Bryter Layter

The music was nice enough but his voice is just so damn depressing, even on the upbeat songs. Better than the last one though so giving it a 3.

Northern Sky is a signature go-to mixed tape tune, but otherwise everything feels very similar, like a warm folksy hug you don’t really want but are glad to have had once it is over.

Similar to the first album, but a bit more life to this one. Someone opened the shade and let a bit of light into his room. Enjoyed this far more than his first, same great songwriting but not as overwhelmingly depressing. Actually looking forward to the next album. He only released 3 albums, all are on this list and we got lucky in that we get them in order of release. I'm curious to hear how he progressed on his final album.

Muziek als een warm, vers gehaakt dekentje op een winderige herfst avond.

was een goed begin met vrij unieke liedjes, maar rond de helft viel het plat voor mij

In the distant future, I must like this album. I should love it. Nick Drake is an inspiration for the majority of the musicians I listen to ad nauseam, and yet... He is just not there for me yet. I believe one day he will fit nicely into my rotation, but for now, the most enjoyable tracks are the ones in which he is not singing. Lull me into a peaceful night "Introduction."

sympa comme musique de fond mais un peu ennuyant je trouve

I thought I hated Nick Drake. I don't. This is pretty enough in a Tea & Crumpet way. Nicely recorded, the posh voice grates a little, but the instrumentals are pleasant.

It was short and not offensive that is a when for this past week. Had a hard timing understanding him on first few songs then it got better.

The disdain for him is understandable but not warranted

It was a decent, but somewhat forgettable listen. Enjoyed the music more than vocals

good listen, kind of Becoming The Lastnames vibes

I like the first two songs. The lyrics “And what will happen in the morning when the world gets/ So crowded that you can’t look out the window in the morning” The intro is beautiful

Felt like what a modern hobbit would listen to

Meh.

Muy de dominguera el álbum

Álbum que se deja escuchar, hasta se disfruta por momentos.

3.5 - good album

Very peaceful and calming, but didnt quite grab me so probably need to relisten to it

Hatte definitiv Einfluss auf Künstler wie "Sodastream" und so. Die mag ich dann aber noch etwas lieber. Solide, aber nicht umwerfend.

Nett, aber hat mich irgendwann verloren.

Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to.

It was really matching the vibe of the day and it’s a nice, relaxing listen ☼ It’s not my new favorite album but it was still a good listen and I could even save a few songs to my playlist ;) 3/5

A nice calm peaceful listen. 3/5

Very quick album, and great music to have on in the background, but probably not something I'd listen to on purpose.

out of my music sphere, but a welcome addition

It's very pleasant background music, if you ignore the somewhat depressing nature of the lyrics. :)

Never heard of Nick Drake but it's very good for an old folk album

...okay

This is not what I thought Nick Drake sounded like. I liked this quite a bit more than I was expecting even though it was way more folksy than I wanted it to be.

2.5 - Way better than I expected because I thought this was Nick Cave.

It was an ok album

A very 70s sounding arrangement with folk sadness meeting groovy backup. Some of the tracks are iconic and some are drippy instrumentals.

this sounded really pretty while it was playing. unfortunately due to my folk cilantro gene i will have forgotten every note by tomorrow morning. or actually, i think i already did

More pleasant stuff from an artist I hadn't heard of. Filing under the "good but not sure I'd remember to revisit" category.

First listen

Had it on cd and listened to it in the car, absolutely love drakes vocals, and a very easy listen, something good to listen to after a busy day, although i do think most of the songs are quite sameish

Best song is definitely Sunday. Love the flute interaction with the guitar and drums. Northern Exposure is also worth a listen. Album is definitely something you should hear once through but the rest of the album did not stand out to me.

A pleasant surprise!

