Eli And The Thirteenth Confession

Confession 13: Eli Manning doesn't deserve to make the NFL Hall Of Fame.

With a good editor, she could be Carole King.

Pleasantly surprised by this album, hidden gem Fave track: Eli's Coming

Quite pleasant. 3/5

más prog que la mayoría del prog, acrobáticos los cambios de tempo, compás, time feel, y acrobática tmb la voz de la laura. lo había oido ya algunas veces hace unos años y aun así no lo acabo de digerir

Day 229 Really enjoyed the uptempo songs here, had never heard anything before. Highlights Poverty Train Eli’s coming Women’s blues

I like the way she explores and blends several genres of music, but her voice gets annoying over the long running time and the songs don't really click with me.

Highly Broadway-coded Very much doubting between 3 and 4 stars, but damn it, let’s go 4* for the novelty of it. 4/5

I didn't completely hate it; I just mostly hated it. It's actually good for the songs that veer away from "folk jazz" and more towards R&B.

It sounds like Carol King, whom I was subjected to in large qualities because my wife introduced my children to Really Rosie. People have gotten divorced for less.

A lot of fun actually

70s summer day vibes i’ve been looking for

Someone described her voice as switching between beautiful and annoying, and I couldn't agree more. When it's annoying, it's bad, it's like unskilled Broadway singer trying to flex their range. 2*

Niet boeiend, temu versie van beter tijdgenoten.

Some of this was unbelievably good. She was an amazing talent. Some of it was also very Joni Mitchell, which I've stated, in no uncertain terms, my dislike for.

Really dig the band and the production, but can't help feel this is a voice of the era, and the brassiness or falsetto elements just don't work as well now as they maybe once did. Appreciation for this one will definitely come down to how you feel about her voice, and in my case, the feelings veered between acceptance and intense irritation.

Certainly one of the albums of all time

Lots of potential but needs a stronger voice.

I was gonna put a 2 cause I guess I was still in my hater era but this can break the streak and get a 3 Also what's with all the songs about named people

Some nice crooning but otherwise forgettable

This was brilliant from start to finish. It’s like a mix of jazz, rock, and psychedelia. It’s awesome. Her voice is different in a way I can’t really put my finger on, but I like it. Very into this record.

not my monkey not my circus

the joni mitchell that was promised. 4.5

This was always gonna be a tough sell for me, as the genres it’s mixing are none of my favourites, and although I didn’t enjoy this all that much, I still respect it. I did enjoy the constant shifting of pace and tone of the songs, kinda kept you on your toes a little, and the singing across the album is superb. However, for me, it does unfortunately fall into that category of albums where each song sounds the same. Now this may be because of the same subject matter being covered on a lot of these songs, however to me it felt like the arrangements all began quite similarly. I respect this, just not for me.

Interesting. Similar vibe to Joni Mitchell.

Decent Jazz album. Was pleasantly surprised.

This really seems like something I would like - jazzy, soul, female singer - and it very nearly is, but for some reason I can’t pinpoint, it doesn’t land right. While there are moments (and occasionally, full tracks) I enjoyed, there were many that even felt grating. Maybe it’s too theatrical, or maybe it’s her voice, or maybe it’s just something about the specific style - I wish I knew. Whatever it is, unfortunately, I didn’t love it (or hate it, for that matter). Favorite: Eli’s Comin’ 3

Easy listening pop music with jazz elements.. quite boring

??? 60 irgendwas

Love this

Coo

I have given Laura Nyro a handful of times over the past few years, but couldn’t really get into her style. On first listen this morning for the list I thought this was pretty good, albeit found the huge dynamic variation a bit unsettling. but having given it (+ some individual tracks that stood out to me on that first listen) a second listen in the evening… something just clicked. WOW this is gorgeous. some of the strangest yet most fitting, satisfying, stunning chord progressions I’ve ever come across in pop music!! the songs on here never travel in a direction you expect them to and I think it’s really difficult to pick up on that on first listen and is probably why I found it a bit disjointed at first but! holy fuck does it make for a beyond intriguing album and reward repeated listens! such surreal imagery!! THE DOUBLE TRACKED VOCALS!!! I think I’ve found an album I will take with me far beyond this list here. favourite tracks: Timer, Stoned Soul Picnic, The Confession, actually you know what every track!!!

#881. Is she a good singer? Yes, she is. Does that make her music interesting? No, not really. I've mentioned a few times that some of the pop music seems outdated, but this one seems not just outdated now, but that it would have also already been at the time. I know this came out in 1968, but if I didn't and you told me it came out in 1951, I would have believed you. 3/5: it's fine, I guess

singer songwriter, soul, 1968 -> 2

I didn’t really like this

As a vocalist, I appreciate a good singer, so I will give Miss Laura props there. But this album aint for me. It kinda gives me Linda Ronstadt too-muchery where its not easy on my ears.

These all ran together. Her voice got very grating after 10 minutes

There are very few Laurel Canyon type singer-songwriters I can stand. This isn't one of those. Boring, overproduced, warbly muzak.

Straight from the American songbook

Gotta be honest her voice gets very jarring very quickly

Can’t believe this was the first time I heard of Laura Nyro. Very interesting and engaging songwriting.

This was a new one. Good voice but this drifted into showtunes-like stuff too often for my taste

I couldn't understand a word she sang.

Never heard of her before so this was a pleasant surprise.

Not really my thing.

2.4 2x never heard of this before, and not too bad

Really liked this and did not expect to

Lovely voice and lovely songs, though all a similar style and arrangement and mostly rather inane lyrics. Best voice of someone I've never heard of. Reminded me a little of Carole King's singing, though not her songwriting.

Definitely would have been a headliner for the 1968 Lilith Fair. I do wish the album was called Eli Sunday and the Thirteenth Confession.

