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John Prine
John Prine
1971
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!Well, country really isn't my genre. Not by a long shot. So I wasn't thrilled to get this album. But I hit play with as open a mind as I could and, wouldn't you know it, it didn't suck. It's still SUPER not my genre, don't get me wrong. But Prine's lyrics are clever and funny and so sharp they cut. It's amazing to me that this album came out in '71 and still feels so daggum relevant. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore is painful in its relevance. COVID-19 took Prine from us this past year and that also feels too close for comfort. What a debut album.
Man I love this album. I'm a bit biased as I was raised on John Prine, but even so, what a story teller. The humor he brings along with the poignancy of his lyrics about the human experience. This album is his least polished, but also feels like the most honest.
John Prime’s lyrics are so beyond what I might have assumed from the young man pictured on the album cover. “Illegal Smile” reminds me of a simple way to escape troubles in life. The clever lyrics can in one moment make you laugh and cry. ‘Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down and won’. By the first chorus of “Spanish Pipedream” I'd added the album to my library. “Hello In There “ is so beautiful… left me in tears. Then “Sam Stone” followed that up with a devastating song about the impact of veteran's addiction. Every song overflows truth with an emotional heft that can change you as a listener. John Prine tackles war, government, jingoism, aging, drugs, depression, relationships, the environment and a host of other topics with perceptive and unflinching observations of humans and humanity. The organ warms itself against the stark lyrics. The guitars wander from folk to country with occasional touches of rock to elevate the stories. Every song on this album is a gem. Experiencing them together as an album is a powerful and emotional experience. This is an album that will connect you more deeply to your humanity if you are willing to listen. An amazing work of art that I will listen to again and again. RIP John Prine
What a lyricist and storyteller. I was glued to hearing each line. The music is classic country, with a Dylanesque timbre, but his words are what sold me.
One of Prine's best albums, this is the country side of Dylan, but on the side that has inspired so many great alternative country and indie-folk bands. This is simple music with an attitude, a huge sense of humor and sarcasm, this is the way it should be done. Prine was an ignored artist most of his life, but at least his music became appreciated before we lost him to Covid-19. Prine will be sorely missed.
Amazing album from front to back. He's basically a country Bob Dylan. This is what country music sounds like when it's good.
Surprisingly really good. And I noticed that after I found out it's not technically country I liked it better, which is something I need to work on.
An album I've been very fond of for a while now. Prine for me is a songwriter that transcends his genre, and connects with something primal and human. Lovely stuff. If country music is the music of the people, then there's none more country than this.
Country / Folk Wow, this is hilarious. Solid songwriting - made me laugh out loud multiple times. Every song is golden.
It took me a couple of listens to warm up to this album, but it's impossible not to feel its considerable charms if you stop and listen. The fact that this a debut album from a man who was 24 years old when he recorded it makes it even more remarkable. Singers can work for decades without reaching Prine's depth as a songwriter and natural talent for delivering a line. These are songs that have become standards in the 50 years since they came out, and you can hear Prine in practically every singer-songwriter who came after him. He exudes warmth, wry wit, and sensitivity with such ease in these songs. You know, I first caught "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" before I had really heard of Prine and I assumed it was some sort of post 9/11 song. No, it's just a sad testament to the fact that this nation perennially fails to learn from its mistakes. It's also a pretty brutal takedown of false patriotism, all the more cutting for how he delivers it with humor. "Sam Stone" and "Paradise" also highlight how the problems of 50 years ago are still somehow the problems of today and remain fresh all these years later. Favorite songs: Quiet Man, Angel from Montgomery, Far from Me.
Incredible song writer. Even better storyteller. Josh Ritter, Dylan, Prine. He's in high cotton here.
The first two songs I learned to play on the guitar are "Paradise" and "Angel From Montgomery". Prine is one of the great songwriters. For a debut album, you can see that he already had an old soul. I need to add "Hello in There" to my list of songs that I can play. (Brandi Carlile did a great version of that track on Colbert - check it out). I've heard this album all the way through more than once, and so many of the songs dozens of times. I was lucky enough to see Prine in concert once, and so many performances on TV. RIP John.
This record broke my heart and made me laugh out loud. He's a genuine poet and a heck of a story-teller. I loved pretty much every track (even Pretty Good with its glib mention of dog rape (WTH???)). This kind of album is the reason I'm here.
