There’s much nuance and complexity in Drake’s music. As one of you said, his lyrics are often pastoral, not obviously melancholy, or not sad at all. Yet the music and his delivery is very moody, making for a really unique juxtaposition. You almost get the sense at times he desperately tried to escape his crippling depression through his music, but couldn’t quite get there. Another technical element that defined his sound was his use of open tunings (that’s part of the haunting element, in my opinion), and he preferred worn, old guitar strings, which gave a softer, subdued tone.
I can't rate Nick Drake's albums. They are simultaneously beautiful and heartbreaking to listen to. He had it all - an incredible singer, songwriter, and musician. I'm surprised Jason didn't mention that there is a fourth albums worth of additional songs out there. The best place to find them is the Time Of No Reply CD that came with the Fruit Tree box set. That's how i discovered Drake, when I lent out that box set from my library. Those additional songs are as important to me as the three albums. It's so depressing what happened to Nick, but at least we have these wonderful songs with which to remember him. RIP.
I didn’t know of Nick in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, but when I first heard that voice like gentle rain, I knew I had discovered something special. Whether you’re a long-time fan from “way back when” or hear your first song after this episode, I hope you find solace and beauty in this man’s timeless musical legacy. Albums: 1. Five Leaves Left 2. Bryter Layter 3. Pink Moon Songs: 1. Hazey Jane I 2. River Man 3. ‘Cello Song 4. At The Chime Of A City Clock 5. Magic - Orchestrated Version 2
I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have heard Nick Drake's music when he was still alive. "Northern Sky" is one of the most beauiful songs ever put on record and would be one of my Top 5 favorite songs ever. All of 'Bryter Layter' is amazing and is my No. 1 pick followed by 'Pink Moon' and 'Five Leaves Left'. Really been enjoying this Listography Jr. week, guys - great artists selected!
I've been excited for this one. I did not first hear Nick Drake from the famous commercial (at least not that I recall) but I did first hear "One of These Things First" on the Garden State soundtrack and it really resonated for me. I loved a lot of songs on that soundtrack but especially that one. I'd read about Pink Moon before that but at that point I don't think I'd heard it and I finally got to it not long after. Over the years my appreciation has grown as I have spent more time with these albums. This year, I read the recent biography about him by Richard Morton Jack (which I absolutely recommend) and immersed myself in everything Nick Drake - his albums, all the extra material, everything I could. I already held him and these albums in high regard but after that he is pretty high on my all time list. 3) Five Leaves Left - 4.5 2) Pink Moon - 5 1) Bryter Layter - 5 Songs: - One of These Things First - Hazey Jane II - Northern Sky - Things Behind the Sun - Parasite Gotta also give a special mention to one of his last recorded songs "Rider on the Wheel" which always puts a lump in my throat when I hear it.
Hey, you've finally covered a singer-songwriter from the late 60s/early 70s that I genuinely like. 1. Bryter Layter (1971; also my AOTY) 2. Pink Moon (1972) 3. Five Leaves Left (1969) Top 5 Songs: 1. Hazey Jane II 2. At the Chime of a City Clock 3. Place to Be 4. Northern Sky 5. Things Behind the Sun
I really love Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter. Surprisingly I haven’t spent enough time with Pink Moon yet. Five Leaves Left probably my favorite as it was the one I heard first, and also as you said it feels like a very personal and human record.
A friend in San Francisco kept talking up Nick Drake to me in the early '90s, but I didn't pay attention because I thought he was talking about Nick Cave, a singer I can only take in small doses. Finally, it clicked and I realized he meant someone else entirely. I remember the day (years before the 1999 VW commercial) when I immersed myself first in "Bryter Layter," then "Pink Moon," then "Five Leaves Left" (roughly in that order -- even though it was all in the same weekend). I remember where I was sitting and what the light felt like in the room -- mostly grey with sun occasionally peeking through. He does that to some people. I can't say I have a favorite because they're so different -- yet still of a piece, a body of work that is unmistakably Nick Drake's and nobody else's.
My favorite songs by Drake, is four thats not on any of his three albums, only on a compilation called Made To Love Magic, recorded late in his life, only with his own guitar: Rider on the wheel, Hanging on a star, Voice from the mountain and Black eyed dog. Outstanding.
I got into him because I read in a magazine that his music sounds very similar to Beck's Sea Change album. It was an album I was obsessed with at the time. My favorite is Five Leaves Left because I'm a sucker for the strings.
Few artists manage to write their own epitaph, but Nick Drake might have done it (and on his first album, no less?): "Fame is but a fruit tree, so very unsound/It can never flourish 'till its stock is in the ground/So men of fame can never find a way/'Till time has flown far from their dying day." Dude. 1. Pink Moon (5 stars) 2. Five Leaves Left (4 stars) 3. Bryter Layter (4 stars) Top 10 songs (although I like that you guys go with a Top 5 list in these Listography Jr. videos, I'm naming 10, because I can): 10. Hazey Jane II 9. Place to Be 8. Parasite 7. Time of No Reply 6. Things Behind the Sun 5. Joey 4. Saturday Sun 3. At the Chime of a City Clock 2. Northern Sky 1. Pink Moon The rhythm of Drake's acoustic guitar strumming on "Pink Moon" might be the Most Relaxing Sound Ever (TM). It feels like an oar continuously being dipped into a placid autumn lake.
LETS GO BOYS! NICK DRAKE THE GREAT! Pink Moon is a personal top 10 album ever for me! An album I can put on any day, any time, any season, any mood! Absolute classic!
Pink Moon is my favorite album followed by Five Leaves Left. I haven’t delved deeply into Bryter Layter yet but from what I’ve heard, I won’t like it as much as the other 2. Thanks for doing this, I recently discovered Nick’s music and I really love it.
I got Five Leaves Left on CD 2nd-hand in 2000. I was impressed enough to get the other 2 albums and go to a Drake tribute night in 2001. Pink Moon is my favourite Nick album.
I first heard of him in the early 2000s when a girl I knew mentioned his name and I thought she meant Nick Cave and I was embarrassed for her for getting the name wrong! Jason sums it up nicely about the jump from the debut to the next two albums, from something more typically folky to something ethereal and otherworldly. I think because there’s no film of him or anything other than the music itself it’s as if he’s a type of ghost, someone completely unknowable. You have to lean in to listen to him, it’s not music that projects itself out there, it’s so introverted and delicate.
