Five Leaves Left

I love Nick Drake when I'm in the mood for him. Very talented and sad that he got a cult following after his death. Great background music for a rainy day. Favorite Songs: Three Hours and Cello Song Least Favorite Songs: Way To Blue

Not my vibe. Some interesting moments, but overall nothing memorable. 2/5

Right off I could tell that the recording/production on this one was great. Fantastic acoustic guitar sound is the first thing you hear. Great voice as well. Kind of a low-key album that's sort of a downer in a lot of ways. I like it. Listen to this on a rainy day on good headphones or a good sound system, not on little computer speakers and not on a phone. I think a lot of the brilliance of this album is just in the way it is recorded and how all the parts work together so well. I also never really realized what a great guitar player he was. Maybe I just never really paid attention before but his playing on this record at least was fantastic. I wonder why he never gets mentioned in the same breath as Paul Simon? It would be interesting to see what he would have done had he not died so young. The folk/folk-pop/folk-rock genre from this time was relatively short-lived and I feel like he may have gone on to more experimental things. All in all, this is a stellar album. Maybe not a 10/10 but good enough for a 5/5 because 4/5 is not enough.

I want to like this more because it's giving me some Dave Matthews Band vibes, which I love, but this is just mediocre. "The Thoughts of Mary Jane" and "Saturday Sun" are fantastic songs, but the rest kind of blended together. Not terrible as an album, but just okay.

Solo traveler music. Nice to see other people were not traveling through middle earth at this time

Roligt og lækkert, akustisk, originalt

Never heard of him before but was confused he was not nick cave

Okayish, slow

Nick Drake is so very peaceful, but not to listen to during the day. It just makes me depressed Top tracks: ‘ Cello Song, Saturday Sun

I enjoyed this one, but definitely like Pink Moon a lot more.

Perfect background music on a lazy Sunday.

Excellent. I will like to listen to another album of his.

Very pretty folk songs.

# Playlist track - Man in a Shed # Notes - Never heard of him before, nor about his story. - Cool album, ended up listening to it 2 or 3 times in a row. - Definitely coming back to it in the future.

Fine

heartbreaking and comforting at the same time.

I can appreciate the artistry, but it's just not for me.

It's a shame we didn't get more from this talented song writer

Beautiful guitars and melodies.

I enjoyed this. His voice and guitar are warm and gentle, the songs are tinged with wistfulness and melancholia. I imagine this must've been quite a change of pace when compared to popular albums at the time. River Man was the stand-out track for me, I found that I was paying more attention because of it. That being said, I don't know that it's something I'll listen to again in a hurry.

nice guitar playing, very mellow folk sounds, not my style but i understand why this is possibly loved by many

Melancholy ramblings for the hobo in your life.

very pretty little album. i really liked all the songs i heard. it's soft. it's quiet. it's... it's the musical equivalent of a lovely little garden. the guitars and the occasional strings really add to the experience i feel... straight music therapy, both happy and sad. this man went through a lot... they say he was the van gogh of music. it's unfortunate because you can hear that. in his voice.

Love Nick Drake. This album is described as English folk but somehow that doesn’t quite get to it. The orchestrations are rich and sometimes unexpected. His guitar sound borders on classical. Once you hear his voice, you’ll recognize it anywhere. Remarkable musician. 4.3

I was only familiar with the Pink Moon album, which is very sparse and unformed. A full band/orchestration really serves his music. Solid album and sounds very fresh for 1969. I can see why his navel-gazer approach was rediscovered in the 90s. 4.0

Very folksy.

Good guitar playing.

Not bad, but nothing exciting

2.3 per track.

SO goood man, if it wasn't for Pink Moon, this would be his best. Rip my sweet, sweet angel.

Utterly soothing acoutstic instrumentation. All the musicians put together for these compositions were on the same page. Drake's voice was solid but did not go too crazy either, which kept the tone calm. I was a big fan of the ' Cello Song and Fruit Tree.

It's definitely easy listening for sure, but maybe a bit too boring at times. The instrumentals are really relaxing and good, but I felt Drake's pretty monotone voice paired with them made me uninterested in what was going on at times.

Beautiful and haunting. Each song feels meticulously crafted and a chock full of emotion. This is the first album out of the 20 or so ever viewed that I'm actually glad to have discovered. It's interesting that Nick Drake is categorized as folk/rock. Doesn't seem to be anything rock about it except the guitar.

Too slow

meh

Album 322 of 1001 Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left Rating : 3.50 / 5 Such a pleasant album. Several songs seem like they could be the soundtrack for some feel good movie where everything is jus A-OK. Just right for those quiet meditative moments. Great artist. Gone way too soon.

I was shocked to learn this was a debut album. It’s unbelievably beautiful, and sounds so mature seems just as important as Bob Dylan and other folk artist from that time.

El debut del trágico Nick Drake marca la pauta de lo que será el sonido del resto de su carrera: Un sonido folk casi incomparable que marcaría la pauta del folk-indie de los artistas que le precedieron. Un espectacular LP, que aún tiene espacio para mejoras y que llegará a culminar con Pink Moon.

