Five Leaves Left

Very pleasant songs

Fantastic debut. Still holds up.

Juste parfait.

Yes.

Super impressed

loved this

I thoroughly enjoyed it. The entire album is a mood.

I listened this in morning. Like it more that way :) Calm album and you can just stare your ceiling and be yesyes. Best album so far in this challenge

The only Nick Drake song I've ever heard is "Pink Moon," which is an amazing song. I wasn't expecting anything as strong here, but - I was wrong. This is a beautiful record, full of yearning, and restraint, and tender, quiet moments. I'm so glad I listened this, and so glad other folks on this journey will as well. Excellent. FOUR STARS

Today I learned that the album title 'Five Leaves Left' is a reference to Rizla rolling papers. I had ways assumed it was a poetic image (the last five leaves on a tree as winter approaches, or the final sheets of paper on a poet's desk after a creative surge), not an allusion to weed. But it makes sense now that I know. Pink Moon is my favourite Nick Drake album, as I prefer his singing and playing unadorned, although the arrangements here are subtle and provide sophisticated structure to his gentle and spacious songs without crowding his guitar and vocals. Compare this with Bryter Layter, where the arrangements are unsympathetic and occasionally jarring. 'River Man' is possibly Nick Drake's best song (certainly one of his best known), but this album also has 'Man In A Shed', which is just embarrassingly clumsy. It feels like it was written by 12-year old with a rhyming dictionary. 4 stars

I'm one of those people who learned about Nick Drake when Pink Moon was played on a commercial in the mid aughts. I'm guessing that album is on here too. This album is really great and it's interesting to hear the more diverse instrumentation but I think I just prefer the more solo guitar/piano songs. I wouldn't be opposed to Nick Drake having multiple entries on the 1001 list.

An interesting folksy romp from an artist I’ve literally never heard of. This is one of those situations where you listen to an album and recognize it’ll probably live on in your music taste for years to come. The songs were very well written and only further asks why I hadn’t heard about Nick Drake before. Turns out, he died relatively young. It’s always interesting to see art live on past the artist and the way people engage with it change.

Life in a Northern Town.by the Dream Academy is one of my favorite songs, so I definitely have heard of Nick drake before this. A very haunting, chamber atmosphere with these songs. This could grow on me further.

Quite sad, kinda slow, liked it in a way. I can picture myself listening to this on a train, or like the album cover, in a small British cottage and my wife just died

Subtle, magical... not masterpiece like "Pink Moon", but very, very good

The instrumentation on this album is masterful. Nick Drake's voice is instantly recognizable and softly enjoyable. A perfect demonstration of how less is more.

I thought I was going to hate this but this was way better than I expected. This is what Bob Dylan is supposed to be. The songwriting is not incredibly complicated but it's complex enough to be interesting; whether Nick knew it or not he was touching esoteric bits of music theory with his songwriting and he actually knew how to perform it, on tape anyway. You can hear the influence of classical music in nearly every song, with subtle hints to the Baroque masters like Handel and Vivaldi evident in the suspended chords and key changes. His voice isn't annoying like so many other singer/songwriters and you can feel the emotion when he sings. The incorporation of strings in to so many of his songs feels right and unforced. I liked this way more than I should have. I'll have to give his other records a listen.

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.

Listen before you know the history of this artist.

This reminded me of a minstrel walking through the woods. Also thought the strings were kind of a bridge to the 1950s

I've become familiar with Nick Drake's other albums over the years and enjoy listening to them on occasion (mostly Pink Moon). I hadn't gotten around to this one and was excited to give it a listen. I wasn't really vibing with this until Three Hours came on. The instrumentation is really amazing. I definitely need to spend more time with this.

cried multiple times while listening to this, learning more about nick drake through later searches just made it even more emotionally potent. i normally don't listen to folk music, but this album is undeniably special. this definitely isnt something you could listen to every day or have in regular rotation, but god is it good. i cant wait to listen to the rest of his discography. rest in peace nick drake.

This album surprised me. From the start, his voice was so soothing. I almost fell asleep. And the instrumental parts were so beautiful, too. Way To Blue's strings were just AH! He does a lot of chord progressions that remind me of like baroque music where it switches between the relative majors and minors. Overall, I love this album. I think I'll listen to a few of the songs again but it would have to be on a slow and rainy day.

"Exactly the same as my thoughts on Bryter Layter. Just kind of gives up at some point. Preferred this less". These were my initial thoughts. I gave the album a second listen, and I had a much more enjoyable time. Intricate melodies, warm sound, and slow. Three Hours (can't go wrong with an extended instrumental break) and Saturday Sun were particularly memorable. A nice album.

I generally gravitate towards more upbeat or faster paced music, but I do appreciate good folk music. This is relaxing, dark, moody but beautiful, and flows nicely. One of my favorite tracks from this album is ‘Cello Song! Worthy of this list for sure!

Truly a hidden gem. Had never heard of Nick Drake, but I really enjoyed this album. Saturday Sun sounds like an early version of a smooth jazz song you'd hear today - def a bit ahead of his time. Much more like an 80's/90's singer/songwriter than one from the late 60's/early 70's. A really nice listening experience.

Really pretty and soothing.

Loved the strings. Surprised I’ve never heard of this guy and very sad to learn he died young. Production value was high.

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

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

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

Wow, what are the odds of another Nick Drake album on a list that's 1001 albums long? A quick calculation shows 0.0001%. I'm glad we got this album because it gives us more context for Nick Drake. It's suprising that this was released before pink moon, because what I've seen common among other artists is an early album that is personal, rough around the edges, musically simple and raw, but they later dive into more musically complex ideas as they get more resources and confidence. It seems like Nick Drake did the opposite. It just goes to show how brave he was to go from something more musically complex like this album to something so simple. I know I should just be judging this album by itself, but for me it really just highlighted why I love Pink Moon so much. This album was much more musically dense than his later works, and it's really impressive, but lacked the emotional vulnerability that makes his other work so special. Although some of the melodies were lacking on this album, there were some real gems here that I loved. Nick Drake's singing style works very well with the somber and folky songs on this project. The instrumentation is executed fantastically and overall, I loved almost every song (but there were some tracks that lacked impact). This was a solid project that was enjoyable to listen to, but it didn't blow me away as much as I know Nick Drake is capable of. Favorite Track: River Man

Nick Drake is amazing, and this album is the perfect tool to level you during a stressful day.

I feel like an ahole for saying this, but this guy's music is seriously depressing

I had wondered with "Bryter Layter" if the other two Nick Drake albums would have a similar vibe and sound as that album, and that certainly seems to be the case with "Five Leaves Left" (and I'm guessing will be true of "Pink Moon"). With his melancholy whisper-song voice and (very accomplished) backing acoustic band, I'm still not entirely sure I understand why he became such a cult figure long after his death, but he clearly resonated with a lot of people. I found this album as hard as "Bryter Layter" to really foreground the songs, so I can't say I really followed the lyrics all that well, but I enjoyed the sort of sad and possibly profound folk-ness of much of the album, especially "Three hours" and "Day is done" (although the latter felt like some acoustic cover of a Blue Oyster Cult song somehow); the only track that kind of seemed off was "Way to blue", maybe just because of the overly dramatic strings. Another fine and pleasant addition by Nick Drake, although I kept wishing he'd included a few duets with Richard Thompson just to spice things up a bit.

Quiet--good music to fall asleep to.

I like his follow up, bit a sad loss of musical artistry 0- to take one's life so young.. Miss you Nick!

Nice album, which gets better as you go through it. The songs can get a little samey, but some fun lyrics in there accompanied by some nice fingerstyle guitar. Not bad, but I didn’t find it particularly standout.

There's an alternate timeline where Spencer is dying in a Myrtle Beach condo closet after smoking K2, and rather than John Mayer saving him, it's Nick Drake. I want to play this album as my toddlers bedtime lullaby's. I honestly couldn't tell you any of the lyrics, but the music and his voice are so soft and sweet, I could listen to it all day long.

There are a few undoubtedly great songs on this, but also a number that fell flat for me, incomparison to Pink Moon.

