KIWANUKA

4 stars nice listen, I found it enjoyable and my favorite songs were "You Ain't the Problem" "I've Been Dazed" "Hero" and "Hard to Say Goodbye"

Really liked it! May need a couple of relistens to get a handle on it.

I really like this! His voice is beautiful and the music just felt right. I'd have to listen again to be sure if I want to add it to my rotation.

I wasn’t looking forward to this album when I saw it pop up, but boy was I wrong! Soul (is it really,apple?) hasn’t been a genre I’ve really enjoyed much before, and I’m not sure what Kiwanuka does is really Soul but I like it. Bluesy, Jazzy, r&b, 70s groove? His music is smooth, but there is an edge and a drive in some of it than I would expect with this type of music. His voice is smooth and the music is haunting at times. This is one that sent me on a dive to find more of his music and more about him. This album and all of his albums will be in my rotation now!

I am giving this album a good review, but totally bummed there are no weekend albums. I'm going to be 80 by the time this is over and have hearing loss. MK is a great artist and has a unique sound. This music puts you into a hypnotic smooth infectious groove. I will continue to give this one a listen.

Really fresh sound. Modern 60-70’s vibes. I enjoyed the range of emotions from celebratory joy to ominous misfortune. Danger Mouse doesn't miss, the production is excellent.

Very listenable lovely sound. Only not 5 because nothing quite lives up to cold little heart

Nice and chill album

favourite song: final days really good, kept my attention throughout and just good!

Really solid album. Before listening to this again, I was set on Kiwanuka’s 2016 album Love & Hate as his best offering, but now I am not so sure as this one is more mature and subtle. Overall, it is a soulful celebration of 70s sounds, with long David Gilmour-esque guitar outros on many songs, catchy vocal melodies (his voice is so smooth and yet has this raspiness to jt that is much welcome), and solid compositions that reward multiple listens. This album manages to be accessible and easy to listen to without being generic. If you like this album and artist, check out Skinshape.

I really liked it! I knew his voice sounded familiar.

Nice surprise for album #2. I can see this getting some serious rotation as some chill but rocking background. Highlights are Rolling > Dazed, Hero, and Solid Ground.

Good background music while working. Somewhat funk/folk throwback vibe.

Nunca tinha ouvido falar desse cara, muito bom!

Definitely not my usual style, but I found it oddly soothing and chill. Not bad at all.

Calm. Relax. Chill out. Madcool 2024.

Quite enjoyed this one. Everything about the album feels very deliberate, with classic elements of rock getting a soulful seasoning.

thoroughly enjoyed this album, a very diverse sound with some great songs sprinkled in. this guy is a good song writer and has a great voice

Rolling and Solid Ground are standouts.

Cool piano - great sound

you aint the problem

A nice album overall. Themes were consistent and I liked the switch halfway through. No weak songs really. Musically really good all the way through. The different vocals were well used and I like the instruments. Solid 7/10

Dropping me into the deep end on the second day with an artist I've never heard of, lol. To make sure I can devote my attention to these album listens, I listen as I do my hour of walking for exercise. Regardless of how I feel about the album, I really like Kiwanuka's voice. He reminds me a lot of the '60s and '70s folk albums my Dad played for me; the focus here is on his voice as an instrument. There's a mix of social conscious songs - Britain does not have the same type of racism as the USA does, but it does have its own - and problems in love songs. I didn't actively dislike any songs, but I did enjoy mostly the same songs as the higher-played songs (at as Spotify reported). I might only come back to relisten to a few songs, but I enjoyed listening to the album and have no regrets spending the time with it.

Piano joint, piano joint, piano joint... I usually go for anything with piano, but this is something else. "Looking out for something new It's the right time to give in The right time to lose To begin again Maybe win again All I want is to talk to you Turn me onto something true"

Pretty good. Will prob listen again

i love the low sounds and undertones .also the voice is top notch and i could maybe find myself in future listening to him more .Album is maybe a 7/10 or maybe I did not appreciate it enough

Hey, I have this one at home! Mostly bought it on the strength of the "Rolling" single, a stellar track with a killer groove and killer vocal line, but I would lie if I said I spent much time with the whole album since 2019. So I was about to dismiss this record as maybe slightly overrated for such a list--even if it's pretty good. But then I saw its global score on this app, 3.78! That's really a good one for such a recent record. People using the app really seem to enjoy this LP, and a lot of them point out they only have discovered Michael Kiwanuka thanks to this 1001 albums project. Made me reconsider the whole thing a little, I have to say. Revisiting this LP was therefore pretty nice. It's got that "seventies" feel I really like. Actually such sounds and types of songwriting are basically timeless. The first three tracks are great, but most of the ballads on side two are also quite impressive... So yeah, why shouldn't I include this record in my list of keepers? The thing is, there are around 50 albums released in 2019 that I find at least equally interesting or even *better* than this album. And there are at least seven albums not mentioned in the 1001 albums book, released in that same year, that absolutely deserve the spot currently taken by Michael Kiwanuka--albums by Lana Del Rey, Fontaines D.C, Billie Eilish, Big Thief (not for one, but for *two* albums), Tyler The Creator and Weyes Blood. Plus *Ghosteen*, by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, already mentioned in the book, if I'm not mistaken (as is Little Simz' *Grey Area*, whose production team was also involved to *Kiwanuka*). All those records are excellent, and it is my staunch belief that most of them will be fondly remembered in the decades to come--because the fanbase of those artists has grown exponentially in the last years or so. 2019 was such a good year for music, and it saw the rise of so many phenomenal artists. You'd have to go back to late sixties, the late seventies, or the early nineties to witness similar sudden surges in the quality level of the music released through albums... Under that light, I think it's better to err on the side of caution and place this LP in my "waiting list". I'll probably revisit it again. But chances are that will revisit it *less* than all the albums I've just mentioned, as good as it is... 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential albums" (rounded up to 4). Which translates to a 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 331 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 300 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 163 (including this one, in spite of a grade that generally puts an album in the list of direct "keepers"--we might need a little time to see how this record holds up in the future) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other ones are more important to me): 215.

pretty cool, chill album. nice retro soul sound and feel, with some tinges of psych. was a nice pleasant album to have on, although i don't think it was particularly mind blowing.

