Reviews (page 2 of 7)
I was not a fan of country music at all. But I used to read a lot of those expensive UK-import music mags. Around the year 2000 it seemed like every magazine I picked up over a six month period had an article about how amazing and influential Gram parsons was. Article after article. So, when I stumbled across a budget CD release of GP and Grevious Angel on a single disc, I thought "hell, I should give this a shot." I took it home and threw it on the player, and out came... country music. "Blergh," I thought "country music!" and nearly turned it off. But I didn't. In fact, I played to it on repeat for a couple of weeks, and then one day the penny dropped. I could hear past the aesthetic trappings of the genre and hear the actual songs. And the songs are really great, particularly on this album. I was surprised to read that he was under-prepared with material for the sessions, so it was a bit of a grab-bag of a few new songs (hastily compiled), covers and older tracks that from Parsons' previous bands. He was not in a good way drug and alcohol wise, and in fact died before this could be released. That said, he is in better voice than on GP where you can hear the DTs. He's a soulful singer, which overcomes his technical shortcomings. And he is superbly supported by Emmylou Harris, whose harmony singing is beyond sublime on both albums. It's a crack band too, based around Elvis's TCB band, with appearances by Bernie Leadon, Byron Berline and Linda Ronstadt. I gather Gram was so distracted that he basically let the band arrange themselves, which was a good call. I find it hard to split between this album and its predecessor, GP, as inevitably listened to them both together, being on a single CD. They are masterpieces, although they reflect the flaws of their author (and substantial flaws they were). But those imperfections make it a more human expression and easier to love. I have since learned to appreciate and sometimes even love country music, and these albums were my gateway into that whole genre. For that, I am ever grateful.
Ken Burns seems to be doing his job as I appreciated this a lot more than I expected. The hoedown situation in the Medley was particularly enjoyable, sounds like a party I want to be at. Also had a thought that at it's happiest, country could be up there with the most unselfconsciously danceable music ever.
One of my all-time favorites. Too bad he didn’t make it past 27, can only imagine what his career would have been.
Perfect psych country
A gem of an album
I had never heard of this artist before. Not sure why it is described as rock country... sounds all country to me. Loved the album. I went and listened to his first album which is awesome too. 5/5
Loved this and went down a rabbit hole on his bio, then binged on Emmy Lou as a follow-up.
Very pleasant and melodious!
Cosmic Americana. Sick.
I was surprised. I didn't expect this to be a country album. It was a great change of pace, and right in my wheelhouse. Very enjoyable!!
Wonderful songs, sung beautifully, with a lovely cameo from Emmylou Harris. Flawless alt-country / Americana / folk-rock. Right up my street, and a huge influence on many artists I love.
Amazing
Fucking incredible.
Taken too soon, he's a country rock genius and this album is fantastic. Great Emmylou Harris vocals as well. 5 stars.
love it
Own on Vinyl
Pure Americana - twangy country and lush gospel, warm and laid back, a pleasantly stoned swimming hole on a sweaty afternoon of an album.
This album is lucky that I'm not judging it by its cover because that album art is pretty bad. Big mistake to remove Emmylou's picture and name when this is essentially an album of duets with her (and she's definitely the more well-known artist of the two of them). I like the album. They both have nice voices and I like the harmonies. Pretty classic country sound.
Cosmic American Music is surprisingly ramshackle, Twangy Country Music.
A nice album. Grows on you. A very easy listen but nothing too memorable that makes you want to come back. Given it a 4, because it would of been about a 3.7 to me.
Very chill. Liked it.
Really melancholy but beautiful. The type of country music I could envision listening to on a fishing trip. Really enjoyed ‘Brass Buttons’ and I was familiar with ‘Love Hurts’ but not with Gram Parsons. After reading his bio and the story behind his last few years, this felt like a pretty solid work of art.
I didn’t know I was a Graham parsons fan.
Like this album, probably more than GP if it wasn’t for the fake live medley which is just jarring and messed up the mood of the record. If it just took the canned crowd this would be pretty much on the money. Pure sad country as it should be. The mood helps the limitations of his voice, and in fact it is a perfect marriage , and having Ms Harris doesn’t do any harm, that is some emotional singing. All and all the album is The total fuck up artist on full show, channeling the emotion into a fine country rock album. Can’t be a 5 due to the barroom gag, but damn fine 4 Star
I didn’t know I’d enjoy this sort of country. But that boy had something in him
Excellent. Quirky country with a futuristic bent. Loved the harmonies and the edgy quality of the guitar playing.
Thought this was great and packed full of charm, the duet vocals worked really well
A classic country album. A very solid album that stands the test of time. Love me some good ol’ twangy country songs. Favorites: Return of the Grievous Angel, I Can’t Dance, Brass Buttons, Ooh Las Vegas, In My Hour of Darkness
Like Emmylou on here. Can see the direct lineage of this album to contemporary alt-country
He spent his brief career (dead at 26) trying to create the sound in his head, which he called “Cosmic American Music”. Did he get there? Probably not quite. But on the way he essentially midwifed country-rock as a genre through his contributions to the Byrds’ “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” as well as the Flying Burrito Brothers. His solo work continues in this vein. This, his second and final solo album, was recorded shortly before his untimely death and released posthumously. Emmylou Harris plays a major role here, singing exquisite harmony vocals on nearly every tune. Gram is in good voice. And the musical backing is by members of Elvis’ TCB band, a crack outfit.
Expected something cosmic, instead i got country. 4/5
Surprisingly relaxing. A nice change of pace. Giving me more hope towards the country genre.
I love this album and his alt-country/folk sound. Very interesting character and life as well. 4.5/5
If I have to listen to yet more country music, I'm glad it's this. I like the lazy stoned feeling of it. I knew it through its influence on the Lemonheads, and always meant to listen to some more.
This one surprised me a bit. The last few albums have been duds so I wasn’t expecting much. Enjoyed it far more than I thought I would.
с первых нот захотелось выключить, но остановилась. ну очень красиво. хоть и кантри вонючее
Álbum de country muito agradável com canções bonitas. CVJ Aria.
Sympa! Je suis pas trop country mais j'ai bien aimé, notamment Brass Buttons et $1000 Wedding
Not a weak track here and the two singers have great chemistry. Going 4 but I can see 5 one day
Sittin' on the porch music. Yeehaw.
I really want to like Gram Parsons' music, but like the Byrds before him, it just doesn't hit very hard. I don't know what it is. I love a lot of the alt-country bands from the 80s and 90s, who were doing similar stuff, but not Gram Parsons. I mean, there's some very good songs on this album, and Emmylou Harris. But, taken as a whole, the album feels a tad try-hard without any of the musical and lyrical hooks that, just to pick some random names, Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy manage to compose at the drop of a hat. Buuuut, despite all my kvetching, this is still a good album that earns a 4.
I really enjoyed this. A little surprising because country folk isn’t my favorite genre, but the tunes were mostly upbeat and the harmonies were nice.
Enjoyable, easy listening folk.
this looks sick lmao i’m very picky with country, but i like this. im really enjoying this :) yayyy
(78/100)
I have no qualms with this.
I mean this is just some good old country music. I don't think Gram Parsons was doing anything super new or unique but man does he do it well. I thoroughly enjoyed his voice, the harmonies, and the changes in pace between songs. 7/10
You can’t imagine someone sang these songs would die that young.
really pretty - loved the fiddle and his voice and emmylou harris's backing vocals. $1000 wedding is an excellent song. i thought Love Hurts was annoyingly saccharine though. first side is significantly stronger (besides In My Hour of Darkness). 3.5
Very enjoyable
⭐⭐⭐⭐- Det är något med det här albumet som inte klickar 100% hos mig (än). Kan vara Twanget i Grams röst eller att även om detta är starten på country-rock så är det mycket traditionell country. Annars är det fullt med bra låtar, bra musiker, grym steel-gitarr på Ooh Las Vegas! samt fantastiska Emmylou Harris som backup. Tycker Emmylou gör stor skillnad för att lyfta helheten. Även om det är något som skaver lite så tycker jag albumet som helhet är för bra för att få en 3a så det får bli en svag 4a. Bäst är Return of the Grevous Angel, I cant't dance, Brass buttons, $1000 Wedding, Ooh Las Vegas och att Emmylou Harris medverkar.
