Reviews (page 2 of 9)
"Hell is round the corner where I shelter / Isms and schisms we're living helter-skelter" I was hoping for a bit more substance from this album. Although the songs were non-offensive, I wasn't captivated by any singular song on the track. Although I enjoy both electronic music and reggae music, it was a bit jarring to hear that transition in the album. I wouldn't choose to listen to this album again, nor would I choose any individual track to listen to. Although non-offensive albums might deserve a 3-star rating, for its pure lack of anything substantial, it recieves 2/5
t'was aaight
This was alright. The original songs were groovy and had a good bassline and hummable melodies. The Doors cover at the end was atrocious and I hated it. Three stars.
583/1089 - Nice! The best Trip Hop band. Great piano playing on Weather Storm. A bit more adventurous than Blue Lines in terms of samples. Mezzanine is the best out of the initial trilogy imo.
The best of a bad lot. 2 stars
Karmacoma was the first track I heard, I think this time an Uncut cd, and it blew me away. Sly is brilliant, as i Weather Storm and Spying glass. So highly recommend this record to all and sundry. Oh I almost forgot...the title track...I mean I don't know what to say about it. Tracy Thorn, one of THE voice of the 20th century, she can sing me to sleep, calm me in my darkest moods. to join that voice, that performance to that track is magical, mesmerizing. One of the greatest songs of the 20th century. I stand in front of you..
The first three Massive Attach albums are all brilliant. They were all albums that immediately grabbed me and I bought on release. This middle album of the triptych continues the trend of increasingly dark, claustrophobic, paranoid and haunting sounds. The album is a half-whispered in a late-night smokey haze, cut together from a collage of disparate sources. The expected hip hop, soul and jazz influences that we saw on Blue Lines are supplemented with more noise, rock and post-punk snippets, hinting at the monumental Mezzanine, yet to come. (Note: I can't believe that Mezzanine isn't on this list. It is Massive Attack's masterpiece, in my opinion, and the culmination of their artistic growth. The first time I heard it I was completely floored with the power of that record. It also has 'Teardrop', which is arguably their best and certainly most well-known song. If Mezzanine was on this list, it would be a guaranteed five stars.) Tracey Thorne's vocal appearances are absolute standouts, which is saying a lot given the quality of guest vocalists on this record. Her singing is delicate and vulnerable, beautifully precise, with a strength that peeks out from behind the hurt when required; the moment in 'Better Things' where she calls out a lying ex with "Oh, that's bullshit baby, you just want rid of me" is absolutely devastating. This record blows me away. Of the three albums, it is not quite as strong as Blue Lines or especially Mezzanine, so I am giving 4.5 stars, rounding up. I also bought (and played) 'No Protection', the Mad Professor dub mix of this album, which takes the record to an even further sonic extreme. I am a fan of dub, and I really liked applying that approach to the material.
Good likes it better than other massive attack album
I actually quite like Massive Attack normally, this one is definitely not one of their better efforts and I'm surprised it's on the list
Rarely disappointed by Massive Attack. Diverse sound, enjoyable stuff.
Einkaufszentrumhintergrundberieslung. Einfach nur öde!
Loved some songs others were a bit off.
I love the song Protection. Great tune. The rest? Meh. Decent background music.
This was a humble surprise, this is in no way as good as Mezzanine however there are great peaks within this album
Yeah I don’t get it :/
Meh
Really boring
I was BEGGING for this to end. There are interesting things...SOMETIMES. But God this wasn't good. Everything went on for forever and I was begging for it to end. Liked Songs (I guess): "Karmacoma" , "Three" , "Euro Child" , "Heat Miser"
First inkling I had of Massive Attack was when they released Mezzanine which was after this particular album. Really liked Mezzanine but on admittedly limited listening never really got into any of their other albums. So listened to this one from scratch and was pleasantly surprised. Not as good as Mezzanine but not far off. Nice ambience and one for a Sunday night with lights off and glass of red wine. 3/5 16/8/26
perdon a mi queridisima liz fraser pero no me gusta absolutamente nada massive attack, ya intenté que me gusten como doscientas veces y mi cuerpo lo RECHAZA 4/10
It’s a fine album, but trip hop isn’t really my thing. It still astounds me that Blue Lines and this one are on the list, but Mezzanine isn’t.
lekkere muziek tijdens het bakken
4/5
This feels like a cryptocurrency company’s hold music
This album was rather boring, and a big step down from "Blue Lines".
It is fun to go totally blind into an album because just based on name alone this was not the sound I expected.
really cool mostly instrumental, amazing sounds really enjoyed this one prior listening to 69 love songs.
The first half of this is rather bright and airy, downtempo type stuff. A pretty far cry from the trip hop sound I’m familiar with from Mezzanine. The second half of the album is a lot darker and more moody in both the beats and sound, which I enjoyed a lot more. Not really sure why this is the album that was included over Mezzanine, but I enjoyed it once it got rolling. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
What an amazing sound. Peaceful, viby, and interesting. While it isn't my type of music, this album really flowed fantastic track to track. Only favorite track was Euro Child but it might be because of Tricky.
Not what I was expecting but a cool vibe
Liked this more than I thought I would. The Tracey Thorn vocals are great. Since this list skews so British, I'd expect an Everything But the Girl record at some point and am looking forward to it.
Bunch of Variety and at times it felt and sounded a bit of what turned out to be some of the gorillaz sound to me. Had fun but few songs felt a bit dragging to the end. Overall cool album! (4.0/5.0)
Didn’t do much for me. Some nice atmospheric trip hop but also some dull instrumentals or songs that go nowhere slowly.
Die Platte ist per se ziemlich gut, bietet eine schöne Abwechslung zwischen R&B-, Hip-Hop- und rein instrumental-elektronischen Tracks, aber schafft es (abgesehen vom großartigen Titeltrack) nie so ganz, die Genialität des Vorgängers ("Blue Lines") und Nachfolgers ("Mezzanine") zu erreichen. Dass "Mezzanine" in der Liste hier komplett fehlt, dürfte auch einer der fettesten Misses sein, die man sich vorstellen kann. Bis auf das ziemlich langweilige "Weather Storm" und das lackluster "Light My Fire"-Cover, bei dem ich die ganze Zeit gehofft hatte, es wäre nur ein Bonus-Track, läuft hier natürlich trotzdem alles sehr gut rein und versprüht diese einzigartige Trip-Hop-Atmosphäre, die kaum jemand so gut hinbekommt wie MA. Daher starke 4 Sterne.
Ziemlich chillig.
Ich habs jetzt 3x gehört, aber irgendwie - keine Ahnung - ist das nichts und nichts blieb hängen.
