Reviews (page 6 of 8)
as odd as it sounds, she comes across as a more soulful karen carpenter to me.
Nice album.
Nice voice. I was a bit surprised she has really low counts on Spotify. Nothing extraordinary, but I think she deserves the place on the list.
Vocals are discordant. Unpleasant.
This varied wildy from amazing voice to God this is whiney, it's so bi-polar
Great voice but mediocre album.
Beautiful singing, definitely feeling the horns on this album as well. Love some good belting.
Great voice and a legend. Not my cup of tea but undeniably good.
I like a lot of the stuff that this album inspired but unfortunately I didn't like this album. It was like listening to a Glee cast album. Not for me
Interesting rhythms, and incredible vocal range!
There are flashes of brilliance here that would inspire multiple singers throughout the 70s, but the album doesn't really hang together. Sometimes the Broadway side takes over too much and it becomes overwrought and melodramatic
I was really feeling stress to come up with a review of this album. The issue, hitting it straight on, is that it hits me as very directly fair to middlng. Her voice is "good" the lyrics "solid" the instrumentals "professional" but I don't personally connect directly, as if it is something I would have in the background while I do other things or just sort of "yeah, I know who Laura Nyro is, she is 'good.' " I am nearly the opitome of anti-capitalist bullshit marketing hype. I am all for the "little guy" the people on the margins and their worth. But even so I think there is a reason why I had never heard of her before, and it may have to do with her placement at the banquet, she is certainly "in the room" but maybe she is down there at table number eight over there. There is nothing "wrong" with her music. There are just a lot of musicians in front of her kind of obscuring her view.
Not familiar with the late Laura Nyro's discography at all. Quite the soul voice amidst all of the musical layers heard throughout. The tempo changes quite frequently, ranging from more of an upbeat pop sound, to some slower blue-eyed soul & gospel. It was a fun listen, if not a little inconsistent as a whole.
Never heard of this before. What a breath of fresh air after The Killers and RHCP! This is Laurel Canyon suffused with Van Dyke Parks, Nick Drake, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, and just... the Bronx. It's much closer to Melanie (Safka) than it is to Joni. The jazziness is there, the soul is there, the fun and poetry. I didn't know what to expect but I listened to it twice.
"Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" is the second album by New York City- born singer-songwriter and pianist Laura Nyro. The music can best be described as pop incorporating elements of soul, jazz, gospel and rock with multi-layered, opulent and multi-tracked vocals and strings. That about sums it up. The album was entirely written by Nyro, arranged by Charlie Cabello and produced by both Nyro and Cabello. The lyrical themes include passion, love, romance, death and drugs. Critically, it was very well-received and considered influential for its quirky and reflective songwriting. Commercially, it hit #181 in the US. "Luckie" opens with Nyro's strong and soaring voice. Jazzy with the piano and beat. There's horns and tempo changes. This reminds me of Carole King. She's out to get lucky. Doo-wop vocals start "Sweet Blindness." It's bouncey. Layered vocals. They're drinking Daddy's wine. "Eli's Comin'" begins with Nyro singing softly. Mare layered vocals and strings. The pace picks up. Very 1960's R&B and soulful. "Stoned Soul Picnic" continues the souful, layered vocals. There's horns. She's just enjoying the music. "Emmie" goes back to the jazz. Nyro vocals are more sultry, less screamy. Strings. Delicate. And then the pace changes. It picks up and the song ends on a high note. "Women's Blues" begins in a melancholic way with horns. Nyro's is in a higher octave. The tempo changes. There's a bluesy guitar. Her vocals are toned down a notch. This is a fun song. This was a very compelling listen. Nyro's vocals can be sultry, soaring or soft. The music is jazzy, bouncey or bluesy. Both the vocals and music changes octaves, tones and styles constantly. Nyro seems to take the music and her vocals in any direction at any time...totally unpredictable. It's like listening to a free-form jazz artist or watching a classical musical symphony director. Her music appears very influential; I thought of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Rufus Wainwright. This is a tremendous album and one everyone needs to listen to.
It's fine. I wouldn't play it myself but I wouldn't complain if I heard it again. 3/5
I remember this name from back in the day and she's a fantastic singer, but jazz vocals thrill me about as much as jazz instrumentals. No thanks.
New album for me. Was only familiar with that Nyro/Labelle album and NY Tendaberry, and do not care too much about each of these records. Supposedly influenced artists like Kate Bush, Tori Amos etc. There seems to be some truth to this statement (cf. Timer) so seems worth an extra star (and Sweet Blindness is a decent song too just like a few other ones, but vocals are not for me).
Not all songs land equally well and the vocals are excellent but not completely my taste.
This is fine but I don't know why it is on this list
Her voice is like a gang of squirrels gang banging a didgeridoo.
Certainly a talented songwriter, but her voice goes from really powerful to annoying in the mere seconds. I'm not sure what it is, but there isn't enough consistenly solid vocals here for me to go back to it despite the lyrics and backing.
Aika leikkisää ja hyväntuulista. Vauhdikasta. Kivaa souljazzpop kamaa. Parhaat: Lu, The Confession
Wow! Laura made some choices here!!! Arguably too many!!!! Yikes!!!
My first impression is that the bass playing is pretty good. Checking the roster, Chuck Rainey played on this album, so this makes sense! This is not my kind of music, but the strength of the songwriting hooks you in. There are some interesting tempo changes throughout. Nyro's voice was so powerful. Having said all of that, it's not my thing.
She can play, she can sing. The composition is excruciating.
I tried to like LN, but I find her high pitch annoying and repetitive, her songs too verbose and barely any of her tunes catchy.
it's fine, has flashes of good.
It was kind of show tune-y which was fun. Her vocal style is pretty aggressive so it either hits or misses badly
Some old pop. Was very good nice voice super enjoyed it. 8/10
I wanted to like this more than I did, but it was still pretty ok. The blurb references Tori Amos and I can definitely see the connection there. Someone in my listening group also referenced Carole King which I thought was spot on, except Carole has a much better control of her voice and a much better tone. There were times when I felt Laura was singing 'as hard and loud as she could' just because it felt good to belt it out, even when the song called for a more subtle approach. A decent vibe the whole way through but no real peak/hit.
It was cool to learn about a slightly-off-the-beat female singer-songwriter putting out great music in the late 60s. This does remind me of Kate Bush, Patti Smith, others that aren't coming to mind right now. She has a great voice. I'd listen through this again!
5/5. Love the time changes and how each song feels like two full songs mixed together. The mix of jazz and pop and experimentation is done so expertly. Laura's voice is beautiful and so expressive with her range. Although some songs I am not sure what she is saying, I blame that on the production, which is normally superb on this one. Feels like Joni Mitchell but better. Best Song: Eli's Comin, Luckie, Woman's Blues
Wailing ( not in a good way), pitchy. Not my cupbofctra
Well, this was obnoxious. I wanted to like this, but by the end of the album, her voice was so grating that I was quickly losing my patience with it. Boring, unmemorable songs and a shrill voice. Ugh.