Embarrassingly, this was an introduction to me. I only knew the song "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore." I did realize that I'd heard a few of the other songs, whether performed by John Prine or other artists, but I was so delighted to spend my time with this one. Another walking into work smiling kind of day after listening on my commute. I'm having trouble thinking he was 25 when he recorded this. His voice sounds like he's been around and seen a lot more. There's something special about a song that's so clever or poignant you want to listen to it again and again, and by as many artists as you can find performing it. These songs all feel that way. (And I did.) I've missed out. I wish there were a voice like his in modern day music. We need it.
I never thought I consider giving a country album 5 stars. Maybe it’s the content I usually dislike as much as the delivery? This unpatriotic antiwar album works for me.
I really liked this. I mean it was folk country, but God damn if you don't hear some punk underpinnings in this you aren't listening. This is the kind of music that makes me proud of being an American, without me having to have pride in my government, and be able to criticize the nation without losing my love for it.
I'd never even heard of this guy before this morning! Lol. I understand he's big in the States... I love the album. Added to my portable music player before I'd even finished listening to it, and will definitely check out more of his stuff.
Beautiful. Just absolutely immersive listening. This is storytelling and songwriting. This is not folk. This isn't bluegrass. This isn't country. It's John Prine and this is music I can get behind. Highlight Tracks: ALL
Ahhh, the eponymous debut of a terrific song writer. The themes here may diverge from one another, but on the whole it plays like a greatest hits record. Prine swings for the fences here and connects on nearly every song. I suppose it makes sense - he had his whole life to write the songs that appeared here, and it shows in everything from the musical arrangements to the turns of lyrical phrase. I must admit that I've never cared for his voice, but he delivers the songs earnestly and with feeling. Top notch for the genre.
Excellent guitar, good balance of songs equally witty, powerful, emotional. I love John Prime. RIP
How have I never heard this album? Great from beginning to end. Albums like tis is why I'm here.
This is a stellar album. Prine can tell a visual story with just his words and is one of the strongest songwriters of the era. Really excellent album, and glad I got to listen to it again.
While the music is unremarkable, it is simply the backdrop to a masterpiece collection of folk poetry. Folk music is at its purest in protest, and on this record, Prine protests war, nationalistic jingoism, and the misapplication of Christian values. Reading the lyrics, one can't help but notice the more things change, the more they stay the same. Consider politicians with their little flag lapel pins as you listen to "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore. Prine, of course, throws a few apolitical and melancholy songs about lost love and heartache for good measure. He does it all with clever flourishes and a sense of humor, too. It is beautiful. I laughed, I cried, I clicked the little heart icon.
4/19 Great songwriting, some somber songs delivered lightly. Standout Tracks: Hello In There, Sam Stone, Pretty Good, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore, Six O'Clock News
Social commentary and protest songs in a country style! I really liked this. Pretty Dylan-esque. Fave track - "Sam Stone" - mainly because Spiritualized lifted some of the lyrics for one of my all time fave tracks "Cop Shoot Cop" from "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space" and hearing them in the original song was one of those "oooh, so _that's_ where that came from" moments!
You know, these nasally folk artists can be tough to listen all the way through for yours truly. I really enjoyed the vibe of the album from start to finish, I try to absorb the scene being painted for me. And eventually the nose faded away and I just relaxed into it.
Illegal Smile has me hopeful about this album. I'm liking this wayyyyy more than Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks. Sam Stone is a great tune. Your Flag Decal would be a good punk cover song.
Wow. What an introduction to someone I have never heard before. Every song was really good
This album is an American classic! It's fire folk-country that represents Appalachia to the Mississippi river. There's a mix of sad songs and happy songs, but all of them are great and have a story to tell. John Prine had a perfect country singer voice and I'm sad I never knew about him until now. RIP
What a surprise! Country, dude sitting on a hay bale - but themes of environmental devastation and crippling heroin addiction in blunt lyrics that would be funny if they weren't depressing.
I actually like this quite a bit. I had pretty low expectations with a country record, but I was surprised by the songwriting and nostalgic feel of the album. Highlights: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12, and 13.
Pretty good old school country; I'm not big on country but this is just a guy and a guitar and he's got some great lyrics. Not over the top party songs like the new country, but has a bluesy tone. Pretty Good actually kind of reminds me of The Hip in some of its lyrics. Back half is a lot slower, definitely liked the first half more.
This is a great album. This style of folk/country music can get repetitive but every track here is solid despite this. Don't know how anyone can listen to "Angel From Montgomery" without crying.
