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

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.

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'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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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

This album is a lament. We need it.

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

Psychedelic, soulful and complex. Excellent.

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.

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.

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.

A big nothing

The cover and the name made me shudder in preparation for a 1 star review. It looked like this was going to be some awful world music album from the early 70s and I would hate every minute. I loaded it into Spotify and groaned at the 50 minute plus playtime. Maybe there were some extra tracks I could skip if they weren't on the original album release? Checking Wikipedia; oh no! even worse, this was from 2019, it's going to be awful, and it's Psych-Soul *shudder. Well at least I could get it out the way as quickly as possible and move on with the rest of my day. Or so I thought. Turns out that this was fantastic from start to finish and one of the easiest five star scores an album has earned from me. I found that every single song clicked with me the first time I heard it, and make no mistake, this was the first time I'd heard any of this before. It felt good, like comfort music that I just wanted to go on and on forever. Nothing jarring, nothing even slightly out of place, just perfection. My second listen cemented the fact that this was going on my rotation list. It's a skilful blend of so many different styles, put together to form a cohesive whole.

Tots excellent.

So many different instruments!! :D and his voice is incredible! Also just so Seattle childhood vibes for me

Really liked this album. I will definitely be listening to his whole catalog. A+ all the way. Great listen all the way throughout. Where has he been how have I missed his music.

Great discovery. Soulful and tasteful, modern music.

9/10. VERY good

Awesome. Playlisted.

Really like this one 🙂

Great

I recognize his name and I've seen the album cover before, but I've never paid his music much mind. I'm excited to hear this though. The Wikipedia article makes it sound interesting and I'm quite curious to hear what Danger Mouse brings to the table. I love soul music and I'm really looking forward to hearing something that is less than 10 years old for a change. You Ain't The Problem Magnificently produced. Deep and layered instrumentation with a quality bassline, rhythmic percussion and melodic horns. Great energy. Was expecting more vocally. Really appreciate how stylisticly distinct it is, can't really confuse it with anything else. Good. 4/5 Rolling The psychedelic almost western sounding guitars sound great. Love this instrumental, sounds really fresh. Appreciate the mellow feel to the verses, juxtaposed with the explosivity and colourfulness of the chorus. Very rock influenced. Great. 4.5/5 I've Been Dazed Spotless transition. Psychedelic guitar. Tranquil, reflective and thoughtful vocal performance. Hypnotic. Love the spirituality contrasted with the psych, feels classic and fresh at the sane time. Lovely synths. Large and broad in its sound. Fantastic. 5/5 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) - Intro Beautifully constructed. Jazzy and pleasant. The gunfire in the background is a great contrast to the calming mantra like atmosphere. Lovely vocals. If this is just the intro I cannot wait to hear the rest of the track. Fantastic 5/5 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) Pretty piano. Moving and personal vocal performance. Great vocal melody. Fantastic choice in bass tone. Pleasant and sweet. Great. 4.5/5 Another Human Being Atmospheric and tense. Spacy and ambient at times. Interesting sample. Living in Denial Flawless transition. Sounds positive and bright. Lovely guitars in the background. Quality vocals, sounds really smooth and soulful. Cute bridge. Ends solidly. Good. 4/5 Hero - Intro Stripped back and naked. Interesting vocal effect. Feels dark and bleak. Love the almost cosmic sounding effects in the last few seconds of the track. Hero Great psychedelic rock riff, especially when the distant sounding background guitar is present. A bit funky as well. Love the effect on the drums for this track. The vocals ground the track, enhancing the instrumentation by being slightly low key in comparisson. Catchy and cool. Oh that noisy guitar solo is just awesome. Great fuzzyness and distortion. Amazingly produced. That was sick. 5/5 Hard To Say Goodbye Really moody. The bass sound is really strong. Love the lushness of the background choir in the buildup. The lyrics are a bit cliche. Romantic and sweet. The guitars add some disonnance and harshness to anotherwise smooth track, some very needed contrast. Calming and pleasant. My only real criticism is that it lacks a satisfying climax, makes it drift out slightly leaving it feeling a bit repetitive. Good. 4/5 Final Days Interesting change in instrumentation. I kinda dig the sort of apocalyptic assosiations I get from the strange distorted vocals in the background. Could listen to that intro for a long time. Lovely strings. Love the melodic switchup. While the vocals are a bit uninteresting for most of the track the magnificent instrumental makes up for it. Good. 4/5 Interlude Thoughtful choice in sample. Sounds lush and beautiful. Great piece of atmospheric psychedelia. Euphoric and large. Solid Ground Solid vocal performance helped along with the sparse production. Really like how it builds up into a grandiose and cinematic climax. A bit boring though. Decent. 3.5/5 Light The backing vocals make it very distinct to previous tracks on the album. Empowering and sweet. Great instrumental section, lush and beautiful. Love the guitar. Solid closer. Good. 4/5 That was absolutely outstanding. Fluid, fresh, genre-ambigious, consistent and unique. Just an absolutely beautiful blend of soul, rock and psychedelia which never stops producing interesting and crisp tracks. It genuinely has it all: A great vocalist with solid songwriting chops, amazing production, a never ending ensamble of fitting and well implemented instrumental ideas and a tracklist that leaves some room to breathe. It has stunning transitions and even the interludes are worthwhile tracks of their own. The strings are lush, the guitars just go off and the rhythms are infectious. Even the piano sounds unique. It has moving, soulful moments, funky riffs that make you bop your head, and hypnotic melodic patterns that make you forget the existence of time. Genuinely one of the most fun and exciting albums I've had the pleasure of discovering through this list experience so far. And while the individual track ratings might not suggest it, I think it deserves five stars as when they're heard in order they create such a compelling concept that it transcends beyond just single songs. 5/5 Fave track. I've Been Dazed

