Reviews (page 13 of 14)
Really big fan of the sound. Certainly a product of its time and I could dare the same exact album being released today since you do see the same themes in music today.
Great
Fast cars is great. Nice mellodies
Yeah, not really my cup of tea.
Very earnest singer songwritery from the 80s. Great voice and songs full of protest. Fast Car is great and there a couple of other good songs...there is alas some filler. None of her albums after this debut really made any impact. 3
Some bangers some filler. Amazing voice, more political lyrics than I remember, still relevant 35 years on!
Favourite song: Mountains o Things
pretty good, not my style though
3.5 I recognized the album cover to this one but knew little else beyond that, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn it’s a strong folk album with socially and politically conscious lyrics that rival even Bob Dylan. In fact, I think the lyrics are really what drive this album, and although dark and depressing at times, they’re always an ashamedly honest reflection of society… and sadly the subject matter still holds up just as much in 2022 as it did in 1988. There were a few lyrics I wanted to highlight here, including verses touching on racial assault in Across the Lines and police ineptitude in Behind the Wall, but instead I’ll urge anyone listening to follow along with the lyrics if possible - your experience will benefit greatly from it. The back half of the album isn’t quite as strong as the first, but overall it’s a well-paced album with a message more powerful than the musical backdrop. To be honest, I don't find most of the songs overly interesting musically, and I likely would have rated the album lower if not for the aforementioned themes, but I really feel like those are what cement this as an important listen, and I’m glad it’s on this list. Favorite songs: Talkin’ Bout a Revolution, Fast Car, Behind the Wall
I thought it was okay, there's no question about the emotion and storytelling in Chapman's lyrics. However, I just couldn't really pay attention. Maybe I was in the wrong mood to truly appreciate it, but I just found it very boring, and that's coming from someone who usually loves folk music. There were a couple of songs that caught my attention, and Fast Car is a classic, but I also come from the generation that probably knows the Jonas Blue cover better, so maybe that's half the reason this didn't properly click with me. Favourite: Mountains O' Things
Pretty solid, enjoyed his music for the most part
Solid tracks, some cohesiveness missing in the overall project. Had not listened to this before and I think it deserves another listen on a later day
S'écoute très bien, mais je m'attendais à plus
Nice 80s album, but of nostalgia
Really nice album but mostly average except for a few tracks that really encapsulate and communicate some really complex emotions. Worth just listening to the singles but not necessarily the whole album.
4/11, 36%
I’ve loved Talking Bout a Revolution and it was great listening to the rest of this!
En oo koskaan päässyt tähän sisälle vaikka oon koittanut kuunnella useempaan otteeseen. Silti en huonoksi väittäisi! 3/5
Fast Car on tosi kova ja hyviä sanoituksia muutenkin. Musiikillisesti vähän sellaista, että menee toisesta korvasta ulos.
Just a beautifully sung album honestly. It gets a little repetitive for me, but that's about the only thing I can point out. Favorite track: Mountains O'Things
Hon har ju en väldigt speciell röst.
I really like folk, and the good tracks on this album really stand out as some essential folk songs, Talkin' Bout a Revolution and For My Lover. However, the rest of the album falls short of greatness for me 7/10
Another chill ass album. Fast car is good but i dont know about 600 million streams good - there were better songs on here. Behind the wall was super cool and that got me invested in the rest of the record. The 2nd half of this album has some great songs. I'm gonna have to relisten to this one 6/10
Oh sí, éste es un buen disco de esa época. Definitivamente merece un puesto aquí.
Talkin bout a revolutioion, Fast Car - Classic, melancholic, amazing vocals, mellow instrumental, rock edge Why - underrated, anthem, progressive For My Lover - sweet. mellow, nice vocals Revolutionary, original, introspective, mellow but with an edge, overall decent album with a very catchy vibe, feels like a single song so not much diversity
Una voz muy angelical para canciones con buen ritmo y con un estilo de pop muy agradable de escuchar. Un poco del montón, pero se puede escuchar
I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for this album today, but this one didn't really strike me all that much. Chapman is a gifted songwriter and has a beautiful voice, and I like the social messaging of music with more personal songs mixed in. I think perhaps the issue is that her musical style is a bit stripped down for me. Many of the songs are just her and a guitar, and I like a bit more accompaniment than that. I think there's a lot that's good to this album, but I was also bored pretty fast. 3/5
This album is good overall but a bit uneven. Fast Cars is a genuinely great song some of the others not so much. I do like her voice and style and she can make a clear point. 3.5 stars.
I'm really not a huge fan of her voice, sadly.
Some songs that I've heard but never knew the artist. I think a lot of these songs I've heard too often to really evaluate, but they aren't bad. Some of the instrumentation is a bit dated to me, and takes away from chapman's voice. 3 stars
So poignant and off it’s time
alr
Tracy Chapman is a powerful voice, both melodically and lyrically. This album vividly depicts a desperate slice of life with a passion and a clarity that you can't easily ignore or shake.
Deep
Two female singer songwriters' debut albums from 1988 in a row for me. Weird! I like the class and social consciousness of this album, and Tracy's voice is great. The arrangements are pretty unremarkable, though. I could tell you *nothing* about the melodies of any of these. I am glad artists like Tracy exist. I don't think I'll be listening to this again, though.
Folksy guitar + vocals. Fast car song.
I like Tracy Chapman well enough. A talented singer/songwriter. A great album for a long drive when you can take the time to appreciate the lyrics more contemplatively.
Fast Car! Love that Dire Straits guitar on She's Got Her Ticket. Mountains O' Things probably sounded more unique when reggaeton wasn't such a prominent pop genre.
Simple and powerful but also somewhat pallid and simplistic. And the material seems awfully angry and protest-y to be sung so calmly. One wonders how it became such a big hit, and remembers just how it might have happened and also feeling somewhat hopeful about someone like TC becoming such a star out of the blue (the editors of the book help explain the big break). The voice is very distinctive and "Fast Car" reads almost like a nursery rhyme for working-class adults. There are a few other solid tracks that one had forgotten and the overall authenticity can't be denied, though it's accurately described as naive.
