Reviews (page 7 of 8)
The thing with The Carpenters is they are only ever as good as the material they're given. The are obviously competent and charismatic performers, but it is hard to escape the sheen of saccharine sweet vocal harmonies and lightweight production - the weaker songs crumble under the weight of layers of easy-listening gloss. Don't get me wrong, it's a pleasant and often appropriate sound, but not a partiularly challenging or thought-provoking one. At their best, The Carpenters smuggle an layer of unsettling melancholy into what, on the surface, appears to be just another frothy pop ballad. That doesn't happen too often on this album though, sadly. The well-known hit singles are highlights, decent but not deep.
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.
Alright
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
Saccharine music but well done. The big hits are classics but it loses a point for murdering Help.
This is exactly what I would imagine music made by carpenters to sound like
Saccharin sweet. Cliche, overproduced and dull tracks. The only highlight of the album is Karen Carpenter vocals & drumming
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.
Cheesy, but pleasant enough for a single listen.
Karen certainly had a lovely voice, but this is mostly too saccharine for my taste.
Awfully, intolerably sweet. Hit me on a day when my record player waas broken, too.
2.0 - Weak
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.
Knew a couple from it, not my type of music
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.
It's fine. Technically it's a solid album, I just don't think I'm in love with their style.
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...
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!
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.
Perfect distilling of 70s pop
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.
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
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.
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.
Sweet but very boring
I Karen has an incredible voice. But I don't see the arrangements as something unique.
Na. Not my thing
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.
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.
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.
Ya basta de jipis
Mmmmmm muuuuy tranquilo
Totally not my thing.
Meh, most of it is other people’s songs. Don’t really care for this twee karaoke stuff myself.
Mostly bland and inoffensive but that cover of Help!....that were absolute diabolical...I can't spake!
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
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".
Couple of decent songs, greatest hits album would be a better listen
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.
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
What a voice Karen Carpenter had. Just glorious. The trouble is that a lot of these songs just sound weak.
*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.
Epitome of easy listening 70s
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.
I suppose this is an album worth listening to once. And now it is done.
There are clearly some good songs in there somewhere, but this production and format has not aged well at all.
Rating: 4/10 Nah.
They Long to be close to you
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.
This is just fine but it has NO BUSINESS being in this list.
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
This is 70s pop. It's fine.
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.
Too sweet for me
Es ist nicht schlecht, ich bin einfach froh, dass es fertig ist.
BOOORING
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
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
Cheesy mixed in with unlistenable tripe
I only liked the songs I already knew.
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.
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
A few classic songs- close to you is imprinted in my mind because of the Simpsons.
It's boring but at least they like each other.
It is what it is - and its fine.
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
A couple of songs were quite good. 2.5
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.
Bland pop really. Leavened by Karen Carpenter’s pure vocals. The hit singles were overplayed throughout the seventies
I enjoyed this album in that it sounded like a parody of itself. Not really my bag otherwise.
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.
No. Don't stand so close to me. 2/5
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
That sounded like 30+ min in a dentist’s office.
I really do love that song (They Long To Be) Close To You.
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
Not at all my scene. I can appreciate the classic ‘70 sound. But not great.
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
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.
Beautiful but a little bit too lame.
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.
no strong feelings for this album close to you is pretty good, but I won’t be listening again
Rather mellow.
Recognised a good few songs, but not for me. Standouts: - We've Only Just Begun - Help
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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 🌸
So boring. Wake me up. Nice voice though.
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.
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.
I get the appeal, but this was an incredible slog to get through. The most absolutely dull instrumentation and a general vibe of a cult. I find too much tragedy in the Carpenters story to find any real peace or hopefulness in the lyrics. 1.5/5 from me. Rating as a 2 because of respect for her voice and harmonies.
mushy love stuffs
It was alright. She had a nice voice but it all felt the same.
Gets an extra star for having Homer and Marge’s meet cute song.
well... it' better than you think . Yes, 54+ years old but there are seeds sown upon for future singing duets. pleasantly surprising
Dull and sappy
We've Only Just Begun is a lovely song, and the modal shift in the chorus is great. From there though, it's all downhill. The cover of Help is just woeful - I'm not a fan of pre-Rubber Soul Beatles, but that is terrible. Also, the cover of Alan Partridge's Close To You is unnecessary.
