Reviews (page 10 of 14)
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
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
quite a depressing album really, Behind the Wall is kinda chilling. i have heard this album before and it is really good but i think outside of Fast Car theres a specific mood you need to be in to listen to this and thoroughly enjoy it. 3.5
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!
Chapman's a great singer, but the instrumental composition reminds me too much of music i'd hear in the grocery store growing up. It's tough for me to give this an honest listen for that totally subjective reason.
Good voice, meaningful lyrics. Simple and sweet. Didn't intrigue me enough musically though.
Fast car is a banger but the rest of them I was not keen on at all. She keeps doing the Joni Mitchell kind of thing and I am not a fan. Specific rating - 3.3 Fav song- fast car Least fav- behind the wall
Wish I was into the B-side of this as much as I was into the A-side... first six songs are incredible. Truly a beautiful album but I gotta give it a 3 as I was mostly really into the first half
Tracy Chapman was an alright album. The most i have ever really known about Tracy Chapman was hearing Miel Bredouw recommend her music (particularly Fast Car) back when she hosted the podcast "Punch Up The Jam" (If you haven't heard it, definitely do, it's a great podcast) and for the longest time, i thought Chapman was a man. It wasn't until i read her wikipedia page did i learn the truth. As for the album itself, it's fine. It isn't really anything that special or unique and the songs can get rather forgettable but there isn't really anything wrong with them and they all had a pretty good sound to them. It probably won't be something i'll remember that much but at least i didn't hate it. Best Song: Mountains O' Things Worst Song: Behind the Wall
Its an ok album overall not the stuff I like but pretty smooth
i enjoyed this more than i thought i would, she has a really nice voice and the songs were thoughtful and smooth
First 2 tracks are great.
I can objectively say that Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut album is good. It has good singing, songwriting and production. However, I considered it adult contemporary upon its release when I was in eighth grade. I did not vibe with it then. The fact that I am now elderly has only solidified my vibe. Also, "Fast Car" being appropriated by country does it no favors.
Remember when that country dude re-recorded Fast Car --didn't change a thing (ie: “in the market as a checkout girl")-- made the song even more popular (8x Platinum)--and won Song of the Year ? Sums up the music industry. This was a solid album, and more people would be talking about it if it was recorded differently...hint hint
Good album.
Nice folk album done in the 80s which is impressive. 3
Respectable album.
Her voice is fantastic and the songs generally are interesting and unique. However, I didn't really find them impressive enough to want to listen to them in the future.
7/10
Kinda hard to write about this without the recent reboot of Fast Car thanks to [checks notes] white male country singer Luke Combs? But, my memory as a kid was “yay this is good” and felt meaningful in a way that a lot of music at the time did not. It’s not that popular music in the 1980s didn’t have heart or spirit or whatever it is that Chapman has in surplus, but from sophistipop to hair metal, the surface image mattered the most. The tail end of the 80s and then early 90s instead rejected that strongly in favour of material from the heart, be it grunge and its adjacent rock music genres or hip hop. There’s some for better or worse elements built into that, as folks pretty quickly had enough of all that and 80s-themed music parties were de rigeur on college campuses at night clubs even before 1995. Which maybe tracks with my sense of enjoying Chapman’s music: a little goes a long way. Otoh maybe if every song she wrote was as good as Fast Car, this would be a different discussion.
Very pleasant listening. Is not my type of music, but I liked it. Very soft, nothing too fancy. The lyrics have a lot of social meaning, that was intriguing for me.
Hon har ju en skön röst, trevliga låter som man känner igen.
Good, but not for me
One car. One fast. One fast car. One vocal style. One acoustic guitar. One singer. One song that will be stuck in your head for a week. One rating 6/10
6/10 - I mean it's nice but apart from Fast Cars, there is nothing really notable
Not my style of music but there was a song or 2 I enjoyed
Great voice. Moving lyrics. Three hits. Still, this album does nothing for me.
