Nick Drake

James Kelly said:His first album is definitely my favorite.

😕 Wait, you actually dig Drake, but think Leonard Cohen is boring? 😕
I’m really trying to wrap my head around that logic, but it just isn't clicking for me...

I don't know Leonard Cohen's catalog well enough to judge him based solely on his newer record, "Ten New Songs," which honestly didn't do much for me; I suspect his older stuff, like "Susannah," probably carries a lot more weight.

I’ve always been drawn to Drake's debut because it feels like his darkest and most complete work. His music definitely isn't repetitive or lacking in structure, despite what some other forum user was claiming about Cohen's lack of choruses.

I really dig Drake's vibe; he just has this incredible instinct for songwriting.

Look, don't go trying to overanalyze things you just can't grasp—I can't even define my own taste half the time. All I know is that for me, music has to hit you somewhere deep inside. The synergy between melody and lyrics is everything; to me, the melody and the performance are the core of the experience, while great lyrics act as a beautiful layer or perhaps the spark for a melody. At the end of the day, melody is that universal language that actually connects with people.

Why does it always have to be this way, where you're forced to pick sides like you can only love one artist and not the other? Everyone has their hits and their misses. Some styles just click with you more than others based on pure personal taste, but at the end of the day, we're talking about top-tier musicians here. Take Jeff Buckley, for example—I'm not exactly his biggest fan, but I still respect him because he's clearly put out some incredible tracks.
It’s much more productive to actually discuss how an artist makes us feel or what we think of their work rather than trying to police everyone else's personal preferences on this board.
I honestly don't get why someone couldn't appreciate both Prince and Bob Dylan, yet suddenly it's "weird" if you dig Bob Dylan but aren't into Tom Waits.
Look, personally, I think Prince is pretty mediocre and just isn't my thing, but I'm just using him as an example here.

I’m a huge fan of pretty much everyone you mentioned in your last two posts. 😁
Look, I get it—you can't argue with taste—but Drake and Leonard Cohen feel so similar in terms of sheer greatness that I just had to jump in.
Anyway, I wasn't really paying close attention at first, so I didn't realize you weren't familiar with the classic Cohen catalog. Honestly, his stuff was incredible all the way through the nineties, keeping the bar insanely high. I should probably correct one thing though, because someone misquoted him: if anything, Cohen’s strongest suit might actually be those beautiful, haunting melodies. Then again, Jeff Buckley has them too, but you aren't a fan of him, so...

Personally, I find Leonard Cohen much more compelling than Jeff Buckley. Sure, Buckley has some decent, interesting tracks here and there, but his overall style just doesn't click with me; he’s never really been my kind of songwriter.
Yeah, everyone has different tastes.
What I love about Drake is this effortless, genuine talent and charm he brings to his songs—there’s none of that desperate need for megalomania or "grand concepts," which is why I dig him. Sometimes I’d much rather listen to a tight three-and-a-half-minute song than some repetitive 15-minute saga that just gives me a massive headache.

And I can't forget to mention Cohen's Hallelujah and I'm Your Man... if I remember correctly... those are absolute classics for me, just like Susannah. Those are the ones I know by heart (not counting the TNS album, which I'm not really a fan of). Honestly, I'm actually planning on picking up some of his albums one of these days.

If you ask me, there are three tracks from Ten New Songs that actually capture the essence of Cohen's entire body of work much better than the rest... 🙂

To be perfectly honest, I’ve never really been one for Leonard Cohen, but Drake? He is absolutely my kind of music; he's right up my alley.

I just gave his "Pink Moon" album a spin. Absolutely brilliant. Especially tracks like "Place to Be," "Road," and "Things Behind the Sun"...

There’s this unmistakable old-school vibe whenever I listen to him. It's got a sound that leaves a definitive stamp on you.

Auuu, Nick Drake. 🙂 It’s incredible, honestly, but I don’t put him on all the time. I can't just blast him whenever I want; his music hits different depending on my mood. You have to be in just the right headspace to really get it.

And what is there even to say about Drake's life? Most of it has already been laid out. He was easily one of the most enigmatic figures in music history—not because he was trying to build an "image," but because that’s just how he lived his life. And man, that music... such a unique, striking vocal style paired with those lyrics... and don't even get me started on his guitar work. 😍 That blend of vocals, songwriting, and acoustic guitar is just mind-blowing. 🙂

For me, Five Leaves Left always hit the hardest, probably because I played it on repeat, even with all those strings and extra instruments layered over Nick and his guitar. But lately, I feel like I'm vibing way more with Pink Moon. I have a feeling it might actually end up being my favorite album of his.

It’s been about thirty years since this book first came out in Denmark, and they finally got around to translating it into English.
Pink Moon.By gorm henrik rasmussen



So, this is about the first real biography of Nick Drake. It’s built mostly on interviews with his parents and his sister, plus people he went to school with, former bandmates, photographers, and basically anyone who actually knew him.

