KIWANUKA

I have never listened to this artist before. The first 1/2 the album was ok at best. The second half though I like a lot reminiscent of 70’s lush songs.

It was ok, but not worth listening to multiple times.

unpredictably intriguing! i’m glad that i gave this album a chance because one of my least favorite songs is michael kiwanuka’s “cold little heart”. so upon listening i was incredibly skeptical! BUT HOWEVER i really truly enjoyed this album and its creativity fusing jazz and blues in a unique way.

Enjoyed immensely. Very soulful and impactful.

This will probably never be in my collection, not because it's bad - it's quite good actually - but because it's that obscure.

Good vibes. Reminiscent of some 60s era smoother jazz/Bossa Nova. Definitely worth a listen.

enjoyed the style, relaxing and mellow

Everyone is raving about this album, it is OK. Nice vocals and music, but nothing to extraordinary. One thing I liked is that you can not cage it in just one genre. I'll give it 3 stars because I cannot do 1/2 stars otherwise it would be 3.5. Bad? Absolutely not. Great? Again, absolutely not. Was it enjoyable? Yes. Will I listen again? Most probably yes. Usually I do not fall in love with any album the first time I listen, so it merits a second try and see if I can bump that rating... The jury is still out!

Not a ton to say about it except that I was pleased the whole way through. Mostly just background listened but it was cool - I can see why someone would be super into this record.

I really like the overall vibe of the album. I felt like I recognized several songs, but only in the way that I had heard clips in commercials, or that the sounds were generic enough to sound recognizable even if I hadn’t actually heard it before. A nice enjoyable album, but nothing that blew me away.

Was good but missing a little something something

This was really great, but definitely started to lose interest as it went on

great listen

Song: you aint the problem this song is good at first it was giving me fruity vibes I don ´ t know why but i like it i would give this like a four stars Song: piano joint ( this kind of love) this song is good but I don ´ t really listen to this music but it's good it kind of sounds like country in my opinion but i would give it like 3 stars or 2 stars Song: hero this song is good it is like a song rainbow falls will play for some reason but its good this song will be like 3 stars

I enjoyed listening to this album because the beat is very catchy and it gives me energy. I do not really understand the lyrics, but the songs are still a vibe.

you ain't the problem I like this song because it reminds me of Mexican music and I can hear some drums . piano joint (this kind of love) I like this song because it is talking about love and when it is the right time to lose. hero I like this song because it is talking about like he wants to be a hero and always wants to be a hero.

Solid modern jazz album

Undeniably good, a little long

1. problem - 1.5 2. rolling - 1 3. dazed - 1.5 4. joint - 1.5 5. piano - 1.5 6. human - 1.5 7. living - 2 8. hero - 9. hero 2 - 10. hard - 11. dayz - 12. interlude - 13. zolid - 14. light -

Good album. Never would have expected it to be on this list. Never listened to him before but I’m glad I did. Lots of different styles going on. Great guitar tones. Produced amazingly.

It was good, but I don’t have much else to say. I enjoyed it enough while it was on but I don’t know if it’s something that I’ll ever pick up again.

I like the vibes of this album, but I’m not sure I’d listen to it casually. Respect it, but not my regular vibe.

Never heard of Michael Kiwanuka, he's got a great voice and is a skilled rock guitarist. Album seems a good mix of topics: love, politics, instrumentals, etc. "I've been Dazed" and "Final Days" were standouts for me. The tracks were warm and seemed very grand and floaty, for lack of better words, and I did enjoy that sound. The guitar parts were catchy. Not my typical type of jam, a little slow, but I wouldn't change it if it came on. Everything was executed well but nothing really floored me to move this one away from the average "great" album. Glad to have listened!

I had not heard of this artist before this list, so a nice surprise when I listened to this album, and enjoyed it a lot! It's got a psychedelic jazz, soul feel to it. It works. 3.4/5

Good

There was a lot of cool and unique sounds in the beginning of this album, but it really petered out in end. In large parts it was an evolution on the singer songwriter vibe but I’d call it an incomplete one.

literally for the who-the-fuck-cares-how-many-time-i-have-said-it-in-a-row time: My bias toward soul music is pretty hard to erase by now. but anyway, it... actually sounds pretty great! and it doesn't sound that long! and it sounds pretty rocky and groovy! still, 3/5

First time listener, enjoyed this for sure. Probably won't reach for it regularly, but I'll listen again

point8.

- I have listened to this album probably a dozen times and I am still not sure how much of it sticks with me. I do not mind it and do like some of the beats, but it also just washes over me. - I know Kiwanuka from "Cold Little Heart" -- that tracks has made much more of an impact on me than anything here.

it was alright

2.75 - Easy listening but nothing standout or super memorable

3/5

This album feels very nostalgic, even though it was released in 2019. Feels like the sort of music you'd hear in the early 2010s, which isn't a bad thing at all.

This is the most recent album I've gotten on this list so far. This one was okay. Not quite my taste, but not bad. I wouldn't turn it off but it's another forgettable album.

Too much chili

It was a little bit too long. But not too bad.

Nothing that really stuck with me, but nothing bad per se.

Liked it.

Pleasant

It had a nice sound to it

Decent soul/r&b music, interesting instrumentation

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. 3.5⭐️

I don't know, it reminded me of like a black Elton John. Little deeper, and little darker. Good music, wish I were drinking it listening to it on a record sipping a nice bourbon.

Pretty nice, felt very much like background music. Not sure I would ever put it on, but definitely ok with having it on.

Beautifully produced, as expected with Danger Mouse behind the boards, with lush and stylistically diverse arrangements. The melodies don't really stick and I doubt I'll ever revisit.

