Reviews (page 4 of 8)
What starts as a standard country song has some more depth as the time goes on. I really enjoyed this one!
It certainly has a singer/songwriter timelessness about it. It is very easy to listen to... a simpler Eagles vibe (with a lot less harmonies). Every song here is enjoyable, though blends a bit together by the time we've reached the end. A cool discovery for me.
Enjoyable country rock but not quite as good as the band or burritos
I first heard this album when Beach House was touring it with some other indie stars. I thought their version was really good and I like the original too. If you like this, you should check out that version.
Silver Raven is a beautiful song
Vraiment intéressant, beaucoup d'influence et beaucoup de variation d'une pièce à l'autre sans non plus être trop éparpillé. Le mélange de country rock et folk est super bien fait. Très bon album. 8/10
mahtavaa volkkia, kantria, poppia, rokkia, psykerokkia, laulaja viuhattaja.... tarviiko muutaman muutaman genren lisää heh reilu kauppa, reilu kauppa laittaa yhtä tonne ja kuutta tälle...... PRKL.... PRKL YLLÄPITÖ HERÄTYSTÄ HERÄTYYS!!! fight for the equals,.... hyvä albumi strength of strings
Never heard of this before, but this just grabbed me from the start somehow, which happens very rarely. Often I feel like I need to listen to something for a few times before appreciating it, so that is a really good credit to the album. Most tracks were just great or really good honestly, hard to point out exactly what it is. But the tracks were quite different from each other, I really liked that. Some with heavy Pink Floyd-esque guitar solos like 'Stength of Strings' or 'Some Misunderstanding', a bit more folk or country with the first two tracks and 'True One'. 'No Other' was just a really cool track overall, comes as a complete surprise but really slaps with some distorted bass or synth or something.
I wasn't expecting much when starting to listening to this, just another standard country album. I kind of felt that way until "Strength of Strings" started playing. "Hold on this is way more than a country album". It feels like Rainbows slower songs e.g "Temple of the King". I really liked the piano, riffs and choir with their harmonics and started to listen more attentively. Moving on many of the continuing tracks were great such as the closer "Lady of the North". Listening to it again i found a great psychedelic album, I'm glad i noticed and didn't let my first impression by my final one.
Looks like jazz, sounds like boring country, then goes in a very cool and experimental direction, which reminded me of Alan Parsons, and then goes back to boring country. A rollercoaster!
Solid
cool vibe!!
Rock, twang, folk...pretty good
Country... But seems like more rock than country Definitely not a fan of modern country, but I am a fan of old country and country rock. Good stuff. Good album. Thinking 4.5. Not sure yet. No Other is a good one. Also, Strength of Strings. Big fan of this one. True One had too much country twang for me.
Is it possible for me to go a week without finding an artist that has no baggage attached to them? Upon listening to this, I find it ludicrous that No Other was critically panned. Is it perfect? In my opinion, no. It does menader a bit in places, and Clark's voice isn't exactly my thing. But the lyricism is strong, the passion there and the production crisp. I have certainly heard much worse on albums with many accolades to their name.
Reading the Wikipedia page about this article, it's crazy to imagine that this album was such a failure that Gene Clark's career never recovered. It sounds great to me. I love Gene Clark's voice and his particular brand of country-rock. 4 stars.
3.5/5
I dont normally like this kind of music too much, this was a really great surprise. Very enjoyable album
So this is what I came to this 1001 albums project for; an album I did not previously know, and needed to hear. I don't think I had ever heard of or even seen a copy of this album in my 35-odd years of trawling record stores. I did, of course, know who Gene Clark was. I have only relatively recently come around to country rock, 'which explains why I had generally avoided his oeuvre for a long time, but reading the way that David Geffen buried this album probably explains why I had never come across it. And, in all fairness, if I had heard it before I turned 40, it probably wouldn't have registered with me. But now, I am old enough to get it. Now, this does hit the white boy rock critic sweet spot; magnum opus by ex-Byrd, buried by record company and essentially lost for 40 years. recorded in a reported cocaine storm at great expense by the top LA session musicians of the time, the risk was that this would actually be another Steven Stills album (shudder!). But, wondrously, it avoids that path. The songs are really strong (personal faves: Silver Raven, title track, Some Misunderstanding and Lady of the North), and the production, castigated at the time as pretentious and over-blown, is rich and lush. I don't feel; it overpowers the material. It unites the country, RnB, funk and gospel feels into an unhurried cinematic panorama. Gram Parsons talked about a Cosmic American Music, but I think Gene Clark may have actually recorded it here. A revelation.
Pink Floyd maal John Frusciante gedeeld door Townes van Zandt. Weinig mis mee, luisterde erg fijn weg. 3.5
I enjoyed this - interesting album and shame it didn’t get more love when it was released.
Folk. Rock. Muy bueno!
I wasn't aware that he had solo stuff. I liked it!
On some songs, his voice has a bit too much of country twang for my liking, but that is my only complaint. Very enjoyable to listen to, would do so again.
Good album! Feels like a classic that I had never heard of before. Favourite tracks are probably Silver Raven and From A Silver Phial but they're all pretty consistently good. Will go back to this one for sure.
On my first listen to this album, the slight country twang of the first couple tracks got in my head and I caught myself looking for reasons to dislike the album. I forced myself to get over it and wound up listening through the album three or four times. It's pretty damn good. While his voice is just ok, in general the musicians on this album are good stuff, especially the bassist who definitely stands out. The songs are generally of good quality with nothing I would consider a significantly weaker track than the others. As I continued to dive into this one, I found that my initial pet peeves about his voice and sound became the pieces that I found fondly memorable. His sound actually reminds me of another band, The Band, which I have very similar feelings for. Despite it probably being too long, I think my favourite track so far is Some Misunderstanding. The guitar solo of that song has almost a Pink Floyd feel. It's not easy to break your way into my core rotation of music. This is the first album from this 1001 album challenge that I am adding to my triage playlist for further listening, and I think a couple of these tracks might find there way onto my playlists.