Some great songs, amongst a few I wasn't a fan of, I've heard her music before, but wouldn't have been able to put a name to the song, I'll explore some of her other work. 3.5
cool ig, it's not my cuppa tea
Tracy Chapman was a good singer and in this album the two firts songs are the best.
Fast Car i Talking About Revolution su <3. Why? I For You su također dobre stvari. Međutim ostale baš ne osjećam, dosadnjikave su, jest da je tu poruka al nije mi to nekad uopće važno.
A fairly strong record, one that has a few too many "okay" songs for me to consider it great, but maybe upon a relisten I would think more highly of this. 3.5/5
Seems like it's my late 80s week! I remember 1988 when this album came out and it was in all record shops bins, featuring prominently. I also remember enjoying Talking 'Bout A Revolution when it came up on the music video clip channel (which I watched obsessively) but not enough to bother with the album itself. All in all, it's a pretty album, well played, nice sounding, slick production, and overall a pleasant listening. Some songs are more interesting, especially the more romantic numbers in my opinion (Baby I Can Hold You, For My Lover). But Fah fuck sake! Is it boring! Reviews say that this is the album that brought back protest music to the 80s audiences, but in 1988 I was still happy to listen to The Clash. That hasn't changed much, besides the fact that I have added, Public Enemy, Asian Dub Foundation, and Rage Against The Machine to my socially aware, politically charged arsenal, along with some other less known acts. Sorry, Tracy, you haven't made it to that section of my record collection. So next. Just an average album that doesn't subtract but doesn't add anything either.
I think it has some good songs that are very well written but idk man, it’s just kinda boring for me.
Great lyrics, great voice. Ultimately not my thing though. Fast Car is timeless obviously. Behind the Wall sadly still totally relevant. Baby Can I Hold You utterly tarnished in my mind by the ubiquitous Ronan Keating bloody version.
Political
not really my type of music, but i didn’t hate it!
Very pleasant album, with one of my favourite songs (fast car). A bit too literal in places for my taste, but overall sounds great.
Grumpy jumper
Sounds like women inventing being a lesbian. Acoustic 90’s women protest music.
Never heard this one all the way through. Great voice!
Nice sound, not what I was expecting a few songs I'll definitely keep listening to but I don't think I'm gonna have the album on repeat
Fast Car is a great song. There's some other good ones here and some that did nothing for me. It's not something I'd want to hear a lot of but it certainly isn't bad by any means.
Important album on the back of the hype of Live Aid.
Textes engagés comme je les aime, compositions simples et efficaces. Touchant.
soft rock is a good description she also wrote fast car which is cool 3.5
A pretty good album. This song has a couple timeless hits on it that helps elevate it. Some of the other songs are either political or slightly depressing. Definitely a deeper, darker album overall. Even fast car is pretty sad but it’s a good song. Overall it’s enjoyable. 6.8/10
Some very nice songs here, but a few weird tracks which drag it down to just ok.
This is an impressive debut album from Ms Chapman. Her song-writing and lyrics are impassioned and she pours her heart out, especially for the two singles which are the best songs on the album. The rest of the album wasn't up to the same standard, but overall it is a strong effort.
Strum
I was not familiar of Tracy Chapman by name. When I was listening to the first half of album, I was thinking that she sounded like a mid-90s artist. Turns out I was thinking that she sounded just like herself because she sings Give Me One Reason. That song is not on the album, but some of the album has a 90s feel to it. It definitely does not have a 80s sound. The album itself is alright. It is relatively short and I didn't skip any of the songs. I don't think the album warrants another listen. It is not quite a 3, but I will round up.
Decent album, but not really in my wheel house. 3/5
Tracy sure can craft a song.
According to Wikipedia, sandwiched between Breakfast In America and the Flashdance soundtrack in the best-selling albums of all time. Fairly astonishing that it sold that many copies on the back of a hit song. Does anything like that still happen these days?
Really good album, I love her voice and her story telling.
Couple of solid songs but otherwise I’d say just uneventful easy listening
Nice
some very good songs here
6/10 really nice vocal performance, but the songwriting was a little too on the nose and the instrumentals were decent but nothing special.
Favorite Track - Fast Car Where I was - Office How I listened - Amazon music on BT Speaker Listen Again? - Likely
This record starts out so strong but kind of slouches into standard sounding singer/songwriter adult contempo. That said, Chapman has a great voice and solid music skills.
I get why she is loved, but not for me.
If someone said "Fast Car" is the greatest single of the 1980s, I'd not disagree.
Chappers is fine, nice in places, maybe some historical resonance has been lost on me but absolutely acceptable listening that I probably won't ever revisit.
Ahhh, a big ol' 'OH this is who sings that song' moment for 'Fast Car'. Really nice album, relaxing, album.
I enjoyed this, very easy listen, smooth voice and whenever I happened to catch a bit of the lyrics I enjoyed those too. Solid 3.5/5, but rounding down as I'm not blown away by anything and I do require a bit more of a bop for a 4
Very good ballads. Good voice and story telling. (6/10) FT: Fast Car, Talkin' 'bout a Revolution
Average, nothing really stuck out to me. I'm not really going to remember this album.
Some really moving songs. And lyrically very engaging.
Interesting artist who had real authenticity, musicianship, and songwriting chops, but whose success came at direct cost to her ability to retain what made her so unique. This album has some great stuff, but is generally pretty heavy and sad. Some of the rather half hearted attempts at "African" and "Jamaican" sounds seems like they were someone else's idea.
Calm, relaxing, nice voice. Good album overall.
I knew Fast Car and liked it. She's got a good voice and good lyrics, but this is a heavy record for a cold Friday. Not sure how to place it.
It's okay, but not my jam.
Not huglely my cup of tea, but respect the talent. Fast cars remains as much of a banger as always
It’s a shame I found much of the music to either have dated production or a bit lackluster arrangement, because Tracy has such a compelling voice. And, even more than that, the biggest strength of this album is easily the lyrics. She touches on social issues in such relatable, character-driven ways that really make an impact. If you are a lyrics-driven listener this will be amazing, but ultimately lyrics are just something that don’t draw me as much as the music itself does, and that lowers the album a lot for my personal enjoyment. I’m giving it a 3, even if I think the album “objectively” deserves higher.
