Reviews (page 4 of 9)
This is one of the biggest surprises for me of the whole list. I was not expecting much, and after the first couple tracks, I thought it would be a 3 or maybe 4, but nothing remarkable. Yet as it progressed, as I became more invested in the lyrics, as the harmonies and melodies started feeling meaningful rather than mundane, I ultimately found this album quite wonderful. This one will stick with me for a while, and one of my favorite discoveries from this list so far.
Unlistenable garbage, kind of like an eighth grader's diary read over shitty music
As Jesus Christ, I'm okay with homos, you are cool guys and girls
A bit weird but peaceful and easy listening I suppose
Didn't like the album after the first couple songs, but then it started to pick up. I thought this might be a 2 or 3, but after the last song moved it up to a 4. A lot of fun lyrics. Sigourney Weaver, Silver Platter Club, Jesus Hates, Outer Space, and Queen of Denmark stood out. "I wanted to change the world, but I couldn't even change my underwear". I would like to dive into more of his music and the band he had before this. 4/5
I'm not sure if I'd give this a 5 on most days, but this album hit me at a good time. Working from home and snow on the ground....it was a good vibe of light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek lyrics with some softer, good music. Enjoyed it a lot, and will be listening again.
Made me smile a few times, music itself isn't bad.
Orchestral rock sound; was pretty enjoyable to listen to as background music. Might need to re-listen for actual lyrics.
When this came out I read the reviews and thought it was going to be some sort of whiny, miserabilist, folky experience. And then I heard Chicken Bones. The lesson is either don’t believe reviews or I should work on my reading comprehension.
Meh. Vocals and lyrics lacked for me. The band surrounding him saved it from being a total flop for me personally.
Can be a little edgy at times, but there’s some good tracks. Classic indie vibe.
Had to look to see if this was the same guy as father John misty. Didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would based on the reviews I read. Lyrics were stupid but I liked the music.
At the start, I was like wtaf is this word salad? Is this some bizarre attempt at Burroughs’ cut-up technique? After a few songs I was laughing at some of the turns of phrase. A pleasant surprise.
Superb
Competent, but a little too down for my tastes. ★★
Very engaging lyrics and music. He has a way of creating very beautiful tunes while also incorporating some anterior instruments like synths. His lyrics and vocals follow a similar path, which is very whimsical and quirky lines but delivered with talent and smooth vocals. This isnt and every day listen, but a casual revisit.
I love this album. Yes, it's a bit self indulgent, yes, the lyrics are sometimes a bit twee, but John Grant seems to genuinely thrilled top finally give voice to his ups and downs in his life.
Wow how was this not on my radar… loved this. Like all the good parts of sufjan, Andrew Bird and Father John Misty with a David lynch sense of humor. Definitely going into the rotation.
(90/100)
Langweilig und eintönig
I see merit here, it's just not quite my jam
It's almost like Eno but with a more biting, ironic humor and clinical depression. It's not my cup of tea but not bad.
Never heard of this guy. Like a lugubrious Nilsson and They Might Be Giants mixed together. The voice suits the songs and the production is nicely lush. I like it.
Never heard of this, this guy is great. kind of reminds me of a more approachable Jens Lekman or a less pretentious Father John Misty.
Interesting but the lyrics border on parody at times for me.
Cozy start but got a bit poor lyrically and long
Excellent song writing all around. Completely pulled me in. Horrible album cover though.
Had no expectation of this album as never heard of the artist and was very pleased with the listen . Big lover of electronic music and this album pushed the boundaries with some cool songs .
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Marz, Where Dreams Go To Die, Jesus Hates Faggots Boy was this a weird one, from the music to the subject matter, to the themes... there's a lot going on. I liked it. I don't know if its going to enter my album rotation, but it will definitely be added to my library. It was interesting and memorable enough to think about. I don't know what to make of Marz, but it evokes a certain hometown, southern, middle America vibe - specific lyrics - Football, Henry ford, rootbeer, sweet sixteen, butterscotch - and this is juxaposed with like... desserts? flavor pairings? Not to mention Marz could be short for Marzipan, which is a dessert. And then you have the absolutely devastating Where Dreams Go To Die - a person so infatuated with their partner, and their partner is just not giving anything back - an emotional black hole. The person regrets the relationship because its just not emotionally fulfilling. The hits keep on coming. A song about John feeling sensations Sigourney Weaver felt as Ripley in the movie Alien. And also Winona Ryder. Chicken Bones is borderline nonsensical. Silver Platter Club is a tongue-in-cheek "apology" about a person not being born "adequate" at "normal" things like sports, physicalities, being a jock, etc. And then probably the most bold song on the album is Jesus Hates Faggots. Wow. Just Wow. Talk about a scathing criticism of pervasive homophobic tendencies found in a certain population of politically-aligned individuals, but its not just a criticism of homosexuality, its a criticism of ALL of the close-minded, ass-backwards opinions a significant portion of the world population seems to have - and this came out in 2010. A good 15 years later and this is still as pertinent as ever. 4.5
I'm clearly missing something that makes it special. Not offensively bad, just offensively bland if you interpret the lyrics as "drugs" rather than "deep?"
Influential? Maybe - I hear Father John Misty and that Swedish guy too. Where it gets pop traction I really like it.
Never heard of this guy...and it's pretty obvious why. I can think of better ways to be put to sleep. It also sounds very 70s and I think it was more "influenced by" than "influential".
I'd never heard of this guy, but I guess his contribution was that he inspired a generation of bearded guitar dudes to say jeez, I could make a better record than that with my eyes closed, and they did. Thanks from Bon Iver, Father John Misty, and all those guys, no thanks from me. (It would have been cool if he'd sung it in Icelandic, though).
First things first. I wish I wasn’t traveling today and had more time to write about this album. I think I’d write a novel otherwise. My main reaction to this album is just WOW! And now my questions. How have I never heard of John Grant? How am I not already a huge fan? When can I see him live? How soon will I listen to the rest of his discography? This album is amazing. His lyrics are biting, funny, heartfelt, sometimes all in one song. I’ve saved so many as favorites that I might as well have saved the entire album. This is the best “new to me” find in this project. By far.
Quirky and corny. Who knew that folk music is still alive? This album makes the 1001 Must Hear List because of the song Jesus Hates Faggots. Queen John was handed some musical talent. (2.4*s)
What do we have here? A weird alien comedy album from a Queen? Every song just blended into the next with Grant rambling on about extraterrestrial love affairs. I don't like it when the lyrics don't rhyme either. Title track and "God Hates Faggots" stood out amongst the rest of the drivel. Midlake should have left JG in musical hiatus because there is something rotting in Denmark...1.67 stars.
I can't figure out what's going on with Queen Of Denmark. One minute he's singing about Sigourney Weaver and aliens and then he's tackling conservative religion and suicidal depression. At times it felt like a children's album, at other times it felt like an emotionally charged thinkpiece about the writer's personal beliefs/feelings. The tone is all over the place and I can't figure out if it's a sarcastic album with tongue in cheek nods or something to be taken seriously. Sure it's creative, but I'm not sure I really enjoyed any of it. I can understand why someone would connect with this, but it was a little too artsy fartsy for me. 1.64 stars
Album No. 0060 on my list. I have to admit that this album caught me completely off guard. I’ve never heard of John Grant before even. But this is the first album that I didn’t know before that really blew me away. I love the music, I love the blend of styles and genres, I love Grant’s singing. Makes me feel oddly comfortable and relaxed. And I love the lyrics. They may sound a bit clumsy occasionally, but that even adda to the album’s character. And most of them are really great. Love the topics, love the style. It’s hard to pick personal favorites from this, but “TC & Honeybear”, “Marz”, “Where The Dreams Go To Die”, “Sigourney Weaver”, “JC Hates Faggots”, “Queen of Denmark”, and “What Time?” are the best songs on this (that’s already 7 songs). “That’s The Good News” is a strange, out of place song sung with a German accent, but at least I find it funny as a German. “Queen Of Denmark” is already one of my favorite albums of the 2010s, and has the potential to become one of my all-time favorites! 5/5 stars!
