Paris 1919

Good listen.

I liked this one. It isn’t crazy inventive or unique or anything, but it does everything it was going for really well. The fact that it’s so short keeps it from getting even close to boring. It’s really good. Yay!

este disco fue bastante bizarro de la mejor manera posible, me gusto y veo posible dos opciones, que crezca en mi o que simplemente envejezca en mi de muy mala manera.

This is a really cool LP. 4 stars for sure

it's giving c-tier musical. there's numerous points across this album that feel like they have the intent of a grand and triumphant scale, but this all falls so flat to me. it's Fine at best on the whole in a way that is largely boring but at least manages to hit the "at least i'm listening to music" bar. the ucla symphony orchestra is quite nice at least! i would've enjoyed them significantly more if they were just Doing Their Thing, but while i can often find enjoyment in baroque pop, i don't feel like john cale brought much to the table. i don't care for his singing.

This was quite pleasant, but I think its accessibility is also the albums weakness. John Cale has such a storied history between Velvet Underground and producing Patti Smith that I was expecting something a bit more out there. What I got instead was just good 70s art pop with the emphasis more on the "pop" then the "art" part. I did enjoy the more Baroque elements quite a bit on songs like the titular Paris 1919 but I would prefered it to have more presence throughout the entire album. It's a very odd miss mismatch, everything this album has going for it paints it as something that I would like and would excite me, but inbetween the singing and the structure everything just falls into the same "its okay". I'd enjoy it in the background, but I can't imagine listening to it again.

Hanky Panky meNOknowHOWthisalbumgothere. It sounds like every other late 60s-early 70s record. Okay but forgettable.

It's got all the ingredients, like it SHOULD be great. But very much is not. His voice is awful too. I Must Not Sniff Cocaine was the best bit so that says a lot (was accidentally still listening when the inescapable 'deluxe version' songs came on but soon realised and saved myself).

It was kind of a mixed bag really, a little bit ok-ish and a lot of meh. I had higher hopes for it, especially coming from Cale with his Velvet Underground pedigree, but it felt a bit too baroque pop and inconsistent. The arrangements are all over the place, but they just don't have any spark. The production is nice, but a lot of the songs sound like they belong in a fancy lounge. Cale's voice is...unique, and the lyrics are a bit too arty for my liking. There are a couple of good moments, like the title track and the opener, but overall, it's pretty forgettable.

Tiesin John Calen entuudestaan The Velvet Undergroundin jäsenenä ja levytuottajana. En ole suuri VU-fani, mutta tämähän oli aivan erilaista musiikkia ja ihan kelpo levy. Cale on vähän vaisu laulaja, mutta orkestraatiot olivat oikein miellyttäviä ja hyväntuulinen tunnelma kantaa loppuun asti. Ihan neljään tähteen tämä ei kuitenkaan yllä, sillä kahden kuuntelun jälkeenkään biisit eivät juuri jää mieleen.

Favorite songs: Child's Christmas in Wales, Macbeth, Paris 1919, Antarctica Starts Here

didn’t really care much for this!

I definitely prefer Cale's more ambitious work, but this was decent for what it is. Some great moments here, but many of these tracks didn't do much for me. Anyways, looking forward to some Velvet Underground later on this list! Favorite: Andalucia, Macbeth

My only knowledge of this record is from Yo La Tengo's fantastic covers of Hanky Panky Nohow and Andalucia. And, well, they have good taste. This was a lovely record with some gorgeous songwriting. Wasn't really expecting something this straightforward from Cale, but why should I be surprised that he can cut a pop tune with the best of them. Good stuff.

Listened while at home. I think the kids these days would call this album Beatles-slop. At least this is a nice bit of Beatles-slop.

Insipid, dreary nonsense. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️  in part Revisit ❌️ ★☆☆☆☆ (2/10) Total reviewed : 266 Already owned : 61 Purchased : 15 To buy list : 1 Nope : 189

Not bad

it was nice 3.5

Borinnggg

The only thing I had ever known about John Cale was that he co-founded The Velvet Underground with Lou Reed. As a result, I was so pleasantly surprised by this rich, melodic album. I really enjoyed it and will be listening to it again.

weird but fine. More rock-y than I expected which was a pleasant surprise.

How very uninspiring.

really enjoyed this! kind of a cool mix of songs here. the strings are divine

I liked this album, you can hear John Cales welsh accent coming through, I did see him a few years ago - but obviously found him with the Velvets.

An odd album. It was ok but nothing great.

i wish i could give an album including the song title hanky panky nohow more than 3 starts but its just kind of boring

Did not know this was one of the members of Velvet Underground. Very cool. The album cover and title really through me off. i was expecting something different. But, when I listened to it, I immediately became a fan of his voice and style.

Was quite looking forward to this but it's a terrible opening couple of tracks. Slightly picks up on the third track, and Macbeth injects some energy, but it's mostly boring ploddy shite. Its such a huge disappointment, as I thought John Cale is like, a classically trained musician? So I expected at least good musicianship but the compositions are so basic, I don't understand what its trying to do, and I don't understand why this list is so full of these boring, boring albums??

Judging from the cover art, I was pleasantly surprised! Really great album. Good album to start the day with!

Great surprise! Exactly what I hope to have happen going through this list.

AMAZING LISTEN.

#64/1001 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 This is an intriguing one. I was expecting something more Avant Garde from Cale. I love the Velvet Underground and have found some of his solo work challenging, this is an unashamed lush textured pop record with some lovely acoustic guitars and strings. I've listened this through 3 times today and think its one come back to again and again. There is variation which keeps things interesting including a run of 3 tracks in the middle: Andalucia is a beautiful track where his slightly faltering vocal just adds to its charm. Macbeth is a stomper, then the title track verges on theatrical with its dramatic string arangement. Best tracks: Andalucia, Paris 1919, Half Past France, Antarctica Starts Here.

Incidentally, the Yo La Tengo cover of Hanky Panky Nohow cover is delightful.

Part Neil Young, part Moody Blues. Smooth acoustics and smoother lyrics.

Pretty nice

No. 130 Okay album. Macbeth was a pretty fun track.

Wow thirty years have passed since my John Cale obsession. It was great to revisit. Although I have to admit of those classic 70s albums this might have been one that I didn't listen to as closely as the others. Silly me cos it is great and full of mysteries and beautiful sounds. Fear would probably work better for this project because it's songs are a little more immediate. I think the vocals are a little mushy in places on Paris 1919. Either are as good for the book, though. If his solo stuff intrigues you after this a great primer is the solo voice and piano live album Fragments of a Rainy Season. You know how the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah was ubiquitous for so long because people belatedly freaked out over Jeff Buckley's version? That's as much down to the version on Fragments of a Rainy Season as it is old Len. That's the version Buckley loved and adapted. You can tell because Cale's and Buckley's versions have slightly different lyrics from Len's original. Len gifted the different lyrics to Cale after he himself had left them on the cutting room floor when he recorded his own version.

Orchestral art rock and baroque pop built on piano, lush strings, restrained guitars, and calm, melodic vocals unfolds with stately elegance. Listening feels like walking through a quiet historical museum late in the evening—beautiful rooms, soft echoes, and a pace so gentle it almost lulls you to sleep.

interesting album, graet to explore

Mostly boring. It did have some unique sounds like birds tweeting. Not my jam.

