Five Leaves Left

Heavy jazz influence Strange vocals Meh/10

One of the greats. Everything he did was extra-ordinary

An incredible album, an utterly precious artefact of a songwriting genius. I personally don’t like to view these albums through the prism of hindsight. This record was ultimately lost amid a deluge of quasi-folk singer-songwriter fodder (most of it unremarkable). Far from a mere whimper from a tortured artist though, Fives Leaves Left is an accomplished reflection on the trifles of life (and much more). Nick Drake has taken on the role of a spectral figure of anguish and unfulfilled potential, but the majority of this album is very upbeat and whimsical - my personal favourite track is the beautiful love song “Thoughts of Mary Jane”. Whereas Drake would go off into jazzier, experimental territory on his follow-up album, Fives Leaves Left is sparse and deliberate in its instrumentation, and the flourishes of strings or bass are never ostentatious and always subordinate to Drake’s exhilarating finger style guitar playing. While it doesn’t push the boundaries on first listen, this record deservedly gets the sort of praise nowadays that it always merited but never saw during Drake’s lifetime.

Moody boy music. It's lovely though.

This is the second album of his that I've gotten. I was very close to giving his other album a 4/5. I really like his voice and he has some really interesting songs. Looking forward to listening to his albums again. Sadly know his career was ended short.

Boring

A fine debut with beautiful songwriting, his whispering voice glides over it all.

This was a lovely album.

Very interesting story about the singer Nick Drake. He started his career when he was 19, released "Five Leaves Left" at 21, ended his career after two more albums at 24 and died at 26 (either suicide or an accident with antidepressants). Unrecognised when alive, his music found appreciation only 20 years later in 90s, when it was described as pinnacle of English melancholy. It's a really fascinating read, and the atmosphere of the album definitely helps asking the "What if" questions. As for the music itself, I have to agree that Nick's voice is beautiful and the melodies in songs really melancholic and moody, but it definitely feels so monotonous. There is no varieties between songs, like Drake went all-in on his possible depression, and recorded one, continuous song lamenting or contemplating his surroundings and his mood. I'll be happy to try this album again, maybe in a more suitable circumstances. In the winter evening, under a blanket and a glass of wine. But for now, I don't rate this album highly.

Et av tidenes vakreste albumer

I thoroughly enjoyed this album, it is quite different from the type of music i usually listen to, but i liked the different vibe. This album has a unique acoustic sound which is sometimes paired with a melancholy piano. The only way I can describe Nick Drake’s voice is a mixture of Jeff Buckley and Van Morrison, with the lyrical skills of Jim Morrison. The mixture offers unique sounds and story telling, which I thought was sick

Five Leaves Left is the debut album by English folk musician Nick Drake. This melancholy folk album was almost ignored by critics at release, but has since been lauded as an excellent showcase of Nick Drake's interesting musical direction and beautifully monotone lyrics - perhaps his best album. I was not impressed by this album - although it did fit the mood of my grey Monday morning well - so I rate it as an average album. If soft, gentle, melodic music - or folk music - is your thing as a listener, then this is the album for you.

Tunnelmointilevynä oilein kiva, meni kyllä sen verran ohi kuunnellessa, että pelottaa, onko vähän tyhjä. Oletettavasti ei kuitenkaan.

Tulee mieleen lähibaarissa soittava "taiteilija", jonka keikasta yleisö tuntuu olevan ihan fiiliksissä, samalla kun itse saa kokea kaikki ylemmyydentuntoisen halveksunnan ja vihan tuomat nautinnot.

De timing van dit album zat perfect. Mooie, kalme muziek

I mean it’s Nick Drake so it’s good. But it’s sad Nick Drake. I like Pink Moon better.

Big Dick Nick

Very smooth album. I really enjoyed it.

This was extremely boring!

Fine, folky...

Nick Drake was sort of an enigma. Unfortunately we lost him much too soon. This record is such a strong debut. Everything down to the production is really good. It has a really moody sound, which is amplified by his untimely passing. I think Nick Drake really set the stage for more modern folk acts of the 2000s and 2010s

Amazing themes and diverse sounds, would love to hear this again!

