Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Has great moments but plenty of filler. Should have been cut down to a tight 40 minute album.
I have followed SAULT since around the time this album came out and I enjoyed revisiting this one. I was surprised to find on this list this collection of interesting homages to the work of soul and afrobeat artists imbued with powerful messages about justice and liberation.
A dark and disjointed work, that somehow isn't depressing nor thematically chaotic. Brilliant.
Really solid, hadn’t heard of Sault before but it certainly is a powerful listen and if you are into political music like I am you will enjoy this. Solid beats and mixed it up enough to stay interesting. I think the album could have used some trimming to make this a full five stars but I think four stars is fair.
Really good! Diverse styles and presentations. This album is dedicated to black empowerment, and the timing of its release (in the depths of Covid lockdown and rising racial justice protests of summer 2020) is poignant and almost prophetic. This album is giving a lot of modern Sly and the Family Stone energy. On the downside (musically) there are several spoken parts that are preaching important messages to a particular audience. This interrupts the musical flow and makes it clear that the music, however beautiful and intriguing is not intended for me — I can’t just go around singing these songs without feeling like a poseur or that I’ve appropriated someone else’s anthem (That’s fine — I don’t need to be the target market for every album; just observing that targeting a demographic tends to exclude other demographics). On the whole, this was a really enjoyable listening experience. Many of the tracks are beautiful. I’ll certainly listen to it again — a 4.
Some of these reviewers are really fine with showing their ass, huh. This album is pretty cool and interesting. It’s thoughtful, it’s unique. Honestly it’s a little bit like a 2020s version of a Sly Stone record? Personally I’m into the minimal nature of the lyrics and instrumentals. It’s a headspace to luxuriate in. My issue with this album is: I followed this album when it was released and my god was it perfect for the moment. The anonymity, the firm definitional stance while keeping softness, the soulful chords and melodies, I mean it was a balm back in 2020. But for me at least, now the album is a little slighter without that context. I didn’t realize at the time but the surrounding context was the main reason it hit so hard. Without that, the album is just a little more limp. Still it’s very good, and a must-listen (#189).
I found the first couple tracks hard to get through, but then, I got to "Don't Shoot Guns Out." It was as relevant yesterday (August 6th, 2025) as it was during 2020, when we had the senseless murder of George Floyd and the subsequent summer of protests that came from it. We = The American public Guns out - Don't Shoot. That was a slogan used by protestors at the time, to talk about police brutality. If you don't see the parallels between an album like this and Fela Kuti's "Zombie," which I got the day before, you're not picking up on what's being put down. You're not seeing the shit that's happening in the US government, with their military, with their police forces. The same shit that happened in Nigeria is happening here, too. "Black is beautiful. Black is excellent - too." The album has a good mix of vocals, rhythms, call & response, synth, and African grooves - all things that I've come to appreciate since starting this project. I don't think this is a "daily driver" album for me, but, instead, something to come back to after I've had time to digest. Standout tracks: "Wildfires," "Why We Cry We Die", "Black", "Us" into "Eternal Life". "Monsters" brought to mind some of the work Childish Gambino did in their albums "Awaken, My Love" and "Atavista." ...okay, music review is done. That's the first one I've done in a while. I wish things changed for the better between 2020 and 2025. Things are looking pretty bleak outside my window. But the 1001 Album project goes on. I leave this review behind as something for future listeners to find.
Ohh, this was good. I couldn't care less for the politics but I really enjoyed the tunes and overall vibe, which is interesting cause soul / RnB is not normally a genre I'd actively listen to. I was walking through Melbourne Airport at the time of listening, and an alarm started beeping at the baggage carousel which was the exact same rhythm of the song Bow. I had to pause the music at one stage to check if it was really an external beep I could hear.
Good new album for me! Drags a bit, but overall it was really enjoyable.
When I haven’t heard of an artist I read the wiki segment and skim reviews to see what to kind of expect. Some of the people on these reviews really tell on themselves here. Y’all are the reason protest albums are being made. I think it mixed defiance and hope well. Sure it’s long but I think it was an important listen
Ahhh opening up with an ASMR/phone sex voice. Nice touch. I can almost hear Kanye rapping over top of Stop Dem” , man that would have hit hard. Let me just say, I hate protest albums. I do, I hate anything to do with protesting honestly. It never accomplishes anything. I will say, 3 tracks in and I have yet to want to change the music to something else. The bass lines are on point. If those hit a little harder I’d run out and buy a system for my truck just to hear that boom. Ohh and it’s the return of the phone Sex ASMR voice on X. Black had me nervous. It started off sounding like a Sesame Street skit. This is another good album with weak vocals/lyrics. I get the point but I look for more substance in my music. That being said, I’m surprised by this. It’s very much worth a listen. Damn those beats are good.
Innovative and well-made, but it just wasn't terribly exciting. I could use this as background music but not for intentional listening. It reminds me of the difference between Moby's *18* and *Play.* *18* is not bad at all, but it doesn't make me drop everything and pay attention like *Play* does. [LATER] On the other hand, I couldn't shut it off, either. I carried my phone around until the last notes of "Pray Up, Stay Up" played. Maybe I liked it more than I initially thought.
I dug it, chill vibes with catchy melodies and some subtle but poignant social commentary.
Good album that I never would have listened to without this 1001 albums things.
Nothing baffles me more than the sheer number of people who wanted to explore 1000 albums across all genres but are also like RACE DIDNT MATTER 15 YEARS AGO, YOU CANT BE WHITE ANYMORE. As if there isn’t a Gil-Scott Heron album on here, as if Common’s Be doesn’t literally start with him wishing to be like Malcom X. It’s almost like the history of music explored in this FUCKING PROJECT disputes the points you make, and you and everyone who upvoted you are just fucking racists who wish this was whiter than wonder bread and never made you uncomfortable. Anyway. This album is good. It’s a fun listen, I just don’t know that it has a staying power to be an all time great. I think in the nightmare year that was 2020 this album was comforting and affirming, but I wish the music was more bombastic.
Loved it. As it’s a chill album that’s hard to categorize, dedicated to black excellence, it’s going to have a lower score than it deserves. But not from me.
Interesting album that I have never heard of, couple of good tracks, would probably listen again.
Mon chum trouvait les références un peu old school; moi j’ai bien aimé le mariage entre les voix et les motifs, de même que la puissance des thèmes des textes
4/5. About halfway through the album, I realized the energy I was getting. It's urgent R&B, like the music implies them taking their time but the writing feels rushed, like they are pushing to get their lyrics out but are beholden to the slower beats. It is slightly anxiety inducing but in a way to keep your attention, and the message is important so they a good job at getting it across. I think the album does suffer from length, around Eternal Life or June Child, could have been a good closer. Overall though, this was a great listen, and although the album was not meant for me, I was present in the room and felt the need for this record especially in the United States. Just some trimming around the edges, a little more polishing, and this would be a perfect record. Best Song: Wildfires, Black, Stop Dem, Eternal Life
Cool
This was a really interesting record, that I can only image will grow on me through repeated listens. Favourite tracks: Stop Dem, Hard Life, Don't Shoot Guns Down, Wildfires, Sorry Ain't Enough, Black.
Original, inventive, poignant.
Jól hangzik
This was an interesting listen. I am glad I have now heard it. A bit preachy and dramatic. It was definitely lacking some RAGE. It felt like a protest music you could make love to.
I'm surprised to see an album so young on the list but I do understand why it's here. Everything form the constant affirmations to the actual release date if the album gives the listener a sense that lovinging yourself is, in it self, an act of rebellion and of respect. The production for the most part is simple but warm and inviting even when pushing lore future sounds. I was just hoping for a little more umph from some of the more vocal tracks. I think this has the potential to continue to impress over time. Highlights include "wildfires", "sorry ain't enough", "monsters". Conceptually a 5🌟, listening wise closer to 4 ish.
a little repetitive at points but instrumentals were smooth and funky, never heard of these guys before
I love how unique this record is. The sampling and background vocals are my favorite part of the whole album, not to mention it's violently groovy. Also some people in the reviews of this album suck at masking their racism. To those people, you're literally the reason this album was made. Do better.
This is a consistent album with solid beats and powerful messages. Liked Songs Added: Bow
This is a GREAT R&B album, really great in fact! I absolutely loved this one, and it’ll be going onto the collection. Tremendous, lifting, airy yet with an edge.
