Five Leaves Left

09/12 Was okay

I think this is better than his first album. I don't remember anything on that one except for the acoustic guitar. I like the fact that he has a band backing him on some of the tracks. I've never been able to get into English folk music too much. I loved Donovan back in the day but he was psychedelic. I really like Richard Thompson but he has the electric side of him to balance out the folk side. One of the problems I have is I just don't like Nick Drake's voice very much. A lot of the songs are good and some are boring. I know it's just me so if you're into English folk music, I highly recommend this to you but not to the general public.

Beautiful Idyllic songs.

Pink Moon gets all the love, but this album is excellent!

not for me, but i can think of a couple of people in my life that would love this

One of the few perfect albums - timeless

Dreamy

It's a fairly good album it's a lot like pink moon so if you've heard one you've heard both imo

A welcome relief from yesterday's bullshit.

A pretty rich and full listen for its time, and perfect to be queued up for the poetry meet

Pink Moon was my favorite but think I now like this one better.

Spotify showed me that I rather do enjoy Nick Drake and music/artists from the same vein. Definitely an elite album to play in the September-October timeframe.

equal parts lovely + equal parts depressing = Five Leaves Left

All Nick Drake albums are represented in the 1001 and no matter what your opinion on Nick Drake is, they are all basically exactly as good as each other.

Beautiful melodies and chord arrangements. A delightful album. Every track is great on it. It's a tragedy that Nick left this world so early.

Nick Drake made music for quiet moments of introspection. For when you need a warm hug on a rainy day.

41 minutes too long.

i’m sorry but i do not like at all omg 😭 absolutely not my style whatsoever

This album HAS to be ATLEAST 4 stars Nick Drake is simply a poet, a tragic poet at that. His songs are literal poetry, and unfortunately their cynical / depressive nature sadly helps understand why he died so young. The song-writing is incredible. The instrumentals are incredible. While I'm not fully a fan of Nick's vocals, I can't complain that much. I'm definitely gonna dive into this man's other albums. For my first major folk album, this shit is amazing

It's really good for this type of record. Though I don't see myself listening to this type of record more than 5 times in my life. 4/5.

Zzzzzzz

great folk albums with nice acoustic tracks...very melancholy

I have a Nick Drake greatest hits so I know a few of these songs very well and its a lovely melodic listen. I had not realised what a troubled and shortened life he had.

Pretty much the same review I wrote for Pink Moon. I have heard some Nick Drake tunes popping up on acoustic playlist, in film soundtracks - where his melancholy does the work for the director - but had not sat down to listen to an album of his, until Pink Moon popped up. Five Leaves is less bare, less melancholy with the addition of the orchestral instrumentation, but still beautifully haunting. His sound is often copied now, so much so that I thought he was a modern artist - no idea that 5 Leaves was 1969 and Pink Moon 1972. Glad he is getting posthumous recognition, but so very sad.

And with that I've completed the Nick Drake discography. Something about his vocals is incredibly soothing. I'm a sucker for his style of guitar playing as well. It's such a shame that his life ended at such a young age, I would have loved to hear how he evolved as an artist in later years.

I’ve never gotten into ND

I like Nick Drake, this is a good album to listen to on a chilled morning with a coffee. I’ve definitely played this one before, the songs are all vaguely familiar.

Nick Drake surely is one of the best songwriters of his time. Still, I feel like the vocal variety on this one wasn't enough to pull me through

Definição de um dos mais puros ápices do sentimentalismo humano, gravado em 10 faixas. Nick Drake seja sempre lembrado como um dos grandes compositores já nascidos, e que toda sua obra não seja ignorada como foi na época em que foi lançada. Justiça para um dos grandes.

This was a cool listen. Definitely not my normal cup of tea, but I enjoyed it regardless. Interesting soundscape.

Un debut muy bueno y hermosamente compuesto, con un trabajo de cuerdas tremendo y letras llenas de historias oníricas y naturales, la voz de Nick es muy relajante y sensible, además de tener un gran talento rítmico y armónico en la guitarra.

Nick Drake was a phenomenal guitarist and lyricist and I’m glad all 3 of his albums make the list. This is probably his weakest effort (prefer Pink Moon) but still a gorgeous album

Nick Drake is so good his acoustic guitar playing is some of the best I've heard and I love his vocals this music is very emotional which I love one of my favs

four stars instead two so that my friend is satisfied

Mit jedem mal besser

Zelfs na 2 kannen koffie bleef dit nog steeds slaapwekkend.

Ik voel het niet

Album #147: Five Leaves Left - Nick Drake Genre (W): Folk, folk-pop, chamber folk, folk rock Singles: River Man (2004) I have listened to this album several times! Thoughts?: This is such a lovely and mysterious album. I love Nick Drake, how he plays the guitar, how he writes his songs, which are equally beautiful and mysterious. I also love the arrangements in the songs, a beautiful album all around. Favorite tracks: All of it!!

9/10 – Great

Quite serene and lovely

Chill and easy listening. I have not heard of this artist before and found the music well written and produced.

Has a place in someone’s rotation, and I can recognize the artistry, but I don’t think that rotation is mine. It does have a strong finish with Saturday Sun though.

3.8

lindo

Took a while to warm up to this album. Not the biggest folk music fan, but as soon as the orchestration came in I was more invested. Pretty good. 3.5 stars

Slowly getting into quite a bit of Nick Drakes stuff. Not my favourite album from him but soem really nice moments on here.

what an impeccable album. the fact nick drake didn’t find success in life is so upsetting because, just to imagine a world in which he succeeded in the music industry is a beautiful thought. i beautiful, tortured soul making some of the most heart-wrenching, soul-bearing music ever. and this is my LEAST favorite nick drake album. a 100% perfect discography, beginning with this 100% perfect album.

Liked fruit tree

I liked most of this album. It kind of reminded of Elliot Smith in a way not his singing but kind of how he was singing. It’s beautiful and sad and melancholy. But not all songs. The orchestra playing around him was quite beautiful. I’m not sure how troubled he was but you could tell there was something going on.