I had heard fast car before and honestly wasn’t a fan of it mainly because I heard it in places like target or Starbucks which made the song seem not genuine however listening to the song with the album put everything into context. Chapman is a great story teller and her writing goes from nostalgic to hopeful to almost haunting especially when she goes acapella. I definitely appreciate the artist and fast car now more than I did previously and I’m interested in hearing more
I really can't believe this album is 34 years old. It's not my absolute favorite, but I do appreciate it.
Like it
Nice but not my speed
This album has a very easy to listen to sound, but the words are so sad. I need to listen a few times to get the meaning.
Don't think it's aged very well, verging on tacky. Fast Car has always made me cringe a bit. Huge Mark Knopfler guitar sounds on She's Got Her Ticket.
wasn't crazy on talking 'bout a revolution, fast car was a bop, immediately like across the lines, not a fan of behind the wall, baby can i hold you was nice and i really liked it, love the drums in mountain o' things, she's got her ticket was a bit too reggae for me, why? was very upbeat and i liked it, for my lover had a nice story and country feel to it but i really enjoyed it, if not now was nice but probably not memorable, for you was a nice end to the album. overall I genuinely enjoyed the album, but thought maybe it went on a bit long. I mostly enjoyed the upbeat songs, some were memorable while others not so much.
6/10
Enjoying most of this.
Well, she's definitely doing something
Interesting album. I've always kind of liked Tracy Chapman's voice, and the tunes I'd heard on the radio were musically pretty simple but lyrically compelling. The album has a little more variety in style, even getting some reggae in there, but is mainly folk on the edge of pop at times. I would revisit this album, but leave it at 3 stars for today.
Nice.
Fast car is obviously a classic track, but the rest of album seems to fit into the "filler" category with totally uninspiring backing music, and none of the pacing of the vocals that makes fast car so interesting. "Why?" might be somewhat of a outlier, but generally this album didn't live up to expectations.
I've never really liked her but it was ok
Este si lo conocía. Es otro de los que quemaron las radios antes del grunge y en cierta forma permitió la llegada de estos. Cierta música folk, indie que permitió llegar a cosas diferentes. Tiene más grandes canciones de las que recordaba:"Talkin'Bout the revolution", "Fast car" o "Baby can I hold You". Lo volveré a escuchar.
truth
fena degil ama tum sarkilar birbirine cok benziyo
There are definitely some excellent songs in this album, but at the same time there are too many fillers. What is undeniable, though, are the qualities of Chapman's voice and singing.
Sparse instrumentation. Protest songs, but nothing has really changed. The pieces here are well done, but not something I am going to come back to again and again. You can only hear “Fast Car” so many times.
This was a good album but I really can't go past that which is why I gave it 3 stars. Favorite tracks: Fast Car, Mountain of things, She's got her ticket
There's plenty to like about this album, but the biggest problem is the similarity of too many of the songs. That said, she has an outstanding voice and powerful lyrics. Fast Car is the most well-known song and it's definitely a great track. There are a few tracks that are "different" from the overall folk/adult contemporary sound (e.g., Mountain O' Things - I really enjoyed the vocal tune and the drums in that song - and She's Got Her Ticket - straight forward reggae but at least different than the rest). The a capella Behind the Wall is certainly powerful...it's sad that my thought was that the lyrics were predictable. They shouldn't be. So, good album, but too much same-same. I don't mind hearing it, but I wouldn't rush to hear it again and that's why I give it a 3.
Fast Car is possibly one of the best songs ever written but I found this album disappointing in the main, sounds a little dated in 2025.
Very pretty and sad.
Truly lovely, and not our thing.
not for me
sounds good, not my style
For my lover is really good
Basée. Évidemment talkin’ bout a révolution. Moutains o’ things est chouette + for my lover. Je dirais que ça manque quand même de conscience politique, de consistante du discours ? Du coup on reste au niveau de la constatation de choses qui ne vont pas, sans aller beaucoup plus loin. Ça manque du côté révolutionnaire justement. Musicalement aussi, tout en trouvant ça assez poignant, ça ne me passionne pas au point de vouloir rejouer l’album.
Chapman has a voice made for this kind of smokey, deep folk music. The kind of music that really means something. It's impactful and you can tell Chapman has poured her heart and soul into a debut to ensure it was something that could resonate with listeners. I can respect that through and through. Obviously the first two songs "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" and "Fast Car" are big songs, but other tracks on here like "Behind the Wall" stand out for their full showcasing of Chapman's voice (also helps with pacing). "For You" is a smooth closer that allows for greater reflection on the album. The biggest thing holding back this album is that the other songs not mentioned end up being a sort of wash, lending itself to album filler which is a shame because it clocks in at under 40 minutes. Not a whole lot to this album and I wish that the other songs had a bit more to them. Not sure how but it would be tremendous if that aspect was improved. Otherwise, it's a fine album.
Nice songs
She has a great voice! I can't say I love the type of music she makes, but I still enjoyed listening to it.
Pretty decent. Remember it from when it came out but haven't listened to any of these songs apart from the singles since.
Good recording. Not really my jam.
Fast Car was the most popular song on this album. The rest is alright. Easy listening. 6/10.
2 great songs and a pile of sad ones
Good record, fantastic artist. Back half pleasant to listen to but forgettable.
a few iconic songs. high 3 / low 4
It wasn’t really my style of music, but she had a captivating voice and I thought the themes of the songs were scarily close to today.
