Close To You

Es isch iwie eif immer besser worde. (Vlt uf em Wäg richtig 5i?)

beatles cover isches eifach nd

It's pretty and cute but nah

Ngl I'm a sucker for this, will probably bump this up if I ever listen again

Overproduced and over orchestrated. It makes me wonder what would have happened if Karen Carpenter was still alive, would she have realized that she didn’t need a full musical accompaniment and a whole album could just her and her brother? Her voice was beautiful but, the material she was working with sucked.

No me gusta el pop asi tan chill

3/5

i have little against it. just unannoying music

Not too bad of pop rock. I already knew Close To You from the Simpsons Movie but I never knew who made it so pretty cool to find out. I also liked Love is Surrender. Very pretty vocals throughout and just very melodic for the most part.

Who is?

This is music that they would try to sell me on late night infomercials as a kid. Meh.

Carpenters were a favourite of my Dad’s, so grew up with this in the background. Initially I just found it too soft, but as I aged I came to realise it is a smooth work of genius and Karen’s voice remains one of the finest to ever be recorded. Solid 3

Slaps. Carpenters defined my childhood!

3.0

We’ve only just begun-perfect for a 60th birthday line! Beautiful lyrics and what a voice.

Perfect for a slow Sunday afternoon. Karen Carpenter had a beautiful voice, infusing these songs with calming melodies

Wonderful voice and a couple of absolute bangers. The rest doesn’t quite get it to 5*

The nostalgic sound of my early childhood. Beautifully arranged songs sung beautifully. The self-penned songs are the stand outs on this album, which is saying something given that the covers include songs by Bacharach and the Beatles. 4*

Este álbum un 3, pero la influencia musical de Carpenters un 4

The carpenters are very aggressively not my thing.

alt .. und tönt auch so.

A bit too commercial for my tastes. There's no doubting how much of a special talent Karen Carpenter was however. Taken far too early, way before her time. Such a sad way to go.

Lovely harmonies, but too sad. Remembering Karen and her illness.

Every song on this album sounds like the intro or outro to a 80s or 90s family sitcom. And then that one song started playing. The one that I am sure I have heard in many movies and series before, just to prove my thoughts correct. That being said, it isn't bad music. Its very beautiful playing and singing. Its just slow and not something I would pick to listen to very often.

This is #day788 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... until today I've known The Carpenters through Sonic Youth's rendition of "Superstar," and it's not even The Carpenters' song, right? However, The Carpenters' version of the song is particularly special. My first association with this record is: if Sweden has ABBA, America has The Carpenters. Excellent '70s pop/soft rock with harmonies, singing, and all that jazz. Beautiful. "Crescent Moon" is my personal highlight. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day789.

7/10… baroque pop / soft rock / *1970

I need the whitest album you have. No, that's too white.

Lekker ouwe muziek. Klinkt goed. Heeft ook enkele bekende nummers.

All you expect from a very 1970s album.

Two thoughts. One - a lot of this music on this list survives due to being embedded in other cultural artifacts. I know Carpenters songs, I’ve realized, typically from movie or TV appearances. When they show up, it’s a specific vibe. Two - I’m always amazed that there was a time when the corny, derided pop music was still so musically sophisticated. The chord progressions, melodies and harmonies on this thing are excellent, and stacked. Yet it all goes down smooth and sweet. Good shit. ML416

My heart sank a little when this album popped up. The Carpenters are exactly the sort of music that gave me PTSD about turning on Radio 2 for years. It’s the music my mum listened to. The music Jimmy Young played. Though I think even then I knew that, sickly sweet as it was, these were good songs. And even the ones on this album that I didn’t know fit the brief perfectly. What isn’t in doubt is Karen Carpenter’s voice, especially when it isn’t drowned in harmonies. It’s like a velvet wank. I’ve mellowed in my 60s. I even found myself singing along in places. But then I’m listening in an empty house. I wouldn’t want anyone to know.