I heard this once before on another list I listened through. I didn’t even remember listening to it before. This time it left a solid impression. I enjoyed this record.
Unexpected! Loved the instrumental string parts and piano, as well as the background vocals. Would listen again especially Strength of Strings. I hear Gene Clark's performance from Lady of the Lake in Father John Misty's style.
I liked this a lot more than I was expecting. Definitely one to revisit - good quality americana throughout.
Very strong album, you can feel Gene put his all into this and it evokes a lot of feeling and emotion. A bit too melancholy to put on my rotation but I enjoyed it, and the tragic release and decisions made by the label add a layer to that.
Really enjoyed, nice blend of country/rock/pop throughout
Never heard of this album before, but I did know Gene Clark was with the Byrds. Ended up enjoying this more than I thought I was going to. Standout tracks: Life's Greatest Fool, Strength of Strings, Lady of the North.
This was surprisingly okay
Absolutely incredible album. Horrible how poorly this was received when it was first released. I hope Gene Clark knew how good it was before his death.
Mellow tunes, a nice voice with good instrumentals. Varied sounds so it's not boring. Great! 8.5/10
Never heard of this before, really liked it, exactly the kind of thing I signed up for with this.
¡Qué bonito! Folk rock,country, rocksoul,R&B,gospel.
Bra lunkat, bra spelat och bra melodier.
This is another new album for me. Neither I nor my partner knew who Gene Clark was. This is a great country-rock album. I can’t believe it was largely ignored or lambasted by critics on its release and ended up being a commercial failure. Stand out track was Some misunderstanding.
This album by former Byrds member Gene Clark makes me wonder what a version of the Byrds would have put out if he was still around when Gram Parsons joined. Clark's song writing and orchestration on this album would have made me more interested in listening to the Byrds if he was in charge of their output. Wonderful melodies and smooth writing. 4/5.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I was going to.
Never heard of this. The name Gene Clark sounds like it'll be oldies. Eh nah not really oldies, but it is oldies-ish country. Not quite, it does get up and going in places. Update: turned into psychedelic rock at some point, and I still liked it. Back to country towards the end. Overall... yeah not bad. wtf is happening to me? haha. 4/5.
Not bad kinda sad/somber sometimes and i liked that
I like Graham Parsons, I like this.
What a surprisingly great album. The songwriting is fantastic but, even more than that, the production values are truly outstanding. It just SOUNDS so GOOD. Clark said that he listened to a lot of Stevie Wonder and The Rolling Stones when writing this album and it shows in the amount of skillful genre-bending that he's packed into these songs. It's funky, it's rock-and-roll, it's got more than a bit of Americana tossed in... but it never feels forced or weird. It always feels... right. What an accomplishment. It's shocking to me that it was so panned in its time. "No Other" really is a work of art worthy of its place on this list.
surprising. not the genre or an artist i'd be looking out for by myself. but the songs have a mellow attitude and the musical background is warm and interesting.
Great stuff Gene!
Falt i smak🤠
This album broke Gene Clark and he never recovered. Listening to it now knowing the effect it had on his career is very strange. It is an incredibly earnest album. Clark put his heart and soul into this album and it shows. It also happens to be fantastic. This album flits between country, folk, rock, and gospel. The production by Thomas Jefferson Kaye, inspired by Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, is lush and driving. The songs are anthemic, engaging, and overall, just gorgeous. I feel like this album could easily become one of my favorites if I were to listen to it a few more times.
Like
8/10
A lovely album that is sure to grow on me with time, as have several of the Byrds' albums. Although he wasn't WITH the Byrds by the time that band started exploring this style of cosmic country, I'd argue that Gene does it better himself here. Fantastic arrangements that evoke everything from gospel to proto-disco to western.
Excellent folk album! First half is stronger for sure, but some really nice tunes in the second half all the same.
while i know of and enjoy the byrds, i hadn't known of gene clark before listening. this album came out of left field and knocked me out. the more i listen, the more i become upset i hadn't heard of him and that this album was a failure for its first fifteen years of existence. it is quite striking! it's easy listening. while clark uses several genres, he never leans too far in any one genre to pigeonhole himself. it makes for a smooth, mellow ride. and the lyrics? they are so beautiful! clark put a lot of work into this album, and i'm so glad i could listen to and appreciate it.
While I'm vaguely familiar with The Byrds (and liked the album by them that I heard on this project), I wasn't really familiar with Gene Clark as a person, let alone his solo music. Wow! This album was a pleasant surprise. I would go as far as to say that I was truly amazed by it. Every song was well crafted, lyrically and musically -- not a single dud on the album. Like many have noted, it has aspects of Neil Young to it, but still manages to stand uniquely on its own. It's truly baffling that this album was ever poorly received, but I'm glad that it has since been reassessed and given its proper dues. I'm definitely glad to have stumbled into this hidden gem.
Quite a pleasant country album with a bit more to it. From a Silver Phial is delightful.
Jú. Hafði heyrt titillagið á gegnum Discover weekly og kunnað við. Og svo er öll platan bara stórfín. Margt að gerast, röddin svona lala, kannski full mikið country á köflum, en ég kann að meta þetta. Og vinnur á við aðra hlustun. Vel rúmur fjarki.
Really good, and not one I had ever heard of before. Lots of great songs, in the space between country and proto-prog, which seems like a very fun place to be!
baita sonzao folk também
very Neil Young vibes
Initial reactions thought it would be more country heavy, but it's actually a gorgeous mix of country, folk, psychedelia, and what would later be termed "yacht rock". It's just all around pretty, reminds me of a trippier John Denver or Beach Boys. Favorite tracks: "Silver Raven", "No Other", "Some Misunderstanding"
groovy + boogie
Was pretty good, Gene lived in Mendocino, I wonder if my Dad knew him. Best song was probably no other.
