KIWANUKA

Probably the smoothest and coziest soul album in this whole list. It is absurd how well produced this record is. Not to put to shame the performances from Michael Kiwanuka, the choirs and the instruments, but I truly think that Danger Mouse very warm production is what elevated the quality of this project by basically making it ear candy. But this album is not just high definition audio. The songs also display a great arrange of emotions: song like "You Ain't the Problem", "Rolling" and "Hero" are very charming and uplifting while others like "Final Days" and "Solid Ground" show a more melancholic and introspective side. In addition, some tracks even present a sense of progression by adding elements as they pass. I think the best example for this is "I've being Dazed" which starts with quiet singing and a very prog/ psychedelic rock riff (that reminded me a lot to "The Dark Side of The Moon"). Then the drums and pianos are incorporated with some electronics in the ground and in the middle point the choir starts singing, with some strings coming after a while. So in the end, the songs feel way bigger than it started. In conclusion, this was an incredibly cozy experience with some very smooth performances.

"Light" music, like in a tv series. Possibly will listen in a car.

Once in a while this list has some really great stuff that, while I don't think are great picks for the list itself, are still great albums. Take Me Apart by Kelela is another one (haven't gotten it yet, but I have listened before). The guitars go hard on some of the songs, especially Hero. My other standout is the opener, You Ain't The Problem. I will say, a lot of it is a little on the chill side for my tastes, but its still great. Overall, just some really great psychedelic soul.

This was a vibe, the songs sounded good and we liked them.

This was such a pleasure to listen to - the whole way through! loved it.

Top 3: 1. Hero 2. Light 3. Piano Joint Least Favourite: Another Human Being Fantastic album. Loved all the tracks, especially 'Hero' and 'Light'.

Me gustó. Muy buen disco. Un sonido muy único y potente. Me gusta lo que hacen con tantos instrumentos. La producción del disco impecable. Hasta ahora de mis discos favoritos de la lista. Cada canción tiene una potencia enorme y una instrumentación y arreglos muy locos. Experimental, innovador, potente, con gran carácter y autentico es como definiría a este disco.

Very good! Doesn't quite fit my taste, so 3, but wow!

This is really good! Soulful but present

Not much of a detailed review, but damn! I really enjoyed myself! Mainly, the transitions from track to track. Especially, Another Human Being to Living In Denial. 9.5/10

lowkey slayy bija

Quite a pleasant discovery I must say -- Kiwanuka provided beautiful music throughout the album and supplemented them with his lyrical reflections.

Fantastic transitions between songs and a very strong focus to quality music and piercings lyrics

This album is decent, but after You Aren't The Problem (which I love) the rest of the record kinda just drifts by. 3.4/5

Es mejor de lo que me llegue a imaginar, me gusto mucho, es reconfortante

More like a three and a half

Took me by surprise how much I enjoyed this. Just a really beautfiully sounding album.

This album has alot of the things i like in music. upright piano, Orchestra strings,choirs and smooth drum lines. almost has a diy vibe to it. alot of overdrive and fuzz on the background vocal and just in general . sounds like it comes from a different era, like 1970's. it has elements of funk, blue, old r&b, soul and some other things cant really name because i cant put my finger on them. honestly this was really good album.

Based off first listen, I would say that I enjoyed myself here. There’s a clear modernity to how Kiwanuka approaches soul and its offshoots. He has a wonderful singing voice and creates a nice record with many catchy tunes. The album was cohesive overall, but it lacked the singularity to place it above being pretty good.

This is such a cool album! Love the retro vibe and the choir throughout.

Very good album- I just could set and relisten to this again

This is the music. I don't know I ran out of words this album is nice. 4/5

Best Track - "You Ain't The Problem"

Really good album, good tunes and I really like his voice. I had been recommended this when it came out but didn’t get round to listening to it but glad I did 4.2

Brilliant album. I can see me revisiting this a lot. So much going on and had me hooked from start to finish.

It was a cool album. I’ll be checking out more of their work.

Good overall

Very good. I was disappointed because the first was so upbeat that it made me think that's how the album was gonna go, but everything else was so opposite to that. It still was a very good listen.

I'm not 100% about giving this album 3 stars but it just didn't stick with me as much as the other albums we've listened to so far. I love Kiwanuka's work but I felt this wasn't as strong as his other albums. I think I need more time to dig into it for the album to land with me, so this rating is purely my impression from my first two listens (whilst I was working)!

Really enjoyed this, it even surprised me a little as to how good it sounded. It might be a little front loaded, at least it seemed that way on first listen, and I think there was 1-2 tracks in the middle that had me wondering if the quality was going to take a dive from the opening half that had previously wowed me, but fortunately it managed to get back on track.

Lempparit: Piano Joint, Light Vähiten lempparit: varmaan introt

Love it

3.75 perché non è un 4 pieno ma mi piace molto. Probabilmente sale con ascolti successivi

His best album as a whole and you fly through the entire thing.

Really enjoyed this - love finding a new person, very peaceful/good to work listening to

Nice music. Would listen again and recommend but not a 4.

Sonoridade fascinante, com uma produção que soa um pouco abafada em certas faixas (em particular a primeira). Muito interessante ouvir um take moderno de soul depois de dois álbuns dos anos 70, ainda que ele apresente uma estética retro.

don't get

8/10

i feel like this started out strong but didn’t end that way, i still enjoyed it tho

Hat erst beim zweiten Durchlauf gezündet.

