KIWANUKA

Added it to my library, which means pretty good. Very eclectic and modern. Good grooves and a nice "album" feeling.

I get to pull my hipster card and say I actually did know this album before starting this project. Which seems to be uncommon given how many reviews state they’ve never even heard of Michael Kiwanuka before. I’m sure there’s something recency bias to a pick like this, but it’s a really solid r&b album and better than a lot of other stuff I’ve gotten so far

I love this album. The music is beautiful, his voice is warm and captivating. As some people have mentioned it sounds retro but modern. Very good.

Really, really good!

Wonderful music

Very fun album! Never heard of the artist or album before, but I was super impressed.

Very funky, very fresh.

Resulta que le tengo una unidad de like a una canción de este album, pero no recuerdo cómo ni cuando lo descubrí. Típico feel-good album de 2019, según muchos historiadores el mejor año de lo que llevamos de siglo (los historiadores en cuestión: yo). Me gustó mucho, propone cosas muy interesantes y las decisiones instrumentales van duras de pelotas. Además, tener canciones con una intro separada: +3000 de aura. Likes: You ain't the problem, Rolling, Piano Joint, Hero, Hard to Say Goodbye, Final Days, Interlude, Light

Excellent album. A few songs dragged a bit, but overall really striking collection of songs.

Smooth in places, anguished in others, Kiwanuka masters his craft.

A brilliant synthesis of so much that's gone before. Which is why it's 4* rather than 5...

This is great. Crosses genres from 60s psychedelia to soul to Eastern Africa infused rock. I didn't expect to like this, but I loved it.

Lieb die Stimme einfach und den flow von Kiwanuka

Ein Album, das noch keine 20 Jahre alt ist, ich bin schockiert. Aber auch begeistert, das machte mir richtig viel Spaß

Great vibe in a Khruangbin, non-specific jazzish/exotica/orchestral soul way. I like how the poppier beats give way to something more introspective as the album goes on. This kind of thing doesn't really stick with me, but I dig it while it's on.

This guy knows how to subtly squeeze a good chord progression.

A remarkable voice. His style is both new and drenched in the past at the same time. Moody and swirling and just plain enjoyable. Good stuff.

Second album of my project and this is infinitely more like it for me. Love the originality and creativity. His voice is great and the writing is tremendous.

I have not found Kiwanuka in mainstream music channels in the US, so was not aware of him or his success. Decent album. Nothing stand out, but no duds either. Solid listen.

I don't know why, but I was not expecting something this rich, mellow and accessible. It's like one of those orchestral soul albums of the 70s but with a bit of edge and a modern feel. It's great. A real album as well, it works as a whole.

New album to me. Really enjoyed Kiwanuka’s orchestral arrangements.

Dreamy yet weighty. Couple nice songs I added to my playlist

Catchy tunes (you’re not the problem). Also like the long instrumental parts on pretty much every song on the album, which include a nice variety of sampled parts and strings. He has a very nice voice too.

Really like this album, its good a very unique neo soul spacey kind of vibe to it. Its a lot of fun, he's such a good songwriter. Rolling is a great track as is hard to say goodbye.

7.5/10

Another surprise. Expected slow and piano. Got that on a few tracks but wow guy opener was funky and Hero (and it's intro) have been on repeat.

Very nice. Was the singer for Big Little Lies

If I was not super depressed I could actually really enjoy this.

Una mezcla agradable que me ha gustado en general

Soulful. This felt like music from a gentle giant. Nothing is pulling me back in, but I wouldn't complain if someone put it on.

Pretty nice production, a lot more clean classic rock album

Really back and forth between a 3 and a 4 for this one. It had its moments and I liked how it ended but a lot of the songs in the bulk of the album felt pretty drifty without much variety. I think this one could grow on me though.

This is very good music.

Really well constructed album and definitely worth another listen. Very disappointed I hadn't already heard of this guy as well up my street. Only complaint was the lack of a really great song but loved most tracks and no real skips. This may change on second listen.

7/10

What an unexpected treat. I've been complaining about how the selections from the 21st century have been so milquetoast and then this comes up. It totally slipped my radar when it came out but I'll throw this on. It's making the rotation for sure.

Was pleasantly surprised by this. Was torn on whether to give it 4 or 3 stars but gave this the benefit of a doubt.

Fairly strong throughout but it starts to feel like it has gone on too long by the end.

Oooh, something I've not only not heard, but haven't heard of. First impressions...70s soul vibes, 70s atmospheric, experimental, moody vibes, but modern touches...melodic, funky, fun. Sometimes sounds like the score to a film, which...

I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. I liked it a lot and would definitely revisit!

Really enjoyed this.

Really enjoyed the vibe of this album, will likely check out his other albums.

What an ALBUM. Just so beautiful and chill.

KIWANUKA is the newest album I’ve had to listen to for this challenge by a country mile (beating out PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake by about eight years) and it’s one I’m surprised I haven’t come across before, as I’ve been much more active in music discourse during the past 10 years than the previous 10. Regardless, reactions from this community looked really positive, so I went into Michael Kiwanuka’s third album with high hopes! Okay, it’s pretty good. There’s a nice balance of bops and more moody, low-key cuts here – I tend to prefer the bops, but the musicality on show never really dips, so I’m okay with a few breathers here & there. KIWANUKA makes me really curious to dive deeper into psychedelic soul since it seems like the genre both influenced and was influenced by a lot of other styles I tend to enjoy. I’ve been giving out fours left & right lately and I hate to add yet another onto the pile, but this is one I can easily see myself revisiting/recommending and there’s not a single bad song here (though maybe one too many interludes breaking up the pace of the LP). I’ll have to check out Kiwanuka’s previous album Love & Hate soon, since that one seems to have garnered even more acclaim than this one! Highlights: You Ain’t the Problem, I’ve Been Dazed, Piano Joint (This Kind of Love), Living in Denial, Hero

Really beautiful, maybe a wee bit long. four (lowercase to match the vibe of the album)

This man understand the flow of an album.

