Reviews (page 5 of 7)
A really solid singer songwriter album that feels like it bridges the gap between artists like Laura Nyro and more contemporary artists like Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. Nothing stood out too much on this record but it was definitely worth a listen
okay I guess?
Pretentious but curious
I enjoyed "Straight Lines," which is the 8th most popular song on this album. I'm not sure if that tells you whether I am the target audience for this album or not but it could be a hint. This is not the Suzanne Vega that I have heard prior, as it is more folk-y and acoustic, but I did enjoy it. I can't decide if I would come back to this record at some point, as I tend to prefer albums with a little more instrumentation and the songs don't all sound similar. I think this album is remarkable because it is one of the more "modern" albums that has an artist which writes/performs mostly acoustic songs. If a person enjoys acoustic music then I would recommend the album. It's not too bad.
She was initially compared to Joni? I didn’t get that, at least from this release. She’s tamer than Joni. Nice melodies and storytelling but it didn’t click for me, though I’m likely not the target audience.
Was okay
Charming background music, with wonderful vocals and gentle music and arrangements. Doesn't grab your ears lome some on the list, but would probably stand up well to regular repeat listens - maybe after the list!
You do not walk alone. Reports of my missingness was merely exaggerated. That being said this was middle of the road for me
Surprisingly good. Reminded me a bit of Fiona Apple. 3/4*
Nå8 brazy
Le début de l'album ne m'a pas tellement mis en confiance, mais plus ça allait et plus j'appréciais. Ça vaudrait la peine de le réessayer du début. Pas un album parfait mais ça se laissait écouter. 6/10
cool
Not good, not bad, not much to say
Not Suzanne Vega's best. But it was fine.
I am oscillating between 5 stars and 1 star. I have no idea.
Really eh, a Suzanne Vega album but not the one with "Tom's Diner" on it. Huh. Anyways, it's a fairly pleasant singer-songwriter record, but it's also boring. Lyrically strong, but would be just as effective as a book of poetry. It gives me visions of someone playing in a coffee shop, but no one's paying all that much attention.
Somewhat odd choice, as its her second album that has the only tracks the wider public will remember (Luka and Tom's Diner). So is Solitude Standing also on this list, as 2 Suzanne Vega seems very generous. Anyway. Fey is a very underused word but absolutely describes Vega's delicate, at times whimsical vibe. Marlene on the Wall is a top track, and the album a good listen. Not so sure about the The Queen and the Soldier which is a valiant attempt to update the seventies singer-songwriter love for getting medieval on yo song (thinking Mr Stevens and his Lady D'Arbanville or Lindisfarne's Lady Eleanor. Not mentioning the full Rick Wakeman. So at times four, but overlal three.
2.75
Never heard of Suzanne Vega before, but I liked this, really good singer song writer album good voice and music. Deserves to be on the list.
I know the name, but how do I not remember any of these songs?
Итс окэй. Лучшая песня - The Queen and the Soldier.
Poetic and slow
I first became familiar with Vega via “Tom’s Diner” and bought “Solitude Standing,” only to be surprised that the hit I knew was a DNA remix. But then I realized that she falls very much into the singer/songwriter domain I enjoy. Still, I never branched out in her catalog until this album showed up on the list. I really enjoyed it, and think she’s a fantastic storyteller.
This is troll that this album popped up bc i recently discovered Toms Diner and I absolutely love it. So how you gonna give us the Suzanne Vega album without Toms Diner! Cmon now list. But i actually enjoyed this album but nothing revolutionary IMHO. Marlene on the wall slaps but Undertow was freaky 🥴
5/10 very neutral
Cool and chill
Pleasant. Nice. ok.
Creative lyrics, though they did seem like the type I would have written in middle school. Some moments took me out of my comfort zone and I appreciate that. Probably won't return but glad I listened.
9 albums in and there's finally a woman represented
I had thought about rating this at two stars for the minimalism, but I kept going back to Vega’s simple voice and finding it too compelling to rate it lower. I prefer Vega’s sophomore album to this one (maybe that’ll be on this list too?) but I cannot fault this lovely disc more than 3 stars.
There’s some great instrumentation in this album, buried underneath her lackluster singing. It would be better without the vocals.
Good. Nothing special, but you can hear the early 90s sounds that would come out of this album.
Very good songwriter. Odd that to start the album I like only the even numbered songs “Freeze tag” and “Small blue things” are pretty outstanding and she has a great voice. “Knight moves” is absolutely delightful and reminds me a bit of Ani Di Franco ( and yes I do know Suzanne was before Ani). It was nice to also see that her catalogue is deeper than "Tom's Diner."
This is fine. A couple pretty sweet songs, a lot of it blurs together. Pretty enough though.
Easy to listen to. I felt like I was in a coffee shop or bar with a singer-songwriter.
Feels fresh and new with much potential.
There were some stand out songs ("The Queen and the Soldier"), but other songs weren't my cup of tea. The first song in particular was weak ("Cracking").
definitely from 1985. . . slow. . . spoken. . . word. . . opening song. oof... she reminds me of radio from 1985-1987, when pop was losing its way and record labels backed the wrong artists and were continuously pushing cheesy shit. I listened through this whole thing and did not find a reason to listen ever again. Maybe "Small Blue Thing" is a decent song, and I can hear the influence o later bands like the Throwing Muses.
