Five Leaves Left

5/5 perfect or with minor flaws

This album really makes you think, Fruit Tree is insane given the context of Drake's life. Solid for when it came out, you can really see how it influenced stuff like Kate Bush and The Cure. BT - River Man - Time Has Told Me - Saturday Sun

I actually really like the strings on this one and how the guitar interacts with them. Pink moon is obviously great for how stripped back it is but this one is a really easy listen with the brighter sound. The songwriting on this one is also insane for being a debut with very few predecessors. I might just not be. hip to other albums like it but before this I can’t think of another songwriter that mixed jazz and folk so seamlessly. Classic Nick Drake W as always

Todays grew on me very quickly. I think the second half really pick up in quality. I love his vocals I wish he didn’t save em for the bsides Someone give bro a hug Not much else to say, I’m a fan.

This is the Nick Drake album that hit me, and it has stuck. Before the internet, one great way to find new music was through film soundtracks - which is how I found this, from the film Dream with the Fishes. Weird thing is I sent it as a recommendation to my daughter who is travelling - and she had just listened to it while sitting next to a river in Slovenia

Arrangements délicats et riches, une ambiance feutrée et paisible, une belle réussite mélodique.

Nick Drake stelt nooit teleur. Waarschijnlijk omdat ie na 3 albums de pijp aan Maarten gaf en mede daardoor iets mysterieus heeft. Dit album heeft lekker folky gitaarspel, wat sfeervolle strijkers/blazers en onverwachte percussie. En natuurlijk die typische manier van zingen waar sommige mensen ongetwijfeld juist een hekel aan hebben. Vrijwel elk nummer staat bol van de sfeer. Zwaarmoedig, maar toch ook hoopvol. 5 sterren, ook al vind ik Bryter Layter nog beter. Hoogtepunten: "Man in a Shed", "Day is Gone", "Fruit Tree"

It so tragic what happened to Nick Drake and it will always overshadow his music for me. So melancholic and beautiful.

Nick Drake is always a five-star. A master of his craft lost too soon.

Nick Drake's albums are my favorite finds from this site so far. This one joins his other two in my personal rotation.

This is one of those great ones that, upon release, the critics at the time felt was mostly blah. I don't understand it, this is such a great album, and an incredible debut. It makes me wonder the mindset of the critics of the era; were they too into Dylan or Simon/Garfunkel and other folk acts? Were they coming off the Beatles high and didn't know what they were listening to? Did they just write it off as a university kid making a record?

I’ve never heard of Nick Drake before I listened to this album this morning and I was blown away. Exceptional lyricism, haunting vocals, and beautiful instrumentals to back it all up. Excellent record!

Wow! I don't know how I didn't know this artist existed. The music reminds me a lot of Simon and Garfunkel, but a little more modern sounding. Almost like the inspiration for modern folk, like Vance Joy or Bon Iver.

A melancholic sublime masterpiece.

I enjoyed it more then I thought I would. Good album that I downloaded on Spotify.

Un jeu de guitare insensé + ça me fait tchôler, c'est un 5

Great album by an incredible folk singer/songwriter. Beautiful (string) arrangements accompany dark, mystic lyrics. Not the album I knew the best of Nick Drake's, so glad to find it in the list.

nick drake is an artist i had never heard of before the last month or so. his debut album five leaves left is my second album of his as part of this list. this was another immensely enjoyable album by nick drake. this is folk, but as i've said in my previous drake review, it's not like other folk music from 1969 or the surrounding years. there's more than just singing with an acoustic guitar. i want to call it accessible folk, if that makes any sense at all. what sets him apart, i think, is the delicate nature he uses to craft his songs. there's a somber tone throughout. drake's voice only adds to it. the songs are slow, lyrics morose, his voice steady. the piano and vibraphone together on "saturday sun" are beautiful, yes, but with those instruments combined in the final song, you're left with a more optimistic note. the lyrics and the subjects add the most to the somber tone, i think. he leans on nature/earth metaphors often, but then again, the album is called five leaves left. so many songs stood out to me, but since drake crafted three albums in his short lifetime to no critical acclaim, i enjoyed this line from "fruit tree": "they'll all know you were here when you're gone."

This isn’t his best album, in my opinion, but even Nick Drake’s second-best is far better than most.

Fantastic album

This is another just iconic singer songwriter. So good.

This is a great chill album that sounds like it is modern - but from 1969! Awesomely obscure!!! 5/5!

One of my favourite albums ever. What a shame he never understood how loved he'd become.

Beautiful album. I've heard of the name Nick Drake but was not familiar with his music. Definitely a nice discovery. 5/5

So far surprised by this. First song sounds much more modern than 1969. It sounds like it belongs in the 90s. Okay, this album sounds literally timeless. I could see it being made today.

