Five Leaves Left

I was looking forward to this as I knew nothing about ELO. However this was a disappointment, very uninspiring and little to distinguish between each track. Not overly offensive but not exciting either.

There’s something magical about Nick Drake. Suitable for any mood. The closing track Saturday Sun is amazing.

Never heard of this but it was good!

Mag ich.

Class

What started off as an unassuming album slowly draws you in until you're fully engrossed and sad that it's finished.

Listening time variable

4.3/5 Bae Nick Drake is back Best Track: Day is Done

He’s one of my heroes. I would always give 5.0 but this album is - although Provinz its very high aspirations - a rather slow, percussion-free meditation with great songs but to me not as shining as Bryter Layter or Pink Moon. Strong 3.9

I discovered Nick Drake pretty late in my life, but he's become one of my favourite artists when it comes to getting that specific mood of just tinkering about outside in a garden during fall, or talking a walk in the woods. I don't think this is his best record, but it's still quite good. All songs hold a high bar and adheres to the same formula and follows the same red line. The album opens very strong with 'Time Has Told Me' and 'River Man', where the former is my favourite song on the record. Even though the quality is even, I'm lacking a bit more "hits" to warrant a higher rating. I think a weak or dead on middle 4 feels reasonable here.

If cozy could be an album this would be it. Such a relaxing listen. I've listened to it a few times before and always enjoyed it although not many of the songs have that real "oumph" that make the songs stand out. The exception to this is "Man in a Shed' which I have enjoyed for a long time. Both the voice and the guitar playing are really great. Listening to the whole album i think the album is better than the sum of its parts and deserves a 4.

Probably my favorite record yet. He's a great guitar player and I enjoyed all the supporting instrumentation (cheeky upright bass). The album had a distinct vibe.

I really enjoyed this album. The instrumentation was varied and the songs were heartfelt. I had never heard of Nick Drake before and will be exploring his music more. My favorite song is Cello Song. I'm going to start rating albums out of 10 in these comments. 8/10.

Roligt og lækkert, akustisk, originalt

Very pretty folk songs.

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

heartbreaking and comforting at the same time.

Beautiful guitars and melodies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smooth and good night time before bed listen

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

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

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

Beauty

8.5 relax

Beautifully played and produced album. Will revisit.

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

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

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

Not as good as pink moon

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

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

Melancholy, contemplative, imbued with much sadness, in many respects Five Leaves Left is a tough listen. Drake’s voice is beautiful and the production exquisite but the mood is dour and there is little variety between tracks.

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

Pretty great Folk find.

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

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

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

estupendo y desconocido

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great finding

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dreamy but nice

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

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

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

Nice, folksy and calm.

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

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

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

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

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

His sound reminds me of Duncan Sheik and Donovan.

Mellow. Great guitar.

Easy vibes

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

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

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

Really like voice and acoustic guitar. 4/5

This was so sad yet so calming. Really enjoyed it

Entspannte Musik. Gut für den Hintergrund. "Loungsmaßig"

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

Mjög góð og kósý

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

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

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

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

Good stuff

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

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

Amazing. intimate

Pretty chill music

delectable and scrumptious

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

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

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

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

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

Really enjoyable stuff.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bit cinematic but good

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

sad spotify bio damn

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

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

3.4.5.are my fav(^^) Way to Blue Day Is Done 'Cello Song

Holy mood 4.3/5

-nick drake the name sounds so familiar -but i know i have never heard his stuff -already im liking the folky sort of vibe and his singing voice -the guitar picking in these songs is GORG i am loving it -his voice feels HAUNTING in tbe best way -these songs are genuinely beautiful -love the strings in way to blue -day is done is definitely one of my favorites -it is more chill abd melancholy but i think it really works -an easy four stars for me

Comforting listen. There is a sombre tone but still very peaceful. My first exposure to Nick Drake. 4/5 as it does take patience to enjoy the record.

Nick Drake is a great artist. Artist with a big A. He mixes the genres with ease and his soothing vocals add to the whole performance. Born to sing ballads.

Soft, background sounds

I listened to this album while walking around in the city. It felt like I’m in a movie. All the songs have a meditative quality. The fingerpicking in the acoustic is entrancing in a way.

The instrumentals were actually god tier. The long drawn out notes really made me feel depressed af. Nick Drake is amazing at making me feel melancholic in as short a time as possible. Fav song: Day is Done.

Pleasantly surprised by this album. I'm not typically a folk fan, but this had a very engaging sound to keep my attention at first listen before I can listen to the lyrics.

