Reviews (page 9 of 12)
"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.
Man, this album sure is inconsistent. Some moments are amazing, they are original, captivating, and she really shows the power and versatility that her voice has. But there are equally as many songs that feel boring, repetitive, and generic. On the whole, it's a solid listen. But definitely not one that blew me away. I really wish I could give this a higher rating for the moments that are genuinely great, but unfortunately it's just too inconsistent. I would give it a 3.5 if I could.
Love and Affection is a brilliant track, stops this from being fine but forgettable. The funk that sneaks in towards the end is a highlight too.
Love and Affection was the definite highlight. I think this album has the sound of a grower. Not sure if one listen is enough
75/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Mellow and melancholic. Not bad, but nothing exceptional.
Well produced and decent songs, but it was just nothing special for me.
Pretty good. I'll have to revisit sometime.
Honestly, not bad at all. There weren’t by songs that popped out to me but quite nice nonetheless
You say there's peace in sleep But you dream of love instead Oh, the heartache you'll find
Another surprise
I only really know a couple of these songs. Particularly Water in the Wine, which I added to a compilation CD for my parents when I was a young teen, for some reason thinking it was a song they really liked. Turned out they didn't know it and it was a random call. But then it was stuck on the CD so we had to listen to it loads. Only now listening back I understand that it's about not getting too bevved and having sex with your ex or what not. I remember being a bit confused at the time what that meant, makes sense why it wasn't poignant for my parents. Fun album!
Primer acercamiento a Joan Armatrading. Me resultó una escucha divertida, con buena instrumentalización y vocales. A pesar de que el genero cantautor no suele ser lo mío, me gustó mucho la inclusión de grooves en algunas canciones (privando al LP del sonido monótono que suelen acompañar las canciones de este genero). FAVTRAXS: Down To Zero, Help Yourself, Save Me, Tall In The Saddle. LEASTFAV: Ninguno en particular.
alright
Songs were good enough, though most sounded very similar.
At first it didn't grab me, but I warmed up to it. I appreciate the musicianship and sincerity of the songs.
Great vocals, I can definitely see this growing on me over time
Very good. Unique voice, real good guitar and some good tunes. I wouldn’t turn her off
Surprisingly good - funky, when I was expecting sub Joni Mitchell folky stuff. Won't be likely to listen again, but can't fault most of this
Middle of the road, no big standouts but no skips either. Down to Zero was probably my favorite off the album. 5/10 (2.5/5)
Really liked it. Joan came in very strong and the album felt quick. Good singing, composition, and songwriting. It definitely blended a bit at the end. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of her before.
I started playing this album around 9am on Friday morning. By 10am I was violently ill. I proceeded to expell everything inside of me utilizing both forms of egress for the next 24 hours. Sunday morning I began to feel like myself again. What I'm trying to say is that I don't remember much of this album. Just the feeling of a tile floor on my face all weekend.
Has it’s moments
Love her voice
Beautiful acoustic guitar and some surprisingly strong electric riffs as well. Lots of funk and rock influence and subversive lyricism. Favorite tracks: Save Me, Tall in the Saddle
favourite: down to zero, save me least favourite: chill album started amazing then felt it fell off a bit mayb 7/10
A pretty chill folk rock album all things considered. Doesn't particularly standout in any specific aspect aside from solid singing on Joan's part and good guitar playing.
Nice
Had to listen to this album twice. It's good! It doesnt blow me away, but I enjoyed listening to it.
Wel nice, maar zou t denk ik niet opzetten, net te sloom ofzo
En su tercer álbum Joan Armatrading deja atrás su inicial estilo folk sesentero para potenciar su sonido folk con elementos de rock, country e incluso algo parecido a música disco. Eso sí, en él sigue destacando la capacidad vocal de Armatrading, súmamente expresiva y encantadora."Down to Zero" y "Love and Affection" son los temas más famosos del disco, pero a mi me gusta especialmente "Join the Boys" y también destacaría "Like Fire".
I feel like I’ve already listened to this album many many times on this generator. It’s not to say it’s a bad album, it’s decent, I just don’t tend to like the multitude of singer/songwriter albums on this list that much.
This album doesn't really click with me
Pleasant, soulful surprise.
