The Album Review Club - Week #194 (page 1303) - Ants From Up There - Black Country, New Road

journolud said:
A bit of a macabre theme developing. For good measure have just been listening to Frightened Rabbit prior to hearing what this week's pick was.

We could probably make a very good playlist along those lines
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My' man! As the cool kids would say.
 
GoatersLeftShin said:
It's back to the late 60s for this album and I think it's another masterpiece from that era. Incredibly, given the number of ground-breaking albums around at the time, this went well under the radar and only gained due recognition much later on.

I absolutely love this album. It's definitely not going to appeal to everyone, but I've found this album is one I can come back to whatever my mood, whatever the weather or season (by now you all know that the seasons affect my musical preferences).

It's 'Five Leaves Left' by Nick Drake.

Released in 1969, Five Leaves Left wasn't a commercial success and by all accounts none of his albums were. I found this really quite strange as around that 1969/1970 year we see the rise of the singer-songwriters. The likes of Joni Mitchell, Elton John and James Taylor etc arrive and their introspective, stripped back style becomes one of the 'fashionable' sounds. However, he was an introvert who didn't like to play live or promote himself so maybe in an era before the internet, he was always going to find it hard to get his music out there. As a result, his albums didn't really sell and he had little commercial success.

Suffering from depression and poor mental health he took the lack of recognition badly. In 1974, he took his own life.

I've chosen 'Five Leaves Left', but I could have easily picked any of his albums. They are all superb and if you like this once, give his others a go. They are melodic, interesting and just beautiful.

As you probably know, in my opinion the music from the 60s/70s is the greatest in the modern era. Every week there's a brilliant album or single released!

When I first heard this album, I was genuinely amazed. I assumed he was one of these guys maybe from the 1990s who died then everyone discovered but I was astonished to find this album was from 1969. I think I know my 60s music pretty well and know a fair bit about the bands, musicians etc of the era, but this had completely slipped me by.

It opens with 'Time Has Told Me' and I think it sets the style out for the album. He is a superb guitarist but he tones it back and allows a country feel to come in. That blending of country and folk works so well. Throw in some great lyrics and a beautiful voice and you've got all the ingredients for a great album. The songs are arranged beautifully and feature some top class musicians like Richard Thompson.

It's one of those albums I can listen to in the sun with a cold beer in hand, when the autumn colours arrive or when the grounds covered in snow. It's both sorrowful, but also uplifting too.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
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I'm probably not the only person who can now scrub him off their long list for nomination.As you say. even though they've each got a fairly different feel, you could have picked any of his three albums and served us a quality offering. A voice I don't get tired of hearing and one that to me is like a salve which is such a sad irony given his own struggles.

Back on the debut album theme, at an age when I was chuffed if I could put my underwear on the right way round and get to a lecture on time, he was writing this. As you say little recognition at the time but the Fairport guys knew they were hearing proper talent.

In picking this you've probably helped me land on my next pick which has a bit of a connection.
 
threespires said:
I'm probably not the only person who can now scrub him off their long list for nomination.As you say. even though they've each got a fairly different feel, you could have picked any of his three albums and served us a quality offering. A voice I don't get tired of hearing and one that to me is like a salve which is such a sad irony given his own struggles.

Back on the debut album theme, at an age when I was chuffed if I could put my underwear on the right way round and get to a lecture on time, he was writing this. As you say little recognition at the time but the Fairport guys knew they were hearing proper talent.

In picking this you've probably helped me land on my next pick which has a bit of a connection.
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Joe Boyd
 
Out on blue 6 said:
Joe Boyd
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Joe Boyd is a connection but though he's produced probably two dozen albums I either like or love he didn't actually produce the one I have in mind next and there's arguably a more direct connection.

I will definitely enjoy listening to the 'making of' album this week.
 
Mancitydoogle said:
ND was on my list too, I was wondering when someone would nominate him.
I’ve already nominated a couple of tracks off this album for other threads.
I think it’ll score highly.
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I'll be the judge of that!

Original Nick Drake albums sell for shit loads these days. I've never knowingly listened to anything by him so a new artist. I like.
 
Bryter Later or Pink Moon are other ND albums I've always enjoyed. Sad to think he took his own life at 26 i think, his music always seemed to veer from sadness to optimism. The strings, his voice and lyricism are the highlights of most of his work. The opening track " Time has told me " and the more popular Way to Blue are both songs I listen to when in the mood. It seems an album to remind us to not let life pass us by - music at one with nature
 
BimboBob said:
I'll be the judge of that!

Original Nick Drake albums sell for shit loads these days. I've never knowingly listened to anything by him so a new artist. I like.
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New to me too, big shocker.

