Tracy Chapman

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This was way better than I ever thought it would be. While it is an 88 album, I can only think of the 90s when I listen to it. It reminds me of childhood and listening to the radio with my ma.

Listen to those lyrics.

Beautiful singing and lyrics, and some great instruments. Very good album.

Talkin' Bout a Revolution - I liked it, however i don't think its my vibe. Fast car - Obviously this song is like childhood, its very nostalgic Across the lines - Important message being said about violence, race and segregation Behind the wall - I like that theres no backing music, its only her voice and I think it amplifies the message she's trying to portray. Baby can i hold you - I like it, the yearning, the heartbreak and the vulnerability Mountain O' Things - She's got her ticket - I like the bass, drums and the guitar its very catchy. It feels freeing like the song. Why? - "Love is hate, war is peace, No is yes, We're all free" This songs going on my playlist For my lover - I like it. If not now... - I like the piano intro at the start. I like it, its like a war against yourself, you keep promising stuff and then you don't follow through. She's saying if you don't act now then when are you going to do it because ultimately the more you wait, the more you are going to keep waiting. For you - "But with feelings this strong, i'm no longer the master og my own emotions" Overall, it's an enjoyable album, however its not for me, it's not something I would listen to every day, maybe once in a while. 3/5

Listened with James driving

Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Good - Talkin' Bout A Revolution is a strong opener and is followed by Fast Car which is a generational anthem. Behind The Wall is a great little song. Unfortunately while I like her voice and the songs are decent I just find the album slightly lacking in range which holds it back a bit. Why? is a highlight of the second half and For My Lover is alright.

"Tracy Chapman" by Tracy Chapman is good contemporary folk debut album. The album is very simple with wonderful vocal performance and ability by Chapman. The lyrics deals with her political and social content. "Fast Car" is the main highlight track from the album. Others tracks I love are "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" and "Baby Can I Hold You". There is some tracks I find weak are "Behind the Wall", "She's Got Her Ticket" and "For You". I found this album to be just a normal and less quality than other albums. Overall good album by Tracy Chapman

3.0

Lovely voice but not enough variation in pitch and volume. Some arrangements feel very dated. But Fast Car can almost carry the album by itself.

you're getting three stars

This album reminds me of when I moved up here, in July of 1988, and my first few years up here - a time of hope and possibility in my life, and this album seemed to fit in with (and be a small part of) that. I still have a tape of this album that I made back then - from Rick, maybe? But what really stand out, for me, are the 1st 2 tracks, which are excellent, and were (improbably? - or so it felt, at the time, I remember) hits, and which totally bring back the feeling of being in my mid/late 20s, and new to Chicago, and at a time of big change(s) in my life, and hope for big (and positive) changes in my country, after 8 years of Reagan. As for the album as a whole, it's good, but I do have to say that the other 9 tracks, for me (and, I suspect, most people) aren't at the same level as the 1st 2. Which is why I think I have to give the album a solid/high 3 stars, rather than 4 (it's close, though, and is another one where it feels like, on a different day, I might have given it 4 stars. But, just as it feels like I should be parsimonious with 5-star ratings, I feel that I should also be at least somewhat stingy in giving 4 stars. Just had another thought: panning out a bit, Tracy Chapman fits in (loosely) with other women folk-influenced singers from around the same time (who I also liked), including Suzanne Vega, Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs), and the Indigo Girls. Suzanne Vega and 10,000 Maniacs I'd already discovered before I left NYC in 1987; Tracy Chapman and the Indigo Girls came shortly after. All are part of my internal late-80s (and early 90s) soundtrack.

I appreciate that she has an important message to deliver in most of these songs. There is empathy, feeling behind the lyrics and singing. Unfortunately, the production is more average. Once again confirming that I don't like typical 80's music

Variable quality. You can see why Fast Car was the enduring song.

When she does protest songs, she does them beautifully. She writes lyrics that paint a picture of woe and despair and hope. When she switches over to love songs they come across shallow and romanticized next to the protest songs. She has an amazing voice and an obvious desire and ability to use it. The activist songs are great. The love ballads are ok but sung beautifully. The minimalist coffee shop folk approach works brilliantly with her voice. I can understand why this record was a big hit.

Was actually kinda looking forward to listening to this one, given the genres (Folk, heartland rock, etc.), but unfortunately it ended up being a little too rootsy for my tastes, I guess? I don't know a better way to describe it, but I'm just not feeling it. Fine album, not really doing anything bad, but yeah.

Amazing but not really my style

Not a bad little album but not something I’d ever listen to again though.

I liked the review that described his definition of secretary rock. It reminds me of another person who I saw define Matrix music. That is music that works specifically in the Matrix franchise. It's not just late 90s electronica, but a sound and energy that works with that universe. This album and that definition of secretary rock feels spot on. I'm no secretary in actually or musical taste. But that's not to say this isn't good. It really is. Not something I'll follow back up on, but lovely, warm singer songwriter goodness filled this album. A safe 3 star

1. 4.5 2. 5 3. 4 4. 3.5 5. 4 1. 4.5 2. 3 3. 4.5 4. 4 5. 4 6. 4

Its fine. Production is a little too adult contemp for me

I thought this album was really good but it also didn’t blow me away Very solid 3.5/5 Favorites: fast car, talkin about a revolution, why?,

Some great writing. Just not something I want to listen to often.

1988 was weird year. All the early 80s Pop, New Wave and Metal was falling off in favor of something more honest and authentic. Along comes Tracy Chapman. Authentic, earnest, sincere… folk rock? What do you know? Powerful voice. Fast Car and Baby Can I Hold You are clear winners. 3.6

A beautiful album by a very shy artist who should have been a bigger. Fast Car defined Tracy but may have been a millstone?

