KIWANUKA

Didn't finish but very good start, would listen again

Excelente. Sentimental, melancólico , bem produzido,

Wow impressive and amazing. Never heard of this guy before but Im an instant fan. This is why I put up with so many crappy alhums on the list to get a great one Ive never heard before like this one

I liked this album a lot, warm, well made soul/pop/singer-songwriter songs. Nothing spectacular, but very pleasant. I'll give it a 4 which is maybe a bit generous, but the bar for popular music is pretty low these days, in my opinion, so he deserves it. And it's authentic. Tick.

Suprised by the sound here I was impressed. I think the local alt radio used to play a few of these but damn it just hit. 8/10

There's so much to love about this. Kiwanuka's voice is great. I like the production (which has those Danger Mouse fingerprints all over it - that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned). I don't think there's any weak material on here.

Grown-up Soul for the 21st century.

Awesome R&B

An out of nowhere, genre-vague delight! Love it. Some songs are a little slow for me but they are offset by others that are so good it almost hurts LOL.

No

What a great discovery! Loved every second of this. It defies genres and it creates an amazing vibe you just don't want to end.

Beautiful. Al Green crossed with James Taylor. Something to explore further.

Not his best but still good

Liked it.

Pleasant

a really cool album

I've been listening to this one since it came out, glad to see so many people are enjoying discovering it through this generator! I think Kiwanuka is super talented, and the songwriting and playing on this are great. However there's something about the production (I think maybe the mixing) that has always bothered me. I find it a bit cold or something, which makes it harder for me to connect emotionally to it. It does sound a lot better on vihyl though I think - maybe that's what they were going for.

8/10. Great. Started off better than it ended I think but overall great.

It had a nice sound to it

Fun stuff I found myself singing along to songs id never heard before. But nothing really grabbed me or made me sit up and pay attention. Still amazed I never heard of this guy.

Decent soul/r&b music, interesting instrumentation

Great album. Love Mike. He’s got a great voice. Good songwriting, good production, good lyrics, just *chefs kiss* mwah. Only wish there was a bit more breakup. Songs started to blend together a bit towards the end. Really enjoyed the whole thing, though. 4/5

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.

This is a very interesting album. In many ways it feels very retro - like parts of this came straight out of the 70s. But those parts are fused with some very modern influences. I found it quite remarkable. 3.5⭐️

5/5. R&B Rock is some epic stuff. And each song flows into the next one so smoothly, this is a concept album as well but I am not sure I understand the concept just yet. Maybe a few more listens and I can get the vibe but honestly, I have very few notes here. The vocals are chill and calming while having a mixture of ballad and rock that works either way. It's ethereal yet grounded. Finally a Mercury Prize winner that doesn't suck. And although there maybe some songs I don't remember, the album as a whole feels full and complete. Best Song: You Ain't The Problem, Hero, Light

Very pleasant surprise. Never heard of him but wish I had 10 years ago. Cool combo of soul and rock and the quality stays up throughout. I want to hear more from him!

I don't know, it reminded me of like a black Elton John. Little deeper, and little darker. Good music, wish I were drinking it listening to it on a record sipping a nice bourbon.

I really like this, it's so smooth.

Pretty nice, felt very much like background music. Not sure I would ever put it on, but definitely ok with having it on.

Fav song: Piano Joint This album reminds me of so many things I love about alternative music - i'm always hearing little bits of Air, Beck, Leon Bridges... really great album. Amazing voice, great lyrics and fantastic production value.

I had never heard this artist before but this is the first new music from this list I have enjoyed. I was pleasantly surprised and will listen again.

Beautifully produced, as expected with Danger Mouse behind the boards, with lush and stylistically diverse arrangements. The melodies don't really stick and I doubt I'll ever revisit.

Ever since Home Again was released in 2011, I’ve been a Michael Kiwanuk fan and really he hasn’t let me down yet. This is another artist who has some of their best work alongside producer Inflo. This album also features co producer Dangermouse, you know Dangermouse I’m sure. Inflo has also produced for Little Simz, who we reviewed not too long ago. He also produced for Cleo Sol and is also the leader of the collective Sault. All of these projects are worth your time if you enjoy this album. Also, for a similar sound from contemporary artists, check out Black Pumas, Ray LaMontagne and Leon Bridges. 4.5

Ah, I really liked his Home Again album, but haven't heard anything after that. I'm excited to listen. This album definitely has a different vibe than his first one, with some psychedelic rock sounds, like Tame Impala-ish, and some Beck vibes. I'm here for it. Tracks 4 and 5 bring that traditional Kiwanuka vibe. Solid album here, with the only knock being the bad transitions between songs. It didn't flow as I would've liked. Hard to Say Goodbye was my favorite, and it's hard to say goodbye to this album. I see he has a new one out, so I'll cue it up. 4.

Oh god, yes. More please. This is more modern music I can get into. No sparse keyboard melody lines and dance-along drum machines. Actual singing and music and instrumentation and chords. AND a positive message. We get the best of modern fidelity with a nod to past stylings, all the while incorporating new sounds. There is a great amalgamation of this mix of past and present where some sampled instruments are programmed along with live instruments and loops. It is retro but new, but not in the sense of just arranging new songs to sound retro, like Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars' great "Leave The Door Open", or Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album. This isn't new reaching backward, but old reaching forward. There is an authenticity here beyond just a cash-grab homage, steeped in bona fide genuineness and sincerity. There's also a bit of TV On The Radio here, but less bombastic and more groove and laid back, at times channeling Seal. A more lush and spiritual Lenny Kravitz, with some occasional Hendrix psychedelic guitar. Just listen how cinematic "Final Days" is! So happy to hear this stark contrast in relation to the direction that music has been going. It's not mind-blowing, but it is refreshing. I hope more young artists are inspired to continue to carry the torch.

