Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Oooooh a dream! En massive attack gege die viele semi-guete Albe wo sich da bim Album Generator so Tümmlet! Grossartigi Band, grossartigs Album, aber da gits paar Albe vo ihne wo no chli meh fägget. Für 4 Ahzündwürfel und en gutsch Brennsprit langets aber allemal! Verbrennet eu ned Fründ*inne.
sehr schön hed‘s da platz für massive attack – nonie es ganzes album glost, sondern bin nur familiär gsi mit de big hitters. vo dene ih dem album isch entweder keis ganz ah die ane cho oder ich han z‘wenig guet zueglost, aber spass hed‘s ufjedefall gmacht! drum gids da 4 massivi attackene uf‘s trummelfell & zwar uf en gueti art – so ganz liechti liebevolli kläps – massivi liechti liebevolli kläps
90s massive beats, classic album with nostalgia, solid 8/10
Liked the vibe. A little too old school rap for me.
Absolutely fabulous album
The first few songs faded into the background for me, but were enjoyable. "Blue Lines" caught my attention with some bars delivered plainly and smoothly. I really enjoy the "lo-fi hip-hop" instrumental in the background. "Be Thankful For What You've Got" was smooth and soulful. I didn't know who Massive Attack were prior to today, but this isn't what I was expecting out of them. "Daydreaming" made me realize that what I actually like is the rapper, Tricky. I'm enjoying all of his songs on this record. This album was really good. It wasn't too long, the beats were engaging and diverse, and the vocals/rapping were great. 8/10
Still fresh today. Kinda sunny, kinda dark.
A very cool album, of it's time but lots of r&B and reggae influences. Creating the genre of trip hop unto itself is impressive. I wouldn't say huge standouts on here, but I particularly liked Unfinished Symphony. The whole album had a mysterious, sexy vibe
Really good vibes, innovative and interesting
Massive attack is great! This was a great album! They are such good a good band! I really enjoy just vibing to them and this album you can vibe very well!
Solid production. Sounds great on headphones. Not totally my thing. Lyrically sorta silly. More 3.5 stars (rounding up).
I really enjoyed this! No notes, just nice to listen to Fav songs: Daydreaming, Hymn of the Big Wheel
Safe from Harm is sooo good, the bass/electric guitar is super grungy and fun to listen to. Shara Nelson really killed with vocals. Next we have One love which was so hard to go through. I actually laughed when they started adding random sounds it was so bad, and Horace Andy sounded like he was whining constantly and fighting for his life. Overall beats are trippy and I like the experimental side of this album. First song was amazing, great start off. Be thankful for what you’ve got is groovy and enjoyable. I love how album differs and goes from reggae to hip-hop, groove and grunge, soulful music and r&b. Unfinished sympathy was a little bit boring, too repetitive, although piano and violin¿ were beautiful. I would say album is chaotic, lots of genres put together and this was something fresh, haven’t listened to anything like this. But will i be coming back to it? Not really. As much as it’s experimental with genres, every song has the same beat going on for 4-5min, same goes for lyrics. The only songs that were really standing out to me were Five man army, Safe from harm and Be thankful for what you’ve got. Buuut, I will go and listen to their albums:p
Liked it but mezzanine was better
Interesting, will inspire me to check out more “trip-hop” Very vibey
Interesting! I have no familiarity with trip-hop. I like the electronic elements. I will likely come back to this one.
this is so cool, favorite tracks include one love and unfinished symphony
I was worried this was going to be more of that mid UK stuff that shouldn't be on the list but because the author has a soft spot for anything UK from early 1980s to early 1990s it's on the list anyway. This was actually good. It had some interesting ideas and was well executed.
4- Stars (10/15)
Intéressante découverte
Groovy
More like 4.5
that last song tho
Pretty cool, but the production is too smooth. Irons out any life it could have. I don’t remember, maybe that’s the point
Good vibes, love when the last track feels like the last track
absolutely class i love massive attack, so surreal genuinely could listen for hours, house md reference
Really solid album, better than mezzanine. A couple lesser tracks on here, but overall a calming listen.
Some cool sounds, some decent rhymes, goes on to be the blueprint or 'white guy raps' parodies.
pretty good
Love the beats in this one. Five Man Army is my favorite.
Always a fan of massive attack, and I already knew some songs from this album.
A truely fantastic album. Giving it 4 because I know how good Protection, No Protection and Mezzanine are. Also I'm looking back and feel like I'm giving out too many 5 stars and can't find edit. Would be handy if we could do half stars also... But then again so many amazing albums exist, so whatever.
Very consistent all throughout, with hypnotic instrumentals and varied performances. Though, I feel like "Hymn Of the Big Wheel" was lackluster as a closing track. I also wish the performances matched the tone of the instrumentals more closely. Overall, not as good as Mezzanine, but still a great collection of songs front to back.
Dad- 7 Mom- 8 Mike- 6 Lori- 7 Michael- 7 Miles- 7 Cole- 8.5 Avg- 7.21
great
This is an album that I was looking forward to listening to but I will admit that I was pretty disappointed. I wouldn’t say that the album was bad but it is pretty mid, having a very mixed bag of songs. The album starts off really strong with Safe From Harm, which I think is a beautiful song, which does also go for pretty much every other track on the album, with being the perfect mix of hip-hop with electronic influences. It is so clear why this album is considered to be so amazing, being pretty much the first trip-hop album, which is a sound that I absolutely love. I've said before that I am not the biggest fan of the hip-hop genre, but when this is mixed with electronic music, holy shit. It is a combination that should not work in theory but when it is executed properly, it makes such a fun listening experience. I wish I could sit here and say that the rest of the album matches the expectations that I had after listening to the opening track but I unfortunately cannot. One Love was honestly the only track on here that I was severely disappointed with and it did honestly just ruin the whole album experience which is such a shame.They might have been able to get away with making a bad song if it wasn't five fucking minutes long. It was so repetitive and dragged on for so long that I was begging for the song to be over with. It really does suck because pretty much every song on here is so beautiful but in between all that we have the piece of shit song that is One Love and I’m just so upset. However this is completely redeemed in Unfinished Symphony. This song alone deserves a 10/10, and I would argue that while being the best Massive Attack song, it is also such a strong contender for the best song of all time. I can’t describe how ethereal this song is, it’s one that you have to listen to in full to understand what I mean. I think I am being way to harsh with One Love here, but it just doesn't fit at all with the rest of the album, and it stands out wayyy too much to ignore. Anyway, Trip hop is such a fun genre which I love so much and I have to thank Massive Attack for essentially leading the creation of the genre.