Queen of Denmark” (2010) is lush, sad-humorous indie folk/soft rock with very strong lyrics and melodies, but it leans heavily on slow, confessional ballads—if you’re not in the mood for introspective, emotionally heavy songs, it might feel more admirable than replayable.
Didn’t really grab me at all
Brilliant lyrics!
The first two songs are great, but the rest doesn't live up to it. I do like that the singer explores his LGBTQ identity. Nice instrumentation too.
Album Nr. 87 Der Musikstil der Form Singer & Songwriter ist OK. Weniger schön sind die Stilbrüche vor allem der Titel 13 und 14 sowie die gefühlte Langeweile, zumindest bei mir, nach dem 3. Titel.
Holy shit. Incredible. Immediately one of my faves of the project so far. It's SO Father John Misty with a good measure of Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson thrown in. I feel like Bo Burnham listens to this guy
👎🏻
i'm in a bad mood - this sounded outdated and too theatre kid to me. i have the suspicion i mightve liked it a whole lot more on a different day
3.9 not bad but just worse gizzard
Never heard of him. Great surprise. I listened twice and will listen again. Some heartfelt and some ironic. The words add an interesting punch. Please read the lyrics!
I aspire to be as biting with my colorful language as John Grant is. Amazing lyrics and excellent harmonies.
Not my jam.
I liked some of these tracks for being goofy and the nice instrumentation. Can’t stand that album cover, though.
He’s kind if like a twisted funhouse mirror Elton John. The first time I ever heard him was when I saw him open for The Pixies I believe not long after this record came out, and he was an impressive performer. These songs are dark in a wistfully sardonic way. They’re excellent but I can only listen to them in a very particular mood.
The first half of the album is beautiful, but I think it falls off at the end
Solides Songwriter Werk mit wenigen Schwächen aber auch kaum Highlights.
I kind of like the minor harmonies and broody thing going on here. Some Jethro Tull-esque Flute action as well.
Quirky, melancholic album. Has some interesting moments. Highlights: "Sigourney Weaver" and "Leopard and Lamb"
Boring. Really, really boring. Not sure what the allure was supposed to be here.
This album was a pleasant surprise. Wasn’t previously familiar with the artist or his former band, but appreciated the style, voice, and lyrics throughout. This was a great find and one I look forward to learning more about and listening to again.
2.5
Late addition album and it looks all quirked up. They’ve got the BK crown and the double vision album cover? Give this artist the BAFTA. Listen I’m being careful with pronouns here because lord knows what’s goin’ on with this fella. I move to make “fella” gender neutral. It’s my favourite word. TC & Honeybear - Holy SHIT, they got Honeybear lore on here?? I’m not gleaning anything new. This is entry level Honeybear info. R/bigfatbearcreatures is well versed in all of this. I need new shit. Marz - Jason Mraz. Remember how bad that guy sucked? Kind of like this David Bowie track over the piano overture from an elementary school Christmas play. Turns into an ok track. Where The Dreams Go to Die - Man Adele. Male presenting at least. Gotta keep up my non gendered language. Fuck I’m dumb. Uhh anyway, this is kind of a nice song. Lilting slow dance melody. The vocals still hit me as pretty generic, but the songwriting is there. Sigourney Weaver - Hooo boy, I’m gettin’ a skosh snoozy. Chicken Bones - Mongoose mentioned. Swears mentioned. This is kind of a funny one. I’ll take that in lieu of great intrigue or uhh musical enjoyment. Silver Platter Club - I’m starting to get quirky millennial from this, and I’m not thrilled about that. On the other hand, it’s kind of endearing in its way. Ugh. Yeah this track is actually very good. Relatable feelings of dread surrounding your own mental and physical traits, with that same tone deaf superiority complex so many of us stampede through life with. The highs and lows of being self-aware, boiled into a weird polka adjacent song. It’s Easier - Yeah, when the songs are GOOD, it’s easier. I actually have no metric for what is good or bad anymore. Did I ever? Ken eyed observers will see that I never did. Outer Space - Nobody ever talks about Inner Space. Think about that. What is big solar system hiding? Maybe it’s these vocals actually getting good. Weird stuff, fun melody. JC Hates Faggots - Uhhhh can we say this? Are we on the air?? Yeah I like statements that make people uncomfortable like this. A gay man singing about himself ironically, the way that people speak about this group of people in REAL LIFE has more power if he doesn’t mince words. If anybody’s gender or sexual orientation bothers you, you have no brain and are the reason the world gets more easy to control by the day. Caramel - Powerful vocal performance. More space noises as well, which don’t go unenjoyed. I don’t care if that’s not a word. Fuck you, English. Leopard and Lamb - Leopards are fucking terrifying. Don’t they frequently eat people on places where they’re common? And they like break into houses. Why are we not sorting this out? Earth confuses me. Queen of Denmark - Pissing in coffee is a time honoured tradition, pioneered by Chris Jericho. Well, I guess that was tea, and probably not the first time it happened. Alright. Part 2010’s millennial parody album, part deeply emotional autobiographical with excellent songwriting. I suppose that leaves “Queen of Denmark” somewhere near the middle of my rating scale. I enjoyed its off the wall turns of phrase and diary-esque nature. There were even some points of relatability here!!! Wow. Thanks for this. A rare non-stinky 2010 album and a nice way to spend a shitty Tuesday in this interminable cycle of wake-work-dread work-sleep. Fanks Johnny. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: Where The Dreams Go to Die, Chicken Bones, Silver Platter Club, Outer Space
only listened to first couple songs but they were beautiful.
There was a hard r in there I wasn't expecting. I think it was done for satire but it really took me out of the album. 2/5
Really love this.
Your most annoying friend just got broken up with and you have to spend 51 minutes alone with him
9/10
I'm not very much into the possibility of "soft rock," as you may recall. Grant invokes, sometimes regretfully, 70s singer-songwriter vibes. His voice and the lyrics are positives, though at times the schmaltz lurks, and the sound can lean that way too. Chicken Bones stays far away from that and it works great. I love the creative forcefulness of the anthemic Jesus Hates.
Chicken bones was fantastic. A lot of this reminded me of things like The Divine Comedy, quirky and weird - quite fun and interesting at times.
It's a creepy album cover, which ends up being the most interesting thing about the record. It's not exactly terrible, but that's not exactly praise.
This was weird. Musically, it was pretty chill and often beautiful. But lyrically, it was ... i'm not even sure i know the word. distracting, I guess. I'm glad I heard it. Not sure it's a must-listen, but it wasn't the worst.
meh mid
Aldrig hört talas om. Tydligen var Midlake något spännande för 15 år sen, missade dem också. The Czars - inte en susning! Obildad tydligen. Hursom var detta en ny spännande bekantskap - som ett kärleksbarn mellan Paul Simon, Paul McCartney och Susan Vega. Fast med mycket sämre texter tyvärr. Arren (med massa märkliga blåsar) drar upp betyget, men texterna drar ner det. Slutar med en stark fyra.
This is one of those albums I feel like I'd have to listen to a lot more to figure out how I really feel. There are parts that jumped out as something I'd really love. And others that might bore me over time. But on a first listen, I liked it.