Excellent stuff. Beautiful, intricate, smooth. Doesn't sound like it came out in the 60s. To me it sounds like it could be more modern. I will be listening to Nick Drake a lot more.

what a sensitive little guy

Nick Drake is a walking banger. A dude with an acoustic guitar rarely gets better than this

One of a kind, such a beauty

unappreciated british folk-rock 60's man 1) Time Has Told Me + - stellar piano walk? (idk jargon yet) - score for a train ride through english countryside - familiar - feeling two seasons at once 2) River Man + - tell him all i can - i'd like to meet him, too - poetry 3) Three Hours + - calculated guitar, wistful voice - long bike ride 4) Way To Blue + - actually profound - classical composer somber - nostalgic church string that gives me heartburn 5) Day Is Done - eh - this sounds exactly like "Feeling Good" by Michael Bublé :/ 6) 'Cello Song - medium good - I'm walking with no destination - I'm relaxed 7) The Thoughts of Mary Jane - the flute is whimsical? 8) Man In A Shed - sad song that has happy pattern - would fit hotel for dogs soundtrack lol 9) Fruit Tree - sort of sounds like the rest 10) Saturday Sun - satisfying resolution - ending credit

Surprised by how much I like this.

The debut album by a brilliant but troubled artist who died away too young. It is breath takingly beautiful. His vocals, guitar work, arrangements, song writing are flawless. This is probably my favorite of his 3 albums.

Вау. Идеально. Роскошно. Бедный чел. Талант

Good mellow dark chill music

not his best. maybe his worst. but it’s nick drake goddamnit

Such an iconic record. A beautiful set of dreamy, poetic, melancholic folk songs Nick Drake brushes up on some very delicate topics and accompanies the words with beautiful arrangements. Key tracks: Time Has Told Me, River Man, Three Hours, Way To Blue, Day Is Done, Cello Song, Fruit Tree, Saturday Sun. 9 out of 10

Okee, deze even wat eerder opgezet omdat ik even behoefte had aan écht goede muziek tussen alle jarentachtigjengelmeuk. Sfeervolle singersongwriterklanken, het muzikale equivalent van een lekker knapperend haardvuur om helemaal tegenaan te kruipen. Minimalisisch en toch van begin tot eind boeiend. Onmiddellijk herkenbaar en niet vaak geëvenaard, onze goeie ouwe (te jong overleden? in kluizenaarschap gegane? teruggetrokken in een Tibetaans klooster?) Nick Drake.

60's English Folk? This is surprisingly good. It sounds pretty modern, but the acoustic guitar hasn't changed all that much. Enjoyed the whole album.

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

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

Et av tidenes vakreste albumer

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

<3

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

Beautiful music for a cold fall morning

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

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

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

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

Another classic Nick Drake album generated by the list.

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

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

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

Stunning

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

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

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

Calm, melodic

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

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

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

Beautiful voice, soft rock when it's best

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

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

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

Couldn’t get tired of it

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

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

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

Blimey.

yeah i listen to drake

Loved this.

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

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

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

classique

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

uncomfortable cafe chairs and sweet coffee, drifting out to sea, classical guitar, folk tale with strings, blackbird but if it were eleanor rigby, crocuses in the rain, lesser harrisong uplifted by flute, ooh jazz!, weird metaphor over beautiful chords, swung mccartney. overall a really beautiful album with a unique vibe — not one i can see myself returning too often, but once every few months when i’m in the mood, i’ll really enjoy this album. feels like a sunday afternoon.

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

What an album. The chord progressions are like nothing you've ever heard before (metal tunings played in a folly style) and the strings are beautiful, and the whole thing hits you on an emotional frequency I can't quite explain, but you FEEL it. I realise that makes no sense but I can't explain it. Just listen to Way To Blue, Cello Song or River Man and you'll feel something different to what other music gives you. It's BRILLIANT. And I normally hate folky stuff.

never hung too much, but yknow

Out of his 3 this is the one I haven't heard before, and given some time it could be my favourite of them - I really like his vocals and guitar work as usual, but I love the orchestration throughout this record and quite a few tracks are just beautiful.

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

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

Songwriting masterpiece.

I've Been Trying To Hear This Epic For A While. It's So Easy to Listen To. However You Can Feel The Struggle About It

A warning: while driving and listening to this album I was taken to such a state of reverie that I forgot where I was and what I was doing for an out-of-body moment before waking up in a panic behind the wheel. Nick Drake's music is soothing and yet so powerfully emotional at the same time. A haunting voice, obviously; I love the beautiful instrumentation of all these songs. The double reeds on "Fruit Tree." I had been an admirer from the use of his songs on early 2000s soundtracks, but I'm so happy to have spent this time with his debut album.

A very good friend introduced me to Nick Drake some years ago, not this album, but I have more recently become familiar with this album. I am a fan. There is something about the melancholy sound that really pulls me in. The lyrics are poetic. I will listen to this album again and again in the future.