Some stuff was groovy and I liked the production

I had never heard of this artist before. Absolutely not my music but very interesting to listen to.

Had this on in the background while I worked and liked it a lot. Should probably do a re-listen and pay a little more attention, but 3/5 for now.

Interesting start, but it kind of ended up all over the place stylistically.

Enjoyed it. Really liked Piano room.

3.1 2x catch up 1/21/25

I love an album full of textures and groovey psychedelia. Lots of ear candy.

Better than I was expecting

Michael Kiwanuka - an artist I've heard a lot of praise for but never listened to First half of this album was so so good. Really loved the vibes Second half got kinda boring though as the songs slowed down a bit, and got a bit long with the intros/interlude. Shame Great voice though, I see why people like him! 3 ⭐️

A good, low-key music album. I heard his blues influences, as well as his easy listening lyrics.

So enjoyable! Did the US not discover him yet?

A singular musical voice, solid songwriting with interesting psychadelic influences.

Modern blend of jazz and soul, intertwined with cool guitar riffs. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

First album I don't know if I've ever heard a song from. Digging it, first few songs have good sound and flow well. Middle piano songs are ok but just changed the mood too much and songs started to just sound formulaic before switching back to better development in Hard To Say Goodbye thru the finish. Can't stop thinking it reminds me of Black Keys if they had more diversity in sound, with clean and solid vocals instead of distorted.

Some songs I would come back to!

The instrumentals were engaging and interesting but the lead vocals didn’t quite match up for me

Pretty fun

Was alright but production/mix could get in the way at times

A solid album that has some real sparks of brilliance. That said, I didn't end up gelling as much with it as I thought I would. Kiwanuka draws on a lot of tradition here, mainly 60s psychedelia and chamber pop. But there are enough elements here that don't make it feel dated, like the synths on "You Ain't the Problem". I found myself more drawn to the earlier songs on the album. They're exciting and gives the beginning of the album a real push. The first track is electric, and "Rolling" is an amazing modern take on 60s psychedelia that sounds fresh. That said, as it goes on, I find that it loses a bit of momentum, it drags a bit. The strings come on a bit too often, a bit too heavy. There are some interludes that feel too long. I understand that some "down time" is needed, especially given some of the themes of the album, but I find that it makes it drag. The second half, despite having some amazing guitar work, largely floats into the background for me. Again, this is not to day this is a bad album, not at all. It's just not something I'd put on and listen all the way through except for the standout tracks. It does interest me in checking out Kiwanuka's other music, though. Fav tracks: You Ain't the Problem, Rolling, Hero

This album started really strong the petered off. High 3

Great production. Didn't love the vocals. A few standout songs.

Started strong, lost interest halfway through

He's got a great voice, and I thought it was interesting with some good compositions, it's was just a bit emotionally heavy for me in an exhausting sort of way. Glad I heard it though.

Some smooth velvet waves that remind me of some times when things have been moodful. Also some rocky patches where his introspection is too personal and didn’t connect with me. Listened to this a lot at one time so must have quite liked it then.

another new artist for me - nice voice, okay music, groovy/soul

Slow, plodding, good. But not to my liking overall.

At the start I was worried this was going to be world music. I was pleasantly surprised with a strange blend of rock and world that kept me interested.

Very good, laid back.

1st song- um its 4/10 i guess it sound ok 2nd song-its not even that bad but its 6/10 3rd song- it rate 8/10 its goodd

Do you like pop/country music? If so, this album is for you! It is really unique. I love this album because I love Kiwanukas's voice and the background music. The one thing that I don't like, however, is that I can't understand what he is singing. But, either way, I still highly recommend this album.

Another CD from the collection - but not an album I have listened to recently. He's got lovely smooth vocals - but its all a little bit polished and a bit trying too hard to be retro in places.

Good but also sounds like NPR music in a way I can't really look past. It rides a weird line between being very beautiful and sounding like it was almost just made to be in the background of a Netflix series or HBO show and I can't unhear that. I even hate saying that because it has good musicianship and it's in good taste but it's still missing something, it's too pretty, like a woman that is too conventionally beautiful, maybe it's just that I need musicians to be dumb or angry or horny or neurotic but somehow he is none of these and therefore I can't say I connect with it. It has all the ingredients for a perfect cake but you're already full.

Totally new to me and I didn’t hate it

2nd song sounds like Born to be Wild. It sounds good so no complaints here. Also liked Final Days Maybe a bit too many sleepy songs

Albumet fremstår for meg som slags underlig krysning mellom Rag'n'Bone Man (pga. Kiwanukas stemme) og Tyler, The Creator (pga. de instrumentale og melodiske innspillene), krydret med innslag av gospel og soul. For meg virket denne syntesen godt, hovedsakelig fordi albumet fremstår som dypt personlig for Kiwanuka. Ikke bare er albumet oppkalt etter ham, som selv retter lytteren mot hva det skal omhandle. Nei, i tillegg til navnet virker Kiwanuka til å vrenge seg utover og vise sin egentlige sårbarhet mot verden. Om man vil si det vrenger han frem sin sjel, en hentydning til albumets betoning av soul. Denne sårheten er ekte; den er menneskelig; den er følt; den er vesen-tlig. Likevel skal det sies at ikke alt med albumet var fryd og gammen. Jeg kan forstå de som tenker en slik eklektisk stil peker mot en artist som ikke har en konkret retning med musikken sin. Kiwanuka skal ha for å gjøre albumet interessant, men til tider kan sangene virke litt vel eksperimentelle i form (f.eks. "Living In Denial" og "Hard To Say Goodbye"). Noen av sangene høres ikke ut som de er del av samme album (f.eks., "You Ain't The Problem" og "Light"), nesten så det kastes frem forskjellige forsøk på å finne en stemme i musikkverdenen, hvilket er forståelig mtp. hvor vanskelig det er å finne sitt sted i musikken, spesielt når mulighetene er flerfoldig. Det skal også skrives, for de som tviler på Kiwanuka musikalske ferdigheter, at: kunstneren trenger ikke, uansett hvilket medium det er snakk om, forstå hvordan de får kunsten frem, de bare GJØR det. Vurdering: 3/5. PS: Likte veldig godt noen overgangene i albumet igrunnet deres sømløse utførelse, f.eks. fra "Rolling" til "I've Been Dazed".

