Reviews (page 10 of 14)
Bit torn on this. It’s clearly a well written beautiful sounding album, but definitely requires active listening or it just fades into the background. Could be a 4 but because it didn’t grab my attention it’s getting a 3
Great vibes
Enjoyable
More orchestration than I'd expected from folk music but it's all quite pleasant. Despite that, I unfortunately find this album fairly boring despite the clear talent on display and the interesting arrangements.
Spotify keeps insisting I'm gonna love Nick Drake. Well I don't! Nice songs, but don't move me.
Folky, orchestral, a little electric and a folk rock rhythm section. Acoustic and vocal driven. Mellow and definitely a late 60s/early 70s sound.
It's ok
Las tres primeras canciones apuntaban a un album de 10 (honorable mention a las partes orquestales que aparecen en momentos aleatorios) luego el colega se empieza a quedar sin ideas. Esto se nota sobre todo en los tracks instrumentales, que son bastante genéricos. Cuando estás ahí, en la mitad del album, te das cuenta que cada track empieza planteando una idea medianamente interesante (sin ser nada rompedor) y luego tira los siguientes minutos alargando esa misma única idea. Una pena porque el tío tiene una voz muy especial, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta los géneros en los que se mueve. Para cuando llegó la parte jazzy y los coros gospel de las últimas canciones, ya me había perdido, lo siento Nicolás. Top: At the Chime of a City Clock y Northern Sky
Very 70s, good voice tho
Iha med
I really enjoyed listening to this, production feels great, maybe it caught me in the right mood but the vibes were perfect. At times it does feel a little twee or perhaps lack a certain something, it’s another album I’d probably rate 7-7.5/10 but not quite sure I’d round up to give it 4 stars. I want to return though so it is entirely possible I will upgrade if I get round to it.
It was alright
De introductie is erg zweverig, maar vervolgens is het nog best aardig om te luisteren.
Peaceful folk tunes, 'Fly' is a really nice song 👍
My first Nick Drake album! Very good songs, songwriting and production but I didn’t like his ‘Belle and Sebastian’ voice so much. Unusually I enjoyed the instrumentals!
Not bad but definitely overrated
That was nice and peaceful
For some reason I always thought of Nick Drake as an artist of the 1990's, not the early 1970's. While not as good as the unaccompanied Pink Moon album, this is also very good.
I ended up really liking this. I've never heard any of these songs before, but they all had that easy familiarity that draws me in. Nothing incredibly standout for me, but nice to listen to.
01) Introduction - 7,0 02) Hazey Jane II - 7,0 03) At the Chime of a City Clock - 7,5 04) One of These Things First - 6,5 05) Hazey Jane I - 6,5 06) Bryter Layter - 7,0 07) Fly - 6,0 08) Poor Boy - 6,5 09) Northern Sky - 6,0 10) Sunday - 7,0 TOTAL: 6,70 (67/100) Current ranking: 444/662
This is a repeat for me? Per my prior note: *Very chill, singer-songwriter vibe with some super light horns, lots of piano and guitar. *Best track - One of These Things First (Track #4) *Really good background music. Listened to it several times today because it was short (39 mins) and because I could work at the same time. *Enjoyed it, but wasn't wow'd. *Rating - 7.5/10
Interesting, would listen again
Lekker rustig en relaxed album, beetje funky. Nick heeft een erg zachte stem die fijn is om naar te luisteren.
Like the other Nick Drake albums, it's pretty alright. It sounds well made and the lyricism is pretty cute, but yet it does not do what music should, which is make me have any interest in listening to it. The album functions fine as background filler, but not much more.
Sympa, pas marquant 6.5/10
Felt pretty generic. The melancholy sounds didn’t make me feel that emotional. Music didn’t sound bad but just felt like it wasn’t accomplishing what it set out to
I don’t know, did Belle and Sebastian always sound like Nick Drake? I think I need to pause my generator. This is a lot to take in all at once.
Jazzy and folky. Pretty enjoyable.
It’s October. You’re in your Tuscan themed kitchen, standing over your stove with soup on a low simmer. You made the soup with vegetables you bought at the farmers market for an unreasonable markup, but you don’t even care. You insert the immersion blender, real smooth. For some reason you’re wearing a turtleneck. You kind of pull it off, you kind of don’t, but you’re at peace with this fact. Your golden retriever is napping on the carpet, unbothered by everything happening. There’s a candle burning because you’re too poor for a fireplace, but that’s ok. You’re white, middle(ish) class, you live in Connecticut, and you have Nick Drake. The pumpkin spice latte of the music world. Is he the best? No. Does he make you feel like everything might be ok though? Also no. But your soup is going to be killer.
