Reviews (page 6 of 8)
This is a good album, and each individual song is fine. Possibly many are a four (Sigourney Weaver for example). But at over an hour it's much too long and suffers from the chocolate box effect: after twelve of such rich musical fare the delight has diminished somewhat through sheer repetition.
Went from "why is this on the list?" to "I dig this song" right around Chicken Bones. 3.5
Interesting. Never heard of him. Could probably like some of his music.
Enjoyed it. Listened to the whole thing twice.
Mixed bag really
enjoyed it, have never heard of artist or album previously. Felt like would hit better on certain days depending on mood etc.
Pretty good. Strange lyrics.
At first I found the album unspectacular. It didn't sound bad, didn't bother me, reminded me in some places of bigger hits by others. Otherwise it seemed boring. But then that changed. A couple of very funny things happened and the album became interesting. I will listen to the album again.
Started off well but descended into a poor Elton/Bowie derivative. I didn’t think the lyrics flowed well, he was just saying stuff.
Never heard of this before, it was interesting. Slow melodic songs, interspersed with electronic synths, it was a style I hadn't heard before. Lyrically, some of its depressing, some sarcastic and sparky, overall something you should listen to the lyrics rather than just the music. It was pretty good
Non-smug Father John Misty
I'm not familiar with John Grant, or this album, but I enjoyed its overall sound. The songs were varied in style, but they all had a softness to them that I liked. The vocals were really good, and the arrangements were unique and fun. The songs were a strange blend of pop and folk music, but it worked really well. The lyrics were strange at times, but really well written, and I especially liked “Sigourney Weaver.” I think my biggest gripe against this album is that it was a bit of drag at times, and there are other albums from this era of indie music that I’d rather listen to. This album is well made, and I can see how it got so much critical recognition, but I can also see how it may not land with everyone.
Du folk un peu cheesy mais parfois joliment fait, comme “Where dreams go to die”. Ça reste assez plat et sans éclat, voire pénible sur la fin avec deux titres différents mais pires (“That's the good news”, “Supernatural Defibrillator”), et un dernier morceau vaporeux chiant de presque 8 minutes (“What Time”) pour rester sur la certitude que non je pense plus réécouter cet album en entier, merci.
Ouain po pire po pire pour du rock indie
I liked the album well enough. Grant has a very good voice and the arrangements are well polished. Nothing stood out to me though. I would listen to this again but I probably wouldn’t seek it out.
Feels like I’m listening to the soundtrack to an animated web series from 2010 . 7
Starts off strong but then falls apart.
I’d give this a 3.5 if I could. I knew of the chicken bones song well before listening to this album. I like the quirkiness of the lyrics.
This was one oddball of the album. I was quick to pawn it off as an album filled with love songs or some pretentious songs. To be honest I wasn't that impressed in the beginning. Then "Silver Platter Club" came on and I figured it sounded more fun! The rest of the album was an eclectic mix of tracks. I honestly don't know what I feel, it balances on being super annoying and actually really good. Some of it feels like it hasn't aged too well and has that really 2010 edgy vibe to it ("JC hates Faggots"). It's like Bo burnham, Pink Floyd and Bright Eyes made a colab. I will give it a 3 because i honestly can't say what I think. It was definitely an experience.
3.2
Huh... lots of indie stuff that should my bread and butter but again just fine. A little long.
I’m very conflicted on this album as it boarder on brilliant and absurd. It’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before but at the same time seems so familiar - familiar enough that I sometimes think some artists might have a case for copyright infringement. Often the lyric writing is very creative and unique, but then there are songs that I thought were Weird Al parodies in their silliness. Definitely going to have to reflect and then come back to it.
Put lyrics aside, music is pretty ok considering it's a 2010 album, although nothing new either.
This is an example of one of those albums that lulls you into a sense of tranquility until you realize how dark the lyrics are. Pretty good all things considered.
Who is John Grant, and why is he the Queen of Denmark? Formerly of the Czars (a band I've never heard of before), Grant moved from Denver to New York City and decided to work on solo material. This album is his solo debut. It tackles personal issues of addiction and coming to terms with sexuality, which shows a lot of Grant's depth in this album. As for the music, it takes a little while to pick up. I wasn't quite hooked until Sigourney Weaver, and the quality was spotty after that. Some songs have a tendency to be hokey rather than good. Nothing against Grant's songwriting or performances, I just find he's at his best with a full band driving a lot of the emotion. Queen Of Denmark hits it's peak with the last few songs on the album, and makes me wish Leopard & Lamb was expanded on a bit more. An album that gets better as it goes on. Feels like a lot of feelings swimming around in the soup and trying to sort things out one way or another. Potent listen at times. That said, it's importance is perhaps overexaggerated.
Without knowing to much of Grant or The Czars I think it's a decent listen but more for the background.
Ok, echt goed gemaakt, maar niet mijn ding.
I definitely had very low expectations for this but it was better than I was expecting. Kind of odd and out there, not at all straight indie folk and soft rock as it's assigned genre's suggested. I dug it!
Difficult to understand why this album is on the list. Not innovative, not bad, not great. Just middle of the road.
Still don't like gay
an entire album in the spirit of the last song wouldve been amazing
Queen of Denmark is fairly middle of the road. Lyrically Grant can be pretty awful. Childish almost. Marz is especially bad. But overall there is a strong Beatles crossed with Father John Misty and I don’t hate it. KC Hates Faggots is shockingly vulgar but who doesn’t like an anti-Christianity song. 6.0/10
Decnet album
Notes of Elliott Smith, were my scornful tasting notes over the first couple of tracks, deciding early this was typical noughties beigewave. Beneath the aggressively soothing wrapping, the lyrics are sometimes pungent and imaginative; the songs swing along cheerfully, nothing revolutionary, nothing that my life calls out to, but I’ve let this play four times over the day.