A really big surprise. Never heard of him, never heard any musich by him. And what a great album. Great sound, great songs and overall a well worthy album to listen to!

You're the Kinwanuka pal. Sorry. I couldn't resist. Anyway, it's a mix of classic and some modern rock and soul. It's pretty interesting and pleasant to listen to. I'm not hearing the genius that many claimed about this album - but it raises the problem of modern albums. Will this still be here in a few years time? Maybe there needs to be a pause of at least 10 years before an album could be eligible, then we would have a better idea of it's staying power rather than it being fashionable for the moment... which I suspect this album is. Best Tracks: You Ain't The Problem; Rolling; Hero

Big fan of this album, listened to it many many times and I think it'll be a timeless great album for a long time..

soulful, nice

Among my favorite new discoveries on the list so far. Soulful, funky, psychedelic jams abound! I loved the breadth of music styles and genres throughout this record. Danger Mouse produced this record, and you can hear his influence, but this does not mean that there isn’t plenty of new and interesting material here. In any event, the production is outstanding. This is a very fun listen on good quality headphones or speakers. This album is definitely going on regular rotation. I’m excited to explore his other material and hopefully catch a live show someday. My favorite critic quote while researching the album, “Take Stevie Wonder, Funkadelic, Seal, Marvin Gaye, The Band and Bill Withers, put them in a blender, mix it up….out comes Michael Kiwanuka.” (Greg Potters)

There is some really great playing in here and I would have loved the production and the guitar playing if I'd listened to this when it came out. Six years later, I'm a bit past these really rooted sounds, personally. It just didn't really grab my attention all throughout.

This was a very mellow listen. I expected something from the 70s from the cover art and didnt expect something modern at all. I liked it, i am sure multiple listens would increase the score.

For a 2019 album I was surprised that I had never even heard of the artist. But wow this is good, and I’m pleased to see the rating average on here is so high. I can’t speak for cultural significance but this is definitely a good modern pick based on its quality

Amazing lyrical mashup of so many genres. I felt the same way ad when I first listened to Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life - this album goes straight to some deep part of the self that recognizes a true visionary.

Wow. 24 hours after first listening to it, KIWANUKA has burrowed its way into my brain. I’ll be revisiting frequently until I can get my hands on a physical copy so I can properly pay for this experience that I’ll remember until dementia or death.

I was going to make some quip about this guy for this review, but I don't know anything about him or his music, so I've got nothing

What a wonderful suprise—so good!

Like Seal had a Memphis Soul uncle and I liked it.

It was very good but all the songs had very similar vibes so it got a bit tiring after a little. I particularly enjoyed ' You ain't the problem '

I like the vibe of the music. Not something I have ever heard or would normally gravitate towards but overall enjoyable.

Background music at best.

Better than I had expected

Pretty okay R&B album. Works as good background noise, but nothing really stood out to me with this one.

Have the CD so gave it a spin, solid album, probably a 3.5

A perfect album when you’re in your 20s. Has such an artsy vibe that I’m always craving in music. Really nice, comfortable. Great for spring time, when everything is blooming again and coming to life. This is your coming of age anthem.

Äntligen ett lite nyare album! Hade aldrig hört talas om Kiwanuka sen tidigare. Vilken resa man fick gå igenom i detta album, och produktionen, o introna till vissa låtar som flawlessly gick in i själva låten (t.ex. piano joint och hero) Vissa låtar mer melankoliska och andra mycket fart i som början av albumet, "you aint the problem" lite afro-vibbar med trummorna och viben. Roliga adlibs som påminner lite om childish gambino stuk. Keep it rocking Kiwanuka, LA LALALA LA LA 7.5/10

Leans a bit too chill for me but overall fine for something to have on while doing things. Got way too samey as it went on, kind of forgot it was even playing.

Like the Weeknd, but more digestible or something.

I hadn’t listen to this full album before, I really enjoyed it

Not bad. Pretty chill vibes, which were perfect for a morning listen

I really like Michael’s voice and will be listening to the album again

3.5/5

Favorite Tracks: You Ain't The Problem, Hero

I have never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before, so going into this album I wasn't sure what to expect, but this was a pleasant surprise. I don't think there's a bad song on the track list. It was nice to hear a modern album made in the last decade, there are very few of those on this list. I do think at times this album is doing too much in terms of sound, while somehow simultaneously sounding a bit one note. However, overall I did enjoy this record, and thought it was a fine addition to this list. Four stars. (Favorite track: You Ain't the Problem.)

Jos jedan solidan album, dobar vibe. 7/10 Najbolja pisma: Hero

No notes a classic that I’ll always thank my dad for showing me

A record that makes for smooth listening. This did just enough to get over for me. Looking forward to revisiting this.

I like

Leuk albumpje heur

Just incredible. I had never heard of him, but this was brilliant.

primeiras músicas são legais mas o resto é meio mala

Decent 4/5

Better than anticipated!!!!!

