Reviews (page 4 of 13)
She emerged damaged from the psych rock hippie scuzz and US middle school. Too ugly, they said, too try-hard, too white, too much. Constantly condescended to by talentless scabs riding her coattails, abused by cracker America for her soul orientation and never taken seriously by a record industry that couldn't understand the source of her particular, magnetic charisma. I love Janis. Some is a touch corny but her voice is rough, raw and soulful as a bleeding throat. She was vulnerable at a time that was considered a weakness and America destroyed her but she is American through and through. Tacky and sincere simultaneously, erratically sincere and flippant but ultimately rock, roll and soul. If anyone gets the chance listen to her version of Little Girl Blue in the Tom Jones show. She must have been 26 but embodies the world-weary, gentle patience of some ur-mother cradling a weeping child, perhaps cradling herself. Glorious woman, extraordinary talent, excellent album.
Great album
Soft 5
"I'd like to do a song of great social and political import..." What a legend. I've never straight up listened to "Pearl" but I know almost all of these songs. Her voice was so insane. I love to hear singers straddle the line of control and she rides that wave this whole album, emoting to the max, crooning growling roaring and howling out these jams. The band is tight, supplying bluesy funky grooves for her to excorcise her demons over. She sings with the blood. "Half Moon" and "A Woman Left Lonely" were the only new songs to me and I was digging them even more than the classics from the canon of Janis. "Me and Bobby McGee" what else can you say, Kris Kristofferson himself would tell you it's a Janis Joplin song now. The unfinished "Bury Me in the Blues" is a haunting inclusion, she died the day before she was scheduled to lay down the vocal track. Reading her wiki and jamming to this today made me want to rewatch the Festival Express doc and get into some Janis deep cuts just to hear more of her raw power. But seriously, folks, don't do heroin!
Absolute masterpiece.
One of the all time great voices. Honestly, the album doesn’t quite feel finished, but it doesn’t really suffer because of that.
An amazing voice backed by an incredible band.
Amazing
I guess you cant transport more emotions through music than JJ does on thos album
Me and Bobby McGee and Cry Baby- such classics!! Amazing album
absolutely glorious. easiest 5*s of the week
I really enjoy Janis's sound, very unique. I knew a couple songs by her but great to be introduced to new ones ❤️
I really really enjoyed this. I’d heard of Janis Joplin, but didn’t know any of her music other than a little piece of my heart, but this album blew me away. Absolutely superb from start to finish, so bluesy and cool with Joplin’s incredible singing. This has been the first album that’s caught me off guard so much and will be the first album I rate 5 that I didn’t know, but it thoroughly deserves it. 5/5
Belíssimo disco
Janis Joplin siempre en vinilo. SIEMPRE.
Super good, bunch of absolute hits. Little too short.
Really good music - good blues is just so great, and this is good blues. Good bass guitar (interesting to listen to it), good piano parts, good guitar. Singing is really good too, almost a little screamy but actually just perfect - fits the vibe perfectly. It's probably not revolutionary, but all of the pieces coming together in this way is unique and makes for a great listen. The album has slow, it has fast, and it's soulful. Chef's kiss Oh man there's organ here too. It has some blues brothers vibes which is amazing. I feel like I would want my band to sound like this.
All time classic
So many classics in one album. Love that the generator is reminding me of such amazing artists who I haven't listened to in years!
What a set of pipes. Such raw emotion and vulnerability. Half Moon is a rocking standout, along with My Baby. Brilliant singer.
Just love that voice, unique and soulful. Lost way too early
Another classic album, one that admittedly I'd never listened to in its entirety. Half Moon is a great song I'd somehow never heard before. Her voice wasn't the greatest, but she's got the blues spirit and vibe to her like no other.
Soft 5
Very fun
Not an album I knew before, though obviously I was aware of her work and her extraordinary voice. This is a full throated, literally, blues album that absolutely blasts through the speakers. This is going to be the first 5 star that I hadn't heard before. It's a hell of an experience of sound and emotion.
Absolute perfection.
4.5 for the album, 5 for the voice
Next time cleaning I will hear this album and sing along and dance with it, good momentum to these songs
Brilliant album with a fantastic vocal from Janis. Particularly liked the opening track ‘Move Over’. There wasn’t a song that I didn’t like! 5/5 ⭐️
Pretty good overall. There are a lot of similar sounding songs, but a few standouts that make this a great album. Also Janis Joplin's voice is gorgeous and I love her energetic delivery
Exciting
10/10
What an album. Top to bottom just solid. Listening to this makes me sad as to what else she could have given the world if she had been alive longer. Amazing vocals, lyrically solid. Top to bottom great album.
Wow, Janis! What a voice. I think some are covers. I like the vibes, blues/rock some gospel (mercedes benz). A shame you leave us so young.
Very surprised by this one. I always thought Janis wasn’t a great singer, but this album showed me that her range wasn’t just about vocals. This album evokes a feeling and has a timeless quality.
A beautiful oldie
Loved listening to it again
Definition of a 5 star. Solid all the way through. Greats include: Bobby McGee, Get It While You Can, Mercedes Benz, and Half Moon. Need to buy the vinyl.
Album 159 of 1001 Janis Joplin - Pearl Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : Me and Bobby McGee I grew up with this one. It was in my home soon after its release and I'm grateful for that. Just a wonderful album. Usually I would go for her Greatest Hits album, so some of the deep tracks here are sadly overlooked, from time to time. I enjoyed it this morning as much as I ever. Easy to rate this one.
I FUCKING LOVE JANIS JOPLIN
Excellent album, really showing the range of Janis Joplin.
