Reviews (page 7 of 8)
This was good but nothing really grabbed me.
Solid
Hard Life, Wildfires, and Black (yeah, I’m black). Beginning was the best and it slowly got worse. Too long and too many songs.
wildfires instrumental
Self important, self righteous ASMR. Terrible identity politics turned into music.
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.
Appreciated the sound of this one, as it was unlike anything else in the list, but it sounded a little too radio 4-morning-podcast-y for me to get truly into it.
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
Good beats, good production. I liked the whole album, but no single track jumped out at me.
I (think) I appreciate what is trying to be said on this album, but I just can't get around how repetitive and boring the tracks are. These are clearly songs about pride and anger, but no emotion comes through. I'm guessing the positive critical acclaim had a lot to do with the social climate when the album was released (RIP George Floyd.) It feels like spoken word poetry over a bunch of synth presets, and the album feels so LONG. So in summary: 10/10 messaging, 1/10 music.
Good, not great. Great beats - odd lyrics. Nothing stands out. 3/5
Surprising. Rich. Acoustically interesting
An important and conceptual work. Cool and effective.
Starkes Album mit einer Wichtigen Message, aber doch sehr lang
Veldig politisk. Veldig groovy, eller kanskje funky er et bedre ord? Jeg likte det godt, men det ble nok med en gang for meg.
Raw and honest
Dancehall vibes with a message. Really enjoyed
Solid. Good music. 3.5/5
While I can appreciate music that does not aim to appeal to the masses, this album had little or no emotion, repetitive instruments, bland lyrics, no creativity, the whole album felt like filler
слышала его в год выпуска. он приятный но не увлекает меня
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.
A political album. The interludes are too much for me. I do not have any problem with BLM. I am all for it. But instead of actually saying something, they are just repeating the same few points. Music wise, I get it that it’s trying to mix in different black elements. It doesn’t sound bad, but most of the tracks do not interest me a lot. 5/9/14/16
Kennelijk hard nodig na de problematiek rond politiegeweld in Amerika jegens mensen met een donkere huidskleur, en dus een protestplaat met oppeppende woorden tussendoor. Muzikaal vond ik het wat dunnetjes, en het is voor een album fijner als de boodschap in de nummers zelf is verpakt dan dat je ermee om de oren wordt geslagen.
Een album met nummers met een toegankelijke opzet. Met helaas veel blikkerig geluid. En net storend vervormde stemmen. Soms past dat ook wel bij het nummer, soms niet. Ik zou ik me nog overheen kunnen zetten. Maar daarbij zitten er soms samples tussen, die muzikaal niets met het nummer te maken lijken te hebben. Zoals het geluid van de reclame tussendoor heel anders klinkt dan het geluid van de film zelf. En zijn er meer opvulstukjes dan echte nummers. Dan wel met een fluisterde dame, dan wel een afwisseling van storende geluiden (june child). De tweede ster krijgt het album voor de opzet/potentie.
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
An amazing album. Both timely and timeless. Love the voices, the sentiment and the way this weaves so many styles together. If I had to choose, the electronic sounds are my favourites here; the gospel-tinged tracks my least favourite, but it all hangs together and flows beautifully. A powerful statement for the ages, and one you can sway to, too.
I lose track of all the SAULT albums, they're that prolific. But I remember how Black Is dropped at just the right time in 2020. It could already sound a little dated, but sadly the issues are still there. The DIY beats add an urgency. The vocals are lush. It drifts a little towards the end. An important document of 2020 though.
Decent political type deal, not very good tho
Very interesting and diverse album 6,5/10 Fave: wildfires
It’s got Afro beat vibes, really good experimental album
enjoyable and important album
Weirdly bland and also jarring.
I have been a fan of SAULT since discovering them in 2020. I actually prefer "Rise" which they released 13 months later but this album is also excellent and I think it can be considered as the first half of a double album. Of note for me is "Don't Shoot, Guns Down" which despite only having 2/3 lines of lyrics, successfully manages to conjure up dark and disturbing imagery. "Wildfires" delivers its strong and important message wrapped in a beautiful and delicate melody. I particularly like the attempt to describe the entire black experience. The album contains protest songs but also songs that celebrate black culture and history. 4.5/5 ("Rise" would get a 4.5+)
there's some nice really tunes in here but i'm not in to the lecturing nature of the lyrical content.
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.
6 stars out of 5 for Scott Kelly, as he continues his quest for a free pass for use of the the N word.
3.5/5. Pretty good, relatively easy listening, modern soul/RnB, with a fair amount of emphasis on black culture. I would not mind listening to this again.
From what I could tell there was an important and positive message in the lyrics. The musical presentation was boring and repetitive. I like longer albums, but that wasn’t a strength for this one. I may give it another listen in the future.
Good music but why are they talking the whole time
Disco liso, le hace falta condimentación y argumentos para tratarse de conceptual. En los títulos lo es, en el nombre lo es, en lo visual lo es, pero en lo mas importante que es la musica no lo es. Es un poco largo para la cantidad de arreglos que tiene y por mas de que pongas audios soniditos raros y te hagas el quirky no vas a hacer un album conceptual. Un album que se lo considera como tal pero que no cuenta nada, las escalas y reversiones de piques, mas lo ritmico aporta a sonidos interesantes 5/10.