Auch hier habe ich mir mehr erwartet, aber es ist einfach nicht mein Genre an Elektronischer Musik. Lief aber schön nebenher
Protection: as soon as this started I heard the vocals from Everything But the Girl and everything was right. Karmacoma was a bop! I really liked how it was a different vibe compared to the first track. Three was musically very interesting and the vibes of Weather Storm were unmatched. I didn’t really like Spring Glass. It was just slightly too juttery for me if that makes sense. Better things was great too. I love her voice. Euro child was pretty good as well. Sly was pretty cool. Heat miser, as a closer sounds like the Halloween theme. I really enjoyed it all! 4/5 ⭐️ 222/1089
Simply essential. Massive Attack remain relevant, aware, and active, and impossible not to love.
Not a big fan of this one.
Didn't like Blue Lines and, unsurprisingly, I didn't like this either. In fact, I kind of hated it. Extremely dull and boring, and Tracey Thorn is a comedown from Shara Nelson, who was the only good thing about the first album. At least the boys confined their weak raps to a couple of tracks. And don't get me started on the shit cover of "Light My Fire," like *that* was the live song you felt you needed to include here.
I love Massive Attack, but this one has always had a bit of a 'difficult second album' thing going on. Somehow it just doesn't quite come together. Maybe its the re-used Tricky lyrics that invite comparison to his rather more daring release around the same time. Maybe its the slightly boring instrumentals. Certainly that misjudged cover version at the end doesn't help. A good album, but not quite the classic that they are capable of.
Very sexy music for very unsexy times, maybe I'll appreciate it more in the future.
aaaahhhh <3
Late night tales. Lovely
not for me
Not my favorite Massive Attack album by any means, but it's still solid enough for what it is. I didn't love it, but I did have a fun time with it, and the title track is among their best. Pretty good, but I don't think I'll return to it much.
Trip hop Is not in the dictionary if it where the definition would just be Massive attack’s Discography Bit repetitive, almost dreary in places. But so where the 90s Almost all songs out stayed thier welcome and average 5 mins where 3-4 would be better.
Malo
I like this. Massive Attack are little more than a name I'd heard, but listening to these tracks, I recognise a number of them. Very cool.
not a fan of massive attack
Pleasant enough. Bit zzzz.
I very much do not want to listen to their other albums.
Not such an abusive beating as one might expect. Smooth sounds and soft vocals are rather easy on the ears
Uma mistura de estilos até que interessante.
Yay!!! :)
Chill. I like the songs with low, almost whispered vocal performance. Heat Miser fucking slaps and is a complete stand-out song from the rest of the album. The rest I found pretty meh.
So much of this music reminds me of watching Cinemax late at night when my parents weren’t at home. Granted, someone needs to make music for softcore pornography, but I never imagined I’d listen to an entire album of it. I was not a fan. Too ethereal and somewhat one dimensional with uninspired lyrics and boring mixing. It’s not bad, per sé. Just not my thing.
Interesting flow, a bit downbeat at times, overall interesting album. last song feels really out of place.
This was ass
I expected a heavy metal album and was surprised. Decent electronic. A little dark and boring at times, but not bad at all.
Not my thing at all
It's Interactive Buddy! I was never an Interactive Buddy-er, truth be told. I always felt bad for the poor guy. Okay, maybe I lit him on fire once or twice, but I tickled him way more than I hurt him. That should be enough to prevent him from punishing me beyond the grave, right? Anyways, I know Massive Attack are a trip hop act because I confused them with Primal Scream in my pre-written review of Screamadelica, so I don't need to deliberate too hard over what the genre of this album could be. Hopefully it's good. Yeah... Yeah. That's about it, really. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Trip hop is the musical equivalent of popcorn. It's filling in the moment and is difficult to get wrong, though it's also exceedingly difficult to get right. Fortunately, this album sates my appetite, so no complaints from me. I favour the deliberate, measured compositions of this album as well as the unique sound palette. The songs are very techno-sounding, but with a fuzzy, murky mastering which makes the music distinctive, fresh and surprisingly clear. The bass is lathered on these songs in a satisfying, cohesive manner, completing the sound of these songs. The vocalists aren't anything to write home about and the hip-hop slant to their performances pushes me away a little, though they generally get the job done. All in all, this was a good time and an album I might just put on whenever I want to relax. Book time. The album had a troubled production cycle. A founding member and vocalist of the band departed after their previous release, Massive Attack briefly changed their name to "Massive" in order to distance themselves from the Gulf War and they had a disappointing tour in the US. That middle point is amusing because of how hilariously performative it is. Critics were alienated at the time of release, citing the pivot in style as a main complaint. "Protection helped cement Massive Attack's status as figureheads of Britain's emerging Bristol sound; paving the way for acts like Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, and Beth Orton." The entry closes out by saying that "Massive Attack's sophomore effort's influence can be heard worldwide wherever good blunted beats are sold." Wikipedia says that there's a dub remix album of Protection similar to that of Gorillaz' debut album. Weird that the Brits chose to do that twice. The critic reviews have been favourable and it had a solid chart performance. It usually peaked at around No. ~25 in the 13 countries where it charted, notably peaking at No. 4 in the UK, No. 9 in New Zealand and No. 15 in Australia. Hmmm. I think the book is vastly overestimating the creative influence of this album, though it was competent and I don't think the trip-hop albums have overstayed their welcome just yet. I'm content to let this one through. I cosign this inclusion.
Pretty good.
not my style at all. dislike
Club soul 1991 Protection Karmacoma
Een 3.5 die uitslaat naar een 4, jammer van die Light My Fire cover hahaha, maar die vergeten we voor het gemak
De definitie van sophomore slump. Protection verbleekt in vergelijking met Blue Lines en vooral in vergelijking met het latere Mezzanine. Gelukkig heeft deze plaat wel alles wat Massive Attack bijzonder maakt: die kruipende, geniepige atmosfeer, alsof je in een dystopische noir bent beland. De nieuwe editie geeft te kans om dit foutje op te poetsen: deze eruit, Mezzanine erin aub.
Repulsive content
Good stuff.
Really disappointed here. This was so boring compared to Blue Lines I almost fell asleep numerous times. No way I’m listening to this over Mezzanine or Blue Lines
A nice chill listen this morning when I woke up too early on my day off.
boring
Gear: Focalman Cleardara Artwork: 📛🍴🕳️ Production: 😌👂🧈 Music: 🌀🧠🔍 Rating: 🛡️🛡️🛡️(🛡️)/5
I was not sure I would like this. After the initial song or two I was still not sure, but I ended up liking it fairly well.
No para mí
I liked the blend of synthetic and natural instrumentation. Was nice to listen to while relaxing.
Goeie achtergrond / wachtmuziek
Fine listen but nothing for me to go back to
Standouts Protection
Second album proposé après 'Blue Lines' que j'avais détesté (noté 1/5 - je ne suis pas allé au bout et .. je ne me rappelle plus pourquoi). Le premier morceau est trop long, il manque de variations pour maintenir l’intérêt. Le second est très répétitif. La plupart des autres morceaux sont aussi assez répétitifs, mais quelques un sont plus intéressants : le piano dans 'Weather Storm' vaut l'écoute, et évite à l'album la note minimale. Mais ce n'est pas suffisant pour me donner envie de l'écouter une seconde fois. =>2/5
The title track is way too long and I didn't really love Karmacoma. The rest of the album is pretty good, but I'd take Blue Lines any day. Damn, Weather Storm is groovy as hell. Sly is atmospheric and beautiful. The Light My Fire cover is a fun way to end it, if a bit out of place.
