Reviews (page 4 of 13)
Good!!
This is in my wheel house. Surprised I had not listened to this before.
Always a pleasure to listen to this
The ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s just keep on coming, great stuff RGP. Tom.
Solid outing here from Massive Attack (possibly the greatest artist name of all time), just hoping Mezzanine is included at this point. 4/5
7/10
Thank you Bristol. 👍🏻
This was cool. I like how many different artists are included. It gives each track a different flavour. I think I enjoyed this a similar amount to the other Massive Attack album on the list, though I don't super remember it (but I see that I rated it 4 stars too). I really like Be Thankful For What You've Got and Hymn Of The Big Wheel.
I am now a certified Massive Attack fan, I don't know what makes me certified, other than that I am certain that I am a fan. I personally think Protection ranks above Blue Lines, and Mezzanine also sits above Blue Lines for me. However seeing how this was their debut, it still ranks high for its inventiveness and authenticity. These guys helped carve out a new genre, and I gotta give em props for doing so. 8.5/10
Chill album Standout songs: Blue Lines Daydreaming
Mi mejor descripción para el sonido de este álbum seria collage sonoro, y la verdad que es muy acertado ya que el género que nació a partir de acá es el Trip Hop, un género que fusiona un montón de sonidos de la electrónica con influencias del hip hop, el funk, el jazz y sobre todo el downtempo. Si bien es acá dónde se empieza a cocinar la cosa, más adelante se vería el punto más alto al que puede llegar este sonido (ej. Bocanada), así que es muy buen detonador, la canción que más destaca es Unfinished Sympathy, que nos da un adelanto de lo grandilocuente que puede llegar a ser.
favs: safe from harm, blue lines, five man army, unfinished sympathy
I feel like my memories of listening to massive attack (pretty much just mezzanine) are a bit more experimental and less straightforward chill trip hop rapping. My memory might be letting me down a bit, but this is less interesting than I expected. I still quite like it. The sounds are nice, the atmosphere they create is very laid back and the vocals suit it well. I feel like unfinished symphony is much more the sound I expected which seems obvious, but there you go. Though it does have a weird messy percussion part across it all which I've never noticed before. Yeah, the next tracks goes straight back to the other style. Symphony really stands out here. I like it, not quite what I expected in terms of sound, but similar in terms of feel. I suspect if I listen to mezzanine again I'd prefer it to this, but it's nice.
it's 3.75
I felt it was a mixed bag but then the highs were very high. A really unique sound that made me feel lots of differnt things.
I love trip hop and the Bristol scene as a whole. It inspired a wave of really interesting music that blends genres in an intelligent way, creating a cinematic and dark sound that can truly shake you. I associate Massive Attack with the word “layers,” and here you can hear the beginnings of all the elements that would later cement the band’s legacy. There’s the dark electronic atmosphere, moody basslines, hip-hop drums and scratches, minimalistic guitars, and even a sprinkle of reggae. My favorite songs are "Safe from Harm", "One Love", and "Unfinished Sympathy".
Classic, love this genre and this is in the top 5 from it along with Tricky and Portishead
Got already
Nice, this is very enjoyable. Always heard of this group, never got around to checking them out. Maybe Mezzanine once or something. But this debut is just a smooth listen, it’s almost like a playlist with the way it shuffles styles and vocalists, but it maintains this vibe throughout and that’s what ties it all together. I’ll definitely revisit this. Must-listen #318.
Interestingggg
Really good
Classic. A lot of good stuff here.
GENRE DEFINING
One of the most interesting Trip Hop albums I have heard. You have random hip hop songs, soul songs, dub songs and more but it all has that underlying trippy atmosphere and rhythms that are so characteristic for the genre. The best part is easily the drums which are so thick and crispy, sounds very satisfying. The vibe is immaculate, the whole record sounds like you're walking around an abandoned UK city in the middle of the night.
Had forgotten how influential this was, and how much Tricky was all over this album before he struck out more on his own. Trip hop before it was called that, with a couple of massive singles in 'Unfinished Sympathy' and 'Safe From Harm', and the rest holds up pretty well now, even 35 years later.
This album was actually pretty good.
I’m like it, especially the songs with Horace Andy and Tricky. I especially liked the last song, but probably won’t listen to the album again 4
top
Triphoppia tietenkin, mutta vähän ehkä iloisempaa sellaista. Siisti tunnelma kuitenkin. Räppiä aika paljon. Parhaat: Safe From Harm, Unfinished Sympathy
Pretty good, though I think Mezzanine is a better album from these guys
I like the bass-led song writing. Safe From Harm & Hymn of the Big Wheel Stood Out. The faithful cover of Be Thankful For What You've Got was fine but did not really add anything to that song. The original is an all time great song and perfect for the summer.
4/5 - I wasn't cool enough for this in 91, and I'm not cool enough for it now. I need to listen to more Massive Attack.
8/10
This is good. I can see where a lot of music I listen to gets its influence from now. I’d agree with most and say the mezzanine is better.
Personally I think Mezzanine was their best album but they could and probably should have had 3 on this list. Listening to this in full again I can see why it is so revered, it hangs together very well as a whole and has some stand out tracks, hard to believe it’s 35 years old, holds up really well and has clearly been a massive influence in the years following. 4.2
Very enjoyable. I liked the mix of different vocalists and the changes of pace. Relaxing and hypnotic.
