Reviews (page 4 of 9)
classic. thought the sound recording was bad, realized it was my bluetooth speaker after listening to the whole album.
3,1 - Schönes Album, was am Anfang die Hits raushaut und dann leider in ganz komische Richtungen abdriftet, die nicht mehr wirklich schön anzuhören waren. Highlights: (They Long to Be) Close to You, Baby It's You
Some very sweet songs in here
Old school soft sunday feeling. There's a couple songs that I remember and enjoyed well enough. I liked some of the similar songs spotify started queuing up after as well
I wish I could rate this higher. This isnt a unique sentiment but I love Karen Carpenters voice and she deserved the best songs and arrangements. I don't love the music as much.
A fairly mellow pop album that was a tad repetitive but overall not bad. Not exactly my style but there are a few enjoyable tracks.
It was nice
Very chill and calming. Classic songs.
There was a trend when rock started of white groups performing black music in order to “appeal” to white audiences. The Carpenters take white music and make it somehow even whiter. They are the anti-soul singers.
This is something I never would’ve listened to otherwise. I mean I know about the Carpenters and can maybe recognize a song or two, but would never imagine listening to a full album. Anyway it’s pretty cool. I mean it’s very much a pop record but it’s not entirely obvious. Karen’s voice is great and actually pretty unique. It’s not an overly sweet pop voice and she also doesn’t try to fake some Motown soul vocal. Kinda Lennonesque I guess. I also love her lower register. The arrangements are also cool in that they usually keep sparse and not try to create this overly lush atmosphere. The last few songs try to be a bit more… more, and it doesn’t work as well imho. Anyway classic songs of heartbreak by a classic duo three stars.
Alright
Absolutely beautiful album at least 4.5
Very pleasant and well-put together album (except the Help cover. Didn't need that). She has an amazing voice, and the music isn't hateful, but it's also incredibly simple. 3.0/5.0: Good
this was incredibly average. she has a good voice there was some good instrumentation on some of the songs but otherwise it was pretty bland.
I’ve never sat and listened to a Carpenters album. I’m more familiar with some of these songs than I thought I’d be. I knew I’d get some lush vocal layers, harmonies and piano and this album delivered for sure. I was surprised by some really great drum, percussion, and symphonic compositions. All around this album was recorded and mixed really well. The song selection was quite impressive too, picking songs that were familiar but that gave the Carpenters a chance to make them their own. The “Help” cover really floored me. Not very often that a Beatles cover actually competes with the original. The original songs on here are excellent too. This was an easy 5 for me.
Pleasant album, perfectly sandwiched between Sepultura and Metallica... Reminds me of a Mr. Bungle concert when they go from melting faces to playing What the World Needs is Love, then back to face melting. This is a 4.
I really liked this. It's so....beautiful and calming and just lovely. Just an album of lovely bangers. It put me in a really good mood, on a day when I needed that extra support :)
133/1001 Carpenters - Close To You Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ I guess I'm fortunate enough that clearly neither of my parents listened an awful lot to Carpenters. On first listen, this is the sort of stuff I really enjoy, the harmonies, warm and the general production. That's before Karen Carpenter's own vocals. Yeah, this deserves a re-listen.
Wasn't sure if some of these songs were covers or originals. still fun
Lush and evocative. Also revoltingly saccharine, production wise. Sunday morning music. One or two songs on a mix are outstanding, but an entire album sends me from the room silently screaming (in attempted three part harmony).
Really beautifully written songs. Harmonies galore.
Sounds like a church band and that’s a nope from me!
Está bien. No me voló especialmente la cabeza y hay momentos en que tanta azúcar termina por cansar, pero se escucha rápido y tiene buenos hits.
pretty, but also kinda sucks!
I can dig it. Cleaned the house to it and enjoyed the Beatles cover 5/10
Why isn’t the Halloween theme on this? 0 stars
I didn’t expect to like this as much as I’ve grown to. It’s so clean and polished Mr.Guder, Help, Crescent Noon take the cake
Almost got a 3, last few songs bumped it up to a 4
Sickly sweet 70s pop done well. Amazing voice but too sweet for me. Help cover is poor, but certainly not the worst Beatles cover I've ever heard. I'm looking at you Tina! Also, I prefer Deacon Blues version of "I'll Never Fall in Love Again".
Saccharine music but well done. The big hits are classics but it loses a point for murdering Help.
Löytyy parempaakin tuotantoa
Odotin enemmän… ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nyt oli kyllä ajalle vastinetta tämä!
This was the breakthrough LP for the Carpenters, including mostly covers (some written by Burt Bacharach). Carpenters have lost much of their relevancy over the years, although they still can be heard occasionally on oldies radio. The Beatles version of “Help” is much better than the Carpenters version. I felt the Dionne Warwick and Carpenters versions of “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” are comparable. The last track was less easy listening and more rock. Overall not quite up to four stars. I did enjoy the Wiki anecdote about the Carpenters being fired from Disneyland for playing modern music instead of old time music.
They're SIBLINGS?! Why so many love duets? Very Folgers. Anyway, here's another tragic death I didn't know about 'til now. Thanks a lot, album project. At least we'll always have this hilariously dated album cover. The singing and harmony is good, but it is also very old sounding, and not in a peppy 50s way, but a sleepy 60s way. 'Love is Surrender' is a little bit nefarious. I like that the saxophone is played by a Mr. Jim Horn. Our second go-around for 'Reason to Believe' (previously: Rod Stewart), but it sure didn't make an impression on me either time. Probably our second go-around for 'Help' (no exclamation here, for shame), and I don't like this version one bit. Sounds like a Casio keyboarded demo track.(However, it did reveal to me the Beatles' US "picture sleeve" for 'Help'-the-single where they are wearing funny outfits at the beach, and I enjoyed that very much.) '(They Long to Be) Close to You' is great. Why do I like this one so much? Ah, of course, it was in the classic Simpsons episode "The Way We Was". (Also a plot device in the 1989 film..... Parenthood. Parenthood mention #5!?) It's a sweet song though. Even if it's about siblings. This whole album really evoked being in a dark, empty department store in 1994. Of course that implies they're playing the hits from 2001 in dark department stores now, but that can't be right. Maybe I'll do some field work on this, since I just read that "Ames is in the process of a comeback, with the plan to reopen 35 stores starting in June 2026"! Sorry, I got a little off track here, but that's because the album is so boring. The small bit of pep on 'I'll Never Fall in Love Again' made me sit up real straight though. Easy Listening is the correct genre for this. Another group where I thought they had a "the" in their name but apparently don't. (That makes #10 after Beastie Boys, Pretenders, Pet Shop Boys, Beatles, Talking Heads, Eagles, Pixies, Cocteau Twins, & Fugees!) Highlights: '(They Long to Be) Close to You', the song title 'Crescent Noon', 'Mr. Guder' (initially the title, but actually the song's relatively catchy also. Lil flute and acapella, plus silly lyrics!)
karen, você merecia tão mais... :( voz de anjo, uma pessoa linda tanto por fora, quanto por dentro, um talento inesquecível. para sempre em nossos corações, querida! o album em si tem altos e baixos, mas ele é bem nostálgico pra mim, pois cresci ouvindo algumas músicas. 3,5.
