Reviews (page 11 of 14)
"Father and Son" is a new favorite for me. This album goes a little bit harder than I expected it to. Some of the production can be jarring in a way I didnt expect from a folk album of this era. Good vibes though.
Very good!
I vividly remember this album cover while thumbing through my dad's LP's when I was 6-7 yrs old. It appealed to a kid. Classic voice, the man could sing the phonebook. This album includes radio staples you still hear today like "Where Do The Children Play?", "Hard Headed Woman", the huge hit "Wild World" (750M listens!) & "Father And Son". The only song I didn't listen to in full was "Miles From Nowhere", just didn't dig the pocket he was in. Top 1001 fringe for me. I know it has staying power, some hits you still hear on the radio and covers by other artists, and I feel his influence on singer songwriters still. I enjoyed giving it a full listen.
Pleasant and folksy, lovely guitar playing and songwriting.
A few ones that stood out to me but otherwise a little bit boring
I actually enjoyed this much more than I thought I would
Det en kort, men lidt frelst til tider. 2 lyt,
Old Cat sure can write a deep yet catchy folk/pop song, Wild World is the best example, but Father and Son may be the highlight. Tea for the Tillerman is mainly about rejecting modern society and old Cat certainly would later do that. 7.7/10
Possible better than 3* but not in the mood for it right now.
3.5
Very sweet and heartfelt, pretty tunes, and I know there will be plenty of people who adore this album. It's a classic in its way. Unfortunately, it's a little soppy for my taste.
beautiful ,gets a little repetitive which keeps it from the top tier for me not super mundane to give it a lower score
Eh. It's pleasant
Sorry Cat Stevens. Ich han grad vorane Sister Sledge glosed, da flachsch ächli ab. Father and son isch natürli mega bekannt. Guets Folk- Album. Am beschte findi Tea for the Tillerman: Churz und fulminat
kenn vo ihm nume morning has bröken und wild world aber weiss er jetz hert muslim und so? isch etz genau öppe da woni erwartet han die erste zwei songs. schöne singer-songwriter mitere spezielle stimm woni nonig weiss ob sie mer gfallt. wild world kenni ebe und isch halt chrank iprägsam. ha mega gern wie mer s plättli uf de giti ghört und alles so nöch tönt. coole song moll super. sad lisa hani chli arsch gfunde aber miles from nowhere het chli meh drive und klavier und züg findi geil. mega dynamik. we're gonna need a bigger boat okay spielberg. meh. ich weis nich digga. sehr langwilig i donno. into white okay du stohsch uf wissi lüüt chill. on the rosd to find out isch no nice. momoll.
hmm where do the children play isch okay? no intressant aber nöd meh wild world hani s gfühl, kenni? ja isch easy, no herzig weiss nanig öb ich sini stimm gern han oder nöd sad lisa hani na cool gfunde father and son isch recht schön ja vlt mussi das album nomal lose zum s echli besser chönne erfasse ok also mad kei lust das nomal z lose sorry, es git eifach mal es 3 will ichs zwar gnosse han für das, was es isch aber schlussendlich ischs doch au chli langwilig gsi
I enjoy his voice and a few of the songs are standouts (Wild World, Where Do The Children Play). It was a pleasant listen.
Really good songwriting, I always appreciate when songs have a clear message but are still “musical” if that makes any sense. Giving this a 3.1/5, it was a solid listen but didn’t really do much for me. Fav song: Wild World
I wanted to hate it but it really grew on me. It makes me feel like I'm in a children's movie
its fine...
Some pretty songs but a little forgettable in the end
Pleasant enough.
Possibly the worst album cover that we have had on the list! Songs are ok though.
I’ve never listened to the Cat before, other than a weird recollection of primary school assemblies. The hits for me are so wrapped in awful overplayed 80s/90s covers (FU Boyzone) that I can’t now tell if they are good songs or not. But other songs like Hard Headed Woman and Sad Lisa had quite unique sounding arrangements and guitar and piano parts. Shout out also to the weirdest and unexpected end to an album ever, yeah let’s just chuck in a random gospel crescendo. No standout track, but strong songwriting that creates a good album as a whole.
There are some incredible songs on this album, mixed in with some okay ones. 'Wild World', 'Where do the children play', 'Into White' and 'Father and Son' being my faves. The album cover hurts my eyes. Wtf is that font?!
Surprised by how many of this I already knew passively? For me - the album feels like a book of nursery rhymes, sung in primary schools nationwide at assembly time. The album cover is fitting for this. It's warm, wholesome and childlike. I quite liked it. Highlights for me were "Wild World" (an earworm for me that I've found belting randomly without ever knowing who sung it), "Father and Song" (another one) and "Sad Lisa". My rating system feels a bit out of whack as in hindsight I'd drop Monday's a star and this would sit happily at a 3. Enjoyable, some repeat listens, just ok.
This is just a very nice and pleasant listen, despite it's horrendous album artwork. The Extras theme tune turning up at the end was a bit of a shock.
Classic folk album
An album chock full of acoustic beauties. Love Cat’s voice. Not much here to make me want to do a return visit but I enjoyed my stay.
