Sun May 29 2022
2
Conjuring images of sawdust, line dancing and incest as all good Country should.
This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
1986
- Album Summary
The Last of the True Believers is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith, released in 1986 by Philo Records. The acclaim accorded her from her previous album, Once in a Very Blue Moon, and this album earned her a contract with a major recording company. Here, Griffith continued her turn toward a more country-oriented work than her first two albums, which were primarily folk-sounding. It also includes two songs which were later hits for Kathy Mattea, "Love at the Five and Dime" from Walk the Way the Wind Blows (1986) and "Goin' Gone", her first number one, from Untasted Honey (1987).
Reviews
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Thu May 19 2022
5
About. Damn. Time. Sifted through enough punk, British bullhickey... overdue for a steel guitar.
Thu Jul 28 2022
5
Holy fuck, I wasn’t expecting much from this album when I woke up this morning, and even less so after the opening bars of its first track. But there I was standing at a bus stop in baking heat wearing a Sisters of Mercy t-shirt, and this album made me completely forget the searing sun and almost reduced me to tears. It’s so fucking good. Griffiths’ voice is so uplifting, it’s majestic. The production is incredible. This album just shimmers from start to finish - with the title track and “Fly By Night” my personal highlights. Every note seems meticulously placed so as to evoke as much emotion as possible. This is a country pop masterpiece and the easiest 5 stars I’ve given out so far.
Wed Sep 14 2022
3
Good, but imho nothing special Country album.
Wed Mar 30 2022
4
I enjoyed it! Definitely a fun one to kick this off with. My favorite song was probably "One of These Days." Her voice really comes through in the whole album and I loved the fiddle. I looked Nanci Griffith up and apparently she passed in the last year which is tragic; she was best known for the most played song on the album ("Love at the Five and Dime" which I thought had a really nice vocal line in the eponymous line) but with someone else covering it that blew up in the country world. I hadn't ever heard of her but it seems like she was pretty important and influential.
Fri May 19 2023
4
My family took a lot of road trips when I was a kid. We lived in NC But we drove to TX, Yellowstone National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park at different points. Nanci Griffith was the soundtrack to these drives across the country and honestly I can't think of a better soundtrack to driving through the mountains and across the heartland of this country. This probably veers too far into country music for my taste these days but the nostalgia of it is strong, her voice is beautiful, and her music helped shape my love of blue grass even though I don't love country.
Mon May 09 2022
3
thank god this doesn't suffer from 80s production disease because i am a giant sucker for her voice and these kinds of songs. ultimately felt kinda middling but nice.
Mon May 16 2022
3
3.2 - A sweet country sound, bordering on saccharine. Also extremely feminine. Listening to this record makes me picture a group of middle-aged white women sitting out on camping chairs, sipping white wine, getting a little rowdy, getting a little sad.
Fri Sep 09 2022
3
Powerhouse of a voice. I got pretty excited by track 1, but then couldn’t find another track to match it. Some close contenders include “Fly By Night” and “Lookin’ For The Time (Workin’ Girl)”. So close to giving it a Four, but it’s lacking some quality that distinguished my favorite albums of this genre.
Thu Sep 07 2023
3
Country done right.
Sun May 29 2022
2
Ahhh Ice Queen Nanci Griffith, the one that got away. I used to stalk her and her younger sister until she filed for a restraining order, forcing me to attempt suicide 37 times. Bitch. I banged the younger sister though. Hard. Without consent.
Wed Jul 27 2022
5
A country artist I have never heard. And that's a hard feat to do! 5 star album all the way
Fri Oct 21 2022
5
LOVE IT!
Thu Dec 22 2022
5
Amazing country album. Amazing find that I’ll return to.
Fri Jan 20 2023
5
Country y folk. ¿Qué más puedo pedir? Voz preciosa.
Thu Mar 23 2023
5
cool
Mon Apr 10 2023
5
I am a fully paid-up member of the NG fan club and boy how she's missed. Be grateful that this - her best album - is on Spotify as her catalogue is only patchily available on streaming. This is right in the middle of her proper Imperial Period - starting with previous album Once In A Very Blue Moon (not available on Spotify) and stretching over five albums to Storms where she was operating with a quality and consistency that few singer-songwriters can match. Virtually every track here is gold, Love at the Five and Dime of course the stand-out.
Thu May 25 2023
5
I knew this album was going to be good but it killed expectations. I love all the country instrumentation as there’s tons of steel, dobro, mandolin, fiddle, banjo. Her vocals are unique as well and remind me of one of my favorite singers Emmylou Harris with its more folky country sound. Very good, no bad tracks.
Thu Jun 22 2023
5
Superb songwriting. Great performances. Masterful.