I had no business enjoying this as much as I did. Excellent.
a high-level trip-hop album
some good twisted stuff
skrítin samsuða en heillandi. minnir aðeins á snjóflóðin en meiri áhrif frá suðurríkjablús og afrískri tónlist. ég fíla þetta, 4. meirameira.
I liked this quite a lot. Some of it sounded quite Danger Mouse-like in places. Bow was my favorite track, I think.
I had never heard of Sault or their album Untitled (Black Is) before, so discovering it for this list was a fresh and exciting experience. This is a powerful and deeply affecting album. It’s charged with anger and frustration at the state of society in 2020, but it’s also filled with resilience and hope. The messages are clear, urgent, and uplifting—offering a sense of strength and possibility even in the face of injustice. The lyrics and soundscape take the listener on a profound journey through the Black experience—expressing outrage at the systemic killing of African Americans, sorrow in mourning, and tenderness in the portrayal of everyday life. The album captures both the pain and the beauty of living while Black. It's a complete narrative, told through stunning music and poetic, pointed words. Although this isn't my usual genre, I was struck by how beautiful and meaningful the album is. It's the kind of work that stays with you long after the last track finishes, and I would definitely listen to it again. Favourite song: Wildfires – a standout track with both emotional weight and musical brilliance. Least favourite: None. Every track plays an essential role and contributes to the album’s impact. Album artwork: Simple yet powerful—its minimalism adds to the overall weight and meaning of the project.
While I didn’t love any single track this was an enjoyable listen at the album level. Some varied styles and low key grooves.
Not my style, but really enjoyed listening to it.
Damn, this is a haunting, powerful and also strongly optimistic album. The power of the albums words lie in the relative simplicity and monolithic power of the messaging. Rating: 4.5
A pretty good album, I liked Stop Dem and Don't Shoot Guns Down the most.
A lot of people need to listen to this album
Not my thing musically, but important to the social justice movement, and therefore more important today than ever.
A nice album of 70s-esque R&B; I'd never heard of them but I can definitely see keeping this around. It is not surprising or bothersome in any way that an R&B album is infused with racial consciousness (maybe some people missed the 60s?) but the fact that this has a lower overall rating than Moby is truly disturbing.
Favorite Track: Wildfires
Political, psychedelicized soul and r&b. It’s fantastic in many spots and very enjoyable as a whole.
Very stoked to see a Sault album on here. I loved all of these. Inflo is such a good producer and the mystique that surrounded the collective when they first started releasing albums made it all the more fun.
This would be an amazing, catchy, and well written album if it was just the full tracks if they cut the interludes. Seriously all of the interesting political commentary comes from the full songs! And the interludes just kinda feel like afterthought that make the salient message feel heavy handed. Would be 10/10 if they trimmed the fat, instead It’s like a 7
I'd never heard of this artist before but really enjoyed
This album came out in 2020, when Americans came out of denial for a quick moment about racism. I'm writing this review in 2025, lamenting how quickly that moment dissipated. One of the propped up negative reviews on this site gave a low rating to this album, complaining that America loves black people too much. Well, I don't think that reviewer needs to worry... we have elected and propped up just the people who can take care of that (alleged) problem. Anyway, back to this album. It's good. It's a sensitive, restrained testament to Black experiences of all kinds: the challenges, the fears, the pride, the power, and the longing. Favorite song was "Monsters," and also "Wildfires" which others have noted. If it's not your style, at least listen. Like..."listen."
Very good
I appreciate this album for celebrating Black culture rather than relying on aggression and rage; however, the overall consistency of the album is lacking. "Bow" and "Wildfires" stand out as the best tracks.
British 2020s R&B. Lovely vocals, laid back. Smooth. Great African influences and affirmations. Soulful meditation on blackness.
нормалек.
Whoa, did not expect the list to include such recent music. I fucking love SAULT! Wildfires is very high on my list of favorite tracks of all time. Every time its on, it just takes me away. Love love love love love love love!
One of my favourite groups at the moment, but this album feels like a more sparse collection before they really hit the ground a few years later. I can't tell if I'd be giving it 5 if I was hearing it in 2020 or if I just need to spend more time with it now.
An album of despair and hope that seems impossible in 2025. Progress can seem impossible.
They have one song that I use to listen to on repeat. Nice to listen to a whole album!
I liked most of this album. There were a few forgettable songs, but for the most part I really dug the vibe. The track Monsters was a highlight for me.
I’m not convinced I’m in the right headspace at this very second to give this record its due – though I’ll also say that it’s 2025, the White House is again living up to its name, and maybe I should be making more of an effort to be in that headspace. (To that extent, maybe I can say that this album continues to do a job alerting the privileged to their position. Fair play to that.) Black Is is a rich and varied assemblage of musical styles, genres and moments. “Wildfires” is one of the defining tracks of the past decade; “Why we cry why we die” bops soulfully, disarmingly; “Black” puts me in mind of J Dilla’s musical eclecticism (while forcing some potentially tragic bobble-headed participation on my part); “Eternal life” is afrofuturism in the key of divinity. The production, the message, the talent and now the legacy. It’s a special record, and I’ll be making time to give it its due.
Don’t know what exactly this is…soulfull meditation on blackness, mournfull poetry, but it’s supersmooth without being too pleasing but harmonious good. Thanks for this gospel beyond cliché.
Never heard of Sault and probably would have never come across this. But I am glad I did. What a really cool different ride I got on this album. From feeling like I was sitting in an old speakeasy lounge listening to poetry with background music to just awesome beats and cool harmonies this was a really enjoyable album. Highlights were Hard Life Only Synth in Church - awesome short instrumental Bow This album was produced and edited incredibly. That stood out the most. Everything is just so crisp and perfect. The snare drum felt like is was next to my head. Great producing. Something I would never typically put on but glad I did and really enjoyed this album. Very creative and some really cool music. Certain areas got a little repetitive for me but it fit in and was all good.
Every song is pretty solid. It's just a lot for one sitting. Four stars though.
Really good 4/5
So smooth loved it. Glad to know if this group now
this had some grooves, good message
This one is really divisive. While understanding (and almost agreeing with) some of the 1- and 2-star reviews, I could almost give it five stars. I could really groove with it, and I could understand the message, even if it was not meant for me.
I was in absolutely the right mood for this, alone in the office as it was getting dark. My only complaint is that a few of the songs really made me wish i was hearing them in a dark club and that was not where I was at the moment, but that's my problem not theirs. Loved the stunning sounds they were using, appreciated the messages.
We get it, you're black
This is a great modern album. Dark and moody, some great tunes, it builds on the music before it and contributes to progress.
As I sit down to write to review... Honestly, I have no idea what I wanna say, exactly. Like, to be crystal clear: on a thematic level, I agree with it. Obviously, of course; I'm not an asshole. But to be 100: I don't think I'm really... Y'know, equipped to discuss any of it. For a lot of reasons — none of which I feel like I'm able to discuss either. Please realize, I'm not trying to avoid any conversations I don't want to have or that make me uncomfortable. At most, I'm jus' tryna avoid saying anything I'd heavily regret later. And maybe I'm gonna regret all this, too, I'unno. So let's talk how I feel about the music n' melodies, since those're always what I'm not interested in anyway. I actually had some high hopes for this album, given the way some people in my group were talking about it. And, like, come on, it's soul, R&B, funk — I've loved plenty of albums in all three of those genres. I couldn't imagine why I wouldn't like this. And once I listened to it... Well, I'll admit that at a point I kinda lost focus on the album? Although, I'd probably chalk that up more to me fixating on some art I was doing and not listening to it by record sides like I normally do, 'cuz listening back to samples now, this is all very good soul. It's not the kind of soul I prefer; I'm more into 70's Stevie Wonder stuff... But as someone who doesn't listen to a lot of modern music, let alone modern soul — yeah, I can dig this. I don't think it exactly lived up to the high hopes I had, but I also wouldn't argue that it shouldn't be here like I did with CHEMTRAILS OVER THE COUNTRY, and that's a really good thing, believe me. Coming out of this album, I was honestly feeling a 3 at best, but after listening to these clips... Yeah, I'll give it a 4. Big thumbs up from me. It's good soul music, and I really can't imagine why anyone would like it unless they have... Y'know, other issues. But let's not get into that either.
