Sincere

Choose Your Own Adventure! Just slot in "You Must Hear Before You Die" where applicable: 1001 Drum Presets 1001 Unlabeled Extended Dance Mixes 1001 Cut Big Fish Theory Beats 1001 Dreamcast Era Racing Game Menu Themes 1001 Guest Vocalists Maybe Too Willing to Lend a Hand 1001 Sped-Up Massive Attack Songs 1001 Miami Bass Tracks for Timid Whites 1001 British Albums That Charted Somewhere 1001 Alternate Takes from That One Röyksopp GEICO Caveman Commercial 1001 is a Way Bigger Number Than We Thought Key Tracks: I dunno, listen to one of the ones with the dude singing, one of the ones with the lady singing, and one of the ones with the patois guy and you'll have heard the whole album.

Boring, repetitive, and super long. Possesses about as much cultural importance as a cologne ad, which makes the album cover convenient. Best track: Radio Interlude

Boots and cats

Almost offensively generic. It baffles me that anyone would invest time in making it listening to music this bland.

Dimery should be fucking arrested for including this. 1/5

Very average sounding EDM. British bias of the list showing here. If this had come out in say 1990 vs 2000 it would be a little more impressive but I still don't think I'd feel it either way.

Fine shower music.

2 hours is a long time when you're not really into something.

I hate this. Zero vibes.

Ok, it's possible to do the worst album ever and still be part of the 1001 list. You convinced me.

1.7 - I feel like I got locked up in a JC Penney fitting room, caught shoplifting, and I’m stuck listening to this music over the speakers, awaiting interrogation.

blech

Booooring...I considered turning it off half way through the first song.

ENTER With the 2 step crew flibbi dibbi dibbi you know what to do not nigel on the 1 2s i should well be a garage MC. i was hoping for a guilty pleasure album but it was just a bit meh. however it was surprisingly easy to listen to.

You know it’s bad when I can make it all the way through trout mask replica but not this. By the fourth song I was out this shit sucked major ass.

I could not get into this album. It was very repetitive early 2000s electronic with frustrating vocal performances. Not my thing.

Why? Why so much electronic music? Some of the electronic music has been tolerable. This didn't even have any good parts. Entirely way too long. Completely unnoteworthy. When the Wikipedia page mentions that the album was included in this list in the first paragraph, the album should not have been included in the list. I am going to round down.

Whoever produced this list mistook variety for making room for all kind of (pseudo)musical attempts despite its quality

Not my cup of tea. The beats can be interesting but just not anything I would listen to

I really don't enjoy electronic music and this was no exception. To make matters worse spotify onky has deluxe version of this album which is weird. Normally deluxe albums give you the album itself and then extra songs after those original ones but here they were mixed which made listening to it very annoying.

Reading around this suggests that it's on the list as a good example of a genre. OK, I get that. I can live with the idea of that. But, well, it's just all just a bit boring I'm afraid. I quite like electronic music it seems, but this isn't my cup of tea - just seems a bit mindless and without a hook or some style to get me into it. The persistency of the drum line doesn't help possibly. I wouldn't choose to listen to this again, but if it were background music for cooking to, for example, that wouldn't be the end of the world. It can have a sympathy 3, but it's probably a 2.5 in reality.

Even though I'm a sucker for electronic music, this album does not help. Repetitive and way too long. The beats are cool and liked the jazz elements, but the vocals completely ruins it for me. Some songs are either hit or miss. Even the duration of the songs can make anyone frustrate. This album is only good for playing in background while doing some work. 2.5/5

This reminds me of every "hip" coffee house from the mid 2000s. Perfect music to listen to when trying out this new thing called "smashed avocado".

Fit for a club, not for my living room.

I know precisely zero about this prior to listening to it. Wow. Thinking "OK, this is some light and relatively unchallenging jazz" it turns out to actually be some UK garage. This is going to be a fun ride... OK, so this album is long. I managed to get through Oxygene by having it land on a day that I had a three hour drive. But I didn't have two hours to spare for this. Got about an hour through the first volume and there's some good stuff in here. I'd come back to it out of a sense of completeness, but I doubt it'll enter my regular play. What I can say about UK Garage is that at the time, it seemed world-changing. The direction was new, refreshing and exciting. With the eyes of time looking back at it, though, it seems tame. From UK garage's world-changing start we've seen the birth of dubstep and grime. As important and exciting as it was... It has been eclipsed by its progeny. I feel the same way about what I heard of Sincere as I do about The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. It's a good album, and one that exemplifies a sea-change in music. But they are, perhaps, the giants that other people are standing on the shoulders of.

