KIWANUKA

Why hadn't I heard of this guy before now? Some genuinely beautiful songs, incredibly easy to listen to. Love the use of intros and interludes; makes this feel like a very cohesive album, and not just a collection of absolute bangers.

Very nice album, different vibes in it. Really liked it

Nunca habia escuchado hablar de este artista (creo). Me gusta que hace una mezcla de géneros muy interesante. Hasta las intros / interludios se hacen interesantes de escuchar. Creo que musicalmente tiene un concepto muy interesante y cuidado a lo largo de todo el álbum. Tracks que más me gustaron: Solid Ground, Piano Joint, Living in Denial,

You've heard a million mediocre albums like this - warmed-over neo-soul calling back to Marvin and Stevie but clearly not able to hang with either. So what is about Kiwanuka that makes him able to make that same album, but *way better*? One thing is that he seems to have a preternatural sense of pacing - he plays everything at exactly the *right* tempo, not a beat faster or slower, and so his compositions breathe and move organically. But maybe it's just something as intangible as *confidence*; this music isn't a pose for Kiwanuka, it's who he is, and so he approaches it without anxiety or the need to keep up appearances. It's the difference between looking at a painting by one of the Old Masters and one by someone trying to emulate them; with the former you know that particular brushstroke is there because it's *supposed* to be, you know it means something. The effect is enhanced by what I hear as white-knuckle sobriety poetry evoking the best of Curtis Mayfield, from "phantom pain in your arm, tryna make a mark and change" ("Rollin'") to "it's not enough just to cause a reaction" ("Living in Denial"). Kiwanuka dresses like a king on the album cover; it's not boasting if it's earned. I haven't heard this enough yet to award it a perfect score but I reserve the right to revise that.

*Very cool guitar tone with Africana

I rate it with a 8/10, and my favorite song is Piano Joints

1.4/5 Yawn. It's not awful to listen too, it's just boring and uninteresting.

A pleasant surprise. Possibly the first 'recent' records that has tickled my fancy, maybe because it is so backwards looking in its vibe. Great voice, some very good songs, and great production. Really dug this one and will define coming back to it.

5 - AVERAGE

this album struck me by surprise. although cheesy at times, it always feels intimate, honest and executed masterfully

Surprisingly good, I'm listening to "Another Human Being" as I started to wrote these lines. The blues and jazz with the elements of electronic and pop genre, it was a banger of a starter from Michael Kiwanuka. No wonder this album is a must-listen-to, I'll think I'll keep this saved on my spotify, even putting some of the songs on The Playlist.

amazing sounds beautiful melodies

A lot of elements here that I’m very much into. All the descriptions & comparisons & collabs & related artists set the stage for a big win. And I did like it… I don’t doubt I would like it even more with repeated listings. It’s a bit slow tho. 3 stars

Really wasn’t expecting much from this but I ended up liking this a lot

man this sounds right out of the 70's. Didnt realize how starved I was for some good soul music. My only gripe is that it meanders a little much, but his voice is on point so it hardly matters. Fantastic listening experience.

Enjoyed this a ton! Like a modern take on a Marvin Gaye album. Nice recommendation list!

This is one of those albums that reminds you how much can be achieved by simply getting the fundamentals right. Proper songs, properly sequenced, and a clear sense of what the record is trying to be from the first note to the last. It sits in that late 60s or early 70s tradition of the album as a continuous experience rather than a collection of tracks. There is an obvious lineage back to Marvin Gaye in the way it flows and holds its emotional temperature, but it never feels like an exercise in homage. It just understands the form and works within it. What stands out is the control. The album is clever, but never in a way that draws attention to itself. Influences are used as signals rather than statements. A hint of Watchtower in a guitar figure, French film music in the backing vocals, a touch of Blur’s 13 or Think Tank weariness in the tone. These elements appear briefly, do their job, and are absorbed back into the whole. The French film music strand is particularly effective. It allows the album to deliver emotion indirectly, through atmosphere and melody rather than declaration. Moments feel observed rather than performed, which keeps everything grounded even when the material could easily tip into grandness. There is also a strong thread of introspective gospel throughout. Not the outward, communal kind, but something more inward and reflective. It adds weight without volume and gives the album a sense of quiet moral seriousness without ever becoming heavy handed. Even when the record opens itself up, as on Hero, it feels like play within a defined system rather than a loss of focus. The palette broadens, but the identity holds. By the closing stretch, the cohesion is undeniable. Nothing feels like filler and nothing breaks the spell. What makes it land is the balance. It is clever, tender and heartfelt at the same time, which is harder to achieve than it sounds. Too much of any one of those and the whole thing would tilt. Here, they are held in proportion. It is not a concept album and it is not trying to be one. It is simply a collection of magnificent songs that belong together, and that is a rarer achievement than it used to be. A modern classic.

Today's album suggestion was a surprise. Never heard of the artist so didn't know what to expect. I'll definitely listen to this album and artist again 8/10

I'd heard about this artist only through discussion about the project. I found this to be a pleasant and nteresting album. with some very tasteful numbers on it. I was interested to see the Wikipedia article describe it as psychedelic soul. I had to go read up on what that might mean to people. I was also interested to see a review (on "Brooklyn Vegan"?!?) say that the album "sounds like a lost 70s soul classic". I could imagine playing this again - but the tracks didn't exactly grab me hugely. So I'll say it's Good, 7/10.