A good album, I liked Talkin' Bout A Revoultion and Fast Car the most.

Tracy sounds insanely good, especially in 26, but her lyrics has no chance to catch my attention.

Ну такое кантри

Chapman's vocals are absolutely the focus here, and they're amazing. They work really well with the instrumentation too, which makes for some amazing and emotional songs, like Fast Car of course. However, I did find quite a few of the songs just a bit too sparse and repetitive to really grab me in. It just became a bit boring, but in isolation I think all of the songs are pretty amazingly written and performed.

Zwischen 3 und 4 Sternen bei mir. Die Stimme finde ich bemerkenswert.

p593. 1988. 3 stars. Pedestrian background music for late 80's cheese and wine parties. Good voice and a handful of decent songs, but it's all same paced and lyrically naive.

5.5/10

a good album - not all for me, but enjoyable

Really entertaining listen, albeit with some weak cuts. She’s got a wonderful voice. A lot more good cuts on this album than I expected. A pleasant surprise all around.

3.5/5

First Impression: I liked her voice it is quite soothing to me. The album itself was ok, surprised to find the original Fast Car. Most songs were pretty good, although Baby Can I Hold You Tonight was a bit sappy for my taste. I found Behind the Wall really interesting, along with Across The Lines, and For My Lover. Favourite Track: Fast Car (most familiar track so it scratches my brain in all the right places) One Sentence: Carried by a beautiful mellow voice, Chapman's album is very insightful and full of compassion. Will I Revisit? Possibly

First two tracks are the obvious standouts, rest of the album was fine with no obvious 3rd place. Its definitely best listened to in a very specific mood, but revisitable nonetheless.

good, not rly my vibe tho

Noice

Oh this takes me back. I used to listen to Tracy's selftitled album a lot in the early 00s

Strong lyricism and the voice of someone who has seen things and the pain sticks with them. Not my usual cup of tea but can't deny the poet.

More about the lyrics and message than the actual music

There are some strong songs here, and Chapman’s Armatrading-esque voice showcases them well. I’ve always been a bit sceptical of protest songs—they’re generally better at whingeing than bringing about actual change, and history has not exactly vindicated Chapman’s hopes for social progress. Still, the melodies are solid.

Unique voice

Vond zijn stem irritant op een gegeven moment.

Vakuuttava alku, mut kokonaisuus kävi vähän yksipuoleiseksi. Ei ollu missään vaiheessa huono, mut vähän liikaa samaa midtempolällyilyä. Teksteissä tuntu olevan hyvää juttua, joten ne ehkä kaipais tarkempaa tutkimista.

Starts with two all time great songs. But as it go on, begins to feel a bit repetitive, and none of the songs in the second half really stand out as much as the first couple.

Mooie singer-songwriter plaat 3,5

Lots of good songs, but just not a "I'm going to listen all the time album".

this is so early 2000s coffee shop, so nostalgic and warm.

I gotta admit, while several songs (Fast Car, Talkin’ Bout…, For My Lover) still punch, many of them come across as facile or simple. The lyrics sound naive and the melodies are a bit drawn out and repetitive. Maybe it’s the passing of time. Maybe other artists took the baton and ran it further. Chapman’s pitch-perfect voice still carries these songs a long way, of course. And I still listen. She just doesn’t have the impact she did in ‘88. But she grew, and changed. We all did.

if you’re like southern but have emotions, fast car is probably the only good one that got me to cry, its rare i get to cry so yeah

It was fine

Chapman’s voice truly just yanks on my heartstrings every single time.

Tracy Chapman you’re a little too Tracy Chapman for me.

Nice enough but not really my thing.

3 not really my cup of tea however i can see why people like this i kinda liked this too :P

Nice, pleasant music, not real change in pace or energy to hold my attention.

Alright music. Not sure I would've realized it was a female singer on a few of the tracks.

A couple flashes of standout tracks here but definitely a similar design on most of these songs which creates a bit of a boring effect on the B side of the album. I also don’t find her writing particularly moving. This is especially true on tracks that are supposed to be the “best” on the album. The writing feels immature. Perhaps it’s the love of Dylan in me that’s making me jaded but the lyrics lack depth. I think of a song like “North Country Blues” from him that SHOWS me something rather than simply telling me how to feel. The whole album sounds like a student who just read the communist manifesto for the first time. This is especially true of “Talking About a Revolution.” It’s too bad because I like the tune, but just can’t get past the lyrics. Ironically the track that seems to break the framework of the rest of the album the most “Mountain O’Things” is probably my favorite.

For You

enjoyable

It's nice, if a little morose. Was a unique sound within popular music at the time. It was certainly new to me back then. However there's a lot of other stuff from that era that I prefer.

I remember having it in cassette,was in the navy back then ,3.5 /5 for me .

I randomly bought this a few years ago - I think because I liked Fast Car - and its a great song that showcases her voice wonderfully. The other two big singles are very strong also : Talkin’ Bout a Revolution and Baby Can I Hold You Tonight. Unfortunately the rest of the album is pretty forgettable and bad eighties production.

I kind of wanted to like it more but was still good!

This record is not really my speed, but it’s hard to pick it apart too hard from a quality standpoint. The lyrics are not really resonant with me so much, but they’re not dumb. The music I’m actually kind of into (sort of Toad the Wet Sprocket-esque at points). I kind of appreciate Tracy’s unique vocal quality. I understand why this record could be included here, even if it’s not really what I’m into. 7/10

nice singer-songwriter record. great $1 bin find

pretty solid

Lidt ligegyldigt

An album I want to love more than I do. Those first few songs are incredible, total classic material, but the second half of the record is weirdly forgettable. But it’s got “Fast Car,” and that’s a hell of a win.