Man, he can tell a story. Best track: Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore
En general no me gusta mucho la música folk/country, pero este disco me llamó mucho la atención. No es sólo la música (que cuenta bastante), sino también el tono de voz, la pronunciación y la entonación, elementos que te "jalan" a escuchar la letra. La música también es notable. Por lo general el Country es más austero, por no decir tedioso (cof cof Bob Dylan), pero el arreglo de este álbum es particularmente bueno. El sonido es cálido y envolvente, muy agradable de escuchar. La canción que más me llamó la atención fue la de "Illegal Smile", por su letra. Definitivamente un disco que volvería a escuchar.
De inicio me pareció muy plano, pero en la segunda escuchada me comenzó a gustar más. A ratos muy parecido a Dylan, el resto del tiempo más melódico y con mejor voz. Música agradable con buenas letras, personales. Songs: Pretty Good, Spanish Pipedream, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore, Quiet Man
De nueva cuenta un cantautor con canciones tipo folk e influencia country que no conocía. Fue un descubrimiento mucho más interesante quiza que los anteriores, musicalmente no es muy distinto ni impresiona pero encuanto a sus letras y temas esta bastante por encima del promedio, temas serios con suficiente humor y talento. El disco entero es bastante entretenido rondando de la guerra, las drogas, el ambiente, relaciones y patriotismos falsos. Quizá la canciónq ue más me gustó fue Spanish Pipedream, en la que me invita a destruir mi televisión, mientras que cancinoes como "Your Flag Decal Wont Get You Into Heaven Anymore" son bastante interesantes para recordarnos que nada ha cambiado en las guerras desde Vietnam hasta ahora. Excelente artista, musicalmente no es nada novedoso pero siento no es su punto necesariamente.
This is what country/folk music should be. The music is simple, but Prine's lyrics and delivery are awesome. I laughed out loud a few times, but was also impressed at how poignant some of these "stories" still are. It's protest music with a twang. I dug it.
First I literally thought I wouldn't enjoy this; then I gave it a chance... and I quite liked it. John Prine's music just seems to have this calming effect, where if you listen to it, it completely relaxes you. All the tracks are like, which ain't a bad thing. They don't necessarily flow into one another like others, it's simply a collection of country tracks. Drums, guitar and electric guitar. I liked it. Song writing can be corny at times, thought that's what makes it gold.
Wow. I'm not sure if it's partially due to my current mood, but these songs are just destroying me. It's like every song is a short story or a movie. I wish I had known about John Prine back in the mid-eighties when I was in college learning to play guitar. These would have fit right into my repertoire. I can see how so many artists were influenced by him. I'm hearing Bruce Springsteen in some of these songs, Steve Earle, and even Final Cut era Pink Floyd. Now I need to dig deeper into John Prine's catalog to hear more. 4 stars.
Amazing Lyrics from a gifted storyteller. The earthy minutiae of life is given compelling narrative and colour. His stories seem to question the arbitrary and brutal nature of life. Fave quote "jesus does for nothing, I suppose". Music a but wank though.
His lyrics and storytelling are so well crafted, a pleasure to listen to. He takes us on a ride.
Jeden z tych albumow, gdzie chcesz sprawdzic jeden trak co to w ogole jest, a 44 minuty pozniej jestes na ostatnim i masz ochote dawac repeata, bo wlasnie z takiej strony pokazal mi sie pan John Prine na swoim debiutanckim krazku z 71, gatunkowo jest to folk z elementami country, po tym co uslyszalem jestem zdziwiony, ze wczesniej nawet nie slyszalem o tym Panu, szukajac Dylanowych brzmien, bo lirycznie jak nikt podchodzi on do jego poziomu, teksty sa zarowno barwnymi opowiesciami, ale zawieraja w sobie niekiedy wrecz moralizatorskie przeslania, bogata symbolika kamuflowana wielopoziomowymi metaforami, no i najwazniejsze autentycznosc ktora slychac plynaca z prawienia pana Johna, jednym z najbardziej przewijajacych sie motywow jest chauvinism w obliczu wojny wietnamskiej, wiec teksty traktuja zarowno o unikaniu draftowania, jak i losie weteranow, nie pomijajac takze fanatykow slepo wierzacych w wyzszosc swoich racji nad wszystkim innym, ale nie jest to konceptowy album, wiec na 13 