Return of the Grievous Angel $1000 Wedding Love Hurts In My Hour of Darkness
Gram Parsons’ albums and contribution to the Byrds “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” were instrumental in the birth of country rock. This feels as much the work of Emmylou Harris as him, influential for sure, perhaps more influential than great, but a very good album.
Wonderful. Return of the Grievous Angel, $1,000 Wedding, In My Hour of Darkness - these three are magnificent. Hearts on Fire is great also, but the rest is just filler, which drags down the score. Emmy Lou and Linda Ronstadt are superb. It's the partnership with them that really lifts the album.
Great melancolic Album
This project can be so funny...in less than a week, we get two different versions of Love Hurts, and neither of them is the one popularized by Nazareth. There are so many interesting and tragic stories in the world of music too, such as Gram dying shortly after they finished recording this, and Emmylou Harris getting moved from being pictured and named on the front cover to a credit line on the back because of an apparently salty and estranged widow. The drama! I thought this was a really nice album. They have great singing chemistry together and I like the old country vibes paired with a touch of rock. A very pleasant listening experience!
I was mostly unfamiliar with Gram Parsons, but I really enjoyed this. The sounds of his and Emmylou Harris' vocals together were beautiful and evocative. This makes me question my general aversion to country music. This is so much more
I mean, this is an album where a guy with a sizeable trust fund sings about how Vegas “ain’t no place for a poor boy like me”. Which is the way it always has been, and in any case there are far worse things to do with an independent source of wealth than make music with it. Particularly when the music is this good. Emmylou Harris is a highlight on here, but it’s all good. Country music, but it brings in some other things too, kind of makes me think of some of the modern (and good!) country singers like Sturgill Simpson. I have the feeling this album will grow on me if I give it the chance.
I continue to hunger for country on this list, so there's no surprise that when it shows up I may overrate it. But that's not to say that I don't genuinely think this album is good. It's non-pretentious, easy-listening, country music sang by Parsons and the awfully talented Emmylou Harris, and delivered in a tight 36-minute package. It's just about everything I like in an album, even if there's nothing I really love here. Some of the classic covers like Hickory Wind and Love Hurts are at their best here, and a couple of the originals live up to the spot this album has on the list. The steel guitar is as comforting as ever, and I'll be darned if I don't recommend this album as a surprise hit. Highlights: $1000 Wedding Medley Live from Northern Quebec Love Hurts Lowlight: Hearts on Fire
Lovely country rock, made even better with Emmylou's presence. Definitely worth a full listen.
I forgot how young he was when he died. Dude didn’t even make it to the 27 club. That’s some hard livin’. And for someone who ate drugs for breakfast and reportedly was pretty out of it during the recording sessions, he sounds amazingly well here. Sad that his widow removed Emmylou’s name and photo from the original proposed cover and relegated her to just a back cover credit, because she clearly elevates the sound and songs. Rating a notch up for nostalgia given so many players were featured from many other bands I grew up listening to (Dillards, Country Gazette/Byron Berline, Linda Ronstadt, etc.)
I HATE to have to give a country album a good rating, but unfortunately, Grievous Angel gives you everything you could want out of a country album. Great vocals and instrumentation, charming duets, songs that will have you out of your seat and dancing, a nice ballad. It’s a shame Gram Parsons didn’t live to see the release of this album.
Found myself enjoying most of these tunes, with a few that were just okay that came along for the ride as well. Adding Emmylou Harris to the mix is a surefire way to guarantees happy ears, though.
The harmonies are great. Love me some Cosmic American Music. Love Hurts, Ooh Las Vegas and In My Hour of Darkness are the highlights.
I saw Parson’s embroidered suit at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Kind of fun. I hadn’t realized he died so young until I started reading about this album and saw the “posthumous release” descriptor. This solo album leans more towards the Flying Burrito Brothers side of his career than The Byrds, which I’m pleased with. It’s an earnest, solid country album that doesn’t come off as costumey. I can hear the fun they had making it. Always nice to hear Emmylou Harris’ voice. It’s kind of bananas that her credit and image was scrubbed from the original pressing - I understand being a widowed wife is complicated (I assume), but Harris’ contributions to this album are so significant that the omission is glaring.
Esperava um álbum progressivo, a julgar pela capa e veio um baita disco de country sem firulas.
I dug this. Need to follow up with it again
Not super familiar with country music but this one was great. Brass Buttons stood out - poignant and so well done on every level. Will revisit. Not sure why but I hesitate to give a 5. This may change.
good soup
Pretty nice!
Mid/high 3, enjoyed this more than expected, a bit samey but overall enjoyable
Good harmonies and some interesting tracks. Great as background music, however
This is a great country album but it's Gram Parsons AND Emmylou Harris. I can't believe she's not credited on any of the songs, they're mostly duets with her!!! She makes the album and so I can't give 5 stars during Women's History month in her honor.
And then he was dead at 26. Fucking drugs and alcohol.
Gorgeous
I really enjoyed this album, I thought it was going to go into a full country vibez but it was more influenced.
I love country rock. I really enjoyed this album. And Emmy Lou Harris is the best!
Better than average for this genre!
i liked it but not wow
This was a really nice album. I appreciated when Parsons kept things uptempo; those were the songs that I liked the most. I can't stand the slower songs, partially because of how whiny his voice is. It's more fine when there are harmonies to go along with his voice. Most of this album was faster, so I feel like I appreciate him more now.
Wel vet
Looks something like I haven't seen from an album cover. I mean it is apparently country, but I think this won't be so bad. No high expectations, since I haven't heard about this guy, but it is a bit promising. OHHH he was in Byrds, dam I didn't know anyone's name from there.. well tbh I didn't like their album that was here as much, so I guess he won't be any different(?), we'll see. First song, ohh classic country ass song huh. Not bad. Actually liked this one. The blended vocals and the instruments were all fine. Very soothing and nice to hear too, even though it's very classic and doesn't go over the top. Second song, this one's slower, but not in a bad way. The woman's voice is here too, thought only he'd sing I guess. I like this idk. Third song, omg love this kind of music, so funky and dancey. Dam I did expect this, it's probably the best one here yet, I just like upbeatness sometimes. 4th song, expected I guess, another slow one, with no woman voice this time. I guess because it's about a woman, as I'm hearing. His voice is nice, forgot to mention that, it's calming, but also not very distinct in any way. 5th song, I've been listening for half a song now and it's got better. It started of real slow, but it is a long song so I guess hitting the notes a bit later is acceptable. Better than the last song definitely, but I need more upbeat ones, they're just more nuanced for me. 6th song, oooohhh just what I needed. Them country beats coming up up up. Plus it's a medley so it'll change itself soon enough. Best if not second best song here for me. Turned into a slower one, but I guess that was expected too. 7th song, woman came back yay. This one's unusually better than other slower songs (should I call them ballads, I wonder). Also idk whether this is connected to the Cher song with the same name. 8th song, mmm good, the beat is awnnn again. Love that these kind of songs weren't only done one time and were as I remember for 3 times. I'm a simple person for liking the activeness in song more ig. 9th song, perfect for ending the album, nothing too much, just right on the spot. Lyrics are also quite connected to the genre even if I don't relate it to it as much. I would say in its own standards it is a 4 star album. It's got most of the songs to be good and I added them too. I didn't expect more than this, and actually this is better than I could foresee. Obviously has a lot to improve on, cuz it is still not the best 4 star album I've seen here, but as I said in its own genre and what it was trying to be, it's alright.
It's pretty simple really. When you find yourself with access to a generational talent - what do you do? In the modern parlance - you let her cook. While not as earthshaking as his debut - there is a lot that makes this album great. But the high point is Emmylou. She and Gram are sublime here and consistently elevate the good to great material.
Very solid country album, enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. A bit more on the 'sappy love song' than I would've preferred, but the title track is really a standout.
A moment captured in time. A truly glorious moment.
