Reviews (page 13 of 15)
Chill, occasionally morose guitar and piano music. A little Cat Stevens-y.
I do quite enjoy Nick Drake.
that took me y surprise, i was expecting grim misery songs but that was really pleasant. might actually listen to that again.
I once fucked a drake to death. It came back as a ghost and haunted me. Nick Drake is yet to do the same.
Better than Drake
Marca una era de música basada en sustancias jaja
Most tracks would be better without the strings!
I enjoyed it
First listen Saved 4/10 Top track: One Of These Things First
Decent album I've listened to many times
Unique! Dylan/Simon and Garfunkel
Super nice chill album really reminds me a sufjan
Very pretty but too understated, paired with the whispery vocals it just fades into background music
Often beautiful but I found it a little too meandering and low energy.
I liked this a lot.
Nick Drake has that rare quality of making something unique seem familiar. I loved this album in college, so it has a special place in my musical heart. But I think the appeal is undeniable, there are so many delightful songs on this album ("At the Chime of a City Clock", "One of These Things First")
Brilliant musicianship and songwriting. Hazey Jane II and One of These Things First are highlights
Very nice, very melodic. Need to spend time to listen to the lyrics, though.
All Nick Drake’s out is magnificent and this is no exception. Stunning album.
Hmm, Pink Moon was the second album I got on this list; this is the 75th. I'd actually listened to a bit of it then as Drake intrigued me without really brining me on board as somebody I'd really, really want to listen to time and again. This is certainly better (gasp) than Pink Moon. It's got more of a band feel and more variety, both of which I think are useful for Drake. There are bits of it that remind me of Belle and Sebastian - a band which I adore on so many levels, so this isn't a bad thing - and I enjoyed listening to this much more than Pink Moon. Would I listen again? Hmm, don't know. I might. That and the B&S comparison will take me up to a slightly surprising 4.
Hell yeah
Excellent album
It's real nice musically, even if it's not massively my thing. I find his voice a bit floaty and too nice, which sounds like a weird criticism. I guess I just prefer something with a bit more bite, and this is just very pleasant and lovely.
Slow.undersold singer songwriter stuff. Would listen again.
I love Nick Drake's music. So sad that he died so young.
That was weird… yet, I didn’t hate it.
• The album is very mellow and lovely but none of the songs really stood out to me • The strings were perhaps my favourite element • Would most likely not listen to the album again • Favourite song: Introduction
So I was prepared to rip into this album pretty good, then my son mentioned he was a big fan of this guy. So I gave a really good listen on a rainy Sunday afternoon and now I'm wondering if he meant he was a big fan of the kids show Drake and Josh? So here it is. Luke, I apologize in advance.... The guys voice started to annoy after a bit. It made me think of the TV show, the Muppets. And the music in general made me think I was in a waiting room at a doctors office. Not a Fugazi waiting room, but a waiting room like your waiting to get a cavity filled or full physical where the doc slips on a plastic glove and states, "this will be a little uncomfortable...." I think this would be a nice background album to help you to sleep, but otherwise, did nothing to excite my music interest. The bright side for me, I thought the piano and the choir/girl singers in Poor Boy was really good. Definitely my favorite part of the entire album. A couple wtf moments and nothing personal to the flutist out there, but did we have 2 flute solos off this album? I'm pretty sure yes. Bryter Layter and Sunday. Maybe wrong, but not going back to find out. I started thinking Ron Bergundy, in one of those Will Ferrell movies, where he gets up on the tables and is kicking over all the drinks. So while a wtf moment, it did make me laugh. Something about Flutes and the music I enjoy, do not mix at all. So for Poor Boy and the laughs I got when I thought of a Bergundy flute solo, I will score a 2. 2
Boring but in a good way. I don't know how else to explain it. 3
4 Towards the end of college I got really into Elliott Smith, an artist who is often compared to Nick Drake. Despite having active careers nearly 25 years apart from one another, both were known for their soft singing voices and acoustic playing style, their struggles with depression and mental health, and ultimately leaving this world far too soon. So, fascinated by the parallels, I binged all three of Nick Drake’s albums in one day, and while I really liked what I heard, at the time, Bryter Layter stood out to me the least. I didn’t re-visit the album again until about a year ago, when the usage of the song Fly stuck out to me in a viewing of The Royal Tenenbaums (coincidentally, Elliott Smith also has a song in the movie). I still didn’t love the album, but Fly became a part of my regular musical rotation. Listening to it now, I stand by my longstanding sentiment that this is not his best album, but to say it’s bad by any means would be flat out wrong. My only major criticism is its overproduction - as Pink Moon would later show, Drake was at his best with just his guitar, voice, and raw emotion alone. I don’t think the production here is necessarily bad, because when it works, it works - case in point being Fly and Northern Sky, songs elevated to transfixing highs with their touch of accompaniment, but when it doesn’t, it doesn’t, and we get elevator sounding music like Poor Boy. Compared to Five Leaves Left, this one feels a bit like one step up, two steps back. Really struggled with my rating for this one. I know I just gave quite a bit of criticism, but I do think this is a very good album despite its faults. I had 3.5 originally, but I went back to look at my other 3.5s and I just can’t help but feel it’s a step above them. So, 4 it is - the guy seriously did not release a bad album, and I can’t understate how immensely sad it is that he didn't get to see any of his success during his lifetime. Anyway, shoutout to The Royal Tenenbaums for getting me into Fly - pretty overrated movie, but the soundtrack is fire. The scene with Judy is a Punk by The Ramones is also absolutely 10/10.
Musically interesting, and the melancholy in his voice portrays a lot of emotion. His songwriting is certainly great.. but it’s not my vibe. There is very little variation. Fav Song: Hazy Jane II
It's like meeting someone really really nice and they're so nice that you find it tricky to get on with them. They're just too nice in comparison to me... a grub 😅 So in conclusion this is nothing on you Nick Drake, it's me.
Yawn. I’m already tired this morning and this almost put me to sleep.
This was like elevator music but in a good way.
Wow what a beautiful album. The song writing is incredible. Really amazing, emotional and heartfelt songs. I haven’t heard it before but really enjoyed it. My favourite track is Hazy Jane Part I, but they could all be
Such sparkling instrumentation, and such deep sadness. Another fine effort from Drake.
