Reviews (page 4 of 9)
This is a weird one but I enjoyed it a lot. I didn't know this was the original version of These Days. I'm beginning to think 1967 may be the greatest year ever for albums. The generator keeps throwing me solids.
Interesting, maybe 3.5
This is an album I should really have had some years ago, after hearing her on the velvet underground record, but I never did, so played it out yesterday, a couple of decent tunes here, but I won’t be buying it.
Recognized a couple. Enjoyed a few.
Pretty cool. Love that Dylan, Jackson Browne and lou Reed all involved
Orchestra gets the vote for this one. Don't love the voice, but the simple pure lyrics are interesting for the most part. Listened before? N Saved any tracks? N ⭐️⭐️ Didn't hate it, Liked it OK.
I can't with this awful singing.
Meh
Very German. I thought her songs on the Velvet Underground debut were better than anything on this, but I liked it anyway.
Despite being released the same hear as Nico's iconic collaboration with The Velvet Underground, Chelsea Girl is its' own unique sound and style that showcases the more tragic sides of Nico and her soul-crushing songwriting. I know Nico is a bit of a dicey figure on a more personal level, but when it comes to her music she truly never gets enough appreciation for just how able she is to hold her own ground even with her one of a kind vocal deliveries. The instrumentation that is backing Nico helps to see this tragedy of a project and make it all the more emotionally impactful. I won't lie the pacing is a bit all over the place as having It Was A Pleasure Then and the title track (15+ minutes combined) side by side is definitely a choice of all time, but even with that said it doesn't ruin this album by any means. This is a beautiful album I believe is deserving of much more praise and love especially from Velvet Underground fans and music fans alike. Chelsea Girl is a stunning album showing a more initimate side to Nico I didn't expect to see so soon after her cheery music on The Velvet Underground & Nico self titled. Definitely will be giving this stoic German some more diving in due time. Nuff said!
Her voice is beautiful, but the album's pacing is a little too slow, almost boring.
A flute players dream. This was boring as all get out.
I really liked this one. After hearing her work with the Velvet Underground, this album felt like a natural continuation of that world, especially knowing how much they contributed to it. The atmosphere is soft, moody, and very much of that late 60s art rock space. Her contralto voice is the real star here. It is haunting and beautiful in a way that sticks with you long after the album ends. There is a calm sadness running through the whole thing that really works. It is not flashy, but it is quietly powerful. Definitely an album I could see myself coming back to.
Did people really like this? Because it's kind of awful. Bad music. Bad vocals. Bad production. Nico was a shitty person. This is a shitty album.
Calm and artsy. The avant-garde noise can sometimes be unsettling, but I appreciate efforts like this, especially from the era it hails from. The vocals and instrumentation are pleasant, and the lo-fi engineering adds another subtle warmth to the record.
Extremely atmospheric baroque pop with unique vocals that makes for a fascinating listening experience.
This is an amazingly dull album, considering how many talented individuals were involved in the making of it. I'm thinking the problem is that the LEAST talented artist involved is the one named in the album's title. Perhaps she was simply responding to a producer's instructions to remove as much actual beauty or emotion from her voice as she possibly could?
Good stuff, nothing mind blowing
Boring music, horrible singing. Nico just cannot sing. Being friend with Warhol or VU doesn't make a singer from her...
It Was a Pleasure Then and Chelsea Girls are the only two songs worth listening to (honorable mention for Eulogy For Lenny Bruce)
I can't deal with Nico's voice. Don't like it here, and never cared for it in Velvet Underground. No chance I'll revisit this. "Winter Song" is a troubadour song? So much flute. Did not like, but at the very least succeeds in making me feel like I might be hanging out in some kind of aggressively-artsy club in the 60s.
My knowledge of Nico doesn't go much further than her time with the Velvet Underground and some stories from books. This is the only album of hers I know by name, and I didn't realize she had a lengthy discography. This doesn't do much for me, even with all the talented people who helped make it happen. While she isn't a great vocalist, a) she was partially deaf, which affected her singing, and b) my record collection is full of people who aren't good vocalists. Maybe something else in her discography will grab me, but in the meantime, I'll stick with "All Tomorrow's Parties."
I appreciated this and would give it another listen, but I feel like this just isn't my vibe.
Ugh I can't stand her voice.
Little bit beat neck-y for me. Didn’t listen to the whole thing.
This was very bad and I hated it
Albums like this remind me that anyone can make music. Shitty music. Inspirational
I, for some unexplicable reason, just dont consider this worth listening to. She doesnt seem like she is even trying to sing
I hated her voice on the banana album. I hated it here. Nothing noteworthy in this album. A stupid flute to push the rating down to one. Hopefully I forget this exists
The instrumentals are the best part, everything else is not worth it, and the instrumentals are bad.
So I was pretty happy with the first two songs. I appreciate the "Landslide"esque quality of the subject matters, with the baroque strings assisting the rolling guitars. But the reviews and the popularity of the following songs had me a bit wary, and her voice certainly wasn't knocking me off my feet. It did incline in quality a bit, but my goodness the negativity surrounding this album seems overblown. I like the minimalist, upright, slightly macabre vibe this record has going for it. The chorus of "I'll Keep It With Mine" may be my favorite part of the album, that or the first two songs in general. It may come off a bit artificial, as i think Nico is very concerned with the aesthetics as much as she is the music, but this is not bad at all. 3/5, a few variations in arrangement coulda really took this thing to the skies, as the bones of good songs are all over this thing
Starts with two back-to-back, all-time-great, twee chamber-pop rippers, before promptly descending into (mostly) inaccessible caterwauling. Hard to gauge!
Expected a bit more from this given Nico's work with The Velvet Underground (and that some of the songs feature members of that band). Ultimately I don't think Nico is a strong enough singer to really carry an album and whilst musically there are a few decent moments, it's generally pretty unexciting.
Ihan mielenkiintoinen levy. Aika taiteellista folkkia. Tää artisti oli mukana Velvet Undergroundin banaani levyllä. Parhaat: Winter Song
En oo oikein ikinä ymmärtäny mikä tässä daamissa on ollut niin hienoa. No hengaili aikalaiskuuluisuuksien kanssa ja oli Velvetlevyillä. Ei edes osaa juuri laulaa ja biisitkin aika paskoja toisin kuin vaikka Joni Mitchellillä
Tää oli tuhnu. ⭐️⭐️
Osassa biiseistä oli vähän jotain ideaakin mutta laulamisesta en niin välittänyt.
This is #day489 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to one of those "lowest" records on the list, the kind I usually end up liking the most. Chelsea Girl isn't an exception. There's something about Nico as a character that I can't quite put into words. The music on this record is weird, bleak, and melancholic, and I'm all for it. I only wish I'd bought that original Marble Index blue-colored vinyl five years ago when I worked at a record store here in Lviv... Still kicking myself for that. Otherwise, this is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day490.
