Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Not for me at all. Melodies are OK. Her voice is nice but some bits are deafening. Won't listen again
Na Bert Jansch nog iemand met enkel een gitaar, een bandrecorder en een stelletje folksongs. Zij het dat het nu allemaal traditionals zijn, de gitaar gestemd is, en dat je Joans engelachtige stem een beetje moet waarderen om het album te waarderen. Eric luisterde mee en die vond het he-le-maal niks. Bij mij heeft Joan de gunfactor, het is bovendien iemand die veel voor het genre heeft betekend, al schreef ze weinig zelf.
Meegeluisterd bij een luistermaatje vanaf een laptop op een paar meter afstand. Ik ergerde me rot aan die stem. Maar tja...als het geluid niet op jou is afgesteld, kan het wel eens zijn dat er een element te prominent naar voren komt. Dus toch maar in de herhaling in de auto. En nope, het lag niet aan het geluidsinregeling. Dit is veel te dominant. Vaak weer die nep-trilling in de stem die dit soort muziek telkens een toneelstukje maakt. Soms nog eens een extra hoge uithaal. Op zich knap. Maar het maakt de stem waar ik mij al aan ergerde nog dominanter.
Vanaf het eerste nummer maakt Joni Baez duidelijk dat ze hier is om mij de stuipen op het lijf te jagen. Het hadden fijne folkliedjes kunnen zijn, maar haar stem gaat door merg en been. Ze blijft gelukkig wel in het folkritme, in plaats van om de melodie heen te jengelen. Maar als ze haar hoge stem opzet, krijg ik kippenvel, maar helaas niet van ontroering. De tranen schieten in mijn ogen, van de ouderwetse nagels op het krijtbord. Afschuwelijk, ik heb house of the rising sun nog even afgewacht, en daarna zo snel als ik kon weggeklikt en die grote paal cadeau gedaan.
Very simple but catchy songs The only thing holding this one back is how old this is
Not really my style, however, I do think it is good music.
A nice easy listen
Joan plays the guitar
The voice of a generation.
# Album Name: Joan Baez # Artist: Joan Baez # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: First thing that struck me - that beautiful voice. Wow, this girl has some great vocals on her. The album itself isnt bad. Decent listen. Im not huge on folk but it kept me listening the whole way. There were a couple of stand out tracks but it was the vocals which again shone through. House of the rising sun was a great example of that. But there was just something missing. Maybe its the folk style, maybe its just missing classics. Probably the latter. Overall a decent listen. Ill definitely be checking out other albums for her vocals alone. # Top Tunes: HOTRS / John riley / Henry Martin # Would I listen to it again? Maybe
Her singing talent unquestionable, but this one got a little long.
I'll give her proper for keeping it up for an entire album. You know the yodeling music that makes the aliens heads explode in "Mars Attacks!"? Yeah, the whole album made me feel like that. Her high-pitched warble drove me up the wall. But I know it's historical and war-protesty, so I won't bash it entirely. It's just not my favorite thing.
3.4
Last 3rd of the album saved it from a 2
Pucha, no me pasa nada con ella. nada nada
Not a bad album but terribly boring to me. I couldn't finish it.
Ok. IATA here. But this just doesn’t sing to me at all.
A collection of mostly traditional Anglo folk songs, arranged by Joan Baez. Lovely voice, remarkable recording and production. Good album.
I never was a fan of folk, but this album touched some strings in me
One of the all-time voices but this is not the strongest collections of songs.
very pleasant, but also not something i would listen to that often
Gorgeous. A revelation for sure, I admittedly hadn't heard of Joan Baez before. Really really cool. Great voice and great guitar, though by the end of the album the vibrato was starting to get to me haha.
this made me smile in a weird way haha. definitely a different listen but something about her voice was pleasant. The folk music kinda did it for me, felt very whimsical in a way :)
Nothing too interesting, but +1 for female artists.
There is a little bird outside your window. It's chirping, trilling, going through all it's ring tones drummin' up business. Wow, that bird has been at it for an hour! Isn't it a beautiful sound? F that, it's 5 am.
Good voice. Clear and strong. I enjoy listening to Joan more than Joni Mitchell, although she's not as good as Karen Carpenter.
Nice voice, but the songs didn't resonate with me...guess you had to be there?
Such a good voice. Haunting. I could listen to her sing anything. 4.5 stars
i think a few more listens and it will click for me but i love her voice
Love her voice
Meh
not bad
Good, wouldn’t listen to a full album of her by choice it’s very repetitive.
I like folk
I liked it a lot. A good vibe.
Good, but it became very repetitive and slow in the second half. 6-6.5/10
Found it quite boring tbh. 2/5
3
No hate to Joan, but 1 hour of Joan is a lot of Joan, even if Joan is an absolutely phenomenal vocalist.
Beautiful voice, classic folk album. Thats why shes the goat.
Very pretty very folksy very nice. Almost a 4
Too much man
Like, this just isn't for me. I don't need to listen to English minstrels. Good voice and such, but there's no need to revive old music and pretend it's new. Also, points off for encouraging Bob Dylan to sing music rather than just write lyrics for other bands.
Beautiful voice and guitar playing.
Here's what I'm never gonna do: listen to Joan Baez sing House of the Rising Sun when the Monkees did it perfectly, listen to Joan Baez sing I Know You Rider when the Grateful Dead do it better. She's got a decent voice I just don't like it. Also the mixing on this is way too heavy on vocals. I understand that's intentional, I just don't like it or want it. Vibratos are overkill is kind of annoying.
ASÍ SE INTERPRETA UN DISCO CARAJO
4- Stars (10/15)
I liked this album. Joans voice is great and she was also a pioneer of the Greenwich village scene along with contemporaries like Bob Dylan. "Silver Dagger" and "House of the Rising Sun" are good. I think a lot of this album is fairly shallow and forgettable 6/10 Favourite: Silver Dagger Least Favourite: Rake and Rambling Boy
Don’t like her singing style. Like the guitar playing.
Man, this is boring as shit. Someone said how they love how her guitar is used to enhance her voice, but I have issue with that because I don't particularly like her voice. It's way too soft and floaty. But mostly, the album is just so earnest and twee, and it rubs me the wrong way.
super nice sound for something recorded super late. her voice is crazy
Not bad
Warbling folk songs. I don't care for her voice.
Ethereal voice + soft instrumentals = instant love.
Nice enough, all very similar and not quite the most excitement I've ever had.
Too folky for me.
Gawd, she doesn't half warble on. Bailed when she murdered House of the Rising Sun.
Beautifully haunting folk music but her voice is also a little grating at times. I want to enjoy it more than I do.
