KIWANUKA

You ain’t the problem- Lively and groovy opener👍 Rolling- Guitar more heavily introduced in this track, v catchy 👍 I’ve been dazed- Smooth transition into slower, more wistful track Piano joint- Intro fine, song proper is beautiful and laid back👍 Another human being- Interlude like, with beautiful harp and leading into next song Living in denial-bop👍 Hero- amazing guitar work👍 Hard to say goodbye- Not substantial enough for its runtime Final days- great melody into interlude Solid ground- This is great, especially when the instrumentation kicks in👍 Light- atmospheric closing track but doesn’t do much for me This is an excellent album, as well as working really well as an album 5/5

Chill vibes, felt familiar. Great sleepy music

This album was nominated for a Rpck Grammy? WTF is that? I didn’t really hear any real rocknroll. That said, disappointing compared To other Kiwanuka tunes I enjoy.

solid, pretty new for the list.

P good

Pretty nice album from 2019

This was a nice surprise.

richtig richtig geil

I like the 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

Da e heilt ok

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

I think this falls into the "artful but not really my thing" category. Might give it another listen at some point.

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.

Great album, message and vibes

Piano GOOD

This album started out with a bombastic, eclectic sound that was pretty unique. I kept thinking there was something familiar about the elements and wasn't surprised to read it was produced by DJ Dangermouse. Once I knew that, it was obvious his fingerprints were all over this thing. Unfortunately, I felt like the album ended with a whimper. I was bored and everything sounded similar in the second half.

A Classic

versatile.

Enjoyed it. Smooth and easy to listen to.

Very smooth soul... a great voice and vibe that occasionally reminded me of Seal... but maybe not as pop-ish. All very listenable tunes, though only a few (Final Days, Solid Ground) stood out for me.

Very good and surprising

Good

wow, i really loved this album so much. i tried to look up if he's touring and he's not. maybe one of my new favorite albums.

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.

notes - groovy indie rock album, psychedelic elements - produced by danger mouse - big fan of a lot of the production choices on here - especially the way that backing vocals are handled - lyrical themes of violence, race, self reflection - some of the lyrics on here are really good, but he often goes for the most obvious rhymes and choices - friend, end, see, me etc - the simplicity works in some moments but in others it breaks the mystique of the songs - The last 4/5 songs on here are great! Fav - Final days - The drums and vocals on this are so good least fav - hero - compelling lyrical content but the music didnt do anything for me 3/5

First song is awesome! I loved this album best one I have listened to since joining

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

Fucking GREAT album holy shit. This album made me so happy to just experience.

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.

I hate modern music

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’m not sure what I think about this one. Trying to cram in a lot of styles. Not bad but doesn’t win me over either

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 difficult to rate this one. Some tracks are good to amazing, some things really don't stick for me. All in all an okay album with a great singer

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

Soothing Contemporary.

A stone cold masterpiece. Sounds timeless yet relevant.

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.

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

It's better when using guitar for the hooks (such as in Hero/Interlude Loving The People), rather than backing vocals (such as Living In Denial/You Ain't The Problem, which sound like backing tracks from Austin Powers). As a whole album, lots of interesting styles and influences, I like when it gets a bit ambient and trippy, and your man has a great voice ... but some of it I found a bit irritating.

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!

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

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.

Pretty good and funky

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

Not my kind of music

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

It’s like a more soulful, less funky Black Pumas. Definitely good, but wouldn’t say anything deeply caught my attention. It was mostly in the background of the day. Didn’t listen super consciously.

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

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

phenomenal. soul so thick you could eat it with a spoon

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

It's like Zero 7, the Gorillaz, and Pink Floyd had a baby.

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

Good

[08/09/2022] The most recently released album yet, 2019. I had never heard of this artist before and I don’t think I had ever listened to one of his songs. The album was mediocre to me, but it wasn’t bad. The last 3-5 songs are better in my opinion. It has an interesting sound and despite the fact that I like chill music, maybe this was too chill for me. I think the goal here was this very simple, stripped back sound and slower rhythm. It’s just not my cup of tea. I like his voice though. Just too simple or repetitive for me personally.

Liked this one!

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

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.

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

Loved it

A feel good album with some decent music but all sounds very similar but as it falls under a very constricting gentle of music which is soul it exceeds and even updates the music to a newer and refreshing state of experimental and old coming together

Interesting

Neat! Easy listening, without being "easy listening". Jazzy with an afrobeat appeal. Watching the live show that came on next, this guy is quite a performer and guitarist.

Very good

It’s sounds really good

Not my thing

This was great! Would listen again.