Garden State anyone? I liked this album, good instrumentals and Nick has a cool relaxing voice. fave song: one of these things first
Introduction: Nice vibe Unique sounds nice kinda folky Hazey Jane 2 slam poetry style intro feel good movie song
I liked the folk aspects, wasn't too keen on the easy listening-esque parts. Enjoyed "One Of These Things First"
Leyendo el trasfondo del álbum lo primero que me llama la atención es lo conectada que estaba la escena musical de los 60 - 70: instrumentación de Fairport Convention y John Cale, con la colaboración de técnicos que también asistieron a los Beach Boys. Y la verdad que tanto músico de estudio y tanto arreglo le resta bastante intimidad al bueno de Nick. Trompetas, pianos, coros... un acompañamiento demasiado barroco para una poesía tan austera. Pero eso no quita que siga siendo un álbum excelente. Nick Drake ha sido quizás mi mayor descubrimiento de este challenge y sus letras, con una calidez depresiva únicas, me siguen pareciendo increíbles. Uno de los mejores cantantes de folk de la historia, aunque este sea mi álbum menos favorito de él.
Very instrumental heavy, which I like. Tbh, don't really like the singer's voice. It's nice and it fits the genre but I would listen to it that much.
One of those cool but not for me albums.
Lovely music. Really enjoyed the instrumental pieces.
Kos og finfin bakgrunnsmusikk. Lite som stikker seg ut, men vil sjekke ut mer av diskografien her ja.
One of These Things First is great but the rest were not really memerable to me. I liked it but nothing mind blowing for me
Nice vocals and guitar work. A little bit twee for my taste but well put together!
Pleasant chill music, nothing that stood out and probably won’t revisit it for any particular reason.
Demasiado pronto para otro de Nick Drake, pero me gustó más el anterior me parece. Nota: 2.7
While I’m trying not to compare to the other Nick Drake album, I will say that off the bat I did enjoy this one more. However the sentiment remains the same as the last—I can tell this is a good album but I’m interested to do a few more listens and see how it really speak to me.
Beautiful, soaring background tracks made the album pretty enjoyable for me. My favorite tracks were Hazel Jane I, Poor Boy, and the three instrumental tracks.
Instrumentals are just a bit… boring to me? Trite/predictable?
Nice evening jazz type of album. Instrumental and songs.
Liked this for nice chill vibes
If I may out myself as being Nick Drake unaware. Queuing up the album, an ephemeral clue emerged with the year '1971'. Oh here we go, bell bottom jeans and flute rock or some shit. However. From the outset there were soothing tones and complex, possibly Brazilian jazz rhythms along with shy vocals and virtuoso classical guitar flourishes. If I may make another unaware connection, this reminds me of Syd Barrett as being freely imaginative and shamefully unattended for his personal struggles. Now after reading about Nick Drake's bio I feel like I encountered some intimacy that shouldn't have been public.
I was already familiar with Nick Drake, particularly the Pink Moon album, although his Five Leaves Left album also came up earlier in this 1001 albums exercise. I would rate this album between the two; I like it better than Five Leaves Left but not as much as Pink Moon. This album also has some other musicians, where Pink Moon is just guitar and vocals. The album is good, but Pink Moon is still better.
Great, but depressing
Kinda different, but just kinda chill.
This was some nice music, mostly relaxing. I don't know that I'd want repeated listens though.
Veit hva han driver med. Eller kanskje ikke, sannsynligvis ganske full av piller. Funker greit lell.
Really pretty album. I like the way Drake's breathy vocals play with the piano and guitar.
normally i don't really like Nick Drake as much as the folk lists/ spotify playlists seem to imply I should. but this was a nice summery listen + a breath of fresh air [real music] compared to some previous recent listens that will go unmentioned... and i like these songs more than some of Drake's top songs
Very nice sounding, layered instrumentals although most of it wasn't super riveting. I also find his voice kind of annoying, I can't really explain why
Pleasant
I love some of the chord progressions on this and the guitar work. Just very calming and folksy.
Conflicted on this one. Nick Drake has some bangers... but this album as a whole experienced in one sitting really dragged on for me.
Intense but oddly soothing at the same time. Lyrically literate.
He's good
its alright. 3/5.
Once listened to this guy because the great Mikael Åkerfeldt nudged me to it. Cool stuff although I wouldn’t put it on nowadays
A lovely airy little album. Ideal relaxed Sunday afternoon listening. 3.5/5.
Pink moon better
Mom can we have Pink Floyd? We have Pink Floyd at home. Pink Floyd at home. I think with repeat listens I could come to love this album but it didn't do much for me the first time.
Easy vibes - not my thing but he has a nice voice
loveeeee it
Как и предыдущий: приятная музыка, но скучная
Very chill :)
Nick Drake was a gifted songwriter with a distinctive voice (and terrific guitar finger-picking skils) but the songs on this record would have been much better served by pared-down arrangements rather than the overly-busy ones here. The arrangement on "Hazey Jane II" (especially with its cheesy horns) is directly at odds with Drake's guitar and voice. On the otherwise-beautiful "At The Chime Of A City Clock" the sax player incessantly tries to barge into the spotlight. On "Poor Boy" it sounds like the backing musicians are playing an entirely different song than what Drake is singing. There are good songs here but a lot of this album seems like a lost opportunity.
Pretty good stuff, I would say 3.5 but I can’t stomach giving it a 4.
