Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Really nice voice, enjoyable music. Felt like it was missing something that would lift it from a good background album to something that requires more attention mind. Suzanne's voice doesn't have the power of a Janis Joplin say and the pace of the music sticks to the same tempo by and large. Still, it was nice.
Soothing, wistful stuff. Nothing here like Tom's Diner, a startling, sparse story (my favourite type of songs). Listened to it through twice while gridlocked on the A2/A27. Parked on the highway for 30 mins, took 1h30 to do about 3km. This will forever be my - I wish I'd used the bathroom before setting off - album.
Already forgotten this..... Probably very unfair, but didn't grab me at all today 2
It’s very different than what I usually listen to but it is very chill and not a bad listen like I thought. Some of the lyrics are kinda mid at some points though. Kind of reminds me of Kate Bush at some points.
nice acoustic album
A nice, gentle album, it's easy to tell that Suzanne is a songwriter with a unique poetic vision, but it was too slow and calm for me. I know that this is the genre's feature, but everything was more or less the same, I wouldn't be able to distinguish the songs from one another after the first listen. I believe I can appreciate her as a poet, but not as a musician.
I’m not much of a fan of this one. The mellow instrumentation isn’t bad, but her vocals style (cadence) isn’t working for me.
Look, it's not horrible. But, I really didn't hear any of it even though I was listening to the album. An "in one ear and out the other" kind of album for me. The album production was great (especially for 1985!) and I didn't have an issue with the music or the singing. It was just a bland singer-songwriter album that didn't catch my attention.
This was fine, she has a nice voice, the instrumentation was sparse as expected and she had decent lyrics. I like her other stuff a bit more.
so boring. More like a 1.5.
Nice fake out with Knight Moves. Also, where's my fucking Tom's Diner??
not my cup of tea pero buenas guitarras. me gustó neighborhood girls. should give it a second listen para prestarle atención a la letra. se me hizo una mezcla de joni mitchell y taylor swift
Haunting, dreamy, sweet. Is this Amanda Palmer's aunt? 6/10
An angelic voice.
She is one of my favorite artists ever so there is some definite bias for me. But, objectively speaking (like that's possible), this is a stellar debut from a songwriting talent that always put melodicism and arrangement first. Add to that her poetic lyrics and soothing voice and this album brims with confidence and artistry. I actually like the four albums after this one even better as she continued to stretch and add new textures and layers to her sound. Bit the template was all there on this one with her songwriting in its most basic and mesmerizing form.
Smooth vocal style, delivering some pretty poetic lyrics with striking clarity. Only song I'd heard before was Marlene On The Wall but theres lots to like here. What makes this one really stand out to me is the tasteful arrangements and how they balance with Vega's folkish singer songwriter thing. From little synth flourishes to grooving bass, you can tell how well thought out and crafted a lot of these songs are.
No
Sweet, gentle and quaint. An album from a different time. Unfortunately, it does very little for me and works best as background music.
Not a big fan of this one. It's not offensively bad or anything. Just kind of boring.
Beautiful voice and playing that really sets the mood. The album feels like it has a clear goal and it achieves it very well. Its music I can see having on in the background while reading or just relaxing more that something I listen to actively. Listening through it from start to finish was a great experience.
80’s alt
She got better. I said what I said, and I stand by it.
Cafe music
A couple of good songs with strong songwriting (Marlene On The Wall, The Queen And The Soldier) whereas the rest tends to blend into the background a bit. Could do with a bit more varied instrumentation (which she did later in her career) to make some of the other songs stand out a bit more. However, I do like her vocals and it's not an unpleasant way to spend 36 minutes.
Took the torch from Joni Mitchell and carried it well forward to the likes of Tori Amos , Fiona Apple, and those who came after.
Good example of okay: nothing wrong with it, but the first really interesting song was the second to last: “Knight Moves.”
Usually I'm not a fan of the talk-singing, but something about her cadence is very enchanting
Mid. But not terrible...
The singer-songwriter label doesn’t always quite fit Suzanne Vega—she often delivers her lyrics in an intimate, distinctive, almost spoken style that isn’t for everyone. While her sound might suggest someone perched on a stool with an acoustic guitar in a quiet coffee shop, it ultimately feels more like sitting down at a diner—maybe Tom’s Diner—and realizing you’re in the mood for something different. It’s like ordering a tuna melt instead of the usual club sandwich: not something you’d choose every time, but occasionally it hits the spot. In that sense, her debut is enjoyable enough to see why it made the list, even if it’s a bit disappointing not to find more familiar menu items like “Luka” or “Tom’s Diner.”
Vega's voice is just so comfortable and warm. It's an invitation to a cozy chair by a roaring fire after a long day to relax and let your troubles float away. It never cracks or wavers and lulls you into a sense of contentment. My ears perked up a few times as I heard sounds that could have been easily placed right into either of Sting's first two solo albums. The sound and vibe had uncanny similarities. While the opening track's talk singing was a complete turn off, the rest of the album was a pleasant surprise.
I don't really get anything out of this Will I listen to again: 0%
Enjoyable, but without Tom’s Diner on it it just doesn’t do it for me
Not for me
It's a solid pop album and I know that Vega can do some stuff, but it isn't something I would consider groundbreaking. That goes even for the time it was released.
While I was listening to this, it was hard to remember that it was recorded in the middle of the 80s. Didn’t realize coffee shop acoustic was happening that early.
I'm very glad Mr. 1001 List Guy has such an affinity for this kind of folk music, if nothing else because it shows how much of an influence Joni Mitchell had on folk music. She really did inspire a whole generation of women to pick up their guitars and make music of their own. With that comes some artists that inevitably aren't as good as the rest. Not everyone can be Tracy Chapman. Really my big issue with this album is how damn monotone she is. It's all pretty flat and unexpressive. The instrumentals are okay and she does write some pretty good lyrics, but I just wish she would do more with her voice. Honestly I really wish she kept that poetry thing she did in the opener.
