Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Easy listening indeed. Great soft rock carried by some insane vocals. Most of the first half of the album feels like muzak with vocals, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's a very charming album but it was quite a lot to take in at once. Two mega hits really buoyed this for me but unfortunately a lot of the tracks on here were just a bit too schmaltzy for me. Highlights: We've Only Just Begun, (They Long To Be) Close To You
Есть приятные нотки, но в целом это пасторальная блажь
Love is Surrender is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard, but the rest is pretty solid. The arrangement for Help is amaze-balls and the title track is wonderful. Weird that songs titled Baby it’s Me and Maybe it’s Me are on the same album. Some high highs on this album, and some low lows…. Settles in the middle.
I understand the talent, their music though is not my cup of tea.
Wow that was quite bad. It definitely sounds like a tight knit family with the parents constantly swooping overhead. I thought it was pleasant at first and it has the big single but I’d rather just listen to the single over the entire album. Also I am in shock how bad they messed up the Beatles cover. Like a genuinely impressive feat. The big hit almost brought it up to two stars but the cover kind of cancels it out. I’ll listen to Sonic Youth’s tribute to Karen instead. Rating: 1.4
1970 流行乐 软摇滚 巴洛克流行 美丽流畅的旋律 悠淡的迷惘和惆怅 和声有氛围感
Masterpiece
Very soft and beautiful. 4/5
It's a lovely lovely listen and a very strong album. I'll say that it was the perfect choice for the very bad day I'm having. It's a collection of very strong songs arranged absolutely magically. Richard Carpenter is a killer musician and doesn't get the credit he deserves. And of course, it's a great showcase of the voice of Karen Carpenter. I believe her to be among the best singers in pop history. When I try to describe her voice I get to the conclusion that the power of it comes from the combination of the gentleness and strength. Her tone is so heavenly and clear that people tend to overlook her technique and musicianship. Among my favorites here are 1, 3, an incredible rendition to 4, 6, 7, and my favorite- 9. The closing track is my least favorite one. Also th beatles cover is not perfect. What a great little sweet thing I had a tough day, it'll be a 4.
What a slice of cheese. So many schmaltzy covers, so little time. “Another Song” is my favorite track. It’s like they were so close to doing something almost experimental and couldn’t quite get there (probably because their mother was in the studio micromanaging the show).
fun and chill, oldie vibes
It’s not bad music, it’s put together well enough, it’s just really not my thing 2
Throw back. And even with all of the schmaltz, just good music. Great voice…and no autotune needed. Fun trip down memory lane.
Nostalgia pushes it to a 4, and I’m just fine with that. Yes, it’s sappy, and I’m singing at the top of my lungs happily. Sap is exactly what some days need.
Vilken röst hon har! Och fina låtar. Kompetent och tidlös singer song writer. Den urusla och onödiga covern av Beatles Help dead ner betyget. Så det blir bara en trea.
Solid 4 stars, maybe more if I listen again. Amazing talent, pretty cheesy in parts but overall really great. Her voice was fantastic and great harmonizing throughout. I didn't know she was a drummer too, and watching some videos of her performance in the late 60s shows she was super talented singing and drumming.
Ridiculously "Awww shucks!" That being said, the vocal harmonies are incredible. The performances are fantastic. The closing song, "Another Song" is downright proggy. "Mr. Guber" is the gentlest roast song ever, but it's a wild ride. Is this an album I'll listen to again? Maybe. Not often, though. Still, I'm going with 4 stars.
Childhood nightmare fuel admittedly, but fairly inoffensive wholesome early 70's TV show music your Nanna loved ⭐⭐⭐
This is a tough one to rate. Pop heads, and people born post-1990, will probably have an easier time. But I’m a rocker (obvs), and I was alive at a time when squares were trying to shove this soft-ass treacle down America’s throat and it was on the radio and tv constantly when us rockers were trying to rock and roll all night and party every day. On the other hand, Karen Carpenter’s voice is as great as everyone says. Technically proficient while also sounding so forlorn and vulnerable. The cheesy lyrics and arrangements almost make it sadder because there is no way for that sadness to be expressed except through her voice. It’s like holding your thumb over a hose to make the water come out faster, but your thumb is soulless 70’s up-with-people-style cheese and the water is despair. Setting all that aside and rating this album purely on the “do I want to put it on?” scale, I have to give it a three. It’s worth hearing, and I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice never to be exposed to Karen Carpenter’s voice, but it’s not something I would typically find myself wanting to listen to.
Essentially opening up a time capsule from an era gone by. I had a crush on Karen when I was a young boy listening to my parents Carpenters albums. Her voice is angelic and the production and harmonization are amazing, especially knowing that auto-tune did not exist. They don't make 'em like this any more. While very sweet, most of the songs come off as corny today. The Beatles cover just doesn't work. The hits are obviously great. My fave is the jazzy groove on the finale "Another Song"--not sure if Karen was playing the drums on the track but in my imagination she was.
Good emotional vocal performances but not my taste in any way
4 1/2 Stars: 'We've Only Just Begun' was my parents wedding song, so already I'm a little bit biased. But is there a better voice in the history of music as good as Karen's? I think not. And damn, the production on this is so tight and clean. I love all those vocal blends.
I am not a monster so yes, Close to You is lovely, but an hour of this is too much.
Excellent
No está mal, no lo volvería a escuchar.
K has such a beautiful voice, but singles their forte
Hmmm... 70's sugary goodness. For "a drummer that sings," Karen has a fantastic, memorable voice! When I saw this pop pup, I thought "Yuck. Boring!" Having not heard anything from the Carpenters in over 20 years, I had just a vague memory of that trite, old sappy 70's crap. Since I'm playing this game, I gave it a shot and... I was right! It is just 70's, sappy love songs! But here's the thing. Her voice is amazing and it just works for this stuff. The music is inoffensive and solidly produced. I don't imagine I'll ever come back to listen to this whole album again, But "We've Only Just Begun" and "Close to You" are on some playlists now! Classic songs that are beautiful. If you haven't listened yet Or gave up before the end, I want to recommend "Another Song" to you. I have no idea how they managed to sneak this on the album, but it's a great nugget, worthy of you hearing it. It starts kind of the same as some of the others, but it's this whole jazzy, improv-y ride that I had to listen to a few times and then made my wife listen to it, too! While most of this is too syrupy to have playing as background music because your teeth will rot, there are at least three tunes here worth having pop up once in a while. I'm giving this a 3. One star for each of those three tracks.
Released in 1970, Close to You is about as close as you'll get to a genuine retrospective of the sixties, I mean one that acknowledges that for every Hendrix, Joplin, & Grace Slick there was a Lulu, a Sonny & Cher, & a Petula Clark. I love the latter 3, if not as much as the former 3 visionaries, then w/ no amount of white guilt whatsoever. B/c the Carpenters are white, really, really fucking white, but not distractingly, vulgarly white like Lawrence Welk but charmingly, authentically white like Randy Newman or The Walker Bros. No, Karen Carpenter is neither Bobby Hatfield nor Dusty Springfield - she simply isn't as memorable or as dynamic a vocalist - but she can no doubt sing, & sings w/ soul. I think she's especially masterful on 'Crescent Moon.'
