Released: Jun 22, 2004
Genre: Rock
Styles: Progressive Folk, Folk-Rock, British Folk-Rock, British Folk, Baroque Pop
Number Of Tracks: 13
It is a curious disc that's not quite an anthology of wholly previously unreleased material.
Made To Love Magic
Reviewed by:
hippieboy444, on november 17, 2008 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: Nick Drake is my favorite folk artist, and he is a legend and inspiration in many eyes. Before he committed suicide, he recorded three albums, Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter, and Pink Moon. In these sessions, he recorded songs that did not get released on the albums, and he recorded some songs in 1974; these songs comprise most this compilation album. The album sounds like many of his other songs, and the lyrics are still sincere and somber. The thing this album lacks is the sparkling, overall perfection that his studio albums possessed. The album has it's moments, but it fails to deliver like his three studio albums. // 8
Lyrics and Singing: Nick Drake always impressed me with his poetry; this album does not lack in this category. The his lyrics, music, and voice still carry you off into oblivion, caressing the fondest memories of past experience and emotion. It gives the greatness of Nick Drake's writing light, but it is not as perfect as his original album lyrics, but they still shine on. // 9
Impression: The album just doesn't have the punch his albums had. It has it's moments, but it fails to grow on you. The orchestration on Made to Love Magic astounds me as to why it never saw light in his life, and the lonely guitar on Thoughts of Mary Jane is still just as great. The album just lacks, and was clearly made for the die-hard Nick Drake fans, of which this audience will most likely cherish. I would not buy it again, as once hearing it, you get the idea. It will not call to you to listen, nor will it push you away with dissonance. It's good, but not as good as his studio albums. // 8
Made To Love Magic
Reviewed by:
young_blood, on august 13, 2004 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: Nick Drake has an almost repressed depression that seeps through his mucic. The guitar is fingerpicked gently with some of the oddest picking I've ever heard. He was one of the first to start using alternate tunings. His voice is slurred at times, yet he sounds like the young 26 year old man he was. He soothes your mind when listening to him, yet there is an intensity that pulls slowly at your interest. Several of the songs on this album include orchestration. (three hours, magic, time of no reply.) The only thing that may be a downer for some is that these songs were meant to be demos. Nick died before he ever had time to completely finish all of the songs. The songs are truly amazing though. // 10
Lyrics and Singing: His lyrics are not always the most awestriking things ever. He always sings the lyrics so casually though, he never forces anything out, it just flows. Many of the songs tell stories or describe a setting or something. it is really just beautiful material. The most amazing things about Nick is his ability to match his singing and lyrics exactly to the music. // 8
Impression: Nick Drake is not really compareable to any other artist, maybe Duncan Sheik, but he says Drake inspired him. The best songs are Thoughts Of Mary Jane, Time of No Reply, Rider On The Wheell and the previously undiscovered Tow The Line. This album once again, is amazing. Drake's fingerpicking ability is incredible. If I lost this I would certainly buy it again, heck I'd go buy all of his albums then too. // 10
I'm sure all of these songs are amazing just like any other Nick Drake songs, but i'd respect the fact that he didn't want or approve the release of these song. So i would only buy the other studio releases put out by him.