Liam is a hater
2020er album und señior neduzen hed der/die interpret*in na nie ghört o.0 Aber ok, ready for diving. Schöni reis, me gusta. Signore neduzen chan zu dere musik tagträume, vibe, gnüsse und si. Untitled (Black is) - was e schöne album name zudem paart mit dem cover. Das schaffts i bar liste ine. Hoffentli begleited mich sie tracks na wiiter. Funky souly divers, gid einiges zum entdecke dur die lieder, han mir aber au na zwenig aktivi ziit gnah zum gnueg drüber chönne sege. Aber monsieur neduzen isch überzoge fürs erste und gid dem album mindestens quattro stagioni
Das wär würklich tragisch worde wenni das verpasst hetti Freu mich sehr dasmer chli en jump becho hend ih aktuelleri sache, bin scho chli fed up gsi mit dene ältere albene ih letschter zit Das Album wird absolut wider bsuecht, jenachdem sogar uf choste vom Album wo als negsts chunt :))))) aber hend ja nachane sganze weekend zit widermal hett ufjedefall sehr spass gmacht zum lose 4 Saultkristall us mim Saultstreuer
I like this - it’s very solange “seat at the table” but more …funky? Wildfires is an obvious standout from some of the other tracks which can get a little repetitive
One of the more political albums I've heard. That doesn't make it bad though as it's quite good. I liked the synths that populate "Untitled". The lyrics are a bit repetitive and the spoken word interludes don't contribute much to the album. "Eternal Life" is the best song of the record. 4 stars for "Untitled (Black Is)".
Really liked it!
Beautiful, surprising.
Fresh take on self-empowering soul.
Maybe newest album I've encountered on this list? Actually heard this once before, and while I am a bit surprised to find it here I must admit it's a damn cool album. It feels quite political. Nothing for or against that, just an observation. Other than that I'm struggling to find bad songs, most of the album is evenly good! 'Wildfires' feels a bit like a league of its own though, clearly the best track of the album. Overall really solid record. Feels very modern and fresh, a nice breeze on this list compared to all 70-80s rock we've had. Also feels very underrated judging by the listening numbers on Spotify. Strong 4!
SAULT is one of the most interesting bands in the last years and Wildfires is one of my favourite song of 2020s. I also hold a grudge against SAULT after they took down their "Nine" album as I thought it was great! Anyway, this album was really good. Moody, menacing and political. I remember when i first heard Wildfires I was surprised of the subject matter as the song felt more like a ballad. This album really puts the song in to the correct context. While the album has a very high quality over all, as I said Wildfires is one of the greats, I think it just misses a 5 star as I can't really single out any other song I like quite as much on this album.
Too soon, I think. I know better R and B from the period, but this isn't bad. I wonder if we'll be listening to this in another 5 years. I doubt it. But I don't know. Extra point for its message on police brutality and black rights. 3.5. If its still relevant and listened to in 5 more years, I'll give it another point..
Ik vind dit best lekker. Soulvolle, soms funky, (hiphop) beats met een goede productie. Licht hypnotiserend met af en toe een ASMR-achtig stukje spoken word en door die eerder genoemde fijne productie heeft het ook wel het effect van een warm dekentje. Een soort auditieve expositie. Niet elke track van de (ietwat overdreven) 20 tracks is een voltreffer, maar dat is oké. Tegelijkertijd heb ik wel het idee dat dit album misschien een beetje snel of makkelijk aan deze lijst is toegevoegd. Little Simz - Grey Area staat ook op deze lijst en dat album zorgt er wat mij betreft voor dat deze er eigenlijk niet per se in hoeft. Grofweg dezelfde boodschap, maar dan creatiever en sterker. Qua cijfer kom ik wel op hetzelfde uit. Een 3,5 die ik mede vanwege m'n witte schuldgevoel ga afronden naar een 4. En eerlijk is eerlijk: Ik zit ook nog gewoon een beetje met de Ongelofelijke Touwtjesband, de Fluwelen Ondergrond en natuurlijk Tante Elis in m'n maag. Dan heb ik toch een stuk liever dit aanstaan. Hoogtepunt van het album: "Monsters". Heel dik.
Always skeptical when a recent album appears, but this was released 3 weeks after George Floyd's murder and seemed to encapsulate 2020 pretty perfectly. Strength in unity.
This is the kind of album that makes me glad I am doing this project. When I started listening I wasn’t really won over. I couldn’t really relate to the album. But I thought about how just because I don’t understand the art doesn’t mean it shouldn’t exist. This is a way for me to see into a world that is not my own. Even if I don’t plan on revisiting it, it was important to hear it once. That is what this project should be.
I liked about half these songs but I'm gonna go ahead and give an extra star for not being some obscure Britpop or shitty British electronic garbage.
Went into this one "blind" and pleasantly enjoyed it. Strong ethnic pride. 4/5
The takes on this album that top the global reviews list right now are hot… From a music-enjoyer’s perspective, I really enjoyed this album. It was easy listening and full of diverse sounds and voices. From a political perspective, I’m grateful I heard this album. I couldn’t find anything online about how quickly it was put together, but I’m curious about when production started.
This album is pretty frustrating because it could've been so much better. Cut the interludes (or even make them into actual songs), cut some of the bad or boring songs and you got an easy 5 star. shame.
A power propelled By genre melting music Itself analogy
Second quietest political album this week. A good companion to What’s Going On.
I had never heard of this band before, I really enjoyed this and will listen to more, thanks 1001 albums.
A bit surprising to see such a recent album on the list. Anyway, I remember being quite impressed by this album, and I still like the sound of it today. However, the lyrics are quite cringy, especially the spoken word bits in between some of the songs.
What a refreshingly original band. Was captivated already by the first song, and I was able to quickly recognize Cleo Sol was the singer since I recently heard her solo album. I thought this was a very cool listen! Reminded me a little of Zero 7 & Massive Attack. No one particular song stood out but the album overall was great!
Interesting- and beautiful in parts. Maybe too early to decide whether it is a classic?
My star rating here is based on the music alone, and I thought this was a great record. Especially the way it was produced—comes off as living and breathing in a way that ultra-digital pop/r&b rarely does. But here’s my main thought: sometimes I bristle at music that carries a really on-the-nose political message. Not that it bothers me that an artist wants to express their political views, but more just that I don’t think pop music is the best medium for axe-grinding. But man oh man, I read some reviews for this one and realized it’s cool and good sometimes when an artist puts it out there on-the-nose. Listen, if you heard this record and your main thought was “This is RACIST MUSIC”, you’re a dweeb and a crybaby and you should read a book. This album, apparently, does its job. Makes the point it wants to make.
A chill and enjoyable listen, not an artist I'd heard of before and surprised by the quality
I'm white but damn
Wildfires, Hard Life, Eternal Life, Monsters, Miracles, Hold Me
Nice soul. A bit too playful for my taste (more "real songs" would have been nice). But definitely worth listening to.
Amazing. Never heard before. Wow
One of the albums that got me through the great lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. Obviously it's heavily inspired by another momentous event of that period, the murder of George Floyd, and that heaviness is really apparent throughout. Above all though, it's just a really listenable album, and a great gateway into a genre that isn't necessarily one I'm comfortable in.
The drums and bass on this record are immaculate. The “Black excellence” theme got tired around the second half of the project due to the lack of new perspectives. Overall, I enjoyed the listen, wildfires was top tier. 8.2/10
Took a while for me to warm to it but I ended up really enjoying this album. It’s experimental hip hop with some other genres like afrobeat thrown in. And a sprinkle of motivational affirmations for black people.
Amazing
This was great! SAULT has a bunch of albums from the last 4_5years. Everything I’ve heard has been this good
at the height of arguably the most craziest time of the year, not just with the pandemic but also with the cultural divide leading up to protests, this album really embodies the empowering and undoubtedly unbreakable black spirit. it's very conscious and very low-key soul music.
Amazing band, great album.
Great to see this album on the list. Smooth and pretty chill tracks offering a different perspective and celebrating blackness in a sea of Western white-centred mainstream music that makes up the majority of this 1001 albums list. Also nice to hear the approach of more understated, calm and quiet introspective reflections to clearly counter the stereotype that minorities are 'aggressive' or 'in your face' with their cultural advocacy. My kind of music.