The foreword and intro look awesome. I guess I can't wait for this thing to actually show up in the mail. 😍

I am so sorry, but it looks like your message was just a single letter! I'm all set and ready to go, though—just give me the text you need me to work my magic on, and I'll get right to crafting it for you. Looking forward to it! kaže:
I mean, why does it always have to be an all-or-nothing situation where I love one artist and completely dismiss the other? It just doesn't make sense! Let’s be real—every single musician out there has tracks that hit home and tracks that just miss the mark. It really just boils down to personal taste and which specific style resonates with you more on any given day. At the end of the day, we're talking about incredibly talented performers across the board. For instance, I wouldn't say I'm exactly the biggest fan of Nick Cave, but even so, I still hold him in high regard simply because he's delivered such a solid collection of great songs over the years.
Honestly, I think it makes much more sense to actually dive into our own thoughts and how we experience a certain artist's music, rather than trying to nitpick or decode someone else's personal taste on a forum.
I honestly don't get it! Why on earth would someone be able to love Prince and Bob Dylan, yet act like it’s some huge scandal that they adore Dylan but can't stand Tom Waits? It just doesn't make sense to me!
Look, I’ll be the first to admit it—I’m really not a huge fan of Prince personally. To me, his stuff just doesn't quite hit the mark, but hey, I'm just throwing out examples here!

Haha, honestly, that’s exactly how it feels on my end! It’s not that I don't have any respect for Tom Waits—far from it—but man, I have fallen down such a deep rabbit hole with his music. He’s easily one of my absolute favorites. I simply cannot get enough of this! It’s just... wow. There aren't enough words in the dictionary to truly capture how much I love it. Every single time I revisit this, I find something new to obsess over. It's absolutely brilliant! Some musician... honestly, he’s got that whole Rambo Amadeus vibe going on!😍

So, let's circle back to Drake.
Honestly, he was just a once-in-a-generation kind of talent. The songwriting, those incredible arrangements, that guitar work... I mean, Chris Cornell said it best: the man was a god on the guitar. It’s impossible to listen to his music and remain indifferent. There’s just no way to replicate that sound—that specific, fragile, trembling vocal quality he had. It’s almost hypnotic; it lulls you in and just lets you relax.
I honestly can't even make up my mind on which album takes the top spot. Everything about them feels just... right. It’s all exactly how it ought to be.
Whenever I’ve recommended him—usually to people within my own music-loving circles—it seems like everyone has some kind of visceral reaction! This is absolutely fantastic!Honestly, he’s just incredible. Truly one of the absolute greats, without a doubt!

Henry Mitchell29 said:Nick Drake - Hazey Jane II

Nice. 😍😍

But honestly, I think the first one is better:

Hazey Jane I

Lisa Davis46 said:Great. 😍😍

Though, I prefer the first one:

Hazey Jane II

The whole collection is just—drag. 😁

I listened to that stuff ages ago... back when I was some sophisticated young man... but now I'm just a degenerate, so I listen to Philip Glass and those weird types.... 🕺 😁

Nick Drake - Cello Song

This counts as one of the faster, more intense tracks in his entire catalog. 😁😁

Basically crust punk compared to the usual fragile Drake vibe. 😁

edit: I’d listen to Drake out in the mountains, or maybe some rural countryside... he was just such a simple, depressed kid from the sticks, all about the woods, the American autumn, and winter... 🙂 😁
The vibrant colors of fall mixed with Drake's depression. A heavy luxury. 🙂

Henry Mitchell29 said:I used to be this sophisticated young guy... but now I’m basically a degenerate. Now I just sit around listening to Philip Glass and all those other weirdos.

Honestly, I guess both should just be whatever you need them to be. It really comes down to the situation.

Henry Mitchell29 said:Nick Drake - Cello Song

I guess you could call this one of his faster, harder tracks. Maybe.

If you haven't checked out this alternative version of "Three Hours," you're seriously missing out.
This one is easily one of his best—especially this version.

There’s just something about African drums that hits differently. It gives off this whole other kind of energy—it's honestly a miracle.

Henry Mitchell29 said:edit: I could see myself listening to Drake out in the mountains, or maybe some rural farmhouse... he just had that vibe... a simple, depressed kid from the sticks, surrounded by fields, English autumns, and winters...
The colors of fall mixed with Drake's depression. That’s a heavy luxury right there.

I don't know, I wouldn't call it a luxury.

It's perfect for this time of year... and there are these subtle nuances and shifts,
the first album is exactly what you're talking about, but the second one feels urban, like it's meant for the city streets.

The third one is totally different—just out of this world. I'll have to start a whole new thread for that.

Lisa Davis46 said:it’s not a luxury.

For this time of year, it's perfect... there are these subtle nuances and shifts,
the first album is exactly what you described, but the second one feels urban, built for the streets.

The third is totally out of this world. I need to start a new thread for that.

How is it not a luxury...? It's the most elegant ambient music for late autumn ever. 😁

Anyone who doesn't enjoy this music just acts like they're poor, pathetic, and unrefined. 😒

Henry Mitchell29 said:Drake's depression is just a heavy luxury.

Sorry, I was thinking about this differently.
It doesn't feel depressive to me either...
😉

Lisa Davis46 said:sorry, this is what I meant.
it doesn't feel depressing to me either...

It isn't depressing if you're vibrating on that frequency... if it fits you.
It fits me right now... and I'm not depressed, just a little burnt out. 😁

If your headspace were any different right now, Drake wouldn't work for you.

Let's face facts... Drake's music is emotionally heavy stuff...
but it's top-tier. He's a master of his craft.

Henry Mitchell29 said:it's not really depressing when you're vibrating on that frequency... I mean, it suits you.

It always suits me. 😁