An absolute modern classic Does not put a foot wrong anywhere but what is really enjoyable is how cohesive it is an album. It has a terrific flow whilst at the same time being packed with surprises

What a pleasant surprise! This is a beautiful and moving album. It's the kind of music that really transports you, excellently performed and masterfully recorded. Favorite tracks: "Hero," "Piano Joint"

i actually really enjoyed this album. new album to study and work to!

Really enjoyed this album. First time hearing this artist. This is what I was hoping from this website! Finding new music that I enjoy but haven’t heard before!

First true discovery from this project. What a listen. The songs weave together, but they are all distinct and genre bending. Instant download.

5/5 Nothing but vibes. My favorite album from this list so far. Wow wow wow.

Excellent find, just a solid all around album

9/10 This is a beautiful album. Songs added to playlist: - You ain't the problem - Piano Joint (This kind of love) - Hard to say goodbye

Incredible. I had to listen to it a couple times to digest it. Surprising, unique, and delightful albums like this make this project worth it.

A masterpiece of genre blending with extraordinary musicianship and vocals

This album is really great. It hits the same notes for me as artists like Janelle Monae and Childish Gambino. I've never heard this record before but it's already one I know I'm going to want to return to often; an instant favorite. 4.5/5 based on the first listen only, but I can easily see this growing into a solid 5 after repeat listens.

Beautiful, just beautiful.

Emotional, beautiful

Wow..I don't really know what to say. This is definitely one of those albums that I would have never discovered if not for this list. What a gem.

Ts was fire ngl. Like perfect blend between calm/sad and hype/rock. It felt funky in an old school way. Shit ate down fr.

Beautiful work. Wow

How have I never heard of this guy before? This is a really good album! The sound is consistent a flows throughout the record, but there's enough variation so you don't get bored. I was going to give this a 4 and say with a few more listens it might be a 5, but I've gone back and listened to it again so I can give it the 5 it deserves.

Very surprised, great strong opening and a great album throughout!

Excellent

I rate you ate the problem a 4 star because its kinda like country and i dont really like country but the drums are good and the beat is good ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate Piano joint this kind of love a 5 star because its kinda like country and i dont really like country but the drums are good and the beat is good and the tempo is good and its calming ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate Hero a 5 star because its kinda like country and i dont really like country but the drums are good and the beat is good and the tempo is good and its calming ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of drums? Well in you ain't the problem you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I highly recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some really calming piano? Well in piano joint (this kind of love) you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I highly recommend this song. Do you want listen to some music that has some nice drums? Well in Hero you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this this song.

