Bryter Layter

I better give this a good review or else Lucky Newman will be after moi. This is a good, sorrowful, melancholy album. It feels like Sunday lonely depression in sweet musical form. Top tracks: "Hazey Jane II," "Sunday," "Hazey Jane I," "At the Chime of a City Clock"

All Nick Drake is a 5 to me. This one has more instrumentation. Nick Drake was upset with the low reception from his debut and his producer had the idea to embellish it with a bunch of orchestration. My 3rd fave out of his studio albums but great regardless.

Mangler revidering

It's 3.5

Right out of the gate this is remarkably more upbeat than his work that I'm familiar with. Love the guitar work on this, especially "Hazey Jane I". "Northern Sky" is gorgeous. Will definitely revisit this album.

This had a soothing, whimsical vibe that I really enjoyed. Still think I prefer "Pink Moon", but I can definitely see myself coming back to this one.

extremely fun and also quite chill

Man who can't count whines over low tempo guitar pop. ⭐

Pleasant album overall but nothing really stood out to me. Vocals and instrumentals are calming.

7/10 I don’t understand why it didn’t sell on release he was a genius. Very folk heavy with almost jazz like influences

3.0

I honestly don't know why, but I've enjoyed these Nick Drake albums I've heard. This one is no exception. It's not my usual thing, but they just seem to catch me at the right time.

No thanks, before starting the 1001 Albums journey, I had no idea who Nick Drake was—- and I wish I was still blithely ignorant of his entire discography….

Nick Drake is really consistent in making flawless albums, by really consistent, I of course mean that he hasn't made a single weak song! After hearing Five Leaves Left, I was sceptical about this album, as I assumed it'd have the second album effect, where a perfect debut is attempted to be replicated, only more boring and feeling like a cheap copy of itself. Instead, Nick Drake creates an album of almost equal quality! In some of the early tracks, I heard a bit of Belle And Sebastian, if they weren't listening to Nick Drake while writing the whole If You're Feeling Sinister album, I'd be incredibly shocked! 'Hazey Jane II' was likely my favourite tracks, but the next 2 tracks were arguably better, but the beloved 'Northern Sky' didn't do too much for me. This album definitely leant into a jazzier side of Drake, but I'd argue that some of the instrumentals were much stronger than on Five Leaves Left. Nothing on this album compared to the beautiful 'Fruit Tree' from Five Leaves Left, but the rest of the material from that album is on par with this one, and that's a difficult feat to achieve!

Мило

Hazey Jane II basically invented Belle & Sebastian, and Northern Sky might be one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. Just two reasons why I adore this album.

Introduction - 83 Hazey Jane II - 93 At The Chime Of A City Clock - 91 One Of These Things First - 88 Hazey Jane I - 89 Bryter Layter - 87 Fly - 88 Poor Boy - 86 Northern Sky - 90 Sunday - 88 Bryter Layter - 89

It was delightful to listen to, but had nothing that stood out as exceptional to me. (3.4/5)

This album was so beautiful. Drake really captures the essence of melancholy and a beautiful sadness. I found myself tearing up to several of the records on this album and I think it strikes the perfect balance of "life sucks right now but I know it'll get better so I'm gonna suffer through the bad days to get to the good ones."

Never heard of this guy but I want to listen more. This is a vibe

I love Nick Drake, but this is not peak Nick Drake in my opinion. Northern Sky was the best by far. I appreciate that he experimented with Jazz and tried something new as opposed to staying in his lane. I would say he was successful. His voice alone warrants a three, I just won't be going back to most of them.

Didn’t care for it. His voice is off putting. Too soft and weak and without intention. Surrounding instrumentation is livable but nothing stood out to me at all. Sorry eric

As much as I’ve tried to get into nick drake, it always falls flat. A great singer, songwriter, and guitarist, but so boring

favorite tracks: Introduction, Bryter Layter, Fly, Northern Sky

Very pleasant to listen to, although fairly melancholy too. Favourite track: Poor Boy

Pretty good instrumentation. Lukewarm singing.

I never realized how much he sounds like Belle and Sebastian.

I have listened to Pink Moon so much that it is jarring to hear other instruments along with Nick Drake's voice and guitar. I have loved "Fly" ever since I first heard it on the Royal Tenenbaums soundtrack.

I always liked Pink Moon much more than the others, but this one has grown on me.

I don't know if it's because I read about this guy prior to listening to the album, but I just found this whole thing really depressing and bleak.