#1042. This is old folks' home music. 3/5: fine

It's very nice to listen to this Nick Drake album once again. This was another breakthrough in my music listening, where I could find out that music didn't have to be fast nor aggressive to have an emotional impact on me. I'm not sure how I discovered Nick Drake back as a teenager - probably through my interest in folk music, but I'm glad that I did at the time. This was the first album I heard from him. Reading about it again, I had no idea that Richard Thompson played on the first track, and that Danny Thompson of Pentangle played bass on most. I also was unfamiliar with how the album was produced - apparently, much of the warm and dynamic sound comes from the fact that Drake would play live with the session musicians in the studio, surrounding him as he played and sung. What a sight that must have been. About Drake - what is there to say on this album that hasn't been repeated a million times? His finger picking is still out of this world, and his deep, moody voice and singing perfectly captures the melancholy ambiance of each song. You could tell at this point he was so full of hope that his music would reach many listeners (it didn't at the time, sadly, but it continues to do so 50+ years after his death). I honestly think because his vision was way too ahead of his time. The music is often too complex, too out there, too uncompromising to reminisce any semblance of "pop" yet this album as a whole is folk and pop masterpiece. Whether it's the warm, folky tracks like "Time Will Tell Me" or "Cello Song", or the lush, dark, brilliant string filled tracks such as "River Man" and "Day Is Done", or the odd, experimental, hypnotizing "Three Hours" and "Fruit Tree" or the straightforward chamber pop of "Way to Blue" or the bluesy "Saturday Sun", Drake continues to explore what he is capable of doing in such a short amount of album time, at such a young age no less. He was like 20 or 21 when he wrote these! Other than his mother Molly Drake, a songwriter herself, being a huge influence of his music, I feel was also the seasons, the ever changeable climate of Great Britain that perhaps made an impact on his sound (not just his mental health). The lyrics are, as always, astonishing. Here's a few that I enjoy: "Betty said she prayed today For the sky to blow away Or maybe stay She wasn't sure" "Three hours from sundown Jeremy flies Hoping to keep The sun from his eyes East from the city And down to the cave In search of a master In search of a slave" "When the day is done Down to earth, then, sinks the sun Along with everything that was lost and won When the day is done" "Fame is but a fruit tree so very unsound It can never flourish 'til its stock is in the ground So men of fame can never find a way ‘Til time has flown far from their dying day" Drake was lucid about what he was feeling and what he was seeing about the world around him, and encouraged the listener to shamelessly partake in his views whilst still showing that beauty and love was still abundant. It's hard to decide which Drake album is the best. This had an enormous impact on me, but these days I find that some of the songs are a little misplaced or not as poignant as some of the stuff he'd make later. So, for now, 4.5 stars, but could change over time. A beautiful, moody, yet accessible first listen for Nick Drake to fans and newcomers alike.

Tråkigt tråkigt tråkigt. Och att ha två album av samma artist inom två veckor. Hemskt!

Pas ouf

I got Pink Flag as one of my first few albums and my thoughts basically got summed up as "I think this man was sad." Having listened to Five Leaves Left, I can confirm that this man was sad. I don't really vibe with this music much, nor get much from it. It's fine, but just not really for me.

Beautiful quiet folk record, sad in places but it feels very mysterious in a way like the musician is holding a lot back. Really enjoyed it

Delicate, simple and very, very English. Dripping in sadness, but beautiful and probably timeless. Sold almost no copies in his lifetime, but he's obviously one of the great songwriters.

3.5 This was a nice album, but nothing groundbreaking for me

Not my style.

Much better album after dedicated time with the album

Enjoyable sound but would definitely have to be in a very specific mood to listen again. I think Day is Gone and 'Cello Song were my favorites.

Die melancholische Stimmung und Stimme, dazu die Arrangements mit Streichern und Cello - ein ganz starkes Debüt.

I think this is the best version of Drake. It’s fine

An absolute classic. I found this after it got popular, but still many years ago, and absolutely loved it. Still so good. It's just so sad that no one discovered his genius while he was still alive.

Good acoustic guitar, very reminiscent of Paul Simon. But the album itself feels very monotone - same tempo, same vibe for every song. Might listen again while reading or to have something in the background.

Controversial take here: maybe my least favorite of Nick Drake's trilogy. But don't take that too harshly, as I think he never made a bad record or even a record that was less than great. I'll go on record and say "Time Has Told Me", "Way to Blue" and "Fruit Tree" are some of his best songs.

J'ai aimé la vibe qui est tombé au bon moment. Son préféré : Way to blue

excellent. not as good as “Pink Moon”

2.0 Boring AF

Piola, buenos temas, nada wow. 6.5/10

This is a nice album, it's definitely melancholy but the vocals and the instrumentation are quite nice. I liked it.

Beautiful. 5 because of River Man.

good

Rolled my eyes when this popped up because of my meh-ness about Blood On the Tracks. I was so wrong (learning to love when this happens). The sound is so rich, whether its the strings, or the constantly interesting arrangements. The gentleness of his voice is heartbreaking now knowing his story, and refreshing contrasted against the dense field of pick-me folk singers today. Can't wait to listen again, in the woods.

Verges a little close to background music at times, but mainly lovely.

Decent, maybe a bit to chill for me

Quite pleasant and gentle

Gorgeously crafted and performed, the classical elements work so well. Such a pretty experience

J'admire Nick Drake pour son influence majeure sur le folk rock et tout ce qui y est associé. Très beau tour ça mais un peu monotone au final. J'ai préféré Bryter Layter.

Au contraire de Félix, j'ai préféré celui-ci à Bryter Layter, ça m'a marqué beaucoup plus. Peut-être un peu de "recency bias"? J'aime beaucoup sa petite voix presque chuchotée. Et son jeu de guitare est quand même incroyable. Pas du folk plate ici. En plus sont histoire de vue bien déprimante ajoute à la mystique de l'album, chose que je n'aviat pas lu lors de Bryter Layter. Bien hâte à Pink Moon maintenant!