Pretty good album
whimsical and endearing. sounds a lot like alex murdoch, but i guess it should be alex murdoch sounds a lot like nick drake
Really enjoyed this one. Listened to it twice all the way through yesterday, and even started listening to 'Pink Moon' because I wanted more Nick Drake. I imagine I'll be playing his songs for a long time now. Thankful that this website recommended him to me :)
🌺 ✌️ groovy vibes
Not my favorite Nick Drake album, but still a five star freaking solid album
Fantastic album, it has similar issues as pink moon as there is nothing that elevates the album but it is cohesive, beautiful and filled with fantastic songs. S tier through and though.
I have this wonderful project to thank for introducing me to Nick Drake, and his music is fantastic. This album is no exception. He is a gifted composer and performer. There are times when I hear his songs -- particularly his voice and choice of melody -- and my mind thinks I'm listening to someone much more contemporary, which to me speaks to the influence he had on many.
Very nice and sensual
Vitosta.. Ei valittelua....
Folk album, maybe need to listen on headphones
There’s just something about Nick Drake’s voice that drives me crazy. I don’t think this album is bad but I didn’t really get anything out of it.
This is an interesting one. Nick Drake only released three albums, all slightly different and all excellent. So, if only one Nick Drake album gets the nod, is it this one. I think it comes down to whether you like the bleak almost solo effort that is Pink Moon, or the fleshed out Bryter Layter with almost jazz folk backing (Van Morrisonesque). I am in the Bryter Layter camp tonight (especially Northern Sky).
I don’t think I listened closely enough to give this a fair score, but it wasn’t bad. I can see this being a big influence on Belle and Sebastian and other similar artists.
I like Nick Drake and Bryter Layter sounded like a Nick Drake album, and so much so that I'm not sure if I've heard any of the tracks from this album before or not. There weren't any tracks that overwhelmingly stood out. At the same time, I didn't find anything that I was tempted to skip. I know that I could easily listen to this album again, just to give me a chance to hear some Nick Drake.
3.5, would be 4 if his voice cut through a little better. The instrumental parts are so strong, and he's very talented and piano, guitar, sax, and clarinet, but his voice feels thin in the mix.
Another one of those people I'd heard loads about but never got round to listening to. Instant reaction is that I can see where Belle and Sebastian took their influence, it's huge. I liked the album a lot but there's something about it I couldn't quite place. It felt _off_ and I don't really know why. Like the production didn't suit the songs, or something.
Vet album! Had dit totaal niet verwacht, maar ga ik vaker luisteren.
Standard
Another album from the OG list. It’s very 3/5 of an album. Will i listen again? no. did i have a bad time listening? also no
I liked this a lot. It’s now saved and will most likely make an appearance on Saturday mornings.
The album is quiet and relaxing. The folk music with string accompaniment creates a nice atmosphere. Lost a few stars because the music is so calm that it fell to the background too often while I was listening. 3/5.
Beautiful tunes. Voice is average.
this album is beloved but unfortunately i think is simply a quite boring and rather emotionally resigned bryter layter more like shyter payter amirite (im saying this record is shite patter) bryter? layter? honey i never even met her bryter layter alligator, in a while crocodile etc
Good! o.o
Pleasant but bland
Just those amazing melodies, like birds against a blue sky, but with a lower chance of getting pooped on.
Amazing and doomed songwriter
I have listened to Nick Drake many times, but I'm not sure I've ever heard much with a backing band. This is very good. I will be listening more.
I really love this album! I loved the feel I loved the female accompaniment. Had a great sound and was such a pleasant listen.
I’m always gonna love nick drake. That intro is one of the most beautiful orchestrations in the history of pop. This album is an easy five no matter how many times I’ve heard it
we started this journey with a nick drake 5, and this album is even better. beautiful orchestration, great lyrics, easy 5.
I love Nick Drake. This is a regular summer listen
Can’t go wrong with Nick Drake
3/5 Not as bad as I expected. :)
chill, relaxed and upbeat
Honestly, Nick Drake is a bit overrated to me. I do like his music though, but I don’t get the people who worship him. I can definitely see how he influenced many modern acts though.
Singer sings the same song while playing an acoustic guitar over different variations of elevator music behind him. *saves review to notes for every other singer-songwriter album in this exercise*
Usually pleasant, breathy vocals with sometimes upbeat instrumentals create an interesting contrast.
Lovely album for a rainy afternoon.
Nick Drake was an incredible talent and I’m so sad we lost him before his time. Another brilliant album.
Simply incredible. Some of the best soft rock I've ever heard.
Tostón(PSP)
очень милый, протоСуфьян
Bit samey; rather slick orchestrations get in the way of the songs.
Hmmm, dunno on this one. I quite liked some of it. But it also got a bit boring.
As my very first encounter with him it will always have a special place in my heart.
This album is more accompanied than Nick Drake's other two albums, especially when contrasted to Pink Moon. Drake intended it to evoke Pet Sounds, and even had some Beach Boys session musicians play in addition to part of the Fairport Convention and the Velvet Underground's John Cale. The result is an incredibly lush album that captures the cream of the crop of British folk. Nick Drake's guitar playing is absurdly precise and always retains a striking clarity even against the backdrop of strings and horns. His lyrics turn their focus to the drudgery of city life and even the music feels more full and cosmopolitan. The outlook is still bleak.
Was pretty relaxing but nothing stood out
Any nick drake is a 5 from me. I love the Hazey Jane if you know what I mean.