nice

Hey this was pleasant! Had not heard of this artist ever before but it was pretty nice, modern easy listening. Kind voice and good, if not revolutionary instrumentation.

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🪙🫅🏿⬛ Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎶✨ 💔📝 ⏳🌌 ⚔️🏆 ❤️💑 🌳🌊 🎉😊 Rating: ✨✨✨/5

It didn’t do much for me, but it wasn’t bad. It was a little scattered.

Never really listened to Michael Kiwanuka before despite being aware of him. Not really my usual thing but still very enjoyable and maybe would grow on me with a few more listens. Sounds like it could have been from any era. Fav track: You Ain't the Problem

3.5

KIWANUKA has many memorable songs. Michael Kiwanuka brings something interesting to soul on this project. I can understand the acclaim this project has received, unfortunately it's not enough to make me like it completely. Some tracks even catch my attention but the project itself starts well, but at some point it gets lost for me.

3 из 5. Прикольнейнький соул, возможно подниму оценку потом потому-что чувствуется потенциал, пару песен прям хорошо

Needed more juice on a cloudy morning Squirrels are looking fat, winter is coming

Idk kinda bland but not bad

Very enjoyable, but not my vibe.

Every song hits the same slow, soulful tone. Would have liked a couple more funky, upbeat songs thrown in to add some variety.

this was so nice!

Jest dal mnie dosyc nowe, i monottone? w całym swoim takim przyjaznym nastroju

Enjoyable retro style. Smooth voice, some interesting layers. Favorites: "I've Been Dazed" Least: (1x) 3 1/2 stars, B+

It was ok, felt like music u play when vibing so idk

Instrumentally, goes hard. Don't particularly love the man's voice, sounds slightly sped up or something?? Slight Kiedis vibes.

Decent vibe. Background music

Really really nice

idk i got kind of bored

gut, aber habs ma nit gspeichert

Bit boring

Same Africa music

Great instrumentation but nothing really jumped out at me.

I enjoy the distortion effects but overall this album just kinda passed me by

Most of these albums have either been artists I know but never gave an entire album a chance or artists I don't know at all and don't really like. This album was one of the rare, "wow" moments where I just found a new artists to add to the rotation.

great voice and some nice soulful tracks

Good voice, pleasant enough to listen to again but with no 'sparkl' that makes it special for me. Can't put my finger on what is lacking, perhaps its just that the amalgamation of different styles and backing confuses rather than interests me.

It’s good. Somehow never takes off into really good, lacking some level of excitemenr and emotional oomph. I’ve Been Dazard and Hero are proper good tracks. I don’t like the production, it feels low go and somehow sapping the energy of the songs, they also feel like they’re all 10bpm too slow?

Highlights: Rolling Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) Hero Final Days My first impression of this was that the instrumentals reminded me of chopped up soul Hip-Hop beats, which makes sense because this is a R&b/Soul album produced by Danger Mouse. The more I listened to this, the more it grew on me. A very enjoyable, easy listen, but I'm unsure of how much depth there is to dig in to. I will definitely be revisiting this album, and I hope it continues to grow on me.

I had high hopes after the strength of the opener - it felt like it was opening up a window into modern soul. And by the end — the sound clips and paint-by-number lyrics ("lying on the ground / feeling like a dyin' man / no reality / fading memories / following the crowd / coulda been a stronger man") made a lot of the drama and weight it was reaching for seem unearned.

Didn’t grab me the way I hoped it would, and it would seem I am in the minority. It’s atmospheric, and the guitars are fuzzy, and it feels soulful, but it spends most of its run-time being really introspective and pensive apart from a handful of songs. It just didn’t hit the spot enough for me.

Had never heard of this, and started off very excited, but ended up not really liking it overall. Difficult to articulate why... it had kind of a glossiness that I found off-putting

9/18/24. This is perhaps the newest album along the 1001 journey so far, very soulful and blues like. Almost reminds me of Khruangbin with the sound, and soulful vocals. Lost a little steam at the end, but still enjoyed.

++: Rolling, I've Been Dazed, Another Human Being, Final Days, Interlude (Loving the People), Solid Ground, Light +: You Ain't the Problem, Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) (Intro), Piano Joint (This Kind of Love), Living in Denial, Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye +-: Hero (Intro) 7,6/10

Listening experience is a 4. Really cool record that just FELT nice. Its possibly the songwriting itself wasn’t the strongest because I don’t know if I’d ever go back to it but if it’s on I’m all about it.

its from 2019 so its automatically novel compared to most the rest of the list, cool interesting listen if not the biggest standout

i enjoyed this but i can't say it stood out to me much. i could tell it was well-produced and it was nice to listen to, but it was almost too clean...? idk how to describe it but it just didn't capture my interest. i can't say it was bad though. maybe i just need to give it another listen.