Less soulful than Blue Lines which for me is a good thing! Lots of Tricky which is a great thing! This and mezzanine are my MA sweet spot.
361/1089 title track was a good, atmospheric start i really like Karmacoma, it’s like a more chill reggae gorillaz in a way? quite liked this one, my opinion could def grow more with more listens and i liked the instrumental tracks being woven in faves: Karmacoma, Three, Eurochild, Heat Miser 76/100
Massive Attack's second album, *Protection* (1994), often sits in the shadow of its groundbreaking predecessor *Blue Lines* and its darker, more commercially successful follow-up *Mezzanine*. However, to view it merely as a transitional album is to miss its unique character. It's a record of stunning beauty and quiet defiance, a "sweet" and deeply human pivot that solidified the Bristol sound on its own terms . ### 🎶 An In-Depth Review **Lyrics and Themes: A Vulnerable Strength** The lyrical heart of *Protection* lies in its vulnerability and emotional shelter. The title track, featuring Tracey Thorn, is a masterclass in this theme. Written by Thorn in a moment of inspiration after hearing the sparse backing track, it's a direct and powerful pledge of support that challenges traditional gender roles: "You're a boy and I'm a girl / But you know you can lean on me" . It speaks to a universal desire to protect those we love, a sentiment echoed throughout the album . In contrast, the tracks featuring Tricky, such as "Karmacoma" and "Eurochild," introduce a more paranoid and claustrophobic urban atmosphere. The lyrics, delivered with a newfound confidence by Tricky and 3D, paint pictures of a gritty, menacing city, adding a crucial layer of darkness to the album's overall mood . This push and pull between tenderness and tension defines the album's narrative. **Music, Production, and the Bristol Sound** Musically, *Protection* is where the group truly refined their signature sound. Produced with Nellee Hooper, the album moves away from the more overt hip-hop of *Blue Lines* toward a more atmospheric, cohesive, and "cinematic fusion of hip-hop rhythms, soulful melodies, dub grooves, and choice samples" . The production is dense and textured, creating a "hazy summer evening kind of mood" that is both enveloping and melancholic . The track "Protection" exemplifies this, built on a fragmented guitar sample from James Brown's "The Payback," with melancholy keyboards and a throbbing bassline that perfectly complement Thorn's ethereal vocals . Craig Armstrong's contributions on piano and strings add a layer of classical sophistication to tracks like "Weather Storm," though some critics argue this occasionally veers too close to "Muzak" . ### ⚖️ Pros and Cons **Pros** * **The Title Track:** The song "Protection" is a standout masterpiece. Its simple yet profound lyrics, Thorn's transcendent vocal performance, and the hypnotic, groove-laden production make it one of the group's best and most unique songs . * **Cohesive Atmosphere:** The album is remarkably consistent. It creates a distinct, immersive mood that feels like a unified artistic statement, successfully blending its varied influences into a coherent whole . * **Vocal Diversity:** The use of different vocalists—Tracey Thorn, Tricky, Nicolette, Horace Andy—is a strength, with each artist bringing a distinct color to the album's palette. It feels less like a compilation and more like a curated showcase of complementary talents . **Cons** * **The "Middle Child" Complex:** *Protection* is often unfairly compared to the monumental albums that bookend it. It lacks the raw, revolutionary impact of *Blue Lines* and the dark, visceral intensity of *Mezzanine*, leading to it being labeled a "disappointment" by some . * **Inconsistent Second Half:** While the first half of the album is universally praised, the latter tracks can feel less focused. Some tracks are described as "aimless" or "meandering," failing to maintain the same gripping quality . * **Polarizing Cover:** The live cover of The Doors' "Light My Fire" is a divisive and baffling closing track for many. It feels jarringly out of place compared to the rest of the album's carefully crafted studio sound . ### 💎 A Legacy of Sweetness Ultimately, *Protection* is a vital piece of the trip-hop puzzle. While the band and many artists in the scene disliked the term "trip-hop," it was albums like this that gave the genre its identity . It showcased the "English upbringing with a Caribbean background" and the multicultural roots of the Bristol sound, creating music that spoke to a global audience . Its influence can be heard in countless artists who followed, and its legacy is that of a beautifully melancholic, genre-defining work that stands tall on its own merits .
I knew Blue Lines already, but Protection turned out to be a far more intriguing record than I’d expected. It doesn’t announce itself. It quietly changes the way you listen. One thing that struck me almost immediately is how coherent the album is. Not because the songs resemble one another, but because they all inhabit the same psychological landscape. They feel like different states of consciousness after dark. “Protection” is about mutual care rather than heroic protection. “Karmacoma” becomes a fragmented dub hallucination. “Three” has the propulsion of a night train, Nicolette sounding like someone watching the landscape drift past through a rain-streaked window. “Spying Glass” is dub unease, with Horace Andy embodying the original sense of being woke: alert, vigilant, aware that some people don’t have the luxury of relaxing. By the time “Heat Miser” arrives, the album has become a portrait of resentful wakefulness, the famous snore no longer an eccentric production touch but the infuriating sound of someone else’s effortless sleep. I found myself listening less to the songs than to the arrangements. Craig Armstrong’s piano on “Weather Storm” doesn’t simply play; it blooms. The clipped guitar samples scattered across “Eurochild” somehow both decorate and nag. The string pad underneath that groove gives it a nocturnal undertow of bad decisions. Throughout the album, Massive Attack place tiny elements inside otherwise sumptuous arrangements that quietly stop them becoming complacent. Beauty is never allowed to exist unchallenged. One phrase kept recurring in my notes: economy of expression. It suits this album perfectly. Nothing grandstands. The bass never tries to impress. The strings never become sentimental. Even Tracey Thorn, when she’s finally allowed to soar on “Better Things”, refuses to mistake emotional release for vocal display. That’s one of the reasons the guest appearances work so well. Tracey Thorn, Nicolette, Horace Andy and Tricky all remain completely themselves, yet the album is unmistakably Massive Attack. The project is simply large enough to absorb these very different personalities without losing its own identity. Perhaps my favourite discovery was “Weather Storm”. I described it in my notes as “trip-hop Debussy”. It meanders over a groove rather than developing conventionally, and somehow that works because the composition isn’t just in the notes. It’s composed as much at the mixing desk. The production isn’t documenting performances; it is the performance. Listening to Protection also made me realise how inadequate “trip hop” can be as a label. It tells you where the beats came from, but almost nothing about the experience of hearing the record. This felt less like a genre exercise than a nocturne: a sequence of songs concerned with how consciousness changes after dark. By the end I wasn’t thinking about Bristol, or trip hop, or even the guest vocalists. I was thinking about space. About how stereo width can become emotional width. About how a clipped guitar sample can alter the meaning of an entire arrangement. About how an album can trust silence, restraint and implication more than obvious hooks. Some records ask to be played loudly. Protection asks to be listened to carefully.
