Nick Drake has been one, if not the biggest musical influence in my life. Before I had heard his music I really had no real preference in my style of music. I basically listened to anything and everything, but after having watch the movie Crush and hearing his music play in the background it totally changed me. From then on I was looking into any folk/singer songwriter music I could get my hands on. Nick is also credited with being the artist of my very favorite song, Northern Sky.Before I had heard Nick’s music in the movie I had absolutely no knowledge of him whatsoever. It was interesting when I was doing some research on him that he really has almost a cult following, and has inspired so many artists including Radiohead, REM, The Clash, etc. His music has a way of touching you on a deep level, and the fact that there is so much mystery surrounding his life, it is no wonder he has the appeal that he does.
Nick Drake was born in 1948, and had a pretty typical upbringing. His mother Molly was a musician in her own right, and that is where Nick got his musical styling. He could play almost any instrument including saxophone, clarinet, piano, and guitar. He did however throughout his life battle depression, and you can clearly hear his anguish through his music. Almost every song that Nick wrote can be linked to his own mortality, or death in general. What makes Nick so amazing to me is that he could write these songs in such a poetic way, that you have to look to find the meanings to each song. That along with the beautiful melodies are why I appreciate him so much. Unfortunately Nick only lived to the tender age of twenty-six. Because of his depression Nick was on many medications through his life. He died from a drug overdose that was never officially ruled a suicide or an accident. Which makes those of us who love his music so much, wonder what he could have accomplished if he was still alive today.
In his short life Nick was only able to produce three albums, that each have their own uniqueness to them. Five Leaves Left has more of that folk sound to it, however there is a bit more production to it, which was something Nick wanted to do without. Bryter Layter also has a bit more of that production aspect to it, and even has some jazzier sounding tunes to it. Pink Moon seems to be the most authentic Nick Drake album, in the fact that it is pretty much just Nick and his guitar. Having said that, I really do not prefer one album to another, as I have many favorites from each album, which I will post at the bottom next to the albums. There have been a handful of albums released since Nick’s death. Most are lost tracks, and some have the last few recordings Nick did before his death. I am planning on posting some of these songs on the bottom of the post.
I am highly interested to see what everyone has to say about this week’s selection, probably more than any artist I have done thus far. For me it is hard to say something I want you to listen for in particular, as I feel that everything about Nick’s music is important. From the guitar, his melodies, his voice and the lyrics, they all seem to go hand in hand. I understand that not everyone will enjoy Nick’s music to the extent that I do, and that is why I wanted to see what you all thought about him. Shed some light on what it is that you take from it whether it be bad or good. There is much more I could have posted, so I may leave a comment or two this week.
Albums:
Five Leaves Left (1969) – Time Has Told Me, Cello Song, River Man, Way to Blue
Bryter Layter (1970) – At the Chime of a City Clock, One of these things first, Hazey Jane I, Northern Sky
Pink Moon (1972) – Pink Moon, Place to Be, Things Behind the Sun, From the Morning
If it would be at all possible to switch Alexi Murdoch's album cover with Nick Drake's Pink Moon album cover, I would greatly appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI have never sat and listened to a whole Nick Drake song before. I’ve met quite a few women who are infatuated with him and I’ve briefly caught his voice used in a few car commercials. I am ready for a mellow journey.
ReplyDeleteImmediately on Five Leaves Left I can see where so many modern artists have been directly influenced; artists like Iron & Wine, M. Ward, and our very own Alexi Murdoch invoke the folk stylings of Nick. The hushed ease of his singing immediately wraps around you like a warm blanket. “Three Hours” is an early standout as his guitar picking is reminiscent of a minstrel in medieval times and his magical telling of a sad parable. The orchestration accompanying Nick on “Way of Blue” is effective in the fact that it is used sparingly to elevate the tone. I cannot remember the last time I listened to an album that seemed so effortless as this (that is a compliment). “The Thoughts of Mary Jane” was a surprisingly whimsical song about our smitten singer and the thoughts that circle his head when gazing upon his beautiful muse. One of the many things I love about this album is that it can’t be directly tied to a specific era in music; if you would have told me this album was made last year I would totally believe you. There is a timeless sound and Nick’s subject matter is presented eloquently and never comes off as dated. I thoroughly enjoyed this album!
I have been enlisted for a spur-of-the-moment trivia night, so the rest of my review may come in a little late. But know that I am already a huge fan of Nick Drake.
