Reviews (page 5 of 8)
This album gives me massive whiplash, there are moments of brilliance with great musicianship and brilliant songwriting that had me giggling. On the other hand really boring music that at times had me skipping the song entirely
Great storytelling.
Yeah, liked it. Good lyrics, good songs, nice.
That's country how you imagine it
This still gets too country for me at times, but I found the songwriting more interesting than expected and the music is quite good. Nice mix of instruments - the steel guitar and organ are highlights when they pop up. Favorites: Hello in There, Far from Me, Angel from Montgomery.
still don't love country, don't hate it either.
margaritaville vibes (in the best way). angel From Montgomery is incredible. THRE!
I actually haven't listened to John Prine very much but I know that he is really highly regarded in the Dylan-esque folk songwriter world. I will say it's a real delight to hear; his lyrics are awesome and both poetic and on-the-nose at the same time, his voice cuts soooo nicely through the mix, and the arrangements are super fun. Sometimes records like this and/or from this period of time can be a let down for me, and I'll need some "yea but it was great for it's time" or "yea but the lyrics were great for what was going on in the world", but I genuinely felt super engaged with this one and didn't feel the need to seek out a "why" this album is on this list. Right from song 1 I could tell I would like it too, cool arrangement of a song with it's tempo changes. In between a 3 and a 4 for me. Slightly closer to a 3.
"Well, a question ain't really a question If you know the answer too" That actually had me thinking, I can't lie.
It's okay.
Nice easy listen 3/5
not bad but could’ve been better just standard country
Country/folk. It's ok but not super into it.
I appreciate the songwriting/lyricism but not really my style of music.
Solid. Nice sounds and good to hear something other than rock after a while.
Lwk not my vibe but wasn’t bad…
Nothing exciting here, I got all I needed from the cover
Album of two halves. First half great protest songs, second half country slop.
I’ve always been a fan of his quirkiness in songwriting. Angel from Montgomery is a gem of a tune.
Hearing Dylan liked this guy doesn't surprise me at all. There's some thoughtful sounding lyrics here. I listened to it twice trying to find a reason to bump it up to a four but it felt forced. Three it is today.
"Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore", Get em John! A nice debut album, with some poignant lyrics throughout. I liked Pretty Good, but otherwise not many of the tracks grabbed me.
Country leaning singer-songwriter
A fun little country album from a time where "find Jesus on your own" was a pretty radical statement.
its good writing but its not really my thing
Seeing how I typically enjoy country more than most people on this website, it's a bit contradictory that John Prine is an artist that never really clicked for me. While his lyricism is clever and he writes some great songs, I've always gravitated towards the more solemn side of country. With this listen though, a few tracks did click with me for the first time. Pretty much the whole A-side was quite enjoyable, once I got used to Prine's voice it was a very smooth experience. Sam Stone stands out as the best track hands-down, but Hello In There also deserves a mention. The B-side is certainly a step down, with the final four tracks not doing a whole lot for me. Maybe I just got worn out and the magic from the beginning couldn't carry on to the end, but Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore is the last track I would say piqued my interest. Maybe those tracks will just take a bit more time to grow on me, (to be fair, I'd heard the big songs from the A-side a few times up to this point), but I found myself losing interest in the last 20 minutes or so. Overall the album does have its bright points, but I much prefer the more raw, emotional side of country over the accessible production of this record.
if you don't pay attention to the lyrics it just becomes background music at some point
152/1001 John Prine - s/t Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❓ A number of artists I listen to site Prine as a massive influence on them and whilst they're not as overtly country as him, I can understand why. There's a certain charm to Prine's delivery in this and sometimes, the lyrics make you sit up and think. Whilst not entirely my wheelhouse, I enjoyed my time, but don't know when I'd revisit.
I want to hang with this guy 3.5/5
Loved the storytelling
Earnest, heart-wrenching lyrics, set to a folksy backdrop that doesn’t quite hit me in the feels like I think it should. I’ll give it another try at a different time and place.
It’s catchy for the most part. A little bit repetitive though.
Reminds me of Bob Dylan was signing Johnny Cash songs. I kinda liked this one a bit.
John Prine sounds like Bob Dylan. But I already have a Bob Dylan, and I like the one I have. What to do? How about 3/5 for good songwriting and the interesting Jesus references.
A solid storyteller in my least favorite genre. Still, unlike many country artists, he is engaging, tells great stories, and just draws you in to his work.
Basic country shit. Catchy, but won’t revisit.
Just a more redneck Bob Dylan.
Album leans heavily on country music formulas - predictable structures, familiar progressions, that classic country-western story telling. There are a few tracks that are more Bob Dylanesque, mor folksy numbers, that i quite enjoyed. I liked the slide guitar and lyrically the tunes were pretty interesting and at times emotive. But i just dont love country! 6.5/10
I can see why people like this and how it made the list. I like Hello in There the most, but I don't see it being something I come back to. I respect it more than I like it. 6/10
From the twang to the hay bales, everything about this screamed, "RUN!" However, setting my disgust for the genre aside, I think the lyrics and storytelling are actually quite good at times. This isn't really music to be enjoyed - it's more witty observations and wordplay put to (regrettably) country music. I'm shocked, but I'm giving this a 3. Despite its cover and chosen medium, I appreciate the content of the book.
A fun collection of songs and stories, some deeper than you would expect. A light 3/5
A nice classic country album. Could go either way.
Not a fan of his voice or style, but the lyrics were pretty good. Shame about the reference to a woman being raped by a dog in “Pretty Good”; kinda spoiled it for me.
I liked it. Some of the lyrics were a little too country-cute for my tastes but overall a good listen. 3.5
Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down and won.
Dylan goes to Nashville. Again.
I just couldn’t get into it. Sappy.
