Close To You

I liked a lot of this. Just classy tunes that don’t go too crazy and leave you feeling happy and hopeful.

Classic album. Lots of tracks used in movies.

Kannte ich noch bisher nicht, aber gar nicht schlecht.

Even with the cheesiness, this is a gorgeously recorded album, and Karen's voice is spectacular.

It was nice. It really was.

Great morning coffee brewing album on the weekends. Easy listening

Classic songwriting, great singing and harmonies

Treacle of the very best kind.

It's like... Catchy musak. Maybe because it feels very clean and well produced. Not my style, it's something I would sleep to, but very well made. Solid cover of Help. I don't know actually, the longer it goes the more it feels like quality background music that I could see owning on vinyl actually.

Song all time classics on this album - final song even went a bit prog!

close to you is SUCH a good song that it massively elevates an album that isn't really for me

Soft, soothing.

This album has some of the best known songs by the Carpenters, and it's very nice to listen to. Karen Carpenter was really something special as a vocalist, and she really shines on each song. The music works well with her vocals, and while I wouldn't normally seek out this music, I'd recommend it.

I don’t get the hate on this one. It’s a little cheesy, but chill to listen to.

Karen Carpenter had such a beautiful voice. honestly, what a talent. This album was excellent from start to finish.

Close to You is the second studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters, released on August 19, 1970. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 175 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time,[1] maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list.[2] The album contains the hit singles "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun". The success of the title track earned Carpenters an international reputation. The album topped the Canadian Albums Chart and peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard albums chart. It was also successful in the United Kingdom, entering the top 50 of the official chart for 76 weeks during the first half of the 1970s.

Listened mostly in the truck and some on my phone via YouTube Music. The voices are the standout, but there’s also instrumentation that is sparse but important to the overall feel. Very reminiscent of the orchestral pieces added on to Nick Drake’s music. Had some fun covers too, like Help. Nice Sunday morning album and will definitely give them more air time.

Karen Carpenter has the voice of an angel!

karen carpenter's voice is a treasure

I'd give this album 5 stars for Karen's voice alone, but the hokey arrangements on some of the songs bring it down a notch. Still, this is a solid work, even when it sounds painfully 1970. I even enjoyed the groovy "Help" cover. Standout tracks: Close to You (cheesy, but classic), I'll Never Fall in Love Again, Crescent Noon (those vocals!! 😻), Mr. Guder

Easy listening. I imagine this went down really well with a beer in the 70s.

Just a nice album

Holds up pretty well. Karen Carpenter was very talented.

I devoured this. Absolutely loved it. Will be listening to this.

I like Carpenters, like the album, and love a couple of songs (who doesn't!). But i don't love the album. It's quite good, for sure! But just 4-star good.

Help!

Corny but classic, and they really were incredibly talented. I'd like to think that if she'd lived and been well that she would have become better known for her drumming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBtjaHxR7Y&ab_channel=OloapsVL

Those old melodies still sound so good to me as they melt the years away...This is not the Carpenters album I would pick, perhaps because it's not the one my best friend owned, but also because their greatest songs (Yesterday Once More, Rainy Days and Mondays, Superstar) are all elsewhere. Yes, this is schmaltzy, and I can totally understand how you'd be completely baffled if you were hearing it for the first time. But they recorded Reason to Believe before Rod Stewart and it's excellent, and that psychedelic showtune at the end, just wow. I am also delighted to read that Hal Blaine insisted on playing drums for most of the album because Karen played too loud. She was a kickass drummer with a beautiful voice and, sadly, a controlling family; she was truly beaming in from the future and I'm afraid she knew it.

Not my usually jam, and I likely won't come back to this one ever, but it was really enjoyable! Beautiful voices and just a pleasant sound all around. I'm a sucker for the harpsichord too. Not the highest 4 ever, but I had a good time.

Some very good production and great singing on all of theses songs. Such an easy listen in a great way and an album I could see throwing on randomly. Didn't think I would know a song on here but definitely knew Close to You.

Loved this one! Beautiful harmonies

fun

I love Carpenters. This album is a classic for sure - and listening to it made me tear up.

"Close to You" is the second studio album by American music duo the Carpenters. Pop is only musical genre listed on the Wikipedia page. You could also include it in the generic soft rock, easy listening and adult contemporary music monikers. We'll keep it at pop. The Carpenters are and were Karen Carpenter (lead vocals, drums) and brother Richard Carpenter (keyboards, vocals). The Carpenters' first album "Offering" did very poorly commercially. Their luck changed when they met and performed with Burt Bacharach who was a fan. Herb Alpert got involved afterwards and suggested Richard Carpenter rework a Bacharach/Hal David song "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and the rest, as they say, is history. This second album is a mix of cover songs and original songs written by Richard. The album was produced by Jack Daugherty and, besides the duo, used a host of other musicians in the studio including Louis Shelton (guitar), Joe Osborn and Danny Woodhams (bass), Doug Strawn (keyboards, clarinet), Hal Blaine (drums), Jim Horn (sax), Bob Messenger (flute) and Chuck Findley (flugelhorn). Commercially, it did well reaching #2 in the US and #23 in the UK. It was also critically well received. The album opens with Roger Nichols and Paul Williams' penned "We've Only Just Begun." This song was originally written and then recorded for a bank commercial. Piano and woodwinds are followed by Karen Carpenter's strong contralto voice. There's backing vocals by Richard, the pace picks up and more horns are added. Excellent arrangement with the woodwinds accentuated Karen's vocals. They change it up a bit in the Tim Hardin's "Reason to Believe." Keyboards, bass and a country beat. Nice harmonization by Richard. Strings are also added in a very uplifting song. Side one ends with the aforementioned "(They Long to Be) Close to You." Melancholic piano keys and softer Karen vocals. Horns, strings, piano and lovely....just lovely. The highlight of side two are the songs written by Richard. "Mr. Guder" was a song about Vic Guder who fired Richard and John Bettis for playing contemporary songs instead of American standards while the two worked together as Disneyland musical performers. Bells, a flute, a drumbeat and Karen's vocals. 70's flute guy Bob Messenger in fine form throughput the song. The album closes with "Another Song" where Karen and Richard show off their jazz-experience chops. A three-part suite leading off with horns and drums. The second part is more medieval/liturgical music with drum rolls and woodwinds. They close it out jazzy with drums, piano and, of course, the flute. Karen Carpenter's vocals tie this whole album together. Songs by Bacharach, David, Hardin, Lennon-McCartney and Richard Carpenter and Karen's unique, easy to listen to vocals. She utilizes her emotions and the soft to loud dynamic. There's also excellent production and arrangements of the woodwinds, brass and strings. The album takes a more mature, adult turn with Richard's songs. After listening to this album, their success throughout the 70's should come as no surprise. A high recommendation for everyone. Yes, for everyone!

I am really surprised only one Carpenters album is on here.