Eh. Not too bad but a little samey.

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.

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

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.

Bit slow moving and monotonous.

This album moves at the speed of a falling leaf. Yawn.

Nick Drake’s guitar tone is so pleasant and warm that it is no surprise that everything else dissolves in it: his undistinguished, aggressively neutral voice; the twee orchestral arrangements; the elastic double-bass. Even the songs themselves suffer from that dissolution, the rhythms blurring into indistinct compound times and the melodies meandering in Brownian motion. It is only after years of hearing River Man on TV and radio that I have some grasp of the tune, but, as for the others, where are they going, why are they doing that? Some of the woodwind work is so rigid and obvious that one assumes it has been added from a template to give the smoke some more conventional shape. If this reads as criticism, it’s not intended as such, but more a bafflement at what is going on in potentially lovely songs such as ‘Cello Song and Fruit Tree. Perhaps potential is the point of the troubled Nick Drake. 2 It doesn’t half help to be dead, especially when you are always dropping intimations of your own mortality in your perfectly pleasant songs. I have burned manys an hour listening for the profundity that many people seem to encounter in Nick Drake’s recordings. Is it possible that it’s not there? By virtue of being ignored in his own lifetime Nick is all the more suitable to make us feel like we are being told a secret when he sings. His odd accent and sometimes archaic turns of phrase place him out of time and place, excepting we can say he’s an Englishman who has enjoyed the privilege of a gentle upbringing and a good education. Could be Nick Drake, could be Sir Francis Drake. But the key element is that he died before the world knew too much about him; before he had a chance to pluck out the heart of his own mystery by saying or doing things in the public eye. There are simply his recordings, a handful of unenlightening anecdotes, a few photos showing hair worthy of one of the Romantic Poets and the fact of his death. How seductively blank is Nick Drake. And just as importantly, even robed in the finery of dying young, Drake is still relatively unknown. The 27 Club? That’s for the riff raff. The 26 Club is where the truly high minds eat their dinner and smoke their cigars. It is no wonder to me that Drake is so treasured - what treasure is so precious as one whose gleam reflects the owners own brilliance in recognising it as treasure? Well I have tried again with Five Leaves Left; this singular collaboration between Nick Drake, Death, and the Guy who wrote the string part of River Man. It has done no good. I hear the same thing I have always heard: nice, if slightly staid, folk songs. 2/5

nothing special. going to be honest, i really do like the acoustic guitar on this album. but, i can't really do much more with it. just sounds like someone mumbling their way through. not the worst thing i have heard through here... but wouldnt have it on in rotation again

Pleasant listening, but no song stands out - for any reason. Altogether not at all exciting. Probably background music.

If I were a heartless monster I might say, “No wonder Nick Drake chose to take his own life. It was the only way he could escape his music.” That is terrible so I take it back, of course, but I admit it made me giggle.

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

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.

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

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

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.

😴😴😴

i know it's considered a classic. he was an undergrad in college at the time. but damn, to the beginner ear this sounds like the same layered mush song after song. and i don't think i've ever noticed someone just drag the last syllable of every line on for 3 seconds over and over again.... arrrrrghhhhh!!!! you're killing me nick.

This album commits the cardinal sin of being plain boring - while some of the compositions shine, the overall woodland meadow vibe can hardly save the LP given how little vocal range Drake uses.

Beautiful.

im so glad this album came up. nick drake's one of my all time favorite artists and this is one of my favorite albums ever, just takes me somewhere else. i read somewhere that he said something along the lines of 'even if only one person liked his music he'd still be going at it', it always makes me emotional thinking about it. if he only knew how much people love and appreciate his music now. rest in peace legend.

So subtle and powerful

10/10

Just love Nick Drake... His voice is so soft and relaxing. Such a great album. It's hard to pick favorite tracks because I like them all.. Favorite track(s) River Man Day Is Done ' Cello Song Man In A Shed Saturday Sun

One of my favorite artists, of any genre, generation, all-time. I prefer Pink Moon, but this album is much better than Bryter Later. Thanks for the chance to listen to Nick again. Classic! 5 "in my personal universe of fave musician" stars.

Beautiful guitar playing, beautiful songwriting and beautiful arrangements. I can't wait to play some of these songs on guitar. 5/5

Did i like this more than Pink Moon? …yeah

YOOOOOOO NICK

Such a beautiful album. For a guy I know to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time, it’s shocking how many instruments are used here, and how BEAUTIFUL they all sound. Also, river man is one of the greatest songs of all time. Stone cold classic

Nick Drake? Er vel heller Nick GOAT.

Jeg burde skjønt lenge før at jeg kom til å være så fan av Nick Drake

Took me on a journey, a peaceful and solitary journey, really good.

Perfect album of the day for a rainy day, we curled up on the couch and listened to it on repeat

Absolutely stunning album. I have never heard of Nick Drake before this and I did a little research on him and it’s sad that he lived such a short life. Glad that I was able to listen to this and will definitely check his other albums out.

Det er bare skønt, flot og afslappende. Dejligt fingerspil på den akustiske guitar, fine strygere. Alt godt.

*93 Fantastisk rørende og smuk musik. Et ubeskriveligt tekst og følelsesunivers, som er blevet skabt af en NITTEN (19-20) årig ung mand. Pink Moon er marginalt bedre, så den kan vi forhåbentlig også glæde os til på listen.

Beautiful. Such a talent.

Genuinely so stunningly beautiful! Something about it is so haunting but in a very beautiful way. Nick Drake's voice is rich and lovely. I really think it is now one of my favorite albums I've ever heard! "River Man" and "Way to Blue" are probably my favorite tracks.

Some people were meant to be musicians, but even less were meant to be stars. Nick Drake is in a tiny group where they were always meant to be a star after his life burned out. Can't wait for Pink Moon tbh lads, that's always been my favourite, but this is pretty much perfection. "They will know that you were here When you are gone"

fun, i like the soft vibes

I'm not going to think about it too much. This is extraordinary. Nick Drake had an incomparable sound, to which the only available word is beauty. Everything about this is beautiful. A talent gone from us far too soon, of course. I'm shocked I haven't heard this already, given his discography. Five flat.

Beltter

Increíble. Primera vez que lo escucho y definitivamente es una joya

Achingly beautiful.

Not to rag on today's youth - honestly, I do mean that - but just imagine a 20-year-old coming up with this today. Do they get the time and space to indulge in weirdly concrete abstractions? To mess with time signatures and tunings? To chat with River Men about the plan for lilac time? Well, I hope so. There's a strong chance this is the record I've listened to most since I first heard it, a good quarter-century ago, and it's as much a five today as ever.

Great album. Lovely songs. Good vibe

Always love listening to Nick Drake.

So, this guy's a surprise find from this project. My tastes in music tend to be much more maximalist. I like intensity and texture. Give me rock, give me metal, give me synth and electronica. This isn't to say that I don't appreciate folk now and then but I didn't figure I'd like something this delicate so much. Drake's voice is lovely, his compositions gentle and melancholy (and somehow not boring ... texture I guess?). Just beautiful. Great music to watch a rain storm while sitting in a rocking chair on your porch to. "Fruit Tree" is tragically prescient isn't it?

Nick Drake is a genius. The arrangements are one of a kind. I don’t think there any bad Nick Drake albums and I wouldn’t rank any of them below 5 stars. However, I’d have a hard time picking which one would be my favourite between “Five Leaves Left”and “Pink Moon”. I think “Five Leaves Left” would be considered the purest out of the 3 Nick Drake albums in terms of not having the pressure of not succeeding from the previous records and for that it would be my favourite.

Five Leaves Left carries a weight and maturity that belies Drake's age at the time of recording. This is both magical and heartbreaking. Depression ages your soul, and unfortunately this is a beautifully sad record written from experience.

Such a beautifully composed and crafted album. RIP Nick Drake

Already listened. Beautiful album

Lovely.