Soothing and warm sounding, beautiful vocals 4.5
It's not offensive.
Not bad if digested track by track. Karen’s got a nice voice, and even though none are outstanding, the songs have some kind of quality to them. As a complete album, it’s way too sugary sweet and bland.
I only liked the song Close to You and that’s only because it reminds me of a toy my brother had when we were kids.
Smooth easy listening to her voice
Rating: 4.4/5 Short Review: Soft, immaculate pop that feels warm and intimate without ever trying too hard. Karen Carpenter’s voice carries a quiet emotional clarity that makes even the gentlest songs feel deeply sincere. Favorite Track: Close to You. The melody is simple but unforgettable, and Karen’s vocal delivery makes the whole song feel tender and timeless.
so nice
Me: "Mom, can we have The Mamas And The Papas?" Mom: "No, we already have The Mamas And The Papas at home" At home: "Carpenters" I already made that joke about at least one album on this list before, but #YOLO as the kids say. Jokes aside, that comparison is probably unfair. I think Carpenters stand well on their own legs, even though it seems to be an album with quite some covers. The album was pretty sweet. The opening track is really soothing and nice. And it just continues along that track for the whole record. This is probably something you should listen to when you're either in a certain mood, or want to be. But I enjoyed it! The only real downer was 'Help!', which wasn't a particularly good cover. Strong 3, maybe weak 4.
Couldn't shake the feeling that this was just bland and uninteresting. Everything is well put-together and nice - it's just all a bit too sweet. It feels overproduced. I’m not sure when I would prefer this in front of other similar acts honestly. “Close to You” is the standout track of the record. Weak 3.
The Carpenters are so lame they’re awesome.
unlike the members of the band, this album absolutely fucks
Great voice. Great songs. A record of its time. #johnsvinyl
Felt like a very quick listening experience today with this album's length, but I loved its soft, soothing sound, like relaxing into a hot bath at the end of a long, cold day. I'm surprised I hadn't heard more of this album, particularly with '(They Long To Be) Close To You' being featured in so many soundtracks. Rating: 4.
Taas menee hutisektorille. En oikein keksi tilannetta tai mielentilaa, jolloin laittaisin tämän soimaan. Taustamusaa jossain ravintolassa tms. Help-cover ihan kamala. Ainoa tuttu biisi nimibiisi, joka toki klassikko. Onhan tämä toki oikeaa musiikkia taitavien muusikoiden tekemänä mutta ei minun makuuni. 2/5.
Couldn’t really get into it, but her voice is very soothing.
What a calming, soothing very listenable voice. I can listen to her sing all day. I always thought these brother sister combos were weird. Poor Karen carpenter. Died way too young from anorexia. There is a clip of her floating around as a drummer - apparently she was world class. Boring record.
carpenters were something else, so talented, what a joy to listen to
This is so boring
Mulle haigelt meeldib siinne stiil ja see plaat. Kuidagi tuletab meelde aega, kus ilma suuremate abivahenditeta ikka suudeti heal tasemel muusikat teha, Carpenterid olid selles osas professionaalid ning nende laulukirjutajad ja -seadjad ikka oskasid neid lugusid huvitavaks teha. Vokaalharmooniad on siin super kõlaga ja ma kahtlustan, et sellist stiili ma saaksingi kuulama jääda. Reaalselt nii hea värske hingetõmme kõikide teiste albumite vahele. Inspireerib kohe pilli kätte võtma ja midagi huvitavat mängima. 4.7/5
Can't escape those fuck ass Beatles, no matter where I go... Aside from Help, it's a charming album. Very late 60s-early 70s soft bubblegum-y rock.
Sup dudes, J-dawg here. I'll be doing things like giving Motorhead 1 stars and the Carpenters 4 stars, so buckle the f up.
Smooth
Reminds me of my mom
Nice artifact and sounds pretty good but ehhhh
I could see this being good if you're in the right mood but in the wrong mood kinda makes me want to attack someone
Wow, this is such a special slice of early 70s music. Once im settled in the right mood for something like this, I can so easily get lost in the non stop optimism and dog gone GOODNESS of LIFE Definitely a lot of overlap with Mamas and Papas style harmony & tunes (HERE TO REMIND YOU, HERE TO REMIIIINDDD YOUUUUU). The covers take another similar step My tower of optimism fell when I read into the Carpenter siblings. That was some depressing shit… I hope the family cherishes these albums because they invoke a really lovely feeling
Thought this was going to be much more of a cheese fest, but was surprised by the layers. And yeah, what a voice. Reminded me of Beach Boys at times.
I don't think that this album is as boring as people seem to be saying it is? I thought it was pretty peaceful. Not my favorite type of music, but I enjoy it. I think my favorite songs are "(They long to be) close to you" (obviously and reason to believe. I find it a little annoying how some of the songs are named, but what can you do. I thought that "I'll never fall in love again" was kinda funny.
I mean, I'm not into this kind of music but it really feels good at some points. There is a transition: GOATED. I saw the other reviews but they're single dudes in their fourty's so who cares. It still isn't a no skip but some instrumentals are really interesting to hear and it has some iconic titles. Mr. Guder and Crescent Noon are Light Years over the rest.
The last song was a wild ride! Most of the others were a bit ho-hum.
damn they put this whole album on here because this shit played in the simpsons
TikTok song jumpscare. Just a soft easy listening album on the surface, but the harmonies are beautiful and it's easy to sink into
It’s impossible not to cry during We’ve Only Just Begun when you consider how tragically short Karen Carpenter’s life was
Super album dans l'ensemble, des super changements de rythme et de ton, mais manque un peu de punch. Note : 3 À réécouter : Oui
Whilst nothing offensive about any of the music is there anything exciting or amazing about any of it either no, it sits exactly where I feel it was designed to be in the middle, which is exactly what I will give it.
On Close to You, Carpenters double down on a kind of lush, hyper-orchestrated pop that feels beamed in from an earlier, cocktail-lounge decade — think early-’60s Burt Bacharach and easy-listening radio rather than the ragged dawn of the Seventies. The arrangements are pristine to the point of suffocation, all sweeping strings and polite brass, and more than a little on the cheesy side, as if 1970’s cultural upheavals never happened. Still, Karen Carpenter’s warm, aching alto remains the duo’s secret weapon, elevating even the most syrupy material. “Love Is Surrender” glides by on pure craftsmanship, while the title track — written by Bacharach and Hal David — is rescued from total schmaltz by Karen’s intimate phrasing and that flugelhorn solo that practically winks at you through the AM haze. Their take on “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” is faithful to a fault, though “Reason to Believe” only invites comparison to Rod Stewart’s grittier hit version — this one feels almost aggressively goopy. And when “Another Song” slips into a funky instrumental coda, you half-expect Shaft to kick down the studio door. Polished, pleasant, and stubbornly square, Close to You is a time capsule that doesn’t seem to realize what time it is.
