Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Moins un coup de coeur que Heligoland, mais bon! Plus campé dans son époque (90s), le hip hop le scratch.. en même temps Blue Lines est sorti bien avant, en 1991, ça devait être très innovateur à l'époque Des tones peaufinés clairement, exemple le son de snare dans la premiere track Safe from Harm, les sons de snare en général! Clairement recherchés. Fun fact wiki sur la page de MA : "Chaque album est enrichi par de très nombreuses collaborations et la participation systématique de Horace Andy." Chanteur de reggae jamaicain. Dans Blue Lines : Five Man Army, pièces clairement inspirée des codes du reggae
These trip-hop beats and British rapping/singing are so 90's; while they feel dated at times once I was on the album's wavelength I overall enjoyed it.
3.4 - I like massive attack, but maybe I just thought it lacked a bit of depth
Didn't really get a lot from this, quite disappointed. Unfinished Sympathy stood out, and a lot of other songs fine, but mostly I found the dub tracks uninspiring. 3.2/5
Deserves to be on the list I just didn't like it at all.
One time listen
I love Massive Attack but have mostly listened to their later albums. This was great but felt a bit dated.
alright
I wasn't too big on some of the vocals on this album but for the most part I enjoyed it, there was some really good funky instrumentation up in here.
Mezzanine is the true classic
Some songs were groovy, but a lot of them had a rhythm/instrumentation that made me antsy
Medio punk, medio reggae y medio hip hop. Zarpado. Mejor canción: Unfinished sympathy. Varias canciones me resultaron medio aburridas.
My 2nd favorite Massive Attack album, but it's a big jump from here to Mezzanine at #1. Good album though, probably more like 3.5/5
I feel so guilty not loving this record given how much people have tried to get me to get into it so much. I do really like Mezzanine, but the featured vocals are just not doing it for me as much as I expected
Had heard good thinks about MA..Just didn’t feel it. Not bad but just meh IMO
Considering this is the first trip hop album and Massive Attack have attracted a large dedicated fan base, I guess I was expecting more. It felt underwhelming, but there wasn't anything that made me dislike it or annoyed me, so in many ways that's a win. The beats are chill and the rapping was right on, it was enjoyable enough to keep my interest, at least until the end. Nothing on here will be life-changing or inspire me to seek out more Massive Attack. Overall, it's solidly, a definite maybe.
Second 1991 album in a row (after Blood Sugar Sex Magick) and second midfest in a row too. On my birth year of all things. Yawn. Also, two Massive Attack albums Jeremy? You must be insane.
I like it… there are some great beats and melodies, but it does sound of it’s time and that time is kind of silly to me.
A pretty chill album. I didn't realize these guys invented trip hop. Definitely an album ahead of its time. It's a good album, and I can see why people like it. Kind of like lowkey background music though. Not sure it draws much emotion from me, though it's definitely a mood. 3/5
Quite good.
Some tracks are too repetitive for me but that is normal for the genre. Definitely a vibe and you gotta be in it to enjoy it.
Electro/House/EDM, whatever you want to call it, is either really, really good, or repetitive as all get out.
3 - too slow
I've listened to Mezzanine a few times as it's on of my dad's favourite albums, though I've never checked out their other stuff. Hoping it's of similar quality though I'm guessing as it's much earlier in their career, this one might be a step down. Expecting something trippy and hypnotic, yet something that stays focused and consistent at the same time. Really looking forward to this one. Safe From Harm Has an interesting atmosphere to it. I like the looping bass. The female vocals are very solid. I'm not too sure about the male vocals, they seem very of the time. I really like the some of the production choices on here, like the vocal layering and the clever stops before the chorus. The higher pitched synth almost sounds like a radar beep which adds an almost aquatic feel to the track. Decent. 3.5/5 One Love Yeah the production sure is interesting, though the horn sample is a bit distracting. Don't love the singer's voice, sort of takes some smoothness away from the track. The piano near the end is a pretty excellent way to end the track. Average. 2.5/5 Blue Lines Really don't like the record scratches. The jazzy piano sounds really good. The entire track remains jazzy and smooth throughout, I really like the subtle guitar in the background. The vocals are fine, I do like the back and forth quite a bit. They are however a bit repetitive. Has a great moody atmosphere. Decent. 3.5/5 Be Thankful For What You Got Great groove, love the bass and organ. Love the singer's voice, goes really well with the production. Mediocre lyrics. The backing singers sound a bit weak. Some cool percussion at times. Decent. 3.5/5 Five Man Army I like the dub like bassline. Great percussion. Awesome synthline. I like the background vocals quite a bit. They add a lot of atmosphere and dynamism to the track. Does lose quite a bit of focus near the end, feels like it's just going through the same few bars without really adding anything of interest, though the groove is still quite good. Decent. 3.5/5 Unfinished Sympathy The large cinematic strings add a lot of texture to the song. Decent percussion. The vocals are performed really well. It's very impressive. how they've made this very stylized vocal performance work with the chaotic production. Love the string arrangement, feels like the two different parts run paralell to each other. Good. 4/5 Daydreaming The drum pattern is quite infectious. Very dated sounding rapping, the rhyme schemes are kinda bad and the references don't quite hit. Boring flows make for a monotonous listening experience. Pleasant vocal, but not enough to save the track. Dislike. 2/5 Lately Incessantly average beat. Hollow and uncharismatic with very little interesting going on. The vocals are well performed, but not special enough to keep this interesting. Boring and unsatisfying. Dislike. 