Endtroducing.....

A few all time great instrumentals here...

Interesting.

Meh

Really enjoyed this. Great instrumental hip hop album. Amazing use of samples

surprisingly fun

It lasts over an hour Good tho. Bit long but enjoyable. High 3 baby

Boring background music

It's cool but I always love a vocal

Not for me

A good and well produced rap album. Practically instrumental, few lyrics, but with a great vibe. It was a pleasant surprise!

Although the album was labeled as hip hop, it was surprisingly listenable.

A really good album with a different type of music. I'll definitely check out more of DJ Shadow's stuff. I liked Building Steam With a Grain of Salt, Stem/Long Stem, Transmission 2 and Organ Donor.

Meh, I was bored with the majority of this. Some of the drums were interesting. I kind of liked track 2.

I mean…sure…I guess. I can admire the thought process that goes into multi-level sampling, and all on a single device…but hard pressed to agree with its placement in this list.

I lack the expertise to adequately review this. But I didn’t hate it, was slot at times. 3?

Solid beats and bass lines but this genre is so repetitive for me. Sure could put it on the background during work and would be fine. But does that make a great album?

This is fine. Not my thing, but it’s fine. 2.75/5

Really cool to see a full DJ mix album on here. Although i don’t want to just rag on the Anglo centricity thing; DJ shadow got huge in England first so if you’re gonna put a DJ album on here, I guess he’s the one you know. Really awesome for ‘96. It’s just a dude jammin and I could listen to Lo fi forever.

Some cool beats, especially towards the beginning, but ultimately just background music for me

Eigentlich ganz nett, ruhige Passagen wechseln mit schnelleren. Melodisch.

Mist!

01) Best Foot Forward - 4,0 02) Building Steam with a Grain of Salt - 6,5 03) The Number Song - 5,5 04) Changeling/Transmission 1 - 6,0 05) What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 4) - 6,0 06) Untitled - 4,0 07) Stem/Long Stem/Transmission 2 - 5,5 08) Mutual Slump - 5,0 09) Organ Donor - 7,0 10) Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96 - 5,0 11) Midnight in a Perfect World - 8,0 12) Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain - 6,5 13) What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 1 – Blue Sky Revisit)/ Transmission 3 - 7,0 TOTAL: 5,85 (59/100) Current ranking: 192/227 I liked a few songs, while others sounded rather boring and uninteresting, which surprised me because I normally like electronic music. "Midnight in a Perfect World" is the best song on the album for me and has that nineties vibe that takes me back to my teenage days. The album was very close to three stars, but in the end it got two.

Massively cool overall and a good bit to do with jazz, every bit as much as it has to do with hip-hop. A lot of its tropes have been long since worn out by lesser DJs and artists who can’t see the full potential of their beats and beds or don’t trust them and thus junk them up with too much. Vibey contrasts set the mood, often chill, occasionally sinister. “Midnight in a Perfect World” and the second “What Does your Soul look like?” (Vol 1) are among top cuts, though first (Vol 4) is also chill and groovy – what powerful simplicity and what a range of interesting sounds.

Such a damn cool album

Interesting and full of samples

Drum breaks of mass destruction

Appreciated this. Not typically my go to.

I liked it more than I thought I would.

Not bad, though would possibly not listen to this a lot.

A ideia de compor um álbum inteiro sem propriamente tocar um instrumento ou cantar, com equipamentos limitados e sem um estúdio profissional é impressionante por si e já mereceria 5 estrelas. Somado a isso, foi o primeiro álbum inteiro feito de samples e é musicalmente muito bom.

I'm guessing Untitled was meant as the end of side one of a cassette, but I wish it was a full track because I dug its sound. The standout track for me was Mutual Slump. The rest had good samples but were overall just okay.

mainly instruemntal

God tier drums. Atmospheric, with interesting samples. Really makes you wonder what makes hip hop "hip hop". Twin peaks sample right at the end. This album is an absolute treat listen after re-listen.

Entroducing Poeh tijd voor een albumpje vol beats. DJ Shadow is een meesterproducer, en dat is terug te horen op vrijwel ieder nummer. Heel soms gaat het naar mijn gevoel nét iets te lang door, soms stopt het nét wat te snel, maar bij veel nummers is het perfect. Sicke drumbeats, ambient zweefgeluiden, ritmes, riedeltjes en patroontjes die er voor zorgen dat je je aandacht niet verliest. Rating: 8,5/10 Highlights: Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt, Organ Donor, Why Hip Hop Sucks in ‘96, Midnight In A Perfect World, Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain

Een heel album aan instrumentele beats, zonder hooks en zonder MC die het verhaal vertelt, voelt toch wel als een uitdaging. Niet perse een uitdaging om het te doorstaan, maar wel om het te beoordelen. Het ensemble aan jazzy beats kan je aandacht ook al snel ontglippen, doordat het zich prima schikt in de rol als achtergrondmuziek. Maar DJ Shadow weet het interessanter te maken dan dat, met een plaat die zich exact nestelt te midden de driehoek 'Hip Hop', 'Trip Hop' en 'IDM'. Silky instrumentals als 'Changeling', 'What Does Your Soul Look Like, Pt. 4', en 'Midnight In A Perfect World' nemen de luisteraar mee naar een dromerige wereld. Maar de plaat blijft hier niet in hangen, zoals veel andere sferische instrumentele albums dat wel neigen te doen. Ze worden verrassend smooth afgewisseld met steviger werk, waar razendsnelle techno en drum'n bass fills het bloed sneller laten stromen. Voorbeelden hiervan zijn de allesvernietigende 'Number Song' en het extreem intense 'Stem / Long Stem'. Ook de overheerlijke drums en mysterieuze ambiance in 'Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt' moeten genoemd worden. Een perfecte mood-setter zo aan het begin. DJ Shadow weet een unieke stemming neer te zetten door samples uit films, series en oude Italiaanse house muziek (Organ Donor sampled Giorgio Morodor op kenmerkende wijze) met elkaar te mixen. Strooi boven op deze intense geluiden een vleugje jazz en funk, en het luistert ook nog lekker weg ook. Ik vond het daardoor niet alleen een album dat net als een hoop instrumental Hip Hop gewoon aangenaam is om op de achtergrond aan te zetten tijdens het werken, maar hij was ook zeker in staat om op de juiste momenten de aandacht terug te grijpen. Bijzonder werkje, zeer bepalend voor de ontwikkeling van 'sampledalia', en eigenlijk van start tot einde vermakelijk. 8,5/10 Highlights: Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt What Does Your Soul Look Like, Pt. 1/Pt. 4 Stem / Long Stem Midnight In A Perfect World

Intrigerend album, bestaande uit enkel beats en samples. Begint wel erg lekker met sterke tracks maar ergens zit de angst in slaap te gaan sussen in de loop van het album. Dat valt mee. Tuurlijk kom je met de elektronische beats in een soort flow terecht, maar DJ Shadow knalt er af en toe iets geks in waardoor weer even op het puntje van je stoel gaat zitten. Intrigerend concept en verveeld niet. Dus sterker dan gedacht. 7,5/10 Highlights Building steam with a grain of salt

Cool concept, elevated the sampling game, interesting listen but not very moving for me. In-mixer effects a bit gratuitous. Give me Paul’s Boutique over this any day.

