Reviews (page 8 of 14)
The danger of trip hop like this is just how extremely easy it is to get lost in the background of everything else going around you. This album has that happening in spades. When you can focus in on it though, it's quite good. 2.5 stars rounding up to 3.
nice
I’m gonna need more time with it. It grew on me as the album went on.
3.5
Rap, not into the voice
I like Massive Attack but some of this album is so fucking stupid.
90s trip-hop blending elements of electronica/house, reggae, dub/soul, and R&B. Perhaps not my exact cup of tea (it definitely feels like a child of the 90s) but still super groovy and easy to get lost in, and undoubtedly massively influential on many artists/releases that would come later.
Liked: Blue Lines; Be Thankful [...]; Five Man Army; Unfinished Sympathy; Daydreaming. Didn't like SFH; One Love, Lately or HotBW
Bão mas esquecível
it grew on me 3.5
Massive Attack are known for their ambient sounds and electronic experimentation. This album is a further contribution to their discography, blending some English rap, jazz-vocals, and a lot of ambiance. To be honest, it’s a solid listen but I can’t say that I was overwhelmed in any direction. Shara Nelson’s vocals were the key element that stood out for me on the entire album. For key songs I would go Hymn of the Big Wheel, simply because I enjoyed the gospel-like element mixed with the techno backbeats. It’s a good listen but I don’t know if it’s a headphones and silent introspection kind of album.
Random thoughts: * This sounds like early MAssive Attack where they have more of that late 80s/early 90s hip hop mixed in to the sound. It got so much cooler with the full on trip hop on later albums. * I listened to this a few times but nothing really grabbed me but it was a pleasant listen. Not a lot to say here.
this walked so that DJ shadow could run with Endtroducing
Pioneers in what later became known as Trip Hop, if you like funky bass lines and deep base with some pretty chill lyrics, some sung, some rapped, then this album is for you!
I think this deserves its place for its towering trip hop influence but sounds dated compared to what came after - a more muscular Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky’s debut. Lyrics and delivery are a bit trite and earnest. Some great songs though and enjoyed hearing a young, less paranoid Tricky
Muy buen vocalista
Not bad trip hop stuff. Weirdly I don't think trip hop holds up that well, it seems to have really been a product of it's time. Although truthfully for 1991 this seems to be quite a bit ahead of it's time. It's not bad, it's just a bit soft jazz for my taste.
Interesting grooves that oscillate between catchy & obsessively experimental.
I enjoyed listening to this record. It's not in my wheelhouse and wouldn't make it into my regular rotation, but it was a pleasant surprise and I can see why it is critically acclaimed.
This was mildly interesting but pretty pedestrian.
Goed album, maar wel erg gedateerd
Mezzanine is one of my favorite Triphop albums. The fact that Blue lines is pretty universally considered their best is wild. This album is ok.
I really liked this album. Great production end-to-end Fav Tracks: Be Thankful For What You've Got, Unfinished Sympathy 7/10
Ugh, if only it didn’t have that annoying rap in it… It would’ve been a 5 stars
trip hop genre is slowly growing on me favs: Be Thankful, Unfinished Sympathy
Cool album, I think it's got merit for many listeners. 3/5.
Bit rough around the edges but the foundations of something good Fave track: Unfinished Symphony
It’s interesting to finally hear this after years of only listening to Mezzanine. The clear favorite for me is Unfinished Sympathy. I also dig the contributions from Tricky. Horace Andy’s vocals are hit and miss with me… making me not really care for One Love or Hymn of the Big Wheel, but being less of an issue on Five Man Army. Mostly I’m a little disappointed that a lot of the sounds I associate with Trip Hop aren’t really there on this record. Blue Lines gets closest to the sound I was hoping for. Maybe it isn’t fair to review this album for being years away from the major sonic breakthroughs the band would create later, but it’s clear to me that Mezzanine is the one that belongs on the list.
Insane album
I don't think I've ever listened to a Massive Attack album start-to-finish before. Trip hop isn't really my thing, but this isn't bad. I didn't hate it, but I don't feel compelled to listen to this again.
Certainly an interesting and unique album from what I usually listen too. Overall though trip hop is not really my thing (at least based on this album I didn't know trip hop was a subgenre til today). I liked the reggae influence on some of the tracks, but probably would prefer listening to regular reggae. The songs were alright, but nothing really stood out too me too much. Favorite Track - Safe From Harm Least Favorite Track - Five Man Army ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Damn. I've made clear I don't care for trip-hop in my reviews of Portishead and others. But I like Massive Attack, and what they stand for. Clearly though, I don't like everything. This is all sorts of hit and miss. Some of it, like the big songs (Same from Harm, Unfinished Sympathy) are great. Others, like One Love go from boring to annoying (what the hell was up with those horns?).
Very different album. Love the Tricky tracks and some of the driving synth. The tough thing is a lot of it sounded the same.
enjoyed it but 4 seemed too high. 3 and a half
Remember my brother having this album growing up, the artwork always stuck with me. Really enjoyable overall, a solid 3.5. Unfinished Sympathy still sounds sooo good.
