Reviews (page 8 of 13)
3.5/5 really fucking good
One of the few pleasant surprises recently. Great voice, good songs, overall an enjoyable experiences even if one I might not ever revisit
Angenehm, viele Genres vereint, untermalt mir viel Gitarre, angenehme Stimme :) von chill bis rockig
I don't think I recognize this artist, so this is entirely new to me. I neither hated this nor loved it. It was interesting to be introduced to this artist, and I supposed I'm glad I listened to this. But ultimately, it just didn't do much for me.
Ну типа прикольно, но в памяти не остаётся
Хороший голос, иногда интересные мелодии, но в целом ничего особо запоминающегося.
Лучшая песня: хз Худшая: Like Fire Сначала казалось прикольно, под конец уже мечтал, чтоб скорее кончился этот альбом. Много всего, музыки - мало
Если бы так звучал Боб Дилан, то я бы его даже слушала. Забавно, что была борьба с британским вторжением в Америку, но британцы тоже гордились своими ответами Джони Митчелл (которая недавно попадалась нам в челлендже, вот такой был запутанный лор музыкального мира тех лет). Интересно, будет ли кто-то также заслушивать через 50 лет альбомы условной Мицки и какое у следующих поколений будет на их счет мнение . Ушло в плей-лист: Save me, Join the boys и Tall in Saddle
This is an interesting mix of 70's singer-songwriter, AM gold, and a little soul. Glad to know a little more about Joan. Her name sounds like she should be a kindergarten teacher but glad she shared this music with us.
“People” carries
Pleasant but not exciting
Some good songs, some skips, nothing too crazy but decent enough
Totally get it, just not my cuppa
loved it
Erg lekkere loungemuziek, met na de eerste keer luisteren 2 duidelijke uitschieters met Down To Zero en Love And Affection. Blues achtige finale met Tall In The Saddle is ook mooi, die slaan we ook op. Maar als album vind ik het vooralsnog redelijk platjes
I had never heard of Joan Armatrading before starting this project and overall I enjoyed parts of this album while not caring for parts. Whenever the instrumentals got psychedelic, I was digging it. Joan's voice was not my favorite, so the slower pieces where the vocals take the forefront were the weakest points for me personally. I'm not rushing to relisten, but I could see myself coming back to this and giving it another chance. I could also see myself picking this up on vinyl since it's fairly cheap and sometimes I appreciate music more on my record player. Favorite track - People Least Favorite Track - Save Me
Acoustic combo of folk/soul/country. First song reminds me of Tracey Chapman? Playing is skillful and lyrics are nice. But to me it's just nice, nothing exciting. Best track - Love and Affection, People 3 stars
Algumas músicas bem interessantes. Mas como album nao me cativou tanto numa primeira ouvida.
I enjoyed it way more than I expected. I almost skipped this album as I didn't listen it on the day but I am glad I didn't. Her voice is very good and the songs are groovy but unfortunately still not my style of music.
INSANE FACT. The guy doing the deep baritone part in Love and Affection is Clarke Peters, who played Lester Freamon in the famous HBO series The Wire. WHAT! Never heard of Joan Armatrading so this album is a surprise. She has such a strong voice, not one that is like belted out or hitting high runs or anything, but just a deeper voice that is physically imposing. This album has a lot of things going on. Some country style twangs, some heavy folk, some funky stuff at the end of the album, a lot of range. I really liked Love and Affection. The orchestral background, and the deep baritone singer in the background is great. I'm a sucker for deep bass, baritones, and Clarke Peters' small part of it adds a lot. It's a good album and i'm glad to see some cool representation from St Kitts and Nevis.
3/5
Me gustó, tienes temas destacables pero hasta ahí. No sé si lo volvería a escuchar por diversión
C’est date.
Ok
Folk rock, pop. Worth a revisit.
Run a bath, light some candles, fizz a bath bomb and relax to the dulcet tones of Joan Armatrading, perfect! No matter that I am a 54 year old rock fan, I wish someone would love me they way she loves in her songs.
It was interesting. Neat to learn about Joan Armatrading and her historic musical career. The music itself was not a style I normally like, but I really appreciated the instrumentation and the vocals. The guitars and her voice especially stuck out to me.
