KIWANUKA

Some superb production levels here. It's pretty decent all around

Was a very good listen. I wasnt expecting it to be as indie as it was and thats right up my alley 4/5

I wasn't sure what to expect with this album and I am glad. Fantastic is all I can say. I need to explore more of Michael Kiwanuka's music

I liked this. Saved one song. I'm going to look into him further.

Agree, very chill.. good background music. When I saw the cover I kinda freaked out a bit cuz it didn't look like something I was going to enjoy. Would definitely listen to it again. 7/10

This was a pretty enjoyable listen. I've never heard of him before, but I like this style a lot. A little slow at times. Great background music, while also the type of act I'd love to see live. No notable takeaways from the album on the first listen but definitely on my list to try again soon. 7/10

Going with... 4.49 rounded down to 4. Wonderful vibe music, just standout tracks are rare... But that's kinda the appeal too. I really really like it and it's def entering the rotation.

So good. Favorite tracks include Rolling and Hero.

Cracking album, one of the best of 2019. I probably marginally prefer his second album, Love & Hate, but that doesn’t detract from this one in any way, shape or form.

I really liked the Michael Kiwanuka album as well, I'd heard of him for a long time but I don't think I've ever listened to him before. 4/5.

What a delightfully lovely album! I am glad to have listened to this today. 4 / 5 stars.

I like this. I’ve never listened to this guy before, but I might listen again.

This was really cool

Listened to on 3/7/23 4/5 Favorite song: the piano joint This album had a lot of different vibes going on but still felt cohesive and well executed!

Very eclectic. Would listen again. Rounding my 3.5 up to a 4 since the whole album was an experience.

Danger Mouse can trap me in a stereo anytime, buoyed by warm fuzzy strings. Kiwanuka is simply a complete package; It reminds me of Sumney's Aromanticism in that a revisit is absolutely required. The soundscape was just perfect, but there's surely something serious under the glossy packaging. One of those unfairly-ignored-on-release by yours truly albums.

just pressed play and started doing the dishes, “damn! This is funky!” I was enjoying myself and then by the third track I became totally intrigued, “this is so ahead of its time!!” And then I found out it came out 5 years ago lol… an amazing record, so glad I got to catch it, this late inclusion I approve.

Not my kind of music, but I dare say, this is not bad at all! Fresh and original, this one is definitely not a case of “all the tracks sound the same”.

Un mèrit indiscutible ser capaç d'editar tres grans discos de r&b/soul modern sense cap d'ells pugui ser considerada una obra menor. Aquest tercer comença amb una joia com 'You Ain't the Problem' i conté altres cançons amb vocació d'himne com 'Hero' o 'Living in Denial'. No hi ha pràcticament res a esquivar en tot el minutatge

La verdad me sorprendió, no conocía ni al album ni al artista pero escucharía más, me gustó mucho las vibraa de la voz y instrumental juntos, no me molestó para nada la falta de un género definido

This is a great vibe and it’s nice to see an artist making their own work without chasing a trend.

This was really refreshing. Something new and different. First track was my favorite but I loved the whole thing. Soul and folk! What a combo.

Very strong tonally and in terms of mood, and rich and soulful, with dark shadings to add to the intrigue. A winner all the way around – and about right for a Mercury Prize winner. Will be inspired to check out the earlier work.

9th February 2023 Listened in the day while working from home. Bowling at Stroud in the evening. His sound has developed so much since the first album; what a talent. Voice, musicianship, genius.

Really liked the overall feel of this record.

Kende een paar nummers van deze beste man die al best tof waren. Ook deze was eigenlijk gewoon echt goed.

Wat een weergaloos goed album. Diverse sferen en over de gehele linie zeer sterk.

Wat een fijn album zeg!

I'm into this. very 70's sound. Piano Joint is great tune. Hero is another one. An album that is worth a re-listen, as it kind of went just above my head.

Great album! My go to album during lockdown. Final days was my top played song that year. Only reason I'm not giving it 5 is because he has an even better album!

Thoroughly enjoyed

Nice chilled out album. Good for a sunny day and some beers!

magical, mildly epic R&B beats with soulful singing and creative instrumentation

love it! smooth voice & sounds

PRECIOSO YA ERA HORA 8.5/10

🫶🏽

Phenomenal vibes, was a great listen throughout from an artist I’ve never heard of until now surprisingly. Not great enough overall to get a 5/5 from me, but not really any weaknesses I can point to as reason why. Just a great project that’s enjoyable throughout that I feel is lacking something more to make it perfect. Highly recommend

Michael Kiwanuka is a British singer songwriter from London, with Ugandan roots. Some of this, he showcases in his music (notably the inclusion of African drums in the opening song, You Ain't The Problem). This album deals with feelings of inferiority/not fitting in and racism. Right out of the gate there is a stellar song that touches on how he didn't feel like he was "good enough" compared to other bands/artists at music festivals. This album is one that should be listened to cover to cover. Each song blends into the next beautifully, kind of like a compilation record. I don't really know what genre Michael fits into. Often he genre hops between songs. There is some soul/blues/indie rock and folk sensibilities for sure. For having never heard of Michael before, I thoroughly enjoyed this record!! This is what this album generator experience is all about! Discovering someone new who you've never heard of before, and probably never would have listened to on your own. I enjoyed his stuff so much, I explored his back catalog further after finishing this album today! I will definately listen again!! Favourite songs: Hero (Intro & Song), Rolling, Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)(Intro & song), I've Been Dazed Least favourite songs: Another Human Being 4/5

Not as ambitious or memorable as the masterful Love & Hate, but a great record nonetheless

very enjoyable haven't listened to any og his stuf before

This man is smoooooooooooooth. Not a bad song on here. For how well Isaac Hayes is in the soul genre, I wish he sounded like this. Mr. Kiwanuka deserves to be heralded as a soul royalty. Of all the actual soul albums we’ve had, this is the best one.