Really enjoyed this
Giving Harry Nilsson feels in the new milennium
Kind of loved the angry rant lyrics. Enjoyed the music and piano as well. It was pretty different which is nice, will keep him in mind for when the normal rotation starts to feel dull. Stand out songs: Chicken Bones Outer Space Jesus Hates Faggots - (Fantastic!) Queen of Denmark
A slow album and the singer has a nice voice. Its not something that makes me want to listen again though. It feels like an album with songs that could play on the radio but that I wont chose myself.
I loved his lists! Especially on Marz and Jesus Hates. I’m sorry for John that he’s still so mad but it’s better than being so sad he wanted to die like it sounds like he used to be so you know if making this music was good medicine, good for him! Early on, I thought I was going to get tired of this album but it ended up growing on me more the longer it went on. I’m not a newly minted huge John Grant fan now but I’m glad this was on the list.
No
I thought this album was great. Loved the lyrics. Sigourney weaver was wonderful
Eh….not my favorite style or genre but a decent album nonetheless. Was good as background music
This was background music. Nothing more to say.
like that
This album is incredibly well written and executed. One of the rare instances in which I felt like I really understood who the artist was, and what chapter of life he was in during the making of the album. It, admittedly, took a few listens to grow on me. Folk is not one of my preferred genres, but this felt different from other folk albums I've listened to. There's a charm to it I really enjoyed. Not all the songs are absolute bangers, and it was a bit lengthy, but I relatively enjoyed the listening experience.
Never heard of John Grant (or his previous band The Czars) but reading his Spotify bio gives me hope that I might like this - or some of his subsequent - albums. Looking forward to giving this a listen… Well, so far this is pretty tame/medicore. Only half way through so far though. Yeah, wasn’t keen on this. Have cleared my listening queue of the other albums of his I had initially lined up. Not someone I’d listen to again.
It just didn't grab me this time - I suspect it would only get better with further listen
All I hear is Bo Burnham
Overall: 6/10 I would have liked this a lot more if it was shorter. Besides that, the tunes themselves are very catchy and lyrically interesting. There was a lot of variety in the instrumentations, going from folksy stuff to pop. I dig it for the most part. Fav Song: Caramel
Another review mentions that this is like if Lennon didn’t have the rest of the Beatles reining him in. I tend to agree.
Yawn
This album is all over. Good melodies, bad melodies. Good lyrics, bad lyrics. Fun jokey songs, awful “jokey” songs. Stick to a thing
Caught my ear- Where dreams go to die Anthemic choruses, rather pop-driven Instrumentation is decently interesting Sounds rather derivative
Wow, I almost didn't finish it. Outer Space and Caramel are the only good ones. The rest made me hate the album. It feels like listening to Rufus Wainwright's grandfather, but with a bigger depression and not nearly as many good melodies. At some point, I liked two other songs. I'm seriously considering unliking it just because it's so annoying to my ears.
Musically, Grant does a good impression of 70s singer songwriters, but the lyrics just aren't there. It's mostly unconvincingly affected humility and surface-level observations framed in a way that is neither poetic nor clever. That is, of course, with the exception of "JC Hates Faggots" which is a brilliant song. 2.5/5 stars.
It’s great when an album comes up and you go nope never heard of you. The album cover looks naff, Jesus the album is over an hour long. And then you press play. Loved it.
It was cool. Didn’t sound like something made in 2010.
Need to listen more.
Started off good but really fell off after the first 2 songs
nice voice heard a few of John's tracks ..... enjoyed this
Title track is great, along with Sigourney Weaver.
I'm a sucker for folk.
Garbage
Very nice chill rock , definitely worth checking out
agh. sure it's funny but it's not good music...
One reviewer called it "Bo Burnham meets Dark Side of the Moon". While yes, the comparisons to Bo's moody & dark songwriting style are certainly appropriate, the instrumentation doesn't hold a candle to DSotM. That said, the vocals on this thing are poignant and beautiful. I was ready to shrug it off as another dreck-filled soft rock album, but was pleasantly surprised to find an unexpected level of depth on display.
Father John Misty
at first i thought, this was better than i thought it was going to be but i was rapidly proved wrong
I should love John Grant. His slower acoustic ballads land somewhere between Father John Misty and some of the more heartfelt Scissor Sisters songs, and are genuinely really good. But then he goes and injects a bunch of electronic production and produces some of the worst songs I’ve ever heard. And I like that kind of music usually, he’s just really bad at it. So yeah, much like every other John Grant album I’ve heard, I half loved and half hated this.
Really pretty music with weird-ass lyrics. "I feel just like Sigourney Weaver when she had to kill that alien guy." "Bittersweet, strawberry, marshmallow, butterscotch, polar bear, cashew, Dixieland, phosphate, chocolate..." "Baby, you are where dreams go to die and I regret the day your lovely carcass caught my eye."
3 sterne
Gear: Letshuoer S12 PRO Artwork: 🫅👥📷 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 📝💭🪪 Rating: 👑👑👑👑(👑)/5
liked it
Sorry. Not for me. 1/5
It's unique, but not unlistenable.
I really enjoyed some of the songs on this, I'd like a closer listen! It was a refreshing mix of styles, which meant some were less my thing, but it was cool.
I really don't know what to want from this world
The subject matter is incredibly meaningful, but John Grant's singing style is one that I need to take in small doses. Good album, difficult to get through in a single listening session. Ideally I'd mix this into a playlist.
If this guy is going to Marz, please, send me to Uranus. Father John Misty says you're crampng his style.
Meloncholic, feels very personal. John Grant has an interesting story, he is a dual US and Icelandic citizen. Raised in a conservative Christian house in the Midwest, he discovered he was gay from a young age. Had a bad relationship with his parents, his mother called him a disappointment on her deathbed. I liked the album, it has a lot of feeling to it and you can tell Grant is drawing on some pretty deep personal experiences. Not a fun listen but a somber one. I enjoyed his vocals and the simple instrumentals. Standouts: Marz, Sigourney Weaver, Chicken Bones, Jesus Hates Faggots, Queen of Denmark Rating: 3.8/5
Interesting folk rock record. Kind of in it's own vibe but I dig it!
Modern indie folk rock. First time hearing of the artist and the album. Pleasantly surprised by the quality and the work. Favorite track: where dreams go to die other picks: marz, outer space, queen of denmark
Euhm ja, we hadden Rufus Wainwright toch al gehad? Waarom komt hij dan nu weer langs onder een andere naam? Muzikaal is het wel aardig, maar het taalgebruik werkt op de zenuwen, ga je mond spoelen. De behandelde onderwerpen zeggen me ook weinig, het is niet anders.
Natuurlijk, dit is allemaal niet zo slecht. Maar het is wel zo saai dat ik even een weekendje pauze moest inlassen voor de twee helft. Pas aan het einde veer in wat op, omdat het gebroken wordt door Duitse synth geluiden. Ik check het even, maar het is geen andere artiest. Wel zijn dit de bonustracks. Die ik niet mee mag wegen. Tja het is ook wel een signaal als de bonustracks je meer doen dan het echte album. Eerder kwaliteit wat zwaarder gewogen dan mijn eigen luister plezier. Dat voelde achteraf niet heel goed. Dus deze keer laat ik mijn luisterplezier weer de doorslag geven.
Hele rustige singer-songwritermuziek met wat theatrale trekken. Zijn stem doet me denken aan Rufus Wainwright. En wat ik van de teksten meekrijg, is het allemaal wel wat wazig. Zeker als ik dan de bonustracks nog even meekrijg. Komt er ineens een gek computerstemmetje met een Duits accent op een elektrobeat. Dit zijn allemaal elementen waar ik een hekel aan heb normaal gesproken en het zit uiteraard op het randje. Maar het gaat er gek genoeg vandaag net niet overheen. Ik vind het dromerig en best relaxed. Qua rating vind ik dit een lastige. Ik heb er vandaag met redelijk wat plezier naar kunnen luisteren. Ik weet niet of dit nu per se iets is dat ik had moeten horen, ik had het ook prima kunnen missen. Ik ga het ook nooit uit mezelf nog een keer opzetten. En op een andere dag zou ik me er wellicht gruwelijk aan kunnen ergeren. Dus dan ga ik dat een beetje uitmiddelen en kom ik op een doodgewone 3 uit.
