No Other

Another one of *those* albums that's probably really good if you grew up with it, but now is just more of the same

Sublime. Beautiful. Coherent. There is No Other. I discovered this in 2016, and played it to death, from start to finish. It is packed with lush vocals, rich harmonies, crisp instrumentation and perfect dynamic. Putting aside the wonderful magical storytelling, it’s just a Great Wall of beauty. Please try it, from start to end. Top tracks: Strength of Strings, Some Misunderstanding, Lady of the North

“No Other” by Gene Clark (1974) Country/folk rock of a bygone era. Neil Young meets Carlos Castaneda. Lyrics are thoughtful, if austere and unduly melancholy, demonstrating a certain intellectual curiosity, but treated unsystematically, even chaotically. There is frequently a definite mismatch between the emotional tone of the lyrics and the musical setting. Well performed backing instrumentals and vocals. As for Clark’s voice, it’s rather unremarkable. The album overall is very well arranged and produced, with plenty of texture to support the rather simple melodies. No ‘bangers’ on this record. The title track is somewhat innovative (for 1974), but seems to try to blend too many styles. Nice exploration of an elaborate chord structure in “Strength of Strings” on top of a Neil Young-ish melody. In sum, this is an album to listen to when you’re having trouble getting to sleep. 2/5

Loved it, Gene Clark is a master songwriter and this album has some haunting but dangerously exciting songs on it before ending with some classic beautiful country sounds. Excellent.

Excellent, and brand new to me as well. This is what this 1001 album experience is all about, what a gem!

Great album. The cover is one of the ugliest ones I've ever seen, but it reminds me of that one record in your parents collection that you try to play once without thinking much of it, and then it's just much better than you expected. 4

Unceremoniously and unfairly thrown away and underappreciated by the record buying public, No Other is Gene Clark's rightful masterpiece. This is the perfect example of letting it all hang out and letting your muses take you to your greatest potential. If only everyone had seen what Gene had seen and embraced this record for what it was and what it is; an incredible tapestry of sound that would have been weakened if left to lesser hands. The power of perfection, indeed.

This album scratches an itch for sure. Rockin’ soulful country reminds of Neil Young, with some folky psychedelia and George Harrison vibes thrown in for good measure. A+ for me.

A sadly overlooked album in its time. Gene Clark was clearly very inspired while writing this album and it shines as a result.

On second listen it is apparent to me that this is quite a unique album. Love the production. Title track is dope. Strength of Strings is a great way to follow it up. Was expecting everything to be fairly standard country rock but this is a tasty cocktail of influences. I just so happen to be heading to Mendocino where this album was conceived later this week.

Pleasant listen. Blown away by "Strength of Strings" in particular.

It's weird to me that this album was considered such a failure. It doesn't sound that far removed from the kind of country inflected rock Neil Young or Stephen Stills we're doing around the same time. This didn't blow my mind or anything but it's good. It seems like its commercial and critical failure really did a number on Clark and that's sad.

Exactly the reason I wanted to do the 1001 Project.

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Before today, I've never heard any of Gene Clark's solo stuff. I was only familiar with his work with the Byrds, so I am looking forward to listening to today's album. This was a fantastic folk rock/country rock album with hints of psychadelic rock mixed in. The story behind this album is a sad one. Apparently, Gene and the record label had differences of opinion. Gene wanted to release a double album, but the record label didn't want to. Upon its release, the label didn't promote the album at all, and as a result it flopped. It wasn't discovered until a re-release in the 90's, however the initial failure of the record was a financial blow that Gene wouldn't recover from. I really enjoyed this record. The use of steel guitar, especially on Life's Greatest Fool and True One was amazing, and added an almost melancholic feel to the songs. Overall, a fantastic record, and one I definately will listen to again! Favourite songs: True One, Life's Greatest Fool, From a Silver Phial, No Other, Silver Raven, Strength of Strings Least favourite song: Lady of the North (this song just didn't resonate with me like the others) 5/5

Never heard of Gene Clark (apparently from The Byrds), tagged as country. Low expectations. First track, country’ish but those lyrics, man, from there on just amazing. 5 stars. Not country in my eyes, something unique. The reason I’m listening to the 1001 albums.

I love the early 70s psychedelic country albums. This is my favorite so far.

