Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Nick Of Time was a pretty good album. This album was certainly a country album, i will give it that. This album basically had all the sound styles that you would expect from a country album like the slow guitar song, the more upbeat song with some harmonicas among many other things with some of those being blues elements as well. Most of the songs here were pretty good and had some pretty groovy vibes to them and at worst they could be a little bit boring and forgettable. The forgettable songs were not very common in this album but unfortunately, they were still there. This album is a pretty solid album that i would not be against listening to in the future. Best Song: Love Letter Worst Song: Nobody's Girl
This seems like such a unique type of country-rock. It's not at all a go-to style for me, but I remember so many of these songs from my mom having this album on around the house all the time when I was young. I hate some of the bass lines, catchy as they are, but aside from that this album isn't one I'm opposed to playing again. 3/5
I liked this album alright. I expected more country, but it's closer to something like Sheryl Crow. I guess this is a precursor to that? Anyways, I have a soft spot for Sheryl Crow and so I didn't bounce off this like I might have otherwise. 3/5
It’s like if Bon Jovi was a woman. And not just because of the hair.
Very nice listen, sounds a bit dated
Good album for listening on the porch, watching sunset, drinking some pop
I thought it was just ok, easy listen. No big songs I recognize and overall harmless. I was expecting country music for some reason. 6/10.
Not very memorable. One great song.
good but so eighites arrangements
A selection of country sounding music, track 1 was pretty nice. low 3/5
Well, that was .... average. Pleasant enough, but once it finished playing, I couldn't remember any realfeatures of it. Mid.
Good songs. Very poppy.
It’s got that precise, professionally smooth, middle of the road, edgeless sound, augmented by some stylistically horrible synths and electric pianos.
Pretty good. We enjoyed it. Decent vibes
That is okay
I didn’t feel like this really showcased her guitar playing. Maybe next time.
It was great that Raitt finally received some long-deserved accolades and financial success from the album.
Bonnie Raitt has a difficult story, but a great voice. I am glad this record did so well for her and helped establish herself as an artist. But between the genre and the 80’s horrid production sound toolkit, I couldn’t buy in.
Completely generic, inoffensive in every way, music. Reckon it's good for napping.
I ain't no porcupine, take off your kid gloves. Are you ready for the thing called love?
This just feels about as generic as music can be. Not a bad listen if you just want something on but there's nothing really worthwhile here. Cool voice though.
Typisch jaren '80 geluid. En ik erger me daar niet eens aan. Een prestatie als je dat met jaren '80 klanken voor elkaar krijgt. Maar het komt ook wel omdat het een duidelijke vergeetbare 3 is.
Middle of the road, very pleasant
It's 1992, and I'm somewhere in middle America in a lonely dive bar smoking my cigarette and regretting my life choices. This is the soundtrack that plays.
Bonnie's pretty cool. Maybe a smokey for the death pool this year
Solid album. Some good tracks and a good overall listen. I am going to be hard on this and put it on the 3 side of a 3.5.
I had a faint memory of several of the songs on this record, which gave it an added wistfulness.
First time really listening to Bonnie Raitt. Her music has an interesting blend of styles. Her voice carries the album- the instruments in the songs could be hokey and saccarine any many parts. But Bonnie sounded good. Overall- decent album. Not really for me but I appreciate her style
Just good 80s music, nothing crazy
first listen few standouts but mostly miss
The production is very 80's and kind of cheesy sounding, which I suppose is kind of charming about this. Her voice suits the bluesy style nicely. Not really my taste of music so it did get kind of uninteresting towards the end though.
80s country pop. I tended to like the more 80s ballad pop songs more than the honkie tonkie but over still enjoyable enough. 6/10
If you are a fan of Artists like Alannah Myles, Linda Ronsradt, or even Heart. Then you will love Bonnie Raitt. Not really my thing but it gives off that late 80s - early 90s, dive-bar rock and roll scene. The music is well crafted but it honestly feels like it is written by a bunch of studio musicians. The main focus, of course, is the voice and talent of Bonnie Raitt. And she delivers. These artists are probably responsible for setting the path for artists such as Alanis Morissette, Meredith Brooks, and Amanda Marshal. Strong lead women with medicorce backing bands.
Decent blues-rock. Nothing ground breaking... well, at least from a first time listener 36 years after release. Might have been ground breaking at the time though. idk. 3/5
It's OK when she sticks to the blues guitar but should not have got sucked into that terrible late 80s production but I guess it was unavoidable
I'll be honest - I was really surprised to see a Bonnie Raitt record on here. Maybe it's because I've never really been privy to most of what she's done, or maybe it's because I used to conflate her with Reba McEntire and thought she was a country bumpkin singer producing over-produced country schlock that I assumed she wouldn't make a list like this. I was then further surprised when I actually found that I liked this. For one, it isn't country so that right off the bat scored it some points. Is it still 80's music that suffers from the horrendously 80's production sound? Yes. Yes it is. I would love to hear these songs produced today, or remixed by someone today, who can make them sound modern. Because I could see that really improving the album as a whole and making it more accessible. That aside, it's hard to deny that this album is a fun time. The bluesy stuff on here really shines (looking at you "Thing Called Love"). The softer stuff...is ok. I could've done without and instead made this whole album one big blues rock blowout. I almost got the impression that the softer stuff was there to sell the album while the bluesy stuff was her real passion. On the whole, this was a good time and gets a very solid three stars from me. Good stuff, could've been better had it focused on its strengths more. Standout Tracks: Nick of Time, Thing Called Love, Love Letter, I Will Not Be Denied, The Road's My Middle Name
Judging by the cover (and I know that’s a bad idea) I was expecting this to be more of a country album, but it turned out to be an amiable bit of 70s style funky bluesy rock/easy listening that put me in mind of Fleetwood Mac. I really loved Bonnie Raitt’s vocals on this, but the music didn’t really do it for me - the opening track is pure 80s cheese (and was somehow a breakthrough hit) but the rest is an improvement (even if she does somehow manage to rhyme ‘Queen of Sheba’ with ‘Amoeba’). I’m guessing this was a lot more popular in the USA than over here in the UK.
Bonnie Raitt has covered so much ground in her career there is a reason she's an elder stateswoman in music (not just rock - look at her early Blues work). Nick of Time is such a dated sound to today's ears, but was such a crossover smash in how it attracted rock, pop, and blues audiences 3/5
I was warned this wasn’t the best Bonnie but it’s pretty good
OK
Listened to this on one of the lists before. Still hasn’t done much for me.
Pretty straightforward. Raitt’s vocals are great and the tunes are well written. It doesn’t stand out to me as extraordinary, but I wouldn’t skip this LP in a record store.
Gorgeous voice, insane guitar playing skills. Bonnie Raitt is a phenomenal artist. This album is way too commercial for who she truly is, but it got her on the board.