Insufferable
Thoughts before listening: I have always thought of the Carpenters as talented but ultimately extremely vanilla. Just 70s radio-friendly soft rock that would have very little critical appeal. Therefore it is surprising to see them on this list. This will certainly be my first time listening to one of their albums although I'm sure I've heard their music before. Review: Yeah. This isn't for me. I get that they're talented, but its just not something I would choose to listen to. This is despite having a couple extremely recognizable songs and a Beatles cover. 2-stars
That godforsaken song has popped up in my life like half a dozen times for the past week. Please make it stop.
Boring, sappy and just downright claustrophobic. Going from Slayer yesterday to Carpenters today has to be one of the biggest energy swings possible within this project. You can probably tell by my rating which side of the pendulum I prefer.
It's like Christian music but they keep forgetting to mention Jesus.
Wow that’s a weird time capsule. Too saccharine. And I definitely didn’t need to hear Carpenters sap the energy from a Beatles song. Conversely, I can see why “cooler” artists would enjoy covering some of these songs b/c there are some decent melodies.
Karen Carpenter heeft een gouden keeltje, maar jemig, die arrangementen zijn echt zo afschuwelijk zoet dat het glazuur ervan van je tanden slaat. En dan ook nog die overbodige covers. Ik maak me geen enkele illusie, jullie hebben dit allebei een 1 gegeven, ik geef dan nog een 2 voor Karen d'r stem en nagedachtenis, en daarna zet ik 'm ook nooit meer op.
Prima gezongen. Daarom terecht in de lijst. Maar wat is dit saai en gedateerd zeg.
Zoetsappig en traag. Maar het zijn wel prachtige stemmen en mooie harmonieen. Het doet wat denken aan Bee Gees en Beach Boys. Het is alleen wel wat gezapig allemaal. Wat me sowieso opvalt, is hoeveel nummers van het album stiekem bekend zijn. De cover van de Beatles vond ik wel geinig. Het interessantste om te lezen vind ik dan hoe meisje Carpenter aan haar einde is gekomen. Ook wel treurig ergens. Geen sex, drugs en rock n roll, maar een eetstoornis. Wat dat betreft past het ergens wel in het brave karakter van de muziek. Maar wat geef je zo'n album dan. Het is te oud, te gedateerd, te gezapig. Je gaat dit normaal gesproken niet voor je lol opzetten. Zelfs moeders kijkt raar op als ze mijn kantoor binnen komt gewandeld en deze muziek opstaat, en die is met deze lijst toch heel wat gewend geraakt. Ik geef een 2, omdat het wel echt kwaliteit heeft en ik de zang schitterend vind. Maar deze muziek kan echt niet meer.
I could list all the synonyms I can find for sacharin, but I'll settle for that. Ms. Carpenter has a fantastic voice and she can use it well, but this sentimental schlock is way too sweet for me.
Sacrine sweet singing, slow advert ready beats with string overkill. It sounds frankly horrible, however under all that you do get some intersting things happen musically, we need covers of these songs!!
Quite pleasant, if decidedly minor
The is an album of AM Gold. Which really - I am not the target audience for. The Carpenters always seemed to be the butt of a joke when I was growing up and I made it a point not to listen to them, knowing that they sucked. Well time and Hollywood is a bitch - I knew most of these songs! Ugh. This is super vanilla, easy listening that is kitschy at best. Honestly the whole Karen Carpenter tragedy is more interesting(?) than their music.
This was sadly a bit painful. As I recall, the Carpenters were a distinct pop sound in the heavy psychedelic rock of the 70's In retrospect on this album in particular, a couple of well deserved top 40 hits but the rest of the album was just sad. The selection had one song in particular that didn't sound like it should have been sung in any key...