An all time iconic voice!
Love Janis, and this is a great album from top to bottom. My favorite songs on it are probably "Cry Baby," "Trust Me," and "Get It While You Can," but honestly there's not a bad song on here.
This shit rocks.
Amazing voice. Great album. Legendary
I love Joplin’s fuzzy vocal virtuosity. I also loved learning that Mercedes-Benz was the last thing she recorded before she died. This album is part of the sad mystique of rock and roll excess.
Beautiful.
A singular voice.
She was taken too soon from us. To me, Cry Baby is the stand out on this album.
Lekkere krijsblues uit de oude doos, uit de tijd dat een beetje artiest zich loungend op een vintage stoel van de kringloop liet fotograferen. Is zoiets nou overschat omdat de zangeres in kwestie op jonge leeftijd het leven heeft gelaten? Dit is toch eigenlijk prima muziek en er staan meerdere klassiekers op. Dikke blues met een knipoog, dat waarderen we.
God DAMN. Maybe it’s a stretch, but I could argue that Joplin had the single greatest voice in rock n roll history. Everything on this record is packed with undeniable soul and rawness that it’s impossible to look away from. It’s a shame that this album is loaded with such an awful story, and I fucking hate the industry for what they did to her. I dare you to listen to Cry Baby and tell me you’re not impressed.
What a Rock album! What a Blues album! Although any judgement is inevitably obscured by the knowledge that this was Joplin’s last, released posthumously, the quality is unquestionable. Some of the songs are probably not in their intended final form, but the rawness and the nude emotions just drip out of them, they are soaked in the stuff. 5 unavoidable stars! Fab tracks: Cry Baby, My Baby
A shame she died before this album was finished. Such a great album.
This is a masterpiece.
Великолепный классический американский рок 70ых с налетом кантри
Powerful vocals backed by great band. There is real blues inside her. Hard to believe she’s been gone for more than 50 years.
This is a perfect album from a great voice.
This is not the most remarkable when I think of a Janis Joplin album, but of course, it's a 5-star.
absolute bangers especially love my baby and cry baby
I love this one!
One of the best to ever do it. Fantastic album.
Before this, I only knew Janis Joplin by name and maybe Me and Bobby McGee and Mercedes Benz. I expected another mediocre 70s blues rock album with a rating of maybe 2/5. But this... After the first listen of the album I immediately had to listen again. This is exceptionally good. I was acquainted with Joplin's voice; but the songs are unbelievably well put together, too. It's such a shame that Joplin died before finishing this album, so that she couldn't even sing the vocals of Buried Alive in the Blues, which remains an instrumental. And a good one at that. This album comepletely hit me out of the blue, as I wasn't expecting this to be 5/5. But it is.
I've heard this album a few times, and thought of it as a 4-star album. On this listen, however, I've had hard time finding fault. Janis has such an incredible, raw, powerful voice, and the songs covered here are almost uniformly fantastic. The Full Tilt Boogie Band are perfect accompaniment, bringing smooth style to the arrangements. And it doesn't outstay its welcome at just over half an hour. I love this.
RIP Janis, gone before her prime and such a shame that this album was released after she was already dead. Oh Lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz. I've listened to this album in the bar booth where she had her last drinks (screwdrivers) before she died in LA. Her initials are still carved in the table from that night.
I have never picked up Janis and I regret that after today. This album is incredible. Cry Baby, A Woman Left Lonely, and Buried Alive in the Blues were all incredible. I immediately listened to this album a second time after finishing. It's not often you listen to an album for the first time and it becomes a favorite; Pearl did that.
Holy hell what a powerful voice and amazing sounding guitar to go with it. I was never the biggest fan of the song Me and Bobby McGee, but after listening to it in the middle of the whole album my mind has been completely changed. This album was amazing. Move Over and Cry Baby were such powerful songs to start it off and set the tone for the whole album and Get it While You Can ended it perfectly.
This album really blew me away. I was not prepared for it. The raw emotion in her voice is something I've never heard. Amazing.
*****
This album is so bittersweet because it was Janis finally getting in with a great band and a great producer and who knows what the follow up could of been like. The instrumentation is A tier and her voice is just so uniquely hers that anytime you hear it you have to go for a Joplin binge. Brilliant album.
Wonderful album. I loved Janis voice throughout the record. Mercedes Benz is stunning. I understand that was the last thing she recorded. I had the impression that Janis work was always a little dated, like in the Big Brother and the Holding Company albums, but here the production was flawless, the sequencing pleasing, and the songs outstanding. It changed my perception and make me understand why she is widely considered a critical character in the rock Pantheon.
This album is THE BEST. It's the perfect mainstreaming of Janis and her music to the pop world.
First time hearing much from her. I've been missing out. Her voice is so raw and rough, but still beautiful. Like soul come to life. Wish she could've made more.
Janis, Janis, Janis. What a talent! Her voice was just incredible, and her music is timeless. Beyond the amazing songs, what stands out here is the potential. Imagine this being released three months after her passing at 27 years old. What music could we have gotten throughout the decades! Standouts are Move Over, Half Moon, Me and Bobby McGee, and Mercedez Benz.
Great album by a great singer. One of the all time best.
Songwriting and Joplin’s ability to emote on this album warrant the 5 star rating
Everything that is said about Joplin's talented career can be summed up in one word. Pearl. This album hits the sweet spot in raw R&B/Soul that you feel in your chest every time you listen to it. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - It was ok to listen to but I wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
Excellent album and one I've listened to probably 20+ times in my life. Janis was a shooting star. Just an incredible talent.