Great. His voice reminds me of Alexi Murdoch

180919 21:19 5

The perfect album for November 13th. The first snow of the season, although not much, it was enough to to catch the eye. Five Leaves Left is a beautiful experience. Nick Drake loves his nature.

Is there a better morning soundtrack than literally ANY Nick Drake album? On his debut - what a debut! - Drake unveils his talent of fast plucking strings to weave a picnic blanket over which he places lyrical sandwiches and pies of a most rustic quality. The arranging influence of Richard Thompson shines through Drake's green folklore, making for a piece of art that is timeless as a cloudy English sky.

Loved it. A new favorite.

Liked it a lot!

Nick Drake is a magician 5/5

I don't like a lot of folk music but this is probably my favourite outside of Dylan. A shame he topped himself

I liked this very much, the brooding melancholy the dispirited lyrics and disheveled music. It took me somewhere dark and uncomfortable I must now listen to all his music.

Enjoyed this, every now and then a turn of phase caught my attention, be it jarringly or just beautifully crafted - compelling stuff and definitely one to keep returning to

5.0 - It's uncanny how this album manages to present these songs, these compositions of considerable intricacy, in a way that sounds spacious and casual. As if Nick Drake and his ensemble are invited friends playing in your living room. Just a few highlights: "River Man", "'Cello Song", "Man in a Shed" (which reminds me of Shrek).

just wonderful. brought me back to a time and a place. wonderful texture (from youtube? really?). they don't make them like this anymore

One of the most beautiful bits of music I've ever listened to

Favoriete nummers: - River Man - Fruit Tree

4.5

The best find from this list for me, hands down. I really love his sound, his gentleness, his lyrics. This album gives me hits of Cat Stevens and Jim Croce in places, both songsmiths that I deeply admire. The guitar playing is really fantastic on Three Hours and Day Is Done (don't know why this song wasn't a HUGE hit!). Some of the orchestration might be a bit much in places (lots of strings), but I don't mind when it deepens the track. My only less enthusiastic take is for Thoughts on Mary Jane, whose flute part greatly dates the song for me. But all in all, another album that will stick with me by an artist I'm very glad to have discovered.

Gorgeous

Olen tätä joskus kuunnellut, ja suuri osa biiseistä kuulosti varsin tutuilta. Nick Drakesta on kuva sellaisena musadiggarien jumalana josta kaikkien vaan pitää tykätä. Tämä on ehkä vähän aiheuttanut itselleni vierastusta, varsinkin kun en ole aiemmin ihan kauheasti syttynyt herran levyistä. Nyt kuitenkin rauhassa kuunnellessa tämä on äärimmäisen taidokasta ja tunnelmallista musisointia. Sekä musiikin että elämän ja uran kannalta tästä tulee vahvasti mieleen kotimainen vastine Pekka Streng. Molemmat kuolivat nuorena, ilman erityisen suurta musikaalista menestystä elinaikanaan. Levyn alku lähtee ehkä vähän yskien liikkeelle, mutta Way To Bluesta eteenpäin loppulevy onkin sitten uskomattoman kauniita ja hienoja kappaleita. Kokonaisuutena erittäin positiivinen yllätys, joka keikkuu nelosen ja vitosen välimaastossa. Levyn huikea loppupuoli jättää hyvän mielen, jonka ansiosta numero pyöristyy ylöspäin.

I had heard of him only recently thanks to a guitar teacher I follow on YouTube. So glad I've been introduced to his music. I remember really liking Alexi Murdoch when I first heard his music maybe 15 or so years ago, and now I hear the similarities. I'm sure there are many artists I like who were influenced by Nick Drake. In this album (curious: is 'Five Leaves Left' a reference to O. Henry's short story, 'The Last Leaf'?), I'm hearing a really interesting sense of melody (and harmony, too) that is a slight departure from most of the music I know from this era and style. He's a heck of a writer, composer, guitarist, and singer. Some beautiful string arrangements on some of these tracks, too. It all really draws me in quite nicely. Fantastic work.

Absolutely gorgeous but sometimes too aching for me to be able to listen.

Loved his voice, loved the instrumentation or whatever it’s called. Too sleepy for an everyday album but good for some easy listening on the right day.

Rainy day music

Bellissima voce e arrangiamenti minimal molto belli. Acustico, delicato, riflessivo.

A thing of beauty. Loved it. Saturday sun is a gorgeous track.

Masterpiece

Todo un mood, muy mi zona de confort la verdad

Hermoso. íntimo. caluroso.

Prachtig!

Muy tranquilo para estudiar el hit Saturday

This was really good! I didn't know this record - but I really like "Pink Moon" by Nick Drake so I figured this'd be good. The Cello Song is probably the best!