Excellent production. Very immersing listening experience.

Wow, best of the 2010s we've had so far by a country mile. Impossible to pin on a genre.

Mot what I would normally listen to. But I enjoyed it. Musically and vocally soulful.

Already a fan. He doesn’t have a bad album. Glad to see this here.

So chill but also groovy

Excellent album, before I knew it I’d listened to the whole thing. Each song runs seamlessly into the next but has its own unique feel.

A very good chilled out, somewhat jazzy album that I really enjoyed.

Very funky and bright rock album. Lots of great new sounds and a solid album to dance to. Highlights are: You Aint the Problem, I've Been Dazed, and Piano Joint

110/1001 Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Enthusing soul, blues, rock and jazz into this album, it's a wonderful experience throughout its runtime. The 50 minutes of it absolutely flew by. I remember being so happy for him when he won the Mercury Prize for this. I honestly need to listen to it more.

I enjoyed this a lot! He’s got a great voice and the production is really nice. I vibe with this.

Wasn't familiar with Michael Kiwanuka, but this is a wonderful album with a great sound. A great find.

Modern classic. Warm and rich production. Great voice and sense of melody and groove, great percussion. Has a sensitivity that reveals throughout, takes a while to open up its heart. Incredibly tastefully made

I had never heard of this artist before now, I put it on my normal headphones streaming from Spotify and I think it is a good album. I personally don't know if it qualifies for hearing before I die. I didn't really hear any tracks that just grabbed me outright. I give it 4 stars because it is a competently made and cohesive full album that was an easy listen even with an almost hour run length. I usually end up doing 3 stars for albums that meet all of these qualities but there's something about the quality of this one that I think puts it slightly above.

Enjoyed something different today

Incredible. How did I miss this?

Heartening to see a modern artist release an album with the ambition of the legends. Feels like a cohesive experience and the opening few tracks in particular have an energy and instantly iconic feel. Just lacks that killer classic to tip it over the edge.

Really enjoyed!

Such a fresh neo-soul album! This is a genre that I actively listen to, so I’m surprised this wasn’t already on my radar. First record from this daily album thing that I listened to more than once.

I can see why this became a sort of sleeper hit for many back in 2019, where it seemed to get a lot of attention by people most plugged into British music and especially into Soul. It's just a wonderful album, combining the intricacies of prog and psych soul with some rock elements that work to add energy to the music but never overtake the sound, it's a perfect mix really. I guess my thing with this album is that I'm not in love with its slower songs towards the middle but other than that, it's a very nice listen

I've never heard of this dude but I like it.Closer to a 4 than a 3.

Nice and chilled

4.5 out of 5 - so nice and chilled, beautiful voice

Well, that was a pleasant surprise. This was smooooth. I think it's more suited to a lazy Sunday morning lie-in than my morning dash. I imagine lying in bed, fella brings me a coffee, we snuggle for a bit, and if we fall asleep, so be it, we enjoyed it anyway. I really enjoyed the last few tracks - Hard to Say Goodbye onwards had such a feel to it. I only wish I wasn't driving during that bit. Genuinely pleased with this one and will listen again on Sunday morning.

absurdo de bom

ótima surpresa esse aqui hein gostosim demais, pedradaça esse aqui. bom pra dar uma limpada das música véia e monótona dos últimos dias!!

Whenever someone names an album after themselves, especially while deep into their career, it suggests a bold, brave turn towards a new frontier; that we are finally getting the real person as opposed to a persona. While Michael Kiwanuka isn't some brash, complex personality, he does have enough in his arsenal to make arresting material to keep those engaged with him. KIWANUKA will go down as perhaps his best and most immersive work, as he embraces a rather royal and regal presentation while stripping himself somewhat bare with his influences and inspirations. It's yet another step forward in what's bound to be a brilliant career. Favorites: You Ain't the Problem, Rolling, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint (This Kind of Love), Another Human Being, Hero, Hard to Say Goodbye.

Another fantastic album that is absolutely not for me

Enjoyable. Not the sort of rock that I normally enjoy, but I got into it.

Second day in a row I got something from 2019. Seems the generator might be having a bit of a moment. I'm not complaining, though, this was enjoyable!

Overall: 7/10 I enjoyed this one quite a bit! Kiwanuka has a pretty great, soulful voice and he can convey a lot of emotion in his music. There's a lot of variety in the sounds that keeps everything interesting. There was never a specific hook or song that grabbed me but the entire experience was worth a listen. Fav Song: Final Days

Nice surprise, hadn't heard of Michael Kiwanika before today

An artist that I knew very little about. This was a really nice surprise and very cool listen that seems to defy genre. It weaves seamlessly from old to new and retro to modern all wrapped up in a soulful delivery. Dig it.

Great stuff. I’m sure I’ve heard him before but glad he’s on the list. Definitely need to give his catalog a listen. Rounding up. 3.75/5

Good vibes. Piano Joint is a gorgeous song. Didn’t know him before, so good find.

A real vibe! Smooth flow from one to the next song. Must be listened in order.