I guess this week will probably be a mix of Alexi Murdoch and Jimi Hendrix in that Nick Drake is within the folk realm, but also in that he accomplished so much at such a young age. I usually only listen to folk when I am with Beth, so it is usually not my cup of tea. Five Leaves Left is a very peaceful album and is quite relaxing. In fact it is so relaxing, that I almost fell asleep a couple times. Some people listen to music to relax, and I am not one of those people. So props to him for accomplishing what he probably set out to do, but I sleep to relax and listen to music to primarily take out my aggressions, release some stress, get pumped up for the task at hand, and occasionally cry. That being said, this album is quite good for this genre. Each song has its own story and personality. What I like most about this album is the use of the violin and cello throughout. They each stand out and Nick’s voice is perfect in this arena. Time has Told Me does nothing for me, but the violins in River Man along with Nick’s Harmony combined for a pleasant track. The riff in Three Hours has a sound of urgency to it that matches up nicely with the lyrics to help tell the story of Jack trying to get to his destination before nightfall. Again I like the violins in Day is Done. The lyrics are quite compelling as well. When the day is done, or when life is done, how will you look back at things? What moments will you remember and cherish most? I like the Cello Song for the obvious reason. The analogy of fame to a fruit tree is quite intriguing as well. It is difficult to get your trunk in the ground, then you blossom, experience fame in cycles or seasons, then you slowly loose your leaves becoming exposed, then you shrivel up and lose it. This album is a great start to showing off his musicianship and songwriting ability.
ReplyDeleteOverall, the second album has significantly better production than Five Leaves Left along with a much quicker pace. After a nice intro, Bryter Layter starts out with an upbeat Hazey Jane II. For a moment I think I have mistakenly grabbed a Neil Diamond album, but after double checking, I am quite surprised to hear the upbeat tempo on this one. Personally I do not think this bodes well for him. I like the violins again in At the Chime of the City Clock, but the horns feel extremely misplaced. I typically don’t associate trumpet with folk music. One of These Things first is really the signature folk song in my mind. Not exactly sure what the interpretation should be, but one could certainly be to be thankful that you ended up being conscious thinking human being, while another is to be respectful of other things as you could end up as one of those in your next life. At this point, things get a little slow for me. The next three songs and one instrumental track don’t really have a lot of substance. Northern Sky is another one that Beth often plays. This is probably the most fun track that Nick has in his list of tracks. This song could essentially be a wedding vow, where he is asking if his mate will love him unconditionally. I am surprised at the overall positive and fun tone of this album.
Pink Moon starts out with my favorite track to date. This has a sound that I really haven’t heard by anyone else. This is very up close and personal with Nick and again sounds like this was recorded on its first run. I also really liked the arrangement and chords in Road. This was probably the first ‘catchy’ song I’ve heard from Nick. Things Behind the Sun is catchy, but I have a hard time understanding what he is saying and, even after readying the lyrics, have no idea what the song is about. Know is a pretty strange track with a single riff repeated over and over and just four lines of lyrics. Short, simple, but yet those four lines are quite intriguing and appear to me to have a much deeper meaning. Parasite is the first truly dark themed song that I have noticed and it reminds me quite a bit of Phil Collins’ Another Day in Paradise. Not sure if anyone else noticed these lyrics, but he says some real life shit in this one. Free Ride reminds me of a Decemberists song with the dark tone and the riddle filled lyrics. And finally From the Morning is similar to Behind the Sun in that I have no idea what this song is about.
ReplyDeletePink Moon was definitely my favorite album of the trio and I am glad I got to hear the rest of Nick’s work and not just those few that Beth had plucked out and placed on her iPod. While this style may not be for me, I can certainly see why Beth enjoys his work so much and why he is considered a great inspiration to many artists today.
Thomas’ Neil Diamond reference makes sense when I first hear “Hazey Jane II” as the arrangement is something that could have been directly lifted off of one of his hits; this is not the direction I wanted to see Nick take. “One of These Things First” is recognizable from the Zach Braff’s Garden State soundtrack that introduced Nick to a whole new audience. Unlike his first album, Bryter Layter can definitely be traced back to the 70’s when it was made and, at times, Nick seems to be trying to get out from under the louder instrumentation like on “At The Chime of the City Clock”. “Fly” is a track I think I’ve heard while riding around with Beth, and is easily my favorite track so far, as it’s the simple formula that endeared Nick to me on Five Leaves. I dig the jazzy piano on “Poor Boy” and the way Nick reaches for those higher notes on “Northern Sky”. I feel the instrumental tracks are in need of lyrics and make the album feel incomplete. The second half of Bryter was more enjoyable for me than the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe stripped down opener “Pink Moon” has an honesty in it’s sound and set’s the tone for the rest of the album. Nick’s guitar playing is superb on “Road”, and the brevity of these songs really leave me wanting more. “Know” is a blues song done Nick’s way; it has that Chicago blues guitar and Nick’s wail that is reminiscent of T-Bone Walker. “Parasite” is a dark and creepy song that speaks volumes of the inner-demons that Nick battled. The beauty and pain of Nick’s voice and lyrics made him a special musician; he suffered a tortured soul in order for us to have some truly beautiful timeless music.