Average

Uneventful acoustic 70's rock with a bluesy jazzy edge.

Right now, this is my least favourite of Drake's trilogy, but that's really not saying a lot. Songwriting, atmosphere and intimacy is still incredibly on point, and this is undeniably an impressive debut. My short attention span was a little challenged this time around, since Drake's compositions are so bare that they demand full focus.

I will never grow tired of Nick Drake’s haunting and beautiful vocals. Simply beyond comparison when it comes to singer/songwriters. In this matter his debut album is no exception. Somehow Five Leaves Left might still be my least favorite of Drake’s three albums. Some compositions overstay their welcome by just a bit and nothing seems as eerily close and personally important as on Pink Moon. Being my least favourite Nick Drake album is nevertheless far from bad. It’s like being my least favourite gourmet chocolate. At the end of the day the quality is still in a league of its own.

Very soft. Lots of guitar. Pleasant

Beautiful example of Nick Drake's style; a mix of sparse and lush kept intimate by the gentleness of his vocals. Some really lovely textures with the strings throughout. His delivery stays consistent and unrevealing throughout, being lent context by the arrangement and words more than any outward level of expression bouncing easily between bleak and welcoming. Favorite Tracks: River Man Three Hours Fruit Tree

Interesante e inovado

Made have some nostalgic melancholic longing feelings.some honestly good music I've never heard before.

Wonderful as always

4.25

4.5/5. Up until now, the only album that I've listened to by this artist was Pink Moon, which is excellent in its own right. I don't think there's anybody that does melancholy quite as well as Nick Drake.

Great arrangements/strings. Not huge variation in the vocals and songwriting though.

One of the most striking lyrics in “Five Leaves Left” comes towards the end, in “Fruit Tree”. “No one knows you but the rain and the air… open your eyes to another year; they’ll all know that you were here when you’re gone.” Aged 21, Nick Drake released this record of gentle, pastoral folk, stacking it full of meditative musings, mature lyrical themes, and promising guitar playing. Five years later, he’d be dead, presumably with no thought of one of his albums being remembered as one of 1001 for people to hear before they died. All three of them made the list: 100% of his recorded output in his lifetime, which surely isn’t true of many artists on here. It’s been very hard to look at Drake’s music in the same objective way as the others I’ve had on the list so far, as part of me feels the slim output he graced us with in his short life should be treasured unequivocally. However, now that I’ve heard all three of the albums released during his lifetime, I think I would comfortably put this one in somewhere on par with “Bryter Later”, and still a way behind the devastatingly beautiful “Pink Moon” (which I couldn’t stop myself drawing comparisons with). Drake’s guitar playing here isn’t quite as much in the foreground as it became in his later work, sometimes absent altogether. However, the orchestrations are used to much greater effect than they were in “Bryter Layter”. There are no unnecessary instrumentals or overdone arrangements- it all feels very well balanced. The strings in “Riverman” and “Day is Done” are a thing of beauty: elegant, dramatic, understated until they need to leap out. Elsewhere, the bongos in “‘Cello Song” add a somewhat hypnotic feel, and the woodwind in “The Thoughts of Mary Jane” perfectly compliments Drake’s vocals, which float along on a wisp of air- hushed, fragile, cracked. While it’s very well arranged and a great sounding record, with some eerily prescient lyrics, unfortunately for me it lacks some of the same high points from Drake’s other two records. There’s nothing quite as beautiful as “Northern Sky”, or “From the Morning”- nothing as raw as “Place to Be”. Instead, Nick Drake is in enigmatic mode throughout. “Five Leaves Left” is an immersive, all-encompassing set of hazy songs to get lost in. Full marks for atmosphere, but his best work will always be “Pink Moon” for me.

