Reviews (page 5 of 9)
Hmmm, did not like this. Folksie, trying to be quirky. Fell short for me, some songs were offensive.
Fantastic album - wonderful melodies, a saccharine and plaintive voice driving you mad but comforting you as well, confusingly
Прогрессив-поп, фолк. битловские мотивы. Слушал с удовольствием.
The way this started out I did not expect to enjoy it. The first two songs are not great, but it gets way better after that. The rest of the album is surprising and funny and just a good time. Pleasantly surprised by this.
This was a really great record. Started off a bit slow but as we hit the midway point I found myself looking up lyrics, adding songs to playlists and repeating tracks. Really enjoyed it, interesting lyrics, nice melodies, great mix of instruments. Quality stuff - loved it.
Pretty good overall. This album is teetering on the edge between 3 and 4 stars for me. Whom amongst us hasn’t felt like Sigourney Weaver?
For some reason I went into this thinking I wouldn’t like it. Something about it screamed mid aughts music that’s shown up here before, stuff that was only okay even at the time. But this was both better than I expected and not as good as I hoped as it went along. A solid three, almost four.
Holy shit. I just watched Aliens LAST NIGHT. I liked the a lot. I’m not familiar with the artist at all, but would listen to more.
Le banger de fou. Sauf la fin de l'album trop expérimental à mon goût
Not my favorite album this project has brought me, but its comedic absurdity was pretty entertaining. Granted I listened while on a mind-numbing drive… maybe my brain was able to absorb just the right amount of this. 3.25/5
Had no idea who this guy was but this is clearly my jam ! I really enjoyed this record. The sad songs hit hard and the general feel of it is really nice. 8,5/10 fav song : Where the Dreams go to Die & Silver Platter Club
I wasn't impressed. Rather boring at the moment.
I had never heard of this artist before - nice voice, generally pleasing melodies, funny lyrics. I didn't like that the Sigourney Weaver song so obviously stole from Lynyrd Skynyrd. I also made the mistake of listening to this while driving around with the windows open and parked next to someone while JC Hates Faggots was playing - the part where he spews off every racial slur (oops).
There's not a large variation musically, but that's fine: the music is good but the star here is the often ironic lyrics juxtaposed with the dreamy and soft music. This album helped me realize John Grant is the GMF and that I could be laughing 65% more of the time.
Meh.
Komedialevyhän se sieltä tuli. Mikäs siinä.
Literally never heard of this guy before. Interesting pick for the year 2010. But it is quite good, I'm glad I discovered it. 3.5/5
If ever an album cover didn’t match my expectation!!! Weirdly wonderful, a little poppy / Bowiesq!!
Count this among my most surprising hits in the collection. The jokes here pretty much all land for me, which usually doesn't happen for me in serious music. Very good album
A list of 1001 albums to hear before you die, and yet here’s more of the same bland, forgettable drivel. ABBA with folk and electronic fluff—perfect for when I’m gasping for my last breath. Great timing.
Cool guy! Funny guy! Good music! really nice find for me.
A bit meh, nothing stood out to me and the album was way too long
funny lyrics, boring musically
Totally okay.
Powerful and unique
Okay tunes
Weird but some of it was interesting. I can’t see myself listening to this again but the backing band were really impressive
A real collage of an album. Mainly soft slow rock, kinda 70s psychedelic style, Queen style guitar solos in Sigourney Weaver Semi-nonsense lyrics Also reminds me of softer Opeth parts Synthy bits That's the Good News is a Kraftwerk homage and fun Best track - Marz or Chicken Bones 4 stars
It's a great combo of weird, catchy and relatable. It's got some Bowie, Pink Floyd and Bo Burnham vibes, with some out there influences that make it hard to tell how serious it is.
Ass
I think this one is... kinda bad. Every song sounds exactly the same, the lyrics often come off as pretentious, and it's overall bland. The social commentary bits don't land at all. That being said, there were two tracks I kind of liked: "Sigourney Weaver" (I didn't care for it too much, but it's funny) and "Outer Space"
What exactly is the criteria for this list?
At first I thought it would be another sad indie album. But I was surprised. It's a very sentimental album, everything that is being said, both in the lyrics and in the harmonies, rings very true. It was a pleasant surprise. 4 stars.
OK in places but really miserablist lyrics and pseudo-folk-americana-country soundscapes.
I don’t like it but he is a cool guy.
I couldn't finish this particular album. Somehow it manages to have a lot going on while boring me to tears. I can tell that there's a ot of personal stuff going into it but somehow the music just doesn't make me care. I stopped at the song that had "you better fuck off, better leave me alone" in the chorus. After hearing that said for the third time I just thought: "You know what? I think I will."
I'm not good at naming sub genres of music so I had to look up what this album is considered. In doing so I learned that this is considered to be indie folk/soft rock and now I know what one of my least favorite sub-genres of music is. I imagine this is a divisive album. I can see someone thinking the lyrics are deep and meaningful but I found them to be pretentiously simplistic--a giant swing and a miss in an attempt to capture Leonard Cohen's magic of making lyrics seem spontaneous yet extremely profound at the same time. Lowlights were "Sigourney Weaver," "JC Hates F*****ts," and "Leopard and Lamb."
I wasn’t fussed on the last couple of songs but until that it was brilliant. Will be checking out more of his work.
complexo. algumas eu gostei outras eu achei uma bela bosta
streak de século 21 hein eh bacaninha até. achei que ia odiar, mas achei 100% escutável. não sei se vou voltar nele, mas foi uma descoberta amigável!!
Really good, but it didn't make much of a dent.
Not my cup of tea at all
6/10 At times I think it's great - I find his lyrics funny and interesting, and musically it can be melodic and solid indie folk. But this does not need to be 72 mins long. An album should be 42mins, 12 songs. It can be longer, but you need a good reason. Like books over 306 pages, or movies over 1hr 44mins. It's doable, gee, most of the top albums ARE. But this album does not make its case. Easy to find 4 songs to cut and 20mins. Now that would have been an excellent album...
Nope.
Ovo mi je čak bolje od kasnijih, ekscentričnijih albuma, čudno!
I didn't realize we were still making music like this in the 21st century. I would've guessed 1975 or 76, if I didn't already know better. Anyway, it was alright.
Absolutely tremendous. Apart from the dabble in Krautrock, that was shite.
Good sense of humor, good music, good voice. I liked it!
Maybe just wasn't in the mood or something, this one seemed to be a proper slog to listen to. Far too much empty space.
This was a strange one. Musically I thought there were moments where it was great. Layers of sound. The lyrics and vocals felt a bit unsettling but overall a pretty intriguing piece of art... That being said I probably won't be digging this one out again.
One first listen, I’m not sure I fully understand this album. There were some tracks I ireally enjoyed (Sigourney Weaver, Chicken Bones, Silver Platter Club, Queen of Denmark) and some tracks that I just don’t get (Marz). On second listen, this album makes me think of a mash-up between Father John Misty and the latest Viagra Boys album, viagr aboys, that I’ve had on repeat for a few days. I don’t know, some days is just chicken bones
Pidin ainakin a-puolta varsin viihdyttävänä, olenhan tällaisen herkän mieslaulajan tarinankerronnan fani (siis suftjanstevensmäisen) (en tiedä miksi). Mutta toi b-puoli oli aika sekasotku, ja mikä ihme oli se feikki saksa-aksentti?!
"Tein tämmöisenkin biisin." Tulkintatapa: postmodernin humoristinen lakonisuus.
I went in with low expectations and came out floored by John Grant’s honesty, wit, and the sheer variety of styles he pulls off. The album walks a fine line between emotional devastation and sharp, often hilarious storytelling — and it does so with grace. The lyrics are eclectic, deeply personal, and at times completely unfiltered, bringing to mind the fearless songwriting of Sufjan Stevens. Nowhere is that more clear than on “Sigourney Weaver,” a surreal, oddly touching track that blends sci-fi and self-doubt with ease. “Where Dreams Go to Die” is heartbreaking and cinematic, “Jesus Hates Faggots” is gut-punch blunt in the best way, and the title track, “Queen of Denmark,” is a towering, sarcastic anthem of rejection and defiance. The album’s genre-hopping — from lush ballads to synthy weirdness — might not be for everyone, but it works. Grant’s voice, both literal and lyrical, holds it all together. This is one of those records that earns your attention and rewards it over time.