[3.00/5] Final impressions: This album ranges from feeling like it should be played when you're alone in the forest in summer to feeling like its a backing track in a coffee shop while you sip a warm drink. Very singer songwriter and folky, cold and sad, but with solid instrumentals and a decent variety in sound. Started to lose me in the second half. Listened to on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/0B2E1w5T7PEbZIctZnnt9K]. Introduction - Amazing instrumentals. *Hazey Jane II - Fun listen. The cadence of the lyrics scratches my brain in a good way. At The Chime Of A City Clock - Liking the sax. Smooth sound. One Of These Things First - Narrative and nostalgic. Piano forward. Hazey Jane I - I'm into Hazey Jane I being after Hazey Jane II. Unfortunately, Hazey Jane II is a lot better than this one. Bryter Layter - Pleasant sound, but not dynamic enough to hold my attention. For being the titular track, fairly disappointing. Fly - This one is rough. Poor Boy - Loving the piano in this one. Great instrumentals. Would be as good as Hazey Jane II, but I'm not into the backing vocals. Northern Sky - Just ok. Sunday - Back to the flute I see. Solid. Overall notes: Generally distant and melancholy, folky and instrumental. Works for me, but probably not something I would think to listen to often. Wish there was just a bit more variety, but at least its not nearly as monotonous as some of the albums I've rated lower. At least theres some variety in instruments.
Nice sounding but nothing earth shattering for me
No song really made a lasting impression, but overall i enjoyed the album. It was very jazzy and not too slow. It was very surprising to me because I did not enjoy Pink Moon.
buen álbum de rock que no es muy en tu cara ni trata de hacer nada más de lo que no sabe que no es capaz, magnífico y tranquilo
Damn, I thought this was Boris lol This was a great listen! I really enjoyed these songs and the backing musicians, interested to hear what his work sounds like without them.
Лучше предыдущего, но ничего необычного
really pretty record
Very much late 60s/early 70s folk. Nick's voice is very pleasant to listen to, and if you don't mind a very "of its time" instrumentation then you'll enjoy this. I thought it was decent.
Nice and gentle
Pretty solid
Sympatoche
2 were a nice listen. Can't say that for the others
Put it on. Listened. It was fine. Mid/10.
This was okay. Not really my genre. Kind of a soft sounds. Not really for me. But still a good listen of you are in the mood.
Not as good as his other two albums on this list, but enjoyed it. Standout songs: Hazey Jane At the chime of a city clock Northern Sky
Good folksy album.
Like so many others I’m sure, the VW ad featuring Pink Moon brought Nick Drake onto my radar. Consistently a good listen, perfect for soundtracks and a melancholy mood.
Meh
Of the three albums that Nick Drake recorded in his lifetime, this is the one that should be on this list. I'm guessing that all of them will show up here anyway. Let's be honest with ourselves... If it wasn't for that Volkswagen commercial in 1999, Nick Drake would be a mere footnote and his legacy would be as a niche musician with little impact on modern music.
Nice little album
Very pretty music. Would listen to again.
Pretty, tuneful, and like the perfect hotel guest left with absolutely no trace that it was there. I enjoyed it, but i couldn't tell you a single song i just listened to
Not bad. More interesting by far than the insipid stuff I know him for.
Surprisingly orchestral
kinda of ok backgroundmusic
Nice accouistic album!
Bättre än förra Nick Drake på den här listan. Har sina moments men klickar inte helt... Ännu
not my style, pretty mellow but very melodic
It’s pronounced breh-ter ley-ter. Also what album does the beef with Kendrick start?
There were several great tunes on the album, but nothing that I found ground breaking or exciting. A good, but not great listen.
Yeah I’m not sure about this one. In general it was okay but I don’t know if I would listen to it again. Still, I liked his songwriting
3.5 - comfortably dull
***An good easy listening album
Bryter Layter by Nick Drake is another middle of the road album. The music is fine. Nothing to get worked up about, good or bad. I thought I was going to have an issue with the vocals based on how the opening song started but, again, it was fine. I’m reminded of a quote from High Fidelity for this album. It’s when we meet Jack Black’s character Barry for the first time. He comes into the record store and starts bashing the guys for what they are listening to. (It’s Belle and Sebastian). In the argument Cusack’s character, Rob says, “I don't wanna hear old sad bastard music, Barry, I just want something I can ignore.” Bryter Layter is something I can ignore. I don’t dislike it, it can just be on and illicit no real feeling or emotion. Therefore, this album gets a 3 rating from me. 3/5
This makes all other, popular folk artists of the 70’s makes sense (“oh! that’s what they were trying to do”) Huge blueprint for a lot of music to come. Feels like a reaction to Donovan (whom I really enjoy) without the whimsy. Probably more like a 3.72 star.
decent!
Calm and relaxing afternoon type music. Kind of reminded me of something from a wes Anderson movie, then a song later realized it was 100% used in Garden state.
This is my first time hearing Nick Drake. He invites you to pull up a seat and wallow in his melancholy together. The tracks were all perfectly fine, nothing too off-putting. But nothing stands out as a must listen. I have a hard time picking a song for the 1001 playlist, but I guess I'll pick "Hazey Jane II" as it was the most pleasant despite the strange cadence. It's probably a 2.5 star album, but I guess I'll round up.