nick drake is such a fucking talent drake begets elliot smith begets bright eyes begets phoebe bridges. there is so much here that can inspire others to create great work if you couldn't tell by everything about me, i love nick drake and have listened to his tragically small catalogue all the way through several times over though i prefer pink moon, as do most people, five leaves left still holds drake's gut-wrenching lyricism, with more of a blues-y/early country sensibility than his other folk-centric work. there's less of his usual, iconic stripped-back sound, replaced instead by band and even occasionally an orchestra. it's cool, but it takes away a bit of what i love about his intimate, person-to-person style. doesn't matter. this album is a 5/5 as is the rest of his work. thanks, nick

<3

So layed back it sounded like he was singing in his sleep. It almost put me to sleep.

Great loved it. Me and Lois listened to it before bed.

Eh, I never really got into Nick Drake. Not for me, but I can acknowledge that it's done well, though.

Beautiful music for a cold fall morning

7/10

This is what I've been looking for, for a while, it's soothing, but kind of dramatic at the same time. Favorite tracks: Fruit Tree, Time Has Told Me and River Man, least favorite track: Way to Blue.

Better than Bryter Layter I think. Great music.

Quiet, a bit muffled vocally, pretty in a very low key and laid back style, but bordering on boring. I prefer the fuller jazzier sound of the 2nd LP, Bryter Layter.

Klinkt niet verkeerd, wel chille pop met verscillende instrumenten. Bij vlagen vrolijk, maar soms ook wat droevig. Wat te langzaam voor mijn smaak.

A little depressing but uplifting at the same time? This is a soft spoken album that's a bit of a mood. It's solid, doubt I'm seeking this out again but I get why people enjoy.

Good stuff

Nice calming songs

Folk acústico interessante.

Mellow. Chill

Harmless but uninspiring. His voice is unexceptional, and the acoustic guitar is well played but with little emotion - it all feels so very technically correct and emotionally empty.

Nope.

I love this album. Its a great juxtaposition of relaxing and haunting.

A classic. Nick Drake is one of the greatest in my book. It's a shame he didn't get recognized in his own lifetime

"Five Leaves Left" is the debut album from English folk musician Nick Drake. The album was recorded at Sound Techniques in London and when strings were used, Nick uniquely played his acoustic guitar live with them, no overdubbing. On some other songs, he had help from a few famous musicians such as Richard Thompson (guitar) from Fairport Convention and Danny Thompson (double bass) from Pentagle. His friend as a youth, Robert Kirby, did much of the string arrangements. Compared to his next album "Bryter Layter" which I had a month or so ago, this music is more sparse, melancholy but still quite beautiful; you can just about hear every note played with really an acoustic guitar or piano accompanied with either strings, electric guitar or drums/percussion. The lyrics use imagery, may be some double-meaning and appear mostly autobiographical. The title refers to the old Rizia cigarette papers pack which had a printed note inside which said "only five leaves left." Well, I did learn something today. Nick's acoustic guitar and melancholy voice starts "Time Has Told Me." Richard Thompson adds some exceptional electric guitar giving this song a country feel. Nick struggles with wanting and not wanting fame. Strings along with Drake's acoustic guitar are added to the eerie "River Man." Nice Baroque pop. Is it about death? Suicide? Is the river man the guide for river Styx? The third song "Three Hours" slightly changes the style again as a double bass (Danny Thompson) and congas are added to the acoustic guitar. Kind of an important-feeling song. Nick's friend Jeremy is searching for the meaning of life. Nick displays some great guitar finger-picking on the first song of the second side "'Cello." Great lyrics as he feels like he should have nothing to fear but then the night comes. "The Thoughts of Mary Jane" is more upbeat and happy. Nice strings and a flute. Simple, I think, about a girl he loves. Paul Harris adds some great piano giving "Man in a Shed" a jazzy and poppier atmosphere. Another love song about being in love with a girl too good for you. The last two songs "Fruit Tree" and "Saturday Sun" are both beautiful songs with great lyrics but also being quite in the melancholy vein. As previously mentioned a few months ago, all three of Nick Drake's albums are worth listening to. I guess this one would a good place to start.

nick Drake is cool. Feels like I’m listening to philosophy.

