Close To You

The gorgeous tones of Karen Carpenter (mostly!) and some beautiful songs, some killer, some filler!

A few hits, but not a style that has stood the test of time.

I would like to complain to the makers of the "1001 70s Folk Rock Albums by Old Men That You Have To Listen To Before You Die" app I downloaded as there was a girl on this one?

It's got a few moments but then just like over stays it's welcome

Torture.

A principios de los 70, mientras los adolescentes cool escuchaban punk y proto-heavy metal, la mayoría se inclinaba por grupos pop edulcorados que versionaban canciones populares. Y The Carpenters son uno de los máximos exponentes de este tipo de música. La verdad es que cumple con su cometido: es fácil de escuchar, con una instrumentación y unas armonías muy bonitas, y unas letras que no pueden ofender a nadie. Los dos singles son muy buenos temas, especialmente Close to You, merecidamente una de las canciones pop más conocidas de los 70. Por otro lado, el resto del álbum flojea un poco. La mayoría de canciones son versiones poco inspiradas, sobre todo Help, que es un atentado a la original. Sacarina de la época. Le voy a dar un tres porque también resulta interesante escuchar cómo ha ido evolucionando la música más comercial con el paso del tiempo.

Some nice Burt Bacharach songs, but a little too old and worn out for me.

It's not a bad record, just not amazing, perfectly ok for me, Karen's voice is the stand out driving force of the record, The songs are ok, some standouts and some forgettable

Not quite a fan of the California folk rock sound, but this album is full of undeniable gems. "We've Only Just Begun" and "(They Long to Be) Close to You" are the hits I already knew, and they absolutely deserve that status. Not something I'd come back to, but it did elevate my morning.

Definitely not my thing but I can't deny they're talented. Karen Carpenter is a terrific drummer. Even John Bonham was a fan of hers. I just wish she had a better chance to showcase those skills instead of making really milquetoast easy listening music.

Better than I expected it to be, I was worried it was going to be mostly twee bollocks like the title track, but there were bits I liked too.

We’ve Only Just Begun was in a bank commercial and it shows.

Karen Carpenter has the voice of an angel!

just so, so boring and derivative. no-replay value for me unfortunately

The singing is lovely but some of the lyrics were just so painfully cheesy. We've Only Just Begun is very good, but everything else was just okay.

think they're a bit over-hated, I thought it was an enjoyable listen.

A nice listen

This is just fine but it has NO BUSINESS being in this list.

Really dragged towards the end but some really good bits in the middle

The Queens of the Stone Age, then this????? The singles are OK, but the rest just tooooooo sugary.

Saccharine almost to the point of creepy. Like the soundtrack to a very earnest kids show and/or the songs a cult sings sitting around in a circle. The one exception was Help, which sounded quite different from the rest and which I actually liked.

Sooo boring, it's like an album of lullabies

karen carpenter's voice is a treasure

This is 70s pop. It's fine.

Cozy pop

Should be 4 but that fussy version of Help is a crime I cannot forgive.

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

Close to You is a solid album, even if it’s not totally my thing. Karen Carpenter’s voice is undeniable — super smooth and full of emotion — but most of the music just doesn’t hit for me personally. A little too soft and polished for my usual taste. That said, I’ve got to give her props for the covers. Their versions of “Help” and “Reason to Believe” were both really well done — honestly, I think they pulled off the latter better than Rod Stewart did, which I wasn’t expecting.

Really glad to get this one today. Most of my childhood was spent listening to The Carpenters. My mother loved them, she had the most extensive collection of their records, tapes and CDs. I know the lyrics to pretty much all of their songs. Even driving 3 or 4 hours to our holiday destination we would listen to The Carpenters. Shall always remind me of my mother. Karen's voice is so lovely, their musicianship is amazing. Shame to have lost her so early. This is a great album, with some wonderful tracks. There is some bias, but I don't care, it gets a 5 anyway. (and I'm a metal head)

Awe...my mom used to have this record. Lol some of these sound like something you would hear on some of those kid shows in the 80s like reading rainbow or 321 contact. I only liked a couple songs on there if that. Sorry momma.

Very much enjoyed the hits rather than the album but deserves its place on the list.

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

Michael ceras cover in Superbad was better

have actually never listened to this album full way through before but has some songs i already love on it! it’s such a warm, alive and cozy album! Top 3 3. i’ll never fall in love again 2. we’ve only just begun 1.CLOSE TO YOU (the simpsons movie’s impact on me will never fade)

A fine album. Not that great, not that awful. The cover of Help was... interesting. Mid 3.

Just a nice album

Honestly fire

Holds up pretty well. Karen Carpenter was very talented.

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

It was alright pop stuff with good vocals. 3 stars

A pleasant evening listen with a couple of classics and plenty of cheese.

Too sweet for me

Es ist nicht schlecht, ich bin einfach froh, dass es fertig ist.

Karen's voice is like a warm hug

Um bom álbum para mostrar como o pop evoluiu ao longo das décadas. Close to You traz belas melodias adornadas pela voz doce de Karen Carpenter. Em alguns momentos chega a soar um pouco como a Annie Haslam no Renaissance. Os arranjos são sutis, mas bem trabalhados, com destaque para o uso das cordas. Falta ganchos mais memoráveis e um pouco mais de contraste para transformar Close to You de um disco bom para um disco ótimo.

"Close to You" é um disco bonito. Arranjos simples, com foco no trabalho vocal, as harmonias são demais, tanto em dueto como nas vezes em que a voz da Karen aparece dobrada. Alguns momentos são meio bregas, mas faz parte da estética/época e o caráter "romântico" do álbum. Acho legal quando tem cordas ou aparecem outros instrumentos tipo a flauta em "Mr. Guder". A levada de samba-jazz na bateria em "Love Is Surrender" é outro momento legal.

