Reviews (page 6 of 8)
#17 - I feel that the inclusion of this album in the list and most likely the whole album itself was a response to the events of 2020. And it shows - to me it lacks the depth of music that's made because it comes out, as opposed to a response to events and a political statement. That being said it's not a bad listen I enjoyed the sways from Afrobeats to Reggae. Not denying this must have been important and urgent to a lot of people, but as far as the music in isolation goes it does not shine.
Nothing but solid background-music for me. I definetly prefer the black album from Metallica😉🤘
started out really interesting, and then kind of faded into background noise.
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.
Meh!
Gemiddelde: 4,2 Album als geheel: 4,5 EINDCIJFER 4,3
Couldn’t get into that at all. Not really my type of thing at the best of times but found it dull and turgid, may as well have been background music in a lift.
The folks that give this 1 star and say this album tried to make me feel bad for being white are the reason albums with this type of messaging are still being made. That being said, at 20 tracks it's at least 10 songs to long. I really dig the bass playing. Lyrically there's only one message and it can be heavy handed and repetitive. Musically it's very lofi and groovy and the vocals are well done. Layered and harmonized nicely. It's too long though, I checked out after 35 minutes. Maybe the Mystery Unfolds by Mutabaruka would be a good addition to this list. Heavy metal and reggae seem to be under represented in this endeavor.
Good mixing and tracking,generally not entertaining though
The style grew on me over time. Can see it as soundtrack to certain shows or films. But sounds a bit like a gospel choir mixtape.
This just wasn't interesting
While I haven't lived a life that relates to the message of this album, it was still well made, a good message, with a great sounds, soul and poetry used well
Eher zw als dr.
Album has a vibe that works well in the background. Fine for once.
Amazing band, great album.
Musically I'd give this a 3. Some beats and riffs I enjoyed but a ton of repetition. Lyrically, it's an hour of BLM indoctrination which ruined the entire listening experience.
Untitled (Black Is) is an intriguing and distinctive album that stands apart from most other acts. The album is a powerful blend of genres, including soul, funk, and R&B, with strong influences of Afrobeat and spoken word. The production is richly layered, creating a dense and immersive soundscape. Lyrically, it delves into themes of identity, resistance, and empowerment, resonating deeply in the current socio-political climate. Each track flows seamlessly into the next, maintaining a cohesive narrative throughout the album. The vocals are emotive and raw, enhancing the album's intensity and authenticity. Despite its artistic brilliance, the album's style and approach might not appeal to everyone. However, its bold and thought-provoking songs deserve attention, even if it's not your cup of tea. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 0 STAND OUT TRACK - None
It’s nice that musicians create music that means something to them and want to share it with others, but this was not for me. It seemed emotionless and flat throughout — I have a hard time hearing lyrics often so it’s more about the music for me and this could have been the main issue here. I appreciate twhat I imagine is the sentiment behind the album, but I will never listen to this again. 1.5/5
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.
I tried
I appreciate the message more than the music, and the music is mostly fine in my opinion. I know I'm probably not the target audience for this album, but I was enjoying the affirmation and validation that the album provides and I hope it reaches the ears of those that need to hear it. 6/10
Muusikaliselt väga hea. Imelik jutt vahepeal ainult, mis natuke creepy.
# 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.
Enjoyable album, really liked the overall vibe. I wasn't aware this artist existed, so kudos to this webpage for that.
# 227 : "The album has been met with positive critical reception" what more can you say? I could listen to it, but it's not real good. Nothing stood out and I wont be going back to this/them.
Genuinely loved this
4.75
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.
Not my cup of tea... hard to get into.
This is terrible. I’m embarrassed for them. They’re trying to make political statements that fall flat and are just plain annoying.
Reminds me of a demo tape. No clear voice or message.
Appreciate and understand the message, but the whole album felt bloated and heavy-handed whilst delivering said message. Just a lot of repetition on some tracks. Also, the strange ASMR-like interludes that the other reviewers mention kind of take you out of the listening experience (which defeats the purpose?). You could probably cut 1/3 to 1/2 of the album and it would be a slightly better listening experience. Unrelated to the album rating itself, but being taken back to mid-2020 was not an experience I wanted (for obvious societal reasons).
I was completely unaware of Sault, and this album. When I saw the brief Wikipedia description, I wasn't expecting a strong album. However...for the most part this is a good album, though I do wonder if it's possible to consider the impact and influence of a 2020 release in 2024.
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.
Although I find the messages of this album important, this album felt a bit long and lackluster to me. I enjoyed the production of some songs, but I'm not sure I'd re-listen to the album as a whole.
Racist nonsense. "I'm not the asshole, everyone else is!"
