Reviews (page 10 of 12)
Nice listen, some tracks are a bit "boring". solid 3.5/5
It was decent. Not necessarily groundbreaking to me but this type of music has never really been my style and to be honest I’ve always found it a bit grating. But for this one in particular I can respect the blending of genres and I appreciated the lyrics and the many stories she told. Comfortable giving it a solid 3 and saying this album is the best the conversational female singer songwriter genre has to offer
Que vibe interessante, um tipo de som que eu gosto, mas parece que falta algo pra eu curtir mesmo. Curti pra caramba a Love and Affection, sem saber que era a mais conhecida dela hauahah, essa eu adicionei. Mas sempre gosto desse violãozinho, vibe legal, mas album one-time-only, começar a chamar de OTO. “Que OTO”? “OTO álbum que nunca mais vou ouvir na vida.”
Beviel me veel beter dan ik had verwacht op basis van de beschrijving.
1. Down to Zero 8.4 2. Help Yourself 8.5 3. Water with the Wine 6.8 4. Love and Affection 7.4 5. Save Me 6.5 6. Join the Boys 7.3 7. People 6.3 8. Somebody who Loves You 7 9. Like Fire 7.1 10. Tall in the Saddle 6.8 Consistently good!! 3.5 stars.
Interessant.
Not really my tea, but I can appreciate the musicianship. I feel like I would hear this music at the end of an 80’s feel good movie.
A lovely sounding album, not the most energetic but with plenty of passion. Perfect for relaxing at the end of the day.
Great album, just not for me!
Fine I guess. Rather forgettable.
3.5. Good album just not generally kind of music - great guitar solos on a few of these! A fun listen
This was not bad. Sounds like someone Tracy Chapman may have been influenced by. Good variety here - listed as Pop on Apple Music, but there's blues, funk, folk, country. Favorite track: Water with the Wine, but also liked Tall In the Saddle.
Favorite Tracks: Down To Zero, Love And Affection, Save Me, Join The Boys, People, Somebody Who Loves You, Like Fire
This was a lot of fun and a great listen. Love the groovy baseline in People. Love the deep backing vocals in Love and Affection.
Like fire!
Boring
I saw a really good documentary about her a couple of years ago - great voice, but have to agree with the group's general opinion regarding songs. A few too many that are slightly forgettable. Glad to have listened, don't think I'll be going back. Favourite songs: Water with the Wine, Love and Affection.
Thought this was pretty good, didn't blow me away but am really glad I got to hear it. I enjoyed the jazzier, more groovy sounding songs but I didn't expect her to bust out multipe guitar solos on the album. Overall this was a pleasant surprise. Highlights: Down To Zero Love And Affection People Like Fire
Fun lyrics but not really my type.
Laid back, chill listening. Nothing disagreeable, nothing amazing. This is roots'ier than 'Drop the Pilot', but I was surprised to find that this is her 3rd studio album and I'd be happy to check out her earlier work too. A solid 3.5
I am a little confused with this album. Because on RYM, it is labeled as folk rock and singer-songwriter. And the idea of what those genres sound like together in my head isn't at all what this album is like. This album feels way more adjacent to jazz and funk music, with some soul mixed in there as well. Maybe folk rock is more of an umbrella term than I imagined it to be, but I'm not sure. Either way, if we are to go by the basis that this is some type of folk funk music, then I think the first 4 tracks do a pretty good job. Now, what I'm about to say might not make much sense, but the first 4 songs are both catchy and engaging, but also not super memorable. I don't think anything on this is super memorable. None of the melodies or lyrics got stuck in my head or stayed with me throughout the day. But that doesn't mean the songs are bad. Where the issues begin is after "Love and Affection". From track 5 to track 8, I was just kind of uninterested. None of those songs do anything to keep me engaged, and I found nothing to take away from them. And that's honestly a bummer, because the album regains its footing in the last two songs. It's too late to save the album in any major capacity, but those two songs are some of the most cool sounding ones on the record. Especially the closing track, which borders on psychedelic with its spacey guitar sound. Overall, the album is easy to listen to. If someone really loved this, I could see it as a good way to wind down after work or school. Because it doesn't throw anything too intense at you in its track list.
Easily listenable to and very calm and peaceful. Not necessarily something I would hurry back to, but I wouldn't say no if someone suggested playing it.
An early Armatrading album, where shes flexing her vocal muscles and giving a hint of her great talent. Decent, if a little flat.
Not sure if it's "Jo Ann" or "Joan" Armatrading. I've heard it pronounced Jo Ann, but it makes no difference if her name is Rose, she would still smell as sweet and carry that crazy powerful voice. First listen was pretty banal and I drifted off. But here I am listening to it again and its definitely grown on me. Sure, I'd listen to this again but I wouldn't search for it.
The British bias working out for the better for once. Like many Yanks I'd never heard of Joan Armatrading, but she has a terrific voice. I greatly preferred the bluesier songs though, some of the other tracks were a bit bland for my taste.
Oh so this is what a poppier Tracy Chapman would sound like! I guess Joan came first so technically Tracy sounds like her rather than the other way around. Either way, great voice, but without the emotional starkness of Tracy.
