Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Favourites: 1. Down To Zero 2. Tall In The Saddle 3. Join The Boys Least Favourite: Save Me
Début d'écoute mitigé puis de mieux en mieux au fil des titres. Finalement bel album et beaucoup de plaisir à écouter Joan Armatrading. 4!
favourite songs - down to zero, somebody who loves you and tall in the saddle
lovely but not amazing, maybe would grow on me with a few more listens. lots of cool instruments and influences and a gorgeous voice
At first, I thought I'd like this. Then, the elements that I liked in the first song ebbed and a few dull (though very pretty) songs hit. Side 2 had another song that had appeal, but was not overly engaged with it. So, a begrudging 3 from me.
Ok
1st playthrough, not bad Didn't give it a second listen through. Overall, good. Put it on in the background and it's good. Some tracks do stand out more with their guitars and sound. Very iconic for the year. Down to Zero - defining for the 70s Help Yourself is my - funky and chill - changes up BPMs Water with the Wine - catchy chorus Love and Affection - jazzy, saxy Save Me - Join the Boys - Like Fire - is good Tall in The Saddle - good ballad I Really Must Be Going (not on this ALBUM) - spanish style guitar
took me a few listens to really appreciate it. really a kind of album you need to listen peacefully and with patience
Genuinely enjoyed this album!
Like I’m not obsessed. But we need to bring the keyboard back like how they used to use it. It’s so funky
very great album is love her vocals idk she looks like someone olivia dean would look up to and thats just my personal preference. 6/10
It is almost a pleasant listen and I really like her voice. But musically not exactly my jam. Strong three stars. 3,5
This is why I started this list to begin with, finding out about awesome artists I've never heard of... Absolutely 🔥🔥🔥
Ok. Not great.
The Aldi verdion of Tracy Chapman
Incredibly easy to listen to Best Song: Down to Zero Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3
I would describe this singer-songwriter album as a more up-tempo Tracy Chapman. Some good songs with a lot of emotion (and gratuitous saxophone!), and some very generic songs as well. A mixed bag, but a pleasant enough listen. 3/5
This was the first female album I got! It was great tk listen to something new, and unique.
Wat
Good to listen to a new artist I’ve not listened to
Ein solides Album mit starken Momenten wie „Love and Affection“. Armatradings Stimme überzeugt, doch nicht alle Songs zünden. Klanglich typisch für die 70er – nicht alles schlecht, aber auch kein Meilenstein.
I really loved Down to Zero but found myself losing interest around halfway.
Nett, aber habe mich nach kurzer Zeit gelangweilt.
TA É DOIDO provavelmente uns dos melhores albuns q ouvi dessa lista ate agora muito love mds eu amei
não gosto de folk 😪😪😪😪 mas como mistura com outros gêneros fica um pouco melhor
Very good. Some of the scatty sections lose me. Great instrumentation. Why haven’t I heard of her?
A solid album. A good story throughout with the lyrics and sound. Joan has a lovely voice. Felt a bit boring at some parts though. Will listen to it again. Favourite songs: Love And Affection and Like Fire
FAVE FAVE FAVE 🩷🩷
Has a great voice but just not into that type of musuc
i like how calm she is honestly idk :p
This album was beautiful to listen to with noise cancelling headphones on. So many layers and surprises that add plenty of texture to the amazing vocals make this album feel like it was way ahead of its time. Will definitely keep looking through Joan Armatrading's music.
These are good songs, nicely sung, with good lyrics and all placed in a cool musical setting. The lyrics reveal a strong woman who’s not afraid to express her vulnerability. “I’m not in love, but I’m open to persuasion” is a fabulous opening line to a great song, Love and Affection. I also enjoyed Help Yourself. Musically it’s all nice but it’s best when the band channels Superstition-style Stevie Wonder.
I've heard Joan's name many times over the years but never knowingly listened to her music. I wish I had done. She's got a good voice and the music is good too. I'll try some of her other albums now (or at least any that don't come up in the 1001 list).
fantastic record, far too good for me to have only been familiar with one song on it before listening
How have I never heard of her before, superb
so good and groovy, reminded me of joni mitchell in a way
How did I forget about this? When I saw the album cover I had zero memory of it, but the music is in my memory after all these decades. Nice stuff, not outstanding but mostly a nice listen.
Album pe care l-as pune pe fundal sa cânte într-o seară. E frumos, dar nu mă da pe spate pentru ca nu e chiar genul meu. Vocea ei e unica și Instrumentalul e frumos în toate părțile. Nu e ceva ce aș asculta prea mult totuși.. highlights: love and affection
I thought this album was very strong. It had great sounds and vocals throughout to make for a pretty good folk record. I definitely have some songs I will be replaying from this album.
165/1089 immediately love her vocal tone and style. This album was a delight to listen to and had some definite highlights faves: Like Fire, Down To Zero, People, Tall In The Saddle, Somebody Who Loves You 67/100
Fine
Was not familiar with Joan before this. Not bad but not my cup of tea but can appreciate the talent.
Amazing! Loved it. Love and affection is my new favorite song.
Album 3 Top 3 favorites off the album: Down to Zero, Love and Affection, Save Me What a voice! Loving this as a different sound from the last couple albums. Reminds me of Tracy Chapman, loving the guitar. Each track has a different sound while still maintaining the warmth and soulful qualities! I was a little surprised to enjoy the lyrics as much as I did (more on that below). It's not exactly my go-to flavor, but I'm actually a lot less of a hater than I pretend I am. TLDR: I love love. I feel like I talk a lot about me in these reviews, so much so that it feels like another diary. If you're reading this, that means you're bored or you actually give a crap about what I say. Cheers to both! That said: I. Adored. This. Album. I loved it. I tend to scoff at love songs because obviously I'm above mushy, public declarations/discussions of affection. Deep, deep in the depths of my disillusioned, overly pessimistic heart, though, I love love. This album reminded me that I love love. The way Armatrading writes about it, the ups and downs, lost and found, it's something pretty special.
This is good stuff.
