Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Immense respect
Amazing album, very underrated songwriter. I feel he belongs up there next to Dylan. The man can write beautiful songs and has a lot to say on this short, concise album! 9 out of 10
brilliant
Great
This one is for me.
I really enjoyed this, quite the easy listen,
Really liked this album
Masterpiece!
I expect this album takes many listens to be appreciated. I am a big Gene Clark fan and there are some (I'm not one) who think this is his best work. I do like it a lot, but it didn't grab me initially as much as No Other, Echoes, Gene Clark Sings for you or his great work with the Byrds.
I've had a really strong run of late, and at the heart of it have been some of the greats songwriters - Joni and Paul Simon in particular. Gene Clark always feels a little fake in comparison, I guess, and - as ever with the Byrds and Clark - the difference between 'the songs that try to sound like Dylan' and 'the songs that are actually by Dylan' are quite stark. Still, none of that is to complain, because this is really very pleasant and a nice way to pass 30 minutes. It felt close to, but never over, the line of countrified, but was held back by much more interesting lyrics than yer dreadful Honky Tonkers.
Close to a 5 but not quite. Felt like a smoother edged Bob Dylan.
I didn’t like Gene Clark’s No Other album. It sounded derivative and just didn’t, in the words of Marie Kondo, spark joy. This album is somehow much better sounding to me and despite my disappointment of having to listen to another Gene Clark album, I actually enjoyed it. The vocals are still uneven and kind of all over the place, but the songwriting is better and the guitar sounds great, especially on For A Spanish Guitar. 4 stars (compared to a 2 star for No Other)
Listening to this album you're hit with a variety of influences and ideas that seem to work despite the starkness of the album. It's not an album you've probably never heard and sadly I hadn't either. It has that country rock flair that was pretty common in the 70's. This was a solid album.
very enjoyable! liked "1975" especially
very nice
Never heard of this guy before. Pretty generic folkie, but that’s fine by me.
Beautiful album, relaxing vibe. Nice riffs and harmonica. We really feel the Dylan touch even though he wrote only one song. Will be added to the CD collection at some point. 4.5
PRetty great
This was a nice listen. Being only familiar in passing with the Byrds, this felt a little more country as opposed to folk, which is what I associate that band more with (maybe incorrectly?). The storytelling was nice, Gene has a nice voice, and it wasn't too long. Good album.
This was the weirdest day for me to get this album.
Jeg foretrekker and / or White Heat, men det her er egentlig ganske bra...? Han prøver kanskje litt for hardt å være Bob Dylan, men det er særegent nok til at det ikke føles derivativt. Om bare all country hørtes mer ut som folk enn country!
Høres ut som en mer rufsete Gram Parsons
So this is where David Gilmour stole his lick for "Wish You Were Here" …!
I like it. It's worth building a spotify radio station off of to get different music
Comfy, cozy, and competent but with enough space in the music to let your mind wander. I enjoyed it.
really solid singer songwriter/bending country. I may like this better than the byrds general stuff.
3.5
I guess my hot take from listening to this album is that I think I like Gene Clark a lot more outside of the birds rather than inside where the birds always had that sunny harmony. It is beautiful and works in a light 60s pop fashion. But there's just something real and organic about this that I think works even better for his type of music. (9.4) ★★★★½
Very pleasant.cosmic country. 4.5 stars.
Helt missat hans sologrejer. Kommer återbesöka detta Townes van Zandt-doftande album.
Et bah ça s’écoute bien ! J’aime le folk rock en fait, ET ALORS
Actually quite pleasant
The Netherlands?? Verstappen mention?? Ok yeah I really like this actually. This guy is very chiller. Just a super solid folk album. It's quite nostalgic almost, I really like the vibe. Big fan of this. Favourite: Tears Of Rage Least favourite: White Light
Hey here we go. The lyrics may be a little simplistic and forego any kind of edge but man this would sound good on a sunny day walking through a forest trail. I've never heard of Gene Clark before so this was just pleasant for the most part. It ran a bit long and got a little too saccharine for me by the end, but overall I'd say its worth the listen.
Loved this one at first. Basically a less annoying and pretentious Bob Dylan album. But the more it went on the shine wore off and it was just a bunch of songs about how good the Sun feels on your ass for 51 minutes. Cut this down to 30 and it’s an easy 5 on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Also having read the Wiki for this album I can’t help but wonder… why is this on here? Was a huge flop everywhere except the Netherlands and there’s nothing in the Wiki about it being revisited in a more positive light so just… why? Is 1001 too insurmountable of a number?
Harmonica is always a win imho... plus a point for sounding kinda like Tom Petty.
Melancholic sound
A really solid surprise.
Me gustó mucho muy tranquilo, a veces un poco aburrido
I liked this! Nothing revolutionary but very enjoyable to listen to
fand ich eigentlich sehr gut und hat mich gecatcht
Comfy and short melancholic seventies folk and country, can't really argue with that.
Very very good!
