Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Pleasant enough but not exciting.
I liked it. Very mellow magic.
Man, people really fucking hate this album. Not every song is top tier but definitely an enjoyable listen. 3.5/5
A few slow songs but a lot of good ones too
I was expecting an album full of country music songs based off the cover, and while there’s a couple present, what we mainly get is a lovely selection of MOR and pop songs about love, disappointment, and aging, sung (and played – check out that slide guitar action) superbly by Raitt and produced just as nicely by Don Was. This is a wonderful little album that totally confounded my expectations.
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
really enjoyed this
-never heard of this woman or this album -GREAT VOICE on this lady tho -thing called love is groovy -its kinda eh to me tho -real mans got some country vibes -is this music good? i guess? its just not my thing -a bit boring and bland for me -but i like her voice! and the lyrics aren’t terrible! -but this is going to be a 2 star album for me
Just a powerful album with amazing vocals and production, could easily be a 5 out of 5 if I listen to it more. Favorite Tracks: Nick Of Time, Thing Called Love, Nobody's Girl, Too Soon To Tell, I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again
Quite impressed by this lady. The songs are solid, good vocal melodies, nice song progressions. Definitely someone worth keeping an eye one! 7,5 out of 10
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
My Mom had a few Bonnie Raitt albums and I remember hearing them when I was younger. I am not my mother, however, and this album was a weird collection of pop-rock country, reggae, and soft rock ballads.
Not my jam
youtube does not have the full album. Let's be fair.
Pretty solid album. I can see why it was popular. I don't especially love it myself. Rating is a little hard though. I'd give it a 3 or 3.5 but giving it a 3 seems too low. It seems worthy of a 4 even though I will almost certainly never revisit this
Pleasant enough
Nice
pretty good, didn't really push my buttons that much but it was alright to have on
It's a bit boring. It's not you it's me bonnie
Thanks Ms. Rat, I like your voice but was overall bored (2.5/5)
Great 80s memories!
I've enjoyed some Bonnie Raitt stuff here and there and think she's a good artist, but the stuff from her commercial peak in the late 80s/early 90s is easily her most offputting. This album just reeks of the lamest sounds of the time period, and the songs aren't all that catchy or memorable. Didn't do much for me.
It’s great to hear an early record from a pioneering woman in blues. It is super cheesy. Sorry.
It was okay, not really my speed
folk/country
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.
Heroine
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.
El décimo trabajo de estudio de Bonnie Raitt es una buena colección de canciones que mezclan pop, country y rock. El single "Nick of Time" es un muy buen track, sin embargo, no logro entender por qué este proyecto está en la lista de "1001 álbumes que debes escuchar antes de morir", porque no es para nada destacable. Para nada una escucha indispensable, pero a la larga, sigue siendo un buen álbum.
Pretty awful stuff. I'm in need of severe ear cleansing now.
80s country-rock is a bit cringe, but Bonnie Rait gets five stars just for being so cool.
I’m conflicted. Her voice is an absolute 5; Susan Tedeschi mixed with Sara Watson. It’s gritty and really becomes ethereal. The 80s synth pop is what gets me, really takes from what could be a raw soft rock singer-songwriter album. I suppose I like some songs and dislike others, but I would own this and rotate it. Truly a 3.5
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Thing Called Love (2) 2 - Nick of Time (1) 3 - Nobody's Girl (5)
vinyl
Bang average meat and potatoes fare.
Bit poppy for me
Good. Still prefer earlier stuff but solid album.
Kinda groovy
Good stuff!
What I have learned from this list is that I mostly likely won't like any album that can be labelled as "americana". Of course, "Nick Of Time" is one of them. Boring and uninteresting record, I didn't like any moment of it. That doesn't mean it's terrible, but I definitely couldn't listen to it for longer than 30 minutes.
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
I fully expected to detest this. Country and 80's combined. But it's so bland to be nothing.
Langweilig
She's at her best when she's doing bluesy stuff, and that rarely happens on this album. A disappointment. Best track: The Road's My Middle Name
It's a vibe. Pop folk singer mixing country and blues. Most of the songs are forgettable, generic, and repetitive, but it's minimalist and nice. And the addition of blues, country, and synths diversifies the sound to make it bearable. Favorites: Nick of Time, Love Letter, Cry on my Shoulder, Too Soon to Tell
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.