Much like Bill Clinton, Cat Stevens’ appeal comes in the form of his ‘folksy charm’. Stevens is direct and simplistic in his lyrical approach. Don’t expect him to even raise his voice very often. A lot of these songs seem to be about finding oneself and contemplating ones place in the modern society or universe at large. “Miles From Nowhere” holds a message about the idea of self being something beyond just the physical body. It makes me wonder if Cat Stevens was a nice comedown artists for the hippies that were coming down from some heavier trips in the 60’s. “Longer Boats” might be my sleeper pick on the album for its infectious harmonized chorus - it’s a fantastic hook that knows its power, which is why it gets repeated plenty of times over the course of 3ish minutes. “On The Road To Find Out” is probably the only noticeable moment where Stevens ramps up the intensity a bit. Then there’s the very famous “Father And Son”, which is just so arresting in the best way possible. All of these wonderful moments out of the way, I am left wishing for more “Father and Son”, and less of everything else. A bit more commitment to a song or idea, and a bit less meandering. But meandering is a big focal point of this record. Cat Stevens has a very recognizable style and voice, which is also worth a lot in the pop world. Soft 3/5 for me.
This was fine. 2.9
I'm not the biggest fan of Cat Stevens, but some songs are just plan good. I think others do the folk singer songwriter better, but he is a darn good lyricist. Best Songs: Wild World, Into White, Father And Son Worst Songs: Where Do The Children Play?, Longer Boats
I liked this a lot more than most music from its era. It aged well.
I guess I like cat Steven's. It's a wild word. 3 stars.
It's good. But not really my style.
Listened a while ago and wasn’t particularly moved
Cat Stevens is one of those artists I’ve always overlooked due to some bad memory associations, but after giving this album a listen, I have to say it was a decent folk rock record. It had a few well known hits and recognizable tracks, along with a couple of songs that didn’t do much for me, but overall, it flowed well from beginning to end.
Decent, but not that interesting to me.
Lovely album. Very gentle and intimate but a bit inconsistent. Favorites: Wild World, Sad Lisa, Father and Son Least Favorites: Hard Headed Woman
I'm not a fan of folk music or Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam so I expected this to be a slog to get through, but it was not. I'll even say it was not bad. For those who are folk fans, I imagine this album has everything you would look for in a hippyish-folk album from 1970, even the cover. Enjoy
3/5
Un buen disco de boomer-core.
Nice
Nice and mellow - great for background!
His voice lends itself to this kind of soulful music. While not the kind of music I typically seek out, I'm never mad when I hear it.
I wanted to like it more, especially given how much I came in loving the last 2 tracks. But the rest of the album was only okay for me.
Not really for me
Had some decent songs here. 6/10
Not bad
Punto bonus per la copertina
3.4 Pleasant. Not my normal kind of thing, but decent to have on in the background. Few songs I recognised (did Fleetwood Mac totally rip him off towards the end?!) Not sure how this can reach 'best ever album' status that some people appear to give it, something I'd love to know.
Typical slow background music. Not my jam, but it's pleasant.
Something about Cat Stevens voice that makes every song sound like a memory from a time or a place that may not even be my own. It's like a soundtrack to an old familiar movie. Uplifting, energizing, but also sad and somber.
I admire Yusef’s dedication to his beliefs — and for his willingness to leave his music career behind to staunchly uphold that dedication — but I’ve always struggled with his music. Cat Stevens was not an artist I grew up on whatsoever. I was introduced to his music through digging in the crates in my early 20s, and at one point I owned the quartet of albums he released at the height of his creativity, from 1970-1973. The artistry of his songwriting and singing is self-evident. His dynamic arrangements and vocal performances oscillate between quiet and raucous, expertly creating and releasing tension to accentuate the emotional core of his storytelling. And the recordings are pleasantly crisp and dry, engineered to sound as natural as possible. I also agree with the dominant themes woven into his music and activism. But after re-visiting Tea for The Tillerman uninterrupted a handful of times, I was reminded of why I never latched on to his art despite its positive qualities: the music is dainty, full of corny tenderness and didactic narratives, and as is the case with many folksy singer-songwriters, the tracks lack stylistic distinction and all start sounding the same when heard in succession. His quiet-to-loud song structure becomes annoyingly predictable, and when his voice reaches those higher registers of emotion I find the growly, strained quality grating. With all that said, the power of his mega hits is not lost on me, nearly all of which are from this record and the release that followed it the year after, Teaser and The Firecat. I can appreciate their greatness, but only from a distance. No matter how many times I hear them they never seem to penetrate my taste on a deeper level.
+Hard Headed Woman
Not my cup of tea.
A bit slow. has some classic heartstring pulling songs
He has a nice voice (perhaps _too_ nice for my taste) and there are some decent songs here but this doesn't quite do it for me.
I like Cat Stevens so I had high hopes for this but was left a little underwhelmed by most of the tracks. Father and Son is a really great song though.
Ett par bra sanger. OK.
Very laid back and chill album, with nice lyrical themes.
good
Nice album for a foggy drive to work
Pretty solid album with a couple of absolute classics. Mid 3s
Father and Son forever
I enjoyed some of this, but would not put this album on again. The obvious hits of course are deserving, but one I had never heard that I thought was good was Miles from Nowhere. The Flaming Lips have a song called Fight Test that reminds me of Father and Son
Убедительно
I mean... Wild World. I quite like it. Good vibes. But can I get over his "out of context" remarks on Salman Rushdie?
Very chill album. I appreciate Cat Stevens' musical talent, but I don't think I'm really into folk music.
I'd never heard any of these songs before, but it's giving a kind of David Bowie-esque style. Enjoyable, but not something that really gripped me too hard. If I was in the mood for music like this I would probably go listen to the Ziggy Stardust album instead.