Lovely vpice could have turned up the guitair bit as grated by the end
Somehow this was just too folk for me which surprised me. Maybe I'm just not in the right mood, it just got annoying
It's not a bad album, but it's not for me.
I'm sure this is lovely in smaller doses, with a couple of crushed up paracetamol.
How can I give this a 1 without people thinking I'm a complete jerk.... ?
I know objectively that Joan Baez has an amazing voice. I just don’t personally care for it most of the time.
Joan Baez has a beautiful voice but ultimately I tired of the sparseness of this album's sound (which I think is the main draw for many). I also can't help but question whether an artist who mostly arranges and sings other people's songs deserve a spot on this list even if they were a cultural icon?
Wow her voice is great! I liked this better the second time through on my headphones as opposed to the car with windows down. This is a fine folk album.
Joan Baez has a high soaring voice that suits the material she chooses beautifully. The arrangements are simple and sparse, often just her voice and an acoustic guitar, allowing the melodies to carry the day. The standout songs for me are Silver Dagger, House of the rising son which she sings with drama and power, making it her own, Henry Martin and the beautiful Spanish closer, El Press Numero Nuevo.
It was interesting. I have more appreciation for Joan Baez's music than before.
I watched the Bob Dylan movie last week, good timing. Interesting, but them folkies really did think they were saving the world, didn't they?
Classic Ren Faire vibes, I don't hate it but I don't love it. Would listen again with morning coffee chill vibes maybe? Silver Dagger, All My Trials, Donna Donna, Rake and Rambling Boy were the tracks that drew me in most. Don't like East Virginia and hated how she sung the high high notes in Fare Thee Well. I actually didn't like the cover of House of the Rising Sun, too stretched out for me. Basically any of the slower songs where things were stretched out I think were less successful than the more upbeat tracks. Overall pretty neutral feelings about this one, some nice folk tracks but nothing stood out in terms of vocals or instrumentals.
Somewhat warrbly folk
Favorite Track: Silver Dagger
I know who Joan Baez is, but never listened to an album. I can’t even say I know any songs. “Silver dagger” is folky and yet I hear modern artists like Ani Difranco at the same time. I definitely see why this album was important to the 60s and I love the guitar work.
It must have been something to hear that voice in a small club in New York in the sixties.
Nice background tunes
Too folk style for me
This is #day245 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… yet again, I'm listening to the album a day later, not the day it got generated. As I play Joan Baez's debut, it's snowing outside my window, and it's April. Honestly, it hurts to see this view. It's the window of a new apartment my wife and I moved into just a couple of days ago. It's not our own place, still rented. I say "still" because we've set a goal to one day have a nest of our own. We're working on it. These are fragile days of adjusting and settling in... Hopefully, it all turns out well. The music on this album soothes the storms inside and gives space to reflect on the moment. It's a pleasant listen overall. But since I'm not a huge fan of folk and am unlikely to return to this one, I'm giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day246.
3.5
verrry solid ms. baez
So this is more a history project than an album. Covers of historical folk songs has validity but she gets no points for writing. She also gets no points for singing. I find her tone pretty shrill. Am i sexist because i can look past the voices of Dylan/Waits and not Baez or Mitchell?
great voice, just not huge on folk music i think
Folk music reminds me of home, but that can only last so long. Joan's voice is super shrill on almost every song is marred by her weird delivery.
This album follows straight after Scum by Napalm Death! This whiplash is what keeps me going on this project. I'm not a folk enthusiast, but I enjoyed Joan more than I thought I would, especially the story songs like John Riley or Mary Hamilton
I enjoy folk music, and I like a lot of Bob Dylan’s music, but for some reason this album was a hard listen for me. Joan’s voice is beautiful, but every song sounded exactly the same, it was kind of hard to get through a straight hour of it. I enjoyed Girl of Constant Sorrow, I don’t know if this is the original, but I really like the one from O Brother, so it was cool hearing this from 40 years prior. I hate to give this album 2 stars, but honestly for me, I feel that’s what it deserves. 4.5/10
Probably pretty but her voice made this very hard to listen to. Right genre, wrong singer for me.
p48, 1960. 3 stars. A wonderful crystal clear voice, and some excellent guitar work - but it's let down by the material, and a lot of the songs tend to just blend into each other.
a foundational pillar of modern folk music, the 1960 self-titled album by Joan Baez made its mark among aficionados in Greenwich Village and, eventually, the wider folk world. it's a collection of 13 traditional folk songs arranged by Baez for acoustic guitar and voice that sounds strikingly contemporary, despite being over 60 years old by now. to this day, folk guitarists are cribbing her style! it's an impressive thing for Baez to have achieved at the age of 19! my major complaint is just that 13 songs feels like too many. this album runs 45 minutes, but I felt like I had my fill after around 30. decent 6/10.
she has the most lovely voice. probably would have rated this a four if it had been a little shorter. 3.5
A great debut album from a legendary folk artist. All Traditional songs arranged brilliantly. Great record.
3.5
Folk music. Pretty good with a lovely voice but the high vibrato started to wear on me after a while. Would’ve also liked to hear the guitar more. It was really quiet.
Beautiful voice and some nice tracks, but a whole folk album is always going to be a tough listen.
My Girl always slays
Jeg kan bedre lide Joni Mitchell. Men tæt på det sammen. Lidt kedeligt.
Det balancerer mellem smukt og kedeligt. Mest af alt gav det mig lyst til at høre andre fortolkninger af gamle folkesange
I mean, it was fine, but not really my thing. I like an earthier vocal sound, but I am a sucker for old folk tunes-Silver Dagger really resonates with my own mommy issues, lol. The cover of House of the Rising Sun was unnecessary. I didn’t finish this record, but I could see how I could maybe enjoy it in the right mood? I’d give it a 2.5 if I could, but will round up to 3 for quality of vocal talent and song choices (for the most part).
I like Joan Baez’s voice, but the folk style feels a bit too whimsical for me—not really my thing. It’s like listening to a collection of songs from Robin Hood’s era. Favorite songs: Silver Dagger and House of the Rising Sun were definite highlights. Least favorite: Henry Martin felt pretty dull. Album artwork: Cool cover—it suits the vibe of the album well.
Iconic folk album
gorgeous so pretty and devastating but a little bit samesy
As a lifelong fan of traditional bluegrass music, I have already heard versions of nearly all these songs and I was kind of excited to get this album. I'd never really listened to Joan Baez much; so, this would be a first for me. Not a fan, though. Should have been titled "Vibrato: The Album." She has to end every note with an obnoxious, ear splitting trill. You know how sometimes, you're trying to sleep in on the weekend but there's a mockingbird outside your window that won't shut up? That's Joan Baez. If Tiny Tim made a folk album, it would've sounded like this. Kudos to her for bringing these traditional songs to the masses in the 60's, though, and for that reason alone, I'm giving it 2 stars.
