Reviews (page 10 of 15)
Lovely
Rather liked this. Didn't much like an earlier (actually later) Nick Drake album (Pink Moon) but enjoyed this one.
It's Nick Drake. Enough said. The man could do no wrong musically. Brilliant guitars, beautiful voice. And these songs. Haunting but comfortable like a warm blanket at the same time. This is a record that was touched by grace.
I'll listen to this artist again. Breathy vocals, interesting chords, really calm.
8/10
Not usually my cup of tea in terms of genre but I genuinely enjoyed this album, really beautiful music
Good background music for social event.
I liked the chill vibe, very singer song writer sounding.
An absolutely superb album, Nick Drake's best in my opinion. Memorable, haunting songs enhanced by subtle woodwind and brass. Northern Skies, Hazy Jane and The Chime of a City Clock are just sublime
This was beautiful. Im assuming it was his second album after pink moon where his talent became apparent and they gave him a bigger budget and more scope to play with. In some ways the delicate and intimate nature of just him and a guitar is lost. But in the other hand the orchestration is beautiful, thr jazzy parts are excellent and the ability to develop his sound is inpressive. If only he was able to grow old us and shoe us where his talents may have led him next.
Second album by Nick Drake on the list, and other than addition of some brass instruments, my feelings haven't changed towards his music at all. Nice voice, not mu style of music. Coincidentally, couple weeks ago I have watched Inside Llewyn Davis, and the history of Llewyn from the movie really resembles Nick's real story, just with a better ending. Very interesting style of life. But it's pretty telling that I didn't really like music from the movie either.
Very melancholic but also easy to listen to. I really enjoyed it.
Relaxing, mostly instrumental
Genius
I could listen to this again, but won’t seek it out
Enjoyed this one. Something about his music is oddly comforting. Would be good for a fall or rainy day. 4/5 Would listen again
I wasn’t big on the last Nick Drake album I got on this list, but this one I liked a lot more. There was more variety to this one. I could definitely throw this on for some background music or for a deeper listen.
7/10. This is the album that I was assigned on my birthday. It's a decent folk album. It's pleasant, but a tad boring. :)
Y'know, I can understand why people would prefer the simplicity of PINK MOON to this. If the arrangements don't go off 100%, well... It kind of undermines the lyrics, doesn't it? And if you're already not feeling them—woof. I mean, heck, I can tell you I wasn't feeling the flute on the instrumental title track. But lucky for me, I actually found a lot of this album to be incredibly pretty. "Fly" in particular was gorgeous, goodness. I read that the arranger's goal with this album was to try and evoke PET SOUNDS, and, well, I say 'e got real damn close. Not to mention, Nick Drake's guitar playing is as amazing as always, so... Yeah, I'unno. I'm feelin' happy enough about this whole thing to give it the 5 I didn't give PINK MOON. (Although, I mean, given what I hear about the lyrics, feelin' happy might not... But whatever.)
From someone who's only listened to Pink Moon, it's very fascinating hearing his style of folk with more than just guitar and his vocals. Easy 5 min my eyes.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. It’s just a really, really nice sounding album. I think the lyricism here has a lot of depth, and I do need to dive into them a bit more, but on a first pass, from everything I was able to catch, there’s sort of a melancholy hidden behind all of these brighter tones. Most of this album is more upbeat than anything on Pink Moon, and while it surprised me, it didn’t shock me in terms of the quality of the tracks. There’s not a single bad one here; I’d honestly say this album goes 10 for 10. The only reason I’m not at a flat 5 is because of my own shortcomings with the lyrics, but I know that’s a stupid reason, hence the bump. A lot of this album is driven by piano, guitar, and percussion, but it’s composed and produced in such a way that the lyrics and vocals get a chance to shine. In a way, some of the tracks blend together, especially the instrumental ones, but it never takes away from the overall theming of the album – to me, I think this album is mainly about trying to push on through the sad times. There’s a lot of self doubt riddled throughout the lyrics that I was able to catch, but there’s always a hint of hope at the end of most verses and choruses. I just enjoyed it a lot – I think it’s no less than a 4, and I’d be remiss not to give it a 5.
Not for me but some nice background middle of the night type music
Just flat out excellent music. Perhaps not as hauntingly beautiful as Pink Moon, but excellent nonetheless
4, Nick Drake is my go-to thought on the Folk genre
I had good things to say about the first Nick Drake album that came up on the list, but noted that it almost lulled me to sleep at times (in a good way). This one had all the same stuff I liked but was a little "peppier" which seemed to strike the perfect balance. He's a really intriguing artist.
Beautiful, great arrangements, very iconic album. Only a little bit of mid in there
Pretty sick almost folk jazzy sounding record.
This is #day32 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... that's a gentle way to start the week. The list seems to have taken a somewhat linear path recently, moving through country, folk, early rock and roll, and back to folk. But today's pick is a different kind of folk. I was introduced to Nick Drake by a friend a couple of years ago, and it's one of those rare recommendations I decided to keep. Even though I prefer a more inward-looking Nick Drake, with his introspective and solitary style, this album offers something exquisite. It feels as though a shy guy with a guitar wanted some company. And... he found it in the form of backing instruments, which resulted in a beautifully rich sound. Bryter Layter blends contemplative, melancholic folk with lush arrangements sprinkled with flute, sax, strings, and more. This is an album worth listening to before you die. Personal highlights are "At The Chime of A City Clock" and "Poor Boy." I'm giving it a 5 out of 5 this time around. Looking forward to #day33.
Listened to this while playing Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin. The whole time i was listening to this, I kept thinking "this is not at all what I would have expected Nick Cage to sound like before the Bad Seeds." I mean...I was right. It wasn't til the album was done that I realized I was confusing two very different artists. Despite my confusion, I hugely enjoyed this album. I knew one song, but I don't know why. Looking forward to hearing his other albums on here.