Cracking✅ Straightlines✅
Wasn't expecting much, but this was a fun little album.
An interesting subdued modern folk record.
Easy listening. Nothing special, but not bad.
This is artsy, but not completely arrogantly pretentious. Can get boring, yet always remains beautiful. Original at parts, not so much at others. Good instrumentation, production is just fine. Pretty average. 3/5
This album is a little boring. Carole King and Jewel do the "white girl plays acoustic guitar with heartfelt lyrics" way better. It's not bad perse, but I found nothing particularly memorable about this album.
No real feelings on this one, it was fine ig
Some nice musical ideas but something annoyed me in the vocals/lyrics but I can't put my finger on it. However, 35 mins long so can't complain.
Very mid-80s sound, bass is non-existant and everything sounds reverb-y. Now Suzanne Vega, I mean I like her next album that had Luka & Tom's Diner, but this one sounds like another artist I'm struggling to remember, maybe all mid-80s albums just sounded the same, you could tell me this was Carly Simon in her Coming Around Again era and I'd probably believe you
Beautiful voice. Loved the vibe and feel of the album.
definitely some tunes 3.5
01) Cracking - 7,5 02) Freeze Tag - 7,0 03) Marlene on the Wall - 7,5 04) Small Blue Thing - 8,0 05) Straight Lines - 7,0 06) Undertow - 7,0 07) Some Journey - 6,5 08) The Queen and the Soldier - 6,5 09) Knight Moves - 7,0 10) Neighborhood Girls - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,05 (71/100) Her voice reminds me of Dolores O'Riordan in some places... The best song to me is "Small Blue Thing".
Some good songs
Liked some lyrics, didn’t like the sound
A poet’s work. As that, it’s very good.
If you didn't know the artist / album, you'd say this was released in the 80s. It absolutely ooooooooozes 80s.
As expected but not bad for that. I actually quite enjoyed it. 3*
It was fine. I was hoping for more.
Jeg vil give Suzanne at hendes lyd er lidt forud for hendes tid, for den her slags adult alternative blev kæmpestort i 90erne. Vældig fine sange men ikke lige et album jeg kommer til at finde frem igen tror jeg
Very cool. Early 90's female soft rock. Worth listening to other Suzanne Vega albums. I liked Knight Moves.
Not really my record. But „Knight Moves“ is a gem. So it’s three stars. Maybe it will grow over time.
Fun listen to the lyrics that are literal and metaphorical in a spoken type voice. Recognized the voice but didn’t connect til after.
Suena a The Cranberries light.
I’ve known the name for awhile, but never listened. Like a lot of folky music, if the lyrics don’t speak to you there’s not much else super interesting. Good at times, but largely nondescript.
Blind album, know the artist for the infamous Tom's Diner MP3 fiasco. Who knew she had other music to listen to? /s It was alright and not my style but glad I tried it of course.
3.5
Cracking: 6.8 Freeze Tag: 7.8 Marlene On The Wall: 8.3 Small Blue Thing: 6.5 Straight Lines: 8.5 Undertow: 7.3 Some Journey: 8.6 The Queen And The Soldier: 7.5 Knight Moves: 7.3 Neighborhood Girls: 8.3
This one's alright. I think the best way I can put this album is "It's nothing special, but it also doesn't give me any reason to dislike it." It is perfectly average. The singing was worrying at first since I didn't really like the talking style of the first song, but then she started actually singing in the second song which sounded good for the rest of the album. The sound was decent. I really liked the bass in the last song. The writing was a bit basic and it was somewhat repetitive in theming at first, but it got better in the second half. I do like how the royal imagery of "The Queen and the Soldier" carries into "Knight Moves". I just think that's a neat theming idea. Overall, this is a decent folk rock album. 3/5.
Nice folky/singer-songwriter stuff
Pleasant. Nothing really stood out, but was nice to have on in the background. Unlike most things from the mid-80s, it didn't sound dated at all. Not sure I would have placed it correctly if I didn't know beforehand. Album cover looked like it was knocked together by an 8-year old who's just got into MS Paint
Was ready for this to be lame, but I actually liked it decently. 80s folk is a strange thing, but I'm into it a bit. 3.49/5
Can't believe this is from 1985, sounds like it's from 97. She has a wonderful rythmn to her voice. Love the production Short and sweet, doesn't overstay its welcome Knight Moves is the highlight High 3
Like the voice but these are musical doodles. There's better stuff from her.
Great sound but not many memorable songs.
I like it more than I thought I would. There was this energy that kept me engaged throughout the entire album even with the straight forward arrangements. Maybe it's the honesty I liked so much. 3.5
Easy listening with thoughtful lyrics but got a bit samey
Ah esta mono para fondo por que tiene ese mood de los 80s pop pero no me atrapo.
Nice folky songs, Marlene stands out, the rest is adequate.
Tykkään artistin toisesta levystä enemmän muttei tämäkään huono ollut. Kivan simppeli 3/5
Aluksin pidin levystä yllättävän paljon, mutta kun tänä aamuna kuuntelin osia uudestaan oli taika karissut. Ihan kelpoa kasaripoppista, mutta ei nouse erityisesti verrokkiensa yläpuolelle.