Excellent music - not really my style but enjoyed it just the same!

Een lekker potje retro klinkende soul, het is een beetje of de tijd een kleine 50 jaar stil heeft gestaan, maar er is niemand die dat erg vindt.

Het is vakantie. Dus even wat minder 1001 luisteren. Wat als het gezin meeluistert, is er altijd wel iemand met flink commentaar. Maar deze keer geen enkele wanklank uit het gezin. Er wordt zelfs wat mee geneuried met de soms catchy meloodietjes. Als je iedereen blij kan maken in dit gezin, heb je iets moois gemaakt.

Warm en sfeervol zijn de twee woorden waarmee ik dit zou typeren. Er zit geen nummer uptempo in volgens mij, iets waar ik normaal wel naar snak, maar dat Kiwanuka simpelweg niet nodig heeft. De muziek combineert soul, jazz en singer-songwritermuziek en maakt van ietwat gedateerde muziek iets compleet eigentijds en tijdloos. Ik kende zoals gewoonlijk alleen de hitjes (Home Again en Cold Little Heart), die hier dus niet op staan, en toch had ik het idee dat alles zowel herkenbaar als nieuw was. Prachtig. Heel fijn album.

This is 100% new to me, and a very nice find. I'm not sure how to classifty it, but it certainly has groove. Generally smooth sound, but not bland. I'll need to listen to this a few more times, but it's a solid 4. 4/5

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.

Had a lovely time listening, the biggest “cozy yet productive Sunday afternoon” energy for me

This is gooooorgeous, super sensitive and feeling. No real standout tracks because it flows so well, but I really appreciated the occasional intro track thrown in. No detail went untouched but it's still so relaxed sounding, sometimes you just know something's authentic when you hear it and this totallly is.

Very nice.

A great album and a great listening experience. The tracks all flow into eachother smoothly and cleverly despite the ever switching genre. Top tracks:. 'You Ain't the Problem' 'Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)' 'Living in Denial' 'Hero' An excellent modern find from the list and a very confident self titled album.

Pensei que seria um álbum esquecivel, mas não! Ótimo som, impactando e divertido!

Kinda lioed it

fun.

O disco não me pegou muito, até o final. Ali ele ganhou méritos. As últimas 3 músicas são absurdamente boas e embora tenha uma vibe retrô, são músicas extremamente modernas. Um baita disco contemporâneo, feliz de ter descoberto esse artista.

Beautiful!

Kinda cool retro vibes and sounds. I didn’t really find this super unique or original but kind of a nice background vibes record. Probably a 3 in real life but 3.5-4 in this context. Kind of forgettable and probably won’t come back to it.

I liked the music and melody a lot. I usually like very general lyrics because you can apply them to anything but I was left wanting more in that department

3.5/5

Great album and real music. Think fleet foxes meets indie hendrix. At parts you'll feel like you're in a bond movie and it be the beginning, middle or end depending on the song.

Was pretty alright overall. Vibed to it while playing a game. A light 4/5

Loved it. Can understand the Curtis Mayfield comparisons but this side steps into ambient, hypnotic instrumentals, 60s soul, Radiohead and more.

Nice voice!

This album was really really good. I am usually not a fan of the newer albums that make their way on here. This one was worth the listen for sure. So groovy and unique. Great album!

7/10. It's very calm, poor choice to listen to after lunch because it put me to sleep a bit, but it was fairly beautiful when I actually managed to focus on it.

Another great album. Good mix of alternative rock with soulful vocals and strong flow between tracks. My main complaint is that there wasn’t a very big range of emotion or sound covered, but it was still very good. 8/10

4/5 Especially like the first half of the album!

Норм

I’ve never heard of this guy before. The music has very 70s vibes. Easy to listen to and chill. The tracks are fine but this really shines as a complete album, the songs flow into each other. Adding this to my playlists. Listens: 3 Fave Track: Solid Ground Rating: 4

Really good stuff

I really liked it. It’s crazy how it’s made this decade but has a 70s type of feel.

Zo'n ontzettend krachtige stem, hypnotiserend gewoon.

The first song is quite impressive, altough the rest of the album is a bit generic. However, it's a fascinating album, and it's always nice to see more modern stuff on the 1001 list since it typically (not always) gives me some hope that despite all the music already produced, there is always space for creativity and innovation.

I thought this was actually an awesome album. He has a great voice and vibe.

Excellent album. Each song is very enjoyable. I didn't know the artist, a nice discovery.

Very nice! A breath of fresh air!

Soulful and psychedelic. I like it

I was excited to hear this after scanning through a few reviews: something a bit fresh and contemporary. But, then listening it never really grabbed me. All good but nothing outstanding.

Really interesting listen. I loved the bass and unique sounds throughout

Enjoyable listen, nice mix of styles

A really great R&B album.

R&B moderno. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

Lovely voice, nice melodic sound

- Final Days is haunting and beautiful - good vibes, enjoyed the listen

A quality experience

Pretty great. Atmospheric, ambitious, warm, and skilfully executed. The album relies more on mood than anything else - but in doing so, plays to its strengths. A minor criticism - although I am fine with the production, some of the choices and instrumentation feels a little like grave robbing. I'm sure Michael Kiwanuka would say his sound is paying homage to his forebears - or perhaps his music is even 'in conversation' with the past? - but as comfortable and redolent as it can be, this choice slightly feels like an artist not entirely at ease with the tools of their own time and place. Those guitars sounded like the future when the Isley Brothers used them, once upon a time.

Really liked this and had no clue it existed. For sure lives in the homage territory, but that's where the sweet $$$ is these days. Or not. I just assume so because otherwise I can't explain Greta Van Fleet.

good

4/5 Very good album. Best track: Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)

Wow I loved this. Beautiful voice and really dug the minimalistic instrumentals that just gave this whole album a really cozy vibe

This was a nice lil surprise. Very pleasant from beginning to end.

An album I‘ve listened to several times in the past, really like Kiwanukas Style, I feel like the album has a recognizable character

Awesome! „You ain’t the problem“ is the most fun song I‘ve heard in a while.