Pretty cool, not really my type of genre but I can see why it's definitely popular.
I get the rancor, a lot of how you feel about this album is going to come down to what you think about the vocals — Nico’s voice and affectation. Otherwise, I find it to be a sometimes pedestrian, sometimes interesting folk and art pop album. Personally I like her voice and it was a chill vibe, so I dig it. But I can see why it would be divisive. Seems pretty average IMO.
This is such a wildly inconsistent album. This is my first time revisiting it since I was in high school, where the sort of mythic velvet underground chanteuse vibes afforded this album a bigger presence in our lives than it really deserved. That said, These Days is a classic and Winter Song is way too English folk adjacent for me not to love. Everything else, eh.
This album had some really good songs and some long unnecessary ones. Favorites were 'Winter Song' and 'I'll Keep It With Mine'. Didn't care for the title track or the closer as much. I think I'd have to be in a specific mood to listen to the whole thing again, but this was a good album for a snowy day at the office, and I'm glad it was on the list.
I liked the beginning of this but lost interest as it went on. Enjoyed These Days and I'll Keep It With Mine. Otherwise, wouldn't revisit.
Kinda spooky, folky
I just really can't stand her voice. Songs where terribly samey, instrumentals where just fine. Pretty Boring Favorite Track: I'll Keep it With Mine
So many great songs
No private session used for Spotify. I once did a deep dive on The Velvet Underground and learned about Nico...wasn't impressed with her voice so this will be interesting. While I was listening to this I was taking note of the music, maybe my mind was blocking out the voice, but I thought that had to be John Cale and a lot of it was. A lot of production time went into the music only to have eclipsed by Nico's voice. Someday I will do a deep dive on manufactured music stars.
Ooof man. This was a difficult one to finish. Total snoozefest.
Sounds disjointed and noisy in not the best way. Proximity to the velvet underground does not make you the velvet underground.
It’s cold, wet and dark. I have a stinking cold and I’m working from home. This album captured the moment. Is that what heroin addiction feels like?
I genuinely enjoyed it and thought it had a whimsy magical outsider music vibe and then I opened the reviews and everyone is claiming she is a nazi with a terrible voice. I will still go with my initial impression and hope the nazi thing is not true
700 up today and what a challenging album this is to mark that occasion. Nico’s voice is very much of the marmite variety. I can listen to her in small bits but it does become jarring after a while. Think a modern day auto tune device in the studio would do wonders. Her voice belies her undoubted beautiful looks. Leaving her voice aside I do very much like the music. Most of the songs are very tuneful with orchestration to complement. I even like to flute parts! The song It Was A Pleasure Then is the exception. Teaspoons scorched black come to mind. This album is likely to end up under the ‘Love more than most’ category featuring in the new excellent summary page devised by the head 1001’er. But hesitate to give it 5 stars as it’s labelled folk and folk is currently showing has my favourite genre, which it isn’t! 4/5 2/12/25
Not my cup of tea. Depressive and cacophonic.
Just the kind of old interesting music that I LOVE. I’m completely unable to rate objectively
It just wasn’t good.
This got a bit boring after a while. The vocals are almost haunting.
It’s the same song over and over but at least it’s an okay song
Solid album. Nice voice and interesting overall. Listened a couple times.
Cool stuff here.
the original sad autumn girl
Dreary, dour, dire, dross. I only managed two songs
She disliked her own album. She wanted drums and more guitar but instead got strings which she disliked and flute which she hated. Her partial deafness makes her off key sometimes which the rest of the Velvet Underground ridiculed. Maybe drums and more guitar would balance her voice more than soft music? Myself neither love nor hate this album.
Nope
3 and a half, solid record.
Love These Day. The rest of the album is emotionally heavy enough to give your soul shin splints.
I like Nicos voice but she's better off in a group than going solo, the wee nazi
I felt like I was stuck in an aul tavern in the 1600s with some wench in the corner who didn't know when de fuck up. earned a star because 1 or 2 songs weren't utter wank. the rest was utter wank
Good
An interesting audio aesthetic here, haunting vocals over light instrumentation. Nico's voice is pleasant, as was some of the folky guitar. But this seems to be the formula for the entire album which petered out somewhat immemorably.
Her voice is instantly recognisable - and quite the acquired taste. Honestly... Her work with Velvet Underground is on this list, and very rightly so. But this album just doesn't match that quality at all.
Her voice is unique, and I like that. Her lyrics deadpan - they certainly don’t sell the lifestyle of Warhol and company as attractive. 4/5
The flat tone and delivery works only for a few tracks before it started to grate on me.
Nico was a German who learnt to speak English, Spanish, and French during her travels through Europe. By the time she started her music career in 1960s New York City, her gifted voice and mixed European accent made her sound totally distinct to her British and American contemporaries. There are only so many singers who have an instantly recognisable voice, and Nico is one of them. Her voice has an ethereal quality which vacillates between sounding mysterious and, when called for, haunted. Recorded immediately following her debut with The Velvet Underground, on this solo debut she surrounds herself with gorgeous chamber instrumentation and warm guitar picking. This typically acts as a whimsical backdrop for her vocals to take centre stage, but the music goes to a wide range of places. She provides cutting edge folk rock performances but also shows that she is suited to more mysterious, medieval style baroque pop songs. Daringly she adds into this pleasant mix some more experimental and uncompromising moments too - music as modern art. Had the internet existed in the 1960s Nico could have garnered a huge audience of people who love slightly off-beat, forward thinking music. But in an age where music was limited the radio and physical record sales, you can see why this would have struggled to find purchase. Of course, thanks to albums like this, as time went on she became a star.
Another solid 4 from me, could possibly rise, I enjoy this more than the velvet album with her, I’m a huge fan of baroque folk instrumentation and unique voices (see Joanna newsom’s middle era material with van dyke parks) and I think this is an early example of that working really well
It’s okay. The skeptic in me says she made this for heroin money. The Jackson Browne cover of These Days is nice, but I’d rather listen to it performed by… Jackson Browne.
Meh.
Back then, they gave anyone a microphone who wanted one. At least Nico with the Velvet Underground has... the Velvet Underground. As far as her solo stuff is concerned, I think it's mostly just sad listening to a drug addict either glamorizing or reminiscing about their own transgressions.
Just listened to The Velvet Underground & Nico so while working through my backlog of albums this is the next natural place to go. "These Days" is an amazing song, just an all time classic. Rest of the album is good, but just not quite great.
These Days is on constant rotation. it's just a beautiful song that is somehow improved by Nico's singing. The rest of the album is pretty one note and It was a Pleasure Then is just awful.