But with visiting the UK this whole next week, I'm glad to have one I don't know from the folk genre and emerging singer/songwriter genre to hear. I'm looking forward to hearing this.

5 hours and 5 minutes from the 1969 Rock Evolution playlist and not a track from this made it, so I'm glad to be circling back from a thread that has been very eye and ear opening on broadening those musical horizons.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
New to me too, big shocker.

But with visiting the UK this whole next week, I'm glad to have one I don't know from the folk genre and emerging singer/songwriter genre to hear. I'm looking forward to hearing this.

5 hours and 5 minutes from the 1969 Rock Evolution playlist and not a track from this made it, so I'm glad to be circling back from a thread that has been very eye and ear opening on broadening those musical horizons.
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Where you headed?
 
Coatigan said:
Where you headed?
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Edinburgh and Stirling on Friday, and I got outvoted on Glasgow, if that helps that I did try to get close to where I think you might be. Not sure.

We've been in the Northeast England most of this week with alternating between visiting extended family of my wife and most of retracing BimboBob's footprints at seaside castles and well recommended pubs. A visit to Bamburgh castle awaits tomorrow or Saturday, weather dependent on which day works best.

Next week is based out of Manchester with day trip plans to the Lake District, Chester/Wales, and LGWIO's favourite city, though I think we plan to check out a new stadium along on the Mersey, and of course a day dedicated in Manchester too.

I'm up for a pub visit or otherwise for anyone in Manchester while there, and we'll see what can be arranged. I Am Easy To Find. Lots of Nick Drake and Rock Evolution music to fit in on the train rides.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Edinburgh and Stirling on Friday, and I got outvoted on Glasgow, if that helps that I did try to get close to where I think you might be. Not sure.

We've been in the Northeast England most of this week with alternating between visiting extended family of my wife and most of retracing BimboBob's footprints at seaside castles and well recommended pubs. A visit to Bamburgh castle awaits tomorrow or Saturday, weather dependent on which day works best.

Next week is based out of Manchester with day trip plans to the Lake District, Chester/Wales, and LGWIO's favourite city, though I think we plan to check out a new stadium along on the Mersey, and of course a day dedicated in Manchester too.

I'm up for a pub visit or otherwise for anyone in Manchester while there, and we'll see what can be arranged. I Am Easy To Find. Lots of Nick Drake and Rock Evolution music to fit in on the train rides.
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If you were venturing as far south as Birmingham I’d happily meet up for a beer. However, if it were me, I’d stick to Manchester it’s a much nicer city!
 
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Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake is a beautiful and simply recorded album. The vocals in particularly are unfussy and effortless in the sense that Drake is barely making an effort and projecting. His voice is soft but is still full of body and pleasant to listen to. It feels like a very natural experience - you're hearing the performance as if you were in the studio with him rather than filtered through months of overdubs, mixing and mastering. Although the percussion does sound like it was recorded in a Super Mario undergound level it's dropped well back in the mix adding texture rather than distracting from Drake's vocal and guitar. All the additional guitars, basses and percussion are tastefully added in support and although the strings are sometimes a litte loud it adds to the impression that you're sat in a room with all the musicians playing for you. I imagine it would have been an exciting experience in the control room as the famously withdrawn and difficult Drake played these songs and came alive.

Unusually for me this is an album that I immediately thought was great. Normally I find myself feeling warmer towards an album the more I listen but this album the reverse happened. It's still going to land at a very high score because even the worse moments are still great. Sometimes the orchestration feels a little twee and the songs feel a little like they are from a musical and Drake is recording stripped down versions of them. This is evident on Day is Done and The Thoughts of Mary Jane. Day is Done is still a good song with a Beatleseque quality. Mary Jane not so much and it actually angers me that this album is so pro cannabis when it seemed to have such a negative impact on Drake.

I should perhaps have more sympathy for a tortured genius but as I painfully average man I want to punch him in the face for taking his gift so lightly. Lots of people are depressed and have difficult lives but they endure and struggle without many of the advantages and ability Drake seemingly had. The horrible cynical side of me wants to suggest that with a song like Fruit Tree on his debut album Drake is really leaning into the tortured genius trope and his suicide was a calculated career move. I acknowledge this is a very harsh unsympathetic take but if he'd just stopped smoking weed for a minute he might have been able to get some perspective. I'll stop short of suggesting that if he was a young man 20 years ago his obsession with fame would have lead to him whoring his talent on the X-Factor.

The only place Drake's vocal performance lets him down is on Saturday Sun. I'm left wondering what a more soulful singer could have made of this as the song builds to a climax. Perhaps if Percy Sledge was singing it though I'd complain he was overcooking it.