Why is the on the list? It's not good, it's not groundbreaking, and it's really not even music. 000
bello
Sometimes the style doesn’t work for me. But occasionally, it finds its sweet spot. 3/5
Edgy. I was at a 2 but it's got good guitar solos so 3
Intenté que me guste pero tal vez no era el día.
There's some good songs in here, but I think the latter portion of the album is strongest than the first. The first one struggled to hold my attention, even if it wasn't bad per se, but the last 4 tracks are very solid.
I feel like I’m being too harsh giving this a 1, but there’s a few factors. The singing is distracting from any good songwriting that may be here. The music behind this is quite boring and does not add to any songwriting. In fact, it takes more a way. Finally, this is so boring that I kept checking how many songs were left when it’s only a 36 minute album.
This album was boring and I lost focus many times. I guess it would be good for that at least.
Æ leve helt ok med å vite at alle mine musikalske referanser har musikalske referanser æ ikke kjenne til, sånn må det nesten være, men å høre på det her albumet og innse at Ani DiFranco så definitivt har hørt på det før ho laga sitt første album, at Rachael Sage definitivt også har hørt på det, å se kordan rammeverket bygge sæ opp mens du høre på et album du aldri har hørt før (æ har hørt om Suzanne Vega, åpenbart, har hørt en del av sangan hennes, men har aldri hørt på ho, med vilje og intensjon, aldri et dypdykk), det e fascineranes. Ka anna har æ gått glipp av i seksogtyve-syvogtyve år, ka mer e det æ burde kjenne til? Men det e jo litt fjollate at æ høre på det her og mest av alt får lyst til å høre mer på tidlig Ani DiFranco, men det e jo fordi ho e så innbodd i mæ at det e vanskelig å komme unna. For en oppdagelse, for en flaks.
I was today years old when I found out that Suzanne Vega had an album before Luka. Not to bad, but many of the songs feel unfinished.
This kinda only works because it doesn't really work. If that makes sense. Her voice is closer to talk-singing then actually singing but it is singing & it works. Kinda. The songwriting is what saves it, along with thoughtful music. I kinda like it but I kinda don't at the same time. If that makes sense.
Lo que puede esperarse de un disco de Suzanne Vega: lindo, relajado, buena onda. No algo que me emocione especialmente, pero tampoco un disco con el que me la pasaría mal.
4/10… singer-songwriter / folk pop / *1985
well it was definitely sound!
tal vez me gustaria si fuese una horse girls en usa y entenderia la vibra de este album pero lamentablemente me toco nacer en españa
Ok
- Pretty good chill music - Instrumentation and vocals complement each other, neither dominates - Not my type of music - Liked 'The Queen and the Soldier'
Whimsical folk with the occasional rock edge. Not a revolutionary listen by any means, but I'm definitely appreciative of any 80s album which went against the prevailing styles of the time - which this album certainly did. The songwriting choices & lyrical style of Suzanne's debut record draws comparison to that of Leonard Cohen, which requires active listening - and there's a lot to be gleaned if one does give it their full attention. But obviously it won't be everyone's cup of tea.
I allowed this to wash over me and it was pleasant enough. I'm going to give some credit for this as an early example of a type of female singer songwriter style that has become pretty standard now. It' sets a good standard.
Completely unfamiliar with Suzanne Vega but I thought this album was short, sweet, and rather enjoyable. The cheesy, overtly digital sound of the 80s isn’t here - synths are used sparingly and tastefully, adding some nice flourishes to the largely acoustic production. Vega’s vocals, lyrics, and songwriting are also engaging. Safe to say, I think this has aged far better than a lot of other 80s pop albums.
Nice voice. I don't know what to say more.
Favorite Song: Marlene on the Wall
I love the first track, but struggle with the rest of the album I felt the same when it came out in the mid 80's, and its funny that my reaction to this collection has not changed!
Nice debut album by Vega which has a good mix of folk and indie tracks as well as the catchy MTV friendly Marlene On The Wall.
3/5/26. Pleasantly surprised by this album, really good songwriting and pretty vocals. Will need to check out more of Suzanne's work!
Das hat mir richtig gut gefallen! Könnte ich mir sicher nochmal anhören. Cool.
Schöne Überraschung. Melodien gefallen mir und die Stimme überzeugt mich ebenfalls. Nach erstmaligem Hören zwischen 3 & 4 Sternen, allerdings bin ich mir sicher, dass das Album mit der Zeit wachsen würde - daher die höhere Wertung.
Schon etwas länger her, dass ich so begeistert von einem mir unbekannten Album in dieser Liste war. Sehr zurückgenommener Pop mit wunderschönen feinen Melodien, aber auch ihrem fast in Spoken Word abdriftenden Gesang. Hat mich wirklich sehr beeindruckt.
Fand ich schön. Gut. Fein. Mehr aber nicht. Ist in so Akustikgitarrensachen aber glaube ich auch ultra schwer mich mehr zu begeistern.
Hat mich positiv überrascht, da ich was ganz anderes erwartet habe, wie so oft bei den 1001 Alben. Aber so richtig herausstechend und im Kopf bleibend war dann doch kein Song. Aber alles in allem sehr rund.
