Reviews (page 5 of 14)
not my thing
Reminds me a bit of the 80's band Art of Noise. Atmospheric without being heavy handed. A talented lyricist could do great things with this album, but it stand well on its own.
This album is very different. I happened to see a review that said albums like this are what this countdown is all about, and I have to agree with that sentiment. The atmosphere on this record is excellent. I loved the sampling, the beats, the throwback feel, etc. That's also what makes this a bit disappointing, as it could have been even better if these were complete songs and/or went somewhere. Too often, though, they weren't and/or didn't. Not that it makes this a bad album, as it doesn't. It just left me wanting.
It’s not bad. I can hear the quality, but it is just so damn repetitive. I love the album cover
Not my cup of tea. Could be good background noise. Mid 90s skate video vibe.
Tung og stemningsfull.
Weird but cool. Should definitely listen to again + other stuff by him. Hip hop-inflected instrumental stuff, with electronica flavor and some strange shit -- sort of meow wolf vibes
It’s a 3 for what it is, but in general probably more like a 2. Cool, but not my vibe. It’s like hip hop electronica, meets musical recording meets sound track meets meow wolf music. It is strange and kinda fun but not exactly what I want. Lots of songs without lyrics, but it works for it
Not a bad album, but I would have enjoyed it more with a bit more vocals. Probably why I like Portishead, Tricky, Massive Attack and Unkle (particularly the Unkle album DJ Shadow was on, Psyence Fiction) At times the music also falls prey to the drum programing - with Shadow making parts so fast and loud that the sound just becomes muddy. That seems a lot of negative for an album I actually did like quite a bit, just not as much as I thought I would. 3 1/2 stars.
I actually enjoyed this way more than I thought I would ... love the experimental stuff and this one grooves!
stem/long stem прикольная
Not for me, sorry.
An hour of DJ music is a lot of time to spend on 808s and snippets of albums. This is what you listen to when you're too high to dance, talk or listen to lyrics. RJD2 heard this album and decided what to do with his life. It's fine as background music. Stem/Long Stem - Medley is like a 1996 Tubular Bells...could very easily be the theme music for an Exorcist sequel. It's also like some one watched Blade Runner and rescored the Vangelis. Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain - Medley is the best song on the album.
Una combinación de música de pausa de un juego y música que te deja intranquilo esperando a que se acabe rápido para volver empezar desde 0.
This is it - this is perfect music to work to. This is the type of thing you hear in a coffee shop and Shazam it because you know its a sample, but is well-arranged and will probably lead down a rabbit hole to other cool original material. Really nice musical collage, easy on the ears without being boring or distracting, sounds at times like the type of beats I can see MF Doom rapping over. This kind of music is so much better to me to have while working or doing an activity than electronic music, which has no dynamic range. 4 stars for sure.
The first two tracks left me scrambling for something - anything - to say, so decided to listen to the album in it's entirety before leaving a review. I understand that the album is entirely made from samples of much older music on vinyl, mixed by a single person with relatively basic equipment compared to today's standards. Whilst I really can appreciate the talent on display here to find disparate samples that blend together really well - some of it scratches that right spot in the brain for me too - at the end of it all, it's still just a stack of samples. Most of the time, I both loved and hated the same track, due to some choices I personally found questionable half way through each track. The biggest culprits here were "Changeling" and "Stem/Long Stem". Ironically, one of the best tracks on the album was "Transmission 2", which stands purely as an interlude. If one track takes the trophy though, it's "Midnight in a Perfect World", being the most comprehensive and seemingly thoughtful track on the album. This was another hit and miss for me, just like Red Snapper's album on the list. Like that album though, I will take my favourites with me and leave the rest behind.
Definitely an interesting album, didn’t get to listen to it in one sitting but that is ok. It was great to have on during the day when I was working but again it was nothing special I’d give it a 3/5
alright
Easy listening
I like the album art. And the name. This is sick. Cool beats. Breakbeats, scratching, neat samples. I dig it. It feel like nice light 90s nostalgia. I love the drum tones so much they sound so good. Stem/Long Stem is unhinged lol wtf.
Classic hip hop record. Set the tone for a lot of producers that followed. Lots of classic tracks I know from freestyle cyphers. Taste wise I don’t the whole project. A few standout songs but nothing heavy in rotation. Lots of respect for this record.
- It's great; I didn't listen to it when it first came out, but my friends did and loved it. It was clearly groundbreaking at the time. - I enjoy the trip hop/breaks feel to it, and all the sample usage is really cool and well done, especially since it was just made with records + samplers. - That said, I do find it a little disjointed at times, so I don't really get that invested in the (evolution of each) song, itself. - The album also feels a bit too long. - Classic album cover. - It's probably a 3.5 for me, but I'm going to round up on this one, maybe just for the Twin Peaks sample.
Good but no lyricism. Don’t know enough classic hip hop to understand how influential it is
chill background music, didn't really notice it while I worked tbh
Enjoyed listening to it on the bus
Went in ready to hate this but it wasn't at all what I expected! Really liked Stem / Long stem medley with the extracts from Heat.
2/10
Top shelf pick. Sample based brilliance. One of those albums that's fun listening straight or picking apart every sound on every track. Equally rewarding.
Great, listened to again and again.
me gusta hasta el moment, solo siento que me falta alguien cantando, después de cierto tiempo me aburro
DJ Shadow – Endtroducing..... On Day 41, the "3/5 Equilibrium" has finally been broken by a masterclass in instrumental chemistry. Endtroducing..... is a "triumphant" body of work that proves you don't need a rapper to deliver a "conscious" and "thought-provoking" experience. The technical skill involved in building these tracks entirely from samples is "on Mars," hitting that "immaculate" production standard I look for. "Building Steam with a Grain of Salt" and "The Number Song" are standout highlights—perfectly executed pieces of "vintage" soul and "tuff" rhythms that maintain their momentum from start to finish. This is a record with genuine lasting power vibe that earns its spot in my personal rotation. A perfect 4/5.