This is exactly what I would imagine music made by carpenters to sound like
It was okay. Close to you is a nice song
There's something about (They Long to Be) Close to You, that I think it must be Karen's vocals, that gives me the same feeling as Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely. As much as I would like to write this off as some jazz-influenced easy listening music, I do think there's a little bit more than that going on here - if not still within the realms of pop music. Crescent Noon is also a nice track.
Favorite Track: Reason to Believe
Saccharin sweet. Cliche, overproduced and dull tracks. The only highlight of the album is Karen Carpenter vocals & drumming
Ooh I really liked this!
This’ll be a 5. It’s a 5. I had 6 of the 12 songs already in my playlist. I fucking love Carpenters it makes me sick. You gotta be in the right mood, but they’ll get you in there quick. What a gift was Sweet Karen.
Pants
Easy going voice and arrangements. I won’t say it’s perfect because it doesn’t bop that hard but it’s definitely good
Still one of my favourite albums of all times. One of the world's most underrated female drummers and so sad we lost her so soon.
The arrangements are beautiful. The 1970's were a long time ago, the world was different - sometimes the music seems so mild, but this was the sort of music you could listen to with your older relatives and it's still really good. I wish Karen had a happier and longer life
As Happy Gilmore said, “It ain’t over yet, McGavin. The way I see it, we’ve only just begun.” And so launched an epic comeback. This wasn’t as epic, but the first track is a banger. 3 stars.
I feel like theres some carpenters songs I love but like listening to a whole album im slightly more indifferent.
It was a pleasant listen
Back to the seventies. The Carpenters feel like easy listening but the musicianship and harmonies and everything are great. I won’t rule out listening again. Three and a half stars.
I’m not a musician but guessing behind the scenes what sound like simple melodies were incredibly hard to write and play. Very pleasant.
I hate this album. 70s schmaltz. Nails on a chalkboard.
karen carpenter has the voice of a freaking angel. like john denver. it’s just so pure and clear. feel like this would be a good car album. super 70s. “We’ve Only Just Begun” “Crescent Noon” “Mr. Guder”
Sweet pop album, almost gave me diabetes
i read a book about Karen Carpenter like a month ago but hadn’t actually spent any time listening to the Carpenters music. it was pretty cool. i got hints of abba in a lot of places. their whole thing was wholesomeness and perfection, which i think this album is a great representation of. but it also makes for music that is just ever slightly dull. it’s good, but it’s not always interesting - which can sometimes be even better than good. high 3
It's alright. They are a distinguishable band. Easy listening but I noticed too many covers
4/5
2.4 Torn on this. On the one hand, I hate it. On the other hand, it probably made a lot of people happy, won loads of awards somehow, and so was probably an important release. Cannot give this 3 stars though, so I'm forcing it to fall just short. I feel like this album is made for people who are oblivious to how tough life is. It's vom in mouth levels of cheese. Oh also, it's most a covers album. That won loads of Grammy's. Wtf.
I wish I was in a soft pop duo with my sister. The first half of this album is very good but the second is just alright, but Karen Carpenter's beautiful voice more than makes up for it. I was reading the reviews on here and I feel like they think they're too tough to really appreciate her beautiful voice because The Carpenters is very laid back, kinda dentist office-esqe music, but get off your high horse The Carpenters are pretty good and Close To You is one of the greatest and most beautiful songs ever recorded.
I know these guys. I have not listened to much of their stuff as it is a bit poppy for me. But to me this was the beginning of true pop. Not for me but I respect their catalogue and what they brought
I’m not a fan of the soft sound so much, but I found this album really enjoyable.
Pop, soft, schön, 1970 -> 3
I seem to have outgrown my hatred of The Carpenters as this was far more listenable than when I used to hear it weekly as a kid. She always had a beautiful voice though
Quite delightful
Classy
Saccharine but with a lovely voice
I was softly disappointed in this one. I love the title track - maybe just because I like The Simpsons. But the rest of this album I found rather dull. Not bad by any means just kinda boring. Also that cover of “Help” was not it
It started off strong, and then just became a bit too repetitive. Oh, and this is the whitest album I've ever heard in my life. Favorite Track: "We've Only Just Begun".
Great singles, weak in places. But Karen could sing the dictionary and I'd swoon
I am a sucker for the Burt Bacharach/Hal David songs and they put two of the greatest of all time on here, Close To You and I'll Never Fall In Love Again. Some of the most likable tunes and lyrics ever made, rendered exquisitely by Karen Carpenter. I'm biased by the fact that I heard the Carpenters on the radio constantly for ten years as a child, at the age when one just becomes aware of what music is. Catchy, clever, wholesome. The swelling backgrounds, the occasional flute, tambourine, harpsichord, it's the sound of the seventies all in one place. Beautiful.
For an easy listening album, this is surprisingly difficult to listen to, but not for the reasons you might expect. It opens with the syrupy-sweet ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ which weirdly enough was written as an advertising jingle for a real estate company to sell mortgages to newly weds. Things pick up a bit after a while with Karen Carpenter’s gorgeous vocals being perfectly suited to the three Burt Bacharach songs on this album, and a haunting cover of Help by the Beatles. Reading the back story to this album revealed a tragedy waiting to happen. Karen was an extraordinarily talented drummer (just search for clips of her playing on YouTube) but her pushy parents and somewhat controlling older brother Richard forced her into the spotlight as lead vocalist, singing sappy songs instead of the upbeat numbers she preferred. Karen managed to play drums on a couple of tracks on this album, and it’s interesting to hear the jazzy, progressive sound on the final track ‘Another Song’ as maybe the style that she preferred. Karen Carpenter was only 20 when this album was recorded, and her struggles with anorexia and the demands of being in the public eye are well documented. She recorded a solo album, fronting the $400,000 costs, and was devastated when the studio (and her brother) refused to release it. She also suffered in an unhappy marriage to a much older man and passed away from a heart attack aged only 32. In retrospect, her recording of Help seems painfully prescient. Rest in peace Karen.
As unbelievable as it might seems, this was pretty refreshing. First, after listening to a boring PSB album and another mainstream pop album from Robbie Williams, this is some sort of a relief. On top of that, this is actually really good, well articulated and well executed pop music. Karen has a beautiful voice AND she can play the drums. There are some welcome "darkness" in the album, contrasting with the usually lighter tone of pop music (their cover of Help, what a beauty, and Crescent Noon for example). And a jazz closing track I was not expecting. Really good stuff.
