Reviews (page 5 of 7)
I don't mind country, and I like musicals, but this was just a classic mess.
This was okay.
Tää tarinallinen teema-albumi ei nyt iskenyt, ei napannut mistään kohtaa mukaansa. Miksi piti puhelaulaa, olisin kaivannut lauluun kiinnostavampia melodioita. Mutta en vihannut.
Eli minun täytyisi kuunnella jonkinlaisen proto-nickcaven esittämä musikaali ilman, että oikeassa yleisössä istumisen synnyttämä häveliäisyys pakottaisi minua keskittymään? No, kuuntelin.
There is a kind of banal melancholy about this album that is just kind of hitting right today. Like, I was having a depressive episode and this pulled me out of it.
Fuck. This. Album. David Ackles can eat a shit burger for this hot garbage. Bernie Taupin should stick to songwriting with Elton John. If you hate yourself, then give it a listen. I cannot recommend this album any less than I already have. I wish I had my 44 minutes back.
There's an extremely obvious reason this album wasn't a huge hit and it's immediately apparent starting at track 1. If you're a non-completist and skip albums occasionally, this should be one of those.
2.5/5. Trying too hard to sound like Frank Sinatra, mate.
2/5
Had no idea what to do expect. Possibly the weirdest thing I’ve heard in a while and I loved it!!!
Not for me.
Singer-songwriter with an orchestral lean
Very weird album. Did not like it at first but it sort of won me over with it's audacity.
When you graduate from the Renaissance Fair to Open-mic night at the coffee house. 2.5/5
I enjoyed about half the songs, decent fun Rating: 3.4
A dramatic malaise of wandering through the mind. A rich and deep album that stands out for its honesty
broadway x country????? no thanks
Knockoff Sinatra sings sarcastically about Vietnam-era USA.
he really tells a story! i don't think i know what gothic means.
Sounds a little like a Dracula musical
Felt like a washed up theater teacher.
This guy has a one in a billion talent. I fucking hate musical theater and this reminds me of that but actually authentic and touching. I listened to this album twice back to back looking for a reason to give it four stars (because I'm a hater) and I couldn't find a flaw. Really gifted storyteller, I feel like I made a new friend in David Ackles.
Not for me
felt like it was a musical, interesting but not pleasing to me
I liked things about it like the dramatic piano bits, but I probably won’t listen to this again
I like the jangly piano on the first track and there were a couple moments that made me laugh a little, so not all bad. I doubt I'll ever seek this out again and I definitely don't think you need to listen to it before you die.
What, and I cannot emphasize this enough, the fuck, did I just listen to
I liked this. I didn't think it was anything crazy amazing, but I did enjoy listening to it.
I feel like this guy just treated this album like a stream of consciousness, he has some good instrumentals but just kinda talk-sings over it. Its like he's trying to hit those Frank Sinatra notes, but also trying to be introspective. I couldnt help but think of My Way through most of this listen. You know it reminds me of that Americana, turn of the century type sound, I'm sure there are better references, but Bioshock Infinite background music. Just weird. kinda spooky, and annoying.
Weird annoying songs that belong to the worlds shittiest, most heavy handed musical.
If I hear another medieval troubadour wannabe, I'll get ready for a joust and a melee.
Not perfect, but close.
Awful
You can understand why he wasn't a big hit. His music isn't necessarily mainstream, it's more dark and unique. The album as the whole misses that little smack of excellence that makes artists like Pink Floyd, the Beatles, the rolling stones, ELO, and tons of other artists popular. However, that doesn't mean that there isn't certain moments in the album that catch you. American Gothic is full of those little sparks of magic that make it a good album. If you don't have the patience to listen to the less attractive and more contemporary, you're not going to pick out the feel-good classic rock moments. David Ackles knows what he's doing, but the audience he's intending it for isn't exactly a large population. American Gothic, the title track, is one of these contemporary songs that may not be easy to listen to but it has that interesting, dark aspect that takes a different perspective to understand it's brilliance. If you look at the lyrics you can put yourself into the shoes of the character being described, and suddenly the music kind of surrounds you and puts you into a complicated, dark, somewhat somber, but creative world that Ackles creates. Love's Enough is the main moment in the album. I would've made it the title track but that's not my choice. It's a sobby ballad but it has that harmonic center that's unique but mainstream enough to be a feel-good song. Very ahead of it's time in a way but still great. Not much more to say. Just a nice song The next two songs were an interesting listen. They were kind of similar in a way but I apriciate the uniqueness and while others may not like it I found it pleasing. That's just personal taste. Oh how I wish that Oh California was a longer piece. It's another moment that's worth listening to, something I'd play again. It's a bit more groovy and I live in California so that's a W. It's a happy atmosphere that gives a break from Ackles' relentless somber feel. Good song in general as well, it's very inspired and satisfying. Another Friday Night just felt off a little bit. sort of misplaced in the album and it kind of felt like what you were thinking about last friday. eh Family Band had a kind of reminiscince and nostalgic feel to it. Enlightening in a way that makes you feel bittersweet. It's a very evoking piece, that's for sure. Midnight Carousel was interesting to say the least. It was weird, simply put Now I loved waiting for the moving van. It was similar to Love's enough but different enough to not sound repetitive. It creates an atmosphere while still having a relatively normal tonal center. It took a tone of harmonic twists that weren't jolting but rather pleasing. feel-good is the best way to name it blues for billy whitecloud is a blues. no more explanation lol Montana song was great but just a little long. I absolutely adore that orchestration though I'm tired of writing. You get my point. It's not a great album but it's not a bad album. 4/5 for uniqueness and captivatingness (not a word lol)
Interesting and a very seventies singer songwriter
Not for me. Kinda folksy, jazzy, I don't know.
How is this album classified as country/singer songwriter? This sounds like the score to a play I would have been bored with and abandoned during intermission. It wasn't quite bad enough to inspire anger or hate so this gets a generous 2.
Sounds like a score to a musical, not a big fan of this one. The music wasn't bad per se, but not for me and by the looks of his Spotify, not for many others either... lol
Just uninteresting. Have heard better singer-songwriter from this list.
This is what I might have made fun of my parents for listening to when I was a kid, but my parents had better taste than to listen to this. Just the worst schlocky crooner.
1 stern
Dull
Gut. Atmosphärisch, wenn auch etwas lang.
4/10 - pretty boring without many interesting factors.
Sounded like a musical, which I didn't really like. At least it was interesting enough to keep me engaged though
With this album, my main question is, "Where do you play this?" Most of the songs, aren't really songs. Just talking over the same piano variations, and orchestral stabs littered throughout. Seeing that Taupin produced this makes it make more sense. This sounds like rejected Elton tunes with American themes put over them. This album, isn't good. I have no idea what context you'd play any of these songs for someone.
Some great tracks here (Love's Enough is a straight up masterpiece), but most of them did not catch my attention.
Comes across a little like showtunes. I don't hate showtunes, but I don't often listen to an entire album of them.
Unfortunately, I didn't really have a chance to read the lyrics while listening to this, so I'm sure I missed some of the meaning. On its own, the music sounds just alright to me. While I enjoy this kind of theatrical/orchestral music on occasion, his voice doesn't really do anything for me.