Chill & good!
Nice enough but slightly forgettable singer-songwriting.
I don't think I'll ever really "dislike" this kind of music, and this album isn't the exception. However, it'll take another listen for certain songs to sink in.
I liked it
Pretty solid
Not really my style of music but she has a lovely voice and this feels very reminiscent of what little gospel I've heard
Pretty cool for a folk album.
A fine album, no stand out songs but it was nice.
Yea it’s fine
Love the production on here and the way that the instruments just come into the mix and build throughout. great voice too! best tracks: down to zero, love and affection, water with the wine
Never heard of her but this was pretty decent.
the lyrics on this album are great, and the instrumentation is solid. however, the songs themselves just don't come together for me in a gripping and enduringly appealing way. i'm happy for everyone who loves this album but it's another 3.5 stars for me after about two listens. favorites: down to zero, love and affection
I wanted to like this a little more than I actually did. I don’t think anything here is bad per se, but I didn’t really connect with the musical style
this was fine, but not for me.
Heard before: no I was a passive fan of Armatrading’s 80s hits, but I never spent time with her more well-known record here. And what a treat! I was expecting an introspective folksy affair, but for the most part this is a bluesy early-70s rock record, more muscular than I thought. It fits right in with late Fairport and early Faces. I’ve always loved her voice; it’s as much a dare as a come on when she unapologetically sings “I’m not in love, but I’m open to persuasion”. She’s not broken-hearted; she's having fun while it lasts. The more I sink into the vibe, the more I like it. Great find, 1001 Albums! Top tracks: Like Fire, Tall in the Saddle, Down To Zero
She has a strong voice and the musicianship is top notch, but I can't help thinking this is kind of bland. The songs are fine, but nothing stands out to make me want to hear more. As a singer-songwriter, Armatrading was an important artist in the 70's, I just don't feel the love.
70s folk but more high energy than normal sung by a black lady
AJ: blues. folk. soul. Great voice with some cooky voice moves. She seems cool as hell.
i think joan is far more suited to the delicate, the high pitched, and more tender style of song found in 'somebody loves you' over the lower in pitch, and the more assertive found in the rest of the album, contrary perhaps (maybe insulting) to the feministic drive of the record more importantly however joan has what i did not expect which is tunes
Middle of the road album, nothing wrong with it, just not my style of music. Something I’d listen to if I just needed something on in the background
Joan Armatrading's self-titled album is a stunning debut that introduced the world to her soulful voice and songwriting brilliance. Released in 1976, it captures the essence of her unique blend of folk, blues, and rock influences. Tracks like "Love and Affection" and "Down to Zero" showcase Armatrading's emotive vocals and poetic lyrics. The album's production is stripped-down and intimate, allowing her artistry to take center stage. While some tracks may not resonate as strongly as the standouts, Joan Armatrading remains a powerful and soul-stirring release. It's a testament to her talent and originality, and an essential listen for anyone appreciating the beauty of emotive and heartfelt music. 3.5/5 rounded down
I only recalled Drop the Pilot - it's a warm 70s album and her voice is beautiful. I enjoyed it, but not sure there is enough for me to revist
It’s fine Not a lot of memorable moments besides a couple of tracks Favourite tracks: Down To Zero, Love And Affection, Join The Boys
Lovely 3.5/5
I was not familiar with her, but her voice will certainly stick with me. It’s so powerful. While her talent and the album as a whole was great, only a few individual songs really stood out to me. I can certainly see myself checking out some of her other albums.
It's alright. Hasn't aged especially well, but still important music nonetheless. Some good tracks to be found; everything else is unfortunately forgettable.
70s rock chick
Pretty chill music. Didn't love it, didn't hate it, but it is certainly unique and compelling.
Really pleasant
I didn't hate this, but also don't need to listen to it again.
I had never heard this before. Very nice.
Down to Zero was an amazing opening track. Reminded me a lot of Tracy Chapman with her low and sorrowful voice, powerful lyrics, and apt instrumentation (buoyed by solid guitar and piano). I thought I was going to fall in love with the album. But the next two songs were a bit of a letdown, the whole combination of vocals, lyrics, and instruments didn't seem to mesh for me. Her big single Love and Affection didn't do it for me at first but it grew on me (particularly the latter half of the song). So Side one was up and down, but the ups were really, really good. Side two was more even, and probably better on average, but none of them was a standout. People or Tall in the Saddle were maybe slightly ahead. It feels like 3.5 but not a 4.
Not quite a 4, but better than the other 3s I’ve rated. There isn’t one moment that jumped out at me but I liked every song. I’ll have to listen to it some more.
It aged pretty well - good music.
nice album from an often forgotten 70s talent. Probably stick to the Greatest Hits though
песни хорошие, голос не увлёк
Eh
3.5
-have never heard of this artist! was very excited to start listening -love her voice. oh my god -is that a saxophone on????? love and affection???????? -favorites: love and affection, join the boys, tall in the saddle -she has a distinctive sound and i DIG IT!!!!!! -join the boys has that EDGE that i LOVE!!! -for reference i only rate albums higher than 3 stars that have more than two songs i Really like or of i in general enjoy most or all of the album
middle of the road album
I found it boring. I feel that I may be missing appropriate context for the judgement of this album. Or maybe I’m just boring.