Album 969 of 1089 Nico - Chelsea Girl (1967) Rating : 2 / 5 Today’s album was Chelsea Girl from Nico. I didn’t enjoy this one, plain and simple. I can appreciate what it represents - the era, the scene, the artistic angle - and I understand why it holds a special place for a lot of listeners, especially fans of that late-60s British/European art-folk mood. But for me, it just didn’t connect. I often love British music from this period, but this one felt a little too detached, too cold, and a bit too droning to ever really pull me in. Nico’s voice is definitely unique, but it sat so heavy over the arrangements that instead of drawing me in, it pushed me back a bit. The songwriting, the strings, the whole presentation - I get what it’s going for, I just didn’t find anything here that made me want to come back for another listen. Some albums you respect more than you enjoy. This is one of those. I’m glad to have heard it as part of the project, but it’s not one I’ll be revisiting.
I do not care for her voice.
Some pretty decent songwriting and composition is bogged down by Nico’s terrible vocals. Her voice does not fit here and these songs would be better served by a softer touch. She was the weakest part of the seminal the Velvet Underground & Nico and it’s honestly baffling how she managed to net a solo career.
Why is this on here?
She must've been one helluva muse because she was a garbage artist!
A seriously monotonous album. 2 stars or D.
Monotonous
Droning, painful to listen to.
Fine
go white boy (girl) go? Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: i guess 3.1
According to Nico, her requests for drums and more guitar were refused, and she disliked the orchestrations: "I didn't like [the strings], 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." She was spot on...why oh why do "rock" musicians insist on f'ing up their albums with orchestration: Paul McCartney, I'm staring at you. Even so, Nico singing! 4 stars
It's good, but is her worst album.
These Days… verdens beste sømdags-låt, bedre enn selv Sunday Morning. Lo-fi folk viben fra de beste låtene er ofte imitert, men sjeldent forbigått.
"These Days" har jeg loopet mange ganger uten å vite at det var Jackson Browne som skrev den. Før jeg gikk videre med Nico måtte jeg høre Brownes egen versjon fra 1973. En fin Eagles-aktig countrylåt, og jeg tror jeg definitivt må høre mer på Browne. Men det Nico har fått til med den låta er såklart mye mer minneverdig. Det er faktisk Browne som spiller fingerspillet på den, og det er litt skittent spilt opp mot de flotte strykerne. Stemmen til Nico blender det perfekt med sin ikke klokkerene, men nydelig særpregete stemme. Plata er også produsert av Tom Wilson, som jo har jobbet med både VU og Bob Dylan, for å nevne noen. Nico har visst på et tidspunkt mislikt albumet selv, fordi hun egentlig ville ha mer bass og trommer, men hvor da? Det hadde vært interessant å høre hennes egentlige visjon for albumet, men jeg må si at selv savner jeg ingen instrumenter. Det er minimalistisk og de få instrumentene som brukes er brukt på en så kløktig måte. "It Was A Pleasure Then" kunne godt vært en VU-outtake. "Nico gjør også "I'll Keep It With Mine" bedre enn Dylan selv. Plata er litt seig til tider, men det er egentlig bare deilig. Angrer på at jeg ikke har hørt mer på den før.
Jeg har virkelig ikke noe til overs for Andy Warhol og gjengen. Bevegelsen forfekter en nihilistisk holdning til kunst. En holdning hvor innholdet i verket til syvende og sist ikke betyr noe. Det eneste som betyr noe er din egen posisjon i kulhetshiearkiet og kunsten er til for å markere posisjonen i dette hiearkiet. Denne triste holdningen kommer også til uttrykk i kunsten til disse folka, og resultatet er kjedelig poseringskunst som har som mål å ikke si noe, ikke føle noe. Bare penger og status betyr noe, og de som mener at det fins viktigere ting å brenne for, er enten dølle, eller posører selv. Heldigvis kommer ingenting av dette til uttrykk hos musikken til disse folka. Chelsea girl er vakker, fin og det høres ut som at hun vil si noe. Jeg er dog enig med Nico, og tror denne skiva hadde vært bedre med mindre orkester arrangementer
- [ ] Chelsea Girl - Nico - 1967 - [ ] chamber folk and baroque pop, with elements of folk rock, art rock, and avant-pop - [ ] Standout lyric: “the bitter is hard and warmth of your skin, Is diseased with familiar caresses”, “Drop out, she’s in a fix, amphetamine has made her sick” - [ ] Standout track: Chelsea girls - [ ] Review: love the strings on the intro track, flute solos in winter song, warps on it was a pleasure then - [ ] I liked listening all the way through, the production feels so varied and unique, 6.5/10 (I don't know how to compare my scores, will come up with a good system soon)
That was all right
Meh
From the first notes plucked on the guitar at the start of the album, I was sure this was going to be right up my alley. But instead, I found a plodding album, that does too little and too much all at once. The string and flute overdubs are too saccharine and Nico sounds detached from the songs she sings. I feel like the bones of this album are alright, but the whole is worse than the sum of its parts.
This album is walking a very thin line between being inspiring and sounding whimsical and just being disjointed. While I believe Nico has the vocal capacity, her tonal harmony seems off for most of the songs. I'm no musician, but I can appreciate a sense of harmony and this was lacking in most of the songs, it just dragged on without a distinct pattern for most of the cases. Perhaps it's not my cup of tea
I'm just not a fan of her voice. The production is beautiful, though.
We hadden Nico al gehoord bij Lou Reed en z'n vriendjes, nu krijgt de Duitse dame met de diepe stem een eigen plaat. Ze heeft meer landgenotes met zo'n zwaar stemgeluid, zoals Hildegard Knef of Marlene Dietrich. En ze heeft dezelfde naam als die man van Eigen huis en tuin. Hoe dan ook, het is even wennen maar vaak klinkt het best aangenaam, een beetje richting het folkgeluid van Sandy Denny. Euhm, totdat er ineens afgrijselijk op een viool gekrast moet worden. Vijf minuten lang! Puntje eraf.
Dit was me even teveel na Liz; weer een vals zingende dame. Bij Liz leek het mij nog eens expres aangedikt. Nico lijkt wel haar best te doen. Dat levert iets meer sympathie, maar niet per se meer luisterplezier. De begeleidende muziek scoort wel meer punten. De opzet past in de jaren '60. Met name de viool brengt een geluid van verder vervlogen tijden. Het is nog nog wel een aardige combinatie. Dat wordt ons vooral gebracht door Velvet Underground. Dat lijkt dan het beste wat zij ons muzikaal hebben nagelaten. Kortom, dit is echt twee keer zo goed als Liz. Kom ik, naar boven afgerond op 1 ster.