This album was like if Taylor Swift worked at a gentrified co-op, non-lovingly. I love Lilith fair-esque shit and hate when it's used to insult female singer-songwriters, but in this case the talk-singing really got to me because there was no uniqueness in tone or the music overall that made up for it. This album is something that I could've seen myself potentially enjoying, but instead I was bored. Not even flowery lyrics could make up for it and I can be a whore for those. Top 3: 1) The Queen and the Soldier (this is the one song I was invested in from a story-telling pov, even if it was simple) 2) Some Journey 3) Marlene On The Wall
Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. I did wake up this morning craving a good ballad, and Vega delivered. Some really great guitar along with some really great songwriting. "Knight Moves" was the favorite track for me.
Wish I liked it more, tbh. Some cool storytelling in the lyrics of some songs. I think I would enjoy it more if I were in a different mood.
Wow I am absolutely not the target audience for this. The guitar work on Neighborhood Girls redeemed this album a bit. Her voice is stunning tho
I'm enjoying the dreamy folksy nature of this first song. I thought about it a bit more and realized that I didn't really enjoy my time with the album. I kept checking to see if I was on the last song yet, and the entire thing is only ~35 minutes long. Oof.
good album overall, good vocals
I had no idea of her brilliance. this is what I would have wanted my career to look like had I succeeded in the music industry. Minus one point for the spoken word song. that was cringe.
This kind of female singer songwriter music is usually my jam but I found this pretty boring. I think the instrumentation was too 80s sounding to me. Muzak adjacent.
Start was putting me to sleep but it got better towards the end. 2.5/5
I thought this album was pretty decent, definitely mellow. 3.5
Lovely voice, some nice songs, won't put it on again
Lät lite som Taylor Swift, vilket jag inte har något emot. Gillar hennes vibe, även fast den är ganska enkel.
This grew on me. I thought it would be too quiet at first but it picked up. She has a lovely voice.
waitttt
Boring
Suzanne Vega's debut album, released when she was just 25, showcases a deadpan wit and wisdom far beyond her years. her stripped-back, acoustic singer-songwriter style is fairly by-the-numbers, but there's mysterious forces at work beneath the surface that I find pretty alluring at this record's best moments. my favorite song here is the hit, "Marlene on the Wall", a story of a relationship in decay set against some clever modal interchange: F-sharp major for the verses, F-sharp minor for the chorus. it's a subtle reflection of the conflicting forces at play in the narrator's mind: "And I tried so hard to resist / And when you held me in your handsome fist / And reminded me of the night we kissed / And of why I should be leaving". chills! strong 7/10.
wanted to like this more but wasn’t super into the more spoken word parts of the songs - I liked Marlene on the wall and knight moves
Only a little familiar with her work before. It's good, not really grabbing onto me right now. Songs blend together. Feels like I could use a change of pace in the middle of the album. Hard to say after just one listen, but the lyrics are interesting and moving. I think there are other times in my life when I could have been more into this. 3.5 stars, good album Favs - Undertow, The Queen and the Soldier + Knight Moves (nice together)
I gave Adele a 3, so I can't give Suzanne less than that :-( So it's a 3 (I'm more of a Solitude Standing kind of guy :-D )
I didn’t really like SV back in the day, but you know what? This really wasn’t as bad as I remember. I kind of enjoyed it actually.
it was ok. felt like i was at Lillith Fair.
This was average at best. Mediocre voice and mediocre music. But the songwriting and performance was very unique, not like anything else i ever heard. Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate it.
I liked it. If I knew Spanish it might have been elevated to a 3.
This album was exactly what I was expecting. Nice listen but nothing spectacular. I’d be willing to bet all her albums sound like this.
It’s fine. Gives me an unpleasant edge, but that’s a me problem.
Love it. Solitude Standing is better for me but this is good too.
Suzanne Vega has such a unique voice. I enjoyed listening to it.
Nice album.
Very songwrity lyrics. Cracking is a banger but the rest doesn’t quite match it
fav songs: cracking small blue thing undertow acoustic, lounge, deshoras 60/100
Competent if not so appealing
Shockingly monotonous and repetitive. It all sounded like one long uninteresting track.
Someone else has said this music has horse girl vibes and yeah, it really does.
I respect this record because it was pretty ahead of its time.. a 1992 sound 7 years early. And I really like Small Blue Thing. Can't go higher than 3 though.
I remember loving 99.9 F⁰ but I don't remember much about this one. Love the imaginative/introspective lyrics.
Lovely creative lyrics. Jaunty and fresh
Nice
Vibras de folklore Taylor Swift jasjasjs. Me gusta la cadencias de la voz, es ese tipo de poeta. Seguro la Swift se inspiro en ella. A nivel de producción son canciones simples pero que de alguna forma son llevaderas. Me sorprende porque suena demasiado actual. Likes: Marlene - Small Blue Thing - Knight Moves
Like it 3/5
Really liked this one. Had a somewhat vague knowledge of Suzanne's stuff but this was a nice pleasant listen!
Inoffensive 80s music. Didn't wow me, didn't hate it.
This is fucking awful.
So I know Vega’s biggest hits, Luka and Tom’s Diner. They’re not here, but rather in the next album. Is it a hipster “I knew them before they were big” kind of thing? Anyhow this is pretty great. The singing feels very disconnected from the music, as if Vega is singing over a backing track, but that somehow makes it better? Her singing style sometimes feels like spoken word poetry, and it somehow feels better when it’s not that tight to the music. As if she’s chanting her poems while the band is playing. I see it says that Vega is playing the acoustic guitar which makes this even weirder because I honestly feel like the singing is like a bar or two behind where the guitar wants it to be. Man the vocal style is real great, not a soaring vocals but such varied and strong delivery. Oh and Small Blue Thing such a beautiful song. I’m really enjoying this one so yeah five stars.
