Reviews (page 14 of 15)
I should listen more to Drake
Can't feel it.
Nearly flawless. Flawless was to come with Pink Moon.
This is an excellent album, so much so that I listened to the whole back catalogue of Nick Drake and researched a bit more about his life. Tragic that he died only at 26, but leaving a legacy of his beautiful voice and compositions which remain timeless.
Another artist that I have aware of forever and have heard many songs, but never really \"listened\" to. This album is a delight, and really meshed well with my mood today. I need to dive in a bit more on his stuff.
A depressed man sings 7 in-differentiable sounding melancholic, nostalgic songs (plus 3 instrumentals) while strumming an acoustic guitar to a pretty but generic easy-listening background.
Pretty wierd, sounds like the soundtrack to some bizarre 70s kids TV show. Strange voice, nonsense lyrics, very outdated. And yet, there is something ethereal and enjoyable there too.
Weird voice, nice instrumentals
Pretty easy listening, relaxed varied instruments
Heard a couple songs before. Def a good listen.
Decent easy listen
Pink Moon far superior Cover art 1/5
Gone way too soon, Nick Drake had a well-balanced talent that most singer-songwriters do not. He was a musician who knew how to put words to music, and equally put music to words. Many singer-songwriters tend to lean heavily in either direction relying on musicians to put music to mindless drivel (e.g. Suzanne Vega) or putting less than on par words on to otherwise really great music (e.g. Tom Waits). Nick Drake does so well at both, that the listener wants to hear both giving neither favor over the other, hard-pressed to find fault with the lyricist and musician. Nick Drake was truly special and his talent is sorely missed.
First time ever hearing Nick Drake, never stumbled across his work before, despite being 70s rock. The acoustic guitar is beautiful, his voice is smooth and soothing, what a lovely experience. Im a bit biased as this is the type of music i enjoy a lot, but still, one of the better albums ive gotten since starting this.
nice and chill
The album is as pleasant as boring. I can not find an attribute to be included in this list.
Peaceful 70s folk
Boy Mr. Drake took one puff of a marijuana cigarette and look what happened to him...
This shit boring. Like coffe shop music but not a Starbucks. like a cofee shop the clientele would go to purely cause it’s not a Starbucks
Already heard it before lol. Although, I do not remember it as well as Drake's other two records.
Not as good as Pink Moon but fine.
great listen on a rainy sunday
nice, chilled out, folksy vibe. Enjoyed this one over a coffee
Didnt finish, too slow and boring
Nice. But, wish they kept the producer away from mixing strings into just about every track.
This album is one of my favourite, I absolutely adore nick drake, although this is my least favourite drake record. The jazz,funk and folk sound Is majestic and captivating, northern sky is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, strong 10
In some ways over-orchestrated compared to FLL - time can only just be kind to the "hello trees" instrumentals, but Poor Boy and Northern Sky are sublime. Anyone else hear Hazey Jane I and think it anticipated Dire Straits by 8 years?
7/10 Best Song - Northern Sky
There is something so soothing about Nick Drake’s voice and playing style. I will listen to him for years to come.
Such a painful listen - so folky with mediocre singing and droning on and on. 4/10.
This one didn't work for me like Five Leaves Left did. He's written some very nice poetry and some very nice instrumentals, but they don't always complement each other. Best track: Hazey Jane I
🟦 91 🥇 One of these things first 🥈 Poor boy 🥉 Northern sky
Ihana pehmeää tunntelmointia alusta loppuun. Chill-listalle koko levy niin että heilahti.
I listen to Pink Moon so much I forgot how good this album is.
+++
Folk. Melódico. Suave
Amazing 70s folk. Extremely well written and relaxing. Excellent song writing talent.
Beautiful, timeless.
Interesting album, beautiful compositions
6.5/10 - smooth, easy listening, great for background music when working/concentrating
nice voice
Awesome British folk.
All 3 Nick Drake albums are 5s, but this one is my favourite. Shows off his underrated guitar work and of course the songwriting is stellar. Poor Boy is my favorite but each song has their own charms. 5 🌟
Sound a lot like the other Nick Drake albums…. Which is a good thing. 2.5/5
Nick Drake was an enigma really, such a talent both in composition and in Lyrics but a troubled soul. This is a great album, you can hear his influence on the likes of John Martyn, REM, Style Council (Weller) etc on this album. some great songs, my favourites are "Hazey Jane II" "Hazey Jane I" "Bryter Layter" and the wonderful "Northern Sky". A lovely relaxing album to listen to on a Sunday morning!