2/5 Hymn Of The Big Wheel The synths are pretty retro, I like the warm sound they provide to the track. I like the imagery presented in the lyrics of the track. The singer does a good job bringing them to life with a spirited and passionate performance. Well crafted and atmospheric. Good. 4/5 Am I wrong to be a bit disappointed with this one? It feels a bit sparse, like every track is missing something to make it stand out. I didn't find it neither trippy nor hypnotic and while the production is good it's never mindblowingly clever like I sort of expected it to be. Record scratches plague this album, making it really show its age. The rapping comes off as samey and honestly a bit goofy at times. And while most of the tracks have outstanding atmosphere I can't help but feel they sound a bit empty. Where this album shines best is with how they choose to work around the various vocal styles. They pick unexpected combinations of basslines, synths and percussive elements and build a composition that never is obvious, but tends to work really well with the vocals. I do like the mesh of styles. Dub, soul, reggae and hip hop are examples of genres they blend uniquely with electronic electronic elements to create a consistent and recognizable style. In the end you get a bit of a mixed bag, where you can tell it was pretty revolutionary for its time. However it does feel quite dated and a bit unsatisfying, especially considering the quality of their later work. In the end it's just fine with a few tracks worth revisiting every now and then. 3/5
I had very little experience with Massive Attack before this album. I only ever heard one track from them, which I love, Teardrop. So I had a vague idea what I what I was getting into. It mostly fit into the box of what I anticipated. Blue Lines being their debut album and 7 years before Teardrop, was definitely Massive Attack in the raw. Unpolished and eager to show the world their creations. For that, I can see why it’s on this list. A forerunner of the genre in it budding stages. What I didn’t see coming was the bad attempts at rapping. I know it was 1991, but by this time De La Soul, Tribe, Ice Cube, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, amongst many others had all elevated the lyrical game years earlier. The lyricism and flows on these songs is bad and a bit disappointing. This record could have been a strong 4 of the script read more like the strong trip hop, trance, with easy flowing female vocals. I was loving those tracks. And the beats in the rapping tracks were all great beats, just ruined by the vocals. It’s like having an original Monet and drawing one of those S’s where you connect the 6 hash lines to create a pointy “wannabe graffiti” S right over top of the masterpiece. 6.6/10 #64/1001
This is not my favorite album from Massive Attack, but it's not bad. Unfinished symphony is by far my favorite song off of this album. Overall a solid album, just not my first choice.
Cool vibe. Had heard Safe From Harm before, not the rest. Dig the style.
Mouef. Très quali mais pas mon del
Too many songs sound the same. That electronic drum beat gets old after a while.
honorable 3
Pre-listening thoughts: no idea who this band is or what to expect from their sound. Going in blind Post/during listening thoughts: immediately got scared by a record scratching sound effect in the first song. It was like right in my ear and I deadass thought someone was clawing at my door or something. I'm one song in but I can tell this is going to be a three. It's kind of like that Everything But the Girl album. meh whatever elevator music 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Unfinished Sympathy Least fav tracks: One Love
Good album to work to, catch a vibe in the background. Different than what I expected from the band name, and after listening to metal this week.
Nothing here should make your ears bleed, either literally or metaphorically.
Enjoyed the album when it came out. Don’t find it so exciting now.
One of those albums on here for pioneering a new genre but it's never been my thing. Unfinished Sympathy is the highlight. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Bueno
A classic, sure—but Blue Lines now sounds like it belongs in a ’90s museum. Influential, yes. Timeless, no. Dated sounds rarely makes for great records. This one’s just a fine one.
7/10?
Lots of catchy songs, but that's not necessarily meaning you'll have a good experience. The tracks with Shara Nelson are the highlight. Other vocalists are misses. I don't REALLY get trip-hop/downtempo, but guess this must have sounded mental in 1991.
Pretty good but not my fav album
Good fun.
Semmonen kiva.
Enjoyed the hits, but the rest don't stick that much.
I expected more from this album.
interesting listen.
As far as trip hop goes, this isn’t too bad. Unfinished symphony is incredible. Preferred the female vocalist tbh.
Trip hop or whatever they call it??? The drums are just immaculate, grabbed me in as soon as the album started. Vocals are also very nice as well :) Really in the border between a 3 and 4, flipped a coin at it landed tails so it’s a 3
Impressive trip hop album, I found it a bit boring though.
Very unique, not all good but none outright bad
Rentouttava ja kiinnostava kokoelma kilisevää jumputusta
*Blue Lines*, the debut album by the Bristol trip-hop group Massive Attack starts off unpromisingly with a couple of repetitive jams that go nowhere, but hits its footing with third track "Blue Lines" where Tricky rhymes over a well-constructed beat reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest. After digressing with a well-executed cover of "Be Thankful For What You've Got" (whose robust chord progression casts the lesser songs in an unfavorable light), the album heads back into hip-hop territory with the strong but overlong "Five Man Army". The album's centerpiece, "Unfinished Sympathy", features dramatic chords, a compelling lead vocal from Shara Nelson and a complex beat, all of which gels into a sophisticated whole. "Daydreaming" is a solid track has Tricky on the mic again, with vocal embellishments by Nelson. "Lately" finds the album retreating back into a repetitive groove that never reaches escape velocity. Closing track "Hymn Of The Big Wheel" takes an unexpectedly upbeat turn but feels misplaced after the darker tone of the rest of the album. 3
Favorite Track: Be Thankful For What You've Got
I enjoyed a few songs, casually liked the album but it’s not something I would have on repeat. Regardless, it’s cool and reading the wiki entry gave historic context that made the listening experience really nice.
Didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. Was expecting something akin to Mezzanine and it just didn’t really get there. Felt very much like a product of its time.
First listen. Fairly solid album but nothing overly inspiring to me. Considered the first trip hop album. I do like that vibe to chill out to, so thank you for that.
Pretty enjoyable album. I liked it.
Acid jazz was not my jam in 1991, and trip hop isn’t my favorite now by any stretch. But I can recognize the importance of this album as the originator of the sound and genre. For that it gets an extra star: 3⭐️
It was pretty good, a little repetitive
Heerlijk die triphop vibe. En heb ook wel het gevoel dat ze hier zoekende waren naar welk geluid aan slaat. Het is een thin line tussen beetje lome (en saaie) achtergrond muziek of een perfecte jam voor over de festival weides. Unfinished Sympathy is echt super raak. Door de beats en de stem van Shara Nelson. De samenwerkingen zijn sowieso een belangrijke factor op dit album. De lyrics geven net dat extra stukje spanning om de songs interessant te maken. Geslaagd gepionier. 7,5/10 Highlights Blue Lines Thankful for what you've got (toch wel goud zo'n cover ineens halverwege) Unfinished Sympathy
Fun album, but not as memorable as I'd like it to be, and I don't care much for it either.
Never consciously heard trip hop. Till today. The opening track and Shara Nelson’s voice blew me away. What a powerful voice! I was a bit sad when I saw that she is not on every song. The song Unfinished Sympathy is incredible! What a gem - and this album gets one star for just this incredible track alone. Hymn of the Big Wheel is amazing as well. 3/5 stars because I did not always enjoy the dudes‘ voices and their rapping. It felt a bit corny and too forced. But this record is still worth remembering.
This doesn’t sound like electronica and hip hop had a child. Rather, it sounds like they thought about having a child, but were too tired so they just went to bed. Despite how painfully boring this is, it gets +1 star for the Fiddler On The Roof Episode eference. Favorite Track: Daydreaming
I did not enjoy the beginning of this album very much. It felt flat and empty. As the album went on, some of the tracks started to spark my interest, namely Be Thankful For What You’ve Got and Unfinished Symphony. Hymn of the Big Wheel was a great closer. But at the end of the day I’m not a huge fan of hip hop from England, and it hurt the overall score.
I think I'm a Massive Attack 'Greatest Hits' kinda guy. The stuff of theirs I love, I really love, but there is also a lot of meh.
Interesting to decide what genre this album fits into. Fine.
3.5
Pretty cool, but if I’m being honest I’d probably prefer the instrumental version of this album, even if not by much.
Bristol, Regne Unit, 1991. Fa una dècada que l'escena underground bristolenca està en auge. La manca de clubs que difonguin música mainstream hip-hop ha fet que, des de finals del anys 80, una escena cultural pròpia emergeixi a la ciutat per a suplir-ne la mancança. El breakbeat, l'acid house, la cultura del graffittii del clubing, el dub i el reggae impregnen els carrers de la ciutat. Blue Lines és de Massive Attack és una sintesi d'aquest fenòmen. El que m'ha agradat d'aquest disc és arribar, a través d'ell, a músics que he trobat interessants i captivadors. D'aquí les tres estrelles.
This new-to-me band gives me mixed feelings. It’s a blend of electronic, ska and hip hop, which produces a cool sound. Some tracks, like the closer Big Wheel, are great. Some just miss. And some are a little tiring. But overall I kind of liked it.
I'd describe this as a "cool" sound, especially considering that it came out in 1991. It is neither overly complex nor too pop-ishly simple, but covers a lot of the ground between those types of production. It has some funk elements and unique technique, but also has the hooks and stylings of songs that would play on the radio today. Overall, a fun listen, though I don't know that I'd say I love it or that it was my favorite. Overall: 3.5/5
Not going to lie, I was expecting punk rock but instead had my first brush with trip hop. There were a few songs I really liked, some were okay, and others I never want to hear again.
Super Album zum Aftern!
Not bad. Okay.
The right kind of moody.
safe from harm- 5 one love- 5 blue lines- be thankful for what you got- 5 five man army- 5 unfinished sympathy- 5 daydreaming- 5 lately- 5 hymn of the big wheel- 5
I liked this better than I thought I would. It is electronica but with funky undertones that make it a moderately fun listen.
Based on the name, I thought this would be a blistering punk band. This wasn’t bad at all. 1001 album worthy: Yes - 57/106
the integration of reggae sounds keeps this more interesting than a lot of its ilk and i am on the record as a fan of Mezzanine but overall it's kind of in one ear, out the other for me. not bad, but a little droney and, perhaps only to my untrained ear, a little monotonous. side note just because it made me realize but: why does the book have two massive attack albums to this day, but gorillaz only had their self titled album make it in, and even that eventually got removed?
i just find it so funny when british people rap
Pleasant, but not a fave. The openers are both standouts: „Unfinished Sympathy“ is key track on side 2, „Safe from Harm“ also good, opening side 1, while some of the other stuff is instantly forgettable. Massive Attack produce a unique sound, but there's too much MCing going on. I prefer singing. „Mezzanine“ is a much better album.
