Five Leaves Left

I usually think of this as the third Nick Drake album. Haven’t really listened to it by itself often. Unsurprisingly fitting autumn vibe. As I’ve come to expect from debut albums, his distinct style hasn’t really come together yet on here. You can hear him playing with some different genre influences. Still hits the spot.

Wish there were far more leaves left. Tragic brilliance.

Just got back from a jam-packed, overstimulating weekend and this hit like a long overdue Xanax

fuck it - 5 stars. one of those albums you can just put on and get lost in for hours.

Not his best

Pickle and I did Sunday chores while we listened to this, and maybe it’s the seasonal affective disorder, but I had a wonderfully mournful time. Good for the cool, crispy part of fall.

this album felt five times longer than it was

The 5 minute song about the fruit tree was a high point.

No private session used for Spotify. NIck Drake? I am expecting lots of lovely acoustic guitar work with some mumbling lyrics over the top of it. Wow, nailed it. This is at least the second Nick Drake album I have listened to because of this list...there really didn't need to be two.

Middling

remind me of Blue, like it's obviously good in that singer song writer way, but doesn't blow my top or anything.

Not my favorite by him but he's so solid

First listened 2nd March 2025. Nick Drake is just not for me to be honest...

Bit boring songwriter music

4,5

Background music for me. Chilled out and feel good music that I would have on for easy listening.

First reviewed Dec 2004, a classic singer songwriter album. Very mellow 4* (4.5 really)

As beautifully sad and English as you'd want any piece of music to be.

Very solid Nick Drake, what I’ve come to expect from this list

Nick Drake is a real gem of a discovery through this project! Super laid back, soothing albums that work great as background music but hold up to a more careful listen. 3.5/5

Enjoyed this more than Bryter Layter although I was hoping for more Richard Thompson.. Way to Blue with its Eleanor Rigby strings and Saturday Sun were standouts for me.

Nick Drake has easily been my fave discovery doing this whole project. I think I like Bryter Layter better than this, but this one is great too. I love the delicacy of Nick’s voice and I love his guitar playing. I ended up watching two documentaries on him yesterday.

I don’t love it quite as much as his other records, at least not yet, but everything Nick Drake did is absolutely beautiful.

Wonderful, calming, chill, peaceful. River man is one of the best songs ever recorded.

Overseen genius. This is really a gem.

I'll just say one thing, the fact that Nick Drake barely received any recognition during his lifetime is one of the biggest musical tragedies I'm aware of. The fact that it took years for all of us to appropriately appreciate his work is an absolute shame. Favourite track: River Man

4.1.

Very stripped down. The songs were usually limited to just acoustic guitar and sometimes drums. It's a very laid back album and defined Nick Drake's signature sound on albums like Bryter Layter and Pink Moon. It was a really good and an underrated one at that. Truly a wonderful album!

Time Has Told Me - 84 River Man - 87 Three Hours - 88 Way To Blue - 85 Day Is Done - 86 'Cello Song - 88 Thoughts Of Mary Jane - 92 Man In A Shed - 85 Fruit Tree - 88 Saturday Sun - 89 Five Leaves Left - 85

surprising album. Nice mellow folk/folk rock. I listened to this thinking I would just listen to a couple of lame songs and move on. Listened to the whole thing and enjoyed it. Not my usual cup of tea but really quite nice. I need to listen to it again. Not sure I would buy this but I will definitely listen again

Very good. Somewhat meandering perhaps, but there is great texture to the music and good variety. I have a special bit of love for ' Cello Song, which has been on my playlists for a long time.

Stunning instrumentals

Nick drake is actually the man

A deeply talented man

Meh

beautiful talent but just not my cup of tea

You can improve any album by adding an orchestra. Symphony and Metallica already proved that.