Soft melodic rock

Zou het nooit zelf opzetten maar was heerlijk relaxende muziek. Op een moment leek het erg op de appel mint puur AI remix dus dat was wel fa2. Lekkere bangers om op te relaxen en lego op te bouwen. Maar nog net geen Freddy Moreira

Mr. Guter better get close to me

Maybe a 4 is pushing it but a 3 felt harsh. There’s a beauty in the simplicity of these songs. The writing and her vocals take charge and really are all that’s needed. I might prefer this version of Help to the Beatles. Maybe her voice is just deeply tied to Christmas nostalgia and i cannot separate those feelings. Regardless, a great weekend listen.

At first I was like, "Ooooooh no", and then I was like, "Ooooooh yeah!" Incredible harmonies and soft jams that remind me of being five years old (This album was old at that point), hanging with my mom and playing on the floor with some daytime AM radio on the go. Warm fuzzies. IMO though, this album gets better in the second half. Some proto dream pop goodness. Mr. Guder is basically begging to be sampled into and EDM break, and The Carpenters let the band loose for some left field fusion to wrap it all up on Another Song. That one was a surprise.

Baby, it’s you! Aufs zweite hören geht es doch ganz gut ins Ohr. Ein paar Hits, Beatles Cover, toller Gesang. Macht Laune :)

Very solid. She had such a great soothing voice.

more corny than i remember

3.5

Karen Carpenter was a gift to this world that was taken from us far too soon. Such a great record.

very pleasant

This was a lovely album. Karen Carpenter sounds amazing and the cover of Help! was really good. This album contains their iconic hit (They Long To Be) Close To You and it’s just a beautiful song! Great album!

3.5

Very soothing and smooth. Great vocals. 4 stars

I really enjoyed this every song just sounded beautiful. My favorite was their cover of “Help”

Cheesy but super tuneful

Gorgeous vocals and beautiful instrumentation. This album is a perfect mix of upbeat and melancholy.

Solid.

Cute! The end is great

Nice, smooth pop album. Second half is better

It's cheesy but it is exactly what it is. It's straightforward easy listening, but it's got soul. Karen Carpenter's vocals are top notch, and so are the percussive pieces, probably because she's awesome.

Damn near perfect. RIP Karen.

****A beautiful album, her voice is incomparable.

Liked this album a lot more than I thought I would. Very solid pop album, great vocals and overall fun vibe. I saved a few songs but would listen to the whole album again. Favorite songs were: I'll never fall in love again Mr. Guder 8/10

I've never listened to Carpenters. Karen has a beautiful voice. I just read about her life and death on wikipedia, and now I am sad. My first thought when I saw the album cover was "why do so many people who get married look like siblings". Turns out they are just siblings. "I'll Never Fall Again" did not have the lyrics I expected. What do you get when you fall in love? Pneumonia. The end of "Mr. Guder" sounds like that one song from Super Mario Sunshine when you're in the hidden platforming levels. It's called "Secret Course" by Koji Kondo. This album was really good, I enjoyed it a lot. 7/10

Album 718 of 1001 Carpenters - Close To You (1970) Rating : 4 / 5 Nice album. Brings memories of listening to AM radio as a youngster. Karen Carpenter has an awesome voice. The arrangements are spot on. Great songs. Memories of singing Top of the World in Mr. Grannis' music class in elementary school.

Always thought Karen Carpenter had a beautiful voice, so I was excited to find this album today. I actually liked it a little less than I thought, I knew several tracks but many I’d never heard. Pretty saccharine easy-listening 70s.. ‘Close to You’ was a bit different than I remember. Overall enjoyable, 3.5/5

pretty / saccharine / crescent noon!

Such a lovely voice, highlighted by the arrangements. You can hear the raw potential. I wonder how much further she would have risen had her brother not held her back.

Great organ tone. Karen Carpenter has a SOUND. Her delivery is so free, its a little unnerving. Baller Help! and Close To You covers. Really cool, will need a revisit.

Can't go wrong with the carpenters. definitely a muuuuuuch calmer sound than most I've heard so far.

3.7 - Very very sickly sweet sometimes, but also enjoyable

Honestly this was a very pleasant experience. I thought the Carpenters were maybe too clean cut, but no complaints about the cleanliness here. 4.1/5

Airy pop, nice vocals, drifts from surfy feeling to more orchestral

I think on any other day, this might be a four star but because I'm just not in the form today, I don't think I gave this album as fair a chance as I should have given it. Its a dreamy, romantic album that is easy to listen to and creates a soft, soothing atmosphere- for anyone else, at least. But my bad mood isn't the fault of The Carpenters. I didn't know they sang what I call The Simpson’s Song until I listened to this album, which I actually quite enjoyed. It's a simple album that's to the point and not too long, just under 40 minutes long. It is another album that falls into the category of Sunday morning listening and I feel like it's an album that can grow on me over time.

I wanted to think this was corny and square but it frustratingly isn’t. Karen Carpenter’s voice is practically perfect, the arrangements are so pleasant, and the inclusion of orchestra instruments is so interesting yet natural. This was genuinely enjoyable.

Full of classics. We've Only Just Begun is one of them, as is Close To You. Gentle, chilled out smoothness. Great stuff.

My God, her voice is stunningly beautiful. Karen Carpenter is most definitely at the top of the list for the best voices in the history of music. In addition, the music is so gentle and pitch perfect. I remember being young and full of grunge angst and thinking that The Carpenters were lame because they were too soft, but my opinion has definitely flipped. These songs have such well written soaring melodies. This is super high quality songwriting. My only beef is that the cover of Help by The Beatles seems unnecessary because it’s not really in the style of song that works for the Carpenters.

This is pretty perfect Sunday morning music. A couple cool covers on here - Help and Reason to Believe. I thought they did a nice job making those songs their own. There’s nothing ground breakingly deep here, lots of simple love lyrics, and it’s VERY 70s, but it was a nice refresher after such a dark album yesterday. And there IS depth and complexity in the instrumental compositions, more than I expected. Enjoyed this a lot!

One of the most beautiful voiced female singers ever imho and some lovely songs for her to sing.

Tämähän iskikin aika hyvin. Tasapainoinen folkkipainotteinen laululevy. 4/5

Karen Carpenter has a beautiful voice, and I like songs by the Carpenters for the most part, but a whole album was a bit much when it’s filled with soulless covers of songs done much better by other artists. That being said, this is filled with fantastic harmonies, and why was “Mr. Guder” kind of the best song on the album? Idk I love weird 60s songs. I wish there was a little more Richard Carpenter here because I quite enjoyed the song where he sang lead. If I had to pick a Carpenters album to be on the list, I probably would choose Carpenters over this because I think “Superstar” is their masterpiece, but I understand why this one is here, and it’s a good pop album.

A surprisingly good album, kind of Simon and Garfunkel esque, a bit country but overall really enjoyed it and would listen to it again.