Prima '70s muziek. Lekker rustig.
This one gets overlooked a lot, but it was a huge folk hit, and the songwriting holds up.
6/10 Very pleasant stuff 12-08-2024
Real solid folk album. His voice bothers me sometimes, but I really like the instrumentation and arrangement of most of his songs.
I really don't like this album. But I can tell it's good if this is what you're into, I'm just not
Really enjoyable low key folk, never really gave him a listen and I may explore a bit more.
I have fond childhood memories of his greatest hits CD. Didn't have high expectations for this album but ended up enjoying it. Lyrically kind of lightweight but the vocals are excellent and some of the songs ('Father and Son' specifically) have a real emotional punch. 'Sad Lisa' sounds like a Eurovision song. Not necessarily a bad thing. It just does.
Favorite tracks: Sad Lisa, But I Might Die Tonight, Father and Son This took me a few listens to get into, but once I did, it felt very warm and nice and peaceful and introspective - all things I like! I'm feeling a 3 for this.
it's a 2.5 but Wild Word and Father And Son man...
Was ok.
Best Song: Wild World. A song I've heard many times before, often as covers, so it was nice to hear the original. Worst Song: Longer Boats. This starts to cross to far into sounding kinda "cult leader by the campfire". Overall: Not bad, but absolutely not my kind of music. Would probably be nice to listen to live in a sing-along fashion, but as an album it's just okay.
6.5/10
I won't be reaching to listen again but also wouldn't be unhappy if someone else put it on. Good, gentle, hippy pop
Good lyricist
Lots of pretty, solid moments here, but I find it to be very formulaic. Each song has the same general build up and pay off musically, and while it is a good song structure, it can be repetitive. I mean, I kept waiting for Peace Train to show up because I could hear all of that song from other pieces of songs here, but that's on a totally separate album. It was nice and soothing, but I think I'd need a bit more tonal variation to praise it much more.
Cat Stevens doesn't do much for me, but it is very competent. 3 stars.
Father and Son is one of the greatest songs ever. Really captures the sweep of inter generational angst incredibly in a 3 minute folk/pop song The rest is pretty decent but weirdly unmemorable Call it a very high 3, because I can’t think why it’s a 4 aside from F&S
Not my cup of tea.
Songs i know: 2 i think Songs i like: 2 or 3 Decent album, probably the most 70s album out there so far. Lovely vibe to accompany a morning jog round regent Park but another one in the pile of good but probably never pick it up again
Really enjoyed this. Don’t know anything of his work outside of Father and Son, so I was pleasantly surprised. One of the songs sounding like Could it be Magic? by Take That was a nice bonus.
Thought it was good. Only really knew Father and Son, Wild World and Tea for the Tillerman from Extras. Really enjoyed the piano on Miles from Nowhere thought But I Might Die Tonight. Thought this album might be a bit twee but those songs had a bit more swagger than I was expected. Standouts: Miles From Nowhere But I Might Die Father and Son Tea For The Tillerman (although wish it was longer as it just ends after that lovely gospel chorus) Low Points: None really but was a fan of the quieter folky by the numbers ones
3 songs I really like, the title track from the closing sequence of British comedy series Extras, Father and Son and Wild World. Everything else is ok. Again it’s easy listening and Cat/Yusuf has a very unique voice. Did I just dead name him?
Enjoyed a lot more than I thought. Some songs I knew thy didn’t realise was by him. Cats in the Cradle better than Father and Son though
The combination of the name Cat Stevens and this album’s cover makes for one of the best things ever. It reminds me of the old children’s books my grandmother used to read to me when I was little. And I think the music carries that same childlike, whimsical quality of those books. But also similarly to those books, these songs likely have a deeper, more purposeful meaning behind them. My mother claims I should have known who this was. But I was drawing a blank on even his biggest songs. There are just so many songwriters from the era of music that have achieved what people deem as “legend status” who I just don’t know. It has a lot to do with the music that was played around me as I grew up. Where this record excels the most is in its brevity and pacing. Which might sound like a seemingly backhanded compliment. But I mean it as an overall net positive. This is the perfect definition of short and sweet. Average song length is around 3 minutes, which is basically the most suitable length for this genre of music. And for how short these songs are, he manages to pack in a really good amount of material. Many songs feel long and dense, without actually dragging on and becoming boring. Stevens has a nice voice. And the instrumentation, while simple, works effectively. I think the reason why I’m rating this the way I am is because a few of these songs just don’t feel as complete as the best the album has to offer. And they end up falling into the category of largely forgettable 70s folk music. But generally I think what is here is pretty solid, even if it’s not the most consistent. Rating: 6/10
Cute
I knew two songs from the album (we al do: Wild World and Father and Son) and love them. But there are no bad songs on this whole album. It brabbles along like a gentle river. Yes, it's poppy and "uncomplicated" but it just sounds great. Cat (Sufjan)'s voice is of course very recognisable with its grain and nasal tone and I like it. This album does the job very well - not a 4 or a 5 because I keep those for more innovative and creative work, but this album is near perfect in its niche of sheer enjoyable melodic pop songs.
Irgendwie einfach ein cozy Album. Father and Son kannte ich schon (unter anderem durch Guardians of the Galaxy) - einfach ein schöner Song. Auch der Rest des Albums hat mir gut gefallen.
Top notch boomer co-worker music
...
Yeah! fine.
It’s got a whimsical folksy sound that I got into, and Wild World is a nice track. Don’t think I’d relisten all the way though but nice to be exposed to.