Sorry Beth, David and I were at the same trivia night as Justin. My initial reaction here is that one week of listening is probably not going to do this artist much justice.
ReplyDeleteThe music is pretty in its layered simplicity - the quiet (not simple as in easy-to-create by any means) acoustics allow us to take in Drake's voice and his stories without being overpowered by the instruments, the opposite of what so many Idol contestants do in the eyes of Simon. Not that there are any comparisons to AI, so don't take any offense. I just have it on the brain... Getting back on track though, pretty music/voice or no, I think something's missing if you don't pay close attention to the lyrics here, and because its the instrumentals that initially pull me in and it's usually awhile before I get the full effect of the lyrics, I don't feel like I can properly pass full judgement just yet. That being said, I am getting a little help from the internet to give you as complete of a review as I can this week.
I will definitely be listening to this artist more in the future.
"Five Leaves Left" is a strong album, but nothing really stood out to me until "Day is Done." It's kind of sad, to me. It reminded me that when I was young, every day was a treasure and I always thought I got so much accomplished. As I've gotten older, the day has grown shorter and shorter and I'm starting to get a glimpse of the way my dad has viewed life at his age - time goes by so fast (and continues to get faster) as you grow older and all those romantic notions about all the things you would do with your life sometimes never come to fruition. Not enough hours in the day, so to speak. It was amazing how much he knew about this truth at such a young age. Of course, I understand he wasn't the happiest of people, so perhaps "glass half empty" people get it before more positive thinkers, for whom this truth seems to take a while longer to kick in.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the instrumentals on "Cello Song" and the wonderings put forth in "The Thoughts of Mary Jane" - looking at a stranger and being curious what that person is all about (I also would be willing to bet "Mary Jane" is also a weed connotation).
Without looking carefully into the lyrics and meanings in each song here, some of them tend to run together a bit. None of them were too unique, and while I can see why this music might appeal to someone who appreciates a relaxed melody, I can also see how it could be a bit sleepy to others.
I would liken it to fish flying in the air instead of swimming under the sea because I realize that's not the person Nick Drake was but at times I kind of wish he'd pep up a bit. On the other hand, there are probably moments and moods where this would perfectly hit the spot for me.
I kind of got my "more peppy" wish with "Hazey Jame II" on "Bryter Layter" (although it kind of bugs me I don't know what that album name means and I didn't like the song all that much). While the melody is more upbeat, his voice is still very downbeat and a little sleepy for me.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, this album doesn't seem as heavy depressing as the first. My favorite track, of course" was "One of These Things First," which is yet another track from the "Garden State Soundtrack." I realize, Beth, you MUST know about this album but if you don't have it you most definitely should. The song, for me, is so head and shoulders above anything else I've heard this week... it's almost a shame I heard this song before any of the others because it set the bar pretty high for me. I don't know if its the familiarity that makes me feel this way, or if its because it sounds like sans lyrics it could have fit well into a "Peanuts" cartoon (more piano and cymbals than the acoustic guitar I've been hearing) or if it's because he's actually starting to sound a little more upbeat. It funny that I use "upbeat" to describe a song that sounds like it's about disappointment in all that he could have been versus what he became, but there you have it.
"Bryter Layter" is a nice, peaceful little intermission, followed by saxophone sounds I hadn't recognized on here before. I also enjoyed "Northern Sky" although I can't really pinpoint why.
"Pink Moon" started off better for me than the previous 2. I just realized that Nick Drake kind of has that Simon and Garfunkel feel, except his lyrics sound up close and intimate. I like the track "Things Behind the Sun." Something about it is sweet and attractive for me... but it almost feels like a cry for help, like he was telling people what it was to be depressed, though it doesn't seem like anyone was listening. "Parasite" actually was really depressing for me. Near the middle and end of this album it got increasingly more depressing, almost embodying that sad clown face on the album cover. I decided as I went along that the end of the album wasn't as strong as the beginning when I said I liked it better.
ReplyDeleteIn summation, I am curious to see if this stuff grows on me, knowing that a lot of great bands took influence from this man (and being able to recognize that myself), but I think I will have to be in a certain mood to digest the quite depressing and, at times, sleepy material he's put forth here. Not as interesting as what I expected being that David and Beth both think highly of the guy. Personally, I liked Alexi Murdoch better, who was a bit of a downer at times but whose music felt a lot lighter. Having been depressed in my life (thyroid related and by no means anywhere as serious as Nick Drake) I guess I really don't feel good about venturing into that feeling again. Then again, if I were feeling down and in need of a cry, as Thomas put it, I might like to find something to connect to in these songs. Favorite tracks of the week: "One of These Things First" and "Things Behind the Sun."