Very cozy. Standout Track: Close to You

Beautiful. The lyrics, the melodies, the string instruments. It felt magical. Highlights: We've Only Just Begun Maybe It's You

Yassss carpenters Lowkey the blueprint for Billie and Finneas Not my fave album of theirs but still good 3.6/5

there are few vocalists who can affect me the way that karen carpenter can. her voice is smooth and pure. this was a great example of her work. a fine listening experience indeed.

Some of the tracks are way too cheesy, but others are some of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard Richard's voice is decent, but Karen's is a thing of gold. These harmonies are insanely good too It's not one to listen to often, I think I have to be in the right mood to enjoy this properly

This was overall good. Nothing super amazing or anything like that, but I am wondering as to why critics back then were so harsh towards them. Probably a 7

Heard this a lot growing up. Enjoyable listen

Fantastic vocals from Karen, and while this is "easy listening" relationship music which can be a bit sappy subject-wise at times, the musicality and arrangements are top-notch for that genre. I probably won't listen often, but if I wanted music of this style, this is a good album for it.

I really have a sweet spot for the Carpenters, especially Karen Carpenter, a musician and singer soooo underrated. This album contains the most perfect baroque/sunshine adult pop. The uplifting vocal harmonies, harpsichord touches here and there, heartfelt piano parts, soulful brass, groovy drums and Karen Carpenter's magical voice.

Pleasantly surprised by this album--the harmonies are amazing and Karen's voice is always so good. For 'Easy Listening' the songs are surprisingly sharp around the edges.

DNL

3.75

uuAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaAAaaAAAA *close to youuuuuuu* não gostou desse aqui = é chato, bobo, não aprecia mulheres com voz forte e odeia diversão pop setentista. lindo lindo lindo. tudo bem harmonioso, gostosinho demais. tem dia que dá pra ficar o dia todo ouvindo carpenters, sem caô mesmo, guilty pleasure total foda-se só num dei 5 estrelas porque o aparecido do richard canta uma música. luto eterno karen carpenter.

Nice and chill

Nice, sweet and easy!

I have read some reviews and I don't understand how hated this album is. I find it great. Elaborate and interesting pop, regardless of how cheesy or whatever the lyrics or anything may sound.

Some classic tracks. Enjoyable listen.

Yes, the sound is dated, the Ray Conniff-like background harmonies are hokey, the lyrics are cheesy, and nobody is pushing the envelope musically. But Karen Carpenter’s honeyed alto is one of the purest voices ever to be put on record. Her phrasing is nothing short of perfection and her range is impressive. Plus, she was a pretty amazing drummer! While brother Richard’s talents on keys and as composer/arranger don’t have the lasting impact of his sister’s gifts, they created a sound that defined a certain escapist, feel-good genre in a complicated, troubled era. While I prefer their more sophisticated later output (Superstar, Rainy Days & Mondays, to name a few) over this early optimism, it’s nice to see their work remembered here. Would that Karen could have matured into a grade dame diva of pop instead of being taken too soon. Still, her struggle with and death from anorexia shone a much-needed light on a condition suffered by many, while her angelic voice lives on for us to enjoy.

Nostalgia, man. Love it

This album is incredible. I remember driving around with my mom listening to it when I was a kid. Karen Carpenter was such a talent and what a loss when she died.

4/5. Wow, was expecting something different from the first song. Sure, it matched the expectations of a soft pop album but the intricacies in the vocals and melodies really makes stand it. It's subtle too, one moment Karen is singing and the next she is using her voice in a way I didn't think was possible, just changing octaves so casually. It's so enchanting. And then every now and then, a drum breakdown or a series of vocal cadences akin to an instrument. The songs themselves are well written but I don't think all of them are perfect but it may require another listen to fully enjoy it. Despite it being slow, it didn't make me tired but I do think on the wrong day I could get bored. Most of the time it's an impressive feat of pop music. Best Song: They Long To Be Close To You, We've Only Just Begun, Maybe It's You

Sweet folk music. I preferred side 1 to side 2. Stand-out: Maybe It's You, We've Only Just Begun

Cheesy, and a bit too candy sweet for me, but you can't knock the songwriting.

Soft rock isn't really my thing. But this is still very well done.

A beautiful soft pop album right from the tender age of the 70s. Karen Carpenter delivers a gorgeous vocal performance singing songs of love, heartbreak and struggles of getting over it. The vocal harmonies were really soothing to the ears and the backing vocals complimented it well. Being a soft pop album, you won't find much instrumental adventures but there are some playful passages. Loved the first six songs more than the rest. The song Mr. Guder, although hauntingly playful, felt out of place. Album ended well with the jazzy instrumental flourish in the closer 'Another Song'. All in all a pleasant listen. Loved it.

Great vocals tragic life story. Still fresh after more than 50 years

Enjoyed this a lot. Great singing voice from the lady and the music was very beautiful in general. That one song from The Simpsons is on it which is extra points in my book. Short and sweet. Good stuff

It's a bit sappy and sweet sounding, but sometimes that is refreshing. 4/5

I didn’t realise so many of these songs were the carpenters. Very optimistic, mellow sound- if the scores did decimals it would probably be a 3.5 but I’ll bump it to a 4 just as the album was so light and cohesive.

Thought I would hate it, but surprisingly enjoyed it

Well that's a funny coincidence. I just rated Sonic Youth's Goo, which contains the fantastic "Tunic (Song for Karen)", and now I get this. What's next, "Synchronicity" by The Police? That aside, this is a really good pop album. Sure it's a bit cheesy, they look like evangelist homeschoolers, and they definitely weren't pushing the envelope. But there's nothing wrong with a bit of pure pop music every now and then. Karen's voice was fantastic here, and I love her drumming on the last track. The Burt Bacharach songs are definitely the strong points on here.

Hebe deze op LP~Best leuk

im a sucker for sappy 70s music what can i say

Unexpectedly funky

At first listening to this was as interesting as eating vanilla ice cream, then realized it's pretty damn good vanilla ice cream.

Favorite Tracks: I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (They Long To Be) Close To You Mr. Guder

Los hermanos Carpenter consiguieron un gran éxito mundial cultivando un pop melódico y ligero que contrastaba con el ruidoso rock de los 70. En este, su segundo álbum, está una de las claves de su lanzamiento al estrellato: la canción "(They Long to Be) Close to You", una preciosa balada de amor paternal/maternal en la que brilla especialmente la voz tranquila de Karen Carpenter. En realidad los Carpenters construyeron el álbum en torno a la canción debido al sorprendente éxito que obtuvo, incluyendo canciones de gran nivel como "We've Only Just Begun", balada romántica sobre la esperanza de unos recién casados. Todo muy blanco y nada polémico, difícilmente podría ofender a nadie y sí, por muy cursi que pueda parecer, canciones que me gustan. Además de estos grandes temas, destacaría "Crescent Noon", donde le talento interpretativo de Karen sobresale especialmente cantando a la naturaleza y el paso de las estaciones; Y el cierre del disco "Another Song", con un sonido más cercano al rock, en el que también sobresale la capacidad de Karen como baterista, para hablarnos de ruptura sentimental. Lástima que su trágica muerte en 1983 acabara con la historia de un dúo tan especial.

