Suzanne Vega

Inoffensive, mildly entertaining in spots - I think she's released some better stuff.

The amount of 1's I've given to female folk singers who kinda speak/sing mediocre poetry has challenged my worldview. Do I have some unconscious bias towards women? No, I just gave Blondie a 4. There's tons of women who make music that doesn't suck.

Thank GOD. Decent music

A pleasant enough, airy folk-rock album from the mid-80s. It wasn't anything special but a nice listen after a stressful work day.

Dałabym 3.5, ale niech będzie 4. Smutno mi. "The Queen and The Soldier" najlepsza.

Not bad, but ultimately quite forgettable

Undertow

Sounds like she was singing poetry from a 3rd grader

Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega Album Review Suzanne Vega’s self-titled debut is a quiet, introspective album that leans heavily on gentle acoustic guitar, soft vocals, and a poetic lyrical style that’s easy to admire, even if it’s not the most exciting listen. Her songwriting is thoughtful and often subtle, with tracks like Marlene on the Wall and Small Blue Thing standing out as highlights that hint at the more polished and emotionally resonant work she’d go on to make. That said, much of the album drifts by in a low, steady hum—pleasant, but rarely gripping. The sparse production suits her voice, but there’s a sameness to the tone and pace that makes it hard to stay fully engaged. It’s not bad by any means, but it feels more like a solid first draft than a fully-formed artistic statement.

Good

# Album Name: Suzanne Vega # Artist: Suzanne Vega # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: SZ has a nice voice. Other than that the album was pretty bland. It was just an OK listen. Neither here or there. I definitely didnt hate it but i did not enjoy it. # Top Tunes: None that stuck out # Would I listen to it again? Dont think so

Not a fan of weirdo spoken-word delivery. I thought the composition was nice and the guitar pieces would occasionally get really pretty. Not my favorite

**An ok Album

not my favorite, but not my least favorite. suzanne vega has a nice voice and i think she is a pretty alright songwriter, but the album really did not leave a big impression on me. there's nothing bad here, but there's nothing that was very remarkable to me. pleasant, but only so. yeah, not totally my thing.

Not heard her before. Loved it.

There was a familiarity to a lot of the songs here. I didn't expect to like it so much.

somewhere between 3.5 and 4.

The female singer-songwriter genre is one that I have only recently been getting into. I have listened to ones from the 60s and 70s and then more contemporary but this was the first from the 80s. So it was interesting to hear this album that continued on the line. That said nothing stuck out or will make it to my regular listening.

An interesting pick for someone who flies under the radar in pop music terms and the author(s) could easily have picked anything that included her few hits. This album is a class pick that shines the light on Vega as a natural inheritor of the crown from other female singer songwriters like Baez and Mitchell. 3.5/5

Great album. Not as great as Solitude Standing or 99.9 F, and I can only think this album was picked because it was a debut album. Refreshing to have a singer-songwriter with such a great voice (looking at you Bob and Leonard). She's also great on backing vocals for "In a Lonely Place" by The Smithereens, which is where I think I first noticed her. Superb guitar work as well. This is a winner and sad there isn't more on the 1001.

Pop, s.s,, 1985 -> 4

Pretty dull Marlena on the wall is great but the rest is very disappointing

Not my jam at all. Wasn't then, isn't now.

Good to hear h

Inoffensive background Americana. Good thing she had a few hits after this to sustain a career.

Further evidence that I'm getting old - but I really enjoyed this. Was expecting it to be very 80's but not in good way - but was pleasantly surprised.

Suzanne Vega On first listen this is very pleasant but very mid 80s sounding folk rock. That 80s sound is great for upbeat pop music and pop rock and metal, but for something more hushed and intimate like this it sounds too big and too austere, which is a shame as I really like her voice and storytelling. It really feels like it needs some 70s analogue warmth or at least some fake analogue warmth or something to give it some kind of oomph to puncture either the cold politeness or cheesiness of the sound. The first side doesn’t seem quite as strong as the second, Cracking has a nice atmosphere, but the spoken word parts don’t really work for me. Freeze Tag has a bit too much of that squeezing extra words and syllables into the meter thing and is a little bit annoying. Marlene on the Wall is catchy though and uses the meter thing more judiciously, you can see why this would be the main single, it has a nice sense of completeness. Small Blue Thing sounds a little like What I Am by Edie Brickell but is a really nice song. Straight Lines suffers a little from the 80s production, the electric guitar sounds particularly anaemic, but the synth is nice. Undertow is nice, it has a pleasing sense of rhythm and doesn’t out stay its welcome. Some Journey is great, the one time the production style works and I like the violin solo a lot, its slightly chaotic and brings a nice bit of energy to things. The Queen and the Soldier is very good too, it feels quite Leonard Cohen melodically, with a Dylan-esque lyric. The slightly acerbic feel of Knight Moves is nice too, the bit of anger breaking through the pleasantness. Under that cheesy 80s sound Neighbourhood Girls is actually a nice bluesy song, and reinforces the second side being more interesting than the first I really like her voice, lyrics and much of the songwriting and its an enjoyable enough album, but it’s slightly removed sense of pleasantness means it doesn’t linger in the memory as much as you feel it should. Would listen again and am interested enough to try some more albums, but I’m unlikely to reach for this too much. Which makes it a 3 👑➕🪖 Playlist submission: Some Journey

Pleasant and forgettable is probably a fair summation of the album. I couldn't help but compare this to the roughly contemporaneous Nanci Griffiths album, which is far superior. but it does have a handful of very nice songs, with a vocal that speaks to me - for which it lands on a very respectable three rating.

Suzanne Vega’s debut has that classic singer-songwriter sound, with well-written, thoughtful songs at its core. The production feels a little sloppy at times, but the strength of the songwriting carries the album through. Clearly she's very talented, and had an influence on some of the 90's signer songwriters. Unfortunately, this didn't really resonate with me.

lady does forgettable Cohen impression - this was more enjoyable when she went more pop

New gem for me, reminded me a little of Sinéad O'Connor. Will definitely revisit

I love this album. It's got a certain magic to it, 'Knight Moves' in particular with it's medieval vibe. I feel like I'm entering a different world or someone else's mind. Was already a fan of this one but surprised to see it on the list!

I liked the opening 3 tracks, "Marlene on the wall" probably being my favourite (no actually, "Small Blue Thing"). The whole thing with it's jazzy, off-kilter rhythm and spoken-word lyrics is fun! I'd imagine Fiona Apple was inspired by this album and/or Suzanne Vega's music. I have to say though after the first half of the album I wasn't paying much attention on the first listen and fell asleep the second. These are tight deadlines so I can't make further comment. Overall though I thought it was an enjoyable listen, will take home a few, but didn't wow me.