I’ve never really listened to John Prine before, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It’s probably not going to be one I come back to regularly, but I wouldn’t be mad if it randomly came on.
Bleak. Angel From Montgomery is a masterpiece, but listening to so much of this (“theres a hole daddys arm where all the money goes…”) is unrelenting and brutal.
My heart sank a little at seeing this album cover. I really thought I was almost done with all of the country music in this challenge but the album art told me what I was in for. John Prine seems to have been heavily influenced by Bob Dylan given the nasaly vocals and storytelling and Dylan in turn was a fan. I will say that this was alright for a country album. The lyrics were well written and it's thankfully not overly conservative. I genuinely enjoyed "Hello in There" which was a nice surprise and the stories were very vivid. Not bad for a singer who said he had just learned his craft when he was ushered into the recording studio. I did briefly think it might win me over and be one of the small handful of country albums that I'd listen to again. Unfortunately it's still just not my genre.
dig more than half, the more introspective less county tonk tunes.. the rest, no thank you
Hello In There Sam Stone
Sharp-witted lyricist, but the music (twangy alt-country?) not really my go-to music. I can take an album at a sitting, but at some point I am bored a.s. And there's only so much "witty" lyricism I can take before I go, give me Sabbath! (hell, I'd take KISS or Metallica, 2 bands for which I have little desire to hear before I croakensie.) A solid 3 stars.
No soy ningún entendido del country, pero este sonido a día de hoy resulta muy primigenio, y sabiendo todas las formas interesantes en las que se ha moldeado el género con los años, no causa especial sensación. Dicho esto, ME GUSTA EL COUNTRY, bastante de hecho, supongo que tiene mucho que ver con que me gusten los westerns clásicos y que sea ciertamente fan de autores de Americana contemporáneos como Father John Misty. Es ese tipo de música que me resulta agradable y amena, y que si viene acompañada de experimentación, me gana. (Red Dead 2 y la serie de Yellowstone también tienen parte de la culpa de mi afición en los recientes años btw) Witty songwriting del colega John Prine. Me quedo con eso y con las melodías amigables de guitarra, pese a que todo siga la misma fórmula. Favs: Spanish Pipedream, Sam Stone, Pretty Good, Angel from Montgomery
I dig John Prine a lot. There’s better music from him though
Fairly interesting lyrics and I enjoyed the bluesier numbers (Pretty Good was pretty good). Not my genre though.
I was prepared to hate this based on the cover being the most country thing ever, but it actually wasn't bad. Somewhat Dylan-esque in parts, and some great lyrics stood out even on a casual listen.
I put this album to spin and was "oh no another country album "(I had Nitty Gritty last week), but this actually I didn't mind much and actually lied it. And it was the storytelling- the observation of those small moments in everydayblife you find happiness. Might listen to it again reading the lyrics. 3/5 the album is okish
Bob Dylan style folk singing Illegal Smile Spanish Pipedream Sam Stone Angel from Montgomery
Very country, very Bob Dylan.
I liked it. 3.5 stars
I’ve tried to get into John for years and never can. Same reaction on this listen. Every song individually is a C+ at worst but that just doesn’t grab me.
Country-folk music. Kind of has a Dylan vibe to it. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #149 (2020) Best Songs Illegal Smile Spanish Pipedream Sam Stone Angel from Montgomery
Folky country music. It’s fine
Not usually my type of music, but there is something relaxing about it. If it started playing, I wouldn’t change it, but I wouldn’t go looking for it.
2-3 songs stood out
Absolutely fine. I can hear the Dylan influence. I wouldn't complain if someone put it on.
This is a nice old school country album. It didn't stand out to me at all so I checked the Wikipedia to se if I was missing something. The main focus there was on the writing and the influence on later artists. As a non native speaker that might explain why I didn't find that little extra that makes this album special. That being said his voice is clean and the country feeling of the album is still great.
Not bad singing.
It was hilarious how much this sounded like Bob Dylan. Still a long lost country Dylan album was pretty fun. I'd get a lot more out of this if I pulled up the lyrics while I listened. Rating: 2.8
This is a nice record, easy to listen to, and yet there's definitely some depth to the lyrics.
I enjoyed it, though it wasn't amazing.
This was fine. Really liked "Pretty Good" and "Quiet Man". The description I read of this album (and John Prine) is that he was considered "America's next Dylan" and for the record I'd like to say that his voice and style is way better than Dylan's.
da risentire, non è roba proprio per me
Eccessivamente country classico americano per me ma apprezzo le vibes
First impression is that this is the kind of folk-y country I don't really like, but I will give it a chance. Ok, it was better than I thought and had me tapping my foot along. Still don't love the twangy, Bob Dylan style of singing, but I see the appeal for those that like the country genre. Mid-ish 3, which feels generous as a country hater.
It's a good un, but perhaps a bit twee?
I'm not a huge fan of the style (folk country with a side of country folk), but I can recognize the songwriting talent and skill. I do like other peoples' covers of his songs better than his own versions, though.
Good ol’ hippy dippy protest music. Done the right way.
A very sparse album. No doubt he wrote some excellent songs but his delivery is a little "plain". Contemporaries like Neil Young or Harry Nilsson have more texture in my opinion. Angel From Montgomery is an amazing some so Bonnie Raitt made it what is is, not this original version.
Halfway through and IDK what to think yet. Not a 1, not a 5... not anywhere in the middle either really... Wow, this album gets deep. But what isn't deep is John Prine's voice. I don't really like his voice all that much. Definitely takes away from some songs. I wanted to like this album more than I did. "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore" is the standout I think. Other songs had their moments, but were just not good all the way through.
Not much of a country fan but there are a few interesting tunes on here, Hello in There, Pretty Good and Angel of Montgomery stand out, probably a 3.5 ⭐⭐⭐
Ok.