Joyful
I like this idk why others dont
C'est assez convenu en général, mais c'est doux et ça s'écoute bien en background. Ça a vraiment bien fait en background en prenant une bonne douche chaude avec des chandelles post-inventaire annuel. Ça me permet sûrement de sur-classer l'album. Il y a des morceaux assez surprenant comme Mr. Guder qui vont aller chercher des trucs un peu plus funky au niveau des harmonies et des timbres, quasiment comme un clin d'oeil au prog qui naissait alors... Mais on peut tu parler du cover? Je connaissais pas le band et j'étais sûr que c'était un couple, apprendre que c'était des frère et soeur ça m'a comme mis mal à l'aise. Peut-être que Jack White est allé chercher là son plaisir coquin à faire croire qu'il était frère avec Meg White.
De la bonne p'tite soft pop. Quand même oubliable par contre. Bien aimé la chanson classique des oiseaux qui apparaissent soudainement et le cover de Help
So good, absolutely beautiful. Even liked the Beatles cover
This is cheesy 70s pop, her stunning voice is wasted on most of this music.
Karen Carpenter's voice is angelical
Perhaps a definitional album of ‘easy listening’. The gentleness of it does make this appealing on one level (fitting with the genre it’s an easy listen!), but it also makes the album fairly uninteresting. This is music with the flavour taken out. Not awful, but not one that leaves a great impression either.
Some of these songs are pretty good as compositions, especially ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ and the title track, but the arrangements/performances (in particular the vocals) are so syrupy, saccharine and cloyingly sentimental. It’s music with any hint of edge totally smoothed out. I'd certainly take the original/more famous versions over any of their covers. I don’t hate it, though; it’s so inoffensive I can’t imagine having any strong feelings about it either way (the epitome of ‘easy listening’). But would I ever listen to it of my own volition? No, and for that reason it gets 2 stars.
This is dreary and boring and it sounds like the kind of music people listen to if they call their wife "mother." It sounds like the kind of music people listen to if they wear bonnets and ankle-length denim dresses and make their own clothes and have a couple sister wives.
A wonderful little pop album with lush and delectable production, fitting very nicely up there with the likes of Pet Sounds and some Beatles work as well. The Carpenter's voices are also very very nice. Even if this album feels a bit pastiche with the late 60's-early 70's music style, I can't help but grin at the silly lyrics and quaint instrumentals that adorn this album. Truly, it's just "Nice Music" encapsulated. Don't think too hard about it.
2.33
The iconic tunes are beyond any reproach, but 2/3 of the album feels like filler songs. A mellow one, but I will stick to the greatest hits compilation instead.
Magnificent and beautiful are only two of many words that I could use to describe how great of an album Close To You is. Richard and Karen Carpenter are both amazing singers whose voices work incredibly well in every song, and Karen's drumming is nothing short of fantastic. 4.8/5
Cheesy bullshit music. I don't know how anyone can listen to this
I love her voice. The songwriting isn't anyways the best and his voice isn't always my thing, but it's a nice album to put on for a relaxing time.
Very Brady Bunch vibes. Beautiful for the type of music it is, if you're into it. Smooth and lovely, with some punchy moments to drive the beat.
Oh, how sweet, soft and kind. And how far from my taste. It could be good in 1970 when released. When I heard Carpenters' version of a The Beatles song I could say nothing but Help. 1.5 points.
Amazing harmonies and sound but does get a bit boring at times - the cover of help was a highlight though
yeah it's got that one song. And that one's a Beatles song. The rest is fine I guess?
Favorite tracks: We've Only Just Begun, Help, I'll Never Fall In Love Again, Love Is Surrender I've always had a soft spot for this album! Karen's voice is beautiful and their lyrics are so sweet and wholesome, even if they are a little eyeroll-inducing at times. Not the most complex album, but boy is it a nice listen.
This album has absolutely everything. Most romantic album ever for the first 3 quarters, showing me sounds of rumours era fleetwood 7 years before that album. So sonically awesome. Last quarter just lets loose - this is such a good listen man I can’t believe this isn’t talked about more (start the dialogue NOW)
It was fine
koniec dziwnych albumikow i powrot do popowej codziennosci, duet carpentersow i ich drugi w dyskografii krazek close to you z 1970 jest dokladnie tym czym moze byc popowe granie duetu rodzenstwa, ktory jest rzucony na muzyczne wody przez ambitnych i glodnych na sukces rodzicow, wiec coreczka spiewa, synek gra, a rzesza muzykow studyjnych robi im tlo, nawet wiekszosc kawalkow jest pisana przez roznorakie persony, ktore sie przewijaja na wiki, co zdecydowanie slychac, bo pomimo mialkosci kazdy song jest jakis inny, nie zabralko nawet coveru zukowego helpa, wsrod 12 trakow na tym prawie 40 minutowym nagraniu wiekszosc jest spiewana przez karen, nawet imie memiczne sie wylosowalo, ktore raczej powinno isc na matke, ktora maiala byc najwazniejsza postacia w studiu, choc na dwoch pierwszych dwoch trakach pojawia sie rowneiz glos richarda, ale cale szczescie, ze to tylko te dwa traki i chyba jeden mial spiewany samemu przy koncu albumu, bo jesli cala plyta by byla jak te dwa pierwsze traki, to chyba bym nie wymeczyl do konca, tak bardzo przeslodzone i milosne kawalki sa tutaj spiewane, a teraz juz calkowicie jestem uczulony na ten rodzaj muzyki, wiecej dobrego nie moge powiedziec o tej plycie poza tym, ze sie konczy milym instrumentalnym akcentem, bo ostatni kawalek tak jakos od polowy traci wokal, dlatego tez leci na plejke jako pamiatka z tego nieprzyjemnego odsluchu
Familiar with these guys from a tv movie I saw nearly 40 years ago. Perfectly bland 70s pop. 3 Heard before? Some Owned: No 48/207 (23%) Will I get: No
I was excited to check this out and was very disappointed. I've seen videos of Karen Carpenter destroying the drums and this couldn't be farther from that level of excitedment. First off, they just did a bunch of other people's songs and second, ever cover was way worse than the original. I can't see how this ranks in the top 500 albums and it's just a glorified cover band?
72/100. There are a lot of classics on this record. The harmonies are beautiful, the singing is warm. It’s a genuinely fun and comforting listen. Soft pop done with real skill and heart.
Geez, what an earsore of a Help cover. They Long To Be is super pretty though, but it's the only interesting moment to me alongside Another Song where Richard and Karen trade off two pretty fun solos. Great musicians, I sometimes catch myself in awe of some of Karen's performances as a drummer, it's a shame how fame treated them.
A bit heavy on the saccharine for me. No denying there is talent but it's cloying
I actually like this less than I thought I would having heard their Greatest Hits from my parents’ collection. Karen has a lovely warm voice but a full album’s worth is so saccharine it was almost making my teeth hurt at times. There are some good tunes that with different production choices could have been a pleasant listen
Idk but it was too mellow for me 🥲 if we’re going to the 70s at least let’s have some glam rock I got a bit bored because it all sounded very similar
01) We've Only Just Begun - 7,5 02) Love Is Surrender - 7,5 03) Maybe It's You - 7,0 04) Reason to Believe - 7,0 05) Help - 7,0 06) (They Long to Be) Close to You - 8,5 07) Baby It's You - 7,5 08) I'll Never Fall in Love Again - 7,0 09) Crescent Noon - 8,5 10) Mr. Guder - 7,5 11) I Kept On Loving You - 7,5 12) Another Song - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,46 (75/100) Current ranking: 355/822
Easy listening at it's easiest. What a voice, relief on covers though.