What the fu)$ is this??? Is this sex music or protest music. Im confussed. Experimental speak easy music that is not great for either. This album could easily be erased from this list
Only listened to half and I like it
Really like the wildfire song. The rest is ok. Politics and ideology heavy. Can do without.
All over the place. High school choir singing to club music and the Janet Jackson sounding stuff. Trying to make too many points in too many ways.
Fantastic
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.
Great message. Not really my music style, but good to listen to anyways.
it's fine just not my jam
Meaningful music.
Well, well. What do we have here? An album from the current decade? Who would've thought?! I've finally reached an album from the 2020s! There are a very small amount of albums from the past few years on this list, mainly because we just don't know how culturally significant many albums from the recent years will go on to be. That brings us to an important question regarding this album in particular. Why is this album on the list? It's not particularly well-known. Well, my theory is that this has less to do with music culture and more with the world's culture in 2020. 2020 was a year of many shocking things that still impact us today. Obviously the COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest of these, but not far behind were the Black Lives Matter protests brought upon by the deaths of individuals like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Let's not beat around the bush any further. This is a protest album. That's why this album is on here. It represents the cultural attitude of the time. In particular, the black cultural attitude of the time. You see, I'm white. This means that I am not the target demographic for this album. However, that does not mean that I'm unable to appreciate this album and what it stands for. This album has some great messages about police brutality, self-love, and faith. Do I personally relate to any of it? No. But if this album was able to relate to its target demographic during the time it came out, then I would say that this album was a success in that regard. The features are solid. I find it interesting that every album I've gotten so far from 2019 or later has involved Michael Kiwanuka in some capacity. Is he just that great of an artist? Yes. The musical contents of this album could admittedly be better though. As much as I respect what this album's saying, it is a bit too blunt with it at times, making the album feel less like an actual album and more like affirmations or preaching at times. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it just isn't for me personally. The vocals are serviceable. The album does go on for a bit too long. The album is fairly repetitive. However, this album is an overall positive experience, just not one made for me specifically. High 3/5.
Felt bit like a modern art exhibit at points. So while some tracks were enjoyable, most others seemed up to the listener to turn it into something greater than they actually were. For example "Black" was little more than a slightly annoying basic tune on repeat, with someone frequently telling us they were black on top of it. Feels like when I'm at the Tate Modern looking at a rusty bedframe stuck to a wall and the plaque says it represents the evil and suffering of mankind. Fair enough, but I'm still just seeing a bit of metal sellotaped to a wall. Taking the music and lyrics in isolation, removing the social issues aspect, I don't think there's enough going on here to justify it being a great album. I'm not surprised they've pumped out 11 albums in 5 years given how basic this was. 2*, though removing about three quarters of the tracks that don't lead anywhere you'd have a pretty decent short EP of meaningful songs.
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.
It was perfectly listenable, even enjoyable. Nice mix of musical styles.
Tracks released as singles are great, & cover of Born to Run is good, rest of album is ok
Stayed up to finish this album. Love how many styles it seems to cover 6/7
its like a watered down, surface-level observation on race issues with bad beats. in my list, there were plenty of albums that have expressed it with a lot more passion, depth and musicality, so this album is just weird also whats up with racial affirmation ASMR in the middle of a music album?
Decent beats but lyrics are disjointed on many of the songs. She has a great voice when she does sing. Couple good songs but not enough for me.
Powerful messsge. But half of the album is beat poetry. I hate beat poetry.
Quite piercing at times but some absolute TUNES. Love Cleo Sol.
20 songs in under an hour is a great start. Excited for this one. Unfortunately didn't live up to the initial excitement
Forgotten it already,
Focused too much on the messages and artistry and ignored the music itself for me. I understand what they were going for but it lacked substance.
A lot to like in this, but a lot that is just filler. Too long by about 20 minutes
Exactly the same review as Chris.
this was utter rubbish, wasted the best part of an hour of my life listening to this monstrosity. There is a song on this called 'Don't Shoot Guns Down'. it was at this point I wanted to pick up a gun and shoot my laptop so it would stop the music playing.
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
I'd rather pick the dried shit out of a dead sheep's fleece and use it as a toothpick than listen to this utter wank again.
Has an arthouse feel. Uplifting Black music. - Don't Shoot Guns Down is classic 2020 - Pray up Stay Up has a nice groovy anthem feel
God is not us. Good beats,though.
Interesting and sounded good but I dont think I'm gonna revisit. Probably many more albums more deserving of the spot even from the 2020s
KILL WHITEY!
An interesting R&B album. Powerful subject matter speaking to police brutality in the wake of George Floyd. At times the album had more of an electronica vibe than an R&B one. Good lyrics but lacking in powerful delivery. 3/5.
I knew nothing about this album or group going in. It was definitely out of leftfield compared to what I normally listen to. Getting someone like me to listen to an album like this is specifically what the one album a day generator was created for. I loved this album and would've never discovered it otherwise. I will certainly give it another listen.