What in the hell was this. It started off excruciating, I was dreading having to keep this going for close to an hour. Didn't get much better, but at least it wasn't as bad as the first track. Then there was the part with all the slurs. Like what? Why? Almost an hour of my life I can't get back.
Dramatískt píanóglamur. Er mjög hrifinn.
A little maudlin but some interesting concepts and catchy lyrics
Interesting album, not really my favorite but it was interesting to hear where Father John Misty picked up his schtick.
This was great. I wasn’t all that impressed at first, but once I started really paying attention to the lyrics I realized just how deep, profound, and even funny this album can be. This is one where I actually do see what all the fuss is about.
Not without charm, but too musically Cute for me, too lyrically Clever.
I don't know how I missed this album when it came out. It sounds really good. This is my vibe. I'll be coming back to this. Not music you play for other people but good solo time music.
Delicate and good blunt songwriting. Midlake as backing band might be the shining stars.
Meh.
I liked that Sigourney Weaver song but no idea why this is on here. +3
I really like this
I liked it. Would listen again.
1. TC and Honeybear - 8/10 2. Marz - 8/10 3. Where Dreams Go to Die - 8/10 4. Sigourney Weaver - 8/10 5. Chicken Bones - 7/10 6. Silver Platter Club - 7/10 7. It’s Easier - 8/10 8. Outer Space - 8/10 9. Jesus Hates Faggots - 4/10 10. Caramel - 7/10 11. Leopard & Lamb - 7.5/10 12. Queen of Denmark - 8/10 7.8/10
If this musical exercise does nothing except having introduced me to John Grant - it is a win.
I thought Grant's voice and the arrangements were great, and the lyrics had a They Might Be Giants kind of quality to them in a lot of cases. I feel like using several different slurs in a song is definitely a risk, and the point was pretty much well made before that line in the song, so it seemed a little needless. That said, I enjoyed the rest of this album a lot more than I was expecting. Grant really nails down the feelings of anxiety and low self esteem that come from shitty parenting in the midwest, and he makes those feelings very listenable in a charming way.
i did not superrr follow the lyrics apart from the tracks that unavoidably grab ur attention like silver platter club and god hates faggots, but even just those feel like enough to give me a vivid picture of the type of queer experience being depicted here...intensely aware of its own vulnerability and protecting itself partly under the guise of a clown, which also just makes the world easier to swallow in general. even without that tho, this is one of the most effortlessly wonderful singer songwriter records ive heard of any description...every melody feels inevitable, every decision is so specific and confident that it makes me feel like im listening to an unassailable classic. ig its not in the eyes of the music nerd consensus for whatever reason (the rym rating is good but seems low for how easy this is to like tbh) but certainly something im glad is included on this silly list!!!
First artist i was absolutely unable to situate in a scene or context I'd heard of! Turns out he's doing a blend of Jens Lekman and Smog, with maybe some Randy Newman and John Cale on the side--a delicious surprise.
Looked at reviews and there’s basically a ton of 1’s or 5’s, and I figured this one would be a bit of a rollercoaster. Musically it is beautiful, ethereal guitars and dreamy synths so that’s a big plus. Makes me want to listen to Midlake’s other works. Besides that, there are several problematic things with this album. Grant's lyrics are often just bad, ridiculous or completely out of synch with his delivery, which is extremely one-note. It feels like the earnest ramblings of a depressed, anxiety-filled high school theater kid. On the surface it’s a good listen ... until you start to really listen. 2.5⭐️
Dark humor and serious melancholy, somehow it works. With synths layered over indie folk, John Grant is unexpectedly brilliant. Top tracks: Queen of Denmark, Where Dreams Go To Die
Bueno
I have mixed feelings about this album. On one hand, I quite liked the music. The arrangements were good (though not groundbreaking in anyway). The guys voice is good and nestles into the music quite nicely. On the other hand, wtf are these lyrics? I have seen a lot of comparisons from the other commenters here that I agree with: John Lennon-esque nonsense, Harry Nillson (tonally pleasant), bad middle school poetry. Another head scratcher as to why it's on the list. I can definitely see why I haven't ever heard of this guy or this album before
Never heard of this, quite enjoyed it. Well put together l, 3.5 stars
2.75
This was pretty but not a big fave. Does this dude sing for fleet foxes??? Rly reminded me of them
Love this. Came to it late as a sort of secret 3rd decent Midlake album (can't remember if Van Occupanther was in the list but it should be) but fell in love with it and John Grant fully in it's own right. Yeah I hear the Randy Newman and Elton John references for sure. The unconventional phrasing, the elongated vowels. The lyrics are beautiful, cutting, funny and touched with righteous anger, and heartfelt love, in equal measure. It's a visceral album. Really enjoyed myself belting out every word this afternoon. TC, Where Dreams Go To Die, It's Easier, so many bangers. Love the next two records too, Pale Green Ghosts is probably even better than this, fabulous work.
I don't know what to make of this, but I like it. Queen Of Denmark by John Grant is one of those albums that sneaks in and makes you listen and experience it. Isn't that what the point of this list is? 4/5
Not sure if I’ve had a record go from “this shows a lot of potential” to “I absolutely hate this” as quickly as this record did for me. First track or two started off pretty strong, but by the time the fourth track, “Sigourney Weaver”, was over, I could not stand John Grant or his music. If Harry Nilsson was a Redditor, this is what his music would sound like. I’m not kidding, it felt like he was about a half-second away from saying “Yay, sportsball!” in “Silver Platter Club”. The music here is fine, it’s John Grant’s persona that I found to be trite and off-putting.
meh
ich finds mega schön! mega schöni, nöd sehr komplexi aber absoluti wohlfühl-harmonie. sehr unterhaltsam au, d synthie-kläng in jc hates faggots sind mega ähnlich wie bi l‘imperatrice, s autotune i dem song isch au iwie no geil und de text isch hilarious. und im song queen of denmark findi so lustig, dasses sone eifachi, schöni 1-4-5-1 harmoniefolg am klavier isch wo mega hässigi lyrics drübergleit werded und denn chunnt en hässigere teil mit schlagzüg, bass, e-gitarre etc. aber d harmonie sind no genau di gliiche. und omg hahahah di dütsche lyrics und denglischi ussprach im that‘s the good news sind absolut hilarious. es foifi gits aber scho nöd, am afang z wenig komplex, und es paar songs, v.a. geg endi, sind schochli müll.
piano/lyrics based but pretty good
Bit samey...but Nice voice
I'm surprised I haven't heard of John Grant before. In 2010, this was exactly the kind of music I was in to. Which is maybe why I can't get in to this now...it sounds like everything else I was already listening to. I do not hate this, I'm just kind of bored by it? I hate to use the word "derivative," but that's what came to mind. He's got a great voice, the music is good and even kind of catchy at times, and I respect a musician who is delivering a message or statement with their lyrics. I could see myself giving this a higher rating after spending more time listening to it, but with so much other music out there that excites me...I don't really care to?
So, while this album is fairly cohesive stylistically, it’s a bit all over the place in quality. At its best it definitely sounds very much like a Tim Smith era Midlake album, but at other times it’s like Randy Newman meets Air Supply, which really is not great.
Very boring zzzzzzzzzzzz
These songs are kind of silly, but I like his voice and the music.
Bien
I really liked this. There's a dark, haunting quality to the music, and the lyrics through most of the album were cracking me up. 4.25/5
Pretty weird album. Made me think of Sir Elton. I feel like the lyrics are important and I didn't pay close attention to them. As it is, I think this is 2.5/5
I wish they hadn't convince this guy to make new music 2/5
Firstly, I don’t understand why this was included. Maybe the artist is a blind spot for me but I just felt it was nothing special, considering it only came out in 2010 and therefore hasn’t even stood the test of time like most of the entries. Secondly, I was kind of hating it until ‘Sigourney Weaver’ when I was like “ohh some of it’s meant to be funny?” and then it grew on me. Moments reminded me of Josh Pyke in terms of the cadence and voice, with others like Jonathan Colton or Custard in subject matter and style, that sort of thing where it’s kind of ironic humour but not laugh-out-loud funny. So overall, not bad but still kind of dull and odd.
