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Scott 4

Scott Walker

1969

Buy At Rough Trade
Scott 4
Album Summary

Scott 4 is Scott Walker's fifth solo album. It was released in late 1969 under his birth name, Scott Engel, and failed to chart. Reissues have been released under his stage name. It has since received praise as one of Walker's best works.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.83

Votes

10044
Genres
Pop
Rock
Folk
Singer Songwriter

Reviews

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Thu Feb 25 2021
1

The guy is a little bitch and let's it be known with his singing

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Thu Oct 28 2021
4

Bravo. I'll take this over the Tim Buckley's and Nick Drake's of the vastly overrated cult sect. And unlike Leonard Cohen, I find Scott Walker's voice oftentimes majestic. Walker seemed to be as genuinely fucked up and averse to fame as Buckley and Drake, but he outlived those fuckers by a long shot, dying in 2019 at the age of 76. I suppose that's a blessing: Walker was spared being around for the Covid Pandemic. I can't imagine how depressed that would have made him (just listen to "It's Raining Today" from his previous album to hear how distraught he'd get over the weather; this dude didn't feel the same elation about rain as Eddie Rabbit did). His songs aren't as depressing here, although I actually enjoy the songs where Walker leans into his melancholy side. I have a sneaky suspicion we'll have a Scott Walker Renaissance in the near future.

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Tue Jan 26 2021
3

Ballad king, bit of a mixed bag. Some really good, but also some forgettable tracks.

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Tue Jan 26 2021
1

Awful. The sound of depression

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Thu Feb 18 2021
5

My favourite unheard album so far, it's very cool. Big baritone voice, flamenco guitar, strings, Gregorian chanting AND some scatting. The Old Man's Back Again is my highlight - the bass line is wild

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Mon Apr 12 2021
5

As a teenager in the mid 90s reading about music in the NME and Q, this was always mentioned in hushed tones as one of the all-time greats so I went in with high expectations and was initially disappointed. The Morricone-esque opener aside, the first few tracks on first listen seem on first listen quite standard MOR crooner territory. However as the album progresses and you tune into Walker's dark songs (touching on subject matter like Bergman films, the Warsaw Pact and PTSD) through his beautifully rich voice, it clicks into place. The second half becomes more musically varied and ambitious. On second listen, I loved it all and it feels like a proper album that builds and flows - the perfect length at 30 minutes too. It also got me listening to some of his later, avant-garde output too which seems right up my street - The Drift in particular feels like a horror movie on record. Top Tracks: Boy Child, Get Behind Me, Rhymes of Goodbye, Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo Stalinist Regime)

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Thu Apr 15 2021
4

What tremendous balls to name an album after yourself, and do it 4 times? Nice. Also a pretty solid album.

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Mon Feb 01 2021
5

Avant garde and avant odd, Scott 4 is like one of those twisty metal statues you'd find in a statue gallery - kinda quirky and imposing from far away, but a lot more detailed up close. That is to say, I don't know how to review music, and this is all coming out of my ass. Definitely deserves a second listen, especially when I'm not playing GTA.

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Mon Feb 01 2021
5

Brand new to this music and I absolutely love this album, might turn into a baroque pop nerd thanks to this album.

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Sun Jan 31 2021
5

Scott 4 is a masterpiece. Hero of the War, Old Man Back, Duchess, most songs here are fantastic and bear multiple listens. The drama in his voice is sincere rather than overdone or lame, production is stellar, lyrics are incredible even on their own. Indescribably better than the politician.

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Sun May 08 2022
5

The front half is fantastic. Very melodic and calm. The warm smooth baritone of Engel/Walker's voice is so satisfying. "The Seventh Seal" finds a groove that I didn't expect from the intro to it. The bass manages to drive the song while not drawing undue attention to it in the mix of so much else. It is such a complex track that feels like it belongs in a old movie as a main characters theme. Which makes a lot of sense reading about what it was based on. "Angel of Ashes" is another very peaceful somewhat ethereal track. I really liked the song "Boy Child", my mom has called me that since I was young. The lyrics are pretty strange though for that connection. The back half starts off strange. "Hero of the War" is a complete shift in style. "The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime)" fall somewhere between the sound of the first half and the energy of the opening to the B-side. That track has fantastic bass on it. "Get Behind Me" is another great bass driven track. Though I don't love his scatting on the outro. "Rhymes of Goodbye" was a good but nothing too special outro track. I am conflicted on what to give this album. I love the way the album is mixed. The vocals for the most part are smooth and easy to listen to. The bass work on the album is fantastic as well. There is so much to pick out and dissect that I will need to listen to a few more times to grasp fully. I however don't love the back half as much. It jumps around and is a completely different mood to the front half. It still contains good songs, but the mood shift is a bit harsh. I think I do need to give it a 5 star rating. I love most of the album and certainly will listen to it again.