Good overall. Feels like it could be the background soundtrack to someone’s life. “Fast Car” is obviously a high point, and the rest sort of fades into 90s obscurity to an extent. Not to sound too harsh, because it’s a very lovely album but fewer songs deeply moved me as I would’ve expected.
I was really expecting to like this whole album more. The first two tracks are so awesome, but it dropped off a little from there for me. Chapman’s voice is undeniably incredible. Best Track: Fast Car
Not bad.
I'm disappointed that I don't like this more than I do. It's a little tepid - the kind of music that wins grammys but no one actually loves. Sad, I've always thought I could have been a Tracy Chapman guy, in the right circumstances. It turns out I've built my whole self-image upon a delusion. Alas. This was ok.
It’s alright, one hit wonder but she’s cool af
Overall I liked it. Reminded me of something my mom would play in the car and not let us change it.
A voz dela é muito boa. Além de Fast Car e Baby Can I Hold You, eu achei interessante também She's Got Her Ticket e If Not Now.
Fast Car is so good
Remember hearing this some 7 years ago because a friend plugged it. At the time I didn't like it that much. I still don't, but at least I've gained the perspective now, from having listened to so much shit on here frankly, that it's actually some quality stuff, just not my style. Other note: she's very articulate in her singing, so you understand every word, unlike many other artists. That's nice
3.4/i think i need to listen to this one more. some of these lyrics are revolutionary af. vinyl in collection.
3,7
Fine, but will not listen to it again. ★★★
I haven’t heard this album in decades. Powerful lyrics with songs that resonate even today.
Such a great voice. Also very well produced
It’s all beautiful, it also all sounds kinda the same.
Неплохо, очень напомнило imagine dragones, вот откуда они взяли стиль пения. Тематика песен не нравится, но, тем не менее, значимость и вот это все, трудно не согласиться
Fast Car: \m/ This is a pretty solid album. I really like Tracy's voice.
Own It
Very good singer-songwriter album to close out the 80s and usher in the 90s, a decade full of great female singer-songwriters. Chapman does stand out from the crowd with her deep, soulful voice and politically charged lyrics, while her peers would go for more introspective and personal themes. Still, Chapman is never brought up in the singer-songwriter conversation and I honestly don't know any of her albums besides this one. Maybe I should check them out sometime. Key tracks: Fast Car
mami lo aveva come cassetta mi sa. comunque non sembra male, ma richiede un altro periodo di vita penso.
All that I really know about Tracy Chapman is that I cannot stand Fast Car. It's not a bad song, it's a very good song, but I can't stand it. Too many open mics, too many boring and samey cover versions, too many times on the radio, too many times on my tv. Any potential for that song to ever move me in any way has been eroded from over exposure. Decent album though and I found out a Reel Big Fish song that I like is actually a cover.
Got this over the weekend, grew on me with a second listen. I don’t think I like ‘Fast Car’, especially with the new life it’s taken on today. But I liked her voice and the calm atmosphere. Particularly on the first track and the last three.
nice singing voice but not very interesting to listen to. just a voice and a guitar, which i respect but not something i would choose listen to all the time. nice lyrics lady!
Thanks for this suggestion. Spotify now thinks I want to listen to the “sad women with great voices complaining” genre.
some good songs. "Fast Car" was really overplayed when it came out.
5/10
Sommige hele lekkere nummers, maar de meeste zijn te zoetsappig voor mij.
held up surprisingly well. 3/5
meh
The sound is dated, but some of these songs still hit man. Issues that they talk about here are still problems today. Behind the Wall is harrowing, Fast Car still slaps, some songs sound like 90s hacky-sack hippy music but none of the ideas are wrong.
I liked it just fine. Nothing especially bad, but nothing that completely grabbed me either. A solid listen overall, but it didn’t stick with me the way I hoped. 3 stars
I had super high hopes coming in on this record and I don't want to say that I was dissapointed, but I certainly was not blown away. Don't get me wrong Chapman is awesome and there are some great tunes on here, but as a whole it wasn't my favorite album ever. 6/10
Great album. It was everywhere in the late 80s/early 90’s. Still sounds amazing
Chill
I’ve never been a big fan. Too folksy for me. I will say, however, that the songs that I wasn’t familiar with our way better than the singles that I was familiar with. Brilliant song writing, just not an artist I’m going to seek out.