Another forgettable singer-songwriter from the late 60's - early 70's. Just listening to this it's hard to know why it is included on the list. I found myself actively waiting for it to end, which is a sure sign that this is not for me.
Lovely voice - quite a listenable album but also forgettable the minute it’s over. Also tends to be a bit repetitive. Not a bad album but definitely not much higher than average compared to some of the records on this list.
interesting. artistic
I really enjoyed this one. She's a great singer and conjures up all the 60s vibes.
Ja opzich wel mooi, zou het nog eens moeten luisteren om goed te kunnen oordelen. Lonely woman goed
First time I listened to this I thought it was great, hearing it again really blew me away. The music on this record is so soulful, creative, tightly performed, stylisticaly free and much more. A (sometimes forgotten) classic that deserves to be regarded among the best singer/songwriter albums.
This was definitely an album that won me over as it went along. The vocal harmonies are great, as is the music. It feels a bit like Tapestry by Carol King, but with a fuller sound. Really beautiful album that manages to be both big and forceful, but subtle at the same time 4/5
Who? Why? What were the other 12 confessions?
2,5
meh
Kinda like a female Tim Buckley. I like it!
Really enjoyed it. Everything about this one seemed ahead of its time. You can hear the sound that so many icons build off later. Even the cover art looks more modern than 1967. Rating: 4.7
7/25/24. Never heard of this artist. Unique voice, just thought the songs were a bit repetitive.
A bit quirky but a lot of soul in this.
Luckie 3.5 Lu 3.6 Sweet Blindness 3.4 Poverty Train 3 Lonely Women 3.1 Eli's Comin' 3.8 Timer 3.6 Stoned Soul Picnic 3.4 Emmie 3.2 Woman's Blues 3.6 Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe) 3.1 December's Boudoir 2.9 The Confession 3 Score: 3.323076923
qobuz seit soul funk r&b aber s isch meh sochli moderne jazz type? stimm chli am struggle aber die erste zwei songs sind etz no cuute. hoooly shit es isch 1968 hani erst jetz gseh da tönt huuere modern. aaaah chuck rainey am bass. poverty train isch seehr geil. eli zeigt wieder chli d limite vo ihrere stimm. timer hani am ahfang doof gfunde aber am schluss wos zwüsched grad und swing wechslet isch huere geeil. stoned sould picnic macht au wieder rhythmus wechsel zmitzt drin riuchtig geil. ihri stimmt isch chli de schwachpunkt. woman's blues recht funky once it was alright macht au wieder huuere sache immer wieder andere rhythmus.
hmmmm wiso het sie sich so gnennt? sie chan schön singe aber s erste lied isch bis jz eifach schön abe rjo ahh wobii sie het jz scho zweimal chli en pacewechsel gha, sehr cool aso me muess sege, für 1968 ischs sehrsehr ziitlosi musig baaaa bababa baaaa SCHO WIEDER poverty train recht cool lonely women coole uufbau und denn 3/4, sehr hard Eli's coming au rhythmisch wieder cool finds bis jz zwar sehr spannend, aber nüt packt mich würkli so emotional oder so farmer joe git ide erste 40 sekunde chli gäse und denn wieder öppis ganz anders. sehr sehr cool ja s wird wahrschindlich es 3. hans recht es churzwiiligs und spannends albbum gfunde mit funny rhythmik und iwie würkts nöd, wie wenns usem 1968i wär. aber ebe, schlussendlich hetmi doch wenig packt
I enjoyed this. I might come back to her occasionally. I'd never heard of her but what a voice!
That was hard, her voice did my head in. Show tube shrill
Some of these tunes are great, her change of rhythm and how she annunciates certain things, she's different. For the most part, splendid. Drags a _little_but really good.
Very surprisingly good
first listen. It's nice very pleasant
Just wanna start off by saying there are pictures of her in which she looks hauntingly like Clairo??? Anyways, I respect this record a lot, her performances are full of life. Sweet Blindness probably the favorite for me. Will I go back to this album often? Probably not, but I still respect it. I wonder why Laura never got the mass legacy appeal someone like Carol King did. These songs have a pretty similar standard quality
Sounds like it could've been released yesterday, ultra timeless
I'd never heard of her & such a tragic life story but I'm afraid it's not an album I'll ever get in to
Dinner Party Muzak
This is what Joni Mitchell sounds like when you're not in the mood for Joni Mitchell.
Laura Nyro is another artist I know of, but have never taken the time to listen to. I had some preconceived ideas what she would sound like, maybe a Greenwich Village folky somewhere between Joan Baez and Canadian, Joni Mitchell, but much to my surprise she sounded nothing like that. It is an album full of energy and vigor and moves towards a " show tune-y" sound. There's lots of brass and strings and Nyro on piano, so no folk guitars necessary. It was somewhat better than I expected and she's no doubt a talented songwriter and performer. Not for all tastes, me included, but it was definitely worth a listen.
Big. Nothing calm here, nothing laid back. Not a sip but getting pretty buzzed. You'll recognize Eli's Comin' and Stoned Soul picnic, testaments to her writing skills, but also how just a step back allows you to hear them a little better. How did Farmer Joe not become a hit? Might need a step back. Oh, and I am in love with that face and the script.
She sometimes has a touch of the Carole King about her. I like Eli’s Comin’ and commend her on her vocal agility. It’s good to hear something I’ve never heard before so that was welcome but I’m not going to listen to get again.
I thank her for Stoned Soul Picnic, but am not a fan of anything else on this album. Her voice elicits an ‘uncanny valley’ reaction from me.
As a general rule, I think I like adventurous, unconventional songwriting. But the fits and starts and careening compositions of this record were too much for me, and as the album played there was a predictable unpredictability that got a bit aggravating.
i was not expecting to have such a visceral reaction to this. The music might actually be pretty good (each song features a lot of unexpected tempo and stylistic changes), but I can't tell because the singer won't shut up for even a second to let the music breathe. if i didn't hate the sound of her voice, it might not have bothered me so much, but, well. are we sure this isn't an SNL skit?
Some classic songs. Enjoyable.