Ich finde das Album herzig und man spürt Herzblut und Emotion in den Songs. Leider finde ich die Songs sehr langweilig und ihre Stimme gefällt mir nicht. Donna Donna ist allerdings sehr schön.
Joan Baez is good. I'm not super into Folk, but I like this.
unambiguous, uncomplicated, and undiluted in its pleasures....just a spread of traditional songs being sung by one of the v best folkies to ever do it. theres some good tonal breadth in the selections, and joan is both earthy and angelic esp in her immaculately clear vibrato, but for the most part trying to explain it feels stupid lol...just a v generous piece of wax, for its simplicity
I prefer her guitar work over her vocals. Even though she has a traditionally beautiful voice, the soprano vibrato gets to me after a little while, and she used vibrato about 75% of the time. She also didn’t write any of her own music for her debut, relying on traditional folk songs sang in the contemporary Greenwich Village style. 3.3/5
Beautiful voice and guitar, but the arrangement doesn't work equally well for all the songs. Sometimes it's a bit too much, and some of these ballads are just too old-timey.
This goes on a bit… this is like what I would imagine an sheep might sing like.
I’m not a big fan of folk music, but I recognize this as very well executed folk music
Very 60s sounding hippie folk. Good voice, quite like a lot of the guitar, was actually pretty decent thinking about it, especially for the time. Pretty repetitive as these folk albums often are and some quite silly lyrics here and there. The fact I only thought it was quite good in retrospect is a bit telling that I didn't enjoy it all that much at the time, but overall okay.
A really, really nice folk album. Her voice is interesting - pure and sweet, plenty of trilling, but powerful. I liked Donna Donna quite a lot. And John Riley, Henry Martin, and Mary Hamilton. All the songs named after people. Anywho, really traditional and folksy, with simple accompaniment.
Initially I thought this was going to be great, thought she sounded like joni Mitchell. However, I found her voice verging into the shrill at times and it annoyed me a bit. The covers are the covers and they don't count. I do think it was pretty good though, just not quite as good as my first impression so felt slightly disappointed. Very dated too Overall was ok, but won't be rushing back. 3
Unapologetic folk album with the power and vibrato of Joan Baez's voice to carry it through
Pleasant listen, though not overall compelling. Good instrumentals and vocal work. 'Donna Donna' was my fave.
Haunting and ethereal, very beautiful and amazing guitar.
-well, this is really nice. I’ve been wanting to listen to Joan Baez but had no idea where to start -her voice is the highlight, easily, and if im being honest pretty much the main thing this record has going for it. it got a liiittle repetitive toward the end and it was harder for individual songs to stand out -still glad I listened though because holyshit her voice and some of that instrumentation… lovely -Favorites are Silver Dagger, Donna Donna, and Henry Martin
downloaded 1,,2,3,4,6,8,9,10,11,12 and 13. beautiful voice of course. rating it a 4 only because a lot of the songs don’t have an instrumental variation which would’ve been nice
Not bad for a folk album, but definitely not my thing. 3/5
This was almost unlistenable with her very shrill annoying voice sounding like she recorded it on a very bumpy road with how much her voice was going up and down. Not sure why anyone would think this is a must listen to album
What a voice! Not generally my thing to just throw on, but this debut record has something special to it.
Her voice is a bit much for me. Too much vibrato. I did enjoy a couple songs though
warbly
She's got a beautiful voice, and plays guitar wonderfully, but these traditional folk songs are maybe just a bit TOO folky for me. Spotify autoplay started playing Baez Sings Dylan after this album finished and I enjoyed that a lot more.
The interpretation of other people's songs is a fine skill to have.
No, this is awful. And even more unbearable through the headphones on second listen, I was wincing at some of the shriekier moments. And there are some lovely traditional songs on here but she strips them of all character and nuance and makes them all sound the same. Not a fan of that scene anyway but this is the worst one yet
good sound, good folk album, would listen again.
I know many people like her but I just can’t get along with her histrionic warbling. Not my thing at all
A fine folk album. It does get a little repetitive as it goes on though. Mid 3.
Very maudlin, didn't really like her voice
Pretty long album for long winded and slow singing. Parts were very beautiful but it’s a bit of a grind. I like her overall but not a ton of variety with the pacing here.
this album wasn't really my cup of tea. I respect the artistry and the voice, but I wouldn't really put this on again for another listen. I could see a time and place to whip out Joan Baez, but I'm not really the guy for it. I don't usually bring time up as a component of what makes a good album, but this one was a bit long and it ended up feeling like a slog to get through. no disrespect, but it just ain't my jam
I decided to go back to this album because I just watched “a complete unknown” about bob dylan and Joan Baez is very prevalent in it and in his life. She was clearly very important in the folk music scene at this time but the movie emphasizes how folk music was stagnant in just doing covers of old songs time and time again which is present on this album. Wild to learn that house of the rising run is actually a traditional folk song and not just by the animals. She sings this in the movie acapella and honestly gave me goosebumps it was so good. Her actual singing voice unfortunately is such of a product of its time where it just really had not aged well. Maybe it sounds better live but on a recording it gets kind of abrasive.
I really do like this genre of music! I give this album a 2 for a few reasons. I thought that the voice was too loud relative to the guitar. It was a bit jarring a lot of the time because the voice would be very piercing while you couldn’t hear the guitar at all. She took a heavy storytelling vibe throughout the album and it was super consistent, but I felt as if it was fairly monotonous as well. I would’ve liked to see more variety and distinction between each song.
Peaceful, relaxing, and perfect for a chilly morning watching snow flurries outside. I hope we have more of her albums later on. Especially enjoyed her version of House Of The Rising Sun.
Damn, that woman sure can pick a guitar! Her voice isn't too shabby either. This was a really fun collection of folk songs. I got chills listening to "House of the Rising Sun". I kept looking up who sings the original version of a bunch of these song, and most seem to be traditional folk songs that were recorded in the 30s but were around even before then.
Like Bob Dylan and others of the great folk music scare Joan Baez is a link to an older world order. I never cared for this stuff at the time but now I can appreciate it's importance in the evolution of pop music.