I found it hard to decide whether I liked this or not. I think it will take a few more tries to really have a true opinion, but I suppose for right now I can say that I found it more enjoyable than not. Don't want to do you dirty, Suzanne.
My first exposure to Suzanne Vega was in 6th grade when someone in my band class was singing a parody of Tom’s Diner involving eating Cheetos on a sofa. Shortly after, there was a Nick and Nite commercial for “I Dream of Genie” that used the same melody. Eventually I was able to trace it back to the hit song by Vega and DNA. I also really enjoyed that song, but I never listened to anything else of hers until now. Suzanne is a great example of that female singer songwriter genre that has been replicated and expanded over the years. It’s an enjoyable listen, but maybe one street over from my comfort zone. The production and “style” (lyrically, melodically) hold up very well and sound like something that could’ve been released 15 years later than it was. I also see small lyrical glimpses of what Taylor Swift became. While it doesn’t carry the same venom, I still can hear that practice where they both put themselves inside of an exaggerated fantasy and play it out. I may give this one another listen in due time, but I’m not itching to put it on repeat
A lovely lil bit of folk pop, great lyricist
Pretty good. Like a straight ani defranco
Really like Suzanne Vega, especially hits like Tom's Diner and Luka... this album does have Marlene on the Wall, which is great, and reminds me of Three Malenas
It is really a stripped down singer-songwriter vibe, with the occasional talky delivery which doesn't work too well. I think Undertow is my favorite... Marlene and Small Blue Thing are fine, but don't have the catchiness of songs on her later releases, like Luka and Tom's Diner. Overall, it's a bit boring, but generally inoffensive.
First couple of tracks I was worried that this was going to be pleasant but pedestrian forgettable folk. But then Marlene On The Wall really jumped out, grabbed my attention and gave me high hopes for the rest of the album… and then… settled back into pleasant pedestrian forgettable folk.
Cracking is too spoken word to me. Marlene On The Wall is very good. Neighborhood Girls has a very cool instrumental. Too bad a lot of the vocals are quite talky.
Was alright. 5/10
Nice singer songwriter album
Totes les cançons són més o menys iguals. M'ha agradat l'estil general però no és res de l'altre món. Té una veu bonica, això sí, i l'àlbum té la llargada justa per no fer-se pesat i ser una petita experiència bonica i agradable.
Singer songwriter stuff. Unremarkable without context, but not bad.
Hardly an essential album. If we must include one of her albums in a "must hear" list, it would be Solitude Standing.
Best Song: Small Blue Thing. Really like the self-reflective, almost ethereal vibe on this one. Worst Song: Neighborhood Girls. This song feels like it eschews the great lyrics, which are the highlight, in favour of some honkytonk guitar. Overall: Pleasant singer-songwriter stuff. The songs have a warm, simple poetry to them. Sonically it all sounds kind of the same, but the lyrics do a good job of carrying the weight here.
3/5 not much to say very much a blend of 80s/90s pop. Lyrics are a little strange at time but enjoyable Melodie’s and vocals.
This was fine as background music, but it wasn't something I'd seek out to listen on my own
This album was interesting it was like singing but talking at the same time
Actually pretty cool
Ok but not really my thing
Yh it’s alright not great bit boring bit samey 3/5
That was surprisingly good
Great coffee house music, rainy Sunday morning vibes. 3/5
Perfectly good. No hits. But actually pretty good.
Easy to appreciate her lyricism in the relatively minimal soundscapes - minimal, especially compared to what one might expect from an album of the mid 80's. Ultimately that's what this album stands on, is Vegas's turns of phrase and wordsmithing, which works better in some songs than in others.
I enjoyed the stripped back nature of this. Feels like the missing link between Carole King and... Sheryl Crow maybe? 90s anyway. Marlene On the Wall was really good and I liked The Queen and the Soldier. Not enough songs are basically short medieval fables
I appreciate that she doesn't have a super powerful voice and so uses her quiet voice to create vocal topography in the album but it's overall a bit underwhelming.
I was very sleep-deprived when I listened to this, and the album made me feel like dozing off, but the moments I heard were sweet and calming. In fairness, I can see myself putting this on as chill background music.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. Suzanne Vega has a knack for storytelling that holds the album together. Some of the rhymes weren't quite where they needed to be, but the themes in the album were interesting. The big drawback for me is just how much of its time this album is down to the production style and the style of vocals.
Gv and gl.
good length. normal human music. 3.5 small blue thing
Normally don't like this style but pretty good
Sparse, folksy arrangements of guitar + vocals with a smattering of light accompaniment. Certainly makes for a vulnerable sounding record putting her voice front and center. Even if this isn't entirely my cup of tea, I can respect it. Lots of really pretty compositions and what sounds like narrative lyrics. I should listen again more closely when I'm not working. Mostly this isn't my jam, but there are a few songs that I enjoy more than others: Straight Lines, Undertow, The Queen And The Soldier. The last of these is my favorite of the album. Feels like a pretty standard folk song, but the composition is effective and it sounds like a good narrative that I'd like to listen back on.
