KIWANUKA

One word no

3.93

I feel like I’ve had the same attitude towards all of the semi-contemporary albums I’ve enjoyed on here: there’s so much I really loved about this, but I wish it sounded a little bit less on-the-computer. This one is at least meant to sound more organic, but you can still hear it. Too tight, too wound up. Getting a really sick live band and doing this in a hall or a theatre would suit the music so much better.

The last songs have a Moby sound

Verry verry good album :< Something I didn't know I could be into. Fresh sounding. Relatable.

This album would have been popular if released at any point in time in the last 60 years. What an exceptional performance! 4 stars because I think his second album Love & Hate is even better crafted.

Black excellence what can I say? Awesome way of expressing how music transcends even decades

This is a worthy soulful, retro, low-fi effort. The mood is chill and I find it uplifting. I think a wide range of people would enjoy this music. I particularly enjoyed the melodic approach and the relaxed grooves. There was a nice balance of simplicity and layering.

Immediately tapping my toes. Transitions are beautifully seamless. Relieved my headache and put me into a good mood instantly. Powerful messages throughout, evoked so many emotions

Welcome back to the project indeed! Had this paused since earlier in the year; this was a fantastic album to return to. A suprising 4 stars!

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

Nice mix of different styles. Not all my cup of tea but certainly not bad. 4/5 stars.

Excellent album. First time I have listened to this artist.

Really enjoyed this album. Nice blend of genres, great singing and nice vibe.

What a great discovery ! This beauty totally took me by surprise. When you're three songs into an album and you still can't attach any clearly defined label to the music, you know the artist is doing something right. “Kiwanuka” is a gorgeous mix of many styles and genres, and yet it never feels artificial or affected ; everything just naturally and organically comes together, driven by a unique artistic vision and a strong personality. The fact that listeners who obviously belong to at least three different generations seem so unanimously enthusiastic about this album in the reviews is further proof that Michael Kiwanuka is a formidably talented artist, and shows once again that great music really transcends time and space. I don't love every single song, a couple of them are a bit on the pop side for me, but the more psychedelic soul and rock bits are absolutely amazing. Will absolutely listen again (and I might even edit my review later). 8/10

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

An absolute jam of an album. It reminds me of the best parts of Gorillaz and Demon Days. It’s a smooth and easy listen in the music, with a message and a punch to the lyrics. Easily one of the best albums I have discovered through the project, and one I will recommend to people going forward.

Continued to surprise over and over. Small shifts that made big differences. Thoroughly enjoyed every second.

This was such an amazing album. I wrote this review already don't know why it's asking again. The artist voice was amazing and there were multiple songs which were bangers. Will and still listening to it multiple times. Songs I like : You ain't the problem Rolling Living in denial Hero Final days Solid ground Light Review - 9.5/10

Yep! This is the sort of album I was hoping this project would introduce me to - it's zingy, it's husky, it's mottled and terracotta-warm and lush and raw. This album feels like it's both from the 70s and the 2010s at the same time, telling the same stories in two parallel mediums, painting and tapestry, audio and video, past and present.

Super good stuff

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

6.5ish/10 but felt bad giving it just a 3 = much preferred this to the last couple, think the backing and harmonies worked really well and the whole album worked well together, can hear slight 60/70s influence which i think worked really well and i liked the messages in the songs too, not sure if i would seek out to listen again but wouldn't be mad if i did

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. 4.5

Just kinda nice to have on.

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

4 - Very good, but I still like Love & Hate a bit more.

Started out well but got a bit boring by the end

Retro Simulacrum BS to soundtrack adverts. String beds make 99% of music worse

2,5

8/10 - Great album. Kiwanuka's smooth, silky voice pairs so well with his instrumentals. Also blends variations to his song whilst retaining his unique style that makes the album an easy listening experience without lacking depth.

Beautiful and well crafted songs, soul and rock with great electric guitar tones. Creative melodies that are sometimes complicated but always singable. I have never heard this artist but will definitely put him into my rotation in the future.

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

Kiwanuka is clearly inspired by all those excellent soul records from the seventies that I'm sure we've all become accustomed to while completing this project. I hear some Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye in his sound. The psychedelic guitar playing gives me Funkadelic vibes. The album blasts off with "You Ain't The Problem" - an ass-shaker of an opener that has a strong afrobeat influence all over it. This record isn't just rehashing old artists, Kiwanuka moulds them all into a sound that sounds very modern and fresh. I can see why many other users have been floored when they pick up this record. My only criticism of this album is that the album peters on a little longer than it should have. "Final Days" sounds like a perfect closer to an album and I don't think much is added by the next three songs that follow it. Outside of that, this was a delightful discovery.

Really relaxing and good music to write too. Been writing a training course to deliver in a few weeks and this helped with the vibe.

Sehr schönes Album. Viele emotionale Parts, klasse Instrumentationen. Unerwartet gut!

Soulful, acid-jazz at times. Emotional and well-crafted.

interesante

Really solid album but no fireworks. I really like this guy and his music so its gonna turn a 4 into a 5.

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

It was a very smooth listen. I only played it once tho. I've been having a tough day, and I wasn't in the headspace for repetition.

Not bad. Would revisit.

Chill driving vibes, but songs sound the same

Pretty good singer-songwriter stuff. Kiwanuka has a good voice, and the lush instrumentation usually sounds ok (only occasionally cloying).

