Reviews (page 4 of 9)
Massive Attack has for me such a unique sound. This is one of their best works. It’s an easy 5 for me.
Enjoyed it, and I appreciate there being a track named Heat Miser
Not sure what you call this.. ambient electro? With hip-hop/rap influences? Mid-tempo electro elements (e.g. sequenced synths) with acoustic (pianos, strings). First track isn't doing much for me. Karmacoma has a decent beat but vocals/lyrics aren't all that. Whatever it is, it's done well. Just not my scene at all. Instrumentals are generally good. Best track - Karmacoma, Euro Child 3 stars
Yes Massive Attack! Smooth and intreging, dark and fun. Protection is one of my favorite Massive Attack songs. The whole album is a great vibe.
Nice soothing beats intermingled with occasional vocals.
This feels like a mostly forgettable effort by a group that was talented enough, I suppose. I generally applaud the effort made by this list to include a diversity of styles and sounds, but it often seems to do so by making trade-offs like including an album like this but completely ignoring ALL of the albums of Warren Zevon. How does that make any sense to anyone?
Smoke the joint and lay in bed listening to the whole thing without doing anything else with my attention. That was awesome.
My second Massive Attack album and imo not as good as the first (Blue Lines). This just doesn’t do it for me for whatever reason.
The best low fi, chill, jams. 6/5
I like the general atmosphere of the album, though I preferred their Blue Lines album more (and I read there is no Mezzanine on the list, which is surprising and I don't know why this album is on the list instead). I didn't like the cover of Light my fire, though.
The generator has earned these guys a new fan
Still surprising to me that Mezzanine isn't on this list, but TBH I think Protection is its equal. I love Tracey Thorn's vocal on the title track.
Love Mezzanine but not this one. A couple of them sound like background music for the weather channel. Still some amazing eduction especially for the time.
Fine, but nothing I'll come back to
Really liked this! Had some Sade vibes, some Bjork vibes, some beautiful piano on some tracks, and more. Nice surprise :) :)
There's only 1 Heat Miser song I want to hear and this ain't it. 2.4.
Well, this was boring. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5
I don't think I'm cool enough to enjoy Massive Attack.
Not as great as mezzanine, and I prefer blue lines over this also. Still some bangers tho
I like it, but feel underwhelmed…
A very solid 3. Good background music.
Mostly just inoffensive. 1 or 2 songs were OK.
Just noise strung together in a mildly organised way
Nice sound, don't know or like any of these songs though
I think the massive attack albums before and after this one have songs I both know and like. This has neither
This is a great album, HOWEVER....... Saving possibly the worst EVER cover of The Doors 'Light My Fire' to the very last track somehow leaves the listener with an awful taste in their ears. What a dreadful track in an otherwise excellent album.
The first track on this album is awesome, and I also love the second, the next seven tracks are pretty good chill/background, the last track is abysmal - wtf, how is it possible to make a cover of an already terrible song SO much worse. Mostly good, so I’m giving it 4
Blue Lines was such an incredible debut that Massive Attack do the sensible thing on their second album. Refine, enhance and dig in. Two stellar singles with female vocalist check. Moody Craig Armstrong instrumentals. check. Horace Andy. check. Drop the ball with a throwaway live cover. Okay not check. Still five stars for me as the consistency and quality over the first nine tracks is incredible.
Meh
Superb but I like Mezzanine better.
First off, never has there been such a mismatch between band name and musical sound. I was expecting metal and the first song was smooth mellow bliss. The tracks featuring Nicolette are also high points. I really loved the first four tracks on this and was thrilled to think I had found a five star album. Sadly the quality didn’t stay as high all the way through. The real turn off was the track Heat Miser. The heavy breathing sound effect on that was viscerally displeasing and I was counting the seconds for my misery to end. The live Light My Fire track was a throwaway aberration from the rest. I’m so sad that the whole did not live up to its early potential.
J'ai rompiche
Nope
So we all need to listen to every Massive Attack album before we die? Even though they all sound incredibly similar to each other?
Massive Attack A group i dinnae know Some people like the vibe Some people like the flow I’ll tell you, here’s the thing This album’s feckin slow
10/10… trip hop / dub 👂
Solid, chill album . Didnt enjoy as much as mezzanine. Standout songs: Protection Karmacoma Sly
I like it, not the sucker punch of the first 4 tracks of Mezzanine, but more consistent as a whole.
It was going ok until they murdered Light My Fire.
I’ve only heard of Massive Attack because it seems that a lot of publications point to Blue Lines as one of the best albums of all time. I haven’t got that one yet, so the jury’s still out for that album for me. But if it sounds like this album, that’s going to be an issue. This one was a bit too slow for me. The vibes are nice, but it’s a little too chill, a little too slow. And that cover of Light My Fire at the end can eat a dick. Love the Tracey Thorn collaborations though, especially the title song. Other than that, I only thought this was ok. Favorite track: Protection Other hits: Weather Storm, Heat Miser, Better Things, Three, Euro Child
Muzak (lift music) performed by robots. How marvelous. There are a 1001 artists that music lovers should hear before they die. It's tragic that one will squander in obscurity because of the inclusion of Massive Attack's mediocre follow up to Blue Lines.
Not enjoying this.