Too slow for my vibe
Somehow boring except for couple of really good songs. 2.8.
Nothing to really grab me here.
I liked this well-enough, and I guess the author chose it because it was the vanguard of trip-hop, but it really pales in comparison to Mezzanine. I think maybe there's too much early 90s still hip hop? I dunno.
Pretty solid, enjoyed listening to this album. Bunch of different styles all merged into one, with a dark r&b motif throughout. Fave songs: Blue Lines, Unfinished Symphony
Listened to Protection on this list a few months ago, and didn't care much for it. I liked this album better, especially the closing track.
This was pretty good to me. This sort of music isn’t really in my wheelhouse, but I enjoyed it well enough. 3
Trip hop indeed, chill vibe but not something I think I will revisit
Unfinished sympathy and safe from harm are modern classics. However like a lot of the trip hop albums of the time there is an awful lot of guff to wade through. One for the chin strokers
Gran estilo musical, muy innovador y original.
Mezzanine is better. Enjoyed some of it but other times i was a little bored of it
One thing I have to give this experience credit for is exposing me to more electronic music than I have listened to up until now. I've gained a greater sense of just how vast this genre is (I could've guessed this was the case as few genres are one note, but its nice to hear it for myself). That being said, I know this is not *the* Massive Attack record and while there were some cool bits here and there it didn't do a lot to move the needle for me. 3/5
A chill and funky sounding album, a pretty good listen and seemed quite orignal for its time. I enjoyed listening to this but was completly blown away a couple standout songs, good but nothing insanely good.
I had only heard of them as the theme for Luther, so this was a nice joy discovering them in more detail. This didn't blow me away, but I still liked it. Chill beats, the features were solid and interesting, and overall solid soundscape. Felt a little short and repetitive at the same time, but I wouldn't mind listening to some of the tracks again.
Very good trip-hop if a little forgettable.
There are moments and moments throughout the album. Some songs I found boring and some others I thought okay that sounds cool. I especially liked the ones that seemed kind of trip hop. However I would not revisit the album.
це прікольдд
Interesting
I thought I had this record...I recognise the cover art. I must be thinking of Protection. Okay, so I get that this would have been revolutionary at the time but like, it's not their best record...? I could be showing some ignorance here but it seems like the samples aren't even really dressed up, they've just sung over the top of Billy Cobham etc. Maybe that's what they also did later but I was too young to realise? Anyway, yeah pretty cool genre-defining trip-hop type thing out of the Bristol scene. Mezzanine is still my pick.
ok 3.5
0/9 bekannt 5,5/10 Beste Songs: hymn of the big wheel, safe from harm, five man army
RYM 3.0
nothing that stands out
For its time, it really was fresh and progressive music, but now I only like a couple of the tracks. I guess trip-hop just isn't my thing
the soulful vocals and gated drum machines of Be Thankful For What You've Got, the whistling wind and deep dub of Safe From Harm, the colossal ambient washes and unabashed turntablism of Unfinished Sympathy. this album is bold, and creates a sound for itself from the ground up. more hip hop than their later work, and a lot of the tracks aren't quite developed, but good debut overall. deserves to be one of the 1001? sure. but alongside Mezzanine obviously
bof
Light 3. Honestly, this project has really made me come to appreciate and genuinely dig trip hop. That’s a genre I had almost never listened to before but it just HIT for me. Some of my favorite first listens for this project have been trip hop! And I was interested in finally hearing this one, one of the biggest, one of the first, but ultimately I was not as into it as some other entries. It’s a little overproduced, a little busy, and British rapping is always suspect. Like, the bars are REALLY bad, generally. The best tracks are, I feel unsurprisingly, just the women singing. That’s what trip hop should be! Women with ethereal voices singing over esoteric beats! That’s all I want!!!
Never managed to get into it very well. Interesting to hear the much more hip hop sided sound compared to Mezzanine.
Reminded me a lot of Portishead. Really like Unfinished Sympathy. The rest was mixed but overall a good album.
Acrescentei duas faixas as músicas que gosto mais, achei muito interessante o conceito do álbum pois a união dos diferentes gêneros realmente causa um impacto por se diferir de outros que já escutei, pela minha ignorância dou 3, pq n é um álbum que vou escutar novamente, porém salvei algumas faixas.
I liked this!! Daydreaming and Be Thankful for What You’ve Got were my faves
I was excited to listen to this but feel kind of disappointed in it. I don’t think it’s aged very well with some questionable language choices. I just found it a bit of a flat album. Unfinished symphony doesn’t fit into this though, is a great song that really stands out from this so can see what it was the standout track at the time.
Found that this has dated quite poorly, feels very of its time. 'Unfinished Sympathy' is an obvious classic but there are some on here that just feel tired and old. Maybe you had to be there.