Since I've been listening to more country music than I usually do as part of the project, and to albums that I liked surprisingly well, I was looking forward to this album. John Prine plays good, unagitated music. I could listen to it well. But it didn't excite me. If I come across it again, I won't turn it off. But I won't go looking for it either. 3/5
An anti war country album?!!they were cooking back then Fav songs sam stone and pretty good
I initially really liked what this album was going for when I heard the first track, it resonated with me a lot honestly. The comedic aspect of this album helps this album sound better than it really does. The songwriting as well was something to be admired but the one thing that got on my nerves was the production. Don't get me wrong it wasn't bad or even mid but it just doesn't hold a candle to the other positive aspects of this album. There were some great tracks on here but I'd lying if I said I didn't almost doze off once or twice listening to this. Top 5: Illegal Smile, Spanish Pipedream, Sam Stone, Pretty Good, and Angel from Montgomery no bad songs 3.55/5
Solide Country Music der frühen 70er. Solide aber unspektakulär.
Quaint
Nice folk songs. Can be a good vibe if you’re in the mood. But I was at work so didn’t do much for me…
A pretty good folk album. The lyrics were fun, but no song really stuck with me. A nice change of pace for this list.
3 08.21.2025
Mostly fine.
fun
It just makes we want to listen to Bob Dylan Angel from Montgomery is fire tho
i liked it more than i thought i would
Another dude I never heard of. Should have known by the hay in the cover that this would be ultra country. I thought more folk. Further I got in it was more folk with country twang. I liked this. Interesting lyrics. Nicer melodies than country for sure. More diverse instruments it felt like. I’d listen to this again for sure. Worst part was his voice - but not annoying, just not polished.
Okay
Didn't do anything for me, but fine.,
Typical country album. OK for me
Not my thing at all but I can understand why others might love it.
Meh. Too twangy. But better than modern country of course.
I love him but this is not my overall favorite.
I've heard these songs before but not the entire album. The kind of album that was probably in the cheap bin 20 years ago but now sought after. It's ok but the style wears on you after a while. Definitely the kind of album that's good in a mix with other like artists/songs but kind of thin on it's own.
7/10 fun sound, reminds me a lot of road trip music I like, and it’s probably my preferred form of country.
Highlight for me was “Angel from Mongomery”. Definitely feels like a country Bob Dylan. I enjoyed it enough considering country isn’t a favourite genre for me.
Country is no my style but this was quite enjoyable! At the very least authentic and well crafted
some songs are sweet but still not a country fan
Nice and chill
bob dylan type voice but a more country/folk type lyrics and sound. 6/10
I really like “Angel from Montgomery.” I’ve never clicked with “Sam Stone,” despite any number of people who call it a classic.
Sort of a softer Bob Dylan with less edgy lyrics (and perhaps a less grating voice).
Not my favorite genre, but the songwriting and lyrics were great. Probably a 3.5 out of 5, just not quite enough for a 4.
- why do i relate this much to a old man in the 70s - nostaglia, religion, war - cute kind of love - descriptive lyricism
Great words, but it's fairly boring musically. Pretty Good is jarringly modern sounding; voice reminds me The Mountain Goats. Cool to hear a rock guitar solo after all the country. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore - The words to this are particularly great. Angel from Montgomery - cool timings in this. Donald and Lydia - Bob Dylan was right; this IS a really cool concept for the time.
We used to be a proper country, with proper country music.
I really like the anti-war sentiment and the lyrics in general, but musically a bit samey. 'Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore' and 'Angel from Montgomery" are the highlights for me.
5 star lyrics (Sam Stone!). I kind of liked Paradise (fiddles) , Pretty Good (blues). It was good to be exposed to this artist, but country music makes me impatient for it to end.
I am being generous with a 3. The Dylan comparison is overstated as he is no Bob, nowhere near the same league.
This guy’s pretty funny. I wish this didn’t wash over me :(
This album sounds like a snapshot of Americana in 1971. Enjoyable, more so than I was expecting to, but it's hard to get past John Prine's voice, which sounds suspiciously similar to Bob Dylan.
You know when you're sitting on a chair and you lean back so you're just on two legs and you lean too far so you almost fall over but at the last second you catch yourself? That's John Prine nearly going into full Bob Dylan voice ALL THE TIME. This is way better than anything I have been forced to listen to from Bob Dylan on this list. It's still not something I would listen to again on purpose, but it wasn't that bad.
Fun, for country. I had an ok time.
I don’t like country, but this album is fun. It doesn’t take itself seriously and goes for entertainment factor with its whimsical lyrics, which I like. It’s also not as slow and doesn’t go for constant prolonged notes like country tends to do. This style of instrumentation and vocals is still not my thing, because I prefer the music to be more complex and/or energetic, but this album was pretty fun. 7/10
‘Paradise’ was the stand out for me with the bluegrass twang. Those elongated vowels reminiscent of Bob at times. Inoffensive after one complete listen.
I have one simple question - who the heck is John Prine?!? Lyrically, this album it's interesting - great storytelling in that usual country style, and John has a wonderful turn of phrase. Whislt not an exceptional singer (he sounds like an in-tune Bob Dylan), the song-writing is great. Wonderful country guitar playing, every song was simple but pretty. Like a few of the albums given to me on this generator, it's very background music for me. Good background music, let's not insult the quality of the song-writing and musicianship, but hard for me to lock into and give my full attention as nothing drew me in. I can imagine him sat in the corner of a nice country pub playing simple background music whilst I have a nice cold pint. I can't give it more than a 3 as it was... an average listening experience for me. Nothing blew me away (could be a sign of the times) but I wasn't offended or bored.
Very Bob Dylanesk except he he does a good job with music and singing. Great song writing.
Lots of classics here. Enjoyable, but I wasn’t riveted. (Shh, don’t tell Mike.)
