Queen Of Denmark

Synnerligen ojämnt. Finns några fina toppar. Inte minst titelspåret. Även Chicken bone som andas Eltons boogie woogie-70-tal är riktigt trevlig. Å andra sidan finns bottenlöst trams som Silver Platter club och Sigourney Weaver. Sång och liksom många texter är överlag svaga. Relativt stark tvåa.

I samma anda som Rufus Wainwright. John försöker dölja rätt trista låtar bakom en stor orkester. Mig lurar han inte.

- there's something very "try hard" about this record. It's perfectly competent but also uninteresting, especially given the release date. Gonna go three for competency .... -

Ultimately a bit tedious

Some extremely biting dark folk music.

I'm uncertain on this one. It's a bit too "soft" for me, I guess. But still, the songs are well-crafted even if the lyrics are not to my taste. And having Midlake...well, that's a star or 4 in itself. Hell, I'm feeling generous today. 4 "what the f" stars.

I just don't really need to hear a white guy drop a bunch of racial slurs in the entertainment I'm listening to, even if he thinks he had a good reason.

5/10

I like this. I'd go as far as saying I like this a lot, but since we are considering only 1000 albums, I think Nilsson Schmilsson has this spot covered.

Quite enjoyable. I like the pageantry of it and some really nice melodies. Maybe a bit long for full re-listens. But I will definitely come back to a few songs.

3/10 Charming but not for me

This one really caught me by surprise. I had zero expectations and was not sure was to expect and was pleasantly surprised by this album. It is a great indie album that was really pleasant to listen and had a few notable songs. The album kind of withers after the Queen of Denmark, which is the standout track. It is very close to a 4, but not quite. 3.5 stars

Pretty good discovery. In spite of its length it keeps you interested through its variety of sounds. Some very gradiose sounding songs - and some very quirky lyrics too.

Hassuja runoja

Mature, introspective, gorgeous chamber pop with an acoustic guitar...until it's not. Because one particular song, while very clearly a personal statement by Grant, is totally and completely unwarranted and unnecessary. It lingers there, like a dead dove rotting among the rest, and it takes a mostly good album to a frustrating one. It does intrigue me to hear more, but hopefully John Grant found his way forward without continuing down that problematic path.

This album plays like a bunch of musings left in a journal by a sophomore in high school waiting to come out of the closet. I'm sure it's meaningful to someone, and the music ain't half bad. That being said, it didn't really resonate with me and the deadpan nature of his delivery wasn't my favorite. Highlight: It's Easier

I like John Grant, but this is an odd album to choose. I suspect it was more of a timing thing and this is one of the albums that is a one edition wonder. There's nothing on Queen of Denmark that matches the self depreciating boastfulness of GMF the fragile beauty of Down Here or the fun of Voodoo Doll except on one of the bonus tracks that I accidentally listened to. If this is your first time Listening to John Grant, I'd recommend giving Pale Green Ghosts or Grey Tickles, Black Pressure a go before dismissing him completely. They are significantly more adept albums.

I was going to be very dismissive of this album, as it's musically not especially inventive, and it does things that so many others did better before it, but I genuinely was taken aback by some of the subject matter and listening to it a second time I appreciate it more.

I like him!!

perfect

Yeah uhh that was different. The last song had a neat feeling to it. Other times the lyrics I found to be eh. Like really, cmon

Not bad!

Lieve folk liedjes, dat is toch wel een beetje dit album. Perfect voor een maandag ochtend, dat wel, maar toch ook al vrij snel een beetje saai. De productie is opzich wel sterk en interessant, met veel strijkers. John klinkt wel best goed. Het voelt gewoon heel erg als depri pop als dat ergens op slaat. Er zit weinig gezelligheid in dit album, weinig waarvan je denkt 'Goh dat is nou een nummer voor een feestje'. Hoeft ook niet altijd, maar jezus dit is wel een beetje een depressie van een album... Echt een vreemd album, later word het iets meer upbeat, maar de zang blijft vrij depri. Teksten zijn... interessant. Niet perse heel sterk, maar ik kan me ook niet helemaal aan het idee onttrekken dat er een dikke laag ironie over alles heen zit. Vreemd album, niet heeeeel erg bijzonder en niet iets wat ik snel nog eens aan zal zetten. Maar heb me niet ontzettend zitten irriteren ofzo. Het was een beetje een nietzeggende ervaring. Laatste nummer was wel heel vet, heel dromerig gedaan, maar de rest haalt het daar niet echt bij. FAVO: What Time?

Nach dem Ende von The Czars wollte John Grant eigentlich gar keine Musik mehr machen, vier Jahre lang. Die texanische Band Midlake überredete ihn – und nahm ihn gleich mit in ihr eigenes Studio in Denton, Texas. Dort entstand 2010, verteilt auf zwei Sessions, dieses Album, veröffentlicht auf Bella Union. Der Sound ist warmer, in den Siebzigern hängender Soft Rock, und Grant singt darauf offener über Sucht, gescheiterte Beziehungen und seine Homosexualität, als man es zu der Zeit gewohnt war. Was mich an dem Album packt: wie wenig Angst Grant vor der eigenen Verletzlichkeit hat, ohne dabei ins Selbstmitleid abzudriften. „Sigourney Weaver" reißt mit bösem Humor auf, was in „Where Dreams Go To Die" als echter Schmerz anfängt – zwischen Selbstironie und Zusammenbruch liegt bei ihm kein Widerspruch, nur ein Songwriter, der beides gleichzeitig meint. Midlake baut darunter einen Klangteppich aus Keyboards und Schlagzeug, der nie kitschig wird, sondern Grants tiefer, fast liturgischer Stimme Platz lässt. Im Titeltrack läuft das zusammen, ohne dass es aufgesetzt wirkt: Wut neben Zärtlichkeit, dazu ein Sinn fürs Absurde, der nie zynisch wird. Für ein Debüt klingt das seltsam abgeklärt – eher, als hätte hier jemand endlich ausgesprochen, worauf schon länger gewartet wurde, als dass er neu angefangen hätte. Elf Jahre nach der letzten Czars-Platte klingt das nicht wie ein Comeback, sondern wie ein Anfang, der überfällig war.

Dit is misschien wel de grootste verrassing tot nu toe! Ik dacht dat dit zo een hard rock of Brit rock ofzo ging zijn maar integendeel, het is eerder wat Sufjan Stevens vibe ma wat minder absurdistisch qua instrumentaliteit. Objectief gezien verdient dit album misschien maar een 4, zeker omdat niet alle nummers even goed zijn (Jc Hates Faggots en That's the Good News bv), maar omdat het mij zo heeft verrast ga ik het toch een 5 geven. Elke keer dat ik luister ontdek ik een nieuw favoriet, voorlopig zitten Sigourney Weaver en Queen of Denmark al sowieso in de top. Naar deze artiest ga ik zeker vaker luisteren!

gay traumacore done right

Queen of Denmark by John Grant is a really good album. I enjoyed this listen today. I wasn’t particularly excited going into it, mainly because I’d never heard of John Grant and it’s quite a long album with a lot of tracks. Those concerns disappeared pretty quickly, though, as the album opens really strongly. There’s a lot of variety here. It moves effortlessly between rock, electronic sounds and slower ballads, while still feeling like a cohesive album. I really enjoyed the opening three tracks, as well as “Supernatural Defibrillator” and the title track, “Queen of Denmark”, which is probably my highlight. This is definitely an album I’ll listen to again. The one track I really didn’t enjoy was “That’s the Good News”. It has a strangely German sound to it, and I’m not sure why the vocals needed to be sung in that style. It just didn’t work for me. Favourite tracks: “Queen of Denmark”, “TC and Honeybear”, “Marz”, “Where Dreams Go to Die”, “Supernatural Defibrillator” Least favourite track: “That’s the Good News” Album artwork: Pretty standard.

I know the track Marz which I very much like and enjoyed the rest of this album. The first couple of tracks had me thinking about Simon and Garfunkel and other tracks demonstrated links with other great songwriters. I can't rush to a five on this but look forward to listening again. I feel it may absolutely grow on me. It might just have real depth.

I'm completely unfamiliar with John Grant, but I really enjoyed this. I thought the songs were well written and the lyrics compelling. I can definitely see myself coming back to this and possibly rating it even more.

