Reviews (page 11 of 14)
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
Good album. I could listen to it again.
I get why this has a lot of good ratings. It's not your usual singing about breakups and love album. So I'm not saying the lyrics arent good But I just found this album a bit bland. Apart from Fast Car the songs all kind of blended into eachother, nothing really stood out Very unique voice though 3 ⭐️
Vilken röst! Men inte det jag skulle lyssna på själv.
Good solid 3/5
really good
I wasn’t longing to keep listening to this, but it’s a lovely piece of work. Heavy lyricism music isn’t quite my jam, but respect for her talent!
Fav: Fast Car..gotta be Vinyl: Yes Notes: Mountains O' Things sounds a helluva lot like an Ed Sheeran arrangement...I always knew that guy was a fraud 😄
Its wonderful how Tracy Chapman can turn her political anger into something so uplifting. Its a small shame that Fast Car, the most repeatable of all the songs here is the only one that lacks a political bent. Despite being emotional, her music is an unambiguously positive force. The front end has the hits and they still feel as fresh as ever. The latter half is less of a rush, but eminently listenable.
Muy buen disco, temon Baby i can hold you y if not now, ademas de fast car. Inspirada Tracy
A solid listen that covers a breadth of heavy social and personal topics. Some of the songs hit harder than others, but Tracy's rich alto voice is a constant throughout. Would give a 3.5. Standout track: Across the Lines
Enjoyed it. Nothing crazy but had a few songs that left an impression. 3/5
A bit sad and slow, but good
I think this album really excels in its simplicity. The voice is nice and expressive and tells compelling messages. The accompanying instrumentation does a good job supporting the vocals and is relatively simple, not overstepping the main driving force of the songs. The songs are all pretty relaxing and laid back and is great for casual listening.
Good
I never knew who the artist of Fast Car was. pretty cool
Good but I prefer her album "New Beginning"
This is a great album, but I'll be ranking all these albums hard. The back half I enjoyed more than the front due to the more complex sound though the lyricism stayed strong throughout. Little slow and sometimes boring. Standout track: mountain o things
I own this but haven’t listened to it in so long.Very solid album! Only song that didn’t do it for me was the last track, For You. She was all about saying damn the man.
Profound lyrics and beautiful melodies, but I just don't like listening to Tracy Chapman's voice. I will give three stars in recognition of her talent as a songwriter, though.
C'est doux, c'est folk
really good
really good after the first listen, will probably get even better with every listen
3.2
Good album, strong songs, folky protest. The sadness is that all the issue she was singing about thirty years ago are just as pertinent and potent today. Will listen again.
S meischte esch scho rächt guet inklusive es paar banger, jedoch esch zom Teil e chli wierds züg debi won ech jetzt ned so verstoh und halt relativ ruhig wasi zwar ned ongärn ha, aber ned grad so fescht.
Some classic songs, but ultimately a bit monotoneous
Норм
Good
Fajne
A bit quiet and melancholic
Some familiar iconic songs but a few duds in there too.
Fav songs: Fast Car--who doesn't like this song; For My Lover I remember when Fast Car came out and it was playing everywhere. I wasn't into it as an 11yo but it has grown on me as an adult. It's a great song. I feel like TC became accidentally famous and it wasn't something she really wanted. At least we all got a great song. The album is super easy to listen to and the songs do not blend together. It's not generally my thing but it isn't bad either. I really like her singing style.
Ok
”Don't ya know They're talking about a revolution? It sounds like a whisper” I mean yeah, it describes itself perfectly. A pleasant whisper I suppose, but then again that might be counterintuitive.
Partially listened before Favourite tracks: Fast Car, Across the Lines, Talkin 'Bout A Revolution
This is #day242 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's been a hell of a week. I've been moving apartments, running around transporting stuff, so I'm exhausted and anxious. It's the third time this year I've had to listen to an album the next day instead of the day I got it. Kind of a cheat, right? This way, I end up listening to two albums a day. But hey, I'm just catching up... As I write this, the place is fucking chaos—boxes everywhere. Mountains O' Things, if you will (pun un/intended). But my wife and I always get it together, so fingers crossed it happens sooner rather than later. The album itself? Well, she's definitely got the vocals and a peculiar delivery. The instrumentation seems out of place for the year the album was released, which is fun. Across The Lines is my highlight. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day243.
This album was a smart listen, musically interesting, and Chapman is very talented. For me, personally, it is unfortunately not the sum of its parts. I simply can't put my finger on it, but there is just something that turns me off of the record. It's one of those albums your friends enjoy and swear by and you know they aren't wrong about it at all. It just isn't for you. I may have sung a different tune had I been older and heard it upon release (I was 2), but in 2025 I just can't sign on for this one. Perhaps that is my ultimate takeaway - like a movie that is just too old to hold your interest, it is a highly respectable pass for me.