Als je het Engels niet zo goed beheerst, is het misschien beter om gewoon in je moerstaal te zingen. In het geval van Nico is het misschien zelfs beter om helemaal niet te zingen. Al is het minder vals dan Liz Phair van gisteren. Althans, in eerste instantie. De muziek bestaat voornamelijk uit singer-songwriter-liedjes. En Nico heeft daarbij hulp gehad (of zingt feitelijk gewoon de liedjes) van mensen die daar wel hun sporen mee hebben verdiend. Zoals Bob Dylan en Jackson Browne. Het is eigenlijk zonde dat ze voor geen meter kan zingen, want misschien zijn de liedjes op zichzelf klein maar fijn. Ik had ze graag in een andere uitvoering door een betere zanger(es) gehoord, om ze echt goed te kunnen beoordelen. Nu is het weer zo'n album waarbij je je afvraagt, waarom dit in godesnaam in de 1001 snoblijst staat. Volgens wiki kon ze er zelf niet naar luisteren, waarom moeten wij dit #&@% dan wel doen??? Ik heb het weer een paar nummers de kans gegeven, maar bij "It Was a Pleasure Then" is alle verzet gebroken. De tering zeg, dit is echt net zo slecht als gisteren.
An interesting album that definitely belongs. Shows that technique is nothing compared with an honest and fearless delivery. Oddly, I love the album VU & Nico and am generally bored by Jackson Brown. But here Brown’s songs are my favorites, and the songs with VU kind of break the mood.
Nico's voice is very recognisable and probably divisive - I love it. Beautiful melodies, spare but effective instrumentation, great psychedelic songs (admittedly mostly written not by herself but by the likes of Jackson Browne). The production is a bit annoying with e.g. all guitar left and all vocal right sometimes but they like to have "as much stereo as possible" in the 60's I suppose. Not a 5 because what would I then give the The Velvet Underground & Nico?
A breath of fresh air into the late 60s vibes.
#760. I first listened to the Velvet Underground album with Nico on it. I thought it sucked. Not the end of the world, I guess, maybe just a pairing that doesn't really work. But then I listened to two more Velvet Underground albums, and nope they both sucked too. And now I'm here listening to this and it sucks as well. It's just a trifecta of suck that I personally could do without. 2/5: have I said the word sucks enough yet?
“You know, this could be a fall album, winter album, or even a spring album. But it is NOT a summer album.” is what I told Casey who then informed me we were listening to a song called “Winter Song”
A unique strain of orchestral folk, Nico's solo debut is uneven in quality but interesting. Mostly gentle and melancholy, the timbre of her voice is very unique and lends the songs a smokey/mystical take on the 60's Greenwich Village singer. You can definitely hear the influence of her collaborators/songwriters - some of the best in the biz. Title track slaps and is the highlight for me. Nico ain't paying any drummers!!
Nico is shit
Cover 6 Hum drum. But that's what I initially thought about Velvet Underground and now I love VU including Nico's songs. So I'll need to give this another listen.
Got bored, so I pulled up her Wikipedia page... The flutes are not the worst thing here 🤮
Alright. Kind of cool but need a better setting.
3- Stars (7/15)
If I’m being completely honest, I really only like the first two songs.
Dnf
There’s a couple good songs here, but the delivery is sometimes in the way. Nico doesn’t exactly sing in tune - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. These Days is the best song on the album. Other notables include The Fairest of the Seasons, I’ll Keep It With Mine
Interesting folk style
Quite liked a fair bit. Trippy 60s folk. Some nice digital instrumentation and strings. Other bits just a bit too meandering.
This felt more interesting than good. These days I love and I really enjoyed the guitar playing on track 1. I'm not sure I ever became comfortable with Nico's voice and the baroque arty Ness of it felt a bit forced at times. Gave me an opportunity to read about Warhol's group of people though which is an interesting, very influencial part of 60s culture. I enjoyed of stripped back it all is and there are some lovely guitar parts.
Not a fan of her voice, and didn't mesh well with the instrumentals. Just wanted it to be over by the end.
Really do love this album, such a voice and so many songs that just make you yearn, it’s a real yearning album. 4.5/5.0 Best Song: These Days obvs
Its a very nice album, she has such a bizarre and haunting voice. Its a iconic album from the maddest/ coolest time and place to be a musician. These days is one of the most affecting songs of all time as well. I do feel its quite a samey album as well so it doesn't get full marks.
Her voice sounds very forced and mannered; the writing is uninspired. No redeeming features.
Have this album, listened to half will listen to rest eventually
Very chill, quiet and pretty and also weird. I actually really like the electric guitar quietly driving the folk sound. It’s very timeless. The strings are very of the era and clearly inspired by what was happening at that time (beatles stuff) but still pretty and enjoyable.
Ik vind de instrumenten leuk, de productie aardig en het sfeertje wel geinig. Ik vind het vandaag niet zo'n ramp dat het een tikkie vals en daardoor een beetje donker is. Dat viezige Duitse accent maakt het helemaal af. Ik weet niet precies wat dit op deze lijst te zoeken heeft, maar ik vind dit niet erg om een keer te luisteren. Al moet ik zeggen dat ik hier op een slechte dag mezelf ook wel weer compleet los op zie gaan met een dikke rant over vals zingende Duitse wijven die geen letter of noot zelf hebben geschreven, die ook geen heel geweldige controle hebben over de toonhoogte die ze produceren, maar dan blijkbaar toch worden geselecteerd om zo'n project in te zingen. Ik ben zeer benieuwd wat m'n favoriete Joni hater hierbij neerpent te zijner tijd, want ik neem aan dat daar een mooi stukje irritatie om de hoek zal komen kijken. Dit is voor mij 2,5 ster. Na even intern overleg met mezelf te hebben gevoerd moet ik toegeven dat drie sterren waanzin zou zijn. 2 sterren dus.
There is something very charming to me with this album. But also an overall weird vibe. Kind of like meeting someone at a party who is fascinating but your spidey-sense says to not trust them.
Yeah, I like this. Sweet and autumnal and not as bleak as other Nico’s.
I didn’t mind it at all. I’m not it hint to relisten, though. I feel like, if I wanted to listen to this album, I would’ve already, you know? It’s a three from me, dawg.
Haunting vocals. All the songs are interesting although not exactly sing along. Songwriting credits go to the likes of Jackson Browne, John Cale, Dylan and Lou Reed
Great album. Icy instrumentation and very cool vocals. 8/10
Es ist ein Debütalbum, das zwischen Folk, Barock-Pop und melancholischer Poesie pendelt. Mit Songs wie „These Days“ und „The Fairest of the Seasons“ zeigt Nico eine verletzliche, fast entrückte Seite, die durch orchestrale Arrangements unterstrichen wird – allerdings wurden diese ohne ihr Wissen hinzugefügt und überdecken stellenweise ihre künstlerische Intention
This album is so dull, lifeless, soulless. Think: Robot Cher.
I really don’t understand the overwhelming number of negative reviews for this album. The instrumentals are beautiful and Nico has an enchanting voice even if she isn’t the best singer out there. This kind of baroque chamber pop is really cool and there isn’t enough of it out there
Flutey and a bit mad
La voix me gosse
wenns nöd langwiilig isch denn ischs lärmig…
I liked this a lot. Precursor to many talented gifted women to come.
Interesting
Tem algumas faixas com uma vibe meio mística, antiga, igual da Kate Bush, algo meio medieval, talvez. Is Was A Pleasure Then - Gostei, tem vocais, instrumentais, um cantado mais longo, calmo. Achei muito repetitivo, algumas faixas são muito parecidas, pouca versatilidade.