Insipid. I really dont get why The Carpenters ste so lauded. The majority of their output is just bland, both in terms of the music and vocals. ‘Love is Surrender’ is just bad especially Richard’s random “huh” part way through the song. Aside from the organ, their cover of ‘Help’ put me in mind of those groups who just churn out crap covers of 60s hits for motorway services. ‘Close to Me’ is an unarguable classic. Just a shame it is surrounded by so much guff. I also struggle not to picture Rick Moranis singing it to a classroom in ‘Parenthood’ When i spotted Burt Bacharach’s classic’I’ll never fall in love again’ my hopes were raised, but after a promising start it quickly falls into the same issue as ‘Help’ earlier in the album. ‘Crescent Noon’ is just a thoroughly depressing dirge. By the time I reached ‘Mr Guder’ I genuinely felt like they’d given up and assumed no one would listen this far. It did randomly make me think of the ‘Oompah loompah’ song in one bit though. Finally the last track ‘Another Song’ can obviously be said in a number of ways depending on the emphasis. I very much pronounce this as a negative thing, with added expletive. And that is more than confirmed by the extended wig out that closes the song and (thank god) the album

Karen Carpenter had a beautiful voice, but that is about the only complimentary thing I can say about this album. It invokes imagery of the elderly and, even as a general non-fan of The Beatles, that version of “Help” should be considered a war crime.

Another artist that my parent(s) liked. This one firmly in my Mum's wheelhouse. It's all very twee, and while I have a huge tolerance for silly or whimsical, twee is not my kinda thing. And what the absolute fuck is that cover of Help? The Bananarama/French and Saunders' version, recorded for Comic Relief in the 80s was far superior, and honestly that seems like it shouldn't be possible. It frequently reminded me of the Bugsy Malone soundtrack, if all the songs had suddenly become awful (Bugsy Malone soundtrack 5⭐ by the way). Reason to Believe gave me an amazing misheard lyric though: "while I crap wipe". This was going to get a 2, because I've heard worse, but as I thought Close To You was finally over only for it to start up again, it's annoyed me too much for that. 1/5

Absolute meh

Mediocre dosent describe this. The version of Help is bad beyond words. Her voice annoys from the start.

Karen Carpenter 🥁🤘🏻

Have greatest hits so will not download

Look. I think we all know the Carpenters and Karen Carpenter in particular have a special place in music. But this album is profoundly cheesy and a little hard to listen to.

Sad

Strong album with songs I didn't know were by them

Karen Carpenter has a very soothing voice, and some of the melodies were very pretty Favourite tracks: Help, They Long to Be Close to You

Awesome!

Good

Album etereo, mistico, la voce è angelica e close to you è un pezzo famosissimo

Karen is a perfect soul. So much pain in her soul. This albums have fantastic songs.

Harmonies are absolutely on point, but this is twee and syrupy as fuck. "Top of the World" is a certified banger, but there's none of that here.

So I think the woman had a wonderful voice. This album definitely sounded dated, but it wasn't really all that bad. I think there was some interesting sounds throughout, but I did find myself constantly zoning out from what I was listening to. I'd give this a 3.5 if possible, but I don't feel good with a 4.

No thanks, I now some of these were hits at the time but they are just too boring.

I ended up enjoying this more than I thought. Good mix of love songs, sad songs, a Beatles cover, good harmonies, etc. I’d probably opt for a greatest hits rather than this one though.

Sunday, 20 September, 2026 I liked it more than I thought I would. It’s pretty saccharine for a lot of it, but Karen’s voice is amazing. And there are some legendary songwriters on here.

Absolutely beautiful

Will always associate We’ve Only Just Begun with John Cusack trapped in a haunted hotel room. ALSO searching Carpenters close to you is not helpful unless you need home renovations.

Holy mother of pop albums -- I feel like I'm listening to some 60s TV soap opera theme song right off the bat. She has a nice voice, but I'm not sure this has stood the test of time, feels overproduced and saccharine as hell. 2*

Listened

Loved it

Oh … Carpenters. Yes, I know, their music is no "big" music, often laughed at, not taken serious. But I have to admit that I loved them in the 80s and listened a lot to them. And probably their special style of music is the reason for being here on this list. But it doesn't really matter. For me it was nice to listen to the band again after many, many years. And no, I am no fan today. But still the album is a 5 for me :-)

It’s fine. The singles more or less hold up. Not mad.