Competent music but not exciting. Not my jam
very nice
I listened to this
I really did want to like this more. Love her voice but this is pretty boring. 3/5
Love her name. Her music is average American fare. Safe and bland.
While country/pop is not a genre I would typically listen to, I did enjoy this album. It has a lot going on and the list of who played on the album sure supports that. I may not necessarily seek this one out again, but I sure wouldn't mind hearing it again.
wow
Sounds nice! But stops at a 3.
next time teller she has to write a melody to the song
Not bad. Very produced country music but Bonnie Raitt has a lot of cred to me between the songwriting and the guitar playing.
Många bra låtar, helt fiilis album
Gave me Cars soundtrack vibes. Fun, danceable, great bass tones. Slightly generic sounding but I’ll give it grace since for all I know it is the blueprint of that sound.
This is pretty alright I guess. It’s kind of got a mix of disco and country which was interesting, but it just seems kind of forgettable overall to me.
Better when she's bluesy, less so when she's loungy.
Enjoyable listen to this
I was expecting this to be quite irritating, but it’s actually pretty pleasant throughout. It is what it is.. it’s not something I’d ever listen to again, but it’s quite nice pop-country-blues. She’s got a nice voice and it’s easy listening.
blues, country, (light) rock, 80's style. OK, but not something I would choose to put on
Not bad, not spectacular either.
While I don't think I'm the target audience it was a cosy enough album, the track Nick of Time is a standout
Das Album “Nick Of Time” zeigt die solide Stimme der Interpretin im Country-Stil und bietet ein schlüssiges Gesamtwerk. Die Produktion und das Konzept verleihen dem Album einen klaren und professionellen Klang. Besonders hervorzuheben ist der Titelsong “Nick Of Time”, der sich unsentimental mit dem Thema des Älterwerdens auseinandersetzt. Trotz dieser Stärken bleibt das Album insgesamt eher unspektakulär. Einige Songs wie “Nobody’s Girl” und “Real Man” wirken vorhersehbar und fügen sich aber nahtlos in das übrige Repertoire der Künstlerin ein.
Decent one.
I probably liked this more at the time. The production, by Don was, is slick and very '80s in places, with a few tracks full of synths and electric pianos, and a little too much reverb on some of the snares. It is still a very good album, the singing and guitar playing, particularly Bonnie's slide is fantastic. The bluesy numbers, some with The Fabulous Thunderbirds are better, elsewhere the sound is very like Eric Clapton’s mid-‘80s output and just sounds a bit dated now.
If I squint, half of these songs sound like they could be on a Christmas album.
The last, bluesy song was my favorite. I can clearly hear that she's talented musically and she's got a lovely, smooth voice. But the songs on this album overwhelmingly scream Adult Contemporary. It's just sort of lifeless and bland to me. Seems like it's specifically written and performed to appeal to a wide-range of people while remaining completely edgeless. Maybe there's stuff in her catalog that would grab me. There are certainly some hints in that direction on this album, but this one ain't it for me. She seems like a classy lady, overall. Maybe she's got a blues album that'd tickle my fancy.
The first couple of songs of this were actually fantastic - it tailed off a bit after that with some quite generic country pop but it started with real impact
It’s ok. Pretty good in some places.
Raitting this 3/5.
I appreciated the lyrical stories, personality, and the experience of listening to this. I definitely won't be returning to it, not my thing, which is why I give it only three stars, but it was an interesting listen!
Nick Of Time is a great song. Some other nice moments on the album. Unfortunately most of it just sounds like anyone at a shitty dive bar. Which don't get me wrong, has a kind of charm in its own way, however the contrast is just too glaring when we know she's capable of Nick Of Time. But hey, without the foothills we wouldn't have peaks. Grateful for it all. 2.5
Soft Rock. Not bad, but not great. Her passion doesn't come across.
Overproduced to a degree that it doesn’t show off Bonnie Raitt, which is a shame. I love Bonnie Raitt.
High 3. Good album
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would. High 3 almost a 4
This one did very little, it was well sung and the lyrics were good but the end result is not musically stimulating.
Old fashioned melodic country pop, from an artist I had heard of but not heard before starting this project. Pleasant enough, but absolutely no edge or emotion
Das wäre eine 2 aber was für eine melancholische stimme. Schöne balladen, die schnelleren lieder naja. Peak 80s
Thoughts before listening: This was a big deal when it came out back in the early 90s...at least in terms of radio play and Grammy nominations. Bonnie Raitt has always been a little boring to me, but I also have probably never given her a fair listen. She just feels like a very adult contemporary version of blues rock. Review: Ok so I thought this was the album with "Something to Talk About" on it, but apparently this was the one right before. It also won a bunch of Grammys so I guess Bonnie had a pretty solid run in the late 80s/early 90s. I definitely had the sound pegged though...very adult contemporary with adult lyrics. Today this would likely be categorized as country music, but in the 80s it passed as blues rock I guess. It's technically very good but just not something I'd ever choose to listen to. 3-stars
I can see my mom dusting the living room to this album on full blast. This album is a total product of its time and worthy of all the late-80s, early-90s praise. That said... hard to imagine going back to it. Keep on dusting, Mom.
classic. 3.5
This really disappointed me. Love Letter and the final song were good songs, everything else was generic 80s plodders. Nowhere near enough slide guitar which is what Raitt is actually known for, how did this win album of the year at the Grammys 2.75/5
I appreciate it but wouldn’t listen to it often.
better than expected. More bluesy than I thought
This album is fine. The songs are all of decent quality but not that notable, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. I don’t have any strong feelings on it, but I guess I’m okay with it being here.
Totally listenable, no highlights. Won't return.
Heard of her before but never really listened. Sounds nice but most likely will never listen to it again
Has some cool stuff. Bit boring at times
Amazing slide playing, polished yet gritty country pop. Easy to listen to songs.
Favorite Track: Nick Of Time
Sweet, but not so catchy
A good voice and good music, though I don't listen to country much at all.
Nice US, bluesy
Competent enough. Sits in a weird blues pop zone not many do? So respect I guess for that. Hiatt song naturally the strongest, she does good with his stuff.
September 13, 2024 HL: title track, "Love Letter", "Have a Heart", "I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again" The only song I knew before today was "Have a Heart" Think this album's greatness lies mainly in opening the door for later Bonnie Raitt albums, though there are some great songs here. The opener & closer are enjoyable, though together they represent the unevenness of Nick of Time; slick 80s pop contrasting hard-hitting blues 3.5
First Raitt album I bought. Sounds dated now, but a decent representation and decent songs.
Very meh, ok album. The blues elements were pretty good, the country elements less so. 2.5/5 -> 3/5
i really want to like bonnie raitt's music but every time i've listened to this album i have been absolutely middled by it. despite its wide acclaim, really outside of a handful of songs, this album is just really not a whole lot to me. bonnie's songwriting is pretty good at times and her voice is iconic. but, quite frankly, some of the stuff here is just boring. the highlights to me are the first three tracks (the title track, 'thing called love,' and, 'love letter') and i could take or leave the rest. it's not bad, it's just really middle of the road for me. i'm always a little perplexed why it has such a huge reputation.
