Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Favorite Track: These Days
Ooh lol not my thing
Good, but not great
Way too baroque for me. While I love the addition of her vocals with Velvet Underground as a pace change, she does not stand well on her own in my opinion.
I know of Nico from the album she did with The Velvet Underground (a five-star album for me), but I’ve never heard any of her solo work before. If Chelsea Girl is anything like that, I think I’ll be in for a good time! Overall, I think Chelsea Girl was pretty good. The arrangements were really beautiful and fun to listen to, and Nico’s unique vocals worked really well with the music in my opinion. While the arrangements were nice and enjoyable, they weren’t particularly earth-shattering or game-changing in my opinion, but I didn’t mind listening to it. There wasn’t a lot of variation in the sound of this album, but I felt like Nico played to her strengths, which kept this album pretty accessible in my opinion. I don’t really have any strong opinions about the songwriting, but it’s cool that Jackson Browne did some of the songwriting on this album, not to mention playing guitar on it. As far as individual songs go, “Little Sister” was easily the best of the bunch. The organ and flute sounded fantastic, and I loved when the strings kicked in. Nico’s vocals were perfect for the lyrics. I’m not 100% sure what this song was about, but it sounded to me like it was someone giving their sister advice as she left home, and I thought it was really beautiful. “I’ll Keep It With Mine” was great too. The strings were so bright; they felt like sunshine coming in through the blinds on a Sunday afternoon. The guitar rounded out the sound really well, and it was just a very enjoyable song to listen to. While I wasn’t wowed by this album, it was really pleasant, and it wasn’t what I’d typically gravitate towards, so I appreciated experiencing something different.
It's fine but completely unimpressive. I don't really enjoy slow, melancholic music, so this wasn't that engaging, but I can't say it's bad. Not gonna lie, the first thing I thought when playing this album is "Wait, this is the woman from The Velvet Underground?" which gives "Kratos from Fornite" vibes. She does have a pretty unique voice and delivery.
I've avoided Nico until recently, put off by the racism and general Nordic Aryan vibe, despite being a fan of her work with the Velvets. But this was quite odd and intriguing for not sounding quite like anything else at the time. And a bit more accessible than some of her other solo work, from what I've heard.
This started off really strong, but then fell away for the final third or so. It gets a little sharp in places. It Was a Pleasure Then, isn't a pleasure now. Bonus star for the flute. All three star albums need a flute, right?
Not terrible. Better than Joni Mitchell. 2.5/5
First listen
high 3, very nice
Pre-listening thoughts: well I am confused by her political views but I'm just going to try to listen to this without trying to decipher those Post/during listening thoughts: Her voice isn't spectacular but jesus these instrumentals are. I am a sucker for strings like this. But some of these songs are just slightly too repetitive and droning for me. Some of this I messed with and some of it I did not as much. 6/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Fairest of the Seasons, These Days Least fav tracks: Little Sister, Chelsea Girls
Yes, quite like Nico, even though it sounds like her voice is being played through a warped cassette tape. This album goes on a little bit too much with little variation in song style.
Not terrible but not great either. Decent 60's folk sound, made for good background music.
She has a unique contralto and the strong accent gives it a strangely bohemian quality, while the sparse arrangement, courtesy of various stalwarts of the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol entourage gives the whole a chamber pop feel. Band mates and in one case Bob Dylan supply songs which are well suited to her. Apparently she hated the result, wanting more of a solid band feel than the quasi folk atmosphere producer Tom Wilson opted for. I think she was probably right. She seems emotionally quite apart from the accompaniment, as if she wasn’t in the same city let alone the same room. The arrangements and song selection create rather a monotonous effect tonally.
2.9
Me gusta el plan guitarra cuerdas voz, pero al finale durmio un poco. 3.5
Mørk psykedelisk folk, monotont med mye eksperimentering (til tider noe mye) men dette fungerer i riktig humør og setting.
Nice music (mostly strummy and fingerpicked guitars with orchestral accents), but heavily accented singing voice is an acquired taste. It's intriguing, but not one I'm in a rush to listen to again... Highlights: "These Days", "Winter Song" (sounds like a Renaissance song with flutes), "I'll Keep It With Mine" (Bob Dylan song and I can hear his cadence especially in the verses) Notable: "It Was a Pleasure Then" (Velvet Underground has gotta be backing her up on this one..."Heroin" vibes with the dissonant cello sounds)
i'll keep it with mine and these days are nice songs
I enjoyed this album listen! I already liked the song “These Days” so it was a nice time listening to the full album. In terms of vocal technicality and pitch her voice isn’t my favorite because sometimes she sounds very monotone or slightly off/ under the pitch. But if you are looking for a solid folk rock album I would give this a listen!
Meh
Pretty decent music for a massive racist
I knew the popular track: "These Days". I really like the tune and instrumentation on various tracks: "These Days", "Chelsea Girls", "The Fairest of the Seasons", "Winter Song". But I'm really not into her voice/delivery -- seems like she's struggling with English pronunciation. And some songs are tougher to get through (e.g. "It Was A Pleasure Then").
Okay.
Rating: 6/10 Probably biased towards Nico because of the Velvet Underground's debut, but I like her voice. The instrumentation is pretty interesting as well, even though her voice throughout the entire album gets a little stale towards the end since it lacks variety.
Meh
When it’s good it’s really fucking good. When it’s not good it’s pretentious and meandering. I think These Days makes up for most of the sins itself though.
I agree with Nico that this would have been much more interesting with guitars and drums and not strings and flute all over the place. It is a shame that she couldn't have put forward more of here own musical vision.
Starts strong but tails off towards the end. The first two songs are great though so bonus points for that.
Started strong, ended weak - too messy with no thread running throughout. I will say I found the other reviews to be harsh critics of her voice. I wouldn't describe it as "angelic" or pitch perfect, but it has a raw moody quality that I enjoyed. Not for everyone I suppose.
First couple of songs I thought, great. The minimal background music gives it a certain timeless quality. But then it became very 60s psychedelic. Too 60s psychedelic. Boring. With an occasional good song thrown in here and there. Favorite song: these days.
Honestly not my favorite, dissonant sounds and barely audible vocals.
Was not a TERRIBLE to listen to, but certainly drags on. Outside of it having a certain 1960s Joni Mitchell-like, folk charm, I've quickly come to have a low opinion of Nico. She's in Andy Warhol's film which leads him to insist that she sing on The Velvet Underground's record, and then she releases a solo album full of songs she didn't write or compose, AND hardly actually sings on. She's mostly just talking. I'm not seeing the talent.
Enjoy a couple of the songs a lot.
Dreamy vocals
Wasn’t expecting to like this after the first song, but the sound is strangely alluring. All the songs kind of hit the same note though, and her voice is quite pitchy.