What a great week! Gram, Judee and Nick Drake in the same week. I got into Nick Drake in the mid 80-ies thank to a friend. Five Leaves Left is my favourite album of his
Three great albums by a forlorn but forgotten talent, and I agree with Jason that the albums are actually more peaceful and happy than people give them credit for. As you said, his family even said that he couldn’t record anything when he was depressed, and only when he was happier, so that makes sense. R.I.P. 🖤 1. Pink Moon (1972) = 5/5 stars 2. Bryter Layter (1971) = 5/5 stars 3. Fives Leaves Left (1969) = 4.5/5 stars Yeah, definitely not albums that I listen to that often, but in that way it’s more impactful whenever I do listen. Cheers, boys! 🫂🖤
My favourite artist you hadn't covered.....until now. Just Crowded House to go (someday....) and you'll have rounded out my Top 20. 1. Bryter Layter - 5-Stars. Perfect Album. All-Time Top 10 material. 2. Five Leaves Left - 5 Stars 3. Pink Moon - 4.5 Stars Songs 1. Pink Moon 2. Hazey Jane I 3. Hazey Jane II (hard to split those Hazey Janes) 4, Fly 5. Way To Blue
I remember sitting on the bus on the way to school in 1974 and reading that Nick had died, and it made me feel sad. I rate the albums as being the best first the second album next best and Pink Moon the weakest. However, my 3 favourite songs are on Bryter Layter - Fly, Northern Sky, and Hazey Jane I. Remembering Nick 50 years after he died, I like to think of him in his bedroom in John Martyn's house in Hastings looking out to sea writing Northern Sky with the tree branches brushing against the window, and Nick feeling happy because he was in love!
Some of my very favorite Nick Drake songs are on “5 Leaves Left”, but I just like - as albums, “Bryter Layter” and “Pink Moon a bit more. I was tempted, as one of my favorite songs, to include the brief instrumental, “Horn” on my list, as strange as that sounds.. Albums 1. “Pink Moon” 2. “Bryter Layter” 3. “5 Leaves Left” Songs 1. “River Man” 2. “Saturday Sun” 3. “Pink Moon” 4. “Hazy Jane II” 5. “Northern Sky”
Hi guys, Am I the first one to comment? I adore Nick Drake, Pink Moon is my favourite album by a small margin, i find it difficult to draw up a list of best songs, i like them all!
Thanks for bringing up Nick Drake. Love his timeless music and my favourite is Five Leaves Left. In the future I look forward to your ranking of John Martyn and Luka Bloom. More albums and longer career (Luka still active) but some parallels to Nick Drake in the music. I think you gonna like a parts of their catalogue.
All 3 are fantastic. Definite mood records… fall/spring feeling. Pink Moon falls just a notch below the other two because it feels like a demo, although extremely good one
Small correction: Harry Robinson only did the string arrangements on River Man, the rest were done by Drake's college friend Robert Kirby. I first heard Nick Drake in 1976. My friends and I became enamored of certain record labels like Harvest, Virgin, island and the Island division Antilles, which put out the U.S. reissue of Five Leaves Left. I was already a fan of Richard Thompson, so seeing his name on the credits helped. It also helped that our local record store was good at getting imports. Here is my listing. 1) Five Leaves Left. Not a fan of number grading, but this is a perfect 5. I love the sgring arrangemets, Drake's incredible guitar playing, the songs...well, everything. 2} Pink Moon 4.5 Maybe a 5. The only real flaw is that it's too short. 3) Bryter Later 3.5. Not a fan of the horns or the backup vocals, and the instrumentals are nice enough, but superfluous. Songs, though it's hard to pick just 5, and even 10 is tough, but I'm going with 10. 1. Cello Song. 2. Northern Sky 3. River Man 4. Day Is Done 5. One Of These Things First 6. Place To Be 7. Three Hours 8. Which Will 9. Things Behind The Sun 10. Parasite. Talking about Garden State got me wondering what the first feature film I noticed Drake's music in. If IMBD is right that it would have been in Kicking and Screaming (1995). The next one would have been the brilliant Scottish film Ratcatcher (1999). Then in 2001 Allison Anders made a music oriented drama entitled Things Behind The Sun, which used the Drake song and a bunch of other great tunes on the soundtrack, including a few Left Banke tunes, The Monkees, others, and even has J Mascis in a small roll. OK, that's enough nerd trivia.
Mr Jason this particularly is for you, please overlook any misunderstanding. One doesn’t have to attend Juilliard to see how informed & thoughtful both you and Joe are when it comes to Pop music Culture. With this particular Artist your critique brilliant. True his voice isn’t technically perfect or bold but the music, the intensely self inspective lyrics and music are far beyond what many in Pop have to offer. For a great Pop record one requires brilliant music and lyrics, at least one is necessary. I think of the song “Time” from Pink Floyd, “ten years have got behind you, No one told you when to run, you missed the “starting gun” simply profound add the musical genius present and you truly have Pop music that rises above most else. They dismissed him as poetic but boring, yes hardly as exciting as the Stones Zeppelin or Pink Floyd but that wasn’t the rare gift he was offering, it was undeniable authentic and intimate style. The internet was suppose to bring the World closer together it failed miserably but technology gave Nick Drake to new generations and finally the credit he so deserved!
Excellent stuff, thanks for doing this guys. I love all three albums but I'm not totally convinced by the instrumentals on Bryter Layter so my picks are: 3. Bryter Layter 2. Five Leaves Left 1. Pink Moon 5. River Man * 4. Hazy Jane II 3. At The Chime Of A City Clock 2. Northern Sky 1. From The Morning * River Man was the only track on Five Leaves Left arranged by Harry Robinson, the rest was arranged by Robert Kirby 😀
My first exposure to Nick was when Sebadoh covered Pink Moon on their “Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock” comp. I love all three albums almost equally and and listen to them often. Today my ranking would go Bryter Layter at 1, Pink Moon at 2, and Five Leaves Left at 3
Nick didn't immediately click with me, but he's slowly and steadily growing in stature for me. Thanks for your thoughts on him, I guess I'm currently in-between the two of you as far as my level of fandom is concerned.