A beautiful album for a morning listen. Almost 5*.

P to the leasant.

007 will return

Много стиля и интересных решений

chill mood mostly, not too bad actually

Very nice

I want to revisit this again and again.

This was a breath of fresh air compared to some of the last few albums I’ve listened to on this journey. When I started on this path, I was hoping for stuff like this. My musical taste has always been pretty narrow and after ten albums listened, this was the first that I liked that I hadn’t heard before. It won’t be something I listen to frequently but I would absolutely listen to it again.

Interesting new find

Favorite tracks: You Ain’t The Problem, Rolling, Piano Joint, Living In Denial, Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye, Light Least favorite track: Another Human Being 8.5/10

Good

Very cool vibes

Enjoyed this album. Great voice!

I didn't think I would like this at first but it really grew on me. Had some moments where he sounded a lot like Ben Harper, but it was still very inventive and unique. Nice find.

This my shit right here! Some blues soul rock done lo fi!

Great album. Nice continuity.

A good album, and generally what i’d expect from a Kiwanuka album. Light is a standout for me.

I was already a fan, Hero and Final Days go hard. Amazing use of string sections.

Not what I was expecting from the album cover. To prove like books you can't judge an album by its cover

Una agradable sorpresa, le daré más escuchas si o si

Well composed 👏🏽

Sounds like Jimi Hendrix if he did soul

By the end I’m fucking digging it

Good vibes

not exactly my vibe but very high quality album

Wow this is really nice, perhaps not ground breaking but full of characer, emotion and groove. I am rounding uo to 4

Oh fuck yes

Good freaking stuff. Bluesy guitar, cool lyrics, good riffs.

Not as good as Love & Hate. Still very good.

Damn good album.

Excellent - his voice reminds me of Seal. Great melodies.

Beautiful album

I liked it! Smooth. Poignant.

Great album from start to finish. Loved it despite it being more modern. Track 1 (You Ain't the Problem): Tons of energy. If I was a dancer, I could/would 100% dance to it. Track 2 (Rolling): Still good, but a definite let down from Track 1. Track 3 (I've Been Dazed): Love it. His tone of voice sounds like Eric Clapton. Track 4 (Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)(Intro)): Not really into it. Track 5 (Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)): I like this piano song much more. I actually really like this song. I'm clearly not a very good reviewer, but this song is amazing. I guess it makes sense why I liked it better than Track 4. Track 4 was literally just the intro. Track 6 (Another Human Being): Not a huge fan at the beginning. Okay, wasn't super excited about the whole thing. Track 7 (Living in Denial): This sounds like a song you'd hear in an ad or something. I like it. Track 8 (Hero (Intro)): I like it. Much better than the other intro song. Track 9 (Hero): Starts out much the same way as the intro song. Looking for it to build and get exciting. Great song. 10/10. Track 10 (Hard to Say Goodbye): Ugh, this one is so much slower after Track 9. I hope it picks up. It did pick up, but it's too long. Not my favorite. Track 11 (Final Days): Way better than the last song. I liked it. Toe tapper for sure. Track 12 (Interlude (Loving the People)): We're about halfway through it, and I'm not really loving it. Track 13 (Solid Ground): Meh. Yeah, now it's good. The piano is getting heavier, the singing louder. It's nearly over, but it's worth listening to just for this part. Track 14 (Light): It was pretty good. Not much to write home about. Track 9 (Hero) was my absolute favorite song.

starts great, doesnt hit me towards the back half of the album

Great

Afrobeat inspired soft rock. Overall ok. Some really good songs and some misses. Sometimes to artsy for its own good. Solid 4/5 tho. 4 songs into playlist.

A modern combination of soul and neo-psychedelia, nostalgic on 70s music with a lofi production and strong grooviness. Lots of characteristics, like fuzzy chamber vocals (almost like Coldplay), incoherent high-tone back vocals, chillwave hazy production sound, and atmospheric whimsical effects take from contemporaries like MGMT and King Gizzard. Lovely interludes and preludes along with smooth meaningful transitions add to the consistent vibe. A little too long with quite a few dull moments, but it's pretty excellent as a whole. Favorites: You Ain't the Problem, Hero

Great record

Broad appeal this one, both immediate and interesting. Lots of the old, 70s soul, Marvin Gaye, while still sounding new. It's a pop record for sure and it's good pop. I enjoyed it when it came out. Not been back to it much though possibly only because it's hard to remember great albums when I have no physical object to flick through and remind me. Maybe it sags a little in the middle and gets a bit samey, but a real strong finish from Hard to Say Goodbye onwards grabs it a worthy 4.

Partly heard before Saved 9/14 Top track: Solid Ground

Surprisingly good!

Good

This was great. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I can't explain why, I just dug it.

This was really pleasant, and I will definitely be listening to it again! I wasn't sure what to expect going in, and I'm not entirely sure what I encountered going through, but I look forward to the next visit.

While listening to the first half of this album, I was pretty excited to dole out my first 5 on here; I loved it. Then the second half slowed down into a soul album which, while still good with plenty to recommend it, wasn't nearly as remarkable. Quality sound throughout, and overall still really good.

Awesome vibe. Makes sense when you read about is musical influences and journey (from Radiohead to Otis Redding).

Never heard of the artist before I listened the other day. I enjoyed the album makes me want to listen to more of their music

A great album of modern soul. I feel like Kiwanuka leans a little more modern on this album when compared to Love & Hate. All the instrumentation is fantastic, but as I listen I often find myself focused on the strings. The arrangements are lush but not overwhelming.

Gives me hope for new music. Very chill and enjoyable

Calm and complex

Solid album - great background listening and some of the tracks are starting to grow on me. Probably not going to be incorporated into heavy rotation on my playlists, but definitely something to listen to on a regular cadence.

If I could give half stars then this would be a 4 1/2 star review because it's an ALMOST a perfect soul album. It feels both reminiscent and nostalgic. It gives a statement of empowerment while also reflective of the long journey that people of color have had to face (and continue to face).

R&B moderno. Me ha gustado. Un 4. Tralarí que te vi.