WAUW die opener! We've only just begon! Dat is dus 1 van mn favoriete scenes uit Room 1408. Heel vet om m nu weer eens te horen en me niet dood te schrikken, kleine PTSD effect an het begin. Maar fuck he, wat is dit album verder saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai Het is een soort matigere versie van Simon & Garfunkel, en die vind ik al verschrikkelijk!! Ontzettend saai album, ik ga hier nooit meer iets van luisteren. Heel misschien Weve only just begon, voor de memes. Maar verder? Albums to listen to before you die? Hell no, dit is juist een dodelijk saai album... Krijgt 1 sterretje erbij, omdat het niet slecht is, het heeft gewoon alle spanning en sensatie van een snee wit brood. FAVO: We've only just begon
stars falls from the sky? this is about lucifer, right? she's talking about lucifer? guys? guys?
Not bad, but a bit too sickly sweet for my cold, dead heart.
I tried to listen at work, it nearly put me to sleep.
There is really no meat here. It's so clean and perfect that it loses meaning as it costs everything it touches with sugary syrup. I'm old enough to remember the end of their career. People who didn't really listen to a lot of music LOVED the Carpenters. I suspect it was because it was so easy.
Not really a vibe
Karen Carpenter has one of the best voices I've ever heard, and Richard Carpenter's arrangements are incredibly rich due to being severely classically influenced. However, the music is so soft and sweet that it's not really my cup of tea. The covers that mark most of this album are really hit and miss. Interestingly though, the standout track for me is "Mr. Guder," which is one of their own compositions.
Se tuttu biisi on kyllä toimiva, ja paikoin muutama muukin, mutta tämä duo on liian kotonaan omassa pehmeydessään.
Bit too lame and bit too aged for me. Even the hit-single "Close To You" doesn´t convince me at all.
I would call this country pop. Not quite in either camp and doesnt excite like either actually could. Fine but not getting a second play
Karen Carpenter has a lovely voice, obviously, but this is too saccharine for me.
There’s a few classic songs that still hold up. But most of this record is bland. What even is that “Help” cover? 2.5/5
mid
118/1001 2.5/5
I’m struggling to understand why I didn’t like this better. She has a lovely voice, and their style is reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel. But something about it just doesn’t strike my fancy. Maybe it’s because the songs themselves are a bit dopey and cliché?
Karen Carpenter's voice is so good. I don't want to hear it though. I'm not into it.
Not for me….
This was pleasant
Sure there are more than a few pleasant harmonies here, but cmon. This is late 60s cheese at its highest form. And the covers?🤮
Shout out to the carpenters for writing half the songs that i hear whenever I walk through a retail department store
Production schmaltz ruining some otherwise ok songs. Music like this was really only needed to fuel the outrage for other groups to re-invent the recording industry. This kind of album is manipulative like a Disney movie trying to enforce a certain emotional state via musical tropes and manipulations rather than actually letting the content work. The philosophical term "inauthentic" was created for things like this. I look forward to NIN re-recording this.
Cursi y empalagoso como miel. No me gusta mucho.
I actually let out an audible moan when this came up. Yet I listened to the album all the way through, just like every other. I have to admit Karen has a great voice, and most of the songs are well crafted. But omg, it's so sugary sweet that I had to call an ambulance because I was about to fall into a diabetic coma from listening to this.
Ugh. I knew the songs.
The kind of your Nanna is going to love and quite possibly the most lifeless Beatles cover in existence, in saying that it does get an extra point for some interesting harmonic movements
2 stars only because I remember a couple songs from when I was a kid. Would be 1 star if I had to listen again.
I got a sweet tooth, but this was too sweet for me
There's a few songs that drag on and on here, but the vocal layering and harmonies are pretty ear catching. The final song is solid and I would have enjoyed more of that. 2.5, rounding down.
Meh
Boring
Was not very interesting until the last song
Great voice, bad songs
Top 40 Soft Rock 70s…memories of the 2 hits playing throughout the decade. Definitely talented & a tragedy years later. Lots of covers including Help. It’s a shame Karen couldn’t get enough…help.
Boring…
I quite liked Mr. Guder and the cover of Help, but this was a bit too saccharine. Lovely voice she had though.
I tapped out around Help. Don’t plan to finish or revisit.