Ich mag Folk. Aber einige klassische Gesangspassagen passen nicht.
she’s cute
I can't stand her voice, I can't stand the music and I don't like acoustic guitar, but I think I finally get why people like/liked this. Obviously as a middle aged white dude it's not for me. She's kind of a fucked up girl singing her kinda fucked up music and I can totally get why that would be popular. She is probably the only one I really get of this era. The other female singer songwriter types of this era seem to be trying to be this weird and always feel forced.
one song in isolation is lovely, but whole album is too much for me. 1
oh my god her fucking voice sucks ass. okay maybe not. i think the vocals are SOOOOO boring. it’s like “ooOoOoooohhhHhHhH😩” BITCH STFU you are not impressing me. even though i can appreciate the beautiful guitar melodies, it all just sounds pretty much the same. oh god i really fucking hate her singing. it is literally just an hour of “ooOooooOoOoJHhHhHhhH😩😩😩” paired with sleepy guitar melodies
if this list has taught me anything then it is that i hate folk. it is slow, no variety, nothing that makes it remotely interesting, exactly what i hate about music x
The voice of an angel
Joan Baez has a lovely voice, and she is a great guitarist. But I wish she hadn't limited herself to doing arrangements of traditional folk songs, and actually wrote a few songs of her own.
Some beautiful moments and a fantastic voice.
I was expecting this to be more of a protest-y type of thing. But then again it was 1960, not 1968. It was fine, but I felt it was a little long for a folk album. I always expect these things to be a single album of maybe 30 minutes. 55 is pushing it. Hard to believe it's from 1960, as the sound is very good, considering. All in all, I thought it was just... okay. I didn't hate it, but from what I know of her I was expecting more. Maybe I shouldn't have for this first album. Top tracks: "House of the Rising Sun," "all My Trials," "John Riley"
Joan Baez has the voice of an angel and the plucking ability of the devil. Dang, she is impressive. It's a shame the recording quality of this record is garbage, which is what you get when you record a solo artist singing into one mic while playing their guitar into another. Still, I appreciate getting the original sound. It is not lost on me that this album is all rearranged covers and I dinged the Stones for covers. Still, she brings her own flavor to them and I think it's quite beautiful. Classic folk right here from the Queen of Folk.
I feel like I should acknowledge her solely on the fact that she's a huge name in folk, but this was a pretty meh album to me. I can appreciate her guitar playing and her singing, but most of the songs were same-samey with only occasional tracks that caught my attention. Worse, on close listen I found myself pretty uninterested. It's not that anything's bad necessarily, it just doesn't do much for me and is often a little too renaissance faire for me. I'll at least acknowledge that it belongs on the 1001 for its historical importance. Tracks that caught my attention: East Virginia, Little Moses.
she did great things but this melodic folk has aged not well
I enjoy her voice, but this album is full of dirges. It was interesting to listen to, in my effort to cover a broad spectrum of music. Great guitar work. I imagine it's much more powerful in person.
This is maybe a 4.5 rounded up, but it was an excellent album full of wonderful folk songs front to back. I thoroughly enjoyed it more than Joni Mitchell's "Blue" which I gave a 4/5, so here we are.
I quite liked this for the most part, although her voice does get a bit much sometimes, especially in the higher parts where she amps up the volume.
Very very good. Not enough variety for me, but individually every song is quite strong.
We are far removed from the context in which this set of dutiful, pretty and somewhat ordinary standards slayed faces. Her voice has force, though the loud parts feel like being next to a car doing donuts in a mall parking lot. “Dona Dona” sounds best to me.
Very much of its time, folk standards sung with her distinctive voice. Not my thing
Yeah, it's definitely folk music. It is haunting and beautiful, the guitar work is also good. Folk music always feels a bit samey though I want it to go somewhere sometimes...
I don't deny what she's contributed to female artists in terms of influence and talent. The sound is definitely not up my alley.
Interesting precursor to folk popularity.
Absolute tranquility, Joan has that sweet sweet voice that just carries you away. And like most late 50s/early 60s debut albums, its all covers of traditional songs, but she makes each one her own with just her voice and her guitar, the way folk music should be.
Simple but effective. Great voice, great guitar playing.
I tend to prefer male vocals for folk music (Dylan, Cohen, Tim Buckley etc.) However really enjoyed this & cant argue with the quality - I always thought Dylan was the first to popularise House of the Rising Sun but she recorded it first!
Meh
+ I like folk music - but I like it when the lyrics seem a little more universal. This album is just too much middle-aged for my taste. + I like Joan's dynamic singing - but I don't love her vibrato; at this point it's been parodied enough that it's a lurks hard to take it.
I had high hopes when it started but it never really hit for me
[3/10] This is one instrumentation change away from being straight elf music
Good shit, crazy guitar/voice
This was pleasant enough to listen to, but it was a bit dull. Found myself wanting to nod off for the most part but then every now and then Joan would screech out a note and it would bring me back around to realising that this isn't my thing.
Beautiful Voice! Not really a big fan of 60’s Folk Music
Gewoon echt heel saai
Album un peu répétitif avec plusieurs chansons faites sur le même patron musical et qui sont difficiles à distinguer l’une de l’autre. J’ai quand même beaucoup aimé les quelques chansons plus rythmées voire country et j’ai eu un coup de cœur particulier pour « Donna Donna » et la chanson en espagnol « El Preso Numero Nueve ». Et elle a vraiment une très belle voix, même dans les chansons un peu trop lyreuses.
This may be a matter of taste, but I've never really likes Baez' voice. I think this may be the first time I've listened to one of her albums all the way through, and I didn't find it very enjoyable. I find her voice and singing style dominated the songs and made everything rather harsh. I could only play this once, and it seemed a bit interminable. I get that Baez was a big figure in the folk resurgence and was important as a social activist, but in that context I'm not sure a debut album of covers of traditional songs is so significant.
huge folk album
Girl with guitar, not much else to say. I liked the spanish song. Stand-out: Wildwood Flower, El Preso Número Nueve
3.5
I've always found her voice a little hard to take.
Back in the 60s I remember this as a beautiful folk album. It seemed perfect back then, but not so much now. Any one song by itself is nice, but a whole album of this is a bit too much. I was wondering when it was going to end.
I don't know if album-length Joan Baez (and a long one at that) is something that I'd casually engage in in my free time. Her voice is "beautiful" but almost a bit much, though I generally like it here. (When I don't it's usually in material that I'm more familiar with, e.g. renditions of Dylan songs.) Donna Donna is a wonderful wonderful discovery from this album.
Enjoyable album. Some alternative versions of some classic songs
Beautifully sung and played, feels like a time capsule of 1960 folk music. I have nothing bad to say about this album other than you really need to be in a headspace to listen to it. It's perfect in it's simplicity, but that simplicity can leave listeners bored (as some have suggested on here) or maybe fatigued by it's consistency. For that, I give it a 3/5. A masterpiece for it's time that went on to inspire many more amazing artists but was left in it's time.