It’s been a long time coming for this one. I hold this album close to my heart, it was a big revelation for me as a listener/consumer who was growing in and out of certain music tastes about 8ish years ago when I finally heard it. This album helped me realize that a record can be greater than just the sum of its parts. On their own, many of these tracks are just fuzzy, hypnotic trip-hop, with strange samples going in and out of phase. But as a whole, this album sounds just like the title of one of its best tracks: Midnight In A Perfect World. This record manages to establish an atmosphere thats both liminal, AND blissful. So many odds and ends have been stitched together perfectly here. A haunting organ soloist sample. A vintage scifi movie clip. Or those lush, beautiful organ chords at the beginning of the aforementioned Midnight In A Perfect World! I can’t completely put proper words together to describe the aura of Endtroducing. I’m convinced this album was conceived in its entirety under a full moon summer night. So please do yourself a favor and save Endtroducing for those long summer months coming up (June 2024 as of writing this). Bring your headphones and go for a walk on that next full moon night. Listen to this front to back, your human experience will be enhanced for doing so!

Instant five stars.

super good background music

Excellent electronic music and some of the best sampling this side of Paul’s Boutique

Interesting loops and musicality in there, and not just repeated loops of a short phrase to get tired of immediately.

A beautiful collection of samples painstakingly stitched together into an awe-inspiring sonic dreamscape. DJ Shadow pioneered a whole genre with this album, yet it’s still among the best examples of trip hop and sample based production. Just a cool record!!

DJ Shadow is basically Fatboy Slim but better. I love the hip-hop beats that populate the album. The samples are very good. This is another fantastic electronic album. I must be really lucky, considering I had 2 great albums in a row. 5 stars for "Endroducing..."

I’ve been listening to this on a weekly basis since it came out for the most part. Absolutely timeless. I think the best part of this record is the recurring themes in the music (very similar to orchestral composition) but this is just an incredibly good album. I think it can be hard for some people to get into instrumental music, which is what this is, but each track is unique. The hip hop influence makes this interesting and it’s extremely obvious that this is more than just beats. Anyway just listen to this at some point in your life because it rules, almost 30 years after it was released.

Solid beats. That's all I've got, I'm on 4 hours of sleep right now.

Interesting for sure. I’m always fascinated with this era and style of producing. It reminds me a lot of The Bomb Squad at times. That being said it also feels like it’s missing something to me. It’s just too easy to dismiss without an MC on top of it.

Varying moods and tempos is a great way to describe this listenable sometimes grooving otherwise forgettable album.

Vibe below midnight Relaxed but not without grit Music to melt with

This is something I might listen to when reading.

Masterpiece.

Thank goodness there is traffic on the road next to me so I can concentrate on other sounds. I appreciate that music is taste. This is not mine.

I really like it. Great beats!

I have been eagerly awaiting this album. I’ll never understand the disdain some have towards sampling in music. Particularly in hip hop. I think that can often stem from the general distaste that many continue to have towards the genre as a whole, considering how engrained sampling has been to hip hop production since the 90s. I personally believe sampling is as much an art form as the lyricism and songwriting that often goes over it. It’s unfair to discredit it. Some of the sampling work I’ve heard in my life has really made me rethink hip hop production as a whole. And it has me wondering how a person’s brain can work in such a way that allows them to piece those things together. I think that summarizes my feelings towards this album right here. Plunderphonics is a really unique genre, and one I love. But it does often face the most criticism when it comes to sampling. Because it’s built entirely on it. Every single aspect of this album is sampled from something else. DJ Shadow did not create a single second of what you are actually hearing. He just completed the puzzle. Some people might scoff at that method of creation, but I am beyond inspired by it. The fact that one man sat down and created songs such as Stem / Long Stem and Napalm Brain / Scatter Brain purely through samples blows my fucking mind. They had websites dedicated to hunting down all of the samples he used on this, and they still don’t know all of them, even after nearly 30 years. It’s like Face to Face by Daft Punk but on a much larger scale. And Shadow’s openness and inclusivity to music is so wonderful. The samples he uses here are not restricted to what hip hop producers usually target for good picks. The best samplers are ones that embrace all types of sound. The mix of funk, rock, soul, and even orchestral elements on this album make it a melting pot of sounds that somehow fit together perfectly. Dude sampled fucking Orion on The Number Song for god’s sake. Plus, as a drummer at heart, I respect how much the drums take the forefront here. This, to me, is the essence of hip hop as a medium. Rarely does my attachment for a song lean more towards the lyrics. The production is what draws me in. And this album needs no proper lyrics to feel fulfilling and enjoyable. It’s a listening experience that anyone who claims to be a fan of hip hop owes themselves, even if instrumental music isn’t their thing. I marvel at this album’s greatness, and how much influence it has had on how we regard sampling in mainstream music. The closest anyone has ever gotten to rivaling that is with Paul's Boutique and Donuts. This album continues to amaze me, and the feeling I had when it finally clicked is the same feeling I felt when the latter of those two albums I just mentioned also clicked for me. This is one of the best albums of the 90s, and arguably the greatest collection of instrumental hip hop music ever released. Rating: 10/10!

4.5

Lots of good beats and samples. Several songs felt like they were missing something.

I liked this a lot. My wife did not. I think that's probably a pretty reasonable summary—it's noisy but I like the beats and sampling. I can see it being a very divisive listen though, and probably wouldn't put this on for others.

3.75 stars. I've revisited this album a few times for this project, each time seeking to find some stand out moments or songs, but I just end up vibing for the rest of the album. I think "Stem/Long Stem" and "What Does Your Soul Look Like" were particularly good? It speaks well of the album that all the songs flow together. It does have a certain charm with having a 90s simplicity to the mixing and editing, but still sounds modern.

#236. I don't care 2/5: meh Song added to playlist: Midnight in A Perfect World I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

Decent background music. Not super stimulating or profound. 2.7

Interesting - best suited for inactive listening / playlists.

More great background music

Interesante disco. En su mayoría un hip-hop instrumental super experimental, con un flow increíble por lo general. Algunos toques jazzeros también muy interesantes. Si bien tiene tramos extremadamente extraños, por lo general es super interesante, diferente a lo que se suele escuchar, y transmite una calma y sensación de paz al oirla de fondo que mola bastante.

Not bad.

Who's idea was it to include this album?

Elevator music. Well-crafted elevator music. Still. Elevator music.

It is a personal failing of mine that I struggle with most music that doesn't involve a vocalist, but even then I cannot shake the feeling that any one of these tracks would best be used as an introduction to a podcast about some niche topic.