Vibey, groovy. A pleasant listen. Definitely 2-3 songs I'll add to regular rotation. Overall a good album.

What a groove! Really liked the opener You Ain't The Problem as well as Rolling, the Piano Joint (intro + song), Living in Denial, and Light. But damn, it's all good.

good!

Huh, this wasn't quite what I was expecting, but also exactly fits? If that makes sense. I think this album was pretty in the middle. For the pros: the way each song is connected is phenomenal, it really makes it feel like such a tightly brought together album, despite the slight change in genres every now and then. The instrumentals are also pretty incredible, and I'd almost say this would really work as an instrumental album in it's entirety, but I'm guessing that's not what got this album such a high average score. As for "negatives", while his voice is impressive, I don't find it very notable, and it actually makes a lot of tracks a bit more of a lull. I also seem to be missing what makes this so important? Yeah, it sounds good, but it just sounds like a 2019 rendition of a style many albums throughout the decades have done just as well. I also don't understand how this won "best rock album", it's not really rock whatsoever, but that isn't this list's fault. It's hard to put into words my issues, but I don't see the fantastic album here. It's alright, and I can see why it's on this list, but I don't take much away from this as a whole. More power to those who did get something from this though, it's gotta have that high score for a reason.

Artistic combination of Jazz and Soul brought in to the modern era. Music is very expressive through use of effects and space to envelop the listener in its' journey

Smoother than I'll ever be. Vaguely timeless.

“Rolling” was the immediate standout track. “I’ve Been Dazed,” “Piano Joint (This Kind of Love,” “Final Days,” and “Hero” were also favorites. Would listen to again.

Yeah Piano Joint has absolutely zero business existing like that

Songs hit then I listened to his album Love & Hate which is much better. Still funky fresh and respect the grind. 7/10. Give me a half star goddamnit

Bangers only, solid 4

Listened to it before a handful of times. very Good from what I remember. I'm a big fan of Michael Kiwanuka, so I'm excited to listen closely this time. So good. Awesome. Loved listening to it from top to bottom.

Actually very good, was not expecting this, chilling but interesting, many different genres in it

So old fashioned, but so modern too. Love this.

Мощнейший соул альбом, первая половина которого чуть не заставила меня всплакнуть. Очень впечатлил нетипичный для соула звук, из-за которого каждый трек льётся плавно как вода, не затягивается и постоянно выдаёт что-то новое. Вторая половина, к сожалению, зацепила меня не так сильно, но тем не менее этот альбом строит очень тёплую атмосферу, которая запомнится мне надолго. (8.5)

Great album.

Chill vibes, felt familiar. Great sleepy music

This was a super fun surprise. A lively and upbeat cacophony of different instruments and samples and musical styles. I especially love the opening track but Hero is also top notch. The style is difficult to pin down but I'm reminded of the best parts of later Blur as well as the more obvious 70s references. So good! I will definitely return to this. 4/5

60's soul sounding tunes, in a really good way. Like this a lot

Reminded me of Afro Harping by Dorothy Ashby mixed with Alice Coltrain with dashes of electric guitar and other eccentric musings. The album was a bit long, but it fits a certain mood & vibe. I dug it.

versatile.

This was a really nice listen. The second half of the album fell away a little for me, but it still did just enough for a 4.

When I saw this on the list, I'd never heard of the artist - and seeing it was a recent album I defaulted to my "no good music made since 1990" mode (I'm old). I was wrong. I very much enjoyed this album. I like his voice, the instrumentation. I'll definitely add this to my collection.

슴슴하다가 세 숟갈마다 느껴지는 깊은 맛.

Great, solid album. No complaints.

Pretty chill rock album

Being unexperienced with modern music I was not sure what to expect. This album kept me engaged and left me pondering its significance. Easy to listen to. If this is the modern take on the concept album I am all for it. Though it is a young album, it feels like an album that could remain throughout time and attain the 'classic' moniker. Daring chord changes accompany a beautiful voice that effortlessly weaves its way from song to song. Production is noticeable in its goals but works well with the theme of the album. I think its a pretty damn good album. I have been pleasantly surprised and will likely listen to more albums from Michael Kiwanuka.

Not really neo-soul or retro, Michael Kiwanuka pushes the genre into places that expand and essentially create a new genre. I would call this psychedelic folk soul. While there was some psychedelic soul in the early 70s (Norman Whitfield), this album wears its psychedelic folk influences on its sleeve. While sometimes lacking in originality (owing to those pesky influences), the quality and craftmanship is very high. This made my 2019 20 best of list. I see no reason to revisit its inclusion.

I think if I had more time with this album it would get to a 5. I like his other two albums but had never heard this one until today and must have missed it when it came out. It was fun to hear something so modern but it also had a pretty classic bluesy and soulful sound.

Really liked this. Such a mix of styles that blend together so well. Hearing some Hendrix, Flamming Lip, Zero 7, Khruangbin, BADBADNOTGOOD... I could go on. Hit a lot of right buttons with me - bringing some late summer heat to my chilly autumnal home.

Some great songs that marry Indie and Soul influences nicely. Struggles sometimes from the ‘soft’ influences of Billie Eilish where you just want a bit more bite.

Some lovely arrangements on here, some brilliant songs. Really enjoyed it and will listen again

Superb album, very well produced

The most underwhelming start to what proved to be a fantastic album. From Piano Joint onwards, there's barely a bad moment and lots of brilliant ones. Won't lie, slightly struggling to describe what I enjoyed about it. Of all the albums we've had so far, this one most had me stop what I was doing to listen to what was going on. The second listen was as rewarding as I hoped. A keeper. Prime cuts: Piano Joint x2, Hero x2, Final Days, Light Offcuts: You Ain't The Problem

Fantastic surprise.