More albums from 70’s guys I’ve never heard of. Will this go the way of the Tim Buckley Greetings album? Or some other 70’s album that was actually good. I can’t recall the decades. What is my head filled with? Either way, the list’s favourite year throws another album at me and I’m hoping the canoe plays into it heavily. Not enough songs about portage. American Gothic - Oh it’s Leonard Cohen lite. Very odd and operatic poetry over frantic piano. This is interesting, I’ll give it that. That’s about all I’ll give it. Love’s Enough - Ummm is it? What about the simple pleasures of a fresh slice of toast on a cold winter’s day? Have you forgotten the laughter of a child at the slip and fall of a beleaguered hobo clown? Yeah this was a stinky ballad. Ballad of the Ship Of State - the Opera needs to be shuttered forever. Defund the arts. This musical theatre opus is incredibly cringeworthy. The oddity factor is intriguing but the execution has me dreaming of the guillotine dropping through the tracks above me. One Night Stand - Instead of the yarn Davey boys is spinning here (I’ll take things that didn’t happen for 200, Alex) I’d like to imagine that this song is about 2005 (and to a lesser extent 2006) wrestling PPV event “ECW One Night Stand.” Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka trading brain contusions to the uproarious delight of the sold out Hammerstein. Hits me much better than the idea of this guy doing a playbill reenactment of a sexual escapade he imagined in an assuredly empty ballroom in Wichita. Buddy is as virginal as the audience at the aforementioned wrestling show. Oh, California! - we hardly knew ye. Ragtime honey! Nyah, you’re in California now, see? Get yourself a transfer from the garden station to Hollywood land. Make yourself a star kid. Now to the big close!! Please? Another Friday Night - I guess I’ll go to town. I would love to turn this off and hit the dusty trail myself, but I am shackled to this desk like a dog, despite my job providing nothing of value to society. Oof, we didn’t want to re-record that note at 2:20?? Man. This guy oozes ill-gotten confidence. Family Band - This should be family banned. We put the parental advisory label on the wrong music. Midnight Carousel - odd music which is cool, but this vocalist needs to be put down. I don’t mean as if he is a sick dog, but insulted more. I like to think the woman in the background on the cover is thinking he looks like a dick. Editing, my good man. Editing. Not every idea needs to be stream of conciseness drivel. Hey. Wait a second. Waiting for the Moving Van - Another boring song about things that never happened. We try again. Blues for Billy Whitecloud - Fuck there should be a blues song for me. 160 albums into this thing with a sub 2.5 rating. I have laboured in the mines of horrible music and this feels like the final slab of limestone crushing me. Where is my WCH claim sheet? Montana Song - This week on Bonanaza, a shitty 10 minute western themed solo from the most egotistical guy in musical theatre. I can imagine the other people at improv camp rolling their eyes and packing up their coats in an attempt to subtly inform this man that nobody is enjoying this. Man that was rough. An artist who drew comparisons to a man I once believed to be a living sandwich, Hoagy Carmichael, was so incredibly disappointing and hard to listen to, that I have already forgotten large swaths of this album. David Ackles has two posters in his dark, dank bedroom above his parents garage. The first. A large PLAYBILL poster featuring a ballerina or some other pseudo-artistic image. The other? A zoomed in fedora shot. Who is donning the fabled brim of destiny you may ask? Who else but our Canadiano Poet Pal; Lenny Cohen. Just outside this - the world’s saddest bedroom - is the canoe photoshoot. American Gothic is a tribute to mediocrity and failed hero worship. Tear down the posters and bring that canoe in to dry. There will be no theatre troupe fishing trip this year. Too much America and the kind of gothic that has me reaching for the razor blades. 0.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Under the lights we’re all just dreams manifest. Use the energy my star child. Fly!! As high your wings shall take thee.
An interesting listen, not something i see myself coming back to
I liked it and I actually had Another Friday Night saved to my playlist before listening to this album. I have a feeling Zak gave this a 1
Ben Folds vibes; piano and solid vocals with dramatic, narrative lyrics and extensive orchestration. First song is interesting and hits hard. Has the energy of Eleanor Rigby, or Carrying Kathy. At his best with tongue-in-cheek stuff like Oh, California! but also enjoyable with Love's Enough or One Night Stand. I would only listen to this in extremely specific circumstances; but I'd enjoy it then, as it's excellent and interesting.
Really wanted to like it - especially given how much influence it has on artists I love. But damn.... side B was a tough listen. 2.5 stars - but it's gonna get a 2 all said and done
This was surprisingly cool!
4/11, 36%
No idea what to expect here. I'm getting touches of early Scott Walker solo, Divine Comedy sort of thing. Sometimes Randy Newman. Theatrical. Second track, yeah, I get the Neil Diamond comparisons. Fully less my whole deal. Track 3 is fully a song from a musical which doesn't exist. Great if you like that sort of thing. Okie doke, several tracks on, I am bored. There are good bits, but overall, not for me. I did very much enjoy Waiting For the Moving Van. That's a lovely little song. It's also clearly the inspiration for the Man From Delmonte song Waiting For Ann, which I love.
What the fuck is this?!
Jazz piano voix pop
The arrangements and music behind his very nice voice are something I'm glad to have experienced.
Super interesting revisit of this album for me. I remember it fondly from my first venture into this list, because it sounded like almost nothing else I had heard before. Now, 900+ albums into the list, the novelty is not quite there, and I don't find the songwriting to really support the more extravagant and theatrical parts of the record.
Completely taken aback by this unique record. There’s some French chanson-vibes, musicalesque compositions and an insisting on doing everything exactly your way. Really interesting record that is deserving of both a listen and your focus.
This is pretty weird. It's like he wants to be a classical composer, but his parents forced him to learn guitar and he ended up like a busker or something. It straddles the world of folk/country/singer-songwriter and classic cantata with a full wind ensemble. It just doesn't really do either thing well, though and ends up just being okay. I think if you took this album's idea and spent 2-3 years with some of the best artists of today (in both the county and classical worlds), you could make an incredible album. But that just isn't this. Favorite Song(s): Another Friday Night
Very musical theater, but in a good way? Never heard of this artist before and took a few songs before I got on board. Great vocals and storytelling Lost me again with Billy Whitecloud, but chalk it up to the times, I guess?
Pretty good.
Some album suffer here because they are the second or third stinker in a row. This one, however, truly is awful.
This sounds like a musical. I really don’t like musicals. But objectively, it seems like it is good if you like that sort of thing. Which I don’t. At all. So it’s a 1/5 for me, but for musicality, I’ll give it 2.
Basic and boring
Cheesy dreck.
Budget Neil Diamond with a splash of racism here and there.
Tämä oli kiinnostava. Välillä oli tosi kivoja pätkiä ja ajoittain taas todella tylsää. Kieltämättä tässä oli musikaalivaikutteita.
Ensimmäisen kappaleen alkaessa ajattelin, että en tule tykkäämään tästä lainkaan. Kappaleen kuluessa havahduin - tämähän on todella hieno kappale! Albumi on todella omaperäinen. Kappaleet ovat täynnä pieniä makeita yllätyksiä. Tykkäsin!
Jaahas. Näitä singersongwritereita on moneen lähtöön. Tähän lähtöön en lähde. Oli liian taiteellista mulle
Noh.. enpä jaksanut tällä kertaa kuunnella montaa kipaletta..
Levyä kuunnellessa tuli mielikuva, kuin olisi kuunnellut vanhempaa animaatioelokuvan soundtrackia. Kappaleissa oli paljon erilaisia musikaaleista tuttuja elementtejä. Artistilla myös vahva tarinan kerronnallinen ote. Jännä levy.