Laid back and kinda funny in places. An easy listen.
Okay, for a country album.
He's a good lyricist although I wouldn't say all these songs resonated with me fully. Some good, some a bit boring, so 3* seems fair. I'm not really into country but this was better than some of the others from that genre on this list
A little hokey, a little honky — pretty fun
poignant classic
John Prine is as clever as there is a writer, both funny and despairing. I can see why he's so revered by the other great singer songwriters (Dylan, Kristofferson, Cash, Baez). But he cannot sing. He's a step above Dylan and Waits but then who isn't? I also didn't always love his musical compositions, tempo, or timing. I didn't dislike many (any?) of his songs but the ones I enjoyed the most tended to be because of the lyrics - Illegal Smile (funny, with an ending that reminded me of Dylan's Talkin World War III Blues), Hello In There (my favorite, so somber, so human), Sam Stone (very clever), Paradise (this one I like for it's rhythm, it's an easy sounding folk song), Pretty Good (witty, especially verse 2), Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore (great anti-war angle), and Angel From Montgomery (another one where the music speaks to me). Maybe like Waits, there's more Prine albums to come and I'll learn to love him. But after a few listens I couldn't quite get to 3.5 where I might round up.
Basic country songs with a country twang and shades of Dylan (at least nice to hear that Dylan was a Prine fan). The lyrics are powerful which is why I can appreciate his reputation as a great songwriter, but basic country just isn't my thing. Favorite tracks: Hello in There, Paradise, Quiet Man.
Ihan fine. Ei sykähdyttänyt mutta kuuntelisin kyllä uudestaan.
Country is not my favorite genre but it was chill and some songs I did enjoy. I like Angel from Montgomery.
A unique voice and perspective. I think he got better with age. 3/5
I know people love him but I don't really resonate with his music
Great lyrics and melodies Standout songs: Illegal Smile Hello in There Quiet Man
Not my thing, but the songwriting is definitely very strong. Songwriting is a 4, but the style is a 2, so I'll split the difference and go with 3 stars.
Nicely done songs.
Great song writing. Not a huge fan of his voice.
Not bad, very country.
Not my thing
This was the first time I’d ever listened to John Prine although I realized that I was already familiar with a few of his songs which had been covered by other people. His voice is, well, not great, but it’s endearing and his songs were so fun to listen to, because they told stories and so you had to listen to the whole thing to see what happened. I liked that. And Bob Dylan’s voice is absolute poop and people still like him, because of his songwriting ability. So why the heck not John Prine?
Highlights: Hello In There, Pretty Good. In a nutshell: the Dylan of country folk? Great lyrics. Bleak, witty, comically dark, real. The songs have a cliched country music composition (steel guitar, standard chords on an acoustic guitar, fiddle), but as much as that type of music annoys me, it makes the lyrics stand out more. Prine said that he didn't see himself as a protest singer or political lyricist. He just wrote and sang about what he saw around him. I think there is a place for this album on the list amongst country/folk stalwarts Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Overall: 6/10
Ктоа
Just getting worn out on albums that are ‘ok’ at best
Great storyteller. Reminds me of Dolly. So country. Some of the rhymes were funny and clever. Not usually my fave genre, but I enjoyed listening to something different.
54 years later and "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" still rings true...
That was unexpectedly cute. Hearing the original versions of things that I heard covers of was neat. I'll probably listen to it again
It's not my genre by a long shot. I don't necessarily dislike country, but I'm picky about it, and this style is absolutely in the dislike category. I don't like the twanginess of this particular subset of country. That said, I find I'm pretty entertained by the lyrics and themes in this album. There is a fun rebelliousness to this music that is rather infectious. It's really REALLY not my music style though.
Pretty good fun but not my genre really
Maybe I should listen to more modern country. The more classic type is nice but I never manage to love it completely, which is frustrating.
Folky
Very Bob Dylan coded. I wasn't really liking the first few songs, but Paradise was so catchy that I think it made me like the rest of the album more than I would have. Still, this isn't really music I'd choose to listen to unless I'm in the right mindset.
An objectively hilarious record. Down home vibes and standard country instrumentation. It’s okay.
I really liked the first few songs and then I kinda zoned out
Amazing lyrics. Okay music.
Here's a guy I've only heard the name of! I did not expect straight country. For the first two songs, I thought: his voice + the plucky guitar sound is something I associate with kids music, albeit beloved kids music, and I just can't get into it for more serious topics. The lyrics are good though. After a couple more songs, I got slightly used to it(?) and could appreciate it more. But then 'Paradise' was back into the 'Children's Favorites' style. I dunno. A bit of a (lowkey) rollercoaster all the way through, in this way. Never unpleasant, though. Big "it's not you, it's me" energy on this one.
His voice is not my fave. I like it better when it's more folky and less honky tonk.
I appreciated the songwriting but didn't care much for the musicianship.
Buen folk / country, con uno que otro tema llegador. Me la pasé bien, nada más.
A honky-tonk Harry Chapin, or maybe Jim Croce, perhaps a more contemporary Woody Guthrie? - though not quite as fully-fledged as any of them. Prine has a way with a story, but I think he’s a better songwriter than performer. I appreciate the social commentary/protest elements, but don’t really dig the twang. Angel… is by far the most famous one here, but it’s been done better by other artists.
John Prine is like a less annoying Bob Dylan. Veers too country for my taste but some good songwriting buried in there and it can shine when covered by other artists (case in point: the covers of Angel from Montgomery by Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews and others). The song "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore" seems particularly relevant again.
What kind of vegetable do you need to put in your mouth to sound like this? But seriously there is some beautiful songwriting and production on this album. With thoughtful, wry and timeless lyrics about social issues Prine's limited experience is overcome by some subtle production and arrangements. Nonetheless this is more poetry than music and it only really shines if you push the hard-working studio musicians into the background to focus on the meaning of the words.