Vähän oksettavaa söpöstely musaa. Nimikkoraita Close To You on tosi tuttu jostain tai se ylipäätään on vaan tunnettu biisi. Paljon kyllä muitakin biisejä mitkä kuulosti etäisesti tutulta. Parhaat: (They Long To Be) Close To You, Crescent Moon

Good enough.

BOOORING

Close to who? Me? You don’t know me, man. You think because you sit there, looking like a 2025 Tofino couple propositioning me to join their polycule on our sustainable eco-cruise to Haida Gwaii, that you can chat me up? Listen guys, you’re nice, but I’m a married man AND I’m exclusively here to see cool birds and categorize them OH MY GOD IS THAT A BUFFLEHEAD. My comically large flashbulb clicks loudly and blinds them as it ejects into an endangered bird’s nest, setting it ablaze. “Can’t beat the quality of these babies” I say as I pat my camera, totally unaware of my now singed Wellington boots. The Carpenters seem confused and alarmed. I can later be seen yelling “ARE THERE WALRUSES HERE” at the tour guide. Anyway, here are the Carpenters. They do music apparently. We’ve Only Just Begun - Something so deeply sad about this. Not that it’s bad music, but when it came on I just felt like I was actually hallucinating my zany experience and I was actually on a rowboat shrouded in fog in the middle of the ocean. Love is Surrender - You must Surrender (If You Can). Saying somebody must do something (if you can) is very modern. Way ahead of their time. Maybe It’s You - Hoo Boy. This is really saccharine isn’t it? I mean it’s pleasant but man it’s like a cotton candy playground in a gumdrop kingdom. Reason to Believe - YES. Vaguely folk influenced. Lovely harmonies. Vaguely cheat-y lyrics, but god it’s everywhere you turn in media. People just getting bored is literally the cause of all the world’s problems. From hoarding wealth, unsustainable economic growth to adultery. Stop seeking endless expansion. Anyway. Good song. Help - A Beatles Cover that actually really improves in the song. I love what they did with it. (They Long to Be) Close To You - Part 365,914 of how watching “The Simpsons” as a child allowed me to grow into an adult with an acceptable base of knowledge that an adult should possess. The song is decent, but the point of reference makes me smile. The melodies at the close of the song are truly beautiful. Baby It’s You - Took a small break and returned, and I have to say, this song is pretty boring. Well I didn’t have to say it, but I’m a wild card. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again - What do you get when you listen to critically acclaimed albums every day? You get a sense of alienation as you really don’t seem to mesh with the stuff most people gravitate towards. That was the next lyric if the song was allowed to continue. Crescent Noon - Sick song title honestly. Hell yeah. Pretty haunting at points. Not enough to be a classic, but hey. Decent track. Mr. Guder - This has to be the name of a real guy. This isn’t just like “Mrs. Robinson.” Wait is it Mr. Gouda? Listen here, cheese man, leave those robots alone. “You’ve blown your life just playing a game, where no one wins and every one just stays the same” *flute solo*. Well that’s me done. Our lives are akin to hamsters on a wheel. I love my job I love my job I love my job I love my job. Productivity for my company is the most important thing to me. I Kept on Loving You - Don’t trust him, girl. Can’t get over the gaslighter lyrics. I feel like “gaslight” has become the new word that everyone uses to refer to things they don’t like in an argument. It’s like narcissist. Remember when every person who someone didn’t like was a “narcissist?” I love words. Another Song - Is this part of the album? I like it. I mean a funk bassline behind an ominous woodwind solo? Based ending. A cool album. Rain dusted candy floss that may or may not contain trace amounts of psilocybin. Disgustingly sweet at times, but also occasionally morose to the point of tears. Likeable for the most part and definitely something I didn’t mind having on. There were beautiful melodies and even a little bit of a takedown of the dystopian concept of daily brain enslavement that has increased a million fold since this album’s release. I’m writing this via voice to text, as I’m in a little bit of trouble with the good folks at Fish and Wildlife after my photographic faux pas earlier on. They’ve allowed me to dictate most of this in the back of the Ranger. Zip ties be damned. Quiet down back there. Hey I know my rights, pal. Uhh how do you backspace. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: Reason to Believe, Help, (They Long to Be) Close To You, Mr. Guder

This is a very pleasant album that I’ll probably never revisit.

Close To You is an alright album but it is one that i feel is very unnatural to listen to. There are things i like about this album, the music is handled well throughout a lot of the songs and has quite a few moments of genuine beauty, Karen's vocals are well done and fit the songs well and even Richard's vocals in that one track worked rather well for it. My main issue with this album is how unnatural it feels to listen to it and that is entirely due to the pacing. This album does feel overly fast paced at points to the point where i could sometimes forget what song i was on. This is why i like the 4 minute tracks on this album the most because they give the songs time to stretch out their legs. This album isn't bad at all, just a bit difficult for me to get into. Best Song: Crescent Noon Worst Song: Love Is Surrender

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

Help!

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

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

I worked in a supermarket in my youth, this was the soul twisting musak I had to listen to all day. The only Carpenters I listen to is the ironically awesome If I Were A Carpenter compilation from 1994. Listening to this album really dredged up some low feelings. Thanks.

She has a smooth, silky, comforting voice. Not a huge fan of the soft pop music, but they have a couple of decent songs. It was weird hearing them doing Reason to Believe. The brother seems like a tool. 1001 album worthy: Nah - 81/147

This kind of album isn't my thing but I can respect it. There's enough variety in there and the harmonies are immaculate!

This was a pleasant surprise of an album. We've Only Just Begun was just a lovely song. I really liked their cover of the Beatles' "Help". Thought that was a standout along with Close To You, which was featured in the Simpsons after googling where I've heard that song from before. I would put this solidly as a 3. I liked most of the songs here, but none of them really put this at the next tier.