Levyllä oli hetkiä jolloin teki mieli kaataa lasi viskiä ja nauttia atmosfääristä ja hetkiä jolloin mietin että mikä ihmeen b-luokan musikaali tuolla soi. Ackles olisi ollut kova tekijä musikaalihommissa mutta artistina meininki oli tämän perusteella vähän liiankin maalailevaa.
Wow! This is not good! It even pissed the missus off! Bernie Taupin with a swing and a miss!
Rating: 2/10 What a heinous album.
Boring whiny Americana.
Not for me, but had some nice songs.
Favorite Track: Ballad of the Ship of State
liked
This album is not waiting to be rediscovered, but rather it is waiting to have a reasonable vocal melody sung with enthusiastically in key. David Ackles tries to be interesting avant-garde with Ballad of the Ship of State but it comes off as pretentious.
Torn on how to rate this one because I kind of love how over the top and dramatic it is, but not all of it works for me at the same time. "Midnight Carousel" is a really stand out track to me on this. This is a strong 3 that could conceivably grow into a 4. As it stands though, 3 feels more accurate. Cool, weird little listen.
It’s alright
Sounds like a broadway show at times, other times it sounds good, but not often.
A symphonic, theatrical fever dream, agree with most of the sentiment that David was improving here. This was very theatre kid sounding, very grandiose sounding, the over enunciation of lyrics, its all there. Not my preference, entertained me for 40 min, but not worth a look back imo.
Dog shit
Pretty nice, just sounds like music to some kind of movie though.
I was not the audience for this one.
08/03/2025 This was very theatrical it felt. It was okay.
Lounge lizard music
Lounge vibe
Yuk. Not my style
Toca hoy álbum y artista completamente desconocidos. Dulce, hondo y con un dejo de nostalgia, la voz de David Ackles me recuerda a Leonard Cohen, sobre todo por lo relatadas y teatralizadas de sus canciones. Hasta mañana.
Two stars for ambition I guess
Alors là, on sort des sentiers battus et nous sommes loin, très loin des autoroutes du rock à guitares que je m'enfile habituellement avec un plaisir non dissimulé. David Ackles, "American Gothic". Je vous vois déjà froncer les sourcils. Qui ? Quoi ? Un nom qui sonne comme un comptable du Midwest, une pochette qui évoque plus une réunion de famille endimanchée qu'une galette à se passer en boucle. Et pourtant, ce disque figure dans cette satanée bible des "1001 Albums", il doit bien y avoir une raison, non ? Je vais être franc, quand j'ai vu débarquer cet album dans ma liste, j'ai eu un mouvement de recul. On est en 1972, une année bénie des dieux du rock, et on me propose un type qui, de prime abord, semble avoir plus sa place sur les planches de Broadway que sur la scène du CBGB. Le genre de disque que j'aurais probablement classé dans la catégorie "variété internationale" à l'époque où je tenais la boutique, entre deux albums de Leonard Cohen et un best-of de Scott Walker, sans y prêter plus d'attention. Une erreur, peut-être ou peut-être pas. Alors, j'ai appuyé sur "play". Et là... comment dire ? C'est... ample, c'est orchestré, c'est le genre de production qui sent le gros budget, le studio rutilant et les musiciens qui savent lire une partition sans se tromper. On est à des années-lumière du son cradingue d'un "Raw Power" des Stooges, sorti la même année. Ackles, lui, il ne crache pas dans le micro, il articule. Sa voix est puissante, posée, celle d'un crooner qui aurait mal tourné, un Sinatra qui aurait lu trop de romans noirs. L'album se déroule comme une pièce de théâtre, une suite de tableaux dépeignant une Amérique profonde, loin du rêve californien. On y croise des personnages paumés, des amours déçus, des vies brisées. C'est l'envers du décor, le côté obscur de la carte postale. Les textes sont denses, littéraires, et demandent une attention que, je l'avoue, j'ai parfois eu du mal à maintenir. Faut dire que l'anglais et moi, on n'a jamais été les meilleurs amies du monde, et là, on est dans la haute voltige poétique. Musicalement, c'est un putain de melting-pot. On navigue entre la ballade folk, la pop orchestrale, des touches de blues et même des envolées quasi-lyriques. C'est riche, très riche, trop riche parfois. Par moments, j'ai eu l'impression d'être submergé par les arrangements, par ces cordes qui tirent le tout vers une grandiloquence qui frôle le pompeux. On sent l'ambition démesurée, la volonté de créer une oeuvre totale, une sorte de "Sgt. Pepper's" du folk dépressif. Le problème, c'est que là où les Beatles réussissaient à rester légers et inventifs, Ackles se prend parfois un peu trop au sérieux. On trouver aussi une filiation avec Brel, dans cette façon de raconter des histoires, de camper des personnages, dans cette intensité dramatique. Ackles est un conteur, un tragédien mais il lui manque la rage, la sueur. Brel, il te chope par le col et te secoue jusqu'à ce que tu chiales. Ackles, lui, il te regarde de loin, avec une sorte de mélancolie distante. C'est poignant, certes, mais ça manque de ce coup de poing dans le bide qui fait les grands disques. Alors, pourquoi ce 3/5 ? Parce que, malgré mes réserves, je ne peux pas nier la qualité de l'écriture et l'originalité de la démarche. C'est un album qui a des couilles, qui ose aller là où peu d'artistes américains s'aventuraient à l'époque. Il y a une véritable vision d'auteur derrière "American Gothic", c'est un disque qui se mérite, qui demande un effort. Et même si je ne suis pas sûr de vouloir le réécouter toutes les semaines, je suis content de l'avoir découvert. C'est le genre d'oeuvre qui te hante un peu, comme le souvenir d'un film étrange vu tard le soir. On sent que ce disque a été une anomalie dans le paysage musical de 1972. Pas assez rock pour les rockeurs, trop complexe pour les amateurs de folk traditionnel, trop américain pour les fans de chanson française. Un cul entre trois chaises, en quelque sorte. C'est sans doute pour ça qu'il a bidé commercialement, pour ensuite devenir ce qu'on appelle un "album culte". Une étiquette un peu fourre-tout qui désigne souvent les disques que personne n'a achetés à leur sortie mais que tout le monde prétend adorer trente ans plus tard. Pour être tout à fait honnête, je ne suis pas sûr que "American Gothic" aurait changé ma vie si je l'avais écouté à 20 ans. J'aurais probablement trouvé ça chiant comme la pluie. Mais avec le recul, avec l'âge et les kilomètres au compteur musical, j'y trouve une certaine beauté vénéneuse. C'est un album adulte, désenchanté, qui parle de la fin des illusions. Et ça, forcément, ça me parle un peu plus aujourd'hui. En conclusion, "American Gothic" est une curiosité, une oeuvre ambitieuse et singulière qui mérite sa place dans les 1001 albums. Ce n'est pas un disque facile, et il ne plaira certainement pas à tout le monde. Mais si vous avez envie d'un voyage au coeur d'une Amérique crépusculaire, loin des clichés, laissez-vous tenter. Vous pourriez être surpris. Moi, je le suis un peu, pas complètement conquis, mais intrigué. Et c'est déjà pas si mal.
This was original, I'll give it that
Kind of baroque-poppy, like Scott Walker with shades of Leonard Cohen, but nowhere near as engaging as either.
Boring theatre kid shit
A bit much.
overly religious, somewhat overwrought. A real "it insists upon itself" vibe with this one. Not great.