kawalkach znajdzie sie takze miejsce na proze dnia codziennego, ktora najlepiej czuc na kawalkach jak hello in there traktujacym o tym jak wiele potrafi zmienic zaledwie dostrzezenie wokol siebie drugiego czlowieka, zwlaszcza starszego, bo czlowiek im starszy tym w mniejszym kregu ludzi sie obraca, az wreszcie sie nie obraca, tylko kroczy samotnie przez zycie, kolejnym kawalkiem mozna powiedziec sielankowym bedzie paradise, ktory jak mozna sie domyslac bedzie traktowac o najlepszym miejscu, ktore kazdy powinien miec, malej ojczyznie i o wspomnieniach zwiazanych z takim miejscem, czuc jest na tej plycie bagaz doswiadczen jakie uzbieral pan Prine przed rozpoczeciem kariery muzycznej, bo przed debiutem swoje odsluzyl w armii oraz na poczcie, jesli chodzi o strone instrumentalna plyty, to jak przystalo na country beda gitarki wszelakie, sam Prine gra tutaj na akustyku, ale na nagraniu mozna uslyszec bogate, ale jednoczesnie bardzo tradycyjne brzmienie country, wiec obok gitar bonjosy, skrzypce, tamburyny, czy klasyczne basy i drumy, ktore w polaczeniu z ostrzejszym brzmieniem gitary, jak na pretty good brzmi bardziej rokowo niz folkowo, wiec o ile nie ma tutaj elementow, ktore by rzucaly instrumentalnie na kolana, to jednak jest grane tak, ze nie przeszkadza w konsumpcji kolejnych wersow spiewanych przez pana Prina, ktory niekiedy brzmi az zbyt Dylanowo, ktory z pewnoscia byl mocna inspiracja w tworzeniu tej plyty, co do plejkowych pickow, to plyta jest tak rowna, ze ciezko cos wybrac, ale jesli musze dodac cztery kawalki, to beda to otwierajacy illegal smile, kawalek ktory nasuwa skojarzenie z uzytkownikami hehuany, a jednak pan Prine w jakims wywiadzie z 2k10 przyznal, ze jednak nie chodzi o jaranie, ale o zdrowy smiech z blizej nieokreslonego powodu, ktory najczesciej dopada pozna noca w obliczu rzeczy nowych, kolejnym kawalkiem bedzie quiet man brzmiacy mocno wagabundowo, oraz wspomniane juz hello in there i sam stone, jestem niezmiernie ciekawy czy reszta dyskografii pana Johna zespawnowala rownie jakosciowa muzyke, a co najwazniejsze czy teksty utrzymaly poziom z tego debiutanckiego krazka, bo na przestrzeni lat uzbieralo mu sie 18 studyjnych albumow za pasem, a rok temu wykonczyl sie prawdopodobnie covidowo, wiec kolejny hamerykanski wieszcz z krainy Nashville poznany
Not going to lie and say I had even heard of this man prior to today and the cover had me imagining the worst but I'm glad I got to listen to this album. Musically it's pretty good, easy to listen to but not very innovative. Where it shines is the lyrics, John Prine was an incredible storyteller and was able to make me both laugh and tear up. A real surprise to see the variety and depth of topics he had chosen to write and sing about.
Absolutely loved this and I'm not sure how I haven't heard of, let alone heard this before
Really enjoyed this one. I remember when he passed away a few years ago, I had no idea who he was but I saw tons of praise for his work, and this album in particular. He sounds quite a bit like Bob Dylan, but with more of a country/folksy style. It's much sharper, much less mopey than traditional country (like the recent George Jones album we got). Some really engaging lyrics and storytelling, I found myself swept up in a good handful of the songs on here. The first track sounded like a bit of a parody of his own style, ending with "hot dog bun, my sister's a nun" made me laugh out loud. I didn't realize this was his debut, released when he was only 25, very impressive. Definitely into this one, a great start to the week. Favorite tracks: Sam Stone, Paradise, Angel from Montgomery, Pretty Good, Far From Me, Illegal Smile. Album cover: Very simple portrait, man on a bale of hay. You get precisely what's advertised. 4.5/5
Un bon qlbum country avec un classique vraiment. Angel from montgomery. J’aime mieux quand meme les reprise de bonnie raith et aussi de tedesxhi trucks band. 4* Un album country folck qui vaut la pein.
Great album. Very soft and comfortable. The lyrics are cute and relaxing, but also nostalgic and sad sometimes. Very emotional.
My co-judge pointed out the Bob Dylan similarity. Prine is a country-folk version of BD with lyrics that are, by contrast, simple to decipher but still great. Lots of humour and social commentary especially about the war that was happening at that time, in songs like Sam Stone and Flag Decal. It's a great debut album, considering he had never played with other musicians before.