I’ve never embraced its reputation as an influential, classic LP, but still a very strong album with some excellent, atmospheric, close to perfect songs. But it’s a little too R&B for me in spots and has at least two songs that are unlistenable. Would be a terrific like 7 song EP.
never listened to trip hop so listening to the beginings of its genre is truly awesome
Good album and new to me
Cooler Trip-hop
Great beats and grooves. I like the updated version of the classic Be Thankful For What You've Got. Liked Songs Added: Be Thankful For What You've Got Five Man Army
Classic of course
nice album, relaxing
Got a nice drive!! Moodbooster
Really liked this album. Very versatile, lots of interesting songs with different styles.
Great album. Very energetic and creative. I've not heard of this group before but I'm a fan now!
Blandar och ger, när Shara Nelson sjunger är det fantastiskt. Några låtar är klassiker annat är utfyllnad. Men en fyra måste det blir.
First album in 2 weeks that didn’t totally suck dick. 4 stars
I loved this album. I'm bummed I missed it the first time. Will definitely listen again
The first song sounds so cool and is a real highlight, but I think there's interesting stuff with listening to across the whole album. I can hear in this album stuff that I know from later that could've been influenced by this. I would definitely listen again.
MORE JAMAICA pls
Hey that was a cool vibe!
First listen I was not a fan but after 2-3 times thru I was really digging the lyrics and enjoying the beat. 6 out of 10
Surprisingly good, liked a few songs on here
Great way to spend a Friday afternoon. Its no Mezzanine but its still quality
Not their best one but still a good album
My earliest experience with trip hop and it was phenomenal!
Another blind spot I’m very much enjoying exploring-excellent. Diverse in sound. Great grooves. Loved it.
What a great time. Wonderful grooves.
So 90s it deserves to be in a time capsule. The different voices and styles throughout the album were fun
Me gusto el inicio, es algo diferente a lo que suelo escuchar. Me hubiera gustado empezar con un álbum del grupo que no tuviera ft, los instrumentales son muy interesantes. One love va a mí playlist Blue lines va a mi playlist Five man army va a mi playlist A medida que avanza el álbum se siente más familiar y relacionado con las cosas que me gustan.
fav songs: safe from harm blue lines five man army daydreaming hymn of the big wheel nocturnal, immersive, bass 75/100
Cool, prefer less hip hop MA albums
Solid 4 out of 5. Great background music
such a great album until the end. i wasnt feeling it. but maybe it will grow on me
great album a couple skips would listen to again though
A very good listen, I will need to go back to this one!
Great early EDM. A very nice mix of beats with a bit a fun lyrics.
Prior to listening to this I have 8 songs liked by Massive Attack - most are on Mezzanine - but none from this album. So I'm excited to dive into this. This is all pretty good. I generally like the songs with Shara Nelson singing the most. Was cool to see a little more melding in of rap and reggae on this album - as compared to the later Mezzanine album. After listening to this 3 times I ended up liking 7 of the songs. Was cool to read that this is considered the first "trip hop" album - though the band members don't really accept that label. Liked songs on Spotify: 7/9 Rating: 4/5
Best Track - "Unfinished Sympathy"
Unfinished Sympathy is timeless. I like some of the other tracks (safe from harm and big wheel) but it doesn’t maintain the quality through the whole album. It is still an important and high quality album.
It’s a classic of the genre and holds up well but doesn’t have the same consistent quality of ‘mezzanine’ for me. ‘Unfinished sympathy’ is by far and away the standout track and still sounds unique. I do like the bass forward nature of many of the songs (‘safe from harm’, ‘be thankful for what you’ve got’), drawing from 70s funk and soul in its own way. Very vibey, but sympathy aside doesn’t quite reach the pinnacle.
Had never listened to this album before even though I knew of Massive Attack for a long time. This was a great listen, easy four stars.
Музыка хорошая, атмосфера тоже передается. Но одно и тоже, нету каки-хто переходов. Вокал тоже отличный. Впервые познакомиоась с жанром трип-хоп, он импонирует мне. Однако альбом прям в душу не западает. Твердая 4 из 5
Top album
Sacré classique, mais comment ça Mezzanine est pas sur la liste ?
Safe from Harm One Love Blue Lines Five Man Army Daydreaming Hymn of the Big Wheel 4.5/5 - Great album - very easy to get lost in the production. Sonically pleasing and will be added to my rotation of albums I will be revisiting.
Another really solid album from the Attackers. Maybe not quite as enjoyable as their previous album, but I'm sure there is some bias because now I am expecting them to be good. Hymn of the Big Wheel was great. I think this one lands in the low 4 category because I am interested in relistening one day.
Pretty vibey cool electronic, i remember liking their other album a good amount too. Glad they were able to include some hilarious wanker singing which always cracks me up. This is a lower 4 but definitely couldn't be a 3
Ooh really liked this - true triphop vibes, as is only listened to mezzanine and some other albums that are maybe more trip less hop.
Top 3: 1. Safe From Harm 2. Unfinished Symphony 3. Be Thankful For What You've Got Least Favourite: Blue Lines
not what i expected at all but quite fun!
‘Safe from Harm’ is a great album opener. The track with Tricky, ‘Blue Lines’ is a groovy snapshot of 90’s u.k. hip hop and black british culture. An essential trip hop album- 4/5(10.02.2026)
Its alright, alwats wanted to listen to it, expected more, had some great moments, respectful samples and innovitive for those times
Not my favorite massive attack album, but still good. Less ethereal than I like.
Good production and interesting melodies made this one of the better albums on this list so far. Definitely deserves a slot here.
The O.G trip hop album, still sounds fresh. Album opens with a banger, has a slight lull, then from Five-Man Army onwards, every track is brilliant.
Planned to listen Massive Attack for a very long time and was very pleased with this first impression. A hip-hop soul reggae electronic mixture comes at you like a huge wave. Great music for a heist movie.
cool in so many ways
not my favorite release from these guys BUT a great album nonetheless!!!!