Interesting one, I liked it.

Not what I was listening to in the 80’s so I’d never heard of her. Or this album. Over the last 25 years, I’ve become a sucker for female singer-songwriters. No exception here. I like it. Don’t know how this compares to her other albums, but I may explore some. Nowhere near the level of Joni Mitchell (Blue), Carole King (Tapestry) or Tracy Chapman (Self Titled), but a cool vibe with meaningful content.

There are many '80s albums that have tremendous sentimental value for me, but this one is right near the top. My mom couldn't tolerate anything with bass or beat, but this one was right up her alley, so we listened to it a lot, especially in her car. i don't listen to very much music like this anymore, but this one remains priceless to me. My wife asked if I was going to give it 5 stars for nostalgia alone, but I think it really holds up. Foundational for a lot of storyteller artists that came later, such as Tay Tay.

Let's play a game where you automatically lose ten points for any review of a woman artist where your only/main point is to compare her to other women artists, as if gender is somehow a musical genre. Further points lost for lazy references to Lilith Fair or patting yourself on the back for somehow managing to enjoy a woman artist.

Nice.

Background music

Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Can't say I have many thoughts about this one. Favorite Songs: Some Journey / The Queen and the Soldier

Ms. Vega does little to step out of the shadows of her inspirations. I enjoyed the conversationalnism of it all, but I'm not particularly dazzled by any particular component. As an aside The Queen and the Soldier kinda gave Kacey Musgrave Rating: 5.9 Favorite Song: Straight Lines/Neighborhood Girls

7.5/10 I like this. I can’t quite explain why or what it exactly is doing for me but it feels very genuine and real and it speaks to me. I like her voice and her writing but at best she’s doing a Joni impression. So idk maybe it’s not THAT great. Favorite song: small blue things

It was fine. Nothing memorable.

“Knight Moves” comes on my headphones and a finger of the monkey’s paw curls.

It says Marlene but she says Marlena

First listen. Ok I guess.

I enjoyed her singing style, the songs (and lyrics) are good in a mildly eccentric way and the music has a cool bohemian jazz-folk vibe. The issue for me is the shiny 80s pop production and reverb when this sort of music really needs a warm earthy sound. But even so, this is a nifty, idiosyncratic album.

Boring really

Songwriting was good but the delivery sounded very samey, didn't really work for me.

Feels like I should drive my old 2CV to a a beauty spot in the rain and have a cry. This is tortured and sensual music for the self-obsessed indie girl in your life. Streaked eyeliner and big dreams.

I can't quite put my finger on it, I enjoyed this much more than I was expecting to.

Aside from the mixing being a bit off and burying the vocals a bit, I found this album charming. My favorite track is "Small Blue Thing". This was not my favorite album of hers (that would be 99.9F when her lyricism, song arrangement, and instrument choice would come together to make something really special), so personally I would swap this album on the list for that one. Having said that, this album is miles above any of the Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and most of the Joni Mitchell albums on this list. If we were afforded half star ratings I would give this a 3.5 stars, but since we don't I'll round down.

No familiar songs on this album, but I enjoyed it. She has a nice voice.

Came in with an open mind but this album really wasn't for me. Vega seems talented but nothing really hooked me in.

In an age where autotune and computers make music sound like perfection, it’s refreshing to hear a recording where the vocals are so bare and exposed. I wish I enjoyed the songs more but I find them all very boring.

Not bad but nothing to really write home about

I'm back again after a short break! The first thing is that this album is relaxing to listen to. It's also not too long, to the point of being boring. Best of all, "Self Titled" isn't dated and cheesy. "Neighbourhood Girls" is a good conclusion to a nice album. 3 stars for "Self Titled".

Nice understated album. Suzanne Vega is not an artist that jumps to mind nor someone that I might seek out but I always find her music accessible and pleasant.

low-key in love with this bitch now

This album was alright. It felt way too quick. The instrumentals were really good, but some of the vocal choices were pretty meh. Overall, I can appreciate this album, it's just not for me. Favorite Song: Neighborhood Girls Least Favorite: Cracking

Suzanne Vega always impresses. It starts a little anemic, but the end is well worth the price of admission alone.

Susanne Vega is another artist that I really respect, but just don't connect with their music.

Well, to me, Suzanne Vega is "Luka", and that's it. I've heard a few other songs, and nothing has appealed to me at ALL. I appreciate that she has an artistic ground in which she herself dwells: she's not trying to be someone else. She has her own style. I was pleasantly surprised to find her singing through most of this record, rather than speaking through the verse like she does on some of her songs, including a couple of tracks here ("Cracking", "Neighborhood Girls"). Actually found myself enjoying this more than I thought I might, other than the spoken songs which I hated. Sonically the '80s production only gets schmaltzy and in the way a couple of times, but mostly features restrained and understated chorused electric and acoustic guitars, pianos/synth pads and Vega's solo voice. Her lyrics read more like poems than songs, and it makes your heart hurt a little bit that singer-songwriters that major labels sign today barely even seem to try to connect with that muse, allow for mystery, are always dumbed-down. "Queen and the Soldier" tells an interesting story that doesn't go how you think it will, and the queen's motivations remain mysterious. Some of these songs seem to mine the same territory as Leonard Cohen, although Vega's take on relationships doesn't seem to have the gravitas of Cohen's. I come away from this appreciating Vega more than just "Luka", and more than being "that New York girl that talks her way through her songs". "Undertow" and "Queen..." were my favorites.

Polish French toast

Мило, но не примечательно, как мне показалось

Can't be bothered tbh

This was great! Another gem unheard by me.

This music is not made for me. I discover a lot of music through this website and some of it is just not it. It's not bad, I just like different things. 2/5

Feels like 80s Taylor Swift. Otherwise pretty bland. 2/5

Suzanne Vega's self-titled debut album is an intriguing listen that showcases her unique storytelling and melodic sensibilities. While the opening tracks may not immediately captivate with their energy, they establish a thoughtful and introspective atmosphere that draws the listener in gradually. As the album unfolds, Vega’s poignant lyrics and distinctive voice shine through, making this record a remarkable entry into the folk-pop genre. Ultimately, despite a slow start, Suzanne Vega proves to be an excellent debut, paving the way for her future musical explorations.