Aiñ.... tengo muchas cosas que decir de este disco pero me da mucha trimsteza la vida del Nick la neta; me gusto mucho el disco pero me puso muy nostalgica la historia de Nick y me peso más el disco T_T. Puse el disco como de fondo para leer pero me atrapo aún estando de background. Luego ya lo escuche con más detenimiento y me dio mucha nostalgia, pero rica pues. Si me gusto bastante, lo quiero mucho :3 :'(

Folk is not a genre I almost ever listen to so I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. I had heard his name before but never his music. It's an absolutely gorgeous album! His voice, while not very dynamic or wide in range, is extremely soothing and he's guitar playing is intricate and beautiful. The album doesn't have a lot of variance in terms of tone or mood but I wouldn't want it different. The vibe is consistent (melancholy but not depressing) and it makes for a very cohesive listen. Stand out songs for me are River Man and Cello Song. Something about the interplay between the vocal melody and guitar part in the later does something for me. Sad to read he died so young. I will be checking out his other 2 albums.

Beautiful. Going into the rotation.

One of my favorite singer songwriter records. Weirdly to me, feels like the best aspects of Tim Buckley in terms of his songs and jeff buckley in terms of the raw emotions/style. Really beautiful

Another day another banger! I love this album and I love nick drake and his smoooooth dulcet melancholy vibes. Basically tailor made for to get into as a moody teen and act like I was the only one who knew about it.

Fantastic one.

Amazing album! One of the poets of the century. Rip…

Five Leaves Left es una obra maestra atemporal que trasciende las etiquetas del folk para convertirse en un viaje psicológico y espiritual. La voz de Nick Drake se percibe aquí no como una interpretación convencional, sino como un llamado de ensueño o del más allá, nacido de la propia conciencia. Es un álbum de una riqueza otoñal bellísima que ha envejecido bien precisamente porque habita un plano fuera del tiempo, sonando con una frescura y honestidad que conmueven de inmediato. La arquitectura del disco es perfecta: se entretejen muy bien las cuerdas, logrando una mezcla maestra donde conviven en armonía la elegancia de los arreglos barrocos, la maestría técnica de la guitarra sola y la desnudez de la voz. Piezas inmensas como "River Man" —cuya esencia se conecta de inmediato con la genialidad de propuestas contemporáneas como la de Benjamin Clementine— inyectan una constante sensación de paz y fluidez. Es un trabajo tan noble y versátil que se presta para múltiples usos: carretera, reflexión, trabajo creativo, en soledad o acompañado. Un testimonio conmovedor, crudo y real de un artista irrepetible.

Magical stuff. This is album number 65 for me, and from a purely songwriting viewpoint probably the best of the lot up to now. I am gobsmacked that Nick Drake was just 21 when this was released??

Just great chamber folk l, pretty insane this was released in the the ‘60s. The production is super crisp and the instrumentals are really well crafted. It’s absolutely devastating to see how he accurately predicted how his art would be cherished when he’s dead and not when he is alive in a fruit tree. GORGEOUS ALBUM

Et absolut mesterværk! Elsker arrangementet på dette album. Der er vildt smukke harmonier og interessante rytmer alt sammen bundet sammen af Nick's smukke, luftige og naturlige vokal. En af de mest interessante albums jeg længe har hørt. I sandhed et album der bare må høres!

Meiner Meinung nach ein Perfektes Album. Jeder einzelne Song fühlt sich so einzigartig an wenn man genauer hin hört. Die Lyrics sind einfach nur schön, Nick malt mit jedem einzelnen Song Bilder, manchmal schärfer manchmal unscharf, aber sie sorgen immer für Gedanken und Gefühle die herum wirren. Die Instrumente sorgen dabei führ das richtige Umfeld und unterstreichen oder verändern manchmal die Bedeutung der Worte. Oberflächlich kann das alles sehr schnell an einem Vorbei gehen, aber wenn man sich die Zeit nimmt diesem Ruhigen jungen mit seiner ruhigen Musik genauer zuzuhören dann ist jeder einzelne Song ein Masterpiece für sich. Meiner Meinung nach zumindest

Amazing album through and through. Nick Drake is such a mysterious artist. Not very widely known, but has a huge cult following and has influenced many a great folk artists to follow, specifically with the chamber folk sounds with his first two albums. Drake's understated vocal and guitar performance is contrasted by these gorgeous and full string arrangements that give these songs an even more ethereal feel then would already have on their own. My parents already had this album and Bryter Layter in their CD collection. I don't know how they got to know of Nick Drake, but it's cool that they did. Key tracks: Time Has Told Me Way to Blue 'Cello Song Saturday Sun

One of the best ever

Love these chill but dark but happy vibes

Time Has Told Me Fruit Tree Cello Song

MARKED FOR RELISTEN Standouts: Everything... ngl I cringed when I saw the genres... but this is beautiful. I love how it's been recorded, his voice and the instruments feel like a cozy blanket around the ears. Even the misc sound effects were cozy. This whole album sounds like a tragedy, it feels like the composition and writing draw you into the author's headspace. And it's not a pretty place to be. The only complaint I have with this albums is the songs with strings far outshine every other song. But the whole vibe of the album is still perfect. 5... and I'm only 4 songs in... I never thought I'd give a folk album a 5

I love the string arrangements just the way they are.

Beautiful.

buenaso

--Time Has Told Me...we didn't deserve this guy --River Man...haunting. pure elegance --Three Hours...the guitar, the voice, it's all so good! --Way to Blue...the orchestration! gatdam --Day Is Done...I really don't have the words to describe how much I love this --Cello Song...the cello is my favorite instrument. much of that love is because of this track --The Thoughts of Mary Jane...now we get some flute! more treacly than preceding tracks but still pleasant --Man in a Shed...fun interplay between piano and guitar --Fruit Tree...another beauty. is that clarinet? oboe? both? who cares? it's transcendent --Saturday Sun...great closer. great LP

It has Cello Song, River Man, and Fruit Tree. And everything else is a (sad) joy too.

This is just a beautiful album. Incredible guitar playing, such a lovely soft voice. The jazzy backing is impressive, although sometimes doesn't grab you, not that this matters as the guitar and vocal are the main points. Some incredible tracks here though. Cello song is an all time favourites of mine. Just incredible.

Weiche Stimme, eingängige Melodien. Für die Dauer eines Albums super.

perfect

I genuinely feel sorry for the people who give this one or two stars that you're being robbed of the pinnacle of lyrical beauty. I get that it's horses for courses and not everything is for everyone, but this is for me. What a loss. I hope your find your Nick Drake in this list

Five Leaves Left? Five Stars Left more like ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Like most people, I only discovered Nick Drake long after his death. Through a TV advert. (Now that's a bit embarrassing.) After hearing him for the first time, I quickly got hold of Drake’s slim catalogue (back then there were only three albums; today there are a few more rarities compilations). Even more so than my idol Tim Buckley, Nick Drake was completely unknown during his lifetime. Perhaps his quiet, introverted music didn’t fit in with the turbulent times of the late 1960s and early 1970s? I don’t know. From today’s perspective, his music is breathtakingly beautiful, his lyrics are magical poetry: Timeless perfection. Add to that his clean guitar playing and his melancholic voice. “Five Leaves Left” was his debut and remains perhaps his purest album; the second (“Bryter Layter”) was perhaps a little overloaded in terms of production; the third (“Pink Moon”) remained somehow a bit fragmentary. All three rank among the best singer-songwriter albums of all time. Nick Drake was the John Dowland of the 20th century.

Nick Drake kenne ich so richtig dank eines Elliot Smith Cover Abends im Hafenviertel von Sydney, wo ich nach einer langen Nacht noch mit ein paar Leuten auf die erste Fähre nach ManlyBeach gefahren bin und die mich ausgelacht haben dass ich Nick Drake nicht kenne meinem sonstigen Musikgeschmack und Way to Blue gesungen/gesummt haben. Mein drittliebstes Album von drei, eigentlich, wobei ich jetzt gar nicht mehr so sicher bin, denn eigentlich ist auch dieses ziemlich perfekt.