It’s like Neil Diamond tried to write like Harry Chapin album and failed miserably
The music says grassroot folk artist, the vocals scream elitist broadway nerd
Songwriter, ähnlich Neil Diamond
Didn't get sold
Ludicrous kitchen-sink melodrama doggerel showtunes, on depressing topics. Ooft. No thanks. Although, saying that...
good music, too bad it all sounds the same
i wasn’t expecting to like this at all but i loved the instrumentation and it felt really dramatic, i really loved this one, but i was more of a fan of the brass songs and the slower piano songs i couldn’t get too much into. still good record nonetheless CHEERS x
1.3 Oooo been a while since my last 1*'er. Songs from a musical that no one has ever seen or will hopefully for their sake ever seen. Just listen to the lyrics for One Night Stand. What an absolute bellend.
an interesting album. i've never heard of it or david ackles before, but seeing that it's a singer-songwriter album from the early 70s, i figured it had a pretty good chance of being up my alley, since i enjoy a lot of that kind of music from that era. i'm not really sure how to feel about this one. it wasn't bad! it reminded me a lot of randy newman or van dyke parks (definitely more van dyke parks in terms of song style and production style). it's interesting and it definitely feels like the concept of 'american gothic' is ever present. it feels like it's trying to rise to the occasion of an aaron copland. i just wish i enjoyed listening to it more because it is a fairly fascinating album.
I don’t know that I needed to listen to this guy’s musical about middle America. But I’m pretty sure it might have been like the 1010th or 1011th best album of all time. Oh man, it just missed.
酒吧，沙漠，手风琴，灵魂
wow, wordy songs w bible references …a bit too much for me
I don't know what to say....shit ?
Why is this so depressing?
This didn’t do a lot for me
I really did not enjoy this album. It was sappy to a fault (the word I encountered for it is "maudlin") and had a repetitive tone and subject matter between songs. I also do mot enjoy the musical style where a singer kind of sing/talks over music and there isnt much alignment between the sound of each. Still- there were some more compelling elements. The instrumentation / piano work was good. But i still found myself not enjoying the songs or the background singers that supported. Overall- probably 1.5/5 but I am remiss to give it a 2, so it becomes a 1
This sounds like an off-broadway musical that I missed. I understand why Elton John reached popular and critical acclaim, but this fellow didn't.
Losing faith in this list.
The reviews made this seem like this was going to be some sort of Nick Drake level genius, that was undiscovered. This was like a bad play no one wanted to watch.
Dramatic and theatrical, this was not at all what I expected. I found his songs to be earnest and evocative. Great stuff.
2.5
faaaaaack no
Klarer und prägnanter Songwriter Sound. Gutes solides Arrangement aber mit zu viel Längen und teils schnulzigen Balladen die eher an Musicals oder Disney Filme erinnern. Im Großen und Ganzen ist das Album ganz brauchbar.
I really liked this one!
There were elements of things I liked here - the orchestral arrangements, the folksy singing, the weirdness - but the odd theatricality of it all was offputting. 2.5, though it could go up if I listened again.
Pretty good much better than I expected. Its like a mix between Neil Diamond and Simon and Garfunkle, successfully uniting spoken word poetry, folk rock and gospel. Just beautiful melodies and arrangements. Well written and simply a beautiful record that one can listen over and over again
Someone has played an elaborate 43 minute joke on me Favourite Song: American Gothic Least Fav Song: Family Band
For all the plaudits received during his time, it is a mystery as to why David Ackles didn't cross over to the mainstream. American Gothic, produced by Elton John's right hand man Bernie Taupin, is the kind of record that could only come out in 1972; chock full of singer-songwriter ambition, orchestration verging towards outsized grandiosity and the towering epic that is the album's centerpiece, even though it's tacked on at the end. Does American Gothic deserves a wider fanbase? Yes but it is also not hard to see why its hopes for success didn't pan out. Favorites: American Gothic, Love's Enough, Ballad of the Ship of State, Oh, California!, Another Friday Night, Family Band, Montana Song.
1.5 I’d say. Started promising, steeply downhill
Interesting album. Some songs had nice stories, but I just didn't really connect with a lot of them. Oh, California is a lot of fun, and Love's Enough is very sweet. The rest of the album is ok. Best song: Oh, California
This was completely new and fairly pleasant. Like an old Rufus Wainwright it has a stagey, campy, story telling vibe that is fun. Not much depth to it but enjoyed the ride
Boring. Not a fan of the vocal style/delivery. Highlights - Ballad of the ship of state & Oh, California! Very low lights - Midnight Carousel
Such high hopes for an album is never heard of. But it’s Neil Diamond with extra schmaltz.
Hi. California. Hi, California! HI CALIFORNIA!!!!
I definitely enjoyed several of these songs. 43 minutes is kind of long for this guy’s style imo. Ending on a slow 10 minute song is a bold choice. It is overall poetic and the piano is beautiful. I got some Billy Joel vibes for sure but it dragged on at times. I had to look up the Blues for Billy Whitecloud because that shit felt like a turn and if it was purely David Ackles making up a ballad about some Native dude I would’ve rated this lower. Turns out it’s referencing some short story by a Native American guy so I guess I’ll let that “he was okay for an Indian” line slide because I assume it’s a direct reference and not just a hot take. I enjoyed the first 6 songs but couldn’t keep my interest up much longer. High 2, low 3
the front half of the album i enjoyed, the second half got a just a tad too dreary... while the music is hauntingly beautiful, i dont really see myself coming back to this.
This album is really interesting. It reminds me of musical theatre. There’s a story to most of the songs, though they seem largely independent of each other. I felt like some of the stories written by David were very personal to himself, while others were random and imaginative, but still captivating. I really liked this and would listen again.
This was unlistenable. It sounds like this guy was really trying to make it in the musical theater realm but couldn’t and so just made an album. Are there profound lyrics here? Maybe. I couldn’t tell u because of how much I wanted to stop listening.
Yuck
If David Bowie were Mountain Dew, and Meatloaf were Dr. Pepper, this album would be like mixing Great Value's Mountain Lightning and Dr. Thunder. Not the ingredients you wanted and probably wasn't ever going to be good in the first place. Two for the composition.
On my drive home today I thought hey I should listen to the album of the day. It wasn't until I started playing it that I realized wait a second, I already listened to this on my drive-in. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this album is pretty forgettable.
That was a struggle
Don’t like the musical vibe of the songs, especially the first song. Had a few decent moments but nothing to write homemade about. Feels like a strange collection of songs that don’t quite work together
Was this album trying to be a musical? I'm not really a fan of musicals, like I'm not a fan of this album.
Reminds me of "singer-song writer" meets Bernie Taupin (who produced). Yes, it's a little maudlin at parts, but so is Bat out of Hell, and that's one of the best selling albums of all time. This album gives me a feel. Like I've gone into a bar, and there's a guy on the piano, and he's good, and it's heartfelt, and it's a cozy bar, and you have a few drinks, sit back, relax, and take the experience in. Good times.