Kende haar niet zo goed van te voren, los van één song. Als ik dan eenmaal naar iets onbekends luister, dan ben ik altijd direct bezig om het onder één van de registers te plaatsen in het muziekdepartement van m'n brein. Maar haar genre-fluide aanpak maakt het best uitdagend. Het is gebaseerd in folk-traditie, dat is duidelijk, maar het treedt daar ook wel echt vaak buiten. Die uitdaging om er dan een label op te plakken zorgt ervoor dat ik vooral denk aan andere duizendpoten als Joni Mitchell en Sinead O'Connor, dus in dat laatje gaat ze dan maar. Maar los van mijn autistische trekje om het direct in een hokje te deponeren (iets waarvan ik mij bewust ben dat het meer een kwaal is dan een kwaliteit) heb ik mij best vermaakt. Hele kalme muziek, maar haar stem doet best veel interessante dingen waardoor je niet helemaal wegdommelt. Echt een wapen op dit album. Daarnaast is zo'n verrassende elektrische gitaar op de afsluiter ook wel echt een symptoom van die subtiele veelzijdigheid. Al met al een positieve kennismaking. 7,5/10 Highlights: Down To Zero Save Me Somebody Who Loves You
What is this? Folk-funk-jazz-pop?? Some interesting arrangements here, goof singing, and an overall unique sound. Real tight bass playing. The best songs really pop but those between are unmemorable. But certainly a unique sound here and the talent is apparent. I doubt I’ll revisit but I enjoyed this more the I expected too
Singer Songwriter are not my music.
I didn’t know of Joan and probably would have never listened to this. She’s got that folky vibe, for sure.
was okay
Interesting and. I’ve vocals. Made me Think she was a influence to artists like tracie chapman
Love the guitar parts. It's like a mix between mellow and vibrant and energized to me, very interesting. People, Like Fire, and Tall In The Saddle were some of my favorites. 6.0/10
loved this!
enjoyed this album, she has a great voice.
Hard to settle on a rating, really all over the place with hits and misses. Beautiful voice and great production
Nice album, but something just doesn't work for me. I think it might be her vocal style and that the songwriting doesn't seem consistently strong, even though that's pretty essential for this type of music.
7/10 - good blues poppy rock, she has a great voice and it's not an exaggerated album
Enjoyed it. Artist that I’ve never heard of.
Aika hyvä levy, mutta "se jokin" jäi uupumaan.
Very chill, folksy, with a little bit of funk. Highlights: "Join the Boys" and "Like Fire"
Interesting album, better than I thought
Fine voice.
Ballady 70’s
Slow R@B feel and some twang
I thought her voice was pretty cool but the songs weren’t particularly interesting and her vocal dynamics were kinda odd. She gets really loud and suddenly soft or maybe she’s moving closer and farther from the mic? Either way it’s distracting.
Nice soft folksy sound. Beautiful and interesting voice.
Decent 3. Joan has a fantastic voice, but I felt like a lot of the songs blended together. I liked how the album got funkier towards the end with standouts like “People” and “Like Fire.” One of my favorite tracks was “Join The Boys.” This was a nice listen, I’m not sure how much I’ll go back to it though.
Album Review Notes I was looking forward to this album. I’ve always loved her song Drop the Pilot and thought she had a really cool voice with that Caribbean accent, but never explored her catalog. Unfortunately, not much stood out to me on this album. It was mainly slow acoustic numbers that all ran together. The one song I really liked was Join the Boys when she picked up the pace.
Not my usual type of music but I had a really nice time listening to it. Good stuff On a re-listen…. This shits actually groovy as fuck I like it
This artist was new to me. I enjoyed the album.
The name "Armatrading" rings a faint bell, but I was not at all familiar. I enjoyed this quite a bit, and I bet that band would have been tonnes of fun to see live even if it almost certainly wasn't a touring band. I hear echoes of this in some of Yola's work, and that's a compliment in both directions.
Good but I feel I need to listen to it again when I am in the mood for mellow heartfelt lyrics, wasn't grabbing my attention. I will give it a 3 in anticipation
3 not my style but well played!
Fire- I got into it bc of track two. SELF ESTEEM IS NOT JUST A RIVER IN EGYPT. cf spring 2025 sounds of playlist. THR!
Good voice, well produced music and you can tell how influential this was, not just for Tracy Chapman. Doesn't really compell me to listen again, though.
The voice sounded familiar but she wasn’t the artist I thought it sounded like. Interesting combination of singer songwriter style with some funk. A pleasant listen.
