Reviews (page 9 of 12)
First song was good but felt it was mostly filler afterwards
folk com um pouco de swing. melhor que tracy chapman
Fine, ok on first listen, very interesting from 2nd. As others have said she seems to be forgotten to time, which is a shame. 3 Star
Got better as the album progressed. Highlights were “Love and Affection”
Not my thing
A folk rock album with more forward instrumentation and detailed production than usual, which I like. Her voice is unique, and unlike a lot of folk rock, actually interacts with the instruments (not just accompanied by a monotonous guitar in the background). Nothing particularly impressive, and this album definitely has some downtime when the songs were too quiet for my liking, but better than average. 7/10
Nothing stands out as impressive. Still a solid talent making a solid album.
"Love and Affection" - wow. Enjoyable listen.
Very pretty, some of the songs had good moments, but overall a bit forgettable.
Enjoyed this one quite a bit. This will definitely grow on me with some repeated listens. Highlights: Save Yourself, Join the Boys, Tall in the Saddle
Do you want to listen to some music that has some guitar? Well in Love and Affection you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some guitar? Well in Down to Zero you can! I rate his song ⭐⭐⭐. I kind recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some guitar? Well in Somebody who loves you you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song.
Love and Affection I like this song becuase its a solo singer with a guitar and she makes her voice follow the guitars rthym and that's really goo Down to zero I reallu like this song how she uses the guitar and some drums and the singing follows every beat. Somebody who loves you I really like this song because they added choir to this song and the guitar and singer are more calm then before 5
Someone whose name was familiar but I hadn't heard the music. Joan's voice was great and her guitar skills excellent. The music was good. The production (for 1976) was insanely good. It's just not my sort of thing. Still, you can hear the line from this album straight through to Tracy Chapman, Tanita Tikaram and even Amy Winehouse and Raye. So even if it's not my sort of thing, mad respect.
A little too mellow in the wrong way for me - I kept making it louder and it kept hiding away in the corner. But I did like "Like Fire" and "Tall in the Saddle", especially the guitar work. I bet Ani DiFranco loved her.
i feel like i say this about every damn album but this was much better than expected. i stopped paying attention in the middle tho. only prob with this album is it’s forgettable and there’s not many standout songs but other than that solid listening experience.
nice enough
+ Like Fire
Cracking voice and enough variability to remain interesting. Love and affection standout
Uplifting, balanced
Not sure why she was never really popular in North America. The album is solid enough.
J - 3/5 Best Track - "Love & Affection" F - 3/5
Sparse but solid album. Wasn't familiar with her work but I enjoyed the listen.
This was pretty nice to listen to. High 3/5
Lovely
Joan Armatrading’s self-titled album is a pleasant listen, blending folk, soul, and soft rock into a sound that's easy on the ears. Her voice carries a lot of natural emotion, and songs like Love and Affection show real flashes of brilliance in how she delivers simple feelings with genuine warmth. The arrangements are tasteful and well played, giving the album a smooth, steady flow without any real missteps. That said, while it’s undoubtedly well made, it doesn’t always spark to life. A lot of the songs tend to blur together in tone and mood, and the album can feel a little too careful at times, missing the punch that would have made it truly memorable. It’s a nice record, but it never quite pushes into great territory—solid, well-crafted, but not the kind of album that sticks with you long after it's over.
Easy listening, but nothing that really piqued my interest.
Never heard before. Has that '70s vibe.
Was nice but not my thing.
Very Tracy Chapman-esque.
I could not really dive into it, not my music.
Nice voice, some good songs
A talented singer-songwriter, with good production and a good variety of styles. Still, nothing really outstanding amidst a myriad of similar talented singer-songwriters.
Surprised me how good it was.
I enjoyed this album. Very powerful voice and great lyrics. It jumps all over the place with various styles. I'm all for that. 3.25/5
Good. Didn’t hate it. Didn't really hook me as something I would come back to.
That was a great little discovery. It wasn't listed on Spotify, unfortunately, so the experienced may have suffered from the commercial breaks on YouTube. Altogether, I enjoyed it a lot, the sound was soulful and occasionally funky rock with a flair for the melodramatic. The first three songs on the album left me wondering what box to put this artist into, then it hit its peak with Love and Affection, but I was totally in on the vibe by the end. It was good, not great, so I can see how this artist flew under most people's radars. But I would not be surprised at all to see a charting hit happen with the right cover of any one of the songs.