Great album!
6/10. Had its ups and downs. The songs seemed to be going for an understated but powerful aesthetic, which sometimes worked and sometimes felt a little sleepy. But overall a good album, if not an especially memorable one.
Had potential but ended up being boring. Plus I'm always a bit annoyed at modern inclusions on this list since I'm so familiar with excluded albums that I enjoy much more. 6/10
Liked it. Good message, good music.
Listened Before? N This is a pretty good album. When I saw that it was described as "hip hop" I thought I was getting rap. Nope, it's just beat-heavy synth music with lots of different vocalists. I quite enjoyed it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Wildfires
Litteän harmaa mukautuva kulttuuri. Ei kiinnosta että albumi kuulostaa hyvältä kokonaisuudelta, jos en aio kuunnella sitä uudestaan. Tässä pelleily on viety astetta pidemmälle ja raivattu tunne pois pelistä. Vaikka kappaleet kuulostavat hyvältä, ei niillä kavuta kovin korkealle. Miksei tänään ole saman verran tilaa olla originaali kuin -90 ja -00-luvuilla? Jokin, joka yrittää ilmaista kauneutta, mielikuvitusta, merkityksen etsimistä, oman erikoisosaamisen hallintaa, tarkoitusta, alkaa kilpailla asian kanssa, joka on huomion kääre, mutta ei ymmärryksen. Sitoutuminen sisältöön, mutta ei tutkiminen tai uuden luominen. Tämä sisältö on post-Internet aikakauden ongelma, joka on ruokkinut ja kasvattanut tämän albumin, siinä lempeydessä ja rakkaudessa mitä ennalta määritetyn massasisällön tuottaminen on.
Didn’t enjoy
Wildfires is very good, but the rest is okay.
I think I wanted to like this more than it was. I am not black and maybe this is what parts of that community want, but as an outside felt a bit patronising towards them. Like yeah of course you are beautiful but there is more to people than that. It makes black people feel very 1 dimensional.
i really liked it the first time i listened but paying more attention a lot of the songs follow the exact same formula so it gets boring quickly
7/16, 44%
Good message, but there was a surprising sense of sameness to it. More important, that sameness was one of mood, an almost lifelessness which betrayed the supposed passion for pride in her black identity. Held my interest for a couple of tracks, but I kept waiting for more, for it to go somewhere unique, challenging, ins[piring. For me, that didn't come.
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.
I can see why this is an important album... but nope. Not for me.
Fantastic vocals, and a great experimental album.
12
Ça fait du bien de changer du rock, y a des sonorités cools mais rien de chamboulant
Enjoyed this, promising opening and continued at the same level, would have been better if they dropped a bunch of the ‘talking tracks’ though. Black was a great track.
Bland, repetitive, uninteresting, unappealing, I could go on
Undoubtedly a remarkable reckoning with the issues facing the community and especially with its timing in 2020. The themes are unfortunately timeless. However, for all its political genius and genius, I cannot help but think that it exaggerates just how unlistenable this album is and how little replay value it has. For all its authenticity, it’s just not an album I was musically captivated by.
Decent but quickly forgotten album
-Great production - Album flows well - good atmosphere - pretty innovative mixes together multiple genres
Less preachey than I had feared (apart from the interludes), and more enjoyable than I had anticipated
14th March 2023 Listened on the drive to Rita rehearsals and finished the day after. Busy day with rehearsals, IWD call with NYC and house organising. A tour of black history through music, expertly produced and such a range of sound. Really liked it, 3.5 if I could.
One track does not an album make! Wildfires the only track of substance, the rest was protest rhetoric of no quality. I'm trying to up my game and be polite in my review of this album, because normally I'd have just said its a load of shit.
Not for me
Brilliant instrumentals. Found the vocals to be all over the place, not quite rap, not quite singing, not quite spoken word. Felt a bit thrown together but really liked the beats, baselines and backing tracks.
I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did, has some really great songs bit alot of annoying "skits" and some very poor songs
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?
Var skeptisk till en början men den var ganska okej.
This album feels like a corporation covering their bases on the latest social trend. It's absolutely an important message that deserves to be enshrined in culture through music. That's my problem with this album. There are a handful of high, powerful, musically interesting peaks (Eternal Life comes to mind immediately), but most of it just feels bland and no real attempt to make art of the message.
C'est correct, une bonne petite ambiance, très smooth, parfait pour une soirée relax. Par contre vers la fin ça commençait à s'étirer
J - This album is trying to make me feel bad for being white S - Repetitive... kinda of gentle but aggressive at the same time. I don't understand it.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, was very distinctive as a project listen Favourite song: didn’t have one
SAULT have quickly become one of the most exciting bands around to me. This one has some of their best tracks too. Straight fire.
alkoi hyvin...valitettavasti snaan toisto poppi ei ole tarpeeksi laiskaa ollakseen nautinnolist ajoten se meni tylsäksi aika äkkiä.ei ole 2020 luvun elektroninen piipitys semmosta että voisi toistaa kuin kaftwerkki konsanaan..viimeinen kolmasosa odotin että loppuisi. kiva konseptiesque tho wildfires
Groovy and relevant and interesting. Perhaps a bit talkier than it needs to be.