Very inoffensive. None of the songs grabbed me. Wouldn't be mad if someone was playing this in the background but I'd never intentionally put this on

Ξενερουα

Chill

2.5 stars

You wouldn’t believe Len’s reaction when I told him I was listening to this album. He was furious. So angry. Really took me back, I didn’t think he knew Suzanne and if he did I couldn’t imagine what she’d done to get that sort of reaction? Anyway, ended up he didn’t know her. He thought I was talking about Lou’s wife, Sue Bega! And we all know what happened there!…..3.3

Acoustic guitar based singer-songwriter stuff all glittered up with 80s studio production wizardry: super jangly fingerpicked acoustics that sound like a harp, chorus pedals on crystal clear super compressed electric guitars, lush reverbs, synth textures, electric violins, a bit of rubbery bass - sparse drumming retains the folsky singer-songwriter aesthetic. She has a gentle voice that alternates between breathy singing and chatty urgent talk-singing. Easy listening but kind of boring.

A nice listen but probably wouldn't listen again

Some of it was really good, but a bit inconsistent

Great 80s singer/songwriter

This is good and I enjoyed it, but perhaps a bit over produced (I mean it's mid-eighties, I'm surprised they restrained themselves this much with all of those synths and drum machines around). I always felt like she had a Leonard Cohen vibe to her writing and I've always liked it, but this is good not great.

‘85 was a different time, not my favorite album

Having watched Beavis and Butt-Head, I will forever think of Suzanne Vega as "The Luka Chick".

Strong songs, vocals, and guitar playing are unfortunately given a too slick sheen of production which brings down an otherwise superb set. Strong debut.

Very antiseptic

kind of unarticulatable...which is funny considering how many words she can fit into a melody. sparkly and jumpy and folky and new age-y, just a ton of aesthetic and sensory appeals for me...lots to touch and feel, lots to Learn i feel like. i rolled this a couple days after getting semi fixated on a tom's diner ytp oops (shoutouts jish for sending it my way). hope ill be able to articulate more ab this eventually, im sure ill come back to it, its too nice to be around

Very nice voice and great music. Sometimes was a little thrown off with the vocal delivery but it was at least unique.

Never heard this before but really enjoyed it. Very 80's in the best way.

I had never listened to Suzanne Vega before but for some reason I thought she was a punk rocker. Boy was I surprised! I like a lot of it, but it has a grumpy intellectual vibe running though it that I have a particular aversion to these days.

It was ok.

She's a storyteller. Pretty voice.

The music itself was chill but it was hard to get past the lyrics which were mostly cringey. The vocals were boring at times which didn't help either

This album is very folksy but despite that I really enjoyed a few songs on the album. There’s plenty of songs that didn’t really make an impression but I really enjoyed the songs that did make an impression.

Solid debut from a good singer/songwriter. I enjoyed this for the most part. A couple of songs stood out: Straight Lines Neighborhood Girls The rest is pretty standard coffee house/college folk music. 3/5

Not totally awful, but pretty bad. Whiny, uninspired and dull.

No!

Just so mundane and not interesting and tedious and could barely engage

I really like Suzanne Vega but I was surprised that this is the album of hers on the list. Solitude Standing is a much better album in my opinion. I did like this album but it felt like someone who wasn't at that peak and a bit basic in places.

Simple, beautiful, thoughtful songwriting. Happy to learn about Suzanne Vega. I had only known the name and now I’m made curious to hear more of her music.

Meh.

Singer songwriter album with a really cool knight and castle motif. Thought the idea was super solid and interesting, but felt like it fell flat for more songs than it worked. Unfortunate. I really wanted more out of the album. Standouts: Cracking, Marlene On The Wall, The Queen And The Soldier, and Knight Moves.

eh

Nice voice, kinda boring

Groundbreaking then, run of the mill now

A little dated but still wonderfully calm and beautiful and stripped-back

this was nice but not earth-shattering. probably closer to a 3.5 to me but what the hell, i'll bump it up to a 4 because ladies are doing it for themselves.

i saw suzanne vega but didn't recognize any of the song titles from this album, so my first thought was "why this one"... luckily, it's still pretty interesting and engaging. i've listened to it twice and change now (which was easy since it's only 35 mins total) and have enjoyed it more and more each time. the songs are all kind of... weird. not like talking heads weird and certainly not captain beefheart weird, but not what i'd expect from a mid-80s female singer-songwriter on paper. there's a lot of lush instrumentation throughout this album, thought-provoking and mysterious lyrics (despite their very simple diction), and unique song structures. while none of these are huge breakout singles or anything (it's no thomas's luncheonette), this is an album i'm glad i listened to closely. favorites: cracking, marlene on the wall, small blue thing, undertow, the queen and the soldier, knight moves

It was good but nothing special to be honest. I liked "Marlene on the wall". Would probably give it a 2.5/5.

Folky, guitar, unique voice. Gentle. Interesting delivery, almost spoken. Pretyy and pleasant.

I always like Suzanne Vega - very pleasant listening - a high 4 but not quite compelling enough for a 5?

I feel like I should have liked this more than I did. I like her voice. The songs are melodic and quiet. But for some reason it just didn't grab me.

Luka, Gypsy and Tom's Diner good. Although Tom's Diner better as a dance track.

ganz cute

I was walking through Greenwich Village in NYC in Spring of 1985. It was exceptionally warm, and people had their windows open. From an apartment a few stories up, I heard this warm and engaging song filtering through the noise of the street. It was Marlene on the Wall. My friend and I stood outside listening to the song, completely enthralled. We eventually moved on and, as we crossed the street, we saw a painting ont he side of an old movie theater of none other than Marlene Deitrich. Weird and cool at the same time. Just like that experience, Suzanne Vega's epounymous debut was entralling throughout. Unlike any other music at the time (folk was pretty dead at that point), it was also a slice of New Yorl City in the mid-1980s - a little rough, sometimes sweet, but it draws you in nonetheless. I can tell you that my favorite songs are marlene on the Wall, Straight Lines, and Undertow, but you might get the wrong impression. The whole album is wonderful. Her next album, Solitude Standing catapulted Vega to stardom two years later, but this album captures the soul of the mid-80s much better.

This was a very nice set of folk songs.

Some bits that are interesting, some bits that sound like 90s adult alternative. In terms of American pop history, there should probably be an Ani DiFranco album on the list. Since there isn't I'm rounding this one up for vague similarity. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

Neutral, not unpleasant. Rounding down from 2.5, only because the first song sounded a bit like something Bruce McCulloch would sing, and that stuck with me for the rest of the album.

A delicate effort from a first timer, the eponymous album from Suzanne Vega does little to offend and a lot to lull the listener with its gentle compositions. Don't let the try-hard quirkiness of the album cover distract you, this is something worth investing in. Favorites: Cracking, Marlene on the Wall, Small Blue Thing, Straight Lines, Undertow, The Queen and the Soldier.

