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Pink Moon

Nick Drake - Pink Moon Audio CD

A fair review of the Nick Drake "Pink Moon" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Nick Drake reviews here, or go back to the Nick Drake tabs.

Band: Nick Drake
Title: Pink Moon
Rating:

Release Date: 1992-05-08
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Pink Moon 2: Place To Be 3: Road 4: Which Will 5: Horn 6: Things Behind The Sun 7: Know 8: Parasite 9: Ride 10: Harvest Breed 11: From The Morning

Grey & Beautiful
Yet, as is often the case when I review the work of talented but somehow troubled artists, I believe what should first and foremost receive spotlight is that what the artist left us stands as something worthy of memory on its own, irregardless of whether one cares to draw parallells between this work and the life of the artist. This was Nick Drake's last completed album, and it is indeed hard to not, in some sense, imagine the singer-songwriter's presence through the atmosphere of the lyrics and the minimalistic sound, especially if one feels a personal connection to his music, as I do. There's no doubt that PINK MOON reflects something very personal about Nick; possibly more than before, it seems that his music functioned as an outlet to him. The astonishing thing is that whatever the singer himself had in mind as he recorded the album, the music that resulted from the two-day session can also reach the listener on a deeply personal, almost private level. This is possibly why some find it difficult to listen through in its entirety, but also why it is so brutally beautiful.

To me, PINK MOON makes my view of the atmosphere, of all the things I see, lightly grey. We have no idea whether it is light or dark that surrounds us, and as long as the album is running, there is really no need for us to know. There are definite hints of light that enter once in a while, but we never actually confront them; when I first listened to the opening track, "Pink Moon," it had a most relaxing effect on me. As I gradually paid more attention to the lyrics, however, I realized that I'd been tricked; "it's gonna get ye all. " Yet I didn't feel tricked, just bewildered. This bewilderment follows me pretty much throughout the album, as Nick's often very emotionally challenging lyrics are accompanied by sometimes soft, other times hard-picking guitar playing:

"Changing the rope for a size too small
People all get hung
Take a look you may see me coming through
For I am a parasite who travels two by two. . . "

It does hurt, but what hurts can sometimes also relieve.
I'll admit I rarely listen through the entire PINK MOON, compared to Nick Drake's other two albums, which I listen through fairly often. There are three or four songs here which I play regularly, the rest is saved for grey days. To people curious about Nick Drake, I'd recommend the `Best Of'-compilations WAY TO BLUE or A TREASURY; when his music has begun to grow on you and you want more (there's barely any chance you wouldn't want more), PINK MOON may be best after FIVE LEAVES LEFT and BRYTER LAYTER. I'm sure others will advise you differently, but this is based on my personal experience. PINK MOON is a beautiful final chapter to the all too brief career of a beautiful poet and musician, but while the surface may be easy to chew, some of it can be hard to swallow; and if you know Nick Drake, you know that isn't meant to be an insult.

A Special talent
People either hear the unique talent or they don't. It's hard to explain to someone why you like Nick Drake. To say he has a cult following today is an understatement.
In all his songs there is a soft gentle vocal wrapped around an intricate guitar arrangement. 2 of the better examples of this would be the title cut and "Place to Be". Listening to his music all these years later, it's hard to see how radio missed this wonderful artist.

Baron landscape
Moments of sanguinity and senses of cynical optimism cut through the bleak overtones, but they are ominously tinted by the reality of Drake's impending suicide. "You can take a road that takes you to the stars, I can take a road that'll see me through" - as the lyrics to the beautiful "Road" ring, you can't help but feel the sadness of "Pink Moon". Certainly the legacy of a suicidal musician is nothing new, but while half-hearted, self-loathing singer/songwriters, surrounded in their glorification of depression emulate Drake's altar, one must take "Pink Moon" for what it is - one of the very best folk albums ever made.

Throughout the album Drake weaves a master class in acoustic guitar playing, utilising alternative tunings and complex, delicate finger picking, all produced through a wonderfully warm tone. The sound is sparse; unlike "Five Leaves Left" or "Bryter Layter" there are no orchestrated sections, nor even a piano in the mix. It is stripped down, raw and lonely. And this acts well to emphasise the stellar writing, especially with such outstanding songs as "Things Behind The Sun", "Pink Moon", "Road" and "Free Ride", some of the most delicate and haunting music Drake ever created. It is unfortunately a very short album, almost equalling a lengthy EP, and that is my one qualm. It is rightly heralded as one of the greatest folk singer/songwriter albums.

Pink Moon
Both dark and ominous and yet somehow either hits you as a incredibly hopeful piece of music or the bleakest track listing this side of Big Stars THIRD album. Nick Drake-Pink Moon ****1/2

Pink Moon is one of the most alluring albums in the history of music.

With songwriting so sharp and poetic it drives you nuts and encapsulates you with each listen. Acoustic guitar work to write home about combining to make a sheer classic.

Pink Moon is an album for all times, moods, and most importantly all collections.

So real, so true, so Nick Drake....
Yes, there are elements that are deeply sad, stark, and depressed, but I find most of the music beautiful, haunted, and beguiling. Many call this album stark, depressing, and disturbed. The title track is justifiably a Drake classic, and despite being used in a car commerical, I still love the song. The commercialisation of the song didn't hurt the integrity of it. Drake's music is like that. It's completely in its own universe than nothing can ever damage it. It's so pure and so unique. Nothing can poison it in the eyes of those who love this man's work.

This is the most stripped down album Drake ever did. It's just his voice, his guitar, his songwriting, and a touch of piano in the title track. That's all that's really needed. Despite the fact that his other albums have beautiful instrumentation (including appearances by Richard Thompson and John Cale), the stripped down quality of this recording really enhances it. I'm not going to say if this is my favorite Nick Drake album, but ultimately, it doesn't matter with him. All 3 of his albums are so unique and special there's no need to divide them up. They are like chapters in a book, all contributing to the greatness of the man himself. I miss Nick Drake quite a bit, but the albums will remain. .

You can see a complete list of all Nick Drake discography, or go back to the Nick Drake tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.