I really enjoy a lot of the beats, but some of the songs get repetitive and meh. Others are very good. This group seems dependent on the guest vocalist they have on each song
Never heard of them before so didn’t know what to expect. Heard hints of reggae, funk, hip hop, dance, prog rock,…. A little of everything. Sections reminded me of Enigma’s MCMXC (1990) album (music not the monks chanting). Probably wouldn’t seek it out, but would listen to it again.
Smelled a little funky but tasted fresh
The album starts strong with a killer beat featuring an awesome bass ostinato in “Safe From Harm”. We get some lovely dreamy soulful vocals on this track but sadly the vocals on this album are the element I find the most uneven. On the next track “One Love” the vocalist is doing some really weird vibrato that I find a bit annoying. Also not a fan of the reggae style vocals in “Five Man Army” or the whole of “Hymn of The Big Wheel”. In fact Big Wheel is probably the weakest track for me which is an unfortunate way to end the album. The instrumentals however are excellent throughout the album, slick cool trip-hop beats with enough variety to keep it interesting. Particular standouts for me were “Blue Lines”, “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” and “Unfinished Sympathy”
Decent album. A few good songs mixed in with ok songs. Nothing shattering here.
I've heard Massive Attack but had no idea what they sound like. Surprised this came out in 91. Nice mix of rap/reggae
mid 3 kind of disappointed in this i thought id like it more
Had potential but found it very boring. Some cool drums and production
This is one of those bands I've heard of but hadn't heard until this project. Better than I thought, some cool songs.
A few covers. So 90s chill.
Dream like.
90’s realness
Just not that into it.
More RNB and soul than trip hop. Solid album, before they found their sound
Doesn’t really do it for me. Still found it a little interesting though
Fave tracks- big man army and be thankful for what you’ve got
Have I changed, or have Massive Attack? Didn't hit quite the way it used to.
Good and solid but I’d always pick mezzanine over this if I wanted to listen to some massive attack
Was happy to see Massive Attack album, but it didn't capture me at all. Guess i only like Mezzanine from them
Strong production and atmosphere. A couple dud tracks (One Love and Lately), but also a couple hits (Safe From Harm and Unfinished Sympathy)
I like the base in the opening track quite a lot. And the closing track in general. Those are the only parts that stood out to me. I don't like any of the vocals in this album, except for the closing track. The closing track is saving this album for me
Niet zo'n heeeel boeiend album. Klinkt allemaal een beetje hetzelfde. Wel lekker chill. Was verrast dat ik unfinished symphony al kende. Dat vind ik oprecht een leuk nummer
nice but a bit boring. I didnt like the guy rapping
not really my thing. the repetitive soothing nature of most trip hop is kind of boring to me. but i also think everyone on this album has a really unique and beautiful voice and i liked what i heard of the lyrics. maybe i will revisit..
Good
A very 1990s mix of styles. I liked the opening and the heavier electronic sounds used in soul(-ish) music, not so much the rap and rap-adjacent passages. Favourites: "Safe from Harm", "Unfinished Sympathy" and "Latey". 3.5 / 5
Smooth beats and chill vibe with laid back vocals. I'm becoming a fan of trip hop.
Meh
Me gusta, tiene estilo de hip-hop.
Not my style of music necessarily, but I can see how Massive Attack is loved and appreciated for pioneering a musical genre. I saw Tricky back in 1995 when he was opening up for PJ Harvey. I enjoyed it!
I like the diversity of sound here and the tracks are all really good, but it doesn't really stick with me.
Really good. Think i prefer Mezzanine but this is an amazing start.
3⭐️/5 02.20.2026
Really good but can’t say it made me want to listen again, unfinished symphony is a classic though
This was fine. Some standouts. A lot of ‘British talk rapping’ ala Pet Shop Boys
*Another dance album with cool samples that I don't hate, I just don't love the genre
alright
First trip hop album Safe from harm Five man army
2.5
2.5
Mellow, doesn’t blow me away. Some good lyricism and production
I like the vocals and the grooves they create. I get tired of it by about the 5th track but generally I liked it.
I liked the title track the best. The rest was pretty good considering the time period.
On makeita soundeja ja smoothia hiphopia ajoittain
Interesting. Not sure how to classify it. Not a bad listen but a little too bass heavy, takes away from the other instruments and vocals
Solid, but not as groundbreaking as their later work. Largely just an incremental evolution of Caribbean Hip Hop and House, genres which existed long before them. The lyrical subjects delivered in slow flow, are not any different from countless other hip hop from the Americas, prior to the Gangsta Rap movements (which was accelerating in earnest in 1991). This album was a nice reprieve from the ugly and cheesiness of Gangsta Rap. It was the hip hop that felt like it arrived in a 3 piece suit carrying a cuppa, instead of in baggy pants carrying a blunt and an uzi, but still no lack of cheesy rhymes. It would be on MEZZANINE that they would actually lay down the definitive sound of the trip hop genre, truly making something new and original, and thereby making it their most influential album from a technical, cultural, and artistic standpoint, particularly in the U.S. My favorites from BLUE LINES are the throbbing "Safe From Harm" and "Unfinished Sympathy". In my opinion the only pieces that have fantastic instrumental arrangements while also bringing the non-cheesy lyrics, although frankly I would have enjoyed both more without any vocals at all.