Interestingly forgettable

Great example of a samples album, clearly influenced a lot of hip hop.

It's insane how you can create so much from chopped up parts of songs from bargain bin vinyl. Really good music to work/study with

Considering he was meant to have done this with limited equipment it's well put together. However it's boring after a while

Okay this album kinda sucked. The concept is cool, and I can appreciate the uniqueness of the production, but the beats were generally just okay, and the whole album sound unfinished. No lyrics, plus most of the songs just being okay, plus some of the experimental stuff just didn’t sound good to me. Plus the album was way too long

Experiential

Second time listening and both times I went in excited but both times I haven’t gotten much out of it. Points for being arguably first album of all samples but the Avalanches do it so much better a few years later. Rating: 3.2

7/10. A little too much repetition but when I learned how it was made that made sense. Loved a lot of the beats though and put Mutual Slump and Organ Donor on the 5 Star playlist.

3.75

ну я за чистый эксперимент и то как это получилось ставлю 5 алкоальбом: в стакане с виски уже тусит вино, кола, пиво и все что осталось в 5 утра

блин вроде и прикольно и ты понимаешь прикол, но жесть как скучно (2+)

When i listened to this at first i was SOOO with it like some of the samples in this shit had me hooked but it got more general i fear as it went down. I would listen to this again to study tho i enjoyed

light 3. ya know a lot of this music doesnt really hit me like that like its cool like its a fun concept but im not really on top of it like that. the ones that i did like, like i actually like significantly more than the other songs on the album like sampling this really chill shit really gets my balls hot. where did the other what does your soul look likes go. i like those 1. What Does Your Soul Look Like, Pt. 1 2. Midnight In A Perfect World 3. What Does Your Soul Look Like, Pt. 4

This was pretty cool DJ music but also was annoying at times. I liked it overall. 3/5.

I guess this genre is not for me. Skilled DJ but ultimately meh songs.

5/1001

Nicht meins. Vertane Zeit! 90j Musik, musikalisch für mich eher eine schwierige Zeit. Zu viel 'Technik' zu wenig Brilianz. Soundschnipsel zusammenfügen, Ok. Ein überragendes Ergebnis? Für mich nicht! Die ganze DJ Kultur geht mir ab.

STANDOUTS: n/a OVERALL: 1/5; NOT for me.

Interesting vibes. Probably won't listen to it again even though I liked it. - 7/10

It’s cool that it’s all samples but it’s pretty boring. Nothing I would revisit.

This was aight. Lyrics r usually a nice touch and this wasn’t super lyric heavy. Don’t know that words would change my rating tho. 6/10

This was really quite good! I loved the way the layers built on each other in sometimes unexpected ways. Is that comment basic af? That’s how I felt! 8.5/10

5/10 - Some of the samples are pretty cool and they do a good job of bringing them into the music. Some of the songs however are quite strange. Building Steam with a grain of salt and changeling I enjoyed parts of and some of what does your soul look like was good too however, it was all just kind of strange.

Never really been able to get into instrumental hip hop stuff. J dilla’s donuts is pretty good, but otherwise I just kinda find it boring. I tried to listen to this album a while back and didn’t really like it, this time around it was just whatever.

Very nice album.

not bad, similar vibe to "pretty lights"

Eh, not my thing really. Definitely not a must listen

I had much higher expectations than what this was able to deliver on

Wasn’t over fast enough

Sounded interesting, but fairly disappointing and boring. I wanted to like it more. EDIT 8/19/26: Upgrading from 2 to 3. more enjoyable than i gave it credit for. i was probably in a bad mood or connecting it to the east coast hip hop i don't like. either way this is pretty decent

I didn’t have high hopes for this. I was so wrong. Just awesome.

Such a great album. Once the album is finished it is time to play it again.

Not my usual listen. This was ok and pretty much blended into the background. I listen to a lot of chill instrumental music at work but I probably won't revisit this. I'm adding an extra star for not having to listen to some guy boast about his money, his guns or his dick for an hour.

One of the first albums on the list that I've previously listened through multiple times. Been a big fan of Endtroducing for years but haven't given it a full spin for quite a while. It still stands up for me. No doubt it's a wierd one that will turn off some people but it just hits a lot of points. Love the sampling, the weird, random voice-samples. Favourite tracks: Building Steam with a Grain of Sand, Napalm / Scatter Brain.

Впечатляющий альбом в смысле того, как это всё сделано. Лучшая песня - The Number Song.

"Endtroducing....." by DJ Shadow is a groundbreaking album that revolutionized the world of instrumental hip-hop upon its release in 1996. With its meticulous production, innovative sampling techniques, and rich thematic depth, the album has left an indelible mark on the music landscape. **Lyrics:** One of the most unique aspects of "Endtroducing....." is its lack of traditional lyrics. Instead, DJ Shadow relies solely on samples from various sources such as movies, documentaries, and interviews to convey meaning. These samples are expertly curated and arranged, creating a narrative arc that unfolds throughout the album. From the haunting vocal snippets in "Building Steam With a Grain of Salt" to the dystopian dialogue in "Mutual Slump," the lyrics (or lack thereof) serve to enhance the atmospheric and conceptual elements of the music. **Music:** DJ Shadow's musical prowess is on full display in "Endtroducing....." The album is a sonic collage of diverse influences, ranging from jazz and funk to experimental electronica and ambient music. Tracks like "Stem/Long Stem" showcase his ability to blend intricate drum patterns with haunting melodies, while "Midnight in a Perfect World" demonstrates his skill in crafting lush, atmospheric soundscapes. Each track is meticulously crafted, with layers of samples and instrumentation seamlessly woven together to create a dense and immersive listening experience. **Production:** Arguably the most impressive aspect of "Endtroducing....." is its groundbreaking production. DJ Shadow's use of sampling is nothing short of revolutionary, as he deftly manipulates snippets of existing recordings to create entirely new musical compositions. The album is a masterclass in the art of sampling, with each track featuring a multitude of carefully selected and intricately arranged samples. From obscure jazz records to obscure movie dialogue, DJ Shadow leaves no stone unturned in his quest for sonic perfection. The result is a dense, multi-layered tapestry of sound that rewards repeated listens with new discoveries each time. **Themes:** Thematically, "Endtroducing....." is a meditation on the nature of sound and the power of music to evoke emotion and meaning. Through his use of samples, DJ Shadow explores a wide range of themes, including nostalgia, isolation, and the passage of time. The album has a distinctly cinematic quality, with each track unfolding like a scene from a film, complete with its own unique mood and atmosphere. From the eerie, otherworldly vibe of "Changeling" to the frenetic energy of "The Number Song," "Endtroducing....." takes listeners on a journey through the depths of DJ Shadow's imagination, inviting them to explore the vast sonic landscapes he has created. **Influence:** "Endtroducing....." has had a profound influence on the music industry, inspiring countless artists and producers to experiment with sampling and push the boundaries of what is possible in hip-hop and electronic music. Its innovative production techniques and groundbreaking use of sampling have cemented its status as a landmark album in the history of hip-hop, and its influence can be heard in everything from underground experimental music to mainstream pop. **Pros:** 1. Innovative use of sampling 2. Meticulous production 3. Rich thematic depth 4. Diverse range of musical influences 5. Lasting influence on the music industry **Cons:** 1. Lack of traditional lyrics may not appeal to all listeners 2. Some tracks may feel overly dense or complex for casual listeners 3. Limited mainstream commercial appeal due to its experimental nature 4. Some listeners may find the album's length (over an hour) to be daunting In conclusion, "Endtroducing....." is a masterpiece of instrumental hip-hop that continues to captivate listeners with its innovative production, rich thematic depth, and lasting influence on the music industry. With its meticulous attention to detail and boundless creativity, DJ Shadow has crafted an album that transcends genre boundaries and stands as a testament to the power of music to inspire, provoke, and move us.