Later on July 10th... HL: "Lu", “Poverty Train”, “Eli’s Coming”, "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Emmie" Too bad this didn't pop up earlier, delightful listen
When I first saw the cover, my initial impressions were that this album was probably newer. I guess I didn’t pay attention to the date, because I was surprised to see 1968 as the year. My surprise was furthered after hearing it. This album is a lot of things. Progressive pop and soul mixed with jazz isn’t necessarily anything I haven’t heard before. But I don’t think anybody had done it to this level of complexity and pulled it off as well up until this point. The weather was weird today. Gray and overcast, but humid and sticky. I think the sound of this reflects that feeling pretty well. It’s not completely lifeless and sad. It’s actually kind of upbeat at some points. But it’s still very beautiful, serene and at many times solemn. This woman single-handedly reminds me of multiple other people. She’s like a 60s infused PJ Harvey combined with Joni Mitchell and Nina Simone backed by a jazz band. Her vocal variety especially makes me think about the latter two. The actual music here is pretty awesome though. This mix of jazz and pop kind of feels ahead of its time. Again, I can’t think of another artist that was pulling this off back then. Joni was around, but her career had literally just started. And I like the way this progresses and how the time signatures, rhythms, and melodies are constantly switching. Although the transition between said passages are a little too jarring and not as fluid as I would hope they’d be. But this is still an engaging album. It won me over very quickly, and was interesting from beginning to end. Rating: 7/10
It is an entertaining album. Not a special one to be honest, but it’s one of those that gives depth to a movement. I loved Laura’s voice. She seems quite a character. I can picture her with Joni and Judee. I will definitely go back to these songs. Note: this was written following a “stream of conscience” approach. Apologies for the vagueness and non apparent connection between ideas
Great mix of soul, jazz, pop brought together by a legend in her youth
I'll admit up front, I didn't really give this thing the proper time and attention that it—that any album, of course—deserves. Much like back when my group got COLES CORNER, for some reason I thought it'd be a good idea to try and listen to this thing in the same room where my mom was cleaning and blasting her own music from the TV. I mean, heck, even in the moment, I realized very quickly that there's only so much you can pick up on when "Houdini" and "The Real Slim Shady" are blaring right next to you, but thanks to the pure stubbornness I had for not wanting to listen to Eminem right then... The only part I remember fully picking up on (and it was only after I finally moved somewhere quieter) was the final vocal hit of the last song, and... I'unno. There was just something about the way it sounded that hit me the wrong way. Enough so that I didn't even bother giving this thing a second listen, so I'm writing this mostly based on samples and scrubbing around fan YouTube uploads. To be honest, I don't think this album's bad, really. It's a collection of soul-y late-60's tunes, very far away from the pretension I imagined I'd be in for thanks to the "folk jazz" genre label on Wikipedia. Normally, I'm very into this sorta thing. I dig Aretha Franklin, after all. And I can't say there aren't a few spots where I did find this thing kind of beautiful, even through the noise of "Mockingbird" and "What's The Difference?". On the whole, though... Look, I hate to parrot opinions, but there's just something about her voice sometimes, man. It leaves me very unenthusiastic to wanna revisit this thing. Now, I don't think I'm asking for a perfect voice here. I know I'm used to hearing voices digitally modified to be flawless, but I can recognize how much charm there is in the little human errors. That's what makes this shit alive, man. That's where the soul is! Or something like that. But Nyro here... I can tell when she wants to hit the big notes like Aretha does. She just can't manage them, though. In those moments, she sounds like Cher. I only just now realized that as I was writing this, but yeah: she sounds like Cher sometimes. And the thing is, Cher sounds like that **all the time**, so I'm at least able to let her get away with being unique. Nyro keeps fluctuating, though, and I suppose I can respect the fact that she's not trying to put on a voice, but I just wish she'd stick in one lane or the other. Now, I'd kinda feel bad about giving her a low rating. After all, from everything I've seen, she's clearly someone very influential who just didn't get her public due at the time. The album wasn't a commercial hit, but it did influence people like Elton John and Todd Rundgren, and in 2020 Rolling Stone named it one of the 500 greatest albums of all time. A more famous, well-known "greatest album"—like, I'unno, as an off-the-dome example, TALKING HEADS: 77—had to be kicked out entirely for this to be here. That's not nothing. And it's not like any of that means it should get an automatic five stars from me, but... I liked enough parts of it that I can't go lower than a 3. I don't like her voice, but again, there parts I **did** find kind of beautiful. It's just that this feels like the least enthusiastic 3 I've given since... COLES CORNER, funny enough. So I guess I didn't really miss too much when parts were drowned out by "Venom".
Has some nice songs, but is a little bit forgettable. It's a 3.5 but I'll bump it up to 4.
I’m at a 3.5 that I just don’t think I can round up to a 4. Really, the biggest thing this album has going against it is a lack of complete consistency. I’m not opposed to bucking traditionalism and having wild tempo shifts and mood shifts within individual songs, because when this album does it, it usually does it remarkably well, and tends to make sense within the lyrics of each track. It just never keeps a model of consistency in the quality of those shifts, and it stems entirely from her vocals. Her vocals, for most of this album, are usually pretty good, but there are times when, much like the compositions themselves, it just strains a little too far one way or the other to the point of either breaking, or sounding a little shaky. It’s very apparent when she tries to do those stair step vocals to pitch up or pitch down; it’s not consistent, and it’s not as clean as one would hope. Regardless, though, her vocals don’t ruin the songs at all, they’re just noticeable in a way that doesn’t vibe with my musical sensibilities. I love having vocalists blend in perfectly to the music, and she just doesn’t do it consistently enough here to overlook it. With all of that said, I think the instrumentals are great, the lyrics are a little weird at times (what in the fuck is “Decembery ice” other than a desperately needed adjective-noun pair) but mostly pretty solid, and the vibes of the album are good. I really did enjoy most of this album, and I’d honestly recommend it; someone will absolutely overlook all of these perceived flaws and just vibe out. For me, though, it’s just not consistent enough to bump up to a 4, and it certainly never gets anywhere near a 5 as a complete project. If I could keep it at a 3.5, I would, but I’m gonna leave it at a 3.
I only knew Laura from a reference in an indie punk album, so I kinda assumed she was an underground modern singer songwriter, not knowing this was from the 60s. It’s really good! Catchy, interesting voice, some of the songs are really fun. I think it’s a little too smothered in 1960s styling that’s distracting.
3 Stars (8/15)
If you told me this was made a few decades later than it was, I would believe you. I guess that's a good thing it has going for it. Otherwise, it was pretty boring. Best for me to stop here because I could fall asleep just thinking about this album any longer...
A singular talent at her peak. Mixing shades of soul , jazz, tin pan alley and baroque pop into a unique stew.
Kannte ich gar nicht. Kann man sich aber anhören.
Way better than I thought it would be
Musically pretty nice, but not really fan of the vocals.
It’a pretty cool but don’t think I’ll listen to it again
Had never heard of this, has some Tapestry vibes at times. Pretty cool, might come back to this.
This album is full of soft music like you'd hear as live music while enjoying a drink. I enjoyed this album quite a lot.
Wowee! What a find! Like a mix of Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Carole King. I’m not sure why I’ve never heard of her before. Incredible voice! 4.5
A wonderful album of soulful, jazzy, doo-wop influenced songs. I love these midsong tempo and time signature changes. And her voice is stunning. Powerful and strong and beautiful. She has some moments where she reminds me of Joni Mitchell. How has Laura Nyro not been a name I’ve been hearing for years? This is great.
I totally judged this album by it's cover and thought that this would be some early 2000's millenial singer songwriter. I appreciate the sound as being a bridge between 60's/70s singer songwriter piano pop rock and more modern iterations of that sound, like Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor. It certainly has that confident sound that isn't afraid of changing time signatures or tempos or feels to get a good lyric across. The sum of these cool ideas though is a sound that fell a little flat to me however. I consistently felt like I wanted more and more and was curious when more would come and it never really did.