John Grant is unusual.
Interesting dichotomy of beautiful melodies and lyrics from and angry 8th grader. I’m not sure what I think overall. I have to split the difference.
Weird??!
Couple of good songs, couple of bad songs.
Okay
Okay. This sounds like it wants to be dub step but doesn't have enough bass for it? I don't know probably not. It's ambient. And okay. A little long? I don't know
Never heard this before. Some songs reminded me of Beck’s Sea Change album.
Wasn't expecting to enjoy it based on the cover but starts out strong. Definite They Might be Giants vibes but prettier. Takes a turn after Queen of Denmark. Some high high points but also some songs I REALLY didn't like. On balance they balance. 2.5.
weird and quirky. often stream of consciousness type lyrics.
This is weird. I kinda like it. And dropped a few…..this was weird.
Found it interesting, with some peculiar association between the lyrics and the sound. Also, how the record evolves and still surprises you just when you think you figured it out. [0077/1001]
Some genius songwriting here, but undermined by the fact that each song seems to be working against each other and the record is pretty shoddily produced.
That chicken song was fun. Other than that it seems to be the type of album that requires a few listens to get into and I only listened once.
Spotify tells me that one of my top tracks this year will be “Boy from Michigan” by John Grant so I was interested in hearing this earlier album. He has a smooth easy-to-listen-to-voice and I think, with more eclectic arrangements (like Boy from Michigan) I would give this a higher mark.
Jolie voix, poétique, mélancolique.
felt like simon and garfunkel but without the greatest parts of simon and garfunkel. idk. i didn't dislike it though
J'ai adoré le début de l'album mais vers la fin ça devenait un peu moins intéressant. Les paroles aussi sont parfois un peu dur à prendre au sérieux. Il y a clairement un côté sarcastique aux paroles et ça se veut un peu absurde, mais je ne suis pas sûr que ça se mélange tout le temps bien au style de musique présenté. C'est quand même un album très intéressant et je le réécouterais bien. 7/10
Some lyrics are too *~quirky~* for me, but overall a pleasant album.
Nice. I might come back to this, solid 3.5 for now
weird. not bad though. ridiculous lyrics. closer to 3 than 2.
A strange album, felt a little disjointed as if it was by three separate bands.
It started incredibly sad and then picked up the pace in the middle. I enjoyed the lyrics and themes throughout the record.
I liked music, instrumentation, vocals and mostly the lyrics which are clever and witty. Not sure I’d listen again though.
Rufus Wainwright en dépression
Nice and "spacey" I like the unique lyrics. 3.7
Ok
I enjoyed “Baby you’re where dreams go to die”. Lovely ballady folk stuff and I like how he enunciates his lyrics.
Really liked the front side but not really the back half. Rating 3.2
An odd time capsule of a sound I completely forgot about.
I think this has really suffered for me because of the 1 album a day structure. I can see myself getting really into it but at first listen I only really really liked it in parts and couldn't quite make my mind up about the rest
Really really liked the first half of the album, sounds like some I would’ve listened to in 2019 or so. Second half went off the rails. Might’ve been a 4 if the songs were in a different order but the whiplash was way too much.
Never heard of album or artist. Found this interesting on first listen; one I’ll Need to come back to.
Loved the acerbic diary quality of the lyrics. Beautiful baritone voice. Felt like the compositions were somewhat unambitious at times.
Vaudeville folk? Not bad, not really my jam. 3 stars.
title track is extremely good, but the whole album is laced with john grant's beautiful voice. half of the album is a little samey due to pop sensibility, but the other half is able to stay extremely vibrant with the likes of "tc and honeybear", "it's easier", "jesus hates faggots", and again the very good title track. i personally think this is a 3.5/5 but i can't give half stars, and unfortunately don't think it quite manages a 4, so 3 it will have to get. but definitely worth your time if folk pop is your deal, or if you're a fan of lyrically focused stuff.
I agree with the other review that says this reminds them of Bo Burnum.
When this works it works quite well, it has gentle arrangements and his voice is soothing, it occasionally veers off into the weird but enough of it is centred around a simple but effective old-school pop sound. I'm staggered that this is from 2010, it sounds like 1977.
Got some funky shiz going on here, I like it at times
It was fine. Not my favorite. Weak 3.
So close to being so cool. Just a little too much in spots
Good sound, but silly.
One of the more unusual new finds for me. Very personal songs for him, real anger about his upbringing. His style is unique, random words at times making it feel like a novelty album.
Not terrible, not exciting either
For some reason the last 4 songs suddenly became fun
This absolutely did not need to be an hour long
I genuinely don't even know what the fuck to even say about this one. It felt like a weird dream, a combination of nonsense and the sensation of drifting upon the clouds. It was aight. Some worked. Some didn't.
I wasn’t sure about this album at first, but it grew on me as I listened to it. The lyrics are clever and often funny. Overall, this is a very interesting and honest album.
Decent work, but not exceptional. Title track has something though
I'm not ready to give this any more than a 3 after only a couple listens, but this is the type of stuff I love finding through this list.
Very similar to Father John Misty. Lush music and vocals, poignant but also funny lyrics.