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Wed Oct 14 2020
3

1969. Key Songs: The World's Strongest Man, The Old Man's Back Again

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Fri Aug 20 2021
3

Ok so I thought it was a lot more grounded than Scott 2. I had it on over the home speakers and while nothing grabbed me I thought it was a descent album with some great talent. 3.1.

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Thu Sep 09 2021
2

Outdated; very "old" sounding, and not in a good way. Very slow and no song was memorable. No hooks and no traditional verse-chorus-bridge structure, so it makes for a tedious listen. Instrumentation is fantastic though. Really enjoy the strings and other orchestral features. This along bumps it up a star. 5/10.

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Wed Nov 15 2023
5

As one of those Gen X freaks who got into Scott Walker through his stark work from Tilt onwards, this is both new to me and eerily familiar. I've probably heard some of this on Julian Cope's "Fire Escape in the Sky" compilation, but also through those who followed. I doubt this would've meant much to me back when I first heard Walker. I'm reminded of a comment Julian Barnes made about opera not making sense until the listener has been through some of the harder moments of life, and right now I feel the same about Scott 4: it's epic framing and enormous delivery - but what else could he do with that voice? - could seem absurd, but have become sublime. I'll get this and listen to it more.

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Thu Jul 08 2021
4

A December album, sat by the fireplace, staring out at the gently falling snow, going downtown to see the lights. Standout Tracks: The Seventh Seal, On Your Own Again, Angels Of Ashe, Duchess

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Mon Jul 05 2021
4

First half was stronger than the second half, but I would definitely give this one another listen. The record was lush and Scott's voice was super pleasant.

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Tue Sep 15 2020
4

A very warm album. Amazing voice, his storytelling is top notch if not a little cheesy at time but that just adds to the character I guess. The world's strongest man is my fav definitely.

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Fri Nov 27 2020
4

Love the anti-war tracks. Love the sweeping, western orchestral instrumentals. Can dip into early 60s ballad territory a little hard sometimes. Favorite tracks: "Hero of the War", "The Seventh Seal", "Boy Child"

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Fri Nov 20 2020
4

The Seventh Seal is amazing Orchestration is incorporated into band's music very nicely Deep, rich voice Slowly paced until late on in the album

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Thu Jan 14 2021
4

Nice album. I could hear how it influenced other great musicians.

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Sun Jan 24 2021
4

Went into this blind and discovered an artist I'd never heard. I really recommend.

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Fri Feb 19 2021
4

Apparently baroque pop is a thing and apparently it's a subgenre of rock and not pop. Either way I liked this album. It's just a man singing his songs accompanied with melodic rock music.

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Wed Nov 15 2023
3

Enjoyed this a lot more than expected; prejudiced mainly because this album (and Walker in general) are oft-cited by some of the most pretentious folk I've encountered (not you, Mark!). Starts off quite dodgy, The Seventh Seal reading like a 6th form art piece, with a depth of analysis matched only by my glancing half-heartedly at the Bergman film in the background two decades ago. It gets better, and by The Old Man's Back Again his voice and his craft had won me over. Not sure I'm up for re-evaluating Tilt, but Scott 4 was fun for 30-(quite) odd minutes.

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Tue Apr 06 2021
5

I know it's not for everyone, but I got into Scott Walker after died the year before last. Ingmar Bergman forever.

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Tue Jan 26 2021
5

One the first things I bought on my return to vinyl. Timeless, one of the greatest ever.

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Fri Jun 04 2021
5

Great Scott. Total masterpiece.