When the first track started I thought this album was going in one direction, but the beat kicked in and I was taken in an entirely different way. I really enjoyed this album. Such an eclectic mix of sounds and genres. Good stuff!

This was delightful. An unexpected pleasure to listen to.

Beautiful all the way through

Some nice, positive energy. Dreamy, some psychy; lot like good 60s pop. Subtle. Never got on my radar, wish it had.

I always find it refreshing when the album of the day is relatively recent. It confirms that it’s an ever-evolving list and the must-listens change as the music industry changes. Having said this I’m not particularly a fan of MK - it’s all a bit underwhelming. Or maybe just whelming!

I enjoyed this album. I only listened to the first couple songs then it faded into the background.

This was all right. Pleasant enough. Nothing terribly special, though. Like a low-calorie vending machine snack.

Le projet "1001 Albums" a parfois de ces idées saugrenues, surtout quand il me sort de ma zone de confort, de mes tranchées creusées à grands coups de post-punk, de noise et de folk apocalyptique, pour me jeter en pâture un disque de... Soul. Oui, vous avez bien lu, de la Soul et avec une majuscule, s'il vous plaît. Le genre de musique que mes parents auraient pu écouter en fumant des clopes et en se demandant si, oui ou non, ils allaient repeindre le salon en orange. Je dois l'avouer, quand j'ai vu le nom de Michael Kiwanuka sur ma liste, j'ai haussé un sourcil. Kiwanuka, a sorti son album en 2019 et il est déjà sanctifié par la grande bible des albums à écouter avant de clamser ? Mettons les choses au clair tout de suite : "Kiwanuka" est une pièce d'orfèvrerie, c'est un disque d'une beauté formelle absolument sidérante. On sent les dollars, le temps passé en studio, l'ambition démesurée. La production, assurée par le duo de magiciens Danger Mouse et Inflo, est à tomber par terre. Chaque son est à sa place, chaque arrangement de cordes est d'une justesse folle, chaque choeur gospel semble descendre directement du paradis pour venir caresser vos tympans. On ferme les yeux et on est en 1972, dans un film de la Blaxploitation, quelque part entre un album perdu de Marvin Gaye, une bande originale d'Isaac Hayes et une session rêvée de Curtis Mayfield. Le son est chaud, ample, analogique jusqu'au bout des potards. C'est une déclaration d'amour à une époque, un fantasme de soul psychédélique réalisé avec les moyens et la technologie d'aujourd'hui. Le disque s'ouvre sur des interludes, des voix samplées, créant une atmosphère cinématographique avant de laisser place à des morceaux qui s'étirent, prennent leur temps, installent des grooves hypnotiques. On sent le savoir-faire, l'intelligence musicale. Les mélodies sont intemporelles, on a l'impression de les avoir toujours connues, sans jamais tomber dans le plagiat facile. C'est là toute la force de Danger Mouse : il ne copie pas, il invoque, il ressuscite un esprit, un vibe, une couleur sonore avec une précision chirurgicale. "You Ain't The Problem", "Rolling", "Hero"... les morceaux sont solides, portés par des lignes de basse rondes, des guitares wah-wah langoureuses et la voix, bien sûr, la voix de Michael Kiwanuka. Et c'est là, précisément, que le 3/5 prend tout son sens car ce disque est parfait, trop parfait. C'est une reconstitution historique si brillante, si fidèle, qu'elle en devient presque un objet de musée. C'est une superbe vitrine, mais j'ai eu un mal de chien à briser la glace pour voir ce qu'il y avait derrière. Tout est si léché, si maîtrisé, si... respectable. Où est la faille ? Où est la cicatrice ? Où est le danger ? J'écoute ça et j'admire le geste, la compétence, le talent indéniable. Mais ça ne me prend pas aux tripes. Ça ne me donne pas envie de casser des trucs ou de pleurer toutes les larmes de mon corps. J'ai passé les années 90 à vendre des disques où les mecs hurlaient leur désespoir dans des micros pourris, où les guitares sonnaient comme des tronçonneuses rouillées, où la beauté naissait du chaos. Ici, la beauté naît de l'ordre et de la maîtrise, c'est une autre philosophie. Michael Kiwanuka lui-même semble parfois être un invité de luxe sur son propre disque. Sa voix est magnifique, chaude, pleine d'une soul authentique, mais elle est tellement enchâssée dans cette production monumentale qu'elle peine parfois à s'en extraire pour me parler directement. Les textes sont personnels, introspectifs, touchants, ils parlent d'identité, de doute, de la condition d'un homme noir dans le monde d'aujourd'hui. C'est puissant, et ça donne une profondeur indéniable à l'ensemble. Mais la musique, elle, est si luxueuse qu'elle semble parfois anesthésier la douleur. Alors, est-ce que "Kiwanuka" mérite sa place dans les 1001 albums ? Probablement. C'est un disque important, un jalon dans la musique soul du 21ème siècle. C'est la preuve qu'on peut encore faire ce genre de musique avec ambition et pertinence, sans sonner comme une parodie pour émission de télé-crochet. C'est un album que je peux recommander à n'importe qui, l'assurance qu'il ou elle y trouvera quelque chose de beau. Mais pour moi, il lui manque cette étincelle de folie, ce grain de sable dans la mécanique parfaitement huilée. Il lui manque ce petit "je-ne-sais-quoi" qui transforme un très bon disque en un putain d'album essentiel. C'est une oeuvre d'art magnifique, mais un peu froide. Une beauté que l'on admire plus qu'on ne l'aime passionnément. Un 3/5, pour la beauté du geste et c'est amplement mérité.