Never knew they did all these songs

Sometimes corny, but you can’t mistake their music, or songs. Great harmony. Lost Karen way too young. You definitely think of the 70’s when you hear them.

Karen Carpenter had the most heavenly voice. I knew this album would be a treat solely because of her beautiful voice! And I was even surprised at how good Richard's vocals were in "I Kept On Loving You," which is definitely something he doesn't receive the proper acknowledgement for. Because of the focus on Karen's voice, she wasn't on the drums too much and I wish I discovered which drums she did perform on Close To You. Fascinatingly Hal Blaine filled in for her. There's an instrumental section in "Another Song" that I'm hoping was her drumming--and Richard's keyboards were great in that song, too. And speaking of "Another Song," Carpenters veered slightly into progressive territory despite being so pop-y! For some of the covers on this album, Carpenters' version is *the* definitive version. Karen's voice was something special, and I suspect that was a big reason why. More than that, this entire album is positively delightful and full of emotion. I sure had a smile on my face for the entire day and I have no complaints.

Great singer, great drummer. A shame she couldn't display the latter as much. Sometimes I like syrup.

Feels like a cozy blanket on a rainy day. The songs are simple but comforting. It’s like listening to early Simon & Garfunkel, where everything is just soft and easy. You don’t need to think too much, just enjoy the moment.

i should give this another listen

Crescent moon! How have I never heard that song before!

I understand why some wouldn't like this album. It's a little schmaltzy, and several of these songs have been played to death over the past 50 years. But Karen just has such a lovely, warm voice that it's difficult not to settle into it like your favorite cozy blanket. It seems that many of these tracks are covers, and they're a mixed bag -- some are unnecessary, while others may be the defining versions of those songs. Overall though, a pleasant listen for all but the most cynical and jaded. The Carpenters were sickly sweet, yes, but also tremendously talented.

Classic, I guess

4/5

I have always loved Karen Carpenter's voice - she has one of the sexiest alto voices of all time. And her brother Richard is a master arranger of music and this collection of songs shows his master's touch. Probably not going out to buy this...but did I say how much I absolutely love Karen's voice!

4.25

I’m surprised to see how divisive this album is. It is completely inoffensive and easy listening. That said, it feels very similar in genre and sound to The Mamas and The Papas album I just had, and by comparison, that one id better.

Can hear the influence from the beach boys. A nice album about love.

Nostalgia factor high for me on this album. This was the first album I can remember asking my mom to play for us in the car.

It’s hard not to love this album. I could listen to Karen Carpenter sing Metallica, or well, anything. Great melodies and a beautiful voice add up to a really good album. This is my kind of music, but maybe not my favorite of theirs.

Un buen álbum de pop, se siente algo sesentero todavía. Tiene buenos arreglos de cuerdas y con percusiones. También tienen bonita voz. 4/5

What a beautiful album. Just gorgeous

first listen i am a sucker for jazz oriented pop

Karen Carpenter can really sing, but i cannot get out of my head that this extremely talented woman starve herself to death.

Carpenters are so beautiful, the wind instruments and harmonies are just beautiful

Reminds me of music my parents would listen to, but I enjoyed it. I get it now

straight from the AOR archives of the genius of Burt Bacharach comes the Carpenters. Regularly seen as a joke band today, it is easy to forget what a monster act this band is/was and what a compliment it was to work with Bacharach. 4/5

What a lovely voice, carrying beautiful music. This is the type of stuff that could be cheesy if it weren’t so eloquently executed. Fortunately we get to enjoy some tame soft rock that allows her to show off her incredible range and control.

Oozing with sounds of the 70s, not my favorite sounds, but it's nice and Karen Carpenter has a lovely voice. I actually really enjoyed their versions of the covers and the sound varied more than I expected throughout the album. The light jamming at the end of the album was a surprise.

Not the sort of music I would listen to, but I can still appreciate the level of songwriting. Songs like We've only just begun and Close to you are instantly memorable. It invokes a level of sadness knowing Karen Carpenter died so young.

Preferences aside, this is, objectively, a very good album. I’ve heard some of the songs many, many times, but never really listened to them, much less the whole album. Vocals are fantastic, especially the backing harmonies. However, for me it is just too…corny is I guess the word. Perhaps it’s my dark heart, but sap sap oozes off almost every song. It’s so good I want to enjoy it more than I do. But I won’t penalize it for my own issues.

Being into a range of genres and eras allows you a certain privilege to transcend the tribal trappings of musical culture. I like 70's punk and hard rock, for instance, but back then you were either A PUNK or NOT PUNK. Whether it's punk, funk, or 90's hip hop or whatever the case, the only metric I tend to apply when hearing music is whether the emotion that's being conveyed is authentically taking me there. I guess what I'm saying is that while they used to be considered soft rock radio commercial schmaltz, when they sing songs about vulnerability, the Carpenters take me there HARD. Like anyone else in the industry, they navigated addiction, disordered eating, heartbreak, divorce, and at the end, Karen tragically dying at age 32. As if she saw the big picture early, all life's bittersweet joy & sorrow feels channeled into Karen's voice, wise beyond her years. Buttressed by brother Richard's soaring arrangements, the siblings convey compositions as smooth as the summer sun shining on your shoulders. I'll go so far as to say there's even some redeemable work on their worst album, 1977's bonkers epic "Passage". If you want to hear Karen Carpenter cover a song by rock band Klaatu pleading with aliens from outer space to give humanity a chance, then check out "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day)" because it is a wild ride.

that was a lovely listen

Sweet one

Beautiful stuff. I really loved the way it was recorded. I saved it to my Spotify because it’s also rare to find an album I can play in my preschool class.

Honestly an innovative and well written album. Great voice and writing though sometimes with fluff

Loved this album. Karen's voice is both powerful but capable of softness that really compliments the instrumentation. The only thing that I think knocks the album is occasionally during long tracks of just the instruments I can definitely feel the lack of the fullness her voice provides

Whimsical, a little melancholy. Overall a great album.

3.5

Amazing voice

The smoothest, softest rock imaginable. Also sweet and brimming with innocent charm.

Not what I was expecting! Used to the slower, sadder songs - but there was much more versatility on this album than what I was expecting. Karen Carpenter’s voice is obviously stunning. Not usually a fan of ‘soft rock’ but this is an exception. Great listen for a slow day with beautiful vibes.

Pocas bandas cuentan con el talento de los Carpenters al momento de interpretar canciones que ni siquiera escribieron ellos. La voz de Karen Carpenter es impresionante y su desplante en la batería es tan, si no, más sorprendente. Un muy buen trabajo y un ejemplo perfecto del pop barroco que se tomó a Estados Unidos por sorpresa en los '70s. Sumamente recomendable.