Not a big fan

A few pleasant ditties, but it's no that good.

Ok

fav songs: fast car sincere, polished, thoughtful 50/100

Very pretty sounding music, but not for me.

My first thoughts were, "this is the lady that did Fast Car" and "I think this is gonna be pure, acoustic folk." The first one was right, the second one, not so much. Interesting how the next few songs after Fast Car fell squarely in the 80s pop sound. I really like the vibe of the opening track and hoped for an album that had a similar vibe, but it ended up turning into that Suzanne Vega record I had a few months ago.

Such a voice and talent. Very chill album.

Chapman's got a great voice. Fast Car is a damn tear-jerker. Sincere music. Not bad at all.

Listening session: may 18th, while crocheting Listened to before: listened to one song before Thoughts: Tracy Chapman has got a great voice and Fast Car will forever be iconic, but this wasb’t anything more than just enjoyable for me Favourite tracks: Fast Car, Baby Can I Hold You & For You

It's decent but not that exciting

Had this ablum back in the day. Its well written, string olayers, well produced. But its always been a bit meh for me.

beautiful voice, touching lyrics, but i struggled with the music. i can understand why this is a special album, and i'm kind of sad that it's not really my cup of tea

No sabía que Fast Car era de él. Me gustó bastante el álbum.

As pleasant as it ever was

3.5 An incredible voice, obviously, “Fast Car” IS a perfect song. It’s kinda wild to see how wildly influential Chapman has been to modern artists, her legacy has only grown over time. That being said, I mostly don’t LOVE the songs in the first half (“Fast Car” notwithstanding). I think the songwriting opens up in the second half, but I find some of the “issue” songs a little clumsy and on-the-nose, but I’ll also readily admit not a ton of artists were writing truthfully about stuff like that at the time.

One of those albums I dismissed when it was released, mainly because my parents liked it, but listening to it now I actually quite enjoyed this. Perhaps a little bit too much like polite middle-class dinner party music, but that has its place.

Not totaly my thing, but I can see how people love it and how it deserves to be on this list. 3

She is talented. very talented. not my speed.

Enjoyed this and listened through twice.

[NEVER LISTENED BEFORE]

Really like first two songs. I wish I liked more of rest. Very solid 3 star

It's high time we all stopped listening to fast car

muy buen álbum tranquilo que tiene todas las vibras a los 80

A capa é ruim, mas a música compensou.

Some great themes here, and interesting voice. Can't really see revisiting it though.

meu irmao nao vou mentir, so tem uns 3 bangers nessa porra, e um puta album forte com um tema empactante pra caramba, mas nao fez o estilo do papai aqui, 7/10 pela força que tem nesse album, mas NO BANGER!!!

Buenas melodias.

She alright

This came out in 1988 but no shiny production, no overload, just a voice, a guitar and honest songs. Tracy Chapman sounds completely sincere, but after a while, the same calm, clean tone can feel a bit flat emotionally.

me gustó, cuenta una historia que me pareció muy gringa pero el man canta bien y los temas están bacanitos

Obviously Fast Car is a masterpiece in itself. Tracy Chapman sings about all the problems she sees in the world, from domestic abuse to racism to sexism. I personally found Behind the Wall to be pretty powerful. Mountains O' Things was one track that stuck with me for whatever reason. I don't know that I have ever heard another song take on our consumer society in that way, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I felt like throughout the rest of this album I found myself feeling bored. I am not sure if the quality dropped off, or I can just listen to so much Tracy Chapman, but I didn't find myself enjoying it at the end. I found For You to be very weak compared to the rest of the release. However, don't let this take away from the brilliance that this album opens up with.

aarrrgghhhh i respect her SO much and i was READY to give this 5 stars but it's just sailing past me. IM SORRY TRACY

Certainly nice, easy listening but a bit "soft" more me.

Fast Car is good, the rest isn't bad but probably would not come back to it

Yearning and intimate. It was pretty good. Favourite Track(s): Fast Car, Behind the Wall Least Favourite Track(s): Baby Can I Hold You

Another one of mom’s favorites but I didn’t have the emotional reaction that previous selections gave me. The songs that work the best here are the ones that are written and treated like the urban “folk” songs that fit her voice and style best. Unfortunately it seems some producer had to get involved and try to produce much of it like some kind of ersatz pop album which really doesn’t work. The touches are overwrought, stylistically divergent, and in places just corny as hell. I’d say it falls in a category overall of did-not-age-well. Slight bump because the stories are interesting when she focuses on them.

Not really my thing, but a decent record nonetheless.

nice

Pretty good, but I didn't like all songs.

Chapman has great vocals and undeniable songwriting talent. Her music doesn't do too much for me, though. I think it had a lot more impact when juxtaposed with the late 80s music it broke away from instead of how I hear it now. I like it, but not much more than that. There are some really strong songs here. Fast Car is iconic and stands the test of time. I also liked Why? and For My Lover quite a bit. Some of the other tracks were a bit boring for me, though. The album has a strong start and a good few pockets of songs. I think the middle section dragged a bit, though. So, yeah. I liked this one without loving it. I know that it had a big impact when it came out. I feel like countless artists have spent the last few decades trying to imitate Chapman's style, and none have really come close. But as a whole it's just not really up there for me. Overall: 3.1/5

Understand it's attraction from it's comfy feel and mostly meaningful lyrics, but just not for me

A few nice songs. Probably more for background dinner party music than something I’d put on for my listening pleasure.

Early 90s student bedsit singer songwriter music. She does have a fantastic voice and is a good songwriter as shown by the fact that 'Baby Can I Hold You Tonight' was a hit for one of the big boy bands. But less than the sum of its parts and doesn't do much for me. 3.5 stars but rounding down to 3 stars.