# Playlist Track - Wildfires # Notes - Enjoyed some of the tracks. It's not a terrible album. In fact, it has some amazing moments, like Kiwanuka's track. However, there are a bunch of stop and go's that really break the flow of listening to the thing. The tail end is especially boring. - Giving it an extra star to annoy the bigots, tho. Fuck you guys.
This was a group I'd never heard of but I really liked the vibe. Chill and eclectic R&B with a 60's groove.
Genuinely loved this
A worthy addition to the revised edition. Well produced and socially conscious in a way that engages and provokes thought
SAULT's "Untitled (Black Is)" is a powerful and timely album that blends elements of soul, funk, and spoken word to create a poignant statement on Black identity and the Black experience. Released in 2020 amid a global reckoning with racial injustice, the album's message is both urgent and timeless. The album's production is rich and layered, with lush instrumentation and soulful vocals that draw listeners in. Tracks like "Wildfires" and "Stop Dem" address social and political issues with raw emotion and honesty, while songs like "Bow" and "Monsters" showcase the group's musical range and creativity. Overall, "Untitled (Black Is)" is a stunning and important work that deserves recognition for its artistry and message. It's a bold statement from SAULT and a standout album of 2020, earning it a solid 4 out of 5 rating.
From the first beat to the last, Sault's album '(untitled) Black Is' is a captivating journey through rhythm and activism. The infectious beats grab you from the start. There's something refreshingly underground about it, like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. What truly sets this album apart, though, is its unapologetic activism. Sault fearlessly tackles the pressing issues of our time, from the frustration of gun violence to the insidious presence of police brutality. Each track is a powerful commentary on the modern Black experience in America, offering a perspective that is both urgent and poignant. But it's not just the message that hits hard—it's the music itself. The beats are irresistibly catchy, drawing you in with their infectious energy and refusing to let go. It's a rare combination of substance and style, making '(untitled) Black Is' not only a standout album but also a vital cultural artifact.
Very appealing. Totally new to me.
Fun surprise of an album. Constantly different, with some mellow grooves.
fantastic album that incorporates soul, spoken word, funk, breakbeat/east coast, lofi, and other elements into easy listening music with deeply impactful phrases that emphasize their importance.
Meaningful music.
This album is an interesting distillation of soul, funk, gospel, Afrobeat, spoken word, and electronic music told through a lens of blackness and black liberation. The music itself was excellent and the record as a whole worked almost like the soundtrack to a performance art piece highlighting racial injustice and promoting self-realization within a black identity. The album was a bit too long, but I enjoyed it quite a bit though the message felt a bit too mired in platitudes and had less substance than the message deserves.
Quite piercing at times but some absolute TUNES. Love Cleo Sol.
I really liked this and I feel there’s a lot I’m missing from just giving it one listen. Will try and give it a few more goes at some point but for now I like it
A sound reminiscent of Fela Kuti, that doesn't quite reach those heights but is still pretty good. Standouts include the first five tracks.
I didn't really expect to like this, but it was very good. A lot of the political messaging felt pretty flat, lacking power and emotion? I'm not sure. Overall I enjoyed it though.
Loved it! This album is a great blend of gospel, blues and hip hop. A great vibe.
no idea who this is but its a great album.
Never heard of Sault before, not a bad album, nice vibe. Doubt I'll ever revisit though.
Powerful & poignant, clearly not meant to be an easy listen where it would normally lose stars for me
How are you gonna name an album “untitled” and then title it in the same breath
Is was alright
An astonishing exploration and celebration of Black identity, culture, power, and beauty expressed through a uniquely understated blend of soul, funk, gospel, and electronica.
own
Opens up and I’m really liking it! Love the neosoul and hip hop aspects. Wildfires is nice! Some other really good tracks but it fades. I like the repetition on “Stop Dem”, but many of the songs get really boring. “Black” especially isn’t adding much. Then “Monsters” is damn good. Still at least a 3.5 probably. Could be half the length though.
Groovy, the production on this is killer. Kinda drags in some spots imo, but the good qualities make up for it I think. Solid 4.
I like it very much.
Good beats, good production. I liked the whole album, but no single track jumped out at me.
this is art in a 20 track album. probably won't listen to again but enjoyed this a lot 7/10
I enjoyed this especially Wildfires. Also like the messaging, it felt almost hypnotic at times. - 8/10
Pretty good but didn’t really blow me away. 7/10
8/10 didn’t love any of the songs but they were all enjoyable to listen to
I really enjoyed this album. There are a few great tracks in there (Wildfires, Monsters) but the whole album has a great feel to it. 4.25 stars
Innovative but still really enjoyable. I was really happy to see this album on the list.
Un álbum bastante puntual del cual quiero investigar más. Si bien tiene cosas conocidas a la hora de la escucha, también tiene cosas poco habituales, y seguro cuenta con una historia y un significado mayor de fondo. Algo que me llamó la atención es que es del 2020 y tranquilamente podría estar grabado hace décadas.
Excellent discovery
One SAULT album is pretty much like another SAULT album, but just different enough to maintain interest, which is also helped by being very good!
I liked it yet it took me forever to listen to I tried to get through it four times and got distracted every time. And that’s life!
Good Music, very affirming but a but a bit racist too. Change the lyrics of most songs from black to white and the music and the group would been protested against and banned.
An act I’ve never heard of, and was skeptical given the title (assuming it was rap) but I quite liked this. Very decent songs, interesting and enjoyable production. This sounded great through headphones. They released 5 albums in 2022 totaling 4 hours of music. I may check out one of them here soon.
This is one I struggled with when it came out and am struggling with again, listening. The genre jumping evinces an incredible band capable of almost anything, but it can feel disjointed. I know they put out two albums in 2020, but I’d almost prefer they put out four shorter ones: a rap album, an r&b album, a pop album, and a rock album. But I enjoyed almost every song. I just want it a little more streamlined. Highlights include Stop Dem, Bow, Monsters, and Pray Up Stay Up.
Really cool, unique project. It went on a little long for my taste, but I’d love to see more albums like this on the list as opposed to albums you “must listen to before you die” but everybody probably already has anyway.
This was a super solid album. I thought it built really well culminating in Monsters and Pray up Stay up. Definitely an album that you want to listen to the whole thing rather than individual songs. Easy to just sit and enjoy in the background, or listen to the lyrics and hear the experience of the author. One I can see myself coming back to in the future.
Solid rnb album that had some experimental elements to it. I liked the simplicity of a lot of the tracks. It allowed the laid back vibes for many tracks to shine. I also enjoyed the tracks that featured the more African derived vocals (sorry for my ignorance in not knowing African musical geography better). I also enjoyed the rhythm on those tracks. The drums were nice. If I were to find any faults with the album, I wish the messages of tracks came through with a little more gusto. A lot of the energy of the album felt similar despite the message of each song. I'll probably listen to this album again!
As a white boy, I do not feel as though I am qualified enough to speak on the actual meaning and content behind this album. However, the production quality is out of this world, that bass throughout the entire album slaps so fucking hard, the lyrics are powerful and the way they are delivered is great, and there are so many tracks I have already added to my playlist. Very good and I very much enjoyed what I listened to.
A impressão inicial é de um disco acima da média. Apesar de conter 20 faixas, muitas são curtinhas, e a levada do disco é espetacular. Destaque para as faixas mais longas e lentas que trazem uma atmosfera mais intimista. Gostei muito do disco, talvez será uma das maiores surpresas dessa jornada. Destaques: 1. Hard Life 2. Wildfires 3. Sorry ain't enough
This album is a vibe. This album you just need to zen out and let it wash over you.