Changeling Stem/Long Stem Midnight in a Perfect World Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain This at least 4 1/2! Mmmm between 4 or 5... I'm struggling!
Awesome
Classic boom bap beat tape. This is my first round with it, it's always hard to live up to the hype that people have bestowed on a certain piece of art before you get your chance to check it out without the hype surrounding it. A solid and groovy listen. Top Track: Midnight in a perfect world
Sounding a bit dated now? Or maybe just overlistening back in the late 90s/early 00s as a stoner student. Going with 5 still for old times sake
Loved it
A lovely album. A wide variety of samples and moods, but still works together as a whole. - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? Yes. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes!
A masterpiece of sound collage; a moody, atmospheric album created from well-chosen jazz, funk, hip-hop, and soul samples and beats. A favorite of mine for a long time. On the surface, if you're not paying attention, it can sound very simple and samey. But I argue that he knows just how to keep a groove as a canvas and switch up subtle bits as paint on that canvas to make every bar different from the next. Most of the feel on this is dark with foreboding bass and minor keys in the samples which almost makes it sound like the score to an old horror movie sometimes. Warm analog synths and ambient samples abound. His follow-up album, The Private Press, is not on this list but is equally enthralling. Every track on this is excellent, but my favorite is Changeling, which layers a 70s organ riff, muffled and distorted distressed guitar riffs, and what sounds like a Loudon Wainwright vocal sample over a looped soul drum track and two-note bass riff - it sounds exactly like what a slow midnight drive in the rain through a sketchy and deserted part of a big city would sound like if it were music. Just sublime...
This is great stuff
Just effortless cool.
Favorite Tracks: Building Steam / Changeling / What Does Your Soul Look Like / Organ Donor / Midnight in a Perfect World Rating: 4.3 This is an album I already know well, and enjoy...along with a bunch of other trip-hop and related genres, low-fi etc. One of the defining albums for "sampling as an art" and a foundational work that influenced a ton of artists afterwards.
This may have been groundbreaking in 1996? It's pretty dull listening today. Some admittedly funky breakbeats layered with jazz, pads, spoken word and random radio recordings. I give it 2 for the beats.
1/10 Fav: -
Correcto
This is half and half for me. Some songs are overbearing and overstay their welcome, others bring a nice electronic / jazzy vibe. 2.5
добавлю к себе, много раз переслушала. игра с сэмплами феноменальная, запоминающаяся. создать альбом полностью собранный из семплов винила, имея один только драм машину и одолженный сетап по настоящему завораживает. является ли это его творением? общим голосом и сотней рук, собранными кем-то еще? And I would like to able to continue to let what is inside of me Which is, which comes from all the music that I hear You know, I'd like for that to come out And it's like, it's not really me that's coming The music's coming through me
fabelaktig, rett i Avalanches og Lemon Jelly land, plunderphonics for dayzzz
Is it an impressive achievement? 100% yes. Are many of the melodies strong and affecting? Absolutely. But, ultimately for me the genre and its vibe-driven repetitiveness can get a bit ponderous. An album I admire more than deeply enjoy.
Decent
not my kind of music - skipped after a few songs
Quite liked this but not a love at first listen. Very taken with moody electronica so I’m sure I’ll revisit sooner rather than later.
I was so pumped to see this today. I absolutely love this album. I first encountered it in high school when I watched the documentary Dark Days, about the people who were living underground in the NYC train tunnels. And the soundtrack was basically all DJ Shadow, and I started doing a deep dive. I can't listen to some of these songs without remembering the dark and gritty shots from that film though. The sampling is wild and beautiful. I can't claim to understand the technique or half of the sample references. But it is so impressive and like grandiose and cinematic. Building Steam with a Grain of Salt, Midnight in a Perfect World, and What Does Your Soul Look Like (Pt 1) are my favourites, equally haunting and beautiful. Also, as if it's 30 years old this year.
10/10 fresh
My beloved
A nice fun vibe for my Mario gaming
What a coincidence, i just listened to this last week
Cool sound but not something I really want to listen to.
Amazing. RIP records on K. St.
I had never heard of this album before, but as I was listening to it I did some research on it. It was the first album to be completely almost completely composed of samples, and as one review I read said, it was the first to use samples in a way that blends into the music seamlessly. Upon reading into this album, I gained some deep appreciation for it, and I can understand why it's on this list. The sound is so smooth, it reminds me of some Radiohead, and also of older rap from the 80s and 90s, like Kwames music. I really liked this album a lot!
got most of the way through, dnf only because I got busy. Not bad! very samey.
Classic old school hip hop drums at the start. The album really evolved over time. At some points of this album I thought I'd give it a two as it started to sound repetitive but at other points I thought about giving it a four for it's uniqueness but I'll give it a 4 because I might want to revisit this one again.
Already heard it was gud
It was fine... Not sure I understood it.
Det va fascineranes greier så lenge man tenke på at det dels va opprinnelsen til en hel sjanger, fordi ellers hørtes det ut som velkjente greier. Men på en bra måte, æ hørte det to ganger og likte det godt.
