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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Bryter Layter

Nick Drake

1970

Buy At Rough Trade
Bryter Layter
Album Summary

Bryter Layter is the second studio album by English folk singer-songwriter Nick Drake. Recorded in 1970 and released on 5 March 1971 by Island Records, it would be his last album to feature backing musicians, as his next and final studio album, Pink Moon, would have Drake perform all songs solo.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.49

Votes

11994
Genres
Folk
Singer Songwriter

Reviews

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Thu Apr 29 2021
5

Two days in a row I've gotten a Nick Drake album. In fact, I have been given his entire catalog (it's sadly only three albums) in just over a week. I'm not mad about this. If anything, it's solidified the fact that Nick Drake was absolutely one of the greatest songwriters to ever live. This album was my least favorite of the three but it was still amazing. It perfectly expresses Drake's struggles with depression without being dark. It's a perfect picture of depression, honestly. It just IS without being a whole dramatic deal. The production is more involved on this album than on the one before and the one after and that detracts from the power of the songs, in my opinion. It's a testament to how damn good these songs are that the album still receives full marks from me.

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Sat Feb 27 2021
5

I’m aware that Nick Drake felt the sounds of Bryter Layter were too full, but it’s my favorite of his three albums. Pink Moon occupies a sort of singular space for the sounds he was able to create, but this album takes what was truly great about Five Leaves Left and elevates it with compositions that compliment Drake’s forlorn voice and searching lyrics. I love this album. 9.5/10.

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Sat Feb 20 2021
5

Such beautiful melancholy music. Such a talent. So sad what a troubled life he led and how little recognition he received during his lifetime

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Fri Jul 29 2022
2

A depressed man sings 7 in-differentiable sounding melancholic, nostalgic songs (plus 3 instrumentals) while strumming an acoustic guitar to a pretty but generic easy-listening background.

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Wed Jul 13 2022
1

This shit boring. Like coffe shop music but not a Starbucks. like a cofee shop the clientele would go to purely cause it’s not a Starbucks

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Tue Mar 16 2021
5

Dude made some of the best folk music ever. RIP

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Sat Dec 11 2021
3

Reading up on this I was surprised that I hadn't previously known of the familiar faces doing backing instrumentals... Good but I think Five Leaves Left and Pink Moon surpass this one.

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Thu Apr 22 2021
5

In terms of pure folk beauty, the high points on this album are about as good as it gets. Overall, it’s a little inconsistent - but when it hits its peaks - damn.

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Thu Mar 04 2021
5

I like all three of his albums, but haven't listened for a couple years. I remember the debut one best, which has a '60s folky sound turned melancholy. This one has some more upbeat stuff, but Drake's distinctive vocals give it all an edge of darkness. The music is great, and his lyrics so striking. His voice isn't technically great, but spot-on for the art he created. I can't think of anything I would change, and the album realises Drake's peculiar vision.

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Fri Mar 11 2022
5

Some of these songs sound like the ones on Sesame Street when they were all, "Look, here's some happy penguins." This album is delicious. I love Nick Drake.

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Tue May 03 2022
5

i have the fattiest crush on this mystical man and all the sweet sounds he makes.

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Mon Nov 22 2021
3

Gentle folky music with a bit of a jazzy, funky influence. It sounds like a bit of an odd combo, but it works surprisingly well. The fact that it's so relaxed means that I think it would work well as background music in a coffee shop, but I can't imagine somebody saying "Bryter Layter is my favorite album".

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Fri Mar 11 2022
2

It was ok. I listened to it yesterday and really cant recall a single thing about it so that should say a lot. I would have remembered if it was bad though.

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Wed Aug 24 2022
2

Was never really a fan of country, but it was pretty alright as far as it goes.