Very classical nouveau American Soul done by a Brit - this is the contemporary British music that I enjoy discovering. 3.5/5

As I was not familiar with the artist, I read comments from others and got all excited about listening to the album... The good, his voice! How refreshing to listen to someone just sing and not try and be a million things in one! The bad, repetitive... for me. After a couple of songs I was ready for the album to be over with... However, to stay positive, probably the best album produced in the past 5 years I've had the pleasure of listening to.

Never heard of this artist before, not sure what to expect. Definitely a retro sound. Sounds older than it is. Calming and ambient instrumentals. I wasn't expecting this at all but it was interesting to hear. Highlights: Living In Denial Hero

Good sound from Mr. K. There are a very select few religious artists I can get behind because the music is just good and the message doesn't get too bogged down in prayer. Great example here. Good mix with nice arrangements. The album started very strong but did slow down and fade off by the end. List did provide something I never would have found and I enjoyed...3.15.

Good to see something so recent on this list even if the album didn't wow me. MK has a good voice and the album brings some interesting diverse sounds. There's a lot of emotion and soul buried in this album so perhaps that's why it got the nod. Overall a decent listen. I may check out his other albums to see what else he has. Kiwanuka seems like a pretty skilled specialized musician. I'd like to see him open it up a little more and try his hand at a harder rock album and see what he is capable of. 2.78 stars

His first two albums were exciting. This is still very good, but nothing really stands out to me.

Intimo e lirico, allo stesso tempo corale e tribale. Probabilmente il suo disco più completo e organico.

Плотная черномазая тема

Yeah it's alright

Michael Kiwanuka's self-titled album, Kiwanuka, showcases his undeniable talent as a vocalist. His voice is rich, soulful, and carries an authenticity that draws you in from the first note. There’s a timeless quality to his voice that resonates deeply, reminiscent of classic soul artists. However, while his vocal delivery is undoubtedly strong, the album as a whole falls a bit short in leaving a lasting impact. The production is polished and the instrumentation is lush, blending elements of soul, folk, and jazz. Yet, despite these strengths, the album feels somewhat repetitive and lacks the dynamic energy that would elevate it from good to great. Many of the tracks blend together, making it difficult for any particular song to stand out. It’s a pleasant listen, but it may not be one you find yourself returning to often. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 3 STAND OUT TRACK Hero

Well, it wasn't quite what I was expecting (in a good way), but it didn't blow me away. It's fine, I'm not sure it deserves a place in the book, though.

Nice, but not top 1000 in the world

Fed! Lækker lyd, gode sange, fede vibes. Måtte gerne have været lidt mere fokuseret på sange frem for vibes måske.

Meget varieret musik, dejlig stemme!

A interesting listen. Groovy in a little different. But I probably won't come back to this.

Some infectiously catchy stuff on here. I liked it better than I thought I would.

I like it a little better than some of the other recent albums but it’s still not likely to make it on my list of favorites.

Shame on me for thinking it was going to be afro-beat. Pretty good album overall. Not one I'd heard of, obviously. I'll revisit this one when I'm in the mood.

Didn't get a chance to listen to the whole Album, but what I did catch -- I liked.

Muito bom álbum. Som bem diferente, voz agradável. Recomendo demais. Um pop que foge do convencional, com boa instrumentação e qualidade musical.

Makes me mourn pre-covid

I’ve gone back to this album a couple of times now since first listening to it. This is a supremely interesting and marvelous creative work. Love final days & the interlude.

His bio is incredible...leaning into who he is instead of creating a stage version that shields against criticism. This first song, "Your Ain't the Problem," resonates.

I really don't know what to say about this one. I didn't hate it and I made it all the way through, but I don't think I'd run it again unless I was getting paid or something. I guess I wonder why it made the list.

I had no idea what to expect from this, and was pleasantly surprised. Probably not something I would listen to on repeat, but it had some nice grooves to it.

i loved this album!! it has a very conscious feeling to it, and kept me hooked!

Good start and great ending, however the middle is quite bloated by useless interludes and drawn out instrumentals. Lost a lot of motivation on re-listens. The ending run of tracks after (and including) "Hero", is quite noteworthy and easily the strongest part of the album. Especially, if you're in the mood for a blend of psychedelic rock, soul and r&b.

3.5!

It's fine I guess. Some cool guitars

Very chill!

I'm surprised something so recent is on a list like this. I'm not sure if I would ever meet someone who would clamour that this is indeed essential. But what do I know? It's a perfectly pleasant record and Michael Kiwanuka sounds like a nice person. If I was a more skilled writer and thinker, I would try to posit some theories around the emergence of hypnagogic pop (soul) in our digital age. I appreciate anyone trying resist the whims of the algorithm and think about authenticity in a time when that seems to be rarer and rarer to see. B

Great voice, love his music. "You ain't the problem" got me through some tough times.

ok, aber keine topscheibe, elektro poprockethnoafrostyle

Smooth, easy listening

I was initially skeptical about the album because of the cover. I found the music surprisingly good. I probably won't listen to it again soon, but I wouldn't shy away from it. 3/5

It's a pleasant pastiche of stuff that has been done better about 40 years prior. Clearly very talented in all fields but originality.

Already downloaded a few of his songs so had liked him before but thought the album was solid overall.