Akin to Fred Neil, all first-names Nick Drake managed to capture not the sounds of, but a soundtrack for ordinary life in Britain in the early 70's. We all want to be the main character, or to think ourselves most important, but this brings grace and light to the ordinary. It's happy, yet melancholy, and many more slighted emotions as the point of the music comes across "fine"
3/5 Khundor Stars Sunday mood album. Funny enough the last song is titled "Sunday". Cool album to begin the project.
Meh
Nice Singer-Songwriter Folk album.
This is my 1,031 album, as I near the end of this project it’s a great reminder of one of my favourite discovery’s near the start of this project, Nick Drake and Pink Moon. This album is also brilliant so will be added to my frequent rotation, just doesn’t hit an almost as has hard emotional as that first time listening to Pink Moon.
Progresiones sutiles e interesantes, pero no me gustan sus melodías ni su voz :( y la orquestación me parece un poquito forzada, suenan como canciones para guitarra y voz a las que les pusieron otros instrumentos encima
Some really great tracks, including one that was featured on the Garden State soundtrack. I didn’t enjoy the back half of the album as much as the beginning.
As a new listener of Nick Drake, I will definitely have to check out his other two albums. I feel this one is absolutely phenomenal, and I love how you can hear the jazz influence, especially in Poor Boy. I also think the orchestration is just beautiful with my favorite example of this probably being Sunday, with the really pleasant flute solo. It reminds me of the recorders in the start of Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin almost? I thoroughly enjoyed this album, and would recommend anyone who appreciates the finer aspects of music to give it a listen.
This is kinda my favorite type of music. Soulful folk ambient symphonies that take you on a journey through a wonderful soundscape like a good hike.
Liked it more than I thought. At least I liked it more than Five Leaves Left. Probably because this has more of a jazz feel than a straight ahead folk album. Not totally my thing but it was listenable.
This album was very relaxing, and I liked it more than Pink Moon. I would listen to it on a rainy Friday evening, alone in my cozy room
Very great, but his worst album
Far prefer his other albums, but even with the backing singers it's still Nick Drake and thus worthy of 4 stars.
There’s something I seem to be completely missing when it comes to Nick Drake. I mean he’s one of the most esteemed songwriters of all time, is all that from just doing a few soothing songs? If there is more to him I hope I’ll hear it, but I didn’t on this record.
3.2
Nick Drake, the lounge act.
(the website's wrong this was released March 1971 not 1970) Few people were as influential while being commercially this unsuccessful but Nick Drake's lyricism and the way he wrote his songs influenced many people like Robert Smith from The Cure. This particular album (his 2nd) was a continuation of the Chamber Folk style that his debut started with but adds a more Jazz-inspired sound to the very Folky and Singer-Songwriter style. It also features artists like John Cale from the Velvet Underground and a couple of musicians that worked for Fairport Convention, The Beach Boys or Jethro Tull. While it isn't his best, it still has a lot of great moments that make this an incredible listen through and through. A little 'Introduction' introduces the album with a short instrumental Chamber Folk piece that shows the mix between the acoustic guitar with the Baroque Pop inspired strings (or other instruments) to create a warm and pastoral feeling. The first "actual" song, 'Hazey Jane II' which now adds Nick Drake's vocals and lyrics and of course it makes the whole thing better. It is an upbeat and lovely arranged Folk song with a lush and soft sound. It flows really well and the way it builds up to the guitar bridge in the second half is really great with the dynamics. A great song even if I much prefer what Nick did after this album with a nearly all-acoustic Folk. His soothing voice works well with the Jazz inspired rhytmn section/saxophone on 'At the Chime of a City Clock'. The whole song simply works. It is a combination of styles that fit not only this song but Nick Drake's whole musical style at that point so well. The slower and more sentimental approach is what he can do best and of course this song does that in a phenomenal way. 'One of These Things First' comes closest to the style that I love with Nick Drake so much. It focuses on his lyrics with not much arrangements arround it except the guitar. This feels much more stripped down from what most the album features. No strings, no horns, no brass, just guitar, drums, piano and bass. It is a perfect song through and through, I absolutely love it. The delivery is just a perfect mix between warm and soothing and sentimental and poetic. The second, or better first part of 'Hazey Jane'', 'Hazey Jane I' closes the albums first half. It is a more melancholic version of the one at the start with more alienated lyrics and arrangements. Its guitar sticks out much more and the strings move more into the back. I really enjoy the arrangements here more than on 'II' but the song does have some unfitting nuances that slightly harm the enjoyment. I overall think they are pretty equal in how good they are, I personally would prefer this version if I had to choose. On Side 2 we are met with the title track 'Bryter Layter'. It's an easy listen with a relaxed sound to it that gives off a very Lounge sounding feeling. It's also fully instrumental with just some flutes that break the steady arrangements. It's a cute song but I am not too fond of it or its sound. The lyrics return on 'Fly' and while it is pretty good, it doesn't feel really fitting here. It isn't really interesting or has anything to kind of grab onto, not even the lyrics or the performance of them. It all just kind of sits there, waiting to be turned into something great but looses me way to fast. While the Jazz before mainly came from the drums, 'Poor Boy' is a whole Bossa-nova song with some Folk mixed into. It's also the longest song here with over 6 minutes. I really like the style in which it was made. It's so groovy and full of energy but relaxed and laid back at the same time. It fits Nick Drake and the album in a way it shouldn't but ends up still doing. The keys, the backing vocals, the saxophone, it all fits the song and turns it into one of the best songs on the album. Most people say 'Northern Sky' is the albums true highlight and many people say it's one of the best songs in Nick Drakes whole career. I absolutely understand both opinions. It is a beautiful song that accumulates the influences of what the album had to offer thus far and combines it with melancholic lyrics with very tragic sounding arrangements. It is a perfect song without a doubt and maybe the best song here. And I see this as a Top 15 Nick Drake song but not much higher, if you asked me. The album ends with the last of the three instrumentals. 'Sunday' is a more lonely and melancholic sounding one compared to most of the instrumentals. The strings add a finishing touch to the finishing song and it is probably also the best of the instrumentals as well as a great closing track to the album. favourites: One of These Things First, Northern Sky, Poor Boy, Hazey Jane I least favourites: Bryter Layter, Fly Rating: light to decent 8 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes
I really enjoyed the music, but the vocals were lacking. Sort of like John Cale’s solo work.