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I want to apologize for the delay in my post for this week, as I've been either working or at trivia nights all weekend, and this is the first chance I've gotten to write anything at all. Secondly, I'd like to say that I've been a big Nick Drake fan for about 8 years or so now, since I first heard the 'Pink Moon' album, so I've been looking forward to this week for a while.
ReplyDeleteNick Drake has had a large impact on the recent music scene, with the trend towards acoustic folk music that begin around the early part of last decade, and really took off with the arrival of Iron & Wine around the same time. I hear lots of other bands that he's influenced in his sound, however, most notably being Belle & Sebastian (especially on Bryter Layter with the addition of horns to the mix), and Elliott Smith who is a rather easy comparison due to the fact that they both made rather melancholy music and committed suicide at a young age. You can hear the sadness that seemed to permeate Nick Drake's life in the way he sings and the lyrics he writes, and knowing what happened to him makes listening to his music a gut-wrenching affair at times. Due to this though, I think that he was able to create some of the most emotionally real music ever made, and therefore was an amazing pick for this project.
Nick's first album, 'Five Leaves Left', is more comparable with 'Pink Moon' than it is to the album sandwiched in between. It's mostly an acoustic affair, accented heavily with orchestral arrangements that only serve to increase the feeling of despair throughout the course of the album. The first four songs on the album are all very similar in both sound and lyrical content, as they're all seemingly about searching for something, whether it's true love in "Time Has Told Me" or searching for heaven in "Way To Blue". The first real standout on the album for me occurs on the sixth track, "Cello Song". The string arrangement is pretty devastating in the emotions it creates, and it's the first even remotely upbeat song on the album. I also love the song "Man In a Shed", with it's jazzy piano and Nick's masterful guitar playing, and I love the last few lyrical lines of the song as well. My favorite song on the album is "Fruit Tree" (as is true of many, many Nick Drake fans), with it's words of fame not finding the true artist until after he's gone, which is certainly true in the case of the man who wrote and sang those words. The song is, to put simply, one of the more beautiful songs I've ever heard. In all, this album definitely ranks high on the list of the best albums of the 60's, and is certainly one of the best folk albums of all time.
I'll be discussing the final two albums in a few hours, once I've returned from a free meal courtesy of Andrew and Megan.
I think that the entire 'Bryter Layter' album had an enormous influence on the Scottish band Belle & Sebastian (who I like quite a bit), so I think I might have enjoyed this album as a whole more than everyone else. I personally like the addition of the horns into his sound, but do appreciate that it was only a one album detour, as I think the sparse acoustic folk was his true calling. The upbeat sound of many of these songs is a little strange at first, as it goes against the whole idea of who Nick Drake was as an artist, but on a song like "One of These Things First" the peppiness is definitely a good attribute. The piano sounds as if it's being played by Vince Guaraldi to me, and Nick's smooth voice compliments it perfectly....this is definitely one of his best songs. I love the whimsical air of the instrumental title track, and it would never fail to put me in a good mood, which is something that isn't usually said about Nick Drake. "Fly" is a beautiful song about wanting a second chance with an ex-lover, but in the end realizing that his chance has passed. The real star of the show is "Northern Sky", which is the single greatest song in the Nick Drake catalog. It's one of the sweetest, most simple love songs ever written, and it shows you the wonderful state of mind (for him especially) that Nick was in during the creation of this album. When the song hits it's climax and the organ part soars, it gets me in a good place every time I hear it. 'Bryter Layter' is another great entry from Nick Drake, and is one that I'll always return to.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love the first two Nick Drake albums, 'Pink Moon' is his true moment of greatness. From the opening chords of the simple, yet devastatingly beautiful title track "Pink Moon" to the closing of "From the Morning", this is sheer brilliance. "Place to Be" is the greatest description of the man's mental state during the writing of this album, and the juxtaposition between being "strong, strong in the sun" which he used to be and being "darker than the deepest sea" that he is now is fantastic. His guitar playing steals the show on "Road", and shows just how great at the instrument he truly was. "Which Will" is a haunting song in every aspect, and is lyrically brilliant as well. "Things Behind the Sun" is by far my favorite track on the album, and never fails to give me chills every time I hear it. Between this song and "Parasite" it's hard to choose which one is the most depressing, but I've got to give that to the latter song with it's "Take a look you may see in the dirt" line, which was sadly only too prophetic. The term "Pink Moon" was a lunar signal that sailors believed meant impending doom, and it's the perfect title for a perfect album.
Nick Drake is definitely an artist that left this world too soon, but what he left us with is some truly timeless music that will forever allow us to remember the person he was. Some of the lyrical phrases he wrote continue to haunt with every listen, and in my opinion, that is the mark of a musician that should be shared with everyone....so thank you Beth for allowing his work to be shared.