Should have listen more to this in the past
The bonus tracks aren’t great but the original album is pretty good. Spanish Guitar/Because of You the best. Not as great as No Other though
Review - never really listened to The Byrds and didn't know Gene Clarke by name, but this album is great. Lovely acoustic folk/country rock singer songwriter album that's actually from a little earlier than most similar albums I know of. Assume he was an influence on later, more successful artists. This album was really good, not many duds. Even the bonus tracks were good. Rating - 8.5/10 Need to hear? YES
Dope. I needed this chill vibe tonight.
Really enjoyed this album!
I love Gene Clark. Great songwriter and singer. He was the sound of the Byrds for their first couple of albums. Unfortunately, the guy was a tortured soul and a roaring drunk. He couldn't get out his own way. I haven't heard this in years and it holds up well. Jesse Ed Davis' guitar work is, as always, stellar. One In A Hundred is the standout track for me.
I enjoyed this. Great, folky Dylan-esque songs from the most underrated Byrd.
Wow. I wasn't expecting this. Solid rock/country album with a smooth mood.
Another beautiful album I've discovered here by Gene Clark! Didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the other, but still very good 4 ⭐️
Pretty neat
A good album
Quite good
Weirdly a lot stronger when he's not singing covers
Bon folk relaxe.
Great vibes
After this one and no other, I’m convinced I need to listen to more gene clark. That Byrds family tree is really something.
I really liked this and need to listen again. But it wasn't an immediate 5 stars.
Easy peasy Toe tapper Steadfast Replay
Very pleasant to listen to. The guitar interplay is quite nice. "Tears of Rage" is a standout. Probably nothing I'll revisit or remember too much, but a good enough listen.
A really fun and overall pleasant album to listen to. I definitely felt myself gravitating towards the more folk songs than country, but that comes down to personal taste. Very underrated and solid listen. Top tracks: The Virgin, Because of You, 1975
Country smooth rock solid
It was chill
Very good, subtle vibrato on his voice with soothing guitar melodies, strong album.
Sounds like Jerry Garcia and even has notes of Dylan
felt like I stepped out of the wreckage and chose clarity over volume. no grandiosity, just earned grace delivered in a near whisper. I like stripped countryrock.
Solid stuff.
Very much liked the lyrics
I found it to be Dylan-esque at time in a good way. An enjoyable album.
Me estoy encariñando con el folk-country, ya tengo mi playlist y todo. Llego a escuchar una armonica mas y me pego un tiro tho Un 3,8, favs: The Virgin, With Tomorrow, One In A Hundred
precursor to yacht rock
Parfait pour Stardew Valley
A very comforting album. Maybe it's the acoustic guitar and harmonica, but I see myself sitting by a fire pit in the desert with a glass of red wine in hand, listening to this album.
This has to become one of my favorite country rock albums. I just love how dark and introspective it is. I'll be coming back to it really soon
Beautifully heartfelt and introspective folk album. A gentle, bittersweet breeze.
Nice and chill. What I needed today.
I’d never heard a note of this before today, but damn if it isn't pretty good. It’s moody and heartfelt in all the right ways. It’s got that rustic, lonely vibe that hits the spot on a quiet afternoon. Think Neil Young, but less nasal and more tender. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - The Virgin - With Tomorrow - Because Of You - For A Spanish Guitar
Gene Clark was maybe my favorite member of the Byrds during his tenure in the band, and although I am not super well versed into his solo career, I had heard this one in the past, so it was nice to revist it. this one lives somewhere in between early country rock, folk rock, and singer-songwriter. there is some great stuff on here and gene's voice is great as ever. and although the original songs here are pretty great, my favorite is his version of 'tears of rage' which gives a completely different feel than the band's version a few years prior. my only qualm with this album is that some of the ballads here drag on a little too long or don't have a lot of meat on the bone. but the album as a whole is an underrated entry in early 70s singer-songwriterdom.
He reminded me of bob dylan
Nice solid country album
Better than I was expecting but a lot of it sounded the same
Que lindo clássico, melancólico e potente
That guitar was so relaxing and chilled
I'd never heard of Gene before, so I went in with no expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed this - will listen again.
I actually quite enjoyed this. Sounds like the inspiration for a lot of the vocal sound used by Del Amitri.
Surprised I’d never heard of this one. Wonderful despite the Bob Dylan cover.
The lowest of 4s. Beautiful sound, but I can’t remember a single song. And I literally just finished listening to it
Low 4 for me, very enjoyable, especially the second half, could grow on me more with time
great folky
3.5 Lovely and understated album - enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I was going to.
Very laidback country rock, can hear his influence he had on the Byrds despite leaving in 66
I am a sucker for a good harmonica solo
Ok
17.10.25 klo 10.30, hima, varvas, qobuz miellyttävää, pientä, mies, kitara, perjantai
Det her va et sånt hyggelig bekjentskap æ aldri har hørt om før, og kanskje aldri kommer til å høre på igjen, men likevel satte stor pris på å høre på mens æ hørte på det. Veldig opp min gate, men mangla det lille ekstra som gjør gjenhør nødvendig.
