Has anyone heard this one yet?
Wasn’t really looking forward to it anyway, but I used to be a fan a long time ago (I saw them when they toured in '98) and I guess I was hoping for some sort of a spark to reignite my enthusiasm.
I’ve heard some samples and I must say it’s NOTHING like their ‘classic’ material. I guess ‘underwhelming’ would be an understatement in summarising what I’ve heard thus far.
Convince me otherwise?
Wasn’t aware it was out yet, or even on the internets. I’m not a huge fan of theirs, but I do what i’ve heard. I’ll have to check it out.
It’s not terribly good - but to be honest I’ve not had the chance to sit down and give it a proper listen. From what I can tell so far, the album starts off well but quickly spirals into banality. The last 15 minutes or so is particularly drab. The Damon Albarn (Blur) track is a real low point. Thought there was supposed to be a Mike Patton collab - which is partly the reason I bought it in the first place.
I quite liked their last album, even though it received quite a backlash from long time fans.
didnt like Heligoland at all. Blue Lines and Mezzanine - that’s the Massive Attack that i like.
Got one track free from it (can’t remember the title). Unspectacular would be a most befitting description.
Heard the new album and it didn’t really do much for me although it is much better than their last effort…it’s the Burial remix of their new album that’s dropping some point this year that I’m looking REALLY forward to!!! That is going to be amazing…Burial is also releasing his new one this year too!!
The first few Massive albums were great (although all their albums are quality)…I did prefere Massive with Smith & Mighty on production duties though.
Speaking of Smith & Mighty…their albums were a mile better than any of the Massive albums imo…much better production and songs.
If you haven’t heard any Smith & Mighty records and like Massive Attack, it’s ESSENTIAL you score yourself “Bass Is Maternal”, “Big World Small World” and “Life Is…”. Those are the only 3 albums Smith & Mighty released and they all kicked major friggin ass.
Smith & Mighty also released a DJ Kicks release which is a mix by them…that too kicks major ass!
Rob Smith is still releasing some amazing shit under the name RSD by the way…check his myspace and Smith & Mighty’s below…
http://www.myspace.com/dubrockers
http://www.myspace.com/smithandmighty
If you’re interested you can pick the Smith & Mighty albums up on cd from amazon sellers for very cheap…
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=smith+and+mighty
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=smith+%26+mighty
I like the sounds of these Smith and Mighty fellows. Will look into them…
I feel their last album was a bit underrated. I actually liked it a lot. A lot of people didn’t really rave about it, but I sort of liked the bleakness to it. Not overwhelmingly bleak, but it wasn’t the stuff cereal commercials are made of.
AVClub gave it a C+ and said it was unremarkable.
I like the sounds of these Smith and Mighty fellows. Will look into them…
Good call…Smith & Mighty rule.
Start with “Bass Is Maternal” then onto “Big World Small World” and “Life Is…”.
Pick up their DJ Kicks mix too as it’s awesome.
Agree with the majority here (and everywhere else).
There’s barely a vocalhook or catchy melody to be found anywhere. Each track just rambles on incoherantly without really reaching any sort of climax.
Jeez…and I thought Morrissey and The Cure had lost it.
Agree with the majority here (and everywhere else).
There’s barely a vocalhook or catchy melody to be found anywhere. Each track just rambles on incoherantly without really reaching any sort of climax.
Jeez…and I thought Morrissey and The Cure had lost it.
well in morrissey’s case it’d be different… but if the majority of the cure left and it just was like, not robert up there doing the cure it’d be similar i think… i mean most everybody that was good at the beginning in massive attack left.
kinda like if wu-tang was only like capadonna still releasing shit as the wu-tang clan.
but i wasn’t gonna fall for the new massive attack hype… everybody gets all blurry minded in memories of who they were and not who they are when a cd is coming, and like what we’re all experiencing now, reality hits
Bring back Paul Barker
It’s on the third play right now and I like it better with each listen. I like it pretty well and it’s great reading music.
I like it pretty well and it’s great reading music.
Oh man, speaking of that, the best reading music I’ve ever run into is Lead into Gold played at a low volume.
Late,
grmpysmrf
Bring back Paul Barker
Actually, putting trip hop beats over some Barker bass grooves isn’t such a bad idea.
Win to rev-skarekroe [:)]… that would be a seriously great combination
I dunno.
Maybe it’s just me, but I expect an act with the sort of history and integrity of the likes of Massive Attack, to come up with something a little more captivating than just good reading music.
There’s a great review (for once) on Pitchfork which sums up my feelings perfectly.
Good reading music…
I honestly can’t find any music to be good reading music. I always bloody analyse it, try and figure out the notes in my head, all the parts, etc. And being synaesthetic doesn’t help.
I only judge music by three things; if it makes me sing/hum along, move along or changes my mood. If it doesn’t do at least one, it can go and get fucked.
Good reading music…
I honestly can’t find any music to be good reading music. I always bloody analyse it, try and figure out the notes in my head, all the parts, etc. And being synaesthetic doesn’t help.
I only judge music by three things; if it makes me sing/hum along, move along or changes my mood. If it doesn’t do at least one, it can go and get fucked.
honestly it depends on what you’re reading. The flow of words on a has it’s own sense of timing and rythem. Similar to a conversation between two people. So if youhave on music that doesn’t really match up, it’ll be distracting. If I was to have to have music going it’d be low level ambient or classical usually. Unless i’m going through comic books and then really more contemporary music will work. But if i’m reading up on “occult” type things it’s just better to have my focus 100% at the task at hand. hehe imagine trying to read nitzche blasting merzbow or something. it just wouldn’t work.