Smooth but a bit pedestrian in places

Soothing

I really liked this. His musicality and flow were good. I think the challenge of retro-soul, especially reflecting the Blaxploitation era, is people like Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, and James Brown did it so well it became iconic. If someone is going to pay homage, it needs to offer something they didn’t. This album was a great reflection but I am not sure it offered anything not already done. You Ain’t the Peoblem and Piano Joint were my key tracks. I will definitely give this another listen, thiugh

I dig this one. I’m surprised such a recent album is on this list. I actually found this one a few years back and made it on to my “Recent Favorite Albums” playlist. The first couple of tracks are really good. It kind of mellows and meanders toward the end but is good quality.

It's a nice chill, soulful album. He has a great voice.

6/10

Good music and direction.

Really interesting and unique. 7/10

It's pretty OK. Nice and smooth. It’s another one that’s tough to rank without half stars. I quite like it at points - Solid Ground is amazing. Probably 3.5 stars overall. Turns out he’s a t*ttenham supporter, which is AT LEAST a half star deduction.

Another album that is too long. Lose a couple songs and this is 4 stars.

Guitar-forward trance-y blues that sounds great for a couple of tracks but loses me after a while. I'll probably come back to this a few more times if only for the atmosphere it lays out, and maybe I'll get it more after some repeat listens.

I had never heard of this artist but I really enjoyed this album

Folk, soul feel

3.5? Good background music

Not bad

Nice sound

First time hearing this guy. Good singer, good album

Some stand out tracks, good not great

Would I listen to it again: yes Is it a no-skip album: yes Do I like it: yes

Inaspettatamente mi è piaciuto parecchio, bellissimo il flow di alcune canzoni

È interessante senz’altro. Sembra molto più vecchio del 2019

Honestly not sure what this was but I didn’t hate it

You Ain't the Problem 3.4 Rolling 3.3 I've Been Dazed 3 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) (Intro) 2.8 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) 3.1 Another Human Being 2.9 Living in Denial 3.2 Here (Intro) 3 Hero 3.1 Hard to Say Goodbye 3.3 Final Days 3.3 Interlude (Loving the People) 3.4 Solid Ground 3.3 Light 3 Score: 3.15

some of the tracks on here hit the emotional bone for sure. i really dig the amount of distortion and fuzz on the guitar at times - stuff gets really psychedelic at times. i'm writing this as Hard To Say Goodbye is finishing up and god damn, real talk could have listened to that on loop for at least another 7 mins. lowkey shoegaze vibes (shut up). dudes vocals are incredible and very very good but something isn't quite clicking with me in that department yet. alright, few more tracks left. might listen to it again and see if it really sticks - otherwise 3/5 for sure.

Some nice songs

Nice voice. Good listen.

Very uneven for me - really liked some tracks, yawned through some, disliked a couple.

Pretty good. Better than expected

An interesting 1970s vibe - I liked it!

Nice, easy to listen to, but nothing stood out or made me feel excited.

I really liked Michael’s voice and Danger Mouse’s production. Some songs were a little slow for me

Album 380 of 1001 Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA Rating : 3.5 / 5 I enjoyed this album. Released in 2019, it is part of the updated 1001 Album list. Wasn't familiar. Good stuff. Classified as Soul/Folk, yet had a Best Rock Album nomination, so hard to categorize. Sometimes a category isn't needed. This is just a good listen, no label needed.

this is one of those albums made by MICHAEL

Correcto.

Newest Easy listening album added to the latest edition of this list

Dense as a positive aspect, and retro while remaining distinctly modern. In some ways, it reminds me of Kirin J. Callinan’s Bravado, because I feel like it’s a ‘70s record that just so happened to be released in the 2010s. But unlike Bravado, which can turn abrasive and ultra-modern at the drop of a hat, Kiwanuka always marches forward on a traditionalist path. That isn’t necessarily a slight, because it makes for a seamless album that flows aesthetically and sonically into a singular statement, but sometimes, it also means that, while good, it can feel somewhat bland. It’s so traditionalist that I almost feel like I’ve heard it all before, and without anything fresh upfront to excite me, I’m having a hard time clicking with this. And I get that some of the freshness I’m looking for is in its contextualization, or better, in its recontextualization. In that way, it reminds me a lot of Ethel Cain, an artist I haven’t yet been able to get into because the treasure is buried beneath, and frankly, I just don’t have time to dig for buried treasure any more at this stage in my life. My ears are like the slush pile – if I’m not entranced after the first paragraph, you’re getting a rejection. Which is cruel, because I do like a lot of what this album is doing. It’s just not doing anything particularly unique to my ears to elicit excitement. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if this grows on me by the end of the challenge. To be fair, I feel like that is the intention with this record – you’re supposed to sit with it for a month or six, and then, suddenly, it blossoms into an obvious magnum opus, and you feel foolish for not seeing it earlier. But my first impression is that it’s very good, just not something I’m falling head over heels for any time soon.

Some nice tunes here. Never heard of this album or artist. It's not 90s hip hop so I won't listen to it again.

also not terrible. modern production quality certainly helps

I first became aware of MK when he was interviewed by Guy Garvey on his BBC Radio 6 show. He came across well and the music played stirred my interest to research and listen his music more. I wasn’t moved enough to go out and buy any of his albums. I found lots of things to like but equally other tracks which were duds to my ears. A bit like this album really. I have listened it fully from start to finish. MK is obviously a very talented man being able to knot together more musical genres than you can shake a stick at. The knotting together is particular good as each track merges seemlessly unnoticeably but then again it is noticeable how good this is achieved. 75% of this album is brilliant - Piano Joint, Hero, Solid Ground been highlights. One or two other tracks do not measure up for me but this is true for lots of albums as very few albums are perfect. I could be persuaded to go out and buy this album but it certainly goes onto a streaming playlist. I’d would rate it a midway 2.5 but as Guy Garvey rates MK music so much and because Guy has introduced me to so much good music (as well as his own) it must be a 3. 2.5(3)/5 27/3/24

It was okay.