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Tue Sep 28 2021
1

“One of these things” sounded like a collaboration with Dr Suess. But did like Northern Sky. Blake was the one kid in English class that fist pumped when the teacher said”Today is learning poetry day” while the other 25 booed😣

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Thu May 19 2022
5

Definitely not feeling this, but if you’re in to that late 60s early 70s sound, go for it…

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Mon May 23 2022
5

My cohorts, a quick check of my earlier reviews will reveal that I gave a shiny 5 stars to Nick Drake first album, Five Leaves Left. Here, we have poor Nick's second album, Bryter Layter. Out of the classic Nick Drake trilogy, Bryter Layter is the one I listened to the most infrequently. Don't misunderstand me, I didn't consider it in any way a bad album, but the outright prettiness of Five Leaves Later and the starkness of Pink Moon meant they were the ones that hypnotised me. So in my head, Bryter Layter became the slightly impoverished relative by default. This was of course imbecilic of me. Bryter Layter continues Nick Drake's faultless track record whilst remaining particular to itself. Bryter Layter is in no way a rehash of Five Leaves Left, but instead shows dear Nick developing his style by exploring new musical vistas. Now, Bryter Layter is not as musically eclectic as Five Leaves Left, but that is not to its detriment. To say that Bryter Layter is more coherent is not the right term, but its consonance definitely stands out as a progression from Five Leaves Later. Lyrically, we have still the gentle sadness laying foggily over the music. Bryter Layter does not evoke death as Five Leaves Left does, nor is it as raw as Pink Moon, so we have the paradox that the listener feels Bryter Layter to be Nick Drake's healthiest record, despite the album's loneliness and remorse. Also, note that several songs concern love, albeit love tinged with inexact regret. A more remarkable addition to sweet Nick's arsenal is humour. In One of These Things First, a paean to a lost love, he lists the choices he could have pursued, how he could have been a sailor or a cook. But then he muses that he could have been a signpost or a whistle. Since this is Nick Drake, the absurdity is understated, but it is still there. Finally, in perhaps the album's best song, Northern Sky, we have one of the rarest and most precious qualities in a Nick Drake song: hope. Is Bryter Layter an anomaly in the Nick Drake canon? No, that's far too strong a reading. But it does partially dispel the notion that all his work was written under the gaze of the black-eyed dog. A wonderful record that entices the listener to luxuriate in its nuances.

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Thu Jul 21 2022
5

Gone way too soon, Nick Drake had a well-balanced talent that most singer-songwriters do not. He was a musician who knew how to put words to music, and equally put music to words. Many singer-songwriters tend to lean heavily in either direction relying on musicians to put music to mindless drivel (e.g. Suzanne Vega) or putting less than on par words on to otherwise really great music (e.g. Tom Waits). Nick Drake does so well at both, that the listener wants to hear both giving neither favor over the other, hard-pressed to find fault with the lyricist and musician. Nick Drake was truly special and his talent is sorely missed.

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Mon Aug 08 2022
5

The opening is regal with the strings and acoustic. A lush, calm, and exquisite entrance. Second track definitely feels like Drake songs I know, sets a quickened pace and we are off. I love the sax in Chimes of a City Clock, a track I've loved a long time. It is a very mature sound far from the reckless abandon of 80's sax. Perfectly understated and not saccharin. I'm sure I am not alone in thinking that 'Fly' is superb. I feel the early notes of 'Poor Boy' are the weakest section of the album, the melody getting lost a bit with over-complex transitions. The angelic background singing pulls it all back together, however, and then this triumph rises to a completely harmonized sonic tunnel that gives way to a just slightly dirtier sax outburst and I'm all in! Northern Sky is excellent and an all time favorite. The album ends on a low note for me as it barely averts drifting into 70's schmaltz.

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Wed Oct 05 2022
5

This is the second-best of Nick Drake's albums - the best being Pink Moon. If you've never heard. Nick Drake before, it's jaw droppingly good. Beautiful melodies, completely original guitar style, softly understated vocals all add up to wonderful songs. John Martyn fans will particularly love Nick Drake - they were friends and were on the same record label. Solid Air was written about him. Both turned out to be tragic figures and Nick Drake's story is especially sad. The cover photo on this album is hugely evocative - you can almost feel the pain and his internal struggle.

