KIWANUKA

Hot dang, this is fantastic! One of the best things this list has introduced me to, for sure. Love the atmosphere - love the journey it takes you on, and the way the tracks follow on from each other. Genre and time period distort and blend. It often seems like I'm being reminded of music I can't quite place. Great stuff. Fave track - "You Ain't the Problem" is a great opener. "Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)" and its intro are awesome. Really, though, this feels like a whole album experience, rather than picking out individual tracks...

Wow! How refreshing to listen to something that lacks a clear definition of genre while being impressively unpredictable. The sound ranges from 60s rock, to ambience, to blues and jazz, sounding classic and contemporary at the same time. Massive respect to him.

This album was totally out of left field for me, but wow what a good surprise. This is a contender for my favorite album on my list so far. It is an absolute masterpiece

A beautifully passionate indie rock album, with gorgeous instrumentation and captivating lyrics. I love the guitar tones, driving basslines, and how Michael Kiwanuka manages to breathe life into topics with like perseverance, love, and social injustice. BEST TRACKS: You Ain't The Problem, Rolling, Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye WORST TRACKS: N/A

I'd never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before and so I had zero expectations or preconceived notions... Wow - this is great. Expansive yet accessible; harkens back to a lot of 70s music with its melodies and chord structure, but all in/with a modern sound. Multi-instruments, great vocals, varied rhythms and tempos - this is a treat. I figured this would take a few listens to fully settle in and I'm 3 times through already (got this on a weekend) - even after one pass I was really intrigued/impressed and will be keeping this in the library...hell, I'm enjoying this so much I can't say anything remotely negative about it - it's not even too long in the age of wayyyy too long albums. I guess I just talked this one into a 5. Love it. 9/10 5 stars.

NEW BLOOD! Let's start here: I truly believe it's a great idea that new albums are added to this list every few years. Hell, I'm up for anything that will remove some of the far-too-many Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen albums that populate the list. My concern is that the additions are only chosen among recent releases. They never go back and reassess some previously released albums that missed the cut originally; albums that have held up or been given a second life in later years. And yes, I'm still beating the drum for getting the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack, and a Bob Seger or Jackson Browne album on this list. The other concern about adding only the recent albums could fall under the "Can't see the forest from the trees" argument. The most glaring example of this is Taylor Swift's "Evermore" being included over "Folklore" with these new additions. It's not a stretch to say that Folklore is widely considered the better of the two Swift albums released in 2020. In fact, Evermore was almost an afterthought. It's a great album, but it almost feels like a bonus album of songs that missed the cut from being included on Folklore. I mean, Folklore won the Album of the Year Grammy for crying out loud, a distinction which along deserves at least consideration on this list. Which brings us to the album in question by Michael Kiwanuka, an artist I hate to admit I knew nothing about until today. And Good Lord is this a great fucking album. It's a well deserved new entry on the list. But I'm already hearing things like, "Yes, it's remarkable, but the album he did before it called 'Love & Hate' is the true masterpiece." And true to form, Spotify played me Kiwanuka's most popular track when this album ended ("Cold Little Heart", which gained notoriety for being the theme song of that HBO series "Big Little Lies" that was only worth watching for Laura Dern embracing her batshit crazy side). I hear a lot of Stevie Wonder here, along with some Bill Withers and Leon Bridges. Unfortunately, there's just a little too much Danger Mouse. Kiwanuka doesn't need that kind of karma. I'll be spending more time in Michael Kiwanuka's world. Not even Danger Mouse can keep me away.

This is a very interesting album. In many ways it feels very retro - like parts of this came straight out of the 70s. But those parts are fused with some very modern influences. I found it quite remarkable. The introspective lyrics give you a lot to think about. The album is lush, at times exotic. It feels very personal. I loved listening to it in solitude - a private escape. I was going to list some of the highlights for me, but this really was an experience that works so well as an album I don’t think I want to call out any specific tracks. What an amazing journey!

Was not expecting this. No idea what I was Expecting but I was expecting it to be a bit shit. This is not shit, this is antishit. He'd do a very good bond theme tune.

Upbeat, epic, dramatic. Both modern and retro. Is thus the Big Little Lies intro song guy? Each one of these songs seemed well though out and composed, had a beginning middle and end. I’m impressed. Not a bad song, so I guess it’s a 5.