I would just never listen to this type of stuff... I give it 2 stars just because it's not as bad as 90s pop
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
fantastic album, great rock and roll.
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.
I was a bit nervous when this one came up, having never heard of her before. But I was very happily surprised by how awesome this album was. A fantastic surprise.
Sometimes the 80s were great. Sadly, this was dirge.
I find this really bland. Its all competent. Just dull.
Pretty surprising how much I enjoyed listening to this, great voice, catchy tunes
Eh
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.
Yeah, it's okay. Hard for me to dislike her voice, easy for me to dislike the songs. Production is clean and clear. But this adult contemporary business felt old and stodgy in the 80s and 90s, and being a contemporary adult myself now has done nothing to change that perspective. I wonder if I'm older now than Raitt was when she put this out. Lemme check... OH THANK GOD. She was 50 when she put this out. I've got a couple years left before I dedicate my life to this type of music. Whew!
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+
а вот честно, прям хорошо очень волшебный голос, супер приятно было
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.
зумерские 2, вроде и приятно, а вроде и устал слушать физически
Not country, fine for what it is
Hmm is this country?? I don't country much. Okay good, Google says she's "an American blues singer and guitarist." Lets give it a listen. Well it def has the 80s synth sounds here and there. Sounds country to me, but tolerable. It was nice. Probably not something I'd revisit. But I didn't hate it. 2 stars
Not a whole lot of interesting music here, just a mediocre blend of blues, country and pop.
I was listening to this album while writing a paper for my biology class that I, coincidentally, submitted in the “Nick of Time”. This doesn’t really have anything to do with my ranking if the album, but I though it was cool. The album was nice. The lyrics were beautiful and reflective in a genre that tends to get bogged down in cliches. The songs were fun to listen to and didn’t get boring, which is always a plus. I don’t think any of it was incredibly original, apart from the words she sang, however I liked it. 4/5
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.
13-in-a-dozen, rock by numbers
Not really my thing but had some fun listening to this.
Americana, rock, blues rock. Agradable. Venga, un 4.
Cool
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.
Wow…Three one-star albums in a row. I’ve completed my first one-star hat trick. I don’t know what to say…it’s all so much… [wipes the tiniest tear from the corner of his eye] I couldn’t have done it without you, Bonnie Raitt: The late 80’s production sheen and synthetics are laid on so thick on this record, that you’ve left me with no choice but to achieve this impressive feat. I’d also like to thank U2 and their truly terrible 2000 record, “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” for yesterday’s one star experience. To Anthrax: I probably should have given Among the Living two stars because I like you guys on a personal level…I really, really like you (just not your music), but without that first one star record to get the ball rolling, we wouldn’t be here today. Finally, I’d like to thank the Academy, my agent, my business manager - whazzzup Pete - along with my lovely wife and non-existent kids. I couldn’t have done it without all of your support. Good luck to you all, one day it could be you up here talking about the terrible records you’ve been subjected to. This place…*this* is where we find hope, where wings take dream. God bless you all and long live the Michelin Man.
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.
Love Bonnie Raitt, incredible voice and songwriting. But this ain't it.
Your mom would give this 5 stars.
Aburrido
Rock, blues.
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.
I guess it's alright, for a slice of late 80's American country, but I'm not sure what it's doing on this list, feels like there's a LOT out there like this, and there are a lot of others out there that it'll be taking the place of. That said, I'm always happy to listen to an artist and set of songs that have millions of listens that I've never heard of. Doesn't do much for me, sadly.
3 stars
She has such a smooth and relatable voice, which saves what is otherwise an awkward mix of 80's syth pop and mainstream country.
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!
Shite
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
Also awesome!
3.4
Maybe this one just aged badly, but I don't understand why it's on the list. It doesn't sound bad as such, but it's really boring and I don't know why someone would want to listen to it.
Her en der wel aardig, maar bovenal toch saai en niet interessant.
Nope. Sounds like every pop album ever produced.
like Stevie nicks off wish.
Raitt shit
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.
Nothing about this record impressed me. Not her voice, not the lyrics nor the songs themselves. It just sounds like banal square-dancing pop rock. The sort of thing you would hear playing in a Southern bar before a naked Arnold Schwarzenegger bursts in looking for your motorcycle. Just very sub-par to my ear.