I came right from a Captain Beefheart album to this, and the difference is sending me right now. This album is mostly quiet and contemplative, focusing on Vega's vocals and guitar. It's a pleasant listen with bright, clean guitars and nice vocals, but it gets pretty samey by the end. This would be a nice album to spin on a bright snowy winter morning, but it's not one I'd listen to normally. Very much coffee-house soundtrack vibes. Standout tracks for me on this listen are "Marlene on the Wall" and "Undertow." For a debut album, pretty good, but definitely has room to grow. I love "Tom's Diner" and that sounds much more evolved that what's presented here, so it would have been more interesting for me to get a later Vega album I think. Solid though, a 3/5 for me.
I liked it. Enough to check out another album.
quirky pop, sometimes countryesque. not bad, but in the end, not my taste. like weak coffee, where's the punch?
She has the intensity that a lot of the 70's singer songwriters lack, but I felt myself getting really bored as the album progressed. Needs a bit more kate bush whimsy for me.
Pretty forgettable. Not awful but I can't see why this is important.
This had some good ingredients, but as an album doesn't shine. Small Blue Thing is a fine song, but too much of the album sounds similar.
That was ass
FreshingI had never listened to her work apart from the big hit and I was impressed enjoyed it thoroughly
This isn't something I would choose on my own but it was calming and pleasant enough to listen to.
I was astonished at how many of these tracks I had forgotten, seeing as this was on constant play for a long while in my student house. I think we even saw her tour before she made it big with her second album. I actually prefer her debut in some ways, as I think it's more consistent. Very chill, nice lyrics, nice delivery, and pleasing to listen to. There's a nice variety of styles within the style of the album, which kept my interest. Four stars.
Don't really see why something like this would need to be on here. Not really a landmark album in any sense - although I guess parts of it do sound pretty close to the 90s/early 2000s singer songwriter stuff that would eventually be pretty popular. Still mostly just unremarkable 80s stuff though
Ngl insanely forgettable
Like
Angenehme Pop-Musik aus den 80ern. Teilweise zeitlose Stücke. Angenehme Stimme. 4/5
Spare and intimate, the songwriting takes center stage, supported by restrained arrangements that highlight detail and phrasing. The album’s strength lies in its clarity and precision, creating a quiet but persistent emotional pull. It’s understated, yet consistently effective.
Not a fan of the style but decent album
Not my kind of thing but pretty
I liked it, boring and nice background music. Would have probably made an impact on me 20 years ago... Not sure why I didn't want to give it my full attention.
I think there are many people for whom Suzanne Vega’s career begins and ends with Tom’s Diner. But she is absolutely one of the best singer songwriters, not just of her generation, but of ever. A truly delightful listen.
The way she delivers the lyrics in Cracking is the way young children try rapping for the first time.
The vibe of the album is like, it's 1999 and you're 16 and you're going to your girlfriend's house to meet her parents for the first time. At some point her turtleneck-wearing dad corners you in the living room and you make the mistake of casting a glance in the direction of his CD tower. Then he spends the next 20 minutes explaining why this album is so great and he's thinking he is coming across as cool and hip and you just want to get the hell out of there. Oh no, he's about to go off on a tangent about Van Morrison's "His Band and the Street Choir" when you are saved by the distraction of your girlfriend's whiny little brother shooting Nerf guns from behind the couch. Also, Natasha, if you're out there, I'm sorry your dad died of brain cancer.
This isn’t my personal taste to begin with. But I was surprised how poor her singing actually is. I’d call her “on key adjacent” on this album. The songs were fairly boring to listen to. Solid cafe music. Her later music is much better.
This is fine and all, but not the album of hers that would matter. Here on out, instead of trying to justify all the 2* albums on this list, I'm going to suggest an album that should replace them instead. This one's easy. This is a 2*; its spot should go to Poe's Hello, which would be a 4*.
IDK. Not really for me, but the poetry resonates. It's simply too mellow overall. Favorite tracks? Marlene on the Wall ⭐⭐
Instantly and constantly bored. And I don't like the inconsistent fonts on the cover. Pass.
It's fine. Some nice finger picking, some nice synths, some nice vocals... it's nice. Damned with faint praise but I'm not sure why it's here. Best Tracks: Marlene on the Wall
This sounds like the music you hear being a kid in the 1980s, watching cheesy morning cartoons after playing your NES, while your mom cleans the house because your deadbeat dad can't stay out of the bars. It's "burnt out suburban mom" music, 1980s edition, if you will. It could be much better. Favorite Track: "Neighborhood Girls".
3.5, not bad
U odnosu na puno hitoidniji solitude standing ovo je dosta monotoniju i začudniji album. Ali ova hladna 80s produkcija se nikako ne bi trebala slagat s njenim pjesmama ali mi baš zato jebeno funkcionira.