Wie kann ein Album von 1969 sooo gut klingen? Es drückt genau meine Knöpfe und wäre noch besser im Urlaub als während der Arbeit. Wirklich tolle Stimme und tolle Produktion - gefühlt alles noch nicht ganz so im wahrsten Sinne todtraurig wie Pink Moon. Nonetheless meisterhaft. "And again And again But Saturday's sun Has turned to Sunday's rain"

Elska þessa plötu. Nick Drake var snillingur og þetta er svo hugljúf sársæt plata. River Man einstakt lag og Day is done snilld. Öll lögin góð samt.

Ótrúlegur snillingur. Verður ekki fallegra, algjörlega tímalaust. Sorgarsaga.

Nostalgic, poetry is a resistance.

Listened to this one so much in High School/College. Weird coming back; hearing how much River Man sounds like it could’ve been on A Moon-shaped Pool

Beautiful - listen again

The songs sparkle gentle but beautiful.

Ein Folk Album mit Instrumenten die die Stimmung fast greifbar machen. Die Gitarre und Streicher gehen von Dunklen tristen und angespannt tönen die ehrlich und direkt klingen zu Traumhaften schönen Melodien. Die Worte von Nick malen Bilder, ohne direkt zu verstehen von wo seine Worte kommen hat man immer das Gefühl zu verstehen was er aussagen will. Jeder einzige Song fühlt sich an wie aus einer anderen Welt aber irgendwie auch genau so wie diese Welt ist.

Gorgeous. I love the lush orchestration when it's there (bongos in "Cello Song", occasional string accompaniment, a whole chamber ensemble in "Thoughts of Mary Jane" and "Fruit Tree") and the soft finger style guitar and breathy vocals from Drake. This album feels timeless, I could hardly believe this was written nearly 60 years ago. I've added the whole album to my rotation.

Nick's debut set a new high bar in the British folk scene, although maybe it wasn't seen like that in '69. Beautifully melancholic and melodic and complete with congas. Boyd's production sounds great even in this hi-tech age and I like the version of the album title coming from an old pack of roll up papers. Not a bad track in sight.

Just a man, his guitar and his thoughts, you were, are and always will be great Nick Drake, Thank you🤍

One of my all timers from the man with a flawless catalogue. Want to weep from the opening guitar lick and not stop until it’s through. RYM: Y (#168) Saved a song: N

Får lyst å bo i ei lita hytte langt inn i skauen og drikke kaffe på trappa når jeg hører denne plata.

General thoughts: It wasn't love at first sight, but this album grew on me after a few tries. Also note that this is definitely not a speaker's kind of album, but a headphones one. "5 leaves left" is a deeply intimate album, in essence and style. You need to listen closely to hear the subtleties of the music. The opener 'Time has told me' successfully sets the tone of the album. Light folk, full of life and imagery, soothing and tender on the surface yet depressing or even haunting on the inside. Melancholic at its core, this album takes us into Nick Drake's state of mind. The lyrics here are something else; they feel like the perfect balance between simple and complex. His writing, along with the music and singing, has this effect on me, something I feel when I try to sing Paul Simon. It's so effortlessly good, it's not until you try to imitate him that you notice it’s not something any artist can do. It's a poetic story, enticing and attractive, spiced with the correct amount of enigma. Makes you even want to root for him because some songs also imply death or depression. His voice is refreshing, low-end and sweet, accompanied by beautiful guitar playing and strings, electric and percussion arrangements. They are subtle and not always present, but they're always there when needed. Outstanding song(s): Time Has Told Me, River Man, The Thoughts of Mary Jane Weakest song(s): Saturday Sun. Sticks out weirdly but ends the album nicely. Cover: The picture is nice, I'd prefer it as the full cover instead of having that ugly green frame. Favorite rate: 50% (5/10) Real rating: 4.5 *Re-rated 02/05/2026

Really liked this. Nice songs and just the right amount of instrumentation to be interesting but not distracting.

Love this bad boy. Crazy insanely good instrumentation. 5 on 5

add to my list of great debit albums that I love

Nick Drake has the power to take the most mundane, straightforward acoustic song and make it a heart wrenching emotional experience. He is the only artist I enjoy who sounds like this.

It's so special to me bc it was introduced to me by my college roommate who has now passed on. Nick Drake was the secret of our little group of friends and remained that way until many years later the Volkswagen commercial exposed him to the world. I'm glad his music is known now. it gets even more special over the years because of the impeccable fingerpicking, the brilliance of the guitar/string arrangements, and the killer vibe. Saturday sun came early one morning. do you know the way to blue? I love this record dearly and always will.

Fucking love folk music man

ok ta god

I will give you the absolute brain bender of "Fruit Tree" is a bit much, but this is a sit by the rainy window with a mug of tea vibe. Still a solid 5.

9/10

I cannot describe how much I love Nick Drake and his music.

Honestly, Drake's music is like wearing an oversized sweater while walking to the public library on a blustery Fall day and I kinda love that vibe it's giving.

Tragic story. Profound lyrics. Beautiful music.

A hauntingly beautiful and melancholy debut album, with some of Nick Drake’s strongest compositions, arranged with great elegance and taste. ‘River Man’ is the clear standout for me, with ‘Time Has Told Me’, ‘Day Is Done’ and ‘Cello Song’ the other highlights. It’s all great, though. The only slight mistake was including ‘Man in a Shed’ over ‘Made to Love Magic’ and/or ‘Time of No Reply’, which are both far superior songs. Nonetheless, this is a brilliant album; it’s incredible to think he was only twenty when it was recorded and had barely been playing guitar for four years.

there's a level of intimacy and simplicity that's simply hard to convey with an album that's at the same time poppy and full of instruments. it was surprising to me, read that it had more musicians beside Nick Drake. It's an album that made me so relaxed, and comfortable doing chores that it's just representative of the power that has music.

If you enjoyed this, the “making of” box set that came out last year was a pleasant way to spend a few hours.

Such a gentle and Melancholic album i would listen to a million times again

Ахуительный альбом, ощущения спокойствия и радости. Приятная и мягкая композиция и сочетание. Очень круто

What a gorgeous album. I tried getting into Nick Drake a little while ago by listening to Pink Moon and just couldn't quite get into what he had to offer, I figured it just wasn't quite for me. But sitting down this time with a nice pair of headphones and nothing but time on my hands, I found myself thoroughly enjoying his debut album. Just beautiful instrumentation, lyrics and vocals. I'm not sure if the version available on streaming is recently remastered either, but everything here just sounds fantastic and creates an incredible, melancholy atmosphere. I can give nothing but praise. Favourite Track: 8 - Man In A Shed Best Three Track Run: 7, 8, 9

This being his debut album at all of 21 years old. This is true art in music. The lyrics are poetry on their own and then the melody just adds to them. I am always completely absorbed when I hear this album. From start to finish he has me under his spell. Though I’m not usually one for sadness or melancholy, this album is so beautiful that I have to love it. The album ending with Saturday Sun, my all time favorite Nick Drake song, is only the cherry on top of an all time great album.

una leyenda, es un maestro de la poesia y el sonido

I had no expectations coming into this, having never heard of Nick Drake or any of his work. I am now shocked at how I have been ignorant of this. Beautiful, melancholy lyrics, fantastic production, bluesy folky voice. This really is a hidden gem. 9/10

Skvelý album

I already knew this was a 5* album, today just confirmed it

Known of the album since around the time of its release. Finally bought a copy on CD some 30 years ago. On the surface appears a simple very british collection. However it belies some fine song structures and playing elevated with light touch production.

Ah, another tragic hero beloved by music journalists! But this is an excellent album, one of three excellent albums her recorded before his tragic and untimely death.

love him and everything he stands for.

Listening to this always brings back strong memories of being a teenager. Given that Nick Drake grew up near where my family lived, his music always evokes images of driving through the countryside with it playing. Regardless of my personal attachments, this is objectively a classic English folk album, with Drake's gentle, hushed vocals complementing his immaculate finger-picked guitar work. The arrangements that sit atop his playing never feel obtrusive in the way that they sometimes did on Bryter Layter (though the album still falls slightly short of his haunting, bare-bones third and final album). River Man is a case in point - a song genuinely elevated by its orchestration, while Day is Done is a testament to his skill as a musician, with wonderful playing that is never overshadowed by what surrounds it. Lyrically, the album evokes a mystical feeling - never overly cryptic, but focused on mood rather than explicit meaning. It is always saddening that he never lived to see how revered and appreciated this music would become, with this debut standing as a true and essential classic.