The music is good, but the vocals and lyrics make me cringe. The first and last songs are the best, as they are vocal-less.
Clearly, Nick had some talent, both as a performer and song-writer. But it's just so bland to me.
singer/songwriter + orch., jazzy, 1970 -> 3
It's okay. A little boring to listen to. The music itself isn't bad, but it didn't really get catch my attention too much. It's easy listening for sure, but I'd have it on in the background while doing something and that's about it. Pretty average. And sounds exactly like it was make in 1970.
It's almost like this dude formed his own genre of music. Orchestral folk pop. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Some of it came off like Disney movies soundtrack or something. But I absolutely loved One Of These Things First, it still had the intricate interwoven melodies, but it also had a sort of typical song structure and it also didn't over stay it's welcome. Sunday is also pretty to listen to. Pretty sleepy album altogether though.
English Jack Johnson. Songs for British kids pretending to be cultured adults. SKIP
good
Impeccable composition, tasteful interpretation 4.51
Chill but boring. Good fingerstyle.
la música es poco expresiva, carente de emociones. Lo mismo la forma de cantar
My 2nd of the 3 Nick Drake albums on the list and this is my favourite slightly more than the other two. This Album is amazing with added strings it was more than just Drake and his guitar which a also great. Nothing wrong here all good tunes from such an underrated artist.
Great
He just sounds so cool.
Very Easy Listening. Very laid back...
would have been 5 stars if not for the 6 minute jazz song
Beautiful. Liked his other one more but still, lovely.
Nice voice nothing great
Perfect album to listen to on a stroll or in the garden or chilling.
Bryter Layter after awhyle crocodyle
Excited ‘bout Drake. Pink Moon is superior. Stripped down Nick is best.
The drinking tea in a country garden counterpart to Bert Jansch's stumbling out hungover into a city street. Not a criticism, even though I can see not having much time for the mannered aspect to this. Both guys had such an incredible sense of rhythm, how to inhabit every little fragment of time fully. It's funny that the album cover began this whole controversy over whether Nick Drake ever played the Guild M20 pictured. (probably not??) Bad news fellas: there is no special guitar to buy to get you to sound any closer to Nick Drake. Try out some of his tunings though, they are fun and will make you happier. The arrangements are a little much but also mostly fine, said as a pretty anti-'arrangement' listener in general. If he put out three acoustic albums we'd be wondering what this guy might've sounded like with a band. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
I don’t know why Kendrick Lamar has a problem with this guy. He seems nice
Not my style
I like this, very smooth.
I really like this. It has more instrumentation than some of Nick Drake's stuff. Just a pleasant record.
Excellent. Hazy Jane ll stands out. Initial reaction was a bit of annoyance, but the more I listen the better it is.
Probably more of a 4 but he died young so I’ll give it to him. Really nice sound and unique songs. Loved Hazey Jane 2 and one of these things first. Would be a true 5 if I liked his voice a little more. Would love to hear someone cover these songs.
If horns and folk music are meant to come together, this is it. I dont think there are many stand out tracks, but the overall album listens really beautifully
Nice music. His voice is a little nasal and flat for my taste. Instrumental tracks are my favorites. Don’t see myself going back to this often but I enjoyed most of it
Knew the name and a few songs but hadn’t dug in. Beautiful album from top to bottom. Love the guitar work with backing instrumentation, especially the piano tracks. Enough familiar folk sounds to hold onto, with some unexpected layers. Stand out was Hotline Bling.
Love it
7/10
First listen. Ok.
Big Nick Drake stan I just can’t help it.
Ok, but a bit odd and slow paced
Meh
this was a pleasant listening experience. about 2/3 folk and 1/3 rock with a smooth vocal delivery. would listen to this again.
Gentle and beautiful and whimsical. hazey jane ii is my fav off the album... love the album art too <33 i would rec this to anyone who likes sufjan stevens i guess. idk it's nice to listen to just ambiently. 3 stars: i like it a lot! really good! but idk if im gonna go back to listen to these songs much. except hazey jane ii my beloved
I love Nick Drake although I more associate him with simpler "voice and guitar" songs like Pink Moon. His voice isn't what you'd call "powerful" but I find the almost ethereal nature of it very endearing. It's so soft that it almost gets lost in some of these songs, which have more textured arrangements than some of his work. The strings and horns are lovely though, I don't think it's a bad thing, just a slightly different style than what I associate with him. I especially like the strings on Fly. Beautiful, chilled out music
The three proper Nick Drake records are all classics in different ways, each expressing a subtly different nuance of folk rock. The middle child has always put up a good fight for favorite. The full band arrangements are super cool and make me wish he would have had more of a chance to be consistently backed by a traditional band in a live setting, and to really get comfortable with that. Not that he ever could get comfortable, but it could have been an opportunity for him to come into his own a bit more.
im not mad at this
I was really vibing with this today! It will make an awesome fall album!
Lively mix of acoustic folk rock with orchestral arrangements. Beautiful instrumental intro. The vocals didn't click at first but by the third track I'm feeling it. Great riff and soft backing sax. There's a melancholy feel to everything without it ever sounding funereal. One Of These Things First is another good one with intricate guitar and piano. On Poor Boy, the music leans more towards jazz but the backing vocals could be gospel. Maybe the best track. Northern Sky challenges it with more piano and sparkling chimes. Evocative and nostalgic album, but still sounds fresh. Timeless.