Deep and melancholic vibes. Also gives the sense of peace within the Wilderness. Lots of 60s esque chords but the contrast with his somber voice really sets a mood. Have to listen to the album in the entirety to really get the vibe.

Really good vocals and instrumental. Loved the slow pace of the songs and the album was a very coherent listen

Super chill. Was a little bored at times, but even though the tracks are chill a lot of them are very interesting compositions.

I've listened to pink moon, which I really love, but haven't tried this one yet. While I don't think it quite stands up to it, it is still an excellent album, filled with beautiful and simple songwriting that truly stands the test of time. 8/10

I like this a lot better than Bryter Layter. Maybe because it's cold and rainy in Chicago now? To me, this one sounds sadder and has better accompaniment than BL. "Day is Done" and "Fruit Tree" are standouts.

pretty good study album

Growing on me.

Troughout the album I pictured myself night-time galloping across vast prairies and desert landscapes. Not sure if I can distinguish one track from the other, but the album created a relaxing ambiance. I didn't find it boring and I'll would listen to it again if I want to fall asleep dreaming of starry desert skies.

Beyond “Pink Moon,” I can’t say I’ve ever heard much by Nick Drake. My first impression is that he’d do well in an inquisitive western clash between Tarantino and the Coen Brothers. The six-plus minute “Three Hours” in particular fits this description. The strings of “Way to Blue” might just make a poor man’s Succession theme song, but maybe that’s the feel he was going for. “Saturday Sun” is more of a stroll through the Boston Common than a trudge through Buffalo Bayou Park. “Cello Song,” and frankly much of the album and even Nick Drake’s general style, gives an aura of the early sixties environmental movement, but I’m not sure why. I can only imagine that if Carson and Frost had lived long enough to hear this record, they would’ve enjoyed it quite a bit.

Loved it. Classic folk stuff, very atmospheric. Can see influences on radiohead, especially AMSP

85/100

Still a beautiful album. It is almost too beautiful that it misses a need high note but I can't fault the mans music.

Very pleasant, and easy listening

I almost fell asleep to this album. But I did like how calming it was

More of a Bryter Layter guy, but still very lovely

First album! I had heard of Nick Drake but never really listened to him. While I listened I read a bit of a Wiki article on him which was a bummer but gave some good background to his music. This album is calm, atmospheric and reminiscent. ‘Cello Song’ is my favourite song on this album. I’ll be sure to check out more of his stuff.

Pleasant listening. First song, Time Has Told Me, made it onto a chill playlist of mine. The rest of the album passed me by like a lazy river. Maybe a 3.5 since the album seems forgettable to me, but I liked it.

Cello song is perhaps my favorite track from Nick Drake, but on the whole I still prefer Pink Moon to this one. Five Leaves is hauntingly beautiful, but a bit morbid. Some of Drake’s later work is a bit bryter

4/10, 40%

Enjoyed the album, kind of a sad feel but it seems his life was rather sad and saddens took him young.

This was a nice listen, but Nick Drake hadn’t quite unlocked his most melancholic/haunting vibes yet. 7/10

Það er svo ótrúlega þægilegt og kósí haust í þessari plötu. Fullkomin fyrir árstímann.

Fort bon album. Je ne connaissais que <i>Riverman</i> et <i>Day is done</i> dessus, mais tout l'ensemble est de très bonne facture. Un peu trop doux et autosimilaire pour être parfait en tant qu'album entier cependant.

J'avais un a priori négatif sur Nick Drake que je ne connais pas trop, je pensais que ça allait être plan-plan et pas très énergique. C'est tout ça mais ça reste pas mal. Gagne sans doute à être réécouté, et à être dans le mood mélancolique, mais je sauvegarde pour plus tard

I listened to this twice when we first had it and I couldn't decide what I thought of it. Listening to Syd Barrett today made me think of this, they obviously share some similarities in mental health issues as well in sound. This has a dream like quality to it, which I do like. Took me a few listens but I think I've decided this is very good! Highlights: Time has told me River man Day is done Fruit tree (perhaps the most Syd Barrett like) Saturday sun I think I'll go back and listen to bryter layter again!

Un gran artista nick drake, este su album debut, esta muy bueno deberia apreciarse mas. 8/10

love nick drake so guy

honestly i thought this was incredible, i kept craving a climax but I'm glad that if anything a musical climax didn't come but multiple emotional climaxes came in its stead. i really enjoyed this, felt at times the style didn't appeal to me perfectly so that's why it's not a 5 but it kept me pretty actively listening for 40 minutes and made me say "wow" multiple times, emotionally a masterpiece imo. would give 4.5 stars if this thing would let me.