Very smooth

imagine dragons and thundercat vibes, maybe it just didn't match my mood idk

What a fantastic surprise! Never heard of this artist and I had to listen to this album twice it was so good! It’s like Beck decided to do a jazz infused album! Great headphone listening experience!

Pas spécialement ma came mais ça s'écoute bien en musique d'ambiance, ça pourrait clairement se voir sur fip

Je ne connaissais pas, j’ai vraiment trouvé qu’il avait une belle voix. C’est très fip vibe

J'ai hésité mais au final je pars sur un 5, j'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé, l'album a un super flot et de beaux enchaînements du début à la fin. Coup de coeur !

kiwaniga snimio sasvim solidan album koji nije moj đir, ali koji mogu cijeniti i za koji mogu reći da mi je drago da sam ga preslušao :)

This is really refreshing for someone getting into new music its a really jazzy smooth rock with a semi cinematic aspect to it and I really enjoyed listening to it i will be listening to other albums

Instrumental is to loud compared to lyrics on you ain’t the problem

al comeinzo pense que iba a ser mas Africano de lo que esperaba pero hace tanto que no esuchaba un album de "ROCK" que la verdad mesuto siquiera probarlo

Like Curtis Mayfield and Isaak Hayes got together to do a blaxploitation movie soundtrack. Kinda groovy, kinda funky. Big drums and big sounds.

Rolling has popped up on my Discover Weekly a good bit, so I was excited to see this album on here. Dang, the rest of it really is that good too.

очень оптимистично

surprised this was a 2019 album. feels more like early 80's soul. not really my thing, don't take enough drugs any more.

i love vibess

Great, demands a relisten

Silky smooth voice .Great songs .

I like this guy!!! He sings that song Cold Little Heart from that HBO show!!

Tiene esa base de soul moderno y rock psicodélico que me vuela la cabeza. El nivel de los arreglos instrumentales y la calidez de las voces te atrapan al instante. Artista del carajo.

So en Chiller

Jamais écouté avant. Un album inclassable, qui puise dans la soul psychédélique de la fin des 60's sans verser dans la redite. Michael Kiwanuka parvient a se renouveler à chaque morceau ou presque, tout en restant cohérent. Remarquable. Top : Hero Flop : Solid Ground

Some of the tracks were discordant to me - Hard to Say Goodbye being one of them. Didn't really like this

I usually dread whenever a new album comes up on this list, but this is chill.

I’ve never heard of this artist. This is pretty good and feels both classic and timeless

Excelente. Álbum para relajarse

Very good. It's like a hip pop beat on rock vocals

I have never heard of this artist at all, nor any songs by him. Thoughts after listening ... Definitely really digging this even just 3 songs in. Funny (and cool) how this sounds like something timeless but it came out in 2019. If you told me this was from the 70s, I would believe you. The Wikipedia article about him references a very long and varied list of "influences" - and I can see that. I love that he's not just a specific genre - but just plays what he likes and combines so many different styles and it just sounds good. It's just good music that is enjoyable to listen to. I do get some Marvin Gaye vibes - especially "What's Going On?" era (1971) - so if you like that album my guess is you will like this too. Also - listen to "Les Fleurs" by Minnie Ripperton (from 1970) and see if you hear similarities in some of these songs - not the voice (of course, her voice is too unique) but the music and background singers etc. Even though it does remind me of other artists at times - it's a wholly original and unique work - not a copy. It definitely has a generally more chill, mellow, introspective vibe - but it's not boring because of the intensity of it all and the great instrumentation, arrangements, lyrics and his voice. I love how the production provides space to actually hear the different instruments. It's not done with that typical modern production style where it's all just so densely packed with sound and everything is turned up to 11. After first run through I had already liked 10 songs on Spotify. After 2 more listens I ended up liking the whole thing. It also feels like it's all one piece - like some of the greatest albums - not just a collection of some random singles and lots of filler. It's a true "album" that all goes together well. So many great tracks on this - but some standouts for me are: "Rolling", "I've Been Dazed", "Hero", "Hard To Say Goodbye", "Final Days", "Solid Ground" Wow - this has been a great surprise. Another example of why I signed up to do this 1001 Albums project. Yes, there are a lot of clunkers on this list but there are some genuinely great surprises like this. Excited to hear these songs pop up on my automated playlists! I'm gonna have to check out more from this guy. Liked songs on Spotify: 14/14 (Perfect Album) Rating: 5/5

Really great album I didn't know about before!

sehr gut, gefällt mir. stabile 4/5

I hadn’t heard of Michael before and I really wanted to like this one. He’s a singer songwriter who plays nearly all his own instruments (apparently only gets in a drummer and a few specialized instruments). And there’s just so many ideas and so much going on musically with some of these tracks it’s just hard to hear them as a tight coherent track - it really feels like he had these ideas but he had to record them one instrument at a time and the sum is just somehow more (or less) than the parts. At its best it’s rich and dense and inspired arrangements but sometimes it’s disjointed and not tight and sequenced as a well rehearsed band. But I will return for a repeat listen.

Muy bueeeno, no me esperaba esl

I was pleasantly surprised.

A beautiful and atmospheric trip. Great album for a nature walk.