An enjoyable listen.
I can appreciate it, but nothing groundbreaking for m
First listen
Pleasant enough without being memorable. Not enough guitar work!
Good stuff, quite enjoyable and very fresh sounding
Idk what I was expecting but it was better than that
In between some very cool jazzy turns and astonishing vocal chops is a sort of meandering album that never quite finds its footing for me. But I found myself paying attention at a few key points when it did pick up.
Arrancamos la segunda semana de abril con una artista que desconozco por completo. Voz firme y tranquila la de Joan. El primer tema me suena de un soundtrack de una película (ya sea que esté o que pueda estar en) y el resto se mantiene en un mood muy cálido. Sin nada más para decir, me despido hasta mañana.
She sings as if in a wistful soundtrack to a salt of the earth B-movie from the 80s. Doesn't excite me but it very pleasant. Fascinating she is most listened to in the UK & Australia
I was very pleasantly surprised by this. I was fearing the worst. Thought I'd give it a four but gets a bit repetitive. I think I'd prefer a single to an album.
Bra men gjorde inget djupare intryck. Trea
Well, growing up in the 1970s I was aware of Joan Armatrading's music, but it never clicked with me. I was interested to listen to this album. After playing through this a couple of times, I didn't find the songs particularly compelling, but I thought her voice lovely and the production really strong. Ultimately, however, this isn't a genre that particularly appeals to me.
Pretty good album that has a decent breadth of sounds. I really liked the opener as it was very Bob Seger. Join the Boys definitely influenced Big & Rich's Save A Horse (Ride a Cowboy). Somebody Loves You is giving me slight vibes of Katrina and the Waves' Walking on Sunshine (Armatrading obviously making her song first). But like Big Brother and the Holding Company and Rolling Stones, blues rock doesn't do much for me. Definitely enjoying this one a bit more than the other blues rock records I've gotten so far. Joan had a great voice.
She has an interesting voice
Not bad
Grand, just not massive into it
Discount store Tracy Chapman. What's not to feel neutral about?
Overall: 6/10 I enjoyed this one. Joan has a lovely voice and is obviously a talented songwriter. I like the folk rock feel that this album has going for it, and there's more variety in the music than I expected. I don't think it'll end up being something I listen to frequently but I'm glad to have heard it. Fav Song: Help Yourself Least Fav Song: Tall in the Saddle
This was an interesting listen. I do like the general vibe and there were moments of several songs that I really liked--"Water With the Wine", "Love and Affection", "Somebody Who Loves You" and "Like Fire" are the ones I remember. But even these songs which I guess I would say were my favorites failed to really captivate me the way I would've liked this album to. I generally enjoyed listening to it, but wasn't really caught up in it. Joan has an interesting style and an interesting inflection with her voice that I don't dislike. It reminds me of someone and I can't quite place who. I wanted this to be a homerun, and it wasn't a swing and a miss, but it was maybe like a hard-hit ball that tips just foul. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.
I could never respect an artist with ties to genocide. Feel like I'm always reading on the news about Armatrading between the US and Israel.
Ganska schysst album. Gillar första låten.
7.2
1/2
Had no idea her career was so long. Only knew the 80s hits but this was a pretty pleasant album. Top notch backing band.
Not really as I expected
I knew one song, I didnt dislike the rest of it
So many good bits at first, but petered out and never really hooked me
Some cool stuff
It's pretty good. She's got a strong voice and the songs are not too bad.
Прикольно вроде
Although I’ve known of this artist I’ve never given her a real listen. I really liked about half and the other half was a little too slow for me. But I love her voice and would like to hear more of her. Just over the 2/3 line for me.
respect the sound hate the pop
Pleasant enough, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again.
Ok, I guess.
Not an incredible amount of range, is there? Great voice, instrumentation isn’t keeping up, in my opinion. Production isn’t great either, but I enjoyed it for the most part. Don’t know that it’s my scene, but I respect it. 3/5
Decent modern country, interesting voice - a good first half and a tapered ending. I enjoyed listening to it, but I'm not too interested in seeking it out again.
3/5 Nice to listen to. But nothing really memorable.
On this record, Joan has a great voice and I really enjoy a lot of the stylistic changes. Not every song is captivating, but there are some cool melodies and grooves here.