The first time I heard River Man I went out and got this album the same day. It's so good, in a haunting melancholic way.

Very pretty, but a bit quiet for me. “Cello Song” stood out to me.

Another pretty short post, since I’m traveling right now: Nick Drake’s “Five Leaves Left” sounds like any other singer-songwriter album from the 1960s. That’s not a bad thing at all, since the folk scene of the 1960s was certainly remarkably vibrant and innovative. However, in my opinion, at least the latter isn’t the case with this recording, which makes evaluating it very easy: perhaps that’s the definition of average.

Me encantó. Sentí desde un inicio como una vibra nostálgica. Sus canciones me tenían en un trance casi hipnótico por el ritmo y su melodía. Me sentía como una de las últimas cinco hojas.

571/1089 - Amazing album. Really love Fruit Tree and the sparse arrangement tinges throughout. River Man with the con sordino strings and Saturday Sun with the tasteful vibraphone call and response... just super great variety. Just a wonderful album. Definitely in my Top 15. I have this on vinyl but there's a scratch on my favorite song Fruit Tree :(

Second favorite Nick Drake album, still a masterpiece though. Thoughts of Mary Jane is by far the most beautiful song he ever released. Great opener and closer here as well.

Saturday Sun was a masterpiece - the start of the record is slightly slow for my taste but way to blue and cello songs is when i found myself enjoying the record the most. Lastly, I would have like something more vocally.

Muy tranqui

Not bad

The debut album from this sensitive singer songwriter. Some great laid back songs about life love and other things. Practically unheard of outside his native England. Never had any commercial success. Has a smooth voice and delivery of his songs. Left us too soon. 🙏

Don’t know that I needed to listen to multiple Nick Drake albums. This one was ok but not as good as Bryter Layter or Pink Moon.

Damn 2 nicks down already! Probably his weakest but still good!

Not for me

I loved this album, I'm very partial to folksy, singer-songwriter style music and this fit the bill! Beautiful music, lyrics and vocals. I felt transported to another time and place - a little cottage in the woods with a cup of tea.

A van Gogh like artist. Made famous in the afterlife. I get it. I get why people attach to artists like this. The vulnerability these types of artists put out in their music is what attracts them. Add in a questionable death & Fascination follows. Pleasantly dull. Reminds me of Norah Jones. 2

First listen

5/10.

time has told me this is a chill one you could play this while having a picnic or looking back on better times not paying attention to the lyrics but that’s the vibe i get river man the quiet guitar intro is really lovely ooo we’ve got a vibey string part 2:20ish enjoy three hours there’s a lot of moody guitar in this album and i like it oo we’re being percussive and speeding up it’s fun but i think bro may only have one vibe sad-ish songs are a LOT easier to write than happy ones i do wonder if he knows how still probably gonna rank high since i’m enjoying the vibe and the strings way to blue ooo more strings very nice ok having read through the wikipedia his sound is thought through and intentional it seems can get behind this it reminds me of something my school orchestra or choir would do saturday sun he’s saying the title a bit too much but i’m enjoying trying to figure out if that’s a glockenspiel or what so this album isn’t the most exciting thing ever but whoever said it had to be? kinda enjoying how comfortable the chill repetitiveness is. sounds like something out of an old movie, i enjoy the strings and other extra instrument parts.

there were points of this album where i was like "wow this is beautiful". i loved the soft, orchestral, sometimes melancholy vibe of this album, and it felt very nice as i was driving into work on a calm, sunny, early autumn morning.

smooth tunes! new to me and i enjoyed this songwriter soft listening.

A name I have heard but not listened to. I like some neofolk (the non sketch kind) and a lot of rock/metal with folk influences. ----- Nick is a very competent acoustic guitar player that is for sure. His noodling is soothing, melodic and honest. As an album it is quite dark in theme with the use of other instruments to enrich his sound. I particularly like [Way to Blue] and it's atmospheric strings which we see again in [Cello Song]. Overall it's a moody mix of folk with classical influences which occasionally lacks in dynamism. ***

Solid Americana, surprised I haven't heard Nick Drake before!

Just a really good feeling with this. My mom probably liked this a lot.

It's pleasant. I don't have the patience to find the good in this

Mopey man music. Maybe if it was fall and raining out.

boring.

First listen. I’m very familiar with Pink Moon, and love that album. I do t like this one quite as much. It’s good, not great and maybe one song stands out Cello Song.

I've heard of him for years, but I'd never listened before. this was a really good album, even sixty years on it seems really fresh. 4/5.

7 - good, relaxed Nick drake fare with a bit bigger sound than pink moon

If fall had a sound it would be Nick Drake Albums.

Love this album.

An interesting combination of folk and smooth blues-y country with just a little bit of jazz thrown in for good measure. Nick Drake has beautiful smooth vocals that seem to float on the wonderfully arranged strings and woodwind in "The Thoughts of Mary Jane". There is a real beauty in Nick Drakes songs. Even when he is dwelling on sombre subjects like in "Way to Blue" there is still a grandiosity and spectacle in the the orchestral nature of the song. It could quite easily be background music, but it can also be very inspiring. I really enjoyed this album. (3.800)

Not quite as strong as the other two Nick Drake albums, but still a solid listen.

Not for me

I enjoyed these soulful ballads. The albums songs that came out in the late 60's and early 70's were the background music of my teens and early 20's. Great album.

Pretty nice

I guess there's some 3 star stuff in there, but an album that's not for me.

Beautiful and bittersweet folk.

Always something warm and haunting about Nick Drake. An enjoyable listen.

I want to like Nick Drake. He's often recommended to me, and is clearly adjacent to lots of stuff I really love. And it's pretty good: you can hear the craft in the arrangements and the emotions in the lyrics. But ... he just never fully comes together for me. I think there's a degree of monotony, of flatness, in his delivery and style that I just can't quite get on board with.

A beautiful folksy album, carefully composed and delicately delivered. This really is a gem of an album that delivers on all levels. An album worthy of 5 stars every time, with a deeply dark underbelly behind the soft music.