Wow. There's quite a lot to unpack here. An effort I could see being difficult (or impossible) for some. No judging. That's why music comes in all forms. This is not pop. This is personal. At times, uncomfortably so. Psychologically speaking, I'd say it's self-deprecating humor used as a defense mechanism to mask the raw hurt, bitterness, and anger that become more palpable the longer you sit with this. But I get it. I've been there, too. Sometimes, I'm still there. Maybe once you've been there, you never really get to permanently leave. As an emotion-radiating catharsis, this gets top scores. As a broadly accessible musical album, not so much. Unless you've "been there" (or are still there), this is probably going to come off as weird or possibly even annoyingly self-indulgent. Lyrically, it's a mixed bag. Sometimes it's on point; sometimes it's basically unrhymed prose; sometimes it's outright nonsense. I can't decide how I feel about this point, but I will say it's a very distinct characteristic of the album. Some hooks and vibes are liberally borrowed from others (I heard 'Across the Universe', 'Free Bird', 'New Age Girl', some Pink Floyd, The Magnetic Fields, maybe Scissor Sisters, possibly Bill Withers, etc.), but if there's one thing I've learned throughout this challenge, it's that everything has pretty much been stolen from somewhere else - so this is more just an observation than a criticism. Anyway, I'm glad this was included on the list since I'd have never known about it otherwise. It's not perfect, and being of a personal nature, it's not for everyone - but I'm comfortable giving it a personal score of 5 since it does resonate with me, and I enjoyed it enough to want to listen to John's other albums to see if/how he evolves from here.
Some would say this guy is a lyrical genius. I say this guy is a twat.
Took me a while to get into it, but I enjoyed it near the end. It's all a little too long, though.
Despite being released in 2010, what we have here is a '70s singer-songwriter pop-folk self-indulgent depressive episode that is indistinguishable from roughly 4.2 million other albums. I may get the 1,001 book just to see if it explains its selection criteria because I'm increasingly feeling like it's about 50% albums everyone should listen to and 50% the editor's God-awful personal taste. Influence 1. Quality 2. Hits 1. I hate depressing music 1.
Soak in the delightful melancholy of this album. There's a feeling that no review of mine is going to capture because I want to comment on the fit between the contributions of Midlake and John Grant that feels natural and almost expected, but avoids cliché...maybe it's the honest lyrics delivered richly interlocking with relatively simple but well-crafted music or maybe it's something else. Either way, it's immediately compelling. And yet, perhaps overly long by a song or two. The Queen is just shy of 4 stars.
Some of this was really good, other bits really not
It's ight 6/10
I thought this was good but not for me? Kinda came and went, I recognised a lot of what it was doing but didn't feel strongly one way or the other. A bit derivative.
Very mopey. Second song “Marx” is just random words? At least it seems to get better after the first two tracks Nevermind.
Mundane music with the lyrics written with the help of a Mad Libs book. It’s comically bad in parts and in others it’s just ok.
The Queen Of Denmark was actually Len’s wife for 3 years. Or at least that’s what she’d told him. She was actually just a prostitute from Luxembourg! Len still married her! 4.1 2/16 Marz
Not bad, but super odd. It has its moments.
A surprisingly unique listen that reminds me of David Gilmour and Peter Sinfield. Yes, the lyrics are overtly direct but I'm sure that's the point and, for the most part, it works. Side note. I think more people should sing about Sigourney Weaver.
I like this. And I'm pretty shocked I've never heard of him before..he's a gay father John Misty it seems? With some beck thrown in? Its very good, but his sort of aloof delivery which works to a devastating affect with father John Misty doesn't quite hot which is wild because I think John Grant actually has experience and has more to be devastated by. I am interested to hear his other albums now and see where he went with this.
Clever, idiosyncratic lyrics caught my attention after the first track initially sounded none too promising.
honestly really fascinating album, some sounds like it’s for gags and some sounds serious idk just interesting stuff
Some kinda funny songs with some like slow melodies. Like tone down non parodies of Weird Al.
Interesting look into the life of a gay man in America. Very personal and funny ballads. Surprisingly emotional. Synth alongside piano
4/10 I waited a day to rate this and already forgot what it sounded like.
Goofy nonsense. Not for me, thanks.
Ett riktigt fynd, jag gillar både John Grant och Midlake men har nog inte lyssnat på detta album i sin helhet. Kan vara en 5s, hann bara en lyssning
Nothing interesting here
Interesting one here. Some really great songs, but some pretty bad ones too. Ultimately, I think I liked it, though.
3-4
Aside from the brief hilarity (and reality) of the lyrics to Jesus Hates Faggots, this was pretty slow moving and rather lame throughout.
I thought this album was kind of blase but I really did like the song Queen of Denmark. 5/10
Hope I don't get AIDS.
Alternative rocker John Grant of Czar fame going solo with a folk band was the best thing that he ever did. Marz song is beautiful and melancholic and one of the best in the album with lyrics naming most of the candies globally . Sigourney Weaver is also an amazing song with absolutely fantastic and creative lyrics for one of these dayz when you feel weird in this world. It's easier it's also an amazing track talking to an ex lover with warmth and hope. Outer space is also a dreamy song (that i loved) when you feel you don't belong somewhere in this world. Caramel starts off well with piano and when ''my love'' lyrics begin got me instantly.He says his love is like a caramel and we melt along.This guy is obsessed with sweets in the whole album,titles and lyrics. In Leopard and lamb the violin is out of this world. ''I want to change the world but i can't change my underwear'',that's how Queen of Denmark opens..It really shows the self wondering character of the whole album and the self mocking lyrics as well. Nice alternative change with Supernatural Defibrillator. Last song What Time? has dramatic el.guitar stabs,echoes of random hours repeating and fx ending acoustically making it the best outro for this album.
Wasn't too sure what to expect with this. Ended up being a folky, piano heavy pop album with a few synths thrown in. Opened very strongly with the first four tracks all being excellent, then went on to a bit of a dip until Jesus Hates Faggots, which picks it right back up. Really enjoyable album with some interesting ideas, lyrics, chord progressions and arrangements. Will listen again.
Musically good. Lyrically no good. Not down with the nonsensical songs. Definitely down with the pro gay songs. Just not enough to like here.
