JuanDela
Member
I had the idea there already was a post like this, but I couldn't find it anywhere, so I'm gonna share my thoughts here. I'll be counting only their main albums (not including Christmas specials or compilations)
My rating would be:
1 - Horizon (9/10): Definetly their finest work. Quality improves dramatically from their previous albums. I wouldn't give the album a 10/10, mainly for some minor details, like the fuzzy guitar solo on Love Me For What I Am, or the shallow "Aaaaaahhhs" in Please Mr. Postman. Still, experimenting with different sounds (like Only Yesterday, I Can't Dream, Can't I? and Love Me For What I Am) made the album a whole lot more varied.
2 - Made In America (9/10): Pretty underrated album in my opinion. Song selection is great, and both arranging and sound quality are some of their best. I personally like that common 80s sound mix with theirs. The only issue I could possibly find here may be Karen's voice, which sounds a little weaker and more high-pitched.
3 - Now & Then (8/10): Side A is a rollercoaster of emotions (in a good way of course). Song selection is great, and the way the oldies transition is pure gold. I really like the way the album immerses you into the feel of a radio station.
4 - A Kind Of Hush (8/10): This one has a very soft sound to it. My only problem with it, is that it's a little bit too soft for my taste. It does have some of my favourites though, like I Need To Be In Love, There's A Kind Of Hush, One More Time and I Have You, which makes me put the album in this place.
5 - Passage (7/10): This is a curious one. There's a more mature sound to it, and it hits a really soft, but yet upbeat side. If I could describe it in a word, I think it would be "Parental".
6 - Carpenters (7/10): The Carpenters' sound is well defined here, and, overall, it's a good album. Karen's deep voice shines spectacularly here. Still, Richard's arrangements and instrumentation were to improve.
7 - A Song For You (7/10): Songwriting definitely improves here. To me there's nothing wrong with this one, but it's not my favourite either.
8 - Voice Of The Heart (6/10): A rather sad and empty album to me, especially knowing it holds Karen's last recording. Of course, some of the backing vocals weren't recorded, and it feels like both Richard and Karen are somehow missing, both in their own ways. It shares a completely different feel to the rest of their albums. Still, it's very pleasant to listen to.
9 - Lovelines (5/10): It's an OK album, but I believe that the Carpenters' sound fades out here. You can feel a bit of their original essence in You're The One, but it's still sketched differently to the rest of the albums.
10 - Close To You (4/10): Good album, but there's not much I can say from it. Aside from (They Long To Be) Close To You and We've Only Just Begun, I feel like there was a lot to improve back then.
11 - Offering/Ticket To Ride (2/10): The album's OK, but not that great. I do think the Carpenter's Ticket To Ride is very well arranged, but I still kinda prefer Lennon-McCartney's version.
So what about you? What's your rating?
My rating would be:
1 - Horizon (9/10): Definetly their finest work. Quality improves dramatically from their previous albums. I wouldn't give the album a 10/10, mainly for some minor details, like the fuzzy guitar solo on Love Me For What I Am, or the shallow "Aaaaaahhhs" in Please Mr. Postman. Still, experimenting with different sounds (like Only Yesterday, I Can't Dream, Can't I? and Love Me For What I Am) made the album a whole lot more varied.
2 - Made In America (9/10): Pretty underrated album in my opinion. Song selection is great, and both arranging and sound quality are some of their best. I personally like that common 80s sound mix with theirs. The only issue I could possibly find here may be Karen's voice, which sounds a little weaker and more high-pitched.
3 - Now & Then (8/10): Side A is a rollercoaster of emotions (in a good way of course). Song selection is great, and the way the oldies transition is pure gold. I really like the way the album immerses you into the feel of a radio station.
4 - A Kind Of Hush (8/10): This one has a very soft sound to it. My only problem with it, is that it's a little bit too soft for my taste. It does have some of my favourites though, like I Need To Be In Love, There's A Kind Of Hush, One More Time and I Have You, which makes me put the album in this place.
5 - Passage (7/10): This is a curious one. There's a more mature sound to it, and it hits a really soft, but yet upbeat side. If I could describe it in a word, I think it would be "Parental".
6 - Carpenters (7/10): The Carpenters' sound is well defined here, and, overall, it's a good album. Karen's deep voice shines spectacularly here. Still, Richard's arrangements and instrumentation were to improve.
7 - A Song For You (7/10): Songwriting definitely improves here. To me there's nothing wrong with this one, but it's not my favourite either.
8 - Voice Of The Heart (6/10): A rather sad and empty album to me, especially knowing it holds Karen's last recording. Of course, some of the backing vocals weren't recorded, and it feels like both Richard and Karen are somehow missing, both in their own ways. It shares a completely different feel to the rest of their albums. Still, it's very pleasant to listen to.
9 - Lovelines (5/10): It's an OK album, but I believe that the Carpenters' sound fades out here. You can feel a bit of their original essence in You're The One, but it's still sketched differently to the rest of the albums.
10 - Close To You (4/10): Good album, but there's not much I can say from it. Aside from (They Long To Be) Close To You and We've Only Just Begun, I feel like there was a lot to improve back then.
11 - Offering/Ticket To Ride (2/10): The album's OK, but not that great. I do think the Carpenter's Ticket To Ride is very well arranged, but I still kinda prefer Lennon-McCartney's version.
So what about you? What's your rating?