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Wed Dec 28 2022
5

I’ve mentioned this a few times in my reviews, but 1970s singer-songwriter albums have been tending to suit my tastes a lot. The only artist where this wasn’t the case was interestingly Bob Dylan, but I’m still excited to listen to today’s album - I don’t think I’ve heard of Nick Drake before today. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Hazey Jane 2, Northern Sky, Sunday This album was frankly phenomenal. It isn’t exactly minimalistic like some other similar artists from the same era, as there are plenty of instruments playing at any time. Nick Drake’s voice (to use a phrase I possibly might overuse) what buttery smooth throughout. I loved his voice so much, that I felt sad at the end because I wanted more. And when the only criticism I have is that I wish the album was longer, despite it being a very normal length, it’s fair to say that this album was pretty much perfect.

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Sat Dec 31 2022
5

Incredibly beautiful album, it is very introspective and vulnerable. It has a healing quality which only someone who is very introspective can achieve. I hope one day I can write music as beautiful as Nick Drake. Rest in Peace. I will definetly listen to it again. Favorite tracks are At the Chime of a City Clock and Sunday. 5/5

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Tue Jan 10 2023
5

Northern Sky is one of the best songs ever made.

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Fri Jan 27 2023
5

Yeah it's Bryter Layter, five stars. Some notes though. Belle and Sebastian seem to have pinched their template from a couple of tracks here, Hazey Jane II and suchlike. Love the soulful jazz of Poor Boy as it gently soars. One of These Things First and Northern Sky are particularly excellent. Some of the rest feels a little twee at times but seems to somehow stay on the right side and remains delightful, instrumentals included. Always a great listen.

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Sat Jan 28 2023
5

What an amazing and epic album... Wanted to read about him and saw that he died aged 26 from an overdose...What a tragic story of talented young man... Some interesting facts: There is no known video footage of the adult Drake; he was only ever captured in still photographs and in home footage from his childhood. During the early hours of 25 November 1974, Drake died at his home from an overdose of amitriptyline, an antidepressant. He had gone to bed early after spending the afternoon visiting a friend. His mother said that around dawn he left his room for the kitchen. His family had heard him do this many times before, and presumed he was eating cereal. He returned to his room a short while later, and took some amitriptyline. Whether his death was an accident or suicide has not been resolved The grave where Drake's ashes are buried with those of his parents. The gravestone is inscribed with the epitaph "Now we rise / And we are everywhere", taken from the lyrics of "From the Morning", the final song on Drake's final album, Pink Moon.

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Tue May 30 2023
5

Wow what a beautiful album. The song writing is incredible. Really amazing, emotional and heartfelt songs. I haven’t heard it before but really enjoyed it. My favourite track is Hazy Jane Part I, but they could all be

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Sat Jun 10 2023
5

I love Nick Drake's music. So sad that he died so young.

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Wed Jun 14 2023
5

All Nick Drake’s out is magnificent and this is no exception. Stunning album.

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Thu Aug 10 2023
5

i actually really love this album! i had never heard it before this, and now i'm kind of glad i found it. it's acoustic coffee shop jazz, and reminds me of margo guryan, vashti bunyan, laura nyro and the velvet underground. it's a very casual, listenable album that you could throw on while cooking or drawing or something like that. i really like music like this, and it hit the right spot for me. i definitely see myself listening to this more often :)

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Mon Nov 06 2023
5

This was just lovely. It helped that I was in the most calm, serene, open and receptive place I could be. The music came in, languished and was received with understanding. The sad juxtaposition of a troubled existence exhibiting beautiful craftsmanship. Northern Sky is a dreamy classic.

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Fri Nov 10 2023
5

Gorgeous album. Beautiful acoustic guitar arrangements and the vocals are haunting. Captures an amazing mood. 10/10

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Tue Nov 14 2023
5

Nick Drake impresses me more and more as I delve further back in his repertoire.

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Fri Nov 24 2023
5

What a great record. I did not emojis pink moon that much but this is so good.

