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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
1969
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!When I listen to Nick Drake, I can feel my brain expanding. I’d give it seven stars out of five if I could.
This album absolutely gripped me from start to finish. I don’t even really remember my drive to work this morning. This is the kind of music that simultaneously makes me want to create, and dashes my hopes that I will ever make something close to this level of a masterpiece.
I'm starting to suspect that Nick Drake might have been one of the greatest songwriters the world has ever seen. His early death at 26 robbed the world of something great. These songs are heartwrenchingly beautiful. Their dark sadness offer a window into the heart and mind of a man who overdosed on anti-depressants. He just wanted to feel better. Absolutely heart breaking.
Quiet, reserved, almost mystical sounding folk. Love the strings, the guitars, and the vocals are quiet, not too dynamic, but they’re still very melodic and I feel like I’m hanging on every word. Feels like a mystic dream or a dark fairy tale. Really enjoyed this and will come back
What a hidden gem. Drake is so talented and tasked at the same time . He seems so sad. The music is so beautiful I almost wanted to here only the acoustics. I read up his background and see he is another short lived artist. Had many favorites: River Man, Three Hours, Cello . The eery line from Fruit Tree tells it all “They’ll all know that you were here when you’re gone” So very true Nick
I'm no statistician, but I think the odds of getting two Nick Drake albums this close together are like 200000:1 so do with that what you will. Normally I'd be annoyed to have the same artist so soon but I loved Pink Moon so much that I've been itching to listen to his other albums. This one's really good too. It's brighter, more engaging, but less impactful than Pink Moon. Once again, I'm really digging the guitar work, and I love the low-key drums on "Three Hours," that's a really cool song. Plenty of great tunes here, but it reveals to me why his career panned out the way it did. He's clearly a talented guitarist and songwriter, but his voice is very understated. I can see why this didn't sell--there's nothing really special or exciting about it. Nick sounds much better in the minimal style we heard on Pink Moon, but who would give some college kid a major label deal to make a singer-songwriter album in 1969? I hope this doesn't come off too negative because I did really like the album, it's just clear to me why Pink Moon is his masterpiece. Favorite tracks: Three Hours, Fruit Tree, Cello Song. Album cover: I like the green frame around the picture, but this is pretty tame. It looks like some "easy listening" album you would pick up at a spa giftshop. 4/5
A friend has been trying to get me into Nick Drake for as long as I can remember because he's obsessed with him. I've tried so hard and it just doesn't happen. It should, everything about him is right up my alley, but it just doesn't work. It's the voice, it's far too monotone, he drones on. It's a shame, those who like him really adore him, like some kind of religion. I do not attend the church of Nick Drake.
If you hate this album you cannot conceive of true beauty in the world. This has always been my favourite of Nick Drake's albums. His singing, the string arrangements, the Richard and Danny Thompson's contributions, Joe Boyd's masterful production - all just perfect.
Sounds like a Wes Anderson movie where the protagonist wears the same outfit everyday and is pining with unrequited love and unresolved sexual tension. So it basically sounds like any Wes Anderson movie. You really just want to see our hero get laid. Don't dig too deep into the biography of Nick Drake. He had more problems than a high school arithmetic book.
Really good, happy to have learned about this guy, I didn't know him. Because of this, he deserves my first 5 stars!
Goergeous album. Impressive and intricate arrangements. The string sections are sublime. Nick Drake will always be one of my favorite folk artists and more people should familiarize themselves with this album and not just Pink Moon.
Wow, what are the odds of another Nick Drake album on a list that's 1001 albums long? A quick calculation shows 0.0001%. I'm glad we got this album because it gives us more context for Nick Drake. It's suprising that this was released before pink moon, because what I've seen common among other artists is an early album that is personal, rough around the edges, musically simple and raw, but they later dive into more musically complex ideas as they get more resources and confidence. It seems like Nick Drake did the opposite. It just goes to show how brave he was to go from something more musically complex like this album to something so simple. I know I should just be judging this album by itself, but for me it really just highlighted why I love Pink Moon so much. This album was much more musically dense than his later works, and it's really impressive, but lacked the emotional vulnerability that makes his other work so special. Although some of the melodies were lacking on this album, there were some real gems here that I loved. Nick Drake's singing style works very well with the somber and folky songs on this project. The instrumentation is executed fantastically and overall, I loved almost every song (but there were some tracks that lacked impact). This was a solid project that was enjoyable to listen to, but it didn't blow me away as much as I know Nick Drake is capable of. Favorite Track: River Man
I've adored this album for a while, and this listen was no different. Nick Drake is really on a whole 'nother level.
Vocais e violões com muita sensibilidade. Melhora a cada audição. Ouvir com Grado RS2e
Chilled out listening. Instrumentals and guitars. Nick's voice is really good. Takes me back to the good days of songs being sung.
Dette er ikke mitt favoritt Nick Drake album, men det er en 9/10 uansett. Sykt kul Jansch gitarspilling, vakre tekster med mye mening, egenartig stemme med en utrolig innlevelse. I tillegg er gitarskrivingen helt fenomenal. Noen av sangene har litt akkompagnement av strykeinstrument og slikt, som ikke alltid funker like bra som de vanlige gitarsangene, men det gir en variasjon i sounden når man hører gjennom albumet, så det er ikke så dumt at det er med. En av mine favoritter.
This was really good! I didn't know this record - but I really like "Pink Moon" by Nick Drake so I figured this'd be good. The Cello Song is probably the best!
Loved his voice, loved the instrumentation or whatever it’s called. Too sleepy for an everyday album but good for some easy listening on the right day.
Having not heard of Nick Drake, I judged the album by its cover and was not looking forward to listening However, upon listening I was blown away by the musicianship and song writing.