house theme
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to
This album was released to critical acclaim as a landmark in electronic music, and its praises are still being sung thirty years later. The production techniques, tempos, chilled-out modalities, classic hip hop samples, integration of live instrumentation, and fusion of genres were a revelation. Released in 1991 ‘Blue Lines’ individually ushered in a new sound that would come to be known as trip-hop. It predated the genres next wave of classics by three years: Portishead’s ‘Dummy’, Nightmares On Wax’s ‘Smokers Delight’, and DJ Shadow’s ‘Endtroducing’ came out in 1994, and were in direct conversation with the groundbreaking sound Massive Attack established on ‘Blue Lines’. Contemporary listeners discovering this album for the first time amidst the enormous electronic landscape today may find the sound and production dated. Early hip hop records released in the few years before and after ‘Blue Lines’ suffer from a similar reaction from modern audiences. Electronic production technology has evolved drastically since ‘91, and while the music may not be to the taste of today’s listeners, the impact these records had catapulted electronic music on a trajectory that would become the dominant musical expression of the future. Regardless of the schism between old and new inherit in ever musical tradition, the innovation on ‘Blue Lines’ cannot be overstated. Artists that push their art form into completely new territories are cemented into the foundation of a new landscape — and though it may crack and crumble over time under the weight of the beautiful, magnificent things built directly atop it, the structure they provided to generations of artists that follow must be recognized and respected, not unlike placards and monuments posted and erected at the foot of sparkling, sky-high buildings.
kinda cool
I prefer Mezzanine and surprised that is not also on this list given how critically beloved it seems to be these day but this is still great. I like the slightly darker, grittier sound, and interested to hear more of their discography to work out which era of the band I enjoy most.
Before this, I had only ever listened to Protection, and I thought this would be another so-so album to pass through my ears. It's certainly still not a genre I care for, being a rather saccharine type of music, but I can certainly see why people might want to enjoy this one.
Not the best Massive Attack album but still a very good one.
This is a great debut which I haven't listened to for a long time due to overplay. It still packs a lot of its power, especially on the 2012 remaster. Unfinished Sympathy is the obvious standout but I am fond of the deeper cuts like the title track and Five Man Army. The only mis-step is the cover of Be Thankful For What You Got which sounds a bit twee and doesn't fit in with the rest of the album. Also not a big fan of the last track, but for the most part it still holds up. Their next two albums are better though, hope they are in the list also.
Smokkeeeee
The debut album of the founders of trip-hop.
Dope
This one surprised me. How had I never heard this album before? What is trip hop (I thought I knew, but now want to explore the genre more)? So much variety on this album, it really kept me engaged.
Holds up after over 30 years. Sounds as fresh and relevant as ever. Really groovy and laid back. Something kinda jazzy in the execution.
Very interesting music! From Wikipedia: Blue Lines blended elements of hip hop (such as breakbeats, sampling, and rapping) with dub, soul, reggae, and electronic music.
En cambio, esta es una obra maestra. Imagina poner este cd en tu equipo de música, por allá en 1991 o más tarde si vivías lejos de las urbes, y lo primero que escuchas es el hipnótico bajo de Safe from Harm... ¿cómo no terminar encantado, enganchado con el trip-hop? Igual prefiero el mezzanine
3.5/5.0: Very Good
interesting listen. not something id put on but it was good
I really enjoyed this. The vocals were so different from track to track that it felt like a mix of styles that were meant for seperate records at times
Positive suprise
Хороший чилловый трип хоп, база от массив аттак
Een fundamentele pilaar in de Trip Hop-scene. Constant was ik hem aan het vergelijken met het debuut van Tricky, een aantal jaren later. Vanwege zijn intensieve inbreng op deze plaat, en ook omdat we nog niet echt veel Trip Hop zijn tegengekomen op deze lijst. Maar eigenlijk is het een scheve vergelijking, gezien ''Maxinquaye'' de Engelse hitlijsten bestormde op een volwassen Trip Hop-voedingsbodem. ''Blue Lines'' is een pionier. Dat gezegd hebbende, miste ik op dit album de bite en de energie die ''Maxinquaye'' bij vlagen te bieden had. Dat doet een down-tempo genre vaak wel goed, door af en toe te schakelen. Dat gebeurde uiteraard even bij 'Unfinished Sympathy', met verve, maar de rest van het album is ietwat loom. Maar daar doe ik sommige individueel sterke songs als 'Safe From Harm' en 'Daydreaming' wel echt te kort mee. Aan de andere kant mist ''Maxinquaye'' soms de melancholiek, sfeer en soul wat ook wel echt in Trip Hop verschuild zit. Dit is dan wel weer in overvloed aanwezig op deze plaat. Bijna elke featuring is raak, en zo'n afsluiter als 'Hymn of the Big Wheel' tilt de plaat om humaan vlak naar een hoger niveau. Daarom geef ik deze plaat de 'edge' over het debuut Tricky. 8/10 Highlights: Safe From Harm Unfinished Sympathy Daydreaming Hymn of the Big Wheel
Very nice, a good combination of multiple genres and definitely something I’ve never heard before.