Easy listening but very enjoyable. Piano Joint a real highlight. Will listen again as work from home soundtrack

I’ll admit, this list has been way more a trudge than I had hoped. But every once in a while there’s a gem, and this is a really surprising gem at that. Just so refreshing and modern. It’s got a bit of so many styles throughout yet is so soulful and consistent the whole time in a way that really sings listening to the entire album. Just a perfect blend and perfect musical journey, and it was a 5 for me before I even finished it.

New artist for me. Wowsers. This is my favorite album so far in this project.

Fantastic! On a second listen I can tell it's a grower. I'm going to give it 5 stars to remind myself I need a deep dive

one of the best albums i've ever heard. Powerful, vibrant, soft and brutalits.

Perfect album cover to cover

A psychedelic soul album produced by Dangermouse. Somehow that description doesn't do the album justice. Kiwanuka's vocals echo back to some of the 70s soul/funk greats but the album fits perfectly in this decade among both neo soul and modern indie scenes. This is an amazing find and a perfect album. I probably would have never stumbled across it without this generator but I'm glad I did.

Absolutely amazing album that I would never have even thought of looking into if not for this website. Modern r&b mixed with vintage blues and jazz is just absolutely fantastic. The tempo of each song and instruments is just a breath of fresh air.

This shimmers and soars. 1st half or so in particular is amazing. A couple of things that listening to all these albums has cemented - psychedelic soul may be my favo(u)rite (sub?) genre - and I am somewhat belatedly reappraising the 2010s as a monster of a music decade...

Not really my jam, but I can appreciate the quality of this album. Very well done.

Listens: 3 Standout tracks: You ain't the Problem, Rolling, Final Days Added To Library: TRUE Fantastic. Wow. I'm not sure how I've never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before.

Beautiful album, kept me such good company while I was cooking, but absolutely deserving of full attention. The last few songs are just transcendent.

I loved this album. It's soulful and feels old while simultaneously feeling new and interesting. It's cinematic and blends genres. Kiwanuka's voice is amazing and the instrumentals are great. Many of the songs alone might not be the best singles, but flowing together they make this album something special. That's not to say there aren't standout tracks here. This is why I'm doing this list, to find gems like this I'd never had heard of otherwise. Standouts: You Ain't The Problem, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint, Hero, Hard to Say Goodbye Rating: 4.8/5

New to me--really enjoyed

This is an excellent album. Nearly all of his albums are excellent. This is also my go to 'Recommend me an album' album when I know nothing about the persons musical taste. I think everyone will find something in this they like even if this isn't necessarily their cup of tea.

01) You Ain't the Problem - 10,0 02) Rolling - 9,0 03) I've Been Dazed - 8,5 04) Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) (Intro) - 8,5 05) Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) - 9,0 06) Another Human Being - 7,5 07) Living in Denial - 9,0 08) Hero (Intro) - 9,0 09) Hero - 10,0 10) Hard to Say Goodbye - 8,5 11) Final Days - 8,5 12) Interlude (Loving the People) - 8,0 13) Solid Ground - 10,0 14) Light - 10,0 TOTAL: 8,96 (90/100) Current ranking: 54/481 I really like Kiwanuka. I'm going to see him live for the second time this summer (fingers crossed) and I'm really looking forward to it. "You Ain't A Problem" and "Hero" are my favorite songs from this album.

9.5/10. So I am familiar with Kiwanuka's album 'Love and Hate' and was wondering why this lesser known album made the list but the critics cooked with this one. This is fantastic, basically every song scratched that itch in my brain with its powerful chord changes, meaningful instrumentation and soulful vocals. Kiwanuka has certain perfected his craft and while it is not necessarily a new or revolutionary sound it is absolutely at the top of its class imo. This album just contained so much of what I look for in music and I will DEFINITELY be listening to this many more times

A very very very good record, blends Coldplay-Imagine-Dragons and overall the dreamy sounds from 2010s I've enjoyed in a very good package. I'm not quite sure if the album deserves a 5, but I think I'm willing to risk it. I fear I won't replay it as much as I'd like, and it falls into a very similar themes throughout the entire length, but it's enjoyable.