#445. The combination of folk music and opera wannabe vocals is damn near torturous to listen to. 1/5: fuck me, man Song added to playlist: House of the Rising Sun I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
I could hardly differentiate her from Joni Mitchell for the longest time - It's not bad, but I find her voice too flowery and I feel like the lyrics loose some of their power in it
So folky, so nice.
Struggling with her vocal style.
Incredible voice and very musical. Probably just a bit too long of an album but each song is strong.
Upea levy. Puhdas ääni täynnä tunnetta ja kauniita tekstejä. 4/5
Lauleskelee ja lypsyttää kappaletta nimeltä new orleans. Sovitaan että 1 star ainakun tuo kys. kappale albumille päätyy heh. Tämän albumin kuitenkin arvostelen chilling and wibing scaalalla
The vocals are a lot but it’s classic Joan
Great folk music and I really like Joan Baez voice....but oh my GOD put some sort of sound in the fucking left channel. 90% of this album is in the right channel or rightmost of the left channel. Absolutely infuriating
I couldn't do this. This is the kind of folk I absolutely can't stand.
An apparently quite well known album by an artist that I’ve never heard of. This is really excellent traditional folk music. The guitar playing is spectacular, and frankly my favourite part of the whole album. Joan Baez’s voice is really something else too, almost ethereal? I could see it not being some peoples cup of tea, but I found it really enjoyable. My only real gripes with this album are few and far between. I don’t particularly care for the cover of “House of the Rising Sun”, I think it felt a little draggy and too downtempo for what it is. My only other complaint is the relative sameness throughout the record, but I guess that’s part and parcel of this era of folk music. 4*.
When I was like 14, I wanted to *be* 60s Joan Baez. She has such a beautiful, ethereal voice and such evident passion for folk music. I think she has better albums, but this one is beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable. 8.5/10
Absolutely fantastic album. This is real folk music. Great storytelling, an intentional flow from song to song, only the instruments that are necessary and all with a killer voice. Joan Baez's debut album is perfect! Silver Dagger, Henry Martin, John Riley and Girl of Constant Sorrow are standouts.
I've been wrestling with how to rate older albums that just can't grab my interest and comparing them to video game consoles has given me solace. A Joan Baez album is like a Super Nintendo. Top of its class at the time, but as advancements in gaming happen, new things are just better. It will always hold nostalgic value but certainly the ps5 is better as it can just do more. You couldn't blame a kid for not enjoying a SNES after growing up with a PS5, and similarly you can't blame someone for not enjoying a record like this because it's from before their time. 2/5
That voice. Some absolute favourites here.
How did this album ever make this list? Seriously the single worst album I have ever heard in my life her voice made my teeth inch
I hated this album from beginning to end. Awful singing, bland guitar. Simply terrible.
A really good folk album. It made me want to listen to early Bob Dylan.
Just nice melodic folk music, nothing edgy here, music to sit with contentedly while you read a book on the porch. I'm unfamiliar with Joan so this was a nice new listen for me.
Pretty, harmless folk music. Some decent versions of songs that would be done better in the future. She’s got a lovely voice
Very few artists could produce a quality album using only their voice and an acoustic instrument. JB doesn’t just do that, she kills it.
Lovely voice, but the volume dynamics were a bit much.
Her voice didn’t work for everything here but it was sweet overall
Interesting voice for a couple of songs. For a whole album… er, I’m ok thanks.
The guitar playing is superb, really inspirational if you’re an acoustic player! However the vocals are an acquired taste and I’d have to be in the mood to listen to her for an extended period of time.
Nice voice but somewhat boring in areas.
Good when you're in the right mood. El Preso is awesome. 3.5
This kind of folk music is not really my cup of tea as a genre. I love the storytelling of old folk songs, but the arrangements here are just too simple to really hold my attention It is well executed though, with strong, clear vocals (she kind of sounds like a theremin sometimes with all the vibrato haha) and the sparse guitar accompaniment which really adds to the songs without distracting from the stories For me, I prefer folk that embraces some more modern instrumental embellishment (see Liege and Lief) - in one word, this was boring.
This is the album you hear in purgatory right before your family pulls the plug on the ventilator. 2.5/5
I was familiar with Joan Baez from her cover of the Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" in 1971, but this her debut album, is more of a traditional folk album. A beautiful album even if - as is often the case with folk songs - the subject matter is dark.
A folk classic, but not my personal favorite
Not my thing. Her voice is too high pitched and annoying, with no break. Clearly a great musical persona, though.
A bunch of rich kids sitting in the park playing what look to be chairs, but upon further inspection are some sort of instruments made of wood with strings. These rich kids have spent their youth in classrooms and libraries reading about the atrocities committed by their fellow humans, and so they decide to rebel the only way they know how. They decide it best to play an old forgotten style of music and point fingers at those who treat others as less-than. In doing so, they themselves treat other humans as less-than in an appeal to get them to change their ways. This does not work, but the same style of protest has none the less persisted to this very day. You see for I am the most virtuous of all because I sing about it the loudest without any real sacrifice. MLK Jr. made a sacrifice, Joan Baez made songs and money. The album is good enough if you are a fan of folk music, which I am, I just wanted to vent about the overblown "sacrifices" these celebrity protestors make.
Don't really care Will I listen to again: 0%
Jag gillade inte hennes röst
Gear: Dunu SA6 Artwork: 😬🎸👗 Production: 🎧😐🆗 Music: 🌍☮️🙄 Rating: ☮️(☮️)/5
Ok, she yelled quite a bit
Love her. Love her voice. Loved listening to the album.
I love Joan Baez. I’m smiling throughout this album. That said, her voice has never been my favorite. Her vibrato is a little too fast for me. But this album came out in my birth year so for that reason, and for the nostalgia, and for my love of her, I will give it a 4.
It's been a hard week and Hot Chip was really the only reprieve that I was able to get. A lot of folk and 60's hippie rock for me. Today, I get Joan Baez. I did find this to be a more pleasant album even though it kind of comes and goes for me. It's incredibly mellow and probably has historical significance since Joan Baez is the female Bob Dylan. This album deserves a spot in this book and her cover of the House of the Rising Sun is different from the Animals version. It's a good different though, because her version lacks the eerie musical sound of the Animals version but her voice does provide ominous vibes.
Went back and forth between she had the most incredible voice ever and wanting to plug my ears. Some of those high notes were HIGH. Incredible guitar player and musician but this got boring after the first few songs.
