Poor Mum
March 7, 2013 5:00 PM Subscribe
The English songwriter Nick Drake's reputation - and enigma - have grown since his death in 1974, at the age of 26. A new album (recorded at the family piano in the 1950's) collects the songs of his mother Molly, and sheds new light on Nick's beginnings.
Oof, I didn't know (after many years of listening to Five Leaves Left) that Drake died of an overdose of tricyclic anti-depressants. I actually didn't know that was possible.
posted by Lutoslawski at 5:09 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by Lutoslawski at 5:09 PM on March 7, 2013
The article certainly described the featured song well. Haunting and beautiful indeed.
posted by orme at 5:16 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by orme at 5:16 PM on March 7, 2013
I listened to a few of her songs on YouTube, and it's remarkable how much Nick sounds and looks like her. He has her haunting voice and her intense, piercing eyes.
posted by spiderskull at 5:18 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by spiderskull at 5:18 PM on March 7, 2013
Have we reached some sort of tipping point? The download price is actually higher than the CD.
Aside from that pricing mystery, this is lovely. Thanks.
posted by davebush at 5:21 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Aside from that pricing mystery, this is lovely. Thanks.
posted by davebush at 5:21 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I love Nick Drake, but honestly expected that this would be somewhat exploitive and just more than I wanted to know about something largely unrelated.
I probably won't buy the album, but I am very pleasantly surprised to see that I was wrong.
posted by markkraft at 6:09 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I probably won't buy the album, but I am very pleasantly surprised to see that I was wrong.
posted by markkraft at 6:09 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Her vocal stylings are a perfect explanation of Nick's idiosyncrasies. The voice itself is a slightly-less-gauzy Sally Ellyson (singer for Hem).
I didn't expect much. I got a lot.
posted by notsnot at 6:18 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I didn't expect much. I got a lot.
posted by notsnot at 6:18 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
A letter to Nick Drake (from his sister, Gabrielle). Written/recorded shortly before the release of Family Tree (2007).
posted by unliteral at 7:27 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by unliteral at 7:27 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Some of my favorite tracks on Family Tree were those that included Molly's accompaniment. Thanks for the link.
posted by Rykey at 8:15 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by Rykey at 8:15 PM on March 7, 2013
God Damn it. Dead for nearly 40 years and he still finds ways for me to buy a new album every five.
posted by munchingzombie at 9:25 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by munchingzombie at 9:25 PM on March 7, 2013
Shenanigans; it's clearly a recording of the Queen at one of her regular "Brenda's Knees-up"s.
posted by Abiezer at 9:33 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Abiezer at 9:33 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Drake died of an overdose of tricyclic anti-depressants. I actually didn't know that was possible.
Unfortunately, it was very common -- fatality rates are much lower with SSRIs which explains in part why they are now widely prescribed outside of a therapeutic environment.
posted by dhartung at 12:36 AM on March 8, 2013
Unfortunately, it was very common -- fatality rates are much lower with SSRIs which explains in part why they are now widely prescribed outside of a therapeutic environment.
posted by dhartung at 12:36 AM on March 8, 2013
Wow... the musical influence is really striking. Will be checking out the other tracks on YouTube.
posted by Decani at 3:11 AM on March 8, 2013
posted by Decani at 3:11 AM on March 8, 2013
The very wonderful Willis released a mini-album of Molly Drake covers just a couple of months ago, with the family's blessing.
posted by Hogshead at 4:49 AM on March 8, 2013
posted by Hogshead at 4:49 AM on March 8, 2013
I love Nick Drake, but honestly expected that this would be somewhat exploitive and just more than I wanted to know about something largely unrelated.
I probably won't buy the album, but I am very pleasantly surprised to see that I was wrong.
That's exactly how I felt when I saw the announcement of this album. I thought this was likely to be the worst of the worst. I'm glad the music is good.
posted by OmieWise at 5:11 AM on March 8, 2013
I probably won't buy the album, but I am very pleasantly surprised to see that I was wrong.
That's exactly how I felt when I saw the announcement of this album. I thought this was likely to be the worst of the worst. I'm glad the music is good.
posted by OmieWise at 5:11 AM on March 8, 2013
The phrasing and melodies are uncanny, sounds like a cover of a Nick Drake song.
posted by molloy at 7:25 AM on March 8, 2013
posted by molloy at 7:25 AM on March 8, 2013
i bought the initial pressing a year ago, it seems it is still available on Alimentation. the booklets and artwork between these releases are quite different, both very good. the tracklisting is the same.
posted by Substrata at 12:45 PM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Substrata at 12:45 PM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
« Older Arsenioooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... | New Parasites for 2013/ The Cat That Screamed Like... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by misterbee at 5:05 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]