Great Album! Iconic Cover and an album that belongs to this list. Mezzanine is even much better and feels more complete! Smooth Album (4.0/5.0)
Solid album, not too many I'd jam on repeat addictively, but could be played any time without offending me.
This one is pretty good. It hooks you fast and doesn't let go, but there is still some nice variety between tracks. I can imagine myself growing to like this album even more over time. Favorite track: "Safe From Harm"
Not a good start but by the 3rd song you find yourself in a great album to chill to.
⭐ Rating: 4.7/5 Urban Ghosts Smoking in the Rain This album basically invented trip-hop, which is music for people who want to be sad but also mysterious. It’s jazz, soul, reggae, hip-hop, and existentialism layered like emotional lasagna. Every track is slow, heavy, and weirdly intimate—like the music knows something about you that you haven’t admitted yet. It doesn’t ask for your attention. It assumes it already owns you.
Pretty interesting album. Considering it came out in 1991 there are some tracks on their way ahead of its time. Liked a lot of the tracks but it’s not a 5 for me. It’s too bad I can’t give have stars, this would be a 3.5 but will probably give it a 4.
I expected to like this more than I actually did. I really really love some of their other music, and this was ok. 3.5
Contains one of my all time fav songs in Unfinished Sympathy but rarely find myself coming back to the rest of the album. Still hugely iconic and influential.
One of those that was way better than expected. Didn’t expect much and there was a lot to dig into. It was smooth, the Sade-esque vocals were right on time and the whole thing flowed very well as a statement. Saved it to throw on at the right times.
THIS IS AWESOME! The songs can be a bit too long but it's groovy. Fucking loved them. Hell yeah, thank you for a great time!
The precursor to one of the greatest albums. Love a bit of MA... Faves: - Safe From Harm - Be Thankful For What You've Got - Five Man Army - Unfinished Symphony - Daydreaming
I really like the unique fusion of sounds in this album. The dark and bass-heavy parts balance very well with the bright and melodic ones. Favorite Song: "Unfinished Sympathy"
on my first listen, i did not like this album. now on my second and third listen, im able to appreciate how dope this album is
I had always heard of this band but wasn't familiar with their music. It wasn't what I expected, but approaching from a jazz perspective helped me go with the flow. Incredible production lived up to the hype, just not sure how I feel about the genre. Another album my them could easily be a 5 but this one is getting a 3.5.
Classic Triphop - good days.
I actually quite enjoyed this album. Was not expecting a rnb/rap/whatever this is. Now even tho I liked this doesn’t mean there aren’t floors, Massive Attack not actually performing on this album sorta pisses me off cuz this should rly be a Shara Nelson and Tricky album more. I didn’t rly enjoy tricky’s vocals on this album but Sharas made me wanna float how angelic her voice is. Very ethereal album and I like it but it is pretty poorly aged even tho it was mixed and mastered in 2012 but it sounds soooo old. Some favourites included Unfinished Sympathy and Lately which are just Shara over a good beat😂. Overall pretty good for me a 8.3/10
зарождение трип-хопа в 90-х. биты мясные с околоживыми инструментами. при этом инструментальные партии разнообразные в плане партитур и подбора звуков
lindo disco de massive attack. ecléctico y clásico del trip hop mezclando electrónica y hip hop. sampleando, cantando y rapeando
all i need is this album, good dick and a big ass blunt
Enjoyable, a mix of styles that works
unfortunately, none of these tracks ascend to "Teardrop" levels, but that would probably be just too big of an ask. I did enjoy my time with this, though. very different, very smooth, like a nitro cold brew.
9 tracks of bliss, brooding and groove. A heavenly marriage of electronic and analog music, blending hip-hop, R&B, dance etc into a whole new identity labelled Trip-Hop. The dark, nocternally atmosphere does not falter - I love the thumping bass and smorgasbord of voices. Best Tracks: - Safe From Harm - Be Thankful For What You've Got - Five Man Army Worst Tracks: - Daydreaming Rating: 8/10
Few albums can genuinely be called genre-defining, but Blue Lines didn’t just define trip-hop—it built the entire blueprint. Everything about this record oozes effortless cool, from the laid-back, dub-infused beats to the murky, late-night atmosphere that feels both hypnotic and unsettling. The production is rich, textured, and deeply immersive, weaving together elements of hip-hop, soul, reggae, and electronic music into something that still sounds futuristic, even decades later. Songs like Safe from Harm and Five Man Army glide along with a heavy, pulsing groove, while Unfinished Sympathy is an undeniable masterpiece—so cinematic and emotionally powerful that it feels almost untouchable. What makes Blue Lines so special is how deeply it feels like a world of its own. The interplay between 3D, Daddy G, and Tricky gives the album a restless, unpredictable energy, while Shara Nelson’s vocals add a haunting beauty that elevates it beyond just beats and samples. There’s an undercurrent of paranoia and grit running through the record, but it’s never overwhelming—it’s the kind of album that pulls you in and wraps around you like city lights flickering in the rain. While later Massive Attack albums like Mezzanine would take their sound into darker, heavier territory, Blue Lines remains the purest expression of their vision—cool, controlled, and effortlessly innovative. It’s not just a trip-hop classic; it’s one of the most important albums of the ‘90s, and a perfect example of music that sounds both of its time and completely timeless.
Im excited for this, I know and like massive attack. added safe from harm to playlist. I like the sounds, but my main issue is i really hate the sound of the male vocals. safe from harm has the female vocals which means i like it.
:::
I’m a Massive Attack fan, by way of the follow up album, but there’s no denying the genre was built up from their work. Great hearing this again.
Enjoyed this
sexy and groovy baselines. i’m not really a fan of some of the vocals. this reminds me of peeping tom and lovage in a way. it’s like something that plays in the background of a scene where these really cool teens find a spot to do some spray painting art while it’s raining
4/5
I love Trip Hop. Massive Attack and this album in particular arguably kicked the whole thing off and definitely set a vibe for the 90's. For that I am grateful.