Carpenters?? Like Sabrina?? Or Jesus... who knows. Ok this is pretty chill. Oh hello vocals. We have only just begun speak on it. Oh this is so nice. It's giving Disney it's giving princess it's giving beautiful castle. I really like what's going on. Oh this is so cute. Aw man couldn't we stay. This is so romantic. The carpenters are in love. Big fan of this. Oh this is the poster song for romance. Very cute. I really like this album. Oh baby it's you. This is soooooo. Oh hello Crescent Noon?? I was not familiar with your game Ms. Carpenter. This is kinda goated. What is the story behind Mr. Gurder. Who is this. Oh wow hello Mr. Carpenter. What did u do to warrant this. Dickhead stop hurting her hello?? There's things u had to do?? Kys. She wouldn't fucking cry if u were better. That is another song you're right. Favourite: Maybe It's You/Crescent Noon Least favourite: I'll Never Fall In Love Again
Look, my angsty 10 year old son didnt absolutely hate this. Which says it must be pretty okay if a 10 year old thought it was fine. 3/5
Я не американец, мне понравилось. Довольно приятный альбом.
Three big singles in here. Cresent Noon while walking the dog in the forest was lovely.
как же я балдею от их пения в интервал. неожиданно полученное удовольствие
Pleasant
This was horrible. The cover of "Help" alone made me want to harm the people who created this as well as those who assisted in the creation of this album. This is not an album that you must hear. This is another in a long line of albums that I've endured, but didn't find any redeeming value in.
When this album was revealed, f*ck— really!?!! I can't get behind any song on this album.
Paul Williams is one of the best pop song writers of the 20th century. We've only just begun is a banger. And they've got a Horn in the woodwinds!
Going from hard alternative rock to a 70s lounge act was quite the transition. I am quite familiar with the Carpenters, as they were one of my mom’s favorite groups growing up, so I’ve heard most of these tunes before. Karen Carpenter had a beautiful voice, it sucks that she couldn’t get the help she needed before she passed away way too early. The album itself is pretty good, some nice arrangements and beautiful harmonies. A lot of the songs were covers. A pleasant listen that made me smile, I’ll give it a 4/5 as well
Ok, this is legendary… I just can’t with this sweetness, this wholesomeness, this longing for simple times of 1970’s harmonies, melodies, daring Beatles cover songs, and la la lahs like nobody’s business. Five stars!
The cover of The Beatles “Help!” was painful to listen to. Ugh! I think I only liked one song on the entire album: (They Want To Be) Close To You. That said it’s impossible to deny Karen Carpenter’s vocal talent (wow) or her talent as a drummer. The album as a whole is worth a (1); Karen’s talent a (5). So giving it a (3)
Sappy and dated.
This is a tough one to rate. It's not aged particularly well, but it ruled the airwaves and influenced a lot of other acts. I wouldn't want to sit down and listen to it over and over, it certainly wouldn't make the rotation, but the musicianship is solid.
I mean...it's the Carpenters. Karen's voice is undeniably lovely. Sweet melodies. Happy music that makes boomers reminisce on better times.... Everybody knows "Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun". But I also enjoy "Maybe It's You" and "Reason to Believe", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again". Good listen on a Sunday afternoon.
2.5
This is not my usually style, but this is bloody close to a perfect album!
Hippie music gone wrong.
Another album that I enjoyed a lot. She really did have one of the most beautiful singing voices, and it paired with their style of music beautifully. I was particularly surprised by how much I enjoyed the lesser-known tracks on this album.
Love the Carpenters
I liked this less on 2nd listen than on the 1st. Fine line between crisp and sanitized. The cover of “Help” only serves to make the original songs (save the title track) seem weak by comparison.
There were a couple of songs I thought were pretty sweet but most of them were kinda forgettable.
Soothing and warm; and honestly, kind of inspiring.
Making a cheap rom-com about college sweethearts who found each other again after 60 years, and need a soundtrack? This is it! It's all sooo syrupy and goody-goody, it annoys me. OK there are a few good things about this album (with "buts"). Karen Carpenter can sing (but so can Michael McIntyre's "unexpected star of the show" and many buskers). Some of the song are well composed (but credit goes to the like of Burt Bacharach, not to The Carpenters). My experience was not improved by the awful, Carpenter-ified version of Help. Does the job pretty well as inoffensive, "good sounding", dated, commercial pop. I'm totally OK if people like it, as it is very good "for the genre". I'll now go listen yesterday's album again if that's OK (Holger Czukay).
pleasantly surprised by my enjoyment of this album. def low key listening but still delightful.
Very good Soft Rock Album
C'est bien fait, la voix de Karen Carpenter est magnifique et en contrôle. C'est très léché par contre, et la plupart des chansons ne sont pas des chansons originales.
A album of two parts - the first half is a sickly sweet ode to love, with fantastic harmonies and beautiful if somewhat slightly uninspired lyrics. The second half touches on the darker side of heartbreak but do so in a even less developed way and a smudge too late for you to pay real interest. It sounds wonderful but it isnt anything that would stand out in your mind after the initial listen.
Pretty cheesy at moments like the jangly "Reason to Believe." Really not sure why this needs to be on a must listen list. Seems like one of those things that out to have died with its time. Funny, reading some of the reviews here I see a lot of people grumping about the haters. It reminds me that basically it's only crappy pop artists that use that term... Puff Daddy invented it after all, so go figure. Happy to be a hater on this one. The only good news is you can tune it out very easily as this is basically call center hold music. 1/5.
Not my favorite of theirs.
Album 18/1001. Listened 2/13/2026. Some classics on here, and really interesting to hear the originals that others have covered, but definitely not my genre. (I really did like this version of Reason to Believe.) Can't argue with their talent, but not my favorite album.
A very lovely album. Beautiful vocals and unobtrusive arrangements.