Soulful, melancholic. Released soon after the George Floyd murder and the ensuing protests, which gives it additional emotional power.
It has some excellant moments but, as an album, its more than 20 minutes too long
Ret nice alternativ rnb, moderne, politisk, groovy
almost every song is incredibly boring. typically just consist of some short loop and minimal vocal contributions. it's honestly very underwhelming. the lyrical content is also not as powerful as other artists with similar themes
Todella teemalevy. On tullut aiemminkin vastaan. Kokonaisuus, mutta kuinka paljon antaa lopulta musiikillisesti? On lupaava kyllä, vaatii lisäkuuntelun
Tehnyt viimeisen parin vuoden aikana noin kymmenen tunnin pituista levyä. Kiva juttu, mutta eihän tässä hyvistä biiseistä ole kysymys.
BLM
Undeniable vibes. Hadn't heard this before, and I'm not sure how.
Not sure what this was. It seemed to be some nice beats with little rhythmic vamps and some speeches over top. Nothing really interesting.
Black
Clearly an important record that explores the black experience, including anger, sorrow and grief. It's musically excellent and very dancy. Great record.
Interesting and eclectic but it tries too hard at times and not at all at others.
I liked a decent chunk of this but disliked a bunch as well. It’s pretty cool sounding but I was ready for it to be over.
Fav songs: - Hard Life - Don't Shoot Guns Down - Sorry Ain't Enough
SAULT, a music collective of unknown members, primarily focuses on issues surrounding race and blackness. It's potent work and you can tell they were trying to make something truly powerful with the lyrical content here and the way instrumentation gives vocals the spotlight. The downside is that it is considerably heavy-handed it is and how boring the instrumentation is. the fourth track "Don't Shoot Guns Down" will repeat "racist policeman" as if I didn't know what they were referring to already. Especially considering the contextual backdrop of policing around the time this came out (June of 2020), I don't care to be spoon-fed the issues. The exception to the lapse in quality is Eternal Life, which is a genuinely beautiful song. I wish more of the album was like Eternal Life, but I guess the creative vision was more focused on whatever else Untitled has going on. Idk this wasn't for me. Given the range of neo-soul out there, I think this might be some of the weakest. There's some tracks that are worth your time but the whole thing is not something I would listen to again. Felt more like a chore than anything.
Really liked this. Smart, angry, lush and full of unexpected musical surprises. I can see why the critics rave about these guys.
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
I'm sure the messages are important/powerful but it's not remotely enjoyable to listen to
Alle sangane handla om kordan da e å væra svart
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.
It's kind of all over the place for me. But some decent music mixed in.
Though this was very message heavy, the delivery was varied and interesting to keep me engaged for longer than expected. It gets a bit tired by the end, but there are several tracks that are quite enjoyable.
"Finally we reach the end". Yep, that's exactly how I feel about this album. Whinging set to a drumbeat. Where's the music?
Pari kuunneltavaa kipaletta ja loppu kuraa.
Näin uudeks (2020?) levyks jäi mietityttää mitä erikoista siinä oli
Musically, I generally like what they are doing here and the message is really important right now. Nice mix of musical styles. I think this would have a tighter album had they cut it back by about 10 minutes or so. Fave Songs: Bow, Miracles, Sorry Ain't Enough, Hold Me, Pray Up Stay Up
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.
Bold, imaginative and provocative but ultimately is too repetitive and defeats its own message.
Not a genre that I listen to much, but there were some decent songs on this. Appreciated the message of the album.
I thought I would get really bored of the repetition, but it stayed fresh the entire way through, never got stale.
Nice album
I went into this one expecting not to like the music at all, since I usually dislike R&B. It wasn't quite what I expected. Definitely very high quality, with an accomplished mix of styles. The jazzier parts or more trip-hop leaning songs were my favorites on the album and really pretty enjoyable to me. Still, as a whole, it's simply not my style of music and I have no desire to revisit. I do strongly support the messages though, and tip my hat to accomplished musicians - just not my style.
R&B, with a some hip-hoppy stuff thrown in. Very mellow
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
Genre: Contemporary R&B
Downtempo and chill. Decent overall, but it’s fades into the background a bit too easily.
It was interesting. Modern R&B is still something I just have a hard time getting into. 3/5
interesting, thought it was metal by the name of the band, 3.5 stars
Genre-wise it does suit my taste more. But, it's still repetitive. Lyrically, it's blunt and it unapologetically speaks for Black pride. I'm one for being proud for your identity and overcoming past atrocities, it's just extremely repetitive. Almost everything I hear about today is progressive in this way and plasters Black all over it. It also has too many songs. Highlights: -
Really great vibe, will definitely revisit
good vibe
This is protest music that leans heavy into Jazz and EDM. I'm not really into any of those 3 things. Wildfires is good.