I really liked the style. Massive Attack mixed together a lot of different styles, but somehow the album still felt like a cohesive unit. So creative.
Triphop blew me away when it emerged, and Massive Attack was its architects. Total urbane atmosphere, cool and sophisticated. Not quite as good as Mezzanine, this is still a wholly worthwhile record, particularly for its role as the debut of the entire subgenre.
Very good
Didn‘t live up to the Hype for ne although it had some Great Moments
Schöne Stimme Shara Nelsons. Langsame beats, smoother Sound. Be thankful for what yuu got - wow - spricht mi total aa, bitte meh vo däm! Zwüschedture plätscherets ächli. Aber dänn wieder "Unfinished sympathy" so guet. Daydreaming ischechli eintönig. Hynm of the big wheel hät es vielversprächends Intro, aber dänn, naja.
Dark moody lounge music I like it.
More rapping type stuff than on mezzanine, which I think is great - I also really like tricky, who I guess was part of the group at this point still. Beats are amazing, sound much more like dummy than what they would go on to do. Only complaint is that some of the songs kinda just keep going on with not much happening. Favourite songs: safe from harm, be thankful for what you’ve got, five man army. Overall around 8/10
Loved this.
Another great album. They were very much a sound of their times but their material has aged well
Songs to wake up to while making breakfast on the weekend. Not sure if I'm fully awake once I'm through.
Chill acid jazz.
Great record!
This kind of stuff isn't really my thing but it's well done and it's doing something original.
Interesting that we actually get two Massive Attack albums in this collection, but I'm glad that this was my first one in the project. I own this album (as well as "Mezzanine", sadly not the other Massive Attack album in this collection), but it's been a long time since I last listened to it. I'm really impressed how more than 30 years later it still sounds fresh and distinctive, bringing trip-hop into being. I particularly enjoyed the opening track "Safe from harm" and the Faithless-reminiscent "Five man army" and "Daydreaming". I kind of prefer their later albums, but it's hard to deny how influential "Blue Lines" was as their debut.
A very cool recording!
• 4/5 • Classic from the godfathers of trip-hop • Strong throughout- Unfinished Symphony is the standout track
вайбы потрясающие. уже давно слушала трек blue lines, но fav track Unfinished Sympathy
A classic. Paved the way for all the amazing trip hop and even better massive attack albums that followed
Oh man, enjoyed this. Isn't the best of massive attack, but pretty great anyway. 4/5
It’s interesting that Blue Lines is often considered Massive Attack’s best. IMO I’d put Mezzanine and Protection ahead of it. That said, Blue Lines is an excellent album, and perhaps its acclaim is based on how it defined a new genre of trip hop that dominated British music for a good part of the 90s.
It was a good album. A lot of the songs were really easy to vibe to. I didn’t always enjoy the voices, but the instrumentation was amazing.
I liked it a lot more than I expected. Really good album.
87% Best: Safe From Harm; Unfinished Sympathy; Lately Must-Hear? Sure
Very repetitive, hard to distinguish the songs from one another
I didn't like this album or band in 1990, I'm happy to have had the opportunity to relisten to it 35 years later with a greatly expanded music taste
Incredible to think this was 1991. So ahead of it's tone
Another immediate love. Excited to put this on repeat.
I should do better about listening to Massive Attack. Good album. They walked so Bjork and Portishead could run.
Enjoyed this way mor than I expected too going in. Some classic that most people would have heard at one point. Good shin dig background music
Unique. Thought MA went harder but that wasn’t the vibe.
so tasty
Lyrical masterpiece
Great album, invented a genre, etc. It’s funny that people say one of these guys is Banksy because I can see it. Banksy is the very definition of r/Im14andthisisdeep but I also kind of like Banksy despite that, and the same with Massive Attack’s lyrics. They are pretty cringe at times - not to mention the inherent cringe of British people rapping - but I fully give them a pass because they are cool despite how dorky they are. Maybe it’s just cringe amnesty for being from the early 90’s.
Instead of sounding cool, it makes me feel cool from the outside in
Not my favourite massive attack album. But god damn tricky is amazing.
The perfect groove for making my rounds at work in a light rail.
Excellent album!
Massive Attack is undeniably cool. Throughly chill. Great mood all day.
First listen: Wasn’t expecting a woman’s voice. Very vibey and groovy. Be Thankful… feels like a standout. Unfinished Sympathy has really beautiful layered percussion.
I enjoy Massive Attack. They are without doubt one of the most thrilling set of musicians to come from the 90’s, helping to create the trip-hop genre. This album deserves its lofty accolades for its overall vibes but it’s not their best. Like any good set of musicians, their first album is a warm up, and it is regarded so highly by the critical masses because the style is so new to the ears.
Overall: 8/10 At times I'm reminded of Portishead (who I've fallen in love with since getting Third a couple months ago) and at other times I'm reminded of the more chill, experimental hip hop emerging around this time. The highlights are definitely the songs featuring female vocals but the rapping is actually pretty great too and I think it's pretty cool how well they mix the two different styles. I'm way more open to listening to more trip-hop after listening to this. Fav Song: Unfinished Sympathy Least Fav Song: Be Thankful for What You've Got
The beats were really cool, but some of the vocals were hit or miss for me.
Feels like a causal stroll through a quiet metropolis with a smooth cigarette and a calm demeanor. Epitomizes 'smooth'
3.5
Really enjoyed getting back into this one!
A personal favorite
Nice one
Great album
Not something I would ever usually listen to but I enjoyed it. One of the songs really reminded me of The Lord Is A Monkey
Pretty good. This is a good band. I didn't like the hymn of the fucking wheel or wahtever it was called because I accidentally played it twice and got really annoyed and thought it was a really long repetitive song so tht awas cool or something. Overall pretty good tough.