Always liked this album and for more than just the great songs Hello in There and Angel from Montgomery. The storytelling and language are poignant and gritty, and even the goofy bits are somehow always OK. Because he’s John Prine, that’s why. It was a sad loss when he died.
Normally i don’t like this kind of county folk, but this was an exception. Because of the powerful lyrics and subject matter. It was very engaging to listen to, and I will be back.
I'm really happy to have discovered this album, thanks to this list. Excellent country/folk with surprising lyrics and very emotional guitar playing. It's a shame I didn't knew this artist before.
Is this the best country album I've ever heard? Probably not, but this one must be in the top 10 for sure. Very nice discovery from this list (for a change).
Great, great country album that mixes humor, politics and melancholy without falling into the cheesy category that so many albums of the genre gets trapped in. And to think this was his first album is quite impressive as well. I have to check out his later stuff.
At album opening you fear this is some Dylan parody but you realise here is a smart guy using acerbic wit to takedown aspects of American culture and observe flaws in the American dream. Insightful, challenging and a pretty decent musician, John Prine is something of a gem.
Meets all my 'likes' criterea. Music goes with lyrics goes with story.... Notable how many of these are covered by other artists.
I’ve always half-assed catching up on John Prine since his passing, hitting up big tracks and not really diving into any albums other than his latest output. Fortunately, I don’t think this’ll be the last we hear of him. This is everything I could’ve asked for and more. The lyrics, his delivery of them, and the songwriting… the guy walks the walk. Love this. 4
This should be up there in the “country albums for people who don’t like country” starter pack. Granted, I have warmed up to yeeha music over the years, and stuff like this is why. Incredible craftsmanship throughout, even if it is a little samey. B+
I really liked this album, surprisingly. The lyrics were good, the music was good, and it sorta reminded me of Jim Croce (I don't have a lot of context for this type of music, so forgive my bad comparisons). 4/5
I liked this more than I thought I would. In general it was a nice listen, with Pretty Good and Angel from Montgomery the stand outs.
3.7 - solid album, great lyrics. Really enjoyed this, despite not always being so hot on the country/folk genre
Stories of lonliness, drug dependancy, etc etc, all good stories. I hate country with a passion, but this i can abide.
Such raw storytelling with a funny, nasally voice. It’s like Dylan singing songs written by Bukowski. Fascinating.
I mean if this isn't country, or at least some yank folk rock, I'll eat my hat. haha ok the lyrics are great, it almost borders on joke rock so far. Hard to tell if it's a pisstake on country or a genuine effort. Wiki seems to think it's more of a genuine attempt at writing sarcastic hot takes and not the country version of steel panther or anything. I think they might be right. In any case, it's pretty catchy but it did get pretty samey, I'd had enough by the end. 3/5.
Dylan-Esque, "Pretty Good" bester Song, sonst etwas zu viel Country für meinen Geschmack
very good record. powerful storytelling and so much emotion Sam Stone - wow, this one hits so hard. I was listening to the album in the background not really noticing anything when THAT lyric caught me right in the head: "There's a hole in daddy's arm, where all the money goes". holy fuck what a song. Paradise tells a heartbreaking story as well. great song.
I'm on track one and I don't think I'm going to last very long. I'm turning into Rolling Stone here, giving everything 3 stars even if I don't like it, but I can't exactly punish an album simply for not aligning with my tastes.
I sort of liked and didn’t like this album. It was just *slightly* too country twang for my taste, but I didn’t really hate it. I also found some of the songs to be surprisingly relevant.
cheeky hippie folk music unmistakably from the early 70's. there are definitely some clever smiles generated, but it's hard to love it given that it is for a distant time and place.
Playful, cheeky Americana but with some really solid songwriting. Not my typical cup of tea but I really appreciate the craft (and subversive political humor).
Really nice guitar melodies, but vocal twang a bit much for me. Angel from Montgomery is a beautiful song - Into the Wild
un homme extremement sympatique, musicalement rien de particulierement interessant mais j'ai apprecié sa gentillesse et sa delicatesse, 3/5
I enjoy country and bluegrass. The songs from this album had good storytelling but the music itself didn’t wow me. Maybe because it’s an older genre of country.