DJ Shadow is so awesome. This is one of my favorite albums

Ugh, hip hop and electronica, two of my least favorite genres. It seemed to take forever for a song to get going and once it did, it didn't go anywhere. Most relatable song, "Why hip hop sucks in 96" except I would remove "in 96" to make it more accurate.

I suspect this one would take a few listens to get under the skin. From a casual listen, it's clever but not captivating.

Huh, that was different. Glad I had this experience, but I don't think I liked it? The concept was really interesting, but I'm not sure the product was worth it. Many of these songs are quite chill and easy to relax to, but then the album slaps you with something less chill and kinda disconcerting that really ruins the mood. Not bad, but I can think of many other albums I would rather use to relax to.

Instrumental/experimental hip hop, plunderphonics. What a beautiful masterpiece. I'll just start by saying this album kicked ass front to back. So rhythmic and hypnotic, amazing production and mixing. I was so immersed in this album, listening at work in a mostly empty building. The drums to me is the true star of this album, dictating the feel of every song. Then the bass and piano fully flesh the songs out. There's even some saxophone that blows my mind, and I love the samples all throughout. I could gush on and on about this album, use every adjective in the book. It was one hell of an experience, and one I am assured to visit again. Definitely will revisit. 5/5

Endtroducing is one of a kinda. I’m not even sure what to say about it. 30 years later and I’ve still never heard anything it. A man telling a story through others voices. It’s probably the best background music I’ve heard. Music to put at while working. 8.8/10

This is chill, was nice to study to. Feelin a solid 7/10

Was soll i damit?

Listened to once, never felt the need to go back.

listened while walking around manchester in the sun. had an orange calippo. and a greggs.

A beat tape that aged so well it's hard to believe it came out almost 30 years ago. The vocal based samples and intricately crafted instrumentals sound timeless and vivid. A few tracks on here I enjoyed a bit less than most, but overall this project was a journey that I can see myself coming back to time and time again.

Interesting album that was intriguing to listen to. The variety of sounds and vibes was pretty unique. The off beat sections put off panic/unsettling feels. Overall solid.

ok tönt noch vieeel scratches aber finds bis jetz (bin bim zweite song) huere geil. number song au easy geil, ich check monig ob alles samples sind. okay s sind nuuuur samples der boi het gegraaaaben. what does your soul look like isch seeehr spacey cool. finds seeehr schwierig zum sege joo de song usch so und de isch so, wells sehr inenand ine flüsst und so. midnight in a perfect world isch huuere geil lieb s e piano mit phaser. tönt noch labi siffre.

ISCH DAS DE SAMPLE GUY JA building steam... findi sehr en coole uufbau s verlürt sich au immer wieder, findet denn aber wieder zum thema zrugg, sehr cool find funny wie d drums "glichet" bi changeling aber zum casual lose isch das doch huere müehsam hahaha oahh huere geil wenns bi stem echli los gaht, geili rhythmuswechsel joa organ donor nöd gad de banger aber funny titel es zieht sich schochli. aber es het trz immer wieder element wo intressant sind, aber 10, 15 min weniger hetts au tah und immer wieder chli creepy??

Very original, and bursting with ideas. Although it was not always stylistically my thing, DJ Shadow is amazing at his ability to create surprising and fresh arrangements. At times the album really grooved too and created interesting atmospheres.

Disgusting and repulsive.

I wouldn’t be more surprised if my 83 year old mother in law jumped out of Chris Rock’s birthday cake! I really enjoyed this album! It’s like background music in a classic video game. Grooving.

A game changer, a sampling masterpiece, a record without equal.

Must have been revolutionary at the time. Has maybe lost some potency given the prevelance of sampling in modern music.

No thx

Was familiar but the whole thing is really impressive. Feels like a symphony

pleasant to listen to. didn’t skip anything. but probably won’t go back to it.

I enjoyed a lot about this record, but for me, it doesn't reach the heights of Unkle's Psyence Fiction. That said, I still like a lot about it, especially after repeated listens. Favourite tracks: Changeling, Stem / Long Stem - Medley, Transmission 2, Midnight In A Perfect World

Some interesting ideas and experimental tracks here. Sample work was also interesting with the sample of Metallica's Orion on The Number Song being particularly effective. The light jazzy elements and bass line of What Does Your Soul Look Like - Pt.4 was a nice change of pace from the more disjointed sounds of the rest of the album. Midnight in a Perfect World also offered some lo-fi escapism which I enjoyed. Favourite Track: What Does Your Soul Look Like - Pt.4 Least Favourite: Mutual Slump

there we go. Easy listen. A stressful day, but one that was easier by this and similar music. Not what I want to listen every day, but I'm feeling grateful for this project.

I find the DJ work more interesting than a lot of the rap I'm seeing on this list, still, what makes them so unique that they need to end up on a "must hear before you die" list eludes me. I enjoyed the listen for what it is.

The first triphop album I got into when I started branching away from metal. Rinsed it dry, but can still hear the quality. It drags in parts, cant help but feel a lot of the interludes could have been cut, and each song trimmed slightly. Very good album, but just shy of great.

This was super cinematic and I could only engage with this album when I was actively listening. There's a LOT happening but there's something about this that definitely feels like it was way ahead of it'stime! !

One of the most unique and interesting listening experiences. I think I would play this again while working, not every song but majority of them definitely need multiple listens. Just because of the ambience and complexity of the sampling I have to give it a 4.