She has an excellent voice and is an absolute poet. Comparisons to dylan are unfair - She's far more talented. 5/5

First song awful but 3 after that

Will give this a listen.

I can see why some people might like this, but I don't like it. Rounding up 1.5

Didn't enjoy it.

Hadn't heard of Suzanne, but we had fun. Some Stevie Nicks magic here.

Pleasant and chill, as expected. Reminded me of Wendy Woo, or I guess it's the other way around considering when each person is/was singing.

I wanted to like this but it was so boring I couldn't make myself pay attention. Maybe better for a quiet walk or a long drive than a normal morning at work.

Decent album nothing stellar but reasonable listening

Smooth and pleasurable and light-touch intriguing. SV seemed early on to be a worthy success to Joni Mitchell. Perhaps because this is tame and inoffensive in the extreme (however thoughtful), there’s just not much to get too, too excited about here. One suspects one should listen to the lyrics more closely, but one's not convinced one would find the characters all that interesting or sympathetic. Rickie Lee Jones is a much better artist.

Great, everytime, anywhere

I can't help but find albums like this one incredibly boring. I don't get the appeal.

Nice voice, catchy songs that are distinct enough from each other. Like a female Leonard Cohen who can sing.

Did nothing for me.

This wasn’t awful. I feel like her voice and lyrics didn’t match the instrumental.

Suzanne has a great voice but this album was boring. I really didn't need to listen to this before I die.

A fine singer-songwriter record. I didn’t dislike it but it didn’t move me. She’s a strong writer, so I look forward to hearing more of her work in the future.

No bangers here, still everything sounds great

This is mostly personal taste but I don’t like this very much. The songs are too talky. They feel too heady to hook me emotionally. Not enough heart or something. I feel like I enjoy talky singer-songwriters — Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan can get very talky but their songwriting also has a heavy emphasis on melody. You know who she sounds like? Taylor Swift. Their vocals tones are similar and certain phrasings reminded me of how Taylor Swift phrases her talkier lines. I bet she cites Suzanne Vega as an influence.

Singer-songwriter DNA that explores 1985 timbres and tonalities but stays true to that original sound. It's a really impressive execution of the idea and I really enjoyed these songs and this production. "Marlene On The Wall" and "Cracking" are really strong tracks. Sometimes the stereotypical folky "here's a whole 12 verse story set to a song" formula kind of bores me, and I feel it here like "The Queen And The Soldier". Maybe it's blasphemous for me to say that but it's just kind of bland to me after hearing the concept so many times. I never really hear the end of one of these songs and say "wow I can't wait to hear that again". Nice record, cool album art too. I love how it shows the track lists on the cover.

Alright album. Nothing spectacular on here.

cracking- 5 freeze tag- 5 marlene on the wall- 5 small blue thing- 4 straight lines- 5 undertow- 4 some journey- 5 the queen and the soldier- 3. huh. knight moves- 5 neighborhood girls- 5 i was locked into drawing but this was mid

I'm torn on this album - it is, objectively, good. But it's not my thing. Suzanne Vega was ahead of her time with this. The female-led folk sound on this album is something that you would be more likely to hear in the early to mid 90's era, and she was no doubt an influence on all of those singers. But I just couldn't get into it. The first track, with the spoken word style singing, is also pretty grating.

I had never heard Suzanne Vega, with the exception of “Luka”. I really liked this album, but would have like it more if not for her penchant for speaking some of the lyrics instead of singing them. To me, it’s such a waste as I really do enjoy her lovely singing voice. This kept me from giving the album four stars. I will listen to it again, however.

This came across a bit amateurish to me, like it was trying too hard and only further emphasised Suzanne Vega's inexperience. She does a weird talk singing with such awkward and stilted vocal melodies that just annoy me I read this described as stripped back but it's anything but. There's synthesisers and all sorts of effects all over that drown out the singing a little bit and take away from the lyrics. Especially on the first track, everything is just drowned in reverb to the point of distraction What Suzanne Vega tried to do here isn't fundamentally against my tastes, the guitar parts are decent and the bass lines are quite good. I like how her voice sounds and there are some ambitious moments utilising various instruments but it comes off as sloppy. I could see myself liking some of her later stuff if those issues were polished up a bit Highlights: Neighborhood Girls, Freeze Tag

It's ok - inoffensive 80s singer-songwriter folk music which dare I say is better than alot of the stuff from the late 60s. 5/10.

This was another surprise album of an artists I’ve never heard before. It’s folk with an 80s reverb sound. Almost has an Icy feel to the songs. The tracks seem like a beautiful sad day on Antarctica. First 4 tracks were stellar and the rest of the album kept me engaged 4/5

While I thought the lyricism was really good, I feel like the musical style was just overall boring for the time. When you had people like Kate Bush to compete with, it's kinda hard to compare imo.

I liked this one more than I thought I would. I had heard Tom’s Diner, but nothing else by her. The sing-talking style reminded me of Leonard Cohen quite a bit. Probably won’t go back to this much save for a few songs. Favorites were Marlene On The Wall and Knight Moves.

Sing please don't whisper. Sorry but a little boring.

Nope. Immature spoken word crap. Suzanne Vega has a beautiful voice, too bad she used it for evil.

4.7 - This was very much me, could listen to this a lot. Just very genuine

Loved the start of this, the production is really beautiful. Lost me a little in the middle but I liked the closer too. Fave Tracks: Cracking, Freeze Tag, Marlene on the Wall, Neighborhood Girls 3.9/5

Enjoyable. Simple pleasures.

I liked this, nice finger picked guitar and simple but effective arrangements. The synth/strings complement the sound well. She has an engaging vocal style and writes interesting lyrics too. Highlights: Marlene, Small Blue Thing, Queen and the Soldier, Knight Moves

decent

New for me. Need to listen to more from Suzanne Vega

Langweiliges Geklimpere! Nichts, was hängenbleibt!

I find a lot of singer-songwriter stuff somewhat self-indulgent and boring but I really enjoyed this. Her voice is gorgeous, and the guitar is so well-produced here. It's crystal clear, and the other instruments stick to the background mostly allowing it to shine. Great album.

This album was fine. It got better the longer it went on. I did not like the vocal style in "Cracking" at ALL. It was...too short and rhythmic and it felt awkward. But the longer the album went on the better it got. Suzanne Vega is a great vocalist and I like her singing style in most other songs. Probably more like a 2.5. Liked Songs: "Marlene On The Wall" , "Some Journey" , "The Queen And The Soldier" , "Knight Moves"

liked songs: Freeze Tag, Small Blue Thing, Straight Lines The first song set my expectations low, but I was pleasantly surprised by the rest of the album. I actually liked the stripped-back approach to the songs, and I really liked the guitar tones. 3.5

I thought this was excellent.