First song was so good I was immediately thinking this will be another hidden gem. Bud sadly that just didn't happen. It felt rather stale after a while and the vocals seemed disconnected from the instrumentals.

Bit slow moving and monotonous.

Incredibly beautiful. Best folk album I've ever heard. The song Three Hours might've even lasted that amount of time, what a great piece.

Listened to Pink Moon a bit ago and rly enjoyed it, Five Leaves Left was pretty good too, a lot more instrumentally speaking, songwriting still on point

Super soothing voice, songwriting is good

There's not enough coffee in the world to keep me awake through this unhappy, meandering, arpeggiated bullshit.

Probably his best. Riverman, Way to Blue, Cello Song, Fruit Tree - an embarrassment of riches! I wish he'd lived.

Folk lentorro. Rollo. Un 2.

Un poco rollo. 3

Another classic Nick Drake album generated by the list.

This album is beautiful, a really excellent debut album, about as fully formed as it gets. The production is ethereal and atmospheric and gorgeous. Love this record.

A record that has meant a lot down the years and the standout tracks (especially “Saturday Sun”) still do. That it’s seminal chamber pop (in vibe and effect) could be viewed as a plus or minus, depending on one’s tastes. But one is struck by the contrast between the modesty of the record and the power of the man’s myth. One’s glad it resurfaced and all ND’s records became better known, but context is necessary as the classic cycle of aggressive “discovery” of the obscure leading the underrated to become canonical, common, borderline mythical and, ultimately, overrated. Yes, the songs are gorgeous and sad, lilting and lovely, but also tend to the lethargic and yawny. One understands, in other words, why they didn’t light up the charts. Certainly original and understated – qualities one wants more of in music, generally – and extremely well suited (in the day-parting sense) to certain moods and hours and conditions. But one feels less moved by them than one once did, and maybe a bit bored besides. Once discovered, some undiscovered geniuses can suddenly seem so yesterday, no? 3.6

Calm and soothing, 3

Pleasant folky listening. Nick sings it well and plays great.

It's ok

Oh Nick. The 2nd of your albums to appear in a couple of weeks ago I won't repeat myself, except I can but wish this poor tortured guy could read what's being said about him know. This is why I'm here. To hear the Nick Drake's of the world, to hear their music for the first time, and most importantly, to know their stories.

A pleasant listen, though it may not be for me personally.

The songwriting is great, but the delivery is not my style. His voice is too monotone and depressed. Bob Dylan couldn’t sing to save his life but at least he sang vividly. The orchestra arrangements on this album were out-of-place too. I usually like singer-songwriter stuff, but my first Nick Drake album didn’t do it for me.

This is a classic for me. I love this record.

Stunning

You’re a poser if you like boomer music and don’t listen to this

No Bz. No playlist add. I get it, just no gel with me.

Doux

I cannot remember any song. It’s a bank holiday weekend and the MW2 beta came out, so cut me some slack.

This album was not for me. As I listened to it no as I type, I feel like I’m going to drop into a coma. It’s just one full song. I can honestly feel my eyes getting heavy, I think I am going to ksksskxjxnjxnxnxnzjzmzmkxkxkxjxnxjxjj n n n nxbxjskakzkzkkxkzkxhcnxjxnxnzjzjjzjxjx

Um, yeah. This is definitely a record.

Destacó la voz de nick, instrumentalmente todo suena algo depre y triste, no es mi estilo pero tiene unos ritmos interesantes Las letras están bastante buenas pero si tuviera que categorizarlo sería música para ruptura amorosa o música de ascensor jaja Cancion recomendada "cello song"

1969 - clearly the year of many great things

I enjoyed the acoustic guitar parts

Si treiem de l'equació el seu carisma i l'aura que encercla la seva existència tràgica, el disc de debut de Drake és poc més que un voluntariós exercici de folk rock, interessant pero sense una rellevància anormal

Good good

The voice is dumbfounding. A hideously mannered sootsayer with nothing to say. The tunes are worse. The musical equivalent of a kitten playing with ball of wool.