Her genius would shine through in her following albums, where she was allowed to make the music she wanted, but this is a good start. First few tracks are excellent, 'These Days' is an all-timer, but it loses it's way a little bit after that. Not a bad listen, but it's nothing compared to something like Desertshore.
On first listen I was like, well, her husky voice act isn’t my fave, and the faux Middle Ages madrigal instrumentation isn’t doing it any favors. But then, we realized it was having a lovely calming effect on our dog, Othello. So we played it a few more times. I guess it’s not that bad. Weird & eclectic & moody.
nice little alternative and original album. not quite my palette,but appreciatethe originaility
Listenable music. Strange how I've never heard of this person, but know of groups influenced by her, partners of hers, etc.
Chelsea Girl by Nico is essentially a Velvet Underground record with Nico as the lead singer and that isn't too bad. 3/5.
Cool album, not phenomenal, not terrible. A blend of pop with folk and classical themes with flutes and strings. Arrangements are nice, clean and low key. The vocals are strong with good actuation, but they sometimes don't quite fit in with the background melodies, as if they were parts of different songs. This is the main reason the album doesn't feel too great to me.
Much better than I remembered, though its a spotty record. I do love the cover of These Days (I think she might have been the first person to record it - long before Jackson recorded it himself).
There are 4 songs on this that I was really into, and the rest were vaguely annoying like the Velvet Underground often are to me. I will not be returning to this album, but those 4 songs are bangers. Surprisingly emotional for such a monotone singer, too.
Weirddddd
I didn't mind this, not sure i really enjoyed it either though.
Too experimental for it's own good in places, but overall a solid baroque-folk record. The fingerpicking guitar is engaging and particularly mesmerising on songs like These Days and The Fairest Of The Seasons. Strings are rich and add so much body to the barebones of guitar and Nico's vocals, which itself is beautifully out of tune and discordant. Best Tracks: - These Days - The Fairest Of The Seasons - I'll Keep It With Mine Worst Tracks: - It Was A Pleasure Then - Chelsea Girls Rating: 7/10
3.5
I don’t really mind Nico’s voice; I think it’s simple yet quite pleasant. My problems with this album come from the instrumentation either being bland or too over-the-top dramatic and sounding like something out of the medieval period. 5/10
Honestly I didn’t love this. It’s probably a hard zero in terms where it falls with respect to my personal tastes. It’s like musical blue cheese.
If you told me about this album without me listening to it I would've assumed I'd hate it, but I actually found myself enjoying this one. The beautiful production mixed well with her unique vocals. The only negative was some of the songs dragged longer than they needed to.
gosh this was so fucking sad. she feels like a real life bard singing songs about the people around her. like instead of singing about big legends she mythologizes the mundane. 3 stars but I want to listen to this again
Beautiful music with a bizarre vocal delivery that rapidly outstays its welcome then somehow comes around to be pleasant again. What an oddity.
Most of this is a rough listen. I’ve never been a fan of Nico’s voice although I am fascinated by those who adore her. I often wonder if she would have had any popularity without the Warhol and VU associations? Chelsea Girls, I’ll Keep it With Mine and These Days are the highlights here for me. It’s still better than Yoko Ono.
I love Nico. And I love These Days. But I didn't love this album. I wanted to love it. But I only liked it. And only a little. 3
Solid morning vibes.
This album was alright, couldn't get into it that much, but still have respect for the lyrics and softness of the album. Nico's voice will turn me away from future listens of this album. Good use of woodwinds, strings and plucked guitar. Fave tracks: The Fairest of The Seasons, These Days, Winter Song
I don’t like her voice but for some reason, I liked this. Must be the Velvets.
Deep, calm voice, and the music seems a bit sad.
A pretty cool album at times and sent me down a rabbit hole of reading about Nico.
"The Fairest Of The Seasons" is a familiar song. I like it, the vocals and strings are really nice. "These Days" has that same familiarity. I haven't heard this song as far as I know, but it strikes a nostalgic tone. "I'll Keep It With Mine" is great, I love the strings here again. This album was pretty good. The first two songs were by far the best, and the rest felt very single-tone. I probably wouldn't listen to any songs other than the first two again. 6/10
3.5/5. One really good song among some okayish ones.
Peaceful and pretty but not boring. Great vibe but probably won’t come back
"I still cannot listen to it, because everything I wanted for that record, they took it away. I asked for drums, they said no. I asked for more guitars, they said no. And I asked for simplicity, and they covered it in flutes! ... They added strings and – I didn't like them, but I could live with them. But the flute! The first time I heard the album, I cried and it was all because of the flute." What if the Velvet Underground was more like Fairport Convention? is a question nobody asked but here's the answer. The guitar is cool, both the fingerstyle stuff from Jackson Browne and the weirder stuff Lou Reed/Sterling Morrison have going. It mostly does not sound like the final take you'd leave on an album, not in a bad way. The tension between the raw guitar tracks and the very produced everything else is interesting. I imagine I'd cry if I'd put a bunch of work into an album and then heard that flute on Winter Song. I like It Was A Pleasure Then, and also think it's the perfect thing to imagine from a pretentious folk band trying to go experimental while their audience stares in disgust. Fairport Convention's Jazz Odyssey. I'd like to hear the album Nico wanted. It might not have been all that good either but I'd still like to hear it.
Nico isn’t even English is she? Who put her up to this? It feels like there’s a really great album buried here, if they de-ren-fair’d it.
Fav: The Fairest Of Seasons Least Fav: It Was A Pleasure Then I actually like Nico’s vocals, but some of these songs really do overstay their welcome
I kinda like her voice. Found this pretty soothing.
the fairest of seasons- 6 these days- 6 little sister- 5 winter song- 5 i like the flute it was a pleasure then- 6 chelsea girls- 5 ill keep it with mine- 5 somewhere theres a feather- 5 wrap your troubles in dreams-5 eulogy to lenny bruce- 5
Unusual singing voice. I think it fits the mood of the album though. The instrumentation is quite nice. The only song I didn't like was It Was A Pleasure Then. Unfortunately it's also the longest song on the album.
Musically this is a good album with a focus on nice chamber pop arrangements with a hint of folk. The problem: The production doesn't highlight the player of instruments but Nico. As a singer, she's ok but not great. A whole album of her isn't nice enough. And I say that as a German myself: German accents in English are a bit cringy.
Interesting, kind of old low-production sound. A vibe. She’s got a bit of a deeper voice
Enjoyed most of it, although parts were hard to listen to. Standout songs: Winter Songs Wrap your troubles in dreams
A strange record for sure. Nico has a rather unique and - as many a reviewer has been eager to point out - not very traditionally pleasant voice. This makes all the ballads feel especially odd; they're very pretty, especially These Days, but not because of Nico. But you know which song DOES work because of Nico? It Was A Pleasure Then, arguably the best song on this album. This is where Nico really shines, she whispers and wails like a banshee and it's all so eerie and evocative. This is also just a taste of what's to come on her next few records, which in my opinion do a much better job at highlighting Nico's qualities.