I thought his was tremendous. A very distinct voice, but stylistically hard to pin down. Soulfully performed and deeply personal, and just very good

A big reason of why i decided to start the 1001 journey was the chance to discover something that even as a self proclaimed music aficionado i may have missed. "Hidden gems" if you will. The kind of record that after a single listening session can make me scratch my head and think "how did i not listen to this before?" Well, i'm just glad to have found Kiwanuka now.

He is so thoughtful, and continues to get better. Voice smooth as butter. A soft exterior with a razor sharp edge, sucks you in and then hits you with some truth.

What a surprising musical journey. Beautiful vocals and grandiose music pieces.

68 KIWANUKA -Michael Kiwanuka 14 tracks Wow!Face with open mouth I will excuse his lazyness in album name choice because this is good, VERY good. I will listen to this again, (& again & again), but I will also listen to his other stuff. Amazing voice, strings, variation, proper album Thumbs up 5/5

One of my favorite albums of 2020 – Kiwanuka's voice and guitar work are unique but comforting. Modern blues for the soul.

Ethereal, gorgeous, heartfelt. The soaring melodies, the swelling background vocalists, these arrangements make me FEEL deeply. The world needs more artists like Michael Kiwanuka. I'm very much looking forward to seeing him perform at the Met in a few days!

A terrific album, worthy of winning the Mercury Prize. I really enjoyed the variety of styles represented on the CD.

VERY pleasantly surprised by this album, wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this entire album, and have never heard of this artist, nor was it a genre I expected to enjoy this much.

Pleased to see this as album number 1, one I've enjoyed a lot but not listened to in ages.

Kiwanuka I’m pretty familiar with this, although I think I listened to the previous album a bit more. I'm very into the style and sound on this, the Bondian/John Barry guitar breaks , the cinematic 60s style backing vocals and the indie, pop, soul, rock and jazz influences. I also really like the lyrical themes and ideas, identity, self doubt, self confidence, history and the future all weaved together to make a fascinating and engaging whole. It really is excellent up to Hard to Say Goodbye. You Ain’t The Problem, Rolling and I’ve Been Dazed is a superb opening run, highlighting all the great parts of the album, those backing vocals, some great guitar and fantastic songcraft. Piano Joint, Living in Denial and Hero are also excellent. It does dip a bit for me after Final Days, the last 10 or 15 minutes do drag a little, particularly in comparison to the previous tracks - Final Days definitely sounds like it should be the last song. Despite it being a very good album, I think it's that drag and, and also that I get a slight nagging sense of Radio-2-ness that stops it being a 5. 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️ Playlist submission: Rolling

This album is what I was looking for from this project. I love this album. I love everything about this album. I had never heard anything from the album, didn't know a thing about the artist, didn't know the genre, didn't know anything, and what a guy was a beautiful pleasant surprise. The vibe is outstanding. I could name any song from the album and point it out as a stand out, but for right now I'll say 'I've been dazed'. At times there was a 60s aesthetic, some beautiful orchestra, amazing vocals and wonderful instrumentation. This is an album I was revisit. It's a solid FIVE.

That was glorious. I had never heard of the artist or the album and I’ve listened through it five times already in two days. Clearly I’ve got a Jones for recent Brit soul. More specifically, the pathos evoked from Kiwanuka’s guitar evokes an emo-tinged Hendrix. I loved it.

I am here for everything Michael Kiwanuka does. The way he uses percussion to build energy, his haunting voice, it's all gold.

When you hear the first minute of the first song you know this is going to be different. The horns and the raucous background chatter & choir – the mix of progressive soul, thoughtful, heartfelt lyrics and a sophisticated modern, yet retro sound. The production & arrangements we owe to Danger Mouse and Inflo, who I notice, this time round, share the song writing credits as well. I like the way that one song mixes into the next, giving the sense that this is an album verse a collection of songs. I’ve liked MK’s earlier material and this LP was missing the obvious hits, but overall, it’s a more solid beginning-to-end effort with a greater variety of sounds and textures. I thank MC for bringing it to my attention back in 2020.