Nice delicate vibe, listened to well walking through central park

background music

Favorite songs were At The Chime Of A City Clock, Poor Boy and Sunday

Melodic, nachdenklich, im auto, alter film, schaukel, sonne sitzen, flow

Finally, some Nick Drake. I’ve heard this name for years, and I’m not sure I’ve ever heard any of his music. I always get him confused with Nick Cave, whose music I have heard and like, at least what I’ve heard. It seems Drake is an English singer/songwriter. This was his second studio album and his last album to feature backing musicians. His last album was just him and his guitar, it appears. Bryter Layter came out in 1971. Drake would be dead from an overdose in November 1974. He was just 26, just missing out on the tragic 27 Club by around six months. Bryter Layter has 10 songs and runs 39 minutes. Again, I don’t have to tell you. They knew what they were doing back then. Actually, it seems back then it would have been better to release these longer albums, as people had nothing to do but sit and enjoy music. These days, attention spans are short. There is so much out there to rot your brain. Though I guess these days people aren’t listening to albums at all, well, except me. The youngers are listening to just singles or music in 15-second TikTok bursts. No wonder music is so cheap these days. There is little value put on it. DIGRESSION! Track 1 is Introduction. Just beautifully played acoustic guitar and a string orchestra. It already makes me swell up a bit, as in, this album may make me cry from just the beautiful sounds on it. Just a sweet little song. Track 2 is Hazey Jane II, which is weird. Where’s Hazy Jane I? Oh, it’s kind of country pop. It sounds like a Byrds or Flying Burrito Brothers song. It has a great horn section. Drake's singing style reminds me of Joni Mitchell. He sings fast on this song. The horns remind me a bit of the horns in Touch Me by the Doors. Dammit, there’s a better example, but I can’t grasp it with my mind’s paws. The song appears to be saying if you feel overwhelmed by the world or whatever makes you anxious, step back and focus on family or bettering yourself. The song is a nice little pop song, which I’m reading, is kind of a departure for Drake. There’s a nice little country-sounding guitar solo. I really liked that song. Track 3 is At the Chime of a City Clock. This song already sounds a bit darker. It’s got a bit of a blues feel to it. I like Drake’s voice. Oooh, strings just came in at the chorus. Very nice. And now there’s an alto sax playing during the verses. Ray Warleigh is playing the hell out of that sax. The song appears to be about being lonely in a city, but don’t just isolate yourself, go out and meet people. The song sounds sad, but the chorus is upbeat. Track 4 is One of These Things First, and it begins with a piano riff that reminds me of Billy Joel’s Piano Man, while the acoustic guitar riff and the bass together also remind me of Led Zeppelin’s That’s the Way. Both great songs, so we’re off to a good start. It seems the song is about Drake’s potential to have been anything other than what he turned out to be. The song can be seen as darker than maybe it was supposed to be when you realize Drake was dead in about three years, with so much potential wasted. It’s funny how death, or maybe it’s more like tragic death, can affect how you listen to music. Just a sad, beautiful song. Track 5 is Hazey Jane I. So that’s where she is. It has a nice string arrangement in the song. Makes it sound much bigger than just Drake’s voice, an acoustic guitar and bass. There is some percussion at times, as well, but bongos or congas, maybe a timpani. Jane seems to be a lost soul of sorts, and Drake wants her to find her way, whether it be with him or not. Whatever she does, she needs to do it for herself, not anyone else. Even if it is in her hazey way. But what do I know? The song is beautiful. So far, all the songs are beautiful. I wonder why he decided to forgo other musicians on his last album? Of course, I’m sure he wasn’t thinking it would be his last album. I wonder if, in the end, he said all he needed to say? Not saying that’s why he died, but any one of us can go at any time. Have we done or said all we needed to say? Track 6 is Bryter Layter. The song appears to be an instrumental. It’s weird. It has a more upbeat, positive sound than most of the songs on here. It has an orchestra with strings and a flute as the lead instrument. I assume it’s Drake playing the acoustic guitar. He is pretty good at playing guitar. Track 7 is Fly. This is another sad song, as the subject has made a mistake and needs a second chance. Whatever the subject of this song did, it has changed the relationship with someone he loves. It also seems like the subject of the song has personal limitations that keep him from straightening up to fly right. Again, you can’t help but think about Drake’s death and if he died with relationships that needed to be mended. Things that could have been said to someone you love won't always be able to be said tomorrow. Track 8 is Poor Boy, and it starts with some great guitar plucking and a piano. The song has more of a samba beat to it. This song is so beautiful. There is what sounds like a trio of women singing backing vocals. And now here comes that alto sax. This song has a gospel tinge to it. This is my favorite song on the album so far. It’s a bit more upbeat, though it isn’t actually a happy song. The lyrics are about self-pity and loneliness. The song is six minutes long, and it gives plenty of time for the sax and the piano to shine. It seems Drake’s mom was also a singer and recorded a song called Poor Mom about the struggles of being a mother. Some believe this is Drake’s answer to his mom’s song, where he talks about the existential struggles of being alive in an uncaring world. Track 9 is Northern Sky, and I think this is actually a happy love song. No, it can’t be. “I never felt magic crazy as this I never saw moons, knew the meaning of the sea I never held emotion in the palm of my hand Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree But now you're here Brighten my northern sky” The song has a piano moving the song along and an organ filling out the background. I also hear chimes of some sort. They really add to the song. They’re different. I really like this song. Track 10 is Sunday, and it’s an instrumental. A flute is essentially the lead instrument. But there’s a string orchestra with an acoustic guitar. Those who know better than I say this song is kind of presenting a moment of warmth and peace. It doesn’t have a melancholic feel to it. It does seem more hopeful than most songs on the album. And with that, it’s over. I must say, there’s something about this album. I listened to several songs twice during my first run through. I’m not sure if it’s the death of Drake playing upon my emotions or if it’s just a really good album. I tend to think it’s actually a really good album. It’s for sure a beautiful album. Had this been just him singing with an acoustic guitar? I’m not sure I’d have liked it as much. I consulted with my friends at Wikipedia, and it turns out the musicians playing on the album were John Cale of The Velvet Underground, musicians from the folk group Fairport Convention, and several musicians who played with the Beach Boys. Drake, allegedly, wanted the instrumentals to bring the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds to mind. Lofty goals there. A review from Melody Maker magazine said this, “This is a difficult album to come to any firm conclusion on", and said that the reaction depended on the listener's mood and that "the 10 tracks are all very similar – quiet, gentle and relaxing." I concur. Is it a must-listen? I won’t go that far, but I think it’s worth a shot. I don’t hear stuff like this today. Maybe I’m just not looking for it, but I think music like this is more filling than what Sabrina Carpenter can offer. But I may be wrong on that. I gave up on hating singers or bands because they don’t sing the music I liked a long time ago. If you’re looking for beautiful music to kind of feel sad with, this will hook you up.

Not bad actually. Interesting story behind the artist

I was quite a fan of Hazey Jane II. Overall liked the whole groove of the album. Took some nice chess W’s while listening too.