Favorite tracks: Hard Life, Wildfires, Sorry Ain’t Enough Rating: 4/5
Listened Before? No Did not expect to get something from 2020 on this list. Also surprising, I've never heard of SAULT. Judging from the artwork and title, this will be highly coupled with the police brutality movement in the US around this time of release. Stop Dem drops into a hip-hop beat that feels like Illmatic meets Paul McCartney's Wonderful Wintertime. Weird fusion, but it works just fine with the distressed choral vocals. Hard Life goes back to the hip-hop well adopting a militant snare and bass that calls to Jay-Z's Takeover. But instead of confident strut rapping, we have some tender vocals with gospel backing and Dilla-esq echo'd vocal punctuation. Pretty cool song Don't Shoot Guns Down, is the most direct reference to the movement at hand. Adopts a Latin / African hand percussive beat with siren intro. Wildfires is a toned down jazzy R&B song with deliberately dusty vocals. Sorry Ain't Enough has some Tame Impala / Thundercat vibes. Cool song and vocal layering. Same thing can be said for Eternal Life. Miracles is a silky downtempo jam. Feels a bit like modern day Doo Wop. I feel like I've heard similar songs before, but cannot place them right now. Late album gem. Wow, I really enjoyed this album. While it didn't feel like something that really pushes any particular envelopes, it did cover a lot of different styles with a talented set of vocalists and beautiful production. Made for a pleasant listen start to finish that never once grew boring to my ear. I'll likely be back again and following their work going forward. Strong 4 / 5 Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlists: - Eternal Life (Sunny-vibes) - Miracles (Sunny-vibes)
The beats were super solid the whole album. There were a few songs that put off Ratatat vibes and others that almost sounded like Tame Impala. This was a very unique album in terms of songs structure and there was plenty of variety which kept me engaged the whole time.
I listened to this album a few years ago when it randomly had a big following online. Don't remember a thing which isn't great but we'll see. They sound like Jungle in an alternate universe. I was running around the house for this one but found myself tapping my toes or dancing to a number of songs. Really enjoyable stuff and sounds great on headphones.
Surprisingly excellent. Really enjoyed the laid back beats and the messages as well. Good feel throughout.
Hm…
me gustó, y mucho. no solamente por el contexto (2020. blm) sino que si prestas atención a las letras te das cuenta que expresan reclamos y protestan por el racismo en eeuu. y además la música es buenisima, en casi todo el álbum estuve moviendo la cabeza siguiendo el compás.
I don’t really have a lot to say with this one. Nice tracks and lyrics, even if it gets repetitive. It’s good but has imperfections.
Was not familiar at all with this group and had no idea what to expect but this is fantastic. I don't know if it's entirely right to call this a concept album but there's certainly a theme running through it and aside from the fact that I wholeheartedly endorse said theme (if you don't please find an island somewhere) on a musical level I just enjoy an album that has a theme or commonality running through it; it helps give a cohesive listening experience. Which I suppose makes a great album. At any rate, high marks and a keeper. 8/10 4 stars.
I could do without all the spoken word bits. Really distracting. Otherwise, this has been a delight. Only knew one song. But the album has a good flow, good music.
Some say repetitive, I say it is hypnotic. The beats are good enough that they don't get boring despite repetition, accompanied by a powerful message. Just don't expect te learn anything new, empowerment and pride seems to be the goal here. If you want more out if it, it probably isnt meant for you and that is fine. As an aside, this is why I listen to a new album every day. I find stuff I wouldn't have discovered otherwise and it is amazing.
Groovy
Relaxing, chill-out vibe. Nice
Yes, there is a racially motivated impetus behind every song on this album. If that bothers you, don't listen to it. If you do choose to listen, yes LISTEN, it's a good album.
喜欢这张好多首，还蛮有意思的
Differnt and good lyrics
Kannte ich und kann ich nicht hassen. Ist aber auch nicht so richtig mein Ding. Vor allem Lied 4 („Don’t Shoot Guns Down“) hat genervt. Jetzt läuft Lied 7 und es mir zu sehr soulig-r’n’b-ig. Oh, schon Lied 12. Ja, so ein bisschen langweilig… Insgesamt geht das auf jeden Fall und Respekt für die Message und so, aber ist nicht mein Ding.
Had a lot of fun with the sonic narrative of the album. It definitely has a kind of story and resolution to it. I enjoyed the not super direct heavy handed blend of pan African music. The soul finish was emotional. For a project that is unapologetically telling the plight of African culture this is something new and refreshing
I started off really liking this. It was a good mixture of African and urban sounds. It also has a soul sound that I like. The album seemed to fade at some points. I will round up since it's from this millennium.
hm yeah based. great grooves and poignant writing. downside: spoken word with no emotion makes me so annoyed. some fantastic highlights! best tracks: wildfire, bow, miracles
Fantastic sounds and performances. I enjoyed every track. Lyrically the album doesn't say much that hasn't been said before but every word on this record needed to be spoken in 2020.
I used to love listening to DAMN. or Coloring Book while making art after smoking a spiff. Elements of this album brought me back to that; but, the realness of those albums wasn't in this. It felt like it was compensating for something in a painfully overwhelming way. With that said, the album is kinda rough, but there are some great songs within.
good
Not my usual kind of music, positively surprised
Gorgeous. Simple beautiful and powerful.
4/5 I like all the different aspects of it: the funk, the soul, the spoken word, the choir. I like how experimental it feels. I like the optimism it sings. I love her voice. The album isn’t reinventing the wheel nor perfecting it, but seems to be appreciating it and adding upgrades to it. That being said… it was way too long of an album. Some parts of songs felt like they were going on and on and on. Some songs felt awkward and out of place and thrown in because they sounded interesting, not because they were part of a cohesive album. There is a guy singing in two songs who doesn’t quite hit the notes he needs multiple times (or maybe he just didn’t give the notes the power they needed) and it irked me, even with the slight hearing loss I have from my cold. And for all its optimism, the album felt too preachy at times, relying on a God in almost a naive sort of way and not in a realistic sort of way that you would expect when the album starts with vary frank lyrics. Still, it was an enjoyable album and a welcome bit of sunlight amongst a lot of music that feels like it has no passion behind it, lyrically and musically.
I was a little worried coming into this album because I had not heard of this album at all and I am pretty plugged in when it comes to R&B. I was somewhat worried that this album would worry about message over musical substance but I do think that this album balanced those two characteristics well. This album is pretty solid throughout and I like some of the more out there tracks like "Monster", "Only Synth in Church" and "Stop Dem". I think that overall this album doesn't have any songs that I dislike but it also doesn't necessarily blow my mind at any point outside of the aforementioned songs and "Why We Cry Why We Die", "Sorry Ain't Enough", "Wildfires", "Miracles", "Bow" and "Eternal Life". I like the gospel and really old soul inspired tracks because those are some of my favorite genres and the spoken word tracks were nice too. I kind of think this album feels more like a really good tribute to a lot of artists that came before it than its own thing but I don't necessarily know if it deserves to be put on a list like "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" (Then again it very well could make my top 1001 albums if I made a list cause that is a lot of albums). I do feel like this was added because of its message which is fine but personally I would rather pick albums that were more impactful on music as a whole. That is not to say that it doesn't have any place on the list, I just think that there are better albums and some that even focus on similar themes that are better than this one. Still a pretty good album 8/10.
This was a surprising album, I’d never heard of it before. It’s at its best where it allows itself to truly shine musically - the vocals in particular were excellent. The spoken word segments were a major detractor, and really dated this album to the year it was produced.
Kicking myself a bit for not listening to this sooner.
An album that carries significant emotional weight. Balancing spoken word sections with simple but pertinent R&B songs featuring historically African themes in music and lyrics. For an album that came out mid-pandemic and within a single month of the George Floyd incident, this album is an incredible summary of feelings and direction. It incorporates immediate struggle, but also expresses frustration in summary of decades and centuries of othering. Really glad this made it on to the list in its' most recent review.