Hmm, I sort of liked this in a way - it's quite silly in the main but in an endearing kind of style. Considering how short it is though, it really shouldn't have lost me halfway through. Side note, I went into this thinking this was the same person as John Cage, the guy who wrote 4'33''. There was more going on here than there is on that.

You had me at European history and lost me at “hanky panky nohow”

I think one of his more experimental albums would have been a more interesting pick. This was very plain, and I don’t like his voice anyways, so maybe there was no saving it…

5/10

Te amo Paris 1919 te amo. Coisa mais linda ensolarada incrível!!!

It’s been less that 24 hours and I cannot remember a single thing about it

Surprised that I had never heard it and how much I loved it. The sound is largely timeless. The lyrics are beautiful in a way that speaks to me. Grown up music of a quality hard to equal.

- Unikt, godt

3.6

John Cale is a founding member of the Velvet Underground and his musical chops are undisputed, but I found this solo album to be largely forgettable. I expected something a little more avant garde and interesting, but the music is fairly bland and the lyrics sound muddy.

Honestly tried to give this one a listen but I kept finding myself thinking of other things. I was not able to get into the music at all and couldn't even tell you what it sounded like. Pretty forgettable, nothing distinct.

Boring. Not anything standing out

3.5

I had this album a bit lower on the 1973 dive. I raised it about a half point (or a quarter star) this time around. But quite frankly I still find it a bit snoozy for my taste. The music's fine I really have nothing bad to say about it. It just really didn't move me much except for maybe the title track. (6.7) ★★★

Nice baroque pop. 4.5 stars

I've owned this album for awhile and always thought it was pretty cool. Not an all-timer for me, but very good, nonetheless. I prefer the first half of the album to the second, with "Child's Christmas in Wales", "The Endless Plain of Fortune", and "Andalucia" being the highlights for me. 4 stars.

There are some nice baroque pop textures as well as a song called Hanky Panky Nohow but is it really essential? Nope, not even for the hanky panky nohow.

When listening to this yesterday I liked it but wasn't really able to pay attention, so I relistened it again. Safe to say I still like it. John Cale always brought the experimental edge to the Velvet Underground and continues that path here, albeit a bit more muted. This album isn't all that crazy, but it makes use of a lot of instruments that weren't really commonplace at the time. Songs here are nice and varied and make for an enjoyable listen. I really love his strong Welsh accent as well.

It’s ok but not uniformly interesting 3.1

Soothing production, but too many songs that just wander aimlessly.

MacBeth is OK. Paris 1919 is OK. The rest gives me hope that I, with absolutely no musical talent, can make an album that would be included in someone's 1001 must listen-to's. 2/5 snoozer LOL it gets worse 1/5

Nothing super crazy

Paris 1919 is an excellent song. The album surrounding it was also enjoyable, though nothing grabbed me quite like that title track. I'm super glad I listened and I'm not dead, though! 6/10

found this very strange

He won me over with the line about toast (I'm big on toast).

Not too bad but nothing special either.

not bad

I know John Cale is the guitarist for the Velvet Underground, a band I just never got, but other than that, I’m going in blind on this one. I know he would later go on to produce a ton of albums. He produced albums for The Stooges, Patty Smith, Nico and Siouxsie and the Banshees, to name a few. Track 1, Child’s Christmas in Wales, doesn’t sound Christmas-y at all. But it sounds really good. Not what I was expecting at all. Reminds me of George Harrison’s solo stuff. I really dig this song, but I’m not sure if it’s because I really like it or that it doesn’t sound like the Velvet Underground. Hmmm, turns out Cale is Welsh. I thought he was just a New York City punk. He had Lowell George and Richie Hayward of the band Little Feat play guitar and drums on the album. I know Little Feat and the songs I’ve heard I liked, but I never did a deep dive. Though I’m quite certain one or two of their albums are in the 1,001 Album list. The bass player was a session guy who played on the Jackson 5’s I Want You Back and ABC. So, this album has great musicians, so it ought to be good. Track 3 is The Endless Plane of Fortune, and it sounds like a lost Pink Floyd song to me. The track includes a big booming orchestra. I love it. It makes the song sound much bigger than it is. I have no idea what the lyrics are about, and Cale isn’t a great singer, but this song is so beautiful. My favorite song thus far on the album. Track 4 is Andalucia, and it’s another rather quiet song. I’m surprised, as Cale was someone who was kind of looked at as one of the fathers of punk, or at least avant-garde rock music. Most of these songs are just beautiful little pop songs. Also, it just hit me, these songs sound evergreen. Andalucia could be released today, and it wouldn’t sound out of place. Can John Cale be a timeless genius? Near the end of the song, you get these subtle elements of country music as a steel guitar can be heard. Track 5, MacBeth, is a rocker. The first rocker on the album. This song sounds like it was released in 1973, which it was. Just the production style sounds a bit dated. Still a great song. With Lowell on slide guitar, the song has a bit of a southern feel, though Cale’s vocals are decidedly not Southern sounding. A short, but rocking little joint. Track 6, the title track, sounds big right off the bat with an orchestra with a tuba? Trombones? French horn? I love this song. It has a very Beatles feel to it. It makes me feel happy. The music is so uplifting. Now, a lovely little breakdown where you really hear the French horns, I think they’re French horns. Then back into the main riff, though I’m not sure there’s a guitar in the song. It kind of reminds me of Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, at least the main melody. Great song. Track 7, Graham Greene, is a song that sounds like it would be on a Paul McCartney solo album. Cale had to have been a huge Beatles fan. Track 9, Antarctica Starts Here, does sound like it could be a song from the Velvet Underground, but one that I could like. It starts slow, then builds into a fuller arrangement of instruments. The vocals are almost whispered by Cale. This sounds like a song you’d sing while at sea. And just like that, it’s over, at least the original nine-track, 31-minute album. There are, of course, a couple of remastered versions with more songs, but the songs are more demos. After consulting with my good friend, Wikipedia, I found that this was one of the few “straight” albums Cale has made, as he usually is very experimental and avant-garde when it comes to music. The album is called Paris 1919 due to the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, which set the terms at the end of WWI. The lyrics explore early 20th-century European culture and history. The orchestra used on the album was the UCLA Symphony Orchestra. Wikipedia says the album takes its influences from Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Procol Harum. I guess I can see that. Anyone under the age of 50 probably doesn’t even realize the Bee Gees had hits before Stayin’ Alive. Upon further listening, I can hear the Brian Wilson influence. I really enjoyed this album. It totally changed my view on what I thought of when I heard the name John Cale. I’m not sure I’d call this album a masterpiece, but it’s one I would recommend music fans listen to. The songs are so beautiful, and there isn’t a dud on the whole album. The songs are also short, so even if you’re like me, who can get bored sometimes with overlong songs, Cale doesn’t give you time. He’s in, and he’s out. I’m definitely putting this in my rotation of new finds from the list.

First time listen. Liked it.

That was pleasantly odd. I had no idea what to expect and so some pop songs with intelligent lyrics were a weird surprise.

Very nice surprise. And unexpected given his work with the Velvet Underground.

Really clean production throughout. Lyrically unique. Cale feels like if Lennon's and McCartney's songwriting styles merged into one

An ambitious album that is inconsistent and lacking memorable songs. The song structures are fine and there is a strong nod to the past. The production and instrumentation is good. The vocal variation is expected and on occasion is really off.

im sorry- hanky panky nohow? what? i liked the first song's opening a lot, then it got slow and weird must be some 1900s thing idk oh andalucia is goin on the slow dancin in the snow playlist i hardly ever skip songs on these albums but antarctica starts here made me feel uneasy with that weird whisper situation he's doing oh he just snorted coke in my ear okay favorite song: macbeth

Not my taste in music

Easy listening album. Love the arrangement and found it pleasant to listen to.