I had heard a few SAULT songs and wasn't really into it but I did my best to go in with an open mind. And I listened. Five times. Elements of it have hallmarks of artistic genius, but overall I found it to be too cold with too many consistency issues to be something I would want to return to. The drums sound organic and retain their prominence without eating the rhythm. And the rhythm section itself has some killer moments, but I found myself bored at some moments. The rhythmic palette of this album is typically bass, guitar, synths, keys, and a few other elements that come and go. The album feels to me like it lacks a core, an internal propelling force despite its strong rhythm section. The drums, while sounding good, suffer from stagnation and off-putting, redundant beats. The vocals seem like they're never fully present, like a character in a play that has dialogue but never appears on stage. Both times the album ended, I had the impression that I didn't listen to a contemporary soul album, but a 55-minute soundtrack for a soul-influenced piece of performance art. I certainly won't begrudge people liking this album more, it's very evidently the product of massive talent and artistic refinement. It's just not my thing.
This turned out to be a very pleasant combination of r&b and gospel; I like the minimalist instrumentals. The lyrics let me down a bit but not because of the topic, rather they felt a bit too… on the nose? Then again, sometimes too much poetry runs the risk of diluting what turned out to be a powerful, enjoyable record.
Not bad. Had some Lauryn Hill/Common vibes, but not better than either of those artists, and not necessarily original either. Still, pretty good.
Some okay songs, but not my style.
So this album is a bit tricky to critique. Similar to the dilemma I had with the show Empire. I couldn't quite describe why I didn't like it without sounding racist. For this album, if I were to replace the instances of the word black with white, I think it would be a controversial album lyrically, but musically it would be the same. I can understand this album isn't for me, and that is fine. Not everything is meant to be relatable to me. Like what you like. Favorite track "Monsters" 2/5
Garbage
A sound reminiscent of Fela Kuti, that doesn't quite reach those heights but is still pretty good. Standouts include the first five tracks.
Liked it, the whispering was a little too much
I Really liked the lyrics and the beat box sound and music and was pleasantly surprised that it was not "Rap" music...but the spoken word parts were like poetry...it was beautiful.....<3
This album reminded me of Moby from the 1990s. Somatically similar music and script down lyrics with one theme presented within. The stripped down lyric carries no explanation, leaving us the listener to determine that explanation. The simplistic lyrics create an opportunity to question beliefs about the narratives that I have heard yet will never experience. Musically the beat and underlying steady theme is punctuated by various music styles throughout Africa’s regions and countries, creating a unique listening experience of African sounds. All in all this is the type of album that I want to hear from 1001 generator. I want new music that challenges me and this collection did just that. It is a one and done for me. Chances are I won’t go back to this album and make it part of my repertoire however, it was well worth listening to for deeper understanding of myself and others.
Cantan muy bien, vale, y? Nada más
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.
it's fine, similar sounds throughout album.
3 - Some parts were really nice, but some parts felt a bit repetitive.
Interesting comparison having this a couple of days after STAND! Everything that album does well, this one lacks. “Black Is” isn’t bloated so to speak, but lacks punch. To me the first few tracks were interesting and then Wildfires was the only other with strong redeeming qualities. That being said the album on the whole js a very nice mellow listen, there isn’t much bad on any specific track apart from being a bit boring. “Free” from the other SAULT album of this year was one of my absolute favourite tracks of 2020 - it’s a shame nothing on this record gets close despite a very similar sound palette. 3.1/5
Loved it! This album is a great blend of gospel, blues and hip hop. A great vibe.
Not my kind of music
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.
Deuce
Or for my demographic, but some very good songs regardless.
Not for me. She has a nice voice, but there's not much to the music.
Unremarkable. Not a lot of rapping. The black is beautiful stuff veers a little corny in this presentation vs 70s stuff or solange. Like the singing, kids choirs etc.
Quite good album, the production was great. Overall it was a tad too long.
I liked this for the most part, but I don't like spoken word stuff, and it was about a third of it.
Powerful & poignant, clearly not meant to be an easy listen where it would normally lose stars for me
2020?! Damn, how recent’s this list?
How are you gonna name an album “untitled” and then title it in the same breath
Not something I would buy, but I enjoyed listening to it.
✊🏾
Meh
Genuinely an honest, beautiful album. Pleasantly surprised.
Is was alright
I’ll say it quietly, I’m not black and I’m not proud. Especially after listening to this album. But damn, what an unexpected, eclectic trip. There’s so much experimentation going on here, but the record still manages to stay grounded in what it is. I just wish it POPPED a bit more. There’s an inherent disconnect between the carefree and chill feelings of lofi hip job/soul music and the message being sent in the lyrics here. All that said, SAULT paints a picture of what our society was like at that moment in time, and it’s hard to hear this without realizing that nothing’s really changed. This is a meaningful and impactful love letter to the black community, even if the music in it doesn’t leave the mark I hoped it would.