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

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

An enjoyable listen. Probably should have paid more attention.

VERY reminiscent of mid-2010s Radiohead. Some of the songs sound straights off A Moon Shaped Pool. Pretty nice

Kinda sounds like a more boring version of the black keys if that’s even possible

boring

awesome

Jools Holland shit.

An actual entry from recent times. I only know of Kiwanuka from the opening from Big Little Lies series, but I have saved many tracks from this album. . ..listened more than once already and will be back. Love the instrumentation and lyrics and that these songs manage to breathe life into social injustice conversations. Saved You Ain't The Problem, Rolling, Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye

This is fantastic! Exactly why I persist in wading through all the shit on this list: to discover hidden gems like this.

Great album. Predictable in all the right places and unexpected in others. Danger Mouse's production really shines through.

Album with a lot of heart and soul. You Ain't the Problem is a perfect pop song.

eh.

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

Not bad but nothing special.

8/10 Album. Super strong start. First half is phenomenal. Wish the lyrics were a bit more deep but honestly the style of basic emotional lyrics came through to me and did move me several times. Drove me to tear in the car to Piano Joint. Honestly Might be closer to 8.5/10 I mean I damn near added every song.

Big hit, mindblown. A friend of mine apparently had recommended this album to me a while back, but I completely ignored it and forgot about it. After having listened to it this time, I recommended it back to him, and he was like, seriously?

Absolutely incredible. Really expansive, unique-yet-listenable soundscapes with some great variety. Excellent voice, produced excellently, pretty much a great listen front to back. Never heard of Kiwanuka but he's on the watchlist. Fav tracks: Rolling, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint (This Kind of Love), Hero, Final Days, Light

Awesome for begin my first psycotrophical album.

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

Albums like this are a highlight of this challenge. As much as I love hearing classics I already liked, hearing new music like this brings me much joy. This album started off a bit weak imo, but by the end I was definitely in love with this one. 4.5 / 5

6/10 cool but not for me (mostly)

It was just perfect! Michael Kiwanuka truly knows the art to mix psychedelic soul, indie and folk rock music, and it hit's the right spot at 3:00 am when you have your headphones on.

I think this is one of the best albums in the last 20 years. I think Hero may be one of the best songs every written. Kiwanuka is one of the most important artists of this current timeline.

I have to say, this one completely caught me off guard. I had never even heard of Michael Kiwanuka before this, and now I'm disappointed it took me this long to discover him. Then again, that's kind of the whole point of this journey. I was able to pick up on the Danger Mouse influence almost immediately, so I wasn't surprised to learn he was involved. The production is outstanding, and the transitions from song to song are so smooth that the album feels like a single, continuous piece rather than a collection of tracks. More than anything, this album is just beautiful. The songwriting, the arrangements, the atmosphere; it all comes together perfectly. It's rare to find an album you enjoy so much it feels like a genuine discovery, but this was one of those moments. This isn't just an album I enjoyed. It's an album I'll keep listening to and picking apart for the foreseeable future. Those are usually the ones that end up sticking around the longest.

Very cool and interesting Standout songs: Ive been dazed Final Days Solid Ground

This is the Big Little Lies guy h yeah Faves: Rolling (melody reminds me of Born to Be Wild) Final Days

This is so unexpected! I dig this.

Great album!

Nice orchestral arrangments, I like it. The vibe is fiiiiire. I don't know why but this album got me into creative mood and now I wanna program!

Good music not my style

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

great surprise! liked the instrumentation

This is just bloody lovely stuff. Would never have myself down as a fan of soul, or neo-soul or whatever pigeon hole this might find itself in, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The opening trio is absolutely stunning, but I found the second half a bit more generally nice, as it washed over me a bit. Definitely going to be listening to this one again though.

Micheal Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA (2019) KIWANUKA is a great, deeply immersive album that stands as a decent listen, even if it does not quite reach a perfect score. The record stands out for its remarkably progressive soulful sound, capturing a dense, cinematic atmosphere that highly recalls the sweeping arrangements of Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul. Michael Kiwanuka delivers an incredibly strong performance here; the pure emotional weight of his vocals, the power of the lyricism, and the underlying socio-political messages hit hard. Balanced by a brilliant, gritty funkiness and rich textures, the project comfortably holds its ground as an excellent body of work. Based on the track selections, the definitive highlights of the LP include "You Ain't The Problem," "Rolling," "I've Been Dazed," "Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) - Intro," "Hard To Say Goodbye," and the staggering emotional peak of "Solid Ground." 4/5

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

A surprise. Not my usual genre but really enjoyable

Preference - 3 Musicianship - 1 Legacy - .5 Total - 4.5

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

MMMMMMMMMM this is just got so much SOUL to it. this def makes me want so many more quality modern albums on the list, the production is just so good compared to 90% of this list.

After most of the rubbish picks that Dimery has made since 2004, I'm really glad that this album was chosen. It's got this modern production sound that pairs really well with the soul elements that he uses. His voice is well placed with the sound. I'm very surprised with how great this album is, and it has given me confidence to listen to more modern albums, as there are some actual gems in the modern era.

this is so sick, listened 2 times. it look me too long to realize the big little lies connection

It's cool, very cool. Maybe too cool and too complete i dunno

Very interesting. Will def get a second listen.

