KIWANUKA by Michael Kiwanuka

KIWANUKA

Michael Kiwanuka

3.74
Rating
22331
Votes
1
2%
2
7%
3
28%
4
40%
5
23%
Distribution

Album Summary

Kiwanuka is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka. It was released on 1 November 2019 through Polydor and Interscope Records. The album won the 2020 Mercury Prize, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards.

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Rating Over Time

3.76 → 3.74

Reviews

Sort by: Top Date
Dec 21 2022 Author
5
Hot dang, this is fantastic! One of the best things this list has introduced me to, for sure. Love the atmosphere - love the journey it takes you on, and the way the tracks follow on from each other. Genre and time period distort and blend. It often seems like I'm being reminded of music I can't quite place. Great stuff. Fave track - "You Ain't the Problem" is a great opener. "Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)" and its intro are awesome. Really, though, this feels like a whole album experience, rather than picking out individual tracks...
Oct 26 2021 Author
4
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.
Nov 26 2021 Author
5
This album was totally out of left field for me, but wow what a good surprise. This is a contender for my favorite album on my list so far. It is an absolute masterpiece
Jan 11 2022 Author
5
A beautifully passionate indie rock album, with gorgeous instrumentation and captivating lyrics. I love the guitar tones, driving basslines, and how Michael Kiwanuka manages to breathe life into topics with like perseverance, love, and social injustice. BEST TRACKS: You Ain't The Problem, Rolling, Hero, Hard To Say Goodbye WORST TRACKS: N/A
Nov 02 2021 Author
4
NEW BLOOD! Let's start here: I truly believe it's a great idea that new albums are added to this list every few years. Hell, I'm up for anything that will remove some of the far-too-many Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen albums that populate the list. My concern is that the additions are only chosen among recent releases. They never go back and reassess some previously released albums that missed the cut originally; albums that have held up or been given a second life in later years. And yes, I'm still beating the drum for getting the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack, and a Bob Seger or Jackson Browne album on this list. The other concern about adding only the recent albums could fall under the "Can't see the forest from the trees" argument. The most glaring example of this is Taylor Swift's "Evermore" being included over "Folklore" with these new additions. It's not a stretch to say that Folklore is widely considered the better of the two Swift albums released in 2020. In fact, Evermore was almost an afterthought. It's a great album, but it almost feels like a bonus album of songs that missed the cut from being included on Folklore. I mean, Folklore won the Album of the Year Grammy for crying out loud, a distinction which along deserves at least consideration on this list. Which brings us to the album in question by Michael Kiwanuka, an artist I hate to admit I knew nothing about until today. And Good Lord is this a great fucking album. It's a well deserved new entry on the list. But I'm already hearing things like, "Yes, it's remarkable, but the album he did before it called 'Love & Hate' is the true masterpiece." And true to form, Spotify played me Kiwanuka's most popular track when this album ended ("Cold Little Heart", which gained notoriety for being the theme song of that HBO series "Big Little Lies" that was only worth watching for Laura Dern embracing her batshit crazy side). I hear a lot of Stevie Wonder here, along with some Bill Withers and Leon Bridges. Unfortunately, there's just a little too much Danger Mouse. Kiwanuka doesn't need that kind of karma. I'll be spending more time in Michael Kiwanuka's world. Not even Danger Mouse can keep me away.
Jul 04 2022 Author
5
I'd never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before and so I had zero expectations or preconceived notions... Wow - this is great. Expansive yet accessible; harkens back to a lot of 70s music with its melodies and chord structure, but all in/with a modern sound. Multi-instruments, great vocals, varied rhythms and tempos - this is a treat. I figured this would take a few listens to fully settle in and I'm 3 times through already (got this on a weekend) - even after one pass I was really intrigued/impressed and will be keeping this in the library...hell, I'm enjoying this so much I can't say anything remotely negative about it - it's not even too long in the age of wayyyy too long albums. I guess I just talked this one into a 5. Love it. 9/10 5 stars.