Join the Boys is a banger
pretty cool
2.5
Mellow funky beats and vocals. Great listen.
zeker niet slecht... singer-songwriter met paar goeie deuntjes en een topstem
Had always heard of this artist but really couldn't attach it to any music. It was solid and reminded me of Tracy Chapman.
Fine, didn't leave me aching for more.
Hieno ääni, kappaleet kuulostaa kappaleilta ja niitä tulkitaan kunnolla. Niin folk toimii. On tämä onneks myös popia, on asennetta.
Liking this. I’d never heard of her, but some nice funky and bluesy guitars, some good melodies. I’m surprised this is British.
Didn't hate this, didn't love it
This was better than expected but not by much.
Приятно. Лучшая песня - Down To Zero.
An album I wasn't expecting to enjoy that much but did. Very good vocals and songwriting, intimate but not too much, and timeless in a sense it could have been released a decade earlier or a decade later. Key tracks: Love and Affection
The opening track "Down To Zero" is a very powerful track with great vocals. It's reminiscent of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car". After the first song I was excited for the rest. The rest didn't grab me as much as the first track though. The whole thing felt a bit too chill, like there was no agency in the songs. "Love and Affection" was the only other exception which made me remember why I was excited for the album to begin with. Too bad, was hoping for something great but I still found a few new songs and an artist I hadn't heard before!
Great sound. Easy 70's singer songwriter vibe
OK
Never heard of this artist. Will check her out, listen to a couple tracks. Singer-songwriter. First track is pretty rocking. A little more rocking then I would have anticipated. Not my type of music though. I respect it. 3 stars
Simpatico, piacevole
ok
-this is really nice! had some great rhythm. I had not been familiar with Joan Armatrading as a person or artist before this but I was impressed -the vocals and rhythm throughout the first few songs were great, and “People” was the highlight of the second half imo. some songs were sort of underwhelming but the highlights made up for it -Favorites are Down To Zero, Join The Boys, and People
Rating: 6,5
Good. Not sure I'd listen to it many more times, but it was still good.
3/5. Favourite song: "Help Yourself". She sure can work those strings. Very "Gentle Giant"-esque at times.
Certainly can here the influence on later singer songwriters but there was nothing overly compelling about this 3*
Sorta folksy soft rock to me. I think shes got a good velvety voice and it makes me think of feminist festival music or outdoor craft show blues fest stuff. I feel like her guitar picking is holding it down with a sweet mellow buttery groove. The song tall in the saddle has some electro funk I like.
look i think the music is nice and sweet but i just can't get into it
Best Song: Love And Affection. My enjoyment of this song was almost ruined by that man's voice coming in with the entirely unnecessary, cartoonishly deep bass, but the rest of the song was really lovely. Worst Song: Somebody Who Loves You. It didn't feel like her voice was allowed to resonate as well in this track as in the others. Overall: She's got a really pleasant voice and the songs feel really accessible. Nothing that'll blow your socks off, but I also get the sense that that wasn't the goal. Will definitely be returning to this for good Summer/Fall background music.
Lidt mere forgettable stemme end sådan en som Joni Mitchell eller Tracy Chapman meget senere, men jeg kunne godt lide produktionen
Very enjoyable
I liked this album. A lot of emotion throughout the alhums.
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!
Fuck youtube in the arse with a red-hot poker! I was listening away and after 3 tracks I heard some bint wittering on about investing in crypto, there was no 'skip ad' button - it showed as a track in the album playlist and was 57 minutes long!!! I eventually worked out I just had to click on the next track button. However, this just highlights how the tech giants have now monetised us all. I'm old enough to remember the hopes we had for the internet, back in the earl and mid 1990's. We've allowed a small number of people and companies to bastardise it instead, just to line their pockets and try to control the masses. We need to burn it all down <rant over>. Errrm, ok, just realised I haven't mentioned the music at all. I enjoyed. It wasn't something I was particularly looking forward to or expecting much from, but it was ok. There was an element of 'waiting room music' to it, and it felt a bit repetitive by the end. I wouldn't seek it out for a re-listen, but wouldn't turn it off it got served up again.
Not bad. I kind of enjoyed several songs
It was fine. Got a little boring. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this.