++: The Fairest of the Seasons, It Was a Pleasure Then, Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams, Eulogy to Lenny Bruce +: These Days, Winter Song, Chelsea Girls, I'll Keep It with Mine, Somewhere There's a Feather +-: Little Feather 7,2/10
This would have been an amazing Velvet Underground album. The music behind the vocals is so great. Nico’s singing really ruins this for me, just like the songs she sings on The Velvet Underground’s debut album. If Lou Reed sang on this album it would be an easy 4 possibly 5 star album for me. I’m giving it a reluctant 3 because the music is so good but I won’t probably return to it because of Nico. Also, I never knew there was a connection between The Velvet Underground and the Eagles, but Jackson Browne plays guitar on some of the songs on here, and most of The Velvet Underground play on the rest of the album.
As much as she is a cultural icon I can never shake the feeling that I don't quite enjoy her music as much as I'm meant to. She has a particular style of singing, which at times is beautiful, others slightly grating. Nico is said to have hated the flutes and strings on this record but I feel without them I'm not sure what would be left. Saying that it still should be here.
Parts of this were haunting and beautiful, other parts made my ears hurt. Not aged that well for me
CATCH-UP: NOVEMBER 13 I graduated from the school of separating art from artist so it would be extremely hypocritical of me to levy Nico's alleged awful beliefs around how I evaluate this record. However, what I can do is admit I've never got the appeal of The Velvet Underground & Nico. It's not a "bad" record per se, and it's very influential, but maybe listening to so much music it's influenced has spoiled me in advance. Likewise, in Chelsea Girl, I can hear a thousand chamber folk and folk pop acts being birthed. In that respect it's highly engaging, but it's not an album I would feel compelled to come back to off influence alone...the German-ness of her voice is just too much for me. Despite all the above that I just wrote, I learned that Jackson Browne and Bob Dylan worked on this thing, which makes me destined to like it at least a bit. +0.5 points on my personal scale. 6/10
Hey its the second half of the hit album Nico & The Velvet Underground. She has a beautfil voice, really unique. I found it quite repetitive but still okay 6/10
Nico has the kind of voice where if any modern star would be to imitate her style of singing and mimic the tone, they would fail miserably. All I took from this album was “This is an album only Nico could do”.
The original art album, inevitably from exploding plastic. I love the note that Nico's voice sounds like a cello as it cuts through the folk. It would have been much more stark without the addition of the flute and strings, but I'm happy they're there
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR (vegan) Artwork: 👱♀️🥺⬛ Produktion: 🎧😐🆗 Musik: 🎙️🎻🥚 Wertung: 🥚🥚🥚(🥚)/5
Nice sounding background music
I've listened to the Velvet Underground and Nico for years and have my own thoughts on that album, but this was the first time I'd listened to Nico solo material. It was ok. The strings are lush, but the other instruments and Nico's vocals are fairly sparce. It was a good vibe while on, but other than that just fine. 3/5
3/4 stelle, bellissima voce e flauto
An album with no drums or bass, and generally sparse instrumentation, which, after my first spin, I thought was a cool creative choice and definitely had a gentle vibe, contrasted by her deadpan vocals and heady surreal poetry. But then I read the Wikipedia article and came to know that Nico actually hated the album, as she wanted drums and more guitars. The flute and string arrangements, too, were added without her knowledge. That information changed my perspective. Sure, I loved the beautifully melancholic 'Fairest of The Seasons' and 'These Days.' But 'Winter Song' sounded too folky. The lack of drums in 'It Was A Pleasure Then' held back the sonic catharsis you usually experience in avant-garde noisy songs like that. And though the title track was a great tune with bittersweet flutes, I wondered how much better it would have sounded if it were rockier. The rest of the songs were just uninteresting. I feel that it would have been a solid 5-star album if Nico had been given full creative freedom.
Nothing as good as These Days, kind of has the Vashti Bunyan thing going but doesnt commit
It’s not my cup of tea per se but I can see the influence that this has, especially on later albums in this list like Björk and the Cure
Eh
Some all-timers on this, but even Nico hated the flutes.
I was enjoying this until Winter Song, I wouldnt call it a tonal shift, but the identity of the album just switches here and there. If you've ever gone to an abstract art performance, it feels like that at times, just off putting and feeling too dumb to "get it" . Overall its okay.
Some beautiful musical arrangements (which she famously hated), the definitive version of “These Days”, and then like most Warhol related projects… some extremely off putting moments that sour the whole experience.
Never knew these days was originally by Nico
Нееее эту дичь я даже слушать не буду Хороший альбом от мерзкого человека. Сказать мне больше нечего
These days 🥹🫶 Thought I was gonna hate this but rlly enjoyed
Ho er bedre med velvet
I actually thought this was kind of interesting, cool rrangementa and instrumentation. The guitar was cool with the strings. Like the pizz on wrap your troubles. She has an interesting voice but I don’t think I like it. Idk what to rate it.
I really don’t mind her voice
Nico has a super unique voice that I can see would be decisive, but I'm firmly in the camp of enjoyers. There's only a few songs on the album that are think are worthy of saving, but still this was decent.
I can tell right away this album was the influence for other artists to come. Artistic and honest, but sometimes includes the noisy shit that I hated about Velvet Underground.
Not spaced out enough to enjoy this one, kinda boring…
All the best songs are at the beginning of the album and then it starts to drag. I honestly like her vocal style and I definitely like her work with The Velvet Underground but this album just isn't a start to finish classic.
Really solid classic pop album
Reading the wikipedia page before listening, and i have to agree a bit with Nico. I don't like the flute, and not much of a fan of the strings either
Pretty average
I wanted to like this more than I did. I thought the intro to the album would give way to a more profound emotional album that developed in a satisfying way. Instead we got 10 almost identical tracks with the same wishy washy slow vocal and 2 notes per minute played by the band. In the scope of other albums on this list so far I think this suprisingly holds up. Because of that I will consider it middle of the road to allign with my other reviews.
A good album, although I do think it can feel just a bit monotonous at times. I know she was quite unhappy with the instrumentation (especially the flutes), but frankly, I like it! And I like her voice
A unique voice, took me a while to appreciated it, but this is a fine album.
Nothing really grabbed me.