Dec 02 2021 Author
5
Upbeat, epic, dramatic. Both modern and retro. Is thus the Big Little Lies intro song guy? Each one of these songs seemed well though out and composed, had a beginning middle and end. I’m impressed. Not a bad song, so I guess it’s a 5.
Jan 29 2022 Author
5
Was not expecting this. No idea what I was Expecting but I was expecting it to be a bit shit. This is not shit, this is antishit. He'd do a very good bond theme tune.
Feb 05 2022 Author
5
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. The introspective lyrics give you a lot to think about. The album is lush, at times exotic. It feels very personal. I loved listening to it in solitude - a private escape. I was going to list some of the highlights for me, but this really was an experience that works so well as an album I don’t think I want to call out any specific tracks. What an amazing journey!
Oct 22 2021 Author
4
I thought his was tremendous. A very distinct voice, but stylistically hard to pin down. Soulfully performed and deeply personal, and just very good
Mar 23 2023 Author
5
A big reason of why i decided to start the 1001 journey was the chance to discover something that even as a self proclaimed music aficionado i may have missed. "Hidden gems" if you will. The kind of record that after a single listening session can make me scratch my head and think "how did i not listen to this before?" Well, i'm just glad to have found Kiwanuka now.
Jan 22 2022 Author
5
He is so thoughtful, and continues to get better. Voice smooth as butter. A soft exterior with a razor sharp edge, sucks you in and then hits you with some truth.
Jan 08 2022 Author
5
What a surprising musical journey. Beautiful vocals and grandiose music pieces.
Nov 24 2021 Author
5
68 KIWANUKA -Michael Kiwanuka 14 tracks Wow!Face with open mouth I will excuse his lazyness in album name choice because this is good, VERY good. I will listen to this again, (& again & again), but I will also listen to his other stuff. Amazing voice, strings, variation, proper album Thumbs up 5/5
Nov 09 2021 Author
5
One of my favorite albums of 2020 – Kiwanuka's voice and guitar work are unique but comforting. Modern blues for the soul.
Sep 17 2024 Author
5
Ethereal, gorgeous, heartfelt. The soaring melodies, the swelling background vocalists, these arrangements make me FEEL deeply. The world needs more artists like Michael Kiwanuka. I'm very much looking forward to seeing him perform at the Met in a few days!
Jan 28 2022 Author
5
A terrific album, worthy of winning the Mercury Prize. I really enjoyed the variety of styles represented on the CD.
Nov 20 2021 Author
5
VERY pleasantly surprised by this album, wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this entire album, and have never heard of this artist, nor was it a genre I expected to enjoy this much.
Nov 10 2021 Author
5
Pleased to see this as album number 1, one I've enjoyed a lot but not listened to in ages.
Jul 24 2023 Author
5
This album is what I was looking for from this project. I love this album. I love everything about this album. I had never heard anything from the album, didn't know a thing about the artist, didn't know the genre, didn't know anything, and what a guy was a beautiful pleasant surprise. The vibe is outstanding. I could name any song from the album and point it out as a stand out, but for right now I'll say 'I've been dazed'. At times there was a 60s aesthetic, some beautiful orchestra, amazing vocals and wonderful instrumentation. This is an album I was revisit. It's a solid FIVE.
Oct 24 2022 Author
5
That was glorious. I had never heard of the artist or the album and I’ve listened through it five times already in two days. Clearly I’ve got a Jones for recent Brit soul. More specifically, the pathos evoked from Kiwanuka’s guitar evokes an emo-tinged Hendrix. I loved it.
Sep 14 2022 Author
5
I am here for everything Michael Kiwanuka does. The way he uses percussion to build energy, his haunting voice, it's all gold.
Aug 22 2022 Author
5
When you hear the first minute of the first song you know this is going to be different. The horns and the raucous background chatter & choir – the mix of progressive soul, thoughtful, heartfelt lyrics and a sophisticated modern, yet retro sound. The production & arrangements we owe to Danger Mouse and Inflo, who I notice, this time round, share the song writing credits as well. I like the way that one song mixes into the next, giving the sense that this is an album verse a collection of songs. I’ve liked MK’s earlier material and this LP was missing the obvious hits, but overall, it’s a more solid beginning-to-end effort with a greater variety of sounds and textures. I thank MC for bringing it to my attention back in 2020.
