The Bottom Line: One of the most amazing albums I've ever experienced, Blue Lines from Massive Attack both created and defines trip-hop. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
lambchops's Full Review: Blue Lines by Massive Attack
Trip-Hop as defined by music reference site allmusic.com is:
”Similar to (though largely vocal-less) American hip-hop in its use of sampled drum breaks, typically more experimental, and infused with a high index of ambient-leaning and apparently psychotropic atmospherics (hence "trip”)…”
The earliest experimentation in the genre that would become trip-hop came in the form of a Bristol, England-based trio of musical innovators. A band they created, Massive Attack debuted in 1991 with the Virgin release Blue Lines. Dark, brooding, and musically adept the album found support in clubs and critically. Commercially, the album was a bit too new and different to sell even close to its potential.
Massive Attack approached the American-born hip hop movement from an underground British perspective. The resulting formula can still be heard today (ten years later) in followers like Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, Morcheeba among other talented and often British acts. At the apparent heart of Massive Attack are three men, Robert del Naja, Grant Marshall, and Adrian Vowles. Also contributing vocals is Tricky (Adrian Thaws) who at that time was a relatively unknown performer with ties to the band’s earlier incarnation, the Wild Bunch.
Blue Lines really was unlike anything ever before. The music, aside from the obvious hip-hop foundation, was innovative and creative and wholly new. Massive Attack not only birthed trip-hop…they defined the entire subgenre of music. Few acts that have followed have been able to even come close to matching the perfection of Blue Lines. Some have indeed come close (Portishead and Morcheeba for a couple), but most have been shallow attempts to replicate the sonic atmosphere on Blue Lines.
Yes, Blue Lines is a masterpiece. It’s aged quite nicely since it’s release and it is very easy to see how any one of the songs could have been a hit. Low, urban, talented, catchy, and musically exquisite each listen provides further insight into the subtle nuances of the Massive Attack debut. The one thing that separates this album from many followers is that it’s distinctively urban and hip-hop. Later albums from both Massive Attack and various other acts are even lower, slower, and darker. Blue Lines manages at times to be shining and upbeat…a quality almost totally unheard of among today’s releases of this kind.
Since Blue Lines is a complete vision and each song draws on the former it’s pointless to speak directly about the content, musical importance, and lyrics of each song on an individual basis. This is an album, not a compilation. Massive Attack forgot about the rules, dropped their textbooks, and opened their collective heart to all things musical and creative. The zenith of their experimentation is certainly the brilliant Unfinished Sympathy.
Unfinished Sympathy may just be as important to the world of trip hop and electronica as Stairway To Heaven is to rock and roll. Multiple layers of vocals, synthesizers, strings, and piano set the song apart from the throbbing of the average electronica track. This is a fully composed modern symphony. Shara Nelson’s tender yet direct vocals are tremendously evocative. Unfinished Sympathy is perfection.
Each of the other eight tracks compliment Unfinished Sympathy. Beginning with the pounding, beating, pulsating rhythms of Safe From Harm, moving past through the distinctive nu soul of Be Thankful for What You Got, pausing to rap momentarily on Daydreaming and wrapping up with the atmospheric anthem Hymn of the Big Wheel this is an album to experience, own, and share. I can’t say anything bad about Blue Lines.
So there you have it. Massive Attack jumped in with both feet and gave the world a perfect album with 1991’s Blue Lines. It’s most certainly appealing to hip-hop, trip-hop, Brit pop, rock, and pop fans alike. There are so many wonderful elements, at least a few of which will speak to the hearts, bodies, and minds of every listener. I can’t help but to recommend this album to all music fans. I also can’t help but to bestow the honor of 5 stars and rank it among the top few albums in my rather large collection.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Track Listing:
1. Safe from Harm
2. One Love
3. Blue Lines
4. Be Thankful for What You Got
5. Five Man Army
6. Unfinished Sympathy
7. Daydreaming
8. Lately
9. Hymn of the Big Wheel
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Since the overwhelmingly positive reception of Blue Lines, Massive Attack continues to make music. Their style changes a bit with every release but at the core of their music, trip-hop still reigns supreme. Other albums are Protection [1994] and Mezzanine [1998]. There are other remix albums and EP’s also available although none has been able to equal Blue Lines
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