Actually not bad. Maybe this list has broken me down with the amount of turgid country on it. Inoffensive, not my style but whatever, some catchy tunes but nothing to write home about. Alright.
Country legalizinho
Too 80s, too poppy, too country for me. Just not my vibe at all. I can respect it though. As far as this kind of music goes it's much more tolerable to me than most, and I can tell that it had artistic thought and creativity put into it.
75% Best: Nick of Time; Love Letter; Too Soon to Tell; I Will Not Be Denied; I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again Must-Hear? Not quite
Slickly produced adult contemporary pop with blues and country touches. Highlights: "Nick of Time" (solid adult contemporary song although the dance-y backbeat doesn't really fit the melancholic tone of the lyrics, singing, and other music.), "Thing Called Love" (catchy chorus), "Real Man" (piano work gives it a bit of a different vibe) Notable: "Nobody's Girl" (sounds like a Sheryl Crow song)
This wasn't bad, but it also wasn't won-three-Grammys-and-topped-the-charts kinda good. Favorites: "Thing Called Love", "Love Letter"
167/1001
blues rock with a hint of americana. smooth vocals. very polished sound.
She’s good and all but I’m not sure why this album was selected for this project.
Bonnie gets her groove back. I can't stand late 80s production, but I can look past it when the talent's there. The title song is still strong. It's not pop country! Adult-oriented blues?
Groovy! Suprisingly great songs 🤠
Middle of the road
I don't know whether this is a perfect expression of country/pop in the late 80s or oddly bland. It's taken lots of awards and plaudits (though in the UK we have never heard of it/her) so it means something, and it's not a bad album really. I'm going to give it a break.
Very good
After having just praised The The for their unmistakably 80s sound, I chuckled over how the first few bars of this album made me cringe for its also unmistakably 80s sound - synthy, smooth jazzy shlock. While the instrumentation on much of this album is a terrible time capsule of a part of 80s music in which blues and R&B became horribly watered down, Bonnie's voice is phenomenal. It saves the album. But just barely
Like tuning in to a mid morning radio station in the 80s. Pleasant enough, inoffensive, tales of love and heartbreak. She has a decent voice let down by the production and not especially strong set of songs. I imagine she can rip it up live but here feels like unfulfilled potential.
good songwriting and well played songs
this had some good tracks but in the midst of the album most tracks felt similar
Very 80s, not bad. 3.5
貌似很多风格
Raitt is very talented and I enjoyed a lot of the songs on this album. The tone is very 90’s era, especially the bass playing. Overall I liked this. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
Certainly not my favorite record I’ve listened to for the list. Very clean late 80s sound, which to me makes it less interesting. This is definitely music that your mom would have listened to in the minivan carting you around. That said Raitt’s guitar playing and lyrics aren’t anything to sneeze at and I’ve listened to far worse recently.
Decent album, not my favorite.
Its an album that its quite innofensive. It doesn'tmaje anything really bad, but it doesn't surprises me in any aspect. Many times songs sound like generic blues rock or 80's pop songs. Which really saves the album is James Hutchinson bass playing and Bonnie's voice, which iss absolutely amazing. Sometimes, a little guitar part appears and helps the thing a bit. Overall I think its good, but a bit boring
This is a solid album. Well produced and Bonnie Raitt is a talented songwriter and artist. Amazingly, thus is my forst Country album from this list (day 89). This music isn't something I seek out,and sadly it reminds me of background music at the market. Because that's what it was for me for so long in the 90s. But this deserves more than that.
Viime aikaiset levyt on ollut sellasta kurapaskaa, että nyt oli ilo kuunnella taas musiikkia. Tämä artisti itselle vieras, mutta helppo tunnistaa ajan hengen mukaiseksi vahvaksi naiseksi.
Ihan miellyttävä ja tasapainonen levy. Uusi tuttavuus itselle
It's a typical 80s(?) love music album. I didn't find anything unique about it.
Super talented. Everything from that era feels glossy and lacks depth to me. That being said, you can tell the quality of the songs underneath.
Great musicianship, dated 80s production
Such a good album. It's starting to show its age, however.
Thing Called Love is a good song, but this fails to hit the blues/soul awesome level that Bonnie can hit. Ultimately, this is a great sounding album with not great songs.
One good song
Have a Heart made the Dutch Top 40 in 1990, an ok top 40 song but not very special. I listened to the album only 10 years later or so. Several nice songs and a smooth production, but also a bit boring at times. I certainly prefer it to the Don McLean album from the day before, so 3 stars seems about right.
Very much an '80s studio album; DX7 sounds, fade-outs, the whole shebang. Flawless, but also a little boring. Only the blues at the very end made it a bit more lively.
The title song plus a couple more are nice, the rest is quite unremarkable.
Not as dreadfully horrible as the reviews lead me to believe
Alussa ja lopussa kivoja biisejä ja mukava fiilis kaikkinensa. Keskivaiheella oli jotain bulkkia, mutta hyvin voisin taustalla pyöritellä. 3+/5
Started solid then really started to drag
It OK!
Passed the time. Nice voice. MOR.
Not bad, not great either
Genuinely surprised at how good this album was. Great blues based album and not the pop country. I was definitely caught judging a book by its cover. While not necessarily my style. It was a well done album for sure.
Love and pop. You don't need it but it's fine for an evening of lovers.
It's country hour on the local easy listening radio station. It's the kind of music I'd expect to hear any time of the day when tuning in. Fave: The Road's My Middle Name
Ugh, this is aggressively of its time. It sounds like the archetype for a specific flavor of 80s pop rock. I don't know whether that's because it was massively influential and created that sound, or whether it cynically hopped on every bandwagon going at the time, but either way, I don't much care for the end result. I'm just relieved I wasn't forcibly exposed to these songs in my youth - I think I'd probably have grown to hate them a lot. As it is, I guess this album didn't actively piss me off, so it avoids a 2 rating, but it's a low 3. Like, a 2.7. Fave track - eh, I dunno, "Real Man" maybe? I don't particularly want to revisit any of them....