A wonderful voice, an interesting artist, and someone I will be returning to - all her stuff is on my "after the list" list
A mix of soul, pop, jazz - it's like a weirder Carol King Tapestry. Sounds like a 70's album but made in the late 60's. It's just great! Best Tracks: Luckie; Lu; Stoned Soul Picnic
My initial, very catty response is, "Mom's gotten into the wine again," but that's way too dismissive, isn't it? It's not like it's poorly performed; Laura fucking goes for it at every opportunity. Unfortunately, that leads to some ear fatigue, as the extremely lively blend of pop, jazz, and soul is, well, *extremely* lively. At the beginning of the record, it reminded me of the Motown girl groups. At the end, it's just... Very theatrical and showtune-y. Favorite track: "Lonely Women"
Enjoyed this one from start to finish. She has one of those classic 60's voices that is easy on the ears. The backing instrumentals were also well performed. No individual song really stood out to me but none also made me want it to end. Nit sure how much I will come back to this one but happy we got to heat it.
I wanted to like this one, but everytime I started to enjoy a song the style switched up in some belty piece that didn't it. This is a 2.5 to me rounded down cause of the disappointment.
big fan, never heard of her before but i liked this album a lot
A phenomenal singer and songwriter who deserves to be here and more widely recognized.
This album sounds like taking a springtime walk through Central Park with your manic pixie dream girl friend.
I wish I liked it more!
Really nice voice and eclectic musical style. I can see how she influenced a lot of other artisits.
Really cool album, blends a lot of influences seamlessly - nice listen
I knew she was from NYC before looking her up. I don't even know what I picked up on, but for some reason this screams NYC to me. It's not boring, but it's not really my thing. I don't really care for "be impressed by how long I can hold this note" music.
This one caught me off guard. It's pretty weird. Part soul, part folk, part show tunes. It's hard for me to score it because I'm not sure how often I'll go back to it. But it was pretty cool overall, and I liked a lot of it. Plus, I like that it felt like a big swing.
I don’t know why I was expecting this to be a folk album. It’s more of jazzy, soul-ish pop record, with a definite late 60’s sound. It has it moments, but it feels a bit like listening to the soundtrack of a Broadway show that I have no reference for or idea what it is about, so I’m just going to chose to believe that it’s a concept record about Eli Manning.
Made me think of Sesame Street of my childhood most of the time - seems like the kind of soundtrack befitting the show. The rest of the time it was kind of annoying - can't put my finger on why, possibly just her voice.
Nice. Reminded me a little of Rickie lee Jones.
I can definitely see that she is definitely a muse for some of my favorite musicians, and there are glimmers of perfection. when she starts talking about cocaine?? amazing. but I just don't particularly care for the parts that the 1970's singer/songwriters overused. Interesting but probably not anything I'd listen to.
This was good, it was kind of all over the place. I couldn't really pin down her style into one category. A decent album from an artist I had never heard of.
The fact that this album was overlooked by most of the contemporaries tells me everything I need to know about the late '60s. Actually, the music is quite nice. Nothing stellar, or groundbreakting, but a couple of good, jazz informed songs where the piano and rhythm section are - apart from Nyro's singing - the most prominent instruments. So.... what's not to like?!? 3.5/5
Never heard her before, I like it. Solid, powerful vocals and having a good time it sounds like. One to revisit
Average nice.
Ok
This was really not a style I enjoyed.
Beautiful voice, not my scene
In a word: excruciating. Did enjoy stoned soul picnic.
Felt like a broadway musical soundtrack but she didn't have strong enough vocals for it to work
Very good songwriting throughout, some wonderful songs (stone souled picnic and woman's blues were my favorites). She has a wonderful voice too, hard to believe this came out in 1968, very easy to tell she was a large influence on many songwriters to follow. 4.5/5
Nice sound
I just don't understand what this album is supposed to be. It has so many genres, from Broadway show tunes to lounge jazz and everything in between. They are genres you have to be in the mood for which makes listening to the whole album really difficult. The RnB/soul tracks were actually quite good, but there were only 2 of them. The rest, despite being exceptionally well produced, were messy and chaotic in composure her voice, whilst occasionally very good is also very grating at times. This one was a really tough listen.
Really good listen. Sort of timeless - could have been from any decade and I wouldn't have guessed 60s. A pleasure.
was gonna be rated higher for the namedrop of me, but then it got a little jesusy towards the end and lost a star. She can sing though. I wonder why she's not more popular.
What a great voice. Really solid arrangements too. This album sounds very modern and forward thinking for something that came out in the 60s honestly
Very bluesy - I liked it
🎧I tired really hard with this album, and perhaps two stars is a bit unfair. Nyro has a beautiful voice and a swaggeringly confident delivery, but as a whole this record doesn’t work for me. Stoned Soul Picnic and Farmer Joe are nice songs. It’s when Nyro gets into the free-form scat-like delivery that she loses me.
Vaguely interesting. Seems like it was probable more notable at the time.
4.0
Gran voz y buenas canciones que no llegan a ser adictivas.
good voice, some songs were pretty good but it’s not something i’d usually wanna listen to, i can understand the appeal but it was just decent to me
Well made, but not my thing.
I prefer the soulful, singer-songwriter Laura Nyro to the "funky", Mamas and the Papa's style tracks that make up too much of this album. Diminishes the timeless effect her voice can have.
solid 3.5 Sunny 60s
Better than I expected! High 3.
I like the songs but it sounds a little too "broadway" for me.
This was a really good album but like To Pimp a Butterfly, or Nina Simone, I think it was difficult to listen to. While it was not easy, it was a very good album there was a cool mix of folk and jazz. I really liked the vocal harmonies, the horn parts. and the acoustic guitar picking. Listening to this I could hear the influence on people like Carol King, Joni Mitchell, and even Brittany Howard's first solo album. I’m not sure I would ever truly just throw this album for fun on but it was clearly really good, really interesting, and like nothing I’ve ever heard before. This is also the first album we heard where I would say there was a music theater vibe sometimes but NOT in a bad way like on the other albums.
If you don't like this, you don't have ears.
Minnir á Carole King, en er eldri en Tapestry. Mér finnst þetta bæði töff og skemmtilegt, og mjög næs hljóðheimur.
Ok
This was a decade before Kate Bush. A better voice than what Carol King would do in the seventies too. About what Joni Mitchell was doing on the West Coast but on the east Coast and, again, a better voice too. The songs are challenging for a first listen. They don't jump off the page. But the voice is unique and interesting. Its not always enjoyable but its a very interesting record.
This is why I love this project. Finding new artists that had passed me by first time around. A mix of Dusty Springfield and Joni Mitchell with a sprinkle of Karen Carpenter, Laura Nyro has it all.
As a musical! Respect!
Not bad.
Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is the second album by the American singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It is her most accessible and famous work, but the follow-up album was more commercially successful. This loose pop album contains many elements from other genres such as soul, R&B, gospel, jazz, and rock. Its legacy has inspired as well as produced hit cover songs for many other artists. This was a beautiful album packed with soul and passion. Laura Nyro is an expert singer songwriter and her piano skills compliment the tracks amazingly. If you're the type of listener that enjoys a solo artist, then this album must be on your to listen list. RIP Laura Nyro.