Coldplay left me well, cold
It laid the groundwork for better albums to come along (Portishead's Dummy springs to mind) but still good
I already really enjoy Massive Attack, so this was an easy listen. I have never listened to this album from start to finish however and it works so well - feels like a journey in an alternative timeline where you're apart of an underground rebellion against a tyranical system. loved it!
Liked!! Super chill and very interesting. I'll be checking out more Massive Attack.
Top notch trip-hop. Sexy, spooky, and engaging for every minute of its runtime. A genre staple.
I can't imagine this not being a genre-defining record. The opening baseline hooked me, and I was fully onboard with my intro to trip hop from there. That being said, there's no doubt this genre isn't for everybody. It is distinctly 90's and distinctly British, in a way that might turn off some listeners. Sharon Nelson and Tricky especially shine here, merging two genres effortlessly. It's a tight and innovative genre piece from a decade that was full of experimentation, and it absolutely deserves a place on this list. That being said, there are a few too many tracks, especially in the second half, that didn't stand out among the rest. 4.5 Highlights: Safe From Harm Blue Lines Daydreaming
Awesome
Pínu lame rapp en fær samt prik fyrir að vera brautryðjandi. Hljómurinn er feitur og unfinished sympathy er auðvitað meistarastykki.
Alltaf jafn svalt.
Another great album discovered. Didn’t know this is what Trip hop is. The amount of little micro samples really brought an extra layer to the production of the record. Will definitely be return to this and maybe even pitching my brothers vinyl
I know nothing about Massive Attack other than that they were referenced in a top 5 list in High Fidelity. When I saw that movie in the theater I felt like a bit of an ignoramus for not knowing who that was. 25 years later I've hung there in my ignorance. TIL NOW. It was pretty good. But British people rapping is always something I have a hard time taking seriously. It's called implicit bias and I take ownership of it.
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Near Perfect - The bassline straight from the start: wow! Massive Attack craft such great sounding albums and are probably my favourite electronic act ever.
I love Massive Attack
pretty good
Not bad!
This album had a good overall vibe to it. Considered one of the first true trip hop albums, this had some good tracks on it that were smooth and easy to listen to. Unfinished Sympathy was probably the best track. While I'm not sure that it being declared on several of the greatest albums of the 90s/ever is fully warranted, it certainly is good and I am glad to have listened to it.
Wasn't really my type of music but was really enjoyable
Damn...this record is a vibe! Widely regarded as the very first trip hop album (a blend of hip hop and dub), Massive Attack's debut record, 'Blue Lines', possesses plenty of restraint, but offers plenty of tasteful character to keep you enthralled from start to finish. The strength is in the arrangements. The rap parts are hushed yet glistening with groove. the bass plays a critical support role in ensuring the songs never lose their swagger, and keyboards interlock with DJ trickery to add plenty of colour and atmosphere to the tunes. There's also plenty of impressive vocal performances here, not only through regular Massive Attack vocalists 3D, Tricky and Daddy G, but especially guest vocalists Shara Nelson, Horace Andy and Tony Bryan. With a near-perfect blend of singing and rapping, 'Blue Lines' never really loses its flow. The clear highlight on this record is 'Unfinished Sympathy', a record that is not only packed with atmosphere through a moving strings arrangement, but incorporates plenty of trippy effects to ensure it fits with the rest of the album, not to mention Nelson's vocals are incredible here. I also dig 'Daydreaming', 'Safe From Harm' and 'Be Thankful for What You've Got',all of which are groundbreaking examples of the trip hop genre, a genre as synonymous with the 90s as grunge or rave. 'Blue Lines' is quite outstanding for a debut record, and it would ensure Massive Attack stuck around as a prominent musical force throughout the 1990s. A later song of theirs, 'Teardrop', would eventually become the theme for the popular medical drama 'House', so the strength of their debut was only the beginning for them. Best songs: Safe From Harm, Be Thankful for What You've Got, Unfinished Sympathy, Daydreaming
beautiful
I like this one, very nice Will I listen to again: 94%
great
Sounds a little sandy, but I do like it better than the last album.
Fantastic listen. I read that they wanted to make "dance music for the head, rather than the body", and I think that just means it's for people who can't dance but want to know how it feels. Which is me. Not sure how often I'll revisit it, but thats due to personal taste rather than quality
Never heard a full album, but wow, was very good
easy listening. i like massive attack so this was a good one
Chill and some good tracks, if not my favourite of them.
still crazy that we got 2 massive attack but no mezzanine
Hard to give an album with Unfinished Sympathy on it anything less than a 5, but there are a couple of duffers.
Excellent walking in Mexico City album.
Done
Heard some of the hit songs from this album but never the whole thing. I enjoyed it but don't think I'll come back to it often.
Powerful album, a soundtrack to my youth 4 - great even among this list
More like a 3/5 personally, but I recognize the musical talent on display here and it does make for great easy listening.
pretty good stuff!
Heat
Yesssss. Love this. Revolutionary, chill, cool. Just great to listen to.
Goede sfeermuziek
Had never heard of this and went in with low expectations, but boy did this one surprise me. Such smooth and enjoyable listening, I really enjoyed this one. I'd never delved too deep into trip hop, but after hearing this I'll have to give it more of a listen.
Chill soul with touches of rap. Vocals, particularly the rap ones) seem somewhat down in the mix whereas the music seems to take the top. Quite listenable. 4.
Pretty easy listen. Quite enjoyed it.
I really only know Mezzanine, so I was looking forward to this one. Trip hop isn’t my favorite, but I am gaining appreciation for it. This is the first trip hop album, so it definitely belongs here, but how the fuck did they leave Mezzanine off the list altogether?