Very chill relaxing album, enjoyed the whole thing but no singles out bangers. I want to give it another listen, it’s probably like a 3.3 rating so I’m sticking with 3

This was really enjoyable, super funky and new sounding. Will dig in more

This is the first album in this challenge where I was totally unfamiliar with the artist and came away with an album I'll actually probably listen to repeatedly. Good tunes with an indie sound that mix a lot of different influences.

This artist was completely unknown to me, and I liked what I heard! There was a warmth in this R&B that reminded me of the old Motown records, where the heart would shine through and the music was tight and precise but not stiff. Guy's got a nice voice. I did kind of zone out near the end, and I wish the album was a few tracks shorter, but this was a nice surprise. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could, but alas.

loveeeeee

3.5 lowkey pretty good

Unlikely to get revisited but I enjoyed it for the supremely smooth and chill listen that it is.

Really liked it!! Hard To Say Goodbye in particular is v nice

Great opening track. That one and a few others like Living In Denial have a wonderful 70’s film opening credits soundscape feel to them. Love it.

this album is so refreshingly beautiful and interesting, both sonically and lyrically. Would I listen again: yep Deserves to be on this list: yep 4.5

3 - started off strong but started to fade

It was i gight

Good soul music, but it didn't appeal to me much. Would say it's good.

If I were Robert Dimery, I would probably have set a cutoff for this work: 1001 Albums from the 20th Century You Must Listen To Before You Die, or something like that. It's unwieldy but so's the original title anyway. Picking contemporary works that will be essential listening in the future is a profoundly difficult game to play. That said, it's a fun album. It's too soon for me to tell you what the music of the last ten years really sound like (I write this in 2026) but this strikes me as the thoroughly synthesized, postmodern blend of our times. The ubiquitous access to music from all periods that we enjoy today lends to music that borrows freely from across genres and ages. Support for that claim: the drums on the first couple of tracks have a reverb to them that sounds at once like a classic jazz recording from a room but also a little bit like the way-overdone reverb of the coked-out 80's. The keys and/or guitar hooks are pretty psychedelic, between use of fuzz and modulation effects and the inclusion of synth versions of maybe a glockenspiel? Maybe it's a xylophone. It reminds me of Jacksoul, in a positive way. If you listen, you'll get a bit of soul and gospel, a little bit of blues and R&B. I'm not shocked that this is so good: it won a Mercury Prize. Juried prizes aren't perfect but you'll get some phenomenal listens by just checking out the shortlists of the Mercury or Canada's Polaris Prize. This is an excellent listen. Moving and infectious, touching and fun, Michael Kiwanuka makes music you really should listen to. But *must* you? That's harder. I would argue that my eternal touchstone of the barrel's bottom, Kid Rock's 'Devil Without A Cause' is more essential listening, despite being a worse experience in every way. It is profoundly representative of what music was popular at the time. It teaches us not that rock is dead but how it died (in short: capitalism). 'KIWANUKA', on the other hand, shows us what it looks like to be well-read in the sense of popular music and also talented enough to perform a sort of musical syncretism. I don't think it's the Rosetta Stone of the late twenty-teens, though. It might *deserve* to be -- and maybe that's why you must listen to it. This won't unlock your understanding of anything, though. It's just a damn good album.

Nice to know this artist I liked it!

Had never heard of him before, but wow what beautiful soul/blues. Heard echoes of bill withers in there, incredible percussion. Truly a great album

Really like the first half of the album. I dig the funk and soul stuff. Gets a little too coffee shop sounding for me towards the end. I’d buy this if I saw it while flipping through records.

Actually quite nice.

Was alright

Another of the “we need to put something new - what’s popular just now” albums.

I immediately saw singer/songwriter and braced myself for some self indulgent BS, but was quite pleasantly surprised by what this turned out to be

Een album met een aantal hele mooie tracks ('Piano Joint' bijvoorbeeld), maar een groot deel van dit album vind ik wat saai als ik eerlijk ben. Het is wel een album ervaring; zo'n album dat je echt van begin tot eind geluisterd moet hebben. Klein bonuspuntje daarvoor. Ik maak er 4 sterren van omdat ik het een terechte toevoeging aan deze lijst vind, hoewel ik er vandaag misschien maar voor 3 sterren plezier uit haal. Schappelijke man ben ik.

A fantastic discovery- it’s fresh and exciting. Will definitely keep listening to this

Great album Seems like an older genre, but with a sound that also appeals to younger

Interesting album. Some of the music I liked, and some just seemed to drag on way too long.

hot fuck mike!!!

Not really my thing

This was a pleasant surprise. Really nice, smooth vocals and some gorgeous songs. One of the coolest albums I've listened to. Standouts for me were You Ain't The Problem, Piano Joint, Hero and Hard To Say Goodbye, which has some great guitar work. A really good 3.5/5.

A complete surprise for me, very good album!

Michael lives near me! Other people have seen him out walking his dog! I'm wondering what breed his dog is. Hoping it's a golden retriever.

This was different and great

Really enjoyed it. Instrumentation is very interesting and musicians obviously very talented. A few tracks reminded me a lot of post-2000s Bowie but a bit quieter. Would definitely listen to it again.

Brilliant - listen to it again

This definitely has a throwback soul feel. While there are some modern production touches, the songwriting and elements like the backing vocals recall the 70s. The highlight is the fuzzy guitar tones. The opening track is highlighted by that guitar and some rhythmic drums, and it's the highlight. There are some other meaty tracks here, but also a lot of slower and smoother ones. Kiwanuka's voice is great, though I find he's often not the center of attention, instead letting the psychedelic sounds around him take charge. When the songs are strong, this works. When the songs feel less creative, it makes the songs feel like they're missing something. I like this overall, but I wish it had more exciting songwriting or Kiwanuka had a bigger presence.