This had a lot of classic ballads that I have heard. I didn’t know they were by then
I'm picking up some weird signals from this album. The cover and band name is vaguely familiar to me, but I'm not sure if it's because of the many occasions where I've flicked through the book or if I'm actually familiar with their music. I'm going to assume the former, if only for the reason that I'm pretty sure this is a folk album. Guess I've nothing more to do than crack this one open. Yeah, not bad. Some nice, easy-listening music to aid me in my journey of getting back on top of this list. Truth be told, it's a little too easy on the ears. I liked the first, last and some of the middle tracks, but much of this album lost me. This music isn't bad, per se. It's just thoroughly unambitious and unremarkable. Still, there were some nice points in here. Karen's vocals are pretty golden across the board, and I like the sentimental, more traditional instrumentation on this album. The piano is the strongest instrument of the bunch, though I also quite liked the strings, harps and harpsichords as well. Overall, it's a fine release and one I may come back to when I want some R&R, but not in the immediate future. One of my lo-fi songs samples "We've Only Just Begun". Take a listen for yourself: https://youtu.be/lhFSUclRmIM (Bassti - To All the Ladies in the Place). I was not expecting to encounter a lo-fi sample here of all places, especially on a track which includes a Notorious B.I.G vocal sample. Anyways, good song. The vocals are the strongest aspect of the tune, especially in the beginning. I also like that leading instrument. I can't put my finger on it at the moment, but I'm pretty sure its a horn of some kind. I'm not too big on where the track goes thereafter - it sinks into being much more generic, but it's a nice song nonetheless. I've also heard the title track, too. Nice song. The vocal melody is pretty fantastic, and I like the slow, easygoing instrumental. The pianos are the second best thing about it, though some of the other musical embellishments (notably the harpsichord) are nice, too. I've never listened to other covers of this song, but I can believe that this is the best iteration of the song by a wide margin. Book time. Their breakthrough album. The title track was a big hit globally, which caused the rest of the album to be cobbled together under the pressure of that success. The album lingered on the charts for over a year. Carpenters have sold over a hundred million records - guess that explains why I have a vague sense of familiarity with them. Ignored by critics, but beloved by general audiences. I mean, sure. It has the chart success at the very least, right? I cosign this inclusion.
Fire
Better than the Beatles.
This was a bad time.
This is some of the whitest shit I’ve ever heard.
man, "help" sure hits different after you read the wikipedia page
= the Beatles
Solid.
I respect the hell out of Karen Carpenter. She’s one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. Having said that, she made grandma music.
I wasn’t expecting a cover of ‘Help’ on this. I also wasn’t expecting said cover to be quite fun and well done. Same with ‘Baby It’s You’. Obviously the highlight is ‘(They Long To Be) Close To You’, but the rest of the album is quite pleasant in its own right. The closer was also really damn fun, almost felt like a jam.
Normally I’m a sucker for Burt Bacharach songs but this is too saccharine suburban sweetness for me. Music for 70s station wagon moms. Rearranging a Beatles hit less than a decade later is a choice. There are moments, but nowhere near enough. 1.5⭐️ I much prefer Sonic Youth singing about Karen Carpenter
Meh
Couple of soft rock hits with great harmonies. Sad story about Karen Carpenter…
Just not for me. Unless I need to be comatose, then this would be PERFECT
une pure merveille, i was not aware que c'était aussi bien
Breakthrough album of brother and sister act the Carpenters, this brings a lot of memories back for me as my late mother would play them all the time. So I'm familiar with most of this. Yesterday Once More and Close to You are the two best known tracks - they still sound simply marvellous, but it's a really nice listen all the way to lush closing effort 'Another Song'. Maybe this album is too polished, not edgy enough, perhaps too sweet and saccharine for some (later on they would take another twist and actually enrage some of their fans), but for me it's great and hits the right note of restraint and subtlety. They could have jammed much harder on the last track (Karen was renowned as an excellent drummer) , but refrain - it's kept short and tasteful. Other notable tracks are the haunting original composition Crescent Moon, Reason to Believe (later popularised by Rod Stewart) and a pretty dodgy slowed down version of Help by the Beatles. Though they do a much better take on Baby It's You (also covered by the Beatles), one of a few Bacharach/David compositions here. There aren't really the adjectives to describe Karen Carpenter's mesmerising voice and brother Richard's arrangements perfectly complimented them (he also sings one song here). Her anorexia and subsequent demise of course remain one of the saddest stories in music.
Classic
Pretty good old school album, never been a huge fan of the carpenters but this was a pretty good album
Valjda poznam od prej, ampak nikoli šla poslušat albume. Zmer mi je bil všeč od Karen žameten glas (wiki me sicer mal razpizdi, ker piše, da je njuna mati težila, kako naj Karen poje, ko so snemal album. Ugh.). Super začetek z "We've Only Just Begun". Lep komad. "Maybe It's You" je gorgeous. Kul priredba od "Help!" od Beatlov. "(They Long to Be) Close to You" je pač, pop balada brez napak. Mal cheesy, ampak sj to je poanta? Z razlogom je komad znan še dons. Všečna verzija "Baby It's You". "Crescent Noon" je ethereal. "Mr. Guder" je zanimiv, tak playful. Na predzadnjem komadu še Richard proba pet ("I Kept On Loving You"). "Another Song" je kul. Všeč mi je tud, da je to naslov zadnjega komada. Hud bobnanje na sred komada. Na žalost na wiki ne piše specifično na katerih komadih je Karen bobnala in na katerih Hal Blaine.
Une masterclass, enfin 🙏🙏
2/5. Listenable but uninteresting. It's not bad, but it isn't worth listening to twice. Some nice vocal harmonies spice up some otherwise uninspired early 70s pop.
TLDR: Pretty enough, but kind of boring. I wanted to like this album, but besides it having that fun “old timey” sound I didn’t really connect with it. I obviously recognized ‘(They Long To Be) Close to You’ and I got excited when I heard ‘Help’ and had to do a quick Google to verify who sang it first (The Beatles). While I appreciate covers I think this version paled compared to the original. My feelings on the album were further solidified as I read more about the compositions, most of which did not originate or connect much to the artists themselves. Yes, they sound nice enough, but anyone can perform someone else’s work to varying levels of success. I did take note of Richard Carpenter’s three original compositions, the most interesting of those to me being ‘Mr. Guder’.
These guys look like they eat sheet metal or something that would kill a mortal
Rakastan tältä albumilta jo entuudestaan biisiä (They Long To Be) Close To You. Karen Carpenterin lauluääni on aivan ihana. Siis aivan ihana albumi. Kaikissa biiseissä sama rauhallinen tunnelma, mutta ei haittaa ollenkaan. Niin kauniita biisejä toinen toisensa jälkeen. Näissä on jotain tosi lohdullista. Voisin kuvitella laittavani albumin soimaan rauhoittuakseni raskaan päivän jälkeen.
Overall pleasant but not my thing. A subjective 3 stars, an objective 4.
I really liked this. They’re a lot weirder sounding than I thought they’d be, it doesn’t sound like just one thing it’s definitely “dorky” sounding but still good. Interesting themes too not just really syrupy love songs like I thought.
This is not really my type of music, but it has some classics that we all know. Karen Carpenter was extremely talented. This album has some great harmonies.
This is a good record full of swooning pop songs and melodies. The music is layered in production and well crafted. It is enjoyable to listen to every once in a while.
I like carpenters :)
"What do you get when you kiss a guy? You get enough germs to catch pneumonia After you do, he'll never phone you I'll never fall in love again" I just can't. Then we get to Mr. Guder. Seriously, I had to look at the song title to realize they weren't singing about cheese. Only to find out that the song is about a supervisor that fired them. I mean, let it go people. I swear this spawned Adele. Other albums from 1970 that did not make this list: Elton John - Elton John, The Velvet Underground - Loaded, Funkadelic - Funkadelic. And in no world should this be on the list where Weezer's blue album isn't.