Last week, I listened to Joni Mitchell’s “The Hissing Of Summer Lawns” where I said something to the effect of she and Billy Joel and Elton John may be in their own company when it comes to storytelling and lyrics that place you IN the song. I would like to add David Ackles, or at least this album, to that elite company. I was FLOORED listening to some of these songs. How have I never head of this guy, or this album? On here are some of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, sung with a lot of conviction, and wrapped up in really pretty instrumental arrangements. Right off the bat, “American Gothic” is such a fun parlor-style story of a messy couple. I didn’t realize I was in for such a theatrical listen! Then “Love’s Enough” straightens things out with a Nick Drake type of love ballad. This song is so honest and heartfelt. One of the most pure fun songs is “Oh California!” which switches into this swanky showtune style and ends with what seems to be a full string/horn chorus arrangement??? How many tricks does David Ackles have up his sleeve??? The last song that really stood out to me was “Waiting For the Moving Van” which just about brings you to your knees. What a sobering, sentimental little song. In addition to these highlights, there’s bits of country, folk, and gospel peppered into things! Plus a very nice long story in the last song. These are the albums that make this list so worthwhile. I can slog through 50 two-star albums in a row if it means the 51st album is this diamond in the rough. Total hidden gem that shines so bright if you give it a dusting. Reading further on his life and legacy, it is a crime that David didn’t get the commercial success he deserved, even with Elton John constantly singing his praises. No popular interviews of him on youtube, very little info to dig into anywhere. This is insane!
Started out well but became a bit theatrical without the charm. An odd fit but not without some merit.
Horrible and strange. 1/5
Thoroughly strange and unique, mixing show tunes with folk music and a grim naturalist approach to lyrics. I can’t say I loved it, but it’s definitely well-made and something I appreciated being exposed to. Best song: Ballad of the Ship of State
An inspiring listen and feels like it would have inspired many following works of art, operas and stories within their own medium. On a first listen I don’t pay immediate attention towards lyricism and meaning, nor continually pause to dwell on the intent of the words painted, and this album is no exception to that. However, it certainly felt that it held some weight with the poems and lyrics it performed and will certainly be one that I intentionally come back to, to further dwell on the beginnings of my understanding on what is being said within it. For an album to generate an inspiring reaction from its listeners, or to pull their attention towards what is being said rather than how it’s saying it, is often an indicator of a strong album and its ability to say something and have an impact. And whilst this album doesn’t quite achieve the fullest ability to do such a thing, like many of the albums before and after it, it quietly whispers its message into the listeners ear and hopes that its audience follows its ensuing tangents. For me it’s certainly a tentative 3/5, and with myself using this as a daily “initial reactions” tool it has a high potential to promote itself in due time, as a very good chunk of these albums do. Time shall tell.
Another theatrical and grand album. Sometimes to its detriment. David Ackles has a good voice, but the lyrics didn’t always capture me. Felt a little lost at times. The first half of the album had some wit and was playful. Standouts: American Gothic, Ballad of the Ship of State, and Oh, California!
V quirky slightly overblown singer songwriter stuff that feels like a Warren Zevron precursor. Intriguing. 3
Mirror universe Neil Diamond. What the hell is this?? I sort of love it, I think. But only the unhinged songs. (ntm.)
OK.
Not a bad listen
Meh
Singer-Songwriter. Dramatischer Gesangsstil. Geht mir auf die Nerven.
Story telling singing on top of piano and arrangements. Tom Waits vibes, without the whiskey voice.
What dress did I just stumble into
1972 US, bdb
Interesting folks music. Doesn’t really sit in the brain tho like other albums. Quite unique I think
I was hoping for magic and got a very mediocre card trick
Hmm, a bit overdone, more than a bit sentimental, even maudlin. I cringed at the "warn ya/California" rhyme. Still cringing as I write. Do show tunes and that orchestration fit with the advertised Gothic? I think his voice (and songs) belongs with Broadway, not with Folk or Americana, or whatever this was supposed to be. Makes me think of Billy Joel and bad Bernie Taupin.
A whole collection if solid Americana. Sounds like it should be the soundtrack of a musical.
Stunning! A mix of old-style French singer songwriters, in the manner of Jacques Brel or Serge Gainsbourg. Throw in a mix of my beloved Harry Chapin and Kurt Weill and you have a confection of sublime, beautiful vignettes. Gorgeous!
Teenage Kicks is a favorite!
I suspect this might come off as more pretentious and high-minded than it really is, but then again, maybe not. Either way, this quasi Broadway musical approach to writing and performing is impossible for me to warm up to.
boy, this really grated on my nerves from note one. maybe i was just in the wrong headspace to enjoy this.
It got better after the first song but that’s not saying much
This is definitely for people who love cabaret and studying drama. Not bad, but overblown on some tracks
2.8
Lots of reviews calling it the local improv theatre of music - jokes on you, I LIKE local improv theatre! Some hits and some misses, but overall really into the sad storytelling meanderings
wow this sucked
I’ve never heard of David Ackles before, but from my brief reading about him, if he influenced Elton John and Phil Collins, I think he’s going to be right up my alley. And this album was produced by Bernie Taupin? Sign me up. It does make me nervous that this album has pretty poor reviews, but I won’t let the haters dampen my good time! Well, maybe there was a kernel of truth to what the haters have said about this album. I thought this album was fine, but I don’t think it deserves its reputation as an underground gem. This album started off really strong; I loved the opening track, and I wished that the whole album would have had the same vibe. The ragtime-sounding piano was great, and there was an anxiousness to the sound and that matched the lyrics really well. Ackles’s singing was really good throughout the album, but on the opening track, he really reminded me of Nick Cave’s singing. The second song, “Love’s Enough” was really good too. The lyrics were great, the piano melody was beautiful, and this song definitely felt like it was produced by Bernie Taupin, which is a great thing. “Ballad of the Ship of State,” “Oh, California,” and “Midnight Carousel” were pretty different though, and their different structure and odd elements were a sharp contrast to the first two songs. The rest of the album was fine, but nothing really captured that feeling of the title track that I really loved. The piano playing and singing were really good, but for me, this was just another fine singer-songwriter effort from the seventies.
- We have Leonard Cohen at home. Leonard Cohen at home:
First song was interesting and I liked Another Friday Night, but I would not listen to this again. Some weird stuff that I’m not at all surprised did not find an audience, despite the Wikipedia blurb. Fantastic album cover tho. Also, the song that Spotify started playing after the album ending was another David Ackles song and way better than anything on this.
Reminds me of Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Cockburn. Too theatrical for me.
Schlocky garbage. Couldn’t get through this album.
Though there were some stirring moments in Family Band and Midnight Carousel, I felt like I was listening to a musical theater recording. Too much emphasis/reliance on the lyrical sentimentality/profundity. Felt thematically antiquated and musically affected, even for 1972.
I absolutely hate songwriting like this.
Solid but not amazing 3/5
American Gothic definitely feels like a familiar album title to me, yet the name David Ackles isn’t remotely familiar to me. Regardless, I went into this with some optimism, and I’m glad I did. It felt very broadway to me, as though it could easily be a stage musical. It had a sprinkling of Billy Joel vibes here and there, but the overall vibe was around telling a story that I imagine could make quite a visual spectacle. Overall, I liked this. It’s an easy recommendation.
interesting album, not really my vibe
Not good, not many people listened to this anyway.
5/5. This is such a unique album, definitely reminds me of the emo folk revival I'm seeing in some newer artists. It is theatrical and over the top sometimes with mundane ideas but because of that, really humanizes those feelings and lets the mind exist in that anxiety. It's definitely not a great one to listen to while sad but it is a beautiful album nonetheless. The instrumentation is wonderful and David's singing/speaking is so full and whole. The last song does take some patience to get through but it was never bad, just longer than I expected. Overall, the album is wonderful (even with the Jesus songs). Best Song: Waiting For The Moving Van, Love's Enough, One Night Stand
Not quite
This started off bad and didn't get much better as it went on.