Reminiscent of that one Mario princess who's the mayor of that city. Typa shit she would sing while walking down the streets. I like it. It's quite vibey. It feels very modern retro to be honest. I really like it. Very Mario-esque. She's really doing whatever with her voice tbh. Just hooting and hollerin. Typa shit I'd listen to while strolling down a New York avenue with a neck of pearls and a sexy guy with oddly blue eyes in a sharp suit on my arm. DPS radio dancing gif. Very homogenous sound throughout. Would you love to love me? I'd love to love you. Favourite: Emmie Least favourite: Lonely Woman

Best Song: Stoned Soul Picnic This was a tough listen for me. Not because Nyro is a bad singer/performer, quite the opposite, but it is a bit of a two-face. One song will be really solid and then the next would be pretty mid. I think I can say that without the work of Laura Nyro, the sound of Tori Amos, Kate Bush, and endless other singers would be vastly different. I wish the songs had a bit more consistency and this would be a 4/5 but too many of the mid songs seemed to win out. 3/5.

Mixed bag, but I'm glad I had the chance to listen to something completely new to me.

Interesting. Nice voice, somewhere close to Joni Mitchell. Songs are mostly folk ballads but some are a bit more entertaining, feeling like a late 60's vibe like in Buffalo Springfield. Will revisit this as I might enjoy it more in a couple of years. 3.5

Decent enough but doesn't really do anything well enough to earn much replay for me.

Favorite tracks: Luckie, Sweet Blindness, Eli's Comin, Stoned Soul Picnic An unsung pop classic from the late 60s, blending together the pastiches of counter-culture music of the time with soul and the occasional jazziness that gives this record its own familiar but singular sound. I absolutely love Laura Nyro's performance on here, she has one of the greatest voices period.

First things first - the album cover and the photo of Laura Nyro looks about fifty years ahead of its time. The rest of the album is a really lovely listen to be fair. It's very chilled and sweet, if at times almost saccharine. I would definitely put this on when i was working, and I think it'd be a class thing to have on record.

When you start this album, you definitely feel like you've just rolled up into it. Surprising for a debut she makes it feel like she's been around forever. These are some great soul/pop/rock songs. An excellent voice and singer songwriter vibes. Good feelings.

That was a new one on me and surprised by it. Definitely of its time but aged well.

If I was at a café or over at someone's place and this was playing, I would have mad respect for their music taste. But simultaneously, I wouldn't go as far as to Shazam it. Incredibly cool if you listen to this (and I could definitely hear where Kate Bush got her inspiration, of whom I am a massive fan. Her music has just that extra whimsy and fantastical feel that makes it so extraordinary), and I will probably think you're a very cool person if you put this on.

Very nice sound but sometimes felt like it could use a breather in the first couple of songs. Wouldn't mind this at all if I came across it in a cafe but not a lot of stuff I would revisit.

I quite enjoyed this. Perhaps got a bit samey towards the end but I think this would be even more enjoyable on future listens.

When the singing is more melancholic and wistful it is more enjoyable. Where it ramps up and becomes pact and 'jazz hands' then it's less my vibe. Clearly a great voice and surely a huge influence to many despite personally never having heard of her.

Damn, this album cover is straight out of 2010. Classic 60's powerful but fucking annoying voice. Deserves its roses but man, I can't stand this carry on - for the same reasons I don't like hard rock. Boomer shit.

The kind of thing I want to play at a dinner party, but wouldn't.

Pretty nice :D

Had no clue what to expect from this. It was great, a bit Joni Mitchell, a bit Janis Joplin, just a very fun and lively vocal album from an artist I somehow haven’t heard of before but will now go seek their other albums out.

Did I just listen to 46 minutes of on hold music..?

1950s left over pop. Can’t listen to this.

Thought this was really good. Her voice is amazing, the production is great and the albums overall just really fun and easy to listen to. Would and should definitely listen to again. Best songs on first listen: -poverty train -Eli’s coming -stoned soul picnic

Couple good songs here, but overall it's not really for me.

She sounds like she wants to be Carol King but is so off key it's painful. I found this to be an unpleasant listen.

Classy Chad Laura Nyro. RIP

I see why people really thought she’d be the next big thing and I see why she went nowhere. She simultaneously checks all the boxes while being largely unlistenable.

Something of an odd album. I had never heard of Laura Nyro before, and after three listens I'm still not sure I have a clear grasp on this record. On the one hand, she is clearly a gifted songwriter. The arrangements are often quite sophisticated - and you can hear the influence in artists like Carole King and Todd Rundgren. But some of the songs feel meandering and the melodies underdeveloped. There is also a Tin Pan Alley or show tunes cheesiness to some of it. And the array of different genre influences often don't feel like they fit together well. Overall, an album I find more interesting than enjoyable.

Cool vibe

I can’t help but draw the Carole King, Joni Mitchell parallel - but I like this more! It’s more soulful and adventurous. A surprising find!

Not good

A collection of late 60s jazz-influenced pop/soul tunes by a remarkable singer-songwriter with a confident, talented voice. Influential to many, an iconoclast that broke new ground in music. Compare to Carole King, a contemporary who was clearly influenced by her. This record has her version of Stoned Soul Picnic which was a hit for the 5th Dimension - the versions are very similar with this one a little less bombastic and Nyro's multi-tracked vocals doing the harmonies. The songs feel like a synesthetic expression of experiences, failures and triumphs.

Fabulous songwriter, important songs.

Really dug this! So many different genres and elements coming together to make something really special. Think she's got a great voice too!

can't hide my heart from laura nyro

where has this album been my whole life?

Shocked I have never heard her before! Will be listening to more for sure!

I know this caused a raucous in 1968

A sort of Female Van Morrison whose overindulgence leaves me feeling intrigued and exhausted.

Absolute bangers, loved this one.

Hard to work out why this on the list. It doesn't sound particularly special. Nice and safe.

Yep, liked it. Interesting vocals, great, varied songwriting, really nice.