Nice bit of music

I wasn't entirely sure on what to expect from this heading in, but to say I'm blown away would be an understatement. Never knew that I needed some cinematic, sweeping psychedelic soul in my life, but here we are! Stylistically this sounds like it's been unearthed from the 70s, but it has a modern urgency and clarity to anchor it into the present. There's ample depth on offer here, thanks to a vocal performance carrying a ton of conviction and some stunning "wall of sound" production, where layers of distortion and orchestral grandeur demand your focus. The pacing is excellent as well, with the album giving off a continuous feel whilst remaining consistently interesting through its frequent shifts in tempo and mood. The rhythm foundation here is fantastic; warm, cozy bass lines and some heavy, breakbeat style drums and congas that inspire a compelling push and pull. The fuzzed out guitar tones slicing through the album's mix remind me of Jimi Hendrix's signature style in many ways as well, vicious and weighty but never too overpowering. I fully intend to make a purchase and dedicate more time to this. Genuinely a revelatory discovery in and amongst the dross you have to wade through on the regular!

Unaufgeregte Hintergrundmusik- passt schon aber whatever

Not a bad album, and he has a very nice voice. However, there’s laid-back, and then there’s laid out, and this is a little too close to the latter.

Vibes are there

Not for me

All I can say is, I loved this album. I'd never heard of this artist before, so I really didn't know what to expect. But as soon as I heard the first track, I knew that this was going to be a great album. The vocals are beautiful, along with the backing vocals, and they suit the style so beautifully. I liked a lot of the gospel sounds in certain tracks, creating an additional layer of fresh air and power. Favourite lyric: 'The lord said to me, time is a healer.' (I've Been Dazed') Favourites: I've Been Dazed You Ain't The Problem Hero

I really enjoyed this. A great voice with interesting and varied music. Of any contemporary musicians that might get radio play, this is as good as it gets. Beat stuff if front loaded on the album, so it does stall out near the end. But still, very very good.

A bopppppppppppppppppppppppp. Perhaps a bit slow at times but what can you do

Easy listening. I enjoyed the music and the message. I really liked I’ve been dazed. It really spoke to me. I also liked your not the problem and Another Himan Being. I enjoyed listening to something different from my usual music taste

Second time around for this one. I really like it. Surprised it’s on the list, but like it, so yeah! Of all the albums from 2019…whatever… I like it. Husband finds this album very middling to fair. He’s a much harder sell than me. It does make me wonder, though. Does this album really deserve a 4. The thing is, I do actually love it. I go back and it’s saved in my likes. I, personally, listen to it. My husband asks me: “Why? It’s boring.” But I love Kiwanuka’s voice. I think the production is top notch. Maybe this is just a me album. And I am the one rating it. 4 Boolean:true, maybe, but yeah 2016 - 19 had admittedly A LOT of music that probably deserves to be on the list over this.

i guess i didn't not like it but it wasn't anything special.

Breath of Nigerian fresh air

It's fine, smooth, fresh and interesting. No other option than to give it a 4/5 (7/10 imo)

I like this, very interesting and different. My only issue is I typically listen when I work out in the morning, this was just a bit slow for that. I will try again later in the day to give it a fair shake. 3.7

I really enjoyed this. Such great grooves and diggable vibes. It gets a tiny bit exhaustive towards the end, but it's WAY better than some of the garbage this list gives us.

Unknown artist. Like the vocal and some of the arrangements. Overall good album.

cerré los ojos y escuche a Otis Redding . Y eso ya me alcanza.

giving me james bond soundtrack vibes at times also just jams

When new music is either a swinging miss or a total home run in the ballpark of indie rock, KIWANUKA is a decent soundtrack to an afternoon driving around the nicer side of your downtown area with no particular destination.

1. Huere calming 2. Safe guet zum lerne 3. Zu wenig action für kich aber susch huere geil 4. Übergang zwüsched de lieder so clean das mers fascht nöd merkt 5. Album als Ganzes isch es Kunstwerk und nöd numme die einzelne songs 6. Mer merkt das er sich actually öppis denkt hett bi de schaffig vom album

this is so good. It has such a unique sound I couldn't class it as anything I know, it's something completely different. Kiwanuka's voice is heavenly, one of my favourite voices I've heard so far on this list. Utterly incredible.

Really enjoyable listen. He’s got a great voice, the melodies and composition are great as well. Not sure I could slap a label on this in terms of genre

It's an incredibly well produced album with a message, but I did start to tune out after a while

Faktisk jævlig nice. God mix av 70s soul/funk med 10s sensibilitet.

Liker retroviben. Trommene og gitaren låter helt rått

Relaxed, soulful singing.

Lo que me gusta es la tranquilidad de las canciones, aún no alcanzo a escucharlas todas pero me encanta para tenerlo de fondo y así

Favorite Track: Hard to Say Goodbye

nice

fav song - hard to say goodbye least fav song - living in denial i’m not really into folk music, but it was a nice album. sounds really refreshing and interesting

I already really liked him from his previous albums. This one put me over the top and I’ll say he’s one of my top artists atm.

Really good album! I was really surprised. It’s definitely in my rotation now.

Reminder of some old times

Had this one in my streaming library already, though I don’t think I had listened to it yet. You can hear the soul in this - Otis, Marvin, and many others. Wraps around you and makes you feel.