6.5/10 - It was pretty similar but pretty nice the whole time. It loses a couple points for him saying both the n and f words tho. Someone wrote that he kind of sounds like Bo Burnham and I can see that mixed with a more space-like atmosphere
Like a sillier Rufus Wainwright. Not too bad musically, but a little too goofy for me to really take seriously. -1 for dropping the n word, which I don't think this guy is allowed to do
it is quite surprising that this is a relatively new album, many songs remind me of those 60s or 70s music, in a good way of course. Music is very beautiful and calm, perfect to enjoy in a cool sunny day by yourself. 3.5-4/5
Fantastic album!
Peculiar lyrics, space themes, etc. Reads kind of like Thom Yorke’s writing but less eloquent (or perhaps more?). Creative, pleasing to the ear. Worth future listens.
I don’t understand frankly. Like a lot of reviews on here, there’s no subtlety and it’s written like it’s done by some high schooler who discovered poetry… Some songs are good, caramel for instance has good substance and sound but is massively disrupted by the previous song “JC hates faggots.” The kind of album edgy people listen and ‘like’ for its derogatory usage, I understand why it’s on this list but can’t understand its average rating. 2/10 (saving grace is some of the other songs giving it a 2).
Who is John Grant? Who are the Czars? What am I in for? I had no idea. I really disliked so much of this. "Marz," "Where the Dreams Go to Die," "Sigourney Weaver," and "Outer Space" are really annoying. The lyrics are either trying to be funny (but fall flat) or are attempts at being insightful (which they aren't). And the way he sings the word "baby" and sings it over and over and over again in "Where the Dreams Go to Die" really just needed to stop but that song felt like it wasn't going to end. I felt like, as a millennial, this was made by someone in my generation, for my generation. And I hated a lot of it. There's some good here, but I really didn't like a decent amount and it wasn't enough to elevate it past two stars. Definitely didn't need to hear this one before death. Standout Tracks: TC & Honeybear, Chicken Bones, Silver Platter Club, Queen of Denmark
My family and I were on vacation. My mom and I went to this restaurant that had these huge plates of food but everything it was my turn they'd be out of food. They had a jukebox and the volume could be turned up so loud it could be heard from across town, which I did and it made people mad. I walked down a long stretch of road listening to the music. There was a brief thing with my mother but I don't remember. My sister and I kept walking until I met up with Eric and then we met up with Dennis and Bethany. There were hugs bc I have not seen them in a long time and everything seemed tender. I wish I could remember the words. I was offering to buy their house but I was still trying to keep them close There was some weird shiy peppered in throughout with my family and babies and pets. Too hard to describe.
Quirky lyrics, initially enjoyable accompaniment that got old quickly
So bad
It's OK, it's not something I would go out of my way to listen to, and to be honest, this list is a bit bogus with the bias towards random English musicians who really aren't ground-shattering in their music. Yes, the big names are covered, but this guy? Come on, I could live without hearing this album and be OK with it. 2/5 because it's not some god awful progressive rock opera shit.
It's fine. There are some fun lyrics, some high-school emo poetry lyrics, and maybe someone's shopping list? The tunes themselves are quiet and start to sound a bit samey after awhile. I think this one would have benefitted from some additional editing and maybe tightening the whole thing up to a solid 40 minutes.
I've never heard of this. I kinda liked the first two songs but then it really becomes a drag.
Definitely didn't 'need' to hear this. But it's ok.
Varied musical styles and some pretty amusing lyrics. Overly long and not really to my taste overall. Probably not one to revisit. 2/5
19/03/25 I have no idea if I liked this album or not. It was weird.
Some explicit not censored - some kinda funny but stupid
Here we go again. Another album whose first-track prognosis proves itself correct. What’s that you ask? My thoughts 30 seconds in were “Oh, right, it’s loser music!” “Jc hates Faggots” didn’t garner sympathy from me. I’m just homophobic now. Also, he managed to do a whole “We Are the World” of slurs in the process. Like, dude, dry 2010 GarageBand backings that my primary school piano teacher could have put together with an IKEA-unique American accent singing tragically unwitty lines over it should never have sold this well. Furthermore, this album should not be in this list. My tendency to dislike music that people I don’t want to be like would listen to has been reaffirmed after listening to this sleepy faggot moan over a non-copyright instrumental for 69 minutes.
I'll start off by saying; I'm not sure what was up with /THAT/ song (you know the one I'm talking about). I'm sure that's gonna get a couple of 1 star reviews from the crybabies on here. But I digress. I went into this expecting to be bored to death and having to slog through it. What a pleasant surprise that I was wrong. This thing gets off to a pretty slow and sombre start, but mid-way through things really pick up and we hear some treats like It's Easier, Outer Space, etc. The hype with this album keeps up until you get to the fucking awful part -That's The Good News. What the actual fuck was the point of putting this shit song on this record? Maybe I just don't get it, but what a great way to kill a great album theme. Going from singer-songwriter-esque pianos and guitar ballads, to just absolute dogshit pretend German techno. I get he was trying to be funny, but this shit had me stone faced. It only continues its downhill trot from there, with Supernatural Deliberator. From there, the vibe was just completely ruined and it made a generally good song like Fireflies just seem off-beat. This was going to get a 4, but That's The Good News & Supernatural Deliberator really fucked it. If you removed those two songs, and trimmed a bit of the fat from the start of the album with the more forgettable songs, you'd have a truly great album. And that's a shame.
The quirkier and often edgy lyrics really feel like they are gonna open this album up to a lot of hate and normally I would be inclined to feel the same. A few songs in however I began to really appreciate Grant's vocal style. The more eccentric style started to feel a lot more sincere than one might initially believe. I'm sure he is also going to lose some points from a lot of people for the amount of different vulgarities used across 'JC hates Faggots'. Surprisingly varied and enjoyable. Though you can tell this guy could probably spare to go to therapy a little more often
Sleep AIDS.
This guys got it all wrong Jesus Christ doesn't hate faggots he WAS a fag The Gospel of John repeatedly refers to an unnamed "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23, 19:26). Some could argue this phrase implies a deeper, more intimate relationship. A "newly discovered" scroll from a Roman centurion claims Jesus had a close relationship with certain male followers and was known for showing particular favoritism toward young men. lost fragment of Mark's Gospel (sometimes referenced in real academic circles) describes Jesus spending a night alone with a young man in a linen cloth Anyway album was shit, supernatural defibrillator and that's the good news were particularly bad. The type of album where the shit songs are so shit that it almost convinces you the mid tracks are good. (they're not) 2/10
"Although he was pained for a long time by the fact that his mother called him a "disappointment" on her deathbed and then died soon after, he later came to terms with the experience", and she died BEFORE he started making music! Judging that this album came after a four-year hiatus from music, and after reading the rollercoaster of the personal life section of John Grant's Wikipedia, this is clearly a very personal and vulnerable album that the he used a vehicle for working some stuff out about himself. Now for my usual protest of albums added in revisions. Personally, I would not have included this album in a revision of the book. I can understand why it was added but picking it over other artists (Wavves, Ariel Pink, Tame Impala, Deerhunter) feels wrong. As for the actual album itself, it's about three songs too long and as a result some of the songs that might have left their mark on me blend together and make me think 'which mopey song was that, exactly?' when I try to remember them. The lyricism here is very 'back of your high school notebook' in a very straightforward way. I can see how this would rub a lot of people the wrong way. I think it's quite endearing, it has its own perverse charm and feels a bit like a proto-Bo Burnham in some ways. The most tracks on the album that stand out the most to me lend their memorability to the lyrics on here especially on songs like Sigourney Weaver and Where Dreams Go To Die Overall, I am glad I listened to this album. I had only heard Outer Space before and while I enjoyed it, it didn't drive me to explore the album it's from. There are a couple of skips on here but the highs (Outer Space, Title track) definitely outweigh them. Highlights: TC and Honeybear, Where Dreams Go To Die, Sigourney Weaver, Outer Space, Queen of Denmark
He should have stayed on hiatus
Nothing stood out and both the lyrics and music come across as pretty generic
The Colbert Report in album form. Mildly entertaining. This is confusion and absurdity. Queen of Denmark makes me think of a serious Dagmar Krause. Tho some of this may be hyperbole and sarcasm leading me to believe this serious...? Is this just absurdity to be absurd or is he trying to make a statement? I dunno, but it was mildly entertaining, especially the Jesus Hates Faggots track.