Full of nostalgia, with the strings and pretty vocals of Karen Carpenter creating a calming atmosphere. Maybe It's You is a standout in the first half. The title track is a hit I didn't realize I knew ("why do birds suddenly appear...") There's a fantasy, dreamlike quality about a lot of this, but especially the slower songs in the second half like Crescent Noon and Mr Guder. Another Song even goes a bit proggy at the end. Uneven, but enough of this is very interesting.

Goddamn is Close to You a near-perfect pop love song. This album is a peak on the soft-rock mountain range, and even if it’s not my cuppa tea, I cannot disrespect Karen Carpenter’s voice.

Very lush. I loved the vocal harmonies, and just Karen Carpenter's voice in general. I wasn't in love with a couple tracks, but this is a really pleasant listen overall.

Soothing harmonies, easy-going voices, lyrics about love. Very chill.

I’d forgotten about her great voice. Outstanding.

Beautiful voice. Top notch vocal arrangements. I really liked listening to this

A couple of standout songs, otherwise just ok

My gosh that was nice. So nice. If I were in the 1970's I would be filled with niceness after listening to that. Rasbery Jelly, vanilla ice cream, driving long distances in an open soft-top convertible listening to crackly AM radio, wondering at how a mechanical device like a space ship can fly let along orbit the world, holding rotary phones in my hand connected to the wall so I can call anyone with a number (as long as the switchboard is staffed) and being absolutely delighted at listening to harmonious voices being recorded like that on a utterly wizard record made of Vinal. Today, its sweetness is a parody from shopping malls and tired radio repeats somewhere, but back then, its magic was undeniable. I choose to give it 4 stars because of that past magic. One star removed because of the parody sweetness, and one star returned after the tragedy of Karen Carpenter. Thanks for this. I could very much listen to it (and be transported to a particular type of 1970's) again.

Great singing, great harmonies. Songs are a little bit repetitive. Album is probably a 3/5 for me. But +.25 for a singing drummer, +.25 for a Beatles cover, and +.5 because one of my oldest memories is @dwander singing "Close to You" to me as a young kid.

The Carpenters were a sibling family band consisting of Karen and Richard. While Richard was the songwriter of the two, the real shining star was Karen and her dynamism on both vocals and drums. You may recognize her chops from a video that circulated the internet of her 1968 performance of Dancing in the Street on Your All-American College Show. While that song is not on this album, her fantastic drumming skills are in no short supply. Close To You has a lot of the soft, almost adult contemporary style of music that would inspire the radio-friendly pop and soft rock genres of 70s and early 80s. While I am not personally a fan of these kinds of songs, the Carpenters perform them exceptionally well. The Beatles cover is unfortunately unnecessary, but the rest of the album makes up for it. Performances are also contributed by the amazing Wrecking Crew, who undoubtedly gave their all for these recordings. Lots to appreciate on an album where the songs themselves aren't much to write home about. Just did a fantastic job with this!

This is another album that I'd probably give 3 stars for my own personal enjoyment, but I have so much respect for the talent and skill and songwriting that I have to give it 4 stars. While The Carpenters still aren't likely going to be something I pick to listen to, they are very pleasant when I do hear them, and I can hear the brilliance in their songwriting. Listening to them yesterday morning was a nice way to start a morning, and there are several songs like "We've Only Just Begun" that I genuinely really like.

I used to groan when my mother spun the Carpenters as a kid, but now I celebrate their genius and Karen’s syrupy comfort voice

Svo gott í hjartað. Algjört elsk <3

Karen Carpenter's voice is really beautiful and definitely the highlight of this album. The album itself is very sweet, mellow and tender; definitely nice if you want some calming music to listen to.

Meticulously produced, everything sounds so good!!

Great album with some classics. Good for mornings or chill background.

This takes me back to family road trips when I was a kid listening to this on the car's 8-track player.

A little too sacra 1970s for my taste. But extremely well crafted and executed. It's a shame that Karen and Carpenter didn't live longer. It'd be amazing to hear what she would have come up with.

one of my dads favorites

This sounds like unicorns and rainbows

Fav song: mr guder

I didn’t realize that I heard this album a very long time ago until the album started. So many years have past, that instead I’d a relisten it felt like a completely new experience. I’ll admit this was a fun and a surprisingly tranquil listen. Felt very much like a very sweet treat to the ears. 4 out of 5 stars.

Peak easy listening. Makes me wanna fall in love.

Love a good Carpenters album! And we got a Beatles cover of Help on here too. We've Only Just Begun and (They Long to Be) Close to You are some of their best songs, so it was great to see those in here. None of the others really hung around with me, but this was a great album none the less.

Whoa, so cool to see the Carpenters pop up! A few of these songs were on repeat in the house when we were little, certainly "Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun." Today is my first realization that their band name is "Carpenters," not "THE Carpenters," kind of messing me up. They're a sibling duo, which you could argue set a bit of a precendent for a duo like the White Stripes - Jack and Meg I think pretended to be siblings? I don't know, but these Carpenters are great. Really strong songwriting flowing underneath these crisp, airy tracks. Their story is really tragic though, Richard became addicted to quaaludes and Karen had anorexia that ultimately killed her. I wish them both as much peace as their music brings me. "Close to You" has to be a top 50 song ever, it's just so beautiful. Frank Ocean knew ball when he sampled that. Favorite tracks: Close to You, We've Only Just Begun, I'll Never Fall in Love Again, Crescent Noon. Album art: A beautiful family photo if you think about it. Just the two sitting on some rocks on a beach somewhere, bordered by grey and some goofy font. Again, just hurts my heart that they seemed like such sweet souls but wrestled with such difficulty and tragedy. 4/5

Generally pleasant. Help is awful, but Mr. Guder is pretty neat, worth it

All around classic 70s pop album. The voices are immaculate, the instrumentation is large, and the tunes are oh so right. I really like "Help" and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again". They remind me why I love Karen Carpenter so much.

Love this album! Great renditions of Bacharach and Beatle tunes. Soft and tender songs when sing by Karen would make a heart of stone melt. Great arrangements by Richard. It may be a little corny at times, very white bread, but I'm eating the whole loaf! Even ends with a cool jazz oddessy thing!

Easy listening album.

Fun album.. tough to work to however.

Good stuff. Karen had a fab voice, great arrangements and wonderful songs. Sounding quite dated. 70's dinner party music.

ta okei musikita de la epoca uwu calas que hay una teoria de que billie eilish y su hermano son la reencarnacion de estos manes :00000000

Big fan of this one. Some slow songs that drag on, but they all fit the overall vibe. Felt like I was in a love story montage driving up the California coast in the ‘70’s. Good stuff

Really nice listen, fantastic vocals and solid instrumentals, would have liked a little more on the production end but that’s my old gripe

I like this more than I would expect. A nice blend of folk and old rock. Top Tracks: 1) (They Ling To Be) Close To You 2) Lover Is Surrender 3) Mr. Guder 4) We’ve Only Just Begun 5) Maybe It’s You 6) Help

A masterclass in vocal harmonies. Absolutely incredible. I really wish it didn't have a 70s musical vibe, though. It really brings it down a notch or two for me. A lot of the songs feel like they're a rip off of The Sound of Music, when they would excel more if they had their own identity.