I just don't really enjoy coffee shop music. Maybe some day it'll click with me, but I'm not there yet. I'm still going to give it a 3 because I am glad I heard it. It does sound like its from the late 80s/early 90s which is crazy.
not my vibe
i liked the instruments especially the guitar and it’s nice to listen to a new genre
Product of its time for sure, I decently enjoyed rhe second half of the last track 6.5/10
This is why I started this whole thing, to find hidden gems like this. A stunning record from someone I’ve never heard of
Nous sommes en 1976 et dehors, le monde commence sérieusement à sentir le roussi. À Londres, une bande de gamins morveux armés d'épingles à nourrice et de guitares désaccordées s'apprête à cracher à la gueule de l'establishment. Le punk est en gestation, prêt à exploser comme un furoncle mal soigné sur le visage de la Reine. C'est sale, c'est bruyant, c'est urgent. Et pendant ce temps-là ? Pendant ce temps-là, dans un studio feutré, probablement éclairé à la bougie et sentant bon l'encens et le thé Earl Grey, Joan Armatrading enregistre ce disque. On est aux antipodes de l'anarchie. Ici, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté, luxe, calme et volupté acoustique. Pour un amateur de bruits industriels, de larsens contrôlés et de dépressions post-punk comme moi, écouter cet album, c'est un peu comme être forcé de regarder un épisode de "La Petite Maison dans la Prairie" alors qu'on attendait "Massacre à la tronçonneuse". C'est... déstabilisant. Mais soyons honnêtes deux secondes, même si ça m'écorche la gueule : c'est bien foutu. Terriblement bien foutu. Aux manettes, on retrouve Glyn Johns et le type est loin d'être un manche. Il a bossé avec les Stones, les Who, les Eagles. Il sait faire sonner une guitare acoustique comme si elle était en train de vous masser les tympans avec de l'huile d'amande douce. La production est cristalline, chaque instrument est à sa place, détouré au scalpel. C'est de la haute fidélité pour chaîne hi-fi de bourgeois bohème. Et dès les premières mesures de "Down To Zero", on comprend que Joan ne joue pas dans la cour des amateurs. Cette voix... Putain, cette voix. Grave, chaude, capable de passer de l'autorité d'une matrone à la fragilité d'une enfant en une demi-mesure. C'est du contralto qui impose le respect et on ne peut pas lui enlever ça. Et puis il y a "Love and Affection", le monstre, le tube. Le morceau que vous avez entendu trois millions de fois à la radio, dans les supermarchés, dans les salles d'attente de dentistes. Et le pire ? C'est que c'est un putain de bon morceau. La structure est maligne, les arrangements sont riches sans être étouffants, et ce saxophone qui débarque au milieu... C'est de la pop sophistiquée, de l'orfèvrerie. C'est le genre de titre qui justifie à lui seul l'achat de l'album pour 90% des gens. Mais voilà, passé ces éclats, qu'est-ce qu'il nous reste ? Il nous reste un album d'une politesse exaspérante. C'est de la musique "adulte". C'est le disque qu'on offre à sa tante pour Noël parce qu'on ne veut pas prendre de risques. C'est la bande-son idéale pour un dîner où l'on sert du vin blanc sec et où l'on parle de ses placements immobiliers. Des titres comme "Water With The Wine" ou "Tall In The Saddle" sont sympathiques, entraînants même, avec ce petit côté folk-blues inoffensif. Mais ça glisse, ça passe, ça ne laisse pas de trace. Ça ne vous prend pas à la gorge pour vous secouer jusqu'à ce que vos dents s'entrechoquent. Moi, j'aime quand la musique me fait mal, quand elle me gratte, quand elle me met mal à l'aise ou me transporte dans des paysages désolés. Ici, je suis confortablement installé dans un canapé en velours. C'est douillet. Trop douillet. J'ai l'impression d'être enveloppé dans une couette en plumes d'oie alors que j'ai envie de marcher pieds nus sur du verre pilé. C'est une question de tempérament, sans doute. Joan Armatrading est une musicienne accomplie, une guitariste sous-estimée (il faut voir comment elle tricote ses rythmiques) et une chanteuse hors pair. Cet album mérite objectivement sa place dans les livres d'histoire pour ce qu'il représente : l'émergence d'une femme noire, britannique, dans un univers folk-rock dominé par des mecs blancs californiens. C'est important. Mais subjectivement ? Subjectivement, c'est un "3" ferme. C'est la note du "Bien, mais pas pour moi". C'est la note de la reconnaissance technique sans l'adhésion émotionnelle. C'est un disque que je peux écouter sans déplaisir, mais sans passion. Il ne tournera pas en boucle sur ma platine. Il restera rangé sagement entre un disque d'Abba (que je renie en public mais que j'écoute en cachette) et un album d'Anthrax. En résumé : si vous voulez une musique pour apaiser vos nerfs après une journée de boulot, pour cuisiner des légumes bio ou pour regarder la pluie tomber avec mélancolie, foncez. C'est le top du top. Si, comme moi, vous cherchez dans la musique un exutoire à la noirceur du monde, une vibration qui résonne avec le chaos ambiant, passez votre chemin. Retournez écouter "Unknown Pleasures" ou "Streetcleaner". Joan est trop gentille pour nous.
Beautiful vocals and lyrics, just wasn’t really my vibe
Incredibly and criminally underrated record. Joan's guitar playing is extraordinary and the production is stellar.
Super cool, the funkier songs were my favorite. If it was more of that it'd be a 5.
My new favorite! I knew within 30 seconds that this album was special and it exceeded my expectations. Looking forward to more from Armatrading
Would give this a solid 3.5, but I'm rounding up since I think it's better than a 3
Such a fun album
Un clásico , pero definitivamente mucha canciones suenas iguales.
Great voice; ok lyrics
She has a very unique voice, that seems to use quite well. She can sound quite mannish at times. You get some folksy bluesy funk music on here. Her voice to me sounds like a cross between Melissa Etheridge & Cher in the best ways possible. I hear the Tracy Chapman comps but it's a bit on the nose. It's got a bit of a twang too. Pleasant surprise.4
It was an enjoyable listen. I probably lean 3.5 stars for it, and I really enjoyed the closer Tall In The Saddle.
6/10 Favourite: Love and Affection Least Favourite: People
Nice Mellow music. Reminds me of the 70’s folk rock.
