Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Back to the roots with this album. If Angel From Montgomery was the only song he wrote, he would still have had a massive impact..
John Prine is an artist I am certainly aware of but had not spent a lot of time listening to so I was glad to have this album pop up. Very listenable and Prine puts his wonderful songwriting and storytelling abilities on display. Great songs include "Illegal Smile", "Far From Me", "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven" and of course "Angel From Montgomery".
Not usually my type of music but I found it very enjoyable to listen to.
Interesting country. Really enjoyed it. Didn’t realize Illegal Smile is a year older than I am.
His lyrics are quirky, but I kinda liked it.
Hilarious and a specific memorial to county music before it was claimed by right-wingers.
Decent “country” voice. Great lyrics.
I remember hearing much praise of John Prine at the time of his death without having ever listened to him myself and was excited to have his album come up on the list. I'm not a country music girl so I can see why I never came across him before, but I liked this album more than I expected to. Great lyricist for sure.
I didn't know he wrote these songs. I guess I've been a John Prine fan for a while. Well done!
Excellent lyricist. I'd like his work even more if he were a better singer or had a good singer do that singing for him. Still, overall enjoyable experience for me.
Good folk album. A witty, some tunes funny, tongue in cheek critique of war, love, grief and the new age. Vibe similar to the Nilsson Schmilsson album. Was impressed by his lyricism and how real some of the songs felt. Standouts: Hello in There, San Stone, Paradise, Pretty Good, Donald and Lydia.
I enjoyed this far better than I expected. What a great lyricist. Sure, not the best singer, but a John had what it took to enjoy a decades long career in music and write some of the best songs.
prine cool. illegal smile huere guete text. bowl of oatmeaö tried to stare me down haha. dases uf en 6/8 wechslet uf de refrain isch geil. haha wa my sister's a nun. spanish pipedream cute aso funny aso coole song aso jo. hello in there isch easy sad, chrieg isch nöd geil. Sam stone au wieder ptsd song. uff de isch heavy. sam stone popped his last balloon. paradise goht um es dorf wo wegme cholechraftwerk zerstört wird? de siech cha texte. pretty good isch seehr groovy. uuh yeah gitarresolo. your flag wont get you into heaven anymore slappt extrem. haha de himmel het z viel lüt wegem chrieg. far from me premium pedal steel shit. boah john de shit isch huere schön. angel from montgomery. oooooch d gitarrelicks. oooo de sad text (ischs sad?) beste song bis jetz. huuuere geil. quiet man au huere noice riffs und so. würkli sehr sehr sehr guet mr prine. ich glaub da isch prime john prine. donald and lydia isch etz bitz meh schreitend langsam. six o clock news cute chords ja coole bass. flashback blues sehr sehr guete abschluss song. de byebye. juere guets album. chratzt amne füfi.
Pretty great. Donald and Lydia a very sweet song, the rest of the songs deserve a second listen.
Not totally my cup of tea, but I can see the attraction that people have for him
I’ve seen this album get a lot of praise and a lot of criticism. Really it just comes down to a matter of preference, I guess, like anything else. His singing is a bit monotone, rather Dylanesque, the lyrics are heartfelt and honest - stories of real people and real pain, sung straight and true. No frills, no real technique, just folksy country singing. In 1971 the Vietnam War still ongoing, on its last leg, four years until the US would pull out. This album would hold a lot more sway I feel with people who lived through that time, but to call this album soulless or over-produced as I have seen some say is just baffling. I guess I just feel Prine and his music are more down to earth and relatable than some other folk music and the songwriting and lyrics are great even if you can’t quite love his voice. It’s a wonderful debut, and not hard for me to see why it is so influential.
A guy I work with introduced me to John Prine and I fell in love with this album. I'm not the biggest country music fan, but John Prine leans heavily toward the folk side of country. He's also on the classic side of country which helps too. Illegal Smile is a great song touting the harmless effects of marijuana use. And I just learned that isn't what it was supposed to be about at all! John apparently said in an interview once that it was really supposed to be about how when he was a child he found himself smiling at things people normally didn't smile at. I can relate to that. Finding humor in all the darkness is my forte and it's John Prine's as well. Spanish Pipedream lets you know John Prine isn't normal country, he's hippie country. Hello I There is one of the saddest songs ever written. Wandering through a boring life of work that leads to potentially just losing your mind and then dying. What an American Dream. This song is followed by Sam Stone, another depressing song. But the way John weaves the tales isn't inherently sad, it's honestly got a bit of humor in it, which I think makes them even better. Who wants to cry about Daddy putting all his money in his arms? But if you can kind of get an illegal smile from hearing these lyrics, John knows he did his job. Want another illegal smile? How about a song about a woman getting raped by a dog? Is it an actual dog or is he just calling men dogs? Who knows, but if those lyrics make you snicker... you're going to jail. And all those gods are the same... yep jail. The majority of these are well thought out catchy tunes with just a few in the second half that don't capture my attention as well. The lyrics are both funny and sarcastic and dark all at the same time and the music has a country twang but leans to folk and the album just gives me illegal smiles left and right.
69% (4) 👍
Feeling good laid back country/folk. And Angel of Montgomery, what a fine song
Great easy listening album.