Very calming album.

Nice

The title track is really really good. The rest are decent but nothing earth shattering.

I’m honestly torn on this one. I’d probably land at a 2.5 rounded up to a 3/5. It’s a solid album, but not one I’d rush back to. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. On first listen, nothing completely grabbed me, though there were moments I liked enough to consider giving it another listen. Considering how highly it’s regarded, I do wonder if it’s a grower and something I’m not fully connecting with yet. I found myself wishing there was one standout, defining track that really lifted the whole album. Vocally, Cale occasionally reminded me a bit of Ringo — not in a bad way, just in tone more so than anything else. Favourite Track by far is the title track.

I'm sorry, I tried, but the only thing consistent about this album is how awful John Cale's vocals are.

Not sure that I was surprised by how much i liked this. Also John Cale feature on Charli xcx wuthering heights soundtrack???

I went into this blind without having heard of John Cale or any idea of who he was. My initial reaction was that it sounded way more modern than the release date would suggest. The first track sounded like a crooner style vocal pop album but by the end of this I had a completely different take. This is subtle, ethereal and really hard to pin down. Each track added another layer of complexity and different style, somehow toeing the line between familiar and completely foreign. A total surprise and great listening experience.

As a long time fan of the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed's solo work, it's surprising I've never looked into John Cale's solo work. Honestly, I don't really have much to say about it. It was enjoyable enough, but nothing really blew me away. I don't usually listen to bonus tracks or extended editions, but I accidentally left this one playing a little long. I've got to say, the drone mix of Hanky Panky Nohow sounds much more interesting to me than the actual album version.

Paris 1919 is one of those rare albums where elegance, intellect, and emotional depth all land at the same time. It is refined without being stiff, melodic without being soft, and thoughtful without ever feeling distant. From the first listen, it feels carefully composed but never precious, as if every detail has been considered yet allowed to flow naturally. What makes it extraordinary is the balance John Cale strikes between classical sensibility and pop accessibility. The arrangements are lush and often beautiful, but they never overwhelm the songs themselves. Melodies glide effortlessly, while the lyrics move between historical imagery, personal reflection, and quiet melancholy in a way that feels curious rather than academic. There is a calm confidence here, a sense that the album knows exactly what it is doing and does not need to prove anything. By the time it ends, Paris 1919 leaves behind a feeling of completeness. Nothing feels excessive, nothing feels undercooked. It is an album you can admire for its craft and still love for its warmth and humanity. Every return reveals something new, whether it is a subtle orchestral detail or a line that suddenly hits differently

Eh

3.5 rounded down. Ethereal and cosmic in production, easy to slip in and out of attentiveness.

Not much to really like there except the title song. 3/5

The music wasn't terrible, but the lyrics INCENSED me. Absolute naff.

- John Cale .... so good. Art. -

Excellent

Bit of a strange one this, hard to think this guy was in the Velvet Underground! Can’t really make my mind up one way or the other.

I actually liked this quite a bit, worthy of checking out further.

Better than expected.

Why am I doing this list thing .... Thought I'd find some great new music, but evidently not.

Pleasant surprise, like a Jimmy buffet and beetles vibe

Post-Folk? I love this type of Soft Rock. This is a great example of how guitar riffs don’t have to be hard and complicated to make bangers. Take it easy like John Cale! John’s voice is incredible because of it resembling a father-like figure. It manages to make you feel safe, and protected in a way. And while you may not want him to be your actual father, it’s great that he is able to get that feeling out in his music anyway. Because most people either loves their dad or want to have one. A lot of people will say that this a very experimental and Post-Punk’ish type of album, but that is bullshit. Very few times through out there are some examples of avantgarde (“Fever Dream 2024: You’re a Ghost”), but most of the time the album is kept very simple and “Lowkey”. But that isn’t bad, simplicity rules! If anything I’d call if “Post-Folk”. I reccomend listening to this record, but I wouldn’t say that it was essantial listening. Also trust me here, if you don’t have the time just skip the second part.

I wasn’t likely to enjoy this from the get go as it is a genre I don’t generally care for. I know this is considered his masterpiece- but even accounting for taste I don’t really get it. Apart from the title song, the songs just weren’t very good. They often sounded like Flight of the Conchords parody songs to me.

I've only listened to a few albums from John Cale so far, but out of everything I've heard, this is by far the most listener-friendly album. It's basically baroque and orchestral pop mixed with singer-songwriter music. What I really enjoy about this album is how elegant and orchestral it is without being pretentious.

Not bad to listen to on a slow Tuesday evening, but would make any other time of day feel like one. I enjoyed the guitar versions of the songs at the end more than the originals l.

I actually enjoyed this album a lot. It's crazy how different, yet similar music was in 1973 as it is now. The musicality was nice, and John Cale's singing was also somehow really enjoyable. A lot of good songs with great messages, and the long album didn't seem so long due to its melodic, orchestral background. I've never even heard of John Cale before, but he's definitely made a great first impression.

This album started out strong, but it didn't follow through with it all the way. The overall sound was pretty good, but got old quickly and didn't do enough to change things up. Really short albums (much like really long albums) can be a mixed bag, with some of my favorite albums and least favorite albums being extremely short. This one felt fairly middle of the road, but I did find myself wishing it was longer, if only so that it had more time time to grow/evolve throughout the record. Favorite Track: Paris 1919

Child's Christmas in Wales 3.7 Hanky Panky Nohow 3.2 The Endless Plain of Fortune 3.4 Andalucia 3.5 Macbeth 4 Paris 1919 3.5 Graham Greene 3.6 Half Past France 3.7 Antarctica Starts Here 3 Score: 3.511111111

Pretty good.

A bit like an excited Simon and Garfunkel. Not bad but showing its age something desperate

I didn’t expect a member of the Velvet Underground to turn out such a refined baroque pop album, but 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝟣𝟫𝟣𝟫 is exactly that: lush, carefully orchestrated, and surprisingly inviting. John Cale sets aside the avant-garde instincts he’s known for and leans into pure craftsmanship — elegant melodies, vivid arrangements, and a sense of grandeur that never feels heavy-handed. It’s a gorgeous, imaginative record and easily one of his most approachable works.

This was a smooth listen man, had it in in the background while I was cleaning and I felt like my parents. Solid for sure!

The Good: We get to visit Paris in 1919! The Bad: We don’t get to hang out with the cool artists… The Ugly: We don’t get to hang out with anyone… John Cale… In my mind, I keep humming “Cocaine, running around in my brain”, but we all know that’s another J Cale… Anyway, I kind of like this album, if it is playing in the background. Yet, if we go and take a critical listen, then the album becomes harder to listen to… weird how that happens. Also, and this has to be said, I am being partial, as my musical mood is too heavily influenced by the shit that has been appearing on the list for a while now. Oh how I wish I wake up tomorrow and am greeted by a stellar outing… but the odds are against me… Will just have to sit back and think of Paris in 1919 again, when the war was over and cubism was dead… 3*

Some of the music was OK, but I didn't like the vocals. It didn't stand out much to me.