4/5
this album made me feel sadness but its rly nice
My cohorts, a quick check of my earlier reviews will reveal that I gave a shiny 5 stars to Nick Drake first album, Five Leaves Left. Here, we have poor Nick's second album, Bryter Layter. Out of the classic Nick Drake trilogy, Bryter Layter is the one I listened to the most infrequently. Don't misunderstand me, I didn't consider it in any way a bad album, but the outright prettiness of Five Leaves Later and the starkness of Pink Moon meant they were the ones that hypnotised me. So in my head, Bryter Layter became the slightly impoverished relative by default. This was of course imbecilic of me. Bryter Layter continues Nick Drake's faultless track record whilst remaining particular to itself. Bryter Layter is in no way a rehash of Five Leaves Left, but instead shows dear Nick developing his style by exploring new musical vistas. Now, Bryter Layter is not as musically eclectic as Five Leaves Left, but that is not to its detriment. To say that Bryter Layter is more coherent is not the right term, but its consonance definitely stands out as a progression from Five Leaves Later. Lyrically, we have still the gentle sadness laying foggily over the music. Bryter Layter does not evoke death as Five Leaves Left does, nor is it as raw as Pink Moon, so we have the paradox that the listener feels Bryter Layter to be Nick Drake's healthiest record, despite the album's loneliness and remorse. Also, note that several songs concern love, albeit love tinged with inexact regret. A more remarkable addition to sweet Nick's arsenal is humour. In One of These Things First, a paean to a lost love, he lists the choices he could have pursued, how he could have been a sailor or a cook. But then he muses that he could have been a signpost or a whistle. Since this is Nick Drake, the absurdity is understated, but it is still there. Finally, in perhaps the album's best song, Northern Sky, we have one of the rarest and most precious qualities in a Nick Drake song: hope. Is Bryter Layter an anomaly in the Nick Drake canon? No, that's far too strong a reading. But it does partially dispel the notion that all his work was written under the gaze of the black-eyed dog. A wonderful record that entices the listener to luxuriate in its nuances.
Beautiful but haunting at times. Don't know how I never heard of Nick Drake before but I'll definitely be giving his other two albums a listen even though I know they'll come up on here sooner or later. His voice is quiet and airy, and a lot of the compositions, though rooted in folk, have a jazzy quality that makes this feel more upbeat than I think it really is. Overall a really wonderful album.
I really seem to enjoy this fellow, though I think I prefer his unaccompanied stuff a bit more.
Like his other album. Nothing much to write home about but nothing offensive either.
Enjoyable, but didn’t stick with me.
I like One of These Things First. Fly too. But this one is a bit too airy for me compared to the previous album. Still really nice.
Had some good parts, reasonably enjoyable
Garden State moment
Очень красивый и мелодичный альбом. Кратко, но слов нет :)
very country/mellow vibe with nice horns, it’s like they put Jim Croce and Simon and Garfunkel in a studio and told them to make music. Very surprised I never heard this.
Definitely not feeling this, but if you’re in to that late 60s early 70s sound, go for it…
Well that slipped down very pleasantly. Feel the first side is stronger than the second, but very listenable.
Juste du bonheur quoi
trop doux ca y est on est sur une remontée de pente
Bored. Slow paced, mostly samey sounding the entire album..
veisla tbh
Gentle, sensitive, pleasant. It’s calm and easy listening if you don’t listen too closely. Drake’s delicate songwriting and instrumentation are integral to his vibe. Hazey Jane II was a bit more peppy than the other songs, which was a nice tonal change. But overall, I fail to see a substantial difference between this album and Drake's debut, Five Leaves Left (which I had 2 weeks ago). Seems like only one of them really needs a spot on this list? Having another one that's just more of the same stuff is a wasted space that could have been given to someone else. I liked it, it just didn't offer anything we hadn't already heard. I appreciate the artistry, but I wanted some creative variation on what came before.
Que bonito cantaba este muchacho
A perfect Sunday morning album. The closing track is even called “Sunday”! I love jazzy folk-pop like this. There’s certain times (Sundays, mornings on vacation) when I put on Van Morrison because nothing else feels right. But now I know - Nick Drake is an option too! But while Van Morrison is wild on the microphone, Nick Drake is much more sedate. The emphasis in these songs is on the guitar playing and the gorgeous arrangements. (How about that flute! Front and center!) Highlights: “Hazey Jane II,” “At the Chime of a City Clock,” “One of These Things First,” “Poor Boy” (the piano on that song!), “Northern Sky”
Always loved his playing and never really did deep dives into his albums. He's known as being a (the?) king of alternate guitar tuning / singer songwriter music and this album is really a masterpiece of that style of playing, singing, and overall composition. I love his voice. It's very evocative and yet approachable and not overly dramatic. Biggest gripe is that his music to me can get boring. #shotsfired I know this time period is an interesting mix of 60's and 70's folk music, but I would love for more dynamics or energy in a track here or there. The closest we get to more energetic tracks are in "Poor Boy", which is a bossa nova type track, or "Bryter Layter" which has the faintest hi-hat rhythm that moves the song forward. We hear it a little on "One of These Things First" (which is a lovely song), but his voice is just ~too~ soothing and slow to really push it at all even though the guitar and piano are trying.
7/10. Chill stuff
I liked the soft sound. 8/10
Slow, inflective album. An album to match a sad mood. Pain is clear throughout. Nice arrangements. 3* is maybe a bit harsh, but it's not particularly groundbreaking and the style is confused at times.
Chato demais!
This is a really great album. Hazy Jane 1 & 2, One of These Things First, Poor Boy, all great, great songs
i have the fattiest crush on this mystical man and all the sweet sounds he makes.
Hauntingly beautiful. I'm glad the world got to appreciate Nick Drake. I'm said he never knew.