Very 60’s, didn’t really interest me overall.

listened to a few songs and i really liked them

Nunca me había enterado de la existencia de Laura Nyro. El disco me gustó y me agarró por sorpresa. La voz de Nyro de pronto suele ser muy aguda, pero me gustaron mucho sus arreglos que consiguen fusionar jazz ligero y balada de finales de los sesenta. Tal vez no se convierta en mi disco favorito, pero sí creo que Nyro es una artista que hay que explorar un poco más.

I appreciate her voice, but it’s just not my style. One listen through is plenty for me, but I wouldn’t mind hearing a song off it every now and then. But I’m glad I’ve heard it, and think it’s a great album for anyone to be exposed to at least once. It very well encapsulates this style in that era.

Olipa melkoinen levy. Laulaja lauloi kauniilla äänellä koko ajan ja täytti tilan niin, ettei mitään olisi mahtunut taustalle. Siellä kuitenkin oli hyviä soittajia, joita ei oikein päässyt kuulemaan. Kappaleet hajanaisia ja sovitukset huonolla tavalla kikkailevia, komppi vaihtuivat turhan tiuhaan sun muuta. Liian paljon informaatiota koko ajan.

#268/1001. Third strong female singer in a row (Patti Smith and Joan Armatrading). I was fooled by the music and the cover to think that this is some late 90s esoteric artist creating her own musical at an arts high school. But no, it was an esoteric artist creating her own musical from the late 60s. Does it make me resoect the music more? I can see the influence she had on many theatrical singers in the following decades. So perhaps a bit? Does it make me like it? No, not really - at least on the first listen. Perhaps revisiting would reveal the beauty, but now it just goes up and down, fast and slow, like a butterfly in a shopping mall.

just fine

a sound i didn’t know i would resonate with. reminds me of joni mitchell

3.25

Kind of reminded me of the Carpenters. Not bad, but nothing really leapt out at me.

3.5/5

# Album Name: Eli And The Thirteenth Confession # Artist: Laura Nyro # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Not bad. Good voice. Just average tunes. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Maybe

3,5/5

I will not include the bonus demos on the 2002 reissue in this review. I started becoming aware of Laura Nyro's music back in September, when I heard the single "Eli's Comin'". She was an accomplished singer-songwriter who, oddly enough, found more success in the many artists who took inspiration from her and covered her songs. Just as an example, "Eli's Comin'" would later be covered by Three Dog Night and become a top ten hit for them. A lot of the music from the 1970s onward would be indebted to Nyro's work, and Eli and the Thirteenth Confession illustrates her songwriting prowess. She seemed to take people on journeys through the stories she wrote and sang, from the jaunty revelry of "Sweet Blindness" to the somber bitterness of "Lonely Women", breathing life into her characters as they ran through the gamut of love, passion, substance abuse, and death. Throughout, Laura commanded with her impressive mezzo-soprano delivery, which reached soaring highs and lowly lows, alongside her equally impressive work on the keys for these idiosyncratic compositions across multiple movements within the same song. Tracks like "Eli's Comin'", "Timer", and "Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe)" kept me engaged as the song built into new sonic territories, with the background vocalists harmonizing around Laura as the accompanying guitars and strings provided refreshing embellishments. The album may be a bit haphazard with the overall momentum and flow from one track to the next, but that is not enough to dissuade from how phenomenal a singer-songwriter she was. The more I sit with it, the more I realize that Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is an astounding record, a testament to the transformative singer-songwriter that was Laura Nyro.

Pretty nice, never heard of her, shes like coral kind and joni Mitchell in one. 4 stars cause too repetitive at a certain point, would be good holiday album

and the prodigal son returns... returning to this after months, getting over my burnout. Let's see how long this lasts. Continuing on 19/10/26. So I listened to this album before my long break and I gotta say, in my burn out I could not STAND this album. Upon giving it a fresh listen today I must say... it's really good. Not without flaws, album was a little long for me and I really enjoyed the moments it would slow down but it never stayed slow and just a few times I wish it had. The first 7 songs are amazing, seriously so great. Laura's voice is powerful, loud and eccentric and more than anything it was important. I could hear bits of Kate Bush in here and that alone is incredible praise. This also sounds fantastic for an album from 68, but I didn't love it all. A few songs ran a touch long and as I said above the energy is really enticing but a little much for the full run through. I also like how diverse the sound of this album is musically, this album has touches of soul, gospel and jazz and I was seriously impressed considering I thought this game out a good decade later for the level of writing and quality. Again, I did leave thinking about "less is more" and that I didn't love all of it but I absolutely think this album deserves a lot on the list and is well worth a listen. Best songs: Eli's Coming / Timer Worst Songs: Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe) Rank compared to everything else so far: 54/70 (above Back to Mystery City, below Daydream Nation)

Had never heard of her before. Some nice work, peppy stuff about misbeheving

I've heard of Laura Nyro tangentially through her connection to Jackson Browne, so I figured she was another Laurel Canyon folkie. Which I don't mind, at all. But this has real nice classical and jazz arrangements, with strong vocals and and instrumentation. Not what I was expecting, and enjoyed it quite a bit.

7/10 some songs were intriguing

It was kind of hard for me to get into and enjoy

Fun! ★★★

I might’ve liked this better if the production wasn’t as harsh, but a lot of the time it sounded a bit distorted. She’s very technically good and has a great voice but it sounded a bit chaotic at times

Great songwriting and great voice. Some of it is a little tired, but I can forgive those moments. 4.5/5.0: Excellent

this was interesting. i couldnt (still cant really) tell if i like her voice or if i find it annoying. i was prepared to give this album a 2 or 3 but ended up really enjoying the back half of the album

She has a lovely voice. There were ups and downs for me. I think it’s pretty but could also potentially put me to sleep.

An amazing, emotive voice really drives home this record

Schönes Album mit interessanten Kompositionen, dass mich zu keinem Zeitpunkt vom Hocker gerissen hat, mir aber insgesamt gut gefallen hat. Gegen Ende insbesondere mit "December's Boudoir" baut es dann mMn massiv ab, da wurde der sehr intensive und gar nicht dezente Einsatz der Stimme irgendwann doch sehr anstrengend. Trotzdem immer noch verdiente 3 Punkte.