I had heard of him only recently thanks to a guitar teacher I follow on YouTube. So glad I've been introduced to his music. I remember really liking Alexi Murdoch when I first heard his music maybe 15 or so years ago, and now I hear the similarities. I'm sure there are many artists I like who were influenced by Nick Drake. In this album (curious: is 'Five Leaves Left' a reference to O. Henry's short story, 'The Last Leaf'?), I'm hearing a really interesting sense of melody (and harmony, too) that is a slight departure from most of the music I know from this era and style. He's a heck of a writer, composer, guitarist, and singer. Some beautiful string arrangements on some of these tracks, too. It all really draws me in quite nicely. Fantastic work.
Olen tätä joskus kuunnellut, ja suuri osa biiseistä kuulosti varsin tutuilta. Nick Drakesta on kuva sellaisena musadiggarien jumalana josta kaikkien vaan pitää tykätä. Tämä on ehkä vähän aiheuttanut itselleni vierastusta, varsinkin kun en ole aiemmin ihan kauheasti syttynyt herran levyistä. Nyt kuitenkin rauhassa kuunnellessa tämä on äärimmäisen taidokasta ja tunnelmallista musisointia. Sekä musiikin että elämän ja uran kannalta tästä tulee vahvasti mieleen kotimainen vastine Pekka Streng. Molemmat kuolivat nuorena, ilman erityisen suurta musikaalista menestystä elinaikanaan. Levyn alku lähtee ehkä vähän yskien liikkeelle, mutta Way To Bluesta eteenpäin loppulevy onkin sitten uskomattoman kauniita ja hienoja kappaleita. Kokonaisuutena erittäin positiivinen yllätys, joka keikkuu nelosen ja vitosen välimaastossa. Levyn huikea loppupuoli jättää hyvän mielen, jonka ansiosta numero pyöristyy ylöspäin.
The best find from this list for me, hands down. I really love his sound, his gentleness, his lyrics. This album gives me hits of Cat Stevens and Jim Croce in places, both songsmiths that I deeply admire. The guitar playing is really fantastic on Three Hours and Day Is Done (don't know why this song wasn't a HUGE hit!). Some of the orchestration might be a bit much in places (lots of strings), but I don't mind when it deepens the track. My only less enthusiastic take is for Thoughts on Mary Jane, whose flute part greatly dates the song for me. But all in all, another album that will stick with me by an artist I'm very glad to have discovered.
just wonderful. brought me back to a time and a place. wonderful texture (from youtube? really?). they don't make them like this anymore
I had heard songs from this album before, but I had always assumed they were from this decade. This album is phenominally timeless and filled with rich arrangements. I've honestly listened to the album 5 times already and each listening is revealing more and more to enjoy. This is exactly the type of experience I had hoped to have with this site!
5.0 - It's uncanny how this album manages to present these songs, these compositions of considerable intricacy, in a way that sounds spacious and casual. As if Nick Drake and his ensemble are invited friends playing in your living room. Just a few highlights: "River Man", "'Cello Song", "Man in a Shed" (which reminds me of Shrek).
Nick Drake is one of those artists that I have heard a lot about but haven't listened to yet. This album has really impressed me. I love the vocals, instrumentals, and the poetic lyrics. Looking forward to listening to more of his discography
I liked this very much, the brooding melancholy the dispirited lyrics and disheveled music. It took me somewhere dark and uncomfortable I must now listen to all his music.
I don't like a lot of folk music but this is probably my favourite outside of Dylan. A shame he topped himself
Is there a better morning soundtrack than literally ANY Nick Drake album? On his debut - what a debut! - Drake unveils his talent of fast plucking strings to weave a picnic blanket over which he places lyrical sandwiches and pies of a most rustic quality. The arranging influence of Richard Thompson shines through Drake's green folklore, making for a piece of art that is timeless as a cloudy English sky.
The perfect album for November 13th. The first snow of the season, although not much, it was enough to to catch the eye. Five Leaves Left is a beautiful experience. Nick Drake loves his nature.
There is something otherworldly about Nick Drake's. His lyrics never truly make sense but you know what he is saying. It's fair to say he created moods and that is what tells the story. One of the most creative acoustic guitar players even though he never shows off. Loads of great songs here, the best ones for me are "Three Hours", "Cello Song", "Saturday Sun" and "River Man".
This is an album filled with beauty, depth and wisdom. I was doing tasks around the house while listening and by the end of “Three Hours” had to stop and just sit and listen. Nick Drake’s voice is beautiful, the music spare in all the right places without being dull, the lyrics profound. Every song on this is a treasure. The lyrics are impressive from start to finish. Each song brings something unique and special… “Time Has Told Me” with its noodly electric guitar and piano accompaniment is a perfect opening. “River Man” has a great cinematic quality with a real drama added by the orchestration. Love the light percussion in “Three Hours” - really takes you on a journey. “Way To Blue” feels like musings on a lonely, windswept plain. “Day Is Done” is absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous song with beautiful string accompaniment. “‘Cello Song” is so good - it was at this point on the album when I revisited the cover and looked up Nick Drake’s age. A college student wrote this stuff?! He sounds like he has the wisdom of 1000 years behind him… “Thoughts of Mary Jane” is such a sweet song… lightened by the flute. A real contrast in many ways to the other songs, but yet it feels perfect in-place. “Man In A Shed” is a total delight. It tells a perfect little story. I love this song. “Fruit Tree” is such a perfect musing on fame and life… so poignant knowing how Nick Drake died at such a young age. “Saturday Sun” may be my favorite song on the album. Really beautiful song that I can’t stop thinking about. I was deeply moved by FIVE LEAVES LEFT. It’s an amazing gift from a truly incredible artist.
Listening to Nick Drake gives me deep feelings of warmth and safety. It's like being swaddled and held. I find this ironic and profoundly sad considering the animosity that apparently existed between this talented artist and his own brain. I'm grateful for what he left us with.