Black Joni Mitchell, female Van Morrison? No, her own thing and I’m embarrassed I hadn’t heard this album. Liked it sure enough.
Just ok
2.5
This is some lovely 70s-style sexy jazzy folk. It's very much not my thing, but it's good. Solid lovelorn lyrics, surprising, enchanting chord progressions, smooth emotional vocals, high-quality stuff.
This was an interesting find! I really liked it. Great interesting harmonies and rhythms. High 4
Water with the wine, Join the boys, People, Somebody who loves you, Like Fire sont biens voire très biens.
Never heard of Armatrading, but this was really nice. Strong singer-songwriter stuff that embraced the sound of the latter '70s with some poppier/funkier strings and instrumentation and production. Has earned another listen for sure.
Funky, fantastic voice, great but not my style.
6/10 Best songs: Help Yourself, Join the Boys, Like Fire I'd literally never heard of Joan Armatrading before getting this album today. The album is like if Tracy Chapman met Ani DiFranco - very Lilith Fair, singer/songwriter-with-a-guitar type music. Interestingly, it doesn't feel THAT dated, with the exception of some slightly groovy bass lines and beats. Overall a strong album, just not my kind of album.
??? alle mögen es, schon ok. c
Worth another listen
would not be on my regular rotation but this is a really nice one Will I listen to again: 31%
🥇down to zero 🥈love and affection 🥉water with the wine HM: people, somebody who loves you, like fire
I liked it.
głos ma pani fajny, ale muzyczka nie dla mnie
Starts really well. A 4 or 5 based on the beginning.
Nice album
I wasn’t very optimistic on seeing this album come up, but I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this. Definitely grew on me from a second listen. 4/5
Easy listening. Makes for Nice background music.
It's decent, but kinda slow and not really for me.
more like joan imatrading this for another album! the kind of mellow *tracy chapman fast car* easy-listening that weirdly stressed me out as a kid but in my elder years i've kind of come around on it. among a bunch of albums whose sound blends together a bit i think there are more songs here that stick out than don't. favorite song is Tall In The Saddle or People. like a rock solid 2.6/5
Rating: 7/10 Definitely a cool result from this list, I hadn’t even heard of Joan and if I had to guess what year it was made it wouldn’t be 1976. Some really good instrumentation to go along with Joan’s songwriting. I wasn’t able to dive in lyrically too much in one listen, and I’ll need to listen more to feel more firmly about the album as a whole.
Pleasant + chill listen. The spotify autoplay that took over after this album ended was more fun 5.3/10
More like Joan Imanottrading this for another album. A Tracy Chapman, fast car, kind of vibe that my younger self would have slightly enjoyed has only grown on me in my elder years. The spotify auto play that started after was also somewhat enjoyable. 7 lightning McQueens out of 10 lizard wizards
I've never heard of her! Really pleasant. Not really my cuppa but she's nice.
Just didn’t do it for me sadly, definitely is a lazy comparison to make but felt like a less accessible & slightly jarring at times Tracy Chapman record. Maybe needs a relisten
pretty good
Había escuchado otros discos de esta mujer y no recordaba nada notable. Este disco está lleno de melodías magníficas ye ha sorprendido mucho.
Cutie
Absolutely nothing wrong with this album, it's decent background music for work. But I can't say this is something I would seek out or even revisit. It was smooth and she's a solid singer, but really, just not my thing. I'll give her a 2.5 because this was better than Rufus. 2.5
3 I’ve never heard of Joan Armatrading, but I thought this was a perfectly listenable folk album. I can’t really say it did a ton in particular of note, but I enjoyed its warm sense of production, something that I thought paired incredibly well with Joan’s tender vocals. Admittedly, a lot of this sort of blends together, but there’s still enough diversity in songwriting and sound to keep things interesting, with Join the Boys and People being two tracks in particular that surprised me with their funk influence - I honestly can’t say I’ve heard that sort of thing on a folk album before. Still, they’re not especially noteworthy, and I would even say they pale a touch in comparison to songs like Water With the Wine and Love and Affection which, really, are only marginally better than anything else to be found here. I thought she may have been singing about me on Tall in the Saddle with the lyric, “You were God's gift to girls”, but apparently the song is like ‘70s-style shade towards fuccbois, so I guess not. For the best though - there’s only room in my heart for one melody, and it’s not Joan’s. Not much else to say on this one - it’s enjoyable, but nothing to write home about… just a two and half paragraph album review to be posted online I guess.
Pretty sure I have the same Ovation guitar she has on that album cover. She mixes in a pop feel to some general folksy-ness. A very good representation of the genre. Several songs could have made the playlist, but I'll go with hir hit, "Love and Affection". Heck, I'll toss "People" on there too for that funky element she put on that track.
Good album. I would have been hard pressed to place what decade this album was from. I think she was ahead of her time on a lot of this. There's a timelessness about it. Also, the album is varied in style, yet holds together as a cohesive whole.
Great voice and a certain vibe.
Day709 - what a pleasant surprise. i would never have listened to this and i kinda love it
Singer/songwriter that delves in soft tracks, but also some funk and more energetic songs, it's a great album for when you want something different.
норм пацик 8/10
Diferente
Wonderful vocals
The music complements pool pretty good. 4/5
pleasant, but also forgettable
not my vibe personally
A little outdated for my liking
It was listenable, just not memorable at all. One-and-done for me.
Soft asmr type energy sleepy time tunes
grand so
Great. Love and Affection is such a great track.
Was probably slightly better than I was expecting but did fade out after halfway.
Obviously very talented and at times I thought I would like it. However, I found it very dull and just not my cup of tea.
It’s another one of those albums which feels well set up, produced and with some good musicians (particularly the drums, and hey presto looking at the personnel there are two drumming greats). But here comes the but, the song writing just feels very flat, not one single song moved me an inch. We move on….
So she has a beautiful voice, but I'm just not sure about all of the songs. The instruments were great, the music itself was good, but I just didn't care for the actual songs if that makes any sense. But I absolutely love her voice.
Can’t believe I’d never heard of her!!
A nice mix of folk rock and soul, she has a great voice, lots of range. Standout songs: Down To Zero Water With The Wine People
“Love and Affection” is the track that first made me fall for JA’s beautiful folk-rock stylings. The rest of the album does not stand as prominently with me, and is not my favorite album by her, but it holds up as a very enjoyable listen that I hope to return to often.