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Fri Mar 12 2021
4

Production: 17/20 Songwriting: 17/20 Innovation: 15/20 Bangers: 10/20 Emotional response: 17/20 =76 Awwww just lovely. Quack.

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Wed Jan 11 2023
4

He was such a unique talent. His songs are of timeless beauty.

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Tue May 30 2023
4

Such sparkling instrumentation, and such deep sadness. Another fine effort from Drake.

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Wed Jun 07 2023
4

4 Towards the end of college I got really into Elliott Smith, an artist who is often compared to Nick Drake. Despite having active careers nearly 25 years apart from one another, both were known for their soft singing voices and acoustic playing style, their struggles with depression and mental health, and ultimately leaving this world far too soon. So, fascinated by the parallels, I binged all three of Nick Drake’s albums in one day, and while I really liked what I heard, at the time, Bryter Layter stood out to me the least. I didn’t re-visit the album again until about a year ago, when the usage of the song Fly stuck out to me in a viewing of The Royal Tenenbaums (coincidentally, Elliott Smith also has a song in the movie). I still didn’t love the album, but Fly became a part of my regular musical rotation. Listening to it now, I stand by my longstanding sentiment that this is not his best album, but to say it’s bad by any means would be flat out wrong. My only major criticism is its overproduction - as Pink Moon would later show, Drake was at his best with just his guitar, voice, and raw emotion alone. I don’t think the production here is necessarily bad, because when it works, it works - case in point being Fly and Northern Sky, songs elevated to transfixing highs with their touch of accompaniment, but when it doesn’t, it doesn’t, and we get elevator sounding music like Poor Boy. Compared to Five Leaves Left, this one feels a bit like one step up, two steps back. Really struggled with my rating for this one. I know I just gave quite a bit of criticism, but I do think this is a very good album despite its faults. I had 3.5 originally, but I went back to look at my other 3.5s and I just can’t help but feel it’s a step above them. So, 4 it is - the guy seriously did not release a bad album, and I can’t understate how immensely sad it is that he didn't get to see any of his success during his lifetime. Anyway, shoutout to The Royal Tenenbaums for getting me into Fly - pretty overrated movie, but the soundtrack is fire. The scene with Judy is a Punk by The Ramones is also absolutely 10/10.

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Mon Nov 06 2023
4

Another great example of why I'm digging this 1001 project. I first heard Nick Drake from that Volkswagen commercial and always meant to hear more from him and never got around to checking him out. Now I'm committed to listen to his catalog. I played this a couple times this weekend and each time it was the perfect soundtrack to what I was doing. Easy, spacey, and just so nice. I'm a fan!

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Sun Nov 12 2023
4

Really good album, better than the other Nick Drake I’ve had. Such a wonderfully peaceful style, enjoyed it a lot. 4/5

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Thu Nov 16 2023
4

Really enjoyed the britfolk and the ensembles. Great album. Will listen again and put songs on playlists

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Thu Mar 14 2024
4

It’s probably just because I’m so used to the sparse arrangements on Pink Moon from years of listening, but I’ve always felt that Nick Drake’s music works best in a more stripped back form. Not to say the arrangements on Bryter Layter are ill fitting or that this is by any means a bad record, only that the simplicity on Pink Moon suits Nick Drake (or at least my impression of him) better than the busy orchestration here, which dates the record just a little bit in spots.

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Tue Mar 09 2021
3

Not my favorite flavor of Nick Drake, but useful from a completist perspective.

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Mon Nov 13 2023
3

It is a good album. I enjoyed quite a bit of it. Folks music though is generally not for me

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Tue Jan 09 2024
3

1. intro - 1 2. hazey jane - 1 3. at the chime - 1.5 4. one of theze thingz - 2 5. hazey jane 2 - 1.5 6. bryter layter - 1 7. fly - 1 8. poor boy - 1 9. northern zky - 1.5 10. zunday - 2

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Sat Jan 27 2024
2

I love that Hazey Jane II came before Hazey Jane I. See, you don’t wanna get mixed up with a guy like Nick. He’s a loner, Dottie. A rebel. I've never been a fan of his vocals. I can never put a finger on why I don't really like Nick Drake, but I always come back to that. I enjoyed a few tracks but overall it's just not my thing.