I have heard Cat Stevens before- his music is nice but typically not for me. This album was nice- his voice and songwriting style pair well together, and his songs capture part of the human experience. It was a little sappy for me, but I didnt hate it. Overall- solid album
Norm
Solid all around. Nothing that jumped out but would listen again especially to a few tracks.
Almost fell asleep.
Not bad, easy to listen to and pleasant.
Decent one.
Some of the tracks require multiple listening before they "click"
Overall, I like it. I think he's got a very unique voice. My main criticism would be that he doesn't have much range, so al the songs start to meld together a bit. I know people love Cat Stevens, so I'm glad I listened to it.
Liked: Wild World, Father and Son
Great, now I’m depressed. This is an “it’s me, not you” scenario because I know my feelings about most contemporary folk music. As a 70’s kid, folk rock has a melancholy sound that always brings me down. I’m not a fan. Objectively, I recognize the songwriting, melody and production of this album. The Cat Stevens catalog is loved by many, but not for me.
Had no idea Cat Stevens did the Extras theme for one, enjoyable record apart from that plus Father and Son is a stone cold classic, would listen again.
Cat Stevens... not bad!
smooth soothing folk. not a bad song in the bunch. highlights: “wide world” “sad lisa” “but i might die tonight”
Although not my musical taste its hard to say anything negative about this album and the cover artwork is a delight.
lekkere easy listening op de maandagochtend. Alleen is de listening wel heel erg easy en is dit het ultieme achtergrond album voor mij. Wild World is een erg bekend nummer en ook echt lekker, maar eerlijk ; verder springt er niet echt veel uit. Het is allemaal heel erg lief, heel zacht, heel rustig. Dit was een lekker album dat ik absoluut nu alweer vergeten ben en waarschijnlijk nooit meer ga horen. Prima album. FAVO: Wild World, Father and Son
A simple album with tracks that aren't long nor musically complex. Just a simple album you can put on without really thinking about what you should listen to.
It was chill, not really my vibe. It was a quick listen.
Kind of a snoozer for me but it was fine. Im sure Yusuf/Cat is well respected for his playful lyricism but I just wasnt in the mood for the easy-breezy hippy-dippiness of it all. I prefer others in this genre a little bit more. Father and Son is a great track though.
Wild World and Father And Son are of course great songs. I wanted to like the rest of the album more than I did. It's just not hitting me right now
Very melancholy while also cheery. Some songs made me sad, others made me happy. There's a folk charm to this that I enjoyed. A few songs however sounded roughly the same with similar guitar cords/tempo. I would rate it a 3.5/5
Enjoyed it. Simple but effective. Wanting something more challenging but enjoyed it all the same
Not for me.
Love me some Cat Stevens. Kind of a surprise on this list, but a nice listen.
The music has a very folksy feel that perfectly matches the simple illustration for the album art. A very sincere album, although overall I would say to be a tad repetitive in tone and sound, except for a few songs that add a violin. Favorite song: "Wild World" Best representation of the album: "On the Road to Find Out"
Where Do the Children Play? 3.4 Hard Headed Woman 3.5 Wild World 3.8 Sad Lisa 3.6 Miles from Nowhere 3.3 But I Might Die Tonight 3 Longer Boats 3.1 Into White 3 On the Road to Find Out 3.2 Father and Son 3.8 Tea for the Tillerman 3.6 Score: 3.390909091
Solid folk songs, while I liked the Teaser and the Fire Cat album better, this wasn't bad.
A little slow for my liking, but I can respect his songwriting and acoustic ability.
Two big and wonderful songs. The Album stays strong during the Listen. But in my experience of joy i fell its personally on a range from 3.0-4.0
Yllättävästi tykkäsin! Ei tylsää genressään (mies ja kitara). Koukut sai kuuntelemaan sanat tarkkaan. Heräsin tosin tietty erityisesti Wild worldin takia, se liikuttaa edelleen (Skinsin 1. kauden takia). Kakkoskuuntelulla vois mennä neljään tähteen, heti en uskalla antaa sitä koska inanen monipuolisuuden puute ehkä oli.
Thoughtfull music with heart and some real classics that makes you realise he was very talented lyricist and song written.
Unlike most of his contemporaries, at least Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam knew how to write folk songs with solid instrumental hooks, instrumentation choices, and arrangements. It is solid enjoyable songwriting, even if I personally don't agree with his lyrical points of view.
Pretty unoffensive but a lot of very samey sounding songs across the album
pleasant, nothing more nor less
#313. Makes you wish all those songs were as good as Wild World. 3/5: acceptable.
66 = 3,3 = 3 stars A rare folk rock entree, but overall really boring, generic and repetative, and not really a fan of the vocalist, although the album has some nice fresh and comfortable atmosphere
Beautiful vocals and lyrics but overall a little forgettable other than Wild World and Father and Son.
It's better than I imagined it to be. It's pretty dull, but in comparison to his contemporary James Taylor that I listened to last week its like a hurricane. Nothing I'd listen to again, but I understand the cultural significance a bit more now.
Very relaxing. But has to catch you in the right mood
This is a quality album from Cat Stevens, with some of his most personal writing and well-crafted storytelling out there, and while I can’t say every track perfectly hit for me, I found myself enjoying the experience through.
Solid folk, but doesn't stand out for me.
Warm and bright folk album with lots of charm. But my issue with Cat Steven's contribution to the genre is its usually largely forgettable.