Aujourd'hui, on s'attaque à un monument, une pépite sortie de nulle part qui a secoué le cocotier de la pop indé en 2010 : "Queen of Denmark" de John Grant. Autant vous le dire tout de suite, cet album, c'est un peu le grand huit émotionnel, une sorte de confession impudique et magnifique qui vous prend aux tripes pour ne plus vous lâcher. Avant de plonger dans le vif du sujet, un petit mot sur le bonhomme. John Grant, pour ceux qui l'ignoreraient, c'est l'ancien leader de The Czars, un groupe américain qui, malgré un talent certain, n'a jamais vraiment réussi à percer. Après la séparation du groupe en 2004, Grant a connu une longue traversée du désert, noyant son chagrin et ses démons dans l'alcool et la drogue. C'est là que l'histoire prend une tournure inattendue. Les membres du groupe Midlake, fans de la première heure de The Czars, l'invitent à venir enregistrer dans leur studio au Texas. De cette collaboration inespérée va naître "Queen of Denmark", un disque d'une sincérité désarmante, où Grant met à nu ses angoisses, ses amours déçues, et sa vision d'une Amérique à la fois fascinante et terrifiante. Dès les premières notes de "TC and Honeybear", on est happé par la voix de baryton de John Grant, chaude et profonde, qui nous conte une histoire d'amour avec une tendresse infinie. Le ton est donné : on est dans l'intime, le personnel, le vécu. Mais ne vous y trompez pas, cet album est loin d'être un disque de pleurnicheries. Car l'humour, souvent noir et grinçant, n'est jamais loin. Prenez "Marz", par exemple, une ballade au piano d'une beauté classique sur laquelle Grant égrène une liste de sucreries et de souvenirs d'enfance avec une naïveté feinte, créant un décalage savoureux. Et que dire de "Jesus Hates Faggots" ? Le titre à lui seul annonce la couleur. Avec une ironie mordante, Grant dénonce l'hypocrisie et l'homophobie d'une certaine Amérique bien-pensante. C'est cru, c'est direct, et ça fait un bien fou. On sent le vécu, la souffrance d'un homme qui a dû se construire en marge, dans un environnement hostile. Moi qui ai grandi dans les années 70 et 80, à une époque où l'homosexualité était encore un tabou, ce genre de texte résonne forcément d'une manière particulière. Musicalement, "Queen of Denmark" est un écrin somptueux pour les textes de Grant. L'influence de Midlake est palpable, avec ces arrangements folk-rock classieux, ces pianos mélancoliques et ces envolées de flûte. On pense parfois à Dennis Wilson, à Harry Nilsson, à toute cette pop californienne des années 70, à la fois sophistiquée et mélancolique. Mais Grant ne se contente pas de copier ses aînés, il insuffle à sa musique une modernité et une singularité qui n'appartiennent qu'à lui. Des titres comme "Caramel", avec ses nappes de synthétiseur cosmiques, ou "Silver Platter Club", avec son ambiance de cabaret déglingué, en sont la preuve éclatante. Et puis, il y a le morceau-titre, "Queen of Denmark", qui clôt l'album en apothéose. C'est une explosion de rage et de frustration, une lettre de rupture d'une violence inouïe, où Grant règle ses comptes avec un ancien amant. Les mots sont d'une crudité rare, et la musique, passant d'une ballade au piano à un déchaînement de guitares électriques, épouse parfaitement les montagnes russes émotionnelles du texte. C'est le genre de morceau qui vous laisse exsangue, sonné, mais avec le sentiment d'avoir assisté à quelque chose d'unique. Alors, pourquoi seulement 4 sur 5, me direz-vous ? Peut-être à cause d'une petite baisse de régime en milieu d'album, avec quelques titres un peu moins marquants. Mais ne boudons pas notre plaisir, "Queen of Denmark" reste un disque majeur de ces vingt dernières années. Un album qui sait allier la beauté formelle à la profondeur des émotions. C'est un disque qui fait mal, qui fait rire, qui fait réfléchir. Un disque qui, une fois que vous l'aurez écouté, ne vous quittera plus jamais vraiment. Moi, le vieux disquaire qui a vu défiler des milliers d'albums entre ses mains, je peux vous l'assurer : des disques de cette trempe, on n'en croise pas tous les jours. Alors, si vous ne l'avez pas encore fait, foncez ! Vous m'en direz des nouvelles. Et pour les autres, eh bien, vous savez ce qu'il vous reste à faire : le remettre sur la platine, et vous laisser emporter une nouvelle fois par la beauté vénéneuse de ce chef-d'oeuvre.
Never heard of John Grant before today. I really like the writing of the lyrics and I never pay attention to the lyrics. Really good album. Looking forward to listening to more of his albums.
Wow this was a good surprise. I like Midlake and BNQT but somehow hadn't gotten around to listening to John Grant yet.
Not my style. Tried to give it a few listens. Didn’t hate it just didn’t grab my attention.
Weird little alternative rock album I guess. I really liked it though.
why dont you give this album to somebody else
Very interesting record. Reminiscent of Bowie in the somber and mellow quality, yet full of beautiful musicianship and experimental sounds. Very interesting concept for a sound, but I appreciate it.
Interessant 3/5
Shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Tai ehkä sittenkin pitäisi. Ehdin kuunnella 12 kappaletta ennen kuin sain mitä odotin. Yllätyin biisien rauhallisesta tunnelmasta, erikoisista sanoituksista en niinkään. Oudolla tavalla jopa pidin tästä ja pohdin kallistunko neljän tähden suuntaan. Ja sitten, kun sitä vähiten odotin, That's the Good News & Supernatural Defibrillator, juuri sitä mitä olin albumin kannen perusteella odottanut ja minkä vuoksi olin lykännyt tämän albumin kuuntelua kaksi kuukautta. Voisin jopa kutsua tätä hyväksi ilman näiden kahden sekä albumin päättävän What Time? -biisin ylitsepääsemätöntä korvia raastavaa epämusiikillista outoutta.
Excellent listen.
OVO JE FIRE KOJ VRAGHHHHHGG. SVAKA PJESMA JE BANGER TEŠKO JE STAVITI SAMO JEDNU NA 1001 NACHTS
Really enjoyed this.
3.5
Quite nice
Experimental folk music, not bad at all
I did not have high hopes when I saw this - an artist I’d never heard of, released in 2010. But then I listened to it and loved it. Really engaging folk-pop/rock, angry and acerbic and tender and just really, really enjoyable.
Very introspective with thoughtful lyrics
Had no idea what to expect going into this. At the start I was worried. TC & Honeybear was pretty meh. But then Marz hit, that one was pretty interesting. Had a bunch of random word lines, reminded me of We Didn't Start The Fire, and it had some great music. Where The Dreams Go To Die had a sweet sad sound. Sigourney Weaver was hilarious, and Chicken Bones is hilariously angsty. Silver Platter Club was funny, Outer Space was nice and chill. JC Hates Faggots was a nice lampooning of homophobes and racists, and Queen Of Denmark ended it nicely. Most songs are 3s, but the total package pushes up to a 4. Best song: Chicken Bones
Full of beautiful songs and melodies. Lirically, you can hear that Grant was describing some of his personal demons and the result is truly good. He is a poet! However, a lot of the songs are ballads that can start to sound like one another and in the end the length of the album makes it overstay its welcome. If there was a bit more variety it would've been a 4-4.5 star album. As it is it's a 3.5/5
A very harmonically pleasing and interesting album overall with okay tier lyrics. Not my favourite music genre which I find kinda boring at times. "Where Dreams Go To Die" is my personal favourite.
Cringe. Som en poppig nickelback blandad med kid rock 0/5
1. honey - 1.5 2. marz - 2 3. dreamz - 2.5 4. Weaver - 1.5 5. Chicken - 1 6. Club - 1.5 7. Easier - 1.5 8. Space - 1.5 9. Hates - 1 10. Caramel - 1 11. Leopard -1 12. Queen - 1.5
Incredibly 2010 album. Reminded me of Father John Misty a lot of times, and not just because he says Honeybear in one of those tracks. I actually liked this a lot but don’t like the use of racial slurs at the end of JHF, a song I was enjoying up to that point
I really liked this guy! Good songwriting
i really had never heard of this album but i really enjoyed it.. it was so nice!! awesome!
Really great! Reminds me of Father John Misty (yes, I know this came first!)
Albums like this is why I love this list! Never heard of this guy before but now I'll definitely be checking out more from him
Kind of amazing?
What I’ve realized on this 1001 journey is that music can’t be taken in passively. Some albums demand more than a background listen—they ask you to return, to sit a bit, and to absorb the subtleties that don’t land the first time around. That was the case with Queen of Denmark. On my initial listen, I didn’t get it. The pacing grated on me, and the lyrics felt distant. But giving it a second pass, I began to notice the unexpected pairings at play: a kind of melancholy wrapped in brightness, sorrow laced with wit. It’s not an album I’ll likely reach for again, but I’m glad I circled back—it revealed more than I expected once I gave it the space to.