This album is good (and she has an awesome voice), but admittedly, not one that I love as much as a lot of people. Maybe I’ve heard fast car too much. Maybe it’s just not my tempo. 7/10
Fun fact: when I was younger I thought Tracy was a man with a women’s name. Like Tracy Porter or Tracy Morgan. Not a big fan of Tracy’s music but the nostalgic vibes I get her voice have long since secured her a place in my heart. You can tell alot of her songs came from obvious pain and hard aches she was experiencing in her personal life, but also in the world. It’s really sad to listen to someone crying out about very specific issues that plague our world today, when you consider the lyrics were written 30 years ago! Fast Car for the win all day no contest. If Not Now (then when?) first runner up... and also a fitting question and theme song for the group! Keanu4prez ✌🏼
Track 01 - Very very Tasty Organ, twangy clean guitar, pinch harmonics, Drum mixing spacey tape delay. Vocal front centre. lyrical also well written 7/10 Track 02 - Lovely acoustic guitar sound and riff intro, again lyrical really great. Hopefully but also despite story feel very honest. 9/10 Track 03 - Almost Fleetwood intro, yum synth 80s pad, Lyrics political and rascal driven. 6/10 Track 04 - opening vocal again lovely and sad lyrical. Heavy subject. Track 05 - Break up song? Cheesy synth, cheesy lyrics ... lost track, most the songs are very similar in terms of lyrics and instrumental, which isn't a bad thing but there is enough variety. 6/10 all in all solid album but not enough to wanting more.
I appreciate some Tracy Chapman songs but overall bored by the album.
Overall a very nice calming and comforting album. Some of the lyrics are absolutely phenomenal. But not really my style of music, but I really enjoyed listening to it :)
WOAH "Fast Car" hit me in the nostalgia hard, I was like "omg what is this, I know this", super good. Like Jon said it's so honest/naked that it's kind of shocking especially at the time, this was a bit before singer/songwriter was so common. This performance on YT of her playing it for one of the first times just with acoustic guitar at Wembly is so cool, shes nervous and it adds to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teZsA_ci-7E If the rest of the songs matched "Fast Car" this could be a 4-5 from me, not something I'd listen to all the time but I can respect it. But, the rest of the songs do nothing for me, which is a shame. Still I can respect it.
A few big hits and some really nicely written songs. Solid production but I'd probably just chuck on the classics
like van morrison. easy listening.
@@@. Cool singer-songwriter acoustic stuff.
Better than the previous albums. Some good songs in there
It was fine. This albums sound felt like the forerunner for all of the acoustic based music of the 90’s except it was genuine. However, Fast Car is a desert island song.
Lovely voice,simple yet elegant instrumentals.lyricism about sexism and racism in america.Cool folk/soul album
Not my thing
Something new but don't like that much.
Ok but nothing special
Singer/songwriter, affekt, fortællinger, fast car
Several of the songs fell flat for me. Best track: Fast Car
Was a little disappointed given fast car. Had high expectations and overall a bit much for me but still not bad
1988. Key Songs: Talkin' Bout a Revolution, Fast Car
2.5
jajja es el wey de la canción para probar audifonos
Meh. Very political and it doesn't land for me because Its not universal.
Undeniably a classic, but it's not something I'd reach for
It must have been quite rare for a black artist to make this sort of music during this time. The main appeal of this album is sure its lyrics and subject matter, but I don't care how compelling her rags to riches story is, or how noble her cause, the music is mostly boring. I sympathize with most of the messages. I liked the congas and mallet-like textures on "Mountains O' Things." 2 stars
For the longest time, I was thoroughly repulsed by music from the 80s. All of it. The wet drums, the cheesy synths, the overly sentimental vocals. Not welcome in my ears. It felt totally at odds with the mix of classic and alternative rock I was raised on. I’ve been trying to remedy this unfortunate situation, and now enjoy stuff like The Smiths and The Cure, new wave bands like Talking Heads, Blondie, and Duran Duran, even Bowie’s 80s output. But there are still many that just don’t click for me — Genesis & its offshoots, Tears for Fears, U2. Don’t get me started on hair metal. Tracy Chapman falls in this latter category. I recognize the artistry here, and her voice is singular and compelling. Not sure what to say but that it’s not for me. To the arbiters of good music, I’m Sorry.
this is an interesting album, but i feel it has TOO much pop appeal; it's on the verge of greatness, but it sounds so sanitized and washed down, with a very corporate feel, and honestly, i'm not really a fan at all of this 'tender' shaky style of singing she tends to frequently use in this album. many tracks here are also just very overplayed. i have heard many different versions of "fast car" a total of about 500 times, and it's really not my preferred type of song to be listening to for that long. there are still some good songs here that aren't overplayed, but there are a few that i completely can not enjoy due to how much i'd heard them before; every song here just gets a little more grating to me each listen i put in.
It wasn’t bad at all but I also didn’t download any of the songs so.. 2. For my lover was good. Just not for me
😐
I understand why this album is considered revolutionary — especially for its time. It brought socially conscious folk music back into the mainstream with real power. But for me, it’s just a normal, decent album. Not bad, but nothing special either. While listening I quickly got tired of how repetitive it feels. Tracy sings almost every song in the exact same tone, with the same rhythm and the same level of enthusiasm. Her voice is consistent throughout, which is nice, but after a few tracks it becomes hard to tell when one song ends and the next one starts. They all kind of blend into one long, similar-sounding experience. The political and social themes are strong and important, no doubt. But sometimes it feels more like a dramatic novel set to music rather than an actual varied album. I respect the messaging a lot, but as pure music, it didn’t do much for me. It’s a solid debut with a clear voice and purpose, but the lack of variety holds it back for me.
One of these stars is for fast car, this album offered me nothing else
Die Klassiker taugen, der Rest ist langweilig.
It's fine.
It kinda overplays the “protagonist in the midst of a depressing situation with a faint glimmer of hope” theme with every track. It’s most effective with fast car, then it just keeps beating that drum with poor 90’s production.
very okay album. a specific vibe that without fast car would be a 1
Where are the dynamics on this album? Tracy's vocals at time sound sincere, by the end of the album having that same delivery on each record, you find it hard to stay with the emotions she is trying to portray through her lyrics. Everything almost sounds too in place as well, so clean ye flat. struggled to make it to the end of this one.
A few songs were okay, but this was mostly meh
Slower than i like, but he has a pretty voice
Μιεχ. Λίγο παρόμοια και σχετικά απαρατήρητα κομμάτια
This album was played constantly by an ex that I have some very bad memories of. Sorry Tracy that you are the one that must suffer for this.