It was an alright album. I enjoy some folk songs, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the country-ness of this particular album. I can appreciate the blunt storytelling of the lyrics and the mellow guitar, but it's not the sound for me. Favorite track: Paradise
There's that great scene in Stripes, where Bill Murray's girlfriend argues with him about always listening to Tito Puente. Murray responds by saying, "You know, one day, Tito Puente will be dead, and you'll say, 'Oh, yes, I've been listening to his work for years.'" The same theory could apply to John Prine. I never heard one word about John Prine, but when he got COVID and died, suddenly he had fans coming out of the woodworks. Might be crass to say, but I believe it was further magnified by the fact he was one of the first celebrity COVID deaths (for further reference, witness the outpouring of love for the dude from Fountains Of Wayne). So yeah, sacreligious as it might be in some corners, I think Prine is a tad overrated. Sounds like someone doing a Dylan imitation if Dylan went completely country. Angel Of Montgomery saves this for me, but I prefer other versions, especially Bonnie Raitt's cover. Angel Of Montgomery is a 5, and suggests that I should give Prine another chance. He was obviously a great songwriter. I'm sure I'll like him more than Tito Puente.
No es mucho mi tipo pero mola para tenerla de fondo, música de señor con guitarra en bar, hay algunas canciones q me han gustado pero en general no es q me apasione este tipo de música BT: Illegal Smile (1) Pretty Good (6)
Country music. Not unique in any way, but quite pleasant and I like his voice. Vocally this reminds me of Bob Dylan, which is odd, as I find Dylan's voice really puts me off his music.
It's pretty country but more on the folk side of country. Having said that, there are some strong anti-war songs on here. It's not your modern red-state fishin'/drinkin'/Merica! country music. Though there is some religion-stuff in here. The songs do all kind of sound the same after a while and he's not the best singer. But in folk music like this the words/message are a bit more important than the music. And he's got some clever, enjoyable, and thought-provoking lyrics. TLDR: Interesting listen. Probably won't revisit much but I can appreciate it.
This guy's got jokes, but if you listen closely he also has a point or two. I guess Vietnam was pretty bad.
Don’t know a lot of country for comparison and context’s same, but I heard a nice Dylan vibe, good lyrics, and overall just enjoyable to listen to. Nothing out of this world but my appreciation of country is limited so 3 stars
3.5 | Muy agradable country-blues con toques que a rato me recordaban a Rodriguez y a otros a Willie Nelson. Como dijo Casper, letras mucho mejores de lo esperadas, pero además muy buena instrumentación: desde Paradise, súper tradicional, con ese fiddle que es excelente, hasta algo como Quiet Man casi casi se sale del Country para darle con todo a la música como de protesta. Y sí me da curiosidad de escuchar más material de él. Como curiosidad extra, creo que es el primero que escuchamos que murió víctima del COVID.
To the untrained ear this could be Bob Dylan with a bit of country added in. I enjoyed it.
Really great songwriting and lyrics here, particularly on the A side. This guy clearly has a lot of talent. But at the same time, I think it’s better as individual songs; as a full album it gets pretty samey for one sitting.
Ok, acoustic singer/songwriter. Try not to be boring. Thank your band for helping you. The lyrics (which I'm sure at the point) are charming and entertaining. But, that's the trouble with listening while working. I think I miss that charm. But, I can definitely see myself returning to this when I am driving sometime and need something chill. That's the place where I can focus on music the most - at least the singer/songwriter variety.
Was a bit annoyed at first but got over it. Still, not quite the generation to get into this, so in some ways it’s not for me. Sad country postwar americana.
I expected to like this more given the reputation which preceeded it. It was more country one style than expected. Illegal Smile is Admittedly a pretty cooland humorous tune as is the next one Spanish Pipedream. Pretty Good might be my favorite song. All in all I enjoyed it 3.5 stRs
First country album I have received on this list. I am honestly not a huge fan of country at all (modern country is probably my least favorite genre), but I do find that I can appreciate older, folk-ier country as time goes on. I did enjoy this album more than I thought upon realizing what I was getting into, but I didn't think it stood out too much in terms of specific songs/moments. The instrumentals were relaxing and exactly the type of country I would like to listen to; however, I was not a fan of John's voice solely due to my dislike of the genre in general. I would definitely listen to this album again over some other albums I have received so far from genres I love which is a really good sign. If I liked country more, this would be higher up in my rankings. 2.5/5.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Wish he was a bit less religious as 3/4 songs were about angels or coming home to heaven. But the ones without I would definitely listen to again.
John Prine was clearly all about the lyrics, and it's evident from a couple of listens to this that even as a young man he was a cut above most other writers. There's empathy and humour and some knockout couplets, plus he tackles more interesting subject matters than your average schmuck. Musically it's very pedestrian though and while that helps to bring out the words, I can't honestly say it's an album I will keep coming back to. A respectful 3 stars.