Good album, like this type of old-timey country, proper American diner vibes. Return of the Grievous Angel was my song of the album and fav first listen with $1000 Wedding and Medley Live from Nothern Quebec being other highlights
I’m country maxing. I’m feelin’ that Honky Tonk. I year for the land of Texas. This album caught me at a very yeehaw time in my life.
At first I found this to be a little too similar to other country-rock albums that I’ve heard, but after reading about it a bit I realized that this was THE country-rock album. As a fan of the genre, I have to award it extra stars just for that. 3.5-4
Gram Parsons is such a towering figure, man. If you’re into Americana music, he’s in that rarified air with the likes of John Prine as far as influence goes. Musically, aesthetically, what have you. He looked cool as shit and made awesome music. One of the all time great American songwriters and he’d be a major mainstream icon if he’d lived. This version of “Love Hurts” is so much better than the Nazareth version. Actually feels painful and not sappy. God I love Gram Parsons. The contributions of Emmylou Harris to this album must not be minimized; originally, the album was intended to be credited to both Parsons and Harris but, after Parsons’s death, his widow removed Harris’s name and face from the front cover. I learned this via a 2019 trip to the country music hall of fame in Nashville, which then featured an Emmylou Harris exhibit that featured Gram Parsons maybe a bit more than it should have, but I just love them both so much.
A couple songs get a bit too countrified for my tastes, but this is special enough in other places that I can overlook my natural ag. This has that melancholy sound I like.
This album is pretty unique. I like the blend of country and rock.
Emotive, warm, genuine. Maybe it's the addition of Emmylou Harris's voice or just Gram's energy having her around, this is the best part of his "cosmic American music."
i had no idea this was secretly an emmylou harris album (which was apparently an intentional choice by parsons' wife, yikes)! there was a guy there too i guess. a pleasant surprise. i love u emmylou.
this was a nice, enjoyable album. emmylou harris' presence really elevates this out of potentially boring country-rock territory. what the heck is this album cover though favorites: return of the grievous angel, i can't dance, love hurts, ooh las vegas
There are some real masterpieces from Gram on this album, and I get that early 70's country rock is not for everyone, but Gram definitely laid the groundwork for a lot of alt country groups. His duets with Emmylou Harris on this are beautiful. Hearts on Fire is an amazing song. His cover of Love Hurts is beautiful too. Emmylou's harmony is perfect. I still prefer the Nazareth version but this one is gorgeous. 4.11 stars out of 5
It's twangy country, which I hate. But something about this was...good? Did I actually like this? I think so. Who am I?
Pretty good country/ rock and roll mixture. Love hurts is a classic and Oooooh Las Vegas has lots of energy. Great guitar twang. Man, this guy has a hell of a story about his death.
Very enjoyable 70’s country alt rock with Emmylou Harris in support stealing the show.
I love return of the grievous angel, but after I used to sort of drift off with this. I have to say though that properly listening to it - it is so great - heartbreaking and classic.
3.5/5
Added a star for the influence in the sound
A little twangy to get a 5, otherwise excellent. A young Emmylou Harris really shines.
I sure do love Emmy Lou Harris.
Much better than the ratings.
This was great. Such a bummer that he died before the album came out. Loved the songs with Emmylou Harris. Also he wrote "Love Hurts"?! Wild
Great songs, classic sound
I’m a big fan of Emmylou and the songs with her contributions were my favorite. Parsons seems like he had a fascinating career/life so I’m excited to dig deeper. Rating: 3.7
GRAMM PERSON. emmylou harris singt mit ja :) es isch voll voll köntry hä. hearts on fire au sehr cute. jaa vibraphon :) hey isch das herzig. supersüessi songs. au herzschmerz medley super d emmylou harry isch soo guet. love hurts isch sooo en guete soooong. lamsami kuschligi version. woooow schön. grammperson chan öpis. sehr guet. aber mengmol au afoch generisch bitz. drum VIAAAA.
I will not stand for Emmylou Harris erasure, Gretchen!
Nagu kuulaksin K-Rose'i San Andreast mängides. Sellist kraami saaksin päris pikalt mängida, täiega siiras kõla ja ilus seade lauludel. 4/5
I still need to work on properly respecting The Flying Burrito Brothers Band and the members of it. This is really good, kind of classic, country. The supporting instrumentation is honestly really impressive, steel guitar and also vibraphone! But the vocals definitely carry the album, and more credit should go to Emmylou Harris for her vocal contributions to this album. Favorite Song(s): Return of the Greivous Angel, $1000 Wedding
Not a big fan of country, but this is good!
Thoughts before listening: I know that at the time, it was probably very revolutionary for a long haired hippie from California to be making country music. However, this is pretty standard in today's music business...both with underground artists and with the mainstream. I say this because if you listen to this album through a modern lens, I don't know that it necessarily stands out. It's certainly good, but many Gram Parsons indebted musicians have released albums over the past 50 years, diluting the impact that he made. Review: I think the most surprising thing about Gram Parsons is that the lore around him would make you think this is going to be some sort of cosmic country, LSD trip with banjos...and its not that at all. This is pretty straightforward country music reminiscent of the Bakersfield sound of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. I think its pretty good although some of the slower songs drag a bit for my taste. Emmylou Harris is a huge part of this album, and her voice floating below Gram's throughout is one of the biggest draws here. My favorite songs include: "Return of the Grievous Angel", "Love Hurts", "Ooh Las Vegas", and "In My Hour of Darkness". In general, I enjoy this quite a bit and I'll give it 4-stars.
Cooles Country Album
First time listening to this album. I was a teenager in the 90s, and at the time, I thought I hated country. It turns out I just hated 90s country.This album is some real high quality classic country. And for as much as this is a Gram Parsons album, it really feels like Emmylou Harris is regularly stealing the spotlight. I'm not complaining about that. And this album also has one of the better versions of "Love Hurts." I'd listen to this one again.
sad album, but it is very americana and interesting if not my type of daily jam
Great Classic country, Some tracks seems to have some really cool sounding gospel influence.
Talented ass songwriter, with an interesting dream. And emmylou singing alongside. Can't lose. I've stayed at the Joshua Tree in a couple doors down from the room he died in.
enjoyed! then this inspired david to listen to The Flying Burrito Brothers
Una pena su suicidio. Podría haber sido mejor, pero el disco se beneficia de la voz de Emmylou Harris. Gram parsons se merece estar en la selección. Es agradable el country.
Pretty good. Love the duets.
Do I like country music?
It's a good country album, but please, give the lady some credits, would ya?
Another day, another good album. A few wonderful songs on here. This version of Love Hurts sounds great and Las Vegas is one of the best country songs of this time. Not all the songs quite hit this level of greatness, but it's an overall enjoyable listen.
Þetta er ekki alveg mín tónlist, en það er eitthvað þarna sem vinnur á og mér finnst gaman að hlusta. Notalegheitin yfirskyggja algerlega á innbyggð hallærislegheitin og Emmylou Harris er þarna á kantinum til að lyfta þessu enn frekar upp. Svo er útgáfan þeirra af Love hurts er sú langbesta sem ég hef heyrt.
What could have been. An amazing voice, beautiful songs, riding the crest of a sound that he was born to be part of.
Really great album, and Harris’s duet take it to the next level.
There is magic when Gram sings with Emmylou
I was not familiar with Gram Parsons before. Apparently, he was a member of groups like the Flying Burrito Brothers and, more notably, the Byrds. In fact, his contributions to the latter led to the stylistic shift in the Byrds' music from psychedelia to country rock. After time spent in those groups, he pursued a solo career, working alongside singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris and Elvis Presley's "Taking Care of Business" backing band. However, after finishing the mixing for his second solo album, Parsons went on vacation in Joshua Tree, California, where he died after a fatal overdose of drugs and alcohol. For all intents and purposes, Grievous Angel ended up a posthumous release. I will say, this was a decent slice of country rock from Gram, Emmylou, and company. The twanging guitar work, vocal harmonies, and tight rhythm section come together for a mostly solid listen alongside heartfelt lyrics that reflect on relationships that have faltered and musings on death. Even if the lyrics could have afforded more finer details, and that they didn't bother with the trite take on Everly Brothers' "Love Hurts" or the fake live medley with canned applause sounds, there was enough musicianship and personality here to leave me wondering how Gram's musical career would have turned out if he were still alive. At the end of the day, Grievous Angel was a good record, one that I can only assume Gram would have been proud of.