This was okay. I hadn't listened to it in quite a while. Some good songs, but it didn't hold up as well as I thought it would. Perhaps an album for a different time in your life.
Familiar, but a little to cute for my ears these days
not for me i listened to half of it and thought it was okay
This is Cat Stevens at his best. Love Wild World. But for me it’s too much of the same and not many hits for a great album! But I do like Cat Stevens and appreciate his style.
Cat Stevens is one of those artists I like, but just don't love.
Ok.
I liked the music...didn't really care for his voice though. 3/5
Songs were short and nice melodies. Probably would not listen to it again though.
He’s a good singer-songwriter & can tell story w his lyrics.
Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens Tuesday 7/9/24 1:32 S Tier————————— Wild World B Tier————————— On The Road To Find Out Sad Lisa Where Do the Children Play Longer Boats Father and Son Tea for the Tillerman Miles From Nowhere Into White But I Might Die Tonight C Tier————————— Hard Headed Woman
youd look so powerless covered in bandages one more sleepless night i know you know im right please just stay all things must all things must hide away cool album i guess
A lot of songs I had heard before, but the flow of the album makes them all roll together nicely.
Wild world
Not as good as I remembered
This album is pretty good. I like Yusuf's voice and some of the songs were really great (Where Do the Children Play?, Longer Boats, Father and Son). Others were pretty forgettable. 3/5.
Enjoyable album with two huge hite. Rest is kinda mid. 3/5
it’s ight it’s ight
5/10
Hey, this wasn’t terrible! I was expecting … what’s that song by Harry Chapin that everyone thinks is by Cat Stevens but isn’t? Obviously this isn’t that, which I knew, but still. Thanks for reading! Hope this review helped :)
3/5 - meh
*Sentiment*. As a French speaker, I've always found the possible undertones of that English word interesting--undertones that are absent in the equivalent of said word in my native language, i.e. the cognate word "sentiment", which is a rather "neutral" noun compared to its English version. The latter indeed *either* seems to point to an emphatic understanding of how noble feelings can be expressed--with somewhat positive connotations--*or conversely*, it is quite a derisive word to mock slush, mawkishness and oversensitivity (in a second meaning here close to "sensiblerie" in French). It's as if the Brits and Americans couldn't decide what to do with the word. Which, from my vantage point, is quite a weird situation. Of course, and you've probably guessed it by now, this ambiguous impression is exactly what I feel about this album, and about Cat Stevens in general. On the one hand I can't help admiring the simple (yet effective and heartfelt) nature of the British folkman's signature songs, three of which, "Where Do The Children Play?", "Hard-Headed Woman" and the absolutely stellar hit "Wild World", are obviously standing out as the first three cuts of this record. On the other hand, such constant display of sentimentality risks becoming a little annoying at some point. The gentler cuts are a little too gentle. And in the somewhat livelier numbers, Stevens' vocal performance switches to a borderline "overkill" mode that wears my patience thin. To put it in a nutshell, there's something a little too quaint, "safe" or even bland in those songs. They're admittedly well-written tunes, but they're also streamlined to a fault, and devoid of any risky moments instrumentally speaking. "Going Folk" doesn't necessarily imply you can't get a little rough and dirty once in a while. Ask Neil Young, Fairport Convention or The Incredible String Band. Well, maybe not the latter act. Feels like they would be too leftfiled and "out there" for fans of this record anyway... Don't want to ruffle any feathers here. So, more tea? Well the first cups were fine. But if I drink too many of those, I might just end up peeing on myself. Compilation *The Very Best Of Cat Stevens* serves all my needs whenever the British folkster is concerned, think you very much. Don't think I need this more specific brand of Roibos on my shelves. At least as of now. Thanks for asking, though. One can still be polite when talking about a "talent" that's so instantly recognizable. Who said French dudes like me couldn't try to be gracious once in a while? 😉 3/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential albums". 8/10 for more general purposes (5+3) Number of albums left to review: 167 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 361 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 211 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 266
This one was ok, maybe I was expecting more and to be completely blown away. I would give it a 3.5 if I could.
Good story telling. Very calm but feel good
Niet echt mijn ding, maar ik hoor wel waarom mensen het goed vinden
A very natural, soft & beautiful sounding album with some great lyrics. Standouts include Wild World for the melody & Father And Son for the lyrics.
Easy listening. Title track is unexpected
inoffensive. a bit stale for my liking, but nothing i wouldn’t listen to if it came on my shuffle.
Worn out long ago. I was never a fan of Jim Croce, James Taylor, or the Cat. But he is the best of the three.
Really good, should check out more of his stuff
Good Cat Stevens. Exactly what it's supposed to be.
Чай для Тиллермана. Сегодня первый жаркий день, лето, самое настоящее. И что-то этот мегачилл заходит
Esta cinta de casete estaba por casa, era de mi hermano mayor. Recuerdo la portada y que me aburría profundamente escucharla. Ya ves tú, ahora tiene dos canciones vitales, una es "Wild world" y la otra la escucho a menudo y es "Father and son".
Where Do The Children Play? is such an excellent song, one of Stevens’ best. Of course Father And Son is also great. I love Sad Lisa and the strings on that track. Hard Headed Woman is solid. Wild World is fine but overrated.
"Sad Lisa?" Because Lisa needs braces?
Always thought I hated Cat Stevens. Turns out, this wasn't bad. It wasn't good either, but I didn't mind listening to it. Probably never will again though.