My Nick Drake list Albums 3. Pink Moon 2. Bryter Later 1. Five Leaves Left Songs 5. Hazy Jane 2 4. Thoughts of Mary Jane 3. Fly 2. River Song 1. Northern Sky
I love Bryter Layter. Pink Moon is amazing but too intense for regular listening, for me. And I love River Man from Five Leaves Left. We’re lucky that we have his music but he’s yet another artist that we lost too soon and I would have loved to have seen where he would have gone. Bryter Layter was designed to be The Big Breakthrough album and when that didn’t happen, well…
If you want to do a week like this again I suggest focusing on three great but rather obscure British bands from the eighties: The Blue Nile, Orange Juice and Aztec Camera
Highly recommend the Drake documentary, A Skin Too Few, which can be found here on RUclips. Bryter Layter is on the bottom for me too Joe. The dated cloying arrangements bring it down for me. However, some of the songs are my favorites just a few cheesy moments make me wince but I've warmed to it more in recent years. The other two are more or less equal but I'd put Five Leaves Left at the top. Made to Love Magic is a worthy compilation with some great songs like Black Eyed dog and Time of No Reply. All the albums are great.
To add - my top is 5 leaves left because the songwriting is so impeccable, next pink moon and last Bryter Layter, which is 4.5 stars rather than the 5 stars of his other two. Bryter Layter is probably his least moody and most conventional record but it’s also quite good! I think it could have had a couple more songs: although the instrumentals are very pleasant (one is great) I think it should have had another vocal track or two.
Just finished listening to your 24’ review and besides Charli XCX I’m somewhat uniformed 😂 What I want to discover analyze is Nick Drake. I’ve been listening almost (2) years to “Tastes” and NOTHING has effected me like THIS! He’s certainly a fascinating Artist in the sense that his life was badly marred by depression,drug abuse and even worst his music was badly panned, misunderstood and drastically underrated. Severe alienation has ended those unable to depart from it. I heard his voice paired with the lovely acoustic guitar my observation was it’s pretty poetic and somewhat subdued but that’s because I didn’t know what to look for what I should gleam from his work. I listened to his Bio illustrated by this 23 yr old reviewer who was so brilliant really in educating me on how amazing Nick Drake truly was then he tagged him “the Van Gogh of music. I realized then I was in trouble that I must not only listen to the (3) records but read grasp his lyrics. On the basis of intimacy, authenticity not only this reviewer but the Modern World of Pop at large has crowned these (3) records if not the Best ever in Pop certainly elevated far beyond almost All others. After listening to these records and listening again I came to grasp how truly distinctive and gifted this Man was. All the lovely guitar the violins and piano on certain tracks were seemingly fused perfectly without flaw. His subdued but lovely voice and the music the lyrics were inseparable, perfectly conceived. My favorite painter is Van Gogh, “Starry Night” and like Don Mc Lean so beautifully sang “I could have told you Vincent this World was never meant for one as Beautiful as YOU. So here’s to you Mr Nick Drake this World was never met for someone as Beautiful as YOU! Hope your looking out across and know the World finally caught up to you and according to those that know you are more significant more critically acclaimed than the Stones the Beatles or even Bob Dylan, you finally found you way HOME…
Oh really, I write with purpose conviction and yes passion. As I’ve alluded to before, I paint with words and my Canvas is ever expanding! As far as purpose, description few of your comments could come close, not even a lonely 1 just an absence of generosity, courtesy, that really hurt…
So sorry my Man, my Brother that I didn’t show the “insight” to simply rank a few songs but that I had the audacity to study this Man’s music, actually study, read into his heart broken alienation that he reflected through his music words, that I did a little research work, of course I’m being a sarcastic B-- take care my Man…
Nick Drake couldn‘t write a bad or mediocre piece of music if he tried. In his particular case, I don’t even think in albums and rankings - I just put all his stuff on random and enjoy the hell out of any song that comes on. It’s so sad he never witnessed his stuff being appreciated the way it should‘ve been from the start.
3. Pink Moon (1972) 3/5 2. Bryter Layter (1971) 3.5/5 1. Five Leaves Left (1969) 4/5 5. Three Hours 4. Fruit Tree 3. River Man 2. Day Is Done 1. Time Has Told Me
1. Pink Moon (1972) 5 2. Bryter Layter (1971) 4.5 3. Five Leaves Left (1969) 4 TOP 10 SONGS (5 WASN'T QUITE ENOUGH): 1. Northern Sky 2. River Man 3. Things Behind the Sun 4. At the Chime of a City Clock 5. Pink Moon 6. Time Has Told Me 7. From the Morning 8. Free Ride 9. Poor Boy 10. Road I discovered Nick Drake in the early 2000s when it seemed everyone else in America did, too. This time around, I connected with his pensive mood more than ever before. Although, the stark Five Leaves Left (1969) remains my least favorite of his LPs. To me, it's an album carried by the highlights on Side 1- “River Man,” “Time Has Told Me,” and “Day is Done.” Not all of Side 2 sticks with me. 1971's Bryter Layter is his most produced and upbeat LP, as well as his most underrated. The melancholy is still there but takes the form of wistfulness ("At the Chime of a City Clock," "Northern Sky”). Perhaps the studio layering dampens Nick’s quirky style somewhat, but the songwriting is a bit more consistent. Dunno if I'd say there are any iconic songs on Pink Moon (1972), but it gets to 5 stars under my perfect album rule. Crazy how someone stuck in such a depressive state could make something so beautiful. It's one of those albums that blossoms like a flower the more you listen. The sparseness of the arrangements are balanced by Nick’s rich guitar playing, and his delicate voice provides an extra layer of intimacy. To single out one song over another seems criminal, so I won't. As much as I love Nick, he exists on the periphery of my all-time top 100 simply due to his brief discography. But he's certainly a “go to” artist when I'm in the mood for something haunting and atmospheric. MY RATING SYSTEM: 5.0 = major classic (consistently great *and* stratospheric highs) 4.5 = minor classic (consistently great *or* stratospheric highs, but not both) 4.0 = great (a clear majority is worth revisiting and it's an essential record for this artist/style) 3.5 = seriously good (at least half is worth revisiting) 3.0 = nominally good (less than half is worth revisiting) 2.5 = decent (competent but uninspired - not worth revisiting) 2.0 = poor (difficult listen) 1.5 = awful (can't finish it) 1.0 = historically awful (musical apocalypse) ▪︎ "Consistently" does not mean "flawlessly." I allow for a few duds if the rest of the songs are good enough. "Stratospheric highs" refer to albums that feature iconic songs or have an iconic sound. (Albums I consider to be "perfect" can also reach 5 stars, even without containing legendary songs or being highly influential.) ▪︎ I don't go below 1 star because once I'm in the realm of the truly terrible I don't care to differentiate anymore. ▪︎ Anything I rate 3.5 stars or higher is an album I'm enthusiastic about and would likely revisit at some point.