I liked Fast Car, and if the rest had been anywhere near as good this would have been a solid 4, maybe even a 5. Alas, this but a humble 3.
Not bad. Simpsons: No
Chilled, soulful vibes. A lot of the songs sounded similar, but flowed well together. Tracy tells a good story. ‘Fast Car’ is obviously iconic.
This album was definitely not made for me. Album Cover: 5/10 Top Songs: Fast Car Behind the Wall
Those first three tracks are peak mom-core, but afterwards it delves right into very average, very 80's mom-core.
Obviously the amazing song "Fast Car" is on this album. That song alone is top notch. Overall, a decent album. Not my favourite, but still was good to listen to while working.
Some really beautiful songs but I don't think I'll go back to it, so it's a 3
Enjoyed it but can't say I'm likely to listen to it again
Nice album and clearly a talented musician but the songs didn’t grab me and I doubt I’ll return to it
Folk/singer song writer og også lidt politisk. Det er meget råt, simpelt og tidsløs, kom ud i 80’erne som var domineret af synths osv.
there was a story to be told and she did it quite well 3.5/5
3.5/5. The top half was excellent and of course Fast Car is timeless. The back half of the album didn’t do as much for me.
Some classics on here. Enjoyable but not sure I'll listen again.
Sucker for a cheesy love song by a lesbian icon.
***A good album, some tracks sound alike
Good album. Came out when I was in high school. It was a good listen.
Ok
в целом - норм, но не в моем вкусе. прослеживается вайб музыки для романтических комедий...
I really like Tracy Chapmans unique voice. I didn’t expect to love this, but I might throw this into regular rotation. Behind the wall is mid. It sounds like it is Influenced by folk and 80s pop music. Overall 6.5/10 but I like the influence it had on music
It is fine
Pretty solid, but still will only listen to fast car
Excellent songwriting with a good voice to match. The beats of the other songs didn’t really super stand out but I would revisit
Wanted to rate this a 4 but actual enjoyment dictated a 3. A great example of an album that would benefit from a deeper dive and relisten. So much so that I reached out to u/SidledsGunnar to see if they can add a "tagging" feature similar to Letterboxd to create sublists of albums like this.
overplayed
Rätt bra! 3/5
Pretty good well written album but not for me.
Some great songs, would be easy to put on and just have on in general, but not always something I'm super drawn to.
Feels like a memoir of domestic abuse. Very good though.
Good album. Better than most of the threes.
I was surprised how many of these songs I knew already. Quite middle of the road musically. Lyrically, it’s good to see someone being political and trying to say something meaningful, but felt a bit hackneyed.
Liked this more than expected. Obviously Fast Car is a great song, but the rest is mostly just OK to me.
Yeh, fine, won’t play it again
it was okay.
Pretty sure I bought this one back in 1988. Tracy Chapman was gonna be HUUUUGGGEEE! So what happened? Nice to re-listen to this after so long.
Memorable
Good one.
确实，声音像是个男的。而且有一首歌旋律很熟悉，哪首来着？懒得找了。 黑人的blue 加摇滚加...反正不咋爱听
Easy listening with some interesting and thought-provoking lyrics. Got a bit tired by the end, even though it is a relatively short album. First two songs are world-class.
очень хороший альбом, музыка прекрасная для того, чтобы начать день!
Grew up with this album playing a lot so nice and nostalgic. Some absolute corkers, some a bit samey. Favourite has to be baby can I hold you.
Solid, would definitely make good remixes that I would like. Notable songs: Fast car, If not now, Behind the wall, Baby can I hold you, and She's got her ticket. 3.5/5 Nice lyrics
Good
I enjoyed a couple of his songs and would definitely listen again. I really enjoyed his voice and the meaning behind the songs but felt that it wasn’t all put together
Great storytelling in this from Chapman. I don’t think I’d come back to this too much, but I enjoyed it
I really liked some songs but kinda mid overall
7/10. The vocals are very nice. I like the album's storytelling. The music feels a little too underwhelming for me, personally.
Simple and pleasant
Yeah like not bad but not much stood out. Good writing but generic instrumentation. https://youtube.com/shorts/x2TkMWWu8Bc?si=bTh4TJ_jEQH581Kq
fast car obviously the big stand out, and whilst the album is lovely to listen to on the surface , the lyrics can be a downer. clearly a great album , but not what i want to hear right now . 3.4
Fast car vibe but more Chill easy listening
Interesting sound, mellow and musical. Good background music.
Easy Listening, great voice, nice guitars.