A very good friend introduced me to Nick Drake some years ago, not this album, but I have more recently become familiar with this album. I am a fan. There is something about the melancholy sound that really pulls me in. The lyrics are poetic. I will listen to this album again and again in the future.
A warning: while driving and listening to this album I was taken to such a state of reverie that I forgot where I was and what I was doing for an out-of-body moment before waking up in a panic behind the wheel. Nick Drake's music is soothing and yet so powerfully emotional at the same time. A haunting voice, obviously; I love the beautiful instrumentation of all these songs. The double reeds on "Fruit Tree." I had been an admirer from the use of his songs on early 2000s soundtracks, but I'm so happy to have spent this time with his debut album.
I've Been Trying To Hear This Epic For A While. It's So Easy to Listen To. However You Can Feel The Struggle About It
This Album is why I am listening to these 1001 albums. How have I never heard this astounding beauty before?
It's crazy how sometimes these album a day is just exactly what you need on a day. Nick Drake--particularly Saturday Sun, just hit the SPOT. It's raining and this is just hitting all the right notes.
I could never even hope to be able to play guitar like this and also sing, even if I spent the rest of my life practising. That makes this so impressive to me. Nick Drake creates the most beautifully sad music (this album in particular is stunning) and my life would be different without said music in it, so I think that's enough said and it's a five from meeeee.
Out of his 3 this is the one I haven't heard before, and given some time it could be my favourite of them - I really like his vocals and guitar work as usual, but I love the orchestration throughout this record and quite a few tracks are just beautiful.
What an album. The chord progressions are like nothing you've ever heard before (metal tunings played in a folly style) and the strings are beautiful, and the whole thing hits you on an emotional frequency I can't quite explain, but you FEEL it. I realise that makes no sense but I can't explain it. Just listen to Way To Blue, Cello Song or River Man and you'll feel something different to what other music gives you. It's BRILLIANT. And I normally hate folky stuff.
A true work of creative genius. This album will be held in awe centuries from now when all but a fee of these thousands of albums have been forgotten. Vital and important.
Incredible folk. This album gets slept on unfairly compared to Pink Moon. 1969 is really one of the best years in music history to me.
A friend once told me to read Nick Drake’s Wikipedia page because his story is incredibly sad. He was right. I’ve been a fan of Pink Moon for years, but goddamn if this album isn’t just about as beautiful and mournful as that one.
Close to perfection. Pink Moon gets all the praise but I'd say that it's just as good in many ways. It has the beautiful arrangements of Bryter Layter and the automnal, introspective mood of Pink Moon. Best of both worlds, really.
Simply one of the GOAT. I can understand it's not for everyone but in it's genre it's unsurpassed. Nick's voice, guitar playing and the production make this a great friend when you need it.
Five Leaves Left is such a poetic album, it sounds so beautiful throughout all 10 tracks, every single one masterfully crafted by Nick Drake's voice and acoustic guitar. The string arrangement in "River Man" is one of folk music's finest and, also, most tracks have unusual instruments, but they always work so fine. We have congas, flutes, oboes and vibraphones - the result is a little bit minimalistic, a little bit experimental, pushing the boundaries of folk music.
what an unbelievably incredible album to think he only made three albums before dying at 26, it breaks my heart he was a truly phenomenal artist, I need to listen to his other work, giving this a 10/10 feels like an understatement to just how amazing this is
This is the type of record that projects me back to "the time when": I haven't lived it but I can barely imagine what would it be like being in 1969, coming back from the record store, and playing this for the first time. It might have felt like witnessing history as it was being written. There's another record that I can think of that gives me that feeling, more about that in a future time. Much has been said about Nick Drake's acoustic guitar technique and his songwriting. I would like to mention the arrangements, which seem to broaden the very concept of folk. The first two songs have a bluesy, almost jazzy feel to them, with piano on Time Has Told Me, and strings being introduced on River Man. By Three Hours, bass and percussions become very busy, if also kept in an understated, intimate fashion. The strings on Way To Blue start off in a very dramatic way and then open up and keep swinging between these two moods. And then there is Day Is Done, which is breathtakingly gorgeous. And this is only the first half! The rest of it keeps this pace and quality with an outstanding consistency. This album sounds beautiful, delicate, fragile. A must own.
uncomfortable cafe chairs and sweet coffee, drifting out to sea, classical guitar, folk tale with strings, blackbird but if it were eleanor rigby, crocuses in the rain, lesser harrisong uplifted by flute, ooh jazz!, weird metaphor over beautiful chords, swung mccartney. overall a really beautiful album with a unique vibe — not one i can see myself returning too often, but once every few months when i’m in the mood, i’ll really enjoy this album. feels like a sunday afternoon.
Really great B side. The jazz elements and cello work together really well with his folksy style
My history with this album has been extensive. This album directly reminds me of several of the most important women in my life, both past and continuing. Of course, it's a truism to say that Nick Drake is a potent female aphrodisiac, but it's better for both parties that teenage boys try to impress girls with this album than with attempting to neck a pint of vodka then spewing in their hair. And yes, it is an astonishing work. The legend of Nick Drake has him as one of the great tragic figures in music, a little (6'3") lost boy of exquisite fingerwork and calm, yet desolate imagery, but this album proves that his music is stupefying and hypnotic on its own, without needing to conjure Nick Drake's melancholy end. That said, despite the wistfulness of, say, The Thoughts of Mary Jane, Five Leaves Left has an undercurrent of anguish throughout, together begetting a wonderful bittersweetness. For my money, this is the strongest of his three albums, a warm, reflective and rather diverse collection as beautiful, intricate and delicate as a cobweb. Now, I have recently reviewed Unknown Pleasures and Never Mind The Bollocks, and have declared each of those perhaps the greatest debut album of all. I'm going to be greedy and put Five Leaves Left in the same category.