A very good album to chill and ease into your Monday morning with. One of the more interesting DJ albums out there. Shadow does a remarkable job of representing multiple styles and weaving things together in ways that might sound conventional today but were mind-blowingly fresh for 1996. Furthermore the number of endless hours of listening to vinyl it required to just nab a few second sample here and a ten sample second there requires supreme patience and taste. I think way more effort was put into the creation of this album than you might think. Also as someone who has some experience with this method of production, props to Shadow for managing to create this with the technology available to him as an indie artist in 1996. Definitely the type of album that totally deserves to be on this list. This is the album that inspired the groundbreaking albums from Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Massive Attack, Radioplay, and countless other acts from 1996 up to now. For some that would be an indictment, but not in my view, as I enjoy the endless amount of diverse sounds and interpretations it has created. You can tell this came from someone who just loves music, of every type, from everywhere. My favorite tracks were "Building Steam With a Grain of Salt", "Stem/Long Stem (Medley)", and "Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain (Medley)

Endtroducing is a marvel, it revolutionized hip hop, electronic, and ambient music. It’s an album crafted almost entirely with samples, making something totally new out of scraps and pieces in a way that had never really been done before. Although it’s an amazing piece of technical production, unfortunately the album generally doesn’t really appeal to me. I think I’d feel differently if the album was 100% instrumental and didn’t have breaks with spoken word samples. Unfortunately those bits really just take away from the immersion for me and dilute what is otherwise a fantastic ambient instrumental hip hop album.

Sometimes harsh and grating but overall very nice

Very chill, maybe too chill?

This has good associations for me. I remember downloading it from the uni halls FTP and also it was on a lot at the bouldering wall. Feels like it's aged pretty well

Good listening for the morning

Really good, but some songs get repetitive

Super solid beats. Can definitely trace the influences. Its pretty long but overall a good listen, will revisit in the future.

Impressive technically, overly long 3*

Liked It more than I thought I would.

Several tracks got on my nerves a bit but overall I thought it was really chill. I’m usually not one to listen to instrumental music but I actually really felt it this time. One thing I did not like was how I would find myself really loving the beat and getting lost in it a bit but then it would be interrupted by a random sample of someone speaking.

Felt more like a movie soundtrack than anything else, but a great one. Music made entirely of samples is certainly legit, and there are a lot of really interesting things going on here, but I am not quite at a 5. Curious to see how successive listens may change my rating.

Pretty dated

Great chill-out album. The warm hiss of spinning vinyl permeates every moment.

I only know of Dj Shadow because of his collaboration with Run THe Jewels and their song “Nobody Speak”. While I can acknowledge that this took a ton of time, devotion, and skill to put together, it’s not something I’d regularly listen to. I’d give his other albums a listen and see if that is more what I enjoy. I do think it deserve to be on the list as it’s an unique style.

Very repetitive

I loved this album in the 90s. It was such an interesting new feel to have an album constructed from only samples. I'm not sure it has aged all that well. I love most tracks, but that's most likely because I loved them long, long before listening this time. I think there's a fairly clear line from this album to his later productions, but this isn't DJ Shadow firing on all cylinders, and many tracks feel a bit longer than they had to be.

This is a Mess.

Bättre än donats

Chill beats and wide range, DJ Shadow knows how to make and keep a mood

Really nice instrumentals. Something my dad would listen to.

Trip hop missing energy

would give it a 3 and a half if i could but there’s no half stars

Not bad but not something I would go out of my way to listen to, except in the background.

Different. Not sure what I just listened to. Sometimes sounds like the sound of street musicians playing percussions add some synthesizers. I would. It pick this but was not terrible either

Uh oh. Wikipedia defines this as “an instrumental hip hop work composed almost entirely of samples from vinyl records.” That doesn’t sound good. Well, let’s see. Some of this is OK in a background sort of way. Except for the fact that it is all collages of other people’s creativity. I can see the technical achievement of cutting and pasting bits into a new whole, but I don’t especially enjoy it. There’s a nice range in mood and tone, but I’ve never liked scratching, I don’t really appreciate the completely sampled thing. The various spoken bits don’t add much, with bits like: “And I would like to be able to continue to let what is inside of me, which is…. Which comes from all of the music that I hear, would like to let that come out. And it’s not really me that’s coming… the music’s coming through me” I can see where this was perhaps groundbreaking and influential, and maybe even a landmark for what it is. But I simply don’t appreciate what it is. 3/5

Took sample craft to a.new level.

Everyone was obsessed with this when it came out. It’s good chill background music. Inoffensive. Nicely nostalgic?

Я вообще не знаю что ожидать, вообще хз что это, по обложке ни че го не понятно. Лёгкое пиано на старте, это брейккор момент? :D да нет, не может быть. Ща поди рэп начнётся Хм, рэп-то не начинается. Чилл биточек, приятный. Груви! А мне понравилось. Не могу сказать что это тупо топ, пара треков было приятных, остальное всё так, на фон. Но хорошо

The best instrumental hip hop album ever.

this album got me more into hip hop DJs. Midnight in a Perfect World is one of my favorites.

Reminds me of my misspent youth working in record shops- an absolutely seminal album and fully deserving of its place on the list

Best listened to in a club. Otherwise forgettable.

ah something new for me = trip hop. I try let it do its work... interesting atmosphere created (but very quickly, I find this too reptitive and heavy, and in the end, tiring. Music WORKS because our brain knows what to expect next and they ignore this need. Result it feels like a box of music, not a progression. Units. Blocks of stuff that dont make a whole... so yeah moments of groove. but they need joining up to work on me. Exception: there is a build and progression or transition in "stem" only ... its an interlude. and by then I had lost interest. Essential its an experiment/concept album. interesting for some but not epic. There are signs of intelligence and willingness to seriously attempt something new - hence 2 stars, for the interest and mambience it set

I initially came across DJ Shadow on various compilations, especially cover CDs from British music monthlies like Mojo, and some remixes. And I read about this album long before I ever heard it. This is the ur-text for instrumental hip hop, re-inventing the album patchworked out of samples. Less frenetic than its forebears (Three Ft High and Rising, Paul's Boutique, Nation of Millions, etc), it showed that trawling through the crates could yield atmospheric and open soundtracks. It established the blueprint for Dilla and the Avalanches. Moody, cinematic, and with a distinct trip-hop vibe, the material, is ultimately, a bit forgettable. But a pretty chill vibe. I do love the cover. I've spent many an hour digging crates in stores just like that. It felt like I had been seen.

not my kind of music

Remember this one from the late 90s and it was pretty important in terms of opening the door to more of the mixing and sampling subgenre of hip/trip hop. It’s mostly great as background vibe music but undeniably cool.

Huge hype

I’ll give it a 4 for being groundbreaking. But probably a 3 for my listening tastes. Was nice to work to in the background.

Game changing. Literally the first commercial album comprised entirely of samples. You couldn't even buy anything like this at the record store until DJ Shadow came around

Love changeling

DJ shadow was a big influence on a lot of the music i loved late 90s and i'm happy for his continued success. In the 90s I had no idea who made any of the music i heard at raves, but i loved it. What this record in particular made me think about was the lost art of scratching. There really were only a few DJs who ever got to a master level: Terminator X and DJ Jazzy Jeff being the top ones of my youth. People that could make random noises come together to make a whole new sound is really wild to me. Anyway, I personally find it hard to really get into instrumental music without the help of some stimulant / dopamine drugs and dancing my ass into a myocardial infarction so i cant give this more than 3 stars.