Really liked this one. Apparently one of the guys from the Byrds, and when he made this album no one really cared, until years later when people started calling it a classic. I love stories like that. Honestly, it does seem quite a bit ahead of its time, feels like country music much more modern and familiar than the early '70s. I liked that Byrds country album too, so I can say I enjoy when they went into this direction, as a group or solo. Some really nice tracks on here. Favorite tracks: Life's Greatest Fool, No Other, From a Silver Phial, Lady of the North. Album art: Excellent art. Never seen this one, and it's a truly captivating collage of art and iconography from different time periods. The old school images, plus the name Gene Clark, made me think very early Hollywood. Not quite reflected in the music, or is it? 4/5
J'aime beaucoup la pochette! J'ai trouvé les chansons lancinantes, comme hypnotisantes. Une belle réussite pour moi.
The artwork is misleading⋯ It's good, but it does't match the tone of this ol' timey lo-fi masterpiece. Look, there is a choir on the first track, and a slide guitar. It's a charmer all around.
Never heard of this guy but this was a nice listen in the vein of other kind of country-ish, rock stuff of the time. I'd listen to it again for sure
Never listened to any of Gene Clark's solo music. When I think of the Byrds, I've always automatically thought of Roger McGuinn's jangly 12-string. What a pleasant surprise! This is a terrific record that really captures the Laurel Canyon sound. Not really a surprise when you look at the list of people playing on this. I'd like the 1/2 star option so I could rate this one 4.5.
Really nice album
pretty fun I think the second half of the album really improved from the first but I still liked most of it anyway 8/10
It's a nice album. I didn't expect to enjoy it since I am a certified Country music avoider. I didn't find the vocals too grating, I didn't think the guitar was too twangy, the song writing was cohesive, the production was top notch, and overall the product comes across as quality. I'm feeling between a 3 and a 4 for now. I suspect I may listen to 1 or 2 songs again but I'm not likely to seek this out again or listen to it in it's entirety again.
For some reason I liken this album to Crosby Stills Nash albums. It has that same kind of feel to it. But the songs seem a lot more varied in style, which is always a good thing. Clark's vocals even reminded me of Stephen Stills by a good deal. I appreciated them more and more as the album progressed. I really enjoyed this, and when I started really get into CSN (and sometimes Y) if I had found this then I think I would have REALLY gotten into him. Thumbs up for me.
Having your personal masterpiece only recognized as a masterpiece posthumously sucks. I had never heard of Gene Clark, so I spent time looking him up. Had no idea he was a founding member of the Byrds and was originally their primary writer (incidentally, I had no idea David Crosby got his start with the Byrds. I need to learn more about them). Probably the most famous song he wrote for the Byrds was "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better." He considered "No Other" to be his masterpiece but it was panned when it was released and mostly forgotten. The album only garnered critical recognition after he died in 1991 at age 46. Personally, I really enjoyed the album, but it sounded similar to a lot of other acts (e.g., CSNY). Favorite track was the title track - really cool grooves and fuzz guitars. It got stuck in my head after listening. Other high points were "Life's Greatest Fool" (enjoyed the slide guitar solo) and Silver Raven. I noticed the bass in Silver Raven and looked it up - Leland Sklar. Guy's been on everything. According to his Wikipedia entry he's played on over 2000 albums. His discography is so long they have an alphabetical index for the acts he's played with and it's only missing Q, U, and X. C'mon Queen, U2, and XTC! Help a brother out! Oh, back to Gene Clark. I also really liked Some Misunderstanding. Beautiful song. My favorite line (and tough since Clark abused drugs and alcohol, which contributed to his early death): "We all need a fix at a time like this/ But doesn't it feel good to be alive?" I definitely want to dig into his music more. Not a 5 because it's too similar to other music that came before, but definitely a really good album.
Loving the CSN harmonies on Silver Raven. Strength of Strings has a big Neil Young vibe. Life's Greatest Fool and Silver Vial definitely remind me of Mike Nesmith's solo stuff. I was pleasantly surprised with this.
alright country psych rock jazz fusion 4 stars.
Amazing. I never listened that one before and I was impressed
Af hverju hef ég ekki heyrt þetta áður? Mjög flott.
Man got two first names for a name
nice buildup
Kinda soulful, old school country vibes. Really a nice listen.
didn’t totally finish but will go back to this one. it’s been saved.
Ambitious stuff
Look no further to learn why Gene Clark was the true genius behind the Byrds early success. It sure feels like others who died too young like Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zant continue to get hosanas thrown at them from beyond the grave. But you rarely hear such praise heaped on Gene Clark. Maybe he didn't die young enough. Or maybe alcoholism wasn't a sexy enough cause of an early demise. Legend has it that this album's initial lackluster response was a major reason Clark hit the bottle so hard. At least he lived long enough to see his induction in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame with the Byrds.
not too used to the genre, but liked the sound and really liked the songwriting favorite songs: life's greatest fool no other true one
An essential example of an overlooked gem that people are finally coming around to. Suffused with a gorgeous melancholy and intricate harmonies.
Awfully good and strong throughout. Some haunting moments in the playing -- the solos on “Some Misunderstanding” and some richly dark overtones. Title cut, “Strength of Strings” and “The True One” are all winners. The synthy outro on the closer is another strong moment. One hears – and surmises – the future influence, though one will have take others’ word for the full extent of it. As for the argument that it’s some lost gem or classic, one remains less than fully persuaded, partially because GC is not a great singer.; it’s more like a nice find, which one is glad to have heard and likely to hear again (of one’s own volition). 3.7/4 (And yes rounding up because underratedness.)