Was fine, nothing particularly inspiring unless you like someone singing with an acoustic guitar. Reminded me of a man in the corner of a pub
soft and melodic, got a bit lost sometime overall ok - best song "fly" 2.5
Beautiful and timeless
Nick Drake is the template that all folksy singer songwriters have borrowed from This meanders a bit but touched greatness more than a couple of times
Different to what I had expected having briefly listened to some of Pink Moon in the past. Was expecting a stripped back acoustic led album and was pleasantly surprised to hear the accompanying band. Fantastic album. Despite Drake's solemn lyricism and delivery, the production is bright - Drake's masterful plucking and beautiful string arrangements throughout. Masterpiece.
not my bag
I am happy to admit that I first heard Nick Drake from the Pink Moon VW commercial back in the early 2000s. Gladly, proudly admit that I looked up the artist and devoured his entire short discography. I am only sad that I didn't do this sooner so I could have more time with this man's beautiful music in my life. Nick Drake is one of those once-in-a-generation type talents, and Bryter Layter is an incredible work. Northern Lights is one of my favorite songs, and the entire album is a front-to-back listen. I don't claim to understand his demons, but I am glad he graced us with what he had as long as he could.
A bit more interesting instrumentally than his debut but I still don’t get all the hype. I really dislike his vocals and it sounds like decent background music in a cafe or something. It has some ok moments but not for me.
Another solid Nick Drake album. Similar to his others, this is an album that has a style I usually don't go for but it's done so well that I actually really enjoyed much of it.
Another nice Nick Drake album. I liked this one quite a bit. 4/5
I can see why this is considered his “leaser” album, especially when Pink Moon is so much more intimate. Still, Drake’s songwriting chops are worth digging into here, and he has some real bangers. B
Bit dull
Smooth. Good guitarist. Odd choice featuring a different instrument each track to accompany the guitar. All in all, not bad.
Very sweet
3 for corny strings etc., would be (much?) higher stripped back
The lilting piano of One of These Things First, John Cale's haunting viola on Fly, the romanticism of Northern Sky, the deceptively jazzy Poor Boy...all tied together by Nick Drake's beautiful fingerpicking and haunting voice. One of my favorite albums, 5/5.
Didn't think I knew Nick Drake, but I have heard "One Of These Things First" a ton of times, really like it Mellow, melodic voice, some upbeat piano
This is a beautiful album
It was alright.
The first album review since the arrival of our beautiful baby daughter. I didn't think she'd appreciate Sepultura, Hole or Venom, but after a wet nappy change and a big wind, she enjoyed listening to this with me. I think she liked the mellow, soothing and wistful English folk and the little piano jazz flourishes along with the instrumental tracks that are interspersed throughout. She thought the lines "I never held emotion in the palm of my hand,... ...But now you're here, Brighten my northern sky" were particularly apt. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Northern Sky Date listened: 01/03/23
Good to listen to on the side
Not bad but a bit boring. I enjoyed the few spicier parts like the over sound of 'Poor Boy' and the random brass every now and then. Wouldn't actively listen to it but would work as some nice background music.
A bit too laid back for my style, but the instrumentation was very nice and relaxing!
Just not a Nick Drake fan
Sjukt bra. Är det hans bästa?
Beautiful folk music featuring lush classical, jazz, and acoustic instruments that envelop you. Spacious and patient with plenty of highlights, I prefer this to Five Leaves Left with its greater consistency and optimistic mood.
Nick Drake is one of the artists I hadn't really listened to before the 1001, but is quickly becoming one of my favourite artists. This has some excellent tracks on it. Pink moon is still my favourite album of his though
3.5
This was some prime vintage indie. What really made it stand out was the always surprising and creative instrumental additions that kept the album moving as opposed to stuck in the repetitive rut of “guy singing with guitar.” Nahhh you throw in some horns, a lil mellotron, some wild jazz keys, and why not, flute. Jury is still out on the vocals for me, something about it kinda reminds me of “Going Up the Country” but whatever idk
Very peaceful 3/5
I feel like this is objectively boring but I really like it. But why does Hazey Jane 2 come before Hazey Jane 1? That’s my biggest qualm. 3.5/5
Puur genieten. Mijn collega's hebben gevraagd welk album dit is (ze doen dit nooit). Dit album verdiend 6/5!
It’s Nick Drake so you have to say it’s great. It’s the law. 2 amazing songs, everything very nice.
Soft and acoustic album from the 1970. A little on the depressing side, and come to find out, this was actually a very depressed artist who only lived a few years longer than this album. There is no known video footage of him, and his music became more popular after his death.
7.5/10. Pretty good vibes. Unique voice
I've never heard of Nick Drake before, and from my research, I'm not alone apparently. This guy suffered from depression for a number of years, and he would hardly ever do interviews or play shows, so upon release, each of his records only sold a few thousand copies. He remained a well kept secret until after his death, which is unfortunate. It is too bad he couldn't have lived to see more people appreciate his music. I have no idea what to classify Nick's style of music as. It is listed as folk. It may have its roots in folk, but the backing band is strongly vested in jazz, so it is a weird mishmash of both genres, with some blues mixed in. The music is really good, and I learned that a lot of the backing music was provided by members of Fairport Convention. Nick's guitar playing is amazing, but I find that a few songs have some really weird time signatures that are kind of abrasive in that they make my brain itch trying to fathom them. I also don't particularly enjoy Nick's voice, and find that you may need a degree in philosophy to understand his lyrics. Critics say that this album deals heavily with themes of depression, but I didn't hear it, unless it was in that song where he sang about wanting to be a signpost? Overall, excellent music, but it just didn't hit with me. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't like it. I will probably never seek this music out again, but have to give props where they are due. Favourite songs: Northern Sky, Fly, Introduction, Bryter Layter, Sunday Least favourite songs: One of These Things First, At the Chime of a City Clock, Hazey Jane II 2/5
Decent stuff, very folksy. Not really my vibe.
very good sound, unexpected gem. I liked it a lot and will try to listen more.
Oh, I love Nick Drake. All of these albums give me a feeling of nostalgia even though I was born in the 1990s. This particular one isn't my very favorite, but it is still very very solid in my opinion.
Late 80s, early 90s or so, I had a dubbed cassette copy of "Pink Moon". I really didn't get it at the time, and for some reason I thought Nick Drake was in Pink Floyd. Listening to this album, I realize the sound and style he was going for. And it really works, depending on the mood you are in. A nice lazy Sunday is a good day for something like this. I then went back to Pink Moon and found it much more enjoyable than I did as a youth. It helps that the title track is much more recognizable due to the VW ad. I mean, his voice was very recognizable from that, so it was easier to access. Sometimes that simple guitar and singing is all you really need. It hit the spot for me.