Pleasant, easy-going tunes

7.5

I thought that this wouldn't be too great, based on the first few songs in the album, but the song Hero was quite nice, although it was quite repetitive. It's okay though, but the rest of the songs are a bit meh.

Enjoyed that quite a bit. Not sure how to describe. More sour than rock. 3.75

Great voice, but nothing else stands out.

Good album. Great combination of sounds.

Like the artist's vocals and the blues influence, a tad bit slow for me.

Strong album, start to finish.

Definitely interesting music. Reverb-drenched.

Completely new to me. Dull in parts in my opinion but overall pretty cool

3.4 New to me and an interesting entry. Wouldnt say its an all-time great or anything like that but I enjoyed it

Quite pleasant folk-rock, but nothing really grabbed me.

An ok album

This was an unexpected hit for me. I only vaguely knew of this man prior but this album is POWERFUL!

I liked the first few tracks a lot and thought it was overall a beautiful album. I'm not sure I would like this album everyday, but I liked it today.

This was pretty OK.

ich fand’s ein bissl fad

Maybe this is just unlucky to be my first of the 1001 albums but I’d just say it was okay. Definitely no bad songs but not much that stands out to me. I’d give it pass marks if not a B grade.

Loved it!

Overall decent album. Had some songs that I enjoyed but none that took me to the next level. I enjoyed hearing something new and more modern. No songs made it into rotation, though.

This was alright but I didn't find it as arresting as the earlier Love and Hate album. Will keep listening out for the lad though

Not my genre but an intriguing sound and enjoyable listen.

I liked the various genre influences throughout, and while there weren't any tracks I particularly disliked, the album as a whole was just a little slow for my liking

This album has a very smooth tone with a melding of light jazz and smooth rock. I also think I hear some background African beats in a fee of the songs, but the jazz overrides. I know the reviews indicate a rock and soul vibe but I don't hear it as much as I hear the soft jazz tones. Very easy to listen and enjoyable all through the song list.

Lovely sounding, strong songs a real grower.

It's ok. Cool soul style, but none of the authenticity or originality of old school soul. This is kind of a UK Mass Market version from 2019. 2.8.

Ended up liking this one. Enjoyed the mix of soul music and the influences of his ancestral background. 3.5/5 Might listen again.

This is cool to me simply because of the combination of influences Kiwanuka uses. I love records that are difficult to qualify in easy genre terms, and KIWANUKA is certainly one of those.

Really not in my musical wheelhouse. Wasn't bad but not something I would gravitate to.

This was pretty good. I had enough by the end though.

Unique

Diverse and often beautiful

Eerste album van de 1001. Kende deze artiest alleen van de wereldhit 'Home Again'. Dit is echter niet representatief voor de songs op dit album. Wat een gevarieerd neo-soul album met duidelijke jaren 70 invloeden. Veel gitaar en funky ritmes. Kom er zeker nog eens bij terug. 3,5/5

Low key thoughtful

Have listened to a bit of this geezer in the past, and by that I mean listened to two songs a lot, including the opening credits song to HBOs Big Little Lies (would recommend the first series, not the second). However there was nothing on this album I recognised, and nothing jumping out at me. A fairly pleasant listen none the less.

Found this a bit boring, but its not bad.

Un poco rollo, pero bueno ... Final Days lo salva.

It's good! I would never listen to this on the regular, but if it showed up in a playlist I'd recognize it as a Very Good Vibe.

Solid modern soul project, got a little repetitive and long for my taste but it’s a cool album!

Decent mix of rock and soul. I wasn't into the slower songs as much but there are some cool tunes here.

It was okay, but it was not my favorite!

nice easy listening

Robin said it was good. Travel day, missed it.

Solid album, if a little safe.

Not my style, but original, special and pure 🙌🏽

Pretty fun album. I'm surprised it was so off of my radar. I'm glad that I listened to it.

Okay

I listened to most of the songs...did not feel anything inspiring for any of them!

Ahh what a breath of fresh air this album is from yesterday! That being said…. Michael is a sad boy whose heart was broken and his style is reminiscent of early indie music from 90’s and 2000’s. Blending some nice vocals and various string accompaniments that make it feel recent yet familiar to days gone by. I enjoy the vibe, but c’mon dude let her/(him?) go you know? Go to therapy, journal, take yoga, I dunno find that “Solid Ground” or “Light” you’re yearning for my man. I gave it a good listen while making eggs so my headspace was a little different compared to his I suppose. He’s got a nice voice but would be cool to hear him explore that in a positive direction and embrace his Ugandan roots and do a full album with more African inspired influence. Undoubtedly under represented in this genre (indie, folk, RnB) —> would be fresh to hear especially from someone with impressive pipes to showcase and blend old culture with new flair

Sometimes, it gives sly and the family stone But then, there is a certain muffled, distorted distancing from the singer's voice. I dunno why, it reminds me of Radiohead? introspective, longing, melancholic... he dives inward on piano joint and then! is that a harp on another human being? spacey, dreamy coffee shop vibes all around