Meh on this one

Nick drake has to be one of the more underrated guitarists out there

Great guitar work, bluesy and jazzy basslines on upright bass, great voice and lyrics. Nick Drake is a great singer songwriter

I do like Nick Drake, such a lovely voice. I don't think his songs are at all dated, considering the time and way they were recorded, they actually improve with age. Saying that my favourite album of his is Pink Moon.

It was good. Soft. Real soft

Nick Drake es probablemente de las cosas más centrales de mi adolescencia. Hermoso siempre. Hermoso ahora.

je kiffe toujours sa voix, mais bon c'est du coco fleurette

Pretty chill album

Slow and steady. Clear sound. Good vocal.

Meh. Good songwriter but not my cup of tea. Sorry Pitchfork folk. Best song: River Man

It has some ok songs but generally a bit too melancholic and a bit lack of.. everything. Some pretty songs. By far not as good as Bryter Later, doesn't even come close.

The more I listen to it, the more I like it. I think I keep being biased by the first song (which I don't like) to dislike the album, so I think I'll skip that one in the future. I still prefer Bryter Layter, though.

This was a great album. I liked his voice and the gentleness of it all. Elliott Smith vibes.

Bit Samey same, but this pretty smooth and nice

Beautiful sounds. Great voice, and nice songs. Maybe a little monotonous in the sense that many songs seem to have similar cadence and lyric melody. But a remarkable first album from a young singer-songwriter.

Not good

Really beautiful, will be listening to some more of his music.

Calm, melodic

Awful

Never heard of him before this besides hearing Pink Moon on his 1972 album. I dig the folky-ness of his sound.

It took three decades for the audience to catch up on what Nick Drake was doing on his debut. And what he was doing was simply penning one of the most beautiful folk albums that ever came out of the UK (along with his own *Pink Moon* not so long later). Stellar guitar playing, stellar singing, stellar arrangements... And stellar songwriting all around: "Time Has Told Me", "Day Is Done", "'Cello Song", "Saturday Sun"... So many of those melancholic tunes are just classics now, along with all those that can be found on *Pink Moon* and a good half of *Bryter Layter*. In retrospect, it's just mindboggling that Drake was ignored at the time. But his light shines even more now that he has been rediscovered. At least, we can all be grateful for that. A few words of praise about Joe Boyd's gracious and timeless production also need to be added here, because the latter adds a lot to the songs' sense of sincerity and authenticity. No unnecessary frills here, just a few nice touches drawing from classical or jazz fields so as to enhance the songs' inner power in ways that can resonate directly into your soul. Take Robert Kirby's many illuminating arrangements for strings, for instance: their Haendel-like nobility on *Way To Blue* does not merely sound baroque, it also conveys how fleeting and vulnerable happiness is, in keeping with the theme of the song. And let's not forget Harry Robinson's own strings arrangements on "River Man". Combined with the 5/4 rhythm of the song, their ambiguous minor mode / major mode switches are the perfect bed over which Drake's mysterious river of questions can flow out of his sensitive heart. As for the lyrics, it's hard to convey how enigmatic and yet totally wonderful they sound over the music... "Fruit Tree" gives you the feeling Nick Drake was somehow aware of his fate to come--that he would be more famous dead than alive, even though it's not something he really seemed to care about anyway. What he cared about was the "Saturday Sun", happiness in the present moment, and once again, he knew more than anyone else how fleeting such happiness was, hence the melancholy of those songs. This too, brings a lot of beauty to his life's work. And the fact that it was such a short life makes this very album all the more precious today. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 822 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 96 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 45 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 39

It was ok, didn't hate it but nothing grabbed me.

I liked this but it was sad.

Excellent.

Meh 2

Pretty good. Very laid back, nice instrumentation, interesting chord changes. Something I would put on for mixed company, but probably not listen to a lot on my own.