Not bad
Meh Simpsons: No
Each track was the same song with different words
Yeah,
1. on dirait une ado pas sur d'elle qui chante mais ok 2.sympa 3.la même, pas incroyable mais ca s'écoute parfaitement 4.C'est un jour pluvieux, gris : parfait 5.très cool, groovy 6. mid 7. pareil que le 6. t'as l'impression que ca décolle pas, sans être nul 8.cool 9. très bien 10. Dernier morceau, bien groovy, mais le delivery est vrm bof Sur l'ensemble c'est un solide album. Surprise totale, artiste inconnue. Guitare très cool, variété de son qui rend l'écoute agréable. On peut ressentir l'influence de ce genre d'album sur les autrices des années 90-2000, clairement. C'est sorti en 85 quand même. Cependant, aucun morceau ne stand out non plus. 3/5
Based on my prior ideas about Suzanne Vega, I expected to rate this a 4 or even a 3. I liked her pretty well and put on her greatest hits about once a year, but also kind of slotted her into the category of music made by people who listen to NPR for people who listen to NPR. Which is me of course, but I also expected it to be sort of cerebral and narrow in the way NPR can be. Nope, she fooled me. When you pay closer attention, her lyrics are dark and savage, yet still delivered in that relatively narrow range. It disarms you. I had heard an undertone of menace before in her more popular songs like “Tom’s Diner,” and obviously “Luka” has its sublimated violence. But sit with this long enough and you realize you are listening to a poet who takes no prisoners in her portraits of others and herself. I have to give the self-titled a 5 for convincing me she is a dark genius and deciding to check out all her work. There may be a longer essay in me somewhere about the sound and the lyrics and where they fit into my impressionistic history of folk music. I don’t have the energy to make the whole case tonight, but I feel like her sound is a sort of yin companion to the yang of Paul Simon. Paul Simon adopted various sounds after S&G but they all make you feel positive about most anything, even if it’s whatever the hell happened to Julio down by the schoolyard. Suzanne Vega also has this quasi-commercial 80s folk sound, but she somehow twists it in a way that everything she says is a little bit unsettling, even though it sounds perfectly lovely. It’s how I felt the first time I heard “Tom’s Diner” without the dance beats… you think, “Oh, maybe this isn’t the cheerful slice of life that I thought.” I think so many of her songs here do that, even though by all accounts she’s a perfectly lovely human.
This was a pleasant surprise. I went in expecting something closer to spoken word over bare-bones accompaniment, but the record is consistently musical and thoughtfully arranged. The production is restrained and a bit raw, especially compared to later, more polished tracks like “Luka” or “Tom’s Diner,” but you can clearly hear the spark already there. Nothing here jumps out as a definitive centerpiece, yet the album works well as a complete statement. Strong songwriting, careful pacing, and a clear point of view carry it front to back. It doesn’t demand attention, but it rewards it. Solid throughout, and an impressive foundation for what came next. Rating vibe: solid, respectable, quietly confident. Not flashy, not disposable.
Pleasant enough but not particularly interesting or exciting.
Sweet voice and tunes. Sounds very NYC folk, as some would say. Just not my cup of tea
zapravo sam veoma uživala, pogotovo pri kraju albuma! pevanje, melodije, produkcija, sve je mnogo lepo, uglavnom smirena indi-folk atmosfera puna akustičnih instrumenta, ali ono što zapravo čini ovaj album, po meni barem, jesu tekstovi pesama. svaka pesma je kao novi svet u koji ulazim i koji mi od početka do kraja drži pažnju jer se osećam kao da sam tu i da posledice i na mene utiču, i love it!!!!! the queen and the soldier se najviše istakla na prvo slušanje, tako koncizna priča koja u sebi krije toliko narativa i pouka I svega i wow
I knew I knew the voice from somewhere. Quite an album without any of the radio hits
I liked this okay, but it didn't really stand out
It's good. Really like the vibe of the songs without percussion. A folk album that doesn't sound too folky.
90s vibes
'Mum, can we have Stevie Nicks?' 'No, we have Stevie Nicks at home.' *Stevie Nicks at home*
Oh this. This was fine. Not great, not bad at all. Just floated through.
Suzanne Vega almost registers more as spoken word poet rather than musician. There are some interesting and through provoking tracks, and I can easily see why she stood out in the 80s. Don't get me wrong, her music holds up pretty well (despite some obvious 80's production vibes), but there are just more interesting options these days.
wordy lyrics whole album, didn’t recognize any hits from that era. Glad to listen to it as intro to Tim’s Diner and Luka
I always like pretty folk music.
Pretty damn great, and in a lot of ways forward-thinking for a mid-'80s album, production-wise, and vocally. This sounds super '90s AT LEAST. There's something super soft and human about Suzanne's vocals; she's not overly expressive, and there's a subtle rawness about it. I think this is most obvious on my favorite song on here, 'Marlene On The Wall,' where she ups the intensity out of nowhere on that second go of the chorus, just the dynamics here feel super unfiltered. Or on the really weird speak-singing of 'Cracking,' which, over this gorgeous acoustic arpeggio and soft synth backing, creates a pretty hazy and dreamy atmosphere. Also, the noticeable breaths she takes between the loosely sung 'Small Blue Thing'. Maybe it's nothing, but all that to say I really love her voice - she's great. And the production I'll mention again is stellar. It's simplistic and minimal when it needs to be, like on the aforementioned 'Small Blue Thing' or grand and full on a song like 'Knight Moves. This song, and the previous 'The Queen And The Soldier', I also really liked from a songwriting perspective, just the story of betrayal told here was something that stuck out lyrically. And the song 'Neighborhood Girls', at least on the vocal front, gives me major early '90s PJ Harvey vibes. Cool little jem here, a lot to chew on and definitely an album that deserves a few more listens.
Mehrfach gehört :-)
Ik vond het een beetje saai. Je hoort wel dat ze echt veel invloed heeft gehad op 90s indiebands, dus dat is leuk!
Marlene on the Wall God wat een nummer She keeps challenging the future without any sense of history - banger lyric
één van de favoriete zangers van mn vader dus heb dit vele zondagochtenden gehoord. leuk om het een keer voor mezelf te luisteren, kan t steeds meer waarderen. gewoon heel degelijke plaat met een geweldige stem. Gypsy favoriete nummer. alleen jammer dat Tom's Diner zo kapotgedraaid is door die ene cover maar daar kan Suzanne ook weinig aan doen
wat saai maar wel chill. small blue thing was mn favoriet
Suzanne Vega's first album... she's already really good at making songs that take you into gray moods and liminal spaces. Her acoustic guitar work is sharp. The downside is that her vocals are mixed kind of low, and her voice fades into the background enough that it's hard to make out her words sometimes... and we should hear her words! The Queen and the Soldier is an early classic. 3.5 stars.
Interesting album. I like some songs, but do not like others.