The title track is the best song Fleetwood Mac never made and Bonnie has done a lot of great stuff but the rest is pretty mediocre cis-hetero-country muzak. 1.3
There's a few catchy tunes on there, very middle of the road
Only one tune listened too
The opening track has all the strong elements of a Fleetwood Mac song. The rest of the album, however, is like Fleetwood Mac ordered from Wish.com I listened to the first song on repeat maybe 30+ times yesterday… which dragged the remaining country-pop fodder up to the heady heights of a 2/5
Does the word "groundbreaking" have an antonym?
Just ok. Really bland.
Good lord, it’s all very 80s. I’m not sure Bonnie had many (any?) UK hits but she’s not someone i was hugely familiar with from the time… it’s ok
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.
Maybe the production is too slick and of its time but her tender delivery sells the songs so well I can’t help but be charmed. Opening title track has the gem of a lyric “life gets mighty precious, when there’s less of it to waste”.
This is okay
Sweet, but not my kind of sweetness
cute 80s adult contemporary album it’s basically just 80s pop with a country twist some of the songs felt pretty sexist (both misogyny and misandry) but yeah still fun 7/10
Some old 80s vibes. Decent beat but all very similar for the whole album. Not bad to stick one or two in a mix.
Actually the album that was my initial introduction to Bonnie Raitt... Way back when... Classic!
Fine, good songwriter
Deze popmuziek probeert iets te hard om blues te zijn. Het is veel te braaf, en wat langdradig
Too smooth
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.
Radio friendly, low end pop. Don’t see how something as beige as this makes it on to a list that needs to be heard before I die
Dosadno
A ono, album mi je kao i cover. EH.
Middle of the road dullness.
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.
Oude Country, niet aardig, niks aparts
Excellent album. A slightly too-80’s production, like a smooth jazz backing band around her great, smoky voice.
All the charm of the demo button on a 1980s casio keyboard. Lyrics were also kinda shit but she did have magnificent pipes.
Make it stop. Please.
Terrible
Oh wow, the artwork screams of 80s clichés! Curious what'll happen when she pushes the button on her belly. I don't recall hearing Bonnie Raitt before, she seems a good Country singer, with a fine head of hair, but this album wasn't for me.
Underwhelming. Maybe my mother would like it.
Kind of ballady country-rock/pop
Meh, country music
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!
2.5
Thing Called Love. Me ha parecido un poco largo, y eso que no era largo. Aún así, le doy un 4.
I don't have anything nice to say about this. It's the lowest common denominator of music, country or otherwise. It's music for people who don't have any of their own thoughts in their heads. I'm mad I had to listen to the whole thing.
Apparently my mom listened to this a lot after I was born. Not only that, Bonnie Raitt was my very first concert as a baby with cotton stuffed in my ears (slept through most of it apparently). Pretty sure that has something to do with how I feel about this album. It's got a comfort food quality for me. Slick af production, catchy songs. That said, still kinda cheesey sounding at times. It's pop-rock-country from 1989 after all. But it has a lot of charm and heart I feel. Or maybe that's just nostalgia. In either case, it's a solid 4 for me. Will listen again.
This was fine. I enjoyed listening to it, but I didn't think it was anything special.
Wow, this album I have never heard of in my life sure does have a lot of accolades, huh? Guess we'll see if it lives up to it all, but I have a sneaking suspicion it won't. It indeed did not, but it wasn't the worst thing in the world. Perhaps on a bad day this would be getting a one star, but I didn’t particularly hate anything, and the rest of the album was so nothing for me that the bluesy sounding song, a genre I generally don't like, was actually pretty alright. No clue why this is deemed so important in the world of music though, and that first song reeks of 80s, but not in the good way like new wave, but in the bad way, like "oh this is why music changed so much in the 90s".
I didn't enjoy any of this
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 grew up on the singer songwriter sound, and this is pretty top tier as far as that goes. She’s able to cover the 80s powerhouse female while also venturing into the early 90s almost country sound, like Amy Grant. I like this album a lot and think it’s great listening.
A little too country, not catchy enough.
I did really enjoy her voice
Ok, 1001 is a lot of albums...it's necessary to have some things like it, I understand. Wikipedia says it's really important, and I'll never get why.
5/10
I thought i would completely hate this but it was slightly enjoyable
Lacking in emotion, too smooth by half.