Elektronisch album uit 1994. Het zegt mij verder niets. Weet dat ik de gabber style uit die tijd wel kon waarderen, maar dat zal dit niet zijn. Eerste nummer is iig wel relaxed, beetje lounge achtig met een zwoele zang erdoorheen. Nou ja mwah.. Ik heb mij niet ge ergerd... Maar daar is het ook wel mee gezegd. Hele erge lounge vibe en vind er eigenlijk niet veel aan. Beetje saai zelfs wel. 2 reten.
No
Nothing “must hear” in this album. I find no reason why this album would make the list. 1/5
Well I was going to reference the Album That Must Not Be Uttered Here, but right now this is my favourite Massive Attack album. Final three tracks (ignoring the live cover) are brilliant, especially Sly which is basically their Bond theme.
Cool, but not as satisfying as some of their other work.
2/10 I did not enjoy this that much
Massive Attack are legends.
Man this was weird. It's like Sarah Mclachlan meets Theivery Corporation meets coffee house meets lofi. Massive Attack... more like Chill Attack. 3.97
I definitely should have been high for this one.
Massive wet fart… for some reason I thought I liked this group, but this album didn’t do anything for me. 1.8
Somehow I ended up on an album filled with remixes of Protection (the song). Once I fixed that, this was more enjoyable. It dragged in places and didn’t stick with me, but was enjoyable enough. 6/10 Pretty Good
Taas kerran biittejä, mutta jostain syystä tykkään siitä. Sopii hyvin jonkun tekemisen taustalle.
Hey, I've never listened to Massive Attack before, what album should I start with? Everyone : Mezzanine. 1001 Albums : Protection. Everyone : Huh? That being said, it's still good. But not Mezzanine or Blue Lines good.
Trip hop kan noget. Det meste her var rigtig fedt.
Det var sgu nice. Kan godt tåle at blive undersøgt lidt nærmere
*74 En lille 4’er.
Har aldrig dyrket Massive Attack, men det er helt sikkert noget jeg vil gå mere på opdagelse i. Jeg synes det er lækkert over hele linjen, uden at der er noget der blæser mig helt bagover. Den ligger i den lave ende af 4.
Slet ikke Massive Attacks bedste, men Massive Attacks værste er stadig ret god 4.4
Havde helt glemt det her album. Super lækkert og holder bestemt stadig. Men selvom der ikke er et eneste svagt nummer for mig på pladen, så er det også lige før det bliver lidt for pænt og lækkert, og jeg kommer til at mangle lidt mere kant i stil med Karmacoma. I sidste ende mangler der i hvert fald lidt til få mig op på de 5 stjerner. I øvrigt meget sjovt hvor mange der klagede over Harrisons instrumental numre, men ingen der siger noget når det er Massive Attack der gør det :)
I like the slower beats and the chill vibe, but it didn’t stand out to me.
It sounded similar to Portishead and Everything but the girl which I discovered here and began to love on this site, but mostly the ones with Tracey Thorn (Protection and Better Things which were my favourites and go to the playlsit). But even the rest was fine, and the weirdest one I liked is Spying Glass, and even instrumental ones like Weather Strorm and Heat Miser were chill as ambince. Not really a 4 album, and I've seen they have even greater works, but I noticed this site is weird sometimes and favours earlier works, the others being subbmited by community, so let's say a 3.6-3.7 so I wil give a 4 because I discovered this genre and I'm getting rock fatigue
I didn't really connect with this. There were moments that were cool but it never gelled into a cohesive whole for me
A mishmash of ill-fitting vocalists, regrettably united by an over-the-top sense of horniness
help! help! I've been massively attacked by subpar music!
Boring!
nice chill trip-hop sesh
I will forever be baffled as to why Mezzanine isn't on the list. Not that Protection and Blues Lines aren't good (they are really good), just that Mezzanine is transcendent. It's usually 2000's American rock acts Dimery has trouble with. Not 90s British acts. But either way, Protection is still pretty good. The title track with Everything But the Girl's Tracey Thorn is fantastic. And generally the rest of the track list leans more on a darker vibe than Blue Lines (Protection is closer to the Mezzanine sound), which I prefer. I will say, the Massive Attack Karmacoma version is not as good as the Tricky version. But yeah. Good album, just pales in comparison to Mezzanine.
I wish this was. Less sexy and more. Active.
...
Enjoyed the variety throughout the album
No private session used for Spotify. I am so hit at miss with electronic music, this was a complete miss. It had some elements of dub step, which I hate. This album was hard to go through, but I did it and won't do it again.
not bad for not having the house theme song
It looks like basically I like trip hop. Some songs are boring but the mood of the others is/are very welcomed. I can hear Faithless in some parts.
Enjoyed this, Massive Attack seem to effortlessly create grooves that just swirl around you and drift along pleasingly Maybe not quite as good as their debut but I was just in the mood for this so I'm gonna go 5*
Really enjoyed this … excellent chill / reggae vibes throughout 4
Some cool production, but I don’t think there is a single song over 80 BPM in this thing and maybe I’m just a brainlet that needs constant stimulation, but these songs aren’t doing anything interesting enough to offset how slow and boring they are. Some ok vocal performances as well, but again I’m not much for slow vibey vocals. This does nothing for me.
Jazzy edm? Idk not as cool as it sounds though if youd be into that but maybe you may? Not I though.
You know, not too bad!
Just a groaner slog of an album for me I was just waiting for it to be over. 4/10
A lot of cool chill sounds here. Would def listen again. Nothing really amazing but a good listen.
Too meandering, long and repetitive. Protection and Weather Storm were good tho
Better than most things of its genre and time but still not my bag
Maybe their 3rd best album. Average, but worth the listen.
On a mid streak ☹️
I can totally see the allure of this album, but twas not for me.
Probably the weakest of the 3 90s Massive albums, but still really solid. The title track is absolutely gorgeous
Spacey and chilly trip hop, often felt pretty aimless, with either stoney rapping or R&B hooks. So not my genre - never have been able to get into this vibe. Pass.
Does it get any cooler than this? But though I love the vibe, I found the album uneven: some songs just wandered off into the ether.
It wasn't massive, but not necessarily attacking either.
Massive Attack of such a great sound. The last track gives a hint to how different they sound live, too. A totally different experience from listening to their albums.