Bien mieux que Pink Moon !! J'ai failli mettre 4, c'est pour dire

First I thought this was Boris, then I thought it was Nick Cave, finally I realized it was Cat Stevens.

This made me want to listen to Akuma No Uta so I did.

This album reminded me of sitting in a pretentious coffee shop late at night. very calming sound. I loved all the instruments. Overall, really easy to listen to, but nothing caught my attention. Just really pretty background music.

not really my style but still a pretty solid album

Actually it was better than expected. The background music was really modern for the time the album was composed

Nice, easy listening folk. Also, interesting voice, wasn’t what I was expecting. Nice instrumentals / accompanying parts.

Lo escuché mientras maqueteaba

An easy listen. The softness of Nick Drake's voice and guitar accompanied by orchestral music, backup vocals with jazz inflections and even a lighthearted love song (Northern Sky) to break up the melancholy for a moment. I heard Pink Moon a few months earlier, and the sparseness of that one matched the tone of the songs. This one is more lush, maybe something you'd hear in a coffee shop, and you find yourself pulling for the guy, knowing the sadness and depression that would ultimately consume him.

“Hmm… I feel like listening to some Nick Drake today!”, said every coffee shop owner on earth. But hey, i could be listening to kid rock right now. 3 stars.

Interesting voice that works with musical style. I prefer his more spare sound. This album has some dated late 60s and early 70s production.

I prefer Pink Moon where it's just him and his guitar. A lot of these songs come across as more forgettable, easy-listening. Still good though

Good album, strong vibes. 7.1/10

Knew nothing about Nick Drake before listening. I like the light, airy vocals and was surprised by the depth / breadth of the backing orchestral arrangements. Wouldn’t surprise me if Beck drew any inspiration from Drake for his Sea Change album. A pleasant listen for the right moment.

It's always pleasant listening to a Nick Drake album. I liked Pink Moon more than this, but it was still a nice listen.

Hypnotic chord progressions, folk yet jazzy, some songs tend to be too long. Beautiful instrumentals. 6.5-7 at first listen

Ok

Застенчивый, нежный, очень лёгкий альбом. Понравился последний трек Sunday.

No pude prestar mucha atención, pero parece bien

Nice. If I wasn’t a tough grader I might give it another star

Was a decent album - wouldn't rush back to it tho

dang; At the Chime of a City Clock has a nice groove to it. This may not be his best, but it's far better than most of the shit on here.

Best Song: One Of These Things First. I liked the way the piano and guitar picking played off one another, providing a constant rolling rhythm that nicely offset the singer's more gentle delivery. Worst Song: Bryter Layter. It's rather strange that the titular song by this singer-songwriter contains no vocals. His melancholy vocals were, for me, the best part of the album, so I really didn't see the point of this track. Overall: Something about this particular instance of his soft-spoken melancholy didn't strike me as true as did the previous albums of his on this list. Maybe it was too sunny outside. This is the type of music that demands at least partial cloud cover.

Hyvä kokkuslevy

Kyllä tätä nyt ihan kuunteli ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nick Drake seems to have a very strong sense of rhythm. Too early to give a strong opinion.

It's a very beautiful album but not my type of album

I feel like this could be the soundtrack to every romcom ever. The bit after the couple have split up and they are sitting contemplating what to do next. Not unpleasant but I feel it didn't stand out in any way for me.

It was fine

first album on this site! lovely voice and songwriting... very very soundtrack similar to a group I like called yo la tengo though this was probably their inspiration hehe favourites : Introduction One of These Things First Fly

Idek why i rated this album 1 at first, like?? Good songs.

Calma

buen album

I listened to Nick Drake some years ago, back when he had that moment when “Pink Moon” was used in a Volkswagen ad and a bunch of people rediscovered him in consequence. I remember liking it, but it was never music that stuck with me. Revisiting it now, I suppose over twenty years later, I don’t feel that differently about it. It’s very pleasant, and I can see how some elements of this album were very influential—“Hazey Jane II” strongly suggests Belle and Sebastian; I had a Beck album on here earlier that had a big Nick Drake influence—it’s just that it doesn’t particularly do much for me.

Really pretty acoustic mushy man rock.

I have a love hate relationship with Nick Drake’s music. This one leans more to the love side but it’s not too far from the middle.

Had never heard it before. Good classic folk music, trying to start grading harder though.

Interesting it’s a good instrumental vibe. The album definitely is for a down time and nearly put me to sleep. All and all it was ok.

So this is really good dont get me wrong. Songs writing is great, its technically good etc etc. I dont care for some of the themes, as in like the songs dont impact me in anyway. Im not emotionally invested at all. Maybe just not my cup of tea? If this type of music is up your alley I could def see a 5/5 but for me; glad I listened to it but never gonna listen to it again. Gg

bryter later reminds me of a the cardigans song but i cant recall which one, especially around minute 0:42. I think Poor Boy is my favorite of this album listened to this while decorating my room, very nice

Uneven album, but some really good moments. Who new that Dave Matthew’s, Jack Johnson and others are doing impression of this guy!

poor boy 아직 내가 어리다

Not a bad album. I liked it most for the back band. I looked them up and the bass and drums were touring musis with the beachboys, so US session musos for this English Folk singer songwriter. The drummer in particular i liked a lot. Very solid, nice subtle touch, very good drummer. The songwriting is a bit earnest. He’s a good folk finger picker guitarist. If i was super into folk i might be more into it. It’s a kind of lounge music folk feel it has to it and i like it but at times get bored easily by it as well though.

i enjoyed myself, but it faded a bit into more ambient noise. i do enjoy Nick Drake :)

Pretty good!