It had some good songs that I didn't know and I appreciate the heavy lyrical content but it sounds the same at some parts
Fast car is a classic.
Some great songwriting.
ok
I learned nothing new about Tracy Chapman by listening to this album. I knew she had a great voice and I knew Fast Car was a great track. All these songs kinda just washed over me and I didn’t dislike them, I just don’t think there is much there. Maybe it isn’t for me, I just didn’t get it. 3 stars
3 stars for the voice alone. Did seem to be a little repetitive and too on the nose at times. I think this is actually a 3.5 if this allowed for half stars
Didn’t click with me
Incredibly simple and beautiful, and yet I still have a hard time figuring out where most of these tunes could fit in an aux rotation
I’m sure this is critically acclaimed, important, lauded by musicians, etc., but it just didn’t do anything for me other than be pleasant.
Is that John Obi Mikel?
Music is ok, but for me as non-english speaker album was not catchy and does not catch my attention. Fast Cars is the only song added to playlist.
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.
Only knowing the hit song I was not expecting to enjoy this album like I did.
Bit samey, weh.
Pretty good. Kinda relaxed, acousticy stuff
Einzigartige Stimme, fantastisches Writing. Aber etwas langweilig
Wasn't able to give it a good listen unfortunately, but was decent from what I heard. Wasn't upset listening to it but not particularly happy
Smooth if a little somber. Beautiful voice. My knowledge of Chapman didn't really extend beyond "Fast Car" and while this album didn't blow me away I will probably look into more of her work.
It is good but toooo well known. There was nothing new to explore
Fast car
I was dreading listening to this, since the folk bender 1001 records has taken me on so far has been horrible. But Tracy sounds great! I get Peter Gabriel vides here and there. Can't pinpoint why or where specifically, and this is clearly a lot more simplified as far as instrumentation goes. Anyway, I guess it's the colout of here voice and style of singing that grabbed me. Doesn't sound droney nor uninterested, which is a bit win in my book.
- Plezant op 't gemak - 1 nummer toegevoegd aan MMMM
É um bom disco, só não é minha pira. Já disse anteriormente que songwriting é a última coisa que me atento ao ouvir música, e aqui, é o foco principal. Mas a voz dela é bonita e as composições são boas. Algumas das canções escapam da vibe "Uma moça e um violão" e apresentam uns arranjos um pouco mais interessantes pro meu gosto. No geral, um disco fácil de ouvir e de tirar proveito. Bom. 3.5/5
Another album from long ago. A good listen many years later. Such a strong voice!
I was familiar with 3/4 or her singles. Always appreciated her voice and the stripped back music itself without ever really having any affinity to it. While it was nice to hear the rest of the album and k absolutely can see why it’s here (I don’t think there has ever been a successful imitation) I still don’t see myself choosing to listen to it. I’ll probably give it a three, but it’s a 3.5
I grew up relatively poor, surrounded by the stereotypical poor people problems. Relatives were disgruntled alcoholics. Friends died of overdoses. The power was cut from my first apartment multiple times. I’ve seen neighbors get evicted. I was never homeless myself, but I knew the names of the homeless in my neighborhood. The surrounding mentality is that there’s no winning this game. A good friend of mine often spoke of a revolution that is bound to erupt. This Tracy Chapman album, for obvious reasons, made me remember my friend and these hard times. Maybe occupy Wall Street was that revolution, and maybe the fact that nothing came from OWS is why I don’t hear people talking about revolt anymore. Maybe I’m just on better footing in life and surround myself with more stable people. That’s a longwinded way of saying, I know the people in these songs, and I’m familiar with the pain that TC’s communicating. I also resist that mentality because I know what a trap it is, and while in the world of these songs, I feel that trap closing-in around me. It really got me down. There is an artistry here, transmitting a feeling of defeat and oppression. It’s not a feeling I love sitting in. Art doesn’t have to be cozy, just powerful. TC’s power is subtle. For these reasons, I’m glad I’ve heard the album, and I understand its place here. It’s achieved the aim of true art. I will probably not be returning to it, though, because it relates a whole world, a whole mentality, that I spent a decade trying to rise out of.
such a beautiful voice
Liked the first half, second not so much
Nostalgic
This is not to my taste but clearly a very good album by a talented artist. It has stood the test of time.