Wow. I had never heard of this artist, but I added it to my library halfway through the third song. I love everything about this- the gorgeous melodies, the lyrics, the rich and layered arrangements and percussion, Michael’s soulful vocals. I love the way he weaves gospel, soul and funk together in a way that gives homage to the past but also feels distinctly modern. The songwriting is deeply personal, and I can’t wait to listen without the distraction of getting kids ready for school in the morning. I can tell this is an album that grows better with every listen, and also one that I will hyperfixate on for months. It’s so lush and cinematic. THIS is why I’m doing this project. What a joy to find a new artist that I connect with so deeply on the first listen.

> the Beatles

Great lyrical themes, but this is a heavily front-loaded album that really drags in the second half. It also feels like all of the artist's attention went to the pervasive production rather than the music, which is half-hearted and derivative. As for the aforementioned production, it's overdone and grating. I know all the fuzz was intentional, but it's just annoying and further detracts from the album. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

nothing of note here. this album was pretty boring and didnt sound great

I was going to give this a 5 but the back off the album slowed down for me. I'm so glad this website introduced me to this album.

This album is pretty cool, it has such a full sound to it and does have a soul feel but with a kick to it. Wasn’t too familiar with Kiwanuka’s work overall but was really impressed with the ability to genre mix on here. Had some soul, funk and worked in some really good psych-rock into the mix. Kiwanuka’s vocals are super smooth as well, had me thinking of Tunde from TV on the Radio on the second track. Really enjoyed the variety of this one. Good stuff, 4 stars

Clocks is in my too favorites. Very instrumental and beautiful.

The general consensus from other reviews seems to be that this is great but no one had heard it before. I'd agree with that, my only slight downside is a few of the songs drag a bit, but that's also just my preference for his faster, more classic soul stuff

Really good album, and I've seen Kiwanuka live and enjoyed the show a lot as well. For some reason I don't _love_ it, but I do like it a lot.

Never heard of this artist but I enjoyed the album. Good vibe. Favorite track is “Light”.

THIS IS WHY I SIGNED UP FOR THIS PROJECT! Completely and unexpectedly blown away by this album and this artist. Loved it from the first minute to the last. Have already played it through five times plus had a cheeky explore of his latest album. Just fantastic.

Hadn’t heard this before but liked it. Not surprised to learn afterwards that Danger Mouse was involved.

good

nice

a guy that I've been vaguely aware of for the last few years but I've never actually given a listen, and mama mia I've been missing out. this is what all the stuff in our current old-meets-new retro-futurism era aspires to be, the blending of modern production with psychedelic, soul, funk, everything gels together so well and the whole thing is a pleasure from start to finish, 50 minutes that feel like 30. you've got a new fan michael!

Never heard of him, and now I'm a fan. Great throwback to the 60s psychedelic soul sound I got really into the last couple of years.

An excellent modern soul album. Danger Mouse's production never disappoints

I had never heard of this before and didn’t know what to expect. Really enjoyed it. Great voice and the music compliments it extremely well.

Great

This album surprised me. it is not what I expected it would be. I need to revisit this album and give it a proper review. Stand out songs: Rolling Piano Joint (intro) Piano Joint Another Human Being Final Days

Maybe a bit slow for my personal taste, which is a shame because this has gotten good reviews. Everyone else has seemed to get something out of this album which I didn’t. Might be one I have to listen to more often to get. I definitely like Final Days more than when I was first shown that song.

Unexpected surprise! Great album, will listen to it more.

A new artist for me but music that was just okay. Its not that I dislike it, more that it doesn't have anything that would make me want to seek it out or add it to any playlists. Songs that I might hear on the radio and think nothing of.

perfectly modern, objectively good music. i had not a clue what exactly i was listening to, but it felt like watching the sun set over a place ive never been before. but i prefer sunrises i think.

My expectations were pretty low so I must say this was incredible. I honestly can't find a slaw with this album's composition- perfect use of bridge tracks and song lengths. At times I found myself smiling because I was not aware that an album from 2019 that I'd never heard of could be so good. I think my impression of the album over is summed up in 'I've been dazed'. I think incorporating elements like gospel can be quite hard however this achieves it perfectly. Ugh and then the delicious instrumental towards the end omg I started smiling because it kept getting better and better.

Not sure why I felt so skeptical going into this because I ended up quite liking it. As the album went on I feel like the songs maybe became less stand out but overall they create a very soothing and relaxing tone.

i usually love this kind of music but my expectations were let down slightly i fear. i was bored for most of it and i dont really have much else to say

This feels very reminiscent of when it was made. I really like this and will definitely relisten. The intro tracks really help bridge the gaps between each song so it feels like a very cohesive album to listen to. I might even consider upgrading this to a 5 on the second listen

Perfection. Outside of critical appraisal.

I'm not sure how I feel about his album. Certainly inoffensive, but I'm not sure if I enjoyed it somewhat or if I'm neutral. ⭐⭐⭐?

Echt cool, vor allem so nebenbei oder beim lernen

new artist I’ve never heard of! Enjoyed the beats, the music, the vocals and lyrics! gonna add him to my radar

Not what I’m normally into but it’s a very good album.