Tiene dos tremendas canciones, el resto es mediocre
Middle of the road syrupy pop music. A couple of big hits and an angelic voice help make it stand out...a little. Just not realy a fan of overly sentimental pap. 2 stars
I was going to give it a 1.5 and round it down to 1, but that last minute of the last track really picked it up to a 2. what is wrong with me.
i have enjoyed this album in the past but today? a slog. such is life. 1.5
Every song sounds like the theme song from a 70s sitcom
The songs are good, but the performance and production are way too sweet for my taste. Especially the singing. Favorite song: love is surrender.
Hippy dippy music.
We've only just begun is a classic Love is Surrender is an odd song for a brother/sister duo to sing Not really my thing, but the vocals are nice Carpenters version of 'Help' was excellent Another Song was out of character for the album, probably my favourite track from the album
Album Nr. 36 Eine Schnulze nach der anderen. Kein wirklicher Weltuntergang aber eintönig.
I didn't love this one.. I think I can appreciate it for what it is but probably will never revisit.
Maybe someday I’ll give this another listen, but after 1 play through, I’m not a fan. The slow song pace of every track, the vocals are good, but when it comes to the covers, I appreciate the originals more. The Carpenters are a band that many have held in high regard , but they’re not for me. 2/5.
mormonimusiikkia. chilli pilli: the albumi. huomioitavaa on myös se, että jeesus oli puuseppä uraltaan myös. jeesus on paras suomen kansalainen joka koskaan ollut olemassa. nykyinen hallitus ei tätä ymmärrä. meidän täytyy kansan noustava ylös kapinoida, tuoda alas tämä korruptoitunut läjä poliitikkkoja... maybe it's you
I'm going to leave listing to the Carpenters to waiting in elevators or department store lines.
Saccharine from start to finish. There's some classic melodies and tracks here, but it's delivered in such a thick layer of sugar that it's hard to listen to more than one track.
タイトル曲は心の底から好きなので一点プラスした。かったるくてほんとにつまらない。
Weird - kind of folly pop.
1.5/5 The last song is pretty good
2,5 since it reminds me of my moms Music
Sehr ruhiges Album. Nicht schlecht, aber nichts was ich oft hören würde.
Meh. There’s ok songs here, but most are bland, bad, and uninteresting. There isn’t much else to talk about.
Just bland. Grocery store sliced white bread music.
5/10
The Carpenters bringing that smooth early '70s adult contemporary sound. Not really my thing. Probably my least favorite genre of that time, but I recognize they were good at what they did. I'll give them an extra star just out of respect.
Sorry not my thing. I appreciate the talent on show in this classic album from that era, but too soft and sickly for me
In the spectrum of music I enjoyed hearing while growing up the Carpenters definitely had a place and it wouldn't have been the same without them. Karen Carpenter had such a wonderful voice! The Carpenters were a group that I always heard via radio play and greatest hits so actually sitting down to listen to this album was a new listening experience. This is a good example of an album where you endure the filler songs while waiting for the hits. Their cover of "Help" was terrible and reminded me of the type of thing you'd hear on The Lawrence Welk show when they tried to be hip and relevant by singing something on the current charts. Nothing outside of the hits held any interest for me, it's all a bit too lush, rich and saccharine.
The first twangs confirm the album cover: folkish twaffle. In The Century of the Self, Adam Curtis argues that after the middle-class counterculture kids of America met the full force of the state in the 1960s, they sought to change the world by changing their minds, as opposed to by changing society. The kids abandoned the material world for the spiritual one, and sought fulfilment of the id, as opposed to justice for the disempowered. Close To You is an album made for these creatures. Each song is a lullaby for wrinkled babies, who suckle on safe comforting familiarity. There's a cover, or two, or three, or four. There's the reassuring presence of God through the church organ. There's a by-the-numbers romantic sax flicker. Yet, when Karen sings, I feel the cynicism siphon away. Her voice is sweet. She seems unperturbed, removed, aware enough to not be too earnest, but not so self-aware to be ironic. Her melodies promise the return of innocence, escape from all past sins. However, on I Kept On Loving You when Karen steps to the side, the full atrocity of the music comes into view. The sheer inanity amazes. I remain torn. Maybe I'm in a good mood. Maybe I'm ill.
At least it was short
So washed out and boring.
Not really my thing, ha ha.