Waaaaaay ahead of his time.

I'm a bit cross that Nick Drake is so popular now. In 1992 at Gatwick Airport as I walked past HMV, I heard some familiar sounding music I loved but didn't recognise. I went and asked, remarking that it sounded like John Martyn. The guy said "It's Nick Drake, John Martyn wrote Solid Air about him". I bought the album there and then. That was Pink Moon and I've been a fan ever since. For about 10 years he was 'mine' but, inevitably, the rest of the world found him too and spoiled my secret. These days I cycle past his beautiful family home in Hampton-in-Arden regularly. Five Leaves Left ranks joint second with Bryter Layter - Pink Moon stands above them both and is one of the greatest achievements in rock. But all three are fantastic and I'd be happy just to listen to this forever - though I don't like some of the unnecessary orchestrations.

Jeg har hørt der lidt før. Kunne ikke overskue det kl 5 i morges, men jeg nød det senere på eftermiddagen.

Jeg troede kun jeg kendte Nick Drake af navn. Men River Man har jeg hørt før. Måske Simme har spillet den 🤔 Der er virkelig meget luft i stemmen. At lytte til den bliver en hel fysisk oplevelse hvor jeg kan mærke Drakes stemme lægge sig omkring min krop og trænge ind. Melodisk og stemningsmæssigt er albummet melankolsk grænsende til deprimeret. Det formidler et menneske smerte mesterligt.

Nick Drake always sounds like he's singing out of a snorkel at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

Time has told me, this is an incredible album. How he made such a full album at a young age, I’ll never know.

Better than Bryter Layter in my opinion, I remember correctly this one is more interesting and diverse musically. Liked the Cello Song and Three hours, do think his voice gets slightly repetitive and there shouldn't be 3 Nick Drake albums on this list. With that said... this one's pretty good.

Yes, Nick Drake on a Sunday. Winning. Saturday Sun is one of the best songs ever.

Smooth and good night time before bed listen

J'hais assez de genre là de guitare/voix. Non merci.

definitely not for me

Such a beautiful melancholy album. The arrangements are simple and timeless comprising in the most part of Nick Drake’s voice and an acoustic guitar.

Turns out I really like Nick Cave. His voice is incredible! The album is from 1969, but *most* of it sounds like it could have been early 90s - which shows both the timelessness of his sound and how influential he is to musicians like Elliot Smith and Jeff Buckley. The voice is the star here. The guitar and piano are set up softly enough to be adequate support for Drake to showcase his unique singing style. On several songs it sounds like he has an orchestral backing, and the strings pair beautifully with his voice, creating a lush, haunting soundscape.

Incredibly gorgeous album, without a flaw. I prefer the stripped down sound of Pink Moon, but this album is absolutely its equal in depth and quality. Melancholy, dreamy and elegantly arranged, with contemplative vocals and a rich use of instrumentation that's never heavy handed or distracting. Drake's acoustic playing is beautifully expressive and Richard Thompson's appearance on the opening track was a lovely surprise. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Three Hours, River Man, Way to Blue, Day Is Done, Saturday Sun, The Thoughts of Mary Jane, Man in a Shed, Time Has Told Me, 'Cello Song, Fruit Tree

Good musicianship. Sweet guitar and vocals. A bit too depressing for a depressed guy

beautiful, unique in its choices, creative and soulful sound in a way that feels effortless. My fav from him. River Man especially gets me everytime

My Nico- baroque freak folk loving ass would’ve loved this in college if I didn’t hate men… at least I’m much more level headed now

I like the singing and acoustics. Reminds me of Johnny Cash. 2.45

each nick drake album means something to me. used to be the only cd i had in my car so if i ever ran out of phone battery this is what i'd listen to. reminds me of driving very tired across somerset after dropping an ex-lover off at glastonbury festival with the sun going down in front of me.

Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left showcases his beautiful voice and heartfelt lyrics, inspiring many in the folktronica genre. However, I found the album a bit repetitive and lacking variety. While Drake's sad story adds to the album's allure, others like Fairport Convention and John Martyn offer more diverse sounds and expand upon the folk genre. Overall, Five Leaves Left is a classic, but it may not excite everyone. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 1 STAND OUT TRACK - Time Has Told Me

very nice liste, really enjoyed the chords and the instrumentation. This guy's going places

The highs are very high. A little inconsistent but overall definitely worth a listen.

Beauty

I LOVE THIS ALBUM! Such a great vibe for studio time and any other time you want to feel expansive and contemplative.

8.5 relax

Genre: Folk Pop Instruments: 4/5 Modern Translation: 3/5 Dance Potential: 1/5 Listening Location: Sydney airport Heard it before: No Favourite Song: ‘ Cello Song Made me feel: relaxed and upbeat. Would listen again.

My favourite Nick Drake album. "Three Hours" is probably his most impressive, hypnotizing guitar playing and "Cello Song" is just perfect. Great flow to the tracklist and perhaps the greatest acoustic guitar tone ever recorded.