стильно, фанково, философско, местами медитативно. очевидно там есть контекстище Америки 2020 использованное в чутка кринжовый перебор имхо. и, если бы я выбирал первым после прослушиваний, я бы точно выбрал безымянный (черный есть), чтобы там покопать. Но некоторые песенки хотелось бы убрать (black как главный пример имхо)
"Untitled (Black Is)" is the third studio album by British R&B group Sault. The music is described as soul, R&B and funk. The band itself is a collective of people who make a mixture of R&B, house and disco and are led by songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Inflo (Dean Josiah Carter). Accompanying the release, the band issued a mission statement (summarized) stating that as Black people of Black origin they are fighting for their lives, mentioning an RIP to George Floyd and those who have suffered police brutality and systemic racism and are focused on a change happening. So, this is a protest album but is also quite optimistic and positive. The album received wide-spread critical acclaim. The album is composed of 20 songs which are mostly short. "Out the Lies" begins things with people chanting. Piano and keyboards giving a soulful feel. A woman speaking and repeating "Black is..." and completing with multiple descriptions. "Stop Dem" has a drumbeat and women chanting, shouting and singing. And, a drumbeat is wobbly and eerily hypnotic. "Don't Shoot Guns Down" has a tribal drum beat with a woman repeating "Don't shoot guns down" in a very emotionless tone. Sirens in the background. Point taken. "Wild Fires" gets the dance groove going. A deep bass and hanclapping. It's the first song I would put in the R&B category. "Sorry Ain't Enough" continues the R&B. It's souful and gospel. Now, there's men harmonizing. This is a good song. Michael Kiwanuka contributes vocals to "Bow." More of a funky groove. An African beat and guitar. "Black" is more soulful and continues an African beat. And, we get a Carlos Santana-esque guitar solo. A goth synth and electronic drumbeat highlight "Eternal Life." Men and women harmonizing...very R&B and soulful. An optimistic tone..."Sun and life, everyday we shine." This is an album that addresses a number of issues on the first half with a very positive message given in the second half. These are short songs and get to their point. The music is soulful and the rhythms and percussions are more hypnotic and tribal. I guess from what I've heard I was expecting more dance. There are a few of those songs too. This is a unique album and quite a good one at that.
Ok, so I occasionally check out the site that hosts the list this is sourcing this info. They do remove albums from time to time and when they do, it's moved to an "expunged" section, which also includes a few albums that should have never been considered to begin with (I'm looking at you Chocolate Starfish!). This album is no where to be found anywhere on the list, hell, there's only one album newer than 2017 across the board. This feels like it's clearly an editorial move made by the team running the album generator. That out of the way, this album has a lot of solid grooves start to finish, but I think leans to hard into the culture war aspect lyrically that at times it's a little contrived. I'm in full support of the movement, but in this singular artistic expression, it's a little hamfisted. If it wasn't for the musical accompaniment, I probably would have just turned it off and bailed, but there's some certified bops on this album that will have me bobbing my head for at the very least the rest of the day. Fav tracks: Wildfires, Why We Cry Why We Die, Stop Dem (got some 00s Adult Swim vibes), Monsters
Pretty good music! But it’s a bit much with all the samples. After a while it was getting a bit boring because it’s so monothematic.
A smooth R&B vibe, soulful. Some more upbeat African pumpup too. 4.5
Took me a couple of listens to find the sweet spot on this album but find it I did. An absolute throwback to the golden age of soul music a la Bill Withers. The lyrics can get a tad overwrought at times however the arrangements and grooves are always spot on. A very nice discovery. 4 stars
Wow, this might be the most contemporary album for me yet. I just stumbled onto these guys a few months ago and was really impressed. They're listed as being hip hop but I don't really know if that's the right designation. They're very unique.
BL: Literally never heard of Sault, no mention no familiarity no recognition of album covers. So this’ll be a blind listen. AL: I thought that this album was incredibly powerful and also fun. Designed to be a celebration of black culture amidst the 2020 riots this provided a positive outlook and message to young black youths who may be suffering crises around their race in the political turmoil of our time. Whilst also designed to have powerful moments and express sadness, anger and pain it exists as a reminder that every person and culture is beautiful. This stands as a perfect celebration of that FT: “Stop Dem”, “Wildfires”, “Don’t shoot guns down”, “Black”, “monsters” 4/5
This took me by surprise, never heard of it or them, pretty amazing songs and production. In a world that makes sense the music from this album would be used in Hollywood movies as short hand for the COVID era the way CCR is to represent the Vietnam era.
Love most of Inflo's work as a producer for Little Simz or Michael Kiwanuka. He's a very prolific artist, so it's hard to keep track of everything he does, especially with SAULT, his most personal project. Out of his many albums under that moniker, *(Black Is)*--along with its twin brother *(God)*--is probably the most striking thing the man has released so far, and this during a very pivotal moment of the BLM movement--whose necessary agenda is evoked or hinted at in quite a few moments of this topical record. Musically, Inflo keeps everything smooth and restrained by only adding as few layers as he can in the songs' instrumentation. A funky drum pattern here. A rhodes keyboard there. A few simple synth lines. A groovy bassline. Dignified and inhabited vocals from Cleo Sol... The end result is a very *moody* album, whose barebones production values always hit the intended mark--at least of you ignore a couple of short missteps that never detract you from the whole picture. Among the highlights, there are "Stop Dem" and "Hard Life", cuts that hearken back to 60s and 70s soul music, plus "Wildfires", whose music is as moving as its lyrics--lyrics that are clearly referencing George Floyd's murder, but also all the similar tragedies that occured before it. As for "Bow", it is an exciting example of what Inflo can do when he explores territories inspired by afro-beat (Kiwanuka's help on this one is a plus, of course). And there's also the mesmerizing "Black", basically an instrumental with a few vocals here and there, alternating between a repetitive loop over a trap pattern, a bridge sounding as if it had been borrowed from a Stevie Wonder song, and a jazzy and angular guitar solo... After a few middling tracks at the center of the album, SAULT finds greatness again with the incredible "Monsters", a track as poetic and topical as it is catchy. After that, "Miracles" references sixties soul again, with enticing doo-wop background vocals. "Hold Me" sounds a little more modern, but "Stay Up, Pray Up" closer the proceeding on a vintage note again, and this to great effects. All in all, a good record. I just wish Inflo had only used all the best cuts out of *(Black Is)* and added the few highlights of the (unfortunately) less restrained *(God)* so as to create a truly stellar album. Self-editing is not his strong suit, I've already noticed that for his work with Little Simz. But maybe I'm splitting hairs here. 4/5. Next please. Number of albums left to review: 531 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 224 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 109 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 137
Surprising. Rich. Acoustically interesting
An important and conceptual work. Cool and effective.
Raw and honest
Dancehall vibes with a message. Really enjoyed
Musically, I really loved this album. Great rhythms and loops, the beat switches on the song black are great. The repetition is slam poetry to the max, love it. Thematically, it feels a little one dimensional. It’s like I want more emotion out of it but it’s really just one note to me.
Ik dacht op voorhand, oh jee, nu gaan we het krijgen, een album dat je niet slecht mag vinden, want dan ben je een racist. Maar ik ben het aan het luisteren en er zit een lekker beatje in, goede zang. Ik luister niet per se naar de teksten, maar je voelt wel aan alles dat er een bepaalde mate van urgentie in zit. Maar niet op een vervelende manier met het vingertje omhoog. Dit komt prima over en het zit muzikaal ook lekker in elkaar.
very interesting sound but not a genre that i could listen to like that. i like the theme of the album
Grab that funky souls
Très bon album, presque gospel avec son côté un peu religieux malheureusement
PREFS : Stop Dem, Hard Life, Wildfires, Bow, Why We Cry Why We Die, Black, Eternal Life, Monsters, Miracles, Pray Up Stay Up MOINS PREF : Hold Me
It’s got Afro beat vibes, really good experimental album
enjoyable and important album
Milking some huge tits in a shed down by the river. I mean some serious canons here. A giant pair of swinging bazookas. Enormous swelling melons. Heaving breasts. Big boobs. Norks. Jugs. Bosoms. Knockers. Baps. Hooters. All rubbing in my face.
Great album!
Liked it. Good message, good music.
7/16, 44%
This one grew on me. I was not into it for the first two tracks. Why would you start an album like that? Luckily, it kicked into gear by track 3 and, when it did, it kicked in hard. "Untitled (Black Is)" blurs the lines of what I generally consider "R&B" to be. It's got strong electronic elements all through it. Not just the instrumentation but the way songs are structured. And it works. This odd, hybrid format proves to be a really solid platform for delivering hard truths and blazing indictments against the establishment. And that's where this album truly shines. The lyricism is top notch. Truly fantastic wordplay that pulls no punches. I didn't expect to dig this. But I did. I really did.
Fantastic vocals, and a great experimental album.