Haven't listened to Joplin properly for 20-odd years, incredible.
Virkilega flott og heilsteypt plata, vissulega minna þekkt lög inn á milli hitteranna en enginn filler. Og þvílík rödd.
Exceptional, one of the best voices of all time
I haven’t heard much by Janis Joplin as far as I’m aware. I certainly know Piece Of My Heart (which isn’t on this album), but beyond that, I’m not so sure. I know she is somebody that tragically died very young, and she is seen as a legendary singer, so I’m excited to hear an album in full. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Cry Baby, Me And Bobby McGee, Mercedes Benz Truly, I’m quite blown away by this album. After the final track finished, I immediately pressed play again because I wasn’t ready to stop listening. I knew she was considered an excellent rock singer, but I didn’t expect her to sound so soulful. Heartbreakingly, I read online that the instrumental track Buried Alive In The Blues was intended to have vocals included, but Janis passed away before they could be recorded. If you haven’t heard much be Janis Joplin before, as I hadn’t, I’d really encourage you to give her a listen.
Già conosco questo album, 6 stelle!
An unforgettable classic. Incredible songs and performance.
yup
The band name works! What was with that holding company nonsense? When driving up the coast of California on vacation we took a detour to have lunch in Salinas just cause it was where Bobby McGee slipped away. It's interesting that Janis changed Bobby's gender. I expect she would have been comfortable singing it with Bobby being a woman - as the song was written. Janis added the words "I'm gonna call him my lover . . ." and, since she was bi-sexual, she probably would have sung that just fine too but this would have been a little too risky for radio at that time. I read that this is one of the first or second posthumously released songs to hit #1. I always said I prefer Chris' original version but listening to it again I'm not sure. The playing and production on the album is excellent. In addition to Bobby, there are two other monster hits. I think Cry Baby is my favourite Janis song.
I love Janis. She was an amazing talent gone too soon.
Excelente
She is a God in my book
so close to being a perfect album. I was not expecting to love it this much. the dead do a better Bobby Mcgee and it could use a little dynamic variety but otherwise a fucking masterpiece
It was great! What a wonderful voice :)
Oh just fantastic, What a voice, what a sound, what a Joplin
Pure 70s blues funk rock. The whole band was hitting it out of the park on this one. I can def picture Janis and Co. wailing on these songs at a festival back in the day. Loved the funky riffs on Half Moon.
Quite the album to get for Valentine's Day. Warm and saucy and bluesy with an ever-present undertone of heartache. That's Janis. There are very few artists who have the power to grab you from the first note like Janis Joplin does. If you've ever watched recordings of her performing live, you can see how she physically threw herself into her singing. She put everything out there until there wasn't anything left. It's always a little bittersweet listening to her, because we know how her life was tragically cut short and you can hear her struggles in her music. Haughty, gritty, heart wrenching, vulnerable, songs of longing and passion. That's Janis. Pearl is probably Janis' most polished, perfectly realized album. Three or four of the best songs of her career reside on this album, some of the great songs of that era. The album gets just a little soft in the middle, but the best songs more than carry the weight of the whole work. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Me and Bobby McGee, Move Over, Cry Baby, Get It While You Can, Trust Me, Mercedes Benz, A Woman Left Lonely, My Baby, Half Moon, Buried Alive in the Blues
The raw emotions Joplin brings us here are so ridiculously well put together. The writing sinks to the core of the message and Joplins voice is just AS raw. Beautiful record.
Man I'm thinking a 5
Great singer with a wonderful voice. Great musicians. Greaaaaat album overall
What a start to my new project. Is there a better voice in rock? Love how frequently piano makes an appearance.
Love Janis. Sf represent.
Got shit to do, so keeping this short: Janis Joplins had an amazing voice and this album is fantastic. Brava.
Janis is one of my favorite vocalist & she nailed the Southern blues-rock genre. This album's got great story telling & all the feels. Cry Baby shakes me to my core every time hear it, Mercedes Benz makes me wish I could sing like her, and Bobby McGee nearly makes me cry every time I hear it. Love love Janis.
Such a voice. Such a shame we lost her so soon. Incredible music. Just all around a solid album from start to finish.
What a tragic, beautiful, wonderful album. Can't fault her.
Una maravilla!!
This is rock!! This is music!! Wow!! I had a fucking ball listening to this album. Janis Joplin the woman you are. This is music that makes you feel things. No bullshit, I feel a stir in my heart after listening to this album. Just electric. Wow. This shit right here, this means something to me man!!
Every song had a lot of feeling and movement to it. I found the song without lyrics a bit daunting having just recently learning why it has no lyrics. Made the second half of the album a bit eerie at times. Overall I loved it.
Janis is a top 5 female artist for me. As a kid Pearl and Cheap Trills were played often on my parents record player. On that old Sansui skipping tracks wasn't really a thing, but with Pearl you wouldn't want to; absolute perfection front to back. I know most of the tracks are covers, but it's like Jimi covering Dylan, sublime. Me and Bobby McGee may be the greatest song of all time. If you haven't seen the documentary Little Girl Blue, check it out tonight.
Super album d’une legende. J’aime beaucoup ! 5
Move Over!
Janis Jopli's final statement is a rock and blues classic. I love the way it starts with hard charging Move Over. The rest of the album is a study in how to sing the blues in a rock context. Every collection of rock albums must include Pearl. 5 stars
Classic and powerful, she was.
Superb. She's amazing.