Well sung, well played. But the songs didn't really hit me.
Some good singing and guitar playing, but the songs didn’t particularly grab me.
Album #30: Joan Armatrading Genre (W): Folk rock, pop No singles. I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: The thing I love most about this album is Glyn Johns’ production. I am not an expert but I like the way the album sounds. The slide guitar solo in Down to Zero is great! Favorite songs: Down to Zero, Water with the Wine, Love and Affection, Save Me, People, Tall in the Saddle
Woman singer-songwriter from the 70s, I was skeptical going into this album. Fun start and end but the middle was a little inconsistent for me. The couple songs that had me bouncing a little gives this a 3, other it's a strong 2.
A really nice, peaceful album
I hear a lot of Joni Mitchell here but with a bit more liveliness (less depressive).
Something to put on when my 60+ year old parents visit. And then everyone will enjoy it.
Pleasant enough. Had never heard of her but recognised one of these tracks
Some good tunes but nothing standout
ok……
This is a pretty fun discovery for me.
Not my type of jam
not necessarily bad but also not amazing. felt like background noise most of the time. nothing really stood out for being unique. some good guitar playing though
Favorite Track: Help Yourself
Non l’ho ascoltato tutto ma mi stava piacendo
Soulful
It's good. Again just not my vibe.
dobar vajbs rokic soulic bluesic
Never heard of her, but interesting unique voice, decent album, caught myself bopping along a bit
most likely not gonna come back to this one but it was enjoyable
It’s kind of background music. Not bad but there is no hot here. But after listening to it you now know who influenced Tracy Chapman.
If armagiven the opportunity armatrading this album for Telling Stories immediately.
Would not buy
It was a fairly enjoyable 70s album
Bluesy, chilling, but not really mine.
This was hit or miss for me. I really enjoyed the folk songs on it, but didn't really like the more rocky songs.
Voice is incredible. Need to revisit.
Started strong with great tunes and atmosphere and kept the same until the end. Pleasant new artist to be added to some of my playlists.
Enjoyable if not memorable
Not bad, just 70s rockish music
Favorite songs: Down to Zero, Like Fire
Kinda basic tbh
I didn't know this artist. Some nice song. Overall a good album.
Instrumentals were great, but her vocal choices in some places were a bit off putting for me personally. I liked “Down to Zero” and “Love and Affection”, will listen to those two again!
Down To Zero - 8/10 Great intro. Help Yourself - 6/10 Good music, didn't really like the lyrics. Porbably would appreciate it more listening to it more. Water With The Wine - 7/10 Good storytelling and pace in the song. Catchy. Love And Affection - 7/10 Save Me - 6/10 Clear and vulnerable message. In this song, her voice reminds me of LP. Join The Boys - 6/10 People - 7/10 Nice bass, guitar and synth. Somebody Who Loves You - 6/10 Like Fire - 6/10 Tall In The Saddle - 5/10
it was pretty good, it reminded me a little bit of joni mitchell idk why. i really liked tall in the saddle and its instrumentals. i think it was all pretty well done
Clear voice, great melodies.
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
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
Ok. Not great.
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
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.
não gosto de folk 😪😪😪😪 mas como mistura com outros gêneros fica um pouco melhor
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
Has a great voice but just not into that type of musuc
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).
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
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.
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.
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
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
Un clásico , pero definitivamente mucha canciones suenas iguales.
Great voice; ok lyrics
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
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.
Water with the wine, Join the boys, People, Somebody who loves you, Like Fire sont biens voire très biens.
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
głos ma pani fajny, ale muzyczka nie dla mnie
Nice album
Easy listening. Makes for Nice background music.
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
I've never heard of her! Really pleasant. Not really my cuppa but she's nice.
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.
Great voice and a certain vibe.
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.
Diferente
pleasant, but also forgettable
not my vibe personally
A little outdated for my liking
grand so
Was probably slightly better than I was expecting but did fade out after halfway.
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.
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
Послухав і забув, навіть важко щось сказати. Приємна музика загалом.
favorite tracks: - join the boys - water with the wine - like fire
It was good; Joan is clearly talented, but it wasn't really my thing generally.
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.
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
I hadn't heard of this artist before. Pretty good album
Enjoyed it
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!
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.
It was decent
Pretty good
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
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.