Background: Bonnie Raitt was going through a tough time in life when the album came out, she was sort of wavering between recording contracts and had some substance issues and a skiing accident in the years leading up to this album. This is generally revered as her best album, produced by Don Was, who produced B-52s Good Stuff, and some of the later not so good stuff for the Rolling Stones and other artists more or less past their prime, the album blends elements of country, blues, new wave and something of a more traditional pop sensibility into something uniquely late 80s and extremely listenable. Lyrically the album is very traditional and waivers between country/r&b/new wave sensibility along with the music, which reflects the varied songwriting credits on the album. On the lead title single "Nick of time" we get the sound of 1989. This song sounds a lot like some early 00's country music in lyrical pace. Harmonies and synthesizers make such a positive vibe. This is one of only two tracks on the record written by Raitt herself. "Thing called love" seems much closer to country rock than the synthesizer 80s bass smooth groove we hear on nick of time. It's a pretty catchy bop if not terribly innovative. Written by John Hiatt, a prolific artist more in the country/blues new wave vein, this track was one of the bigger hits on the record. "Love Letter" brings us back to more of that 80s bass and synth feeling, feels like something out of the 90s world of romcom. This seems more in line with the "Nick of Time" production. "Cry on My Shoulder" seems to be a bit of new wave + pop + traditional song. Raitt's tracks here always combine country/blues guitar and synth/drum tracking that feels more at home in new wave pop. Vocal harmonies with the masculine underpinning voice help propel this to an almost broadway-esque tone. We also have backing vocals from Crosby and Nash Real Man feels like something Dolly Parton could have written, written by frequent Clapton collaborator Jerry Lynn Williams, we get some great honky-tonk on this track and strong vocals from Bonnie. On Nobody's girl we go to the quieter softer side of the hard rocking Bonnie Raitt as she absolutely shreds the guitar part here, I was not familiar with her guitar game, so first went looking to see if this guitarist was someone else I had heard of, but her guitar here is some specimen fingersyle blues songwriting. "Have a heart" we're suddenly in some sort of carribbean beat and percussion with something reminiscent of call me angel in the morning. Bonnie Raitt continues to tear down weak men with her raspy strong voice. She delivers some more Southern slide guitar shredding on this track even along the synth + strings + steel drums sound of the more tropical equatorial south. "Too Soon to Tell" we're on a traditional pop song, plus the signature bonnie raitt slides and blues guitar. We've got some strong belting on this track and delicate pulling back. Bonnie Raitt's dynamics on this track are fabulous and the song itself holds up strong. This song was interestingly written by college football hall of famer Mike Reid along with Rory Michael Bourke who have some strong country credits under their belt. "I will not be denied" we have a blues motown feeling from the beginning. "Hutch" Hutchinson's bass shines through this one, as we layer on the honky tonk piano, some horns from Heart Attack Horns, and the guitar work from Johnny Schell. Was' backing vocalists come in with sandpaper bass to smooth out the "deadly" sound of the pre-chorus. Blues, motown, gospel and musical theater influences all come out here as this song builds up to let us know that Bonnie absolutely will not be denied. "I ain't gonna let you break my heart again", we start from a traditional piano + blues song, with the strong reverberating vocal tone that we've heard throughout the record. The intricate piano from Herbie Hancock drives this song to a level of jazz songwriting that we haven't heard to this point on the album. After this soft detour away from the honky tonk bar to the jazz concert hall, we're back on the road, "The road's my middle name". The only way we can possibly close out this album is with Bonnie's roots, some killer guitars a harmonica and a blues standard composition. Ending where we began with a Raitt composition, we know where we can find Raitt, touring and performing and bringing the honky tonk bar and her blues soul to mid-large concert venues across the country in the late 80's early 90s. Overview: Coming to this album with no knowledge of Raitt's work or her history, this album was an exceptionally relatable listen. I'm a big fan personally of 70s southern rock and new wave pop so oddly enough this album was a very good hodge podge for me personally. We can feel her stand at the precipice of the 70's, 80's and 90's all at once as she brings the new wave, southern rock, and even more traditional sounds of blues, standards and jazz into a relatable package.
Got off to a good start this, but wasn’t convinced by the end. Simpsons: No
I couldn't really place this album, I guess it's country? Maybe 1989 country. I was just surprised at some of the synth'y sort of sounds that I heard on there. Decent album overall. You can tell why Bonnie is highly respected in the music world. I think she bent some boundaries here.
3/5
its really mediocre and boring, but inoffensive
Ok
Bonnie is so versatile. This album gets a little too poppy for my taste. Though it does have some rippers
Interesting voice, but the song arrangements are of it’s time.
I seem to be landing on a lot of 3 stars lately and Bonnie Raitt will continue that trend.
Pop
Her success is well deserved but I am not sufficiently evolved as a human to disassociate this with the Boomer nostalgia soundtrack that I resent for degrading popular music in the 1980s.
Although I've never been a huge fan of hers, I was sorry to read (in the Wikipedia entry) that this album has been sliding down in Rolling Stone's best 500 albums (and likely is gone by now), as it's a solid album for its time and was--and to some degree still is--enormously popular. I had no idea about all the struggles she endured before this album came out, and I'm glad it rescued her career, as she seems like a great artist and person. And she and Lyle Lovett put on a great show at the 2002 MN State Fair, so it's hard not to hear some of these songs and think about that performance.
# Playlist track - "Thing Called Love" # Notes - Opening track suffers from a serious case of "80s keyboard sample" but it's cool. +1 - "Thing Called Love" is super campy and fun. +1 - The slower, love-balady tracks that follow are a bit boring, and unfortunately they set the done for the rest of the album. - 80s Hair and outfit on the cover are also +1 star.
Litt tynt, litt kjedelig, veldig åttitalls. Noe morro honky tonk greier men... er liksom bare ting jeg har hørt før, tekst som spiller på klisjeer. Men samtidig er klisjeene brukte for en grunn, det funker.
I feel like I should have enjoyed this more but it never really gets out of first gear. I know Bonnie Raitt is a talented musician but it just didn't work on this album. 2.5/5
A great mix of country of synth! Very fun and upbeat in an 80s way
Meh
The biggest thing I've had on my mind listening to this album has been context and its importance to the listening experience–or lack thereof. I've made it no secret in my past reviews that I find context pretty important: PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE, IF YOU WANT IT DARKER, EXODUS, even DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE. Nothing exists in a vacuum; what happens before and after a piece can be just as important as the piece itself. But I suppose the question is "To what point is it really necessary?" The review of this album on this website that stuck out the most to me has been one that claimed that Pitchfork's retrospective review of the album is 80% relaying the surrounding context. I skimmed the review before I read this, and that does seem to be the case. The reviewer does spend a lot of time going over the personal and professional trouble Raitt was going through beforehand and the success she found with this album afterwards. There's only a paragraph or two in there that actually touches on the music itself. And, y'know, on the one hand I get: the story is the appeal. Y'know, listening to it and knowing that Raitt was able to pull herself up from such a dark place and produce such a commercially and critically successful album. It won her Album Of The Year for goodness sake. But on the other hand, you wonder: is that it? Is that all this album has going for it: its surrounding story? What does it offer beyond that? I'll say to begin with that I had no idea who Bonnie Raitt was seeing this album pop up. Which felt weird to me. Sure, I recognized her name, the album title, and even the cover, but I didn't have a clue what it'd sound like. How do I recognize an artist so much and not know how they sound? It took me nigh on five minutes to remember she won the 2023 GRAMMY for Song Of The Year, and in the interim I legit confused this album for the Stevie Nicks one with "Edge Of Seventeen". Then, when I actually listened to the album... Despite clearly reading on Wikipedia that this is an Americana album, for some reason I kept comparing it to the country albums I've heard? From her debut she was blues and folk, but I kept thinking about, like, the Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton songs I liked, and the more modern songs I was introduced to through Cledus T. Judd. 'Cuz at least in the title track I can hear that style of writing. Musically, **Lord** no. It's not the most 80's thing I've ever heard, but it's up there. I mean, maybe that's why I thought it was country. I guess I expect Americana to be rootsier, like that Emmylou album I heard before. And with way less synthesizers. Certainly I can't hear it as **blues** like Wikipedia also claims it is. Honestly, listening to this album in 2024, I can't help but wonder why it was such a big hit. What was really so different in 1989 that this hit hard enough to win Album Of The Year? Even removing it from its context, like I often do with Axl Rose's CHINESE DEMOCRACY, doesn't make anything here terribly better. I guess her voice is nice, and I didn't think there was a song on here that was terrible, but... Beh. This is a 3 from me, but a lower end 3. It doesn't spill into the realm of 2's by virtue of not being an ass-boring drum n' bass album, and that's not entirely an impressive feat. At the end of the day, though, I don't wanna begrudge Bonnie Raitt anything. This album helped her out of a bad place, I'm happy for that. And clearly, this album and the story surrounding it holds a lot for people who resonate with it. Just a shame it doesn't do anything for me.