прочитала про любовь Боба Дилана к Джону и прям представляла как он слушает альбом с лицом Джареда Лето увидевшего пальто. но я не такая, просто норм олди хик
As a fan of Jason Isbell and the Drive by Truckers, I know Jason has said that Prine was a big influence on his song writing. First few times listening to anything Prine and now I get it and you can hear it. Just listen to Southern Rock Opera. Much like this album, just about every song is a short story. I can't say I enjoyed this album like I enjoyed DBT, but it certainly had it's moments. Something about Hello In There really hit my heart. Also enjoyed Sam Stone, Quiet Man and Pretty Good. I can't say the other songs were bad, just a little too country twangy for my taste. I always appreciated my Spotify kicking in a DBT song on random after the album too. First time in a while I read a little bit about the artist before my listen, because of Jason. It played into my scoring as I did not realize what an influence he had on so many artist. Anytime I can read Jason Isbell in the same writing as one my Mom's favorites, Kris Kristofferson, this day just became a hell of lot better. As for the album itself, I'm scoring a 3. For making me think of my mother, well I can't put a score on something like that. 3
Listened to this after a long day of travel so my heart wasn’t in it, but was nice inoffensive country folk to have playing in the background. Not typically my preferred genre but this album was nicer than I expected
Dla mnie to takie książkowe country. Album, który mógłby stanowić uosobienie wszystkiego, o co chodzi w country. I mówię to w bardzo pozytywnym sensie. Mam wrażenie, że jest to absolutnie perfekcyjny przedstawiciel swojego gatunku, wyznacznik standardów. Tylko, że to nie jest mój gatunek. Także bez większych emocji.
I thought it was brother of Optimus Prime and this will be some kind of techno music but it;s country. Decent country but I feel it's lacking something that would elevate it to the next level. 3 for you Mister John maybe try your luck in being a car or something.
John Whine more like. but seriously i don't mind shit like this
Great Lyrics, solid songs, a little one dimensional though. Nice represetation of early, disillusioned Americana.
Well, I'm not really keen on country so this poor guy never really stood much chance. But I got into the lyrics and have a lot of respect for some of what he's saying. The fact 'Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore' could have literally been written last year about the world today really got me. He's also got a great voice and I enjoyed the harder edge that crept into the latter songs on the album and kept me going after the slight lull just after the middle. It's still not going to rank among my favourites but I didn't dislike it.
Proper country, great storytelling, yee haw
6/10 Good songs, great and relatable lyrics. Especially on Illegal smile. Sometimes the lyrics get a bit too cheesy as do the vocals overall. Slide guitars sound great on the album. I like the album, but probably won't listen to the songs again. 6/10
Pretty good for what it is, just not my genre Will I listen to again: 5%
Was fine, didn't love it as much as i'd hoped to.
4/5 for the great lyrics, 2/5 for the music (sorry I still don’t really get country)
I love this guy's country twang, and his lyrics are goofy and enjoyable for the most part. That being said, the music is fairly simplistic (even for its time) in terms of melody, harmony, song structure, and choice of instrumentation. Prine clearly can't hold a melody with his voice when the compositions call for it. He sounds like your farmer uncle who sits in the corner bouncing a kid on his knee. And singing. Safe to say I'm quite surprised to see any post-60s country on this list if it doesn't revolutionise the genre in some way. The song Pretty Good is a bit of an anomaly here: the chorus lyrics are horrifically bland (to the point where they feel like a 70s sonic shitpost), but Prine kind of makes it work. There are a couple of songs where the lyrics are so distractingly bad that no American charm can save them from the fiery depths: namely, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore and Donald & Lydia. The best songs, on the other hand, are ones that add backing vocals or other ear-catching instruments. Paradise has what sounds like a fiddle(?) and some lovely campfire-country harmonisation in the chorus. Spanish Pipedream contains a surprisingly great electric guitar riff. Angel from Montgomery, while not being the only track to contain an organ, pulls it better than the others. 3/5 Key tracks: Spanish Pipedream, Angel from Montgomery, Paradise
Love the lyrics. "Your Flag Decal..." is for instance a stunning political statement I wish current country music could spell out with as much conviction, spite and wit. Not so sure about the music, though. "Hello In There" and "Sam Stone" have wonderful arpeggios, but they sound a little too similar, especially for back-to-back tracks like this. And the rest sounds... well, it sounds pretty mundane to me. I'm a "music first, lyrics later" type of guy. Therefore, I'm gonna wait for this particular country record to grow on me. I know John Prine is a stellar songwriter, as later track "In Spite Of Ourselves" proved (whether the original or the cover version by Viagra Boys). It's just that as a music writer, I don't really think there's anything striking to him, generally speaking... 3/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums 8/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3) Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 446 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 268 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 324
If I wanted a cosy, southern country album this would be a 5* effort. I almost never do, though...
#439. This is just country Dylan. 3/5: acceptable
sad songs
there’s nothing better than when an album reminds you of an old girlfriend
Checks a lot of boxes, but not all. Prine’s songwriting is top notch, Hello in There, Sam Stone, Paradise, Angel from Montgomery, all excellent. His singing is like a more monotone Dylan (if that’s possible) and often times he sounds like a country copy of him. I’m torn between a 3 and 4 (can we get a 10 point scale for this thing!).
Overall: 6/10 Lyrically, Prine's music is really impressive. I find his voice to be pretty whiney though and it really stops me from being able to appreciate it the way I'd like to. I'm also just not a huge country fan and this doesn't do anything different enough to amaze me. Still enjoyable and I think it has merit. Fav Song: Pretty Good Least Fav Song: Sam Stone
Fun album that doesn’t take itself seriously. But this music just doesn’t vibe with me. Might be different live, but I just can’t do it when it’s recorded.