Legend of an album
idk why I thought Massive Attack was a punk band? I keep saying this about different artists and I need to stop doing this to myself. this was a good album though. trip hop at its best
Good background vibes - honestly enjoyed way more than I thought I would
This is fucking groovy. I have been overlooking this band for way too long and am now a fan
Had never heard of this and went in with low expectations, but boy did this one surprise me. Such smooth and enjoyable listening, I really enjoyed this one. I'd never delved too deep into trip hop, but after hearing this I'll have to give it more of a listen.
You know, it's one thing for a band or artist to have one album on the list and have it be "the wrong one" for the list. System of a Down, Gorillaz, Queens of the Stone Age, Daft Punk, this is nothing new. But for a band to have two albums on this list and neither of them are the masterpiece? That's insane. So... Massive Attack, am I right? This is my second album of theirs that I've generated for the album project after getting Protection last May, but it's actually the third album of theirs that I've heard! Yes, in the time between me listening to Protection and now, I did, in fact, listen to Massive Attack's 1998 magnum opus, Mezzanine, and it was absolutely worth the hype. That album is so freakin' good! It would easily be a 5 if it was on this list, but it's not. I guess I'll save that 5 for if someone puts it on the user list eventually. For now, we get to talk about their 1991 debut, Blues Lines. Obviously, it's not quite as good as Mezzanine, but it's still pretty great. I'd go as far as to call it better than Protection! But yeah, for being a debut album, Blue Lines is a pretty strong showing. The trip-hop vibes are still as refined as ever, which is remarkable for this being what is widely considered to be the first album in the whole genre. I did notice a slightly stronger dub/reggae influence here than on later albums, which I'm not against. Of course, an album like this only works if it has good songs. Fortunately, Blue Lines has some great songs. All of them are good, but the highlights for me are easily "Safe From Harm" and "Unfinished Sympathy." The former is a captivating opener with a sick bass groove, and the latter is super chill and a little jazzy and I love it. The others are all quite good though. The album is pretty consistent in that regard. The vocals are varied but always good as well. For being the first trip-hop album, Blue Lines is an impressive blueprint for later albums to follow. While I feel that the genre would be improved upon in later albums like the aforementioned Mezzanine as well as Portishead's Dummy, Blue Lines is still great to go back to. It hasn't aged poorly in the slightest. Strong 4/5.
Less explicit rap/hip-hop , easy listen. Like mf doom X Tyler X Stevie wonder X Alicia keys.
Woah okay. I was definitely not expecting this sound from the cover and title. This is so vibey. I wanna listen to this while staring at the ceiling at 4 am. This is so deep. I'm swaying. That was so good I actually wanna play that around people so they're embarrassed their music taste isn't as good as mine. Favourite: Blue Lines/Be Thankful For What You've Got Least favourite: Unfinished Symphony
Really liked this album. Didn’t realize l knew Massive Attack until “Unfinished Sympathy”. Definitely added to playlist.
This album is nothing I usually listen to but it is cool and a great vibe. I don’t see myself listening to it a ton but I might put some songs on a playlist.
So it turns out- I really enjoy trip hop. Makes me feel like I’m in a dark murder-show set in London in the late 90s/early 2000s. FOUR STARS
One of my favorite bands
En vrai très stylé !
- This is a modern British classic. So many iconic, beautifully poised moments, from the bouncing opening bassline of Safe From Harm to the bright Gospel of the Hymn Of The Big Wheel, via lurching sampled horns of One Love, Tricky's delicate rapping on Blue Lines and Shara Nelson's frosty vocals on Lately. - I personally never clicked with Unfinished Sympathy but it IS an incredible and momentous track. - For me, it's a fantastic record that established the Massive Attack blueprint, balancing bold, defiant simplicity with glorious attention to detail. The best was yet to come, though; their masterpiece would be Mezzanine, seven years later.
I’m not as into trip hop as I used to be but this was cool
Highlights Safe from harm Unfinished Symphony- both superb Blue lines (I love tricky also) Five man army Day dreaming Only a 4 as I know they have released better still
Such a banger. A couple light misses but this was so close to a 5 other than that. This album exudes swag. Trench coat industrial punk detective. Favorite Track: Five Man Army
8/10
I really liked this album. Each song was so different from the next and it kept me guessing on the genre. I've never listened to anything like this before.
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I’m not usually a big fan of hiphop and electronic music but I really enjoyed Blue Lines especially Shara Nelson’s vocals.
Massive Attack fucks, the sonic palette is like the soundtrack to Guy Ritchie and David Fincher’s collaborative porno
alright, alright
Not my exact taste, I enjoyed some of the songs more than others.
Wow, j’ai bien aimé mon expérience! Messemble leurs autre album était mid, faudrait que je revisite, parce que celui-là m’a bien fait groover
Vibe imaculada.
Massive attack has been one of my favourite artists for a few years now. So I’ve listened and re-listened to a lot of their discography, this album being no exception. It’s probably my second favourite by them beaten only by Mezzanine which to me is a near perfect album. So it’s not too surprising that this gets a rating of 4
- "One Love": Some interesting stuff with the instrumental at times that I really like - "Blue Lines": Liking the flow here. This one is keeping me more engaged than the other tracks I've heard so far. Fave contender + added to playlist. - "Five Man Army": Another one where I like the flow, also the reggae (i think?) sound. Added to playlist. - "Unfinished Sympathy": Ooh, very interesting instrumental. Also love the vocals and the overall energy of the song (especially compared to the rest of the album which has been pretty down low so far). Def adding to a playlist and fave considerations. - "Daydreaming": Pretty interesting. The "If I was a rich man" bit got a chuckle out of me. - "Hymn of the big wheel": Feels very disjointed from the rest of the album, way too different. Also, not my vibe at all, low point of the album. - Okay, so I was somehow under the impression that Massive Attack leaned more into heavier stuff (I had heard only a couple songs beforehand), so I was in for a huge surprise with this album. At first, I also felt like I was gonna be pretty bored by this, but I got into the groove of it as it went on (maybe I had to first get over the whiplash caused by my preconceptions) - Coming up with a rating for this is difficult, because I felt like it had higher highs and lower lows compared to the other albums I've listened to so far. While I wasn't vibing with all of it, the songs that I liked, I *really* liked and can see them becoming stables in my rotation.