I liked this a lot, can't believe I didn't listen to this before.
Very good album with quite refreshing arrangements.
Great surprise from the challenge !
It would seem that the people behind the 1001 challenge are Byrds fans. And that's to our delight. I didn't know this album and now I would like to find it on vinyl... Wow! A very nice mix between folk, country, psychedelic. An engaging album that I want to hear again.
Loved
At first the idea might be that this is a Country album, and a really good one with sweet melodies, great vocals, and more than six or seven words per song. Progressing through, the Country vibe turns into something a bit different as electronic elements start to incorporate in particular on "No Other". The disco-minded 70s start to seep in with the groovy keyboards, the funky bass licks, as well as an electric guitar solo. When "Strength of Strings" is reached, we have a bit of a "Knights in White Satin" moment where a strange emotional gravity pulls at the listener. Overall, what this album does really well, what Gene Clark does really well, is provide a listening experience with a good resolve. Sure, the genre of this album is difficult to pin because of a few songs, namely the first two tracks, where country, folk, or Americana seem to be the path forward, but the evolution from those to the softer rock melodies, the album begins to make a case for standing on its own even perhaps as a 70s rock album. This album earned a few listen throughs, and each time the album just seemed better, making this album have zero regrettable factors. The enjoyability seems slept on, as Gene Clark was an unknown for this reviewer till this listen. Sure we can hear contemporary styles (Neil Young, The Moody Blues, etc.) but where Gene Clark's album is surprising is that it did not stand out as much as some of the other well-known acts of the 70s, and this album makes that a bit of a crying shame.
Better than expected 4
A very lovely album. Beautifully arranged in the country rock tradition. Lovely melodies and just some lovely music. 4 🌟
This was a nice and relaxing album to listen to! Very much easy listening and I really enjoy the guitar on this album. Standouts include No Other, Life’s Greatest Fool, and Lady of The North
Американец, основатель фолк-рок-группы The Byrds. 1974, четвертый сольник. Приятные баллады.
I had never heard this album before. I was familiar with his work in the Byrds but this was a great folk rock album and I am surprised it wasn't more popular. Maybe it just missed its time in history.
A pleasant listen
le titre éponyme 👌
I enjoyed this album-- good writing and a cohesive sound.
Very rich production and fine songwriting.
I already knew a bit of Gene Clark, I've been listening to Strength of Strings for a few years, but it was great to hear a wider repetoir. Definitely talented song writer, really melodic, I overall I think I prefer his style to Byrds stuff. Loved the piano sections and his voice
Thoroughly enjoyed this album and especially liked the title track. Good mix of blues and 70s rock
I was largely unimpressed until the title track came on. What an incredible take on psych rock. As nice as the country parts were, I much preferred when Clark experimented with other sounds. Those memorable moments made for a great album though, so I can't fault it much. Much preferred this to White Light (which is listened to earlier on the list).
Interesting..listened twice, liked most.not sure if I would have liked it back in 74 but found it relevant today
4.25
surpreendeu
Gorgeously produced country rock (with some psychedelic rock too). Totally the kind of thing I like playing in the backyard in the summer. “Strength of Strings” drags a little but other than that this is a really strong album. The electric guitar on “Some Misunderstanding” is so expressive, especially right at the end! And I love the backing vocals throughout.
My kind of thing, whatever that says about me, and I thought a very fine example of its type and era. It’s rejection in its own time kind of mystifies me.
This was a lovely one I'd never heard of, like finding a piece of the 60s-70s I was supposed to know about but had missed.
Muito bom.
Was all ready to give this a 1 as it sounded too country, then thought "ah the opening song is all right", then "Silver Raven" was a great tune, then continued to enjoy every song that came up. Is a proper headphones album with layers on layers of music.
I only vaguely know who Gene Clark is, so color me surprised by how I dug it! It's a pretty eclectic album, even if it isn't especially outstanding. Still, the production is solid and his voice is strong, and I can see this be a grower when I get more time. C+, possibly higher
I had never heard of this album before, but this is the kind of singer-songwriting stuff I latch onto really well. Feels like there is ambition here in the arrangements, and the vocal lines are dripping with emotion. Songs like Silver Raven, Strength of Strings, and Some Misunderstanding are the highlights. Sounds like it was a flop on release, which is a shame.
Solid enjoyable album with songs filled with feeling.
Favorite song: Lady of the North
I really like this album has a cool folksy feel to it and the pacing is nice. Especially like the song "true one" but overall a good album - listened to it twice today.
Liked this album a lot- the folk/country vibes mesh well with what I typically listen to, and the instrumentation is great throughout. Kind of reminiscent of Neil Young in places. I'd give it 4.5/5 if I had the option- nothing groundbreaking enough to get a five, but I'll revisit it soon.
Listenable and competent mixture of country and rock. Think Eagles with a bit of Tom Petty mashed in for good measure. 3.5/5
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.
Liked this a lot. Reminds me of Stephen Stills of the same era. Would like some more time with this one.
different
Great album! Such an interesting journey through some spacey sounds. His voice strikes a nice chord with me, and that trippy guitar work is top notch.
It's a good album. I liked the amount of variation.
De pogga
This album is cool… I like this album
Lät väldigt swag! Älskade hur mjukt ljudet var, sköna vibrationer...
Très beau j'ai presque pleuré mais j'suis un bonhomme
Quite the discovery. I knew a bit about the Byrds, but nothing of Gene Clark, before listening to this. Elegiac, lucid, really lovely album
I didn't know what to expect with this - but it wasn't just a solo Byrds album. I can see why it died on arrival and also why it has been rediscovered.