Gostei
Idk I know it’s easy to clown on the Carpenters for being cheesy but man, these are well-produced love songs sung by one of the most beautiful voices of all time. Relaxing, like a cool wind flowing over you for a half hour.
I liked when it turned into a Dave Matthews jam session during the last song
I love the Carpenters! My dad used to sing “Close to You” to me when I was a baby. I think his tune (pun intended) has changed since then. 🤪
Cheesy, but pleasant enough for a single listen.
This was a nice break from the recent albums on this list.
Pleasant enough. Close to you is a lovely song that was played at my Auntie's funeral. Interesting cover of Help! The album is beautifully arranged and she's got a lovely, calming voice. Very easy listening. Won't be top of my playlists, but I might pop it on when my mum and dad next come over for a meal.
3.5. Quite enjoyable
Good good. 3.4
Karen certainly had a lovely voice, but this is mostly too saccharine for my taste.
Loads i recognised. Not my favourite but very accomplished in its way
Schöne Oldies und n wenig Quatsch, aber insgesamt schon gut
Ganz chilly milly. Warum die Beatles covern? tut nicht not
Awfully, intolerably sweet. Hit me on a day when my record player waas broken, too.
A real choad slapper
2.0 - Weak
Surprisingly not bad, especially the second half, where they put some of their more adventurous songs. Some cool Beach Boys style vocal harmonies. I expected to hate this, but I'll give it a generous 3 stars.
Good Album. Very nice melodies, some nice arrangement and some great chord progressions. Those high horn parts can come across as very stale, though.
If someone tries to argue that the Carpenters were quite good actually, play them Help from this album Extraordinary
surprised to hear a cover of help in here lol, solid album. album has passive smile vibes
In all honesty I'm just bored listening to this album. Soft rock like this always leaves me wanting a bit more. There are some strong elements to the album but for me the album lacks edge or any standout moments. It makes for a “pleasant” listen but also a very forgettable one.
7/10
Not bad album but definitely not for me.
Beautiful voice but... Yawn
Knew a couple from it, not my type of music
Pretty irresistible pop ballads.
I like this. Stunning vocals. This is old enough that the pop to copy was the Beatles and that's a good thing. Did enjoy
This is extremely yacht club/rich white people music. Karen (how appropriate) can certainly sing though; she has a really nice voice with a lot of range and she never struggles to hit low or high notes or really strains to hit anything. She's the real star of this album, and when her brother comes in you can see why. His voice is fine but it's always double tracked to hide something it seems. Instrumentals are fine, nothing terribly challenging, but that's what this is, very unchallenging pleasant music. Unless you like her voice a lot there's no reason to really listen to this over and. It's "nice".
Classic easy listening for a reason. The Carpenters have a sound that everyone can sit with. Will I choose to listen to this again? Is this one of the most important albums of all time? I think not.
Meh. Fine enough but not really captivating.
Haven’t listened to this in years and now I know why. Even though this album was well liked at the time, I’m surprised it still gets so many great reviews today. Credit for a beautiful voice but these are awful covers of some great music. Awful song (We’ve Only Just Begun) that at the time was everyone’s overplayed wedding theme song. Overall too sappy.
yearnville. album of yearn city. yearn valley. for the yearners, for the lovers. for those who have ached before in the longing of another.
I really enjoyed this album!! 5/5 Karen Carpenter's vocals are beautiful, and the whole album is genuinely enjoyable to listen to. 8.96/10
It’s almost overwhelmingly sweet. But it’s catchy and well made
I think it’s just not my thing, but was alright
It's fine. Technically it's a solid album, I just don't think I'm in love with their style.
I wasn’t expecting a Beatles cover. This is not what I would usually listen to. It’s not really my thing. But it’s perfectly OK. Not really exciting as such - although I quite liked Another Song right at the end. But it doesn’t deserve the hate it gets. And there are albums from the early 70s on this list that are a lot worse.
Mrs Buttersworth : syrup :: the carpenters : folk
The Good: We know where they are! The Bad: They could’ve listened to The Police and not “stand so…” The Ugly: The fact that this is the easiest of easy listening. Poor Karen—I mean that respectively—what a terrible life she had. Listening to this, and knowing what a great drummer she was, it must have hurt even more to be stuck with this pantzy music. Of course I know the tunes, and they are agreeable, however, I’ve come to realize that doing a different album every day really makes one want to listen to specific sounds after a while, and this album does not contain them. I will give them a 2* that should’ve been pushed to 3*, but I can’t get myself to do so...
3/3.5
Why we should listen to the Carpenters. The Police and Carpenters were both signed to A&M. One day, Sting (I believe it was) was whinging to the label boss about the amount of attention given to Richard and Karen. Label head’s response? Thanks to Richard and Karen, we were able to sign you lot and stick by you. Stop whining and at least pretend to be grateful. (Full disclosure - I fact checked this on an AI platform and it claims that I am hallucinating. Fairly sure I’m not, though…) I don’t mind the Carpenters at all.
Inside of you are two wolves. One wolf is a simple creature, who enjoys peaceful, easy-listening love songs. Even if they are cheesy, some music is just meant to feel warm and romantic, with nice musical passages, piano chords, and string arrangements. Not every album has to be incredibly complex - these are simply timelessly smooth songs that have earned their way into wedding playlists for the rest of humanity's days. 5/5. The other wolf absolutely despises this artificial, cheap, saccharine, plastic goddamn waste of half an hour. This is such an explosive assault on the free world that it could be charged with domestic terrorism-related offences in 47 states. I'm surprised this album isn't on the No-Fly list. If I was John Lennon, I would've a) ducked and b) sued the Carpenters directly into the cold, hard ground for destroying "Help!" and turning it into unlistenable, grey slop. This album is whiter than the Mormon Church. 1/5. So we'll compromise and go 3/5.
70s am radio for sure.
That voice, it’s a winner for me because of Karen’s amazing voice. But the schmaltz production of pop from that era hurts its listenability many years later.
Legalzinho. Tem uma música incrível
Old
Not for me but sounded nice
Far too saccharine for me. I was going to compare this to the Beatles / Beach Boys and then a cover of their awful song Help came on!
Alguna canción icónica. Buena música, pero muy monótono.
I really enjoyed her voice, it was soothing. It felt so comforting and familiar. It’s a venerable album, it made me want to feel the love that she felt..
The highlights are enough.
I get that she has a great voice and all that. Talented drummer too. But damn are these songs boring. I think in the 70’s and 80’s my dentist played the carpenters in his office on 8 track repeating over and over. 2 stars (2& 1/2 really) because I appreciate why it’s here. I just don’t need to listen to it again after today.