Good voice, nice songs, but nothing really amazed me
Not my jam, but I think it is good background music or something that I’d think is soothing at a coffee shop. The singer has a very soothing voice
Wow! I was surprised I have never heard of this artist before. I actually really enjoyed this. People was a great track is a kicking groove while Like Fire was a listen again immediately. I kind of get why she didn’t take off as much in the US as she moves constantly between jazz, singer songwriter, to disco/ blacksploitation era funk. She did each masterfully but I think the diversity could hurt her commercial appeal. I want to listen to this a few more times….
It's fitting I generated a strong black woman on Martin Luther King Jr. Day(and also the same day the orange tyrant takes over a superpower, but we won't further discuss that fucker). She's essentially a black English version of Joni Mitchell, except her music has a little more pep in it, and her voice is much better. Favorite song: "Help Yourself"
Aw man i actually do like this, but none of the songs stuck out to me in a way that would have me coming back. I really think this is worth a listen though.
Woncha Come On Home has been a fave of mine for several years now. Love Joan's voice, too. All said, this album felt a bit meandering on first listen, but I wouldn't be surprised if it grew on me over time.
Good songs but whatever
this album is all over the place
I've got nothing bad to say about this album but it's not quite my taste.
Gorgeous voice.
little bit tracy chapman vibes- nice album, great lyrics and groovy music- fav song was love and affection
I hear so many different sounds she must have influenced. I’ll give her that.
Like it 3/5
I hadn’t heard this album or her music at all before, at least not that I can recall. Great mix of instrumentation, I love the bass on tracks like “Join The Boys” and the guitar on “People” and “Like Fire”. Percussion is solid throughout the album. This album has a good mix of vibes and sounds, some slow songs and some faster and more upbeat. I think she has a good voice though I’d say overall wasn’t my favorite, but I respect her abilities and she killed it with the arrangements.
Liked “Down to Zero” and the breakdown of “Help Yourself” just around the halfway point. Liked "Join the Boys" enough to add it to my liked songs. Music isn't what I normally go towards but I enjoyed it all the same. The bass grooves are very nice throughout and her guitar playing on "Like Fire" and other songs is beautiful. I see myself listening to select songs off this album going forward.
Always a joy discovering someone new from the 60s/70s, and one who had me thinking of both Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman. A couple of decent songs, but otherwise the album came across as forgettable.
Good singer great voice whilst the album not my preferred music of choice a solid album.
Joan's voice and playing is wonderful, it's the perfect intersection of folky rock and funk/soul in a way that brings the best out of both. I wish I loved this sound more than just a few songs that grab me as much as they do, I think a couple songs go on for too long and don't really work as well. Overall still a great sound and probably would try to look for more like this
Surprised by this album- it had a wide variety of styles and sounds. Some songs were reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, others had a much stronger funk/soul sound. Overall- pretty good album. Good music for driving
I liked this a good bit more than I thought I would. She’s a bit more creative than a lot of the other singer-songwriters of the era.
Fairly pleasant overall, but no outstanding tracks
Came to the theatre once. It was okay. Simpsons: No
Great voice!
+++ help yourself, save me --- water with the wine, people the first album i’ve encountered that was completely unfamiliar to me. the slower songs really shined, her voice reminds me of folk singers moreso than rock or disco oddly. norma tanega specifically comes to mind.
such a disappointment that i’ve never heard of joan armatrading! i really liked this album! my favorites were: down to zero, people, and tall in the saddle
It's pleasant, but ephemeral. She writes ok songs, the odd great song and it's a nice album to listen to. But she's not breaking any ground. I don't think it's an artist anyone would feel they had to go back through their catalogue and immerse but it's fine.
Some nice sounds
A mix of blues, jazz, soul, and folk songs in my opinion. Well done and easy listening
Never heard of this artist before! I like her voice; it's kinda like a British(/Kittitian?) Tracy Chapman. Some snoozers in the bunch, but overall pleasant.
mid
Pretty interesting - Joni Mitchell kind of vibes. I didn't like any of these songs enough to want to keep hearing them, but nothing was bad. The album was varied enough to be interesting, and I like her voice
The songs feel like they should be amazing but there's just something holding it back. Although a lot of reviews are saying it's emotionless, I don't think that's it. I think it's more that the singing doesn't mix well with the music backing it up. I wish I loved this, but I just didn't.
Absolutely fine. Just doesn't interest me.
Tracy Chapman without class consciousness.