Pretty happy with this album. Definitely can hear where some modern bands such as Turnpike troubadours might have picked up influences. Ooh Las Vegas was for sure the standout track.
It was gourd
This was a fun, warm, foot-tapping kinda album with great overall writing. Despite a few skips, there’s a lot of tracks to love here like I can’t dance, brass buttons, $1000 wedding, and in my hour of darkness. Loved the backup vox as well
neat
the country licks in the very first track brought up a lot of preconceived notions, but ended up liking this a lot more than I thought I would. Lots of emotional depth, in sound and lyric. Feels like it influenced The Eagles sound but they were already around in 1974. Modern country is a capitalistic scourge on the art of music and genre of country. Liked "brass buttons" the best. Had definitely heard the cover of "Love Hurts", and "In My Hour of Darkness" sounds familiar. What a dark/prophetic end to a career.
Such a fan of this country-late 60s rock sound. Title track is excellent. Rest is great. Does emmylou count as a backup singer if she sings every word?
I think I prefer Sweetheart of the Rodeo and Flying Burrito Brothers Gram Parsons to solo Gram Parsons but this still really works too. Emmylou Harris is the ultimate country music glue guy, this album is just fine without her contributions.
A little country to start the morning
A rootsy country rock record. It's a shining example of what country used to be before it was corrupted by record execs+the ghost of 2000s butt rock. It has great vocals harmonies and good, rootsy instrumental playing.
Pretty solid, really great harmonies between Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris.
Some fun countryfied rock and roll. I would listen again, but not quite in my top tier.
Gram Parsons already wins some points just for being a Byrd and a Flying Burrito Brother, so I figured this one would be worth a spin. Turns out it’s a really solid solo album too. The title track is a standout, with that perfect country-rock mix that shows why Gram was such a big deal in shaping Americana. His cover of “Love Hurts” really hit me though—it’s raw, heartfelt, and way more emotional than the more polished versions you usually hear. Overall, Grievous Angel is a strong listen. Nothing too flashy, just honest songwriting and great delivery. Gram had the kind of voice that made even simple songs feel meaningful, and that’s what carries the album. RIP Gone way too soon... Favorite song: Love Hurt
A very good album. Very strong Country n Western style to it, but with a few other influences creeping in.
the second and final album of country musician gram parsons, who unfortunately died due to overdosing on morphine. many tracks are sung together with emmylou harris, another profilic country artist whose music i've reviewed in the past. it's soft and... honestly straightforward classic country rock, but even so, it has heart. unsurprisingly some of the lyrics seem to allude to the tragedy that happened only a few months after it was recorded. it's a nice blend of traditional country and modern (at the time) rock i think.
Грустные песни со сладкой мелодикой и одним из лучших женских бэк-вокалов, что был в кантри.
love it. however this dude's story is one of the saddest I've ever heard
Really nice combo of country and old rock and roll. RIP Gram.
Very cool country rock album.
Genre: Country Rock Gram Parsons’ untimely death is one of country’s most tragic tales. What Gram was looking to do with the genre was bring it back-to-roots, but also bigger, more colorful, and more rockin’. Him and Emmylou do an absolutely amazing job singing on this record, and the tracks they sing are vibrant, well-arranged, and full of life. Taken from us too soon, but not before giving us some absolute heat. 4/5
I knew of Graham Parsons before... "Crazy Eyes" by Poco is probably the best progressive country rock songs ever. But, this was the first time I really sat down and listened to him. In a perfect world, this would have been the western country rock that took over the world, and not whatever slop the Eagles put out on vinyl in between world tours and coke benders.
Pretty great
Great album!
I must admit, I have a soft spot for country rock, and especially the Burrito Brothers. Some beautiful storytelling here
"Grievous Angel" is the second and final solo studio album by American singer-songwriter and musician Gram Parsons. The album was compiled and released four months after Parsons' drug overdose death. The Wiki-listed genres are country and country rock. You could put rock too. Parsons labeled his hybrid country/rock "Cosmic American Music." The band featured a young Emmylou Harris on vocals and members of Elvis Presley's "Taking Care of Business" band including Hames Burton (electric lead guitar) and Glen D. Hardin (piano). Other members included Emory Gordy Jr. (bass), Donna Tutt (drums), Herb Pedersen (guitars) and Al Perkins (steel pedal). Parsons was on lead vocals and acoustic guitar and produced the album. The album had critical acclaim and reached #195 on the US charts. "Return of the Grievous Angel" opens the album. The whole country outfit is here: pedal steel guitar, a fiddle, mandolin, piano and multiple acoustic guitars. Parsons opens up the vocals and is joined by Emmylou. Both have great voices. A song about road experiences while traveling across the US. Hard to get much more country than that. Parsons doubles down and goes even more country on the lovely "Hearts on Fire." A slow song with a slide guitar and Parson-Emmylou harmonies again. The tables get turned a bit on the rockin' "I Can't Dance." Piano, drums and not out of place on a classic rock rock and roll station. Speaking of classic rock and roll stations, Parsons defines country rock in "Brass Buttons." For better or worse, this sounds exactly like an Eagles' song or maybe the Eagles sound exactly like this song. Parsons with his nice tenor voice. Emmylou and Parsons do a very nice job covering "Love Hurts." I always think of the Nazareth version but this is good. The original Everly Brothers' one has to be the gold standard. This album covers country, country rock, rockabilly and even ballads. Parsons has a great tenor voice. The vocals of Emmylou Harris really take this album over of the top for me. She's wonderful and a nice start to a long, successful career. The original songs can be compelling with Parsons' storytelling via the music. There is a couple of covers and re-recorded Byrds' and Flying Burrito Brothers' songs to obviously fill an album. That's fine. Overall, this album is great sounding and an example of a good 1970's country rock album. Obviously, if you're a fan of that style you'll really like this.
First time with this album. While not my usual playlist type material, this was an enjoyable listen. I was not aware that the song "Love Hurts" was covered before the popular Nazerth version. I like Parsons' take on it. My favorite track was "$1000 Wedding".
I didn't know James May played country music! Honestly this is really good, and I don't even like country music. Good songwriting (other than Love Hurts, which is only painful because of how bad of a song it is), good lyrics, short album. 3.5/5.0: Very Good
This album may not be Gram’s greatest, but it’s a beautiful and bittersweet farewell. His voice alongside Emmylou’s feels timeless, nearly not enough of them together.
Maybe I'm just in a great mood this week, but I really dug this. It's more country than I thought I liked, but the songwriting earnestness of his singing really caught me.
Pretty solid album all around. I’m not generally into the genre
Great album, rare instance where the second half was better than the first. This guy basically invented that country folk twang sound.
When Gram Parsons coined the term Cosmic American Music, he likely had in mind a visionary blend of country, soul, and rock - a borderless American sound. But listening to Grievous Angel now, it's hard not to hear “cosmic” in the Lovecraftian sense: as something eerie, indifferent, and unsettling. Lovecraft wrote that “the basis of all true cosmic horror is violation of the order of nature, and the profoundest violations are always the least concrete and describable.” Parsons’ music taps into precisely that: songs that seem to mourn something unnamed, floating between life and death, faith and despair.The album is not a cohesive suite of songs, but a posthumous collage: off-cuts, fragments, and salvaged takes from earlier sessions. It doesn’t feel like the work of an artist executing a grand final vision; it feels like something a drug addict pulls from a crumpled bag, a tragic, accidental testament rather than a planned farewell. That it holds together is impressive, but Parsons was falling apart. He died of an overdose in a Joshua Tree motel just months before release, and his body was infamously stolen and cremated in the desert by a friend. The album already sounded haunted, but his death pushed it fully into the realm of the uncanny.The fake live medley is its own version of cosmic horror. It sounds like a fun studio idea that time has made wrong. It's a staged performance by a band that will never actually perform again. An audience present, but absent; the band is all alone. Chilling. The fact that Grievous Angel is not a complete artistic statement, and never will be, reflects the cold indifference of the cosmos: there is no final act, no summation, only fragments left behind.Another cruelty is the fact that Emmylou Harris's name was removed from the album cover at the request of Parsons’ wife. Also cut from the cover photo, she is another absent presence. That makes her role as the emotional anchor of these songs all the more peculiar. She more than deserves a lead vocal or a genuine back and forth duet, but she doesn't get one.. Her harmony on the final line of “Hearts on Fire” is astonishing - hovering just above the chord, aching with restraint and sorrow. In many ways, she sounds more present than Parsons himself. And him soon gone.Grievous Angel isn’t a finished album. It’s a dispatch from the threshold, a haunted message from someone already slipping out of reach. Its incompleteness is the point. It’s not just Cosmic American Music. It’s a document of cosmic indifference - the universe doesn't care to let you finish. But, even then, there is beauty. 3.5 Among other beautiful things on this album Emmylou Harris’ voice stands out as practically divine. I love her singing. The songs are excellent and I particularly like $1000 wedding. The medley is fun. Extra credit for getting an Eagle involved. I hate the album cover. 3.5/5
Grew on me throughout the listen honestly! I really like the Emmylou vocals throughout, and it’s just some real solid country music with some fun covers and great riffs as a cherry on top!