I like this album but I've always felt like their next two albums are huge improvements. The next one takes this sound and perfects it then the one after that creates a whole new thing. (Then the one after that is good too!) I'm waffling between 3 and 4 but I'm going to go with a 3 because I want you all to know my 3 star ratings still mean I like it .
Not my favourite Massive Attack album. Other than the main hit, I just felt it was a little repetitive and lacked the punch that I associate with them. But you know, they’re a solid band and it isn’t a bad album per se! Just not full of bangers /in my opinion/.
Strong 3.
trippy, a bit unsettling, but fun
Very cool album. It’s not really my kind of music, but I still have to admit, that the songs sound great.
Not my favourite
Chill as hell album. Enjoyed!
not bad, might be okay in the background, but generally not for me
I read about this album before listening and I think it was built up a little too much. When it came out I am sure it was revolutionary but maybe didn't hold up that well. I found a few moments of brilliance but after a couple of listens just didn't get that engaged. 3.5
not something i'd typically listen to, but it's not a bad album. if you like alternative hip-hop 90s music, then i'd recommend it to you
I knew this band - just didn’t know it (Teardrop is the other song I know by them). I think this would be an album I’d be comfortable working out to. I maybe did’t have a lot of “favorite” songs, but they all sounded decent enough. Favorite: One Love - Love the beat in this piece, some interesting usage of musical instruments. Lately - This has such a great disco-like beat to it.
I was expecting to like this album a little bit more. It's fine, quite listenable, but nothing I'm amazed about. It's possible that the nature of listening to an album a day may take away from the time needed to appreciate this more. It might be a 4 in the future, but it's a 3 for now.
Not for me, but good
great 90s record
#839. I know a lot of people really like Massive Attack, but two albums in now I'm not sure I'd consider myself one of those people. 3/5: its okay
Really enjoyed this one. Some great tunes and an interesting look at some of the earliest trip hop to get noticed.
This is another album that was undoubtedly a bigger deal in the UK than it was Stateside, though I remember Massive Attack bubbling up among the hipster anglophiles. While the cover design drives me nuts, the music is fine. You get the gist quickly. Opener "Safe From Harm"—which the book says was "the song of the decade" ("for thousands" of people)—is the high point. It settles into a vibe and sound and stays there, which is fine if repetitive. Also, Tricky aside, some of the rapping on here sounds like Flight of the Conchords, but they aren't trying to be funny.
I did like this album overall, and can see how in 1991 it might have been pretty groundbreaking, but it did wash over me somewhat after a while (several tracks seemed unnecessarily dragged out). There were some exceptions: ‘Safe from Harm’ was a great opener, ‘Be Thankful For What You’ve Got’ I liked a lot, and ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ is clearly the stand-out track. Funnily enough, the title track was probably my least favourite, along with ‘Five Man Army’ and ‘Daydreaming’. Basically, I didn’t enjoy Tricky’s rapping, and much preferred the Shara Nelson tracks. A textbook 3 star album for me.
What a different time
Some of this was pretty cool - best track was five man army followed by safe from harm. Otherwise kind of a good background noise album, I like that it sounded like one long jam. Most of these I will not relisten to but I’d check out other stuff.
knew one song, which I liked. The rest was too slow for me.
I love Massive Attack, but I don’t love all of their tracks. Blue Lines carries a few classic tracks (Safe From Harm, Unfinished Sympathy) and all of the hallmarks of early Trip Hop. Hard to believe they were so fully formed on their debut, but I would recommend later MA albums over this one.
hymn of the big wheel
I've not heard a single track before, but I'm enjoying it. Mostly a good combination of easy listening but still had a lot of meat to get into. Some real stinkers bring it down.
Like the band but this record is meh. Very repetetive and boring. no song stood out. Nice on the background tho.
Some big tunes, some was a bit out there for me
Two songs I liked: Unfinished Sympathy and Hymn of the Big Wheel.
Meh. Points for the line used by Jez in Peep Show.
Enjoyable, but brought down by the fact that it doesn't sound very unique anymore. I've heard lots like this since it came out Favorite Songs: Blue Line
6/10 It's all a bit minor key for me - the tracks merge into one. But I like it more than I used to though
Interesting for sure, just not quite a 4
It was good, a very interesting listen. I liked that there was a similar sound, but every song was a little different.
Pretty chill but fell off since like first two songs
A developmental album moving towards eventual seminal works, but not there yet. Massive Attack are one of the greatest Trip-Hop acts. This album you can hear the beginnings of what they turn into, but they're not there yet. They are still trying to be hip-hop, reminiscent of acts like Tribe Called Quest. But they're just... okay... at that. You can hear the beginnings of their eventual sound and style, but it's still evolving. They haven't fully found or embraced the genre they will go on to define.