"Queen of Denmark" is a blessing after yesterday's album ("The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter"). I knew today's album would be great from the second half of "TC and the Honeybear". The song "Where Dreams Go to Die" reminds me of classic '60s and '70s songs such as "Space Oddity". That proves "Queen of Denmark" is a modern classic. I should listen to Grant's work with the Czars someday. 5 stars for "Queen of Denmark".

I get that people are saying it's so-so, but saying it's shit is too much. I actually liked it, sure maybe it does get a bit repetitive after a while & it is a long album for it's sounding, but I genuinely enjoyed it, especially the last ambient piece.

This is #day740 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… okay, I've learned that there used to be a band called The Czars, of which John Grant was a member, and that this is his first solo record after the band broke up. The whole affair is kind of fine. It has its moments, but it also doesn't. What it has to do with a list of albums you must hear before you die remains a mystery to me. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day741.

Overall this is pretty good. Worth a replay. There are a couple of decent tracks but also a couple of poor ones. A generous 4.

I kind of love this. The music reminds me of a modern male-led Carpenters. And the sentiment reminds me of Elliot Smith, in that they are beautiful, but incredibly maudlin, songs. The lyrics are great too. It’s a bit samey and a bit long. But I like it!

Enjoyable

2.5/5 beats are fire for some songs, I enjoy the electro sound. BUT what is buddy yapping about

I like the sound but the lyrics are kind of poop. I will ignore bros personal issues and separate the art from the artist.

That wasn't very good. It had lost me by about the third track. I can hear the guy can write a tune but I don't like the tunes he writes.

Much better than I was expecting. I'm not the biggest Father John Misty fan, and this is very similar but at least has some teeth.

Vaca come back

Too glib to feel sincere and not funny enough for the smugness to work. It just becomes some sort of bargain-bin Father John Misty-cosplaying-Nilsson exercise, complete with cringey lyrics and unnecessary slurs.

Exactly what you expect to hear when you think of Indie rock of the zeros. Whiney, pretentious, lots of treble. 1/5

really liked this! reminded me a bit of if the Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtrack was written by like gay Gordon Lightfoot.

hmm what a guy

Not as unsatisfactory as the first track led me to believe. I liked the one about sigourney weaver. Did not expect all those slurs, but I understand what he was getting at. Within the more emotional stuff, there is an intelligent wittiness to his writing, which I can appreciate. Otherwise, I’ll leave it at a listen with a relatively neutral stance.

This was very unique and confessional. It reminded me of Brian Wilson somehow. I'm glad I heard this and I'd like to hear some of his other stuff.

(4/7) reminds me of Eliot Smith

Quirky in a way that grew on me, wore out its welcome and then circled back around to where I kinda liked it again.

At first I wasn't digging this that much but then I started listening to the lyrics more and really got into it by the end. I'm rating it 3 stars now but I think it could be bumped to 4 on a re-listen.

3.75 - Really solid first listen. Some of songs aren't singalongs, but I like the intent behind them still.

Ok as background music.

I get the feeling this is something akin to what some listeners wish *69 Love Songs* would've been: shorter, gayer, heavier both sonically and thematically. Grant works broadly from some of the same Seventies pop and El Lay country-rock influences as Stephen Merritt, most notably his fellow naturalized Coloradan Dan Fogelberg (the gorgeous "Marz"). And "Sigourney Weaver" is the sort of wry, casually hilarious thing Merritt himself would make. But the real key to this album is the clumsy, nasty "Jesus Hates F****ts," which abandons any attempt to be stylish in favor of delivering a screed against Grant's homophobic father. "The arrogance it takes to walk around in the world the way you do, it turns my brain to jelly every time," Grant sings, explaining offhandedly why he spends the rest of the album accepting the love he thinks he deserves in one way or another. I mean, if you had a parent like *that* you'd probably reject any genuine affection too ("It's Easier"). And when Grant finally explodes at his lover on the closing title track it's clear what's happening: having finally gathered the confidence to stand up for himself, he's going to do it in an overwhelming, fearsome, arguably disproportionate way. Whether that's progress or just the continuation of a cycle of abuse (or some of both) is left as an exercise for the listener.

It's been quite a while since I last listened to such a sleep-inducingly stodgy album. Musically this is bland and derivative folk rock. None of the songs are memorable and most of the lyrics are just tiresome whining about everything possible under the sun. It gets exhausting very fast. Grant has quite a good voice, I'll give him that, but otherwise I got nothing out of this album but utter boredom.

An ordeal

fell asleep for a bit then realised i didn't care

A bit of a mixed bag. Loved 'Chicken Bones' and that bonus track where he's doing a menacing German accent. Less keen on the first few tracks and the lyrics of 'Marz' made me shudder.

First bad one in a while. Boring music and some pretty woeful lyrics make for a poor final product. Total snoozefest.

Genius. Sad, but genius. Good art can sometimes be difficult. Really heartfelt singer-songwriter stuff that comes at a time when that's been out of fashion for a good 30+ years. Sad, though

Has big father John misty vibes, sometimes in a good way and sometimes not.

Not for me. 1/5

At first it seemed very generic soft alternative, then the lyrics hit. Where Dreams Go To Die was great. Gets a little boring toward the end of the album. But I’d listen again

My favourite album of the last 30 years

JL : 3, Marz

wenn alles, was du auf wikipedia über ein album schreiben kannst „die anderen mussten in nach 4 jahren pause überzeugen, mit ihnen musik zu machen“ ist, dann sind eigentlich die anderen schuldig im sinn der anklage. wieso auf dieser liste??

Eine Entdeckung: schöne Lieder

Badgood

While I absolutely recognize John Grant’s talent as a musician, I just could not get into this album.

Father John Misty has a lot to answer for is all I'm going to say, is this not his whole shtick? Much more catchy and pleasant than the rather ugly album art might lead you to believe, went in fully expecting twee-ness and got lush baritone goodness instead. Outer Space immediately stood out on first listen Some of the lyrics are very stupid, and certainly an eyebrow raise was had at the end of "JC Hates Faggots"...

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Really surprised I like this as much as I did, user added albums are normally a recipe for disaster. RYM: N Saved a song: N

I have not heard this before. This has and interesting mix of a kind of folk pop and i guess acoustic electro-psych where there are synths doing noise wobbles behind some of the less poppy stuff. It’s an altogether enjoyable album with good melodies but it seems to me missing a little something, whether it’s more passion or more lyrical depth or more interesting guitar parts to put it over the top. It’s still a very good album of course.

I thought I’d dread this one, but it definitely stands with the albums that I haven’t heard anything about but became a pleasant surprise. Ploddy, dirgey, and sappy at times, and that 9th track is a bit unfortunate even if done ironically, but the compositions and production is really well done. I enjoyed the album quite a lot.

Wow, holy shit—what a load of crap.

It's okay I guess.. probably not coming back to this one.

Hard to find this to play. So far I have only found Marz, which I found very touching and simultaneously strange, especially with the video. Actually, listening without the video has less substance. Feels ethereal and intentionally odd in the vein of Beck. Found the rest! T.C. & HoneyBear is an entirely different feel. Silver Platter Club gives me more respect for the endeavor. This is an eclectic mix of styles, to say the least. Unable to listen to the entire album, just about 8 of the tracks. I enjoyed them all and am intrigued by the artist.

Father John Misty really came along and ate this guy's lunch.

I really dug the Czars once upon a time, but haven't listened to them or Grant's solo stuff in years. It's good, but not what I've craved lately.

I really enjoyed this after a somewhat skeptical outlook based on a couple of shiters in a row. However, I enjoyed the combination of pretty melodic lines. Interesting lyrics and humour in places.

Grant's "Queen Of Denmark" is strange in that while it carries notable talent leading to numerous successful songs, varied and noteworthy music, and this ambition to really make something different, the record's quality drops significantly in the middle, Grant's vocals feel artificial at times as if heavily edited, the overall sound makes an impression that QoD lacks some final round of editing and mastering (or that Grant did everything himslef), and lastly some of decisions prove controversial, like the use of synths. "Jc Hates Faggots" sums up the whole thing best, while my favourite composition would be either "Marz" or "Where Dreams Go To Die". A highly potent work, just missing some sense of big picture or technical competency.