Beautifully played and produced album. Will revisit.

There's nothing else like Nick Drake. While this isn't, in my opinion, his best or most famous record, it's a five even by its title...

First listen to this, didn’t hit me as hard as Pink Moon. Probably deserves multiple listens.

Oh Nick Drake. I think he's got a song on the Garden State soundtrack. Yep One of These Things First. But it's not on this album. Just recognized his voice. I don't know not really my bag. I'm giving it a 3.

Finally! A melancholy album! 😂 I enjoyed it. Perfect beginning to the day. His guitar playing is exceptional. His voice is smooth and rich. admittedly, I didn’t pay much attention to the words this first go round. It was a tad sappy at times but I didn’t mind too much.

One of the smoothest vocalists. Guitar playing is mesmerizing. Introspective and dreamy

Big improvement on Pink Moon, although I've heard them in the wrong order. Nice, chilled album. I can see why it is so revered.

Really good homework music. I got a lot of work done and was not at all distracted by what I was listening to. Not very attention capturing.

I feel like I would like this album if I heard it at a different time of my life. Maybe it is because I read about his life, or I am in a weird place, but I can't stand this music. I barely made it through the album. Right now it is just super depressing. Not sad in a nice way, just straight up makes me feel depressed.

Nr. 116/1001 Time Has Told Me 3/5 River Man 4/5 Three Hours 3/5 Way to Blue 4/5 Day Is Done 3/5 Cello Song 3/5 The Thoughts Of Mary Jane 4/5 Man In A Shed 3/5 Fruit Tree 3/5 Saturday Sun 3/5 Average: 3,3 Great songwriting. Just felt for me the vocal variety wasn't enough to really pull me in.

Enjoyed it. Like most I had only listened to a compilation of hits ("Way to Blue: An Introduction") that contained a few songs from this album. Overall it sounded pretty consistent in tone and melody. I wasn't taking in the lyrics and that's probably a major oversight. But I found it pleasant and gave it 2 listens, which is more than I can say for a lot of these recommendations.

Immediately forgettable.

Three fucking albums of this guy in the list? get out of here

Nick Drake hit hard on the drive to work. Very different and smooth on the way home. Some lovely guitar work with some standard vocals from Nick. I found this more appealing than Pink Moon 🩷 🌙

Another lovely little acoustic album by our mate Nick, breezes through the ears quite nicely but doesn't really set the world on fire. Better than the other Drake.

this album is beautiful. it is filled with amazing clashes of many different instruments on every song, which is something i enjoyed all throughout the album. this album seems like the perfect album to play on a fall or rainy day, which is a vibe i really like! i have never listened to an album like this, so it is something new. i gave this album 3 listens, and i am walking away with half of the tracklist. i can see the beauty in each song, though some i just cant see myself listening to in the future, but there wasn't a bad song in this album. my favorite song on the album is Day Is Done. i rate this album a 3, it's really good and consistent, but due to me taking away only half of the tracklist because of my own personal taste, i cant give the album a rating above a 3

I like his sound.

soft listening... 3 stars

Five Leaves Left is a charmingly candid resignation to the relentless flow of time and the futility of all that we know and hold dear, whether it’s something living, changing, dying, or already passed. Through Nick Drake’s fragile & human vocals, ethereal & naturalistic lyrics and delicate acoustic instrumentation with darker undercurrents of strings, an intricate autumnal soundscape is woven.

i like nick drake, but this album isn’t my favorite. the instrumentals are peaceful but i find it boring overall.

I want to take a nap after listening to this album.

Not as good as pink moon

I mean, Nick Drake doesn't fuck around.

Not great, not bad, just sort of middle of the road. 2.5/5

There are some nice tracks on there, but I don't get the hype for him. I find his singing / voice a little boring, to be honest. No bad album but nothing particular special about it for me.

I love this dude. Love this album.

fave track: way to blue final thoughts: beautiful! i love a lil folk tune

umm the lyricism was good but i don’t really vibe with the bare bones sound of it all. kinda boring, it doesn’t do anything for me.

the draaaaaaaama

This one really did not connect with me at all. I know Five Leaves Left is widely regarded as a beautifully delicate folk record, but I found it slow and difficult to engage with. The stripped back arrangements and hushed tone never really build into anything, and I struggled to stay invested. Nick Drake’s voice, which many people find intimate and haunting, just does not work for me. It feels too subdued and never quite lifts the songs. As a full album, it drifts rather than grabs. I can appreciate the craft and the influence it has had over the years, but as a listening experience it left me cold. Favourite song: I genuinely could not pick one Least favourite: The overall sound just did not land for me Album artwork: Understated and moody, but not something that stands out for me

just a really solid singer songwriter folksey album by nick drake. Really like his lyrics as well. Early favs - Shed, way to blue, day is done, time has told me, fruit tree. All the songs tbh are really good. Three hours is the only one which didn't click with me. It's a light 4 from me.

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.