Ayeee!! Massive attack! I must say, out of all the things that could’ve come out of this listen, I did NOT expect for the first song to blow me away the way it did. It’s one of the best songs I’ve ever heard, of that I’m confident. I adore it. The rest of the album? A real vibe. “Three” sounds like it Erykah sang over a trip hop beat, which would be way doper if it were actually Erykah. I actually do kinda hate trip hop, it always feels like a cop-out genre to me, that being said, I usually like it when it’s good. Still, the beats can tend to get a bit stale. Which is sad. 7.7/10
I wasted the nineties not giving Massive Attack the attention they deserve. This was great
I’ve never heard of this band before. Enjoyable enough for a listen but not the typical stuff I listen to.
A couple of tunes I enjoyed, but it was mostly repetitive, ponderous, boring. Never heard Light My Fire sound like a dirge.
Big improvement on Blue Lines. Not something I’d go out of my way to listen to, but it was nice background music. Put me to sleep a couple times so had a few repeat listens.
“Mezzanine” blew my mind. Every track was amazing. “Protection” isn’t quite up there. The first couple are bangers and then it drifts along nicely enough. But it’s good!
Classic trip hop.
Great album 4/5
If the project Massive Attack is anything, it's ridiculously consistent. The slow, serene, airy soundscapes they paint in their music evoke a mood that's rivaled by very few of their contemporary trip-hop acts. This album is no exception. There were a lot of highlights here. I loved the resonant and head-nodding grooves in the breakdowns of 'Karamcoma'. The ambient techno pads and soft vocals of the song 'Three' were another highlight; I would love to see MA doing this sound more often. You also get lounge room jazz vibes with the song 'Weather Room', which reminded me a lot of the very melodic and lush style that Nujabes would work with years down the line. But my favorite had to be the pulsating and ginormous electronics of 'Euro Child', with some really solid rap performances on top of it. It had this sinister industrial presentation, which is juxtaposed by these deep strings and a surprisingly funky groove. An absolute journey. Vocally, it's really Tracy Throne that takes the cake for me; her vocals are stunning, and they so elegantly hover over the airy instrumentals of her two tracks. Just super chill. Nicolette on the song 'Sly' was also pretty good; I love the soaring orchestral strings on this one. Not sure how I feel about the cover of 'Light My Fire' closing this out; it was bold at least. But putting that odd cover choice aside, this was really just another great entry in the Massive Attack discography. An absolute blast to get through.
This is the second Massive Attack album I’ve had now, and once again I think it’s really good. Musically it’s very cool. I like how chill parts of it are. I like how dramatic and richly layered other aspects are. The production really is top-notch. For whatever reason, this was never an album I’d ever delved into beyond the first half and some of the bigger tracks, so I’m glad I have now. Some of the absolute best tracks are towards the end (like Heat Miser) so I was seriously missing out! As a side note, I still can’t believe Mezzanine isn’t on this list! This is a strong runner-up, but it doesn’t have the dark majesty of that album.
I’ve never really dipped into Massive Attack beyond acknowledging Teardrop as a banger so I didn’t know what to expect. It’s experimental, samples galore with a few tidy vocal entries but it’s a bit mangled and some of the songs are just a bit too odd. You can tell it’s the same group throughout but I’m not sure how well it hangs together. A solid and interesting entry without ever really delighting me, may be one for further listens.
Interesting little mong fest this one. It's largely very chilled and relaxing. It has vibes of Faithless and even a bit of Peaky Blinder on "Karmacoma". Not my normal haunt this, but I respect it has some level of atmosphere built and it's not a loop fest or an overly commercial hip hop hammer, so I do find this easier to enjoy. It's been on the list to experiment with Massive Attack just never did until now. It's a mixed bag for me as its largely enjoyable background, but some songs don't grab me much. I feel like I should be experimenting with some mindfulness activities or something. As music goes it's an interesting canvas I suppose for letting your mind connect and seeing where it goes and, on the basis, it seeps in rather than slams its rather nice. I am just not the kind of guy to let my mind go still to appreciate this which is possibly a shame. Happy enough to come across this.
I was quite pleased when I saw an album by "Massive Attack". I popped it on and went to the gym, hoping for the perfect backing track to massively attacking my glutes. Unfortunately it was an absolute mush fest and I feel like the name is false advertising. Boring downbeat songs that never seemed to go anywhere. The whole album dragged on too long and I couldn't wait for it to end. Despite this, I still managed to destroy my glutes, thanks for asking.
Not the album I was expecting and not as outstanding, but still good
Heat riser and all I can hear is death Vader breathing noises
Good album
Not bad
++: Protection, Karmacoma, Three, Weather Storm, Sly, Light My Fire +: Better Things, Eurochild, Heat Miser +-: Spying Glass 7,7/10
High 3 low 4 for me. First track and second to last stand out most.
Considered ambient trip hop
Great at creating a mood. The impact reduced with to many voices, most successful tracks were with Tracey Thorn
There’s a consistently interesting combination of sounds, though admittedly nothing that truly ever sets my world alight. I like the dubby, chill soundscapes which slowly morph, change and reveal themselves. Some are more effective than others but they all create a welcoming vibe. The variety of singers keeps things fresh while the production is consistent enough to make for a coherent album experience.
Massive Attack gets a 3 from me too. Great sounds, cool vibes but nothing grabs me beyond the first track here.
Цей шедевр я знаю)
Trip hop at its best. Fun, chill, cool record. Holds up real well.
This was a meh for me. A 2.5 with rounding up.
It’s ok, not as good as mezzanine but a solid chilled beats album
Really wish most of these songs didn’t have singing/lyrics. Kind of ruined whatever vibe they were going for. I liked “Heat Miser” and that’s a large part of the reason this is getting more than 1 star. Otherwise it’s forgettable at best.
Not what I expected, not that I'm sure what I expected. But this wasn't it. Not a fan though.
Beautiful trippy vibe as usual from this lot. Standout for me is the epic ‘Protection’.
I like the idea of Massive Attack as a band I could listen to and appreciate in a dark room and let their vibe float over me, but this never happens. This one I was doing the hoovering at the time, hardly a relaxing chill out thing to do. I could feel all of me,. apart from my right arm, starting to relax, taking in the ambience of their slow burn tunes and generally enjoying the feel of album, then an incongruous cover of 'Light My Fire' came on at the end. WTAF? Killed it for me right then.
Very special yeah yeah yeah!!!
Background music
Not my cup of tea at all really, but I'm having a listen to a few tracks anyway.
top album!
Apart from the title track I wasn't overly enamoured.
Massively overrated.
I definitely needed to hear this before I died. I can pass on now. 2/5
Chilliant
Haunting brilliance. Music to get stoned to, take a long drive (not at the same time of course), lie on a beach. Heat Miser could be 15 mins long instead of 3. MA seem to have a stand out on each album (Unfinished Sympathy, Protection, Teardrop, Paradise Circus) but the collective is also awesome.
Pretty sweet
This really doesn't need the 'Light my Fire' cover at the end. Heat Miser would have have an ideal closer. Either way, it's an absolute peach that sits in Massive Attack's opening trilogy of god tier albums. Love it
Besides Karmacoma, never listened to this one much. So close to classic. 4.5/5
Boring music. Nothing except the putative Jamaican parts stamd out.