Having never heard of this singer , I rather enjoyed this album. Nice 70’s folk vibe.
Pretty good
It seems like something I should like... and it's pleasant enough while it's on... but after a few listens I still can't really recall much about any of the songs. Didn't hit home for some reason.
Good, I got into it some, but totally my thing.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't want to be listening to it and am glad it's over.
Not my groove
There's some real gems in here, good musicianship and a great sounding album
Not memorable for me.
p363. 1976. 3.5 stars. Classy mid 70s Brit singer-songwriter with a fabulous voice. All that's missing are standout tracks - if everything was as good as "Love And Affection", it would be 5 stars.
Singer-Songwriter, soul, rock, mid/slow, female, great voice, groove, keys, well arranged, the sax is not my pair of shoes, album starts great but gets weaker over time
Joan Armatrading's self titled album is a pretty alright album, The first eight songs all were pretty good but the album did kinda fall apart at the last two songs with some overly loud instruments. The other songs though, were handled pretty well, and while they weren't the most interesting things in the world to listen to. They are still pretty decent and don't feel like a waste of time to listen to. Best Song: Save Me Worst Song: Tall In The Saddle
I haven’t listened to it but I probably like her later stuff better.
Another equally solid R&B album, this time with some rock and country elements. The album started really strong but dragged towards the end.
Het gaat van heerlijk funky met een vleugje country naar North Sea Jazz act die ontzettend kan genieten van hoe lekker haar eigen scheetjes wel niet ruiken. Van dat laatste krijg ik altijd wat jeuk, maar al met al zeker geen verkeerde plaat. Vooral de eerste paar nummers zijn wel lekker.
Surprised I've never heard of her before.Was a decent record though, pleasant to listen to but with enough there to stop it being boring.
Nothing stood out.
Excited to hear this one!
Melodic and chilled. Reminded me of Tracy Chapman!
Interesting.
2.75 / 5
After the first song I thought this was going to be the first "holy shit who is this???" surprise album. Turns out it didn't reach that level, but I still liked it. Dug when the electric guitar comes in on the first track and the grooves on the last. Not sure this gets to a 4* album (it's close), but I could def see myself digging into her catalogue. 3.5/5
Blind album and artist creatively fun in a way where it's just something different in some ways that scratch the itch but lacking in my preference of style especially her vocal style.
I had never listened to Frank Ocean before, I really liked this album. I can definitely hear the Stevie Wonder influence, and
Existing somewhere between folk and funk, this album is emotional, rhythmically appealing, and powerful. While I have never heard of Joan Armatrading before, I must believe that her career has had tremendous impact on musicians, women, and people of color.
Second draft for this review: Great voice with some decent (if aged) instrumentals. Wish we had gotten more tracks like those in the back half, a more uptempo vocal-centered LP is a welcome addition to a typically sluggish canon First draft for this review: Joan Arms Trading
It was alright, there were some cool moments, nothing I could say was objectively bad really. Just overall didn't connect with me.
She has a lovely, sultry voice. Passionate vocals and instrumentals, the songs and melodies sounded very personable, if that makes sense. 3.3
Id be nice if i could appreciate good music
Buena grabación pero no sintonizo demasiado.
Not for me.
I think this was my first listen to her. Didn’t love the whole album, but overall a good listen.
Enjoyable enough. Its a good album by a talented artist surrounded by great musicians. Joan Armitrading has a voice that’s just nice to listen to. But every time I hear her I feel like she’s … good. Capable. Versatile. Yet there’s never a moment that makes me get excited about her. I’d have no problem listening again if the record was playing but there’s just nothing all that compelling here.
Mellow tones. Calming at times, moving into positive energy.
Smooth easy listening. Not anything I would select on my own.
Beautiful. Slow. Too melodic for me
I've always associated Joan with singer-songwriter, which is not my favorite, but this is rockier than I expected. I am glad to have heard this album, if for no other reason than that I know people who will enjoy it.
soft spot for Joan Armatrading cos mum likes her. Comforting, familiar and playful, never rests on being predictable.
Talented but my enjoyment level was low. I've heard better songs from her that don't feature here. Not my bag.