The first proper track, Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt, is a rock-solid way to start a hip-hop album. Given the general dubiousness of vocals in 90s hip-hop, I'm hoping to keep hearing fun, groovy instrumentals. Maybe a little less looping would be good, though. That piano part is nifty but gets old after the first six unchanging minutes. The Number Song is much weaker, consisting primarily of drum beats that are cool on their surface but are pretty unimpressive for the year. (And to think we had the best work of Peart, Gadd, Bonham, Moon, and Grohl, all before this record came out. The drumwork here pales in comparison.) The vocal additions aren't bad but are heavily looped. Changeling is a little repetitive too, but the string-synths are pretty cool. It gets a pass. (I like the Doors' version better though.) And What Does Your Soul Look Like - Pt. 4 has a simple but mildly effective bassline that carries the track – at least until the two- or three-minute mark, when you really start to look for more variation. (There's a reason that varied songs, like Bohemian Rhapsody and Paranoid Android, are much more universally enjoyed and lauded than one-trick ponies like Daft Punk's Around the World.) Stem/Long Stem does much better in this regard. For the first time on the record, thank heck, there are builds and drops of tension! It's a Christmas miracle. The ethereal synths are very pretty here, and go well with the glockenspiel(?)'s high frequency. Transmission 2 is much better than the earlier Transmission 1, mostly due to having *any* musical ideas of note. Transmission 1 is just too short to really get off the ground. (My war against interludes continues. They should not be included in albums unless they have (musical) "plot relevance".) But despite an array of strong tracks throughout the album, culminating with the ultra-groovy Midnight In A Perfect World, the album ends with a rough patch. Napalm Brain / Scatter Brain is all over the place, and though it has a decent middle section (the main attraction being the overlapping guitar tones, reminiscent of the middle section of PF's Echoes), the rest is weak. I think I'd enjoy What Does Your Soul Look Like a lot more if it didn't sound like a much, much less tasteful version of anything from Bowie's Blackstar. 3/5 Key tracks: Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt, Stem/Long Stem, Midnight In A Perfect World
Some fun sounds but not something I would seek out. More like background sounds.
This isn’t really my music taste but it was decent background music
Not bad!
1. intro classic 2. très beau piano, bon morceau 3. horrible, skip 4. un peu long, bon 5. / 6. meilleur son pr l’instant 7. / 8. Début bon, après c’est ATROCE, puis ça revient bien. 9. ça m’a lavé les oreilles, merci 10. alterner batterie/chill : très bon 11. Il était une fois l’homme ahhhh : bien! 12. long pour R 13. sympa mais c’est long 14. / Dans l’ensemble cool, des morceaux un peu long pour rien. 2-3 bons morceaux. 2.5+/5
Considering this album turns 30 years old this year, it still feels completely timeless. It’s been over 25 years since I last heard it, but revisiting it felt like hearing it for the first time again, and I had completely forgotten how many great tracks were on here. I love how it balances raw, gritty turntablism and hip hop elements with the smoother, more soothing textures of trip hop and downtempo.
Ok as background music but it’s not something I would actively seek out to listen again
Boring
Umm amazing. Love the vibes.
… no
En del kule samples, men stort sett ganske tungt og langdrygt.
Hyggelig og uventet overraskelse
ja nei.. det kunne vært musikken som gikk da du sku velge karakter i Tekken 2, og da ville æ tenkt «Tekken 2 har skikkelig passanes soundtrack». men å høre på det her i headsettet mitt??? nei
Hørt til og fra jobb. Megachill, alt for langt, ganske kjedelig.
Greit nok, men klipp-og-lim-musikk er i sin natur middelmådig.
Expertly produced with many layers, in saying that this album felt like it was missing so much and it goes for way too long, glad I got to listen but one I don’t think I’ll be revisiting in the future
9/10
Superb album. I’ve enjoyed Endtroducing… since it came out, and this is a 5 for me. At the time it opened up a lot of new music for me (Ninja Tune) and this is one of few that stuck. Nothing else I’ve heard from DJ Shadow has held my interest, but this is a great album.
p779. 1996. 1 star. Man discovers he has a drum machine, a sampler and no talent. This desperately wants to be "Play" by Moby and fails spectacularly.
it was whatever
This is another one that I've not listened to for 25 years. In the same ball park as Coldcut, I think this probably made a bigger splash back in the day? Not sure how well it has aged - I feel music like this has more been incorporated into other genres than continues to exist as its own thing. Enjoyable to revisit, but won't make it any further than that.
completely uninteresting
Incredible. I've always loved trip hop while rap has taken some getting into for me. There's rappers I love and listen to often, but just speaking generally. I think that using the art form, DJ Shadow makes a popular appeal to his audience. THIS SHIT FUCKS.
Yeah that was certainly something. I didn’t hate but I’m not sure if I liked it either. It just kinda is, y’know?
First listen….. Well the intro was enough to put me off. Kept going….can see this was probably pretty influential it it’s day. I find it hard with sample based music for it to feel like it has any cohesive soul to it. This is the core problem here for me. It definitely belongs on the list, but I don’t particularly enjoy or like it. I’m in a generous mood. 2
Peak
Some good long instrumentals
chimba de álbum, igual es puro instrumental entonces como q no es lo mío, pero tenia vibras re chimbas, y pues si había unos temas bacanos
Really interesting work. Feels like a monumentally important album in the history of sampling.
I wasn't expecting to like this, but I did, it was super relaxing and I quite liked the talking clips too.
Some bits ok mr garage band
Good drum beats
If you appreciate the art of crate digging, then you’ll really enjoy this one. He’s a DJ, but not the dance club kind.
Sweet lofi jams
I like this! Not my normal cup of tea, but some groovy beats, and a range of sounds that keep it interesting.
Sometimes you hear the first 20 seconds of an album and you just sigh. Fortunately, it's only a short off-putting intro track here... the rest of the album is alright, although I think it's a real stretch to say this is a must-hear.