I had to jump ahead when I saw this album upcoming. I discovered Nick Drake just over a year ago. I had been listening to a Dylan album and when it finished playing, Nick Drake's songs kept showing up in the random suggestions that followed (e.g., Pink Moon and Place to Be from his final album but One of These Things First and Northern Sky from this one). I got increasingly curious and eventually decided to listen to his full collection, which is sadly only 3 albums. But what a set of 3 albums. I remember asking a few friends who know a lot about music including folk whether they knew of Nick Drake. One of them said something like "tortured soul who died super young and unknown, right?" Yep. If you liked Jeff Buckley's soft instrumentals and beautiful voice, you'll love Nick Drake. Different vocals but still beautiful and perfectly matched with the instrumentals that accompany it. Crazy how both died so young with so much untapped talent. I can't understand how his music wasn't more popular during his lifetime, even if he was a recluse. It's just so amazing - touches your soul. Hauntingly beautiful. I did not realize that part of Fairport Convention was his backing band - had no idea who those guys were either until they showed up on this list but I was pleasantly surprised by their album and sound. I guess I know why now. Can't stop gushing about this guy or his work; I love recommending him to anyone who asks me for an off-the-beaten path music suggestion. Incredible album.
Nick Drake is an artist that I first discovered back in the early 2000s when I bought his debut solo album after hearing a few of his songs covered by another band that I was into. I fell in love with that album right away and bought all the rest of music, including Made to Love Magic compilation. For some reason though I listened to a lot of that first album and Pink Moon but never dived into this one. After listening to it for this review I’m regretting that. This album is beautiful. There’s something about Nick Drake’s songs that are timeless. They could have been written yesterday or a hundred years ago even if the production and arrangement of the songs are indicative of their times. Needless to say, I will be listening to this one a lot more now.
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. What an album. What a mood it sets. Of its time and timeless. Bookended by two gorgeous instrumentals, the album is simply a beautiful journey. That word, "beautiful" kept coming to mind constantly through the album. Spent time reading about Nick Drake - I wonder if he's the only artist to have every studio album in the 1001 albums? Sad life, but amazing music. Favorite tracks: Hazey Jane I (Hazey Jane II seems out of place, but nice to hear an upbeat song in the midst of this album), Fly, Poor Boy (this song got stuck in my head - extra love for the great piano solo and background singers), Northern Sky (captivating song).
We get it. You're depressed.
На своём втором и, к сожалению, предпоследнем альбоме, Ник Дрейк ощущает себя гораздо более уверенно, чем раньше и это чётко слышится и ощущается. На этот раз инструментов как будто бы стало больше, а звучат они теперь лучше и детальнее. По традиции его уровень написания текстов не угас, а совсем наоборот стал ещё более меланхоличным и мастерски затрагивающим действительно грустные темы, но не до степени изнурения, а более приземлённо и спокойно. Весь этот альбом ощущается как ностальгия по тому, чего не было и я это просто обожаю. (8.5)
Ça devrait être pour moi. On sent que ça a été influent (Belle & Sebastian, par exemple) mais je trouve ça juste profondément chiant. Rien n'en ressort pour moi. Peut être à cause de la voix sans beaucoup d'inflexion.
Absolute beaut of a record. Huge fan of Pink Moon but never listened to his earlier records, so I was pleased this came up. Surprised too as it’s got more of a band sound at times than Pink Moon. It grew and grew as it went on and after a few listens I grew to love it. Probably prefer Pink Moon, but I’ve known that a lot longer and it is one of my top all time records.
Really impressive and criminally underrated judging by the wiki, hear lots of 90s/00s singer songwriters taking cues from this. Apparently the most straightforward of his three albums so looking forward to the next two.
From the first couple of songs, I thought I was going to really enjoy it, but the album slowly petered out. I found myself unable to remember any of it. A few too many instrumentals. On paper, this was my kind of thing, but I've read he has two better albums, likely also in this list, so I'll wait for those.
Tried a couple of times to listen to this but I just never found myself in the mood for it. I'm not into folk music and this album sounded like all the stuff I usually dislike. Highlights were: Hazey Jane II Northern Sky
Never heard any Nick Drake before Hmm. I started thinking I really liked this but wasn't so sure by the end. Got a kind of mystical, dreamy quality(???) I didn't dislike any of it but not sure how much I really liked any of it either. It's fine I guess but won't be rushing back
It's a good album, but I don't think its Nick Drakes best. This album, for me, just are too many hits or misses. The song One of These Things First is an absolute jewel though. The instrumentation and orchestrations are masterful accompaniments to the song. Unfortunately that's not the case with all songs. The unnecessary instrumentals Bryter Layter and Sundays but especially Poor Boy feel forced. The accompaniment is unfortunately a disturbing factor. Terrible use of trumpets and background choirs. But luckily we still have Northern Sky. A relief from the previous. And maybe one of the best songs Nick Drake has ever written. No matter how beautiful the title track and Northern Sky are, this album is not that strong throughout.
Excellent guitar. I actually love his voice. 2 thumbs down for the 'whimsical' flute all over everything. Stand out tracks: - One of these things first - Northern Sky - Poor Boy
I mean, I appreciate the musicality, but I think I’m influenced by his other, more stripped down guitar-based tunes, which I love. Some songs are genuinely great, but my preconceived notions keep my from loving this album.
so much orchestration on the opening track. i'm used to sparser from nick drake. and a lot of very 70s sounds. but it's still clearly nick drake.
Mixing could be better on the Introduction — I always hate when an album makes me worry that my headphones have shorted out. Nick Drake's voice comes through as clear as ever — perhaps everything else was secondary. I'm pretty okay with this album because we're thankfully past peak troubadour, otherwise I would have definitely harbored resentment.
Beautiful and skillful acoustic guitar work here... but the mood/tone is really not doing it for me. A few songs like this are great, but I can't listen to an entire album like this. The piano and strings accompanying the guitar are great as well, but the album as a whole is not doing much.
When I was 15 this was VERY IMPORTANT.
Loved this
Review tbc - maybe my least favourite Drake, but that's still excellent
I have no idea what this was but I really enjoyed it. I just thought it was a really interesting record all around and something that I don't usually listen to genre-wise. I did think it was a little boring at times but it was well rounded.