Folk and pleasant
I love her
While her voice and guitar playing are top-notch, the album is boring overall. It's a very personal album for her but never hits the highs of what I expect from folk music. Many of the songs fall flat and become forgettable. However, there are still some tracks I enjoyed, and I was definitely thrown off by finding out she did House of the Rising Sun before the Animals (though I'm aware hers isn't the original either). Favorites were Silver Dagger, House of the Rising Sun, and Rake and Rambling Boy.
Her voice is really nice, but unfortunately I found this one to be boring. There are definitely highlights namely Silver Dagger, House Of The Rising Sun, All My Trials, and Wildwood Flower.
Kinda waily
Now that's what I call music to fall asleep to: 1960's
I find her voice a little too piercing rather than soothing, so she isn't a favourite, but I love folk music and there are some gems on here. It's interesting to hear snippets of tune and lyrics from other folk songs - not just English folk, but Scottish and even Spanish amongst others. A real trip through musical history.
Not for me.
Vocals
Boring just beyond boring
A classic.
I think Joan Baez is very skilled, and her music comes out exactly as she intends for it to. She's obviously a cultural icon, and a very significant figure in the 1960's counterculture movement. For me, she comes off a bit too earnest, which I don't mean as an insult and I highly doubt she would take it as one, but that is the only detracting factor in my eyes. My Top 3: East Virginia All My Trials Wildwood Flower
Very strong start and I can easily see how it influenced folk going forward. Wish the back half was stronger, but there's still a lot of goodies.
This is the iconic version of "Mary Hamilton."
I should've saved my listening notes yesterday because I don't remember anything about this at all. It's folk music! I remember thinking "3 stars"
Pretty but not sure why on this list
Miksi näin pitkä… Menee siksi aika puuduttavaksi - heräsin vasta, kun kieli vaihtui espanjaksi. Sinänsä kivan kuuloista. Baezilla on mukava ääni, aika stereotyyppinen tässä genressä, mutta ehkä stereotypia pohjautuu häneen.
En välitä artistin väreilevästä melodramaattisuudesta, mutta pidän hetkittäin hänen folk-mollistaan. Vika biisi myös jees yllätys.
I'm not sure I finished the album. I probably fell asleep. Having said that, those are still beautiful ballads.
A beautiful listen through. An amazing voice and some fantastic tale-esque lyrics. Will be coming back to listen to more of Joan Baez
Joan Baez by Joan Baez. Reminds me of very early Disney music, where the women sings as high pitched as she can and her voice does that slightly annoying warble noise. I kinda hate it
Not really my jam, but Joan has an incredible voice.
Joan Bae more like
Enjoyed this on a rainy Thursday morning. Voice is great
I didn't like this at all. I just don't really care for her voice or style. The arrangements were too similar, making an otherwise diverse selections of songs into a pretty monotonous album.
Such a lovely voice. 3/5
The vocals are outstanding , the instrumental is very simplistic and doesn’t add much . The album itself sounds kind of dated and the story telling doesn’t resonate like some of the oldies to me . It’s a strong listen but with little replay value for me
Lovely
Beautiful singing voice makes for a nice folk album. Great guitaring showcased in standout "I Know You Rider".
So beautiful, so beautiful im giving it an extra STAR!!
Kasarin lapselle käy pitkäveteiseksi ja levy painuu negatiivisen puolelle.
Vähän kävi tylsäksi, mutta toimis luultavasti rauhallisessa ympäristössä taustalla
Not bad, but I’ve never been a fan of her voice.
Not my style, I see the appeal
5/5. A beautiful voice, ethereal even. It's hard to deny why she became so popular so fast. It's almost all traditional songs and considering the release date, it kind of make sense. She could have written her own songs and cover albums are always a little worrisome but her voice is so wonderful to listen to that it honestly doesn't matter what she is singing. Sometimes albums have a good balance of lyrics, vocals, music, etc. Other times if you are just good at one of those things, it's a classic. Bob Dylan got lyrics, Santana got music, Joan Baez can have vocals. It's honestly just too good. Best Song: House of the Rising Sun, Silver Dagger, Mary Hamilton
Ethereal.
songwriter二连说是
One of the great folk revivalist singers. Her performance at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival garnered Baez enough acclaim to be signed to Vanguard records, where she would sing and play an assortment of English and American folk songs with unmatched beauty. Listening to it now, her voice is clear and true, carried with an appreciation for the songs that came before her. Hear her rendition of House of the Rising Sun to revel in her dynamic power, haunting the song the way it was meant to be haunted. The albums strengths lie most in its simplicity, with only Baez and her guitar recorded in the Manhattan Towers Hotel Ballroom, one microphone for each. These are the real folk songs with no extra arrangements, no fanciful renditions. It's an impossibly wonderful listen, enjoyable from start to finish. Baez can hang with the best of them.
Solid folk album. I don't really have anything meaningful to say about it.
The music is incredibly simple folk music, with most tracks simply Baez and her guitar. The recording apparently took place in a community hall with a couple of microphones and Baez sitting on a rug. "As long as a dog didn't run through the room or something, you had it." There is something refreshing about that simplicity sometimes. And for a very simple recording from 1960, it sounds pretty good. Her voice is gorgeous and distinct and deserves the space it gets to breathe. It's obviously not the most innovative album ever released, but put in it context of its time, you can forgive that. She beat Bob Dylan to a debut album by 2 years and did it pretty well. Her politics are obviously divisive, and even some on the left may have felt that she was a bit much. But I personally admit her stances. Regardless of what you may think of her, she certainly left a big mark on the 60s, on popular music, and American culture.
Classic
3.5/5
It's hard to rate this album. It came out on 1960. She's covered a lot of folk music and it's several years before Woodstock and even the Beatles. I appreciate the time and circumstances surrounding it. But...it was a really tough listen. I couldn't finish it. Her voice over almost all instrumentation was brutal after about 12 songs.
She has a fantastic voice, loved this
Bangers
I'm sure it has its place in history or whatever but oof, this was a tough listen
It isn’t bad, but it never really gets out of gear.
Not a bad album, not a good album just a bit bland and boring. Joan Baez is a great musician and very talented but nothing really holds my attention on this album.
She’s good at it but an album made up exclusively of some folksy singing and guitar strumming will never be my main bag.