So, I have never ever heard of this guy before, but he kinda sounds like Beck meets John Denver meets ELO for mid-2000s indie fans, only way darker, sadder, embittered, and sarcastic. There are a couple standout tracks on this, but nothing I would likely venture to listen to again. "Marz" is one of those highlights, and that is saying a lot since I simply do not fuck with flutes. Overall, I don't dig the 70s soft rock vibes of most of the music, but the lyrics seem to be what's really driving the bus here. "Where Dreams Go To Die" stands as an emblematic example here. Many of the tracks on this record remind me of the Tom Waits quote "I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things." Speaking of which, I was really not ready for "Jesus Hates Faggots". This one is my favorite track musically but even as a statement of protest, holy smokes the words and sentiment are hard to sit through. "Chicken Bones" is a fun and fucking weird funky jam. The eponymous track "Queen of Denmark" is well performed and dysfunctionally hilarious. Let's call it this generation's foul-mouthed and pissed-off version of "I Can't Live" by Harry Nilsson perhaps. I mean, after all, if Sinéad O'Connor records a cover of your shit, you must be doing something right. I think the juxtaposition of this kinda 70s album pop singer-songwriter delivery with words that rival Jacques Brel in their dismalness is compelling as an idea, but is likely not something I would crave hearing on the regular. I think the concept starts to veer into novelty record territory for me a bit with his particular mix of light and dark. It's hard to pull off. That said, John Grant could have just as easily written the same sounding songs with really banal lyrics about love and walking through the mountains next to a stream with birds in the sky and sunshine everywhere. But instead, he leans into the angrier, stranger side of things and I appreciate that kind of honesty, even if his overall aesthetic doesn't really land with me. As a piece of art amplifying a queer voice, I can see its value, even if it's not gonna be in my regular rotation down the road. The album cover art is mysterious and definitely piqued my interest going in blind. I didn't really know what to expect here given the creepy void of his eyes shrouded in closed-lid eyeshadow, and although the rewards were not superlative, they were not exactly lacking either.
Giving depressed midwestern church choir singer
Dreary.
Started out around a 2.75 but got worse and worse the more I listened to it. Not necessary on this list. Joins the club.
Pleasantly surprised by this one. Not my typical jam, but was pretty catchy.
High 3, grew on me as it went
Propper Pop Rock from Denver.
I only made it through 2/3 of 2 different songs. This is not my time of music.
Meh. It wasn’t horrible
Still good but didn't like it quite as much as I remember. Forgot about that weird fake German techno song and hated the Rocky Horror-esque one
Never heard any of this before, enjoyed most of it, but some questionable lyrics and the odd awful song prevented me from giving it a higher score than 3 stars.
Absolutely loved the variation and the song writing is excellent. Feels like a very love it or hate it record, 5 from me
This was painful.
Sounds like They Might Be Giants mixed with Weird Al but isn't as good as either. It gets better as it goes on but never reaches a point where I'd want to listen to it again.
Part of me felt 'pick a lane!' but then the variety was quite cool too. The track about films and aliens made me laugh. Some of the lyrics were madness but also brilliant. Title track was probably my favourite, but it became more engaging in the last half generally.
75/100. John Grant, with a voice full of sorrow and sardonic wit, crafts songs that are deeply personal and often painfully direct. Musically, the album is rich with thoughtful arrangements, piano-led ballads, orchestral touches, and a warm, vintage folk-rock backdrop.
John Grant is absolutely incredible. Baroque pop at it's best. Filled with wit, charm and self-deprecation.
Bitingly sarcastic and sometimes funny lyrics over soft rock and strings. What’s not to like?
I liked this much better than I expected after reading the description. Good variety of music here.
Cool
A bunch of interesting ditties here. Makes me want to check out his Midlake too. Great lyrics on show.
It's not shit per se, but it's definitely boring.
Not a strong start for me, but the music did grow on me as the album continued. There was a lot of push and pull in terms of me not liking/liking the sounds I heard throughout, but overall this was a solid album.
417 albums in, and this is the biggest surprise of the list so far. I thought I was going to hate it based on the description and reviews, but was pleasantly surprised instead. The best part of the album is the vocal melodies. They are constantly surprising/strange/untypical. The instrumentation is also very cool - he does not hesitate to change things up or make unanticipated choices. Finally, the pacing is good. Other than the last song, every track fits the album well. 4.5/5.0: Excellent
this was certainly an album. at first i was incredibly bored and thought this would be an easy 1. then the songs became much more interesting and the lyrics became a bit more sarcastic and witty. they were still overly dramatic but at least they were entertaining, a bit like jonathan coulton doing a knockoff bowie impression. honestly a few of them were good enough to bump this to a 3 before he dropped a bunch of slurs. i understand the ironic messaging hes going for, but unlike randy newman, who pulled that off in the 70s, this came out in 2010. at that point he shouldve known better and for that it gets dropped one star.
I enjoyed this album and its quirky, charming lyrics until I arrived at the song "JC Hates F******." I genuinely believe John Grant has talent, but boy that song soured on me. The album's release in 2010 coincides with edgy dudebros saying garbage just to get a response. Grant has a great, clear voice for his folk music, which lets you enjoy the amusing lyrics in "Sigourney Weaver," the bizarre lyrics in "Chicken Bones." It's kind of mind-altering to hear such modern lyrics in folk music like in "Silver Platter Club." I just wish no slurs were used in this album!
Very folky, but finds ways to do it without being boring. For instance, there's a lot of synthy sounds across this album, not unlike what you'd expect from a 70s psychedelic space rock album. Some very tender, evocative vocals here, too. This guy has a knack for oddly poetic lyrics...tongue-in-cheek, surreal, and bold lyrics...it reminds me of artists like Jay Brannan, Tom Waits, Tori Amos, and so on. But come on, even though your point was valid, you didn't need to go for shock value and say a bunch of slurs just to prove that point.
The first few tracks did nothing for me at all. I was pretty bored and thought this would be an easy one star. They were pretty basic sounding, pretty forgettable and pretty nursery rhyme-esque. I didn't like his voice, and the tempo didn't change at all, it just maintained this slow, plodding speed. To his credit though, the songs became slightly better as the album went on. Don't get me wrong, they were still slow and plodding with his monotonous vocals, but the tracks were definitely better than in the first half. I don't usually care about other reviews, but I'm actually annoyed that so many other people on this site have given it five stars. I clearly am missing something. If I had to pick out a highlight, I'd say 'Outer Space' is the best track here. Also as a side note, the album cover really creeps me out for some reason.
Bold, but not my style and started to drag
Not bad, just lame
Kinda grew on me the more I listened
Never heard of this album or artist but enjoyed it! Wild lyrics
Now that’s what I call an album of lyrics
What an odd album. Starts off glorious baroque pop, eases into a Scissors Sisters pastiche, then dissolves into incomprehensible whimsy. It occurs to me that for an album to make this list, it should be something that rewards constant revisiting. I won’t be in these precincts anytime soon.
Well that was pretty damn Epic. I listen to it three times while cleaning the house. I'm now downloading the rest of his discography.
What an amazing exploration of gender, sexuality, and complete rejection of toxic masculinity, and traditional masculinity in general. I love how he presents these themes in such crude and blunt ways, which only makes it all that much more impactful that he's saying what everyone is thinking but too afraid to say out loud. There's a really good balance of being funny, but also profound and serious when he needs to be. I think that the actual music is nothing all that special, but the lyrics alone are still enough to make this a brilliant album.
American 2000s folk pop. Nice and relaxing, fun lyrics.