Not my thing
its ok but some of the songs i dont want to listen to in the future
Oh dear. Protest songs. I hope she has given away All the money she has made to the people she is singing about. That would be nice wouldn't it?
Didn’t really love the songs, and personally, the voice is really killing me
1988. Discovered by a fellow student whose dad owned a successful publishing company. She refused but he eventually promoted her recordings to radio stations. Got turned down by a bunch of record labels, until she signed a contract with Elektra Records.
ok not wow
It's fine, I really don't get why she's on here twice
Pass
not my thing, once again
I understand why people like this album but it's just not my thing. It's just not musically interesting to me and I find her voice and singing style kind of boring.
Otro exitosisimo disco que sono hasta el artasgo .Nunca me detuve ni un segundo a "escucharlo".Hasta hoy .Mi barrera idiomatica es un problema para valorar una obra que no esta en mi lengua y cuando el estilo de las canciones no me generar curiosidad ,pasa esto .Dejo que se me escapen hermosisimas obras con mensajes poderosisimos.(esto va ser copiar y pegar en muchos álbumes de esta lista por lo que veo) es una oportunidad de revisar mi mundo musical y agregar canciones revalorisadas de una forma que no hubiese sido posible de no ser por este juego.
i feel especially bad about this rating because i respect this album a lot but it's just not music i find myself enjoying listening. i'm sorry fave track: if not now...
I knew Fast Car going into this (who didn't?) and on the way out, I know Fast Car is all this album really has going for it. It's a good song; putting it in the context of the album doesn't make it better. Or worse, I guess. 2/5 then.
Eg har et spesielt hat til den ene sangen på dette albumet kjent som fast car eller noe i den dur og har derfor ikke hørt hele albumet
Bit dull
Heart breaking. Don't know if this is a throw on in the background type album
I've heard so many "political" albums in my life, nearly all of them by punk bands. Nothing wrong with that, but they're clearly preaching to the already converted. No normie is ever going to hear your message if you're screeching it over loud guitars which sound like cats are running up and down the strings. Which is why folk is a better medium for political messaging. At least you're not putting off normies with horrible noises. Tracy Chapman was huge for a couple of years. Her messages of hope may have cut through and converted a few people to the side of the angels, which is why she was important. Good job, Tracy! Having said that, I found this a little bit too "coffee table folk" for my tastes.
It makes sense this popped off in the 80s but I have never been a fan of Fast Car and overall I don’t really enjoy Tracy Chapman’s voice. I felt like this was kind of boring…
Pleasant enough but her voice does grate on me after a while.
I didn’t listen to the full thing but Tracy was boring me
I remember "Revolution" playing everywhere, all the time in the late 80s and early 90s. I used to love that song, and I still do, so I was kind of excited to hear the rest of the album. Unfortunately most of the other songs don't work that well for me. I really have nothing bad to say about this album or Tracy Chapman. She really has a voice, and she's really good at what she does. It's a beautiful album, but it's just too folksy for me ; I've never been a lyrics-oriented listener, so the "lone singer with basic instrumentation" configuration tends to bore me quickly, no matter how good they are. I can enjoy a handful of songs, but a whole album of this is just too much for me. A nice effort, but too far removed from the kind of music I love. 4/10
I can't stand Tracy Chapman.
I can understand why this record is on the list. Nonetheless, it's just boring to me.
Generic black lesbian whatever. Not interested
the album is simple and that is not a problem but to simple it must be well made and it is not but it is still okay on its genre which i am not a enjoyer nut kinda mid ngl
One good tune...the rest mediocre
Never liked 'Fast Car' and didn't like the recent remake. Thought it was a boring song and also feel that much of the album is boring. Couple of listenable songs, but it's just not for me. Sorry - also apologies to my wife (not a secretary) for not liking this, but you knew that already. I'll give it a 2.25
Not a big Tracy Chapman fan - liked one of her songs and that was it.
Just meh. To all those who say “but the voice, but the lyrics”, hear me out: there’s nothing particularly interesting about her voice, and there’s nothing particularly interesting about the lyrics (maybe for Americans there is, all that socio-riot themes, but not for me; also, rhyming “America” with “America” is ridiculous). And even you guys agree that the music here is nothing to write home about. So, voice - ok, nothing impressive, lyrics - nah, music - nah, so what’s in it then?
not my fav, pero me gusta que habla de cosas que le impactan. me sorprendio enterarme que era/es mujer!! me gusta su voz. no lo acabe al 100
It wasn't for me then, it isn't for me now. As I get older though, Fast Car still remains one of the most human pieces of art I've seen.
Bien, no me voló la cabeza pero esta bien a secas
Cara, bem difícil de escutar. O começo foi muito repetitivo, parece música aleatória de rádio. Só diferenciou na Mountains O'Things, que teve de fundo uma percussão diferente, parece a OST de rei leão.
This takes me back to cold mornings staring out the foggy bus window wishing I was anywhere but on my way to school. I hated it in 1988 and I hate it now. 2/5
no es mi estilo pero estuvo bueno
Very nostalgic album. I appreciate Tracys songwriting with the messages of social & political injustices. But im not a huge fan of the monotone singing song after song. I can only handle like 2 songs.
I don't know man, I guess it's fine. Seems like there are probably some meaningful lyrics and there's certainly sthg to be said for the minimalist aesthetic. But I just have no patience for it. Not right now anyway. Time & place I suppose. My watch says it ain't that time tho & looking around I can confirm this ain't the place. NEXT!