So sad!

Great album, I have only listened to Pink Moon previous to this but I love the way Nick Drake makes music that is only him and a guitar with additional sounds like children laughing and birds flying in the background.

Simple arrangements (some very subtle additions to his acoustic guitar) are juxtaposed with the depth at which you feel the songs. This would be a great album to listen to as the nights get longer and the air develops a chill in the air. While I think this album is classified as folk, it's different from the folk albums my parents were listening to in the 70s (i.e. CSN, John Denver, Dan Fogelberg, etc.). This is darker, deeper poetry.

Je suis très fan de ce brave Nick Drake, et me retrouve ravi d'enfin retrouver un de ses albums sur Spotify. Si mon camarade d'écoute robgueguerre s'avise d'emettre la moindre nouvelle critique à son encontre, c'est à moi qu'il aura affaire.

Очень теплая умиротворяющая музыка. Под пасмурную погоду приятно было такое слушать. 4 звезды.

A unique voice and enjoyable melodies

Big fan of Pink Moon but I never really gave Five Leaves Left a shot. This album is also excellent. However, I'm not a fan of the kerning between the capital A and the capital V in the cover. Ouch!

First listen Saved 6/10 Top track: River Man

Intimate and charming, I found it more captivating than his later albums. Great arrangements, virtuose guitar. Highlights: River Man, Three Hours

The king of the mope.

I must've been in the mood for this because I found this relaxing & enjoyable 3.5 stars

A really great and relaxing album. It would be great to have on while in the bath or having a heart attack as it might help relax you enough to stop it.

ALERT: This album is not everybody's thing. "Three Hours" and "Day is Done" are great.

Very nice for a chilled Sunday. I enjoyed listening to it a lot.

3.8

I think this has been my favorite Nick Drake so far. A solid listen for a walk.

I had never listened to a whole Nick Drake album. There was more humor than I expected, but also the pathos and sadness that I expected. Really good.

Never heard of Nick Drake before. Great intro song; love me some folky jams in the morning. Overall a nice easy listening album that I really enjoyed. I would definitely listen to this one again, but mostly as background music. Good job, Nick Drake!

I would never guess that this album was from 1969, it sounds like it is from 2009. The guitar work is incredible. Reading about him is very interesting. He did not play live shows or do any interviews which is likely why he did not get much recognition. The songs and songwriting reflect his personality. No particular song stood out to me, but the album as a whole was very enjoyable.

I admit I prefer the sparseness of Pink Moon to the more orchestral backing on his other albums, but it’s still a gorgeous record.

English Folky > American Folky imo, this was nice

Never heard the dude before, but I actually really liked this. Something about the strings topped with the vocal Melodies gives a hauntingly beautiful vibe throughout the album.

Maybe I underrate this album because pink moons exists. It’s still nick drake and he still exudes emotion more than just about anyone can . But when pink moon does that just as well and combines it with much more interesting melodies, it makes it hard for this album to stack up. That being said, there’s certainly a time and place for this album and I’m not gonna be too harsh on any one of the three albums nick drake gave us before passing. Such an incredible musician and it’s truly a tradgedy that his life ended so soon. I will forever treasure the music that he gave us in his short life. Best: day is done, Saturday sun, river man

I had been meaning to fully listen to this album for a long time now, and I'm glad I finally did! I think I still prefer 'Bryter Layter', but most of these songs were really great. I especially love the closer 'Saturday Sun' :)

Really good, but pretty repetitive.

Beautiful album to listen to

4 or maybe 5 can't decide really

Yeah… ja tänker mig 4!

I may have overrated Bryter Later previously. This is yet another great Nick Drake album however. Definitely one of the most deserving artists to have their whole studio discography on here

Blassic

Nick Drake doesn't wow you with his voice, in fact, it's pedestrian at points. However, the composition of the song really brings the life to his lyrics. I enjoyed this relaxing album on a gloomy day.

Nicks story was pretty sad. Good album though, too bad the reception it got happened too late.

Beautiful and sad debut record by one of the greatest artists of the last century, especially for his masterpiece "Pink Moon", and this album is not too far from that one.

Haunting and beautiful at the same time.

River Man & Three Hours my favs

Really great moody and introspective album. I had recently listed to Pink Moon recently and loved it as well.