Well, these are all very nice songs. Very sweet songs. I don't know where these songs belong... Maybe hold music? An elevator in a hospice center? A restroom at an oral and maxillofacial surgical center?
Kind of pretty. Kind of annoying.
my least favorite of nick drake's, still alright
Heard it before. I thought I'm not in a very Nick Drake mood today but after hitting play it seems I AM in a Nick Drake mood. Hard to say no to this album 3/5
Interesting chill folky album.
I had never heard of Nick Drake before now, and I liked this much more than I thought I would.
I went into this completely blind, and really enjoyed it, with one (fairly major) reservation - I just don't like his voice very much. It's breathy and insubstantial. Pretty much everything else I liked. Standout tracks: Hazey Jane I, Northern Sky 3/5 (3.5 if I were allowed half stars)
Something about Nick Drake speaks to me. This is not the type of music I would normally enjoy listening to, but it is the kind of music I end up writing when I sit down with an acoustic and and idea. I only wish I could express the ideas as clearly and execute them as well as he does.
Chill vibes, not unpleasant, wispy and delicate. Reminds me of a not-as-good Belle And Sebastian tbh.
Favorite tracks: One Of These Things First, Poor Boy I liked the noodling and I liked the brass! This was really good driving music, but it didn't hit me as hard when I listened at home.
So, Nick why do you want the job? "A difficult conversation, a broken lampshade and feelings that should never surface" Nick really, what can you bring? "Impressive melancholy guitair playing and a conversation with myself".
I don't mind Nick Drake, but he's just not really my cup of tea.
The guitar work is pretty fantastic, same with the rest of the instrumentation. I can appreciate the vocal work for what he did, the bedroom pop style or whatever they call this type of music? Another album that wasn’t necessarily my vibe, but I thought it was pretty cool for what it was, a lot of interesting themes in style mixed into it. I can see where this would influence a lot of Indie musicians going forward, it’s a shame. The guy died so young as well. I think it’s worth three out of five stars.
Feels oddly lounge jazz in parts and not really a fan of his vocal style, but it is at least distinctive
It's decent. Probably one that gets better with more listens.
erwartete schlimmes (folk pur!) und war positiv überrascht: auch jazz und blues haben hier platz.
I do not hate Drake's voice and I like the music especially the songs that have strings and horns. My complaint is that this sounds like music that would be better served as a score for a movie instead of as an album. 2.75/5
ta piola
Good album, perfect background music to work to Definitely pooka music same sounds as Jack Johnson, very meloncholy, jazzy, guitar The flute in "Bryter Layter" got me feelin giddy asl
Interesting folk/jazz combo 6/10
3.5
After two listens I thought it was good, but it hasn't really stuck with me. Maybe a few more listens and it'll click.
It’s fine. It’s not wildly different from his first album, and I feel like it doesn’t really go anywhere. I listened to it three or four times and kept waiting for it to take off and was disappointed that it didn’t. Hazey Jane II is a highlight.
It was okay, i only rreally liked the first song, the rest was too folky for my tastes.
Very chill music. I can imagine it playing in the background of a store like Blain's Farm and Fleet. I enjoyed his instrumental work more than his singing. Favorite song was Sunday. Overall 6.4/10
Very much not my kind of thing. But it was alright as background.
A nice surprise!
I really liked the music. Didn't really like his voice. But will definitely listen again to this album
Slow, sad, hard to tell when one song stops and another starts, though I am listening while I am working. Would probably like more if I listened to it a few more times.
His playing, his voice so angelic. To me, the songs themselves are better than the arrangements. This album feels like it got too much of a Phil-Spector treatment with all the accompanying parts. I’d love to hear a stripped down version of this album of just Nick and his guitar.
Alas Nick we hardly knew ye. What a shame.
Beautiful arrangements and soothing vocals
Need to listen again more closely. Cool vibe, kind of Donovan-esque at times, way jazzier (mostly in a bad way) than I expected
The first half > the second half
3.5
舒服的
Enjoyed this
I finally Get Nick Drake
Not a fan of his voice tbh
It’s a Nick Drake album. Just not a total fan. All his music sounds very similar. Put me to sleep
Not sure we needed every Nick Drake album on this list. I think I liked this one marginally better than the other two but still not a huge fan.
Weird but it was ok. Hard to tell when one song ended while it was playing in the background
It was aight, I'm sure if I looked in to what else was out at the time I'd be able to appreciate it more buuuut, it's time for the next album
Unashamedly drakeesque and enjoyable without being his pinnacle
Very samey throughout, but not bad overall.
A 60’s album that could have been done in the 2000’s
Interesting
It was okay! I can tell Belle and Sebastian took influence from him and I guess that's a positive. I really like One of these things first, and I'm pretty sure that was the only song I recognised. A lot of it was just, fine. I wasn't drawn into it the way others have been. Glad I listened to it but wouldn't put it on again.