Starts great, ends weird.
honestly this album was a bit too boring for me. cool soul and funk samples though. from the opening bass line, i kept waiting for safe from harm to finally do the da-dum guitar riff from the verses of war pigs, but it never came (unless you count the little part around 1:34). tragic. i didn't know this was considered the first trip hop album but nice, historical significance! too bad i don't really care for the trip hop that came after it. also, this might just be a me problem, but whenever i imagine a musical group called Massive Attack, i assume from their name that they're going to be hardcore or some flavor of metal. not so, it turns out. favorites: safe from harm, unfinished sympathy, hymn of the big wheel
Solid album, one of the pioneers of the genre. There are some great beats and sounds on here, everything is nicely produced. The album is an easy listen, you can put it on it the background and chill. Having said that, there's nothing too special or stand-out for me on this.
This one had me Daydreaming.
I'm not really a fan of one particular member's voice (the main vocalist on "One Love"), but I do like the other members' vocals and the instrumentals here.
Track listing : 1 - Safe From Harm 9/10 2 - One Love 6/10 3 - Blue Lines 4/10 4 - Be Thankful For What You’ve Got 7/10 5 - Five Man Army 3/10 6 - Unfinished Sympathy 8/10 7 - Daydreaming 6/10 8 - Lately 7/10 9 - Hymn Of The Big Wheel 8/10
Not what I was expecting but still a decent listen. Unfinished symphony is an absolute classic 3.5*
I can’t seem to find how Trip Hop can be anything better than ‘nice to listen to’. What turns me off a lot of Massive Attack and Portishead songs is the vocals, whether it’s Tricky’s slimy in-your-ear talking or Beth Gibbons’ strange intonations. I can certainly appreciate the instrumentation, those low undertones providing a great base (and indeed bass) for layering sounds. Whether it’s demonstrated to such an effect that I’d come back to this for a second listen (which seems to have been enjoyable for those who have, as per my browsing of discussions related to this), I don’t know. I don’t find myself wanting to put on a Massive Attack album, as much as I’d like to think I would. This formula only really works on the obvious standout, Unfinished Sympathy. That subtly layered combination of strings, drums and cowbells (?) makes it take off in a way that no other songs on the album seem to match. Great, but not exceptional. Which seems to be a theme in this list.
not bad, not great. not really my cup of tea, but I will say for an early 90's electronic album, its chillin. I know a lot of the stuff that came out around that time was super heavy, industrial sounding. this wasn't quite that, and it was a fine listen.
Really nice to have on in the background while you're doing something else. Chill beats, cool vibes, and super British rappers. Would definitely come back to a couple songs, and might even keep it in reserve for music to play while hanging around the house.
Ok but not really my thing, a bit backgroundy
Whoa so good! I knew of Massive Attack before mostly from their 1998 album, Mezzanine, especially the track Teardrop.Although I had never sat down to listen to a whole album, nor their earlier work.
3/5
Massive Attack is one of those artists I've wanted to get deeper into their discography, I already love Mezzanine and every other song I've heard from their albums has always been really enjoyable, yet I never got myself to check their music out more. I had known beforehand that Blue Lines was quite different from Mezzanine in being, I guess the day to Mezzanine's night, it doesn't feel nearly as mechanical or like a city in the dead of night but instead like walking in a downtown area at 4 pm. It's interesting too to see how this really is their hip hop album in a way that makes me understand why one of the members of this eventually left the band once they shifted sound, it's just got a warmer, more approachable sound if you enjoy more hip hop or dub and I think that gives it a very unique feel to it. I don't love it but I do think I'll keep coming back to Safe From Harm, Daydreaming, Lately and obviously Unfinished Sympathy.
3.5 good to know where they came from but don't have much desire to come back to it. latter half is actually more interesting than the first! favorite track was Daydreaming
freumi! us irgeme grund han ich immer s gfühl gha, sie mached iwelche industrial sound? ich han glaub immernanif nahgluegt, was trip hop genau uusmacht, aber ich liebs jedes mal! ahhh s erste trip hop album ja das macht sich nöd schlecht im CV safe from harm hani super gfunde vo one love bini nanig ganz überzügt ich tuns natürlich ih mim chopf mit dummy vergliche - und das album isch blue lines scho um einiges voruus, was atmosphäre ahbelangt five man army isch jz nöd soo mis, aber d drums findi sehr cool ui unfinished sympathy isch wie wartemusig amene corporate event🫣 jaa also big wheel isch na cool I guess? aber leider isch das album ähnlich wie de ahgeblich suizid vom epstein: hetmi wenig überzügt. ich glaub es gäbt es 2 aber das album het trilwiis dezue biitreit, dass es dummy git, drum 3 blue lines schlenderte, so dummy could run
Like it. Bit different to what i was expecting
Alright
This is not really my genre, but I hummed along the whole time and generally had a pretty decent time. The melodies were nice and the production quality was excellent. Three stars.
I think I like other Massive Attack albums better
It's just fine I should probably be really impressed by the production esp. given the time I wouldn't change the station But nothing is moving me
Not for me, but definitely for other people and probably relevant.
It's good, but it's not Mezzanine-good
I hadn't heard this before and admittedly it didn't move me as much as Mezzanine, which I love, but I feel like it will grow on me over time. I liked it a lot but it didn't totally stick - but I like that early trip hop sound with some seriously soulful vocals... I can tell it's influential!!
Cool blend of different sounds and genres!
i really dont know much about these guys nor do i care ... but i guess they're banksy ? lol
Pretty good
well, i can dance to this but its still mid 3/5
I had some difficulty grasping what's going in with this Trip Hop album. There's R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, Electronica and even Reggae. Overall IT feels very weird and ambient while quietly seeping in when you are going about it.