This British singer/songwriter has been an influence for so many of my favorite artists and it’s easy to see why. Beautiful instrumentation coupled with an almost whisper of a vocal style.
pretty
Perfect Sunday listenjng
There are some REALLY beautiful ballads here. I enjoyed this one a lot. Particular standout tracks were "Hazey Jane" (I and II), "One of These Things First," and "Fly". All gorgeous melodies and gentle acoustic strings. It does sound aggressively 70s, but for once not in a bad way. It sounds 70s in the way that Jim Croce or Fleetwood Mac does: Gorgeous songwriting, bold vocals, and a general sweetness. A lot of these songs sound like a sunset put to music. Worth the listen. Would give this 4.5 stars if I could, but it falls slightly short of perfect even though I loved it. Sorry, it's the tinge of cheesiness for me. Fave track: Fly
I have always loved Pink Moon and had never listened to this album. Every song on this album is an experiment. It merges Nick Drake's ASMR-like sound with orchestral tracks, flutes, jazz horn grooves with backup singers. A big surprise to me was Poor Boy which is a very cool, jazzy piece. It is sad that the album never got the attention it deserved. The album is quite upbeat and different from the moody austerity of Pink Moon and highlights his innovative guitar sound which is sometimes quasi medieval. Nick Drake, a musician from another dimension, like J. S. Bach.
ok , i guess
In his second of just three albums, Nick Drake sings of his wishes to belong, his fall from grace, while musing on who he could and could never be. It's hard to separate from his tragic suicide just a few years later, to the extent any review feels reductive. But I had a go comparing to his later efforts at least. Even when considering Drake's work in a vacuum, I went into "Bryter Layter" desperate not to compare it with "Pink Moon", which I've always loved for its utter sparsity. In the end, I couldn't escape the feeling that this one just wasn't on the same level. Most notable are of course the orchestrations and extended instrumentals, which it's a little difficult to get used to. Some of it is still excellent. "Northern Sky" is a wonderful song: emotive, elegant and melodic with just the right amount of psychedelia. "Fly" has a lovely cascading acoustic guitar figure which is complemented nicely by harpsichord and viola (ey up John Cale). "Poor Boy" is nicely augmented by the backing vocalists, even if the piano could ease up in places. But a lot of the rest never quite lands on either side of the fence. The lyrics aren't as searing as I'd have liked, the melodies not as immediate. The guitar-playing is deft and accomplished, but all-too-often recedes behind hokey piano or swelling strings. Three instrumentals ("Introduction", "Bryter Layter" and "Sunday") is a bit overkill when the arrangements are fairly basic and twee. I felt especially bad when I heard about Drake's earnest wish for them to be like "Pet Sounds". Poor sweet man. "Bryter Layter" suffers in my head because I can't separate it from the beautiful follow-up Nick Drake would make, and the tragedy of what came afterwards. There are some lovely songs on here, but ultimately it's a sad reminder of just how much more Drake could have achieved with more time.
Superb
One of my favourite albums ever. I am a sucker for lush strings, and even though this album isn't as widely loved as Five Leaves Left or Pink Moon, I think it's something very special. Introduction leading into Hazy Jane II is one of my favourite album openings and it never fails to make my heart swell.
Thumbs up.
I feel like this was always in my Q magazine albums to listen to. Long time getting round to it. Pleasant. Flutey. Where Hazy Jane beer is named from?! Thought I didn't like the end but turns out it was auto playing something else that I didn't like
Swagged up
If you’re like me and found out about Nick Drake through Pink Moon you’d probably be surprised hearing some of the more lavish arrangements found on this album. For example, Poor Boy features female backing vocals straight out of a soul song. But whereas you might think that such treatment would obscure the songwriting, it instead enhances it. The upbeat “Hazy Jane II”, drifting “One Of These Things First”, sublime “Northern Lights” and leisurely “Sunday” mark some of the best moments in his all too short career, not to mention every other song on the album
Banger Benger
The excellent soft and careful vocals I remember from his debut, with a little extra spunk brought in from the fantastic ensemble of backing musicians. This sophomore album easily lives up to the debut.
Holy hell this is amazing, so soft and sensual, but somehow innocent as well.
This was not at all what I expected, and in a really good way. I honestly had no real idea why to expect and I thought it was fantastic. Very well composed, incredibly melodic, and overall pretty enjoyable to listen to.
pretty fun and chill, like the fusion of styles sounds like an early jack johnson kinda
A beautiful sounding record. I've been meaning to discover his music and this was the perfect excuse to listen. I need to hear more from Drake (no, not that Drake!), highly recommended!
V nice
Rating: 5/10
Truly a sonic journey. Once again, you can hear how this influences future works from so many
Cet album m'a au moins ouvert les yeux sur le fait que Nick Drake et Nick Cave sont deux personnes différentes. À la bonne heure.
Longtemps pressenti pour occuper les premiers rôles parmi ses camarades à 3 étoiles, Nick Drake réussit une véritable prouesse. Prennant tout le monde à contrepied avec un dernier son entièrement joué à la flute, il réussit à se propulser dans la caste supérieure, celle des 4 étoiles. Je me rapproche du banc de touche pour essayer de recueillir les impressions de l'intéressé.
Listening to this was like running on a treadmill- I kept checking to see if it was almost over
Enjoyed this. Reminded me of Solid Air but with more lush instrumentation. Arrangement and playing is great. Song writing isn't the most memorable so it loses a star for that but a top album nevertheless.
This is the second album from folk singer-songwriter Nick Drake. He wrote and sang every song on the album, with backing music provided by other musicians. Nick isn't the greatest singer, but he wrote some great songs and the production came out beautifully. The tracks all have a similar theme of being quiet, gentle, and relaxing. A listener's reaction to this album depends on their mood, and for me I enjoyed the album, but considered the music background noise for my work. None of the tracks really jumped out to me as being a masterpiece.