Liked this! Enjoyed it more than Joni Mitchell lol! Only downside was the attempted ballad(s).
I thought it was solid, not very many songs stuck out to me except the first and last one, for the most part it was enjoyable, but not enough to have me listen to it again and again
decent but not overtly engaging
I haven't heard anything by Joan Armatrading before now, but I definitely enjoyed this. It was pleasant and folky and funky at the same time. "Down To Zero," "Join The Boys," and "Tall In The Saddle" were my favorite songs, but everything was fairly enjoyable. A little sleepy at times, but that's folk music. Overall a solid album.
this was just an average singer songwriter album
Pretty good album. Not especially ground breaking but I like her voice and no complaints. 2.5/5 -> 3/5
it's funky and cool. The recording is absolutely pristine for the time. Ultimately just not something I find overly interesting or expect myself to come back to. It's rare that the most played song is my personal favorite, but Love and Affection was really the standout, a sax solo always does it for me. 3/5
This was listenable and there were some good songwriting moments, but it didn't rrally move me.
I have never heard of this artist, which is surprising given how clearly she has influenced others that came after her. Great album.
I liked this better than I thought I would. I didn’t know what to expect. Like a folk/blues/soft rock type of feel.
In NYC this weekend, listened to it in Central Park which added to the experience. Still kinda forgettable.
Not bad, not really my style
Not bad, not great.
What a tender jazzy little album! Love and Affection was JUST on a show I was watching so I was so happy to hear it again so soon!
Pretty smooth listening.
solid
Beautiful voice. Simple but intricate album.
Never heard of her prior to this. Didn't really speak to me much but was cool to be exposed to a singer-songwriter I didn't know until now. Kind of a mix between funk, soul and folk rock, pretty cool.
Það er ekkeer að lögunum á þessari plötu en það er heldur ekkert sem hrífur mig. Þessi plata myndi sóma sér vel sem bakgrunnur í matarboði en ég er ekki viss um að ég myndi muna eftir henni
I'd never heard of Joan Armatrading. I'll chalk it up to things not crossing the pond (westward) as easily back in those days. Overall, pretty neat. The first few songs here are definitely the strongest. Help Yourself is mellow on the bookends but has a middle part that's just electric. Love it. Water with the Wine is upbeat, but the lyrics... Jesus, how dark. Unfortunately, I find the album to gradually fall off after this. But it still made for a fun listen. Fav tracks: Down to Zero, Help Yourself, Water with the Wine
"Down to Zero" was my favorite song on the album. The rest is pleasant singer-song writer work that makes for great afternoon listening.
Great songwriter and singer
Hearing elements of blues and jazz at least, but also feels poppy at times. This genre blend didn’t work too well for me. Beautiful vocal.
I'm familiar with Joan Armatrading — not that I know her catalog, but I did own "The Shouting Stage," which was released a dozen years after this, and I've heard this album as well. Anyway, I feel the same way about this album as I did back in the day. Armatrading is talented, and there's a precision and professionalism to the writing and performances and production here, and I'm left utterly unmoved by it. It's fine. It's pleasant. But it's as though it were processed through an emotional compressor and the end result is... pleasant. And fine.
Nice, but it didn't hold my attention for the whole play... not sure I'd pick it to play, but it would be ok if someone else put it on. I'd listen
These songs have emotional power as deep as Joan Armatrading's voice, really bringing you into her world. Engrossing, like Joni Mitchell or Neil Young at times. Very listenable, sweet and lovely. Her voice is unique and you should hear it at some point in your life. Cool to see on the list.
I had not heard of Joan Armatrading prior to this but really glad to have listened to this. 3.5
Same opinion as Marvin Gaye ig. Maybe better, maybe worse? IDK
This is a pretty standard singer-songwriter album. It’s not really standout in any way, though she is a great singer. I think the first track might be the best one. The supposed single, “Love and affection” is pretty average and could be sang or performed by anyone to the same effect. Joan Armatrading’s voice is the unique feature here and even that doesn’t really do it for me. Sure, it’s performed well and she’s got a great alto/near tenor tone but that doesn’t save it from the bang average songwriting.
Soulful, sweet, easy listening.
really liked the acoustic guitar in this album. consistently good songs.