It’s a 2.5 that I’m gonna round up to a 3. I don’t think there’s a bad track on this album, but when this sound starts to lose its luster, it loses it FAST. There are some really nice tracks here, but by the end, too much of it just started to blend together for me. Solid instrumentation, some occasional vocal standouts, but a lot of this just feels really really paint-by-numbers to me, and not in a way that hit with my sensibilities too often. Sort of disappointing, but not bad, just… plain.
it was alright better then the other albums so far at least there was a tune and some funky music sometimes
A great singer, but overall I thought the album was just alright.
Once again with the "pile" syndrome. A couple of times now I have considered this phenomenon. It is when there is nothing particularly bad about a band or musician, but that for whatever reason they sort of find themselves in a "pile" of somewhat similarly genred and well placed alternatives. Bonniie Raitt has some shining moments and uniqueness that puts her closer to the front of the line, but ultimately... meh.
I’ve always loved her voice especially when she skews blues over country. She does go a bit more country more often though.
p627, 1989. 3 stars. Music for US midwest roadside bars. Well done country/rock, but lacking standout tunes.
Good, pleasant to listen to, but not really for me.
Not bad
3.5/5
Strongly feel like I could have died just fine without listening to this
Can't wait to talk to Kev's mom about Bonnie Raitt when I see her next. She has a pretty good college-aged story about meeting Bonnie Raitt that I'll have her tell me again. Love Letter is a jam! Definitely errs on the side of folk, but there is definitely that 80's electronic sound in a lot of songs Came out to a hot start, but settled into a standard album for me. Kinda forgot I was listening tbh.
Realized this was on shuffle over halfway through :( I got the gist of it enough though so just let it roll. Pleasant album, even though it incorporated some of my least favorite 80's sounding country. Enjoyed it even for that which really means something! Solid 3.
Bonnie Raitt honestly feels like such a blind spot for me. I love so much 80s rock, especially the female singers, and yet have just somehow never sat and listened to Bonnie. Looking at the track list here, there is nothing that jumps out as recognisable to me. I’m very optimistic going into this one. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Nick Of Time, Have A Heart I did enjoy this, but it feels like a bit of a stretch to consider this a rock album. It’s far more poppy than the likes of other female rock singers of the time. There’s nothing wrong with that - it’s just to point out that I went in with the wrong expectations. This was still a pleasant listen, with nice vocals and a generally laid back vibe. There are ballads aplenty here, but still a few more upbeat tracks too. Overall, this was decent. Nothing amazing, but decent.
Prototype Shania Twain with some synths. Didn't hate it.
Good but not my style
Bonnie Raitt is an artist that I've known of, but have never actually listened to intentionally. I always equated her to being just another country artist. This record was a really nice listen that was very easy on the ears and she has a wonderful voice. The content is relatable as she talks about love and companionship. The music is 80s cheesey at times, but it's still pleasant. A welcomed surprise.
Smooth voice and a joy to listen to. The slide guitar is just as masterfully played as her singing. Not a lot of jams on this one, was hoping for a few more.
I'm a Bonnie Raitt fan, and had both this album, and the "Luck Of The Draw" album that came out just after it in 1991... Liked both albums, though prefer "Draw" - probably because it seems more bluesy to me, as that's how I like my Bonnie... Best songs on "Nick Of Time" IMO were "The Road's My Middle Name", the title track "Nick Of Time", and "I Will Not Be Denied"...
Not typically my style of music but a really well produced album with a lot of great songs. Bonnie Raitt also has a beautiful and terrific voice!
This felt like a guilty pleasure album. I enjoyed it more than I expected.
Most music really is just 'fine', isn't it?
Well constructed album, just not really my thing.
The title track is excellent but the rest of it was showing its age quite a lot. A generous 3 because it was good but starting to creak.
Not my favorite Bonnie music, but I sure do like her.
Some bangers but a synthy bore otherwise. Maybe needs another listen
thought i would hate this but to be fair it’s pretty great being what it is
Very talented songstress
Bonnie Raitt won Best Female Rock Vocal for this album, and Best Female Pop Vocal for the title track. “Nick of Time” is an album that deftly weaves between genres - easy listening, honky tonk, blues rock, pop, Americana - and I think that’s what gave it such broad appeal. It made a slow climb to the number one album on the strength of the deserved hits “Nick of Time” and “Thing Called Love,” and has the neat distinction of being the longest from an artist's debut on the Billboard chart to having an album hit number one. It revitalized Raitt’s career and probably did a great deal to inspire a decade of pop country singers. I really want to give it four stars for those first two songs, but the rest of the album never reaches those levels again.
And a half
I like the bluesy stuff more than the 80s pop sounds.
Not so interesting to me, but very pleasant and incredibly well executed. Yet I don't think I'll listen to this again unfortunately
20th century female pop-tinged country is a great genre that I'd love to hear more from. This album is nothing special, but it's still good.
Other than "Cry On My Shoulder" and "Real Man", this album wasn't too bad. Would I always be in the mood to hear it? Nah, but most of the songs are okay enough. I guess being born in the mid 90s and not hearing any Bonnie Raitt (except for "I Can't Make You Love Me") means I'm not overexposed to her stuff.
Solid but nothing I had heard before.