When people say that good music is making a comeback ( I am one of these people), this is the kind of music that they are referring to. Straight from the heart with many influences of almost every genre that there is. This is a beautiful record top to bottom and flows so well between each track. Philosophical, lyrical, groovy, and chill. Man this thing is great. 9/10

You Ain't The Problem - 4.5/5 Rolling - 4.5/5 I've Been Dazed - 4/5 Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) - Intro - 4/5 Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) - 5/5 Another Human Being - 3.5/5 Living In Denial - 4/5 Hero - Intro - 4.5/5 Hero - 4/5 Hard To Say Goodbye - 4/5 Final Days - 4/5 Interlude (Loving The People) - 3.5/5 Solid Ground - 4.5/5 Light - 4/5

First album! I bought it at his show on vinyl

“What do I call this music?” was one of the first things I was thinking about when listening to this. Something about this kind of reminds me of The Car by Arctic Monkeys, but then again it’s completely different. I feel like “Light” and “Perfect Sense” from The Car connects in some way but I can’t say anymore about the genre. This is a quality I actually really like. It’s nice to listen to music that doesn’t have a clear definition of genre for once in a while. Who the hell hears this and immediately goes “That’s gotta be Phsychedelic Soul!”. Micheal Kiwanuka had been told by record labels to chance his artist name because it would be hard to promote with. It’s pretty forgettable because of its length. Luckily he didn’t and in this album he sure wears it with honor, almost like a medal. His unique genre is very simple but amazes me every time I listen. Songs like “I’ve Been Dazed” and “Piano Joint” are both really simple, but everything just works so good together. The record has smooth transitions, an one-of-a-kind atmosphere and the ability to expand your music taste if you give it a fair chance (trust). Only 2 things I didn’t really like was the overall production which made me skeptical that this was from 2019, and the drum cymbals on “Rolling” which would get annoying during the chorus. My favorite song was “Hard To Say Goodbye”.

Great soul record. Pleasantly surprised to see it was included 8/10 [KEEP]

This is a curious one. Different, can’t make out how to describe it. Hero was a standout track; to me, the rest were meh, but I can kinda see the appeal. (3)

Decent 4

4.5

4,6 - Ein moderner Klassiker, jedes Lied hat mehr Emotionen als manche Alben. Dazu abwechslungsreich und einnehmend. Highlights: You Ain't The Problem, Rolling

This album started out super strong with this sort of new jazz, rhythmic trance feel. Towards the middle / end I felt it slowed down a bit. I feel like if I saw this played live, or listened in a different setting (late night, sipping on a cold drink) I would probably appreciate it even more. I may revisit this again sometime soon to try out that theory. Still an enjoyable listen and good vibe all around.

Damn, this is great and is a refreshing treat after yesterday's album! I can't believe I'd never even heard of Michael Kiwanuka! Such a smooth, cool, soulful vibe, but with very interesting instrumentation that somehow feels both modern and straight out of the 70s at the same time. I'm definitely going to check out more of his music.

Імба

Hm so 3-4? Nichts spannendes aber schön

Really cool album! Nice discovery

Although I've heard of this artist, I really didn't know his work. This album didn't do much for me one way or the other.

Interesting

This is really good I would actually listen to this and I love his voice and the beat

Good album. "Psychedelic soul". 70s feel. I think the producers (Danger Mouse and Inflo) had a larger influence than normal.

Classic sounding without being boringly reverant, soulful and emotional but never histronic, ecclectic in it's influences but cohesive in it's vision and sound. This is a true album as a defined piece of art. Richly satisfying and my favourite new discovery so far.

Not exactly my kind of music, but it sure did sound good! You can tell he has a lot of talent.

I liked it, different and didn’t know it

Absolutely great album

Nice, but didn't grab me. Deserves more listens.

ok, this might be my favorite one I have listened to thus far. The vibe is right up my alley, it's like a more down to earth version of some of the Jungle songs I like, the guitars and the like production that make the music feel like its rolling is probably whats making those mental connections to me, but these songs are a lot less like...peppy but it still keeps a lot of that energy up, I really like this album.

Interesting and soulful, this is a solid album. I was unfamiliar with his work prior, but I might need to look into it more. There was a lot of late 90s inspiration in this, along with a fair amount of added funk and a bit of the psychedelic atmosphere. Unique and certainly worth the time.

Really nice album. Had it on as background and it pulled me in to listen. He successfully melds many genres.

I really enjoyed this one I’d buy this on Vinyl such beautiful lyrics and instrumental

4.5 (51:13, 14 tracks, 3rd album, 2019) Soul (Psychedelic Soul, World Music, Rock) Really liked this album, soul is not my go to genre and generally anything 'psychedelic' is a turn off (dislike the phrase "psychedelic soul"). First track I assumed this would be a "World Music" (meaning African) album but it most certainly is not. It draws from a lot of different genres. Won Mercury Prize, was nominated by Grammy's for best rock album. Probably the first (maybe the best thing about this album) is the lyrics are outstanding (Dimery is unabashed about his lean towards singer songwriters). The album is mostly a self-affirmation album. Sing about love but from an introspective exploratory perspective (oppositive of 'gansta rap'). Also in 2019 Micheal (I'm calling him this, can't pronounce his last name) released a true 'album' in album format (kind of a dying art) with intros (almost like skits in hip - hop, a lot of hip hop in this album) Tidbits Produced by Danger Mouse - this is probably the source of the 'psychedelic' Cover Art I really dislike - I thought this was going to be a world album. I dislike the Motter Ombra font. I don't like the painting. I think it completely detracts from how awesome this album is as one goes in with an incorrect notions (maybe Micheal's intention?) He address racism but it an afterthought in the album. It definitely address social identity but not through the lens of a black man. Track Listing - Favorite tracks marked with * 1.* "You Ain't the Problem" 4:09 2. "Rolling" 2:51 3. "I've Been Dazed" 4:25 4. "Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) (Intro)" 2:18 5.* "Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)" 3:51 6. "Another Human Being" 1:51 7. "Living in Denial" 3:31 8. "Hero (Intro)" 1:20 9.* "Hero" 3:19 10. "Hard to Say Goodbye" 7:05 11. "Final Days" 4:10 12. "Interlude (Loving the People)" 2:42 13*. "Solid Ground" 3:53 14. "Light" 5:48 Michael Kiwanuka is a British (go figure, 1001 sure has a UK-centric lean) citizen