This was a pleasant surprise. I didn't know what trip hop was. And now that I do, I’m impressed. This just some amazing, soulful music!
When Safe From Harm started I thought I would love this album. However it devolved into the most familiar hiphop/jazz/electronic/lounge background music I could imagine. It felt like I was out somewhere wearing my nicest plaid shirt and feeling out of place yet again. OK, I just read that this is considered to be the first trip-hop album. For the sake of Portishead I respect this but I didn't really enjoy listening to it that much.
я була здивована почути там репчік, але мені сподобалось. сподобалось більше за все інше лол
I would describe this as Lukewarm hip hop, but it was still enjoyable.
Trip hop you say? Wasn't sure what to expect, and hardly my thing, but pleasantly surprised by the smooth beatiness (or something).
Funky, but made me feel nothing.
This album had great vibes other then the vocals on majority of the songs to be honest, I really loved two of the songs - Safe from Harm and Unfinished Sympathy (which I've definitely heard somewhere before). I would give this album a 5/5 if not for the terrible vocals on over half the songs.
Not mindblowingly good, but makes great background music, groovy.
Não é muito a minha vibe Parece que as primeiras musicas musica tem uma frase repetida em loop e so mexem um pouco no panorama sonoro e ta Blue lines ate foi interessante foi uma vibe dif Daydreaming do nada “if i was a rich man dudududududud” “here comes the sun" Sometime again you’ll turn green and the sea turns red?!?
its good but not really special 3.25
Bra!!
Zit wat tussen, zit ook niks tussen. Ik weet dat im dit een geprezen album is maar doorstaat niet de tand des tijds
Ahead of its time and probably a defining trip-hop record. Mixed beautifully; feels cool to listen to. Sometimes lowkey to a fault. I’m not chomping at the bit to hear it again, but I could see myself revisiting.
Safe From Harm: 4/5 One Love: 2/5 Blue Lines: 3/5 Be Thankful for What You’ve Got: 2/5 Five Man Army: 3/5 Unfinished Sympathy: 3/5 —> The instrumental carries this one icl Daydreaming: 2/5 Lately: 2/5 Hymn Of The Big Wheel: 2/5 It’s a good album but I do prefer Massive Attack’s later albums as they lean further into the trip-hop genre (not that this isn’t trip-hop it’s just not as exaggerated!!). I just found it a little boring at times. I can’t comment on lyrics as i’m not a very lyric focused person so my ratings based off the sound alone
Fairly dull for me again. Not terrible, very listenable, but other than a couple of singles, nothing really groundbreaking.
Not bad, but following albums are better.
A little heartbroken bc I Love massive attack usually but I just did not connect w this!!! Hopefully Mezzanine is on this list and I can redeem myself bc I feel a weird amount of shame not liking this Lol .
It’s pretty good but just not my type of music
I kinda liked most of this album, with the exception of the last track. This was fine, some interesting beats, not in a hurry to listen to it again.
Exceptional in some places, very dated in others. Sonicaly interesting though, and too short too be boring
The original "trip hop" album. Not bad; I can understand the appeal. What spoke to me the most were the very British raps ("Blue Lines," for example).
Spoko, podobało mi się ale bez większego szału.
Ungewöhnlich, aber haut mich nicht vom hocker. Ist entspannt aber nichts wo ich groß bick drauf hab es nochmal zu hören gerade
Moody, innovative, cool
Some good tunes here (Safe & Unfinished), but I have always found this too polished to really standout as a classic. Some of the rhythms also seem a bit clunky now (Lately feels very ploddy, for instance). Good, but not great.
Best prima wel.
I often find trip-hop to be a hit-and-miss genre. That said, Massive Attack’s "Blue Lines" begins with promise. "Safe from Harm" is a sonically moody opener anchored by a throbbing bassline, and Shara Nelson’s vocals. Unfortunately, the momentum falters quickly. "One Love" feels sparse and dull, hampered by a sluggish tempo that fails to engage. This lethargy carries into the title track, where a repetitive backbeat and vocals from Tricky result in a listening experience that is more "languid" than "atmospheric." Technically, the album is well-produced and executed with precision, yet it lacks a certain spark. By the fourth track, the repetitive nature of the arrangements began to grate. "Five Man Army" offers a brief reprieve; its solid bassline provides a better canvas for Tricky, whose delivery aligns with the track’s mood. Even the iconic "Unfinished Sympathy", unquestionably the standout, is a track I admire more for invoking memories of that time than as a personal favourite. The album concludes in a familiar vein: "Daydreaming" and "Lately" return to sparse, repetitive structures. On "Daydreaming," Tricky’s performance is the sole element saving the track from mediocrity. Ultimately, Blue Lines is a fragmented and inconsistent journey. It earns a three-star rating, but only just! 1 "Safe from Harm" (3/5) 2 "One Love" (2/5) 3 "Blue Lines" (2/5) 4 "Be Thankful for What You've Got" (2/5) 5 "Five Man Army" (3/5) 6 "Unfinished Sympathy" (4/5) 7 "Daydreaming" (3/5) 8 "Lately" (2/5) 9 "Hymn of the Big Wheel" (2/5) Total - 23 Average - 2.56 197/1001 110/197 albums reviewed were new to me.