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.
Een soort empowering triphop voor de BLM-generatie? Benieuwd wat het achtergrondverhaal is van deze groep / dit project, maar heb me daar tot nu toe (bewust) nog niet in verdiept. Wilde eerst even 'blanco' luisteren.
One of the few bands that have gotten through my middle aged cynic barrier in the past few years. It's good. Like they've taken the sounds of 90/00s hip and R&B and boiled off all of the superfluous bullshit. Often leaving just some amazing drum production and fuzzy bass. Everything that is left is there for a reason, perfectly judged and full of soul.
Ok, but not really feeling it.
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.
It’s ok
Super interesting album - I loved the style and the overall sound, but I dont think there were enough compelling songs to capitalize off of it
We are outside the (large) splash zone of the summer of 2020, it's been almost four years, and I have no urgent, self-preserving need to rate this the #1 album of 2020, as NPR supposedly did. Then again, what else was getting released in 2020? Weird year. And I must say, this album had a sense of perfect timing that Bruce Springsteen could have only dreamed of with his post-911 album. "We need you, Bruce." I still think about that album and chuckle. This encapsulates, if nothing else, the aesthetic of this kind of politics, and generally politics today– it is very polished, it is glossy, it is full of affirmations, it is ready for a media rollout with multiple cover stories, and it's kind of inoffensive. I hate to give it the treatment, and compare it to the amazing political protest albums we've heard over the years. One thing many of those has that this lack is the feeling of it being a *personal* story. I'm getting a lot of slogan, a lot of affirmation, a lot of positive psychology, a LOT of Instagram. And not a lot of storytelling, which is harder, but infinitely more powerful. I love the musicians involved, I am becoming a mega Inflo fan from this list. I know these musicians can do better because I've followed and loved their other projects. So this is a weird one because it's so surface-level, I've come to expect complexity. I will check out their other projects and just chalk this up to, yup, 2020 was weird. 3/5
Not my jam, but has some jams.
Es un disco onda Portishead, pero mucho más aburrido. Se hace realmente eterno, aunque saqué varios temitas buenos.
I think they are singing about black people, but I’m not 100% sure. Felt more like slam poetry or an affirmation rather than music. 4/10
It's aight. Mostly okay music and one stand out track in wildfires. 4/10
I think they might be black. At times soulful, at times repetitive, at times motivational speech. When it was music it was ok and when it wasn’t I didn’t really get why this was on this list. A bit too long, 20 tracks that pretty much do the same thing over and over is just not needed. 5/10
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
Did not enjoy listening to this… feel like the idea and execution were fine, good even but I just didn’t wanna be hearing this, feel like this album is not what I want to hear if I’m listening to music Like 3/10 enjoyment 8/10 quality ig overall 5/10
Pretty good but didn’t really blow me away. 7/10
4/10 - It was not great but it was not horrible. It was very preachy and was speaking on an important topic but if I am going to be listening to music, this is not what I would listen to.
8/10 didn’t love any of the songs but they were all enjoyable to listen to
Some good songs, some not good songs, but overall an enjoyable listen. Liked the weird trip hop shit they did on monsters, almost sounded like a Portishead song. Wasn't really paying attention to the lyrical content, which I'm sure was a selling point of the album, so can't really speak on that. 7/10
Not for me
< The Beatles
The mixing and production are bad the vibes are here. Lyrically unimpressive, but a pretty good jam throughout. Energy is up and appreciated, although an hour was unnecessary and repetitive. Pretty mid, honestly. 3/5
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.
3,4
I don't think this album was made for me, per se. It's above average though and somewhat enjoyable. I do think sometimes the music may have been compromised for the sake of making a message, but maybe that's more important. 6/10 (3/5)
Awful.
I could not wait for this to be over. So many of the songs were insufferable. Did this make it just to have something from 2020 on the list? There had to be better albums. Even the songs that started out alright went on way too long. “Wildfires” and “Pray Up Stay Up” are the only two songs I didn’t absolutely hate, but it was a low bar.
I like this so much. How could I not know this group?
I’ve not heard of this group or album. I loved the sultry sound and powerful lyrics
I can appreciate it and know I will probably never listen to it again. Fav songs the only synth in church and monsters
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.
blandat
Nice beats, but gets a bit boring 2/5
Horrendous.
volao
Wildfires is smooth and quite catchy in a deep house kind of way. Monsters has a grimy beat and I like the vocal. There's some other good parts but it's too much filler to my ears.
Important one 3
Cool enough
Was kinda nice, tunes were pleasant, a lot of it passed me by.