Soulful record filled with emotion. Each track flowed really well into the next. Loved this one. Favourite Track(s): Hero Least Favourite Track(s): Hard To Say Goodbye

Trippy soul

This is well performed and pleasant, but a little unexciting to really score that highly. Borderline 3/4.

I had never listened to this artist before, but I really enjoyed the psychedelic elements. Songs like Hero almost have a Khruangbin-type element to them. Will definitely be listening to this again, this is a perfect blend of rock, soul, and pop that I would think is very accessible for many listeners. Also another great album artwork this week

This album is really well done; each song is better than I thought. "Michael Kiwanuka"- haven't heard anyone talk about him, but he is a good artist with a pretty good voice. I'm going to listen to more of his music and maybe more music like this.

No sabia que esperarme porque la portada es full fea, pero me sorprendió y me gustó. De verdad hay temas que son buenisimos, hasta el interludio jazzy raro del medio. Probablemente lo vuelva a escuchar y como música de fondo mola. Tengo que ir a clase así que no me extiendo. 8/10—>4/5

Liked this a lot

Really cool album - great songwriting, incredibly ambient music, somehow felt old and new at the same time. This was a completely new album for me and so glad to listen to it. It is slower than what I more typically listen to, and after a while it did fade a bit into the background for me. That's just an element of personal taste. Beautiful music with an incredible vibe.

British Soul with Danger Mouse. I'd listen to it again. 4/5

That is one smooth voice. Lovin' the 60s vibe.

Hyper cool

A soul album that contains a depth and breadth of actual soul and introspection. This one is really impressive, blending genres seamlessly while wearing its heart on its sleeve. Kiwanuka’s not a powerhouse vocalist, but it’s absolutely perfect for this album. From sequencing to the transition of songs to the warmth of the production, this is something special.

Hell yeah. 4.5 Stars

Good. Felt a bit monotonous but worth a few listens

Really great album, had some great tracks on there and was a very chill and specific type of jazz vibe that I feel is really hard to get right, and Kiwanuka nails it here. All the tracks felt well made and meshed well, while the songs that stood out made you appreciate their stand alone vibe. Though I love Piano Jointly, my favorite track on the album was You Ain't The Problem.

I’m familiar with a couple of Michael Kiwanuka’s songs, so I was excited to listen to an entire album by him. Let me say I was not ready for *this* Michael Kiwanuka. This album blew my socks off. The lyrical themes are so heavy, but so important and timely. I really like his voice; it’s simple and soothing yet strong and commanding. The instrumentation was excellent. The intros of the songs were so captivating that I couldn’t wait to see where they would go. I will definitely be adding this album to my library.

psychedelic soul. chill en fond calme

Cool album with a cohesive sound. I liked "You ain't the Problem", "Piano Joint", "Hard to say goodbye", and "Light".

Had not heard before. Pretty darn good

This is the sort of thing I'm here for. Never heard of this artist, would listen again.

This album is really good.

If Frank Ocean decided to pursue Rock - very cool, moody, and artsy.

I just don't think he could put out a bad album if he tried. This was great, kind of background but still kind of impactful.

Really enjoyable album, to my surprise! Powerful message as well. Well mastered, bassy & warm sound. Very deserving of 4.5/5.

An incredible aural soundscape. Was unfamiliar going in. This is a wonderful album that is only gonna get better with every relisten.

Feels a little like Grammy's bait, but can't deny the excellent craftsmanship put into it. Soulful with what was likely cutting edge rock experimentation that makes it much more interesting. Really more of a 3.5

Great artist, good album

Really grew on me - listened several times during the day. Lovely retro sound and appealing character.

First album I come across that I actually own a copy of. Great album. Sounds old school and modern at the same time. Song writing and production should both be credited for that. A mostly unfamiliar genre to me, but I find Kiwanuka’s music uplifting, fun and soulful.

Really beautiful record. Has a bit more edge than other songs from Michael that I'm familiar with. His voice is one that puts me at calm so easily and the musical accompaniment is so pleasant. This record just re-enforces the fact that I really appreciate this artist and his capabilities as a musician.

Enjoyable album, with some pretty interesting instrumentals

Wonderful

Will come back to this one for sure.

Pretty good album here. Musically diverse, well arranged and produced. Found myself several times just wanting to stop and playback portions of tracks. Has a very mesmerizing quality to it.

This album was a great journey. It felt super cohesive and really unlike anything I've heard in a while! I loved it. It varied from jazz, rock, soul, and blues, to everything in between. The vocals and intrumentals were all great! Actual rating of a 4.5. Liked Songs: "You Ain't The Problem" , "Rolling" , "I've Been Dazed" , "Living In Denial" , "Hero" , "Hard To Say Goodbye" , "Final Days" , "Solid Ground" , "Light"

Excellent 4.25

Really good. First time hearing this one. Hard to decide between 4 and 5 stars but I don’t think I love it (yet).

Never heard of him but I dig it

Makes me wonder why the combination of soul and indie is so rare. Lovely sound

Kiwanuka is a low 4, it’s mostly wonderful but even so it feels too long and the final third is a bit sluggish for me

Soft and contemplative, but musically rich and well put together.

Fav Tracks - Last Days, You Ain’t the Problem I can see why this guy is raved about, really great songs and the instrumentation slaps.

Liked it more than I thought I would going into it.

В мене був період, коли я трохи підхейчував Ківануку. Здавався якимось стерильним артистом, який просто переспівує все, що вже давно було зроблено до нього. Думка змінилася після його виступу на Атлас Вікенді, я був прям вражений виступом. З того часу якось змінилася й думка про його творчість. Цей альбом мені здається цікавішим за найбільш успішний Love&Hate. Рух в сторону психоделічного соула йому пасує і йому з Danger Mouse вдалося його трохи відсунути від цього ретро-відчуття, яке мені не дуже подобалося. Із великим задоволенням переслухав.