I've listened to this album a few times now but I don't really get the hype. The production is fantastic and I support the overall message, but I find it lacking lyricly and vocally in places. Some of the songs are so repetitive that they are basically just chanted slogans that break up the flow of the album. Most of the songs with more traditional structures (like Wildfires) are great however.
Ish.
Simple repetitive beats with the occasional basic affirming message which sounded more self help than fight the power, obviously not aimed at me and thats fine but came for a meal and all I got was a snack. Not convinced to listen again. Favourite track Row but wasnt too clear on the lyrics.
At times fun, at times soulful - but it gets in the way of itself with the self affirmations throughout the album. I get it maybe I’m not the target audience, but there are plenty of similar racial themes in hip hop and sometimes even more militant - yet hold your attention and are not exclusionary. It’s not the subject - it’s the delivery - pity because the music is quite a nice example of modern soul.
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.
Had some good moments. I feel that it has a message that I need a few more listens to understand a little better. Liked Monsters
Nice.. but I couldn’t bring myself to finish it
Made in the wake of the George Floyd killing and the backlash that ensued. Musically it's ok but a bit bland and derivative. Lyrically it's not subtle at all and I'm not sure who it's aimed at but I'm sure they either already know or will never listen anyway. Dare I say that the only reason this is included in the 1001 is it's historical impact?
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.
Todays album is a fairly recent one, yet an artist I’ve never come across. I also don’t recognise any song titles, so I’m wondering if it just genuinely went under my radar or if it maybe got big in the States but not the UK. Either way, happy to listen to something different! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Black, Hold Me I appreciated the message of this album. I’m all for equality regardless of skin colour, religion, sexuality, etc. However, I just felt this album wasn’t as good as other albums that preach the same message. It was ok throughout, but there were no songs that blew me away, and I’d occasionally find myself drifting off and losing concentration at times. There were occasional catchy hooks and good beats, but just not enough of them for my tastes. I feel like this album would probably be better appreciated as an art piece rather than a musical piece.
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.
Det här var.. inte så bra
Important message but musically a bit dissonant for my liking.
Like the music, minimal jazzy soul. Very much an album of its time - June 2020 - as reflected in the lyrics. The accent on positivity and self-esteem is good, but some of the lyrics are a bit too simplistic and repetitive. If anything the love songs are the best
Very new and consistent sound but I didn’t hear any breakthroughs
Prima, niet echt behoefte aan muziek waar het gaat over zwarte die geschoten worden door de popo aangezien dat er al vrij veel is. Verder kon het album ook een stuk korter door alle saaie nummers eruit te halen
Vond het best chill klinken maar na een poosje echt best wel saai en irritant?? Eerder een 2,5 dat wel want soms funkyyyyy
Had deze geluisterd omdat die op ongeveer ieder eindejaarslijstje stond in 2020. Toen viel het al niet echt in de smaak, en nu ik hem opnieuw heb geluisterd nog steeds niet. Het zal vast de tijdsgeest zijn waardoor dit album zoveel lof kreeg, maar het is nou niet echt leuk om naar te luisteren. 2.5
It wasn't great
there is a word that sums up this album: power. SAULT speaks to a lot of important topics facing our world today, and they deal with heavy subject matter. it is not lost on me that this album was released during the summer of 2020. i am sure that's the same for most listeners; if you aren't paying attention to the lyrics, then the album cover will force you to understand. but "stop dem" literally has vocals shouting, "stop dem" and "don't shoot us"--how could it be any clearer their intent? but on this album there is still joy; it's a celebration about being black while fighting. with twenty tracks at 56 minutes, SAULT created untitled (black is) with a heck of a lot of genres. wikipedia has this album listed as soul, r&b, and funk--all of which are true, but there are world music, techno, and pop fifties sounds as well. a well rounded album.
This was an incredibly modern and powerful take on the current landscape that Black people face. The lyrics are thought-provoking, and the music is fresh and diverse, spanning across multiple genres and setting a high bar for what those genres can sound like in the 21st Century. The spoken interludes are incredibly empowering and poetic, as well. While this type of music might not typically be my cup of tea, I found myself in constant intrigue over this album.
The message is important and good. But it's too obvious, too much asmr whispering and not enough music. To connect both was already shown to be possible in the 90s...
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.
Listening to this was filling a gap between Little Simz and Michael Kiwanuka, and I loved it. I also imagine that this music is something Gambino listens to, which inherently elevates it.
A bit of style variation, not a bad album.
It was trying to make a statement but really didn’t go anywhere and kinda fell flat. I think this album will age poorly. It probably only got its hype from the BLM movement in 2020. Definitely not one of the 1001 album that I needed to listen to. There’s many others that do what this was trying to do much better.
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).