Das Album klingt auf jeden Fall deutlich weniger alt als es ist, Probs an Produktion und Stimme. Allgemein die Stimme... Teilweise wirklich beeindruckend. Teilweise aber auch für mich ins Nervige abgedriftet. Daher in Summe 3 Sterne für mich, bei sowas kann ich die Aufnahme in diese Liste aber total verstehen.

Noch nie von der Interpretin gehört, aber direkt umgeblasen worden. Unglaublich vielschichtige Songs, fast jeder Song mit Wechsel in Struktur und Tempo. Schwierig das alles beim ersten Mal zu erfassen, aber viel war hier überraschend catchy. Und wie kann denn eine Platte aus den 60ern so unfassbar gut klingen. Das hätte auch genauso in den 90ern aufgenommen sein können. Die 2 Balladen haben mich leider nicht so bekommen. Dafür habe ich aber direkt die The 1975-Interpolation erkannt.

Meine Bewertung ist einfach weg?! Hat mich nur so mittel abgeholt irgendwo zwischen Wiederholung und Spannung.

Hat mich komplett abgeholt. Tolle Stimme und catchy Songs.

Ich war schockiert als ich gesehen habe wann das Album rauskam. Das hätte auch genauso gut gestern aufgenommen worden sein. Absolut zeitloses Songwriting und Produktion.

Good? I haven't heard this type of music before. This is a great, calming, tranquil music that I will take into consideration. However, I do like more energetic music.

cool girl not my fav music

It wasn't bad it just wasn't for me

Didn't like it.

Undoubtedly a talented songwriter and performer, but this one didn't quite land for me. You can hear the immense influence she had on artists like Todd Rundgren and Elton John, but the style drifts a little too close to jazz and musical theatre for my personal preference. I can appreciate the artistry and the vocal range, but it lacks the driving structure and consistency I usually look for in an album. A classic of its genre, just not my genre.

Very solid singer songwriter album 4/5

З перших 15 секунд першої пісні було зрозуміло, що буде чудово. Дуже яскравий вступ, я буквально щойно зараз включив і ще раз кайфанув. Про Лауру ніколи раніше не чув. Із того, що не слухав раніше з цього списку, мабуть найбільше поки сподобалось. Пісні, вокал, аранжування, обкладинка - все топ. Це точно залітає в бібліотеку і колись в кращі часи куплю собі платівку

Сподобалось і нагадало улюблену Джоні Мітчел.

Some insane chord and tempo changes in this! Love her voice and I was captivated by the music throughout.

no.

Laura Nyro's "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession", showing up as my fresh daily from the 1001 Albums Generator, is an exciting and chilling moment for someone who's never even heard of the artist before. I started this project wholly to encounter "important" music I had never heard before, as well, to hear that that I may thought I had once known, but in renewed context). The fear of the and unknown in Laura Nyro comes mainly fresh off of having to digest and review Limp Bizkit, but also from this unknown-to-me Nyro hailing from 1968 and my recent dealings and displeasures with The Beau Brummels: another prior-unknown from the same period. "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" is an album title fearsome with hidden pretensions, indeed. The cover image, the singer emerging from chiaroscuro blackness, ornamented with heavy eyeshadow, red lips, and two golden glints of light reflected from an earring, conveyed an intimacy that comfortingly spoke more of a sincere New York bohemian sixties, rather than the acid-fantasy antics of California. Gratefully, the album's cover is one of the perfect-match-to-the-music executions in musical art direction history. Atop tinseled punchy changes on guitar, followed by flurried swell of strings, Laura excitedly introduces herself with all we need to know, "Yes, I'm ready," and invites us along, "So come on, Luckie". Suddenly, in a transportive and cooling turn of high heel, we hit the earth, a basement jazz lounge, with her commanding, brass-like voice bringing seemingly the whole loud, busy and clashing world of the city to land intimately on her stage. Just as her voice seems to paradoxically emanate as much from Broadway as it does from a smoky bohemian apartment, her multi-phasic, swing-shifting songwriting hides a warm approachability, like a secret propped open door at back of the theatre, along with an invitation to enter, to hear grand structured and careening songs from a more sensitive and personal angle. As if easily willing to connect to anyone with ears, Nyro's "Eli..." meltingly merges soul, rock, jazz, and orchestral pop into entertaining configurations where the constituent genre parts become wholly something new but still familiar. The song titles and lyrics, work to create further connectivity with the performer. In the number of songs titled for people ("Luckie", "Lu", "Eli", and "Emmie") Laura talks to us with ease as though we know them ourselves, and of course we could relate to her feelings for them. This furthers the dynamic bohemian feeling of what The City, at her time and any time, must have felt like. "Bob and Joni just left, but Walter and Donald just got here. They are working on stuff inspired by Laura. You should stick around, too, Patti and Kim are supposed to show up later. Their work will blow your mind." To understand that this album, with it's massive approachability--despite its complex song structures--came about in 1968, gave the wild shapeshifting writing and arrangements even more plausibility. Prescience, even. Listening to this album evoked reminders of many writers-in-a-similar-mode to come, such as Steely Dan, Tori Amos, Patti Smith, Arthur Russel, and even LCD Soundsytem: artists who, following Nyro, blend a craft of melting and warping a whole-city wide-focus blend of genres in service of presenting street level lyrical intimacy. Given my listening alone, without other context, Nyro's "Eli..." was an easy four stars. Although it is not something that I'll readily return to for a comfortable listen (it's far to brash and frenetic for my tastes at their most casual), I do deeply respect this music, the quality evident in everything about this release is immediately impressive. Having then read about it's actual importance and popularity (just things that I didn't know about), as well as the clear lines of it's influence on so many artists, I have a deeper understanding of the timelessness that Laura Nyro has achieved here. This is the first album I'm going from having-never-heard-before straight to five stars.