Favorite Track: Northern Sky
This is a really nice album full of soft songs with many featuring piano. I found the album to be very calm and enjoyable.
Really dislike his voice. Instrumentation was ok
I honestly don't get the appeal. Don't get me wrong, I like folk rock on the general scale, especially Simon & Garfunkel. Sure, Nick Drake's life was tragically cut short, and he did have an alluring, mystifying charm, but too me, he is the human equivalent of a soggy slice of bread.
Relaxing sound
chill album, something to listen to in the background 3/5
Pretty boring. Kind of just sounds like elevator music. Not for me.
Folk with orchestral and some jazzy stuff incorporated. I liked the piano in a couple of tracks, but I didn't like his singing style (breathy, I guess). Sadly, the instrumentals were boring, and the album overall was tedious, but thankfully short. Best track: Poor Boy
Meio bucólico, meio melancólico...
Lovely. Need to be in the mood for this, though.
omg just hearing the introduction track tells me i’m going to like this album. the instrumental is so lush and pretty 🥹 i love the guitar picking and THE VIOLINS (i'm a sucker for strings if you couldn’t tell…) the instrumentals of each song are enough to make me rate this album highly, but i was also pleasantly surprised by nick drake’s voice!!! i didn’t think i would like it much at first but it’s so soft and soothing, fitting with the calming vibe. there’s also a sentimental quality to the album which i love. if i close my eyes, i can almost imagine myself driving past grassy fields and hills under abundant sunshine.
What an odd little album. Somewhere in here there’s something good, and at a basic level the folky songwriting is quite unique. It immediately made me want to listen to it a second time (and also had me thinking Belle and Sebastian owe this chap a nod). However, the strings, brass etc arrangements added to some of these songs is really overbearing, for example. the sax on ‘chime of a city…’ just totally killed a good track. A lot of it just sounds like a folk singer being drowned out by a jazz lounge band writing a soundtrack to 70s film. Shame really, it was kind of intriguing.
This is a odd ball of an album. Some of my favourite tracks, hazy Jane/northern sky and then others that wouldn't look out of place in a hotel foyet. Maybe it's the mix of people playing on it. Still think Nick Drake is a bit of a genius.
Nick Drake is such an interesting case. I had never even once heard of him prior to being handed “Pink Moon” earlier in this project. I really liked that album (gave it 4 stars). Looking back my review, I see a contrast. Whereas that album seemed melancholic and sad at times, this one feels more full of life and even a little whimsy. That probably has to do with the life injected into by the back band (orchestra?), but Drake may also have been in a very different place in life for “Pink Moon.” Regardless, I like this one a little less than “Pink Moon.” I found the orchestral arrangements to be a little schmaltzy at times, which I wasn’t crazy about. But the essence of what I perceive to be his work is here and I really liked the front half on this album. It just started to fade a little for me as it went on; stuff sounded a little samey. Good stuff though. A solid three stars. Standout Tracks: Introduction, Hazey Jane II, At the Chime of a City Clock, One of These Things First, Poor Boy
Utterly exhausting.
About the same as the other 2 I heard from him
cant go wrong with nick drake. a true gem of a singer song writer. tragic life, but his music filled the world with beauty.
Really good instrumentation and good guitar, bass, and flute throughout the album. I didn't really like the singer, but it didn't make it worse. It had a few songs with a really fun flute vibe (Bryter Layter and Sunday). It was a little bit muzak-like in a few sections, so it was definitely easy to listen to while working. Sounded a bit like Dire Straits (Sultan of Swing). On the edge between a 3 and a 4, but going with a 4 because it was a little interesting with the added flute.
A nice enough listen
#279. There's no reason why I should like this dingy jazz club music, but it's giving a whole ass vibe, or whatever it is the kids say. I dunno, maybe it's because I'm hungover while listening to it, but it seems pretty alright to me. 3/5: pretty alright. Song added to playlist: Northern Sky I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Definitely a moody album but Nick Drake has a great voice and has some of the warmth in his playing you'd hear a bit more in the 60s. Great album and easy to enjoy. Some nice instrumental variety across this one too.
Some of the lyrics are drivel but the arrangements are very nice. Gave it 2 full listens. It's nice but I think there are other artists that do this, but better. Might revisit.
Some beautiful songs with moving melodies. His voice is soft and calming. Honestly, I wanted to like this album more and give it a '5', but nothing about it grabs me. Instead it's more like comforting background music that I enjoy, but don't pay much attention to.
I get the hype, certainly a mood but not a listen to anytime type record
Good 1970s era classic folk rock, and I'm not really a general fan of folk rock. This is actually pretty great. Gonna have to give it some more serious listening.
Dat deze 5 sterren zou gaan krijgen lag al voor ik aan deze lijst begon vast. Een ongelofelijk sfeervol album wat ik om de zoveel tijd eens een keer aanzet als ik m'n 1001 huiswerk even beu ben en gewoon even fijne muziek wil horen. Ik weet niet waarom maar dit album klikte gewoon vanaf de eerste keer dat ik het hoorde. Zelfs de wat gekke stem en het Joni Mitchell-achtige net om het ritme heen zingen irriteert me niet, sterker nog: Ik vind het heerlijk als ome Nick het doet. We zijn hier niet om rationeel te zijn wat dat betreft.
Day185 - second nick drake album and i enjoyed this one much more than five leaves left
Never heard of him. Nice voice. Shame he killed himself in his 20's. The song Northern Sky sounds familiar.
70s folk album w/ off-rhythmed vocals, flute & strings. OK, nothing to write home about.
Good but won’t listen again
Very talented songwriter, great musically. I simply don't know why I could never connect with Nick Drake. I guess maybe I like a bit more edge/weirdness/looseness when it comes to folk music. Love Bert Jansch for example. Anyway, absolutely should be on this list, deserves all its plaudits. 5 stars.