Jul 25 2022 Author
5
I know Michael Kiwanuka as the guy who performs the Big Little Lies theme (my favorite show), so I’m totally psyched to hear this album. The production of this album created such a rich and full sound. There’s a clear mix of influences — gospel, rock, electronic music. Beyond all of these specifics, this is a beautiful album that explores love, violence, intolerance, and other themes becoming increasingly salient in the modern Western world. No two songs sound alike. Kiwanuka’s voice is stunningly mournful, pensive, thoughtful, and strong. The themes of this record could probably be construed as political, but I think that would be a serious reduction of the main messages here. Kiwanuka points to the violent intolerance that goes on today, calling for a love-oriented rearticulating of our social order. Not at all political but simple truths. This album is the sound of the times. I’m glad to have heard it, and I will definitely listen again, recommend to others, and keep up with what Michael Kiwanuka is doing today!
Jul 16 2022 Author
5
Best Song: You Ain't The Problem. Incredible mix of retro-sounding soul and modern mixing elements. Immediately loved it. Close second to "I've Been Dazed". Worst Song: None. Overall: This one really surprised me. I knew nothing about it going it, and it completely blew me away. It was soulful yet modern, with beautiful lead vocals and what feels like a perfect mix built around those vocals. One of my favourite personal discoveries from the list thus far.
Jan 08 2022 Author
5
Veel afwisseling in sfeer tussen de nummers. Kalmerende instrumentale stukjes, mooi gezongen. Heel goed album!
Nov 15 2021 Author
5
never heard of this album glad to have found it. generally chill beats with some drive
Oct 26 2024 Author
4
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
May 14 2024 Author
4
Psychedelic, soulful and complex. Excellent.
May 07 2024 Author
1
A big nothing
Dec 04 2025 Author
5
This is a great album, and glad to see it on the list. I sure do enjoy mind surfing using this as the soundtrack.
Sep 26 2025 Author
5
Amazing album. It’s a fantastic mix of contemporary and classic soul sounds. So glad to have been shown this album
Jul 14 2025 Author
5
What a pleasant surpise this is! Haben never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before I had no idea what to expect. Turns out what was waiting for me is a progressive-soul record with a wide array of influences. All songs very smoothly lead into the next one making the whole album feel like more than its parts. The whole thing takes you on such an enjoyable journey that you don't really feel the time pass. Will absolutely enter my rotation.
Jul 08 2025 Author
5
I've listened to this album a lot today. I thought I liked the odd bit of Michael Kiwanuka and I loved the work he did with SAULT, but I never really got into his music. I think this is partly because there aren't really any obvious stand out tunes that I could stick on a playlist of other music. However, as a whole, this album and Kiwanuka's music in general really grew on me. The more I listened to the whole album, the more I enjoyed it. This is very good indeed.
Sep 10 2024 Author
5
fuck man.
Aug 21 2024 Author
5
10/10
Aug 07 2023 Author
5
This feels so classic and so fresh all at the same time! His voice is so beautiful and warm and the instrumentation is so full. I love seeing stuff on here that is more recent.
Oct 05 2022 Author
5
That was terrific. Thanks to Alex for creating a tool that brings unexpected music to my computer each day!
Oct 04 2022 Author
5
Modern classic. Beautifully written, played, sung, produced and sequenced. Some obvious classic influences - Marvin Gaye and Hendrix - but carried lightly
Sep 28 2022 Author
5
Beautiful jazzy, melodic, heartfelt album; The melodies make you endulge in nostalgic and memorable feelings, jazzy, cinematic, grande You aint the problem, Piano Joint Combo, Hero, Solid Ground
Sep 20 2022 Author
5
First song and I’m already loving this. What a great album! I got Black Pumas vibes and just overall really loved everything that was done here. Surprised he hadn’t come up before in my listening.