“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.
Sounds nice! Talented, I'll listen again.
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.
--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
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
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 new discovery.
Joan was a pleasant surprise. Reminded me a little bit of Tracy Chapman.
Solid enough acoustic album. Very simple musically and reminds me a lot of Tracy Chapman. Songs are a bit samey
# 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.”
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 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
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.
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.
Down To Zero - great opening track Love And Affection Join The Boys - guitar!! Like Fire - funky piano interlude
Enjoyable background album, no hesitation listening again, can hear its influenence in a lot of other music I like
Pleasantly surprised by this one. A variety of styles, Will come back to this one in the future.
First time hearing, mellow, beautiful
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pretty music, and definitely some good songs. Her singing style was a little too operatic for my taste.
6/10
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⭐️
She's pretty good
Correcto.
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
not my vibe.
It's ok.
Kind of a funky album, mixing blues and funk elements. Reminds me a little of Tracy Chapman--maybe she was inspired by Armatrading. Not sure I'd go back to this album, but I can see the appeal for sure. I think for me, I don't love some of the jingles and riffs that she has, so while some of the grooves are great, the songs are hit or miss. Not sure how else to describe it. 3/5
Super cool. 3
3 Stars (8/15)
I really like this album. Funny thing is, I've owned this for years and never really listened to it. The second half is much stronger than the first, which is rare for the 70s, but the guitar playing and songwriting are on the money. 7/10
didn't really hold my attention but was pleasant enough that i listened to the whole thing
Having rated Tracy Chapman not so long ago, I can't unhear the influences of Joan Armatrading on her. I knew Joan Armatrading was a folk singer, but never listened really to one of her albums, nor did I have any in my collection. So, another first time listen. It's certainly not bad, well crafted folk songs with some jazz and funk influences, but it's not really getting a grip on me. Pleasant, but not special, maybe it's the genre, I had the same feeling with Paul Simon's first solo effort, and the previously mentioned Tracy Chapman too. 3/5
3.0
Interesting instrumentals, but I the vocals really were a put off here. It sounded out of tune to me in the sense it was a lady with a low voice trying to be high pitched. Odd. Anyways, this was particularly uninteresting.
Arms trading… despicable…
Okay I know this is classic “guy trying to describe woman singer songwriter” but she really has some super Joni Mitchell things to her songwriting. I unfortunately am not a huge fan of the production on this album though… but there are some rly fantastic songs here so glad to have finally listened to a full album of hers!
Kelpo laulumusiikkilevy.
Solid stuff here, lots of interesting elements which made for a good time. Lots of variety in the instrumentation :)
Decent soul-folk album that has a lot to like, but also has a tendency to drag a little. It feels like the album starts strong, loses a lot of its energy, then comes back full circle at the end. Overall good, but very inconsistent and could have used with some additional trimming. Top tracks: Down To Zero, Love and Affection, Tall In The Saddle
Cool
Bilo je nekih na papiru sličnih singer-songwriterastih albuma ali nijedan nije ni blizu ovog nivoa. Prošao mi je u sekundi, vrlo duševan i kvalitetan album mada malo monoton i pogrešnog žanra za moj ukus. Puno ispred svog vremena.
Good mastering for the 70's, singer also has a great voice. Music itself didn't really resonate with me though, and while I could listen through the album there was nothing that I really would want to listen to again.
Приятный. Ярких моментов не так много, но послушать приятно. Можно взять на заметку и как-нибудь вернуться
Perry remarkable that this was made in the 70s, but not my cop of tea.