Volumes of slow burns Gracefully sung with sharp tongue Classy, folk like edge
Started out great with some awesome tracks, took a detour and landed the plane with some incredible tracks. Not unbeleivavle, not horrible. The tender stuff is what standsout. "nondepressed Tracy Chapman"
Its a vibe, super Tracy Chapman vibes but alot earlier than her. Super cool
why we tradin arms
there was a couple good songs on here. Probably not something I'd revisit. 3 stars
First time listen. Highlights: love and affection, somebody who loves me, tall in the saddle
3.5
I had never heard of Joan so I had no expectations, but I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. Borderline 3 or 4 stars, I'd happily listen to this one any time.
Good album overall. Another one where I can see where a lot of later things were inspired further!
Solid
Very good listten , the guitar is great in parts , lyricism is good and vocals are very good .. just below amazing it’s a sharp 3
I was surprised at how funky this one was, and Joan Armatrading has a great voice
Bit of a mixed bag. Some songs were better than I expected, some were let down by the songwriting. Consistently great singing and musicianship.
This is good music, but it's a bit anonymous, especially for the 70s, when this is more of a 50s genre. In general, I prefer to give high ratings to "genre renaissance" albums only if they bring something really new and special to the table, and I don't think Joan Armatrading quite accomplishes this. It (at least the first half) absolutely sounds like an Ella Fitzgerald release from the 40s or 50s, with better production and maybe a little more country-focused. That being said, the soul in Armatrading's vocal is undeniable, and the strings and horns complement her well. The acoustic guitar playing is incredibly groovy in certain tracks too, including Like Fire. The songwriting could use some work - there aren't particularly many hooks to make the individual songs memorable - but you can't really make bad music in this style. There's a reason this genre (which is sort of a blend of funk, country, and soul) had been done to death by the mid-70s and continues to be reasonably beloved in the present day. 3/5 Key tracks: Down To Zero, Help Yourself, Like Fire
One of the most unique voices to come out of the seventies.
Pretty listenable singer-songwriter stuff.
Enjoyed this album.
Okay record.
Love her voice and it was a pleasant listen but I wasn’t particularly moved or into it.
Yeah this alright. Some good tracks with great guitar playing, but most of this just flew by without much thought. Not bad but I'm not quite sure why it's essential
Good album but it did nothing for me. One and done.
not too shabby but a bit mid 3/5
Beautiful vocal range and variability. Simultaneously introspective and joyful.
3.4 stars rounded down
This would sound incredible on the jukebox of a bar with exactly one patron chain smoking reds and nursing a Bud bottle. In my apartment? Still pretty dece
One song in and I feel like this is Joni Mitchell without the annoying whiney hippy sound. There are some “catch me by surprise” songs on here and some “that was a waste of my time” songs. The latter being that they sounded more like Joni Mitchell and that’s REALLY not for me. This album really started off strong for me and then it just settled into mid tier, which is still pretty good considering I almost skipped listening to it
Album was good. Nothing spectacular, but was an easy listen. 3/5 Might listen again
Not a bad listen. It was enjoyable.
Beautiful cadence
solides album, wohl vorbild für tracy chapman ende 80er. alles in allem nett, aber nichts was mich vom hocker reisst.
Not bad. Probably won't listen again but it was a good enough time.
Some nice songs, esp in the second half really well produced (Glyn Johns so no shock)
A few interesting songs, otherwise pretty average
Good album. Some great tracks. 3.5 stars.
I think I'd have to be in a particular mood to listen to this. I have neutral feelings toward it
I had never heard Joan, my dad played the guitar and it reminds me of the genre he enjoyed listening to :-)
Nice easy listen
Very passionate lyrics and progression, yet a bit basic for most of it's singles
Fine
Better than many but many better than this.
This was ok, I’d give it a 3.5.
I liked the mix of instruments, it made for a very laid back enjoyable listen
I wasn't stoked to see this pop up. She's good, great voice and a cool vibe but I never thought of her as upper echelon or a must listen album artist. She definitely had an impact on Singer Songwriter types, Tracy Chapman is a logical tie. The first time I heard "Love & Affection" I loved it, great hook, I'm surprised no one has updated it. "Down To Zero" has subtle power and stands up pretty well, it does not sound 48 years old! Her singing style reflects the times it was recorded. The only real stinker was "Join The Boys", just an odd vocal delivery. "Like Fire" is a fun track, another one that could easily be covered and updated, while "Tall In the Saddle" has a surprising guitar solo that I didn't see coming, and it outshines the song itself. Is that Joan?! Overall it's an enjoyable album, revolutionary, no, but solid. I'd be interested to find out what criteria got this album added to the Top 1001.