Good but the least of drakes works for me

4.5

Now with strings

Great album, really nice songs and I loved the vibe

You know what? This album’s better than Pink Moon.

After listening to Pink Moon regularly over a period of years, the production on this album was shockingly intrusive, and I never went back to it after that first listen. Now, having heard neither for several years, I find Bryter Layter much more palatable. It's difficult not to make a negative comparison of Bryter Layter to Pink Moon, but inferior to Pink Moon is far from bad. The songs on this album are quite good to amazing. The arrangements serve most of the songs very well, but on others they are more like a blanket thrown over to muffle the sound, soften the edges, and obscure the shape of what's underneath. The other thing that's different about listening to this album today is how impossible it is not to hear the similarity to Belle and Sebastian, who only formed after I first heard Pink Moon and who I don't think I had heard when I first heard this album. Belle and Sebastian are Hazey Jane II if Hazey Jane II was a band. Anyway... I regret not giving this album a chance due to the off-putting production. It's nice to have three Nick Drake albums, each with its own feel. Essential listen: no Desert island disc: no

I have heard one Nick Drake album, that being "Pink Moon." I thought it was mid at the time so I haven't revisited it, but I've been enjoying singer-songwriter stuff a lot more recently. Because of that, I was pretty excited to listen to this album. And man is it a beautiful album. I love how simple the songwriting is while still being so interesting to listen to. The lyrics are pure poetry, the melodies flow perfectly, and I love Nick Drake's voice. The arrangements here are very cool, though I don't know if it's better or worse than "Pink Moon." Regardless, this is a great album, and I WILL be revisiting "Pink Moon." ----- #0027 Heard on: 19 Oct. 2026 Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (50 / 349) Favorite track: One of These Things First Least favorite track: Hazey Jane I

Not really my thing, a little too much jazz instrumental

Koselig album Beste sang: Hazy Jane 2 Litt Jack Johnson Mye variasjon, og mixing av forskjellige instrumenter og kor og jazz. Krevde noen listens før det traff helt. Fant Nick Drake i forrige uke, gøy han dukka opp nå. Digger mixen med strykeorkesteret og den mere intime Gitaren og Pianoet Fløyta i Bryter Layter Trompeten i Chime of a city clock og poor boy Koret I Poor boy!

Asså eg digge jo Nick Drake fra før, At the chime of a city clock og poor boy og northern sky va sykt vibe Beste sang: Poor boy

Reminds me of Iron and Wine with more jazz, a touch of salsa. Feels like the musicians were really jamming together. Bring back the killer flute solo!

Not as good as pink moon but delightful

8.5/10 - I like how much instrumentation is on this compared to his other albums. It’s dreamy yet melancholy, sad but gentle. A really excellent album that I’m coming to find out was not appreciated in its time.

Sounds a bit dated, which is surprising since his other two albums are a bit of a feather. The more complete sound doesn't suit his voice the way the spare guitar does. It's here, a bit, but there's just too much orchestration. Definitely his weakest, but even at that it's still good.

Loved it. First album part of the challenge, I was so pleasantly surprised. Maybe because I didn’t actually like his other album, with which I had tried so many times.

An achingly beautiful album. I had forgotten how lovely it is.

Me pareció hermoso, lo disfruté bastante. Creo una atmósfera bastante romántica que lo abrasa a uno realmente evocó muchos sentimientos en mí, muy lindo

Сара 3 Марко 4

8.5/10

Great vocals and backing tracks

Very pretty and melancholic album, I really like Nick's voice. I feel like the accompaniments and orchestral swells are a bit much and kind of smother Nick, they are pretty though.

According to my notes I had a Nick Drake album over a year ago and it was meh. This is definitely better than meh though didn't go looking for any big thrills.

Правда хороший альбом. Есть три инструментальные песни, без текста, очень приятно было послушать. И тексты такие ностальгические, немного успокаивающие

No one sounds quite like Nick Drake

Never heard him before, which is strange because he died in the village I live sadly so young, but really enjoyed it.

Muy buenos arreglos pero demasiadas canciones instrumentales. gran disco pese a ser el peor de los tres que publicó.

I already loved this, it's just beautiful. I'm I think I prefer him with the backing musicians, the arrangements are generally gorgeous and warm, and I like the more optimistic feel of this album compared to his other stuff.