Didn’t expect this to sweep me off my feet like it did. It’s all heartbreak and humor wrapped in these lush, melancholic arrangements. That balance of sadness and sarcasm is hard to nail. Every song feels personal, but in a way that invites you in. And then it gets weird. Weird in the best possible way. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - TC & Honeybear - Marz - Where The Dreams Go To Die - Outer Space - Queen Of Denmark
Loved the relaxed vibe and creative lyrics. Grant's voice is easy to listen too. After listening to the album I gave a listen to Tom Rush; for some reason Grant reminded me of him. But alas Grant is Very different than Rush. Enjoyed the album and I will probably return to it.
I enjoyed this more than I expected. I've never heard of any of the people involved with this album, much less the album itself.
a bit droning. not for me.
Super excited to see John Grant's debut pop up! The man is one of the best lyricists working today, and Queen of Denmark is a perfect showcase of it. Such a charismatic artist. Favourite tracks: 'Marz', 'Sigourney Weaver' and 'Queen of Denmark'.
Come for the great songwriting, but stay for the perfect lyricism - the absolute main character of Queen Of Denmark. John Grant took a break from music and somehow emerged as one of the greatest modern lyricists, confronting his own past and hardships in a beautiful manner. The middle section, beginning with “Chicken Bones”, is not as good as the strong opening and closing ultimately keeping this from being a 5 to me. Please don’t rob yourself the pleasure of listening to Grant’s later albums.
Emotional, folky. Nice album to relax. Reminds of something my homie Andrew would like. 3 of 5
A pleasantly voiced musical version of narcolepsy.
passionate. dreamy. strangely feels like something that would come out half a century ago? the kind of music that makes you feel a little sick too. i've never heard of this guy till now, and this debut album is promising. this album is mostly composed of life experiences paired with blunt and dark humor. it's a little vulgar, it's a little kitschy, it's all over the place. it's the kind of album for people that feel like life is indescribable and it sucks, but... eh. you shrug. whatcha gonna do about it?
3.5
After the breakup of Czar, John Grant makes a solid rock album. 7/10
This is an interesting listen. There are moments of bleak introspection at the beginning that are then followed by comedy tracks like Sigourney Weaver and “I hate faggots”, which hits a strange note mixing attempted comedy with more serious topics. I honestly did not see where the album was going to get towards the more pure comedy songs. As a collective piece it’s really hard to rate but I think it gives a look into the artist’s life experience, whether we wanted that as a listener or not.. but I’m sort of glad I listened to it as an unhinged piece of artwork. I just cannot imagine being in the recording studio for some of these tracks though. Utterly bizarre at times.
Well this is a hard one. So many individual reflections. It's like a squad of talented individuals managed by a poor coach is my analogy. I feel this is a decent band that failed to break through so turned to "comedy" to create a novelty act. The comedy theme seemed laced but not consistent. Songs like on a silver platter was coherent theme but repetitive. Same for JC hates faggots. Others were bleating tunes that were odd comedy with literally no connected theme in the lyrics to point I couldn't identify anything remotely amusing so just became a dull song. Then some songs were extremely varied and had more depth in their musicality and atmosphere generated almost to point I could be listening to a pink Floyd album. Ultimately it was a miss on comedy, it's a loss on its cohesion and I didn't really reveal it's point. It dabbled at being great at many things but failed to deliver. Bloody long too. I am sad in a way to have this opinion.
At first this sounds like a fairly standard singer/songwriter setup, albeit with lyrics that sound like someone put a random word generator in the common room of an insane asylum. "It's Easier" has more interesting, dark but satisfying melodies and was the only song that I connected with in the album. Then we come to "JC Hates Faggots" for the first WTF moment. Does anyone really enjoy listening to this? Then for some more folk rock interspersed with some soaring synth riffs which add interest to otherwise boring songs. The lyrics remained the ramblings of a madman, peaking with "That's The Good News". Someone close to Mr Grant needs to gently let him know that weird does not equate to good or interesting.
Felt really generic. 2/5
interesting album, enough for me to atleast save it for another listen
Not really into this style but I do think this one is pretty good Will I listen to again: 50%
Due to the music, and singing, this album is already mid at best, however, the odd, and ironic lyrics made this experience enjoyable(the closing track, fittingly enough, sounds like a Queen song). Favorite Track: "Queen Of Denmark".
I was not looking forward to this, but this album is great.
I ended up really enjoying this album. Quite fun. I mean some of the subject matter was really serious. But I really liked it.
I wish there was more good music rather than whiny shit like this
i really liked the review that called this "Bo Burnham meets Dark side of the moon" - i'm not sure if i quite liked it as much as i like bo burnham's material, but there's a sense of humor in the introspection here. an interesting album i can guarantee you i'd never have listened to without this website!
well, this was a cool hidden gem that i likely never would've discovered outside of this list! the songs are varied and i particularly enjoyed the lyrics for many of them. definitely going to be listening to a few of these in the future. favorites: tc & honeybear, marz, where the dreams go to die, outer space, jc hates faggots
I was immediately captivated by this album. I enjoyed the ethereal music and the lyrics – it felt as if David Bowie, Elton John, and Bon Iver all came together in a lush recording session.
Ok very strange. Not sure how to feel but, I kept listening
Artiste inconnu. L'instrumentation est un peu originale, et quelques chorus bienvenus viennent agrémenter les morceaux (+1). Mais l'album parait assez vite long, j'ai fini par faire autre chose en le gardant en musique de fond. Je ne l'écouterais pas une seconde fois. =>2/5
This for me falls in the same category as Mercury Rev and Screaming Trees, both bands that I discovered here and make me feel a very specific way that I didn't know before. Maybe I'm lucky I don't get every lyric, I'm just mesmerised by the voice and music, dreamy and slightly dark
Didn't have time to finish the whole thing (up until Caramel). I enjoyed what I've heard so far, the melodies are pleasent and the production is done well. A lot of the lyrics have a kind of dry or cynical humor to then. Fax tracks: "Sigourny weaver", "Marz", "Where dreams go to die"
Tried to like it but just couldn’t. The vocals would be great for a children’s lullaby album.
Very unusual lyrics
low key rythms and lyrics. usually thekind of thing i like but it just didnt click enough for me. 3.5/5
Big queer man has more or less coherent meltdowns over various topics. Reminiscent of other artist, but still strikingly distinctive. 3.5/5
ok
john grant fixed songwriting with this one 💔🥀
This album hit me at a strange time, and I think that’s part of why it stuck. I remember putting it on without much expectation, and suddenly this voice just floored me — warm, broken, funny, bitter, vulnerable. It felt like someone had taken a scalpel to their own emotional history and decided to sing about it without flinching. There’s humour in the lyrics, sure, but it’s the kind of humour that hides in dark corners and mutters insults when no one’s looking. I really like that. It’s not often you find a record that manages to sound beautiful and cutting at the same time, but this one pulls it off. I was drawn in by the softness at first — those piano melodies and warm arrangements courtesy of Midlake make everything feel gentle — but then the words start sinking in and you realise it’s not gentle at all. JC Hates Faggots and Where Dreams Go to Die hit like a punch to the gut. For me, Sigourney Weaver is the real gem though. There’s something about the imagery, the campy defiance, and that soaring chorus that just does it for me. It makes pain sound glamorous and weird and oddly comforting. I think what I admire most about this album is how honest it feels without being desperate for attention. John Grant doesn’t dress things up unless it helps him get closer to the point. And even when he’s singing about total humiliation or loneliness, there’s strength in it. I come back to this album when I want to feel less alone in how absurd and exhausting life can be. It’s one of those records that seems to hold you by the shoulders and say, "Yeah, me too."