So that's pretty much it with the negatives. This is an album that I think is worthy of study. I want to know how it was recorded, what inspired the songs and how the music works. I want to trace all the ways it's influenced other artists as I hear echoes of this in other peoples work I enjoy. The threads of inspiration are rarely neat and you pull one string only to end up with a huge yarn ball your cat wants to play with. Did the strings in River Man inspire Radiohead or are they both aping Delius? I'd definitely watch a short youtube video or read a blog post exporing these questions. I doubt i have the capacity to fully appreciate what perhaps is instinctual to people like Drake.

Perhaps the biggest frustration with the self fulfilling prophecy of Fruit Tree. In Drake's rush to be famous and to have strangers know him he lost sight of those that loved him that he'd dismissed as being familiar. If he had endured he'd have seen the impact and influence he would eventually earn. 26 is way to young to die of cliche. It's an easy 8 and I'm very close to giving this a 9. I'm only not scoring higher because I think as much as I enjoy River Man and the Cello Song I probably enjoy what they inspired a little more.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Chester/Wales, and LGWIO's favourite city
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I may support the team but my old man always insisted we were from Cheshire (despite being an 051/L66 postcode).
You will no doubt (righty) breeze past Ellesmere Port unless you wish to visit the wonderful Boat Museum. Chester though brings back so many memories of my youth and a great place to spend a day. Enjoy.

As for this weeks offering, this is indeed a new none on me which got a first listen earlier today. Whilst something of a change of tempo from last week I certainly felt from the first few songs that Nick has such a soothing voice.
 
GoatersLeftShin said:
It's back to the late 60s for this album and I think it's another masterpiece from that era. Incredibly, given the number of ground-breaking albums around at the time, this went well under the radar and only gained due recognition much later on.

I absolutely love this album. It's definitely not going to appeal to everyone, but I've found this album is one I can come back to whatever my mood, whatever the weather or season (by now you all know that the seasons affect my musical preferences).

It's 'Five Leaves Left' by Nick Drake.

Released in 1969, Five Leaves Left wasn't a commercial success and by all accounts none of his albums were. I found this really quite strange as around that 1969/1970 year we see the rise of the singer-songwriters. The likes of Joni Mitchell, Elton John and James Taylor etc arrive and their introspective, stripped back style becomes one of the 'fashionable' sounds. However, he was an introvert who didn't like to play live or promote himself so maybe in an era before the internet, he was always going to find it hard to get his music out there. As a result, his albums didn't really sell and he had little commercial success.

Suffering from depression and poor mental health he took the lack of recognition badly. In 1974, he took his own life.

I've chosen 'Five Leaves Left', but I could have easily picked any of his albums. They are all superb and if you like this once, give his others a go. They are melodic, interesting and just beautiful.

As you probably know, in my opinion the music from the 60s/70s is the greatest in the modern era. Every week there's a brilliant album or single released!

When I first heard this album, I was genuinely amazed. I assumed he was one of these guys maybe from the 1990s who died then everyone discovered but I was astonished to find this album was from 1969. I think I know my 60s music pretty well and know a fair bit about the bands, musicians etc of the era, but this had completely slipped me by.

It opens with 'Time Has Told Me' and I think it sets the style out for the album. He is a superb guitarist but he tones it back and allows a country feel to come in. That blending of country and folk works so well. Throw in some great lyrics and a beautiful voice and you've got all the ingredients for a great album. The songs are arranged beautifully and feature some top class musicians like Richard Thompson.

It's one of those albums I can listen to in the sun with a cold beer in hand, when the autumn colours arrive or when the grounds covered in snow. It's both sorrowful, but also uplifting too.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
Click to expand...
I know Bryter Layter but this will be new to me. Looking forward to it.
 
GornikDaze said:
If you were venturing as far south as Birmingham I’d happily meet up for a beer. However, if it were me, I’d stick to Manchester it’s a much nicer city!
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Understood, so I'll offer the free pint I owe you to the first one here I meet up with. ;-)

After the past few days of driving on narrow near one-lane roads my GPS has taken me on to get from A to B, I'm looking forward to turning in the car on Sunday for public transit only the rest of the way. Those narrow roads and the ones where folks are parked up on the curb and hanging over into the street making things not quite fit for two to pass on either side have been testing me.

Still, the rural scenery and manor houses and countryside villas have been very nice to see too. That, and those caravaning, which is what we like to do in the US. Always nice to see those and their campers for those that take it on over here.

Planning to listen and focus more on ND, but haven't done much yet, but what I've heard sounded pretty soothing.
 
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