I was surprised this was his only album on the list, his first album is a belter too. Great artists, strong influences from 70s rock and soul. Reminds me of Rodriguez mostly. A really enjoyable listen.

Big fan of MK. This album sounds so lush and full. Michael's voice is a big warm hug. Sounds both contemporary and like a throwback at the same time. Solid 4/5.

What a pleasent surprise. sounds that float adrift to places unknown. Every song took us somewhere new and by the 3rd or fourth song I was eager to discover were it would take us next.

Pretty good. Easy going. Nice arrangements. 8.

Pretty good!

Bra!!!

Absolutely loved this album. Every song is good, everything about it is good

I’m I had only heard a handful of songs, including Cold Little Heart— so it was nice to hear a full album. Great one ✨

Fint avbrekk fra Gubberock

brat ne e losho ama.. v kakva situaciq trqbva da go slusham tova?

Super fun, great sound

No me gust este tipo de música pero me gustaron los sonidos

It was chill but I feel like it would have been better if I was high.

Mejor canción: I've been dazed Canción que menos me gustó: las intros, se me hizo muy largas con la canción. Puntaje: 5/10 Notas: No es wow pero está bien no es mi genero

сара 2 марко 3

Its cool, I like the whole psychedelic soul vibes. Nothing immediately stands out though, and it does outstay it's welcome by the end. But a more concentrated, more focused, shorter album of this? That would be awesome.

This album kicks ass.

I had no idea what I was going to get with this album. This album is a whole mood. A really good listening experience. I will be revisiting this album again soon.

Oh boy

Oooh newer music! Good lyrics and an awesome first song to get me engaged from the start. This is unique music that feels like the best of the time. Beautiful, soulful, and respectfully referential. What a great listen. Season: Early Fall Favorite Song: You Ain’t The Problem

Pleasant, enjoyable, nice voice, easy to listen to the entire album quickly without thinking. Great for outdoor reading vibes. Not extremely memorable to me.

Another great surprise. The eclectic blend of electronic and organic elements are done very nicely and the whole thing is just dripping with emotion.

Desconocia de este artista totalmente y la verdad que me sorprendio, agregue todo el album a mi playlist

- flowmusaa - tuttu äiä ja pari biisiä kuuntelussakin mutta albumimitalla ei oo tullu tutustuttua kaverin tuotantoon - tää oli hemohyvä levy - usein tällasissa aikakautensa cooleimmissa jutuissa on riski että vanhenee hirmu nopeasti, mutta tämäon kyllä edelleen fresh

So happy that I found this album and Michael Kiwanuka. My brother and I listened to the first five tracks together and both added rolling to our playlists lol! I'd easily listen to more of his music in my free time. The songs are strong, emotional and in other parts delicate and vulnerable as he grows through identity and leaving behind old ways, they uplift my spirit and tell a story that makes you self reflect all while making you dance the whole way through. Perfectly ending with light.

It was pretty good, its not my personal style but I'd see why people would like this, the sound is unique to anything that I listened to And I enjoy the vocals a lot my ears feel like they had a massage and a Pettie cure.

wonderful album:) few standalone tracks that i really enjoyed

Ok album, ništa posebno. 2/5, 3/10

El álbum empieza tan arriba que parece que todo va a ser clima festivo pero de repente ya estás hundido en un lindo pozo de nostalgia musical que te lleva a recorrer los lugares más lúgubres de tu mente, crea una atmósfera increíble. Gran álbum.

Very chill. Especially enjoyed „Final Days“ and „Solid Ground“

3, tal vez 3.5

To follow up Love & Hate with something so self-assured that he named it after himself, shows the special artist that he is and it was fantastic to see him pick up the Mercury Prize for it. Continuing the sound from his first album, pulling from the same lineage as Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield, it perhaps has a more cinematic soundscape than his previous work, full of lush textures from the fuzzed-out guitars, orchestral strings and gospel vocals, to the quieter, more vulnerable moments aided by producers Danger Mouse and Inflo. Whilst for me it doesn't hit the heights of Love & Hate it's still a top tier album fro a top-tier artist

C'est doux, c'est beau allez 5

très bonne découverte

Vraiment très bon, voix sympa musique cool belle découverte ! Au son ça a l’air moderne mais pas non plus de 2019, W le futur

Me dio tranquilidad

“Hard to say goodbye” best one yet. Beautiful melodies. Must listen it twice

This was a very hard two to give sometimes music can make me almost come to tears, and sometimes gives me nothing at all zero emotional reaction. This is one of those albums. I don’t know why some albums or some music will get me emotional and some do not very strange. This album did not however, I do respect the quality of the album the musician ship it’s top notch, but I did not enjoy it.

Fine. Great instrumentals, didn't love the vocals, dragged a little bit

Was great, felt very contemporary and rock.

Perhaps the best surprise album I've heard so far! Just a phenomenal sound that I really wish I had experienced before. Smooth, melodic, poignant, and makes me want to take in so much more. I honestly can't think of a single bad thing to say about this album, and it needs to be admired more.

I enjoyed it.

This is a pleasant surprise. Great stuff. Seems to hit all the right things for me.