Near perfect album for me. Unfinished Sympathy is exceptional. High 4s
Iconic album but just not perfect to me
incredible album
Ok, controversial review time. I love Massive Attack. I absolutely respect that this is universally seen as the start of trip hop as a genre. This is also the only Massive Attack album that had Tricky as an officially member, which is another massive plus. But 'Blue Lines' just never clicked with me. It sounded to me like an early sketch of what they'd later become. Yet, it's seen by so many as their classic album. I tried many times in the past to get into it, but I always ended up switching back to 'Protection' or 'Mezzanine' (by the way, why on earth isn't 'Mezzanine' on this list??). But the 1001 Albums Challenge is a chance to try to listen to everything with fresh ears, right? And it's always a nice surprise when old albums come back to life in unexpected ways. And sure enough, there are some great songs that I've been neglecting here, like 'Blue Lines' and 'Five Man Army'. There are elements of rock, hip hop and reggae that come through a bit clearer than in their later work. Like the elements haven't quite melted together yet but they're well on their way. But ok, here's one of my most controversial takes in any of my reviews: 'Unfinished Sympathy' is not their best song. It's good, very good, but I still find it a bit overrated. Sorry to any fans! Overall, this was well worth another listen. A bit more maturity in my musical tastes helped a lot. I can really see how this album was a launching point for a genre full of great artists and I really can't give less than 4 stars on that basis. But I will always maintain that 'Mezzanine' is their best album by a mile.
I don't know if this is was the first trip-hop album, but it certainly was the one that defined what the genre was about in its early days. Hip-hop beats, gloomy atmosphere (although it would become gloomier in years ahead), soulful singing, and only occasional rapping. This last bit is relevant to me because, while I'm not a rap person at all, I love trip-hop. My parents were huge into trip-hop during the 90's when I was a small kid, so there is also a big nostalgia associated with this sound, if not necessarily with this album. Later Massive Attack albums are better but this one is an undeniable classic. Key tracks: Safe from Harm Unfinished Sympathy Lately Hymn of the Big Wheel
Really enjoyed this 7/10
Great album, genre defining!
Not sure why anyone else British and electronic matters relative to these boys. So good. Real songs with real hooks and energy - laughable that mf's that came after such as the Beta Band couldn't build on this rather than producing their boring drivel. Driving bass that I didn't ever know bush stole on the first track. tricky is so good, and the horace? guy the first rap break feels a little dated, but the rest of it begs the question of why we have travis scott or some of these other chuckleheads nowadays and they aren't remotely to the same standard. Don't call me officer, you can call me sarge, I'm going to america when I gets a green card.
Thoroughly entertaining album with a very relaxed and diverse sound.
Pretty good! Nice to listen to, think patio party at dusk.
Great city driving music. Never heard of them however I loved this album.
Smooth
Excellent
I liked it a lot.. "be thankful for what you got" is a great track.
Sounds exactly like bristol
hell yeah
fucking righteous mannnnn. kind of insane that this is from NINETY-NINETY-ONE. i love the reggae influence, as well as the 1970s soul moments…they’re clearly drawing from a lot of different sources of inspiration and combining them to form something totally new and exciting. massive attack has always been one of those bands where i knew i would like them a lot if i ever sat down and listened to them properly—so i’m glad i finally did cos i was right. i do like them a lot. fav tracks: safe from harm; five man army; hymn of the big wheel
i loved that. i've listened to tricky's solo music before but haven't heard massive attack so it was cool to hear the precursor to it. just very cool and fun....will definitely be coming back to a lot of these songs
I loved the instrumentals in all the songs, but I felt like some songs were lacking a bit in the lyrical side.
I like Massive Attack
"the birth of trip-hop" several vocalists, several styles, soul/rnb/drum&bass incredibly, I'd never heard this before (even though I have "Protection"), liked it.
Very enjoyable! I haven’t heard a Massive Attack song I disliked. Maybe no song in particular was a stand out for me, but I really liked the atmosphere it conjured.
Great 80’s album with pretty in pink
Super moody, great listen
Honestly really good, added a few of these to the playlist, cool how it was a different voice with each song, only negative was if you really liked one then you weren’t getting many from that person. Overall, good album.
I really enjoyed this. I have the first song on a playlist and found a few more keepers.
My first thought was that some of the songs sounded like Flight of the Conchords without the satirical lyrics. A second and third listen revealed more. Chill, arty, trance, dance music. Will add some of these songs to my playlists. Favorite song: Five Man Army
Never heard of these guys before, and I couldn't quite figure out what type of music I would call this. Sometimes "club music", sometimes a little bit of jazz, sometimes a little bit of rock. Overall very interesting stuff, and I enjoyed this album.
Interesting...enjoyed it. Had never heard of them but will have to give it another listen.
Very nice, interesting sound.
Ok
One of the most suitable albums and genres is when you walk 40 minutes after a bar at three in the morning, with a sad mood and slight intoxication. Basically, for all reasons, it's sad to go home at 3 a.m. after a bar. But if it is already beginning to lighten, then it is generally ideal for the atmosphere
Very good background groove music for a lounge
Long time no hear on this one / the majority of tracks is still a pleasure to hear today / do I have this on CD? ... Hm oh yes...good!
Absolute classic. The fusion of drum,bass and rap. Brilliant. Unfinished symphony - BOOM!
the guy who this 1001 album book has excellent taste in trip-hop this album makes me want to relisten to low end theory by a tribe called quest. idk why but i feel like I'll appreciate it more after listening to this despite them entirely unrelated
This is a really solid start for the band that would later created the masterpiece known as Mezzanine. Unique, great beats, I like a lot about this.
Very chilled, not my style though
Quite fun! I dont think I’ll add anything to my library but it was enjoyble
strong enjoy, father of so many more amazing albums
Loved this
me copó pensé que iba a ser re darks y nada que ver 8/10
It was very good and has some bangers on it that we did not expect. Strong trip hop album.
