Reviews (page 7 of 14)
She's so authentic that even when the lyrics veer towards preachy it's still good...addressing issues before they became trendy and (unfortunately) they're still relevant today. Fast Car is an all time classic of course, but For My Lover is a standout track too
Sincere and engaging in a way that some singer-songwriter styles fall short. Dynamic and lively, sometimes mournful and haunting. The generally light touch of the production stops it feeling dated. I think a lot of this would translate really well into live performances. By the end of the album I'd grown suspicious and distrusting because it made my burnt-out husk-brain do some feelings.
Laaaaaaaaavely
A lovely voice and a lovely listen.
A seminal album in the folk-pop revival that emerged in the mid to late 80s with strong melodies and thoughtful lyrics that touch on the full array of topics in the folk tradition - including protest songs. “Fast Car” remains the album’s highlight, but there are others nearly as good. And it all wraps up in a tight package of less than 40 minutes.
Classic
This album is great, and I'm glad she's being rediscovered, but I just got over having "Fast Car" stuck in my head for 30 years so gonna pass on actually listening to it again.
It's held up. A lovely listen.
Fast cars is indeed a good song. I would have never thought to play this and definitely 88 vibes.
Loved it! Wish it was a little bit longer.
44/1001 :: Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 7 Fav Tracks: Fast Car, Behind The Wall, For My Lover Fun Fact: Tracy Chapman went to Wooster High School which is a small arts focused private school in my hometown. I know very little about her time there but I know that shortly after her time there she made this record. Fast Car is such a damn good song and I’ve loved it since the 80s. I had never heard this album before but recently considered buying it because it had been reissued and I know it had been out of print for so long. After hearing it though I’m probably gonna hold on that. Overall, It was an enjoyable listen but TBH I wish the songs were a little more stripped down. There’s a lot of instrumentation on here that feels kinda 80s in a We Are The World or Paul Simon kinda way. I still kinda want to own this but It’ll probably have to be good used copy find than a must have.
Pleasant to listen to and I liked her voice.
Look everyone knows “Fast Car” which is an excellent piece of music with very good lyrics, but outside of that song I was completely unfamiliar with this record. I liked opener “Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution” and “Across The Lines”, I really liked “Baby Can I Hold You”. I wasn’t a fan of the accapella of “Behind The Wall”, and look the whole record sounds 80s but the 80s on “Mountains O’ Things” is not my thing, and I do need to make clear, I have a fairly low tolerance for 80s production, sometimes the songwriting can rise above the production but things that sound really 80s are things I often have issues with and it’s generally specific parts of 80s sounds, if you went and looked at my other reviews you’d 100% see what I mean. Anyway, “Why?” Was really good. I also liked “For My Lover” overall this album was good,
Wonderful, I kept coming back to it. Very enjoyable 4-5
Some sublime moments on this incredible debut. Acoustic rock powered by Chapman's great voice and political lyrics.
Forgot how much i loved this album.
Álbum muito agradável. Gostei! Moondrop May.
Nice
This album cuts deep. She very publicly displays her inner pain, passion, love, fear, and heartache. It's beautiful.
What a way to open a a debut album. Any album really. Taking Bout a Revolution feeling like could have been written 20, 30, 50 years earlier. Simple. Thoughtful. Open. And to follow that with Fast Car. I mean. There's a whole career in those verses. Everything is a wrung below but still riveting. That this album could enchant a dumbass teen like myself - and continues to - speaks volumes. This is what talent looks like - and when it finds the right time and outlet - magic happens.
Good
Vroooom vroom fast car
Great story telling like Dylan except with a beautiful voice to tell those tales.
I know I should like Fast Car, but it makes me want to throw up. Everything else sops up that vomit tho!!!!
I really enjoyed this album, and the songwriting is exemplified when listened as a cohesive body of work. I was so tired of Fast Car covers on X Factor, I felt I never wanted to hear Tracey Chapman again, how wrong I was!
such a beautiful thing
Amazing amazing album, but not quite a 5. A lot of 5 star tracks though.
Powerful record. Fast Car is an all time song, I also love the simplicity of most of these songs especially Behind the Wall. Compact songs that don't overstay their welcome.
i have already heard ts
So excellent
What a great voice she has!
I will keep this short, but it funny that this album follows Sinead who I was pretty harsh on. I didnt dislike it, I just felt she was bringing down the room in every song. I am ok with dark stuff in music, Tracy has plenty, but the music sounds great and you can really get into it. Its all about delivery and the way you present the dark stuff, and Tracy does thks very well, translating her message into teally good music. Favorites are Talking About A Revolution, of course Fast Car, Mountains O Things, Why?, For My Lover, there is really not a bad track on this album.
Wow. Unbelievably moving album. She is so incredible the lyrics and her vocals and songwriting are just so elite. Need to come back to this
This was really good. Need another listen
Really nice. I love her voice. Who doesn't love Fast Car. Four stars
she has a great voice and she writes songs very well. at times the album felt a little bit repetitive but overall it was great.
She's like the daughter of Cat Stevens and Joni Mitchell. Ugh. I have to look away from Fast Car if I don't want to sob at work. So heavy, so solid. PS her wiki article sucks! So dry haha
This was a very good album.
I could listen to this album while hosting a dinner party, taking a good drive, or even just relaxing and reading a book while it plays in the background. Chapman's voice is hypnotic, and these are solid, very listenable songs. Very enjoyable overall.
Give me one reason to stay here...was not on this album.. but fast cars was those were the only two I was familiar with. I don't think I was in quite the headspace to listen to this when I did so I will need to give it another listen sometime soon. Otherwise it was good 90s coffee shop music.
A simple-but-powerful sounding album. Smooth and pleasant to have on. Will have to revisit to actually dig into the songs. Favorite song: Mountains O' Things
Really good album
Yas queen
Great songs and singing
What a talent. Pretty great stuff here, conscientious, melodic, smooth. Not too long, not too short. My only gripe, which isn't a real gripe but is personal taste, and is something I've dinged a lot of albums on, is that it doesn't blow me away. It's good. It's very good. But the mellow tone and simple sound leave me feeling like I want a little more. Shameful 4.