its just funny to me that the byrds arent my fav band ever when Gram Parsons, Gene Clark and David Crosby were all in the band... anyways im gonna read the Laurel Canyon book to find out if this guy was a CIA covert opp <3
I’d marry gram so we could get drunk and die together
Banger
Le nom m'évoquait vaguement quelque chose mais j'aurais pas su dire même que c'était du country. J'aime beaucoup le son ça fait très Nashville. On dirait que c'est enregistré live ça doit être un fameux "single track". Les duos avec la fille c'est joli. Love Hurts c'est une reprise, ou c'est repris? Ah ben caline c'est Emmylou Harris la voix de femme! (Je fais toujours mes recherches après la première écoute/ critique, pour m'éviter les a priori)
Bon country. Mais je dois dire avoir préféré l’album country précédent, de Lucinda Williams. De plus, le son de la Slide guitar/steel guitar/pedal steel, pourtant un son typique du country, me gosse royalement. Malgré tout, des bons tubes! Brass buttons, 1000$ wedding, In my hour of Darkness. Les duet avec Emmylou Harris sont enchanteurs, je dois dire!
Dope
Forgot about him - solid album
Kinda cool
I'm a country rock and GP fan so this was an enjoyable listen. Gram isn't particularly a strong singer so at times I found Harris' harmonies to be a bit intrusive and overpowering. Still, it was a good listen and sadly we didn't have Parsons around long enough to hear more from him.
Qué gran disco de country. Y leyendo sobre Parsons, resulta que es el padre del rock country, así que puro disfrute en sus poco más de media hora que dura el disco. Canciones de amor, de desamor, de llegar a un punto en la vida en donde Parsons parece decirnos ok, me esforcé y esto es lo que pude alcanzar. No más, pero tampoco menos. Y con eso, estoy contento.
Very sweet
7/10 Favorites: Return of the Grievous Angel, Hearts on Fire, Love Hurts
This is a work of beauty.
Good album that successfully mixes traditional country with 60s-70s folk rock, though it can be lacking in energy and melody. Best song: Brass Buttons
It’s the year of our lord 2025 and the handful of artists who could conceivably scrounge a living wage from music wouldn’t have to worry about doing so even if they had to. It’s always been a privilege to have the time and space to create. Before it was unit sales it was patronage; even if it was limited to just one, an artist has always needed a public. A scan across the charts today reveals a heavy tilt toward another kind of privilege. You need a public far less than you need a public school education. That said, I suppose I should have a problem with Gram Parsons – third generation zesty trust fund kid. Whether it’s because of a statute of limitations on such matters, the incredible tragedy that stalked Gram (third generation wealth carries a certain creed of curse), or the sheer quality of the songs, I don’t know … but I can’t muster the energy to dislike Parsons. Not on principle nor in fact. I first listened to this record after enjoying Malkmus’ “Traditional Techniques” a few years ago and following up on its influences. Then as now, I marvelled at the steady confidence and cleverness of “Return of the Grievous Angel”, a song that teases and pulls its punches in all the right places, waiting until seconds before the bell to land its haymakers. I let myself be swayed by his arrangement of “Love Hurts”; bopped along to “Ooh Las Vegas” and “I can’t dance” (a Tabby favourite). It might be full of wonderfully crafted, beautifully performed (Emmylou Harris is a phenomenal talent of course, and ideal foil to Parsons) archetypal country rock but “Grevious Angel” doesn’t feel like a complete album somehow; it feels short another song or two. Working through it track by track, you soon come to realise that that can’t be true; this record’s short of nothing else but a follow-up. It’s a bittersweet feeling – and one that matches the sentimental tone of what you’re hearing perfectly. Enough so that you might fall a little bit more in love with Gram Parsons again. In principle and in fact.
Very great country album. It's a shame that Gram Parsons didn't get to see its release.
Day 1 First listen- Great country album! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the tracks. Highlight: In My Hour of Darkness, Return of the Grievous Angel, Hearts on Fire and Love Hurts! (4/5)
I enjoyed this more than I thought. I really enjoyed the duets with Emmylou, what a legend. The Love Hurts rendition hit all the right tones for me.
Wasn't really feeling country when this was suggested. We'll see how it goes. Wait lol this is the guy behind that awful byrds country album. Listening thoughts: -Good sad country opener. Emmylou Harris really elevates this. -Alt country vibes help a little. I thought we were headed for trad country, but I can probably roll with this. (On the other hand, how much trad or pop country has made this list? Just Willie Nelson? Not that I'm complaining; most of it's bad. But seems like an oversight) -nice slow country on brass buttons -Love the energy on ooh las vegas -I like how grave he gets ("In my hour of darkness" without embraces the full minor key bluesiness of Townes). Does this album tell a story, wherein he gets increasingly desperate? Something to listen for on a second listening. -Updating: yeah it seems to capture the feeling of returning home at the end of your rope, and being confronted with a lot of things you did wrong. As your demons begin to drag you down, you try to run away (Ooh Las Vegas). Ultimately, it's not enough and you hope for external salvation--which for Gram Parsons didn't arrive (at least not in a temporal sense: he died like a year after this album) Review: This is pretty good old alt-country. There's none of the Townes van Zandt spark or John Prine brilliance, but its good. I'm tempted to round my low three point something to a four just because it's fun to reward new out-of-the-blue discoveries. But I think it's hard to imagine coming back here much. It's definitely got more soul to it than the Byrds album where they couldn't decide if they were watery soft rock or watery country. The near cohesive storyline, I've decided on the second listen, is good enough, alongside Oooh Las Vegas and Emmylou Harris, to round it up to 4 stars. But it's close and he doesn't even get three without Emmylou Harris.
I enjoyed this very much- even more after I discovered Emmy Lou was doing the female vocals. Very good album.
This was surprisingly very good. Country as it should be.
Solid country influenced rock, will return.
clearly an album of a relationship. Less Byrds more Burritos
Knew nothing about this one as well and really loved it. Felt like a time capsule
Pleasantly surprised by this album, unsure of what I was expecting but it’s a good collection of country songs. Nice melodies and instrumentation. Easy to listen with chilled vibes. Will delve further into Gram Parsons’ discography!
Quick little Americana album. Lots of country twang to it without being too country. Love the duets with Emmylou. Very enjoyable album
Man this is really good. Emmylou not being credited is fucked up. I wish it had a few more bangers, I think that’s what’s holding it back from being a 5
I like his voice. Sounds refreshing. I love the fiddle. Reminds me of summer. I Can't Dance is super fun. Brass Buttons is so pretty. Medley Live from Northern Quebec is fye i liked the yodeling. I like this album. its pretty. ooh las vegas is fun af. hour of darkness reminds me of a lot music its gotta be major inspo. fire album.