Some good songs
It’s fitting the opening track off John Grant’s solo debut has the word “Honeybear” in the title. Because this is every bit a precursor to Father John Misty and the post-indie-folk revival of the 2010s. Never heard of John Grant or his band before this—The Czars—but this is a very fine album indeed. The lyrics are fun and impactful. The production is adventurous too. I like when it weaves in electronic accents on “Sigourney Weaver;” that melding of folk and science fiction reminds me of Grandaddy in a very nice way. Then “Chicken Bones” is a groovy, bouncy, bayou bumper complete with a very Jerry Garcia guitar solo. And other sounds are explored too—Beatles-esque horn arrangements on “Silver Platter Club,” proggy synth work on “Outer Space,” abrasive industrial synths on “Jesus Hates F****ts,” shoe-gazey acoustic guitar vibes on “Honeybear” (think Red House Painters) and singer-songwriter piano moments on the climactic closer. But wherever John Grant and Midlake—another band I’ve never heard of, which just speaks to the scope of the whole folk revival—go, Grant’s syrupy baritone and thoughtful, almost-casual lyrical insights buoy this record from top to bottom. It’s a fine record. A deep cut from a particular era. Maybe not essential. But a fun one to share with friends who like FJM, Fleet Foxes, Joanna Newsom, Woods, and all the rest. I quite like it.
It's easy listening, not bad
Didn’t finish but I enjoyed the production, the songwriting, and his voice
A highly personal, introspective album focused on a life filled with struggles like suicide, homosexuality, and religion, that ultimately falls a bit flat for me. There are some shining gems on here like Outer Space, and I think as a whole concept, there are redeeming qualities. I just wanted something a bit more hooky to catch my ear from the start.
Shimmering soliloquies featuring a striking dichotomy between sonic stylings and subject matter.
Was unfamiliar but I mostly enjoyed it.
Its a joke album? It would be better but for some reason I couldn't take it seriously
Kinda chill. Some of these lyrics seem like jokes, but it's uncertain if it is or isn't. It is easy to listen to, but I don't find myself wanting to listen to it more. It's not terrible. Another 3/5 I guess
Ambitious and inventive and weird at times. I liked it, and there’s no denying the dude’s got a great voice.
Best Song: Sigourney Weaver. Slightly rocking with quaintly specific lyrics. Feels real indie, in a good way. Worst Song: Silver Platter Club. The lyrics are overly simplistic and a bit too on-the-nose. Overall: Some pretty nice singer-songwriter material here, but it doesn't reach that same echelon as like Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, or Leonard Cohen. Not to say its bad, but it's hard not to compare it against much stiffer competition. The lyrics here also often seem to default to snappier, "cleverer" sounding lines than something deeper or more profound.
Lots of angst in a weird rock/pop/synth/ska album. I hear Beatles/Reel Big Fish/Pink Floyd influences in this melancholic debut album about lost love and the masculine construct.
Eh.
so and so
Pretty good. New experience for me and i enjoyed it
Just not my style
First half was ok. Then it just took a very odd turn.
A little too fluffy for my taste, not enough substance.
Both the artist and his former band were unknown to me until this album came up today in the rotation. This is an excellent record. He manages as a composer and performer to balance sweetness and tension, and some of the string arrangements supporting the song are incredible (e.g., 'Where Dreams Go To Die'). I read the Wikipedia entries on this album and on John Grant. Helped put these songs into context, and made me feel even more deeply for him and his art. There is such rich and personal expression here. I'm glad this project introduced me to his work. I'll have to check out more of what he's done, and I want to hear what he and his band, The Czars, did when they were together.
I do not remember how this album went.
Hmmmmm, detta e i skjæringspunktet mellom jævlig og litt nice. Skjønne kje
Not something I would relisten to
Ik ben er niet echt achter gekomen waar John Grant me nou probeerde mee naartoe te nemen. Ik hoor mooie Rufus Wainwright achtige dingen, maar ook experimenteel gefröbel. Misschien nog maar eens een keer goed beluisteren.
Indie un tanto ñoño, salvo alguna canción. Ni fu ni fa.
Never heard of this guy before. But it is weirdly good stuff.
the more i listened the more i liked it! lion and leopard and queen of denmark were my favorites
This guy seems to like The Beatles. Makes for enjoyable music
Interesting stuff. Wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was.
eh
meh was okay some good bits kinda weird
Pretty good stuff! Sad but good
Interesting sound. He has a great voice and his songs all seem to have a serious underlying message. Way more explicit than I was expecting, very nonchalant swearing.
3.75
Pretty humorous material. Not my preference but not horrible.
best one so far! a few i actually liked and favorited. lyrics are weird as shit tho but i like the vibes
Kinda a weird one. A few of the songs are really interesting with unique instrumentals and topics. 6/10
Very cool!
Not bad,
Ništa, sasvim okej album. Nije mi se iskreno previše dao slušati, ali što sam čuo je dobro.
actually pretty slay my fave part is singing about a bad hairline
Enjoyed it again, like I did before, but still nothing really stands out
Eipä tämäkään oikein iske mulle. Keskivertoon pukkaa. 3/5
Raaka ja henkilökohtainen eikä vailla huumoria. En ihan vielä ehkä nelosta anna mutta pitää laittaa artistia enemmän kuunteluun. 3/5
Quirky lyrics given with a knowing wink to the audience aren't enough to cover up that really the tunes just aren't that strong. The fact that he was previously in indie darlings The Czars seems to be doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Best Tracks: Sigourney Weaver; Chicken Bones; Outer Space
And dats de gud nus
starts well with Marz, gets a bit boring thereafter
Indie rock is a good sign. It's starting well. It's still super slow. Starting to feel like Norah Jones. Chicken Bones feels good, but the lyrics are a bit weird. Overall, not that great.