Great singer song writer, with a tinge of sadness through-out. Bette Midler does a great version of Hello in there and Bonnie Rait, Susan Tedeschi cover Angel of Montgomery.
The first few songs sounded the same but there were some great lyricism throughout the album. “there’s a hole in daddy’s arm, where all the money goes”, I loved “Sam Stone”, story about a drug addicted vet. Iconic voice, depressing lyrics.
Not a huge country guy but this album was special. The lyrics were great and I loved the protest message.
A great songwriter and an important voice who didn't get acknowledged until much later in life. These are powerful songs.
i had never heard of John Prine 2 weeks ago. then last week i was talking with my stats professor and Prine is one of his favorite artists so i listened to this exact album. and now i just listened to it again a week later. and it’s good! not amazing but never bad
Mighty fine songwriting, Mr Prine.
4.0 - Plenty of casually devastating lines on here, like “there’s a whole in daddy’s arm where all the money goes / Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose” (“Sam Stone”). Side B is sleepier. Other standouts: “Your Flag Decal…”, “Spanish Pipedream”, “Angel from Montgomery.”
Prine wrote some very unique country songs, performed complete with great fingerpicking. Among these songs, some very biting songs about the Vietnam war's effects on veteran's and on America in general-- ripe subject matter for it's 1971 release date. Some other good songs about empathy for the elderly, real principles of Christianity, to the power of imagination ("Illegal Smile" - supposedly not about weed, I swear I looked it up!) One can hear why he is country-western royalty and has legends like Dylan, Cash, & Kristofferson singing his praises. Not only that but unlike many country legends, all songs on this album were written by Prine, a real showcase into his strength as a storyteller, even if his vocals on this album had yet to fully mature, it's clear he's giving his all nonetheless. Real nice album, thoroughly enjoyable performance from Prine and band.
Not my genre, but I really like him. Been listening to Kacey Musgraves nonstop lately. Maybe I could be a country fan?
John Prine's music represents a big musical blind-spot for me, albeit one I never really knew was a blind-spot until the massive outpouring of online grief back in April 2020 surrounding his untimely passing. Despite seeing how many artists, writers, and acquaintances were waxing poetic in those days Prine's music remained something out there in the ether that maybe one day eventually I'd get around to listening to. A brief digression, on critical reassessment. As an outside observer, but frequent follower of the Rolling Stone "500 albums" list it is fascinating to observe the leap this album made. From #452 to #149, regardless of anything to do with the songs, which are great I'll add, that sort of canonical shift and sea change over the course of 8 years is simply fascinating to me, it shows that the canon is so far from being fixed and will probably continue to change. This is a great collection of songs though, Prine is a marvelous storyteller, has a real way with a turn of phrase without being too overwrought. Plainspoken when it fits, but equally capable of hitting on a beautiful melody. Type of album I wish I had grown up with and had nostalgic memories with, but one that'll stick around in the rotation.
Definitely a different voice in his earlier recordings. I enjoyed this album.
A very well written folk album. I don't know who the FRICK John Prine is, but man can this guy write a song. "Illegal Smile" is a funny song. "Your Flag Decal..." is also funny and kinda sad. "Sam Stone" is almost funny for how sad it is while John Prine sings it so thoughtfully. "Hello in There" is a very beautiful, sensitive song. "Spanish Pipedream" sounds nice, although it's kind of an odd story. I don't know WHAT "Pretty Good" is about. "Six O'clock News" is also tragic, but subtle enough I don't really know what the story is. Many songs stand out, and even though John Prine sings with a very hick sort of affectation, he performs each song well.
Good storytelling songs that would be great for long road trips.
This was funny, sad, and witty. He was an amazing artist
The lyrics are really detailed, which makes it a little hard to get the full scope of his music on one listen through. The light instrumentation means the electric (steel?) guitar really shines in its moments, and the harmonies on Paradise are excellent. Better than Bob Dylan.
The thing is, I'm fairly lyric deaf. Without a conscious effort to process a song's words, they mean nothing to me. And when I put in the effort, it sort of muffles the music, so I mostly don't. Sometimes, this is a blessing however, so I can for instance pay attention to "Hello in There" while somewhat ignoring this album's country twang music and... my eyes feel warm? Phew, this is a tough one. I can't do it justice, I'm afraid. I'm pretty sure John Prine was an exquisite human be– ///a few moments latér, an open Wikipedia article about Paradise, Kentucky on the screen/// Actually, this is good stuff. A good 4 kind of stuff even ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
Really good folk album front to back. Songs range from funny to deeply sad to politically relevant even now. Wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did
Ok
John Prine, country legend, makes his genre seem effortless. Playing around with time signatures, metaphor, and humor ("Jesus Christ died for nothing, I suppose"). With how witty and twangy Prine is, you wouldn't think he grew up in Illinois! He certainly borrows stylistic elements from Bob Dylan, but Prine crafted country music into his own.
One of those albums where you have to indulge in the lyrics to fully appreciate it. Prine is a quintessential country and folk songwriter and one of the few characters of the genre who can be compared to Dylan without overselling his talent.
There's a hole in Daddy's arm where all the money goes. The sense of humor and sarcasm runs deep in these songs. John Prine was a master storyteller, which I miss in today's country music. Excellent album all around.