Interesting to hear a blend of 80s production and the guitar-heavy folk sound. It does get repetitive very quickly (2.5-3)
Fine guitar player
boaesque again 3.5
would casually listen to
Pleasant suprise. Easy to listen to. Her music is very stripped down here, which makes it feel intimate. Like her voice and songwrting. Marlene on the wall and small blue thing are my favorite tracks.
overall not bad but the lyrics are something you'd make up when you're 10 and trying to make a song. instrumentally it slaps i'm not going to lie
I prefer the stuff she made in the nineties, but for 1985 this feels very ahead of its time and still sounds fresh. The tracklist is a bit weak, but it still hits.
с кем-то я её путаю. в моей голове она поёт примерно такую классику как стамблин ин, а оказалось что это практически разговорный альбом + много средневекового кора (или глубоких метафор, но за метафорами не ко мне). не увлекла
This was pretty bland and on the verge of uninteresting. Maybe not bad, my ears perked up a couple times, but I wouldn't go back to it and can't see why it's there.
This album isn’t really my vibe but I appreciate the stellar story telling. “Small Blue Thing” was my favorite song.
Took me a few songs to get into this style, but I enjoyed it in the end! Beautiful, poetic lyrics and chill melodies. 3.75 stars.
This reminds me of Tracy Chapman's self titled album, in that they're both really earnest singer-songwriter albums released during a time when that sort of thing wasn't in vogue. Suzanne Vega is one of the people who seemed to spearhead a kind of singer songwriter revival that when coupled with the emerging indie scene sort of laid the foundation for what the zeitgeist of the early '90s would look like. She has a real talent for storytelling that is really well-presented across this album. Of the singer songwriter music coming out in the '80s, very little of it could give what Vega brings narratively on Marlene On The Wall, The Queen And The Soldier, or Knight Moves. And it isn't like this is just '70s folk worship. Her arrangements and production do sound distinctly of their time, and her conversational singing tone sets her apart from much of folk rock. I honestly really enjoyed a lot of this album. Her lyricism and songwriting are pretty special, and the aesthetic here is a really enjoyable way to push folk into the '80s. This is really solid!
I don't know which is worse, this or Beth Orton's Central Reservation.
Zzzz...
na segunda música eu perdi a paciência e fui ouvir milton nascimento
I felt like I should know who this is from the name and ohh it’s the Tom’s Diner singer. Well. I listened to this
deeply unfamiliar, kinda unsettling ... not my jam but cool that lenny kaye worked on it
Super smooth easy listening, and interesting lyrics. A solid album this one
Super album, presque éthéré. Les rythles de guitare sur knight move, les accords et le mixage rehausse ce qui pourrait être de la simple pop.
This was ok, but not really my cup of tea. I liked the guitars, but something about this felt a bit too sparse for me
Just solid songwriting stands out on this list, to its shame. She, in 1986 out Lisa Loeb Tori Amos etcs the Lisas and Toris soon to come.
I didn’t have high hopes for this album, and it still underperformed.
Nothing outstanding. The first song was good. Again, it went down hill from there and felt like a continuation from the album the day before.
I listened before I died. I can't imagine I'll be listening again before I do
I bought this when it came out and quite liked it. Decent songs and she had an appealing way about her in interviews and videos. Her subsequent albums weren’t quite as good, even though they had the hits “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner” (also the Seinfeld diner). Love TD — I think I have cool remixes of it somewhere.
3.5 rounded down
Very poetic and lovely vocals.
At this coffee house, all the songs taste the same.
80s fretless bass warning! These are fine songs and Vega's voice makes them feel real. The instrumentation is a bit much in my opinion. These sound like busker's songs and the arrangement of the music counteracts that.
This is the debut album from Suzanne Vega, so it’s good as a debut. The lyrics are fine and the music is basic but acceptable. I would describe this album as a musical poetry reading.
Suzanne Vega did 'Tom's Diner', so I want to give her a chance, but this album is missing one important thing: Tom's Diner. :( I do not like that the tracks are listed in two different fonts. Anyway, this is kind of like a proto-Jewel or Sarah McLachlan. More poetry than bop. Maybe she even inspired SNL's Jane Wickline.
Solid singer songwriter! I enjoyed her voice and the stories were fun too.
5.5/10
526/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Musically really fun and catchy, but her vocals have a weird slant to them. They don't quite flow. Id listen again
No Tom's Diner???
Store-brand Joni Mitchell (non-derogatory)
Suzanne Vega started strong and stayed strong her entire career. Every album she made is a 5 star in my book.
Really liked this album, I was afraid it would be repetitive because it's stripped down but it was gorgeous. Don't like when she speaks and doesn't sing because oh my her voice is gorgeous. Great guitar arrangements and lyrics 4.25/5
Joni Mitchellesque pop folk ballads with no skips and some real highlights such as Marlene on the wall, Small blue thing, and Undertow.
Meh. Boring. Absolutely nothing to get excited about musically or lyrically.
Algo genérico, pero ta cabrón
if you like loud spongy bronze strings on your guitars and soft lyrics this is for you! I struck this as a mid 90's album that you would hear from like Jann Arden or Norah Jone but she got them beat by a decade! it has hints of 80's synth here and there and truthfully it grew on me as I listened.
Not to be too dismissive but this was just some “Women in Song” uninteresting folk music. Wasn’t bad but didn’t grab me
Meh…didn’t love it. Feels like a musical soundtrack almost, but isn’t addicting I. The way Hamilton or six is.
Pointless.
Not my typical style but I really loved it and had to listen to it twice. The vocals are intriguing and she tells a story with each song.
I’ve owned this album since forever and have listened to it a million times. Such beautiful, tragic songs, full of longing and loneliness. The Queen and the Soldier has always been my favorite.