I've heard a song or two of hers, just not for me or music I would ever put on casually. Great voice
You’ve got a fast car, and an alright country folk album. That’s about all of my thoughts on it. Her voice is soothing. Standouts: Fast Car, Baby Can I Hold You, and If Not Now…
I appreciate the cultural significance of Tracy Chapman but do I enjoy her music? Not really.
ok
If not for “Fast Car”, which was played on radio, I probably never would have known about Tracy Chapman. Anyhow, this is a good album for a debut. I give it three stars.
I wish I had listened to this before reading Mike's review because I would like to know if I would have come up with the same words on my own. Message/lyrics on point, music not 100% my style
A fine album, I think I like the lyrical messages more than the music. It’s good enough, but a little too mellow for me.
Count me in for the "not my thing musically, but the lyrics are poignant" sentiments.
A lot of important topics covered and some great songs, but there is also quite a bit of filler in my eyes. I’ve never really understood the hype.
The vocals fit perfectly into the music. Though this is a pretty Singer album it was a good listen.
Heartbreaking, hopeful, a reminder of how much hasn't changed since the 80s.
Lyrically great, but not necessarily my style of music.
A very powerful album. I really enjoyed the first half and not so much the second half. Fast Car still holds up as an amazing track and also very bold to have a song with just vocals. I really like her style, I just don't know if I would listen to an entire album at once.
Heartfelt and delicate, but has the same issue as many other albums of it’s time in that it’s almost too mellow at points
Aight here’s Tracy Chapman. Third folk record in a row. Talking about Revolution is first. Very based lyrics about the flaws of reaganomics and capitalism. Damn shame the revolution didn’t come. Next is her cover of Luke Comb’s hit Fast Car (I’m kidding obviously, it’s fucking crazy that Luke Combs covered it and now it basically eclipsed the popularity of the original, to the point that people don’t know it’s about lesbians) Good song! Next is Across the Lines. It’s a very sad song about racism and racist violence and segregation and stuff that’s still relevant today. Also it has a nice fretless bass part. Next is Behind the Wall. It’s an acapella song about domestic abuse. Very effective use of just Tracy’s voice and no instruments. Makes it much more effective. Next is Baby Can I Hold You. It’s a pretty ballad about a relationship that’s on the brink of ending due to lack of communication. It has some electric violin and a hint of electric sitar, which is very cool. Next is Mountains O’ Things. Looks like we got some Latin and Tropical vibes in this one. Kinda dated tbh. But it’s alright. Like the percussion in it. Next is She’s Got Her Ticket. It’s basically Fast Car but reggae influenced. Seems like she’s repeating things. Next is Why? More based lyrics about poverty and war and stuff. “Love is hate, war is peace, no is yes, we’re all free”. Lyrics are a bit repetitive tho, but it’s still a good song. Next is For my Lover, another gay song. Even have references to conversion therapy and anti-sodomy laws in it. Pretty decent. Next is If Not Now… Despite sharing the same refrain as the King Gizz song, this isn’t about climate change, but about a fraught relationship, like Baby Can I Hold You. It’s meh. Reminds me of a neutered version of Under Pressure. Finally is For You, a rather sweet love song featuring just her vocals and guitar. Nice way to end the album. Overall this album is alright. 6/10
Good album. Love her.
Once owned this album on CD but tired of it and eventually sold it. I’ve not listened to it since. Listening today was an enjoyable reacquaintance and a reminder why I bought the album. Not enough to think I’d made a mistake getting rid because it isn’t an album I could listen to repeatedly. I know that because during my trawls of cheap charity shop CD’s it is one of those albums you can always more or less guarantee will be for sale and so far I’ve resisted even though it costs only a few pence. Given the number of sales on release this indicates a fair few others followed my example of getting rid. However, this does not detract from the fact that it is a good album and for every person selling the album on there’s probably double that cherishing it. 3/5 9/12/24
I’d say 4 really good tracks on here. The rest aren’t bad just average compared the albums best.
Simple music done very well. Vocals and the messages behind the lyrics really come through. However that’s where the redeeming qualities of this music end
Great lyrics and singing but (besides 1-2 songs) it sadly was too boring for me.
Not bad
first listen didn't do much for me
Obviously very good, especially if you listen to the lyrics, though honestly not really my thing.
Underwhelming, 3.15
3/4
I was deeply in love with this album when it was released. I mean, I had been in love with everything ‘80s that had come before, but at the time, that sound had started to feel bombastic, soulless, like it had run its course musically and emotionally. This felt like the perfect antidote: peaceful, poignant, personal. It’s still that, and the melodies are still beautiful, and “Fast Car” is still a stunner. The world seems to have moved on, though, and the importance doesn’t remain. Hearing it once, now, I had no desire to listen again. I know all of these songs well, and they will always be a part of me, but it’s not a part of myself I visit often. Ironically, while bombastic ‘80s New Wave remains poignantly alive for me, this has faded into the background.