Unable to give this a careful listen, but general impression is that this is some nice easy listening. Decent amount of variation throughout. Really enjoyed the roots/country vibe of Reason To Believe; scratches some sort of an itch for me. Some more folksy stuff in here as well (Mr. Guder). Help is a jam, as is Another Song. I probably won't remember much of this long term, but it has been a nice listen. 3 / 5

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

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

We've Only Just Begun is a pretty song. It immediately makes me think of Happy Gilmore and Starsky & Hutch. Solid Beatles cover. Close To You is another one I've heard a bunch. Not my kinda song but another one I need to admit is very pretty. Whoa Mama's Gun by Glass Animals samples Mr. Guder. Also kinda reminds me of Motherboard by Daft Punk. Love finding out these random samples. Some pretty beautiful songs on here and I loved the last song with that flute soloing. Not sure it pushes it past a 3 but its a high one at that.

This is a very pleasant album, but I think that's all it is. It's not trying to break the mould or push any boundaries, but it's very easy to listen to if not a little drab at times. I'm glad I heard it before I died, but I doubt I'll hear it again

Creepy looking cover. Got in the car and drove to where I needed to be with this playing. Didn't hardly notice it was on. Nothing at all wrong with it. Just didn't apply to me.

Not my style

Sappy saccharine lyrics crooned over dull piano arrangements. Inoffensive, bland, devoid of character. She's got a great voice and that sax player was really going for it but this was about as exciting as a Christian rock festival. 1.5

Loved this one! Beautiful harmonies

fun

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

Really lovely 70s production and great harmonies. Sometimes leans a little too sweet, but makes up for it with some beautiful songs and that stunner of an album closer

Cheesy mixed in with unlistenable tripe

I only liked the songs I already knew.

Very sweet

Karen has a beautiful voice but I can't say this is something I'd come back to

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

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m kinda feelin’ The Carpenters. Exquisite harmonies 👍

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

Soft melodic rock

en stark trea. gillar hennes röst. påminner mig om weyes blood

Solide Sounds der 70er aber zu wenig Actin.

I can't say I'm too familiar with the Carpenter's work, only that I know the sibling duo by name. The vocal harmonies of both are quite pleasing to listen to, primarily led by the younger sibling, Karen. Sure, it's consistently sappy and saccharine throughout the 38ish minutes, but that doesn't necessarily make it any less enjoyable when viewing from a instrumental and production standpoint as well. The two singles "We've Only Just Begun" and "Close to You" are both especially endearing. Some of the other original compositions hold their own too.

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

2.8 2x not really my type of music but a few catchy tunes for sure

Speaking objectively, the drumming on this album is excellent, the arrangements are lush, the harmonies are good, and the vocals are on point. Speaking subjectively, I absolutely hated this. I can’t stand her voice. It bores me. I very nearly fell asleep during Crescent Noon.

Mr. Guter better get close to me

Dreamy, romantic but sometimes very cynic and realist. Great singing.

It was cool hearing their version of help

Haters will never understand

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

This is awful sappy shit that somehow is popular enough I recognize it easily.

Yep, this is definitely a pop record from the early 1970’s. It’s fine, I guess, the vocal harmonies are pretty and everything is well written. I never really felt pulled in, and I found this album super easy to tune out. I don’t want to call this record boring, but it certainly doesn’t inspire any particular emotions in me. 2*

Karen Carpenter has a beautiful voice and the Carpenters together harmonize very nicely. For a couple songs, these two things were enough to carry the album for me… but then it started to feel a bit… chintzy. A bit cocktail lounge. The fact that so many songs are covers does not help this cause. It’s all just a bit saccharine and kind of bland. It feels like it was just engineered to do well on the adult contemporary charts on the strength of her voice. And it really is mostly just her voice—the occasional solo vocals from the gentleman Carpenter would’ve really been better left out. A random point that is neither here nor there: the Beatles cover is … ugh. I don’t know if it’s particularly better or worse than the original; the song is just kind of annoying to begin with. Also… they were siblings? I thought they were married? Hmmmm that’s a lot of chintzy lazy cocktail lounge love songs for siblings. I don’t like it. But Karen really does have a beautiful voice. At several points throughout the album the quality of her voice really struck me and made me feel bad for not liking the album more. 4.5/10

#569. Mildly interesting poppy hippie music. 2/5: meh.

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

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

Seems I didn't really know them beforehand for a reason. Pretty bland and boring. The only thing saving this from 1 star is the Fav Track: (They Long To Be) Close To You

Wow this album sucked. I could only make it to song three before turning it off.

Very solid. She had such a great soothing voice.

I can’t understand why this album of milquetoast covers is considered a classic.

2.5 Gotta admit, I didnt hate it . Thought the production was pretty slick and well done. Vocals were good. I wonder if there is a Doc or Bio-pic out there about the Carpenters

Utterly soulless. The Carpenters were very talented, but this music is cringe-worthy.

more corny than i remember

If I could describe this album in a word it'd be cute, because this album is very soft & easy on the ears, it's the most pop album I have ever listened to, it's unchallenging, it's a classic 70s record to play as calm, soothing music, at least that's how it felt to me, which isn't a bad thing, hell I enjoyed quite a bit off of here, it's just a very nice record, not particularly my style, but for one time, yeah I enjoyed my time with it.

I remember hearing the Carpenters on the radio or seeing their TV specials when I was a kid. I was to young to actually know better, but I thought Karen's vocals were outstanding. Now I know better and I was right. Great album. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Not for me

Jesus, what the actual fuck was that! I really only enjoyed the last song, and because it tried to be something more than the tepid gravy rock on the rest of the album.

A few classic songs- close to you is imprinted in my mind because of the Simpsons.

3.5

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

Classic

It's boring but at least they like each other.

romanticize the 70s

very pleasant

It is pretty saccharine, I remember playing We've Only Just Begun in my primary school band, and they use Close to You as muzak in the public toilets just up the road. So mixed vibes. But I guess it is a classic of its own type

It is what it is - and its fine.

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

3.5

I like her voice and Burt Bacharach songs as much as the next guy. But this doesn’t hang together all that well.