Very good. Such a unique voice. Couple of belters on here and no bad ones
Fantastic album, deserving of it's reputation. Having only heard a couple of songs before, I didn't know what to expect from the rest but there's strong messages to each song and that voice will always histand as one of the best.
banger
De gros classiques, un peu de mou sur certaines musiques qui lui enlève un point mais globalement solide sur ses appuis.
Was expecting to not like this because of the remake of Fast Car, but this album is great!
Wall to wall lesbian anthems right here.
Haven’t heard this whole album before, but obviously familiar with Fast Car. It’s an updated take on the folk/protest music of the 1960s that is melodically interesting with important, largely painful and disturbing, but also hopeful lyrics delivered in a clear, powerful voice. Bob Dylan should take some notes. 4⭐️
Excellent. Easy listening and not too long. 9/10.
Excellent.
Poignant album about race, wealth inequality and the struggles of life that is just as sharp nearly 40 years later. Fast Car hits me every time. One of the best songs ever written?
Songs: Fast Car, Across the Line
Good vibe !
This is a beautiful album. Although I listened to it during the late 80s, it wasn’t until this re-listen that I fully appreciate her simple but powerful lyrics. What an amazingly powerful singer/songwriter, The power is in the simplicity of the writing and the performance.
Clarity of the vocals and guitar was excellent. Voice was strong, great variety in tone and the story telling in a few of the songs was excellent
A legendary debut album that showcases the mysterious rise of Tracy Chapman and her affect on African American singer-songwriting and music in the late 1980s. Who doesn't love Fast Car?
Starts really strong then mellows out, but good throughout.
Such a well produced album.
adri: 9, musicalmente adelantado a su tiempo, un estilo muy guay y personal, me ha gustado mucho la guitarra mar: 7, ideal para el momento (cruzando de francia a españa)
Recently saw the video from Fast Cars in Wembley and it really put her in a whole new light for me. Brilliant.
I was really impressed by the first few tracks on this album-- the intimate singing, the sincere message, the stripped-down production-- but towards the end I found myself getting a bit bored and realizing some of the lyrics weren't as deep as they seemed. "Fast Car" is obviously the pinnacle of this album and is one of the best songs ever written (I wonder if it raises the bar so high that the other songs seem worse than they really are). Without any instrumentation, "Behind the Wall" spotlights Chapman's moving voice. "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" is just as relevant today as in 1988. "Mountains O' Things" is underrated, love the afrobeat under it. But some of the songs just didn't hit as hard. I think "She's Got Her Ticket" was my least favorite, with its distracting reggae beat and too much going on. Some songs kind of border on protest-song cliches and platitudes, e.g. "Why?" and "If Not Now...". Songs like "For My Lover" and "Baby Can I Hold You" felt a bit cheesy and didn't do it for me. I do think this album is an important classic and it feels very timeless, even if it's not entirely my thing. I'm hovering between 3-4 stars and will round up.
The single best singer/songwriter album. No debate. Doesn't get better after this.
Had heard quite a few songs before and was convinced she was a man because of her deep alto voice Was very solid album with chill acoustic guitar, amazing vocals and politically charged lyrics
Wow this is really good. Not really my kind of music but Chapman is an amazing vocalist, the arrangements are interesting and effective and the songwriting is impeccable. The singles are crazy strong but the album tracks are also on par with them.
душевно
kinda depressing
Really good and really sad
This goes against my generally lukewarm feelings on folk because it actually incorporates other creative elements, like the fretless bass (or are they keys?) on Across the Lines and the Runescape ass keyboards on Mountains O' Things. Helps make the album more memorable and gives it personality. I like Tracey Chapman's husky voice, she can fairly belt it out I don't typically pay much attention to lyrics but they're very interesting here, worth giving a mention Highlights: Across the Lines, Mountains O' Things, Fast Car
Not my usual vibe but clearly something great and unique going on.
Soulful, thought provoking, timeless
Better than I thought it would be and definitely worth another listen
Great album and great songwriting. Very moving and definitely the most straighforward social comentary album so far. I would definitely safe this for another listen.
I don't think I've listened to this album since it came out, but damn, is it good. Great songs, great voice. Favorites: Talkin' Bout a Revolution, Across the Lines, Baby Can I Hold You Would I listen to it again: Yes
That voice! This album is very much of its time, but also timeless.
enjoyed it - a few classics and some new tunes
A pretty clean and fun album.
She has things to say, i enjoyed the connection with the music - felt produced but still real
Listens: 2 Standout tracks: For My Lover Ehhh. This album is not really of any interest to me. It's not bad per se, in fact it's not bad at all - its quite good - but it's not particularly exciting. I do not find myself wanting to listen to it again. Most of the tracks sound virtually identical. The album too bare bones. Far too acoustic. If I were to evaluate the tracks individually - if I were to have heard one of the tracks on the radio for example - I would say the certain songs are quite moving. Most of the songs tell a story, Tracy is sending out a message. The songs are passionate and soulful. There are political connotations. There is empathy. There is sadness. There is real life. There's just too much of it concentrated into a single 30-somthing minute package. I give it a 4. It's powerful music. Music I might find subjectively unappealing, but which may be objectively highly relevant in today's society (not to mention 1988).
I’m bad at rating, I’m gonna hate this part of the project. Not only do I change my mind a lot but coming up with a number is really hard for me. However Tracy Chapman’s self titled album was great, the catchy and heartfelt gutair was good to listen to. Her vocals where very folky and original. Unfortunately I wasn’t paying the closest attention to the lyrics, but I understood her critique of materialism and struggles of being a woman. Some of my favorite songs are Why?, Fast Car, and Talkin Bout Revolution. My favorite instrumental was “She’s got her ticket”. Out of 5, I’m pretty lost. I don’t have my complaints for it, if I had to come up with one, maybe it was a bit repetitive. But that’s unfair for me to say considering I could’ve payed much more attention. Phenomenal album, I guess I’ll punch in a four.