An intriguing mix of retro and modern vibes. Soulful, heartfelt, atmospheric. I feel like I've been taken on a journey.

I was pleasantly surprised by this. Looking at the cover, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I ended up enjoying it. I like the retro sound. I'll definitely be checking out more.

Pretty good. Interesting production and a smooth voice. A couple of catchy songs. I don't find myself compelled to return to it, however. Maybe it's slightly bland?

Really cool sound

Calm Grooves

Banger album I will be going through his whole discography now

Some stuff was groovy and I liked the production

I was shocked to see how similar Kiwanuka's voice was to Porter, album was just amazing too

Nice mix of both slow and melodic songs and high energy. Feels a bit messy as a first impression.

After listening more and more I became a fan of this guy, great songs, great music, absolutely wonderful. Updated my rating from 4 to 5 ;-)

A very nice album of modern soul with a nice reverence for the classic soul of the 70s. A nice example being the song Living in Denial. The album sounds nostalgic without being stuck in a time warp. Has an intimacy that draws one in and rewards more than casual listens; Hero, Rolling, I've been Dazed. Kiwanuka also incorporates elements of psychedelia and folk that give his music an intensity and variety that makes it very engaging and displays his broad talent. A nice discovery that makes me want to delve deeper. 4 stars

Nice Rock/Neo-Soul album.

Full of the soul I love, all mixed in a pot with a funky groove. I love it already. 4.5/5

I had never heard of this artist before. Absolutely not my music but very interesting to listen to.

Flames

Had this on in the background while I worked and liked it a lot. Should probably do a re-listen and pay a little more attention, but 3/5 for now.

Awesome. Kept my ears engaged from the first to last track--will not only revisit, but will make a point to save this one.

I’m very familiar with Michael Kiwanuka’s work. Timeless production evoking 60’s soul with a 21st century Indy aesthetic and beautifully crafted songs not to mention great delivery by a musical all-rounder. Standouts are : Black man in a white world, Hero, You ain’t the problem. He’s also a great ive performer. Check out his other albums

very good.

Interesting start, but it kind of ended up all over the place stylistically.

Not fully sure why this is on the list, but definitely a pleasant surprise. Kiwanuka has a great voice, instruments are awesome, and production by Danger Mouse was top. Easy 4*

Albums like this are why I continue to listen everyday

Huge surprise, very refreshing!

Dreamy

Nice neo soul and string selection

dig it. not always my speed of storytelling lyric front tunes, but the aesthetic is great and got some fuzz

Enjoyed it. Really liked Piano room.

Boring

An amalgam of Little Simz-esque production, with just some regular vocals. Few engaging tracks, but was just bored. Tracks became stale, needed more flair. Favourite tracks: Piano Joint (This Kind of Love), Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye,

gets a bit of play on radio 6 so familiar with the name and a couple of tracks, solid enough but only one song i really connected with.

3.1 2x catch up 1/21/25

Amazing album. I felt closer to spirituality listening to it. The instrumentation is amazing, with the production making each instrument sound nice and crisp. It gives Michael an amazing platform to sing simple, but thought provoking lyrics that hit your core with the power of his beautiful voice. This album is gorgeous

this album was like a spiritual experience.. beautiful, clear buttery vocals with soulful instrumentals, while still staying just upbeat enough. lyrics are simple, but impactful, really enjoyed my listen

I love an album full of textures and groovey psychedelia. Lots of ear candy.

Better than I was expecting

I can’t even begin to explain how beautiful this album sounds to my ears. It’s almost like every chord, every key and every horn is perfectly arranged in the right place. Then his voice comes over and completely sweeps you off your feet and suspends you in the air as you float through this project. Phenomenal work by Mr. Kiwanuka!

Michael Kiwanuka - an artist I've heard a lot of praise for but never listened to First half of this album was so so good. Really loved the vibes Second half got kinda boring though as the songs slowed down a bit, and got a bit long with the intros/interlude. Shame Great voice though, I see why people like him! 3 ⭐️

Soulful, layered production and lyrically strong. Sounds unique and you can hear influences from different genres. Have a feeling this will be a grower but great on the first listen.

Hadn't left a comment in a while, but this albums is just fantastic. Such a delicacy.

A good, low-key music album. I heard his blues influences, as well as his easy listening lyrics.

Where has this album been? This completely flew under my radar, and will definitely be listening to more music from Michael. Absolute banger of an opener on here!

So enjoyable! Did the US not discover him yet?

Massive FOUR. His second album is his best for me.

I didn’t know much by this artist outside of the Big Little Lies theme song, but this was a really enjoyable listen. I will definitely check out some more of his stuff.

Ikke lige min type m usik så kommer nok ikke til at lytte til det igen. Men det var 100% en spændene og anderledes oplevelse

Soulful unveiling Self inspired persona piece Snuggled in warm tones

I love the deep and scrapy sound of Michael Kiwanuka's voice that with its limited reach is not even always that pitch perfect. I enjoy all his albums, but this album in particular is a masterpiece. It starts out super energetic, but also has a very melancholic, almost depressing, sound throughout the entire album, with melodies and features coming back once in a while. Atm I especially enjoy I've Been Dazed, and the transition from Interlude (Loving The People) to Solid Ground. A very much deserved 5 stars!!!

This is probably one of very few albums on this site that I have known since its release. It’s just a very solid record, simple yet effective songwriting and production and a really convincing old sound.

Never heard this whole album, really good

Took me by surprise, very good!

Loved it

I actually really enjoyed this album. Some great melodies, rhythms and lyrics. Love the overall soulful vibe. Michael's vocals are great too. Definitely found an artist to return to.