I’d never heard of Joan Armatrading before this. What a great discovery. I feel fortunate to have this be my it production to this great singer. The mix on this album is crisp yet warm at the same time. The funkier tracks are nice, but “Love and Affection” and “Somebody Who Loves You” are perfect tracks to my ears.
Мені альбом скоріше на 3.5. У Жоан чудовий голос, теплий звук на альбомі, непогані аранжування. Проте, не можу сказати, що сильно за щось зачепився, коли разок альбом прогнав. І бібліотеку захотілось додати, то можна ставити.
Послухав і забув, навіть важко щось сказати. Приємна музика загалом.
Lovely and compelling album
favorite tracks: - join the boys - water with the wine - like fire
So good - so smooth yet it picks up with a great groove and fantastic vocals. Wonderful experience.
This one was a deep dive for me. I had forgotten about Joan Armatrading and how often I listened to her unique sound. Excellent album from start to finish.
It was good; Joan is clearly talented, but it wasn't really my thing generally.
Always heard the name, enjoyed it! Like Fire is dope and that solo in Tall in the Saddle!
Lovely voice and arrangements. He "baritone" backup singer is a nice add on one track. It was mellow at times but held my attention. Nice female singer-singwriter; I will explore more Listened before? N Saved tracks? Y Favorite tracks: Love and Affection, Help Yourself, Water With The Wine ⭐⭐⭐ liked it. Saved some tracks.
Always happy to get assigned a female artist. Wow, great voice! Sounds a little like Cher at times. I love the funky songs; the mellow ones are fine but not my vibe. There's some great piano, guitar, drums, saxophone. Listened before? N Saved to library? Y Favorite track(s): Down To Zero, Water With The Wine, Join The Boys, People, Like Fire, Tall In The Saddle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Saved a bunch of tracks.
Solid vocals over minimal production, can see how this influenced a lot of later female artists, but I think what came after is a lot more cohesive and engaging for me personally
nothing wrong with the album just didnt vibe with it. HM: water with wine, save me
I hadn't heard of this artist before. Pretty good album
Enjoyed it
From the first vocal note I was IN LOVE with her voice. I had never heard a single song of hers and was so pleasantly surprised. Tracy Chapman comes to mind, but Joan’s vocals are smoother. Down to Zero, Love and Affection, Tall in the Saddle, & Join the Boys are favorites. Such an easy album to listen to.
Pretty solid throughout. Hard to hate but not easy to love so don't think I can give more than a 3.
there were defo songs I really enjoyed, but not fully my vibe
I'm very surprised that this is my first time hearing about this artist. Surely she would've been all the rage in the 70's with a voice like hers. Gorgeous, melodic, and pleasant. This is a very soft, pretty album. I'd love to hear more of her music down the road to see what else she has!
Never heard of this album or artist before, but I know there's only one genre you can belong to with an album named after yourself. That's right. More folky, singer-songwriter music. Might as well just crack this one open. Yup, on the money. Too easy with this genre, really. Anyways, this is fine. It's hard to feel strongly about folk, but for what this is it's a pretty alright time. There's a good bit of variety in the instrumental, and Armatrading is a solid vocalist. Admittedly, it loses my attention early on and I was left trailing behind for most of this album, but in all fairness I'm lethargic as fuck right now. "Down to Zero" is a good opener. There's a bit of an interesting blues/country influence in the instrumental, and Armatrading provides a solid vocal performance. "Help Yourself" is a better follow-up. The instrumentation is pretty great - very soothing. The acoustic guitars are very nice, and the atmospheric sounds hanging in the background is also pretty good. It kind of drags, but that first half is very solid. Book time. Where Armatrading fully realised her creative talent. Wide array of influences. Not sold yet - over to Wikipedia I go. Charted well in the UK. The album's producer said it was his favourite project. Decent critic backing. I meeeeeeean, this could do with a snub, right? The number of mega-influential, mega-successful, mega-acclaimed albums in the world surely exceeds the arbitrary 1001 limit, right? If only I had 1001 albums I liked that weren't already on this list, though I'm sadly a miserable bastard and probably only have a hundred. All this to say that I guess I can let this one slide. It's way less offensive than some of the other nobody albums on this list. I cosign this inclusion.
Joan must be one of those “if you know, you know” artists and I’m embarrassed to admit that I had absolutely no idea before today. It’s possible that I’ve heard Joan Armatrading's name in passing, but I can’t say I recall hearing her spoken about in a meaningful way and that feels wrong. She’s been nominated for Grammy Awards in 1980, 1983, and 2007, and that doesn’t feel like enough recognition. She’s also still making music, which is incredible. I keep having to remind myself that this came out in 1976 because it feels like it could have come out in the late 80s or early 90s. Knowing this was at least 10-15 years earlier, and she just went ahead and kept evolving right on through the 70s, 80s, 90s, until today... it kinda blows my mind. Listening through the rest of her catalog only bolsters my opinion of her work. There's folk, there's funk, there's country, there are all the things (including new wave in the 80s!). I have a sense that Joan quietly influenced so many of the singer-songwriters who came after her and I’d highly recommend hearing this record at least once (and then maybe check out some others)! “Down To Zero” “Love And Affection” “Join The Boys” "Like Fire" “Tall In The Saddle” PS- if anyone knows where I can get a t-shirt with this album cover on it, please let me know. I'm a Large.
One good song, the rest are forgettable
Fuck it, I loved this. Kind of can't believe I hadn't heard of this, especially back when I really used to be into this sort of singer-songwriter kind of music. On top of that, it's damn soulful, and her voice is absolutely stellar -deep, sultry, and versatile. The ballads drag for me - and actually, I kind of don't care for them at all. But everything else is so good, I kind of don't care?? Fave tracks: - Down To Zero - Help Yourself - Water With The Wine - Join The Boys - People - Somebody Who Loves You - Like Fire - Tall In The Saddle
Great album.
I like her voice and the music long time ago*
Like disco Tracy Chapman
Join the Boys. Down to Zero. Love and Affection. Another one that was fairly unmemorable.
wonderful voice
Hvem hadde trodd at det ble en 3er?