Suorastaan uskomaton albumi

Ehh

omg a true masterpiece. I never got around to listening to this even though I really love Pink Moon. This album is, unbelievably, even more amazing. How is it possible this was his debut? How is it possible this music was totally unappreciated when he first made it? Three Hours is a true standout, what a hauntingly beautiful song — saw a take online that mentions Plato's allegory of the cave + odysseus as a possible lyrics interpretation. The open tuning/fingerpicking style is so so beautiful. Also so many other nice moments, up to Saturday Sun, which is like a breath of air, such a sweet melody suddenly in 6/8 time and with piano. Also absolutely loved 'Cello Song. there are a few songs on here that don't sound as bleak/stripped back as a lot of Pink Moon does, just a lot of different feelings in one album. absolute talent.

This was a pleasant enjoyable listen. But I'm not sure I really 'get him', I know lots of people treat Nick Drake with awe. But from this anyway it's nice singer song-writer folk but didn't stand out to me.

The most perfect of his perfect three albums, all included in the 1001 project (does anyone else hold this accolade who has more than two albums?). Bryter Later was still a 5 for me but the instrumentals dragged it behind this one. Here the songs, lyrics, production and instrumentation are all spot on. Too many favourites to list and there's such great variation but to relish in that makes his last album Pink Moon the more strange as it was stark (Drake and guitar only) but STILL perfect. And then he was gone.

Masterpiece

Favorite track(s): Time Has Told Me, River Man, Three Hours, 'Cello Song, Fruit Tree, Saturday Sun If I had heard this album in a vacuum, I would be floored. For better or for worse, I am familiar with Nick Drake's other output and eagerly await its appearance. Heard before Previous rating: 8/10

Very nice and chill. Very coffee shop like music.

Really great guitar work, i really liked Three Hours and Man in a Shed. Very relaxing album and an enjoyable listen.

The generator is building up Pink Moon as my final boss. Eloquent instrumentation and melodies that don't quite hold up against Bryter Layter, so I'm excited to hear the end of the trilogy. Highlights: "River Man", "'Cello Song"

Sounds good but left little impression

Soooo booooring…

What a beautiful album. While being categorized as folk, it's mixed in the style of a jazz album, and honestly, sounds like an early precursor to video game music, which is fascinating. It's chill and sweet and thoughtful. The instrumentation is charming, especially the gorgeous strings throughout. The biggest drawbacks are the repetitiveness within the songs, and honestly, Nick Drake's voice. I would give it five stars if the songs were instrumental! "The Thoughts of Mary Jane" wins for prettiest, the "'Cello Song" for most fun, and the mixing on "Man in a Shed" really stood out to me.

There's something I'm missing here. I have to stop listening to music when I work.

Own it (CD). I clearly remember VW's "Pink Moon" moment. I found a compilation of Drake's work while in grad school (shout-out Rodeo Records in Ellensburg, WA, RIP). This is magical music. And I discovered it around the time that I discovered Elliott Smith, decades apart - but linked so closely in my mind and the sound and sentiment, the tragedy. Everything on this album seems just right - the production, the guitar picking, the strings, Drake's soft vocals. Nothing feels forced or contrived. I love how haunting River Man is, how Way to Blue swells and then abruptly ends, the urgency of the Cello Song. The authenticity of these songs reminds me of the spirit of Robert Johnson's recordings - the late discovery by the public, the eerie lyrical content, the way that Drake and Johnson inhabit their recordings as so much more than participants - like ghosts. I'm not sure that this is my favorite of Drake's albums, my favorite song of his, "Black-Eyed Dog," isn't on the studio albums, but it's still a 5 star effort.

Nick Drake, zo mooi!

My least favourite of the 3 Drake albums. Talented guy but this doesn't do much for me compared to 'pink moon'.

Love love love love love love love. I love Nick Drake as who he is and his story. His music shows his story.

I've been looking forward to diving into the Nick Drake albums for a while now, so I was happy to see what Five Leaves Left was all about. I don't think the opener, Time Has Told Me, is one of the better songs here -- though I do like the lyrics. Good lyrics are a common theme throughout this record, as is the consistent quality of Nick Drake's voice. After the first track, I have no complaints about the music either. The guitar is great throughout, and songs add cello, piano, wind instruments, and vibraphone in just the right amounts. The music stays light and peaceful, even as the subject matter drifts into heavier topics. By the 2nd time through, I already feel at home with this album and am looking forward to playing tracks like River Man, Three Hours, Cello Song, and Saturday Sun again. I'm not sure I was ready to dive into Nick Drake's music when I first heard a couple songs 20+ years ago, but it's really hitting all the right notes now. Five Leaves Left isn't a flawless album, but it's pretty darn close.

