Connected

Reckon I could have waited until I died to hear this one tbh

I imagined a backstory that this album was created for babies. Specifically for babies on their morning commute to finance jobs in London, wearing navy blue baby business suits, and all listening to Connected on big (for babies) over ear headphones. With that clearly established, this album is perfect. It's stone cold 5/5 star British business baby breakbeat. Minus 1 star for adult content. A

A good album... but I am struggling with why it's in the 1001.

It’s like a mix of moby and smash mouth except not a good combination. They have that 90s feel to it but it’s in no way a rap album. Nothing special here. 5.1/10

SEE???? Electronic music CAN be good! All it has to do is not be the same looping beat for 12 minutes to be good.

I remember the opening track "connected." Very of it's time. Some of the lyrics really grate on me. Not really offensive or anything but I wouldn't want to listen this again for any length of time.

Cool album!!! I enjoy it a lot :) :) :) 1992 was an inspiring year :P

Someone called this "dated". It's not. It's got all the features that were eventually taken over the top and turned into cliches in the 90's. But Stereo MC's have kept their cool and the result survives time better and sounds very effortless.

This album is straight good vibes. The Bari sax on Connected is great. Also, funk flute? That's a definite yes for me. The album was great to run to and for some reason it reminds me of summer. It does kind of feel like workout music but in the best way possible. It's just a really fun album and while I suppose there's nothing incredible about it and most of the songs are quite repetitive, I still really like it. Favorite songs: Connected, Ground Level, Step It Up, , Pressure, Creation, The End Strong 8/10

This is an intriguing group I've never heard of. Electronic-hip-hop? Interesting combo. Lets see if it pans out. My first thought as I start listening is that the title track kinda goes on too long. After the first few tracks, I noticed the trend seems to be some slow-to-medium rapping over a kinda slow beat with some female backing vocals. There are some occasional flutes. Some record scratches. Oh, a couple notes on a guitar? Predominantly drum and bass. It screamed early to mid 90s to me, and its an electronic dance type thing so that tracks at least. The whole album continued in this fashion. This album didn't really pump me up, or bring me down, or really do anything to move me one way or the other. Was it phoned in? I' m not really sure how this album landed on this list. Even going through the band's wikipedia, there's just not much about them. Was this some super influential UK hip hop deal? I'm in the dark here. Standouts for me were: "Connected," "Step It Up," and "Creation." Honestly I added them as highlights as I was going through, but every song sounded so similar to every other song it was hard to pull these apart. Overall, I could do without this album. It wasn't like some horrible experience, it just didn't feel like it had any soul. Just some mediocre raps that all went on for way too long. I got to the end, fittingly titled "The End" and I was happy to stop listening and go about my day. There wasn't enough variety in any of the songs to make any part of it compelling. I don't really want to listen to any of it again. This is probably like a 1.5 out of 5, rounded down to a 1. At the end of the day it was just boring ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I don’t think I’m gen x enough to like this record

How is this album on this list?

Never heard of them before and had negative preconceptions based on the band name but there's no two ways about it: I loved it. I'm not sure why I loved, since it's very rare that I enjoy electronic music and even rarer that I enjoy rap/hiphop. Somehow this album hits my sweet spots for both genres. I found myself dancing along on my chair from the first track. Will definitely spend the rest of the afternoon listening to more by Stereo MCs.

I really should have owned this cassette, damn

I liked this album - it felt old-school.

I'm really glad (and a bit surprised) that this album made it into the collection. I saw them live back in 1993 (part of the impressively eclectic HFStival lineup), and really enjoyed their live act, enough to buy this album not long afterwards. I'll admit it doesn't hold up as well as I imagined it would--listening to it now everything sounds like it's in slow-motion--but I still enjoyed revisiting this beat-and-rhyme-heavy collection of tracks. I think my favorites are the title track (although the video is a bit embarrassingly dated), "Fade away", "Step it up", "Pressure" and "Creation". It would be easier to give them a full-throated four stars if the album wasn't quite so long and meandering (and perhaps a few fewer flutes), but I still feel like it's considerably more than a three-star album, and there's the nostalgia factor....

