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| Said to be the best of his albums This was the album that affected Drake the most as its lack of sales sent him in to the downward spiral that eventually led to his death. This album showcases his jazz-blues style the most. But apart from this it's the fully realised use of other instruments (which in a way shows the step from Five Leaves Left to this) that defines the album. Introduction begins the album perfectly and sets the atmosphere as strings sections feature throughout. Each song of the album is a masterpiece in it's own right. Personally, all these songs are possible favourites. The only bad things I have to say are that the soul backings on Poor Boy and the song Sunday as a whole aren't too brilliant. Apart from that this album is an untouchable classic. 9/10 |
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| Basically just a 'Best of' . This is ideally an introduction to Nick Drake (as you can read on the box!) or maybe just a footstep in the right direction. If you don't own any Nick Drake albums then this one's for you. Or maybe the question that needs to be asked is: Why you don't have any Nick Drake albums?! |
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| A startling debut, Five Leaves Left is a great source for seeing the formation of Nick Drake as an artist. Already, at a young age, Drake shows maturity, depth and talent by the well-bucket full. Songs such as Fruit Tree and River man show an artist already far realised, their soft touches warming even the heartiest of music fans. Suprisingly the album is experimental too. Way to Blue and Saturday Sun showcase his voice and also his piano skills. Way to Blue in particular shows the beginning of his relationship with Arranger Robert Kirby and Drake's voice mixes perfectly with the fine tuned strings. Drake shows a preference to use one instrument in addition to himself (see 'Cello Song and Thoughts of Mary Jane) Three Hours is probably the best of the tracks, as guitar, voice, accompaniment and rhythm section come to form a single flowing body taking anyone willing to listen on a journey to the depths of Drake's mind. Amazing, : 8/10 |
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| The ultimate Drake dork's collection. Gimme that....... This contains a four disc/vinyl set featuring all three albums and a fourth rare release: Time of No Reply, which contains out-takes and different takes of various songs. It's no wonder the cheapest you can get it is US$150! |
| And then there's the rogue ones........ |
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| Second Grace, The Complete Home Recordings and Tanworth in Arden and TIA Volume 2. |
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| Though not really an album to speak of, this is a posthumous release featuring 14 tracks. Many unreleased including Mayfair, Black Eyed Dog, Voice From The Mountain, Time Of No Reply, Rider on a wheel, and Hanging on a Star. The latter four of the afore mentioned songs are the final works that Nick recorded at his house before he died. Essentially, this is the Nick Drake version of Jeff Buckley's four track Sketches recordings. Some of the songs are almost fully realised. Songs like I Was Made to Love Magic show a lot of effort and time spent in them and they come as out-takes off previous albums i.e. Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter. The different takes of Fly and Thoughts of Mary Jane show them from a completely different perspective. All material except maybe the FLL outtake Mayfair, is definitely worth a look in. By a long margin this collection of non-album tracks comes in its own right as a documentation of the end of the Nick Drake legacy. Riveting, engaging and thoroughly depressing: 8/10 |
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| Pink Moon is in my opinion Drake's greatest piece of work. Composed in the darkest times of Drake's constant struggle with depression. This album's tracks were all recorded in one take and only one extra track was over dubbed (Piano on the title track). In effect this is a very raw live performance, showing more his losses than gains as his voice sounds drained and lifeless. Songs like Road and Free Ride show a deep and introspective Nick always referring back to the paranoia that his life was fraught with. Probably, even with just guitar and voice, alone this is the most technically amazing work of Drake. Many of the tracks are comparable in theme and style to the final four recordings. Parasite is a remarkably deep song. Jaunty rhythm, sad lyrics, maybe this is the definitive Drake song. Anyway the album finishes as well as it starts which is a thing I think I could only say about this record, not the others (Time Has Told Me?, Sunday? what was he thinking...) Just because listening to this record isn't always enjoyable doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to it with joy. I go away quite uplifted at times. Kudos to the virtuoso that is Senor Nicolas Drake. This is almost certainly what I consider to be the crown jewel of my CD collection. "Even better than Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em?" Yes, even better. An all time classic, Pink Moon. Spend hard earned pennies on this one chaps. 9/10 |
| New Album: Made To Love Magic. Head to www.hyperlaunch.com/nickdrake/nme To listen |