I am so upset. I did not like this album hardly at all. Have my tastes changed that much? Hopefully this is not their only album on the list. Two stars

Nothing too exciting here. Sounds like the 70s if you want mellow pop.

The sound of my childhood radio. The harmonies are sweet, everything else is saccharine, but I can't not like it. I'll Never Fall in Love Again hits unexpectedly hard.

A capa já me cativou, não sei porque. Simples porém é cativante ao mesmo tempo, e as músicas são muito gostosas de se ouvir, bem calmas, bons arranjos harmônicos, e tem a cover Help! dos Beatles. Curti.

3/5

Beautiful voice, tragic story, schmaltz for the masses. I, too, am a sucker for the title track.

Karen Carpenter would likely have had a Taylor Swift superstardom if she had built her music career now instead of then.

Pretty good. The second half gets (relatively) strange and adventurous.

2/5

it's really cool to shit on the carpenters, they're super white and boring.  but it's 1970 and they're making pop music.  we've got two bacharach songs (close to you and I'll never fall in love again) and that should be a clear indication of what we're going for here.  it's not soul or r&b or rock, it's overly produced pop that is really only memorable because of karen carpenter's outstanding voice.  skip the one song that richard got to sing (i kept on loving you) and the misguidedly slow beatles cover (help) but do not miss crescent noon, a beautiful song i hadn't heard before but instantly added to my music library.  i also added we've only just begun and close to you.  4/5 because there are certainly skips but people are horrible snobs 

This album is amazing. Not sure how much is covers or originals, but the production, the songs, the harmonies and even some weirdness in there made for a really engaging listen.

Мне нравится!

Eh. Fine.

This was like really good The vocal work through this album is just incredible and unlike anything I’m used to hearing The covers of reason to believe and help were fantastic and I loved their new takes on them. This album starts to fall off in the 2nd half which sucks but the first half is incredible 4/5 Favorites: love is surrender, help, baby it’s you, we’ve only just begun

A new album for me. This is perfectly pleasant 70s pop.

Unarguably talented, the Carpenters defined 70's easy-listening pop (sometimes country-ish). Karen's voice is nearly perfect and very smooth. However, this isn't terribly interesting. This is easy listening background music. The definition of "Grocery store music" of the 70's - 90's. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #175 (2003 edition. Not on the 2020/2023 versions) Best Songs We've Only Just Begun (They Long To Be) Close To You I'll Never Fall In Love Again

Frekar boring bara.

Only just begun og Close to you eru mjög falleg lög en í heild er þetta voðalega bragðdauft.

Karen has a beautiful voice. All of the songs are very shmaltzy, but very earnest. I think as auto-tune, AI, electronically arranged music becomes the norm, this album and the Carpenters will only age better. Enjoyable on the AM drive type music. 4 out of 5.

This album cover gives me anxiety.

Generally inoffensive pop music. Karen has a lovely voice and I was surprised to learn years ago that she was also an accomplished drummer (check it out if you haven't), but this is the kind of stuff you'd only be listening to while shopping at a Mervyn's department store back in the mid to late 90s.

maaaaaan i don't have anything to say about this one. it's of a type of mature, adult-oriented pop music that doesn't really exist anymore, not outside of Adele. never unpleasant, but not all that memorable either. deserves to be one of the 1001? mayyyyyybe. i lean no

It opens with Paul Williams, of course it's great. I enjoyed this MUCH more than Carol King's Tapestry.

An overall enjoyable listening experience. I really like the vocal layering. 4/5.

When I was growing up my father loved The Carpenters and I would hear their greatest hits album all the time. They had some great songs but I saw them as easy listening and an early version of "dad rock." Hearing this now, I'm kind of blown away by the songwriting, harmonies, and, of course, Karen's comforting recliner of a voice. "We've Only Just Begun" and "(They Long to Be) Close to You" are all time great songs but I also love the cover of "Help" as well as the Tim Hardin and Burt Bacharach covers. And they even get a little space jazz with the final song, "Another Song." Pleasantly surprised by the great song craft and musicianship on this one. Maybe Dad was onto something.