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Fri Jun 25 2021
5

It's hard to imagine a better set of music in this genre. It isn't exactly my speed, at least at the beginning, but the execution captured me. It's human-scale music that reaches the infinite. The guitar operates as the heartbeat of the album, leaving space for jazzy elements which peak on Fly and Poor Boy.

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Sun Mar 07 2021
5

Pretty cool really like northern sky

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Wed Jan 13 2021
5

So perfect for what i needed

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Tue Jan 19 2021
5

Beautiful album, and I’d never heard of him before. Short, tragic life. Music that is ahead of his time. Some bossa nova influences

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Sat Feb 20 2021
5

One of my favourite albums that I don’t listen to enough. Every time I do put it on I wonder why that is. Maybe it’s a time and place sort of album? I remember it being one I’d listen to on long bus journeys through South America and it was perfect. Whilst walking through rush hour London, not so much. Anyway, such a rich album of sounds and melodies and his voice is so nice to just sit back and enjoy. A five star album if ever there was one.

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Tue Feb 23 2021
5

Great way to start the week.

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Thu Jan 28 2021
5

These are all gonna be 5 stars

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Sat May 22 2021
5

First time listening Nick Drake. Very calming album. I am sad he didn’t get the recognition he deserved when he was alive. I will definitely listen his another albums and put my favorites on my playlists.

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Wed May 26 2021
5

Love the delicate and intricate instrumentation. (That acoustic guitar!👌🏽🤤) Nick Drakes vocals blend well with this style of music, but could be lacking in emotion/power? That flute goes hard on the title track Bryter Layter. The sax hits on Poor Boy. Northern sky is simply a wonderful track. Great album with a mysterious somber vibe.

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Wed Jun 16 2021
5

Soft and smooth without being uninteresting. Great album, completely new to me

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Thu Jul 29 2021
5

5/5 - Excellent; Like a fore runner to James Taylor but more experimental; loved it

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Wed Aug 18 2021
5

This is really good. Great production. At first I didn't know about his singing style, but with the lush instrumentals and the vivid imagery in the lyrics, it all spins together into a really memorable experience.

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Thu Aug 26 2021
5

Out of his 3 albums. This albums the most well rounded. Containing an actual backing band rather than Drake himself plus Orchestra/Drake just playing guitar (in reference to his debut and last album respectively).

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Tue Aug 31 2021
5

3 albums now 50yrs old. Each one mind blowing. An ephemeral talent never seen before or since.

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Wed Sep 15 2021
5

Такой приятный альбом! Казалось, что я слушаю саундтрек своего дня, наслаждаюсь переливами мелодий и инструментов. Очень интересно было прочитать про жизнь этого исполнителя. Чудесная музыка.

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Mon Sep 20 2021
5

Это лучшее, что я слышала за долгое время

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Tue Sep 21 2021
5

Heart-wrenchingly beautiful.

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Tue Sep 21 2021
5

A classic Nick Drake album - it is perfect, goes beyond English Folk and clearly belongs to this list.

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Fri Sep 24 2021
5

Lovely, chilled out shops and bars

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Wed Oct 13 2021
5

One of my absolute favourite albums. Near perfect.

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Mon Oct 18 2021
5

A truly beautiful album that I will return to & listen to many times. Northern Sky, Poor Boy & Hazy Jane are all outstanding

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Thu Oct 21 2021
5

This is hitting me just right. His voice is so sincere, so calming with tinges of melancholy, but a great sense of beauty and hope.

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Fri Oct 22 2021
5

Sublime. Sadly under-appreciated during his life.

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Tue Oct 26 2021
5

Nick drake is one of the all time greats

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Sat Nov 13 2021
5

Absolutely beautiful album. I don't know what else to say. This has definitely been my favorite album so far.