Strange, but good. Lyrics are batshit crazy sometimes but you always get what he's trying to say.
many great, timely lyrics.
Really interesting production.
This seems like a solid LP but its just not my thing, still whoever said it was "Bo Burnham meets Dark Side of the Moon" was spot on.
Got to know John Grant as a result of him duetting with Guy Garvey on one of my favourite Elbow songs Kindling. His voice was very deep on that so was surprised to hear how different his voice was on this earlier recording. Do prefer his newer darker and deeper voice than the one you hear on this and was quite disappointed in what I heard. Just a bit MOR and meh for my taste. 2/5 29/6/25
Not really my thing, but not bad either. It’s distinctive.
Not for me though I did enjoy the lyrics about Sigourney Weaver fighting aliens and Winona Ryder in the vampire movie not getting the accent right
3.0 - Ok
3 - good
Marvelous
The Sigourney Weaver song makes this 4 stars.
Had to do a double-check to see if this was another entry snuck in by our fearless random site host, but nope, this is in the book. The story behind its creation is interesting enough, as is Grant’s life story, but this is not my thing.
Really not my jam
Don’t like this one. Very buttrock but trying too hard. Boring, doesn’t make me feel anything except that I’d rather be listening to something else. The lyrics are cringy. Poor performances, poor production, poor writing
Really great music and voice, though felt a bit wordy at times
A real treat!
Like this a bunch, there’s something about the simple lyricism and serious material that drew me in as well as the mood
This feels like The Beatles meets Bo Burnham meets Presidents of the USA meets ???. Interesting and fascinating and varied - each song felt different. I really liked it. Rating 4
Meget stille og behagelig. Lidt kedelig.
I had never heard of this album, it must be one of those UK hits that didn't really translate to the US? I think the artist was in his 40s when he made this record but the lyrics sound like they were written by a high school or college student. Was not really impressed by it.
Lyrically it was a bit weird which I liked. Musically and vocally it seemed a bit bland
Meh. I don’t think I’m smart enough to get this one. When he started reading the Baskin Robbins menu, I was thoroughly confused. I’ve heard worse albums that made this list, so guess I’ll go down the middle.
Quite a pleasant listening, I like the voice and the vibes of this album. Not that into the last couple of songs Fav song - Silver Platter Club 2/5
There is a decent chunk of these that is very samey but towards the end it changes up a bit. But I don't think that part is remarkable enough to make this anything particularly great 2.5*
Interesting album. Strong Pink Floyd vibes, and I suspect a lot of depth to the lyrics with some reslistens.
Really cool, under the radar album.
Hope he was good at waitering.
Damn near a 5, especially as I listened for a second time and started to connect more with some of the nuances of this album, such as unique lyrics, but vocally and melodically it also was surprising as I added several songs to my library. Songs that were added were still listenable.
I feel like I need to a few more listens to fully absorb the lyrics because the themes of each song are all over the place, but musically this album is fantastic. Weirdly reminds me of Bo Burnham without it being overtly obvious that it's a comedic album. There are obviously signs of satire littered throughout this album, but there also seems to be a more serious/deeper message underlying the wackiness of it all. Marz, Sigourney Weaver, Chicken Bones, and Jesus Hates F****** (JHF might have the most variety of old school slurs I've ever heard in a song) are examples of this. I particularly think the chorus of Chicken Bones is catchy and fun. I also found myself liking the songs that were piano heavy the most like Marz, Silver Platter Club, Caramel, and Leopard and Lamb. The title track ends the album on a truly thematic note. Pretty fun/unique album and very quirky in a good way. I found it really captivating, entertaining, and it left me wanting to listen to it more intently. I would put at a mid-4 but feel like I can get to a High 4 with more listens. I think it might be a tad too unserious to reach 5 status.
A few songs in I'm really enjoying this. Tonally this has a lot of similarity to Father John Misty; it is equally melancholy in tone and cinematic in character. I keep saying cinematic, but I feel like that isn't capturing what I mean. I guess to expand, both this and FJM have a sort of theatrical element to their compositions both in the arrangement and mixing that use extensive orchestral fluorishes and a sort of elevated vocal mixing often with harmonization that feels very polished and grand. Like something fit for a stage show. In general I enjoy the songs, but it certainly has a pretentious air about it that I cannot shake. All that said, this was an enjoyable enough listen. It runs together a bit, but there were a few songs that specifically stood out for me. Marz is a pretty orchestral one that actually reminds me vaguely of a Porcupine Tree song. Chicken Bones is goofy, but supremely enjoyable with an extremely catchy chorus. Silver Platter Club cribs off the goofiness of Chicken bones and leans into a quirky polka-plonk with surprising aplomb. Outer Space plays a bit like a poor man's Elton John; even so, I love the keystrokes and airiness even if it does get a bit sleepy. JC Hates Faggots (obviously tongue in cheek) is one of the more upbeat songs here featuring a guitar line reminiscent of Brian May with some skittering electro effects. Enjoyable in a general sense, but not something I would go in for a ton of repeated listens. Going with a soft 4 here.
Pretty solid soft rock. I really enjoyed Outer Space and Jesus Hates Faggots. JHF was certainly one of the blunt, in your face type songs that I think a lot of people need to listen to in their lives. Really enjoyed the back half of this a lot, and the first half wasn't bad either. Seems to be a lot of introspection on how terrible life was growing up and how backwards his parents and friends beliefs were/are.
The album cover looks like Daniel Tosh. As for the album itself that was too lovey dovey for me and didn't care for it too much. Marz was a weird candy poem. The most unfortunate part of this album was that the best song minus the words was the Jesus Hates song. The instrumentals were actually really cool. The song writing through the whole album was absolute rubbish. Wish this album did not come up.
This first song is awfully pretty. Especially when the flute comes in. This album is so weird and unique. I can't even really tell if I like it but it definitely has me captivated.
Enjoyed the album. Provocative lyrics. Very listenable.
John Grant's debut solo album is one of the best albums of the last years.
It was great listening till I hit the weird electronica. Brought it down for me. Still, some of the tracks are bangers. 3/5
Pretty good indie album that sounds very similar to Father John Misty. Will I listen to it again? Probably not. But good enough when it's on. 3/5
This was an unexpected surprise. The album cover is a bit creep show but the songs inside are excellent. Don't pass on this because the content is too heavy, maybe don't be the type of asshole who inspired him to write the lyrics to Jesus Hates Fags. I'm sorry he didn't make the hatred and abuse he's taken from the religious a little more poetic to spare your feelings. I'm looking at you 1 and 2 star reviews.
Never heard of this artist at all. Opening track sounds like something from the 60s. It’s the voice in the background. It’s making me think of Star Trek. This whole album feels like it came from the 60s. The harmonies, the arrangements. It was a slow start because it sounded like I should know it. Now that I am understanding why I felt like that, it’s making more sense and I’m enjoying it. And by the third track I think I’m hooked. I love the discovery of not knowing anything and the being blown away. So the album moved from classic to modern. Especially with lyrical content. This is a really good album.
Bittersweet, strawberry, marshmallow, butterscotch
The songs are alright, they could be great but the album is missing something
This guy seems like a Temu David Bowie, I didn't hate his music but none of it slapped
Indulgent, silly, a sonic snooze fest.
This was precent decent!
Dark and strange lyrics, brilliant songwriting and sublime playing from Midlake make this a glorious debut solo album.
Absolute belter. And I say that as a guy who is often offput by whimsy and sillyness. Quite funny that all the popular one star reviews seem to be from absolute wowsers. I get that old mate overreaches and he's not the most lyrically subtle guy. But isn't that kind of the point. I mean, the album is called Queen of Denmark. Admittedly, these failings would get him into further strife later in his career but occasionally they'd also propel him to new heights.