2 stars
not for me
Boring and pretty mid the entire time. Nothing special but not absolutely terrible
not my cup of tea , but i respect the artistry. 2/5
never gotten warm with tracy chapman :/ (vinyl)
Uh-oh. I’ve heard maybe two Tracy Chapman songs in my life. One I dug and one I didn’t. I wasn’t really a fan of her voice, but I wasn’t enthused about Everything But the Girl, and now I’m president of the Ohio County Chapter of their fan club. , Track 1 is Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution, which was the second single off the album. So far we’re off to a bad start. This song has that Hootie & the Blowfish type of soft rock sound that was huge in the 90s. Plus, I got sucked into the blow of the Fish and listened to their first album so much that I ended up hating it. This song has the organ playing softly in the background with the acoustic guitars. Talking about a revolution goes down easier when it sounds like Rage Against the Machine to me. But, otherwise, it’s a fairly standard 90s pop song. Track 2 is the big one, Fast Car. The song was a worldwide hit, but never reached #1 in the U.S., which seems unbelievable, as the song was everywhere in 1988. It got to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. I never really cared for the song. Let’s see if time can heal my ears. Again, it has that 90s Hootie production and sound. The tune also sounds like another popular song from the 90s, but for the life of me, I can’t place it. I thought it was She Talks To Angels by the Black Crowes, but it’s not. I can see why it had a comeback as a country song in the last year because it sounds like a country song. Though today it might be too country for country radio as it doesn’t have any club beats, rapping, or talk about drinking, screwing, and driving big trucks. Have I ever talked about how much I hate today’s country music? I know, I’m old. Track 3 is Across the Lines, and this one has a more R.E.M. feel to it, as I think there’s a mandolin added into the mix. Oooh, the bass in this sounds really good. I might like this one. Wow, this song is very powerful. It’s about segregation during Chapman’s childhood and the riots that broke out across the country during the 60s, and all the way up until today. I liked this song. Track 4 is Behind the Wall, and it’s barely two minutes long. Another powerful song about domestic abuse and how the children are witnesses to the fighting, if not part of it themselves. When the police arrive, if they even show up, they can’t do anything about domestic abuse, at least in Chapman's childhood. The song is just Chpaman singing with no music. Just a great, real, and raw song. Wow. Track 5 is called "Baby Can I Hold You," and it’s about being in a relationship with someone who finds it hard to open up and say they’re sorry, or "I love you." It’s a sad song as Chapman explains they can show their love through their actions if they can’t say the words. I’m getting past the music and more into the lyrics. As I’ve said before, I’m a groove or riff guy, so lyrics are always secondary to me. With folk, though, it’s almost all about the lyrics and message of the song. Chapman is very good at putting her emotions into words. Baby Can I Hold You was the third single from the album, and, for my money, it was the best of the three. Track 6 is Mountains O’ Things and I love this song. The music has a bit of an island beat. It sounds different from the other songs. The song appears to be about someone who dreams of being rich, but the wealth has to come to them rather than them working for it. Dreams are just dreams until you put some sweat equity into them. The song is satirical and great. It just shows that a song written 40 years ago can still shine a light on today’s society. Track 7 is She’s Got Her Ticket and it still has a bit of an island beat, but Chapman, who also plays all guitars on the album, is really showing her chops on the electric guitar. This sounds like it could have been one of those later bad Eric Clapton pop songs that became huge for some crazy reason. Which is a shot at Clapton and not Chapman. Track 8 is called "Why?" and it’s a song asking why there are bad things in the world, like violence, hunger, and greed. “Love is hate, War is peace, No is yes, We’re all free." "But somebody's gonna have to answer The time is coming soon When the blind remove their blinders And the speechless speak the truth.” It’s a good song, though it seems there have been thousands of songs written in the same vein. It’s nothing new to talk about the injustice in the world and how those perpetrators of the injustice will get theirs in the end, yet many don’t, at least in this life. This album is starting to bum me out. Well, that was depressing. The songs were either about her love life being crappy or the world going to hell in a handbasket. What’s more depressing is that the social things she sang about on this album haven’t gotten much better since 1988. It’s so dumb that as humans we’ve been evolving for over 2,000 years, yet when it comes to our fellow man, we’re still just monkeys ready to bash our neighbors with a stick to steal their bananas. I can see the historicness of this album putting it on the 1,001 Albums list, but I’d put it at slot number 1,001 for its bleakness. It’s funny, because once the album was finished, YouTube Music just randomly started playing Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight, a song about revenge, or about watching a man drown to death, as some would have you believe. It’s more uplifting than most of what was on this album. If you like folk rock and music about fighting the power or societal issues, then this album is for you. Otherwise, protect your mental health and listen to some AC/DC.
Can't stand Fast Car, and that's probably objectively the best song on the album. Nice voice at times, but just found it boring.
tråkigt
Racial and cultural victim mentality expressed in song.
Gets old fast but some songs are great
Tracy er sikkert flink hun altså, men det her er ikke mitt tempo i det hele tatt.
Minimalistisk overproduksjon som minner meg om overprodusert singer/songwriters fra 2000-tallet. Tror det er derfor det låter litt slapt for meg
Okej album, ali ništa posebno. Dijelovi kul, dijelovi dosadni. 2/5, 3/10
Ta bien
Nice enough listen, even with some 80isms, but held back by poor, obvious writing and self-seriousness
Not bad, a bit samey for my liking. Production is non existent but works for the music. Fast car is great of course.
She has a great voice, but overall its not kind of music i like, folk and Singer-songwriter music its good if sometimes i listen 1-2 songs, not entire album - especially with such serious subject matter in songs. 5/10
before listening: Fast Car dropped when I was a high-school punk rocker, so no great memories there. I don't think I've heard any of the other songs and my tastes have shifted greatly, might end up liking some of the other songs... after listening: Nope. It sounds like Fast Car with 10 b-sides. Not unlistenable but just doesn't hook me at all.
I'm not keen on this album. Singer songwriter types are not my go to. Plus I worked in a record store when this came out so I have been saturated by it. My main problem is not even Tracy's fault. While I understand why people sing protest songs, I don't understand why a whole bunch of listeners can coo over how amazing they think this is and unironically vote the opposite politically. Must be because they are the scum of the earth. So an extra point for Tracy for making me angry and -1000 points to a whole bunch of you. You know who you are and you don't even care.
Generično i maltene svaka pesma zvuči na prošlu, ali nije toliko loše, lagano je
Fine singer-songwriter, but the tone of her voice annoys me and I don't particularly enjoy her music or lyrics. Sorry Tray!