Very chill music, a bit of an ethereal / otherworldly feel at times - makes great background music while hanging with friends or on a trip

Listenable.

It was a pretty good album, I thought most of the songs had good instruments.

Przyjemny album

Maybe not my vibe today but completely forgettable. Was kinda anxious for it to finish so I could move on.

Älskar honom. Final days, solid ground och light, vilket otroligt avslut. Stark 4a.

Stark 3, kanske skulle kunna växa till en fyra. Mycket fin röst.

slätt lite coldplay-vibes? eller är jag helt ute och cyklar

By far my best album so far. Deep, rich sound that made me feel the music. I have never heard of this album prior, and I foresee it being a staple in my summer listening.

Несмотря на то, что я много не ожидала от этого альбома + не была знакома с жанром как таковым, эта штука покорила меня. Альбом такого рода невозможно слушать фоном, на нем надо сосредоточиться. Так что переслушивать его мне придется. И, возможно, ещё не раз

That was really cool. Funky with a huge sound and an otherworldly kinda vibe for some of the songs. But then some felt pretty earthy and a little folksy, like the first track. I dunno if that makes sense but it's my run of the albums so hey. I think the Piano Joints were my favorite.

Interesting album, calm music for in the background. Only staple songs for me really was Piano joint.

Great album

Very nice album. Very cool and unique

Loved the guitar riff on Hero. Added You ain't the problem to a playlist. I've seen Michael Kiwanuka live after his first album and he sounds so incredible in person. This album was very rock like and I loved it.

Mediocre but occasionally soulful and mesmerising. Still, I don't love any individual song, and it's missing something -- cohesion, maybe? variety? Fuck knows.

Love the Gorillaz sample to open the album. I almost want to call it modern soul? It's a really cool mix of a lot of sounds. Big fan.

Flows really nicely, great mix of music

Fonky ass cool ass shit

I don’t know Michael Kiwanuka and don’t think I’ve ever heard any of his music before. So far, a few tracks in, he’s pretty good. Very light, but not bad on the ears at all. Second listen and it’s really grown on me. I love the retro sound he employs. Really nice album.

More Jazz than Rock I think but enjoyable all the same

Another voice I love.

I hated this album the first time I heard it. It's certainly much better than I gave it credit for then but it's not for me.

So freaking good

Booring beering barring borming I fink

I know the artist but never gone deep into his catalog. Really high listener counts for such a young album. "Solid Ground" has 56M, "You Ain't The Problem" has 42M, "Piano Joint" has 25M, "Hero" has 31M. No song has fewer than 6.5M so this is a popular release. His voice is pretty average but he has a good rhythm section to carry him. This feels like a bit of a throwback album, it gives a nod to late 60's and 70's R&B with the horns and strings ("Living In Denial" or "Hard To Say Goodbye" are great examples). "Hero" was the highlight for me, best song by a mile. I didn't love it. Overall I felt like it was a personal album, kinda churchy, and a bit too mellow. The message was lost on me, not a lyrics guy. I thought it was 3 or 3.5 out of 5 maybe. I must've missed something, it never struck a chord.

I really like how full this album sounds, even with quite uncomplicated arrangements. Very nice, modern soul sound. A few classics on there to, by which I mean "songs which get played on bbc6 a lot".

High 2

Great listening while oldest took a bath and youngest played. Easy and fun

Very easy going. Not something I would want to listen to on the regular but I did enjoy it.

Schönes Album. Mischung aus Lighthouse Family und Sims 1 Baumodus (ich mag beide). Was dieses Album jetzt so herausragend machen soll erschließt sich mir aber nicht.

Mir fällt nix ein was ich schreiben könnte. Das Album zeichnet sich durch nichts aus.

Chilliges album. Mittelteil Klang wie 70s Marvin Gaye Nice

Ive never heard of this guy but hot damn im missing out. Soulful r&b to the extreme. This guy can make anything sound good it seems. If I was a lyrics guy im sure from vibes alone hes throwing out personal shit. If thats your thing I can only assume its gonna hit hard. For me it just sounds nice. Front to back. I get some gorillaz vibes during rhe slower songs, that might be a me thing cause ive been listening to alot of that. Maybe its just a British guy singing soulfully with some good beats behind him. But even then I het vibes like this is the slow damen songs but good. Stray for the cartoon band sorry. Anyway I dont have too much more to say. Its good stuff and ill be looking out for more new stuff. Hes gotta be still out there doing it and off this alone im excited to hear what's next

Never heard of this or of Michael before. Interesting g and smooth and deep and nice. Will listen again.

Solid album! I really liked the songwriting of it. Strong musicianship as well.

New to me, a solid mix of beats, jazzy soul and pop - polished, but delivered with an approachable indie/DIY aesthetic. Perhaps a bit mid-paced and brooding while lacking standout individual tracks, this is, however, more than a sum of its parts and I can't really find much to fault here. Eclectic without - as is so often the case - ramming this fact down your throat. An honest album with a genuine vintage soul-pop feel and delivery, for my personal tastes just a tad too ponderous and laid back for too much of its runtime, but, yeah, definitely worth a listen.

very soothing reminded me of rm

Absolutely stunning album

Pretty big fan! Added to my library. Listened several times.