Jolie voix mais un peu ennuyeux a la longue

3⭐️/5 01.22.2026

Although I feel this upbeat down beat tempo change must have been a wow thing for many back when it came out. It didnt age well. Sounds like any 1970/1980 ballard. Pretty generic but deffinitivelt would have popped out when it came out. All songs sound the same. Naice voice

Man, I was turned off by this one almost immediately. It just sounds like someone told her to sing in all caps all the time. It sounds like she looks around the room and says 'listen to this, 'y'all' before every take. I will say that the production is pretty fantastic and that I would have had a hard time placing the time period that this came out. Anyway, this felt like a real endurance test and I couldn't wait for it to be over.

I’d never heard of Laura Nyro. Seemed a bit like a knock off of Joni at first, but the album grew on me.

Na teoria, essa aqui deveria ter sido meu tipo de música: composição direta e confessional, mescla de gêneros e forte influência de jazz Porém, tudo o que eu ouvi foi gritaria, desordem, confusão. Uma mistura de ideias interessantes, mas sem foco ou direção

not my thing but not bad

Not for me. 5/10

Directionless and pointless. Trying to be jazz, pop, rock even Broadway show tunes but none of it worked. A complete mess.

This just grates like someone scraping their nails on a blackboard. Awful stuff

pretty voice, interesting album concept, not something I'd revisit and no real standouts.

Soulful sounds with smooth musical accompaniment

Meh, this was ok.

Thorougly enjoyable listen, but doesn't hit me emotionally. I like the whimsical arrangements.

Tones carrying both sorrow and cheer, with songs that can alternate between the two in a single track. Though the transition is pretty well done, it makes it hard for me to feel impacted. Whole album has a big "go with the flow" vibe (soul-ish style). Absolutely AMAZING voice.

Quite decent album

I wish I liked this more tbh. It’s an interesting listen and I actually think I do enjoy her voice but most of these songs just didn’t do it for me. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t really memorable and probably wouldn’t return.

I’ve always loved Laura Nyro. She’s underrated in my book.

Loved it. Innovative, evocative, and a powerhouse vocalist. Absolutely great album.

8/10

Wow. I think I had written Laura Nero off as “just another singer/songwriter and never really checked her discography. I fell like a fool. This is great. Varied and inspired arrangements. Vocals and songwriting are top notch too. 8/10 Favorite Tracks- “Sweet Blindness” Eli’s Comin” “Woman’s Blues”

In my dim and distant past I’ve heard of Laura but I’d no idea what kind of music she produced. If you’d have asked me yesterday I’d have guessed she was a husky voiced jazz singer. On the evidence of this album she’s still hard to buttonhole. There’s bits and bats of all sorts. She’s trying hard to be all things to all men (and women!) The phase of ‘Jack of all trades, master of none” springs to mind. Not a hateful album but one which I willl have forgotten about in about 30 seconds time. 2/5 17/1/26

not as boring as I thought it'd be but not blowing my mind 👍

Great voice.

She has a voice and there's some toe tappers here, but the songs tend to go off the rails a bit. Lots of dead space. I don't know if it's the production but there's a coldness or loneliness to this. A mixed bag, and maybe this isn't for me. Something else I don't like about some records from this era is the stereo mix - for some reason they only wanted me to hear the piano in my left ear.

Wants to be Carole King, fails.

A solid 4.5

Fun listen! But not sure it's something I'll be coming back to often. Very Joni Mitchell-esque

Absolutely loved her voice all throughout the album. How it can be so gentle but also powerful and the way she projects her voice is just so beautiful. I also loved the instrumental elements and they really enhanced her voice and gave the music color. 9/10, Favorite Song: Once It Was Alright Now

need to relisten

There's talent here, just not for me. I respect it but won't listen again.

I think this is a really good album, but it's just not my exact preference. I would watch this as a musical, definitely. It's intriguing. It follows an interesting story and definitely kept me entertained the whole time. I would recommend this, but probably wouldn't listen again.

Lovely, singer-songwriter late 60's pop/soul, punctuated with orchestral flourishes that aren't used much anymore. Good art and understandably influential. Some of the songs remind me of Burt Bacharach a bit with small bridge sections that move time signatures around. Laura Nyro's vocals are dramatic but not histrionic, nicely balanced between bluesy, soul, and pop. Good fun!

Wow, i am stunned by this performance. This is why I love this so much: I have never heard about that woman but her music is awesome.

Favourite Songs: Sweet Blindness Eli's Comin'

Just too jazzy swingy sixties for my taste.

s'alright

This was a delight because I’d never heard of it before and I can see how it’s influenced more recent artists I like. Also not what I expected to hear based on its release date. Laura gets a five from me but the album unfortunately just gets a three. I liked it but didn’t love it.

I imagine this was quite influential for singer-songwriters in the late 60s, particularly the embrace of such dark themes. It didn't do much for me unfortunately. "Eli's Comin'" was the only track that really stood out to me. I might have enjoyed it more if the volume was leveled out a bit more, but I sometimes find the extreme dynamics harder to appreciate without constantly adjusting the volume. In a different mood, I might have appreciated this one more, but I unfortunately I didn't really enjoy this album.

Not bad, kind of like a late 60s version of pop music

I found this to be a beautiful album. Soulful, jazzy, bluesy, all delivered through a beautiful voice. I really dug it.

A fun soul/Jazz album that sounds much more modern than it is. The singer has a soulful voice and the drums and piano is played really well. The occasional saxophone and slower songs makes the album as a whole a great experience.

Я вообще нихуя не ожидал, а получил классную женщину и классное музло (особенно учитывая, что это 60е)

It was OK. Lots of the same though. Nice voice. I'll say 2.5 - round down.

Kinda fun and edgy for ‘68. She has a some good pipes too!!

She's pretty good but this album is overall boring.