You can drive a truck through that leading (line spacing) on the cover and right into the flammable background of this Massive Attack debut. And, while the lyrical theme or through line can be a bit wobbly, the groove is undeniable. Head nodding all around.
Loved it. Some absolute classics, especially as I am in Bristol.
8/10 - Somehow reminds me of Portishead meets Tribe. Cool sound with some great songs. Feels like it was ahead of its time or at the beginning of the chill hop/Lo Fi scene.
This album is consistently really good with a handful of songs that are really great. I love the vibes on this album, it feels dark but uplifting at the same time. Strong 8/10
Day 4 of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die with @marmeu. I was expecting more. I don't know why, but I actually was expecting quite a bit from this album even though I had never heard anything close to it ever before, and I knew that going in— But it slightly disappointed me. This was still, a very weird album, which I'm pretty sure is what its trying to achieve. Overall, this did a solid job at doing that though. It's still a good project. 80/100
Birth year. Top 20 probably.
Was expecting “Angel” and “Teardrop”. This was very different in a good way.
3.5 out of 5. Unpopular opinion, but this is not my favorite Massive Attack album. That goes to Mezzanine. However, still a great album with some really good standout tracks.
The raps and rhymes feel dated but the music is still top notch. Over very good album I really like.
Oikein chilliä!
Meni od prva tri najlošiji ali i dalje pun klasika
So much love for Unfinished Sympathy...
Better than Coldplay
Songs I Liked - One Love - Unfinished Sympathy - Daydreaming* - Hymn Of The Big Wheel
Enjoyable, dub / grunginess. Nothing spectacularly memorable.
w album, although i did not give it my best best attention, it was a great background soundtrack. blue lines (the track) is comparable to something by a tribe called quest. besides the mellow vocals and chill instrumentals make it a whole vibe
I mean, it's no 'Mezzanine', but Massive Attack does their specific flavor of trip-hop far too well for me to even bother drawing the unnecessary comparison. Mostly listened to this during a long drive home today, and it really chilled me the fuck out during that frustrating experience, something that I was already expecting before throwing this on. 'Five Man Army' was an early highlight. I really loved the back and forth between the two emcees here; it also made me realize that I've never really appreciated UK rap from the early '90s before. The bass sound on the song is paramount, but I'd almost say that's the case for most of the other songs here. All my comments about this song could just as easily apply to 'Daydreaming', which sounds like some lost UK-ATCQ track. 'Unfinished Sympathy' is maybe the grandest-sounding thing here, with the sweeping string section elevating these already emotive vocals to even greater heights. My ultimate favorite track had to be 'Hymn Of The Big Wheel' though, just an all-around motivational high-point on the album, and an immaculate closer. I wasn't familiar with Horace Andy, but the way his vocals hover over this droning instrumental on the verses before it all brightens up on the chorus nearly brought me to tears. As expected with these guys, it's a bit all-over-the-place, but I'd say that's pretty ahead of its time for '91 specifically. It really feels like the shape of hip-hop to come with all its interesting fusions.
Snoop and Wiz Khalifa definitely ripped the opening of "Blue Lines" for "Young, Wild & Free." This album was certainly groundbreaking, but I don't know if I love the direction that it took hip-hop.
Idk they trying to be cool and somehow they definitely succeed.
Massive Attacks so sick man. Should have put a bug on the cover tho.
Not a huge Massive Attack fan (so far), but damn, this was a great album. Not all tracks are my favourites, but it's definitely a 4+. Too many songs which I would skip in subsequent sessions to rate it as a 5, though.
Good trip hop
I can dig it
Not my thing but interesting experience none the less. Cool album, I had a good time
Blue Lines is not only slick but it's smart, this debut from Massive Attack really packs a punch for a new and interesting song no one had played with before. This album truly kickstarted the godly streak that was TripHop music from 1994 to 1998. This is very much a more traditional TripHop release that follows a textbook definition of the genre: A psychedelic mix of HipHop and Electronica. As much as I love Massive Attack I do want to point out one flaw with this project, it's extremely front loaded and the back half is a bore. I don't mean that to be harsh but I want to be honest, people really overlook the second half because of how good the first half of this album is. I think this is a solid start for the group but nowhere near their potential for this time.
Massive Attack is special! I enjoyed this album. It is a great combination of hip hop and soul!
While somewhat dated, this clearly led the way for a lot of music. I liked the sampling, the features, and the production. I am happy I finally listened to this.