Music was solid, didn’t love the singing
Some catchy jams. Made me want to revisit them. 3 star.
Electronic -> drone but with nice lyrical singer sometimes
Some great tracks, but hasn't aged well in my opnion.
Was pretty surprised by this, it was enjoyable with some nice beats and samples. Favourite tracks: Safe From Harm, One Love & Unfinished Symphony. Would listen again. 3/5
Strange, like Stevie wonder
I have read this is a pioneering album… the first trip hop album. The lack of a varied Musical landscape makes me lose interested quickly in each song. All sounds nice but no need to hear it again
Eh
Some cool stuff here
Prefer Mezzanine to be honest
I thought I'd love this album but I thought it was a bit meh. I appreciate that it was probably a pretty revolutionary sound for the period but it was a bit meh for me. I found 'daydreaming' cringe.
Really cool groovy and heady. Still same with the other massive attack album, everything that it influenced became better than it. Idk.
Beter dan verwacht. Massive Attack is wel oké, maar ik heb er niet per se iets mee. 3.4
Not for me
Pretty good trip-hop album. I wouldn't put it close to the top 100 albums of the 90s like some people do but it was enjoyable to listen to. Seems we're on a bit of a hot steak!
eh, like 2 good ones, rest are not my thing
This album teeters on the line between being able to date it, i.e. know its era, and sounding dated. A few elements are too stereotypically 90s for four stars. It must have sounded hyper modern when it came out.
Vibey, good beats. Unfinished Symphony of course a tune but not sure I'd listen to this album in its entirety again.
Loved the fusion of all the genres, jazz electronic music, reggae, soul, masterfully done. Sometimes music like this can get a bit repetitive which this was at point but not enough to be boring.
not the most memorable Massive Attack album but definitely worth to listen
Das Album hat das Genre Trip-Hop maßgeblich geprägt. Das Album bietet eine seinerzeit neuartige Mischung aus Hip-Hop, Soul, Reggae und elektronischen Elementen, die eine einzigartige, atmosphärische. Es hat mit "Blue Lines" einen neuen Sound kreiert, der viele Künstler inspiriert hat. Tracks wie "Unfinished Sympathy" und "Safe from Harm" sind Paradebeispiele für die gelungene Fusion verschiedener Musikstile. Es ist geprägt durch seine melancholische und zugleich optimistische Stimmung. Die tiefen Bässe und die sanften Melodien erzeugen eine hypnotische Atmosphäre, die den Hörer in ihren Bann zieht. Es wirkt aber stellenweise weniger ausgereift. Einige Tracks könnten von einer moderneren Abmischung profitieren. Die Gesangsdarbietungen sind nicht immer auf dem gleichen Niveau. Während einige Vocals kraftvoll und emotional sind, wirken andere weniger überzeugend und sind zu sehr R&B lastig.
Ok fusion techno rap album
This is groovy and chill. There's nothing I dislike about it but it doesn't especially grab me either.
Not bad, not very provoking either.
Not sure I ever listened to them before. Certainly not a whole album. Not bad, but I wouldn't seek them out.
It’s good, but I prefer Mezzanine. Fav: Unfinished Sympathy
Not bad at all
Very early Massive Attack record and it shows. There's always been a hip hop influence to their music since that's the origins of this kind of electronica anyway, and this one has a pretty heavy hip hop influence. An excellent showing of where they were and how far they've come.
Another classic 2 banger album. Their later stuff was better, when they actually had more songs
Overall: Mezzanine is much better... track 2 - vocals are a little whiny but not in an endearing way track 3 - title track nice beat track 4 - would be a nice sample but a little too lofi track 5 - good intro track 6 - really nice I liked this one
Just not my vibes
Massive Attack are such a 60% band. Some of "Blue Lines" is amazing, and "Unfinished Sympathy" is an incredible demonstration of how epic and soaring dance music can be. But some of this just sounds like a bunch of drunk mates messing around with synths and samples.
Unfinished Sympathy is amazing but there’s a lot here that isn’t standing the test of time quite as well
I think Protection is a better album but this still had some nice tones throughout it. Nice.
With nods to 70s soul deep cuts and a melange of styles and genres, Massive Attack made this masterpiece for the ages. Absorbing, flowing, emotional - electronic music was rarely this introspective.
6/10. Fine. Nothing that excited me.
Did vibe for most of this. But probably not something I’d return except for a couple of songs. 3.5/5
3.5
First track was great, same with the cover of Be Thankful for What You’ve Got. Last track good as well. The gym was probably not the best environment for this. Lot of mellow meandering
Wow that’s a lotta reverb
Interesting but not my favorite.
From my group chat: I think I may have to check other albums from them because I liked a song that they did with Mos Def but cant say I liked the album overall
A band I've always heard a ton about, but never actually listened to. Pretty interesting. Definitely some hit and miss moments for me. I like the straight forward hip-hop parts. The addition of '70s style R&B vocals throughout is really the highlight that makes this stand out. Another album where the closing track straight-up stinks though. What's up with so many artists ending albums that way? Not sure this is something I'd ever replay.