Beautiful voice

Childhood memories of listening to the radio on Sunday morning. Karen Carpenter was very talented, gone way to soon.

This album is somewhat stained by its reputation as a cheesy pop album for old people. To be fair that's what it is, but it's elevated mainly due to Karen Carpenter's voice. The music is simple and the melodies are sweet (maybe too much at points), but you can't help but enjoy her serenading. Neither can you help singing along to the massive hits in the record. It's not a five-star effort but I liked it a lot. Standout tracks are Reason to Believe, I'll Never Fall In Love Again, We've Only Just Begun, and Close to You.

This album felt like the mashup of the mamas and the papas and late-60s beatles (despite covering one of their earlier hits) and I really like both of those things. It had the hippie vocals of the mamas and papas and the production of a more orchestral beatles song. I can't really call it original but I still enjoyed listening to it.

Karen Carpenter is so fucking underrated! She is just a legend and deserves more recognition as a drummer and a vocalist. Not to mention the rare feat of being both at once. Great band, great album!

Vocals perfect, everything else could stand to gain some

I’ve got a real soft spot for the Carpenters. Simple, honest and beautiful music that also reminds me of my mom. Karen Carpenter was such a killer singer and drummer who ultimately was ruined by the pressure women had put on them back then.

Sappy in a sweet way. Karen Carpenter was a rad drummer!

A ella y a su voz las amo. We've Only Just Begun es hermosa y Crescent Noon sería la canción más triste de mi musical. Le pondria 3.5 por el mal cover Help y algunas canciones no tan buenas, pero por tener Close To You se merece el redondeo para arriba.

This one brings me back to the early seventies. Huge hits on this album. Karen Carpenter had the most beautiful voice in all of pop music back then. Nice to hear it for nostalgic reasons but wouldn’t seek it out to play on my own.

Reminds me of many soundtracks and musicals. Great singing.

When people talk about A.M. Gold as a genre this has got to be a foundational document. I know it doesn't rock or even really swing but I guess I don't care about that. Karen had such a beautiful voice and these songs, the majority of which were written by Paul Williams or Burt Bacharach and Hal David, with a few originals and a Lennon/McCartney hit thrown in, are wonderfully produced. Is this an album I'd pop in every day? Definitely not but it reminds me of a certain happy time in my life. Nostalgia isn't always bad, bring on "Now And Then"

Good record with some classic tunes on it.

I have a lot of positive memories and feelings from my mom listening to the Carpenters when I was younger, and hearing their songs always makes me think of her. "Close To You" is my favorite song by far. The covers were pretty cool too.

It's the idea. It's the idea of The Carpenters that has occupied and taken hold of my mind for quite a while now. It's an enchanting idea in theory, yet it all comes down to putting in the effort to actually sit down and listen to the works at hand, which is something that I had to do with Close to You. This is the step multi-talented siblings Richard and Karen had to take to achieve success and stardom and it works out well for them, even as some of the more cloying aspects of their material induces a shiver or two. Overall, it is pleasingly non-threatening and palatable with a room or two for surprises. Favorites: We've Only Just Begun, Love is Surrender, Maybe It's You, Reason to Believe, (They Long to Be) Close to You, Crescent Moon, Mr. Guder, I Kept on Loving You, Another Song.

A simply beautiful echo of a perfect yet bittersweet world.

very sweet. Karen's vocals are so beautiful! was not expecting a cover of Help on this album :o but it was done very well ^____^ I love what they did it with it. the keyboards at the end... Supa dope. ps I cried during crescent noon 😭 favies : crescent noon🥺, Mr guder 🤯, title track least fave : baby it's you ,,,only bc I rlly love the Beatles version a whole lot more! would I listen again? absolutely!!!

8/10 solide album. soft rock.

Enjoyed!

Overall a very strong album. We've only just begun is sublime and along with Close to You highlights just how beautiful Karen Carpenter's voice is, along with some gorgeous harmonies. some of the other tracks don't quite reach these heights and their cover of Help is not a patch on the original (the cover of I'll never fall in love again is pretty decent however)

I enjoyed this FAR more than I thought I would. Always found Karen's voice too saccarine but actually it fits perfectly.

This kind of pop with soft rock isn't my taste, but I really liked "We've Only Just Begun"

Good songs, good vocals, good musicians. Took me a couple songs to buy in, but once I did it was delightful.

Karen Carpenters pensive but strong vocals work against the accompaniment so damn well. There’s some ICONIC tracks on this release. Songs that still sound good over fifty years later.

70's pop at it's finest. More musically complex than it appears on first listen.

This album is okay, but it seems I enjoy some of their other songs, and the related artists.

wahoo soft and lovely! wonderful things done to great songwriting (thanks burt). best tracks: close to you, I'll never fall in love again, help

An unexpected delight. I really thought this would be quite hit and miss but almost every song is fantastic with some beautiful arrangements, and Karen’s voice is stellar. Two songs towards the end (Mr Guder and I Kept On Loving You) didn’t quite hit for me, but it picked back up for the more experimental closer

Very good and melodic, love her voice

This album starts pretty stereotypical, but after one-and-half Beatles covers and an amazing song in (They Long To Be) Close To You, the album shifts to this anywhere from melancholic to straight up dark sounding sound that really sounds great paired with the sometimes pretty, sometimes haunting vocals. Sure, it's nothing crazy, especially for the time of release, but there is more here than just Marge and Homer Simpson's song and other songs tacked on.

Shocked by how much I loved this. The vocalist’s voice is incredible and each song just feels so nice to listen to. So glad this is my first experience with the carpenters.

This might have been 5 stars if it wasn’t for the cover of Help and the last song, jazz is awful

Mr Gouda

Very nice relax

som muito bom

My older sister would give this an 11!!! This heat is taking me back to my youth! Fun fact everyone knows Karen Carpenter was a great drummer that could sign! You should look up a clip of her drumming, you know the one, the one everyone thinks they discovered!

Classic carpenters

Some really beautiful songs on this. Amazing voice and harmonies.

Ok

LOL this is schmaltzy and awful, but its also somehow simultaneously great. I'm going 4/5 because I honestly dont know how to evaluate this album.

Je reprends goût à la vie grâce aux charpentiers (✿◕‿◕)

adoucissant naturel

gostei do álbum. inicialmente estranhei que reconheci algumas músicas mas sabia que não eram deles, até que descobri que eles são intérpretes e não tanto compositores. gostei das regravações que conheci, gostei da harmonia entre voz feminina e masculina (costumo gostar dessa combinação). um bom álbum, calmo e tranquilo de ouvir.