Listen I'm not listening to Massive Attack on a really peaceful Tuesday it's just not the mood but this is a good record that I enjoyed when drugs were way cheaper. 3.3/5 Slay, massive slay, and more slay. Album so good it ALMOST makes paranoia feel poetic. It’s like getting a cuddle from your dealer while questioning your life choices, and somehow loving every second. 4/5 - HF xo I feel like I should be on more drugs listening to this album again, been a while. 3/5 - MTW weirdo guy tunes, done whimsically. like if a vulture wrote elevator music. not there strongest work but still goes pretty hard 3.7/5 FTW
It was bad enough but then they had to commit that absolute slander against the Doors
This album was not what I expected from a band with this name and must have completely slipped by me in the 90s when it was released. Quite trippy but an enjoyable listen.
Good
Mellow and trippy. 4/5
The sound of a 1000 ‘atmospheric’ restaurants in the 90’s
There’s the age-old joke about putting on a Massive Attack record, and a baby will be conceived… Well, not on this listen, but I have to admit, having not listened to a full album of theirs before, it wasn’t too bad. It’s clear this is a very well thought out record, every beat, note, effect is deliberate and is placed exactly where it should be to create what is not a bad listen. Wouldn’t be top of my list to replay again, but still glad to have had the chance to hear it. Can’t add a half star on ratings, otherwise I’d go for 3.5, so a toss-up between 3&4 ultimately leading to 3 stars. Standout tracks - Weather Storm & Euro Child
Lovely, mellow thing.
Pretty sure this is a 3rd massive attack album. They cool but Gummon. Pick one of blue lines or mezzanine.
Cool and slick. Like a soundtrack to an after hours thriller in Europe featuring a Sade imposter.
There's a couple of MA songs I really like as the my seem to do stuff. None of them feature here, none of these tracks do anything...
Great guest spots!
Chiantos la zic
Très sympa, des vibe de gorillaz mais en moins électronique c'est très agréable. Je me vois bien écouter l'album et chill, par contre pas de perspective d'écoute en mode "rawdog". La dernière musique un peu hors-sujet mais ça allait quand même.
hard to rate as it is more like an eclectic compilation than an album by one artist. it has strong moments though
Not inspired by this one. Probably Mezzanine is enough from Massive Attack. 3.2/5
Another rockin' day, some very groovy 90's British beats. Felt like I was in a "European house music to contemplate mortality to" compilation video on YouTube with footage of some skiing game for the Nintendo 64.
Classic
Chill and enjoyable.
Really cool vibey music, really liked it
Cool music
Cool listen again
On their second outing, Massive Attack tilted the spirit level that balanced Blue Lines, and leaned far further into that underlying trip hop sound that they pioneered. This might not make for such an outgoing release, it might not satisfy those waiting for the next masterpiece, but what it sets out to do it achieves perfectly. Listening at night with a great pair of headphones is an immensely rewarding experience; you can appreciate the layers upon layers of work that went into it. There’s of course the more popular tracks with lent lyrics from returning Tricky and a well-placed Tracey Thorn, of which Tricky’s track Eurochild is the standout. There’s even that weird product of this era where they attached a (pretty terrible) live track on the end. What makes this flow though is the in-between, the comparatively silent repetition of buried bass lines and record crackling. That’s what this whole thing is about, for me. The trip, with just a tad of the hop.
Best Song: Protection More electronica. Hooray. This isn't as bad as some of the other electronic music on here, it reminds me in some ways to Zero 7 who I enjoy (given, in relatively small doses). This still doesn't do a whole lot for me but act as background music while I do other things. 3/5.
Penúltimo martes de septiembre con Massive Attack, banda hermosa de un género hermoso, colgado y sexi como es el trip hop. Banda y disco hipnóticos, mantienen la mente entre la sensualidad y la abstracción. Gracias y hasta mañana.
Anything w Tracey Thorn is certainly worth listening to and I’m a huge Everything But the Girl fan. But this lands a bit like milquetoast for me.
Is important.
This is another OK album without being anything exciting. One listen was plenty, unlike Blue Lines which I really enjoyed. The addition of the live version of The Doors track on the end didn’t help at all here. I won’t actively hold it against them, but this isn’t something I’ll be listening to again.
Pretty great stuff! It’s quite hard to pull off this “lounge music” the right way; Massive Attack has proven that it is possible.
There's really great vibes in this album. A few tracks don't 100% land for me, but listening to this album was a great experience. I have always been aware of Massive Attack, but I will definitely check them out more after hearing this album. Favorite track: "Protection"
Well, it's no Mezzanine.
Alright
Mélange de hip hop, soul, reggae, électronique Des fois on dirait vraiment du slam Moins aimé que Blue Monday 88' (pas dans l'album) Askip leur genre s'appelle le trip hop 🍄
Oh, how I loved Massive Attack back in the nineties, and the whole new genre that came with it: Trip-hop. The perfect aftermath after a long night of raving or simply chilling in the hammock - a good spliff, booze, pills - and friends around the pool. For all those unforgettable moments, it already deserves a 5/5!
A bit more mellow than the band name would imply, and a bit less annoying than most “electronic“ music.
The last two songs almost bring this down to a 2; however, the rest of it would be decent enough reception room music. “Karmacoma” is the one really interesting song.