I wasn't thinking I'd like this much, but it surprised me. Moe Dylan than honky-tonk, with a lyricism that I could see getting embedded in my brain.
Very nice. Not as good as 'No Other', but still solid. Gene Clark is now 2 for 2 in my book. I don't know why but I dig his solo stuff a lot more than The Byrds.
This is probably inessential, and is very slight, but I was quite charmed by it. It was a pleasant time so I’m feeling a generous 4.
Nice find
Overall cohesive album and really chill vibes something I think id revist when I need a calm mood
Not my thing at all at first, but grew considerably in stature on subsequent listens.
this was cool! took a sec to get into it but just a solid singer-songwriter+ album. low 4
Laid back folk music not so bad one of the better ones.
Love this one!
Boomer kino
dig it but it can't even begin to compare to No Other (my first real revelation from this generator)
Nice calm country vibe
very lovely i fw gene clark heavy. single handedly changed my view of country music. still not fan of country, but if its from him i like it
I think I'd really like listening to this in the right frame of mind, but, otherwise, it's just "good" to me personally. However, I definitely can recognize the songwriting skill and significance.
Combines the best parts of Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan. Also reminded me of Sea Change by Beck. Great guitar, nice vocals, steady pace. A nice relaxing listen. Audio and production sounds great on headphones - hard to believe this is from 1971, it could’ve come out yesterday.
This guy was in The Byrds. This is a beautiful americana folk sound. A feel good sound. Great songwriting, solid vocals. Uses an acustic guitar how it should be
enjoyed this
V nice country blues
Gentle country rock. Beautiful songs and spare arrangements.
4/5
Absolute campfire smoking a j drinking beer on a late summer night vibe so hell yeah
A classic, and must-have for Byrds fans. Gene made incredible music, and lyrics that bring you into the stories he tells so well.
Neil young ish
The incredible thing about Houmous and Chutney is just how much better they are than every single individual and combined entities of The Byrds. They are literally the band The Byrds wished they were. 4.2 2/14 With Tomorrow
Melódico y tranquilero 70s, mola
This was a beautiful album, the first one I had fully never heard of before this list. Super beautiful songwriting, and the glossy 70s singer-songwriter production works very well.
A gentle, poetic detour from the heavy vibes of 1971. This one was pleasant from start to finish. “Tears of Rage” stood out (who knew I just needed Dylan’s lyrics without Dylan's voice to like his songs?), and “For a Spanish Guitar” was quite lovely. Glad I listened.
Solid Gram Parson-esque songwriting and performing.
Great album! This was perfect for driving around in the country. Good variety, beautiful lyrics, and a Bob Dylan cover are really all I ask from a folk album. I will certainly be listening in the future.
Nice music for my plane ride
The melancholy of this album perfectly suited a long drive on an Autumnal evening
A beautifully understated album full of warmth, subtle melancholy, and poetic songwriting. Clark’s voice carries a quiet emotional weight, and the stripped-down arrangements let each song breathe. It’s a folk-rock record that doesn’t chase attention, but rewards close, reflective listening. A hidden gem from an artist who deserved far more recognition.
It was beautiful.
Its not "No Other", but it is still a great album. A couple of great songs and really enjoyed listening to it. Exactly what I love and it was the perfect album for the day. For a spanish Guitar was the standout track. 4 stars
Surprisingly enjoyable really. Bit of a Bob Dylan vibe but that's alright. Maybe because I am from the only country this seems to have been a success in but I rather liked it.
Interesting cover of Stand By Me.
Maybe it’s just me, but if I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought I was listening to a Bob Dylan record. Gene Clark’s vocals here are more restrained and conversational compared to his days with The Byrds, and leans into a more laid back, storytelling style of delivery. Overall, it’s a solid folk rock album with some rustic country elements that give it a warm, earthy character.
I went back and read our reviews of the other Gene Clark record we reviewed (No Other) and I'm having a similar reaction to this: which is to say I had never heard of it and really enjoyed it. So many moments on this album are simply beautiful — a melody that captivates, a guitar passage that comes out of nowhere, a vocal delivery steeped in emotion. I think I was subconsciously mistaking Gene Clark for Gene Autrey and expecting some goofy crooner country, but there is really a lot of depth and beauty here.
Gotta love when the Wikipedia entry says this sucks. This album is way better than I was expecting it to be after reading that little blurb. Nothing mind blowing but I did enjoy just about all of it. Pretty identical to Mr Bert Jansch from yesterday for me but I like this guys melodies more. Didn’t think I was going to hear tears of rage twice in three days. Another 4.
Byrds vibes without being a retread
Gene Clark is a god, one of the founding members of the Byrds and the best songwriter of those. I would give it five stars but I will save that for No Other, one of my favorite albums of all time.
Never heard of it, but really enjoyed this in a Dylanesque reflective kinda way...