I know Michael Kiwanuka as the guy who performs the Big Little Lies theme (my favorite show), so I’m totally psyched to hear this album. The production of this album created such a rich and full sound. There’s a clear mix of influences — gospel, rock, electronic music. Beyond all of these specifics, this is a beautiful album that explores love, violence, intolerance, and other themes becoming increasingly salient in the modern Western world. No two songs sound alike. Kiwanuka’s voice is stunningly mournful, pensive, thoughtful, and strong. The themes of this record could probably be construed as political, but I think that would be a serious reduction of the main messages here. Kiwanuka points to the violent intolerance that goes on today, calling for a love-oriented rearticulating of our social order. Not at all political but simple truths. This album is the sound of the times. I’m glad to have heard it, and I will definitely listen again, recommend to others, and keep up with what Michael Kiwanuka is doing today!

Best Song: You Ain't The Problem. Incredible mix of retro-sounding soul and modern mixing elements. Immediately loved it. Close second to "I've Been Dazed". Worst Song: None. Overall: This one really surprised me. I knew nothing about it going it, and it completely blew me away. It was soulful yet modern, with beautiful lead vocals and what feels like a perfect mix built around those vocals. One of my favourite personal discoveries from the list thus far.

Veel afwisseling in sfeer tussen de nummers. Kalmerende instrumentale stukjes, mooi gezongen. Heel goed album!

never heard of this album glad to have found it. generally chill beats with some drive

Psychedelic, soulful and complex. Excellent.

I never really understood why this one is included but Kiwanuka's previous masterpiece Love & Hate is not here. I mean this album is fine. But I can't help to compare this to L&H. I feel like that is the album where his creativity was at his peak. This always felt like a watered-down version going for accesibility over sustenance. Not that that is necessarily bad, and in this case he still put out some pretty tunes. But if you really want to hear some unique blend of soul, blues, jazz, and prog rock, L&H is still your best bet.

A big nothing

I listened to this album on a night-time drive, taking the freeway home from Tempe. One of the things which has always most excited me about this list is the chance to hear how the influence of different musical genres and styles and cultures gets passed down from one generation of artists to the next. Most of that has come from hearing older albums and recognizing pieces of them in the modern music I already know and love, but today is something different; now being more familiar with early rock and soul, KIWANUKA allows me to do the reverse, and hear a modern album which is actively in conversation with these earlier styles in powerful and innovative ways. Michael Kiwanuka has a knack for gorgeous and powerful songwriting with universal messages of hope and love that manage to come inspiring rather than preachy, and it's all supported my an instrumental palette which pulls on soul and early Black rock music, with some elements of modern drums and production techniques courtesy of Danger Mouse. All of this makes KIWANUKA sound timeless and evergreen, a marriage between countless generations of musical evolution and progression, bridging a gap between decades in order to deliver an album which feels like the complete realization of an artistic vision. It seems clear to me why Kiwanuka would choose to self-titled this album, as it sounds like a forward-facing statement of purpose and a recognition of tradition simultaneously. Highlights: You Ain't The Problem, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) (Intro), Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love), Another Human Being, Living In Denial, Hero (Intro), Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye, Final Days, Interlude (Loving The People), Solid Ground

Never heard of this guy and was completely amazed by this album. Maybe my favorite discovery here in 800 albums. Buying this on vinyl.

This is a great album, and glad to see it on the list. I sure do enjoy mind surfing using this as the soundtrack.

Amazing album. It’s a fantastic mix of contemporary and classic soul sounds. So glad to have been shown this album

What a pleasant surpise this is! Haben never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before I had no idea what to expect. Turns out what was waiting for me is a progressive-soul record with a wide array of influences. All songs very smoothly lead into the next one making the whole album feel like more than its parts. The whole thing takes you on such an enjoyable journey that you don't really feel the time pass. Will absolutely enter my rotation.

I've listened to this album a lot today. I thought I liked the odd bit of Michael Kiwanuka and I loved the work he did with SAULT, but I never really got into his music. I think this is partly because there aren't really any obvious stand out tunes that I could stick on a playlist of other music. However, as a whole, this album and Kiwanuka's music in general really grew on me. The more I listened to the whole album, the more I enjoyed it. This is very good indeed.

fuck man.

10/10

This feels so classic and so fresh all at the same time! His voice is so beautiful and warm and the instrumentation is so full. I love seeing stuff on here that is more recent.

That was terrific. Thanks to Alex for creating a tool that brings unexpected music to my computer each day!