Me gustó el estilo de música hasta cierto punto, no es muy mi estilo pero destaco los sonidos y la composición

me conecte con los sonidos de este album, llevandome a paisajes atardeceres con bosques, soledad, melancolia, pero desprendimiento en orden, me senti vulnerable con esta cancion hazey jane 1, poor boy, y northen sky

Buen disco, buenas armonías, buena guitarra

Das zweite Studioalbum des englischen Singer-Songwriters Nick Drake entstand 1970 in den Sound Techniques Studios in Chelsea, London – produziert von Joe Boyd, arrangiert von Robert Kirby – und erschien im März 1971 auf Island Records. Begleitet wurde Drake von Mitgliedern der Fairport Convention (Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks, Richard Thompson), dem Multiinstrumentalisten John Cale sowie den Soulsängerinnen P.P. Arnold und Doris Troy. Herausragende Tracks sind Northern Sky, Hazey Jane II und One of These Things First. Urbaner und zugänglicher als das Debüt Five Leaves Left – das war die Absicht, und sie gelingt: Messing, Streicher, Cembalo und Cales Orgel verleihen dem Album eine kammermusikalische Fülle, die Drakes zurückhaltenden Fingerpicking-Gitarren umhüllt, ohne sie zu erdrücken. Northern Sky trägt Cales Celesta wie ein Versprechen; Hazey Jane II treibt mit Jazz-Blech durch eine Stadt, der Drake nie wirklich gehörte; Poor Boy bricht mit selbstironischem Witz das Schweigen. Der scheinbar aufgeräumte Ton der Platte ist das, was sie so schmerzhaft macht – die Melancholie schimmert durch jeden Akkord, ohne je aufdringlich zu werden. Trotz des offensichtlichen Hitpotenzials von Northern Sky koppelte Island nichts aus, warb kaum und verkaufte beim Erscheinen unter 3.000 Exemplare. Drake war zerstört. Erst nach seinem Tod 1974 wurde Bryter Layter als das Meisterwerk anerkannt, das es von Anfang an war. Bryter Layter ist das seltene Dokument eines Künstlers, der im letzten Moment der Schönheit noch einmal alles gibt, bevor er in der Stille verschwindet.

Es como un día con mood en los 1900 mientras paseas por Londres, tiene de fondo guitarra. Tiene vibes de los Beatles.

I’ll be honest. Im really not a fan of nick drake. This album is a huge step up from Five Leaves Left. Its is great musically. But it can tend to be a bit of a drag on occasion.

As a fan of this type of music, I must say I never understood Nick Drake. I assume Pink Moon will be the next one I listen to. Maybe that will change my mind. Pretty lyrics.

Pretty mellow. I didn't know anything about this dude and saw people mention depression, so I looked him up and was surprised to see him die so young.

This is a solid 7/10 for me. To me his sound is just a better Beatles sound. It is quintessential 70s sound.

Like belle and Sebastian

We seem to be stuck in this cycle of albums that are fine, but not incredible. I get it. 1001 is a big number when it comes to albums, but there's a lot on this list that shouldn't be here. This is one of them. The album is fine. There are even a couple really good songs, but I'll never listen to it again. 3 Stars Post Review Reading Note: There are way too many 5 star ratings on the main page of this album. I can absolutely see someone giving it 4 stars; in a different mood maybe I would have done the same. 3.5 maybe for sure. But 5?! Folks....Stop yourselves. Come back to me. Be serious. Get real.

maybe overrated?

Very intimate, beautiful sounds… album that would perfectly match the vibe of living in a calm lodge in the middle of the forest. 3.5/10

Good album not my style though

Didn’t know the artist. It was a nice discovery, pleasant listening for a rainy evening with a cup of tea.

Devastating

Yeahhhh

Ok

3.5 stars. Not my favorite by Nick Drake but still enjoyed it. Good string arrangements and overall a nice, relaxing folk album

His voice reminds me of a male Sade

Aangenaam!

Hazey Jane II

It is the Nick Drake album that least resonates with me. If one had to be removed from the list it would be this one. However, it remains a great record for what it is. 8/10 [KEEP]

umas 2 musica joia mas nn sei voz meio pulga di bunda

Pretty sure I’ve heard every Nick Drake album during this challenge. I’m not a fan. The music is fantastic but his voice is wishy washy. Even the happy songs are sad.

En ollut ikinä kuunnellut Nick Drakea, mutta olin tietoinen hänen olemassaolostaan. Pidin albumista jonkin verran, mutta useammalla kuuntelulla pisteet voisivat vielä nousta. Nick Drakessa on vähän samaa näköä kuin Nick Cavessa.

Not my style but good

I liked this album. I love the jazzy sound on songs like "At the Chime Of A City Clock" and "Poor Boy". Something to note is how one note his vocals are throughout the entire album. I get that's kind of the point, but it got boring after awhile. Overall it was a calming, yet average listen. Three stars. (Favorite track: At The Chime Of A City Clock.)

Pretty guitar and singer has a good voice but I got really bored haha. Folk music also isn’t always my thing so that is an important caveat

real 2.5

I like Hazy Jane II

Deep and soulful jazz folk.