Original trip-hop can be pretty great. I find it's at its best when it's electronic in production but draws from real sounds. 'Safe From Harm' has the cleanest bass sound and nicest drums you could want. 'Hymn other Big Wheel' keeps out of the way of a really excellent vocal performance (Neneh Cherry). The rest is largely good but those two tracks stand out for me. The closer ('Big Wheel') is the high point for me, but my experiences with Massive Attack are all coloured by first hearing 'Tear Drop' (from Mezzanine, six years hence), which is a song of such staggering beauty as to throw my whole sense of the group off-kilter. It's a tare error in scientific parlance. This album is often credited as founding a genre. You should listen to it. The rapping isn't very good but the rest is. The best of Massive Attack will put you into a pleasant trance and some of this record will do that. Remember the context of 1991 when you listen to this: communication was still one-to-one, unless you published a zine or owned a platform. Raves were a secret. The Berlin Wall had just fallen. Thatcher and Regan/Bush had overseen ages of austerity but the economies were recovering and young and working people didn't know that that would mean, but there was both hope and cynicism. And there was also Massive Attack, blending R&B and band-based dance music with the electric stuff that had developed over the previous two decades. It was very novel and very effective, especially as the group coalesced in 80's Bristol. Anyway, 4/5. Hopefully Mezzanine comes up later - I think that might be a 5.
of its time but US is a timeless classic
I really liked most of this. Looking forward to digging deeper into them.
I was slow to get to Massive Attack in the early 90s, but when I finally got there, the mash up of genres and collaborations wowed me. In many ways, a groundbreaking album, and arguably not their best.
Had not heard before. Surprised as thought it wouldn't be for me. Really liked it. Each track was something new/different and will def re visit.
A classic. Amazing songs.
I don’t listen to this album as much as mezzanine. But it really is great. 1991 as well, compared to what else was going on in music at that time this album must have felt wild.
Well this is certainly vibey and cool. I don't know if it's groundbreaking or incredibly special, but I definitely enjoyed it. Great cocktail bar vibes or for a rainy day. Listened to most of it while walking the dog on a lovely fall afternoon and it was awesome. Side note - when this album finishes, Spotify will autoplay some really chill, groovy tracks. Great music for working or just staring out the window.
Not a big fan of this genre, but was a good listen. I'll definitely go back for another round.
Fun album! Introduced me to trip hop
Classic album, Unfinished Sympathy and Hymn of the Big Wheel my favourites but not a weak track on here. Still, for me not quite as good as Mezzanine so only 4/5.
i would say this album is a 4 more than it’s a 3
Album has a clean and fresh sound, unique to the electronic genre. Also Unfinished Sympathy is a 5 star track. Favorite track: Unfinished Sympathy other picks: Safe from harm, be thankful, five man army
little rough but ill check again
An album that I never really listened to at the time or in the years following, despite being fully immersed into leftfield and Portishead at the time. On first listen, I was not overly drawn into this album. It was okay, with a few tracks that I connected with. On the whole though, I was actually a little bit disappointed. I was expecting more. Has it been overhyped?. Don't get me wrong. It is still a good album, but not as amazing as I was expecting. On a second listen, I noticed a few of the intricacies that I maybe missed. I was still a little disappointed. At the same time, the album still warrants 4 stars. Blue Lines and Five Man Army were the out and out notable songs. Be thankful for what you've got was the out and out worst song. 4 Stars
Very english. Incredibly english. Despite it all, pretty good.
A lot of people say this is the album that defined trip-hop, which makes it very influential, as inspiring for me. The album feels smooth, hypnotic, hazy, and laidback but also deeply reflective and introspective. It’s the kind of record that feels like nighttime music. The production is incredible as well very detailed. Aggressive bass lines throughout the album, immediately sets a very direct tone. It blends elements of hip hop with breakbeats, sampling, and rapping, along with soulful vocals, reggae, dub, soul, jazz and ambient textures. There’s a heavy atmospheric undertone, a very crisp snare and straight to the point drum beats. All of these elements come together to create a sound I really enjoyed. It’s good at being immersive background music or the full focus of your attention. That said some songs are a hit or miss for me, some songs I didn’t really like, while the majority however are definite standouts. Favourite tracks: Safe From Harm, Blue Lines, Thankful for What you've Got, Five Man Army, Unfinished Sympathy, Hymn of the Big Wheel
Really liked this album, didn’t think I needed to skip any. For being electronic it had a lot of range, some songs had sounds very much like something you'd hear from The Roots, Toto, and Enya (or from that time). Good album overall, would recommend.
I've never heard Massive Attack until I listened to it for this site. I really liked this music, looking forward to hearing more of them
I like this more than Mezzanine. Astonishingly beautiful album. Exudes concrete soul. I actually enjoyed every song on here. You got the heavyweights in "Safe From Harm", and "Unfinished Sympathy", but the tracks in between don't drop that far in comparison to them, so it doesn't become a chore to listen to them. I love the vocal deliveries on this. A perfect mix of nocturnal lurking of trip-hop on some tracks (on which they would build their sound on later records), and sunshine soul. Even the lyrics are good if you get into that part of the album. I believe there isn't a single person on this planet who listened to this album that found every track boring. The only gripe I have is that Five Man Army is an amazing track that gets stale because of the length, but trip-hoppers will like that prolonged instrumental.
Very of the era - enjoyable listen.
Funky and goth at the same time.
An absolute phenomenal album!! Classic in every way! Grooves out of this world!
Fedt album. Slutter på klart det fedeste nummer
Virkelig smooth, fed plade, ikke lige så god som Mezzanine. Sikke en serie af bangere vi har fået på det sidste!!
Trip hop legends make a fantastic album, shocker, I think mezzanine has higher highs by just a bit but this is still amazing!
Impact is blunted by the army of inferior followers, but still a classic.
Thank you god and jesus for massive attack
Super chill! Brought me back to a time.