Interesting album. Not my kind of music. Might like other albums mote
Once again I have tried and failed to really enjoy a John Prine record. Strangely, this time I actually enjoyed the sound of the album, the instrumentation is great and it’s really well produced. There’s just something about the vocal that I do not get swept up in. Doesn’t deserve a low score, just objectively not my thing
That was some real country there and from an artist I had never heard from previously. If you like country (not what is called country today) you’ll appreciate this one, otherwise you’ll probably hate it.
John Prine’s self-titled debut feels like a masterclass in storytelling. The album alternates between funny and sad songs, though really, the funny songs are just the sad ones with the melodrama dialed up. As someone who appreciates a bit of theatrical exaggeration, I respect that. The combination of Prine’s distinctive voice and the mostly gentle country guitar makes this a very pleasant listen. His lyrics take center stage here, painting vivid pictures and capturing everyday life with wit and poignancy. My only complaint is that the songs start to blur together after a while. While the lyrics are brilliant, the delivery could have used a bit more variety to keep things engaging throughout. Standout Song: Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Score: 3/5
I, too, stare down my oatmeal and lose to it every morning.
jo men det har nåt ändå. hör ganska tydligt att decemberists är inspirerad av prine eller liknande musik. folk och country gifter sig ganska bra.
Много тут таких альбомов, они все приятные, но людям за пределами Америки они вряд ли понятны
Yeah fine! A bit forgettable honestly.
The Felice Bros would not exist without this guy! Not my usual thing but appreciated it nonetheless, puts a lot of this modern country nonsense to shame!
I like this. Great Americana feel with intentional lyrics and a real message. A little bit of Bob Dylan but leaning more into the folk country arena. Very listenable. Listened to the whole thing three times through.
I’m an instrumental guy so this wasn’t interesting to me. Surly the lyrics are the focal point and are fantastic, someday I’ll sit down and read them. :)
Pretty aggressively fine. Country by way of Dylan, so removed from modern country that I did a double take when I heard his voice because it was almost cartoonish, but it grows on you. Nice vibes.
Twangy, folksy, and overtly Christian. Liked it more than I thought I would. The storytelling reminds me a bit of Bob Dylan. Much respect for staying out of politics all the way until his death in 2020.
Goofy lyrics, but I liked it overall
good songwriting and some funny lyrics but I don’t love his voice. Angel from Montgomery is great but I definitely prefer the Bonnie Raitt version.
Een Dylan-achtige singersongwriter met een nogal clichématig countrygeluid en een mekkerstem. Het loont de moeite om de teksten mee te lezen en even op te zoeken waar het eigenlijk over gaat, want de teksten zijn beter dan de muziek en uitvoering. Het doet me denken aan de te vroeg gestorven Jim Croce, die hetzelfde genre hanteerde, maar dan véél beter en een stuk minder sloom.
Mensen met een soort van spraakgebrek, in dit geval een ongelooflijk knauwersaccent, heb ik vaak moeite mee om naar te luisteren. In dit geval past het op zich wel bij de country-achtige muziek. Het heeft ook iets smartlappen in zich. Henk Wijngaard. Zing maar mee op nummer 2: hey Suzie, de bui is over. De teksten lijken overigens verder wel iets meer om het lijf te hebben dan de gemiddelde blues en country. Maar Ome John heeft de pech dat ik hem soms moeilijk kan verstaan tussen het knauwen door. Maar of John Prine nu in zijn (pick-up) truck zit, scheurend over route 66. Of lui liggend met een grasspriet in zijn bek op een steen ergens op de dorre praire, met rataplan aan zijn zijde. Of dus op een hooibaal gaat zitten voor de foto van de albumhoes. Het is allemaal wel redelijk wat je zou verwachten, het plaatje klopt bij de muziek. Al zegt hij zelf dat hij nog nooit op een baal stro had gezeten voordat deze foto gemaakt werd. Hoe dan ook, de hamvraag blijft natuurlijk: levert dit mij luisterplezier op? Het eerste nummer is top, daarna volgt een minder stuk met Henk Wijngaardnummers (gek genoeg wel zijn meest bekende nummers blijkbaar). Het tweede gedeelte is heel Dylanesque en dat bevalt mij uitstekend. Met name die pedalsteel die veelvuldig terugkomt, dat is altijd lekker om te horen. Over het algemeen haal ik hier redelijk luisterplezier uit, een beetje relaxte countryfolkblues op zijn tijd gaat er prima in. De Henk Wijngaardvibes trekken het wel iets naar beneden, maar ik kom gemiddeld nog steeds uit op een hele aardige 3. Al twijfel ik nog voor een bonuspuntje voor de pedalsteel.
John Prine no es Johnny Cash ni Bob Dylan, sin embargo es una figura absolutamente respetada por ambos. Fallecido por la COVID (padecía cáncer de laringe) en 2020, antes de esto obutvo un merecido disco de tributo por parte de algunos de los más brillantes representantes del Country-Folk-Americana actual. Homenajes y versiones ha tenido de casi cualquier músico. Este disco de debut obtuvo una aclamación tanto en ventas como en crítica y presenta notables momentos y algunas de sus más conocidas canciones: Illegal Smile, Sam Stone y sobre todas Hello In There. Se mueve por parámetros clásicos, con una voz similar a la de Dylan (menos nasal, que luego a consecuencia del cáncer sonó aún más grave y mejor) algunas veces más hacia el Folk (Paradise) otras hacia el Rock (Pretty Good), pero en todas con absoluta maestría tanto en la melodía como en los textos.