I dont usually like musc that takes to long to end hahah and i like music that i can sing and feel it in my blood kw? this is not really that type of thing but i liked it
recien lo empiezo pero es BUENISIMO
Eh it’s alr
the clock on the wall reads a quarter past midnight. 10/10. insane how this album sounds so good with production primarily being obscure samples.
Solidna trojka
Will listen to again. I know a lot of the songs but had no idea it was from this album.
Awesome
interesting music, not necessarily what i would choose to put on but not unenjoyable
Nice vibes
This is fine. Well produced, inoffensive background music for me. Not my jam. Its fine.
I dont listen to a lot of rap, but i’ve wanted to for a while because i know there’s stuff out there that i really enjoy but just haven’t found it, this one of those. Brilliant!!
Respect the fact that he went through vinyl records and created nearly this entire record from those samples. However, after a song or two I was checking if I wasn't shuffling the album accidentally because of how random it felt. 2/5 for the effort
Not my kind of music.
Cool sound, the original lofi. Great mixing and transitions. I bet this is sampled in so many different ways.
Never heard before but absolutely love it and now looking for a vinyl copy
Pretty fun. Good drums.
Didn't know what to expect when I first got this album. Having never listened to an instrumental hip hop album I was worried that I was going to miss the vocals. Happy to say that I did not and that this album exceeded my expectations. Its a great, chill album that is perfect for an early morning commute and the kind of album you can easily put on in the background at a small get together.
Not my usual favorite type of music but I liked this.
Reminds me of college. Lots of samples.
Very fun listen, glad this is on the list.
Good
The vibes off this album are immaculate. Can just put this on and feel. I'm always impressed with quality sampling technique.
wouldnt listen to this sober
Fantastic
Best Foot Forward - 3.5/5 Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt - 4/5 The Number Song - 3.5/5 Changeling - 3/5 Transmission 1 - 3/5 What Does Your Soul Look Like Pt. 4 - 2.5/5 Untitled - 3/5 Stem/Long Stem - 4/5 Transmission 2 - 3/5 Mutual Slump - 2.5/5 Organ Donor - 4.5/5 Why Hip-Hop Sucks In '96 - 3.5/5 Midnight In A Perfect World - 3/5 Napalm Brain/ Scatter Brain - 3/5 What Does Your Soul Look Like Pt. 1 - 3.5/5 Transmission 3 - 3/5
4.0 stars I LOVED this album back in the day. seemed revolutionary for it's time. it's still a very good/cool album, it just didn't have the impact I thought it would on relisten. maybe because I've heard it so many times. if this was a first listen I probably would've been blown away. Favorite track: Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt
This is a top ten all time play for me and hip hop’s greatest achievement.
some cool tracks on this
Not great
Siempre lo vi en las listas de lo mejor de la decada, incluso independientemente del genero, pero la verdad es que se me paso por alto en los 90 y en las decadas subsiguientes. Ahora, cuando lo escucho, pienso en lo mismo que pienso con los otros discos de musica hip-hop: podria recortarles unos 15 a 20 minutos.
- Nydelig elektronika - Varierte uttrykk 4/5 men bare fordi det er en bakgrunnssjsnger
This was a pleasant listen. Some nice relaxing cuts on this album.
Not bad I liked some of the beginning songs than the final songs. I might listen to it again..maybe
Enjoyed this one. I didn't love it but the beats kept me bopping along.
Same as last, no idea. Excited still! Honestly for all that I avoid this genre I really didn't mind this. Definitely more of a background music album than listening for the sake of listening though.
A bunch of classic beats that honestly I was fond of! What does your soul look like, Pt.1 was the best of the bunch.
Clearly important and impressive, but not something I would ever put on.
One of my favourite Hip hop albums. The way this is made just with sampling is mind blowing. Incredible
Fav tracks: changeling, stem/long stem, what does your soul look like pt 4, mutual slump, building steam with a grain of salt This was a masterpiece. the ambience that would immediately morph with breakbeat.. chef’s kiss.
It may be 30 years since this was a revelation, but luckily Endtroducing doesn’t rely on that to earn its place in history. It’s just a masterclass in cinematic downtempo with grooves that just won’t quit. It may have been a blueprint for many that followed both good and bad, and it was maybe a little over-hyped (The Jimi Hendrix of the sampler? Come on!) but that all fades away with the mists of time. It’s Midnight in a Perfect World and this album still sounds like perfect soundtrack. Strong 4.
DJ albums are really not my thing. That said if you're gonna listen to one this is pretty damn good. I was getting Beastie vibes but without the Boys. Loved how the samples felt so artfully placed. This is another good coffee shop album, cool enough to get heads bobbing and nondescript enough not to piss people off. Overall even though I probably won’t go back this album is solid AF.
Some nice beats, this hasn't aged anywhere near as bad as similar albums
ik ben geen fan - sorry
Sounds like my brain feels. I like it
Love this album and had the CD years ago. Favorite songs: Changeling, What Does Your Soul Look Like, Pt. 4, Transmission 2, Midnight in A Perfect World
FAR too long, but really cool.
I discovered this album in the early 2000s as part of my job as an editor (there are a lot of great tracks to cut to) and I've listened to it regularly since (and still sometimes cut to it). It is a remarkable achievement when you know how it was crafted and really stands the test of time. "Changeling" is one of my all time favorite tracks.