Album #156: John Grant – Queen of Denmark ⭐⭐⭐⭐ My wife’s favourite album. So, I’ve heard this one a few times, and I’ve seen John Grant live at least once. (Hard to remember!) I try to be a supportive husband, so I’ve never really cast shade on John Grant, but he’s never really been my cup of tea. Listening to this today made me realise something, though. Similar to Alright by Supergrass earlier in the week, while this album has been on around me loads of times, I don’t think I’ve ever actually listened to it properly. It’s made me feel a bit bad, actually, because it seems like I’m the sort of asshole who just ignores any music that I didn’t choose to put on. Anyway, we’re rectifying that today. It starts off poorly for me. TC and Honeybear is a bit of a cutesy folk song that’s entirely forgettable. I’m sure there’s a subtext there that I’m missing, but it didn’t land with me on a first proper listen. It’s followed by Marz, which is an interesting enough tune with some odd lyrics, but the album still hasn’t really ignited. It’s a slow start, but Where Dreams Go to Die is where it truly begins for me. It’s an absolute belter of a song with a stunning chorus and provocative lyrics. The next few songs are absolutely great. Sigourney Weaver contains one of the best similes I’ve heard in music. Who can’t relate to Ripley’s fight against those aliens? Chicken Bones and Silver Platter Club are funny, witty, and cutting. The latter is very McCartney-esque. It’s Easier has a mournful swagger about it. Outer Space has wonderful phrasing and a great thermin like synth part. JC Hates Faggot is every bit as bold, angry, and provocative as its eye-catching title suggests. Caramel sounds like something from Fiona Apple’s Tidal era, and it’s the best vocal on the album. Leopard and Lamb feels very Nick Cave with its sweeping strings and almost boatman’s-call atmosphere. Then the title track, Queen of Denmark, neatly sums up everything the album has been building towards. It’s angry. It’s funny. And it’s excellent. Turns out my wife was dead right. I don’t know why I never realised how good this album was before, considering how many times I’ve heard songs from it over the years. I suppose I just never properly listened. This is a really strong album with a huge amount left to reveal on future listens. There are so many different styles and genres packed into it, but it never loses its identity. It’s full of character, full of wit, and full of emotion. Do you know what album this reminded me of? Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This same sort of genre-bending, theatrical album with deep songwriting on display, pop sensibility and a genuinely great sense of humour. I don’t think I’ve ever compared another album to Sgt. Pepper’s, but here we are…

Queer Father John Misty is awesome.

Unusual but not bad. After a blah start, the album became more interesting as it went along, musically and lyrically.

One of the best albums I have discovered here

Total yawn fest.

its very rufus wainbright. was into in until the ninth track and he started dropping a bunch of slurs. i get his message but cmon man theres better ways to get that across

For me John Grant is at his best on tracks like Caramel where he is being earnest without any guard - at these points he sounds like James Blake. I struggle with lyrics that deal mostly in clever asides. It’s probably why I’ve never really loved FJM. 3 stars

Some of the album is brilliant, some merely interesting and some just silly.

I have an occasional habit of writing needlessly confrontational sweeping opening statements in my reviews, which I’m trying to keep in check, but John Grant’s debut is inspiring such a response from me - I am convinced that labelmate Father John Misty has ripped off John Grant’s entire sound, especially on the album I Love You Honeybear. Queen of Denmark, is not as good as FJM but delivers the exact same unmistakable voice and persona, the same jokey, cynical take on Elton John’s balladry that FJM has since popularised. So why didn’t Grant blow up instead? Well, the songwriting is pretty good but it’s just not got that special sauce FJM has - that knack for a killer phrase or extra bit of songwriting genius. What is here though is a flawless vibe and a completely original approach, which he should get credit for. A more satisfying review would be to state that Grant is the original and the best, but what we have here instead is a sort of 1-1 draw, with Father John Misty winning on penalties.

John Grant a high 3 for me. I nearly really like it, and in moments love it, but a lot of the time he takes turns that don’t quite land for me but aren’t far off

Album cover: 0/5 Music: 5/5 Looking at the cover, I was not expecting to like it. I have never heard of John Grant or the Czars. I spent the day listening to it and it quickly grew on me. The songs are catchy enough to get my attention. The most lyrically brilliant song on the album is the final/title track: Queen of Denmark. I think a lot of the lyrics are very relatable to me. Standouts: Where Do Dreams Go to Die, TC & Honeybear, Sigourney Weaver, Chicken Bones, Marz, Queen of Denmark, Other Notable: It's Easier, Silver Platter Club. I also checked out the Bonus material from the Limited Edition. Best track: Fireflies.

I actually liked this one. I will definitely check out more of his stuff. 7.5/10 Top song Sigourney Weaver

Strange. In an interesting way.

I'm 9 albums in and I'm seriously questioning the list makers. I believe I could live a very full musical life without ever having heard this album

Ça m’a pas plu, et puis c’est long quoi… je me suis arrêté à Sigourney Weaver

This is one of those times I need more listens, but he seems to be going for a bit of a Harry Nilsson vibe which I don't hate, but the humor doesn't always work for me. Might be at a 3.5.

Forgot this easy listening schlock was even playing until I heard a lyric about "caramel frappe" and nearly threw my laptop out the office door. "I feel exactly like Sigourney Weaver when she had to kill those aliens." Fuck off. The attempt to include recent albums is terrible.

Musically not very much going on. Lyrically, just a mishmash of words. Would believe a teenager wrote these songs. 2/5 Won't listen again

"Queen of Denmark" by John Grant is a good solo debut album. In this album, songwriting of John is great where it deals with his homosexuality and production level is also good as well his vocal performance. The musical arrangements are also good with piano led ballad, synth and harmonies that created atmosphere. For me, standout tracks are "Tc & Honeybear", "Where Dreams Go To Die" and "Jesus Hates Faggots". I find middle section of the album not that much strong. There are some filler tracks I find like "Silver Platter Club", "Caramel", and "It's Easier". I couldn't connect with these tracks. Overall good debut album by John Grant with wonderful lyrics, production, vocal and musical arrangements. One of the surprising album I discovered from the list.

Humourous lyrics with musically complex elements. Fun nod backs to the 60s using synths and orchestral instruments. Interesting chord progressions here and there but feels like you can't take this music seriously. 4/5

Enjoyment: 7/10 Replayability: 5/10 Cohesion: 6/10 Flow/Pacing: 7/10 Artistic Merit: 8/10 Weighted Average: 6.5/10 Review: This was the most fun album I've listened to from this list as of yet. He definitely gives off Bo Burnham vibes with poignant analogies and smart lyrical choices - I audibly laughed at the Sigourney Weaver track. Very wide range of emotional complexity. Liked Song(s): TC and Honeybear, Where Dreams Go to Die, Sigourney Weaver, Chicken Bones, Silver Platter Club, Jesus Hates F*ggots, Queen of Denmark Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes Heard Before? No

Wasn't particularly good for me, but I have to give points to an album that uses the plot of Aliens for lyrics. A+ creativity.

This is the worst album I've had in a long time. I thought it started ok, but when it dawned on me how juvinile and awful the lyrics are, occasionally dropping into Family Guy tier cringe (Sigourney Weaver), I took a really hard turn. Set that against a backdrop of the most bland, stock folk with some synths thrown in to make it seem more interesting, and you get a remarkably poor album that should not be in this list at all. I don't want to seem like a "le wrong generation" type but most of the post 2000 choices I've had have been so bad I didn't mind It's Easier because of the nice vocal harmonies and I thought the synth part towards the end of that one was actually decent 1.5 Highlights: It's Easier

I kinda loved this

Very peculiar arrangement of songs with a folk-esque backing paired with crooning and somewhat tongue in cheek lyrics. Some of it is effective and shows a deeper emotional side and some of it seems to be farcical and rambling. Overall the music is consistent thanks to Midlake and there's certainly some heavy creative drive coming from Grant himself, might not be fully up my alley. I would save some songs like Sigourney Weaver, Chicken Bones and Silver Platter Club to my highlights and maybe revisit the album at some point to dive into the lyrics some more.

This album cover is cursed. It reminds me of Willow's eyes when she becomes Dark Willow on Buffy. It made me expect the worst when I started to listen, but the music isn't cursed at all. It's actually quite good. This reminds me a bit of Rufus Wainwright, Andrew Bird, Iron and Wine, and the other quirky men of folk music. I enjoyed!

The silliness of this album increases its aura.

It was weird. But also fun. 6.5/10

This one was odd, really liked some of the songs, and there was a hidden depth to a lot of the lyrics. Some more surface level. I felt like the music itself was way softer and more pop-esque than what the lyrics were on about and in the way they were delivered, which was quite silly at times. I DETEST the album art, like wtf John... major uncanny vibes, and honestly makes me more inclined to give this a 3. Even though I probably would have given it a 3 none the less.