John Prine isn't remarkable from a music perspective, it's really understated and stripped back simple country, but he's a wonderful lyricist and storyteller with a sweetly captivating voice to sell it. It gets a nice high 3 because it was a good listen, had some moments of promise when it breaks out of its shell like Pretty Good and Angel from Montgomery, not enough of those moments to go higher but a decent album.
Won't be going back to this really, it's too generic country in style. Lyrically it's pretty good, definitely has more depth to it than most country I've listened to, but the delivery just grates on me too much. If I had to listen to country music more often, this would be reasonably high on the list, but I don't so I won't. 3/5.
Well, country really isn't my genre. Not by a long shot. So I wasn't thrilled to get this album. After a full listen-through, I will say it was proficiently played 1960s-1970s style country music and Prine’s lyrics are clever, but a lot of it reminded me of songs from the Muppet Show - think Kermit the Frog singing The Rainbow Connection. I like the Dave Matthews Band version of Angel from Montgomery a lot more. 3⭐️
Enjoyed rhyming of ‘peaches’ and ‘Jesus’ but that’s about it
I wasn’t at all in the mood for this today, and I found it kind of annoying. However, there are some witty lyrics here, which I appreciate, so it doesn’t feel fair to rate it as low as 2 stars.
A new one on me, and a decent surprise.
even if I don't like country music, this is not bad
In country music, Why is Loretta always down by a big river, eating peaches, looking for Jesus? Played around with the timings/tempos a lot on this. Equal measures great and annoying! Hope Kathy got all those spoons polished… 2.7
Meget fint lille album, der var en håndfuld sange som jeg ret godt kunne lide, men også en del som ikke lige sagde mig så meget. Og kæmpe shoutout gitte bjerre xd
I liked this album as "coffee shop music" - perfect to have in the background as I worked.
Good for what it was, with what seemed like clever lyrics when they caught my attention. I enjoyed it well enough, even if I'm unlikely to revisit it.
Lyrics are good. Music is not my thing. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You In Heaven Anymore is very relevant today. Took guts to write and record this and I respect that.
My thoughts on this album went up and down throughout. I think I stayed on the positive time more often than I was on the negative side. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m not a fan of most country music, so it was these areas where it tended to lose me. However, a lot of this sounded folky, perhaps in the same vain as Bob Dylan minus the annoying voice. I’m glad I heard this album, yet I’m unsure if I’ll be coming back for another listen. Probably not the whole album, but maybe the odd song.
I respect Prine tremendously, so I wanted to love this record. I liked it a lot, but maybe my expectations were too high. I'm not sure. Regardless, this is an astounding debut; his writing voice was fully formed. He's funny, unpretentious, and an astute storyteller. It's a good thing the lyrics are great, because the music itself kind of comes second here. I can hear his influence on other singer-songwriter types outside of this genre, especially Springsteen and Lenker. Also, "Angel From Montgomery" is a perfect song. I think this is an album that would reward repeated listening. Highlights: Illegal Smile, Hello in There, Paradise, Angel from Montgomery
Some interesting lyrical things in there, all in all a solid country album.
A social realist Dylan you say? With a better singing voice, ability to craft a song that sounds new and old at the same time. Slight tinges of C and W, slightly more straightforward storytelling lyrics and less stream of consciousness. Sounds like three stars to me.
Llega el country con uno de sus eternos interpretes. Buen comienzo.
Really good album
Good mellow album to listen to when to unwind.
Pretty good, though a little too straightforwardly country for my tastes.
Good ol twangy country
Was not expecting to rate a country album this high, but good lyrics are good lyrics
Country, folk. Ni fu ni fa.
Like early Dylan but enjoyable. Extra half star for no harmonica.
Oh goody, I thought. Twangy banal country BS to wade through. And (to be fair) a lot of the music is just that. But it made me realise that country music really allows the vocals prominence, and a lot of these ones are worth a listen. A few really bleak lines in there.
Lyrically this is still so relevant, musically, not massively my thing but I didn't hate it, it's a 3
Surprisingly good
I liked this quite a bit. I'm not into Country or Christianity. But I still got a lot out of this. It's got some super fun rock and psychedelic moments as well.
Culturally interesting and great lyrics but I'm so sick of all this folk music.
Good old boy
The one good country album.
Interestingly enough, after coming off the Amy Winehouse album, I am seeing a certain "why" in how I feel about certain music and musicians. It isn't like this is "bad" (consider Amy Winehouse, not "bad" either). It is just that it is targeting a certain demographic, and not a big sweeping one, but an addict down one your luck one or, in this case, a life long done you down low and you gotta' just accept your lot in life... But for those who don't buy it, The bottle does not empty itself. You can't leave a place if you don't get up and go. I don't feel the life sucks then you die thing so much. Taking responsibility is not the same thing as resigning to ones fate (which is never set in stone). So while it is Ok, even decent, I can't really cry over any of it personally.
I suppose this sort folksy style of country music has to be understated and restrained by it's very nature, it wouldn't be what it is if it wasn't. So it's hard for me to blame ol' John for not writing songs that stick my head or leave a strong lasting impression. At the same time, he does what he does well, and the songs don't overstay their welcome. So I'll give him an understated and reserved score I think he deserves, with an underlying nod of respect and appreciation.
Not a genre I really like but there is an honesty to this. The storytelling is good and the music doesn't fall into the tropes of bad country. I bit Dylanny at times.
Prine can turn a phrase but on this one his vocal style was getting a bit monotonous.
Favourite song - Angel from montgomery
3.5/5
I have friends who rave about John Prine, and have heard many musicians praise him. It’s all about his lyrics. He tells great stories. But in my opinion musically ist’s unimpressive.
Mr. Prime assembled a pretty great collection of Prog. Country tracks, and while the direction of the album can feel kinda stale, there are some stellar country tunes in the mix.
Country version of Bob Dylan
Classic old rock
It’s like Bob Dylan with better vocals and no distracting harmonica.