3.5/5

Incredibly powerful lyrics and very relevant as well. With this I hated her more monotone style of singing.

This “Fast Car” is 100x better than the one the radio plays now. I also liked “Baby Can I Hold You.” 6/10

Trevlig röst och några bra låtar men inget som engagerar mig något djupare.

I've heard of Tracy Chapman but didn't really know her music, other than Fast Car. I'm glad she was on this list because this was a really solid album that will definitely be listening through again!

3.3

está bueno pero no me encanta siento q cada canción individualmenge me gustó pero al escuchar el álbum me aburrió un poco y eso w no es largo, pero en general está bueno

Buen album, muy 80s todo y no es mi estilo pero canta lindo y transmite mucho la chabona. 6/10

very political for the time, love it

Chulo

Leading with the best 2 songs, and by now most famous, gets this off to a good start. There’s something very earnest and likeable about her style and storytelling. Also, I have to say I did not know she wrote ‘Baby Can I Hold You’, this is a good song but sullied by Boyzone. Unfortunately, I find myself getting a little bored through the second half of this album, and it’s not a particularly long album but the style tends to drag a little.

Lyrics 4, songs 2

apologies generator i was not familiar with your game. good footy. i'm coming to find that it's not that i hate her music, rather i hate the production techniques on most post outlaw pre garth brooks country. too 80s AOR. however. COMMA. the songs transcend the form. i hope i get a living color album so i can make the same complaint. 3.3-4.1.

I could quite happily listen to this but wouldn’t include it in my own music collection.

Very good, the voices of her is magnetic in my opinion is the pilar that keep the album, some song are very good, actually I listen more than the last and surely I'll listen again.

its a really soul touching album, and its generally slow with the music focusing more on lyrics than melody. i personally dont reaaaally like it since melodic wise it just isnt something id listen to. i will admit though, lyrically this album is amazing so ill rate it 6/10

see I don’t hate it i like talking ‘bout a revolution nice song however i think it’s quite slow for my liking and there’s a lack of variety in instrumentation but i would listen again

Beautiful voice, but only a couple of tracks that I come back to.

The messaging here is clear and powerful, with most of the themes still far too relevant too. Class struggle, poverty, racism, domestic violence. It's heavy stuff but it's handled with a light touch, an earnestness. Musically, we don't stray too far from a pop rock formula, there's certainly plenty of folk influence and other genres seep in as well. I like it. But outside of the best songs, I'm looking for maybe more intensity to match the fire and emotions in the lyrics. Favorites, in descending order, pretty much: Fast Car, Across the Lines, Mountains O' Things.

thinkin about niggers' wage gap 🙏

Lowkey direct.

I've heard Fast Car so many times omg.

A pleasant listen, such a unique voice. Interesting to listen to this as an adult and comprehend the message being conveyed

i added 4 songs

Thoughtful lyrics, but the music doesn't shine.

The monologue song was cool. Other than that, I did not care for it much.

Tracy’s got a great voice, it was a pretty great album. Fast Car is the highlight of the album to me but I really enjoyed Baby Can I Hold you as well!

Poor are even poorer Trace mate

Not sure what I think of this yet. Great writing but I’m not into the music. Even so, it’s well done. Behind the Wall, Mountains of Things, and For my Lover were my favorites.

Some great songs but a lot of it musically is a very light touch. Not huge on the 80s production either on some of the more emotive tracks, takes you out of it. Much better when it’s stripped back (except Talkin’ Bout a Revolution which is just a stellar number)

estuvo bueno, sonaba bien y algunas canciones las reconoci lo que me sorprendio porque no me sonaba nada la portada. Me gusto pero tampoco me impresiono o encanto seria como un 6.5 o 7/10 creo

I thinks this might be objectively good, but I don't like it.

A réécouter. J’ai pas été assez attentif pendant la première écoute. Album très chill, que je trouvais un peu boring… Mais y’a probablement du potentiel.

Good. But not really my cup of tea.

I think I liked Chapman’s overall vocal performance here a lot more than most of the actual songs. I found myself wishing that a lot of these songs were like 20% slower and sadder. I think my actual score would be a 2.5, but I'll round up to a 3 because 'Fast Car' is good

Fast Car is an incredible song. The rest of the album was pretty boring and I didn't like most of it. But 3 stars for Fast Car.

There was a lot to enjoy here -- varied melodies and stylings, a serene voice, thoughtful lyrics. But it also felt too lofty/preachy about *issues*. Even though I'm in agreement with much of what Chapman sang about, hearing on-the-nose lyrics was a little cringe at times. I think this album hovers between a 3 or 4 for me.

3/5 - unique voice, interesting use of instruments

'Fast car' is natuurlijk een banger, maar voor de rest is dit niet per se mijn ding, niet super bijzonder

This is good, and singles are classic for sure, but the whole thing has that slick late 80s production sound that I just can't get past.

Wow, she has such a beautiful voice. Of course, "Fast Car" is the only one I am familiar with but I really liked "Talking Bout a Revolution" too. The album is a folksy, heartfelt throwback pulling past and present together. Good, but aside from the two songs, not really for me.

Bluesy

L tracy’s voice is incredible. Just not my genre of music. I could find myself enjoying it though.

Ehhh...we're on a run of lackluster albums lately. This one is fine, but the only song I'm likely to come back to is the one I already know.

Loved Fast Car when it came out and boy was it everywhere, this track alone took me back. Talkin about a revolution is wonderful too but perhaps too short. Then you have Baby Can I Hold You which is great. However, some of the other tracks were a bit plain and one sounded like Suzanne Vega. So, three stars sadly.