Never heard of this album or artist before. This is incredible. Beautiful album.

Love the sound, and a cohesive album. Great voice and interesting music.

Big fan

This was really nice prolly a 4

Lovely retro vibes, I don’t think he knows how to make a bad record.

Music that can heal your soul!

cool. different. chant. groove.

I really liked this album and can see myself listening to it often when I am doing homework or relaxing.

Perfect

So beautiful that one 7 minute song is nice af i like very much

I overall enjoyed this. Had some really good songs inbetween.

This artist was new to me. Super enjoyable. Easy listening.

Wow! I’ve never heard of this album but it’s super nice and fun to listen to! I feel like it doesn’t stand out a lot against some other music I love, but it is a very solidly written and sounding album!

The album cover freaked me out a bit, but all of that was put aside once I started listening to the album. Like a lot of soul albums, it is very rich in instrumentation. The album as a whole feels quite cohesive which is quite the surprise of an album from 2019, but wouldn't be that much of a surprise if the album was from the 70s. I quite how it's structured, especially with the intros to the next respective song. Highlight Song/s: "You Ain't The Problem" and "Living In Denial"

This was a very unique album and overall sounds very beautiful. I thought the intros to some of the songs were very interesting too. My overall favorites were: You ain't the problem, Hero, Rolling and Hard to Say Goodbye.

this jawn bang

I never really understood why this one is included but Kiwanuka's previous masterpiece Love & Hate is not here. I mean this album is fine. But I can't help to compare this to L&H. I feel like that is the album where his creativity was at his peak. This always felt like a watered-down version going for accesibility over sustenance. Not that that is necessarily bad, and in this case he still put out some pretty tunes. But if you really want to hear some unique blend of soul, blues, jazz, and prog rock, L&H is still your best bet.

The production was really great. It's a genre I don't usually listen to, so I'm glad I checked it out. It had a strong start but towards the later half it felt like the songs started to mesh together, not necessarily a bad thing but it made the later half slightly less memorable. Michael Kiwanuka has a lovely voice which brought depth to the music. Definitely worth the listen.

Really strong start to the album. This kind of love is great. I thought the album slowed down as it went on.

j’aime beaucoup

Really solid stuff. Love the layering of tracks, lots going on but everything has its place. Each note hits the eardrum in a super pleasing way. Great balance between the effects on the keys/strings and the relatively clean sound of the percussion. Beautiful vocals too, both the lead and the choir. I like a good bit of the modern soul I've heard, but this is the first thing that doesn't feel like a mashup of genres or like it's trying to be from another era. But that's probably on me for not doing enough digging.

it’s like listening to someone’s journey through the the midwest (?) (not really but kinda) the instrumentals are realllyyyy good and his vocals are very soulful notable mentions: final days, instrumentals at the end of light are making me ascend

Overall a very good album, but not something I would find myself actively listening to. I would put it on in the background to fill in the silence though. 8/10 production, 6/10 personal rating

Geen slechte nummers maar niet mijn smaak

Absolutely loved this album - easy listening, great vibes. I loved his voice and this album immediately made me wanna listen to his other stuff

atmosphärische klangcollagen mit tollem groove und einer tollen stimme. endlich wieder einmal eine entdeckung!

Mal was aktuelles. Vielseitig aber auch schwer greifbar.

This started well, then dropped quickly into tedium. It's frustrating, it's almost good, but stops just short like it's doing it on purpose, refusing to shine.

Some hypnotic, dreamy retro soul. Some moments hit, but just as many wash over me with little sticking.

This was a very good album. Very relaxing sounds.

Very unexpected but very easy 5 star

First album to get a relisten so far, i think I wavered between absolutely loving it and then kinda fading out but the general vibieness is top tier and particularly the end of the album stood out. Sometimes the sound quality got a bit gristly but i genuinely couldn't tell if that was intentional or my headphones - not my favourite musical texture if that is a feature and apologies to Mr Kiwanuka if it’s not. The production really stands out and any song that showcased that was a standout - with enough of said songs that i reckon this is going in the rotation. Also just exciting to have something from the last 10 years!

Oooo wow I loved this!! What a good journey, loved it from the start and continued to love it to the end. As someone who can get distracted in albums this held my attention as one smoooooth piece, keen to listen to more from him now

I really liked this! Much more my speed but also outside of my wheelhouse, insofar as I probably wouldn’t have found this album on my own. The first track was the only one to download/save offline before I got on the plane to Saigon so I have a particular affinity to “You ain’t the problem” because I listened to it on repeat (and also because it’s a fun track!!). KIWANUKA in its totality really felt like AN ALBUM to me. I love the highs and lows and the change of pace throughout, I felt like I went on a journey. “Hero” is the other highlight for me at this point, but I can certainly see this album making it into my rotation. 4 🌟!