Um. Well. I'm not sure this is one I'd recommend bothering with. It's kind of crazy in its ambition and reasonably flat in its execution.
This reminded me of the multiple Tom Waits albums we've had to slog through, but without all of the grumbling. It does have all of the dramatic flair though, the touches of dark cabaret, spoken word poetry, and the somewhat weird musical aspects. Like Tom Waits, there are some tracks that remind of villain songs in Disney movies, such as Ballad Of The Ship Of State. All in all, it has it's moments, and I can't fault anyone for enjoying it. But for me, this is more something to experience, than something I can enjoy.
Well that was underwhelming... i'm afraid had to skip a few of the tracks as they sunk under the melodrama. Shame as a few moments are good - but then theatricality kicks in and I switch off.
Dunno why the ratings so low, some people must hate fun.
American Gothic is super weird. It's like an off-broadway show soundtrack but it's hard to get into it because it's so niche you really have to focus in on it and give it your full attention. Someone in the review said it sounds like Neil Diamond and I can't get that out of my head either. Anyway, it's not good per se, but it is interesting, and has its charms, but if you're gonna do something like this it needs huge moments of crescendo and celebration like all good musicals, and this never does that. Give it a 2, why not.
This is odd. Like a low budget musical in parts, but doesn't have the energy to make it work properly, it's an album full of musical filler songs and that is not really a good result from something that could've been really quite interesting. Lyrically it's also a bit weak, lots of awkward rhymes that don't really work. 2/5.
Cantautor estadounidense de los 70. Ni fu ni fa.
Singer-songwriter, estilo Sinatra. Es un poco rollo.
Honestly pretty fun album
Grew on me the more I listened.
I really like the orchestral elements of this, some of it reminds me on Johnny Cash a bit. I also like the imagery/storytelling aspect of the words. Downsides are that all (but the last) songs are really short, and I think that a lot could be much better if they were longer/had more development, because I think it really works in the last one. Favorite songs: Love's enough, Oh, California!, Another Friday night and the last one. (also last one has some Joe Hisashi-esque elements which I really like) Overall around 7/10
If you look at the face of the woman in Grant Wood's American Gothic, I shared that same expression while listening to this album. There is a chance this music is too..."advanced"? maybe...for me, but I think maybe it just kind of sucks.
Bernie Taupin serving as Ackles's aide isn't enough for me to extend any accolades to this mannered folk cabaret.
Pathetic.
I get that it's unheralded but, I also do not wish to herald it.
More a Singer/Storyteller than a Singer/Songwriter
I was glad to see other people compared this to Nick Cave and Scott Walker, because that was my initial impression. I REALLY didn't like this but since it wasn't psychedelic rock, I couldn't find it in me to be annoyed about it.
Well, this was an interesting aural experience… somewhere between an Americana spoken word session and a west end musical. Still not entirely sure what I think of it, but it was certainly different.
W, what, m, ah, eh? I really quite liked that....I think Will definitely listen again, with headphones on in a darkened room
What is this album?? It is not that good. Like thank goodness it is a short album and over quickly. 1 star
This guy has a good voice. Oh, California was good. Everything else seemed pretty pretentious and self-indulgent.
Just awful! This is the sort of music that feels like a punishment to listen to. The compositions are heavy-handed, like show music with a singer who's trying to copy Neil Diamond, but missing the mark. I detest Neil Diamond with a passion, but it turns out I hate a second-rate Neil Diamond clone even more, which I would never have found out if it wasn't for this turd of an album. I got a little bit of Nick Cave on some of the later tracks, but only if he lost half his range, became tone deaf, and sang deliberately flat. There's a terrible, staggering inevitability about these songs, with the singer trying to brute force each song, failing to admit he has literally no talent in singing whatsoever as he lurches from one badly sung verse to the next. I see Elvis Costello is a fan, which explains a lot. There's nothing here I liked, the lyrics were simple stories, with no meat to cling onto, the music was annoying, and the singing is just dreadful. One of the worst albums I've heard so far on this list and fully deserving of only 1 star.
List of pivotal and/or terrific albums NOT listed in Dimery's book that would put the slot taken by David Ackles to FAR better use: Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You Nina Simone - Pastel Blues John Coltrane - Blue Train John Coltrane - Giant Steps John Coltrane - Africa / Brass or My Favorite Things Ornette Coleman - The Shape Of Jazz To Come Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn Adolescents - Adolescents Laurie Anderson - Big Science Dead Boys - Loud Young And Snotty The Wipers - IsThis Real? The Wipers - Youth Of America Beastie Boys - Check Your Head Vangelis - Blade Runner NOFX - Punk In Drublic Tori Amos - Under The Pink Björk - Homogenic Björk - Post Fugazi - The Argument Fugazi - Red Medicine Fugazi - In On The Kill Taker The Breeders - Last Splash Mogwai - Young Team Shellac - At Action Park Weezer - Weezer (blue album) The Posies - Frosting On the Beater (and maybe Amazing Disgrace?) Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F♯ A♯ ∞ Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui UXO Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump Grandaddy- Sumday Grandaddy - Under The Western Freeway Sonic Youth - Washing Machine Refused - The Shaped Of Punk To Come Low - Things We Lost In The Fire mclusky - Mclusky Do Dallas Converge - Jane Doe Mogwai - Happy Songs For Happy People Sigur Rós - Kveikur - Jay Reatard - Blood Visions Women - Public Strains Vietcong - Vietcong IDLES - Brutalism - IDLES - Joy As An Act Of Resistance Lana Del Rey - Norman F*cking Rockwell Low - Double Negative Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away Big Thief - Capacity Big Thief - Masterpiece Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You Fontaines DC - Dogrel Fontaines DC - Romance Wet Leg - Wet Leg Radioactivity - Radioactivity Nick Wheeldon's Demon Hosts - Gift Charli XCX – Brat Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us Coilguns -Odd Love Chat Pile – God’s Country or Cool World Cindy Lee – Diamond Jubilee Ty Segall - Twins Jamie xx - In Colours Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go IDLES - Crawler Low - Hey What Black Country New Road - Ants From Up There Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar Lankum – False Lankum Protomartyr - Ultimate Success Today or The Agent Intellect or Relatives In Descent Run The Jewels - RTJ 4 Father John Misty - Mahashmashana Crack Cloud - Pain Olympics Lana Del Rey - Uktraviolence Shame - Songs Of Devotion That's around 75 albums. Pretty sure there are many more of them that could deserve that slot as well. And here's the main thing to remember: there's more soul and vital energy in *a single second* taken from each one of those records than in the hackneyed music-hall borefest of Ackles' *American Gothic* taken as a whole. This album indeed painfully tries to follow the footsteps of Jacques Brel, Scott Walker and Tim Hardin, yet in his wordy endeavors, Ackles forgot that even narrative-driven singer-songwriters as the ones mentioned here never left aside genuine musicality and enticing harmonies in their songs. Musically speaking, *American Gothic* sounds incredibly flat. And given that David Ackles was not a stellar singer anyway... 1/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 6/10 for more general purposes (5 + 1) Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 435 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 258 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 320 (including this one)
The orchestration is lush. If you play it really quiet so you can't make out the words, it's not bad. Unfortunately, the words are still there.
I get that he was an unsung hero, and never found his real fanbase. I can also see why.