She’s got a great voice, and the first two songs on the album I heard I don’t know how many times growing up. Maybe my mom had this album. She deals with a lot of heavy, sad themes. I don’t think I was in the right headspace for this, and don’t think I’d revisit it, but I wouldn’t yuck someone’s yum for loving this album.

It's as I remember. As a whole I prefer to just listen to the one track though.

A few classic songs on this album that have stood the test of time. I'm surprised how much j enjoyed this album.

Nice Songwriter Music. Better Thank expected.

Good

This record came out in a time where I’m sure everyone was absolutely sick of the overly produced hair metal, and synth slop of the decade. For an 80’s record, it’s stripped down and mellow. Tracy has such a great voice. I think the fact that she sounds so good helps this album along rather than dragging with such deep and sometimes dark topics. For example, younger people will find this a lot more palatable than say early Bob Dylan. It’s all in the voice and punch. Maybe sounding a little more mom ish helps too. To me this is the modern take on the shit I love from the 60’s-70’s so I rock with it all. Side note: why did we let Luke Combs be the guy to get popular off a cover of her song “fast car”🙄 Favs: For my lover, Across the lines, she’s got her ticket

I don’t remember this album coming out in 1988. I do remember this album in heavy rotation in the mid-1990s. My daughter described it perfectly: “soulful”. There is not a track on here that isn’t soulful and you can feel her heart in it. Talking ’ Bout a Revolution still relevant, and I am so happy Fast Car has made a Renaissance and earned her the credit she has always deserved. I liked how she blended in her influences, from the reggae inspired to She’s Got Her Ticket and the African inspired Mountains O’Things. But songs like Sorry are classic singer-songwriter. She is an American treasure!

Random thoughts: * The first two tracks are all-time greats! I forget how good both of those tracks are. * I was expecting more along the lines of the first 2 tracks which I got on the next 2 tracks and then things veered into some unexpected direction. * Baby Can I Hold You and Mountain O'Things had wildly different sound and style that I was not expecting. It wasn't bad but just showed how much versatility Tracy Chapman has. * Overall, I really liked the inclusion of this album on 1001. I'd like to revisit but not sure I will often.

Great lyrics.

ive always loved fast car (i cry every time i hear it), but i had never listened to any of her other songs before. no other song on the album could compare in the slightest but i feel like i got something out of hearing the whole album regardless. for my lover was my second favorite.

powerful message about love, family, and domestic violence. i love fast car so i really wanted to love it but i wasn’t blown away by a lot of the songs

Thank you, Tracy Chapman, for reminding me that not all 80s music has to sound like futuristic carnival trash.

Yeah, this is a good one. I feel like I should like it more, but damn is it depressing. It's also pretty one note. Still, she's great, and this definitely belongs on the list.

Sharp, tender songs that stand up well. I had not heard the album in many years, until this listen, but last week - nearly 40 years on from release - in Glasgow I heard a busker singing "Talkin 'bout a revolution" and I was pleasantly surprised to hear it again, sounding strong. The reggae tune doesn't work so well but overall still a decent listen

Super talented artist, not really my thing

I enjoy the listening but it didn't have something that will make me listen to it again 3/5

I think she should have stuck with her mum

If you take out the political and victim-like messaging of the lyrics, the melody and the singing is quite nice. Fast car is and will always be a classic.

80’s Folk ⭐️Fast Car

Pros: Beautiful and distinctive voice. Fast Car is a classic, an absolute masterclass in storytelling in music. Cons: Her political lyrics are a little on the nose, spouting off cliches pretending to be profound thoughts.

Such a great, unique voice. Nice background music.

★★★½

Didn’t realize her advocacy especially at the time

Didn't know this was the original of a lot of songs. Sampled a lot. Earworms stuck in my ear, was annoying.

Highlights: - Fast Car - Behind the wall - No instrumentation and a presumably true story... hits hard I appreciate how transparent the lyrics are in this album. There's no metaphors just her experiences and opinions I like her voice and the instrumentation suits it. Low 3

I was excepting to give this higher. 3 fantastic songs but the rest just not really there. A high 3

her voice isn’t really for me, but the songwriting is incredible. unfortunately i don’t see myself returning to this very much outside of a couple songs, im just not big on her voice. fast car is great though, obviously.

It’s ok

Aight

no me encantó, pero tampoco entiendo el odio en los demás comentarios, me pareció un disco bastante decente

As someone lacking a musical ear, it was pleasantly mellow.

MEh

Good album. Not my style but it has really good songs.

50/50, not my style and topic but talented enough

First couple of songs were good, then just levelled out afterwards. Not bad but nothing really jumped out after Fast Car.

okay

Приятный альбом, кажется, с очень глубокими и сильными текстами. Кто-то назовет это музыкой для лифта, кто-то скажет, что это секретарский рок. Спасибо, что в нем не 40 треков. Надо переслушать.

This is a great album. So unique to what was out at the time and even now still holds it own. Fast Car has been redone so many times because it's a legend

Pretty good

This album starts out really strong with Talkin' Bout a Revolution and Fast Car which are just awesome. Then the style of the music kind of starts to drag on me - it's not bad by any means it's just not something that keeps a real hold of me (even with really strong lyrics).

A great folk album from the 80s with some very conscious lyrics. The songs on this album arent bad but are overshadowed by the masterpiece of a song "Fast Car" 7/10 Favourite: Fast Car Least Favourite: If Not Now

I randomly bought this a few years ago - I think because I liked Fast Car - and its a great song that showcases her voice wonderfully. The other two big singles are very strong also : Talkin’ Bout a Revolution and Baby Can I Hold You Tonight. Unfortunately the rest of the album is pretty forgettable and bad eighties production.

Need a deeper listen. The songwriting, lyrics are layered and her voice is strong but there is a very bland acutely 90s feel to the backing instruments especially the bass. Feels like I'm watching 'Friends'.