Sep 08 2022 Author
5
You Ain't The Problem- 10/10 Rolling- 10/10 I've Been Dazed- 10/10 Piano Joint (Intro)- 8/10 Piano Joint- 9/10 Another Human Being- 8/10 Living In Denial- 9/10 Hero (Intro)- 9/10 Hero- 9/10 Hard To Say Goodbye- 9/10 Final Days- 10/10 Loving The People- 10/10 Solid Ground- 10/10 Light- 9/10 KIWANUKA- 9/10
Sep 07 2022 Author
5
Joyful modern soul with a great voice and a socially meaningful inspiration. Something I would never seek out, but glad it came my way
Aug 26 2022 Author
5
Its incredible and a great example of why I'm doing this, never heard of him and I'm on my second playthrough of this album already easy 5
Jul 24 2022 Author
5
So good, so replayable. New album when? Best track: Hero
May 15 2022 Author
5
Welcome to Black Floyd, the group formed following the dismissal of founding member Syd Barrett, and replaced by Michael Kiwanuka. Oh, and that other guy, David something or other, starts with a G, I think. Everything I love about 60-70s Pink Floyd is offered on 'Kiwanuka': heavily (and I do mean heavily) distorted acid rock guitar riffs (complete with wah wah), jazzy relaxed drums and bass, luscious synth aural baths. Several of the songs also featured some simply inspired orchestral arrangements, even adding a pinch of that same middle eastern string sound the Beatles so often used during the Sgt Peppers and Magical Mystery Tour period. This was an album carefully crafted with the intention of being played in its entirety. Individually, the songs themselves take their time developing, giving the feel of taking a stroll with the band, meandering musically. Indeed, several of these songs could have continued to play on. I was disappointed when they began to fade. And I honestly found myself proclaiming the next song better than the one before it, until arriving at the end and wondering how it could possibly get any better… and then it did. ‘Light’ is just incredible, in every conceivable way. And holding it all together, Michael Kiwanuka’s confident, and natural vocals, never forced, with a splash of African/Jamaican dialect? They ring true and clear, as do the thoughtful lyrics- lots of loneliness and longing, the struggle to retain one’s pride, and yet not asking for pity, only love. ‘Ive Been Dazed’ surprisingly turned into a gospel number, with the Lord saying ‘Time is a healer.’ The same lyric, incidentally, Kiwanuka had already used in the first song, ‘You Ain’t the Problem.’ And that hope seems to elevate the entire sound of the LP. 'Kiwanuka' certainly hovers above the common ground a few feet. I enjoyed 'Kiwanuka' thoroughly, will listen to it again. Released only in 2019, this bodes well for the future of good rock and soul music.
Nov 22 2021 Author
5
Amazing synths and lyrics
Dec 23 2025 Author
4
what a wonderful record. Best contemporary soul record i’ve heard in a bit, no thanks to the psych-rock influence at times. lush textures, heartbreaking lyrics- it’s got it all!!!
Jun 10 2025 Author
4
Could You Stay With Me? Don't Let Me Go 1001 Albums Generator 48 (06/09/2025) I knew this guy's name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place my finger on why. Ah yes, he was the feature on that great Black Thought and Danger Mouse song Aquamarine. Okay, now I'm excited. This is the type of album that I am going through this list for. I never would have listened to Michael Kiwanuka's third studio album, KIWANUKA, without having it assigned to me. And honestly, I am surprised to see it here. Not because it's bad, far from it. I'm just surprised to see such a hip, new album on this list that often seems to be overwhelmed by the authors' biases towards British rock of the 80's and 90's (which don't get me wrong, can be great. There's just too much of it on the list). KIWANUKA is a unique combination of soul, funk, and rock all blended into a psychedelic smoothie, led by British multi-instrumentalist Michael Kiwanuka and produced by the legendary Danger Mouse, along with Inflo, who has worked with artists such as Little Simz and Tyler, The Creator. The opener, You Ain't The Problem, is my favorite song on the whole thing. It is so creative and expertly produced, showcasing the highly compressed production style that defines this album. While remaining soulful, it also features some parts that rock pretty hard, in a way similar to Funkadelic. By contrast, Rolling feels a bit derivative, and I realized that's because its main riff reminds me so much of Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf. After this, we get I've Been Dazed, which has these amazing call-and-response gospel-like vocals. It is very moving. Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) is a beautiful piece, led by Kiwanuka's piano, with some lush orchestration and a soft drum beat filling in the gaps. Hero is another highlight. It almost has a bit of an island vibe with its flanged guitar in both the rhythm and lead parts. Kiwanuka's vocal melodies are on point here and it makes sense that this one was a single. It also has a great noisy guitar solo that melts your face off. I think this song in particular is a great example of a theme throughout this album, where the instrumental parts are not necessarily technically advanced, but they are played with a lot of feeling and they are produced so well. Hard To Say Goodbye is the album's epic, which feels a bit too long, but weaves its multiple parts together really well. Crazy pull, but the guitar riff that comes in around 2:40 reminds me a lot of the main riff in Ronald Snijders' Soweto Friend. I am not a big fan of Solid Ground, which is the penultimate piece on the album and is a very slow song. I think that this late into a long album, it is hard for me to justify having such a slow song. This album also has a lot of interludes, 4 to be exact. From an artistic perspective, I can appreciate that these interludes help theme the album and add some flow between tracks. I believe that the interludes are largely what help the album feel very cinematic. However, they do add almost 10 minutes to an album that is already a bit on the longer side. I know that by modern standards, 51 minutes might as well be an EP, but what can I say, I guess I'm old fashioned like that. Overall, KIWANUKA is certainly a new favorite. I definitely see myself coming back to it and I'm glad that it was included. 4/5. Favs: You Aint The Problem Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love) Hero Least Fav (not including interludes): Solid Ground
Nov 07 2024 Author
4
This album is a lament. We need it.
Jun 14 2023 Author
4
I don't really feel like I had any expectations going into this album, but if I had, this album would have stomped on them! KIWANUKA defies any genre specifics -- it's a little bit folk, a little bit soul, a little bit jazz, a little bit blues, a little bit rock, a little bit pop, a little bit contemporary, and a little bit classic. This is a truly unique addition to the project. Regardless of the genre on any given song, Michael Kiwanuka's vocals are consistently soulful and perfectly gritty throughout, and most of the tracks feel a tad bit ethereal, giving the entire album somewhat of a hypnotic quality. I'm glad for the chance to experience this album! I was captivated by this unique addition throughout the entire playthrough!
Jan 29 2022 Author
4
"KIWANUKA" said the snake as it slithered down the slide. "KIWANUKA" read the speaker as she looked away and sighed. "KIWANUKA" screamed the boys as they marched along with pride. "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA" "KIWANUKA" caught the eye of the runaway bride. "KIWANUKA" in the mind of the tragic suicide. "KIWANUKA" grips the jury as the witness spills their lies. "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA,KIWANUKA" "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA " "KIWANUKA" says the congregation listening to the Pope. "KIWANUKA" fills the priest as he unbuttons his robe. "KIWANUKA" fears the choir boy ready for his probe. "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA " (Whispering) "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA" "KIWANUKA" cries the girl as she buckles to her knees. "KIWANUKA" from the rapist as he calls her a tease. "KIWANUKA" oh the horror, as he watches her bleed. "KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA, KIWANUKA "
Nov 10 2021 Author
4
A very pleasant surprise. Funky, soulful, and Radiohead-esque.
Nov 16 2025 Author
3
"Darling, were the crayfish starters delivered in time for for tonight's dinner party?" "Yes they were. I do hope that Benedict and Sophie will enjoy the meal, I've also had a case delivered of that wonderful expensive Bordeaux from Waitrose that they like" "Oh this is going to be such fun, we should play the Kiwanuka album for background" Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ Dinner party tunes ★★★☆☆ (5/10)
Feb 03 2025 Author
3
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?
Oct 10 2023 Author
3
Great opening track. Love the obvious nod to his culture and heritage. Soulful and soaring. Hero is my favourite track. The interludes are usually a gimic I dislike but are used well here.