Modern classic. Beautifully written, played, sung, produced and sequenced. Some obvious classic influences - Marvin Gaye and Hendrix - but carried lightly

Beautiful jazzy, melodic, heartfelt album; The melodies make you endulge in nostalgic and memorable feelings, jazzy, cinematic, grande You aint the problem, Piano Joint Combo, Hero, Solid Ground

First song and I’m already loving this. What a great album! I got Black Pumas vibes and just overall really loved everything that was done here. Surprised he hadn’t come up before in my listening.

You Ain't The Problem- 10/10 Rolling- 10/10 I've Been Dazed- 10/10 Piano Joint (Intro)- 8/10 Piano Joint- 9/10 Another Human Being- 8/10 Living In Denial- 9/10 Hero (Intro)- 9/10 Hero- 9/10 Hard To Say Goodbye- 9/10 Final Days- 10/10 Loving The People- 10/10 Solid Ground- 10/10 Light- 9/10 KIWANUKA- 9/10

Joyful modern soul with a great voice and a socially meaningful inspiration. Something I would never seek out, but glad it came my way

Its incredible and a great example of why I'm doing this, never heard of him and I'm on my second playthrough of this album already easy 5

So good, so replayable. New album when? Best track: Hero

Welcome to Black Floyd, the group formed following the dismissal of founding member Syd Barrett, and replaced by Michael Kiwanuka. Oh, and that other guy, David something or other, starts with a G, I think. Everything I love about 60-70s Pink Floyd is offered on 'Kiwanuka': heavily (and I do mean heavily) distorted acid rock guitar riffs (complete with wah wah), jazzy relaxed drums and bass, luscious synth aural baths. Several of the songs also featured some simply inspired orchestral arrangements, even adding a pinch of that same middle eastern string sound the Beatles so often used during the Sgt Peppers and Magical Mystery Tour period. This was an album carefully crafted with the intention of being played in its entirety. Individually, the songs themselves take their time developing, giving the feel of taking a stroll with the band, meandering musically. Indeed, several of these songs could have continued to play on. I was disappointed when they began to fade. And I honestly found myself proclaiming the next song better than the one before it, until arriving at the end and wondering how it could possibly get any better… and then it did. ‘Light’ is just incredible, in every conceivable way. And holding it all together, Michael Kiwanuka’s confident, and natural vocals, never forced, with a splash of African/Jamaican dialect? They ring true and clear, as do the thoughtful lyrics- lots of loneliness and longing, the struggle to retain one’s pride, and yet not asking for pity, only love. ‘Ive Been Dazed’ surprisingly turned into a gospel number, with the Lord saying ‘Time is a healer.’ The same lyric, incidentally, Kiwanuka had already used in the first song, ‘You Ain’t the Problem.’ And that hope seems to elevate the entire sound of the LP. 'Kiwanuka' certainly hovers above the common ground a few feet. I enjoyed 'Kiwanuka' thoroughly, will listen to it again. Released only in 2019, this bodes well for the future of good rock and soul music.

Amazing synths and lyrics

If I were Robert Dimery, I would probably have set a cutoff for this work: 1001 Albums from the 20th Century You Must Listen To Before You Die, or something like that. It's unwieldy but so's the original title anyway. Picking contemporary works that will be essential listening in the future is a profoundly difficult game to play. That said, it's a fun album. It's too soon for me to tell you what the music of the last ten years really sound like (I write this in 2026) but this strikes me as the thoroughly synthesized, postmodern blend of our times. The ubiquitous access to music from all periods that we enjoy today lends to music that borrows freely from across genres and ages. Support for that claim: the drums on the first couple of tracks have a reverb to them that sounds at once like a classic jazz recording from a room but also a little bit like the way-overdone reverb of the coked-out 80's. The keys and/or guitar hooks are pretty psychedelic, between use of fuzz and modulation effects and the inclusion of synth versions of maybe a glockenspiel? Maybe it's a xylophone. It reminds me of Jacksoul, in a positive way. If you listen, you'll get a bit of soul and gospel, a little bit of blues and R&B. I'm not shocked that this is so good: it won a Mercury Prize. Juried prizes aren't perfect but you'll get some phenomenal listens by just checking out the shortlists of the Mercury or Canada's Polaris Prize. This is an excellent listen. Moving and infectious, touching and fun, Michael Kiwanuka makes music you really should listen to. But *must* you? That's harder. I would argue that my eternal touchstone of the barrel's bottom, Kid Rock's 'Devil Without A Cause' is more essential listening, despite being a worse experience in every way. It is profoundly representative of what music was popular at the time. It teaches us not that rock is dead but how it died (in short: capitalism). 'KIWANUKA', on the other hand, shows us what it looks like to be well-read in the sense of popular music and also talented enough to perform a sort of musical syncretism. I don't think it's the Rosetta Stone of the late twenty-teens, though. It might *deserve* to be -- and maybe that's why you must listen to it. This won't unlock your understanding of anything, though. It's just a damn good album.