-Great production - Album flows well - good atmosphere - pretty innovative mixes together multiple genres
Really enjoyed this, soulful and pretty smooth at times. Unpredictable but not overbearing, and overall a very modern feel after a stretch of listening to a few older folk albums
I've tried to stop referring to other reviews in my reviews, as it feels less like my own opinion when I do mention it, but I feel as though it should be mentioned here. It is interesting how much people seem to hate this album for "shoving this movement down my throat". Now, there are plenty of good points within all these reviews, such as the amount of short interludes, or the lyrics leaving a bit to be desired at points, but I question why what I assume is a twenty-something white dude thinks this album is for them, or is trying to specifically tell THEM the message. This album felt a lot more like a love letter to black people for black people that also can be enjoyed by everyone, so viewing it as just "another piece of the BLM cog" and nothing more seems really ignorant. There are plenty of issues with this album as is, so why do you think writing a rant about BLM or any other black protests is gonna make you look like anything more than racist? Who knows, though, perhaps I'm wrong. As for me, I quite enjoyed this album. I agree the lyrics are a bit repetitive, but the musicality of it is really satisfying most of the time, and the just overall positivity of it was a nice refresher after so many of the albums on this list trying their hardest to be the most "nothing matters" shit and nothing else. I'm sure the score of this album is dictated more by politics than the actual thoughts on the album, and that seems like exactly the issue that people should realize as they write their rants on this random generator hardly anyone will ever see. Anything to get those likes and feel validated though, right?
Groovy and relevant and interesting. Perhaps a bit talkier than it needs to be.
It has some excellant moments but, as an album, its more than 20 minutes too long
Ret nice alternativ rnb, moderne, politisk, groovy
Clearly an important record that explores the black experience, including anger, sorrow and grief. It's musically excellent and very dancy. Great record.
Fav songs: - Hard Life - Don't Shoot Guns Down - Sorry Ain't Enough
Genres: R&B Formed: 2019 I’m not an R&B fan, but I enjoyed this album. I really liked the song “Don’t Shoot, Gun Down”. The songs are elegant in their simplicity, the vocals are angelic, and the lyrics are profound. Being a middle-aged white man, I can’t relate to them, but I’ve seen it too many times on the news. I guess the album is a bit experimental with songs ranging from less than 1 to almost 5 minutes. 20 songs, runtime 56:35
Going into this, I had no idea what to expect. It was from an artist I had never heard of from a more modern time period than I was expecting this list to have. But I enjoyed it. I wasn't happy when I saw there was 20 songs but they were short enough to where I stopped being annoyed to sit through it. It wasn't like a Fleetwood Mac situation where it was however many songs and each one was at least 4 minutes. I'd compare this to the Antony and the Johnsons record where it talks very candidly about an important topic such as corruption on the police force and how that translates to the undeserved killing of black people. It's presented in an easy to listen to format and if you weren't actively listening, you'd never know what was being said. I think it's a very important record as well because of the current racist climate we live in. Especially because we're in Black History Month and it's a time where certain white people will say they support the black community but not give them the time of day any other month.
I think it must have been a while since some R&B appeared in my rotation, and I am grateful for that. This album is outstanding. I had not heard of the group or heard their music before. I also love that it was released just three years ago. The sound and style are intriguing and each track kept my attention and engagement. So layered. Spoken word at times, layered over electronic harmonies and rhythms, and some fantastic vocal work -- again, superb harmonies. Great cover art, too. In their music and in the cover art, they manage to find a balance between rich subtlety and major impact. Incredibly difficult to do, and seriously impressive. I read the Wikipedia entry about the group, and they take an unusual approach to their work. They avoid media attention, have never performed live, and sometimes their contributors are not named. Wow, that's a different and admirable path.
I thought I would get really bored of the repetition, but it stayed fresh the entire way through, never got stale.
Got a Dee-lite feel to this. I’ve heard songs from a more recent album prior to this, and I like their vibe for a party mood
first listen bold, tribal, and a celebration of Blackness
Really great vibe, will definitely revisit
You can tell within about 10 seconds that this is going to be a kickass album. And then it is! This is not usually my genre but I was completely in the pocket for Sault. Put some Sault on my fries! I want more!
Released early in the pandemic and at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, Black Is encapsulates that moment in history with blunt lyrics and glittering production. By all means dance to these songs, but your brain will be getting even more of a workout.
This actually checks most of the boxes. Not ground-breaking but a quite refreshing blend of different genres; beautiful voices saying important staff; a clear and enticing concept bringing everything together. Just a little bit on the long side, could do with one or two less vignettes.
Quite interesting and evocative musically and very much worth one'e time, though perhaps not as powerful or as biting as it clearly wants to be as social commentary.
I LOVED the sound of this record, the vibes were immaculate. The lyrics hit hard, the spoken word breaks were cool. The thing holding it back for me is that too many of the songs felt half-finished, or like they needed more refining, like they had an idea that didn't get baked long enough in the oven. It gives the album an interesting looseness, but I think it detracted more than it added. I definitely will be checking out more from them though; there is something very special here.
Ridiculously prolific, this is perhaps the album that catapulted them to wider awareness. It's not really 20 tracks, more a soundscape in 20 parts, some of which like Monsters and Wildfires are beautifully rendered modern R and B, some of which are spoken word, some instrumental. Really needing to be devoured in one sitting (maybe a coffee break after track 10).
Loved this. Enjoyed the experimental sounds and spoken word. The lowkey vibe on most the album really drew me in. The vocals are smooth and sweet. Enjoyed from front to back.
First, I'm not sure any (or very few) recordings from the most recent (say seven) years should be included in a must listen to before you die list. I think an album needs to be tested by time to reach this status. I do appreciate being introduced to new music that are hitting some current hot topics. I wasn't very impressed with the first few songs... musak with a drum beat. As I listen to the rest, I did find a few songs with a little more groove to them but most of the songs felt empty and unfinished. I did like the song "Bow" but it sounded too different from the rest of the album. I want to hear more of Michael Kiwanuka's music. I have mixed feelings about this album. It would probably be better if half the songs were cut. Overall it's still a better than average album. I'm between 3 and 4 but I give it a 4.
I went into this completely blind — no idea what this was about, no idea who the artist(s) is, I even skipped looking at the release date. I totally enjoyed the album. Took a hit, geared up, took Tophee on a chilly walk after sunset along a dark country road, and listened to this album. I found it inventive, loved the variety of styles, I appreciated the lyrics and message. There were some compositional elements that got a bit overworked, but that's a negligible criticism considering the scope of the material.
Yeah i dug this. It's similar to other things I've heard before but blended differently, somehow. There's dub and afro-beat and doo-wop and hip-hip and other stuff all mixed together in an understated and chill way. My daughter dug the vibe. I don't normally go for empowering spoken word interludes, but here it worked. also, i could listen to that woman speaking all day long. I'm not sure if it's an "album I needed to hear before I die," mostly because it's kind of inoffensive and it sounds like the kind of music you'd hear in a hipster coffeehouse. But then again, I'd never even heard of this group before this, so ultimately, I'm glad it was on the list. I enjoyed the whole thing, it had a great flow, and can see returning to it. Monsters was a standout for me.
Soulful and groovy with a kind of What’s Going On meets afrobeat vibe filtered through a London 2020 streetwise production. Thematically it’s all about George Floyd and Black Lives Matter movement, but not aggressively or unpleasantly like Gangster Rap, but poetically and obviously and often positively. Maestro producer Inflow uses Michael Kiwunaka in a few songs and it definitely sounds very much like a Kiwunaka record. I love Bow which reminds me of Fela Kuti. Soulful, political, afrobeat and groovy. Worth the critical acclaim.
This one was a difficult one to work while listening to. But it was very well written, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would
Mixed. Künstlerkollektiv
Really like this but the distorted vocals on some of the tracks ends up spoiling the experience rather than adding anything to it.
Good combination of dub triphop gospel and black power in one. Downloaded their 5 new albums, wonder how they are.
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this. Started kind of slow and took a bit to get into, but it really picked up toward the middle and onward. Standouts are "Bow" and "Eternal Life" and "Monsters".
very good, not many albums in the 2020s are good like this!
Love it
Pretty good album. It's all very consistent, but the song "Black" should've been shortened by like half cuz that song drags on with it's annoyin ass ding diddly dong ass goofy ass silly ass melody. 7/10
I hadn't listened to the full album and it was interesting to listen to it given the context of the summer of 2020.
Black Lives Matter
Io ho un debole per R&B. Caldo, bel ritmo. Il massimo lo avrei dato se avesse avuto qualche chicca. Mi dispiace per le altre 4 stelle che ho messo ad album storici ma al cuore non si comanda.