Not my tyope of music
2.5/5
A decent album and not in a genre I generally find myself. A good find.
Starts off really slow and I don’t feel like the concept was explored as much as it could have been (the minimalism is likely intentional), would have to listen more closely to be sure though. It ends pleasantly enough Best song: Bow (we meet again Michael!) Worst song: N/A
I'd rather listen to Tank and the Bangas, but this is some interesting work nonetheless.
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!
Soothing and pleasant. Dont know if i'd listen again.
J'ai bien aimé Wildfires.
Good message, boring music.
Have not heard of this. Let's see. What genre is this? Poetry? Jazz? Electro? Genre-free? A black-centric musical collective, per Wikipedia. Reminds me somewhat of the political soul music of early seventies, not musically, but message-wise. As I'm listening, though, "Wildfires" (cut #5) sort of harks back to that era. Honestly, there's a very low probability that I'll ever listen to this again, but so far it's pretty good. "Bow" (cut #9) great instrumentation and beat. Actually, you could say that about any of the cuts that aren't primarily poetry/spoken word. Production varies track to track...(to my ears, anyway) the highs are kind of fuzzy, especially the synth, snare, and occasional guitar riff. Maybe they want that sound? Vocals always crystal clear though. At almost an hour long, it does get repetitive. About 3/4 through it has become somewhat boring. I admit this was a wishy-washy review, but over the course of this listen, my opinion went through changes. ⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 17 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 984 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 7 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 4
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.
I don't know how I feel about this. I don't feel qualified nor comfortable talking about the lyrics as I come from a completely different part of the world with its own problems. Racism is bad obviously, but this is clearly an album for Americans by Americans. Musically very interesting though. There's enough variety in this that it kept my attention for most of the runtime. I could have gone without all the whispery interludes though. One or two is fine, but there was a point in the middle where every other song was just a woman uncomfortably whispering in my ear. I'm immune to ASMR instantly-shit-yourself hypnosis. I eat sauerkraut for breakfast. Fuck.
The hipster soundtrack to the powerful and quickly faded BLM moment.
As Jackson would say, this was good but not my favorite. I’ll admit I was more distracted while listening today. The tracks were hit and miss for me. I don’t love songs that sound more like spoken word poetry. Loved the last track!
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!
January 15, 2024 HL: “Bow”*, “Eternal Life”, “Black”, “Wildfires”, “Hard Life”, “Sorry Ain’t Enough” Something I noticed about some of the newest albums’ inclusion is that they don’t make a lot of sense in a vacuum. Evermore doesn’t make a lot of sense without Folklore; Chemtrails Over the Country Club is an odd duck without its contrast to Lana’s earlier albums. Untitled (Black Is) also drove me to a second Sault album (aka “Rise”), for 3 reasons: to get a better sense of their eclectic, studio-heavy production; because Black Is ended on what I felt was an intentionally unresolved note; and finally, because I was havin’ a heck of a time. Alright that’s 2 straight hours of Sault over with, and my findings are that the 2 Untitled's enrich each other. Black Is feels incomplete? The last 6 songs in Rise feel like a proper dénouement. Black Is’s politics are too broad and simple? Rise is more specific and overtly angry. Rise is too moody and lowkey? Black Is is celebratory despite the grief in the lyrics. Untitled (Black Is) by itself probably gets a 4.5 from me, but we're rounding up today. P.S. The 1001 book describes Black Is as 1980’s Prince-like on the surface level but is actually closer to Massive Attack. I feel that’s apt. P.S.S. It's now been over 3 years since I started this 1001 racket. I've already recently gave some of my first albums a second shot; because I didn't bother writing anything at the time, my memory of them was pretty unreliable. Nas and Mylo had some pretty great entries that I totally overlooked at the time, yet getting MJ Cole and Metallica back-to-back was probably the moment that I quit for a year. I couldn't tell you a single thing about the Bill Evans or Mudhoney albums I listened to in 2021, so I guess I'll have to check them out as well.
repeat
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.
One dimensional
Good but didn't really hold my attention
Preachy church synth with too much talking, mostly unlistenable. Albums 5 & 11 are more musically interesting. Zero adds to Kaizen Project.