Great voice. Sounds like a great stage voice. Stories were compelling with a hint of bitter sadness
Tiene bases y arreglos muy buenos, pero la voz es un embole, como un recitado bien yankee y grave inaguantable.
Jájá. Svolítið dramatískt, svolítið söngleikjalegt, og svolítið áheyrilegt. En eitt skipti nægir í bili.
Gives me a ton of Nick Cave vibes. Which is not really a compliment from me. Musically it has a mostly pleasant sound, but that crooning voice just grates at my ears a little too much.
This is why I'm on 1001... . Albums and artists that I've not encountered before. David is a new name to me, but he has an impressive set of celebrity fans. Alas, I can't really see the attraction. American Gothic is full of very theatrical songs, and not in a Alice Cooper theatricality sense. I can imagine a Las Vegas crooner wandering around a nightclub, emoting to the max. "I'm here all season.... try the fish." Not for me.
I'm annoyed
Rambling. Author must have found this in a bargain basement
Strange one. Weird vaudeville feel that went all in. There were moments he came back to some restrained melancholy that I liked but damn, that Montana song was crazy. I'd listen again when I have time and a drink.
first listen dark and macabre but not as interesting as other songwriters in this genre
sounds like a dreadful amateur dramatics revue. 1
Trying way too hard to make a statement about America only to have it sound cheesy and laughable. On top of that, his voice isn't great. This was a dreadful listen. A waste of time.
Songs i know: hahaha Songs i like: last 2 songs. 70s black midi vibes to start, then just turns into a score from a mental musical. Doesn't surprise me that a) this guys solo work never really took off and b) he ended up working in theatre. Apparently he sucked off eltons fella or something? Either way I respect him but I won't be coming back. Last 2 songs are maf. Low 2.
Weird vibes. Sounds like a vaudeville Nick Cave at some points, like a broadway musical at others and occasionally a bit like Nick Drake. I don’t think that’s *necessarily* a bad thing, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste. Ultimately, not my bag. There’s some nice folk tunes on here but they tend to get a bit subsumed by the campy stuff. Highlights: American Gothic, Oh California!
John nailed it with the Nick Cave gone vaudeville. Really didn't like his sub par Billy Joel piano ballads. Enjoyed it when his songs had a bit of Broadway swing and swagger. When he's not being a proper weirdo this is alright in parts. Standouts: I liked the instruments on the first track Oh California - Nice jazzy swing. Bit of a song and dance man is old David. Another Friday Night - nice dynamics and as close to an epic song we're going to get here Midnight Carousel - Sounds like OG BC,NR singing a operatic song about a creepy Santa, in a good way. Low Points: Love's Enough - Got a bird have we mate? Ballard of the Ship of State - can't even make head nor tail of this. Just mad. Family Band - might have liked this if he wasn't bible bashing so much Blues for Billy Whitecloud - yeah, pretty problematic mate. I also don't think racist attacks on the Native American community and the bombing of children should be this jaunty. But hey, that's just me. Can see why this guy was never famous. Odd fella and dodgy lyrics. Was an experience though so cheers Koffi
Not a fan. Comical in parts, racist in others. Blues for Billie Whitcloud is problematic and Montana Song is just weird. This album is very much of its time. It’s not a vibe anymore.
His voice feels separate to the music
Music like this is why there was a music revolution. David Ackles apparently never got the hint. This is quite awful in just about every aspect. One has to wonder what the guy was listening to growing up - Pirates of Penzance? I think I enjoyed one track - but by then I was drunk.
Bit of a confusing experience - the slower, more soulful songs resonated more strongly with me.
melodramatic singing in my opinion. he has a kind of theater kid voice for some reason. a few good songs like "Oh, California", but the rest of the songs seem like it's teasing/progressing to a big moment, but that moment never comes
Very dated but some bits sound good.
Album 590 of 1001 David Ackles - American Gothic (1972) Rating : 2.5/ 5 He has a big following and has been mentioned as an influence for many successful artists. This just didn't resonate that strongly with me. Brought to mind Leonard Cohen but didn't hit the same bar. It has its place but my shelf isn't it.
Never heard it previously, makes me want to dig deeper
Like an odd blend of Scott Walker with Geordie Greep's urge to include showtunes in his music, this album was a shockingly good bit of "folk" music with plenty of gorgeous moments on top of whimsical verse, in a matter most similar to pretty much every other act that tries this style. For some reason, the folks on the generator seem to really dislike this style of music, and I fail to see how, because I adore it. Not what I expected this album to be at all, but I really liked it nonetheless.
Singer-songwriter. Sounds more like he is talking in a singing kind of way.
2.75
This sounded like show tunes.
Not a fan. It's like the parts of Blood, Sweat and Tears I like the least, but distilled and even more obnoxious, with the occasional Dixieland accompaniment. Never again.
Unfortunately didn't do much for me. I didn't care for it, and already am forgetting what specifically I didn't care for. 2.25/5
Basically sounds like MacArthur Park the album, and as someone who doesn’t hate that song it’s fine. Could live without it, but it’s decent background music. C-
An "American" album is the last thing I needed today. And on top of that it's not even that good.
Who knows what this is! Starts off slightly interesting and becomes quite funny. Final ten minute 'epic' seals the deal for the two.
perfectly fine folk that is ruined by show tune performances. Why did he do that? He couldn't sing the songs normal style? I don't think this needs to be remarked upon any further.
It's shit
Plays very much like a musical. Ok at times. Gets old though.
this list LOVES albums like this. male singer/songwriters with big voices and a touch cinematic arrangements. and they’re always pretty damn good - if not similar. this guy has 5133 monthly listeners. his most listened to song has <350k plays. idk this should be here but im happy enough that it was
"Can I borrow a feeling" by Kirk Van Houghton vibes. It isn't "waiting to be discovered" it's just horrible and shouldn't have been anywhere near this list.
Most of it is a snore fest. It's only saving grace for me is Oh California. It reminded me of a song from the show Over The Garden Wall. This music would fit well on Broadway but it's not for daily listening.
No, thank you
Listened Before? N Interesting stuff. 70s folk is always kind of hit-or-miss. This one was pretty good and from what I read is considered influential. I can feel the Sinatra influence on HIM, and can tell he influenced Neil Diamond. Subject matter is everyday life, and the life of a struggling performer. A good easy listen. One Night Stand made my Spotify likes. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: One Night Stand
Jesus Christ this was like a Ute Lemper throwback. What the eff even was this. I endured this. I didn't enjoy a single song. Weird, lame, cringe. Made me mad. Was it another show tunes album? I don't understand. Just irritating
God that was awful. What was it supposed to be? It's one of these random albums we've had that sounds like the songs to a musical. I feel like I was really missing out though because the cover is cool, the song names are good and occassionally I liked a short bit of music but it was so random I didn't know what to do.
Liked it. Sounded bluess like I need to listen to the rest
Hadn’t heard of him, but I enjoyed the album. Similar to Scott Walker a bit.
In the 2008 film 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' the character played by Jason Segel wrote a musical for puppets based on the life of Dracula. I didn't realise it at the time but it was based entirely off this album.
Felt a lot like Warren zevon. Very well composed album full of songs that I don't particularly like. Probably was fairly groundbreaking in its era.
This was okay. It was some good some got a little stale.
Worst piece of shit I may have ever heard. lol
With utmost drama Near narrative poetry Rambles through the mind
Didn't like that much at all. A few tracks sounding like they should have been in a musical.