Hauntingly beautiful. It is the Nick Drake album that most resonates with me. Definitely deserves an inclusion. 10/10 [KEEP]

Every Nick Drake album could be his best. I’m not surprised they are all in the 1001. Five Leaves Left, like the other two, consists only of gorgeous, mysterious music with some kind of haunting magic running right through it. It’s beautifully arranged too and drips with delicate melodic majesty at every turn. The timbre of Nick Drake’s voice, soothing yet brittle, tentative yet strangely self assured is once heard never to be forgotten. Over 100 albums in and my top genre is 60s Folk because of 2 classic Dylan albums early on - I’ve been patiently waiting for for that to change, but it looks like I’m going to put that eventually back by another 100 albums or so because I have to give this full marks.

soooo gooooood

Nick Drake’s music is absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful. Gets me every time. The guitar is virtuoso and his vocal tone and subtle voice are a match made in heaven. Highlights: Way to Blue… so spare yet so sonically rich. Then ‘Cello Song. The cello mingling with his voice after he asks the girl to reach down and lift him into her place in the cloud. Time Has Told Me is great too … country guitar meandering throughout. This album is sublime.

sooo good

Probably my most familiar album of Nick Drake’s. Not been blown away by his stuff but certainly familiar and enjoyable. Ah yeh, it’s all flooding back now. Forgot what a lovely album it was. Really nice use of strings too and really great arrangement and craft throughout. I’m surprised to see myself edging closer to 5* because there just isn’t a weak song on here and it does his sound pretty perfectly. Increasingly impressed with every song. And production is perfect for it too. Think it might be a 5* er!

Wow! This album blew me away, and made me quite emotional whilst driving, what a Thing of Beauty.

A perfect antidote to modern living and modern music. Not a laptop in sight, just fine guitar playing, subtle percussion and strings that played by real musicians (but without drowning songs in great washes of orchestration). Quintessentially English, Five Leaves Left is a pretty much perfect example of folk.

Lovely.

Ahhhh, listening to Nick Drake lowers my heart rate. The man died too soon, but at least he left us some beautiful music.

Me gustó mucho este álbum. Había escuchado algunas algunas canciones de nick drake antes y me sorprendió que muchas de ellas están en este disco

I fucking love Nick Drake and this was the only album of his I hadn’t heard any songs from. I think my expectations may have been a bit high but nevertheless, this was pretty impeccable. His instrumentation is such a standout here and shines through with truly amazing composition. Almost every song was so wonderful to hear and I really enjoyed the faster tempos. One detail that stood out were the chord progressions that gave each song an incredibly unique and opinionated feel. Just some awesome work here and really outstanding for a first album on his discography.

Almost perfect. 4 1/2 stars. A stunning debut album.

"I get the feeling this is an artist I will gel with strongly." These were my words when I first encountered Nick Drake 109 albums ago, hearing his album Bryter Layter for the first time and being surprised by how much I loved it. It turns out, I was right. I can't properly put into words the way Nick Drake is able to make me feel with his music - last time I described it as mesmerising, and I certainly stand by that... but it's more than that: there's such beauty and depth and richness to what masquerades as simple folk music, and it's done so subtly and effortlessly... Nick Drake uses all kinds of musical ideas (there's even a song in 5/4) but none of it feels disjointed or out of place for a second. His lyrics are poetic, colourful, tortured and harrowing. His vocal delivery is tonally perfect for what he's singing, and it tugs at my emotions in a way I can't describe. I am now convinced that Nick Drake is not only "an artist I will gel with strongly", but a genuine prodigy - a generational talent. It's an immense tragedy that during his short lifetime his work went largely unappreciated, that he struggled so much with live performance and self-promotion, and that ultimately his battle with depression and death at 26 years of age cut short the creative career of a man who may yet have so much more to offer the world with his music. In this way, he's not unlike Vincent Van Gogh - I even feel there's a certain quality Drake's music shares with Van Gogh's paintings stylistically, but I don't think I could possibly articulate what that is. Now that I've heard Drake's first two albums, I know there is only his third and final album remaining. From what I hear it's short, stripped back and more like Nick Drake than either of these two. I'm still relatively early in my 1001 albums journey, but I know Pink Moon is on the list... It's very tempting to go and listen to it now but I'm resisting the urge because once I hear Pink Moon that's it - there is no more Nick Drake music for me to discover. Instead I'm choosing to savour it, knowing that in time the generator will give me that final album and I'll get to experience Nick drake for the first time for the last time.

i love this

great album. as good as, better than pink moon? idk. river man is great.

Heard Before? I'm a music snob in my 40s, what do you think? Notes: - the arrangements are glorious. I much prefer this to his skeletal sounding other albums. - everything is mixed just right. - the songs all have strong individual character. - his voice is the epitome of artsy melancholy. I've heard that the lyrics are good, but I've never paid any attention. Verdict: The Nick Drake cult is as easy as ever to get sucked into, with or without all the backstory. Gorgeous. Listen Again? Of course.

Wow, I loved this album so much. The instrumentals are amazing, especially the strings and guitar throughout the album. The vocals were great as well. It was so peaceful and enjoyable to listen to, made me feel like I was in a peaceful cabin in the woods. That was one of the most enjoyable 41 minutes I’ve had in a while. My favorite tracks were River Man and Saturday Sun. 5/5 album for me!

ah i recognize this tradition of english folk--belle & sebastian followed it. they took more license, i think, but definitely there very nice cadence to time has told me loving the strings in river man fruit tree--so good love the album will need to listen more to fully absorb it. 5/5

Mesmerizing listen. Fingers dance over the strings. I feel like I'm on a train watching the world pass by (Three Hours) during the journey Nick takes us on with his gentle, measured voice. Some sad songs that feel almost operatic... I can see myself in a Shakespearean theater as he laments, in front of an orchestra, about lost love. Day is Done is a brief, cryptic, clairvoyant song given Drake's young death. So, the album sits with me as both upsetting while oddly peaceful. The pace of this music and its softness offers an opportunity out of the sadness and depression at the heart of the lyrics.

absolutely insane song making, beautiful lyrics and vocals, amazing debut, makes u wanna think about life

I'm grateful to live in a world where I can listen to Nick Drake, and I wish he was still here to share this world with me.

I can't believe some of these songs were written by someone was 20 at the oldest. So much heart-break in these songs. A lot of the melodies are also beautiful and haunting, and the guitar work is mesmerizing. My second Nick Drake album and I've enjoyed both of them a lot.

So much better than Bryter Layter. Much more restrained on the strings - and they actually compliment the songs instead of strangling them. No baking vocal chorus. Seems they had a good thing, then screwed it up with the second album (maybe because the first one didn't move enough copies). The only negative for me was the flute on "Thoughts of Mary Jane". Could have done without that, but that's just a minor criticism. I'd put this one way above Bryter Layter, and just a bit below Pink Moon.

Haunting and beautiful. The atmosphere created on this album is deeply sad but inescapable in a way where you don’t wanna stop listening. There’s a beautiful somberness to each song, even the more upbeat ones, and it’s hard to forget the ultimate history of Nick Drake in listening to this. The words of someone deeply pained and very relatable. A wonderful experience

Fab not fav tho

I like this album and the way his voice sounds, it gave me such a calming vibe.