The sounds feels a little like if the rolling stones went country instead of with the blues. Emmys backing vocals are sublime. Highlights include "I can't dance" and "medley live from northern Quebec"
Pretty good! Parsons and Harris make a nice vocal duo, with his rich baritone and her twangy southern twang balancing each other nicely. The lyrics are melancholic and sad, which is about what one would expect from an album called Grievous Angel.
Really solid country album, this is the stuff I’m looking for. What really has a good country feel, raw emotion that isn’t just pop songs liek what is on the radio now. The guitars, duets, and feel seems more genuine on this than a lot of other music I’ve heard.
Reminds me of childhood
The Good: It is Angelic? The Bad: No it’s not? The Ugly: Anything grievous is, as the dictionary will tell us, no fun thing… I had never listened to anything from Gram Parsons, yet I had read his bio a while back while I was listening to Emmylou Harris’s album Pieces of the Sky, which is also on this hear 1001 list. Anyway, to me, this sounds country, but very acceptable, almost easy-listening. My ears perked up when I heard “Love Hurts”, which I thought was written by Nazareth, but turns out that this was written by a husband/wife duo who’d I’d never heard about either, which lead to another visit to wikipedia… All in all, though I don’t want to like the album that much, I fear that a 4* is in order… does that turn me into a redneck? Also, RIP Gram Parsons, your grievous angel finally came a calling I guess...
Gram Parsons. Another very familiar name that i don’t think I had ever listened to before. Very California-style country-rock. I thought for sure it was Linda Ronstadt singing with him, but nope, Emmylou Harris. Very pretty. Hearts on Fire is my favorite track. Overall mellow and enjoyable.
## In-Depth Review of Gram Parsons' *Grievous Angel* Gram Parsons’ *Grievous Angel*, released posthumously in January 1974, stands as both a poignant farewell and a landmark in the evolution of country rock—what Parsons himself called “cosmic American music.” This review explores the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, concluding with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** *Grievous Angel* is a tapestry of personal reflection, heartbreak, and Americana storytelling, with Parsons mining both his own history and the broader tradition of country songwriting. - **Autobiographical Depth**: Songs like “Brass Buttons” are deeply personal, written about Parsons’ mother as she lay dying, and deliver an emotional honesty that is both raw and poetic[3]. “$1000 Wedding” recounts a tragic, failed marriage, its funereal imagery and narrative structure evoking both sorrow and resignation[3][4]. - **Classic Country Themes**: The lyrics often dwell on loss, longing, and the search for meaning—“Return of the Grievous Angel” follows a cross-country journey back to a loved one, encapsulating the restless spirit of the American road[1][4]. - **Collaborative Spirit**: Though not all songs are Parsons originals, his interpretative skill is evident. The duet with Emmylou Harris on “Love Hurts” strips the song to its emotional core, transforming a well-known standard into something uniquely intimate[3][5]. ### **Pros** - Lyrically rich, blending personal pain with universal themes. - Parsons’ voice, paired with Harris, brings a haunting sincerity to every line[1][3]. - Narrative-driven songwriting gives the album a cohesive, story-like quality. ### **Cons** - Some tracks, like “Medley Live From Northern Quebec,” feel less authentic due to added crowd noise and lack the lyrical depth of Parsons’ originals[3][5]. - The brevity of the album (just over 30 minutes) means some stories feel cut short or underdeveloped[3]. --- ## **Music** Musically, *Grievous Angel* is a masterclass in genre fusion, blending traditional country instrumentation with rock and folk sensibilities. - **Instrumentation**: The album features a stellar cast of musicians, including James Burton (guitar) and Byron Berline (fiddle), whose playing is both technically superb and emotionally resonant[5]. The arrangements range from the rollicking energy of “Ooh Las Vegas” to the mournful balladry of “Brass Buttons.” - **Vocal Harmonies**: The interplay between Parsons and Emmylou Harris is central. Their harmonies, especially on “Return of the Grievous Angel” and “Love Hurts,” are widely regarded as transcendent, elevating the material beyond standard country fare[1][2][3]. - **Authenticity**: The album’s sound is rooted in classic country, but with a looseness and warmth that feels organic rather than calculated. Even the covers and older compositions are given new life through Parsons’ arrangements[4][5]. ### **Pros** - Exceptional musicianship throughout, with each solo and arrangement serving the song’s emotional core[4][5]. - Harmonies between Parsons and Harris are a highlight, often cited as some of the finest in country rock[1][2][3]. - The album’s pacing and variety keep it engaging, moving seamlessly from upbeat tracks to somber ballads. ### **Cons** - The “live” medley is marred by artificial crowd noise, which detracts from the otherwise genuine feel of the album[3][5]. - Some songs are reworkings of older material, which may give a sense of creative stagnation to listeners seeking all-new compositions[3][4][5]. --- ## **Production** Produced by Parsons himself, the album’s production is understated, prioritizing clarity and warmth over studio gloss. - **Organic Sound**: The production captures the intimacy of a live performance, with minimal overdubs and a focus on natural acoustics[5]. - **Studio Choices**: While most tracks benefit from this approach, the decision to simulate a live setting on the “Medley Live From Northern Quebec” is widely criticized for its inauthenticity[3][5]. - **Posthumous Editing**: After Parsons’ death, his widow Gretchen Burrell made several controversial decisions—removing Emmylou Harris’ name from the cover, altering the artwork, and cutting several tracks meant for the final release[3][4]. These choices arguably compromised Parsons’ original vision. ### **Pros** - Warm, unpretentious sound that highlights the strengths of the performers[5]. - Production choices generally serve the emotional tone of the material. ### **Cons** - Posthumous alterations and omissions (notably the removal of three tracks) limit the album’s completeness and possibly its coherence[3][4]. - The faux-live track is an unnecessary distraction[3][5]. --- ## **Themes** *Grievous Angel* is suffused with themes of loss, longing, mortality, and redemption, all filtered through Parsons’ unique vision of American music. - **Mortality and Farewell**: The album’s release shortly after Parsons’ death lends songs like “In My Hour of Darkness” and “$1000 Wedding” a haunting, almost prophetic quality, as if Parsons was composing his own epitaph[4]. - **Cosmic American Music**: Parsons’ ambition to blend country, rock, soul, and folk is realized here, making the album a manifesto for his “cosmic American music” ideal[4]. - **Love and Heartbreak**: The duets with Harris, particularly “Love Hurts,” explore the pain and beauty of romantic relationships with rare emotional clarity[1][3]. --- ## **Influence** Though *Grievous Angel* was not a commercial success upon release, its legacy has grown exponentially. - **Genre-Defining**: The album is now widely regarded as a cornerstone of country rock and Americana, influencing artists from Ryan Adams and Beck to Fleet Foxes and Kings of Leon[1][4]. - **Emmylou Harris’ Launch**: The record introduced Emmylou Harris to the world, launching her into a legendary career and cementing her as a torchbearer for Parsons’ vision[4]. - **Cultural Impact**: The album helped bridge the gap between rock and country audiences, drawing in listeners who might have previously dismissed country as old-fashioned[4]. --- ## **Pros and Cons Summary** | Pros | Cons | |---------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | Lyrically rich, emotionally honest songwriting | Artificial “live” track detracts from authenticity | | Superb musicianship and arrangements | Posthumous edits and track omissions | | Iconic vocal harmonies (Parsons & Harris) | Some reliance on older material | | Warm, organic production | Short runtime, leaving some stories underdeveloped | | Genre-defining influence; bridges rock and country | Album’s original vision compromised by widow’s decisions | | Introduced Emmylou Harris to a wider audience | Cover art and credits altered for personal reasons | | Poignant, cohesive thematic content | Not as unified or ambitious as Parsons’ debut (G.P.) | --- ## **Conclusion** *Grievous Angel* is a bittersweet swan song—an album that distills Gram Parsons’ vision of “cosmic American music” into a concise, emotionally resonant collection. Its blend of country tradition and rock attitude, its lyrical vulnerability, and the sublime partnership with Emmylou Harris have made it a touchstone for generations of musicians and fans. While not without flaws—most notably the posthumous meddling and the questionable “live” medley—the album’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. *Grievous Angel* endures as both a personal testament and a cultural milestone, its influence echoing through the decades in the work of countless artists who followed in Parsons’ footsteps.