An unexpectedly poppy album from Velvet Underground veteran and avant garde composer John Cale. My first impression was that this album, while kind of catchy, is a weird misstep from Cale. Orchestral pop music isn't his territory. Turning it into a history lesson is kind of interesting but it's nothing the Bee Gees hadn't already accomplished. Still, I like Cale's music and there are a handful of good tracks so I was inclined to be generous. On repeat listens though, this album opens up. It's better and stranger than I'd originally given him credit for, in ways that I can't quite explain. Maybe it's Cale's unusual singing style which reminds me of his former collaborator, Nico. Maybe it's a quality to the music that has something different to it. In either event, this album really grew on me. Stand out tracks included "MacBeth" and "Paris 1919".

They said "Amanda" in The Endless Plain of Fortune :D

not a bad little 70s euro art pop experience. if you start this album at france, it'll be over at about half past france.

10/10 Goddamn it what's with the Irish and their music

Never heard any John Kale solo before. Very enjoyable and listenable. 4.5

This was a pleasant surprise. Really enjoyed it.

Fantastic. Moving, interesting, and engaging.

It's not bad. The music is nice, all throughout the album. It just neves strikes a nerve. But it's great to have on the background. 3/5

The first 4 songs were bland, but then Macbeth hit (stood out) and boosted it up at least a star. Paris 1919 continued the more upbeat transition in the album. 3/5

I’ve always been a fan of The Velvet Underground so I’m sorry I never listened to John Cale’s solo albums. This is amazing.

- I expected this to be a lot more experimental than it is. I thought it was kind of dull at first, but it has grown on me a lot. I ended up listening to it all day, and I like the sweetness to the songs and that the lyrics are kind of random and interesting. - The orchestration is restrained and pretty. - His voice is on the lethargic and nasal side, and he doesn't have much range - it gets out of tune when it gets too low or high (or holds a note for a long time, lol). His singing voice is mild and can be nice in a chill way, but it does bring the music down. I guess this is before the cocaine phase. - The other thing that I find less than ideal is that I feel like the music feels like it is kind of under a cloud of dense air.

Meh

Aika hajuton ja mauton oli tämä Jonne Kaali. Levystä ei jäänyt oikein mitään mieleen.

Ei oikein iskenyt tämä John Calen soolo veto ja "Art Pop" genrenä. Ihan taustalla menevää mutta ei kyllä lähde levy omalle soittolistalle.

Paikoitellen menevää, mutta ei kovin hyvin lähtenyt omaan korvaan ainakaan ensikuuntelulla. Not bad, not good

2.5 rounded up

This was fine, but there are much better Cale albums. Slow Dazzle is his best, but it’s only streaming as the last 5 tracks on CD 1, and the first 5 tracks on CD 2 on “The Island Years” compilation.

I thought this was a decent album but the whole time it felt like it was missing one thing to make it amazing. In no way is this a bad album, it's just not my album.

Started out with a fairly open mind about this but by the end I really did not like it. Sometimes it feels almost improvisational like he hadn't fully worked out what the lyrics should be before he recorded it.

I enjoyed a good bit of this album, but it all blended together in the end for me. Not much stood out in particular but i found myself enjoying a lot of the melodies.

In keeping with my boomer dad music taste, I think this is going to be a new favourite

Knew I knew his name from somewhere, but this is great, and I don't think anything like this exists form this time period, I feel like its a little bit like mid 70s Brian Eno, but this feels quite different. I love how its in theory quite catchy and poppy, but still feels really interesting and experimental. Its very orchestral, but I guess that was one of his main things in the Velvet Underground (maybe more so the very early stuff). He's a great singer as well, you can certainly tell he's Welsh on certain songs. Favourite songs: all Overall around 8/10

NOT what I thought it was going to be. Very enjoyable sort of orch-pop.

Wasn’t a fan this. Very forgettable. Stand-outs - Antarctica Starts Here

Chucked out of Velvet Underground for being too weird, I expected novel things here. Just a drab listen from start to finish. Huge letdown

Gavin showed me this on tour and it is a fucking masterpiece I adore every song and the production is sooooo good.

The title track is so so so good. Just awesome chill poppy music. Big big fan.

This is my second time trying this. Paris 1919 always seems to get lauded by people as being one of those life changing albums, but I don’t really get it. When it’s good, I really enjoy it. Songs like Graham Green, Paris 1919, Andalucia, all great songs. But then there seems to be quite a few that passed me by. If it wasn’t by John Cale I wouldn’t have given it as much time I reckon, which is wrong but there we go. Given it’s legendary status I’ll definitely be back, but possibly more of its reputation than what I’ve heard

Sort of psychedelic whimsical croonery pop I think. Went by quickly but I think because it was short and nothing appealed rather than being enjoyable.

It was alright. Quite baroque. Thinks he has a lot to say. Paris 1919 was the best track. Really not as entertaining as his Velvet Underground stuff. I don't think I'd like him if I met him in a pub.

Didn't know what to expect of this from the album cover. Quite enjoyed it though. Very folky, little weird in parts. Oh it's one of the guys from the velvet underground, I didn't know that. Glad I only realised after listening I think 3.5, the eponymous track was the best

Listening to both discs in the deluxe version was interesting. I could hear how it might have influenced bands I love like Bright Eyes. I like the travelogue style lyrics

John Cale’s Loaded. Very accessible 70s Chamber Pop.

Good? I mean, it was relaxing music but its not the type of music I search to listen to.

Hmm, not my thing

A Velvet Underground fan but I hadn't heard much solo John Cale. Not exactly what I was expecting and it's not even remotely like the VU at any point. Cabaret-style baroque pop, this sounds like a Welshman getting off his tits on drugs in France on his own, and I assume that's exactly what it was. He's really pleased with himself with an irritatingly catchy tune called 'Hanky Panky Nohow' which appears in various forms throughout the album on the Deluxe version. I'd question that decision, but thankfully in its original format (the one you want) it's only there once. 'Andalucia' is lovely and Paris 1919 I had heard before but not known who it was - good song. Some of this manifests itself years on in the Super Furry Animals, some of it even resembles the Ben Folds Five, whilst 'Graham Greene' recalls Lola vs Powerman-era Kinks. There are lot of points in songs that really remind me of some other songs, but I can never quite place them. I like some of this but it also grates a little bit at times and is a little pretentious (which I don't mind), so surprises me that it's so highly acclaimed.

Decent album but didn’t leave much of an impression on me.

I found this a little bit disappointing. Given he was the force behind a lot of the Velvet’s more experimental output, I was expecting this to push more boundaries. It was pleasant enough and may bear another listen but it didn’t take me immediately.

I’m a bit torn on this. At times, this had some really lovely tracks. The orchestral arrangements in it are lush and vibrant, and there is some really tender songwriting, but a few tracks (“Graham Greene”) rubbed me up the wrong way. “The endless plain of fortune” and “Paris 1919” I really liked though and, for the variety this album had, and likely influences this had on what followed, am rating this fairly highly.

A really hard listen for me, I can appreciate the musical ability and the genre of which this is and the artistic side, but it doesn’t feel an enjoyable listen. I tried a number of songs, half past France and Paris are probably the only ones I listened to all the way through without wanting to turn them off. Again just a hard listen, maybe a listen for another time.

Not sure what I was listening to to be honest , there was no real melody in his dreadful out of tune voice The music itself was too over the top for the lame songs with stupid names Terrible And to say this on the list of albums to listen to before you die was torturing my soul note by note

Honestly, I barely listened; I was too busy wondering if my hair looked good in the mirror. 4 stars i guess?