Ashley's favorite
Industrial soul that's forward looking and deeply rooted. Emerging from BLM, the lyrics are urgently political; at their best they're an expression of pain and rage, at worst it's a ripped from online a mix of sloganeering and irritating self-help affirmation. It's never very subtle, but that's not what the moment demanded of artists - and the songwriting transcends the immediate overt 'relvance' of the content. Overall this is a stylistically rich blend of sounds from across a wide spectrum of genres woven into a cohesive affecting album pushing soul forward. Stop Dem and Hard Life are haunting church harmonies set against slow brooding grooves that erupt into joyous gospel jazz. Sometimes these transitions feel very forced, like mandatory optimism - they can't end on a down note so have a sudden turn out of nowhere from the deep solemnity of dark techno into kind of vapid 'everything's going to be alright' hippy outro. Wildfires, Monsters, and Sorry Ain't Enough swap the techno-bass for a jazzy RnB bass and more organic arrangements that continues the dark melancholy feel. Bow, the song with Michael Kiwanuka, adds an afro-psych (fuzzy wah-wah guitars + soukous arpegios) sound and pan-African thematic to the mix. Eternal Life floats on a blissed-out synth pop riff that the vocalists orbit around and as the beat rises and falls. Miracles combines a reggae groove and a trip-hop vibe to make a platform for powerful back an forth between the main vocalist and her backing singers. The album closes on the Motown sounds of Pray Up Stay Up, a simple dinky piano+deep bass hook with a southern spiritual refrain looping along - the chant remains even after the fade out. 9 albums in two years does suggest they're a prolific collective, but might benefit from some curation. A trimmed down double album of this and Rise would be really incredible. Favorites: Wildfires, Sorry Ain't Enough, Bow, Eternal Life, Monsters
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
Bra album. Bra låtar.
Far more dull, drawn-out and worthy than it has any right to be.
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 production quality and the beats are very solid on this album, especially during Only Synth in Church and Monsters. Feels good to listen with headphones on. It does get a bit repetitive though and the lyrics aren't doing much for me.
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.
Relaxing music, but not my field of interest.
20/100 Based on this scale: 1 star - 0 to 19 2 stars - 20 to 39 3 stars - 40 to 59 4 stars - 60 to 79 5 stars - 80 to 100 This barely escaped 1 star, because every now and then, there'd be an interesting guitar phrase, a beat that was less boring than the rest, even if it lasted too long, or just a moment of near-creativity. Otherwise, very little instrumentation; mostly loops. Maybe I'm supposed to pay attention to lyrics, but if I wanted lyrics, I'd read poetry. I ignore lyrics in music. Honestly, I very nearly decided to give it one star. It's just not very good. Also, there are way too many of those spoken interludes. What part of the word "music" eludes these artists? I was really close to changing my mind and giving it one star, but then I got to the track Monsters. It wasn't great, or even particularly good, but I didn't feel like skipping it as I felt like skipping the other tracks, so it saved the album from the rating it probably actually deserves.
Funky and fresh, liked the experimentation a lot
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.
Fine. I bet they would draw a crowd at The Fox.
Great production but it was too mellow for me, couldn't hear any emotion.
I’m sorry I just didn’t really hit it off with this album. To be honest, I think it was just not my style. I mean I do understand the meaning in the words in the symbolism behind it, however in the sense of it being music that I would listen to I wouldn’t.
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.
2.5
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.
Victim.
Nice to hear an album I have zero preconceptions about.
A dignified and thought-provoking outpouring of anger at a moment when, just maybe, the world started to take notice? Musically subtle which makes the one-the-nose lyrics all the more affecting and powerful. This is a beautiful and sad album, with a message of hope just about keeping the sense of defeatedness at bay. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Wildfires Date listened: 06/12/23
Couldn't get into this... Very slow and dragging. I know some people really like this style but I just didn't find it interesting or engaging.
Boring
Really struggling to get through this. It's just very, very boring.
super on point, quality all the way through... start a universal love trend people
This was unexpected. On paper I should hate this album - 21st century R&B really is not my bag at all and I was not looking forward to this, but it's actually OK. It's not something I'm likely to revisit, but it was perfectly listenable. Plus, the drum sound on the first few tracks is incredible.
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.
3.25
I get it. There's a message. But it has the lyrical complexity of a thirteen year old's essay. Boring lyrics and repetitious music don't do it for me.
De thematiek en de boodschap zijn relevant en duidelijk. Deze zijn ook prachtig in de lyrics verweven. De muziek/stijl vind ik dan wat minder
Tough listening for Thanksgiving. Really didn't pay attention
nope
Not really my thing but a fine album. Very confused by some of the most liked reviews though, especially one that stated people didn’t even think of race 15 years ago. What an ignorant thing to say
Un album de Kiwanuk-soul dans lequel SAULT s'engage pour une cause qui lui tient à cœur. Je soutiens moi-même plusieurs causes que je vais lister ci-dessous : ● L'interdiction de la country. ● L'interdiction du metal. ● L'interdiction du post-punk. ● L'interdiction du trip-hop. ● L'interdiction d'eltrapeze. ● L'interdiction du père d'eltrapeze. ● L'interdiction de mon propre père, s'étant bien trop rapproché d'eltrapeze.
Un mic mac sans grand intérêt, mais je comprends pourquoi Robert a mis cet album c'est vrai que le nom SAULT était sur toutes les lèvres ces dernières années.