3.5/5. Very melancholy, good after an emotionally exhaustive day. Not particularly my favorite genre. Standout Tracks: The Thoughts of Mary Jane, Saturday Sun
The album was not able to communicate with me. It's calming though. Might be John Mayer's influence.
I can hear how he went to influence artists like Jose Gonzales, Jack Johnson, Shawn Mullins and basically anyone with an acoustic guitar
Nick Drake is amazing, and this album is the perfect tool to level you during a stressful day.
Nice chill acoustic guitar with a smooth singer Reminds me of Jose Gonzalez or This Empty Northern Hemisphere. Pretty good :)
nick is amazing. it's weird that we kind of almost forgot about him, and then he reappeared and now people know his work again.
Very soft and beautiful. Some songs reminded me of renaissance festivals or role-playing games. DH felt it reminded him of Dispatch.
a really nice, melancholy album. Three hours is one of my favorite tracks. The popular tracks were River Man, Saturday Sun, and Cello Song.
I had to run an errand last night so found myself driving around in the dark while listening to this and it was quite a nice experience. The moon wasn’t pink, but still… nice experience.
Avslappende. Har en melankoli som i alle av Drakes album, men også en optimisme som mangler i hans senere utgivelser. Gitarspillingen som Drake er kjent for blir satt litt i baksetet til tider, men det går helt fint.
How have I never heard this album until now? It's so good! It's like if John Denver focused less on mountains.
This album is a delight. I'm surprised I hadn't heard of Drake's work but it's folky and mournful. He sounds like a Young Eddie Vedder, perfect for a rainy afternoon. Wistful and gorgeous.
This beautifully melancholic record grows on you. The Way to blue is mournful but lovely and River man is Drake at his best. If you're in the mood for chill folky music you can't go wrong with this record.
I wish I had listened to this album before his final one. I think it would have made me appreciate it more and give it a higher rating. This album is so good. I’ve listened to it twice already and while some of the songs I could take or leave, the album as a whole is very strong. I love the peacefulness of the songs and the way it plays nicely in the background. Even this album feels very minimal. There are only a few more instruments in this vs Pink Moon. As I listened to this album I just kept thinking, who is this Nick Drake and why did I never hear about him before this list. My favorite song was ‘Cello Song. I also really like the album cover because I feel like that was a happy moment for Nick before things started going downhill and he was like “hey get a shot of me, I’m feeling this attic”.
Pues chido. Si me gustó el toque melancólico mood killer de domingo por la tarde. Sobre todo me gustó la guitarra en Three Hours, suena bien dark. Y cello song también está padre. Mood: recibiendo la eutanasia como una bendición.
Great for a melancholy mood. Cello Song is probably my favorite on the album. Pink Moon may still be my favorite Nick Drake album though. This one still good.
Je moet er wel voor in de stemming zijn, maar dan is het ook wel een van de mooiste albums die ken.
Beautifully crafted songs. Brings to mind Cohen and one of my favorite contemporary artists, Michael Head.
Beautiful - I have heard bits and pieces of Nick Drake but never gone through an entire album - so nice to have this in my world now..will def be going back - such a smooth and soothing voice, and simple but effective arrangement
I bought this CD, in a plastic cover with no booklet, from an old head - I forget his name - in Kuzmas on Main Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, some time in the mid-90s, I think for R5. He sold it to buy beer. I'd never heard of Nick Drake, but he assured me it was good. I decided to take a chance; he was right.
Выкупаю, конечно, что всё дохуя грамотно и продуманно, на века пилилось. Слушается на одном дыхании и весьма приятно. Но в этом стремлении к цельности, единообразию будто сглажено всё то, за что ухо зацепиться может. Ни один трек не запоминается, ни один мотив не хочется напевать, несмотря на их лаконичность и мелодичность. Музыка, которую почти не замечаешь. Забыл вырубить плеер во время половой ебли, так и прокрутился, будто нет. Но всё же это - хорошая музыка, которой не замечаешь. Может, складно подойдёт для фона при работе с текстом, на что раньше годился лишь Fear Inoculum там.
Ндаа, это конечно не Коэн... И не Кейв... И не Федоров. Тоже ничего, конечно, но... не Федоров. По сабжу — годнота, первая и последняя песня какой-то праздной хуйней показались и в целом не зашли, но всё остальное очень балдежно, особенно наиболее зловещие и диссонансные песни. Между подходами прогнал Song of Love and Hate ещё разок, и на контрасте всё-таки Дрейк немного Бардижем показался. Но в целом одобряем всецело, 8/10
The humble beginnings of Nick Drakes three album run and it was a gentle album with light instrumentals.
Ova legenda je moj čovjek jeseni. Ne prođe jesen, a da ne pustim bar jedan od njegova tri albuma. Prošle godine je najviše bio Bryter Layter, a sada evo u proljetno doba vjerujem da neće toliko ostaviti trag kao što ostavi u jesen poput Fleet Foxesa, ali svakako ne bi trebalo utjecati na rejting. Al paz ovo, u šumi si ili svom dvorištu sa pogledom na mali potočić, sunce prolazi kroz krošnje, lišće je šareno, vrijeme oko 15tak °C, svježiji zrak, a svejedno dovoljno da budeš u trenerci, slušaš ovaj album i uživaš u zlatnom satu godišnjeg doba.
Man, those chord changes. I like this album for a lot of reasons, but especially those chord changes.
One that I’m aware of - cello song being a classic. Lots of influence here on other artists which is fun
Somber, mostly eerie to me, since I've never really listened to folk before. I think my favorite tracks to listen to were Three Hours, Day is Done
I liked this one quite a bit. Vocals are solid, and the instrumentation is quite good. Big fan.