I've never heard of this artist before, but the album was very groovy and chill and I liked it!

A terrific surprise…a great mix of pop and soul.

Really like the album. I didn't know anything about Michael or about this album so was going in completely dark. I liked the groove, the calming vocals and lyrics, wonderful flow and overall smoothness of the album. Very solid, would definitely listen to it again. Favourite tracks: You Ain't The Problem, Piano Joint.

This is the type of shit I'm here for. Fun album. Will definitely start making the rotation.

I really like this record. So chill.

trop trop bien!!!! tellement de rebondissant et de styles de musiques différents dans un album 💿 j’ai trop aimé

Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) is the hit. I feel like it was in something but I can't place it. Ted Lasso, but I had to look it up. I like this album. It would be good to have on at a low volume. As the kids say these days, it's low key good.

Great atmosphere on this album.

An absolute journey into sound. Fantastic listen

Amazing atmosphere, not all of it was my favourite though so only 4 stars instead of 5

Hadde enkelte Pink Floyd elementer. Godt album

I had never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before this came up. I really liked this album. The singing and songwriting is great and it felt like the album itself was better than the collection of songs.

Good music, but wouldn't seek out again.

Unique sound and compelling stuff altogether. I like how some of the songs rolled from one to the next seamlessly. A formula started to emerge toward the last third of the album.

This is good

I didn’t really expect this album to be anything out of the ordinary considering 2019 was a great year for music, but I would put this album among the greats of 2019. I never knew Michael Kiwanuka before starting this challenge but his sound is almost reminiscent to the late great Marvin Gaye but not too much to the point where he could be seen plagiarizing him. Great album and worth the listen! Favorite Tracks: You Ain’t The Problem, Rolling, I’ve Been Dazed, Final Days Rating: 4.5/5

I enjoyed every song, very peaceful and somber. I liked it 8/10

MK makes some solid music. He is distinctly modern in his composition, but uses classic styles and techniques to create his sound. What came out here was a really good album full of soul, passion, and thought. I enjoyed the listen and thought all of the tracks were good. It did a little long, but not overly so that it took away from the listen. Even with a few intro/interlude type tracks, the album flowed well and worked as a whole. I could see it getting a bit boring for some listeners due to the length and construction, but that didn't happen for me. There was enough going on to keep it interesting for the full runtime. I had heard a few of the songs before on their own and thought they were strong both alone and when in context of the album. It's hard to criticize this one too much. I do wish there had been a few more upbeat moments, but that wasn't really the vibe of the album so I get it. As it is, this was a really good album that I can see myself listening to again. Overall: 3.8/5

I’m ashamed to admit, I pre-judged this album. It manages to sound fresh and modern, and classic at the same time. I really, really liked it.

Bastante duro la verdad...

album feels like a transformation, very vocally focused feels like a gospel, i like how every song feels like it reflects a certain part of life (the fury you get at life when you feel unjust, the denial you live in to try to make life more manageable, the sadness and surrendering after failing and falling)

1. Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) 2. Hero 3. You Ain't the Problem

A modern classic and a great addition to this list. A journey through genre and storytelling with beautiful vocals and playing. The warmth and heart shine through. He's missing a killer single to elevate him to god tier but everything else is ther

Never heard of this guy but really enjoyed it. Which is the main reason I'm doing this, discovering interresting music unknown to me.

That was a good surprise!

Super consistent record, love the sequencing on it. Some tracks do tend to drag, though.

Damn. Michael Kiwanuka is cool. This feels like an album in the classic sense: connected songs that tell a sequenced story. It defies genre, though there are dashes of jazz, soul, funk, and pinches of chamber pop throughout. And most of all? It's patient. My listening experience was one of being led by the hand through a new land of sonic expanses. I felt good with this album.

Went down a rabbit hole on him after his song was the theme for Big Little Lies. Such a great voice and vibe. Really enjoyed this album, had already a few of the songs saved.

It’s hard to rate this album as, track by track, I wouldn’t rate any higher than a 3. But as an album, it flows well with a seamless transaction of the different genres. It works as an entity. So even if I will probably never listen to it again, it deserves a four.

This was pleasant to listen to on the way to work

Never heard of it but was a good listen. Also led to a good album radio on the car ride back from the beach after it completed.

I had no idea who Michael Kiwanuka was before this, but what a pleasant surprise. His voice is like velvet: smooth, rich, and easy on the ears. The whole album feels like it was made to be played on vinyl, maybe with a whiskey in hand and no plans for the rest of the day. There’s a warm, soulful energy running through the entire record. Even when the songs stretch out a bit, they never drag or overstay their welcome. It blends classic soul with modern touches in a way that feels natural and confident. If you're into Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, or anything with a touch of vintage warmth, this is worth a listen

Interesting and I liked it but this will need repeat listens to really dig in

Pretty fun listen. Ran to it, and that was good, but I was ready for a vibe change by the end of the album. I’m very picky about choral accompaniment in pop songs, and this album had a lot of that — some hits and some not.

I knew nothing about this artist or the album, so I had no idea what to expect. After the first track, I was thinking that this was going to be another three star album for me…OK, but nothing to write home about. But as it went on, I liked it more and more. I really don’t know how to categorize it, seems like an eclectic mix of several different music styles. If this were a 10 point scale I’d give it seven out of 10, but as it is, I’ll round it up to four out of five stars. This was a pleasant surprise and nice find.