I'm familiar with the solo Nico stuff thanks to Wes Anderson's use of the first 2 songs on this album: "Fairest Of The Seasons" and "These Days". "These Days" is probably one of the better songs about getting older. Both are written by Jackson Browne, which is maybe why they are the best tracks. You can definitely hear Nico's old pals the Velvet Underground on several of the other tracks but VU did it better. I like "Chelsea Girls" even at 7+ minutes long. It was a bit of a chore to get through the rest of the album. Not necessarily bad but is definitely reserved for a specific type of mood, maybe a rainy/snowy morning.
Sounds like my uncle
Listening to Chelsea Girl is a strange trip. On one hand, you have a perfectly pleasant production from Tom Wilson, hot off of Bob Dylan's Bringing it All Back Home album, and Like a Rolling Stone single, and Simon & Garfunkel's career-making Sound of Silence single. You also have half of the album being written and performed by the Velvet Underground, several more songs written and performed by a young Jackson Browne. On the other hand, you have Nico, who, as a vocalist, leaves much to be desired. Her voice is husky; her pitch is shaky. And she sings in a very stiff German accent. It's a jarring juxtaposition. The album is haunting in its execution. The music sounds pretty, despite the downbeat tempos and moody atmospheres. The vocals are joyless and lacking in melody or soul. It's just a weird album. Maybe that's the point. But when the dust settles, it's not really that interesting. joyless vocals
eulogy to lenny bruce😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I kind of wish we could get a better explanation for why albums were chosen.
I'm not really sure about her voice, it's really unique but I'm not sure it suits this sort of music. I could see why someone might really like it though. After the first song I'd written it off a bit, then These Days was brilliant and I thought I'd been a bit hasty, then the rest of the album was a bit meh. It's a unique, different sound for a singer songwriter (though I think she got her cool mates to write a lot of it), I think it's worth a listen. But These Days aside I probably won't listen again.
Only know Nico from the velvet underground.... Very distinctive voice, which I think works really well on that album. I do quite like her voice, it's unique, but a whole album got a bit of a slog. Couple of really good tracks here though, these days and somewhere there's a feather I liked.
nice
I was initially excited to see that this was basically a Velvet Underground album, then disappointed that it was kinda slow and boring. But - by the end - I was getting some real Fionna Apple vibes that I dug.
Interesting to hear this shortly after hearing the Velvet Underground banana album. While some might say her presence on that record provides a welcome counterpart to Lou Reed's craggy vocals, arguably her own voice is just as much of an acquired taste. There are a couple of tunes in the middle of this that are almost dirge-like and quite hard to listen to (I think, on balance, the decision to add strings and flutes was a wise one - a song like Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams would have much less about it without them). On the flip side, sometimes the austere vocals and simple arrangements work perfectly - like on These Days - and a kind of elegant beauty is achieved. Overall I'd say it's more good than bad and quite an engaging listen. 3.5
Neat to hear Nico's voice outside of the Velvet Underground album... i was pretty optimistic after the first two tracks which do well to deliver an introspective and melancholic vibe. Unfortunately it doesn't really seem to go anywhere else and gets a little boring by the end. Interesting.
Finnst Nico æðisleg og mjög þægileg áhlustunar. Eitt og eitt lag þarna sem hafði mátt missa sín. 3,5
Very like marianne faithful!
Some of the strings and wind instruments were nice. I became a little sensitive to the vocal stylings after a time though.
Nice, but a bit boring, songs were too similar
This was hard. I've loved These Days for a long time, but l admit I like the song more than I like her performance. Her accent is so distracting, it causes her to make really strange singing choices.
It was okay to listen to for a while. Couple of good old songs in there. I'll probably listen to it again
Not bad. I think the melodies don’t really live up to the rest of the songwriting
First few songs were something folksy, and then "It was a pleasure then..." went far off that... I do like the simpler backdrops to Eulogy.
Pretty surprised on how much I liked this album. I never gave Nico much credit, thing she was just an art student that joined a band but this album was alright. I wouldn’t say world beater but a pleasant album.
ok
Not as good as "The Marble Index" but a good album nonetheless.
I have no reason to like or dislike this album.
Folk rock. Was good but it was very slow paced which was good but isn't my style.
A somewhat odd album musically. Nico has an interesting voice. Didn't resonate with me much, but it was different.
I wanted to like this. It felt 'off' but I came to realize it was because the singer's native language was not English, so it was missing the 'feel' for the words. Would listen to it again though
The musical equivalent of drinking a Negroni. Almost overwhelmingly bitter and in no way conventionally tasty, but you can handle it if you take small sips and don't think much about it. During the "experience" you may feel very sophisticated and of distinguished and refined taste. Afterward, what you have left is a bitter tase in your mouth and slight nausea. An old school drink that looks tasty and has a dope name, but is terribly bitter - A girl singing songs somewhere between beautiful and avant-garde, but she's terribly German.
Love her voice, so unique. Really enjoyed this.
At times her voice is a little hard to take, but most of the songs are good. (There's only one unlistenable one.) I think this is an album that will require more than listen before I know whether I like it or not.
Here we have another middle of the road folksy type album from someone in Germany, though maybe they are just German. Either way, not sure why this one is on here. We got this sound, and better, from Joni.
A German woman chanting tuneless poetry over minimal avant-garde clean electric guitar, strings, and aggressive flute. Not gonna lie, this was a pretty niche and odd album experience. Like many records on this list, the listening experience would have been greatly improved if the vocals were omitted; the instrumentation is really cool folk orchestral led by deftly picked electronic guitar. Nico herself seems to be an acquired taste, but she kinda sounds like a goofy Bond villain to me. Stand out tracks include “The Fairest of Seasons”, “These Days”, “Chelsea Girls”, and “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams”.
This is a strange album. I like Nico’s contributions to velvet underground, and actually really enjoy her dark and bizarre later albums. But this one seems not to know what it wants to be. The flute and soupy strings, feel at odds to the songs’ content. And more so than most of her other recordings, I have to wonder what the engineer was thinking when they agreed to go with that take on the vocal track. Nearly every song, she’s off key and off rhythm. Sure, I know that’s kind of a trademark, but I have to believe that they could’ve spent a little bit more time, so a few more takes for These Days and Fairest of the Season.
Didn’t resonate with me.
The only Nico album I know (should still check out The Marble Index and Desertshore given their reputation) and I don't know any album that sounds more like a late 60s album than this one. Some great songs (These Days, Chelsea Girls) some less special. Vocals, an acquired taste.
My heart sank when I saw this today, but it is way better than the reviews suggest. It in no way deserves to be on the list, but it's perfectly fine in a twee sixties pseudo folksy way. This album is better than anything by Steely Dan (except Dirty Work because that is a cracker), and loads of (American) people think they are great.
Never heard of Nico. Found album interesting. Read her bio. Seems she was a constant presence in the music scene of the’60s and’70s. I’ll give the album 3 stars because of its historical interest.