She has a good voice, and there are some really good songs here. But it also goes through periods of being really boring, which is quite an achievement for a short album. I almost want to give it a 2 but that just feels too low for the good bits. So I'm going to risk giving it a 3.
My god this lady must have had a few issues with men in her life. Nothing like keeping it bottled up and putting a jolly front to the world, or not as the case may be. I've got to say my cold heart was touched by her story (ish) and musically it's was very good indeed. As for that Boyzone song, it was a surprise to find out she did it originally and also much better too. A high 3.
High 3s. Fast car is a goat.
Average at best.
could i write poetry to this? n
Not a bad collection of (socially-conscious-Grammy bait) songs. Unfortunately, most of them suffer from the typically smoothed-out Soft Rock production style so popular at the time this album was produced. The remaining tracks are about as raw as a coffee shop musician who just put a capo on the third fret of his guitar in preparation for another go at "Wonderwall." Despite it's dark subject matter, the a cappella song, "Behind the Wall" does not have the same punch as Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz" or even Alanis Morrisette's "Your House". This would be a three-star album, but I'll give it an undeserved half-star for Living Colour's outstanding live version of "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" from 1989. Another half-star is granted because Ms. Chapman is from the great city of Cleveland, Ohio.
I like her voice and lyrics, but musically it's just not my thing.
3.5 Beautiful, just not my jam.
Pleasant enough. Fast car is the the obvious highlight, and the remaining songs are listenable, albeit derivative.
bueno medio repetitiv
Eh, other than Fast Car there wasn't much that I enjoyed here. Fast car is damn good though so this gets 3 stars on that alone.
This album hits one of my sonic sweet spots as far as mixing mastering. It really transports you back to the late 80's/early 90's. I love Tracy's voice and how it shapes the depths of her songs. That said, not all the songs are great, but thankfully there's only a few outliers. The reggae keyboards on "She's Got Her Ticket" rob this lyrically powerful song of its punch in a really awkward way. The next track, "Why" suffers a similar problem of strong lyrics paired with instrumentation that doesn't carry their weight. Despite this little inconsistency, It's still a good album. "Fast Car" still rules.
Meh
Everyone knows the first six words of fast car lol The album itself is ok, some genuine heartfelt music and words in there. Hard for me to personally relate but I appreciate it Also I didn't know she covered the Boyzone song
Chapman desde un inicio siempre supo como tocar los corazones de las personas y comunicar de forma efectiva los problemas de la clase media baja afroamericana. Con una pluma suave pero desgarradora, Chapman nos transporta por paisajes de pobreza y esfuerzo, amor y desamor, humanizando a la comunidad más discriminada de Estados Unidos. La música es excelente, la voz inolvidable y las técnicas de guitarra pegajozas. Un gran esfuerzo y un LP que se gana su lugar en esta lista.
I owned this on CD in the 90’s and loved it. Listening to it in 2024, it doesn’t hit me quite as hard. The album never matches the greatness of its standout song but that isn’t much of a criticism. The rest of the songs are still mostly good and this album is clearly worth hearing.
Meh
Heartfelt and emotional music by a one-of-a kind talent. The mid-tempo light rock feel gets old after a while, but that is probably more a product of 80s production than anything else.
fine i guess
2024-11-01...
I like the album and some songs, but it is in the Lillith Fair group of artists that I never liked in college. Brings back memories. 3/5
I was taken aback when Fast Car came out by how unique and good that song was but never listened to the album. This is a good record. Has a social conscience without being preachy
Do you like catchy songs? If so, then this is the album for you! The songs are country, and are very catchy and I love them. I like the beat, and the instruments. I also love the lyrics. So that is why I recommend this album.
Very powerful lyrics , I feel really sad after listening to all the bad times in the songs - not my favorite but I can see the power and influence in the album
A bit dull
Fast Car is such an incredibly perfect song. The rest of the album is quite good too, though it’s not something I can see putting on often.
Excellent voice. Fast car is great; I ended up tuning out a bit mid-album...
I liked it, even though I’ve listened to some of the songs so many times in my life that I eventually got bored.
Okay, this album was full of surprises for me. All my life, I believed the person who sang Fast Car was a white person. That was until I listened to this album. I found out it was Tracy Chapman who originally sang this song. Even after having realized that I was like, Oh, okay, it’s not a white guy, but a black guy who sings it. And then I got another awakening it was actually a black lady! 1. Fast car 2. Across The Lines 3. Baby Can I Hold You 4. If Not Now 5. Why? 6. Talkin’ Bout A Revolution 7. Mountains O’ Things 8. She’s Got Her Ticket 9. For You 10. For My Lover 11. Behind The Wall
3.5