結構良かった。何回も聞いたらもっと良さがわかると思う。

acc fire so amazing

It was all right! Nice chill background music almost, but nothing that really popped out at me.

Solid album.

Loving the sound. Soul soup. Album suprised me and came out of nowhere. Hero and the intro stand out. Production crazy good too. 4 stars

If I went into this completely blind and you asked me to guess what year it came out, I certainly would never guess 2019. In many ways this album transcends time and genre. The whole thing felt like a breath of fresh air. Like many others, I had never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before this challenge, but now I'm interested in diving deeper into his discography. Favorite Track - Hero Least Favorite Track - Solid Ground ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed it, without ever really getting very excited. I can't think of one track that I would choose to seek out again, I couldn't name a single song. There's a lot of comments on youtube about how amazing this is - lyrically and musically - but I just didn't feel that myself. It was very mediocre in my mind.

Really smooth album, I really liked his sound and how each song seemed to intermingle with each other. Definitely an underrated artist, hadn't heard of him before this, will be coming back to this album in the future.

Very cool soul dude

Honestly, I'm giving it 5 stars for ambition and being interesting as much as anything. A odd, deep, challenging jazz-easy listening-hip hop fusion that consistently goes beyond what you expect. Wonderful production.

Easy listening but not in the traditional sense. Sometimes its good to have something thats not hugely challenging, that said theres definitely a unique style to this album that i've not really heard before, and i kind of dig it.

Very strong, really solid production wish it was as consistently good as the last two tracks

he's an artist i appreciate the voice and the sound of. already liked a few songs on the album but gotta say the whole thing has a nice vibe to it

Overall a good listen some honestly seriously well made songs, but i just didnt really connect with any.

Had no clue about this one, but was pleasantly surprised. Really enjoyable, and chilled soul stuff. Timeless almost, didn't seem like such a modern album. Definitely something to have on in the background while chilling. Glad to have heard this.

Thought it was gonna be just another hip hop album but it ended up being pretty good

La verdad una propuesta interesante, sonido q no había escuchado, tiene una energía tranquila pero que alegra

Wow, first album from this century (21st). Great vibes so far. Liked the 70s touch. Recommended.

I was extremely surprised with this album when i first saw it i didnt know what to expect and stalled listening for a while but was honestly an amazing album each song flows to one another so easily and well its just amazing as a whole and each song individually

Just so accomplished.

wowww. has a concept and themes that really make it feel like a body of work. however not exactly my taste unfortunately. objectively stellar but not something i would return to.

Something about this isn't quite landing with me. I don't hate it, but I also don't like it. It just sort of bores me.

This album is a good bow on the indie, jazz-rock fusion albums of the 2010s. Really loved the textures of this one, and especially dug how the lyrics inform the music and vice versa. At times it almost feels ambient. Highlights: You Aint The Problem, Hard To Say Good bye

time heals the pain you aint the problem

Fun summery vibe, good to dance to. Fav song is ‘Rolling’.

Lives in Southampton now which is just rouge from him, needs a re listen

Неплохо, неплохо

He found this cool kind of nu-protest soul niche, and I like it.

315/1089 Kiwanuka YESSS. not sure i’ve heard this project but i love Cold Little Heart plus the rest of Love & Hate. And Small Changes was a really nice album too LOVE when an album transitions smoothly between songs like how this does between Rolling and I’ve Been Dazed didn’t make notes during the rest of the album but it’s just proven again how much i enjoy and love Michael Kiwanuka’s music. it has a true sense of catharsis and his vocals and production choices really work for me faves: Light, Hero, I’ve been Dazed 93/100

Très très agréablement surpris On sent les influences, c’est ancré historiquement! Super :) 4.5-/5

listened to it while studying, surely was an interesting find tho it didn’t give me that dopamine release

This isn't my favorite Michael Kiwanuka album, but it's lush, beautifully produced, and of course the vocals are velvety smooth. I love how it sounds like something straight out of the 70s at times, but somehow still fresh. I'm pleasantly surprised by how highly rated it is.

Got excited when I got this album, but was kind of disappointed. It’s just okay for me. The songs of his I enjoy I realllly love. He has such a unique sound but couldn’t really get into it. I’m going to keep trying in case it’s a slow burn.

Groovy

Swaggy as FUCK. Never heard of this before but it surprised me

More somber than I was expecting. I had Solid Ground on a playlist, but I think Michael is better when he reaches into soul music, like in Living in Denial, which was my favorite track on the record. Overall, good album but not great.

A recent addition to the list. Really dig the soul on this. Reminds me of some of the Colemine stuff from Finnegan and Monophonics.

I like the instrumentation This is more upbeat, which is appreciated after the last few. Is this a protest album? It feels old school, but is actually super recent. I was surprised. Started strong, then got a little repetitive. Final Days on the Planet is a strong track. Beautiful voice. Some standouts, but some fall into repetitive

It's easy listening, smooth

Such an easy 5. What an easy listen - downbeat and sultry, every note is agonised over and the record is phenomenal as a result

After a few listens it really starts to hit different, not sure I class it as rock but it has elements of it No weak spots, just a good ol' album. Top tracks: you aint the problem, piano joint, final days, solid ground

Pretty good, not my taste

Intriguing sound and great voice.