Hella good. Nice beats with pretty good vocals all the way through. Super danceable which is always a plus. Overall, a pretty cool old-school UK garage album! 8/10

I like electronic music. I did not like this. Boring, repetitive drum beats. Dull vocals. Basically the same song again and again. Only made it halfway through the first side. Baffling inclusion on this list.

Remember how magazines used to have those inserts with perfume and/or cologne samples inside them? They had that little fold out where the scent of the fragrance was and if you opened it you could get a good sniff of it or, if you were thrifty, use it as your scent for a special occasion. If you had a large magazine there’d usually be a couple different fragrances inside and when you stood within a few feet of that magazine the whole thing had this strange amalgamated aroma of all the different eaus de toilette. The coalesced scents didn’t really have specific odor, just a generic smell of perfumed liquid, and you never really asked for it, you just wanted the magazine because there was an article or two you wanted to read, but you were stuck with this smelly magazine in your house until you decided to toss it in the recycling. This record is kind of the audio equivalent of that.

I’m more inclined to electronic music than I was when I was younger. That said, I’ve got more experience listening to music. In 2000, this would have been zero point zero from me. I know this. Now, I find this sort of simplistic and repetitive. I have a hard time fitting it into a spot in my thinking where it was ground breaking or innovative. It’s very much like asking ChatGPT to make me some banging electronic tracks. It is inoffensive, so I might have it on in the background when I’m working because I like to play music that’s not going to distract me.

As much as I usually appreciate a break from rock stuff with a little 'lectro, this one didn't do too much for me. So many of the beats are -of-the-era, high BPM techno tracks that just don't have a place in heart or my ears. "Bandelero Desperado" made a big splash, I was certain I'd heard that before, but it was because Azealia Banks sampled it heavily on her song "Desperado." Still, that one was great. Can't say the same for the album unfortunately, it was mostly forgettable. Side note: "MJ Cole" is a really weird name to me, obviously the existence of several famous MJ's plus the more recent J Cole just makes this seem made up. I mean I guess everything is made up, but yeah. I just can't help but imagine J Cole with the Michael Jordan crying meme face on his head. Favorite tracks: Bandelero Desperado, Slum King. Album art: I do really like this cover, a burning bag from the MJ Cole store, on a nice infinite blue plane and backdrop. Stylistically, it just looks really nice. Well done. 2.5/5

This type of music became popular in the late nineties, and stayed popular till the early naughties. As far as "this" type of music is concerned, Sincere is far from representing any substantial musical achievements or much in the field of originality. Also: extremely overlong. So: Meh, what's this album doing here?

I feel confused by this and not in a good fun way

Not a fan, just shitty club mixes

GUY-“What are you doing?” GUY 2-“I'm making a list of the 1001 greatest albums of all time” GUY-“How’s it going?” GUY 2-“OK. The only genre I don’t have represented is garage rock/house music.” GUY-“Well my cousin is making an album in his basement…”

Every song has the exact same beat bro Doesn't quite feel like a finished product, but a bunch of demos

Not for me.

A garage classic, ive listened to this album many times and it never seems to get old

Needs a very specific time and place but once you find the right mood it completely takes you over.

first time actually getting an album i've not heard or heard of

It’s a grime album. Not my go to scene. It’s good. But I’m not schooled in this genre at all.

Some Ibiza-type club music after a lot of rock and blues. There was some variation in the songs but overall it felt a bit long.

No. 233/1001 Introduction 2/5 Tired Games 3/5 Attitude 2/5 Bandelero Desperado 2/5 MJ FM Interlude 2/5 Crazy Love 4/5 You're Mine 4/5 Sanctuary 4/5 I See 3/5 Sincere - Re-Cue'D 3/5 Strung Out - Edit 3/5 Rough Out Here 4/5 Slum King 2/5 Radio Interlude NR Hold On To Me - Re-Rub 4/5 Free My Mind 4/5 Average: 3,07 Way better than I expected. Easily approachable electronica music.

Actually quite liked it

I'll take your Dubstep, I'll take your Grime but UK Garage is generally just a bit too polished, a little too bling for me. I mean look at that album cover. So this wouldn't have been my choice to go out gurning to in the Noughties but on this run through I did quite enjoy it as background music while I worked.