1. zteam - 1.5 2. number -1.5 3. change - 1.5 4 zoul -1 5. ztem - 1 6. tranmizzion - 1.5 7. zlump - 1.5 8. donor -2 9. uuorld - 2 10. napalm - 2 11. like - 1.5
Different than anything I've listened to with real intent before. I just never have dove deep into hip hop and sample based music. I definitely prefer vocal based music, but this is still a vibe. The tremolo effects in Changeling are dope. Takes you to a completely new place. When it goes back to normal it almost feels like that wasn't possible. And the seamless transition into Transmission 1 is beautiful. I really do appreciate the artistry of this album. Isn't quite my vibe but I respect it a lot. The back half of this album is make or break territory for me. Why Hip-Hop Sucks In '96 got a real chuckle out of me. Well played, Shadow. Napalm/Scatter is nice, that smooth transition right in the middle was well executed. One of few songs that spoke to me in any meaningful way. Blue Sky Revisit is awesome. Well deserved spot near the end to round of this album. It's fair to say at this point that the back half leaned a lot more towards make than it did break. Again not quite my vibe, but a really impressive work of art here. I can't knock it too much. 3.1/5
As far as DJs go he is good. From what I can tell anyway. He's mixes well but unless he has someone doing vocals I'm out. That said, Nobody Speak with him and Run the Jewels is fucking amazing. It's not on this album but go watch the video.
Mostly cool i guess, I like how it felt very spacey at times, but I don't think I'd come back to it. What the actual fuck was "untitled"?
An entirely instrumental album created only from sounds and samples. Worth listening to and likely hugely influential? Yes. Would I listen to it again? Probably not.
Not my thing.
I couldn’t even finish this. My boyfriend thought his stereo was taking a crap with the amount of sound effects. Terrible.
I would rate this a minus one if I could
DJ Shadow's use of samples is so entrancing. Every splice fits in perfectly into his work. Favorite(s): What Does Your Soul Look Like; Midnight in a Perfect World; Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain.
Not my fav
Very cool album. Love the drums. Could vibe to this all day
Oh look, some dide got a bunch of new audio gear and a MacBook. Cool. Nothing unique, interesting, or engaging about this.
It’s long but I did enjoy some aspects
Fun mix of genres
Pretty fun sound
Pretty unmemorable. Like it literally finished ten minutes ago and I couldn’t tell you anything about it
huge album for those that enjoy riding elevators
I had never heard of this before. It was a lovely groove. I know it is entirely samples but they are woven together so well. I loved the album.
This maybe doesn't stand out as much today as when it first came out, but it's still so well crafted. It will never cease to amaze me that this whole album was basically created on an MPC 60 and some turntables. I love seeing technology pushed to new limits.
Cool beats wouldn't listen again
Killer record. DJ Shadow’s magnum opus. 5/5
Awesome samples stitched together by the legend.
This is probably the most out-there thing on the list so far. It probably deserves another listen just to appreciate all the vibes. Very like ambient hip-hop at a lot of points and not very poppy at all. I sorta vibed with it though.
This was good.
This felt like Midnight In a Perfect World.
Very experimental and werid at first but as I listened through the more and more I liked it. It’s a masterpiece using samples to convey a story of how mere samples can become blossoms of art, using this eerie album as an example.
never heard of this one before today but i like it!!
Outstanding. Reminds me of those comedown Sundays, spliffs on the sofa, those dark grooves. The number song is already in my top 20. I love the drums throughout. I get stuck on the melody that shifts forever autumn by half a bar. But this is great and it was a pleasure to listen again. It was fresh when it arrived, and it has survived the production test of time. Great
Gonna sit on the fence for this one as I didn't give it the time. Can hear good things in it, but probably not my thing. EDIT: oh, I was wrong. Relistened to this early this morning, and it gives the same vibes as I get from Portishead, Massive Attack, Boards of Canada etc. All great and really well put together.
Bit all over the place. Some songs are like Portishead. A band I always thought were overrated. And now I’ve gone off to listen to some Portishead and quite like it. Probably a 2.5 stars for me
just not my thing...
Liked it quite a bit on first listen, and was further intrigued by it upon learning that it was nothing but samples. Fascinating project.
der zweite song ist echt gut, der rest so meh. halt trip hop, eig voll cool, aber halt ned so meins
Interesting and creative but some weird parts. 3.5
Flawless
Some of it was really good and some of it was not a vibe. Started off very briefly psychedelic and then changed into something more traditionally hip-hop before flitting across a few other genres with hip-hop at the core. This made for some interesting songs, but also some very long and overly experimental instrumentals that harshed the vibe.
fun vibes even without many lyrics and a good background album
9/10
This album was interesting in the way that the DJ was able to create new songs completely composed of samples. It was enjoyable to listen to to hear what was created and I think is important to see what can be done, however it is not something I would return to more than the first listen.
It’s 6pm now. Busy day just getting to this. Left my speakers in the living room so it’s headphones for tonight. Also coincidentally just started tracking my pulse and spo2 so I’m gonna see if my pulse shoots up when it starts to get loud (I think this is gonna be rap music ?) T1 alright this sounds new let’s goo T2 I can’t even describe what this reminds me of. It just reminds me more of a time maybe like heading into the 2010s? Maybe it was a little earlier, but this is giving me similar vibes to a lot of the beats. Despite that you can definitely hear ‘the 90s’ in this beat. Fun change of pace haven’t heard this in a while. Yoooo it just hit me this sounds so derivative of ‘36 chambers’. I’m enjoying listening to this but j queued 36 chambers for after this album. Shoutout ghostface killa too I might put it on the turntable if I’m feelin it. T3 radical switch up at 2:00. T4 now THIS feels like alt 90s rap HELLL YEAAH. I love this beat Zoned out to this song good stuff. T8 I been zoned out. Having a good time. Not wanting to review but don’t want to forget anything. Aside: this is nothing like Wu Tang I take it back. I hear a nylon guitar? So weird I love it. This could be a prog rock song. J checked pulseoximeter or whatever and at the beginning it was sitting over 110 not going down, just checked and last 5 minutes+ we’re in the 80s, can feel this music relaxing me. Do I have autism? Definitely want to relisten in the future
Didn’t hate it but can’t say I liked it. I guess I just don’t appreciate this musical genre.