Calming

Atmospheric

Singer song writer is normally my kryptonite but this passed me by without the usual annoyance. Grand

not bad, decent female vocalist. Probably need to listen to the lyrics in detail to really appreciate

This album is like when a 2 year old tells a story. It's just made up as it goes along, meandering in circles not making any real sense. It's not offensive and it doesn't have a point.

Started off pretty nice, but ended up being a lot of the same.

Overall, the album was okay. There were a few beautifully written tracks that stood out, such as "The Queen and The Soldier," "Freeze Tag," and "Straight Lines." The rest didn't evoke much feeling from me. Most likely won't put this album in my regular rotation.

It sounds like something that would play in a Starbucks twenty years ago but I kinda like it anyway. I think there's a part of me that would've likely been an earthy poetry slam person that attended Lilith Fair in 1998 so that part of me doesn't mind it at all. I don't know if it's very good or essential per se, at times it sounds like a mix of Taylor Swift and Barenaked Ladies? Which aren't very complimentary comparisons? But I don't know, it's kinda cool at times. I had fun listening to it. I might come back to some tracks it made me want to buy rustic Christmas decorations and like buy a bullet journal or something.

I really appreciated what she was doing on this album even though it isn’t my vibe

Beautifully arranged album, Suzanne Vega has a gorgeous, wistful, voice which lends itself perfectly to her fantastic guitar playing. You can definitely hear the influence artists like Lou Reed and Bob Dylan have on her work. 4⭐️

This album is okay. Every song kind of sounds the same, and none of them really have a chorus/climax or really go anywhere. She also has this weird way of talk singing which doesn't always work. There are some moment that I like, but for the most part this album doesn't really work for me. High 2.

Very Bryn Mawr vibes <3

I liked this, and had never heard of Suzanne Vega before! It sounded like an awesome blend between folk and spoken word poetry

Sleepy and bland vocals.

Nice little pop album

Wonderful sound, wonderful voice

Det är så pretentiöst. Det är svårt att lyssna på för mig. Hennes sätt att sjunga på och det hackiga i melodierna blir riktigt jobbigt efter ett tag. Vill inte höra igen. Jag kan dock se hur det här antagligen har inspirerat massor av små kajalpandor.

Позитивный фолк-рок из Америки. 5\10

Some interesting songs and good background listening music but nothing really stuck out. Glad I found another new artist though!

Not my kind of jam

Great Album 4* Im a new fan

Mixed with good and mediocre

I was worried this was going to sound like Bjork for some reason. But no, it was just mellow girl rock. It was OK.

I enjoyed this album quite a bit. Listened while I was driving and the weather was overcast and that felt right. Another great female songwriter that reminded me a bit of Joni at times. The lyrics real stick with me especially on Cracking and Marlene on the Wall.

Two albums in a row where I'm struggling to comprehend why THIS album from the artist was picked. Suzanne Vega is known for two huge songs: "Tom's Diner," which has even resurfaced recently on tiktok, and "Luka." Both bangers, both on the same album, but not on this one. That said, this album is still pretty great. I love her vocal/songwriting style, it's like poetry is just spilling out of her and she's trying to keep up. I especially loved that on the opener, "Cracking." She's awesome. Favorite tracks: Cracking, Small Blue Thing, Knight Moves. Album art: Off-kilter framing is excellent, colors go together well. Not a whole lot going on but it is effective. 4/5

I just can’t get into these singer songwriter albums. I don’t know what it is, but they’re just boring to me, especially the vocals.

Shocked that there would be a Suzanne Vega album on here that didn't include the song "Luka." Does that mean we're in for multiple Suzanne Vega albums, because if so that seems odd?

I feel like I've run across her name plenty of times over the years, yet never had a feel for what she sounds like, or even whatever genre (or two) she inhabited. And yet when I listened to this album, I realized that (a) I've heard a few of her tunes on the radio (yet none from this album, curiously, and really only "Luka" sticks with me), and (b) she remains somewhat muddled in my mind, mixed in with all these other somewhat anodyne 80s/90s folkish singer/songwriters. I think the latter problem is largely because she doesn't have a very powerful voice (at least on this album), and seems comfortable with keeping her perspective and involvement at a very long arm's length. And I know it's not really fair to criticize an aesthetic that permeates 80s music (especially singer/songwriter music), but I really wish she'd been able to avoid the awkward rhyming cadence that seems to permeate a lot of the album (worst of all on the opening track "Cracking" and the pseudo-edgy closing track "Neighborhood Girls", but rarely absent from much of the album). I guess she helped pave the way for later, and much more interesting singer/songwriters, but what a shame that this collection has this album yet nothing by Toni Childs, whose debut album "Union" (1988) wipes up "Suzanne Vega" with a vengeance.

I went to hear Suzanne Vega live with a girlfriend to be nice and supportive and I'm still traumatized. I was okay with Tom's Diner and even bought that album at the concert and I did enjoy hearing Luka in the Paris subway when I want to Paris for this first time on my first grownup vacation, but it's not worth it. I tried with Cracking and then started to write this review and bail and now she's on Marlene on the Wall and I remember at the concert everyone really like this song. And now I'll do what I wanted to do then. Stop listening. I'm giving it a 2 in deference to the musicians and the recording quality itself.

3 out of 5. Nice melodies.

Felt breezy and refreshing, but not unprofound for it.

A classic

I like this sound a lot generally so I’m into this even if not much of the album stood out to me overall.

Not for me. The talk singing was weird and the rest was pretty dull.

This was not for me

I'm leaning closer to a 2.5 but will give a two here, I'm definitely interested in listening to more but this album wasn't for me

Pretty

Again….why not pick an artists album with their most popular songs? I just can’t get into Suzanne Vega…..not my thing.

Why isn’t Solitary Standing on the list?

The production was fine, but the lackadaisical vocals make this a drag to get through.

Boring Boring Boring. All songs sounds the same

Cracking was spoken word to music...it was fine, just a little to poetry and not enough music for me. But the rest were nice. The Queen and the Soldier was hauntingly beautiful. One of the reviews I read said they were going to tell their kids this was Taylor Swift as a joke, but she really sort of does the same thing. Her music is less traditional song form, but more of a written poetry form making songs that have traditional elements but also more story and poetry. Its so late 80s or early 90s...I probably won't listen again but if I had been the same person I am now then I think I would have loved this and listened on repeat.

You should never "speak" a song cuz it makes you sound like you are just rapping really badly. This album was so exceptionally average that I found it painfully boring.