Discazo de la Bruja Cósmica. Además de que amo su voz, toda la música es excelente y la acompaña perfecto. Además de Bobby McGee, Cry Baby y Mercedes Benz, Buried Alive in the Blues y A Woman Left Alone sobresalen. ¡Clásico!
Discazo, no hay más. Las rolas famosas son rolones, y las que no son tan conocidas, la neta es que también son muy buenas. Qué bandota traía Janis: grandes músicos que se adaptaban muy bien a su voz y estilo. Me hace pensar a dónde hubiera llegado y cómo sería la historia de la música (especialmente para las mujeres) si ella no fuera del Club 27. 5 estrellas facilito.
One of the greats
Classic album without a doubt, each song with that powerful and unique voice. Move Over, Half Moon, Me and Bobby Magee are favorites. Easy 5
In this case, dying young may not have been the savvy career move it so often is, but one has forgotten how great this posthumously related record was/is. One always thought Janis too much of a screamer but on this record, she stays just inside the line of control, while still unleashing ample passion. Plus, the band knows its role, keeping it tight and playing to set up and complement the vocals. A cohesive sound throughout adds to the experience, and every song holds up – all filler cuts should be as original and endearing (and silly) as "Oh Lord." "Bobby McGee" will live forever (and should). One's not sure he'd go as far as editors in ranking her with Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith, but those comps aren't way off and overall this is awfully good. Personal bonus points for being reminded of one's own long forgotten, college-era girlfriends who didn't necessarily turn one on to this record, but played it a lot (thinking that it equated to feminism). 4.5/5
I was expecting to only know "Me and Bobby McGee", but there were other familiar songs, too. "Move Over", "Cry Baby" and others are standouts. Much more rockin' than I had expected, frankly. The band is great!
"Cry Baby" is played in "Look Who's Talking," one I my favorite movies that I grew up with. Also the rest of the album was just wonderful. All of the love.
Great Album, always loved her raspy voice and hug personality that comes through her music
incredible
Such outstanding music and, of course, the vocal performance by the inimitable Janis is just wonderful. She always draws me in. I do like her other albums, but this one I like in particular because things (the writing, arrangements, performances, recording, all of it) overall seem more clear and well put together. I don't mean that in an over-produced way; I genuinely like the way it all sounds here. I feel like it lets us (or at least me) hear much better just how incredible she is. Such superb songs on this amazing album. Rest in power, Janis. Shine On!
Classic and soulful jewel of the South, infused with R&B, folk and gospel into an unmatched voice. Gone too soon.
Shits a bop, definitely added to the album to on collection
First listen. Awesome such a powerful and unique voice.
Joplin is in top form. Sadly her band can’t keep up with her energy for every song and felt overshadowed during the first two songs. Still a 5 star album.
All around amazing, have always loved.
hell yeah, man fuckin amazing - 10/10 she just has such a beautiful, powerful voice I love it
Ooh. Power. Not usually into blues, but this is amazing. So sad that she was nit alive to see it released. I always though janis joplin was a folk singer songwriter. I have now been corrected.
This album made me sad. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because it really is a shame that Joplin died so young. The enthusiasm and soul that she can sing on a track is absolutely unparalleled. I don’t think there was a single song I didn’t enjoy. The opening track “Move Over” is a perfect introduction to the album. The vocals missing “Buried alive in the Blues” is haunting. Then “Me and Bobby McGee” plays like a Dolly Parton song and I love country shift and the lyrics freedoms just another word for nothing left to loose. 5/5
Ah, one of my first albums, definitely one of my favorites!
One of a kind talent.
10/5….excellent album..became a fan year before she died..wish I had attended a concert…what a voice, gets right in your soul
What a powerful and legendary voice! Proved that woman can rock and make classics for all pub bands to play for the rest of time. Great run time, sounds great, the grooves are amazing.
Janis Joplin was a great singer. In this album his better songs are "Move Over", "Cry Baby", "Half Moon", "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Trust Me". In every album she mades there's a hits.
I skipped the live bits because I'm not a huge fan of live recordings. But other than that a great album. Love Janis Joplin, so this is a great listen. With maybe an exception of only few songs from this album that are just -too country- for my personal taste. Great listen though.
My wife hates it, I love it - 5/5
A mastapiece
An all-time favorite. Tragedy that we lost her so young.
Raw and authentic as Janis always was, but more polished and tighter than other of her records (especially those with overly loud Big Brother). Lots of winners here, including "Bobby McGee," a classic among classics, and really no losers on either side. There's also a touch of sweetness to these blues that belies the early death.
Janis Joplin siempre en vinilo. SIEMPRE.
Ah Janis, 3rd member of the 27 Club, whats not to love about the co-star of Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel" Her perfectly raw blues voice was a gem of the 60's and an inspiration to so many. Favourite tracks on Pearl have got to be "Mercedes Benz" "Me And Bobby McGee" and "Get It While You Can" A great album which is rightfully on the list imho
Amazing, startling, arresting, wonderful, complex, emotional, and brilliant.
Excellent. Love her energy and her songs are fantastic
Janis Joplin is good as always.
Prachtige stem. Topalbum van een vrouw die veel te vroeg is komen te gaan
cool
I grew up with my parents listening to that album. It's great!
This really felt like a personal experience with Janis Joplin. This is a voice that's raw and real. I listened over and over today.
I was already very familiar with about half of this album and the rest was filled with newly discovered gems.
Its only flaw is that it is too short. Power, vocal agility, and so fucking much heart.