I always knew that the day will come. Out of 1000+ albums, why wouldn't I encounter at least 1 folk album that I'll genuinely enjoy? This album, with its jazz infused upbeat folk, by a nice voice and a good set of accompaniments, is one of the first folk albums that I actually enjoy. Kudos! Unfortunately, most of the songs felt overlong. Because of that, it has some boring moments. And apparently, those are enough to make me hold back those sweet fives. Anyway, I look forward for more of Nick Drake. Him and S&G are some folk artists that I enjoyed discovering.
I love his voice and the tone and style of this music. great album.
Of the three albums released by Nick Drake during his all-too-short lifetime, this slightly quaint exercise is the one that probably veers a little too close to a novelty performance. Drake himself pointed this out. But that doesn't mean this record should be ignored, given how many great tracks with luscious arrangements make the bulk of it, from "Northern Sky" to "Hazey Jane II" or "One Of These Things First". Once you're owning *Five Leaves Left* and *Pink Moon*, it's hard to resist *Bryter Layter*, if only from a completist perspective. Nick Drake was gone too soon, everyone who once got interested in him knows that. Even though it was written and played in the early seventies, his music is timeless, and it will be for many other decades to come... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 948 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 24 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 14. Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important to me): 15
"One of these things first" is a huge favorite. The rest of the album plays out nicely with a great sound that holds steady throughout.
This is not for me.
I dont understand Nick but somehow I still like it
I didn't think I'd ever heard of Nick Drake before but then I heard "One of These Things First" which I recognized from the Garden State soundtrack. Solidly good album that I am sure I don't appreciate as much as I probably should...
Classic folk, very nice.
Feeling this is a little too quiet and modest (the original “twee” album maybe?) to be a full five stars but there are a few gems – ”Fly” and “Northern Sky” (the latter truly an all-time gem). I listened to this record so often in early 2000s that I may have worn it out. Also is downgrade due to “it’s been underrated so long that it actually become overrated” syndrome and the suffering at the hands of Wes Anderson. 4.1
This is a masterpiece. So sad that he died so young. "Could've Been" has always been a favorite of mine.
very chill but forgettable vibes
Bryter Layter by Nick Drake (1970) “Shaping a performance in the drama of living, each of us wonders: How am I doing? Am I creating a persona suitable to the human drama, crafting something worthwhile, or am I botching the performance? This existential concern … manifests itself as the search for dignity. Guiding that search is an attention that is always both outwardly oriented and inwardly focused, because the performance of existence is at once social and individual. Thus it is a matter of both social esteem and self-esteem. As social creatures, throughout our lives we look for an estimation of how we are doing … and to an extent we rely on the approval, admiration, and affection of others as a measure of our dramatic success.” (Glenn Hughes, “Dignity and Cultural Degradation” in Voegelin View, March 11, 2022) On this album (but not so much on his preceding Five Leaves Left [1969]), Nick Drake’s poetry gives voice to the struggle in each person to live to the fullest flowering his/her inherent dignity. His oeuvre therefore should not be compartmentalized or even dismissed as merely melancholic, fixated on his own inward isolation and sadness. He fully owns the necessity of our existence as social creatures, and in this album, he doesn’t fail to offer sage advice (at the age of 22!) on the ‘communalization’ of our sense of worth. From the upbeat “Hazey Jane II” to the wistful “Hazey Jane I” (tracks likely placed in that order to enhance developmental movement?), Drake encourages “slow, hazey Jane” to transcend her inward-focused isolation and touch the lives of others, including family, friends, and him. Not for his sake, mind you, but for hers. So that she might see and share the value in herself. Philosophical. Almost pastoral. And is there a more intelligent love song than “Northern Sky”? None come to mind (at least not today). He is loving and giving. Outwardly. In a way that is self-aware without being self-absorbed. Musically, this record excels, with small-interval solo vocal melodies over skillful folk/jazz acoustic guitar. It differs from his spare Five Leaves Left by incorporating rich instrumentals performed by members of the folk rock group Fairport Convention. Additionally, string and horn orchestrations add to the richness of the sound, generally by emphasizing the coloring tones in his guitar-based chord structures (occasionally with whimsical effect, which seems at times to be out of place). There are some very fine solo passages, especially the nice jazz piano stylings by Chris McGregor on “Poor Boy”. So, the collaborative sound is nicely synthesized with a poetic theme—the communal dimension of authentic humanity. This album is a fine work of art. It’s not merely attractive. It not only makes the listener think; it has the potential to make one’s inherent dignity come to fuller fruition, by connecting dots that one perhaps never even knew existed. 4/5
My introduction to Nick Drake came from two of the songs from this album, which were on movie soundtrack albums I bought in the early 2000s. They have been favorite tracks ever since. It was wonderful to hear this whole album, which was a little less ethereal than Five Leaves Left, but no less beautiful.
As I listened, I tried to imagine how I would feel about Nick Drake if this was my first introduction to him. I honestly don't know if I would have loved the album. It is very relaxing, though. But having already fallen for Nick Drake and having listened to this album a few times in the past, I know that I love the album now.
Some of these songs sound like the ones on Sesame Street when they were all, "Look, here's some happy penguins." This album is delicious. I love Nick Drake.
I really enjoyed this album. It has lovely instrumentation, soothing lyrics. Nick Drake has a voice which blends but adds a lot of dimension to the musical arrangements. Now that I’ve listened to 2/3 of his albums, I can say that I’m a big fan. Favorite tracks: “Hazy Jane II,” “Poor Boy” and “Northern Sky.”