Interesting album by Joan Armatrading, whose name I have heard for the first time today. When I started listening to this album, all I could think of is the similarity in her voice with Joni Mitchell, but with more rock instrumental parts. Music is very well written, it easily should be much more popular then it is right now (I am assuming it's not that popular, if I have never heard of her). The album had all kind of moods, every song was very mature and enjoyable for listener. "Love and Affection" was a really good example of that, very nice deep voice chorus. It's not really my style, but a good album nonetheless.
Maybe best described as "Nico, but better." Never heard of this artist before, but I dug it. Lyrically dense and interesting. Melodies not too sparse or too complex. Standouts: Down To Zero, Water With The Wine, People, Like Fire
It was okay, would need to listen again to remember any song.
Quite a boogie: could see myself listening to this more as it had some nice beats but no stand out tracks on first listen.
Folky pop album that really draws from a ton of influences. It’s quite unique in that sense and uses a wide variety of instruments behind fairly simple songs. I particularly like the opening track with its steel guitar which came as a surprise. The rest are solid if not spectacular, a fairly good album overall.
Yet again, today we have an artist that I haven’t heard of before. I love how this project is expanding my palette and exposing me to music I hadn’t heard before. I can’t really talk about any preconceptions due to there not being any, so let’s just get into it and listen! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Water With The Wine, Love And Affection This was quite a pleasant pop album today. Joan’s voice goes very nicely with this acoustic sound and it was a very nice listening experience. However, despite the fact that I liked each song, they also were unfortunately somewhat inmemorable. I’m writing this the day after listening, and although I recognise the track names, I can’t hum any melodies as they’ve all fallen out of my head. Overall, it was nice, but likely not one I’ll be returning to.
It was fine
some cool, catchy songs. this is one of those albums i never would have listened to if not for this site
Never heard of Joan armatrading before. Tracy Chapman sounds a lot like this vocally
Blusey nice but not that interested.
Always helpful when an album starts with a classic, gives you a good bar to assess the rest against. This one didn't maintain that standard but was very simply nice. Seems like some sort of family friendly summer party would happen with Joan performing in the backdrop: healthy amounts of progressive politics and an assortment of love ballads. Good voice. However, I just don't think this album is all that memorable. Musically it's not that distinct, it seemed like session musician central. Lyrically, all very positive but didnt have the righteous edge that might make it a more interesting listen.
I am a fan of our Joan. She puts pleasant messages on Facebook. Think her best tunes are scattered across her discography though. This is quite good, but only a few stand out tracks.
It were oreyt this ya know. Her name reminds me of checkatrade, checkatrade.com for some reason
I remember seeing her all over the Columbia Record House adverts back in the day. That’s the most interesting thing I can say about this album. Songs okay, voice is okay, but okay is about the best I can do.
Average.
I had never heard about Joan Armatrading, and her voice is lovely. I didn't enjoy the album so much since it's pretty standardized, as I expected when Wikimedia classifies it as "singer-songwriter" style. Apparently, It's pretty hard to be impressive in the singers-songwriters community, and it's easy to sound like any other in the same community, even with excellent voice work.
Generally good and really catchy (especially Water With The Wine, Love and Affection, and Tall In The Saddle). Love seeing female artists on here. Fave track(s): Down to Zero, Save Me
I'm not sure how I know Water with the Wine. They wouldn't have played it in Sudbury in '76. Maybe I spun it at CKCU. Save Me is a lovely song. I especially like the way she hits the high notes on the chorus. They say the lyrics are deeply personal but Joan says they're not about her. Hmm... The mix of acoustic guitar, funky bass and keyboards gives it a bit of a Joni Mitchell feel. I keep wanting the band to let their hair down a bit but that doesn't happen until the last track.
Liked the first song a lot, few other good ones mixed in as well. Surprised 3 stars
Groovy af, cool range in her voice, kinda small (41 min.) (73%)
I listen to all these albums without context unless I previously have context, and while I enjoyed this album, I feel like it could really benefit from being in the time and place it came from. Water with the Wine really hit a 'timeless' feel for me. Love and Affection isn't quite my jam, but it's definitely a jam.
I feel like this was a good album to just sit and relax to. It was honestly really nice to put on to wind down after work for me.
"Help Yourself" and "Tall in the Saddle" are my favorites. Overall great listen. Amazing voice. 7/10.
This was familiar and lovely
Never listened to Joan's less famous stuff before. Nice, but verging on too easy listening for me today.
Friday 24th at Shakeeb’s farm. I miss Jenna
I like her voice. The songs are not bad, but not very memorable. Favorite song: people
This was a nice surprise. Chill blend of folk and acoustic blues. Finished very strong with the last two tracks, made me wish the entire album had more of the same energy. Still great overall. 3.5 stars
“Groovy” I guess, really wish for a 2.5 score
Zvuči ko neka preteča tracy champman
Great singer, but all songs felt too much the same
on mielekästä musiikkia. albumi alkaa paremmin kuin päättyy. hyvä äänenkäyttö sekä mikstuuri akustista hipeltämistä ja funk tyyppistä rompsuttelua... tykkäsin water with wine
All the hits and more...