Zen, calm folk music, good for an upscale pretentious wine place. Stand-out: Day Is Done

His best

Pretty great Folk find.

Every now and then there's an artist who transcends their time and place and leaves something indelible in this ephemeral existence. Nick Drake's 26 years on this planet were a gift.

Some really interesting sounding guitar work. This album has a very calming vibe to it, but it's just slightly boring in my opinion.

Im a big Nick Drake fan, and this album is pretty great from him.

I’ve given this enough listens to say that its definitely bouncing off me. Nothing’s really landing. Nick Drake’s songs at his best really is good. At the worst, it feels monotonous, energy-wise. I don’t know if it’s his voice (?) that sounds a bit plain and unchanging? That’s a bit unfair. I always feel like the arranger of strings, overdubs, etc, is just trying to spice up and make more interesting a collection of songs that don’t really go anywhere, don’t have a ton of drama. Some of the songs are really beautiful, gorgeous, but things just stay stagnant for a long time. This isn’t my favorite Nick Drake album, even though I liked it when I first listened. A few more listens made me feel apathetic to even the good parts. 2/5

Haunting yet soothing vocals.

Fácil y agradable de escuchar. Sin muchas florituras. Tranquilo y sosegado. Voz tranquilizadora. Ambiente relajado

Lovely. I know it's categorized with folk, but this album doesn't sound quite like anything else I'm familiar with from that era. I can see how it's influential, and wish Apple Music had an Inspired By playlist to better see those through lines. It's a clear vibe.

Deep folk/jazz - a step beyond what you may expect from a folk album, using unique backing instrumentation.

Mellow

Truly have never heard of this guy. Don't listen to country-folk. I'll see how long I last this one. I do have a friend that reminds me of this music who has his own band. I respect this type of music, really all kinds of music. This is just not my type. I stopped it after 3 tracks. Couldn't really listen to it anymore. I enjoyed what I heard.

A really, really nice album with the highest of highs, and even its lows aren't all that low. I was already familiar with the Pink Moon album, and probably should have given this one a proper listen decades ago. Better late than never, I s'pose.

This album is excellent, although it's not the most dynamic. He's really good at one mode of music, and over the full length of an album that starts to feel a bit same-y. Each song would be more than welcome on any of my playlists, but as an album it doesn't grab me as much as lots of others.

This is a fine album. It takes a certain mood and setting to sink away to it, but if you find that it could really be special. I got to wondering why I hadn't heard more from this guy who was just past 20 when this album came out. Then I found out why. Such a sad outcome. I'm not sure if the rest of Nick's works are in this list, but I'll be checking in on them on my own. Favorite track: "Day is Done" 4/5

estupendo y desconocido

gentle bucolic and lilting; nice work listen but don't think I'll revisit

Relaxing and interesting.

This is a lovely record. I love Nick's voice. Very poignant songwriting and lyrics. Favourite tracks: River Man, Way to Blue, The Thoughts of Mary Jane, Man In A Shed, Fruit Tree.

- honestly love the vibe created in this space today

I like my Nick Drake with as little accompaniment as possible. That’s why ‘Pink Moon’ is my favourite of his studio albums. It’s just Nick with a guitar. ‘Bryter Layter’, is at the other end of the spectrum, still good but with lots of layers of strings, horns, and extra production and instrumentation. ‘Five Leaves Left’ falls somewhere in between. Lots of Nick solo, with some strings, but more on the minimal side of things. It’s a nice midpoint.

Loved the low key melancholy vibes. Perfect for a cold day.

Good background!

Nick Drake ❤️❤️❤️

This was an album that was approximately included in the 1001 albums to listen to before you die. Had heard of Nick Drake but never listened to any of his music. Can’t say it was a favorite but lyrics are awesome and loved the voice. Was interesting that he worked with Richard Thompson.

Time Has Told Me - 7/10 River Man - 7.5/10 Three Hours -7.5/10 Way to Blue - 7.5/10 Day is Done - 7.5/10 'Cello Song - 8/10 Thoughts of Mary Jane - 8/10 Man in a Shed - 7.5/10 Fruit Tree - 7.5/10 Saturday Sun - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 75.5/100

I found it very dream-like, like Nick Drake took me on a trip.

Nice folk, would have been better with less instruments as the guitar playing is so unique

I might need more time with this one. I have not heard a lot of Nick Drake and there is something about his voice that I actually dislike. That being said, I enjoyed the music of this album and didn’t really soak in the lyrics very much. I wasn’t an instant fan, but I wasn’t turned away. Will probably relisten sometime to this or another of bis albums.

Great chill album! I was familiar with Pink Moon and Cello Song, but never really listened to an entire album of his. Had no idea he died in 1974, how tragic! Definitely going to play this album more often and maybe even try to purchase it on vinyl.

Gentle, sweet, dull.

I (like a lot of mid-Millenials) got into Nick Drake in high school/college, so I have some real nostalgia for this album. Overall, it's still a great listen. The orchestration brings some really nice textures to the songs, and Nick Drake's mellow, melancholy vocals go down easy.