The Good: We know we are not in the dark! The Bad: If I would have added “thanks to Gene Clark” above… The Ugly: My failed attempt at songwriting… or writing, for that matter 3 of the last 4 albums to show up on this here list, were released in the ‘70s, and interestingly enough, the surnames of these artists all started with a C, yet each belongs to totally different genre. What’s my point, you might be asking? Well, guess what I am trying to say is “bless the ‘70s!” It’s not the kind of album that you would whip it out during a cocktail party, the other two albums would serve that purpose a lot better. However, if the day requires you to relax a little, maybe focus on a singular task, like trying to make risotto, or preparing your expense account, then White Light is a good choice. Don’t know if this album deserves a 4*, or if I should drop it a little lower as it is very mellow, and one could argue, a little bland—the cover version of Stand By Me is enough to put any one to sleep—yet it sits there in your memory, and asks you to listen one more time… I am dreading more singer/song-writers from that era though, as I am pretty certain that I won’t be as generous with the *’s I am about to dish out…. 4*
I was a bit nervous about this, considering I had never heard of it, and it did not sell at all in the US. However, it was surprisingly pleasant to listen to as an album, and I could see coming back to this. I think it did poorly because there is not really a hit song that is marketable on the radio.
Day511 - this would probably be labeled americana now
really nice good camping/hiking music
i really love gene’s voice. i could see myself coming back to this record
3.5+/5
This album was really good. It’s got a really nice folky, and country-rock feel. Clark’s vocals are really great on almost every track, he also is very clearly doing a Dylan impression on the title track (not a negative just an observation that song was good) and there is a Dylan cover on here too. The highlights for me were “The Virgin”, “With Tomorrow”, “For A Spanish Guitar”, and “1975” but this whole record was very good.
4 - great acoustic country folk album
Sneaky good songs on this album.
Nice, low-key acoustic folk music that I liked
3,5
Sunny, upbeat folk rock that you can tell was made by a Dylan contributor.
This album surprised me. I thought it would be a run of the mill standard country album. There are some great songs and styles on here. Some sound like Bob Dylan, some like Glen Campbell and even a cool cover of “Stand by Me” with some bongo action. Fantastic album
4
I think this one is very mood dependent album for me. It's wonderful for a lowkey chill mood just relaxing at home on the weekend. I would say it meanders between feeling more "up" and then more "down" mood wise but in a way that is balanced enough that I like. This is probably most accurately a 3.5 and I am in the mood to round up.
I liked this way more than I expected to, honestly. Folky solo album from one of the guys from The Byrds? I wasn't expecting much at all, I can't even name a song by The Byrds. Beautiful and tender songwriting, short and sweet and a little bit of a country sound that isn't too over the top for my city slicker self that is allergic to that southern drawl vocal style. This was a curveball that I didn't expect to like as much as I did.
Kinda like Bob Dylan mixed with Nick Drake
New to me. Nice.
This list has taught me that I do, in fact, enjoy country music quite a bit, just not pop country or whatever we've been doing the last 20 years. With Tomorrow , Because of You, the Tears of Rage cover, and For a Spanish Guitar are all really nice.
Maybe it's because I have been pelted into submission by the onslaught of US&A's countryrockfolk in here and I'm just "whatever" at this point, but... it's nice? I think? A low-key Byrds plus what seems like a thankfully muted and altered influence from this Gram Parson dude? That iteration of that music? Whether I needed to hear this I have no idea, probably not, but, I had a good enough time listening to this. Saved a song.
Classic snd eminently listenable
Good folksy folk music.
This was some good singer song writer stuff here!
I liked it - perfect music for a spring day. Reminds me of drinking a pitcher of beer on a back patio with some friends.
This is some easy grooving 70's singer-songwriter stuff. It has a warm mellow feeling. The guitar & bass are fully upfront with the drums pushed back & the touches of harmonica are nice. Favorites: The Virgin, White Light, Because of You, Tears of Rage. I'm a solid 3.5 with this but I'm gonna give it a 4 because the bass is so fucking loud. I love it. You can clearly hear all the bass bumping and sliding and it's good playing!
I'd never heard of Gene Clark until today. An album that starts with a harmonica-forward song is automatically at least a 3 for me. Only ranking the original track list through the song 1975, as the rest are bonus tracks added in 2002 (though I really loved his Stand Be Me cover in the bonus). The Dutch have good taste, I thought this album was pretty damn good. He has a lovely voice, and the songs were really moving and heartfelt. At one point during For a Spanish Guitar, I felt like it was wrapping me up in a warm blanket. Great discovery!
enjoyable can see that groups like The Jayhawks drew a lot of inspiration from.
Warum so schlecht bewertet? Richtig angenehme Singer Songwriter. Die Cover musste nicht unbedingt sein.
so now I know who MJ Lenderman copped his vibe from. interesting! Gene Clark was a member of The Byrds, a band I'll probably get around to hearing for this challenge soon, and one which was responsible for boosting the careers of, among others, David Crosby and members of The Flying Burrito Bros. Clark's bag on White Light is a country-tinged folk rock sound that reminds me of Bob Dylan; Clark's voice often dips into Dylanisms, and there's even a Dylan cover on side B. I don't know if much stands out to me, but it's consistently a pleasant listening experience. I just wish it rocked a little harder or felt a bit more unpredictable. light 7/10.