Nick Drake is like Kevin Ayers if you replaced the quirkiness and whimsy with melancholy. This is not to denigrate ND( although I do prefer Kevin Ayers), but that’s who he reminds me of, particularly vocally. All 3 of his albums are good, but you have to be in that mood. I generally prefer 5 leaves left to the other 2, but all about 4 stars , if you’re in the mood. I can say “ time has told me” will be one of my top tracks when you do the 1969 deep dive. Other greats are “ cello song”” man in a shed” “ hazy Jane II” “ northern sky” “ pink moon” and “ things behind the sun” and “ free ride”
3 Five Leaves Left 3/3.5 2 Bryter Layter 3.5 1 Pink Moon 4 The more maximalist second album and minimalist third are more engaging to me than the first, but they're all good. 5 From The Morning 4 Which Will 3 One Of these Things first 2 Place To Be 1 Northern Sky
Nick Drake Albums: 3) Bryter Layter 3.0 2) Five Leaves Left 3.5 1) Pink Moon 4.0 Songs: 6) Hazy Jane II 5) Man In a Shed 4) Northern Sky 3) Pink Moon 2) Things Behind the Sun 1) One of These Things First
I would rank them all as great but probably his 1st and 3rd as 5 s and Bryter Layter as 4.5. To hear the song Pink Moon and not go “Woah what is that???? It’s fantastic!!!” Is pretty unfathomable to me even if it was first in the VW commercial. No accountin’ for tastes though, Joe!
@ could be. I knew the music before VW repurposed it. Have you heard the Sebadoh version of it? Also pretty great and very different from the original as you might imagine.
@@TastesLikeMusic oooh tough audience, Joe. Not even Brand New Love? Well I would agree that they are not very consistent. But Harmacy was a good album I thought - smash your head on the punk rock too (but it’s a compilation so it better have its moments!). Well probably then you may just think their version of pink moon is Meh, Joe. I like the heavy guitar part after he starts shouting metal style “pink pink pink pink pink!!!”
Nick was influenced by Dylan, Donovan, Van Morrison, Phil Ochs (who Neil Young and I think is comparable to Dylan), Randy Newman, Robert Johnson, and the Beach Boys, among others. Nick was a great talent.
"The genre....white guy, acoustic guitar, is such a hard thing to pull off and make it interesting. Very few can do it...Elliot Smith, Richard Thompson....NOT Bob Dylan." 😄
His music reminds me of a more uptight al stewart, or cat stevens with more flute, and English sadness...starts to wear on on you after a short bit...talented, sure...but not really something I'd reach for
Interesting. More mentions of Richard Thompson. Clearly, this is the good Lord's way of telling me that I should request, yet again, that y'all do a ranking of Teddy Thompson's albums. Why not Richard, you may ask? Well, unlike his son, Richard is not on my list of potential future husbands. 😏 Oh, don't judge me. If the Swifties can be parasocial then so can I. 😄
here goes 3 bryter layter 3.0 2 five leaves left 3.5 1 pink moon 3,5 songs 7 day is done 6 pink moon 5 man in a shed 4 things behind the sun 3 know 2 free ride 1 one of these things first im just not the nick drake fan others are, a mid artist for me
Bengal - The Lions 🦁 are really banged up & will probably have to wait til next year for a Super Bowl 🏈. Juan Soto contract is obscene ! Greedy & bad for the game. Bengals at least mathematically alive .. Just Get in !
There’s much nuance and complexity in Drake’s music. As one of you said, his lyrics are often pastoral, not obviously melancholy, or not sad at all. Yet the music and his delivery is very moody, making for a really unique juxtaposition. You almost get the sense at times he desperately tried to escape his crippling depression through his music, but couldn’t quite get there. Another technical element that defined his sound was his use of open tunings (that’s part of the haunting element, in my opinion), and he preferred worn, old guitar strings, which gave a softer, subdued tone.
Nick Drake is just phenomenal. All three of his records are masterpieces.
I can't rate Nick Drake's albums. They are simultaneously beautiful and heartbreaking to listen to. He had it all - an incredible singer, songwriter, and musician.
I'm surprised Jason didn't mention that there is a fourth albums worth of additional songs out there. The best place to find them is the Time Of No Reply CD that came with the Fruit Tree box set. That's how i discovered Drake, when I lent out that box set from my library. Those additional songs are as important to me as the three albums.
It's so depressing what happened to Nick, but at least we have these wonderful songs with which to remember him. RIP.
I didn’t know of Nick in the 70s, 80s, or 90s,
but when I first heard that voice like gentle rain, I knew I had discovered something special. Whether you’re a long-time fan from “way back when” or hear your first song after this episode, I hope you find solace and beauty in this man’s timeless musical legacy.
Albums:
1. Five Leaves Left
2. Bryter Layter
3. Pink Moon
Songs:
1. Hazey Jane I
2. River Man
3. ‘Cello Song
4. At The Chime Of A City Clock
5. Magic - Orchestrated Version 2
All three albums of his are terrific. Pink Moon is my favorite.
I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have heard Nick Drake's music when he was still alive. "Northern Sky" is one of the most beauiful songs ever put on record and would be one of my Top 5 favorite songs ever. All of 'Bryter Layter' is amazing and is my No. 1 pick followed by 'Pink Moon' and 'Five Leaves Left'. Really been enjoying this Listography Jr. week, guys - great artists selected!