Unremarkably fine.
Really good songwriter and lyricist. Kinda boring though.
not another nick drake
4.5/5 Best: Poor Boy/ Hazey Jane II Worst: Fly Haven't listened to Nick Drake before but it is a well made album.
Not bad at all
What an amazing and epic album... Wanted to read about him and saw that he died aged 26 from an overdose...What a tragic story of talented young man... Some interesting facts: There is no known video footage of the adult Drake; he was only ever captured in still photographs and in home footage from his childhood. During the early hours of 25 November 1974, Drake died at his home from an overdose of amitriptyline, an antidepressant. He had gone to bed early after spending the afternoon visiting a friend. His mother said that around dawn he left his room for the kitchen. His family had heard him do this many times before, and presumed he was eating cereal. He returned to his room a short while later, and took some amitriptyline. Whether his death was an accident or suicide has not been resolved The grave where Drake's ashes are buried with those of his parents. The gravestone is inscribed with the epitaph "Now we rise / And we are everywhere", taken from the lyrics of "From the Morning", the final song on Drake's final album, Pink Moon.
A more downtempo, singer-songwriter LP with some frills I found myself enjoying more than expected. The songwriting isn't strong enough to wow melodically for the whole runtime, but the lyricism and fun punches of (somewhat dated) sax keep things interesting enough for Drake's soft lull to work its magic.
Yeah it's Bryter Layter, five stars. Some notes though. Belle and Sebastian seem to have pinched their template from a couple of tracks here, Hazey Jane II and suchlike. Love the soulful jazz of Poor Boy as it gently soars. One of These Things First and Northern Sky are particularly excellent. Some of the rest feels a little twee at times but seems to somehow stay on the right side and remains delightful, instrumentals included. Always a great listen.
Fantástico! Um clima de dia frio no campo. Lembra um pouco o Roberto Carlos da mesma época. Bora ouvir mais coisas do primo do Uncharted!
3 It’s chillaxing
Digg med nåke eg har hørt før. Bryter Layter (sangen) e ganske nice, resten e litt kjedelig. Kult albumcover
More great guitar playing and lovely vocals from Nick Drake. I think I prefer his sadder stuff than this though but even still it's enjoyable.
8/10
I liked this. I'm glad he has at least one more album on the list, and I'm excited to listen to it. His voice is nice. It was a very relaxing listen. Not really sure what else to say. My favourite song was probably Hazey Jane I, but it's hard to pick.
Vage stem, maar erg rustig & mooi
Good guitar and pianos. Not my cup of tea though
Beatiful instrumentally but I think Nicks lacks a little bit vocally for it to be a 5
An exploration of the profound loneliness one can feel whilst being surrounded by a sea of people. Alone in the crowd with only an equally-lonely alto sax to keep you company. I wonder if his musings on what he could have been is him head-hopping into all the strangers around him. "Fly" is the clear frontrunner here, expanding on his search for identity, be it in faces or names. And only in understanding identity can we make real connections with others. Like many great albums, there's an existential crisis at the core.
4.5
A fine album, nice strings, probably won’t revisit
this is alright. not really my kind of music but good for what it is. i love the album cover tho that pic is cold af
He was such a unique talent. His songs are of timeless beauty.
Northern Sky is one of the best songs ever made.
Based on the album art alone, I thought I was going to hate this. He looks like exactly the sort of person who bores the tits off everyone at house parties by singing sad songs, obviously with his eyes closed, because the music is just so damned emotional. Listening to him though, I actually quite like it. Remarkably upbeat, he weaves in a few lovely-sounding diversion, some jazz, some bossa nova, some soft rock - it's quite nice. I don't think I'll ever care enough to listen to the lyrics, but it's quite pleasantly pleasing background music.
I really enjoyed this. The sound is extremely modern. The lyrical content and vocal style make this sound like it was made yesterday. I resonate with Nick's feelings here. It's probably a 4.5 for me with the caveat that I definitely never seek this genre out.
I wish I could tell Nick Drake to fuck off and die, but sadly he's already dead. I'll give him a point for dying before subjecting us to any more of his nonsense. The background music is ok but the singing is only BARELY in tune and overall it just gives me creep vibes. An extra point for the backing band. 2/5.
I enjoyed this album. It didn't hit me like pink moon (yet) but it feels nice. It's surprising to hear nick drake playing with a group of musicians but it is growing on me
Incredibly beautiful album, it is very introspective and vulnerable. It has a healing quality which only someone who is very introspective can achieve. I hope one day I can write music as beautiful as Nick Drake. Rest in Peace. I will definetly listen to it again. Favorite tracks are At the Chime of a City Clock and Sunday. 5/5
It was boring, I'm seventeen so it probably adds to that, the musical composition felt so lovely and nostalgic though but I think it most likely has to do with the fact it was released in like the 70s. It felt like I was in the country side as if I was reliving the days of my youth listening to my great grandparent's soundtrack, but I despised the countryside, everything was so hot and green.
I’ve mentioned this a few times in my reviews, but 1970s singer-songwriter albums have been tending to suit my tastes a lot. The only artist where this wasn’t the case was interestingly Bob Dylan, but I’m still excited to listen to today’s album - I don’t think I’ve heard of Nick Drake before today. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Hazey Jane 2, Northern Sky, Sunday This album was frankly phenomenal. It isn’t exactly minimalistic like some other similar artists from the same era, as there are plenty of instruments playing at any time. Nick Drake’s voice (to use a phrase I possibly might overuse) what buttery smooth throughout. I loved his voice so much, that I felt sad at the end because I wanted more. And when the only criticism I have is that I wish the album was longer, despite it being a very normal length, it’s fair to say that this album was pretty much perfect.
I like Nick Drake, but it isn't party music
A very chilled album to cook along to.
Muutamat muut ukot on tehnyt vastaavaa kamaa paremmin, ainakin omasta mielestä. Ei missään tapauksessa huono ja hetken joutu kakkosen ja kolmosen välillä arpomaan, mutta jätetään nyt siihen huonompaan kategoriaan.