This had elements of something I would like, but a lot of it sounded a bit too, I don't know, generic for me? There were definitely interesting parts, but they were bogged down by stuff that was just okay. It was frustrating to hear. Some of the guitar work was nice. Her voice can do some nice things as well. I wish the piano was used a bit more on here. Regardless, I could see the appeal of this. My favourite song was Water With The Wine.
Yet another artist I've never listened to! Nice discovery, I'd listen to more More like 3.5
Good music. Nice lyrics that actually mean something. Nothing stuck out for me personally though.
good vibes
Great vocals, great vibes, but I don't think I'll ever feel the need to return to this one.
I was in a good mood when I listen to it so it help this album achieve 3 stars, but I don't think I'll ever listen to it.
It was a nice listen. I enjoyed the first half of the album more than the second. It’s a bit of folk and rock, two genres that generally appeal to me. It’s nothing special, but it wasn’t a bad listen-through. Favorite track: Help Yourself
Me gustó el instrumental, pero nada resaltó demasiado para mi
Nice groove on Join The Boys. 3.5/5
Some really great tracks, some that don't hook me - 3.5 stars
Started strong but didn't leave an impression
I think this is another Tracy Chapman situation where I'm going to need to listen to this another time or two in order to really appreciate this for what it has, but this was just a passive listen
Dit beviel me wel eigenlijk!
Ik vond dit een aangename verrassing.
I adore 1970s rock and pop: most of my top albums so far have been from this decade, and I like to think of it as an area I’m quite knowledgeable on. That said, I wasn’t familiar with any of Joan Armatrading’s work, and immediately felt guilty about it after hearing this album. She’s undoubtedly a hero of the 1970’s singer-songwriter crowd in Britain, with a tremendous voice, lovely guitar work and an honest, direct songwriting style. “Joan Armatrading”, her third album, is a solid demonstration of all these areas. Producer Glyn Johns called it the best album he’d worked on… and he worked with The Beatles! I’ll start with the heart. “Love and Affection” is the key track here: the album’s centrepiece and Armatrading’s most famous and most successful song. I’d never heard it before, and was imperceptibly transported from a sparse, wandering folk prelude to a grand romantic ballad, to a saxophone solo revelling in pure pop. After several listens, I was absolutely hooked. The most remarkable thing about the song is that it’s difficult to distinguish much of a hook or central melody in the freestyle vocal line, but it hardly matters. “Love and Affection” is about the power of a feeling, of emotion and love overriding everything else. It knocked me out. Elsewhere, there’s a blend of meaty, muddy grooves and tender balladry. “People” is a real standout, a hard-edged soul track finished off with an immensely satisfying key change and a saturated fuzzy guitar solo. “Join the Boys” is a sleazy, bluesy number to strut through a seedy bar to, “Like Fire” has a rhythmic acoustic guitar motif to die for, and “Water with the Wine” bears one of the album’s stand-out melodies, casting Armatrading in a lighter, playful light (real echoes of Joni Mitchell). At the album’s close, “Tall in the Saddle” marries both the album’s key styles, with a seamless last-minute switch into fifth gear. On the ballad side, I loved “Someone Who Loves You” for its backing vocals, and the warmth emanating through “Down to Zero”’s earthy production. There’s a lot of great material here and I really wanted to absolutely love this album, but on the whole it isn’t completely doing it for me yet. Despite some really great songs, there were some tracks that felt a bit unfocused and meandering: “Save Me” and “Help Yourself” haven’t made much of a connection with me on the first few plays, and it would have been nice to hear some more of the tight grooves in the mould of “People”, or the apex reached in “Love and Affection.” Armatrading’s performance, though, is superb.
Good, lacked interest in the second half as it felt a little repetitive with the instrumentals
I enjoyed this more on my second listen, still not quite enough to reach 4 stars but hey, maybe next time
Good. This seems to be the blueprint for the likes of Tracy Chapman and others. The first few tracks are really good, but it somewhat fizzles out towards the end. Still, 3/5
Leuk album. Niets bijzonders
This feels like maybe it was a Very Important Album once upon a time. Not to me. Best track: Love and Affection
Pretty expected to be less soft because it is labelled as rock. Good background music while working
77/100: An enjoyable album to listen to. I've never heard of Joan Armatrading before (by the way, that has to be a fake last name right?), but this definitely sounded like something I would listen to regularly. Nothing hits like good acoustic guitar rock. The song "Like Fire" really stuck out to me. The opening riff sounds like Eric Clapton covering the opening riff of "Neon," which is obviously high praise. On that note, to me, this album sounded like if you took Eric Clapton and substituted his blues influence with soul. That's a pretty cool combination, and definitely not a fusion I can say I've ever heard before.