I really like this one. Great 60s influenced soul. Missed this when it first came out, but I’m glad I got to it now.

Great album! Rich voice with fantastic harmonising. Funky baseline with great guitar riffs. I like that there's interludes without singing.

Its Michael Kiwanuka need i say more

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would, not really something I would have sought out. Super-cool, for an evening. 8/10

Great vocals and musicianship especially on Piano Joint and Hero, listened to a few times

Never heard of it. Nice.

Never heard of this artist before, but I do think I'll be hearing more of him in the future.

Never heard of Michael Kiwanuka Most of this album I had to wait a min before deciding if I liked the songs cause he seemed like he was going a completely different direction. His lyrics and the beat of the song seemed to contrast each other. Overall I liked it. - 4/5 1. You Ain't The Problem - Interesting intro and lively. Kinda has like a 70s Charlies Angel vibe. Don't understand half of what he's saying but I like the sound. - 4/5 2. Rolling - Again solid intro. Good beat and guitar or whatever that instrument is. Kind of sounds like a sitar at times. Typically wouldn't like these kind of vocals but it works. I really liked the slowdown into the following song - 4/5 3. I've been Dazed - So far this is my favorite. I like the feeling it gives, I don't know how to describe it but the song felt so nice. - 5/5 4. Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) Intro - Ooh the slow beat feels ominous but then the vocals come in so chill. Then the piano comes back and is boom ominous. I love the balance here. - 4/5 5. Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) - I love how the strong beat flows into this track but is more subtle with the piano take the forefront and his vocals give it a whole different feel. - 4/5 6. Another Human Being - This one was a little weird, more of a commentary so I get it. - 3/5 7. Living in Denial - Wasn't as crazy for the sound of this one. Still solid - 3/5 8. Hero (Intro) - This one feels deep and simple. I dig it. - 4/5 9. Hero - I like how this song picks up after the slower (Intro) track but keeps the theme but expands the story more with the lyrics. Almost feels triumphant but what he's saying isn't so much. - 4/5 10. Hard to Say Goodbye - The soft base building up is pretty dope. I can't tell if it switched to guitar or it it's still the base. I like how it softens back up to a background strumming guitar 1/3 of the way through. - 4/5 11. Final Days - Super interesting. Couldn't tell if the muffled voices were supposed to be in a hospital or something like that. Sounded like people on a bad intercom. He has this knack for having upbeat sounding songs with more heavy lyrics. - 4/5 12. Interlude (Loving the People) - I didn't even notice the track changed I was just vibin'. I think that's good right? - 4/5 13. Solid Ground - Still struggle to understand what he says but the vibes are good. I like this one too. - 5/5 14. Light - I just kinda zoned out and enjoyed the last track. - 4/5

Beautiful soul, blues and rock with some killer guitar playing. Great drama and atmosphere. Michael Kiwanuka is a powerful singer and an excellent songwriter. This album is stacked with good songs. The track sequencing flows really well too.

I like this guy and this is the first album I've heard by him but I'm not sure if it's so good to be on this list. "You Aint The Problem" was a big hit recently and I even added it to one of my annual playlists (big deal for me!). I think it has a great message though- I had read that he really struggled with imposter syndrome and wrote this song as a message to himself. "I've Been Dazed" has such a pretty chorus. It does sound a little familiar, but hey that's music. Ok shit. I get it, I really get it. Both parts of "Piano Joint" are incredible. I don't know if it's because I'm having a really wonderful day but that piece really hit me in a good way. Really really strong song. I love the production choices on "Hero - Intro". I'm always interested in these sorts of decisions and where they come from. I bet this was recorded in super high fidelity with amazingly detailed microphones and mixed through gear that costs thousands upon thousands of dollars, and yet there is post-recording changes made to make it sound lower fidelity. Does it exist to make the next song, "Hero" sound heavier/more intense? I think it does, but it's still a choice that was made that really makes me intrigued. Yea this is a wonderful album. I really enjoyed it. 4/5

Visste jag inte att detta album kom 2019 hade det varit oerhört svårt att placera det tidsmässigt. Det finns pop, soul, rock. Kiwanuka kanaliserar allt från Dylan till Hendrix, genom Danger Mouse's fantastiska produktion. Tidlöst. 'Hero' är magnifik, vemodet skiner igenom denna rockiga pärla som doftar mer Hendrix än något annat. 'You Ain't The Problem' är en kul öppningslåt. 'Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love)' är vackert soulig. Michael Kiwanuka hade verkligen kunnat finnas i vilken tid som helst, i vilken genre som helst, i vilket universum som helst - jag är så glad över att han är precis här. Bästa låt: Hero.

Nice! I really enjoyed the way this album played with genres, and even though I didn't LOVE every song, I can see myself re-visiting all of them. Michael Kiwanuka is an artist I hadn't heard too much (other than "Home Again") so this was neat to discover.

Once again, today’s album is by a person I’d never heard of before. It seems that this is one of the newer albums from 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, released in only 2019. I’m interested to hear how this sounds, as there are not many albums from the 2010’s at all that were deemed worthy. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: You Ain’t The Problem, Hero I liked every song on this album, but I wouldn’t say I loved any. There is a nice mix of upbeat funkier songs as well as softer soul tracks. His music reminds me a lot of Childish Gambino, but with singing instead of rapping. It is quite Motown-esque with a stylised retro sound. Overall, I did enjoy this. Give it a try.

I was not familiar with this record before this listen, and I am not sure how I missed it. What a beautiful, deep, and soulful record touching on so much of our human condition. I love the production and the songs are remarkable. A great find and a great, great record.

Familiarity: 6/10 Classic souls energy, a modern twist on important foundations. True Rating: 7.5/10

Great record, full of soul

4/5 Best: I've Been Dazed Worst: Hard to Say Goodbye

Very nice. Loved the production/sound. Excited about the song “Hero”.

Started WAY strong! And mostly stayed there. This is the perfect assignment for me, because I had no idea whatsoever what genre, decade, country, etc before listening. I got several songs in before I realized it wasn't from the 70s like I first assumed. Great sound, great voice, great production, great messages.