This is intriguing! It sounds like the sort of indie folk rock that had its moment in the 90s, like the Lemonheads when they stopped going punk. And yet it's not quite possible to say this would have influenced those 90s groups because the legend of this album is that it lingered in obscurity until a 90s rerelease. The production is bright and the album has an enjoyable pace. Give me this slice of the mid 70s that sounds just as fresh 45 years on.
I started listening to this LP after 1001 sent us an earlier Gene Clark release a few months back. I loved "Strength of Strings". Along with the title track and "Some Misunderstanding", it gives the album an epic, spiritual feel. Nice arrangements, especially the background vocalists. It's a shame that GC was long dead by the time the LP achieved recognition and sales.
A bit too country in the beginning but had certainly a few gems
Solid stuff. Favorites: No Other, Strength of Strings, Some Misunderstanding
Una joia ben trobada. El coneixia a ell i coneixia el disc però no ha estat fins que m'ha tocat escoltar-lo per la llista (passejant per la platja de San Pedro a Belice) que l'he pogut assimilar en part de la seva essència. Recorda al Neil Young de l'època, també a Stephen Stills, i sobretot a ell mateix, en els seus temps a Byrds i també en solitari. Mai, però, va arribar a aquest punt de qualitat, ni abans ni després
A damn good album. Filked with excellent songs, deft playing and ahead of its time production, at least to these ears. Very happy to make the discovery 4 🌟
I don't understand why this didn't catch on when it came out? It sounds to me like a perfect distillation of the mid-70s folk rock sound. Best track: Strength of Strings
When this album started, I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did. It's a little slow, but everything is put together well, and some of the music is really cool and unexpected. His voice is good, if unspectacular, but the overall effect of the album is pretty cool 4/5
Somewhere between Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and Blanche. Started out not feeling it, but by the end I was really feeling it.
Gosh I didn’t like this at first but then it really sunk into me—melodic, varied, and loved the last track.
Nice album. Some tracks a bit long. Reminded me of Crosby Stills Nash & Young but even more country style.
A timeless sound, and lyrics that resonate.
3.5/5. Pretty average. It’s good music, not much sticks out to me.
A nice surprise!
I’m an amateur when if comes to folk music. I have not listened too much to the Byrds, so I don’t know what to expect from this album. I’m enjoying the slide guitar and the tone on the rhythm guitar. I can definitely see myself returning to this. It had much more variety then I was expecting from a folk artist
ok im not a fan of the first song let's see the rest. In love with Silver Raven. I loved. I just didn't like the first song and only the first song. awesome
Unusual style. I have issues hearing some of the lyrics, but I like the ambiance.
I didn't really think I would like this, but was very wrong.
A really enjoyable, relaxing album with some great bluesy guitar.
Reminded me of the kind of songs my nan used to sing when I was a baby, I really enjoy this genre
La critique de crisdusseld avait été à l'époque censurée car comprenant un mot extrêmement vulgaire censé décrire la relation entre Gene Clark et Cat Stevens. Robert parle beaucoup mieux français que ce qu'il veut nous faire croire.
Buen álbum, me gustó
i like folk music
Loved it
Really enjoyed it
Excellent first album! The type of thing I would put on late at night while playing a game or reading a book.
5 saves sur 8, album de grande qualité
Most enjoyable!
It sounds pretty good and the guy has a great voice. But it's hard to see this as anything else than background music. A 3.5 for me, generously rounding it up because Silver Raven and Lady Of The North were really good.
Lovely stuff
Nice folk rock
Enjoyed it quite a lot, the strings song and the titular song were really great. Will listen to the album again I'm sure
Kinda dragged but I liked the first few songs and it had some cool sounding moments. 7
Really cool moments but the songs were so l o n g. Good vibes, got a bit old. solid 7
4/5
I quite liked this one. I think it scraped an 8, but we'll see how I'm feeling when I enter it into the spreadsheet. The singing was kinda annoying for bits
really chill! Laid back and can kinda get lost in it but also focus on what you're doing, great background music which might be disrespectful
Ich kann fast nichts besseres dazu sagen, als dass guter Country seit (again) Neil Young bei mir immer eine Heimat hat und haben wird. Der Sound ist unverkennbar amerikanisch und ich würde einen Besen fressen, wenn sich John Frusciante in orientierungslosen Zeiten nicht dran orientiert hat (gerade beim Titelsong „No Other“ übelst deutlich). Dieser Trostspender hat seine Kreise gezogen und dann 2019 4AD zur re-issue bewogen. Bravo! 3.7
Great psych-rock album with some super slick gospel/soul harmonies. Mixed slightly muddy/dark. 8/10
Actually much preferred this to his work with the Byrds, sound felt more fleshed out and realized. Very enjoyable.
reminds me of neil young :)
Good stuff
I really got a kick out of this - fun old folk rock imo! Guitar sounds were great. Would love to hear a band at a rural dive bar cover these tunes. First half was especially good, second half faded into the background, but was delightful musically. It would get a 3 or 3.5 if I'm being objective, but it is a 4 because I'm not.
An above average album, the story of it being a “lost” and ultimately discovered and reevaluated years later is the most interesting aspect of it. Solid from top to bottom, I think calls for it being a “overlooked masterpiece” are a little much. Great production that fits with its era, hits of a Neil Young influence, and should have never been any kind of failure. 3.75/4
Listened at work, not properly since volume was low enough but enough to know it was a solid album
Honestly never really heard of this record. Outside of my typical listening but really enjoyed
Pretty good folk/prog rock mix, I like it a lot.
Great album. Psychedelic folk/rock
Tämähän oli mainio uusi tuttavuus. Country/folkia todella modernilla otteella ollakseen vuodelta 1974. Osassa biiseissä vähän liigan gospelfiilistä mutta ehdottomasti jatkoon ja lisäkuunteluun.
Not too bad
Pretty good listen. Smooth but I enjoyed it.