Maybe I do like country
One’s been more of an admirer than a fan, but this is quite the debut. Different from Dylan, seems obvious now, but perhaps it wasn’t then. Similar in that the songwriting far surpasses the vocals, but Dylan is a notch more serious, and owns that seriousness and the seeming silliness (not just lyrically, but often in melodic little flourishes) with which Prine approaches his serious subject matter, are markers of difference. “Hello In There” is lovely, affecting – a template Jason Isbell stole for “Traveling Alone” on his excellent Southeastern record which belongs on this list. The organ on “Sam Stone” sounds an awful lot like the opening cut Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut and the grim, post-war subject matter also rhymes – personal elegies, basically. “Paradise” is great. “Angel in Montgomery” is deservedly renowned. Playing is sound and workmanlike.
I’ve never listened to any John Prine before, but his influence looms large in a lot of the music I’ve loved for years. Bob Dylan ranked Prine among the greatest songwriters around, singling out many of the songs from this album to make his case. And Roger Waters is a huge fan, going so far as lifting the melody from “Sam Stone” for the opening track on Pink Floyd’s “The Final Cut”. So my hopes were high for this debut album, and even though I struggled with it at first I was rooting for Prine all the way: a liberal ‘70s country musician whose songs address the horrors of war, addiction and loneliness. I had to stick with it, but after several listens, and especially after registering the lyrics, I’ve been swept away: there are some truly stunning songs to be discovered here. The compositions may not break the bank musically, displaying an economy of arrangement and melody. All the songs are led by Prine’s acoustic guitar, with simple strums and the odd arpeggio across the same handful of chords. These are often fleshed out with bass, drums, keys, fiddle and some nice lead or lap-steel guitar (“Your Flag Decal…”, “Far From Me” in particular), but it’s all ornamental and casual. The most upbeat tracks are “Spanish Pipedream” and “Flashback Blues”, which respectively cover a longing for a life off the grid and running from a painful past, over breezy shuffling rhythms with some lively fiddle accompaniment. Elsewhere, “Pretty Good” and “Quiet Man” are good bluesy jams but feel quite out of place on an album of stark heartbreak, a little like “Meet Me in the Morning” in “Blood on the Tracks”. But where Prine really excels here for me is with the ballads. This is a wordsmith’s album through-and-through, and the slower tracks really give his words space to breathe, so everything else can orbit around them. “Far From Me” is one of the bleakest portrayals of an ending relationship I’ve ever heard: even from the comfort of my happy one, it almost brought me to tears. “Donald and Lydia” goes further, with a tale of two lonely isolated individuals imagining their own love story from ten miles away. “Sam Stone”, with its hopelessly tragic tale of a war veteran slowly dying of heroin addiction, was voted one of Rolling Stone’s top ten saddest songs of all time. And finally, “Hello in There” is a quietly devastating picture of people growing more and more detached and lonesome in their old age: it’s going to stay with me for a long time whenever I pass some ancient eyes. All of these songs are absolutely beautiful, and deserve to be shared with everyone you love. When Prine died in 2020, from Covid-related complications, I read that tributes were conspicuously absent from most “traditional” country radio stations, who objected to his progressive views. Screw them: I can say with some confidence that this is the best country album I’ve heard so far. Rating a 4 but it will probably be a 5 in a few years.
coen bros. soundtrack-core (postivt)
Pretty good for country
Pretty good! Not bad! Can't complain!
Wow. My relative ambivalence to country was utterly undone by the deft lyricism, emotion and warm humour of this album. Will be buying this!
74/100
Let me first say, I truly hate country music. For the most part we’d be way better off if it didn’t exist. John Prine is the exception. Hello in There, Sam Stone are borderline masterpieces about war, growing old, drugs. A times there is too much twang for me. But still very strong 8.1/10
This was a very enjoyable album. I don’t listen to a lot of country, but this was nice. The instrumentals were very basic, but the man’s a good story teller. Very easy listening, the album slowed by nicely
Watch out Bob there's a new Muppet on the block
Lyrics and delivery with pathos, soul, humour and poetry. Straightforward, elegant and poignant.
Classic!
I’ve not heard of John Prine before, but after hearing this, I’m prining for more.
I'm not sure where to go with this one. It's a really solid country album with strong anti-war lyrics. I think I'm making it a 4.5, just because it was a bit too much about god for my taste.
Much better than expected, country songs with nice (although very Cristian) lyrics
Great lyricism and sound. Worth exploring more.
Good stuff. Couple of songs I could revisit. That decal song, a few more
It was only in recent memory that the world began to realize what was obvious all along: that John Prine was a treasure in the music business. I throughly believe that we be all the worse off if he hadn't put his talents to tape and allow us to fully take in his impeccable storytelling talents. There is no better place to start than here, an album that will captivate and bowl you over from beginning to end. Favorites: Illegal Smile, Spanish Pipedream, Hello in There, Sam Stone, Paradise, Pretty Good, Angel From Montgomery, Quiet Man.
Not a big fan of this kind of vocal style, but good lyrics go a very long way. Liked it a lot. The instrumentals are fine too. Favourite song maybe Quiet Man. Reminded me a lot of The Mountain Goats, wonder if it’s an influence
In a mini run of country albums, this one wasn't half bad. There were some great lyrics and the music wasn't awful either. I can see where Roger Waters got some of his ideas maybe.