Hittilevy! Ei ollenkaan hullumpi. 3/5
Tää oli mulle vain nimeltä tuttu tähän asti. Ihan symppistä, mutten sen erityisemmin lämmennyt. 3/5
i can tell why it was popular! i like the energy, but i don’t love his voice. the band doesn’t feel super locked in either—kind of loose feeling, not always positively.
Not really my cup of tea.
The songs are fine but this doesn't hit for me. Apart from a couple stand outs, I found the album as a whole pretty bland.
Like a lame Bob Dylan
I was not expecting to like this as much as I did! Cat Stevens’ voice pairs so well with the folk sound. The songs are short and seem simple, but they turn out to be surprising rich. “Wild World” and “Father and Son” are classics, and I also really liked “Sad Lisa”. The whole album was a very pleasant surprise. As a bonus, “Tea for the Tillerman 2” is a really interesting re-work of the album from 2020.
This album, surprisingly, doesn't quite do it for me. Although Father And Son is the Standout.
I have heard of this artist. Never listened to their stuff. So far not really my type but I respect it.
I have previously listened to this album before. It's a good album overall and has some truly fantastic songs. Wild World is truly magical, and Father And Son is also notable. While I do enjoy the full album, it is not something I come back to frequently.
really chill, feels like it's missing something though mayb 7/10
Songs to sing by the campfire with a guitar.
Not something i'm used to listen, it's actually one of the music genres i dislike, but this album is kind of great and also is really easy to listen 'cause is not very long lasting. Personally i don't think this is really great, but it has some good songs in it.
I don't know exactly why, but I liked this one. It's calm and peaceful
This one defined a 3 star for me. It was nice to have on, but didn't grip me. Nice music that was pleasant to listen to. Nothing more, nothing less. B+ album cover (apparently Cat Stevens drew it himself, which moves it from a B to B+ for me)
kinda whatever about this one, didn't really grab me
Didn't expect to like it as much as I did, Wild world is an absolute BANGER, the middle of the album got very boring and same-same for me however
Pleasant for the years but no masterpiece
The first two tracks lie somewhere between a kids’ movie score and a musical. For me, they feel a bit too soft. I enjoy slow-paced music, but they didn’t catch my interest. After his famous ‘Wild World’ I started slowly getting into the record though. I can hear some David Bowie and Bob Dylan in it. It is a peaceful record that can fit the mood and is worth playing occasionally.
i know it's good but i think i'm just not in the state of mind to appreciate it
Another album that I know I’m supposed to like much more than I do, but I still do like regardless. 3.5/5
i'm sure i'd connect with it further on in life, when i reach proper adulthood but for now, just a sweet collection of folky tunes
After a dismal vocal offering from the first track, this album settled right into 70's easy listening. The album was OK, but a far cry from the polish of someone like James Taylor.
its v classic. good, bet for some reason i can’t remember it very much 3.5/7
For what it us, not bad, but I can't get past the singer songwriter style.
Who knew that half of Jack Black's vocal stylings in Tenacious D were just aping Cat Stevens?
i have listened to this album prior ngl it was pretty boring but sweet 3
Not very compelling overall. I am just not a fan of his voice and style. Still, better than I thought it would be, and I enjoy "Wild World".
Correcto.
Tea for the Tillerman starts with the promise of a sentimental journey with "Where Do The Children Play?" coupled with the cover art, and although I did get lost at times within the overall arrangement of the album, I found the ride pleasant. I would be unlikely to listen to this album front-to-back often, but I will be listening to the hard hitters again, of which there are several... "Miles From Nowhere" "But I Might Die Tonight" and "Tea For The Tillerman"
This was one of the first albums I bought with my lunch money when I was in high school. Seeing him live was my first concert. His music really spoke to me at that time. It's still a good album, but feels dated to me now. Still, 3 stars for the memories
3.5/5
There were several well known songs. It was relatively short. The other songs were just there.
Lovely…. Surprised by how much I enjoyed this one! 6.8/10. Just pretty and relaxing and nice.
A solid album front to back, nothing too remarkable but a nice listen
Es un disco bonito y relajante, pero no me transmitió demasiado.
Though not overly appealing to me, this was a good album based on voice, and musicality (seems like it's a word). Overall too slow for my liking.
7/10
Easy listening, but the recording is superb and the songwriting is really nice too.
Actually really nice
-good instrumentation and recording, nice warm sound -some ok songs, a couple of stinkers, and a few slaps
It was just okay. I expected a little better. 2.5 gets the bump to 3 for Father & Son
I hate Cat Stevens' voice, find much of his music to be overly sentimental, and I refused to listen to this album. I'll give it a 3 because I recognize his cultural significance and I know he's done a lot of great work beyond just music, but I don't love the music.
Not what I was expecting, but ok
The old head who works mornings at the corner market I buy my coffee beans from is always bumping some Cat Stevens and 70's folk first thing in the morning, singing along, having a grand time. It makes me wish I felt so strongly about this sort of music, pleasant as it may be. This is really nice singer-songwriter stuff, pleasing like a cup of chamomile tea with just the right amount of honey. There's just enough of a spiteful edge, and some cliche dynamics give a hard-nosed bent to what is mostly paper soft folk music. Catch me on the right springtime morning like today, or settling in to a nice road trip and these soft dulcet tones'll sound so nice.
Pleasant enough acoustic album, with Father and Son and Wild World (of course) being the standout tracks. 3/5
3.5
Et sted mellem 3-4 stjerner. Kunne måske godt finde på at høre igen.