Oh wow. This is an amazing album. As soon as my first listen ended I dove into a second listen and liked it even more than the first time. The music has a ton of influences and is impeccably produced. Some great lyrics in these songs too. “Said she saw the sword of sorrow sunken in the sand of searching souls” - From A Silver Phial “We all need a fix at a time like this but doesn’t it feel good to stay alive?” - Some Misunderstanding

For me, this album was another victory for share-houses. I think a dude named Tony owned the vinyl & I fell in love with it. It was the title track that I fell in love with first - the strange sound he gets with his voice. It’s an eerie song. From the man who wrote one of the 60’s greatest - Eight Miles High - & then left The Byrds because of a fear of flying. Go figure. Anyway, I’ve been listening to it for nearly 50 years & it still does it for me. Strength Of Strings stands out for me these days. Clark’s slide guitar is straight out of early 70’s Stones albums. And the song itself is very reminiscent of Neil Young’s Words(Between the Lines Of Age) from the Harvest album. But it is so beautiful. In fact, the whole of Side 1 is outstanding. Side 2 might not have standout tracks but it does the job. I got to see Clark when he toured here in 1979 with McGuinn, Hillman & Clark (basically a Byrds’ greatest hits tour). They played at The Regent in Sydney & were great. But I was hoping he might play No Other or some track from this album, but, alas, no.

Already a great album in my mind. It's a very warm, inviting record in a way; there's so much life in the music - from the moving guitar solos that genuinely add to the emotion of the songs, to the beautiful melodic basslines. The backing vocals that weave in and out add a layered warmth to the mood of it and Gene Clark has such a captivating voice. His lyrics seem very evocative, occasionally impressionistic maybe (?), but seem to have real depth and vulnerability to them. Lots of natural imagery and, on one listen, seem very forthright about the 'troughs' of life, especially when pleasure is sought to excess, whilst capturing the beauty too. Never nihilistic. I just want to explore deeper.

Some good moments. Would listen to again.

This is an awfully pretty and very inventive record. Gene Clark’s blend of heady psych, folk and country-rock isn’t exactly my speed, but it’s pretty damn close.

A very good album. In the 70s country/rock vein. Enjoyable.

Beautiful songs. I can't believe the album was actually deleted from a record label's library. Nothing mind-blowing, but enjoyed listening to all the songs. 4/5

Nr. 157/1001 Life's Greatest Fool 4 Silver Raven 4 No Other 3 Strength of Strings 4 From a Silver Phial 4 Some Misunderstanding 3 True One 3 Lady of the North 3 Average: 3,5 Pretty good for the most part.

This files into the boring but good-sounding music category, which I guess is about a 7.

Never heard of this artist prior to this. At first I thought it was Glen Clark of “Hee Haw” fame (bet you young ‘ us don’t even know what that is!). First track was good, and it got better from there. Good vocal tones, guitar work excellent and very solid tunes through the first three songs of this album. Sort of reminded me of Doc Watson, with a little bit more energy. But after track three, it starts to fall off on “Strength of Strings” and then further downhill after that - the songs just seem to tank. If this were an LP, I would give side one 4 stars and side two 2 stars = 3.

Nice and folky but just more background music for me. Wasn’t blown away by any of it.

Pretty good, nice sound and good voice.

I had never heard of Gene Clark until this year. Nate Garrett from Spirit Adrift talks this album up on his YT channel. This album kicks ass. A lost masterpiece is right.

I really like Silver Raven. It reminds me in a way of Bob Seger's Turn the Page. No Other is a complete change of pace into a fuzzed out rock song -- once again really solid song writing here. Strength of Strings is an interesting one. Opens up in a sort of opium haze with the skittering percussion and slow build. Getting some David Gilmour (circa Meddle) vibes from the guitar work here. This was an amazingly enjoyable and cohesive album with beautiful production, great songwriting, and instrumentation. I really wish for a 10 point scale here, because I feel like we need granularity on this upper end of the spectrum. This is not a 5 in the sense that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot would be, but it is not fair to put this alongside the other commendable 4s. So for me this is a completely unexpected soft 5.

This album exceeds the usual country-rock genre from the early 70s, and always found it hard to imagine why this album was ignored at the time of its release.

- This project continues to surprise me. I guess I didn't know music as much as I thought ..... or maybe there's just so much out there it's not possible to grasp as much as we think we can .... thanks for this one. It's a beautiful record that exemplifies, at it's core, what the creative process is really about. We do this because we must. Maybe our efforts will be appreciated, maybe they won't but make it anyway. Don't give up. It's what makes us human.