This was the third Nick Drake album we got and the third that got 3 stars for me. He's OK, but really nothing more than that.
It was ok. I listened to it yesterday and really cant recall a single thing about it so that should say a lot. I would have remembered if it was bad though.
Another masterful album by Nick Drake. It's easy to see why he cared deeply about that one. People always rave about Pink Moon (and rightfully so) for its mystique and melancholic feel, but this one's just as important. This is what he wanted to do. The lush arrangements and warm production makes it something really special.
My least favorite of Nick Drake's albums, but still an amazing one. He just takes folk to another level.
Wow, really becoming a nick drake fan the more I listen to him
Nick Drake is a master in the category "folk singer-songwriter" and this album wonderfully shows it. He was just one step away from his ultimate masterpiece, Pink Moon.
Disco agradable si se le pone atención porque no la retiene por sí solo. Arreglos decentes aunque termina sintiéndose plano. 2.5 estrellas que bajan a dos porque seguramente mañana no recordaré este álbum.
Un Folk mono, mejor de lo que esperaba en principio y que de hecho me gustó más de lo que he oído, por ejemplo, de Neil Young o su pandilla. Me agradó la combinación de instrumentos y la voz del tipo, y a ratos me recordó a Rodríguez, pero más refinado.
Lush sounds, well arranged and musically interesting. Should have been a star.
Beautiful
Initially I thought that Bryter Layter wasn't as good as Pink Moon which I got to listen to properly for the first time last week. I'm still giving it 5 stars as it is an amazing album. The problem I had was that I was so ready to compare the two which was my error. Where Pink Moon was Nick Drake's soul stripped bare this is his heart, with him trying to show the world his talent that we didn't get to experience for long. I can hear attempts to be commercially friendly, a little bit of Van Morrison, a taste of the Stones but this is very much Nick Drake. I really can see why he so revered now.
A little more straightforward than the later Nick Drake album I had a week ago. Fine folky guitar with some nice string arrangements.
One of the best songwriters I had never checked out before I started this challenge.
On a rainy day, I'm a big Nick Drake fan. Mostly just the Way To Blue compilation, though. In that group with Cat Stevens and Leonard Cohen, though not as good as either. The Belle and Sebastian thing is funny.
Didn't dislike it but quite tedious and not for me
Day 4
More slick than 5 Leaves with some jazzy/country influences and a lot more upbeat in places. With a number of famous artists helping out it's well produced and professional. It's pleasant and easy to listen too. If Pink Moon hadn't been written I would have loved this album but I can't help compare it to his Masterpiece.
I've loved his album Pink Moon for many years now, but I don't think I've ever explored beyond that album, despite Nick Drake not having that much music out there. Not sure why, buy I'm glad I am now digging beyond what I've already known. A delightful album that is almost instantly recognizably a Nick Drake record and now I wish we had more of his music...
Quiet, gentle relaxing. Beautiful guitar & piano arrangements. I liked it a lot!
I only gave it one listen. Not really for me. For soft listening, I prefer Karen Carpenter.
Introduction * very nice Hazey Jane 2 * Oh so Belle and Sebastian is a Nick Drake tribute act. At the Chime of a City Clock One of these things first * So far this is all very pretty music I will never listen to or think about again. * Makes me want to listen to early B&S so I can hear the same music with lyrics I find more interesting Hazey Jane I * Why the fuck wasn’t this one first? It would sound way way better after Introduction than the hokey intro of HJ2. * best produced song on the album so far Bryter Layter * pretty, competent library music. He’s obviously imagining walking through a field of flowers on a summer evening with some waifish girl. Fly * his most interesting vocal performance up to now. Does lots with not a lot of range. makes sense that this is the song that Anderson chose for RT. Poor Boy * I think I’d like this song better if it was sung by someone with a modicum of soul. Regardless, it’s one of the better songs on the album. * love the piano solo Northern Sky * here we fucking go again. yawn Sunday * another song that makes the case for Drake to stfu
Lovely, lush proto-twee classic
Not as good as Pink Moon
Did moy
Drake has a gloomy, yet joyful voice, and the songs of this album are great to listen while getting ready to start the day or while getting set to call it a day. I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics though. I'll probably check it out again sometime
I know I'm supposed to love this, but I just don't. It's pretty guitar work and intimate singing, but I don't connect to it. 3/5.
Loved it, the only track I’ve ever heard before was northern sky. It was such a mellow album, one I will save for those days when I’m in need of some soothing chilled out tracks
A, entire album is airy and tranquil Stand out tracks: -At The Chime of A City Clock (loved the instrumentation, especially the strings and sax) -One of These Things First (was in Garden State) -Hazy Jane 1 (stunning, a great mix of instruments from violin to soft drums -Bryter Layter (mostly instrumental, flutes are airy and bright) -Northern Sky (always loved this song, it's the track that plays at the end of Serendipity when Jonathan is laying on the ice rink and Sarah throws her glove at him)
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: None Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Can’t point to any one thing I particularly didn’t care for, it just never clicked for me. I mostly liked Five Leaves After too so idk what happened here
Some really nice tracks, but a bit meandering at times.
amei a intro tem uma vibe meio eddie vader meio jazz com flauta, violão, violino bem bonito :)
Beautiful
I love his style, I’m a sucker for guitar, voice is very smooth. Perfectly executed. If this isn’t a 5 for me, I don’t know what is.