A little too gushy for my taste. When I heard the cover of help I actually took a break and listened to the Beatles album. Just shows there was better pop music around that time that I’d rather listen to.
meh
I don't think this is as bad as some people say, but the cover of Help sucks. Karen Carpenter has a very beautiful voice.
Boring
“We’ve only just begun” is a perfectly nice song that’s been totally ruined by overuse (both sincere and in parody). God, no question why I’ve never heard this BAD cover of Help. Though this does (as always) make me wish more good bands today did covers of contemporary peers. This was such a common thing for most of the 20th century and it’s just gone now, very weird. Close to You - wow, again, death by ironic overuse of a perfectly nice song. Baby it’s you - Two Beatles covers (sort of) on one album, sheesh. Capitalizing on the breakup I guess? I’ll never fall in love again - And the second consecutive Burt Bacharach cover!! Wild.
What a shame. As others have mentioned, she has an incredible voice, up there with the best of them, but the music itself is so dull. There's really nothing else going on - the arrangements are boring, the backing singing is boring, and the lyrics are mostly boring. It's a couple of very famous, very saccharine singles, a few more interesting songs towards the end of the album, and a load of boring dross. 2/5.
I felt as if someone was going to give me a white rob ask me to move to the Commune and drink some kool-aid to enter salvation. Something I would gladly do if I had to listen to this again
the first three are lovely. every song after that…girl dump his ass
There's a reason that We've Only Just Begun has become a mainstay of horror movie soundtracks to symbolize psychological torture.
This was a well produced and well executed but ultimately sterile album. There’s nothing offensive about it at all, but it’s solidly middle of the road and bland. The cover songs in particular sounded too slickly produced and any explosivity and spontaneity that existed in the originals was gone. Everything about this album feels too perfect and scripted.
We've only just begun is a bop but overall this album is very aged. The type of songs you'd hear playing at an arts and crafts store. RIP Karen Carpenter
I mean, of course this is incredibly dated. It was released in 1970. Having said that, there are some... interesting choices for covers here. The weirdest cover of "Help" I've heard in a long time. "Reason To Believe" as a white version of a samba, maybe? It's all just very... odd. And the last song... was kinda proggy? Very strange. The album definitely epitomizes soft rock, but it's all over the place in song choices. I mean there's the two well-known songs by the Carpenters, but the others are just... huh? Really strange stuff.
The only merit of this is Karen's voice, it has a nice soothing quality that works well with soft rock. However, the album "Close to You" is a pile of boring, bland tunes that doesn't interest much. The title track, while iconic, is not even that good. The Beatles covers are quite annoying as well. The only song that I enjoyed is "Mr. Guder", I like the folky elements sprinkled in it. Unlike actual carpentry, music sounds more interesting when the artist takes risks (like in "Mr. Guder") instead of playing safe.
This is how it feels to drink milk as a lactose-intolerant person.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: yeah it was ok, a bit too quiet and slow in build up throughout though for me Favourite song: Track 6 - (They Long to Be) Close To You
Not a fan of soft rock… the cover of the Beatles ‘Help’ also turned me off - it was not bad actually but covering it in 1970 seems odd.
Not absolutely terrible, but veeery little to like here for me
Meh
Soft and nice. What else would you expect…?!
Boring
Hm, this is really a lot of cover songs on here and mostly I prefer the originals. Even We've Only Just Begun I thought it was their original but they took it from an advert it was originally written for hahaha. Their arrangement and version of that song is pretty epic but the whole album I really don't like, it's so sickly sweet and then there's no nostalgia there for me or related memories so I can't bear the twee ness of it haha.
I'm not sure what do with this one, it's not like it was terrible just not my thing. Their "A Christmas Portait" album is pretty good if you like Christmas music. "Another Song" that closed the album was kind of a jam. And that Why Do birds Suddenly Apear song reminds me of that one Simpsons episode so that's worth something
mostly (over)sweet love songs, helped a lot by the karen’s voice, which is great. the cover of help is… heinous. really really bad. took this album down a whole point.