Simply amazing

wow this album leaves an impact country influence but way more than that

idk this man but i need to know him biblically

Imagine, if you will, sharing a spliff with Dennis Hopper, talking about traveling the world, mysticism, American grit. People know you from The Byrds, but you're here to make your own statement about religion and human connection, and it's gonna have a strong country twang. This is Neil Young and George Harrison's joint Americana album. It is lush, soft and smooth, like crushed velvet stained with cigarette ash.

Silver Raven really good and haunting. Lady of the North has really interesting function sections in otherwise standard country rock ballad. No Other is just good 70s rock. Strong, thoughtful lyrics throughout.

I previously had "White Light" by Gene Clark in this project. I gave it a 3 after one day of listening, but then it wound up being one of my top albums last winter. I'd retroactively up that rating for sure. I later talked about it with my brother and he told me that this album was a must listen. I was primed to enjoy it between that recommendation and the Rollercoaster wikipedia page, but this album blew me away on its own merits. It starts with that same warm country inflected balladeering that grew on me from White Light, and then it grows in wild and exciting directions with the heavily Stevie Wonder influenced title track and the sprawling Strength of Strings. The country is more pronounced on True One and Lady of the North is a perfect closer.

Had no clue what to expect here. Upon spinning up the first track, I pinned it as "old country" genre. But as the album progressed, I got hooked more and more. Kind of a cross between Johnny cash and Neil Young. Will be looking for more of his stuff!

Wow, this really blew my mind! What a great record. Good that someone rediscovered it.

What a hidden gem this album is. Also ahead of its time.

Wonderful album by by Gene Clark, recorded in the wake of a reunion album with the Byrds and ultimately not supported by the label, this is a beautiful assembling of songs with a light folk rock feel reminiscent of CSNY. Great, uncomplicated arrangements, great harmonies, great songwriting. No Other and True One are my favorite tracks. I'm adding this to my regular rotation.

A perfect slice of baroque pop roots rock.

Amazing work. Loved it.

Phil spectors wet dream, wall of sound done well with slight country feelings

Un oeu genre country, calme et top

What a beautiful listening experience!! I am usually very hesitant to give out 10/10’s to anything, but I believe this album has earned a 10/10 from me! I found every single track to be incredible, and the lead singer’s voice is one of the best I’ve ever heard in country. This album combines that with an equally interesting set of instrumentals on each track as well, leading to one of the best country albums that I’ve ever heard in my life. 10/10

Such a good blend of genres. Blends seamlessly between folk, rock, country, gospel and never feels out of place. The lyrics really hit home too. Need to take some more listens to really absorb it but overall great album

I won't wait tomorrow to rate this incredible album. Foolish me thought it would be only country, but Gene Clark voice looks like heaven.

A hidden gem in the early development of country rock. Ambitious and sprawling.

Liked it way more than I expected I would. Kind of a "John Denver meets Pink Floyd" sound. Big fan.

This was unexpectedly great - started off sounding like it was going to be straight forward country, and then gospel and folk and soul and the kitchen sink get thrown in too! Sad backstory to the whole thing, as well. Fave tracks - "No Other" sounded very Zappa to my ear, and "Some Misunderstanding" has some powerful energy going on...

Blew me away

Very good. Just very solid all around. Some taste of the Beatles in there, some Dylan (with a better voice). A nice variety of songs.

Surprised by this album and it's history.( But first, a Note: previous review text=duplicate, but for me it's still a "1" . Felt like Johnny Mathis hour. Didn't finish... ) Ok. So. I am new to Gene Clarke. Fellas, I Gotta admit, yet another unfamiliar cover and name...I was dreading (yet another) obscure "back shelf" 1970s music that essential" by old music afficionados. That band called Rush ...was not a rush. I knocked off my grumpiness and listened to this on the big speakers instead of headphones (to appreciate it better, and also so I can run away if I need to!) ...so I read that this "Gene Clarke" was in the Byrds. And hung with/collaborated with the influential music and culture types in 60s California and wrote this album after full days meditating and staring out to seea. So it's going to be soothing and contemplative. And maybe a touch floaty... Also, The 'Pedia says he "was in the vanguard of popular music during much of his career, prefiguring developments in such disparate subgenres as psychedelic rock, baroque pop, newgrass, country rock, and alternative country. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 as a member of the Byrds" And that's what's this sounds like. Sure there's big tape hiss. An interesting discovery album, and pity it didn't get recognised until recently. As "education" for 70s music this works for me... maybe this is just the right album. It's musical, well arranged and recorded, and quite pleasing to the ear with plenty of warm resonances, mood creating, and playful. I needed this as antidote to some of the painful garbage on this list. I can hear the sound and rhythms pre-saging / reminiscent of "the horse with no name". This could be a soundtrack to a movie of the 60's. And by the time "No Other" comes up, you're enveloped in its rich shaggy pile and the guitar does something wonderful, I think this would be in my "mellow/grand chill" music pile to bliss out to. As it starts to soar. I want to read the lyrics. Apparently he wrote sober but very psychedelic/floaty/other dimensions are there. Like burning gens cooling in the sun... This album is especially nice through some big old speakers in a living room. Bookshelf speakers without a sub-woofer won't do it justice, sorry. In conclusion, this is the kind of album that makes it worth persisting with the "flat spots" of this list. A nice discovery. In summary: warm trippy early 70s California freedom in the sunshine soft psychedelic rock... the perfect album to play on a summer road trip in a big station wagon on the west coast, or in a big old holiday house overlooking the sea.