I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. I expected an album of Sincere re-mixes and, let’s be honest, a lot of tracks sound like they could be just that - but there’s a nice mood throughout with some beautiful singing. This definitely taps into a nostalgia for a jungle sound which was briefly all you heard from car stereos and such in London. There are better jungle albums out there, though; and there are definitely 1,001 better albums than this. But it’s a nice enough listen for when you are feeling in the mood.

*British phone ringing sound* “Toodle-oo, RobDi here” “Robbo, it’s Nigie. Just wanted to make sure you’re submitting the manuscript for the 1001 album book to the publisher by the end of the day” “Nige darling, you’re talking to Robert “Never Misses a Deadline” Dimery. I’m just dotting a few i’s and crossing some t’s. I’ll have it to them by 5 and meet you for a pint at the local by 5:30.” “You’re the best Roberto! See you then.” Shit! Shit! SHIT!! Why do I always do this?! What is wrong with me?! I forgot I had agreed to do this stupid fucking book. What even is this? “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die”? What the hell? Bit morbid, that. Okay, fuck, I can do this. Let’s see, Google “best album lists”. “Rolling Stone’s 500 Best Albums”. Ha! Great. Halfway there. Alright, next link is “100 Best 60’s Psychedlic Albums”. Okay, a bit odd, but that works. Next is “200 Best British New Wave Albums”. Perfect. Then we have “250 Brit Pop Albums You May Remember” Jolly good. Alright, we’re at 1200. Eliminate doubles, and Shit! Back to 800. Oh fuck, it’s 4:50pm. Fuck! Okay, desperate times and all that. Let’s search “British album charts: 1980 to present”. Bugger, the ones in the top ten are probably already on here. Okay, I’ll just copy and paste the 14th biggest album from 201 random weeks, wow I have never heard of any of this shit, oh well, it’ll just seem like I did a deep dive into obscure hidden gems of albums, and . . . Robert, lad, you’ve done it again! Send. Whew. That was bad even for me. Hopefully nobody ever pays too much attention to this book. Also, I hope that I didn’t pick some completely generic techno album with nothing unique or interesting about it whatsoever. Ah, I’m sure it’s fine!

Look, no.

This doesn't really do much for me. Blah blah blah boring and loooong. 2 stars.

It reminds me of kurupt fm but not hilarious, just useless.

I admit I did not listen to the whole album, but it was so uninetresting. Melody was okay I guess.

I don't get it. Sounds pretty generic to me.

Wow, I pretty much hated this from the very start. After listening to the entire first song I had to check to see the running time for this album and it was over an hour! There's no way I was going to put myself through that! To be more than fair going forward I would listen to at least 1-1/2 minutes of each song or longer if I liked it. Without fail I found myself looking forward to moving on to the next song even BEFORE the 1-1/2 minutes expired. That sonically empty electronic drum was grating with that electronic snare beat boring into my brain like a Chinese water torture. This album held zero appeal for me and I couldn't wait for it to be over.

very very mediocre, if not downright unmemorable. As a lifelong fan of electronic, and a recent covert of intelligent/ambient DnB / garage, I was expecting a lot from this album, else why would it be listed on the 1001 albums... Not worth a listen honestly, very generic. 1.5/5.

I like this. Great music to play when you're doing stuff and don't want to invest too much attention to your tunes. Very easy listening. Five stars and an addition to my Tidal library.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. Phenomenal from start to finish. Took me right back to being a child and sitting down to play TOCA2 on PC.

amazing

Really, really not my type of music but the musicians are talented. 90s vibes.

I loved this. Very melodic and Lo-Fi chill. Elisabeth Troy's vocals are beautiful. Really good listen.

Fantastic. Sparse without being boring. Repetivie without being monotonous. Less vocals the better in general here.

cool

Liked it!

Reminds me of Ryan. Highlights include: Crazy Love, Free My Mind, Sanctuary.

Nice

I've always been a fan of UKG, and MJ Cole's work is especially great. His classical training really shows up from time to time here, and it all makes for an undeniably electronic and highly danceable album that still makes for something smooth and easy to relax and focus with. It's a great album for driving and doing IT work, and I'd love to get this on vinyl. I was a bit young when this first released, but I would have loved to see the UK electronic scene first-hand back in the 90s and 00s. I totally recommend listening to some of MJ Cole's more recent work too. Some of it is very chill and even quite orchestral. Favourite: Sincere

Good album, worth the time.