I will file this under a similar category to how I feel about Bob Dylan and similar singer songwriters......I'm sure the lyrics are lovely and the vocals put them across very well but I'm not very good at listening to them closely, call me lazy. Pleasant enough though just doesn't light me up with excitement
I'm not a huge country person but I can definitely see the appeal. Songwriting is solid, though not super excited about the melody lines or anything like that. Might go back and listen if in a yeehaw mood. Otherwise probably not. Fave track: Illegal Smile. Loved the line about the oatmeal winning a staring contest.
This was a fun listen, kind of country-folk poetry, the lyrics and songwriting are great. Musically a lot of the tracks sound kinda the same. Not bad though.
Not a big folk guy but this one grew on me a bit. Lyrically very good and enjoyable. It's equal parts folk/country but avoids the worst of both genres. "Illegal Smile" and "Spanish Pipedream" are strong openers and are fun listens. "Flag Decal" remain relevant 50 years later which is impressive/upsetting.
Like the early Dylan albums, this debut from John Prine pays for repeated listening. There's a lot to explore and unpack, musically and lyrically.
2nd Listen. Really starting to enjoy this one. 3/5 "side 1" is better than "side 2" but overall still really good.
I like old country but this one didn't really hit home for me. It wasn't bad but frankly I couldn't get behind the lyrics and John Pine's voice completely. Perhaps if I listened to him more I could like him more. I did however add a few songs to my list from the album that I liked somewhat ex. Illegal Smile
I appreciate the tongue in cheek irreverence of the songwriting, there's a playfulness there, a subtle sendup of the classic twanging country song in every verse. The deeply earnest "I've got problems" country singer schtick of other artists gets old fast which is why this genre doesn't do anything for me. But I can see Prine up there, winking mischievously at those looking close enough to see it, as if to say "let's not take ourselves so seriously as all that George Jones nonsense, let's have fun." And I'm cool with that. And then there are nuggets of social commentary that don't beat you over the head, and that's cool too. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore feels relevant in today's American socio-political climate, very on the nose.
Overall enjoyed it but no real standouts for me. I probably don't listen to the lyrics enough. Prine has a goofy vocal tone that I kind of enjoy.
I'm not a fan of country music, but John Prine is one of the ones I can appreciate at least a little bit. Paradise, Angel of Montgomery, and Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore are the highlights here.
If the only song on this album were 'Angel From Montgomery' it would still be worthy of inclusion in this project. The rest of the tracks showcase his incredible songwriting talent. Due to his performance style and the era in which it was recorded, it sounds a little bland to my ears but I'm sure that's mostly due to the countless performers and acts who sound a lot like this. It also suffers through my ears because of my slightly negative perception of twangy country-western style music (although, as with any genre, there is plenty of music in that realm that I do like). Despite that challenge, I still enjoyed listening to it and definitely appreciate it.
Not my favorite. Country style singing is not always my fav genre. Good singing and decent instrumentals. Fav song: Spanish pipedream
Demasiado Country para mi gusto, demasiada steel guitar. Cuando suena como Bob Dylan, más eléctrico, creo que es más interesante como en: Pretty good o Quiet man. Supongo que esa mezcla en 1971 era revolucionaria pero en mi opinión ha caducado aunque se deja escuchar como country estándar. Ojo a la cara de Tommy Lee Jones que tiene en la portada del disco.
Generally, I do not like country at all. Im not saying I like this, but I did make it all the way through the album for one reason alone - some of these lyrics are hysterical! I didn't love the music, or the voice, or anything really. But the lyrics contain little gems of comedy that made me laugh enough that I could endure the rest.
Me recordó a Dylan en varias de sus canciones. No es un mal disco, a pesar de que me gusta la música country. No sé si es un disco que le daría otra oportunidad. Nota: 2.5
I thought I was a music lover. I haven't loved anything I've heard yet. Maybe I'm a heathen. Oh well, I'll keep trying.
Not a fan of the boring generic country accompaniment but the lyrics are really something. “Sam Stone” sounds like a direct antecedent to Pink Floyd’s “xxx” from the Final Cut.
I just find this type of country music boring. no edge apart from some dodgy lyrical content. Can't imagine why this is on the list. What marks it out from all the countless other similar sounding (to my ears) albums?