Sensational.

Stellar rhythm tracks and chord changes. Loved it all the way through.

The flow and dynamic of this album makes it seamless to listen to. Starting with a danceable "You Ain't the Problem" opening, in which the artist tries to convince himself to take decisive action and not hesitate, the energy pulls us along until we arrive to the quieter, more introspective reflection of "Piano Joint." Here we see his hesitation and feeling held back in spite of the earlier type song. Beautiful voice, masterful songwriting, I came away still on edge from the broodiness, but ready to give it another listen!

Grooving, vibing.

Son canciones que fácilmente podrían servir para sonar de fondo en restaurante caro. La composición es buena, a la letra no le estoy prestando mucha atención. Lo volvería a escuchar? No. Añadí alguna canción a mis favoritas? Tampoco Le doy un 6/10 pero porque me gusta que en un álbum haya sonidos diferentes y a mi parecer esto sigue el mismo ''ritmo'' todo el rato, algo así como escuchar una canción de 1 hr sin parar (No shade). final note: es música de millenial JEJEJ another final note: mi opinión viene 100% predispuesta porque estoy escuchando algo que no quiero escuchar :D

This album is the reason that this project is so interesting, yet so important to take your time with. I had never heard of Kiwanuka, and on the first listen, I found it to be decent at best (everything sounded pretty similar) — but I've already listened to this album three times since, and it's grown on me each time, going up from a 4 and now finally to a 5. This is an extremely SMART artist, pulling from so many influences, both old and new, and connecting the songs together in a way that creates a uniform album, with fascinating chord changes, cryptic lyrics, and lots and lots of textures that remind me far more of what D'Angelo did rather than Bowie, one of his biggest influences. Such cool stuff — really uplifting and, like a good page-turner, keeps you coming back again and again, trying to understand what exactly the central plot means by connecting all of the ideas together. So, what does this album mean? Not sure, but it really touches on all of the beauty and uncertainties of being human. Fantastic stuff.

Hyvää taustamusiikkia, ei yhtään sen enempää. Yks biisi (jonka nimeä en muista) meni listalle ja siis ihan kuunneltavaa tollanen soul/jazz/r&b

Yllättävän solid albumi. Moni biisi meni omalle soittolistalle. Laulaja on todella taitava. Ei mitään lisättävää 7/10

8.5/10

Excellent, tout est bien produit, la voix est tres belle. Je ne peux pas m'empêcher a penser a l'artiste Tuerie en France qui peut proposer la même chose dans un style un peu plus hip hop

I'd hearda few tracks before but never the full album, and it's great. The most recent thing I've heard on the list so far. Genuinely doesn't sound like anything other than itself.

Completely serviceable album and I get why it hit for the oldheads who wish music like this was made more today, but it does not hang with the actual classics

I liked this a bunch! I’ve seen Kiwanuka’s name floating around before so it’s nice to know what the deal is. Between yesterday’s pick and a bit of extracurricular Broken Bells listening, you do really learn to pick up when Danger Mouse is in the building. Really liked the blend of genres on this one, and he’s got a really great voice. “Hero” was probably the standout track for me.

Love a lot of the clear influences that go into this and what Michael Kiwanuka wants to do with his music in following them, just don’t really fuck with the end product that much? It all sort of slips off the mind at a certain point and reminds me more of other contemporary would-be throwback soul artists like Leon Bridges than actually getting into the level it aspires to get to with psychedelic guitars, Stevie Wonder grandeur of sound and Marvin Gaye soulfulness and social conscious. I think it also ends up losing some relisten space because it’s so mellowed and intimate and personal, whether that’s fair or not. Perfect radio 6 bait though, no wonder it beat albums I like much more to the Mercury Prize.

Really enjoyed this album. Never heard of Michael but did recognise one of the songs.

Easy listening sparkly soul. Nothing really stood out but I enjoyed it.

Pretty chill album, I got more into it as it went on. Definitely need to listen to it again and my rating for it will probs go up, but for now it's a 3.5

Listened to this a few times over the last day and decided on a 5. It’s a very complete album, and really enjoyable to listen to

Had never heard of this artist - and enjoyed it. Could come back.

I have never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before, but I immediately came to love this album. Amazing. You Ain't The Problem is a fantastic opening that immediately got me invested, then I also came to love Piano Joint (This Kind of Love), Hero, and Final Days. Honestly, everything from Final Days to the end of the album flowed together nearly perfectly. What a genuine, fantastic, delightful discovery.

Хороший, спокойный, приятный альбом.

Top songs: rolling and hero. Need to give another listen there were defs some nice jazzy bops

Some songs hit some songs were ight. Solid overall.

Really like this! Hadn't heard of the artist before but the album strikes me as soul with touches of Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, and Sly Stone. Will definitely come back to this one in the future.

Didn’t really vibe with it but I can tell that it was well produced

Another 5 for the list. Powerful throughout, amazing voice, great lyrics

I expected a cringe fest but it was decent

A smooth listen on a rainy day

Day 2 Before: I've never heard about this artist before. Psychedelic soul does sound interesting. I'm gonna be so honest, I did not expect that. The instrumental really stands out to me. This album has such an interesting and full sound. I'm usually a little hesitant with newer albums, cuz they sometimes have a very spare and boring instrumental, but here both hand-drums and guitar gets to shine. The overall sound of every track changes throughout and gives it this beautiful harmonic feel, where it's never the same thing. There is always something happening. The vibe of the album feels very dreamy. At times it can be rough and direct, but also majestic and light. The use of strings, electronics, vocal harmony and hand-drums makes for such a great, experimental sound. No track feels the same, or repetitive. This album takes many different sounds and blends them into this sonically stunning album. Favorite(s): You Ain't The Problem, Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye

Very nice and chill! Def something id smoke to lolol

wow.