Can see why the compilers of the book liked this one because it doesn’t really sound like it was made in 2019. I remember hearing of michael kiwanuka when his first album came out but never listened to much of his stuff. this was pretty cool! I loved hero, solid ground and light. the others washed over me as I making dinner, but congrats to michael on winning the mercury prize!

This album owes a lot to 70s soul and funk, and is certainly fun to listen to, but I don’t think it offers me anything new.

fine

Masterful tone, and a couple of the songs at the front really grab me. Was a big influence on Harville

absolute banger

Good rainy day music. Retro soul with modern instrumentation.

8/10

What an album!!! No había escuchado a un artista contemporáneo tan comprometido con su arte

The beat is amazing. The lyrics surprisingly arent too bad. I genuinely enjoyed most of this album.

Det va interessant, sjøl om det ikke traff mæ helt akkurat i dag, men det handla mer om lytteren enn om musikken, så sånn sett ga Kiwanuka mersmak.

Great album! This dude can jam

Gospel tinged rock with a varied sonic palette drawing on industrial techno, IDM, RnB, reggae, psych, and jazz. Rich warm baritone vocals are very inviting and the wealth of live horns and pianos makes for a great lush sound. Some nice guitar tones on a lead/riff, and some acoustic strumming, but it’s not exactly a guitar record. Production is super clean and clear. It opens well but gets pretty slow and trudging in the middle.

This album was a pleasant surprise. Not something I would've chosen to listen to of my own accord, but there were some some gems littered in there and I quite enjoyed this album.

I liked it lowkey

One of the most powerful/ beautiful albums I’ve listened to. Music like this is so insanely important. This album was so gorgeously put together the transitions between songs were perfect especially Interlude to Solid Ground. Each song so rich in meaning and feeling. Truly perfect album.

Uplifting

fav tracks: hero / piano joint - intro / living in denial / solid ground couldnt tell that its a 2019 production cool album - liked it- not really exciting

I was really impressed by this one. It reminded me a little bit of Daniel Caesar, but I connect a lot with this one. In a ways it is very uplifting about personal struggles and I was very moved by a lot of songs, specifically Living In Denial and Solid Ground. Goddamn were those songs powerful. I didn't really care for the interludes but this was fantastic. 9/10

Classified as psychedelic soul, I was hopeful this genre would open some new doors, but nothing I could really latch on to. He has a decent voice, but not a direction I could get excited about.

Really liked this album it felt refreshing compared to what I’ve been listening to. My favorite song was you ain’t the problem as the lyrics reached out to me.

my first time listening. my god. sensational. i will be taking A LOT here with me.

Really enjoyed this album and I can't believe I'd not heard it yet! Probs 4 stars

Very enjoyable album from an artist I’m not familiar with and a genre I generally don’t listen to.

Love!

Definitely a 70s soul kind of sound. Enjoyed this.

Muy buen disco, no es el género que suelo escuchar, pero me sorprendió que me gustó el instrumental y, sobre todo, la letra, que puede ser utilizada como soundtrack en donde el personaje principal tiene su momento de realización mental. Me identifico con “You ain’t the problem”.

beautiful and emotional

God is made up bullshit, but if it can inspire this, then halle-fucking-lujah!

Oh wow. This is a pageant, majestic. I am very glad to be introduced to it. He is clearly a talent, the music is lush and rich, and I’m sure it will reward future listens.

3/3. Wow, first album on this list that's really blown me away, just fantastic overall. Great songwriting, awesome instrumentation (there's a fucking harp at the start of Another Human Being??), and lyrics to match. Every song offered something different than the last, but it still feels totally cohesive. Definitely an artist I'm going to dive deeper into.

lovely lovely lovely

im definitely going to listen again; such a nice surprise! songs i saved: - you ain't the problem - rolling - piano joint (this kind of love) - living in denial (that introoooo) - light

Chill, real emotions, feeling of freedom Soul music - references to the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr., black oppression A piece of art

Interesting stuff. Not my usual thing but easy to listen to with some real toe tappers.

Not for me. Like him as a musician and a person, but find his albums derivative and too bland for my own taste.

I didn't even try😭😂

Ещё один фаворит для меня.

me gustó la mayoría mucha vibra a tyler the creator y mf doom 😛

Nice showcase of his voice, good harmonising throughout the album too. I really enjoyed this listen.

Love this artist and album. Have seen him twice live as well. Highlights are Hero, Rolling and Piano Joint. Solid 5 for me.

Damn this is so good! His melodies are so intricate and cool

good elevator music

Exceptional album. Will definitely re-listen to!

Man, this album is a vibe. Very dream-like. Has a real timeless quality to it. I was listening to this wondering why I'd never heard of this guy before. Surely I'd've heard one of these tracks on the oldies stations... But no, this album dropped in 2019. Ha. Hard to pick a favourite track. "Hero" seems like the popular choice, but the album sure sounded strong too with "You Ain't the Problem". For my money, "Hard To Say Goodbye", a sprawling seven-minute soundtrack-to-a-movie-sounding thing, is the one.