Bon, ben que dire, si ça n'est que cet album est un pur chef-oeuvre qui mérite largement les 5/5 ? Ambitieux, ambiancé, riche et ultra-créatif, c'est vraiment un de mes albums préférés de tout les temps et je suis bien content de voir qu'il fait partie de la liste et que c'est ce que je dois écouter aujourd'hui !
Enjoyable. Listed as hip-hop but is more of an electronic album to me. Notable tracks include Building Steam With A Grain of Salt, What Does Your Soul Look Like, Midnight in a Perfect World.
Was good at first but couldn't listen to it till the end. Got boring
i liked the song that sampled the giant from twin peaks
I know some consider this a classic, and I'm sure it was quite an achievement using equipment available in the 90s, but to me, this is background music. Very vibey background music, but background music nonetheless. I didn't hate any tracks but nothing stood out either. I'm fully aware I might just lack the context to understand the genius behind this album, but if that's that's how it is, that's how it is. Solid 3.
This album was such an enjoyable listen!! I love when artists use fun sampling and this is just a great example of that! Learning about DJ Shadow’s background and process was so fun too!
الموسيقى حلوه بس مافي كلمات😔
One of those albums that I desperately want to give a 5, but its just not quite there. The little interludes kinda break up the vibe for me, and some of the music is just slightly dated to me ears. But its still a hell of a vibe with its breakbeat/trip hop leanings. I particularly love the tracks Building Steam With A Grain of Salt amd Changeling. Probably one of the best (if not the best) records in the plunderphonics genre. I slightly prefer The Caretaker's Everywhere at the End of Time, but Endtroducing..... is a landmark in music.
I can imagine what came after and the influences this album created and it was just uncomfortable noise. I couldn't even make it through the entire thing. ;-;
Genuinely can't figure out if I really enjoyed it or was really bored?
Banger
Already knew it well. I love it. It's mind-blowing to think how it was made back in the 90s. "it is happening again" always makes my blood run cold. a perfect soundtrack for a night drive
Enveloping atmosphere that instantaneously puts you in an urban mood. Very enlivening stuff. "Organ Donor" is one of the coolest rap instrumentals ever
Хипхоп
Here we have DJ Shadow putting on an absolute sampling clinic. I have listened many times and will listen many more, this is a fantastic record. I’m ranking this at the top alongside Paul’s Boutique as the best sample based album of all time. Endtroducing is such a well crafted album, one he took two years perfecting and the end result is a masterpiece. To add a side-note I believe that Organ Donor is a track that should be heard every Halloween. This is an undeniable 5 stars
“From listening to records, I just knew what to do.” DJ Shadow said it best. He really has an incredible knack for taking diverse sounds and combining them into a cohesive work. All-time great album for me.
Building steam with a grain of salt
I didn't hate this, but I'll also probably never listen to it again.
Det blir för mycket ganska ofta vilket leder till att det mest bara blir ljud istället för musik.
Another lovely arrangement of jazz inspired hip hop beats with an overall low fi sound. Again right in my wheel house albeit somewhat one dimensional and "boring". I enjoyed all or most of it, I do think some tracks go on a bit long with little to no resolution which adds to the boringness. I gotta ding it a star for that.
Pas aimé pas mon style
3.5 (genre birth - Trip Hop) (63:23, 13 tracks (4 skits), 1996, debut) trip hop Trip-hop sampling record - hard to classify. Hypnotic in a trance way, strong hip hop beats. This album birthed trip-hop which became Chill Lofi. In 1996 it took a master to produce this masterpiece pre-editing tools, pre-internet samples everywhere. What took DJ Shadow a year now takes A.I. 1.482 seconds (which is sad.) It's easy to overlook the genius of this album. People criticize as it's not his music but you put this together - it sampling at it's best. What he's creating sounds nothing like anything he took it from. NO ONE TELLS A BAKER - it's just butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and milk (vanilla, spices, salt, and baking powder.)
Classic
Cool instrumental/experimental/abstract hip hop. Sit back and chill
this was so cool but made me kinda scared
Best songs: Building Steam with a Grain of Salt, The Number Song, Stem/Long Stem - Melody, Midnight in a Perfect World Somewhere between instrumental hip hop and trip hop. Very subversive album - I'm not sure what to think of it because it doesn't sound like one thing or another. This is why I started this project. A good album to listen to in the morning.
ok so didnt get a chance to listen to it much, but it seemed like some cool non-lyrical punk!!
Napalm is a good track
Good album. Comprised with samples, but remarkably engaging in spite of the minimal vocals and disconnected themes. Worth a listen, but wouldn't bother to listen again. 3 stars.
Top 10 albums of all time for me. No notes. Well maybe a couple but its still 5 Stars
this was a super cool concept, but not sure how much I loved it. The most interesting bits were when the samples were very evident, and the samples of interviews etc. I found the rest was a bit background noisy unfortunately 2.5/5 I think Songs added to playlist: - Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt - What Does Your Soul Look Like - Pt. 4 - Midnight In A Perfect World
funky
Starts off like Beastie Boys, slowly evolves into Tricky/Portishead. Some great samples and beats. A joy to listen.
I don’t get it, hip hope musac?
Strange but strangely compelling. I would listen again in a trance
very interesting works better as a complete listen rather than picking out songs it’s definitely an experience to say the least 3.3/5
I was really into this for the first several songs. After that, things fizzled and the album is too long, but we’ll always have those first few
I expected to be very bored by this but was pleasantly surprised. Run time is a titch long but I would definitely put it on again if I was trying to set a certain mood on a sleepy summer evening.