Really beautiful.

love this album

Dette er ikke mitt favoritt Nick Drake album, men det er en 9/10 uansett. Sykt kul Jansch gitarspilling, vakre tekster med mye mening, egenartig stemme med en utrolig innlevelse. I tillegg er gitarskrivingen helt fenomenal. Noen av sangene har litt akkompagnement av strykeinstrument og slikt, som ikke alltid funker like bra som de vanlige gitarsangene, men det gir en variasjon i sounden når man hører gjennom albumet, så det er ikke så dumt at det er med. En av mine favoritter.

Wonderful!

Great Nick Drake album.

John Mayer feels

Chilled out listening. Instrumentals and guitars. Nick's voice is really good. Takes me back to the good days of songs being sung.

Great listen

Great album by Nick Drake. Not much needs to be said, folky yet still very modern

classic nick drake album

I really liked this album. It reminded me of Iron & Wine and Alexi Murdoch.

Mellow and relaxing - zoe may like

Vocais e violões com muita sensibilidade. Melhora a cada audição. Ouvir com Grado RS2e

I've adored this album for a while, and this listen was no different. Nick Drake is really on a whole 'nother level.

4,5/5

Hopeful sadness.

Great easy listening compositions

Not bad!

Such a beautiful album

Lovely

Pretty calm and relaxing

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

Wistful and lovely.

Super chill, great for some background vibes

Lowkey- sometimes annoying vocals but pretty overall.

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.

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

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

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? -- ✅

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Jeg har lavet en ny aftale med mig selv: Jeg skal være hårdere ved musik der er intetsigende og mere gavmild med musik, som vækker et eller andet i mig. Det er ikke de store følelser der vækkes, men jeg synes at det lyder enormt godt. En lille 4

Me gustó mucho. Muy buenas melodías, hermosa voz. Muchas canciones con aires de películas. Recomiendo para escuchar un día de chill porque es muy muy chill, como para bajarte un tubo de vino en casa.

Been meaning to listen to Nick Drake for a while now, so I was pretty happy to give this a listen and I quite enjoyed it. The finger picked acoustic guitar sounds so cozy and Nick delivers a great performance vocally throughout. Drake's words provide a melancholic feel over these calm plucky instrumentals. Interesting choice too on this record to include violin and congas which I definitely wasn't expecting to hear with what I had know about his work before going in. Three hours in particular was a stand out with its loud instrumentation. Both the guitar and the percussion are front and center here, not to be out done by Nick himself who cuts through the mix to deliver some beautiful story telling. I also enjoyed Thoughts of Mary Jane and Cello Song a lot. His ability to create these slow introspective songs and go into a loud theatric feeling track while still pondering some interesting here on the next is enthralling. Great listen, I can't wait to listen to more of his music.

Great Sunday morning music

Yeah quite liked this one. Varied and atmospheric, plus Nick sounds like he actually wants to be here. Still the odd song that puts you to sleep but overall pretty good

1. "Way to Blue" 2. "River Man" 3. "Fruit Tree"

Review - probably his worst studio album but still a banger. Score - 8/10 Need to listen? YES

It's not the first time I've listened to Nick Drake. I always get the feeling that the sound is caressing my head and asking me to calm down, like a baby. It's so calm, it sounds like I've just sat down after spending a whole week on my feet.

Folky mellow vibes

This is an old folk album that was nice to listen but not too astonishing

Haunting is almost an understatement. I do really like this record though.

It’s refreshing to get an album you know you’re going to like after suffering through a few shitty ones in a row

a lovely album. he was a lovely artist! I knew I would enjoy

Perfect vibe for a rainy drive home back to Long Island from BK. Reading that he recorded surrounded by the live instrumentals and that sounds lovely. I think I got this album right when it was needed. Maybe it could have felt more tedious or repetitive or sad on a sunnier Memorial Day weekend but the soundtrack to a bleary drive and rainy walk was perfect. River Man, plan for lilac time 💛

Beautiful

Que buen background music album, es un 3.6-3.7 así que se lleva sus 4 por redondear

First exposure to Nick Drake, pleasantly surprised.

Yeah this wasn’t bad

He later perfected his music by stripping away all the whimsical parts (both musical and lyrical), but it's nice to hear this more cheeful side of him too

This really isn't my genre but I've also really liked what I've heard from Nick Drake so far and this album isn't an exception. It carries a haunting and beautiful vibe, he's a great singer and the song composition is subtly complex.

Simply a really nice, thoughtful record. Some really clever arrangements and complexity in especially the guitar playing. His vocal sound doesn't pull up trees but a great album.

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

Another fine entry by my boy Dick Nrake. While the world was getting dosed, tuning in and dropping out Nick was over here just writing music about a Saturday morning. Its just plain old good music. Singer songwriter as fuck. Seeped in the appreciation of the little details of life. And joy in mundanity.

I fucked with whatever this is

Endnu et smukt album fra ham her

Gudesmukt!

So beautiful arrangements. His voice is heavenly.

