Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left
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Free Music Notes for Five Leaves Left
Free Music Review: One Of The Most Unique Folk Albums Ever.
Hit: 5 Stars
Nick Drake came on the folk scene at a time where most folkies wrote songs inspired by blues and country just as much as traditional music. Drake, however, did the unthinkable by mixing jazz and even classical influences with his music. His guitar playing here is strong (actually quite technical at times) and its wonderfully backed up by strings, piano, and various other instruments.
This is progressive folk. Much like progressive rock, it combines its sound with music not normally associated with that particular genre: in this case classical, chamber, and jazz. This is in direct opposition to the country and blues based music of Bob Dylan and such. For this reason, this album does not sound very dated at all. In fact it could have been released today, in the 70s, the 90s ect. Psychedelic rock and acid rock are so rooted in the 60s, they now sound like artifacts of that era where as this music, which resisted the norms of the time, sounds just as fresh as when it was first released.
Even though the lyrics don't seem to be personal when you listen to them, the music says otherwise. The album has a very somber atmosphere, most likely associated with Nick Drake's condition. It's well-known that he died from a pill overdose,and some even think it was a suicide. He only released a few albums but all of them reveal a tortured mind, expressing itself the best way it could, through music.
Please be advised that this is not a folk album in the traditional sense. It isn't even a folk-rock album. Nothing rocks hard here: it doesn't need to. In a way this music is just as advanced as most progressive rock. If you're willing to take a chance on a very unique sounding album, then this is a great purchase.
Free Music Review: When the Darkest Sky Gives the Brightest Light
Hit: 5 Stars
What a revelation this was, to discover such a talent many years after the artist's death. Now a personal favorite artist of mine for a few years now. Today, and not too long ago, one can hear artists who were deeply inspired by Nick Drake, who to me has one of the most peaceful, but tortured voices that I have ever encountered. During the time that Nick Drake was alive, his music wasn't nearly as appreciated as it is today. This album, his debut, is also his best. Bryter Layter's pace seems a bit more sped up, and lacks his better songs. 'Pink Moon' was my first album by Nick Drake, but personally, I just don't care for the more stripped down sound. This one contains weeping strings and soft vocals, it's surprising that songs like "River Man" or "Way to Blue" weren't hit songs in their day. Those two are also two of Nick Drake's finest achievements. Maybe with recent artists like the late Elliott Smith and Iron and Wine, we can appreciate Drake's incredible talent that much more. Not only was he an incredible singer, but the strings sections by Robert Kirby, on this release is just simply gorgeous. The great Robert Thompson, of Fairport Convention, also lent his talent, playing guitar. I cannot think of any artist with a more piercing voice than Drake's, one that can split a Man's heart. You couldn't say that about any hard-core band or heavy metal group that has more shock value than they have songwriting skills. No, and for me it is hard to think of any other folk artist with a more powerful delivery. This man, Nick Drake, was a genius, who died way too young at age 26. At least people are still discovering his music. Whether these people are generally happy people, or sad, Nick Drake's music always touches the heart. As with most artists, one only wonders what could have been if Nick Drake was still living today. He could have become one of the finest singer/songwriters, although to me, with only 3 albums, he is just that. Free Music Review: Five Leaves Left
Hit: 4 Stars
Nick Drake-Five Leaves Left ****
Of all three of Nick Drake's albums only one of those ever struck me as fantastic, made me absolutely fall in love with it, and only one of those three ever felt like it truly lived up to the hype. That album is Pink Moon. That damn thing haunts me and I think about it at random times and feel an urge to listen to it immediately. A Love Supreme is the only other album that does that to me.
Five Leaves Left however would come next. For me it doesn't live up to the hype and I don't particularly love it. There isn't a single bad or weak track here, they are all great in fact. Drakes lyrics are easily the most personal and best written here as against the other two albums. His guitar playing is a virtuosic as always, but something about this album just doesn't feel right. Maybe because Pink Moon was my introduction into Drake's music it will always be the standard for me to which I compare the rest of his work. It may sound quite jaded but it isn't anything I can help.
Only three songs on Five Leaves Left really hit me as classics and as brilliant. 'River Man' being the first. The somber tone in Drakes voice accompanied by the slightly out of place string arrangement is the sort of thing John Lennon and Paul McCartney tried to do with 'A Day In The Life' but didn't quite pull of. The second being 'Three Hours.' This to me might be the greatest song Drake ever wrote next to 'Pink Moon.' In at a staggering six minutes in length, which is like the equivalent of 'Mountain Jam' for the Allman Bros. it is truly a mini-epic. Lyrically it is unparalleled by anything else. The mood is dark as usually but I can't help but feel hope in the songs melody. The chugging bass line accompanied by almost renaissance guitar give an uplifting feel. The song is pure genius. The third being the lyrical genius of 'Fruit Tree' in which on his debut album Drake confesses that he knows his music won't reach the acclaim and recognition it should until his life has ended. Poetic bliss.
As for the rest of Five Leaves Left nothing stands out, nothing strikes me as blaam! Though nothing else is bad. It just simply plays, and plays well. For a debut album, Five Leaves Left is incredible, but it still showed that Drake had more ground left to cover.
Free Music Review: Nick Drake & Joe Boyd, Best of 1968
Hit: 5 Stars
Nick Drake's debut album from 1968, named for the notice found in packages of English cigarette rolling paper, was produced by the great Joe Boyd and included Fairport Convention's guitarist Richard Thompson and Pentangle's amazing double bass player, Danny Thompson. He was a contemporary of Sandy Denny who was also produced by Boyd on the same Island label. Some of the Five Leaves string arrangements were done by Robert Kirby, then a music student, who recently did the same for Teddy Thompson's (Richard's son) "country" CD, Up Front and Down Low, some 40 years later. Five Leaves fell through the cracks in 1968 but still sounds good today. Daniel Martin Moore has released a new album Stray Age which has some of the characteristics of a Drake album, and Moore covers a Sandy Denny song Who Knows Where the Time Goes. Without Drake, would we have had either Elliot Smith or Daniel Martin Moore? Forget the suicide angle. Drake was very much alive in 1968. Enjoy his and Joe Boyd's handiwork. Nick Drake is STILL very much alive.Free Music Review: Top Five
Hit: 5 Stars
Out of the hundreds of CDs I own, this one ranks in the top five. One of the best!