Purtty damn fahn
Loved it! I was familiar with the name and his stuff really sounds great all these years later.
Wow. Another delightful surprise. I don’t know how John Prine passed me by all these years but I’m grateful to have listened today.
was actually much better than i expected!
John Prine, you magnificent bastard.
Country isn't my cup of tea but this album was a great listen, I enjoyed it both musically and lyrically it is also good.
Fun country wholesome
Way better than the last album. Pretty good I would give it a 4/5
Keskimääräistä parempaa musiikkia syvältä jenkkilän ytimestä. Klassikkobiisejä ja hieno äänihän miehellä on. 4/5
Heard a lot about Prine and there are some near-standards here.
There really is something about John Prine and his songs. The overall sound isn't particularly unique but his songs are special.
There’s a stretch from tracks 3-5 which is among the saddest I’ve heard in one album. Good thing every song isn’t like that “Hello in There”, “Sam Stone”, “Paradise”, “Your Flag Decal”, “Angel From Montgomery”
Was expecting to not enjoy this country blues but he’s a pretty witty lyricist
An American Musical storyteller. John Prine told human stories with his music, lyrics and humor.
Like if Bob Dylan did country and you haven’t heard Bob Dylan actually do country.
Fun, quirky classic country project. 3.5/5
Man that was a depressing listen. I really like John Prine's song writing. He is good at finding beauty and humor in sadness. From the opening lines of Illegal Smile: "Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down, and won", I was hooked. Some of the songs were truly depressing like "Sam Stone", a song about a Vietnam Vet who gets addicted to heroin: "There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes". Jeez, i need to listen to something more upbeat, where's my Pink Floyd at. It's not all depressing though, as mentioned before many of the songs are filled with humor as well. There are too many lines to quote but I'll leave this review with "I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve".
4.75/5 Wow. What an amazing wordsmith. He just knows how to convey a feeling and a story without having to tell you directly. "Your Flag Decal Don't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" is such a politically charged, interesting, timeless and hilarious song. Then he talks about loneliness and masterbation in "Donald and Lydia" while making it feel somehow romantic. Then he sings about James Lewis, the child of incest who commits suicide. Like whoa...the topics are so diverse and yet so timeless. Loves it.
John prine så nice med det
Robert, u right 4 this one
Swag... silver jews inflytande?
Some clever lyrics
I used work at an Italian restaurant in downtown Nashville & waited on John Prine several times. He was a big man with a soft presence. I didn't know who he was at first, but everyone was quick to tell me he was one of the most respected & revered artists. I very much appreciate his songwriting & this is a solid debut album, but folk-country just isn't my thing. I give it 3.5 stars.
So good.
This was a nice surprise! Seldom I listen to country "voluntarily", but this was actually quite good!
High-level folk.
this album is amazing. top tier songwriting (how can you hear “sam stone” and not beat affected?), and a solid voice. this man was clearly born to be a storyteller, and it shows on this one. highlights: “sam stone” “your flag decal won’t get you into heaven anymore” “six o’clock news”
Thoughtful and funny. Sometimes funny because it's funny. Sometimes funny because it's true.
Prine and his self-titled are absolutely essential. These songs are chasing, but not only that. The best songs are front-loaded, but each and every track demands to be learned. Humor, pathos, place; They all threaten to enrich us in John's straightforward English.
7/10. Love some good old-fashioned depressing country music
2/22- Driving to school John Prine has an overwhelming sense of love and compassion toward all people- regardless of their beliefs or actions-throughout this entire record. A faithful Christian, he extends his love to everybody. Vocally, lyrically, spiritually, and musically he exceeded all of my expectations coming into this, and I’ll be coming back to it for a long time.
7/10
After joking about country music, I can see why this is in the top 1001. Yeehaw!
Quite enjoyed that. Has clearly influenced more recent artists and sounded quite modern in places.
Definitely not a fan of Prine's voice but the songs themselves were decent enough to keep me interested. Lyrics are on point. A bit too country for me but it ended up being quite a nice listen.
Unexpected Gem, one of the first from this list.
Never really listened to John Prime much before he died recently. His wonderful lyrics and simple music pair well with his voice. Reminds me of John Denver and Leonard Cohen. 4/5.
Great album.
sweet
It's a time-honored country tradition to sing about Jesus while drunk, but Prine does it differently. He calls Our Blessed Lord as witness to all the meaningless deaths soldiers are sent to by bloodsucking politicians in rich suits. There are five songs that are either direct criticisms of the Korean War or explorations of the isolating psychological aftermath on a soldier's mind, as that soldier navigates the wreckage of his life, futilely searching for any meaningful human contact, a search that ultimately leads to suicide. Time passes into loneliness as you're locked inside your own meaningless existence, numbed by alcoholism and drug abuse. You have time to sit and do nothing and wallow in your survivor's guilt and mourn the loss of that world of your childhood when everything was still beautiful.
Very country which i am actually not as opposed to as I would expect to be. Pretty Good is very good but overall the album is pretty mediocre, probably because country isn’t really my thing. I did enjoy it though. There is a lot of story telling and a bit to much religion. The album started to grow on me especially around Quite Man which I liked. Low 4
Love this one - 4 stars
A first rate lyricist but not exactly my favorite performer. He's good, don't get me wrong, but I just don't get the same enjoyment that I get feom other country music greats. No disrespect intended, the man has earned the respect of many but he's just not quite top shelf for me.