Well, that was boring. 4/10
Solid
Nick of Time, more like my time was nicked. Nothing against Bonnie, but who thought this album should be on this list? She has some good songs and it had a nice country flair but this list just has a lot of unnecessary albums.
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
No my thing at all
Bonnie er alltaf kósí. Titillag plötunnar er klassík. Annars engar aðrar bombur, en þetta er ágætt áhlustunar.
This was terrible. It sounded like a house band for an 80's hotel bar. Not one good song.
Bonnie Raif’s comeback album is a laidback rock album with strong undercurrents of blues and Americana. The songwriting is strong and the music itself is very of its time, smooth with hints of grit.
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.
Elevator music. The sort that's only bearable if you're going to the second floor. Very corny lyrics as well. *This* won three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year? Seriously? Seems to only show one thing: the late eighties were a very bad time for *good* pop music. Bland songwriting all around (with nine covers out of eleven tracks, you could at least choose songs that are better than this), cheesy or hackneyed instrumentation, professional but soulless performances... There's nothing to save this utter debacle, not even Bonnie Raitt's more than competent singing. Oh, the fake reggae shenanigans of "Have A Heart" are somewhat refreshing at some point, at least compared to the blandness that's before and after it (and probably helped a lot in the album's commercial success thanks to the song's promotion on MTV). But that's the only positive thing I can say about *any* of those lame songs. About the larger context about this record, the whole story about Raitt going through a rough patch, both personally and professionally, before finding unexpected success with this album, doesn't change anything about my assessment up there. I'm happy for Raitt, she looks like a nice person, and probably deserved to be cut some slack as an competent artist who had already worked long in the business. But that sort of "storytelling" has nothing to do with the music itself. When you read that raving retrospective review Pitchfork gave about the album, it's just appalling. 80% of it is about that story, not the music itself. This is *not* how you should assess the quality or flaws of a record. Context is important, but never to that point. Between 2012 and 2020, this album went from number 230 to 492 in Rolling Stones' list of 500 greatest albums of all time. You can bet your cowboy boots it will be out of that list in subsequent versions of it, probably the next one if its editors have a shred of good sense left in their minds. And I hope it goes out of Dimery's list soon as well. You just *can't* have so many glaring omisions in the 1001 albums book to make room for such a bad record instead. Number of albums left to review: 749 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 124 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 62 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 66 (including this one)
Juustoista kantria siirapilla.
Nope. Besides the first song all I got was images of pickup trucks and leopard print and a whole lot of meh.
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.
Not my cup of tea
I love Bonnie Raitt and this album is one I owned when I used to collect records. Love how she went a mellower groove direction here but her signature grit and realness are still very present. She's a wonderful songwriter, a superb guitarist (too often overlooked in the male-dominated world of rock/pop/blues/country guitarists), and a great vocalist. It all comes together so nicely on this album. I remember the success that came to her thanks to this album, and reading about that again makes me happy. So well deserved.
A very solid album. Great guitar work.
Fun, finally a woman after a long time.
Boring, repetitive, and perhaps the progenitor of modern country-pop.
Production is way too soft. This should be hard edged blues, not semi-pop. This just sounds like Shania Twain. Very disappointing - Bonnie Raitt can play mean blues, but this ain't it.
Ta bien supongo.
Alegre pero no me ha parecido diferente
lovely
Fine, I suppose. Just not my thing.
I guess this record represents the transition from old to new country music, the point where it became bland soft rock slush. The lyrics are not as cringeworthy as contemporary efforts, but the music is very cheesy and over-produced. The late '80s were a pretty lean period for interesting mainstream music, evidently.
Extremely boring album. I didn't find one song that I liked and I really struggled to finish listening to this. Bonnie Raitt doesn't have a bad voice and the instrumentals are not bad but somehow all together it feels bland. It's pop country and not enjoyable
There were a lot more genres in this than I expected at first glance. It’s still very much typical female folk/country but there’s also like ZZ Top guitars on one track and some blues rock influences on the others. Overall very nice listen
Oui oui c'est super 👍
il y a de très jolies chansons mais aussi de grosses influences COUNTRY et si ça continue il faudra que ça cesse
This album is very much of its time, but taken on its own, it's quite good. Bonnie Raitt is an exceptional guitarist, but her playing is fairly polished and restrained on these songs. The arrangements are pleasant and musically tight, with Raitt incorporating a really strong supporting group of musicians. But the focal point is really Raitt's gorgeous, silky vocals. The songwriting is strong, although Raitt is only credited as writer on 3 of the songs. A little bit of grit would have improved this album immensely, but it's still a solid listen. Fave Songs: Thing Called Love, I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again, Nick of Time, Too Soon to Tell, Have a Heart, Nobody's Girl, The Road's My Middle Name
Excellent album, great singing, great instrumentals. Great all around.