Excellent album. Wonderful road trip music. Amazing folk album very calming

Pretty flawless.

Five Leaves Left Love, love, love. All three of his albums are in heavy rotation for me and they are all top tier. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beautiful showcase of what Nick Drake is all about. Nature and time and whimsical guitar plucking with often playful orchestra passages.

I am sorry but what is this? Like is this supposed to be good? Again, purely drug addict music.

First time I really listened to this and really enjoyed it, will seek out more Nick Drake

Great finding

Chill

Folk is not for me. One track was interesting, rest was boring

Day10 - i don’t know if this is an album i needed to hear before i die but it was ok

No idea why I've never listened to this before. Superb. I need to re-listen to Pink Moon and reassess. Great and beautiful songs, great arrangements, great acoustic guitar.

Haunting, beautiful, and creative.

I get the impression that repeat listens might elevate this, but folk is definitely not the easiest genre for me to engage with.

Nice to dig past Pink Moon in the catalogue of Nick Drake. Nice album to pop on when it’s frigid outside and you got a mug full of coffee and whiskey.

Got bored after a few songs

2.0

Unnecessary (and dated) instrumentation crowding Nick's gorgeous guitar out of the mix, but by god, it's still Nick Drake.

i am at the point where I can tell the album is a boring shitty folk singer-songwriter waste of time just by cover and name now. although, this one wasnt as bad as the others a very useful skill for the future, im certain Significant 34/101 (for previous one - the police) Liked 16/101 Added 4/101 NNN

Had heard his second album before and enjoyed it but think I definitely like this one more. Very beautiful blend of instruments and I didn’t even focus too much on his lyrics the first listen through. Rating: 4.7

I dont "know" Nick Drake, but can easily recognize his voice and sound, he was very distinctive. This album seems almost devastatingly beautiful, haunting as well as haunted. I read up on him while listening; it's so sad that such amazing music was born from such deep turmoil. Nick Drake was so gifted, so moody.... and still so worth listening to. Thanks for including his music here.

A peaceful, gentle masterwork to begin a career that would end in tragedy.

The music is beautiful but the lyrics are just ok

Increíble álbum de cantautor que sorprende canción a canción. Time has told me como recomendación.

Really enjoyable. Reminds me a bit of Cat Stevens, especially the first song. Wouldn’t want it on all the time but I appreciate it

Not a fan.

Nice, exotic work, but too often using many repetitions of brief, albeit interesting, phrases.

Amazing discovery. Nick's story is sad, but it contributes to the beauty of his music.

Inspiratie voor velen na hem. Prachtig, melancholisch en net te kort

Mooi, melodieus, rustig, aangename stem, zuiver gezongen. Véél fijner dan die Willie Nelson-plaat.

Dreamy but nice

Very subtle voice, but great orchestration and songwriting. Doesn't sound dated, really, because of the restraint used in the instrumentation and production.

Not my style but I do have one song from Pink Moon in my library. If you like soft folk this is probably top-shelf material for you.

The guitar work was really good but I wasn't a big fan of the singing. It was pretty slow moving overall. Probably would never listen to album ever again but it was a nice learning experience. Kind of like a folky jazz. Definitely some jazz chords in there. I could imagine Jose Gonzalez singing all the songs and it being a lot better of an album.

I’ve heard this album many times over. It’s an absolute 5 for me.

quiet--Sean had one of his albums. Didn't really grab me but good music to fall asleep to.

Not familiar with this artist but enjoyed the album.

unreal. guitar, vocals, songs

Easy listening, folk-y serene with great string, piano, and percussion parts. Vocals are soothing, if a bit monotone. Overall, a beautiful album from an artist I had no idea existed until today. Memorable songs: Time Has Told Me, Three Hours, Cello Song, The Thoughts of Mary Jane, Saturday Sun

Too folk for me.

Buenas composiciones y arreglos maravillosos, eso sí unos ambientes y unas letras muy depresivas

Boring

The most boring album I have ever heard for a while. Which is a shame considering how much I enjoyed his other albums despite disliking folk.

Good melody and background instruments. Chill mood.

liked the simplicity of the lyrics and cool guitar. not what I would usually go for but easy listening for drawing or the woods. i liked the man in the shed song best it made me laugh

OK, the guy has the voice for this kind of music, but this kind of music is not something I enjoy. I know my son really likes this guy ad I keep trying, but I just feel I'm hearing the same thing over and over. A little too slow and pretty boring for me, but I do get how some folks are a fan. Not this listener, but not hell on my ears. 2