I liked this slightly more than I was expecting, especially in the latter part of the second side where they try to be a bit more than the saccharin pop that made them famous. Starting with "Crescent Noon" which is a nice rich robust harmonies, a little bit more performance than pop based. "Mr. Guder" may not be the greatest written song but I was impress by the changes in tone and style, especially the a capella section. Still even in those parts the production is too polite to give it an edge... I kinda wish they had a more rocking band to do that one. My final highlight is "Another Song" which has a Karen letting loose on drums, I could instantly tell it was not the polite studio sound of Hal Blane, but I looked it up just to be sure. She really sounds like she's pounding them skins... Overall though, I'm really not into the soft easy listening pop which was, quite frankly marketed to people like my mom... at home mom's who grew up on 50s and 60s pop standards. I'm not a fan, but I've always been in love with Karen's voice. I just wish she had better material. 5.5 ★★½

Very soothing and smooth. Great vocals. 4 stars

I feel like this album answers the question, "How can I make the least cool album of all time?" This album is particularly infuriating because there's good songs here. "Reason to Believe", "Help", and the Bacharach tunes are good songs at their core, they're just arranged and performed in a way that is so white, it's painful. I'd say this is grandma music, but I think my grandma may have found this a little soft. 1 star.

3.5

“I want to tell you love, you’ve got a fabulous voice” - John Lennon “Hot Diggity! How about youse and Petulia come back to mah hotel wid me after this here gig o mine and I giz both a youse gals a good hound doggin’!”- Elvis Presley This one is definitely a great one to check out in terms of Carpenters arriving at their ultra lush, uber-harmonious, opulently overdubtastic formula and becoming one of the biggest phenomenas of the 70s on the back of it but they have done even lovelier albums such as A Song For You and Horizon which are just as worthy for inclusion on this list. Besides the two chart-busting singles (the title song being what I consider one of the truly astounding pop productions of the millennium as well as being a blatantly well-deserved million-seller) there are still lots of other cushy treats to enjoy here. Karen’s vocal on Maybe It’s You is particularly gorgeous. They add huge dollops of rock organ and epic choir to Beatles’ Help to not only improve it beyond what John Lennon intended but also to pave the way for what I consider their true zenith in Goodbye To Love a few years later. On an otherwise a nice and breezy, down to earth version of I’ll Never Love Again they launch briefly into outer space with a colossal 13-part, 39 voice chord drop. Mr Guder is a killer slice of baroque pop with a groovin’ and headspinny a capella breakdown section. Richard doesn’t have quite the same lovely voice as Karen but I Kept On Loving You is still a genuine hella sweet late album bop. And closer Another Song is a snazzy, jazzy multi-part odyssey that really shows what a beastly vixen Karen is around the drum kit. So what you have here is not the most killer of Carpenters tracklists but certainly more recommended than 99% of what is on this list. Bask in the expert songs of Bacharach, John Bettis and Paul Williams, the glory of Karen’s beauteous pipes and Richard’s genius knack for harmonies and arrangements. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

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

A couple of songs were quite good. 2.5

I tried, but it hurts my ears.

The only Carpenter I will ever willingly listen to is Sabrina.

I mean fine but what even is this project. It's been a rough week.

There's a reason this kind of music is often heard in hospitals and doctors' offices: it's bleach white and sterile - which is ironic, given that it made me sick to listen to it.

Cheesy but super tuneful

Kind of goofy but pleasant enough. Also weird album cover. Looks like a couple’s vacation post.

These are bland pop songs. Yes, she has a lovely voice but thios is way to "Lite FM" for me.

would be elevator music if it didn't have vocals. Some decent harmonies, but overall too boring and schmaltzy for me.

Bland pop really. Leavened by Karen Carpenter’s pure vocals. The hit singles were overplayed throughout the seventies

I don't wanna sound harsh because the Carpenter's reputation of being... well, middling pop music is pretty much what everyone thinks about them and obviously there's nothing wrong with music that's simply pretty pop from the 70s but... Man I do not feel ANYTHING listening to this, I just have a hard time finding much in this album to really get into beyond the nice melody here and there and some vocal things (tho even those get kinda tiring), all around its just kind of unexciting to me. I get how someone would like this but man this doesn't get anywhere beyond easy listening in terms of interest.

A couple of decent songs but mostly this is just not my genre. Omg their version of Help is bonkers.

Awful. Overproduced saccharine drivel. That ‘Help’ cover is 1 step from being a crime against humanity. The songs sounded like sitcom themes or elevator music.

nice, fairly unassuming, very 60s. for some reason was giving me sesame street vibes

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

I enjoyed this album in that it sounded like a parody of itself. Not really my bag otherwise.

Solid.

This is so good. Best female vocalist of all time.

Cute! The end is great

Nice, smooth pop album. Second half is better

Excellent!! 👌

Fun Fact: Karen Carpenter was voted the #1 drummer in the 1975 Playboy Music Readers' Poll. She beat Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, John Bonham, Mick Fleetwood, Ringo Starr, etc. That's gotta be worth an extra star.

Love Karen's voice. I wish there were less ballads and more pep in the tracks.

No. Don't stand so close to me. 2/5

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

I wasn't excited to see this one. I thought it'd be bland and white. It is a little bland and quite white, but it has an enjoyable, laidback chillness. The Beatles cover is decent too.

Damn near perfect. RIP Karen.

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

Cute!

It’s hard to listen to the Carpenters and not think about my mom, and rolling my eyes at the radio. Because she loves them, knows every word, was obsessed with them like I’ve been obsessed with lord knows how many bands. Hearing it fresh now, I’m struck by just how fucking good Karen Carpenter’s drumming is, clearing Ringo by a country fucking mile on their cover of “Help”. I’m also struck by how bland Richard’s voice is and how chintzy their song selection is. There’s a ton of depth there, and when they’re really pushing the edges of their musical style it works. But it seemed like they never wanted to push that far. Karen’s the star, obviously - her voice is perfect and her drumming is totally on point while also getting all sorts of fills and crazy combos. She’s so immensely talented, and it feels like they just didn’t have the voices in the room to push outside their comfort zone. Still, the hits are there for a reason, and their arrangements are great. I just wish they had dug a little deeper, like in “Superstar”, instead of always chasing pure pop perfection.

like a nice flowery wallpaper in that it's pretty for a little while but then it starts cracking until all you have left is drywall

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

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

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

That sounded like 30+ min in a dentist’s office.