I really want to give this album another listen on a day when there isn’t a snow storm coming in and I don’t have a shift at work and assignments due at 11 and two tests coming up and my AirPods are working so I don’t have to listen to it over my phone speakers. It sounded really promising, and although I can’t say I’m usually a ‘soul’ fanatic, I think this is a good album, interesting to me that I’ve never heard of it and it’s the first one to be recommended to me that’s of my time. I don’t know if this album is changing the course of history but I liked it and I think it’s well made. Really like those last 2 tracks. 4 stars, right on the money.

"Kiwanuka" is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter and musician Michael Kiwanuka. Indie rock, folk rock and soul are the Wiki-listed genres for his music and they all apply. The album was produced by Danger Mouse and Inflo who also contributed musically. The album had universal acclaim and won the 2020 Mercury Prize for the best album released in the UK and Ireland. Commercially, it #2 in the UK and #142 on the US Billboard 200. A Carribean-like percussion and guitar and a party-like noise open "You Ain't the Problem." The band kicks in with a fuzz guitar. Kiwanuka's soulful voice joins in a song about just being who you are. "Rolling" also has a fuzz guitar and sounds very retro 60's. This is the one song that I had heard before. It's about going at your own pace. "Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)" is best described as a piano ballad with drums. Kiwanuka's vocals have a melancholy tone. Stings are added building the drama. Kiwanuka was aiming for a 70's Gil Scott-Heron vibe and he pretty much gets it. Guitars play a more major role in "Hero." A strumming, a wah-wah and a fuzz guitar are all used in spots. Strings and soulful female backing vocals. He questions himself as to whether he'll be a hero. The album ends on a high note with "Light." Soft drums, strings, acoustic guitar and percussion. Kiwanuka singing and female backing vocals answering. He's seeing light at the end of his musical journey. An interesting female vocal fade for the outro. This is a soulful and very introspective album. Kiwanuka lyrics are introspective and personal without being specific if that makes sense. I hear 60's guitar, 70's soul, 70's soundtrack and pop ballads in the music. Kiwanuka says he was thinking of Gil Scott-Heron, Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes while writing this music and you can hear that. There's nice production with most of the songs have orchestration. Kiwanuka is also an exceptional guitarist. This was a very decent album that most will find something to like.

A singular musical voice, solid songwriting with interesting psychadelic influences.

Great! No notes.

WOW! Amazing complexity and depth. Solid 4.

Exceptional.

Good singer. Good songs.

Modern blend of jazz and soul, intertwined with cool guitar riffs. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Simply beautiful.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but wow, I was pleasantly surprised! Powerful lyrics, mellow jams, I liked it all the way through.

Oh wow, is this great or what? Rarely does something so unfamiliar hit this deep. So glad I’ve joined this group,

Good one

Wow, Love this voice. What a groove, I need more!

First album I don't know if I've ever heard a song from. Digging it, first few songs have good sound and flow well. Middle piano songs are ok but just changed the mood too much and songs started to just sound formulaic before switching back to better development in Hard To Say Goodbye thru the finish. Can't stop thinking it reminds me of Black Keys if they had more diversity in sound, with clean and solid vocals instead of distorted.

Some songs I would come back to!

New to me, and terrific.

The instrumentals were engaging and interesting but the lead vocals didn’t quite match up for me

Atmospheric but felt that nothing jumped out at me as what makes this a top album.

Pretty fun

Very nice.

Was alright but production/mix could get in the way at times

Really didn’t do it for me, just sounded kinda below average overa

Hermoso, desde la producción, hasta la voz, definitivamente va a convertirse en un clásico para mí

A solid album that has some real sparks of brilliance. That said, I didn't end up gelling as much with it as I thought I would. Kiwanuka draws on a lot of tradition here, mainly 60s psychedelia and chamber pop. But there are enough elements here that don't make it feel dated, like the synths on "You Ain't the Problem". I found myself more drawn to the earlier songs on the album. They're exciting and gives the beginning of the album a real push. The first track is electric, and "Rolling" is an amazing modern take on 60s psychedelia that sounds fresh. That said, as it goes on, I find that it loses a bit of momentum, it drags a bit. The strings come on a bit too often, a bit too heavy. There are some interludes that feel too long. I understand that some "down time" is needed, especially given some of the themes of the album, but I find that it makes it drag. The second half, despite having some amazing guitar work, largely floats into the background for me. Again, this is not to day this is a bad album, not at all. It's just not something I'd put on and listen all the way through except for the standout tracks. It does interest me in checking out Kiwanuka's other music, though. Fav tracks: You Ain't the Problem, Rolling, Hero

This album started really strong the petered off. High 3

I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would.

Not my kind of music but still I was delighted. Defenitely worth a replay. Honorable mention to "Living in Denial".

This album was such a smooth and warm trip. Kiwanuka’s voice beckons the 60s and 79s crooning largely lost in the modern area. Fantastic album. 4.5/5

Great artist and glad to have found out about them.

I feel like what this list chose to represent the last 5ish years of music has been pretty lackluster. However, this album seems to be the exception. Very artsy, great instrumentation, and no 2 songs sound alike. I went in with low expectations, but came out pretty surprised. It's really hard to describe this album it's kind of retro through back soul and jazz, but also kind of shoegaze and rock, and just a hint of electronic and dance. High 4.

Great production. Didn't love the vocals. A few standout songs.

I was fond of this one already. Looking forward to seeing how his career continues to develop.

Started strong, lost interest halfway through

He's got a great voice, and I thought it was interesting with some good compositions, it's was just a bit emotionally heavy for me in an exhausting sort of way. Glad I heard it though.

wow this whole album was amazing, I especially loved Solid Ground.

This was a pleasant surprise. I'd never heard of this guy and this album was fantastic.

Zero expectations going in. Never heard of the dude. I'm a fan. One of those albums that's the whole reason I started this account. To hear something new.

Listened to the album before, but not “deeply”

This album had smooth vocals and included dreamy piano melodies that I enjoyed a lot. I had to listen a few times to really get the feel of it but I think I’ll be listening to this one again.