Very enjoyable album
great album. some country songs, but overall great listening.
Pretty
Great, well produced country album. Standout Tracks: Silver Raven, From a Silver Phial, True One, Lady of the North
Progressive country... really good. One to explore further!
An OK album overall, but a little disconcerting to discover that this is one of two Gene Clark solo offerings in this collection. While The Byrds definitely suffered from his absence, I kind of wonder if his solo career was all that he'd hoped for, at least based on this album; he kind of sounds like he'd like to be another Neil Young (especially on tracks like "From a silver phial" or "Some misunderstanding"), but couldn't quite corral his preferences for 70s light rock sounds and far too many backup chorus vocals that headed him more towards Fleetwood Mac/Eagles/Steve Miller Band territory. The best of the lot are the first three tracks, strangely: "Life's greatest fool", "Silver Raven", and the title track, and then it kinds of wanders around. OK but nothing special, and I'm not feeling all that enthusiastic about hearing his earlier "White Light", I'll admit, but it's pretty sad to read that this album (which Clark apparently felt was his masterpiece) was so poorly received and even subsequently canceled by the label a couple of years after it was released, consigning Gene Clark to bitterness not long before his untimely death in 1981.
This is not an album that I'd normally say is for me. But it's OK, interesting at times. In the Wikipedia description, it stated that it "was largely ignored or lambasted by critics" at the time. I think that's doing him dirty. This sounds like an album that would be released in the mid 70s by a primary song writer and founder of the Byrds. It fits the natural progression of what this dude would do. Do I think it's one of the 500 best albums ever? No. 1000? No. But seriously, all those critics back in 1974 can go get bent. Extra star for being done wrong
This was a pleasant listen although not one I would listen to again. All in all just a average album from the seventies. Nothing special.
Inoffensive and nice, but kind of forgettable
Nice surprise - I think I am going to return to this album from time to time
An inoffensive twee warbling album
5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background
Chill album that I listened to many times to get a feel for. It's good but forgettable. Top tracks: "No Other," "Life's Greatest Fool"
This history of this one is kinda wild. Everyone hated it! It was too expensive! It ended Gene's career! and then in the years that followed, everyone loved it. And you can see why. Kinda fusion on Byrds and The Band, incredible quality and great writing.
I've given this album many listens because I always hear how great it is, but for whatever reason, I don't really get what's so amazing about it. I like "From a Silver Phial" (maybe because it's the shortest?), but not really something I want to return to. It's not terrible, just kind of okay. 3 stars.
Got to give it credit for carving out a speciality in baroque country. On the other hand all the songs tend to be pretty boring. Far from there being ‘No Other’, there are actually loads of other (primarily Toto) albums that should have been on the list instead.
Not familiar with this before today... but apparently Gene Clark is a former Byrd who went out on his own. I'm reading that this album was a commercial failure that was rediscovered 20 years later and achieved status as a lost gem. I really love this idea of an overlooked masterpiece that was ahead of its time. There are bands that I love that fit this bill quite well like XTC, Big Star, and Jellyfish who I recently discovered. Sadly this album isn't hitting me as the diamond in the rough. I appreciate the lush production and some of the fine piano and guitar playing. And there are some funky moments in the title track that I really enjoy. But most of the album tries to ride a razor's edge between country and other styles that veers too much into country for my taste.
Gene Clark, formerly of The Byrds, builds on some of the cool ideas we heard from their record with his own twists and refinements added in. I can appreciate the musicianship and how he blends this country rock sound, it leaves us with plenty of enjoyable moments. All in all this still isn’t entirely my thing but it’s closer than just about anything that is this country adjacent, I actually enjoyed a few tracks much more than I expected and this could move up someday. Clark was undoubtedly a great musician and visionary in his own right. I can see why this became so loved when it was rediscovered and that’s pretty cool. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Strength of Strings, Title Track
I enjoyed this album.
If this got trashed on release it didn't deserve it. The songs were interesting, I don't think it fit the prevailing concept of what 'country rock' should sound like.
There is No Other like this album.
Not much to say about this one. I guess this guy was a singer for the byrds but I dont know much more about that band other than the name. So im dont have much to go off of. Its kinda just whatever. Like its decent at least. Kinda old-school kinda psych stuff mixed with some folky country type stuff. Nothing too crazy. I think thats my biggest problem. Its just kinda standard. Maybe thats just me but I just didnt get too much out of this. Im doggin on it alot but its fine. Ive heard a whole lot worse. Just alot better as well. Eh I guess
ist auf keinen fall schlecht. Ist halt aber (für mich zumindest) nichts besonderes, sondern viel mehr ein album von guten 70er Songs. Dennoch nichts dabei, was beim nebenbei hören heraussticht. 3 Sterne
In I did not know any better I would have thought this album was 5 years old not almost 55 years old. I had never heard of Gene Clark and enjoyed this album.
Nice easy listening album with good lyrics and diverse musical presentation.
No Other and Strength of Strings alone are enough for this album's inclusion.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did.
JL : 3, Strengh of Strings
У меня от кантри уже крыша поедет скоро
👍🏻
When it was first released, it was underrated. Now, it's overrated. Can we shake hands, and agree on a middle ground? Favorite Track: "Strength Of Strings".
2.5. Not really my style but it was fine.
Quite listenable. Not sure why the reviews said it was initially panned. For being over 50 years old it felt like it hasn't aged at all, could have come out today.
3.25 - I've never heard of Gene, but I liked it!
Gene Clark — filed under rock, sounds more like country. Warm, unhurried, not unpleasant. The kind of album that sits in a room without demanding anything. 3/5 — okayish background, nothing more.
Folk rock
This album feels like a very natural extension of one of the formative voices in the Byrds coming into their creative own. My guess is that at the time of its release it was way too elaborately produced for most of his fans. It makes perfect sense to look back now and see that it should not be overlooked. It isn't profoundly great, but I would easily listen to this than some of the later Byrds albums.