Very good album
Groovy
Decent 3/5
Blah
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.
Interesting background/wallpaper music. Nothing exactly compelling or controversial. An album I have to hear before I die? Probably not.
喜欢这张好多首，还蛮有意思的
Differnt and good lyrics
Very nice sound! Got a new genre to try out
Soulful and moody, but I prefer my activism louder. Bow was a fun song, when it was listing out african countries. Stand-out: Eternal Life
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.
Chipotle background music
Wildfires is beautiful, bow was great. Black was an interesting song I feel like it wakes up sleeper agents. Eternal is chefs kiss and monsters was fantastic easily my favorite song i added it to my playlist. With this album the songs I liked I really liked but everything in between I didn’t really care for not that it sounded bad it just sounded like it was filling space I think I’ll have to give this another listen to really appreciate it for what it is. -B (not gonna do what you think I was)
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
Loving how the musical themes and production tell the story also. In “Stop Dem” when the vocal singing melody tries to come in but gets cut off showing how they thought it was over but it wasn’t. Synth on eternal life was crazy good. Saved that one. Rhythm on monsters was sweet. Also saved that one Very versatile and different, some songs were great some were eh
I was clearly not the intended audience. Interesting synths, they made it fun.
Energetic and empowering. Sound collage. Sonically resemble to Kawanuka, Alfa Mist,
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.
I heard this when it was released and figured it would make its way onto 1001, if for no other reason than it was on so many critics’ top ten lists. I just didn’t think I’d still be around on 1001 to review it. It’s an eclectic, hard-to-pin down sound, it’s unlikely you’d say, “oh, they’re a bit like…”. There’s a definite 70s psychedelic progressive soul feel, some gospel, but at the same time the production is modern electronic, minimalist, with an emphasis on the vocalists, and there’s definitely a few of them! The collective nature keeps the overall sound fresh and the lyrics are unapologetically focused on race, and social justice. The first time through I thought the short, spoken, connector-songs could have been done away with, but when listening again from start to finish, everything fits nicely.
Interesting that this album is from 2020. Since its so new it better be powerful enough to displace a lot of other albums from this list that have been around for decades. Unfortunately it's not, it's actually quite repetitive and nothing jumps out, except for maybe Bow which features Michael Kiwanuka (who is a great in his own right). This album would be fine in a hotel lobby but it needs more passion to really resonate and deliver its message.
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
I don’t think I’m the intended audience
This is like someone took all the rapping off a Kendrick album
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
I'm poisoned by the 90s. I was really dreading this when it came up because of how much I hated popular 90s r&b, but it was the best album this thing has served me yet.
Erg lastig album Begin heel sterk maar naar het einde een tikkie te chaotisch voor mij, gaaf dat het zo genreblend is maar dat maakt het ook erg lastig om naar te luisteren.
Ik denk dat ik gwn niet zwart genoeg ben om dit te waarderen.
Suadente
Surpreendeu por aparecer um disco de 2020 na lista, e negativamente por ser de hiphop.
Not my usual kind of music, positively surprised
Reads more liberal arts mixed media final project than actual album. Whenever the instrumentation isn’t covered by an overly long spoken word or soul sample, what’s left is bare-bones synth and drums that’s barely reaching Orbital levels (and I didn’t rate their albums highly earlier on in the project either). Just a weird mix of samples and thin connecting tissue that feels like it was thrown together in GarageBand without much thought to the overall experience. Another gripe: this album seems to promise a whole treatise on what it means to be Black but only offers platitudes. I feel like if I asked the group what I’m supposed to get out of this album I would be told that “I don’t get it” or “it’s not for me” in the most condescending tones possible. It’s been shown time and time again by artists like Kendrick and RTJ that you can make damn good and catchy as hell music that carries a social message or societal critique in a racial vein. All in all this album is all looks and no substance, both musically and thematically. Others have said the intended message here before in much more poignant and entertaining ways, so I’m sticking with my impression that SAULT are a gimmick band (see the “limited edition” 99 day album release) who have their heads so far up their own egos to know what good music should be
Gorgeous. Simple beautiful and powerful.
Interrresting! One really strong track, rest is not that interresting to me
seems decent, not my vibe tbh
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.
Viel Message, wenig Musik
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.
BLM/10 I don't want to rate this. Musically, I don't think it's very good. It is however an album very much in the spirit of BLM, which I personally agree with but don't identify with. Rating this album from my perspective does not do it the justice it deserves in the context it requires. The only thing I really want to say about this is that RTJ4 does a (imo) better job talking about specific issues in many of their songs and are sonically more in tune with how it can be expressed powerfully.
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.