I went in with no expectations. I've heard of Massive Attack before, but really didn't know anything about them. It's good stuff. Trip-hop may be my new favorite genre. 4*, but that could easily increase with repeated listening.
I like Massive Attack! Mezzanine is a great album! But this one didn't really do it for me. "Karmacoma" and "Heat Miser" were the only songs I really got into on here
Outstanding? - not at all. Perfect for elevators in a shopping mall
6/10
Good
Good chill album. Didn't hate it but in no rush for a second listen.
This was really cool, actually. My first exposure to MA, and it didn't disappoint. It does drag a bit because most of the instrumentation stays the same. However, thematically very coherent and understandable as well.
How is this on the list but Mezzanine isn’t? I’d not actually heard this album before, but I wasn’t missing much. Incredibly mid from a band that is capable of much better. Just nothing of note on here and was glad when it was over. Boring.
lots of instrumental tracks. i like the chill vibe but i dont think id really pick this album out on my own. i like the vocals on euro child.
Al fin otro disco hermoso ooooff. No se cual es el tema destacado pero seguro lo repetiré Nota: 4.0
Not my fave by them but still real good
p742. 1994. 4 stars. Excellent chillout album. All that's missing is a sense of excitement.
I don't say it's not good, it is, but a little slow and weak
Je l'ai écouté d'une oreille pour tout dire, ça m'a pas pris
Meh
I really don't like Massive Attack. It's too jazzy for me
Love anything Massive Attack. This was my introduction to the whole Trip-hop genre. Another huge spurt in the size of my music collection.
Massive attack are just quality
A good trip-hop classic album. Dreamy and laid-back, perfect groove when you feel that way.
Hard to sit through
Massive Attack’s Protection is a subdued follow-up to their groundbreaking debut, but it feels too restrained for its own good. While the title track and “Karmacoma” show flashes of brilliance, much of the album drifts into repetitiveness and lacks the innovation that defined Blue Lines. The moody atmosphere is consistent, but at times it slips into monotony rather than depth.
This is the 9th album i've listened to. It was really my thing I think this is thefirst one that i can wonder why it was on this list I dont know whats coming up but i just didnt really enjoy anything about this one at all. 68/100
An alright album, I liked Karmacoma, Spying Glass and Heat Miser the most.
Enjoyed. Better than I excepted
Second Massive Attack album in 4 days. Hate this one as much as the first one. Hopefully no more from this artist on the project.
I LOVE MASSIVE ATACK. huuuuge fan of the songs on this album anyway but i’ve never listened to it from start to finish and let me tell you i will be doing later in life 😛, protection the song to start the album is a near perfect song to start with idk why, sets the tone for the rest of the whole album, love their sound so much their so original, never heard anything else like karmacoma, to sum it up the whole album makes me feel like that one meme of spongebob floating, very good ganja experience 😛fav song- three
Unexpected and not really in a good way
More chill Attack, still a classic but 'Mezzanine' should be on this list (instead of whiny Morrissey). So I'm rating it highest. Bye!
I liked it more than the previous record I got from them
not terrible but not my jam
Pleasant, groovy, didn't totally hold my attention.
massive attack of boredom and drowsiness
Wasn’t expecting much, but actually wasn’t unpleasant, sometimes overlong but not unpleasant. Enjoyed the bond parody, 3 Star
2/5 Best Track - "Karmacoma"
Massive attack? More like hit or miss
Very dark and groovy, I liked it
Lots of points for creativity and variety, but unfortunately, about half of the songs don't really work. 2.5/5.0: Mixed
not as good as the other massive attack album on the list but the title track was a banger.
Pretty good
Only listened to their top songs before. Didn't like this album.
It was good, but not as good as some of their other work.
Relaxing music; that was a surprise!
Essential nighttime album - chill beats and immaculate vibes. Tracey Thorn MVP of this album.
Some songs aren't my vibe here but the ones that are *really* clicked with me. Reminds me a lot of The Screen Behind the Mirror, of incredible Vibing Out music
When this genre came out all the pornographers were like “ahhhhhh yeah we won’t have to find new background music EVER.” This is excellent bedding music. A fun listen. THREE STARS
Such an excellent, chill vibe. I really dig this group. One of the best discoveries so far in doing this project!
Bette than my average 3, but not 4-level
Not my style but ok.
liked it - different stuff
An electronic album with clear hip hop influences. This has a nice vibe to it that I liked, and it has notable stylistic variation between the tracks, which is a plus. Some tracks drag on too long, though. The Light My Fire cover is dog shite.
Phenomenal album.
Kept waiting for the House theme song. Different album but an interesting sound!
Immaculately spacious and groovy
Pretty much the same experience as the earlier appearance from Massive Attack with "Blue Lines". This is just mostly repetitive and quite boring music, which it likely doesn't try to be be succeeds at accidentally. The saving moments are the female vocals in a select few songs as well as some of the instrumentals which are interjected between the percussive beats, but not enough to save this from a lower score. As a listening experience this album receives a 2/5.