I really do love that song (They Long To Be) Close To You.

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

pretty / saccharine / crescent noon!

Carpenters takes me back, definitely one of those artists / albums we had around the house when I was a kid and a staple on SoCal AM radio. Mostly forgettable IMO, with the exception of the hits, and the covers were defintely whitewashed versions of the originals. That being said, Karen had a beautiful voice, and was a badass drummer. Mentions of the Carpenters always take me back to the line from My Morning Jacket ~ Librarian: Looking for a lesson in the periodicals There I spy you listening to the AM radio Karen of the carpenters, singing in the rain Another lovely victim of the mirror's evil way

Sublime pop mastery.

Awesome, what a lovely voice.

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

IHAN TÄYTTÄ PASKAA TÄYTTÄ PASKAA TÄYTTÄ PASKAA KIVIKOVAA PASKAA LÄPIPASKAA EI ONTTOPASKAA VAAN LÄPIPASKAA

Not at all my scene. I can appreciate the classic ‘70 sound. But not great.

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

This was actually kind of painful to listen to. And I know most of the backstory with Karen Carpenter and there were a couple of the original songs that I thought were OK but the rest of them cover. I did not like it all, maybe it just has an age very well

This is what I think of when I think early 70’s music

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

3.7 - Very very sickly sweet sometimes, but also enjoyable

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

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

Pretty cheesy and while sometimes in a good way, it's mostly not. After listening I now realize there's no reason to listen to more than one Carpernters song in a row.

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

It’s ok if you like mor music

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

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

I hadn't listened to this band before, although I knew them by name, obviously. I started it assuming that I was starting a 38-minute period of my life of blandness and boredom, and that feeling was consolidated with the first songs. But, to be honest, I kind of liked it! The musicianship was good, as was the songwriting. My favorite track was "I'll Never Fall in Love Again". Will listen to it more.

One of the great voices - like having honey poured over you. But it's a bit too saccharine so it's hard to listen to more than one or two tracks at a time.

Fav song: Close To You Karen Carpenter had one of the most amazing voices in the industry. Such a special musician. RIP.

Its mellow and chill and there are a lot of hits. But its really kind of meh. Its two siblings just signing pleasantly together. This is one of those albums that maybe you had to be there to really really appreciate it because I don't see what is so musically amazing for it to win 8 Grammy's. Would I listen again? Sure...but will it go on a playlist, probably not.

This is fine for some Sunday morning, 70's gold, easy listening. But overall not so much my jam. Close to You is a great love song.

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

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

In what mood should you listen to the songs? It's all too old and uninteresting, I don't want to have to listen to it any more. The concept of the 1001 albums should be revised, e.g. everyone should set a year up to which albums are suggested. Goodbye Beatles, Carpenters, ...

Took me by surprise with how much I enjoyed it. Her vocals were fantastic, and for 40 minutes of this slower ballad style, I didn't get bored at all. Will be returning to multiple songs on here for sure.

It's perfectly pleasant. Clearly talented musicians, and some moments really stick out, but overall it's just kind of mid.

beautiful voices and harmonies. a looot of covers. in general it’s quite nice. i’d classify this as nice easy listening music but nothing that really excites me much. at least not from only having listened to it only once.

Beautiful but a little bit too lame.

Very gentle and easy listening. An easy pioneer for folk music that paved the way in a most traditional way. Nice record.

Geen aanrader om de dag mee te starten, als je wat energie nodig hebt. Althans, dan heb ik het vooral over de eerste helft van het album. Vanaf de 'Help' cover maakt de zoetsappigheid af en toe ook plaats voor wat meer bravoure. En aan het einde van de plaat vinden we zelfs wat mystieke, sample-waardige, jazz-funk. Toch wel een verrassing, had dat niet perse in gedachten bij Carpenters. Maar over de gehele lengte van de plaat is het niet helemaal mijn cup of (mierzoete) tea. Wel shoutout naar Burt Bacharach (& Hal David). Hoe vaak je die songwriters wel niet terug vindt in de credits van popmuziek, tot de dag van vandaag. En ook hier zijn de betere nummers weer geschreven door Burt. 6/10 Highlights: (They Long To Be) Close to You Crescent Noon

Ja tuurlijk, hartstikke mooi die harmonieen en samenzang. Maar dit is wel een hele zoete popplaat, zeg. In menig Amerikaanse huiskamer zullen in de jaren 70 zwangere huismoeders gesmolten zijn. 5,5/10 Highlights We've Only Just Begun Close to You

I had to load up the Bristol Stool Chart to correctly assess this one. 6/7 Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool. This is some soft arsed shit.

It was okay, but nothing amazing. Good time, but never gonna listen again

Magnificent! Apart from cover version of Help!!

C’est vrai que c’est très très très blanc comme album, pis ça viens d'un gars qui mange sa crème glacée à la vanille avec des biscuits sec à l’avoine

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

no strong feelings for this album close to you is pretty good, but I won’t be listening again

Overly decedent and a bit one note

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

Ok aikansa levy ja pari coveria. 3/5 mut en ihan ymmärrä miksi listalla.

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

Solid duo. Prefers "Now & Then."