Wonderful, warm voice. Heaps of talented but not something I'll ever return to.
beautiful voice, love the music. Would listen again.
It was decent
I liked it. Haven’t heard any of it before but the songs are well produced and sound surprisingly modern
Crazy how I've never heard this artist before. 1001 throws up a diamond in the rough. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
I have no memory of ever listening
Perfect album to have playing in the background at home. Calming and wonderful. Like a lullaby.
It's a nicely recorded album. But lacks memorable tracks.
Better than I thought it would be at the start.
Pretty good
"Down to Zero" is such a vibe, perfectly cozy match to a rainy chilly day. "Love and Affection" and "Somebody Who Loves You" are great. Instant favorite, will be spinning this album again.
2/10 Top track: Down To Zero Nice vocals but forgettable songs.
Good
Really enjoyed this!
I dig it.
Very chil, jazzy and vibey
I was busy today and couldn’t give this one the attention I feel it probably deserves. Rating it 4 because it feels like one that will grow on me a lot after a single half assed listen.
Soulful, uplifting, beautiful
First impressions are very promising
This was nice. I felt like I learned a new historical musical figure that was overlooked. Joan has a unique sound but you can see how she probably influenced later folk/r&b musicians. Not my jam, but I'll give it a 3 for musical variety, technical ability. Some nice mix of instruments and variety of moods, genres. but prob not going to listen again.
Pretty easy to listen to. I like the little bits of funk here and there. Why does it seem like I like funk more than I thought I did? Kind of unsettling somehow. I wish I could give this enough of my attention to get a better sense of what she's singing about. Surprising amount of instrumentation here for what appears to be a singer-songwriter album. Could do without the sax. I mostly tuned out for the second half of the album. Nonetheless, I could tell that what I was hearing was heartfelt and well-crafted.
If you had asked me if I knew Joan Armatrading this morning, I would've said only that her name sounded vaguely familiar. But as I made my way through this album, I recognized her voice. While I don't get into this kind of singer-songwriter stuff much, I found it pretty charming. "Love and Affection" is the obvious standout, as its 42M+ plays attest. I don't know that I'll come back to this, but I appreciate it all the same.
down to zero
Pretty enjoyable album. It's got similar pop/folk rock/singer songwriter vibes to a lot of other albums on this list, but the instrumentation is a lot more rich and interesting. There are some bits of funk, jazz and rock across the track list too. Water with the Wine was the standout track to me, but Down to Zero and People are great too.
A solid 3. Instrumentally talented players and interesting songwriting, though maybe a bit bland by halfway through. The first track was maybe most compelling to me, though the ramble-y lyrics and structure didn't do it for me. One in my group said this had him thinking "is this Tracy Chapman's mother?" I had never heard of this artist before and I'm glad I had this listen.
This album did not sound like it came out in 1976. It could have come out today. And there aren’t many albums that would describe as both funky and twangy but this is definitely both.
Singersongwriter från 1970-talet. Vissa produktionsidéer sticker ut och hela skivan är habil in i det sista. Jag lär inte återse denna.
This kind of slaps? It's missing a good hook or chorus to really sell the whole thing. Tracy Chapman knows what I mean. That said, there isn't a bad track on this album. And the Steely Dan similarities can't be wrong. Steely Madam? Steely Damsel?
Going into these albums blindly I'm quick to try to think of an artist that I'm reminded of while listening. I couldn't think of anyone right away. Britney Howard came to mind early on just because of the album cover... but towards the end of the album I came up with Fiona Apple. Even though I knew it was from 1976... this really does feel like 70's. It's jazz and folk and even has an electric guitar solo akin to David Gilmour. I was hoping that Joan played all of the instruments (like Lenny Kravitz) but on this album she plays only acoustic guitar. Her backing band is excellent. I need to do a deeper dive.
Beautiful. She’s so cool.
“Are you for or against us — we are trying to get somewhere. Are you in or are you out?” Eh, I guess I’m in.
Amazing album, diverse, lyrical, standout vocals.
I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. Just some good vibing R&B. The way Joan's voice works with the instrumentation is sublime.
Sounds nice! Talented, I'll listen again.
O álbum começa com a pior música. Uma péssima decisão, obviamente. Logo depois, vem uma das melhores do álbum, com uma pegada muito mais sofisticada (principalmente no encerramento). Essa sequência representa bem o que foi esse álbum pra mim: uma grande inconsistência. Em alguns momentos senti que estava ouvindo um pop chato, em outros momentos, um jazz/fusion de alto padrão. Achei o lado 'B' consideravelmente melhor que o 'A'. Outro problema, visto que o normal é ser justamente o oposto. Em suma, não é um bom álbum, mas tem algumas músicas excelentes pra serem pescadas e colocadas em alguma playlist isolada. Melhor do álbum: "Like Fire". Pior do álbum: "Down To Zero".
É certamente um dos álbuns já feitos. A diva de fato canta muito, mas o estilo me recordou um pouco Alanis Morrissette e Fiona Apple, que eu não curto tanto. Muito música de rádio Alvorada (94,9 em BH). Vai passar batido
I remember not loving this when it was current. I think the last track Tall in the Saddle was the best one for me. I tire of her voice quickly and the whole production was jsut so dated in a way that I didn't like.
Loved it!
Joan Armatrading rocks--both the person and the album. This is a soulful, buoyant album with lots of feels and great instrumentation. Top tracks: "Love and Affection," "Tall in the Saddle," "Down to Zero," "Like Fire"
--Down to Zero...I like the piano. Don't love the song yet but it could grow on me --Help Yourself...didn't enjoy the first half but it builds into something pretty funky and sweet --Water with the Wine...nice 'n' sleazy. I like her vocal choices here --Love and Affection...the vocals, again, are very nice. but I think they're elevating a pretty weak song --Save Me...I do NOT like the vocals on this one. She hovers too long in her upper register and it's not her strength --Join the Boys...starts strong. interplay between drums, guitar, bass, and piano is really fun --People...nice instrumentation but kind of cheesy --Somebody Who Loves You...sounds like it was recorded in a closet. that's a compliment --Like Fire...good beat. good guitar. good voice. good song --Tall in the Saddle...guitars giving me "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" vibes. Last 90 seconds kick
Beautiful voice. "Down to zero" is a masterpiece! I compared Joan a lot with Tracy Chapman, the manner of playing and singing is similar, but the mood is different! Joan's songs on the album are light, gentle, positive! I also liked track People - so funky!