OK - R&B. First time ever hearing this artist. Did don't miss anything

Great vibe 👍 such a great vibe I didn't even realize the album ended

I excepted to hate it as I don't like soul, escpecially modern one, but this one turned out to be good. Soothing and enjoyable listening, songs and production are good.

12 albums in and finally a 5*

Red hot chilli peppers vibes. Interlude was very relaxing.

Overall Rating - 3.50/5 (7.00/10). Good album. No idea what to expect, and it turned out to be very jazzy and pleasant to listen to.

Decent soul album that almost reads as Coldplay-coded, for better and for worse. Album takes a bit to get going and the overly crunchy/compressed production makes the first few tracks a tough listen, but gets more enjoyable as the tone mellows out. Some decent listening but nothing overly remarkable. Top tracks: Piano Joint, Final Days, Solid Ground

Beautiful music to get lost in. No skip album. 4.5 stars

Beautifully arranged and recorded, these songs are moving and dynamic. Michael Kiwanuka’s voice is absolutely stunning. Everything from the tight drums, psychedelic guitars, and gorgeous string passages delivers a sublime, soulful listen. Glad to have been introduced to this one.

so so.

4/5 Buenos instrumentos, me gustó la voz del artista, no es mi género favorito pero algunas canciones me gustaron.

I love this retro style in modern times, because it just has such a great vibe overall! I never heard of Michael Kiwanuka, but this record was amazing. I am a huge fan of Black Pumas (I really think their debut album should be included on this list), and this one is very reminiscent of that, but it's its own thing as well. I loved it really, it was a beautiful experience. Smooth vocals, great instrumentation and compositions, just so good overall.

what a surprise, hit jackpot from the very first time! groovy af, the melody is sweet, funky, and somewhat upbeat! felt like a handshake from an old friend who you reconcile with after several years spent apart.

meh

It’s a lovely album. Lots of the songs have a northern soul sound/beat to them which I enjoyed.

good album, never really listened to anything like that before I enjoyed it

Only two songs in and I’m already obsessed, such a great new discovery for my music library! ETA post listening to the whole thing: LOVE. 5/5

His best record for me, the one where he graduated from fulfilling his youthful ambition of making records that sounded like Bill Withers* to fully realising an identity of his own. *though some of this still does, and why not

Had never heard of this artist before and was a bit worried about wading through such a long album. This is great though. Such good songs, vocals and instrumentation. I can see why it won the Mercury Prize. Will go back to this album and artist.

Easy listen, chill vibe Stand-outs - Rolling - Hero - Solid ground

Fav song: I’ve Been Dazed Overall: 3.5/5

Pretty chill, nothing really stood out to me, it's kind of boring to listen actively to but it's good background music

I see the vision, just not my cup of tea

fun album fun sounds

Top track: Hero Nice voice, but not enough interesting songs.

Good not great

🥇hero 🥈final days 🥉living in denial HM: rolling, i’ve been dazed

I really like the album

what a wonderful record. Best contemporary soul record i’ve heard in a bit, no thanks to the psych-rock influence at times. lush textures, heartbreaking lyrics- it’s got it all!!!

Loved it!

Ouvi esse álbum na segunda-feira, dia 22 de dezembro, a energia dele é forte, diferente do que eu tô acostumada a ouvir agora. Em alguns aspectos me lembrou algo que o meu pai escutaria e também a música que o herói escuta quando volta a acreditar em si mesmo. especial highlights para a faixa "i've been dazed".

Really good

Lovely retro modern soul sound.

I will give it a second listen, but it has some beautiful and touching songs. I felt it.

Wonderful album- one that’s hard to find a shining star or fave single bc the album flows seamlessly. Nice concept album and an easy listen on a Sunday morning.

First song was amazing. The later ones are good, but didn’t do much for me. Pretty solid album overall.

Not bad actually. Jazzy, I dont like jazz.

Not for me

That voice.

Great, amazing voice. I need louder music but this album is well written

Soulful, whimsical (at times) and life affirming throughout. There is an inherent musicality in his work.

Very inspired piece of music that I hasn’t listened to in a long time. Has an extremely reassuring quality to it that is difficult to explain but soothes the soul

Interesting find! Family loved it and will look for again.

Favorite songs: Rolling, Hero, Final Days, Light

Great interesting modern album

Nice

This is the first song recommended from the 1001 songs to listen to. Apparently, this album has won an award for the “best rock album. So here is my take: - This sounds more a a jazz/chill type of album, completely unexpected at first listen, expecting to hear rock - instrumentals are WOW just WOW - Lyrics are kinda meh, I was expecting more, only one song got me saying DANG - I saw a message of love, growing, especially after a heartbreak or betrayal, but also about falling in love - again instrumental WOW!!! -definitely more of a chill vibe (almost put me to sleep) - probably will listen in the future again after a heartbreak/ or shitty moment in life Overall,3/5, best song: I’ve been Dazed. That song is just beautiful, the vocals, the overlapping audio, it’s WOW!

Stunning space, the spot-on timing for a relaxed, meaningful vibe, great musicianship. Wow, what a beautiful, interesting album.

Excellent album. Strong vocals, great music, all round goodness here

Noiceee

Another familiar artist and album.

just not my style of music but it is objectively good

I had no idea what to expect going into listening but I'm very positively surprised! This was a great album. I absolutely loved the instrumentals, his voice is very soothing aswell.