Excellent jazz. J'ai notamment beaucoup aimé Piano Joint

This is an excellent contemporary soul album and it's something I didn't even know I wanted. Great listen.

this was really good, a few too many tracks and some of the slower songs weren’t my taste but overall I really enjoyed it.

Yeah this is really good, it has an authentic, enriching sound, it's genuine, it's thought-provoking, just a good listen. 4.

Yeah, this is great. Beautiful sound almost throughout, great atmosphere to it, and a lovely warm voice. Could listen to this all day (and am, currently on my backtobacktoback listen of having this on whilst working). Fun mix of upbeat and downbeat, some really reflective stuff, great lyrics, some a bit more fun. 4/5.

It was really nice journey through varied and rich music with pleasant voice. Out of 8 post 2010 albums so far this one of the best if not the best.

Wow. Never heard of this guy before but I'm loving this album.

Some very weak songs - and some very strong!

Funky, groovy, sad. Love the distorted guitar riffs and deep bass patterns. The album flows really nicely with incredible sequencing and transitions between tracks. This is shown through several outstanding interludes and intro tracks which create incredible soundscapes of minimalist drums and soulful vocals. The whole project creates this melancholic but dramatic atmosphere. The back end of the record has a beautiful 5-track run of hazy soul ballads encased in dense layers of orchestration. Feels like: Standing on a mountain looking over the world. Favorites: I've Been Dazed, Hard to Say Goodbye, Final Days, Solid Ground, Light

nice

4.5/5. I didn’t know what to expect from this one, pleasantly surprised. Hard to define what genre this falls under but I suppose that’s part of the charm.

This was an interesting album. When I started listening I felt that it was something that should sit well with me, but for some reason I just didn't like it THAT much. Can't figure out why. But I am still inclined to give it a 4 star rating despite this, somehow I feel that it deserves it. There is so much crap music today, but this stands out as well produced and innovative, even though I don't feel like throwing myself over it again any time soon. Think I will learn to like it if I listen more to it.

A breath of fresh air. Amidst all the rock and 90:s pop this felt different and fresh. I love this type of music so this was right up my alley. Having only heard the great "This cold heart" by Michael Kiwanuka this was only new tracks for me. This was one of these albums that really benefit from being listened to as an album. It just takes some time to get into the groove and if I would have only listening to one track I would have probably forgotten about it and moved on. As a whole it was a great experience, feeling both retro and modern, reminiscent of "St Paul and the Broken Bones" in a good way but with a very different voice. A very strong 4 stars (could be a 5 in the future given more time).

Never heard of this. It was great.

I really liked this 4/5

Started off as a banger but kind of trailed off. I do like the vibe though.

Pretty cool.

Une très belle performance de la Kiwanukance qui s'est même permis de faire des intros pour plusieurs chansons alors que rien de l'y obligeait.

Le rappel à l'ordre de Norbert Episode envers la mère de la famille d'accueil de mon camarade d'écoute robtuilière était amplement justifié: cet album était totu bonnement excellent, et ne devait être écouté avant sa génération sous aucun pretexte.

Enjoyed that. An album full of life.

The mix of funk/r&b/ and soul is straight up splendid. Kiwanukas voice is commanding but features all the right pitches from track to track. I’d listen to this one again. A simply excellent piece.

Such a pleasant listen. Not only are Kiwanuka's lyrics poignant, the instrumentation is gorgeous. I am very happy to have come across this new album, and I hope to listen to this album many more times.

I liked it, but i can't say i loved. A lot of the tracks just seem to miss some texture. It sounded good, but at the same time it was nothing spectacular. Some of them where just to mellow and bland, but anytime it picks up the pace a little, they become really good. Like Piano Joint, Hero and Final Days. There is just more going on in these tracks.

good album, not a lot of notes from me, but I enjoyed listening.

Was surprised it’s a 2019 album! Feels like it’s older (but in a good way)

Originally not a fan but the later tracks are so good!!

Achei maneiro, pelo menos no começo. Rolling é show. 8/10, massa

Music awards aren’t all bad. In 2020, Michael Kiwanuka won the coveted Mercury Prize for this great record, “KIWANUKA”, released the previous year. At the time I remember all the buzz and was familiar with the opening track, but I’d never listened to the whole album until now. And what a joy it’s been: “KIWANUKA” amounts to a stellar entry in 2010s music, which would have fit snugly within any other decade but still strikes a firmly contemporary chord. Right out the gate, “You Ain’t the Problem” is a winning fusion of great ideas: an instantly memorable hook, with a good old wordless “La La La” refrain, densely packed instrumentals, and bongos! “Rolling” feels like a great classic rock and soul throwback, with an almost swampy guitar riff propelling it forward. Then we segue seamlessly into “I’ve Been Dazed”, with a stunning, gospel-style call-and-response in its second half. Those first three tracks are as good as the 2010’s get: sensational stuff. Other highlights can be found later in the record: “Final Days” has a blissful chorus, music to float through and on top of. “Hero” delicately alludes to civil rights and racial discrimination, over an urgent rhythm and satisfying, overloaded-with-fuzz guitar solo. The closing track, “Light”, is a gently stirring anthem. The whole package is wrapped in gorgeous warm production from Danger Mouse: lovely analogue stylings, great use of saturation, never overdone. My only initial reservation revolved around the interludes and extended intros to several of the tracks, amounting to eight precious minutes (15% of the album!) While these are pleasant interludes, it took me a while to fully appreciate the space they afforded the tracks and I’m not still not sure all four of them are needed. Still, that’s a nitpick: on the whole, this album helped make 2019 a much brighter place to be.

4.5

Having only listened to his music in bits and pieces, I knew ahead I liked his music. This album is really good

Aldrig hört talas om. Neoretrosoul? Fan vet, men inte illa alls.

Moderne singer/sognwriter, soulet, folk, roligt, rammende på samme tid

Very nice.

what a delightful and fresh album! i can say with confidence i enjoyed every aspect of this album. overall, the choice to use the soul genre made it a calming and pensive listen. kiwanuka did use more than just soul, but gosh i loved how much soul was on here. "living in denial" was pure seventies soul! and the beautiful lyrics, too! they could be so insightful. i'm not sure i've ever heard a song with lyrics like "solid ground". i enjoyed this album a lot, especially since it was absolutely an unknown to me going in.