I love this entire album, and I would like to own it on vinyl.

Was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this. I didn’t think much of it at first since I just expected UK House and Dance, but Elizabeth Troy’s vocals won me over. Made me invested in the deluxe version of the album.

I loved "Crazy Love" back in the day so it was great to revisit the 2000s, the heyday of UK garage. The album is a tad too long though and gets repetitive.

unts unts unts unts.. a- unts a- unts a- unts a- unts a- its crazy man its crazy.. unts unts unts unts a a a unts unts unts unts a a a.... uskomaton untsuntsesque conceptalbumi. OMG TOISTOA... OMG TOISTO HIRVEYS.. nyt menen kuuntelemaan A B A B B laulu jossa laulun nimi toistetaan kohdassa B neljästä kymmeneen kertaan.. mahtavaa... mahtava songwriter genious... mutta EIEIEIEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII EIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII SAMA RUMPU EIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII GARAGE INDIE BÄNDI ROSKA RUMPU BIITTI ON OK MUTTA EIIIIII ELEKTRONIK BEAT OMG TOISTUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU EIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.. -terv. sinä..... sinä kuulostat tuolta ........prkl sincere

I was Strung Out until I listened to this album. It’s Rough Out Here, but this one put me in the right Attitude.

repetitive beats 4/5

Very cool album

my dad would love this album. i like probably for that reason alone, it reminds me of him.

Goed album, lekker ontspannen, maar wel interessant genoeg. Prima beats.

I rather enjoyed this! I will say at points, it felt like it would be better at a venue hearing it, as the repetition got a bit much at times, but good stuff! Would listen again.

UK Garage is very dear to me, it brings me back to a simpler time, where Pokemon was taking the world by storm and a big dome along with a big wheel was being built in London, my childhood was spent listening to a CD of remixed singles by The Artful Dodger every morning before going to primary school. That said, it's difficult to represent a "UK garage" album in this list because the genre was made for singles from various artists to be mixed together, (Garage overlaps with House so often you'd get mixes with stuff like Closer Than Close by Rosie Gaines) an album from one artist doesn't capture the surprise and diversity the genre typically offers. MJ Coles stuff, in particular, is more on the mellow side. For a better Garage experience I recommend looking into stuff like DJ Spoony's mixes on youtube.

Oh, had never heard of this guy and went in with low expectations, but really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this album, but I like a bit of dance music.

I had no idea what i was walking into here. Turns out it was a treat. The deluxe version is too long though. nobody needs 2 hour albums.

Great beats and great singing. 7/10

I really like the beats. Very unique and intriguing without being grating. Almost sounds like an early predecessor to breakcore. They do a good job of making each track sound unique. I could do without all the bonus tracks, but overall it was very enjoyable. It feels ripe for a vaporwave remix.

De zangeres is op sommige tracks iets te aanwezig, maar de muziek zelf vind ik wel lekker eigenlijk. Volgens de reviews hier zou het amateuristisch klinken maar dat vind ik wel meevallen. Sample-based muziek wordt natuurlijk als onwaardig gezien door de snobs. Een UK garage/2-step album met vanzelfsprekend wat dingen die je doen denken aan drum & bass, jungle, dubstep en grime. Een klein beetje gedateerd, maar dat is denk ik omdat je dit genre sinds de hoogtijdagen van Craig David en Daniel Beddingfield (pak 'm beet 2003) niet meer hebt gehoord aan deze kant van de Noordzee. Binnenkort zal het wel weer terug komen. Over dubstep gesproken: 'Sincere' kende ik van de heerlijke Nero remix. Verder kan ik niet zeggen dat iets van dit album me bekend voor kwam. Ik vermaak me hier wel mee. Niet kapot-analyseren en gewoon lekker laten draaien. De 4 sterren haalt ie op luisterplezier.