It was decent. Great for background, but I probably wouldn’t repeat listen.
Jotain ajatusta jossain kohtaa
Ei ollu meikän juttu
Trip Hop seems like my kinda thing on paper, but this album was underwhelming. Maybe I’m too conditioned by bands like Dirty Art Club or The Jazzual Suspects who have a much more dynamic take on this style of music (with less vocals). Consensus opinion is that Massive Attack created the genre, so this record feels pretty important from that perspective, but things just get better from here!
Interesting and fun.
i like massive attack their stuff is very atmospheric
I’ve never heard of Massive Attack before this. I don’t feel any particular way about them or the music.
sometimes cool, sometimes relaxing, sometimes too relaxing
New listen 1. Safe from harm- goes hard 2. One love- goes hard in parts 3. Blue lines- a different vibe and alright 4. Be thankful for what you've got- unbelievably hard, love this one 5. Five man army- groovy vibes 6. Unfinished sympathy- my fave on the album 7. Daydreaming- another unbelievably hard one 8. Lately- groovy baby 9. Hymn of the big wheel- played things out nicely Overall rating 3/3.5 stars
Docela Vibe - safe from harm
very good album, very british and bristol, 3/5
Top songs: Safe from Harm, Unfinished Sympathy. 7/10
Like the music but not a fan of Shara Nelson and Horace Andy's vocals. Highlights: Blue Lines, Five Man Army, Unfinished Sympathy, Hymn of The Big Wheel.
This should probably be ranked higher, but this was my first listen.
Pretty good, will listen again sometime. First and last tracks were great. Prob like a 3.5/5
The debut album of the original trip hop group. It get's points for that, but it does sound quite dated. Not terrible by any stretch, trip hop just isn't my thing. This is a clear 3.5.
Electronic isn’t my go to genre. Again, I can appreciate it for what it is, but probably won’t revisit.
I wasn’t a big Bowie fan 40 years ago. When he died and all his music was being played on the radio, it made me think that there was more to Bowie than I had thought. I didn’t like this album much though. Jean jeanie is a classic, but even that is a bit dirgie. So, not a great album for me.
Litt opp og ned, men noen gode i blant
It’s legendary but not great
i really like massive attack usually, their music is clever and interesting, but this one is pretty week compared to other albums of them.
Very chill, something that might be nice in the background while partaking in many activities...sleeping, napping, resting, recovering from a hangover, taking a sauna/steam or during a massage. Reminiscent of early 90s Me Phi Me but more mellow overall.
Decent, chill beats. Not bad, but didn't really grab me.
It’s the type of album you can’t not bop your head to.
This is not at all what I expected. It was nice.
Just ok
Oh great! More English Electronica. /s. But the 1st song had a nice groove to it. A Portishead feel, with engaging vocals. A good start. There were a couple of other tunes that I liked. Enough to reach a 3 instead of the 2s most in the genre get from me, but short of the 4 I had hoped was possible.
Not my favorite Massive Attack, a little too trip-hoppy for me. But still a good listen.
Interesting, really eclectic
Good for what it is, but I’m not thrilled about any of it.
I feel like Trip-Hop is trying to do something but doesn't know what it wants to do. That's this album, a little bit of motion that goes nowhere.
Short n sweet. Chill as heck, can’t imagine I’ll ever listen to it again but it was enjoyable
Unique collection of tracks with consistent laid-back sound.
I had the wrong idea about this going into it. For some reason I had this group pegged as white guy indie alternative type music. So when it started off with some loops and hip hip stylings I was massively thrown off. Took a few tracks to get into this new mindset. But then I was really digging it. Then I started to come back to earth. When I got some more instrumental tracks. Maybe even fell below baseline. Overall this was kind of a Rollercoaster for me. Up and down and loop de loop. But generally I had a decent time. N9thing earth shattering or anything of the sort. Just relatively enjoyable. Though I will say I had a good laugh when the record ends with the exact thing I was so mistaken about. White guy music closer.
Nice & relaxing grooves
Beats are great - but man those lyrics and vocals are rough. As others said here…is it house, hip hop…maybe both but neither really well. The reggae vibes and sampling for the time is excellent though. Unfinished Symphony earns its stripes though
Love Massive Attack, but Mezzanine is more my vibe. This album trends toward soul/hip hop. Will add the two singles to my rotation though.
The production sounds a little dated now, but it is a cool mix of a bunch of different things, dub hip-hop, soul, reggae, etc. I like tricky the best and I think the tricky album Maxinquay and pre-millennium tension do the stuff on this better but this is still good
A couple of bangers but some mediocrity as well
Unfortunately not as good as I was expecting. Still decent.