Andalusia quite a simple track but one of the more enjoyable ones for me on the album. His vocal style pretty dull though. Production is well done, not a fan of the songs so much though! Macbeth is all over the place , I actively dislike that track, one for US army to use for their sonic interrogation techniques. Paris 1919 has nice orchestration but the lyrics are pure wackiness, speaking of whacky I think Mr. Cale smoked a bit of the old whacky baccy working on this one. The middle 8 string section is nice but a bit out of place, and chorus just more of the same, dull! Half past France is purely forgettable. Antarctica starts here, well honestly what the hell is that, great instrument recording and quality when it kicks it but it seems as though he did the vocal takes at home after his wife and kids had gone to sleep, and he didn't want to wake them up singing the vocal, listen again and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. As a good friend of mine said, Mr. Basten, this reminds of a cheap version of Paul McCartney, he probably listened to Paul's albums coming out around about this period and thought oh I'll have a bash at that. The lyrics are just odd, and pure Beatles imitation with some of the instrumentation but not executed with the same finesse. For me, forgettable, and has no place to be on a list of albums to hear before you die. Sadly, I will die having listened to it when I could've saved this time reading the ingredients on the back of a cereal box instead, at least I'd have given my eyes a bit of reading practice.

I was surprised this came out in the 70s, half past France and Antartica starts here were my favorites

You’re telling me this guy helped make the gift and black angel death song?

Chipping Sodbury mentioned, big up all my South West mandem

eccentric

Guff

Good lord, this is lovely. Great songwriting, and great diversity across the tracklist. Beautiful and accessible sounds and instrumentation, with some really intriguing and out there lyrics that can still penetrate. This is one of those rare albums from this list that I replayed as soon as it ended (helps that it’s a wonderfully concise 32 minutes long). It was a 4 on first listen and I upgraded it to a 5 halfway through my second listen. First time in a while I’ve been so happily surprised by something new I’d never heard of. Must-listen #281.

I enjoyed but it repeated all the songs

Generally pretty insipid i think. Considering he's supposed to be the more experimental one from the Velvet underground this is surprisingly boring. I did enjoy Graham Greene quite a lot, good drums and nice angular music, but the rest didn't really deliver.

This guy has a very soothing and relaxing voice. Not really sure what this album is all about - hanky panky and cocaine?? Didn’t know he was a velvet underground guy which is very cool and makes this album make sense in its experimental nature.

Perfectly forgettable. 5/10

Quite enjoyed this. Velvet Underground with some Kinks thrown in.

Such a brilliant album, shame he didn’t do more like this

Some fun beats but didn’t love his voice.

nothing exciting tbh. nice vibes, nothing really stood out to me tho

-apparently this is less experimental than most of John Cale’s stuff. i had only heard his work with Velvet Underground and his single with Charli XCX (this album provided some context for the sound they had going there!) -was pretty sure i wasn’t gonna end up liking it much but it grew on me. interesting baroque pop sound -Favorites: The Endless Plain of Fortune, Macbeth

I had high hopes for this but it was an absolute snooze fest. I'll choose to continue to associate Cale with Velvet Underground, Nico, The Stooges, and Patti Smith, thank you.

Nah, no me copó. 3/10

This was pretty awful. I love the Velvet Underground albums but never heard and of John Cale’s solo work until this. Nothing spectacular or unique about this. Struggled to a 2.

Absolutely not my bag at all

Pretty mellow.

A step away from the sound experiments he was famous for with the Velvet Underground, this is probably Cale's most musically traditional album to that point in his career. Easy to listen to, but pretty much leaves me feeling "meh?".

Paris 1919 walked so In the Aeroplane Over the Sea could run

A little to obtuse to fit my taste.

Whimsical and fun art-pop, overall a nice listen from an unheard of (to me) artist

An interesting collection of ballads and anthems. A nice singer-songerwriter vibe of the early 70s. No realt standsouts but overall enjoyable

Oh weh, Cale > Reed? Tatsächlich? Nachdem ich erst schon Cohen fälschlicher weise den Velvets zugeordnet habe war es evtl doch Andy oder Nico? Wo ist das Genie von Underground? c

Tycker hans album efter det här är helt okej, men det här var ganska määh, några bra textrader till trots

Jag kan förstå varför de lagt det på listan, men det föll inte riktigt mig i smaken. Ok album.

Inte hört tidigare men tycker det fanns mycket att gilla här! Härligt 70-talsmys, exemplarisk albumlängd för ett sådant album också. Kommer återbesöka - en fyra!

Det här var härligt, inte lyssnat på hans sologrejer innan! Slutade med att jag lyssnade fyra varv för att jag hade så svårt att bestämma mig, men det bara fortsatte växa. Imponerande låtskriveri och bra texter. Nära en fyra!

Är uttråkad och orkar inte ge den en till chans.

Fan va fint med en ny tung jullåt!

vilken otrolig röst

Växer med varje lyssning. Svag för det här soundet. Blir sugen på att lyssna på Weyes Blood! Fan vad bra det låter. Mixen, rösten, pianot! Första två lyssningarna var det intressant och härligt knasigt. Tredje lyssningen slås jag av en melankoli som inte bara kan bero på första jobbveckan efter jul, nyår och födelsedag. Kommer säkert ångra om jag inte sätter en femma.

walmart lou reed

really solid

Seriously great album here. Will be giving it a lot more listens but stands as a 9/10 currently

Meget lækre arrangementer men ikke videre memorable

Lidt samme vibe som de Scott Walker plader vi har haft men ikke nær så god stemme.

The orchestra was a nice addition on this album, not too overwhelming, but enough to make the songs even better.

Very cool! Will check out more of his music

Better than I was expecting; I was ready to tear this album to shreds. Cales voice is noticeably weak at times and didn't have the range to carry some of the ideas. But he had ideas, at least. It's a 2.5 from me.

Bit dull

Interesting one. Had expected something similar to his Velvet Underground sound but this was much softer and folksier. I mean it wasn’t unpleasant but hardly got the pulse racing. A few nice songs though.

A mixed bag of songs, mostly pretty bad, but elevated by the title track and Half Past France.

Rather disappointing really; an artist famed for his leftfield approach to music, and which I’ve never got round to listening to. And we bloody get given his most accessible pop album. So err, yeah it’s fine, there you go. Onwards…..

Reminds me of a goofier pre-DSOTM Pink Floyd. Silly. Nice orchestrations.

Easy option of an album to remove.

Never heard of singer or album. Childs Christmas in wales is pretty good. Fun song. Very 70s. More poppy than rock but good background track. Good songwriting in hanky panky no how. Catchy song. Definitely dated. Bass on the endless plain is so good. You could put any lyrics over that production and have a hit. Good guitar too. How was this released in the 70s, I can’t imagine how long it took to record all of the instruments. Andalucia is fine. Nothing special. Very 70s. Macbeth is different. Very much so 60/early 70s rock. Beatles vibes. Good production again. I like Paris 1919 a lot too. The production is ahead of its time through out. He’s singing over orchestras it’s very audibly pleasing. Graham Greene is fun, not much more to say abt it. Same with half past France. Don’t like the whispering on Antarctica, but the background track is good once again. Pretty good album. Not life changing. 2.6 stars.

I really liked it. Calm and interesting, I see myself coming back to it

Loved this album

5/10

This was more entertaining than any of its britpop ilk

John Cale was in the Velvet Underground. This is supposed to be his most accessible album. Kind of meh...