Definitely not my jam. Are there times when airy, delicate music can soothe you? Yeah. Would you make out to this? maybe if you lived in 1970. Weird anti capitalist message on Mr. Gruder. Stay in your lane? Cover of Help? ok. Saccharin. Heard this album a lot growing up. She has a beautiful voice. Abba? No dont want to listen to again. I'm too gen x and jaded to feel like this is authentic. The cars on fire and the carpenters are not at the wheel.
No.
This is syrupy '70s easy listening, dripping with schmaltzy production flourishes that underline every sentiment to avoid any understatement. I would love to hear these songs stripped down, because for all the thematic repetitiousness—love and wanting it, losing it, etc.—there's something to the compositions, and obviously Karen Carpenter had a singular voice. I want more "Crescent Noon" and less "I'll Never Fall in Love Again." Also more of the flute, organ, and drums jam at the end of "Another Song." (I also kinda like their cover of "Help"?)
Good band, good album.
Primeiro álbum pop, caramba, é um bom álbum, gostei bastante do cover de "Help", mas não sinto nada muito além disso. É tudo agradável de uma maneira agradavelmente agradável.
There are ~30 albums in this list that were released in 1970. Almost all of them are more interesting and influential than this album. At the same time, it is impossible to think about 70s music with the inclusion of Carpenters. There music was everywhere and they were extremely commercial successful. They made pop music and it was very popular. Karen Carpenter has a great voice, to be sure. Like so many musicians she died to early (32), for most it was drugs, for her it was anorexia. Both causes of death have roots in public perception. I'm not going to be revisiting this album, but it did bring back memories. I can also see why the authors included it on the list. Just not for me.
7/10 Favorites: (They Long To Be) Close To You Baby It’s You
Everything sounds like theme songs for 70s sitcoms.
This might not be totally my style, or one I go back to time and time again, but I have to give this album credit: this was a perfectly crafted album in terms of songwriting and an extremely enjoyable listen.
'Close to You' is ’70s easy-listening pop at its absolute peak. That said, with the benefit of hindsight, it’s a little strange knowing that Karen and Richard Carpenter were siblings passionately singing love songs, rather than a married couple or just two unrelated bandmates. Even so, I’ve always had a soft spot for The Carpenters. They were in near-constant rotation on the stereo at home, alongside Barry Manilow, Bread, Anne Murray, and George Benson—artists who all lived comfortably in that soft-rock lane that would eventually become the default soundtrack of doctor and dentist waiting rooms everywhere. Their gentle harmonies and ultra-polite love songs are impossible for me to separate from the memory of sitting in a vinyl chair, flipping through a 'Highlights' magazine, waiting for Dr. Garvey to call my name and fill my latest cavity.
This reminds me of riding to school with my Mom.... easy listening station in full force. Along with 80s pop country, this is definitely the kind of music my parents preferred and I heard regularly growing up. I can't say this will ever be in my regular rotation, but it's fun to revisit and reminisce about easier times. The music isn't anything interesting. It sounds like I am standing outside the mall organ store listening to an organ self-playing a demo song. Also wow, I had no idea Karen had such a vocal range until Crescent Noon came on.
5/10 This album gave me diabetes
Very very saccharine, very samey. Best/most interesting song was ‘Help’, which of course they didn’t write. 1 or 2 pretty songs but nothing very interesting
Packed full of hits that you know. Very nice to reminisce and enjoy them however not sure I would listen again.
1/7/26. Near pop perfection for me with this album. Haven't really dived into the Carpenters until now but am impressed. Songs really stick with you with the vocal harmonies and unique chord progressions. Will be revisiting again and again.
gentle and nice and pleasant
An album that throws in an all vocal harmonization track is usually amazing. An album that’s only tracks like that is, well…
Poetic and their voices are beautiful.
A very calm listen, I enjoyed it.
Tea 🍵 asf . Quit literally, it's the first album 💿 I listened to of this genre but I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to listen 🎧 to more from the artist behind the album 💿.
Despite The Beatles’ Help! not being on this list, I have already listened to 2 albums in which the title track is covered, and I wouldn’t say it’s impossible I will hear another cover somewhere in the next 900 albums. This album is extremely 70s, schmaltzy, corny, and sickeningly sweet. However, that’s not an inherently bad thing in my book. Karen Carpenter has such a sweet voice and the harmonies throughout the album are beautiful. 3/5
Certainly skillful music making, but far too saccharine for my ears (although maybe I'm just in a bad mood).
This album goes much harder than you'd think it would. The breakdown in Mr. Guder is sick AF.
A well executed album. The harmonies, the orchestration are sweeping. Karen’s vocals and drumming are gorgeous. 4/5
I’m listening to this album at 1:30am on New Year’s Day. This has ruined my year so far. Thank god that I still have time to make up for this. Who likes this dribble? Little old ladies knitting socks?
Too many fillers between the classics to score high enough to match her amazing voice.
10/10 so so beautiful with so many amazing songs, i’ve already relistened 3 different times
Nice
Karen is wearing open-toed shoes and you can see her ankles on the album cover, so it’s impossible to say this record doesn’t take ANY risks. Musically, it’s a little more challenging to pick out the spicy* choices, but they’re there. For instance, I don’t remember “We’ve Only Just Begun” going quite so hard - maybe I’ve always immediately glazed over when that first harmony kicks in around the 40sec. mark, but that horn punch at the start of the verses kinda slaps! As much as I don’t want to admit it, "Love Is Surrender" isn’t spiritually dissimilar to a lot of Bossa Nova records that I love, it just centers more English vocals than I'm accustomed to hearing. If you made the horns more prominent in the mix and/or put the lyrics in Portuguese, I’d probably love this track. The Beatles cover, “Help”, is actually pretty good; the harmonies do the song justice and it provides a good "Hey, I know this song" moment. The first 7sec of “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” are like fresh-cracked black pepper on mashed potatoes. A quick burst of flavor you’ll look for, but never get, in every subsequent bite. Surprisingly, this record contains two songs that don't seem to be about love at all - “Crescent Noon” and “Mr. Guder”. I would have never guessed. This is like a 2.5/5 for me so it'll get a soft 3 (not the first time that's happened while this album is playing, I'm sure). *spicy is a relative word
If you want chill vibes, this is peak
a love album! It definitely leans pop with some of the instrumentation, but I think there are some lovely harmonies and lyrics here. Maybe it's you and (they long to be) close to you are such repeatable tunes.
Ganske greit egentlig
Sweet sweet melodies. I was familiar with some ("We've Only Just Begun" and "Close To You"). I ended up spotify-liking a few other tracks. It's sad to learn that Karen struggled with anorexia.
To saccharin and light to get excited about, but too capable and pretty to be mad at. Pretty much a 3 by default.
Usually I don't go for saccharine but the talent (insane ear worms, beautiful arrangements, and Karen Carpenter's gorgeous vocals) elevates everything here. I can even squint and understand the intention wasn't cloying cheese - the music feels sincere, even if the sincerity would be beyond cringey in 2026. So while this is the type of album where it's not precisely my speed, between Karen Carpenter's simply sublime vocals + the catchiness of the songs, it puts this listen *far* above average.