Was quite nice listening but I can’t say anything really jumped out at me
(3.5) Solid album overall. Wasn’t really super blown away by the songwriting but I do enjoy some singer/songwriter folk material. There weren’t any tracks in particular that really caught me on a first listen, but I enjoyed the album overall and will likely revisit in the future.
I’m gonna classify this style of music as “Kumbaya Funk”. Alot of juicy bass lines topped with mostly boring acoustic guitar. That last song “Tall in the Saddle” was pretty sick tho. Why wasn’t the whole fucking album like that? I guess we’ll never know.
Wasn't bad, songs felt like movie plot transition songs. Character reflection/development.
Suddenly, I am my mother.
8.1.24 Album 3 and first song i knew. Ist fine i guess better then that stupid natinonal. if every song was love and affection 5/5. gg
Was never on my radar, but it's always good to hear something new.
A pretty good singer-songwriter album.
3.8,
some songs are hit or miss, but the musical production is excellent. the inclusion of the electric guitar sections really elevate the music. some songs have extended slow portions which lose some of the power in the singing
A nice sound and a great voice, though the singer-songwriter genre still hasn't grown into something I love. Not bad by any means, just not for me.
This was alright decent to listen to while working
Pretty chill and reasonably entertaining. 3/5
Nice background music, but doesn't grab the attention like some other albums. One big hit, but it doesn't really stand out among the rest - maybe it just caught the ear of the right person (dj, label boss, plugger) at the right time.
Proto-Tracy Chapman, it's a bit in one ear and out the other, the big single 'Love and Affection' is a nice tune though and there is a bit of variety to the songs. Will say that the album cover does go pretty hard
Decent enough. Joan’s voice is really a pleasant listen and the songs feel well written. Just a little too “not my type of music” for me to love though. 5/10
joan armatrading
Intersting and fine
Nice, a superficially easy and pleasant listen with a bit more depth on closer inspection
Well, this was quite pleasant. 3.5
I need to listen to this more.
A wonderful hidden gem I'd never otherwise have heard. Soulful, interesting instrumentation, folksy, bluesy, funky, r&b and everything in between. The dynamic range of the album in general along with the raw vocals make me miss the days of non-overproduced albums where everything needs to be "Fixed" to a fault. There's charm in warbly vocals that you just don't get today. Standout tracks: Down to Zero, Water With the Wine, Love and Affection
Black folk music. It’s basically proto Tracy Chapman.
Ihan jotenki pätevää, mut joku oli et ei suuremmin sytyttäny. Siis niinku periaatteessa hyvää ja sillai.
Hmmm interesting, know the hit single from this and have heard her do a great relaxed and warn set at Glastonbury but never really listened to her before. Very different. Kind of intriguing must listen again.
meh, okay. talented artist. some of the songs were good, but not my favorite album.
Folk
Enjoyable throughout
Pretty nice guitar work
Favorite Tracks: Down To Zero Join The Boys Somebody Who Loves You Felt like back half of the record saved this for me. There was a lull from tracks 2-5.
Ok 🤷🏻♀️
Enjoyed this one quite a bit 3.5/5
Like Tracy Chapman
nice album to listen to, love and affection brilliant, 3 all up.
Han nöd so ziit gha zum schriebe, has knapp gloset, isch no schö
I had not heard of her before, but just looking at the cover, I thought I would like it. I was right.
Fun listen
Góðar melódíur en ekkert sem lætur mig hlusta aftur
Yeah it was a good album, but like I just don’t vibe with 70s style that much and it’s very much a 70s Guitar record stand out tracks include love and affection, great song, join the boys was good. I like the guitar on this fire like it ends well with Tall in the saddle, but just overall not my thing, so three stars .
3.75
It was soothing and relaxing. Nothing to write home about in my opinion, but it was nice to listen to it while working
Not my style of music
Not really me style
First listen I don’t know any of this. Upbeat folk, ‘pop folk’ is a good description. I’m not mad on her voice but there’s some great instrumentals. Funky folk ? Lots of different musical styles in this, R&B, soul. I thought it would all be acoustic guitar which it’s not but there is some great guitar playing, amazing guitar sounds. Very well produced. Funky country ? There’s loads going on here, a great mix of songs.
I think Glyn is a bit off the mark with his praise for this one. It's fine, but it really is just fine.
Great voice, but grating after several songs.