Another good album but not on the level of Pink Moon IMO

solides album, 5/10

It's alright, nothing special, but easy to listen to. At The Chime Of A City Clock is the best song out of the album for me.

Ja alltså jag skäms lite för att inte ha lyssnat på Nick Drake innan, jättebra album. Väldigt mysigt, förstår varför Northern Sky är så poppis, gillar allt plink och orgeln mycket. Kul med flöjtar och annat och såklart bra gitarr.

Nice but pretty sameh throughout

Boring but pleasant?

this feels very jazz-lite to me. I can't say I hate it. I won't listen to it again but it's good background music.

Not as good as his other two albums in my opinion, but not bad. More Singer-Songwriter than Folk-Rock.

Easy listen

it was alright, some songs were just music and no lyrics, which isn't my vibe, but good nonetheless.

Nice enough, and perhaps if I listened to it really hard, a lot, I might quite get into it (although the jazz parts turned me off a bit). Not sure I'd bother to put the effort in, though.

Nice melodies. I had listened to Nick Drake’s first album before, and I actually enjoyed this one more ! 3.5/5

Very nice, mellow sound. Not my favorite, but pleasant to listen to.

Jazzy and folksy at the same time. Not bad for a cozy day. Relaxing, but not boring or slow. 3/5

I loved the intro then he started singing. I couldn’t get into his voice. The music was alright. I’m rounding up.

I didn’t mind it, wouldn’t purposefully put it back on though

Went in only really knowing One Of These Things First from The Garden State soundtrack. Nice little mellow album. Sort of sad but not all whiny about it. 3.5⭐️

It's decent....I think I enjoyed Pink Moon more. 3.5

pretty short album again, guess its fine, added one song

Very soothing, but very low energy.

it was pretty good, I listened to a few of their popular songs and i felt calm when I was painting.

This was perfect listening for being stuck in traffic in the snow. It somehow matched the mood and helped me stay calm. I appreciated the instrumental stuffs.

It was ok, but sad and slow. Couldn’t get into it.

Very calm and mellow album. Super easy listen with calm acoustics and backing instruments. Definitely will revisit.

Great songs but too few to make up for the lesser deep cuts, the lesser of his awesome catalogue

Save:0

greatly surprised by the quality of the sound, great album, didn’t know this artist, imma look more into him

buen album, se siente como tomar un té en una tarde de verano al sol.

enjoyable Would I listen again: yeah sure Deserves to be on this list: maybe 3.0

Bob Ross of the music world. Enjoyed this one. Very peaceful and relaxing.

I listened this morning and don't remember anything about the album. Nothing to hate, nothing to love, nothing to remember.

Very good. Not my favorite style. I really like this album though. Not sure of the exact setting I'll put this on again, but it was good.

So far this is my favorite Nick Drake album. Favorite song: Poor Boy

It's alright. Nothing special.

i liked it!

Highlights: Hazey Jane II, At the Chime of a City Clock, Bryter Layter, Poor Boy, Sunday Very chill and somewhat classy sound. It was a pleasant listen. Even though I feel like not a lot of tracks stood out, it was an experience that I enjoyed and wouldn't mind repeating. A good mix of instrumentals and vocal tracks - especially because instrumentals didn't feel like filler. They conveyed exactly the same vibe as the tracks that had vocals. The vocals are dreamy and whispery, which I usually don't like, but here they felt justified. I usually rant that it comes off as pretentious, but Drake didn't because it made sense given the aesthetics of the record. I especially liked the little details in the background of the tracks like At the Chime of a City Clock's saxophone and Poor Boy's backing vocals. Overall not a masterpiece, but a worthwhile experience. It really didn't stand out but it didn't feel like a waste of time.

Nice easy listening

Good but slow

INTRODUCTION/ This guitar intro is beautiful my lord. Is that a… violin with it? I think? Very southern feel in a good way. Almost disney Hazey Jane II - very grateful dead opener. His voice is nice, not what i was expecting at all. I was expecting american this is very british-european. The type of song that makes you wanna assimilate a little.

Can't really stand his voice. Background was nice though

3,5/5 bila sam lepo raspoložena juče

This was cool. Some catchy, stripped down folk rock.

Pleasantly melancholic in places but ultimately forgettable.

I’ve tried really hard to get to Nick Drake, but I just can’t get there. This is my favorite of his 3 studio albums. The songs are pretty and the melodies float gently around the lyrics. I think this album and its production offers the best visage of his music.

It was nice, but I'm kind of just left wondering what I just listened to. I have 0 takeaways, to me this is elevator music

Some charming moments, but it’s not staggeringly memorable. It sounds great though; it’s got some of that natural warmth I love in the some of the best recorded Brazilian music of the 60s and 70s

Nick Drake is great. Some of the songs are overly arranged. I prefer his more stripped down songs. This is not his best album.

It’s fine. Another example of something neither annoying nor interesting.

Started off well, dryfted off into lounge music part way through. Probably wouldn't listen again.

Standouts At the Chime of a City Clock One of These Things First Poor Boy

There's a lot of lackluster acoustic solo albums on this list. I was pleasantly surprised by this diamond in the rough.