Ah some sad music, the salve of my souls. Joking aside this is so good, though maybe not quite as great as I was expecting.

The minimalism of Nick Drake amazes me on this listen. It's masterful. Because of his aptitude for doing a lot with a little, the only mars are the flute and piano pieces. They're not necessary.

Nick Drake. Not the hero that I wanted today, but the hero that I needed.

this was chill and enjoyable - 3.5

Nick Drake is very nice. But this album doesn't really click with me in any special way. It strikes me as the sort of album that could grown on me with deeper listening, but I'm not sure I will ever give it the time of day tbh. Fave Tracks: River Man, Man In A Shed 3.6/5

Slow burn

Too slow rythm for my usual listening but stil gorgeous album

love nick drake!!! heb deze niet in 1 keer helemaal geluisterd dus niet helemaal goed alles in me op kunnen nemen maar daarom 4

Beautiful.

Listened

Almost a 5

Quite a soothing album, and I enjoy his sound. My favourites were the thoughts of mary jane, river man, man in a shed, and fruit tree like a 4.5

Pink Moon is my favourite, but this is up there. A touch melancholy at times, and sublime at others.

Still prefer Pink Moon and Bryter Lyter, but gods I love Nick Drake.

this is the second nick drake album that i got during this project. the first one was bryter layter. it was good but i cant remember much. this one was a very pleasant listen, guitar works perfectly with his vocals and creates a slow and empathetic atmosphere. it feels very genuine, not rushed at all and humane. also i found out that it was his debut. woow. what a debut. this feels a lot different from any other folk album that i hated. best songs are: three hours, river man, man in a shed, fruit tree, saturday sun.

Im not an hardcore fan of Nick Drake but hes done some prety good music. Really like his voice, really like his guitar style and the weird ass tuning. "River man" migth be my favorite song of his. He definitively deserved better when he was alive. Rest in peace, you wont be forgotten.

This is my least favourite Nick Drake album, but damn, after listening after all those years, it's way better than I've remembered

At first, I thought it was monotonous, but after River Man, count me in on the Nick Drake church!

the goat lett mijn muzieksmaak

Great voice, but the thing that stuck out to me immediately is that he has this strange style where he holds the "wrong" syllable on the long notes, i.e. if someone was singing the word "time", I'd expect the "I" sound to be elongated, but he holds the "M" sound, and that's a consistent trend throughout the whole album. Where this sounded really odd to me was when he was holding the "L" sound in the word "trouble". There's probably a term for this, but I'm not a singer! I don't hate it, but it's ... interesting. Never heard any of Drake's music before this, and I'd put this one down as a positive discovery, the music really is very good and has a really calming if slightly haunting quality to it. Only complaint is that there's not enough variety over the course of the album. It's all one style, and although well performed, it's a little too much of that one style. "River Man" was absolutely excellent. Respectable 4.

My least favourite of his 3, but that's just because how great the other 2 are! Still doesn't hit like the other 2, songs less haunting. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes: 68/273 (24%) Will I get: Already have

To nie jest muzyka dla każdego. Jest jak letni, leniwy poranek. Jak jazda na rowerze podczas wietrznego popołudnia. Jak piknik pod wiszącą skałą. Do jednych to przemówi, a do innych… no cóż. Większość pewnie zanudzi na śmierć. Ale ja doceniam. 8/10

Finally something nice in the leage of 'must be nice to be a man and making boring music just because you can'.

I liked this better overall than 'Pink Moon.' It's still beautiful, haunting, and melancholy. Top tracks: "River Man," "Time Has Told Me," "Fruit Tree"

Lovely and slightly dull 3.6

listened while walking in the rain. would recommend.

Very pleasant during a sunset drive through the countryside. Not nearly as good as Pink Moon

Очень приятная вещица от Ника Дрейка. Приятно послушать это фоном, как и оценить поэтичность текстов заодно. Инструментал довольно минималистичный но хороший, а скрипочка добавляет некой барочности.

Ik denk m'n minst favoriete Nick Drake album, maar dat neemt niet weg dat deze man gewoon 3 meesterwerken heeft gemaakt. Net geen 5 sterren.

Even mooie liedjes alsop Nick Drake's andere platen, maar zijn debuut mist de atmosfeer die vooral Pink Moon wel heeft.

Didn't like this as much as Pink Moon, but still a great listen.

I was moved. Last three songs in particular were lovely

Immaculate.

cool woodsy vibe

on the gentle side but entertaining

Pink Moon is one of my favorite albums, but Nick Drake’s pain is so raw and devastating that I have to be in the right mood to listen to it. In contrast, this album has more instrumentation, and the arrangements have more spaciousness, so it doesn’t strike quite the same emotional chord. Still, his lyrics always revolve around melancholy, loneliness, and a deep, enduring sadness. His music has a haunting quality that always draws me in, and his lyrics are poetic and affecting. The fact that this album is somehow less heart wrenching than Pink Moon, but still devastating, shows the depth of Nick Drake’s talent. Truly one of the greats.