I have loved the song “Northern Sky” for years and I was happy to see I knew that and another song on this album. It was pleasant listening, features an unexpected amount of flute.
I generally like singer/songwriters, and I am enjoying this although nothing stands out to me being three songs in. It is fine and competent work for a musician. I like the nice saxophone in At the Chime of a City Clock. I like his instrumental songs better than his other songs. Pretty enjoyable overall.
I wanted to like this, but I just couldn’t get into it. Slow, droning, depressing… not always bad things, but it just didn’t work for me.
No one was sonically perfect as Nick Drake.
8.5/10
A melancholy joy. It's Nick Drake's distinctive breathy warm voice, gentle melodic phrasing and cadences, and his jazzy folk chord progressions with a full soul backing band bringing uplifting horns, searching sax, gospel back up singers, reflexive piano, electrifying guitars, swelling strings, and (unfortunately) flittering flute to the party. The upbeat uptempo songs contrast with the sombre dark lyrics for a powerful effect, but the arrangements are sometimes too much on the slower songs, overwhelming them with too much mood. When it hits it hits so good though. Favourites: Hazey Jane II, Poor Boy, Northern Sky
Nick Drake's music comes from such a pure, deep place and on this record that purity is felt more than ever. On some tracks, you are presented with a subtle yet noticeable undercurrent of anxiety while on others you can feel that perhaps he performed with a slight smile on his lips and a tinge of hopefulness. This album is relaxing, yet melancholic. There is a hint of uneasiness, but at times it coalesces into a feeling that maybe things won't be so bad; maybe it will no longer be a drudgery to live another day. But life always finds a way to surprise us.
For my second attempt following jazz fusion I didn’t think it could go worse but it did. Uninspiring vocals and lyrics.
The song Wes Anderson used is stuck in my head
Good as background music when you’re reading a book or sitting quietly with a cup of coffee. Not sure it’s my cup of tea, though.
Pleasantly surprise. Solid vocals, and like the instrumentation.
The worst of a near perfect discography. His guitar playing is as innovative as ever, while the songwriting leaves a little more to be desired. The cover art, however, is iconic.
ganz nett, aber man merkt den Stücken das Alter an
Certainly a surprise. Nice songs, well composed and nicely played.
Ihan leppoisaa, ei ominta juttua.
this is a beautiful album, folk is one of my least favorite genres and yet this album somehow really clicked with me. instrumentals are unbelievable, seriously gorgeous. lyrics go from having a glimmer of hope to very depressing. this is a masterpiece imo, will def listen to his other albums
By some considerable distance the best Drake in music
Scenic and makes you forget about the world around you
Really enjoy Nick Drake’s material. Think I like his other albums more than this one.
I liked this a lot. Very surprised I did.
Pretty pretty good… do find that the songs melt into one but I also feel as though I still haven’t given it a good chance - was distracted as I listened (day too hot). Hazy Jane still brilliant. 2.5
i really loved the complexity and beauty of this album. With everything ranging from intimate singer-songwriter jams to complex jazz-influenced band numbers, this album feels incredibly cohesive and just downright wonderful. I love it.
I know a lot of people call this album melancholy but for me it’s quite comforting. The instrumentals specifically were really just a vibe to me. I understand how it could certainly not be someone’s cup of tea but I beg you to try it.
If you weren't sleepy before this album, you will be before it ends.
Very chill music that is a bit hard for me to describe. I own one of his other albums and like it a lot. This one is great too with a super chilled out vibe. I'm pretty sure that I will end up buying this one too, can definitely see myself spinning this at home.
It was just ok
10/10. A little more going on instrumentally than in Five Leaves Left, which I enjoyed. Slightly more upbeat with the full band - but still super chill music to vibe too for relaxation. If you made me choose, I think I'd choose Bryter Layter to hear more frequently, but have higher appreciation for Five Leaves Left.
While not as stripped back as his magnus opus, “Pink Moon,” this record evokes just as much soul as that album does, but this time with gorgeous orchestral arrangements backing his haunting poetry.
Very pretty and gentle album
This album feels like Seal’s main inspiration for making music. Very chill and vibey. Not really my thing, but soothing and lovely.
Surprisingly good 6.5/10
4/10… Singer/Songwriter
greatr 5
The hype surrounding Nick Drake isn't just hype. He never made a bad album. All three are beautiful.
Oh man. I love Nick Drake. I love Fairport Convention (thanks to hearing their album because of this website). I love their collaboration on Five Leaves Left. Not so much on this album. Nick Drake is at his best when it's his voice and his guitar. Five Leaves Left and Pink Moon are great albums whose sparse accompaniments complement Nick and his instrument. This album sounds like Nick Drake trying to be Van Morrison or Joni Mitchell or Gram Parsons but only succeeding in creating muzak. His quiet voice and melancholic lyrics don't mesh well with the overwrought orchestral and jazz jam session arrangements. The lyrics are still great. Nick's voice is still great, when it's not being drowned out by all the other instruments being pushed way too high in the mix and tracks being given the Phil Spector treatment of saccharine orchestral grandiosity whether the songs call for it or not. There are a few songs on this album with more stripped back accompaniments that work pretty well — At the Chime of a City Clock for example. But most of the songs are so drenched in schlocky 70s strings and horns that it becomes a cheese fest. Where the accompaniments on the first album created a lush autumnal sound, on this album they only make the songs sound like you're on hold waiting to argue about an overcharge on a bill. There are a couple songs that sound very similar to Pink Moon (One of These Things First and Northern Sky) — as good as that song is, it does reveal the limits of Nick's songwriting and perhaps explains why he felt like he needed all the bells and whistles on this album. The title track is the definition of elevator music. The album isn't terrible, and it has grown on me a bit with repeated listens. But it pales in comparison to his other two albums. I'll give it a 4, but it's really a 3.5 (if that).
I adore Nick Drake. My favorite album is whichever one I just listened to, so today it's Bryter Layter.