I could listen to this voice all day.
started off being pretty neutral but icl I was enjoying it by the end. I am so freaking predictable.
I really liked this. Laid back, and doesn't try to do too much. Possibly a bit longer than it needed to be.
Quality Stuff
Tremendous bouquet of country rock music. Lyrical effectiveness and earworm instrumentals.
This was solid. Felt like a mix between Neil Young and George Harrison. Might not actually be a 4 but marking it that way to come back to
I really enjoyed this. The covers were nice and all of the music was solid easy listening
Gene Clark is one of the interesting side characters in 60s rock. He was the member of the Byrds who didn’t launch a career of his own as big as the others. But a couple albums really stick: this and the one with the Godsden Brothers. In all honestly that other album probably deserves a spot on this list more than this one, but it’s still a good time capsule of folk rock at a burgeoning age of consciousness.
I'm sure there are lots of other Gene Clark albums on this list, and I know that White Light is many people's favourite, but it's not mine. It's still good, he was a wonderful singer and wrote beautiful melodies, but this album highlights one of his two* great weaknesses. He didn't finish songs. "For A Spanish Guitar" would be one of the greatest songs of the era if he'd just nailed the ending. *IMNSVHO the other weakness is not knowing what and how his sidesmen should play. Some of his songs have the most incongruous and unsuitable guitar sounds ever added to beautiful songs.
Może przemawia przeze mnie wysoka gorączka, która właśnie mam, a może jest to idealna płyta na zimowe wieczory z kubkiem herbaty, kocykiem i śniegiem za oknem. Lekko Dylanowa, Youngowa, Cat Stevensowa. Nie dla każdego jak widać po ocenach, ale dla mnie - jak najbardziej. 8.5/10 równane w dół.
The Byrds' most consistent songwriter on his own, with a solid band and a strong feel for the sound of 1971. Could there have been a left-field hit in any of these tracks? Nothing is jumping out at me, but many moments of great loveliness.
Interesting production. Gene’s voice is charming and the sound palette is hypnotic. However, did we really need 14 songs? How about 11 and that’s it? 3.5/5
I feel like no one is mentioning This Mortal Coil’s version of With Tomorrow. Although I still like their’s more it’s only because I heard it there first. The album is great, though. I feel like it’s more folk than country if you ask me but what do I know?
Never heard this but lovely album.
Smooth and tastefully put together. Not a bad song in there. 3.9
I don’t think I’ve heard Gene Clark before. This was a great introduction to his music. At times it felt like a precursor to Tom Petty’s Wildflowers or Beck’s Sea Change which are two of my favorite albums of all time. That being said now I wanna dive into more of Clark’s catalog and see if this was a fluke or if he had more to offer.
Really liked that
Solid acoustic album with good famous songs
One In A Hundred and 1975 are giga Chad.
yeah really beautiful dabbled with Gene before but never listened to this album so really gorgeous songs on this
Ein sehr schönes harmonisches Album.
Ein af þessum plötum sem virkar fullkomlega óeftirminnileg við fyrstu hlustun en reynist svo nokkuð góð strax við aðra og svo ertu allt í einu farinn að hlusta í fimmta sinn. Ljúft singer-songwriter country.
A good album, I liked With Tomorrow the most.
Really surprised that I like this one, but hey I guess the Dutch have really good taste in American folk music? What about this even resonates with them? I'm so genuinely confused and I need to know more.
Charming.
Nice country music
Really enjoyed this - folk rock from The Byrd's Gene Clark 3.75
Enjoyed. Tired of it by the last song but also just didn’t like the final song.
"For a Spanish Guitar" (which Bob Dylan reportedly hailed as one of the greatest songs ever written). "With Tomorrow", "Opening Day" "Because of You", "Where My Love Lies Asleep" Folk Rock/ Country Rock
At first I was like "Oh, so he is like a country swooner." Then it was more, kinda country but folk. But the lyrics are not just catchy and he doesn't hold a full on country twang. After a while I thought, "yeah, not my thing exactly but ... pretty good I must say." And so it went and there were a couple of really exceptional moments in between. It makes me wonder if three stars is actually legit? Yeah, not my go to genre. Yeah, there are several STELLAR folk singers out there that I would pick first... But this is not your average country swooner. I think this has a bit more bite to it. So I am going to go ahead and nudge this one up.
Calm and beautiful. A lot of nice chords in there.
I can’t say I know Gene Clark, but I like The Byrds and the Laurel Canyon sound. This was a good representation of it.
think i'm into country
Pleasant listening, music to drive down the highway to. Best song: Winter In feels nostalgic as hell, I really vibe with the vocals on Tears of Rage, and For a Spanish Guitar was fun and gave American Pie vibes Worst song: I would never intentionally listen to this cover of Stand By Me I would give this a 3.5/5 but I let it play through multiple times--there's just something soothing about this one, I'll round up to a 4. I don't think any song in here would ever be a favorite, but sometimes an album just sets a nice vibe and that should be appreciated.