Karen Carpenter will always be associated with the eating disorder that claimed her too young and brought anorexia to public attention. I remember watching Behind The Music and seeing advertisements for multi-CD collections of the Carpenters or other Time Life compilations of soft rock so some sonic snippets are all that I was exposed to otherwise it was background music. "We've Only Just Begun" is an incredible pop song whose dynamic shift on the chorus is everything. "Love Is Surrender" is bossa nova lite. "Maybe It's You" snare drum, flute, oboe, piano and celeste, chamber pop with a swelling theatrical score. Organ, bass and woodblock, countrified soft rock on Reason To Believe, the harmonies are achingly beautiful. Help, a harpsichord and organ with percussion Beatles cover, not improved despite Karen Carpenter's technically superior vocal ability, it has a Bee Gees style sheen that makes the cover feel unnecessary. "(They Long To Be) Close to You" is the most popular song by The Carpenters, a lament of aching vocals and Hey Jude basic piano, the percussion is great if Karen if responsible for the playing and arrangement, guess it was Hal Blaine. A lot of Burt Bacharach compositions and covers. This version of "Baby It's You" sounds positively restrained compared to the blue-eyed soul of Smith. "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" competently performed. I can't help but wonder what it would have been like for the duo to have artistic control, evidently Karen's controlling mother dictated how her daughter could sing and wanted Karen to record all the drum arrangements herself, but the live performer was not accustomed to the technique required for studio sessions and though she is credited with playing the drums, Hal Blaine also consistently contributed to the Carpenters studio discography. Crescent Noon is an impressive ballad with heartbreaking vocal delivery from Karen, but the background vocals are a bit distracting. Mr. Guder is as irritating as it is startling inventive. "I Kept On Loving You" is a Richard led song that is poppier and less somber. "Another Song" has an intensity absent from other Karen hit singles and ends in an unexpected psychedelic jazz jam.

A time capsule of love. Still lingering in the 60s this album is entirely about love and cherished feelings it brings. A wholesome album that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Strange that the two biggest hits were in the middle and latter half of the album. I wonder if they even knew the acclaim the two songs would bring the group. Although its a 70s album I feel it captures the sounds and ideas of the 60s perfectly. 9/10

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

Very cozy. Standout Track: Close to You

Cute

Rather mellow.

Beautiful voice and some stone cold classics on hear. Not a go to album but I would happily listen again.

I love the Carpenters, and some of my favorites are on this album, but even I thought this was a bit too much, too sappy.

Recognised a good few songs, but not for me. Standouts: - We've Only Just Begun - Help

This is very wholesome which made me sad in knowing the story of the siblings. On the other hand looking at it musically, while it is wholesome and has an emotional value to me, it remains simply nice. Sometimes I think the cuteness of them as a story outshines their music musically. Nevertheless there are several really nice songs on this album and it certainly pulls on the heartstrings. Being direct and realistic the album is OK with shining moments. Add this to the whole backstory of The Carpenters and it is definitely worth listening to and reading about, but outside a couple of super-hits, it is ultimately in the "satisfactory" range.

I get why many think this is corny, but it works for me.

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

I really like Karen's voice, but overall the album is just too blah. The 2 hits are classics, but there's a lot of filler in here. I liked their version of "Reason to Believe" but it's not close to essential.

There is a couple of very nice songs on this album Close to you and Weve only just begun are lovely. The rest of the album is just really wet! Favourite song: Close to you. Least favourite: The cover of help is awful Album artwork: A little bit creepy

We’ve Only Just Began, immediately what a stunning voice. The choir that joins her, beautiful. “we start out walking and learn to run”. The melody is dynamic and subtle. The instrumentation just holds the lyrics gorgeously, floats you along the story being told. Love Is surrender, my goddd the harmony is perfect, there’s crescendos into the most tightly knitted chorus of voices. “you can’t cover up the past, Just pretending will never last, Without love you are nothing at all.” I don’t love the idea of surrender for love but i have to admit that parts of you most likely has to. Maybe it’s You, truly cinematic. Could still be used for film some 53 years later. “Only a fool would want to leave the paradise that i’ve found whenever you’re around” Romance is always written about, but when you find the people that can make cliches so special, you’ve found real artists. Reason to Believe, a small genre shift, to a stronger country sound. Manipulative behaviour is being discussed in a nuanced way. Even after being lied to, infactuaction, sadly can still exist. “If you took the time to change my mind, I’d find a way to leave the past behind” Help, a beatles cover done very well in my mind. It’s hard to cover them. They haven’t messed with the bones of it, they’ve just added what they do best to it. Chorus vocals of tight harmonies. Focused on vocals at the forefront, but the tight playing of the instruments obviously make it come alive. The drums for me are the best aspect, such a strong groove all the way through and the fills are fabulous. (They Long To Be) Close To You! A classic, elegant love song. Again the perfect example of what I mentioned earlier. If you can write cliche after cliche, but wrap it up in stunning melody, harmony and backing vocals, you are talented. “So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold, And starlight in your eyes of blue”. If you’re in love I dare you to not crack a smile while listening to this, I think you’ll lose. Baby It’s You, this is sad. You can’t stop yourself loving someone even if they don’t feel or act the same. There’s anger in this vocal performance that I like, because I haven’t heard it yet. And it reinforces this situation is horrible and frustrating for any person. The sax solo is a great choice, well tbh sax rarely makes a song worse. I’ll Never, this isn’t my favourite cover. I do have to admit that this song has been tainted for me by a comic called Peter Kay, it is funny. Aside from all that I can’t say it’s not a good cover, again they definitely meticulously arrange everything they do, down to the quaver rests. Crescent Noon, this is 1000% the best vocal performance on the album?! the range she reaches, both high and low. It’s more understated in arrangement and therefore i think underrated. I know as a singer, this would be such a dark horse of a song to cover. She makes it sound effortless. Also the concept is magic. “You and I were, Born like the breaking day ….Slowly, we’ll fade into A sea of midnight blue And a falling crescent noon.” Anything beautiful will always transform, for better or worse. Mr. Guder, has musical theatre core. “You’ve blown your life just playing a game, Where no one wins but everyone stays the same”. For me an image of a man in power in corporate America. This arrangement is haunting, extremely fitting as always. I Kept On Loving You, the manipulation is here again! A song for all spineless men that crawl back after fucking off (you can tell i’m bitter!). Again great arrangement, very nice to hear the rich male tones singing. The last song, Another song. With poetic lyrasism and ever expanding instrumentation they close this album. What sounds like an enjoyable jazz jam leaves you wanting more. I simply had fun listening to this, want it on vinyl, want to learn songs. Also the album art is adorable. This records a 5 for me.