Real wallflower music.
Voice and delivery are ok, music isn’t bad, lyrics are horribly trite. Alanis Morissette definitely was influenced by this. Notable tracks include Marlene on the Wall, Straight Lines.
Impressive debut. Easy to see why she was on Lilith Fair: significant influence on '90s and '00s artists.
I listened to some other stuff from Vega and i can confirm, for myself, with all due respect, i'd give her an overall 2. Additional 1 point is for Tom's Diner.
I don’t see it.
not bad, nice sound
Beautiful and delicate pop / folk music. At first I thought I wouldn't like it due to the minimalist production but I love the guitar, synth and vocals and the songs were quite catchy. Time will tell if this sticks but it was definitely one of the most enjoyable listens on the list so far. The three standouts were Marlene On The Wall, Undertow and Knight Moves.
This was fine. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. I did not like the first song, but the others were okay. Maybe I’m missing something.
This woman's voice sounds both absolutely wonderful and expressionless. She signs well and have a very smooth and peaceful voice, but it feels incredibly devoid of emotion, and it is mainly due to she being very static and the music lacking chord progressions or tense sounds. However, this album still sounds incredibly clean and it even manages to create a little comforting atmosphere thanks to the great production. Also, this sounds way more like a 90's record than a 80's, which adds some points to the final score. In addition, the project may sound a bit emotionless when it comes to its sound, but the lyrics are at least somewhat interesting with some nice storytelling. So yes, despite of being a bit dull, it sounds so pleasant that I can't say it is bad.
great folk-singer/songwriteresque album!
This was a perfectly pleasant and easy listen but not something that I’d ever choose to put on. Felt a bit samey after a while.
Marlene on the wall is a perfect timeless pop song. The rest is passable, interesting lyrically but in search of a melody or some direction
Just ok
This was another of those albums where I completely appreciate the quality of musicianship but I just don't like it. SV's songs sound like every other SV song.
Very nice
Really like this
A bit too verbose.
i woulda torn this up if i were a teenager in the 80s
Familiar with Tom’s Diner for PA tuning purposes but the rest of this doesn’t get any more exciting. Meh
This is not for me. Kudos to those that like it.
was not for me unfortunately, probably would not listen again and even though i liked a couple of songs lyrically i just really don’t want to listen to them ever again
3.5/5
Commercially not as successful as the follow-up album, "Solitude Standing", this was a solid introduction to singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. Features the single "Marlene on the Wall", and includes so many other great tracks, such as "Some Journey", and my favourite track on the album, "The Queen and the Soldier".
speak up love
Hadn't realised this had ended until Spotify played an REM record afterwards.
I liked it. 4/5
Suzanne Vega is New York City based singer/songwriter. Her eponymous debut album was a considerable success, and helped launch her enduring career. Vega's songs have simple arrangements - often just her acoustic guitar and staccato vocals - leaving space for her thoughtful, introspective lyrics. This is an engaging collection of songs, of surprising range from a singer/songwriter. The album includes, "Marlene on the Wall," one of Vega's best known songs. While the song did not have great traction as a single at the time of its release, Vega's later success created renewed interest in the song, and this debut release.
PASS. Tom's Diner is good but it aint on this album
Sweet singer songwriter that thankfully wasn't influenced by the Smiths.
Proto Lilith Fair stuff, which has its time and place but would be done later by more accomplished singers. Her songwriting is fine, and it’s nice that there are very few instruments and it’s all fairy simple. Not really for me, but I am not the audience.
2.4
I'm vaguely familar with Suzanne Vega. In the mid 80's this wasn't the type of music I was drawn to but I enjoy it now
A bit slow for me, but a very nice soundtrack to a sunny, freezing winter day. Second half has some interesting songs: queens, soldiers, knights?
I find music like this kind of boring. Couldn't get into it.
It's not bad, never heard of her before. But also delivery and voice and lyrically it's really a bit boring to me. Probably just about average. "Small blue thing" stood out to me
I liked it, super folky and the lyrics were pretty good. Vegas voice in this album is soft and emotional and it tickled my heart in a good way. Great album imo sorry to the haters who disagree.
It’s perfectly pleasant, but Marlena on the Wall reminds me of the theme tune to 80s British Loch Ness Monster-based cartoon The Family Ness. 3 thistle-whistles out of 5, Elspeth!
Wasn't terrible, just not really my jam. 2/5
Singer songwriter acoustic guitar nonsense. Inoffensive: I can't hate, but I don't love it, either.
I liked the album, the singer has an amazing voice 3/5
i've listened to Solitude Standing before, but not this yet Cracking - 3/5 Freeze Tag - 4/5 Marlene on the Wall - 4/5 Small Blue Thing - 4/5 Straight Lines - 3/5 Undertow - 3/5 Some Journey - 4/5 The Queen and the Soldier - 3/5 Knight Moves - 4/5 Neighborhood Girls - 4/5 Average score: 3.6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ i think i prefer her later work. most of the tracks here didn't really do much for me sadly
Suzanne Vega has a lovely voice, I am looking forward to listening to her self titled debut album. I enjoyed it, the songs are catchy and pleasant to listen to. There is some lovely guitat work throughout the album and it flows really well with variety throughout. This is a great album. She has a great NYC sound and is very similar to the Caves and Cohen type of music. Favourite track: Everything was a pleasant listen but I particularly enjoyed Freeze Tag Least favourite track: Everything on the album is worth a listen. Album artwork: Standard album cover
I now know what ill play for my kids when they cant get to sleep.
Pra ser ruim tem que melhorar muito.
The vocal delivery is a weird mash of older folk styles and 1980s rap style that throws me off.