I've been excited for this one. I did not first hear Nick Drake from the famous commercial (at least not that I recall) but I did first hear "One of These Things First" on the Garden State soundtrack and it really resonated for me. I loved a lot of songs on that soundtrack but especially that one. I'd read about Pink Moon before that but at that point I don't think I'd heard it and I finally got to it not long after. Over the years my appreciation has grown as I have spent more time with these albums. This year, I read the recent biography about him by Richard Morton Jack (which I absolutely recommend) and immersed myself in everything Nick Drake - his albums, all the extra material, everything I could. I already held him and these albums in high regard but after that he is pretty high on my all time list.
3) Five Leaves Left - 4.5
2) Pink Moon - 5
1) Bryter Layter - 5
Songs:
- One of These Things First
- Hazey Jane II
- Northern Sky
- Things Behind the Sun
- Parasite
Gotta also give a special mention to one of his last recorded songs "Rider on the Wheel" which always puts a lump in my throat when I hear it.
Hey, you've finally covered a singer-songwriter from the late 60s/early 70s that I genuinely like.
1. Bryter Layter (1971; also my AOTY)
2. Pink Moon (1972)
3. Five Leaves Left (1969)
Top 5 Songs:
1. Hazey Jane II
2. At the Chime of a City Clock
3. Place to Be
4. Northern Sky
5. Things Behind the Sun
I really love Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter. Surprisingly I haven’t spent enough time with Pink Moon yet. Five Leaves Left probably my favorite as it was the one I heard first, and also as you said it feels like a very personal and human record.
A friend in San Francisco kept talking up Nick Drake to me in the early '90s, but I didn't pay attention because I thought he was talking about Nick Cave, a singer I can only take in small doses. Finally, it clicked and I realized he meant someone else entirely. I remember the day (years before the 1999 VW commercial) when I immersed myself first in "Bryter Layter," then "Pink Moon," then "Five Leaves Left" (roughly in that order -- even though it was all in the same weekend). I remember where I was sitting and what the light felt like in the room -- mostly grey with sun occasionally peeking through. He does that to some people. I can't say I have a favorite because they're so different -- yet still of a piece, a body of work that is unmistakably Nick Drake's and nobody else's.
My favorite songs by Drake, is four thats not on any of his three albums, only on a compilation called Made To Love Magic, recorded late in his life, only with his own guitar: Rider on the wheel, Hanging on a star, Voice from the mountain and Black eyed dog. Outstanding.
I got into him because I read in a magazine that his music sounds very similar to Beck's Sea Change album. It was an album I was obsessed with at the time. My favorite is Five Leaves Left because I'm a sucker for the strings.
Few artists manage to write their own epitaph, but Nick Drake might have done it (and on his first album, no less?): "Fame is but a fruit tree, so very unsound/It can never flourish 'till its stock is in the ground/So men of fame can never find a way/'Till time has flown far from their dying day." Dude.
1. Pink Moon (5 stars)
2. Five Leaves Left (4 stars)
3. Bryter Layter (4 stars)
Top 10 songs (although I like that you guys go with a Top 5 list in these Listography Jr. videos, I'm naming 10, because I can):
10. Hazey Jane II
9. Place to Be
8. Parasite
7. Time of No Reply
6. Things Behind the Sun
5. Joey
4. Saturday Sun
3. At the Chime of a City Clock
2. Northern Sky
1. Pink Moon
The rhythm of Drake's acoustic guitar strumming on "Pink Moon" might be the Most Relaxing Sound Ever (TM). It feels like an oar continuously being dipped into a placid autumn lake.
Great job! All I can say is "Way To Blue" crushes me every time. An all-timer.
‘Day is Done’ is pretty special
LETS GO BOYS! NICK DRAKE THE GREAT! Pink Moon is a personal top 10 album ever for me! An album I can put on any day, any time, any season, any mood! Absolute classic!
Pink Moon is my favorite album followed by Five Leaves Left. I haven’t delved deeply into Bryter Layter yet but from what I’ve heard, I won’t like it as much as the other 2. Thanks for doing this, I recently discovered Nick’s music and I really love it.
I got Five Leaves Left on CD 2nd-hand in 2000. I was impressed enough to get the other 2 albums and go to a Drake tribute night in 2001. Pink Moon is my favourite Nick album.
I'm loving these Listography Jrs and their more frequent release schedule, keep up the good work!
I first heard of him in the early 2000s when a girl I knew mentioned his name and I thought she meant Nick Cave and I was embarrassed for her for getting the name wrong! Jason sums it up nicely about the jump from the debut to the next two albums, from something more typically folky to something ethereal and otherworldly. I think because there’s no film of him or anything other than the music itself it’s as if he’s a type of ghost, someone completely unknowable. You have to lean in to listen to him, it’s not music that projects itself out there, it’s so introverted and delicate.
An early Christmas present! Thank you so, so much for recording this vid, gentlemen! I love Nick Drake!
Best wishes,
Christian
What a great week! Gram, Judee and Nick Drake in the same week. I got into Nick Drake in the mid 80-ies thank to a friend. Five Leaves Left is my favourite album of his
Three great albums by a forlorn but forgotten talent, and I agree with Jason that the albums are actually more peaceful and happy than people give them credit for. As you said, his family even said that he couldn’t record anything when he was depressed, and only when he was happier, so that makes sense. R.I.P. 🖤
1. Pink Moon (1972) = 5/5 stars
2. Bryter Layter (1971) = 5/5 stars
3. Fives Leaves Left (1969) = 4.5/5 stars
Yeah, definitely not albums that I listen to that often, but in that way it’s more impactful whenever I do listen. Cheers, boys! 🫂🖤
My favourite artist you hadn't covered.....until now. Just Crowded House to go (someday....) and you'll have rounded out my Top 20.