Grandiose Melodien, teilweise aber etwas zu abgedreht. Hat mich manchmal an JBO erinnert. Artist will ich mir weiter anhören.
It has its moments, some decent singer songwriter stuff
Unremarkable singer-songwriter album. I'm sure if I was a bigger lyrics person I'd appreciate it more but I can't really tell why it would be on a list like this, Track 9 was a little to explicit and direct. Like we get it, conservative christians are full of shit but you don't need to actually say all of the slurs.
- Never heard of John Grant - Good album, consistently decent songs - Fav songs: Jesus Hates (redacted), Where Dreams Go to Die, Silver Platter Club
Is okay singersongmusic
I thought he made a very niche genre of music sound more accessible to a wider audience without straying too far from who he is. The album didn't excite more or anything, I just thought it was neat and respect it. 3/5
Decent from what I listened
Interesting, some really good. Bit up and down
En handfull fina låtar är det.
3.5
Well well well, the first half of this album I was like, what is this music, who is this amazing John Grant? My man has some serious branding issues! But then, I thought, you know, Tom Jones, he didn't have much issue, so what gives? Aha! It is the Second Half of the album. Yuck.
Alright
The sound was not what I expected, very unique sounding and sometimes funny
Moderne singer/songwriter, aktuelt, følsomt og rammende
Definitely interesting and different, some of the goofier songs and lyrics remind me of ween. The goofiness can take away from the song being good though which is unfortunate, like they can become too goofy to enjoy. There’s some really fun songs on this that I added to my playlist. I like the instrumentals a lot
Weird lyrics fo sho
The title track melody is very similar to Keane's 2004 release "Somewhere Only We Know." Numerous passages are lifted from Beatles songs throughout - it could be passed off as homage. It could also be that all notes and all combinations have already been recorded.
It wouldn't be bad background music. Just don't listen to closely and it's nice. 3/5
Today sure was Chicken Bones 4 Exciting special album Though the lyrics are outstanding and easy to follow, they get in the way of the music at times. 3 A newer Rufus Wainwright? The german-gay deaththreat song really caught me off-guard.
Just Ok, legalzinho.
Spacy futuristic mellow sound - a little melancholy but an easy listening sound. Outer space and Marz decent
Really enjoyed it. A proper mixed bag in terms of pace, but overall very well put together!
slayyyyyyyyyyyyy
Never heard this before, it was good, might very well turn out to be great after a few more listens.
I feel like this is the type of album I would have loved as an angsty teenager, Bread meets Gilbert O'Sullivan meets The Carpenters. This album is about Grant coming to terms with who he is and I'm glad he found it cathartic. I just kept repeating lines from the lyrics to myself and shaking my head in disbelief. He has a lovely voice, no doubt and the sound is rich and layered but ultimately I couldn't dig this album. Maybe it needs more listens and maybe I ain't got time for that.
A strange mix of styles, I found this hard to pin down stylistically. Couldn't tell if I was enjoying it or not either although it did have its moments.
I suppose you have to be in on the joke for this middle of the road baroque pop. It certainly stands out if nothing else
3.5/5. I mean, I was chillin with some singer-songwriter piano tunes, and dude drops the n-word hard-r. Sus
Mournful with FM vibes.
Intense longing
Goede zanger met rustgevende muziek. Het is echter geen artiest die ik meteen zal onthouden. ***
Very soft pop-rock. Dreamy and melancholy.
Really great sound. Never heard of this guy before. At times it sounds like pink Floyd…other times Alan Parson Project. Whatever it is I like it. Will definitely listen to This one again. 3/5
Pop fácil de escuchar. Bien elaborado y con una muy buena voz.
I liked the first song a lot, and a few others. I also disliked several songs and thought a bunch of the lyrics were dumb. But overall it was good enough for a 3 Gotta give props to a white dude who’s brave enough to say the n-word in this century lmfao
There's a retro '70s pop vibe to this that I'm really enjoying. It's also evocative of some of Beck's more contemplative work. The piano and string arrangements are really beautiful. Grant's vocals are a little lackluster in contrast to what's going on musically, but it's still quite good. Fave Songs: Where Dreams Go to Die, Silver Platter Club, Caramel, Outer Space, Queen of Denmark
Almost arresting to begin with but then falls into a slumber that is not released. Good to have in the background with occasional diversion when a quirky lyric pops out.
It was fine, could well be the kind of thing I get more into if I listened a few more times.
Very strong lyrically. Silver Platter Club and the title track were my two favorites.
Don’t get the hype. Self-serious and often silly, the lyrics are overcooked; he’s too clever by half and not as witty as he thinks he is (a dangerous mix). Musically, it’s undistinguished, with effects that mimic the overreaching jokes, if intermittently above average (“It’s Easier“). However you feel about Randy Newman, you’re likely to feel about this guy. I may explore another record or two, but this feels like a future unsubscribe. In the meantime, give me Craig Finn or Father John Misty over this snowflake any time. 3 (and only just)
Funny guy
Weird. Pretty cool. 6-7/10
Can't say I would have gravitated to this album on my own, but it's a solid addition to this 1001 list. My fave tracks, "Where Dreams Go to Die" and "Jesus Hates F****ts" were true standouts, with gorgeous melody lines and thoughtful songwriting. Can't say every single track on here is a must-listen, but the album deserves to be on this list, for the variety and compelling stories of each song if nothing else. Title track also deserves a shout-out for its gorgeous melody. Overall a solid listen.