Good beats and cool grooves but I occasionally wondered if the album was a little too loose and formless. There are a lot of musical ideas but there aren’t a lot of full-fledged songs. A track like “Black,” for example, has a great hip-hop beat and a catchy hook but feels like it’s missing a rap feature. Other tracks loop a vocal hook over an instrumental for a few minutes but don’t ever develop into a song with verses and choruses. It’s not bad exactly but feels incomplete. There are some strong standout moments though. The singing on “Wildfires” is beautiful, the African funk of “Bow” was a highlight and the closing track “Pray Up Stay Up” has a great vibe.
Interesting album, definitely trying to convey one overarching message across the release. I kind of feel like this genre should be called something like "music-to-be-sampled". Each track gives me a vibe like it's meant to have something else on top, like a lead vocal line or even some rapping. The tracks that do have some lead vocals in them come across as pretty repetitive. "Wildfires" was a cool track, with more typical structure of a pop song. I liked the album more as it went on. I think the earlier songs having a more background-music type of sound led me to get off on the wrong foot. It felt long but it wasn't, it just had a ton of very short tracks which kind of validated my idea of music-for-sampling. I think a high 2/5 and close enough to a 3 to warrant it.
I had never heard of this band before and was really happy to hear something new. For the first 9 songs (barring Sorry ain’t enough) I thought I’d found a new favourite to stick on repeat. But this is an album of two halves. The second half just sounded like dull, ‘ooh ooh baby’ music - uninspirational R&B which I could frankly do without. But 8/20 songs that grabbed me by the throat is quite good odds. I would definitely listen to those again.
Album had a few bangers, very unique. My previous notes had fav tracks but got deleted. The backside started to feel repetitive (loops) and kinda annoying which was difficult to vibe with, was on the bus.
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.
....Interesting. This choice is very much of the time, which many of the album selections in this list seem to be. This was not made for me, which is probably the whole point. The album was selected for the message instead of the music. The music and spoken word was a bit repetitive and quite simple. I was hoping for a crescendo or destination or to hear something I hadn't heard before. In the end, it was good. Favorite song: Wildfires
Very cool, very bluesy, religious.
What a power house. Perfect album.
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.
This is not for me. I liked bits of some songs but not all of any song. The closest was Monster. Disjointed and distracting. I’ve never heard this album (or group) before and heard nothing that compels me to listen again.
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.
I enjoyed this but not a lot stuck out in my mind. Speaking with Jen about this 1001 endeavor, it’s like the timing of the listen combined with current state of mind mixed with some kind of random aural simpatico all contribute to the rating for albums I’m not familiar with.
I cannot say wht but I don't dislike it
Some sour notes, but mostly enjoyable. Last song is the catchiest.
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
Ok I guess. Nothing special.
like the message more than the music
Good
There's no shortage of bad albums that shouldn't be in this book, but this one sticks out for the insanely-high user rating. It wasn't a good album, and it's clearly only in the book as a symbolic gesture. It's downbeat and boring, fades in an out of "musicality" (is that a word?) too much, and goes for an hour. 2/5.
Nice message, but I didn’t like the music a whole lot
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.
Feels a bit tokenistic - and is it really worthy of an entry? I wonder what wonderful sixties or seventies album in the original book made way for this collection of meh?
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".
just not my scene...
You know movies that are up for best picture at the Oscars that critics rave about, but you don't know a single person that actually enjoyed. This might be the audio equivalent of that! Not altogether bad. Just not terribly excited, that's for sure...
super cool album like a non-stop wave on unique styles all coming together in really neat ways definitely one of the best alternative albums I’ve heard 10/10
very good, not many albums in the 2020s are good like this!
Incredible production, heart wrenching topics tackled in a beautiful way and the interludes take nothing away from the experience, rather enhance it greatly.
The aesthetic of cover and title suggests a detached-but-not-really attitude, and Untitled sound like a mixtape before its music pulls a similar turn. At first, the sound is rather light against the themes gestured at. But as the record unfolds, it takes a kind of chronological track through build and release. I looked at SAULT (unfairly) as a novelty band. This has convinced me to listen to its twin and take the group more seriously, even if it didn't blow me away. I guess gospel music isn't meant to, most of the time.
I really enjoy SAULT, and I have to say that musically this is far from their best. Best approached as an art piece and social commentary, it's not a casual listen.
Love it
Great production
I am definitely not the audience for this. Obviously can appreciate it, but there you go.
Righteous and beatwise, you'd have to be musically stunted not to feel these grooves and politically stunted not to feel their message. But I have a hard time believing they'll ever get under my skin (and Ive tried) much less onto the dance floor. Side note: as Homeboy Sandman demonstrated twice on his magnificent "I Can't Sell These" mixtape, they make great beats for a rapper capable of turning them into songs.
Interesting experience. I mostly prefer rock-ish music, but I really like to adventure in other generes. That is why I'm here. And this was pleasing.
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.