Nope
Absolute dross
This is a fake album. I refuse to believe this existed yesterday. The project known as "1001 Albums Generator" is a rogue AI that has altered the fabric of existence to add this album into our timeline. There is nobody by the name of "Bonnie Raitt", it's the Berenstoin Bears and Mandela is actually still alive. Two out of five. "Love Letter" was cool.
There were a few songs I knew. Not a bad album
Bonnie Raitt has a beautiful voice but her music doesn't really draw me. Still a solid album.
Enjoyed this! Nice bit of blues and what a voice. Went down well on a drive back from Devon
Enjoyed this a lot. A lovely voice, some good beats. I do enjoy a bit of lady blues, country rock
Have a heart has a nice melody. And yes, she's hot!
Accessible blues pop.
Liked the first track!
Bland and slick. Don’t need to hear much more of this. I prefer my country with a bit more passion.
Nice 80s
Baby Boomer F(ucking)M(iddle of the road) rock. Best Tracks: Nick of Time; Nobody's Girl; The Road's My Middle Name
Well, decent work, but That’s it
Love the album, great singing, lyrics and music , haven’t listened in about 30 years but loved returning to it
OK. The 80s production hasn't aged well (was it a digital recording? Can't find out, but it sounds like it has that sort of early digital cold cleanness), though I can understand why it wound up being a hit for her at that time after some pretty bleak years.
decent
Genre: Pop Rock 2/5 In what was supposedly a return to form, as well as a triumphant return to pop stardom, Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time is certainly an album of music that makes noise. Assumedly picked for this book because of its chart-topping success and long list of accolades and nominations, Nick of Time does absolutely nothing new for the genre and almost absolutely nothing for me. Its overall blandess is too hard to ignore, but it has a charm to it that's also hard to ignore, and hard to fault the album for. From its title track and intro straight through to the end, we're gifted with just over 40 minutes of a lot of the same sounds, themes, and instrumentation. Well-produced and arranged, though, filling the mix with all of the bland textures they could possibly find, culminating in a very by-the-book, easy-to-listen-to rock album. Bonnie Raitt's vocals are just fine too, neither adding or detracting from the overall experience, but all together this album just doesn't do very much at all. Totally inoffensive, and very sweet and innocent, but non-essential.
Wow there is a lot of acclaim for this album. I like Bonnie Rait and I like this album, but if this won album of the year, it must have been a slow year. It sounds like a C&W album to me but when I read the definition of Americana, the genre assigned by Wiki, I think that shoe fits better.
This is too over-produced for me. I listened to her 1971 release, and while the production was better, the song-writing was still lacking.
I had to turn this off halfway because this type of music grates on my nerves. Slick, overproduced pop-country. I'll be generous and give this two stars because I like Raitt's voice and she was obviously a big influence on the likes of Shania Twain.
Americana, rock, blues rock. Agradable. Venga, un 4.
Thing Called Love. Me ha parecido un poco largo, y eso que no era largo. Aún así, le doy un 4.
Vraiment un bon album Country/Rock, je cmoprend que ca est eu un gros succès lors de la sortie, les musiciens sont incroyables et les arrangements sont vraiment bon. Bonnie Raitt a une très belle voix sur l'album et ne laisse pas ca place. C'est un album a réécouter dans le mood. 4
You know that friend you haven’t seen in years but when you finally do, you both pick up the conversation exactly where you left off? This album is that friend. This album is like an expertly prepared meal of all your favorite dishes...familiar but delicious...nobody knew at the time, but this wouldn’t even be the best album of Bonnie’s second act. Indispensable.
Faux reggae, easy blues, power ballads, big hair. Like a time machine to the mid-80s.