Whoa. I was JUST having a conversation about her with a friend yesterday, and this album popped up today. Kinda wild! Anyway, my main memory from Suzanne Vega from the 80s is the Luka song (and its video that used to play a lot on Friday Night Videos). I felt so sad for Luka on the second floor. So I always associated her with sadness and this album fit right in with that melancholy vibe. She has a pretty voice and the songs were cool enough, but nothing was very catchy and it was a lot of spoken word. It’s not something I would listen to again because it’s kind of a downer.

Seems ok album, nice voice

Not the most exciting female singer songwriter album i heard on here, but still a pretty listen

its ok, prefer other singer songwriters

No. No. Noooo. I'm a lyrics guy. These lyrics are trash. The lyrics honestly sound like entries to a preteens diary. The melody chose for the lyrics are awful. Almost trying to steal that Joni Mitchel talk singing. Some of the music was written really nice. That is its saving grace. Next.

A terrific songwriter.

It washed over me and left almost no impression outside of vibes

Back in the dim and distant days of yore, and what apparently was 1985. I was watching a tv program called Pebblemill at One, and they would have a musical interlude. So there sat this waif of a girl with a guitar, and she started to play and sing an ethereal piece called Small Blue Thing. And I was enthralled. Even today, some 39 years later it is still one of my all time favourite songs. Where many say The Queen and The Soldier is the stand out track, and Marlene on The Wall was the album's hit. It is Small Blue Thing that sticks in my heart and my memory. You could almost say 'Like a marble or an eye. On the whole though this is a great album, there truly isn't a bad track on it. It can only get a 5 from me, but I guess you'd already worked that one out.

Can’t decide whether this is pleasant or boring. Very of its time, just simple songs sung simply but proficiently.

I remember this when it came out, with her clever lyrics and folksy sound eg 'Marlene on the Wall'. This type of music was about as far away from what I liked at the time. Although the years have been kinder to it in my opinion, its still something i wouldn't go out of my way to listen to for nostalgias sake. On top of that I still hate her voice.

I actually quite like her soft vocal delivery here, although it can feel a bit bland on some tracks. That rare blandness combined with the skilled, yet boring instrumentation hold the album back from being as good as it could be.

I was dreading this I was correct. Sometimes I can forgive a singer songwriter's voice and lyrics if I like the music, but not this one. Just very much not my style. 1.5

Vocals 5 stars instrumentation 1

I LOVE love love the arrangements of these songs and her singing voice. This would be a 5 star album if she didn't do any of that annoying speak-singing.

Listened to this suuuuuper early in the morning, enjoyable but liked the last song in particular. 3.5

I have listened to a decent amount of Suzanne Vega, but not this album. I enjoyed it and was happy to give it a listen. There's some almost Sinead O'Connor type bits that I particularly liked toward the end.

Literally nothing notable about this album. I suppose it was easy listening though.

Suzanne Vega is great. Marlene On The Wall is perhaps one of the most underrated songs of the 80s. Although I have to admit that I've never dipped into this album before. On listening - Cracking is really irritatingly produced. The vocals are distant and almost smothered by the instrumentals. The album really kicks up a notch when Marlene comes in. Vega's voice is just exquisite - capturing desperation, exasperation, hope - it's just a brilliant track. There's a really strong album here, with The Queen and the Soldier also being a fantastic track, leading straight into an almost as good Knight Moves. Yep. I like this. Really strong album from a great artist.

Je vais reprendre l'opinion d'un gars dans les commentaires: ça sonne comme de la musique de «fille qui trippe un peu trop sur les chevaux». Pour rebondir là-dessus, cet album complimenterait très bien un film pour pré-adolescente qui raconterait «L'été où j'ai dût m'acclimater à ma nouvelle vie à la campagne après y avoir déménager avec mon père qui viens de se séparer/traverse une période de deuil, et où j'y ai appris à vivre en communion avec la nature, me permettant de traverser cette période houleuse de ma vie en acceptant ma nouvelle condition rurale»

I could not get into this album. She has a good voice but all of the songs sounded similar. Not a fan.

I really enjoyed this album. Full of interesting musical compositions. I was thrown off by the first track with the spoken-word/singing style, but I settled in after that, and once the album started from the top I felt like I understood the opener more. Marlene on the Wall was a great tune, loved the drums during the refrain, bit of a Steve Gadd feel. Some Journey builds to an incredible musical climax of strings and synth. Undertow and Neighborhood girls were also standout tracks. Overall this album was great. It sounds ahead of its time, like it could be the building blocks of modern indie, as vague as that may be.

Another calming female lead, maybe reminds me of Joni Mitchell but it’s been a while since I’ve listened to her.

Not her strongest album but pretty good for a debut Lp.

Very chilled. Very folksy, I liked it

Dit is weer zo'n typisch voorbeeld waardoor ik me af ga vragen of ik stiekem toch een vrouwenhater ben, maar ik denk eerlijk gezegd niet dat dat het is. Al zullen veel vrouwenhaters dat claimen natuurlijk. Ik zal voor de zekerheid voor het slapen gaan vijf Jagged Little Pills en drie Miseducations bidden zodat m'n zonden vergeven worden. Onze Suus zit zo vervelend te doen met haar stem dat ik de muziek, die verder wat gezapig maar best prima is, toch niet echt kan gaan zitten waarderen. Ze klinkt als een combinatie van Björk (het hoge), Joni Mitchell (dat veel te hippe losjes zingen/vertellen), een willekeurig paardenmeisje (gewoon vervelend zijn) en een articulerende Bob Dylan (dat op willekeurige momenten delen van woorden extra hard aanzetten). Track één is hier een verschrikkelijk voorbeeld van, maar ook veel andere tracks ontsnappen niet aan die vervelende manier van zingen. Het stomme is dat ik haar stem zelf nog best oké vind, maar de manier waarop ze hem gebruikt neemt bij mij de wind volledig uit m'n zeilen. Ik word er al vrij snel een klein beetje boos van en dan is het gedaan natuurlijk. De tweede helft van het album is iets makkelijker te slikken. Ik vind niet dat het een slecht album is, al zou het zomaar kunnen dat hier op de lokale muziekschool een adolescent rondloopt die iets soortgelijks op de mat legt, maar waar we nog nooit van hebben gehoord en nooit van zullen gaan horen. Ik ga een 2 geven omdat ik vind dat ik me niet moet aanstellen, maar de 1 was dichtbij.