Absolutely stunning. Sure sometimes the instrumentation is pretty dated, but come on. Those vocals are a masterclass.
Karen's voicings are magical. Too bad the album seems to be a 70s machine-produced exercise with no originality beyond the aforementioned voicings. I love Reason To Believe. The Help cover is an abomination (sorry Karen). This album has only one thing going for it and that's her voice. Otherwise it doesn't belong.
During college, I had a best of Carpenters album which I played to death. I absolutely love those harmonies and arrangements and all the great songs were on there. I did question the covers on here - they weren’t that good but Karen‘s voice is always phenomenal. And the hits were superb. Mr. Guder (Gouda) fit in with with the total cheese theme brilliantly.
Karen Carpenter's voice is a marvel—silky smooth and effortless. And while the music is impossibly clean-cut, it strikes me as authentic as it gets. The Carpenters have a stake in my own musical journey—the first two cassettes I ever owned were Kiss' Destroyer and The Carpenters' A Kind of Hush, played back-to-back on a loop for months—though I haven't spun a Carpenters album since the '70s. Not my go-to. And there are planty of places I could go ranting about the sticky saccharine of the choices and arrangements, but it's pretty clear this was the music in their souls.
Other than the two hits, I'd never heard this before. The two hits are perfect, if a bit more cheesy than I normally go for. In fact, their music is pretty much the opposite of what I normally like. It's so saccharine and devoid of soul. Well, except for Karen's voice. And man, her voice and their harmonies just do it for me. Plus, Richard was one hell of an arranger. "Close to You" is a perfect example. The Carpenters' version was the fifth attempt at making this David and Bacharach song a hit. Richard Chamberlain, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, and Herb Alpert all had a go. All great artists, but their arrangements were terrible. Richard Carpenter knew to keep things simple, give it a light swing, and let Karen's voice shine. So even if their brand of syrupy sweet music isn't your thing, the fact is, this kind of music was huge, and no one did it better than the Carpenters. The rest of the album continues in this vein. (I will say, their cover of Reason to Believe isn't nearly as good as Rod Stewart's. That song needs more soul than Carpenters were capable of.) I liked their cover of Help. Things got a bit weirder than I was expecting on that last track, which I dug. I didn't know they had that gear in them. As great an arranger as Richard was, though, man, he did Karen dirty. What a voice for the ages she had, and I'm always sad when I hear one of their songs. So yeah, they're not really my thing, but I have mad respect for them.
I am a total sucker for 1970s wholesomeness (The Magic Garden, ZOOM, Free to Be You and Me). The Carpenters play right into my love of this genre. And the fact that SHE was the drummer AND they are brother and sister who get along and make music. Be still my fucking heart. I was drawn to these two in my youth but as I got older, I started to hear what bangers they actually made---We've Only Just Begun, Superstar, Close to You, etc. I'm more than OK with the changes made to Help. Really love the organ. This album made me realize that Karen’s in my top 10 vocalist list. 4.5!
this was a really sweet album, really nice songs, some songs were really good as well
While not everyone's cup of tea, I really enjoy the Carpenters; very talented siblings with songs that have become standards. Close to You, Love is Surrender, We've Only Just Begun, and Crescent Noon are highlights, and the cover songs (Help, Reason to Believe) are executed with originality. A very pleasant and relaxing album featuring one of the best - if not THE best - female vocals in pop history.
★★★½
The harmonies in this album are quite good. A very consistent easy listening album so far. The second half of the album is much more experimental(?). It does not sounds as much like "Carpenters" as I expected, but it was not unpleasant. Crescent Noon was quite interesting. Another Song was epic and full of these beautiful broken out harmonies. So many changes in tempo and style, all while staying similar enough to be in one song. The second half of the album really props it up, a solid 3 star. I wouldn't consider it a bad album, but not particularly memorable other than a few songs.
Sympatoche.
I’ve heard Carpenters before but this is much better than expected. Much calmer than expected on a day I needed calm and the first few songs immediately are fire. Kinda love this.
Perfect distilling of 70s pop
1 star. I'm just not a fan overall. Some of it is nice but not enough for me to give it a 2. Not my style
Dear god, the soundtrack to hell. I can't deal with this kind of music really. Maybe one or two songs in the right setting, but the whole thing, nah. Also the album cover and aesthetics of it all is a bit much.
Honestly this is a really good album. One of my favorite sorta recent music learnings is that Karen Carpenter was an insanely talented drummer. While her brother had a great voice, she’s the brightest shining talent on the album.
1 ster. Vermassacrering van the beatles' help. Alle goeie elementen van het nummer weggewerkt om het zo veel mogelijk te reduceren tot smakeloze slop. Wat eigenlijk, op een bepaalde manie, best indrukwekkend was. Wat een saaie brol. Enige semi-deftige deel is de muzikale jam op de allerlaatste minuten van het album. Weggestopt, alsof ze zich schamen om toch iets semi interresants te doen met muziek.
Boring and unoriginal. Best track is a Beatles cover… 3/5 Highlights: Help Mr. Guder Another Song
Kitsch Pop at its finest. Contains their hits "We've Only Just Begun" and "(They Long to Be) Close to You"; also contains an insipid version of Tim Hardin's "Reason to Believe" (which was covered so much better by Rod Stewart), a cover of the Beatles song "Help!", and several Burt Bacharach songs.
Even if the rest of the album was amazing (which it's certainly not), it would get 1 star just for those godawful Beatles covers.
a nice easy listening experience have heard this before but enjoyed it more this time
Actually bought the vinyl because this was so good
3 decades there was a joke that went A musician dies and as he wakes up he finds himself ina studio with all the instruments set up. Guitars, keyboards, a drum kit, basses and a horn section. Slowly he focuses and sees Jimi Hendrix, Eddie van Halen and Jeff Beck and John Lennon walk in and plug in and start tuning up. Jaco Pastorius follows and plugs in his bass. Dizzy, Louis, Coltrane and Miles Davis makes up the horn section. Freddie Mercury walks up to the piano and adjusts the microphone. Meatloaf, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin take their spot at the backing singers microphone. Our hero, wide eyed seeing all his heroes in a band can’t believe it. He turns to Hendrix and says ‘I can’t believe that heaven is so great!’ Hendrix says ‘who says we’re in heaven?’ Just then Karen carpenter sits at the drum kit and ‘ok boys, Close to you in G’ The hipsters have since realised that indeed Karen Carpenter could sing and drum and Richard was a top notch composer and arranger. Maybe not Bacharach level or Goffin King but certainly up there in the first rank. Yet another band that would be better served by a greatest hits rather than an album that is half brilliant half filler and doesn’t really show the full range. 3.5
... im with G.S. on this... I knew this a would polarise the posse. :-) Perfect music for blissing out on a soothing velvet female voice, and also great for annoying punk rockers (it may well help blow the heads off aliens too). .