No jaah. Ei mitään erikoista nähtävää täällä
It's interesting hearing this album after having spent considerable time with Pink Moon, the album that came out after Bryter Layter. It's a little odd hearing Nick Drake with so much going on behind him. I find some of the songs to be overly-arranged, to the point of distraction. But when it does all come together, this music is sublimely beautiful. The album is full of gorgeously written, melancholy gems. And Drake is accompanied by some stellar musicians, including John Cale, Richard Thompson, and several members of Fairport Convention. You really do get a sense of Drake's soul in his songs. Fave Songs: Fly, One of These Things First, Northern Sky, Hazey Jane I, Introduction
Álbum tranquilo, sosegado, calmado. Buena voz Para escuchar relajadamente. Poca instrumentación
Klassísk.
‘Bryter Later’ isn’t bad, but for mine, it’s over produced and saturated with unnecessary instrumentation in many places, detracting from the overall listening experience. I think Nick Drake’s music is most effective when it’s stripped down.
4.5
synkkää...melankolista...toivokasta... näillä snaoilla voimme kuvata nick draken kalbumia nimitetty nimellä bryter layter... taitaa mennä keskiarvo taas ylemmäs alkaa vähön vituttaa. albumissa saksofoneillaan, viuluillaan ja huiluillaaan... KAUNIISTI..... lyriikka on iha meediumia.. meediumi kynäveikko, lauluääni silikin suloista siihen viekkuun... miellekästä musiikkia huoh at the chime of a city clock... ylitse muiden...
Lyrically diverse but inane, and tonally monotone stories as interesting as reading the ingredients list on a bottle of head and shoulders shampoo. The singer mumbles his way through the tracks such that he's on his 15th jack and coke of the night , nick almost seems uninterested in singing as much as he makes me uninterested in listing. may have been ground breaking for the time but more effort was exerted by myself trying to stay awake than he was making me feel. Not likely to listen to again best track was my snoring.
Surprisingly enjoyable
Don’t have much to say about this. It was fine. I guess it was a little too mellow for me. Favorite song: “At The Chime Of A City Clock”.
Absolutely lovely album. I came to Nick Drake late and by chance from the soundtrack to Garden State. Whatever he thought about the orchestrations it's a fine album.
Well produced, warm and beautiful folk.
5/10, 50%
The album is entirely unremarkable. I did not hate it. I did not love it. It was just there. I suppose better than 2 not really a 3. I will round down.
Sunday Brunch soundtrack, for sure. Wouldn’t kick it outta bed for eating crackers. Would make it share.
Excellent album: calm, lilting, quietly uplifting. There's a very sweet, light, but mournful lyricism throughout. Gentle without being soft, subtle without being boring. An album you'll remember and revisit through your life, and an album that will evolve with the listener.
Smoothe, sexy fingerpicking. Great melancholy vibes.
No.
I would say this is a product of it’s time
I liked this one, it reminded me of Free but less psychedelic. Nice guitar. Very low-key.
I loved the mix of folk with orchestral stuff. Great variety of instruments without sounding cluttered. Beautiful sound overall.
"What a lovely sound to wake up to" -my roomie when I played the first song
4/5. Sad and lovely music that really pulls at the heart strings.
This was delightfully chill
Just a really lovely album
Not terrible, not great. I like Pink Moon better.
I liked this album. The guitar playing was great, and his singing fit well with it for the most part. However, the instrumental songs were my favorite part of the album; they're so soothing to listen to. Also, the song Sunday reminds me of the Super Smash Bros Brawl Trophy music lmao. Favorite song: Bryter Layter Worst song: Poor Boy
I really enjoyed having this on in the background. Extremely pleasant.
Hey Peter
Nice voice and talented guitarist, yet a boring album to me with no real highlights.
Pretty mellow stuff. Nothing offensive here but nothing especially standout either. One Of These Things First was alright.
Weaker than Five Leaves left but still very pleasant
J'adore nick drake et cet album est vraiment super ! 5
Drake’s voice is amazing as always, but I just couldn’t get into the instrumentation of the album. A few songs were great but overall the shin was too jazzy for what I was looking for.
Some good jazzy influence. Ok but kind of all over the place.
Knew one song on the album, but there are several more great songs on here with it. A few too many instrumentals possibly? But I will listen to this again.
Boo hoo I’m sad
It made me think of King Crimson with all of the background sounds and instruments. I want to listen to the album again because of that. He has a very nice voice.
Super mello. Great harmonies.
I'm a big Nick Drake fan, so I've heard this album a number of times. It's beautiful. Nearly every song on it is a standout to me in it's own way. Standout Tracks: Hazey Jane 2, At the Chime of a City Clock, One of These Things First, Hazey Jane I, Fly, Northern Sky
Pleasant listen, but no clue what was being talked about. Will need to revisit.
Boooooring
Jazzy folk music, good vibes
so fragile
woah! weird deja vous with belle and sebastian. 4stars.
Tesko opustanje i melankolija
hazy Jane II: Love his voice wtf Album cover reminds me of something i can’t remember what I’m getting early paolo I want to lie in grass Clock song: sax is nice but mum wouldn’t like it One of these things: I’m getting the same grassy feel A more low-key going up the country wonder what year 1970 so like 20 years earlier that’s crazy It’s making me emotional Hazy Jane I: why after 2 Fly: Bob Dylan kinda idk Poor boy: jazzy piano makes me want to cry but good Sunday:forgot to write in a bunch but still appreciating the album Oh shit no is that it Fuckkkkkk Easy 8/10
A classic sophomore over extension. The music is still moving and beautiful, but the increased production value of the whole thing really detracts from the essential nature of Nick Drake's brilliance. You just don't need things like a backing strings section, horns and backup vocalists to punch up the tracks. Without much surprise, the noteworthy tracks (i.e. 'One Of These Things First' and 'Northern Sky') from this album are constructed much more closely to tracks from 'Five Leaves Left'.
Nice album!
Very beautiful album. His unique voice and singing style paired with the folk guitar playing make this one very soothing and relaxing listen.