4 There’s something so hauntingly beautiful about Nick Drake’s music. Maybe it’s because of his soft, tender voice and delicate playing style, maybe it’s because of his tragically young passing, either way, I can’t help but feel a somber vibe whenever I put on his work. The man radiates an aura of tortured brilliance, and it’s sad he didn’t receive recognition for it until years after it had already consumed him. However, as is often the case with musical icons, I think the briefness of his career has ultimately added a lot to his legacy and seemingly created a romanticized sense of mystery about him - I mean, supposedly there isn’t any known video footage of the guy that exists in any capacity. Anyway, this is where all that started, when Drake was a fresh-faced college dropout, long before things got bad. And for a 20-year old, what an album to start out with - Drake's knack for profound and contemplative songwriting is immediately noticeable and comes across much more mature than his age would suggest (Lord knows I was still writing songs about ex-girlfriends at 20). Time Has Told Me, River Man, and Day is Done are all incredibly enchanting tunes that I believe really highlight the magic of his music, though truthfully, there’s nothing bad to be found here. My only criticism with the album (that I share with his second album as well), is that it feels overproduced (which is a weird thing to say about an album from 1969). Not to be a broken record with my Bryter Layter review, but as Pink Moon would later showcase, Drake was fully capable of carrying his music with just his guitar and voice alone, so I don’t know why the producers of this album insist on trying to drown the guy out with strings. It works on some tracks, but it’s way too much on songs like Way To Blue and Fruit Tree. Still, it’s really hard to ruin the music of someone with a mind like Nick Drake, so I still find this to be a largely enjoyable album - the guy really didn’t have a miss in his short career. If you liked this album, I strongly recommend checking out his songs Black Eyed Dog and Time of No Reply, two non-album cuts that I enjoy deeply. If you didn’t enjoy this album… idk listen to Weezer or something.

Decent mellow listen

My first

I could listen to Nick Drake sing and play for hours on end. His soothing croon, unique melodies, and purposeful string accompaniments on this record are simply stunning. Three Hours demands your attention and holds it steadfast with a haunting, melodic guitar and hand drumming. Standout tracks: Time Has Told Me, River Man, Three Hours, Saturday Sun

Definitely a more obscure choice for today’s album. Although classified as folk, there are tunes that are more jazz based or maybe even piano bar. I always enjoy the instrumentals in his works. I had not listened to him in a long time and enjoyed having him brought up in my selection.

Nice, folksy and calm.

Not as masterful as Bryter Layter or Pink Moon, Drake’s debut is nonetheless a very strong entry point into an all too brief career. There are a number of beautiful songs that outline Drake’s clever songwriting, fantastic guitar playing and orchestration, and his melancholy singing and lyrics. There are also some songs that border on being overly maudlin, like Way to Blue and Fruit Tree. This album does have one of my all time favorite songs, Man in a Shed, the playful interplay of the guitar, bass and piano is so perfectly executed. It is the prime example of when Drake can be at his best, when his songs are melancholy but hopeful. Something he executed more consistently on Bryter Layter.

This is the most folksy folk album in history (which is probably why it's on the list). Mr. Drake is a real talent and I can't help but appreciate him, even if this album did almost put me to sleep.

Nick Drake was one of the best singer songwriters ever. His songs are sad and beautiful. It’s entirely too late to appreciate his work as he was not when he was alive, but it's the least we can do.

As always, Nick is smooth calming and gorgeoous.

The first time I listened to, ‘River Man,’ I thought to myself, “there’s no was in hell Beck wasn’t influenced by this while making Sea change. Turns out beck was very much so influenced by Nick Drake. The rest of the album was very enjoyable. Every song felt like something I could’ve heard in like sons of anarchy, or something like that. Not a bad thing at all. Definitely something that can be listenened to on a nice long drive.

THIS IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT. When I do these album a day's I want albums with banger after banger after banger, this has that. No skips, amazing lyrics. 5/5

cheer up lad

Poo

I am glad to be introduced to this clearly talented guy - but don't know if I could have him on repeat. I did add a couple of his songs to the Mood :) Playlist - but they are ones from other albums of his that aren't quite so melancholic (Northern Sky and Road). He fits Bill's beloved "sad song genre" :)

Apparently kicked off melancholy folk but I didn’t really like it. I got one “aha! So this is why people like him!” Moment but it faded cuz I just got tired of listening to him too much. Maybe in lesser doses he’d be good

Really good, surprised I'd never heard of him. Giving it a 4 because even though I listened to it twice through I still had to remind myself what it sounded like 3 days later. Missing the X factor I suppose.

Opening was song was great but then it seemed to blend into sameness. Not bad, but more like one long song with different chapters. Lyrically poetic; I could feel his desperation with life. What I found most interesting was the musicians who say they were influenced by Nick Drake. It’s a long and significant list.

Although I wasn't close enough to really hear words, I did enjoy the variety of music played and the fact that he was easy enough to listen to that I made it through the whole album. Unusual, that.

His sound reminds me of Duncan Sheik and Donovan.

Mellow. Great guitar.

Easy vibes

I loved it! A deeper dive showed he died young many years ago. I will now look for more of his music, as well as listen to Five Leaves Left over and over again.

This is such a classic album. The guitar is beautiful and the lyrics are poetic.

Never heard of Nick Drake. This album sounded like a dark Donovan Leitch with guitar solos in a minor key. Haunting.