Nope, don’t like her voice at all. This one is not made for me.
Never heard any of this album but dug it and thought it had a great vibe. Funky and upbeat. Really fun.
Nice voice, tori Amos reminiscent
4.5
It was pretty soothing, I'd listen to it again
Too Jazzy for me.
A bit too show-tuney for my taste
7/10 Highlights: Lu Sweet Blindness Poverty Train
what i love about laura nyro is her songwriting. particularly i adore how her songwriting sort of meanders left and right, switching up tempos all the time, almost as if the music is going with the wind. so many of these songs will start off slow, soft, intimate, and then explode into an uptempo soul groove - or vice versa. not only that, but her melodies are incredible and so is her voice. the arrangements on this one are equally spectacular. i understand if you don't dig the brill building vibe of this one, it's definitely a bit dramatic, but to me this is truly one of the pinnacles of songwriting on display. sophistication at its finest!
not my thing but good
Meh
Up and down
A nice jazzy album. Laura Nyro has a beautiful voice. The opening track is great. Some songs do sound kinda dated; I'm not a fan of 70s-esque horn sections. Sometimes it feels like Nyro is over singing, like a cliche show off singer. But generally the album is a pleasant listening experience.
soul Lite
At its best when it's doing a Supremes kind of Motown thing with a horn section, backing singers and some lively bass. At its worst when it verges into Broadway territory with story-telling ballad style, or when it goes all schmaltzy slow and sparse and flutey. An incredible, if kind of nasal, voice with a huge range, but that includes a very annoying piercing high-range she spends lots of time in.
Det här är fan riktigt bra alltså. Vilket sväng och vilken röst
Pop-soul-jazz. Agradable. Ni fu ni fa.
Blue-eyed soul. Qué voz tan bonita.
She had a beautiful and soulful voice but overall it just didn't do it for me. It felt like an outfit with just one to many details. If you could have taken off one bow or random jazz rift I think I would have really enjoyed it.
I like her vibe and energy but don’t really love her voice. It was hard to get past that the more I listened to it. I do like experiencing the 60s through a woman’s lens though.
"Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" by Laura Nyro is a bold and ambitious album that showcases Nyro's exceptional songwriting and unique vocal style. Released in 1968, the album features a blend of soul, jazz, and pop, with Nyro's introspective lyrics and passionate delivery at the forefront. Nyro's songwriting on this album is nothing short of brilliant, with songs like "Eli's Comin'" and "Stoned Soul Picnic" standing out as highlights. Her ability to infuse her songs with emotion and depth is truly remarkable. While some may find the album's production a bit dated, especially compared to modern standards, its timeless quality and Nyro's undeniable talent make it a classic in the singer-songwriter genre. Overall, "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" is a captivating and unforgettable album that deserves a listen from fans of thoughtful, soulful music.
I feel like I just listened to the story arc of a contestant on American Idol. A talented vocalist showing off her technical skills on a series of somewhat uninspiring songs. I’m not mad I listened to it, but I’m pretty sure I will quickly forget what I heard.
Wow, I loved this album. Loved the jazzy soul mix with at times a sprinkling of Broadway-esque sound. Great talent for songwriting (several notable covers of her songs) and vocals. I will listen to this again. Edit: I listened to this at least 3x.
It was fine.
This is the definition of ‘nice’ It’s probably also the definition of ‘won’t remember it’ and ‘won’t listen again’ but it was a pleasant soundtrack while walking in the rain.
She sounds incredibly like Carole King but these songs had more of a 60s pop formula to them. Similar to Nick, pheasant enough but didn't grab me
Why is this here? The vocals are so annoying and get unintentionally funny at parts. Also every song sounds the same. Just bad.
It's like the original Fiona Apple. Pretty ahead of her time.
Enjoyed this one.
Итс окэй. Лучшая песня - Eli’s Comin’
never crossed paths with this before and not quite sure where it fits in
Eli’s Coming and Stone Soul Picnic are classics.
Talented singer and groovy songs even though I hadn’t heard of her before
4+/5
Although this was not her first album, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession often feels like Laura Nyro's introduction to the world. Her compositional style and otherworldly vocalization become the backbone to an album that often changes up genres on the whim while keeping to the jazz and soul template at hand. It may not be for most but there are plenty of gems that's just waiting to be found. Favorites: Luckie, Lu, Poverty Train, Eli's Coming, Stoned Soul Picnic, Emmie, Woman's Blues, Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe).
First time with this one. I have heard some of the songs done as covers by other artists. Laura's vocals are spot on and musicianship is very well done. Definitely hear the jazz, blues, and gospel influences. I tend toward the more bluesy numbers. I will be checking out some of Laura's other releases. Good listen.
Yeh yeh yeh
Great vocal album. Some of it sounds modern. Strongest in the "soul" moments.
Don’t love her vocal style. It has a up-and-down downstop and start nature that makes me feel like I’m stuck in musical traffic. It’s a quality that sometimes put me off of Joni Mitchell. Other than that there’s nothing objectionable.
While this album was too much for me, I could hear the musical shifting from much of what was happening in the 60s to what became the singer songwriters of the 70s. I did hear influences on Kate Bush, which was interesting to compare how much I enjoy Kate Bush and did not greatly appreciate this album.
70's singer-songwriter. I'd never heard of Laura Nyro before but I'm quite familiar with a few of the songs on this album via cover versions (esp. Eli's Coming and Stoned Soul Picnic). As a songwriter she's excellent, with a wide variety of themes and interesting melodies -- I especially like some of the creative tempo and rhythm choices. As a performer she's indifferent and very inconsistent across songs. Sometimes she sounds very nice (like a somewhat harder rocking Carole King) but in too many instances her voice either gets too nasal and whiny, or screechy. I love the songs but she can't reliably carry them off so I won't spend time listening to these versions of them again.
There were individual moments that I liked. But no single song made me want to return to this. Completely fine. 3/5
Man there’s barely 3 seconds where this lady isn’t yapping. The songs are annoying. Not for me.
Mixing soul, pop and folk in a massively impressive way. Laura Nyros voice is incredible. Her vocal range allows her to do so much and gives great amounts of diversity to the actual sound of the music itself. You can see why and where she became so iconic as a songwriter.
I really liked one song ("Stoned Soul Picnic", and it really is a banger/earworm), but the rest I just couldn't get into. As other reviewers note, her voice is all over the place, and the songs are too jazzy/schmalzy/show-tunes-y.
Enjoyed her voice, started off well with silky city sound, then lost itself.
Shrieking, disco-stank, blue-eyed soul? Gross. Nyro's complete inability to sing a melody line without stumbling all over the scale like a drunkard on a boat? Angering. The fact that this was included on the list and we are therefore obliged to sit through 45 minutes of wailing nonsense? Criminal.
2.5 her voice is great and the sound quality is phenomenal but it just seems to be trying too much
euh ja was geen groot fan
I liked this more than I thought I would from the first couple of songs. I like the way that the songs jump around a bit, the rhythmic & lyrical structure was a bit unpredictable and I enjoyed that.