I loved all the featured artists. The songs were great to listen to while I worked. I enjoyed Protection, Karmacoma, Sly, and Light My Fire.
Iiiiiiiiiiit's more British electronic DJ music!!! It's got the addictinggames.com interactive buddy ready to tuck into a pie of some description on the cover, so it has that going for it. Unfortunately for us all, that is where the moderately positive feelings breathe their last. We start with a 78 minute song with the same shitty riff played throughout, under flat musings about being a girl and you (the proverbial you) being a boy. Infantile gibberish over the musical equivalent of WWI canned bread rations. Does it get any easier from there? Well, after the reggae song about boiling in a glass prison under the desert sun (?), there was a lyrical passage that read "You say the magic's gone, but I'm not a magician, you say that the spark's gone, but I'm not an electrician." No more words are needed. 0 Genre: Steam blasted human skulls
Not my vibe.
This came out when while I was working at a record store and at the time there were three albums that everyone who worked there would agree to. Renegade Soundwave, the first Soul Coughing, and this. This is probably the first time since then that I've listened to it, and I have to say it is nowhere near as good as the Blue Lines, which I got just a few days ago. At least Renegade Soundwave and Soul Coughing still hold up
3.4 3x
Never really gets out of second gear.
What makes it great is restraint. A lot of trip-hop-adjacent records from the era confuse slowness with depth. This one does not. The grooves are measured, the arrangements are spacious, and the album understands that tension does not always need to arrive as menace. Sometimes it arrives as distance, coolness, and emotional ambiguity. That is where Protection lives.
Excellent album and my favorite style of electronic music. I’ve been a fan of Massive Attack for a long time.
I've loved every Massive Attack album I've ever heard, and this one is no exception.
Riktigt bra album, lyssna vidare
Massive Attack at their most subdued? Criminal that this is here rather than Mezzanine, but I'm only the 10,000th person to say that. This is a good background-album, but far from MA's best
1 star because zero is not an option.
I’m appreciating and enjoying them more with each listen. Is each song distinct? Probably not. But it Aura-mogs me
Easy enough to listen to but wasn’t good enough to get added to the ole library
I do not understand this affinity for Massive Attack
Protection Karmacoma Eurochild
I effing love Massive Attack! The industrial, urban quality of the sound, the lyricism, the unique personality of each vocalist. I rank this up there with their Mezzanine and Blue Lines, although I probably prefer blue lines at the end of the day. Still getting a fiver from me though!
Don’t know how this would have made anyone’s top 1000 albums list. I got so bored at the end I had to start skipping through songs
I thought I might like this more but no.
More Tracey Throne and less men mumbling over a bass line, please.
Favourite: Better things Very good album
Chalk this one up to “not for me” it’s certainly competent but I did not enjoy my time with it. 2.5/5
6/10
Pop, HipHop, 1994 -> 3
Love the album but I feel like they were still finding their feet on some of these tracks
Bleep bloop massive attack is alright but I prefer hip hop massive attack tbh
Protection is a fairly chill album at times, but overall I found it kind of dull.
Very chill vibes. The kind of music you put on when you're trying to put the moves on your girl. You think you're being subtle about your intentions, but she already knew. The music isn't required. You could put on the Vengaboys or even Chumbawumba and still get some action. A fine record indeed.
Decent album. I dig this trip-hoppy style. Nothing objectionable here.
I remember when I first heard this album. It was after I heard Tricky’s Maxinquaye. I had really enjoyed that album and thought it was a masterpiece. I was heavy into finding trip hop those adjacent to the genre. Blue Lines is an interesting album because I feel it explores several different types of genres. Dub and trip hop being the main ones. It’s an excellent album that I feel as a collective of artists defined what would become of the genre. Some highlights were Tracey Thorne guesting on Protection and Better Things. I think it showed where her voice could go. And was interesting that Everything But the Girl would eventually release a couple of electronic based albums after the success of the remix of Missing. But this having a woman singing over dark dusty beats would become that standard. Tricky had Martina Topley-Bird and Portishead would eventually release an album. Interesting being the first.
Not sure if they’re going for hypnotic or ambient here, it’s mostly just boring. Some of the songs seem to start with a good idea but then never develop into anything more. Aural wallpaper that does nothing for the room.
5 - AVERAGE
Weather Storm
The cover looks like the guy from interactive buddy.
Ein bunter Strauß an elektronischer Musik. Viele aneinandergereihte Klänge, teilweise mit Gesangs-Verstärkung unterschiedlicher Künstler. 3/5
Excellent album, didn’t like it quite as much as Blur Lines but still a very solid 8/8.5.
3.5/5
Superb
Confession time. Prior to this selection my familiarity with Massive Attack was mostly from Mezzanine, which I discovered and initially used a test record for new hi-fi equipment. I found that I enjoyed the record, but for whatever reason I never explored their discography further. As I was expecting, there is some great production on this record. This is lovely atmospheric music. These are sounds that make you want to settle in like one does under a good down comforter on a cold winter night. This is a great record, but I find its selection by the book editors to be an odd choice. They already selected their first album, Blue Lines, presumably because it was groundbreaking material. I appreciate that. However, in the entry for Protection, the author seems to admit that Mezzanine was a better record, “hence their staggering follow-up, Mezzanine”. So why not select the "staggering" work of the band that followed? This is the second trip hop album I’ve received from this project in the last couple of weeks and I’ve discovered that this may be my favorite hip-hop flavor.
Reminded me of a mix of Khrungbin meets reggae-dub and electronica.
I think I'm trying to convince myself I like this which usually is a bad sign. Some of this was interesting but for the most part it missed for me.
One day this list will be free of electronica
Takie na 4
I first listened to Blue Lines a few years ago and Mezzanine shortly after, and discovered largely through those albums that I had a taste for “trip hop” or whatever the hell. Both of those albums are incredibly good. This was my first time listening to Protection, and it’s another solid project. I should give it more listens, but my takeaway is that it’s very good and at worst it’s just not quite as iconic as their two masterpieces.
Title track is excellent but found it to be a bit forgettable other than that. The light my fire cover doesn’t come close to original
8/10 (from 3 to 4)
Love this album. At times it feels just slightly thin for a 5, and the closing cover of Light My Fire is genuinely terrible, but man there are some gorgeous moments throughout.
6/10 It's basically "lo-fi hip-hop beats to relax/study to" but from the 90s
My least favourite Massive Attack album.
:/
El trip hop ha llegado al grupo. Lindo. Electrónico y melódico. Un buen álbum. 6/10
7/10
Lounge background music
While neither incredibly massive nor attacking, the vibes are impeccable. Very minimalist in nature.. definitely feels like the kind of electronic record that heavily influenced many to follow.
one of a kind
This was enjoyable in a relaxed groove style. If I was out somewhere on a casual Sunday afternoon and this was put on I wouldn't complain. Would really like to give it 3.5 as felt it didn't do enough for me for a 4.