Nice acoustic guitar sound, soft sound but political, authentic, raw In the middle theres a slight durchhänger but overall its nice to listen to, nice slow outro More fast/upbeat start . Nice vocal only track
Fast car Baby can I hold you Mountain o things
nice - very laid back singing style
Super good
Decent but I wasn’t blown away. I’ve always loved Tracy’s voice and she does really well on this album with that. Songs topics are political and interesting, but I think the lack of catchiness/melodies let the album down a bit. 7/10
OMMGG SO READYYY die erste paar lieder sind 10/10, mag mich aber nümme so ah die 2. hälfti erinnere ihri stimm iach eifach fantastisch talking bout a revolution gitmer au wieder so es heimeligs gfühl fast car hetmer natürlich gnueg hüfig ghört aber es isch jedeees mal soo herzerwärmend, für mich v.a. wenns schlagzüg nomal richtig innechunnt mitem drivin, drivin across the lines gaht au eifach DIREKT IS HERZ WIE SIE SINGT OMG ich bin so nöd ready für behind the wall😭 würkli han across the lines gad nomal müsse lose, unglaublich guets lied LAST NIGHT I HEARD THE SCREAMING baby can I hold you findi zwar au schön aber ischmer schochli zuu kitschig leider find de beat vo mountain of things so villschichtig she's got her ticket hani jz sooo voll ok gfundr aber nöd meh why isch fast scho depressing mite berechtigte frage wo sie stellt :( if not now isch wieder so schön, ihri tüfe lage sind so fucking schön jaa die zweit hälfti hani würkli weniger packend gfunde, wenn au immerno sehr schön, ellei für die erste 5 lieder muss es 5i geh
This album was a favourite when i was in my teens … listened again and I still love it (but not quite 5 stars)
Not really my style of music, but she has a nice voice. This is a good length for this type of music too, any longer and I think it would have suffered. Low 4.
Great
ery personal. I like the 80s sound of the drums and the reverb used on the voice.
Really enjoy her voice
Simple songs, with great song writing. Sunday album 4/5
4.5/5 Overall excellent with important social justice messages. -0.5 because I found some of the songs too sappy for my taste.
First 2 tracks? 6. The rest? 2.
She’s magic. Fast Car are you kidding me?? Baby Can I Hold You Tonight???
Some truly haunting and beautiful stuff on here. The rest is okay.
Tracy Chapman's voice is simply beautiful. The music wouldn't be what I would normally go for but the pureness of voice elevates it to a higher level.
Great singer songwriter musicianship. Lyrics that are poignant and never corny. Super authentic. Not my speed.
Started off strong with two songs I was very familiar with and absolutely love ! Unfortunately for me, the rest of the album didn’t really live up to expectations based on the first two tracks. Don’t get me wrong it was still good and I still very much enjoyed it. I do feel that there’s a reason why those two songs were the only ones I’d heard from the album! 73/100
Wanted to hear this for a while, so glad to finally have. Its really great, VERY ahead of its time singer-songwriter stuff, I can see how this has influenced SO much of modern pop and I guess Indie music. Vocally amazing, while not always being totally conventional, which I like. The lyrics are great, often very surreal and artsy, but also very deep and political. Instrumentals are fine, very simple. Favourite songs: Talkin' bout a revolution, fast car, across the lines, why?, for my lover, if not now... Overall around 8/10
Favourite: Mountains O’ Things; Why? Rating: 4/5
Fast Car is so affecting and the way the perspective shifts during the song is quietly devastating. I also absolutely love For My Lover.
Loved it
a delight of an album to listen to. this reminds me of 2016 when the jones brothers made that... cover of the song, and finally seeing how much better the original was. Whole album is wonderful, the messages are just so in your face and honestly we need more of these sorta albums to make people realise injustice. esp now with trump (yuck) in power.
What a beautiful way to discuss the highly systematic issues that are so prevalent in society. Discussing the issues of racial discrimination, domestic violence and wealth inequality whilst balancing the album with songs that showcase how brilliant life can be. Society then and society now can’t understand how prevalent these issues are in society. The way that she chose to use the music with such a simplistic but still fascinating way is exactly how these issues are needed to be shown in. However, the people that actually should listen to her properly are the ones that will discredit her something that today would be regarded as “woke”. I’m just glad that people still listen to this to this day, when these issues are no where near being resolved.
FYRE
It’s clear from the jump on Tracy Chapman that the singer wanted to bring to light some serious and heavy issues. Realized this is not a typical “pop” album. I only knew Fast Car and I’ve always liked that song so to dive into the full body of work was interesting. Tracy is very concise with her songs, meaning she says what she needs to and you’re in and out in like three minutes. Three other songs really stood out to me besides Fast Car here; Talkin’ Bout A Revolution, For My Lover, and For You. The rest of the album is good. I was afraid I might have an issue with the recording production and the producer making it too slick and sanitized. But, they allowed Chapman’s earnestness and energy to shine through. At first, I leaned towards giving Tracy Chapman a 3 rating but the back half of the album was strong and swayed me up a point. This is a 4 rating for me. 4/5
More variety than expected. Authentic, heartfelt lyrics.
You tend to forget what a great album this is overall. The attention is obviously given to Fast Car - but Talkin' Bout A Revolution, Baby Can I Hold You, For My Lover are also fantastic songs.
I thoroughly enjoyed this album. The songs are catchy, unique, and I vibe with the message in the lyrics in these songs. I feel like I've heard a few of these before, like the first two songs, but I can't pinpoint where. Overall an enjoyable album and I'd listen to it again.