FIVE STARS An all-time classic As is usually the case with those five-stars albums, I won't write a full-blown review here, because others have already written wonderful stuff about this record and there's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. This album is just a gem. Go and listen to it a.s.a.p. [Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 994 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 1 (starting with this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 4 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 3 ]
I have never really listened to a Janis Joplin album before, strangely enough. I knew some of the 'hits,' but nothing really more than that. I now know I was missing out. This rocks!
"I can't take it no more baby And furthermore, I don't intend to" (Move over) "You said you'd try to look for the end of the road You might find out later that the road'll end in Detroit" (Cry baby) Ojalá molar alguna vez la mitad de lo que molaba Janis Joplin <3
PEARL A beautiful, precious, little gem from the sea (where Janis Joplin - oh! such a powerful voice! - rests now). I don't even know who Janis Joplin is, but this posthumous album blew my mind. Just a standard soul album, but with a great band and a passionate voice. The Full Tilt Boogie Band's performance slaps. Setting aside the haunting context of "Buried Alive in the Blues" (what an ironic title), the band's bluesy beats here are irresistibly moving, not undermining the energy of the rest of the album. Her voice is of course, incredible. This album is a great showcase of her voice's vigor (perhaps not, but the empty space in "Buried Alive in the Blues" might give us an idea of what more she could possibly achieve). It's a lasting final statement. It's possibly one of the best soul albums of all time. It's a pearl.
I love this album. All of my favorite Janis songs are on here.
Awesome
Forget the Beatles, This is the sound of the 60s.
The most iconic blues of the women blues.
This is a HEAVY ROTATION album in the Spence house. Her voice. Jesus. And the band is so damn good. I remember one time an 80's hair band shredder that I worked with at a guitar shop said something like "Yes, Janis is a great singer. You'd think she would've had a decent band that was at least proficient..." F-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-uck you! This band has it all. Technical chops, feel, groove, psychedelia. I love this record and it really bums me out that Janis was in a better place when this record was made and had plans to be on the up-and-up, given her past addictions. It's a sad story. She was treated horribly as a kid in Texas. Lots of self medicating happening. Which is interesting because her voice and songs are like medicine, in a way.
Classic. 5/5
Love this album, love Janis. I can’t believe I haven’t listened to this album before.
Awesome album
This was an amazing album. Loved it
Great. Jazzy but heavy at times. Love it.
Janis Joplin was a troubled person that left us way too early. She bared herself and put it all out when she sang. Very soulful and heartfelt album. 5 all the way on this one.
Janice has a great blues voice. A Woman Left Lonely is a wild tune, transcending the genre. Half Moon Comes in with this funk rock intro and I'm all for it. Wow what a back half of an album.
Nice
just great
Loved it.
When I bought my first iPod back in 2005, this was the first album I downloaded and basked in the irony of listening to “Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedez Benz” on the then biggest symbol of conspicuous consumption. Anyways, I love this album so much. Janis’s voice is just one of the most powerful forces on earth. Favourite track: “A Woman Left Lonely”
i loved mercedes benz and the opening track. really good
This album is pure GOLD. She’s incredible
Really enjoyed it
Day-um.
SOUUULLL!
What a voice!
What a voice! Blues rock genius released after she died. What a waste...: Best Tracks: Move Over, Half Moon, Me and Bobby McGee
great album, makes me wish I was around in the 60s
Fabuloso. I and Bobby McGee es increíblemente buena canción.
Great album.
very nice listen, reminds me of simpler times and drugs. lots of drugs.
klasika, 5/5
Some great, classic songs here
Excelente, Janis inigualável
uma deusa uma louca
What a voice
Classic Janis.
Voz incrivel, musicas boas!
Amazing.
Holy Shiitttt!!! Legend
Großartig. Kannte ich bis auf 'Booby McGee' und 'Mercedes Benz' natürlich wieder nicht. Wahnsinn.
Great album!
Très sympa
I really enjoyed this one tbh. The “half moon” and instrumental song after it were really groovy. She’s got a really gritted powerful voice :)
7/10
Second JJ within a week! Not as good as Cheap Thrills
Very good she has a lovely voice and I would listen again
Woulda been a 3 due to its relative bland blues nature but Janis is just too legendary to ignore.
80
Mercedes Benz is such a beautiful, raw and small, but arresting moment for that iconic voice.
Before my time but still a great listen
Tragically young.
High energy start, god she was so talented Cry Baby pulls at my heart and did in fact make me cry I’ve loved Mercedes Benz since I was a kid :) I didn’t realize how much she didn’t write but I don’t care, still incredible.
Pretty great - wonder what kind of sound she would have today!
This was her crowning glory and unfortunately she didn't get to bask in it for one second. Highlights are Me n Bobby McGee Mercedes Benz Move Over opening track and the closing track Get It While You Can. She can really belt it out on some tracks usually the better known tunes. On the others it sometimes sounds like cauterwaling. I like her though.
Surement ce qui ce fat de mieux en blues/country rock
She’s so freaking cool
Enjoyed this. Janis put her whole soul into this album. Struggling to find the words to describe it, but I appreciated the variety of sounds and soulful voice on these songs. (4)
This is a great rock and roll record! I'd heard of Janis, but I'd never listened to any of her work. She's got an incredible powerful voice and blues influence adds a great touch to this piece. It gets a pit honky tonk towards the middle with Me and Bobby McGee and Mercedes Benz, which brings this record down for me a little. Overall a great album which I forsee myself relistening to (albeit a few skips).
Great album from a blues belter. Janis was never subtle but the songs are packed with emotion. 4
Super great minus the 'acoustic' version of Mercedes Benz. That ragged voice really stands out.