Music 'quality' was very decent. While some of the tracks seemed disorganized, there were some that came across as heartfelt which made me appreciate the talent.
This motherfucker said the N word!
This one grew on me as it went on, but I still think I’m more interested about the album’s thematics and John Grant’s history than I am in the experience of actually listening to it.
Some really gorgeous stuff here, but quite patchy. He’s done better work since.
its like early father John misty
Campfire songs
This is such a bizarre album. The music video for Marz was hilarious. Drugs were definitely involved. There are a few kind of absurdist comedy songs that I enjoyed and thought that was what the album was going to be, as it was frontloaded with these. Sigourney Weaver, Chicken Bones, Marz, TC and the Honeybear. It does get a bit more melancholy and serious in the back half and that's where it fell off for me. It was ok, and the guy writes some compelling lyrics, but the initial interest I had waned over time. The lyrics about Winona Ryder and "that other guy" screwing up their accents in Dracula are comedy gold though.
Interesting, gay , very gay, more gay, excellent
Don't love a lot of the lyrics, not the lyrical themes, the actual words. Got a real Father John Misty vibe here which is not a positive as far as I'm concerned. I think musically though this was pretty great.
Rating: 6,2/10 Most of the songs up until Outer Space were pretty meh/weird. Some really cool synths and melodies on Outer Space, JC Hates Faggots, Caramel, Leopard and Lamb. Queen of Denmark and That's The Good News have serious Bo Burnham energy.
A lot of this was very pretty but overall I felt missing something... some incursions of a harder edge, for the tension in the music to break through more often? I liked it though.
This was a bit quirky but I liked some of it.
Had never heard of John Grant but glad to have discovered him. Didn't think it was groundbreaking but it was enjoyable.
Litt rart
Loving the lyrics on this. I'll probably give it another go sometime. Nothing game changing but lyrically interesting if nothing else.
not bad
This sounded very decent, but also absolutely unspectacular. 3.5 rounded down because I can't remember what the album sounds like a couple minutes after it's finished. The songs from the extended version really didn't fit with the rest of the album.
I can't tell if I enjoyed this or thought it was boring. Would give it one more listen.
Not a familiar name to me. The music is often good, on the vintage folksy end of pop rock. I read afterwards that Midlake were involved - a band I quite like. John Grant's lyrics and vocals are a bit hit and miss. "Sigourney Weaver" is a pretty great track, with classic Elton John pop vibes underneath jokey film references. But sometimes the songs are unremarkable and dreary. As the album goes on, it starts turning into pastiches of familiar styles. Overall, this has more substance than most pop and rock records, so I can admire that - but it doesn't have much repeat listening value for me. 3*
Never heard of John Grant before. lyrics more entertaining than expected, i.e. Sigourney weaver Spotify lyrics mode is making this album better b/c usually it's hard to hear lyrics. this is getting funny, JC Hates Faggots. Songs might wear out with novelty though. Not sure if it'll be in my permanent rotation. Getting better with each listen, growing on me.
Never heard of this before, so i didn't know what to expect. Enjoyed it!
Better than Beck tbf
Some very deep lyrics
This was a really interesting album, but one I feel like I need to listen to a few more times to really appreciate it. Much of the power seems to be in the lyrics.
Incredibilmente orecchiabile. Molto piacevole.
Reading the Wiki page it would seem we are facing the greatest record ever!. It is a good record tho, I don't know why I had never listen to it but it is good. it is a bit long and some tracks are weird but I liked how strong it starts and how it does not stays the same for its whole lenght
Not to my taste.
Its OK
All I can think is that these are songs that Ben Folds would do a cover of
I actually liked it it’s the story of genre that I never thought I would like however I thought it was coming and interesting
This album sounds like what would happen if you smashed the sound of the Decemberists up with Sesame Street lyrics. While the subjects of the songs are for mature audiences, the writing is hard to take seriously. I enjoyed the noise of it.
Decent but very pretentious
An album that reaches out, lush, inviting, mixing with delicate piano with a range of mysterious vocals, some crooning and some harmonised/treated. There's a Brian Wilson feel to some of it, but darker lyrically. Elton John, too, and echoes of "Freebird" on "Sigourney Weaver".
This guy has a manque kneed for lyrics, sings about anything and everything, and is pretty funny. Some pretty good music too, but all a bit out there.
Really frustrating album for me. Some absolutely brilliant tracks... but overly long with some bog average ones and lazy lyrics... Generally far far too much autotune and vocal production which strips some of the emotion that he's conveying.
Just the right side of irreverent to be entertaining.
Jesus apparently hates a lot of things. But probably not this album.
This is certainly some quirky odd music. John Grant's voice is great, the music and piano are fantastic as well. However, he definitely has his own thing going on in the lyrics. Some are plain weird and don't work for me (Marz), while others have an odd and interesting perspective. Kinda cool.
The title & cover suggested hipster bullshit, and if I'm honest it IS, but it's also pretty good. One of the few times I'm not going to totally shit all over a "folk rock" album. The overall vibe is really weird. As best I can describe it, it SOUNDS like Tina Dico and FEELS like Type O Negative. I know that's an excessively strange combo, but that's what I'm getting. There's a "gothy"-sounding type of folk/pop/rock going on, the lyrics are full of cynicism and dark humour, it's artsy but not too pretentious, and somehow it works. Only real gripe is that at 51min it got a bit long in the tooth. Most of the songs are in the same key and tempo, structures don't change very much. If you stapled the songs together you could make at least one half-hour song that didn't seem like it was originally seven. It gets hard to stay on focus towards the last few tracks because of this. Should've kept it to 30min. 3/5.