First time listening it’s all right. Solid song writing I don’t understand stand all the fuss.
That's ok, no more, no less
Outside of "Wild World," I actually didn't care for a lot of the songs on this album as much as I expected to?
Enjoyable folk-pop with two huge hits amongst other pleasant and well written songs.
does not contain his most popular songs but a good album start to end
not my genre
I don’t know what to call this genre of rock/singer/songwriter, but it’s not my style. It ends up feeling pretty generic and very similar to a lot of other projects. That’s not to say that it’s not a serviceable album, just not for me.
This whole week has been filled with solid, good musicians. However, and as it is for Cat Stevens, there are lots of solid, good musicans out there. As a singer songwriter, Stevens has a MASSIVE dose of competition. They all have room at the table and there are a couple of wonderful songs on this album that are worthy of his place there. However the table is rather long and he is down there among them. As good and professional as he is it still only gets him to a "yeah, he is Ok." place.
It’s fine, I suppose he’s a great songwritter. Gets quite boring but ends up being an easy listen.
Sounds very 70s, not terrible but not my thing. Has some bowie vibes
Didn't feel super impactful, and there wasn't a lot of variety. Overall it was fine and had a couple songs I enjoyed, but I will be forgetting the rest of the album very quickly.
Not gonna be my favorite. His other album is a little better, but just not for me tbh. Low 3
This album feels heavily influenced by the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan amongst others. I don’t have many qualms, as this is right up my alley. Wild World, Hard Headed Woman and On the road to find out were my stand out tracks for me.
Cute it is just cute picnic music. It starts a bit slow but it reminds me a lot of cats and the Cradle like sad dad music Divorced dad music for sure
Not the worst album on here, but definitely not the best. I found that I was able to get through it without getting irrationally angry.
Beautiful songs, sweet sound, but a little boring. Better to listen in the right mood.
Some great songs but overall lackluster
Schönes Wochenend-Fruhstuck-Album
Hm. Opener fand ich schrecklich und ich hab mich gefragt, ob der Mann eigentlich wirklich singen kann. Wurde dann aber relativ schnell besser. Ist schon ziemlich corny, aber es sind halt auch einige Klassiker dabei und tlw. ne ganz schöne Stimmung. Best: Sad Lisa, Miles from Nowhere, Father and Son. Worst: Where Do The Children Play?, Longer Boats, Into White (Lyrics)
Mys!
oooooh baby baby it’s a wild world - some guy named cat
I love Cat Stevens and there are some classics on this, but I cannot give it a super high rating.
So calming. Trying this journey out. Not sure if I can make it to the end... But I guess I'm not forced to listen to all of it. ALSO THIS MANS MUSLIM NOW?
Was just kinda underwhelmed?
Dont really remember it. Though I enjoyed it
Very folky. All the songs blend together and thematically similar. Better than bob dylan. 3.45
Nostalgic
Reminds me of Paul Simon. Not really a fan of this guys voice.
Not bad, reminded me of some Elton John
Great melodies and solid songwriting. Not quite my type of music to have a higher rating.
Chill album and a fun listen but didn’t particularly move me in way I expect some of these albums will. Overall an excellent combination of instruments and vocals for easy listening. The hour flew by fairly quickly.
decent.
Decent folk album
Nice vibes, but didn't find it super memorable
In keeping with my music tastes, if a little cutesy! Cat's limited voice can begin to grate, but he makes up for it with pleasant if a little forgetful for me, melodies. Into White was surprisingly nice, and Wild World's little scale run is still great fun! Long Boats though gets real annoying to me and Father and Son is little overplayed....
- Country psychedelic - Wild World… wow, listen is worth it for this tune alone - Feel like I should be more impacted by the album than I am as a whole , folksy music ain’t really my thing but I can appreciate this still - “i know when I find my honey, it’s gonna make me feel good.” - But I Might Die Tonight… okay this album is special… maybe I do like folksy music? - Losing steam, maybe I really don’t hahah - Glad I listened, prob won’t re listen to anything besides wide world and miles - 7/10
Meh
Tea for the Tillerman By: Cat Stevens Genre: Country Rock Date Ranked: 04 . 01 . 24 Where Do The Children Play?: 7 / 10 ☆ > He has a calm and kinda wholesome voice, similar to Bowie in a way. I think the lyrics are rather wholesome too, and seem kinda strong in some moments. Overall, I think it is a pretty nice little song, maybe it’s just not my genre, if you will. Hard Headed Woman: 6.75 / 10 ☆ > Well, I’d say this one is a bit more lively, I kinda like it, however, I’d say that lyrically, it is losing to the previous song. Wild World: 6.75 / 10 ☆ > The singing at the beginning is not great, however, from there it kinda picks and gets much better. Like, I’d say it is kinda catchy, I kinda like it. Sad Lisa: 6.75 / 10 ☆ > Beautiful music, sounds sad and melancholic, I love it. The lyrics are a tiny bit cheesy, but, overall, it is pretty good. Miles From Nowhere: 7 / 10 ☆ > Hmm, this one is quite nice. I like how nicely it flows from the slightly quicker parts to the slower ones and again. The lyrics? Quite nice too. But I Might Die Tonight: 6.5 / 10 ☆ > Well, that was short, and, to be honest, it was just alright. Kinda weaker than all the previous ones, if I have to be honest. Longer Boats: 6.5 / 10 ☆ > Okay, honestly, I am not a fan when stuff is sung like this. So, yeah, this song is no exception, not a big fan, sorry. Into White: 6.75 / 10 ☆ > That’s cute and everything, but, like, felt extremely short in terms of lyrics, personally. Still, I like the music in this one. On The Road To Find Out: 7 / 10 ☆ > Fair enough, this one is quite good. Like, it is nice, and the chorus is nice, I like the thing with “on the road to find out”, it is nice. Father And Son: 7 / 10 ☆ > Wholesome life advice, I think it is well written, love it. Tea For The Tillerman: 6.75 / 10 ☆ > I liked the loud part, but it was too short overall, unfortunately. Total Percentage: 67.954% —> 68% (Round Up) Average Song Rating: 6.79 / 10 ☆ Best Song(s): > Where Do The Children Play? > Miles From Nowhere > On The Road To Find Out > Father And Son
Hard Headed Woman, Wild World, Father and Son are highly significant. Where do the Children Play also is quite good. His voice on this album is about as clear and lucid as he's ever had it. It's a highly significant album. I've been listening to it for 35 years. The middle songs aren't nearly as good..