Outstanding album. You can really hear were Crosby learned his songwriting chops and even where bands like Fleetwood Mac got their inspiration.

Surprise of the set for me so far. I really liked this one.

WOW! what a fantastic album! better than anything ive heard by the byrds by a long mile

So good american country rock, perfect for a road trip. I will admit it did not deserve an 8 minute song, but the rest made up for it. Stand-out: No Other, From a Silver Phial

Umm; I apparently love country music

J’aime braiment ce genre ces temps ci et mes notes somt bien reflete lucinda williams a eu aussi droit au traitement.

If you don't like this album, you don't like music.

4.6 - lovely album this, want to listen to more of him

Amei esse album! Ouviria sempre, bom pra qualquer mood. Fato que não prestei muita atenção nas letras, mas a melodia, o ritmo e a voz são bem do jeito que eu gosto. <3

Loves: Silver Raven No Other Strength of Strings From a Silver Phial Some Misunderstanding Notes: This is probably going in my regular rotation. Totally my typical genre and it sounds so good, and the lyrics are ethereal. “Fiery rain and rubies cooling in the sun”

I enjoyed this a lot. Incredible album! I cannot believe it flopped to begin with. People are strange.

Life's Greatest Fool — очень скучно а потом я забыла оставлять впечатления о песнях... к концу мне альбом стал нравится но как будто бы чего-то не хватает? 4? 5? а может, лучше по лицу? бесит ставить оценки

This was actually quite a good listen! I can't believe it was a flop when it was released.

Never heard this before but was really impressed. There was a beautiful and sweeping fusion of rock, country, and folk. The guitars on "Strength of Strings" was really phenomenal. It really says a lot about the Byrds that Gene Clark the 3rd best-known member. Reminded me of the Stephen Stills album we heard.

Excelent. Best folk rock ever

First song begins to play, not bad, going to have some country rock today I’m thinking. I’m sure this album will be a 2 or 3 for me. Second song begins (silver raven) and I’m surprised to find it haunting and absolutely beautiful, this is not what I was expecting. Third song, title song, a masterpiece with some amazing sounds and really amazing lyrics. What is happening! 4th song (strength of strings) slowly builds and in comes the guitar and more wonderful lyrics and building intensity, absolutely wonderful. Why have I not heard this of this album?! Some misunderstanding, builds to allow the guitar absolutely amaze and shine on this song and love how his voice waivers. A few of the other songs go a little to country for my taste, but by no means bad songs and all will powerful lyrics and feeling. How have I not heard this album! How are these songs not on the radio! I research to find out it got no promotion and was practically thrown away….terrible! This is a story that should be told. This album ruined him and it should have been a musical triumph. Will be an album in my regular rotation. Album cover is unique just like the album.

amazing album, its like folk and simple and at the same time innovative like ive not heard much before had to listen to this multiple times over

Surprisingly good album overall. Lots of different styles and good songs.

Loved that

Never judge an album by its cover. This one looks like a shite New Romantic-type of thing, and then you find out it was critically savaged, barely troubled the top 150, and was deleted from the catalogue in short order and expectations drop further. And then you listen to it. Jesus Christ, this album is great. It's initially a little bit over countrified for my British ears, but once the shock wears off you realise what a bunch of idiots critics in the 70s were. A brilliant album.

very nice

I love this album. It’s kind of Laurel Canyon meets prog. Gene Clark is a really good songwriter and an interesting singer. There are all kinds of moods on this album.