# Joan Armatrading by Joan Armatrading 3* But on the lower end of 3 stars for me. It's just too swoony and disco-pretentious for my tastes. ## "Down to Zero" 3:51 3* Good sound, good voice. Guitars were great. ## "Help Yourself" 4:04 3* A little too disco-swoony for me, but Joan's got a great voice. ## "Water with the Wine" 2:48 3.5* I liked this better than the other songs so far (although Down to Zero might be better?). This is like a honky-tonk mixed with Disco. Interesting combination. ## "Love and Affection" 4:28 2* Not my cup of tea. Too disco-epic and I'm just not a fan of saxophone, it sounds like someone trying too hard to make a whiny sensual song and expecting applause afterward. ## "Save Me" 3:35 3.5* Has a classic sound that was copied a bit in the 90s. Eddie Vedder could have sung over this background and had a huge hit in 1992. But the vocals, while really strong, are just too swoony for me. ## "Join the Boys" 4:48 3* Fun jam. ## "People" 3:30 3* Fun jam. ## "Somebody Who Loves You" 3:33 3* Well produced. The mandolin is a nice touch. Too soft for my taste. ## "Like Fire" 5:12 3* Love the blues feel at the beginning. Not enough for me to get dancing though. ## "Tall in the Saddle" 5:43 3* Country-disco feel. Starts slow and becomes a fun jam.
She has a great voice that she restrains a lot. Rarely doesn’t get let it loose. She has a trill that reminds me of Florence Welsh at times. 6.0/10
Not a bad album but not exactly cathy either
Nice listen, some tracks are a bit "boring". solid 3.5/5
It was decent. Not necessarily groundbreaking to me but this type of music has never really been my style and to be honest I’ve always found it a bit grating. But for this one in particular I can respect the blending of genres and I appreciated the lyrics and the many stories she told. Comfortable giving it a solid 3 and saying this album is the best the conversational female singer songwriter genre has to offer
Que vibe interessante, um tipo de som que eu gosto, mas parece que falta algo pra eu curtir mesmo. Curti pra caramba a Love and Affection, sem saber que era a mais conhecida dela hauahah, essa eu adicionei. Mas sempre gosto desse violãozinho, vibe legal, mas album one-time-only, começar a chamar de OTO. “Que OTO”? “OTO álbum que nunca mais vou ouvir na vida.”
Beviel me veel beter dan ik had verwacht op basis van de beschrijving.
1. Down to Zero 8.4 2. Help Yourself 8.5 3. Water with the Wine 6.8 4. Love and Affection 7.4 5. Save Me 6.5 6. Join the Boys 7.3 7. People 6.3 8. Somebody who Loves You 7 9. Like Fire 7.1 10. Tall in the Saddle 6.8 Consistently good!! 3.5 stars.
Interessant.
Not really my tea, but I can appreciate the musicianship. I feel like I would hear this music at the end of an 80’s feel good movie.
A lovely sounding album, not the most energetic but with plenty of passion. Perfect for relaxing at the end of the day.
Great album, just not for me!
Fine I guess. Rather forgettable.
3.5. Good album just not generally kind of music - great guitar solos on a few of these! A fun listen
This was not bad. Sounds like someone Tracy Chapman may have been influenced by. Good variety here - listed as Pop on Apple Music, but there's blues, funk, folk, country. Favorite track: Water with the Wine, but also liked Tall In the Saddle.
Favorite Tracks: Down To Zero, Love And Affection, Save Me, Join The Boys, People, Somebody Who Loves You, Like Fire
This was a lot of fun and a great listen. Love the groovy baseline in People. Love the deep backing vocals in Love and Affection.
Like fire!
Boring
I saw a really good documentary about her a couple of years ago - great voice, but have to agree with the group's general opinion regarding songs. A few too many that are slightly forgettable. Glad to have listened, don't think I'll be going back. Favourite songs: Water with the Wine, Love and Affection.
Thought this was pretty good, didn't blow me away but am really glad I got to hear it. I enjoyed the jazzier, more groovy sounding songs but I didn't expect her to bust out multipe guitar solos on the album. Overall this was a pleasant surprise. Highlights: Down To Zero Love And Affection People Like Fire
Fun lyrics but not really my type.