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

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

Sugary sweet vocals with a touch of latent sadness for Karen Carpenter.

Close to You is the second album from the Carpenters, the brother/sister duo that made "soft rock" pop songs. Their songs are build around Karen Carpenter's strong, contralto voice, and her brother Richard's harmonizing and arranging. The album was an international success, and helped the Carpenters become one of the best selling artists of all times. The album includes "Close to You," and "We've only Just Begun," the first two of the pair's hit singles, and a cover of the Beatles' "Help." These are pretty, melodic songs that have become fixtures on "easy listening" playlists.

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

Good, easy listening

2,5

Me gustan los Carpenters, los descubrí con el recopilatorio de homenaje de los 90 al mismo tiempo que un documental de su vida y triste final, ahí conocí la existencia de la anorexia. Love is surrender, I kept on loving you y Close to you.

Karen Carpenter is always a joy. 3.5 stars.

Karen Carpenter is obviously an incredible tragic talent. Nothing but admiration for her musicality at such a young age. This album is pretty run of the mill and polished. A bit too smooth and especially with the cover songs, things sound a bit forced. Not my favorite by any means, but not bad at all.

I looooooooooooove them

It’s just SO saccharine. It’s hard to imagine anyone in this era wanting that. Even the covers are like that. Close To You retains some of its power to cut through the clicheness it has now, but only if you are close listening. It’s hard to recommend this as a listen

Boring AF

A smooth and warm slice of the 70s courtesy of Burt, Beatles and even the Carpenters at times. I love Karen and her voice and although her story is sad it still comforts me to know things were so sugary and sweet if only for a short time.

Good if you need some sleep

Pretty amazing to get this album after Black Flag. I think Black Flag playing Carpenters’ covers would be amazing … but the Carpenters playing their own songs? Excuse me while I take a nap

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

I have always consciously avoided the Carpenters, not because I didn't think they were a good band, but because their songs are so mellow. I really don't mind mellow songs but an entire album full of them can be difficult to get through. Well, I was wrong that would be my problem with the album. It turns out the songs aren't as mellow as I thought. There are covers and a more upbeat feel to the songs. My problem is the Carpenters are the 1970's version of Pentatonix in that they manage to suck any soul out of any songs they cover. They are just so...white. They rip any of the grit Rod Stewart put into Reason to Believe and replace it with a sing-along version your kids can be entertained by if they listen hard enough. Help loses some of the desperation the Beatles showed and replaces it with a plea to assist in getting a can of beans from the top grocery shelf. The originals (well, songs they aren't specifically covering) are the pleasant soft rock I would come to expect from the Carpenters. Help has the 10th most streams from this album. You have to work really hard to make a Beatles cover so mediocre that even reminiscing Boomers can't connect to it. Does this need to be in the book? I don't know, as I'm not sure what it adds.

Tough

For nostalgic value

Heard this a lot growing up. Enjoyable listen

I'd have gone 2.5, it's ok but not my taste

This is what won the Best New Artist Grammy for the Carpenters?! God the 70s were a terrible time... But a small part of me has a little guilty pleasure thing going on here. It's fucking terrible, but it's catchy. Arrghh! So conflicted. You still get a 2

Karen Carpenter is cool, but this album was just ok, had some famous songs on it.

Never heard this before. Mellow rock is a guilty pleasure of mine. But The Carpenters definitely puts that to the test. Lots of famous songs on here, but the arrangements bring more cringes than chills. This version of "Never Fall in Love Again" does work for me, though. Karen Carpenter has a beautiful voice and just a heartbreaking life story. Despite my misgivings of the arrangements I'm still going to give this 3 stars.

I remember this very well: 8-track tape driving across the country (52 hours from Michigan to Seattle). Not really something that I needed to hear again, but I don't mind.

Another beautiful voice and tragic life. What a shame the songs are just so sappy and cloying.

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

Amazing voice, though not my cup of tea. Had a strong urge to watch reruns of Love, American Style after listening to "I Kept on Loving You"...

Really smooth pop that has its charm but not all the songs are interesting

Room 1408 ruined this for me.

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

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

DNL

It was okay. A few classics, but most easily forgettable to me. Last song I was just waiting to end and hoped it was the last

Well that was…wholesome. Went off the rails for the last couple of tracks.

it's just... so... bland... I'm struggling to come up with a better review than "meh", but it really is the lightest, softest pop-folk-rock you could imagine, and probably your elderly great-aunt's favourite band. Personal highlights might genuinely be 'Mr. Guder', which at least takes some kind of stance other than "isn't love lovely?" Definitely not one for me.

BEAUTIFUL voice Shit songs Probably one of the most boring albums on this list so far.

Softrock fra 70’erne, duo, poppet, covers, Simpsons movie

70’s boring

Good vocals but not my favorite

Was okay

3.75

I’ve always loved (They Long To Be) Close To You because of it’s use in The Simpsons; it is without a doubt Marge and Homer’s song and for that it’ll always have a place in my heart. The rest of the album though is, I don’t want to say a mixed bag because none of it is actively bad, I just think Karen Carpenter works best when singing songs of love and longing rather than heartbreak, which is possibly ironic given her personal life, but I don’t want to go there. So much of our experience with these albums we’ve undertaken to listen to over the course of three and a bit years will be unavoidably tied up with the experiences we’re having outside of the generator. I know there are albums I’ve given harsher ratings to than I would have if I’d have been in a good mood that day, and vice versa. I’m currently in a good place with a girl I’ve been crushing on for a long time, and so listening to Close To You while walking around town after talking to her, I was grinning ear to ear and going all Gene Kelly in Singin’ In The Rain on the lamp posts. I must’ve looked a right idiot to anyone watching, but I didn’t care. And for that, despite the fact I think it really only deserves a four, Close To You is a five. If life is our experience, whatever that may mean, then the experience I had with The Carpenters was overwhelmingly positive

Karen’s the GOAT, a lot of classic tunes here

Surprised by how much I was enjoying this until the last three songs. It's like they padded out the album with dreck because they just had to be near 40 minutes. Last track is actually called "another song"... Example #3847 of solid curation being the most important element to making a quality record.