I have never heard of Sault, but the album cover is excellent, and I see the rest of their album covers are all of a piece. The music grabbed my attention and didn't let go, at least for the first bunch of tracks. As overtly political as the cover implies but not angry. I don't really know what to make of the first track, "Stop Dem" is fun and a little funky, "Hard Life" is just beautiful, "Don't Shoot Guns Down" is a percussive gem, Wildfires is lovely and inspiring, X is a short sip of chill beat poetry, but from there it starts to bog down. Some of the tracks, like Black Is and Eternal Life, overshoot the mark. But overall I enjoyed this album quite a bit. Favorites: Don't Shoot Guns Down, Wildfires, Monsters
Good, interesting, too soon to be in the list in my opinion
Some really great tracks here. I enjoyed this album and that feels pretty unusual coming from a modern band Id never heard of
i can’t believe i’ve never heard of this group before. they’re on my list now, this album was excellent.
amazing, beautiful. vocals are on point and the whole album is just gorgeous. the messaging moved me as well.
Black Lives Matter
Really great drums and bass. Not big on the interstitial dialogue tracks. I definitely understand they're positive and I'm not disagreeing with the sentiment, they just come across a little preachy and break from the music. Not a bad album, really good musicality, just not my favorite type of music, so I don't know that I would ever come back to it for additional listens. Standout Tracks: Stop Dem, Wildfires, Bow, Pray Up Stay Up
sort interesting tracks but can't do a whole album of this
niet zo mijn ding
Sault, wat een toppers
It's a nice album, but it's not a crush for me.
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.
Non mi è piaciuto. In generale l'R&B non fa per me, ma in questo album non ho trovato neanche un pezzo che mi abbia convinto a pieno. Inoltre alcuni testi sono francamente imbarazzanti (Vedi "Black").
Some interesting beats throughout albeit repetitive at times. Clearly a very emotionally charged album. I think there's far better works tackling the same subject matter. Too many average tracks that are skippable. Could be edited down.
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
I'm glad this album exists for the people that need to hear its message of hope and resilience. The tracks I enjoyed the most - "Wildfires," "Bow," and "Monsters."
While I can appreciate the relevance of this album, it is not something I would listen to again.
Molto figo, non lo conoscevo. Originale, ritmico, elettronica pop e rap. molto bello
The anti-police lyrics broke it for me
Ok vibes
Great journey
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.
I understand the concept and themes going behind it, but that is not enough to carry an almost 1-hour album. Lyrically, musically nothing special
Sorry. Didn't get it. I guess I'm too old.
As a band, they blew my mind. Absolutely love this album. 5*s
Che figata
I didn’t think it was ~bad~ but I’m just not the biggest fan of abstract/spoken work stuff
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.
Samaan aikaan sillai raikas ja vihanen! Toki tällai vähemmistöön kuulumattomana tällasii poliittisii levyjä lähestyy eri tavalla. Kiva kuulla generaattorista taas jotain hieman uudempaa. 3/5
Kiinnostava ja oikein miellyttävä. Pitää kuunnella joskus vielä. 3.5/5.
Wildfires lienee levyn kovin hitti, ja se on kyllä jees. Muuten tykkäisin enemmän, mutta pari raitaa ei oo kovin mielenkiintoisia niin jätetään nyt 3/5
Smooth and sultry.
Powerful lyrics
Blah
not for me
One more that I had no idea about going in. It was OK, not my thing, but well produced and with good vocals. Too heavy on the race politics for me lyrically. Passed by without causing any discomfort but without catching my attention either. Stripped down R&B, with what I think of as typically British minimalism.
Wow. Powerful messaging delivered in a great package.
Different, very eclectic, some really good tracks in there.
Wildfires best vibes from this great album
Cool concept. Very rhythmic.
While the music is more or less inoffensive, the intruding spoken-word poems are unbearably annoying: “Black is God…you are God”. Cringe!
This was great, poignant messaging wrapped up in a well-paced and catchy lil parcel. My favorite track was Monsters.
Really good - but not sure it will hold up over time.