Familiar with the name and other than the car advert, didn’t know much more…this is a fantastic album. Bittersweet after learning the story of his tragic short existence. Again, this is a fantastic album.
Very relaxing and creative guitar plays. Liked it very much
Felt like a single long annoying track I kinda liked the "Poor Boy" part
String swells at sunset. Not the worst not my jam
Nice jingly music
Low 3. Better than I thought
Band behind him was awesome. His voice stunk
This was okay, comfortable, easy-listening, background music. While pleasant enough, there didn't seem to be anything particularly interesting about it likely worth returning to. But, it was far better than many I've rated as twos, so it's getting a three.
This was decent, but not nearly as good as his "Pink Moon" album. Still sounds surprisingly contemporary given how old it is, I just didn't like it as much. 3.3
More perfection by Drake. So very unfortunate that we only have 3 records from him.
Was it the best album to listen to on warm sunny late spring day? Absolutely not. Thankfully I've listen to this album a few times, so the summer like environment didn't taint my listening. This album really get's better and better with each listen. I really enjoy all of Nicks albums, they have a more timeless sound to them compared to other folk music of the time, like Fairport Convention.
Excellent record all the way through and bears repeated listening. Another artist lost far too soon and leaving us wondering how much more great music he would have created.
I can see a lot of the bits that would come together in Pink Moon. Maybe if i had heard this first, I would have liked it better. It's still very good. I just think Pink Moon is better.
Another Nick Drake album to remind me I need to listen to Nick Drake more. It's good, I liked it a lot. This is one of those albums that, if I listened to it more, might get bumped to a 5, but I'm not quite there yet. I know I've heard some of these songs (One of these Things First, most likely) on a soundtrack of a movie I've watched a 100 times, but I can't place which one, which is driving me a little crazy!
I loved Pink Moon so I had high hopes for this, but this never reached the same heights. The production and instrumentation was great, but the vocals weren’t on the same level and I felt like the mixing was off.
Why is there more than one nick drake album on this list? Pink Moon is fine, but this is just taking up space that should be used for something else. +1 star for not being a terrible album, though. 2/5
Nah, boring
Beautiful and hypnotic.
Not an annoying one, but i didn't even notice when it ended
Sleepy mellow vibe
even if I prefer Pink Moon, this is another stellar album from Nick Drake.
What a gem, so beautiful
I'd never heard of Nick Drake until starting this process, and this is the 2nd album of his I've had Really enjoyed this one! Nice chill music, and upbeat 4 ⭐️
Chill and melancholic. Nice.
I might have listened to this once or twice. Beautiful, wistful music which is at times depressing. "I could have been One of these things first"
An interesting discovery: Drake's voice got on my nerves sometimes and no single song stood out for me.
Until about a week and a half ago I had never heard of Nick Drake. However I was reading a book "The Quiet Room" (sequel to "Rabbits") which is a multi-reality mind bending book about coincidences and it had an "End of the World Playlist". One of the songs was Nick Drake "Hazey Jane II". So I looked it up on Spotify, found it a strange choice, and since then, Spotify in it's algorithmic glory has been inserting Nick Drake (and Donovan?) songs into my recommendations. That this Nick Drake album showed up in the album a day is an interesting coincidence that fits the theme of "The Quiet Room". OK, this review isn't about Terry Mile's books, but the album. I enjoyed two of the songs "One of These Things First" and "Poor Boy" mostly because of the piano and the jazziness. The rest of the album felt like something you would listen to if you had a hangover. A hangover from the entire decade of the 60s.... I think I'd enjoy Nick Drake more if his songs are heard in between some more upbeat music, but an entire album at once was kinda sad. On a cerebral level the album is good, but it doesn't feel really good to listen to it. 2.5 stars.
I hadn't heard of Nick Drake before: looking him up it's a pretty tragic tale. This is good coffeeshop or cafe music: kind of sad if you listen to it directly, but as background/mood it's inventive and well executed and not saccharine or bland. I'd like to rate it a little higher than Common, but there's no half-stars. Also, not danceable, and singing register is too low.
Had never heard of this artist. Not something I would normally listen to, but enjoyed it.
Had never heard this album and it was exactly my kind of music. Airy and introspective, folksy and melancholy. Loved all of the instrumental tracks and how the album washed over me. I’m a fan of anything that brings in woodwinds and brass to a contemporary piece. A new classic for me!
An interesting discovery: Drake's voice got on my nerves sometimes and no single song stood out for me.
Drake is one of the best finds of this project for me. I loved Pink Moon, Bryter Layter is good but not on that level. Rambles on a bit 6.8/10
I continue to really like Nick Drake’s music. I’m glad this site turned me on to his albums
Un poco rollo.
Loved it! Enjoyed the instrumental tracks bookending the album.
Sad album.
Royal Tenenbaums- Nick Drake - 07 - Fly
Chill soft music. Great lyrics and a really nice and pleasant listen
Been a fan of nick drake for a long time. One of these things first is one of my favourite of his and the album is great. I probably prefer Pink Moon but this is a great record.
First Nick drake album. Great voice. Suits his style of music well. I like the finger picking style of his playing. Not a bad album. I feel pretty neutral about this one. Didnt love it. Didnt hate it. Could be a grower. So I came back to this album whilst in the kitchen. Nicks style Of music is consistent but it’s definitely a grower. I ended up enjoying the album. Even the missus complimented it!
Interesting to see the influence this had on others. Mainly belle and Sebastian from last week on this list. I would file this under "what are you rambling about?"
Nice songs. I quite like this guys songs.
About 20-25 years ago, I listened to Nick Drake as a teenager and loved him. Now years later listening to this album and reading about his life for the first time, I’m heartbroken and exhilarated about the phenomenal beauty of this album. Anyone who enjoys music can find the threads of beauty that Drake weaves with his angelic voice and masteful arrangements.