Some smooth velvet waves that remind me of some times when things have been moodful. Also some rocky patches where his introspection is too personal and didn’t connect with me. Listened to this a lot at one time so must have quite liked it then.

Michael Kiwanuka have my children.

Not sure whose ears aren't working right, but I'm not hearing anything to justify it being added to the 1001 albums list. Then again, given how much I've already heard so far from the list that's average at best, maybe it fits perfectly in there. The musical compositions are good, but not exceptional. There's nothing in the songs that other artists haven't done & better. His vocals are okay, but I'm not feeling any emotions coming across from his delivery. It reminds me of that line from Rob Gordon in High Fidelity, where he says, "I just want something I can ignore." This album would be ideal if that's all you want.

Just like you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, you shouldn't judge an album by its release date. When I saw that it was a 2019 album I thought "fuck me, another boring album" but I was completely wrong. The sound has great soul influences wrapped in a progressive and impactful atmosphere that matches the deep and intense lyrics. The album sounds like Bill Withers had collaborated with Pink Floyd or something...

What nourishes like gospel soul? ✅✅✅ You Ain't The Problem ✅✅✅ Hero

another new artist for me - nice voice, okay music, groovy/soul

3.75

Slow, plodding, good. But not to my liking overall.

I really liked this album! New artist to me, was a really cool fusion of different styles, really felt timeless. 4.5/5 would definitely listen again

Apparently Michael supported Adele, and I can totally see that. It’s okay but not really my sort of thing.

He's clearly got a lovely voice, and this is very well produced and executed, but overall it's so background that it very nearly put me to sleep... Considering I was on the A1 at the time, that's not a good thing!

This is an extremely solid project and I love the style. There's elements of classic rock, reggae, psyche rock, and tons of soul and it all blends together to sound new and exciting. Every track on here is really solid and but special shoutouts to You aint the problem, Piano Joint, Hero, and Final Days. This is a surprise inclusion for me since I didn't hear much of it when it was released. Glad to hear it now.

I didn’t think artists were still making music like this any more, let alone winning awards for it. This album has a great blend of pop, rock, soul, and a bunch of other things all mixed (figuratively and literally) really well. I wish there were a few more songs as energetic as “You Ain’t the Problem” but every song on here is great. In a way this reminds me of the Frank Ocean album we had a bit back. It’s got a core feeling (expressive rock?) but it reaches out in so many directions and the lyrics aren’t so exacting as to pin it down to a series of events. “Piano Joint”, “Hard to Say Goodbye” and Living in Denial” are the kinds of things I want playing when I’m trying to just get everything out of my head and relax or tune out. They’re unobtrusive without being background music; a rare feat. I really enjoyed this one. This is the kind of stuff I signed up for.

At the start I was worried this was going to be world music. I was pleasantly surprised with a strange blend of rock and world that kept me interested.

What a treat. Loved it

So so good. Love some funk. his more upbeat stuff is what I'm more a fan of but still fire

Definitely not something I'd usually reach for, but overall pretty strong songwriting and nice production.

Excellent album that is on my spotify favorites. I have heard it many times and I really like it. It's different but still has a nice chill groove to it. I'm sure I will be listening to this one many more times. It's great to listen to at work or relaxing at home.

Very good, laid back.

I really liked this! looking forward to coming back to this artist

His voice carries me through my day. Instant classic, and well deserving of this recognition. Beautiful yet mournful. The interlude held my hands as I reminisced on the anxiety I felt in 2016 as I hid in the closet of a married mans house when his wife came home too soon. Dying phone in one hand, pants and phone charger in the other. "text Kate" Michael Kiwanuka whispers. I do. "I know I'm here and I don't belong" Kiwanuka reminds me, on his next track, Solid Ground. He's right. 5/5.

No idea what genre this is but I like it! A 4/5 bc I like it but it didn’t make me go crazy go stupid. I’ve been dazed sounds like a beautiful sunrise. Or like when the sun makes a visible ray thru a hole in the clouds. Kind of later Edward sharpe at some points. Feels like something a cool cousin would have on at their house when u come over. I feel like this album did CPR on some of my brain cells.

Wow! How refreshing to listen to something that lacks a clear definition of genre while being impressively unpredictable. The sound ranges from 60s rock, to ambience, to blues and jazz, sounding classic and contemporary at the same time. Massive respect to him.

have you ever heard a song good as the album You Ain't The Problem I think that this album is good because of the singer and instruments I think the instruments sound good because they make a pretty rad sound and I think the singer is good because his voice fits the instruments good I think this album was good and I recommend listening to it.

Do you like upbeat music? If so, then this is the album for you! This album is upbeat because the background music from the instruments are really fast, and his voice is also fast and loud. So, that is why I recommend that you listen to this album.

1st song- um its 4/10 i guess it sound ok 2nd song-its not even that bad but its 6/10 3rd song- it rate 8/10 its goodd

Do you like pop/country music? If so, this album is for you! It is really unique. I love this album because I love Kiwanukas's voice and the background music. The one thing that I don't like, however, is that I can't understand what he is singing. But, either way, I still highly recommend this album.

the lyrics are amazing the instrumentals are good. i highly recommend. 8/10

Nice, calm, pretty, well made. Relaxing and easy to enjoy. Gets better with repeat listening. Nothing to complain about. 4/5

Another CD from the collection - but not an album I have listened to recently. He's got lovely smooth vocals - but its all a little bit polished and a bit trying too hard to be retro in places.

Good but also sounds like NPR music in a way I can't really look past. It rides a weird line between being very beautiful and sounding like it was almost just made to be in the background of a Netflix series or HBO show and I can't unhear that. I even hate saying that because it has good musicianship and it's in good taste but it's still missing something, it's too pretty, like a woman that is too conventionally beautiful, maybe it's just that I need musicians to be dumb or angry or horny or neurotic but somehow he is none of these and therefore I can't say I connect with it. It has all the ingredients for a perfect cake but you're already full.