2/5. Not my thing.
"Lonely Women" is good, but otherwise this ranges from "nice enough" to "meh."
pretty decent, Laura has a nice swing tone to her vocals and its used really well at the start of the album, other than the rest of the album hasn't quite stuck for me
This is really cool. I dig the time changes and movement going on. The singing too. This one of those that I’m going to go 4 because while I need to spend more time with it I can feel how amazing it is. Felt like Todd Rundgren’s Wizard. But it predates that, along with a lot of stuff that is obviously inspired by it. Gonna have to come back to this one.
La característica pop es esencial en este disco ya que la voz siempre mantiene un elemento protagónico en todo momento. Todos los arreglos se deben a la vocalista y los cambios de ritmo y de estilo hacen muy interesante la macrodinámica del album. Tiene arreglos y armonías muy jazzisticass combinados con arreglos vocales del góspel. Sin embargo, muchas veces presenta arreglos de soul y blues
I may be a tad generous rating this one, but I am trying to influence the curve. Laura is a very underrated songwriter and performer and he blend of folk, jazz and soul is quite unique. Listen to this and the. A greatest hits collection.
Nope. Hate it.
Obviously a talented singer, but not my style of music 2.5
Strong no from me.
Okay album. Wasn’t the biggest fan of Laura’s choice of harmony with the music being played, but enjoyed the instrumentals. Jazz and blues elements.
Great voice, but not gonna give this another go.
Excellent, really holds up after decades.
Never heard of this. The album cover is wild because I can’t place the year by looking at it. Could have been last year, could have been the 70s, but instead 1968. I’m expecting Americana singer-songwriter. Let’s see what we got. Luckie - Well, hello soul. Burt Bacharach style noodlings. Didn’t see that coming. That hits it outta the park. 4/5 Lu - this song is kinda a mess. It just kinda flies apart. 1/5 Sweet Blindness - some real strange time signatures here. It’s very intriguing. It’s like a twisted version of bubble gum for weird hippies. 4/5 Poverty Train - oh I thought this was gonna be a blues song. The lyrics are kinda dark, aren’t they? This album is like Mr Bungle’s lost soul album, the songs flip through so many time signatures. Talk about experimental. 3/5 Lonely Women - it’s like she wants to be a blues singer. I wonder how much of this album is just some serious stoned noodling caught on tape. And suddenly it’s a completely different song. 3/5 Eli’s Comin’ - fuck please keep Eli away from me. Just kidding. This song is some serious soul power. 4/5 Timer - it’s about here where the schizophrenia is wearing thin. 2/5 Stoned Soul Picnic - is this pulling together as a normal song? Yes … yes … nope. Man is this a great song though. Is this a 5/5? Umm, yes, I’m committing to 5/5. Emmie - there’s a thin line between a genius song and something that seems to just chase its own tail. I guess you can’t make an omelette without some cracked eggs. 1/5 Woman’s Blues - another soul banger 3/5 Once It Was Alright Now - well this was going somewhere and then the ol’ switcheroo. It goes back and forth. It’s like 2 songs stitched together. 3/5 December’s Boulder - another song that just keeps spinning and goes no where. 1/5 The Confession - is that a Donna Summer lyric? This is a good ending to the album. I thought it was gonna just peter out, but instead she nails it here at the end. 4/5 Boy this was an exciting listen. I’m never getting that experience back again. I’ve literally never heard anything quite like this. It’s exhilarating to hear something so fearlessly creative. Can I even rate this accurately? It cries out for several re-listens before I can even evaluate it well. Honestly I wanna give it a 4/5 just because of how wild it is. It could honestly become a 5/5, or it could wear thin and go as low as a 2/5. 4/5 it is!
I tried and wanted to like it, but couldn’t. I did like the tone of her voice though.
Even though Laura Nyro has a good voice, I don't think her way of singing suits me well, especially when she bellows and goes up. It sounds too theatrical to me, and that's a shame, because the songs are quite good. I think the instrumentation is quite worthwhile, but it remains a challenge for me to listen to it in a relaxed manner. So, to be fair, I could do without this album (actually, most of hers) A matter of taste probably. Today, I tried again for the 1001 Album Challenge, but I was glad when I finished listening.
I would rate it 3.5 just for the range it has. it's different enough from the other music of the late 60s and it takes you on a journey – none of the songs end where they began. the problem is that I'm not the biggest fan of the destination
Not for me
Quite good.
Blue-eyed soul. Qué voz tan bonita.
In the tradition of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon, a strong songwriter with a more soft rock, soul-tinged, jazzy tunes, with a great vocal range, but not quite as tightly executed as the others. This was nonetheless a pleasant surprise. Stoned Soul Picnic and The Confession are my favorites.
Nyro manages to demonstrate an impressive lack of musical talent on this uninteresting, inartistic, inoffensive, and technically unimpressive album. It is certainly music, but Nyro does not have the actual musical abilities to make anything on the album sound good. I probably wouldn't be jumping to turn the music off if I heard this album again, but I definitely won't be listening to it again any time soon.
One of my favourite things about music is that it can have this ability to transport your mind to somewhere else. In this case, this album made me think cinema. Specifically Tarantino. A bunch of these songs felt like they were written with film in mind.. Or perhaps Tarantino just directs and writes scenes with this type of music as the soundrack to those scenes. I got a jazzy, bluesy, soulful... Maybe even gospel feel to it. Song's about romance, love, drugs, hardships and poverty. It felt very real and honest. I will admit that the album had to grow on me. Poverty Train and Lonely Women changed my initial thoughts on this record. It was a pleasant listen. There are some things I don't really care for, the vocals, as beautiful as they often are, a lot of the vocal runs sound unnecessary, the vocals are very forward in the mix and often frown out the other instruments. But her vocals are great none the less. From brash, and angry to subtle, timid and beautiful. Great listen.
Nothing special or memorable, forgot all about it 5 minutes after it ended. [0136/1001]
Wikipedia gives the genre as Blue-Eyed Soul / Folk Jazz and I would agree. Laura Nyro has a great voice but the album is boring.
Never heard of her. At times almost funky and interesting. At other times piercing and grating.
Pop agradável e descartável.
Interesting songs. Can't get past her whiney voice.
nice, but a little bit lacking in variety
Pretty chill. Jazzy.
This is a perfect album to put on in the background of an intimate dinner party (complimentary)
Very interesting listen. Doesn't sound too dissimilar to me to other artists on the stranger end of the folk/soul spectrum (like Bobbie Gentry, who we're not getting to on this list) but you can also see the seeds being planted for today's singer-songwriters (especially LDR to my ears?) too.
Gives immediate Carol King as a lounge singer vibes. Lu and Sweet Blindness are fun little bops. Eli's Coming is pretty great too. Overall, an upbeat album with string and horn arrangments under piano-led tunes.
Really interesting mix of tempos and moods that probably wouldn't work as well for a less gifted singer
totally new to me, never even heard the name before, it vibes though
So impressed at the production quality, I never would have guessed this was more than half a century old. Beautiful, strong and yet sultry singing voice.