Very cool album, like the music a lot!

Super solid album, very listenable. Not necessarily something that jumped out and hooked me but something I could put on and let play in the background easily without ever wanting to skip. 'Hero' and 'You Ain't the Problem' were standout tracks.

This is good. I didn't know what to expect coming into this, I've never heard of this guy. But I liked it.

A timed delay grower - on first couple of listens this record does not stand out - but it starts revealing itself in layers with subsequent plays. It’s soulful, modern eclectic and a fresh take on the R’n’b Genre.

very cool

Big ups from the last listen! Never heard before, nostalgic of sly and the family stone with that modern danger mouse production. Gonna need to dig more into his music

Love this album. Genre defying, soulful, atmospheric, edgy at times. Reminds me of a 60’s film soundtrack with the massed voices and strings. Kiwanuka has a great voice. Great.

A good start to the list!

Once again, another gem that i hadn't heard before. Fantastic album with classic R&B/funk sound.

Pretty good, didn't finish

Not usually the kind of stuff I listen to, but an enjoyable listen nevertheless. Favourite tracks: Hero, You Ain't The Problem

Good

Liked this one!

If I could give half stars, this would be 4.5. Enjoying it quite a bit. Still on the mellow side, but easy to groove to.

Interesting

Very good

It’s sounds really good

Nice vibey downtempo album with some modern blues notes

Pretty solid album that incorporates many facets of music. Have to listen all in one sitting for full effect. Definitely intend to listen multiple more times to appreciate

Kiwanuka’s absolutely magnificent Cold little heart (especially the extended version) from his second album was no doubt a tough a act to follow. But he somehow pulls it off on this, his third album. It features heartfelt lyrics, sublime arrangements and production, and also his wonderfully emotional voice is a joy to listen to. His Mercury Prize for this album was totally deserved.

A melodic, well arranged modern rock album produced by Danger Mouse? That's hitting a lot of bullseyes for me! There are definitely parts where this album could trim the fat or be better sequenced, but overall it has a lot of great highlights for me.

I really liked the pacing of this album. The first half is really energized and the second half is a bit more mellow and contemplative. That being said, it was a quick listen; despite being almost an hour long, it flew by. He’s really quite the songwriter. Great hooks throughout the whole thing. There were a few moments where I felt like it dragged on a bit and I was expecting more, like during the end of “I’ve Been Dazed.” Other than that, this was a great listen. Looking forward to 1000 more. Cheers to number one!

baita sonzao, muito agradável

I liked it. It sounds really new.

This was completely unexpected. What a great album. Never heard of it before.

Album blijft niet bij 1 genre, veel variatie

Very smooth and enjoyable listen. Wikipedia classifies this as a "rock album" which is sort of baffling to me. Reminds me a bit of "Awaken, My Love!"

I really enjoyed this. Will listen again. 😁

I really enjoyed the soul stuff on this, a lovely listen

I prefer his debut but this is still pretty good

some new that i liked!!! was neat!!! would like to give it a dedicated listen some time

Thought it was good

Serenity!!! x Favourite track > ‘Solid Ground’

“I’ve Been Dazed” and “Final Days” are bangers.

'You Ain't the Problem' is an awesome opening track setting the tone for this entire genre-defying album. Then you have great tracks like 'Rolling' with a pulsing beat straight from Tame Impala, the beautiful 'Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)', 'Hero' with transcendent strings and a catchy indie-riff, and of course 'Solid Ground'. There is juuuuust a bit too much of filler in the form of interludes and intros for my tastes, but what a statement of a debut album!

3rd times the charm. 1st and 2nd time was great as well.. But it doesn’t make for a great review start. What an awesome record from start till end. The mix is great, Kiwanukas songwriting is it great, his blend of genres is more than great… And there’s a Womack-like quality to his vocal! I’m on the verge of handing this a 5. But I feel like I need the final nudge. Maybe it’s one or two interludes too many that does it? Because overall there isn’t a bad song on this thing. Consider this the biggest possible 4. Best: You Ain’t the Problem / Piano Joint / Hero / Final Days

I liked this one, would listen again! Nice sound, different from what I usually listen to.

smooth easy listening

Well this was a pleasant surprise. I may have to buy it.

Distinctive and original at the same time. I turned it up. Classic and new at the same time. Echoes at times of Gil Scott-Heron, Seal, Marvin Gaye. Lovely vocals, nice arrangements. Overall dreamy/thoughtful tone. Probably deserves more listens.

A really solid album. Would listen to again.

Very enjoyable, some great songwriting. Reminds me a little of Sampha but it is definitely its own thing. I do slightly prefer the more upbeat songs on it

listened to again there's just something about the twang of the guitar licks on these 70s style psychedelic soul albums

This is a really good album. Some excellent songs on here

70’s Africana vibe. I likey.

I really enjoyed it. It’s a quietly powerful record with quality songwriting and production. Has a very cohesive feel while still each song feeling unique enough to be memorable. 7/10

Неплохой альбом. Качает!

eu não esperava que essa album fosse ser tão bom, tem uma puta influencia dos classicos, hero por exemplo é puro jimi hendrix. me soa muito como uma album dos anos 70, sem duvida o melhor ate agora dessa lista.

A while back, I had criticized an album that was released last year. I said that I thought the album had to be around for at least a little bit of time before it's a "must-listen." Well, 2019 must be that amount of time, because holy crap this was not what I was expecting. That first track hit and smoked. The entire album emanated 70s soul, but still sounded modern at the same time. Very impressed by this one. In the low 4's for me.