Had then same experience with a DJ Shadow record I've had many times before. I put it on, it sounds good. I like it. It was good to listen tomdriving around on a sunny afternoon. Not one track jumped out at me though. The dude hath no bangers.

trippy, ambient, and abstract but not in a jarring or nonsensical way

Schön chillig.

Nice!!

Really cool album. Many songs I absolutely adore, but for me there are a few that drag a tiny bit

Amazing. Absolute classic and all bangers. Many good memories. Very long - over 2 hours.

This is totally dope. Caught me entirely off guard.

ive got a pregnant snake

more real early hip hop. Lots of samples and instrumental apart from adlibs. Good enough for background to get a 3

Shrug

This was interesting! Not anything I would have chosen to listen to on my own, but was some relatively neat background/instrumental music that I enjoyed.

the sounds aren't bad and can work as background noise, but not much is memorable and the songs are way too long

Yes, this is my jam. What they did here was awesome, and it's only not so mind blowing to me now because of all the copycats since then. This is the one of the best headphone albums of the early 21st century.

Ja niet slecht maar wel saai. Nice album cover maar past niet helemaal bij de inhoud geloof ik. Leuke Giorgio moroder sample

I want to go back in time and play this in my teenage bedroom with low lighting and incence burning...

Not so sure this sound has aged well.

I accidently listened to the first disc of the "Deluxe" version of Introducing, so I heard some longer cuts. I thought the album was dope. Something I wouldn't mind listening to on a chill day at home. Loved it.

Such a momentous leap in turntable culture.

I listened to this so much back in the day, and even went to a note-by-note reproduction thing by an ensemble at an arts center. Listening again now, it's a strange mix of absolute familiarity and bits I'd forgotten. Still great though. Overall, an easy five stars.

Remember this being a thing back in the day, but never loving it as much as Massive Attack or Tricky or other mid 90s precursors/contemporaries. So, good to return too, even if it leaves me feeling exactly the same. S'alright. Preferred some other stuff.

Nicely constructed album that has some of the more nimble and diverse uses of sampling that I've heard. Surprisingly evocative at times. Mostly fun to listen to, but my main critique is that it gets a bit repetitive. I needed it to be several songs shorter. Fave Songs: Building Steam with a Grain of Salt, Midnight in a Perfect World, Stem/Long Stem, Organ Donor, Changeling/Transmission 1, Mutual Slump

good ambient album

Got into DJ shadow after watching Andrew Reynold's part in the Birdhouse skating flick called The End. "Organ Donor" stayed on my mp3 player for a long time after that.

Having only heard about DJ Shadow before from his appearance in the DJ Hero video game, I can say this was an eye-opener. The way he weaves sampled words and instrumentals in new and meaningful ways, such as Cliff Burton's bass intro from Metallica's "Orion" as a backdrop for a beat on "The Number Song," makes for an intriguing listen. Other cuts like "Organ Donor", "Midnight in a Perfect World", "Stem / Long Stem / Transmission 2", and the medley of "Napalm Brain" and "Scatter Brain" add to the wide range of tone and timbre Shadow can pull off. Granted, this album is not for everyone, as it's an instrumental album running a little over an hour, comprised heavily of samples, and has a few interlude tracks that don't add much to the overall package. But it is highly recommended for those who are into this style of music. Update 2/16/2026: I ended up revisiting Endtroducing..... over 450 albums later, having reviewed a lot more electronica and hip hop records since. At this point, I can safely say that my original review of this record does not do it enough justice. For sure, the album does run a little over an hour and is comprised almost entirely of samples, but I wouldn't call that a detriment. If anything, the fact that DJ Shadow was able to compose a wide variety of both atmospheric and hard-hitting instrumental soundscapes that are engaging all the way through is quite impressive. From the opening introduction of "Best Foot Forward" with some cleverly-chopped sampling and record-scratching, down to the jazz-funk cerebral trip of "What Does Your Soul Look Like, Pt. 1 (Blue Sky Revisit)" with the unsettling vocal snippets, to moments of crescendoing drum loops and lush string samples on cuts like "Stem/Long Stem (Medley)" and "Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain (Medley)", even to erratic beat assaults on "Mutual Slump" while quieting down for softer, soulful introspection on the likes of "Building Steam with a Grain of Salt" and "Midnight in a Perfect World", there is a great deal of command in the sounds and recordings that DJ Shadow tapped into in the construction of this record. As for my other complaint regarding the interlude tracks on this record, for the most part, I feel they serve their purpose in cleansing one's palette while transitioning from one scene to the next. Maybe the only ones that struck as odd were "Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96" as a bit of snide commentary towards the commercialization of the genre, and "Untitled" with a man's observations on a woman and her sisters' physical appearances, but they never truly felt damaging to the overall product. I'm glad to have come back to Endtroducing..... with a greater appreciation for how DJ Shadow reinvented sample-based music with such an eclectic, moody experience.

Nice easy listening, great musical notes.

Wow. Should have known about DJ Shadow. Don't know why I didn't, but TBH, better late than never! Another good find by the 1001albumsgenerator. So yeah, shout out there. This genre skates on "my" tastes and is easy for me to like. Instead of one or two songs that crush it for me, I kinda feel like the whole album has a consistently high vibe and definitely will pay more attention to DJ Shadow's work (from whenever).

more noise than music

Je suis resté vraiment impressionné par cet album. J'étais vraiment sceptique à l'idée d'écouter du hip-hop instrumental, mais c'est tellement bien réalisé qu'on n'a pas l'impression qu'il manque du rap pour aller dessus. Définitivement à réécouter. 8/10

driving rhythms through endless samples and loops. not normally an instrumental guy, but this is pretty good. solid effort.

Not my thing.

Definitely not for me.

Interesting and unexpected. 4/5

chilled background noice that was very plesant. not what I was expeciong but a fun listen

Mostly instrumental but still not what I like. 2 stars.

A mix of really good and boring tracks throughout. I wish more beat tapes would either shorten the run time or if they insist on being an hour long, find a way to keep the listener's attention.

I can't see what's not to like about this. A perfect album, especially when placed in context with it's release. This has been in steady rotation for me since I first heard it. It's usually something I listen to in private so I can really focus on it. If you can't appreciate this, you don't like music.

Pleasant DJ sounds, but nothing Earth shattering.

I enjoyed a lot of this. Changeling was fantastic. However, I don’t really buy that it was such a sea change when it was released in 1996. Reading through the Wikipedia and there are quotes saying it set the bar for hip hop and other grandiose statements because of its use of sampling. But this album came out almost ten years after Paul’s Boutique, which basically did the same thing as this album in terms of sampling. I was 5 when this came out so it wasn’t really on my radar at the time. So maybe it was as important as they say, I’m just not seeing it.