Massive attack make excellent music. They are dark and varied and interesting. Their use of strings and soaring vocals, interesting rhythms and good production make them a serious band making progressive, interesting music. When it works, it is unbeatable and unfinished symphony is a contender for best song if all time and they have a few of these. Ive never really fallen in love with their rap led tracks and this inconsistency is the only thing holding this back from a 5.
Added to library
Never heard of it before but surprised me a bit
Brilliant British dance album of the month.
Loved this album. Genuinely original and pioneered the trip-hop genre. A couple of tracks I'd consider filler so doesn't get full marks but really enjoyed the album none the less.
Enjoyed!
Probably will be a 5 for me after a few more listens
I've heard Massive Attack but know very little about them other than I somehow manage to get them confused with the Massive Genius character from the Season 1 Sopranos episode. I had no idea Tricky was in this group and had no idea what their sound was like. Safe from Harm, One Love, Be Thankful and Unfinished Sympathy are all excellent tracks. I was very pleasantly surprised and would recommend this album over many of the other albums that are trip-hop on this list. It has the easy, laid-back sound that I like to hear and is focused on making good songs and avoiding overproduction. If I also like the next Massive Attack album then I may have to add their music to my personal playlists.
9/10. Trip hop is a really cool music genre. This is an innovative album. :)
Very chill album
Full of great grooves and basslines, an array of different vocalists that all bring a different feel to the songs, each does their job well. 'Unfinished Sympathy' is an 11/10 song, and while the rest can't really compare, there isn't a bad song on here. Was just naturally bobbing my head pretty much the whole time.
Very rhythmic. The drums were the clear standout of the album.
Only listened to two or three songs off this album before after Elliot told me about them but listening to the whole album I definitely found more songs that I’m found of - really interesting feels like rap and new wave? Really vibey good driving music for evening sometimes a reggae vibe to it? Not big on the last song of the album
Solid massive attack album
ayy
Very cool, almost easy listening. Made breakfast and drank coffee listening to this
I think I like this better than Mezzanine, it rocks a little harder and the vocals are more impressive. Still not my first choice but I understand why these guys matter to many. B
A bit dated, but I like the beats
The more I listened the more I loved it.
Vibes. Rapping is a bit dated lowkey on some of the tracks but production is gorgeous.
Excellent. Never heard it before.
The laid-back funk of Be Thankful For What You've Got is the absolute highlight of this for me!
Interesting album. Very cool blend incorporating hip hop and soul and funk and reggae. I might revisit this at some point.
I love Massive Attack in general, and this album isn’t an exception. I sort of prefer their later stuff with less vocals but these songs wouldn’t really work with no singing. The vocals are part of the instrumentation, especially when the male singer is involved. His style just works with the beats. “Safe from Harm”, “Daydreaming”, and “Blue Lines” are my favorites but really they’re all pretty great tracks. I could probably live without “Be Thankful for What Youve Got”, it’s got that wackiness that makes it sound too much like a disco song. “Unfinished Symphony” is like that too but the backing track is so good I can forgive it. Other than that, they capture that late 90s euro lounge style without being cheesy like so many other imitators are. There’s obvious rap and reggae undertones as well, which all work excellently. Perfect music for having a drink in the dark with a good friend. The only reason this is a four is because I really do prefer the later stuff; when I put on Massive Attack it’s gonna be Mezzanine, 100th Window and even Heligoland. This album definitely holds its own though.
There is much in this album that I hear in later electronic music. The brass sounding in One Love left me expecting a trap drop. There's clear elements of dub, house and other ambient music that I didn't know existed in 1991. All in all I enjoyed the listen but think it would be helped entirely by removing the vocals. With the vocals, I'll give it a 4. One Love, Unfinished Business, and Lately are going in the playlist.
Certifiable top shelf classics interspersed with filler in my opinion. Essential album but not their best whole piece of work.
I love the chilled-but-tense feel that Massive Attack put in their music. Great album. The problem is that Mezzanine is so much better, so I can't give this a five...
Interesting and different, will have to return to this one at some point for sure.
Quite enjoyed this. Never really listened to it during its heyday, and I imagine it was more impactful at the time, but it still holds up strong by today's standards.
Mezzanine is such a critical and vital album. So I was curious to go back to the beginning with massive attack and see where it all started. You can definitely hear the inklings of where things would go, but this is no masterpiece like Mezzanine. Still, very solid.
Ganske nice
Another listening adventure today, I know Massive Attack but have never sat through one of their albums all the way through. I liked it, sounded better in the afternoon's listening session than the morning's.
We’ve all heard that famous one. Hadn’t heard the rest. Perfectly enjoyable.
I think I gave Protection five stars so I don't feel as guilty as I probably should about giving this a very positive four. It is great. It's just a bit safe (from harm). It has some amazing stuff on it. But a few tracks are a bit bland and one of them is a cover so straight down the line that I didn't realise there was a difference for a long time. Still deserves it's classic status. This is my personal opinion. Sorry but also fuck you it's my damn opinion on a very good album.
Amazing album
Trip-hop. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Incredible production but there are some duds here
At last the little gem I've been waiting for. Heard of them but never listened to them. My loss..a great album.
Great all the way through
Is it just me, or have we had multiple albums that sound exactly like this? Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed it, but it didn't feel fresh. What makes this album stand out was the interpolation of other songs (for example, "Here Comes the Sun", "Proud Mary), and that is what earns it the 4 stars. I'm being generous here.
(the night of) July 2, 2024 HL: "Safe from Harm", "Unfinished Sympathy", "Daydreaming", "Hymn of the Big Wheel" First Massive Attack album /🔥\ I must admit I don't know much about this band besides "Unfinished Sympathy", which I've listened to quite a bit. Does anything match the majesty of that song? No, but what's left of Blue Lines is good in its own right. Though it's disjointed in a way debut albums can be, with wildly different creatives & collaborators offering wildly different ideas, there's enough to unify these songs- ghostly synths, vinyl crackling, fantastic drum tracks. ~Will probably like this more over time. I feel like I've heard a lot of music recently that is in some way inspired by Massive Attack; definitely bumped some Burial this past winter
Massive Attack innit
Pretty good for working too. Listened to this whole thing and got a bunch of work done. I wasn't familiar with this one from them I thought it was ok.