Yeah, she has a nice voice and not everything has to be overcomplicated. Simple is sometimes an easier way to express yourself and she does express strong feelings. But I don’t know, it’s just not something I enjoy. I wouldn’t be able to listen to any of the songs on their own, let alone the whole album again. It wasn’t an outright terrible experience, so it’s not a 1-star, but it wasn’t a truly enjoyable experience either. The melodies are too similar, like I’m not sure when one song ends and another starts. It’s not the worst, but it’s far from good as well.
Not for me
Well produced bland instantly forgeable durge.
Too musically dated (1988) for me to enjoy, and although I like the sentiments of a lot of these songs, but I find them too all direct, with some exceptions, like Fast Car. But something like Why? is all surface-level, you can't fail to pick up on what it's saying. What it's saying is important, but there's more to a good song than that. Also, as I write in January 2026, her songs like Talkin' Bout A Revolution are tragically optimistic. Will there ever be a revolution? Workers of the world unite, please, we can't go on like this.
i’m not crazy about this one, it’s just not really my thing. some songs are good and i’ve saved a few, fast car obviously is nostalgic, behind the wall, she’s got her ticket and mountains o’ things. i quite liked that last one it was my favourite, but i don’t have too much to say. quite samey songs, but his voice is nice and behind the wall was quite different being voice alone. 5/10 for me, nice album!
Disco acústico, tiene buenos clásicos románticos de tractores chapman, es un buen disco, regular, con muy buenas melodías pero tal vez un poco plano. A pesar de ser un buen disco, no es mi estilo de música favorito. Si tuviera una colección de discos, probablemente no me lo compraría y no sé si volveré a escucharlo Canciones favorita: baby can i hold you
I hate the song Fast Car!! I hated it before Luke Combs did it, but since he did I hate it a million times more. Every time I’d hear the first few notes of the song on the radio, I’d immediately turn it off. I had to listen to it today. Ugh! I don’t like Tracy Chapman’s voice. I know her songs tell good stories and have meaning, but I can’t get past her voice.
Não faz o meu tipo musical.mas a voz da cantora e muito boa não posso negar.
I came into this listen with a bias due to the fact that I absolutely detest the song "Fast Car". I always thought that the main tune was a rip-off of John Cougar's "Jack & Diane." The album wasn't bad any more than dry white toast is bad. However......her voice, to me, is annoying. The songwriting is monotonous to where every song and vocal performance sounds the same on every single track.
Somehow I like this record less with every listen, even though it has great songs
Was carried by fast car, not a fan
One of the most boring albums I've ever listened to, which is a shame, because she is a good singer and fine guitar player, but the songs are boring, thin and samey. 2/5
Not for me. Not awful though.
Just not my thing. I obviously agree with the message of this record, but as far as the musical aspects go, I like her voice, but that’s pretty much it. It’s too minimal, too slow and melancholic for my taste. I enjoyed a couple of songs (Talkin’ Bout a Revolution, Fast Car, Why?), but overall this albums was still quite underwhelming. 5/10
I'm not into this at all. It's so boring, and it really drags despite being just 36 minutes. At best it's 'vaguely nice'.
Didn’t like it when it came out because of the same paced songs and her style of vocal. Listening to it now, I still struggle with those two things, but Baby Can I Hold You Tonight is a good song.
Sounds nice, but like Black Sabbath, not my type of music and not going to be revisiting this one again. Songs added to playlist: Fast Car, obviously
Not something I typically listen to. Not horrible. I’d probably give it a 2.5 stars.
Not for me even fast car is just too repetitive and long for me to like the song, I need a little more variety
It was good!! I mean, it wasn’t my favorite (not the biggest country fan), but still good!! 💗💗
I do not like this type of music at all idk
I have previously listened to "Fast Car" and loved it, so I'm really excited to listen to the rest of the album. After having listened to the album, I can definitely say "Fast Car" is my favourite song. I must admit I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Maybe that's because I thought it was all going to be similar to the only song I knew: mostly acoustic, so it was pretty disappointing. Not to say it was bad, just not my cup of tea. It would be a 2.5/5 for me.
Fan of the hits, not the whole album though
This is a 1.5, but didn’t have the heart to give it a 1. It’s the annoying protest singer that got a major record deal. And she would be a talented vocalist, but she wavers so much. Sounds like they recorded her singing while on an overpowered massage chair.
Han mi selte so schlecht gfühlt wenn ich für es Album e schlechti Bewertig geh han aber isch mer eifach s melancholisch und z emotional das ganze - i'm sorry. zwei träne zum vergüsse hani aber no
I found this album very boring.
I understand that people liked this as an alternative to the kind of music that was popular in the 80's, but I like the 80's. My favourite track was Baby Can I Hold You and I really liked Mountain O' Things and Why?. I've never really felt anything towards Fast car. 2 Stars.
Lyricially talented, but straight forward without much depth beyond the surface level. Not something I would listen to on the regular.
It's pretty plain folk, imo.
What an overrated album. The vocals are one note and the instrumentals are painfully uninspired. You can’t slap on a “politically charged” sticker and claim the album is a masterpiece. Even if the songwriting is great to you, take the album for what it is: bland.
One hit wonder
Na
There is nothing interesting going on here melodically, vocally, rhythmically, harmonically, or sonically. Pretty much everything having to do with sound or music on this record lacks anything to hang on to. I mean look at the album art! Even the album art is boring! She looks bored as hell posing for this picture! Pretty much every song sounds the same- partially because of the production, partially because Tracy seems to only have one gear vocally. Everything kinda blurs together. Ps- the “Secretary Rock” review guy is insane but he’s also wrong. These songs are not inoffensive at all. Musically yes- but lyrically absolutely not. Anyways. I hated it. TWO STARS
This is a very good album if lyrics are important to you. I see the vocals and lyrics as an instrument and don't really pay attention to what they're saying unless it's something truly inane. Musically it's a very good album, I just don't tend to listen to singer/songwriter stuff
I feel like I'm supposed to like Tracy Chapman because I've heard so many talk about how unquestionably great and important her music is and one time i played a comedy show and the guy who went up after me was like "give it up for Tracy Chapman everybody" and like 4 people including me laughed. But i don't I just feel like her melodies and chord progressions are so boring and static and there's no dynamics it's like the music wasn't written so much as noodled around with and then called good enough. I was too bored to pay much attention to the lyrics but i guess they're about important stuff but subject matter isn't good enough. Why? was one that was musically interesting enough for me to tune into the words and then it was like this mess don't even rhyme! Plus i feel like if you wanna do 28 barely musical songs about economic struggle, inequality, and corruption in America why not just write essays instead? These songs didn't need to be songs in my opinion. But that's just standard me hating the 80s i guess.