Good, folky but with various twists, including melodic percussion and the occasional reggae-inflected rhythm section. Chapman's plaintive and personal lyrics are a feature here, so if you're not aligned on all the issues she sings about, it may not land (Erlewine for AllMusic is critical of her use of "begged questions" and truisms, so apparently rhetorical techniques are up for musical criticism now, too). 'Fast Car' was absolutely everywhere on the radio, growing up in the 90's, so this album had a crater to go with its impact. It was a sizeable debut and starkly different in an era defined by hair metal. A political singer-songwriter didn't often make a splash in those days and this kicked something off. How does it hold up to the ears of a (aging) modern listener without the need for a palette cleanser from hair metal (which is actually refreshing to hear occasionally in 2025 -- see the 'Peacemaker' soundtrack)? It's OK. Folk-inflected and singer-songwriter music in the late 80's and early 90's was often wordy (a crude imitation of Michael Stipe? a desperate need for an editor?) and that is often the first thing that hits me. 'Fast Car' is kind of an all-timer but the rest of the album sounds a bit like a competent mid-billing act from Lilith Fair. That's no an insult, either -- just the most distilled description I can give you. If nothing else, the album is only 36 minutes long. If you're looking for a female singer-songwriter, you might be better served with Ani DiFranco from this era, or Lauren Hill from a little later (her second pseudo-album, especially). Carly Simon or Joni Mitchell from earlier. Lucinda Williams, Sarah Harmer or Madison Cunningham if you want to get, stepwise, more modern. You won't be sad you listened to this -- and it's short -- but I'd suggest that to really grasp the impact on the music scene of its time, you'll need to do quite a lot of reading. That's not necessarily disqualifying, but it is qualifying -- and that's exactly the sort of pedantic, lexicographical nadir that is typical of this style of music. If you hated that last sentence, maybe listen to something else. 3/5
Wow, I really liked her voice! ofc the only song I have heard is "Fast Car", I had no idea it was from her though, very timeless. Lovely playlist but nothing I'd listen to regularly!
Nice
I am not really into singer/songwriter music, but her voice is really good. I also like the topics of her songs, although they are quite serious and not fun at all.
Nice chill background songs Fast Car stuck in my head ALL day I liked Baby can I hold you, that's deffo been in a few rom com montages
Across the lines and behind the wall. The album is at risk of the over played pop songs pigeon holing it as twee and radio 2 but its really a beautiful folk album.
Solid writing
The extremely warm and comfy album from how folksy and small everything feels, obviously the lyrics are a huge highlight (Fast Car, hello) but I think the best thing about this album is that I feel comforted listening to it
This brings me back to high school in the late ‘80s and makes me realize, given its popularity, how much this album cut against the grain of the popular culture at the time. It was of a piece with the likes of REM and Edie Brickell but was more explicitly concerned with social and political issues than either of them. Some really good songs, along with a couple I don’t love, weighed down by overly slick production.
What a voice! Glad to see this album on the list.
I'd only heard fast car. This is sincere and nice but I don't think I'll revisit much.
2.75
Melodies and voice are nice, but extremely mellow for my taste
Enjoyed. Funny enough my intro to Tracy was a Reel Big Fish cover of the first track on this good album.