Loved this. Did not expect to vibe with it the way I did but halfway through it all clicked.

Really vibey, love the concept. I wish I’d known about this album in 96!

Well crafted sampling and some good beats. But this only works as background music for me.

# Playlist track - Organ Donor # Notes - Super solid album. - It's super experimental, so it kind of loses me at times, and it's definitely not the easiest thing to listen. Still super cool! - Incredible sampling.

Sprry man - Not my music

A very interesting album. It's an incredible use of sampling, and there's some awesome hip hop beat on here. Some very creative songs, but my main complaint is that it sort of dragged on.

Eh

It's the gold standard of this sort of record bin dumpster diving sample-driven electronic music.

Not really something I'd seek out, but I enjoyed it. Expert control of mood and atmosphere. I would probably only listen as background music, but it would handle that job well.

Exciting at first, but ultimately repetitive.

rly impressive that you can make smth so cohesive just out of samples. it’s very well done! just not super engaging

Influential only a couple songs that really pop

Enjoyed this one.

Not bad

I had never heard of the artist or the album. But, I really enjoyed the creativity and power. I will definitely enjoy this one again.

This was cool and innovative, and surprisingly melodic. The samples were used as for inspiration, not dericvation.

Ambient hip-hop trip-hop soul. Surely one of the best albums of the nineties. A debut so perfect he's never really got out of its Shadow.

As someone who dabble in beat making, this is more interesting than more rap focused albums for me. I have listened to some of the tracks before and the sampling is on point. Some tracks are more uppfront and others are floating away in the background but i get why allot of people don't find it interesting.

Impressive. Stunning. Biased because I already knew this one

Niet zo boeiend

Very cool beats, driving and funky. This reminds me of a more chill J Dillas Donuts. I think I'm learning that I have a harder time getting into music without lyrics in this process. This is rad but did not hold my attention

It's pretty neat that the first real all-sampled DJ album came out sounding like this. It's not my favorite kind of music, but the history is really cool.

Feels like I should be playing street pickup in the Bronx. Thx Aiden

I didn’t love the album. I also didn’t dislike it. Gave it about two listens and I more so enjoyed it as a background noise more than an album I sit and listen to intently. Overall, the feel of the album takes me back to the days of playing a game like NBA Street V3 and those are good memories.

Some good tracks like Changeling, Midnight In A Perfect World for the most part and What Does Your Soul Look Like pt 1. Also some odd choices, like a sound that reminds me of Chewbacca. The drums are sometimes too busy for my tastes.

I was so pleased to get this album as I have been meaning to listen to it for ages! I wasn't sure what to make of it the first time around but after a bit of research to actually understand what it was I liked it better the second time. Listens: 2 Fave Track: Organ Donor, Napalm Brain / Scatter Brain - Medley Rating: 3

Enjoyed the beats!

Not impressed by this album.

Un excelente álbum de electrónica con ritmos de Hip-hop. La ingeniosa mezcla de samples funciona de maravilla, construyendo un LP atmosférico que nos transporta a paisajes urbanos llenos de neblina. Sus beats sumamente hipnóticos pueden ser considerados como "influyentes" en el campo del Hip-hop alternativo, lo que más adelante se podrá ver en colaboraciones de DJ Shadow con, incluso, Danny Brow. Sumamente recomendado.

DJ music. Pass.

Ja virheetöntä niin sanottua chilling and wibing menoa heh.. Noh ei ei..Tästä löytyy tunnetta ja asiaa.. Vaikka loppuu kuin lökä pöksyyn ja unten maille.. Paras biisihän long stem 7 min soitto.. oikeassa oltiin.. Vaan sitoudutaan albumiin hassusti.. noh.. harmi..

I was going to give it a 2. But it's 2 good for a 2. It gets a 3.

ive tried listening to this a few times in the past and always stopped a few tracks in because i didnt think it was very interesting and i dont care how they made it. im not an instrumental hip hop fan but i actually really enjoyed it as background noise this listen. i can see myself coming back to this. im really not sure what to rate this but i enjoyed it enough to give it a 7

I'll tell you want I did like...the use of an organ on a song titled "organ donor"

Horrible

I have clear memories of this album being released. It was an absolute revolution- and still holds up in 2024. Love the breakbeats. Need this on vinyl

Masterpiece

A hip hop classic! "Building Stream with a Grain of salt" is one of my favourites song for going out for a run 🏃

Not at all my style. I tried to find something redeeming, but couldn't. I can't really imagine it on a "must hear" list unless it's something to do with the instruments or playing or something else that I simply don't understand. If I could give less than 1 star, I would.

It was ok background music but some of the songs were grating and were immediate skips. Did not finish the album.

Some songs are cool...

Not keen on instrumentals, but was interesting concept

It's aight. I enjoyed mutual slump and realized it was actually a maybe a bjork or portishead sample I was enjoying, but the nonstop wide open drum and cymbals kinda grated. overall really like some of it, particularly the down tempo bits and the conversational clip type samples were cool reminding me of the way sublime did similar.

This album was new to me, and I loved it!

Gefällt mir nicht.

Incoherent clutter.

- relatively enjoyable listen - It’s good, but all instrumentals and many of them got stale over the run time. I can appreciate it tho

uff bastante pesado de escuchar. No es mi estilo.

Good stuff

Þetta er alveg ágætt að mestu leyti. Hálf-peppuð chill-tónlist. Er það a thing?

Really excellent sampling, a road map for what's to come. Has had a lot of influence on what I like, and includes a healthy amount of politics in the darkened tones of classic 90's hip hop

Heel afwisselend, knap, origineel

Endtroducing… It’s a five before I even listen to it. I still listen to it regularly and I haven’t forgotten how good it is. On my first listen today I really tried to listen objectively and try and remove the knowledge/nostalgia. That was hard but it’s clear it’s a fantastic album on its own terms. It sounds fresh and exciting. Then listening again and thinking about it as being nearly 30 years old, it is of it’s time but doesn’t sound dated or or specifically of 1996, it just reconfirms how good it still sounds. It’s also then fun thinking about the memories of listening to it a lot at uni and when I first moved to Japan. Great times. It’s hard to pick out individual tracks as the whole thing is l one suite of music with the repeating lines and motifs, but I’ve always loved Best Foot Forward, The Number Song, Organ Donor and Midnight in a Perfect World. Not sure I can say anything we already don’t know or think about it how good it is or how it was built but as an hourlong sonic landscape it’s just so good. It’s 5 for its innovativeness. It’s a 5 for its quality as an album in this genre. It’s a 5 for it’s quality as an album in its own right It’s s 5 for the memories. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ps, Maureen has five sisters, they all got ass

elämme epävarmoja aikoja. vanhat maailmat ovat muuttumassa epätahdista, uudet maailmat ovat sekaannuksessa ja mikä pahentaa tilannetta, supermies näyttää jääneen varhaiseläkkeelle... ONNEKSI ON DJ SHADOW....... SHADOWCASTER MASTER THE REAL MOTHERFUCKING GANGSTER ... ''For me, this is where electronic music began'' jaa no sitten olet vaan aivan vitun tyhmä henkilö, että peukut pystyssä täällä että kasvain saadaan irroitettua.. heh... one lineri, hullu roast... vain parempi ihminen keksii tollaista.. vittuun pois nää intermissionit voi helvetti sentään long stem

2-29-2024 This is such a cool idea. I'm glad Sarah included me in it. Mellow. This kind of stuff is cool. It doesn't "speak to me" but it's pleasant to listen to. Untitled is my FAVORITE ! LMAO "And they all got ass" Also, mutual slump -------------- Second listen started in the morning. First track hit me and I'm "primed to listen" I like it.