Saanko sanoa taas tyylipuhdasta? Sitä tämä on lajissaan. Aikamoisia tarinoita sanoituksissa! Rouhea ääni. En kuitenkaan ole syvästi koskettunut. Kaksi ja puoli tähteä.
Tarkoituksena on kuunnella tarinointia, joka onkin paikoin lähes pysäyttävää, mutta valitettavasti kaipaisin vielä vähän kekseliäisyyttä biisien musiikilliseen puoleen. Toimii levy tällaisenaankin.
John Prine is a fantastic songwriter. He reminds me of Bob Dylan in many ways. His lyrics are often imaginative, deep, and clever. He really touches the heart of many people. On the other hand, his voice certainly leaves something to be desired. It’s an acquired taste. It would be like Getty Lee and Rush. Some people tolerate him. Other people hate him, vocally, but, it just fits. The same with John.
Lyrics that were occasionally funny. I do enjoy him a bit more than Dylan. The music structure was the standard folk country, so that became a bit tiresome after awhile when it became clear there would not be any song arrangement surprises. Was worth a listen but probably won't make it into my regular rotation.
Such an awesome voice in the country space. So much feeling in each song. Rip fr
Clásico del country, buen álbum yeehaw
Wäri etz iwo zmitzt im nirgendwo sitting on my porch vibe denn wär da 10/10 aber so in bassersdorf hittets ebe scho ned so…
oke er näselet scho sehr, mier chegget du bisch countrybueb jaa bis jz findis na cute aber nöd meh WOW SCHLAGZÜG WAS ISCH DAS far from me isch endlich mal es lied wo mi wieder chli packt es gfalltmer allgemein besser wenn echli meh passiert, d orgle im hindergrund und de bass und s schlagzüg bringed vill find ich jaa cute aber joa?
I was initially not really enjoying it but at about the 4th song I started thinking hmm, this is all still super relevant. "Your flag won't get you into heaven anymore".
Anti-war country music was a pleasant surprise
Repetitive. Doesn't feel profound in any way
Good listen.
Made me think of John Dever. it's that style of music
Rating: 6/10
You know the album is going to be a little different when the first song ends with "Hot dog bun, my sister's a nun." The whole thing is a mixed bag though. This guy is a more Country sounding Bob Dylan with the clever lyrics in some songs like Illegal Smile, Pretty Good, and Your Flag Decal, but then there's some basic boring Country stuff too.
Heard of this artist. Not sure if I'll be able to give it a listen to much, not really into this kind of music.
This is a silly sounding album. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be or not, but the guy kinda sounds like Cat Stephens, I particularly liked the song Your flag decal won't get you into heaven any more, made me lol.
3.5/5
it's country with a lot of fiddle and banjo/guitar it's ok
Ok stuff
like a tv show i wouldnt return to but sat through. story telling on point
Was very listenable for an older country album. Very solid lyrics, flag decal sounds like it could have been written in the past few years.
Would like to hear others.
Pretty good, not bad, I can't complain. But actually, everything is just about the same. Strong start, with mostly forgettable second half. Excellent lyrics, capable of being playful to full of sorrow and despair.
I am not the biggest country fan, but this album made smile and chuckle. I recommend listening to it on a sunny winter's day on your way to the office for maximum impact.
Surprisingly I quite enjoyed this. Country folk isn't my favourite musical genre by a mile but found it quite mellow and each song told a story. Overall not a bad listen
I can see why people like him. Just not my favorite genre of music.
Liked, not loved. Some nice tunes; overall ok.
I like country so this was good.
yeah, so better than I thought. Some fun/clever lyrics and overall a pretty positive experience. Maybe a bit samey throughout but it was enjoyable!
At first I was not happy with another country album since that’s something I really don’t listen to usually, but this one was quite okay… Not too long album with nice storytelling songs, that would be 3 from me.
<> <> <> <> <> <>
There's a hole in daddy's arm where the money goes. Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose. That’s a hell of a line It’s a good solid 3 Suspect I could be convinced to go to 4 with enough listens
An interesting hybrid of Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan.
Not a fan of country. This was ok just not my thing. I appreciate the social messages. Your Flag Decal was hysterical and definitely holds up today. 3
Country, folk. Ni fu ni fa.
Great album, beautiful songs.
Kind of country-ish. The lyrics are really good. Probably wouldn't buy it but would listen to it on spotify.
2 1/2
Genre: 1/5 Lyrics: 5/5
Had a good turn a phrase on quite a few songs. Only an average listen for me.
I wish other genres would tell stories like country. If I didn't hate steel guitar and country accents in music, this would be amazing.
Nice, singer songwriter…
His lyrics are great. For a country/folk album I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would
A different type of songwriter to those around him at the time, and a cheeky sense of humour undercurrent to the lyrics. But.. I find his nasal delivery grates a bit, and makes each song rather same-ish. 3.5 rounded down to 3.
Mir gefällt dieser Singer-Songwriter Sound ganz gut! Die lockeren Texte sind auch ganz in Ordnung für dieses Genre. 5.2/10
Listenable country music. Sounds incredibly like Bob Dylan at first listen.
Being torn between Boredom on most songs and Admiration in some songs (e.g. Angel from Montgomery, could be one of best songs Dylan), let me give it 3 stars
Very country and very folk, which is not for me. But the lyrics are amazing. Especially Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven.
Fin plade, er sikker på at man kan finde mere hvis man VIRKELIG tager sig sammen og lytter til teksten, for musikken var ret generisk.
Definitely not bad, but not really my thing
Funny how I like his twangy voice but I always disliked Willy Nelsen’s twangy voice.
Not quite sure how to rate this one. In terms of song structure and lyrics, great. In terms of vocals, instrumentation and overall feel of the album, not my style, and I found myself wanting it to be over.