Pink Moon was a revelation. Very near the 5 star level and while it was an album I had explored before, it sounded fresh and exciting and still does. This is a trip back in time in the short career of Nick Drake. Hoping for more of the same, and considering that earlier work is often more raw and emotional, we may be in for a treat. Kick off your clown clogs and pull up a chair from my grandmother’s house. Yes, Nick is already here and has followed instructions to the letter. Introductions? In this economy. Could’ve saved me a cheeky 90 seconds there, big man. A nice opener. Why not? A follow-up to the original Hazey Jane. Uhh she was a drifter that was famous for also being a nighttime cobbler. Man this thing is so much happier than Pink Moon. It’s almost jarring considering that was my reference point. A word I love to overuse is “bombastic.” I never anticipated that word would even enter my mind whilst listening to Nick Drake. Why is this melancholic loner being accompanied by a volley of horns? Bizarre start. The Eagles on quaaludes. The additional instruments don’t do anything for his voice. This song is both boring and overblown. He has such a quiet voice and style. I don’t understand the extra noise. It’s not needed. This songwriting is more in line with what I expect and enjoy, but the piano adds an unnecessary element. Better track though. Still not thrilled. Not getting the emotion I expected here. I wish the background instruments would go. This is fine. Not great. This does remind me that I have been staying up too late doing Lite Brite. I just have to see the tiger from Aladdin made out of little plastic lights. Set the animal ablaze with the heat of the clunky, yet patented fire hazard perpetrated on the world by the people at hasbro. Bless their cotton socks. An instrumental was nice. Love a good flute. I thought Bob Dylan somehow ran into the studio. They picked up his panicked “PLEASE” as they escorted him out of the studio. He couldn’t handle not being on something people would call influential. I have to say. This song is beautiful. The accompanying strings actually help the song in some areas. It adds a real folk element to this. Somehow “Fly” is as intimate as it is expansive. Ugh the samba mix. The saxophone and jazz piano are cool here, but the overall melody isn’t it for me. Especially the choir. Yikes. Decent song. It’s hard to say I hate it, but there are certainly some elements throughout that I kind of hate. I can’t say “I wish there wasn’t so much garbage in the background” on every track review, but it really does apply to almost every song. Oh. Now we’re back. Floutist and an almost metallic funeral riff. Oh get out of here with the drums and keyboard. No need. Ah man I’m bummed. Truly bummed. And not in the British meaning of the word, you perverts. This read as an extremely talented, yet worryingly introverted teenager too shy to interrupt the people at the bar blasting “GENERIC POP INSTRUMENTAL (10 HOUR LOOP)” form their phones. There was more repetition and less genius because we had to make room for lame piano and horns that brought to mind the smell of mildew. A good album that was consistently interrupted like an alarm breaking up a beautiful dream. I like Nick Drake, I LOVE Pink Moon, but as far as Bryter Layter? Feels like I hardly knew ‘er. I long for the return of winter. Plunge the summer people back into their SAD pits. Me and the boys of winter will be roaming the prematurely dark desolation, causing mayhem and baying at the Pink Moon. 2.5-3 HIGHLIGHTS: Bryter Layter, Fly
If Wes Anderson was an album.
very pretty arrangements and songwriting, with northern sky being the obvious highlight i understand why he’s revered, it’s just got this joni mitchell/van morrison type thing that i don’t love
Surprised by this album. It tackled a heavy subject matter (depression) in a light manner. Relaxing and enjoyable album.
I didn't know this folk singer. I liked a few of his songs and overall, not a bad album.
Mellow British funk, but in my head, I kept comparing him to Cat Stevens who released his major works around the same time, and there's just no comparison. 3/5
This fella can write a tune
Very pretty music, but it didn't really stick in my brain too much.
Några fina gamla låtar.
Bien, tranquilo, no muy mi onda, pero prefiero este tipo de música a que me salga algo de rap o así.
Meh. Guitar-centric folk rock. Pleasant enough, but not my kind of music.
this was pretty good. Like simon and garfunkel but without the hits
Soft and mellow in general, sometimes lukewarm though. It's mostly like chicken soup for the ears. All in all it's ok, it's nice to listen to on a workday late evening with a cup of coffee to relax.
Good and interesting music. Southern California morning songs for the Laurel Canyon set. Sort of a male Joanie Mitchell with orchestral arrangements (but not as necessary to my music collection as Joanie). 3 or 4, depending on the weather.
3.5
A perfect album for such a gloomy day. Even if it was raining outside, it would have fit perfectly into the setting. Plus, the last song coincidentally has the title Sunday and today is Sunday... So it's lucky that it was generated today, and not when the sun is shining outside, otherwise I don't know how I would have been able to stand the whole melancholic-depressive atmosphere of the songs. There are three instrumentals on the album, including the title track, which I have to admit that I liked more than the vocal-instrumental ones. It's classified as a folk album, but in it I found threads of jazz (especially in Poor Boy), soul, rock, and even trip-hop, and not only in the melancholic atmosphere, but literally in one song (At the Chime of a City Clock) part of the music is like taken from a Portishead song. So, in general, I have a positive impression of this album, chill-out, moody, mellow music that if you're in that kind of mood, it would suit you. This is the first time I've heard anything from Nick Drake, but I wasn't disappointed.
Didnt think i'd like it, was decent. Nothing special, but not bad
Always nice to hear a good singer/songwriting album 7/10
A lovely Cafe lounge album, pretty neat.