No standouts

This must have been how the average Adult Contemporary Easy Listening radio station sounded in the early 70s. It's not terrible, but uninteresting. 2/5

John Cale: Paris 1919 Paris 1919 is a staggering achievement in orchestral pop, a record that reveals more of its brilliance with every listen. What initially feels like a fleeting, dreamlike atmosphere quickly reveals itself to be a collection of deeply resonant, masterful compositions. Tracks like "Child's Christmas in Wales" and "Andalucia" showcase a level of musicianship that is both magnificent and emotionally enduring. Cale successfully bridges the gap between historical complexity and melodic beauty, creating a soundscape that is as sophisticated as it is haunting. It’s an album that doesn’t just pass through your ears—it stays with you, earning its place as a genuine essential.

Otarło się o czwórkę, kilka fajnych utworów, przyjemna płyta. Ale chyba nie będę o niej jakoś długo pamiętał.

Me surpreendi positivamente, ouviria algumas novamente. Parece trilha sonora de filme

Wrong choice, shoulda been Fear instead

There are times where I am honestly kind of glad I don't often understand lyrics. Which isn't to say that I can never understand them, or that I just refuse to engage with them, no. They **are** important; I don't find myself listening to instrumental music too often, after all. It's just that, when I listen to music, I tend to value that actual sound first and foremost. Y'know, the sound, the energy, the tone, the vibes ... the music itself, in other words. Sometimes I worry it's not a "legitimate" way to listen to music. Especially when I've been doing these reviews for this website, shouldn't I wanna pay as much attention to the words as possible? But, eh, all I can ever do is try and relate my experience as best as I can. So if my experience involved not really paying the lyrics any mind, well, then so be it. And this is one album where I really ended up not paying the lyrics too much mind. This is an album from John Cale, who was a member of The Velvet Underground and a composer for films such as 'American Psycho'. I didn't know either of these things when I listened to this album. And certainly, I don't think I ever would've pinned him as a guy from The Velvet Underground. You're telling me the same guy who made an album as experimental and noisy as 'White Heat/White Light' also made all of these orchestral, baroque pop songs? Inspired by the likes of Brian Wilson and the Bee Gees, no less. It's crazy to consider it now, as I'm writing this. What music it is, though! In my head I don't think it quite matches up to Brian Wilson's work or the best I've heard from the Bee Gees, but all the same, I am such a sucker for this kind of stuff. You take a song like "Hank Panky Nohow": if I may quote a fellow group member, it "sounds like how a soft chocolate melts in your mouth, in the most savory way." I listen to it, and all I can do is let out a contented sigh and sink back into my seat; it's truly lovely. John Cale may have never gone on to compose for big films (besides 'American Psycho'), although judging just by this album, I can tell he's got quite the skill for composition. Lyrics, on the other hand, are a different matter. I'm sure he's trying to say something about his childhood, or world events, or ... I'unno, cocaine. But I can't even begin to parse out how these lyrics relate back to those topics. And they're not like Dylan lyrics, where they're incredibly flowery and poetic and dripping purple, no. These words are just not strung together in a way where I can understand them. And I **did** truly make an effort; I read a good chunk of them alongside the album. Though once I realized I wasn't getting anywhere with them ... yeah, I gave up. And I'll tell you, the album did improve tenfold once I stopped trying to understand the words. I relistened to the first half of the album while I wrote this review, and it was a lot easier for me to admire how good the music is, and how nice of a singer John Cale can actually be. So, yeah. Purely as a sound, this album gets a big thumbs-up from me. Maybe I'd wish it was a little more ... ELO, but, ah, I gotta take the music as it is — and for what it is, I have no complaints. As for the words — well, if you can understand them, then I wish I had what you do. But since I don't, I can leave the words. And that's just fine. John Cale, you still made a dang fine album. Jus', maybe try a little harder next time to be more understandable? A please and a thanks.

Maybe it's just my inherent bias towards orchestral pop thanks to ELO, and maybe it's Maybelline, but I really dug this one. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 4. I mean, I’ll just get right to it: it’s because of the lyrics. I just don’t understand a damn thing here, except in really broad & loose strokes that paint enough of a picture to feel visible, yet not visible enough to feel vivid in the way that I wish they were. John Cale’s musicianship is great here, with a nice blend of baroque / artsy pop standards that feel far from the heavier tones of the Velvet Underground, fully leaning into a style that’s Beatles-adjacent, yet distinct enough to feel fun. In terms of the pacing of the tracks & the energy they all bring, His voice blends in a lovely way when the tracks take a more serene tone & they blend in a harsher way when they take a more hard rock tone. He sounds great, the band sounds great, and compositionally, I really have zero complaints. It’s all in the lyrics. I just wish they were more clear. That’s literally it; they don’t even have to be that much more clear – I love a good ambiguous track, but the way John Cale writes his lyrics is less of an ambiguously interpretable approach, but more of a stream of consciousness that’s all loosely connected by some idea that only he seems to have in his mind. There are some tracks with more obvious allusions & allegories, such as “Paris 1919” obviously being about the fallout of World War I & the subsequent Treaty of Versailles negotiations, but for the most part, they’re still just not as clear as they could be, at least for my tastes & sensibilities. I can’t even say they’re badly written or anything; these all paint decent enough pictures to see *something*, but it’s just too blurry to grasp. It’s extremely frustrating because I *love* the way everything about this album sounds; “Hanky Panky Nohow” sounds like how a soft chocolate melts in the mouth in the most savory way, but other than some vaguely loose bureaucratic references (maybe to the music industry??), I do not comprehend anything about the track’s lyrics. It’s like falling in love with food & having no idea what the hell it’s actually made out of, with no recipe to cite. I feel like I always need some kind of recipe, and being unable to grasp a full list of ingredients here is just mentally pulling me down. Hence, a 4. A lovely 4 that I’ll recommend to the people who don’t need that list of ingredients to enjoy music, or who don’t care about it as much. I think it’s a really dazzling album in its most cinematic moments, especially with the presence that the percussion & strings have. Hell, it could still go up to a 5 for me in the future if I'm less anal about this whole recipe/ingredient stuff; this album made me feel something in a good way, so clearly the broader & looser pictures still had an effect. I just don’t know how to articulate that in a way where I can justify giving this a 5, because I never felt like it got there, almost solely from my mindset about the lyrics. It is, however, a breezy 30 minutes that does everything right from a technical standpoint. Whether it’s too technically sound in a way that gives off a plain 2 or 3, or something so technically sound that it just naturally feels like a 5, I think I can hear it either way. For me, it’s a 4.

Fine.

Unnecessary mushy man pop rock crap.

It’s agreeable, but not much more than that.

Not on streaming

I listened to this one on a gloomy Monday morning, while slightly hungover and trying to avoid speaking to coworkers. And the first half of the album just really got that vibe. Moody and slightly atmospheric. I did enjoy my listen, albeit, maybe because I was just in the right, slightly miserable mood. Overall, not super memorable, but there’s certainly a time and place for it.

paris 1919 1973 rock, pop wales

Perfectly fine, and just as forgettable.

An enjoyable singer songwriter album. A bit sounded familiar, but I enjoyed it and would listen again.

The album cover and title project a pretentiousness that I wouldn’t otherwise choose to engage with, but John Cale is “the other guy from The Velvet Underground”, and that’s the only reason I gave this more than one passive listen. That first listen was pretty unimpressive, but I’m glad I stuck with it because it’s improved with every listen (especially with headphones). There’s a lot of interesting small instrumentation that leaves something new to hear each time through. Realistically, I don’t expect I’ll revisit this much but I’ll be optimistic and give it 4/5 stars anyway. We’ll see.