More minimalistic and loosely structured singer-songwriter. Not really for me, it just needs a little something more

first listen somehow feels English and medieval

i was familiar with Suzanne Vega's work through my mom and her CD of "99 Degrees F", so her poetry and folkisms aren't terra incognito. what WAS a bit of a surprise is how much Windham Hill style production is on her first album -- charming, free flowing, often dated but always clear. even if the actual WH regulars are only on a few tracks, you can't shake the sense that this is a session musician's record; everyone one here is incredibly talented at what they do but would probably never become a superstar beyond the minds of the nerds in the recording booth. i think this also applies to Vega. she's a session singer-songwriter. your favorite bard's favorite bard. a relative unknown despite her care. that is, until a freak accident puts her in the last place you think she'd ever be -- the dance floor.

I loved this back in the day. Listening has brought back memories. It doesn’t quite make it to a 5 though and I’m not sure why. I think it may be the production. So it’s a 4 from me

First time I’ve heard more than just their singles. I’ll probably play some more records.

Glad I got to hear this

Me no likey

Not someone I’ve listened to much bar Toms Diner and Luka but this was a really cool album and I’ll listen to it again

Not a Suzanne Vega fan sans Tom Diner I guess...

Pretty chill vibes

Ovo je jedan toliko lijepi album... Preslušao sam ga nekoliko dana. Predivan glas, aranžmani. Perkusije točno tamo gdje trebaju, synthevi nježni na nekim pjesmama, predivne riječi. Cijelo vrijeme sam imao osjećaj da sam najzaljubljeniji čovjek i vozim se starim New York metrom ili prekrasnim oldtimer žutim taksijima dog promatram noćni skyline sa svojom dragom. Prekrasan emotivan i odličan album. Tko voli Cranberries-e, Alanis Morissette ili Cocteau Twins, zavolit će ovaj album! 8/10

Umrijet ću od dosade majkemi. Možda nije pomoglo što sam slušala Prodigyja prije ovog, ali svejedno ću umrijeti. Ne znam šta bi mi se moralo dogoditi da mi ovo bude napeto. Nisam uopće očekivala nju tu, a čak i da je tu, očekivala bih Solitude Standing album s kojim je i pobrala malo "jaču slavu". Straight lines i Undertow imaju naznake nečeg zanimljivog, ali nedovoljno da mi utječe na ocjenu. Ima lijep glas, šteta da ga nije malo bolje uposlila, pogotovo u to doba. A bit će 2 ili 3/10, šta ću joj, može i gore.

5/10 Prvo sam procitao opis i mislim si, a idi u kurac, stvarno nemam volje slusat kako netko trkelja po gitari i pjevusi sad. Pogeldam, vidim da je album malo iznad 30 minuta, reko ajd, probat cu. Krene album, hejtam zešće, ali nakon jedno 15 sekundi sam si pomislio pa dobro, nije tako strasno, malo je zanimljivo. Evo me na kraju albuma, nisam prebacio niti jednu pjesmu, nisam hejtao nista. Osim sto nema bubnjeva, sto je vjerojatno i dobra odluka, aranzman je dosta bogat. Ali moram priznati da ovo stvarno nije moja šalica čaja i ne vidim kad bi si ovako nesto pustio ili isao dublje u preslusavanje ovoga. bit ce trojka jer nije da je lose, ali nije ni da je dobro. Nije da nije, al' nije ni da nije.

2.5/10 Poslusao cijeli jer je samo 35min kao. Kantautorski zenski album izasao sredinom 80ih godina dok su synthevi prstali na sve strane i glazbena tehnologija se razvijala rapidno. Neka je ona nasla svoju nišu i beskrompomisno svirala i pjevala sto joj je bilo na srcu bez prilagodjavanja tada suvremenom zvuku (zato ju i necu usporedjivati sa puno jacim zenskom glazbenim imenima tog vremena), ali niti jedan trenutak me ovdje nije nimalo odusevio niti okrznuo osim 03:12-03:19 dijela u Undertowu i cinjenica da je zavrsila. Nisam independent knjiznicarka koja proucava zenska prava i broji popijene pive svom jebacu ili Alanis Morissette kojoj bi ovo bio uzor u glazbi. Nista osobno nemam protiv doticne ali jos nize idu samo albumi zbog kojih bi izasao iz prostorije, Kid Rock ili nesto zesce cringey/zlo.

Failed to leave a lasting impression

Sweet and forgettable.

... ok... i guess..

Good debut album. Other than her hits I know none of her other music. That’s all folks.

Excellent debut album!

Confirmado. No me pasa nada con SV

Better than I expected. Not really my thing, but still interesting.

chill nays

Complex storylines which are fine. I wish she sang more and spoke less. Solid pick.

This was pretty decent. I liked the guitar work a lot, and Vega's lyrics were vivid and confident.

Interesting, was not what I was expecting. Like if Patti Smith was an artist in the eighties

Favorite Track: Small Blue Thing

It feels like 90s alt-angst stuff, so impressive that this is a mid 80s album. Clearly very inspiring. Not enough tonal shift across the whole album, but it is very much one thing done very well.

Wish it had more Neighborhood Girls Energy. Fits good to the approachin Autumn Season. Good Debut Album but for me it felt not that personal otherwise like real emotion.

I wanted to like it but so boring! It's only 35 mins but felt like 2 hrs ha

3.5

Uber cool. This music doesn't really move me at all, but decent enough

Really enjoyed this, more than I expected! I was confused initially as to why this was picked over her second album, but it makes sense after listening to it through. I only knew Marlene on the Wall before, but there are so many other instant standouts; Small Blue Thing, Straight Lines, Undertow, Knight Moves. I love the cadence of her singing and the near spoken word parts especially. Reminds me of Bob Dylan or Lou Reed, except Suzanne Vega can actually sing too! Guitar sound is really great throughout as well. Only negative I would have is that it has that very "cold" 80s production that I find really dated now.

No Tom's Diner??? Look, this isn't exactly outside the realm of what I enjoy. This is a precursor to Fiona Apple and Liz Phair, hell I'll even admit to enjoying Tori Amos and Ani Difanco... It's also unfortunately the precursor to Lisa Loeb and Sarah McLachlan. The singing is nothing to write home about and neither are the lyrics, which have that poetry-forced-to-fit-a-melody feel to them rather than being a fully-formed song. Paul Simon does the same thing, but here it sounds very Lilith Fair. I'm glad I stuck it out past the first few tracks, though. It really seems to gel toward side 2.

Descent folk tunes. Not bad; not great.