Very cool album, and the newest on our list. A couple great songs on here and an overall great listen. Loved their album covers for a few albums too.
Very cool album! Wasn't aware of this album/band, surprising given how recent it is. Lots of great acts contributing to this one, and it definitely has the conglomerate feel to it. Themes and message are strong, music is also strong, some really cool tracks on here. And I can say I enjoyed the interludes. Wouldn't crack my year-end list or anything, but definitely a great album. Favorite tracks: Stop Dem, Bow, Black, Eternal Life, Pray Up Stay Up. Album art: Simple, effective. 4/5
Molto figo, non lo conoscevo. Originale, ritmico, elettronica pop e rap. molto bello
Very good, not something I'd usually listen to but worth a go
The newest album on the list so far seem to be an ensemble on artists and musicians from Great Britain. The collective creates music in various different styles, mainly electronic, funk, r'n'b, reagge and indie. This album, together with another untitled one from the group, was motivated by George Floyd's death, which is very visible in the lyrics. Many of the songs sound like anthems for a bigger movement, or are just a commentary of the sad reality that we are facing today. Although the issue is still far from resolved, the album probably would seem even more powerful to me, if I first hear it in 2020, not two years after. Untitled (Black Is) has an interesting composition - there are 20 songs, with many short bridge-songs in between, providing more commentaries or just changing the mood and feeling of the album. There is few songs, that are really good without the context of the record, like for example "monsters". Heavy hitting song, but with a nice vocal and great beat, really stays with you for a while. I feel like this type of an album couldn't be rated just from a musical or instrumental point of view. This is more of a performance, reaction to the situation in the world, which is closer to me than what, for example, Bob Dylan was singing 50 years ago. I will gladly come back to this album again, trying to understand the message and definitely I will listen to few more of the songs on my usual playlist.
Che figata
Great vocals, production, mixing and spoken word. Chill and soulful (typical thing to say about black artist music but my vocab is failing me). Beautiful moments throughout.
Smooth and sultry.
Powerful lyrics
Different, very eclectic, some really good tracks in there.
Wildfires best vibes from this great album
loved the vibez
Thoroughly enjoyed this album. 4/5
Wonderful journey
Interesante disco hip hop.
Amazing new band
Cool ,fellow and a very laid back vibe
Of all the recent albums to be on the list, this is a really interesting choice. It wasn't one of my favourites of the last couple of years but, going back to it, it's inclusion fully makes sense A diverse blend of genres, with thought-provoking spoken word on important abd always-relevant topics throughout, it has a lot of depth and I'm sure there's still a lot more to get out of this record on future listens. On a surface level I'm torn between a 3 and a 4, but think a 4 is more appropriate with this in mind
There is an urgency, a conscience, a soulfulness, and a solemnity to this album that I find enthralling and encouraging. Black Lives Matter! ... and the fact that there has to be a movement and a slogan and marches and lives lost to get people to understand that fact is absurd. And yet, despite the struggle and the forces at play against this foundational truth, there are those that find beautiful ways to make that phrase ring in the ears and minds of many. That hopefulness and creativity in the face of struggle, is an inspiration and a reminder to others that we can all be the good we want to see in the world.
Mjög næs fönkí R&B með mjög alvarlegum undirtónum í textum. Set þetta band á skoðunarlistann.
It's well intended and funky and I enjoyed the sparseness of the arrangements that dip into R&B, world, jazz and gospel with chilled vocals. Lyrically, they keep the message simple but it works for and against; they words are at odds with the sensual, feel good nature of the music. If you're wanting to change the world (which I assume they do with political agenda) and you want to be heard, then you need to SAY IT LOUDLY. That said, as a listening experience, it's actually quite a pleasant album. Maybe they should have stuck lyrics on about yoga or meditation?
Impressive in ambition and delivery, and well worth a listen
It is a positive surprise for me. I did not know this project. And I really liked. A solid rhythm base, with combinations of multiple styles. Lyrics that complains about the racism, use of guns and keep alive the memory of African's countries.
Not a fan of R&B but this album was one of the few I could listen to without being annoyed or bored (lots of variety!). I could focus on the lyrics too and overall was a nice experience.
The most excellent and righteous mixtape.
Subdued, yet celebratory. Love the influences on this thing, and the production is crisp and nice. Think it gets a smidgen navel-gazey at times, but otherwise it's solid. Favorite tracks: "Bow", "Stop Dem", "Miracles"
A brilliantly crafted statement album by this anonymous collective, which sounds completely fresh and bops along with an infectious energy.
Liked it but didn’t listen all the way through
A long one to kick things off! First time listening to 90% of this album, Wildfires I think is the only familiar song to me. The punchy darker songs of "Hard Life" "Why we cry why we die" and "Sorry Aint Enough" I also liked as an honest exploration of the black experience at the moment. Particularly enjoyed the afrobeat of "Bow" with Michael Kiwanuka as a mid album change of pace. Miracles I think was my highlight of the album, really enjoyed the "choral" vocals and resilience portrayed in the lyrics. But there are a lot of gems in this one. Great album to start with. "Pray up stay up" was also a warmer end to the album, appreciated.
pure wibes
I think this is very, very good, but not an all-time classic, an honor many critics bestowed on on it upon release. A great combination of styles - in a way that defies categorization. There are elements of funk, soul. afro-beat and R&B, all melding in an impressive manner. As a protest album it swings for the fences in terms of scope. It may be the best mainstream all in protest album since What's Going On. Nice company to keep.
This was very good. Seems like it came out in response to the killing of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 and the themes clearly reflect that. I had never heard of this album or this group before, but I will be checking out their other music for sure.
J'ai dû l'écouter 3 fois pour être sûr, mais je pense pas que ça vaille un 5. Très bon nonobstant
la grosse conne qui écouté le mauvais album (il était super cependant)
SAULT is a band that I got into back in 2020 when they released their two big albums: Untitled(Black Is) which was released on Juneteenth and a few months later Untitled(Rise). The group is an enigma. Apart from the the Producer Inflo, most of the musicians on their albums are anonymous. They've never done interviews or released any videos. Their album Nine only came out for 99 days on Bandcamp and streaming services making it a "true" limited edition. The music is great and explores many style throughout their releases. This album and Rise is full of songs about positivity, struggle and protest. The production and musicianship and strong throughout and the theme of the album stays consistent from start to finish.
it's a 4 all day. Found it over lockdown and it manages to be overtly political but pretty chilled at the same time
Super intéressant. Le propos cherche à améliorer l’estime de soi des personnes de couleurs. Je trouve ça très bien, mais puisqu’il ne s’adresse qu’indirectement à moi, ça devient lourd à mi-chemin de l’album. Le groove, le son, les effets, ... tout ça est super le fun et rafraichissant.
Première fois que j’entends parler de ce collectif. La groove de Stop Dem est excellente et sa position après la douceur de l’ouverture par Out the lies est parfaite. Beaucoup de sonorités intéressantes dans cette production. Belle surprise. Pièces préférées: Stop Dem, Monsters, Black
un album rafraichissant, une belle balance de bon grooves et d,expérimentation. Blues, electro, pop, etc. Tout y est mais bien balancé et ca s'écoute vraiment super bien 4
Not the kind of thing that I usually listen to, but I really enjoyed this album.
Funk-soul suave. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Unique. Creative. Art. I don't know that I love the music, but I love that it's different.
Really enjoyed this! I knew a bit about SAULT but was pleased to read more, a very unusual album but loved a lot of this
Really cool!
Ok. I like this a lot....Love the sparseness of the production...I know nothing about the band/collective but will investigate more...as 50yo white male i realize that I may not be the average target/consumer of this. (am I racist to say that?) Anyway it has class and its amalgam of modern funk/soul/jazz is highly appealing. Great stuff.
Yes, Black certainly Is. Well done everybody.
well-tempered
Loose, hypnotic, and rich with atmosphere. Goes down smooth. The group's approach of sidestepping media interaction and live performances is intriguing.
Really liked this. Feels like Common for some reason
Terrific music, such a great downtempo feel, sinister and dark
Probably the best of all the "completely new to me" suggestions from this app. Definitely will revist.
Pretty cool album with some influences that are hard to define, but still with a clear purpose. It's hard to establish that it will some kind of classic in the future, but for sure it will influence the next classics.