These Days is a song that Spotify, very annoyingly, correctly identified as up my alley a few years ago, and it quickly became everywhere I turned. It was therefore a total pleasure to get a bit more context to that song, and to find out that the whole album is very listenable. She is officially not just the name at the end of the Velvets' masterpiece.
Yikes
I did not like this album at all
Yeah... not for me. One of the hardest to push through so far
Lmao nah.
I didn't hate it, and I wasn't hoping for it to end. In fact, I somehow could have done with another couple of tracks possibly. I agree about the flutes though, and they prevent this from becoming a 4 star album.
Not super into Nazi Folk Flute music.
Started off somewhat strong and interesting but fell off quickly for me before becoming a bit cacophonous.
Wow, I can’t believe the hate I’m seeing for Nico on this site. Chelsea Girl’s been a go-to rainy day moody album for me for years. These Days? Fairest of the Seasons? How can you not love this album? Then again, I have a big soft spot for weird female vocalists, the Joanna Newsoms and the Vashti Bunyans of the world. Maybe I’ve got a type? Does anyone else remember when Wes Anderson put These Days in the Royal Tenembaums, and then every indie artist under the sun covered it? Is that why all the hate? What an arresting moment, the second that guitar kicks in as the camera zooms in on Margot. Five stars just for that. Five more because this is a great album. And, if I could give five more on top of that to balance out the haters, I totally would.
One of the positive reviews mention her "raw and untrained voice" as something that makes the overall experience better. I could not agree less. The one thing I find interesting about her performance is that the lyrics have several rhymes that only work in a german accent.
Of course this album gets hated on...
If we're honest with ourselves and our tru opinions I think that we can all agree that this is wank.
4/10… singer songwriter/ folk
I liked it I thought all the songs had really good meanings and super cool instruments just some of the songs were a hit to long for me.
By the second song, I was already wondering if the entire album was going to be as bad as the first two songs (spoiler, yes, it is). And during "It Was A Pleasure Then," I had to make sure it wasn't my headphones creating feedback. This isn't even weird good, it's just painfully bad. It's so hard to listen to her flat, monotone voice. It would have been a much better album with just instrumentation and no vocals.
I quite liked that. I'd only ever heard one song that I know of (These Days) but didn't know who it was or when it was recorded.
rough
Someone described her as a muse of the 70's NYC scene... I don't know about that, I could only draw parallels of her music with Yoko Ono... It was interesting but that's about it...
Dull contrived nonsense
What a great album to listen to as the weather transitions to cooler temperatures. It’s very autumnal music. I love the opening two tracks, “The Fairest of the Seasons” and “These Days.” Especially “These Days.” What a gorgeous song. “It Was a Pleasure Then” is stunning. It’s sparse and sort of ugly but also breathtaking and one-of-a-kind. Lou Reed and John Cale of the Velvet Underground are songwriters and performers on this track (and a few other songs here). I love their visionary, boundary-pushing attitude toward music. They really made music that had never been made before. It’s bold and exciting. It still sounds strange and jarring. Oh yeah… and Nico’s voice! What a unique singer. Beautiful and expressive and sad. Her deep tone is unmistakable. I really connected with this today. It’s got a special energy.
I was late on "Nico", "The Velvet Underground", "Lou Reed", and this whole crew of artists, so when their names pop up on this list I'm always pretty keen to pay a little more attention and to give the records a really good focused listen because they still feel new to me. "These Days" is one of my favorite folk / singer-songwriter / fingerpicked acoustic guitar songs of all time. I love the Jackson Browne version (I'm making sure to credit him as the original songwriter even though this is the first time it was released), and it's a song that I've always kept in my back pocket to bust out and play whenever I have an acoustic guitar in the room with me. Although I think my favorite version is by "The Tallest Man on Earth"... this version is truly beautiful and a pleasure to listen to. This music is really pretty. I do feel sometimes that there are some darker undertones, almost maybe a haunted kind of sound. There's just some times where her voice wavers and it has a darkness to it if that makes sense? Like in "These Days", around 3:10, she sings "my failures" and goes flat and it's amazing, but a little scary to be honest!
5/5
Mouais
Nuuuuuuuullllllllle
Pov t'as une voix de vieille en début de carrière, y'a rien dans l'album
Imagine all the drab and dreary song writing of Joni Mitchell mixed with the singing ability of LATE Leonard Cohen. Of all the bad singer song writer albums on this list, this one may take the cake.
There are some good songs on here, some that were a lil out there, her voice is an acquired taste that I've acquired.
This was so bad, even the artist herself didn’t like the album. The flute didn’t help, but the real problem was her voice. Just awful. Nico was dissatisfied with the album. In 1981, she said she could not listen to it. According to Nico, her requests for drums and more guitar were refused, and she disliked the orchestrations: "I didn't like [the strings], 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."
Nein. Nein. This is a collection of music that plays during a montage from an episode of The Wonder Years. It’s dated, not interesting at all, and isn’t worth the time spent listening to it.
I hope this sounds better in German…
This record kept me entitely entertained as it reminded me of two great movies. Is it me, or does Nico spound like a lot like Lili Van Shtupp? I couldn't help but picture her on stage in a campy burlesque outfit with thirsty cowboys howling at her. Hysterical. When I tried to take the album seriously I listened to it as a historical point in time piece. Pop art 60"s Warhol parties, this is what I picture they listened to. Which brought me to Men in Black 3, where Bill Hader plays Andy Warhol who is actually an undercover MIB agent making up a bunch of nonsense and passing it off as art. Can you imagine those people at a Warhol party going deep into the meanings of these songs. I nearly drove off the road, this album had me belly laughing. I knew I was in trouble going in, Nico was the part i hated about the Velvet Undergroud album. No surprises here.
OK.
Melodic riff spinning stories that are worth hearing
There is something so compelling about this album. It feels very nature-coded with its songbird-like melodies which gently remind of Stravinsky's rite of spring. Nico encapsulates a minimalistic elegance, that occupies a similar vein to artists I enjoy Birdy and Bjork. What it lacks in it-factor, it makes up for in appeal.
The Fairest of the Seasons is nice, and I always liked These Days. Love how odd and offkey her voice sounds in general. Really hated It Was A Pleasure Then - I know what she was going for, but leave it to The Velvet Underground to pull off that type of experimental meandering. Love the spooky sound to Chelsea Girls and the way it sounds like an entirely different song but complementary song is playing softly in the background on guitar while she's singing (seems more in sync in the bridge) Love the hopeful sound to I'll Keep It With Mine
Tranquilito y bien
Listened to the precious record where she appeared, but this is her solo record. Soft songs with beautiful lyrics. It was okay.
Great album. Songs written by Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Jackson Browne, John Cale, and Sterling Morrison. Nico’s delivery is great, the album sounds lush, warm and beautiful. I have no notes.