Ah, I was worried I was in for another techno garbage album. I know the first song, and it's a relief that they clearly have the skills of those bands like Boards of Canada, but know how to make a song too. Connected is a great song. Good beat, strong production. Love it. I'm pleased the album doesn't fall off after that stellar first track. Ground Level has the feel of 70s funk/soul mixed with this new techno jazz sound. That being said, the lyrics of these songs so far have not been my focus. I like the vibe, and have no clue really what, if any, message there is to these songs. I do sense an anti-war sentiment at the start of Everything, but then when the rap starts, it makes no sense. Overall, this was a surprisingly fun and enjoyable album.

I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I didn't like the first song, but I liked all of the rest of the songs and I can see myself listening to most of them again. 4/5 stars.

Overlong, but good, even if it does now sound a little dated. A bit of judicious pruning would have made for a tighter, more exciting album.

Slow jams dance tracks. Yawn.

I do like the song "Connected" but the only way this album would get a five from me would have been if they'd sampled Tammy's song from the KITH (1988, S3E3) on their song "Creation" which disturbingly sounded a lot like that. Start at a minute in to get straight to the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDfH4BVHN6w

Voor mij zijn dit one-hit-wonders uit een telecomreclame. Na wat me de afgelopen dagen is aangedaan is dit prima om te luisteren, maar voor mij hoort niet niet thuis in dit soort lijsten. Erg 90's, huismerk Moby gecombineerd met The Streets. Het voelt wat kaal aan en dan heb ik het niet over Moby.

Staid and respectable. Lyrics a bit think piecey and therefore a bit irritating. Vocals nasal. Contemporary comparisons are Sault and Self Esteem--artists who send middlebrow critics into headstands because they act edgy while successfully courting a suburban listenership who can no longer hang with raucous irreverence. Get past the initial novelty and it smells suspiciously like zombie funk.

Connected actually sounds good, with is no small thing for a dance record. That's thanks to liberal use of horns, flutes, electronic piano, in addition to scratching and basic hip hop drum beats, and no horrid synths. In addition, the elements really are tastefully layered, and the textures are varied throughout the album. The vocals are pretty white bread and the raps are bland, but who knows, many that helped Connected cross over to a more general audience--it's not a deal-breaker for me. There really isn't all that much more to this music, but it's enough really. After all, nobody is actually going to listen to this, they're going to dance to it, right? Right? This stuff has a danceable beat, and sonically speaking, it doesn't make you want to hurl. What more do you want? I dunno. How about an album that doesn't bore you to tears?

Maybe put the first track on the 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die list and forget the rest.

I love this stuff. Absolutely superb work. This is right down my alley. Totally my vibe. Anything that sounds like Massive Attack with that electronic trip hop style immediately wins me over. That’s the second time I’ve made a comparison to them already going through this list with the first to Keep On Movin’, another record I really enjoyed. This is certainly on another level of quality though I feel like. It’s groovy af. Screw it yeah this gets a 5.

Fantastic album. Every song a banger

I've always loved Stereo MCs, and Connected stands out as their finest work. I'm thrilled to give it another listen and glad to see it recognized on the top 1001 album list. This album is proof that electronic music can be not just good—but great. Favorite songs: Connected, Step It Up, and Ground Level are the big hits, but there are also some excellent hidden gems like Everything, Pressure, and Playing with Fire. Least favorite: Honestly, there isn’t a bad song on the album. Album artwork: The cover is very cool and perfectly reflects the vibe of the music

Got me hitting moves I didnt know were possible

5 stars. For a band I have never heard of, I really enjoy this album.

The best of the best!!!

Ohhh haven't heard Connected in ages. Totally holds up. Every track is a banger that takes you to the club or just bopping around the kitchen. I miss the 90's.

Not usually my kinda thing but this was great. Loved it.

I didn't realise I had heard so many Stereo MC's tracks. It is a greatest hits!

Pretty good, rap like J5

10/10. W O W!!!!! I really didn't expect this album to be THIS good!!!!! :) Hip hop music isn't my cup of tea. However, something about this album in particular just hit me in all the right spots, and scratched all of the right itches in my brain. It's nothing short of absolutely enjoyable. The instrumentation is dope, and so were the vocals. The album did not get dull over time. While I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Rage Against the Machine's self-titled album, it's pretty freaking close to being as enjoyable as that album. I certainly plan on re-listening to this album in the near future. :)

This is a quintessential 90's album. It's great to re-listen and revisit an old memory, full of jenko jeans, motorcycle boots, frosted tips and colored contacts.