I’m with Jeronimo. A mix of classic and so-so songs makes it hard time rate but man those great songs
Oh man this one is hard to rate. On one hand, she had an amazing voice and there are 3-4 bangers here. On the other, the rest of the songs are ok and I don’t particularly listen to blues. But those songs are so good!
great album! lots of fun and energy and joy in here, and the instrumentals are excellent. i couldn't listen to this on repeat but i will probably listen to this again
Her voice is absolutely unique and she truly used it as an instrument.
Very good album!
Well good morning, Pipes. Love her or hate her, you gotta' admit, this woman could sing! Sure we've got Heart, Joan Jet, Halestorm but damn are there not enough voices like this in rock and metal. We need more. Really enjoying the performance of the Full Tilt Boogie Band as well. As an accompaniment band you'd expect them to fade into the background but NOPE. They're front and center really jamming out. "Buried Alive in the Blues", hell yeah. Bummer Joplin never got to record her part. Sounds like it would have been amazing. PS: gurl, take that feather duster off your head. Drugs, I tell ya'
I recall not caring for the other Joplin record that came up earlier, but I dug this.
A Woman Left Lonely Half Moon Me and Bobby McGee Mercedes Benz Trust Me Get It While You Can
Unmistakable voice. Gone way too soon
de titel zegt het al.. pareltje
Powerful and bruised, the sad last will and testament of a tragic artist. Trades the raw energy of Big Brother for the polish Full Tilt Boogie Band, who to be fair do less to get in the way. Including ‘Buried Alive In The Blues’ as an instrumental because she died the day before she was due to record the vocal is a sad reflection on a lost talent.
Det er dælme godt - hun har bare en vild stemme.
*77 Ritti lækkert. Tak for kaffe, Janis.
Det er meget fedt
Det er altså et lækkert album. 3.9
Hvis vi lige tager en omgang Doors er vi vist ved at være hele vejen igennem klub 27. Har det lidt blandet med albummet. Det er virkelig godt, men samtidig synes jeg et helt album med skrige-vokal er lidt til den gode side. Men svært ikke at anderkende den musikalske kvalitet!
The louder played, the better. Great music and great voice. I can only take like 3 or 4 Janis songs at a time though. Not sure why. Still great though.
Enjoyed this, can definitely hear where she has impacted future artists
Je zou door die legendarische stem bijna vergeten dat je ook een waanzinnig goede band hoort die ijzersterke rock songs speelt.
Loved most of the songs. I knew I liked Janis, but there were a few songs I hadn’t heard that I added to my music library
Shockingly good sounding! Esp drums and guitar. Au naturel. Heck yeah!
Terrific. More than just Bobby McGee.
Bluesiest white lady. This album has a lot of energy and soul. I especially appreciate the political and historical relevance of this album, and how Joplin refuses to subdue her messaging.
From her is "Oh lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?"! Nice iconic voice. I like it.
Day #6 . 4/6 I own physically (3 LP, 1 CD). And already 2nd member of the club of 27 in my project. Guess Amy will come soon as well. This will be a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Janis sings from the top of her toes straight from her soul. She is meaning it and that reflects how she sings. Great bluesrock to underline it.
Janis Joplin's vocals are unmatched. an engaging, sometimes fun and sometimes somber album. You can feel the emotion in every song, every lyric, and every note.
Its was a good album but not my thing. I liked crybaby even though its the most popular. I didnt have time to listen to every song though.
first ever janis record i’ve listened to. absolutely killer
Damn, can she sing. Me and Bobby McGee is probably the big hit on this record, but not really my favorite. Lots of amazing moments can should be cherished.
4 stars for Mercedes Benz alone.
very r and b
so nice, i loved her voice and the jazz vibe
Pleasant to listen to but not necessarily setting me on fire on first listen. Feels like I'm missing something.
Actually liked this album better!
Janis has always been a bit of an acquired taste for me. Long before I was really into that expressive explosive blues stuff outside of Led Zeppelin's really masculine version of it, I always thought her voice sounded like a pack of cigs mixed with a gravel road and I couldn't stand it, especially not the freakout on "Me and Bobby McGee". Her music always felt loose and raw in the worst way. But I was an impatient and pretentious young man, and now I can see the merit in her work. I think part of that has come with getting into the Grateful Dead, becoming aware of her connections to them (especially Pigpen) and realizing that Pig may or may not have been one side of the same coin that Janis took up the other side of.
I really like Janis Joplin. Her voice is, of course, unique, and the music has this raw energy. One point down because, bar one or two, she didn't write her own songs.
I feel like I need to listen to this one again to have a really good feel for it. For now, I'm giving it a 4
Wow! Now that’s a unique voice. Obviously I have heard of Janis Joplin but I have never really given her the gift of a listen to an album by her and by heck she can belt it out. There was just one song that her voice grated on me a bit and that was a woman left lonely. All the rest were either good or great with a few “oh I didn’t know she did that” moments. Recommend!
Blues, soul, R&B.
An amazing voice, and I love the mix of soul, bless and rock.
Hendrix died during the recording of this album, and she knew what she must do
🥩🦁📣💥🥹
what a voice.