I liked the Velvet underground songs where Nico sang. The band's raw sound and Nico's monotonous singing fit together perfectly, but maybe this kind of songs would benefit of a more versatile singer
Too folkey, too artsy, too "almost, but not really".
I like the music but I’m sorry I barely stand her voice she seems constantly in pain
Surprisingly rates this! Easy listening, well composed and comforting
Pretty cool, 60s experimental vibes
nah
I can see why this has a low rating on this site, I really enjoyed it though. I wouldn't say Nico's vocals or beautiful or that I even really like her voice. It sounds a bit robotic and there isn't a lot of range. It is incredibly mesmerising and fitting for the album though. This sounds like the birth of a very large part of alternative rock right here. It's a hypnotising and engaging experience, really pleasant album.
I really love this, it reminds me of Nick Drake with less guitar. Really pleasant listening experience.
At first I thought, oh good. Nico, outside of Velvet Underground, the only place I know her voice from. Now, I'm thinking Lou got it right. Use this voice for a particular sound without making it part of the larger whole. I did not like this. Flat delivery and dull musical accompaniment to my ear.
these days is a great song but the rest i could do without
just the one. the rest were fine, nothing wrong with them
First album ❣️
Alright indie sound. Wasn't in the mood, but wasn't against it
What are people smoking? This album is incredible!
Inoffensive
Unique voice, a bit psychedelic. Hi Nico, bye Nico.
I love her voice and the calm but eerie atmosphere on this record.
Just flutes and bullshit. Couldn't really get past her voice. DNF.
p99. 1967. 1 star. Droning German chanteuse meets 60's folk, strings and a flute. OK for two songs and outstays its welcome after that.
Perfect
I think this album is a good example of how much my music tastes have changed over the years. I think a decade ago I would really dislike this, but nowadays it hit just right for me. Funny.
I didn’t care for this one much
Immediately no. But then I didn’t hate it, but I think Yoko might owe her some money because that one song was wack like Ono and her voice is aaaalmost like nails on a chalkboard, but not quite. 5 stahs
Here cover of these days was not good. Couldn't listen after that.
Nico’s Chelsea Girl is one of those albums I respect more than I enjoy. Her voice is unique, and I can see why it holds a place in music history, but the sugary strings and delicate orchestration clash with her stark delivery for me. By the third track I already knew it wasn’t clicking, and the vibe doesn’t shift much across the record. Interesting as a document of its time, but not one I’d return to.
From the first few bars I knew this would be a pleasant album. Her singing does feel a bit too vintage for my liking, but some really beautiful songs.
I am still on fence about this album. The instrumental and the melodies are wonderful, but Nico's voice... it is clear that she doesn't know how to sing. I might give this album another listen as the instrumental is really really good, but I found myself questioning ehybis this on the list Still a 4/5, mainly because of melodies.
interesting genre, very sweden-y
Lovely Nico. I love this album.
Ugh! Too bleak of a delivery.
2/5
Nico! Jazz flute! I only care about the songs that are in Wes Anderson movies.
A little too slow for me
Very much not for me. Dreary, long-winded, performative.
Hmm. The music was alright, maybe a bit too fairytale-y at times and a bit too abstract at others but okay I guess. But the vocals didn’t really help, just not a vocal style I liked. 2 stars
Her voice isn't very good and the music wasn't very interesting. Also just read about her life and she was described as Nazi-esque. Fuck off Nazi. 1 Star.
Quite enjoyed the mix of melancholy vocals with the strings and acoustic guitar
Jaysus. Nearly fell asleep. Just sounded whiney and disinterested.
Quite lovely
Wow Nico actually can’t sing huh. I quit in the middle of the nine minute avant garde song.
Man, a little Nico goes A LONG way
Depressing and droning to listen to, if that's your jam. Tracks to Track: These Days
I struggled a bit with the tone of this, I suspect I'm just not appreciating it and her influence in general!
These days is one of my favourite songs. I also enjoyed some of her additions to velvet underground. She’s the OG goth. But it’s better in doses
second half gets a little boring but instrumentally Lou Reed and John Cale aren't pulling any punches to help create that perfect mix for haunting pop sounds as a backdrop to Nico's voice
This was a nice sister album to nick Drake's work which also has a bit of monotony and drone used as a strength rather than a weakness. However, even with it's famous collaborators and writers, Chelsea Girl has some pretty boring sections. Easy 3/5
So this has my last.fm #8 listened song of all time (that is, since 2017), and I'm tempted to give the album five stars for These Days on its own. But I've listened to the rest of the album very little (in some ways this makes "These Days"' last.fm performance particularly impressive: every other song in my top 50 is on an album that contributes a lot of support) Listening notes: -Fairest of the Seasons--this hits that perfect melancholy-sad-reflective vibe so perfectly. Perfect intro for one of the greatest 3:30 of music ever. -These Days is a perfect song. One of my favorite of all time. I've cried while this played many times. The way it describes the sort of clipping of her own ambitions in response to her losses. There's no better song when you're on a losing streak and you want some therapeutic pity party jams. I wish I could justice to this in my writing. "Please don't confront me with my failures/I have not forgotten them" Yeah me too Nico. "But Tom, These Days isn't even her song! You can't seriously give such high praise to a cover" Yeah reasonable point but doesn't change my emotional connection to this recording. Also she has the first recording. I will not elaborate further. -Little Sister & Winter song a very nice, reflective songs. Good but meaningfully overshadowed. -It Was a Pleasure Then--Sometimes (Especially late 60s/early 70s) experimental artists like the velvet underground and their crew do these long drawn out dissonant tracks that must have some purpose. but drive me up the wall. My first listen on this was rougher than the second, and I can sort of see how this theme fits the broader tone of the album, as our leading lady fades into incomprehensibility -Chelsea Girls: a really sad story of how the industry (and Warhol) find these people, build them up as monuments, and abandon them and discard them like trash when they've had their "fifteen minutes of fame" (central to Warhol's world). Prescient in wys Nico surely had no understanding of. -I'll Keep it With Mine: Bob Dylan! Review: In the end, the rest of this album does not live up to its first two tracks, and yet is quite good. I feel I must be true to myself and give this 5 stars. What starts as this youthful reflection on missed opportunities ends up with a jumble of ideas on the back half, as she describes the beauty she finds (I'll keep it with mine) which juxtaposes harshly with the callousness of an industry and world. To quote another artist, "Sure it could look like dew, but they're laughing at you/And they'll send in the clowns when you're lost". And sadly, Nico would fade in the same way. I have since looked up Nico's later life and woof, the later years are bleaker than hell here. Heroin was not kind to her, but it's clear there was a lot of ugliness down there even beyond the drugs. In ways, it makes the tracks here, with the wistful youthfulness, all the more melancholic, as the woman herself fades into incomprehensibility as her kindest attributes fade away, leaving racism and cruelty as the most prominent remainders.