As fresh as it was in 1988
An absolutely fantastic album, I wish some of the other tracks had as much love as ‘Fast Cars’ does. Highlights for me was ‘For My Lover’, ‘For You’ and ‘Across the Lines’.
Basically a meme at this point but no denying Fast Car is a banger. First track is good too. The rest feels a bit more like spoken word poetry. Light 4.
Being someone who doesn't always pay the most attention to lyrics makes it a bit difficult to really fall in love with a lot of folk albums, for which the lyrics are a big deal. Of course, even *I* know a perfect song when I hear one, and this album starts out with two of them.
I’m glad “Fast Car” made a comeback so that a new generation gets to enjoy Tracy Chapman.
Tracey Chapman was talking about me on my drive back to my apt from work on Fridays when she wrote fast car
One of the most powerful live performance videos I’ve seen is when Tracy Chapman, very early on in her career, had to fill in for Stevie Wonder at a festival in Wembley, and just the total command she had over the thousands of people watching. That’s what this album is: it demands your complete attention for its short runtime and you daren’t even breathe. Beautiful stuff.
Very beautifully composed record and presented very tastefully. It touches on subjects that are important and delivers in a gentle, yet provocative way. This was really nice.
fantastic folk album with introspective lyrics. great debut.
Fast Car is one of the greatest songs ever written in my opinion. It was also very cool that she released it when she did. Honestly, it's cool she released the whole album when she did. I absolutely love Fast Car even though I've heard it so many times over the years. There are a few other tracks on this record that are very good but honestly most of the album doesn't quite grab me.
Shame that it’s as relevant some 30 years on. The voice and guitar sound make it as accessible today as then too. Fantastic sound, not a record I know but going to change that, 4 Star.
Beautiful story telling and voice, just a very good album.
Where there's a Fast Car, there's a magic feeling.
Classic album with 2 really great hits.
Vackert singer - songwriter album. Vacker röst och en gitarr, man behöver int mera
Debut album. Many producers turned her down. Eventually it got done and became one of the biggest selling albums ever. Talkin Bout a Revolution has great lyrics and vocals. The whole album does really. Baby Can I Hold You is beautiful and the classic track Fast Car is just wonderful. Behind the Wall is an acapella song about DV. Why? Is a very good political and social track. Amazing album.
Good soulful messages
What an amazing ability to story tell and really pull at the heart. Very easy listening, which in part is due to Tracy's amazing voice. It gets a little samey at some points but I can't really complain. Love the run time of the album too. Nothing feels forced at all. Will definitely be revisiting this often.
Good album.
I really like Tracy Chapman’s voice.
Mild background blues, used in soundtracks for a reason.
Album is quality from start to finish. Not normally my style but definitely a solid album. At times sounds almost like a 2010-ish indie rock era album, which is impressive for an album from 1988.
First time listening to this all the way thru, being obviously very familiar with Fast Car. The stripped down coffeehouse feel of the album is great, it makes you realize how much Fast Car is doing with really minimal instrumentation.
Talkin' Bout a Revolution - Cute, catchy and I'm a fan of her voice. 8/10 Fast Car - I mean...it's such a main character moment of a song. 10/10 Across the Lines - It was a good song, nothing too remarkable I could pick. 7/10 Beyond the Wall - Kind of a interlude kind of song. I actually like it, acapella style. 9/10 Baby can I hold You - This actually pops off. I know this went fucking hard in the 80s. 10/10 Mountain O' Things - I really like this groove. 10/10 She's got her Ticket - I forgot what i was going to say, but it was a good song. 7/10 Why? - I enjoy this song a lot, has a fun melody. 8/10 For my Lover - I really like this song. Gives me The Highway Man energy. 9/10 If not now... - This gave me very nice feelings, I like the vibe of the song. 9/10 For You - This is a really nice ending to the album. I really like this. 9/10 Overall: 8.72 - A great album. As a debut album it shows off such a strong songwriter and a powerful independence that I'm sure only matures as her artistry progressed.
great selection of music. fast car is fantastic
Fast Car is such a GEM!
Tracy Chapman - S/T A light 4 for me, took a couple of listens for the fairly subtle arrangements to grab me but there’s something undeniable about the songwriting here. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Feels ahead of its time for 1988. Like this would’ve smashed in 2004 just as hard. Trendsetter.. also some somes with no instruments. Her voice is that good. Some interesting songs too. Kinda like Mr morale and big steppers where he really gets creative with a few story telling songs. Honestly really beautiful. Lots of range. Beautiful voice and intstruments. Can really play it front to back and it’ll be well received in most places.
A handful of amazing songs and some meh songs
Zoom zoom
Tracy Chapman’s debut album is a powerful mix of soul, folk, and social commentary. Her alto voice is warm and steady — the kind of voice that instantly pulls you in. I grew up hearing “Fast Car” constantly on the radio, and even though it’s the big hit, the rest of the album proves she’s far from a one-song wonder. “Behind the Wall” is a chilling a cappella track that still gives me goosebumps, and “Why?” keeps that thread of activism going with some biting questions about injustice. There are several really strong songs here, both musically and lyrically. It’s a thoughtful, emotional album that holds up decades later. Favorite song: "Fast Car"
The highs are so insanely high on this. There are a couple of forgettable songs but overall this is an essential album. 4.5/5
talkin' bout a revolution - really good, like the instrumentation on this fast car - know the cover of this song, knew at some point that it was a cover, but had never heard the original... it's great. a little long, but I liked this one. not sure on if I like the cover or this original better, luke combs did a great job at this song, but they are both great! across the lines - great song behind the wall - another great song, I'm sure that these were greatly important when they came out baby can i hold you - another good song, no misses so far mountains o' things - great she's got her ticket - good why - really good, like the instrumental and slightly faster pace of this one for my lover - love this one, great instrumental, great lyrics, great performance (favorite) if not now - definitely heard this before, great song for you - great closing track, great overall song my general thoughts so far are that this is one of those albums that has no skips or bad songs, but still isn't a 10/10 for me personally. There's something about it that while I'm listening to each song, I know that they are good, high quality songs, but there's still something that's not clicking with me personally... a song "give me one reason" from her album New Beginning came on right after this one, and I liked it more than all but maybe one or two from this album, so maybe this one just wasn't for my ears. Again, these songs were all great and its a high quality incredible project, but maybe just not for me. I'd give it probably an 8.5/10
This was really good. I like pretty much the entire album but wasn’t a massive fan of the more generic radio ahh songs like behind the wall but they were still good. Favourites were talking about a revolution, across the lines, why?, mountain of things and she’s got her ticket. Which is quite a lot of highlights which reflects in the rating. Also, the overall messages on these songs were powerful which is why I wasn’t a massive fan on the ones which were more simplified love songs. Overall, 8/10.
Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" is great. "Fast Car" is great. "Behind the Wall" being acapella is... a choice. "Baby Can I Hold You" is great. 4/5
Decent album. Fast Car is a great song.
Singer-songwriter done well, although sort of depressing how true these songs ring almost 40 years later.
dit is zo'n verborgen pareltje... kende dit toevallig door mijn vrouw... zelf meer fan van het hardere genre, maar deze kan mij toch bekoren
Fast Car is great but so are other songs on here as well. Good album.
Really liked this. Especially Baby can I hold you and she's got her ticket. Would mabye make a 5 star after another couple of listens.
This is a beautiful album with a unique sound
This is who wrote fast car?
Pretty solid album, I thought it might be a bit samey but there was enough variety in there to keep things interesting
Wow, more than the car
Decent
3.7
Wow, what a great record. Outside of Fast Car, I don't think I had heard any of these songs before, but this is definitely going in the rotation. 8/10
Fantastic start to finish. Few songs that didn't grip me as much to warrant a 5 but great record!
3 1/2 stars
4* 87%
Love her voice. Fast Cars is one of my favourite songs ever. Liked a lot of songs on this album.
obviously Fast Car is 10/10. the rest of the album very 90s but I liked it! Improves on re-listen as well. Just an immense amount of talent.
I’m always shocked that this came out in the 80s. timeless and very solid all around
Amazing songwriter and voice, and sub phenomenal songs
Very impressive debut, and it opens with possibly the two biggest hits of Tracy Chapman's career. The rest of the album never quite reaches those heights again, so having it be that front-loaded is a bit of a double-edged sword. That said, the rest is fine, just not as good. 'Behind the Wall' being acapella really makes the message stand out Standouts Talkin' Bout a Revolution Fast Car Behind the Wall 4/5
So good. An honest and authentic folk rock album with a distinctive vocal that sticks with you long after it is finished.
Mix of good and not so good songs.
- Behind the Wall broke me. - Had no idea she wrote Baby Can I Hold you - much better version. - Fast Car not the best song on the album (in my opinion)
A really mature album, lyrically and musically. Thought-provoking and powerful lyrics overlayed with tender guitar melodies and incredible vocals. First half of the album is nearly perfect, but the second half does start to taper a bit in quality; it's still good, but not great like the first 5 tracks. Top tracks: Fast Car, Behind the Wall, Baby Can I Hold You
Loved. Icon
I knew that she had written Fast Car, but didn't know her work besides that. I enjoyed her vocals on this album.
This is a great album that I enjoy every time I listen to it! I liked it more when I was younger.
Solid 4.
Yes!!!!! Music!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, her voice is just so good. fav = for my lover
Enjoyed it, political, and great voice
Solid songs straight from the soul. Of course I knew Fast Car very well but not so familiar with the others so I was quite moved by how political this album was, and saddened at how little has changed in 37 years. Fantastic voice, interesting tunes, some nice country/western influences etc. Very good all round. (4.5 stars)
Great tunes great voice
As others have said, unfortunately this brings home that nothing's been fixed since 1988. We had some hope for a bit, but it went badly wrong. However, although painful, I loved hearing it again. I'm glad the production is simple, mainly just a bit of bass and percussion; it's just enough to enhance the beautiful songs and their hard-hitting lyrics. Really good album. The last track is simple, poignant and beautiful. May this resonate and inspire.
Only knew the first two tracks, but this album is cohesive, soothing and poetic. 8/10 Fave: fast car or for my lover
Songwriting expertise mixed with a vocal rawness (ala Joni Mitchell). Read a description of both musicians stating "they represent the Power of music without spectacle." And I think that sums up this album perfectly. You're drawn to the lyrics, like a thirsty cat to milk. Of course, FAST CAR and TALKIN' BOUT A REVOLUTION are timeless, but other highlights were the quick paced WHY? and MOUNTAINS O'THINGS.
Rounding up to a 4. Enjoyed it more than a 3 but a lot of it is almost a bit too musically understated for my taste. Talking About a Revolution and Fast Car slap of course
8/10
She sells every song with raw emotion. It especially stands out in its era. Rock was dominated by hair and glam, pop was focused on big, bright ballads, and this stands out as a more intimate and directly emotional experience. I'm not trying to criticize fun here, but I'm always down for a shakeup. Whether it works or not, I respect the effort. Her lyricism and musical style really sells the emotion behind her work, and gives an important weight to small, intimate moments. Her explicitly political songs are disappointingly edgeless, with "Talkin Bout A Revolution" vaguely gesturing toward change, or "Why" listing talking points so rapidly that they don't have time to sink in. Most of the good political songs need to have a specific point, like Fortunate Son calling out the hypocrisy of the rich and politically connected, or Ohio narrowing in on one specific incident to highlight a broader issue, or Fight the Power focusing on multiple broad issues to focus on the people targeted. "Talkin Bout A Revolution" fails as a call to action because it doesn't really have a call to action, it's saying it's already started, you don't have to do anything. "Why" fails as a protest song in the same way that "We Didn't Start the Fire" does, it's more useful in a history classroom than a protest line.