When you think of Janis Joplin, you think of someone who was completely wild. In their lifestyle and their musical output. I've listened to this album before, but I'd usually sway more towards the Big Brother and the Holding Company records over Joplin’s solo stuff. I'm a fan of the wild stuff. “Pearl” isn't as untamed and raucous as those records. Instead of competing with the noise of the band, here Joplin is given a lot more space to let her voice shine. It seems a bit more mature and calm than the Joplin of the Big Brother days. Which is nuts because she was only 27. Speaking of, I can't NOT mention the whole “27 Club” mythology. It's so crazy that all of these great artists died at the same age, and many so close to each other. Robert Johnson started the club way back in 1938, and it took until July of 69 for the next most notable member to join, Brian Jones. Just over a year later, Alan Wilson of Canned Heat died on 3 September 1970. 15 days later, Jimi Hendrix passed away. And just 16 days after that, Janis Joplin became the next member of the club, right in the middle of recording this album. That's what hangs over these songs. Knowing that she never made it to the end of this recording is tragic, and impossible to ignore as you listen. But as much as the name Janis Joplin brings to mind images of excess, like bottles of Southern Comfort or heroin addiction, her legacy remains as one of the great voices of all time. The last song she ever recorded was “Mercedes Benz”. The lyrics were (tellingly) scrawled on bar napkins, and act as a sarcastic anti-consumerist prayer, showing off Joplin's wry sense of humour. It's fitting that this was her last recording, because it's just Joplin's voice acapella, and nothing else. It doesn't need anything else. She had such a unique, powerful and incredible voice that it feels like the perfect song to leave us with.
This album is so filled with love. While listening I felt warmth, soul, and real emotional depth from start to finish. It’s groovy, soulful, and deeply bluesy all at once, with that raw, powerful atmosphere only Janis could create. Her voice is absolutely perfect here — gritty, passionate, and full of feeling. The storytelling throughout the album is excellent, and the band backs her up beautifully with great piano work and tight, swinging grooves. Even the cover of Kris Kristofferson’s song fits right in with the rest of the record. Pearl feels alive and heartfelt. It’s energetic when it needs to be, tender in other moments, but always honest. I liked this album very much — it’s easily one of her strongest and most complete works. A true classic that still sounds incredible today.
This is an absolute staple for anyone obsessed with the warm, bleeding edge analog textures of the early 1970s. Joplin’s performance here is legendary because it is pure, unadulterated grit. What makes this land so well from a progressive rock standpoint is the Full Tilt Boogie Band. They provide a remarkably tight, locked in, and organic foundation that gives her chaotic vocal energy the perfect amount of structure without ever smothering it.
a good reminder of how good joplin could be. the big brother album i got earlier is just god awful. this is, for the most part, stunningly good. it's not original, with joplin covering a lot, but it's fantastic blues rock. "half moon" is some funky blues rock that highlights this album for me
Who am I to criticize such an incendiary voice? I started the album thinking that Joplin’s legacy was less her recorded output and more her technical prowess and showmanship demonstrated through her live performances. Furthermore, any groundbreaking qualities of her work would surely be diminished by more accomplishes songwriters of her generation (Joni Mitchell) or successors who carried her legacy and with whose catalogue I am more familiar with (Amy Winehouse). I was wrong. Over the course of my listening experience, I could not help but be charmed by this record. Not just her voice too, her backing band REEKS of late 60s, early 70s blues rock that is just goddamn electric. Janis Joplin is (obviously) undeniable, and so is Pearl.
Some great songs. What a voice! Icon.
Del dolor a la ternura incluso dentro de una sola canción; este álbum me acompañó por un buen tiempo cuando era joven
Undoubfully one of the great singers of the hippie era. Nice album.
Oh Janis. Such raw vocal power and prowess on the same record. So much sadness behind it. She was a rock and roll star, but she knew how to sing the blues.
8.5 / 10
I enjoyed this Janis Joplin album more than her other one.
this album has the most character out all of joplin's work. just great stuff. makes you think about what could've been ya know.
loving cry baby such a raw and powerful voice, so much emotion half moon is a new sound for this album but i love it -- guitar/bass riffs are really fun (and piano! wow) voice works really well with this backing buried alive in the blues.. yeah i am that guitar is so good!! pretty great! enjoyable, nothing that i found mind blowing but you can obviously hear the talent and you can never understate the power of a good band to back up that voice. 4/5
The opening track hits you HARD. Her vocals powerful and intricate guitar playing captivates you. But then afterward, Cry Baby TEARS INTO YOUR SOUL with raspy and intense vocals (same with A Woman Left Lonely). The instrumentals on Half Moon with the bongos and piano go very well together. But we can’t forget about the ENTIRELY INSTRUMENTAL song “Buried Alive in the Blues” which is jammed packed with bluesy riffs and is just an orgasm of sound. Me and Bobby McGee is amazing due to its songwriting and performances. Mercedes Benz is a track that isn’t a surprising addition to the album, it’s one of those songs that isn’t just a country tune that isn’t a skip, but is just a fun little add on. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the crap out of this, I have found no skips on this and each and every song has about the same quality to it. I came in with low expectations and came out super impressed. Overall Score-Decent 8
That’s the part that sticks with me is the feeling of a real person trying to get something out of their chest and onto tape. That kind of rawness always works for me. Janis is telling her truth at full volume. Life is messy.
Liked this more than I thought I would
Man, Janis could wail. A unique and generational voice - I don't know that it's the objectively BEST voice, but she just had a certainly quality. This improves on her debut in almost every way - better and more polished songwriting, and her band sounds great. Tight playing all around, great grooves, and the piano and organ playing really stuck out to me. Two all time classic songs but some other gems in here. Half Moon is great and followed up by basically a song for the band to go off, which they do. Really enjoyed this one actually.