Voice difficult to hear
Not my thing
ethereal
Songs are too similar. 2.5 rounded up
Divine, beautiful, looooooooove this quirky lil guy. Makes me think of my sweet trip back into society with David when he first introduced me to ole Nicky. Gettin me back in that sweeeet sweet mindset of not giving an absolute single fuck while also caring so deeply at the same time. Putting on my cantstandtogiveanotherfuck helmet again rn as we speak, it's covered in thorny roses but also rainbows and smiles.
Super pretty, loved the arrangements and Nicks vocals are perfect. Not quite as memorable or meaningful as his other record I’ve heard, Pink Moon, but it’s still pretty good. 7/10
Shite
Well that was painfully wishy-washy and pointless.
It's absolutely criminal that this guy only began to get recognition years after he'd died; so sad what happened to him. This album sounds soothing and serene; it's one of my personal favourites to come back to. There are some lower points in there but nothing that's even close to the 'bad' category. I'm really digging the instrumental tracks as well. 4.5 stars
Beautiful album, could rock a baby to sleep to these songs. The lyrics and vocals are great but it's the instrumentals that shine the most I feel, great playing (especially the keys) and beautifully produced. 'One Of These Things First' and 'Poor Boy' were my favourites here, those songs are both stunning.
Never step into a faerie ring. 3.5
I've listened to too many poopoo Elliot Smith and similar artists to have been excited when I saw "singer-songwriter" but this was a pleasant surprise. A novel take on a genre that has been wildly overdone, I quite liked it
Such a beautiful album. I absolutely love the jazz influence on this record; it adds so much to the dark and sad lyrics.
I really wasn’t too keen on Pink Moon upon first listen a few months ago, so I’m super surprised by how much a love Bryter Layter. The sound on this one is so full and lush, with lots of instrumentation including strings and sax (huge win for me). Just all around really beautiful. 4.5
Mjög gott stuff!!
Very nice. Not as nice as the moon one. Will be returning to catalog.
i caught vibe
damn good
I did not listen to Nick Drake before. I will listen to him going forward.
Incredibly relaxing and pleasant listen.
Did not expect this sound for an album labeled as “Folk”, but incredibly good.
Never a fan but this was better than expected. Tolerable 3*
Boring.
Correcto.
I enjoy Nick Drakes mellow and calm sounds.
A fine, sleepy-voiced album by Nick Drake
It was fine. Not really my thing.
Beautiful, melancholy Britfolk. I have a limited appetite for Britfolk, but this suits me well. I can't decide if this is better played in the morning or as the night's closer, but it's deep, introspective, and definitely worth a listen.
Soulful, bluesy, chill. This is a really nice record that I wasn’t familiar with before, nor the artist. Elements of folk, rock, blues. It’s enchanting and mystical, capturing a sound that seems much older than it is. Very easy on the ears and mind. Will revisit this one in the future.
Really enjoyed this album. Drake's album Pink Moon was the first album I reviewed on this site and I really enjoyed that too. His voice is really pleasant and his composition is solid. I can see how he was an influence on a lot of well known artists and bands. Really unfortunate to find out that he died so young and that he seemed like he had a hard mental life towards the end.
Not my thing.
I liked this quite a bit
liked it ok
Beautiful songs but the production is unnecessary.
Lovely music, as always, from Nick Drake. I looked him up while listening and was heartbroken to read how young he died, and how long ago- his music is timeless.
I fell asleep at my desk listening to this and woke up when it was over. 5/5 for relaxation, although I have no idea.
Nick Drake is one of these artists that you must hear somehow. Just like Joni Mitchell's early 1970s era, Bryter Layter is a perfect mixture of folk, alternative and singer-songwriter genres. I never got bored, and I already listened to it beforehand.
I’m usually not into folk music but Nick Drake is absolutely wonderful. There’s something haunting about his albums knowing now what he was going through and his eventual death and that always seems to be the undercurrent of his music that adds a layer of depth to it all. Nick Drake is what turned me on to folk music and finally get it as a genre.
It was pretty decent! 3.5/5, the last 3 songs were especially well done. It's English Folk Rock, and naturally has a sense of whimsy.
Folky and flutey. Pleasant to listen to, but I won't say much stood out to me. Some nice songs and good background music?
Damn this shit heat on the real for real
pretty chill, 3.5/5
Victory has a great voice. This album is a good listen one or two songs that really stand out
3.5 rating for me. Need to listen again.
Meh
Such a sweet pretty style, delivering lyrics that open a window to the darkness beneath. "Oh Poor Boy" is particularly poignant after reading about Nick's short life. Some interesting jazzy arrangements and chord juxtapositions. I'm not sure when I'd be in the mood to listen to this again but I'm glad it exists.
I know this is an excellent album. There is something special about it, and his so sweet but sad legacy. Would I listen to it a lot. Probably not. Would I return to it when the mood is upon me. Yes. Would that mood visit me often? Unlikely. Let's call it a treasure to access on rare occasions. Thanks for the discovery. A surprisingly awesome little gem. 4 stars.
This was good for sad, folk music.
Pretty good. Easy to listen to. Some of the songs feel like they'd be played at like Olive Garden tho
An easy 5 because I've loved it for a while - I wonder if I was listening to it fresh, would I still love it - I think so
kinda van morrison ish. chill. nice compositions
Sublime
I gave this a 5 before and looking back was over generous, but it's a 4.
I didn't really rate this, I thought a lot of Nick Cave's other stuff was better. Then I went to write this and realised it was Nick Drake, and I'm an idiot
Enjoyed that!
Magical. Gone too young leaving too little.