Really dug this. He brings a new age sound to old style folk/blues/rock. It was like I was listening to CSNY, Bill Withers, Lynyrd Sknyrd, Hendrix, even the Temptations altogether and reimagined. Highlights were Rolling and I've Been Dazed (the former is incredible and how it rolls right into the latter is seamless), Piano Joint (his voice contrasted against the soft instruments is powerful), Hero (funky and near the top of his always good lyrics), . Soulful, well-arranged, great blend of instruments. Restoring my faith in modern eclectic rock. Not quite 5-star as I found a few tracks boring (e.g., the intros, Another Human Being which also felt like an interlude); could've tightened it up a bit.

I don't think I've heard an album unbeholden to genre since the last few Avalanches releases - manages to pay homage to several styles without becoming trapped within them. There could be a bit of a stronger melodic throughline (things do tend to become a tad too amorphous for any sense of strong cohesion), but the songs stand strong on their own and I have no doubt they'll end up in my heavy rotation.

Pretty chill, need to relisten in the future

4 stars. Never heard it and instantly loved it.

A brilliant surprise for me. Vocals that glow. Highlights: You Ain't the Problem, I've Been Dazed, Hero, Final Days.

I have never heard of this artist before today. I am pleasantly enjoying this album and am eager to check out some of their other work. Very easy to listen to and catchy. The lyrics were positive and uplifting.

Solid Album, quality production.

It was fine. Not sure that it had that much of an impact so going for a 2. Not to say I didn't like it though...

I loved it but also have sort of forgotten it already?

Had a couple of listens, really liked the simple reverby guitar throughout- Has some whack aim unalike Vintage Trouble. A good listen

Love the blend of rock, r&b, soul and a really nice Ennio Morricone western vibe. Can’t wait to explore more of Michael Kiwanuka’s music

Love getting something new. I listened to this when it first came out, Joey put me on to Michael Kiwanuka with a previous project. I didn't love it then, but it's really good and has a lot of care put into it, spanning quite a few genres and a lot of ground. I'm enjoying it more this time around, especially a few of the "intro" tracks. I dig it, but it's still a little bit of an oddball choice for recent albums given the sort of things that didn't make this list. Wikipedia confirms that he's an English artist so that explains it. Favorite tracks: You Ain't the Problem, Living In Denial, Hero, both Intro tracks. Album art: Very classic, art style is like a classic Sun Ra jazz album. I like the bold colors and font. 4/5

Nisam ga ponovo slusala al prije 3 godine mi je bio jako dobar

Sasvim lijep, lagan, melankoličan, soulično psihodeličan album u svoju ruku, instrumentalno je osiguran. You Ain't the Problem, Rolling i Hero su vrh pjesme. Fluidan album, pjesme se pretapaju iz jedne u drugu i valja slušat kronološki. Vjerujem da bih se mogao vraćat na ovaj album, eventualno ako ništa drugo, u pozadini da svira, dosta paše.

Auuuuu ovo je jebeno blizu petici, ko wish you were here

A LOT better then I was expecting.

Cool vibe

Consistently interesting and engaging, thanks to the instrumentation and atmospherics. Very distinctive voice, sort of wearied and soulful at the same time. Strong drumming and cool guitar effects on “Rolling.” I love the tone on “Piano Joint,” “Hard to Say Goodbye” and “Final Days.” A masterpiece of mood and vibe and fully deserving of its many accolades. 4.4 for 4.

Really enjoyed this

some new stuff

Excellent psychedelic soul. That comes across very cinematic.

Damn, this album sounds REFRESHING. Lots of different styles. Never heard the name of Kiwanula before, but will definitely follow his work from now on. Favorite tracks: * You Ain't The Problem * Rolling * Another Human Being

I love Michael Kiwanuka, I love this album; recency bias has me asking: is this his most essential release? One of the most essential of 2019? Between the recent picks (which I don’t know if they come from the author of the book or the architect of this site) and the early-90s britpop, techno jazz, and art pop; the subjectivity of this list can be blistering.

Not the album I expected from the cover, but got a couple of tracks I quite liked on there: I've Been Dazed, Living in Denial, Interlude (loving the people) and Solid Ground were all tracks that stood out for me. Light, and Solid Ground both reminded more of folksy type tunes from the 70s that say, 2019.

vraiment cool j'aime trop solid ground

I always get excited when very recent albums show up on this list, since they have been universally good in my experience (the opposite of the phenomenon is when I see any Britpop album from the 90s or 00s). This album was cool, but didn't blow my mind. It was pleasant enough playing in the background, but it didn't come to my attention very often as it was playing. It's a well-crafted album, but it didn't seem particularly groundbreaking in any way that was clear to me. Definitely worth a listen, though I'm not terribly sure why it was included on this list 4/5

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: You Ain't The Problem, Rolling, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Somewhat surprising choice for this list, but the music speaks for itself. Just saw him at All Things Go, cool to have one of the artists on this list still in their bags. He was incredible and this album is a great listen.

Lol- I'd never heard of him and thought I'd listen to a couple of tracks before moving on. Captivated me from the start. Quite a retro 60's/70's feel but a lot of energy and very well produced.

Fín plata, mun stúdera þennan meira.

Love it. 60s influenced psychedelic soul.

Listened a while back so cant fully remember the details, however I do remember it being a very in depth experience with a focus of unqiue sounds.

Relaxing, deep vocals and jams. This sounds like a beautiful 60s-70s throwback but with a modern twist. An unexpected wonderful listen.