The first four songs had a pleasant enough sound, though some strange lyrics. Grant starts to lose me on “Chicken Bones” though. One of the most stunning drops from ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to ⭐️⭐️ over the course of five tracks. I kind of like Grant’s voice, and I think some of the arrangements and vibes are great. But so many of his lyrics are cringily obnoxious, and that’s before you get to the ironic dropping of numerous slurs. He has good songwriting in him - it shows up from time to time, especially towards the end of the album, but it’s not enough to make up for all the bizarre stream of consciousness and off-putting genre shifts.
Golden champagne juicy grapefruit lucky monday High school football hot fudge buffalo tulip sundae Almond caramel frappe pineapple rootbeer Black and white pennyapple henry ford sweetheart maple tea what kind of word salad is this?!
It sounds to me that the vocals were double tracked, which is what I am most drawn to.
I don't know if I've already listened to this album & forgot to rate it (since I'm playing catch up) or if I'm actually familiar with some of the songs. Either way, I enjoyed the album and will look up more of his stuff.
the lyric writing feels like why i havent really gotten into a divine comedy album despite liking some of their songs, the music tastes as full of flavor as sparkling water maybe i just have too much experience and too many preferences when it comes to 2000s-2010s sort of indie stuff
I’m going to tell my kids this was father John misty. But seriously this was really solid.
Isn't it weird that I got two albums in a row from 2010 of all years? I think it is. Anyways, between this and Janelle Monáe's The ArchAndroid, I definitely prefer The ArchAndroid, but these two albums really aren't comparable at all other than sharing a release year, so I'll just talk about Queen of Denmark now. It's good. I am starting to feel that indie has a disproportionately high representation for the 2010s in comparison to how popular it actually was in the decade, but I like indie, so I can't complain too much. There's definitely some good things in John Grant's debut album here. The style is nice. It's generally softer, but it has some more energetic parts occasionally. John's singing does the job. I'm not huge on it, but it's not annoying or anything. The writing is mostly good. This might be one of the gayest album I've gotten so far, and that's saying something since I've already gotten Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Rufus Wainright. That's not an insult though. If anything, it's a compliment. There's songs about things like failed love and stuff that I'm sure resonates with a lot of people. There is one song on the album that is... questionable though. If you've heard the album (which I'm sure most people reading this have), you'd know which one it is. It concerned me at first, but then I found out that John Grant himself is gay, so it's like "oh he gets the pass" you know? Then he says some other slurs near the end that I'm not sure he has the pass for. Ultimately, JHF (as I'm calling it) is one of those songs that I understand the message of, even if the execution was a bit questionable. The song's clearly meant to be from the perspective of an overly-religious father figure, one that appears to be similar to John Grant's own parents. So you know what? I can accept this song. It's also just a good song, dare I say. The album's pretty good, but not my favorite indie album in any metric. High 3/5.
I did enjoy this album but that one song where he kept slurring caught me so off guard 😳
Weird, but cool - very oddball. Enjoyed this very much - laughed out loud multiple times with the clever humour of the writing while listening to it.
Sounds like a mix of Father John Misty and Rufus Wainwright…
Cuesta llegar a música de esta buena calidad, tanto como una excelente producción técnico acústica. Me gustó bastante
Another never heard of this guy before album. Interesting sound. Didn’t really pay attention to the lyrics which may have helped.
ok
8/10. The storytelling in this album is really nice. As an LGBTQ+ individual, it is really interesting hearing what John Grant has to say.
I've never heared of this guy before. The album starts very calm but then holds enough tension to keep it interesting. And the more I get into this album the more I hear reminiscences to other artists (Beatles, Bowie, Stevens...?) Neither an outstanding nor a bad song on. So it's hard for me to decide between three and four stars. 3,5
Surprising. Not at all what I was expecting based on the album artwork. This is more tongue in cheek, almost novelty, songs. But I enjoyed a lot of it. The backing music is layered and textured that makes it far more interesting. Lyrics can be funny, but are often inconsequential.
3/5
Good reason to depresion and anxiety. For my taste very lullaby songs.
4.5 actually
Good music
Father John Misty owes this guy one million dollars for ripping off his entire thing. Tongue-in-cheek baroque arrangements with lyrical topics such as sex, money, fame, love, self-loathing, etc etc etc. I felt like I was listening to a better version of FJM, though I will give Tillman credit: he never wrote a song with a bunch of slurs. Overall, I see why this is an impressive record but I was underwhelmed.
I just couldn’t bring myself to finish this. It’s not inherently bad I just didn’t enjoy it, its cardinal sin was that it was plain boring. I don’t want to get to song 3 or 4 for anything to happen 2.5/5
I really felt like I’d enjoy this one, but it was incredibly boring over its 1hr+. The only variant being bizarre lyrics which seemed strange for the sake of it. Fireflies down the end was decent and that’s the good news was so bizarre it became enjoyable. Certainly won’t be returning
I wanted to change the world But I could not even change my underwear
zat's ze good nooz
didn't know what to expect from this one but was pleasantly surprised! the album reminds me a lot of what father john misty would put out after. fairly compelling and interesting and pleasant to listen to. if i had a nickel for every instance of a slur during this project, i would have many many nickels, but there's one song on here that contributes a lot to that total (although i understand it's aimed at the sort of people who would use the slurs, but hey, they're still there).
Warm and witty and vintage-sounding – like early-'70s soft-rock vintage. Only jokes about actresses give away the era. What it lacks in groundbreaking sounds or innovation, it makes up with clear and effective execution.
Some funny social commentary in put in a very listenable medium.
3 stars. Not a style I would usually listen to but I really enjoyed his voice and his lyrics s/o to gay men this album cover unsettles me
Ugh. I thought this list had hit the lowest of lows when I had to endure an hour of Limp Bizkit but this tops that pile of stank shite. This sounds like if Father John Misty had no edge. The most boring musical accompaniment to the most cringey lyrical content delivered in a voice that would put me to sleep if it wasn’t actively pissing me off. Why the fuck is this something I had to hear before I died. I might die now. Less than one star.
This is surprisingly good and entertaining. Sent me on a deeper dive on him and his music.
3.9
So strange
A little batty and I liked it
Man, how to review this one? Melodically beautiful, lyrically frustrating, inconsistent in instrumentation but overall something I really liked?
I was so surprised to see this album pop up yesterday. I remember I was recommended this album back in 2016 by Spotify, back when the algorithm was good and would actually recommend you obscure music. I listened to this album nonstop in 2016 when I was going through some rough shit in my life. But while it meant a lot to me, it’s not like John Grant has ever really broken through. His listens are pretty low, and he seems to have a small, if dedicated, fan base. So, an interesting pick. But a pick I love all the same. I love love love this album. Every song is like honey to me. Grant’s beautiful deep voice. The Nilsson-esque instrumentations. I love how smart and sad the lyrics can be one minute, and then wildly stupid and funny the next. This is an album with the lyrics “Baby, you’re where dreams go to die/I regret the day your lovely carcass caught my eye” and then the next song goes “I feel just like Sigourney Weaver/when she had to fight those aliens.” It’s just so silly and dumb and fun. I’m biased. This album got me through some rough personal times so I’m gonna rate it highly. I feel like lots of people ain’t gonna like this one, but I’m one of those few who’s really on the level with Grant.
Album 692 of 1001 John Grant - Queen Of Denmark (2010) Rating : 3.5 / 5 Nice album from an artist I had never heard of. Full of deeply personal and soul-searching lyrics (some a little odd). Some nice arrangements and a cool baritone voice from Grant. Themes of impossible love, near-suicide, and redemption
Like it. Very relaxing, easy listen 3/5
Didn't click with me.