Not my kind of music
Alright
3 stars
A pioneering album - must have sounded revolutionary at the time. But as with many other pioneers; the formula hasn't been perfected yet and will be improved on later albums,
Back to some trip hop with Massive Attack. This is their debut album (and allegedly the first trip hop album), coming three years before Protection, which I got about 115 albums ago on here. This genre doesn't really do a ton for me, but this one at least has a few songs there were enjoyable. The hip hop part really has a strong '80s hip hop sound (which makes sense of course). Beyond that you get a mixed bag of a bunch of different music styles. This one generally has a super chill vibe, which I did enjoy. "Unfinished Sympathy" and "Safe From Harm" stood out as clearly the best two songs on here, but there were a few others that had a chill vibe that I enjoyed. I don't think this is ever going to do a whole lot for me, but it was enjoyable enough with a few songs that I won't hate hearing again. A fine Sunday night listen. Favorite song: Unfinished Sympathy Other: Safe From Harm, Be Thankful For What You've Got, Lately, Hymn Of The Big Wheel 11/10/24
very weird and ambient when i was expecting rap for some reason, but i still liked it
Much like Portishead - which absolutely holds up to this day - I remember this as an outstanding album. Listening to it now, though, it's still very well produced, but not nearly as moving, swallowing you whole, as I remembered it to be.
Mezzanine is in my top 10 favorite albums of all time, so obviously a huge Massive Attack fan. With that said, this album was a hit or miss for me. However, all bands need to start somewhere and this is a great start. Technically, would give this 3 1/2 stars if I could.
I can see why this is on here. Mezzanine is better. :)
Blue Lines and Be Thankful are Great. The rest is pretty meh. Fiddler on the Roof “sample” sparks joy though.
After a bad run of electronica, I was not looking forward to this. However, it surprised. I suppose the genre is not always so awful...this one was catchy.
It was a mixed bag for me.
I liked the vocals a lot more than I liked the instrumentals but it was good overall
I liked the beginning but it seemed to fall off for me the further into it I got.
I mean, it's fine. I get why it would be waaay up some people's alley, but it's not really doing it for me. The whole thing has the feel that it's supposed to be background music.
I love massive attack, though have never thought Blue Lines is even close to being their best album. Some songs are masterful, but then you have horrible duds like One Love. Net positive of an album, but give me a Mezzanine or Heilgoland any day. 3.4/5 -> 3/5
That was pretty decent.
nice listen, didn’t sound very original or special though.
Solid background music. Quietly seeps in while you are going about it.
Interesting mix of songs
Fun poppy / hip hip
Having heard Mezzanine, this felt a bit underwhelming but still a fire record. There's R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop and even Reggae.The opening song is just so badass. Loved the rimshot beat of Five Man Army. Unfinished Symphony was really unsettling. The track Lately was strangely beautiful. Others were just okay. Maybe a 3.5.
5/10
I’ve never been able to get big into Massive Attack. Not for lack of trying. I liked Unfinished Sympathy and Karmacova, didn’t really connect with the rest
Not bad. 6/10
No consistency, blue lines as a song was awful, kinda bopped to the rest of it
Decent album by massive attack. Prefer the later stuff.
Decent. Gets repetitive at times. Not unenjoyable though
Never heard any of this before. Really enjoyed it, especially the final song. A little too inconsistent for a 4 rating, but close.
One phenomenal tune, the rest in memorable. Great production.
Early Trip hop music was good to drive to
Very mellow jams - all of the songs sound kind of the same though, so it's a little boring.
Sounded good and quiet, not wild things 3
Blue Lines is decent. The songs here are mostly a mixture of hip hop and electronica which is a style that i have liked for quite a few of these albums but here it doesn't really sound worse or better than a lot of the other trip hop albums that i have heard through this project. The beats here could have their funky moments but aren't exactly the most memorable. I do like that there are a lot of different vocalists on a lot of these tracks which does make some of them more unique. This album isn't anything that's gonna light the world on fire but for what it is, its pretty good. Best Song: Five Man Army Worst Song: One Love
It's cool. I only know a few trip-hop projects, and some of the others I've heard I prefer. That being said, I will definitely be giving this more listens to digest fully, so my rating is likely to go up over time.
Quite a sexy album...maybe TOO sexy. The variety of sound is something to behold. Though the album is cohesive, no two songs are really the same.
They have some good things going. I like the drums and synths. I'm not really a fan of the rap, but it could have been a lot worse. I prefer this album over Mezzanine. Unfinished Sympathy is an incredible song.
Massive shrug. 2.5
I enjoyed it, but I think I prefer my memories of when it was in heavy rotation.
Not yet the sound that made them famous. Enjoyed it less than their more popular stuff.
Track 1: sounds like it belongs on The Matrix (or similar movie) soundtrack or in the closing credis. That's not a bad thing though Track 2: could absolutely do without the vocals from the guy with weird voice Overall, not bad. For a minute there, I was going to complain about the overly simplistic rhyme schemes / poor cadence / old white man flow of the rapping, but then I remembered this came out in 1991. And now that I'm writing this, I'm remembering other rap of the time did not suffer from this, so I still can't let them off the hook for it. I tried. That said, nothing else sounded like this on 1991 that I can remember, so kudos to Massive Attack for creating something new. The echoes of this style can still be heard in some of my favorite new music, so I appreciate what they have done here. My rating system is based on my own personal enjoyment, not as a criticism of the music. I'm not a music critic or a musician, so I don't feel like I'm qualified to rate this stuff any other way
gostei
mid. elevator-music energy.
mid
Yeah, you know, very much of its time. And I wasn't really into this type of music. For me it lacks a bit of dynamics. But I recognise it's definitely ground breaking for 1991!