Very unique voice. Interesting songs. Wouldn't mind listening to more of him. Stand out song - Sunday
Probably would like it with another couple listens. The instrumentals are good
Soft rock feel
3/5
Rather short, easy listening and pleasant. 6/10
He’s chill
Talented guitarist, pleasant voice, seemingly unremarkable otherwise. 3/5
Had me at Introduction. Lost me at Hazy Jane II. Had me again at the Chimes of a City Clock. Lost me again at… what a roller coaster. I have to let this one sit. May revisit it or other Nick Drake catalog. Love his voice.
Very pretty, very mellow and over produced. Not for me.
I understand Nick Drake was a legend in his time but this one didn't do anything for me upon first listen. I found myself becoming bored with it pretty quickly.
Put me to sleep but I liked it.
English rock singer, 70s. Folk, singer songwriter. Not the most interesting voice. Pleasant guitar heavy folk. Some sax. Pleasant, unofenssive.
Listen, I respect any artist making a hand-crafted record. Some of the instrumental playing on this sounds great. However, not a huge fan of Drake’s vocal deliveries. It’s a shame we lost this artist before his time, as he shows great promise here, and from what I hear on his later work as well. Great album to vibe to, but it doesn’t hit me the same way as my favorites.
Post hippie mellow gold getting high on a beanbag music with some jazz. Not for me. It all sounds like Cat Stevens. Well made. I never heard any of this before.
1. "Introduction" - 2. "Hazey Jane II" 3,4 3. "At the Chime of a City Clock" 3,4 4. "One of These Things First" 2,4 5. "Hazey Jane I" 2,7 6. "Bryter Layter" 3,3 7. "Fly" 3,3 8. "Poor Boy" 3,2 9. "Northern Sky" 3 10. "Sunday" 3,2 Average 3,1
I am aware that my musical palate is immature and there are things in this album certain people appreciate. To me it was a NY jazz club Renaissance Fair fusion. 3/5
I was hoping that I would enjoy this album as much as I liked Pink Moon. I found that the extra background accompaniment took away from the vulnerability of the songs. I don’t know if I would have liked it better if I hadn’t had the other one to compare it to, or if it was just a mood tonight. I will likely try the album again or hear some of it while listening to other Nick Drake music so I hope it grows on me over time. If it doesn’t I still have his other work.
Mad amount of flute, very whimsical and fantasy like. Pretty solid.
Better nick drake
Like a more laid back Dylan, I enjoyed the sound of his voice and the melancholy vibes. Wish the album leaned more into the folk side.
An undoubtedly great record, but my least favourite nick drake. Too cheerful!
Kinda depressing.
This album was an interesting blend of jazz, folk, and nightclub music from another British guy I never heard of. Very easy listening but nothing too memorable. Seems like the kind of music you could play in the background.
The best way to describe this album is inoffensive and easy listening. It was decent background music I sat on the couch this morning drinking my coffee and petting my dog. Can’t remember a single song, but just remember it being relaxing enough as I chilled.
Kinda reminded me of Dave Matthews Band but more easy-listening. Nice and calming but didn’t have anything special to bump up the rating.
A warm, soothing record. Lovely voice.
Hippies!
Not bad but nothing great I’d give it a 3.5
I usually hate folk but this was beautiful
Forlorn, searching, melancholic but warm, Nick Drake is a talented song writer and probably would have gone far in folk music (if not for his abrupt end). I enjoyed the flutes and orchestration, his voice and strumming suits his choice in backing instruments and the result is rather pretty. It toes a line between happy and sad, is it both/is it neither? Either way, it's moving. I do think the mood and setting of the listener might affect it's reception but it hit me at the right time. I enjoyed it enough to check out his other work. 3.15 for calming abilities.
Didn't know what to expect from Nick Drake but I was pleasantly charmed. It's a decent indie folk album with some unique vocals that I somewhat enjoyed. Nothing hugely jumped out but it was a cozy 40 minutes that went down relatively easy. For some reason it had me thinking of an old sweater knit by your grandmother. It's not your favorite thing to wear but it's comfortable and has some heart in it that makes it special even if its a little ugly or outdated. It's a decent album with a pretty unique indie sound so I wasn't surprised to see it has been used by Wes Anderson and in the movie Garden State. It lives firmly in the "indie darling" realm which I don't mean as a slight. I'd be curious if any of my friends are familiar with Nick Drake. 2.94 stars
Good, to slow
Nice with nice instrumentals but too chill for me.
Not a favourite but understand its place, bit easy listening, of it’s time other people did the melancholy folk stream of consciousness thing better, arrangements are great liked the Sax flute and piano bits which added a lot “I could have been a signpost“ lyrics didn’t really land but nice to listen to in the background, maybe should’ve listened to it driving home then start of the day
Quite nice and standard singer-songwriter album. He spices it up a bit with the latinesque "Bryter Layter", the jazzy "Poor Boy", and folk music-like(?) "Sunday", which I really appreciated! Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary in either direction. 3/5.
Sounds OK, not really my thing
Sons were more wide ranging than I expected. Assumed just melancholy acoustic, but there were elements of jazz and a full instrumental song.