Laying on the living room floor with the windows open and staring at the ceiling.

This album was an experience. At first, I was thinking: solid 2. But as it went on I appreciated the meandering story lines and musical journey through what I imagined was an existential crisis. This honestly felt like it could have been written in the 1970s with the retro feel. It’s Easier was a heartbreaking and beautiful song. Silver Platter Club felt like Sgt. Peppers was playing during a breakup fight. And Chicken Bones just felt autobiographical. In the end, I want to go on this journey again. Slow burner, but a toasty familiar little dumpster fire of fun.

Random thoughts: * At first I kind of hated this one. It seemed like some drivel soft rock. I saw it was also Midlake and I was thinking they should have just included Midlake instead since that is a better soft rock album. * Then I listened more and I understood why this was included. This was a proto-Father John Misty album. The lyrics and were weird and crazy. * I did chuckle at "Chicken Bones" and it was upbeat enough to make my ears perk up. * Also, I've never heard of John Grant or The Czars. Apparently they are a Denver based band or have some Denver connection. Seems like I would have encountered that knowledge at some point. * Knowing that I understood why this was included still doesn't make me like the album overall. I won't be revisiting this one.

Sounds exactly like a Father John Misty album - same voice, same "singing very sincerely about boring everyday stuff" bit. And it came first! It is a little worse though. Some of the verses that are just lists of nouns I kinda can't stand. Sigourney Weaver is so good and anthemic and the lyrics are so stupid and twee in a way that feels hateful and empty.

Some decent melodies and harmonies, with strange and interesting lyrics. Worth a second listen.

Funny! Reminded me of Johnathan Coulton.

It just wasn't my cup of tea.

What in the depressing acid trips was that?!

I don't dislike this as much as Bob, but it's close.

I enjoyed this immensely! Great voice, catchy tunes, off-beat lyrics. Not sure why this is included in the list but I thought it was great.

I don't know what this is. It's like he grabbed a fist full of random seeds, planted them in different types of soil, and watered some with water while others with Gatorade and others with radioactive liquid waste. The result is a disconcerting variety of song-like creatures that somehow all beckon me closer with their siren sounds and goofy lyrics.

A surprising album. I ended up enjoying it. The vocals combined with the irreverent lyrics play well with the music.

Melodically beautiful, but the lyrics were cringeworthy.

Pleasantly surprised but not my fave.

Sorry, just not my vibe

Kind of strange, but in a good way

first thought- i was not expecting this to sound like sufjan stevens. not in voice but in content. it also reminds me of the beatles in the way of production and cadence. i can’t believe this was made in 2010

An enjoyable listen well written songs very good musicality and I found his voice easy to listen to. Smooth nice tone relaxing.

Days like today make the sometimes tedious parts of this list worthwhile. A weird album by the former lead singer of a band that I never heard of that was released 16 years ago is a prima facie example of what makes this list great. I am blown away by how well written this album is. I read some of the reviews which criticize this as sounding like a high school poetry notebook, but I do not feel that way at all. I like the sometimes simple rhymes and how other times there are a lot of words to get to the chorus or in the case of the best songs on here the punchline. 5 out of 5 for me. Excellent album!

This was one of those albums where I’m glad I normally listen to each album several times cause his was definitely a slow burn. At first I just didn’t like the vocals or the overall package. But that’s also the problem with listening to these albums while at work cause I missed entire songs. But when I finally heard s”Sigourney Weaver” I was so won over and the pieces just started to all fall into place after that. This album has a great sense of humor while also maintaining a semi serious tone throughout. The other great tracks that really highlight those aspects of the album are the songs “chicken bones” and “Jesus hates faggots”. Those were probably my favorite 3 songs off the album but I also really loved the vast majority of the album. There was only 3 songs I didn’t save, and it wasn’t because I disliked them, they were just alittle too slow for me. Seriously though this is an album I have to have very soon. I’m genuinely so excited to hear more of his work.

Surprisingly great album. Never heard of him before, but really enjoying this. Kinda an Elton John meets Father John Misty (minus pianos). Definitely has the weird lyrics similar to FJM. Would prefer Father John Misty being on the list, but alas.

very weird lyrics idk if I like this very much

4⭐️/5 07.08.2026

i was surprised to see this album on here. i only knew of him from seeing him open for andrew bird. he was amazing live but i really only like where dreams go to die on this album. some of the other ones were ok but that's the only one i continue to listen to over the years

This album was a nice surprise. All of the descriptors made it sound more depressing than it actually was. While the song subjects are often about alienation, loneliness, repression and trauma, there's also hopefulness, playfulness, and beauty in the music. Something titled "Jesus Hates F*ggots" with a subject matter about a parent being bigoted and prejudiced towards their child, which they feel is justified by distorted religious views, is catchy as hell while also painful and uncomfortable. "TC and Honeybear" was fine, but the entire run from "Marz" to "Jesus Hates F*ggots" was wonderful. "Caramel" and "Leopard & Lamb", while good, were a step down for me. Ends strong with "Queen of Denmark".

Kind of boring

Again not an artist I’m familiar with, much to my shame!! I know this album garnered a huge amount of acclaim.

It’s fine. Although kind of like a watered down copy of Pink Floyd songs without all the good stuff. Heck, I even hear some Scissor Sisters in here. I wanted to stop halfway through. Leopard and Lamb kept me listening for some reason, and I had to hear Queen of Denmark as I am Danish.

On the whole, I really liked this. Very Father John Misty, very this could’ve been an album in the Bojack universe. Cannot get behind a white man using the n-word even if I understand what he was trying to do - it just took me out of the whole thing and I’m still kind of annoyed about it because I really loved the opening 4 track run

I definitely feel like I've heard the name John Grant before but no idea where, and none of this music was familiar to me. Another random album from a time that I remember and yet that is so far removed from anything I was aware of in 2010. Some of these songs were really pretty, with a special shoutout to It's Easier (I realised afterwards maybe partly because the melody is very similar to Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane by Gang of Youths) And then what is there to say about That's The Good News. "If crack is not available I'll buy gelato"?? The German voicemail at the start? The German accent throughout the song. But then it suddenly turns into that very cool electronic breakdown for the "chorus" Supernatural Defibrillator was also pretty fun. I could also see it being in conversation with Le Tigre or LCD Soundsystem or something like that (harder to view in conversation with the first half of the album). Anyway an interesting discovery!

Have heard of him, but don't think I've actually heard any songs. Pleasant indie rock from a period that I wasn't paying much attention to that type of music. Doesn't do it for me, Probably needs a few listens. Was good to find out the last 4 tracks on spotify aren't on the actual album. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? No Owned: No, 90/342 (26%) Will I get: No

Not bad, but idk if I really liked it that much either

Funky sound, with some seriously good/biting lyrics. Dropping Sigourney Weaver in Aliens as a reference was a fun surprise

Nice. Mellow. Liked about 80% of the songs.

There were a couple truly great tracks... the rest was middling to cringe-inducingly bad. Where Dreams Go to Die and Outer Space were standouts. When Grant goes for shock value with the lyrics, it comes off as supremely juvenile. Didn't expect much, didn't get much.

Don't understand why this is on the list. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a

This was a weird trip. Didn't love any of it, although I found myself amused by, say, the lyrics to "Sigourney Weaver." He's a good-not-great singer and admirable enough in his ambition, but I can't say I was moved by much of it, and some of it (esp., "JC Hates F****ts") was off-puttingly on the nose.

Not great

It’s a strangely wonderful thing this album. It’s odd, it’s confrontational, it’s beautifully recorded. It also seems to have pissed off a lot of people which adds to the entertainment. It’s deeply personal and I get the feeling John is also not for everyone but I’d like him.

I’d never heard John Grant before but his music has great vocals and lyrics with a sense of humor as well as a very distinct identity. The songs practically beg to be sung along with… mostly. This isn’t the type of album I’m likely to seek out unless I’m in a quite specific mood, but I’m very glad I heard it now. “Jesus Hates Faggots” is BRUTAL. Happy last day of pride to this guy, goddamn.

Good album but John, did we need the slurs in "God Hates Faggots"? Honestly. I know what you were getting at but c'mon.

What a seemingly sad guy. No excuse for these lyrics, though.

Terrible, “Sigourney Weaver” sealed 1-star status

This is either awesome or the worst thing I've ever listened to in my life, can't decide which

Really enjoyed all the strings-based instrumentals, especially the cello solos. Lyrics of a musically developed Kimya Dawson.