On first listen, it felt like background music at work, especially the second half. But I came around with a second listen. It’s probably a 2.5. There’s a melancholy to the album but there’s variety in the sampling and the drum lines are great.
cool
What a gorgeous piece of Art!
Det hele er sampled fra obskure plader han har fundet. Levet alene i isolation og dermed også lidt det udtryk og følelse man får når man lytter til det. det hører åbenbart under genren plunderphonics/sample art som er netop det. Det er meget sådan drømmende og stemningsfuldt (det er ambient hiphop med trip hop influence) føler virkelig man falder hen i sine egne tanker når man sidder og lytter til det.
I found this to be boring or annoying more than enjoyable.
The battle over AI music is currently all the rage. Is it art? Is it theft? I'd it right that someone with no training can go make music at the touch of a button, possibly taking precious money and spotlight away from those precious artists who spend their lives toiling away on their six string? But there's nuance, that little thing is tribal little monkeys tend to forget. For example - can original human-written poetry, words, or lyrics be considered art? Even if you don't like those things, you'd probably say yes. But what if those same words are applied to AI generated music? What then? What if the words form an album, and what if the AI prompts for that album were designed in such a way to form something specific, something coherent and cohesive? What then? Well that's what I did. It's online. Under Scrabo's Looming Shadow. A 46 song concept album about potato picking, with my words set to AI music from my prompts. Is it art? Is it the same type of Art as Entroducing? I don't know. All I know is that it's better than Entroducing.
I'm over 800 albums in. Hip hop and Electronica are my least favorite genres. But this album is incredible. Or at least incredibly interesting, considering it's almost entirely samples. So far there are probably over 300 albums that I doubt you really need to hear before you die, but I'm glad I listened to this one.
A bit long at just over an hour but it turns out instrumental rap is an interesting concept and not a bad listen at all.
Eh, I can appreciate the sampling on this album and there were a few moments I enjoyed, but it was overall a bit forgettable for me. I wouldn’t mind listening to this album again if I had to but I doubt I’d go back to it again, not my cup of tea personally. Strong 2/5, I feel like I know people who would like this a lot more than I do
A bit boring
Great and essential Instrumental Hip Hop. Good for chilling out and getting lost in.
An album consisting entirely of samples. Art or just coasting on the work of others? An interesting question. The result is basically background music, although more interesting than the normal ambient type of instrumental music. A couple of tracks even make it to interesting while actively listening. It's still a 3 like most background music, but a high 3.
Organ donor was a skip for me. Building steam with a grain of salt was probably my favorite of the album. This whole album was kind of strange, especially hearing samples and snippets of other songs I was super familiar with just randomly sprinkled into the song. It was pretty good, vibey background music, but I don't think I would listen to it for anything else.
Innovative samples and complex soundscapes that somehow feels a bit dated at times but still incredibly impactful
lofi hip hops cool ass older brother fun samples and sounds meet solid drum loops with an almost minimalist/steve reich influence
3.0 - Ok
The beats are great. certainly a different vibe
The critics love it, I don't.
Surprisingly good to have on as background music. Low key enough to not be distracting, but enjoyable enough to not just fade away and ignore completely. I like it but it’s also something I’ll probably never listen to again
Haven't heard of him. This is actually quite a cool album, the samples are interesting and the album encapsulates the best 90s trip-hopy vibe 3/5
Mad respect for the work that went into it an the obvious influences the work had, but I just didn't like listening to it
Boring
I’m so tired of this electronic music. This is better than some, but it’s all the same to me. I’m not impressed at all. It’s like a freckle. It’s just there and doesn’t do anything for me.
My issue with sampling in music is the same as with collage in visual art. Give it enough attention and the mind will draw connections - maybe even assign meaning to the whole. Done right, it can be a revelation. . .but it's rarely done right. There are lots of imitators, but few innovators. Music is entertainment. I don't want to work at it and find my own meaning, simply because *it's just not that important*. That will, of course, influence my rating. Students of music will disagree. Like most hip-hop, I have no patience with it. This one was at least not aurally offensive.
Had me interested, that's for sure. I dig the ambience, plus Tidal fed me some good genre-related material after it was done.
Decent album this one, sample heavy but creative with it
This was great.. covers a lot of ground, and is always interesting.
I really enjoyed this album, love this kinda of music. A bit more on the artsy side of the genre but still great
Pretty fun and good for studying. Did feel like each songs was building to a drop that never came. Drum stuff was class
Although some songs were a little long, the beats that made my study session very enjoyable. Won’t be asking for any of them to be played at my funeral though.
I enjoyed this. Early trip hop? Will listen again. I’m in a good mood so went generous with the rating.
Thought this album was solid. Reminded me of Massive Attack and Morcheeba, a little repetitive at some point but very moody 7/10
Some unexpected boppage 🕺
Pretty cool. I was kind of listening while I did other stuff, but some beats definitely stood out to me. I'm not the biggest fan of pure instrumental hip hop beats like this but it was nice background music.
The holy scripture of sample-based music. The album that walks out of the shadows wearing a hoodie and carrying 40 years of vinyl dust. Rating: 5/5 Short Review: A hypnotic, cinematic, fully-realized world built entirely out of other people’s sounds — yet somehow more original than 99% of music made with actual instruments. It’s moody, sprawling, echoey, surreal. Listening to it feels like wandering through an abandoned record store at midnight while your memories rearrange themselves. Favorite Track: Building Steam With a Grain of Salt — delicate, haunting, melancholy, and quietly explosive. It’s the whole album’s soul in one track.