loved the vibez
Thoroughly enjoyed this album. 4/5
Wonderful journey
A tricksy album to discuss, in that it took me several days to write this. Exceptionally well-made, the cover itself tells us that discussed within are serious, emotive issues. Such an undertaking behoves that both the album and the listener adopt a suitably mature attitude, as frivolity easily could turn to offence. Largely, the album succeeds so. Yes, I proffer minor caveats, but not enough to upset anyone, I hope. The genesis of SAULT and this album are rather commentable on their own. SAULT are a black music collection, apparently based in Britain, who have never given a definitive list of band members, let alone performed live or released a video. Emerging in 2019 with the album 5, they would also publish the album 7 in the same year, then this album and Untitled (Rise) the next year. Untitled (Black Is) was released in June 2020, a month after the death of George Floyd at the knee of a police officer. George Floyd's death would sparks protests across not only America, but much of the world, and this album is a declared revolt against systematic racism, of which police brutality is just one symptom. As I said, this is an album to take seriously. The parenthesised title serves as the leitmotif of the album, especially during the spoken word sections, with lists declaring what black is. And here's a caveat: I recognise the intended positivity of these parts, but that didn't prevent me finding them a touch platitudinous. Obvious messages will seem obvious: me saying democracy is a good thing is clearly right, but hardly paradigm-shifting, despite the prevalence of dictatorships in our time. Another caveat: invoking God and religion never stirs me all righteous in protest works. Is religion that effective a mechanism of social improvement? Couldn't God just solve all this right now? Don't millions think God is on the side of that racist traitor Tr*mp? Appealing to Christianity didn't really work on What's Going On, doesn't really work here. (And yes, I believe I have failed in my ambition to avoid upsetting anyone). I think that's the end to the caveats. The most conspicuous aspect of this album is its production: it's dauntingly good, warm yet crisp, like a good roast potato. The second most conspicuous aspect is its kaleidoscopic eclecticism. Although this site classifies the album as soul and funk, the album respectfully passes through gospel, doo-wop, reggae, hip-hop, R&B, and even African polyrhythms. Thankfully, the album avoids the senselessness that occasionally arises when artists try so many genres so rapidly. But the album stands on the resonance of its message. In that regard, they've shown their workings (although when they sing the line "From Egypt to Libya", they forget that the two countries border one another, so it's not really continent-encompassing). It's worthwhile, indeed it's slightly humbling, to listen to the album whilst reading the lyrics. For all the album's focus on racial justice and equality, it's also a profoundly feminine album. With some exception, the voices of this album are exclusively female, and the album bombards with love, reassurance and optimism. For all its justified outrage, this is an album that wants to hug the world, and pleads with the world to justify its hug. An album with a wonderful heart, and one a damn sight nobler than Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet going all anti-Semitic, methinks.
Cool vibe but just didn't grab me.
Interesante disco hip hop.
Amazing new band
Not really my style
Cool ,fellow and a very laid back vibe
Hip hop trance r and b soul type music. Pretty good mellow music.
Interesting, loved the message.
This was fun!
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
I went back and forth on how I would rate this album. One minute I'm really digging it, and the next I can't wait for it to end. I think ultimately this album suffers for being too long and too boring. The beats on every song are SO good, but the vocals come off as minimalistic and uninspiring and way too repetitive. Standout tracks include Wildfires and Monsters.
Not for me
Sonido contemporáneo. Hago de electrónica con consciencia "black". Está bien la radio que desencadena para ambientar.
Above average, but too new to call a 'classic' or anything that should be on a list like this. 3/5
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.
My first album of the 2020’s shame there’s only 5 albums for this decade at the moment I could name a good few modern albums that deserve to be on this list… The album opens with out the lies which is half a little chant then it’s this little important statement. I really don’t like the happy screaming vocals of stop dem again it’s important but not good. I think one of my problems of hard life is that instead of being interesting the song just keeps on layering extra seconds and repeating the exact same lyrics again and again. Don’t shoot the guns down is a shortie and other than whatever was put over the vocals this is awesome the lyrics are surprisingly powerful and the drumming work is excellent. Wildfires is apparently the group’s biggest song and it’s a great song, none of this music is my kinda thing but it’s a song that I completely understand the appeal for ( same for the whole album really). X is a good little interlude. Sorry ain’t enough is a very powerful song again like wildfires this genre as a whole doesn’t appeal to me much but I get it. Black is, is a shortie and a bit of a reprise of the first track and yeah it works after all these songs even if i’am not a fan of interludes. Bow has a great rhythm and good lyrics but some of the elements layered on i’am sceptical about. This generation is just a little interlude. Why we cry why we die is too repetitive for me to be honest. Black starts off too repetitive but then it gets interesting when the female vocalist arrives. There are too many interludes us is one of them. Eternal life comes out of that previous interlude though and it’s great the synths really make this track. Only synth in church is nice but it feels like filler. Monsters is a very good song I might just be in the groove of the album but I really enjoyed this tune. June child is ANOTHER interlude. Miracle’s has some great bass work in it i’am still not sold on the style but it’s good music. The penultimate track hold me is a bit too electronic for me really but I cam see the appeal. The album closes with pray up stay up and I really don’t like this song the piano is the best part. I mean I get it I really do but not for me 3/5.
I liked the vibe, but got about 3/4 through before I stopped listening.
Mjög næs fönkí R&B með mjög alvarlegum undirtónum í textum. Set þetta band á skoðunarlistann.
Not what I was expecting but an important album which caught the mood
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?
What a great album, great sounds, great lyrics great message. Loved it
Impressive in ambition and delivery, and well worth a listen
Sublime
I very much doubt that I'm the target audience for this album. Initially I enjoyed the beats and there's some really nice progressions in there. What I disliked is the politicking, sure it's contemporary, but damn does it pull its punches. Listening back to Public Enemy, NWA, RATM - they went for the jugular, they meant it with a passion. This album had the potential, but somehow got watered-down with lightweight easy-to-swallow commercial chants for an ASMR generation.
Stylish, deep, funky, rootsy, spiritual, angry, hopeful…proud. Politically and socially charged for sure, but for once I didn’t feel bludgeoned over the head by the message of an album of this type and so ended up enjoying it a lot.