The intro to Straight Lines sounds like a Rush song. A solid folky album. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Very nice guitar and singing. Neighborhood Girl was probably my favorite song. Other than that nothing really stood out but still a good album
It's very nice and is consistently good across the album. I like the mood of it. It's not massively engaging, just kind of soft and pleasant. 3.5 rounded down
Good
Slightly disappointed as only half the songs are great. Big fan of Suzanne Vega, but I mis-remembered more "under the skin" songs on her 1st LP.
Cool sound. Unique sound. Kinda can’t put my finger on what it is. Never heard of her though. But some fun songs. Like the speaksing thing.
Decent but didn’t grab me
A great catalyst for what would become a profitable genre…Lilith Faire singer songwriters. Pensive and emotional, telling stories of real women and there issues. Framed along the backdrop of the late Reagan era America this is a luscious sounding beautifully simple album.
Wel fijne muziek zo, stukje beter dan ik me kan herinneren van de plaat die ik eerder geluisterd heb. Gewoon wel chille singer songwriter dit met goede variatie, maar ook weer niet bijzonder genoeg voor 4 sterren als je het mij vraagt.
Claro que a expectativa era ter o mega hit, mas confirmou a capacidade dela de desenvolver um pop com muita qualidade.
She should get together with Tom Waits (just based on the first song). Maybe she inspired Lisa Loeb a bit? They do share Duncan Sheik as a common thread...
I've heard of Suzanne Vega but never actually listened to anything outside of the big radio hits, so I appreciated the deeper exposure. Really interesting style. Love the guitar work, really crisp production. Chord changes felt very Jeff Buckley. Clear similarities to the Indigo Girls, and songs like The Queen and the Soldier remind me of Taylor Swift from a lyrics perspective - narrative-heavy confessional and lots of "I" statements. Vega herself seems directly inspired by Dylan and Leonard Cohen. I like that she played with styles and instrumentation to match songs - Knight Moves used medieval structures effectively. Not sure if this album is particularly stand-out but always appreciate hearing a debut. I think what prevents this getting a higher score from me is the talk-singing - I never really jive with that style, and I'm glad her later efforts discard it. And I think knowing where she would head, with catchier tunes like Luka, made this feel a little underwhelming.
This was fine but didn’t do anything for me. I do think it must have influenced Tracy Chapman since Fast Car came out 3 years later. An interesting 80s acoustic sound.
A nice singer-songwriter debut but not certain it is a must listen.
This was solid but I was not blown away. I thought the lyrics were very good with nice specificity, but I wish the melodies were a bit stronger.
Wow, I might have heard this one once before... I really liked it. It almost reminds me of an album that I LOVE by Jewel, "Pieces of You". Just a little. I think this one will become a favorite of mine in no time. 3.5
It was okay. I listened and enjoyed. 3*
- Haven't heard - Alright, but not really anything unique
This was an interesting listen. I feel like if there was a little something more there, I would enjoy this a lot. I still liked it, but I probably won't ever go out of my way to listen to this again. My favourite song was Neighborhood Girls.
Was a decent album from a musical perspective.
Pleasant music and voice and long live Marlene Dietrich. But not a classic as in: 1001 best albums.
This was very Lilith Fair.
Thing is, our generation has Laura Marling. This album is lovely, I would listen again, but it doesn't belong to me.
It's fine, nice lyricism and storytelling. GIves coffee store vibes, it's the music you'd hear before Phoebe Buffay sings Smelly Cat on Friends. Very Lisa Loeb-esque.
Meh, another "good instrumentals, bad vocals" situation. Not that her voice was bad, but another comment got it exactly right by saying she's the female Bob Dylan
Good
She's got a really nice voice, it's well arranged, but it rarely really hits the spot - The Queen And The Soldier being the honourable exception, which is a super song. Otherwise, it's a little bit folky for me to give it a really high score, so 3/5, as per usual.
Pretty forgettable
aburrido
I’m still not sure exactly how I felt about this one. It’s oftentimes lovely and clearly very considered. For me, the the high points were evocative, textured and held just enough emotional weight to really pull me in. The only thing is that I found said high points a little too few and far between for this thing to really grab me. The lyrics I found to be overwritten throughout many of the tracks, the manner in which every line kept rhyming began to feel forced and extravagant to the point that it started to distract me from what the song was trying to say. The final track on the album seemed like such an uneventful petering out, especially following up knight moves which was one of the stand outs to me and would’ve served as a much more potent closer.
3½
Vegas best album
Pas besoin d'insulter une enième fois les américains, vous aviez déjà bien saisi.
3 Folksy with a bit of a contemporary 80s pop sound mixed in there, and I think I liked it… though heavy emphasis on the “think”. Each song came and went quickly without giving me much of a lasting impression, kind of like a soft gust of wind on a hot day - it felt nice, but wasn’t noticeable enough for me to give a second thought. Suzanne really does have a nice voice and I do feel like there’s some solid songwriting buried in there, but for the most part, none of it was particularly standout or unique enough to make the songs themselves stand out to me. There were a couple moments that did though - Small Blue Thing was probably the highlight, with her metaphors for vulnerability and delivery of “Today I am” probably being the peak of her songwriting here for me… even if I think the title itself is a little lazy. On a nitpicky note, the text on this album cover drove me nuts. I guess I can get past her name being in two different fonts, but doing the same thing with the tracklist makes it seem like there’s going to be some kind of drastic shift from Side A to Side B, and… there just isn’t? Besides, why is the tracklist even on the front cover to begin with? That’s what the back cover is for. I digress, would maybe listen again, but I’m not overly eager to do so.