Okay, so. Wether you like the lyrics or not (and I don't really love them) the voice and the melodies are out of this world. The music behind the voice is really not all that amazing though. Everything has to come from Chapman herself, and while she does a lot, parts of this album still falls a bit flatterende.
Great songwriter, great voice!
fast car might be the best song ever made. the rest is really damn great too
I would never have listened to this album except for this project. It’s actually beautiful and sad - she is a storyteller and it’s all about working class struggles - and I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Banat’s a dick
Amazingly talented, her voice, her message and the music just work so well together. A little top heavy in terms of hit songs, but overall a really good album. 4/5 Will listen again
83% Best: Fast Car; Baby Can I Hold You; Mountains O' Things; Why?; For My Lover Must-Hear? Sure
Tonight for our main course we have some easy listening that's not so easy if you're listening. I don't vibe with the production style of late 80s folk very often; and yes, if you're not paying attention, you will only hear the kind of stale, safe vibe this album gives off. But the lyrics tell a much different story. There's a reason Fast Car remains a cultural titan of a song after almost 40 years. It's a devastating slice of life that rings true to too many individuals. And the rest of the socially-driven songs here aren't just fluff to eat up the runtime. This is a 5 star album that will get 4 stars from me because I'm an asshole.
Great album, reminds me of childhood and my mom!
This record sounds amazing but none of the songs hold up to “Fast Car”
Really solid and a great recording.
I like Tracy's voice Ive heard it before but its been years and was nice to revisit it. Revolution song speaks volumes and Fast car is a classic. Most songs are great nice easy listen and chilled out vibe with an acoustic feel.
There was a window of time between late 80s hair metal and early 90s grunge when this album worked. Beautiful
Pretty soft and nice music.
Was good!
4/5 holy shit, Fast Car incredibile
She has an amazing voice but didn't feel anything super new in the album
Amazing voice
Great voice. Never got credit, and acknowledgment that she deserved. Some great songs. It’s an honor when others sing your songs, and takes them to number one.
Hated Fast Car when I was 16. At 53 I’m upset with my younger self for not realizing how beautiful this album is.
I never really pay attention to lyrics but it's really hard to overlook the masterful storytelling and poignancy of every track in this album. These are the kind of lyrics that make you wanna drop whatever you're doing just to make sure you're hearing every word.
The album starts with Talking about a revolution and Fast car, which is a great strong start. I like the other tracks too, so I'll give it 4/5
Astounding.
What a voice album is great.
A lovely Wednesday listen. Have never listened to this album all the way through but god Tracey is good, and such a trailblazer. Fast Car obviously god tier but I also really enjoyed Why? and Baby can I hold you.
Lovely album
Iconic! Endlich mal eine Frau, eine Gute!
a beautiful album that fights against the injustices of the world
This was a really challenging record for me, as I had never heard anything from this record beyond "Fast Cars". I expected Chapman's lyrics to be more autobiographical, but surprisingly, Chapman is more of an observer.
SO I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE DRIVING, DRIVING IN YOUR CAR SPEED SO FAST IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRUNK CITY LIGHTS LAY OUT BEFORE US AND YOUR ARM FELT NICE WRAPPED 'ROUND MY SHOULDER AND I-I HAD A FEELING THAT I BELONGED I-I HAD A FEELING I COULD BE SOMEONE (Heard it before. Wonderful album. 4/5)
Chapman’s discography was (allegedly) never better than her debut, a claim I’ve yet to verify myself. But some go further to say that even within her debut, nothing could match Fast Car. And yes, it’s the standout on the record, and certainly my favourite if I had to choose. But this album isn’t just a mish-mash of supporting tracks, it’s a genuine heartfelt compendium of songwriting. Opening with the subtle call-to-arms of Talkin’ Bout a Revolution, and of course followed up by the stratospheric strumming of Fast Car, such subsequent tracks as Behind the Wall, a no-nonsense near-spoken word track taking domestic abuse head-on, Mountains O’ Things, the other track above 4 minutes, and For My Lover, with the second-best chorus on the record, are not to be dismissed.
9/10 Favorite Tracks: All of them Least favorite: None
Tracy's voice is everything. And "Fast Car" is somehow even better than I remembered, which is saying something since I hear it on the radio pretty constantly.
Okay, other than the fact that I don't like the song Fast Car (and I hate that cover which is constantly on the radio) i quitr liked this album. Tracy Chapman has a great voice, which is nicely complimented by slightly ascetic guitar sounds. Definitely my favourite song is the opening track - Talkin' 'bout a revolution. Rest of the record holds a quite high standard, so very enjoyable 36 minutes (minus Fast Car).
Ja die stem, fantastisch he. Goed album, maar geen vijf sterren ofzo. Fast Car blijft een banger en Baby Can I Hold You is ook echt een underrated nummer. 3.8
really good
Never has an album been more deserving of the renewed recognition this one is getting.
Depressing but good
I have no idea why every Boomer Dad was so into this record. It’s kind of insane, when you think about it. Like, a bunch of white cishet middle managers in the suburbs were vibing to a black lesbian’s folk songs about revolution? Crazy!!! The ‘80s were fucking crazy!! Anyway, Tracy Chapman’s self-titled is still a very good debut album. I think the first 4 tracks justify its inclusion alone, and justify a strong rating. After that, it does start to wobble a little bit, as the synths on “Baby Can I Hold You” and vocal choices on “Mountains o’ Things” both feel very of their time. I think the back half has some strong cuts, particularly “Why?,” but it never reaches the heights of “Talkin’ ‘bout a Revolution,” let alone “Fast Car.” That doesn’t mean anything here is bad– actually, all of it is great– but I think Tracy Chapman’s debut is a bit overhyped in popular memory, especially since her critical reevaluation over the last 2ish years. To me, people today in 2024 and people back in the day in 1988 may have been overly kind to this record. When I first heard it in the early 2000s while picking through my Dad’s CD collection, the consensus was that it’s an incredibly strong album with high high peaks and no valleys, but a few plateaus, and that sentiment aligns more with my own feelings about this record. Tracy Chapman deserves flowers, for sure, and this album is still good, but not as good as the hype suggests. That said, if it had one more track like “Give Me One Reason” from later in her career, I think I’d be singing a very different tune.