Another Nick Drake album another eloquent and beautiful dirge of an album. Laid bare for all of us to hear this was Drakes debut and it’s nothing less than stellar.

chill

Pretty good, a smooth listen but only a couple stand out songs. Would definitely relisten to as a whole, a nice chill vibe with some insightful lyrics

I really enjoyed this album quite a lot. Saturday sun was a definite add, as was cello. I liked the feel of this album and this is really what I'm digging these days.

We have now listened to the entire Nick Drake discography with this third album. While not as powerful as “ Pink Moon”, this was still haunting and engaging. Really beautiful guitar. I had never heard of Drake until this year, but I am a big fan now. Sad he died before he ever saw success during his life.

a really pleasant listen.

Crap accidentally left my review for this one on bryter layter, that's what I get for falling behind:(

PREFS : Time Has Told Me, River Man, Three Hours, Day Is Done, 'Cello Song, Man in a Shed, Fruit Tree, Saturday Sun MOINS PREF : Way To Blue

Really nice album - very restful.

HL: "River Man", "Way to Blue", "Man in a Shed" "Safe in your place, deep in the earth That's when they'll know what you're really worth" ("Fruit Tree") JESUS- not what I expected from the debut album So Bryter Layter was the outlier, not Pink Moon- having heard the 3 albums in reverse order, I figured this would be more commercial & upbeat as well- nope. So very very melancholy. Might be my least favourite of the 3 but it's such a narrow margin- gah it gets a 4 like the rest of em April 26 2023

lovely stuff, too few Nick Drake songs exist and some of the most beautiful are on here

Das Orchestrale nervt manchmal bisschen. Ich mag es eher minimalistisch, wie auf Pink Moon. Trotzdem gut.

More Nick Drake.

These are incredibly beautiful songs. It's a shame they've never become very popular, because there's a lot to love here. Nick's voice is so unique and contains so much emotion in it. The lyrics are poetic and beautiful and the instruments, however few they may be are played so fantastically. I enjoy his music very much. 4/5

Suprisingly nice

4/5

Nice moosic

After discovering Nick Drake through this project, I was pleased to see another album of his pop up, though I knew from the beginning it was going to be tough not to compare it to "Pink Moon"; I was curious to learn if his first studio album would be as good as his last. This was really a great debut album! Even from the beginning, Nick Drake had a strong sense of self, musically. This is easy to listen to, peaceful, and folky without being too folky. While not quite as minimal as "Pink Moon", even this debut album keeps things pretty minimal from a music angle. Nick Drake also showed himself to be a great songwriter immediately out of the gate, as each song on this album feels complete and lyrically rich. Again, everything here feels advanced compared to where folk rock generally was in 1969. After having listened to my second album Nick Drake album as part of this project, I can say that he has proven to be one of my favorite 1001 project finds. A very solid 3.5 getting rounded up to a 4 here!

Amazing

He might not have the best voice, but the songs are well crafted and produced.

All the songs felt the same but I did enjoy the chill vibes

He's famous for his lycricsm and unique voice and this album definitely demonstrates this. I've replayed river man countless times, I wish the was some more interesting elements to make each song feel a bit more unique as they all kinds blur together. Otherwise great.

I like the stripped down, guitar style music on this versus bryter layter.

Great singer/songwriter album. Very smooth, unique voice.

ok

Really Good 7/10

Well arranged, beautiful folk songs. Favourite tracks: Time Has Told Me, River Man, Three Hours, Way To Blue, Saturday song 4/5

I think I underestimated Nick Drake the first time I got him near the very beginning of this journey. Definitely was robbed from us too early. However the songs are, for whatever reason to me, lacking something that would make them amazing. For me they need to be like 10% more to be perfect.

Driving around with the windows down after a nice spring cleaning listening to this album felt like visiting that spa from Rick and Morty where they remove your toxins but clone a shitty version of yourself. While my better self was listening to Five Leaves I bet my toxins were off getting an earful of Sinead O’Connor or Booker T & The MGs

While I love the instruments, the mixing and sounds, there's something about this guy's voice that annoys me. Otherwise it's a great album.

Lovely tone of voice. Skillful and peaceful orchestration. But all the songs sound the same.

Not my fav nick drake album but good.

I'm a sucker for an accompanying strings section to an album, it was one of my favorite parts of Lronard Cohen's You Want It Darker. So, considering this is also a singer-songwriter album with an orchestra tied to it, I did enjoy this. It was pretty mellow most of the way through, so it wasn't like something insane was in here, but it was still pretty enjoyable. Considering all of Drake's discography is on this generator, guess we'll see hoe it improves as his career goes on.