Really funky. I liked this. Love her voice. Would listen again.
Absolutely fantastic, exactly the type of music I imagine when thinking of Rock n Roll! The album got even better with each song, which is kind of a rarity IMO
This was pretty good, it was generally an easy listen and it was best when it was funky, however, on the whole it was rather soulful and at times even felt a bit country. Realistically, I don’t know if or when I’d return to this but it feels like it merits its place on the list.
Very enjoyable, early acoustic album good voice good songs
100% for me
I find the intended audience of most recorded music is the youth. Youth can be defined in any number of ways, but ultimately young carries the day. Indeed, adult contemporary is often used as an epithet isn’t it? This album is clearly for grown ups. Armstrong sings about adult issues and it is not especially chaotic, loud or audacious. Ironically adulthood in the 70s was likely people in their 20s but whatever. I find that I appreciate the maturity of this record, but true to form it doesn’t quite grab me in an irrationality emotional way.
cool
Cool new discovery.
My dad loves Joan and even met her, once apparently really nice! Love and affection, join the boys and tall in the saddle are all certified bangers 5/5 why not
She's got such a good voice and it really grooves, this album. The only song I don't really dig is the one that's a bit disco sounding, is it around Join the Boys or People? But this is good stuff.
So full of woe and emotion. Not my normal listening choice but my god this is beautiful. 5/5 no notes.
Me encantó
Honestly, it was a pretty great album! I'd say about. 85% of it is absolutely genius. The only reason why it's not a five is because I feel that some of the songs on it were not grabbing my attention as much, but the musicianship is phenomenal. Her songwriting is incredible and honestly it's mixed very well. Probably a return
Joan was a pleasant surprise. Reminded me a little bit of Tracy Chapman.
Great music. First time, knowingly listened to her.
So great. Fell in love on first listen.
Solid enough acoustic album. Very simple musically and reminds me a lot of Tracy Chapman. Songs are a bit samey
I had never even heard of Joan Armatrading before today. The strongest first impression I got was that this woman knows how to write a song. Every track on this record is catchy and easy to listen to while still being a confessional of an awkward woman who just can't seem to fall in love (at least not for long, but she still had fun) and kind of doesn't like people. She's like if Carol King and Bill Withers had a lightly misanthropic love child. Nothing on this album blew me away musically, but I was bobbing my head throughout most of my listens, and I was impressed with the consistency of the writing and arrangements. It helps that this album was also produced well. It's space and airyness lent it to a nice experience on both hi-fi and headphones (even though a couple of moments of strong stereo were a little jarring with the latter). Overall, this one won't change lives, but it was still super nice. Listen to it closely or put it in the background; either way it won't disappoint. Four stars.
65
# 606 : Joan Armatrading Joan Armatrading – A Pleasant Stroll, But Not a Destination Dated in spots and a little middle-of-the-road, but overall this is a funky, folk-ish record that’s surprisingly enjoyable. Nothing overtly amazing, but also nothing skippable. It’s a bit slow and boring in parts, but the singing is genuinely great—Armatrading’s voice carries the whole thing. The focus here is a girl and her guitar, and for something made nearly 50 years ago, it holds up better than expected. Still, it’s not essential listening. It’s the kind of album you nod along to while wondering what else is in your queue. Best Track (if you must): None particularly stood out, but the vibe is consistent. Verdict: ★★★ for charm. File under “albums that are nice, but not necessary.”
Folk goddess at her peak.
Very good album, full of heart and great songwriting. Glad to have heard this, have not heard of her before. Not a bad song here.
This isn’t a bad album at all. It’s a nice blend of folk, rock, jazz, and even a touch of blues. That said, her style reminds me a lot of the singer-songwriters who became popular in the 90s. But since this came out in 1976, maybe she was the one who pioneered that sound!
Really interesting album! Love and Affection is the big one and its genuinely unique. Cool listen
A fistful of wistful.
a pleasant and well-written folk rock album with hints of Springsteen and Mitchell. would go to influence more than it probably gets credit for. didn't resonate with me so much but hey! i have a Saint Kitts dot on my music map now deserves to be one of the 1001? yeas
Ok wow lots of musical talent. Like instrumentally this album is stunning. My biggest glaring problem with this album is I just didn’t like Joan’s voice. Totally a personal and subjective take but there were only a few tracks I saved cause I truly didn’t enjoy her voice on these tracks. I would however, love to hear more from her cause musically I’m definitely a fan of what she creates, but put off by the vocals unfortunately.
while it starts out like a classic folk/soul/blues album, it really shines in the end with jazzy and progressive influences, one part even reminding me of modern times nine inch nails!
Well crafted, some nice songs, easy lisetening.
Really enjoyed this one. Beautiful voice
Seriously creative - none of these songs follow the typical verse-chorus-verse pattern, and they all have melodies that swirl with different instrumentation and real musicality amid the compelling stories they tell. Still astonishing.
Pleasant to listen to but wouldn’t intentionally seek out any of these songs to listen to again. Voice is amazing though
Enjoyable, an eclectic mix of influences from jazz to folk to traditional pop. She has an excellent voice and the musicianship is great. But there's just something missing which I can't describe which would put it in to the higher tiers. Maybe something that would grow on me. 7/10.
Her voice is very unique and very soulful. Down to Zero and Love and Affection are my favorites. Definitely at least four stars
Not really my cup of tea. Some decent tunes in here but very samey the whole way through.
Down To Zero - great opening track Love And Affection Join The Boys - guitar!! Like Fire - funky piano interlude
Giving this a 2 - not really for me. Enjoyed the instrumentality but none of the songs really jumped out to me. Appreciated the wide range of instruments used — slide, synth, saxophone. I think today this album would just be an acoustic guitar
Was completely unfamiliar with this artist. Quintessential 70s sound, reminds me of background music to that 70s show. Not my favorite but still enjoyable
Enjoyable background album, no hesitation listening again, can hear its influenence in a lot of other music I like
Good album here. You can hear that it’s from the 70s but it also has a lot more blues than you’d expect from something at this time. Not something I’d probably listen to a lot but still a good one
Pleasantly surprised by this one. A variety of styles, Will come back to this one in the future.