OMG did I love this album. Amazing. Loved: Piano Joint (this kind of love).

jako kul album, jeben lik 3.5

There is something to Michaels voice that sucks you in. It is a really nice album, nicely composed. Not something for an everyday listen, but definitely a mood listen.

Wow....Haven't been aware of this guy. This is brilliant. Reminds me a bit of Shuggie Otis. Great voice. 60s type production. Tunes. Ace.

4.1 - A soulful and tastefully composed collection that showcases the amazing talents of this singer-songwriter. Reminds me somewhat of Sampha. Kiwanuka has a beautiful voice and an expansive, uplifting worldview. I love the intros and interludes between songs that tie everything together. This is the type of record that complements a quiet evening at home, a relaxing dinner party with friends, or a nightcap with a romantic partner. Standouts: the first three tracks, "Solid Ground."

Wow. Very impressed a couple songs in. This guy seems really good. Yeah, that was very cool. Enjoyed it a lot, comfortable 4/5 I think.

Þessi er helvíti fín. Renndi tvisvar og hafði mikla ánægju af. Set 4 í dag, en hún gæti hækkað ef ég hlustaði meira. Sem ég held ég geri.

2020 Mercury Prize winner! First album that I have got from this century. Bongo drums at start of first track. Instantly engaging with Jake-Bugg-esque vocals on the first track, 'You Ain't the Problem [sic]'. They sound like they have had similar production ('Lightning Bolt' and 'You Ain't the Problem'). End of first track simultaneously reminds me of both Mario video games and Keane. Theme of sadness from first three tracks -- throughout whole album. Stylistic change in second track, 'Rolling'. Orchestral accompaniment in 'I've Been Dazed' (excellent feature). 'reputation'-esque production in fourth track (the 'Intro'). Good lyrics -- socially conscious and interesting. Nice singing! A HARP on 'Another Human Being'(!!!!!!!!!!!). Folk sound. An evident 'Parachutes' influence (the Coldplay album) comes through throughout the album. The interlude and 'Solid Ground' effortlessly blend into one. A good, subtle start to 'Solid Ground'. Good ending with a backing choir. Too much holiness on the third track. I am thinking 4 stars. I understand why it won the Mercury Prize (Kiwanuka had been nominated twice before and both were deserving, so it's only fair. However, Laura Marling was nominated for the fourth time in 2020 and she did not win) but a lot of the songs seem to sound the same to me. They are all excellent songs, but folk is not really to my taste; thus, I don't really remember many of the tracks. FINAL THOUGHTS: 9/10. Therefore, 4/5. (Obviously, 9/2 = 4.5, which rounds to 5, but it does not deserve 5 à mon avis).

Another one that snuck up on me. Soul/Funk with a heaping helping of social justice. Beautiful.

Have not heard of Michael Kiwanuka before but I really like the chill feel to this album. A nice mixture of genres and such a great voice. Feel like it would be perfect while having a drink in a cool winebar or speakeasy. Favourite song is Piano Joint. Enjoyed it and will try some of his other work.

I thought his album was really good. I got a very Marvin Gaye/Bill Withers vibe from it.

Really a good record. A different sound than I was expecting. Well written, and performed. Judicious use of instrumentation and background vocals. I’d listen again for sure. But requires a certain mood, a bit subdued/ melancholy.

Un negrito chill. Me resulta raro como calificarlo, me gusto eh. Le regalo el 4.

Fab - soulful, joyous

Preferred the previous album, but this is great too

4-/5

Never heard this album and it's really good. Hard to pin down the genre, but it's so interesting to hear and I will be revisiting it.

Would be perfect background music with a good soul element to it which just makes it really vibey. I could definitely see myself putting this on when revising and just chilling to it: loving the samples and never thought I would enjoy this album.

I really like the mood this album sets. Nice surprise!

4.5, Michael Kiwanuka makes me feel all sort of warm feelings. It misses just a small bit of something that love & hate has

Great album, extremely soulful!

The album has a wide range of interesting instrumentals that I enjoy very much. But the song themselves aren't really for me. He has a very nice voice too, and most the album songs are easily listened and you quickly realize you've listen to most of the album. I've saved a few songs tho : - Hero - Hard to say goodbye - Final days I'm saving the artist, overall it's a nice find.

Love this album. One of my favorites so far

Every so often the generator throws up an offering that is blindsiding. This is one of those. No previous knowledge of the artist. The output was totally unexpected and magnificently entertaining. Gloriously time shifting, could be a 60's album, then again it might be 70's and then with a swing upliftingly contemporary. A joy!

I always like Danger Mouse's production - even if it has a similar sonic quality regardless of the artist he is working with. It's like a director working with different actors, the films might share visual qualities but the performances are where the talent can craft something unique and interesting. I've never heard Michael Kiwanuka before, but this album is a fantastic introduction. The songwriting is exceptional, and paired with Danger Mouse's signature production the album shines.

This is beautiful, magical soul with an indie slant. I was really enjoying it, but then it just ended at what felt like the halfway point. Unusual to find an album that's too shot here.

Mooie muziek, mooi gezongen, en gewoon leuke nummers om naar te luisteren. Helaas blijft het hele album erg rustig, waardoor het voor mij net de 5e ster mist. ****

It doesn't take any risks or bring anything new to the table, it's just a real good album. Tracks blend really well together. He has such a rich voice, it carried a few songs that may have left a bit to be desired otherwise. Fav Track: Piano Joint (fuck i'm a sucker for a piano ballad)

Danger Mouse seriously makes all music turn to gold. The production was seriously one of the best things about this album.

Very pleasantly surprised by this one, I had seen the cover of it before and thought it looked cool but never gave it a shot. Glad it showed up in the list!

I’ve never heard of this guy before but this was great. The mix of modern and more retro rock sounds reminded me weirdly of gorillaz - and Wikipedia tells me dangermouse produced this and Demon Days album so I must have picked up on something. The opener and hero are the best songs. The second half of the album is weaker with too many slower song for my liking. Still great though!