Excelente!!!

Álbum divertido, con onda. Música que acompaña, ligera, crea atmósfera. Sello propio de identidad.

Perfect

Absolute masterpiece. One of the best soul albums of all time, all while sounding so fresh and new. 10/10

Seems like the type of music I’d like alla Leon bridges but just bored me

I've never heard of this artist nor this album until it came up on my list. It is really good. A good blend of rock, jazz, and other genres. I'm only giving it four at this point because I haven't been able to really listen more in depth. I am willing to bet that after repeated listenings this will wind up being a five.

Starting off the next hundred albums with an artist I never would of listened to if not for this experience. Kiwanuka puts bits of Stevie Wonder and Thundercat in these songs while also addsing his own spin on those styles. It sounds old and new at the same time. A truly unique listening experience. I have no idea if I will return to it after today, but I will remember it more than some other albums in this collection. 4/5

It's kind of cool music. The blend of acoustic soul wibes with distorted electric guitar. Can become little dull at times.

6/10. Decent folk/soul album. Some good tracks eg. the intro and another with a beautiful orchestral arrangement (that i can't remember the name of). Overall, the instrumentation is really good with cool drums and lots of strings. Not my favourite genre but i think for a soul fan, this could be a lot higher

Had no idea what to expect with this, but really enjoyed it. Final Days was definitely the highlight for me

This was incredible!! I didn't know what to expect but it was a great journey to go on. Great, buttery voice, and fun adventurous rhythms blend together to create a theatrical experience. 8/10

It's good, but not sure if I would return to it.

Tästä tykkäsin oikeesti ja oon kuunnellu joitain muitaki Kiwanukan biisei

rock

Amazing album the first great album that I discovered because of 1001. Great production by Dangermouse.

Loved this. Wasn’t sure what to expect but this was a surprise. He has a fabulous expressive voice. The whole thing is crafted immaculately. So many different things to listen to and interesting production choices that really work. Will be coming back to this one and exploring more of his work. A lovely find from the generator

I quite like a few of Michael Kiwanuka’s songs, but I’m a bit disappointed with this album. Still, three stars...

Mediocre.

New-to-me artist and I didn't know what to expect. I really liked this one. It was somehow classic 70s soul while being new and fresh. I could get into this.

After a recent poor run on this list I was not hopeful at all. I was wrong. This is instantly really enjoyable. I think it needs a few more listens to really identify the standout tracks but I did particularly enjoy I've Been Dazed and Piano Joint.

Needed to listen to it for a second time but yes, this is a 5/5. Amazing albumn. Unique, powerfull. Happy to have found it.

A modern classic that I've been meaning to give a listen for a long time. An amazing example of the amazing music that has come out the last few years. An absolute shame that so much of this list of 1001 is filled with 60's - 80's records with a single hit while absolute pieces of art like this exist. This album is grand, tells an amazing story blending influences from jazz, blues and soul into a beautiful tapestry of sound. I have literally nothing negative to say about this record. I guess it has some slower songs like "Hard to Say Goodbye", but this song is good enough to be the absolute top of many other records on this list. An absolute 10/10

An amazing album that very much deserves to be on this list, it plays with so many different genres, making an original and beautiful combination of music. Instantly a new classic that I'll be listening more to, as well to more of his discography.

Why I signed up to this. It took 105 albums but here is an artist and album I’ve never heard of. And it’s brilliant!

Very chill, introspective album.

eh... its so ehhh

Good record with some exciting, energizing moments. Really creative arrangements, sometimes really fun.

Pretty catchy

Just really wasn’t my jam.

So good! I need to go back and unpack this album some more, but it was the best recommendation so far. The voice and music sounded retro and vintage in all the best ways. I felt it was a mix of Air and Leon Bridges. "You Ain't the Problem," "Rolling," and "Hero" are my favorite tracks on first listen.

Heavenly

I think it took me six tries to make it all the way through this album. I didn't dislike it but there was also nothing about it that made it stand out.

Sick. I really enjoyed this one. Very soulful. It did feel like the vocals and instrumentals were both excellent but not greater together than the sum of their parts. Fw heavy though

Not sure how this fits into rock category but an enjoyable listen none the less. A very distinctive voice. Some different musical styles but still an album to listen to start to finish and not just a jumble of songs. "You aint the problem" great track to start album. Also enjoyed "My hero" and "Final days"

Another great voice, lovely album, very much enjoyed the cool tracks

Sneaky gas

yeah ok

lowk really good listen, interesting mix of things going on, a lot of the songs sounded like they could be in a cologne advert, other than that pretty good, Best song - Ive been dazed

Another new discovery and really enjoyed it. It's described as "psychedelic soul" and that's a pretty accurate description. Would have liked a few more up-tempo songs, it gets pretty sleepy at times, but the songwriting and production by Danger Mouse are first rate. "You Ain't the Problem" and "Hero" are my favorite tracks.