Not really my style although I recognised Somebody Who Loves You, I think from Only Fools and Horses. A fine album, but not one I’d be actively revisiting.
Pretty good. Her voice worked great alongside the saxophone in Love and Affection.
Joan Armatrading was the original slay
I almost like People
Pretty good stuff.
Didn’t grab me like I hoped it would.
Never heard of this artist before but I liked this album a lot. Solid songwriting and instrumentals, beautiful lyrics and singing. All around nice record!
good times for a change
• love her voice • listened to some of this half asleep and it was an interesting experience • lowkey what i wanted aqualung to sound like • wanna rate it a *good* 3. should've rated aqualung a 2 • very good songs, but probably wouldn't play this album in its entirety in one sitting again (which is what a 4/5 or 5/5 album means to me)
A lot of people had already done what Joan attempted in this album, and a lot more successfully
Yeah, Joan Armatrading is good in places but Love And Affection is excellent. She's Tracy Chapman before Tracy Chapman was Tracy Chapman, a compelling voice and lyricist, a solid 3 with some nice highs but not enough to elevate it further.
I had never heard of Joan, but enjoyed what I heard.
Not really my style, but it has its moments. High 3
Joan Legabartering
Well, Joan Armatrading, that really isn't easy. I don't like her voice, and I'm not interested in her lyrics, but somehow the whole package is right. It's not that I'm praising the record to the skies, but every now and then it's worth listening to. This is real music, from a real singer-songwriter. J. A. or T. S. I'm just saying - and this isn't translated from German - 'JA, JA, JA!' That means YES, YES, YES! We'll quickly forget those other initials, as will hopefully the music world, because if this isn't just a passing trend, I'll probably have to get my ears amputated.
She just never moved the dial for me. There are far better artists who did/are doing this type of music.
Great voice, good album. But nothing really stood out to me. Maybe a 3. If only just.
I really liked Joan Armatrading’s beautiful voice. Full delivery and great vibrato. Quality product. The album wasn’t quite for me. Half of the songs were just okay, and does not feel like something I’d come back to. Standouts: Down To Zero, Save Me, Somebody Who Loves You, and Tall In The Saddle.
yeah not bad - contains Love & Affection which is one of my favourite tracks of all time. I might give this one another go in a couple of weeks to see if more of it stands out to me. 3 stars for now though
Considered as her best songwriting.
I've heard better. I've heard worse. I'd be surprised if I heard this again.
Nice album, lovely voice and easy to listen in the background but don't think I would listen to it again.
It's alright.
Never heard of her - enjoyed this one, but nothing stuck out particularly.
I like her voice, and could almost really like this. Missing the mark by a little bit for me, but glad I listened to it.
It's nice and mellow. Some great songs. It could just be that I'm dead tired after the general election and a dour France v Portugal game yesterday, but my ears aren't exactly standing on end throughout.
Always been a fan of Joan but don't think I was ever able to go back to some of the older stuff. Nice.
3.75 This was new to me, and I liked it
Eh, not the best. Surprising Glynn Johns called this the best album he is associated with seeing how he worked with the stones, Beatles led zeppelin and the who....
Not bad.
Another mid male singer
Favorite Songs: Like Fire Love And Affection
Love and Affection stood out. I’m sad I didn’t know about her sooner.
Nice background music. Love & Affection is probably in all time to 20 songs for me. That said, probably wouldn't think to play the whole album again
3.5*. Pleasant voice enjoyed some of the music. A bit too jammy for me, though.
Easy listening
Jag gillar det jag hör. Rösten är jättebra. Överlag en trevlig och bra lyssning. Konstigt att jag inte hört om henne förr. En stark 3a.
I really enjoyed her singing voice and found it very expressive. The songs were poppy without being cheesy and folky without being boring ass folk bullshit. I could hear how influential this album obviously was on 80’s pop music and new wave. This was good and I’m glad to have heard it.
Joan showcases a signature blend of folk, rock, and jazz influences, creating a sound that's both unique and interesting. Lyrically, it's heartfelt and personal. The production is solid, but some tracks feel a bit repetitive. Overall, it's a decent listen with a few standout tracks, but it didn't really leave a lasting impression.