Simpler and much more countrified than No Other. But equally rich and warm and substantive, and consistently good throughout, if a bit prosaic, patient and non-exciting. Certainly, this should be better known. “Tears of Rage” is excellent. This might just be a record one has to take one’s time in getting to know and building a relationship with – a record one would marry more than date. It might be simplistic to say that it lacks a hit, but that (plus the melancholic overtones) might be a big reason why it never connected at scale. It’s more about a mood and a vibe, which one likes, but understands that everybody else (i.e., masses, general public, hoi polloi) do not, necessarily. 3.7/4 (And yes rounding up because underratedness.)
Probably a 3.5. I like the steel guitar and harmonica, but it was a bit too slow style folk for me
This record is a prime example of music that grows on you with repeated listens. Really dig the album cover. I enjoyed the more folky tracks. This seems to be getting blasted in the reviews and ratings, but I would listen to this over any current Country, Pop or Rap 100% of the time.
I hadn't listened to any Gene Clark albums previously, but I am familiar with his work with the Byrds. The music has a similar sound and in many ways it's on par or better than most of the Byrds music. Great songwriting, solid songs and his voice is easy to listen to, I wasn't surprised to read he guested with the 80's band, the Long Ryders, as their sound is heavily influenced by the Byrds. A good, under the radar classic.
Not bad.
Solid throughout. Good laid back guitar work and spiritful harmonica. Songs are well differentiated throughout. There's a somewhat narrow context I would listen to country music in, but if I am in the mood, this album would be a great one to reach for.
How can I sun this up?? It’s what would happen if Bob Dylan sang over Jimmy Buffet music…. I liked this album. I’m afraid though that Gene Clark will get lost in my mind before I really dig deep into his life’s collection but what a fun first ride. Maybe you’ll feel the same but you have to like acoustic almost protesty sounding songs. Choice cut: White Light
A sweet melodic album for the most part. Easy listening and smooth.
The Dylan-esque songwriting is quietly captivating on record that is full of warmth and depth. It's lack of hooks and energy may be off-putting and the production is sparse but this album showcases superb vocals and musical arrangements that gives each song a little bit of flavour (but not too much).
Another surprise from the list! Mellow almost country feel.
Gene Clark's *No Other* has been a personal favorite of mine for a few years now. So obviously, I was looking forward to discovering this earlier solo album from the former Byrds frontman. This is a collection of very pretty songs, performed in an obviously more understated fashion compared to the compositions on Clark's magnum opus (which was so unfairly underrated at the time). The chord changes look simple, but that's a very deceptive first impression, since quite a few of them actually go to interesting places on a harmonic level. *White Light*'s highlights are opener "The Virgin", delicate "With Tomorrow", bluesy "One In A Hundred", fully acoustic and harmonica'-laden "For A Spanish Guitar", the cover of Bob Dylan's "Tears of Rage" (where Clark translates the song into his own streamlined-yet-fully-effective folk grammar), and also closer "1975", another bluesy cut propelled by a nice bassline that sounds both laidback and bouncy. And the rest of the tracklist is more than decent, even if neither stellar nor groundbreaking. As usual, Gene's vocals might sound a little too polite (and even quaint) for some ears, but with this particular singer, this is how the artist can convey his touching vulnerability to the listener, as long as the latter is perceptive and sensitive enough to listen to the whole thing as a genuine example of a singer-songwriter pouring his soul into his art. *White Light*'s straightforward qualities actually pave the way to the grand ambitions of *No Other*. If the two records sound very different, they're still two sides of the same coin. Even if, admittedly, one of those sides shines far brighter today. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential album, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more gneral purposes (5+3.5) Number of albums left to review: 150 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 366 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 216 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 272
White Light, aka Gene Clark, is the second solo album by Gene Clark, originally released in 1971. Gene Clark was probably best known for his stint with the Byrds, where he was a founding member until his departure in 1966. He either wrote or co-wrote many of the band's biggest hits, and losing him was quite the blow. Clark had a lesser known solo career where he turned to more of a country rock/singer-songwriter sound. This really leaves room for him to flex his songwriting chops. This record is very intimate and mellow, with extremely poetic lyrics accompanying Clark's acoustic guitar and Jesse Ed Davis' slide guitar. It's a wonder why this didn't gain notoriety upon release given the popularity of the singer-songwriter scene in the early 70s. It really shows that Clark was doing this for the love of the music, as he refused to take part in the promotion of the record. This was also coupled with the fact that he had an intense fear of flying which severely limited his touring capacity. I think this is a solid offering from Clark. It features highlights such as "For A Spanish Guitar", "Where My Love Lies Asleep", and a great version of "Tears of Rage". Its cosmic country sound would prove influential for modern artists such as Beachwood Sparks and Tim Hill.
Nowhere near as good as his work with The Byrds, but that is a high bar to clear. Country tinged American folk is a genre I have a soft spot for, and this is a pretty good example. Interesting choice of cover (actually covers, on the linked expanded version) helps elevate just that 1/4 point higher meaning it rounds to 4!
heavy influence on the future of Americana
8/10. You need the right mindset going in, but very good. Some nostalgia here for me. White Light (3rd track) started to pull it altogether for me. Ended up putting about half the songs on the 5 star playlist. Big fan of the harmonica per usual from me.