Very little I found enjoyable in this album. From country sounds to generic synth, just seemed to represent the worst of the 80s. Not sure why this is so acclaimed.
Wasn't into it
I didn't realize Bonnie Raitt had released so many records previously, as this is her tenth album, but I knew this her comeback album. Easy to listen to and so many familiar songs I had forgotten about, though kind of generic at the same time. Enjoyable enough, I'll probably listen to more from Bonnie in the near future.
Not my style of music. No drums and no guitar
Beautiful voice and a couple of big tunes but ultimately nothing special
Dat is wel heel braafjes allemaal.
Pensioen-pop. Gatverdamme!
Veel te zoetsappig.
Ik weet dat het een un-faire vergelijking is, en dat Bonnie Raitt meer credits verdient, maar voor mij klinkt dit als Shania Twain. Not my cup of tea.
Klinkt echt als iets uit een ander tijdperk. Desalniettemin sympathiek en rustgevend.
A friend of mine she cries at night
I don't enjoy these musical styles at all individually (80s pop, country blues, etc.) but something about this combination really works for me.
Such a weird album cover! It's so difficult to tell what you're even looking at, it seems like her belt(?) is coming out of the picture, and also that it's a gourd or something. And like...why is she doing that with her hand?! What's her face supposed to convey? It's basically the Mona Lisa. Anyway, the actual album was okay, though it went a little too long. A true 3/5. I liked it better than I thought I would...but I was also so utterly and wholly charmed by Dennis Quaid's bizarre character that my judgment is very clouded.
Nothing to write home about
Easy listening, sounds very much of its time.
Not sure this is going to be my type of music based on the first song, but Bonnie Raitt has a pretty good rep in guitar circles, so hopefully there'll be something for me later. Thing Called Love I think I actually know! It's alright I guess; getting some guitar here, though not sure it's enough to overcome my reservations about genre. Love Letter same as above; this one is a bit more bluesy, and guitary, so it's okay, but fundamentally this is just isn't my type of music. Not sure it's worth going track by track when it's the same thing each time; the bluesier songs are okay but still not quite my deal, and others just aren't my style. Nobody's Girl is alright. The last song also is decent.
Well, it wasn't terrible. There were some fun guitar sounds. Some songs were bad (Real Man) and some were okay. Maybe it's because I left to take a class and came back, but it seemed like the last song in the album took a swift turn in a different direction sound-wise. Seemed out of place.
Great album. 4/5
Late 80s mainstream rock. Competent, but not really my thing. 2.5/5.
Pretty great
It grew on me, I did not like the title track but it closes with better instrumentation and music overall
Ok album, sounds a little dated now.
On one hand, I'm gonna be nice to this album, because it's one of my mom's favorites and I grew up on Ms. Bonnie Raitt. On another hand, this is the same time of corporate blues-rock that Clapton was putting out in the mid-eighties. It's boring, somewhat uninspired. Bonnie is a fantastic guitarist, and this record doesn't really do much to showcase it. Still, it gets a bonus, for my mom. Favorite tracks: "Nick of Time", "Cry On My Shoulder"
Nick of Time is perfectly pleasant, very Magic 105.4. But what follows is a godawful mess of the most hideously produced country it's been my misfortune to hear. The kind of stuff that puts you off country for life. The cod reggae of Have a Heart is a nice break from this. Then back to more of the same. It's not good.
I do love Bonnie Raitt, just more of her real blues sound. Appreciate how she needed this commercially, just a little toned down for me and feels very 1980's
This is the album that introduced me to Bonnie Raitt. I have heard 4 of the 11 tracks from Nick of Time many times in the past. This album is fine, but I think I prefer to hear more of Raitt's music that has a stronger connection to the blues. Some of these tracks feel firmly rooted in the 80s. This is no surprise, but makes it harder for me to want to take a second listen to the album.
It's not for me.
Perfectly played. But with a smidgeon too much of that everything-in-exactly-the-right-place ingredient.
Maybe the best sounding album of its kind/era…Bonnie’s voice could ground anything
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Nick of Time, Love Letter, Too Soon To Tell Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: I personally don't like this album very much because it's not my genre, but *TAKE INBOUND* I think a lot of people on here who don't like this album would've liked it if it was the exact same album except by Bennie Raitt and for that I'm rounding this 2.5 up.