This is the 2nd Massive Attack album. I don't see how this album warrants inclusion on this list after the 1st? It's fine musically but I don't see massive steps forward from the 1st album to make this mandatory listening. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Endnu et fedt nok ambient album, men den her blev ødelagt af det meget mærkelige og dårlige cover af light my fire til sidst. Stor 2er
Vildt fed! Tunge tunge grooves
Great sounding! Love the vibes and really sets the stage for their coming albums
It’s simultaneously dub for dinner parties and forward thinking beat music. The vibe doesn’t hit me like on their debut. It’s a bit too restrained and safe, which at first made it seem a bit boring. But in the end, I keep enjoying the spins. Great work music.
Not bad
I'm generally a Massive Attack fan, but this is truly one of their least impressive albums (P<BL<100W<H<M). The songs are pretty forgettable, though the best tracks imo are the instrumental tracks. Ending with that horrible Doors cover was a serious lapse in judgement. 2/5
Beautiful voice but honestly I just find it boring. At least it’s soothing boring.
This was a cool album. Kind of a mix between 90’s alt rock, 80’s new wave, and deep house chill vibe.
It was alright but I like their other works better, Heat Miser was a VIBEE tho ( ˘ω˘ )
Amazing
Heat Miser was kind of hot with that piano making me feel like I'm heading to an exorcism
'I stand in front of you / I'll take the force of the blow, protection.' So sings Tracey Thorn (Everything but the Girl) on the first track, and she seems to mean it. In fact, 'protective' is how to describe this album in general, since it's mostly on the defensive and erects a veneer difficult to penetrate: you are invited to flow along, but at a distance is the only level of intimacy it offers. That has its upsides, especially for those of us who want others to 'take the force of the blow,' at least some of the time. But as a sustainable source of felicity or welfare, it's not the gestalt I'm looking for. Better than Portishead b/c the escapism is varied and allusive rather than acquiescent and morose, Massive Attack are a crucial 90s outfit, but thin in ways too.
Yawn 2.5
Cool stuff. Like the groove. Not sure it’s for me
Interesting variety, from shoegazing to ecstatic dance. The female vocalist on most songs has a really nice voice. I like that they mix up the vocalists and the beats. The cover of “Light My Fire” is worse than the original— unlistenable. This is an influential and creative album, and I do not object when my wife plays it. But I would not choose to spin it all the way through myself. A three.
Not really my genre. I appreciate it's well made but I just don't love listening to this kind of music. 3
a very quirky, very mysterious trip hop album, mixing hints of ambient, lounge and dub music. i always like listening to albums that have a sound i really haven't heard before... many people, especially today seem to appreciate the aesthetic the album presents, all blurry and brooding... this album would absolutely hit the hardest if you listened to it late at night. some of the beats and vocals are a little strange... but i can, as the hip folks say, dig it. someone said in one of the song's comments that these guys should score for the next silent hill game. very interesting entry.
So, so
As I am listening to this, it feels like I should be getting highlights done in a super hip salon.
Not as good as their two top albums, but still i love the genre, so I had a good time
Not my vibe, all quite dark and the same tempo too top 3 tracks light my fire, karma coma, spying glass. Very chill overall 6/10
Overlooked classic. It may not be as groundbreaking as the group's debut but it certainly is an essential listen. Here, Massive Attack expand their sound with more guests, more strings, and overall a more memorable batch of songs, even if the highlights aren't as incredible as they were on the previous album. This record album marks the earliest notable credit of one my favorite lesser known artists Craig Armstrong, who co-wrote and plays piano on "Weather Storm" and "Heat Miser", and arranged the strings on "Sly". A strange thing I have to point out is: Why this was chosen for the book over their magnum opus follow up Mezzanine? Not complaining, I think both deserve a spot. Key tracks: Protection Karmacoma Three Sly
Not really my bag. I don't mind the music but it never really goes anywhere. It might be nice to maybe relax to but where the song starts it also ends and rarely seems to deviate so it's kind of boring to me.
It was ok
This was pretty cool, very smooth. Undoubtedly a record that is supposed to be listened to at night. I wonder what drugs it was written with in mind? Certainly not a takeaway coffee on your morning commute
No review here.
did not include their big hit, but the album was still a nice ambient listen
Anyone else find this really uninteresting?
Listening notes: -Credit where due: I put this on and only knowing one Massive Attack song, I was like, "oh yeah, this is obviously the same band that did teardrop". Very distinctive style. -That said, this band feels very 90s puka shell necklace. I'm not sure thats a critique per se, but this musical affect seems largely not to have left the late 90s--no one seems to have imitated it or been inspired by it. -Euro Child: weird song. Could almost work in the background, but I don't love active listening. The sort of quasi-rapping that 90s band love is always a little hit or miss for me. On a second listen, the vocals here drive me up the wall. Review: Not entirely sure what this says about me/the album, but I found this album pleasant when it was in the background, but kinda annoying when I was actively listening. I wouldn't exactly say dislike it. And they have an absolutely distinctive sound that feels innovative maybe? Unfortunately the vocals here range from annoying but tolerable to really annoying. 2.5 stars. I'm rounding down, because I decided to be fair I'd look into the lyrics and they were empty. But if I want to be in a trance as I write code, this honestly isn't the worst option.
Perfectly fine ambient electronic music to edit your manuscripts to. 3/5 stars rounding up to 4 because I wouldn't be opposed to putting it on the background and half-listening while editing a manuscript again.
Solid
Enjoyed this, felt it dragged on a bit though. Wish there were a few more fast-paced tracks to even it out and add variety.
What a great record.