This was great! The songs are the real stars, pushed to the front in the production and allowed the space to dominate. The minimal use of the Hammond organ adds a little variety. It doesn't grab you by the balls and say LISTEN TO ME. The quality spoke for itself. So good I played it twice.
Man these guys really like the Byrds and mad does Gene Clark like Bob Dylan. I enjoyed this album and its laidback vibe. Jesse Ed Davis’ guitar parts were great. It certainly has the most unique cover of “stand by me” I’ve ever heard.
Fín plata. Eitthvað við þessa angurværð sem heillar.
the virgin isch sehr sehr simpel aber mags no, sochli country folk wo gschichte verzellt. with tomorrow chli lahm? aso sehr schön aber chli lahm. white light isch wieder mit meh energie. cute song. because of you het mi etz nöd mitgnoh. one in a hundred au nice. slide gitarre cool. aaah geil mer hend e briiidge. for a spanish guitar au cute aber d harmonika gohtmer langsam chli uf de sack. where my love lies asleep weisnüme tears of rage sehr schön 1975 au meega schön hammer gitarre cooli chords. uuuh stand by me vom benn E king (we always respect that) ship of the lord wieder seeehr simpel aber cute? opening day wieder meeega schöni lead gitarre und d chooords im prechorus? chorus? huere schön. schönste song bis jetz. winter in erinneret mi anen beatles song? glichi chords. seeehr schön.
first listen it's really good
Un superbe album folk, doux et tendre
1/1 folksy hero
4.5
Although not as baroque or original as No Other , a fine and early post Byrds document.
This sounded better to me than most Byrds albums, and I like those OK. I was very pleasantly surprised, never having listened to solo Clark stuff. I'd welcome a return to this any old day. At times the songs are a bit too similar to each other, but in general I found this quite impressive and really nice to listen to. Wikipedia tells me this album only did well in the Netherlands. Well, Gene Clark, I'm happy to have you as my Dutch baby.
Although I was afraid it would go too country for my taste, this is a decent folk "rock" album. This makes for an easy listen, and I see how this can be representative of the era. Songs are way too similar, so it can get tiresome by the end.
Rather liked this one. Shocked that it didn't register much with audiences at the time. Just a smooth, easy listen with a great vibe. 4/5
Tää toimi yllättävän hyvin, vaikka aika tavanomaista. Sointukulut vaan iski. En tiedä, oliko auringonpaisteen syytä. 4-/5
Can‘t out this differently: a real grower.
This wasn’t my usual, but it was good enough that I just let it keep going. Not bad.
This was an enjoyable album. I had never listened to Gene Clark before. I learned the term "jangle pop" by looking up the artist.
Skemmtileg plata, fínt fólkrokk.
I liked it, chill
Country isn’t my usual forte, but this is very good. The mood, the writing, the vocals, the instrumentation - it’s all very serene and harmonic. This is one of those records that reminds me why I’m doing this project.
Everything here is extremely pleasant to listen to. Even the Stand By Me cover was great.
Really liked it.
A pretty awesome folk find. Similar to James Taylor. A shame Clark’s solo career didn’t take off.
I really enjoyed this. There was nothing really memorable, but I would certainly listen again.
Interesting album. Between 3 and 4, but I imagine I would listen again, so 4.
I haven't heard of this one before. Interested to listen to it. Sounds like a bit of a cross of country with some island sound in the first song. I like the albums where you can hear slight imperfections. Hear some Bob Dylan in there.
upbeat
Stand out tracks: "With Tomorrow," "White Light," "For A Spanish Guitar" Lyrics- 4/5 Vocals- 4/5 Instrumentals- 3/5 Vibe- 4/5 Overall 4/5 Your standard folk rock album, a couple of standout tunes but honestly really good for just turning on and tuning out. I did thoroughly enjoy it though overall.
Great!
I love classic country music, so I really enjoyed this one. The album is easy to listen to, and the instrumentation is nice. This is the type of album I could have in the background, setting a calm and easy mood, and not be distracted. The flip side of that is that there isn’t much that stands out. I started off loving the album, but by “One in a Hundred” I needed a break. The songs, while distinct, kind of blend together after awhile. That works for me, but, ultimately, the absence of a recognizable hit drops this one a peg.
Seems great. I thought I knew it.
very well made folk rock album! I like the songs on here with some really stellar stand outs: 7.8/10
mieux que les byrds a mon humble avis
I'm familiar with The Byrds and David Crosby, but had no knowledge of Gene Clark, his solo efforts, or the fact that he died so young. I'm going into this one blind. Apparently it was a domestic failure but later was considered one of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time. With Tomorrow was a really great chill song. And as I listen to the whole album, I realize that chill sound exists pretty much throughout. The funny thing is I thought about how much these songs sound like BobDylan, and then realized he co-wrote one of the songs. I dig this.