Just a gorgeous album in every sense. The fact that this was Drakes first makes his untimely death even more impactful.

I think I probably wanted to be Nick Drake when I was a kid - that mysterious singer who'd gone too soon and left a dearth of work that meant so much to everyone. I loved folk music, always have and always will. But the other side of Nick Drake's coin was Syd Barrett, and soon I was obsessed with Pink Floyd's early experimental work. I do wonder if this would be my downfall, but there are too many men with guitars in DADGAD trying to be Mr. Drake. ────────────────── Nick Drake was 20 years old when he started recording his debut album Five Leaves Left, but he already sounded old beyond his years at this point. At this point in his life, he was studying English Literature at Cambridge University, and disregarding his studies - preferring to experiment with Open Tunings and marijuana. He would skip lectures to get the train up to London and record his album, recorded with his college friend Robert Kirby providing the majority of the beautiful orchestration. After listening to this album again and again, I think his decision to skip lectures was for the best. ────────────────── When I was 20 years old, I started work on my debut album. And I wanted it to sound huge. It was a collection of songs I'd spent the past five years writing and honing with my band. I say this as if it was an ambitious project, and not my desperate attempt to make something of my life and my music degree. It was supposed to be finished by March of 2019, and it just wasn't. There was never the sound I wanted, and that was purely because none of us had worked long enough at it. The instrumentalists were great for the most part, but we hadn't been in the studio long enough - we hadn't learned the tricks of the trade. The multitracking, the way to maximise the use of our spaces. We hadn't come to learn to mix properly. ────────────────── There are so many beautiful cuts on this album, but River Man stands out as a centrepiece. It feels like a play on Stevie Smith's 1950 poem The River God - a personification piece, using the River Mimram as a lecherous God of his domain - killing a bathing woman to keep her next to his river bed. It's also inspired by the German novel Siddartha by Herman Hesse, which in turn was inspired by the teachings of Vedic texts and Buddhism. There's an obvious link between reincarnation and the flowing of the river. In this case, it's almost definitely the River Cam - a river in Cambridge that Nick would cross every day on his way to classes. The river reincarnates. ────────────────── I spent the first four years of adulthood by the Cornish Sea. I wonder if I should have let it influence me more. There's always something in water that draws poets in, gives them something to write about. The flowing nature of running water that shows the changes of the worlds - you eventually see yourself in a body of water. Whether it's the roaring tides, or the gentle running of a stream, the universal need and appreciation of water has given the world some of it's most enduring songs. From shanties, to When The Levee Breaks, to River Man. We find ourselves bathing. ────────────────── 8/10 Choice Tracks: River Man Cello Song The Thoughts of Mary Jane Man In A Shed Saturday Sun

Fantastic album. Loved the guitars and vibe throughout.

A light breathy acoustic album. I didn’t really find anything all that special in this album. It was decent. Nice guitar work, some fun instrumentation in there, lyrics were great (very poetic), vocals got kind of samey after a while. Most of the singing was done in a kind of breathy way with no real dynamic swings. It didn’t really add anything to the experience. I’m sure Nick Drake has better albums out there (Pink Moon), but this one didn’t wow me. It’s just fine.

The least of the 3 but still very good

Just beautiful. I added “Saturday Sun” to my playlist.

Increíble descubrimiento!!

Time has told me, River man, and day is done, are my favorite songs in this album, I don't think I'll ever stop listening to these songs

Mec mélancolique

I was just bored by this. I think after hearing two Nick Drake albums, I can officially say I'm not a fan.

Ok

A nice album, but he just doesn't excite me with the way he performs. Kinda boring

Three hours cracked Oy Hand drums with amer prim guitar

Genuinely wonderful stuff. I want to relisten to it while on a hike in autumn.

Nick Drake Actually quite enjoyed this album. Faves: Saturday Sun

rès sympa, super cool, je m’attendais pas à aimer mais en fait c’était très bien. très calme avec des petites envolées à la guitare très sympas.

This was my second Nick Drake album; it didn't quite hit me like Bryter Layter but it is a really pretty, comfy album.

Rating: 5.0/5 Short Review: Quietly devastating. Five Leaves Left is delicate without being fragile. Nick Drake’s soft voice, intricate fingerpicking, and Robert Kirby’s beautiful string arrangements create an album that feels timeless. Every song seems to exist in its own peaceful, melancholy space. (en.wikipedia.org⁠) Favorite Track: “River Man.” One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. The unusual 5/4 rhythm, haunting strings, and Drake’s understated vocal make it unforgettable.

This album just wasn't for me. I liked the instrumentation, especially 'Three Hours', but I found Nick Drake's voice irritating and most of the lyrics too abstract to connect with. 'Man in a Shed' was the only song I really understood. I didn't enjoy it, and I couldn't see what made it special for me.

This is the one I know the least. It’s gorgeous, and I will listen again but probably not as much as the other two

Soft instrumentals and vocals are easy listening. Pleasent enough so long as the volume is kept low.

Haunting, depressing, timeless

Masterpiece. Truly. Unfathomably beautiful at times. How did people not notice this man?! Just amazing, always liked Nick Drake but had never done this album start to finish and now I’m just even more blown away. Gorgeous strings, gorgeous guitar as always, some of the best lyrics out there. Just wow. 10/10. Favourite Tracks: - Fruit Tree - River Man - Three Hours - Time Has Told Me - Saturday Sun - Feel to Believe

Nice acoustic music.

This is lovely and regrettably a plane album. I hope i give it another listen.

Really glad to have discovered Nick Drake through this experience, another delightful album!

Not a big fan of this one, but great strings on Way To Blue, and Day is Done gave feeling good vibes

He’s a beautiful songwriter without a second gear

Breath of fresh air

I'm in a blah mood today so this album fits, I enjoyed it more than I might have otherwise.

Great album

Interesting and easy to listen to. It kind of reminds me of similar singers (Robert Roseeka & B.J. Thomas). Good album.