I had already liked a lot of their music going into this and this album was another great example of their uniqueness and musical innovation. Very cool seeing them on this list.
Another album that caught me by surprise in terms of how much I liked it. Had never heard of trip-hop before and, truthfully, still do not know what it is, but this album is good! Great beat, rhythm section grooves and lyrics that have a message. Lots of worthy songs including "Safe From Harm", "One Love" and "Hymn of the Big Wheel". Definitely deserving of being on the list of 1001 Albums...
Great album, probably massive attacks best album to date. Very chill feel and back beat
Massive Attack is great. They are one of those bands, though, that I always kind of forget about - and also think are going to be "harder" than they are. This album is super chill.
This album immediately had me moving my body feeling the beats. Very groovy tunes, interesting samples, feels like an early genre-defining album.
Classic. Nearly a five.
Something new for me Ahead of the times/predecessor of modern hip hop
Great listen good vibe
Me 🤝 triphop! Everytime I heard the men sing on this album it felt so insincere, I don’t know what’s up with that. Also, their british sounds so forced, I feel like Spike from Buffy the vampire slayer has a better accent and these guys are native british. But all that aside, the music itself was very yummy.
Groovy Sounds like sexy music
Very good album. My style
This is the only thing that justifies Bristol being called a cool city.
3.5
A classic! I didn't enjoy it as much as the following records from this band, but I like it and I appreciate it a lot.
If you’d have told me a couple of years ago that I’d grow to appreciate trip hop, I’d have called you an absolute donkey brain. However, Portishead and Ba… I mean Massive Attack have definitely turned my head. Everything is so nicely produced and super chilled. I’m not actually sure if a lot of the vocals here are sampled from elsewhere or if they originate here, but I also don’t think it makes any difference. It simply sounds nice on the ears.
Música electrónica de principios de los 90's con sabor orgánico que se aleja del pop o a la música bailable, y se inclina hacia el trip-hop, más vocal y pausado. Digerible y fácil de escuchar como soundtrack ambiental.
Liked it much better than expected.
Not the biggest fan but I recognize greatness when I hear it. Everything about this is unique. The bass and vocals are a constant highlight. Favorites were Be Thankful for What You've Got and Unfinished Sympathy.
Seminal Trip Hop
First time listening to Massive Attack and I'll be adding it to my rotation. I guess one good thing about this list having the appearance of being very UK centric is I get to hear bands that were rarely on the radio in the US.
Can't believe I've never heard any of this. The production and sampling hit really well and do not sound to me like anything else from the era. The vocals on the first couple of tracks are overwrought IMO.
Great album and voice
I never listened to Massive Attack. I thought they were an alternative rock band. Learned a lot here... I didn't know MA was trip hop, was the 'first' trip hop album, and Tricky was in the band. Such an innovation for the time that seems almost too obvious these days. The album is a little dated, but still very fresh. Groovy, chill, heady. Love it. 4.7
Trip hop. A pretty solid collection of songs. Atmospheric, mellow, hypnotic. Super chill album with hip hop beats with a ton of energy and creativity. Heavy or light when it needs to be, intense or chill. Very polished and pure fun. Might revisit, would like to try other albums by them. 4/5
very chill
I was excited for this one, because I love Massive Attack and hadn't heard this album yet. Sadly I think their later work is better, but I enjoyed it a lot. Smooth triphop, can't really go wrong there.
Another one I wasn't familiar with, but enjoyed it.
A classic Black Atlantic album from the multi-cultural wake of the slave trade and migration in Bristol, this album draws heavily on Jamaican dub, on British rave scene (via Detroit) electronica house and techno, soul & RnB, hip hop and reggae, slowing it all down and spacing it all out, opening up the sound to create more pockets, a more relaxed feel. The production is era-defining. They'd take this formula and improve on it on their next albums, but the three big tracks on here are just incredible: Safe From Harm, Blue Lines, Unfinished Symphony.
Really good chill electronica album with great blend of musical styles.
Muy sensual.
Nailed-on, certified classic. Probably my second-favourite massive attack record, and that's a crowded field
Very 90s, very good.
Not my normal type of music but surprisingly enjoyed it
Enjoyed this. Good music to do other things too. 7/10
I love how some albums can be defining of an era and a place, but at the same time enjoyed all over the place anytime. The start of trip hop. Hadn’t listened to it for years and was unaware that the vocals in multiple songs are from Horace Andy!
These guys are quickly becoming an unsung hero
This one took me a bit to get into but I ended up loving it by the end. I’ve never listened to much Massive Attack, but I will definitely seek out more.
Luv massive attack and trip hop in general. Give me more.
Gran sonido. Un cambio muy interesante de los 80
Really enjoyable.
This was such a cool, chill album. They've been played a lot on KCRW over the years but this is my first time listening to an album. I'd call them electro-soul. Perfect music for driving around LA at night.
Love the sound and theme of the album. The songs are cool asf but there was one or two songs that I wasn't feeling
the birth of trip hop but it is not my favorite massive attack album
Most of the songs sounds the same to me, they're also pretty simple. But when I was listening to this, my curiosity told me to look at the release date and in that moment I laughed. 35 years ago and it still sound fresh? Damn. 4 stars.
Trip Hop is literally one of the best music genres out there. This is my very first time being introduced to Massive Attack, and I must say, my first listen wasn't so bad. Granted, there are tracks on here that need some time getting into. But all things considered, I still had an enjoyable listening experience. 4/5
9/10
Love the downtempo electronic, but the vocals take something away.
One Love // Be Thankful // Five Man Army //
First song is banging. So far the right mix of funk and mood. Not a bad album at all.