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Wed Jun 23 2021
5

не сказать, что это мой любимый альбом Скотта (вероятно будет все-таки Tilt), но статус легендарного заслуживает, хотя бы просто за огромный fuck you попсе и прогиб своей линии. Сейчас странно осознавать, что именно этого альбом из сольников Волкера провалился, ибо песни же цепляющие, а тёмная тема для исполнителя хита про сгнившие зубы амстердамского моряка вроде не пиздец какая странность. Но имеем что имеем, да и без этого не было бы толчка к полному срыву границ и ухода в авангард. Ну и плюс влияние на всяких мастодонтов по типу Тома Йорка и Дэвида Боуи тоже кое о чем говорит. Хороший альбом, красивый, печальный, величественый. Жалко две песни по качеству подводят (думаю сразу понятно какие), а в остальном вообще балдеж, дисс на Сталина имеет одну из самых пиздатых басовых линий, что я знаю. Это 10

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Tue Jun 15 2021
5

Really great songs. Easy listen.

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Tue Jun 29 2021
5

...always had a soft spot for this album

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Tue Aug 17 2021
5

Okay, this absolutely rocks. Atmospheric, great voice, great backing music...I'm in.

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Mon May 16 2022
5

Beautiful voice. And I'm adding an extra star just for "The Old Man's Back again".

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Wed Jun 01 2022
5

I'm not sure what kind of music this is? Jazz, classical, rock, rumba, something else entirely? Either way, I'm digging it. Scott's got some pipes!

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Wed Aug 10 2022
5

Yet another album I went into totally blind… Instantly love the cinematic opening track! A song based on “The Seventh Seal”?! SOLD! The rest of the album? I LOVE IT! The crooning… the orchestrations… the subject matter… such a great 60s experience. Has there ever been such a jazzy indictment of war as “Hero of the War”? I see a lot of commutes on the Scott Engel/Walker train in my future!

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Wed Aug 10 2022
5

At first, I couldn't tell whether this was very ordinary or very weird. I very very soon got sucked into the first track, a precise retelling of the plot of the dark, gloomy, medieval-set film "The Seventh Seal" done in a very jaunty 1969 easy listening style, sung in his smooth, lush voice, of the sort that you just don't hear anymore. (I love this voice!) Then came "On Your Own Again" which made me feel like I was in a soft-focus film montage documenting my journey from old pains into a new life. But always behind the music were interesting songs! A lament of the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia with the lyric, "And they queue all day like dragons of disgust" backed with a groovy electric bass and Eastern bloc men's choir. Wow! What an introduction to a musician I must now learn more about!

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Mon Aug 29 2022
5

9/10, enjoyed the hell out of this

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Wed Nov 09 2022
5

"Scott 4" is the fifth studio by Scott Walker. It was originally released under his birth name Scott Engel but later changed in reissues. It was his first album with his own self-penned songs. The music style is classified as art-pop and avant garde and was considered to have slightly less orchestral arrangements and more folk style songs than his previous releases. I'd agreed with that but there is a fair bit of baroque pop in a lot of these songs. The strength of this album is his strong vocals and the musical arrangements. A very enjoyable album to listen to. Mariachi horns kick off the first song "The Seventh Seal" which is based on the Ingmar Bergman film of the same name. Strings, drums and bells come in. A dramatic, interesting song. Scott's strong voice. The Swedish king comes home from the Crusades to face the plague and death. "The World's Strongest Man" is firmly in the baroque pop category with the strings. Continued excellent vocals as Scott wants his women back. The first side ends with the excellent "Boy Child." Just lovely musical arrangements. The second side begins with a more folk song in "The Hero of the War." Acoustic guitar and lighter on the strings. Kind of a contrast with the music and the tale of a man going to war and not coming back, like his father. "Duchess" is just a beautiful song with strings and a melancholy feel. I have no idea what he exactly he singing about but a duchess whom he loves and mentions the Persian Sea. The album ends with the majestic "Rhymes of Goodbye." Walker's voice soars. Continued imagery and comparisons of love to empires and cities. Some of these songs do have fantasy quality to the lyrics. Scoot Walker's music is always interesting to listen to in my experience. His earlier solo work is a lot more listenable for most people than his latter day experimental music (I like both) and "Scott 4" is up there with his best earlier music. A strong recommendation.

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Fri Nov 18 2022
5

This one not for those who don't embrace melodrama in their pop music. Stretching the baroque pop of the Walker Brothers to the extreme and adding orchestrations that add an experimental Avant Garde edge, Walker breaks new ground. He writes all of the songs for the first rime, adding a more evocative element. He subverts genres - Duchess is country, but there are touches of soul and soundtrack work as well. He even names a song after a Bergman film. I have to believe that Eno and Bryan Ferry were plating this quite a lot before forming Roxy Music.