This was beautiful. A throwback sound, excellent production, awesome voice, chill vibe.

Wow! Can't believe this one passed me by but I loved it front to back. Excellent singing, hooks, instrumentation and production. Seriously a fantastic album.

I liked it. Did not love it, but it was nice.

Heard a lot about this guy but wasn't sure what he sounded like. A lot to like about this record - his voice is really smooth and lovely to listen to, some nice tones throughout and whilst there were a few bits I wasn't into, overall I enjoyed it and would probably listen again.

Totally new to me and I didn’t hate it

Hope and melancholy go hand in hand. Actually comforting to listen to.

Loved it. Must come back to it again soon

LOVE IT, but I’m not surprised, it’s Michael Kiwanuka after all

2nd song sounds like Born to be Wild. It sounds good so no complaints here. Also liked Final Days Maybe a bit too many sleepy songs

Great. Similar to that one blue Childish Gambino album

Favourite tracks: hero; rolling; you ain't the problem

Albumet fremstår for meg som slags underlig krysning mellom Rag'n'Bone Man (pga. Kiwanukas stemme) og Tyler, The Creator (pga. de instrumentale og melodiske innspillene), krydret med innslag av gospel og soul. For meg virket denne syntesen godt, hovedsakelig fordi albumet fremstår som dypt personlig for Kiwanuka. Ikke bare er albumet oppkalt etter ham, som selv retter lytteren mot hva det skal omhandle. Nei, i tillegg til navnet virker Kiwanuka til å vrenge seg utover og vise sin egentlige sårbarhet mot verden. Om man vil si det vrenger han frem sin sjel, en hentydning til albumets betoning av soul. Denne sårheten er ekte; den er menneskelig; den er følt; den er vesen-tlig. Likevel skal det sies at ikke alt med albumet var fryd og gammen. Jeg kan forstå de som tenker en slik eklektisk stil peker mot en artist som ikke har en konkret retning med musikken sin. Kiwanuka skal ha for å gjøre albumet interessant, men til tider kan sangene virke litt vel eksperimentelle i form (f.eks. "Living In Denial" og "Hard To Say Goodbye"). Noen av sangene høres ikke ut som de er del av samme album (f.eks., "You Ain't The Problem" og "Light"), nesten så det kastes frem forskjellige forsøk på å finne en stemme i musikkverdenen, hvilket er forståelig mtp. hvor vanskelig det er å finne sitt sted i musikken, spesielt når mulighetene er flerfoldig. Det skal også skrives, for de som tviler på Kiwanuka musikalske ferdigheter, at: kunstneren trenger ikke, uansett hvilket medium det er snakk om, forstå hvordan de får kunsten frem, de bare GJØR det. Vurdering: 3/5. PS: Likte veldig godt noen overgangene i albumet igrunnet deres sømløse utførelse, f.eks. fra "Rolling" til "I've Been Dazed".

Drit bra Fifa soundtrack vibber over hele albumet, ikke sjokkert når jeg fant ut at Kiwanuka er featured på fifa 23 Denne lagres til senere ja, hørt gjennom albumet 4-5 ganger siste døgnet De som følger meg på letterboxd vet at 5/5 ratings er sjelden vare!

Har hatt lyst til å sjekke han ut lenge. Svært solid album, bra instrumentals og vokaler. Synes han høres skikkelig ut som Damon Albarn fra Gorillaz og Blur. Passer nok enda bedre i sommertider, og gir litt nostalgisk fifa vibes. I've been dazed er standout for meg, men alle sangene er solide. Hele albumet flyter egentlig veldig bra.

I love Kiwanuka. He’s one of the best artists making records today in my opinion. This album and Love and Hate are masterpieces. It’s a tremendous sounding record from start to finish. It’s a patient album, but it never gets boring or meanders. Rolling and Hero are highlights, but there’s no filler here even with multiple intro songs and an interlude there’s no filler here.

3.5 stars - pretty good but some of the songs don't do a lot for me. Some of them while sounding cool didn't have much of an impact. Hero is damn good though

A 2019 release and a new one for me, and a very pleasant surprise. Michael Kiwanuka has a rich, soulful voice that easily stands comparison with any of the greats and the music is a timeless mix of 70s themed soul, funk, jazz and contemporary elements. It’s rare with these albums that I listen to them more than once, but this is definitely one that will be on repeat for a while. The Dolby Atmos mix on Apple Music is another plus- this really does sound lush

I knew Kiwanuka for his earlier work (Home Again) which was much more folk/indie rock. This album is much more diverse from a musical point of view, alternating between soul, jazz, indie rock, a vintage feeling with a modern sound (probably due to the production of Danger Mouse). All in all it's a pleasant and solid album.

I got this one over a year ago and I've actually listened to it a ton since. I really like Michael Kiwankua. I listen to him almost weekly now. Here is what I wrote then: "Loved it. I really like the singer-song writer influenced, fused with R&B. The instrumentals for the intros built up and flowed nicely into each song. This is a really unique record for 2019. Super stoked on this one."

really good album great vibes

VIBES

nice

Hey this was pleasant! Had not heard of this artist ever before but it was pretty nice, modern easy listening. Kind voice and good, if not revolutionary instrumentation.

Noisy instruments with no music, no singing. Who likes this! 1/5

Lush.

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🪙🫅🏿⬛ Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎶✨ 💔📝 ⏳🌌 ⚔️🏆 ❤️💑 🌳🌊 🎉😊 Rating: ✨✨✨/5

very chill, background music, neat

Really beautiful album, I loved the quality of his voice. So gut wrenchingly beautiful.

Really nice and vibey music.

Brutal

Such a unique and timeless sound. From the first notes I was thinking how cool it sounded. I was worried it would lose steam by the end, but it didn't.