Good album, skip track 4, behind the wall
Day 2 of rolling highly praised Folk/Singer Songwriter albums. This one is marginally better than the one from yesterday. It grew on me enough to bump it up from an initial 2 to a 3. The subject matter is obviously immensely depressing and I don’t want to listen to it past today, but as a whole it was a worthwhile experience. It’s an important album for addressing many political and social issues plaguing the African American community, through the music of someone with a beautiful voice. While depressing, her voice is somewhat uplifting and soothing at the same time, which makes you really want to keep listening. My favorite song on this album was “Why?”. I like the rapid fire questioning and tempo of that song specifically. Hoping I don’t get stun locked into a bunch of Folk/Singer Songwriter albums. I’d like to get back to some good old Rock that I'm more familiar with, but this album was pretty good. Not something I would want to come back to, but it was good. Just, for the love of God, please give me a happier album tomorrow!! Please!!
Tracy has such an effortlessly precise voice. Very compelling listen, though the music at times lost my interest. But I think the themes and lyrics really hooked me. My favorite songs were probably the first two.
I know there is a lot of hype around this album, and while she does have a great voice it sounds a little like elevator music after a while.
It was fine. The feature song is Fast Car.
hey schono kuul, es paar songs sind au es zitli lang mal mega in gsi. generell gfalled mir singer-songwriter-albe nöd so, will ichs meistens langwiilig find. das da findi jetz uf de interessantere siite, en a capella song, verschiedeni instrumentierige, nöd nur gliichförmigi harmonie und rhythme.
Never listened to the whole album before. Not bad.
Very nice. This album works best when she isn’t trying to be the voice of a movement, but rather the voice of a single life caught in a larger system. The folk-protest roots are there, but the emotional knockout punch comes when she’s just telling you about one person’s kitchen-table reality. "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" is probably the exception, it’s about the poor rising up, and she sings it like she’s right there on the street with them. It's all about her voice, minimal accompaniment, "Fast Car", "For my Lover" and "Behind the Wall" really give that "person at the kitchen table view of the world she lives in. Very nice.
Album 859 of 1089 Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (1988) Rating : 3 / 5 Not feeling my best today, but still managed to give this one a listen. Tracy Chapman’s debut is a fine album—thoughtful, powerful songwriting and a calm strength in her delivery. It’s not something I usually reach for, but it’s easy to appreciate the talent and heart behind it. A solid listen from a truly gifted artist.
Input > output but enough to keep me interested
Never heard a full album of hers. But she's worth it. Her vibrato is what makes she famous. Not why I like her, though. 3,3
Kind of boring overall
Really good but such a debbie downer of an album
I didn’t appreciate this that much when I was younger, but an enjoyable album.
Really great songs… fell asleep tbh but good
For decades I took Tracy Chapman for granted, given how much radio play Fast Car gets. What a wild launch to fame she had. Great voice, 3* Highlights: fast car
Outside of Fast Car there wasn't a huge amount here that I found memorable. Face Tune: Fast Car
Subdued socially conscious music with lots of variety, not always for the best though. Shout out to Larry Klein, who kills it on the bass!
3,25
Solid record, I'm not too crazy about it. Fast Car is a phenomenal tune but now I know that Tracy Chapman has more in the bag than what I knew previously (7/10, 3/5 on this scale)
I expected this album might show up on this list but didn't realize how worth of an entry it is. First of all, I had no idea this album was from 1988, nor that it brought in multiple Grammy awards. It's well deserving as Tracy Chapman strings together a handful of pretty catchy tunes that tell a story and/or present a message pretty effectively. A handful of tracks feature some raw and emotional vocals that provide some impact. With a more mature ear I can now appreciate how solid of an album this is. As a bratty, snot-nosed high-schooler I constantly ripped on this album. This may have been related to some over-play within the household, but the case stands that perhaps apologies are in order for not realizing how talented Tracy Chapman was. Solid marks to Tracy for bringing it on her debut. 3.06 stars
While her melodies are often simple and straightforward, Tracy Chapman has a unique ability to paint a beautiful and complex picture with her lyrics.
"Fast Car" is one of those truly great songs. Even though Chapman was only 23 when this album was recorded, her voice has a weariness to it, that perfectly fits the tone of the record.