Suck excellent lyrics and storytelling. The instrumentals didn't catch my eyes too much but it's still a great album nonetheless.
Surprisingly good
Subversive folk music masquerading as country. I can respect that
Whoa - this is great. I love this. I've heard of John Prine but never listened and this is pretty great and deserves a closer listen from me.
Really quite liked this. It hits the sweet spot of country and western music that I like, in that it sounds like something you’d hear at a bar in Texas before there were cell phones and every now and then something in the lyrics would make you grin slyly. Will listen to more!
Country old west beats, the storytelling from the tracks make them very interesting with a moral. The vibe of the whole album transports you back into a wooden tabern with live music in a hot climate
You'd be tempted to live under the assumption that male teenage anxiety is an adolescent fad. The themes change, "teenage" to "grown-up", but the fad remains. Pretty good, not bad, I can't complain, but actually everything is just about the same.
I'm not a fan of twang but the lyrics were hilarious.
Good tunes, biting and funny lyrics. Glad I heard it
I only came across John Prine this year, and I've listened to this album a couple of times over the past few months. It's hard to believe I hadn't listened to him before, although I had heard of him. I really like it, even if he does remind me a little bit of Kermit T. Frog! The song writing and guitar playing are fantastic, they range from brimming with positivity (Hello in There) to heartbreaking (Sam Stone). Fave songs: Spanish Pipedream, Hello In There, Your Flag Decal... Least Fav: None in particular really, but some of them (like Paradise) are a bit too country for me.
Close to a 5. Very strong start, but it doesn't stay full steam the whole album.
Not my scene. Although this seems to lean more on the folk side of country, which explains why I'm more receptive to it. And anyway a great song is a great song, regardless of genre. Hello In There, Far From Me and Sam Stone are truly great. And today I learned that Cop Shoot Cop by Spiritualized has a direct reference to this song. I can understand the Dylan comparison particularly on songs like Pretty Good. The novelty songs leave me cold, but there's some wonderful stuff mixed in here. By the end, really won over. What a great album.
Lyrically rich.
I am not very used to listen to music country, so, at first, I found it a bit strange but as I listened through the album I got more and more into it.
Solid
Great lyrics. Right level of melancholy. Very sharp images, you can easily have mind trips to Nebraska or other forgotten US states while listening to this album. Anti-war songs and social issues too. Sound-wise, country music is not really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed the album. Maybe listening it straight from the beginning to the end was a little bit too much for me. "Ain't it funny how an old broken bottle looks just like a diamond ring" I said "You must know the answer" She said "No, but I'll give it a try" :)
A strong sense of lyrical narrative (both serious and tongue-in-cheek) on top of great country songwriting is a sure fire formula for a great LP. I’m a little ashamed I hadn’t listened to any Prone before this - it’s easy to see why his passing invoked such loss as the artistry and skill here is rather clear.
really liked the vibe. not my favorite type of music. would give 4.5 if I could.
Very good, will definitely listen again
Yes. Solid vocals, storytelling lyrics, and soundscapes that will melt your sorrows. I do love acoustic guitar tons, so that helps. Yeah, it's pretty country, but it's also pretty lovely.
Very much enjoyed this, and would listen again & to more of his stuff.
Sam stone and pretty good are awesome. Not a huge fan of country but this really gets the toes tapping
Took a little bit to get used to the country "twang", but there are some great songs on this one. Lovely songwriting with good lyrics. Will come back for another listen.
It's like Bob Dylan poetry if he kept going down the country genre after 'Self Portrait' in 1970. Really impressed. Gotta get some more of this vibe in my life
At first I thought this was just some redneck trad country but then a few songs in it got political and emotional and musical with shades of Dylan. I enjoyed it
he's just fun.
Oh no, a man on a throne of hay. At least I know what I'm going to get. Yep, fully twangy. However Illegal Smile is pretty cute. Goodness me there is quite a lot of wit and heart in these songs, isn't there? An unfortunate amount of the lyrical content is still perfectly relevant today, which is a fact of life worth pondering. But even so, this is fundamentally a cheerful album. I liked it. Thank you, album generator, I think I did need to hear this.
Very good writing. Stylistically kind of samesy.
I am not a country music fan at all but just a few songs in.... this pretty great. Fun lyrics and easy to listen to. Song writing is top notch. Wait. Am I a country music fan now? Either way, I was pleasantly surprised - which is the whole point of doing this IMO.
John Prine has been long considered Country royalty. His amazing story telling really sets him apart for me. You can't really sing along with his songs but you can feel them. Even if its telling stories about people from the 50's. To me, John Prine is the music equivalent of the American Gothic painting or a Louie Lamore book. You get a real glimpse into life of the times.