8/6 lounged

3.5

Cool enough album. Didn't really have any standout hits. At least it wasn't totally expected. 3/5.

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

Nice vibey downtempo album with some modern blues notes

It was off to a good start and then I zoned out. Nothing really peaked my interest until suddenly Fontaines D.C started playing and I realised the album must have ended and I didn't even notice. That's not to say the album is bad or that it only works as forgettable background music. It's more likely to be true that my ears pricked at the music that's familiar to me, like a greeting from someone I know and I'm excited to see, rather than meeting a friend of a friend for the first time, someone you may well get along with in time but don't have the focus or interest for right now.

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

1st track is a banger, excellent album

It starts off with sounds of South African riffing. It then gets a little like Paul Weller's "My Ever Changing Moods" (which isn't a compliment). The horns give it a bit of an irritating flowing 60s sound but when they take out the guitars and put the dam horns away, they sound quite good. "Hero" and "You Ain't the Problem"  are good examples.  The background vocals on songs like Light sound like hymns you might hear on Sunday morning religious programming. There is a live version of him singing Light (at the Mildmay Club) that has none of the Pray TV style of background vocals. It exposes this song for what it is - an excellent  song sung by a man with a wonderful voice. Too bad this is hidden under the overproduced studio version.

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

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.

Överraskande bra. La till två låtar på mitt Spotify.

2.5. Not at all what i expected based on the album cover. Really good.

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.

Kind of an odd contemporary from across the pond to "Awaken, My Love" in a way. I enjoyed every moment of this.

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.

Definitivt en femma

Michael snoozanuka

A nice mix of organic pop and indie sounds. Also suprised to learn that Danger Mouse produced this… strong 3

Helt ok men lite för städigt+vad gör det på listan...

Nice album, but wouldn't really call it rock. Flows nicely without any real highs or lows. 3/5

Really good, big suprise for me

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

Album blijft niet bij 1 genre, veel variatie

4.5 stars, beautiful albums. Upbeat stuff has Beck vibes, slower stuff Hozier or Sam Smith. Pleasant listen all the way through but standouts are "You Ain't the Problem", "Rolling", "Light"

Michael K is the best

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

Psychedelic soul, 2019. This is nothing more than a nice album with some interesting songs and a few fillers. This is a record which is not memorable, but on the other hand it is also really far to be an uninspired project, infact some tracks work quite well, e.g. "Solid Ground" or "Piano Joint".

Thought it was good

Boring

Beautiful music

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

This one really took me by surprised. My experience with the newest albums on this list has been pretty negative so far. The album cover also didn't look too promising to me and I didn't like the beginning of the first track too much either... but the sheer quality of this record pushed those preconceptions and first impressions straight out the window. This is a wonderful album full of feeling and delicate beauty. After the first spin, I had to give it a second spin free from negative preconceptions and loved it. Now I'm listening to his 2016 record and loving that one too.

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

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

Absolutely okay - completely unnoteworthy upon first listen, the kind of music which musicians/music students fawn over because it doesn’t actually say a great deal with its complex chord changes. Not for me but I can appreciate the production on it without question.

Pretty good. I really liked some of it.

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

Never would have shown up in my music wheel house, but I am so glad it did. Immediately favorited it and downloaded it for later.

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

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.

I had never heard of this album but I definitely enjoyed it and am going to listen to it 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

Love

Well that was lovely. Soulful, intricate and elegant.

Really nice voice. The songs were good but nothing really jumped out.

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

nice

70’s Africana vibe. I likey.

Pretty good - some nice rhythms.

Intense, rich voice

i liked it because it was something i’ve never really heard before. it wasn’t completely up my alley, not for any particular reason but just not completely my vibe but i did enjoy it.

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

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!

Sorry was not that good to my ear. I wanted to like it but could not.

Kiwanuka é incrível. Esse álbum rivaliza com Love & Hate sobre qual é a melhor obra desse monstro contemporâneo.

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.

Pop con algún toque electrónico y reminiscencia de los '70. Fácil de escuchar, pero no llamativo

Decent enough album.

This is singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka's third album. It's an indie folk rock album that was highly acclaimed by critics and average listeners. This is another album that contains music which isn't my preferred genre, so I'm not part of the majority that loves this album. The album was relaxing and had a few interesting songs, but I probably wouldn't listen to it again.

Uninspiriertes lala.

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.

This is one of the most enjoyable new albums that I've heard in a while. I guess if I had to categorize it, I'd call it psychedelic soul. You can definitely hear influences of Pink Floyd alongside Marvin Gaye and the Beatles here. Kiwanika's voice is beautiful on this album and the songwriting is strong as well as the production. This album has been on repeat for a few days now and I can't wait to check out the rest of his discography.