Not my jam
Now this why I started this list. Some i never was exposed to before and is worth listening. Great music great songs great vocals.
First time hearing, mellow, beautiful
You know it's good when the album loops back around and you're excited to hear the first song again.
Not bad at all, just not really my cup of tea. I can appreciate the quality. Her voice is strong and the production is clean, but the album didn't fully connect with me. Still, “Water With the Wine” and “People” stood out as highlights and felt more emotionally resonant. If half-stars were an option, this would probably be a 2.5. But since I’ve given stronger albums a 3, this lands at a 2. Solid effort, just not something I see myself revisiting.
Solid 70s folk. Reminds me of Bob Seger. Great sounding instruments. Most of the album will slip by as a pleasant blur. The second to last song marks a fascinating and worthy guitar composition worth the price of admission. This is good. It didn't change my life but it did make me wonder why I haven't heard her music before. 3.5/5 -> 4/5
Never heard of this artist before but really really enjoyed the album
Sweet, mellow, sensual warm voice, solid
It's aiiight. Some interesting vocal delivery here and there. It's like palatable folky soft rock with a personal touch and a slight edge. It would sit comfortably next to Carole King but with a tiny bit more grit. It's overall whatevs for me but could be legit for someone else.
Get this out of my ears
There was a lot to like here. I enjoyed Armatrading's voice, which reminded me of Christine McVie to an extent. I also thought she did a good job of mixing up the sound throughout the album, sprinkling in different moods and elements to change up the feel from song to song. As a whole, it kind of gave me a similar feeling as Tapestry by Carole King. Maybe that's fitting, since Tapestry was my first album recommended on this list and now I'm celebrating #200. Both albums had a good flow and were pleasant to listen to. However, they also both fell a little bit flat for me. I think that is likely due to their genre not being my favorite more than them actually having any big flaws. I can (and did) still enjoy this album, and I liked most of the songs on it well enough. I just wouldn't say it is something I subjectively found great. Even so, I do think it was a strong album. I had never heard of Joan Armatrading before, so I enjoyed hearing something new to me and interesting. I put this one solidly in the "good" range. It was a worthwhile listen. Overall: 3.4/5
3.5 This one really grew on me as it went on. Rare case of the latter half sounding better than the first. She sounds like a cross between Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman yet better than the sum of their parts. Not normally my thing but I quite enjoyed that.
Thank God, what a relief! A woman, a woman who can sing, a woman with a voice! After albums of wannabees and pretenders, wanky boys getting off on themselves, an actual musician. Women definitely don’t appear often enough on this list, except as wet-dream bondage fantasies of teenage boys, but that’s show business.
Make sure you are sitting down before you listen to this albums. Because it will knock your on your ass if you're standing. I never even heard of her before today and Ill never forget her after today.
Découverte très sympa, une voix féminine chill avec par moment une vibe un peu Véronique Sanson (Water with the Wine notamment), très cool
Je ne connaissais pas du tout ! Voix cool. Un savoureux mélange entre Tracy Chapman et Janis Joplin par moment. J’ai même eu l’impression d’entendre Véronique Samson par moment dans sa façon d’utiliser sa voix ! C’était sympa comme album, un côté un peu pop country, un peu blues, un peu jazz..
Plutôt sympa, bonne découverte ! Par contre je vois pas du tout la vibe Véronique Sanson. 4/5
I went back and forth on this. The more blues-y, riff-y stuff ("Like Fire" "Tall In the Saddle") hit for me. Other aspects of it felt a little boring, although she's got a great voice and can play. Having no idea what to expect, I liked it a good bit. Side note: There were some awful 90s, '00s acts that went for a similar mellow-ed out sound on the first half of this album (your Bens Harper, your Jacks Johnson, G Love), and that's a big demerit. This is good, those are bad.
Mellow, laid back, jazz tinged, easy listening for a wet Wednesday. Once saw her give out a trophy at Glorious Goodwood. Who'd have thunk it?
What a great voice! Joan brings the funk when we need it but also can hold back and sing with soul and emotion. Great listen that I will come back to
A couple good songs here, but not an enjoyable listen.
ne zha
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Water With The Wine, Join The Boys There weren't really any songs that popped, and certainly nothing from this album ever went mainstream, but this entry on the List was was perfectly cromulent. I would be inclined to give it a 3.5 if there were half points, but alas, there aren't. Sort of reminds me of Tracy Chapman.
Her sound is kind of hard to classify, with a whole mix of different styles, this made the album feel a little disjointed to me and lack overall cohesion from start to finish. I also think her singing styles with constantly changing dynamics of quiet to loud was not my favourite. I did enjoy some of the more blues forward songs at the end and overall am happy to have learned about a new artist.
Wow, I can’t believe I’ve never heard Joan Armatrading before. This is a bit bluesy, a bit funky, a bit jazzy, and very soulful singing. Thoroughly enjoyed this!
Pretty good! Made me want to explore more of her work.
I’d never heard of Joan. This was great. 4/5 Highlights: Down To Zero Help Yourself Water With The Wine Love And Affection Join The Boys Tall In The Saddle
Alright, feels like tracy chapman pre tracy chapman, 7/10
Tykjer det er mykje frå 1970-talet eg aldri ville gjette var frå 70-talet, men kanskje 90-talet heller.
That voice, great record especially the first 3 tracks
I really liked this album. I think her voice is gorgeous and the songs manage to show it off in different ways. Will definitely listen again. I think at the moment my favourites are just the ones I was already familiar with, so will be nice to become more familiar with the rest. Fav song: Down To Zero Least fav: Somebody Who Loves You
Quite liked this album but I would also fire someone if they were playing guitar in the office. Also it’s a tad samey Specific rating - 3.9 Fav song - love and affection Least fav - help yourself.
Couple of songs I'd heard (and liked) before but most of this album was new to me. Manages to be varied while staying consistently good and she's got an incredible voice! Favourite song: Down to Zero (also really liked Water With The Wine and People) Least: Save me
7.5 Bien; mejor en sus momentos mas soul/funk, pero sin llegar a emocionar.
3 out of 5. This album was a pleasant surprise.