Amazing artistic vision!

Great vibe, really enjoyed the album!

Pretty solid

Quite enjoyable.

Been down with my man since 2012.

Never heard of this but it was great

This sounds good from beginning to end yet it’s not something you listen to carelessly. It an extended lament. It is beautiful, thoughtful, and heartfelt. Make space for this one.

I had no idea who Michael Kiwanuka was when I started listening, and I have to say I was intrigued right away. In the same way Beck put an industrial, techno spin on 60's psychedelic rock with Odelay, Kiwanuka's take on 70s music is also super refreshing. He even brings in some jazz elements and creates a sound and album that develops as it goes along. Harder still to believe is this came out in 2019. So glad to come across this one.

There's some interesting sounding stuff on this album, ultimately nothing really stood out to me and left a lasting impression in my memory. Like I know I listened to the album, but if I listened to it again today it would probably be close to a first listen again, but I enjoyed the listen that much I remember, it was very pleasant and nice listen that I wouldn't mind doing again Standouts Hero Final Days Light 3/5

Soulful, with depth and a strong lyrical base would definitely listen to this again.

Really pleasant listen. Unique takes on familiar sounds. Listened through a few times to see if it would get its hooks in me, but has not yet. Still, enjoyed it.

I can feel this album is solid, well built, well composed. But maybe it's too gloomy for me at the moment and I can't *feel* it completely.

Don't know if these notes will show for everyone, or if they'll be editable by everyone. Had heard a handful of songs by Michael Kiwanuka before this. Listened as background whilst working. Solid 7/10.

4.5* An incredible album I've listened to many, many times. In every regard (but perhaps above all instrumentally and melodically) inventive, interesting, engaging. Genre-breaking. And honestly, just lots of fun - a feel-good, soulful album that manages to simultaneously be quite comforting as well. Favorite song? Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) never fails to give me full body goosebumps. Kiwanuka has an incredible, unique voice (and amazing stage presence), so I'll gladly listen to (and watch) anything he makes. I can't tire of this. After a couple of repetitive albums, here's something that definitely goes places while still creating a specific atmosphere and maintaining its very distinctive identity and cohesiveness.

a little hard to get into, but nice and chill once I did. very moving moment re: civil rights movement

Never heard of this artist before, but this is a really fun, original and interesting record. Highly recommend! Reminds me of some early Janelle Monae.

Didn't know what to expect but it was chill and different and deserves another listen

Never heard of Kiwanuka before. This was a real gem. So glad to have come across it.

I thought this was going to be more modern or perhaps more reggae... but to be honest, this rocks quite hard! Really liked the approach, and need to listen to this more, because I only listened to it once while working.

This was a nice surprise. I hadn't heard of him before. You Ain't the Problem and Hero stood out. 4/5.

Rolling is a banger. Very cool album

Didn't get the whole way through but loved what I heard

85% Best: You Ain't The Problem; Rolling; Hero; Hard To Say Goodbye Must-Hear? Sure

Oh boy what a good find Best Song: Final Days Rating: 8.5/10 (Fantastic) Stars: 4/5

Nice to listen to.

Great album. I liked the way the songs flowed into each other. Overall vibe was very consistent, and the singer has a lovely soulful voice. I liked the jazzy guitar playing too

This was really great. A nice surprise for me, having never listened to Kiwanuka before. The production feels very of its time (2010s-2020s) in a way that makes the overall thing feel a bit less distinctive than might otherwise be the case (apparently this is the Danger Mouse sound). It's classy and brilliant and layered, though, and I will listen to it again.

Very cool.

Não conhecia a música de Michael Kiwanuka, exceto Cold Little Heart, cujo ritmo sempre surgia na minha cabeça e me fazia cantarolar, mesmo não conseguindo lembrar o título de forma alguma. Os vocais de Kiwanuka são lindos e o ritmo das músicas é envolvente. Trilha sonora de uma segunda-feira ensolarada (e quente) em que eu tomo um sol deitado em uma toalha na varanda.

I want to see this man live. I can see him playing the largest stages and showing up at a club. Its great. This is a great album, it's got the right amount of chill and energy to have a nice sit down and listen, it could be background while you do dishes. I'll bet cash money it's been played at coffee shops and bookstores. You know it's been played in music stores. You want to pay attention to the lyrics. Don't just let this become background music.

That was lovely! Unexpectedly catchy and complex enough to keep me interested. I swear I heard some recurring themes upon first lesson. Saved the album!

This Is cool. I’m not sure I have enough context to give it a totally accurate review, but I like what’s here.

Great voice and vibe, the whole album has an excellent flow. Listened twice and would revisit

The start of this album is perfectly jovial, embodying a deep sentiment of playfulness and rhythm. It was a strong start to the journey that lay ahead! My favorite thing about this album was how well a mood was created for each song. The production, the vocals and the instrumentation was incredibly well done (from my novice perspective). Piano Joint leads you into an existential, spacey, thoughtful place with soft vocals and orchestral instrumentation. One of my favorite songs was Final Days -- it embodied a deep nostalgia and a feeling you would get as you watch the highlight reel of your life. Overall, a well done album with obvious talent behind it!

I quite enjoyed this one. Chill rock that actually had some hooks. I'd listen to this again. 4/5

Very good album. Not the thing I would usually listen to but definitely very well made. On few more listens would probably save and listen frequently.

Very cool. I like, and will dial it up again. Good pick.

A real vibe. Enjoyed this a lot.

lijepo

Really enjoyed this one. Solid.