It's OK
A little too quirky and a little too much obsession with queens and soldiers. Still at times interesting and it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome but not one of my keepers.
Overall a nice album but not something I'll seek out again.
Nope. Not for me. But got a good rhythm about the album. 3 stars.
Alternative indie rockia. Soundi on hyvä mutta biisit jäi vähän vaisuiksi. Loppulevy kuitenkin parani
I never thought of Suzanne and Taylor Swift as being similar, but the song ‘The Queen and the Soldier’ sounded like a song TS would do.
I enjoyed this OK, though not the production. Her vocal range is very limited, though I kind of dug how she got the most out of the voice she has. Her lyrics are cool. It's probably more of a 2-star rating in terms of albums I will reach for again, but I'm giving it 3 because she's not Bob Dylan. My daughter said it was vibe-y, so she approves. Terrible cover artwork, though.
Ok
Vega makes me feel old, in the SPEAK UP sense.Early cuts are whispery to wispy, the final run of three downright bombastic in comparison. It's on the second half that the songcraft becomes obviously very good.
Oh boy this is so dated. It's good to reminisce though. Listening back her songs are a bit fey to be honest but they are still enjoyable. Many people on this journey won't realise how big she was at the time. The 2nd album was bigger and better......
Need to explore more. Plenty to like here, feels like a strand of music that stopped
Nice. Not stupendous, but nice.
Okay but didn't feel like I need to buy this in addition to the other Suzanne Vega album I already have.
Sucesión de buenas canciones interpretadas en plan cantautor, sin grandes alardes instrumentales, pero con buena sintonía
Second half was much better than the first.
Early folk rock. It's very low key. It's not bad, but it doesn't stand out enough for me to want to listen to more. Reminds me of a really good coffee shop live performance.
Very sparse, singer songwriter stuff. Fine but didn't do a hell of a lot for me. Favorite tracks: "Small Blue Thing", "Undertow"
Yeah its fine but all a bit nice and underdemanding. I remember nothing after listening to it...but obvious guile has gone into writing these songs. Classic 3.
Good album, quality song writing
It's a good but not a great album some really good songs like Marlene and Knight Moves, but the album does get bit redundant at times. Though I feel that way with all her albums.
It was fine. It just never became great. I didn't mind it but i won't put it on again.
It was perfectly okay. Nothing I'm going to turn off, nothing I'm going to look out to listen to again.
I was expecting this to be the "Luka" album but I'd never heard this before. My immediate reactions were about her vocals - something about her voice has always felt a little too "plain" - like her diction is almost exaggeratingly-perfect. It's off-putting to an extent ... until it's not. I feel like I went through a cycle in the first ~4 songs of "oh yeah, she sings like this" then "it's borderline annoying, let it loose a little..." to "this is her signature and shit, I think I like it." It's almost sweet in its sincerity and that ends up being her style. Some of these keyboards are very of-the-80s in not a great way but they're used sparingly (and they weren't even necessary). As for the music itself, it's quite good; although it isn't complex there's no cookie-cutter folk or pop here, while all the time being accessible. There's a well-utilized space in each of these songs - I'll give high marks to the arrangement of the instruments. Vega's skill on acoustic is not limited to how she plays, but more to what she's not playing. I wouldn't say any one instrument is primary but each a part of the whole, and still not overwhelming. Highlight is "Straight Lines" and I really like the lead guitar on "Marlene On The Wall." Overall I liked it far more than I'd expected, and will keep this around. 7/10 a high 3 stars.
Decent. Would give 2.5 if possible
Ok. Average at best. Carry on.
Suzanne Vega has a sweet vulnerable voice and a poetic way with lyrics. It’s just a shame that these tend to get buried in mixes that are a bit too spare to support them.
Sorta moody early MTV cool alt girl Daria melodic chill pop. Your girlfriend will like it, but not too much. It's undull but not unusual. I had to listen to the album three times to remember it enough to write about. I could listen to it another three times without really noticing. It was, however, quite nice. It's between a 3 and a 4 for me
She sure has a nice voice, and her intriguing blend of dreamy folk and pop makes for a nice listen. I think it aged quite well actually, maybe it's time to bring back her music to the forefront.
Red House Painters for women.
Nice folk, but not unique neither
What?! No Tom's Diner? Must be on the next one. Suzanna V sounds a lot like Edie Brickell here, all stories and understated mid-80s acoustic adult contempo. Good but not great.
Not bad at all, but not exactly memorable.
pretty. early suzanne vega maybe my jam?
Really only know SV from Tom's Diner, so excited to hop in and see what she's about. Pretty basic music but it's stuck between the 80s and 90s. SV is an interesting singer but there's something about her music just doesn't lend itself to repeat listens. Maybe because it's half talking? Modern folk? not a bad album, but not interesting enough for me to go back to.