Loved it! Will probably listen to this album a lot this summer. Favorite track is Marz.

(wrote a whole review that vanished, so this is shorter than before) It's alright. Some otherwise standard folk stuff over some semi-interesting synth work. Fav tracks: Outer Space, Jc Hates Fa**ots, Leopard and Lamb

Surprising. I'd never heard of JG before and it is exactly up my alley.

Reminded me a lot of Father John Misty, and I learned before listening that John Grant is backed by Midlake, who I like, which added a layer of interest for me. The arrangements backing him sounded good and I quite liked some of the songs, yet at the same time I’m not sure it quite landed with me, maybe it would grow on me as it ought to be up my street. The strange jaunt into electro pop near the end of the album mixed things up a bit but again, I’m still a little undecided as to what to make of that. The album was a bit overlong and could have been more concise for my tastes.

I’m a fan. GMF ( not on this album ) is one of my favorites.

Un disco raro, entre el Yacht Rock y el vodevil, no sabes si es bueno o es una broma. En general suena muy bonito, es bueno saber que existe y que un músico tan particular tenga su espacio. Me he guardado Marz y Queen of Denmark.

A little homophobic?

No that’s okay thank you!

Good record

I love John Grant and have seen him live a couple of times. I prefer his later albums but there is plenty of gold on this album.

The Queen of Denmark On paper I should really like this, and I’ve tried a few times with it, but it's never really grabbed me. For some reason I have always got a sense of insincerity from it, almost as if it's a pastiche or a slightly forced attempt at a sad country-folk-indie album, and I find Where Dreams Go To Die, Sigourney Weaver, Silver Platter Club and the title track quite annoying, Silver Platter Club in particular being too close to Rufus Wainwright for my taste. Having said that, I did enjoy it more this time than I have previously, especially when Midlake really shine on TC and the Honeybear and the very good Marz, which nicely riffs on Tubular Bells with the piano part and Lee Hazelwood with the string part. I also like It’s Easier, the electric piano is great on and Leopard and Lamb is probably the one time for me when the baroqueness works really well. It's in truth between 2 and 3. I didn’t not enjoy it, but it still doesn’t really resonate with me, and I’m not sure I will come back to it. High 2. 👑🇩🇰 Playlist submission: Marz

I love this album, and the whole story of how it came to being, with Midlake coaxing the under-confident Grant into it, and backing him here. The voice is incredible. Hits that sweet spot of power, clarity and not being flashy. A mellifluous croon, which can glide to falsetto ('Caramel'). Mixed through it are threads of humour, culminating in the title track with several of my favourites "I casually mentioned that I pissed in your coffee"; and "to be with someone who looks smashing in athletic wear" etc. The real beauty of the album is Grant's matter of fact take on everything he surveys, with incongruous similes dropped into the balladry ("I regret the day your lovely carcass met my eye"; "I feel just like Sigourney Weaver"). The leftfield take is also there on my favourite track "It's Easier" where he salvages sadness from a happy situation.

..

this makes me gag update: omg why do we need to use the n word?? we dont!

Today’s album, I’d never heard of the artist let alone the album, a first so far. It’s kind of inoffensive, whimsical Americana/emocore, somewhere between Beck and late Beach Boys. It wasn’t the worst 69 minutes of my life, but there’s no way this is one of the best thousand albums ever.

Another reviewer hit the nail on the head- it’s like a worse version of a lot of different folksy pop music you’ve heard. I think if this influenced anything, it’s Joji, with the dreamy, sad-sack tone throughout. It gets better after the first couple of songs, so it’s not totally irredeemable but it’s navel gazing dream/bedroom pop at low tide. ⭐️⭐️

Kind of like off brand father John misty

Listening today reminded me why I tired of Father John Misty after a brief, bright following around Honeybear. In 2016 he seemed like a snarky, intelligent breath of fresh air in a period of otherwise boring, weak, and vapid music offerings. After listening hours on end over ~2 years the entire schtick just collapsed for me. So enter this album. First time hearing this artist and realizing he was FJM 5 years before Josh was. The album is catchy is spots, the music not that bad. But the lyrics make it hard to truly enjoy - the observations are boring and basic. Theres no allegory, analogy, or irony - it’s childish. 2/5

The Good: The Queen of Denmark will regale us with song! The Bad: Different kind of royalty… The Ugly: The fucking crow… if it would’ve been a Burger King one, I’d be okay with it… I see 2010, my expectations automatically are low. Then the first two bars start, and I am intrigued. Then the second song kicks in, and again I confirm that there really isn’t anything worth my time that was published post 1999… Of course, all the above are my opinion, and there are a couple of interesting albums that were released after 1999, I just haven’t found them on this list. Also, when reading the wiki page, I got excited to see that my town where my alma matter is located is where this was recorded… so yeah, that was no point of gloating either. Lastly, the lyrics… really? So, will give it 2* as it isn’t total shit, but I am NOT listening to the entire album as it is starting to get on my nerves… off to listen to Hootie and the Blowfish.. at least they did cliché the right way… and they are NOT on this list.

Pretty bland. Not sure how he makes the cut. Because he’s gay? I think PC is in play here.

This was unexpectedly good. I really like Sigourney Weaver. All in all a good to great album. Especially great because I had no expectations going in.

I had never heard of John Grant, or his band before listening to this. His bio is certainly interesting and his life’s travails led to complex music. Fun to listen to, I gave it a 3

I was a bit surprised to see how polarising reviews for this were. It's certainly not a favourite but it definitely isn't a 1 star either. Gave it a couple of listens, enjoyed it. Favourite song was probably "What Time?" which was very different to the rest.

Ooh. Never heard of this, but I *really* liked it.

interesting lyrics

I would have said much more negative things until I did the research and found out a bit about him. Very nothingburger album tho, cool at times but very forgettable

Look, I understand that this album came from his heart and life experiences, which would resonate with the lives of many queer people and those who were outcast or excluded from the societies in which they grew up. However, I'm not a fan of this album at all. This inoffensive piece of modern and well-produced folk music, with his slightly annoying voice, does not tickle my fancy. Not sure I'd put it on my 1001 albums list, but I'm glad the album exists.

No clue what to make of this but I really did not like it. 1.5

I enjoyed Sigourney Weaver

Queen of Denmark was an intriguing album. Despite John Grant being American, I kept finding myself thinking of British artists such as Bowie, The Beatles, Sam Smith, and Radiohead while listening to it. Yet it never felt derivative, and somehow maintained its own identity throughout. Outer Space was my favorite track. Although I can see why an album like this would never be a huge commercial success, there was something about it that kept me interested.

Like almost good, just not quite

Not bad, just boring.

Boring, awful lyrics, ok voice

I had never heard this record. Really good. I like Midlake who back up Grant (former singer/songwriter for the Czars) and convinced him to end his hiatus and make this record. It’s a little uneven, but there are some great songs here. Sigourney Weaver and Chicken Bones are standouts. 3.7

I’d never heard of John Grant and I’ve got to say that I love his voice. The compositions are also often beautiful. The lyrics are often poignant and sometimes quite witty. I’m giving this one 4*, mostly so I’m prompted to check out more of his stuff.

I used to work with a guy named Jonathan Grant and he listened to "comedy" "music" like this. It's not fun, it's not funny.

That was fun. A few ear worms. Sigourney Weaver rules.

Good

Quirky singer/songwriter type of album covering such a wide-ranging set of musical styles. Not totally my jam, but this is enough to get me to explore The Czars and more of his solo work over time.

Never heard of this guy, not really my cup of tea. Reminded me of the Beatles

Never heard of John Grant but really liked the album. A bit offensive at times but enjoyable all the same.

01) TC and Honeybear - 7,0 02) Marz - 7,0 03) Where Dreams Go to Die - 7,0 04) Sigourney Weaver - 6,5 05) Chicken Bones - 6,5 06) Silver Platter Club - 5,5 07) It's Easier - 6,0 08) Outer Space - 6,0 09) Jesus Hates Faggots - 6,5 10) Caramel - 6,0 11) Leopard & Lamb - 6,5 12) Queen of Denmark - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,42 (64/100) Current ranking: 651/933

Oddly interesting

Sittin between a 3 and 4. Really fun but the bo burnham meets dark side of the moon was a tough review to read right before listening, it is all I could focus on. There’s a lot of high school theater kid energy on this but most of it is doing the right thing.