I gave it a listen later in the day when I wasn’t really processing music like I normally would, but I was definitely both surprised by their general sound and how much I enjoyed it. I’ll give it another spin today just to feel like I truly gave it the time.
Mg, me robé un par.
Never listened before and really enjoyed it.
Drullugóð plata. Elska væbinn.
An excellent album which I hadn't heard before.
Enjoyed most of it
glaube nicht ihr bestes album? aber voller krasser hits und atmosphärischer soundz
This was a pleasant surprise. From the onset, it had me hooked
Very 90’s, I enjoy this
Omg another post 90’s album??? This program is spoiling me. That being said idk how to feel about this one. I liked several songs, they had a fun soulful feel, but by the time the album was over I was falling asleep. I’m torn between a 3 or a 4.
This reminded me a bit of A Tribe Called Quest, albeit darker and more eclectic. Most of the rappers have the same flow as Q-Tip and Phife (tho maybe that was just a common style of rap in the early 90s?). I like how it borrows from a bunch of different sounds and experiments with a variety of tempos. It's very well made chill out music, but it doesn't speak to me personally.
Lively listen, makes you feel like a cool guy in a 90s British movie, last song is whack
Instrumental for trip hop and fascinating to hear the reggaeton inspired song at the end that I hadn't heard before.
This is the second time now my group's gotten an album with Tricky on it—and unlike the time we got a second album with Jah Wobble, I can actually give this one a pretty solid thumbs up. Like every album I've gotten from this generator, I've only given it two complete listens at most, so I can't tell you exactly what makes this so much better than MAXINQUAYE. At the very least, I can say it's more interesting. The beats and production are interesting, the samples are interesting, the lyrics are interesting—and I'm not just talking about the strings of Beatles lyrics on that one song. It's not the bloated snooze-fest that MAXINQUAYE was. Maybe it's because this doesn't lean into dub as much as that one does, but I'unno. I was only going to give this album my typical "it's fine" 3, but as I'm writing this I'm listening to the second side of the album and "Hymn Of The Big Wheel" came on, and that alone is enough for me to bump it up another star. I also wanna say—my group all seem to agree that Massive Attack's later album, MEZZANINE, is better than this one. I haven't heard it aside from from hearing "Teardrop" hear and there, but looking it up on Wikipedia, I can't help but notice a curious lack of Tricky on it. Maybe that's relevant, I'unno.
Hell of a lot better than Maxinquaye. The reduced length helps, not to mention those sick beats they got going. I'd give that a 3 now in comparison to this gem.
I think I’m gonna go with a 4, but a low 4. After listening to Tricky’s solo album Maxinquaye, I think I’ve come to my own conclusion that he absolutely works better as part of a group; his rapping is a genuine highlight on this album compared to the absolutely bleak and dreary style he showed on that album. There are still some misses on this album, but my biggest thing is that it’s simply not soul-numbingly boring like Maxinquaye was, as even the “misses” at least have pretty fun production and a few moments of catching the ear in a smooth way; some of it didn’t hook me, but it definitely wasn’t bad. This is a genuine showcase of pretty cool production that would become a bit more apparent and a bit more mainstream as the 90s went along, and for 1991, a lot of what’s here is still pretty infused with the sort of soul/funk sounds of the 70s, so it’s a fun blend of both styles. A genuinely enjoyable listen across the board (except for Lately), and I’m pretty satisfied to give it a 4. It does just enough to be higher than a 3.
It’s ok good background music. Favorites are Safe from Harm and Unfinished Sympathy. Some tracks feel a little dated but overall decent sound. I’d give it a 3.5 so will round to 4.
This was really unique, I liked it. Favorite song: Five Man Army Album art: 2/5
Inte fullt lika bra som Dummy av Portishead, men fortfarande en grym platta. Unfinished sympathy är magisk.
I fucking love this album. It's so fucking cool. Bought the CD for it a while back at Amoeba. Writing an essay right now for my USEM so I'll throw it on. Safe From Harm - Holy fuck this song is amazing. So catchy. "I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me to see me looking back at you" What a bar. The bass line is so disgusting too holy god. Quintessential nighttime driving song. (10/10) One Love - Somewhat of a bummer following Safe From Harm but it's a hard follow-up. A very low-key and subtle song that serves its purpose. Not a highlight nor a low point. (7.5/10) Blue Lines - Banger. The clean guitar plucks along with 3D and Tricky whispering rhymes make for such a cool song. (8.5/10) Be Thankful For What You've Got - A worthwhile but somewhat out-of-place cover. Can't help but think it doesn't really flow too well with the general sonic direction of this album. (6.5/10) Five Man Army - Great shit Unfinished Sympathy - Holy fuck for forever I thought this was called Unfinished Symphony. Anyways, this is one of the greatest songs of the 90s and of all time. Just incredible Rest of the album is super solid
Treibende drums, melody lines, frische sounds. 3Knaller. Tolles Album. Best 100 für die Insel.
Really enjoyed, love the 1st song Found myself playing it at least half a dozen times
Worth listening to through good headphones to appreciate the layers of sound provided. Alternatively, great for having on in the background when concentrating on something else (I mean that in a good way)
some good trip hop. not huge on the genre, but it was a solid 70 somethign out of 100 for me. massic attack has a charm to it that sucks me in a lot more than portishead.
pretty cool had some jammers fav track: Be Thankful for What You've Got
Really did not like the singing on this but I found it impossible not to enjoy Tricky and co.’s flow and electronic beats on most of the tracks.
I bought this album at the time of release and on listening to it again, it still sounds great. I love the mix of soul, reggae, hip-hop and the dark, moody atmosphere to many of the songs. Unfinished sympathy is just magnificent and highlights what a good singer Shara Nelson was but the album is full of greats songs from start (Safe from harm) to finish (Hymn of the big wheel). A strong, seminal debut