This is the dichotomy of my life: I’m a sucker for the pedal steel, but I have a strong dislike for most country music. It’s a genre I can’t relate to much - I didn’t grow up with it and it can be very monolithic and same-y. Obviously not all country music sounds the same, but let’s be real, the joke about all country songs being about a) your wife leaving you, b) your truck breaking down or c) your dog dying, is funny because it’s true. As a matter of fact, the first song that auto-played after this record ended (She Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere by Guy Clark) was about a guy whose wife left him. Checkmate. But the pedal steel, sweet Jesus on a skateboard, what an absolutely beautiful sounding instrument. It can be sad sounding, but also uplifting and understatedly psychedelic. For lack of a better phrase, it “sings” in a way that few other instruments can. It tickles my brain in the best possible way. The pedal steel on this record, played by Leo LeBlanc, is wonderful and perfectly compliments every one of the songs where it appears on this record. Don’t let my unabashed love of the pedal steel overshadow the great collection of songs John Prine wrote here. They’re often humorous, but also poignant and touching. It’s no surprise that Kurt Vile is such a fan of Prine; Prine’s sense of humor and skill with lyrical turns of phrase is clearly an influence. John Prine’s self-titled is a rarity for me: a country record that I was fully engaged with. When it was over, I had to listen again.
What's this? A country album that I enjoyed? In this economy? This is a great album, and way more diverse than a lot of the other country albums on this list so far. Fantastic lyrics throughout as well and some cracking guitar playing
A real find!
Sharp lyrics
Interesting that this should come up so soon after Spiritualized's "Ladies and Gentlemen...," which nabs some lyrics. I like this as well, it's country rock with a venomous streak of 'nam-era cynicism and a biting sense of humour.
Not bad for a country album.
It's really too bad that I live in such a dogshit era for country music. I've never really had much of an appreciation for it because I came of age after most of the greats of old country music were long passed their prime. I think I would have enjoyed the genre a lot more if I was present during eras like this where you had good musicians making earnest country music, rather than the completely manufactured generic rural word salad that modern country has become. Earnest is certainly the word that I would use to describe John Prine. The album feels intimate, personal, like it's just you and him and he's really opening up to you. Then the album first started I thought it was good but not for me. As it played on, I started to enjoy it more and more. He wins you over. "There's a hole in daddy's arm where the money goes, and Jesus died for nothing I suppose" God damn 4/5
Great country, like home. Just enough harmonic interest, kinda Tallest Man, more jazzy Flag Decal is amazing
Initially just judging the album by its cover, I wasn't too sure I was going to enjoy this album. Thankfully I gave it a chance and was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't sure what genre this would be considered as I didn't take the time to look it up but to me it sounded almost folk country if that is a thing. Clearly listening to the lyrics and seeing when it was released you can tell it was an anti war protest album. However some of these songs are very much applicable in today's culture.
p251. 1971. 4 stars Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised. Lyrically sharp as a razor and some good tunes. Sounds like country-era Dylan, which isn't for everyone, but once you get past the strings and slide guitar it's terrific - there is a direct line from this to Springsteen's Nebraska. It's everything The Band aspired to and failed to deliver. Probably too country for most, but it's definitely worth a second listen.
John Prine is a fucking dude. His lyrics are simple, funny, heartbreaking and seemingly taking the piss. This man could write. Country tinged songs with a knowing smile. He's the pub philosopher who wouldn't be a bore; the Bob Dylan you can be mates with. Best Tracks: Illegal Smile; Sam Stone; Angel From Montgomery
Actually a pretty good album. Kind of old school country with really good lyrics. Authentic country
John prine might be one of the most underrated songwriters of all time
4/5
Such raw storytelling with a funny, nasally voice. It’s like Dylan singing songs written by Bukowski. Fascinating.
Stories of lonliness, drug dependancy, etc etc, all good stories. I hate country with a passion, but this i can abide.
Really enjoyed this one
3.7 - solid album, great lyrics. Really enjoyed this, despite not always being so hot on the country/folk genre
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.
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
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’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
Meets all my 'likes' criterea. Music goes with lyrics goes with story.... Notable how many of these are covered by other artists.
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.
Took a while for the voice to grow on me. I was pretty off put when I first started listening. It grew on me, to the point that I think it was a really solid album.
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.
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).
Really good country/folk. Love it, nice discovery
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.
bom country
Beautiful album. Clever and very emotional lyrics. I really love this stuff. 4
Quite nice album. Had a good vibe.
Very pretty album
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.
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.
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.
I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this. While Mr Prine clearly has his musical wheelhouse, there's a lot of variety. The song is also clearly a product of 1971, with biting anti-war songs. I also likes how he eases the listener in with a goofy pro-weed anthem
Great album. Very soft and comfortable. The lyrics are cute and relaxing, but also nostalgic and sad sometimes. Very emotional.
Really good, like a country tinged Bob Dylan, but with a sense of humour!
A good wit, need more time with the lyrics but I like it
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.
Me ha trasladado a las carreteras de EEUU
göööööödshit
This was way better than I was expecting. Great lyrics!
niet zijn beste, maar toch 4 omdat het John is.
This had some really good song writing.
Great slow country background vibes.
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
Absolutely loved this and I'm not sure how I haven't heard of, let alone heard this before
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Illegal Smile, Spanish Pipedream, Hello in There, Sam Stone, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore, Far From Me, Quiet Man, Donald and Lydia, Flashback Blues Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: A collection of short stories, some funny, most moving. Bob Dylan's country cousin, this may prove to be a gateway drug for a reevaluation of my general dislike of Dylan's discography
some rapidfire thoughts: wonder how willie nelson feels about his voice being borrowed like this a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes...holy shit, what a line ha - your flag decal STILL won't get you into heaven angel from montgomery - holy shit, this could've been released anytime between then and now and still find an adoring audience for an album that doesn't explicitly mention vietnam, this whole thing sure does speak to those folks who went over there more or less against their will.