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.

Slaps

Mad decent, nothing super spectacular

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.

Just nice

Great album, I’ll listen to it again I’m sure.

Mellow. Found myself liking it though.

Didn't really connect with this album, but it did have a few good songs.

I found this album a bit like sliced white bread - it's not offensive, but equally doesn't really stand out in any way. Fine if listened to with something else going on - perfect dinner party music. I wouldn't reach for the off switch if it came on, but won't be adding it to my collection.

Solid Album, quality production.

Enjoyed listening to him. Not quite 4*, just 3

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?

Amazing

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

That was a fantastic album.

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

Nice album but kind of boring. More artistic than anything. 6/10

Enjoyed some of Michael’s collections The easy listening I favored

This might be the most recent album so far, but in 2019 I had no idea about this one. Must have flown under the radar but I don’t think I would have put it in my top albums back then anyway. In the most curious of terms, I’m not sure why this album is on this list, I’d love to know why, I don’t think it won any awards but it seems like a basic RnB album. Felt a bit like 70’s too.

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

Really enjoyed it, maybe just in a generous mood today, but it was quite good.

Not as I expected - but not my go to sound

It’s quality for a modern indie rock album. Had good vibes. I definitely would recommend it to someone who likes low energy indie rock. Last song was great. But I was pretty bored for a lot of it. The first song really made me cringe when he started singing.

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

soulful. good?

This was completely unexpected and utterly delightful. Michael Kiwanuka seems like the British answer to contemporary American artists like Gary Clark Jr. and Leon Bridges and I'm not mad at that. The musicianship is top-notch, the songwriting is excellent, and the production quality is fantastic. I have nothing negative to say. Everything about this album was enjoyable.

A LOT better then I was expecting.

Cool vibe

This is my favorite in a while! Wow this was so good. I loved how intoxicating the music and guitar parts were. So beautiful and tragically underrated.

Never heard of this guy, but absolutely loved the sound and album.

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.

Liked the album, very groovy rhythms and vocals

"ooh, we really need some recent releases on the must hear list. This one is recent, and won any award. Better stick it on the list." I don't think many people will remember this record in 10 years time. It's ok, but is it a must listen? I mean, he's got a great voice, and can write a song, and play guitar well enough. the Danger Mouse production leaves me a little non-plussed. It just sounds like... a Danger Mouse production. This is an OK album that really doesn't belong on this list.

Brilliant

Not bad…..

I really enjoyed this album and artist! I will be listening to him again.

Really enjoyed this

some new stuff

Lots of faffing about but otherwise v good

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

Did not enjoy

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.

I hadn’t heard of this before it showed up on the list. I like it. It’s like a soul version of the Black Keys. Given Danger Mouse’s involvement, I’m not surprised. There are elements of Funkadelic and Curtis Mayfield. I would listen again.

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.

I am shooketh

Bon j'ai liké plus de la moitié des titres ça part sur un 5.

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

A comprehensive, intriguing, soulful, masterpiece? I don't know a masterpiece when I hear it but this might be one. It gave me a feeling of awe as I listened, like I was consuming something far bigger than myself. That is thanks in part to the power of his voice and the elegant use of the instruments and backing vocals. Everything feels big and bold. A really wonderful album; give me more Kiwanuka!

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.

Enjoyed this album more than expected. Haven’t listened to him before but knew of songs from his other albums. I thought this album was really good as a whole. It has a lot of musical elements involved, and kiwanuka has a pretty solid singing style and voice. 7.5/10

Voice is great, music not so great.

Reminds me of Leon bridges

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.

Pretty good. Expected better.

Fine background music

Well done sir

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.

Pakko tunnustaa, että olin aika skeptinen levyn suhteen kun tuli esiin nimi ja kansikuva. Yllätti siinä mielessä positiivisesti vaikkakin ei nyt kuitenkaan jää pyörimään soittoon.

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

This is album is so sooo beautiful! The combination of soul and avant-garde is downright heavenly!

What a pleasant surprise, I have read about him but never listened to an album before. Today I listened to this album three times. And shared it with a bunch of people as well.

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

Ça commence fort et ça fini fort. Le milieu est vide et sans intérêt.

Belle découverte ici. Une belle voix. En plus, la production est superbe. J’aime beaucoup ce que Danger Mouse fait dans ses collaborations. Pièce préférée: Piano joint

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

Keywords: Chill, affirmative, unique Fav Songs: You ain't the problem, Rolling, Hero Somewhat "experimental" at first, some calm basic music at the end Feels like it should be listened in one sitting

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 🌟

1st track-I like a lot

Solid 3, vocals very nice

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

De los mejores descubrimientos.. en años!

wow! a new refreshing sound!