Chill album, was an okay listen, but wasn’t moved much by the music or singing
To be honest, it made me cringe at times... But the mood it created overall was interesting. The opening song was by far the worst for me (sounded pretentious - which is not always bad in my view, but in this case, it is...) and the rest was much more pleasant.
esattamente come me lo aspettavo: noiosetto Però il mood non è male
Decent listen, but nothing special. Fav track: Marlene on the Wall
Funny, the only songs I know by Suzanne Vega are Tom's Diner and Luka, and neither are on this album (and I didn't know until listening to it today that the latter is about physical abuse). She has a good voice and is a very insightful lyricist. I'm sure she was part of the strong 80's female songwriters that led record companies to try and copy it for the rest of the 80's and into the 90's. Still, like Kate Bush, I wasn't all that inspired to go out and listen to more of her stuff. Tori Amos (who is a suggestion after listening to Vega), yes, I want to hear more of her stuff. But Vega's voice and compositions just don't have the same attraction for me.
This was kind of exactly what I expected it would be, Suzanne is very good at what she does and this is a good listen. Definitely feel like it spawned a million inferior knock offs with a less varied sound, of which I'm far less tolerant.
Marlene on the Wall is an incredible track but the rest of the album doesn't really do much for me. I also think she has better albums than this so I'm not sure why it made the list over other more worthy stuff. 3.5 stars
Not horrible but not for me. One and done.
It's pleasant.
som agradável, mas um pouco monótono
fav songs: freeze tag small blue thing straight lines knight moves 3.8
Fijne muziek en goede teksten
Beautiful singing and great songwriting made this a really enjoyable listen. The songs do seem to blend together at times but the storytelling throughout makes it a compelling listen. Definitely need to listen to a few more times. Usually not my type of music as I like having a couple songs with more energy but I can see the draw of this project. Rating a bit harsher as I’m comparing it to the rest of these 1000 albums
Better than average 80's singer songwriter I guess. Another 3.5 for me though.
3.75
Shickでcoolでnice
OK debut by Suzanne Vega. Not my favorite of hers, but not a bad album.
It was a little inconsistent, but never really bad. Just bland in a lot of spots, and the 80's production really doesn't help. But when it is good, it is pretty great.
okay album, seems fairly similar female stripped down sound.
quase um the corrs mas mais melodico
With the exceptions of Luka, In Liverpool and maybe Tom's Diner (all of which are not on this album) I always thought that Suzanne Vega's would be better as a poet than a songwrighter - her music sounds like poetry with some musical accompagnement rather than actual songs. There is hardly any memorable melody here, nothing that stands out. The tracks are OKish, but that's it. 2.5/5
Folk. Un poco aburrido.
A little too light for my taste.
Enjoyed the chill vibe
Kinda like if kd lang wasn’t gay and was also worse. 5/10
Never heard of her, pleasantly surprised. I like this list because I get to find artists like this, barely recognized but very talented musicians. 3.5/5
Meh ok, nothing special.
És un dels discos que s'aprofita per a bé del so 80's. La música sentida de Vega, xiuxiueig de vegades, que en altres époques hagués conformat un disc de folk trist i pesat, en 1985, i gràcies també a la feina de Lenny Kaye, es transforma en un disc intimista però ric i variat, amb arranjaments sutils però que fan brillar les excel.lents lletres de l'autora
Красивая музыка. Для кого-то этот альбом может стать долгоиграющим альбомом. 6 из 10.
So this is Suzanne before Luka. Nothing here has that Luka-level grab to it, but I liked listening to it. She has an unassuming but engaging voice and the arrangements were interesting. Not something I would run back to, but worth the listen.
Uncomplicated - perhaps undemanding music? - that floats by in that rather weightless way peculiar to 1980s production. Aside from Vega's acoustic guitar, every other noise in the mix has a shiny, frictionless quality to it. Neither good nor bad, just an observation. However, the songwriting is strong; Vega does the observational and confessional well, albeit the latter is tempered by the coolness of her delivery. She sounds utterly in control of her music, and thus of her emotions. If you're looking for renting of garments and gnashing of teeth, it's not here. Still, Vega is listenable here, I find her precise vocals very appealing, and nothing offends the ear. I kinda wish it would...
Nice voice, nice sings
Suzanne Vega/Suzanne Vega = Suzanne Vega = 1
mum come pick me up she’s making me sad.
Pleasant enough, but not much more than moderately interesting. She sings too precisely and almost talks on a few cuts. The arty guitar ‘80s vintage (“Straight Lines,” Undertow”) is probably the highlight. To be appreciated more than excited by.
Inoffensive pop-country stuff, totally acoustic. Folky but not overly Bob Dylan-ish, so it didn't make me want to open fire in a shopping centre. So it's got that going for it. 3/5.
This was fine, not bad. I did not take much away from this, however.
Since I already knew and liked a couple of songs by Suzanne Vega, this album was rather disappointing. It has some pretty good tracks like Marlene On The Wall and The Queen And The Soldier. But most of it is rather boring.