U redu je album nista spec, behind the wall je dobra pesma. Generalno mislim da nisam navikao na ovakvu muziku

Was never into Fast Cars, but listening to the album made me appreciate it more. Not really an album I like, but get why it's here.

Despite heavy topics, this album sounds bright and hopeful. Tracy has a stunning voice. Some of the music is a bit simplistic and not interesting enough to keep me engaged.

Back when I was a kid, Tracy Chapman was everywhere. You'd turn on the radio and "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" would be playing. On TV, music chart shows would show her playing "Fast Car". When dragged along to do the weekly shop, "Baby Can I Hold You" would be playing over the supermarket speakers. So to say that I'm not a big fan is largely due to that overexposure, yet another victim of overplaying. Listening back to this many, many years later, it's clear that Chapman is a great songwriter. Her lyric-heavy ballads are politically and socially charged and remind me of Joni Mitchell. She's quite a good guitarist too. I have to admit though that I find the instrumentation a little dull, but the overall melodies are always catchy. All these years later, I'm still not a huge fan. I can definitely appreciate her songwriting and skills, but I just can't get past the negative reaction I have because of how much these songs bombarded me back in the day. Good songs, but overplayed to bajaysus.

I love Mountains o' Things

Not my thing, but "Fast Car" is a banger.

человеку вообще не слушающему слова (мне) половина вайба наверно поверх головы, но музыка приятная, голос приятный)

Very political Nice singing and guitar riffs But it kinda bored me

3.5 Good, too protesty

Another album that's held up well over time. Favorite songs: Fast Car, For You

3.5

Hmm, da habe ich mir doch ein wenig mehr von erhofft. "Fast Car" ist und bleibt ein fantastischer Song und auch sonst profitiert der Rest des Albums von Chapmans einprägsamer Stimme und dem warmen Gitarrenspiel. Melodisch heben sich die vielen Tracks nicht stark voneinander ab, teilweise ertrinken die Songs auch in 80er Kitsch ("Baby can I hold you", "Mountains.."). Ein komplett reduziertes Album im Stil der ersten und letzten Songs würde mir deutlich besser gefallen. Stimme erinnert mich teilweise an Nilüfer Yanya.

I appreciate the message here, particularly with the world issues plaguing societies everywhere, but it's just not my cup of tea. Favorite Track: "Talkin' Bout A Revolution".

very nice but not up my alleyway

Fast Car is absolutely iconic. I haven't listened to this album in probably 20 years. It's still very good.

Ik denk dat het een hele andere ervaring is als je er live naar luistert in dezelfde ruimte, maar als losstaand album vond ik het niet zo denderend.

Ik vind het wel goed, maar het pakt me niet. De stem is fantastisch maar ik vind de muziek zelf niet heel spannend. De focus lag volledig op de stem en na het nummer fast car had ik dat ook wel weer gehoord. Ik ergerde mij niet aan het album. Prima album

Het is ok, Goede stem en met een boodschap. Kan er niet veel slechts over zeggen. Toch zal ik het album niet snel nog een keer opzetten. Qua muziek triggerd het mij niet genoeg.

I very much liked it. It's very clear the message, no big metaphors nor analogies are needed. It's just about everything that was, is and probably will be wrong at their lives, at the culture and environment the live in. Sometimes I found the topics repetitive, but I think is because tries to develop the ideas that she's fighting for with more reality stages that people like her go through every day. I didn't know her as I'm not that familiar with the black American culture figures but really got me. Also, I love folk so there'll be always a win/win from me for these types of projects.

Had fast car but didn't really like the others

Pretty good, I always assumed it was a 90s album

Weird. Me, not the music.

As much as I love 80s music, I will say that the decade is devoid of good country/folk music, especially when compared to the 60s and 70s. This album fills that void. I enjoy the social commentary and the overall delicate sound. "Fast Car" is obviously great and so are some of the other tracks. While it's not exactly a favorite of mine, I think this is a "valuable" album and I enjoyed revisiting it. Favorite track: Baby Can I Hold You. 3.5/5

One of the better singer/songwriter albums I’ve heard on here so far. Some catchy folk/roots type rock accompanied by a great voice with deep and political lyrics.

Álbum protesta Buena voz Un debut muy fuerte de Tracy

meh i dont enjoy folk. nice storytelling and vocals though

Great album. Very raw and inspiring. However, I think I enjoy Luke Combs cover of Fast Car and Reel Big Fish's cover of Talkin' Bout a Revolution more than the originals. The rest of the album is what I imagine to be standard Tracy Chapman as this is the only full album of hers I have listened to. I will now have to check out more.

Prvá časť albumu je excelentná, potom ma to prestáva baviť.

It’s a nice album. I just wish it did more for me.

Pleasant

While I have no Tracy Chapman in my collection, I do enjoy her work.

Fast car is a classic. The rest of the album was pretty sad to actually listen to :( I also didn’t know how old it was

Lyrics!

Okay

This was pretty good, and a lot more depressing than expected. 'Fast Car' is the obvious stand out on the album. While there are other decent songs, I found the album as a whole repetitive and monotonous. Overall, I'm glad I've now heard this album, but I don't see myself revisiting it. Three stars. (Favorite track: Fast Car.)

I'm not sure how responsible Tracy Chapman was for the wave of folksy, earnest, often socially conscious acts that were popular in the 90's, but it's hard not to see this as a precursor. The album's biggest strength is how every song has its own sound and world; there's a lot of folk and acoustic stuff here, but songs use those elements in different ways to stand out. "Behind the Wall" is nearly a capella, and "Mountains O Things" has some cool percussion. The songs are never boring, but rarely very engaging, as they're mostly calm and straightforward. "Fast Car" is great of course. The subtle yearning in its lyrics and vivid storytelling is enthralling, but when the lyrics get more direct, like on "Why?", the personal touch is lost. A pleasant set of tunes that feels a bit too normal despite being moving.