Gram Parsons, figura clave del Country Rock (término que jamás le gustó), tanto en solitario como con The Byrds o los inigualables The Flying Burrito Brothers. Este y GP han ganado enorme consideración con los años, y con toda razón figuran entre los mejores discos Rock. Aportaciones clave de Emmylou Harris y parte de la banda de su adorado Elvis. Su voz no es la mejor, pero suena sincera y emocionante. El tono general es pausado y meláncolico, desde la inicial Return of the grievous anges y Hearts on fire. Aportan algo de brío I can´t dance y Ooh Las vegas. Incluye además un falso directo con Hickory Wind ( de Sweetheart of the rodeo) su canción por ontonomasia (cuenta con una historia propia pues fue la que los Byrds tocaron en el Grand Ole Opry en vez de la versión de Life in Prison de Merle Haggard , quien luego se negaría a producir este disco de Parsons por entender que seguía una corriente alejada del country) y Cash on the Barrelhead de los Louvin brothers. Sobresalen, muy por encima del resto: 1000 $ wedding y Love Hurts, dos temas enormes. Un disco que tuvo escaso éxito pero gran influencia y (desde los mejores Stones hasta Wilco). Su prematura muerte ayudó a crear el mito.
Chad
Don’t really know what kind of music to call it but I enjoyed it
8/10. It's a great country rock album. It's sad that it's a posthumous release. RIP.
Although I’m not that well-versed in country/adjacent records, I feel Grievous Angel is quite the good one. Haunting honesty overtop pleasantly detailed arrangements ranging from silky to rugged. What Gram himself may have lacked in vocal technicality, he more than made up for in his simple-man charm and absolute knack for delivering on vulnerable narrations. Especially with gang vocals or along with female-accompaniment, Gram’s voice becomes an understated weapon that perfectly glues his songs together. There are really good songs scattered all throughout this album. 8/10
I'm surprised so many people hate this. I honestly don't think people are listening which is so weird to voluntarily decide to listen to 1001 albums and then just dismiss an entire genre. This is a good album. I listen to this a lot. It deserves a spot here more than a Deep Purple live album. People dismissing this out of hand is pathetic.
I've got high expectations here given how much I love his work with Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds. Honestly, I've got an unexpected soft spot for old time alt-country rock. I LOVE the twangy guitar, raw vocals, thumpy lugubrious bass lines, and fiddle. Absolutely love Brass Buttons. Hey, its that Nazareth song! Very stripped down and beautiful vocal duet (not actually sure if that's the right term when the vocals are in parallel). Ooh Las Vegas is great. Gotta give this another listen. First impression is this is extremely enjoyable. Second listen confirms the first. Great album: solid 4 for me
Nice, easy going country folk rock. Reminds me of Kris Kristofferson with Rita Coolidge. Love Hurts is a nice version.
I don’t think I had ever listened to this before. Will definitely listen again.
Light/decent 8/10 Emmylou and Gram worked so well together, definitely special RIP
sacred relic. refined humanity.
Really beautiful country rock
I had no idea what to expect. I think I was thinking this would be more prog synth stuff. But it was pretty awesome old country. Honestly loved the album.
I often don't like country but this was pretty great.
Classic country, easy listening, lovely harmonies, and a nice discovery in general.
This is a tough one to rate. I’m not a fan of that pedal steel classic country sound generally. But their voices sound great together and there is something appealing about this, particularly the second half with the live medley and Love Hurts. Really want to give a 3.5 but what the hell, I must be in a good mood
I think I'm really into country and folk but I never actually gave it a try, its always a welcome surprize to listen to albums with this vibe, very cool
This is riiiiiiiiiiight up my alley. In my opinion, it’s a rare song that can’t use a little more steel guitar. Gram had a knack for finding or writing songs that are old or just sound old. He had a weird timeless sound that woulda been totally at home in Bakersfield in 1960 or Austin in 2025. His voice isn’t much to write home about, but that’s why you bring in an angel like Emmylou. Hell, Dylan did the same thing. I like every one of these songs. Some of the takes are a little boring, but the players are all aces. I wonder what Gram coulda done if he kept himself together a bit more or lived beyond 26. I appreciate that between the Byrds, Burritos, and his solo recordings he was pretty much responsible for creating this genre that’s one of my favorites. Fairly cool I spect.
Je trouve dommage qu'Emmylou Harris ne soit créditée que pour une chanson (du moins, sur Apple). Sinon, j'ai beaucoup aimé l'écoute, ce sont des pièces solides et tranquilles, touchantes, où perce la joie de la musique même dans les moments plus sombres
Cool album with a smooth-country feel to it
Surprisingly good, country's not my usual taste but this album is fine
Great production, fun country. Did he write Love Hurts? Light 4
Good country rock, but as an album it definitely feels slapped together. Given his tragic death it seems like this is exactly what happened. I wish he could have kept working at the "cosmic american" thing but I think others have done an excellent job taking the baton and running with it.
cool country, low 4
Just good country music
3.5
Nicht mein Genre, aber dafür ziemlich geil
Musikalisch geht’s sicher besser aber was soll ich sagen. Ich Liebs
Great album. Too bad he threw it all away due to his drug habit. One of the most important things he did was discovering Emmylou Harris.
So warm that it melts any heart, "Grevious Angel" brings us a sincere, incredible and sweet country rock. It's a shame that Parsons left us so soon, he was a talented artist and had a promising future. The addition of Emmylou Harris' vocals (and I don't know why the fuck she wasn't properly credited on the album) brings a brilliance to the album worthy of its artists.
A country, folk, rock mashup with a few uptempo jaunts, slower classic-types, and some in between. Cosmic American Music has always been better to me in name than sound, but this may have me come around a bit. Wonderful singing throughout with a lot of duetting/harmonizing between Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris who complement each other well and have a nice chemistry - as a guy who usually values vocals least, these ones drew me right in. The musicians are strong , it has the right amount of twang, the country shuffle’s just right - it really achieved what it sets out to do. Sometimes I can really dig it, but also find a few tracks a bit dull.
★★★⅗
Big fan of 70's country. This is a solid country rock album with one iconic slow jam on it. Is Gram Parsons underrated or an unsung hero of 70s country music? Maybe. Probably not. But this is a really fun album.
I liked it more than expected. Near the end I heard enough. But the first half I really liked. 1000 dollar wedding sounds cheap these days
This is a genuinely important album. The mix of rock and country that Parsons made here influenced countless numbers of groups - crazy how influential this album is. It's a great album and Emmy Lou Harris' backing vocals are sublime. Best Tracks: Brass Buttons; $1000 Wedding; Ooh Las Vegas
Country isn’t my thing, but this is a good country album, so I feel it deserves a 4. I also enjoy the cover of Love Hurts.
What a voice
‘I can’t dance / I guess, I’m just one of the unfortunate few,’ sings Parsons. I guess we’re some of the fortunate many who have discovered this artist. I’m not so sure I care that it’s a fusion of rock and country - big deal - that’s not his (or hers, Emmylou's) genius. It’s that it’s got soul, humor, voice, pluck. And he can sing, just enough, intimately, consistently, quietly. These songs story so much really - for that, it gets my appreciation.
This pretty much rules.
Gram is great! He was gone way too soon, much like Croce, I often wonder what could have been. On a separate note, it is a crime that Croce didn't manage to land a spot on the list! Fantastic Album!
Wow, this was really good!
A lot of really impressive music and wholesome vibes that I, as a European, have no way of relating to.
I've gotten way into country music over the past few years, and one of my big hopes was that I would learn a lot about some older country to check out. Mission accomplished here. 8/10
This was a nice calm country record. I really enjoyed. Not too many country albums on this list and I fucking love Emmylou. Good range, writing, lyrics, vocals, instrumentation, production, and arrangement. Just a really solid project. 4/5
It was actually really good
first listen i like it but flying burrito brothers is best
This was a very enjoyable country album. Gram Parsons has a very nice voice and Emmylou Harris adds a great element with her backing vocals. It's strongest in the middle of the album, wow what a stretch of good songs
Wasn’t very familiar w gram parsons other than the fact that he was a good friend of Keith Richard’s. I like his sound
4.1 - I know this won't be for everyone with the very distinctive style, but I think with more listening I could enjoy this even more
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this as it’s not my genre of choice but this is a lovely album. Even the covers are rendered beautifully and the contrast of f the two voices is bliss
good country rock combo
Favorite Track: Love Hurts
Sounds interesting
Some good songs and overall easy to listen to
I am not a country fan, but I really enjoyed this album. This album is the epitome of that early 70s grimy, gritty Americana feel. Makes me want to drive a convoy through Tennessee.