Not bad, would give it 3.5 if I could
Really nice. Like to hear more of it.
First listen, other than the singles. It was okay.
e kunt maar een beperkte hoeveelheid Vega hebben
Marlene On the Wall gefällt mir ganz gut, wie mir auch insgesamt die Performance von ihr ganz gut gefällt. Insgesamt finde ich das Album aber eher durchwachsen bis schwach, gerade zum Ende.
not bad!
Quite a nice little debut album. A bit on the boring side though.
Charming, good voice, nice songs. Just not really my thing, maybe? It didn't draw me in.
Boy did they pick the wrong Suzanne Vega album for this list. They couldn't have picked the one with "Tom's Diner" and the song about child abuse (Luka) instead? That's where Vega truly shines. This one's alright, but she mainly comes across as a stifled Lou Reed wannabe. Overall it's nice to listen to, and a short listen at that. Interesting that I loved the Suzanne Vega song from her 5th album that Spotify played after this album ended more than any song on this, her debut album.
The Queen and the Solider and Marlene on the Wall are standout tracks, didn't much enjoy the rest.
meh.
Never a big follower, I perceive the high level of Art Attitude toned down in later work, to the benefit of accessibility I think. I liked it, wouldn't necessarily seek it out.
Quite pleasant with nothing too offensive, but nothing overly exciting either. Marlene is a nice song though. A respectable debut album.
Good debut album. Great acoustic folk sound.
Die zonder de hits
I like the musical style. This is another album that I was very surprised to learn came out in the mid 80's. This probably wouldn't make it into regular rotation for me because the singing style isn't great for me, but feels like a precursor to folks like Sarah McLachlan. Feels like a good 3 star effort.
ok but I prefer her work with Philip Glass.
It was alright.
Pleasant, lovely guitar playing.
Ho percepito Suzanne Vega come un'artista dall'anima profonda e poeta. I suoi testi rispecchino una femminilità di altri tempi, romantica, innamorata e depressa. Ma.. (perché c'è sempre un "ma") .. Nonostante i soli 35 minuti, non sono riuscito a concederle un secondo ascolto a causa di un'eccessiva logorrea. Nonostante inizialmente i testi mi abbiano colpito, entro la fine dell'album volevo tagliarmi le vene. Il mio giudizio sì riassumerebbe in: "per carità è brava, però du palle!" Voto: 3
Suzanne has a great voice and lyrics, but the music was a bit bland
nice for in the background
Loved the guitar. She was meh.
It was enjoyable but probably wouldn’t listen again.
Suzanne Vega has a very nice voice and it shines on this album.
sounds nice
Highlight: Knight Moves In Conclusione: Conoscevo già questo album perché sono un po' fan di Suzanne Vega, ma l'avrò sentito un paio di volte. Conoscendo lei sento comunque già la sua connotazione stilistica e le basi per l'evoluzione che poi avrà in futuro. Questo disco è chiaramente molto influenzato dal sound anni '80 e secondo me ha influenzato parecchia gente già da subito, tipo Edie Brickell. Certo il sound anni '80 rende i pezzi a tratti un po' kitsch. I testi pure sono un po' hit and miss ma pure lì si vede l'embrione di come evolverà il suo modo di scrivere testi che a me è sempre piaciuto. Lo penalizzo giusto per il sound e il fatto che è ancora un po' una Suzanne Vega grezza.
I really enjoyed the intimate lyrics and guitar stylings of Vega, but some of the production decisions and, as Nick noted, the sing/speak start to the record was off-putting. I'll remember a few of the tracks from this record, but the record as a whole was only okay. 2.5/5 Fav tracks: Knight Moves and Marlene on the Wall
The speak-singing really threw me for a loop at the beginning of this record and I'm not sure if I ever recovered. The lyrics are personal and fairly compelling, but there wasn't a lot that drew me in. Nothing particularly bad, either. It just didn't really resonate for me. Rating: 2.5/5 Favourite tracks: "Freeze Tag", "Marlene On the Wall", "Knight Moves"
Not bad, quite nice folksy singer songwriter stuff. I’d probably listen to one or two tracks again
An enjoyable, competent album. Background music, doesn't belong on this list like so many others.
In a different frame of mind I could find it easy to roast this album, but today it sounds pretty fresh. The talk-sing is endearing. The lyrics are engaging (although some of the knight-queen story was a bit cheesy). I love the production - the crystal clear guitar, the voice in front of the mix, the tasty synth flourishes. Strong 80s sound. Some really pretty moments. I enjoyed the thought exercise of doing a quick mental inventory of people I know that are likely to be closet Suzanne Vega fans. They're all introverted women that want more out of life than the present provides. Not necessarily in a depressive sense, but hopeful and striving. I think that sums up the feeling of this album. B+
Do the first moments of this album suck or are they amazing? I think the vocal style is intentionally sloppy/conversational. This is post Carly Simon proto Fiona Apple. This album is filled with instrumental sounds—bass effect, acoustic electric guitar sound—that I hate, coffee shop core, but for some reason I don’t mind it on this album. She’s doing interesting things with rhyme scheme, cadence and delivery. It’s good/bad, I love/hate it. I’m not sure. She’s laying the tracks fir something good.