Not memorable at all
Sabes cómo a veces uno encuentra ese disco, ESE DISCO que es como si hubiese sido escrito sólo para ti? Es como una terapia musical, cada canción, cada frase te llega justo así (meme de Pacha). Bueno, estoy seguro que este disco es eso para mucha gente, pero resulta que no lo es para mí.
Outstanding, thought provoking and moving
Can't get enough of Cleo Sol's voice, it's just gorgeous. Also realised that she also provides vocals for some Lil Simz tracks I really like (e.g. 'Woman'). On the whole thing - I knew Wildfires from the radio, but this was the first time I'd listened to a SAULT album. Great music from beginning to end and an important message. Depressing to read more racist reviews on this site though, some of them for this album are frankly disgusting.
The most interesting dull album I’ve listened to, can’t really explain what I mean by that though.
Not for me. Quite literally
swingado, agradável escuta apesar das primeiras serem meio ruins
I thought I would enjoy this listen quite a bit. A 2020 album about black identity seemed as though it would have a lot to say, energized by what was happening around that time. But the end result is just kinda boring. Lyrically it is so surface-level that it borders on self-parody. And while some of the instrumentals are decent, they are so uniformly low-tempo that it makes a 56 min album feel much longer. I just can't figure out how a piece ruminating on such deep topics can come out sounding so soulless. Listen to To Pimp a Butterfly or What's Going On instead.
I enjoyed this album for the most part. Wildfires was the standout track with Eternal Life being an another good one.
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.
Я необъективен, я эту группу давно уже заприметил. Потому что из той же тусовки ребята, что и мой любимчик Киванука. Альбом очень мрачный. Я понимаю, контекст, да, очень серьёзная тема и не менее серьёзный повод. Политическое высказывание, по своей сути. Но вот есть там пара светлых пятен, которые его "оживляют", помогают всё-таки справится с этим тяжёлым фоном. Вот они этот альбом даже в какой-то степени тянут. А так... я готов был почти сразу пятёрку влепить. Но это 5-, потому что музыкально я наверное не так сильно кайфанул, как от того же Кивануки. Но за концептуальную работу с африканскими темами - жирный плюс.
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)
Repetitive but nice
"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.
3.7 - Solange and Blood Orange each did this type of R&B meditation on blackness more successfully but this is also a good record within that vein. There's tons of atmosphere, built from the jump, with re-dubbed double-dutch chants and monologues reminiscing about black elders. It takes a few quiet detours that detract from the energy, particularly the boring "Black." But it ends on a high with "Miracles", "Hold Me", "Pray up Stay Up" that reinforce affirmations of blackness and black identity.
Good. Felt that I wasn’t the right audience for this, though.
Overall pretty good. The theme is prevalent throughout the album and although there are a few songs that could stand as singles, this is better as a whole. 3/5 May listen again
nah
Felt a lot longer than it is. More a series of sketches than an album. Didn’t hate it.
It was ok, beats were interesting, overall just not something I'd listen to again
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
Très bien, mais j'ai l'impression que étant un homme blanc je ne suis pas le public cible.
Go ahead, tell me I didn’t get this album. I didn’t finish it, nor did I enjoy it. Some of the songs are pretty decent, but they seem to break off in weird ways as soon as I even start to enjoy it. It feels unorganized and all over the place. The whole message is hard to take in when it’s presented like an ASMR video every other track.
i was expecting some very meaningful/powerful tracks on this one, but the lyrics all seemed pretty shallow. the production was also just okay, got repetitive fast.
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
Cantan muy bien, vale, y? Nada más.
I had read another review while listening to this and that person made a great person - there are so many other albums made by black artists who've shared their struggles through masterfully crafted lyrics and beats. And compared to "Untitled", it kind of... fell flat? Nothing really jumped out at me and the songs all somewhat sounded the same? I don't know, maybe it's me but I thought it was just ok. I wished there was more unique and exciting instrumentals. 5/10.
This album absolutely captures the zeitgeist of BLM with grooves, intelligent lyrics and light, expressive production. One of only a few albums of the last few years that's stopped me in my tracks. Completely satisfying.
Another album I’m familiar with from its recent release. Good blend of different styles and soil beats throughout deserves to have its place on the list.
Not really my thing and isn't as varied as it might be to really make a lasting impression. It's only occasionally good, generally middling, not enough for a 3/5.
I flit between really liking this and it really irritating me. The sound is really cool, as Hector says it's like a more modern Massive Attack, there's a really fun range in there. It goes on a bit too long, but the thing that grates on me is that there are too many places where it's just completely lacking in any sort of subtlety with the messaging, painfully so, and that jars with the style of the music quite a lot. Appreciate that a 3 minute song is not the easiest place to have a nuanced discussion about race, but there are a few too many moments where this album is let down by some real lowest-common-denominator lyrics and messages. Still gets a 3/5 based on the highs.
Easy listening but not for me
3.5
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