Hello, my name is Matt and I think Fast Car is annoying. I think it insists upon itself. I think Tracy Chapman voice is annoying. I don’t think the lyrics are that good. I feel nothing when I listen to it. There’s dozens of us! I considered passing on this entirely but I want to listen to it all the way through just to be justified when I give it one star. I’m starting now, and we will see if I change my mind. This album has a lot to say about stuff. I respect the hell out of it for the messaging here especially for 1988. This kind of social commentary in the Regan era is bad ass. Why? Really does have some great stuff here. For My Lover is a really good song. The best part of this album is when Spotify auto played Give Me One Reason after it ended. I can honestly say I did not enjoy this album. But I do respect it.
Ended where I started with Tracy on this. It’s fine! Don’t love it, don’t hate it.
Am I the only person who was confused on the gender of this singer based on their voice when I was younger? My younger brother (who has a very questionable history with music) was obsessed with 'Fast Car' when I was a teenager. So, as a result, I've never enjoyed it (and I think new pop song that uses it sucks too!). So, no nostalgia goggles for me. Yep, she can sing. There's a few catchy songs in there. But overall it's pretty bloody bland. I did like the acapella number, but not enough to bring up review on this. It's a product of its time. She's got a strong social/political undercurrent that I respect, and it makes me feel something on one listen. So, nice one there, Tracy. But, still. It's boring. 2 stars.
Boring!
The original Ed Sheeran
Meh, forgot about it already. 2.3
One of those instances where I can completely see the value in what an artist is trying to do/say lyrically but ultimately just don’t like the music. Maybe if it had been made in a different decade and not produced with the clear intent of shifting millions of units there would have been a different, more sonically interesting album.
Fast Car is one of my least favourite songs of all time. Genuinely hate it. The rest of the album was boring (if Boyzone is covering it, it is pretty bland) but I could appreciate some of the lyrical intentions.
It’s a shame that this plays it so safe as I genuinely do like Chapman’s voice. The melodies and instrumentation are so MOR though, as if they are contrived to be middle class dinner party songs.
Boy, I really don't fuck with this kind of folk music at all. A 2nd star because Fast Car has a Dylanesque "if somebody with a decent voice and an electric guitar covered this it might go, actually" vibe to it.
Ihan ok tbh
I understand why this is important, but it's not for me.
Think I had this on CD, nice folky songs
He’s got a really nice voice and I can dig some of the song writing but god damn did this one just feel like listening to the same song over and over again.
Some songs are good, most are very monotonous. I think it's more about the message, which is still relevant almost 30 years later. Favorite song: Mountains o' things
An exceptionally uninteresting listen, other than many of the themes. 2/5
It wasn't really something I woukd listen to. It sounded very 90s.
Tracy Chapman's got a real unique voice, that i really like, but this album could have benefitted of bit rougher production compared to this quite basic 80's soundscape.
This genre makes me really bored. After 4 tracks I was ready to give up. I didn't make it to the end eventually. This is not bad but still boring.
I don't know ... I can see why a lot might like it. For me personally it's a earache.
Meh
ну фолк, что с него взять. В целом не худший образец. Не, кал
A lot of hits on this album, really good songs with music that stick in your mind
Lyrics are deep and depressive af. Good messages but the music is so fucking depressing I never want to listen to the album ever again.
Personally not my type of music, but nice lyrics and songwriting
Fast car is legit. The rest of the album this dumbass is complaining about the police. Groundbreaking
tried this like 5 times in my life, absolutely can’t get into it
Yo this would rule if it didn’t sound like Kohl’s. (Good hooks / songwriting but holy shit this sounds like it was recorded directly to Casio keyboard demo mode)
A lot better than I remember. Perhaps I've mellowed in my old age,
Middle of the road, like a fast car. I find "behind the wall" boring.
I like that it did not follow the norms of what was popular back in the late 80s, but I dont see why it should be an album that someone must hear before they die. Fast Car? Yes indeed, but the whole project nah.
4/10
Not my genre
Critically acclaimed. Much loved. So, it's me, not you, I just don't care for it, or her. Sorry. 2
Strong voice and story telling. One great song, some average, some derivative
Just not for me
Oh Man did this album Chap my ass growing up. Mom almost melted the CD with how much play it got...please stop! After this listen however, I don't despise it as much. "Fast Car" is actually not that bad and the rest of the record is pretty nice. Nice little jungly scene and pipes on "Mountains O' Things." I can't believe this was released in '88. Always thought it was a late 90's album. Ahead of it's time which now boosts my overall rating. I'm not doing a full 180 over here but I'll give Tracy some credit. At the budding age of 14 this would've got a 0.0 from me. At 43, it's getting 2.15 stars. Damn...I am getting old😒
Clever. Well crafted. Eloquent and perceptive. Dull.
This is very much not my sort of thing. Fast Car remains a jam, but for me this sort of washes over me like a lot of other socks-and-sandals folk records.
Ultimately these ratings reflect on my personal response to these albums, I'm not grading on an objective/historic basis. So while Tracy Chapman has a beautiful emotive voice and I empathize with these stories and politics... I just can't get into this album. Just don't connect with it and was glad for the relatively short run time. Standouts: Fast Car
I liked "Why?", interesting lyrics. And I have previously listened to "Fast Car" and "Baby Can I Hold You." Both are good songs and I like the acoustic style.
fast cars is pretty brilliant and i hate to be a jerk but really this record is a bit on the nose
top songs: fast car really cool album just not sure if i would ever listen to it again