Was OK.
Hmm...did this sound inspire Tracy Chapman? Like her voice, the writing is good - nice listen.
This is some cool stuff. Not wildly bombastic, but there's range.
smooth
I was not familiar with Joan at all, and this is a great folk/soul record. Very singular artist and sound. Not fully for me, but nothing against that at all.
this album felt like it was all over the place. sleepy ballads, folksy blues riffs and slapped, and then it would all dismantle and start anew. it was an odd listen. i liked Joan's voice overall and she clearly has some guitar skills, i just feel like this album was a bit messy. i'll give it a three, but would want to listen to more before making a grand decision about this artist.
It was okay, but didn't really stand out to me.
still a nice change of sound but not fa me
Word
This album is a little boring to me? I've finished my first listen-through and none of the songs really stood out to me. Join The Boys and Like Fire were my favorite songs I probably wouldn't listen to any of these again. 5/10
While this album didn't initially hook me I'm super into the instrumentals and guitar pieces in the last two songs. Instrumentals were solid throughout album, singing was pleasant too, just not terribly engaging for me for the most part.
Solid album, mighy duck montage feels
sehr schön zu hören, manchmal ein klein ewnig zu jazzig
The music is nice but it also did not blow my socks off. 3/5
Not bad! Nice songs and a unique voice
Helt chill
Let’s face: Pop music is a game of pigeonholes. Maybe not so much for discerning music fans, but the whole apparatus doesn’t know what to do with a talent like Joan Armatrading. Is she a Joni Mitchell? Is she a Roberta Flack? Is she a Stevie Nicks? Armatrading makes music for adults, for mature adults, full of nuance and complexity and heartache gained through a lived experience. Her music has aged very well. I mean, the depth of her melodies and lyrics has no expiration date. For anyone who’s fallen in or out of love, “Love and Affection” is supremely relatable. “Down to Zero” is the perfect thesis statement for the songs to come on this record. Someone coming to her work for the first time must wonder where she’s been their whole listening life, waiting there in between charts and easily packaged genres. What a revelation.
She must be Tracy Chapman's mother
Not my style of music, but excellent vocals and a relatively enjoyable album to have on in the background.
Wow, I can see where Tracy Chapman was partly inspired from. Don't think the delivery quite matches Chapman here, but the sound is pretty unique and maybe a little country-ier.
okkk miss joan her voice is unique! oh..."water with the wine"./......ngl im gettinglesbovibes cool. 3.4
3.5 Really enjoyable album. Fave songs: Down to Zero, Like Fire, Tall in the Saddle
This is a nice folk rock album and a pleasant listening experience, but I don't think it has much else going for it beyond that. I'd rather listen to Joni Mitchell.
Wow, I'm immediately in love with Joan's voice. Great singer-songwriter work here, wonderful lyricism and lots of obvious passion all over this album. 3/5
Exceptionally well written lyrics. Very poetic, but with a spark also. Pleasant. 3.5/5.
Enjoyed the album.
Kind of reminded me of a Joni Mitchell album, enjoyed the acoustic style of the album.
This was nice! A high 3.
Not typically my kind of music, but I can appreciate it for what it is. She has a great voice. Really liked Join the Boys and People.
Beautiful. 3.5
Jazzy
Never heard of it but it was still good for listening to while reading
Every now and then a moment of strong emotion springs through, but otherwise this doesn't impress me.
Totally fine and totally forgettable album. A couple of the arrangements were interesting, I guess, but overall I wasn't totally engaged.
Nice voice
I had never listened to this particular album before, and it’s an interesting snapshot. Some songs are on her Greatest Hits album, others I’ve never heard in decades as a fan or as an audience member in multiple venues. She is the real deal. This isn’t her best album.
cool aber nicht so meins
War nett im Hintergrund
Album 2 of 1001 Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading Rating : 3 / 5
Pretty good singer songwriter album. Not something I'd listen to often, but was nice on the ears.
Pretty good middle section. "Save Me," People," and "Join the Boys" are good songs. Nothing on this album reaches any real heights.
Never heard of her, this album is good!
It's okay
Writing this review a few days after listing to this album. I vaguely remember a smooth voice and not being annoyed. Not much to go on, but I also don't feel inclined to listen to any song again... An album like an okay massage. You feel fine while exposed to it, but know you won't be coming back.
Fine. Just fine.