbelievably British. Can anybody get more British than this?

If you tried to convince me that this was the soundtrack to a particularly terrible and forgotten Michael Caine movie, I would absolutely believe you. Horrid.

The only thing I can think of that would put this on the list is that it was lyrically dark and, for the time, obscene. But none of that is shocking anymore. So what we're left with is a series of sentimental singing with an overabundance of vocal vibrato throughout. This was difficult to get through. I hated all 43 minutes of this album. I'd rather listen to Richard Cheese.

Lord no - oddly unclassifiable. Interesting (dated) lyrics but quite unpleasant to listen to the whole album

Not sure what my preferred genre or type of music is but this is not it.

It’s a musical. Every song was like I was at a musical. I enjoy musicals for the most part but I couldn’t do it. Sorry Scotty.

wow, not sure what to say about this one. Just a bunch of cover songs (I think) by a lounge singer type of act. Again, a crazy description on Spotify about the artist. I felt that this was just elevator music and I had a hard time getting through the whole album. I would not listen to it again, there weren't even any songs I liked and I certainly would not buy the album

This album is ass. The songwriting is soooo bland, devoid of anything interesting, and ultimately a bit cringeworthy. And don't get me started on the vocal delivery & lyrics. I am literally squirming in my seat listening to this. Not a fan of this album whatsoever.

1.4 Jesus Christ not this guy again. I hated all of that. The previous album I had was Justified by Justin Timberlake and honestly I'd rather be subjected to that 3 more times than listen to this album again. Track 1 was the best song and that's a 2/5 at best. What an excruciating vocal and music style.

Very unique singing voice on Scott. The same as with Cat Steven’s though. Nothing that really grabbed me

I'm convinced some people pay to be on this 1001 albums list. What even is this

Im trying to like it bit i dont

I feel like this was more painful of a listen than it should have been.

He has a good voice but to me this music feels artificially produced, it’s so overly schmaltzy like it’s deliberately trying to elicit the vibe of sentimentality without doing it naturally. It also feels like a product of the times, I feel someone would guess it’s from the 60’s, but considering in 68 the Beatles had released the white album, Cream were going strong, the Jimi Hendricks experience was still going and then comes along and feels incredibly dated even for late 1960s. I could get through the album but it’s very saccharine to me. I don’t think I’ll be returning

Voice has a nice timbre, but he's not in control of an over-wide vibrato, which is grating. The crooning and overwrought strings - and a little zimbelstern maybe toward the end of Wait until Dark - conflict with the weird, pretentious lyrics, and maybe that's the point, but I hate it. And The Girls and the Dogs is just offensive. I quit halfway through that track. 13th album, 13th album by a man.

This was such a chore to get through, mostly because I found Walker’s singing extremely grating; he clearly had a good voice, but the vibrato on EVERY held note was so irritating. The album wasn’t totally without redeeming features (I quite liked his cover of ‘Black Sheep Boy’, for example), but I strongly disliked the more cinematic/dramatic songs like the Jacques Brel covers and Walker’s own originals, despite all their lyrical intrigue. It’s clearly not on the same level of awfulness as some other albums from the list, but it’s totally not for me, so 1 star it is.

What a creep.

When I started concentrating on this album, I had to skip every song, it’s all just theatre music

Didn’t really care for this album. I don’t know what it was honestly. Scott’s voice was nice, I guess it was song structure. It felt like a play or theater production in an album but it wasn’t for me.

The broadway-style compositions just don’t mesh with the vocals for me.

felt like a disney adult musical

I can't begin to say how much I loathe this style of music. Crooning, Hispanic - man can't decide what he is. It's a big NO from me.

what the heck??

There are no words … it was so horrifying … awful, I couldn’t stop listening to it. Tha has to count for something?!

Too. Much. Crooning.

I thought the opening track ‘Jackie’ was the theme tune for Thunderbirds for about 3 seconds. That was where the highlights ended. This style of crooning has not aged well. Very 60’s but not in a good way.