.
Miellyttävää rauhallista folkkispoppista. Hyvin pelkistettyä, mutta tällainen laulaja/lauluntekijä ja kitara -musiikki on yleensä kolahtanut hyvin. Miellyttävä pehmeä lauluääni.
Good, simple singer/songwriter folksy music. It never wowed me but it's a nice listen
Sama kuin Kate Bushin kohdalla, ainoastaan Tom's diner Suzanne Vegalta aiemmin tuttu. Enkä todellakaan tiennyt, että näin pitkä ura takana. Miellyttävää kuunneltavaa, kyllä tää uppoaa. 3.5/5.
Fome para ser folk
3.7 - Pseudo-intellectual singer-songwriter coffeehouse done well. Inflected with Paul Simon influences. Some beautiful moments in the middle, some duds towards the end. Overall, a pretty and introspective album that defied my expectations.
Very good. Gonna listen to it again.
Pleasant acoustic stuff. 5/10
I like the sound of the album and its minimalism. But the songs don’t have that extra element to push it to a 4 or 5.
Good one
Some nice songwriting and folkiness. Liked it but didn't love it.
Escuchado
Straightforward acoustic arrangements.
taylor swift tímida
Sure. It’s a decent album. For 85 it probably would be consider it an above average album.
Miellyttävää, rauhallista poppia. Tykkäsin vaikkei tämä mitään valtavia musiikkielämyksiä tarjoillutkaan.
This was nice as background music. If I had been in a different mood, it would have definitely hit better.
This is pleasant enough, but it isn't really my thing. It was clearly influential on a bunch of 90s music, so I think it's reasonable to say that this album was ahead of its time. It just doesn't do it for me. 3/5
Great reminder of the 80s!
Very good narative and storytelling not really my cup of tea though
Une autre belle surprise. Je ne connaissais pas. Pour de la pop des années '80, c'est assez bien fait avec beaucoup d'instrumentation. J'y vois un petit côté Alanis Morissette ou Joan Osbourne.
Good singer songwriter album
Pretty good, has a very 90s feel to it.
some cool songs on this album, pleasant surprise. little more catchy than most singer song writers
wtf even IS this
There was one good song, the rest were ok
I appreciate this, but there’s an earnest quality to the coffee house singer vibe that has been nails-on-a-chalkboard for me since as far back as I can remember. As with everyone else, I remember liking Luka and Tom’s Diner, both standing out amid the bombast of later 1980s music videos and so on. In a bit of a retcon, my sense is I always liked the remix better, but that doesn’t sync up with the release window. This album, however, I could stand to never hear again.
Marlene on the Wall
Bleh. Nothing about this is interesting. Great voice, boring use of it.
Aggressively mid. Her voice is nothing to write home ab and everything is very simplistic (lyrics, instruments,etc)
Sounds like music written and performed by an 11-year old for pre-teen girls who wanted something more from Tiffany, lyrically. The rapping is really something. One star for not being afraid to be her authentic self, and one more for keeping it under 36 min.
All songs sounded pretty much the same. Not a strong album or vocals.
Fine, she sounds good enough, kinda reminded me vaguely of Bjork I dunno why. Really boring overall and there was no need to hear this before I croaked.
i can't stand this lol slam poetry is not for me. DNF
Hmmm...I quite liked some of these songs, particularly those with the sparser instrumentation. The album's a good length, doesn't overstay its welcome. Kind of poetry with backing music rather than full-blown songs.
2,2/5
Que es esto y por qué lo tendría que escuchar antes de morir? Entiendo que capaz es porque suena como a coming of age? O capaz la señora susana tiene alguna relevancia extra musical? Pero las canciones son aburridisimas y la letra no me mueve en lo más mínimo. De lo peor que escuché. 3/10
I have listened to a few other Suzanne Vega albums previously that I felt were really fun and engaging and would all easily be a 4 or 5. Sadly they had to choose the one album that was the most uninteresting to me in my opinion. I recommend any other Vega album to listen too before you die over this one
Nope, all pretty lost on me. Bland, and not helped by the 80s.
Sometimes I listen to an album that feels like it was associated with a period in time, and this is such an album. I feel like I missed whatever cultural moment this was attached to. The soft spoken lyrics over the understated melody just don't do it for me. I know a ton of emotion and effort was poured into this, but I don't think I'm the intended audience for this album.
No standouts
This album is....strange.
This is so boring and generic?? Who is this for?
Great voice
Not bad but doesn’t really do much for me
This was super bland
Another review called this "horse girl music" and boy does that hit the nail on the head. Not necessarily bad, but it's definitely a vibe that isn't for me. The Queen and the Soldier was probably the best track.
one or two decent tracks but mostly her talking over boring instrumentation
Me fait penser à Aurora, un peu vibe Nordics, assez calme et doux avec un voix celte grave. Cependant les mélodies ne sont pas incroyables et on peut vite s'ennuyer mais pas du tout désagréable à écouter. Pas une musique qui sort du lot, bien fait mais ordinaire
Boring instrumentation kills any potential that the lyrics might have, didn’t enjoy.
It’s 2.5 but rounding down because I’m in a salty mood and I know she can do better.