Disco mediano. O “Five Leafs Left” é infinitamente superior
Really sweet, chill music. Every song was consistently great, all paired with haunting vocals.
Wow. Loved this. Obvious comparisons with Belle & Sebastian, but wished I’d found this a long time ago. Play on repeat!
Pleasant but a little boring. Northern Sky is fantastic.
Really enjoyed Pink Moon when it came up on here. This is also a really beautiful record. Still pretty melancholy. He's got a cool voice and some nice guitar work. However, I prefer Pink Moon to this record. It was really stripped down with just him and a guitar. This record has a lot of backing musicians and while they're mostly fine, it is occasionally a bit too much I think. Still, that's a minor complaint, it's still a calm, beautiful, dark record.
It's fine.
Very chilled. Liked it.
A talented singer songwriter, but I just can't get into it and find it rather boring.
Beautiful guitars and voices. Loved it and will definitely revisit
I actually really wanted to like this one. But never did it for me.
Mellow, folky, full of horns. Great Sunday morning album.
Very nice and relaxing
Inocuo.
meinlaust og ok
I expect this guy has lots of fans. The lyrics I could figure out are quite good and he sings from the heart. With folk music, the music is typically nothing to write home about. The lyrics are the main event so the music can't be too interruptive. I find the music often is too interruptive on this album. If I had lots of time to listen to this, then the lyrics might get me there, but after listening to this twice, I only know what two songs are about. I haven't invested the time to really figure out the lyrics so can't get to a higher rating.
What a beautiful album. I love the arrangements, the way saxophone pops up in "at the chime of a city clock", the piano in "Poor Boy", the decision to start and end with an instrumental track. It all adds another dimension to his voice and song writing.
Hazey Jane II is probably my favourite Nick Drake song. When listening to it I picture myself driving a convertible along the seaside on a sunny day with my long hair flowing in the wind, haha. The rest of the album is fine, very chill folk
1 / 5 stars
My second favourite Nick Drake album
Honestly wasn't my cup of tea, and didn't listen too hard.
Ich musste eben erst mal nachsehen, ob Pink Moon auch dabei ist und bin nun beruhigt. Die habe ich so oft gehört, sonst aber nichts von Nick Drake. Eine Lücke. Finde dieses Album reicht nicht an die Pink Moon heran.
Chill, funky, and jazzy pretty good. Better than I was expecting for sure.
6/10
Nearly perfect. Nick's hardest rocking album but still poignant and lyrical and beautiful. 5 🌟
Best songs Not one in particular but a great album.
Not a bad album, I enjoyed it thoroughly.
It was okay, I think Pink Moon was way better.
Pas aussi bon que Five Leaves, mais overall aucunement décevant
Decent folk music.
Viel Gitarre, Künstler ist mir nicht bekannt, nicht mein Stil, ist mir zu wenig rockig
The best of this album IMO: - Poor Boy I think I don't like folk music. 1.9/5
Very relaxing voice but also instrumentals.
Solid pop-folk, just as good as Pink Moon. Give another listen soon!
Reading up on this I was surprised that I hadn't previously known of the familiar faces doing backing instrumentals... Good but I think Five Leaves Left and Pink Moon surpass this one.
entspannt anregend. gitarre schwungvoll
I prefer both of his other albums, but I still like this one very much.
pwetty
Lovely
11/22/21 Yes.... Wonderful.... a perfect day for this album. Introduction: Sumptuously orchestrated. A standout in it's own right. Hazy Jane II: The pulsing organ chords in the background remind me of a GAS song. Hypnotic. A deliciously queasy rollicker. At the Chime of a City Clock: "I see your trousers don't taper"... brutal diss.
Lots of great sounds. Great integration of different musical styles into something original. Surprised it was made in 1978!
Gentle folky music with a bit of a jazzy, funky influence. It sounds like a bit of an odd combo, but it works surprisingly well. The fact that it's so relaxed means that I think it would work well as background music in a coffee shop, but I can't imagine somebody saying "Bryter Layter is my favorite album".
A cute little album. Not a huge fan of a lot of the lyrics and vocals, and sometimes the melodies can be simple by today's standards, but really lush instrumentation and the occasional good song with lyrics saves this one.
I own this already
Very chill and upbeat vibe.
New discovery for me, I dug it.
it was guitar and wild while playing halo
Top Picks: At The Chime Of A City Clock & Poor Boy. Quite enjoyed this one. Kind of John Martyn-esque, but a slightly more hippy vibe. Some of the tunes were fairly samey, but overall it was a pretty chill album to sit and listen to for an hour.
Absolutely beautiful album. I don't know what else to say. This has definitely been my favorite album so far.
8/10
Didn't enjoy it
70s folk rock, some interesting tunes but at times drifted into inoffensive background noise almost to the point of elevator music. Two stars on the strength of some of the more interesting songs.
Highlights - One of these things first, Northern Sky Lowlights - Hazy Jane 2 This is a skillfully-crafted album with crisp melodies...The guitar work as well as piano and flute are quite prominent but never step on each others toes (I suspect that they're all being played by Drake himself). It's not that Hazy Jane 2 isn't a good song, it's just not as good as the rest of the tracks...I get the impression that Drake isn't comfortable singing, because there aren't many vocals, which is a pity. Otherwise, this album is a keeper.