Fri Jun 30 2023
5
This album is like a warm hug during a thunderstorm telling you everything will be okay. I did not think I would enjoy this, but this album was one of the most enjoyable experiences. It's nice to get out of all the British new wave and shitty UK drill for good old-fashioned country tunes. The perfect album to sit out on the porch in your rocking chair with a glass of sweet tea. 5/5, 10/10.
Tue Jul 04 2023
5
Well isnt this just flawless
Thu Sep 07 2023
5
I can get down with this opening track. Love At The Five And Dime is a great tune! More Than A Whisper is such a strong lyrical song. Banks Of The Pontchartrain is another fucking banger. Goin' Gone is a great tune but it's a little hard for me to listen to right now. Something that shows through in her work is her effortless mastry of blending melody accents and lyrics. It shows off her sterling lyric work and usually catches me. One Of These Days kills. Damn what a fine album.
Sat Sep 09 2023
5
The haven't been a ton of first time listens that I've given five stars to but this one just hits right.
Thu Sep 28 2023
5
Superb
Tue Mar 29 2022
4
Major Allison Krauss vibes. I'm here for it. Takes me back to my childhood in a cozy way.
Tue Mar 29 2022
4
Great
Wed Mar 30 2022
4
Great folksy vibes; music feels familiar. Feels like a precursor to Bonnie Raitt or someone we'd get at JFFA.
Wed Mar 30 2022
4
Really solid album. Calls to mind some very specific memories and reminds me of when I learned that country music was good and worth listening to. A lot of the songs sounded the same, which was a bit of a bummer, but Love at the Five and Dime stands out as one of the few songs which belongs on both my happy and sad playlists. I had never heard of Nanci Griffith before, but now I'm glad that I have!
Wed Mar 30 2022
4
What a nostalgic sound! It's a harmonious album--hard to pick a highlight. Super charming.
Wed Mar 30 2022
4
Not really the kind of music I’d seek out on my own but this is def the kind of stuff my mom would have on cassette tapes to listen to in the car so it feels super nostalgic
Fri Apr 01 2022
4
I'm either getting old, or this list is making me more of a country fan. A solid set of songs from front to back, and doesn't overstay its welcome at all. Favorite tracks: "The Last of the True Believers", "Love At the Five and Dime", "Fly By Night", "Lookin' For the Time"
Mon Apr 04 2022
4
Love her voice. Really nice songs. Not my bag, but still appreciate them. It's like music that my wife listens to and I don't complain about it.
Tue Apr 12 2022
4
Particularly liked the 1st track, the last of the true believers. Country.
Thu Apr 28 2022
4
Iris Demint vibes. Old girl country or modern girl indie.
Wed May 25 2022
4
A really nice album with catchy singable songwriting, a storytellers gift for a beautiful lyric as well as production that is graceful and always in service to the song. I could see Patti Griffith holding the same lofty position in my library as the brilliant Lucinda Williams. 4 🌟
Fri May 27 2022
4
Wow, zaskakująco fajne. Bardzo przyjemny głos. Nie jest to jakaś płyta, do której bym chciał wracać regularnie, ale słuchało się naprawdę miło
Fri May 27 2022
4
A pleasant voice and catchy tunes. Combined nice with a train ride. An otherwise unremarkable album.
Mon May 30 2022
4
The Last of the True Believers was probably my introduction to Nanci Griffith, but I'm not sure if I've heard the entired album all at once. I have enjoyed Griffith's oddly happy take on sad stories since I first heard her music. I enjoy her storytelling, and the easily recognizable quality of her voice. I am surprised that I haven't listened to her in so long. I was happy to see The Last of the True Believers as my recommendation for the day. "Love at the Five and Dime" is an all time favorite from Griffith - finding joy in great storytelling and slight sadness. "Banks of the Pontchartrain", "Love's Found a Shoulder", and "Fly by Night" are new favorites. I hope I won't take so long to come back again.
Thu Jun 09 2022
4
Something I have discovered about myself during this vinyl odyssey is that I have quite a fondness for what I consider the best country. Yes, that qualifier makes it almost tautological. But remember that even the most ardent country fans would recognise that a lot of country is banal, overproduced, saccharine, meatheaded or just a bit naff. Anyway, like plenty of people my age, I first began wondering if country had some charms I had, in my ignorance, cold-shouldered after the late renaissance of Johnny Cash (actually, with me it was more that my love of Elvis steered me towards the rest of the Million Dollar Quartet, but you know what I mean). After that, it was a short jaunt to Hank Williams and Merle Haggard (who I prefer to Johnny Cash, in my standard contrarian manner), but I had no drive to explore further than there. I'm British: country is never going to be seen as cool over here. But I just looked up my stats, and country currently sits as my 5th favourite genre, with a flattering average of 4. The best album the generator's introduced to me is Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch, an astonishing exploration of Americana's potential. Much of the classic rock I relish openly declares its debt to country. So, I guess I like country. So where does The Last of the True Believers sit? A comfortable 4. Genuinely sweet rather than diabetes-inducing, and although a touch slight, The Last of the True Believers proves delightful throughout if you like country. If you don't, I don't think you'll gain much out of this, and that's fine: it's hardly an offence to dislike a style of music. I should say this is afflicted with that common ailment of 4-star albums: it's more a collection of very good songs than a cohesive album. But is that a fault per se? Hendrix's Are You Experienced is pretty much just a bounding-together of individual tracks, and I still consider that a masterpiece. Mind, Are You Experienced is a collection of some of the greatest songs ever, not just ones that are very good.