Absolute classic.
Chapman’s break out album - several hits
Soulful great album
8/10 such a good song writer. I like stripped down folk music and Tracy does it well. 1-15-2025
I have this album! (#2!) And I still like it just as much as I did when I got it*. After Luke Combs's's cover of 'Fast Car', I feel Tracy & this album are having a (small) renaissance, which is nice. The lyrics certainly still apply, which is not nice. *When I first heard Fast Car on the radio, before my Internet era, it was one of those ":o I must learn what this is" songs (and luckily it wasn't too hard to find out because my parents knew what it was when I asked about it). She had such a unique voice compared to the other songs I was hearing on pop radio. It did take me a while to appreciate the non-Fast Car songs, since they're a lot more acapella (which I found boring at the time), but I got there eventually. Highlights: 'Fast Car' (duh), 'Baby Can I Hold You', 'Why?', 'If Not Now...'
Very nice indeed. Very sad also. I know this reasonably well, but it's never a chore to listen to well written, melodic, melancholy songs.
Great one, sounded familiar to me, Ed Sheeran has kinda similar style
A soft and easygoing album with an extremely strong message throughout. The less is more and acoustic approach is done phenomenal and perfectly fits the concept pf the record. I liked how the emphasis was on the vocals and the lyricism of the album making it all the more powerful. Near the end there was, for me, a slight dip in quality, but nevertheless the complete picture is rather excellent. Favorite song: across the lines. Overall score: 7.4_10
An impressive debut album. Her writing and voice are fully-formed, assured, and vulnerable. Honest and timely.
Very enjoyable album, "Fast Car" is a classic but the entire album is great and you can really feel her personal emotion in the songs
i enjoyed the album. i already loved and knew fast car, but listening to the album’s entirety really served me well. Tracy’s got a beautiful knack for storytelling, and her warm voice really lends to that. Tracy does what music is built for; sharing a story, giving feeling.
Great and revolutionary
Beautiful! So soulful and emotional. Tracy has a very distinct voice and her music will live forever
This was a beautiful as well as an incredibly sad album.
The lyrics are good and the main focus. The instrumentals are simple, which can make the lyrics more pronounced but sometimes leave something to be desired
Really really good. I could do without hearing fast car ever again, but the rest is really strong Mountains o things- superb
I’m always up for Tracy.
definició de tia moderna/tia guai raw vocals omg em puc obsessionar fort jo vull seguir la revolució si la dirigeix tracy chapman final rodó
I remember when this record came out. It was a bit of a revelation, a glimpse of a different sort of life led by someone who was on the same planet as the rest of us. Really excellent songwriting. I'm tempted to give it five stars, but not everything can be five stars.
'Talkin' about a revolution', 'Fast car' and 'Baby can I hold you' all on one album. Solid.
It was pretty good. Not my usual type of music but it ended up being very good. I love Fast Car and Baby Can I Hold You. I really enjoyed how everything progressed in the album through each track from start to finish. Pretty solid album!
Love her voice. 4/5
This album is nice and sounds great. The themes it touches on are powerful. I went in having only heard Fast Car and it’s still a great song. Overall this album wasn’t for me but can I still say it’s a good album, just probably not one I’d listen to again.
I’m so sad now.
Some truly exceptional songs and some filler.
Absolutely beautiful. Raw emotion.
Timeless album. Very strong lyrically. She explores some very deep topics in American culture, which are still relevant today almost 40 years later.
fast car still one of my top tier songs
It‘s pretty gospel‘ish within the structural iteration/repetition of some very strong lyrics.
So sad, so angry, so beautiful
Familiar as ever. That gated reverb tho, amirite.
Nice
I was in a fast car once
Interessant album! Groot deel is protestnummers a la What's Going on? Maar qua muziek pakt ze inspiratie uit traditionele pop, folk en zelfs wat Afrikaanse invloeden op bijvoorbeeld Mountains o things. Het helpt dat ik Tracy Chapman niet goed ken buiten de grote hit om, maar dit is als eerste kennismaking een zeer prettige. Nummers gaan richting het einde wel iets te veel op elkaar lijken en het is in elk geval duidelijk dat de sterkste nummers op het begin zitten. Die conclusie maakt het een heel erg prettig album, maar niet een 5 sterren dit is perfect album. Geen schande, alsnog een lekker album! FAVO: Talkin bout a revolution, Fast Car, Baby can I hold you, Why?, For my lover, For you
It was good. I liked it. After hearing it 1000 times, though, I have to say "Fast Car" is still the highlight of the album.
For me, this is the best of its genre of its time. Beautiful vocals and arrangements.
I was a bit reluctant to review this album as my dog had died today. That meant I wasn't in the mood to listen at all. "Fast Car" is a banger and always will be. Some other songs were great as well. Better than a few other albums I reviewed in the last few days. 4 stars for "Self Titled".
Tracy Chapman is clearly a very good artist. Some really good songs on here with strong messages. However, I don’t see myself listening to this pretty much ever.
Not my first listen, won’t be my last. Obviously it starts with two certified hits but for a short album it’s really solid. Doesn’t feel preachy when she talks about revolution or reform and you really feel the experiences that have shaped her are genuine. Tracy Chapman is the type of person others pretend to be.