A pleasant-enough folk-rock record. I had received another Drake record previously, and I feel about the same about this record. It's peaceful, nice, good arrangements, just nothing I'm crazy about. Favorite tracks: "Hazey Jane II", "Hazey Jane I", "Poor Boy"
Is it me, or is Poor Boy the proof-of-concept for Screamadelica?
Non mi dispiace, sai!?
Schönes Album!
Krasses singer Songwriter Niveau
I found it a bit boring
Really enjoyed it and would revisit
The same as every other Nick Drake album we've had on the group. Some nice bits and pieces but will never think to revisit.
A lovely listen and quite beautiful in parts. The reality is I probably won’t explore more or go back but I’m glad I listened
There's something very enjoyable about his music. It's mellow and a little bit sad but there's definitely a place for Nick Drake's music in my life.
Soft 4 stars. Nick drake is awesome. Such a voice and gorgeous music. A true gem that would have remained hidden if it wasn’t for this project. I look forward to his 3rd album (if it’s on this list).
Nick drake is one of the all time greats
This has a definite 1970s San Francisco hippie vibe. I enjoyed it.
I delayed listening to this because the first few notes had sounded slow and I wasn't really feeling that vibe after Chelsea Girls, but this one was pretty pleasant. I could see this being good ambient background music for some situations.
Sublime. Sadly under-appreciated during his life.
This is hitting me just right. His voice is so sincere, so calming with tinges of melancholy, but a great sense of beauty and hope.
I find this to be a major improvement over "Five Leaves Left." Though still generally mellow, there is much more range and vitality to the arrangements.
I like Nick Drakes voice more than the rest, it’s just kind of simple comfortable music. Nice but that’s about it
The story of Nick Drake is a sad one, and his music reflects this. It's lonely and melancholic, while also being nice and lush. His compositions bring these beautiful strings and percussion flourishes to accompany his simple guitar and voice. It's also not afraid to get a little exciting at times, with a rockin' sax solo on Poor Boy. Very mellow for the most part though, making for a wonderful morning album. Worth a spin.
A truly beautiful album that I will return to & listen to many times. Northern Sky, Poor Boy & Hazy Jane are all outstanding
One of my absolute favourite albums. Near perfect.
Terrible
Would rate 4.5 stars. Great album and made me want to check out more of his work
extremely comforting listening experience from front to back
Yea this is fine. His guitar work is great, I am just not into sad boi brit rock.
Pretty pretty
Beautiful. I hadn't heard his music before at all (though I had heard the name), but it's lovely. It's definitely a mood, though.
Grea Great album. What this list is for. Discovering new music
Pretty good. I liked the jazzy flair at parts
Nick drake might be the most under appreciated artist of all time
This is very lounge, perfect dinner party music but still has enough of an edge to maintain my attention throughout. Beautiful understated guitar playing. BIG sax on Poor Boy, don't even realise it's there until the last 30 seconds. Love the weird abstract writing, get lots of Aldous Harding vibes over it all. Pretty sure I've come across another album of his so far and think I might've ripped into him a bit - if so he's redeemed himself here.
it was fine.
Not a fan
“One of these things” sounded like a collaboration with Dr Suess. But did like Northern Sky. Blake was the one kid in English class that fist pumped when the teacher said”Today is learning poetry day” while the other 25 booed😣
While I don't think this is my favorite Nick Drake album, it's still fantastic. I never knew who he was before this album exercise and getting to hear all three of his best in the same year has been great. Love the giant shoes in the album cover and the entire cover in general. I kept Fly and Poor Boy to re listen but his albums are better listened to fully than picking certain songs out. Great start to the week.
Here we are, the final piece of the Nick Drake puzzle. The connective tissue between Five Leaves Left and the harrowing Pink Moon. The vocals on Hazey Jane 2 gave me big-time Wicker Man vibes. Actually, maybe I'm just now realizing that he's got a perfect voice for Wicker Man music. This is a fantastic album. I'd put it over Five Leaves, but it's pretty hard for any artist to touch Pink Moon. But damn, there are some serious heaters on here. Still very intimate music, even though there are a number of instruments working with Nick throughout. Loved this immediately, and could see it becoming a five star in time, but for now it's not quite there. RIP to the legend, and thank you to this list for giving us all three of his albums! Lord knows if it didn't, the gaps would be filled with more live albums from the Who. Favorite tracks: Fly, Bryter Layter, Sunday, Hazey Jane II, At the Chime of a City Clock. Album art: Really love this one. Great framing and colors, and the picture of Nick Drake is almost menacing. Not bright at all, so makes for an excellent contrast in colors, mood, and theme. He'll be bryter layter, or so he says. Also love that he's not wearing his shoes, but they're still there. 4.5/5
No Pink Moon, but pleasant enough.
Lovely, chilled out shops and bars
классные вайбовые полупостпанковые песенки, насыщенные аранжировки, слишком спокойно
Nice listen
nice, smooth, little. Way of singing not my favorite at times
A classic Nick Drake album - it is perfect, goes beyond English Folk and clearly belongs to this list.
Heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
Folk-pop bastante pesado.
Это лучшее, что я слышала за долгое время
The voice of an angel
Такой приятный альбом! Казалось, что я слушаю саундтрек своего дня, наслаждаюсь переливами мелодий и инструментов. Очень интересно было прочитать про жизнь этого исполнителя. Чудесная музыка.