I’d put this right alongside 𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵. The instrumentation is beautiful, with piano, strings, and brass giving the songs plenty of colour without overwhelming them. I love being able to follow the little details in the arrangements and enjoy them almost as much as the melodies themselves. Then there’s Drake’s voice. He sounds almost as though he’s singing to himself, yet I want to hear every word. There’s a gentleness to his delivery that really appeals to me, and a hint of sadness that remains even when the music around him is bright and lively. That contrast makes the songs all the more affecting. The fuller sound never takes away the intimacy. Instead, it gives that lovely voice a setting worth listening to just as closely. Choosing between these two albums would be difficult; enjoying both is considerably easier.

Это весьма интересная барочная такая штучка от Дрейка. Дак ещё и в сотрудничестве с любимым Кейлом! Альбом, в некотором роде, пытается подржать Pet Sounds в звучании, в чем признавался и сам Ник и это заметно. Замечательные, воздушные, приятные приджазованные мелодии. Fly, Northern Sky и инструментальная Bryter Layter особенно полюбились. Флейта, скрипка, мм, красота! В свое время его засрали некоторые критики, что в очередной раз дает нам понять что муз-критики - говноеды. Как говорил один мудрый человек "Писать о музыке, это как танцевать о архитектуре" (иронично, что я пишу об этом в обзоре на альбом, не правда ли?)

Chill album, perfect for my commute on a foggy Monday morning. Northern Sky is a great song, and none of the tracks are bad, but not much else really stands out to me for a repeat listen.

4 stars This was my first listen to this after having only heard his first record (which I loved) and I liked this a lot too. Surprised by how much of a full band sound there was but really worked well. I knew “One of these things first” from Garden State. It was never one of my favorites from the soundtrack, but I’m starting to think he might be my favorites artist on the soundtrack. I feel like it will grow on me even more.

niezle luzackie czil

I just love Nick Drake, what can I say.

One of the greatest and under appreciated acoustic guitarist song writers of all time. His short time making music left us with 5 stellar albums. Would have loved to see what he might have done with another decade of life.

Aka the one of his that I do not owm....I wonder if I will end up acquiring it later this afternoon..... Although I have his 2 other records, i have never really got 'into' Nick Drake, possibly because so many regard him as the pinnacle of British folk music, whereas have resolutely been team Harper (for which Floyd, Zeppelin and Lee Crossman are to be blamed) i also have suspicions that the reasons people bang on about Nick include... A. It's a quick and easy way to gain Kudos from those that genuinely adore him (like wearing a Ramone's T Shirt when you.prefer M People) B, The sadder the ending the bigger the draw (see also Elliot Smith, Kurt Cobain, Ian Curtis to name a few) C. Many who champion him never seem interested in other folk musicians, (if you rate Nick Drake and dont know of John Renbourn then you a poser). However, there is a reasonably good chance that all of the above is correct AND that I have been foolish to overlook this album. Let's find out! I AM A TWAT.... Oh god this is so far up my street I would only have to pop next door to steal his milk. Pass the king sized slims, we have work to do and i have an over priced repress to buy. If I could give this 4.5 stars I would, it's the best record on this list to date by some distance. Did I tell you about how much I love Nick Drake?

Magnificent. Timeless. Exquisite. Many congrats to my namesake on getting the first 5 from yours truly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An actual 10/10 album. Also my friend is his first cousin once removed, she is an incredible singer and didn't accidentally overdose on opiates.

delightful from start to finish. rest in peace, King

A perfect album for a chilly raining morning. Couldnt ask for more from it, other than more familiarity. I like and dislike at the same time how similar all the songs sound, but its still wonderful.

The music is beautiful. I wish I liked the voice.

Is it Pink Moon... no. Is it still amazing and beautiful... yes.

Gorgeous album from an amazing talent. High 3s, but probably a 4 on multiple relistens.

This vocal style isn’t even my usual favorite, but there is such an undeniable charm to every track on this! I think I’m just particularly fond of acoustic / orchestral instrumentals too. Also … is it just me but does he kind of sound like a proto-Hozier but Jazzier haha

Singer songwriter stuff. Nothing really grabbed me.