When I was 11 the only thing that stopped me thinking about the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and Olivia Newton John (in that order) was the sound of Karen Carpenter's voice. To this day it stops me in my tracks. Richard got her close to the mic and it provided an intimacy and warmth that is unsurpassed. His other genius was the selection of songs and the fantastic arrangements. A great Fab cover, Tim Hardin and probably a rival to Aretha for the greatest Hal/Burt cover of all time, what's not to love. In keeping with this crazy process, I'd be a happy man if I died listening to Karen Carpenter's voice.
I wish I could remember who said that really great pop music needs to contain a tiny amount of something gritty or offensive; it might be a discordant sound or a lyric or an idea or something to add a frisson of danger, a little bit of edge. Something that your parents don't like. It doesn't have to be a lot, although my own personal tastes allow a high tolerance for grit. I especially like a record that sounds a bit fucked up. I can enjoy a sweet and sugary record, as long as there is that little bit of grit in it that the pearl can form around. The Carpenters, however, have no grit. I can admire the sweet singing, the syrupy arrangements, the tasteful song choices, the smooth playing, but there is absolutely no edge. I just find it a bit hard to listen to -- it's just _too_ anodyne and shiny. But in the early 90s there was a new appreciation of Carpenters in alternative circles, driven primarily by Todd Haynes' Superstar: The Karen Carpenter movie (performed by Barbie dolls), Sonic Youth's advocacy (cf. Tunic) and the If I Were A Carpenter compilation (which is a fab listen, highly recommended). While this appreciation may have begun as ironic enjoyment, I believe that there was also a recognition of the darkness and suffering behind Karen's vocal. While the image was mainstream, big smiles and gauzy focus, there was a tragic story of drug addiction (Richard) and anorexic self-destruction (Karen) in the background. Maybe the sadness of their back-story is the grit that makes this great pop music. But that kind of trauma porn makes me uncomfortable; the fact that Karen starved herself to death makes this record harder to listen to, not more compelling.
1970 California
39/1089 i know the title track of course, this first track is definitely familiar too. Karen’s voice is very distinct and reminds me a lot of Weyes Blood, an artist I really like. not the biggest fan of his voice/the production of it it’s very pleasant and twee but it’s not really hooking me. Close To You does naturally feel like the clear stand out Baby it’s You is my definite favourite so far, it felt the most timeless and least dated i think hearing the flute on Mr Guder and realising i’ve heard the song before in the form of Mama’s Gun by Glass Animals was a fun revelation the “jam session” style at the end of Another Song was pretty cool overall this album was decent and fine background music but not one i’ll go back to really besides mybe my faves faves: Baby It’s You and Mr. Guder least faves: can’t pick one out 3 stars
Memories of my parent’s listening to this on their 8 track player.
I like her voice, low but super clear. Sounds like a certain cliche sound, but in the best way. The sweeping instruments and layered backing vocals sound amazing too
Sweet mellow album , wasn’t much special stuff in there or replay value for me but a chill listen … thinking my mom may like it
Best version of Reason to Believe I've heard. 4
Really good, first listen to any of their albums
There's no question; the Carpenters were about as talented as they come, and some of the song arrangements on this album are actually insane, but after a few tracks, I start feeling like I'm at grandma's living facility trying anything to find some joy.
There's a golden, trapped-in-time quality to this album that, while a bit schmalzy, is undeniably warm and charming.
Close to You is a gentle, polished introduction to the Carpenters’ signature sound. Karen Carpenter’s voice is the obvious centerpiece here, warm, clear, and full of ease, the kind of voice that can make even the simplest lyric sound heartfelt. The title track is the obvious classic, and it is easy to hear why it became their breakthrough hit, with its soft arrangement and perfectly measured delivery. “We’ve Only Just Begun” has that same sense of optimism wrapped in sweetness, and it still holds up as one of their defining songs. The album does dip in places, with a few covers that feel more like filler than essential listening, but even then the arrangements are clean and tasteful. The overall mood is light, romantic, and a little dreamy, which works well but can start to blur together if you take it all in at once. Still, the highlights are strong enough to make it clear why this record launched them into stardom. Close to You may not be flawless, but it captures the Carpenters’ charm and marks the start of their rise as soft pop icons.
Listening to Close to You feels like stepping into my mum’s living room in the '70s — floral curtains, a cup of tea on the go, and this album playing softly in the background. It’s the kind of music that brings back memories, but not necessarily ones I want to relive. Karen Carpenter’s voice is undeniably smooth — there’s a calming, almost hypnotic quality to it — but the whole thing leans way too far into the sentimental, easy-listening zone for my taste. It’s polished, it’s sweet, and it’s just... not for me. Feels like musical wallpaper — pleasant enough, but I wouldn’t choose to put it on. If you like your music with a bit more grit or edge, this probably won’t hit the mark.
Probably not a 4 but close to it
Easy listening, pretty melodoes and lush harmonies.
Solid entries and liked most of the songs b
A beautiful album with some great somgs and nice voices. Not much else to say on this one, it just wasn't my favourite giraffe
Holy 70’s, Batman! Double (triple, quadruple?) tracked vocals. Horns! Flutes! But THAT VOICE! It would have been a train wreck otherwise. Maybe I have a soft spot for easy listening.
beautiful
I don't get what all the hate is for on this album Big songs and a beautiful voice. It was a good one! 4 ⭐️
There are some great songs on here, help, I'll never fall in love again and crescent moon. Mr guder reminds me of a British bands i can't remember the name of
I’m kind of a sucker for the Carpenters, mostly due to listening to Rainy Days and Mondays and Top of the World multiple times as a kid. It was part of a mixtape my parents made they we played at least once a year when we went on vacation. Really happy to get a full album experience on here. Yeah, the music here tends to be very saccharine, maybe even a little cheesy. But it’s really held together by Karen Carpenter’s incredible vocals. She always had these tragically sweet and delicate voice. It makes the cheese more of a fondue to me. If it were any other band, it would probably sicken me. But with a powerhouse like Karen, the Carpenters are a nice guilty pleasure for me when comes to 70’s bands. Favorite track: (They Long to Be) Close to You Other hits: Help, We’ve Only Just Begun, Reason to Believe, I Kept On Loving You, Crescent Noon, Baby It’s You
Negative musical appeal. A real slog. I thought it would be neutrally boring. We should always be so lucky.
Sweet but very boring
this is beautiful string heavy pop, which i loved mostly every single track. the vocals were amazing and the vibes are just mmmmm.