3 out of 5. Very pleasant album.

- I'd never heard Nick Drake before, and I ended up really enjoying this album. The music has a soothing feel to it. The first time I listened to it, I was getting ready for work, and it didn't really register that much. But, upon relistens, it's really beautiful. - There are symphonic elements (strings, keys, winds), but it's mostly finger picking acoustic guitar. - I don't enjoy how he holds the consonants, but other than that, his voice fits the music... lowish and soft. - Some of the songs worked better than others, but overall, I can definitely see myself coming back to this.

FIRE 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I was dismissive of another Nick Drake album on this list, but this one's a different kettle of ball games. It's his first album, and it's pretty perfect. It's haunting, delicate and very beautiful - the strings could have gone horribly wrong but they supplement - and enhance - his wistful and evocative voice wonderfully. River Man is a highlight among highlights, but really, I soaked the whole thing up and loved it. I've never listened to this before, and I've been missing out. You can hear the influence he's had on generations of songwriters - in fact, it's left me needing to listen to Little Black Numbers by Kathryn Williams, so that's precisely what I'm going to do.

Time Has Told Me River Man Way to Blue Cello Song Saturday Sun

I'm not really into folk this gentle

Not for me, sorry

Another smooth, relaxing and brilliant Nick Drake album. His albums on this generator have been hit after hit for me. Way To Blue was my fav song and fav first listen of the album. Saturday Sun and Day Is Done were my other highlights

It’s better than Pink Moon because it has strings and a mellotron.

It's not as good as the pink one.

Five Leaves Left opens with "Time Has Told Me," a nicely lilting folk song where the acoustic and electric guitars have great interplay with a piano. This style of loose instrumentation shows up elsewhere on the album, like the jazzy piano on "Man in a Shed." But more often the songs lack that fluid feel. The second and third tracks are very static throughout, focusing on chords that hardly evolve. Elsewhere, songs add strings in a way that doesn't really add much. "Way to Blue" is entirely strings and feels a little clumsy because of it. The vocals are whispery and don't add much for me, nor do the lyrics. It's a shame, because the finger-picked guitar is pleasant to listen to and the songs are peaceful, but in the end they don't come together. Drake's music would improve on later albums.

The better drake. 3/5

This album wasn't my jam. I found myself tuning out and bored. I felt like the songs were definitely missing something, but I am not sure what that something is? I sort of liked Saturday Sun but not enough to change my rating.

Some of the lyrics here are intriguing, but the sound balance between his voice and the guitar are off enough that I have to strain to hear them. This almost gets to adequate.

Never heard of this artist. But OMG what a recording. I hear so many influences on later performers that he must have had a huge impact for those who came after him. His style reminds me a lot of our group favorite, Bob Dylan. I read about how this album was recorded, with Drake in the center of the room and the instruments arranged around him. What a clever idea, executed to perfection. The recording has an incredible sense of space and intimacy. He made only three albums during his short career, and all three are on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list. AllMusic has all three rated five stars by both critics and listeners. I've never seen that before. It's an absolute joy to discover another nugget like this. Sent from my Commodore 64

I like these bleak, acoustic-ish albums. But for whatever reason this didn't evoke a lot of emotion in me. It's like Jeff Buckley mixed with Avett Brothers, brewing something raw and emotional, but then someone snuck into the kitchen and sprinkled a bit of Jack Johnson into the mix which nerfed it all.

I kind of like his voice, and the music is inoffensive, but not all that enjoyable. Folk isn't my thing.

This was superior to me than Pink Moon or Bryter Layter due to the strings and symphonic (?) parts that those albums lack. I am giving this a 3 but I am very interested in listening again as I get closer to finishing the list to see if I need to revisit my ranking.