I found the insrumentals amazing on some tracks and created an amazing atmosphere. Really inspirational piece of work.

A really good songwriter, and a beautiful voice.

Nice easy listening

Beautiful

Really good album. Nice musically, lyrically, and vocally. Some songs are little broody. Definitely interested in checking out more Nick Drake albums.

Nice lil album, pleasant to listen to

I don’t throw the word genius around lightly. But wow.

Very pleasant. Really loved his voice and guitar work. Very strong for a debut album.

Not my vibe at all

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

"Five Leaves Left" is a still, intimate album. Lush instrumentations flow with experimental open guitar tunings to create sort of mystical, melancholic feel. I am quite familiar with Drake's music as I love chamber/orchestral infused folk, and this album is one of the best of the "genre".

I know this one! He's magic

Like de to andre skiven bedre, men det her gjør jo ikke vondt

Elske Nick Drake. Det e ikke Pink Moon, men fortsatt sykt fint.

Hørt ved frokost på veranda på Granka. Sykt hyggelig musikk, perfekt for akkurat dette.

3.5

Beautiful voice. Instruments almost didn’t do him Justice

Another reading backround music. But pretty solid one.

Gone too soon my sweet angel, that baby boy be strumming that guitar

7 / 10 - ruhiger Folk mit sehr gut ausgearbeiteren Arrangements - beruhigend & melancholisch Favs: - Day Is Done

First previously unknown album to me— more enjoyable than I would’ve expected. Good for a relaxed rainy spring day. Liked it the more I listened. It’s also crazy that this album was released the same year as “Born On the Bayou”.

Dude was 21 when he made this album. He was dead by 26. It's so sad that he never knew his fame... Big voice with big sounds and big sads.

This was a lovely album to listen to don't get me wrong. But it isn't my style of music. I would listen to this again, maybe then my view of it will change, but the first listen of this album to me warrants 3.5 stars because it seems a little samey. I love the folk music vibe of this album, the acoustic guitar is amazing, especially in the song Three Hours. And his vocals are incredible, he has such a mellow voice. But again, this isn't really something I'd listen to often. I will probably revisit this in the future to see if my mind changes because some of these songs are amazing. Favourite songs: Time Has Told Me River Man Three Hours 'Cello Song

made me feel like in rdr2.

Nick Drake has an unmistakable sound. This album is a pleasure to listen to.

lovely beautiful calm music, singer-songwriter

Great listening, felt it was contemporary!

Wow so beautiful! This feels like if stained glass was an album. I like the instrumentation on this, and ofc nick drakes really mellow voice 🙂‍↕️ I think I like how melancholy pink moon is but this is a close second tbh. Only issue is the songs sound very similar (not specific to this album alone though) fav songs: river man, day is done, saturday sun

Really, really good. 5 Five Leaves Left feels more mysterious and less overtly sad than later Nick Drake albums. The songwriting is really poetic and intelligent. I don’t really think there’s any moments where the flow of the lyrics feels off or jarring. I’m really hanging on every word. In general, it’s a very cohesive record that really fills out a theme. Another high point is Nick Drake’s guitar playing. His fingerstyle goes really well with the rhythm of his singing. The complexity and accuracy of Three Hours is honestly insane. The studio musicians also do a great job making things deeper without taking away the soul of Nick Drake’s songwriting. My only criticism would be that it kind of drags in the second half. My favorite songs are definitely frontloaded. Just a really pretty album!! It makes me want to sit at a window in a rainstorm. Favorite songs: Time Has Told Me, River Man, Three Hours, ‘Cello song

Such a pleasant album

Another solid Nick Drake album. Probably don't need this many on the list, but at least he's consistently good.

What a great album. So peaceful, the lyrics were simple. The use of so many different instruments was a huge inspiration

C'était fort sympathique ! De belles mélodies acoustiques, souvent rehaussées avec des instruments à corde et de la flûte. J'ai pas grand-chose de plus à dire, si ce n'est que j'ai beaucoup apprécié.

This is a mood. I listened on the rainy drive into work and it hit the spot. I still can't believe he's not a product of the 90s.

'Cello song was beautiful

++: Time Has Told Me, River Man, Three Hours, 'Cello Song, The Thoughts of Mary Jane, Man in a Shed, Saturday Sun +: Way to Blue, Day Is Done +-: Fruit Tree 8,8/10

Schöne Atmosphäre, interessante Musik 4/5

If I were to rank the works of Nick Drake, it would be in ascending order as they were released. On the debut the ingredients for what will become pink moon are present. Nice intricate guitarplay and cryptic lyrics that beg a closer listen. As Drake made music, it became more refined. But as I had sayd on my review for bryter layter, the difference is not big enough to knock it down another point.