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.
I dig it
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
Really good, like a country tinged Bob Dylan, but with a sense of humour!
Lots of fun
His lyrics and storytelling are so well crafted, a pleasure to listen to. He takes us on a ride.
Makes folk his own
Nice easy listening country music
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.
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.
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.
Very solid and quirky. I liked it
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.
Country folk classic. Sam Stone is one of the most sad songs ever. 7/10
Goede country en blues
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.
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
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.
Man, he can tell a story. Best track: Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore
Hell yeah
superb. love the sound / voice / production. Couple of weaker tunes make it a 4.
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.
Quite liked this. The lyrics were great.
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.
Nice.
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.
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.
Great song writing.
Classic country with some great tunes
F*** Toby Keith, this is real country music.
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
Love Mr Prine! This was an awesome listen
Much better than expected. Reminded me of Bob Dylan. Would listen to it again.
catchy, comedic, and wistful. like a funnier bob dylan perhaps
Wow. What an introduction to someone I have never heard before. Every song was really good
Some songs are catchy, mesmo não sendo meu estilo
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.
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.
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!
var faktiskty bra
Spanish Pipedream and Sam Stone are highlights
I did not know him before. Love the sound.
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
Great lyricism. Must listen country album
The 3-song run of “Flag Decal”, “Far From Me” and “Angel from Montgomery” is really good. The rest was solid but didn’t capture me as much as I wanted
it is country
Its a country album alright
Good lyrics, but I'm not big on country
I hate when my bowl of oatmeal tries to stare me down. Wait this guys kinda crazy what is he on about. Just some crazy country it sounds like a parody. Idk man it's nice I like it. Favourite: Six O'Clock News Least favourite: Illegal Smile
Well it’s ok and if you’re a big country fan you probably really like it. There are some decent songs. Sometimes he sounds like Dylan, sometimes even James Taylor.
Rv
bit repetitive, nothing revolutionary
Enjoyed this one
A Dylan like artist. I prefer over Dylan. An enjoyable, refreshing, back to basics listen
I kinda rocked with this ngl. Real cpuntey
Perushyvää countryä, sopii tiettyyn tilanteeseen oikein hyvin
Like a more country bob dylan. I thought it was “pretty good” top track: pretty good
***A good , easy listening album
5/10 Best songs: Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven, Angel from Montgomery This album will most likely be what I think of when I think of "country" from now on - even though it's (supposedly) somewhere in the intersection between country and folk (and maybe Americana?). Overall the album is fine. Few standouts either positive or negative, but Your Flag Decal... is still relevant today. That song, at least, is worth listening to.
listening to this felt like a joke, but so far it actually isn't so bad. i wanna do the spanish pipedream.
I know I’m missing something here that is not connecting with me. Is it me not being a lyrics person? Was it my first listen not sinking in? I know a lot of people like this guy and album, including the folks in my list group, but it hasn’t happened for me yet. I should probably circle back on this one in future.
# Album Name: John Prine # Artist: John Prine # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Meh, was ok # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Maybe once
Great country album, favorite song was Your flag decal won’t get you into heaven anymore. I felt the song was still relevant today! I was surprised how well I enjoyed it, easy listening!
- Very country, quite odd, comical songs - Kind of like Gilbert O'Sullivan
leuk, niet helemaal mijn genre
Inoffensive, but samey.
I liked this a lot more than I was expecting on first blush. Was rolling my eyes when I heard what sounded to be Fred Rogers singing country after swallowing Kermit whole. It grew on me quite a bit though, some of the lyrics are good and it’s got some variety in sound which I appreciate. It’s still country, but at least it’s not stadium country. Closer to a 4.
Humorous country folk album
some all-time classics here
That was fun!
I’m glad that Ben briefed me on this one before I listened, because I probably would have dismissed it pretty quickly as “not for me.” With Ben’s recommendation, I found a fair bit to love here. Enjoyable listen, but I haven’t fallen in love yet. 6/10 Pretty Good
Nice country album.
Country jeb jeb jebaaaaaanie dupcymi miłe panie fajne nuteczki
It sounds like old folk home music in parts, but the lyrics are actually very entertaining. I enjoy a lot of his turns of phrase.
🥰🥰🥰
Plum good listenin'.
Aangename stem
Country and folk aren't usually my preferred genres of music, so with that said I thought the album was alright. I definitely got notes of Bob Dylan in this album; the lyrics were clever and the guitar playing was nice, but I just couldn't totally get into it. I listened pretty carefully because John Prine is among my dad's favorite artists, so I wanted to give it a fair shake, and I just don't think it's for me. Maybe as I get older I will appreciate this type of music more.
I’m gonna be real, I know a lot of people looooove John Prine, but he was not a staple in my household growing up, so this was tough to get into. Took me like three tries to sit down and listen to this. The folksiness, the kind of cloying voice. It wasn’t an easy listen. But after focusing, I started to get it better about halfway through. I enjoyed his blunt humor, his anger, his blatantly anti-war messaging. It’s clever stuff and I ended up listening to it twice
me gusta el country?????
