Is Days Like This a good place to start with Van Morrison?

Yes, Days Like This is recommended as a starting point for new Van Morrison listeners. A soulful blend of introspective lyrics and rich instrumentation evokes the warmth of nostalgia and everyday moments. By 1995, Van Morrison was a seasoned artist with an established reputation, having released over a dozen albums since his debut in 1967. 'Days Like This' followed the critically acclaimed 'Enlightenment', continuing his exploration of personal and reflective themes while showcasing his signature blend of rock, jazz, and Celtic influences.

Who is Days Like This for?

Days Like This works well if you're into reflective moments of everyday life, wave-like pacing with dynamic shifts and soulful instrumentation for introspection.

How many songs are on Days Like This?

Days Like This has 12 tracks, running approximately 58 minutes.

Days Like This

Van Morrison · 1995

58 min · 12 tracks · jazz fusion

A soulful blend of introspective lyrics and rich instrumentation evokes the warmth of nostalgia and everyday moments.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Days Like This — This title track embodies the album's uplifting spirit, celebrating the beauty of ordinary days while showcasing Morrison's vocal charm and lyrical simplicity.
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Perfect Fit Start here — Opening the album with a jazzy rhythm and heartfelt delivery, this song sets the tone for personal reflection and connection throughout the record.
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No Religion — This track stands out for its candid exploration of faith and doubt, revealing Morrison's introspective lyricism through a poignant melody.
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Underlying Depression — With its honest portrayal of emotional struggle set against a soulful backdrop, this track highlights Morrison's ability to blend melancholy with musicality.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album blends jazz and soul with introspective lyrics, though it lacks a strong cohesive arc.

What we noticed

Several tracks incorporate call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the conversational quality of the lyrics.
The title track is positioned as the penultimate song, creating a reflective pause before the closing track.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

reflective moments of everyday life
wave-like pacing with dynamic shifts
soulful instrumentation for introspection
for afternoon relaxation

Maybe skip if you

seeking high-energy party tracks
prefer short, standalone songs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality with positive reception in a seasoned artist's catalog.
Themes: everyday moments· Celtic soul reflections· personal storytelling
Career context: By 1995, Van Morrison was a seasoned artist with an established reputation, having released over a dozen albums since his debut in 1967. 'Days Like This' followed the critically acclaimed 'Enlightenment', continuing his exploration of personal and reflective themes while showcasing his signature blend of rock, jazz, and Celtic influences.
Stylistic neighbors: Leonard Cohen· Bob Dylan· John Hiatt