Mr. Gooner, say Mr. Gooner, are you gonna goon tonight? 5/10

Listening to this album in the car I felt like Eddie Valiant from Who Framed Roger Rabbit driving through Toon Town. A happy and smiling sun singing in the sky. Trees and animals dancing, just loving life. This album was really nice, but it was almost TOO nice, even for me!! I do love the song “Close to You.” I can’t deny that. And if I’m going to listen to an overly sweet album, I’d like Karen Carpenter to be the one singing. Her voice is absolutely lovely 🌸

po esse trouxe memórias descer a avenida do contorno de noitinha no saudoso ford ka com close to you torando na também saudosa good times FM (dependendo do dia com tradução feita pelo locutor) era uma aventura enfim, álbum mais good times FM da história, bão demais

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

Lovely album of twinkling, soft focus vocal pop with arrangements that feature flutes, strings and horns. “(They Long to Be) Close to You” is the big hit. It’s a great song, beautifully produced and performed. It’s one of those songs I’ve heard in movie montages without ever thinking about who performed it. I love the extended outro to the song. The cover of The Beatles’ “Help!” was nice too. (Wow, this jazz rock freak out on the last track is a surprise!)

Very pretty album by one of the most underrated bands of all time. "(They Long To Be) Close to You" is probably their best song, and is so synonymous for me with romance, love, and all things mushy and sweet. It's also in so many movies too I think? "Why do birds suddenly appear Every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be Close to you" That's just really sweet. Nice tracks and great performances. I saw that they can be described as "airy" and "light" and that is very apt to me. You aren't going to get much tension (unless it's wrapped in some super clean textures) but there's something pleasant throughout that keeps it super listenable.

Karen Carpenter almost became Karen Chutney! Karen & Ken Chutney. Marriage made in heaven. Shame. I miss her. 4.7

Nice and chill

Nice, sweet and easy!

Decent.

This is all very pleasant, peaceful and all the arrangements seem effortless. They even manage to not screw up a cover of Help!

So boring. Wake me up. Nice voice though.

Some class tracks, and a nice easy listen on the train this morning 3/5

Gag me with a cheesy spoon, this could be used as torture.

Karen Carpenter, as another punter on here noted, is the best Carpenter since Jesus. Great drummer and superb voice. Love that. Most songs here are pretty sappy but I still enjoyed it more than expected.

yeah

Pre-listening thoughts: 💔 Karen Carpenter’s story makes me so so sad. But her voice is so beautiful and Richard is such a talented arranger. I bet this will be good. Post/during listening thoughts: convinced that everyone who dislikes this hates pop and hatessss women. I love my contraltos yall carry the world on your shoulders. (They Long to Be) Close To You always makes me really wistfully sad but like in a good way if that makes sense? “What do you get when you kiss a guy? You get enough germs to catch pneumonia” might be one of the greatest lyrics in history (lesbian speaking here so I might be biased). The harmonies in all of these songs are just so lovely. I love you Carpenters 🫶 9.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: yeah Fav tracks: We’ve Only Just Begun, Love Is Surrender, Help, (They Long To Be) Close To You, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, Mr. Guder, I Kept on Loving You (should I just have said this was a no skip album??? Maybe idk but I thoroughly enjoyed this) Least fav tracks: no

Road rage impossible if you listen to this while driving

Some well known classics, the rest of just not for me

Mellow vibe

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

Nice

Some classic tracks. Enjoyable listen.

Where was that jazz flute the whole time? This is some classic late 60's/70's music. A lot of it melded together but I wouldn't call it hard to listen to or unenjoyable. (They Long To Be) Close To You, and Another Song were my favorites and I thought the rest were okay. I was leaning towards a 2 but that jazz flute solo at the end raises the score for me.

It's hard to believe that a time or place called for such saccharine music because this more than just a little too sweet. I had to buy eight boxes of crackers to process all the cheese on this album.

Had never been exposed to The C people when I was growing up. But, I have watched plenty of spoof-y movies that incorporated the sounds of The C people into goofy montages to accentuate the silliness. I'm thinking Ron Burgundy-esque type films, so it's kind of neat to listen to the original. I think there are three things that people normally gravitate to when they hear The C people. Number one is Karen and her anorexia, number two is Richard marrying his cousin, and number three is the soft, candlelit, cheesy-goodness of this duo's sound.

The slow and saccharine songs are excruciating, and I don’t care for Richard as lead, but “Close to You” is buoyed by the hits (though I think I can only stand them because they are so well-known) and a great cover of the Beatles’ “Help.” It was also interesting to discover that The Carpenters recorded “Reason to Believe” before Rod Stewart. Neither are the original, and I still prefer Stewart’s version, but its familiarity made it another of the more tolerable songs on the album. “Crescent Moon” also showed that slow and moody, with Karen singing lower, is so much better than the too-sweet love songs. The real stand-out, though, was “Mr. Guder.” I can’t explain why I like it (maybe the whimsy?), but it was delightful.

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

Pretty. Pretty boring. The only time I perked up was when I thought they were saying Mr. Gouda and singing about cheese, but they were not. Now I am disappointed and hungry.

A perplexing combination of pleasant and boring.

This album is fine, it just happens to be full of really overplayed songs