Very Melancholic and the lyrics are vaguely depressing. The tone is relatively the same throughout which is a drawback but the composition and instrumentals are great. 7.9/10
melodic and relaxing vibes with some soft and pleasant instrumentation. kind of reminds me of iron & wine
I like Nick Drake’s guitar playing style. I dig his voice. Three Hours might be my favorite song on this album. Man In A Shed is nice little jazzy lounge number. Way to Blue could go. It uses strings only I think. And this track is where I realized I’m attracted to the finger picking folk guitar on many of the other songs.
Strong 4 stars. Great blend of folk songwriting and jazz. Drakes voice is also great. Will definitely return to this one
A wonderful surprise of an album. An artist whom I knew nothing of, Nick Drake has really won me over here. It’s just full of lovely arrangements. The bass is strong and purposeful, the strings and wind in particular are gorgeous and there are even congas in places (Three Hours and the delightful Cello Song probably being the two standout tracks on the album) adding to the record’s overall texture. Drake’s vocals too are soft and warm and weary, helping to pull everything together and make it all work perfectly.
If i owned a coffee shop somewhere where it rains, i would probably play this album. It has a mood
Only really heard Drake’s “popular” (ads) tracks, but dug this one…especially the country tinged guitar playing.
Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake (1969) British folk singer/songwriter Nick Drake accompanies himself on dreamy, floating, and clean acoustic guitar. Lyrics are reflective, fatalistic, and mostly sad, but lacking maturity (He wrote them before he turned 21). They’re metrically loose, but too strongly attached to simple rhyme. Evoking sympathy, if not empathy, they bring out the paternal in the soft hearted listener, but there’s no need to get all weepy. Not yet, anyway. Chord structures are jazz/folk eclectic, sometimes bordering on the arbitrary (especially on the opening track “Time Has Told Me”, “Three Hours”, and portions of others). He keeps the listener on his/her toes. Spare but inventive instrumentals (strings, double bass, congas, piano, flute, double reeds) are well arranged, providing striking and fulsome background to Drake’s vocal and guitar stylings—very intelligent choices here. The melodies and instrumentals are as humorless as the words, except on “Man In a Shed”, which is a bit of a mismatch between lyrics and musical setting, but is entertaining enough anyway. No drumsticks are heard on this record, except very subdued on the slow closing track “Saturday Sun”, with delicate vibraphone and trap set. Cello and vocal hum duet at the end “‘Cello Song” is hypnotic—I’ve never heard anything like it. Drake’s voice is recorded without reverb or dubbing, producing a clean and smooth timbre reminiscent of Leonard Cohen—a safe choice when one’s pipes lack classic range, strength, and vibrato. It takes a lot of breath, but he never seems to run out. I don’t know why, but on first listen, I frequently wanted to hear some of these songs performed by Judy Collins. Or maybe Kenny Rankin. Or maybe you & me. Yeah, you & me. The album is over fifty years old, but if you had told me it was recorded last week I wouldn’t have doubted you. I’m afraid if I listen to this too many times, I’ll fall in love with it. Too late. One time did it. I downloaded it and added eight of these ten tracks to my “Wooden Music” playlist for a long drive on two-lane highways in the Far West. Alone. This is a good album. Where are the suits when you need them? 4/5
Very folky. You can tell that many of the current folk artists have taken notes from this album.
I definitely liked this album more than Pink Moon, and that was a pretty good album. This one had more instruments and a more complex production which I liked. Like Pink Moon, none of the songs stand out on their own, they just seem to blend together into a really good listening experience. Fav songs: time has told me
Cuidadosamente trabajado. Primera vez que escucho a Nick y la verdad que me pareció un gran arte este álbum.
Melodic and olde worlde sounding but both melodies and (especially) lyrics have an edge and a heartfelt sadness.
Really liked this. Nick drake is good. I would pick this up if I saw it at my record store.
Melancholy, contemplative, imbued with much sadness, in many respects Five Leaves Left is a tough listen. Drake’s voice is beautiful and the production exquisite but the mood is dour and there is little variety between tracks. Probably a 3.5 but I’ll lean 4 because it is the festive season.
I knew some of this stuff already and Nick Drake always feels like an artist I should know about and love but haven't ever explored that much. Should get into it - liked this album a lot!
Love this album! Such a classic! Don't know if I could listen to it again, given I spent so much of my tragic youth listening to this and Grace by Jeff Buckley, but it was great.
Do not skip this one. Such a great album. Folky and moody, a great album for a rainy day. Favorite song: Saturday Sun
Really enjoyed this one. Loved the combination of singer-songwriter folk and jazz, and the consistent tone throughout. The musicality was really cool throughout as well, with interesting timings on songs like Day is Done, and awesome chord progressions like in River Man. Definitely made me want to listen more.
A scoop of ice cream tumbling off the cone. Putting down a beloved old dog. Eleanor Rigby. In the mid-90s, the Smashing Pumpkins released an epic LP with a title Nick Drake could have considered for his own: 'Melancholy And The Infinite Sadness.' Nick Drake can out-bum out the bluest any other singer/songwriter from his generation has to offer. Even Joni Mitchell had a few, ‘Big Yellow Taxi(s)’ in her repertoire, for cryin’ out loud. Not Drake. Every song is a meditation on the unending truncheon blows of depression and other debilitating effects of isolation, exacerbated by the relentless impending approach of death. ‘Saturday’s sun won’t come and see me today,’ Drake concludes on the final track. ‘Saturday’s sun has turned to Sunday’s rain. So Sunday sat in the Saturday sun and wept for a day gone by.’ One of his songs has the word ‘cello’ in the title, quite possibly the saddest sounding musical instrument ever invented. (Banjo and Accordion tie for the happiest.) Even the title, Five Leaves Left, refers to a brand of rolling papers that carry a caution upon nearing the end. Drake was writing for his life here, apparently literally. But all this is not to say that I didn’t enjoy the album. To the contrary, I found it melodically rich, with uncommon (in the best way) chord progressions. Painfully tender, like a bruise, and approached carefully, respectfully, so as not to cause further damage. Songs best listened to, I imagine, on a rainy day, and best heard in the autumn/winter of one’s life rather than the spring/summer. Drake sings on ‘Way To Blue’: ‘Look through time and find your rhyme. Tell us what you find. We will wait at your gate hoping like the blind.’ We used to play an imaginative game as kids concerning which of our senses we would most miss. Sight was generally the favorite, and for good reason. Imagine the inability to a gaze up at a snow crested mountain against a clear blue sky, or down into the toothless grin of your infant child. I always chose hearing, though. Still do. And with gratitude for musical artists like Nick Drake, who have shown me, repeatedly, the ability of sound to bring vision, too.