This was some good country— something I could hear on Mojave Radio
I have a sudden urge to head south
Quite the irony here that most of the negative reviews on this album come from people that give five stars to the boring, pablum laced unoriginal pop of the modern era. Without irony. I don't need to defend this work, other reviewers do a better job. I'll just add that Emmylou Harris' addition is nothing less than spectacular. I'll just close with a recommendation from Tyler Mahon Coe - "If You Don't Like Gram Parsons Then Fuck You."
This was good - country is a genre with massive peaks and crushing troughs. This is peak, great lyrics and melodies, some haunting lyrics
pretty cool. i had listened to The Silver Tongued Devil and I right before this and they worked well together
A back loaded album. The first part is good but from the live medley on it is just fantastic. He gets to retain a sort of cool factor because he played in the Byrds and hung out with the Rolling Stones but I wonder if he would have had more success in his lifetime if he had aligned himself with country musicians more. It's not like his sound is that different.
Godfather of AltCountry! Own it!
I've never really taken to Gram but listening to this today it's pretty good to listen to- progressive Country I'd say. Musically diverse and well produced it holds your attention. Emmylou Harris is a major part in this and I'm an instant fan. Shame he died so young.
Classic music
I instantly knew I was gonna like this one. Old country sound? Check. Vocal harmonies? Check. Rock 'n' roll? Check. None of the songs sound like the song before, which I feel like can happen on albums like this. I especially thought the scenery around me while listening to this complemented the sound well. Driving through Chillicothe on a gravel road while pretty tired. The Rolling songs were lively and entertaining, and the softer songs were sweet and captivating. This isn't a country album, but it is folk. I will surely return to this artist.
Really like the country instrumentals, especially the steel guitar parts. I liked this album overall, but I couldn't help feeling something was missing. I'm not sure if it was just the songwriting in general or the production, but something was keeping me from loving this album. Maybe it's the thought that he sounds like a slightly discounted John Denver. I may relisten and change my mind, but I'm keeping the 4 star rating for now.
Great album. Putting aside the myth and legends surrounding Gram Parsons' wild lifestyle. The facts are he wrote great songs, could sing beautifully, and had put together one hell of a backing band - Emmy Lou Harris, Robbie Tut, James Burton amongst other names. Talk about a red hot band! Gone too soon, RIP
This is another one where the songs I like on here I really like a lot but the rest leave me kind of ambivalent. I would say overall I like the blend of country and rock on this album. I also love the sound of his voice with Emmylou Harris'. "Ooh Las Vegas" is probably my favorite on the album. 3* feels much too low, and 4* feels too high. Once again I would love to have a half point system. I'll go with a 4* though because it's nice to find some country on the list that I enjoy.
man released his best album after he died
I generally don’t go for “country” style albums, but this had a surprising number of tracks that I vibed with due to the strong song-writing. “I Can’t Dance”, “Brass Buttons”, and “$1,000 Wedding” are a great three track run, and even the fake “live” recording aspect of “Cash On the Barrelhead/Hickory Wind” didn’t really get on my nerves.
A sneaky one that was more fun than anticipated.
This is a really nice country album. It benefits a lot from the presence of Emmylou Harris, since her vocals are a great complement for Parsons's. Very chill, pleasant country 4/5
This album, like Parsons’ life, seems too short. Released after his death and compiled from various sessions, including a fake live medley, it feels incomplete. With that said, the songwriting, the emotive singing, and the magic mystery of Parsons can’t be denied. All the songs are great, but especially the three Parsons’ penned tracks on side 1: Return of the Grevious Angel, Brass Buttons, and $1000 Wedding. Emmylou Harris’s harmonies are also fantastic and add an additional layer to an already beautiful set of songs. I Can’t Dance and Ooh Las Vegas are solid burners that mix in well with the ballads. It’s not a perfectly executed compilation, but it’s one of the best documents we have for a talent that left too soon.
I wasn't expecting good country music, so this was a surprise. 3.5 stars.
Gram Parsons! 1974! I like “Return of the Grievous Angel” a good amount. I really like the medley and “Love Hurts” is also great. Emmylou feature is a slay. It’s very country but I like the vibes and the twang.
The man can holler really liked a lot of this. Short album too so I wasn't bored. 8/10
Good lyrics. Tangy music.
*{clicks fingers, finger guns}* That's country, alright! I'unno. I guess I just don't hear the "Cosmic American Music"-ness about it that makes it so important. To me it just sounds like early 70's country, which, hey, I can dig. I'll be generous enough to strike it a 4
Good country with some energetic tracks and great harmonies. 4 stars.
Pretty good country music. He harmonised well with the female backing vocalist. Stand-out: I Can't Dance
Sad country, loved emmylou on this
I managed to listen to this while on a multi day bike ride and it was so relaxing at the end of a day of riding. The first song is great and the rest is fun but I gradually lost enthusiasm as the album went on. Maybe a couple more listens would put this over the top to a 5.
4.5
Digging it.
sleepy but las vegas song was good
Classic 70s country with the perfect amount of comforting twang to the songs
Not a country fan, but mostly modern country. I liked this.
Loved this album
Added to the list of records I'll listen to again. Like the voice, the sound and the duets with Emmylou Harris. The ultimate version of Love Hurts makes this a four. Would give three and a half if possible.
Grievous Angel was the second and final solo album by Gram Parsons, originally released in 1974 after his death. Parsons' short life was plagued with drug abuse and tragedy. However, the musical impact he was able to create during his short life is hard to be ignored. He pioneered country rock and what would become "cosmic country". He was very successful in bridging the hippie crowd with crooner country, albeit in a more modernized form in bands like The Byrds and Flying Burrito Bros. This is the first time I'm listening to any of his solo work and I'm pretty impressed. The addition of Emmylou Harris really makes the album. Sure, it's definitely more in the country vein than country rock but I'm digging it right now. It no doubt had a lot of influence on modern hippie country acts like Daniel Donato and Mapache.
This is a pleasant surprise of country Americana mashup. What sets it above bar are Emmylou Harris’ consistent and lilting harmonies throughout with Parsons voice. Too bad he didn’t have the opportunity to create more music, but this is a great offering.
During Parson's all too short life, he accomplished a lot musically. Along with the Burrito Bros, The Byrds and hanging out with the Stones, Parsons crafted a pair of mighty fine solo albums, including Grievous Angel, which was released shortly after his death. This was the "swan song" for a career that was important and influential for country and rock and for the many musicians that followed. I prefer Grievous Angel to his earlier works, maybe because it's less-country sounding, with finely written songs, a solid song selection and the outstanding contribution from a young, Emmylou Harris, that doesn't hurt either. Many of these songs I've heard covered by other artists, which tell you something.
A little to C&W for more liking, but not a bad album as far as that goes.
Rock/country vibes
Without emmylou, I don’t think I would have liked this as much because the burrito brothers were meh for me. I loved this album. It had lots of fun upbeat songs like I can’t dance. But the slower songs were lovely too. I listened all the way through twice, so it’s pretty up there for me.
I enjoyed this one! Good old country / Americana feel; I hadn't heard of this artist before but I liked the album a lot.
The birth pangs of country rock. Emmylou Harris has the voice of an angel.
Country rock. Lots of vocal layers, fun dobro, good mix of slower and more upbeat
Very good
Unexpectedly great album
I enjoyed this a ton more than expected, a great one to return to the challenge with!
Really nice, classic country songwriting. Harmonized vox across the album are great, mixed in with guitar, lap steel, piano, fiddle. Definitely some stuff worth coming back to and learning.
More country but darn good
I always fold in the face of duets and country rock... secret (not so secret) weakness.