Endtroducing is a somewhat pioneering album with some of the ways Shadow manipulated sequences into tracks. I respect it. But I don’t really like it. That said, I’m not sure that this is really meant to be “liked” in the normal sense. I think it’s meant to really make you think. And it does a good job at that.

Quality. Great samples, beats, vibes.

I’d never heard of DJ Shadow before but I was fascinated by this album. I listened to it 3 times and I want to hear it more.

What a pleasant surprise

Solid. Lo-fi. Not my thing.

SOI GOOD

A classic! I had this on loop in high school, happy to revisit it as it has been a while since I last listened to Entroducing... There is a lot more filler/down moment than I remember, but still a fun listen. 3/5

Agilidad

⢀⡴⠑⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣤⣤⣤⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠸⡇⠀⠿⡀⠀⠀⠀⣀⡴⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠑⢄⣠⠾⠁⣀⣄⡈⠙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡀⠁⠀⠀⠈⠙⠛⠂⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⡿⢿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢀⡾⣁⣀⠀⠴⠂⠙⣗⡀⠀⢻⣿⣿⠭⢤⣴⣦⣤⣹⠀⠀⠀⢀⢴⣶⣆ ⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣷⣮⣽⣾⣿⣥⣴⣿⣿⡿⢂⠔⢚⡿⢿⣿⣦⣴⣾⠁⠸⣼⡿ ⠀⢀⡞⠁⠙⠻⠿⠟⠉⠀⠛⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣌⢤⣼⣿⣾⣿⡟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⣾⣷⣶⠇⠀⠀⣤⣄⣀⡀⠈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠉⠈⠉⠀⠀⢦⡈⢻⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣤⣽⡹⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠲⣽⡻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣜⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣷⣶⣮⣭⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠛⠉

Maravilla

Tough listen.

Probably my favorite smooth jazz album.

not a fan

Uninspiring, boring and too outdated even for 2005.

This is one of those albums that caused me to reflect on this whole experience of listening to the '1001 Albums to Listen to Before You Die'. I think many of us come in with various definitions of what that means. Is it best albums? Is it most influential? Is it about discovering different styles of music? Is it something more? Are we listening just to discover music (and is this truly the best way to do that)? And albums like this seem to show that this exercise almost by intention defies categorization - that it's impossible to say without context. Case in point - I truly don't know why Endtroducing... is on this list. It's fine, but it's not revelatory in the way other albums on this list are. Exit Planet Dust by the Chemical Brothers came out a year before and, for me, is an objectively better album by a large margin. Maybe DJ Shadow's style and what he brings to the genre was influential and so deserves an album on the list? Certainly I've heard the name and know of him. But then why is it this one and not a different album? And truly, without the book or without the context from the person who put this album on the list it's almost impossible to say for this or really ANY album that I'm not immediately drawn to. I've certainly heard albums that make me go 'of course this is here' or 'I can understand why this is here', but I've also heard many that made me go 'I don't know what makes this special', and I think there is a missing connective tissue that maybe the book covers, but maybe it doesn't. Hell, for some of these albums, the Wikipedia entry only states that it's special BECAUSE IT WAS INCLUDED ON THIS LIST!!! This exercise also makes me reflect on just how many artists I love and albums I feel are much better than what's been provided that aren't reflected here. Just in electronica, there is Thievery Corporation, Tosca, Pretty Lights, and more that, sure, may have been influenced by DJ Shadow, but as a result have produced more interesting and compelling music and also may have been influenced by a hundred other artists. But then how do others discover them if they aren't reflected on lists like these because room has to be made for what came before, when all music is almost universally referential to what came before? You have to start somewhere of course, but you also have to pick and choose to an extent and, to make this exercise truly valuable, justify those choices. If you can include a Best of album for one artist, why can't you for another? All to say, it's a fascinating but flawed experiment and has made me think much more deeply about how I find and discover music - both in taking risks and listening to things I wouldn't otherwise, but also the value in listening to an entire album the whole way through. And of course in questioning the lists in and of themselves and recognizing that any list is going to be highly biased and can never wholly encompass what is good and what will resonate most with you.

This was actually cool. Completely composed out of samples, this is quite extraordinary. Will listen again.

What was that

Good background music

Trance-like, jazzy techno

Nice groovy chill instrumentals. Pretty good

Like it’s just samples? Interesting I guess but like …. not something I would choose to listen to again

I kept waiting for what was next. Like a song was set up nicely but then never went anywhere.

Is this never ending?

I know it's instrumental, but it always sounds like someone is about to start laying down bars and it never happens. Oddly frustrating that way.

This is the second DJ album I’ve gotten this week and honestly I think the first one is better and more dynamic. However, the technicality should definitely be appreciated for this one

Masterpiece of texture and layering, of synthesizing for mood and vibe and incorporating many different elements (see “Organ Donor”). Opener is quite intriguing with near-minimalist piano setting a tense mood. “Stem/Long-Stem” and “Transmission 2” seem to want to be classical and ambient, respectively. A work – or composition – best judged as a whole, it feels like a hip-hop flavored genre of its own (made with hip-hop techniques), with lots of jazz influences and atmospherics, and ample ambient feels, too. Super influential and has held up on its own terms quite sturdily indeed. 100%-worth knowing and hearing.

Excellent instrumental album. In every song I was expecting a rapper to come in with some heat, but they never did. It was just sick beats on top of sick beats on top of sick beats.

I wasn't aware of this when I started listening to this today, but my first exposure to DJ Shadow was when I was a teen watching adult swim back in the early 2000's. This album has sent me on a nostalgia trip that I wasn't expecting. Excellent record, it will be added to regular rotation, and I'm adding it to my vinyl list.

unknown

Not my cup of tea

Great album. Enjoyed it for study/work. Lots of familiar ones in there

Cool. But hard not to compare to later music. 3.5/5

Good lo fi stufy music? I don’t like as much as nujabees or dilla I think The possibly maybe sample is annoying, worse than the actual song. Tbh this isn’t rly my thing. Actually this is good I think I like people who were influenced by it more