Nico seems to be evidence that one doesn't need to be able to sing to be a singer. She barely adjusts her pitch, and when she does, she sounds pitchy and off. But that works on this album for the most part, in part because the instrumentation behind her is gorgeous and she knows how to play into it. This album is getting these stars for knowing how to do accompaniment and work that into the album.
some chronically bad takes in the reviews here
Really makes me feel better about my karaoke game. Really not for me this one, hard for my ears to swallow.
Same vibes as the Velvet Underground with Nico.
Initially thought this was interesting but it got a bit old. She's a bit flat.
I know this is an important album but holy shit was I bored (and I also think she was super racist?)
Not for me 1/5
I had to listen to this album twice, it really struck me! Another melancholy album, but dang it's fantastic. I can't believe I'd never heard it before. It's not perfect, some of the musical arrangement can get a little bit repetitive, but overall this is an amazing album. So happy to be exposed to this.
I barely made it through this one, I think I might just not have the perspective or context to understand why this album is even in the list - it just wasn’t good for me. Vocals are flat, arrangements are largely boring, pacing is hard to evaluate because so many of the songs feel like they drag on. Lyrically it’s somewhat interesting but tough to follow. If I had to pick a standout track I’d say I’ll Keep it With Mine.
I've never heard of Nico until now but this album holds up very well. I wish there were a little more to it, the arrangements do fall a little flat, but I'll be giving this another listen
Favorite tracks: Winter Song, Chelsea Girls Wow oh wow, I've never had so many differing opinions in such a short amount of time. I had really high hopes for this album during the first song. The sparse instrumentals paired with Nico's deep voice really resonated with me, but it quickly grew old with every song sounding the same. I would gladly listen to a couple songs on this album, but listening to the whole thing at once made me want to rip my ears off. I really struggled to finish this one - huge disappointment for me.
Beautiful. I love the strings and flute. I just listened to a girl called dusty a couple days ago, and I don’t understand how this and that only came out 3 years apart. This would sound fresh if it came out today where that sounded 100 years old
I couldn’t get behind her singing. I looked at the lyrics and she has something say, but her voice killed it for me.
I thought I would like this more since she was great with velvet underground but it was mediocre.
Really thought this album has some solid song writing with melody and lyrics, but can’t get past Nico’s dead voice. Give this album to Taylor Swift and let her redo it and I bet it would be amazing.
Not good. Her voice is pretty bad. It's been a while since I skipped every song. I did force myself to listen to what she had to say about Lenny Bruce though.
As far as Nico's material goes, I feel that she struck gold with her contributions towards The Velvet Underground's debut, however her solo work hasn't ever clicked with me in quite the same way as that album has. On the rare occasions that I feel up for the challenge, The Marble Index is the album of hers that I'm most likely to reach for. Chelsea Girl is quite low down in the pile for me as I just find it a bit empty, drawling and boring. It's very easy to tire of her vocals when there isn't much going on around them to distract you from them, or much variety in her approach, and unfortunately that's the case here. It's a "weird", but very surface level "weird" album that kind of becomes musical mush before too long.
Fairly relaxing and not unpleasant. A little bit too morose at times though
Yeah good stuff. Simpsons: No
I couldn't really get into this, even after listening to it a second time.
Started off strong. Ended weak. I’ll listen to the first half of the album again.
This is quite possibly the worst album I have ever listened to in my life... It's like a shit parody of a student album. Utterly, utterly awful.
Mesmerizing. Her voice takes some getting used to, but it has a certain haunting magic. The music adds to that as well, overall it's being lost in a weird kingdom where something just doesn't seem right, but it's beautiful, so let's see where we end up, I guess?
Not sure why this feels like a contradiction. Perhaps the low vocals make it feel like a woman pantomiming a man. Try as I did, could not take this seriously.
Some great songwriting on there. But her voice is a limitation
Can’t do the voice. Cannot do the voice
I can only guess that this album is on the list to put all the other albums into perspective. There's no other explanation, because this is barely music.
She's got a unique sound - that is not for me.
This is a stylistic and melancholy album, with some really nice vibes. It's a toes-in-the-water, sweater-by-the-fire, read-a-book-in-a-forest kind of vibe.
just not good
Hated this
I just have a 'LOVE' thing for Nico. She da best man.
I didn't hate this, though I honestly can't tell if I liked it or not. It had a weird way about it that I enjoyed. That said, I really didn't think much of it was very good. I really don't even know what to say about it. Maybe that's why it's on the list? Overall: 2.3/5
Nico's *Chelsea Girl* (1967) is a hauntingly beautiful yet deeply conflicted debut that merges baroque folk with avant-garde sensibilities. Released shortly after her collaboration with The Velvet Underground, the album remains a polarizing masterpiece, celebrated for its melancholic beauty and criticized for its production choices. Below is an in-depth review covering its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, followed by its pros and cons. --- ### 🎵 1. **Lyrics and Themes** - **Poetic Melancholy and Bohemian Narratives**: The lyrics, primarily written by male collaborators (Lou Reed, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, John Cale, and Sterling Morrison), explore themes of regret, alienation, and bohemian despair. Tracks like "These Days" (Browne) reflect introspection and lost opportunities ("Please don't confront me with my failures / I had not forgotten them") . The title track, "Chelsea Girls" (Reed/Morrison), vividly portraits Warhol Factory denizens—S&M queens, addicts, and social outcasts—drawing inspiration from Warhol's film of the same name . - **Emotional Depth**: Despite Nico not writing the lyrics, her delivery imbues them with a sense of personal tragedy. Songs like "The Fairest of the Seasons" (Browne) and "Eulogy to Lenny Bruce" (Tim Hardin) amplify themes of transience and mortality . --- ### 🎶 2. **Music and Sound** - **Chamber Folk and Baroque Pop**: The album blends acoustic guitar-driven folk with orchestral arrangements (strings and flute), creating a lush, dreamlike atmosphere. Tracks like "I'll Keep It with Mine" (Dylan) and "Somewhere There's a Feather" (Browne) feature melodic warmth, while "It Was a Pleasure Then" (Reed/Cale/Nico) delves into avant-garde dissonance with drones and minimalistic instrumentation . - **Nico's Vocal Performance**: Her contralto voice—deep, Germanic, and emotionally detached—acts as an instrument itself, contrasting with the ornate arrangements. This duality heightens the album's eerie beauty . --- ### ⚙️ 3. **Production** - **Unwanted Orchestrations**: Producer Tom Wilson and arranger Larry Fallon added string and flute overdubs without Nico's consent. She famously hated the flute, stating, "The first time I heard the album, I cried... because of the flute" . This clash between her vision (drums, raw guitars) and the baroque embellishments created a tension that defines the album . - **Sparse Instrumentation**: The absence of drums and bass emphasizes intimacy but also contributes to a sense of emptiness, which some critics found monotonous . --- ### 🌌 4. **Themes and Context** - **Bohemian Decadence**: The album mirrors the disillusionment of Warhol's Factory scene, exploring themes of identity, addiction, and societal fringe dwellers . - **Feminine Alienation**: Nico’s portrayal as a "muse" rather than a creative agent underscores gender dynamics of the era. Her voice becomes a vehicle for male-authored narratives, yet she subverts them through her delivery . --- ### 📈 5. **Influence and Legacy** - **Artistic Impact**: Despite initial commercial failure, *Chelsea Girl* influenced generations of artists, including Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, Portishead, and St. Vincent. Its "sad girl" aesthetic prefigured goth and dark folk genres . - **Cultural Rediscovery**: The album gained renewed attention after tracks like "These Days" featured in Wes Anderson's *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001), introducing it to new audiences . --- ### 👍 👎 6. **Pros and Cons** #### **Pros**: - **Timeless Songwriting**: Tracks like "These Days" and "Chelsea Girls" are revered for their poetic depth and melodic strength . - **Atmospheric Innovation**: The fusion of folk and avant-garde created a unique sound that defied 1960s conventions . - **Emotional Resonance**: Nico’s voice conveys a haunting vulnerability that elevates the material . #### **Cons**: - **Overproduction**: The intrusive flute and strings diluted Nico’s desired simplicity, leading to a sound she disowned . - **Vocal Polarization**: Her monotone, off-key delivery alienated some listeners . - **Lack of Creative Control**: The male-dominated production sidelined Nico’s artistic agency . --- ### 💎 **Conclusion** *Chelsea Girl* is a flawed yet enduring work that captures Nico’s enigmatic persona and the contradictions of her career. While the production choices overshadowed her vision, the album’s lyrical depth and innovative sound continue to resonate. It remains a essential listen for its historical significance and influence on alternative music, despite its creator’s disapproval .