I am very good at my job and I am so tired so uhhhh no review today, come back tomorrow

I listened to this album on a night-time drive, taking the freeway home from Tempe. One of the things which has always most excited me about this list is the chance to hear how the influence of different musical genres and styles and cultures gets passed down from one generation of artists to the next. Most of that has come from hearing older albums and recognizing pieces of them in the modern music I already know and love, but today is something different; now being more familiar with early rock and soul, KIWANUKA allows me to do the reverse, and hear a modern album which is actively in conversation with these earlier styles in powerful and innovative ways. Michael Kiwanuka has a knack for gorgeous and powerful songwriting with universal messages of hope and love that manage to come inspiring rather than preachy, and it's all supported my an instrumental palette which pulls on soul and early Black rock music, with some elements of modern drums and production techniques courtesy of Danger Mouse. All of this makes KIWANUKA sound timeless and evergreen, a marriage between countless generations of musical evolution and progression, bridging a gap between decades in order to deliver an album which feels like the complete realization of an artistic vision. It seems clear to me why Kiwanuka would choose to self-titled this album, as it sounds like a forward-facing statement of purpose and a recognition of tradition simultaneously. Highlights: You Ain't The Problem, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) (Intro), Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love), Another Human Being, Living In Denial, Hero (Intro), Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye, Final Days, Interlude (Loving The People), Solid Ground

This was transcendant, it felt so much deeper than the lyrics. Favourite track: Living in Denial

Great gem found this project, great to see 2010s inclusion

Solid 5/5. What a hidden gem!

Интересная приятная музыка, но в душу ничего не запало

Great album. I did not expect this vibe at all

This is the music that black man is playing when you get picked up hitch hiking.

Beginning was fun but got boring at track 4 middle tracks were a groove but too many instrumentals 13 is super psychedelic type stuff ending had some good rnb but not really something id litsen to Favorite: your not the problem Least: final days

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

I fell hard for Kiwanuka’s debut LP “Home Again” when it came out. This type of experience is both a blessing and a curse: you get to witness the growth and success of an artist in real time, but you are constantly just wishing for more of that original sound you fell in love with. Like all great artists, Kiwanuka is not fixed to a single sound, and has naturally transformed his style over the years. His first album is still my favorite, but I enjoyed this record and its strong songwriting throughout.

What a groovy but immensely chill album. The guitar work, mainly the effects, were really enjoyable to my ears. Along with Kiwanuka's excellent voice and songwriting I'm left very pleased and will be on the lookout for a physical copy of this one. Upon first listen I rated it a 4, but since I was left with the desire to listen to it again I believe a 5 is warranted here.

A lot of distortion for something that’s relatively funky? Smooth voice. Quite nice. Will be returning to this for sure. It’s hard to find albums to read and write to sometimes, but this goes down well.

Great album, great artist, great time listening to it Song I like: you ain’t the problem,

I bought this but it's telling that it never gets selected for a replay, it's very good and well produced but there's something melancholic about it that's slightly depressing. Still a good album and I don't feel absorbed by it

Love everything about this album

Hey! A pleasant surprise!

somewhat sterile in a Mercury Prize sort of way (lol). but undeniably very well produced and engineered. maybe a bit too pristine for me to really have a visceral reaction to it.

a lot of fun for what I would consider to be a surprising inclusion. doesn't feel essential in any way but yeah just straight up a fun record

Heard the occasional song on the radio that I have enjoyed. Album in its entirety also very good

This was a great album. So much so I decided to listen to it twice yesterday.

My favourite album of recent years. Faultless

Discazo

Me recuerda a Fela Kuti.

beautiful voice, soulful. piano joint (this kind of love) has an underlying sense of suspense built by the melody, supported by the vocals. effect is built by the piano just before the chorus and the isolation of the piano and vocals creates emphasis on the lyrics and the pain of the artist. living in denial starts off very strong, the gunshot is a stark beginning to the song. the whole album feels like a culmination of understanding life, its difficulties and coming to terms with self acceptance, how the world works and a reflection of self, love, fear and rejection. the music shows the complexity of emotion and perception - its a careful balance of almost violent music supported and softened by gentle vocals and delicate melodies.

Dnf

Easiest 5 of my life. A reminder of why I started doing this in the first place.

really quite refreshing , every song offered something sweet :D

Nice listen, although not so catchy for most of the songs. Favourite two tracks: Rolling and I've Been Dazed

I like this album, it surprised me because I had never even heard of Michael Kiwanuka!

dope

Much better than I expected, good album

Enjoyable, but it got a little samey after awhile.

Great album, listened to it a lot when it came out, glad it's on the list. His voice is excellent.

I liked this album. Upbeat, interesting, and different.

slept on this one

very pleasant listen, and some good tunes.

Gets better with every play. Refreshing sound, beautiful journey!

Always a pleasant listen. But just doesn't grab me. Too much guitar shit going on.

Followed MK fron the start, saw him in 2012 in the bbc introducing tent at Glastonbury, and have been a fan since that day. This album is a probably top 20 for me

5 stars for this masterpiece any day, every day. Gorgeous modern day masterpiece. Thank you!

nice, i didn’t dislike it, but i did get bored and not finish

Well this was a real unexpected delight. The Brits are right on this one. Only thing keeping it from a 5 was a lack of general catchiness to the songs, but that also seems like a "me" problem.

It's an excellent album - a really good listen, feels cohesive, and bookended by some really strong tracks. I think it loses its way a little bit in the middle, but I'd happily listen the whole way through regardless. Definitely one for the long-term list.