3 tracks in I thought we were on for 5 ⭐️ with this album But then it went on too long and ran out of ideas Call it a 4 with a very strong start
Some interesting ones on here. Dude seems like he's been through it in his life. And I feel for him. But probably won't be listening to this album again.
I honestly could not determine whether this was genius parody material, or just incredibly bad poetry addressing sophomoric themes. I ultimately settled on the latter.
Got my ears professionally checked to make sure I correctly heard a white male drop the hard r in a 21st century track. And to think I wanted to drop a 5 too!
A mix of serious, goofy, haunting, and simple, I was pleasantly surprised. The no-no words were in context of a buildup in the song, so I don't take major offense to them. Another great reason to have joined the generator.
Weird and cool
Bit of a strange one, but good. Definitely dips into the preachy side, for better or for worse. Liked it.
This one surprised the hell out of me. Never heard of John Grant, so had no idea what to expect. He is an indie folk artist or maybe synth pop... And his super weird lyrics mixed with his baritone voice and atmospheric music style made for some really interesting listening. I quite enjoyed it! Favourite songs: Sigourney Weaver, Outer Space, It's Easier, TC & Honeybear, Marz, Silver Platter Club, Where the Dreams Go to Die, Queen of Denmark, Leopard and Lamb Least favourite songs: JC Hates Faggots 5/5
The music is 3 stars but the creativity of. the lyrics are 5 stars. Altogether the album is 4 stars or B+ for me.
This is a pleasant surprise to have a John Grant album on this list. I knew a few John Grant songs (especially G.M.F.) and always wanted to know what an entire album sounds like. Now I know and I loved it. John Grant is like Father John Misty, just with less playful pop-culture references and more pop-culture references that make you wonder if he is okay. The songwriting is very original and "Where Dreams Go to Die" deserves the most plays on this album. Really enjoyed this one and added it to my collection for the theatrical feel of it all.
What in the Buffalo Bill is going on with the cover? That should have been my first of many obvious clues this would be a weird album. Until I got to "Sigourney Weaver" I didn't catch on that it was supposed to be intentionally silly. During Marz I only thought of Casey and his Brother from the Tim and Eric sketches thinking this was a serious attempt failing so bad it was funny. For all I know it still could be that too I suppose. As the comedy and sarcasm really got going I started to enjoy this quite a bit. I am a big deadpan guy and once the piano really gets in to that slow rhythm it becomes a mashup of Bo Bournham and Puddles Pity Party and I'm here for that. Although I think this album my predate both of them. It's really hard to tell with time anymore. 2010 feels just as far away as 2019. For an album I thought started off hilariously bad actually ended up being just plain funny. The Jesus track was a bit of a problem with the F word, but The message is good overall. Favorite track "It's easier" just rings true at the mot, but any from the middle could be here.
Is this a troll entry? Nah, gave up during track 3
Well, we have another weird and wonderful album with Queen Of Denmark. Initially i made an incredibly wrong first assumption about this album and that is that it would be a generic pop folk album which doesn't do a whole lot to stand out from the crowd but i was so very wrong. This album does so much wacky stuff to make it all it's own. Everything from the odd electronic sounds, the wonderful piano playing, the sudden bits of a guitar, and the weird and somewhat offensive lyrics were all odd inclusions which ended up really adding to the album (Okay, maybe the piano wasn't that odd but i don't care). This album was an incredibly nice surprise. Best Song: Silver Platter Club Worst Song: Tc & Honeybear
Didn't really like this is at all. It felt stuck between trying to be preachy and self-serving.. but funny and self-effacing at the same time.. what that lead to, was a droning, monotonous album, from some scorned, twisted gay bloke that still seems to hate the world. I wasn't familiar with John Grant so after listening I did some googling, to learn a little more about the seemingly self-indulgent and yet self-sympathising 'maverick' behind this album. I get that growing up gay all those years ago, things were understandably difficult and that attitudes back then were inherently different.. but an album that centres around that doesn't really age well for me, because being gay is fine now.. if anything it's too tame. You need to be a prancing feathered, gender-queer, oat milk latte chugging, wheat and oxygen intolerant oddball, in order to try and carve out some forced and worn out victimhood arc to your 'story'. John Grant just being gay, angry and not very funny for an hour and nine minutes, in 2025.. is just a bit boring. Despite the mildly scathing review above, I do have some sympathy for John. Upon reading more about him I found out he's HIV positive.. and he apparently found this out whilst in a shoe shop. I don't know what type of shop this was.. but I'd probably be a little miffed too, if I'd popped out for some new footwear but came back with the same semen stained espadrilles, and an AIDS diagnosis.
I put John Grant in the same box as artists like Rufus Wainwright and Father John Misty. It's a box that never gets opened. All these grandiose, sermon-like, epic songs fall short of the mark for me. The songs aren’t as poignant or powerful as they’d probably hoped. The common denominator comes across as a smug self importance. Whereas I think someone like BC Camplight does a great job of having genuine gravitas, humility and funny bones.
Not sure what that was but it’s not for me.
I think this is an interesting artist. But it stops at that. I'm not sure why he's a must listen.
Adult cartoon music mixed in with melancholy depressing music.
What hot garbage is this? How did it even make it on this list? What in sweet fuck is this even supposed to be?
Why is this album on this list?
I don’t know what this is, and I don’t know who it’s for. Like, is there a person out there that is like, “hell yeah, this is my favorite album!” Stranger things have happened, I guess, but I don’t see it. This is one of those times when I just cannot see any reason for this album to be on the list of 1000 I need to listen to before I die. It’s a guy with a piano and/or guitar with silly lyrics. Aren’t there hundreds of these albums? What makes this one special, because I can’t see it. It’s ok? But weird. There are bits where I approach liking it, and times where I’m thinking wtf is this awful nonsense. Sometimes those things happen in the same song. I don't ofter look up the album before I give a rating, because I know I can be susceptible to reviews, but this one was so out there that I did - and apparently it is considered a masterpiece in the indie scene. I'll admit, it did get better on the second half of the album, and I connected a lot more with the lyrics and style, but it's still just OK to me.
What a great album - sad, vulnerable, sweet. John Grant unveils his soul here, song by song. It is an album I’m going to listen to recurrently.
I enjoyed
2/10. Not my thing
A well-written indie album that doesn’t stick with me as much as I want it to.
an incredibly pleasant surprise. lush and chill at the same time.
This was fun. Biting and funny lyrics, cultural commentary, heartbreak, bitchiness and a some fun. Tunes were good but not sure about the german electonic vibe towards the end
I swear every time I see this cover I think it's Jerma. This album is fine, not much really stands out though. His voice kind of reminds me of Beck, but he lacks the lyrical chops and interesting compositions. I'm not really sure why this album was included either. It doesn't look like it was a huge success, had that much influence, or is historically significant. This just feels like they were grasping at straws to include an album for 2010 (and if that's the case I'm pissed that This Is Happening didn't make the cut). WOAH?!?!? can he say that word (I get what he was going for, but I just didn't expect that)???? I zoned out by that point and somehow caught that lyric and had to doubletake. Low 3.
Father John Misty but not a good i guess? I sort of really liked this, but i also sort of really hated it. Tough one for me.
En hel del Father John Misty över detta tycker jag. Det är bra! Lite ojämnt kanske men överlag väldigt kul lyssning tycker jag. Diggar ordentligt till Chicken Bones och blir märkligt rörd av Marz. Precis som med Father John Misty tror jag texterna tåls att förkovra sig i ordentligt vilket jag inte har tid till nu men kommer definitivt lyssna mer på detta! 4/5 med klarhet!
Väldigt trevligt album! Hört ett antal låtar förut, men inte lyssnat på albumet.