Another one from my ma’s stash. File under Emotional but not too Mawkish. Not this exact record, of course, but close enough: same voice: warm, husky, like she’s telling you a secret while also sort of daring you to laugh at it; same guitar, steady and unfussy; same sort of songs - they never quite catch fire, but they glow nicely in the corner like one of those three-bar fires with moulded-plastic coals covering it. This third album was her breakthrough, apparently. Though the breakthrough leaned hard on Love and Affection as a single. If this is the only Armatrading album on the list - and I’d bet it is - I can’t shake the thought that it should really be The Best of Joan Armatrading. That's probably the one my ma had. Yes, I know: Alan Partridge vibes. But that’s how you get the good stuff in one place. Me, Myself, I; Drop the Pilot; I’m Lucky; All the Way from America, and, yes, Love and Affection. Those are the Joan Armatrading songs you have to hear before you die. They are available on one album, but it isn't this one. 2.5 It’s very difficult not to compare Armatrading with Joni Mitchell. The intimacy of the vocal, the free rhythms of the melodies, and a band with one foot in jazz, all of it in service of songs confessing hopes and crushed hopes in love. How on earth is one supposed to avoid comparing ‘Save Me’ with ‘Help Me’? Or ‘Help Yourself’ with ‘Help Me’? This is an album of good songs. But they’re not that good. The lyrics of ‘Save Me’ or ‘Tall in the Saddle’ express sentiments too trite in situations sketched with too much coyness to really bear comparison with Mitchell. ‘You stand on the bank/ Immune or evasive/ Throw me a lifeline, save me’ ‘I looked to you for love/ Thought you walked on holy ground/ But oh, you're mean’ Absent here is the poetry and the drama of something like A Strange Boy or Lesson in Survival. Although Water With the Wine (the one dud on side 1) might cost you a mouthful of tea. The backdrop of Joni Mitchell’s protagonists throws Armatrading’s into unforgiving relief also. Armatrading portrays herself passive in love and sometimes prey. Mitchell always gives a sense of being in control - philosophically at least - and even the predator. She doesn’t need anyone’s help. There is hardly justice in throwing a comparison with Joni Mitchell in anyone’s face at the same time. These are good songs. Worth a party of their own. Love and Affection is a great song - and the one most unlike something Mitchell would do, I think. The band are hot. I loved the guitar playing on Like Fire and the drums on Tall in the Saddle. The drums sound brilliant throughout. 3/5
Je ne me rappelle déjà plus ce que j'ai entendu (c'était ya 10 minutes)
On her self-titled breakthrough, Joan Armatrading establishes herself as a soulful singer-songwriter with a jazzy edge, her supple voice pulling equal weight with the elegant arrangements. Produced with care and clarity by Glyn Johns, the album balances intimacy and polish, allowing Armatrading’s sharp songwriting to shine without losing its warmth. “Down to Zero” pairs crisp piano with guitar in a way that feels both buoyant and melancholic, while “Water with the Wine” rides a steady midtempo groove that underscores her emotional candor. The standout, “Love and Affection,” takes its time to bloom, but when it does, it’s one of those rare tracks that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. This is the sound of an artist fully coming into her own voice.
Álbum cercano, hogareño y refinado, en la línea de la época, imagino. Nada en particular que me haya dejado loco, aunque los highlights están en la primera mitad. No hace demasiadas cabriolas con la voz pero tampoco es que lo necesite; suena bien y ya. Favs: Down to Zero (la mejor imo, muy buen opener), Help Yourself, Love and Affection, Somebody Who Loves You
Con un sonido y formato que recuerda al cantautor de los 90 (Fiona Apple & Co.), el disco tiene ideas muy interesantes que se pierden en la totalidad de la canción. Eso sí, comienza súper bien, Down to Zero es un temazo, pero conforme el disco va avanzando la fórmula se va gastando (y cuando intenta algo distinto, como en Join the Boys o People, no termina de clavar el aterrizaje). Estoy muy seguro de que acabo de escuchar los cimientos del movimiento singer-songwriter noventero, entiendo que sea un esencial. A la playlist: Down to Zero Bájale al yodel porfa: Save Me
Best leuk
Not bad, liked the singing and the lyrics, but its noting too special.
Cool funky grooves with string vocals. I can dig it.
Not bad! Loved the first song.
pas ma came
A bit of a mixed bag. Some quite pop/soul stuff on here that's not so much to my taste. Some cool funky moments. And some other cool weird stuff going on. Overall I quite enjoyed it
Groovy. A nice album to listen to but not very remarkable. Not sure if it should be classified as an album 'you must hear before you die' though.
This album picks up towards the end, few tracks I really enjoyed. Good voice but it's not something that floats my boat regularly.
This was a new artist for me. Pretty solid, great background music. Great voice, awesome backup bank - really enjoyed the song 'Tall in the Saddle.' Solid, overall. 3 for sure.
Not bad!
Not bad
ok
Funky musicians. I really liked the music. The pop style isn’t really my thing, but, glad I gave it a shot.
I enjoyed this record.
New for me, it`s good! simple but effective
not my thing
Perfect for a quiet weekday evening: a half-empty bar and a cold beer.