I really like her voice and can so get into her crazy. This would at least be a 4 in my musical memory file cabinet, but for who she is as a person. Since I learned she is a Nazi racist I can't rate her that highly. And so a guilty 3. Should an artists music be derated for their personal character? We don't give bonus points for good Samaritan's making music. Discuss amongst yourselves.
I had the very first Velvet Underground and Nico LP as a kid, purchasing it as my interests in punk were starting to develop, and I don't think I ever really came to appreciate it. A lot of similar sounds on this release, but I seem to have aged enough to understand it now. Much of the performance, writing and instrumentation on this is still the Velvet Underground, and it's uniquely wonderful. Thoughtful and interesting compositions pulling from a vast array of stringed instruments and beyond. Jackson Brown lends his writing to a couple of tracks, as well as performs. Even Bob Dylan has a writing credit on one song. And of course, Nico's contralto is the thread that weaves all this together, often providing a weight to the softness of the music, grounding it's ethereal nature and giving it relevance.
I liked the acoustic guitar in this. I know Nico from the Velvet Underground but not her solo stuff. This was a decent album, and again, great guitar work.
Basic album, the songs are mid but they're just very similar and this just isn't my type of stuff.
Very surprising. Great alto voice, the strings and flute were arranged so well. These songs are somber and thoughtful but move forward at a reasonable pace. I especially enjoyed the noisier elements of the songs. Discordant strings were a lot of fun.
I feel with Nico you're not just getting the singer, you're getting a whole story about the Velvets, the Factory, friendships with folks like Jim Morrison and Jackson Browne, and of course her pretty horrible politics and racism. This album really exhibits her talents and the particular NYC bohemian sound she and her circle produced. Haunting and poignant, it does warrant multiple listens while not really reaching the heights of her collaborations with the Velvet Underground.
I had GPT help me with this review: For the immediate task at hand, this album is going to get a 3, which is my "good, important, musically interesting but, wouldn't add it to my collection". The story of Nico, who I knew nothing about and initially mistook for a man after hearing the Velvet Underground album, is truly fascinating. For more in-depth insights, I highly recommend reading Brian Dillon's illuminating article in The New Yorker titled "The Misunderstood Voice of Nico". Nico, a stunning German actress, singer, and model, was once described as "half goddess, half icicle," with her voice likened to "a cello getting up in the morning." Despite Andy Warhol's admiration and efforts to foster collaboration between her and Lou Reed, there's a tragic narrative that sheds light on Reed's demeanor. Essentially, Nico faced ridicule for her voice from certain quarters. Her voice is classified as "contralto," encompassing a range similar to that of a male tenor, spanning from G2 to A5. It's exceptionally rare for a woman to master this lower range so seamlessly, and Nico accomplishes it with grace, all while exuding an otherworldly beauty and maintaining a distinctive German accent. She must have been an awe-inspiring presence to behold.
Not my style, but definitely some talent there that kept me engaged.
I don't know much about Nico, other than association with Velvet Underground. Wasn't all that knocked out by this album but apparently she didn't like the outcome all that much either.
bad aged
I like These Days. Not much else.
asdasd
Interesting album - I enjoyed listening, would probably never listen again. Would rather listen to her songs on the VU & Nico album
3 written by Jackson brown! Enjoyed.
Lots of flute. Renaissance-like, but not as bad as I expected. I would listen again.
There are some very pretty melancholy songs on this album. It’s just a shame that Nico doesn’t quite know how to utilize her limited vocal range to make them soar.
I've mainly listened to Nico through the VU, and typically her songs are the ones that I don't really gravitate towards. While this album is artful, its not necessarily my cup of tea. However, there are a lot of elements that I can really respect and enjoy. I love the boldness of this record. To record an avant garde dead pan (is it folk? is it rock? is it pop?) kind of record in 1967 is impressive. I love the soulful musings of "These Days," (though I still prefer Jackson Browne's version). I like the experimental and dullful intensity of "It Was a Pleasure Then." "Chelsea Girls" is a great follow up and kind of brings you back to earth. Again, not my favorite album. I respect the craft and boldness of this record. Its cool to see this influence playout in female artists like Bjork to even Billie Eilish.
"These days" and "The Fairest of the Seasons" are the standout tracks.
I'm glad this album is on here, even though I don't think it's great. But it's unique and it will scratch an itch for some listeners that they didn't even know they had. (No wonder Wes Anderson used These Days in one of his films.) Most of the songs on here are merely OK, but the gems are true gems. Plus, I dig the overall vibe, even though I think it overstays its welcome a bit. It's a very autumnal album. I get why people don't like her singing. I dig it, even though I recognize its faults. No, scratch that. I dig it because of those faults. Yes, she doesn't always hit the note, and her affect is flat, which doesn't always serve the material—at least on this album. But it's honest and there's a world-weariness to her approach that I dig. It's no wonder she was such an influence on the goth scene. I wish the authors of this book had also included one of her other albums on this list. Those are much more inline with her vision and more influential and much more interesting than this one. My personal favorite is Desertshore, which not enough people know about, and which is a striking and bold artistic statement that is still quite approachable. Rock on, Nico.
3.5/5. Good, but I definitely missed some things on the first listen.
Classic but samey
Nico's voice - I can't but this album has a nice vibe over all.
Would be great to listen to this while drinking a nice cup of earl grey 3/5
сказочно-мюзикальные вайбы и оч странное на ит вос э плэжа зен
Strange album, but not bad
Fantastic voice, but most of the songs are really sad, and I also find folk in general pretty boring.
General culture. At least I learned that These Days from Nico was the first arrangement from Brown and a lot of artist made covers from this version, St Vincent, Cher, 10,000 maniacs and Drake.
La production est bonne, mais c'est vraiment pas ma tasse de thé. La flute ne me derange pas. plus la voix bizarre parfois de Nico. 3
This is alright,I like nico I’m the velvet underground but on her own I think her songs are mediocre.
Couple of these songs have held up very well.
nice album. Nico's voice is unique. Great guitar playing and songwriting on this!
Well, didn't this one bring out the haters. I liked the title track, the rest is largely a pleasant inoffensive mush so I'm not going to die on a hill for this album but it doesn't come close to justifying the vitriol it's attracted on here. This is album 632 for me & at least 25% of those have been a much tougher listen than this was.
I feel like I'm just listening to the same song over and over again. I like the vocals but the instrumentation is over the top.
With editing this could be a pretty good album, but it's long and self-indulgent as it stands, so fails to live up to its full promise.
Not bad. Album review focused on the melancholy feel of the music. Melancholy is to my taste, this album felt like an undeveloped version of the media I like, though. It was slow, melodic, exploratory, maybe just a little too basic. And also heavily carried by Nico's voice which was okay, rather than outstanding, for me.