I love the intro. Decent chilled album. I don't think I will revisit it thought

8/10 Nick Drake has something of a reputation for delivering sad, melancholic, but quite beautiful music over his short life. The way his life ended obviously informs that to a certain degree, but I feel like it’s important to recognise the moments of optimism that he writes into his music too. Melancholy can be an incredibly affecting tool within all art, as it reflects the fragility and bleakness that can exist in the world, but having those little moments of positivity that appear now and then can punctuate that nicely and go a long way to enhancing the beauty of that sadness. When it’s at its peak, this album can be hauntingly beautiful, but it also doesn’t rest completely in that emotional state. In fact, there are a few tracks that actually flip that script a little, with the main focus being more optimistic, despite a slight undercurrent of melancholy that remains. Because of that, there’s a fairly nice emotional ebb and flow to this record that allows each moment to breathe, but also enables the listener to get dragged along with those emotions without getting weighed down by them. The playing across the album is fantastic, and it’s really well produced, so that every part is crisp and clear. One of the interesting aspects is that there is very limited percussion across the record, but due to the other instrumental parts, the rhythmic drive and flow of the songs are incredibly strong and coherent, the bass and guitar in particular acting not only as tonal instruments but percussive ones too. Nick’s vocal delivery is, for the most part, understated and somewhat withdrawn, but he somehow manages to convey a great deal of emotional weight in his singing despite that more restrained technique. For me, there were a few tracks where things kind of drifted around in a slightly unfocused way, which made them a little less easy to grip on to, but I think that’s in part due to my lack of familiarity with folk music that tends to have more of a roaming musical structure than that of rock and pop music. After spinning this a few times today, I feel like it’s probably best appreciated almost like a landscape painting, in that the experience as a whole can be incredible beautiful as you take it in as a whole, but there are little moments of nuance, inventiveness and brilliance present once you start to take a closer look. Time Has Told Me - This is pretty but a little meandering. There are some absolutely lovely bits of guitar in there and the blend of rhythms across the instruments are really nice too, but it’s a little bit dynamically and rhythmically persistent, so it feels like it lacks a little bit of nuance and feel that would have helped the composition to really shine. River Man - Again, this is very pretty and in places starkly beautiful. There’s more development and variation in here that gives it a more satisfying journey as the track progresses. I really like the way it can quickly flip on a single chord change from being really bleak and slightly unsettling to gorgeous and calm and those types of chord choices are not something you hear often in popular music, so that was delightful to hear. Three Hours - Another great blend of rhythms from across the instruments here, but that rhythm is fairly persistent, at least for the first half, but there is a bit of a shift at the half way point. There are moments of dynamic variation in there that push and pull, particularly around that mid point. It’s a really pretty composition and has that usual Nick Drake sense of reluctance in his vocal delivery that adds a great deal of character to his songs. Way To Blue - As with River man, this is really beautiful and drifts between minor and major chords giving it an uncertain feeling that simmers among the beauty of the sound. As with the album so far in general, it feels a tiny bit unfocused, but I think that’s maybe more of a trait of folk songwriting as a form that I’m less familiar with. Some of the resolutions in the chord structure on the strings are so lush though. Day Is Done - Some more great guitar playing, as you would expect, and the string arrangements continue to be excellent. This is a fairly brief track, but it feels a little bit more focused, dancing around its core ideas and landing on a satisfying resolution at the end. Lovely stuff. 'Cello Song - This is a fantastic song. The cello part is a highlight, as you might expect from the title, but this feels like the most focused track of the album so far. The playing is fantastic, there’s some excellent dynamic control that imbues the song with a compelling organic pulse that pulls it along, and it offers enough variation without feeling like it drifts too far from the heart of the song. It’s so subtle and pretty and the delivery of Nick’s vocal is again, just the right type of understated. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane - This feels almost light and happy by comparison to what’s come before. There’s an air of optimism and positivity that has only been hinted at elsewhere, but actually feels like the prominent emotion that this song is working with, which is an interesting change of pace. There’s still that slightly withdrawn delivery that’s typical of his vocal style, but even within that, he feels more free and open. It’s another lovely composition with great playing and beautiful heart. Man In A Shed - This leans into more of a jazzy flavour and I find that shuffling rhythm and jazzy lilt from the piano really satisfying. The shuffling rhythms across the instruments are pretty tasty here and it brings more of the positive vibes from the previous track along, although there’s perhaps a slight bit of melancholy drifting in there too, but it’s fairly subtle. Some really excellent playing across the board on this one. Fruit Tree - The melancholy has seeped back in again, but there are still moments of light that peek through here and there. This track does feel a tiny bit meandering and unfocused again in places, but it continues to delivery that bleakly pretty sound even while it’s drifting around. He does also gather things up into thematic touch points now and again, before things start spreading out again. It’s another pretty landscape of a song that is worth just allowing to wash over you. Saturday Sun - And we close up with a song that leans more towards the optimistic side of things. It’s a fairly bluesy number and it’s a slightly odd inclusion, because it feels tonally quite different to the rest of the album. It retains the pretty sheen, but it has way more of a standard song structure to it, so feels more focused. Nick almost seems quite happy here in his delivery. It’s a really nice track actually, and it’s quite nice to end on something that’s a bit more uplifting, but it does fell a tiny bit disjointed from the rest of the album.