I recognize it as good but it’s not my thing
Bryter Later It’s pleasing that by the end of this we have will have had all three of Nick Drake’s albums in chronological order. Bryter Later is sometimes my favourite of the three but they all swap around depending on the day. And obviously they are all 5 star albums. I won’t go through track by track, each one is a little gem of beauty, but my highlights are always Hazey Jane II, One of These Things First, Fly and Northern Sky, which is probably my best ND song. I enjoyed reading a bit about the album today and how he wanted to evoke Pet Sounds with the instrumentation. I can kind of see that, although obviously it sounds very different but I can see the common threads. Also I never realised that John Cale and Fairport Convention played on it. I must have read that on the CD liner notes but I don’t remember that at all. I do really like the arrangements and overall sounds of this, particularly in contrast to the pared back Pink Moon and the kind of in-between FLL. Although they does walk a fine line between pretty and MOR, the strings and horns I think are great, and the playing is also very good. It would be quite easy for that also to slip into slight schmaltzy-ness, but it doesn’t, keeping things relatively simple and straight. Along with the strings and horns, the playing really enhances the gentle, bucolic atmosphere. It really is a very lovely listen. So, obviously a 5 for me Greengrass ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I put this on during the flight back and immediately knocked out. But overall great vibes and soft vocals to go with the variety of instruments.
listened to this while cooking and was v good, has a nice sound to it. 8/10
Chill, enjoyable listen. Kinda breathy but I guess that’s just the style. 7/10
8/10 - I started off against it but as the album went on it grew quite a bit. I was cleaning during this album so it was surprising to me how much I enjoyed it. one of these things first was probably the best song
A pretty good vibe
I grew up listening to a lot of nick drake because my dad loved him, so I’m a little biased here, but this album is great. I think this and pink moon shaped my music taste quite a bit. Also northern sky is such a great song. 9/10
4.5/5. The biggest what if in music history.
Easy listening
Pleasant but nothing really leapt out. Too much indulgent flute for me!
It's a nice album to listen to while you're doing something else. Other than that though, none of the songs made a big impression on me. Overall, I didn't hate it but I also didn't like it. It was just there.
Meh
Beautiful folk music, understated but ornate. This album is more adorned than the Nick Drake stuff I'm familiar with. It's a shame he passed so young. "Would you love me through the winter?/Would you love me 'til I'm dead?" Highlights: Hazey Jane II, One Of These Things First, Poor Boy, Northern Sky, Sunday
Boring.
Slightly generic 70a accoustic alums but really loved "Poor boy" for its gospel sound and "Sunday" for its easy charm. Lovely early summer listening.
Really nice instrumentals. Generally chill vibe. Didn't particularly grab me though.
Really chill. Best song: Poor Boy.
My last run in with Mr Drake I really liked what I heard. I felt his heart and soul with every single song. With every lyric. This is an earlier release and it's still damn good. I really really liked the song Northern Sky. It was god damn beautiful. Nick Drake continues to make me appreciate his music. It's such a tragedy we didn't get more of his music.
I did not know of Nick Drake prior to getting this album, but now I'm interested in learning more about this fellow. Immediately it's easy to tell that he was a talented songwriter. A quick Google search tells me that Mr. Drake battled depression and was unfortunately not on this Earth for long. The melancholy and loneliness seeps through in this album specifically but if you zoom out, you're also entranced by the easy-going, folksy-jazz sound heard throughout. I can only assume his other work is just as (instrumentally) pleasing to listen to.
What a beautiful, sad, emotional album from Nick Drake. Some of these songs really resonated with me and had me thinking of myself and where I'm at, not too many albums have me doing that. Fav songs: - Hazey Jane II - At The Chime of a City Clock - One of These Things First - Hazey Jane I - Northern Sky
Sounds like the original Jack Johnson. I like his vocals but the music style is not something I would listen to.
I really enjoyed this album. I'm learning I have a soft spot in my heart for English folk singers. Relevance to this list: 3/5 Personal enjoyment: 4/5
I LOVE THIS ALBUM SO MUCH!! One of these things, first.
Not really into folk music, but this pretty good.
Mellow and bland
new obsession
i like this one so far
Not personally my taste but an album where it's easy to see why others love it. There are some great instrumental performances on this album but I found that occasionally Nick Drake's acoustic guitar performance/vocals would almost get overpowered by everything else that's going on as opposed to enhanced. My personal standout tracks were "Poor Boy" and "At The Chime of a City Clock"
The story of Nick Drake is much more exciting to me than the music, although there is something captivating about his style. Belle and Sebastian, Rufus Wainwright, owe his estate a couple of bucks I would say! I did listen to the album twice and I can't say it made a dent, but I appreciated it.
This album was completely "fine" from start to finish. Nothing offensive, nothing shocking, nothing terribly interesting, nothing memorable.
Sad. Frábær plata.
Svakalega flott plata og góð vinnutónlist. Northern sky er með fallegri lögum. Sorglegt að hann skyldi ekki fá að lifa öll hrósin sem tónlist hans á skilið.
Best wel nice
Nice.
Beautiful. Good for light pleasant days and nights.
Hazey Jane II sounds like a lost Belle & Sebastian song - you can see they were influenced by Nick Drake. Similar to the last two albums we got by Drake, this caused me to want to binge on his whole catalog immediately afterwards. Great stuff.
This is the third Nick Drake album I got on the list. For me, it's the worst. I don't know if it's just a mood problem, but I find this one a repetitive collection of rehearsals from the other 2 albums.
Nick Drake helped me define my definition of what's "Cool". He set a standard for what artistry could be.
not as good as Pink Moon imo but still great music. Wish he was still around and making music.
did not have high hopes for this album but i stand corrected
4.5. No half stars on here apparently. This is my first day of the 1001 greatest albums. I had never heard of Nick Drake or Bryter Layter before today, but i absolutely loved this album. The soft yet striking vocals and instrumentals really hit me. My favorite track was Hazey Jane I. I’ll be back tomorrow 🫡
A beautiful jazz/folk album with incredible guitars, beautiful arrangements, and calm tenor falsetto vocals. Really enjoyed this one.
i would give it a 2.5 but it’s not horrible! just kinda boring (sorry)