It is quite a beautiful album, with Karen Carpenter's incredible and soft vocals. A classic hit in Close To You and some strangely forward drumming in Love Is Surrender. Fairly good, apart from when Richard comes on and takes away from the brilliance of Karen, but alas, a great 70s album.
Quite dated. We recognized a few of the songs from 70s radio, but mostly as covers and Burt Bacharach songs. The Carpenters came across as a variety show act, she had a good voice for a 98 pound waif. Not sure what he brought to the party. It was goofy. L = (1.5*s) It always seemed a little odd seeing them sing to each other as brother and sister. J = (1.3*s) They were evidently popular enough for long enough to make the 1001 Must Hear List so let’s give them credit for that.
The Carpenters may have made some of these songs popular but didn't write them. Although this is very common in the music industry, if you make this list I think you need some originality. I'm not scoring this duo high marks for covers. I even think most of the originals are better, for sure "Help!" and "Reason to Believe." I don't want to see them make the list again. 0.9 stars.
8 Grammy Nominations? Was there nothing else more interesting coming out in 1970 than what Carpenters were bringing to the table? It's objectively not bad music, it's just supremely uninteresting. A bunch of re-hashed soft ballad vocals from past hits will only get me so far. I guess I'm glad I don't live in a time where this is some the most exciting music that is being released. I'll file this one away. 0.99 stars
A lovely 70s smooth and easy listening album.
2/10, just gave incest i’m sorry.
lovely
Nice background music, adding a star for Close to You since it's featured in my favorite movie (Mirrormask)
Sheet talent here. From covers to originals, this album is iconic
This is a really great start (sarcastic) Jag är glad att musik var bättre förr i tiden annars hade jag suttit och lidit just nu (sarkastiskt) Another single, another W for Neil Ciciregas Mouth albums
I liked a lot of this. Just classy tunes that don’t go too crazy and leave you feeling happy and hopeful.
J - 3/5 Best Track - "(They Long To Be) Close To You"
I Karen has an incredible voice. But I don't see the arrangements as something unique.
Classic album. Lots of tracks used in movies.
Na. Not my thing
My mom loves this shit. I think it is just shit.
Honestly, hard to rate. Both sweet and cheesy, and that's entirely the point.
it’s just so sleepy
Schmaltzcore. Sad girl karaoke. But really, Karen Carpenter’s voice breaks my heart in the best way.
Dreamy, loving sounds and lyrics. Classic album. 3.3
two opposites about the carpenters that can be true at the same time: 1) they are vastly overhated for what the music is. of course, karen carpenter's voice is terrific, they have some of the best studio musicians playing on their records, their music is well produced. it's not everyone's bag, but for years and years, this was regarded as some of the worst of the worst pop music to ever be released and it just simply is not even close to that. 2) i feel like there is a cultural correction on the carpenters going on recently and i do feel like it is a vast overcorrection. yeah, their music isn't bad and is over-hated! listen to this album and genuinely tell me this is a great album. there are some great tracks on here, don't get me wrong! 'we've only just begun' and '(they long to be) close to you' are terrific early 70s pop songs! let's not pretend that the rest of this album is mind-blowing! the soft, sleek covers of bacharach and beatles are fine but i wouldn't say an album of soft, toothless wonder bread makes this a terrific listening experience either.
Zoetsappig maar wel leuke oude pop
I think I agree with the hippie's on this one. This album is very bland and overly-sappy. The Carpenters have some hits that I enjoy, but other than the title track, they're all on other albums. Instead we have boring love songs and a shitty "Help" cover.. Favorite track: (They Long To Be) Close To You 2.5/5
I like the carpenters but a bit too pop for me. And knowing Karen is one of the best fldrummers elever and she made this type of music instead of hard rock just saddens me cause thats wasted talent
I will never listen to this again. Probably cool for 1970 though?
This is not for me. Amazing voice and a lot of questionable decisions. I truly don't like The Beatles, but even I think that mangling "Help" this badly should be a crime.
The middliest middle of the road music that has ever middled.
Good voice but ayyaiyai this one is rough
Far from my favorite style of music, though undeniably great voice. A few listenable tracks, a couple that were so heavily used in pop culture it's hard to believe there was a time before they existed in an unironic way. I'll give this one a few stars for the quality of the recording and the musical arrangements, but no damn way am I searching this one out unless I'm shooting a late 70s/early 80s scene that calls for the type of nostalgia that conjures up road trips in the family truckster.
These are the types of albums that are hard to rate. Karen had a lovely voice, and there is a lot of talent there. But for me, this is just way too sappy. I don't want to listen to it. I really can't even muster a 3, so 2 it is.
Kannte ich noch bisher nicht, aber gar nicht schlecht.
Ooh, Mr. Guder is used a sample in some famous rap song... famous whistle. Fun, chill, 70s flower child tracks. Beautiful voice.
This sounds like typical late 60s/early 70s catchall fluff. It seems to take no risks and ends up very milquetoast. I appreciate that Karen plays the drums, but other than that, this is a boring toe me.
This challenge has a lot of music that can be challenging to listen to. There's a lot of "only the cool kids got this" kind of music. Well, The Carpenters are... not that. Sorry, but it's really hard to make a brother & sister contemporary vocal band, directed by their parents, sound very cool. You're just not going to impress many people with your Carpenters record collection. But ok, it's not unpleasant, right? And there are some decent musical performances here and there. Surely, the Burt Bacharach and Hal David compositions memorable and kind of objectively good, for what they are. "Close to You" is good enough to Homer and Marge's song, which I guess counts for something. I'm reaching a bit here to find nice things to say. It's well made and successful and I guess it's significant. But yeah, not really for me. If you want a more interesting alternative, I'd recommend listening to The Free Design.
Very well crafted songs, sung beautifully by the late great Karen Carpenter. Maybe these songs are not for everyone but they were really a top notch pop act of the 70s - two highly talented musician and singer. Overall I prefer a greatest hits compilation from this band because they had some amazing hits on different albums, and their studio albums are not as strong.
Good
Muy tranqui los carpinteros pero no me molesto
Ya basta de jipis
No me desagrado pero tampoco me gusto para escucharlo nuevamente, basicamente es la banda sonora de muchas peliculas romanticas o comedia romanticas, así como de teleshows de los 90
Mmmmmm muuuuy tranquilo
A syrupy contralto as vocals with lyrics as intravenous glucose made this Pop Album diabetic.
Totally not my thing.
Love this great music.
Meh, most of it is other people’s songs. Don’t really care for this twee karaoke stuff myself.
Good vocals, good harmonies, a few big songs….. not my cup of tea though. Soft white lounge music is fine just not appealing.
Soft rock, but really good. Wonderful voices and the songs were beautiful and interesting.
Nice vocals.