Thu Jun 16 2022
4
Brand new artist and album (to me), and I'm already over-the-moon in love after one full listen. I love Neko Case. And I "like" Alison Krauss. But I already know I'd take Nanci Griffith over either of them (although I'll still continue riding hard for Neko). What an unexpected hidden gem. Perhaps the only thing keeping me from rating it a 5 is I don't want to go all the way on the first date.
Thu Jun 30 2022
4
really liked it, great to hear some real country music not the cheesy soft-rock trucks guns n'Applebees travesty it has become. Will check out more of her stuff
Fri Jul 01 2022
4
I had never heard of Nanci Griffith but she is a gifted country singer/songwriter. It's easy to see how she influenced the likes of the Dixie Chicks. I'm personally not a fan of country though.
Wed Jul 27 2022
4
Some good Americana / Country has made it to the list. While not her best, this is a very good album and an example of how good the music coming out of Nashville was when the pop-Country fad started making waves and changing the genre for the worst. 4/5.
Thu Aug 18 2022
4
8/10. This was really nice
Wed Aug 24 2022
4
Right at the intersection of folk and country, which is a very nice place to be. The band are very tight, the vocals are flawless, the lyrics talk of an America that doesn't exist anymore (if it ever did). Wonderful
Fri Sep 09 2022
4
Lovey folk/country album.
Thu Sep 15 2022
4
Not a huge fan of country but I liked this
Fri Sep 23 2022
4
rimelig godt
Mon Oct 03 2022
4
I love her. I’ve seen her in concert, watched her host or appear on Austin City Limits a few times, and listened to her perform, particularly on ‘Other Voices, Other Rooms’, which sounds a bit like this album. She is wonderful. Yes, I still use the present tense with her despite her leaving her corporeal self behind about a year ago. And I love her.
Fri Oct 21 2022
4
Gezellige Nancy
Mon Oct 24 2022
4
Last of the true believers- Great opening track really setting vibe of album👍 Love at the five and dime- Sweet song about a slightly dysfunctional relationship👍 St Olavs gate- Didn’t stand out to me More than a whisper-Cute lyrics here Banks of the Pontchartrain- Very solid upbeat song👍 Lookin for the time- Like the live version more but this is still 👍 Goin’ Gone- Find the conceit pretty uninteresting here One of these days, Love’s found a shoulder- Perfectly charming songs Fly by night- Another great tune, love the carefree lyrics👍 Wing and the wheel- Doesn’t do much for me Very pleasant album, I love her vocals and there is some good tunes on the track list. Found a few of the slower tracks more boring, but that’s just personal preference. 4/5
Mon Nov 14 2022
4
Boss
Mon Nov 14 2022
4
Country music is dea-
Mon Nov 14 2022
4
Sadboy anthem
Wed Jan 11 2023
4
This is a wonderful little country album chock full of life. Wonderful storytelling is what I can best encapsulate this album. Enjoyable. That is another great word.
Sun Jan 15 2023
4
More Than A Whisper just knocked me on my ass
Fri Jan 20 2023
4
Lovely voice
Thu Feb 16 2023
4
Não conhecia, e gostei bastante de todas as músicas! :-)
Thu Feb 16 2023
4
Haven't listened to much country but this was a lovely addition to the country playlist, very charming, and the use of the mandolins and slide guitar helped it out a lot. I'm definitely finding more country I really enjoy . Favourite Tracks - Love At The Five And Dime, St. Olav's Gate
Fri Feb 17 2023
4
Beautiful.
Sun Mar 12 2023
4
Fantastic album
Wed Mar 22 2023
4
I'm a noob to Ms. Griffith and if this album is at all indicative of her total output, then I will be listening to much more. Really liked it overall. "Love's Found a Shoulder" was a late album standout to my ears. Basically, I'm as jealous as Andy's mom.
Thu Apr 20 2023
4
Great voice, great songs, great playing.
Sun May 14 2023
4
I like this the more I listen to it. It's very sweet sounding, and I like this folk / country line she is riding.
Mon May 15 2023
4
Although I normally don't listen to country, I found myself really enjoying some of the songs on here
Fri May 19 2023
4
A beautifully crafted album. Country normally isn’t my genre, but I like this. The country instruments (mandolin, banjo, pedal steel) seem more like accents than the main sound, which I appreciate. I would like there to be fewer slow songs and more with the infectious energy on the rest of the album.