I really enjoyed this album and it’s mix of various genres. It hit the spot for me. The only thing holding it back, for me, is its lack of excitement and hit-worthy songs. Nothing really catchy here, but I did like all of it a lot. 4/5
Its just incredibly nice!
I finished this album and was reflecting how much I enjoyed this. Reminded me of Bob Dylan in a good way. Went to Wikipedia to find out more. Found out he was in the Byrds. Instant 0/5
I like this album; it is mellow and soft 4 stars
Pretty good for a first listen, I enjoyed this one.
Actually loved this album need to plan a road trip to truly enjoy this piece
At first I was bewildered why an album that seemingly was only successful in The Netherlands(?) would appear on the list. But this really is magnificent. The intersection between folk and country is explored in a very earnest way, with Clark demonstrating a clear melodic gift. It's not going to provoke you or push boundaries, but it's extremely pleasant.
Gene Clark was an incredible songwriter who deserved way more recognition than he received. Except for the Dutch reviewers. Apparently they fucking loved the guy. Good on you, Dutch reviewers. Good on ya.
This guy has come up a dozen times on this list. Pretty sad tale overall. This is pretty powerful, though a little too trenchantly maudlin for a masterpiece appraisal.
Quite lovely
Improperly maligned. One wonders if Clark was the true genius from The Byrds, and that Roger McGuinn just outlived everyone else to print the legend.
This was a nice soundtrack for a morning walk through a quiet neighborhood. It didn’t leave me thinking that I had been missing something in my life for not having heard it, but it was nice.
This has a real 70s country-crossing-over-to-soft-rock vibe that was pleasant to listen to. It didn’t knock my socks off, but was still nice to have on. I’m not sure how memorable this will prove to be for me but I liked it.
I knew Gene Clark, of course, but not this particular record. Enjoyed it quite a bit. If this isn't considered a foundational record for alt country, it should be.
HL: “For a Spanish Guitar”, “Where My Love Lies Asleep”, “Because of You”, title track Last couple albums were great but not exactly in my usual genre of music (metal, noise rock). 70’s folk rock? No need to concentrate too much here, I’ll take it all baby Lovely to walk down the city streets to, an antidote to the traffic.
This was lovely
Es como un 'Ballad-Country', está buenardo. Bien trancu, tener en cuenta para estudiar. Es el León Gieco de ellos.
Sounds like how conversations with old friends feel. Deserves to be much better known.
A great listen and fine playing by the assembled musicians
I was so pleasantly surprised by this. It feels timeless but still quintessentially 70s.
Actually pretty good, and I was honestly surprised based on description. But missing anything elevating.
listend to no other instead
Great voice and great songwriting but sounds like a demo album esp some of the percussion.
99 / 1069 Prefer No Other, this is certainly more country. Still a great listen!
Good stuff here.
8/10. I guess I'm a bit of a Gene Clark fan, this was really nice.
Reminescent of Tom Petty, Dylan, Drake. Acoustic guitar and harmonica folk. Really nice songs. Good discovery.
Never heard any of his music before or of him, but really good singer-songwriter music.
Gene Clark is so underrated. This is like listening to Bob Dylan but not actually wanting to cut of my ears because of the screeching harmonica and horrible voice. Don't get me wrong I love Bob Dylan, but a whole album of his can get so hard to listen to. Even though the lyrics aren't as deep or captivating or whatever this is nice for a change. 5 Though it sure is not the most memorable.
Quite nice actually. Great to listen on a ferry.
Nice light album Nothing special IMO but easy to listen to
A lovely album similar to David Crosby (also a former band member of The Byrds) and his album “If only I could remember my name”. Both highly rated albums!
folky and very nice. 4 stars.
Quite enjoyable. Early country rock
nice
Great stuff. Gene Clark has a way of getting into your soul with the way he plays music.
enjoyed it
Relaxing.
I have a soft spot for Gene Clark and sadly he's career really never took off the way that it should. I seem to disagree with with which albums are selected by artists for this list. this album is good but No other and Roadmaster are much better. Also the extra songs on the current release are not very good and take away from the original release.
Country, folk, 1971. Very good record full of great songs and a really well played cover of "Stand By Me". The mood is calm but sometimes melancholic and the tracklist is clever and interesting. After all the project is really solid.
Enjoyable listen. The type of laid back country tinged rock that existed, before wall-of-sound country arrived a few years later and urbanised the genre. Great.
la jungla de cristal bebe
easy listening
Massa massa Rockzao da antiga
pretty good, had some enjoyable parts but far from perfect 8/10
yoo this slapped
Хороший альбом. Светлый, добротный. Напомнил сольный альбом Джорджа Харрисона.
Chilled well crafted songs. Nothing mind-blowing but I enjoyed most of them.
I'm not a big fan of country music, but it was great as a background to my working hours. There is something in country music that is triggering me all the time, but in this one there wasn't.
I don't know man. This feels like a pretty run of the mill decent album for me. The writing is solid, and dude is hitting licks with that harmonica.