Nimen perusteella ennakko-odotukset oli matalalla. Yllätyin kuitenkin ja muistelen nelosta miettineeni, kun kuuntelin pariin kertaan

Meilleur à date! Je lis rien avant d'écouter et je pensais avoir vu que ça datait de 70s. je trouvais ça tellement avant guardiste! Au milieu j'ai vu que c'est 2019... ça reste un foutu bon album!! Les tones sont très 70s😉 les arrangements sont malades! J'y retournerai

Fav tracks: - You Ain't The Problem - I've Been Dazed - Hard To Say Goodbye - Final Days - Solid Ground Least fav: - Another Human Being

A beautiful album that combines the best of the classic 70s soul of artists like; Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers with an indie music anesthetic, thanks to the brilliant production from Danger Mouse. I did read critiques saying that it is too "stuck" in the sound of the 70s lacking an updated modern feel and I don't necessarily disagree, however with songs and music this good it's, for me, a minor quibble. 4 🌟

I love the vibe here, Would definitely come back, It is fun to hear. 7/10

Great modern soul/R&B album

Awesome album, I love it. 4

Nice music

Several bangers. Enjoyed this a lot when it came out

Definitely a good singer and has an interesting vintage sound that still sounds "fresh". I liked it overall but couldn't point to a specific track that stood out. About a 3.5-4 for me so I'll round up.

What a great album. Soulfull music. I might have found a new favourite artist!

What a pleasant surprise. Hadn't heard of this. Soulful but modern. Will play again.

I have never heard of this artist. I am eager to.listen for the first time .

A brilliant blend of neo soul, R&B, and rock stylings that come together into a truly magical experience. The last two tracks drag the rating down a bit, but overall this is a very good album.

Super interesting songs saved but some were a bit too out there. 4.05/5

4.1 - great guitar licks and rocking songs. “Hero” definitely a heavy track that grabs your attention.

Liked this album, but none of the songs hit as hard as the Big Little Lies theme (so good). I could definitely hear hints of it though! Liked Solid Ground.

Another very good album and deservedly won the Mercury. Probably marginally my second favourite album of his but not a criticism!

Retro Soul auf modern produziert, FM4 Sunny Side Up Stuff. Herr Rossi sucht das Glück und andere Kindheitsfernsehen aus den 70ern Vibes. Spannend mal wieder ein aktuelles Album zu hören nach den ganzen alten Schinken mit moderner Produktion usw. Rolling bestätigt - es IST FM4 Mukke! xD Total Dynamisch, mal total dicht und plötzlich total transparent (zB piano joint - das Klavier/Gesangssolo mittendrinn). Gitarrenreverb und sonstige geile effekte en masse. Tame Impala lässt grüßen. Am ende teilweise bissl monoton, aber trotzdem solide bis echt gute scheibn

Ah so this is very good I might have to listen to this a few more times because this is absolutely a masterpiece

It was cool! I’d never heard of the guy before but I’m really digging this new wave of r&b that’s been coming out in recent years.

Have never heard of this. Can't think of a better example of why I like going through this list so much. What a pleasant surprise. I'm dancing in my office chair right now. Who doesn't love a band with a rhythm section this good. Especially that bass. Damn. And Kiwanuka's sense of melody (especially in the background vocals) is great. I feel like my criteria for rating these albums changes so much. So, I'm inclined to rate it a 5, but I'm also holding that for the truly superb records. So, I'll just say this is a strong 4. That's five "4" ratings in a row. Am I growing soft in my old age? We'll see...

I scoffed at this at first glance. How could something so new (2019) be on the list? I'd think there'd be some grace period - some time required to let it "breathe" before determining if it's great. But - it's great. The instrumentation beautiful. There's a lot going on, but it doesn't seem like it - it all fits. I know this is listed as folk, but it's also blues, R&B, pop, and probably a few other things. It reminded me (at times) of Robert Bradley (without the Blackwater Surprise). It's old-timey and new. It's artsy, but accessible. I really dug it.

So one tracks like 'Hero' and 'Rolling' have menacing taut groove and some interesting instrumental sounds. In fact, the whole album has a late sixties prog/psychedelic rock feel, with some lysergic sounds and a spacey use of reverb on tracks like 'Piano Joint' and 'Final Days'. The highs are really good but several tracks meander or are just interludes, which takes the album down a notch. That said it's a very satisfying album and potentially one that will grow with each listen.

Mostly rather good, some duff tracks but they're a minority

Lovely lovely lovely

I enjoyed the album, thought it was refreshing, atmospheric, classy and contemporary. Great songs, voice and quality production. While I'm encouraged by more recent additions to the 1001 list, I do wonder if they can stand the test of time? I'd like to come back to this album in a few years time to see if it has the same impact.

Awesome album wish I heard it sooner

Soulful, tuneful…. Great album!

Yowza!! Zoiks!!

Better than I anticipated

Amazing album, with special notes in a new time.

Very interesting - light guitar and piano, plus soulful singing, plus orchestral hits and some noise. My kind of soul.

Sehr gut auch wenn eigentlich nicht mein Ding

Lo trovo intrigante. È un mix interessante di generi che si sposano benissimo fra loro. Servono più ascolti per apprezzare davvero. Kiwanuka ha una voce sensuale ed espressiva.

Very solid music. Since this is recent I am giving 4 stars to maybe boost his scores so we hear more from him in the future

Muy buen disco. Solo tengo mis dudas que este disco haya entrado en la última edición, creo que solo hay edición 2018 del libro. Y además, por más bueno que sea, debería dejarse madurando, muchos de los otros discos están en el listado por lo que han impactado a lo largo del tiempo, un disco del 2019 creo que aún no ha logrado ese impacto, sin demeritar su calidad claro

Soulful, groovy, funky. Soundtrack to a 70s dinner party.

Bangin

Solid ground is a classic. The rest of the album is wonderful warm and soulful

Never heard kiwanuka, awesome!

I wouldn't have found this album on my own and I had never heard of the artist (apparently he's more popular in the UK) but it was quite good - a modern album with elements of retro soul. 4/5 stars as I felt that the album became a bit slow and ambient.