3.5
It was good, solid country folk
5/10
The title track is truly a masterpiece but the rest of the album isn’t as memorable. There’s just too many damn Byrds to keep track.
I've always enjoyed the title track but have never listened to the entire album. I did not enjoy the entire album. The country&western inspired/heavy slide guitar tracks were my favorite, but without his flock this Byrd leaves much to be desired. I'm sorry ghost of Gene Clark, through the project I learned that this poorly received album crushed your spirit. That being said, I will not buy it nor listen to it again.
I didn't find the instrumentals all that compelling or memorable. The lyrics were quite poetic often and really contributed to setting the scenes of the tracks. I won't likely be hearing this album again but it was pleasant enough. 3/5
Rv
An album this mature and sobering demands multiple listens. Unfortunately, given the nature of the 1001 albums project and the unpredictability of life, I got only one. All I can say is that I enjoyed every aspect of this album save for the horrendous album cover.
Another day, another blessing in the list! I had never heard of Gene Clark, but No Other has everything I love. Off-kilter, spiritual lyrics. Sweet pop melodies. Harmonies that could end or heal worlds ("Strength of Strings"...holy poop). Slightly uncanny live instrumentation (what's up with those guitars on the title track?). Pedal steel! I'm always amped when gifted songwriters let their tunes breathe...there's a confidence and command of artistry required in knowing when to just let it ride...reminds me a bit of Neil and Crazy Horse (in all the best ways). "Some Misunderstanding" is an absolute showstopper. Below is why I can't wait to dig into the rest of his discography: "Although he did not enjoy commercial success as a solo artist, Clark 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."
liking the album cover! never heard of this guy i usually dont like folksy stuff like this but i find sometjing endearing and comforting about his voice. that being said im still not the biggest fan. id listen to this at gilroy gardens.
Alright-ish country
Day891 - welcome to 1001 albums you must hear before you die where we have everything by the byrds and the byrds adjacent
It’s a quite nice country pop/rock-album. Easy to listen to, but also no really stand out songs.
I just said 2 days ago I was happy I was done with byrds and byrds adjacent music I am glad im done with them This is fine 3
Shockingly, given the genre, I kinda like this one. Very listenable. Good production, too. I can see why the Country purists at the time didn't like it; that's probably why I do, in part. A pleasant surprise, this one.
This is perfectly alright as background music but feels generically 70s. Not unpleasant but nothing that stands out
I had no idea that Gene Clark was with the Byrds until after I listened to the album and getting ready to right this. So I gave it a benefit of a doubt and gave it 3 stars (was leaning to 2 stars). I found it very generic 70s folk rock/country - just doesn't do anything for me to love it.
Not what I expected, but not bad. I'd give it another listen.
This is folk country music with some psychedelia mixed in. My favorite song was "Some Misunderstanding", which encapsulated the perfect folk-y mix for me. The country aspects I wasn't as much a fan of, but the album was a pretty decent one to listen to, regardless.
Some beautiful songwriting with very psychedelic 70s instrumentation, but it's a bit self indulgent at times. Faves: Silver Raven, No Other, Strength of Strings, Some Misunderstanding
country legal
Nothing too wrong with it. A little over the top for what amounted to a fairly standard album. Always interesting to read more about members of groups I know and see how things shook out. Music is enjoyable, saved a couple just cuz but didn't love any.
I liked this album. Good thing, since there are 4 more on this site from this artist. 3 stars
This was OK. Nothing particularly special about it.
As my wife said: it's gettin' harder
Folk sympa mais un peu lent et mélancolique
Sympa Je vois bien ça en soundtrack de film, mais je pense que ça me fait penser à eddie vedder qu’on entend dans into the wild
Sympa mais sans plus
Pretty decent stuff, a lot better than the other Gene Clark album I got from this website
Psychedelic country-soul. No songs stand out. Pitchfork: 9.3 [Deluxe reissue 2019] Rolling Stone: n/a
*No other is a great song *Solid singer songwriter 70s album- many songs go too long though
Enjoyed this very much. Strength Of Strings was the stand out.
Not bad but too country for my taste. Although it got better, still not to my liking.
The album sets a mood—and sticks to it. Clark’s delivery is a a little too low-key, and his particular brand of folk-rock is pretty dated. But the songs are good. I especially like “Strength of Strings” and “Some Misunderstanding.”
Bon... C'est un délire. Faut rentrer dedans. C'est pas trop mon genre de musique, de chant ou de mélodies. Mais ça s'écoute c'est un bon album je pense. juste pas mon truc.
3 I thought the name “Gene Clark” seemed familiar, and as it turns out, the guy was one of the original members of The Byrds, a group we’ve seen multiple times on this list and that I’ve given pretty consistent middling reviews to. However, there was one album in particular that I rated far below all the others, that being Sweetheart of the Rodeo, the group’s true foray into country. I know it’s pretty acclaimed and considered largely influential in hindsight, but in my opinion, it came across as a pretty disingenuous offering from a bunch of hippies following Gram Parson’s lead. And wouldn’t you know it? Despite having *no* involvement with the making of that album, Clark went down a similar path himself. Now, truthfully, I didn’t think this was that bad, mostly middling (surprise, surprise), and I was pretty prepared to write it off simply as that pretty early on into my listening. But then, Clark goes down a surprisingly experimental pathway after two traditional-leaning country tunes, and the album grows much more interesting because of it. Not super interesting mind you, but certainly a step above middling. In particular, I will give my boy Gene credit for the title track, No Other, which is far and away the centerpiece. For an album that starts off sounding like the kind of thing you might hear at a honky-tonk, he seemingly decided to veer off into a funk direction, and it results in his most catchy, groovy offering because of it. Strength of Strings, From a Silver Phial, and Some Misunderstanding also aren’t bad in all honestly (though that last one is a bit overindulgently long), but then, without warning, the album shifts hard back into country again, almost as if to be like, “Whoa, that was weird. Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled program.” Lady of the North at least seems to attempt to blend the two sounds, which was probably an apt decision for the closing track, but it’s not overly interesting despite that, and once again, it’s too long. In summary, one really good song, a few decent ones, a few I could have done without, and a touch of disjointment for good measure - which really aren’t great comments to make if your album is only 8 tracks, 43 minutes. Still, you can tell Gene was going for something different here, and I respect that, so I’ll bestow a 3.