Buen álbum de debut. Me gusta su vibra, quiero escuchar más
Not really bad, just not really for me. In a more perfect world, I'd rate what belongs on here vs how much I liked it.
Never quite rises above pleasant background music for me. It's arranged quite well. Yes it's sparse but the clarity of her voice and the spare instrumentation that is present, is appreciated. I was worried at first because opening song Cracking has the whole talk-singing thing that grates me, but thankfully she doesn't do that on the other songs. I loved the story on The Queen and the Soldier. Highlights: Small Blue Thing, The Queen and the Soldier
A name I know, but not much else. She had a great voice and it turns out I have heard a few of these songs. Some better than others. A nice change from the norm of this list. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? A few Owned: No: 33/131 (25%) Will I get? No
Not heard this for years
Honest singer songwriter type music. Could maybe be a 3 with more listens.
It's very straightforward fare, this, but it's nice and I think she's a good lyricist. Overall, it doesn't leave too much on you (there's nothing on here that has the power of Luka, for instance), but it's very pleasant to have on in the background.
Today I learned I like Suzanne Vega. I think her voice pairs really well with the timbre of the music and the production quality. Honestly, might get more into her
Very forgetable background music to me. nothing that really grip my attention. I can't say im a fan of storytelling music. it feels like just write a poem or a book if you want to tell a story and only have the music as a background element. I listen to music for the music not for the lyrics so i can't judge this album fairly.
Every song is so same-y, and it’s not a good vibe to repeat on every song. Very boring.
Приятная музыка и голос хороший, но желания слушать не вызывает
Непоганий фолк сінгер-сонграйтер альбом зі звуком 80х. Аранжування досить мінімалістичні, але практично в кожній пісні зʼявлється інструмент, який їх трохи більше розкриває. Тексти є хороші, є трохи ту мач. Голос приємний і подача експресивна більше личить, ніж спокійна Приємне враження, але бажання зберегти альбом не виникло.
3.5 Гарний альбом, мені подобається музика Сюзанни, те як вона будує вокальні гармонії. Деякі пісні звучать занадто наївно, але то таке.
Vega's brand of modern folk music has the usual formula of 'prominent acoustic guitar plus tasteful backing tracks', but her twist on the form is that her vocal melodies are far more abstract and progressive than your typical folk fare. It's not much of an improvement though - if anything, it just makes the songs harder to follow. Aside from "Marlene On The Wall" and "Neighborhood Girls" (the only tracks here with any muscle), Vega's scattershot approach to melody and lyrics means that very little here has any lasting emotional weight (especially since the overly-tame music also lacks any sense of drama).
Often feels like somebody noodling on a guitar and coming up with lyrics in real time. 2/5
Introspective music like this sadly doesn’t seem to exist these days in the mainstream
I was delighted to see this come up, because it's an album I've loved since it first came out. I hope the first track didn't put people off, because I think it's the weakest one, with its 'talking' vocal. Otherwise, the songs are tuneful but also musically interesting, which seems to be a surprisingly rare thing. Her poetic storytelling is, on every track, compelling and evocative. I enjoy the haunting, slightly chilling quality that the whole album delivers. Fun fact, I bought this on LP after hearing Small Blue Thing on John Peel, and writing the name down in my diary. So, when Marlene OTW exploded, I felt slightly possessive. I will mention that I absolutely LOVE Straight Lines (excellent), and Some Journey is my favourite track: just beautiful, especially the outro - it never fails to give me goosebumps. The second album is also very good, but this will always be my favourite of hers. I'm also delighted to see that she's currently back on the road: I saw her play at Leeds Uni in about 1987, natch. Sorry for the Gen X smugness.
loved this album since back in the day
i did not care for this
Hostias, qué coñazo
1. cracking -1 2. freeze - 1.5 3. marlene -1 4. blue - 1.5 5. linez - 1 6. under -1.5 7. journey -1.5 8. queen -1.5 9. knight - 1.5 10. girlz - 1
Enya and Bob Dylan make an album. Unsurprisingly not great results but not totally unredeemable 2.5*
2.5 It was fine background stuff idk if I revisit much. Tom’s diner…
Maybe it's a 3 but I'll give it a 4 just because. I love Susanne Vega. Her pure voice, simple arrangements and excellent song-writing.
Love her sound
Simplicity evoking emotion: a PhD thesis
Good music but pretty forgettable
I know she was big in the 80s but if she came out in 1994 she would make jewel look like a joke in terms of success. I want to hear a mid 90s produced version of this album.
Fint, satt ikke ved første gjennomlytting, kanskje neste gang!
very good
not sure why I find this album...funny. the first track really sets the tone for her album. this album sure is poetry but it genuinely sounds like a bit to my ear. kinda sound like really bad 80s tv. album gets more sophisticated in lyricism.
Fuckass average singer songwriter music 3/5
This shit was dope
Nice voice and music, but all songs kinda sound the same
Honestly, the more I listened the more I dug it. It takes a sec to get used to the vocals but be the end of the album I really loved listening.
Shocked that this is a debut!
I really started to enjoy this album by track three, "Marlene On The Wall." "Undertow" and "Knight Moves" also stood out to me. There's a mystery and charm to this album that I can't quite put my finger on, but in general I really enjoy North American singer-songwriters from this period. I enjoyed least the tracks where she "spoke-sang" a lot, especially the first two and the last tracks.
Joni Mitchell, that you?
Romance songs, chill music with some nice guitar.
"Marlene on the Wall" is a great song, and there are several other really good tracks on here. I like Vega's voice a lot too.
Ok
This was fine, but I’m not sure I needed to hear it before I died. Most remarkable thing I could find about it was that it sold more copies than anticipated. Selling a lot of copies seems to be the most important thing to get on this list…