Adorei o álbum, um som eletrônico diferente e com vocais muito bons. Ouvi enquanto treinava e foi bem legal a experiência.
decidedly not their best
When it comes to trip-hop, I lean way more Portishead than Massive Attack. There’s something about Portishead’s vibe that pulls me in, while Blue Lines just kind of... floats by. It’s not bad by any means, but it didn’t grab me. The beats are solid, the production is smooth, and I can see why it gets so much love. But for me, it felt more like background music than something I’d seek out again. Good enough to hold my attention, just not enough to keep it.
Wasn't a huge fan of this but it wasn't terrible
Slightly diversified, chilling electronic record. best known: "Unfinished Sympathy" worst: "One Love" just because of the vocals
Not bad. A pretty relaxing listen with good melody.
OK
pretty cool, 1991 didnt know what hit em
Legal
Love the instrumentation and then when the vocals come on…😑
Super cool, liked some of the songs. Not entirely my jam.
i think it's really cool but some of the songs were a little to monotonous for too long and i would have wished for a little beat switch here and there that's why i liked one love the most i think
56/100
Highs are very high, but the deep cuts aren't at consistent. Mezzanine is much better. 3.5/5
Cool but that's it. Some beats are really good. You must be in the same wave to really appreciate it
It was fine. Mostly good vibes, a couple songs that I didn't like the sound of.
First time listening to this artist. First song, Safe from Harm kills, so good and I was looking forward to the rest of the album, however it never reached that level again for me.
Good sound, 3.5
Inner city life Inner city pressure The concrete jungle Is out to get ya
...(. Definitely not their best
Some nice ambiance. I was too young to realize how important these guys were.
Majestic Ealy trip hop though their peak (Mezzanine) is strangly absent from here. Cool funky and dark
3.0 Didnt particularly care for the vocal stylings but the overall mood/feel was pretty cool. Had a sense of place
Vibey. I think they did the House theme
Every Massive Attack album on this list has just made me think "This is pretty good, but I could be listening to Mezzanine right now". This one sounds a bit dated. "Mezzanine" sounds like it shouldn't have even been released yet.
Not really my style
Technically great I guess but it did nothing for me. 2.5 stars.
A journey
vibei mais com umas faixas do que com outras
Some of the rapping/whisper-y spoken word type stuff I disliked, but the beats 👍. Think the first massive attack song I remember listening to was from Blade 2 (i against i with mos def): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fkUccUFShs&t=1s And also the unofficial NWS music video for [Paradise Circus (zeds dead remix)]
Was hoping for more from them. An OK electronic album
It’s extremely instrumentally interesting, drawing inspiration from a wide range of influences. It’s a cool bridge between 80s/90s hip hop, and I can hear stuff here that artists are still doing now. Lyrics are vapid af tho. 73/100
Ok. Didn’t care for the vocalists.
Prior to this album I am certain I have never queued up Massive Attack. And I can’t recall having ever heard of them. Def not the style of music that I listen to. But I did find it quite solid and enjoyable.
I thought it was a different album going in, and I think I prefer other trip-hop. But I appreciate the legacy—this is where the genre got invented, slow and smoky like the Bristol air it came from.
punchy 90s brit hiphop/soul fusion with reggae hints, not overdone and tasteful
Some of it I really liked, but most of it was uninteresting.
Me esperaba más.
Perfect 3.4 stars album
Not as good as Protection. It was still pretty good, but the vocals were a step down in quality for me. I would've preferred just instrumentals and ~vibes.~
Pretty good. Not really my cuppa but I didn’t hate it
Another solid but kinda boring album with one or two super memorable songs.
not the massive attack album i would have picked but sure. 2.5
I was really looking forward to this but reggae just isn't my vibe. This was good for reggae, but it's not what I associate Massive Attack with.
liked it from time to time but in the end didn't catch me
Honestly not sure what to think. Definitely different than what I am used to. But some good songs for sure. Might have to give this one another listen down the road.
really good
השיר הראשון מצוין כל השאר.. בסדר
Important because it was the first "Trip Hop" album. I wouldn't call it essential, though. Massive Attack's next two albums after this one were way better. For a real kick, check out the dub remix album, "No Protection" from Massive Attack Vs. Mad Professor. I want to give it four stars, but think it should only be a three. Gotta leave room for "Mezzanine" and "Protection."
I know this is classic Trip Hop but it just doesn’t do much for me. Appreciate the production. The vocals throw me off though.
There are only a few songs on this album that are familiar to me (Unfinished Sympathy, of course) but maybe what's more familiar is the sound. Massive Attack invented something that was to be the echo of the 90s. When music wasn't being mopey grunge or hyped-up techno, this sound was the complex but chill soundtrack of those idle moments
2.5 Don’t hate it but wouldn’t listen again.
3.5 More excellent music to get stuff done to. So easy to get into the groove and stay there all day. I was expecting something different/less enjoyable for me from a band named Massive Attack. Pleasant surprise. Saving Safe From Harm, One Love, and Unfinished Sympathy, but likely going to add the whole thing to my work playlist.
Is OK.
Was aware of the band but not the history they made. It's OK but not something I would listen to frequently. I did add 5 Man Army to my main playlist for it's Reggae sound. 3.5/5
Not as good as the following album imo
Cornerstone of trip hop with strong basslines, electronic beats, soulful vocals (the female vocalist is better than the male), and early 90s styled raps (the only piece that sounds dated). Highlights: "Safe from Harm" (strong opener that establishes the sound of the album), "Be Thankful for What You've Got" (vocals have a 70s soul vibe to them that works with the mellow music), "Unfinished Sympathy" (string swells and piano riffs give the song flavor), "Hymn of the Big Wheel" (not a fan of the nasally vocals but the song itself has an interesting Graceland-era sound to it)
Surprised by the fact I actually kind of enjoyed this a bit. It's not my usual kind of thing, and I wouldn't actively choose to listen to it, but I appreciate what they tried to do. It feels different.