I knew 1-2 songs from this album, but it was great to dig into the whole thing. “Don’t let up” was playing as I was on a tough hiking trail, the perfect motivation music.

I absolutely loved this one. Made me nostalgic for a time I didn't really get to experience because I was so young.

Any album that lends a track the soundtrack of the 1995 Angelina Jolie & Johnny Lee Miller fillum "Hackers" has to be a great album. HACK THE PLANET!

Loved it! Best surprise album I’ve gotten by far.

Saw these this month, they were great live! Fantastic album.

buen flow

Fun album! Great to discover it :-)

One of my favorites so far

funky electrónico y fuera de mi estándar pero está genial

Just love the beat. Was something new when it came out and still pops up on the radio.

5 Erstes mal von der Band was gehört, aber irgendwie komplett Gefühl. Geile Mischung.

Awesome! Never heard of it. Like the 80s hiphop crossed with electronic vibes! Personal top3 in no order: Connected Everything Sketch

"Am I on an episode of Fresh Prince?" "Am I walking down a California boardwalk with a boombox on my shoulder?" "Bro can I borrow this tape to listen to on my Walkman?" Phrases that might have been uttered while listening to this album. Does it get any more '90s?!

if i were asked to describe what the 90's sounded like, this would be it.

Epic album! I am so glad for this site, for 1001. One of the Best things I have discovered in my life. Thank you <3

I've always liked the title track to this album, although I was never really aware of Stereo MC's as a band. It was good to hear the rest of the album, and the early 90s cool funkiness really grew on me as it went along.

What a nice album. This shake my chicken:)

Loved this. Dancey fun!

Acid jazz. Me ha gustado bastante. Vinilo, incluso.

Acid jazz. Me ha gustado bastante. Vinilo, incluso.

FUCK YES!!! Lesgo 90s

Sorry bruv, but I can’t stand listening to Brits rap. I was out after 4 or 5 tracks.

I really like this music, it’s clean and funky. I might buy this vinyl. It’s smooth and transitions well, has good quality music, great instrumentals, and overall great presentation.

Had never heard this other than the title track. Absolute gold. I enjoyed every single track on here. What a fun early 90s vibe

This is the first album that I haven’t heard that blew me away. Loved it.

What an outstanding slice of 90s dance music this is. Listening to it is like time travel to a more carefree time.

Loved the album. Certainly a work of its time. "Connected" is an absolute classic.

Really liked this and will definitely listen again.

Great memories from Summer 94 when we played this CD over and over sitting in the sunshine in County Kerry. Shame they didn't do more. I remember it was so refreshing to have good dancy music after all the SAW purportedly dance shite of the late 80s. Enjoyed immensely

Love this group!

Great!

Felt like a breath of fresh air on the first (partial) listen and overall really nice beats and sound.

01) Connected - 10,0 02) Ground Level - 10,0 03) Everything - 8,0 04) Sketch - 8,0 05) Fade Away - 8,0 06) All Night Long - 7,5 07) Step It Up - 10,0 08) Playing With Fire - 7,5 09) Pressure - 7,0 10) Chicken Shake - 7,5 11) Creation - 10,0 12) The End - 7,0 TOTAL: 8,38 (84/100) Current ranking: 118/548

Loved it

This is one of the ones I wish I liked less.

- sick album cover first of all - right off the bat I think this is one I’m going to save - the picture coming to mind is a very cool restaurant. for some reason - start of “everything” is spectacular. I don’t know what I’d do!! - “no originals everything’s reproduced” in a song from THIRTY TWO YEARS AGO is extremely keanu reeves smoking - superb album

I quite enjoyed this album. Fun and upbeat, interesting and easy to listen to.

No idea what I was in for with this one. Album cover is giving Aqua, but group name (with weird apostrophe -- is that meant to be plural or possessive?) is giving hip-hop. Wouldn't you know, it's kind of a mix of both. Electro-pop-hop? Trip hop? I've definitely heard some of these tracks before, but I didn't realise it because I was too wee and pre-internet. In retrospect, I love it. Very 90s. I actually considered giving this a 5, which is crazy for a band I've never heard of. Every song is so mellow but with a strong beat. And there's lyrics! And no slurs! I mean, if only everything could be as chill as this. On the other hand, it would fit in nicely as in-store music at a Payless ShoeSource, a store which apparently closed down 6 years ago. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Highlights: 'Connected', 'Pressure'

This is something I would never choose to listen to by myself . That’s why I fucking love it . Don’t ask me why but I really like the tune of this . Reminds me of bakar who is one of my favourite artists . if any of you say its a bit samey i kind of agree and it felt like it dragged. those are the only bad things i could say about it though, i really liked this one. i think my favourite album which i have never hears of so far.