Never knew this is where the House of the Rising Sun comes from. She has a very clear and beautiful voice. Pretty good but kind of boring at the same time
I feel like if this was in a movie I loved I would be praising it to no end, but as it stands by itself, this woman’s voice is totally insufferable
Very nice
Really liked this one. Like a bridge between pre-rock era traditional folk music and the more familiar contemporary folk stylings of artists like Bob Dylan or Neil Young. Lovely singing voice, too. Key tracks: Silver Dagger East Virginia Fare Thee Well (10,000 Miles)
You’ve got to be really spectacular if you’re coming at me with 13 covers of traditional folk songs on just a voice and guitar. She’s a good guitarist but the arrangements are nothing to write home about and she’s a good singer but the constant vibrato just gets annoying. El Preso Numero Nueve was the most exciting moment as you try to understand what it means in realtime. Sorry Joan but it’s just not that essential or interesting to me.
She has a fantastic voice, and I can absolutely see why she was as influential and groundbreaking as she was when she debuted. That said, I'm not a big fan of folk music. I didn't hate the album but I wouldn't seek it out again.
This is some good folk music. She has a really nice voice. I was already familiar with House of the Rising Sun (Animals) and John Riley (Byrds) which were done later, but Joan's versions were good too. These are almost all traditional songs which surprised me a little bit because she really owns them and makes them her own.
Coincidences abound! Just yesterday I was watching an episode of Six Feet Under and the mom brought up Joan Baez. So when she came up on this playlist... I was excited! On the one hand, she's a master of song craft and subtlety. Every song feels like a message of love from the feminine divine. It touches you in the heart. But I also had the flip side of the experience I did with Beastie Boys. There, every song was shouted at full volume. Here, every song was crooned with lullaby softness. I didn't need her to ever rock out. But it did get a little tiring hearing every song done EXACTLY the same way. All the same, this was great, and I get it now why the mom on Six Feet Under loves her so much.
Not for me unfortunately.
Beautiful, ethereal. The ultimate in folk music.
Absolutely blown away with her beautiful voice and how raw this entire album felt.
Album 526 of 1001 Joan Baez - Joan Baez (1960) Rating : 2.5 / 5 Just does nothing for me. I realize the place she holds for many in music history and I can tolerate her but this just doesn't move me one way or the other.
Good relaxing or homework music, I bet she blew a lot of people’s minds when she came on the scene
Sorry Joan ears bleeding
6/10
Jolie voix, mélodies très harmonieuses. Mais j'ai un peu l'impression d'entendre la même chanson qui continue d'une piste à l'autre
I think Baez isn’t as well respected as other folk singers because she does a lot of traditionals and covers. Of course people know her name, but who listens to her anymore? I love her renditions of selected Child Ballads. Folk singers like this have saved and are saving old Western European folk songs. She recorded this album when she was only 19.
3.5
What a beautiful voice! As if a mockingbird could speak English! Amazing!!!! Just not my bag. I bump up to push to 3 for voice alone.
I think I heard her for the first time in high school and thought she had such a beautiful voice. This is the first album I've listened to of hers, and that still holds up, but it can get to be a bit much for song after song, particularly some of the shriller notes. I also don't understand why there were so many songs about historical figures.
I’m getting Pink Moon vibes from this. A bit repetitive but it’s cool.
She had such a great voice
I really couldnt stand this album. I mean, I guess I can see how some people might be into it, but I just couldnt stand it. 1/5
Had its moments
Decent. Not quite my thing but still enjoyable. I just realized that Silver Dagger is an old folk song. I’ve heard a version of that song before performed by someone else.
Joan Baez has a powerful voice, and a beautiful voice. I just found these stark arrangements fairly boring and the fact that each song was just vocals and acoustic guitar made them run together. So so, but I might need to listen to more of her, if the songs are more interesting.
I never gave Joan a fair chance, but I get it now. She’s great. This was a wonderful recording of old folks tunes. I like her voice and the arrangements.
The music is excellent, but I’m not a fan of her voice.
She's a bit of a crooner but it didn't bother me. Just a perfectly pleasant album to listen to. 3.5
**In-Depth Review of *Joan Baez* by Joan Baez** **Introduction:** Joan Baez's self-titled debut album, *Joan Baez*, released in 1960, is a landmark in the history of American folk music. The album not only established Baez as a significant voice in the folk revival movement but also laid the groundwork for her future career as an influential activist and artist. With its stark arrangements, powerful vocals, and poignant song selection, the album reflects Baez’s early commitment to traditional folk music, while also hinting at the social consciousness that would come to define her later work. **Lyrics:** The lyrics on *Joan Baez* primarily consist of traditional folk songs, ballads, and spirituals. As a traditional folk album, Baez draws heavily on the canon of American and British folk music, offering renditions of songs that date back centuries. These songs, while not written by Baez, are carefully selected for their emotional depth, storytelling, and the ability to convey universal human experiences. One of the most striking aspects of the lyrics is their narrative quality. Tracks like "Silver Dagger" and "House of the Rising Sun" tell stories of love, betrayal, and sorrow. In "Silver Dagger," for instance, the lyrics describe a young woman warning a suitor to stay away because her mother has cautioned her against men, weaving a tale of generational mistrust and heartbreak. "House of the Rising Sun," a traditional folk song that has been covered by many artists, tells the story of a life ruined by vice, with lyrics that resonate with a sense of inevitable doom. Baez's interpretation of these songs brings out their timeless themes, such as the trials of love, the inevitability of death, and the quest for freedom. Even in tracks like "John Riley," a song about a man returning home after a long absence to test his lover's fidelity, there is a deep exploration of loyalty and the passage of time. The lyrics Baez chose for this album reflect a deep respect for the folk tradition, with their ability to convey complex emotions through simple, often stark, language. **Music:** Musically, *Joan Baez* is a minimalist masterpiece. The arrangements are sparse, primarily featuring Baez’s voice accompanied by her own acoustic guitar. This stripped-down approach highlights Baez’s vocal prowess, allowing her to convey a wide range of emotions with subtle variations in tone and phrasing. The simplicity of the instrumentation also serves to foreground the lyrics, ensuring that the stories being told take center stage. The guitar work on the album is intricate yet understated, providing a solid foundation for Baez's voice without overshadowing it. Baez’s fingerpicking style, heavily influenced by traditional folk and classical guitar techniques, is precise and melodic, adding depth to the songs. In tracks like "Henry Martin" and "El Preso Número Nueve," the guitar plays a crucial role in setting the mood, whether it’s the haunting, almost dirge-like quality of the former or the lively, rhythmic accompaniment of the latter. One of the musical highlights of the album is Baez's interpretation of "Mary Hamilton," a Scottish ballad that tells the tragic story of one of Queen Mary’s maids who is sentenced to death after bearing an illegitimate child. The song’s melody is haunting, and Baez’s delivery is both delicate and powerful, perfectly capturing the sorrow and resignation of the lyrics. The musical arrangements throughout