Too long, it got real boring

This was pretty good. Beautiful voice.

Very dynamic. Enjoy the brass. Vocals are kinda busy.

Favorite Track: Woman's Blues

Was ok, little shrieky for me.

Outstanding vocals, and outstanding instrumental progression (especially in Eli’s Comin’). Really, I just think some songs go on for too long. Other than that, this album is very solid.

ok

Very annoying.

Would be better if she could sing better

If Elton John wrote his most saccharine lyrics and put them to a bunch of poorly composed show tunes and then tried to make them sound soulful it would be much the same as this drech.

Literally laughed out loud at how ridiculous she sounded at times. I would’ve enjoyed this much more if she didn’t sing at all, the instrumentals sounded great tho

I still don't really know if I actually like it or not

Simply wonderful. Thought it was impressive, fun and pretty

Eli and my thirteenth reason more like It started off promising until the screeching came in and I didn't know what the fuck she was singing about. I don't think she knew either 2 ⭐️

10/10

Generic and nonsensical at the same time, where songs that sounded like sitcom jingles would randomly speed up and slow down while the singer wailed way outside of her vocal range

Easy to listen to and soulful album from '68. Worth checking out as it;s probably Nyro's best.

It’s pretty good

I liked the more upbeat tunes that are frontloaded on this album. Mostly pleasant.

probaly never listen again but very good

That first song was a bit of a train wreck. Sounded like a bit from SNL. The rest wasn’t that much better.

You know that episode of ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ when Charlie writes “The Nightman Cometh”? Yeah, this is like that. But nowhere near as good. Properly cack.

This album was a little bit of a hit or miss for me, because sometimes I had trouble with the range of her voice and her way of singing, however I really liked the songs I did enjoy and I want to respect how controversial and monumental an album like this would have been from a bisexual women in the 60s openly singing about loving women.

2/5 I want to like this album so bad, and there was one song I really enjoyed, but overall her voice just doesn't feel trained and became grating to me relatively quickly. The melodies were nice, though. I want to like Laura Nyro more because of everything she stood for, but I just can't. :(

I know this album was only around 45 minutes, but it felt like it went on forever. Laura Nyro is clearly talented, but sometimes her singing becomes too much for me. I just found myself actively cringing at times.

Pretty good, actually. Can understand why she didn't "break through", but certainly impactful in a good way

Too soprano

Приятный балладный альбом, с довольно неожиданно нежным голосом Лоры Ниро. Много про него сказать не могу, он не особо запоминается.

not a fan of the singing style, and most of these songs are simply not for me.

The time changes and swinging grooves make for a very interesting and good album

Sounds timeless

started ok but kind of wore me down as it went

Fun to listen to but not my thing

Very cool album

It's a cute mix of jazz and soul. Not much to say about it.

It’s ok

Some jazzy psychedelia that’s held back by some odd vocal decisions.

Production was good, but did not like the vocals at all. Standout songs: Elis Coming Decembers Boudoir

Not a fan. Her voice is yelly and a bit grating to my ears. Feels corny.

Having trouble believing this album came from the 60s

Not entirely my taste, but a decent album which feels fairly punchy with a few memorable songs

This one was a surprise. It has a timeless sound, with a nice jazzy, soulful feel throughout, and her voice fits perfectly. Beautiful from start to finish.

Enjoyable but very basic

That voice! Ouch!

The souls of Carol King and Yoko Oho had a duel and this was the result. 6/10

I liked the vibe of this. Belted out ballads and great lyrics.

Ikke dårlig, men vokalen blir veldig heseblesende og der blir slitsomt i lengden. Du sitter hele tiden og puster for vokalisten.

Not sure why this is here. I have never heard of Laura Nyro before, and by the album's end, I understood why. It's so close to being good. Nyro's voice is often inspired, and so is the music, but they both often feel at odds with each other. There's this tension in between music and vocals that keeps me at arm's length.

On paper this should be right up my street but somehow it just doesn’t gel for m. Nothing memorable here and a bit directionless. Her voices grated at times too. I would probably prefer versions by other artist. It ain’t no Tapestry that’s for sure

who is this even for

I was really surprised by this one. It's far off the beaten path of soul/funk. But it had these Motown style backup harmonies on a flashy style that just worked. Definitely a unique sound, not great background music though imo. There also wasn't a track that made me think "hit."

Cool, distinctive jazzy voice; putting different tempos in one song—a trend across the album—was really cool

fun

Insupportable, sortez-là du studio, je veux pu en entendre parler. D’où du crisse ils ont sorti mes albums de cette semaine? C’est une catastrophe auditive, je me sens trahis par l’algorithme

She seems to have a pretty loose relationship with the key she is singing in. I guess it's supposed to sound jazzy but instead she sounds like a washed-up Broadway understudy pivoting to second-rate lounge singer.

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Stoned Soul Picnic I don't know if the reviews will be particularly kind to Laura Nyro. I hear raw talent, but its just that - its raw. Really raw. The opener track Luckie, Laura's voice is all over the place. There's no real tune she's trying to keep from line to line, verse to verse. That might be part of the charm of the album, but its also a little grating. I think the staying power comes from the amount of songs she wrote that ended up being covered by more famous artists, which I imagine might be both flattering and disappointing. In any event, the album is what it is. I played it, I listened to it - three times - and I didn't hate it or want to turn it off. I am home with my folks for Thanksgiving and no one asked me to turn it off, so that's a good sign.