Started out thinking its shite and not for me. Just sounded like film music. As it going though there were some real clever comedy lyrics that I appreciated. It's weird, but then again so is most good art. The singing/instrument talent isn't that great, but the melancholy sounds and the comedy bits are clever. Can see why it made it to the 1001 list. Prob a 3.
Definitely some attention-grabbing lyrics in here.
Quite beautiful for the most part, but heart breaking in terms of pain and angst. Very harsh upbringing by the sounds of things. Musically tasteful, but probably won't rush back to it as it is anguished.
I have a surprising number of thoughts on this album, especially for one with a totally unfamiliar artist. I'll break them up in a few comments. I listened to the first few songs on this album and I was like "Ugh, not feeling this", and even the opening of "Sigourney Weaver" wasn't great for me, but somewhere during that song the melody got me and I was enjoying it. Then I quite appreciated the upbeat bad-day song "Chicken Bones". The song I most identified with was "Silver Platter Club", particularly this section. Man, it me: "I wish that confidence was all you could see in my eyes Like those interviews in locker rooms with talented sports guys. I wish I had no self-awareness like the guys I know Float right through their lives without a thought. And that I didn't give a shit what anybody thought of me That I was so relaxed you'd think that I was bored." Here's another thought of a different tone: When I heard "Caramel" I thought to myself "I don't think I've ever heard a gay love ballad before." I'm sure I've heard songs that were written by men without knowing/later finding out they were about men, and I've heard love songs by women about women, but this was a rare honestly gay love ballad (for my listening) and that was cool to hear. I particularly appreciated the line "My love has constructed with his arms for me the safest place." It's not as impactful reading it, but hearing it sung by a male voice immediate after a song titled "Jesus Hates F-----s", it hits different and more beautifully.
Interesting album. Seems from the reviews I've read this album is not nearly the high point of his career. Seems better work was done both earlier with his band The Czars and a few years later with his third and 4th album. But I like the album so it definitely makes me curious to delve deeper. 3.5 🌟
Indie un tanto ñoño, salvo alguna canción.
Only heard bits by John Grant before. It was interesting but think i'd like it better a 2nd time to catch all the lyrics
Not a bad album. It surprised me at the beginning but it ended up annoying me a bit at the last songs…
This be wacky
It was alright. Very personal and depressing lyrics.
Pretty middle of the road stuff musically, lyrically I really enjoyed this album.
An interesting enough blend of soft rock, dream pop and alt country. This album stands out though for its often arresting lyrical work that primarily focuses on queer themes/experiences. If you didn't listen closely you'd might categorize this as a 'shy debut' but nothin about the substance of this work is shy at all.
Great voice, 70's singer/songwriter vibe. Feels like one that needs a few listens to appreciate it.
Funny satirical album. It was aight
TC & Honeybear : Secondo me qua semo partiti bene, a me sto tipo di musica me infinocchia subito. Marz: Aaah ho capito chi è, questa la conosco. Eh qua me sta a conquistà eh. Where The Dreams Go To Die: L'inizio m'è piaciuto veramente tanto, il ritornello un po' troppo Bowie per i miei gusti ma lo perdono. Il resto de sto pezzo pure è una bomba, il ritornello è la cosa che funziona meno secondo me. Silver Platter Club: molto sfizioso, carino il testo e il finale un po' cabaret m'ha conquistato. It's Easier: Il testo m'è piaciuto JC Hates Faggots: Questa l'avrei nominata solo per il titolo ma invece m'è piaciuta parecchio. Le distorte chitarre pitchate comunque me conquistano sempre e m'è piaciuto l'arrangiamento coi synth molto organico. Caramel: Pure sto pezzo è interessante. Ci sono considerazioni generali che però farò nella conclusione. Comunque il piano me piace e pure i synth un po' a sproposito. Leopard And Lamb: Per me sta emergendo un pattern qua: non sa scrive i ritornelli. O comunque i ritornelli so il punto debole. Queen Of Denmark: Me piace la soluzione dei piatti stoppati, il testo pure carino. That's The Good News: Vabbè ma sì, perché no! Me sembra uno sbroccato un po' calcolato però sì dai... Supernatural Defribillator: Ma de che s'è fatto pe ste ultime tracce? Comunque non so se è per la traccia de prima però questa me sembra un po' d'ispirazione Rammstein, un po' industrial. Fireflies: Vabbè è finita la fase acidi. Ha rotto il cazzo co sto pianoforte però se me parti con gli archi che cazzo te devo dì, a me me ce freghi sempre con gli archi. In conclusione: Sto album è stata una mezza delusione. E' partito davvero benissimo e coi primi pezzi m'ero fomentato ma poi so diventati evidenti due tratti che m'hanno progressivamente infastidito sempre di più. Uno è il fatto che lui se sente un sacco Bowie e tutti sti ritornelloni de pianoforte con gli accordi alla Venditti, se nei primi pezzi magari glie li perdonavo, dopo un po' mi fanno alzare gli occhi al cielo. Come conseguenza di questo o forse come aspetto separato c'è il fatto che secondo me lui non è bravissimo a scrive i ritornelli e sta cosa pure pesa un po' nell'equilibrio generale dei pezzi. Detto questo ce stanno certe cose di arrangiamento che ho davvero ammirato e dei pezzi me so piaciuti parecchio. Un altro problema che ho notato è che i pezzi so costruiti appunto molto cantautoriali ma poi i testi non so abbastanza forti per reggere tutta la baracca spesso. Me dà l'impressione di voler essere un po' troppo hipster cerebrale a tratti (tipo coi pezzi sbroccati, che comunque ho aprezzato, però..). La produzione fa un po' cagare considerando che parliamo del 2010, sembra auto prodotto spesso, probabilmente lo è, però in alcuni casi secondo me i pezzi ce perdono un po'. Mi sento di essere un po' troppo duro con sto album perché m'ha deluso, in realtà comunque è un bell'album, certi pezzi me li risentirei volentieri.