Strong concept, very ambitious genre-wise to mix soul, reggae, electronic synths and a mellow almost whispered rapping (alongside delightful singing feature players). This is a seed of trip hop, but much like a lot of other long-standing bands, I tend to like when they’ve mutated a bit for it to resonate with me. Think the Beatles, Wilco, or Radiohead; like those bands, Massive Attack benefitted from going deeper over time and mutating the forms they were playing with to find what they needed. They got better and more focused without Tricky; in fact, Tricky also benefitted from taking up more space on his own.
I guess I'm just not a big fan of r&b which I think is what the singing sounds like. I liked Blue Lines but the rest was very background to me. I'm not even sure if I finished the album or if I got distracted by something.
Pretty good. Not something I would listen to all the time but it was pleasant and fun to dance to. Favorite Songs: Blue Lines, Unfinished Sympathy, Hymn of the Big Wheel
This album was just ok. Some good background ambience but nothing really stood out to me. Top tracks: “Unfinished Symphony,” “Blue Lines”
Meh.
I went through a massive Tricky phase and still like his older stuff. This is good, but it doesn’t quite grab me in the same way.
ok
More of this kind of thing. Again, just fine.
looks good will listen
Some songs (like Blue Lines) are depressingly empty of texture and very cramped.
A 4.
It seems Gen Z judges everything by vibes now, and the vibes I got from Blue Lines (which I’d never heard until now) are very chill. It’s music I wouldn’t mind listening to while working at a cafe, but honestly nothing stood out enough that I would reach for it to actually listen to regularly.
I'm sure some in the group may or may not be surprised that I have never heard of this band but I was pretty firmly entrenched in Heavy Metal during the time of their releases. Great mix of genres here with parts being a sort of psychedelic electronica but mixed with soul, sometimes a reggae influence and even my least favorite genre Hip Hop... Hate all you want. 🤣
I felt like a was transported back to the 90s. Decent enough album, good background music.
The best 90s album yet
Sound is ok. Samples are ok. Vocals are fine. Reminds me Dummy by Portishead, which is far better than this.
Pretty good triphop.
enjoyable but blends together after a bit
Some of these tracks were pretty killer. I can hear the influence in groups like the Streets (Unfinished Sympathy) and Gorillaz (Five Man Army). Others felt a little too dated and corny. I’m not big on trip hop but I still enjoyed the album for the most part.
Very interesting combination of genres. Some hip hop, some electronica, some funk, some soul, some reggae. Overall, I enjoyed the vibe, but there were a few elements that didn't quite hit the mark for me. Specifically, I didn't love the vocals and some of the reggae elements seemed a bit out of place.
Pretty groovy, with all of the sounds being really good. but honestly kind of boring and a lot of the songs sound the same
cool
I wasn't crazy about this but I can see why it's on the list.
I was surprised by this- I expected a massive attack album to be very techno forward, but this album had more of a funk/alt/industrial feel. It was unique and enjoyable.
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Enjoyed it.
A bit too sleepy for me. There were a few nice grooves, especially the closing track (Hymn of the Big Wheel).
Excellent production but not my favorite Massive Attack album
In its own subtlety there is an epicness, but not all the songs are unfinished sympathy. So those others didn't end up doing much with me.
It's probably the 200th time someone's said this but Mezzanine should have been the representative album for this group. Blue Lines is fine but immemorable
Probably the best possible example of this kind of music. I like it but it’s not my favourite musical place to be.
Instruments: 3/5 Lyrics/Storytelling: 4/5 Production: 2/5 Vibes: 4/5 Emotional Value: 1/5 Stand Outs: Unfinished Symphony, Daydreaming Overall Rating: 2.8
eh
Video Game lobby
Very subdued, but I enjoyed most of this album. I don't have a ton of experience with Trip-Rap, but I'll have to at least check out more of their stuff. Thinking 3-3.5 (we really need a half star system)
Good Album, good for chilling and listening to while working.
I like Massive Attack. I wish I listened more closely to them. I feel like I would love a long ass YouTube video of them. I gotta revisit these on a roadtrip when I can really listen. God, I want to go on a road trip.
Not sure I need to hear this before I die. I think at the time it was innovative? But hasn’t aged well
Unfinished Sympathy is so clear of everything else here. Absolute masterpiece, one of the songs of the decade. Safe From Harm is very good too. The rest hasn't aged too well in my opinion. Not bad music at all, it has a nice laid back vibe and is a pleasant listen, but those two mentioned songs are leagues ahead of the rest. Mezzanine is infinitely better.
Expected to hate this one but it was actually very cool, I can respect it
Pretty good
Pretty mixed bag. Some amazing songs but quite a lot of filler.
Good stuff
Not my favorite genre, but I was vibing to this
Like the relaxed tracks, nice summer grooves
I liked it
A bit of a groove, but too slow paced
Great album
This seemed to vary in quality throughout my listen. I guess this was one of the foundational "trip hop" albums for its time though, so I'm trying to fairly assess this. The samples and breakbeats were interesting and inventive. Couldn't really snuff out one particular track that I would deem as memorable, I think this particular genre is known more as a "sum of its parts" rather than individual highlights. Not necessarily a knock either, as the right crowd can flip this and other trip hop records on and sort of just chill out. I personally prefer the jazz rap that sort of emerged in the US around the time this album was released, but I can recognize the influence "Blue Lines" and Massive Attack had on this subgenre as a whole.