Kiwanuka is a refreshingly retro voice in modern music. Blends influences from kind of all over the place genre-wise, only linking factor is a lot of these songs feel very 70s. Strong production from Danger Mouse too. Takes a while to get to the peak for some of the songs here, but when they get there they're well worth the wait

Tosi siisti levy! Wiki sanoo psyke soulia, mutta tosi modernia sellaista ja onhan tää tullut 2019. Tosi omanlaista eikä tuu mieleen mitään mitä tää muistuttais. Tosi elokuvallista kanssa. Siistit kappaleet sekä välisoitot ja biisit menee sulavasti yhdestä toiseen. Parhaat: Final Days, I've Been Dazed, Solid Ground, Light

I liked the vibe of it and I’d listen to some of the songs again, just not exactly my cup of tea. Good for vibey background music.

My last listen was Fred Neil opposite of this very y good

Wow, this is a breath of fresh air. Phenomenal album

Ihan letkeetä rokkia. Mukavia erikoisia synasoundeja. Mutta välillä tulevat överisäröt tekee pahaa. Tää levy on tullu 2019, en ihan ymmärrä mikä tästä tekee erikoisen.

Todella chilli levy, voin kuvitella että toimii hyvin kesäillassa ajellessa, tai lämpimässä kävellessä. Tarvii kokeilla

Oh yes. Love this artist 😍 Great mix of soul tunes, love this ❤️

I dug it. Old school Sam Cook/Marvin Gaye vibe and sound. Loved the production take on the record.

Dosta dobro zapp. prvi album na ovom govnu. ok 5 il 6 pjesma kojim bi se vratio, živio neo soul!!!! nadam se da cu come backat albumu 8.5/10

i could have never guess this was made in 2019. it feels like something not made today yk. the instrumentals are holy omds

6/10

Slippery hog

Chill. Pretty boring to me but not unpleasant to listen too.

4/5

I really liked the music, melody, vibe. From the first song I knew that the albums was gonna be fire!

Best Song: Hero This is good. I don't really see myself listening to it often but while working or doing other things, it is nice and mellow and Kiwanuka has a very soothing and relaxing sound. 4/5.

My ears were grabbed by this album - it landed really well onto them! Such a great singing voice. I liked how the album sounded retro even though it was only released about 7 years ago.

Fantastic. The only drawback is that the sampled/sequenced rhythm sections detract, from time to time, from the incredible humanity of the work. (How amazing would it be to hear all of these parts recorded by a band ala What's Going On or Pet Sounds?) But the songs are really engaging, and the arrangements are masterful.

Some great stand out tracks but it feels a bit repetitive on the whole

Pretty cool actually, didn't know about this artist or this album or any of their songs but loved it

9/10 Best songs: You Ain't the Problem, Rolling, I've Been Dazed, Hero, Solid Ground, Light I've only heard a couple of songs by Michael Kiwanuka before - around the time he won BBC's Sound of... in 2012 - and wasn't super impressed. Today's listen has dramatically shifted my opinion. This album is a revelation. Michael Kiwanuka has his own, genre-bending style, mixing together funk, soul, 60s rock, and half a dozen other genres into something wholly its own. The album is both timeless yet of the moment, tied together by his silky smooth (yet at times gravel-rough) voice. It's so good. I do find a couple of tracks to be a bit dull, but the album is so overwhelmingly unique that it doesn't even matter. This is one album that absolutely should NOT be removed from the book in future editions.

There is nothing aggressively bad about it or good. I just don't really care about the songs. Might just not be my type of mysic.

Hermoso instrumental. Mi primer disco de los 2010. Gran compañía para estudiar.

Really good. Sounds from another age. Mellow and heartfelt.

What makes Kiwanuka great is atmosphere with backbone. A lot of “serious” modern soul records confuse softness with depth. This one does not. The arrangements are spacious, psychedelic, and often beautiful, but there is tension underneath them. You can feel doubt, history, fatigue, and stubborn dignity running through the whole thing. The album does not shout its importance. It earns it by control.

Soul and Funk, nice to know new music

Kos dette! Men en kan lure på hvorfor noen av disse albumene blir plukket ut her. Sååå spesielt er det ikke og siden det kom så sent som i 2019 tviler jeg på det har hatt så stor innflytelse på musikkhistorien 🤷‍♂️

This one also needs another listen cuz I was really feeling it at the end but it was pretty consistent yet unremarkable for the first 70% of the album. Like I said, it could’ve been an unfair shake as I enjoyed the last four tracks a lot and I heard those in the morning after some sleep.

3/5 pretty gud

Grymt album!

I like this album. Haven’t listened to it in awhile. Not sure it really belongs on this list over other albums from 2019, but ok. I really liked this album. I do. The production, Kiwanuka’s vocals. I gave this album to my mom for Christmas 2020. No denying. 4 stars. Happy to listen again. Boolean rating: yes, glad I heard it before I die.

viel beter mee dan verwacht... niet direct mijn kopje thee, maar ik kon het smaken

I haven’t heard this before. Listening through this, I recognize one or two songs that came up in a mix. There’s a great 70s soul sound here that avoids sounding dated. Really well constructed album, sounds familiar but new. Needs several listens to get the full effect and then you’re hooked.

liked the music

Compelling vocals, harmonies, uncluttered instrumentation. One to re-visit

oh my god

KIWANUKA is a legitimately transformative take on soul music, which alone makes it worth the price of admission. But it also happens to be very good. Michael Kiwanuka effortlessly merges the warmth of vintage soul records with contemporary songwriting and production ideas in a way that is original, tasteful and very enjoyable. This album feels heartfelt and beautiful, to the point of being occasionally mesmerizing. And Michael Kiwanuka's deeply personal lyrics ground KIWANUKA in a place that feels deeply human.