1. Bryter Layter - 5-Stars. Perfect Album. All-Time Top 10 material.
2. Five Leaves Left - 5 Stars
3. Pink Moon - 4.5 Stars
Songs
1. Pink Moon
2. Hazey Jane I
3. Hazey Jane II (hard to split those Hazey Janes)
4, Fly
5. Way To Blue
Usually agree with Joe's takes but totally match Jason's take here. Great content guys👍🎶
I remember sitting on the bus on the way to school in 1974 and reading that Nick had died, and it made me feel sad. I rate the albums as being the best first the second album next best and Pink Moon the weakest. However, my 3 favourite songs are on Bryter Layter - Fly, Northern Sky, and Hazey Jane I.
Remembering Nick 50 years after he died, I like to think of him in his bedroom in John Martyn's house in Hastings looking out to sea writing Northern Sky with the tree branches brushing against the window, and Nick feeling happy because he was in love!
Some of my very favorite Nick Drake songs are on “5 Leaves Left”, but I just like - as albums, “Bryter Layter” and “Pink Moon a bit more. I was tempted, as one of my favorite songs, to include the brief instrumental, “Horn” on my list, as strange as that sounds..
Albums
1. “Pink Moon”
2. “Bryter Layter”
3. “5 Leaves Left”
Songs
1. “River Man”
2. “Saturday Sun”
3. “Pink Moon”
4. “Hazy Jane II”
5. “Northern Sky”
Hi guys, Am I the first one to comment? I adore Nick Drake, Pink Moon is my favourite album by a small margin, i find it difficult to draw up a list of best songs, i like them all!
Thanks for bringing up Nick Drake. Love his timeless music and my favourite is Five Leaves Left. In the future I look forward to your ranking of John Martyn and Luka Bloom. More albums and longer career (Luka still active) but some parallels to Nick Drake in the music. I think you gonna like a parts of their catalogue.
Luka Bloom. Well done.
I know some Luka Bloom -Jason
All 3 are fantastic. Definite mood records… fall/spring feeling. Pink Moon falls just a notch below the other two because it feels like a demo, although extremely good one
Small correction: Harry Robinson only did the string arrangements on River Man, the rest were done by Drake's college friend Robert Kirby.
I first heard Nick Drake in 1976. My friends and I became enamored of certain record labels like Harvest, Virgin, island and the Island division Antilles, which put out the U.S. reissue of Five Leaves Left. I was already a fan of Richard Thompson, so seeing his name on the credits helped. It also helped that our local record store was good at getting imports. Here is my listing. 1) Five Leaves Left. Not a fan of number grading, but this is a perfect 5. I love the sgring arrangemets, Drake's incredible guitar playing, the songs...well, everything.
2} Pink Moon 4.5 Maybe a 5. The only real flaw is that it's too short.
3) Bryter Later 3.5. Not a fan of the horns or the backup vocals, and the instrumentals are nice enough, but superfluous.
Songs, though it's hard to pick just 5, and even 10 is tough, but I'm going with 10.
1. Cello Song.
2. Northern Sky
3. River Man
4. Day Is Done
5. One Of These Things First
6. Place To Be
7. Three Hours
8. Which Will
9. Things Behind The Sun
10. Parasite.
Talking about Garden State got me wondering what the first feature film I noticed Drake's music in. If IMBD is right that it would have been in Kicking and Screaming (1995). The next one would have been the brilliant Scottish film Ratcatcher (1999). Then in 2001 Allison Anders made a music oriented drama entitled Things Behind The Sun, which used the Drake song and a bunch of other great tunes on the soundtrack, including a few Left Banke tunes, The Monkees, others, and even has J Mascis in a small roll. OK, that's enough nerd trivia.
Mr Jason this particularly is for you, please overlook any misunderstanding. One doesn’t have to attend Juilliard to see how informed & thoughtful both you and Joe are when it comes to Pop music Culture. With this particular Artist your critique brilliant.
True his voice isn’t technically perfect or bold but the music, the intensely self inspective lyrics and music are far beyond what many in Pop have to offer. For a great Pop record one requires brilliant music and lyrics, at least one is necessary. I think of the song “Time” from Pink Floyd, “ten years have got behind you, No one told you when to run, you missed the “starting gun” simply profound add the musical genius present and you truly have Pop music that rises above most else. They dismissed him as poetic but boring, yes hardly as exciting as the Stones Zeppelin or Pink Floyd but that wasn’t the rare gift he was offering, it was undeniable authentic and intimate style. The internet was suppose to bring the World closer together it failed miserably but technology gave Nick Drake to new generations and finally the credit he so deserved!
Excellent stuff, thanks for doing this guys. I love all three albums but I'm not totally convinced by the instrumentals on Bryter Layter so my picks are:
3. Bryter Layter
2. Five Leaves Left
1. Pink Moon
5. River Man *
4. Hazy Jane II
3. At The Chime Of A City Clock
2. Northern Sky
1. From The Morning
* River Man was the only track on Five Leaves Left arranged by Harry Robinson, the rest was arranged by Robert Kirby 😀
I love Nick Drake!
My first exposure to Nick was when Sebadoh covered Pink Moon on their “Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock” comp. I love all three albums almost equally and and listen to them often. Today my ranking would go Bryter Layter at 1, Pink Moon at 2, and Five Leaves Left at 3
Nick didn't immediately click with me, but he's slowly and steadily growing in stature for me. Thanks for your thoughts on him, I guess I'm currently in-between the two of you as far as my level of fandom is concerned.
My Nick Drake list
Albums
3. Pink Moon
2. Bryter Later
1. Five Leaves Left
Songs
5. Hazy Jane 2
4. Thoughts of Mary Jane
3. Fly
2. River Song
1. Northern Sky
3. Bryter Layter
2. Pink Moon
1. Five Leaves Left
Great Listo Jr. fellas
My line-up is exactly the same as Jason's. Except I'm at 4.5 for Five Leaves Left. Three excellent albums... that for some reason I rarely listen to.
Drake is fantastic. Bryter Layter is one of the great all time albums.
Pink Moon gonna get you all
I love Bryter Layter.
Pink Moon is amazing but too intense for regular listening, for me.
And I love River Man from Five Leaves Left.
We’re lucky that we have his music but he’s yet another artist that we lost too soon and I would have loved to have seen where he would have gone.
Bryter Layter was designed to be The Big Breakthrough album and when that didn’t happen, well…
I’d Love to see a listography of Toto. Definitely not a listography jr, but I would love to hear your take on those albums.