A very low 3...borderline 2
Mezzanine is better
Seemed like ambient music. Not very interesting ambient music
Chiller album
I love how chill this album is. Makes me want to sit outside at night and sip a cocktail. Low Fi beats
Before this I only knew Massive Attack for the theme song to the TV show House. I like this album!
EN: Definately a very odd album, but certainly not bad. The songs have a decent amount of creativety and are overall interesting experiences. Good album! PT-BR: Definitivamente um álbum bem peculiar, mas certamente não é ruim. As músicas têm uma dose razoável de criatividade e, no geral, são experiências interessantes. Bom álbum! 7,25/10
Super cool. I like that it’s different and has some good grooves.
I love massive attack but this is their worst album give me like mezzanine or heligoland or blue lines what
I’ve had massive attack hyped up in the past, and this album did not live up to it bro. It wasn’t bad, just really mid
I liked this a bit less than Blue Lines which we got yesterday, but I still enjoyed it.
Enjoyed this much more than Blue Lines.
just think how much better my blue lines review would be doing if i gave it the proper score of 4. i'm sorry, it was my second album, i was still calibrating!
Solid background music. It doesn't feel like it has a ton of substance, as much as it is just something to put on while you work on other things. The pacing is good and each song feels unique between the male and female vocals.
Not my style, so it is hard to rate it really.
Absolutely great album by Massive Attack. Still their 3rd best after Blue Lines and Mezzanine. Hear Tracey Throne at her best in Protection and Better Things. The only weak track is Heat Miser. The Euro Zero Zero track from the Singles collection is a much better version of this album’s Euro Child, but Euro Child is still good though it sounds a tad dated. Euro Zero Zero is a better, darker update if you enjoy this album and Mezzanine.
Great album but if there is going to be a second Massive Attack record on this list, it should be Mezzanine.
own
Really like this
This reminded me of a long road that leads nowhere. Sure, occasionally there's one or two pretty vistas to admire, but you inevitably end up resenting the journey you're on.
One of my favorite parts of this project is seeing how different my music taste from everyone else. I'm legitimately baffed that anyone could like this music because I didn't enjoy a second of it.
To preface, I do not believe this album was bad. It just did nothing for me. None of the songs stuck out as being exceedingly good or bad. There wasn't anything about this album I found inherently offensive, it just bored me. Vocals were fine and the music was as well. I just think "trip hop" is not for me. Electronica isn't my favorite, and I wasn't really getting much of the hip hop aspects from this album.
Some memorable Tracey Thorn treasures… the rest are just stale now.
I like a lot of Massive Attack, but this one fell a bit short for me.
Hey, chill out! This one isn't bad by any stretch, but is surpassed by what Portishead was doing at the same time, as well as what MA would do after this one. But there are some great tracks on here! Seems overly long too. A 3.
I can appreciate the poetic cacophony that is this album, but, it was… a lot…
p-good
Super stoked to see Massive Attack on here, was a little confused that it would be this album. Still solid though. I'm assuming this means we'll get Mezzanine as well.
The funky bits still feel fresh
Solid album, really enjoyed.
I was ready to go all in 5 stars on this but after revisiting- this was on fucking sophomore slump, huh?
I really dug the beats. I wasn’t a big fan of some of the vocalists but surprisingly that didn’t distract me from really enjoying this album.
Something about this grows on you. I didnt think I would like it at first and when I looked at my rating from last time I thought I was being generous but it actually is a 4 maybe even a 5. Fuck it - its a 5
Protection presents listeners with a beautiful composite of dub, rhythm and blues, and electronica. Massive Attack aided in pioneering a new sound of electronic music that would help shape the later years of the decade. Their unique inclusion of dub and trip hop melodies in their album help to set them apart from contemporaries like Portishead and provides flair that is unique to their style. The titular track "Protection" is as perfect as a smooth electronica ballad can get, while songs like "Karmacoma" showcase Massive Attack's ability to choose sonically distinct samples and put them into a groove. "Spying Glass" is a fantastically updated dub track that walks the line between traditional sounds and the bands stylistic bass. However, the cover at the end of the album is nearly unlistenable. Sweet jesus. It provides a valid reason not to listen to this album on repeat, but instead to restart at track one right after "Heat Miser" ends.
Wild that this is from 1994. Super ahead of its time. Was this the start of trip hop? Or at least what truly popularized the genre? Not the best Massive Attack album, but absolutely still essential.
I’m very new to trip hop, but this Massive Attack album seems like a stellar representation of the genre.
# 523 : Protection Zzzzz. BORED. More music to fall asleep by. Don't listen and drive! Hahaha. A two line bio, not much meat and just a sad dude with a synthesiser. 48 minutes of sadness. NOT very Massive and NOT much Attack ha! Sometimes this list feels like things are included just because they were really popular at the time, but does anyone actually still listen to this album? If I have to pick something: Karmacoma - was kind of alright. Listened: 14/07/2025
☀︎1: 3/5 ☀︎2: 2/5 ☀︎3: 2/5 ☀︎4: 3/5 ☀︎5: 2/5 ☀︎6: 2/5 ☀︎7: 2.5/5? ☀︎8: 2/5 ☀︎9: didn’t expect darth vader ☀︎10: 2/5 j’aime pas sa voix
Snooze fest
Absolute banger. I think Mezzanine is their apex, but this is as strong a lead-in as you could ask for. A masterpiece through and through.