Pretty similar sound to the last album which makes me like both a little less. I still prefer Five Leaves Left but still enjoyed this one as well. This is really easy listening music that has more depth than most. 7.3/10
Too sleepy for me, sorry Nick
Really enjoyable if a bit mellow.
3 albums now 50yrs old. Each one mind blowing. An ephemeral talent never seen before or since.
Out of his 3 albums. This albums the most well rounded. Containing an actual backing band rather than Drake himself plus Orchestra/Drake just playing guitar (in reference to his debut and last album respectively).
// Favs: Poor Boy Score: Strong 3
boring
This is really good. Great production. At first I didn't know about his singing style, but with the lush instrumentals and the vivid imagery in the lyrics, it all spins together into a really memorable experience.
Beetje te veel van hetzelfde voor mij. De stem begint me al snel te vervelen..
Ik kan Nick Drake prima hebben, maar toch mis ik wat peper om hier echt iets van te maken.
Hoe anders dan Five Leaves Left, vind ik dit toch ook een puik album. Fijne stem en klasse nummers. Vooral Northern Sky.
Niet zijn beste album maar nog altijd erg goed!
Een beetje teveel Nick Drake na elkaar. Vandaag niet voor in de stemming.
My main man Nick Drake. This is my least favourite of his albums - Pink Moon's sparse, haunting arrangements make it an easy number one, followed by the lush, glacial strings of Five Leaves Left. The upbeat & bright Nick Drake here seems a bit at odds with the others in his catalogue, but still some great tunes. Good to take for a spin every few years.
nicely layered folk music. like a slice of rich chocolate cake that magically doesn't put you in a food coma
An overlooked classic.
3. Un poco rollo.
the intro was nice. doubt i will be into this but hey it's 39 minutes long so it gets all my attention. okay i actually am into this first song. his voice is sooo nice. okay songs 2 and 3 were nice too. i wasn't crazy about 'fly' and the title track. everything else i enjoyed.
5/5 - Excellent; Like a fore runner to James Taylor but more experimental; loved it
Very pleasant and very boring
idrk what kind of music this is but i don’t like it … 2.5
Gone too soon. What a beautiful voice.
I’m going to stick with the Bob Ross comparison but I enjoyed this album more than Pink Moon
Me gustó, no es mi gusto/estilo, pero es buen álbum.
Totally reminds me of everyone smoking and listening to sweet music at Hohman’s. Honestly really great smooth music
Great smooth album
Not bad but not my type at all. But good nice maybe i need to listen couple of times. esp something about sky one is good.
Surprised me. For some reason I was expecting something dark and broody. Reminded me more of Rodriguez. Even a little loungey at times. Interesting, though not what I'd usually love putting on.
mid
Not my cup of tea.
First time hearing his work. I recognized one of the songs from a movie (from the 2000's) soundtrack. Very mellow but great.
It was okay.
Soft and smooth without being uninteresting. Great album, completely new to me
A perfect Sunday album. I'm much better acquainted with Five Leaves Left but this album is a gem. You can give it a few runs and focus on a different instrument each time or, just Drake's voice. I've never really wrapped my head around the word melancholy but I feel like this is the audible representation.
It was ok. Didn’t set my world on fire
A beautiful listen, which I need more time with to really rate it. I wasn’t sure I enjoyed it on first listen but I started to get absorbed by the voice and the gentleness the second time. One which linger, I feel.
I liked it
OK, most of the songs sounded REALLY similar.
i think it was completely average; i really enjoyed some of the songs at the end i think it definitely got more interesting!
Love the delicate and intricate instrumentation. (That acoustic guitar!👌🏽🤤) Nick Drakes vocals blend well with this style of music, but could be lacking in emotion/power? That flute goes hard on the title track Bryter Layter. The sax hits on Poor Boy. Northern sky is simply a wonderful track. Great album with a mysterious somber vibe.
More 70s vibes
First time listening Nick Drake. Very calming album. I am sad he didn’t get the recognition he deserved when he was alive. I will definitely listen his another albums and put my favorites on my playlists.
Chilled Background music
Definitely a mood album - what mood might depend on the person :P - this could either be one of the more depressing albums or one of the more joyous, I honestly can't ever decide. Either way, it's gorgeous in total - the full band arrangements, horns, strings, and Nick Drake's odd/dry/intimate vocal style all work for me. Hardly a party album :D (I'd love to get Van Halen 1 after this one for contrast) nor one that I think can be fully appreciated on first or second listens but for fascinating acoustic tunings/chords/arrangements and non-traditional "pop" singer-songwriter albums this is tremendous. 8/10 4 stars
He did again! Love this dude. Can't believe I haven't listened to all this stuff before.
I wrote something out for this yesterday when I listened, but I apparently didn't save it. Anyways, I liked it.
I listened to all of his albums recently and this is one I have in my collection. Great song writing. Maybe the strings are a little overdone. Given recent events the forecast is promising.
Chill album, might listen again
I had always heard about Nick Drake but never listened to any of his stuff. I really liked the atmosphere on this album. Drake's voice and guitar playing were amazing. I want to listen to this again and pay attention to the lyrics. Very cool.
Genuinely liked this album, felt really chill and could easily listen to it again. On the otherhand, its kind of like vanilla -- I can see anyone liking it but it being no one's favourite.
This album reaaaaally stuck with me, and is now on a regular repeat in my house.