Upbeat and jammy. Would listen again if I had a ton of chores to do. Pretty Good through and through

Great discovery I never heard of

Some superb production levels here. It's pretty decent all around

Was a very good listen. I wasnt expecting it to be as indie as it was and thats right up my alley 4/5

I wasn't sure what to expect with this album and I am glad. Fantastic is all I can say. I need to explore more of Michael Kiwanuka's music

I liked this. Saved one song. I'm going to look into him further.

Agree, very chill.. good background music. When I saw the cover I kinda freaked out a bit cuz it didn't look like something I was going to enjoy. Would definitely listen to it again. 7/10

This was a pretty enjoyable listen. I've never heard of him before, but I like this style a lot. A little slow at times. Great background music, while also the type of act I'd love to see live. No notable takeaways from the album on the first listen but definitely on my list to try again soon. 7/10

Going with... 4.49 rounded down to 4. Wonderful vibe music, just standout tracks are rare... But that's kinda the appeal too. I really really like it and it's def entering the rotation.

So good. Favorite tracks include Rolling and Hero.

Cracking album, one of the best of 2019. I probably marginally prefer his second album, Love & Hate, but that doesn’t detract from this one in any way, shape or form.

I really liked the Michael Kiwanuka album as well, I'd heard of him for a long time but I don't think I've ever listened to him before. 4/5.

What a delightfully lovely album! I am glad to have listened to this today. 4 / 5 stars.

I like this. I’ve never listened to this guy before, but I might listen again.

This was really cool

Listened to on 3/7/23 4/5 Favorite song: the piano joint This album had a lot of different vibes going on but still felt cohesive and well executed!

Very eclectic. Would listen again. Rounding my 3.5 up to a 4 since the whole album was an experience.

Danger Mouse can trap me in a stereo anytime, buoyed by warm fuzzy strings. Kiwanuka is simply a complete package; It reminds me of Sumney's Aromanticism in that a revisit is absolutely required. The soundscape was just perfect, but there's surely something serious under the glossy packaging. One of those unfairly-ignored-on-release by yours truly albums.

just pressed play and started doing the dishes, “damn! This is funky!” I was enjoying myself and then by the third track I became totally intrigued, “this is so ahead of its time!!” And then I found out it came out 5 years ago lol… an amazing record, so glad I got to catch it, this late inclusion I approve.

Not my kind of music, but I dare say, this is not bad at all! Fresh and original, this one is definitely not a case of “all the tracks sound the same”.

Un mèrit indiscutible ser capaç d'editar tres grans discos de r&b/soul modern sense cap d'ells pugui ser considerada una obra menor. Aquest tercer comença amb una joia com 'You Ain't the Problem' i conté altres cançons amb vocació d'himne com 'Hero' o 'Living in Denial'. No hi ha pràcticament res a esquivar en tot el minutatge

La verdad me sorprendió, no conocía ni al album ni al artista pero escucharía más, me gustó mucho las vibraa de la voz y instrumental juntos, no me molestó para nada la falta de un género definido

This is a great vibe and it’s nice to see an artist making their own work without chasing a trend.

This was really refreshing. Something new and different. First track was my favorite but I loved the whole thing. Soul and folk! What a combo.

Very strong tonally and in terms of mood, and rich and soulful, with dark shadings to add to the intrigue. A winner all the way around – and about right for a Mercury Prize winner. Will be inspired to check out the earlier work.

9th February 2023 Listened in the day while working from home. Bowling at Stroud in the evening. His sound has developed so much since the first album; what a talent. Voice, musicianship, genius.

Really liked the overall feel of this record.

Kende een paar nummers van deze beste man die al best tof waren. Ook deze was eigenlijk gewoon echt goed.

Wat een weergaloos goed album. Diverse sferen en over de gehele linie zeer sterk.

Wat een fijn album zeg!

I'm into this. very 70's sound. Piano Joint is great tune. Hero is another one. An album that is worth a re-listen, as it kind of went just above my head.

Great album! My go to album during lockdown. Final days was my top played song that year. Only reason I'm not giving it 5 is because he has an even better album!

Thoroughly enjoyed

Nice chilled out album. Good for a sunny day and some beers!

magical, mildly epic R&B beats with soulful singing and creative instrumentation

love it! smooth voice & sounds

PRECIOSO YA ERA HORA 8.5/10

🫶🏽

Phenomenal vibes, was a great listen throughout from an artist I’ve never heard of until now surprisingly. Not great enough overall to get a 5/5 from me, but not really any weaknesses I can point to as reason why. Just a great project that’s enjoyable throughout that I feel is lacking something more to make it perfect. Highly recommend

Michael Kiwanuka is a British singer songwriter from London, with Ugandan roots. Some of this, he showcases in his music (notably the inclusion of African drums in the opening song, You Ain't The Problem). This album deals with feelings of inferiority/not fitting in and racism. Right out of the gate there is a stellar song that touches on how he didn't feel like he was "good enough" compared to other bands/artists at music festivals. This album is one that should be listened to cover to cover. Each song blends into the next beautifully, kind of like a compilation record. I don't really know what genre Michael fits into. Often he genre hops between songs. There is some soul/blues/indie rock and folk sensibilities for sure. For having never heard of Michael before, I thoroughly enjoyed this record!! This is what this album generator experience is all about! Discovering someone new who you've never heard of before, and probably never would have listened to on your own. I enjoyed his stuff so much, I explored his back catalog further after finishing this album today! I will definately listen again!! Favourite songs: Hero (Intro & Song), Rolling, Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)(Intro & song), I've Been Dazed Least favourite songs: Another Human Being 4/5

Not as ambitious or memorable as the masterful Love & Hate, but a great record nonetheless

very enjoyable haven't listened to any og his stuf before

This man is smoooooooooooooth. Not a bad song on here. For how well Isaac Hayes is in the soul genre, I wish he sounded like this. Mr. Kiwanuka deserves to be heralded as a soul royalty. Of all the actual soul albums we’ve had, this is the best one.

Vibey, groovy. A pleasant listen. Definitely 2-3 songs I'll add to regular rotation. Overall a good album.