This is an interesting album. I don't know much about Nick Drake other than he was a folk-type singer and he died pretty young. This seems to be a little different than other folk music. There is a lot of what seems like elaborate backing music and a lot of backing vocals, which do sound good. This is some slow and mellow music and it's not a bad way to spend 40 minutes.
made me fall asleep
On par with the Beatles
Background relaxing guitar.
I really thought I had listened to this before but none of it sounded familiar. Really liked the instrumentals but as others have said, this does not measure up to his other albums
very nice and pleasant album! prob my number 3 nick drake but real nice music !
I really do love Nick Drake, but this album is a prime example of too much going on. Sometimes, the wall of noise is quite lovely, but most of the time all its doing is taking away from Nick Drake. He should always be the spotlight on an album but here he seems to drift off into the background
Nice vocals Backing tracks were fine, liked the sax in particular Not much dynamism, felt a bit flat/boring
Of his three albums I prefer this album the most for its accompaniment which features fine performances and arrangements by his collaborators. These arrangements, a sort of early chamber pop/folk leave a ton of audio fun to digest. Unfortunately this album is held back by what all of his albums are held back which is Nick Drake's weak, unemotional voice. Without peaks and valleys, and consistent articulation, it renders his lyrics indecipherable and unimportant. It ends up sounding like they recorded him strumming on a guitar and simply laid it over the top of the lush arrangements, which should be great, but just feels slightly disconnected from each other. The songs are competent, but I think these songs could have truly shined with a proper singer than can bring something more than the distant detachment that Nick Drake presented when singing. He sings better than Bob Dylan, but my tiny dog can leap over that bar. It is as if Drake had never heard of the concept of dynamics, or was too drugged up to attempt them. Consequently, the most enjoyable tracks on here for me were the purely instrumental tracks of "Introduction" and "Bryter Layter" (jazz flute anyone?), "Sunday". Personally, I don't think any of his albums deserve to be on this list. His is a tragic story, but his tragic mythos shouldn't be the reason for his inclusion when the facts don't hold up. Typical mistake of this list that mistakes poetry for music. If he weren't British, I doubt the British list makers would have insisted upon his inclusion. I'm giving it a 3, though with almost any true emotive singer, this could have easily been a 4 or 5.
Bonito folk rock
Highlights: Hazey Jane II, Bryter Layter, Northern Sky, Sunday. In a nutshell: shyne bryt I think the sound quality is better on this album compared to Five Leaves Left. Not by much - there were times I wished Nick was mixed louder than the orchestra (see Northern Sky). Overall: 6/10
Introduction is really cool Songs sound quite samey Jazzy Bass lines are good
Very singer songwriter in an uninteresting way Worst song is Bryter Layter Best song is One Of These Things First Rocking with his shoes, though
3-3.25 stars Favorite Song: Introduction
When I think of Nick Drake, I think of Pink Moon. The melancholic melodies over soft strings. This, however, was a bit more upbeat than I expected, at least instrumentally. I liked the jazz incorporation. I liked too that there were wholly instrumental tracks mixed in. A very nice vibe and listen overall. I just don't think anything particularly stood out to me as compared to Pink Moon. Fav Tracks: At the Chime of A City Clock, One of These Things First, Northern Sky Least Fav Tracks: N/A
Depression sleep fusion folk
3.5/5
Fine, just sort of glazed over me, but I think I enjoyed it
Clearly a talented guitarist, but not really my jam.
3.5 relaxing
Mid
Melancholic and pretty, but not the type of music I'd find myself listening to frequently. Though I did listen to "One of These Things First" about a million times earlier in life as it was on the Garden State soundtrack.
No bad, not great.
not my favourite nick drake album but definitely has some of my favourite songs of his
I've heard of this artist, really never listened to any of his music, that I know of. Once he started singing, his voice sounds familiar. I do believe I have heard his stuff before. I dig this.
Zoals Koen al scherp opmerkte is dit officieel de eerste - en met grote waarschijnlijkheid de laatste - artiest waarvan we alle studio albums hebben getroffen. Dat gezegd hebbende is het ook niet gek om deze langs de meetlat van ''Five Leaves Left'' en ''Pink Moon'' te leggen, ondanks dat deze qua stijl, tempo en instrumentaties echt een buitenbeentje is. ''Bryter Layter'' zit vol met hinten jazz, soul, bossa nova en swingt daardoor significant meer dan z'n debuut en z'n slotwerk. Op het oog een vreemde combinatie, de introverte Nick Drake bijgestaan door een bossa nova orkest, maar dat het kan werken horen we direct op 'Hazey Jane II'. Wat een sublieme mix van beide werelden, en één van de beste songs uit z'n korte doch krachtige discografie. Later horen we de positievere, up-tempo klanken ook nog op het populaire 'One of These Things First' en op het soulvolle 'Poor Boy'. En al hoewel de nieuwe insteek zorgt voor een mooie balans in de trilogie van platen, moet ik zeggen dat zijn fragiele stem en poëzie niet altijd heel goed uit de verf komen op deze plaat. Puur door die tegenstrijdigheid met het tempo dat de sessiemuzikanten aanhouden. En waar die subtiele orkestraties, met spaarzame strijkers en blazers, van 'Five Leaves Left' dat magische muziekstuk maken waar ik een 10 voor gaf, vind ik het nu een beetje too much voor het persona Nick Drake. Hij floreert vooral in leegte, dat besef je als je dit album luistert. Als het wat subtieler is, zoals in 'Fly' en 'Northern Sky', en de balans tussen Nick en orkest on point zijn, dan is het werkelijk waar wonderschoon. 'Northern Sky' is zijn meesterwerk, laat daar geen twijfel over bestaan. Het is een album met wat zijn mindere momenten, die wat ongemakkelijk aanvoelen, maar ook met een aantal songs ('Hazey Jane II', 'Northern Sky') die zijn speciale talenten als geen ander weergeven. Over de breedte mijn minst favoriete werk van hem, maar zelfs dat is in Nick Drake-termen nog steeds een dikke, dikke voldoende. 7,5/10 Highlights: Hazey Jane II Northern Sky Fly
Easy listening, nice
I prefer Pink Moon tbh
Good song writing but nothing really hooked me and I’m unlikely to return to it.