💤
Bad
Kind of a mixed bag; there are both bangers and certified lullabies on this record.
(40 known/86 new)
So excited to see Tracey Thorn on this first track; big fan of Everything But the Girl! Elements I liked included the strings, the instrumentation in general. I liked the instrumental tracks (weather storm, heat miser). I’m not a huge fan of british rap it would appear. Looking forward to giving their Mezzanine album a listen. Generally enjoyed this one far more than Blue Lines. Adding it to my library for now, think it merits a few more listens.
Lowkey
Gefällt mir aber andere Alben gefallen mir immer noch besser von ihnen
Great Album
I love Massive Attack
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one but was pleasantly surprised. Whenever they had Tracey Thorn on vocals I enjoyed it but rest was mid at best. I was excited for the cover of Light My Fire but holy shit that sounded so bad. I would’ve cut that from the album.
not into it Will I listen to again: 0%
It’s ok. I enjoyed it as ambient background music but I don’t know that I would ever go back to it again.
I didn't particularly like this, but I can't say it was bad either.
Je me sentais comme dans un film noir, enveloppée mais sur le qui-vive
Favourite Tracks: Protection, Better Things, Euro Child, Light My Fire (Live)
I wish I could sometimes rate things as not impactful. So this wasn't bad, it was pretty, happening in the background. I went back to check in and I moved on to other songs that sounded so similar I just assumed it was the same album. So rating it is hard, I didn't dislike it, but nothing grabbed me and made me love it. It was just there, pretty but not impactful.
So this is trip hop? It's Pretty okay. I thought Spying Glass was a pretty cool reggae vibe thing. I did NOT like the Doors cover.
Protection houses my favorite Massive Attack song, Spying Glass. A perfect example of how great Trip Hop could and should be. Sleek, sensual vibes with mystery and a heavy bass groove. Chef’s kiss! Overall, this is a good album and it is a perfect distillation of the Trip Hop sound, but it is not as groundbreaking as their first, Blue Lines, or as perfect as their next and high dark masterpiece, Mezzanine. I’d say it’s their transition record and that is just fine by me.
I really love the atmosphere Massive Attack creates. It's mysterious and lush. It's like you're stepping into their world and wandering around admiring it. Not sure they really nailed Light My Fire, but it was cool to hear where they took it.
It was okay
This was great, first massive attack experience for me and it was definitely a great one, great production and instrumentals and the variety of songs was really nice and refreshing throughout. Favourites: protection, Karmacoma, weather storm, euro child and heat miser. That’s just highlights from a first listen though, there’s a lot to like about the rest of the songs aswell. Overall, 8/10.
I loved this album so much! It is so unique and unusual...
Perfect sound! Perfect group! Perfect album! Protection is a masterpiece. Better Things and Better Things are perfect. The others are great.
Kluven. Vill sätta en tvåa. Det här driver mig till vansinne. Det är inte nödvändigtvis dålig musik dock. Men jag hatar det ändå. Så meningslöst. Den usla covern får fälla avgörandet. Två!
Kanske inte fullt lika bra som Blue lines, men ändå en riktigt bra skiva. Kul med så stor variation i låtar och produktioner. Sista covern kunde man ha klarat sig utan.
Nicely produced. This is a slow, one paced album. Nothing wrong with slow, but it must hold your interest. The last three studio tracks were very good. The less said about the cover of 'Light My Fire' the better! 3 stars. Would I listen again? I have it, and I rarely listen to it. Would I buy this album? I did. For life of me I can't recall doing that. 1 "Protection" Dreamy. Nice sounds. Slow. - 3* 2 "Karmacoma" Good vocals and sounds. Catchy. - 4* 3 "Three" Slow Paced. Nice vocals - 3* 4 "Weather Storm" Lounge music? Didn't hold my interest. - 2* 5 "Spying Glass" A little Dub helps. Nice vocals. The music is a little more intertesting. - 3* 6 "Better Things" Nice vocals. Good bass line. - 3* 7 "Eurochild" Oh this is good. A little faster paced. Best track so far. This grooves. - 4 * 8 "Sly" Lovely smoky vocals. Nice rhythms. - 4* 9 "Heat Miser" Good soundscape. Pulsing electronic sounds, with lovely piano. It threatens to get to a crescendo but doesn't quite get there. 4* 10 "Light My Fire" (live) The version I have doesn't have this track. It's unnecessary and lacks the dynamics of the original. It's not very good. 2* Total Score 32 Average 3.2
honk shoo honk shoo mimimimimi
This is #day318 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... another case in point that this list can be a mess. Mezzanine should have taken this album's place, or better yet, they could have saved the slot for a different artist entirely. Blue Lines, which I got just a few days ago, is enough, and I rated it a 5. The sophomore has always been a bit of a hit or miss to me. It's an OK album, just not essential to be heard before you die. Two tracks with Tracey Thorn, "Karmacoma," "Weather Storm," and "Heat Miser" stand out, though. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day319.
Wasn’t expecting that doors cover at the end, interesting end to the album.
No thanks
Whatever the hell this is, it’s not for me. Felt like elevator music for a department store I definitely can’t afford to be in.