Very nice and pleasant. I quite enjoyed it. Pretty and listenable. Sorta reminds me of something like Nico. 3.75/5

Was a little bored in the first track but then River Man came and swept me off my feet. What a beautiful and atmospheric cut. Remained pretty consistent after that. Enjoyed!

It’s funny, I was listening to Pink Moon right as I was putting in yesterday’s score. Nick Drake was a hell of a songwriter, though, and I like the country tinges he added to his folk sound. It’s a strong combination, even if this ultimately sounds like a demo reel for Pink Moon. B+

ughhhhh i did not enjoy a single second of this album, i understand that there are different music styles but this is so slow and quiet and sad and boring i’m sorry.

One of the rare artists who I am at least partially drawn to by their vocals; his deep haunting melodic and never strained voice is integral to the music which for me is all of the above and more - uniquely-played acoustic guitar using alternate tunings and the occasional odd time signature. Nick Drake is/was the rare acoustic artist that for me was fully captivating. In a marked change from my usual preferences, my favourites are the songs with a minimal mix as well - the songs work best when there's just vocals and guitar although I do enjoy when seemingly from nowhere another instrument or two (e.g. "Three Hours") emerges from the depths. Compelling. 8/10 4 stars.

Real chill, I would play this on a lazy Sunday or something

Best Song: ' Cello Song. The bongos (?) added a nice element to the soft, almost sultry aspect to his voice. Worst Song: Way to Blue. Seems like the introduction to a theatre production, rather than the fourth song into an album. Overall: It was raining while I listened to this album, which I think significantly helped its appreciation. A mildly melancholic feel with a talented but muted vocal performance. The album feels candlelit. Good for quiet dinners and being sort of sad.

😴😴😴

2.5 is probably a little too critical but this just really didn't connect with me. American Folk > English Folk every time.

Nice enough, not my type of music though and got bored quickly.

Lilting melancholic guitar based folk. Inoffensive

Disco como trova en inglés. Algunas suenan jazzeadas, la música está bien. Las letras no me atraparon y en general se me hizo muy equis. 2.5 estrellas que bajan a 2 porque mañana no me voy a acordar de él.

Creí que iba a ser aburrido y me sentiría como un disco de Simon y Garfunkel o de Rodriguez, pero incompleto. Y no. O sea, si es un singer-songwriter y eso lo pone en la misma categoría, pero creo que tiene una voz muy propia que le da su lugar único. Además de la voz, me parece que la producción es muy buena: no es nada más su guitarra acústica (que es muy agradable) sino los detallitos en piano, eléctrica, órgano, cuerdas… de pronto es un solista que está cantando sobre una pista muy completa y bien hecha. Las letras tristes y melancólicas cuadran con el estilo y con su vida y creo que si le diera más vueltas al disco, podría incluso ganarse un lugar en mi biblioteca.

This production is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. His voice is so ethereal. Everything just stands out so much. 5 stars. What a beautiful and moving album. Hard to believe this is from 1969 with how clean and clear the production is.

Had this for a while, love the killer track - not really listened to the rest of it. Good without being great

Yes. A resounding absolute yes. A tragic ending to a man’s life who made such beautiful music.

The first return of the Nick Drake. It’s literally the same album as the last this guys ass

4/10

Listened to on 8/1/22 4/5 Favorite song: Saturday Sun, Time has told me This is perfect working background music and very calming

Beautiful music but too sad for my personal taste

It's not a challenging listen by any stretch, I enjoyed it.

Nice. Like a big hug.

Nummer 400. Nick Drake. Gefällt mir besser als Bryter Later.

Beautiful voice, soft rock when it's best

Folk. Suave, nostálgico.

This is a beautiful album; river man is probably my favourite track. I still slightly prefer the stripped back instrumentation of pink moon

Pretty refreshing

Decent

Pretty damn good, I think I’m turning into a bit of a Nick Drake fan.