One that I have already listened to, but am admittedly less familiar with that I would prefer. I’ve always been a bigger fan of her debut, which has simply one of the best rock/soul songs I’ve ever heard, that being “Kozmic Blues,” in which she hits one of the most impressive A5s I’ve ever heard. But this album is what she’s arguably known more for, for better or for worse. And it has some insane songs. “Me and Bobby McGee” is a complete classic, and songs like “Move Over,” “Cry Baby,” and “Get It While You Can” are also beautiful. In general the best parts about this are Joplin’s passionate, soulful vocals, the great production on the guitars and drums and pianos, and the general flow of the album. Very playful and lighthearted, very good, and very enjoyable. 8.6/10
Great stuff! A classic.
Janis writes good and salient songs. they can get a bit long or same-y but the quality is great.
This album is great! My husband told me this was released after her death. What a sad waste of a life and an incredible talent.
Pleasantly surprised, didn't know what to expect, but it went pretty hard A bit indulgent on the piano at times, but I'll let it off
She’s very passionate and emotional with her delivery. Her lyrics make you want to give her a hug. The instrumentation has high energy and is vibrant compared to the sometimes saddening lyrics. I could imagine listening to this on a sunny day with the windows down.
It was fun!
Loved it, Joplin's craggy force of a voice always is a treat
escutava mto esse quando tinha uns 12-13 anos incrivelmente, eu gosto muito desse solo da janis, acho a levada e a “”vibe”” incríveis de fato, os hippies acertaram nesse (doi escrever isso)
PASME nunca tinha escutado nada dela ((fora aquele album meia boca da banda dela que passou por aqui)) fortíssimo, hein. surpreendentemente mais blues/r&b do que eu esperava. vozerão, instrumental bacana, parece que todo mundo tava se divertindo fazendo esse disco. dói dizer, mas os hippies acertavam às vezes.
I probably prefer her Big Brother and the Holding Company work but this album is still very good.
I love this kind of 70s music, the soulful + bluesy rock. Loved when Janis Joplin sang less raspy cause it sounds really pleasant, but I know the raspiness is her signature. Raspiness is still good though Standout songs: Move Over, Cry Baby, Half Moon, Buried Alive In The Blues
There's so much to say about this album. Legendary album, but was most familiar with her earlier work, specially her previous album. I'm kinda shocked by how modern this album sounds compared to the rest. Strange that it's mostly covers, but her soulfull voice carries the weight of the legend. Tragically short, which was the norm at that time, but it' sounds almost as a greatest hits. There's not throwaways, most of them are pretty memorable but within the album experience, not by themselves. Starts great, ends great, great middle tracks, if it was longer it would be perfect.
Belle voix, le backing band sonne la brique. Pas sûr je pourrais réécouter en boucle.
It only took two days for me to land on not only an album that I've heard before, but an album I have physically. Neat! Singing like this must have hurt, surely. You'll hear Janis howl, squeal, and outperform basically anyone you could throw at her. She's so powerful, she makes the luscious and vibrant songs that make up this album swell up and practically burst at the seams. She's so powerful, she takes stripped back acoustic songs and makes them captivating, emotional, and lived in. Every song sounds like 100 bad days and nights, every note sounds worn down but kicking. The backing band plays second banana, but playing second banana to Janis fucking Joplin is still no easy feat. It runs out of steam by the end, but if I did what Joplin did on Crybaby I'd probably be on the floor having an asthma attack. Almost overwhelmingly powerful.
There is definitely a style because I could not tell the songs apart on the first listening. But incredible music incredible singer. The bangers stay bangers
I knew of her but never listened to her music. The opening of cry baby really impressed me, what a cool voice. Her talent is obvious, but I can only listen to so much of her, hence 4*
Oh Janis. ❤️
Impressed by her expressive and raspy vocals, great album
I just started it it sounds cool!
I really liked the album! Janis has such a unique and powerful voice, but it's not like a comparable "great" singer. It's more that her vocal style is perfectly suited for the genre and instrumentation, more so than most. She fits like a glove into the songs, such that any other singer would be intensely out of place. I really liked this album as a throwback, and would happily listen again. I may not add it to my regular rotation, but I will go back someday.
Shout out to my mom I knew this one already
Really enjoyed this one. Unsurprisingly strong voice, but some great tracks showcasing it too.
She really is iconic. Love the fashion, love the power of her vocals, love her passion for the art, and love how she never appeared afraid of showing her tru self. This album wasn't an exception.
I wasn't sure at first but it grew on me. Definitely preferred the second half. Cry baby spoiled by being over played on a perfume advert
Notable Eröffnungstextzeile: You say that it's over baby, Lord You say that it's over now But still you hang around me, come on Won't you move over Über die Person ist schon an vielen Stellen viel gesagt worden. Mir ist eine Sache aufgefallen, die als Detail mit erklärt warum ich das sehr sehr toll finde: Das Panning bei diesen Aufnahmen (besonders bei me and BobbyMcGee) ist echt was besonderes, wenn rechts die Gitarre und die Hammond Orgel und links das Piano erklingen und die Stimme und das Schlagzeug, vor allem die Becken in der Mitte so klar und leicht (also Soundmäßig, man hört jedes quetschen und jeden Kratzer in der Stimme) erklingt.
Just a classic rock n' roll good time. Good songwriting, good melodies and instrumentation, and good length/structure. Vocals do get a little grating on some songs, but it's hard not to find it charming when the lyrics are so heartfelt.
A whirlwind of an album, sometimes too much so it felt like it was racing through but ultimately v enjoyable. Particularly enjoyed the shift at Bobby Mcgee and mercedez benz.
This was a thrill to find out what Janis is about as another embarrassing music knowledge gap for me