Dang forgot about Close To You… shot me right back to adolescence watching The Simpsons. What a great song, even though it’s a cover. It’s weird to listen to an album that is 50/50ish covers to original songs. I’d much rather hear originals. I do enjoy Karen Carpenters voice a lot though so I’ll give it a solid 3.
Mostly bland and inoffensive but that cover of Help!....that were absolute diabolical...I can't spake!
Even with the cheesiness, this is a gorgeously recorded album, and Karen's voice is spectacular.
Aged like milk. Dumb, 70s pop
It’s no longer 1973, it’s cool to like the Carpenters guys. I’ve really underestimated how talented the Carpenters are. It may be schmalzy pop music, but the instrumentation is perfectly placed, with drum fills and guitars always seeming to come in at the right time. Karen’s voice is also beautiful and the selection of covers they have selected here work really well. An enjoyable album, even if it falls off a little by the second half.
Classic
Well-known, but not great
Not for me. This feels like the music you grow up on then later in life become a questionable camp counselor.
😕
This shit is exceptionally lame. Not terrible, but just really, really, really lame. Didn’t care much for the Help cover either. Maybe one or two songs sprinkled into a radio broadcast would be fine, but a whole album of this was too much for me.
Fun fact: a 1975 Playboy readers poll voted Karen Carpenter the best drummer....over John Bonham. "Reason to Believe" is probably my favorite here. It's fine - nothing I'd ever spin, but see why this thing could sell 4 million copies in 1970.
Büro, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Neben den wenigen Hits echt öde.
was a'ight. 2/5
Pleasant and relaxing to listen to, but aside from the cover of Close to You, nothing really stood out to me as worth revisiting.
Competently performed but arranged in such a safe and bland way. No more of this, and I will stop writing. Deal?
Better than expected, but still never better than something I'd hear in Macy's and think "that was decent".
It was nice. It really was.
Ovaj bend je ne samo pop savršenstvo nego i potpuna enigma. Kako nešto ovako lijepo i na površini bezopasno može kroz takav mrak u sebi.
Couple of decent songs, greatest hits album would be a better listen
Sounded just fine for something I only want to hear on rewatches of happy gilmore
Maybe this is the apotheosis of the school of "rock" that features Bacharach, Lawrence Welk, Bread, countrypolitan, easy listening, Air Supply, all tending toward emotional catatonia and cheese, lots and lots of extra cheesiness (primarily via the arrangements [compare to Elvis Costello's Bacharach album for how cool/restrained it might be]). It gets weird when it tries to get psychedelic – not talking about the lame (the less said the better about both the Beatles and Hot Rod covers; they get away with stealing from Satie because their fans likely would not have known). There's a David Lynchian weirdness to some of these proceedings and the massive commercial success makes it seem even weirder (plus the clothes and haircuts). Some of the melodies are narcotically sublime opener and title cut, most obviously. Rounding up because one's mom loved but she was not tastemaker, now, was she? One would love to see how some other bands would treat the originals here.
Great morning coffee brewing album on the weekends. Easy listening
Makes me nostalgic for a time i didn't live in. When popular culture depicts the 70s NY warehouse parties, this is what i actually imagine the music of the decade to be like for most people. 3/5 in context of everything else, but still enjoyed.
Classic songwriting, great singing and harmonies
An album definitely of its time. A couple of timeless classics but the majority is so stodgy. Karen's voice is the only consistently good thing about it. Favorite: We've Only Just Begun, Close to You Would I listen to it again: No
So incredibly boring. Not bad. Definitely not great. Just meh.
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.
Actually a pretty good pop album. 3.5/5
This was about as bad as I thought it would be, which was very bad indeed, truly awful. This music requires the equivalent of an emetic for the brain, something to purge the memory of the sickly-sweet sounds that it left. There's a dark undercurrent throughout the entire album. Behind the harmonies and (let's be fair) weak singing there's a feeling of helplessness almost akin to drowning miles out from the shore in a deep, but calm, ocean. I hope I never have to listen to this again in my lifetime. One star.
Just no
Just for popularising (They Long To Be) Close To You, this album deserves its spot in these 1001 albums. It's a good consistent album, even the tracks I didn't enjoy that much still had redeeming qualities and tended to still sound decent in a vacuum. I don't think this is the kind of music I'm going to be drawn to listen to again, but I think from time to time I will come back to the most popular songs here. I mention it a bunch but the vocals on this album are really nice, angelic even. We've Only Just Begun - I love the overlayed vocals and the effect on them, the piano is great and really compliments everything else. Beautiful song in both sound and substance. And yes, we've just begun but this already feels like a highlight. Love Is Surrender - again really enjoying what they do vocally, the horns are super cool too. I'm not great at identifying instruments but the most prominent features of the instrumental here are really enjoyable. Maybe It's You - another really beautiful track, much slower and simpler in ways letting her voice and the lyrics take hold. These songs are almost heavenly in a way. Reason To Believe - I like this but not quite as much as the previous tracks. Also whilst I'm still enjoying what they are doing with the vocals I think it could get a bit boring or even annoying on repeat listens (generally speaking, not just this track). Help - was not expecting a cover of a Beatles song, interesting take on it. Can't say I'd ever take this over the original (it's not close) but I can appreciate the fact it has been made to fit this album and is distinct. (They Long To Be) Close To You - what an iconic song, simple premise but pretty effective. The horns are nice. I have an in built respect for this song because its so known but I do think it's slightly longer than need be, and realising this is where the song came from is kind of surprising, like its good don't get me wrong but how does it become one of the most key love songs ever. Baby It's You - I saw a review on here saying it covers a Beatles song by the same name (technically not their song in the first place but for simplicity sake), it's slightly hard for me to enjoy this when again I just prefer the Beatles version. In it's own right it's pretty good, and again it's quite different other than lyrics but I can't imagine putting this on over The Beatles song. Again her vocals are good. I'll Never Fall In Love Again - A decent track. Cresent Noon - I don't think I really like this slower kind of track from them, it goes on for too long too. Mr. Guder - what an odd song to have following the previous. Much faster paced, strange subject matter to hear here too, I kind of like how it sounds but overall I don't know how to feel about this. I Kept On Loving You - it's nice to have the guy lead the song for variety sake but I think this last stretch of songs is letting the album down a bit honestly, maybe I'm just bored of it. Another song - like her vocals (what a surprise), but most of the song is instrumental, its fine but its too long and found myself just waiting for it to end. Best - We've Only Just Begun, Love Is Surrender, Maybe It's You, (They Long To Be) Close To You Worst - Help, Crescent Noon, Mr. Guder, Another Song
Wenn das Album en Mensch wär, denn wärs es Jungs, christlichs Päärli vode 70er Jahre - sie ganz in Wiis, er mit 70er Jahr Chrage, Luke Skywalker Frisur - beide ufeme Stei sitzend und id Kamera grinsend. So han ich mir Carpenters ned vorgestellt. (ganz e wildi Theorie vo mir, dass sie sich Carpenters taufet will de Mc. Jesus Ch. eine gsi isch, dadefür weissi ja nedmal öb die zwei würkli christlich sind) Allgemein sind sie mer biz zu päärlig, zu herzig und zu umeschätzelig gsi. S Beatles Cover Help het mer no ganz pässlet und mit Another Song bini schlussendlich doch no überrascht worde. Meh wie die zwei heilige Faltigkeite chani defür ned büüte
Churz gseid hed mi biz glangwilled. So biz 60/70er pop einheitsbrühe. Eich schön, aber hed mi grad nöd catch. Sorry carpis, aber au wenn euches Handwerk lang gfragt gsi isch, und immer na gschätzt wird, d ziite drülled sich. 2 tischbei für das
driglost & zerst dänkt, dass sig en klare fall vomne verfehlte mood, doch denn… wie en fels ih de brandig chund er und massiert mer mini ohreläppli: «(They Long To Be) Close To You» – chef's kiss! de rest isch au schön gsi, aber haut mi nöd vom hocker drum sag ich in klassischer schrienermanier 1 bei vom hocker ab = 3 hockerbei für mini schrienereikolleg:inne
Pretty good; sad about Karen. 3/5
What a lovely collection of songs from my youth, 5 stars for creating good memories.