Beautiful songwriting

Rest in peace sensitive soul

Lindo disco, aunque no escuche este género pues no es de mi total agrado. Lo que tengo para rescatar de acá son los riffs de guitarra que tiene, la simpleza y la tranquilidad que transmite el muchacho Nick con su voz. No pude analizar la letra pero por lo que pude entender no es nada del otro mundo. Con la duración justa. Nose donde se pone el puntaje pero para mí es un 6.8/10 o un 3.4/5 depende como lo quieras fraccionar

An ear calibrated for Drake must be attuned to the quiet, the music that can background but has no need to. His debut sags a touch seventy percent in, but on top of the Nick Drake goodies I expected was the perfect sequencing of the first side. I couldn't make out as many instruments and it almost didn't matter.

Genres: Folk, chamber folk, folk-pop Formed: 1967 Run time: 10 songs, 41 min 11 sec Very chilled music. Poetic lyrics. Very reminiscent of Bob Dylan. It’s sad that mental health got the better of him. His career only lasted seven years, which was still longer than many in the music industry, but it was far shorter than it should have been. My Rating: ****

wonderful album. i enjoyed this one far more than bryter.

Rustig, mooi

mellow, moving, contemplative. As you might expect from Nick.

Pleasant sound, the vocals went a bit too far for me in a couple of the tracks and I didn't really like the big shift half way through for one track. Keen to hear the others on this list.

Я прослушал этот альбом 4 раза. Глубокий, меланхоличный, простой и в то же время комплексный. Очень трудно уложить все мысли об этом альбоме в один текст, это как раз тот случай, когда лучше будет послушать и прочувствовать его самому. (8)

This album is beautiful. The combination of the strings and woodwinds with the folk guitaring is and Drake's pleasant voice is really neatly done. Good balance of over-produced vs stripped down.

Haunting and beautiful, good listen. Saved tracks: River Man, Way To Blue, Fruit Tree

4.75

lovely stuff, too few Nick Drake songs exist and some of the most beautiful are on here

The best album of Nick Drake actually. Super good. 4 It takes some listens. But it just gets me idk.

Finally, one of my artists pop up here! Nick Drake is in my opinion one of the greatest singer/songwriter of all time. Very tragic that he died so young and I can't keep myself from wondering, what if he didn't die so young? This album is fantastic with incredible tracks such as "Time has told me", "Three hours", "Day is done" and "Saturday sun". This is Drake's debut album and I do love this but I do think his other two albums are a tad bit better, therefore I give this album a 4.5/5.

Somewhere deep inside I knew that Nick Drake had more than just the Pink Moon album, but for some reason I had never listened to this. Just like Pink Moon this is simply sublime. 4 stars.

Moody boy music. It's lovely though.

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

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

This was a lovely album.

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

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

Big Dick Nick

Very smooth album. I really enjoyed it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wonderful as always

4.25

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

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

Better than Bryter Layter I think. Great music.

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

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

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

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

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

1969 - clearly the year of many great things

I enjoyed the acoustic guitar parts

Good good

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

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

It was good. Soft. Real soft

Pretty chill album

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

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

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

Excellent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nice. Like a big hug.

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

Folk. Suave, nostálgico.

Pretty refreshing

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

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

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

good

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this household, we stan Nick Drake

lovely but prob my least fave of his

Low key and lovely, maybe not my favorite Drake, but awfully good. “Saturday Sun” is a career highlight. “Time Has Told Me” and “Cello Song” are also great.

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

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

Mellow, I enjoyed it. : ]

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

Vocals, beautiful. Delivery, dreamy. ARRANGEMENT, folk and jazz and classical perfectly merged. Haunting melodies and a totally unique "voice." This is a quiet masterpiece of an album and it's not even his best. It's not even his second-best! I'll admit a couple songs could have been cut down or cut. That, and because he needs somewhere higher to go for other albums, are the only reasons this gets a 4.

4/5

Utterly captivating! This is what Jim Croce would sound like if he was deeply depressed. Drake's gentle instrumentation and introspective storytelling beckon the listener to come closer, come closer, so you can fully immerse yourself in his world. What a beautiful, sad, sensitive soul who was too pure for this world.

Came across this artist a few years ago, interesting music and a very tragic story. You have to be in the mood for this morose folky singer-song writer. I appreciate the music just not something your going to listen to often.

Some really great playing, songwriting, and a far more mature voice than would be expected for his age. Strong album and a sad loss of a great talent.

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

I have never listened to Nick Drake before. That will 100% have to change. The music is beautiful and sad, and engagnig. A lot of the same qualities I like from someone like Elliot Smith (has to be an influence, right?)