This is a great album. A little black keys, a little black pumas, a little funk and soul and still utterly unique. I feel like I could listen to this album for a long time and still discover new ideas and riffs. Very, very good.

Kiwanuka es una figura relevante del Folk-Soul de calidad de finales de los 10 y 20´s. Con dos discos a sus espaldas temas de éxito como Cold Little Heart, One more night, Home Again, o I´ll get alone) publicó otro de mayor calidad incluso. Repite producción con Danger Mouse e Inflo, lo que es un acierto. Meten guiños psicodélicos, guitarras distorsionadas, interludios, toques de hip-hop, muy buena instrumentación ... todo ello integrando una obra genial. Su primer sencillo, You Ain’t the Problem es un trallazo de buen soul. I’ve Been Dazed podría ser la cima del disco, aunque la citada You ain´t o Hard to Say Goodbye, Linving in denial, Solid ground y Hero están a gran altura. Luego editaría en 2024 Small Changes, igualmente recomendable. Kiwanuka es sinónimo de calidad y elegancia sin perder capacidad de compromiso. Un imprescindible del siglo 21. Otros discos de 2019: LANA DEL REY: NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL, THE FAT WHITE FAMILY: “SERFS UP!”, HELADO NEGRO: “THIS IS HOW YOU SMILE”, BECK: “HYPERSPACE”, WILCO: ODE TO JOY, VAMPIRE WEEKEND: FATHER OF THE BRIDE, DIIV – Deceiver, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Ghosteen, Angel Olsen – All Mirrors, Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising, Solange – When I Get Home, Thom Yorke – Anima, Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Charli XCX – Charli, FKA twigs – Magdalene, Tyler, the Creator – IGOR, Fontaines DC- Dogrel, Carolina Durante-Carolina Durante, Los Punsetes- Aniquilación, La Casa Azul- La gran esfera, Cigarettes After Sex – Cry , Coldplay – Everyday Life, Brittany Howard – Jaime

Beautiful, uplifting Neo Soul record with such heartfelt vocals and an old school fuzzy production. Really sounds like a soul record of the 70s with some modern sensibilities. Mostly has a melancholic mood, but some songs like the opener 'You ain't the Problem' , 'Rolling' and 'Hero' are funky bangers. Second half mostly has these beautiful ballads with strings and ethereal choral background vocals and life affirming lyrics. Loved it. Favorites: I've been Dazed, Piano Joint(This Kind of Love), Hero, Solid Ground.

It didn’t do much for me, but it wasn’t bad. It was a little scattered.

This is really chill, a very smooth listen

Cool soul album! Bright and positive!

You know, I quite liked it. It was very relaxing. Something I would put if I’m cooking or something

Never really listened to Michael Kiwanuka before despite being aware of him. Not really my usual thing but still very enjoyable and maybe would grow on me with a few more listens. Sounds like it could have been from any era. Fav track: You Ain't the Problem

I did not expect that. I didn’t even know anyone still made music like this. It has heavy late 60s, early 70s sort of vibe and I totally dug it. Very rarely an album comes across this list from an artist I’ve never heard of that I actually really enjoy and this is one of them.

What an enjoyable album.

Beautiful album

Great album. Michael Kiwanuka reminds me of my ex. It's relaxing, soulful, expertly played and deserves to be listened all the way through at least once. I am picky about giving 5 stars to an album but it's an extremely high 4. Brilliant.

3.5

Wow! A complete unknown. What a treat. Love at first sight.

Fabulous album. Genre blending in its finest form, gravitating around old soul, jazz and funk disciplines with no clear boundaries to prevent freeform activity. It gets psychedelic at times, introspective at others and incredibly contemplative lyrically. I like this album alot. As far as modern additions to this 1001 list. I support it.

KIWANUKA has many memorable songs. Michael Kiwanuka brings something interesting to soul on this project. I can understand the acclaim this project has received, unfortunately it's not enough to make me like it completely. Some tracks even catch my attention but the project itself starts well, but at some point it gets lost for me.

New artist to me. Big fan.

2019???? What in the sweet hell are you talking about? 6.4 million monthly listeners. Jesus Christ. Uhhh. Well I have no earthly idea what this is. Let’s give it a whirl. Interesting opening. Fluttery piano. Vocals are loud and a little blah, but nothing terrible. Percussion and glitchy instrumentation is alright. I’m not a “La La La” man, so that can go. This was ok. I like the guitar on track 2. The chorus is decent. The background interjections are pretty good. I like this one. Not for me bud. This sounds like the boring part of “Feel like Makin’ Love” has been slowed down to be played on vinyl in $3500 a month apartments in walkable, trendsetting neighbourhoods with multiple DIY pinball arcades. Pass. Cool minor piano keys. Return to form. Interesting soundscapes all over this track. Pitch shifted vocals work pretty well with the overall vibe. At least I think their pitch shifted. Jesus. This could be the reanimated Barry White, popping in for a post-mortem feature. That was just an intro. Now the real track. Piano joint. That could mean a piano song or a piano bar. I don’t love his singing, honestly. Something missing there. Boring rhyme scheme. The music is excellent though. Cool jazz with odd sounds. I wish the vocals would disappear. Ambient track with samples of quotes. I like it. No vocals means I’m happy. Jeeeez the vocals. Gets too FAHHHH. Bad news. All around forgettable and grating. “Hero” was ok. That’s all. This song will be very easy to say goodbye to. Never come back. Although Spotify DJ will play this one forever, because Spotify users don’t experiment. They only listen to songs they enjoy and I pay the price. No singing!! So far. That’s good. More of the cool soundscapes. Oh there it is. Terrible. The website broke so you miss out on my incisive commentary for the last few tracks. Well. Listen. This album had some incredible moments. Some of the lush, modern soundscapes were excellent. The vocals and feel were not for me. I thought some songs droned on too long and I could’ve used more variety in the vocal delivery or tone. Decent, but too grating to be called good. 2-2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Rolling, Another Human Being,

3 из 5. Прикольнейнький соул, возможно подниму оценку потом потому-что чувствуется потенциал, пару песен прям хорошо

A beautiful listening experience. Definitely one a rainy winters days in front of the fire reading a book.