Nice to hear some of the origin of Michael Kiwanuka - Cold Little Heart.

Didn’t do it for me but I liked the sound overall.

A great selection of songs, well-written. strong group but really outstanding: Rolling, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint, Hero, Solid Ground. But the songs not mentioned were not skipped. Everything was worth a listen and actually enjoyed. this one goes to 5 (stars).

Never heard of this guy and was completely amazed by this album. Maybe my favorite discovery here in 800 albums. Buying this on vinyl.

so beautiful. listened to this all the way through twice, immediately after each other. wow. his voice sounded familiar then i realised this guy made the “big little lies” theme song. banger. loved this

Really enjoyed it, unique and infectious sound.

I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised.

il signor kiwanuka creò delle atmosfere soul un po’ psichedeliche belle e penetranti, davvero un bell’album

Veramente molto bello, l’ho ascoltato un po’ distrattamente ma si capisce il potenziale

This is the kind of album i was hoping to find here. It is a masterpiece

His music has a lot of views. It is personally not my type of genre that I listen to, but it was not horrible music. I could listen to it as background music.

10/10, cada escucha es una sesión de levitación, Hero sería el soundtrack perfecto para arrancarle la cabeza a Netanyahu con las manos

Futuristic soul that sounds like a sexy church.

Great sounds

Was good, few songs that i liked

I'm nearly 75 albums in and happy to have been recommended this album. I wouldn't have come across this album on my own. I loved it and listened to it 5 times. Great vocals, guitars, and range across the album. Favorite songs: Living in Denial, Hard to Say Goodbye, You Ain't the Problem, Piano Joint Intro, Rolling

So far, since starting this list, this is by far the highlight of every single new album I've been introduced to. Absolutely enjoyed it throughoughly! Really energetic and lively, with the interludes nicely giving breathing room to it.

not bad.

Cool and jazzy

Something new. I truly enjoyed this. Unique sounds and a good voice. Production was good.

Buen álbum, la primera escuchada me gustó pero definitivamente hay que reescucharlo Transmite mucho sentimiento el muchacho Además es muy intencional en todo lo que acompaña a este álbum Entiendo que fácilmente desplace a algún otro álbum de esta lista para ser de los 1001 álbumes para escuchar más recientes

it was a revelation when this dropped in (maybe just after?) college. he stepped up big with scope and managed to deliver. was an immediate AOTY contender for me. 4.5

I really enjoyed this, especially the way. The album started, it really grabbed me. Also was thankful for the reminder of this artist, whom I completely forgot about after big little lies ended

The transitions were seamless and the album was so fun to listen to.

Eh. Not my style, but good production. Good background music.

Good

9.3

I didn't know much about Michael Kiwanuka before I got the recommendation for this, his third album. It's a soulful mix with a tendency to softer rock, but without any of the clichés of said sub genre. There's a good flow of things. I like that. Some songs blurr a bit too much into the background and are not as strong as others, but that's by the by. I will listen to this album again!

Spectacular.

warm, expansive, and somehow immersive // this one made me slow down, which i appreciate

I haven’t to all the songs but this is for sure very interesting and unique and also very relaxing

Chill, good voice

Honestly not too bad.

At one point I thought this was growing on me, and to his credit, Michael Kiwanuka’s voice is gorgeous. But the energy and pace from side A turns into monotony and sluggishness on Side B, such that the last few tracks before Light just blur together. I was hopeful for this but ultimately kinda let down.

Never heard of this album or artist before, but boy oh boy am I glad this made the list. This was a calm, beautiful listening experience and I’m eternally grateful to have heard this. Good job generator!

First song is a banger so far. Love the vocalization, but a very similar sound throughout.

Brilliant I love it Ready to listen again

Michael Kiwanuka is obviously very talented and I enjoyed this, but hia music doesn’t do anything to massively excite me.

Wow, that was an excellent album! Atmospheric, groovy, happy, sad. Very listenable. I’d never heard of this artist before, but will be sure to listen to his other works

A good album - I am now a fan. I will be adding this to my rotation of albums.

I really enjoyed listening to this album. I like how it can’t really be categorized into one specific genre. The nice instrumentals coupled with his amazing voice were phenomenal.

very soulful, full of raw emotion, authentic and creative. imo this is an instant classic. nothing but love for kiwanuka!

Really liked this more than his 2024 release. Good beats, decent grooves, nice transitions. Piano ballad was a highlight.

Really good. Would have expected that the other album would be on here with cold little heart and love and hate, but this album hits the same marks for me. Good music, good emotional voice, enough variation but a consistent package

If nothing else comes from this album generator but discovering this album it would be worth it. This is outstanding! Such a groove and such a voice. Love it and now I’m off to find more from him

Odotin jotain aivan muuta. Positiivinen yllätys. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alas, I have reached album number 200. I am familiar with Michael Kiwanuka, but not this particular album. A lot of reviews for this extoll it as a hidden gem of modern music, and it's the best-rated 2010s album on the site. And I can see why; it's a good neo-soul album. Kiwanuka has a great voice, and the songs are well written. The melodies on display are catchy and undeniably soulful, with strong lyrics for the genre. Simply put, this is a good album that more than holds it's own against classics of the genre and eats a lot of other lesser-known British music for breakfast.

Enjoyed it

!!