8/10

Soulful lyrics and beautiful instrumentals. Inspiring stuff

I saw this guy at a festival about 12 years ago and he was really good. Kinda had forgotten about him since though. His voice is quality and a lot of this sounded really good... I'm just not sure it's quite my thing. Final days was my favourite. 3.5 but putting a 3 feels too harsh as I think it's better than that so I'm going 4

Feeling generous today, this was an incredibly easy listen, and I could see myself returning to in future, or taking an interest in his future releases. Hero was in my opinion the strongest track here. 4 stars.

Such a cool album. Sounds old and new at the same time. Definitely Stevie influenced. I want to make music like this.

I don’t know what genre you call this but I’d like more please. This is refreshing new artist to me. Really appreciated it

I know Kiwanuka mostly by name, I've heard few tracks here and there, but never really delved deeper into his music. I stumbled into "psychedelic soul" descriptor for this album and was immediately interested. It sounds like a big album of the old, where producers pushed the artist and everything they did was in the support of The Album. I'll probably return to this album several times. Sounds massive.

Didn't get to this yesterday. I'll check it out today. hmm some nice bongo caribbean sound on this first track. Okay this album was super good. I would totally revisit this. Final Days is pretty.

Great vibe the whole way through.

This is what I'm talking about. An artist I have never heard before and it was pretty darn good. I don't know if I would give it 5 stars and put it in "classic" status but it certainly could make it there with a few more listens.

Very quiet, melancholic album, sometimes epic. An album to listen in full to.

So much talent and I can't believe ive never even heard of the guy

Not entirely my vibe but it’s good, 3.7

Lush, sometimes trippy soundscapes. Really fun album

3.5 is more dialed in, rounding up to give credit for how much this caught me off guard. Have clearly slept on— at least not had a clear picture of— MK. Production on a few tracks (“Rolling” jumps to mind first) stopped me in my…tracks. Was then not super surprised to see Danger Mouse produced the whole album.

I like all of the different musical genres and elements used.

4 out of 5. It's refreshing to see something more newer on this list and sounding really good.

Fantastic groove, atmospheric and rocking in equal measure.

Nice listening experience

Prachtig album. Misschien niet z'n gekendste, maar blijft overeind staan tussen zijn andere kleppers. 3.7

Kiwanuka managed to create his own quite unique style and it’s refreshing. Soulful delivery. 4.1

First exposure to this album and artist. I enjoyed it.

I thought it was only stuff pre 2010, let's go This album was a lot of fun, smooooth is the best word I can think of to describe the project as a whole, just really silky to listen to

I'm so happy to see albums like these on here. Truly an amazing album and is taking me out of feeling stuck. Hero is the standout track for me, could listen that song and its intro over and over again.

good intimistic songwriter

This is completely new to me, but sounds somehow familiar. Not my usual style of music but interesting enough to want to come back to.

8/10

This was a beautiful album with great vibes. I’d never heard of this album or artist but it was right up my alley. I would listen to this again and encourage others to give it a listen!

На перший погляд цей альбом може здаватись простим атмосферним соулом - він красивий, неспішний, з приємним вінтажним саундом. Але за кілька прослуховувань стає ясно — це одна із найінтимніших і найболючіших речей. Весь альбом пронизаний сумнівом, тривогою, та пошуком тепла у цьому жорстокому світі. Але при цьому в ньому багато надії - щиро та без жодного пафосу. Також не можна не відмітити який же це смачний коктейль із різних жанрів та впливів: струнні, душевний грув, трохи психоделії, трохи блюзу, трохи фанк-у. Він про пошук себе, про невпевненість, про тиху віру в людей, яка весь час тримається на волосинці. І найбільшою помилкою яка може бути - це слухати цей альбом фоном. Цей альбом абсолютно зовсім інший, і через подібний підхід - можна не зрозуміти його величі. Це той соул , що не просто потребує уваги - він буквально «пропонує тобі лопату», аби ти разом з ним почав копати в глибину себе. Неймовірно цікаве переосмислення соулу, та і загалом один із найсильніших альбомів 10-х.

Not what I expected. Cinematic, and often quite lovely.

Funky, thumpy but electric in all the right places. Kiwanuka crafts groovy beats seemingly effortlessly in his namesake album. Will be a repeat listen for me. Wonderfully mixed and produced, happy to have been introduced to "KIWANUKA".

Another new artist for me. Really digging the vibe. Perfect music for Sunday morning walk with my dog. Get me in the right mood. Will need to check his catalog out now too

A lot more of a complex and rich album than I gave credit for on first listen when it was released. Kiwanuka's sometimes delicate, sometimes beaming vocals add a completely distinctive layer on top of gorgeous, soulful, glitchy, electronic prog-soul ballads. Best Tracks: - Rolling - Living In Denial - My Hero - Final Days Worst Tracks: - Light Rating: 8/10

This was really good.

You Ain’t the Problem was a hell of a way to start an album! Loved the sound/vibe. Will listen again

Još jedan od onih albuma koji su odlični ali ne za mene. Glas nije moj fazon, muzika je odlična, ništa ne smeta, nego jednostavno nije moj stil.

Very talented. The songs are all very well produced and they flow well together. Not something I'd likely listen to again though. I think the opener was my favorite. "You Ain't the Problem", will make the 1001 songs playlist. ~3.7 stars

Nice discovery. Mellow and pleasant for relaxing.

Started off a little wishy-washy but the longer it played the stronger the bond it made. Felt like climbing a rock face, excellent album overall.