I'm a big Velvet Underground fan, but I couldn't get into this one. When I read that Cale enlisted Little Feat as his backup band for this project, I was even more interested. Paris 1919 is creative and weird, but I didn't connect to it. Three stars.

I do not know why to sit. Not bd, but nothing stands out as a good or bad song since I already forgot the vibe.

I found it intriguing and Half-past France was really, really good. Will definitely have to give this one a listen again.

what was that city they mentioned in the album title? i was in a huge disgust. its lovely by the way, although i prefer some franz ferdinand as a unorthedox way of talking about ww1 related politics /j 4/5

A strange album - between whimsical and haunting

Consistently love the music in this. When the singing and lyrics are more traditional I'm very into it. When the lyrics are goofy / weird / annoying / buzzy I'm less into it.

Day 120 I only recently became vaguely aware of John Cale thanks to his song with Charlie XCX, after Wiki-ing I was surprised to see he was a founding member of Velvet Underground as this really sounds more like a lost Kinks album to me, I’d say it sounds quintessentially English but that would definitely offend anyone Welsh reading. Certainly one I’ll be listening to again 8/10 Highlights Hanky Panky Nohow Andalucia Paris 1919

Album No. 0088 on my list. I’ve heard who John Cale is before, but I did indeed had to look it up again. I found “Paris 1919” to be a solid album. Won’t become my favorite of all time I think, but I did enjoy listening to it in general. None of the tracks stood out to me completely, but I’ll add the title track, “Macbeth”, and “Half Past France” on my list. Decent album! 3/5 stars.

Not very memorable, I mean , I listened, but I don’t remember much.

unexpected Cale, easy classic rock

basking in melancholy

for sure man

Paris 1919 is the kind of record that shouldn’t work at all—an ornate, bookish, slightly unhinged chamber-pop fever dream from a man who sounds like he’s serenading a collapsing empire—yet it ends up being absurdly, almost annoyingly brilliant. John Cale croons like a polite aristocrat losing his mind in real time, draping his cracked elegance over arrangements so lush they practically faint from their own beauty. The whole album walks a tightrope between pretension and transcendence, and somehow Cale nails both: it’s fussy, overstuffed, maddeningly precious—and absolutely unforgettable.

Spaziergang, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Läuft gut rein.

Actually enjoyed this a lot, very good instrumentation and overall just a great album. I liked most songs

Considering this guy was such a key member in one of the most groundbreaking bands of all time, I was really expecting more. This album really has nothing that any Velvet Underground project does, ultimately feeling like a super generic and even almost soulless release following the stereotype of "band member makes mediocre solo album after breakup."

I have no objectivity about this one. I bought it on a whim a couple years after it came out. The voice is odd, warm, sadly nostalgic, I've only talked with one other person who knew the album, and I love the whole thing and love love love the title track like a favorite childhood blanket. It didn't come with a lyric sheet, about half of albums had lyrics on the cover or in an insert, which usually didn't make it past the original release, so I haven't listened closely enough to the lyrics to actually know what he's singing about, or any of his other albums, or the Velvet Underground which he co-founded. Seeing it on the list is a good nudge to check into all that now. I do know 1919 was a shit year - general strikes all over the world including one of the biggest, yup, here, plus race riots started by white people all over the states, and in Paris the Peace Conference where the WW1 winners gathered to divide up the world, making Germany pay the bill for everything, and making WW2 practically inevitable, which is presumably what John's riffing on here. Really a record for our times.

Gorgeous french horn solo in Paris 1919 at 2:25 <3 The Endless Plain of Fortune is a great song too. I liked the orchestral sounds on those two tracks. This album didn't fully grab me, but there is a quality of John Cale's voice that I really like and a nice warmth/richness to the overall sound. Good variety of tracks too. 7.5/10.

I really enjoyed this album! I loved the title track in particular, the string/vocals combo was reminding me of Eleanor Rigby 7.5/10

Childs Christmas in Wales, and Paris 1919 were good (the song not the album). The rest of the songs were good/fine, but honestly forgettable. Not much else to say... The typography on the album title is nice...

First half ok, halfway thought it got really enjoyable

I heard strong echoes of the Beatles in his music. But not for me

What pleasant surprise. Really enjoyed this one. 4/5

maybe it was because I'm hungry but this album irritated me

Good. Nice.

Ok. ★★★

Sounded like Raffi before he moved to children’s music. Not my favorite album but weirdly didn’t hate it. 2.5/5

Too old, white, male

not as odd as i had feared but with a vibe that put me off nonetheless. fundamentally inoffensive but not for me.

"paris 1919" track 1 child's christmas in WALES so that was a lie. this was weird and neat

i listened to this like two days ago and can't for the life of me remember what it sounded like, but i saved a handful of tracks to spotify so it must have been at least ok? 2.5

Ended as it was starting to wear out its welcome, so that was nice

Sooo, this is a weird one. Not particularly memorable but somehow quietly snuck up on me. I imagine this is a grower. Like his Welsh accent coming through at times too. Want to give this 3.5, help

Never heard it before, but it might something I might check out.

Wasn’t sure what to expect with this, and not overly sure what I listened to in all honesty. Not a bad album, but didn’t do much for me. Certainly didn’t hate it, but nothing stood out for me… although Antarctica Starts Here probably was my favourite track.

Another album that kind of fades into the background. I can see why its popular though

Enjoyable but didn't make a lasting impression (3.5)

2.22

What the hell is this nonsense?

piacevole

7/10 I enjoyed. Kinda Kinks-esque, very Beatles orchestration. Lyrics are opaque, which lifts it. Not what I expected from Cale, but why should an artist ever do anything that is expected of them?

It was okay.

I've often wondered what John Cale's output sounded like post VU. I found this a little disappointing, too accessible, too normal even. It was pleasant to listen to, but I won't be replaying it I feel. Two stars.

7/10

Enjoyed it

interesting ig

One of the great baroque pop albums. I do find it could even be more baroque, more stringey and all that! But it's great for what it is, hands down.

One of the big realisations I've had in recent years is that John Cale might have been the best member of the Velvet Underground. This is definitely a record I need to give another listen to, but I really enjoyed it though maybe not as much as his more recent work. Big, grand avant-pop that's so well crafted with scale and intimacy.

This one is hard to rate. Goes between a 3 and a 2. He has a nice voice, but the songs are hit or miss. The Endless Plain Of Fortune had some good music. Andalucia was nice and chill. Macbeth rocked on. Graham Greene was good. The rest was kinda whatever. Antarctica seemed like it had something going, but he was like whispering through the entire song. Another album that wants to appear more "artsy" than it is. Best song: The Endless Plain Of Fortune

Whilst I love the Velvet Underground I have always found John Cale a little bit too avant-garde for me so I was not particularly looking for to this album. Was therefore very surprised by its folky/pop/baroque vibes which I really enjoyed.