beautiful voice, soulful. piano joint (this kind of love) has an underlying sense of suspense built by the melody, supported by the vocals. effect is built by the piano just before the chorus and the isolation of the piano and vocals creates emphasis on the lyrics and the pain of the artist. living in denial starts off very strong, the gunshot is a stark beginning to the song. the whole album feels like a culmination of understanding life, its difficulties and coming to terms with self acceptance, how the world works and a reflection of self, love, fear and rejection. the music shows the complexity of emotion and perception - its a careful balance of almost violent music supported and softened by gentle vocals and delicate melodies.

ok, this might be my favorite one I have listened to thus far. The vibe is right up my alley, it's like a more down to earth version of some of the Jungle songs I like, the guitars and the like production that make the music feel like its rolling is probably whats making those mental connections to me, but these songs are a lot less like...peppy but it still keeps a lot of that energy up, I really like this album.

what a wonderful record. Best contemporary soul record i’ve heard in a bit, no thanks to the psych-rock influence at times. lush textures, heartbreaking lyrics- it’s got it all!!!

Could You Stay With Me? Don't Let Me Go 1001 Albums Generator 48 (06/09/2025) I knew this guy's name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place my finger on why. Ah yes, he was the feature on that great Black Thought and Danger Mouse song Aquamarine. Okay, now I'm excited. This is the type of album that I am going through this list for. I never would have listened to Michael Kiwanuka's third studio album, KIWANUKA, without having it assigned to me. And honestly, I am surprised to see it here. Not because it's bad, far from it. I'm just surprised to see such a hip, new album on this list that often seems to be overwhelmed by the authors' biases towards British rock of the 80's and 90's (which don't get me wrong, can be great. There's just too much of it on the list). KIWANUKA is a unique combination of soul, funk, and rock all blended into a psychedelic smoothie, led by British multi-instrumentalist Michael Kiwanuka and produced by the legendary Danger Mouse, along with Inflo, who has worked with artists such as Little Simz and Tyler, The Creator. The opener, You Ain't The Problem, is my favorite song on the whole thing. It is so creative and expertly produced, showcasing the highly compressed production style that defines this album. While remaining soulful, it also features some parts that rock pretty hard, in a way similar to Funkadelic. By contrast, Rolling feels a bit derivative, and I realized that's because its main riff reminds me so much of Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf. After this, we get I've Been Dazed, which has these amazing call-and-response gospel-like vocals. It is very moving. Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) is a beautiful piece, led by Kiwanuka's piano, with some lush orchestration and a soft drum beat filling in the gaps. Hero is another highlight. It almost has a bit of an island vibe with its flanged guitar in both the rhythm and lead parts. Kiwanuka's vocal melodies are on point here and it makes sense that this one was a single. It also has a great noisy guitar solo that melts your face off. I think this song in particular is a great example of a theme throughout this album, where the instrumental parts are not necessarily technically advanced, but they are played with a lot of feeling and they are produced so well. Hard To Say Goodbye is the album's epic, which feels a bit too long, but weaves its multiple parts together really well. Crazy pull, but the guitar riff that comes in around 2:40 reminds me a lot of the main riff in Ronald Snijders' Soweto Friend. I am not a big fan of Solid Ground, which is the penultimate piece on the album and is a very slow song. I think that this late into a long album, it is hard for me to justify having such a slow song. This album also has a lot of interludes, 4 to be exact. From an artistic perspective, I can appreciate that these interludes help theme the album and add some flow between tracks. I believe that the interludes are largely what help the album feel very cinematic. However, they do add almost 10 minutes to an album that is already a bit on the longer side. I know that by modern standards, 51 minutes might as well be an EP, but what can I say, I guess I'm old fashioned like that. Overall, KIWANUKA is certainly a new favorite. I definitely see myself coming back to it and I'm glad that it was included. 4/5. Favs: You Aint The Problem Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) Hero Least Fav (not including interludes): Solid Ground

This album is a lament. We need it.