Laid back, chill listening. Nothing disagreeable, nothing amazing. This is roots'ier than 'Drop the Pilot', but I was surprised to find that this is her 3rd studio album and I'd be happy to check out her earlier work too. A solid 3.5
I am a little confused with this album. Because on RYM, it is labeled as folk rock and singer-songwriter. And the idea of what those genres sound like together in my head isn't at all what this album is like. This album feels way more adjacent to jazz and funk music, with some soul mixed in there as well. Maybe folk rock is more of an umbrella term than I imagined it to be, but I'm not sure. Either way, if we are to go by the basis that this is some type of folk funk music, then I think the first 4 tracks do a pretty good job. Now, what I'm about to say might not make much sense, but the first 4 songs are both catchy and engaging, but also not super memorable. I don't think anything on this is super memorable. None of the melodies or lyrics got stuck in my head or stayed with me throughout the day. But that doesn't mean the songs are bad. Where the issues begin is after "Love and Affection". From track 5 to track 8, I was just kind of uninterested. None of those songs do anything to keep me engaged, and I found nothing to take away from them. And that's honestly a bummer, because the album regains its footing in the last two songs. It's too late to save the album in any major capacity, but those two songs are some of the most cool sounding ones on the record. Especially the closing track, which borders on psychedelic with its spacey guitar sound. Overall, the album is easy to listen to. If someone really loved this, I could see it as a good way to wind down after work or school. Because it doesn't throw anything too intense at you in its track list.
Easily listenable to and very calm and peaceful. Not necessarily something I would hurry back to, but I wouldn't say no if someone suggested playing it.
An early Armatrading album, where shes flexing her vocal muscles and giving a hint of her great talent. Decent, if a little flat.
Not sure if it's "Jo Ann" or "Joan" Armatrading. I've heard it pronounced Jo Ann, but it makes no difference if her name is Rose, she would still smell as sweet and carry that crazy powerful voice. First listen was pretty banal and I drifted off. But here I am listening to it again and its definitely grown on me. Sure, I'd listen to this again but I wouldn't search for it.
The British bias working out for the better for once. Like many Yanks I'd never heard of Joan Armatrading, but she has a terrific voice. I greatly preferred the bluesier songs though, some of the other tracks were a bit bland for my taste.
Oh so this is what a poppier Tracy Chapman would sound like! I guess Joan came first so technically Tracy sounds like her rather than the other way around. Either way, great voice, but without the emotional starkness of Tracy.
Chill & good!
Nice enough but slightly forgettable singer-songwriting.
I don't think I'll ever really "dislike" this kind of music, and this album isn't the exception. However, it'll take another listen for certain songs to sink in.
I liked it
Pretty solid
Not really my style of music but she has a lovely voice and this feels very reminiscent of what little gospel I've heard
Pretty cool for a folk album.
A fine album, no stand out songs but it was nice.
Yea it’s fine
Love the production on here and the way that the instruments just come into the mix and build throughout. great voice too! best tracks: down to zero, love and affection, water with the wine
Never heard of her but this was pretty decent.
the lyrics on this album are great, and the instrumentation is solid. however, the songs themselves just don't come together for me in a gripping and enduringly appealing way. i'm happy for everyone who loves this album but it's another 3.5 stars for me after about two listens. favorites: down to zero, love and affection
I wanted to like this a little more than I actually did. I don’t think anything here is bad per se, but I didn’t really connect with the musical style
this was fine, but not for me.
Heard before: no I was a passive fan of Armatrading’s 80s hits, but I never spent time with her more well-known record here. And what a treat! I was expecting an introspective folksy affair, but for the most part this is a bluesy early-70s rock record, more muscular than I thought. It fits right in with late Fairport and early Faces. I’ve always loved her voice; it’s as much a dare as a come on when she unapologetically sings “I’m not in love, but I’m open to persuasion”. She’s not broken-hearted; she's having fun while it lasts. The more I sink into the vibe, the more I like it. Great find, 1001 Albums! Top tracks: Like Fire, Tall in the Saddle, Down To Zero
She has a strong voice and the musicianship is top notch, but I can't help thinking this is kind of bland. The songs are fine, but nothing stands out to make me want to hear more. As a singer-songwriter, Armatrading was an important artist in the 70's, I just don't feel the love.