Tracy Chapman is silky smooth. This album reminded me a lot of the Norah Jones album. I recognized one song, but I let the rest just take me on a journey. The acoustic guitar in this is beautiful as well. Her voice just pairs with it so well. Easy four stars for me
Really enjoyed this album. Her songwriting is very interesting and distinct. It’s super cool, like the lyrics and the actual composition of the songs are not over produced or bogged down in symbolism. It’s simple yet powerful. She’s very “to the point” which allows for an engaging listen (as evident in the song Behind the wall). And Jesus fast car. What a freakin powerful heartbreaking song. The light nature of the acoustic guitar makes you feel that it’s going to be a happy ending but then she hits you with the final verse “see more of your friends then you do your kids” and you see the vicious circle of growing up around alcoholism. I know this song is everywhere now but something that I feel needs to be specifically pointed out and praised that people can take for granted is the songwriting ability to make the most memorable part of the song (the eye-ee-eye of the chorus) a completely original way to just say the word “I”. Top tier songwriting.
Really great. Her songwriting and voice really shine through. Another thing that I think this album does really well is the production aspect when it comes to the singer-songwriter genre. She has a lot of unique accompaniment in the album, but it feels natural and fits in extremely well with the minimalist style. It is very crisp and timeless, despite being unique. Fast Car is such an amazing song. I’m not sure if it’s the right interpretation of it, but I imagine it as a child singing it to an adult. In the way they address an impossible problem with a seemingly simple solution. It is heartbreakingly sweet and earnest. It fills you with hope while also recognizing the beauty and sometimes futility in that hope.
There are very few artists that have been and will be on the list that have a singing voice that I enjoy listening to more than Tracy Chapman. Combine that with the composition and the social commentary in the lyrics and it’s really something special. Not quite a five, but a strong four.
This was a tough one to come into because I felt obligated to give it a high score especially with the recent resurgence in "Fast Car". I'm glad to say that I really enjoyed it! Chapman has an awesome voice and is tackling some seriously deep subject matter with racism, unjust responsibilities, and domestic abuse. This is why I love debut albums like this because they come from real world experiences and a place of relatability, unlike later albums once an artist is successful. I'm not going to say this album is perfect. It trails off a bit on the back half, but it's short enough that this isn't really an issue. This is another album that would be a 9/10 if we were on that scale.
Awesome.
Sad that she kinda disappeared only to resurface when a Country cover of Fast Car was so very successful. She has a lovely voice. I get her and Joan Armstrading confused although Tracy is 10 years later, discographically
gran disco, y qué tema "baby can i hold you", por dios
Up there for the best cover of that Luke combs song
What a surprise. Excellent. Great voice, intelligent lyrics. Catchy tunes. Sound quality very good. Nicely mastered. 4/5.
7,09
4 - the first half of this was especially great, got a lot of songs where I said “oh this is where this is from”
I did not realise just how good this album was the first 2 times I listened to it. Chapman has a golden voice, and the songwriting is superb. Really really want to give this a 5, but there are quite a handful of songs that have the instrumentation too busy to truly enjoy fully. Chapman's voice begs to be front and center, this would have easily been a 5 star acoustic album, or just a more subdued instrumentation
It is a good piece of work, very evocative of a time for me. Some great songs. Overall a little too background music at times but stands up well.
What a great album. Having only heard the singles this is a revelation.
I’m in awe with the amount of care that Chapman puts into her songwriting as she tackles such difficult topics with grace and makes it look effortless. Favourite tracks: Fast Car, For My Lover
the only good thing luke combs ever did for music was get people listening to tracy chapman again. i had never listened to the full album but really enjoyed it
Really good stuff overall, very prescient
This album was Good. Its lyrics, while simple, were pretty good. They went good with the music and overall makes it a pretty good album. I recommend this album.
have you ever heard a song and thought it reminds me of something like to friends hanging out in a movie and think its good also I feel that what talking bout a revolution made me think of it and I started liking it because of how the instruments are and the singer I think this song was good and recommend listening to it
Incredibile album
LOVE IT
Fantastic voice, some great songs but a little repetitive
Has to be the greatest busker --> superstar story of all-time?
Most songs are a little slow for me - but Fast Car is an all-time greatest hit.
Many albums on this list have one song that is truly remarkable, and then others that don't come close to it; almost like that one song is so important to music as a whole that the album that it exists upon must be included here. I've hopped back and forth about whether or not this is one of those albums, because "Fast Car" is really a legendary piece of music that needs representation on this list for the song alone. That this album has "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" and "Baby Can I Hold You" on it as well is a big help in dispelling that idea. "Fast Car" is such an amazing piece of music; one of those songs that you could go your whole life and never find someone who dislikes it. The melancholic guitar parts, the poetic lyrics, the emotive vocal performance; it has so many elements that make it truly incredible and timeless. I also find it to be ahead of it's time. This album came out 4 months into 1988 but it is so inherently 90's. The soft singer-songwriter acoustic storytelling style has been around for decades (millennia if we are going back to some baroque bards?) but it is really so antagonistic to the 80's, and the sound is so impressive for this 24 year old to accomplish. I'm not entirely smitten with the rest of the album and in fact I'm re-writing my review here because I was going to slap a "5/5" on it but after re-listening to a lot of the "other" tracks, I'm kind of left wanting more. It definitely tries to do more, like "For My Lover" has a cool country twang to it, "Baby Can I Hold You" utilizes a sitar in a really tasteful manner, "For You" ends the album on a really strong vocal performance where she shows off her range and agility. But these other ones are really kind of really just that- "other ones", and after a day of listening to them I sat down and looked at the list and thought "how does that one go?" for too many of them. It's still going to get a really strong score, just not as top-tier as I initially thought. 4.2/5
Great story behind this album
Great folk, the deep lyricism that touches social justice as well as personal emotion, and Tracy’s vocal delivery that is touching when it needs to be and powerful when it needs to be.
Classic
Pretty good. Behind the wall is creepy and sad
This was great! Never listened to the whole thing before and certainly would again!
Great album. Well written songs. Some diversity in musicianship too. Lyrically brilliant.
4.5
This was great. I like Tracy Chapman a lot. 4/5
Tracy Chapman & Cat Stevens - so far the only artists to survive the Boyzone Test. 4.2