-"Water With The Wine" has like a funky groove and solid drums going on -A couple of okay tunes, nothing mind-blowing. Probably riding between a 2 and a 3
I enjoyed this album while listening, but can't really remember it afterwards. Not the most attention-grabbing, although I don't see that as a bad thing - it was a nice accompaniment to a stormy morning. It perhaps deserves another more attentive listen.
the intermittent deep-voice snippet on "Love and Affection" is a wonderful easter egg. this song builds really well, not surprising that it looks like this was the standout single from the record. overall pleasant album
3/10, 30%
Wasn't familiar with it, it wasn't bad, something I could listen to in the background
Ok.
A surprise album that I didn’t expect much from, but was packed with nuance and thoughtfully done throughout. Water with the Wine was my standout.
Good voice
Kinda slow, wasn’t bad tho
6/10
Not bad at all. Nice and easy listening. Would listen again.
Talented singer/songwriter I've never heard of before. Some of these songs could be mistaken for being a part of the late 80s/ early 90s Lilith Fair crop of female singer/songwriters. Doesn't necessarily all feel like it's from the mid-70s.
Really good
Very nice album but not really my vibe.
Fine
Definitely an interesting album with some powerful options, but nothing that makes me want to go back.
Not really any bad songs but there was some forgettable/skippable ones. Pretty decent album though I liked this lady
Interesting album, saved one.
3.5. Quite good. never heard of her before.
Such a distinctive voice - easy listening. I've always loved 'Love and Affection' and listened to it a lot in my early teens. Some definite 'album songs' on here, though. 2.5/5
Chill
I was surprised to read that this album came out in the 70s. To me it sounded like it was from the 90s, plucked from a Lilith Fair lineup. I listened more closely after learning of my error. It reminded me a lot of Tracy Chapman also. While I appreciate her talent and enjoyed the album, it’s doubtful I would listen to this again.
Prefs: Down to Zero, Help Yourself, Join the Boys, Tall in the Saddle Moins pref: Save Me
Fun little Friday album that I listened to late Thursday night. Nothing to write home about but at least it felt different than all the other 3 star albums we’ve had recently.
Got excited for this one when I saw Apple Music describe Joan here as "West Indies-born," expecting something with a tropical flair. However, it's more of just singer-songwriter/pop type stuff. Still, it's not bad at all! Some great guitar work, and she's got a cool voice. It definitely sounds more modern than 1976, credit due for that. Nothing super memorable unfortunately, which is what I was hoping for, but it's solid. I'll keep a couple tracks. Favorite tracks: Like Fire, Down to Zero, Save Me. Album art: The cover here too had me expecting something out of our ordinary wheelhouse for this list. There's a cool '70s flair here, and I'm digging the death glare. 3.5/5
I was not previously aware of this artist but I did enjoy the album, especially the sax accompaniment. Save Me had serious Joni Mitchell vibes, Like Fire reminded me of Tom Waitts, People had very relatable lyrics, and I think my favorite was Join the Boys which had a great funk feel.
I went into this expecting to not like it based on the album description, but then the first song really caught me off guard. I ended up really enjoying it. Unfortunately, it was kind of downhill after that for me. The rest of the album wasn't particularly exciting to me.
3.5 - A little different - sometimes good, sometimes strange. “Love and Affection” encapsulates some of what I like and dislike (dislike: the bass vocals, like: the saxophone solo). “Like Fire” sounds like Dave Matthews at his best, minus some wonky guitar noodling. “Water With the Wine” is funky until you consider the date rape.
When I started the album I liked it. By the time I got to the end I was kind of bored. It was all pretty similar and nothing really stuck out to me.
A fine album.
Enjoyable listen 6.9
I liked it a lot more than I thought I was going to like it. Funky at times.
Lovely voice but beyond that, not my thing.
3.5
Love and affection is brilliant. The rest was just okay.
I loved Joan Armatrading’s voice and most of the songs were great.
Not my go-to music of choice, but this album is very wholesome
Lots of talent, but a bit too mellow for my taste
Cette personne nous a très bien raconté sa vie.
Genre: Folk Rock 3/5 A rather generic folk album considering the not-too-generic source. Joan Armatrading, born and raised in the former British colonies in the West Indies, a woman who grew up wanting nothing more than to play guitar all day, occupies a space that is usually relegated to white men. While her appearance may not be the usual that you may see in this genre, the music itself is generally pretty flat and stale, which to me is the norm in most full-length takes on Folk/Folk Rock. As far as general highlights go, Down to Zero is a neat little folk ditty, probably the best sounding song on the whole record, but it doesn't do very much. Soon thereafter, the tracklist all eventually bleeds together into a calm and soft, yet tepid and bland, background mush. I enjoyed the outro, Tall in the Saddle, as well, but again it's not a track that does a whole lot. Glyn Johns, the album's producer, said this was the best album he was ever associated with (this is the guy who engineered Abbey Road, mind you...), and critics have made this their darling, but it all reeks of self-importance. Not to put down Joan, but for me, her music does little to add to the overall folk mix, and unfortunately music critics tend to focus on the artist's skin color rather than the content within sometimes, inflating these albums beyond what they actually are. Joan Armatrading seems like a very nice lady, but it doesn't make her music any less bland than the next fella's.
nice album from an often forgotten 70s talent. Probably stick to the Greatest Hits though
Pretty meh. Liked “Join the Boys” and the acoustic guitar segments on “Like Fire”
I recognize this can be good, but didn't hit me. A little too soft folky. Some fun guitar in places, I liked it in Tall in The Saddle.