The hits are great, but too many others are slow and boring.
Reminds me at times of Nick Drake, which I like.
I like Father and Son. The rest of the album just sorta makes you think "I guess every artist has to make an album".
This is gentle, country, folky music. Not really my thing, but this is a decent version of it - Wild Word and the ending (Father & Son / title track) are unsurprisingly the most popular tracks on the album, but the rest is decent enough too. Doesn't outstay its welcome, but doesn't do enough to really excite me. A middle of the road 3/5.
Good listen but forgettable for me. Expect 'Wild World', great song. Needs a relisten, I could see myself coming round to it.
magnificent
The songs I did not know were consistent with the style of the ones I did know.
Look at me, I am old. But I'm happy. Damn, this line really hit home today. Made my mind go back in time and think of a lot of people and a lot of times. Brought some damn tears to my eyes, some joy and and even some pain to my heart. I thought this was a very good song. I also really liked track #1, Where do the children play? But in between, a lot of slow, uninspiring guitar songs. All I could think was Bluto smashing the dudes guitar in Animal House. Wild World is the only song I have heard before and think it's OK, but mostly meh, like most of this album. It was a nice enough listen, but just not really my listening pleasure. I'm struggling with a number on this one. Not really a 3 for me, but it wasn't anything I would immediately turn off, either. 2.5 Scoreboard will show a 3 for the thoughts and memories the Father and Son song triggered in my head.
Cat stevenssi muutamaan instanssiin kuultu... liekö unohtnut instannssit heh ON UNOHTUNUT... unohdettavaa musiikkia myös.... ei toki huonoa.,, respektiä miekkoselle,,
Enjoyable, well written, and overall tight. It just doesn't do a great deal for me compared to the other singer-songwriters of the age.
Not really my thing, but it was pretty good and what I expected.
Nice feel good soft rock. The song writing is good but none of it would really bring me back. Maybe I’ll take a lot of heat for this review
Easy listening!
Man can write a tune. Some duds in the album though.
it ends up one note, outside of the 3 bigger noteworthy songs
Not as many familiar as i would have thoight. Hard headed woman tight
Ágætis kósíplata.
Good album, not my style but can appreciate
Father and Son and Wild world are classics but not too much else interesting on this one.
It was alright
Quintessential acoustics early 70s
Pretty okaty.
Enjoyed the instrumentals and found it a cohesive album but didn’t enjoy his vocals so wouldn’t rush back to listen to it
In high school, I had an ongoing flirtation with a guy who loved Cat Stevens. The whole thing was a deeply hurtful and negative experience and even though I literally never think about that dude anymore, apparently it soured me on Cat Stevens. It seemed like a good album, though.
No, Tea for the Tillerman is not a children's picture book like the cover, title, and artist name might have you believe. It's a surprisingly good folk album that made me feel a Lost In The Dream level of relaxedness. While I don't think this album is as good as that one, It's still a chill and relaxing album with some good lyrics. Best Song: Hard Headed Woman Worst Song: Longer Boats
Good but dated
Enjoyed the melodies, nothing too revolutionary. Nothing stood out lyrically but it was a pleasant listen. Very satisfying bits from the acoustic G at moments. Would listen again, but not often.
53/100
Very happy vibes. I liked it.
nice 3*
A bit too slow and acoustic for me, but some good vibes at some pointti.
Boy I hate the album art for this. So so much. But otherwise I'm mostly enjoying this album.
Lovely album. Some songs I recognised. I’d listen again.
An all around timeless folk album who's brisk runtime feels like a lot more time than I had time for. I won't say anything new or revolutionary about the great Cat Stevens. He's a great songwriter, and the world is better with his music in it. But it's a little too plain for me. This album just feels..."there" to put it in a word. There's some clever and thought provoking lyricism, even if half the album feels cringeworthy just because of how much we've heard the same proclamations coming from folk artists about the ever-decreasing state of society, but the songs are just kind of songs. I'm very middle-of-the-road on this one.
Wild world and father and son are two incredible songs. Downloaded sad Lisa from the album. The rest didn’t stand out too much. They all sound pretty similar, which isn’t necessarily bad because they still sound good, just not good enough for me to download
There's almost a childlike feel to this. It's simple, but effective. The arrangements are nice, but don't do more than allowing the vocals and story to be told. I enjoyed it, but don't think it's anything I'll come back to. Favorite tracks: "Longer Boats", "Wild World"