Manche Songs sind nicht schlecht, aber grundsätzlich nervt mich ihre Stimme meistens eher. 3.4/10
Not my style
I love Laura Nyro's greatest hits album. I've listened to it many times. This is the first time listening to one of her studio albums. I was going to give this a 4/5 as I don't like the slow, stripped down songs as much, and her voice can get a bit shrill on the high notes. But I listened to it again this morning, and I think I was just being too critical. There are plenty enough great songs here to push this up to a 5/5. Did she lift "she got the way to move me" on Emmie from Neil Diamond's Cherry, Cherry? Favorites: Lu, Sweet Blindness, Stoned Soul Picnic, Eli's Comin'.
Never heard of this artist beforehand but really enjoyed this! Will be revisiting a lot in the future
Hadn't heard of this artist and so glad this introduced me to them!
Pretty nice throwback that I've never heard of.
It's certainly interesting. Like a hippy acid and weed fueled backtrack to the 60's and early 70's, but done by a lounge singer. Every now and then it feels like I could be listening to The Carpenters.
Classic, bluesy. A writer's showcase. Hits made bigger by other artists.
This album sounds like it should be accompanying a movie. It just felt like there was always something going on other than the music. Maybe it’s because the music was a bit generic and felt like it needed more. The girls voice was pretty good but it needed more. 4.6/10
Really blown away, such a groovy unique record that sounds like it could’ve come out decades after the actual 1968 release. The production is so crisp and clear it’s almost unbelievable. Thick horn barrages, driving piano beats, this album is sick. Did a bit of reading on Laura Nyro too and was astonished by the influence she holds on so many incredible artists. Listening to this it’s really no surprise, but I’m ashamed for not having known of her prior to this. At least I do now! Thank you album generator! Top tracks: Luckie, Lu, Sweet Blindness, Eli’s Comin’, Timer, Stoned Soul Picnic, Woman’s Blues, The Confession
Gets a little too into ballads at time but it’s got so many cool aspects. I’m giving it a 5 for be going so cool and existing before 1970
Per me, inascoltabile!
Gotta love women. Lu, luckie, and timer are my fav
I'm not gonna lie, Nyro's voice irritates the hell out of me. Some of the lyrics are not bad, but that voice and the sort of jazz derived rhythms are grating and difficult. It's like a completely opposite take to someone like an Eva Cassidy whose voice is in a very similar notal range and jazz derived style, but instead is completely soothing, lush, powerful, and gorgeous. In short, I can see why Nyro never was met with the success that she felt she deserved. Now do yourself a favor and listen to Cassidy absolutely NAILING a jazz standard: https://open.spotify.com/track/3k42wvwwogIJyZ4HK5YswY?si=bf6e381748e7423a
I've never heard of Laura Nyro, but her last name makes me think of those weird meat sandwiches you find at the state fair. I think it's lamb, but you never know what you're eating at those gatherings. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised with this album, the gospel-innfused jazz vocals and the up tempo of the first few tracks really won me over. Though once it settled down into a more Carpenters-esque songs it kinda fell off.
Laura Nyro’s music doesn’t sound like the album cover for “Eli and the Thirteenth Confession.” That cover screams sultry, smoky, jazz-influenced singer-songwriter. That girl on the cover looks like she has a great voice. But I don’t really care for Laura Nyro’s voice on those first few faster R&B tracks. When things slowed down and got jazzier or folkier, it worked a bit better.
This was a fun little number. I liked the upbeat jazzy feel. And the wind instruments. It feels like a throwback to a long forgotten era.
Fine stuff, not really familiar with Nyo's work but I enjoyed it well enough, nothing really standoutish though
Amazing to see how many artists found huge success with her work. She must have been a captivating performer.
Not a fan of her voice. I think she's like Joan Baez or someone like that. Talented and good, but it just doesn't sound great in my ears. Eli's Coming but Three Dog Night did it much better. Standouts: Lucky, Eli's Coming, Emmie, December's Boudoir
The fourteenth confession: I'm not feeling it.
Album Review: Eli and the Thirteenth Confession – Laura Nyro Going into this, I had never heard of Laura Nyro before, so I was genuinely curious to explore Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. It turned out to be a really interesting listen—definitely not what I was expecting. The album has a theatrical, expressive quality to it that feels almost like a stage performance. While many of the songs are strong in their own right, I found myself preferring some of the versions I've heard covered by other artists. There’s no doubt Nyro was a bold and unique talent, but the showy, dramatic tone didn’t fully connect with me.
Passabler Folk Jazz.
In terms intimate and exuberant. Nyro had a gift for songwriting and a gorgeous voice. Always one of my favorites!
Not for me.
The voice is okay. She has better songs on other albums. This was just okay. The meter changes weren't really that interesting, just disorienting.
Good jazz
I love curvy Jewish bisexual potheads so this was extremely My Thing.
Improv Jazz club vibe
very similar blues number, easy listening, but I didn't have a song that popped out
Laura Nyro has an incredible voice and the quality of the production I found surprising for a 60s record. It's not really my thing but respect for the talent
She has a beautiful voice and can sing, but many times I wished there was more background music to support the vocals. Stand-out: Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe)
Lyrics: Pros: Poetic Depth: Nyro's lyrics on "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" are a masterclass in poetic depth and emotional resonance. She weaves intricate narratives that explore themes of love, identity, and societal issues. Each song is a lyrical journey that invites the listener into Nyro's introspective and often enigmatic world. Emotional Authenticity: Nyro's lyrics are deeply personal and reflective of her own experiences. The emotional authenticity in her words resonates with listeners, creating a profound connection. Songs like "Emmie" and "Eli's Comin'" are prime examples of Nyro's ability to convey complex emotions through her poetic expressions. Cons: Obscurity of Meaning: At times, Nyro's lyrics can be cryptic and open to interpretation. While this ambiguity adds a layer of intrigue, it may also pose a challenge for some listeners who prefer more straightforward storytelling. The abstract nature of her lyrics could potentially alienate those seeking more concrete narratives. Music: Pros: Innovative Song Structures: Nyro's approach to songwriting is refreshingly innovative. She plays with unconventional song structures, incorporating unexpected shifts in melody and rhythm. This experimentation keeps the music engaging and challenges traditional expectations, setting Nyro apart from her contemporaries. Diverse Musical Influences: The album seamlessly blends various musical genres, including jazz, soul, pop, and rock. This eclecticism adds a unique flavor to each track, making the listening experience dynamic and unpredictable. Nyro's ability to draw from a wide range of influences showcases her musical prowess. Cons: Complexity may be Overwhelming: The intricate musical arrangements might be overwhelming for some listeners. Nyro's compositions are layered and demand active engagement. Those seeking more straightforward, easily digestible music might find the complexity of the arrangements challenging to navigate. Production: Pros: Innovative Production Techniques: "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" features innovative production techniques that were ahead of its time. The use of multi-tracked vocals, unconventional instrumentation, and creative studio effects contribute to the album's distinct sound. The production enhances the overall artistry of the music. Attention to Detail: The meticulous attention to detail in the production is evident throughout the album. From subtle background nuances to bold sonic choices, every element