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Mon Nov 22 2021
5

Lots of great sounds. Great integration of different musical styles into something original. Surprised it was made in 1978!

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Wed Dec 29 2021
5

Nearly perfect. Nick's hardest rocking album but still poignant and lyrical and beautiful. 5 🌟

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Sat Jan 08 2022
5

What a beautiful album. I love the arrangements, the way saxophone pops up in "at the chime of a city clock", the piano in "Poor Boy", the decision to start and end with an instrumental track. It all adds another dimension to his voice and song writing.

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Thu Jan 13 2022
5

Mellow, folky, full of horns. Great Sunday morning album.

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Thu Jan 20 2022
5

Wow. Loved this. Obvious comparisons with Belle & Sebastian, but wished I’d found this a long time ago. Play on repeat!

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Mon Jan 24 2022
5

I love his style, I’m a sucker for guitar, voice is very smooth. Perfectly executed. If this isn’t a 5 for me, I don’t know what is.

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Mon Feb 28 2022
5

One of the best songwriters I had never checked out before I started this challenge.

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Wed Mar 02 2022
5

Initially I thought that Bryter Layter wasn't as good as Pink Moon which I got to listen to properly for the first time last week. I'm still giving it 5 stars as it is an amazing album. The problem I had was that I was so ready to compare the two which was my error. Where Pink Moon was Nick Drake's soul stripped bare this is his heart, with him trying to show the world his talent that we didn't get to experience for long. I can hear attempts to be commercially friendly, a little bit of Van Morrison, a taste of the Stones but this is very much Nick Drake. I really can see why he so revered now.

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Fri Mar 11 2022
5

I really enjoyed this album. It has lovely instrumentation, soothing lyrics. Nick Drake has a voice which blends but adds a lot of dimension to the musical arrangements. Now that I’ve listened to 2/3 of his albums, I can say that I’m a big fan. Favorite tracks: “Hazy Jane II,” “Poor Boy” and “Northern Sky.”

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Fri Mar 11 2022
5

As I listened, I tried to imagine how I would feel about Nick Drake if this was my first introduction to him. I honestly don't know if I would have loved the album. It is very relaxing, though. But having already fallen for Nick Drake and having listened to this album a few times in the past, I know that I love the album now.

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Fri Mar 11 2022
5

My introduction to Nick Drake came from two of the songs from this album, which were on movie soundtrack albums I bought in the early 2000s. They have been favorite tracks ever since. It was wonderful to hear this whole album, which was a little less ethereal than Five Leaves Left, but no less beautiful.

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Tue Mar 15 2022
5

This is a masterpiece. So sad that he died so young. "Could've Been" has always been a favorite of mine.

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Tue Mar 22 2022
5

I love his voice and the tone and style of this music. great album.

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Thu Apr 07 2022
5

Truly a sonic journey. Once again, you can hear how this influences future works from so many

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Fri Apr 15 2022
5

Holy hell this is amazing, so soft and sensual, but somehow innocent as well.

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Fri Apr 15 2022
5

The excellent soft and careful vocals I remember from his debut, with a little extra spunk brought in from the fantastic ensemble of backing musicians. This sophomore album easily lives up to the debut.

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Fri Apr 15 2022
5

If you’re like me and found out about Nick Drake through Pink Moon you’d probably be surprised hearing some of the more lavish arrangements found on this album. For example, Poor Boy features female backing vocals straight out of a soul song. But whereas you might think that such treatment would obscure the songwriting, it instead enhances it. The upbeat “Hazy Jane II”, drifting “One Of These Things First”, sublime “Northern Lights” and leisurely “Sunday” mark some of the best moments in his all too short career, not to mention every other song on the album

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Wed Apr 20 2022
5

One of my favourite albums ever. I am a sucker for lush strings, and even though this album isn't as widely loved as Five Leaves Left or Pink Moon, I think it's something very special. Introduction leading into Hazy Jane II is one of my favourite album openings and it never fails to make my heart swell.

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