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Fri Nov 18 2022
5

Side 1 is a bit stronger than side 2, but I thoroughly enjoyed every song

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Mon Nov 28 2022
5

I normally don’t like folk rock much. But this was incredible. It had a very strong David Bowie feel to it. This is definitely going to be a highlight for me!

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Fri Dec 09 2022
5

The logical culmination of Walker's solo endeavours at the time. Heavily orchestrated, drawing different genres under its baroque umbrella. And while there is the quite fair share of love songs, this is heavy stuff, with the usual death obsession minced with anti-war messages. The apex of the pop Walker, he would move to much weirder territory with equally impressive, but never so touching results.

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Fri Jan 06 2023
5

Majestic, old fashioned, eccentric. Surprisingly interesting melodies for someone who is accoladed by the wordsmiths.

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Fri Jan 27 2023
5

this is probably some of the most elegant music i've ever. i could use endless adjectives to describe how cinematic and grandiose this album is. and to think that walker would later be making insane experimental music is wild.

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Mon Mar 13 2023
5

Feels like a soundtrack to a dream. Can see the influences on Nick Cave and Radiohead in places. A really beautiful record

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Mon Mar 20 2023
5

This album is so awesome I can’t believe how low it’s rated 5/5

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Thu Mar 30 2023
5

It does take me to get used to Scott Walker. So relaxed but so sinister. The more I listen to him, the more I start realising that his understated genius

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Sun May 14 2023
5

A beautiful album that I appreciate more and more with each listen. I’d maybe put Scott 3 above it but they’re both 5-star albums at the end of the day

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Thu Jul 20 2023
5

Such a classic sound. This is exactly what I want out of a lounge singer album. Such great tone, such great band, loved it.

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Thu Aug 03 2023
5

Walker really hits his stride as an artist on Scott 4. No Brel covers here (although those were great), but all he has learned from his influences delivers a self penned baroque pop classic full of lush arrangements (the bass on The Old Man's Back Again is sublime) and that beautiful voice. Endlessly rewarding. Transporting.

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Sun Aug 13 2023
5

An album and a singer that needs time. There is no-way this would have entertained any time on my turntable in my twenties and through to my forties. However listening and reading about the great voices of my generation and how they were influenced by him kind of peaks your interest. I started with this record, and now find myself playing it regularly.

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Wed Sep 13 2023
5

you could point out that it’s a little on the nose here and there, but why would you? a richly textured masterpiece that speaks to and from the heart

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Mon Oct 23 2023
5

What a beautiful and touching album. I really loved listening to it and felt moved by it. I totally think it deserves to be on the list and I hope to listen to it again soon.

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Fri Nov 24 2023
5

This album is so harmonically interesting! The songs were really cool. Hadn’t heard this guy before, to my knowledge.

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Thu Jan 18 2024
5

Traumhafte Stimme, man kann sich in die Musik buchstäblich reinlegen.

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Thu Feb 01 2024
5

This dude has a great voice and the music accompanies it will

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Tue Feb 27 2024
5

Never quite got this, but I do now.

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Wed Feb 28 2024
5

Scott 4 is an amazing album by Scott Walker. I loved every single song and it is so sad that it is so short! 10/10

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Wed Jun 09 2021
4

Great stuff that bears repeated listens.

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Mon Feb 01 2021
4

I thought the second half of this album was stellar baroque pop. Lush strings, great singing and interesting lyrics to boot. I like Scott Walker’s early stuff a lot. This makes me want to listen to his early stuff. Favorite song: The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime) Least favorite song: On Your Own Again

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Wed May 26 2021
4

I'm a huge fan of his 78 album "Nite Flights" with the Walker Brothers and his more experimental output that came after but less excited by his earlier material. Can definitely hear where Bowie took some inspiration for vocal phrasing here and there. The song that I like the most on this one is "Boy Child" - it's the closest thing to the strange and suspenseful mood he creates in his later work that I love so much.

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Wed May 26 2021
4

Oh yeah, strong start. Like a Tom Jones 007 feel. I like the spaghetti western sound of "The Old Man's Back Again". The only one I didn't like was "Boy Child". There's something about the way he sings that makes it difficult for me to take it totally serious, but I found it a fun and enjoyable listen.