Nice music for the background but this album fails to grab any attention beyond the usual "standard" listening experience
3,5
I first heard of Nick Drake when my wife got one of his albums for this challenge and we listened to it together. We were both blown away by that album. I definitely want to give this one another listen to fully appreciate the music. On first listen, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Folk-pop bastante pesado. Un 2.
Un poco rollo.
This is my 2nd Nick Drake album. I liked this one a lil better than the first one. I'm shocked that this one came out before pink moon because this album sounds more complete to me. Some good tunes to vibe with on here but nothing more. Driving music 4/10
I knew Nick Drake's Pink Moon before and loved it, so naturally I had high hopes for this one and it kind of.. disappointed? I tried giving it multiple chances but it just didn't captivate me in any way. I still enjoy Nick's delivery and the jazzy parts on this release are great, however there is not a single track that I'm thinking about after the album is over. It's just a nice record to put on in the back for me but that's it. Maybe I'll grow fonder of it with time, but there's just one day for each album at this point so for now it's 3/5 from me.
3-4
Uninspiring music.
ei varsinaisesti inhota, mutta onpas hissimusiikkia (huilu...). ilman jazzia olisi parempi.
Herkkää. Jazzahtavaa.
Something you might expect to hear in a coffee shop. Easy listening, but nothing special. I will probably forget that I ever listened to it.
Wide emotional and tonal range, but lacking the depth and sincerity of his other albums. The flute stuff is very elevatory
p208. 1970. 2.5 stars. Perfectly acceptable background listening, with no redeeming features. There is a reason this didn't sell when it came out, and that reason is there are no standout tracks. It's the perfect background music for a million hipster bars. It's the aural equivalent of porridge.
This is the second-best of Nick Drake's albums - the best being Pink Moon. If you've never heard. Nick Drake before, it's jaw droppingly good. Beautiful melodies, completely original guitar style, softly understated vocals all add up to wonderful songs. John Martyn fans will particularly love Nick Drake - they were friends and were on the same record label. Solid Air was written about him. Both turned out to be tragic figures and Nick Drake's story is especially sad. The cover photo on this album is hugely evocative - you can almost feel the pain and his internal struggle.
HL: Fly, Northern Sky, Hazy Jane I Listened to while assembling a credenza. Didn’t get as stressed as I normally am with simple-to-assemble furniture, and so I give credit to the voice of Nick Drake. Liked the instrumental passages, but it’s odd going backwards from the stark Pink Moon to his earlier works. October 3, 2022
I liked this album and I recognized one song, easy to listen to but not my favorite
I need to listen to this a ton more to really appreciate it but it's clearly great. Love the voice, the songs, the instrumentation.
You wont hear many more charming and unconfrontational albums as this
This man allows me to stop listening to music. his voice is amazing, his compositions are wonderful, this album is beautiful, the more i listen the more my ears just need him and only him
Really cool. Love the chamber influences. Folk with a flute is just cheating. Should probably listen to discography.
Outstanding mixing/recording, and the voice of a songbird. Lovely soft lyrics, and a mix of piano, sax, and guitar that is simply sublime.
Nice and Calmfors, good music to relaxa to
you know it was ok but am definitely going to have run it a couple of times to get into but 👍
I was so impressed by this man I knew nothing about. I swear that he had influenced every singer songwriter of the past 50 years
no preconceived notions whatsoever. sounds like john prine if you take away his world weariness, but also if john prine made me sleep. soooo boring. the words are sophomoric, which is undnerstandabe if you know that he was 22 when this came out. around a fourth is instrumental so i guess it's good that the arrangements are clean. i tried really hard to like it, but it just bores me so. no tracks stand out, all just seem to bleed into the next one.
Just great.
I was not familiar with Nick Drake and found this surprisingly likable.
Sunday is impossibly beautiful. I'm probably in the minority here in saying this, but for me the best parts of the album are the instrumentals. The gentle soothing flute melodies, combined with delicate, complex fingerstyle guitar makes for a gentle but comforting listening experience. This is Nick Drake's best album imo.
Hazey Jane II basically made the cross that Belle and Sebastian's entire career scored. Northern Sky is one of the most beautiful songs ever. This a really great album and I love it. One of These Things first was on a freebie compilation on a magazine when I was 14 and was my way to Nick. A lovely way to spend 40 minutes - if I have only one criticism, I wasn't a fan of the saxophone.
Music is very nice. Singers voice, not so much.
Beautiful, like a chamber suite of songs—-the Pet Sounds comparison I only loosely hear, Pet Sounds has a kind of alien quality this misses—-but beautiful
This was well done late 60’s folk/ jazz.
I have heard some of these songs before and enjoyed them. Listening to the album all the way through showed me songs I liked even more. I didn't realize how much of a jazz sound it had.
Relaxing and jazzy. 6.5/10.
Beautiful songs
Ohhhh it's an absolute beauty. So formative for me. My neighbour in Kentish Town whilst I was at university (who was almost definitely an arms dealer???) introduced me to Nick Drake and this is mayyyybe my fave Nicky D album. It's so insanely beautiful. It's sad and haunting but also magical and fairytale. No other album has ever made me feel the same feels as this one and probably never will, that's mostly down to Nick's voice and musical style but also this specific album too. LOVE it.
Ah so smooth and jazzy and ultimate easy listening. Some times I think I have found certain Nick Drake a bit bland (love plenty though), but this hit the spot for me
I found it quite dull and winey.
Prefer Pink Moon but some really nice song-writing and arrangements here
SO GOOD cant wait for his other albums to pop up.
Lovely voice, but the album lacks variation
A pleasant listen but ultimately unremarkable.
Great voice, enjoyable album.
It’s dank - bite her light her
mi primera vez escuchando este album y a nick drake, realmente me lleve una sorpresa, desde la armoniosa bienvenida con "introduction" hasta la hermosa melodia del final con "sunday" el album me encantó. sin duda una de las mejores cosas que escuché. su melancolia, dulce melodia y prolijidad en general es impecable. recomendadisimo a cualquier oido fav song: at the chime of a city clock ☆ one of these things first ☆ poor boy northern sky 5.0
What an awesome find. Love his voice. Sad loss to music.