This was the first time hearing Nick Drake. I really enjoyed this album. The instrumentation is the same almost all the way through: Nicka voice and guitar, strings and sometimes a drum. The last song has piano. Its close, safe and intimate throughout but has a lot of beautiful surprises. There are nice melodies and his voice makes them sound great. At points it feels ambient and drony, almost indian. schemas activitied: Patti Smith, Indian Ragas, Tallest Man on Earth

Love him

This album was great. Kind of a hard listen, just as the subject matter is very bare and raw.

Pretty chill album, but it's also quite old at this point. There are little bits here and there that are somewhat exciting, like how Day Is Gone was quite alright, but it's nice having it in the background.

This was pretty boring.

Really enjoyed this one. Something almost magical feeling about it I don’t know how to explain it.

Not for me, full as dishwater

cozy but felt a little long

Sparse arrangements and hypnotic vocals…it’s a Nick Drake album. This is a very strong 3 but could be a 4.

There was some beautiful guitar work in here but again nothing that left me wanting more.

Beck, Elliot Smith and Kurt Vile should just give him a writing credit they're such direct ripoffs. That said - I like all of them better than this. Very innovative but also boring as hell. Some awesome string arrangements on River Man.

When the strings hit in River Man I knew I was in for a treat. this album makes me feel like I'm watching a movie where the weather is dreary and the protagonist is going through some sort of difficult situation or difficult time in their life. now whether the lyrics actually match that Vibe I'm not certain unfortunately I don't have the time to sit down and pour over the lyrics and this project makes it difficult to do that on a daily basis but maybe someday Maybe

The last Nick Drake album on my journey, and it's oddly enough his first. After giving it a listen, I feel like I am due to revisit his other albums at some point, because man, this was really good. Five Leaves Left is such a warm-sounding record, characterized largely by Nick's hushed vocals, his intricate acoustic guitar fingerstyle playing, Danny Thompson's equally complex double bass plucking, and the myriad of instrumental embellishments from the session personnel, all enhanced by Joe Boyd's spacious production. There's an almost jazz-like quality to the way Nick and Danny played off each other for the majority of the runtime, particularly on a track like "Three Hours," where the two are given plenty of room to go off. I likewise enjoyed the breathtaking airy moments when the string arrangements take command, like on "Way to Blue" and "Day Is Done." There are other markedly characteristic tunes, such as "'Cello Song" with Clare Lowther's lowly playing on the titular instrument next to Rocky Dzidzornu's hazy percussion, Lyn Dobson's whimsical flute on "The Thoughts of Mary Jane", Paul Harris's jaunty piano tickling on "Man in a Shed", the myriad of wind instruments ebbing and flowing across "Fruit Tree", and Tristan Fry's light vibraphone in the background of "Saturday Sun". Of course, Nick Drake remains the album's focal point, with his melancholic lyrics that never shy away from the troubles, yet there's ever the glimmer of hope. Perhaps it's in the way I interpret his persistence for brighter days ahead on "Time has Told Me", the impressionistic picture of a summertime stroll on "River Man", the desperation in finding guidance in life on "Way to Blue", the pondering over someone else's enjoyment in "The Thoughts of Mary Jane", or the desire to find that loved one who would bring joy and positivity to him on "Man in a Shed", but there are the briefest of moments where Nick was aiming towards a better outlook. Obviously, it's not enough to stop him from thinking about the relentless passage of time, certainly not on "Fruit Tree" when he considers that true art becomes appreciated after the artist is long gone. Nevertheless, the effort was there to wonder for greater things. All in all, Five Leaves Left is an astounding record, with Nick Drake pondering with such weathered eyes while still having the music sound so vibrant. Again, I am tempted to revisit those other records of his, but what a way to close out my time with him on this journey.

Absolutely stunning, very emotional, makes me want to discover Drake's full discography. I'm not even a folk fan originally, but this album moved me.

Just lovely stuff. What a shame we lost him so soon.

Muy lindas melodías pero ahi se queda. En todos los temas se disfruta la combinación de instrumentos y la armonía que estos generan, pero siento que con una buena explosión, momento de mayor impacto por así decirlo, o cambio en el ritmo sería temazo tras temazo. La voz del Nicky también medio apagada en todos los temas. Buen album para sentarse afuera de una cabaña en el Sur con un mate.

I think in general I just don’t like Nick Drakes voice? The album is good I think but his voice just doesn’t do it for me

Such a beautifully sad album.

This site loves to showcase singer / songwriter / solo album , and I've generally grown tired and jaded by them. But Nick Drake ....OK. I can get the interest. I may not listen to it very often, but...it is very good.

was good, not my type of music but I still liked it, some songs sounded similar to each other but it wasn't that big of a deal, 7/10

This is the third, and final Nick Drake album I'll get on here as I recently read that he sadly died young and just released the 3 albums. It feels oddly fitting that this is my preferred one out of the three, as once I had finished it I only then looked up about him and read about the sadness of his life/death. That does explain his music a lot more. I felt like there was more going on here musically than on the others and I enjoyed songs such as "River Man", "Day Is Done" and "Thoughts of Mary Jane". I would actually listen to this again which isn't something I considered with Bryter Layter and Pink Moon. Though I admittedly wasn't a fan of the others, I'll say thanks Nick for contributing to the wonderful world of music.

Great easy listening compositions

Sultry and poetic, Nick Drake truly was the precursor to people like John Mayer and Pete Yorn. I’ll admit to not paying too much attention to the lyrics whilst listening. I just let the instruments and his voice carry me off. I enjoyed this album, though not as much as the other that I’ve already come across in this list.

Not bad!

Such a beautiful album

Beautiful.

Great writer but music is very monotone and just did not hold my attention.

very relaxing. we just got a puppy and she is finding comfort in this album

There were a few nice sounding tracks on this near the beginning but otherwise was boooooring. Its very pretty though. 3 stars

A nice listen! I'll probably revisit this one again, but for now not a lot stood out. Standout Tracks: Time Has Told Me, Three Hours, Man in a Shed Rating: 3.5

96

Sounds like pretty standard folk to me on first listen, the Nick Drake hype is not clicking for me but I'm also not a huge folk fan to begin with. Three Hours, 'Cello Song were the highlights for me.

Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left is one of those albums that quietly pulls you into its world. It's incredibly soothing, with gentle acoustic guitar, delicate string arrangements, and Drake's soft, introspective voice creating an atmosphere that feels timeless. Listening to it reminds me of Game of Thrones at its most peaceful, or old English folk songs echoing through the countryside. There's a distinctly medieval, pastoral quality to the music that makes it feel like it's from another era. What makes the album so captivating is its simplicity. Nothing feels forced or overproduced—every song unfolds naturally, giving the listener space to absorb the emotion. Drake's lyrics are thoughtful and poetic without being overly complicated, and the melancholy running through the album never becomes overwhelming. Instead, it feels comforting, like a quiet walk through misty fields on an autumn morning. Although Five Leaves Left wasn't widely appreciated when it was first released, it's easy to see why it's now considered one of the greatest folk albums ever made. It's subtle, beautiful, and rewarding with every listen. If you're looking for music that feels peaceful, reflective, and deeply rooted in English folk traditions, this album is hard to beat.

Too melancholy and dour. I did not enjoy this album.

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.

Me gustaría escucharlo nuevamente con más atención en las letras. Algunas me gustaron mucho, como River Man, pero de todos modos no es algo que escucharía hasta gastarlo. Me gustó mucho más de lo esperado.

Lovely

Pretty calm and relaxing

fw nick drake again, obv not his best but a crazy debut at like 19.

Nick Drake keeps coming up for me and my response to it is always the same: I should probably give this more attention. Then life goes on and I forget all about Nick Drake.

So subtle and powerful

I love the idea that this music was largely ignored and gained critical and and commercial appreciation over twenty years since its making. Featuring musicians from Pentangle and Fairport as well as a lovely range of instrumental arrangement. It's produced by Joe Boyd, fresh from overseeing Syd Barrett (he should have known.....) and is melancholic, pastoral reflective, ruminating and above all highly creative. I heard it said that Drake's voice bears more than a passing resemblance to Peter Sarstedt, though he possesses a haunted quality that proved to be sadly accurate. This music sounds completely 1969-70.......but timeless as well. Fruit tree and river man are really powerful pieces.

Lovely, heartfelt stuff from the legendary singer-songwriter.

This was a really lovely listen. I didn't know much about Nick Drake prior to listening to this. His name was only vaguely familiar. Having learned about his short life, it's clear we lost a really special artist WAY too soon. 4

man in a shed is my fave

I did not expect to like this - thought "oh great, another British album by someone nobody cares about". But the interplay between Cave and the other musicians is great. The song he considered the centerpiece of the album is in 5/4. The harmony sounds interesting. So I wouldn't say this is going to work its way into my favorite albums but I like it. Following up with some Brad Mehldau since he covered River Man.

6/10

10/10

Unimpressed

Wistful and lovely.

Super chill, great for some background vibes

Lowkey- sometimes annoying vocals but pretty overall.

what if the river man also happens to be the man in a shed

Nice and mellow. Nick Drake has a beautiful and melancholic voice. Favourites: Cello Song, Day Is Done and River Man

In an amusing sequence, this album proceeded AC/DC’s Back in Black. You wish AC/DC could have grabbed Nick Drake, and said, “you need a pint or two, me boy.” Drake probably would have fallen through the floor boards. He is the most fragile of artists with both his voice and the instruments around him barely rising above conversational level. “This amplifier goes only to one.” Despite the lack of volume, Drake and his cohorts still manage to produce their share of dynamic music. Tracks like “Three Hours” have a folk darkness that sounds far scarier than anything on most metal albums. The undercurrent of bass with the delicate guitar figures sets up a sense of foreboding in the song. “River Man” has much of the same qualities as well. On most of the other tracks, Drake walks the fine line of his gentle sadness without falling into maudlin self-pity. Right from the start he hits the heart with “Time Has Told Me”, which dials down Fairport Convention’s instrumental prowess without sacrificing any of their poignancy. “ ‘Cello Song” manages this same feat as the guitar and cello combine for a unique blend before closing out the tune with bass, congas and string. The level of musicality in all the songs makes Drake’s work memorable, and few singers have ever delivered their line in such spot on manner, particularly for a debut album. A master of understatement, Drake offers enough lightness in a few notes to give a glimmer of hope to the dark clouds that circled much of his music.

I liked Pink Moon better but this was still fine.

Another Nick Drake banger. So underrated

I didn’t like this as much as the first one on here by Nick Drake. I think the instrumentation takes away from the fragile magic

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

Pretty music made by a pretty boy. I'm probably selling it short with this description but it just didn't do very much for me. Just somewhat boring and slow but I think he was talented. I read online that he was a very depressed person, partially because his music got very little recognition while he was alive. That makes me sad. I don't want to contribute to that problem even though he has been dead for many years. I think he's a talented guy who should have gotten more attention, this just isn't for me.

Boring balade

beautiful collection of ballads

i dont think this is bad, ive just never ever had a desire to listen to anything less. Ive heard a lot about Nick Drakes attributes as a artist included from well informed friends i trust. But for me as a listening experience this is so horrendously boring, its actually worse than some of the really bad things on this list, as it dosent even provide shock value.. I dont think ive ever been less inspired to put a record on, perhaps i am too young, or haven't listened hard enough. But for me i probably wont listen to any of this ever again.

Really enjoyed 2 songs. Rest is fine.

4.5

Aspirational acoustic guitar and vocal sounds. Orchestral overdubs not necessarily my cup of tea

Ok

Not really for me. Makes me angry

Baked bread while listening to this one. The perfect palette cleanse after listening to Duck Stab.

I don't have much to say about the album. It was very enjoyable, the riffs and motifs were pleasant.