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Mon Jul 12 2021
4

I love Scott Walker but perhaps more so when he is part of the Walker Brothers band. I listened to this twice, and enjoyed more on the second listen. Beautiful orchestral music by a talented composer

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Fri May 07 2021
4

Spooky, beautiful, and classic

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Tue Jan 26 2021
4

Nice, easy listening album. Not my usual cup-of-tea. Would recommend to my parents.

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Thu Jul 15 2021
4

Viel prachtig samen met mijn rustige morgen, vandaar de 4 sterren. Op elke andere dag: 2 of 3, afhankelijk van hoe chagrijnig ik ben...

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Tue Mar 30 2021
4

Really enjoyed revisiting this one. Scott Walker has such a striking voice and singular perspective in his writing. I was surprised that I found it a little less compelling than I did when I first listened to this album maybe a decade ago. Still, a really strong collection of memorable songs. My favourite is either "The Seventh Seal" or "Hero of the War". 4.5/5

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Tue Mar 30 2021
4

Scott Walker's production has always been a little unhinged, but some of the songs on this record really work for me. A nice combination of interesting lyrics to dive into, big string arrangements and some dark harmonies. Fav tracks: The Seventh Seal, Hero of the War, The Hold Man's Back Again

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Wed Jun 23 2021
4

Приятный, лёгкий альбом. Но когда пытаюсь вспомнить, какой трек зашёл, в голове играет какой-нибудь Andmoreagain. Только дело в том, что это трек группы Love, вышедший 2 годами ранее. О которых я даже относительно давно не вспоминал уже. Посему пришёл для себя к выводу, что конкретности и внятности, "лица" альбому немного всё же не хватает. Впрочем, на момент прослушивания ощущения звуковых обоев вроде бы нет. Трек про Старого мужика посвящён сталинизму. Думаю, хотя бы куплет можно посвятить тому, что именно благодаря Сталину были осуществлены индустриализация, культурная революция, ускорена урбанизация, достигнуты успехи в науке и, не в последнюю очередь, Великой Отечественной войны. Без взгляда с этой стороны текст трека нахожу некорректным.

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Tue Mar 30 2021
4

short album whoo! he has a lovely voice. This was actually very good wow Favorites: The Seventh Seal On Your Own Again (wow) Angels of Ashes The Old Man's Back Again Duchess

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Fri Jul 16 2021
4

Silky smooth voice, reminds me a lot of Richard Hawley

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Fri May 28 2021
4

Love it. Haunting lyrics and vocals. Folky instrumentation, but harkens a... what's his name... a feeling of a spaghetti western

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Fri Jun 18 2021
4

What a pleasant surprise this album was. Liked the Seventh Seal, other songs reminded me of the ending track from Monster.

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Wed Jul 28 2021
4

A total surprise. Every individual element of this album combines perfectly to create a beautiful and effortless listening experience. Will definitely come back to this but I am also now intrigued to explore more of Scott Walker’s work.

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Wed Jul 28 2021
4

Classy album full of colour, one of the few ‘crooners’ who I enjoy listening to, lyrically and musically engaging all the way through. And the baseline on ‘’The Old Man’s Back Again’ is something else!

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Wed Nov 17 2021
4

large arrangements, lyrically smooth, veering on the side of easy listening. Incredile production for its time.

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Mon Nov 22 2021
4

surprisingly enjoyable even though didn't know any tune nodded along all the way, could hear this being played at Christmas. 3.8

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Thu Nov 25 2021
4

Not for everyone, perhaps. But overwrought songs about depression and foreign films are pretty much my jam.

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Tue Oct 26 2021
4

I like this a lot. It's very brooding and European sounding, like a soundtrack to an imaginary film. His voice takes a bit of getting used to (you might say it's an acquired taste).

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Wed Feb 02 2022
4

On the surface this is pretty standard 60s pop music, but there’s a weird, dark beauty lying underneath that makes it really cool.

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Fri Feb 04 2022
4

Moving further away from the Scott Walker we all knew and loved and nearer to the Scott Walker that the musically adventurous of us know and love even more.

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Mon Mar 21 2022
4

Really enjoyed it for the type of music it is. It's like Perry Como or Andy Williams - people that are good, but I don't often listen to. Every song on the album quickly felt familiar and comfortable to me. I enjoyed it. 4/5.

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