I really enjoyed Massive Attack’s debut album Blue Lines and their 1998 release Mezzanine, but for some reason this one passed me by at the time. Part of the reason for that may have been the departure of Shara Nelson who was responsible for the vocals on their biggest hit Unfinished Sympathy. However, they invited Tracy Thorn of Everything But The Girl to deputize on two tracks and Tricky on two more, and they are both excellent. Musically, this is a great example of Bristol Trip Hop with deep, vibrant bass lines almost heading into dubstep territory in a couple of places (and there is a dub remix of this album too, that I’ve just spotted). The only slight misstep is the inclusion of a live cover of Light My Fire which doesn’t really work in context. There’s nothing wrong with it per se, but I’d rather have a full live album than a tacked on bonus track.
Of all the various sub genres of music that have risen and fallen in the time I've been paying attention, trip hop seemed to me as the most daringly creative. Instead of just a tweak on an existing formula, trip hop seemed to be something actually new. Listening now with the benefit of a few decades I can recognise that the genre does have forebears, namely dub, jazz, and (duh) instrumental hip hop. Still, it's admirable and remarkable how unique and distinctive the blend is, especially as it is shot through with it's signature atmospherics. This album is definitely atmospheric, with some gorgeous moments and dark twists. It varies widely, and for me that keeps it from being something I return to often, but I appreciate and enjoy it's various moments and contours. Perfect for a dimly lit room full of dank weed smoke, or a dinner party with sophisticates.
A great album to wake up on your commute to. Weather Storm is a perfect “staring out the window of a train song”
Relaxed techno vibes doesn’t always land but it’s not half bad
Massive Attack (never heard of them) is a British group, and as Wikipedia says, “their music often defies categorization, ranging from R&B to hip hop/rap to reggae-tinged synth-pop to classical influenced electronica instrumentals.” Overall it is pleasant to listen to, although the last track on the album, a live cover of “Light my Fire”, doesn’t fit with the rest of the tracks.
Heck yeah!! Starting in 2011, I made a mix CD every month (ending in ~2016, due to the horrors), and those CDs featured a very high percentage of Massive Attack mashups (and a few straight tracks). I think I could fill a whole disc just of 'Teardrop' mashups (the best being: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00jdLt9FSfs ). I say this now because knowing this list, Mezzanine won't even be on here. Anyway, I don't have this album, because it's older, but MA seem pretty harmonically consistent. The biggest change is the vocalists, but all of them are at least Good (if not Elizabeth Fraser level), so I like what I'm hearing. This is gonna seem dumb, but I had no idea Tricky was British. Nicolette kinda sounds like Yoko Kanno. Highlights: "I drink on a daily basis / Though it seldom cools my temper / It never cools my temper", 'Weather Storm' Lowlight: 'Light My Fire' (why is this happening, I ask myself)
i guess I am fully rediscovering electro genre
Second Massive Attack album I've got. Once again, it's painfully mid. Looking at it one way, there isn't a song on here I really dislike. But, there isn't one song on here that sticks out that I really enjoy, either. Painfully mid. And it doesn't feel far off from being better than it is...but it's not.
While I quite enjoy a bit of Massive Attack when the wind is blowing in the right direction, I’ve never ‘got’ the idea of trip-hop as some kind of musical revolution. I like my musical revolutions with a burst of urgency. This just sounds like the birth of the coffee shop record.
Showing my ignorance but assume this might be where trip-hop and similar genres probably started. At the time I had my head stuck firmly in guitars (of many forms) so more or less ignored it, more fool me. Listening to this now, I can see the chilled appeal, though some of it is pretty disturbing - but I love it.
Very unique sound really liked it
Not bad, it was a pleasant enough background listen.
I'm not a fan of Karmacoma and Euro Child. That's a boring verion of Light My Fire. The rest of the album is nice though. My favourite was Weather Storm. This was the best massive Attack album I've heard so far.
variation is unique and flowy, into that
Along with ‘dummy’ this provided the Bristol part of Britpop. Hard to categorise and with a refreshing array of collaborators, including two lovely tracks with Tracey Thorn. The title track is one of the 90s finest tracks looking back. Pleasantly surprised today as I didn’t pay too much attention to the album as a whole back in the day.
Wow wie lange ist das erste Lied. Irgendwie sehr beruhigend so gleichmäßige Musik. Gefällt mir. Ein ganzes Lied ist einfach nur Atemgeräusche. Wow wild.
The only thing I can say is that I didnt think I knew who this was but I had already listened to an album of theirs before. Not a great sign. And then it does its thing, washes over me and I just dont have anything. It just is. I can hear its good. I can see the person this is for but its not me. I can't get behind it. Im ok listening to this but thats it. Nothing else to say
Enjoyable listen. I like Mezzanine better but this one also has some good moments, particularly the opening track
Doesn't feel that massive.
For a band called "massive attack" they're actually quite calming. I like this type of sound, nice and complex.
Older electronic music can be kinda hit or miss for me. I like a few of these, but most are misses unfortunately
Wasn’t doing it for me. Great atmosphere but it didn’t really spark interest in me at any point
I have pretty much the same thoughts as the last massive attack album. There was definitely some interesting ideas but it's not really for me. I can see how it was influential though
A good groove to this album, I think it's more chill than the last one? I really enjoy the bass throughout, some good lines. Would put this on again.
Still a fan of MA, so an easy 5 stars for this one.
I liked this better than Blue Lines. But do we really need more than one album from these guys here? Nah. Still, I liked the overall vibe of this one. And the two tracks featuring Tracey Thorn from Everything But The Girl were a nice surprise and some of the best. The inclusion of the last track was completely unnecessary and definitely took away from the intended feel.
Eh I dunno. I think only like one MA song, and not a ton. This band just bores me
Tried to get into this on multiple occasions but just didn’t connect for me. Didn’t mind it but not memorable and not something I’ll go back to. 2.5
Rating the same as Blue Lines... pretty decent for background tunes. Last track nearly had me rounding down. Had to check to see if it was added in a later issue of the album. Shocked it made the cut on the original. So unnecessary. 2.75/5
eu escutei o mesmo álbum que as outras pessoas desse site? pq de vdd, achei uma merda de marca maior cansativo, sem graça, xoxo pqp trip hop é uma porra
eh isso aí né músicas para hackers. eh mto datado, né? eh um daqueles estilos que vc precisava estar em um país de língua inglesa e com algo entre 15-35 anos pra entender o impacto. bom, eu sou brasileiro, graças a deus. não entendo a pira mto não. sinto que do trip hop, o dummy do portishead é o menos datado e ainda assim eh um pouco. não foi odiável, mas eh bem sem sal.