Every so often, this list throws up something genuinely unexpected that I hadn’t heard of before. In this case Laura Nyro is a singer songwriter from New York, and if I hadn’t looked at the date on the album I would have been hard pressed to pin this down to any time in the last fifty years. For an album released in 1968 by someone who was just 20 at the time, this sounds remarkably contemporary. Nyro wrote all of the tracks here, and there’s a dizzying mix of genres, tempo and feel, often within the same song. She has a gorgeous, soulful voice and her lyrics are equally strong, especially with lines like ‘No one knows the blues like lonely women’ and Emmie, which is an unapologetic love song to a woman. I wasn’t surprised to read in her biography on Wikipedia that she was a bisexual woman and a feminist, which is probably partly the reason that she didn’t get the public recognition that this album clearly deserved. She died at the tragically young age of 49 from ovarian cancer. The album is strongest for me on the three stripped down demo versions of the songs Lu, Stoned Soul Picnic (her one reference to the hippie era) and Emmie, which feature just Nyro playing piano with home produced multitracked vocals. They sound utterly amazing and it’s worth looking out for this version of the album to hear them. Apparently she was an influence of Todd Rundgren and Elton John. Hey, fellas - you might have let the rest of us know about her! Sassafras-and-moonshine-tastic!

I’ve never heard of Laura Nyro before, but this is a really interesting album cover. It’s kind of shocking to me that Laura Nyro is an American, because this album cover really screams France or England to me. I have no idea what this album is going to sound like, but I’m really curious to see how this album fits in with the music scene in the late sixties. I thought this was a fantastic album. I was immediately drawn to Laura’s voice, and her vocal style reminded me a lot of Carole King. I found it mind-blowing that this album came out a full three years before Tapestry, and EATTC sounded like it came from the seventies, and not the sixties. I thought the arrangements on this album were lush and beautiful, and there was a wide variety sounds explored on this album. EATTC was incredibly well produced, making it a joy to listen to. So many songs on this album had abrupt changes in style and tempo, but those changes were done in a way that never felt jarring. In fact, those changes kept me hanging on every note, because I never knew what was coming next, and I didn’t want to miss anything. In addition to those changes in tempo and style, Laura was also able to shift moods and feelings just as quickly as the music changed, going from one emotion seamlessly into another. I’m truly shocked that I’ve never heard of this album or Laura Nyro before, because this album is absolutely beautiful and well made. I have to imagine that countless other artists were influenced by this album, not just around the time that this was released, but also in the nineties and today as well. All of the songs on this album were really good, but to me, “Eli’s Comin’” stood out as the best song. Before today, I’ve only known the version by Three Dog Night, which no shame to those guys, but hot damn, Laura’s version is electric. I love the urgency in her singing and the instrumentation. I love the way the song gets more chaotic as it goes along, but the instrumentation is constantly changing, as some instruments come in, and others drop out. It’s a blast of soul-filled adrenaline. As I get closer and closer to the finish line on this project, I keep thinking that there can’t be that many surprises still waiting for me, and this album proves that I couldn’t be more wrong.

Not the vibe I was expecting based on the album art, but fun!

Listenable. Not interesting

My thirteenth reason why

First impressions were "Get on with it woman". Then she did! Unfortunately when she did she stopped singing, and started shouting. It wasn't objectionable to listen to, but giving it a 2 would devalue most of the other 2's I have awarded, so 1 it is.

What a very strange vocal performance. I found her very difficult to listen to. Not sure who or what would actively seek this out for enjoyment.

This was really intriguing in places and quite enjoyable. It certainly didn't sound like it came from the 1960's.

Not special, but also not terrible.

Didn't finish it. Not a huge fan.

every song sounds like you're waking up in bill murray's groundhog day, but instead of learning piano or killing yourself you just vibe out in your room. really just an album of vocal flexing. the singing is 90% of it which is great because the singing is truly very good. surprised at how lovely the whole experience is. favorite tracks are probably Lucky and Lonely Women. like a 4.49/5

Rating: 8/10 Turns out this has been in my listen list for almost 3 years. I see how it got there, with just the kind of influence I think it might have had on the modern sphere of art pop artists who I like now, who have some of the most exciting songwriting and production around. Will be needing to dive into this more and the rest of her songs

Kinda fun, Eli's Comin' favorite song, but the random tempo changes were jarring every single time and sometimes made it feel more like a broadway show than an album 4.4/10

This album is a weird one. I hated Luckie. Then each song was growing on me as the album went on. Finish the album and look back at how there were some bops. Now here I am listening to the album again and enjoying Luckie. Crazy. 8 lizard wizards out of 10 lizard wizards. Can't for the Laura Nyro and King Gizz combo album. Edit: 7 listens later and I'm still coming back

Only listened to a few songs but couldn’t get into this

This is all over the place, so many different tempos and feelings in each song! I kind of liked it but it also made me feel like I was crazy and wanted to get off the jazz-showtune rollercoaster?

Imagine my surprise when I misread the date and was expecting something from the '80s and I got something from the '60s instead

Started listening to it before I looked at the date that it came out. Got to weighs into it and had the idea that if this person made this album after 1985 it's obvious that they listen to a lot of Kate Bush; then I saw what it came out and now I got the feeling that Kate Bush listens to them. Quite enjoyed it ended up listening to it three times.

It's alright, It switches between annoying (at least to me) and quite beautiful that is hard for me to get into it completely as one should. Therefore it's not for me. However if you are into her annoying voice then i imagine this is quite a fun album

Didn’t grab me

Hmm, was okay, but not really my type

Here's an album I'd never heard of before. I don't know who Laura Nyro is, but I'm always happy to see more women on the list, so I couldn't be too upset to get this. After listening to it, I think this album's good! Laura's singing is enjoyable. There's some good energy and I can hear how her vocal style could've influenced later artists like Kate Bush. I definitely got Carole King vibes from this, which is not a bad thing at all. I didn't like this album as much as Tapestry, but I can say that about a lot of albums. The fact that Laura's a songwriter as well aids in the comparisons. Is she a good songwriter? I'd say so. This is the kind of album that feels a little ahead of its time but also reflects well on when it was made. Although, I don't know who Eli is and why he's coming. "Eli's Comin'" is a pretty good song though. This isn't the most exciting album ever, but it's the kind of thing that could reasonably be called a hidden gem of sorts. I like it. Low 4/5.