Ikkje like bra som mezzanine
Hypnotic night time music
Iconic cover. Legendary influence. Blue Lines basically invented trip hop, and it still sounds fresh for something that dropped in 1991. The production is dark, slow-burning, and full of atmosphere. Hip-hop, soul, and dub all mashed into something that didn’t exist before. "Safe From Harm" opens the album perfectly. Heavy groove, smoky vibe, total statement of intent. "One Love" doesn’t hold up as well; the vocals feel flat. "Blue Lines" pulls it back with a smooth, almost jazz-rap flow that fits the mood perfectly. "Five Man Army" slows things way down, maybe too much. Not bad, just kills the energy a bit. Then you hit "Unfinished Sympathy," and the whole thing levels up. That song feels like it came from the 00's. The album isn’t perfect, but it changed the game. It laid the foundation for everything that came after. 8.5/10.
Pretty damn good! Chill, great production, and mellow raps and singing.
Very smooth hip hop
3.8/chill. kind of feels like they're on the edge of something crazy coming in each song. also a great vibe for like, racing game lobbies.
This one shocked me. What a vibe. I'd never heard of this album before but throwing it on was a treat. Very pleased
Kids, I must have been having a bad day when I first reviewed this but it’s actually quite very good. So yeah.
Ranking purely in comparison to Mezzanine. Solid album but doesn't quite hit as well as Mezzanine.
When I saw this was an electronic album from the 90s, I was a little worried that it would be like other electronic albums from that era. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't sound like those. This was a solid listen.
86/100. Blue Lines by Massive Attack is yet another impressive record from the British group. While I personally prefer Mezzanine, this album still stands out as extremely good. The mix of trip hop, soul, and hip hop creates a unique and inviting sound that really draws you in. As Massive Attack's debut album, Blue Lines laid the foundation for the trip hop genre, blending moody beats with soulful vocals and rhythmic hip hop elements. Even if it doesn't hit the same notes as Mezzanine for me, its creative mix of styles and innovative production make it a rewarding listen.
𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 captures the smoky, late-night pulse of Bristol in the early ’90s — where hip-hop, dub, and soul collided to form something entirely new. Massive Attack created a sound that feels both urban and intimate, smooth yet heavy with atmosphere. 𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 remains the centerpiece — lush, emotional, and timeless — while the rest of the album drifts between cool detachment and deep introspection. A landmark debut that still defines what trip hop means.
I liked this a lot. Never heard of the band before or any of their songs, but the interplay of instruments, electronics made a cool atmosphere
Hadn't been familiar with this one outside of Unfinished Sympathy (which is fantastic) but this is such a novel mix of styles and genres and has such a unique flavor. I think I like the tracks with more of a dark/foreboding/minor key atmosphere, the opening song is just immaculate in this regard with the pulsing baseline, the vocal, and the synths providing the overall mood. Great stuff. The rapping/flow does sound a bit dated at times but then I remembered it was 1991 and the hip hop scene was pretty nascent in the UK. Although their sound would certainly develop further in later works this is a pretty great debut.
Suena antiguo, pero suena bien
80/1089 Not what i expected, based on the name alone i expected some britpop/rock so was pleasantly surprised to get some vibey elctronic trip hop some really nice vocals production and flows on this album that i’m keen to return to. faves: Daydreaming, Unfinished Symphony, Blue Lines, Safe From Harm 4 stars or 71/100
I’m digging this a lot!! Maybe I’m slowly becoming open to more dance/electronica music. This was great
Massive trip-hop master
No thank you
Some good songs on this album.
So much trip hop on this list....but this is well deserved. 'Daydreaming', 'One Love', 'Be Thankful For What You've Got' are the favorites here. 4.5 stars, just because it doesn't have immediate replay-ability for me.
It's been a run of surprising albums. I thought I knew Massive Attack but apparently I didn't. I even saw them live at Coachella a million years ago and all this time I remembered their music to be more industrial like Nine Inch Nails or something. But I was waaaaay off. I didn't realize their music was so soulful. Ok, just checking the lineup from the year they did Coachella, it was the same night as Tool. So either I am mashing their music together because I heard them so close together... or I never even saw Massive Attack and I'm confusing them with Tool.
3.75 Stars. The singing and the rapping sound like 1991, but nothing else does; I found that really interesting. It has a certain sound to it that I wasn't sure about at first, but I would say this still sounds fresh and unique today.
Very innovative blending of different genres. Didn’t sound at all dated but the songs started sounding the same after a while. Really enjoyed it though and great melodies and vocals.
Banger
like
I liked most of this but some stands out much more.
I was not quite expecting this from a British album. The beats are good, catchy, and honestly very convincing all around.
I’ve been going back to a lot of the Trip Hop classics from 95-05ish for the past couple of months, it seems that 1001 is in the same mode recently for our group. Blue Lines along with most of Massive Attack’s catalog is top tier in this genre. I feel like Mezzanine has a little more depth to the mix but I do love the drums being up front on this album. The many dark ambient layers are there but on this albums but they’re pushed back a bit so the drums and vocals can take the forefront. Excellent album for times of focus or relaxation. I’d give it a 4.5
Trip-hop icons. We've had a few of these trip-hop albums on this list. Sure beats Elvis Costello... My favorite on here is Blue Lines. Sounds like it could be on a Digable Planets album, plus it has Tricky, who I saw live in 97. 4
Ahead of its time! I like trip hop and I guess some claim this one kicked the whole genre off. That being said I don’t think it’s their best album. Dig the bass heaviness of “safe from harm” and the dubnovertones and Horace Andy’s deep bellows on “five man army” the most.
That was better than I expected. I don't think the lyrics were all that great, but the beat is what makes this album.
Not a bad album but not my favorite genre. I was looking for the hit on track 3 or 4 but it was a cover song.
A pleasant experience. Way better then most of the later trip hop.
daora
Mind blowing production and arrangements, and still as amazing and influential as ever.
it was godo!
hell yeah
It’s unfortunate that this album has to compare itself with its little sister Mezzanine but it’s very good in its own right.