Melodic songs in a softer style. Reminded me of 70s pop in places.

60s vibe. Very chill, relaxing.

Paul Simon meets Soul/Pop. Enjoyable listen but lost my attention towards the end. Suriprised by how much of the album I recognised from the radio

Wow, this was really great. Recent album, but sounded more like late 60's psychedelia. Very good discovery. 4 stars.

Was hier zu Anfang so schmissig Senor Rossi übers Parkett jagt, entwickelt sich zum wahnsinnig schönen und vielfältig-ausgewogenen Kunstwerk. Nicht erst mit dem zweigeteilten Mittelstück „Piano Joint“, wo James Blake nahtlos an Zero7 übergibt, erreicht Michael Kiwanuka seine Meisterweihe - aber ab dann erst recht. Seine warme und unaufdringlich markante Stimme lässt erahnen, was aus Coldplay hätte werden können („I‘ve been dazed“), wo Khruangbin das Tuning gut täte („Rolling“ & „Hero“), The Go!Team ihre Bratzigkeit sparsamer eigesetzt haben könnten („You Ain‘t the Problem“) und er so schmachtend perfekt Jonathan Jeremiah‘s Brother of Different Father wäre („Living in Denial“). Lovely 4.4

Soulful, catchy, and moving.

I'd heard very little of this artist before today and I must say, I really enjoyed this album. A nice mellow way to start a Sunday morning.

Some fun beats and melodies. Enjoyed it for the most part, even if it was on the quieter end.

Gecontroleerd retro voor de witte millennial met een lichte indie inslag. Vakkundige productie. Qua muziek is er in de structuur wel geëxperimenteerd met de interludes en stijlwisselingen, maar alles blijft wel comfortabel. Je hoort duidelijk de invloeden van Gaye en Mayfield etc. Veel lagen zonder te veel frictie. Dat maakt het ook allemaal niet zo verrassend en voor mij een beetje inwisselbaar. Iets meer spanning of vernieuwing had het interessanter gemaakt, nu is het slechts een hele goede vakman. Het is zeker niet vervelend om naar te luisteren, maar ook niet vervelend als het weer wordt afgezet.

негра думает на дворе 72 и делает соул

Not my usual sound. Was ok.

5/10

Very nice modern soul. I rarely comment on singing ability, because I think it's often just someone showing off, but this guy has a great voice. Interlude is very synthwavy.

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - The opener is incredibly strong and feels like it comes from a similar place to the classic soul titans of yesteryear. I definitely hear a lot of Curtis in here. Rolling is also really good, the guitar sound is straight from the late '60s. I've Been Dazed is brilliant yet again. It's been a while since I've heard this album and it's even better than I remember. Piano Joint is lovely and when the bass comes in halfway through, the energy suddenly shifts and the track is really elevated. I think the album loses a bit of steam through the middle section but Living In Denial and Hard To Say Goodbye are still pretty good. The high points on here are incredible but I think a lack of consistency holds the record back. Still a very good album though that deserves lots of listens.

Soul with very little sauce

I love Inflo's production, funny that Dangermouse is here to because they're very similar, can't tell them apart. Not such a fan of Michael's music, starts great but loses steam

This had such potential. The instrumentals felt like they built up to something epic, then it was just a guy slowly singing. Missed opportunity.

I really wanted to like this album more. The updated take on 70's soul/R&B would be so good, but it just lacked the energy. Almost the whole album felt lethargic. Dang.

solid

I'm not sure I was expecting to find albums and artists I had never heard of before in this list, although I shouldn't be hugely surprised; I'm likely to know anything from the 20th century, even if only by reputation. Everything since will generally need to be in the areas of genres I know and love, or things which have been popular enough to tickle the zeitgeist. This is neither, and to be honest, I'd need a lot more than one day with it to properly evaluate, but I will say this - it's generally in a genre which I don't have a lot of familiarity with, but it makes it easy to enjoy by being fluid and tuneful. I haven't had nearly long enough with it to know whether it's the kind of thing I'd like to own, but I've definitely spent long enough with it to know it's something I'd like to get to know better. It's unlikely to supplant anything in my own top 1000 albums, but I'm giving it a middle score because it's worthy of further investigation.

Really enjoyed this. Came out of the blue and new to me.

A smart, tight album. I’m not sure it *quite* belongs in this company? 3.5

Never heard of this guy before. It was not what I was expecting, but not in a bad way. Some cool stuff here. A bit funky, a bit psychedelic, a bit electro, a bit soul. But also... As it goes on I'm just left a little hollow. The feeling kind of kicked in around Hero. As an album it's going for a vibe piece but it's a conflicting vibe. The diversity of influence kind of leaves me unable to really get into it - I start to and then... I'm not really sure what it is. It's like each song is building some kind of tension, but the tension doesn't know what it is. Is this introspective? Is it spiritual? Is it grand or is it personal? I think the issue is that individually the songs are good, but as an album it doesn't feel like it's going anywhere. It's vibing but it's not actually moving anywhere. So when the last beats of Light are playing and the album is closing up, I don't feel like I've been meditating and I'm slowly waking up, I feel like I've been listening to an album that didn't know if it wanted me to drift on a cloud, soar on angels wings or fall inwards into myself. So I just felt like I was watching it from the outside. I will note though that sometimes he sounds like Anthony Kiedis. I don't mean that in a bad way, just that once I heard it I couldn't un-hear it.

Sensitive and smooth, an enjoyable and stylish debut

pleasant sounding but a bit boring for my tastes

Very good

Cool psych-feeling soul record. Great vocals and phat grooves, felt it was a couple songs too long but will revisit

Interesting this is on the list. Nice record

Very new to me but this was awesome. First track grabbed me and I was with it the whole way. Dang. Not what I normally seek out but that was cool.

lyssnade hela så helt ok?