Quite good
A tremendous vocalist and bottleneck slide guitar player, Bonnie Raitt certainly deserves consideration in the pantheon of 20th century American music -- if for no other reason than her torchbearing for blues and what later became known as Americana. This record feels a bit over-polished, however. It's good, it's stylistically varied, but it's too clean an effort to be truly interesting. I Will Not Be Denied stands out as a showcase for the Raitt with whom I'm familiar, but overall the album is a bit staid and sterile. Worth a look if you're curious but not a must-listen for general audiences.
I love Bonnie Raitt, but there are definite ups and downs in this album. Some great pop and blues, but also late 80's elevator music
I am ready for the next album
What does that button do that she's pushing on her utility belt?
тоже кантри но не такое непроходимое как некоторые) норм
Starts strong with nick of time, which was probably my favourite song off this album A lot of the songs here feel quite generic, maybe this wasn't the case when the album released but it is hard to say. I enjoyed this anyways, although it did leave something to be desired. Just like I am now desiring a simple life out in the country
Not bad. Again, not my cup of tea. But I really liked "The Road's My Middle Name."
The blooz. As I get older, I much prefer listening and playing anything but screeching Chicago style bs. Macho posturing, tales told by idiots signifying nothing. Bonnie raitt is a fine player and interpreter. She is a hard worker, but this, when I was 19, would have been awesome!!! But now is dull to me. See also Eric gales and Joe bonamassa. All clearly talented. But I’d rather listen to English, New Orleans , Memphis. Yank Rachel thrills me much more than Stevie ray. The originators - wolf, muddy, b b, hooker etc are exceptions. To be honest, this is pretty good. Bonnie’s got a terrific voice, the songs are solid, and she really can play. But it’s dull. Predictable and I’d much rather listen to her earlier stuff. I’m glad this sold well. I don’t need to hear it though. 2.5 rounded up.
I’ve always been fond of Bonnie Raitt, but I definitely prefer her earlier 70’s albums to this. Her voice is still great on this, as is her slide guitar, which we don’t hear enough of. But there are only a couple of standout tunes here - the reggae-tinged Have A Heart & definitely the title track.. To this day the second verse of Nick of Time makes me weepy : “ I see my folks, they're getting old, I watch their bodies change... I know they see the same in me, And it makes us both feel strange... No matter how you tell yourself, It's what we all go through... Those eyes are pretty hard to take when they're staring' back at you. Scared you'll run out of time.“ Probably even more so now that I’m in my 70’s with a daughter who is now the age I was when this album was released. Her father John was a Broadway & Hollywood star (male lead opposite Doris Day in The Pajama Game) & I saw them perform together on Letterman a few times in his later years. Very touching. Three stars for the title song alone.
Rating: 6/10 Mixed bag album. The upbeat songs are great, a lot of fun to listen to and a great mix of blues, rock, and pop. The slower songs are incredibly boring, not bad instrumentally or vocally just not interesting for me to listen to. Favorite songs: Nick of Time, Thing Called Love, Love Letter. Worst songs: Cry on My Shoulder, Have a Heart, Soon to Tell, all very boring.
This is so close to being something i really really like, but instead it's just something i think is good. The first track is fantastic, and all the songs on the album that are in a similar vain are great. The issue is the songs that are the 12 bar blues. I dont think they fit in with the rest of the songs, and if you have to pick a portion not working, its the bluesy songs. i would have been a high four, but its an average 3/5
And here we have an album that just kind of exists to me. I don't really know what I can say about this album because of how neutral I am to its existence. I think the singing is pretty good. Bonnie Raitt definitely isn't a bad singer, I'll give her that. The songs are nice, albeit a bit repetitive at times in terms of what the songs are about. The instrumentals are fairly simple, but they get the job done quite well. Does this album deserve to be called "Album of the Year" at the Grammys? Probably not. Maybe this album was important and groundbreaking at the time, but it doesn't really seem special to me now. Still, I will acknowledge that is definitely not a bad album. 3/5.
Country roads take me home
2 days in a row I’ve gotten a great singer singing other people’s songs. Overall it’s good. Like it, don’t love it. Production is SO 1989. Songs are decent but I wish she’d written them. Didn’t add. Not sure I’ll ever listen again
Good singer songwriter type album, great lyrics
Quite boring,nothing very interesting here,country/rock 80s radio stuff
Good album. Just not for me
It’s an ok album. Not her best work.
Best Song: Love Letter. Something about female artists of this error just grants them the ability to sound righteous in a non-sanctimonious way. Worst Song: I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again. Too effortfully cheesy. Overall: Better than I expected, but still not great. She's got a pleasant voice, but the songs aren't particularly interesting.
Rating: 3.5
I've listened to "Something to Talk About" for over thirty years now, but that's really the only song of Bonnie Raitt's that I'm familiar with. However, thanks to the podcast 60 Songs That Explain the 90's, I know the background to the recording of this album (Raitt being dropped by Warner Bros., becoming depressed and struggling with alcoholism, almost signing with Prince, then signing with Capitol). I was really excited to get assigned this album today, and I thought it was a good album. Right from the first note, I was struck by how "un-country" this album sounded. The lyrical content of this album was very much not what I expected, but knowing where Raitt was in her life at this time, these songs had a very genuine quality to them. Raitt has a great voice, and this album really showcased her talent as a singer. The title track absolutely blew me away, and "Have a Heart" was great too. All day though, the lyrics to "Nick of Time" have been replaying constantly in my head. I'm 38 years old, and my wife and I have an almost two year-old daughter, and another child due next spring. Time is something that I think about a lot, especially as a new dad. I struggled to adjust to fatherhood during the first several months of my daughter's life, and finally started to get therapy for some unaddressed trauma from my childhood. Last fall, I lost a grandmother whom my parents kept me away from throughout my childhood. She was a wonderful woman, and despite the emotional distance, I miss her dearly, and I regret that she never got to meet my child, who was her only great granddaughter. Time is such a thief, especially during these last several years, as we grappled with a global pandemic. "Nick of Time" illustrated the heartbreaking fragility of the short time we all have on this earth with a beautiful simplicity. The simple melody was beautiful as well, and served as a perfect compliment to the poetry of the song. "Nick of Time" is the type of song that I will probably remember where I was the first time I heard if for the rest of my life. "Nick of Time" good album, but a timeless song.
Kinda like it for being... blues rock? Never heard much from that genre. Even if I couldn't pick a single song right now, I enjoyed listening to the album as a whole. Plus that album cover slays.
Pleasant enough but not exciting.
Man, people really fucking hate this album. Not every song is top tier but definitely an enjoyable listen. 3.5/5
Not the worst, but absolutely not my thing. Bonnie has talent, thats for sure, but this album is the sort of music that makes me leave a room. 3/5
3/11, 27%
I have found it extremely difficult to rate these albums, for two reasons: - My rating scale is very subjective and varies album-to-album, making the numbers useless for comparison. - Often my first impression does not line up with how I feel after a few more listens. I'm trying to be more consistent by using the following scale: 1 = Boring or unpleasant enough that I couldn't finish (or had to force myself to finish) 2 = Finished but didn't particularly enjoy 3 = Liked it this time but not interested in listening again 4 = Planning to listen to it again (for enjoyment; listening again because I haven't formed an opinion doesn't count) 5 = Likely to listen frequently (basically the same as 4, but with a
youtube does not have the full album. Let's be fair.