I was expecting this to be an album of meh with a big hit on it. And to a lesser extent it was but I still found it lovely.
I was poised to dislike this originally but to my surprise I found parts to like in here. Its still hokey as all hell and not that interesting as a whole package but there are moments. I likr that they hit you with a beatles cover. Thats wild. And its different enough than the original that it doesnt just sound like a retread. The beatles were broken uo for what? Like 3 weeks at this point. They weren't the legacy powerhouse they are now. And the classic song close to you is still kinda goofy but its a good song at the end of the day. Its the best song here. But even at this point I would probably have given this a negative review but then another song come sin and that is legit good. Not what I expected at all but its cool. And thats another thing. If Karen Carpenter would have made it longer than she did I could see her being a really cool lady who would have had a some sort of Renaissance in her later years. Big if, she could have made it through all the bullshit. Sad we never got to see that. And I dont know the future or all future possibilities but I think thats how it could have played out here. Anyway i was happier than I expected on this one though its still kinda dweeby
*Nice 70s singer songwriter/folk album *The hits carry it, but still a solid record
??? lustig so spießig heteromormativer Pop? wie nannte man das den damals?, läuft aber gut durch hahah help Beatles cover includes super!. c
Its the Carpenters. I don't really think they're an album group. This one did have two of their hit songs on it and some covers. It was just a decent listen but nothing I'd hear again.
Improves a bit when they divert from the more twee music, very well produced as well 3*
Some decent songs on here. Enjoyed the cover of "Help!". A little too ethereal at points, but overall a good album. 3/5 Might listen again
3.5
Lovely album. The Carpenters are always a 70s contemporary treat.
Not a bad album. Nothing I would want on my everyday playlist mix, but some gems in here. We've Only Just Begun is excellent, and Close To You is the big single off of this, but check out Karen's drumming skills on Another Song. Love it! 3.25 / 5 stars because there's some real boat anchor songs on here, too much sap.
Great
Fine enough soft pop album with some soothing vocals. Not terribly remarkable but a decent listen. B side is noticeably weaker than the A side. Top tracks: We've Only Just Begun, Help, (They Long To Be) Close To You
Every song is so samey
made me realise how seriously lacking this album list has been with female musicians!!! Really loved this album
GOING IN: No strong feelings LISTENED WHILE: walking the dog FAMILIARITY: Know a few songs SKIP RATE: Skipped the odd one REPLAY VALUE: Once was plenty DISCOVERY CURVE: Slow burner this one ALBUM ARC: Pretty even, consistent VERDICT: Fair enough BODY'S VERDICT: Toe tapping situation FAVOURITE TRACK: We've Only Just Begun My Rating: 2 Incredible voice, but I would rather listen to the greatest hits album.
Easy listening. I mean, this is safe music for old people in the 60s that couldn’t handle the protests and revolution. That’s fine. But leave the Beatles, Tim Harden, and even the Shirelles alone. Please. I mean, they didn't just ruin Help. They didn't understand it. Which is ironic, because Karen needed help!
Felt sweet in places but quickly got tiresome
It’s really relaxed and smooth. Maybe not exactly my music but very nice to listen to.
Decent stuff. Fairly generic at times and a few covers rather than originals does drop the rating a bit
Not the Carpenters' best but also fairly benign overall.
como no escuche esto antes
This album is a mixed bag for me. You have some great songs in ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ and ‘(They Long To Be) Close To You’ but also have some questionable and borderline cheesy songs such as their version of the Beatles song ‘help’. However, there is no denying Karen Carpenter has lovely vocals throughout all the songs which shouldn’t be overlooked. Overall, I think it was a well-produced album with some highlights but at other moments can feel a bit off and too one-dimensional. Unrelated information: The song ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love again’ made me chuckle as it reminded of the Peter Kay misheard lyrics routine. Favourite tracks: (They Long To Be) Close To You and We’ve Only Just Begun My rating: 3/5
I was quite ready to hate this, based mostly on how ridiculous Close To You is, but actually it's pretty good all told. The vocals are so on point, and the arrangements are even nice enough to make me not mind the two Beatles covers (OK, Baby It's You is technically a Shirelles cover, but you know what I mean). It's a relaxing bath - it's not exciting or new, but it's comforting and pleasant.
Sellout.
I can appreciate the hits here, as well as Karen Carpenter’s talent, but this is too much stuck in time for me to really want to come back to.
Older love songs. Kinda hippy vibes. A famous song (the title of the album) and Mr. Guder is kinda the same starting vibes as a Glass Animals song.
It’s that one TikTok sound omggggg I like it
A definitive 1970s album, I say having not heard many
Sigh. This is painful for me because I hate it. I am one of the whitest white boys on Earth, but this is just too white for me. Totally vanilla, zero flavor, no fun to be had. It was a huge deal, but I'm not into evangelical revivals or conservative rallies. Okay, maybe I do have some soul for a white dude. Influence 4. Quality 3. Intangibles 4. Hits 5. It's not for me 1.
Can’t hate on this, too wholesome
It's alright, kinda 3 stars for one song but can't hate it
This would be one star if not for Karen Carpenter’s ethereal voice. RIP.
Karen is always lovely, but otherwise unremarkable.
The last song is pretty cool and not the easy listening the rest of the album is.
Eh
Extremely cheesy, but some of the songs are pretty well written...
Though not entirely unpleasant it was mind-numbingly boring.
"Okay grandma and grandpa, let's get you to bed." 4/5
She has a nice voice and their hits were played constantly. And while I enjoyed the album, I’m done for another year.
Such a great voice and album.
good
Grupo trascendental, contiene temas famosos pero la musica en general esta claramente orientada a otra generacion.
Gotta give it its props, though it's a bit sweet for me. My sister listened to this a lot growing up.
Downy soft but pleasant enough.
Reminds me of a tea party with a little kid. It's bright and fun and delectable but also a bit silly or embarrassing. Just gotta embrace the joy of it.
What a loss. Karen’s velvet alto voice will never be replaced.
Sounds like the house band at the Holiday Inn - East Peoria
Another one of the "thought no way I'd like it" - and it turned out to be pretty good. Not necessarily my genre or years, but I gave it a fair chance it and it was nice enough.
She has a beautiful voice and some classic songs. Her cover of Help was certainly interesting. The end of the album kinda lost me
Sickeningly sweet ...
Simple, pretty songs with gorgeous vocals. Some extremely cliche love songs, that became cliche for a reason. Nice album, I could listen to her sing all day. Most of the songs didn't quite reach a second level I was looking for, that maybe some kind of unique bridge could've brought. Enjoyed it for sure
Not my taste, but it's beautiful.
Early carpenters. OK, but better to come.
new 3, fine
Perfectly pleasant AM Gold for 70’s NPCs that find Rod Stewart and The Beatles just a bit too harsh. I enjoyed Crescent Noon and Mr. Guder.