Smooth and strangely old school

Agradable pop actual. No todo es basura.

Really loved the blend of things here. The R&B mixed with African beats, mixed with lyrics about black consciousness reminiscent of TPAP, and Kiwanuka's incredible singing to boot.

★★★½

It was fine.

⭐️ Piano Joint

Simple and fun album of catchy moments and classically inspired ideas. Nothing life changing, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless.

mooi maar wel beetje saai

I feel bad rating this as I’m going to as broadly I quite liked the album. It was pleasant enough and typically would be the kind of thing I enjoy more than I did. It felt a little too safe and going through the motions though. For someone whose voice is so well suited to this style of music, I don’t he used it to the extent that he could have and at times the music was rather dull. I’ll try and listen to some of his other albums as o think there is some real scope for something great but in my eyes, this was not it.

ok

Good，但是不够身体性也没完全文学性

It's fine and chill. Nothing really stuck out too much

First few songs were enjoyable and the execrable slow jams of Piano Joint started and I wanted to plunge a fork into my eardrums. I went back later and there are some other good songs. This album is just too uneven for me to legitimately enjoy it. OTOH, a playlist based on I've Been Dazed might be okay. Nah. Who am I kidding. I'll just go listen to King Buffalo if I want stoner space jams.

Kind of a weak 3. Parts of this I couldn't stand, particularly most of Living in Denial. But much of it was surprisingly pleasant, considering I don't like much in the soul (I guess?) genre it mainly inhabits.

70

Decent.

RATING: 7/10 HIGHLIGHT: I’ve Been Dazed LOWLIGHT: Living in Denial

Good vibes on this one

nothing super crazy but some cool production tricks on this one.

Had heard the name of the artist before but never listened previously. Really loved the energy of the first three tracks, rest of the album was still a solid listen. Going to dig deeper into the catalogue. 3.5/5

Wyjątkowo kojący głos ma ten pan, taki idealny na długie posiedzenie w kawiarnii w deszczowy dzień nad żmudną książką. A płyta spójna muzycznie, dojrzała tekstowo i bardzo przyjemna w odbiorze. Pewnie nie wrócę, ale pojedyncze momenty uhonoruję na 'Chill na podłodze'.

Would definitely give this another spin. wasn't what I expected and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Guy has a great voice.

I've heard this before and been into it, but this time it struck me as pretty milquetoast.

Decent. A bit samey in places for me. A few stand out tracks - the first track obviously and Solid Ground.

Lovely orchestration. I should have listened to it lying on my bed with my eyes closed

- I think the first song was a bad start for me because it's cluttered, I don't like the tonalities, and his voice feels nasal and thin and has this kind of diphthong effect to it that bothers me. - Also, I *hate* the screechy ooooh oooh, la la la, na na na backing vocals on every song they're on because it feels basic and childish. I really wish they weren't there - they definitely take me out of the songs. - As for the instrumentation, it tends to feel overproduced, in general. I just want it all to feel a little more free. My biggest gripe is the guitar tone throughout. For example, on Hero, it feels thin, echoey, and round at the same time - like it's way in the back of the room. - On the other hand, I enjoy the keys and the laidback groove of the rhythm section. - The album did grow on me, but I'm having a hard time articulating what I do like about it. I think I like that it's melodic and vulnerable. - I guess it's a 2.5.

Good album bdisnt blow my socks off but not terrible!

Quite listenable but didn’t grab me in any particular way. hero was a stand-out

Really good album.

Solid album. It almost feels a little over-produced, and don't feel like it has enough substance for me to give it a higher score. This guy is definitely talented though. The first track was my favorite.

a lovely surprise, very cool energy straight out the gate. i think that energy peters out by the end--the back half makes me really miss the front--but this intersection point of rock and soul really makes some magic. You Ain't The Problem is a fantastic opener, def my favorite song. strong 3

Rating: 7/10 A modern touch on a kind of music you would hear 50 years ago. Beautiful soul with a powerful deep voice and well incorporated rock instrumentation for a satisfying genre fuse. It's really of the influence of Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone to me, but not just a copy, an original inspired take. The album doesn't fully blow me away, it's just a good really well made one, and often beautiful, though the run time veers on the longer side. Hero is a fantastic song

Kinda remember this guy from back when home again came out definitely didn't keep up with him. This is definitely good not really sure if it deserves to be 1001 atltbyd but it good. Solid record. Not bad.

It was nice

Feels like an indie coming of age movie soundtrack at times and the first 5 songs are literal perfection. Favourite tracks are I've been dazed, rolling and piano joint(this kind of love).

I like you ain't the problem. It feels like a 3 star album. I really like his voice. Not a big fan of piano joint. Light is nice. A bit too slow for my liking. I like hero. I am not the biggest fan of the intros

Nja... Ok men inte mer än så. Han har fin röst och texterna är sorgliga men det räcker inte för att få mig hooked. Jag tappade intresset lite här och där i lyssningen men Hero är fin.

Pretty enjoyable

I really like Michael Kiwanuka and there are classic songs on here, but I prefer Love & Hate. This is more like a 3.5

Enjoyable! But I've always found Kiwanuka a bit middle of the road sorry:(

Interesting modern psych tinged soul. This one may have broken my mercury prize curse.

