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Massive Attack - Blue Lines Audio CD

A fair review of the Massive Attack "Blue Lines" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Massive Attack reviews here, or go back to the Massive Attack tabs.

Massive Attack Band: Massive Attack
Title: Blue Lines
Rating:
Release Date: 1992-06-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 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

An acquired taste, if you're not interested in the history of it.
When Blue Lines came out, Massive Attack was trying to combine the approach of a dub sound system with American hip-hop, a far cry from the plodding, rock-informed downtempo anthems that now populate trip hop bins. Blue Lines may certainly throw off an unsuspected listener more accustomed to Mezzanine and the innumerable imitators that have sprung up since the inception of "trip hop" in the early 90s. Rather than the dense atmospheres, glacial beats, and breathy vocals that now typify the genre, they were taking cues from old-school hip-hop when it came to sampling and programming, and using bare bones tracks to support lengthy MC verses and melodic turns by soul and R&B singers. It's a distinctly more home-brewed and urban affair than what followed.

I mention all of this because this is what makes this album so noteworthy - these are the elements out of which everything else arose. Blue Lines is one of the rare places you can find it all exposed in such a raw form. It's jarring at first, if you're more familiar with their later releases, as there isn't much in the way of studio glaze or ear candy, and the limited electronics they are using sound instantly dated. All this is a testament to the innovation that was going on however; all the spontaneity and experimentation captured on tape. When I listen to Blue Lines I feel like I'm in Del Naja's living room or something, watching them make this stuff up as they go, puffing blunts and improvising over a loop playing off a sampler. Some of the songs may not be that catchy or even easy to listen to, but they represent an extremely compelling time capsule of electronic music. As I've said in a few others reviews, the unrestrained, pioneering attitude of 90's electronic music is also always refreshing, and nowhere is it more fully embodied than on this album.

If you are hopelessly attached to the Massive Attack that produced "Teardrop", go ahead and get a hold of Safe from Harm and Unfinished Sympathy, and you're probably all set. On the other hand, songs like "Be Thankful for What You've Got" are sure to send many a stylistically-sensitive music fan for the hills, its spare beats and slightly off-kilter vocal delivery leaving little for one accustomed to polished, expansive productions. Put your genre prejudices aside however, and you will be singing along just like everyone else.


Amazon is f**** kidding me!

I bought Madonna's Give it 2 me single, Massive Attack - Blue Lines and Depeche Mode's Speak and Spell and all of them arrived with broken cases, I had to replace the cases for new ones. I have written a review complaining about the Free Shipping in the US (broken cd cases, torn covers), but actually there seems to be a problem with PAID INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING too.
Just to mention what I said in the other review: bought a box set and 3 CDs from HMV Japan and they arrived in more than perfect condition in Brazil, faster than Amazon!
I tried to buy from Amazon Japan, but guess what? The Fedex shipment is pretty bad as the parcel ALWAYS gets stuck in Customs and you have this long list of taxes that almost exceed the price of the product!
The Amazon shipment service (national and international) is a joke!!
5 stars for the CD tho. A very nice kick start effort by Massive Attack. .


Highly recommended
My personal favorites on the album have to be Daydreaming and One Love. If you are looking for a great cd to listen to than look no further than Massive Attack's "Blue Lines". This CD is a must have for any true fan. .


Whoa!
Being released in 1991 makes it even cooler, but aside from the ahead of it's time bull_______ (influence had no impact on me whatsoever when deciding to get this), it's an awesome record on it's own. Trip-Hop is basically hip-hop with a bit more substance than your average gangster record (those actually do have substance as well), and way more musical merit than any _________ rap artist out there today. THe music is just so sublime. Trippy beats, deep basslines, samples of pianos, strings, effects, paired with dark urban raps, with soulful vocals that soar through the air. Can't argue with that.

The songs on here have the urban vibe that I alwayas mention, but it is very _________ difficult to explain in words. No worries, the music is great anywhere, Blue Line really comes out in the downtown rain. IT's also great music that serves as great chilling music. Don't even treat this as backround music, this may be one of the most enganging albums to actually LISTEN to I have come across this year. I've listened to quite the many perfect classic albums this year.

This album is always changing, always keeping your interest. From Safe From Harm, Five Man Army, the masterful Unfinished Symphony, and the coolest of them all, Daydreaming, every song on here rocks. Definitly a perfect album. Not a minute wasted. I prefer it over Entroducing. . . by DJ Shadow. That album also is another great album from beggining to end. Electronic music really does have soul. Way more emotion than Nirvana ever will have.

10/10.


trip the hop fantastic


many have tried and failed at creating music this good. massive attack's 'blue lines' is a classic example of melding deep bass lines, great percussion tracks, fabulous vocals by tricky and shara nelson and inventive samples into the music phenom known as trip hop. this is the kind of sound that can sit in the background or take center stage at any event. and its inventiveness is matched only by its timelessness. this cd sounds as good now as it did 15+ years ago.


You can see a complete list of all Massive Attack discography, or go back to the Massive Attack tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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