Läckert hur hon jobbar med rösten, hela skalan. Flera bra låtar. En annan dag hade det blivit fyra stjärnor.
Really unique voice.
Great find!
A nice blend of R&B and folk/singer-songwriter tracks. Her voice really stands out among the more subdued instrumentals. I liked the vibe but it didn't blow me away.
This is someone I'd never heard of, but it was above expectation. Good variety, interesting instrumentals and lyrics.
Surprisingly good!
Pretty music, and definitely some good songs. Her singing style was a little too operatic for my taste.
Super przyjemniacki album, aż zaczęła mi nóżka latać do kilku piosenek. Dodaję do ulubionych!
My partner loved it
It’s fine? Can’t tell if this is just another provincial curio. But, of interest to The Wire fans - and I coincidentally happen to be doing a s2 rewatch this week - is Clarke Peters showing up adding his quite sonorous baritone (Lester Smooth!) to one tune. Alas, that’s about all that pops for me. Somebody Who Loves You has a pretty stellar melody and I feel like someone ripped it off, but I can’t place who or when.
6/10
Dang! I was familiar with "Love and Affection" and even saw her SNL performance back in the day. I'm really digging this much more than I expected. One of the community radio shows I follow (The Time Machine on WDBX) plays her occasionally but more of the mellow tunes as opposed to the bangers. That DJ is doing Joan a disservice. Love the breadth of styles and feel.
Overall a great album. I'd never heard of Joan Armatrading before this, but I will certainly remember her name. I think I'll be going through her full catalogue. 3.5⭐️
decent folky album
She's pretty good
A cross between Elton John, Funkadelic, and Nick Drake. Greatness in it's simplicity. Executed very well. Singer songwriter.
This does not sound out of the 70s. This music is 15 years ahead of its time. And it’s really good too.
Beautiful voice, kickass guitar, incredible lyrics. Close to perfect.
Not for me
Loved this one. Never heard of Joan Armatrading before but what a lovely album! Funky, smooth, full of emotion but never overbearing. This and a cup of coffee is an amazing way to start a fall morning.
She has a pretty great voice, but there is nothing noteworthy going on here musically or lyrically.
Não ouvi com muita atenção. Gostei da Tall In The Saddle. Dou 4 estrelas, porque não consigo dar 3,5, que seria a minha avaliação (tendo em conta outras avaliações até agora)
Correcto.
I'd forgotten how much I like Joan Armatrading. Thank you 1001 albums generator for bringing her back into my life.
Real good dude
Hvem er dette? Nå lytter jeg blindt. Sukkersøt piano rock. Kjenner jeg blir litt kvalm av det. Har ikke Elton John allerede gjort dette bedre uansett? Det blir heldigvis litt bedre i neste låt, her swinger det faktisk til tider Love and Affection er visst den største hiten, og det er jeg enig i. Dette er en god singel. Og så blir det helt jævlig igjen; redd meg fra middelmådige ballader. B-siden begynner med enda en alright låt. Kommer til å være glemt så snart siste note er spilt, men jeg pines ikke igjennom. People høres ut som den vil være Sly & the Family Stone. Kan jeg få høre på Sly istedet værsåsnill? Like Fire liker jeg. Gi meg en singel med Love and Affection på A-siden og Like Fire på B-siden, så har vi en 4/5 singel. Resten kan godt forbli i glemmeboka der det allerede har innskrevet seg. Tall in the Saddle er faktisk også ganske decent. Den begynner litt kjipt, som om Joan vil holde deg på pinebenken og forsikre seg om at kun dedikerte lyttere som blir med på hele denne reisen skal få lov til å vrikke litt på rockefoten. Hvis hun bare slutta å skrive ballader, så kunne skiva vært alright. Jeg måtte faktisk høre den igjen og tror jeg bytter ut Like Fire med Tall in the Saddle, og så blir det en sterkere 4/5 singel. Buildupen er faktisk ikke så ille som jeg først trodde. Likevel, det her er jævlig ujevnt. Store deler av det tenkte jeg 1/5, men det redder seg litt ved å ha høyere lows på B-siden enn A-siden. 2 og en halv gode låter lager ikke et godt album, noe fabrikkpop-skivene fra 2000-tallet har demonstret klart og tydelig. Jeg begynner å bli litt lei av hvor mye OK musikk som blir servert til oss som om den var essensiell og tidløs. Blir jeg kansellert hvis jeg sier at dette er et token-album? I frykt for klager på at 1001 "is so white" og har for få kvinner, slår de to fluer i en smekk med å inkludere det ene rockealbumet de fant av en svart kvinne.
Johanne Våpenhandler
Hadde albumet vært mer som åpningssporet hadde det vært fem stjerner fra meg. Det er et fint album, men det er lite ved det som stikker seg ut. Litt cafémusikk?
Glyn Johns skal ha uttrykt at dette er det beste albumet han har vært involvert i. Det er et flott album, men det er vel å ta litt i? Det er gode arrangementer, bra spilt, fine komposisjoner. Men litt for tamme og dårlige melodier. Gitaren på like a fire er et høydepunkt
3.5
not my vibe.
A mix between Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin. I enjoy it and mum would really like it but it just wasn’t the vibe today.
Great voice. Great songwriting. Great variety of styles, instruments, and vibe. I'd heard of her throughout my life, even heard a song or two, but not in 20 years. I've known folks that say they've always loved her and wish she'd been "bigger" I just didn't know how great she was. I think she deserves all the praise and accolades that Joni Mitchell got because she's superior in many ways. "Love And Affection" was apparently a hit, but I don't recall it upon listening. But it did remind me of Richard Ashcroft's "Lover" which turns out he nicked a bit for. It's one my my least favorite Ashcroft songs because it's thin and poppy. I think her version is far superior. Love the jazzy breakdown bit in "Join The Boys" This is a really great album from a very emotional, versatile singer. Gotta give this the very rare first-listen 5 star!
fabulous album
Really liked this! Tall in the saddle the boys
It's ok.
What a voice!! I have never heard about Joan before and this was a great surprise! What brilliant album!