Ik houdt van up-tempo muziek en vrolijke melodietjes. Ik werd erg vrolijk van John Prine, totdat ik er achter kwam dat ik het verkeerde album had. Dit album is wat saai eigenlijk. Mijn favorieten zijn "Spanish Pipedream" en "Flashback Blues" **
Didn’t know that country-folk was even a thing. While I appreciated the lyrics, I can’t really say that I enjoyed the delivery. I’ll give it a 2
Typische countrymuziek met veel songs die vaak over trieste dingen gaan. zou niet opnieuw luisteren
I just couldn't really get past the sound of this one. I've also heard a lot of these ideas before done WAY better. You want an album with multiple songs in a row that tell the story of somebody growing older? Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel. You want folk acoustic protest music? Oh my god, there are so many better options. This album disappointed me.
He writes some well crafted lyrics but I find this album comes across completely flat musically and honestly the cleverness of the lyrics kind of pulls me out of the experience in a distracting way.
Twee sterren dan omdat ik een mooie uitvoering van ‘angels from Montgomery’ ken (met Bonnie Raitt).
Begin van het album was niet door te komen. Verderop kwamen een paar niet-country-achtige nummers; die gingen nog wel. Maar alles bij elkaar was dit iets om snel te vergeten.
Still developing as a song writer, this is far from his best. Limp anti-vietnam war protest songs and barely comedic vignettes while still trying to sound like the New Bob Dylan. Unfortunately he succeeds in the latter and loses his own personalty for it. Loudon Wainwright was funnier, more observant and had better melodies.
A more quiet and reserved Bob Dylan....I like that. Very relaxing music. Nothing I'll go out of my way to listen to again but I'm glad this farm boy was able to get up on a bale o hay and talk about his troubles and reminisce about days of yore.
Best Song: Spanish Pipedream. Halfway decent lyrics. Worst Song: Far from Me. That mewling cat instrumental in the background is not helping. Overall: Not great. Really repetitive rhythm and rhyme schemes, drawled in what feels like an imitation Dylan affectation. Why listen to this when Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot have done it so much better?
Not a country fan. To me, his voice sounds strained and has that country "twang" that oh so reminds me of John Denver (my #1 most hated artist). Sorry John. Just not for me. Won't be listening to this one ever again. D
An Ok album. A bit country and twangy for my tastes overall. But pleasant to listen to mostly.
Too much twang for my taste. The songs are pleasant enough, but also too monotonous to need to listen to more than 2 before you've effectively listened to the entire album.
Hot 'meh'. Actually, this 'meh' is becoming predictable shorthand, with no thought behind it. So: (1) Sounds like sub-par Dylan. (2) I hate Dylan . (To be fair, this falls under 'meh' criticism. My dislike of Dylan is capricious, untested and quite possibly unsubstatiable.) (3) The production is really weedy. Lots of places where a bit of backbone would have made a big difference. But no banana. (4) Lyrically, absent without leave. I suppose this must strike some person's sweet spot. And it is helpful to remember the subjective element inherent in any ranking and recommendation process (mine included0. Even so...
If I have to listen to another second of this godawful noise, I might spontaneously combust.
twang twang twang i'm a country singer and I hate technology so put me back in my motel
I am sorry i could get through this album. This is Country at it worse and I dont like country at the best of times. 1 star
Not a fan. First time I have heard of this guy and I am glad to say I haven’t missed out.
I really didn't want to finish this album I feel like this is the punishment for not listening yesterday Just pure old school country Didn't want to finish, it's too long
I never listen to it before and reading the Wikipedia article, I got the relevance for John Prine. However, for me, it still looks like a piece of really boring country music. In the best moments of the album, it remembers me of a bad cover of the worst songs from Bob Dylan.
This one was rough to get through. Just not my style at all. Kinda reminded me of this pedo-ish drivers ed instructor that I had who would always put on weird post-WWII americana. Dude let me skip a drive so wasn't all bad.
Volgens Paradiso de cornerstone van het country en roots genre. Ik zeg: Mijn hemel, make it stop!
Even geen plaatjes meer kunnen luisteren, maar ik val niet met mijn neus in de boter met dit album... Wat een ellende zeg. Die teksten ook, wat een drama. Dit zou verboden moeten worden.
Absolutely terrible. This is like Family Guy wrote a parody of somebody improv’ing a country song. 0 stars. Why is this on here?
Struggled to listen- seems pretty good for standard country and there are touches of nice guitar but overall way to old timey for me. Some passages for hello in there were interesting
Donald and Lydia is pretty good listening.