Oppressively earnest. Karen Carpenter’s voice shines and I enjoyed the vocal harmonies and arraignments, but found myself enjoying the album less as it moved along. All the sugary sweetness gave me a stomach ache. 2.5/5
Two great song…several horrible covers…. Makes a barely listenable album. Might have been something when it came out, but it does not hold up. 2.5
While I did find this pleasant, it's not really my vibe, so it was a bit boring. I love the closing track, though.
It was just fine. Not really anything I’ll listen to by choice. Won’t be adding any songs to my playlist, but I’ll give it a 2.
This one is very of it’s time. Lots of filler on here a lot of the songs blend together. There’s nothing really interesting about it and that’s its main problem.
I secretly wanted to like this, The Carpenters have always been one of my mum's favourites. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite get on board. Just too syrupy.
Very positive messages about love and relationships, but didnt enjoy the music much.
I'm surprised by how many people rate this album super high. I love folk-pop from the 60s and 70s, love women singer/songwriters, and was pretty much raised on this stuff. Yet despite all of that, I find it a little insipid. She certainly had a beautiful voice, but musically it's all just boring. And the cover of Help is an abomination.
I'd be happy to never hear these songs again. 2/5
Joa. Nee.
Part of me wanted to rip this album to shreds, but holy shit, I recognized half the songs on the album. Sappy, cheesy, lovey dovey bullshit songs, but how can you not love They long to be closer to you? Because I recognized so many of the songs, I did a little research and there's a lot of remakes. Rod Stewart, Beatles (yuck) and Dionne Warwick to name a few...... I will say, way too much flute. But the flute solo at the end of the album may be the greatest flute solo I have ever heard. Pretty sure it's also the only flute solo I have ever heard. All I could see was Ron Burgundy in my head. Another shocker, this was the album of the year in 1970? Wow. Just wow...... I had a hard time with most of the songs. Just not my thing, but she does have a beautiful voice and Closer to you is an all time classic. Also enjoyed We've only just begun and I'll never fall in love again. I don't know what to say here. Would I listen again? Probably not. Am I happy I listened to this a couple times over last 2 days? Yea, it made me smile. 2.5 Can't give it a 3 on the scorecard, due to overall cheesiness
A whole album of this is too much.
Some great classics, but too many terrible covers and dated feel.
A little bland, but an enjoyable listen nonetheless.
Wel heel oude trage muziek
Why am I crying
Boring
No surprise this got dropped from the RS 500.
'Close To You' is such an amazing song (although originally by Burt Bacharach). Rest of the album? Not particularly so. The cover of 'Help' really adds nothing new to the song. 'Baby It's You', another Bacharach product, starts off side 2 quite strong, and although the vocal harmonies are impressive, the remaining songs continues with a mix of blandness and sugary sweetness.
There’s no getting around it; Karen was an incredible singer and Richard really knows his way around arranging vocal harmonies. The obvious highlights are the title track and “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” (both originally by Burt Bacharach). The cover of “Help” on the other hand adds very little new. And while there’s no getting around the talent on this record, it just never actually moves me. In fact, I’m quite bored when we reach the end. All respect to the Carpenter’s - it’s just not my jam.
Too sooty
My sugar levels just spiked.
This was exactly what i expected.
Cheese, but not the sort of cheese you want more of.
I’ve listened to this 😡
Feels harsh as I don't hate the album but couldn't help but be disappointed. The title track is a staple ballad I knew before, which probably was the reason for the overly high hopes going in. There are a few good tracks sprinkled from here to there, but as a whole it just wasn't that enjoyable and got fairly boring.
expect to be very 70s but maybe a 4? Nah. way too slow
We watched a Carpenters documentary last year and I remember 2 snippets well. 1) A 20-year-old Karen Carpenter arriving in a limo at a hotel and being mobbed by fans - perfectly normal, except the fans were in their sixties! 2) The bank commercial with the song "We've Only Just Begun" which Richard Carpenter heard, got his hands on the original, and recorded a few months later. They went out of their way to sound different to the rock/psychedelic scene at that time which appealed to the older crowd. They were also anti-drug. I'm a big fan of 2 or 3 of their songs and Karen Carpenter had a wonderful "contralto" voice (and was a good drummer). The supporting songs include too many hits from a few years prior, which I suppose was a popular way to fill out an album in the pre-singer songwriter era.