Second Nick Drake album this week (Pink Moon), which is refreshing with the amount of rap that has come up. This Drake's music is the opposite of rap, thought provoking and a calm, chill listen. Nick Drake's debut, Five Leaves Left is even a more enjoyable listen than Pink Moon, less depressing and a much more optimist emotion to it. Well performed and well written, glad to see Drake finally receive much deserved attention and critical acclaim for his music , well after his death. I said Pink Moon was essential, start here first and you'll be rewarded by a great record.

very relaxing, amazing instrumentals. Need to give more attention to eventually

Nä bu. Tråkigt.

Very chill vibes. Nice acoustic vocals. Reminds me of Jeff Buckley but more striped down and a bit more somber

Solid singer-songwriter album with enough melodic and arrangement twists to keep you listening. Never going to be the biggest fan of his 'hushed me' vocals though.

good

thought i'd enjoy it more, but certainly great music that i've never heard before

Nope

Very nice folk album. It hash uncommon harmonies on some of the songs compared to what I was expecting, like Simon and Garfunkel.

Meini aika taustamusan puolelle. Ei jäänyt oikeen negatiivista tai positiivista sanottavaa. Vois koittaa myöhemmin joskus uudestaa

Nick Drake vaatii mulla sellaisen raukean sunnuntai-fiiliksen, muuten jää vähän tylsäksi. Kivoja lyriikoita ja tunnelmaa anyway.

Varsin nautinnollista folkkia. 3.5/5, voi noustakin.

New to me but on a par with his other brilliant work.

Really pretty and really really melancholy. Does not sound like 1969 to me. I *loved* Pink Moon which was given to me many albums ago; this one doesn't speak to me quite as much. Still compelling, just not quite perfection. Favorite: 'Cello Song

Beautiful. And it's not even the best Nick Drake album.

i found nick drake about the same time i found elliott smith and i love them both and this is such a beautiful album matched perfectly with nick drakes angelic voice. it's a pity he left us at such a young age but left us with some of the best folk albums of all time and this is definitely up there.

Couldn’t get tired of it

This was a great album. Had no idea who this was and ended up really digging this record.

Альбом Pink Moon этого же исполнителя произвел сильное впечатление. Этот альбом по эмоциям все же уступил ему. Звучание интересное и местами есть цепляющие композиции. 6 из 10.

A mellow and pleasant album. Nick's voice is textured and the songs are soft and well crafted. His biography adds to the intrigue. I enjoyed listening to it, but doubt I would ever re-listen to it unprompted.

The youngest performer still alive from this (at least that I could find anything about) is Richard Thompson at 73; Drake himself would turn 74 this year if he’d lived that long. There is a timelessness about his music though. It was never actually folk, and presaged genres like shoegaze by decades. It seems he spent his brief career on the precipice, head barely above the rough seas of drug abuse and mental illness, and this tension both informs and impairs his music I think. It is a sad tale.

Trying not to cliche all over the place, but it always makes me feel sad listening to Nick Drake. Very evocative of a specific time and place.

Did not stand out to me.

Nick Drake’s music is expressive, beautiful, and ponderous with a tinge of melancholy. His debut album confirms that his unique style and songwriting ability was already well developed by the time he committed theses songs to tape. This album contains some of my favorite Nick Drake songs and I enjoyed every second of it. I discovered Nick Drake about a decade ago and believe he was one of the greatest if not the greatest English folk talents.

Man… this one hit me hard today. I never heard Nick Drake before and didn't know what to expect. I was gripped from the first song through. I'll have to explore more of his catalog. 4/5.

Blimey.

Just made me want to listen to Pink Moon. Not as good, but the instrumentation was solid.

In this household, we stan Nick Drake

yeah i listen to drake

lovely but prob my least fave of his

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.

With a calm and meditative tone Nick reveals himself to be a lyrical and elegiac poet, dedicated to the search for wisdom through. (7/10) FT: River Man, Saturday Sun

meh, the other one was better 2.5

Beautifully chill. Seems like I've heard this before, but can't place it. Almost dreamlike.