Lovely xx

not my vibe

i only knew fast car from her so i enjoyed listening to more of here song fav fast car baby can i hold you

Nobody sounds like Tracy Chapman but Tracy Chapman 3/5

That was a deeply depressing album. Unfortunately so much still applies today. Liked about 6 of the tracks.

I might be crazy, but I like every track besides Fast Car. The album is definitely something outside my usual listening, and I do hope I'll find a vibe to curate her songs into. I am obsessed with the percussion.

Kojarzę jedna piosenkę. Bardzo spokojny album, idealny na wyciszenie. Wokalista ma bardzo interesująca barwę głosów która z melodia wprowadza w stan spokoju. Przyjemny 80s vibe

sounds like country music, could be wrong but a lot of acoustic guitar for my taste and slow. 3/5

J'suis pas sensible au folk mais objectivement j'ai trouvé que c'était bien fait.

I like this album, definitely folk elements and meant to be some form of activism. I would over rate it an 8/10 just because I feel like some of melodies and tempos of the songs weren’t my favorite. I really loved the instruments and the lyrics. talkin’ bout a revolution - 7.5/10: I really like her voice in this and the lyricism is very good, the music in the background is nice, it definitely seems like activism/ calling for change!! fast car - 8/10: I definitely like the progression, her songs are very hopeful and fun; a little too repetitive for me across the lines - 9/10: I absolutely love the lyrics. she’s very good at adding emotion and calling for change, exposing dark truths abt society and segregation behind the wall - 6/10: I LOVE the message, just not my vibe. baby I can hold you - 7.5/10: I like it it’s calming, not my favorite but not bad at all mountains o’ things - 8/10: I like the message and instruments, it does feel a little boring but it’s good she’s got her ticket - 9/10: SOO GOOD!! I really love how fun it is. it feels freeing in a sense why? - 9/10: very good!! love the speed as well as the message. for my love - 9/10: I LOVE this song. I really like how it tells a story and represent the toll the love takes on her if not now… - 8/10: I like the way she uses her voice in this song for you - 7/10: it’s good and I like the lyrics as well as the guitar

Favorite Track: For My Lover

7/10

Some brilliant bits of songwriting. Very strong

Przyjemny album w starym stylu i fast car❤️

Going into this album, I really only knew Fast Car, which was a song I didn’t mind, but wasn’t something I actively sought out. Immediately as I started listening, the baseline of Talkin’ bout a revolution stood out to me. I was super prepared for something a little more groovy than I ended up getting. Going into Fast Car I was so prepared to really enjoy it, and added those two songs to my everything playlist. After that, it really slowed down for me and everything blended together a bit. Across the lines was cool as a vocals only track, but after that the only song I can really pinpoint enjoying slightly is If Not Now… . I can say this album was musically and lyrically very good, it just wasn’t my thing style-wise and pace-wise. I found also a lot of the instrumentals to be quite similar with Afro-beat esq style drums and a similar guitar. I found multiple times thinking “this guitar is just fast car with slight differences”. The vocals were very sound and she has a nice voice. Overall, I’m giving this album 3.5/5 ⭐️, not my thing but I think it’s very cohesive. Favourites: Talkin bout a revolution, Fast Car Least Favourites: Mountains o things 1/1001

Pretty good album - 2 hits

super different, in a good way, very peaceful, i love the instrumental and her voice is so smooth and soothing

An iconic album, a unique and powerful voice. Tales of personal and political anguish, longing, and occasional triumph, comforting and unsettling in turn. An American original.

summer vibes

This album has some good tracks, including classics like Fast Car, and I was surprised by Chapman’s voice. That said, the vocals feel a little too middle-of-the-road for my taste I tend to prefer a rawer, more rugged sound in a singer. The message about escaping a difficult situation and fighting for change is powerful and genuinely inspirational, which gives the album real emotional weight. Behind the Wall’ left me uncomfortable in the best way, its a cappella delivery makes it feel raw, powerful, and emotionally pure.

There are a few great songs (classics) on here. A little slow for overall listening through

was ok; good chord progressions and i liked the lyrics. fast car is class but i think other songs of hers off this album deserve more attention such as If Not now...

some of it quite joni mitchell esque (such as if not now) which I really enjoyed. the political themes are very eye opening as such issues are still prevalent today. I really enjoyed the last 80s style as well (baby can I hold you) which I know steve harrington and nancy wheeler would like. the unique percussion was very intriguing and added good range to the album. top three songs: 1. if not now… 2. baby can I hold you 3. for you overall rating: 3.5

not my usual style but still a vibe

not my kind of music but tracy chapman is an iconnn. favorite songs: fast car and why?

Highs are fantastic, but lows as well. More African dream pop in the middle than I expected.

Tracy Chapman is a fantastic and very talented singer/songwriter. She has a very unique voice and I would categorize the instrumentation as minimalist. There is a distinct sadness to this album and I had a difficult time enjoying it fully. 2.8/5.0

Fast cars and then all the rest of the songs.

Her voice is amazing. I've never listened to anything but "Fast Car" & "Give Me One Reason". These lyrics cut deep. "Behind the Wall" is a stand out beyond "Fast Car"

It's a very pleasant note, but it is only one note. The songs sound way too similar. The album is short, and Ms. Chapman does a great job of saying something (about the working-class poor) without bludgeoning the listener with it. Great voice, great, guitar, great production - just not enough variety to make it a great album. Influence 3. Quality 3. Intangibles 3. Hits 3. Md in a good way, if that's possible 3.

songwriting is amazing but I found the beat and tune of this whole album to be a bit repetitive

This album is a lot better than it was in '88 when Donna, a neighbour/friend, was blasting it out dozens of times a day for weeks, accompanied by her terrible singing. I grew to shudder whenever I heard the opening bars of Fast Car. I was dreading putting this on, but I really rather enjoyed it this time around.