Moins bien que les beach boys
jaime bien et ca me saoule en même temps 🤠
Never heard of this artist before. The songs all sound very similar, but I like the rawness and weirdness. I like the music, but after looking into Nico, I doubt I'll revisit this. 3/5
It's good for background music and Chelsea Girls was a standout on the album.
Nico sounds a bit like Moira from Schitt's Creek. Jackson Browne was the guitarist on this, that's cool. I think I recognize "Chelsea Girls" and "I'll Keep It With Mine". Overall this album is good musically, I enjoyed the strings and flute. However, it wasn't a very engaging listen to me. I think it's objectively a better album than I am giving it credit for, but it's not really my cuppa tea. Soft 3 here.
I thought this was okay, but doubt I'll really seek the whole album out again. Nico's vocals are fairly haunting and go quite well with the baroque or medieval feel of the album. The whole thing is weird and unclean, overall it feels a bit unfinished, but that's something I sometimes enjoy. I think it suffers a bit from pretentiousness but manages to be unique enough to not bother me too badly. But the whole novelty quickly wears off, I get bored and stop caring. There's nothing here to keep me invested besides the odd jarring noise like a feedback loop or something, an unwelcome pull back into paying attention. I keep feeling like I should make a playlist for the weird and spooky songs I sometimes like to listen to when in certain reflective moods. I think this might have a song or two for that, but the rest is just fodder to me. Despite its avant-garde feel, it's a rather "meh" album to me in the end. Favourite: Winter Song
This gets a lot of hate i see. The flutes are a big mistake (and Nico hated them) and once you accept her flat voice it becomes a sad chamber folk album that hits a spot. 3.5
I always start of being completely overwhelmed when listening to Nico's debut and then slowly realize that 'The Fairest of the Seasons' and 'These Days' are pretty much the only songs for me on this one. The rest just feels like more of the same, but of lower quality.
Not only is Nico not from Chelsea … She’s not even British! The first two tracks on Side A is absolutely mesmerizing, but the rest of it falls somewhat flat and grinds long the same minimalistic ideas. Then it’s as if everything opens up with “Chelsea Girls” and from there on, Nico manages to get me fully invested in her baroque beauty and avant vulnerability. It really is a shame that the middle section drags on.
6.5/10 agréablement surpris. folk/americana/rock. chansons qui ressemblent a black mountain. beau melange avec flute traversière et violon. doit trouver la chanson 1m18 a 1m25
Muy melódico y agradable de escuchar. Abundancia de instrumentos de viento. Voz pasable. Estilo un tanto bohemio de la época
Starts much better than it ends. The second half is certainly keeping this for being elite. 3.5/5
Nico has a terrific, one-of-a-kind voice. However, I much prefer her with The Velvet Underground. This album just lacks some of the energy, and while I really enjoy her voice for a couple of songs, it was tedious to listen to the whole thing.
It is another sing songwriter guitar thingy, but the thankfully the writing is good enough for it to be relatively entertaining
Sorry, don't know if I needed her on VU, don't know if I need her solo. But not bad either. Slow pitch softball.
Pretty interesting. Her voice is not great but it's very unique. Like a precursor to Belle & Sebastian. 5/10
I like Nico’s contribution to the Velvet Underground album, but I don’t think there’s enough here for a full solo album. I like the mood this evokes, but not all at once.
I like the composition and instrumentation of this record. And Nico’s vocals were an acquired taste for me, but once acquired I truly enjoy. The record does drag after a while so it’s not a great listen start to finish, but I do love the first 2 tracks especially. Does anyone else hear the similarity in These Days and the song If You’re Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian?
I'd listen to songs off this again but probably not the whole album.
Fairest of the Seasons, These Days, Chelsea Girls, I’ll Keep it With Mine (best song) and Eulogy to Lenny Bruce (other best song). I liked it overall. Her bad voice kind of threw me off in a few songs. Great lyrics. 7/10
Good, not great. 3 1/2, rounding down to 3. I'd be very curious to hear this without the strings and flute.
Nice enough
The album is very interesting. Reading the Wikipedia page it's sad to know that she didn't like the result and considered the production as a sabotage of her work. It truly affects my rate of the album since it's always better to have the artist's view, especially when it is an artistic album like this one. I enjoy the experience, but it could be better if it was Nico's true work, even thinking that the strings were a very good addition to her raw folk.
Her album with The Velvet Underground is iconic but I haven't listened to much outside of that. I should fix that because this is really great. Her voice is gorgeous and the orchestral instrumentation is epic and hauntingly beautiful.
A couple ones I’d heard and liked.
показалась смутно знакомой но не понравилась. очень низкие немецкие ноты, не для меня
Bit boring if I'm honest
3.5. Some bangers but also some very confusing songs.
Very English style folk, sung with a heavy German accent. The most striking and unique feature of the album are the string and flute parts, which are extremely promiment. This would be a very different album without them, but apparently they were added in production and hated by Nico. Whilst I like the strings and flute a lot, such a big change to an artist's vision against their will is sad to see. It raises questions about ownership of art and what makes an album primarily an artistic or commercial endeavour. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: These Days Date listened: 22/04/23
This was the essence of cool back in the day. lol.
Artsy
This album is so strange! Nico's voice is so flat and monotonal, but I think that's cool and interesting. The arrangement of the music with strings and flute is bizarre, but then you find out that Nico actually hated that? Despite that, you can hear why Wes Anderson and other pop culture giants think it drips cool. It's so unlikeable it verges on cool and challenging. It's never going to be a favorite, but can't hate it, even if Nico herself did hate it. I do have a soft spot for dissonance, and this album definitely delivers that in spades! 3.5/5 rounded down because it's just not a 4 for me.
Manic, sad german noises
2.5
Really surprised I liked this, I put it on twice. I heard it a fair bit 15 years ago and hated her mooing voice, it's grown on me a fair bit, nice songs
okay album, wore on me a little with additional plays.
Genres: Folk rock, baroque pop, avant-garde Formed: 1967 Run time: 10 songs, 45 min, 8 sec The debut solo album and second studio album by German singer Nico. She was a model, actress and singer. Andy Warhol took her under his wing and insisted she sang on a number of songs by the Velvet Underground. The album has some very popular and influential contributors: Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, John Cale, Bob Dylan, and Jackson Browne. Although Cale and Reed didn’t consider her to be part of Velvet Underground they obviously liked her work and style, hence the contributions they made to her solo work. Many of the songs are very introspective. Her work was generally obscure but influential and musically she remained on the fringes. Her deadpan style and lyrical content gave her music a baroque feel. The arrangement of her song was generally minimalistic, with few instruments and a very gentle style. The result is calm and reflective. You wouldn’t listen to her music to cheer you up! Spotify: Least popular song: over 800k Most popular song: over 88M plays. Listen Again?: No My Rating: ***
Very similar mood to the previous album. A bit somber, but I liked the music a lot more and the tracks had more variety between them
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I actually thought it was quite 'nice' at first. It was a pleasure then was not a pleasure. I actually don't hate her voice though it's a bit silly. Interesting that the album does not sound how she wanted, wonder what it should sound like... Went on a bit. Had a headache by the end. May have been unrelated.