Album #220 Michael Kiwanuka: KIWANUKA I’m not really sure what to make of this album. It’s a newer album that I’ve never heard of, from an artist that I’ve never heard of, and it has no real discernible genre; the only really way I can think to describe it is as alternative soul. It is definitely enjoyable, and pretty damn well produced; however, I can’t help but feel as though it is lacking in parts. Though every song is pleasant on the ears, most of them don’t really make me feel anything; I find that I run into that issue a lot with modern production. It is too slick and polished to the point where it just melts into my ears without notice. I respect the experimentation though as this album pulls from many different sounds and inspirations to create a pretty unique sound, albeit one that lacks any real identity. I’ll probably have to sit with this one more, but for now I found it quite enjoyable; and Michael Kiwanuka certainly seems to be an artist worth giving more attention to in the future. Best Songs: Final Days, Light, Hero Worst Song: Hard To Say Goodbye Score out of 10: 6.5

Cool album and I see why this is so beloved. The sound is very 2010s Black Keys, but still enjoyable all around. It doesn't transcend anything for me personally but I can definitely appreciate it.

Soft and easy listening. Nice music

This album really interested me, I wouldn't say its my preferred sound but there's nothing bad about it and I enjoyed it

это было относительно интересно послушать, но будто во всех песнях одна и та же структура, и ничего не запомнилось. один трек однако сохранил

사운드(특히 보컬)의 공간감이 나를 어떤 공간으로 인도한다는 느낌이 든다

I did enjoy this, though it got a little samey

powerful and modern

Kinda sounded like a soul variant of [[alt-J]] in some ways. Chill.

My thirty-something colleagues all seem to know Michael Kiwanuka, but for me this was a real discovery. His musical eclecticism and soulful voice reminded me of TV on the Radio, just in a softer, more accessible way. There are plenty of good ideas here, the overall atmosphere is warm and enjoyable, and it’s a pleasant surprise without being truly outstanding. It doesn’t even sound like a 2019 album, which is … refreshing.

6.5/10 Quite liked this album, the first number was my favourite. Really liked how cohesive the overall album was, and enjoyed some of the more unique sounds achieved in the songs.

Just kinda nice to have on.

An enjoyable listen by an artist I've never heard of. No songs immediately grabbed me but I didn't dislike any of it.

Started out well but got a bit boring by the end

2,5

This list has consistently struggled with its contemporary picks for reasons that I'll try to unpack. It's a three-fold sociological problem that thinkers much smarter than I am have all described variously as the problems of the uneven distribution of cultural capital (British vs US media/press in this case), algorithmic curation vs curation by critics (I'd never hear KIWANUKA on Spotify or Apple Music without the 1001 list and yes, I've never heard of him or heard this record until today), and finally the general process of canon formation which relies on an ongoing, selective tradition of generational review and revision (as each successive generation discards or tends to forget what it cannot put to its own uses — an album's themes can help make its case on an ongoing basis) rather than instant consensus so that with the passing of time the era seems settled and more fixed or certain (producing some hindsight bias, of course). In many ways this is why so many ratings and reviews of more recent music are much more contested. These determinations are ongoing and current. They are still live, if you will. And thanks to the strange bubbles we each float in now, we can read a lot of incredulous "I've never heard of this, it must not be important"-type reviews. I know, despite knowing better, I've been guilty of that reaction many times. So what to make of Michael Kiwanuka's 2019 KIWANUKA? It trades heavily in 1960s/1970s vibes, from its themes of identity, struggle and resilience to its leveraging of a sonic vocabulary that's already canonical with its psychedelic soul, fuzz guitar and gospel-inspired arrangements. Because it already points backwards to so-called solid ground the listener can readily incorporate it into their understanding. This is music easily parsed into a prestige aesthetic — the word is not just for TV anymore. And here's the thing, aside from some decisions made on the mix and the feeling that he's leaning too much on nostalgic soul tropes, I am here for it. Listening a few times more though I think my initial assessment is partially due to surprise because finally (finally!) there's a contemporary, British pick on the list that I didn't immediately have a negative reaction to. Once the album was over and the algorithm took over I was immediately served some funky era Beck that was a perfect mood match. This leaves KIWANUKA shifting somewhere between three and four stars for me — I don't think I'll listen to this whole album again willingly but a few tracks on a mix or if someone else put it on, I wouldn't complain — and only time and the forces of canon formation can really tell where it will settle for me personally or for him in the greater cultural context.

interesante

nicht was ich erwartet hab, erstmal hab ich dank dem namen an irgendwas...... "afrikanisches" gedacht, dann hab ich dank der lied titel an irgendwas hiphop/ rap mäßiges gedacht, im endeffekt war es... glorified radio musik??? fands langweilig

Not bad. Would revisit.

Chill driving vibes, but songs sound the same

A new artist for me. Not bad. Kinda felt like I was inside a sitcom for a while

Kinda good. I don't know how to describe it, but this album had a very late 2010s sound. Not sure what that is exactly, but it had it.

An enjoyable listen. Probably should have paid more attention.

Nowhere near as pretentious as I feared it would be. Some of the rhythms are catchy, but the melodies are same and his voice is merely okay. I would listen again if I had to, and although I wouldn’t be looking forward to any particular track, I wouldn’t hate it. It’s…fine.

Not bad but nothing special.

Not a bad album at all. beautiful opening track and beautiful production and instrumentation throughout the entire thing. Amazing voice. I think it's slow atmosphere and songs got a bit boring and hard to listen to after a while but it is a beautiful album, no doubt about that

6/10 cool but not for me (mostly)

Havde nogle fine numre imellem, men havde svære vilkår under lytning, så det blev lidt fragmenteret. Bør høres igen.

lovely and warm but i find the writing (lyric- and song-) kind of anonymous, unfortunately. generally suspicious of the very faithful throwback, which makes Living In Denial being my favorite cut here a little surprising, but fuck is it hard to argue with that production!

I had first stumbled onto Michael Kiwanuka on his album Love & Hate with the track Cold Little Heart. I enjoyed the melancholy sounds and his voice was strong and beautiful. I didn't end up diving in deeper at the time, but having this pop up on this list of albums was great. A great album, and makes me want to explore more of his work.

Very interesting. Will def get a second listen.