I don't really feel like I had any expectations going into this album, but if I had, this album would have stomped on them! KIWANUKA defies any genre specifics -- it's a little bit folk, a little bit soul, a little bit jazz, a little bit blues, a little bit rock, a little bit pop, a little bit contemporary, and a little bit classic. This is a truly unique addition to the project. Regardless of the genre on any given song, Michael Kiwanuka's vocals are consistently soulful and perfectly gritty throughout, and most of the tracks feel a tad bit ethereal, giving the entire album somewhat of a hypnotic quality. I'm glad for the chance to experience this album! I was captivated by this unique addition throughout the entire playthrough!

"KIWANUKA" said the snake as it slithered down the slide. "KIWANUKA" read the speaker as she looked away and sighed. "KIWANUKA" screamed the boys as they marched along with pride. "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA" "KIWANUKA" caught the eye of the runaway bride. "KIWANUKA" in the mind of the tragic suicide. "KIWANUKA" grips the jury as the witness spills their lies. "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA,KIWANUKA" "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA " "KIWANUKA" says the congregation listening to the Pope. "KIWANUKA" fills the priest as he unbuttons his robe. "KIWANUKA" fears the choir boy ready for his probe. "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA " (Whispering) "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA" "KIWANUKA" cries the girl as she buckles to her knees. "KIWANUKA" from the rapist as he calls her a tease. "KIWANUKA" oh the horror, as he watches her bleed. "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA "

A very pleasant surprise. Funky, soulful, and Radiohead-esque.

"Darling, were the crayfish starters delivered in time for for tonight's dinner party?" "Yes they were. I do hope that Benedict and Sophie will enjoy the meal, I've also had a case delivered of that wonderful expensive Bordeaux from Waitrose that they like" "Oh this is going to be such fun, we should play the Kiwanuka album for background" Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ Dinner party tunes ★★★☆☆ (5/10)

Pretty good. Interesting production and a smooth voice. A couple of catchy songs. I don't find myself compelled to return to it, however. Maybe it's slightly bland?

Great opening track. Love the obvious nod to his culture and heritage. Soulful and soaring. Hero is my favourite track. The interludes are usually a gimic I dislike but are used well here.

"Ooh, we really need some recent releases on the must hear list. This one is recent and won an award! Better stick it on the list." I don't think many people will remember this record in 10 years time. It's ok, but is it a must listen? I mean, he's got a great voice, and can write a song, and play guitar well enough. The Danger Mouse production leaves me a little non-plussed. It just sounds like... a Danger Mouse production. This is an OK album that provides yet another data point to support my hypothesis that Mercury Prize winners are over-rated with little cultural staying power.

Started off strong but then got a little too slow and boring for my taste.

Not a bad album by any means, just not my thing. Liked a couple of tracks, but some felt boring. I can see how it garnered critical acclaim.

Has all the Inflo hallmarks except the one where even the peaks have been smoothed out. I noticed few specifics but enough generalities to know a) it's not a hook-fest even though it's plenty varied, and b) it's not wallpaper music even though it's plenty soothing. That's interesting enough for me to hedge a 2.

Not great. Sounds like he wants an 'alternative sound'. Kind of like a Dave wannabe. 1/10