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 album. Cello song is a cracker. Nick drake is the type of artists that transcend time, and have had so many artists emulate him that he fits in to any era. Awesome album, sit back and just fall into it

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

3.5

My favourite N. Drake, followed by closely by Nathan. Actually I can't think of any more This is a stunning album - hard to imagine it's a 22 year old folk singer's debut fresh out of university. Lovely guitar playing, evocative lyrics and arrangements that often bring something outside the norm. Drake's story is tragic but for me he gave us 3 amazing albums before his troubled life was ended. RIP

Mit Nick Drake und mir wird das nichts mehr. "Pink Moon " war auch nix für mich.

This was mellow, chill and a pleasant experience

This was really pretty and a lovely album for a rainy day. His voice is very comforting, and I thought the instrumentals complemented his lyrics incredibly well.

9/10 - Its a beautiful and hallowing album. The layers of instrumentation - each one is beautiful and it becomes more than the sum of its parts. Fav Tracks: Cello Song, Man in a Shed, Saturday Sun Heard before? ---–- ❌ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ✅

Ahh man. This is simply one of the most beautiful albums ever released. Like nourishment for the soul. 5

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

I rated Bryter Layter 5/5 - I think this deserves the same. My partner came into the room where I was listening to the album and was equally as surprised when we discovered it's from 1969.

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

First time listening to his music. Cool orchestration, the strings are beautiful. Really amazing, unique voice. Will have to look at more of his work.

Weno pero meh era todo similar pero quizas es porque ya me habia tocado escuchar otro de Nick Drake. Pero siento que el otro me gustó mucho más.

Fame is but a fruit tree so very unsound It can never flourish 'til its stock is in the ground

A selection of lovely acoustic tracks. Critics love this album overwhelmingly. And sure, it's good – but not "a perfect 5 stars" good. Time Has Told Me is a solid opener, and seemingly bold to begin an album with a fully acoustic track. George Harrison was praised for doing the same thing a year later, so I feel we should be doing our due diligence with this Drake guy. As long as the energy picks up later, we're working with some serious gold here. Next is River Man... Okay, admittedly this comes across as another slow, sombre, almost sappy acoustic guitar ballad. But dang it, those strings pack some serious punch. And the moments where the music selects a bizarre, high-tension chord, before smoothly resolving... listeners yearn for moments like those. Very easy to understand why this is one of the two most popular tracks on the album. Three Hours takes us somewhere more modal (Dorian) and extremely English-folk-sounding. Everything is in one chord, hearkening back to much older music when string and horn instruments could only play notes within one key. The complex, mysterious picking style reminds me a bit of S&G's Mrs. Robinson, though a ton of other music like this exists. Way To Blue is Way Too Blue for me. Actually, I don't know what happened, but around this point in the album, the songs sound extremely dark and depressed. Day Is Done is much the same way. I don't know if my ears (and heart) are cut out for this sort of thing, even if I did request a change in mood. We get a semblance of percussion in the more upbeat ' Cello Song. Another track with mostly one chord, though Drake musters the bravery to reach into the terrifying unknown of IV and V chord a couple of times. And by Thoughts Of Mary Jane, I'm convinced this Drake guy has a vested interest in whimsical fairytale-esque songwriting. Man In A Shed, despite having a decent piano part, doesn't really do anything for me. Drake's choice of singing voice doesn't do him any favours. That whispery, low-effort stuff reminds me of Billie Eilish, whose voice I dislike for the same reason. Fruit Tree doesn't do much different except adding back those gorgeous strings and an oboe. These songs would certainly benefit from better melodies – I couldn't sing a single one back to you if I tried. Saturday Sun is the best delivery of "piano ballad" on the entire record, helped substantially by a light touch of drums, bass, vibraphone, and several interesting chord changes. Even 4 stars might be too much. Ah, well. I'm feeling generous. 4/5 Key tracks: River Man, ' Cello Song, Saturday Sun

Has Simon & Garfunkel vibes, but far inferior songwriting and much more repetitive. Didn’t do it for me

2/5 While the music is nice and easy to listen too, I'm not the biggest fan of his voice unfortunately so I didnt enjoy this album as much as I'd hoped I would.

I suppose it's good "piano bar" music? Something that's easy on the ears but you don't really need to pay attention to.

I think maybe I am missing something about this guy since this is the third album on this list and he only made it to like 30yo. I think if I was 16, listening to this in my room, really, truly taking in the songwriting and lyrics I would appreciate it more than I do today. It's not bad but I don't need to listen again.

Theres a fine line between "hushed vocal tones" & "the bloke cant really sing" ....and just when Im about to solidify a grumpy-latter view a song like "Three Hours" comes on and sweeps you away with the sound/imagery laden lyrics.

I am so glad that I am in the portion of the population that has been exposed to the music of Nick Drake. I am also bummed that the world lost out on this beautiful soul early in his life. His music is so raw and utterly beautiful in its delivery. This was his introduction to the world and while I don't think it rises quite to the level of his magnum opus, Pink Moon, I do think it was an extrememly noble effort. There are some amazing highlights included within and the backing band adds an interesting dynamic to the folk sound. Get your ears on this record!

8/10

Surprisingly a lot more polished than Pink Moon even though it was earlier. Such an amazing talent and a tragic tale.

Very surprised by this one. Love how a lot of the tracks build on each other

This is nice. Dried flowers, cardamom, plywood cabin with smell of dust and sun. It's a lot like a second "Pink Moon," but I have room for a second "Pink Moon." I wonder if Nick had lived if he'd've given us a ... purple sun.

Did i like this more than Pink Moon? …yeah

A few good songs but overall too long to keep attention. Too much sounds the same.

Nothing stood out to me, but I love folk music so it was enjoyable for sure.

The vocals are to mono tone for my liking. The lyrics are interesting a good way. I enjoyed the music and most aspects of this album, just the vocal range that let me down.