Nick Drake is one of my favourite songwriters of all time, as well as someone whom I greatly admire as a guitarist. To call him extraordinary would be an understatement. Not only was his guitar playing virtuosic and singular in style, but he also had a talent for writing melodies and harmonies that are both unique and emotionally evocative. Just to name one example from this album, I know much has been written about 'River Man' and both its 5/4 time signature and chord progression. I don't feel that I know enough about music theory or analysis to go into detail about Nick's songwriting, but suffice it to say he was very talented as a musician and a songwriter, and a great lyricist also. To release something of this quality as your debut album at twenty-one-years of age just feels unfathomable to me. It doesn't have a single bad or even mediocre song on it, and in particular, the songs 'Time Has Told Me' with its simple yet beautiful chord progression and gentle lyrics, 'Three Hours' with its stunning guitar playing, and 'Fruit Tree' with its depressingly accurate observations about fame considering Nick's legacy feel like particular standouts, alongside 'Day Is Done', and of course the aforementioned 'River Man', which are both just gorgeous and among the best songs Nick ever wrote. And to think he's still at the beginning of his artistic journey on this album. While his songwriting, lyricism and guitar-playing are all excellent here, he would only continue to improve on his later two albums. I have been thinking about Nick Drake a lot lately. I feel like I should note that I relate to Nick Drake strongly. For most of my life I've dealt with a fair share of mental health issues, which have at times been very severe, but not quite as bad as what Nick went through. I'm the same age now as he was when he passed away. A couple months older now, actually. I cannot help but think of how short of a life he lived. How much life he still would've had ahead of him. All the things he could've seen and done, not only as an artist, but just as a person. All the different things he still could've experienced, ranging from all kinds of big moments in life to the small and ordinary. How much more he could've still achieved, both in his art and life outside his career. I wish he could've lived long enough to see people come to respect his work for what it was. I wish he could've seen how much his music mattered to people, and how much it has moved them. How much his art has influenced generations of artists that have come after him. Mostly, I just wish he could've found the help he needed. I don't want to play into the myth around him and reduce him to some 'tortured artist' whose life was fated to end the way it did the way some people do. There is far more to him and his art. His life didn't have to end like it did. Still, I cannot even imagine how difficult just living must've been for him. Just thinking about it makes my eyes tear up. I just wish he could've found some way to push on and not lose hope. I know this review of sorts has veered off course from being just about 'Five Leaves Left' and being more about Nick Drake in general. I just felt like I needed to put these thoughts into writing, and hey, why not use this opportunity? Rest In Peace, Nick Drake. "Fruit tree, fruit tree Open your eyes to another year They'll all know that you were here when you're gone" 5/5

such a good album love this guy going to get a tattoo of him no joke

Love this so much but it’s so sad I can’t listen often

My misconception of what I thought Nick Drake was and the reality is a more than pleasant surprise. Like the other album I heard on hear I am just mesmerised. It’s beautiful, it’s calming, it’s sad, it’s brooding, yet I find it uplifting. Think I gave his other album a 5 which I don’t tend to do for albums I didn’t know for along long time, but

Bryter layter was one of the first albums I got through this and I didn’t know what I was doing here so I didn’t give a written rating and I gave it a 4 - my big regret in this project ! Would go back and give 5 stars That said - I really like this album and his entire musical output - somehow this doesn’t sound dated to me maybe because his voice is timeless ?? Loved the guitar - Five stars - re listened multiple times today

Such a beautiful sound that is as at home today as it was on release. I will be listening again

i loooove nick drake

So mellow

perfect or just about

Тут місцями просто меджік відбувається

Ізі 5

I love Nick Drake. River Man is an amazing song. This is THE album if you're feeling low. What an amazing talent gone too soon. It brightens up as it goes on. I prefer Pink Moon, but this is a great album.

Absolute classic.

a beautiful debut album by a beautiful man and may his legacy live on forever. nick was my introduction into sufjan stevens and adrianne lenker, and without this album and the rest of his discography we would not have the music we have today

Really just unlike anything else. Like a dream captured in a bottle. Nick Drake does not get talked about enough. Favorite Tracks: River Man, Cello Song, Time Has Told Me, Day is Done, Fruit Tree

Very easy listening, may be one of the first folk albums I've listened to. I actually appreciate the almost 'under produced' feel this album has (maybe that's what all folk albums sound like, I have no experience). I'm a sucker for instrumentals, just letting them ebb and flow, and I get that satisfaction from this album. Maybe I'm sympathetic to the short life he lived, but I can honestly say that Nick Drake could have been so successful in his career- while he lived. His lyricism is raw, and so provoking. He was so sad. And now, I am sad too. Fruit Tree wrecked me. This is an incredible debut album, and I am so glad it has graced my ears.

beautiful album. the first half was kinda boring but the second half was really amazing i loved it favs: cello song and everything past that

Pocas veces en la historia de la música se han dado la mano la ternura y la sensibilidad a flor de piel con la sensación de tristeza y desesperanza. Nick Drake es todo eso. Sus composiciones, de base acústica, a menudo con sutiles arreglos de cuerda, son pequeñas joyas preñadas de emoción, de serenidad y también de misterio. Nick es la belleza de la fatalidad. Nick es un 10.

Drake's personal mythos tends to portray him as sui generis - the lonely genius composing tender ballads behind his locked bedroom door. But this collection reveals how much he, like Van Morrison and Page/Plant among others, was engaged in the common capital-R Romantic project of trying to recover a mythical, pre-industrial British Isles - from the hillbilly tones of the opener "Time Has Told Me" to tales about river men and light among the trees. And he comes as close as anyone to conjuring the dream of Albion here - the deep green of the album cover is apropos. All the pale (pun intended) imitators of this album are at least imitating the right masterpiece.

Such a beautiful album - songwriting, playing and performance - and I still think Bryter Layter and Pink Moon are even better.

our sun roof blew up this was so good

This is a wonderful album from an artist whose time was too short on earth.

Nick Drake may very well be my favorite songwriter of all time. In his tragically short career, he put out three albums all of which I consider perfect, with Five Leaves Left being his first. This album has a very interesting duality to it, with some darker and more ominous tracks like River Man being right next to bright and soothing tracks like Time Has Told Me. They almost sound like they should be on different projects, but the fact that they aren't honestly makes it better. Five Leaves Left is such an expansive world fit inside of a 40-minute disk. It's a beautifully-colored canvas using very simple paints. Nobody has captured a feeling like this album does, a deep, poetic loneliness that hides behind beautifully simplistic melodies and lush chamber instrumentation. What can I say? Nick Drake was a troubled genius.

Shocked to see this is from 1969. Sounds like it could be from the early/mid 2010’s. I really enjoyed this. Very chill. I initially rated this a 4/5, but after reading about Nick and his tragic story, and dwelling with the album more, I’m bumping it up to a 5/5. RIP dude. 5/5 Highlights: Time Has Told Me Three Hours Day Is Done Thoughts Of Mary Jane Fruit Tree

I think I'm beginning to become a nick drake fan

Love Nick Drake

There are very few albums I think one could describe as ‘beautiful’. This should be top of the pile. Side note: For those who in accordance with the above review, I’d thoroughly recommend reading ‘White Bicycles’ by Joe Boyd. It’s a really interesting take on Blues and Folk history in the late 60s/70s by someone who was in the midst of it. Includes Dylan, Fairport, other randoms you’ve never heard of, and Pink Floyd (work out that link!). Most relevantly he produced the Nick Drake albums, so there are some really interesting insights.

This record is already an all-timer for me, so listening in this context will be interesting. Time Has Told Me is an absolute classic. The piano and slide guitar are perfect accompaniments, never feel like they’re overstepping. Chord movement is elegant and interesting. River Man another perfect song IMO. String arrangements are breathtaking. Major/minor shifts flawless. Lydian tension. Incredible songwriting and late 60s folk production style at the highest level. Guitar playing on Three Hours is brilliant. Interesting triplet switch up at 3:15. Wondering about Nick Drake’s connection to John Fahey/William Ackerman/American primitive guitar vs. his British folk contemporaries. I wonder what it was like to be in the room for Way to Blue, when they either decided to mute the acoustic guitar and just roll with the strings and vocals, or they recorded it live that way? Either way, incredible Day Is Done is one of the few songs that I would ACTUALLY describe as hauntingly beautiful. Why didn’t they call it ‘Cello and Bongo Song’? In seriousness, I hear Opeth being influenced by this track. Thoughts of Mary Jane is so quaint. English countryside as fuck. Those tremolo strings Man In a Shed - Charlie Brown (that’s a good thing) Fruit Tree is another strange one, the chromatic descending progression, the orchestration. Saturday Sun is an interesting closer, piano-centric in an acoustic guitar world. It might be my least favourite track on the record and the vibraphone feels a little cheesy, but it’s still undeniably pleasant. This record is very special. Pink Moon edges it out for me in terms of Nick Drake records, but that still places it as a top-tier folk record and has some of the most beautiful string arrangements in folk music. I imagine I will be listening to this record until I expire.