I'm a sucker for songs that tell a story. Ackles' American Gothic paints a picture of an America that most of us can visualise but few know. One can see why Bernie Taupin decided to produce. The backing instruments themselves contribute a rich tapestry, placing us in Mid-West small town America. At times it drags and can be maudlin but it is certainly a stark reminder of what the singer-songwriter tradition can produce. Folk really sounded this original.
Inte min stil, kändes som Disney-soundtrack
It's all very theatrical, like a bad musical from the 70s, and how you feel about that will go a long way to determining how much you enjoy this album. In my case, not very much.
I liked it, weirdly enough. Never going to listen to it ever again, but it was a fun listen.
A totally curious wee artefact. Like listening to Lou Reed’s “Berlin” if it was written by a slightly less nihilistic theatre kid. I had no idea this album existed and, even while its style does start to grate with me towards the end, there’s something irresistibly charming about it. At times vaudevillian, though not bawdy, you can hear the influence Ackles’ quirky songwriting has had on guys like Tom Waits et al. And I really enjoyed it. It’s not exactly a toe-tapper, and maybe part of its charm stems from its complete lack of popular appraisal. But American Gothic is an album I’m glad I heard before I’m dead.
What is this? At first I was annoyed, but then I had to laugh during Midnight Carousel because it’s so bad.
Feels more like a musical
Interesting, kind of Neil Diamond meets Stephen Schwartz. Intriguing until the religious stuff kicks in and then it becomes a hard pass--Jesus, the bible, and women turning to satan, no thanks!
Can't believe I didn't know this artist existed. This is 100% up my alley, sorta navigating into novelty/musical theatre. Excellent songwriting, great lyrics, fun instrumentation. Loved it!
This is the worst pop opera I've ever heard
Odd, last time I listened to this album I absolutely adored it. Must have been in the mood for piano led singer songwriter stuff at that time. Was a little underwhelmed this go around but the album was still solid. High 3
The second he started singing is the second he lost me
I don’t like this songbook kind of stuff at all.
Haven’t listened much
Det føles lidt for meget som at se en dårlig musical
Neil Diamond type beat. Pirates-of-Penzance-core.
After taking a year + break, I’m catching up on the ones I’ve not reviewed (that kind of put me off the project in the first place!)This is one of them, I’m 3rd track in, and I’ve just gotta let it go. 2 because I didn’t give it a real chance, and David Ackles to be fair, does have a decent set of pipes!
i have no idea why i enjoyed this
Not bad, need to listen again
He's passionate I'll give him that. I am sad to learn this is the root of Elvis Costello. We could have stopped this. Will I listen to again: 0%
Country Tom Waits
This sounds like Neil Diamond wrote a musical that was too emotional to last more than a few months on Broadway. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, but it's not exactly what I'm looking for in an album. I had a good time, but its strangeness limits its upside, ultimately.
Pretty shit
Jesus, what is happening with the piano in the background on track one? Why were 70's artists so obsessed with old-time sailors and tormented women with unfulfilled dreams? I'm not able to answer these questions.
Mjög dramatískt. Söngleikjamúsík. Hrifinn.
Such a strange and entertaining trip this album was. Very dark lyrics set to cabaret-esque instrumentals. The at times grim images Ackles creates draws are quite relatable even today. We as humans really are creatures of habit - we repeat our ancestors mistakes again and again.
Based on the cover art alone - I was convinced I was gonna like it. Unfortunately, I did not. I come from a country where sung poetry is a pretty big thing and we consider it our specialty. This was really bad in comparison. Firstly, the lyrics are bland and sometimes cringe (One night stand). Then, even when you get at least the beginnings of a song, melodies - you are suddenly hit with weird theatricals, which I thought were unnecessary and annoying. Then, when you finally get to the end of the album and you're thinking oh, that wasn't as bad as other reviews might suggest - you get hit with everything that's bad with the album at the same time. Too bad, because from what I gather, David Ackles is quite revered among other artists. But this is just not doing anything for me. 1.5/5 - I'm upping it to 2 because it's just so different from all the bland rock albums I got recently.
Yeah man, this is a bad album to come back to, Not my style of music at all, and i feel that this man's rhythm is all over the place. The pacing and flow of his music is hard to follow for most of his songs, with the BPM jumping all over the place, its hard to nail down how the music is supposed to make me feel. Some of these songs i could not even get past the 30 second mark because he is so quick to just DROWN his lyrics with religious references and remarks. This is an album that I will not be revisiting ever again, except for MAYBE one song. That song being Love's Enough, it really does have a pleasant start, the way the piano sings is truly timeless, the lead-in to the chorus is inspirational. This song really aint half bad coming from such a hohum artist, but the rest of this album is a SLOG. Fav song: Love's Enough 2
This follows Bjork? Woof. Ready for something that will make me smile. Then Dirty Roses on the way.
1.5 Lmao my first reaction to seeing this album pop up was trying to figure out if the woman on the cover is one-legged or if she has her leg crossed, and the second-highest review on this site answered that question for me. Shoutout to that person. Anyway, never heard of this dude, but it seems that he was going for some kind of Norman Rockwell-esque depiction of America with this in the form of what sounds like a musical penned by Billy Joel and sung by Frank Sinatra - and it’s awful. Like, Ballad of the Ship of State may be up there with the worst things I’ve ever heard. And yet, for as cheesy and overdramatic as the whole thing is, it still manages to come off as generally uninteresting - it’s almost like a Hallmark film, but without any of the goofy charm. I found myself sick of this one pretty quickly, so ending with a ten-minute number about Montana felt like a giant f-you. I guess this dude is considered one of the greats who just never found his audience, but I’m just really not sure who his audience would be. For the most part, he just sounds like a lesser version of better artists from this era - if you’re someone who is more into musicals, maybe this would be up your alley. I’ll end this with a fun fact - this guy was apparently the opener for Elton John at his famous American live debut at the Troubadour in West Hollywood (great venue if you ever get a chance to go). That performance connected him with Bernie Taupin who would go on to produce this album, though, I’ve gotta say, knowing that has made me reconsider if Taupin was truly the secret weapon behind John’s music. Welcome back to the list, Alex!
2.5
Stämningsfullt album. Helt kiva listen Strong2
Makes me feel like I can and should create music.
this feels like theater kid music. doesn’t matter i liked it
Pre-listening thoughts: this is a weirdly small artist to include on this list. Wonder how many of his streams come from this little challenge Post/during listening thoughts: ya know one review of this album said “this is like if Billy Joel wrote a Broadway musical. And if that appeals to you… help me god” or something along those lines. I mayyyyy be the target intersection for that sorry! So this is kinda cool to me. The instrumentation is fun and very lively and does certainly have a musical-esque quality to it. Special shoutout to the upright bass in Waiting for the Moving Van cause wow it’s beautiful. You can physically hear every instrument being played and that makes me so happy. The lyrics are very narrative based which upon first listen I am not grasping all the way but I’m sure upon relisten I’d be able to get it a little more. Lots of rhythm changes which keeps the listener on their toes. Big but still retains an acoustic quality akin to James Taylor or Carole King. 8/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: not necessarily but I’m sort of glad a pick like this made the list. What a weird pick lol Fav tracks: Loves Enough, Ballad of the Ship of State, Oh California!, Another Friday Night, Waiting for the Moving Van Least fav tracks: Family Band (sounds like a hymn and I am not rocking with that sound)
Another list failure. I wish I could rate negatively.
I don’t even know what that was. It sounded like a bad musical but made no sense.