Me dormí, un poco más de ritmo la próxima Nick

Really liked this album more than anticipated. Maybe it's because we've been on a Rock kick lately but was nice to see something a bit different. Decided to listen to this on my nicer headphones and it was totally worth it to hear more of the gorgeous guitar and strings in the background. This on a rainy day with some coffee in hand would slap.

reaaaaallyyyyy was rockin with this actually. one of my favorites so far I liked River Man and Saturday Sun the most

Smooth listening, one of these lyrics caught in my throat a little bit. Highlights: Fruit Tree, Way to Blue, Saturday Sun

I'm familiar with his work, and understand the iconic status attached to this album, but I've somehow never heard it before in its entirety. I enjoyed it. There, Ive said it. The first three tracks are superb. There are many latter year immitators that clearly take influence from this, but IMO they fall short in comparison. Just falls short of purchase material. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 ★★★☆☆(6/10) Total reviewed : 352 Already owned : 78 Purchased : 16 To buy : 3 Nope : 255

All three Nick Drake records are on the list. Pink Moon, 100% belongs. Bryter Later, less consistent but maybe more influential, and still full of great and memorable songs. This one, for me, does not merit a spot. There's good stuff here but none of it ever sticks with me like the songs on Pink Moon and Bryter Later

Sleepy. By that, I mean dreamy, and also lacking engagement. It's an interesting duality. Fairly eclectic instrumentation as well. I came close to shutting this down when I heard lap steel on the first track, but fortunately that wasn't a mainstay on this release. I will probably forget I listened to this, so it has failed to leave an impression and thus doesn't qualify as must-hear.

Time has told me gets me gets me every single time. Love the album from start to finish. RIP nick.

YOOOOOOO NICK

it was alright! i liked the acoustic but no songs really stood out to me! the sound blended together 2.5

OK as background

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

Sympa mais sans plus

Didn't like it as much as Pink Moon, but still very nice easy listening. Favorite Track: ' Cello Song

This album is like getting home from your friends funeral and still having a couple of hours left in the day before it is time to go to bed. You don't really want to do anything because the focus of the day should be your recently dceased friend, but also you do need to do something to pass the time until you can sleep.

Wasn't a fan.

Неплохо, что-то мне точно попадалось раньше, на фон кайф

It's chill. 2.5.

Enjoyable album, it just wasn't to my personal taste.

Echt uitzitten dit

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.

This was just fine to me. I can listen to it and appreciate it and don’t really feel too strongly one way or the other. That lands me at a 2.

This was good, but I didn’t like it as much as Pink Moon. His voice still comes through but the arrangement somehow misses the mark

This is a great singer-singwriter album. With simple instrumentation, the songwriting shines here and it's beautiful. I liked Pink Moon a little more, but this is still a nice album.

- Uscito il 3 luglio si spiegano molte cose, che archi. - La colonna sonora per una passeggiata fra boschi e sentieri - River man !! Way to blue !! Day is done (fav) !! ’Cello song !! Man in a shed !! - Che bel titolo, perfetto. Voto: 8

A very pretty sounding album. I always intend to listen to Nick Drake more than I do. He has a wonderfully clean and simple voice that really adds a lovely bit of contrast to the lush arrangements here. I already gave my life over to Elliott Smith though, and there’s only enough room for one sad acoustic boy in my life. This was lovely though, and is yet another album where you can see the countless number of artists he influenced.

My third and last album from Nick and I've grown to really appreciate and enjoy the melancholy folk style that he exudes. The strings feel very prominent on this album and pair well with his soft vocals so well. This is the style of folk that I gravitate towards more, the kind that seem to hold a deep pain in every line.

I already knew I loved this album, but I needed to hear it that day, so it went down very well.

Rating:★★★ Ok Album. I liked some of the songs, but I really liked the last song. Otherwise, lots of same sounding songs that made me zone out a bit.

Whilst there's nothing at all to dislike about Nick Drakes music I find the albums a bit samey without a great deal of variation. A pleasant enough listen but not enough to excite me unfortunately.

I liked this chilled folk nice \guitar warm vibe and a decent voice and lyrics.

Mellow, chill, alright

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.

Nick Drake, as I have said before, has been a bit of an albatross for me over the what, 20 or so years since folks decided to give him a rebirth? Because ultimately he is a fine guitarist but his post-hippie stoner-kid vibe just hasn't grabbed me. Like, I feel like this inspired every Jack Johnson/John Mayer/Dispatch/whisper mouthed frat guitarist of the turn of the century, and he will never properly pay amends for that. I think the guitar work strikes me a bit more on this earlier album than on Pink Moon. It's been a few months since I got that by now, but this feels a bit more upbeat, a bit more interesting. It's something I can picture wanting to learn musically. But it's that codeine voice that keeps this from resonating. Another 3* for nick.

A haunting yet peaceful listen. The guitar and instrumentals on here are really good! Likes: Three Hours; Day Is Done; Fruit Tree; Saturday Sun

This album is a lot better than his Pink Moon album which is on this record. Right from the top, Time Has Told Me, River Man, and Three Hours were all better than anything else off his other album, other than maybe Things Behind The Sun. It gets off to an excellent start. There's a bit of a Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds type of feel at times, though Dave and Tim definitely have more of an edge. This is more placid. After this, the album waivers some, though Cello Song is another highlight. There's even a bit of a jazz tinge at the end with Saturday Sun. All in all, much better than Pink Moon. I'm really surprised that this album is rated worse than that one, as there is very little to that record while this one has more feel and guts to it. 4 stars.

An enjoyable listen, but can be a bit dull at points

I had never heard of nick drake before, but this album caught me off guard with how good it was. It was definitely a moving album and I enjoyed every minute of it, even if it did get a little samey at parts. Would listen again. Favorite songs: ‘cello song, thoughts of Mary Jane, Saturday sun

I've always enjoyed Nick Drake but haven't dived too much into his stuff. Really dug this one, perfect chill folk music.

I think it works and it seems like a soundtrack, it could be for a life or a movie and that's amazing!

Solid funky background music. Almost 2 man mushy.

Bastante tranquilo

No ha conseguido captar mi atención y me parece un poco flojeras

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