Una exploración luminosa y exquisita que ha envejecido bien como un testimonio singular de sofisticación melódica y elegancia pastoral dentro del canon británico. En el plano de diseño formal, la producción de Joe Boyd junto al ingeniero John Wood alcanza un balance notable de claridad: la instrumentación —enriquecida con sutiles arreglos de vientos, el bajo elástico de Dave Pegg, el piano de cola y las cuerdas de Robert Kirby— se despliega con nitidez espacial, permitiendo que el virtuoso fingerpicking acústico de Drake mantenga su definición sin extraviarse bajo el peso del ensamble. La interpretación vocal y guitarrística preserva una indiscutible autenticidad, aunque en la comparación directa su álbum debut, Five Leaves Left, se percibe como una obra superior al poseer una mística más orgánica, despojada y visceral. Aun así, pasajes de enorme calado como el balanceo introspectivo de "One of These Things First", la melancolía urbana de "Hazey Jane II", la fragilidad suspendida de "Fly" y la cumbre indiscutible de "Northern Sky" (engalanada por la celesta y el órgano de John Cale) consolidan un documento conmovedor, crudo y real que opera como un sutil llamado a la conciencia sobre el aislamiento, el paso inexorable del tiempo y la búsqueda de calor en medio de la niebla. Por su cadencia sedosa y su fluidez instrumental, la obra preserva una constante sensación de paz y fluidez apta para múltiples usos, adaptándose de manera óptima como acompañamiento sereno para el trabajo creativo, la conducción atenta o para sumergirse en una sosegada reflexión solitaria.

Great album that is way ahead of its time. Great early morning weekend listen and I look forward to his other two albums. 8/10 Top song... One of these things first

music is love

I mean there was singing and instruments so that’s worth 2

Favourite Songs: At The Chime Of A City Clock Poor Boy

It’s just really beautiful music.

good

I'm not sure we need all the Nick Drake albums on this list, given the Moon one seemed to encompass everything he had to say and play. But maybe I'm wrong and this will be different. I like Nick's voice and lyrics, but his vocal melodies are limited across these three albums. I like that this album was less sparse than the last, but did not like that some of the arrangements and accompanying music was so jazz influenced.

Another absolute classic from Nick this is such a beautiful album to listen to his playing is sublime and everything just works love it

Beautiful!

Is it Pink Moon? No. But it still has that ethereal feeling that Nick Drake has in his voice and it's still really good. Could do without some of the piano though. Favorite Songs: Hazy Jane II, One of These Things First, Northern Skies

Sufyan Stevens before he was. Musically unremarkable. Lyrics make be special but on a single listen hard to tell. The breathy singing - huge turn off. Just not my thing. 2/5

Sublime

3.6705

Der Nachfolger "Pink Moon" hat mir vor allem aufgrund seiner Solo-Instrumentierung und seinem reduzierten Soundbild gefallen. Hier ist dagegen vieles eine Spur "aufgeblasener" durch die ganzen Streicher und Bläser. Am besten gefallen mir "One Of These Things First" (kennt man auch aus "Garden State") und "Northern Sky", die sich diesbezüglich noch sehr zurückhalten. Die Backing-Vocals in "Poor Boy" finde ich auch noch ganz süß und das Titeltrack-Instrumental hat zwar nicht mehr viel mit Nick Drake zu tun, aber gibt mir doch trotzdem was. Dazwischen funken mir aber auch zu viele Songs dazwischen, die den Kern der Musik mit zu vielen zusätzlichen Instrumenten verwässern. Dadurch kann ich mich auf diese dann nicht mehr so gut einlassen. Daher bleibt es bei guten 3 Sternen.

Also für 1971 überraschend stabil. Zwischendurch hatte ich den Eindruck, dass es das Genre Emo erfunden hat bevor es den Begriff gab. Trotz der Überraschungen fand ich es aber leider unterm Strich nicht spannend genug.

Das zweite Album das hier von diesem mir unbekannten Mann reingespült wird und der zweite Treffer für mich persönlich. Es ist wirklich wunderschön.

mehh kinda boring

What a discovery! I’d heard Five Leaves Left and thought it was painfully dull. This is a totally different vibe, the same great voice but much more passion and energy. I’ll be returning to this.

Very enjoyable 8.5/10

I love all Nick Drake - brilliant, moody, perfect for autumn.

I liked in more than the last Nick Drake album I got but it's still not really my thing

The more I listen the more I love this album. The accompaniments are lovely. Lyn Dobson and Ray Warleigh do wonders with the flute and sax. Not much more to say. 5 Boolean: True

I'm at a 4 on some of this but some tracks weigh this one down.

Beautiful haunting album, with amazing music throughout. Although it's not my personal favorite of his albums, the style variety in here should be enough to keep any but the dullest listener occupied and satisfied. I mean, there's no metal. Or rap. But the dude only made three albums before dying at age 26, so maybe cut him some slack, eh?

Another classic, that I used to listen to a lot. I like this one more than Five Leaves Left.