You know, I weirdly really liked this. I'm not usually one for albums like this or in this style, but somehow each song was alluring in its own ways. Maybe also familiar, I wasn't sure. Still not a ton I'd listen to on their own, but very nice.
A pretty good collection of easy-listening baroque pop songs. Nothing especially groundbreaking, but it's really carried by Karen Carpenter's gorgeous vocals.
Very soothing. Maybe too soothing cuz I almost fell asleep while driving.
These are some very fun, slightly cheesy love songs that sound like they belong in a classic ’90s rom-com. For some reason, that was enough to hit me right in the nostalgia bone (despite not recognizing any of these tracks) and made the whole thing a really warm, enjoyable listen. Add in the surprisingly incredible instrumental part in the closing track, and the album lands at a comfortable 4 in my eyes. Standouts: (They Long To Be) Close To You • Another Song
Perfectly acceptable and cute little album but unremarkable.
Generic hippy music. They should be called "The Blah-penters"
Hmmmmmm, what to say ... She had a beautiful voice. And they had some hits from this album. I probably could sing along with them. But alas, it's not anything I would put on my turntable on purpose. She died too young.
We've Only Just Begun (They Long to Be) Close to You
Pretty catchy, but not quite my thing. I wouldn’t seek this out but I would likely hum along if it played in the grocery store. Ron Burgundy vibes overall. Or is it more accurate to say Ron Burgundy has Carpenters vibes?
Syrupy and schmaltzy and honestly not like terrible but not really my thing. I think they do the best but I don’t really need it.
Some OK songs. A good song or two. Some songs I did not like. I think this is overall fine. It’s pretty much as 3 of an album as I can think of.
light and dreamy. so wonderful
I'm sure my mum had this album.
# Album Name: Close to you # Artist: Carpenters # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Very good album. Three massive tracks. Great vocals, quite catchy pop tunes. # Top Tunes: only just begun / close to you / never fall in love again / Mr guder # Would I listen to it again? Yes
I have this music as much as any music made.
In the recent sea of shite on here this comes across as charming and refreshing! I’ll never listen to it again although I know most of the tracks anyway
Wow this goes - what a haunting vibe!
never really knew why but the carpenters are my mom's fav english speaking band... karen c has a really beautiful voice and i am super endeared to them because they remind me a lot of my childhood... i also often sing we've only just begun at karaoke and lemme say.. i had no idea Paul Williams wrote it .
It's cute as hell
They're very good - this was enjoyable.
This wasn't bad. We've Only Just Begun is a great song. The Help cover is pretty weird.
Solid stuff.
Carpenters are nostalgic for me; my parents loved them. And Karen has an amazing voice.
What a voice
3.75 / Musica de gente que se drogra con hongos y acido
About as light and fluffy as whipped icing and yet, holds an alluring charm.
Overall: 6/10 This isn't necessarily my thing, but it was pretty decent for what it was! The best drummer in the world had a beautiful voice as well. The title track is very pretty and they have an interesting cover of Help by those liverpool brats. It's also really cheesy but that didn't bother me as much as it normally would. Fav Song: (They Long to Be) Close to You
Very soft rock, but listenable
I really love "(They long to be) Close to you" so I was very hyped to give the album a listen, but it was not it. I'm very dissapointed.
Not as insipid as I thought it would be, but pretty darn insipid. A few grooves eventually and Karen's voice is nice, but now I know why I've always stayed away from the Carpenters.
Good songs. Great last song. Surprising instrumentation. Barely a 3.
Ah, de Timmermannen. Ik heb er laatst nog een LP van gekocht voor het luttele bedrag van €2,30. Als de zombies komen maar er is nog wel stroom dan kan ik die lekker gaan zitten luisteren. Gezapig en zoetsappig. Wat verouderd wel. Tegelijkertijd is het nog steeds best mooie zondagochtendmuziek met mooie harmonieën, een lief pianotje, enzovoort. Een megahit, een Beatles covertje, totaal 40 minuten. Ik kan het redelijk goed hebben, al heb ik na de hit halverwege eigenlijk wel genoeg zoetigheid gehad. Tussen de 2 en 3 sterren, beetje afhankelijk van de vorm van de dag.
Some good tunes on here but quite slow and boring at times. Great voice though.
An album where the singer can actually sing is always worth at least 3 stars. But this isn’t that good, so that caps it at most 3 stars.
No.
Such a voice, and some cracking songs
Honestly pretty solid, if not just for the nostalgia of this music having been in most of my favorite childhood movies (RIP Chubs)
Good to hear all those old school songs from like every movie ever
It’s a decent album, and I never found myself hating. Yet this album is white I’m pretty sure my credit score rose just from listening to it.
Zuckersüßer Kitsch!
A kind and gentle album very fitting for a fireplace and warm autumn leaves
Sugary enough to cause a diabetic coma
Difficult one. It’s so cheesy…so “nice”…. I dont know if I like it, love it, or just hate it. Depended on the day and my mood. I’ll go mid on it. 3/5
Her voice always brings a tear to my eye... an angel! In this album, I particularly like the Beatles covers and of course, We've Only Just Begun, a great classic! 5 stars.
This album is kind of exactly what you expect-- easy pop songs that are generically produced but catchy. I guess I'm a bit of a Carpenters hater, but I find most of their sound cheesy ("Mr. Guder" or Mr. Gouda?) and annoying. Karen Carpenter is an iconic voice but not unique, and I'm not sure if that's because she imitated the common style or her voice became the common style. Their whole vibe of strings and flutes and soft harmonies feels contrived and evokes pearl-clutching Christian moms. But perhaps I'm being influenced by the stereotypical labels put on them. I don't rest blame solely on Karen and Richard for their "squeaky clean" reputation, but it certainly what the studio did to them and what the production evokes. I don't judge those who find Carpenters a guilty pleasure as they are certainly talented musicians and the songs are certainly well done. But if you take the Carpenters as some kind of symbol of true American values or a reflection of your own virtue, then I raise an eyebrow. (Perhaps this seems overkill to state in this day and age, but it is a sentiment I heard growing up.) This is just a pop band making pop songs, and the album is fine.
The thing with The Carpenters is they are only ever as good as the material they're given. The are obviously competent and charismatic performers, but it is hard to escape the sheen of saccharine sweet vocal harmonies and lightweight production - the weaker songs crumble under the weight of layers of easy-listening gloss. Don't get me wrong, it's a pleasant and often appropriate sound, but not a partiularly challenging or thought-provoking one. At their best, The Carpenters smuggle an layer of unsettling melancholy into what, on the surface, appears to be just another frothy pop ballad. That doesn't happen too often on this album though, sadly. The well-known hit singles are highlights, decent but not deep.
Some great songs others ?
Quite enjoyable to me, probably because I was never bombarded with it like quite some others seem to have been. It's songs are sweet, if not a bit sappy and cliche, but it's perfectly fun to listen to
A soft-pop rock paragon with the Carpenters as masters of harmony and lush, cinematic arrangements Favourite Tracks: Love to Surrender, We've Only Just Begun, Baby It's You, They Long to Be (Close to You)
classic. thought the sound recording was bad, realized it was my bluetooth speaker after listening to the whole album.