Same confessional flavour of Carole king but does not quite have the same sense of pace, space, and letting songs breathe. She is doing too much I think and the music never really folds out into what it could be. It pushes into showtune in a way I don't like. Mostly pleasant instrumentation but sometimes annoying singing that seems a little precarious

decent

Temu Joni Mitchell

3.5

3.5

2.5

Could grow on me- but solid 4 on first listen

Most of this reminds me of the kind I music that they'd do in 70 TV spectacular specials, very showy. But some songs I really like (7.1) ★★★½

Mostly kind of bland, but a few standout tracks, most notably "Poverty Train". 3.5 stars

This was much better than I anticipated based on the description. There's a pop soul quality reminiscent of Carole King that pops up on songs like "Lu", "Poverty Train", and "Stoned Soul Picnic", and that's pretty enjoyable stuff. There does seem to be a bit of a more showtuney, Andrew Lloyd Weber quality that surfaces from time to time, maybe most noticeable on "Eli's Comin'" and "Luckie" and that's much less enjoyable, but overall it's a pleasant album. 3.5 stars.

4.5

Phwoar! What a blizzardy barnstorming blitz. So talented. Such a bold, blessed, beautiful banshee voice. Super influential too. Some of my favourite albums Todd Rundgren’s Something/Anything and Rickie Lee Jones Pirate sure did pillage everything that it was worth. Pick of the Nyro pops Sweet Blindness and Stoned Soul Picnic.

Apparently Todd Rundgren was influenced by Laura Nyro, that makes sense. Both have good moments, but mostly everything is too hectic and too much is going on at once to really latch onto anything.

Blues. 5 stars! tones of Joni, Carol and Dionne!

Great vocals some great songs (Eli's Coming) that you have no doubt heard by others very upbeat record

Pretty great in a old school kind of way

Laura's got the look, the brooding coolness, but you & I could sing it as well/poorly. Neil Young & Bob Dylan are endearing. Laura is painful. If this came out today, it would be ignored by those with ears and revered by contrarians looking for outsider art. To be fair, it's a great songwriter demo tape. A stable of tunes that proper vocalists could/did turn into gems. Listen to Marilyn McCoo sing 'Sweet Blindness' and 'Stoned Soul Picnic' then listen to Laura's versions. Great songs that sound 'good' whoever sings them but aye caramba. Marilyn for the win. "Poverty Train' and 'Lonely Women' are worthy performances. This is an album in a series of "singer/songwriters that should stick with the pen".

This album exactly fine. The instrumentation was great and the vocals were good, but as a whole it was pretty forgettable.

It's a decent R&B soul jazz album, not the biggest fan of her vocals. There are about 3 songs that I really liked and the rest was forgettable.

Enjoyed this one, not what I expected but a lot of fun. 4 stars

I'll be honest, I went into this album expecting to give it a low score. That's on me for rushing to judgment. Because this album is really good.

I had to look her up on Wikipedia to figure out why they would include her in this challenge. I still don’t get it…

Never heard of Laura Nyro but I like the structure of her songs and can see why she was so often covered.

Cool, unique, trying at times.

I can understand the inclusion from a songwriting perspective, but I don't think she had the vocal charisma for the songs. It makes sense that other singers/bands ended up performing them.

This was cool and I liked it but not sure why it’s in this list.

I had never heard of Laura Nyro before, but was immediately impressed by her voice. Some songs don't really know what they wanted to do on this, but overall I thought it was admirable.

Like a less catchy and more shrieky Carole King. This was all a bit much for me; I found it quite a struggle to get through.

Very unremarkable album that hasn't impacted me in any manner. Yes, her voice is pleasant and the music is somewhat relaxing, but it's not really achieving anything interesting or memorable.

Not my thing

1-2 of these songs are super fun and funky, but it got real old real fast

This album is wayyy to chaotic for what it is. Really hard to get through

Interesting album, Laura Nyro has some very good vocals and her ability to quickly change in a song is very impressive, in saying that this album didn’t catch me as I was hoping it would

You know what, I’m going to round my rating up to a 4. I guess she’s like a Kate Bush or Tori Amos for Boomers.

Descent piano and decent singing. Not really my jam, but enjoyable

Smooth and soulful. Not my normal kinda thing, but decent in the background while having dinner.

Some parts of this were great some parts of this were less than great. That’s really all there is to it. Not much of a standout.

One of the best vocalists I have had so far from the list. Smoothest registration change. Very solid chest voice. Head voice not the most beautiful (nothing about her techniques) but also very very good. 5/5 vocal performance. Music wise ok. Her voice is way more impressive than the album. 3 star album, +1 star for her incredible voice, and +1 star for her immaculate techniques.

This girl has some incredible pipes. Listened to it driving in the mountains with Carly and even she enjoyed it. Solid album and would love to explore more by Nyro

Really strong vocals, a couple good songs, but ultimately not something I’ll come back to. Pretty much like every other three-star album I’ve rated.

I like this a lot. Has a Norah Jones kinda vibe but 35 years earlier. I didn't pay attention to the lyrics, but I really liked the vibe

First time listening A lot of things going on musically on this album. It's poppy, but there's a lot of moments it gets swingy, soulful, folky, bluesy. Every song jumps all over the place. It sounds like the soundtrack to a dramatic mid 60s TV show. She does have a great voice, but it gets somewhat cartoonishly showtoony sometimes. Most songs seem to have good moments and bad moments. It's probably more like a 2.5/5 in my book, but I rounded up because I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt with it not being something I'd normally seek out. It's not something I'd mind listening to again. Best songs: Stoned Soul Picnic, Woman's Blues

really not very good

Very beautiful! I loved her vocals so much.

Amazing songwriter! I knew nothing about her except having grown up with hits I didn't know she wrote. Really don't like her singing, but love the take no prisoners full-on attack and crazy tempo switches, and the opening song sounded so much like Carole King's Tapestry songs (the songs, not the singing) that it felt familiar and easier to listen to. For a much better vocal experience, check her singing And When I Die.