Released in 2000, M.J. Cole's debut album, "Sincere," became a landmark in the burgeoning UK garage scene. This review delves into the intricate soundscapes, introspective lyrics, and the album's lasting influence, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. Musical Nuance and Production Prowess: Cole's mastery lies in the meticulously crafted soundscapes. Two-step rhythms form the foundation, with sparse yet infectious drum programming driving the energy. Tracks like "Tired Games" showcase his ability to weave in jazzy piano chords and layered percussion, creating a sophisticated soundscape. However, some argue this approach can feel sterile at times. While tracks like "Bandelero Desperado" experiment with sultry vocals and vocoder effects, a touch of raw energy might be missed by those seeking the unbridled spirit of early UK garage. Lyricism: Introspection and Vulnerability Cole's lyrical focus is a double-edged sword. Tracks like "Crazy Love" and "Hold On To Me" explore themes of love, longing, and vulnerability with poignant honesty. Lines like "Maybe love's a twisted game, where hearts get bruised and feelings maimed" ("Crazy Love") reveal a depth of emotion uncommon in dance music. However, this introspective approach can occasionally meander into melodramatic territory. Tracks like "Sincere (Re-Cue'd)" rely heavily on the title word, lacking the lyrical punch present elsewhere. Production: A Balancing Act Cole's production choices are noteworthy. He adopts a "less is more" philosophy, allowing space for each instrument to breathe. This approach is evident in "Sanctuary," where the melancholy piano melody takes center stage, complemented by subtle bass and percussion. While this creates a certain elegance, some might find the overall sound lacking in the gritty basslines and in-your-face energy that defined early UK garage. Themes: A Tapestry of Emotions "Sincere" paints a multifaceted picture. Tracks like "Attitude" explore themes of confidence and self-belief, while "Rough Out Here" delves into the harsh realities of urban life. This juxtaposition keeps the album engaging, showcasing Cole's ability to navigate various emotional landscapes. However, the album's focus on introspection can overshadow the celebratory and carefree spirit often associated with dance music. Influence: A Lasting Legacy "Sincere" undeniably left its mark. It garnered critical acclaim, receiving a Mercury Prize nomination. Cole's sound influenced a generation of producers, paving the way for a more sophisticated and soulful take on UK garage. Tracks like "Crazy Love" remain anthems, cementing the album's place in dance music history. Pros: Groundbreaking production: Cole's meticulous sound design and use of space were innovative. Emotionally resonant lyrics: The album explores themes of love, vulnerability, and social issues with depth. Lasting influence: "Sincere" helped shape the sound of UK garage and continues to inspire producers. Cons: Limited sonic palette: The focus on a polished sound can feel sterile at times, lacking the raw energy of early UK garage. Occasional lyrical melodrama: Some tracks rely heavily on repetition, diminishing their impact. Word count: 498 Concise Conclusion: M.J. Cole's "Sincere" stands as a significant achievement in UK garage. While its polished production and introspective lyrics might not resonate with everyone, the album's undeniable influence and enduring tracks solidify its place as a genre-defining work.

I thought this was interesting and merits further listening.

Good vibey dj music from the early 90s

Very enjoyable and catchy. I enjoy this music a lot when I'm trying to focus on something. I won 12 games in a row in Tekken while bumping this, so it has to be a certified banger.

At first I didn't think I was going to like this one very much, since it didn't seem like a genre I was really into -- very dub. But as the music progressed, I couldn't _not_ be impressed by the melodies and the performances -- especially the female vocalist, but also the male vocalist on Rough Out Here. The bass lines are super punchy and tight, the orchestration and drum grooves are just awesome, and everything is just perfectly done, even if not all of it was my normal arena. I see why this album is on this list! Four stars.

Very early techno. Lacks the layers and sounds of the more developed current electronic music. I enjoyed the songs with lyrics. The beat was redundantly repetitive

Not usually my thing but I enjoyed it

Good stuff!!!

Never heard this before but I really liked !

This is a long album, so I had to listen over multiple sessions. Overall, I felt that the album was quite good, with dreamy beats and a slick sound. Some of the remixes are not quite as enjoyable, so I would take off half a star for that (but I can't, so I'll round up). Favorite track: "Crazy Love."

Pretty good disco beat good dance music

Wow, that was fun. 4/5

7/10 there’s some pretty good stuff here but nothing that really stood out as very special

Nostalgic house

I really enjoyed this one. Cool vibe that felt like a grimy 90s party, but in a good way lol.

Bit of quality UK garage. A joy to listen to.

Classic club vibes

Some pretty banging UK garage to reminisce to... I can imagine some of the shade being thrown on this in the reviews but as a child of the 90s/00s garage was right up my street. This probably isn't the finest exponent of the genre but it's decent enough for me