Fri May 19 2023
4
Never one for the twang-y music, this one really surprised me. No fluff, truly great voice and songwriting. Was a nice change and a good discovery. But get too excited, I'm still not a fan of Indigo Girls.
Wed Jun 07 2023
4
Well constructed and performed country, not strictly my genre but I can appreciate it. Perhaps a little too clean and squared away.
Tue Jun 13 2023
4
basic and canonical country conservative twang that is surprisingly endearing in its simplicity. not sure why it's on this list though. 3.75/5
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
Damn y’all ain’t afraid of broadcasting the classism you’ve tied up with the country genre.
Thu Jun 22 2023
4
Favorite songs were "One of These Days" and "Fly By Night"
Fri Jul 07 2023
4
This is not my type of music but I loved her voice and it just worked for me
Sun Jul 09 2023
4
Really love the storytelling in the lyrics and her voice is soothing and beautifully tells the stories of the songs.
Sat Jul 29 2023
4
4.0
Mon Aug 14 2023
4
11th August 2023 Listened during the day while on the way to and from mum and dad’s, saw Rowie in the pub. Loved this, beautiful folk album.
Fri Aug 25 2023
4
I want to go back
Tue Sep 05 2023
4
I liked this album quite a bit. I'm not a huge country fan, but I liked this much better than the crap that is soft-rock with a country twang; no thank you. Her voice reminds me a nice mix of Dolly and Loretta. This was a nice album to have on today.
Thu Sep 14 2023
4
This was a refreshing album. I had never heard of Nanci Griffith and was pleased to find this folk heavy country music infused with Celtic and Appalachian influence. Her voice has a lilting quality and she carves out intricate and delicate melodies. While this album can easily become background noise, it certainly deserves a close listen.
Tue Mar 29 2022
3
Folksy and alright
Wed Mar 30 2022
3
Nice
Thu Mar 31 2022
3
She's not my cup of tea but this isn't objectively bad music. 3.5
Sat Apr 02 2022
3
I was surprised to hear two songs I recognized that had been made famous by Kathy Mattea, who I loved when I was a kid. Not as much of a country fan these days, but this album is pretty good. 3/5 stars
Wed Apr 06 2022
3
Never heard any Nanci Griffith before and it's fine country music
Fri Apr 22 2022
3
Highlights: More than a Whisper, Lookin' For the Time, One of These Days.
Wed May 04 2022
3
A sweet voice. Great story telling if a bit broad strokes
Wed May 04 2022
3
Voz interessante e fluiu bem.
Mon May 16 2022
3
Pleasant bit of Country
Mon May 23 2022
3
Beautiful, but a bit bland altogether
Mon May 23 2022
3
Nice country with good melody and harmonies, but without anything that puts it above other similar artists.
Fri May 27 2022
3
Country? Meh.
Thu Jun 09 2022
3
This didn't stand out for me - a good country album was all I heard.
Thu Jun 09 2022
3
A really nice album with catchy singable songwriting, a storytellers gift for a beautiful lyric as well as production that is graceful and always in service to the song. I could see Nancy Griffith holding the same lofty position in my library as the brilliant Lucinda Williams. 3.5 🌟
Mon Jun 27 2022
3
I don't usually listen to Country too much, but this album is not bad. It sounds more modern than some of the genre classics, but it remains acoustic throughout, so no country rock either. The first two tracks especially stood out for me. After those, the album loses some steam, but it's still 3/5.
Mon Jul 04 2022
3
Didn't know she died last year...bit taken aback. Not a massive fan but saw her at a festival once. Anyway. Very country. Lovely voice. Do the songs stand out? Ok to be honest, no. It is very listenable and I often say I don't like the genre much. 3
Thu Jul 14 2022
3
This has a nice feel to it. There are moments that make me think of some other place, some other reality that I would like to visit. Will have to give this one some more attention.
Wed Jul 20 2022
3
Nanci Griffith is one of the first contemporary country artists, following the likes of George Strait as they modernized the production of country music while still sticking to their county roots. Griffith's songs are mighty good, while also tender and loving. My main hangups are with the production, which is a little too polished for my liking. One of the great aspects of older country songs was that they had a lot of personality in the rocky production, giving it a sort of gritty edge. This record, to contrast, is all smoothed out. Too round.
Sun Jul 24 2022
3
This was nice. Maybe a bit more country-leaning than folk-leaning for my particular taste, but I enjoyed it. 3 stars.
Wed Aug 03 2022
3
Pretty good country style album. I'd come back to this.
Sun Aug 14 2022
3
not a huge country fan, but i did enjoy this!
Thu Aug 18 2022
3
Nothing interesting to me on this album. 5/10