Good one
Very much "mom music", but I still enjoyed it. One recognized song
a grown-up album, warm and tender and wise, which opened the floodgates for the next huge wave of her career
hi- thing called love, have a heart Hey, shut up! Just listen to this album!
Overschat album. Doet me weinig. Zal zeker kwaliteit hebben maar te gladjes….
Easy listening album, great vocals, gets a 3.
I first thought this album was country, and it isn't. It is blues.
Some songs were familiar. It is a blues/rock album. It was alright.
I was super uninspired to listen to this album today, but I was surprised by how many songs I knew off of here. It's all fine, but I have no real idea why it's on this list. This seems like a fairly traditional white boy blues album with the only twist being that the white boy in this case is a woman. It's like putting a Kenny G album on this list. The best compliment that I give to an album shouldn't be that it's inoffensive 3/5
Beautiful voice: clear and open then with that sexy, bluesy rasp that could be described as smoky. Love it. The songs are either set up to showcase her voice as pop power ballads or blues rock n rollers (my preference). I knew Bonnie in the late 80s as a blues guitarist guesting with Clapton, BB King, John Lee Hooker and Buddy Guy. Surprised to hear her straight pop voice.
Way mellower than I had expected. But damn what a voice.
I've never really been a Bonnie Raitt fan, but this is a great album.
I liked the radio playlist that Spotify created after this
3/5 nice, but not enough
more like 3.5
Ho hum. Not really attention grabbing
A 3 probably. A 4, I love this stuff. Also on this album-cover she's the spitting image of Dom from Mr. Robot but with a sexy, curly 80s haircut.
hi- thing called love, have a heart Hey, shut up! Just listen to this album!
Leider echt fad!
Nix für mich. Nur kurz reinghört,m aber das war nix...
bissl fahrstuhlmusik
Not my usual choice of listening but can appreciate this pop country gem. I give it higher marks for just how influential it is and mainly for the fact that I enjoyed it a lot. It is Christmas Eve Eve today so this was a nice break from my Xmas song play list. I will come back and listen to this again as it seems like a good soundtrack to kicking back in the summer sun
I like the 80's vibe this has, but overall I don't really like this kind of music. I enjoyed the title track, though. I can see why people would like this, it's just not for me.
21st December 2021 Listened while pottering about guy's flat in LA! Has it's moments, I prefer the bluesier songs.
I was expecting a country album or at least a blues album. What I got was a cheesy soft rock album instead. Whatever the genre, this was a boring, cheesy, greasy, over-produced lump of an album with no consistent through-line and no sense of itself or where it belonged.
Decidedly, Not. For. Me. Look, I get it. I get why folks dig her thing, but I just...don't. Each song evokes a 90s sitcom intro. Did she have one of her songs used for a sitcom theme song? She must have, right? Personally? A 2 for me. Understanding her overall role in the greater aspect of music? A 3? Sure. A 3.
Smooth bland MOR.
7/10 good songs but definitely overproduced
7/10. Bluesy and pleasant. Maybe a low 8.
The penultimate song was my favorite. Overall, very white bread. 6/10
Bonnie Raitt is pretty great. Excellent, gritty voice, good songs, well produced. Not something I would listen to often, but enjoyable when I do. 3 stars.
This is an album (tape!) from my childhood. I listened to it so many times... I was singing Have a Heart from memory. The voice, the slide guitar, the lyrics. Bonnie is a blues rock legend for a reason. She gets what it is to be a woman.
A bit bland for my tastes, despite me usually liking well played AOR. I checked out a few of her earlier albums and it just sounds like this album sanded off all Raitt's rough edges. Too smoooooth.
don't mind a bit of country, but not this kind
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Nick of time, Thing called love
Top Picks: Have a Heart and I Will Not Be Denied It was alright. I'm not normally too big on 80s ballads and unfortunately this was no exception.
Solid. Great album. Haven't heard it in years.
Great voice. Good songwriting. But not a masterpiece... (5/10) FT: A Thing Called Love, Nick Of Time
Boring, but not irritating.
This is an over generous score.
I didn't mind this at all. Great voice, Nick of Time and The Road's My Middle Name are both very decent songs.
Almost a 3, but too generic and bland overall. Great guitar work
Wise man once described this as aiming for mediocrity and falling way short. Bland, corny nonsense that was too painful to sit the whole way through.