I don't think I've heard much by Nick Drake before listening to this, and I'm a bit shocked at the apparently massive cult following he engendered from just a few albums (in that sense, I was reminded of Rodriguez as I listened, although it's pretty clear that Drake became *much* bigger in later years). It's a pleasant album, and I liked the layering of his weirdly-whisper-like vocals over Fairport Convention's backing sounds; it feels like the sort of album best listened to in the background (of a coffee shop?), so not too many tracks really stood out for me, although I thought "At the chime of a city clock" and "Poor boy" were particularly...nice? complete? Sad to read that he only completed three albums before retreating from the world and then from life in 1974 at the age of 26. It'll be (somewhat) interesting to see if his other two albums seem considerably different, or part of a continuum.

Quietly beautiful though nothing quite sticks as much as I want it to. Love the flute on the last track and the arrangements throughout are really well done.

Nick Drake is always an enjoyable listen, but this slightly more rockin' version of him connects with me a little less than his purely acoustic stuff. Still a decent listen, but not my favourite of his.

Not bad. I feel like you need to be in a special mood to listen to this album. Not happy, not sad, somewhere in-between. Soft 6/10

This is a really nice nick drake album. Coming from Pink Moon, it's cool to hear him with a backing band. His take on folk is really ahead of its time. It would fit in well even in today's folk landscape.

Good morning chill song

This was mediocre at best for me.

Fairly pleasant. Reminded me of Belle & Sebastian in places.

7/10

It's not my favourite Nick Drake album. I will re-listen however.

it was fine.

This was decent. As soon as he started singing, I knew I recognized the voice and sound from 'Northern Sky' which was on the Serendipity soundtrack many moons ago. Chill vibes, good tunes, but some of the songs didn't land for me. (3)

3/5

So try to be true even if its only in your hazey way

Not as engaging as Pink Moon, but still a nice listen.

this was actually rlly cute

This was a quietly rewarding listen. I went in expecting something darker and more overtly melancholic, and while that undertone is definitely present, Bryter Layter surprised me with its warmth. The fuller arrangements add color and a gentle sense of motion that makes the album feel more open and atmospheric than I anticipated. I wasn’t listening with laser focus the whole time, and in a way that felt appropriate. This album works well as a companion rather than a demand. It creates a mood without insisting on attention, and the subtle jazz touches and soft instrumentation give it a lived-in, almost domestic quality. It’s introspective, but not oppressive. That same quality is what keeps it from becoming something I’d reach for regularly. I appreciate it more than I crave it. Still, I’m very glad to have spent time with it. It expanded my understanding of Nick Drake beyond the starkness he’s often associated with. This lands as a high three for me. Pleasant, atmospheric, and quietly beautiful, even if it doesn’t embed itself deeply in my day-to-day listening.

Loved all the instrumentation in this album and the way it was orchestrated made every song feel different. Vocals were diverse in sound but also very interesting as they dragged beyond the rhythm of the song sometimes. 6/10, Favorite Song: Sunday

Could be a 4 on a good day

On paper I should like this more than I do because the genre is a big favourite of mine. Its fine I guess

Not bad

I liked the vibe. Didn’t stand out as something I’d go out of my way to find again but I did enjoy it!

It took me most of the second track before I could appreciate his vocals. Definitely not a classically great vocalist, and his cadence was...strange. All that said, the longer it went on the more I liked it. I'm not sure he's going on regular rotation, but I wouldn't ask someone to turn it off.

Started out incredibly strong but lost me a little towards the end. Really pleasant listen, with some impressive tracks. He's a good singer and the layering of instruments was shockingly good in the stand out tracks.

It worked for a nice drive album

Beautiful orchestration. Great for a relaxing afternoon walk. I agree that entire album blends from song to song, and while that leaves little room for stand out tracks, it makes for a pleasant straight through listen. One of These Things First

Ended up enjoying this more than I expected after the first song. Certain moments made me feel like I was riding in a rainy day cab in NYC in the 1970s.

Good

I was surprised that I liked this because I usually don’t really love the singer songwriter genre. I thought the instrumental at the beginning didn’t quite fit with the rest of the album. I think my mum would like this

Not particularly earth-shattering but distinct enough to deserve a place on this list

It was good background music + I liked the instrumentals

I loved the instrumental parts of this album - they felt both delicate and ethereal, however, I have some difficulty getting on with Nick Drake's voice. It's soft and slightly breathy quality wasn't impactful enough for me as I feel like neither the vocals nor instrumentals fully led the journey of each song and I ended up feeling slightly lost in terms of compositional direction. With that said, I liked this so much more than my first impression (there's something about this album cover that really throws me off) and would consider relistening in emotionally-specific circumstances. If there were half stars I'd give it a solid 3.5.

très sympa juste un peu redondant voix un peu relou au bout d’un moment, prod super

5th album and 1st artist that I have never heard of before. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. Kind of “meh” but nothing specifically to say in either direction.

the third song was interesting but at some point they all sound the same

Good

an honest folk album. the melody of hazey jane ii reminds me of another country song and i can’t put my finger on it. would listen again on a cozy sunday evening

Light and beautiful, had no idea Nick Drake was this soulful and thoughtful sounding. Nice entry into his world.

6/10 - took me by surprise, could have been released in the last 20yrs but from the 60s

If this album was just the songs with lyrics it might be a 5, but the instrumental songs idle around too much for it to have impact

Not for me sorry

Still boring, though better than the other Drake album I've listened on this challenge. It's better in a sense that the songs have more orchestration and the album sounds less monotone. Drake is a great acoustic player, but one of the most boring singers ever. All in all, a very mediocre album. 3/5

not my cup of tea

Classic, but this list does not need to have every Nick Drake album.