This all sounds very serious, and frankly a bit self-indulgent. Got a bit monotonous after a while too. There's only so much one bloke and a guitar can do (unless you're Hendrix). The lyrics didn't really grab me, and without that, there wasn't much here for me.

A wonderful, whimsical album. It's best to focus on the music, rather than the Nick Drake story. Don't read too much into the lyrics. You might not emerge on the other side. The trademark Joe Boyd production is outstanding. It adds an almost dub like sound to folk.

I discovered Nick Drake through this project, Pink Moon has become one of my favourite albums, this his debut is also really good and a beautiful/sad album, but not quite his masterpiece.

Really like voice and acoustic guitar. 4/5

This album was unexpected in the best way possible. Nick’s voice is haunting, and it feels like a poet is singing me to sleep (but in a good way; I just can’t get enough of it). 4.9/5 Fav: “Way to Blue” Least Fav: I have none.

This was so sad yet so calming. Really enjoyed it

💤💤💤💤

Good acoustic guitar songs and lyrics

Entspannte Musik. Gut für den Hintergrund. "Loungsmaßig"

Favorite tracks: Day Is Done, The Thoughts Of Mary Jane, Man In A Shed, Saturday Sun

Mjög góð og kósý

Not my thing

Easier on the ears than Bob Dylan.

Total mood album... pretty good stuff.

Nick Drake is such a brief moment in time. His talent was supreme, and his musical styling sublime. I think I personally rate Pink Moon higher, but what a debut. Gone way too soon, of course.

not enough listens

Das erste Mal, dass ich Nick Drake bewusst gehört habe. Ging total an mir vorbei. Schönes Album. Höre ich jetzt häufiger.

I like this album, steel guitar and soft lyrics .... nice 3 stars

its ok, biisit tosi erilaisia keskenään, tosi vanhan kuulosta ja osittain melankolista kamaa

Chill

This is the third Nick Drake album that I've gotten on this list, and like the others it's very good. He has a wonderful voice, and his songwriting is always striking for its beauty. There's so much subtlety in his voice. It's never overdone, but the emotions flood through anyway. The musical accompaniment fits him well too, and the production is excellent. The recording feels very intimate 4/5

Typical Drake melancholy. Folky.

Never heard of Nick Drake before and this album sounds very interesting, unique, like every track is something that I don't expect to happen, even structure of the songs are not what I am used to. And this cover. I feel like it's have nothing in common with the substance of a album and I kinda know that was on purpose. 4/5

I enjoyed this album. Typically these slow beat songs are not to my liking, but this one was a nice listen. Perfect for a rainy day.

Day is done is amazing. Rest of album ehh

Very, very nice, Klavier, viel gitarre, Songwriter Musik, gerne wieder.

Good stuff

1969 album by British solo artist. Amazing guitar picking and all acoustic instruments including upright bass. One song has an oboe.

too slow for me.

Will never stop loving this album. I've been trying to learn several songs on for about 15 years and still haven't completely mastered it, the man is one of my all time guitar heroes. I'd give this album 6 stars if I could

I love Pink Moon so much that it's hard to be fair to his other albums. This definitely doesn't stack up, but it's pleasant nonetheless.

A few decent tracks but not my favorite album by Drake

Another new artist for me. Fantastic album. Very soothing. Easy listen. Top-Down great Time has told me River man

I like this a lot. It's the type of folk music that I'm often looking for. Chill vibe, feels like I could be by the fire or out on the hiking trail. Really easy to listen to while working or chilling or reading. The instruments seemed interesting too.

Varsinkin cello song ihan törkeen kova. Mut muutenki kyl hyvä meno. Ei ihan niin kova ku se toinen mut.

Pretty but thought I'd like it more, didn't standout

Pretty moody, interesting melancholic tones.

Of all the folksy songwriters this journey has given me so far (Van Morrison, Bob Dylan) l, this is by far my favorite. Nick Drake's lyrics are engaging and the music it's paired with is excellent. Pretty somber at times and it's sad that he passed so young, could have used more of his music.

Not a big fan

Good tunes. Vocals a bit sad.

Some good stuff but most songs sounded the same.

December 4, 2023 Perfect for when you want to listen to Nick Drake

Wenig interessanter Folk Pop.

Amazing. intimate

Would I listen to this album again? No. First time hearing the full album? Yes. Were there any songs I skipped? No Comments? The instrumentals were nice, but overall very tame and boring album. Favourite Songs? 'Cello Song

Pretty chill music

delectable and scrumptious

Folky background music. Fine I guess, but can't see me listening again,

Lovely melodies, hard to believe it took decades for him to posthumously receive his due.

Lovely album.

Good songs but a bit too depressing to listen to the whole thing

Wow this was really terrific. As a follow on to Gillian Welch I was shocked to hear another excellent singer/songwriter that I felt like I should have been listening to for years on the list. Drake's soothing voice and poetry really shine through, but the guitar turns it into something truly profound - I will note the bass seems a little discordant and out of place at times, but I may feel differently on future listens.

Gikk meg hus forbi

A beautiful chorus of melancholy. Even the most upbeat song had a background drone of sadness.