I've listened to several other John Grant albums, so I knew what what to expect. That said, it was better than I'd expected, I love Grant's vocals and his lyrics have some smashing lines. I rate this really highly.

Teetering a very fine balance between "this is fine" and "quite dull."

okay i saw this cover and was like whattt but i really enjoyed this

Original and rather timeless, I initially thought this was a 70s record! 3.6

fav song: it's easier tonedeaf, bitter, lyrical(?) 30/100

no idea what to rate. liked some of it a lot

Sounds like bo burnam

I absolutely loved this. I'd heard it before, but getting to know it well was a real treat. It reminded me of being a kid and just wanting to listen to an album over and over again - this is one of the main reasons I am going this list! Would I review it as 5 star for a wider audience - possibly not. But given how much I have loved it, it's an easy 5 for me, and I suspect will feature heavily in my Spotify wrapped at the end of the year.

Weird, off-beat, kinda fun. Like emo glam rock.

the album like 90% revolves around its turn-of-the-century vocal stylings, which are sort of trapped somewhere between Fountains of Wayne and Cake, flat and predictable but still sort of campy? feels entirely behind its own time. the harmonies and vocal effects used here get close to droning pretty often, a sound i generally attach to more capable youtube parody music. the lyrics have this element of high school poetry fundamentals, and the pop culture references feel a little funny (weird). that being said, maybe it was well-timed because there was something completely charming about it, to the point that even an average score feels dishonest. favorite song is Chicken Bones or Queen of Denmark, or the one with the slurs

Rating: 5/10 Feels like something deeply personal and important for the artist who made it, and probably some people who have connected with it over the years, which is what art is all about. That does not automatically make an enjoyable album for me though and I just didn't really like any of the songs. It's fine, the last song actually was pretty good

I actually really like it, reminds me of Father John Misty. I had my suspicions of "funny album" in a Weird Al kind of way, but vocals and instruments were great and interesting and different enough throughout to stay really cool, and I'm sure if I was a lyrics guy then I would probably find them insightful or tastefully satirical or something. I liked the novel space noises as well 8.2/10

Some good parts but generally a miss

Not really into it

Beautiful album but wtf are these lyrics?

Сара 2 Марко 2,5

Favourite tracks: TC & Honeybear, Caramel Great instrumentation but the lyrics are lacking. Also soft rock ain't really my thing so this was hard to get through. 2/5

This was terrible. Feels like there is a joke here that I was not in on. Some of the melodies feel like direct ripoffs (Beatles, Nickelback). Not much positive to say here. I think this is my first 1 that I didn’t shut off.

It's fine, I enjoyed it more as it went on and I acclimated. Can't say I'm a fan of the slurs.

**A strange album. Wierd words, but beautiful vocals.

This has border restrictions on Apple. The stupidest most hypocritical thing - it’s either a free market or it’s not. This is not the fault of Dimery or the moderators of this. Probably not even the fault of John Grant. But the dead eyed no soul gronks of what remains of record company slime means that I can’t (actually won’t because I could probably try Spotify or YouTube) hear this. So did not listen. But should have.

It was written with the express purpose of one of the songs being used in a car commercial.

This album reminds of one of my favourite pieces of graffiti from the 1980s. A car park on Parramatta Rd in Sydney had spray-painted in large red letters "God hates homos", to which someone had added a rejoinder "But does he like tabouli?". Homophobia is often most effectively undercut by humour. I had never heard of this artist or album. I read the wikipedia article and I was pretty sure I knew what was coming; mid-level alternative quasi-crooner of the type so beloved in the UK (see also: the Divine Comedy, the Beautiful South, Richard Hawley, et hoc genus omnes), albeit with the 'twist' of being a gay man, backed by a mid-level indie band (Midlake! It's right there in the name!) for an aggressively mid album. Musically, it is reminiscent of 70s singer-songwriter albums like Harry Nilsson or even Elton John, although not as well played/recorded as those major 70s albums. Pastiche of 70s soft rock is not generally my jam. And the first three tracks totally confirmed my initial assessment. "Figured", I thought, "Two stars, but I'll bear with it through to the end just so I can say that I did." And then 'Sigourney Weaver' played, and suddenly my ears pricked up. The musical presentation was much the same -- handsome crooning like so many songs we have heard a million times before -- but the lyrics were a take I'd never heard before. Funny and sarcastic and conversational and heavily inspired by pop culture, this sounds much more like the way my friends and I talk to each other. And it wasn't an aberration. I really enjoyed the rest of the album. As a number of reviewers have commented, he lifts musical ideas from the past, but I see that more as placing himself in a musical tradition and building on the shoulders of giants rather than plagiarism. But the lyrics were a fresh take on classic themes -- adolescent trauma, bad relationships, self-destructive behaviour -- and I often found the songs funny, unfiltered and/or surprising while delivered with a straight face. Reading others' reviews, I can see that this facet of this album that I liked best is what really pissed off a lot of people. Me, I like the lyrics, especially 'Silver Platter' which talks about his feelings towards (straight male) privilege (slightly jealous) and the title track which feels like a weird re-write of 'Can't Live Without You', rising to an angry climax where Grant turns his hurt and trauma back on his tormentors, ending in a final devastating punchline. 'JC Hates Faggots' seems to be particularly triggering for a lot of reviewers. Attitudes towards the use of slurs are evolving at present, so some people find slurs unacceptable -- especially slurs that do not align with the singer's own identity -- even in the context of a song that is clearly highly critical of prejudice. And that is a valid viewpoint. I do suspect, however, that some people are more upset by the criticism of so-called Christians using Jesus Christ's name to justify their ridiculous hatreds. I think Grant does a good job of calling out this terrible behaviour as somewhere between hypocrisy, bigotry and idiotic wrong-headedness. So, you know, if you find this song triggers you, I'd recommend having a good think about why that is. Two minor quibbles: 1- Grant's singing is double-tracked on nearly every song, which I find emotionally distancing. Double tracking can add power when used judiciously, but here it makes the singing seem less personal, more artificial. I find this production choice inexplicable as he has a great voice. His singing on 'Caramel' is both powerful and moving without double tracking. Maybe the content was a bit raw, so an arch affectation like double tracking allowed him to remove himself a bit from the realness of what he was singing. 2- Fucking bonus tracks. I feel like this is really well sequenced and timed album, and it reaches a cathartic crescendo in the final, title track. The emotional impact is immediately undone by the addition of four bonus tracks which are mostly joke tracks. I strongly recommend turning this off a soon as the title track is over. This is clearly a minor album and doesn't really warrant a place on this list. But I enjoyed being introduced to this, and frankly, a surprising listen was welcome at this point in the journey, less than 100 albums from the end. I was initially going to give this two stars but I really started to dig everything from 'Sigourney Weaver' to 'Queen of Denmark'., so I want to give it 3.5 stars because I really enjoyed it. Which I am rounding up to four stars to piss off anyone who rated this down because of homophobia.

some good stuff here

One of the most up to date albums so far, pleasing that it is so good. Already knew about GMF but hadn't heard this before. Well worth a listen.

Thought this was pretty decent - it sounds very **Elton John**, **Carpenters**, **Pink Floyd** and mid-to-latter day **Anathema**-esque in its piano-driven melancholy across large spells, and I've few complaints with that. Analogue synthesisers, swelling string arrangements and delicate flute playing gives the album a 70s feel, although updated with a modern production sheen. It's a constant, compelling fusion of pitch-black cynicism and raw trauma delivered in a witty, deadpan fashion under a warm, opulent veil, and although it does suffer from some slight pacing issues, fortunately it does have a knack of eventually switching things up when listening fatigue begins to set in.

I listened to this on a hot, sunny day when I was in a really good mood, and I liked it a lot. I have a sneaking suspicion though that if both the weather and I had been a bit more miserable, I might have gone to five stars for this.

Funny album. Some songs remind me of Weird Al Yankovic. Sigourney Weaver stood out the most.

This was a very.... interesting album very weird songs and some ok ones but I just was thrown off by them haha

3/5 Wat de hell is dat 9e nummer😭😭

Мені здався альбом нерівним або, можливо, перевантаженим деякими піснями. Музично нічого особливого: комбінація інді-фолку з чембер-попом, але тексти є хороші. Відчувається щирість.

Місцями цікавий квір чембер поп (чомусь багато в цьому списку альбомів саме цього жанру), але місцями доволі нудно, та й затягнуто. Коротше хіт енд міс.