is carefully crafted. This attention to detail enhances the immersive quality of the listening experience, allowing the audience to discover new layers with each playthrough. Cons: Period-Specific Sound: While the production was groundbreaking in the late '60s, some elements might sound dated to modern ears. The sonic characteristics of the era, such as certain vocal effects and recording techniques, might pose a barrier for listeners accustomed to contemporary production aesthetics. Themes: Pros: Exploration of Femininity: Nyro's exploration of femininity, love, and identity is a standout theme on the album. She challenges traditional gender roles and societal expectations, presenting a feminist perspective that was progressive for its time. Songs like "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Sweet Blindness" embody this thematic exploration. Social Commentary: Beyond personal themes, Nyro engages in social commentary, addressing issues like racial inequality and societal unrest. The relevance of these themes persists, adding a timeless quality to the album's lyrical content. Cons: Potential Overload of Themes: The album covers a broad spectrum of themes, which, while enriching the listening experience, may be overwhelming for some. Nyro's ambitious scope could result in a lack of cohesion for listeners who prefer more focused thematic exploration within an album. Influence: Pros: Impact on Singer-Songwriter Genre: "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" has had a lasting influence on the singer-songwriter genre. Nyro's innovative approach to songwriting and production set a precedent for future artists, inspiring a generation of musicians to explore new avenues of musical expression. Cross-Genre Appeal: The album's fusion of diverse musical genres contributed to its cross-genre appeal. Nyro's willingness to transcend musical boundaries paved the way for artists to experiment with genre conventions, fostering a more inclusive and eclectic music landscape. Cons: Limited Mainstream Recognition: Despite its influence, the album did not achieve widespread commercial success upon its release. This limited mainstream recognition may have hindered its impact on the broader music scene during the late '60s. Conclusion: "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" remains a landmark album that defies easy categorization. Laura Nyro's distinctive voice, coupled with her fearless exploration of complex themes, establishes this record as a timeless piece of art. The album's influence on subsequent generations of musicians and its enduring appeal attest to its significance in the evolution of popular music. While the album may pose challenges for listeners seeking more straightforward narratives or contemporary production aesthetics, its merits lie in its artistic ambition, lyrical depth, and musical innovation. "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" is not merely a collection of songs; it is a cohesive, immersive journey that invites listeners to explore the multifaceted nature of human experience through the lens of a remarkably talented and daring artist.
Soul. Folk
not my thing again
This feels like the album wants to be jazz but is afraid to try. It's blues, I guess, but I don't think that the genre choice was intentional, and in my opinion, that really hurts it. If they were intentional about their style and sound this might be good, but it is just meh. Eli's Coming puts the train back on the tracks, so to speak, but I'm already pretty checked out.
Not for me. Interesting but wobbly vocals.
Surprising.
Amazing voice. Not overly produced, just piano and great singing.
4.0 - This sounds like Van Morrison's jazz-inspired works, mixed with some Carole King-like songwriting, and moody asides à la Joni Mitchell. So, overall a tasteful blend of influences. Standouts: "Eli's Comin'", "Poverty Train."
A little too sappy for me
It’s fine. Maybe it’s the result of my own ignorance, but it seems like there was a very crowded field of female singer/songwriters in this vein, at this time. I’ve haven’t connected with any of them, and they tend to blend together for me.
Not my kind of thing. But I did learn about how many songs she wrote for other artists, so appreciate this site giving me some music knowledge today.
First listen - completely disoriented by this work, found myself unable to formulate a clear opinion. On this list, overwhelmingly populated with bland and predictable albums, finding myself disoriented and perplexed is a good thing. Second listen - the show tunes-y motifs are a bit more familiar now, and the song structures reveal themselves to be quite original. Based on my admiration of this work, it's a 5, based on my enjoyment, it's a weak 3, let's split the difference and say 4 circus tents out of 5, because I haven't heard anything like it before. 🎪🎪🎪🎪
A talented songwriter but feels constrained having to suit a sixties swinging style. A little too early, a little too late.
Energetic 70s female rock and soul. I like it!
Such a shame where the focus of most of the songs are the vocals, and the vocals are not that great.. I think Laura relies too much on her falsetto region way too much and it gets really straight up annoying, bro. Feels like I'm getting shouted at by a sick woman for 45 mins. 3/10
75/100
Not that memorable
kinda annoying idk why
Really good, but a bloated album
Might be the hardest album I've had to rate. Kept jumping between annoying and awesome. When I was much younger I was a huge Three Dog Night fan and thought they wrote all their own songs. I found out I was mistaken a while back, but I still had never heard the original "Eli's Comin'" until this and it's just as good, if not better, than Three Dog Night's version. Also didn't know she did the original "Stoned Soul Picnic". I guess there are enough high points to give it a 4, but there are enough low points that it's more like a very high 3.
Just good, just over 2.5
Solid stuff
Nyro’s got her own unique crop of fruity tunes, but they’re just a bit too hard to bite into. Nevertheless, the style is unparalleled (and perhaps served as an inspiration for the later greater works of Kate Bush).
It's insane how quickly singer/songwriters matured during the 60s. This is just phenomenal; switching from awe-inspiringly dramatic and cinematic to deeply introverted and experimental in a short space of time.
Excellent, excellent album. Sad that I've never heard of Laura Nyro but grateful that I'm hearing it now.
A surprise to me. I had never heard of her and the songs were very high quality. I’m going to listen to her entire catalog.
Feels like it should be in a speakeasy pretty chill though
There is a curated kind of stream-of-conscious, you-can't-pin-me-down-ness to this that I immediately found irritating. It continued throughout the album and I continued to find it irritating.
This is precisely why I signed up for 1001. How could I have never come across this album in all my years? Just breath-takingly beautiful. Each song seems to walk a line between exquisite pop and fascinating experimentation. Wild, almost unpredictable structures, that kept me on my toes the whole time. She comes across like a more bombastic Joni Mitchell with bigger arrangements. I love Joni, but I think I might like this more? I feel like I've finally been let in on one of music's greatest secrets.
Spicy boomer mom music.
Meh
What a hidden gem!
Mild 60s rock with poor man’s Kate Bush features
I actually really liked this one
There’s much to like on this one. Dug the tempo changes and the smooth vocals.
Almost a broadway rocker. this band is tight. it's crazy how much the craft of songwriting used to be about arrangement AND rehearsal. now everything's electronic. the human element in these pre-80s songwriter albums is just superb.
A fine vocalist and a well-composed album, but it feels directionless.
5/10. I'm glad it inspired Todd Rundgren and Elton John to make music I enjoy more. And Stoned Soul Picnic is a good song.
Partway between Joni Mitchell and Minnie Riperton but less good than either artist. I guess that's the price you pay for coming first. 6/10
So different, so fresh. She changes things up so much in her songs and I can sense genius.
How is this must hear? Annoying voice and lyrics Make this a must miss
Old school but less my style