Absolutely beautiful, front to back. An album that reminds me how much I love music. Highlights: Rolling, Hero, Final Days, Solid Ground

It feels like a crime that I didn't know about this before today.

Needed more juice on a cloudy morning Squirrels are looking fat, winter is coming

I feel like he took some risks with composition and production and they really paid off.

Idk kinda bland but not bad

Kiwanuka’s got a great voice. A little slow in parts but very beautiful.

Very good.

A vibe.

Very enjoyable, but not my vibe.

This was great music and I enjoyed the journey of the album. Played it several times. Will likely keep playing it. 5.

It was really cool to hear all of the different musical influences for this album! What a surprise. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

Loved Michael Kiwanuka since the first album and saw him support mumford and sons in Melbourne a few year later. Soulful voice and great music. Stand out tracks: - You ain't the problem - I've been dazed - Piano Joint (This kind of love) - Living in denial - Hero - Solid Ground

Into to it sooth me thnx 🙏

Really worked for me, definitely going to go back to his earlier stuff

- Geil, hab nicht damit gerechnet, Michael Kiwanuka hier wiederzufinden - Ich hab vor einiger Zeit mal „Cold Little Heart“ von dem Dude in unsere THI Liste reingewählt. Hab mir da auch mal ein paar andere Sachen von ihm angehört und fands auch alles cool, aber hab ihn dann nicht mehr so wirklich verfolgt. - Das Album hat mir echt sehr gut gefallen - Geiler retro Soulrock Vibe, cooler und eigener Sound mit Handschrift, mega Stimme - Auch schöne Intrumentaltracks zwischendurch - Produziert von Danger Mouse, der auch ein krasser Motherfucker ist. Der Typ steht einfach für Qualität und ds hört man auch - Werd ich jetzt sicher öfter hören Rating: 4,25/5

- suuuper entspannte Platte - richtig geil, um in den Arbeitstag (und heutigen Freitag) zu starten - wird definitiv noch öfter angemacht

Every song hits the same slow, soulful tone. Would have liked a couple more funky, upbeat songs thrown in to add some variety.

Dig it

This was fantastic

5 Sterne

Funky

Really enjoyed this album. Starts groovy and then takes you on a psychedelic daydream with angelic voices, smooth guitar and drawn-out sunlight touching you gently. And what a bold album cover!

Always ranking things relatively on here so don't pay this too much mind, this is pretty, but didn't do very much for me today tbh

Very smooth and clean sounding in a way that can sometimes push me away but I find this just so soothing

this was so nice!

Absolutely amazing! Reminded me of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Arctic Monkeys, MArvin Gaye, and so many more. The emotions, the instrumentals, the lyrics, and the voice were fantastic

This album is a lament. We need it.

I think this will grow on me more but it’s really good!

So happy to see this album on the list and for Michael to get the props he deserves

Oooooh, this funky. Easy listening, sneaky like.

This album is cool. Really good in fact. The sound felt new and different, and the tracks showed variation. I really enjoyed this. Favourite song: So many to choose from, I really enjoyed solid ground, Piano joint, and Hero. Every song was great in its own right Least favourite: Nothing to pick here Album artwork: Cool cover

"Kiwanuka" isn't just an album; it's a journey. Michael's voice, rich and soulful, wraps around you like a warm blanket on a cold night. Tracks like "Hero" and "Hard to Say Goodbye" hit you right in the feels, their raw emotion laid bare. It's the kind of album you can lose yourself in, letting the music wash over you. While some moments might feel a bit overproduced, they don't detract from the overall experience. It's a masterpiece that deserves a place in your soul.

Wow, das hat mich überrascht. Hat alle meine Erwartungen unterlaufen und Lust auf mehr gemacht. Gleich mal das Album Love & Hate reingezogen. Auch klasse.

It started out as something that I didn't particularly like but by the end of the album I liked it. Ended up listening to it three times that day

Just a great polished professional album. He is excellent

Nice sounding album - Enjoyed it

Beautifully crafted modern soul

This album is a breath of fresh air and surprising how good it its! 4.3 stars!

This was an amazing album!

Liked this quite a bit! I wasn’t familiar with this artist but can see why he won a Grammy.

I really liked this and started out as a 4, but with a second listen I’m upping it to a 5. I suspect Danger Mouse’s involvement in all the songwriting and production is a not insignificant part as to why it rates so highly. Makes me want to try more from Kiwanuka as well as find more albums with Danger Mouse beyond the stuff I know already. Very catchy stuff, has a good vibe throughout.

Before: This album has a reputation on the subreddit as one of the gems of this project that people discover through this and immediately love, so I’m pretty excited. After: very much enjoyed this. I think four stars for now and then a few months from now I’ll kick myself for not giving it five. Also, after yesterday’s album from 1956, pretty incredible to get this leap in production value.

Really nice

This is so cool. The lyrics are very sad and heartfelt, I found them interesting to read along with. I always like lyrics that feel personal and give an insight into a songwriters real emotions. Musically there's a lot of variety, some great guitar work in places, and the lush strings on some of the tracks are really beautiful. I tend not to notice bass that often but it stands out here at times too. Final note for Danger Mouse's production, that guy is so good A stunningly beautiful album

Jest dal mnie dosyc nowe, i monottone? w całym swoim takim przyjaznym nastroju

Enjoyable retro style. Smooth voice, some interesting layers. Favorites: "I've Been Dazed" Least: (1x) 3 1/2 stars, B+

It's nice

What an album! I remember when this was first released Adam Buxton reviewed it on his podcast and he was blown away by it but also commented that it was so tight and polished it left no room for the listener to have a part in it. I thought about this a lot at the time and when I listened to it this time around. I think that's an interesting take that without a touch of ramshackle you could feel disconnected. Regardless of that wow. It's quite amazing

A great album, I really enjoy it. He's got an excellent sound and really good variety, feels so fresh.