Great modern soul/R&B album

I loved this album that was both so enjoyable and so meaningful to listen to.

I didn't know what to expect here, but it was splendid! There was a sublime flow to the tracks and almost every track just grabbed me and pulled me in...some kind of funky, some kind of jazzy, some nice slow jam. It kept me interested in hearing what would come next.

What an absolute treat. Fantastic. FANTASTIC!

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

Newver heard of this guy, but enjoyed this. I will listen to more of his.

Good solid album. I had never heard of Kiwanuka before and his sound is a refreshing change from the usual. Curious to hear more.

Fantastically Beautiful

Awesome album, I love it. 4

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

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

Why don't you microwave a little bowl of this and serve it to someone who cares?

Well, well, well, this was a pleasant surprise. I had been aware of Michael Kiwanuka but I was expecting this to be a soppy great wet lettuce of an album. I had assumed he peddled watered-down mainstream "soul" which would be none of my business. How wrong I was. Google tells me it is Danger Mouse produced which explains the epic panoramic production. There's more than a bit of Bill Withers buried in the album's DNA but it is still very much its own thing. It's modern soul on a grand scale and I will shortly be purchasing a copy, this one is a keeper. Well done 1,001 Albums Generator, a big thumbs up for you.

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

Absolutely loved. Soulful, reminded me a bit of Leon Bridges for the vibe

Not bad, vocals had no change in cadence or urgency. Chill, but didn’t grab me

Don’t hesitate Time heals the pain You ain’t the problem

Nice music

Several bangers. Enjoyed this a lot when it came out

A strong cohesive album with a 70s feel. Accomplished and sounds good. I'm not sure if I'd award it 4, but certainly a high 3.

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

Though I like the general sound of this, after listening to it several times nothing really stuck out to me.

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.

Kiwanuka by Michael Kiwanuka (2019) There’s a nice feel to this relatively recent pop production, which is flavored with folk, jazz, and R&B—with many throwback strains that lead the listener back to the 1960s (which is not, in my view, a bad place to be). For those people who think that all the good music was done before 1990, and that all current music is junk, give this album a listen. It’s one of the few albums for which the word “kindness” can be applied without mawkishness. The listener just sort of wants to become friends with this singer/songwriter. Maybe it’s the smiling sense of humility. Maybe I’ve just listened to too much hip hop, thrash metal, and punk lately. The themes are personal, yet not excessively deep or self-absorbed. But this first person focus is clothed in extraordinarily collaborative musical arrangements, with dozens of contributing vocalists and instrumentalists. It’s rich, despite its lyrical simplicity. Kiwanuka’s voice is strong and masculine, giving us convincing affection (“Piano Joint”, “Hero”, “Hard to Say Goodbye”) but nevertheless a sometimes endearing timidity and self-doubt (“Final Days”, “Solid Ground”). The cover art is completely inapt. Some of the production choices are quite distracting, like the ‘noise’ in the background of “Hard to Say Goodbye” from 4:30 to 6:00, but with effort, the serious listener can get through. It’s a nice slice of the cultural pie. 3/5

Dull.

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.

Perhaps faded to elevator music, with wonderful textures. The same could be said for Radiohead though, so worth a relisten!

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

The first half of Piano Joint reminds me a lot of Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin, there's a beauty in the simplicity of the music combined with the raw emotion of the singing voice. Overall it sounded like café music to me.

Wasn't really for me, it was different and reminds me of a new wave soul artist capturing elements of older style southern American music. He's talented, it's just not my sort of thing.

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

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.

Masterpiece

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

gorgeoussss timeless lovely

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

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

Very mellow and easy to listen to but would not on a regular basis.

Thought that this was interesting a nd a great listen all the way through. Will definitely be going back.

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!

Solid, but unspectacular. He can really sing, but all felt a bit restrained for me. You ain't the problem is far and away my favourite track

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

Ekat kaks biisiä oli kunnon bängereitä, hyvää positiivista energiaa ja tarttuvia hookkeja, just sitä mistä mä tykkään. Sen jälkeen vähän liian hidasta mun makuun, mutta kokonaisuutena hyvää settiä.

Tää on kyl kivaa ja miellyttävää. Monet melodiat makuuni ja tasalaatuisuudesta plussaa.

Hyvän kuuloinen. Aion kuunnella uudestaan jossain kohtaa, sillon vois ehkä noustakin.

So dope.

This album is a gem! Hero and You Ain't the problem are so damn good. could listen to this one all day.

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.

Beautiful album. Absolutely beautiful.

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.