The album is good, but not a huge fan of Nico. Not just because of her personal views, just not a great singer
These days is a fantastic song, everything else didn't do it for me.
More notes missed than hit but still somewhat interesting to hear. This whole aesthetic and atmosphere is different. Love the cover typography treatment but Nico's photograph with the droopy moody eyes definitely a turn-off. Musically has some interesting parts and some boring moments too. In all not a terrible listen.
A nice sound but for me another album that highlights the problem with a lot of the albums on this list. Artists seem to pick one sound and then write as many tracks as they can to completely exhaust its possibilities. As a musician myself I know I'm likely guilty of the same thing, when you're so close to these things it's hard not to hear the subtle differences as a world of change. There's also something to be said for how listening to lots of styles as you do going through the list will make you numb to these differences, but in this case I really felt like I was listening to the same 2 or 3 tracks on loop.
Love to here her voice. The material is not uniformly great but it was a pleasant ride.
aardige nummers, maar zang niet top
I love the fact that Nico hated this album, especially the use of flutes on so many tracks. Let’s face it, she was as much a singer as Marlene Dietrich, but it really didn’t matter. Her part in the VU/Warhol album was great, partly because she only appeared on a few tracks. This album is a different kettle of fish however. Where she got lucky was the material she was given to sing. Three Jackson Brownes, a Dylan, a Tim Hardin & the rest written by her VU bandmates. Highlights : I’ll Keep It With Mine & These Days (one of Browne’s greatest lyrics) & It Was A Pleasure Then, which reminds me so much of her live version of The End. I had not played this for years but so glad to hear it again.
I find this a strangely pretty album. Her voice is an acquired taste, and was easier to accept on the Banana album because it is only used sparingly. A-grade songwriting on this record, with Jackson Brown, Tim Hardin, Dylan and the Velvets. The only song that she co-wrote ("It was a pleasure then") foretells the harrowing dirges that filled her subsequent records. Compare this with The Marble Index from the following year, and this is sunshine and puppies gamboling in a field of daisies. I love this quote from Nico: "I still cannot listen to it, because everything I wanted for that record, they took it away. I asked for drums, they said no. I asked for more guitars, they said no. And I asked for simplicity, and they covered it in flutes! ... They added strings and – I didn't like them, but I could live with them. But the flute! The first time I heard the album, I cried and it was all because of the flute.". I quite like the guitar and string arrangements, but kind of agree about the flutes. But let's all thank the deities that she hadn't discovered the harmonium yet. I find this an oddly charming record, but inessential. It doesn't surprise me that two tracks (These days and The Fairest of days) appeared in The Royal Tennenbaums. This is a quintessential Wes Anderson choice; 1960s, sort of obscure, charming, but also kind of cold and off-putting.
Nico and the who?
It’s okay but not one of my favourites on here it drags for what it is 3/5.
Really liked a few of the songs, particularly These Days. Most of it was kinda middling to me though, I dunno. Might need another listen.
Nicos smoky, deep, almost out of key is stellar. The light and baroque guitar and violins, neato. This isnt quite a 4, but it is an album you should listen to. Are you stuck in the whimsical woods? This album is too. Go get stuck suckers.
This is the kind of album that really illustrates just how weird and fucked up the music world is, and definitely was in the 60s. 3/5
honestly can't tell if this is genius or extremely up its own butt. also apparently this lady was "nazi-esque" yeesh
It's such a singular sound that it limit the times and environments you would want to listen to it in.
Although having an uncanny voice for a female artist, Nico’s style is so fresh and has aged very well. I appreciate her singing for what it is, but I’m not really the biggest fan of it. Nonetheless, the production and instrumentation (which I absolutely adored throughout the album) somehow complements her voice really well. Love all the orchestral/classical sounds and instruments, and the melodies, harmonies, and progressions are beautiful. Unfortunately, I find myself bored sometimes. Favourite songs are: These Days (fav), Little Sister, Winter Song (fav), Chelsea Girls (fav), I’ll Keep It With Mine (fav) Somewhere There’s a Feather.
There are some standout songs, like the title track and Eulogy to Lenny Bruce, but overall I was underwhelmed. The flute + strings are nice in some songs but cut in and overshadow the vocals in places on other tracks in a jarring way. I'm torn between giving this a 2 or a 3. Currently feeling closer to 2 but it also feels like the kind of album that would grow on me, so I'll be generous and go with 3.
pretty mellow has "these days" which is a pretty famous folk song from the 60s
Nico's contribution to the Velvet Underground's debut album was brief, yet effective with her haunting vocals and mysterious presence. Chelsea Girl allows her to expand her range somewhat more, though she is very limited vocally, but offers up some good songs. The sound is sparse and raw and at times the pace becomes boring, but if you take into consideration the time period and mood it's trying to create, she does a commendable job. It helps that she gets contribution from some of the VU members.
Th unique voice of Nico. Highly distinctive. Probably not the best of her work
Not a lot of variety but it's a nice listen
Sad. Not my thing
I went into this expecting to really dislike it as I didn't really enjoy Nico on the album with The Velvet Underground, but her voice grew on me a little bit throughout this album and the orchestral instrumentation was really pretty. Not many tracks stuck with me afterwards though and I was a bit bored by the end, so not sure if I'll want to revisit this in full.
The sound here is unique. Most of that is in her voice. Moody and dark. Plenty of strings, flutes, and organs that just hang thick in the air. This album has a humid, oppressing feel. I don't know that I remember happiness when listening but I do feel the earth beneath my feet.
8th June 2022 Listened while driving round Gloucestershire picking up Facebook marketplace purchases in the sunshine! Very original voice and clearly not interested in promotion judging by total lack of info on Spotify. Haunting and rising like the sun at the same time.
pretty with a couple classics
I love avant music and Nico's authenticity, but this was quite boring
Did her accent have some sort of weird Cold War resonance with fans? She sounds flat most of the time. Ok in an ensemble but on her own? Monotonous.
Nautin! Jotenkin hypnoottinen. Lähempänä kolmosta kun nelosta tosin. 3/5
Nico was a fascinating mess of a person who would not fit with todays world. Don't share her views...she died in a sad and depressing manner...but...she was not right about one thing. That flute does not belong on this album. And if she had been able to get Maureen Tucker on drums for a couple of tracks this album might hold up more as a listening experience and less as a time piece. However, Chelsea Girls, Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams and These Days still end up on my list that listen and revisit some days.