This is actually pretty unique and good, nice discovery

Idk how to even describe this music, but it was so my vibe this morning when I listened to it while I was at the gym. It was so funky, soul-ish, and vibey! It was a perfect spring morning workout album. I think I’m going to add a few of the songs to my liked playlist. It was just such a vibe I would rate it a 7.5 7.5

Beautiful album. It kept me calm while I mowed the lawn in the sun. He has an incredible voice and a delivery that is full of passion and pathos. I dare anyone to listen to this and not feel swept away at some point. I’m taking away a point because it’s a little long and meandering and there aren’t any huge memorable hits, but it’s still a wonderful album and a must-listen. #126

Was not familiar with Michael before this. Enjoyed this quite a bit. A lot of Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers type sounds with Michael's own voice to it. Lots of good ambient sounds too.

remember this guy from that black thought and danger mouse album. fucking love that album and the song he's on on it. curious to hear his solo material really refreshing while still feeling like a throwback to 60s/70s psych soul and rock. good shit. danger mouse and inflo produced this whole album omg i like it so much more that I know that

This was rather nice and the type of thing I hoped I would discover much more of in this project. I enjoyed it.

I liked this album. It's definitely not my normal listening but it was very enjoyable. I would definitely return to it. 3.75/5

This is the good shit that I'm glad this endeavour makes me listen to, a genre bending tour de force that I never knew existed.

Very giid

I think I like the previous album better, but there's something about Michael Kiwanuka that feels very eternal and classic. It's just a good vibe. I would probably go 3.5, but bumping.

Would probably be three stars if it wasn’t new

This was a great listen. There was a few songs I recognized as well as an over all pleasant listening experience. I will listen again.

Good one

This was a Friday listen for me. Monday night has rolled around and I have played this through another 3-4 times. I was hooked by the first couple of notes from "You Ain't the Problem" (my favourite track by far), and I was pleased that the album stayed interesting for the remainder. Nice experimental soul grooves with nods to the master's who came before. Made for sunny weekend mornings with coffee in hand.

Very good

Love it

Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) - slaps Transitioning into Another Human Being - pure gold

I’ve actually had this album on my Spotify saved playlist for a few years now. I definitely go back and listen to it occasionally because I really really enjoy the sound. The mix of funk, rock, and the bongos on the opening track sets the stage for a super pleasant listening experience. Kiwanuka is such a treat.

Super smooth!! He’s got an amazing voice and thoroughly enjoyed it all the way through. I didn’t recognize his name at first but then I discovered I had a song of his already, “cold little heart” which was the theme song from big little lies which seemed to be everywhere for a couple of years there.

A rare gift from the list, a solid album from someone I’ve never heard of that I’ll definitely come back to listen to. Smooth instrumentals and great vocals, an album that you can throw on to have playing in the background and it does the trick. Not quite a five, but a high four.

It was a good listen

Love his music. Love and Hate is my favorite. Hadn’t listened to this one yet so glad to be prompted to do so.

Great soul-influenced pop tunes by a great vocalist.

Is the guy on the cover supposed to be a king? "You Ain't The Problem" was good. I liked the bongo drums and brass. The lyrics are also good. I thought "Piano Joint" was good. The piano was nice and the singing voice was really good. The lyrics were good too. I liked "Hero" because the guitar was great. I liked the singing and the lyrics" I would recommend this album.

Jazzy bluesey, good moody music

I did not use a private spotify session despite not knowing what I was getting in to. A bit nervous at first how the album started, but it mellowed out nicely and turned out to be quite enjoyable. Listened this album twice and then some of Kiwanuka's other stuff. Never heard of him before, now going to go on a deep dive. This is definitely why I signed up this project.

Interesting and different. I dig it.

I've heard one song from Michael Kiwanuka within the past year: "Floating Parade" from his most recent album, Small Changes. He is a British singer-songwriter influenced by old-school folk, psychedelic rock, and soul artists. He started as a session player until his breakthrough in 2012, and for the second time with this self-titled release, he chose to work with veteran producer Danger Mouse and fellow UK producer Inflo. With all the ingredients in place, how did KIWANUKA turn out? Well, this is certainly a classic-sounding record from the onset. Danger Mouse and Inflo took a lot of care in the production to make the album sound reflective of those soul artists of the past without going full-hog into the nostalgia worship. The fuzzed-out guitars, the eloquent strings, and the slight reverb touch on Michael's vocals; all these elements come together to make these songs pop. Also helping matters is the sound of Michael coming more into his comfort zone within this sound, at times delivering with a laid-back passion that would merit comparisons to Bill Withers. As a result, it's an overall enjoyable from the beginning with booty-shakers like "You Ain't the Problem" and "Rolling" to the warmly textured closing ballad "Light". That said, there is one glaring issue I have with KIWANUKA, and that is the interlude tracks. I counted four different interlude tracks on this album - two intro tracks for the singles "Hero" and "Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)", "Another Human Being", and "Interlude (Loving the People)". Aside from maybe the last of those, with the audio excerpt over the strings, low-end synths, and piano line, the interludes do not add much value to the album. They could have been cut, and there would have been nothing lost from the experience. Aside from the interludes, this was an excellent record. The combined effort of Michael Kiwanuka and the producers he worked with culminated in an effort that carved a new path for soul music in the modern age.

I enjoyed this. I may even enjoy it more on repeated listens, it's got that sort of feel about it. 4/5.

"Final days" is a fantastic song!

nice

It was a good album with some listenable songs. Maybe not quite my style, but definitely something I could enjoy listening to. 3.5 stars

Good album that's actually really pleasant to listen to.

Great vibe!

I like Michael Kiwanuka’s voice and guitar in a lot of these. You Ain’t the Problem, I’ve Been Dazed, and Hero were the standouts to me. 4 stars.

