Artist: Donovan Album: Fairytale

Year: 1965
Duration: 37:20

Fairytale by Donovan: A Critical Review of the Album

Donovan, an influential singer, songwriter, and guitarist of his time often described as ‘Britain’s answer to Bob Dylan’, released his third album, Fairytale, in 1965. Donovan's music was quite different from the mainstream music of his time. His music was an amalgamation of rock, folk, and blues which made him the voice of the psychedelic movement in the late ‘60s. Fairytale was a defining moment in Donovan's music career. In this blog post, we will review the album, its significance, the genre, the innovative parts, the best songs, along with a few criticisms.

The album Fairytale was a departure from Donovan's previous albums. The album carries a sense of humor and wordplay in his lyrics, inspired by his love for poetry. The merge of his acoustic guitar and occasional sitar accompaniment by his friend, Shawn Phillips, creates an exotic sound that defines the essence of the ‘60s psychedelic era. The album enunciates the transition Donovan had made from being just another folk artist to a true innovator in the folk-rock movement.

The genre of the album is a blend of rock, folk, and blues. It has a beautiful fusion of lush instrumentation with a contemporary feel. The tracks ‘Sunny Goodge Street’ and ‘Colours’ both showcase Donovan's incredible vocal range as a singer and writer. They carry melodic hooks that pull the listener close and a beat that shakes them to their feet. The single ‘Universal Soldier’ is a political song with an anti-war message, a reflection of the counterculture era of the 1960s.

One of the most innovative parts of the album is Donovan's use of sound effects. The track ‘The Fat Angel’ is an example of this creative expression. The sound effects are used to create a dreamy and psychedelic feeling. Another incredible track that showcases Donovan's innovation is ‘Turquoise.’ The song's lyrics are a surrealistic story unfolding in Donovan's mind while the instrumentation pulls off some exotic sounds that suit the song perfectly.

The best songs on the album include ‘Colours,’ ‘Josie,’ ‘Sunny Goodge Street,’ and ‘Universal Soldier.’ ‘Colours’ is a song that gives the listener a sense of exultation and freedom. ‘Josie’ is a catchy tune and a tale of romance. ‘Sunny Goodge Street’ is Donovan's ode to London city and the street culture of the time. ‘Universal Soldier’ is a political song that is timeless and speaks to the human condition of war.

The main criticism of the album is that some of the tracks are not as strong as others, making it a bit unbalanced. Some tracks move too far into popular music, causing the listener to lose the album's language in the noise. But, that is the only criticism that can be made of it.

Fairytale is a legendary record that stands the test of time. Donovan's music is timeless and speaks to generations of music lovers. This album showcases Donovan as a true innovator, not only in the psychedelic and counterculture era but also as an artist who could transition from folksy melodies to a more rock-driven sound. The innovation in instrumentation, sound effects, and lyrics makes this album a defining moment in his career. It is seminal work in the ‘60s folk-rock movement and a must-listen for anyone who loves good music.