the album are tailored to the needs of each song, whether it requires a somber tone or a more upbeat rhythm. **Production:** The production of *Joan Baez* is a testament to the less-is-more philosophy. Produced by Maynard Solomon and engineered by Bill Schwartau, the album was recorded with minimal overdubbing and effects, aiming to capture the raw, authentic sound of Baez's live performances. This approach gives the album an intimate, almost live feel, as if Baez is performing in the listener’s living room. The recording quality, given the technology of the time, is remarkably clear, with Baez’s voice and guitar both sounding warm and natural. There’s a sense of space in the recordings, with subtle reverb adding depth without overwhelming the performance. The focus is squarely on Baez’s voice and guitar, with no unnecessary embellishments or studio tricks. This choice reflects the album's folk roots, emphasizing authenticity and emotional sincerity over commercial polish. One of the production’s greatest strengths is its ability to convey the emotional intensity of Baez’s performances. The simplicity of the production allows the listener to connect directly with the music, with no distractions. This approach also highlights Baez's technical skill as a musician, as there is nowhere to hide in such a bare-bones arrangement—every note and every word must be delivered with precision and feeling, and Baez rises to the challenge. **Themes:** Thematically, *Joan Baez* is steeped in the rich tradition of folk music, with its focus on storytelling, social issues, and the human condition. The album’s songs explore a range of themes, from love and loss to justice and morality. What ties these themes together is their universality; the stories told in these songs could take place in any time or place, making them resonate with listeners across generations. One of the central themes of the album is the plight of women. Songs like "Silver Dagger," "Mary Hamilton," and "Fair Thee Well (Ten Thousand Miles)" all deal with women facing difficult, often tragic circumstances. Whether it’s the young woman in "Silver Dagger" who rejects love out of fear of betrayal, or the doomed Mary Hamilton, these songs highlight the struggles and limited choices faced by women in historical contexts. Baez's choice to include these songs on her debut album can be seen as an early indication of her interest in social issues, particularly those affecting women. Another prominent theme is that of justice and injustice. In "El Preso Número Nueve," a Mexican song sung in Spanish, Baez tells the story of a man who murders his wife and her lover in a fit of rage and is sentenced to death. The song explores themes of crime, punishment, and the consequences of actions, with a powerful narrative that forces the listener to confront the harsh realities of justice. Similarly, "House of the Rising Sun" delves into the consequences of a life lived in vice, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of straying from the moral path. **Influence:** *Joan Baez* had a profound influence on the folk music scene of the 1960s and beyond. The album’s success helped to establish Baez as one of the leading voices of the folk revival, a movement that sought to bring traditional folk music to a new audience and use it as a vehicle for social change. Baez's clear, powerful voice and her commitment to the folk tradition inspired a generation of musicians, including Bob Dylan, with whom she would later collaborate. The album also played a significant role in popularizing folk music among mainstream audiences. Prior to its release, folk music was often seen as niche, with limited appeal outside of certain circles. However, Baez’s album, with its accessible arrangements and emotionally resonant performances, helped to bridge the gap between traditional folk music and the broader popular music market. This crossover appeal opened the door for other folk artists to achieve mainstream success, contributing to the genre's growth in the 1960s. Baez's influence extended beyond the music itself. Her commitment to social justice, which is hinted at in this album, would become a defining aspect of her career. Songs like "El Preso Número Nueve" and "Mary Hamilton" reflect an early awareness of issues related to justice, gender, and morality, themes that Baez would explore more deeply in her later work. The album’s focus on these themes helped to set the stage for folk music to become a powerful tool for social commentary and activism in the turbulent 1960s. **Pros:** 1. **Vocal Performance:** Baez’s voice is the standout element of the album. Her clear, pure soprano is both powerful and emotionally resonant, capable of conveying a wide range of emotions with subtlety and precision. 2. **Song Selection:** The choice of songs is impeccable, showcasing the depth and diversity of the folk tradition. Each track is carefully chosen for its lyrical content and emotional impact, creating a cohesive and compelling listening experience. 3. **Musical Arrangements:** The minimalist arrangements highlight Baez’s vocal and guitar skills, allowing the songs’ narratives to take center stage. The simplicity of the instrumentation adds to the album’s authenticity and emotional power. 4. **Production Quality:** The production is clean and uncluttered, focusing on capturing the raw, live sound of Baez’s performances. This approach enhances the album’s intimacy and immediacy. 5. **Thematic Depth:** The album tackles complex themes such as love, loss, justice, and the female experience, offering listeners more than just beautiful music, but also thought-provoking content. 6. **Cultural and Historical Impact:** As one of the key albums of the 1960s folk revival, *Joan Baez* played a crucial role in popularizing folk music and influencing a generation of musicians and activists. **Cons:** 1. **Lack of Original Material:** While the album’s focus on traditional folk songs is one of its strengths, it also means that there is no original material from Baez herself. This might be seen as a limitation for those looking for a more personal expression from the artist. 2. **Musical Repetition:** The minimalist approach to the arrangements, while effective, can also lead to a certain degree of musical repetition. With most tracks featuring just voice and guitar, some listeners might find the album lacking in variety. 3. **Historical Context Required:** The album’s reliance on traditional songs means that some of the lyrics and themes might not resonate as strongly with modern listeners who are not familiar with the historical and cultural contexts of the songs. 4. **Narrow Audience Appeal:** While the album was successful in popularizing folk music, its traditional nature and stark production might not appeal to listeners who prefer more contemporary or polished musical styles. **Conclusion:** *Joan Baez* is a seminal album in the history of American folk music, showcasing the young Baez’s extraordinary vocal talent, her deep respect for the folk tradition, and her nascent social consciousness. The album’s minimalist arrangements and stark production allow the emotional depth of the songs to shine through, making it a powerful listening experience. While the album’s focus on traditional material and its sparse instrumentation might not appeal to all listeners, its influence on the folk revival and its role in establishing Baez as a key figure in music and activism cannot be overstated. For those interested in the roots of folk music or the early career of one of its most important voices, *Joan Baez* is an essential listen.
Falleg rödd og mjög kósí fílingur alla leið. Mjög róandi. Mæli með.
mah nsomma alla fine un po' noiosetto
I can appreciate that Joan Baez is important as a recording of American Folk, and that it’s an impressive musical achievement in and of itself, but I have a really hard time enjoying this because I don’t like Joan Baez’s voice. The shrill head voice vibrato thing she does in El Preso Numero Nueve is especially grating. If it were just based on importance this should be a five, but I’m not feeling generous today. Sorry Joan, three stars for you