A fost ok

Funky fresh but kinda sad. Lots of air coming out with every word

Rating: 6.9/10 Even though 'Bryter Later' is certainly not my favourite thing I've heard from Nick, I still respect it's devotion to composition, lyricism, and instrumentation, evident on tracks like 'One Of These Things First', and 'Northern Sky'. I prefer Nick's more folksy side, and while there are hints of folk on this record, i think it's more baroque pop adjacent. (I like baroque pop, but as i mentioned, i'd rather listen to Nick's folkier stuff) Still relatively solid though. Fave Tracks: One Of These Things First, Bryter Later, Northern Sky, Sunday, Hazel Jane (I & II) Least Fave: Fly

Has a few good songs ,but no my type

I cant say i was giving it my full attention but glad to have listened - enjoyed the opening and closing tracks, Sunday especially made my put down my book to actually write something about the album i think im learning i love a woodwind but overall felt like easy but fairly forgettable listening.

Not my cup of tea but someone who loves the quiet and calm would very much appreciate this gem. It's amazing how there are a lot of albums out there we will never hear.

Perfect album to listen to while playing Hogwarts Legacy (...I know...) which is what I've been doing nonstop lately. This has the perfect magic folk vibe if you love a forest-fairy-withcraft kind of vibe. At least that's what I associated with the most. Stand outs: Poor Boy, Fly, Sunday.

It was whimsical. Felt very soundtrack-esque. I quite enjoyed it actually.

For when it’s fall and you’re cozy and your lady isn’t quite in the mood yet but you think with a little help you could get her there

I must be a soul-less individual because I do not understand what is so good about Nick Drake. Twice now I've had to sit through an album of his, and twice now I've been bored to death. I think the extra star here is because one of these songs was in 'The Royal Tenenbaums', and everything that movie touched was pure gold.

Increíblemente relajante

great lyrics and terrific use of sax i gotta say. favorite track is poor boy. it was good knowing you nick drake, but its very similar to what im used to hearing. this doesnt make it lame becauese it wasnt the case in 71 i guess.. its 3 out of five but closer to four than three i think

done. last and first two dongs are fav

I'm at bryter layter, up till now I like it as like background music. (not in a bad way) Very fun. Some of it reminds me of ghibli music. Poor boy feels like a song that would play in the background of a show jazz club scene. (in a good way) Done listening, i liked it, it felt very short even though it's like 40 minutes long.

Prefer Five Leaves Left

Easy listening auch mal schön Aber nichts besonderes

Alright album overall, if you like country/hippie/indie this might be album for you. Gave me summery vibes.

A superb instrumental to kick things off. Track 2 reminded me it was Nick Drake and he has that forlorn apologetic voice. And I normally don’t do well with these 1970s singer songwriter folky blokes. But I did manage to warm to it. And the music was great in a lot of places. Highlight for me was the sublime ‘Northern Sky’. The low point that bossanovaesque ‘Poor Boy’. Worthy of a middle of the road 3 overall.

Steady jazz influence and I enjoyed the horns. Listened to this in the car with Sarah and Katie as we passed the Hanford site on our way to Leavenworth.

It was fine. Easy to listen to. But is he even speaking English..? Whatever it was fine

Not as good as Pink Moon, mostly because the producers on that album were smart enough to get out of the way and let Nick Drake be himself, unadorned. Here, the Herb Alpert-style horns, strings and saxophone feel out of place and distracting. Better is “One Of These Things First,” an easy romp with a Vince Guaraldi-esque piano playing over delicate finger picking, soft bass lines and Drake’s plaintive, lonely voice. In fact I enjoy the piano most of all the accompaniments, especially on “Poor Boy,” where it is supplied by South African pianist Chris McGregor. But this is overall just not on the same level as PM, and also WTF is up with the album title.

Like cat stevens for hipsters.

Not bad music, but the style here isn't really my cup of tea. I'd have liked to feel more of the emotion, or have a bit more power Standouts Sunday 3/5

I had heard this distinctive voice before but never knew who it was.

This one is fine. 3 stars

It's a very pretty album for sure. It sounds like a fantasy soundtrack in a good way. Nothing really excites me about it though, it's just another album.

Definitely real music, but not my taste.

Nice

Music for a gloomy day. 3.5 stars

I can’t help feeling the arrangements and the backing band are the heroes here. Drake’s voice is fey but ultimately unsatisfying and he’s not a stellar songwriter when you strip away the razzmatazz and the posthumous legend. Folk-ish easy listening at best. It’s not strictly a 1971 recording as the album was planned for release the year before, but Drake and his record company rowed over the artwork, delaying release of this 1970 album just into 1971. Pleasing trivia: Drake’s parents contributed to renovation of the pipe organ in the church next to his burial place. One organ stop is named The Nick Drake Stop. There’s an annual memorial concert, where the organist plays versions of his songs on the organ.

Man, I feel left out still not being too amazed by this guy. Hazey Jane I was beautiful, so I’ll come back to this every once in a while. Maybe I’ll get it when I’m 30 or something.

Some beautiful moments but overall not enough here to really grab me.

Nick Drake is like a weak handshake. This time with more production.

I listened to and reviewed Nick Drake’s Pink Moon some 250 albums back…I liked that one quite a bit better than this one. This album was fine, and pleasant to listen to, and I even enjoyed the instrumental numbers. But it’s nothing that I need to hear again. Three stars.