also das hett ezt mal sehr guet zu mim neblige heiweg passt chli bi dämmerig dur es nebligs basel fahre und den gekonnt no im bus ihpennt es hett au sehr gueti "ich fahr mitem taxi ih de nacht dur eh verregneti city" vibes gha muesmer sege aber trotz dem moody vorteil isches den nacheme zitli doch chli eitönig worde... oder ich bin eifach zu müed gsi und den weggnapt, naja wie seit de ricky martin so schön? Un, dos, tres un pasito pa'lante, María
Calm sounds
The way it made me feel was kinda cool but couldn’t listen to any individual song on its own just for the sake of listening to it
I first thought this was Nick Cave, but it indeed was not. Although similar in some respects. Good, chill music from a dude that lived even shorter than Kurt Cobain.
Good, not my thing, but still enjoyed the listen.
Its just okay
folky, flutey, feels like a blanket
Alright I’m pretty sure that’s all 3 major Nick Drake albums checked off, what are we (i), 271 albums into this? I remember the first one being the most impressive to me, even through the background noise of a giant airplane taking me to NZ. He had a very grounded vocal presence that seemingly held out a hand to take you along through whatever story he was telling. Then we pulled Pink Moon, which was a bit more experimental and definitely more in lala land mentally (apparently representing the decline of his mental state a bit), and now we are here in the middle. So how does it go? More like the first record, thankfully. Drakes delivery is very arresting. There’s strangely a lot of tasteful, easy waiting room style music in this too. Maybe not everyone’s thing, but I’m a fan. 3 for now, but I want to go back to this one I think there’s more here. Poor Boy is my highlight of the record
He did some great music in his short time on the planet.
Nick Drake was an amazing artist - this album is great, but I like his other two albums better. There’s too much production going on here. Poor Boy is too jazzy for it’s own good compared to the other songs. But there are still some amazing gems on the album.
I know one of these songs well from a movie soundtrack and enjoyed the whole album
It's cool. I sensed elements of introversion if that's even a word. Nick Drake likes to be away from other people. This is pretty well shown from the song "At the Chime of a city clock."
Okay.
Pleasant little album, this.
Chill musik
3,0 stars. Not great, not terrible
3.5/5 Very good, will listen again
I kind of liked this album, at least it wasn't screaming hard rock.
Never would have guessed this was from 1970. Wow, he died at just 26. Very pleasant listen. Now it's gotten jazzy?
Good fall album with some all timer tracks - just a little too slick
happy songs
Music to stare out a bus window like you're in an indie movie to.
Throughout the album I was wondering how much better it would've been if it was stripped down to just some acoustic guitars and Drake's intimate vocals. The lush strings and flutes does work beautifully on some tracks. But on the whole, it sounds a bit overproduced. I loved Nick Drake's vocals. They sound as of a wise young man who has seen and gone through it all but still doesn't complain and is hopeful. Loved the tracks At the Chime of a City Clock and One of these Things First. Poor Boy was good too. The instrumental title track and the album closer Sunday were also a pleasant listen. The album cover has an old-school charm that is impossible to resist.
Lovely
I liked the chill vibe, very singer song writer sounding.
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.
Not for me but some nice background middle of the night type music
3/5 Khundor Stars Sunday mood album. Funny enough the last song is titled "Sunday". Cool album to begin the project.
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
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.
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
I really enjoyed the music, but the vocals were lacking. Sort of like John Cale’s solo work.
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.
Chill but boring. Good fingerstyle.
Nice voice nothing great
Excited ‘bout Drake. Pink Moon is superior. Stripped down Nick is best.
Ok, but a bit odd and slow paced
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
im not mad at this
I was really vibing with this today! It will make an awesome fall album!
chill album, something to listen to in the background 3/5
Meio bucólico, meio melancólico...
Lovely. Need to be in the mood for this, though.
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.
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
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.
70s folk album w/ off-rhythmed vocals, flute & strings. OK, nothing to write home about.
Good but won’t listen again
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.
The song Wes Anderson used is stuck in my head