красиво, стильно. но длинновато и местами скучновато немного

easy five. saw the genre was "psychedelic soul" and had the instant "oh hell yeah" reaction because this was fantastic start to finish. the hendrix-inspired stratocaster sound here is sublime. there's such an emotive body to it that gives a really strong base for kiwanuka's complimentary vocals. the string arrangements across this whole album are fantastic. like, listening to the violins take the front in "light" while kiwanuka's guitar slowly reverbs across in tandem with the background vocalists? that's what i'm talking about right there. genuinely pretty surprising that this album didn't blow up more. great stuff.

Wow I should have heard this album before now! This is genuinely the first album listening experience from the list so far where I've not just enjoyed it, not just found it great, but immediately known I will be listening to this over and over in future. The guitar, the SOUND of this album is so good. It feels like a splash of cold water after having sat through a year in music that I have found to be pretty stale. The album listening experience here is sublime in my opinion, the way it moves between tortured, deeply soulful to Lush and retro-infused sounds. Damn! If you haven't, listen to this album.

not my jam

((listen again at some point)) Best = Hard to say goodbye/Final days Skip = Hero - intro

it’s a kinda vibe?

This just further proves my theory that I can enjoy any type of music if it’s made to sound like rock. I really don’t like soul. I’ve rated butt rock albums higher than some iconic soul records just because the vibe is not for me. But this album has a lot of rock elements and some great guitar work on top of that. I also enjoyed the vocals. I think they fit the instruments much better than usual. In soul, the music is usually just a background for vocals, which I don’t like. Not all songs on this album sound like rock, though, and the other have the more typical minimal soul sound (just with less vocals, I guess), which, again, I don’t really enjoy. But overall, still a decently fun album. 7/10

‘Living in Denial’ my favorite so far. Overall good album, easy to listen to, reminds me of 60s/70s music. Very Bill Withers. I’ve heard ‘Light’ before, maybe in Ted Lasso? Or another TV show.

Album saved to library Very funky, moody, bouncy Would listen to in all seasons Very wicked instrumentation Easily already in my music taste

Not my taste but nice

I did not like it

Świetny album, mój styl, spokojny, mega mi się podoba💗

I did not find this very compelling at all. A few interesting little tiddlywinks but overall this one just kinda washed over me.

No. 47 What a surprising musical journey. Beautiful vocals and grandiose music pieces.

This album started out very strong for me, new age psych pop but it started to lean into a more soul album after that. The music is good and his vocals are pleasing but it just isn't my favorite style, it didn't really grab my attention. There were about 4 songs that I thought were really good the rest just didn't do it for me. I will say it was good enough to warrant a second listen, but I don't think it is something I would purchase for the collection

Så dygtig musiker wow

Så god!! Rar stemme og en god fakkelbærer til næste generation af soul sangere 🌟🌟

Great sound throughout with some amazing songs strewn in. Very pleasant to listen to.

It was ok, really nice not quite my cup of tea

not my favorite

Goes alittle longer than needed but this is the stuff I was hoping to find here

Pleasantly surprised, however got a little bored towards the end.

Not my normal style of song, but surprisingly I did enjoy it and wold listen again in the future 👍

tellement serein, apaisant

Backgroundy. Nice voice but want more blam 6-7

You are first brought in by intense yet electrifying guitar. Then, slowly the mood shifts and it’s as if you’re looking over a horizon. Climbing even higher with each second. But when you about to take flight, you’re pulled back in by more guitar and vocals. The chords in this album are striking and chaotic, but they pave the path to peace. Solid Ground is the highest rated song My personal favorite is Piano Joint.

Album No. 0091 on my list. I’ve Never heard of Michael Kiwanuka or the album before and it caught me completely off guard how good this album is. It’s really, really good! I love the albums chill, soul-y groove, I love Kiwanuka’s singing, I love how well this thing is engineered and how great it sounds. Really cool stuff! It starts of very well, “You Ain’t The Problem” was an instant favorite and I’ve added the track to my playlist. And the album ends very well, too - both “Solid Ground”, and “Light” ended up on my playlist as well. There joined there by three additional songs: “Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love)”, “Hero”, and “Final Days”, but to be honest, I just wanted to overcrowd my already long playlist and just had to select a subset. But in the end, pretty much all songs could have ended on my list. Great album, highly recommend it! 5/5 stars!

This is quite good! Like most of the other reviewers here, I'd never heard of this fella AND I'm pleasantly surprised by the range of genres and quality of the music and songwriting. His voice is smooth, soulful, and strong. Likable. The music does range across a few styles, but doesn't really dig too deeply into any. That could be bad or good as it makes him hard to define or recommend to a list. But, I guess works for him because you could slot some into any number of types of playlists. I tend to refer artists that span genres. even though I know it makes it harder for them to find a niche. There are just a couple of fillers on here. It would benefit the album to remove maybe two songs that aren't as grabby. Maybe "Solid Ground" and "Light" as they're ok, but not memorable to me. I will definitely listen to this again and some of the tunes are already slotted onto playlists. Will check out more by him, too. I want to give it a 4.5 and I'm pretty stingy about giving 5's. While I definitely like it, I don't think it's earth-shaking, so we're going with a 4.

OMG This was so great, s