Not my favourite from massive attack, but happy to hear this in the list. Was a great listen, haven’t done it for this album in years. Fingers crossed for more MA in the list.
Very groovy, this album was such a mood. Loved it.
A really solid album, it’s crazy. This is the first of its kind. I love the effort they put into it and even how they basically created an entire genre. Not every track resonates with me 100%, it’s so close to being a five, but it’s a really solid effort that I definitely want to revisit.
Cool album, would listen to more. Felt pretty varied
I loved this Album and didn't realize that Massive Attack was the founder of trip-hop, which is a fav genre of mine.
After listening to this album, I'm definitely going to look more into trap hop. While I don't think I'll return to this album much, I like the style and people online day this album was the original of trap hop
Real good. Trip hops debut album was a good listen
Great stuff.
Unfinished Sympathy has such Moby and Pet Shop Boy vibes. That one goes on my playlist. Otherwise, the album is fine. Each song could be a minute shorter and the album would be better, but it's not to the extent that I had to skip anything. Album gets a 4 for Unfinished Sympathy.
This was very good. Unfinished Sympathy is great and the rest was very enjoyable too. A few more listens and this could definitely come into regular rotation for me. Very easy and vibey to listen to.
classic album the start of a good run of albums from MA
It's so nice and chill I almost wanted to study for an exam or something.
Massive Attack is always a joy to listen to. This may not be my favorite album by then but it’s still fantastic and well worth the listen.
Fun bit of trip hop, can’t fault it really
Hvorfor føles det her album så kort? Jeg har aldrig hørt hele albummet før, men kun de store numre som er for vilde. Skal jeg have noget med hop, så må det godt være trip-hip.
Nogle helt fantastiske tracks og nogle der bliver lidt ligegyldige.
trip-hop, downtempo (yeah I could groove to this in the lounge.) yes: 1 (definitely, banger start!),2 (another banger),4,5,7,8,9 no: maybe: 3,6 4 stars...I will listen to this album again. But I might think of skipping a couple tracks...who knows what mood I'm in.
i like it cause its different
Smooth relaxing album with lot of different influences. Seems like something I would have on in the background while just relaxing at home.
I'm generally a Massive Attack fan, though I have to admit this is a bit dated to me. But I've never actually listened to this record in sequence, so no regrets there.
Already knew 1. Safe from Home 6. Unfinished sympathy 7/10
pretty good no real stand out songs for me
Some lovely trip hop with a bit of British weirdness. Recognized the "diamonds in the back" section of "Be Thankful for What You've Got" from the Ludacris song! Have always loved "Unfinished Sympathy", "Daydreaming" slapped immediately.
This album is like sitting in your lounge with a couple of friends, having a deep conversation while drinking a rich bodied merlot and eating fine camembert cheese. It is a quiet night and it doesn't feel right to turn on the main light in the lounge, so instead you light a couple of candles and let their flickering glow, coupled with the moonlight coming in through the windows, provide the lighting.
I only heard these guys before in Guy Ritchie movies. This album was a lot more mellow than that stuff. I dug the R&B rap vibes
Great! Fav: Five Man army
אלבום מצוין אהבתי ממש את שירי הראפ אבל פחות אהבתי את השירים בהם הזמרת שרה וזהו. שיר מועדף - Daydreaming
A nice chilled listen with Unfinished Sympathy the clear stand out track. Some nice vibes and perfect in the right setting I’m sure.
BEST SONGS: - One Love - Five Man Army - Daydreaming
great
Been a Massive Attack fan for years, and this record was my first.
Great record
Massive Attack dragged the late-80s dance music of Soul II Soul, Janet Jackson and the like into a new era, adding elements of dub, hip hop and spooky effects to make something that sounded dark, sinister and cinematic. “Unfinished Symphony” gives me all the feels about life in the 90s that I cannot put into words. There are plenty of bangers but the momentum lags at a couple points. Still, Blue Lines did essentially invent the trip-hop genre.
I like this record and think its a fantastic debut. That said,1001 is tripping if they think that Protection belongs on the list but Mezzanine doesnt.
Alright, after the first listen I was fairly unimpressed, but I decided to give it a second go and somehow it's hitting differently today. Really enjoying how smooth it is and the driving bass each song has.
This isn't bad actually. Probably my favourite electronic album on the list so far. Usually they are so repetitive. I didn't really find that with this one too bad.
Cool, chill hip hop and funk beats with 90s electronic flair and lots of cool vocal performances
What a treat this is. Barebones, but still scratches every musical itch I have. Absolutely going in the rotation. Infectious grooves, creative basslines, really fun incorporation of electronic elements. Ambitious project for the time that pays off so well. LOVE shara nelson in this. Also Free Palestine.
Nice work, Banksy! The songs are a little different but also work together: good album
Mean bass and drums. Deep voices with a slightly upbeat bass. Loved it the first time around, new style and mix of genres I havent learn before. Music wasnt so intense, its one you have to pay attention to. Not the voice but the melody and the nice little accents created by drums and electronic noise. Would listen to again, as a once, not repeatedly in one sitting
Pretty good! I like the instrumental stuff much more - some of the vocals I could work with very well, some less so
Love the smooth Trip Hop sound. Recognised several of the tracks from back in the day on Triple J. There album Mezzanine is better in my humble opinion.
Very good production.
Lighter and more lively than the subsequent Massive Attack albums. Groovy soulful beats, lovely voices on great rhythm and bass.
these white boys (and also Tricky) can RAP (check out Tricky’s debut)
Very good, not their best but still excellent. Horace Andy and Tricky support the vocals, musically excellent.
This holds up remarkably well.