Vibes 4 Stars

Pretty cool

Awesome bangers!

Interesting

I woke up slightly broken and this thing patched me right up. It’s got that bounce - you know, the kind that wakes your brain without demanding too much of it. Feels like Gorillaz got a hold of some old-school hip-hop gear and a crate of acid jazz vinyls. There’s this early '90s UK swagger all over it, but weirdly, it doesn’t sound stuck in the '90s. It’s ahead of its time without waving it in your face. Really slick production, too - tight without being sterile. Great hangover companion. Might start keeping it in the emergency kit next to the ibuprofen and Gatorade. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - Connected - Ground Level - Step It Up - Fade Away

Brought back some memories

I genuinely enjoyed it, but I couldn’t help but feel like this album is to more prominent 90s hip hop what Olive Garden is to Italian food.

I expected this to be bobbins beyond the first song but it is tons of fun. I stopped noting down the tracks I especially liked as it's all of them bar about two

Fun! I like soft complicated arrangements, which is every song, so they dialed in their sound well.

70/1001 - I liked it but don't understand why it's on the list. It's a bit repetitive but there's enough different layers and musical ideas to keep the songs from becoming too samey.

Connected is such a good tune. Everything is good. It's a little dated, but not in a bad way. It just happens to have two big massive singles

I remember back in 1993? I went to see U2 at Wembley Stadium and I was a bit annoyed at the Stereo MC’s were supporting as I had no interest in “ this type of music “. Turns out it’s actually pretty good when you give it a chance! Haha. Enjoyed this album way more than I thought I would. One of 1001 albums…. Not so sure!

nothing to complain about here! i really like listening to this kind of music while i’m working because it’s fun and dynamic but not something i need to think too deeply about. no single song stood out to me and it did feel a little long BUT i enjoyed it. also i recognized the first song from one of the hood internet’s mashups lol.

i feel like i've been listening to a lot more trip hop than usual lately so this album came at a great time. i really enjoyed this!

Random thoughts: * I don't remember the song "Connected" coming out. I don't remember anyone say you gotta check out this song or I'm a huge Stereo MC's fan. I don't remember it being on the hot countdown. However, it has always seemed to exist in some sort of subconscious in my brain as I can sing every word. I couldn't pick out the specific year it came out in the 90s. However, it has been a staple of sound that I have somehow heard this song 100s of times without ever actually choosing to hear this song before today. I'm not sure what point I'm trying to make except that this song is surprisingly ubiquitous in the most positive sense. I wonder if this is limited to people my age or is something universal for all-age listeners of Western pop music. * Interesting, this album is in the same mold and is super chill and fun. I wish I had owned this album in the 90s as I think it would have been a staple of mine. I'll just have to enjoy it now and try to remember to revisit it often.

A pretty good album, I liked the song Everything the most.

Fun one to revisit. It still holds up well.

Überrascht, zwar knapp vier Sterne, aber hat Spaß gemacht

Surprisingly pleasant

Cut to the chase - Definitely one of the best ever British Hippity-Hop albums...ever. Several tracks will be familiar to many, but the whole album sparkles with an enjoyable groove.

One of those albums that you judge the cover, genre and year and think “this isnt gonna be good” After two spins, I actually found myself digging about half the songs. It says something about my bias. Its really rare that I like hip hop albums, but this shit is rad Playing With Fire (sampling Monkey Man from Let It Bleed) was awesome. Sketch was a fun tune. The End (james brown payback) was groovy. 3.5 stars. Ill round up and give 4 stars for a hip hop album

02/02/25 This was actually a harmless listen. Didn't know what to expect when I saw the album cover.

I really liked the sound and energy of this album. A lot of the songs had an interesting sound and were catchy, I'll grab the full album and see how I sort the songs between my a-list and b-list, but I definitely think this album fills in a niche that is currently lacking. I liked Fade Away and Connected, but honestly I like them all. Also vibed with the accents in this. 4.5 stars.

It's fun, it's catchy, it's vibes, I like