This was not what I was expecting at all and I was all for it

Listened to a random 5 second section of a randomly chosen song and I never want to hear this guy again. I will listen at some point today but NOT looking forward to it. Update: hot garbage. Will not finish.

Never heard of this artist before. Strikes me like a mix of Rufus Wainwright and Beck, with speckles of David Gilmour towards the end of the record? That aside I fear for music if this made the cut.

Pleasant, easy-going tunes, but I was specifically looking for energetic tunes for the gym; this is not that.

Sorry not a fan.

Well that was interesting. Some racism, some homophobia, some nice piano work and some real spacey vibes.

Actually not bad. Not my usual cup of tea but this was light and enjoyable, with a mild sense of quirkiness. Feels kinda Paul McCartney inspired. Childish lyrics but thats kind of a good thing.

Musically, it’s okay. Meanwhile the lyrics can veer quickly from the banal to the very strange. If you took out the more ordinary and the more unsubtle songs, it feels like this album could be from a fictional band on an Adult Swim show? Like, I don’t know how to explain it. I liked 'Sigourney Weaver' most, as it felt like a good synthesis of the quirky and self-pitying parts. Last track was good too. wait hold on what he wrote that Pollapönk song

Not 100% sure what to make of this! I mostly liked it, could lose a couple of songs. Kind of reminded me of the Divine Comedy album (which I loved), but done in 2010.

? who is this guy apparently someone's cousin who put him on the list WHY

This reminds me of a pilot I had about 20 years ago while flying between Houston and Dallas. He stood at the door of the cockpit and, with a poised and hypnotic pilot's voice, told us to be seated and what to expect. When I finally tuned into what he was saying, which was easy to ignore, it was along the lines of, "We'll be flying at 30 feet. Much lower than you are used to, but you'll love the more intimate view. I canceled all adverse weather, so nothing to speak of there. Now, sit tight, buckle up, this is going to be one helluva ride." No one except me laughed or even heard what he said.

Stephin Merritt. Morrissey. Neil Hannon. Jarvis Cocker...John Grant?

# Album Name: Queen Of Denmark # Artist: John Grant # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: A few good ballards like Marz, Some dud ones like Sig Weaver and chicken bones. Overall this got a bit long in the tooth for me. # Top Tunes: Marz # Would I listen to it again? Some of it

Like Harry Nilsson and Rufus Wainwright frenching (just for me)

Started out pretty good. It was reminded me of Fleet Foxes and Father John Misty. Then it became corny as hell starting with that ridiculous Sigourney Weaver song. My eyes were rolling like crazy this whole album. Favorite track: Marz

This album has great intentions I won't denay that. Most of the time it comes out really good. You can sence Grant's songwriting abilities pretty quickly. I do believe there is a gap between great song and others, not so successful. I actually believe it could be a almost perfect 35, 40 minutes project. (All first 4 are really good songs, the rest are split between better and worse) I'll give this one a 3

Solid album would definitely listen to again, and buy on cd, had never heard of this guy before

The vocals are a bit too monotone for me but the writing is pretty good feels a lot like father John misty 6/10 Favourite: Queen of Denmark Least Favourite: Chicken Bones

3.5. Good but at times bland,

I love the arrangement of the instruments, but the lyrics are okay. That won't keep me from listening to it though. I like the sound too much to not enjoy it.

aldrigt hört talas om ingen, fanns många bra låtar!

white man n word debuff

Insufferable prick that really made my ears ring half way through. The first few songs definitely hit and are good then the rest is a slog, fuck this album.

i'm almost certain i listened to this once already, but that was likely before i used this site to track my progress. i remember absolutely nothing about this album though (which means this was probably a boring listen), so i'll relisten and rate this once and for all TC and Honeybear - 4/5 Marz - 4/5 Where Dreams Go to Die - 4/5 Sigourney Weaver - 3/5 Chicken Bones - 1/5 Silver Platter Club - 2/5 It's Easier - 3/5 Outer Space - 4/5 Jesus Hates Faggots - 3/5 Caramel - 3/5 Leopard & Lamb - 3/5 Queen of Denmark - 3/5 Average score: 3.1/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ he sounds very reminiscent of Father John Misty to me (whose music i enjoy quite a bit), and perhaps a bit of Bo Burnham? i meam, this guy sounds like a very dull version of both artists but i hear the similarities nevertheless i wanted to be more forgiving in my rating but most of his tracks just sound the same to me. same chords, same vocals, same everything. it just made for a very flat listening experience overall, unfortunately all that being said, i've heard worse albums on this list, and the score certain doesn't mean it's a bad album. just a bit underwhelming

I really enjoyed GMF from his next album, but I have never heard this one before. I liked it a lot. I was going back and forth between 4 and 5 stars, but I think it is clever enough that I will go full marks.

Interesting album, but pretty good. The singing and production were good and it was funny. Nothing outstanding but a solid 4

Huh, I wonder where I heard Marz before. This album sounds like a classic! It's crazy that it's from 2010.

This album sort of meanders and careens the whole time, Grants lyrics come off as humorous but not funny, or poignant but shallow. His voice is nice, sort of rounded and spoken-word-like, but that isn’t enough to carry this album of statements without substance. Also, fuck him for using the N-word as a white guy in the big 2010.

Right off the bat, every minute of TC Honeybear reminded more and more of Father John Misty and I don't even like that guy that much. Just really sounds like he studied every inch of his style. And to be fair, I do think this Grant guy does it better. Always annoying when the white armchair activist feels they have a right to drop slurs that don't pertain to them, especially 40 of them back to back! Definitely dropping a star or two for that one

terrible

Was not before familiar. Good stuff.

A nice suprirse to see singer/songwriter album from 2010 that sounds like 60s pop, but the self-indulgent edginess of this one is keeping me from rating this higher

No idea who John Grant is, guess we'll see. Off the bat it seems a bit too mellow for my taste but interesting enough. This album was fabulous, it really just had the right amount of humor and biting sarcasm. My only complaint is I prefer much more upbeat music but this was a great listen.

I was surprised by this. A very good album. The “electronic” part of the album was like: ok, what? But the rest was pretty good. A 3,5

This rating does not endorse the language used in track 9. Holy moly.

First time hearing the artist, amazing voice, loved the album.

Title track #1

Grows on ya. My first listen had me thinking it was typical pop nothingness. I did catch the occasional lyric that was interesting, but I usually don't go read all the lyrics of an album before giving it one full listen. Just to get the overall vibe. Upon diving in again, I liked it a lot more. I listened more for lyrics because I thought there might be some good ones based on the few jump-outs on the first go 'round. This one caught me and now I like him a lot more. There's this great lyric in "Where Dreams Go To Die" that I had to share with a couple of people. This is not something you hear in typical pop tunes. "Baby, you're where dreams go to die I regret the day your lovely carcass caught my eye" And there are others along this line. His voice is fine, not amazing, but never annoying either. So I'm good with it. Musically, there isn't a lot of experimentation or anything that really stuck out as super interesting. I mean, it's fine. Not thin, pop keyboard crap. But it's not ever astounding. I'm going to give this a solid 3. I can see myself coming back and giving it another listen or two. If you only try it once, consider giving it another throw. It might grow on ya.

Strange lyrics aside, I really dug this guy's sound! It was lush and haunting and whimsical. I've never heard of him, and I'm glad this list gave me the intro. And now, to check his Wikipedia page to see if he's ever done any sexual assault. I've been burned before...

Wow, I'm really loving the guitar on this first track. I like the softness of his voice too. Holy shit the piano on the second track, damn! I've actually heard this one before. Yep, I had that one favorited. Don't know how I came across that one. The melodies on these songs are pretty. Where Dreams Go To Die was really good. I liked JC Hates Faggots lol. I'll give this one 4 stars.