Murica again. Nice stories and all, but nothing extra for me. I think this is just the culture difference. I’m sure i could enjoy this more if i were american
448/1089 - It's a fine mix of Folk and Country. I don't really have much to say about albums I consider 3 stars. It's more fun to talk about 5s and 1s.
This was good, although I really couldn't stand the slow country songs. However, he really turned it around midway way through with "Pretty Good" and "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven." 3.0/5.0: Good
Un poco Dylan descafeinado. Me gustana más las canciones más folksys y menos country. Su voz me parece carismática, seguro que suena de fondo en alguna peli de los Coen...
Solid country. I'm feeling rootin and tootin
Jesus that overdose song was graphic. Fuck man these songs are dark. Kinda good country. Dark subject matter sometimes though.
Sam Stone fannst mér svoldið svakalegt, en hitt ekki nógu eftirminnilegt til að toga plötuna upp í fjarka.
While not being a big fan of country music in general, I was ever so slightly dreading the album. That being said, I actually had fun listening to it. I don't really think I have ever allowed myself to sit down and actually listen to any country music. I also feel that a lot of the time, it has this sort of stigma about it. But as I said, I had fun listening to it. Prine's vocals were really lovely to listen to and suited the tracks he was making. There are obviously some songs that stand out more than others, but altogether it was a decent album, and not a bad one at all to have as my first country album. Favourites: Illegal Smile Sam Stone Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore Flashback Blues
not bad, the kind of country i like
Folky, bluesy, country-y guitar music. It was okay, but not really my thing, I think.
That's some pretty decent Country
Ive come to John Prine late in life and have enjoyed his late stage gruff man and a guitar style. This is his earlier stuff that is more country and with a bigger, more polished sound. What really shines through is his songwriting ability withe stories brilliantly drawn in the songs. I didnt enjoy his younger voice though and its a bit too country for me.
Perfectly ok.
Ugh. Definitely one of those "I can appreciate this but in no way, shape, or form is this for me." More like a 3.5.
A nice combo between Bob Dyland and John Denver. Actually a lot like John Denver. The instrumentals are very sparse and the voice is not quite good, very nasal. The songwriting is what is keeping this up. 3/5
It was fine, didn't really set my world on fire. After reading the Wikipedia info I'm surprised it was so popular and considered so highly, but i guess they were different times
A decent country album with some solid lyric writing. Ultimately a bit too run of the mill sonically, for my taste. But I appreciate the craft Prine brought to songwriting.
boring but not terrible i suppose. it has the feel of an old goodwill store that only sells books from the 70s-early 00s. may listen again one day. 3 stars.
Sometimes when an album by an artist I've not heard of turns up, I try and guess the genre based on the album cover alone, then press play. There was never any doubt about this one. That country twang is something that I tend to really struggle with (Dolly excepted of course). But this guy is funny: "Well, I sat there at the table and I acted real naïve, For I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve" He's also angry: 'Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" is lyrically great even if it's not my kinda music. Given that only a few days ago the US President started bombing Iran and I woke up to the news that six US soldiers are dead (the article glossed over the increasing death toll of local civilians obviously) and headlines like "Donald Trump boasts about $400m ballroom after paying tribute to US soldiers killed in Iran", this seems pretty relevant. Which given we're 55 years on from this album's release, is just depressing. I was surprised that I sort of enjoyed bits of this album. Don't get me wrong, it's not turned me into a country fan but I liked this more than I expected and I appreciate the storytelling if nothing else. Very much a 2.5 for me, but I'm rounding up because he made me laugh and then made me angry. 3/5
I wanted to hate this because the first song was so silly it sounded like a countrified Jimmy Buffett. However, once the Paradise song hit I was hooked. Awesome lyrics and a pretty cool little album.
Twangy as heck country. Good though. Pretty good story telling. Good diversity throughout the album, songs didn’t end up all sounding the same which is a low bar but great to hear lol. Sounded nice
A late Country singer who died from COVID-19.
3/5
Some really good lyrics and an inoffensive sound
We thought this was good. The Angel from Montgomery was a particularly good song.
Normally not my thing but enjoyed story telling. Clever in spots extremely mundane in others ala Morrissey (hot dog bun / my sisters a nun?). 3/5
*1971. Old school country. *Interesting lyrically - super sophomoric rhymes (to and you, light and night, etc.) but deep themes like anti-war (no room in heaven because of the war) and drugs (dad putting the family’s money in a hole in his arm)… *Musically it sounds like pretty standard country to me, but a little on the twangy side, which I like. *Kinda intriguing but I wouldn’t revisit since country isn’t my jam. *I read that he died of COVID in 2020. ☹️ RATING - 6.5/10
7.7
This album took a few songs for me to get onto the same wavelength that it operates on. The first couple of songs just sound pretty goofy and John Prine's voice takes a bit of time to get used to, to the point where I finally realized that my aversion to it is probably how most people consider Bob Dylan's voice to sound. But as the album went on I warmed up to Prine's voice and lyrics, but I didn't end up fully loving it.
Wasn't quite in the mood for his style, but he was good at it. Particularly liked flag won't get you into heaven
Pretty good countryesque songs.
John Prine had a great reputation among his contemporaries. I don't quite get it. This album is worth listening to, but I'm not going to rave about it.
Some beautiful country tunes with damning and even relatable stories, very nice.
Thoroughly enjoyed!