Probably one of the best albums of all time. All strong and memorable songs.

Amazing... Never heard of him before. Now, I'm a fan

So here it finally is. Proof that doing this list is worth it. After all the albums that didn't move me, and many that even annoyed me, and most of my 5 star ratings being ones I already knew... here it is. I guess I shouldn't complain as this is only album no 42 for me. But this is my favourite discovery I've made through this list so far. I hadn't even heard of Gene Clark before today. Now I know that my whole entire life, I've been missing out. Could someone please tell me how an album could possibly be so perfect? I honestly can't believe an album as good as this one is even possible. The whole time I was holding my breath, waiting for that one filler track that let this album down, but it didn't come. It was just masterpiece after masterpiece. Impact moment after impact moment for the whole entire track list. The lyrics are out of this world. The music is beautiful, dreamlike and ambitious, all with Gene's beautiful, emotive voice at the forefront. Favourite tracks: I said on my review of Sgt. Pepper that choosing favourite tracks does a disservice to every other track. I already feel the same way about this—and after only first listen, that's quite the accomplishment. I'd be hard pressed to find another album that didn't have a single track that had to grow on me at least a little. Having said that, I think my favourites were probably No Other, Strength of Strings, Some Misunderstanding and True One. I'm aware I just listed half the album, but it still feels inconclusive, as the other half is also sublime! To call it the "lesser" half would be ridiculous.

Well this is relentlessly pleasant

I didn’t know until it finished that it was from the Byrd’s singer!! It was delightful!!

A stone-cold masterpiece. Much has been said about how Gene Clark never got the recognition he deserved for this stellar work, how his label thought the money and ressources spent on it were wasted, and how the album was a commercial failure. The thing is, now that Ivo Watts-Russel, Beach House and other important figures from the music business did what they had to do to give this gem the credit it deserved, we can all go to the next step and herald it as the seventies classic that it is. In a somewhat close genre, this record should have been as big as Neil Young's *Harvest*. Well, now we can all consider it *is* actually as big as Neil Young's most famous album. It's the best way to celebrate Clark's memory, after all. Each track shines in this LP, but I am particularly fond of the four that follow. First, there's the title track, whose sounds and overall mood are incredibly ahead of their time, with its slick synth bassline, its sly groove, and its soulful vocals. This song slaps, even decades after it was released. Equally soulful is the more subtle and yet terrific "Strength Of Strings"--gosh, aren't those backing vocals gorgeous. A little while later, "Some Misunderstanding" provides the emotional climax of the album--a country tune that has properly *cosmic* effects on me. The end of the song just feels like flying over the clouds. I'm shuddering just listening to it now. Closer "Lady Of The North" is my last favorite, with another entranced chorus, nicely supported by the lush instrumentation behind it. Its final wah wah guitar riff is an earworm I could play all day, and I don't think I would ever get bored doing so. 5 stars, of course. Good luck for the album that comes next. Number of albums left to review: 575 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 205 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 98 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 126

Really enjoyed this one. Hidden gem for me. Lots of great guitar songs.

fajne

Great

Another ringer for me, love this album. The absolute classic indulgent '70s coke rock album (meant as a huge compliment). All songs are great, and the 4 song sequence starting with the title track beats anything on Rumours or Tusk and shoves the Eagles into a pit of shit

First heard this in the early 2000s. Mostly buried since '76. I'd take this over the Eagles any day.

Merci pour ce moment

Just a really nice album to listen to on a day when I wanted to be left alone. Ironic really, when the song “no other” might be about the importance of not being alone.

Excelente! Grata surpresa, nunca tinha ouvido falar e gostei demais. Ouvi numa fartlek, mas quero sentar e ouvir nas B&W.

I loved it

Lovely mix of country Baroque and so much else an unexpected gem

Really great music and lyrics. Some pretty interesting production as well. While not necessarily the most exciting songs in the world the length isn't really noticeable because the lyricism and musical talent are very engrossing. A really cool and innovative folk/country album.

Really liked this. A good mix of rock, folk and country. To me there even had a bit of a prog rock sound to it occasionally. "No Other" my favourite track.

Haha is it country or rock or folk? A welcome change to the usual anyhow. Really like this.

Never thought I would like this. Grew on me, will definitely keep listening

Liked this a lot. Reminds me of Stephen Stills of the same era. Would like some more time with this one.

It took me the second time through to appreciate this properly. It seems that’s been the history of this album. I enjoyed Gene Clark’s singing and songwriting.