I am slightly conflicted on this album. I love the lyrics and her performances but sometimes the instrumentals fall flat for me.

The hits are great, the rest of the album didn't really stand out to me. 7.5/10 Favourite track: Talkin' Bout a Revolution

not really my favorite sound but still good!

a little much after listening to Bonnie Raitt's "Nick of Time" in terms of 80's singer songwriters but Tracy's is a little less cheesy and has a more unique voice. Not knocking Bonnie Raitt's voice by any means but just noting it. The first track is good. Fast car is a jam. Behind the wall is a cool acapella moment. Baby can i hold you is cool. And mountain of things is Bonnie Raitt style cheesy. I also do not mean cheesy in a bad way they're both just a little cheesy/of their times with the electronics/pan flutes/honkytonk ness.

Absolute joy

first two songs come in too hot for the rest of the album

Same Ol' Story / 5 First of all, I didn't know this album's from 1988, becaue both the mixing and the themes sound much more modern. Might be a hint at how not far we've come since then, but okay. Some of these topics are strictly US-focused, others are trying to bite poverty and inequality. What basically all things (without the love songs) have in common is that they're pretty activistic, and I don't appreciate that too much tbh. I don't belong to those of my age who participate in student protests, I'd rather see the world as it is. And it's not a fair world, in fact it never was. The sooner the people who complain about everything realize that and start to *actually* make a positive impact, the story Chapman tells will be repeated over and over again. I guess people never learn, sigh... What I took away from this musically is that it's not bad as background music, but it's really not my taste either. If T.C. would've brought some actual punch in, I would've been happy to rate this above 3.0/5. But since she didn't, I won't do that.

Not my cup of tea

♥️

beautiful powerful voice unfortunately singing some corny songs

I like a protest song and this is essentially a protest album. My only issue is that it's a bit nice and I keep drifting away from it only to be brought back by a dark/thought provoking lyric and I go "oh I wish I'd been listening closer to that". But that has happened on 3 separate attempts to listen through it, so I can't mark it that high.

Such a powerful and beautiful voice . An accomplished take on singer song writer folk . Very 90s production. Well late 80s . Which is a little distractions on a folk album . More than just fast car, with a coupe of excellent singles . Rest of the album is good but not a up there with the excellent singles , mostly due to the high quality of 3-4 songs but not the rest .

Fast car is certainly a highlight, even if that’s not really a song I seek out. The rest of the album is still pretty good, but I think that the collection of songs is stronger than the album as a whole, which loses some steam by the end. 3.5

Fast Car!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the first half of the album was stronger than the second half. It had more variety and energy to it. Still, I think overall it was a solid album. She does a good job of mixing heavier topics with easier listening. The content of a lot of the songs was sad, but it didn't sound like sad music. Chapman has a lovely voice, too.

We've all heard about guilty pleasures...well this is a guilty displeasure for me. I know it's good, but I just don't like it. It sounds like music for old people.

Surprisingly enjoyable listen. A style I wasn’t expecting to enjoy so much. I went in only knowing ‘Fast Car’ and left with the highlight of ‘Baby Can I Hold You’ being my favorite off the album. Good soup.

Two albums ago we had Beth's broken car, now we have Tracy's fast car. There's an underwhelming joke in there somewhere. Know the big song but not sure I recognised anything else. Tracy has a good voice and a fairly unique style for an acoustic singer songwriter where it's often hard to stand out. I would say the the shadow of fast car looms large over the rest of the album mind. Might be because of my over familiarity but a lot of the other songs had bits that reminded me of it. I enjoyed it without being blown away.

#5 Good voice, I get the appeal of her music now.

This album has had a few revivals, so seems like it has constantly been playing in cafes for 30 years. Clearly good in terms of voice, lyrics, and guitar. Production is a bit too 80s for me and side 2 looses steam. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Most songs Owned: No: 29/117 (24%) Will I get? No

It's fine. It's just not what I typically want to listen to. Fast Car is great, I also really enjoyed For My Lover....Fast Car, I've heard a ton of times, I'd never heard For My Lover before. She's got a great voice, the lyrics can be really great. The production is late 80s slick and polished but that's okay...the mix works. Her vocals are front and center. Like a lot of things on this list...liked it, glad I listened to it, probably wouldn't listen to it again.

Do you know what? I quite enjoyed this!

Had this one before being in the group - my review: Obviously heard Fast Car a million times like many but was nice to listen to the rest of the album which I don’t think I’ve done before. Totally get why the album is here but probably wouldn’t come back to it if given a choice.

beautiful voice

Not my usual cup of tea, but knew lots of songs here. Would rate it higher but I know that I probably won't be listening to it again.

Recuerdo los tiempos en que Tracey Chapman fue un mega trancazo. Nunca conecté mucho con su música y terminé por olvidarla. Pero escuchando ahora el disco, tiene su punto y me sorprende que música tan personal haya pegado como lo hizo. Está bien, tiene tres canciones que me gustan mucho y que son a las que estaré regresando constantemente. El resto del disco, aunque no está mal, dudo que vaya a provocarme regresar.

Oddly maudlin for me

(72/100)

Гладко как-то очень, не читал переводов.

I am on the fourth song, THIS here is exactly what i expected from Tracy Chapman. I am for sure going to re listen to this several times. Her voice is o unique and amazing. Cant believe this is the first time i listen to this album in full!