If you want to do a week like this again I suggest focusing on three great but rather obscure British bands from the eighties: The Blue Nile, Orange Juice and Aztec Camera
I love 2 of those artists. The other not so much…-Jason
Three artists I don’t care for 😅 - Joe
3 Fine Albums - Gold medal 🏅 - Five Leaves Left Silver medal 🥈- Pink Moon Bronze medal 🥉 Bryter Layter. It was a 3 way photo 📸 finish.
pretty wild game in detroit sunday
Lions 🦁 have to many injuries to beat elite teams.
@@davidellis5141 yah that was a tough day injury wise
Im genuinely shocked at the lack of love for Bryter Later. It feels like the only fully realized effort of the admittedly great 3.
It’s one of Jason’s all-time favorites. No lack of love. - Joe
there was certainly no lack of love for it from Jason
@TastesLikeMusic I know. I was surprised by your take being echoed in the comments. Took it for granted everyone would see that peek above the others.
Could y’all do a redux on McCartney solo albums ?
Yeah someday
Highly recommend the Drake documentary, A Skin Too Few, which can be found here on RUclips. Bryter Layter is on the bottom for me too Joe. The dated cloying arrangements bring it down for me. However, some of the songs are my favorites just a few cheesy moments make me wince but I've warmed to it more in recent years. The other two are more or less equal but I'd put Five Leaves Left at the top. Made to Love Magic is a worthy compilation with some great songs like Black Eyed dog and Time of No Reply. All the albums are great.
To add - my top is 5 leaves left because the songwriting is so impeccable, next pink moon and last Bryter Layter, which is 4.5 stars rather than the 5 stars of his other two. Bryter Layter is probably his least moody and most conventional record but it’s also quite good! I think it could have had a couple more songs: although the instrumentals are very pleasant (one is great) I think it should have had another vocal track or two.
Just finished listening to your 24’ review and besides Charli XCX I’m somewhat uniformed 😂 What I want to discover analyze is Nick Drake. I’ve been listening almost (2) years to “Tastes” and NOTHING has effected me like THIS! He’s certainly a fascinating Artist in the sense that his life was badly marred by depression,drug abuse and even worst his music was badly panned, misunderstood and drastically underrated. Severe alienation has ended those unable to depart from it. I heard his voice paired with the lovely acoustic guitar my observation was it’s pretty poetic and somewhat subdued but that’s because I didn’t know what to look for what I should gleam from his work.
I listened to his Bio illustrated by this 23 yr old reviewer who was so brilliant really in educating me on how amazing Nick Drake truly was then he tagged him “the Van Gogh of music. I realized then I was in trouble that I must not only listen to the (3) records but read grasp his lyrics.
On the basis of intimacy, authenticity not only this reviewer but the Modern World of Pop at large has crowned these (3) records if not the Best ever in Pop certainly elevated far beyond almost All others. After listening to these records and listening again I came to grasp how truly distinctive and gifted this Man was. All the lovely guitar the violins and piano on certain tracks were seemingly fused perfectly without flaw. His subdued but lovely voice and the music the lyrics were inseparable, perfectly conceived. My favorite painter is Van Gogh, “Starry Night” and like Don Mc Lean so beautifully sang “I could have told you Vincent this World was never meant for one as Beautiful as YOU. So here’s to you Mr Nick Drake this World was never met for someone as Beautiful as YOU! Hope your looking out across and know the World finally caught up to you and according to those that know you are more significant more critically acclaimed than the Stones the Beatles or even Bob Dylan, you finally found you way HOME…
Little much
Oh really, I write with purpose conviction and yes passion. As I’ve alluded to before, I paint with words and my Canvas is ever expanding! As far as purpose, description few of your comments could come close, not even a lonely 1 just an absence of generosity, courtesy, that really hurt…
BTW, I lived the Life that he suffered through the Clinical Depression unbelievable Alienation, COULDN’T couldn’t be timid
So sorry my Man, my Brother that I didn’t show the “insight” to simply rank a few songs but that I had the audacity to study this Man’s music, actually study, read into his heart broken alienation that he reflected through his music words, that I did a little research work, of course I’m being a sarcastic B-- take care my Man…
Nick Drake couldn‘t write a bad or mediocre piece of music if he tried. In his particular case, I don’t even think in albums and rankings - I just put all his stuff on random and enjoy the hell out of any song that comes on.
It’s so sad he never witnessed his stuff being appreciated the way it should‘ve been from the start.
3. Pink Moon (1972) 3/5
2. Bryter Layter (1971) 3.5/5
1. Five Leaves Left (1969) 4/5
5. Three Hours
4. Fruit Tree
3. River Man
2. Day Is Done
1. Time Has Told Me
1. Pink Moon (1972) 5
2. Bryter Layter (1971) 4.5
3. Five Leaves Left (1969) 4
TOP 10 SONGS (5 WASN'T QUITE ENOUGH):
1. Northern Sky
2. River Man
3. Things Behind the Sun
4. At the Chime of a City Clock
5. Pink Moon
6. Time Has Told Me
7. From the Morning
8. Free Ride
9. Poor Boy
10. Road
I discovered Nick Drake in the early 2000s when it seemed everyone else in America did, too. This time around, I connected with his pensive mood more than ever before. Although, the stark Five Leaves Left (1969) remains my least favorite of his LPs. To me, it's an album carried by the highlights on Side 1- “River Man,” “Time Has Told Me,” and “Day is Done.” Not all of Side 2 sticks with me.
1971's Bryter Layter is his most produced and upbeat LP, as well as his most underrated. The melancholy is still there but takes the form of wistfulness ("At the Chime of a City Clock," "Northern Sky”). Perhaps the studio layering dampens Nick’s quirky style somewhat, but the songwriting is a bit more consistent.
Dunno if I'd say there are any iconic songs on Pink Moon (1972), but it gets to 5 stars under my perfect album rule. Crazy how someone stuck in such a depressive state could make something so beautiful. It's one of those albums that blossoms like a flower the more you listen. The sparseness of the arrangements are balanced by Nick’s rich guitar playing, and his delicate voice provides an extra layer of intimacy. To single out one song over another seems criminal, so I won't.