Album No. 0066 on my list. To be honest, I had never before heard of Nick Drake. “Bryter Layter” is a solid, minimalist mix of songs and instrumentals. In general, I found this album to be lacking a little bit of dynamic - they just don’t get to me all that much, although I can appreciate their quality. My personal favorites from this album are “Hazey Jane II”, “One Of These Things First”, and “Northern Lights.” 3/5 stars.

OK, fairly pedestrian

No private session used for Spotify. I have listened to several Nick Drake albums from this experiment, 70's mumbly soft voice paired with lovely acoustic guitar. This album has more instruments thrown in to the mix and gets pretty upbeat. Great one for the morning coffee, maybe the second cup.

A fine but somewhat forgettable album

Nice instrumentals, vocals, and lyrics. I was impressed with this album

I feel like if I had more time with this album I’d like it more. Still, some good songs and I like his voice and love his guitar work.

It's fine, but it isn't my cup of tea. The instrumentals are great, but I feel like the main point is supposed to be the singer.

This started out a delightful listen. But I got a bit tired of it by the end.

Can he sing? not really but can he write lyrics? eh, kinda but can he FUNK? yes. great composition and good vibe, but his voice is annoying and not really for me. best songs: hazey jane 1, northern sky (ironically the least cool but the best lyrically)

There's a bit of joy, a bit of lightness here. I much prefer this to Pink Moon.

I enjoyed it, but it’s not my favorite.

Definitely good, but didn't capture me. Sort of thing where I would get to enjoy it after a few listens... but do I want to listen to it more? Not really.

Hazey Jane II lowkey giving Dire Straits vibe, so was lowkey surprised by the rest of this album because it was a bit more strings heavy. but honestly lovely. i really like his voice, and i like the strings a lot. also saxophone made an appearance! very cool

Listens: 3.5 Standout Tracks: Hazey Jane I and II Lot of stuff going on in this album. Violins, jazz instruments (trumpet or maybe trombone), traditional acoustic guitar. Pretty nice composition and a lovely album. Short and sweet, doesn't overstay its welcome. At times, though, it does sort of feel like I'm listening to elevator music. Not like, Brian Eno ambient elevator music, but similar. Perhaps game show music, while the clock is counting down before the contestants have to answer. Bryter Layter is like this.

Another ok singer songwriter album? Better than Leonard Cohen, but not something I feel like I'd want to revisit. Might leave it on if it was on the radio? 3/5

This was not an artist I’ve heard of before, but easy listening.

If vanilla was a sound.

I like everything about it except his voice. It's not that it's bad or objectionable, just devoid of any flourishes or almost any personality, which may be the aim. I kept imagining how it would be if it was being sung by John Cale. This could be why I much preferred this to what little Nick Drake I've heard before, there's much more going on. I liked it. I need to listen to it a bit more.

Nick Drake is fantastic. But this isn't the best/most exciting of his albums. Pitchfork: 9.7 Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs One Of These Things First Northern Sky

I can see why thus is loved by critics and people in the know, but it has too much whimsy for me.

3,5

3/5

Relaxing

Not bad

Good. Unique voice. Very folksy and whimsical

Listened months ago and remember nothing about it. show must go on.

I felt pretty neutral about this album. Something about his voice rubs me the wrong way a bit. I enjoyed how upbeat yet chill it was, cool Fairport Convention crossover.

Rainy day music

Yep

Sounds like John Mayer

couple of great songs, good background music. 3.5

>Spends most of his life in the UK/UK owned territories >Is depressed Par for the course

2.5

Very interesting album, there is a lot of detail and dynamic range to look out for. The voices and instruments are very well recorded and everything sounds pleasing and nice.

It was ok, I wouldn’t be in a rush to listen to again though a low 3 high 2 star for me

An odd one, but largely enjoyable. Enjoyed the flute on the title track Bryter Layter. Going for a 3 as although it was enjoyable, I won't listen again.

A new one for me. Pleasantly surprised and on the better end for the more folksy music. In between a 3 and a 4 for me, might be a little harsh and go for a 3.

Not my usual cup of tea, but better than i expected. Still wouldn't call it particularly enthralling however

Liked this Joni Mitchell could have sang a version of each tune and kept the vibe.

Fine Monday morning tunes.

Not sure if I'd ever heard of Nick Drake. Nice folk and surprisingly jazzy, I was impressed that I enjoyed it that much. Easy listening.

musical and nice, but just nice.

Of the category "boring folk music from a dude and his guitar" this is surprisingly good. Sharp songs, good musician ship and sound and a good overall feeling. Too bad I can't remember any particular song... but I only listened to it once. Will I listen to it more? I don't know. Maybe.

I quite like this but it’s no pink moon, not saying that in a quality way but wow this has got some disney-esque strings. While pink moon you’re almost right there it’s like you’re at the other side of the room with Bryter Layter. 3/5

Bra - behagelig å høre på. men usikker på hvor mye mer enn det det er. må høre mer

Pleasant. I liked the flute

Okay. Didn't make much of an impression on me. Wasn't quite what I expected either.

Another soft and fluffy record in the best way with neat songwriting and arrangements. Everything flows very well around the artists vision and voice. It is interesting to see what drake did with more musicians in the room compared to pink moon. Songs sound less intimate and dramatic. While i still apprechiate this record, i prefer the pink moon solo experience.