It starts aiming for the stars but I think the rest of the record is an overstatement, I listened to it while cocking and was enjoying myself but then it went on and on with the same, “These Days” is worth all of it
God I already know I love "These Days" The first riff is awesome. Damn "Little Sister" is dull. The way she holds the tones for the full duration of the bar really grinds my gears. Ok when it really gets to it, this sounds really horrible. But a 3 for the cover. Maybe this really has to grow on you idk.
It worked for me until it got to "It Was A Pleasure Then." Had to skip that one. Definitely has some beautiful moments, but also has its share of painful ones. Wouldn't put on for my own pleasure but wouldn't leave the room if someone put this on. I know she didn't like the string arrangements but I honestly can't imagine it working without them - it'd be too spare. The flutes are a different story though - I feel like they are a bit too ornamental and out of place. Definitely uncool those arrangements were added without her permission, but it still ended up being a halfway decent album.
Never listened to solo Nico, definitely think I prefer her stuff with The Velvet Underground. It's not bad. Interestingly on Wikipedia she says she can't listen to this album because they wouldn't do what she wanted, they made it more orchestral/flute-y which she apparently hates. I can see why.
I want to give it a 4/5, I really enjoy it, but by the end I am a little tired of her voice and tone. 3.5/5.
Was easy listening, but nothing special.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: These days
3.5 for me , its good but a lot of the same, obviously the banana album is the king
I have and will always love "These Days" it's fine
Classic.
A very interesting voice that sounds mystic and mysterious, which really captures you. The issue is that the songs can’t come to life with the production that plagues them. It’s limiting their ability to stand out and removes dynamics from the album’s experience.
A album that stylistically might have been a bit ahead of its time but for today's standards lacks highlights and is rather boring
Appreciate the country and baroque bits (flute!) there but no drum, or say, no clear rhythm is a harm. Her voice has some premitive sense there, sounding like some old-aged chanting. Perhaps that's why the procucer made it towards the country folk spectrum.
6/10 nice vocals but the arrangements were just super corny
I could read around this and the music of the era for days. But just listening to this purely for the music it's clear, crisp, and interesting: in small doses. The entire album in one sitting is tough - borderline dull.
Enjoyable enough
It's a sound and it's one of a kind and yeah
Nico, perhaps best known for her collaboration with the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol, went on to make some very sweet-sounding folk with a symphonic edge. Things take a left turn on It Was A Pleasure Then, with feedback from an electric guitar being used. Truthfully, the album never quite hits the same level of quality after the first two songs, but the overall product is a generally enjoyable listen.
I will always associate Nico, and especially this album, with "The Royal Tenenbaums". And that's a good thing.
Not my favorite kind of music, but something different here, some interesting things.
Distinctive voice for sure, but a hard one to love. Certainly evocative and laid-back, but also too avant-garde for me.
Production is a little too hit-or-miss for me. I'll listen to These Days and think wow this is one of the greatest songs of all time and then get to It Was a Pleasure Then and just get confused. Reading the wikipedia just made me sad. Already Saved: The Fairest Of The Seasons; These Days Saved After Listening: I'll Keep It With Mine*
Okei taustamusaa siivoillessa, mutta en minä tätä asioikseni kuuntelisi. Jossain kohtaa tuli Beatlesit mieleen äänimaisemasta ja toisinaan oli aika folkahtavaakin menoa. Alakuloisia biisejä.
Nico on tuttu nimi Velvet Undergroundin toisena laulajana, mutta tämä soolotuotanto osoittautui aika erityyliseksi. Levyn alku herätti mielenkiinnon heti ensisävelistä lähtien. Pääosin levy olikin oikein kiinnostava tuttavuus. It Was A Pleasure Then on valitettavasti muuten niin miellyttävän kokonaisuuden rikkova melusaastekappale. Positiivisesti mieleen jäi erityisesti Somewhere There's A Feather. Peruskolmonen.
Always want to like Nico coz she’s cool but I find the music quite grating
solid 3 stars. Not really my style but definitely worth a listen. Her voice is nice and the songwriting and instrumentation is interesting. Easy to listen to - reminds me of a relaxing summer afternoon. Also interesting is her connection to other artists and musicians in the late 60s - Jim Morrison, Velvet Underground and Warhol.
3.5
Decent, just not really my type of music. Bit too slow, bit ethereal.
nothing amazing, but pretty chill background music.
Started off not liking it and almost thought it was a joke. But by mid-way it started to catch on. I'll definitely give it another spin.
Gut klug und künstlerisch
Very sad. Her voice sets the mood. I don't even know what any of the lyrics are, just sounds sad.
.
Lots of good stuff, one song sampled by DangerDoom
I found it difficult to connect to this album at points. It made me feel mornfull and reflective though, which I think is the idea. I thought I didn't like 'Eulogy to Lenny Bruce' then right near the end I suddenly liked something about it. I think it's maybe the thing about his mother, I dunno.
"And if I seem to be afraid To live the life that I have made in song It's just that I've been losing so long" (These days) "The river shall flow through hollow green faces Of caricature's resentment etched out of the tongues. Both reluctant princess asleep before birth The classical sensitive failures. The worshipping wicked cling to the dark of your heart Lying there and wait with your angels Moan and ravish from dawn to dusk The avaricious young lovers." (Winter song) "I can't help it if you might think I am odd If I say I'm not loving you for what you are But for what you're not." (I'll keep it with me) Menos mal que nadie me pidió que adivinase el género de este disco antes de escucharlo, porque "juglaresa mística folklórica" ni siquiera habría estado en la lista.
Did Chelsea heard it at least? Is she still doing the 1001 album challenge with us?
What a shame she turned out to be a racist and also fucking hated this album. And also that you lot hated it. I have been enjoying Nico for years and this experience has somewhat spoiled it. I maintain however, there are great songs on this album.
The voice is an acquired taste. Some really beautiful songs on here.
This really wasn't a bad album. Mellow but not too folksy.
deep lady voice, from Velvet Underground
Quaint
Not bad at all. Too many flutes. Shame about the addiction and racism.
I feel like this is a really well-put together album, and I especially liked "Chelsea Girls", and "These Days", but I don't think I'd seek it out to listen to it again.
Not bad. Folksy.
This is my first time listening to this record and I liked it. Any album that has songs written by Jackson Browne on it is most likely to be good.
Is good but not for me
okay. bit oldish. but nice n acoustic
Не знаю що це. Виглядає нудно. These days дуже популярний її трек, але мені так собі, нічого особливого. It Was A Pleasure Then не погано, медитативний трохи навіть абстрактний трек.