I didn't love "Protection" as much as Massive Attack's first and third albums. "Karmakoma" seemed underwhelming to me. The title track of "Protection" didn't disappoint and is easily one of Massive Attack's top 15 songs. "Protection"'s best tracks have to be "Weather Storm" and "Spying Glass". The latter has vocals by Horace Andy, who sings many of my Massive Attack songs. 4 stars for "Protection".
Soundtrack for a film about hedonistic drug use.
I gave Blue Lines a 5/5, so I was interested to see how Protection by Massive Attack would compare for today’s listen. I really like this record. In fact, it’s made me realise I might just be a Massive Attack fan. It’s an easy, smooth listen that still feels fresh today, which says a lot for a mid-90s album. The production is excellent throughout, with a more refined and polished sound compared to Blue Lines. It leans further into that laid-back, atmospheric vibe, but still keeps enough groove to hold your attention. The vocals are a real highlight. Everything feels effortless and cool, and the different guest singers add nice variety across the album. It works just as well in the background as it does when you sit and properly listen, which is always a good sign. Favourite tracks: Sly is a brilliant track. I also really enjoyed Protection and Spying Glass. Least favourite tracks: The cover of light my fire was awful and really not needed. Album artwork: Cool, understated cover that fits the mood of the album perfectly. Album artwork: Cool album cover
Karmacoma : très bien et donne vraiment le ton en début d’album . Sinon c’est du trip hop, pas mon genre. Paraît assez vieillot par moments.il y a quand même plusieurs points d’intérêt et l’écoute est plutôt agréable (ex: Sly). Mais parfois je trouve que massive attack est assez caricatural. Je suis content de l’avoir écouté mais ne le réécouterai pas
Meh
-1 for the last track. Yikes
Kinda flat but helped me deal with a stressful commute
Trip-hop is all things, so doesn't really go with anything
Maybe it's all of this 90s nostalgia, but this sorta hit for me in a surprising way
That was confusing and fine
I didn’t care for most of the guest vocals and as far as background music goes it’s pretty mid.
Interesting listen. Cool grooves, but seemed like one, long 48 minute song. Not something I would normally gravitate to, but I enjoyed it.
Electronic is sometimes a little weird. There are some good tracks on this one. An OK album.
fine trip hop
interessantinho, uma coisa mais trip hop lofi bem suave para ouvir enquanto trabalha. mas somente ok mesmo.
The first track is a banger but sounds nothing like the rest of the tracks! Otherwise, it is a decent album; I expect to see more Massive Attack here.
I found this a little dry. I'm not into this kind of electronic i guess. It was still nice and interesting.
This was the beginning of my favorite era of Massive Attack, where they moved beyond being influenced by other artists and genres to being their own thing entirely. The title track is a masterpiece in production and simplicity that must’ve listened to 5 times today. The tracks without vocals are just as strong as the ones with them, and the variety of vocal performances is great. The whole thing is a relaxing work without being overly meditative and really could’ve only come out of Bristol at the time. The mixing of genres between dub, electronic, reggae, rock, hip hop, etc really pushed the boundaries of what was being released as pop music at the time. Ive never bothered to check out if the instrumentals are sampled or original but I don’t think I ever will. It doesn’t matter; it’s all put together beautifully. These are all vagueish platitudes but I find it hard to remember most of the individual tracks. It’s a complete work outside of the cover at the end, which is out of place but still good. I really love this album.
Not really my thing. Sort of lounge/pool light jazz.
Would listen again
Amazing album, and not too long for the tracks it has. The chill sounds and heavenly vocals makes it an incredible experience. Standouts like Protection and Karmacoma sets it up for its trip hop vibes that surround the album. Love it!
The piano accents on weather storm sound like they were taken straight from breath of the wild. Otherwise even though it’s non offensive I’ve just never been able to click with massive attack. This album made me feel like it was 2am in a sleazy bar and I didn’t belong there.
Love this. best moments were the instrumentals for me. Some of the guest vocalists fell a little flat for me but the music behind vocals on those songs remained fantastic
I know Massive Attack are important in the world of trip hop but I’ve always had trouble connecting with the collective. I’m a huge fan of Portishead’s whole discography so it’s not like I don’t dabble in trip hop. This project to me just sound bland. Not bad but bland. Not a fan of the light my fire sample either.
i don’t like this at all. it’s not that it’s bad, it’s just not good.
Been a while since my group has gotten a Massive Attack album, so it's a good thing this one's pretty damn chill. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump down to a 4. 748 days since we got “Blue Lines”, and I’d say it was worth the wait. Obviously, I’ve heard a lot more trip-hop since then, so I’m more attuned to the genre, and this is some GOOD downbeat trip-hop. Right out of the gate, Tracey Thorn sets the tone with a great track in “Protection”, and almost immediately after, this album starts the shaky slope to slowly pull itself to a 4. It’s not that “Karmacoma” is bad at all; I actually like it, but it’s too long. “Three” is actively just kinda mediocre, as the progression stalls early. It’s not bad though. Honestly, this album’s shaky slope doesn’t necessarily come from any bad tracks (although we’ll get to that “Light My Fire” cover), but just mild production choices that stack up over the course of the album. “Weather Storm” is a fantastic groovy noir track; no complaints about that one. “Spying Glass” is once again too long; either that, or it just needs a vocal reprise to help fill out the back half better. “Better Things” is lovely, and Tracey Thorn continues to make me wonder if Everything but the Girl has better albums that aren’t on this list. “Eurochild” is solid, & I like the beat, but Tricky’s lyricism lacks a cohesion to really glue the track together. He never goes “Maxinquaye” mode here, thankfully. Both “Sly” & “Heat Miser” are great, but the instrumental-ness of it all just kinda suspends the album into a specific mood, one that’s not paid off at all by the “Light My Fire” cover. It’s the biggest stain on the album, and much like how Tricky kinda butchered “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”, they just don’t do the original song justice at all. It’s a bad closer to what’s otherwise a really strong album. The “Light My Fire” cover is kind of the nail in the coffin – I’d be willing to look past the little pile of production stuff on account of some very high highs here & what’s generally a really nice groove, but choosing to end on that just doesn’t feel satisfying at all. It is what’s bumping the album down to a 4, but regardless of that, I do think it’s a really strong set of tracks. I can come back to almost all of these (maybe not “Three”) & still vibe out, and maybe on another day, the really high highs here will still manage to override the little issues that built up for me. For now though, it’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump down to a 4, but a good album regardless, & one that should be heard before one dies. I enjoyed it.
g kiffe
I am starting to like Massive Attack.
Solid.
Good
First half was a bit too slow and minimalistic for me, but I enjoyed from Spying Glass onwards
I casually know Massive Attack, mostly I've heard Mezzanine a bunch of times. Apparently that one is not on this list but this one is? That's a little weird. I haven't heard this one though so maybe it's better? Yeah, it's not. It's fine but is mostly kind of background music. I don't understand why this album would be picked instead of their most widely recognized and popular album that actually does deserve a spot on this list. And what the hell is up with that garbage cover of Light My Fire? That was painful. 2.5/5