Non ho apprezzato come suona il disco e anche le performance strumentali non mi hanno convito mentre alcune scelte di arrangiamento mi sono piaciute. La voce mi ha impressionato e mi sono piaciuti alcuni testi.
Really liked this, it had some great lyrics
Pleasantly surprised, but not really something I'm normally into...had some very melancholy vibes. Some pretty good tracks on here but overall it was just okay for me...way better than yesterday though.
Gut aber nicht ganz mein Fall. Klingt wie eine solide Mischung aus verschiedenen anderen Künstler*innen
Nearly went for a 4. Really quite liked it, clean sound, as others have said it had a familiarity about it.
lyrics are good, songs are kinda boring imo. except silver platter club kinda love that one
OK for background music. I'd pick other albums by John Grant over this one.
Great live, albums don't do it justice for me
A mellow fellow. John Grant is the kind of guy who, if confronted with a brutal crime happening to someone in front of his eyes, would cower and run away instead of help them. A real pussy.
First half of the album was decent and then it turned a bit hokey for me.
Got weird halfway thru
I have never heard of this album or artist before so wasn't sure what to expect. I enjoyed it, listened to it twice. It wasn't perfect but I liked it.
his voice is nice, this album could grow on me if I kept listening to it
Eclectic but quite enjoyable.
3/4 stars It was pretty good. It had some weird and in my opinion not so good tracks but it also had some amazing tracks most them were pretty good
Tell you what. Not a bad listen. Could have done with a few songs chopped off the album but I am impressed. Originally I thought oh no not another woodsman hippy folk album with echoed voices and clean resenting guitar pics. But then the honky tonk was thrown into the mix which brought a smile and an appreciation nod.
Esta claro que este tipo de sonido melódico, intimista y de tono bajo me gusta; me relaja y me permite poder trabajar de forma armónica y tener pensamientos al mismo tiempo. Otros: Elbow; The Divine Comedy; Anthony and the Johnsons; Tindersticks Band; Villagers; Mercury Rev; Richard Hawley; ...
This is inferior to the Czars albums. He is a great vocalist, but this pales to Before...But Longer
Interesting, enjoyable record. Kind of Father John Misty-ish.
Enjoyed it, good lyrics and funny at times
Enjoyed - not sure if I'd put in on the "must listen to" list of 1001 albums, but had never heard it before and will listen more.
An interesting listen for sure. Both the vocals and instrumentals are very clear, with some enjoyable melodies here and there. I was caught off guard by some of the language on here, particularly the tirade of slurs on the song whose name I'd rather not type out. Even if it's done artistically or as part of an evil character, it's still weird. Nevertheless, I liked a few songs on here. Kind of strange that this was released in 2010, I would've guessed '90s or '00s. It feels older. It's a fine project, but mostly forgettable. Favorite tracks: TC and Honeybear, Sigourney Weaver, Outer Space. Album art: Somewhat intriguing, but it looks so artsy that it made me want to hate the music. But I loved the first track, so that was dispelled pretty quickly. 3/5
I started out really liking this, but then got tired of the voice/lyrics about halfway through. Would’ve been a damn good EP. This also feels a bit like the perfect example of a record from the 2000s+ that would have been praised by all the indie rock press, but that is actually a little boring to listen to and is super light on the “rock” part of that genre tag. There are worst offenses. THREE STARS!
This is pretty good. I hadn't heard of this John Grant before. Songwriting and lyrics are interesting, but his voice and the production are a little bland. 3 stars.
This is an interesting one. Both the singing and the instrumentals are great. The flow of the songs fits really well. Where I'm confused is the lyrics themselves. They are weird and I'm not sure if this is some kind of poetry that I don't get or they're just silly lyrics. Other than that an interesting album.
Pretty good first half. Went downhill slightly towards the end
Queen of Denmark title song and Marz saved. Rest of album meh.
Ok. Nothing that really stood out.
Interesting topics covered. Can't decide on a 3 or a 4 out of 5.
Queen of Denmark is the best song, rest on the album are just ok
false
Omituinen levy. Paikoittain pidin tästä jopa todella kovasti, mutta sitten taas heikommat biisit latisti tunnelman pahasti. Jotenkin tuntuu että punainen lanka levyä tehdessä on ollut vähän hukassa. Varsinkin hitaammat fiilistelybiisit toimi hyvin, mutta poukkoileva kokonaisuus ei vaan kanna loppuun asti. Kovasti tuli mieleen Father John Misty tuoreemmista artisteista, joskin paljon huonommin toteutettuna. Parhaimmillaan levy tarjoaa nelosen arvoista nautintoa, kun taas huonoimmillaan ollaan korkeintaan kakkosessa. Peruskolmonen kaikkine vahvuuksine ja heikkouksineen.
alright, kinda fell off second half. 3 stars?
First album I haven't actually hated. Some of the music was absolutely beautiful, but nothing stuck out for me.
3.5 - some good tunes
A little homophobic?
