Nick Drake

Phew; that's a tricky one Rasher. Nick blows your skirt up or he doesn't. It's the indefinable enigma of music I guess - it doesn't have to be musically, technically or vocally perfect to 'connect' and light your fire.

For me there's a fragile, vulnerable, wistful (and quaintly British) quality to Nicks's music, with some fascinatingly enigmatic lyrics and beautiful melodies.

We are given access to the mind of a tragic man, with an (ultimately) unhappy view of his world.

I love Neil Young (as well as Nick Drake) for example. He is not technically brilliant on the guitar and can't sing to save his life. That doesn't stop the one-note solo at the end of 'Southern Man' sending shivers up my spine.

Go figure.

John.

I found Bryter Layter less easy to love than his other two albums, and only really got to like it after really getting to know Five Leaves Left and Pink Moon. Now I think all three are brilliant, but I've always liked introspective music - too much Joy Division and The Cure when I was a student I guess...

Nigel

Well....there's no stopping now. I'll go get the other 2.

I couldn't agree more with DavieBhoy. However, I hear he has now reverted to his old moniker, having finally figured out the Groupee switch.

I have read the book, watched the documentary and bought a compilation. Still, it didn't gel. Then, I bought Pink Moon (remastered) and it almost all fell into place. There are tracks I love off the other two but Pink Moon is the one. Am I alone in thinking that far from it being the bleak, romanticised death throes of a young artist, it's just a great acoustic album?

The problem with Nick is that he's really just a whisper away from Colin Blunstone at his worst and only the romanticised nature of his death etc. have pulled him away from that. I can't ever agree with this idea of there being three classic albums there. Basically, there's one very good one and two patchy ones with some great songs and what, by anyone else, would be described as "well played wibbling tripe" IMHO (of course).

Mike

Pink Moon is ordered, and I hope it gels for me too. Thanks Mike, but you should be studying.

Sorry Guys (Mike/Rasher) I don't agree.

Nick is everything that is best about this sort of music. Taking the worst tracks across his three albums they are still better than 99% of similar offerings. Although all three albums are different I would struggle to separate them quality wise.


J.N Sums it up with "For me there's a fragile, vulnerable, wistful (and quaintly British) quality to Nicks's music, with some fascinatingly enigmatic lyrics and beautiful melodies."

I couldn't agree more.

Now obviously if the most wistful thing in your record Collection is The Pixies, then you may struggle!

Rasher,

I should indeed have been studying but... .

"Nick is everything that is best about this sort of music. Taking the worst tracks across his three albums they are still better than 99% of similar offerings. Although all three albums are different I would struggle to separate them quality wise.

J.N Sums it up with "For me there's a fragile, vulnerable, wistful (and quaintly British) quality to Nicks's music, with some fascinatingly enigmatic lyrics and beautiful melodies.""

Now correct me if I'm wrong but I thought one of the selling points here was its uniqueness. "This sort of music" suggests I must have that wrong.

I'm afraid for me that "fragile, vulnerable, wistful" etc. is interesting but doesn't compel me and nor do "enigmatic" lyrics. There are some nice melodies there but that's nice not beautiful. That's why Pink Moon works for me. The artifice is stripped away.

I guess, as ever, we'll have to agree to disagree but I hope you don't me trying (as ever) to articulate the impossible.

Mike

Roger Waters once said (regarding pop music, paraphrased): "The only thing that matters is, does it move you or not?" This bit of wisdom has saved me from struggling to like the Velvet Underground, Tom Waits, and Nirvana, among others. Don't worry Rasher; stick with your Tom Jones, Grand Funk, or George Formby albums (or whatever it is turns you on) and enjoy the discovery of stuff that is magic for you. While the black-clad hepcats are diggin' "White Light/White Heat" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit", I'm enjoying "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Mayor Of Simpleton".