So, thank you for introducing me to this liquid melancholy. Apparently everyone knows him (except me) yet he only sold 4,000 albums in his lifetime. And he lived in a bedsit around the corner getting stoned and hiding his presence. Very grateful for the introduction...
Lovely music to do other things to.
Melancholie en depressie op gitaarmuziek. Niet direct om vrolijk van te worden, maar wel nog mooi
4/5
Was never really a fan of country, but it was pretty alright as far as it goes.
Very chill. Too chill for me honestly. My favorite song on the album was poor boy. Had a bit more energy than the rest.
one of his more upbeat albums but it always feels like there's smth missing to this album. northern sky might be my favourite song by him and I wanna give it a 5 but I cant get myself to.
Really difficult to rate, since is not the type of album I’m used to Most of the songs are pretty warming, and they all individually gave me the sensation of being in different Scenarios Considering I don’t have anything to compare with, my rate could be different, but I really liked it Kinda remembers me of my dad
"Bryter Layter" is the second of three studio albums from English singer-songwriter Nick Drake and last one with backing musicians. And what a backing he had: Members of Fairport Convention (Richard Thompson, Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks), John Cale and Beach Boy sessions musicians Mike Kovalski and Ed Carter. This is beautiful sounding music and singing - gentle, relaxing and quiet. The lyrics themselves are poetic but also sad or melancholy which is in contrast to the music. The music itself is much happier with great acoustic guitars, jazzy with horns and also somewhat Baroque pop with the string arrangements. I'm always a sucker for dichotomies in lyrics and the music; this is a great album. Nick Drake suffered from depression and would die four years from a drug overdose (suspect suicide). His music would and continues to grow in popularity and influence. I definitely hear that today. The album begins with an instrumental which then goes into "Hazey Jane II". The horns and the Backing Fairport Convention gives the music a majestic, rollicking and happy feel. I think Drake is singing about the hard reality of society. Here is where I hear major influences in the band Belle & Sebastian's music. "At the Chime of a City Clock" has a more melancholy feel and Baroque pop with the added strings and horns. Drake had moved to London from the country and this song gives his observations. "Poor Boy" appears to have very personal lyrics about Drake himself and his introverted nature. Great piano by session-player Chris McGregor. There are backing gospel singers which some critics don't like. I found it find. "Northern Sky" is perhaps my favorite song on the album. John Cale adds a lot with his piano playing. Interesting drums. A sad love song. I highly recommend this album. I seem to gain a little more with each listen. Any one of Nick Drake's albums are worth checking out.
2.5. Nice but not into this voice.
Mellow, but with more instruments than solo guitar. Good.
Cool first album. I’ve already listened to this one many times. Really helps calm me down when I’m feeling anxious. Really interesting melodies and vocals.
Yeh I mean I've listened to a few Nick Drake songs before, mostly from Pink Moon which is quite different, this is the first full album. Its very jazzy folk, it's pleasant it sounds good. Probably something I would listen more to as individual songs, didn't really engage me as an album experience but it was pretty good.
Mellow
Really love this album. Was a late discovery for me (already on my 40's). I recommend the whole of Drake's discography actually. Specially Pink Moon.
didn't expect to like this but was pleasantly surprised. more varied than expected and much less maudlin. Will listen again
Nein
i recognized drake's name cause garden state soundtrack, but whoa i recognize his voice as coming right before lebanese blonde and the only living boy in new york great album
The opening is regal with the strings and acoustic. A lush, calm, and exquisite entrance. Second track definitely feels like Drake songs I know, sets a quickened pace and we are off. I love the sax in Chimes of a City Clock, a track I've loved a long time. It is a very mature sound far from the reckless abandon of 80's sax. Perfectly understated and not saccharin. I'm sure I am not alone in thinking that 'Fly' is superb. I feel the early notes of 'Poor Boy' are the weakest section of the album, the melody getting lost a bit with over-complex transitions. The angelic background singing pulls it all back together, however, and then this triumph rises to a completely harmonized sonic tunnel that gives way to a just slightly dirtier sax outburst and I'm all in! Northern Sky is excellent and an all time favorite. The album ends on a low note for me as it barely averts drifting into 70's schmaltz.
There's a little Nick Drake in all of us...
There are a lot of instruments that work with Nick Drake's sound. Melodic and minimalist guitars are great. Piano works wonderfully. Violin too. But not horns! The horns ruined multiple songs on this album. Listening to the first three songs, I was trying to figure out why this didn't sound like the Nick Drake I was familiar with. Something was off... Then came "One of These Things First," a sublime song and the Drake song I know best. So what did it have that the others didn't? Nothing! It's what it didn't have - horns. Get rid of the horns and the two flute-strumentals, and you've got 5-star work.
A jazzy Nick Drake is different but maybe not better than a sad Nick Drake.
Having been introduced to Nick Drake out of chronological order I would have thought this was after both Pink Moon and Five Leaves Left. I assumed that he started out solo and added layers to his music as time moved on. Instead he stripped all the layers away for Pink Moon, his last album which is the one I enjoy the most. Bryter Layter contains what I like most about Nick Drake, his guitar playing. The additional instruments work some of the time, mostly the strings. The piano is fine as is the brass section. The flute is OK. But we’ve got to talk about the saxophone. No thank you. The second time I listened to At The Chime Of A City Clock I turned my car completely to the left channel and the song vastly improved because the right channel sax was gone. Poor Boy makes Nick sound like the leader of a throw away lounge act unfortunately. Thankfully the misses are limited. Overall the album is uneven, up and down. I’m glad Nick figured out the formula for Pink Moon. It’s just a shame that was his last go at it.
Sometimes risk aversion can bite you on the ass. By stripping away anything offensive to his delicacy--like, er, strong beats or hooks--Drake’s gentle rhythms, which hold up from start to finish, take on an insistent prettiness. Throw in his bizarrely mannered vocals and nursery rhyme lyrics (not necessarily a bad thing) and it’s well-conceived as a whole. Unfortunately, I find insistent prettiness annoying. I wanted the strings and horns in ‘At the Chime of a City Clock’ to stop being so sheepish, and to tell John Cale that his harpsichord on ‘Fly’ was like too much exposition in a costume drama. Lots of scene-setting. Little action.