I like this. It’s the traditional singer-songwriter formula but updated for the, er, 1980s (though to be fair the majority of the production sounds pretty timeless). There are some really strong songs on the second half especially. A couple of them didn’t grab me but it’s clear SV had (and presumably still has) plenty of talent and a little je ne sais quoi that the average writer doesn’t, so I found myself rooting for her throughout. 3.5 / 4

Musically sounds nice but I was not paying attention to the lyrics

I liked this album, although not quite as much as I expected. I thought I was going to LOVE this album! Awesome debut album.

I really enjoyed this album and I think I’ll come back to it again! I have heard some Suzanne Vega, but only her well known songs

Beautiful songwriting beautiful music, but i dont think i would ever listen to this again. Feels like some emo countryside irish folk music.

I enjoyed this. Reminded me a lot of the Indigo Girls and Lana Del Rey, though of course Suzanne Vega preceded both artists. The folky singer-songwriter scene was growing rapidly at this time, and Vega's definitely got to be one of the better ones. In her music, we hear lots of fun acoustic guitar licks, light percussion fills, and soft, expressive singing. There's something very humanlike and approachable about Vega's vocal that you don't often hear from "superstar" pop singers, and I really appreciate that. And the music's pretty solid. Some great lyricism in tracks like The Queen And The Soldier and Marlene On The Wall, as well as some darn catchy vocal lines/melodies in other songs (Freeze Tag, Undertow, Some Journey). Some Journey in particular is a brilliant track in terms of atmosphere, using a synth-string-type instrument to create soft wavey swells that made it a textural standout. This again reminds me of Lana Del Rey and (in particular) her Norman Rockwell album. I'm surprised Some Journey isn't a more popular song. There are a couple of things dropping this from a 5 to a 4. There's no vocal harmony, which I feel is a missed opportunity (even if it would just be self-harmonising). With one or two exceptions, the textures are generally pretty thin, and the album journey can be a little one-dimensional. But otherwise, Vega's kind of slaying here. 4/5 Key tracks: The Queen And The Soldier, Some Journey, Marlene On The Wall

Very poetic, I enjoyed it a lot

Amazingly produced and lyrical folk rock with great synth usage.

Seven of the tracks on this album have been on rotation in my mail playlist for almost 40 tears, now. Brilliant.

Very low-key singer songwriter type music with some 80s flair, just kind of boring to me.

Forgettable

I don't know what I thought Suzanne Vega was like but it wasn't this. I liked it though

molto gradevole come sottofondo mentre lavoro

Favorite Tracks: The Queen And The Soldier Cracking Marlene On The Wall

These lyrics are hilariously bad. I hate her singing in Cracking and Neighborhood Girls. It's so.......................... what was I saying again?

Female singer-songwriters are my jam, and this was very good. Nice morning listen while I'm dog sitting a chaos trio LOL

Didn’t think I knew any songs by Suzanne Vega, but turns out I did know her top hit “Tom’s Diner”… anyway, I enjoyed this album some, but it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea either. Favorite song by far was ‘Marlene on the Wall’, none of the others stood out to me. Average album, 3/5

Erityisesti levyn alusta pidin! Oma ääni, vetää kuuntelemaan tarinat. Liian rauhallinen b-puoli, mutta se on ymmärrettävää, kun levy on lyhyt.

Hänen folk-esteettinen suhteensa kauneuteen on liian mutkaton, mutta tärkeintä on, että hän ymmärtää melodioiden päälle. Undertow ja Night Moves - kuka uskaltaa olla tykkäämättä?

Este primer larga duración de Suzanne Vega lanzado en 1985 anticipaba el éxito que conseguiría dos años después con Solitude Standing. En él propone volver a un estilo de composición literario, ingenioso e intelectual, propio del los antiguos trovadores y alejado del sentimentalismo hacia el que se habían deslizado la mayoría de los cantautores. Sus fuentes de inspiración son las metáforas poéticas de Leonard Cohen y el estilo vocal de Janis Ian. El tema central del álbum es "Small Blue Thing" en el que Vega nos habla de lo insignificantes que somos, viéndose a sí misma como "una canica o un ojo cristal" perdido en un bolsillo y "girando en tu mano". También me gustan "Marlene on the Wall", metáfora del amor no correspondido, "Undertow", sobre la naturaleza destructiva de las relaciones basadas en el poder y el control, y el tema que cierra el disco, "Neighborhood Girls", una reflexión en clave feminista sobre el anhelo, la pérdida y el paso del tiempo.

Did not vibe with this. The melodies were repetitive but the music was pretty well written. I just couldn't get into it because the singing sounded pretty much the same from song to song.

mournful melodies with some lilting melodies that transition well between spoken word and soft melodies. Complex chord progressions are often unexpected but convey the mood well.

Really nice singer-songwriter album. Enjoyed it a lot! Recommend: Marlene on the wall

Correcto

Perfectly fine and decent. A little derivative, but a standard folk album. Some inconsistent quality from song to song, but nothing too bad. Top tracks: Marlene On The Wall, Small Blue Thing, The Queen And The Soldier

Her staccato gave way to Liz Phair. For that I am forever grateful. It's good. I was 15 when this came out and I had no idea how to process it.

Decent album. Definitely one I would have to be in the mood for. Liked her more uptempo songs. 2.5/5 Might listen again

A very specific mood. Lovely to listen to. I do feel like the lyrics are a little pretentious and aren't quite as deep as she maybe thinks they are. Which is forgivable for a young artist on her debut album, but this list shouldn't be grading on a curve.

Ew

lady, enough already

It feels good to listen to it but on the other hand it makes me feel nostalgic for moments I've never experienced and get depressed about things that no longer matter. I would like to die right now, just disappear. A death without fear. and wow, these thoughts are now killing me too. Good! This too shall pass, 33 and IDK.

I was never a fan, I wasn't depressed in highschool.

The songwriting is great, but something about Suzanne’s voice + the base guitar gets old after a few songs. Which is I know is rich coming from a Taylor Swift enjoyer.

Made me think of the opening sequence to Twin Peaks if it weren’t by David Lynch and served a direct to tv movie purpose. Idk how to convey this, it was ok (2.5/5)

Probably I wasn't in the mood on the day of listening, but I won't remember much about this album. One of the global reviews said that it is a mix of Enya and Bob Dylan and in my opinion it's a fair assessment.

My first listen to anything other than Tom's Diner and Luka. Great stuff, really. Highlight: Marlene on the Wall

Lenka singing random songs from the Scrubs soundtrack in the style of Alela Diane. Very low key, easy-listening folk. I liked it.

I'm afraid this is quite boring to me, at least musically. The instrumentals are uninteresting and her voice doesn't shine in it's captivating glory like in "Tom's Diner". The lyrics may be a poetic masterpiece but I wouldn't listen to it that much again.

could i write poetry to this? n