Dreary
I was looking forward to getting this one. I'd heard, and enjoyed, Pale Green Ghosts, and was deliberately holding back on this as I knew it was on here. I'd only heard Marz and Sigourney Weaver before which I liked. So.... it's really good! I really like the mood across the album. I love all the minor keys, matched with his voice. He has a kind of melancholic air to him, and when that's matched with further backing vocals and swells in the music it can be absolutely sumptuous. Notably on tracks like 'Where The Dreams Go To Die'. Apart from a slight lull in the middle of the album (where it feels a bit samey for a number of tracks), it has tons of great songs, with plenty of surprises thrown in. There's plenty of variance too, not least with the instruments. Piano, violins, brass, woodwind, spacey synths.. I'm on-board, and I'll definitely be re-visiting. 4.5 rounded up.
Despite the album art, sonically its surprisingly upbeat Haven't heard of this singer or the czars before. Entertaining listen for sure, wasn't bad, nor exceptional 3.5 stars if I could rate in decimals on this site
There's 2 albums in here. A great and beautiful singer-songwriter album and a more joke-ish upbeat, almost dance album. Some songs combine both sides better than others. I love the darker and more serious songs on here, the choir in the opening track is beautiful and John has a wonderful voice that sounds flawless on here. Songs like jc hates faggots manage to straddle the line between humor and heavy subject matter really well. Songs like supernatural defibrilator really ruin the vibe and atmosphere of the album for me though. Could've been 5 stars without those songs, taking into account the runtime of the album, but alas.
Listened Before? N I don't know, man... there's a lot of indie rock on this list and I don't really understand why. Its fine. Definitely didn't improve my life listening to this collection of medium to long songs. Didn't resonate with me at all. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Marz
synthy as hell, really great lyrics, and just balls to the wall weird. But weird in a way that kept me interested. I dont know if I'll ever listen to any of this again, but its definitely one of those entries that made me glad to try this list.
What if the Scissor Sisters and Father John Misty had an angry, hurt, gay baby? Loved the lyrics, loved the music, loved his willingness to embrace taboo. Just loved this album. What a surprise!
FJM but less abstract and sterile. Loved some of the punchy lyrics e.g. "pop and rocks and cyanide". Also enjoyed thinking about the way it processes anger and how it interacts with gender
Never heard of this guy, he seemed alright
not bad
Close to a 5 here. One of the best hidden gems on this list
Longer album, which I'm usually not a fan of, but the production is exquisite, John has an impactful voice, and the lyrics are a blend of emotional and funny
Eh, it’s okay; but at 3/4 of the album he suddenly uses a very stereotypical German accent for some reason.
I find this really hard to rate. I like the overall sound even though it often is not quite there. Good voice. Quirky lyrics (and sometimes, music) which is nice. A blend of folk/ singer-songwriter with some electronics etc. esp. towards the end. It's a 3 +/- 2.
Like some of the songs on this.
Overall I thought this album was pretty good but also had some notable flaws. It was a very mixed bag, which was evident with the tracks from this track list that i did enjoy, the ones I didn’t enjoy and the ones I just felt neutrally or couldn’t make my mind up. There are some really powerful one and some really meh ones. Didn’t quite click with me but I’ll be sure to visit some of his other music after checking out Queen of Denmark.
2/10 The production value on Queen of Denmark is awful. Most instruments sound like they've been played from a midi keyboard with free sound pack in garageband. Furthermore, to me John Grant tried hard to write deep and meaningful lyrics. However they sound bland and forced most of the time. Is there a good song on the album? Yeah I kinda digged "Chicken Bones" for the funky vibe. Not an album which should be listened to before you die.
I don't know who came first or whatever, but this guy sounds a lot like Father John Misty.
This album is excellent. I had never heard of John Grant before, but this album was thoroughly enjoyed. Musically complex and varied.
You see, that’s not what I call folk music. I’m a big fan of folk music, but my ratings for the genre on here are on the low side. This is why. This was all perfectly pleasant and a bit bland and washed over me for the most part. And, after I’d removed the 20 minutes of bonus material, was over quickly. But it’s not folk music. Soft rock is about right. Maybe even easy listening. But not folk. That requires an attitude. Rather bland. Lacks attitude. Unlikely to listen again.
Not my jam what so ever
Cool vibe. I like it a lot.
Not bad but mostly unmemorable.
Gives Harry Nilsson vibes.
What a weird album. I like most of the music and the singing is generally fine. However a lot of the compositions borrow too much from late 60s and early 70s artists who already did it with much more success. The really weird parts are the lyrics. Some songs feel heartfelt and others are totally ridiculous. Sometimes witty and funny but often dumb or puerile. I am glad to have heard this but it doesn’t make me want to track down his music. However it does make me want to look up the backing band, Midlake.
It was actually ok
I've met some very, very weird people in my musical career. I think being a musician tends to attract them, even more so than other vocations that also attract weirdos like morticians and congressman. But for every legitimate freakshow weirdo like Beck, who's actually just an extremely strange person, there's a half-dozen guys who think that affecting a persona of extreme weirdness is good for their cachet. I kind of suspect this guy might be the latter. I'd never heard of him before (and I was following music closely when this came out), so I read his bio. Then I listened to some stuff from his first band. Those songs all have pretty staid lyrics, certainly nothing even remotely close to the exquisitely crafted strangeness of "Marz" or "Sigourney Weaver" (with emphasis on "crafted"). But whatever, I actually don't give a rat's ass about lyrics and certainly not about whether a guy's a poseur. Many of my favorite bands are poseurs, and in fact my favorite band from this era (Foxy Shazam) the lead guy is posing (fraudulently) as an ambiguously-sexed weirdo. I'm also writing this much about the CD because I like it - if it really sucked, I'd just give it a 1 and move on. It's exquisitely-crafted pop, and the weirdness gives it a real nice twist. Grant himself is a very capable singer. He's got kind of a low, limited range, although there's moments he soars - the vault to an upper register on "Jesus Hates Faggots", perhaps the most deeply personal track, and then into falsetto on the chorus, is the best example. Even in his lower register he has an extremely expressive tone, for example on the chorus of "Where Dreams Go To Die" his voice is butter-smooth. But the real strengths are the production and the instrumentation. Grant uses basically every trick in the book here, and it's brilliantly crafted. It's really got everything - operatic backing vocals, strings, horns on "Silver Platter Club", cool synth, and just enough hard-rock touches to keep it interesting. I just love his melodies too, this CD is brilliant pop songwriting. I considered giving it a five, but it's a little long on ballads, many of which (beneath the surface) have a very similar feel to them. I get the subject matter is sad, but if it were a little more balance on up- and down-tempo, a little more lively, I'd give it a 5.
A charming oddball folk pop adjacent album by an artist to this point unfamiliar to me. (Haven’t written out song by song completely, still in bullet point form, might come back at a later point and add it in on next listen.) Favourite tracks are: Where Dreams Go To Die, Sigourney Weaver, It’s Easier, Outer Space, Caramel, Fireflies. Least favourite tracks are: Queen of Denmark, That’s the Good News, Supernatural Defibrillator Starts a little slow with some lyrics that don’t quite work for me on the first couple of tracks but really picks up on Where Dreams Go To Die. The track has this eerie movie sound track x Radiohead instrumental sound which is really working wonders for the atmosphere. Lyrics are simple but effective and the vocal style and harmonies work very well. Endearing and pretty but bittersweet. The progression of this track is its main strength. Sigourney Weaver is very fun and sometimes funny with its pop culture pulls. Manages to pull off these pop culture references without feeling corny or dated. JC hates faggots is the lyrical and emotional stand out track of the album and feels incredibly personal. A scathing criticism of organised religion and the damage it can inflict on young people and its use of us vs them tactics. The lyrics and vocal performance are blunt and bleak and passionate, and you can tell how much JG means what he is saying. Instrumental feels a bit underwhelming to back up the lyrical and vocal performance. To me personally would have preferred a grander or a further stripped back and raw instrumental and production. So close to being a great track. Again the writing is the best on the album, and is extremely good. That being said That’s the good news feels like something that would come from a late 2000s/ early 2010s YouTube sketch or parody song. Instrumental isn’t good and the lyrics and vocal performance with the German accent is grating and funny, but not in a good way. Album ends on a mysterious and atmospheric note that leaves a bit to be desired. 3.5/5 - high highs and low lows. Will definitely be returning to this album with a handful of skips, some songs will definitely remain in my rotational, very excited to hear more of John Grant’s work.