Excelente. Álbum para relajarse

Very good. It's like a hip pop beat on rock vocals

I have never heard of this artist at all, nor any songs by him. Thoughts after listening ... Definitely really digging this even just 3 songs in. Funny (and cool) how this sounds like something timeless but it came out in 2019. If you told me this was from the 70s, I would believe you. The Wikipedia article about him references a very long and varied list of "influences" - and I can see that. I love that he's not just a specific genre - but just plays what he likes and combines so many different styles and it just sounds good. It's just good music that is enjoyable to listen to. I do get some Marvin Gaye vibes - especially "What's Going On?" era (1971) - so if you like that album my guess is you will like this too. Also - listen to "Les Fleurs" by Minnie Ripperton (from 1970) and see if you hear similarities in some of these songs - not the voice (of course, her voice is too unique) but the music and background singers etc. Even though it does remind me of other artists at times - it's a wholly original and unique work - not a copy. It definitely has a generally more chill, mellow, introspective vibe - but it's not boring because of the intensity of it all and the great instrumentation, arrangements, lyrics and his voice. I love how the production provides space to actually hear the different instruments. It's not done with that typical modern production style where it's all just so densely packed with sound and everything is turned up to 11. After first run through I had already liked 10 songs on Spotify. After 2 more listens I ended up liking the whole thing. It also feels like it's all one piece - like some of the greatest albums - not just a collection of some random singles and lots of filler. It's a true "album" that all goes together well. So many great tracks on this - but some standouts for me are: "Rolling", "I've Been Dazed", "Hero", "Hard To Say Goodbye", "Final Days", "Solid Ground" Wow - this has been a great surprise. Another example of why I signed up to do this 1001 Albums project. Yes, there are a lot of clunkers on this list but there are some genuinely great surprises like this. Excited to hear these songs pop up on my automated playlists! I'm gonna have to check out more from this guy. Liked songs on Spotify: 14/14 (Perfect Album) Rating: 5/5

Really liked it!! Hard To Say Goodbye in particular is v nice

this album is so refreshingly beautiful and interesting, both sonically and lyrically. Would I listen again: yep Deserves to be on this list: yep 4.5

Had never heard of him before, but wow what beautiful soul/blues. Heard echoes of bill withers in there, incredible percussion. Truly a great album

A fantastic discovery- it’s fresh and exciting. Will definitely keep listening to this

Great album Seems like an older genre, but with a sound that also appeals to younger

hot fuck mike!!!

This was different and great

Brilliant - listen to it again

What a pleasent surprise. sounds that float adrift to places unknown. Every song took us somewhere new and by the 3rd or fourth song I was eager to discover were it would take us next.

Absolutely loved this album. Every song is good, everything about it is good

Oh boy

Oooh newer music! Good lyrics and an awesome first song to get me engaged from the start. This is unique music that feels like the best of the time. Beautiful, soulful, and respectfully referential. What a great listen. Season: Early Fall Favorite Song: You Ain’t The Problem

Another great surprise. The eclectic blend of electronic and organic elements are done very nicely and the whole thing is just dripping with emotion.

Desconocia de este artista totalmente y la verdad que me sorprendio, agregue todo el album a mi playlist

To follow up Love & Hate with something so self-assured that he named it after himself, shows the special artist that he is and it was fantastic to see him pick up the Mercury Prize for it. Continuing the sound from his first album, pulling from the same lineage as Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield, it perhaps has a more cinematic soundscape than his previous work, full of lush textures from the fuzzed-out guitars, orchestral strings and gospel vocals, to the quieter, more vulnerable moments aided by producers Danger Mouse and Inflo. Whilst for me it doesn't hit the heights of Love & Hate it's still a top tier album fro a top-tier artist

Was great, felt very contemporary and rock.

Perhaps the best surprise album I've heard so far! Just a phenomenal sound that I really wish I had experienced before. Smooth, melodic, poignant, and makes me want to take in so much more. I honestly can't think of a single bad thing to say about this album, and it needs to be admired more.

Przyjemny album

By far my best album so far. Deep, rich sound that made me feel the music. I have never heard of this album prior, and I foresee it being a staple in my summer listening.

Несмотря на то, что я много не ожидала от этого альбома + не была знакома с жанром как таковым, эта штука покорила меня. Альбом такого рода невозможно слушать фоном, на нем надо сосредоточиться. Так что переслушивать его мне придется. И, возможно, ещё не раз

Very nice album. Very cool and unique

Fonky ass cool ass shit

So freaking good

Great listening while oldest took a bath and youngest played. Easy and fun

Absolutely stunning album

Pretty big fan! Added to my library. Listened several times.

This was transcendant, it felt so much deeper than the lyrics. Favourite track: Living in Denial

Solid 5/5. What a hidden gem!

What a groovy but immensely chill album. The guitar work, mainly the effects, were really enjoyable to my ears. Along with Kiwanuka's excellent voice and songwriting I'm left very pleased and will be on the lookout for a physical copy of this one. Upon first listen I rated it a 4, but since I was left with the desire to listen to it again I believe a 5 is warranted here.

A lot of distortion for something that’s relatively funky? Smooth voice. Quite nice. Will be returning to this for sure. It’s hard to find albums to read and write to sometimes, but this goes down well.