Siis hyvälle country-musalle on oma paikkansa mut ei tää toisaalta ihan aina lähe. Näkisin vision et kiva kesäilta, teidän mökin palju, muutama huurteinen ja tää albumi soi taustalla
Ihan ok musiikkia, Oisko yks tai kaks mennyt omalle listalle. Ei miyään mieleenpainuvaa. Solid 3/5
Very enjoyable for me. I can see a lot of appeal if your a fan of the Eagles.
3.5
3.5
Reading the notes behind this album, it seems this was critically mauled on its release and seen as an expensive failure, which seems unfair as this is not a million miles away from a lot of mid-70s sounds. Listening to it now though, its similarity to a lot of other 70s albums ironically means that for me it doesn’t really stand out from a lot of those artists.
Some classics on here - the title track and Strength of Strings are especially brilliant
Started strongly, faded a little
It was enjoyable. I don’t get why it was panned originally, but I don’t get why, later on, people flipped about how good it is.
I think I accidentally listened to this twice which tells me it was easy to listen to but also very forgettable.
This was fine. I enjoyed the country feel to it.
I can appreciate this as a good album but I wasn't really feeling it, just a folk rock release that I'm not going to think about and isn't for me.
good
It was fine
Hmm I don't mind 'Silver Raven' so far and No Other. Not too shabby!
Interesting album. Not bad and I’m glad I heard it. Not sure I’d say it’s amazing though.
Pretty nice world to drop into, hippie country. A few moments stood out, some felt a bit derivative, but overall pleasant experience.
Feel like I now understand pretty clearly what it must feel like to be depressed in LA. This album sounds great and feels like a pretty cohesive artistic statement, but on the other hand it felt like a bit of downer and I can understand why it didn't sell.
Man, I wished I liked this more because the story of Clark and this album are fascinating and depressing. The album: I can understand why people didn’t love it in ‘74. It sounds like songs from the mid/late 70s. Some of it made me think of the Eagles or Fleetwood Mac. The layering of the tracks make for really interesting tunes, but not a lot of catchiness. Life's Greatest Fool is a 5 star song though… Do not ignore that track! To Gene Clark: Im sorry this was so misunderstood and a brutal failure. Sounds like the recording took a toll on you in LA and life was tumultuous thereafter. If it means anything, it really seems like a lot of legendary bands love your later material and you made your mark beyond just your Byrds years
Aj country aj iné... Aj ma to baví aj nie... Skôr som za to menej country...
Angenehme Singer/Songwriter Musik aus den 70ern. Ich habe das Album direkt zweimal gehört. Es ist nicht aufregend, keine großen Hits, aber einfach schöne Musik. 3/5
нечего сказать, средний альбом
This has an easy going feel to it. Has a laid back yesterdayness to it. It's okay but fails to really grab me.
Как-то тоже пролетел незаметно
Pretty good.
Not convinced. Surely some interesting ideas for the time, but have heard it more convincingly elsewhere.
pretty good, kinda Neil Youngish
The album was OK, but not too memorable.
Good guitar instrumentals
Very strong album with an interesting yet sad backstory. Opens with a couple of strong Stills/Young-esque country-rock songs, but develops nicely into something much more interesting with the excellent, dark sounding 'No Other', which reminds me more of Pink Floyd. This follows into the standout track, 'Strength of Strings'. The next four songs revert back to the Country sound which is always less appealing for me, but they are well written and produced tracks with good lyrics. 7/10
I don’t have much to report here. Easy listening, great songwriting, fun songs, nothing earth shattering and nothing to write home about but it does make the albums i would passively listen to with my wife for background noise on a car trip list.
Interesting, though not amazing.
Сара 3 Марко 3
Interesting collection of country music with some psychedelic overtures. Deep layers of songwriting on here that make it a good listen.
Pretty nice.
3.5 Strength of Strings sounded like every Neil young song smashed into one. Silver Raven reminded me of Guy Clarke song (which to me is fine compliment). Went through an listened a second time, not an all time album or anything but a really good collection
Sympa mais plutôt à mettre en fond
Mostly countryish soft rock music with spiritual lyrics and an occasional chorus of women singing in the background. There are some interesting arrangements on here, but the consistently mellow, yearning vibe made it unappealing to me, though not enough to send it to the 2-star basement. 3 stars
Pretty interesting story on this one, not bad at all
Not too shabby, I really liked the flow and the familiar, yet different quality to it.
Cool
I enjoy country more now because I’m far from home. This was a good one
I had no expectations going into this because I had no idea who he was. I was pleasantly surprised. I don't normally like this music, specifically from this era, but I found myself bopping along to it. Just the day before I had a Neil Young album from around the same time and absolutely hated it. Having a good voice goes a LONG way.
A few good tracks, but nothing that blew me away. Oh well
Having generally liked the Byrds' albums on this list (and loved some of them), and read some context around this album, I was a little underwhelmed by it overall. There are some nice moments and memorable songs but the majority of it felt quite pedestrian and ordinary to me. Can't see it becoming a regular in my rotation.
I really liked the songs that didn't sound as country-like.