As much as I love Nick, he exists on the periphery of my all-time top 100 simply due to his brief discography. But he's certainly a “go to” artist when I'm in the mood for something haunting and atmospheric.
MY RATING SYSTEM:
5.0 = major classic (consistently great *and* stratospheric highs)
4.5 = minor classic (consistently great *or* stratospheric highs, but not both)
4.0 = great (a clear majority is worth revisiting and it's an essential record for this artist/style)
3.5 = seriously good (at least half is worth revisiting)
3.0 = nominally good (less than half is worth revisiting)
2.5 = decent (competent but uninspired - not worth revisiting)
2.0 = poor (difficult listen)
1.5 = awful (can't finish it)
1.0 = historically awful (musical apocalypse)
▪︎ "Consistently" does not mean "flawlessly." I allow for a few duds if the rest of the songs are good enough. "Stratospheric highs" refer to albums that feature iconic songs or have an iconic sound. (Albums I consider to be "perfect" can also reach 5 stars, even without containing legendary songs or being highly influential.)
▪︎ I don't go below 1 star because once I'm in the realm of the truly terrible I don't care to differentiate anymore.
▪︎ Anything I rate 3.5 stars or higher is an album I'm enthusiastic about and would likely revisit at some point.
Nothing Nick Drake has ever done could be considered underrated at this point. - Joe
@@TastesLikeMusic *underrated within his discography
Nick Drake is like Kevin Ayers if you replaced the quirkiness and whimsy with melancholy. This is not to denigrate ND( although I do prefer Kevin Ayers), but that’s who he reminds me of, particularly vocally. All 3 of his albums are good, but you have to be in that mood. I generally prefer 5 leaves left to the other 2, but all about 4 stars , if you’re in the mood. I can say “ time has told me” will be one of my top tracks when you do the 1969 deep dive. Other greats are “ cello song”” man in a shed” “ hazy Jane II” “ northern sky” “ pink moon” and “ things behind the sun” and “ free ride”
Richard Thompson list sometime?
I’d love that. - Joe
3 Five Leaves Left 3/3.5
2 Bryter Layter 3.5
1 Pink Moon 4
The more maximalist second album and minimalist third are more engaging to me than the first, but they're all good.
5 From The Morning
4 Which Will
3 One Of these Things first
2 Place To Be
1 Northern Sky
3) Bryter Layter 2) Pink Moon 1) Five Leaves Left
1..Five Leaves Left
2. Pink Moon
3. Bryter Layter
Nick Drake lists without Fruit Tree, Black Eyed Dog, Which Will or Parasite. Unusual.
John Martyn needs to be included in Joe’s list of interesting white guys with a guitar
01 Pink Moon
02 Day Is Done
03 Northern Sky
04 Saturday Sun
05 Things Behind The Sun
01 Pink Moon
02 Five Leaves Left
03 Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Albums:
3) Bryter Layter 3.0
2) Five Leaves Left 3.5
1) Pink Moon 4.0
Songs:
6) Hazy Jane II
5) Man In a Shed
4) Northern Sky
3) Pink Moon
2) Things Behind the Sun
1) One of These Things First
we did have the same top song💜💜
@bengalgangster Cool that we did. 🎶💜💜
What about Magic?
I would rank them all as great but probably his 1st and 3rd as 5 s and Bryter Layter as 4.5. To hear the song Pink Moon and not go “Woah what is that???? It’s fantastic!!!” Is pretty unfathomable to me even if it was first in the VW commercial. No accountin’ for tastes though, Joe!
Maybe if I was there in 72 I’d like it more. - Joe
@ could be. I knew the music before VW repurposed it. Have you heard the Sebadoh version of it? Also pretty great and very different from the original as you might imagine.
Could be a chance for me to like my first Sebadoh song. - Joe
@@TastesLikeMusic oooh tough audience, Joe. Not even Brand New Love? Well I would agree that they are not very consistent. But Harmacy was a good album I thought - smash your head on the punk rock too (but it’s a compilation so it better have its moments!). Well probably then you may just think their version of pink moon is Meh, Joe. I like the heavy guitar part after he starts shouting metal style “pink pink pink pink pink!!!”
Nick was influenced by Dylan, Donovan, Van Morrison, Phil Ochs (who Neil Young and I think is comparable to Dylan), Randy Newman, Robert Johnson, and the Beach Boys, among others. Nick was a great talent.
All great but Pink Moon is my favourite because I like the lyrics and the other albums are a bit over produced for my liking. Not complaining though!
Alice In Chains just recycled Man In A Shed but put a modern spin on it
AIC liked King's X
Pink Moon…….which will……….
"The genre....white guy, acoustic guitar, is such a hard thing to pull off and make it interesting. Very few can do it...Elliot Smith, Richard Thompson....NOT Bob Dylan."
😄
His music reminds me of a more uptight al stewart, or cat stevens with more flute, and English sadness...starts to wear on on you after a short bit...talented, sure...but not really something I'd reach for
Consider Steppenwolf for your limited discography
Interesting. More mentions of Richard Thompson. Clearly, this is the good Lord's way of telling me that I should request, yet again, that y'all do a ranking of Teddy Thompson's albums. Why not Richard, you may ask? Well, unlike his son, Richard is not on my list of potential future husbands. 😏 Oh, don't judge me. If the Swifties can be parasocial then so can I. 😄
The closest to Drake they'll get.
here goes
3 bryter layter 3.0
2 five leaves left 3.5
1 pink moon 3,5
songs
7 day is done
6 pink moon
5 man in a shed
4 things behind the sun
3 know
2 free ride
1 one of these things first
im just not the nick drake fan others are, a mid artist for me
Great list, bengal. I am not as much of a fan of his as others are as well. 🎶💜💜
Bengal - The Lions 🦁 are really banged up & will probably have to wait til next year for a Super Bowl 🏈. Juan Soto contract is obscene ! Greedy & bad for the game. Bengals at least mathematically alive .. Just Get in !
@@weirddebbiem1619 thanx deb💜💜
@@davidellis5141 not giving bengals much hope, that def is god awful , i was at least hoping to get soto outta my state lol
@bengalgangster You're welcome, bengal. 🎶💜💜
2nd