It was ok, felt like music u play when vibing so idk

Instrumentally, goes hard. Don't particularly love the man's voice, sounds slightly sped up or something?? Slight Kiedis vibes.

Kiwanuka I’m pretty familiar with this, although I think I listened to the previous album a bit more. I'm very into the style and sound on this, the Bondian/John Barry guitar breaks , the cinematic 60s style backing vocals and the indie, pop, soul, rock and jazz influences. I also really like the lyrical themes and ideas, identity, self doubt, self confidence, history and the future all weaved together to make a fascinating and engaging whole. It really is excellent up to Hard to Say Goodbye. You Ain’t The Problem, Rolling and I’ve Been Dazed is a superb opening run, highlighting all the great parts of the album, those backing vocals, some great guitar and fantastic songcraft. Piano Joint, Living in Denial and Hero are also excellent. It does dip a bit for me after Final Days, the last 10 or 15 minutes do drag a little, particularly in comparison to the previous tracks - Final Days definitely sounds like it should be the last song. Despite it being a very good album, I think it's that drag and, and also that I get a slight nagging sense of Radio-2-ness that stops it being a 5. 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️ Playlist submission: Rolling

209/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑

I dug this album a lot. Blues and 70s inspired rock is always great. Not something I'd necessarily sit and listen to as a whole, but if random songs were added to my mixes I wouldn't complain.

I thought this record was interesting. Nothing I'd normally listen to, but there are elements about it I like. I thought the the rhythm section was really strong and I enjoyed his vocals throughout the record. However, with some filler songs and some weaker songs, I think I'd have to give this album a 2/5 but I did enjoy my time with it.

I can't quite begin to put into words how genuinely brilliant this album is. So much going on. I can imagine this being a record of the ages 50 years from now.

Love this album. Great way to start this journey.

This was a pleasant surprise. Never heard of this before I started this challenge. Will definitely listen to Mike some more.

This was such a nice and fresh surprise. 4/5

Surprised to see such a recent album on this website. Did this actually make it into any of the books? I enjoy these midsummery, daydreamy kinds of albums, though none of the genres featured on this one resonate with me all that much. The experience of listening to this was much snoozier than I would have preferred, though it may be possible for me to come around to it on my mandatory relisten

Apple Music says the genre is soul, but this goes so far beyond that. I wish I'd known about this album and this artist so much earlier. This one is definitely going into heavy rotation for me.

This is a true critics' album. I don't know a single person who listens to this nor do I ever see it being discussed in online music communities, or in the mainstream really. The kind of album you only hear about when the year-end list season comes around.

Decent vibe. Background music

Really really nice

Great R&B sound

idk i got kind of bored

great drums great soul

oh i LOVE this. had never listened to michael kiwanuka before and this was an amazing introduction

Love his sound

Really enjoyed this.

gut, aber habs ma nit gspeichert

Super smooth and rocky soul album. Loved the elements of prog rock and psychedelia in there, and simultaneously surprised I hadn't heard more about both Michael and this album. Lowkey deserves a relisten bc I was driving while I heard the majority of it, so it would benefit from me paying more attention to it. it's something special for sure though. Fav Songs: Hero, You Ain't the Problem, Final Days

Bra album. Kvalité rakt igenom. Öppningsspåret är riktigt starkt.

I wasn’t familiar with Kiwanuka before. Now sure how I missed on this three-time Mercury Prize nominee (and one time winner) but it was a nice discovery. Quality album.

My bestie played a show with him I. Atlanta awhile back. And since then songs on the album have been in the regular rotation. He does his style well, but there could be slightly more variety

Beautiful, heartful, uplifting and warm album - I love the different genres (60s rock, a bit jazz, funk, and soul) that goes together so well. It's a real album's album where the whole experience makes it so great, unlike picking a few songs as standouts. It's one of the greatest albums I've heard in the past years or decade, and definitely one of my favorite discoveries on this challenge.

Really laid back, but good.

This was an exceptional album I would have literally never known about except for this list. Nice.

This is really beautiful. Had no idea what to expect to hear, it was not what this sounds like. Deep, soulful melodies and lyrics that feel fresh and energetic. 4 stars

Bit boring

Lush soundscape. Modern rock. 70s influences. Very funky and cool. Jazz and Mowtown influences. Smooth. Elaborate. Beautifully done. Varied. Stunning 60s samples.

8.5/10. Really original. I like the dynamics in this album. It's really unlike other albums in its style. :)

Same Africa music

Great instrumentation but nothing really jumped out at me.

Another gem from the list. I was aware of Michael Kiwanuka but had never really given him much of a listen. I’m beginning to wish I had though as this was really good and I enjoyed listening to it.

I think I like this. It certainly isn't in my usual listening, but it's definitely music I can write stories to. It also feels healing to listen to.

I enjoy the distortion effects but overall this album just kinda passed me by

I knew nothing about Michael Kiwanuka. I like "Living in Denial" and "Hard to Say Goodbye" and "Light". The latter's music sounds like Air. Also "Final Days" reminds me of "Roads" by Portishead. I'd like to check out more of his music.

One of my favorite albums from the last 20 or so years. Alternately soulful and joyous, with a mix of the old and new that feels inevitable.

I love this.

Great variety of genres

Vad kul! Den här skivan har jag lyssnat mycket på. Tycker nästan allt jag hört av Michael Kiwanuka är grymt bra. Bra sång och skön stämning, bra musik helt enkelt.