I get the impression that this album was an important milestone in the glacial evolution of the culture of the music industry. Regardless of how accurate that assumption is, I am sure that this had a positive effect on the "If you can see it, you can be it" scales over the years since this album's release.
Gøy 🙂
Has stood the test of time. Bill - 3.8 Shannah - 3 Conor - 3 (3.27/5)
Some fine pop/country rock. Water With The Wine is great.
Sounds more like something from the late 60s than 76, but it's pretty competent. Favourites: "Love And Affection", "Join The Boys", "Tall In The Saddle"
Joan Armatrading has produced some great, albeit inconsistent, albums down the years and can turn out memorable songs. 'Love and Affection', found here, is probably her most famous - deservedly so, it's gorgeous. There's a pleasing restlessness to the rest of the album, as Armatrading explores a range of moods and approaches. It may not always stick first time around but the songwriting is top notch and the proceedings are held together nicely by Armatrading's ringing guitar attack. One to sit with, but patience has its rewards.
Good album. Full of that late 70s folk / pop sound. You definitely need to be in a space for this, kinda like with Joni Mitchell's non 'Blue' work.
Some standout songs, ended uptempo. Some slower forgettable ones throughout the middle.
3/5, first listen. Very nice
She is so strong and confident in her delivery, it's a nice contrast to the typical ethereal/floaty/heady sound from female vocalists in the 70's. Now that I think of it, we might have this on vinyl...
It's a very nice album. Apart from the biggest hit and Down to Zero the rest are pleasant album fillers. Easy sounds and intelligent lyrics but's there's just something missing....
When I first heard this, a very long time ago, I loved it. But in my late fifties? For some reason it's lost its flavour. Still, added it to listen again another time.
This is an interesting album, lots going on but it didn't fully grab me. Joan Armatrading sounds like if you had Cher's voice singing Joni Mitchell songs. You have a good mix here, some acoustic folk singer-songwriter type tunes, you have some operatic ballads, and you have some uptempo jazzy/funky numbers. Lots of variety in the instruments and styles from song to song. Overall well done, she seems to be a very good songwriter. I liked Join the Boys in particular. People was good too, that was a good one-two punch on the album.
Chilled and soulful folk sound Strand of tracks - help yourself - love & affection - Join the boys
Pretty interesting album. I'd never heard of Joan Armatrading before this. It felt like every song was *almost* good. Definitely one of those albums where you know the Spotify suggestions afterward are going to be good.
Very nice voice. Very chill. Smooth jams. It was really well done. I respect it,. A few moments I liked, but it's not my style and resonate with me personally. songs: join the boys, people, like fire
Tracy Chapman from Temu
Not quite cutting through
This was fine, nothing special. I enjoyed listening to this, but I really don't feel compelled to listen again.
Individual songs on here I adored, but as a whole it didn't work as well for me. I think the ballads dragged it down a tad.
I see a lot of comparisons to Trace Chapman, and I can see why. The focus is on Joan. Instrumentals serve merely to back her up, but they sound relaxing and pleasant. Joan has such a powerful, emotional, and often beautiful voice that she should set an example for other singer-songwriters to follow. There's a few outstanding tracks but other than that it's fine and serves what I'm looking for.
det blandar och ger. inte helt överens med det här albumet
Just about above average singer songwriting. Hard for me to muster any strong feelings for this either way really.
I liked the album and it had its fair share of funky tunes, I felt it could have been more consistent though. I do hear the influence on like modern chamber pop even on this one which was really cool
Favourite tracks: love and affection, join the boys, tall in the saddle
Of course I had heard of Joan Armatrading as a singer-songwriter, but never checked out her music. The band on this album sounds very good, but Armatrading's singing does not appeal to me very much. The only song that stood out for me was Like Fire.
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. There's some lovely stuff here and there but nothing too memorable
Had never heard of her and enjoyed listening through the album.
The best of this album IMO: - People I recognize the talent but this list made me realize that I don't enjoy folk music. 2.7/5
cute plata very kosy 3/5
Dated in terms of arrangement and production but still some powerful, affecting songs.
Not much to say about this one. I liked the sound and the voice and it was a quality album
Mwah
I don't remember hearing any of these songs before, but they are very enjoyable. I can imagine having a record player and putting this on and moving along to this music.
i got into down to zero and love and affection, though in general, this style and delivery don't do too much for me. it seems fine but i doubt i would choose to listen to it again.
Most of this passed me by with a few decent tracks
pretty good, pleasant background music!
Sounds good, but it's pure background music to me. Really can't see why this is on the list.
Another good listen.
I had never heard of Joan before, yet some of the songs sounded a bit familiar, perhaps I have heard some of them in passing. Nevertheless this album impressed me a lot, all the songs were very different and Joan's vocals are so good. A lot of cool riffs aswell. I'm a bit torn if I should give this a 3 star or a 4 star, so i'll stick with a 3.5 / 5.