Decent album overall, not really my kind of music

Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka This seems too recent to be on an important list like this. No idea what to expect. Or even what genre this is. It’s gotta be good to be from 2019 and on this list. You Ain’t The Problem - strong out the gate with a classic neo-soul sound. Instantly melts any fears I have about this album. Super high production values. Love the line delivery. 4/5 Rolling - rolling forward into the next song. Song is alright, gets a big push from its predecessor. 2/5 I’ve Been Dazed - that move from one song to the next without telling me! So sneaky. This trio of songs are obviously meant to be listen to as a set. That energy! 4/5 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) [Intro] - well it does say intro. It’s carrying me through though 1/5 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) - sad song makes me sad. Ok. This song feels more complete than the others 2/5 Another Human Being - outro. Not as cool as the intro. Totally a skit. 1/5 Living in Denial - I can’t tell what year I’m in! I definitely like the layered weirdness of this song. It’s got a memorable hook to. This song has a bridge! Why don’t the others have bridges? 3/5 Hero (Intro) - that was total filler 0/5 Hero - ok I get it now, this album is going for a wide array of guitar textures. Guitar solo! 2/5 Hard To Say Goodbye - this song feels like a journey on an expansive steppe, probably in a Jeep Wrangler. This probably has the best vocals in the album. It pulls me and pushes me away at the same time. 3/5 Final Days - an apocalypse song. I’ll always listen to an apocalypse song. Interlude - I actually enjoy this interlude. Call me crazy 2/5 Solid Ground - while this sure feels like the single it’s a bit of a slog for me. 1/5 Light - nice conclusion 2/5 Well, that was a journey. Transporting to a kind of neo-soul nostalgic cool kids club in heaven. Definitely an album experience. Delivers in spades there. I jumped right back to the beginning after it was through. Songs though seem a tad undercooked. Many seem to miss just slightly. A lot of repetition. I don’t see myself breaking out the songs individually. It’s hard. It’s simultaneously awesome and underwhelming album. Placing it right in the center. 3/5

3 Thought it was a calypso collection at first but was disappointed with the rest of the items

A very solid but only modestly interesting soul album. Really well-crafted and thoughtfully written. Think I could have stood for a little more variety, or maybe a little more melody to go with the atmosphere. Best song: Final Days

Smooth vocals. Starts strong but falters in the middle. Lacks cohesive melodies to match the vocals. Finds its feet towards the end with the strings.

Very Grandiose, no bad songs but nothing grabbed me. Best song: (Beginning of) You ain't the problem worst song: N/A

I was surprised by this one. I didn’t know it at all but it sounds like some Venn diagram of Jimi Hendrix plus the Who plus some sort of trippy other thing mixed in. It’s not something I’d have discovered on my own but it definitely has a 60’s vibe that I dug.

was pleasantly surprised on this one. enjoyed

Ok

This album is not what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not sure that any one song particularly stood out. Nevertheless, it was very soothing from start to finish. Fav Track: Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)

Okay. Kind of forgettable.

liked his voice

Sad

There are some enchanting songs on this, it get bogged down in the middle and the production by Dangermouse seems to fussy and over layered. Would it have sounded better more stripped down?

Very nice surprise. Hadn't heard ofMK but the album is very smooth and has great beats. 3

Interesting Sounds, some nice tunes. Listenable

Really good stuff. Will probably listen again.

All around chill. Good quality music. 3

Nice. I liked this a lot and had never heard of Michael before. Liked the music and the vocals.

should be my vibe, but didn’t really have anything that stood out to me. Grammy nominated rock album, kinda R&B. 2019.

Did not manage to listen to it

Pretty cool, haven't heard anything from this artist before. Would listen again.

A few good songs. Slower music that makes me a bit drowsy. Reminds me of Moby mixed with some oldies and soul.

Meh

Didn’t listen fully, but from what I heard it’s groovy

Nothing super interesting here, there was one song with some great fuzz guitar leads but nothing that's particularly connecting with me

Un poco rollo, pero bueno ... Final Days la salva.

interesting one… have to get back to this

Smooth music with clean beats and nice rhythms. No song stands out to me, but it sounds nice. 5/10

- An interesting vibe, great to chill to - Very recent, I hope we get other recent albums - 2.5 round up - Hero and You Ain't the problem were good

This was pretty damn good. A couple songs got me listening - You Ain't the Problem, Solid Ground. A pretty strong groove throughout. I could do with more of this kind of stuff.

Slow, but nicely melodic. Good vocals, decent vibes, good flow from one song to next, nothing standout.

Very enjoyable album, I really liked the vibe from the songs.

Pretty good album, Piano Joint and Solid Ground were two really strong songs in the album and also enjoyed Rolling and You Ain't the Problem however didn't enjoy either of the 'Intro' tracks and didn't think they gave a good front for their respective next track.

Meh.

Not what I expected. A unique new take on some classic soul sounds. Kiwanuka has a great voice and that is the main appeal of this abum. It also works as an album , which is an interesting throwback concept nowadays. A little sad and lonely when you look at it next to its influences like Otis Redding or Bill Withers. Not a masterpiece by any means but you can feel Michael Kiwanuka's intention and looking forward to more. First time hearing about him - is the 1001 albums book slightly UK biased?

this is the type of album you put on after a breakup and drink yourself to sleep. i by no means disliked it, thought it was pretty good, but probably wouldn't reach for it. 6.5/10.

A couple good songs, but the album didn’t really speak to me.

Not terrible

This was pretty good. Not something I would have normally sought out, but I'm glad I listened to this. "You Ain't The Problem" and "Hero" were the standout tracks to me.

I found it... alright. Nothing really blew me away here but there was nothing I really didn't like either. I can tell its good, but maybe just not for me.

I prefer the uptempo stuff.

I liked the vibes of the album. Kiwanuka has a very calm and soothing voice. That said, I don’t think it’s something I’d choose to listen to although I’d definitely check out his other releases.

A bit slow and dull for active listening IMO. but nice in the background when working.

Just never got there for me. Great voice, great songs, but never peaked