Yowzah! I loved this album so much, I listened to it on repeat like seven times in one day. It is so beautiful and haunting and gorgeously written - reminds me of Elliott Smith, but this one is from 1969, which is super impressive. My favorites are River Man, Way to Blue, Thoughts of Mary Jane, and Saturday Sun. Also, like all of my favorite things, it has an excellent name. Bellisimo!

Beautiful and melancholy green, like sunshine in autumn

Better than Coldplay

Just... beautiful. A 10* album if it was possible.

4.5 stars Maybe this is just a perfect rainy day album and I got lucky with the timing. I knew I would like Nick Drake. I even may have listened to some of these songs before. But this was my first time and it was a great experience. I went through it twice and it’s going on my rotation. Im sure I’ll get around to his other albums. But a good start.

Great album

Discovering Nick Drake through this list makes up for all the lost time Mr. Dimery had me listening to crappy bands he included for fuck knows reasons.

Un disco que escuché por primera vez en unas condiciones muy particulares y me cautivó. No es un gran cantante, pero es un formidable compositor y tiene un gusto exquisito para la instrumentación.

Five Leaves Left is impossibly beautiful, harrowing, bittersweet, and soulful. The musicality, the performances, the engineering and mixing, arrangements, and Nick's voice cutting through it all. I can't possibly think of more to say that hasn't already been said about this absolutely perfect album.

Two Nick Drake albums back to back. Pink Moon yesterday which I love, but today I was frustrated. Do we really need all three of his albums on this list, is what I was thinking. The answer is probably no, but if we were going to have two this is the other one that should be included. I was so pleasantly surprised. None of the second records over production, instead the exact right kind of guitar virtuosity (that is to say, the kind that serves the song without becoming just technique for its own sake), mixed with a killer real band and echos of Townes esque outlaw country. Will be returning to.

Love this album

Beautiful album. Also, if you have this on in the background while assembling furniture from the big Swedish store, it will protect you from having a meltdown. Ask me how I know. 5/5

What a beautiful, beautiful album. The smooth atmosphere created with the gentle guitars and the beautiful voice and interpretation of Nick Drake is just too captivating This project has introduced me to this artist and now I am a fan. Although I don't think Five Leaves Left is as good as his previous album, it is still a great listen . 5/5

Sublime. A truly great piece of work.

Beautiful album!

So nostalgic and amazing

Beautiful

Gorgeous songwriting. Maybe a little overstuffed with strings and other instruments here and there, but largely pretty clean. Awesome listen!

It’s not as transcendent as Pink Moon, but it’s such a beautiful album. The guitar playing is gorgeous, the strings add so much emotion, and the way it flows through to the final, gentle song takes you on a lovely journey.

Tässon taas yks nuorena nukkunut kaveri. Eli siis OG Drake. Näitä tän tuotoksia on tullut kans kuunneltua joskus oikein tarkotuksella. Eli ihan mieleistä tavaraa. Tunnelmapalaa toisensa perään ja intiimi meininki kantaa läpi levyskän. Levylle valittu tuotannollinen linja on hienovaraista ja erilaiset orkesterisoitinsovitukset on kyl upian kuulosia. Vaikee myös keksiä oikein muita verrokkeja, jotka ois tohon aikaan vastaavanlaista materiaalia tarjonneet. Vuoskymmeniä myöhemmin sit alko semmosiakin putkahteleen ja sit kun niitä tulee tällä listalla levyistä joita pitäs kuunnella ennen lusikkaa nurkassa, niin voin sanoo, että tää on nyt semmonen (jos en oo ragequitannut). Aikalaisethan ei tätä kauheesti noteeranneet, mutta sitten jälkeenpäin on todettu, että JEE TÄÄ ON HIENOO. Näin kolmesataa vuotta myöhemmin voin sanua samaa. Paitsi jämsäläinen kaveri sanoo, että HIANUU.

Best album - and artist - discovery so far. In some tracks, the way he easily switches between major and minor scales makes the album both peaceful and sad.

I waited for hundreds and hundreds of albums to finally get Five Leaves Left. Today, after more than 900 albums, that day has finally come. My wish was to get this album on a sunny autumn day, when the leaves were resplendent in shades of gold and burgundy. Today was just such a day. Nick Drake's debut album, written and recorded when he was barely 20 years old, is a gem of English melancholy. It is a collection of incredibly beautifully written, played, and arranged songs. The wonderful Riverman, the mystical Three Hours, the exciting Cello Song, the prophetic Fruit Tree, which gives me chills... each and every one of them is a masterpiece. I'm sorry that Nick wasn't the recognized artist in his lifetime that he should have been. But so much gratitude to him for the three albums he left behind for us. Rest in peace, Nick.

I've always thought Nick Drake's music as a whole is very Autumnal, which is perfect for now. This album is obviously a lot more 'produced' than pink moon, and a little less than Bryter Layter, and I do think that's the perfect middle ground. I might have said in the Bryter Layter one that my favourite of his albums rotate every time I listen to them, but I think this one is probably my favourite right now, and maybe overall. There's such a range of emotions on here, and I think that's very well exemplified by the first 2 songs, where the first is somewhat of a happy song with blues electric guitar parts, and the next one River Man, which is a hauntingly sad surreal song. The string arrangements on here are probably (aside from his acoustic guitar) the best instruments, and make everything so atmospheric, from the lead stuff in 3 hours and fruit tree to the atmospheric stuff in day is done and river man. Obviously his whole discography is infinitely sadder knowing his whole story, and its even more sad reading into the lyrics of fruit tree, he literally predicts his own legacy. The lyrics are also amazing, and I think totally unique from anyone else at the time and since, as he blends a lot of references to nature with quite surreal wordings and metaphors. RIP Nick Drake. Favourite songs: all of them. Overall around 10/10

Great Folk album

Some really fantastic folk here. Some of it's got a western vibe that gives me shades of Jose Gonzalez and Gustavo Santaolalla (particularly his work on Last of Us) with songs like Three Hours. Some jazzy southern Lynyrd Skynyrd-like stuff like Saturday Sun. Weirdly Time Has Told Me is giving me Alice in Chains vibes? Maybe some Elliot Smith on some of the songs too. Suffice to say, Nick Drake is highly influential. But yeah. Beautiful folk music with an amazing warmth to it. Was excited to get some of his stuff because I saw people always give his albums Bryter Layter and Pink Moon great reviews. Was not disappointed with this one. Edit: After sitting on this, and kinda getting obsessed with it lately (Especially with the song River Man), I'm bumping this up to a 5.

A relief after Pink Moon. To me this is Nick Drake at his finest. His beautiful guitar work and simple voice fleshed out with just the right amount of orchestration. River Man is, simply, one of the greatest songs and performances ever recorded. Things Behind The Sun and Way to Blue are gorgeously sad, and some of the later songs are remarkably cheery for Nick! A low 5 - I'd say the peak of his career.

Lwk the most poetic album so far, loved every second of it, Nick Drake you might be onto something boi

A difficult album to describe, but I’m gonna try. Hauntingly beautiful songs and instrumental arrangements put together by a deeply troubled and depressed artist (he died a few years after this album’s release from an intentional OD of his antidepressant meds). Kind of like a dark Paul Simon who plays a guitar like Guy Clark. The songs’ themes are all melancholy, but he makes them calming and lovely with his instrumentation not only on the guitar but string and woodwind instruments as well. It’s been a while since an album has hit me in the feels like this one. I will reiterate: all this praise is coming from me, the guy who prefers metal, 90s gangsta rap, and Lady Gaga, and can’t stand folk music. This means you should definitely listen to this record. Five Leaves Left is my 80th listen; there’s so many albums to go, but this will probably remain one of the best I hear. Nick Drake joins the top of the pyramid as my seventh 5/5.