Never properly listened to her music before
classic sophisticated 70s pop
A very well produced album, but there was nothing that stood out to me or that I connected with. It might get better with repeated listenings in a really relaxed atmosphere.
It was ok, not my favorite
Bon album rock/blues. À réécouter
Soulful voice, music ranges from activist folk to R&B. Fun drums
Not my cup of tea.
Not really listened to Joan Armatrading before. She is an incredible lyricist, blessed with a great voice for delivering those lyrics - which sometimes contain so much, the balancing act of fitting them with the music is quite thrilling. However, the music itself isn't quite as exciting, and rarely veers anywhere you aren't expecting - though this is to 2021 ears, so I do wonder if I'm missing anything. Overall, it's great and deserves its place here. I'll probably relisten to it, and will listen to more Joan Armatrading in future, but I haven't been blown away.
Love And Affection is a good track. Its hard for me to put this album in a box 3 tracks in. Join The Boys has a mysterious groove behind it to kick off the back half of the album.
It's decent - gets better as it goes on. But I think sounds rather dated now (which is fair, it is)
This is quite pleasant. Especially like the sound/the production. Not all of the songs are grabbing me but that's probably mostly due to unfamiliarity. Looking forward to going back to this one to get to know it better. 7/10
18. Joan Armatrading - Joan Aramatrading. 10 Tracks. Love & Affection is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It's impossible for the album to live up to that level but it's still good, if very much in the shade of such a powerful dominant track. 3/5.
Really good start, dropped off towards the middle after love and affection. Very good guitar-playing, especially in the last half Gave me some Carole King Vibes and to a higher degree Tracy Chapman vibes 3.5/5
Solid
Tunnelmallinen levy, ei ihan paska.
Siisti levy, aurinkoiseen lauantaihin ison kahvin äärelle
Not my type of music but I can tell she is very talented. Couple songs I enjoyed on the album but overall not my taste
A pleasant listen. Chill vibe with a lot of musically eclectic elements. A level above other singer songwriters of that era. Joan Armatrading has an interesting voice, very rich and soulful and confident, but also sweet when she wants it to be. Intimate, beautifully crafted lyrics. Fave Songs: Down to Zero, Love and Affection, Water with the Wine
Decent album. It has a funk feel to it. None of the songs are really memorable.
Had never heard before. Quite enjoyed
Had not heard of her in the 70s... Kind of wish I had. ..
Enjoyed this album as it was my first time hearing it. The acoustics were well done and lyrically most songs were well made. Feels like an early Tracy Chapman. Would listen to some of the songs again. 7.1/10
Fine music to cook to
Brings the funk... sometimes Does not supply a suitable M25 vibe
Nice vibes, but only a couple of stand-out songs.
Good background music
A couple of good songs
Mellow and soulful. She has a lovely voice and the songs are all well crafted. Any song from here I would happily enjoy in isolation if it appeared on a playlist or the radio but I found the album as a whole just washed over me, leaving little impression and feeling like background music.
Tracy Chapman vibes 🎸👐
🎙🎼🎸
chill hippy vibes some jazz feels some of the songs are quite long or feel like they’re longer than they actually are solid album
Delightful.
oh wow it's a woman singing? beautiful voice in down to zero! help yourself is good water with wine is meh
Jedan divan album. Koji mi se svidio više nego što sam očekivao. Odličan početak albuma sa Down to Zero, te je nastavila sa finim pjesmama along the way. Somebody Who Loves You i Love and Affection su isto vrijedni spomena.
Reminded me of Tracy Chapman. Only one great song and maybe a couple good songs on the album.
This was a nice listen. Like something your quirky cousins would play while you have lunch at their place.
Enjoyed listening to this album, starts off a bit slow and picks up a bit late. think I'll be listening to more of Joan in future.
Es ist durchaus sehr schön, hat mich allerdings in diesem Moment nicht so sehr abgeholt wie die bisherigen Alben, das mag aber auch an meiner Umgebung gelegen haben. Ich höre später nochmal rein.
Interesante, me recordó un poco al estilo de Harrison.
Normal, little boring
I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. Good vibe and good acoustic sound.
Great opening song.
Das hätte ich besser abends in Ruhe gehört. Gefällt mir, aber auch nicht herausragend.
Surprised that I'd already liked one of the songs on this album, previously. Kinda like the album, also a little boring for just regular listening, but probably better if I paid attention to the lyrics.
Wanted to listen to this as only knew Love & Affection. It was Ok.
Most of the songs are dull, but when she shines, she shines
Catchy folk rock with flavors of soul, funk and pop. This was really a nice listen.
Surprisingly Good!
Really enjoyed it. Some lovely guitar music. ***
just seems so MOR to be on a list like this. Maybe it's notable because just how boringly pleasant the music is? Give me Tina Turner any day. Also, I think Joan is one of those that's more popular in the USA than she is in her home country. Like Bush.
A pleasant album that jangles and chugs along nicely. Pop rock with blues, funk and jazz elements and a soulful voice. Doesn't seem particularly cutting edge, but a very pleasant and an enjoyable listen. No weak tracks but nothing that stands out. 3/5.