I thought I really liked Massive Attack. I enjoy the albums "Blue Lines" and "Mezzanine", but this one was just meh. Kinda boring - nothing really stands out. The only memorable thing is that awful cover of "Light My Fire" at the end.
I love this band, but I can't understand why you would include this one over Mezzanine. Protection is not bad by any means, it's a good record, it's just not the best. I understand the inclusion of the first record, but if there should be another record by them on this list, that one is, without a doubt, Mezzanine.
I have a, at this point, long written record of getting mad whenever any of this stuff comes up on the list. This time I groaned, put it on, and then thought “Hey this song is pretty cool. The singer is good, and it’s got a bit more dynamics than a lot of other recordings do, I like that” And then the second song came on and I was like Charlie Brown kicking the football. Massive Attack remains better than their peers, on the whole this is more like a 1.75, 2. But the experience of it was as 1 as it gets.
It's not for me
i agree with laura. fav tracks: protection
This was good background music but honestly not really as exciting to me as their debut that we heard earlier. This definitely feels like a different use of trip hop; this feels like it could mostly run in full as accompaniment in some public environment (maybe not an actual rave because most of the songs I think are too chill for that), whereas blue lines had specific songs I could latch onto that felt self-contained and could be heard in many contexts, so it’s harder for me to connect with an album like this. But I can certainly see the appeal and the sounds are layered and interesting. also that was a very cool live cover of light my fire at the end—leave it to tricky to figure out how to make that song bearable.
blegh
really enjoyed this one. Easy to listen to.
Classic. 5 stars
Sparse instrumentation somehow leads to claustrophobia, anxiety, and desperation. Truly stunning
hm
Favorite songs: protection, three, better things
Another weird album from the 90s.
wait loved!
super chillig. genau das richtige zum arbeiten :)
There are so many good songs by Massive Attack. Apparently this album does contain hardly any of them. I guess I just wanted Mezzanine and was disappointed by Protection. Still, Fav Track: Protection.
Classic Electronica masterpiece.
Good vibes, chill listening. Great instrumentals and vocal work! I feel like a lot of music from video games took notes from this page. 'Heat Miser' was my fave.
Despite this album being so far from my style, I really enjoyed how cinematic and hypnotic each song felt. Overall a very nocturnal soundtrack, somehow incohesive yet tied together, as if it were an anthology of different character's experiences of the same night in the city. However, I don't think the inclusion of the live final track adds anything, in fact I feel it takes away from the general feel. Although this isn't an album I see myself reaching for again and again, there are a handful of tracks I would play and recommend to friends.
Probably the 3rd best Massive Attack album after Mezzanine and Blue Lines. The title track is particularly good.
Weather storm is ok.. but not sure about the other tracks. When you saw an old secret decommissioned biological lab, you went “oh what a shame”, but you also knew it was not going to work at all. That’s probably when I’d like to revisit the album again.
Eh. Felt pretty heartless. Like people making music because they like the idea of being a musician. Felt similar to their last album in that it’s basically the same drum pattern throughout. Uninspired lyrics too imo. I honestly turned down the volume because it was more enjoyable in the distance.
i listened to this yesterday while on a bike ride, and already forgot what i listened to today when reviewing it. i remember it being just fine, but not certainly something i would go back to.
A totally different vibe than other electronic albums that we've had and much more laid back. Made for very good driving music and something I could play in the classroom as students work. I added a few songs to my library and I could see myself adding more if a gave the album a second listen.
Not what I was expecting at all. Some lofi beats with a different artist featured on every track. Definitely a cool listen, but I probably won't be coming back to it.
Interesting, just not always my cup of tea
good production on this, enjoyed a few tracks and a really good vibe
I think I’ve heard the title track before? Nice sounding album, but not my cup of tea.
Pretty good. Some really interesting stuff on here.
A standard of the genre. An easy listen.
Another decent, though not great album. And another slot that would be better given to Mezzanine.
This one failed to grab my attention. Wasn't into many of the songs. The one song Heat Miser with the piano and deep breathing sounds was plain weird. Just wasn't my taste in music. 2 stars.
Way I see it this is a low 4. I enjoyed the album straight through and all of the different styles explored and can listen to this end to end without issue, but I don't expect this to have the same lasting impression as Mezzanine has. Standouts for me included Spying Glass (love the dubby play), Euro Child, and Sly (I really enjoy Nicolette's entries here -- reminds me of another trip-hop artist called Elsiane).
Not at all what I was expecting from this album cover and an artist name like "Massive Attack" I expected punk or grunge or industrial. Best trip hop album that I have listened to. Very polished and well produced. It felt amazing on my ears, almost like it was comfy and cozy. Soft but powerful beats.
That was some trancy stuff right there. One of those electronic albums that just flows very well. Really never got sick of any song because they were all well done
Still waiting on Mezzanine! But damn this is slapping 4 songs in. Love the variety and nuance of it all. Easy 4 for me for sounding like it should've come out 10 years later.
I prefer "Mezzazine" but this is still a great record. Just not that much of a trip-hop fan as other people are. 6,75/10 fav songs : Weather Storm & Better Things
This was fine but nothing special.
It took more than one listen to get in the vibe of this album. Really liked Nicolette's vocal style.
More mellow than the Mezzanine album. Not bad, but not sure why this is a standout for this list.