El álbum KIWANUKA me encantó; lo disfruté muchísimo. Tiene una vibra que incluso me dieron ganas de bailar en varios momentos. Me gustó especialmente porque es el primer álbum moderno que me ha tocado escuchar desde que comencé a usar esta plataforma y realmente conecté con ese sonido. Algunas canciones, como “I’ve Been Dazed”, definitivamente las volvería a escuchar. Para mí, es un 5/5 sin duda.

Lots of influences here, touches of Isaac Hayes, Gil Scott Heron and some touches of Funkadelic. Good stuff

Interesting, I didn't dislike this, but none of it really stuck with me beyond a passing interest.

o timbre da guitarra e os sintetizadores me chamaram muita atençao, gostei de algumas pegadas meio eletronicas jogadas no meio do album 3.5/5

New artist and album for me and was really surprised. Had no expectations and this exceeded them in every way! Soulful, bluesy rock sound. Need to listen to this guy more.

Modern day masterpiece?!? Incredible album start to finish. The textures and subtleties. A real headphones necessary album. Really loved it. Wished there would be more of these albums on this list!

Objectively I think I would probably have a better time with this process if every album aligned with my pre-existing tastes. 1000+ metal and rock albums would probably give me more music I keep returning to than the smattering we have where there's pop, punk and country that don't appeal to pre-existing tastes. Albums like this are why it's always good to challenge those easy comforts. I would never have sought something like this out and it was a really pleasant surprise. Maybe a touch long in places but really enjoyable different and distinct, does a great deal in its runtime and keeps things pretty damn fresh throughout. Not my favourite, but living up to the name of being an album worth listening to before I hop the mortal coil. The kind of album that makes the variety feel worth it.

The interludes are not great, but the core songs on this album are quite fantastic. Maybe not the most out there soul music, but it's so nicely peaceful and psychedelic, almost makes you levitate. There is a lot of room for his vocals in the mix here and they shine throughout. I love the production on this record, it's a throwback to the past but with a modern spin from a talented artist. You Ain't The Problem, Piano Joint, Living in Denial and Lights were major highlights for me.

This album felt old and modern at the same time.

Fine.

Inoffensive, but not very good.

Iniquitous

'You Ain't the Problem' serves as a compelling opening to the album. The track truly comes alive when the "switch up" occurs. The dynamics on this opener are excellent, a quality that remains consistent across the entire project. The album is a soulful affair, underpinned by a slight hint of funk on some tracks and a distinct rock influence. Sonically, the production - particularly the instrumentation and the harmony vocals - are heavily indebted to the 1960s. Every arrangement feels thoughtful and meticulously constructed. While it is a fine album, and I can certainly appreciate the high level of craft on display, it doesn't quite align with my personal tastes enough to sustain frequent listens, as that soulful element becomes particularly prevalent throughout the mid to latter stages of the record. That said, the closing track 'Light' is stunning, and the best track on the album - replete with a great guitar solo. Lastly, the album art, painted by the Atlanta-based artist Reece Weaver, is visually striking. The cover depicts Kiwanuka in a style that evokes regal, historical portraiture, complete with a crown and ornate robes. Four stars. 1 "You Ain't the Problem" (5/5) 2 "Rolling" (4/5) 3 "I've Been Dazed" (5/5) 4 "Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) (Intro)" (4/5) 5 "Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)" (3/5) 6 "Another Human Being" (3/5) 7 "Living in Denial" (3/5) 8 "Hero (Intro)" (4/5) 9 "Hero" (4/5) 10 "Hard to Say Goodbye" (3/5) 11 "Final Days" (4/5) 12 "Interlude (Loving the People)" (3/5) 13 "Solid Ground" (4/5) 14 "Light" (5/5) Total - 54 Average - 3.86 310/1001 169/310 albums reviewed were new to me.

Wonderful. The choruses aren't as memorable as I like for a song / album to really get its hooks into me. I would happily return to this any time.

This has caught me perfectly.

I had never heard of him so I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. Kind of a mix of old school and new school sound.

Chill vibes, bit creepy

Was pretty pretty good! Saved it

awesome

This is another album that I wouldn't have thought to listen to on my own, but I ended up loving it! It was the perfect rainy day album. I'm going to add it to my regular rotation.

Perfect album

Helped me feel less alone

Ihan ok

#341/1001. I wasn't sure what kind of music to expect, based onnthe cover, the name and the opening sounds I thought this is yet another world music / African music act that I haven't heard about. In one sense that was not completely wrong asumption. But the album is much more, a gem of modern pop, rnb, soul, etc. So thank you for the project for introducing this, definitely will come back to this and check out more.

Favorite Track: Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) Least Favorite Track: You Ain’t The Problem

This felt like the soundtrack to a really cool movie