Nov 20 2025 Author
2
"Ooh, we really need some recent releases on the must hear list. This one is recent and won an award! Better stick it on the list." I don't think many people will remember this record in 10 years time. It's ok, but is it a must listen? I mean, he's got a great voice, and can write a song, and play guitar well enough. The Danger Mouse production leaves me a little non-plussed. It just sounds like... a Danger Mouse production. This is an OK album that provides yet another data point to support my hypothesis that Mercury Prize winners are over-rated with little cultural staying power.
Jul 28 2025 Author
2
Started off strong but then got a little too slow and boring for my taste.
May 14 2023 Author
2
Not a bad album by any means, just not my thing. Liked a couple of tracks, but some felt boring. I can see how it garnered critical acclaim.
Nov 01 2021 Author
2
Has all the Inflo hallmarks except the one where even the peaks have been smoothed out. I noticed few specifics but enough generalities to know a) it's not a hook-fest even though it's plenty varied, and b) it's not wallpaper music even though it's plenty soothing. That's interesting enough for me to hedge a 2.
Dec 30 2025 Author
5
Ещё один фаворит для меня.
Dec 29 2025 Author
5
Love this artist and album. Have seen him twice live as well. Highlights are Hero, Rolling and Piano Joint. Solid 5 for me.
Dec 28 2025 Author
5
Great vibe 👍 such a great vibe I didn't even realize the album ended
Dec 27 2025 Author
5
12 albums in and finally a 5*
Dec 26 2025 Author
5
I love this retro style in modern times, because it just has such a great vibe overall! I never heard of Michael Kiwanuka, but this record was amazing. I am a huge fan of Black Pumas (I really think their debut album should be included on this list), and this one is very reminiscent of that, but it's its own thing as well. I loved it really, it was a beautiful experience. Smooth vocals, great instrumentation and compositions, just so good overall.
Dec 25 2025 Author
5
final days was what brought this from a 4 to a 5
Dec 25 2025 Author
5
Only two songs in and I’m already obsessed, such a great new discovery for my music library! ETA post listening to the whole thing: LOVE. 5/5
Dec 24 2025 Author
5
Had never heard of this artist before and was a bit worried about wading through such a long album. This is great though. Such good songs, vocals and instrumentation. I can see why it won the Mercury Prize. Will go back to this album and artist.
Dec 23 2025 Author
5
I really like the album
Dec 22 2025 Author
5
That voice.
Dec 22 2025 Author
5
Soulful, whimsical (at times) and life affirming throughout. There is an inherent musicality in his work.
Dec 19 2025 Author
5
Stunning space, the spot-on timing for a relaxed, meaningful vibe, great musicianship. Wow, what a beautiful, interesting album.
Dec 19 2025 Author
5
I had no idea what to expect going into listening but I'm very positively surprised! This was a great album. I absolutely loved the instrumentals, his voice is very soothing aswell.
Dec 18 2025 Author
5
easy five. saw the genre was "psychedelic soul" and had the instant "oh hell yeah" reaction because this was fantastic start to finish. the hendrix-inspired stratocaster sound here is sublime. there's such an emotive body to it that gives a really strong base for kiwanuka's complimentary vocals. the string arrangements across this whole album are fantastic. like, listening to the violins take the front in "light" while kiwanuka's guitar slowly reverbs across in tandem with the background vocalists? that's what i'm talking about right there. genuinely pretty surprising that this album didn't blow up more. great stuff.
Dec 18 2025 Author
5
Wow I should have heard this album before now! This is genuinely the first album listening experience from the list so far where I've not just enjoyed it, not just found it great, but immediately known I will be listening to this over and over in future. The guitar, the SOUND of this album is so good. It feels like a splash of cold water after having sat through a year in music that I have found to be pretty stale. The album listening experience here is sublime in my opinion, the way it moves between tortured, deeply soulful to Lush and retro-infused sounds. Damn! If you haven't, listen to this album.
Dec 17 2025 Author
5
Album saved to library Very funky, moody, bouncy Would listen to in all seasons Very wicked instrumentation Easily already in my music taste
Dec 17 2025 Author
5
Świetny album, mój styl, spokojny, mega mi się podoba💗
Dec 16 2025 Author
5
No. 47 What a surprising musical journey. Beautiful vocals and grandiose music pieces.