One of those artists I've always heard of but never heard. Not as depressing as I was expecting

Soft and introspective, yet never boring to me. The writing, the instrumentation, the vocal style, everything just fits perfectly. Also Man In A Shed almost sounds like a Mario theme at parts. You can kinda hear it. I need to give Pink Moon another listen because I think I only gave that a 4 and it's probably another 5.

me duermo. No me gustó

Felt like a sad album. Good lyrics. Was decent listening music while I work. It is disappointing he died so young as I could listen to more of Nick Drake.

I don't think there's a single track here that I'd listen independently from the album. That said, it is a great album from start to finish.

wonderful wonderful wonderful. i love nick drake.

My first exposure to Nick Drake was Spotify's algorithm force-feeding me his music based on my other selections. It bothered me so much, I wrote him off. This is the first time I've listened to a whole album. I get that people find his lyrics and singing beautiful. I find it kind of slow and boring. His singing is so understated that the lyrics aren't clear. It may require repeated listening to fully appreciate. After only one run through, it's a little too much of the 'sad and sensitive boy' for me. Given that Spotify was pushing him, I was surprised that this album isn't available there. However, I found it on YouTube and noticed another link that said 'without orchestra'. I might prefer that. The violins on songs like River Man distracted from his voice. Cool that Richard Thompson plays on this LP. 10 songs in, and I think they all kind of sound the same. It's a distinctive sound that might be good to fall asleep to.

no mi pop

I liked how textured and baroque this was compared to his other work, and thought it actually sounded a lot more hopeful than the more melancholy work he got into later on. Solid 4/5

relajante

I've now listened to his entire discography and I think it's all pretty good to great! "River Man" is the standout here, but I also enjoyed "Time Has Told Me" and "Day Is Done"

This is lovely, even though I'm suspicious that Drake's suicide promoted his status after his passing, as it is so often the case.

this was very conveniently timed for me because i've been going through a huge nick drake listening spree recently. though i've mostly focused on his other two albums rather than this one, this is still amazing and easily among the best folk music of all time, so gets 5 stars without hesitation!

I'm sure the songwriting is great but musically it was dull.

#100 Nick Drake's music has such a timeless sound, all three of his albums sound like they could have been released within the last few years. His debut album is impressive; melancholy and somber (as expected), and full of nice string arrangements and excellent guitar work. Highlights: River Man, Three Hours, 'Cello Song, Man In A Shed

Encore for this one. Yes it's not my usual faire, but oh my goodness, I love the vocals, the guitar, the strings, the pianos. Another creative genius locked behind mental health issues. Saved it all.

Listened through it, not bad definitely has a mood, wouldn't turn it off if I heard it again, but likely would not seek it out again on my own.

This album was sorta depressing, such low energy, skipped a lot of songs

Of the iconic trio of records from Drake, this was always my least favorite of the three. That doesn't make it bad, but it does make it lesser in my opinion. Still legendary, but not my favorite.

Bardzo przyjemne

Sad, but like cool sad

didn't love this one sorry nick

This is the second Nick Drake album I've listened to so far in this project. I enjoyed Bryter Layter more than this one. I found that to be more upbeat than I was expecting based on what I know of Drake, and this debut album sounds more like what I expected. Acoustic and morose with brooding vocals, this is performed well and I can understand why it speaks to so many people. I really do like depressing shit from time to time, but at the moment that I'm listening to this album, I'm just not feeling it at all.

Nick Drake is new to me, and it's sad that he didn't get the appreciation that he deserved during his lifetime because there is a lot to enjoy about his music. It has similarities to the Donovan album I listened to a couple of months ago, but it has a more melancholic edge. Some of the songs, especially the first two, get a bit repetitive, but the engaging orchestral arrangements, interesting chord changes and a voice that sounds both world weary and hopeful make for a relaxing, interesting listen. Man In A Shed and Fruit Tree are my personal highlights. A solid 3 stars.

i love this album

09/12 Was okay