Wouldn't normally listen to something like this, but found it an enjoyable listen. Very interesting rendition of "Light My Fire"...🤔 3
Yeah fine whatever.
The solid (massive) basses quickly bring you into a kind of trance. I suspect that if I listen to these basses for too long, I will get a headache.
Great album. Not as great as some of their other albums, but I can't give it less than a 4.5 and will leave it at 5 stars for this scale. The song "Protection" is just brilliant, classic, and a song I will never get tired of. The last few songs start to stumble a bit, particularly The Doors cover, but the rest of the album pulls everything up, to me.
Heard it before. The title track is like a warm hug. Overall I do love this album but it just ain't as good as Mezzanine 4/5
Simply not a fan. Its ok but really nothing good.
Simply sublime. The opening track, the title track, sung by Tracey Thorn, is one of my favourite songs of all time, the most dreamily beautiful song, with a languid beat and gorgeous vocals. Karmacoma, Eurochild, Sly, Better Things - all superb, Massive Attack at their imperious best. We didn't deserve this album, but we're sure glad it's here. I cannot believe it's over 30 years old now.
Brought me back to seeing them live which was an incredible gig
It's no mezzanine, but it's still great. Any song with Tracey Thorn singing on it I'm bound to like.
A solid Trip Hop album that didn’t quite land for me the way I hoped it would. Favourite Songs: Protection, Spying Glass, Euro Child. Least Favourite Songs: Karmacoma, Light My Fire (Live).
#588. Perfectly acceptable music flavored music. Let's be honest though, this was not so much a massive attack as it was a minor skirmish. 3/5: ok
Not bad to have on, but not terribly inspired by it either. Also, name of the band does not line up with the sound of the music. 2 or 3? Did not care for the Light My Fire cover.
Disappointed
Þetta var bara allt í lagi plata þótt hún sé ekki alveg það sem ég fíla. Ég þekkti nokkur lög sem mér líkaði við en restin náði ekki miklu flugi. Þannig að hún endar sem meðalplata sem ég býst ekki við að hlusta aftur á
Absolutely brilliant. Dark, funny electronica with a splash of John Barry and a bit of old school hip-hop and dub. Intricately detailed. Plods along in places but makes up for it in atmospherics and the variety provided by a proto-Gorillaz revolving door of vocalists.
This was excellent. Wonderful even. But also certainly not perfect, especially in comparison to Blue Lines and Mezzanine. But that’s a high bar so I can’t reallyyy expect an additional album from them of that high quality. It was still a great listen though with many standout tracks and great moments. The album as a whole was really cool too with a constantly changing vocalist and style. It didn’t feel super cohesive as a result but it sure did feel like Massive Attack so they at least did something right there. Edit: (4->5) still no Mezzanine or Blue Lines but that sure as hell does not stop this from getting the 5 it deserves. I’ve become a big sucker for trip hop and Massive Attack. Truly the goats.
⭐ My Rating: 4.7/5 Moody Shadows It’s darker than Blue Lines, but smoother. More refined. Like the part of the night where the party’s over but you’re still too haunted to sleep.
Protection is definitely an interesting electronic album of it's time. Every song felt very different from each other which mainly comes down to the fact that they had many different vocalists sing the songs like the usual suspects (aka the members of the band: 3D, Daddy G and Tricky) Tracey Thorn, Nicolette and Horace Andy with all of them having very different voices. I would say that the album itself is pretty good with it having some pretty good music even if it could get fairly repetitive and the vocals could become difficult to get used to at points. I still think that this album is a solid listen and i do enjoy it more than the first Massive Attack album. Best Song: Three Worst Song: Light My Fire
Odličan album za isključiti mozak i uživati. Jedino što meni fali je kontinuitet s vokalima ali to je baš lični problem.
This is good stuff, but I don't think it's as good as the awesome Mezzanine.
So, this is my first Massive Attack album? I would say I'm probably the first person in the world whose ever listened to Protection before Blue Lines or Mezzanine, but that's definitely not the case because of other people like me doing this project who didn't check out Massive Attack until getting an album of theirs from the project, and Mezzanine isn't even on the list, so we couldn't start with that one! Anyways, people say that this isn't their best album and I can kind of tell. With that said, I do like Protection quite a bit. Massive Attack is one of the biggest names in the trip hop scene, with the only name that even comes close being Portishead, who I have listened to an album from. That album, Dummy, was phenomenal. I love that album. Protection isn't as good, but it did evoke some of what I loved about Dummy, which I can now chalk up to being things that I like about trip hop as a whole. The production is probably the biggest part of this. Protection's production (try saying that five times fast) is great. It's got some good vibes. It's mostly chill, but you've got some slightly heavier parts of the album. The vocals are varied throughout the album, which I think is pretty cool. Some songs have more of a singing thing going on like Portishead, while others take more from hip-hop with the inclusion of fellow trip hop icon Tricky. The writing is somewhat interesting. The album's good. I enjoyed it and I am very intrigued to hear better albums of theirs. 4/5.
This was somewhat interesting but not compelling. I think the selection once again shows the UK bias on the part of the author of the 1001. I will give it three stars but it's barely that. So many other more interesting possibilities... how about Unkle "Psyence Fiction"?
like massive attack, first time checking out this release. still like the others more, but it was a very good listen