Fast car is an excellent song. The rest here suffers from sameness. It’s a bit of a bore. I respect the message and her vocals. But it doesn’t do much for me unfortunately.
I know this artist. I remember listening to this artist and some of her songs on the radio, growing up. Good music. Nostalgic for me.
One of those albums that I can't listen to it's too real and it makes me think about things too seriously and then I can't function.
A few good songs, nothing super standout.
It's ok
Think I used to have this album...it's OK
C'est sympa comme musique de fond.
Three amazing songs, and eight very good ones.
Not quite my style but super cool lyrics!
this was very pretty, tracy's voice is gorgeous. generally singer songwriter just isn't my jam
It was fine but nothing to write home about. 2.5
Not my cup of tea but I can see why it has such a good reputation. The 80’s production make it sound dated but the songs beneath it, especially the first half, are nice enough
Not my kind of stuff, but it's a good album I guess.
That's a great album with well written songs! I'm only having a hard time with the 1988 clean and overproduced sound.
I hated the remake by that one guy
Good but not my thing
Some good tracks but overall a politically charged album that draws you out of the narrative
She’s got her ticket ima prelepu gitaru, podseća me na reggae i neki blues. Album je za sada underwhelming, ima neki built up i mislim da konačno Tracy pušta glas posle ove pesme i zaista dobijam neku celovitu sliku. Jednostavno mislim da ovakav tekst ne ide uz ovaj žanr muzike. Ne možeš ni da plešeš uz ovu muziku jer Tracy priča o nepravdi kroz koju prolaze crnci, ali opet nije ni toliko tužna da sediš. Sama srž albuma je storytelling i gitara, ali me podseća na neki country i southern akcenat što mi se ne dopada. Nisam sigurna kako ću da ocenim ovo.. ima neverovatan glas tho, ja bih volela da ga je drugačije koristila. Ali opet to su moje preference. It’s good for sleeping, nije nešto uzbudljiv. Poslušaću druge albume jer mi izgledaju svežije:)) Drago mi je što je sve što je osećala uspela da pretoči u muziku. Ali i to što je pretočila je nekako too simple i loše napisano. Bavi se ona revolucijom i događajima iz 70-ih, samo je napisano za žene od 40 godina, bez kreativnosti, simbolike i metafore
5.8/10 good but not my style
Klar et album som står stærkest de 2 første numre. Men virkelige et godt album alt i alt også.
A couple of great songs, but not a whole album.
3.36
I'm not a great fan of this genre of music, the vocals are so good though. Just not something that I would listen to in my free time. But overall it is a good album and I completely understand that many people like it
Other than Fast Car I couldn't name another Tracy Chapman song, so I was curious to listen to this one. None of the other songs are bad, got a strong Heart of Gold vibe from the intro to For My Lover, but nothing else really resonated with me. It is a good album of folk rock that was not a slog to listen to. I wanted to like it more, but it is just not music that I like to listen to. Whether you like it or not, it is clear Chapman is a talented singer and songwriter.
Her voice is like a warm blanket
Scho legendär und ufe und abe glosed. Hüt seits mer nümme gliich vill.
Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut arrives like a solemn sermon whispered through an acoustic guitar—stripped-down, heartfelt, and heavy with purpose. It’s the kind of record that demands to be listened to in silence, the Very Serious kind of silence. “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” kicks things off with a simmering urgency that defines much of what follows, while “Fast Car,” the standout, pairs a hypnotic riff with lyrics so stark they’ll leave you quietly wrecked. Chapman’s voice is clear and haunting, a vessel for pain, hope, and social conscience—but sometimes the weight drags. “Baby Can I Hold You” offers a rare, if modest, emotional breather, unburdened by politics, and the curious “Mountains O’ Things” and reggae-tinged “She’s Got Her Ticket” show her experimenting just enough to keep things from going grayscale. It’s a thoughtful debut, if a bit too reverent for its own good.
A great debut album, thought she would be a big star. I read that she was very successful, but I don't remember any of her music. My bad.
Very heavy, couple of listen-on-repeat songs