This is a pretty chill and laid-back album, perfect if you’re in the mood for some singer-songwriter chamber pop. I like John Grant’s singing style. His distinct baritone voice is so clear and expressive. The synths and pianos are definitely my favorite part of the album, setting the mood and adding texture and color to the atmosphere.
4/5 I very much enjoyed this album when it came out but I preferred the next album Pale Green Ghosts
I hadn't heard of John Grant or his previous band, The Czars, before, but it's a great find. Members of the band Midlake supported this album in more ways than one, contributing to the music, but also by bringing Grant out of his early retirement from music. The music is both dreamy and dreadful, representing Grant's soul and struggles of his youth as a young gay man in a community that loathed his true identity. As an adult, he seems more self-assured in who is, but also tortured by the formative memories of his youth. The music drifts up into space-faring ballads that could sit alongside the links of 70s singer-songwriters, just as comfortily as it could next to The Flaming Lips. This album has the potential to really grow on me.
This was an interesting album. I could not tell 100% how sarcastic he was being at times. "Sigourney Weaver" was probably the oddest of the ones in the album. The lyrics about "I feel like Winona Ryder in that movie about vampires." I mean, I get that he was going for rhyme and meter, but... it was DRACULA. How hard is that to now? "JC Hates F*****s"... I get the point, and his bitterness. But obviously not something I listened to over and over. I liked how he shifted moods about halfway through the album. Otherwise it would have been much more of a drudgery to listen to. It was definitely a different kind of album that I normally listen to. It was good, but I just don't know if it's something I would listen to on a regular basis. Top tracks: "TC & Honeybear," "Where Dreams Go To Die," title track
Wow, I was wrong about my prediction that this album would suck because I didn't recognize John Grant's name. He has a great voice and is a cleaver lyricist. I thought his soft ballads were really beautiful with well-accompanied piano, flute, and strings. Marz and Where Dreams Go To Die gave me goosebumps. It's Easier, Caramel, and Leopard and Lamb were also very solid. And then he has a bunch of goofy songs with a much different vibe, but they all are clever, made me laugh, and still sounded good. Reminded me a bit of the Presidents of the United States of America. Sigourney Weaver (oh Winona), Chicken Bones, Silver Platter Club, JC Hates Fa***** (brilliant), and the title track (a soaring, smashing closer) are the highlights of this variety. The first and last two in particular - satirical genius. My faith in this list has been restored.
The album is a little overly heavy on the repetitive ballad side, but I enjoyed it. I'd probably call it a 3.5, but I'll round down because I don't know if I would seek it out again. Favorite tracks: Marz, Where Dreams Go to Die ("I regret the day your lovely carcass caught my eye"??), Sigourney Weaver (shades of Freebird), Chicken Bones, Jesus Hates F**** (tough lyrics, but clever).
5/5. Another classic in a row of albums here. It's an album of ballads but each one is so beautiful in its own right. The vocals are simple and the melodies have hints of progressive rock albums and Brian Eno for sure, so down my alley. I also see the influence on newer artists as well very clearly. The lyrics are silly and very un-serious sometimes and other times profound and personal. I've never heard of Grant or even the band he's fun but this was a great listen. Best Song: Marz, Queen of Denmark, JC Hates F******
Will listen again.
U don't know what I expected, but it surely wasn't this.
Nog nooit van gehoord, maar echt wel een goed album! Een beetje Father John Misty achtig. Wijze lyrics ook. Alles klopt: wijze stem, goeie muziek en geweldige teksten. 4.3
I had no idea who John Grant was before this, but this album was really great. I don't normally focus on lyrics when I listen to music, but there were songs here that really caught my ear in terms of the lyrical moods not matching the musical mood and I found that very interesting and enjoyable. Additionally, the music was really well performed and produced and the end result was very nice. I listened to it twice and am now a fan of John Grant. Five stars.
найс, понравилось. очень напомнило father john misty и элтона джона.
Vocal style and lyrics remind me of Harry Nilsson. Liked this a little better than I thought I would.
Generic, but pleasant, music with silly lyrics. It really started to annoy me in the second listen.
Despite the stream of consciousness type lyrics, I enjoyed the music and quirkiness more than I expected to. I found there to be a Queen-esque melodrama to some of the sound. In the end, though, when the album was over I wasn't sure I cared to listen to it again.
Good singer, but MAN, some of the lyrics are just atrocious. Seems like stream of conscoiusness lyrics and sometimes they land and others just crash and explode. Some truly horrible songs and some decent ones, too, but nothing all that interesting. Music is likewise unremarkable.
I do not get the high ratings. Sounds like bad 60s soundtrack music. Hard pass.
That was actually pretty special. Well done.
surprisingly amazing
Deeply personal album covering some pretty nuanced emotions. There are a lot of songs about love & loss, angst and excitement, but anytime an artist lands some of the lesser-explored "in-between-emotions" my ears perk up a bit more. This is going to land harder for those that fall into Grant's more specific demographic of "gay Gen X man raised in the midwest" but he covers enough ground where anyone alienated enough can find a way in. Having been a former record store clerk his music knowledge is clearly dialed in enough to make this record sound fantastic and informed. I'm already a fan of Rufus Wainwright, for instance, and although Grant has his own aesthetics, I found an easy lay of the land pretty quickly, songwriting-wise. Real good album. Will revisit more here and there, including his work with Hercules & Love Affair for more disco stuff.
I didn’t expect this album to sound like it did given the album art. That said, while the music was pretty, sometimes beautiful, the lyrics left me wanting. They’re very weak. No poetry there. Much of it quite literal and sung by a voice that is not quite good enough to elevate the words. Quite a frustrating listen.
Robotic deep voice singing, too long, and the final songs were quite weird. Stand-out: Marz
Smooth and creamy. A little samey at times
I’m not sure if I’d ever heard of John Grant before. Apparently, this album was released in 2010. To my ears, it sounded very 80’s, and I really liked that about it. A highlight for me was Sigourney Weaver. My partner commented that the vocal harmonies reminded her of Ghost. I didn’t think that at first, but I can see what she means. Overall, this was a quite pleasant album. Maybe not good enough to make me stick around for more listens, but definitely good enough to make for a nice fun listen.
i hated how the synths sound on this but could see myself listening again; at the end of the day i love some witty self-deprecating tossed-off gay-guy snark
This was actually pretty funny. It's rare to find a sense of humor in music like this, so I really appreciate it when someone is able to blend good tunes with witty lyrics. Poetry like no other.
Enjoyable first listen, definitely worth coming back to. Gave me vibes of Father John Misty
Queen of shite more like it
Why was I waiting for the opening notes of the first song to turn into "eyes wide open" by Creed? Where dreams go to die is very "across the universe". I didn't know this artist or album and quite enjoyed it, 4*
una lagna unica ma non terribilissimo, a tratti è anche piacevole, ma è un genere musicale che per definizione è inoffensivo
What an absolutely gorgeous album. In love with it after one spin. Will explore more of thus guy.
John Grant is like Father John Misty’s angry gay cousin. I’d probably listened to this album one time a long time ago and wanted to revisit it. His album Pale Green Ghosts was one of my favorites from 2013 (one of the best years this century for albums), and Queen of Denmark was one of the highest rated from 2010. For good reason. It’s a spectacular album: lyrically angry, funny, and evocative and musically varied, dense, and beautiful. It is one of the more psychedelic indie rock albums of the early 2010’s. John’s vocals are fantastic throughout, perhaps not for everyone but I think he sounds great. I mentioned Father John Misty because this album reminds me so much of FJM’s 2015 album I Love You, Honeybear, which I listed as my 3rd favorite album of the decade (after Jason Isbell’s Southeastern and Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, M.A.A.D city). I think FJM must have been inspired by this album, by the same muse if not directly.
I don’t hate it.
this was good, solid singer songwriter album
This started off so so, and the longer it went, the more I lost interest. I did find ‘Sigourney Weaver’ amusing though.
Music 4 Lyrics 2
I see where Sturgil Simpson gets his inspiration.
I quite liked it. But it did feel a bit long and the album cover irks me. There is also no song that I actively looked up the title to listen to it again, but the total package is nice.