Kolejny brytyjski albumik ktory nie brzmi ani troche brytyjsko, wiec juz samym tym faktem mocno psusuje, ale chyba wczesniej nie slyszalem podobnego wokalu zenskiego w muzyce popularno folkowej z mocnymi inspiracjami funkowo blusowymi czy tez rokowo jazzowymi, najblizej bym stawial Tine Turner, ale to jednak nadal nie to samo, poza wokalami Pani Joan szarpie takze za akustyka na tym albumiku, najlepszy gitarkowy kawalek tolike fire, obie gitarki robia robote, kawalki typowo popularne, czyli tematyka amorowo smutkowa, ale dziwne ze gdy sie tego slucha nie czuc, ze jest to spiewanie z perspektywy kobiety, po zwikowaniu wokalistki wyszlo na to ze jest ona w zwiazku homoseksualnym, wiec ciekawe ze takie rzeczy da sie uslyszec i czy juz wtedy byla zorientowana w tym kierunku,a jesli cos takiego mozna uslyszec to plyta posiada ten element orginalnosci i autentycznosci co jest rzadkie w muzyce popularnej, ktora trafia do szerokiego grona sluchaczy, instrumentalna czesc albumu jest roznorodna, bo tak jak pisalem sa kawalki bardziej fukowe a zaraz potem bluesowe, ale nigdzie nie kradna spotlajtu wokalowi, chociaz znajda sie tez ciekawe solowki klawiszowe czy gitarkowe, ktory jest tu najwazniejszy, na plejke wrzucam otwierajacy down to zero oraz love and affection
Was a little too soft/elevatory for me.
Its good music, but not really my jam.
I had never heard of this artist and overall I liked it. Not something I would probably dip into again for a full album but it made my walk on a rainy day nice.
7
Production: 12/20 Songwriting: 15/20 Innovation: 12/20 Bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 14/20 =58 Nice but I don’t agree with the arms trade so I will boycott
Very cool. 3.5
Another one I'd never heard of but will listen again. Surprised I've never heard her mentioned as an influence for the likes of Taylor Swift.
Strong female vocalist. Lady songwriter
Meh, not for me.
Great composition, not digging much else
Not really my wave
Singer/songwriter, nemt lyt
Good album
easy listening! she has a beautiful voice.
I like it, better then most esp from the era, good 70s rock
3.5 - surprised by this one. liked water with the wine, love and affection, and somebody who loves you
Ok not much to go on by the cover, very obviously 70s photo stock and an acoustic guitar. Ok it's kinda folky rock with country bits, other times a bit funky... all over the place but catchy. Singing sounds a bit like Joni Mitchell or something. It doesn't do much for me but I'm giving it a 3 because 2 feels too low, and I'm not slagging it off, it just doesn't interest me.
Safe middle class parent music. Really well done but not for me
A bag full of meh. Surely nobody has ever uttered the phrase "Joan Armatrading is my favourite artist"
" Mom, can we have Tracy Chapman?" "No, there's Tracy Chapman at home." Tracy Chapman at home....
Such a strong vocalist and musician. But the vibe was just not for me.
She's got a good enough voice but the songs themselves are all just too slow/mid-tempo to really leave an impact. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it since nothing is outright bad, just not for me. 2/5
Perhaps my morning run wasn't the ideal environment for this. Have to admit that I zoned out.
Love and Affection was pretty decent but the rest had me snoozing.
Soulalbum. Langweilig und brav.
i bet she's done better
Good grooves but nothing special, at least for me.
Not very memorable
not bad but kind of bland whatever singer songwriter stuff
mid
Eipä tämä oikein jäänyt mitenkään mieleen. Perus soittelua ja laulantaa. Ei ihan mid
I really liked her voice but found the music and lyrics to not be as good as I hoped. Being tired on a Monday morning at work probably did not help my rating
lots of enjoyable "singer-songwriter"-y tunes here made better by Joan's distinctive voice. But ultimately falls short of a "have to hear before you die" distinction.
I liked one of the tracks
Just really not my vibe. Maybe I was in a bad mood when i listened to it, i don't know, but I didn't really vibe with it, sorry
Steel guitar threatened to hook me in but then I lost interest
The songs sound mostly «OK» to me. It’s immaculately performed and produced though. Found myself skipping the most funky songs. Works as non-intrusive background, but not much more to me.
nice and calm
4.8 / 10
Not my thing. But it’s not bad.
Indiferença total. Voz ok, mas completamente esquecível. Nada aqui te prende. Pode passar. A expressão facial dela na capa do disco é idêntica à minha enquanto o ouvia. Indiferente. :| 2.5
Manque de ce je ne sais quoi qui me fait vraiment vibrer. Tall in the saddle, blues langoureux avec son riff qui m'a presque fait entrer en transe musicale, aurait pu être mon coup de coeur, jusqu'au changement de tempo. J'ai trouvé sa façon de chanter similaire à celui de Florence Welch sur Help Yourself et similaire à Sade sur Like Fire. A-t-elle été une influence pour elles?
Not my type of music