What a groove! Really liked the opener You Ain't The Problem as well as Rolling, the Piano Joint (intro + song), Living in Denial, and Light. But damn, it's all good.

good!

Huh, this wasn't quite what I was expecting, but also exactly fits? If that makes sense. I think this album was pretty in the middle. For the pros: the way each song is connected is phenomenal, it really makes it feel like such a tightly brought together album, despite the slight change in genres every now and then. The instrumentals are also pretty incredible, and I'd almost say this would really work as an instrumental album in it's entirety, but I'm guessing that's not what got this album such a high average score. As for "negatives", while his voice is impressive, I don't find it very notable, and it actually makes a lot of tracks a bit more of a lull. I also seem to be missing what makes this so important? Yeah, it sounds good, but it just sounds like a 2019 rendition of a style many albums throughout the decades have done just as well. I also don't understand how this won "best rock album", it's not really rock whatsoever, but that isn't this list's fault. It's hard to put into words my issues, but I don't see the fantastic album here. It's alright, and I can see why it's on this list, but I don't take much away from this as a whole. More power to those who did get something from this though, it's gotta have that high score for a reason.

Artistic combination of Jazz and Soul brought in to the modern era. Music is very expressive through use of effects and space to envelop the listener in its' journey

Smoother than I'll ever be. Vaguely timeless.

“Rolling” was the immediate standout track. “I’ve Been Dazed,” “Piano Joint (This Kind of Love,” “Final Days,” and “Hero” were also favorites. Would listen to again.

Yeah Piano Joint has absolutely zero business existing like that

Songs hit then I listened to his album Love & Hate which is much better. Still funky fresh and respect the grind. 7/10. Give me a half star goddamnit

Bangers only, solid 4

Listened to it before a handful of times. very Good from what I remember. I'm a big fan of Michael Kiwanuka, so I'm excited to listen closely this time. So good. Awesome. Loved listening to it from top to bottom.

Actually very good, was not expecting this, chilling but interesting, many different genres in it

So old fashioned, but so modern too. Love this.

Мощнейший соул альбом, первая половина которого чуть не заставила меня всплакнуть. Очень впечатлил нетипичный для соула звук, из-за которого каждый трек льётся плавно как вода, не затягивается и постоянно выдаёт что-то новое. Вторая половина, к сожалению, зацепила меня не так сильно, но тем не менее этот альбом строит очень тёплую атмосферу, которая запомнится мне надолго. (8.5)

Great album.

Chill vibes, felt familiar. Great sleepy music

This was a super fun surprise. A lively and upbeat cacophony of different instruments and samples and musical styles. I especially love the opening track but Hero is also top notch. The style is difficult to pin down but I'm reminded of the best parts of later Blur as well as the more obvious 70s references. So good! I will definitely return to this. 4/5

60's soul sounding tunes, in a really good way. Like this a lot

Reminded me of Afro Harping by Dorothy Ashby mixed with Alice Coltrain with dashes of electric guitar and other eccentric musings. The album was a bit long, but it fits a certain mood & vibe. I dug it.

versatile.

This was a really nice listen. The second half of the album fell away a little for me, but it still did just enough for a 4.

When I saw this on the list, I'd never heard of the artist - and seeing it was a recent album I defaulted to my "no good music made since 1990" mode (I'm old). I was wrong. I very much enjoyed this album. I like his voice, the instrumentation. I'll definitely add this to my collection.

슴슴하다가 세 숟갈마다 느껴지는 깊은 맛.

Great, solid album. No complaints.

Pretty chill rock album

Being unexperienced with modern music I was not sure what to expect. This album kept me engaged and left me pondering its significance. Easy to listen to. If this is the modern take on the concept album I am all for it. Though it is a young album, it feels like an album that could remain throughout time and attain the 'classic' moniker. Daring chord changes accompany a beautiful voice that effortlessly weaves its way from song to song. Production is noticeable in its goals but works well with the theme of the album. I think its a pretty damn good album. I have been pleasantly surprised and will likely listen to more albums from Michael Kiwanuka.

Not really neo-soul or retro, Michael Kiwanuka pushes the genre into places that expand and essentially create a new genre. I would call this psychedelic folk soul. While there was some psychedelic soul in the early 70s (Norman Whitfield), this album wears its psychedelic folk influences on its sleeve. While sometimes lacking in originality (owing to those pesky influences), the quality and craftmanship is very high. This made my 2019 20 best of list. I see no reason to revisit its inclusion.

I think if I had more time with this album it would get to a 5. I like his other two albums but had never heard this one until today and must have missed it when it came out. It was fun to hear something so modern but it also had a pretty classic bluesy and soulful sound.

Really liked this. Such a mix of styles that blend together so well. Hearing some Hendrix, Flamming Lip, Zero 7, Khruangbin, BADBADNOTGOOD... I could go on. Hit a lot of right buttons with me - bringing some late summer heat to my chilly autumnal home.

Some great songs that marry Indie and Soul influences nicely. Struggles sometimes from the ‘soft’ influences of Billie Eilish where you just want a bit more bite.

Some lovely arrangements on here, some brilliant songs. Really enjoyed it and will listen again

Superb album, very well produced

The most underwhelming start to what proved to be a fantastic album. From Piano Joint onwards, there's barely a bad moment and lots of brilliant ones. Won't lie, slightly struggling to describe what I enjoyed about it. Of all the albums we've had so far, this one most had me stop what I was doing to listen to what was going on. The second listen was as rewarding as I hoped. A keeper. Prime cuts: Piano Joint x2, Hero x2, Final Days, Light Offcuts: You Ain't The Problem

Fantastic surprise.

Very cool album, like the music a lot!

Super solid album, very listenable. Not necessarily something that jumped out and hooked me but something I could put on and let play in the background easily without ever wanting to skip. 'Hero' and 'You Ain't the Problem' were standout tracks.

This is good. I didn't know what to expect coming into this, I've never heard of this guy. But I liked it.

A timed delay grower - on first couple of listens this record does not stand out - but it starts revealing itself in layers with subsequent plays. It’s soulful, modern eclectic and a fresh take on the R’n’b Genre.

very cool