Belongs on this list due to the uniqueness of the whole thing, but not my cup of tea for normal listening.
A pleasant surprise. Relaxing vibe to work to and feels ahead of its time.
Pretty fun, dug this
no
hell yeah
wicka wicka wicka
This album is amazing. Plenty of people had done songs exclusively using sampling, but this is the first completely cohesive album using 100% sampling, with every single sound pulled from vinyl. Not only that it sounds great and has all the same features traditional albums do emotional narratives, tension and release. It's mind blowing.
There were a few decent songs, the rest were background music. Nice enough I guess
good
A surprise hit. Not really my style of music but I enjoyed every song on your album.
2.5 Atmospheric moody industrial hip hop beats, sometimes shifts into techno. Not really my style and I’ll admit I’m a little jaded from half of my class in high school digital video film making using songs from this in their emo video poems. I dig the clean production value, and some of the tracks are catchy but I don’t gravitate to this music
Great, I'll be listening to this again.
I'm hot and cold on this album. It's probably between a 3 and 4, but today I'm feeling more negative.
Love DJ Shadow and this record working with James Lavelle was ground breaking in my opinion. They would later go and work together on the UNKLE first release, which also was an amazing record.
This was fine, didn't offend my ears, but didn't really excite me either.
Pretty decent electonic album
Sampling is a form of art, like collage: it's just a tool after all, and like every tool if you don't know how to use it it's completely useless. This is an amazing album in its semplicity, a wonderful first listen that for sure won't be the last.
For alle del. Ikke så verst.
Good background music. Strong 3?
I really enjoyed this. Some songs were pretty unique, far as an instrumental mixing album goes. I was feeling a four but realistically a 3.5 is more accurate. I’ll stick with the four though. This was fun
I fully respect the technical ability of the artist and how much ball knowledge you have to have to live this together, but there’s a part of me that was always thinking about how teenagers do this kind of stuff on TikTok every day. It was a decent listen and would be great for background music, it’s just not something I’m coming back to.
I really like the first half of this album. Cool beats that are super interesting and suck you in. The second half falls off. It devolves into random noises mashed together to see if "hey maybe this will work".
I could write almost forever (read: 15-20 pages) about this album, but there are many albums to write about so I'll try and be concise. Yes the album was made entirely with samples/sample manipulation and it's beautifully executed. But I'd like to add something more personal: There's music you like and can really relate to in one way or another, personal experience to something that connects to your metaphysical sense of reality and aspires you to act or change and/or hopefully improve yourself from it. Endtroducing(...) was the definitive album that made me want to become a musician. Then I looked into sampling laws and getting copyright approval, and went to buying a bunch of synthesizers instead as an alternative means to recreate the feelings and general soundscape Endtroducing provides. Fear, anxiety, wonder, chilled out, mellow, groove. There's a lot of emotions that run through the album and it never feels like it's out of place (IE: for 90s hip hop, the filler parts are working too). It's a transformative remix of humanity working as a reflection of 20th century art. With the horrific advent of "AI Music", this album will stand the test of time as one of the best testaments to the creativity of homo sapiens.
Endtrancing.
Was only able to listen to a few songs
I’ve under appreciated instrumental sampling for far too long. It’s impressive how a collage of samples can create something so unique and otherworldly. Listening to “Midnight in a Perfect World” during a late drive home from a show was definitely the right vibe. I see myself getting deep into this record for a while
Truly one of the best albums of the 90's (of all time?) and a record DJ Shadow is forever either trying to live up to or haunted by. It's gotta be weird when your debut is such a classic and clearly stands head and shoulders above the rest of your ouvre but what can you do... Myself, I got into this a bit later in college so 98-2000. Shadow was everywhere, he had just dropped Unkle's Psyence Fiction with Lavelle and his second album and it felt like he was the true king of West Coast hip hop production only to go full punk fuck you and peter out into niche sounds and uninspired beats on a steak that lasts until this day. He still rips it live though. But that late 90's era was pretty peak. Also bay area artists ftw Also nice to have an album worthy of this list for once in minute
General chill, funky vibe. Sounds like it’s playing in a natural wine bar in Brooklyn.
Absolute classic. Foundational record of electronic, sample-based music that enabled generations of beat-junkie producers to craft and release instrumental albums. And a bay area native to boot: he recorded most of this record with the help of fellow producer (and roomate) Dan The Automator at his studio the Glue Factory, a glorified basement under his parents' home somewhere out in the Sunset. Dan is a legend in his own right, and he continued to further-define a distinctive, alternative hip-hop influenced sound following Endtroducing that is all over this 1001 list (see Gorillaz, Dr. Octagon, Cronershop, and Primal Scream).
3.5
My mum passed away last week and I had 4 or 5 rubbish albums to get thru. Not really a fan of this genre, but this one just seemed to be what I needed and it helped put my soul at ease.
lots of great ideas but never quite sticks with me like it should
Really liked the las track, wasn’t massively won over throughout
80/100.
Very interesting after listening to it. It's one I've known about for years but have never actually listened. It's on lots of beat ever albums lists for a reason. It's worth a listen for sure
I really enjoyed this album. It's chill, lounge like vibe makes it a great listen. I get why people think this is boring or why it's compared to elevator / background music, but for me this style really hits me in the right way. It's calming but still engaging and honestly makes me long for grabbing this vinyl and curling up in front of a fire to enjoy it. I'm new to DJ shadow and Endtroducing just got me hooked!
Not my thing
3/5
I'm not super familiar with the dance/electronic genre. I had a mixed experience with this. Some tracks I wasn't not a fan of, others I was indifferent to, but often found them fading into the background. Overall I would say a well produced album that just isn't my cup of tea.