Not terrible, but didn’t do anything for me
Pleasant to work to in the background. Not sure I’m going to listen again though. Simpson: Nah (although teardrop has been used)
It was alright, nice chilled background music but nothing special.
Really enjoyed the beginning and end of the album. The middle dipped a bit for me though. Almost a 4 but not quite
3.3/5 listened 3x
Meh
Not bad
105/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
I'm happy to say that this isn't for me and I'm okay with that. I understand it's important, but there's a lack of emotional connection for me. It flies completely under the radar.
7/10
A rap album with a much thicker sound than I'm used to hearing. It was a pleasant surprise!
Some decent tunes on there. Reminded me of Sopranos for some reason, had that nineties vibes throughout.
Enjoyed it! Brought back some memories from back when it was a ‘new’ album
Somewhat enjoyable and completely original. But wasn't my cup of tea. Lyrics were okay, but the instrumentals and beat was wonderful.
When I drive now it is no longer a pleasant experience. It's a stressful exercise in accepting the fact that you can't control other people, judging only hurts yourself, and anger management all while navigating an increasingly dangerous and out of control world. Putting this on helped soothe the pain as I drove to the store and back. Trip hop is cool, I listen to it a lot, especially instrumental stuff. This is great. Almost broke my earbuds, there's SO MUCH BASS. (A compliment, not a complaint). Not the best but there are some choice cuts - I could live with Five Man Army for a long long time. Owes a lot to some post-punk R & D guys like Adrian Sherwood and Jah Wobble.
This album bounces between a 3 and 4 throughout the entire play time. Solid grooves, but some of the vocals and "almost rap" parts feel a little dated or slightly corny. Some tracks are incredible, some underwhelm me. It's a solid 3.5 for me, but I'm not sure if I can raise it to all the way to a 4 by the time I'm ready to give its final rating.
Some is okay. Some not as much.
Safe From Harm is a great introduction with its catchy, groovy bass line and eclectic vocals. I really liked Blue Lines - this is hip hop I can potentially get behind. Is this even hip hop, though? I'm to sure what genre this constitutes. Altogether pretty decent.
Had never heard of the artist or the album. Interesting...liked it.
Ihan ok, täältä ei oikee mikään noussut yli muiden yhel kuuntelulle mut voisin laittaa jatkossa töissä soimaan :D
A lot of good music and a few great tracks - "Safe from Harm" and "Hymn of the Big Wheel" are my favorites - but consistently bad vocals and lyrics. Not something I'm likely to return to too much. 3/5
I could get down with this. Definitely worth another listen. Favorite song was Be Thankful for what you've got. Should also listen to other Massive Attack albums.
More vibe than I expected
Safe from Harm on 5 tähden biisi, mutta tää levy on sen asettamiin odotuksiin nähden suuri pettymys (joka kuuntelukerralla). Yllättävän imelä ja jopa vähän camp. Tekee tiukkaa jaksaa kuunnella ihan loppuun.. mutta äänimaailma viehättää mua kovin kuitenkin.
I do like what little I have heard from Massive Attack (Mezzanine), so this will be fun to listen to their debut. Some of the tracks are a bit repetitive and bloated, but there is still some good, interesting stuff here. Not one I'm likely to revisit a ton but does make me want to listen to more of their stuff. 3/5
Never heard any of this before. Really enjoyed it, especially the final song. A little too inconsistent for a 4 rating, but close.
Love Massive Attack, but I'm glad I heard Mezzanine before listening to this.
Gotta give props to them being innovators and popularizing trip-hop, but this really isn’t my tempo. I pretty much only know them through their song, Teardrop, that was used as the House theme (and I suspect I am not alone). Most of this sounds pretty generic to me. Something you may hear in a hipster salon. Not bad, but in my mind also not worthy of the praise it receives. 2.75/5
Good EDM. Not my general thing, but it was good for 2 listens. 3/5
This wa as fine album. Pretty unique. Not exactly my thing but it was good. 3
B- Safe From Harm 3 One Love 3 Blue Lines 3 Be Thankful For What You've Got 3 Five Man Army 3 Unfinished Sympathy 4 Daydreaming 3 Lately 3 Hymn Of The Big Wheel 3 Pretty good, eh?
I was nice listening...not my music, but would work in an elevator
It's a good album for road trips.
This was okay, inconsistent.
Wow that was a fun listen. Great mix of spoken word and electronic. I knew about mezzanine but never heard this one. 3 stars
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Hymn of the big wheel
First time all the way through. 2x.
I liked some of the instrumentals and cutting and scratching, but s few of their voices irked me. They get 3.5 stars.
Interesting album I did enjoy it but it’s not for me
This album had some really high notes and I did like the overall vibe, but it felt a little inconsistent in parts. Not in a bad way, just an unexpected way.
Chill n stuff V nice
Alright, so damn unique. I hear some of the Madchester sound here. It feels so out of time and place. I had no idea what to expect. What a strange, strange, singular record.
3.5
Expected to enjoy this, sounded very dated and unexciting. Have to revisit.
Not the Album or songs I know from Massive Attack. Easy to listen to.