Yes she has a lovely voice but most of the songs were written by others, eg Burt Bacharach and one is a lame Beatles cover. But they did crack the code for mellow 70s pop that sold a bajillion records. Definitely not my jam, but I’ll be generous here just because of her voice.
Sickly sweet twee pop. This stuff hasn't aged well.
Joitain ihan kuunneltavia biisejä kivoine melodioineen, mut oli ehkä sen hetkiseen mielentilaan aivan liian lälly
I'm sure there's something here, but can't really get past the cheese factor.
Bill was glad when it ended. (2/5) "Bit shit" - Jane. (1.5) 2 out of 5 for Shannah because her Mum liked it. (2/5) Conor liked/knew two songs. Rest was milk-bland and forgettable. (2/5) (1.75/5)
Ugh. I can imagine this was good back in 1970, but not so much now. 2/5
I enjoy how the 1001 Album algorithm decided I should listen to this after that Afghan Whigs album. I understand why they were so big in the early 70s, these songs have AM radio written all over them. I'm sure this is a perfectly well made example of the sort of thing that it is. And I do not care. It's nice. It's relentlessly nice. Only "Another Song" at the very end breaks the pattern and it's *still* reasonably nice. Even the jab at their old employer at Disneyland is nice. I've met croissants that were more substantial.
2/5 too boring
This album gave me diabetes.
Good singles, but the rest of the album could put me to sleep.
lame
OK, cool. At least that what you might think if you're highly a conservative-minded teen in the early 70s.
boring, seemed like I was in an elevator, I won't say it was bad, it was just non-descript
Inoffensive, but pretty shite. 2
This is damn close to a 1 for me. I just don't like the voices, the songs that are good are mostly covers (and I prefer the original/alternate version) and I just cannot fathom how this won Album of the Year.
This was okay, very 70's
My thoughts on this record are similar to my thoughts about the ABBA record that I got on here recently. I can appreciate their skill as a pure-pop group but by and large this music is just not for me. It's not unlistenable but it's too polished, too clean, and too syrupy. Having said that, even ABBA is arguable more creative and influential than the Carpenters. This is far more middle of the road and boring.
Oof, I remember watching a documentary/movie of Karen Carpenter and her death when I was a child. The opening track is sung so heart-breakingly even though the lyrics are about beginnings (not ends). I can’t say I like this version of east listening, but I have to acknowledge the beauty of her voice. Three stars for her voice, minus a star because the music is just so boring.
I like the hits, but over a whole album the style is just too cheesy.
Beetje slappe pop maar wel mooie stem
Het glazuur is van m'n tanden gebrokkeld.
25. Close to you - Carpenters 12 tracks. What a let-down. Really really poor. Really struggled to get through this whiney dronefest. Was not far off 1 star! 2/5
Don't really know what to say. She has a nice voice but the arrangements don't do much for me. Can't honestly say I enjoy this.
I get why people like them, but man it is definitely not my thing, I really don't like anything here lol. Too pure and beautiful, it's like the Carpenters came back from church and recorded. I'm gonna give it a 2 because I really can't listen to this anymore.
Far too twee for me.
One of my favorite slightly dismissive words in these reviews are "slight". It came to mind again here; Not because of the instrumentation, or the arrangements, but their combination. Everything flows well enough and is inoffensive, but the overall effect is AOR-via-pop. (I guess there's an "adult contemporary" category for that, eh?) The horns and strings are what bring it out for me: They're there, but in neither the wall-of-sound nor the virtuosic sense. There are a handful of good songs, but as an album it lacks.
It's like listening to a collection of opening credits songs for 70s sitcoms. I liked the cover of Help but the other stuff just started being a parody of itself. A bit too twee I think.
ok i guess, but dull enough that i found the jazzy fucking around at the end a highlight. And i do not, as a rule, like jazzy fucking around.
So not my bag. I remember listening when I was a kid and liking some of it. And the catchy ones and covers aren't bad, but I'm also not gonna seek them out. This barely eeks out 2 stars. Barely.
Yes, there are a couple of nice songs in there, but overall I don't think this album withstood the test of time.