I liked listening to Karen's vocal along side with Richard's harmonizing, arranging, and composition skills, producing a distinctive soft musical style very familiar from the 1970's

Really good album. I would give it a 9/10 if I could give half stars. I listened to their first album in preparation for this one and Karen sounds better and somewhat more confident to me. The title track "(They Long To Be) Close To You)" is one of the best songs of all time. It does one of my favorite things in music which is it's melody progresses exactly how you want it to and it is perfect. Other highlights to me are Baby It's You, We've Only Just Begun and I'll Never Fall In Love Again. I was not a fan of only two tracks which were Love Is Surrender and Reason To Believe. One interesting side note for this project is Richard, the other Carpenter, when given his own singing parts sound good but there is a clear gap in the quality of the singing. I have not listened to any more of their music but I would not be surprised if when I do he starts getting less and less singing opportunities which is not a knock on him cause he is solid but Karen is like an all time great vocalist.

Difficult to listen to with fresh ears - songs are firmly stuck in the "karaoke slosh" category for me. But the vocal harmonies are gorgeous. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. "Another Song" actually rocks.

Enjoyed it

The songs are good but the arrangements are schmaltzy. The performances from Karen and Richard are solid. I don't know why I like this. I really shouldn't.

Much of the album feels sincere and sublime vocally and musically, though there are some parts that I don’t connect with.

Excellent

Go on - four stars. Not usually my cup of tea, this. But Karen Carpenter has such a bloody wonderful voice that it elevates virtually everything where she is front and centre. There's some good material here, too - I really like the multi-part arrangement of 'Another Song' for example, but the real standout is 'Crescent Noon', a gorgeous, witchy showcase for Karen's singing. Richard? Good songwriting, but his vocals are a tad off - on one track he sounds hangdog, and on another it's as if he's chewing a pork chop. Just let your sister sing mate!

это какой-то волшебный альбом, ощущения, что побывал в сказке, хотя поначалу казалось, что будет скучновато и однообразно. здесь отличная музыка, которая создает ощущение: "все будет хорошо". здесь отличная лирика, понятная, но неповерхностая. оценка 4++, но не 5. гонять на повторе такое, наверно, сложновато, но ознакомиться обязательно нужно

Я думал здесь будут просто прикольные каверы, но под конец зацепило какой странной атмосферой психушки)))

soft easy listening oldie Fleetwood Mac vibes. The sound of a 1970s movie montage of driving around San Francisco

Great voice, read up on her and very a very sad story. Like the little things in the production and am always a sucker for more orchestral instruments, maybe pushes things a little bit too lush at times though

Excellent vocals, recognizable and enjoyable all the way through

8/10

Some classics on here for sure. It tends towards being cheesy and saccharine, but you know what... I still really like it. Hard to be in a bad mood with this playing.

4 The first time I ever heard The Carpenters was in an episode of The Simpsons. I’m sure most Simpsons fans remember this one, but basically, in a high school flashback, Homer dismisses the song Close to You on his drive into school as cheesy garbage (opting instead for Steve Miller Band). Then, when he lays eyes on Marge for the very first time as she walks into his classroom, he can’t help but hear the song in his head, finally understanding it. It’s a great episode, and likely at least part of the reason why I find the song to be a genuinely touching song about love rather than cheesy garbage myself. Anyway, this is a beautiful sounding album, and it really made me feel things at times. Karen Carpenter has an incredible voice, though I find her story heartbreaking, and in some ways it added to the emotional aspect of this album for me. I know the vibe is supposed to be happy and lovey-dovey, but I really couldn’t shake a sense of bittersweet sadness throughout my listening. Idk maybe I’m just weird, but I think because of that it resonated a lot more with me. Great album, but it’s probably going to require a certain time, place, and headspace for me to re-listen. Favorite songs: Close to You, We’ve Only Just Begun, Maybe It’s You

Lush and lovely if somewhat twee and easy listening. This came out on day one of the 70s so it is a defining sound from that decade. Is it any good though? Yeah, it's good.

Very smooth harmonies in here. Pretty enjoyable album.

Always loved Karen's pure and very distinct voice. Richard's arrangements really brings out the best in her sister's vocal work and should be given credit for it.

Very good, really enjoyed it

A sweet and innocent sounding record. Packed with lovely songs sung beautifully. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: We've Only Just Begun Date listened: 18/12/22

Eðalpopp frá 1970. Útsetningarnar mjög einkennandi fyrir tímabilið, á hinn besta mögulega hátt, og rödd Karenar er frábær. Veit ekki hvort þetta sé endilega tímamótaverk, en ég skammast mín ekki fyrir að njóta þess að hlusta. - Það er helst að Help coverið sé ekki að gera neitt fyrir mig.

J'adore la voix de Karen Carpenter, je pourrais l'écouter toute la journée. Le fait qu'il y ait beaucoup de reprises m'a un peu laissée sur ma faim, même si elles sont très belles.

To quote Austin Powers... "And now for the music of Mr Burt Bacharach" This album is "luvvie duvvie" in the extreme. Saccharine sweet, and incredibly twee. But also expertly put together and really rather lovely

Soft och skön musik. Hon gick bort på tok för tidigt.

The Carpenters rule. This album has a lot more weird moments than you'd expect, and two of the greatest pop songs of all time.

Sweet voice, nice music.

Folk

I think it's insane that Richard (the controlling asshole) and Karen (the gifted songstress and drummer) Carpenter insisted on pretending they were brother and sister, especially when it was so beyond obvious they were fucking.

Les Carpenters ont justifié leur réputation. Dès le départ, on est forcé d'admettre que le bois sélectionné est d'excellente qualité, et cette bonne impression se confirmera au moment de la pose de la charpente. Du très très beau travail.

Les Carpenters m'ont absolument régalé pendant toute la durée de cet album, et ce malgré des interruptions intempestivs d'ordre professionnelles. En effet, plusieurs de mes collègues ont tenté de me destabiliser pendant toute l'écoute, mais j'ai réussi à profiter pleinement de la proposition artistique des Carpenters. Les poutres ont été parfaitement placées de bout en bout, quelques plinthes ont été aposées par-ci par là. Une colonne de marbre viendra même être placée entre les deux piliers centraux, afin de créer une harmonie parfaite dans la structure de la maison. Un pur régal.

A bridge from the 60s to 70s pop, easy listening and country. Mesmerizing Vocals

Quite a mix of songs with interesting arrangements. Sometimes the harmonies are too cloying. Above all it's the voice that elevates.

Youthful innocence and optimism is found here which seems rare these days with increasing cynicism and irony. Good songs and vocal harmonies. The key changes in Crescent noon is perfect.

7/10. Quite old fashioned, but very pleasant

I like most of the songs but a full album of Carpenters is a bit much. 7/10

Album show cases the talent of the duo. Excellent close harmonies and instrumentation. The album does have a few covers and their sound is a bit straight-laced.