Lush production, great catchy tunes, almost perfect apart from the slightly reedy vocal now and again. A find.

I was surprised to see this on the list ahead of the earlier and better known Love and Hate. More experimental but lacking the big songs of the former, this is still a fine outing.

6/10

Good layered record

Very enjoyable and easy to listen to. Old school wound, good instrumental backing and good funky groove. Reminiscent of old soul music

Enjoyable album in the psychedelic soul genre. Nice atmosphere. Groove is nice and clean.

first one i got. pretty damn good. i danced with hannah to it while i made pancakes. i hope i actually do this.

So good!! 2010s take on 1970s. Beautiful.

This was pretty good. It had a groove that I could sink into and vibe with, although I'm not sure how much of that is Danger Mouse, because he's been a pretty important part of a ton of great albums for about two decades now. I think he's aiming for the same target Teddy Swims is, and I have pretty much the same feeling for both artists. I like what they're doing, but I'd like to see them experiment a bit more. I have not listened to any other music by Kiwanuka, but he's on my radar now.

For me so far, the albums from the last 15 or 20 years have been pretty bad but this is great and I had never even heard of it. It moves through all sorts of genres and eras, it's hard to really pin down, which I found really refreshing. It's unpredictable because of that and it made me keen to continue listening. Living in Denial is a good example, with the horns and choir vocals (?) giving a big band kind of vibe before shifting to quite lowkey vocals backed by subtle guitar arpeggios I love the psychedelic distortion of the guitar on tracks like Hard To Say Goodbye, and the way the guitar slowly descends into noisy chaos on Hero as the rest of the song continues as it started. Starts with a bang on You Ain't the Problem and Rolling. The kind of western riff on Rolling is cool, along with the accompanying flutes. There are also more sparse and atmospheric moments to break things up and add variety. The soulful Piano Joint builds an atmosphere with minimal instrumentation outside of the pulsing beat and piano, I thought that was cool A pleasant surprise, got to be the best post-2000 album I've had to this point Highlights: Rolling, Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye

It's been a while but I think I remember thinking this album was cool

This was a really fun listen. Will keep in the rotation.

As much as I love Michael Kiwanuka's music, and I do love it, I have some reservations to accept his albums in a list of the greatest records of all time. Maybe it is too much a designed sound, matching ideas to a blueprint of previous decades' masterpieces; maybe it's the fact that I wouldn't l know why to prefer his 2019 "Kiwanuka" album to his 2016 "Love & Hate" album; maybe it's the fact that these two albums represent less a development of artistic expression than a development of budget. This is not unusual in the last one or two decades: artists finding their niche, doing their thing and keep on doing it in basically the same way over again. And again. Look at Khruangbin, Cigarettes After Sex, Charley Crockett or other acts that release records, whose order of release dates are hard to guess from the audio information alone as they tend to sound pretty much of the same mold and go for some kind of timeless-and-a-liitle-retro sound. I know, bands like Status Quo or AC/DC have been doing this 50 years ago already. But possibly they would only get one of their records listed in this here top-1.000 canon due to the power of its tracks. So where's Kiwanuka's "Highway To Hell" tune-for-the-ages? Maybe not here yet. As of now I find him to be not too far removed from a indie-soul-fan's version of Lennie Kravitz: Nice to the ear, a go-to-recording artist if you want unoffensive , non-stupid music, sometimes really good if not great, always reliable good. So a good 4 star review it is. I still believe there should be 1.000 5 star albums out there though.

sehr nice!

Più melodico e molto chill. Top

👍

piano joint is a joint

Soft sound, fun

Wish there was a 4.5.

This is fucking brilliant!!! Piano joint (this kind of love) is really a banger. I saw he featured on untitled (black is) which I didn’t really like but this album’s great!!! Truly one of the surprises the generator holds 4/5

Really great album "Hero" is such a good one for sure a classic in a few years. The end of "Another Human Being" was kinda disturbing but the transitions with the beginning of the other songs are incredibleeee I loved it. And the vibe in general of this album was really great with such a deep and attracting voice.

Very soothing, very nice "Hero" - That guitar licc is awesome Nah this album is excellent, it flows so well Oh i didn't notice it was this recent. Not sure what to think. Am I so used to recent stuff that I only like when shit sounds modern ? Well that's kinda normal since that's all I have ever been listening to. Really gotta practice liking older stuff. 4.5

When i first started listening to this album i was baffled that it was a soul album made in 2019. But as i listened to it... It's a great album. Hits all of the tropes that make soul music so delightful to listen to. Will definitely spin this album in the future. 4.5

Vibrant nu-soul

Fun one

This is a massive success full of measured vocal performances layered on top of exquisite instrumental jams. Right off the bat, “You Ain’t The Problem” is an ear worm that sets a great tone for the album. “I’ve Been Dazed” is another great song just a few tracks later that goes on a nice little psychedelic exploration. The jams continue on “Piano Joint” which has this suspense-laden, Bond movie string section with a fantastic vocal performance. What follows is one of my favorite things in a good album, the use of relative silence to heighten the atmosphere. It’s at this point that I knew I was in for something special! I think that use of silence and creation of ‘space’ is what I’d most like to highlight about this album. It seems like Michael Kiwanuka is always hitting the right spot in terms of energy and emphasis - everything comes off so effortless. What sealed the deal for me was the transition between “Interlude” and “Solid Ground”. WOW. Just perfect. I’m treating this album as a gift for having gotten through my 3rd Byrds album in a few weeks. A STRONG 4/5 stars!