Like a warm breeze or a blanket by the fire. Sad and soft but great singer songwriter album

Loved it

Testing

Its okay guess

Though I typically don't like this type of music, this soothed me more than the bossa nova. I've never heard of this guy but I absolutely loved it.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this album but I was pleasantly surprised. Would listen again.

Need to listen to more Drake

Reminds me of Jack Johnson meets Fiona Apple. Three hours track has such beautiful guitar, reminiscent of Jim Croce. Definitely melancholy.

Somber yet not depressing. Hard to do. Too bad this guy killed himself. Guess he was genuinely a sad dude and it wasn’t for show

More than that in my yard right now.

I like this. I have a soft spot for moody English singer songwriters, like Richard Thompson, and this is right up the same alley. I don't think I've ever sat down and listened to a Nick Drake album before.

Proper '60's folk music. Nothing special but it wasn't offensive.

I suppose this was pleasant enough…. Voice and guitar, occasional strings. But it is forgettable, not a single song stuck in my head. This would be decent background music, I suppose. Bland and blasé, but not enough that I couldn’t slog through. So that works out to a 3/5

Smooth vibe

Had never heard of Nick Drake prior to this. The album has some nice fingerpicking as well as utilizes some of the string section and cool percussion instrument which gives it a very different vibe from what you see in most music today. Wasn’t a super big fan of how breathy he sings though. He also structured a lot of the songs weirdly which made them feel really long even when there weren’t and not in a good way. Not sure this was a must listen. Does seem like some of the songs would fit really well in a Autumn indie movie though. 2/5

Really enjoyable stuff.

I really liked River Man, so poetic and beautiful. Guy has a really nice, easy-to-listen-to, calming kind of voice. Three Hours was nice as well. The whole album was really pleasant.

I really enjoyed this. His voice is really soft and comforting and the acoustics are intricate and well performed. The way his guitars play with the orchestral strings work wondrously, and evoke dramatic emotional responses. I found this album to be putting me in a good mood, it was easy listening, and honestly uplifting. Almost a 5.

Relaxing singer/songwriter type folk album. Nice string instrumentation but songs blend together a bit. Favorite track: Time Has Told Me, ' Cello Song

It's not his best work. Interesting to hear him use more instruments than his later projects but it's not where he shines best.

Quite lovely, but it didn't really reach me.

Está para mimir.

Schöne ruhige Gitarrenklänge, mit Gesang und anderen passenden Instrumenten.

A wonderful album that encapsulates the sixties sound. You can hear that British sound sliding through.

The first album along my 1001 journey that I felt a good connection with. I've spun a dozen Nick Drake songs in the past but never really explored his discography. Five Leaves comprises the type of reflective folk music perfect for an autumnal Sunday morning brunch-making session. I connected most with Man In A Shed, its chord progression spoke to me; lyrically you can appreciate Drake's yearning for an unrequited love. It led me to learn more about him and his short life... such a tragedy to lose a talent so young to depression.

Awesome. Really interesting. River Man, 'Cello Song were standouts.

Every once in a while, the 1001 site will surprise me with an artist who is unknown to me, but whose music is captivating. Nick Drake is one such artist. What an amazing guitarist and singer/songwriter he was.

Rating: 6/10 Decent folk album, enjoyed it overall. Really nice instrumentation and great guitar playing. Honestly Nick Drake sounds a bit monotone on this album, not much vocal melody which is why this album doesn't rate as high as it should. Drake's style of vocals worked a lot better on Pink Moon, this album is a bit boring. Favorite songs: Three Hours, Day is Done. Worst song: River Man.

Haven’t heard of this - described as Singer/Songwriter album from 1969. Not bad straight off the bat!

very folksy late 60s sound. nice sounding album. great acoustic guitar riffs.

I didn't listen that closely but it sounds chill and nice.

apenas mto bom

bem agradável de se ouvir

Bit cinematic but good

My least favourite of Drake's 3 but still very good - strings are a bit much in parts.

sad spotify bio damn

"Fk Drake"

Simple but effective. Some sadder British Jim Croce/James Taylor vibes. My one tiny criticism with this album is that there isn’t enough tight chorus/catchy parts, my monkey peanut brain needs a little more to remember and sing along to. But this is great imma listen to more of the better Drake here. He was 21 when he made this??? Damn

Liked it better than I thought I would I'm a sucker for guitar

Just what I need this morning. Saturday. A funeral later today. I will start my hour drive soon. Thank you for this.

Sad but good singer songwriter type album, liked it

It was very very chill music. I wasn’t expecting to like it that much, but there was enough variety that while the songs were similar they all had unique qualities and were very pleasant to listen to. Might have to listen to some more Nick drake now. 4/5

Mellow, Different and interesting.

Šis albums no viņa man patīk daudz labāk. ^___^

Previous one liked a lot better

Beautiful, dramatic at times, emotional. ❤️❤️❤️ Love, love, love. Way to Blue was added to my playlist of calm but dramatic music.