I listened to the first half of this album and it was really not doing anything for me. Put it down, came back later to the second half and it was great. Is it an album of two halves, or did I just need to wake up a bit more before listening? On a second listen, I still think the second half is stronger but its definitely a great album throughout
This was a really nice pleasant album. Really sounds like it could have come out recently.
I have always been in love with his album "Pink Moon", but I had never dug deeper to find out more from this artist. Like everything I've heard from Nick Drake so far, this album is another gem of folk that takes us on a journey deep within ourselves.
Awesome debut album, it has been a while since I lsiten to it and Wow ! Nice folk album, I won't wait that long before listen to it again.
Great, timeless album. Harrowing and soothing voice paired with great guitar playing. Quite liked this !
A simple voice yet so rich in colour combined with a guitar playing style focused on unique tunings and songwriting structure. No exceptional song, but a smooth listening experience from beginning to end with a timeless and minimalist production.
Mjög ánægjuleg hlustun, ekki sama gegnumgangandi snilldin og Pink Moon, en þarna eru lög sem eru alveg frábær.
One of the most consistently excellent discoveries this list has offered. Amazing guitar playing with a tasteful amount of string accompaniment to round things out.
No i kolejny pan Drake na liscie, dosc niespodziewany pick, bo jego pierwszy studyjny material z 69 i jak dla mnie najmniej osluchany jego krazek, wiec o ile pink moona i brytera laytera katowalem, tak piec pozostalych liscow przesluchalem raz i nie wrocilem do nich ponownie, bo reszta dyskografii brzmi o tyle lepiej, ze debiutancki material wypada przy niej nijako, brak mu charakteru, pomimo tego ze nadal utwory sa barwne i pobudzajace wyobraznie, to jednak brakuje im jakiegos zabarwienia emocjonalnego jak desperackie proby przebicia sie do mainstreamu z brytera, czy pogodzony artysta z swoim brakiem sukcesu wsrod szerszej publiki, a tak pierwszy album miesza ze soba melancholijne kawalki jak day is done lub way to blue, ktore jednak sa balansowane przez bardziej pozytywne kompozycje w postaci time has told me czy river mana, nie moglo zabraknac takze czegos dotyczacego wyidealizowanych realcji miedzy ludzkich, bo drake mocno idealizowal lub moze nie chcial pisac o czyms realnym, wiec dla jednego takie przedstawienie relacji bedzie smieszne, a dla drugiego glupie, a jeszcze inny bedzie oczarowany tym jak mozna interpretowac dane sytuacje, natomiast jesli chodzi o strone instrumentalna to podobnie jak na innych nagraniach nagrywal wszystko na zywca bez overdubowania, co jest czyms niecodzinnym gdy wokalista gra jeszcze na akustyku i jest wspierany przez liczne aranzacje smyczkowe, ktore sa glownym instrumentem budujacym klimat plyty, do tego dochodza pianinowe wstawki, elektryk na jednym kawalku i dodatkowe pomniejsze instrumenty, ciekawym nawiazaniem jest sam tytul plyty, ktory odnosi sie do paczki fajek, o ktorych rowniez mial utwor na innym wydaniu, tytulowe piec lisciow zlozylo sie z data skoku na gleboka wode jakiego dokonal konczac swoj zywot artystyczny, co dodatkowo nadaje tajemniczosci tej niezrozumianej i tajemniczej postaci brytyjskiego folka, na plejke dodam openingowego time has told me oraz river mana, wiec pozytywniejsza strone tworczosci Drakowej, bo jednak jest ona w mniejszosci biorac pod uwage caloksztalt materialu, wiec na nowo poznalem sie na albumie juz osluchanym i chyba bardziej docenilem znajac juz reszte tworczosci, dodatkowo biorac pod uwage jak ciezko o tak rowne folkowe materialy, bo 41 minut jest rowne zarowno muzycznie jak i lirycznie
I have never listened to Nick Drake before. That will 100% have to change. The music is beautiful and sad, and engagnig. A lot of the same qualities I like from someone like Elliot Smith (has to be an influence, right?)
Some really great playing, songwriting, and a far more mature voice than would be expected for his age. Strong album and a sad loss of a great talent.
Came across this artist a few years ago, interesting music and a very tragic story. You have to be in the mood for this morose folky singer-song writer. I appreciate the music just not something your going to listen to often.
Utterly captivating! This is what Jim Croce would sound like if he was deeply depressed. Drake's gentle instrumentation and introspective storytelling beckon the listener to come closer, come closer, so you can fully immerse yourself in his world. What a beautiful, sad, sensitive soul who was too pure for this world.
Poor old Nick. Named after how many Rizlas he had left (the album that is), this is quietly sung folk for rainy mornings or sunny afternoons in a field feeling wistful while your dog goes mental. FENTON! Best Tracks: Time Has Told Me; River Man; Cello Song
Vocals, beautiful. Delivery, dreamy. ARRANGEMENT, folk and jazz and classical perfectly merged. Haunting melodies and a totally unique "voice." This is a quiet masterpiece of an album and it's not even his best. It's not even his second-best! I'll admit a couple songs could have been cut down or cut. That, and because he needs somewhere higher to go for other albums, are the only reasons this gets a 4.