Great for falling asleep on a plane on the way home. Waking up, realizing the album is over, then restarting it, and falling asleep again.

late 1960's british folk melancholy; Lovely voice and instrumentals.

Very hecking cool. Awesome flutes & cello & shart. Time has told me is one of his best songs, but this is probably his least great album. This album does drag a teeny bit towards the middle and end. Pink moon and bryter layter both do much more for me than this album. But still, very beautiful and very important on his development as a songwriter.

Really good album, I appreciate him the more I hear him. I wanna go back and listen to his other two albums to really try and get a good understanding of who he is album by album, it’s been good getting to hear all this. 4 stars

Five Leaves Left is as luscious as they come. It feels like a stroll through the forest, with Nick's voice having the qualities of a forest spirit, guiding you through its many secrets. Nick's personality is deeply etched in this album, which is why it sounds so rich in quality, and fairly unique. Don't know many albums that are so jazzy, but fully folk in execution, from this period (Obviously, his popularity in recent years paved the way for many inspired folksters to try and replicate his style, but almost none have managed to even sniff close). Five Leaves Left is not as emotional as Pink Moon, but what it lacks in that part, makes up in musical quality. The warm piano, acoustic guitar, and the occasional orchestral section is masterfully put together to create a folk masterpiece.

4.5/5 Very vibey, absolutely music I would've gone crazy for at the time (I'm turning into my father...). A little melancholy but still peaceful and nice. I'd play this sailing down a canal in a rowboat on a foggy spring morning. Unfortunately, I am bone tired so this kind of put me to sleep but I'm not entirely mad about that. I want to keep listening to it forever tbh.

Remember that scene in Red Dead Redemption when your riding to Mexico for the first time? Yeah, this is a whole album of that feeling.

No Pink Moon, but pretty great.

Just what I needed this morning. Gentle, warm, beautiful. Number tracks 10 Fave track 2: river man 09/03/26

Good album, not as good as Fairport Convention.

A good listen from one of this era’s best folk artists. Time Has Told Me and ‘Cello Song are especially well crafted, with a quiet sound but not one that passes you by. Some songs later on aren’t quite as memorable, and perhaps fall into the folk trap of meandering for too long. Enjoyable overall though.

Its friday and this is NOT a friday album. Ill save it until monday, and then it will be a 4 star.

An Incredibly emotional and moving debt, some serious talent to write this at 20

Meditative yet sad Fave track: Saturday Sun

Nick Drake hell yeah. Hoping Pink Moon makes it but if it doesn’t, I’m happy this one did. 4.5/5

I think he’s a solid 4 for me. Nothing I’m going to get obsessed with, but always lovely.

Not as good as Bryter Later, a 4 for me, but better than Pink Moon, a 3. 3.5 rounded up.

I liked this. It's dark. Sad. Beautiful. The vocals and instruments are all so smooth and soft.

Very comforting album. Type of music that you put on in the background in the morning, and just relax.

Rewards more time spent with it than a single day...which is why I've moved to one album per week starting with this one. Favorites are Fruit Tree and River Man, but a very solid album I preferred to Bryter Layter.

Atmospheric and mellow. A lovely listen.

Heard Many Times; 4; Very emotional and somber album. I really enjoy the open tunings and droning guitar. Decently varied mix between songs in the way that the strings and other instrumentation are used. I enjoy the way there's parts of the song that briefly slip into a major or more upbeat melody or chord, only to slide back to the melancholy. Drake's vocals are very peaceful yet haunting at the same time. Favorite Song: Time Has Told Me

An enormous influence on a lot of late 90s/ early 2000s alt/ indie classics. Doesn't quite hit the same as Pink Moon, but you gotta take all the Nick Drake you can get. "Safe in your place deep in the earth That’s when they’ll know what you were really worth"

surprisingly loved this

I love me some Nick Drake. He was a phenomenal poet and musician. This record faded into the background a bit, but not in a horrible way. It was comforting and tranquil. 7/10

I like this. Real Jim Croce vibes. It was peaceful, with well written lyrics and beautiful playing.

An under rated songwriter with beautiful crafted tunes. Very somber at times

This was pretty awesome. Although only a few songs made it on the playlist the whole album was great. This was my first listen to Nick Drake even though I've known who he is for a while now. Will definitely give his other albums a listen at some point