In my top 5 favourite albums

Pastoral and autumnal, plaintive and melancholy. Love it. The accompanying musicians and instruments enhance the atmosphere and add mystical harmonies and textures that deepen the mystique of the record. I think this is Nick Drake's second best album, but you can make an argument being his best.

Simply gorgeous. The orchestration almost brings a tear to my eye. Nick Drake just knows how to hit the sweet spot.

This was a total surprise! I have never even heard of Nick Drake and was not expecting this bluesy, moody, and surprisingly modern album. This album could have easily been recorded in 2009 as opposed to 1969, the delicate instrumentation is varied and explorative while Drake's voice is soulful and lovely. 21st century emo wishes it sounded like this, wow! The cover is a 2/5 for me, the pic seems like an afterthought and I am not sure what the cropped border is trying to achieve.

I love Nick Drake. Beautiful pastoral folk. Only made 3 records but they all do it for me.

I guess this is just my kind of thing. Possibly, that's not a good sign.

Overall: 9/10 Well, I'm not even a year into this journey and I've now gotten all 3 Nick Drake albums. I've fallen in love with his music over the last year and the discovery of him has been mt favourite thing about doing this project. In terms of this album, it's sort of somewhere between the sparse instrumentation of Pink Moon and the overproduction of Bryter Layter. It's noce to hear how his music was originally intended to be. There's acoustic guitars, piano and lots of strings going on here. I think it all goes perfectly with his uniquely beautiful voice. I still think Pink Moon id my favourite but this is a very close second. RIP Nick. Fav Song: The Thoughts of Mary Jane

Loved this a lot!!! Sunday morning music.

probably my favorite nick drake

Hard to overstate the importance of Drake’s music to me. Something about it just ticks all the right boxes; the lyricism, guitar playing, orchestral arrangements supporting, his voice, and the general sense of melancholia I get listening to it. Cello song is up there with one of my all time favourites.

Ive seen this Nick Drake everywhere for years in the conversation of goat artists. Knowing that isn't even widely considered his best and loving it so much, has my really excited to listen to his other stuff. 10/10

OK, this Project is really having its way with me these last two days. Nick Drake is simply an unparalleled artist for making you feel something, and his story is so deeply resonant and tragic. This is, I think, not quite his best album, which says something, because it's almost perfect really. River Man, I mean, I don't even know where to start with the tone of the guitar, with his beautiful, dreamlike voice or with the lyrics. And of course, towards the end of this album, on the lovely Man In A Shed, the defining lyrics of his life: They’ll all know that you were here when you’re gone. Quite so Nick, we all know, and thank you.

Wow this album is stunningly beautiful

Gorg beaut

An absolute master of his craft continuing to redefine what it means to be an artist.

Just an incredibly beautiful album. Acoustic and melancholy. Drake’s influence is written all over the music of artists like Alexi Murdoch, Jose Gonzalez and Iron & Wine.

An insanely strong debut by Nick Drake. He hones the sounds of nature and tranquility through the use of various strings, wind instruments, and percussion to create beautiful 60's folk music. Wish I listened to it in a different setting.

Nic Fucking Drake

Really great album!

This album reinvigorates my will to live, but simultaneously makes me want to lie down and die.

All of Nick Drake's albums will be getting 5 stars from me. Love the melancholy feeling. This would probably be my third favourite of his, but it's still flawless.

Fabulous album from an underrated musician.

Soft, sweet, haunting melodies

Beautiful relaxing end of the evening vibe

Simply beautiful.

probably one of the best folk albums i've ever had the pleasure of listening to. unlike the stripped-back pink moon, the addition of chamber instruments fleshes out his sound and adds an atmospheric layer to the music that complements his soft voice perfectly. his songwriting ability is also showcased excellently on this album. every song feels cohesive, yet they are able to differentiate themselves from one another. and the lyricism is concise, but effective. what more can you ask for from a moody singer-songwriter folk album, really?

amazing album, love it I do believe Pink Moon is a stronger album, but this is still a masterpiece

more sad than any radiohead album could make me. except maybe amsp

A relisten: Lots of album I like to share with the world to make them love it but I want this one all to myself. This is my comfort music

How have I never heard Nick Drake before. Such sprawling interesting compositions, exquisite guitar playing and clearly ahead of his time. It’s hard to believe this was released in 1969. I will enjoy many more listens of this and his other work.

singer songwriter 69-72 garden state soundtrack

1969 England. folk pop, folk rock

sounds like a very troubled and internal person

Blown away. Never would have known about Nick Drake absent this app. Never would have had experienced the genre absent the app. Lost too soon. An unknown genius/

Phenomenal album. Sad he'd never see how influential his music became.

Like being lulled to sleep by a soul far too fleeting and desolate to understand. Gorgeous, moving, contemplative, sometimes brutal in hindsight (note the title and the years Nick had left to live by this point...). Wherever you are, Nick - you were, and are, so loved. It's a shame you never knew that. Favorite track is definitely Saturday Sun (but Time Has Told Me, River Man and Way To Blue are also highlights)

Zo'n heerlijk lekker in de zon met de gevoelens album

This is perfection. No notes.

I love Nick Drake. River Man is an amazing song. This is THE album if you're feeling low. What an amazing talent gone too soon. It brightens up as it goes on. I prefer Pink Moon, but this is a great album.

Great album

This was amazing and his later albums are even better. How in the fuck did this fly under my radar? IDK, but fuck yes;

BEST SONGS: - Three Hours - Day is Done - Saturday Sun

I see Nick Drake and give 5 stars.

’ve heard Five Leaves Left many times. I love it. Not sure if I like it or Pink Moon better, because they’re both fantastic. Nick Drake has a wonderfully mellow sound that is so relaxing. I was happy to see this album pop up as my next listen. He was such a talented guy. I wish there were more of his to listen to

heard this many times. like i previously mentioned when reviewing Pink Moon, I LOVE MR. DRAKE Time Has Told Me - 5/5 River Man - 5/5 Three Hours - 5/5 Way to Blue - 4/5 Day Is Done - 5/5 'Cello Song - 5/5 The Thoughts of Mary Jane - 5/5 Man in a Shed - 4/5 Fruit Tree - 5/5 Saturday Sun - 5/5 Average score: 4.8/5 okay i thought Pink Moon and Bryer Later were his best work but after listening more closely to this... maybe this is his best?? idk my answer for his best album changes all the time depending on the mood. i can confidently say that this is his most cohesive-sounding release out of all his work. i personally think all his albums are essential listening and worth listening to, but this is especially an accessible intro to his work

Beautiful and vulnerable

Never knew how good this was. The piano

Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Smile. Sigh. Drift. Float. Goosebumps. Chord change. Melancholy. Sadness. Hope. Uplifting. Profundity. Spectacular. Sit in the music. Follow it downstream. Back upstream. Never swim against it. Soak it in. Become it. This is an album like few others. The strings are perfect. Not a negative word to say about Mr Drake himself. Voice, guitar, lyrics, pace all perfect. Not sure i have a favourite song. It's all just so good. Love that bit in Cello Song when the shaker comes in. Innocuous but symbolic of the beautiful intricate details. 9/10

I didn't particularly like Pink Moon, and I gave it a middling three stars. However, this album actually managed to make me sit up and pay attention to Nick Drake. I really like it, and for those times when I just want to chill, or feel like something mellow and sombre, Five Leaves Left deserves a place in my Tidal library.

A quietly breathtaking debut. Nick Drake’s voice is soft but haunting, his guitar playing intricate yet effortless. Every song feels timeless, suspended in its own gentle melancholy. I could return to this any day — there’s always something beautiful waiting in the silence between the notes. An album that doesn’t demand attention, but earns devotion.

this was absolutely incredible - perfect dark folk for autumn, and i feel like i’ll love it even more if/when i dive into the lyrics. the guitars and strings are so nostalgic to me, and i definitely need to listen to more of his music now

It's not an album where you come back to relisten to some banger singles but the whole experience overall is Incredibly Good

Fuck yeah

Beautiful thing. Probably best Nick Drake album

Nick Drake is a top 5 artist for me, I could listen to this forever.