Marz

the cover was distrubing and i only liked 3 songs

Quirky and weird in ways I appreciate. I could deal with the tongue-in-cheek f-slur, but the use of the n-word was quite the fumble. 4/10

Never heard before but really nice to sing along to, and also liked the lyrics, would definitely like to do a deeper dive into this album

nice album, but a bit too dark for 4 for me

Un buen álbum por un artista no tan conocido por este lado del mundo. Con un espíritu de cantautor que muchos estadounidenses comparten (tal como Father John Misty), este disco también explora la identidad LGBTIQ+ de Grant, lo que se nota en las composiciones y los sonidos elegidos; una reminiscencia del ballroom y una predominancia del piano como instrumento principal. Creo que la única gran falla de este álbum es que es demasiado largo. Podrían haber sido fácilmente dos LPs de 30 minutos, o incluso ser clasificado como un disco doble - 1 hora y algo se siente cansador, sobretodo para un proyecto que no tiene una paleta de colores tan variopinta. ¿Es un disco escencial que hay escuchar antes de morir? No lo creo (preferiría escuchar el Ta-Dah de Scissor Sisters). Es Kitsch y lo volvería a escuchar, claramente. Lo disfruté. Pistas destacadas Where Dreams Go to Die Sigourney Weaver Silver Platter Club JC hates Faggots

Never heard of this artist, so this was a pleasant surprise. Really liked it; good arrangements with biting and darkly funny lyrics.

This album proves that the whole purpose of listening to 1,039 albums may be worth it. I had no idea this guy existed, this album existed, and songs as beautiful existed. I could not get off the couch when this album was on. It glued me and compelled me to listen and then re-listen. I'm so happy I am on this journey so that I could find an album like this.

Holy moly, these lyrics are terrible.

Astonished by the reviews on here. This is brilliant! Witty, dark, deliberately janky.

This was okay. Indie rock-ish sad white guy who also happens to own a synth and sometimes has GREAT lyrics and sometimes... doesn't. Great voice, though!

Don't judge a book by it's cover, this is the definition of this album

Reminded me a bit of Father John Misty. Lyrics were at times funny, sad and bizarre. One particular song caught me off guard. 2.9/5.

Am I missing something?

This is music. It seems fine. There were songs and moments I liked, but it was nothing mind blowing.

I know I came across John Grant sometime in January of last year in my music discoveries, when I heard the single "GMF" from his second album, Pale Green Ghosts. A singer-songwriter from Buchanan, Michigan, he co-founded Denver-based alternative rock group The Czars. They enjoyed critical, if not commercial, success for a little over a decade before splitting up, with John taking a four-year hiatus doing odd jobs in New York City. At some point, he had a chance encounter with members of Texas-based folk rock group Midlake, who persuaded him to return to music. This led to the start of John's solo career, with Queen of Denmark as his debut, produced in collaboration with Midlake's own Paul Alexander and Eric Pulido. Right out of the gate with "TC and Honeybear", the sound of this record is laid bare, with warm acoustic guitar textures, Paul's supple bass, McKenzie Smith's organic percussion, and John's sultry baritone delivery. There are additional embellishments throughout, such as the vocal harmonies, gentle piano touches, and string and flute arrangements, all working that baroque pop influence. It is a sonically gorgeous album to get lost in, but as with anything from a singer-songwriter, the most notable aspect to digest is the lyrical content. Boy, does John give me a lot to reflect on and ponder with his words. Queen of Denmark is a deeply personal record, with some cynical humor and wit to give it that edge. Certainly familiar territory for someone like me who's listened to the likes of Father John Misty and Sturgill Simpson; John Grant fits in that lane. The melancholic longing for childhood innocence is juxtaposed with all the references to candy and sweets on "Marz", the futile efforts to mold a romantic interest into someone they aren't on "Where Dreams Go to Die", the comparisons he draws from female protagonists in films on "Sigourney Weaver", his self-awareness in the pursuit of becoming this idealized masculine person on "Silver Platter Club", there are a lot of songs like these where he comes off toeing the line between genuine earnest contemplations and coy, tongue-in-cheek playfulness. There were some points where I couldn't help but laugh at some of the zingers, like with the choruses of "Sigourney Weaver" that point out some of the absurdities in the writing and acting for the Aliens and Bram Stoker's Dracula films, or "Chicken Bones," which elevates a mundane daily morning routine with lines like "I'm about to explode, just like a Wonderbread bomb" and "You'd better watch out sugar/Cause I'm about to get my Old Spice on." I was certainly on board with the record by this point. Which brings me to the song that I've wrestled with the most, and that's "Jesus Hates F-----s". For context, I'm a straight guy, but I do have friends and family who are of different sexual orientations, so I hate it when people get disrespectful to others because of that difference. In particular, I have a disdain for a particular f-word that carries a negative connotation towards gay people, which has come up in multiple albums in my journey. All that said, John Grant is actually gay, which is something that could be picked up on from understanding his words in songs like "Sigourney Weaver" and "Silver Platter Club". If anything, this song here pretty much illustrates the issues that he saw growing up in a Christian household that doesn't tolerate, as he points out how easy it is to twist and bend those teachings to marginalize anything. It's only in the final chorus where John makes it abundantly clear how that religion has been used to discriminate and persecute those who are different, including that f-word and also the n-word, which is certainly a choice for a white guy to try and pull off in 2010. But in any case, his point is direct, and it is an uncomfortable listen that got me thinking, which I consider to be a success at the end of the day. From there, the album further reinforces John's sense of self-discovery with the tender ballad "Caramel" and the strife in overcoming a breakup on the piano-driven "Leopard and Lamb", closing out with the bombastic questioning and self-deprecation on the title track. Honestly, I was not expecting a record this profound. Queen of Denmark certainly cements John Grant as another amazing singer-songwriter that I should be paying attention to more.

Pleasantly surprised but not impressed. Without diving into the lyrics and their meaning, it sounds like a drug fueled rant against capitalism and consumerism which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think it deserves a 5/10

It sounds like a SNL parody of indie rock. I made it to 1.5 songs and gave up. Earnestness, silly instrumentation, precious lyrics.. The list goes on. The cover art is a warning shot of what’s to come

This is a parody right? Juvenile lyrics, ridiculous similes, boring melodies, earnest singing, and piano? Definitely a parody. Or red hot flaming garbage. You decide.

It's fine. Lush arrangements, kind of boring. I started skipping songs when they were halfway through around track 5. Track 7 I liked pretty well and listened to in its entirety. According to wikipedia, Mojo declared this an instant classic, and it made several Year End best album lists ... the 2010s were a time of mystery ...

I found this record irritating, confounding, at times endearing and even pleasurable. Listening to the first three tracks I thought, I'm not going to make it through this album. I can only take so much lugubrious free verse. But somewhere around the middle of the track listing I started to think--am I enjoying this? At the very least, I am intrigued. The Jesus song sealed the deal--now I'm definitely glad I listened to this album. Also, Sineàd's cover of Queen of Denmark is terrific, I think, although hard to find on streaming services. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLc-JE4oRLM&list=RDTLc-JE4oRLM&start_radio=1

This was hauntingly beautiful. This was hauntingly beautiful. Long before Lil Nas X, John Grant was singing about the struggle of being queer in a homophobic society. But there's a hopeful resilience within the melancholy that I can't help but feel inspired by. 'Chicken Bones' feels like Bruno Mars' 'The Lazy Song' with a sharper bite, while Sigourney Weaver is just straight up funny. 'Where Dreams Go to Die' covers an obsessive, perhaps even toxic love with such vivid imagery. "Your lovely carcass caught my eye" is such a stellar line. And 'What Time?' just perfectly caps off this album that I didn't think I'd like so much. Beautiful vocals, beautiful piano... Just a straight up wonderful experience.

It is very uplifting to hear how the guys from Midlake made some music with their buddy who was going through a rough time. It's main edge but also flaw is the bluntness with which it describes struggles and injustice. It is a therapy record. After hearing Lennon's shot at this I proposed that they don't merritt inclusion in this list. This album is better than that, if only because the nature of talking bluntly about your emotions has evolved from primal scream quackery to pointing out injustices in society that people can relate to.

Mixed feelings. Some obvious highlights - like the amazing title track, and JC hates... - but not quite enough of them to sustain the whole album. Couple of the bonus tracks too, while fun, don't really belong here. 3.7

wasn’t doing much for us

For the lyrics stopping me in ny tracks (which had not happened in a while on this list)

Pink floyd, Beatles y David Bowie vibes.

Weird lyrics. Music is fine.

Rufus Wainwright tier

It won my attention. A bit Tim Mincheny

the most i can say about this album is that the track "marz" has a remarkably similar piano progression to keygen church's "tenebre rosso sangue" which is what i thought about for the rest of the record. this was incredibly middling musically with very juvenile lyrics. i also think "jesus hates f*ggots" is a baffling song because like. No. No You Should Not Be Saying Those Slurs Man. who in their right mind even remotely thought to themselves this is a notable album worth listening to? exhausting beyond belief.