The Queen of Denmark On paper I should really like this, and I’ve tried a few times with it, but it's never really grabbed me. For some reason I have always got a sense of insincerity from it, almost as if it's a pastiche or a slightly forced attempt at a sad country-folk-indie album, and I find Where Dreams Go To Die, Sigourney Weaver, Silver Platter Club and the title track quite annoying, Silver Platter Club in particular being too close to Rufus Wainwright for my taste. Having said that, I did enjoy it more this time than I have previously, especially when Midlake really shine on TC and the Honeybear and the very good Marz, which nicely riffs on Tubular Bells with the piano part and Lee Hazelwood with the string part. I also like It’s Easier, the electric piano is great on and Leopard and Lamb is probably the one time for me when the baroqueness works really well. It's in truth between 2 and 3. I didn’t not enjoy it, but it still doesn’t really resonate with me, and I’m not sure I will come back to it. High 2. 👑🇩🇰 Playlist submission: Marz
..
Another reviewer hit the nail on the head- it’s like a worse version of a lot of different folksy pop music you’ve heard. I think if this influenced anything, it’s Joji, with the dreamy, sad-sack tone throughout. It gets better after the first couple of songs, so it’s not totally irredeemable but it’s navel gazing dream/bedroom pop at low tide. ⭐️⭐️
Listening today reminded me why I tired of Father John Misty after a brief, bright following around Honeybear. In 2016 he seemed like a snarky, intelligent breath of fresh air in a period of otherwise boring, weak, and vapid music offerings. After listening hours on end over ~2 years the entire schtick just collapsed for me. So enter this album. First time hearing this artist and realizing he was FJM 5 years before Josh was. The album is catchy is spots, the music not that bad. But the lyrics make it hard to truly enjoy - the observations are boring and basic. Theres no allegory, analogy, or irony - it’s childish. 2/5
The Good: The Queen of Denmark will regale us with song! The Bad: Different kind of royalty… The Ugly: The fucking crow… if it would’ve been a Burger King one, I’d be okay with it… I see 2010, my expectations automatically are low. Then the first two bars start, and I am intrigued. Then the second song kicks in, and again I confirm that there really isn’t anything worth my time that was published post 1999… Of course, all the above are my opinion, and there are a couple of interesting albums that were released after 1999, I just haven’t found them on this list. Also, when reading the wiki page, I got excited to see that my town where my alma matter is located is where this was recorded… so yeah, that was no point of gloating either. Lastly, the lyrics… really? So, will give it 2* as it isn’t total shit, but I am NOT listening to the entire album as it is starting to get on my nerves… off to listen to Hootie and the Blowfish.. at least they did cliché the right way… and they are NOT on this list.
I would have said much more negative things until I did the research and found out a bit about him. Very nothingburger album tho, cool at times but very forgettable
Look, I understand that this album came from his heart and life experiences, which would resonate with the lives of many queer people and those who were outcast or excluded from the societies in which they grew up. However, I'm not a fan of this album at all. This inoffensive piece of modern and well-produced folk music, with his slightly annoying voice, does not tickle my fancy. Not sure I'd put it on my 1001 albums list, but I'm glad the album exists.
No clue what to make of this but I really did not like it. 1.5
Boring, awful lyrics, ok voice
fav song: it's easier tonedeaf, bitter, lyrical(?) 30/100
Rating: 5/10 Feels like something deeply personal and important for the artist who made it, and probably some people who have connected with it over the years, which is what art is all about. That does not automatically make an enjoyable album for me though and I just didn't really like any of the songs. It's fine, the last song actually was pretty good
Some good parts but generally a miss
Not really into it
Сара 2 Марко 2,5
Favourite tracks: TC & Honeybear, Caramel Great instrumentation but the lyrics are lacking. Also soft rock ain't really my thing so this was hard to get through. 2/5
It's fine, I enjoyed it more as it went on and I acclimated. Can't say I'm a fan of the slurs.
**A strange album. Wierd words, but beautiful vocals.
Never heard of this artist before. Strikes me like a mix of Rufus Wainwright and Beck, with speckles of David Gilmour towards the end of the record? That aside I fear for music if this made the cut.
Sorry not a fan.
? who is this guy apparently someone's cousin who put him on the list WHY
Started out pretty good. It was reminded me of Fleet Foxes and Father John Misty. Then it became corny as hell starting with that ridiculous Sigourney Weaver song. My eyes were rolling like crazy this whole album. Favorite track: Marz
white man n word debuff
Insufferable prick that really made my ears ring half way through. The first few songs definitely hit and are good then the rest is a slog, fuck this album.
Quirky and weird in ways I appreciate. I could deal with the tongue-in-cheek f-slur, but the use of the n-word was quite the fumble. 4/10
This is music. It seems fine. There were songs and moments I liked, but it was nothing mind blowing.
Pleasantly surprised but not impressed. Without diving into the lyrics and their meaning, it sounds like a drug fueled rant against capitalism and consumerism which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think it deserves a 5/10
wasn’t doing much for us
Weird lyrics. Music is fine.
Rufus Wainwright tier
It's interesting but I think it goes over my head a bit.
It was ok, if a bit dull
Just kinda-trippy stream-of-consciousness. Strange lyrics.
Я бы сказал залупа но так залупка
Har inte så mycket att säga, tyckte det var rätt trist.
ok så det är inte rufus wainwright?
Standard and plain, outside of some random vulgar language. This looks like the lowest AllMusic rating I've seen for an album on this list, just 2.5 stars. Yet, I've heard plenty more that were worse.