Uh it was decent thx
Ikke hørt før. Ikke verst!
Pretty good folk rock style, first half of the album was like a 6/10 and the second half was an 8/10.
Angenehm. Starke drei Sterne.
It’s well made and easy to listen to. It just doesn’t really pop anywhere
Good album
Gillar hennes röst. Instrumenteringen väldigt 70-tal. Basrösten på Love and affection väldigt obehaglig.
Good, but no song hit me hard.
joni mitchellesco, linda voz, great production, deserves a second listen
Amazing voice is the most memorable part.
Normal, not my artist
A fine listen, just not something I see myself revisiting in full
Ingen svakheter egentlig. Ikke de store høydarne heller, men så tror jeg dette er en plate som blir bare bedre og bedre for hver gjennomgang. Sterk treer.
Good album. A classic.
Very solid listen. Pleasant voice and instrumentation, pleasant experience. Sounded like a 90s record, in all honesty.
OK
Joan grew on me. Singing the blues, it to a more soulful funky beat. Great guitar player.
Soulful voice. Forerunner to Tracy Chapman. The first and last two songs on the album were the best.
Poppy folk music, but with a healthy dose of jazziness. Vocal timbre very reminiscent of Nina Simone, very deep. Decent anulan with catchy writing.
I enjoyed it but it wasn't anything special.
On my third listen I realized she might be onto something. It’s a good album, Save Me, Save Yourself and Down to Zero are my top 3.
I mean, the comparisons to Tracey Chapman are inescapable. Joan is a totally new artist to me, and while I still don't find anything that gets me super excited after several listens, it's still a perfectly comfortable listen all the way through. [3.5]
Nice album
Fun, but didn't quite draw me in.
Super smooth. Great vocals. Not super earwormy but enjoyed the listen.
A unique blend of John Martin and Stevie Wonder but I’m not sure the songs are strong enough. Certainly no memorable ones after 1 listen.
Good chilled out album, nothing too special
Solid enough soul album, not especially memorable. Tall in the Saddle was my favorite, I guess
I've never heard of this singer or this album. Well, the voice isn't bad, the music is pleasant, but the whole thing is so boring that I won't listen to it again. If I hadn't heard this album, I wouldn't have missed anything. 3/5
This was a decent album didn't blow my socks off or anything but it was alright!
down to zero- 5 help yourself- 6 water with the wine- 5 love and affection- 6 save me- 5 join the boys- 6 or 7 people- 5 somebody who loves you- 5 like fire- 5 tall in the saddle- 5
some chill acoustic stuff with a few electric elements and some nice backup vocals in some songs. one of those albums that didn't blow me away but was still a pleasant listen. she's clearly a very talented singer I guess favorite song: "somebody who loves you" overall: 6/10 (but like a high 6)
It was a good Album, what I enjoyed Most is his voice. Good lyrics , the Melodies are catching you and his voice is just a piece of heaven.
Never heard before. Ok.
Solid pop music with a bit of country.
I just can't get into folk. I don't know what it is. The funk parts I like.
It sounds fine enough, but all blends together.
This has some Elton John vibes. And Lilith Fair vibes
I only know of one Joan Armatrading song, which I like. This was more of the same. I liked this. The only criticism I would have is that it’s quite ‘samey’.
Joan Armatrading is of course great, though maybe I prefer her without a lot of production, just voice and guitar? Or minimal strings like those on "Love and Affection," my favourite song on this album. A lot of the extra instrumentation on here makes otherwise potentially timeless music sound dated and kinda corny—at least to my taste.
I really love Joan Armatrading's voice and she is a supreme songwriter. However, hearing this album made me think it was a wise choice I went with buying a greatest hits album instead of her entire catalogue. Her singles off the album were wonderful but others felt a bit like fillers.
Good.
Siento que fue de menos a más, es un álbum lleno de varios ritmos pero si creo que empezó lento o no tan impactante, no me sorprendió tanto vaya. Las interpretaciones del bajo y la guitarra creo que fueron los destellos de este álbum. Me encantó el final, es mi canción favorita del proyecto y le dí like a 5 de 10 canciones así que de ahí mi calificación. Debería darle más escuchadas, pero esas fueron mis primeras impresiones.
Dad- 7 Mom- 8 Mike- NA Lori- 3 Michael- 7 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 6.25