If there was ever an album that was a product of its time, this is it, in good ways and in bad. The Carpenters mostly worked in the old style of easy listening orchestral pop, which might not resonate with you if you're more inclined to more rock/soul/hip hop genres. You're missing something special though if you dismiss it. If you just lean into this music, it's so lovely to hear. Karen Carpenter's sweetly melancholy vocal is incredibly engaging and just elevates every song, even the less interesting ones. On the flip side, I'm not a big fan of Richard Carpenter as a vocalist. I will say that, coincidentally, three of my favorite songs on this album happen to be Richard Carpenter compositions. He has an unusual ear for instrumentation and arrangement that we probably don't talk about enough. There's a level of talent and craft that you just don't see in pop anymore. Fave Songs: (They Long to Be) Close to You, We've Only Just Begun, Another Song, Mr. Guder, Crescent Noon

Den Titel kennt man. Hippie Musik

karen carpenter i miss and love you. - today was kinda horrible 💀💀 i feel so lonely in all my classes. i feel like everyone’s just kind of forgotten about me/doesn’t feel the same :0 feelings they felt for me in the past. been contemplating just playing the game and getting back on socials, i just don’t want to compromise my values/interests for some bs/childish stuff. mom and dad noticed i was upset and had a talk with me. it seemed like mom was annoyed more than anything. she was saying something along the lines of “why do u need validation so bad 🤨😒” which was not at all what my dilema was but i didn’t feel like correcting her. dad always knows how to subtly support me. he’s done it ever since that one point in my life last year. he took me to cut some wood at the field where we used to hunt before the guy started calling the cops on us 💀 he took the chainsaw. mom also came but she stayed in the car. it took me a while to recognize the place bc everything is flat. it really broke my heart for some reason. dad showed me a tree that had been cut that looked at least 50 years old. it was a very melancholic day/moment.

08/31/2022 Karen Carpenter, I will always love you. Been finding a lotttt of comfort in soft 70s music lately, this album was so amazing. I really love the carpenters a lot and it’s a shame that they don’t always get taken seriously just bc they’re aren’t perceived as “hard” by society. I hope I still have the record of this laying around somewhere??? Crescent noon was amazing. — Damn, today SUCKED. I felt off from the second I walked into studio. Today was just one of those days where shit just piles on and continually gets worse. We worked w Rhino today and since my understanding is so very basic, I was having a really hard time moving as quickly and efficiently as my other classmates. I’m struggling a lot. I feel like I don’t have anything special or useful to bring to the table like literally any of my other classmates do. Feeling super incompetent tonight…. Got drunk to try and numb some of the bad feelings, but it kinda just led me to wallow even more. Idk if how I feel on a day to day basis is normal, because by the end of every day I feel super panicky and nervous. Doubtful that I’m even making the right decisions in life. Hopeless bc I struggle to find motivation to keep moving forward sometimes. I’m really hoping that all these feelings are just hormone related.

I never paid close attention to the harmonies or Karen's vocal rage, so this album was a treat. I had already enjoyed their music & I know a fair deal about Karen's demise. In all, this is a beautifully composed album & is now part of my "chill' playlist.

Great time. Calm and lovely

Earnest love songs never make a big splash. Unless they do. And these are deserving of the hype. Carefully composed like they used to do, wistfully delivered by a magnetic voice (except for that so-so one when her brother had a go).

Hold me and sing me to sleep Karen

Very niice

Why is it called soft rock when it goes so hard?

Bra

Awww, this was some 70s cheese but in a wholesome way. A very sweet, calming little album. I have to give the favorite track award to the title track, but there was a lot to love here.

W niektórych przypadkach nie jestem pewien czy to na nich się wzorowali, czy sami ściągnęli, ale ogólnie podało się.

Karen Carpenter’s ethereal voice sells the soft rock fantasy with ease. You’re getting iconic songs delivered by a voice too pure to exist. It gives me chills.

Beautiful if a little contrived

Suavemente agradável o vocal da Karen.

Karen Carpenter's voice is so clear and gorgeous. This album had great variety and it's fun to hear a lot of songs that I know from oldies radio or movies/show soundtracks. Just an all around pleasant listen!

Karen Carpenter can SING. Such a simple sound with some easy to listen to harmonies. I loved the cover of Help! and Crescent Noon was a standout for me. I wouldn’t listen to this to get fired up but definitely had me relaxed!

Strangely enjoyable and lots of variety. Good listen.

Enjoyed this album, it was very relaxing to listen to.

Easy listening gold. Smooth from start to end.

Love a bit of Carpenters, it's cheesy and sugary but it's good!

Very solid, very *very* soft rock. The title track and "We've Only Just Begun" are clear standouts.

I was surprised by how many covers they do. Actually enjoyed Mr Guder

Lovely and definitely of its time. Makes me once again feel sad about how Karen Carpenter died.

Huh. So I assumed I was not going to like this, because the bits of individual Carpenters songs I've heard have done nothing for me. However... I find myself liking this over the full listen. I guess hearing them in the context of the album is a different and better thing. Beginning of We've Only Just Begun - reminds me of Carole King, but then the chorus goes in a brighter direction, which is sorta cheesy, but I don't hate. I prefer the non-chorus portions of the song, but overall I like it. Love is Surrender - just ok, but not bad. I like the organ and background more than the singing in this one. Sorta a Charlie Brown vibe. Maybe It's You - nice melancholy song. Sorta reminds me of Beach Boys - Pet Sounds. I like when the woman sings on her own, more than the vocal harmonies, I think. She has a nice lilt. Reason to Believe - reminds me of a chill country song. It again has a Carole King quality that's sorta nice, but overall this song is just ok. Help - this song is a banger and a surprise. I like it. (They Long to Be) Close To You - everyone's heard this song. It's basically a meme at this point. I did find myself enjoying it more than I expected. The twinkly keys in the background reminded me of something from like Willy Wonka. It's a chill song. It also has lots of just the woman singing (I should find out her name. Karen). Baby It's You - Just ok one. Not much to say. I don't like "sha la la la la oooh" portions in songs though. I'll Never Fall in Love Again - More Carole King vibes. Like, quite a bit. I like this song for that reason. More of just Karen singing, except a few overdubs. Crescent Noon - more of a jazzy number. I like it. Not in the instruments so much, but in the singing. Again, sort of a melancholy, moody song, which is my style. Mr Guder - weird song, which makes me like it. It has the "ba da da da" stuff, but in a weird way and I dig it. I Kept On Loving You - Ken(?)-led song. That's my least favorite part about it, but the rest has that Belle and Sebastian quality I noticed. The instrumentation is quite nice. Another Song - more Carole King feel. I am realizing these guys preceded Carole King in general, so probably I should be saying it the other way around. I like Karen's singing a lot by this point. The instrumentation is really nice on this song too. I like the harpsichord and the drumming, especially. Weird song to end on, and apparently it's the least-listened song on the album, according to Spotify numbers. Overall: I'm realizing that a lot of the background sounds that I'm liking are similarly represented in Belle and Sebastian's happier music. I think without that touchpoint, I might find this more cheesy than I did. Didn't expect to like this, but I did. 4/5

Enjoyed it but don’t know if I would seek out. Still gets a 4 because clearly it is good

Some covers. Soft voice. Not great for parties.

a Lovely collection of songs

Perfectly composed if not a bit sickly sweet