Pleasant enough
pretty good, didn't really push my buttons that much but it was alright to have on
Thanks Ms. Rat, I like your voice but was overall bored (2.5/5)
Great 80s memories!
It’s great to hear an early record from a pioneering woman in blues. It is super cheesy. Sorry.
Même si Robert sait bien que j'ai un faible pour les ballades cuculs des années 80, ce baril de connerie qu'il est a encore généré un album sans tube alors que l'ami Bonnie en a quelques-uns. Je donne un trois sur cinq, dans ces conditions.
Si Bonnie s'habillait moins comme un chagasse, elle aurait peut-être pas besoin de nous chanter ses peines amoureuses sur 11 pistes.
for being mainstream country lite, bonnie raitt can pipe and sing and slays. this album is alright. get it gal!
Well produced album, no doubt! Thing Called Love ends with a little Joe Walsh nod. Love Letter definitely sounds Peter Gabriel-inspired. My mom probably liked this album. Ok, Have a Heart is a jam! Probably a 3. I mean, it’s pretty good but probably won’t be listening again any time soon. Her hand position on the cover is very awkward.
vinyl
Bang average meat and potatoes fare.
Good stuff!
It's fine. Very inoffensive but nothing that stood out.
nice, but not great
Pretty smooth, she has a great voice, good to work to
Love Bonnie Raitt. This album was a little too adult contemporary for me, not my favorite overall, but it had some of her best moments, and I am thrilled she finally got the mainstream recognition she richly deserved.
This one was a bit too easy-listening for me. Not enough highs and low to really catch by attention anywhere. Nice, but not exceptional.
Quite good 😄
This one didn't do anything for me, really. It didn't stand out.
Very 80s pop rock album that’s just ok. I was worried at first as I really didn’t like the title track but it does get better after that pretty quickly with the next one. There’s not much to say; a decent amount of variety for what it is, catchy songs, not too bad.
I know people love Bonnie Raitt but I've never really checked her out although now that I'm listening I realize some of these songs were so ubiquitous back in the day that they sound familiar, even though I never listened to any radio stations that would have played her. Anyway, easy to listen to, pleasant enough in the background, but I cannot for a minute believe this album is why she's beloved. So why aren't I listening to that? 3.5
Album 51 of 1001 Bonnie Raitt - Nick of Time Favorite Track : Thing Called Love Rating : 3 / 5 Pleasant enough. A collection of love songs put together and released as an album. Good radio play in the late 80s. Not my thing, really, but appreciate its commercial success and her talent.
This is so late 80s that I grew a couple of shoulder pads just listening to it. But you know what? I'm sick today and this went down real easy. Thing Called Love is pretty strong. A lot of the other songs don't really register, so I'm gonna give this a 3, but thanks for the medicine, Bonnie.
I'm torn. On another review I said the worst musical crime is bland competence, when it's at the expense of creativity or artistic risk. I think Nick of Time just about scrapes by on account of its songcraft and Raitt's lovely, smokey vocals that hum with toughness and vulnerability as the occasion calls for. However - how have you got Herbie Hancock, Kim Wilson, half of CSNY and half of Was (Not Was) on this platter, but sounding so anonymous? Feels like a missed opportunity. I dislike the wet keyboard sounds that crop up here and there. Someone needs to retire that 'Sweet Home Alabama' / 'Werewolves of London' chord progression. Saying all that, 'I Will Not Be Denied' rules, as does 'Thing Called Love'. In summary, the rockier material worked - the soft Americana just slid by.
It was okay.
Great songs, just way too smoooooooooooth for my mooooooooooood.
Это сильно и хорошо, прям ну правда приятненько слушается Но что-то выдающееся отметить тут сложно, 3+
Наверное, в силу возраста, про Бонни Райт я узнаю только сейчас и в контексте нашего эксперимента. Но вообще - она легендарная! По крайней мере, так считают критики и те, кто присуждали ей Грэмми за этот альбом (в количестве 3 шт). Мелодичные поп-песни, которые можно слушать на фоне. Они абсолютно не раздражают, но и не сказать, что прям очень сильно цепляют. Душевные тексты, милый голосок, минималистичная аранжировка - в целом, вот он, успех масс-музыки конца 80-х.
Not country, fine for what it is
J’aime l’authenticité de sa performance.
This was okay.
bonnie raitt has an absolutely mesmerizing voice! some of these songs aren't the most memorable, but she brought her A game to every single song. her vocals are just amazing. similar artists to raitt's style here are springsteen or petty, but of course their vocal range is not like raitt's. most of this album is some country, blues, rock (just like springsteen and petty), but then some jazz tones are used unexpectedly (see "too soon to tell"). really, this was incredibly easy to listen and relax to. a lot of what i like about this album is bonnie herself! while most of the songs aren't her own, she's owning the music and herself. "nobody's girl," "i will not be denied," "the road's my middle name." the late eighties weren't the dark ages, but raitt's backbone and determination to create music in a man's world is seen and appreciated. and of course, say what you will about an album mostly full of cover songs, but one of her biggest songs is "nick of time," first on this album and an original song of hers.
I found this to be well produced and Bonnie Raitt's voice is certainly fantastic all throughout, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I found the album to be pretty bland. Most of the songs just seemed to drag, even the more upbeat ones. I will say, as someone who appreciates 90s country, I do appreciate the groundwork Raitt is laying here for that particular sound. I didn't love this by any means, but it was listenable and okay. It was just average all around. Again, Bonnie Raitt's voice is fantastic here and should have been done more of a service. Probably a high 2.-something, so rounding it up.
Not really my thing but had some fun listening to this.
Nick of Time is the tenth album by the American blues rock singer Bonnie Raitt. This album was a commercial breakthrough after years of struggles and went on to be her best-selling album. It topped the Billboard 200 chart, won 3 Grammys including Album of the Year, and has been certified 5x platinum in the US. Nick of Time features a stripped down, acoustic rock sound that amplifies Bonnie Raitt's voice. Although I enjoyed this album, it's not my particular cup of tea. I think it's like a Taylor Swift album, but from the late 80's. Awesome singer, but the music is missing substance or an "oomph" that I'm looking for. If a listener enjoys a solo female singer, then this album is for them.
My aunt had a Bonnie Raitt greatest hits CD I used to listen to a lot when I was babysitting my cousins. It calmed them down. I love her husky bluesy voice, she oozes authenticity and she’s a hell of a guitar player. And her lyrical content is uniquely vulnerable yet upbeat and tough. Quite a badass. Hail Bonnie.