For some reason thought these guys were more folky and a little less easy listening. First half is strong, especially the cover of Help and the title track. Gets kind of boring quickly. Karen Carpenter was so talented, not only did she have a lovely voice but she was a great drummer. A shame they didnt let loose and get a little weird, it's all very 50s and I know they could've created something more unique. Not bad though

There’s not an insignificant number of albums on this list I feel uncomfortable listening to knowing more about the individuals decades later but this might be the top of the pops. There are beautiful moments throughout and Richard’s arrangements (song interpretations and harmonies) do feel like the product of a singular artist, but knowing what kind of pressure he and Karen were under to produce this feels exploitative. And yet, to chuck it aside because of their insane parents feels pretty silly. Still prefer the Isaac Hayes version of “Close to You” but the coda Richard and Karen do is still stunning 56 years later.

I never knew the "why do birds, suddenly appear" song was by the Carpenters. This album was fine, a little bit of a slog but overall fine.

Not for me. 1/5

I was expecting the most awful, saccharine, boring nonsense. And it is - the worst Beatles cover i've ever heard, harmonies layered upon harmonies, absolutely no bite whatsoever. And yet...it wasn't *that* bad? Karen is a great drummer, and towards the end there were some almost jazz fusion elements, and one track that was almost proto-Laurie Anderson. I still can't say I want to listen again, it's getting a 2, but definitely not the worst thing i've heard. Several songs could - if covered by a band with some actual fire in the belly, be pretty sweet. I can roll my eyes, but still see why they were popular.

When I heard the Carpenters as a 7-8 year old goofus brat, smack in the middle of their heights of popularity, I naturally rejected them as old-folks trash schmaltz. I can’t think of anyone that age who would have embraced them without getting their ass whipped. It’s clear you can’t appreciate the Carpenters until you’ve grown up a bit, living through a little sadness and succumbing to a little nostalgia. And then you realize the schmaltz is okay because you do feel that way sometimes, staring out the window on a rainy Monday and having your heart hurt a little. Now listen: they are tremendously easy-listening, and many of these tracks are eyeroll-inducing. Karen’s vocal range runs from A to D. Visions of shag carpets and avocado-green refrigerators loom in my mind when I listen. Nostalgia can be very dangerous. But I don’t dislike them. Time and age have made me appreciate that the Carpenters knew their lane precisely, and stuck with it because there are millions who love this music without shame. Karen could play the hell out of the drums and got a terrible raw deal, dying because no one knew or cared about what was ruining her. So we can honor her memory with appreciation for the hits she made. And in recognition that she wasn’t afraid to wear those embarrassing feelings on her sleeve, the ones we feel when we acknowledge our own inner nostalgia freak. And just try to resist singing along to “Close to You”. You can’t, and you never will.

This was a truly beautiful listen. The early 70s singer/songwriter scene was chock-full of music that took both melodrama AND hopefulness and mixed up them together so well, and this is a shining example. Karen sounds wonderful here, the songs are great and in the context of the album don't feel like they border on saccharine parody, like many like to point out with this band. The Beatles' cover is truly inspired and fresh here. Just an absolutely great listen.

Time warp. Sappy but well done.

I’ve never really listened to The Carpenters and I’m shocked at how much I liked it

Oh, it's just so sweet.

Karen Carpenter's voice is soothing and full of emotion. Great harmonies and wonderful chord progressions. Beautifully written. The Burt Bacharach songs are outstanding and wonderfully arranged. 4/5

This is what sellout hippies from the 60s listened to in the 70s to feel like they hadn't sold out. But they had.

Some songs bring back memories, but not enough to like this album at all.

2.5/5

"What do you get when you kiss a guy? You get enough germs to catch pneumonia After you do, he'll never phone you I'll never fall in love again" Some really fun and of the moment songs. Pained by the organ

Karen Carpenter has a wonderful voice and I understand how she won over so many in the 70’s. If I were a teenage girl back then, I’d be all over this but I’m not and I find this to be a bit too, flighty? Fluffy? Not sure what descriptor I’m looking for and no I’m not looking for the Carpenters to bare teeth at all, although I don’t have any doubt Karen would absolutely kill it as the lead in a metal band. I do really appreciate what they were doing on both Mr. Guider and the closing track, Another Song. They got a bit weird on those songs, wish they leaned into that aspect a bit more. Decent listen overall. 3 stars

5/5