Nico a une voix singulière mais limitée, alors tout repose sur les textes et les arrangements. Ceux-ci sont parfois fleuris, presque inspirés de la Renaissance, parfois sourds, parfois orchestraux. Très bel album, en somme
Ok Album, "Chelsea Girl" was the Best song while "It Was A Pleasure Then" Was the worst. 6/10
Really not my thing. Started okay and felt the inspiration for later indie women (Regina Spektor et al.) But the longer songs in the middle just lost me completely and couldn't finish.
Day593 - nico must have been something else to get so many greats writing, producing and playing on this album.
After enduring Nicos warbling dragging down the first Velvet Underground album, I didn’t expect to be subjected to her again. Second circle, very Dante Mr 1001…
Like everyone, I first heard Nico through the velvet underground and wasn’t initially a fan. Have since come to really like her voice and forgot how much I love These Days and great Dylan cover too. Had no idea Tom Wilson produced and one of Hendrix’s engineers was involved. Definitely a grower.
Lots of interesting ideas. Execution is spotty, and it does drag at times. Can't say i especially enjoy listening to it has a whole, but it has its moments. It is a fascinating and evocative artifact from one of the most important art scenes in history. I'm gonna rate it 5 to help offset all the 1 star reviews from people who refused to engage with it. I don't think it's great, but it's definitely worth hearing and diving into at least once
Just awful
That was exhausting.
When it's good, it is very good. But sometimes it's a bit horrid.
2-3
Extremely strong start, first three songs are all excellently dreamy. The sparse production really sets the tone while the progressions and beautiful singing keep it mesmerizing. Hit a huge lull in the mid point with a very needless 8 minute song, followed by a near painfully repetitive 7 minute song. The remaining tracks are enjoyable but none worth sitting through the 15 minute mid point. Favourites - The Fairest Of The Seasons, These Days, Little Sister, Somewhere There’s A Feather
Absolutely beautiful and devastating. A perfect album for early mornings or late nights.
Make that two albums that have surprised me vs. what I expected. Going into this, I only knew her work on Velvet Underground and Nico, which I do not care for at all with it's psychedelia (albeit experimental). Was not expecting experimental folk. Really beautiful and melancholic stuff here. Still some of the psychedelic stuff I would normally dislike (Winter Song - almost ren faire vibe), but am quite enjoying it here. There's just a richness here that the fast majority of psychedelic music doesn't have. Can't remember where or who mentioned it in this sub, but someone said something to the effect of "Psychedelic music from that time was a mile wide and puddle deep. So many bands that had one great song but couldn't keep it up through a whole album", and I agree with that, but Chelsea Girl is the exception to that. While not the whole album hits on those sounds, when it does, its fantastic. Definitely gonna check out her later stuff eventually, especially since it sounds like she moved in a post-punk/goth rock direction, which is interesting coming from where she started.
Felt like S+G Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme but not as good. Best song: Chelsea Girls Notable(s): I’ll Keep It With Mine
Preetty stuff. I was missing some Velvet Underground and the found out, who played the indtruments for the songs. They did show themselves on a few songs. I think this is definitely Nico at her best. They really are a great combo on both this and the banana
Este es uno de esos discos polarizantes que generan opiniones completamente dispares: o lo amas o lo odias. Yo estoy más de la primera opinión a pesar de que la voz de Nico no es la más brillante, pero es que me encanta el folk más experimental. 3/5
Pretty good.
The wiki said Nico cried when she heard the flutes on this album. Me too, Nico. 2/5
Interesting
tiresome. 2
Nice vocals
After listening to this, I'm convinced boomers are weird...and not in a good way.
the largest throw job by the instrumentals for the vocals, if you look at the wiki for this album even the vocalist hated how the songs sounded.
Nicos voice is beautiful, beautiful folk album. Chelsea girls and winter songs were a couple of my highlights. 4.3/5
It was alright 3.4/5
Pretty good. Some of the songs sound a bit similar though, so they kind of blend together.
The lyrics of every song was great. Favourite Chelsea Girls.
This is really quite terrible
Dire
This is some good hippy shit. She has a bassy voice, but it works. I prefer Joni Mitchell's voice and music, but Nico is gangster. Winter Song was nice and different. I like the strange string arrangements on here. Pretty good album, but not more than a 3.5
Cool sounds on the album. Nico sings ok but the tonal quality of the notes is kind of distracting. Maybe some Germans sound a bit more gutteral because the speech is towards the back of the throat? A linguist probably has a term for this.
I don’t like the production nor the arrangements. Most of the songs are quite forgettable as well, and Nico’s voice is an acquired taste. However, I really like the two first tracks + Chelsea Girls.
The worst. Terrible voice. Terrible songs. Would give 0 stars if I could.
Nah
i dont want to listen to this
I do NOT know about this one, chief. There are some genuinely good moments in this album, but for the most part... mehhhhh... I don't know. Not my thing. Fave song: These Days
Every song sounded roughly the same. She has a good voice but just not really my style. Favourite Song: The Fairest of The Seasons
enjoyed this except that one song that fucks your ears (in a bad way)
Should've quit when she was ahead after The Velvet Underground & Nico