Pleasant, though fastforwarded through guitar solos.

boring as shit, guitar work is fine and best part of the project, his voice is nothing tho overall instrumentals sound super campy, like you told a top 30 pop artist to make a soul album. 5/10

Ça part très fort mais c'est long et pas mal tout le temps dans le même mood. 3.49 étoiles

8/10

Decent, catchy, but no instant hit

This album sounds like Michael Kiwanuka recorded it inside a warm blanket while nodding slowly and saying “yeah… this grooves.” And honestly? He’s not wrong. KIWANUKA is very lo-fi, like “someone spilled coffee on the mix and decided it was a vibe.” Everything is dusty, soft, and kind of blurry. Sometimes it feels intentional and deep. Other times it feels like the album is afraid of being loud or doing too much. Wake up bro, turn the lights on. BUT. The groove? Yeah, the groove is doing WORK. Basslines are walking confidently, drums are locked in, and even when the songs kind of melt into each other, your head is still bobbing like “ok fine, I’m still here.” It’s perfect background music for staring at the ceiling and thinking you’re the main character. There are really good ideas all over this thing. You can hear moments where the songs could absolutely take off… and then they just kinda don’t. It’s like edging but for music. The vibes are there, the soul is there, but the album refuses to fully commit to going hard. End result: respectable, groovy, tasteful, slightly sleepy. An album you nod at and say “yeah this is good” instead of screaming “THIS IS INSANE.” 6.5/10

4/5. The best new discovery for me so far in this project. Love the production on this album and Michael Kiwanuka is a strong vocalists who is a perfect match for this sound.

8/10 Favorite: Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love)

So far pretty epic, modern classic, lots of advert-worthy tracks. Some really beautiful tracks - I feel like I've been missing out by not having listened to this before now. I actually think this might be the best album I've listened to so far doing this 1001 albums thing. This album is so cohesive; it's not just a collection of songs, it fits and flows perfectly together. Finding out it was produced by Inflo and Danger Mouse makes a lot of sense.

Good, but not great.

This has a very old school vibe.

Добротный нео-соул с приятным саундом и аранжировками, но без откровений

This album was a surprise. Very happy to be introduced to this artist and I will 100% listen to more of his stuff. I love how he doesn’t stick to one style. Started very strong with You Ain’t the Problem and Rolling, but the album dragged after Final Days. But a very solid album over with songs I will listen to over and over.

Bit too slow for my taste.

I’m not a huge fan of his songwriting in this album, I think it’s too slow paced for me. It pairs really well with the instrumentation though. I prob wouldn’t revisit this one but I enjoyed the first time listening experience. Fav track is Hero, least favorite is Rolling.

"You aint the problem" is a great song.

First album I got that haven't heard of before. Loved it

I loved it, such a fun album

Very promising start, but kind of fades into samey downtempo forgettable tunes as it goes

Morceau préféré : l’instru de « living in Denial », « You ain’t the problem » est très sympa, ainsi que « I’ve been dazed » (mélancolie/rêve). « Piano joint » et son intro sont sympa aussi. « Hero » est bien mais intro inutile. Album intéressant, je ne connaissais pas du tout ce style. Quelques très bonne musique, d’autres moins bien. Usage intense du fuzz (saturation guitare électrique), parfois trop à la limite de la saturation totale. Voix un peu country. Les introductions sont un peu longues parfois. Note : 7,5/10

First listen

This shit was beautiful

guarde una canción que me hizo entrar medio en transe a pero no me aniquiló igualmente de fondo lo pondría

I have nothing to say about this album. I just don't think it was for me.

I've never heard of Michael Kiwanuka, so this was an enjoyable surprise. "Rolling," "I've Been Dazed," and "Hero" were standouts for me, and the the first half in particular is solid. It fades toward the end for me, but I'll keep an ear out for more from him.

Wow what a voice! The songs are hit and miss, some of them can get a little dull and boring. But Michael Kiwanuka's voice is incredible on all of them. You Ain't The Problem was really nice, Rolling was good too. Living In Denial, Hero, and Solid Ground were fairly nice. The rest of the album was just ok. Hard to choose between a 2 or a 3, but I think the vocals push it up. Best song: You Ain't The Problem

Need to relisten with lyrics on front of me. Damn good.

Brand new to me, only got one listen in but enjoyed it, will revisit so it gets 4 stars

I hate how I was told how surprisingly good this was by someone on the subreddit. Made my expectations go WAY up, only to be underwhelmed. Not bad but not mind blowing. 3/5

Now this is gonna be my first 5, I have listen Michael before, but not this album, I didn't want to skipped any song and I find my self wondering into the seeking listening to him. I like that it’s a modern album and not another 60s or 70s boring album again.

My rating 3.8. What a fantastic surprise. This is a great album. Love the mix of soul and R&B.

just a lush, grand, and sprawling musical experience. this was a fun surprise! def one i gotta revisit

I can't help thinking that with better marketing he might be a lot more successful. The album art isn't particulrly flattering. But this is a good listen with some fine songs.

Michaelin ääni on todella pehmeä ja miellyttävä. Musiikki ei oikein pudonnut mulle.

calm and luxurious

Begge tomlane opp! Drømmande og melankolsk

A lot of the same textures of his earlier albums are here as well, don't fix what it broken I guess. I enjoyed it, Michael Kiwanuka can make good songs that sound timeless. The entire album works well as an album too. Can't find much fault with it, other than it seems that Michael Kiwanuka doesn't relaly push himself much.