Paris 1919 I liked this a lot, its a very enjoyable, orchestral singer songwriter pop album with a nice sardonic edge and just enough John Cale idiosyncrasy and avant garde pretensions to make it more interesting and varied than other people doing similar things A Child’s Christmas in Wales is a lovely opener, with a warm, friendly embrace to it and Hanky Panky Nohow really grew on me with its foklishness and slightly melancholy feel to the strings. It might be at its strongest when it's at its most orchestral; the brass, strings and sweep of The Endless Plain of Fortune is superb, allied to the lyrics about early 20th century European history, the oompah/Sgt Pepper of the excellently catchy title track, the bluesiness and strings of Half Past France, with its moving and thoughtful lyric, I think, about a WW2 soldier fighting in France, and the stateliness of Antarctica Starts Here. But even outside that there are some great tracks and moments, Andalucia is a sweet little ditty, Graham Greene is a nicely off balance Kinksian bit of whimsical pop with a great reference to Chipping Sodbury. Macbeth channels a bit of Ronson/Bowie without being fully successful however. Overall I really liked this, and it really grew on me. There are some great tunes and some excellent lyrics, alternating between archness and playfulness, and more earnest thoughts on modern European history. Tempted to go 5, but I think I’ll stick at a high 4 and come back to it to ruminate further, and it's a great discovery nonetheless. 🥐🥐🥐🥐 Playlist submission: The Endless Plain of Fortune

The production reminded me a lot of Jeff Lynne produced stuff. ELO but also later Harrison albums like his eponymous album in 79. 'MacBeth' in particular has the 70s pub rock feel of Jeff Beck or ELO, and shows that this album is firmly rooted in British musical tradition, despite his previous association with that American lot. And yet none of it feels twee (although 'Graham Greene' is a difficult one to warm to). It really treads that line very well. The title track, withs it's brass and strings, made me recall The Snowman. I am not sure why really. A nice Christmassy, melodic, slightly sad, but uplifting tale forever linked with bittersweet feelings of growing up. And that pretty much sums up this album.

For the elderly.

Giving this 4 stars because I feel bad for the top review calling him English

Ugh. Wow. This guy really sucks as a singer. It’s painful and distracting, and I find myself chuckling in disbelief as I listen at work today. He does remind me of someone who might write children’s nursery rhymes, where the listeners (victims) are less likely to notice his many vocal flaws. Stay in your lane Cale. Stick to the kid’s table.

It's arty enough, and not arty enough, at the same time.

I found this album to be very bland.

An accessible John Cale album is an interesting experiment in its own right. Swapping abrasion for melody works here and some of the songs tells stories like some of those old Kinks tracks. Never heard before and not a bad listen.

Andalucia

What a pleasant surprise! Might be my favorite new finding of the over 100 albums I’ve listened to for this project so far. The music is tightly composed, yet often almost whimsical, and fun to listen to throughout. The lyrics are those of a storyteller, and each song seems to transport you to a specific time and place. There’s also a wry humor to the whole thing. I really enjoyed this one and will absolutely be coming back to it. I think the title track (and one or two others) may even make my regular favorites rotation.

Whilst I love the Velvet Underground I have always found John Cale a little bit too avant-garde for me so I was not particularly looking for to this album. Was therefore very surprised by its folky/pop vibes which I really enjoyed. Will score a 4 for now and will certainly listen again.

I understand why Lou Reed did the singing for Velvet Underground. Interesting lyrics, ok songs, wrong voice. I understand that Cale was eclectic with his musical style in his solo career - not sure why the bland 70s pop album is picked for this list. Though I didn't realize I knew and liked the earworm that is Paris 1919. Thought it was a Rufus Wainwright song.

NOPE..... I just can't.

One of the original co-founders of Velvet Underground. His career spans a lot of very experimental music, but this album is mostly rock/pop from the early 70's. Pitchfork: 9.5 Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Child's Christmas In Wales Hanky Panky Nohow Andalucia Paris 1919 Half Past France

good stuff from the caler

Fine album.

I knew nothing about John Cale but was pleasantly surprised to learn he was a founding member of the Velvet Underground. I'm sure he had a few wild Lou Reed stories to tell. I liked this album. Apparently, this was Cale's first album to take on the contemporary singer-songwriter sound that aligned with the popular rock-pop of the early 70's. The electric guitar on Child's Christmas in Wales immediately caught my attention, so I looked up who played on the album. Turns out it was Lowell George from Little Feat! John Cale isn't exactly Elton John. But hell, I thought it was a solid LP. Top tracks: Child's Christmas in Wales, Macbeth, Paris 1919, and hell, throw Hanky Panky Knowhow on there too!

Hanky Panky Nohow is a keeper

Funny that this is the album we got and upon my return home last evening, my wife wanted to show me the new Charli XCX song...featuring this random old guy named John Cale? Once I effectively mansplained who he was for about two minutes, I wrapped up my spiel with a line I find myself repeating to her often, "your Dad would know who he is." I have immense respect for John Cale and believe he's one of the hidden architects of contemporary music that still can be seen today (a special thank you to Charli XCX for helping prove my point). His work with the Velvet Underground speaks for itself. If Lou Reed was the lyrical genius of the band, then Cale was the musical maestro. He was a classically-trained prodigy who kicked Beethoven for Chuck Berry but never lost touch with the elements of classical music he loved best. You can hear it in every piece of his work, including the Charli XCX song he released this week. Beyond his own personal work, he's produced for some of the most important and acts of the 20th century. Do we have punk music without John Cale? Probably, but it's fair to wonder. Paris 1919 is a wonderful album and I really enjoy it, but it's not quite my favorite post-VU Cale album. I remember listening to a podcast about it once and the hosts posited that Americans typically don't appreciate this one as much as they do across the pond. The album's content is clearly Eurocentric, from the lyrics to the song titles themselves. John Cale grew up in post-WWII UK and it had a great impact on him throughout his life and especially, this album (The title, Paris 1919, was inspired by the 1919 Paris Accords that ended WWI). Maybe if my childhood neighborhood was bombed to rubble by Nazis, I'd like it a little more, but I'd prefer not to find out at this point. Favorite Songs: Child's Christmas in Wales, Hanky Panky Nohow, Andalucia, Paris 1919, Half Past France

Had a whole thing written up and then I closed the tab. I'll bang out what I remember - incredible showcase of Cale's interests, influences, and talent. So impressive that it'd actually let him coast throughout the 1980s while he indulged himself. The variety on the album is wonderful - moving from VanDyke Parks/Brian Wilson style pop orchestration to Gary Glitter style rockers like MacBeth. The stark difference between songs helps to accentuate the strengths of the baroque pop tracks. The songwriting is so literate as well, the title track is really incredible - totally flush with historical allusion and suggestive of a general feeling of jubilation and anxiety over the end of the first World War. It's an incredible achievement. Graham Greene is like a Kinks song, so British. Favorite Songs: Child's Christmas in Wales, Paris 1919, Andalucia, Graham Greene

I really didn’t like this. Giving it a 1 feels extreme bc I sense the man has some talent. But this wasn’t for me. I feel like I want to give it a one, but I will give it some credit. As one review said. Definitely some goofy English stuff lol.

Enjoyed it.

Some of the most vanilla singer-songwriter stuff I've ever heard. At times he's doing an Elton John impression, then inexplicably, he has a single song that sounds like a .38 Special southern rock show. There's also elements of classical music sprinkled throughout. This album has a major identity crisis; it's all over the place musically and suffers because of it. 2/5

3 - pretty good, pleasant to listen to

Nope. I like lyrics that make some kind of sense to me. I suppose this is poetry? Way over my head. The music isn’t bad but lacks movement and isn’t interesting enough to make up for my annoyance over the lyrics.

This album is pretty much a perfect length. It's quite good and has a few absolutely soaring moments