2010 was a period in my life where I was so in tune with new music coming out, so when I see a "must listen" album from this era I am simultaneously intrigued and worried that it's going to be something stupid. This album is somehow both intriguing and stupid. I think it primarily comes down to the lyrics. The Beatles/Bowie-esque arrangements backed by lyrics that would make Zappa proud just doesn't work for me. He reminded me of a less serious, less poetic Andrew Bird, but I'd rather just listen to any Andrew Bird album than this. It's not interesting enough musically to make up for the weirdness and cheesiness of the lyrics.
Fastnar omedelbart. Väldigt roligt när det händer. Särskilt när det är en artist jag inte är bekant med. Ändå hänt några gånger nu på denna lista. Man får vada genom medioker musik för att vaska fram godbitarna. Det finna dock ett antal "skoj/ploj"-låtar på skivan. Trots dessa är det en singer/songwriter i min smak. Sen uttalar han Sigourney märkligt. SigÖrny istället för SigÅrny. Men det är förlåtet! Brukar inte störa mig på texterna så mycket. Men här kan de faktiskt sticka ut lite och var töntiga ibland. Bitvis. Men också lite kul ibland. Så det är inte bara dåligt. Jag kommer definitivt lyssna mer på Johan Grant!
Var lite ambivalent för denna, men landar i att de infantila texterna som helhet ligger honom i fatet (även om de här och där har sina behållningar). Musikaliskt i övrigt är det helt okej utan att på något sätt sticka ut, så för mig blir det en svag trea.
Got the lyrics
This is a pleasant surprise. Reminds me of Father John Misty
Did not enjoy.
I liked it 💗
Hmm, not bad, not good, a bit in the middle. Nothing wrong with this album, nothing good that made me want to listen Im afraid
good folk
The older you get, the less open you become to discovering new artists. Generally, when discovered...I'm okay with that. A lot of new artists just don't appeal to me. While his voice sometimes sounds like Beck to me, the songs are angry in a smooth folksy way. Going to be exploring more of his catalog.
Inventive, funny and utterly heartbreaking. This is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time and I had no idea who this guy was before today. I expected the worst when I saw the strange cover and started the first track, and let it wash away in the background while I worked. But it soon caught my ear and I had to start over on headphones and engage fully once I realised I might have a real gem on my hands. There's a special rung in hell reserved for people who waste good loose-leaf tea. But I brewed up, poured a pot and then got entirely distracted by the lyrics of song after song, meanwhile enrobed in a beautiful combination of catchy melodies, creative instrumental fills and moments of inspired genius. My tea was stewed and luke-warm by the time I remembered to drink it. But it was totally worth it to discover John Grant. Fantastic stuff.
Perfect album.
There is a sweet spot in the middle of this album that is good. It is bookended on the front and back by a bunch of boringly annoying songs.
I loved this. It feels like 60s and 70s folk pop made modern — even got some musical theater vibes in some parts. Whatever it is, John Grant’s voice is gorgeously listenable. This is one of the rare times in this project where the entire album of an artist I’ve never heard before gets added to my circulation.
Indie Folk is also in my wheel house apparently... I loved this, so soft and gentle, wrapped up in a blanket with a nice cup of tea.
Einfach nur langweilig!
love love love it
This album was really interesting, and had a really varied sound. I could have pinned individual songs as being from like 4 different decades. Everything is well-crafted. It's probably not an album that I'm going to come back to because its not particularly my genre, but it's really good for what it is 4/5
Another baffling inclusion on this list, and it’s not even downright terrible. The music and John’s singing is fine. The issue is the lyrical content, as it’s just cheesy as fuck. The lyrics are what I would expect from Eurodance songs, not a pop folk album. Due to that this album felt like wasted potential.
Know of John Grant just keeping up with the indie scene + he put out a new album this year. Didn't know any of his albums were on this list. I listened to it but will need to give more listens to this as I feel like this album is a grower.
Not familiar with him. I found some of his songs/lyrics offensive. Music should be entertaining, not anger inducing.
An enjoyable wild ride of an album. Covering folly sounds to electronica and pop and it still kind of makes sense.
Not bad, not great.
Geggjað
Algjört meistaraverk. Ekki eitt leiðinlegt lag og textarnir frábært. Innflytjendur eru nefnilega ekki svo slæmir.
Ehhh, it's ok. Not anything that I would choose to listen to again, but nothing that offended the ear. Just not my style to be honest.
this guy is lowkey me asf. like i feel like i should be giving him 5 stars just because we’re kinda the same person highlights: tc & honeybear, where dreams go to die, queen of denmark (jan 22 2025)
His voice didn’t move me in fact this whole album rubbed me in the wrong direction!
Queen of Denmark marks John Grant’s solo debut after his departure from The Czars. As an openly queer artist, Grant brings his personal experiences into his music, exploring deeply emotional and often dark themes. The album melds lush, retro-inspired instrumentation with brutally honest songwriting. It’s a unique mix, and although it probably won't quite become one of my all-time favourites, I can appreciate the craftsmanship and emotional depth. The album’s retro aesthetic is immediately apparent, with soft rock influences, vintage synths, and orchestral arrangements creating a nostalgic soundscape. Grant’s voice, often fragile and rich with emotion, works in perfect harmony with the music’s orchestral touches. Songs like “Marz” and “Leopard & Lamb” are standout moments, balancing the beauty of the melodies with lyrics that tackle themes of self-worth, love, and vulnerability. The contrast between the music’s warmth and the rawness of Grant’s storytelling is part of what makes the album so engaging. However, at over an hour, Queen of Denmark starts to feel a bit overstuffed. While the album's high points are powerful, some tracks like “Silver Platter Club,” “Chicken Bones Outer Space,” and “Fireflies” start to lose momentum, and the pacing slows down significantly. “What Time?” as the closing track is a reflective outro of sorts, but its length feels a bit excessive. The album could have been more concise, which would have strengthened its overall impact. That said, Queen of Denmark still offers a lot. The songwriting is sharp, and Grant’s ability to layer emotional depth with accessible melodies shines through. It may not be an album I reach for all the time, but I respect its ambition and the moments of brilliance it delivers.
Alternating wit and anger and heartbreak. I was sometimes interested, sometimes impatient, sometimes checked out.
So I had never heard of John Grant until last year. I listened to the album that came after this one, Pale Green Ghosts, which is much more electronic (and I love the title track, which has a super cool Rachmaninoff interpolation). I recently had a Rufus Wainwright album, and this reminded me of him a lot. I owe this album another listen; I think it has the potential to grow on me given I like his second album. But for now I'm feeling 3. My favorite track was Sigourney Weaver.
cant stand his voice + the lyrics are awful, he’s trying to be poetic or funny (“I feel just like Winona Ryder / In that movie about vampires / And she couldn’t get the accent right / Neither could that other guy”) but its just cringy
sometimes the line between satire and pretentiousness is very thin - or was it just bad lyrics?
The music is uninteresting; very basic and shoe-gazey, even carnival-ish at times. I read that Grant's talent is in his lyricism and storytelling, but it comes across like Buddy the Elf delivering a singing telegram.
This is everything I don't like in music. It sounds like it was made in the 70s and not in a good way. Unlistenable.
Interesting and nice enough to be a fun listen
Father john misty vibes
Kind of over it
I liked this album! I thought the songwriting was exciting and, in some songs, unusual/original. I went in with VERY low expectations, based on the album art, which looked like high school artwank and the fact that I used to work with someone called John Grant (that's not the artists fault). 4 star album, but it was reduced to 3 for the album cover. JC Hates Faggots = spicy number!
What a surprise! I actually really enjoyed this despite going into having no idea who John Grant is, and having read some not so flattering reviews on here. Queen Of Denmark was a breath of fresh air - the lyrics are pretty wild in places, I took them as parodies and social commentary, and as such had a great time listening to this album! The album takes you in all kinds of directions both musically and lyrically - weird and kind of wonderful.
3.5
Surprising good, didn’t expect it. Why is this the second album recently with a white side spouting the n-word?
Super chill, kind of reminds me of Father John Misty but more tranquil.
5-