I recognize it's great but it's not my cup of tea
What a voice Karen Carpenter had. Just glorious. The trouble is that a lot of these songs just sound weak.
weird how I recognized so many of these songs. Just fun and lighthearted all the way through. You get a real 60-70's vibe from this whole listen, like you're actually in a different era.
Surprisingly great! I knew the hits but the rest was like an Austin Powers soundtrack. Very groovy baby yeah and not just because they cover “I’ll never fall in love again”.
Carpenters always make me feel wistful in a happy way. Their voices are so... powerful to me and my emotions. I don't know what it is but they've always affected me so much. This album is like homemade pie. There's the whipped cream, it's light and fluffy and cool and sweet. But then underneath that, there's a warm center and flaky edges. It's the perfect combination and it's never a bad time for it. I wish I could make everyone experience it the way that I do. I know it's truly magic to my ears. My mom loves the carpenters too, I think she must have played it for me in utero or something because it's always been this way for me. The harmonies, the accents of horns and piano without it being overbearing. Karen Carpenter's voice. It's all perfect. She died much too young and it's always haunted me in the same way her voice does. I wish they could've made music even longer. I don't even need to finish this album to know I'm going to rate it 5 stars. I want this on vinyl, I want to slow dance to it in the kitchen. I want to hear it when I wake up in the morning. This album makes me feel like everything might be okay in the world.
*sigh* Okay. Yeah, this all just sounds like parody to me at this point. It's earnest to the point of being silly. There's obviously craft involved here, and Karen Carpenter has a lovely voice, but the overall effect is just emphatically not for me. Like listening to the fever dream of someone in a diabetic coma.
Honestly I found this whiny with the exception of the song I knew.
It’s like Peter, Paul & Mary…but better and kind of cooler? I grew up hearing “(They Long To Be) Close To You” on some late night infomercial. Do the Carpenters have a Christmas album, going off vibes here but I feel like I’d be in to it. The last song of the album takes a surprising psychedelic rock jazz turn.
Beautiful, Dreamy, Cottage core music for your heart <3
Song all time classics on this album - final song even went a bit prog!
Epitome of easy listening 70s
A solid album, soft and gentle in a lot of its sound. Not really my favorite sort, but nothing wrong with it as a work.
the album that made Karen Carpenter into a household name. It's a dreamy, soft-pop album that doesn't resonate with me at all, but I can appreciate the talent to a degree.
close to you is SUCH a good song that it massively elevates an album that isn't really for me
Als ich klein war fand ich ihre Stimme toll. Und jetzt hatte ich die Gelegenheit, in die Nostalgiekiste zu greifen, um einen lange verloren geglaubten Schatz in der Hand zu halten und an die guten alten Zeiten mit dem Ohr am Kofferradio zu denken. Wie schön. Das schöne Gefühl hat nur leider den ersten Song nicht überlebt. Klebrige Geigen haben mein Gehör zugekleistert. Ich war erleichtert als es vorbei war. Vielleicht war früher doch nicht alles besser.
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.
Rainbows, unicorns, high tall green grass, flowers, so many flowers! How corny can an album be? And why the hell cover "help!"? Whatever, not my cup of tea.
This was fucking amazing
Not really my taste but still really good and an amazing album as a whole.
I don’t get the hate on this one. It’s a little cheesy, but chill to listen to.
Love it!!
Me encanta este disco, me causa una preciosa sensación de estar en las nubes.
I suppose this is an album worth listening to once. And now it is done.
ADAM SANDLER: “The Carpenters are angry?? I mean…” JACK NICHOLSON: “Don’t be naïve, Dave. ‘Close to You’? ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’? Songs of madness and obsession.”
Karen Carpenter had such a beautiful voice. honestly, what a talent. This album was excellent from start to finish.
We've Only Just Begun and They Long To Be Close To You are great jams but the rest of the album is just ok. If this were their greatest hits until '73 compilation, now that would get 5 stars.
I didn't expect to like it, but of course I do. I might not put this on at a party, but I think there's still a lot going on here to enjoy. It's not just the lead singer’s voice which is beautiful, rather all the harmonies are too. The songs are simply not simple. I also didn't expect to hear so many Beatles covers, but actually the vocals are similar in a way that they layer them. I think you also have to appreciate all of the orchestra that's playing with them. Every song is full of instruments playing beautiful little licks, like, walking through flowers or something stupid.
Karen Carpenter has a great voice, but the music is kinda yawn worthy. A couple of good songs in there, but pretty average overall.
Started strong but the formula played itself out by the end. Love the style though. I'm a sucker for this 70s sound. Far too many lame tracks to get above 3 stars.
This album makes me feel like I’m stuck at a church potluck where no one brought seasoning, joy, or emotional range. Every track is like being gently waterboarded with skim milk. Muzak for the emotionally repressed
5/5
There are clearly some good songs in there somewhere, but this production and format has not aged well at all.
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.
close to you is like the greatest love song ever made but other than that this was fairly predictable easy listening sweet stuff
Ooof. The only time I have enjoyed this genre and style of music was during that wacky closing scene of The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
Rating: 4/10 Nah.
booo
They Long to be close to you
This one is really surprising me. May be my first 5.
тоже много ремейков. путала я с кем-то карпентеров, другие они чем я думала. напомнили ту немецкую вокалистку (ноль шансов что вспомню имя). норм
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.