Beautifully chill. Seems like I've heard this before, but can't place it. Almost dreamlike.
Low key and lovely, maybe not my favorite Drake, but awfully good. “Saturday Sun” is a career highlight. “Time Has Told Me” and “Cello Song” are also great.
This album was a pretty interesting folk album. Day is gone has a stairway to heaven sound to it. I also liked the song fruit tree.
Folk as folk can be. A bit slow and need to be in the mood for it. Needs another listen with attention paid to lyrics and arrangement.
Hadn't heard this one before. Not a huge Drake fan, but I can dig it. The vocals on the remaster are not good. Lots of clipping, which is annoying with headphones.
Es todo un master de la guitarra y tiene un estilo único, pero me pareció plano e interminable.
Slower than I remembered...moments of brilliance buy not in the mood for a full listen
Pues me gustó más el otro álbum que nos salió de él, el Bryter Layter, que salió un añito después. Este es muy sobrio, tristillo, sí te puede bajonear supongo. Si no estás en el mood, aburre. Me gustaron " Three Hours" y "'Cello Song". Tiene un buen cierre para todo el mood. 7/10
Interestingly, Spotify sent me the Andy Bey version of "River Man" from this album last week and when I played it, Sue said "oh, Nick Drake." It is a great song. He can make you feel sad, the way he hits certain notes, but he uses the same technique on many songs and it becomes less interesting. I liked the addition of strings on some tracks.
Met Nick Drake heb ik een haat-liefdeverhouding. Ik hoor dat het goed is, maar op een mindere dag kan ik giftig worden van die langgerekte klanken. Hoe dan ook is het tijdloos.
So calming and charming music, which I just need to respect. However it didn't hit my emotional string.
Álbum muy chill que para ser del 69 esta muy bien producido, la voz es muy dulce y en casi todas las canciones hay guitarra acústica, pero no es lo mío.
Hadn’t heard of Nick Drake prior to this but I wish I had. ‘Time Has Told Me’ is a beautifully somber song. Will definitely be listening to more of his stuff beyond this album. ‘Three Hours’ has some lovely acoustic guitar.
Lovely sound with impressive guitar work and supporting instrumentals including piano bongos and maracas. Didn’t love the vocal style but appreciated the thoughtful lyrics
This was a good calm album that had a really nice indie feel to it even though it came out long before that scene exploded. I enjoyed it.
August 4, 2021 (but I listened to most of this Aug 11) This was OK but a little too sad/slow for my taste.
Tämä oli ihan kivaa rauhallista taustamusaa, mutta ei herättänyt juuri tunteita suuntaan tai toiseen. Mösjöö lauleskelee ja tunnelmoi, ehkä hieman alakuloisesti ja kaipailevasti, rauhallista soitantaa taustalla. Ehkä sunnuntaiaamuihin tai johonkin loungeen.
Songs are pretty but the classical arrangements are a bit excessive (and even overpower Drake's vocals). But sometimes the instrumentals are creative and interesting as in "Three Hours." They become more refined in his second album. His vocals are ok, but again they don't shine until his minimalistic approach in Pink Moon. Album is altogether not very coherent (each track has a different style often by different personnel), but has some great moments here and there. The track "River Man" is an absolute masterpiece. Other highlights are "Time Has Told Me" and "Saturday Sun."
Viikonlopun aikana unohdin jo koko levyn joten tästä arviosta ei saa kivittää! Tais olla ihan ok tunnelma läpi levyn ja laidasta laitaan biisejä.
Peaceful. I like Drake's voice. Pleasant enough, I like the string sections. Didn't have a big impact on me. Favorite tracks: "River Man", "Saturday Sun"
I like Nick Drake, but this is not my fav album. Time has Told me is a great song, but the rest did not measure up to it for me.
Nice, quite calming and introspective. I prefer Nick Drake is small doses though, just find that I wallow in it after a while.
This was a surprise. Nick Drake managed to avoid nearly every folk cliche that I hate on this album. Somber, introspective, and beautiful...it's a shame he wasn't more popular in his day, because there are some real gems on this album.
I like the blend on his voice in Time Has Told Me. River Man is a lot more of his second album sound, which was so damn depressing. I am a little sad about not being able to give this album a totally blank slate as work kept getting in the way. The guys has guitar chops, its just I am not into sad wistful rock.
Music for 20 year old boys who read New Yorker-approved short story collections on public transportation, and the 17 pick-me manic pixie dream girls who are young enough to still be enamored by them. As music – arrangements and guitar-work – I admire/respect this record. As poetry, I think, even in my late-20s, I’m much too old for this to hook me. Especially since I’ve always hated the indie Elliot Smiths/Belles and Sebastians this has gone on to inspire. Maybe if revisit this at 70, I’d find youthful longing to admire in it, but right now, I just find it a bit too self-involved to be impressed, even though I’d love to play like Drake.
This is sooo easy to listen to. I love it for working, for needing a cozy listen, or a soft background sound.
First time I listened to this album. He is a gifted song-writer and it made me want to listen to his other two. Another one gone too early.
I'm undecided on this one. The melodies are nice, but the nonsense lyrics somewhat ruin the songs.
Pretty chill but less interesting than the Nick Drake I'd heard before. Quite straightforward folk-pop.
Hi- Day Is Done, Thoughts of Mary Jane, Man In A Shed Folk singer-songwriters as a genre has always baffled me, because they're all different, yet somehow all sound so similar and, to an effect, timeless. Certainly, Five Leaves Left feels similar to singer-songwriters like Jim Croce, Bob Denver, earlier Paul Simon, or even the Buckleys. It's very pleasant and the instrumentation is meticulous and well-crafted.