Trip Hop is weird. Probably going for Portishead over this. Seems like they found their sound more on Mezzanine and this is closer to generic trip Hop. Still decently enjoyable in the background
Some pretty good songs at the beginning of the album, but I got bored quick
Some of these songs weren’t bad, I liked the more rap based tracks, others were not very exciting.
It's fine. I wouldn't object if this was put on, but I doubt I'd search it out on a regular basis.
I thought this was just fine, nothing too special.
Interesting record. Not what I usually listen to, but I get why people find it interesting.
It was fine - pretty calm, the vocals were nice - i thought they would. Be more like prodigy -
I liked it more than Portishead but I’m just not a trip hop girl. I did learn that a guy from Massive Attack, 3D, is possibly Banksy? Is that true? I don’t know. I did a half hearted google search that said no.
Not my cup of tea.
3.75
I expected to hate it, because all other trip-hop albums I heared were annoying. This wasn't, but still rather a background music for me. Didn't hated it, but still don't understand the hype
dub dub dub
Didn't grip me but a lot of bits that I liked
Enjoyable
I enjoy trip hop but this felt pretty plain.
I was ecstatic to get this group. I enjoy hearing their music and their interesting compositions. Great listen.
Some good tracks on here, mixed with some mediocre ones. It all feels very dated, and a bit like experimental noodling. I know I know. Allmusic called it a “masterpiece”.
No es para tanto aspaviento. Pero tiene algún aporte
Why does "One Love" remind me of a Persona 5 song? I'm not complaining but something about that keyboard. Very British. It was good. I liked it. Something about it seemed really stereotypical of those early 90s bands. I understand why they call it the first triphop album
Not doing it for me
Good album.
I don’t think the vocals have really stood up to time but the production and design is fantastic. Cool to see the beginnings of the genre.
Tracks are good as expected but the vocals.. what the fuck. Some of it's cool but some is incredibly lame. Who's the posh english rapper?
I gather Massive Attack were a big. deal in the UK when this book was written. The moment passed me by. I find the record inoffensive but not particularly compelling. Might have been different if I had been a young person in the UK in the 90s. Having never been a young person, I can't know.
This is better than Protection, and their pastiche game is strong (I always like a good Fiddler on the Roof reference) but the actual music made by them is still pretty boring. To wit, the best song (Be Thankful for What You've Got) is a cover. But overall I was pleasantly surprised. 3.5
Enjoyed this much more than I expected - in a playing in the background kind of way 😀
Not bad. Not my thing, but still a reasonably good listen.
Yeah i think its pretty good! Most songs i find enjoyable. Too bad the last two songs fall flat for me, with the melody not doing it for me and the vocals not up to snuff. But there are definitely some stand outs- Unfinished Symphony is great and Safe from Harm as well. The instrumentals reward a closer listen as well with the individual parts. I do like the fusion of genres as well with like the record scratches amid the more straightforward tracks. Would be 3.5 but fall back to 3 stars. Tentative 3 though, may need to return to it more to fully appreciate it
More soulful than I expected, my first trip hop listen I think
Very cool and very British.
This is somewhere between trip-hop and hip-hop. Some DEFINITE grooves, but it's not a fantastic album. It's good though. Pitchfork: 9.0 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #241 (2023) Best Songs Safe From Harm Unfinished Symphony
Wow. Kind of a depressing relisten. This album was worn out during my early days. It was fresh and vibrant. Haven't listened in a long time. While I know that the inspiration and influence has spread massively over the years, on this relisten, it really fell flat, kind of dull, and lifeless. Not sure why. Maybe it's the countless other acts that have parroted it and it's sounds, but yeah... Kind of sad, actually.
My first thought with this album is that I could tell that it’s had a lot of influence on a number of modern artists/groups (Brockhampton being a notable one that comes to mind) The insanely creative instrumentals and song structures left me pleasantly surprised at how well this album holds up (released 34 years ago) Unfinished Sympathy and Lately were both very enjoyable, but I found that the album’s closer, Hymn of The Big Wheel, stood out to me the most as the message of the song is one that I really needed to hear Although it wasn’t perfect and a few songs had me a bit underwhelmed, “Blue Lines” exceeded my expectations Favorites: None Honorable Mentions: Blue Lines, Unfinished Sympathy, Lately, Hymn of The Big Wheel
Falls victim to something I call The Nujabes Curse, where the instrumentals are far and away superior to any of the mediocre rapping thrown onto these beats. I can respect what this album encouraged and inspired, but it’s a canyon of a difference to me between Unfinished Symphony and Blue Lines.
Actually pretty good.
Slow trippy dark beats, with some British singing or rapping overlayed. Would be good for driving at night. Cool mysterious vibe