Overall, it's too woke for its own good. I liked, if not loved, a lot of it. But it comes across ultimately as over stuffed if not over long. I have a sneaky suspicion this will be remembered as a product of its time more than anything else.
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.
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Stop dem, Hard life, Don’t shoot guns down, Wildfires, Sorry ain’t enough, Bow, Black, Eternal life
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.
Impressive showcase of creativity and musicianship fueled by strong and important beliefs. Efforts like these give a reason for publishing a new version of '1001' each year. A bit too few strong, memorable tracks to hit a 5/5 rating.
I couldn’t imagine a more appropriate Juneteenth release. Filled with anger, sorrow, power and a demand for change. The production is so raw and in your face (especially the drums) that at times it almost hurts. Absolutely brilliant! Unfortunately I also knew what to expect when I saw the 20 song tracklist… And this album doesn’t change my mind regarding the overflow of interludes. The lyrics in general are strong enough to get Sault’s message across. There really is no need to keep hammering the same nail; even when delivered via whispering poetry. Best: Stop Dem / Bow / Why We Cry Why We Die / Monsters Worst: Don’t Shoot Guns Out / Black / Pray Up Stay Up / almost every interlude (but especially June Child)
Discount Little Simz. Some interesting production and blending of genres (I liked Stop Dem) but felt like this tried to be too dramatic and eclectic at the expense of some energy and focus. May be better with more listens but not sure this really belongs on this list.
I feel like there was probably a message in this album, but I was bored as fuck and tuned out. Somehow this is only an hour long - it felt like 2. I just wanted this shit to end after song 5. IM SAULTY 1/10
Fully convinced that the guy who made this list decided to put this album in instead of posting that black square on social media. Monster and Black are bangers, lotta cool sounds on this album but as a whole it's just not for me. (obviously?)
I’ll give this a 3, but I know Sean would have given it a 1
I really was not a fan of the album, but I loved the song "wildfires"
Always feels like an amalgamation of music with sault
Powerful black voices, would not be a typical choice but I enjoyed it.
Power and resistance through understated funky grooves. Even spoken word nonsense can't bring down the vibe on this one. Best track: Wildfires
There's some interesting tracks on this. Not really my bag though
Listened to on 7/21/22 3.5/5 Favorite song: wildfires This album was SO powerful and the best social commentary on race in 2020
In this day and age, "Sault eschew interaction with the media, they have never played a live show, given an interview or released a music video in support of their music and features an array of unnamed collaborators," is an astonishing sentence. Been on my list of things to get around to listening to for ages
The most excellent and righteous mixtape.
I had never heard of this and the fact it's so recent, I'm surprised this made the list. I'm not sure what i think of this? It has a good beat, the lyrics are okay and I don't hate it, so it was fine. Not a fan of this style of music, so I can't say I'll listen again, but I can appreciate the effort.
This was good, some nice stuff here and a few saves.
Under middels
Super-dope tunes.
having expectations is my greatest downfall
love noise.. love instrument
There's a lot of 'lazy' two word reviews for this album floating around - "its great" or "it sucks". In my view - it's OK, not amazing, but certainly not rubbish. I'll attempt to give a bit more justification for my rating. Firstly - it's an electic mix of lo-fi chill soul/rnb and funk, with live drums mixed together. it works, it's easy to listen to and interesting enough Secondly, it's a mix of actual 'songs' and then short poetry based skits. It's unusual, so I see why it's highly rated. The songs themselves are mostly well written and produced, the lyrics are a current topic, and though the overarching theme is clever, the actual music and lyrics aren't particularly ground-breaking. It's a chill out with a glass of red wine at 11PM whilst thoughtfully overlooking the city lights with this in the background kind of album. It's a innovative idea for an album, and executed reasonably well. 7/10
An interesting and powerful album. Ultimately, the music wasn't anything super special to write home about, but the message made up for it in a lot of ways. A little repetitive after a while, though.
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"
Listened to Air recently which I loved for the Stepney/Reich vibes in equal measure. That's nothing like this, I've only heard bits before, enough to know that Air was a departure, and that they released music faster than I could keep up. This is pretty wonderful. Never stays the same, never dips in quality. Fully justified inclusion, hopefully will withstand the brutal culls that more modern albums suffer with each new edition.
-This is already opening up VERY cinematic. -Drum production on Stop Dem is crisp. Using kids vocals is eerie, but fitting. It's like Sesame Street meets Apocalypse Now. -Hard Life again, good production. Sorrowful gospel. -Solid basswork throughout this album. I dig the bongos on Sorry AIn't Enough. -LOVE the talkbox effect on Bow.
Liked Only Synth in Church a lot Pray Up Stay Up was good too - upbeat, good piano, faint jazz in the background - kind of repetitive though But album definitely gives off black supremacy vibes - all for pride in race/culture but this seems as though they're above equality and superior to other races.
Liked a lot of the beats, but only a few i’d want to come back to. Stand-out tracks: -Pray up Stay Up -Monsters -Why We Cry
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