Sad to say that I wasn't the biggest fan of this one. The acoustic guitar playing was excellent though. The album itself is only about 41 minutes, but every song felt like it went on too long. I also think Nick Drake's voice probably should've been louder. It wasn't bad, I just found it a little underwhelming.
I didn't think I was going to like this album, but I did somehow. The strings and flutes with that strong voice are kind of mesmerizing.
I don't know who first came up with the line about death being a good career move, but Nick Drake is a good illustration of the principle; I'm not sure he would've had the later re-evaluation his work has enjoyed had he not checked out of existence in 1974. FLL is nice. I like it more these days than I did when I first heard it. I don't care about it particularly.
Got a nice feel to it but definitely too "samey" for me. Would 100% put this on in the background on a rainy day and gaze out the window. 3.5 stars
There's something about his voice that I just can't put into the proper words--a mysterious smoothness, a complete lack of vibrato without sacrificing melody, singing from the back of his throat but not from the lungs, so that the vocals are immediate and profound without being overbearing. For a depressed man, Drake didn't make depressing music. Soft, nuanced, beautiful yes, but not depressing. It is quite introspective, though, like a man looking at things and saying everything by saying as little as possible. This definitely is less-is-more music.
My mind always connects Nick Drake and Bob Ross for some reason. Both are calming, pleasant, and highly regarded by some following. But both I’m just kinda indifferent to
Not really my cup of tea and kinda depressing. Reading about his life made it even more depressing, but it is a good album sonically. Fruit tree was probly my fave
Starts off well(or more upbeat) but then tapers down to a slow melodic sound. His voice is low and the lyrics are kind of hidden below the instruments. Very similar to a Leonard Cohen sound. Not my thing but if your looking for some folky.
MEH. A lot of orchestration. Maybe this is what grandpa arsons sounds like? Didn’t make my way through
Objectively, nice. Subjectively, a total snooze-fest. Was literally yawning at points.
That was so exciting I could barely contain myself! OK practicing my delivery of April Fools Day jokes. I'm sure there is something wonderful hidden behind the mysterious lyrics. It's just hidden a little too deep for me. If I can't find the lyrics I'm left with a boring album. Perhaps if I listened to this 500 times and figured it out, it would be my favourite album. Unfortunately I doubt I'll ever hear it 5 times let alone 500.
This is good, I’d put it up there w/ Bryter Layter, though I kind of wish I could go back and give that a 4, b/c this is more deserving of the 3. As such, it’s getting a 2. Still very good though, I just like that his next two seemed more varied in their approach
Nice music, interesting mix of folk-y indie-y music with interesting quartet (maybe) backing. Not really my cup of tea tho, saved one song.
I'm honestly surprised how popular this is--it's not awful, but it really failed to capture my interest.
This is not the Drake of Degrassi fame. I'm sure he gets that alot. Or maybe it goes the other way. Maybe Aubrey Graham wishes he didn't use his middle name as his stage name, because people keep thinking he's a British folk singer. But now he's stuck with it. It fits though. Nick Drake looks like a Nick Drake. Drake doesn't look like an Aubrey. I went back to find my review for "Pink Moon" to find out if I commented on Nick Drake's voice. I didn't. So that's a thing to focus on here. It's not an accent thing. I don't think. It's just the way Drake enunciates in his singing. Now I want to go find an interview with him to see if he talks at all like that. I like his voice. I just don't like the way he sings. Not all of the time, but enough to matter. In general, "Five Leaves Left" is also too slow and muted/quiet - at least for the mood I was in when I listened. A few tracks had a bit of a faster pace, but slow strings and even a flute somewhere killed it for me.
41 minuuttia ja 11 sekuntia kestänyt slovari. Ei se nyt paskaa, mut tuskaista oli kokonaan kuunnella
Please, no more sad lad music. I see all the other positive reviews and wish I liked this better to join the "Nick Drake" crowd, but it just doesn't work for me. His voice is just too monotone and its not only that I don't find it interesting, but it also has a negative droning effect on me.
4/10, helt okej men verkligen en snarkfest. Musiken va fin, men hans röst är så enformig.
Not for me. It's not terrible it just reminds me of rainy Sundays in February. The musical equivalent of hearing the Antiques Roadshow theme tune signalling the end of the weekend and back to school tomorrow.
Nick Drake is kinda like Jeff Buckley - they're both unknown outside "big indie" circles but absolutely adored inside them, they both killed themselves in their 20s and they both bore the Christ out of me. 2/5.
It was ok, not my type of music. The way he sang was not my style. Short album, got bored halfway through
One gets the feeling the curators of this list really, but really, love Nick Drake's music. This is the third album of his I'm getting, and as far as I know he had 3 albums released prior to his premature death. Anyway, as far as I'm concerned it's more or less the same as before: music that's OK for a quiet afternoon's background, but nothing that actually "lifts". If anything, I found this album more boring than its siblings.
I didn't like this as much as I thought I would, unfortunately. It was kind of boring.
This album commits the cardinal sin of being plain boring - while some of the compositions shine, the overall woodland meadow vibe can hardly save the LP given how little vocal range Drake uses.
i know it's considered a classic. he was an undergrad in college at the time. but damn, to the beginner ear this sounds like the same layered mush song after song. and i don't think i've ever noticed someone just drag the last syllable of every line on for 3 seconds over and over again.... arrrrrghhhhh!!!! you're killing me nick.
I know this is a good album. It being on this list supports that, but I did not care for it. Too bad he dies so young.
Sucked. I'm sorry nick drake died young, but he said "time has told me" forty times in that first song and I not only disliked it, but I began to feel a rage growing deep inside. Had to turn it off or I might have gotten violent.
song writing genius, gone too soon
1969 Love the album art lol RIP Nick Drake Top 3 tracks: 1. Fruit Tree - nice sounds all around :) 2. River Man - highlights: lyrics, soft melody 3. Way to Blue - string accompaniment, bridge