She can play, she has an excellent voice, burr mist of the album was dull. The last 3 songs were much better.
Great voice, loved the first track but that’s all that stood out to me.
3 stars
I actually kinda like the smooth 80s pop numbers, but the twangier tracks with slide guitars and harmonicas that dominate the album just aren't for me.
Mom-music.
Don't think it was for me, but some good songs!
Quand même quétaine et c'est automatiquement décevant quand on apprend que la grosse majorité des chansons sont des reprises. Mais quand même bien exécuté, belle production, belle voix.
2.9
3.4
I usually don’t love cheesy ish music but this album wasn’t bad. I think the length was perfect as well, and the songs were pretty similar but interesting and good.
I probably hadn't heard "Thing Called Love" in 20 years - throwback. I remember when this came out and was all over the radio thinking naively this was a new artist LOL but quickly found out she'd been releasing albums for more than 15 years. Kinda cool that she's having another/similar renaissance today (2023). Blues music for me is just *ok* and often gets old quick; Bonnie Raitt is a bit of an exception ... maybe because just by not being some milquetoast boring male blues singer/guitarist (e.g. Eric Clapton - the very definition) she stands out. This album works best when it features Bonnie's voice and great guitar playing, because at times the album suffers from a *lot* of that weak 80s sound that became dated in about 3 years (e.g. the weak single "Have A Heart" - the keys on "Love Letter" and "Cry On My Shoulder"). "Real Man" isn't a great song but is a good example of letting the right elements of her skill come out. Aside from "Thing Called Love" the acoustic "Nobody's Girl" might be the best track. Not the most exciting album overall - can toss about 4 forgettable songs away mostly due to "the smooth" (cheese) - but I could do a "best of" from this any day. 6/10 3 stars.
There's a few catchy tunes on there, very middle of the road
Nothing too stand out. Solid 3/5.
From the album cover I was expecting godawdul country. What I got was a prototype Shania Twain with 80s hair. It is country, but it's fuller, catchier, more varied and better. It does impress me much. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Nick Of Time Date listened: 07/02/23
Blusey, rock. Probably a bit more piano than I'm used to for this type of music. Still pretty strong.
Bonnie's voice is souful and expressive; the music is best when it avoids the period-dating synthesizer that is too featured in many of these songs. It definitely makes it feel more 80's than it deserves. An enjoyable listen overall.
This is okay
Actually the album that was my initial introduction to Bonnie Raitt... Way back when... Classic!
Fine, good songwriter
There's a lot of pop country here: Tough bar to clear, but the space for instrumentals about does it. There may be a little too much space on the back half, with arrangements that don't support the emotional goal except as clichés. Closer's great, though.
I can see why someone would love it and why it would be so hated by others. I'm somewhere in the middle, it was overproduced but joyful and decorated. Overall not much bad just nothing particularly standout-ish. A decent record.
Raitt's been stated as "never rocking too hard." Kinda wish she did. I felt some of the songs needed more to them. "Thing Called Love" and :Have A Heart" were fine, but some of the others could have used more grit to them. And "Cry On My Shoulder..." terrible, cringe-y lyrics. Glad she didn't write the song, I would have lost a lot more respect for her. She just seems too blues-y to fit right into country and too country to have that deep down and dirty blues album. And that contradiction made it hard for me to be like "yeah, girl!" So she just kind of fell in the middle for me. So a middling score is what she'll get.
The 80's really ruined a lot of things didn't they? Raitt is a renowned singer and guitarist and I don't hear it most of the time. Instead I hear 80's schlock draped overtop country and blues (Love Letter, Cry on My Shoulder, Real Man - ugh). Nobody's Girl and I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again weren't bad - stripped down like this album was supposed to be. Thing Called Love (and maybe I Will Not be Denied) also not bad - at least trying to be country rock and not pretending to be something else. Have a Heart gets a pass because at least her vocals shone through. But it's also pandering adult contemporary. I mean, it could've been Milli Vanilli, it's that much of a sell out. Had my finger over the 2 but decided to pay respect to the artist and blame the record producer.
It’s fine for what it is, it’s mostly not my thing. I do have some fondness for “Have a Heart” which I swear was in the soundtrack for a rom-com, but I can’t find that information anywhere!
This was fine. I enjoyed listening to it, but I didn't think it was anything special.
Bonnie Raitt has a great voice and while this music is nothing whizbang, sometimes it's just nice to listen to some pop-country just for a nice, uncomplicated listen
I thought I would like this much less than I actually did. Was it an album I'll come back to? No, but I didn't hate it.
I did really enjoy her voice
I thought i would completely hate this but it was slightly enjoyable
Love Bonnie Raitt, and I'm very glad we got at least one album from her. Hoping there's still room for Luck of the Draw. The title track that opens this album is definitely the strongest on here; I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up. It's a beautiful, mature song about love, not just romantic but familial. And this is actually my first time hearing it, aside from the little snippet that Bon Iver performed with his cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me." Then there's a few more love songs, and then "Real Man," one of the horniest songs I've heard in a minute. That harmonica is absurd. As an album, it's certainly not all up to "Nick of Time" par, but it's very good. She's an excellent musician, making blues I guess, or what I'd call signer-songwriter tinged with country. Good album, give us something great with Luck of the Draw. Favorite tracks: Nick of Time, Love Letter, Real Man, Have a Heart. Album art: Just a classic '80s portrait, it's so wonderfully dated. Bonnie looks like a queen, good for her. Font goes hard. 3.5/5
Bonnie er alltaf kósí. Titillag plötunnar er klassík. Annars engar aðrar bombur, en þetta er ágætt áhlustunar.
3.7 - I remember watching the 1990 Grammy awards with my parents and Bonnie Raitt stealing the night with an impressive live performance and a smattering of victory speeches. This is one of those adult contemporary records that always loomed large in my teenage periphery growing up and I'm glad I can enjoy it now as a proper adult. She sings honestly about growing old on "Nick of Time" from a uniquely female perspective. She's also matured enough to want a "Real Man", which I imagine as an older fella with a potbelly and a salt-and-pepper goatee, wearing relaxed fit blue jeans and white tennis shoes. It's 1000% mom rock but the fluid guitar work, particularly on the rollicking "The Road's My Middle Name", diminishes the cringe factor to a degree that makes it a fun enough listen for this just-turned-middle-aged man.
Good adult contemporary album. The playing is uniformly excellent. The production is excellent; clean, clear, balanced. The songs are OK, the highlight for me is The John Hiatt cover. Not my type of album but the quality is hard to deny. 3 stars
I’m pretty sure my mother listen to this album a lot in my youth.
Kinda not bad kinda not good
I didn't mind this! This is not the type of thing I normally listen to, so I always appreciate hearing something different. Some of the songs were pretty catchy.
Talented songwriter, Well written songs, Not for me.
A very solid album. Great guitar work.