Mellow, I enjoyed it. : ]

I need more Nick Drake in my life. Lovely guitar and vocals. Solid album.

Loved this.

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.

Sedate

good vibe didnt catch me though, can see the influences

Wow. How did I leave it so late to listen to this?

I didn't like this as much as I thought I would, unfortunately. It was kind of boring.

Big 'Syd Matters' vibes and I am so here for it

4/5

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.

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

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

Melancholy but good. Not as good as Pink Moon.

Bet it's gotten someone "through some stuff" at one point.

classique

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.

Intricate guitar work and soft signing - proto- Jack Johnson

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.

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.

Good. I don't know if it's as good as Pink Moon.

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?)

inte lika bra som det andra av hans album, men solid

Zzzzzzz....... *

Folk lentorro. Rollo. Un 2.

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

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.

Lovely fingerpicking, pretty voice, swaggy cello

Not bad, was pleasant sounding but I wasn’t drawn in

Good but don't remember much

Really great B side. The jazz elements and cello work together really well with his folksy style

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.

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.

Essentially background, but so lovely and heartfelt

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.

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.

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.

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

A very pleasant listen.

It was very mellow and reminded me a lot of Simon & Garfunkel

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.

Nice but boring

pretty

Mjög ánægjuleg hlustun, ekki sama gegnumgangandi snilldin og Pink Moon, en þarna eru lög sem eru alveg frábær.

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.

Great, timeless album. Harrowing and soothing voice paired with great guitar playing. Quite liked this !

Very pleasant songs

Phenomenal guitar playing, soothing songs

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.

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.

Quite pleasant

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.

Pretty chill but less interesting than the Nick Drake I'd heard before. Quite straightforward folk-pop.

Fantastic debut. Still holds up.

:/

I can see the talent on display, but blimey it's boring.

Juste parfait.

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.

Yes.

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.

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.

Classic.

so 60s...

Just not my kind of thing.

A pleasant listen

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.

Fine

Beautiful

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Time Has Told Me, Day Is Done, ' Cello Song, Man In A Shed, Saturday Sun Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Don't typically care for these more introspective singer songwriter albums but this was soft and lovely. Didn't really feel the melancholy that people associate so much with him on this album but maybe that's a retrospective thing that I'll understand after hearing more of his stuff. On to Pink Moon.

This was a really nice pleasant album. Really sounds like it could have come out recently.

Time has told me That you’re a rare, rare find A troubled cure For a troubled mind

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 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

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.

Nul

Very tea-and-toast British, but still endearingly grim.

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.

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 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.

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.

Very soothing and pleasant

A little boring but in a nice, background music sort of way. Melodic, warm, soothing.

Do not skip this one. Such a great album. Folky and moody, a great album for a rainy day. Favorite song: Saturday Sun

never hung too much, but yknow

I'm undecided on this one. The melodies are nice, but the nonsense lyrics somewhat ruin the songs.

ok

It was ok, not my type of music. The way he sang was not my style. Short album, got bored halfway through

Found it kind of bland.

Superlike

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.

i liked it! first time ever listening to nick drake :)

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.

boring af

Ok

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.

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!

Fairly enjoyable, nice background music, calming and whatnot.

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.

Gorgeous instrumentation and lyrics. Pretty harmonically complex. Very emotive.

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.

This Album is why I am listening to these 1001 albums. How have I never heard this astounding beauty before?

not a fan

Songwriting masterpiece.

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'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

more like a 3.5, very pretty but not my favorite!

Better than I feared?

Too soft maybe, Cat Stevens like

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Great. His voice reminds me of Alexi Murdoch

Lovely chamber pop

Good relaxing background music.

more like five i leave and left the album alone

This is sooo easy to listen to. I love it for working, for needing a cozy listen, or a soft background sound.

schnulzig aber eigentlich ganz schön, produktion überraschend fresh

This was a bit of a snooze - I just don't really care for folk music like this. 4/10.

Really liked this. Nick drake is good. I would pick this up if I saw it at my record store.

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.