Dec 16 2025 Author
5
Så dygtig musiker wow
Dec 16 2025 Author
5
Så god!! Rar stemme og en god fakkelbærer til næste generation af soul sangere 🌟🌟
Dec 15 2025 Author
5
tellement serein, apaisant
Dec 13 2025 Author
5
Album No. 0091 on my list. I’ve Never heard of Michael Kiwanuka or the album before and it caught me completely off guard how good this album is. It’s really, really good! I love the albums chill, soul-y groove, I love Kiwanuka’s singing, I love how well this thing is engineered and how great it sounds. Really cool stuff! It starts of very well, “You Ain’t The Problem” was an instant favorite and I’ve added the track to my playlist. And the album ends very well, too - both “Solid Ground”, and “Light” ended up on my playlist as well. There joined there by three additional songs: “Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love)”, “Hero”, and “Final Days”, but to be honest, I just wanted to overcrowd my already long playlist and just had to select a subset. But in the end, pretty much all songs could have ended on my list. Great album, highly recommend it! 5/5 stars!
Dec 12 2025 Author
5
OMG This was so great, s
Dec 12 2025 Author
5
Not what I expected, never judge an album by it's cover 🤣
Dec 10 2025 Author
5
This is one of those albums that I've seen a million times but have never actually listened to. I've heard nothing but positive things about it so I'm really excited to listen today. This album is so diverse and surprising. It has so many different styles but it all flows together really well. The music is great (though maybe a tad simplistic at times), the lyrics are poignant, it is performed and sung impeccably well. What else can you ask for? I'll probably listen to this album a few times today and can imagine that I'll stick it in regular rotation. One that I slept on for far too long and is a brilliant piece of work. 5/5
Dec 10 2025 Author
5
Really surprising, really good
Dec 10 2025 Author
5
I like the sound of this album a lot. First song is really good and so is Living in Denial and Solid Ground. Kinda a banger of an album. I definitely will listen again in the future, I really liked it. I agree, not sure what genre this even is but it is really fun to listen to with heaps of variety and all the songs flow into each other really nicely. My top album so far. Only song I have heard before is hero, but my favourite was Living in Denial with Lights a close second. Hard to choose they are all really good, especially together as an album. Definitely checking out his other stuff after this. - surely 5 stars?
Dec 10 2025 Author
5
Incredible vibes from start to finish.
Dec 09 2025 Author
5
I’m a bit of a sucker for a retro soul vibe, but I love that this then puts an interesting, contemporary spin on it.
Dec 06 2025 Author
5
What a great discovery! During the first few songs, I couldn't tell what decade I was listening to. He incorporates great sounds and techniques from multiple eras and creates a timeless album. Funk, jazz and gospel inspired, with beautiful vocals and dreamy soundscapes.
Dec 06 2025 Author
5
This is an amazing album. I had never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before this and now I'm glad that I have. When I first saw the cover I was like "Awesome I Am Going To Get Some AfroBeat", now I'm like "Awesome, I Got Some Great New Soul". Amazing start to finish.
Dec 04 2025 Author
5
Wow, this is exactly why I use 1001albums! Glad to have discovered this.
Dec 02 2025 Author
5
This is pretty unique and cool. Mesmorising in places
Dec 01 2025 Author
5
9/10 album. Great listen all throughout
Dec 01 2025 Author
5
Great album. Reminds me of puzzle solving at home, listening to these amazing songs. M.K. has an amazing voice, and the music comes from different genres, beautifully produced. Straight 5.
Nov 29 2025 Author
5
Absolutely beautiful music with rich instrumentation. What a joy to listen to.
Nov 26 2025 Author
5
Pretty big fan! Added to my library. Listened several times.
Nov 25 2025 Author
5
Loved it!
Nov 25 2025 Author
5
When I first saw the name and the cover it was familiar but could not recall any music from this album. Once I got two songs in I was hooked and toward the end I remembered the song Hero. Honestly did not want the album to end.
Nov 24 2025 Author
5
Would probably give a 4.5