When Massive Attack released their debut album Blue Lines, they brought something different to the table, their album was one of the first to showcase the Trip-Hop genre (Although they are not fond of being called such) Whether Hip-Hop or Electronica (Or a fusion of both) it matters not. It’s still sounds amazing. What you get in the end is an amazing and fresh album.
Track List
“Safe From Harm”- The 3rd Single off of the album, a great opener to a great album. Sharla Nelson’s vocals are amazing here with the group’s rapping, and go perfectly together. The song is mostly about protecting what’s most valuable to oneself and how the world is full of harm.
“One Love”- This is actually not a single but it’s one of the more recognizable songs on the album. The vocals of Horace Andy are perfect with the electronic keyboard that plays throughout the song and the constant dub; it’s also probably one of the strangest love songs ever.
“Blue Lines”- One of the more Hip-Hop influenced songs, it’s another love song but its monotone beat and repetition don’t help it get anywhere.
“Be Thankful For What You Got”- If there was ever a perfect cover of a song, this would be it. A cover of William DeVaughn’s hit song. Massive Attack makes it an amazing cover without making it a carbon copy of the original and keeping it fresh with a Hip-Hop influence and Tony Bryan’s soulful vocals (My Personal favorite song off the album.)
“Five Man Army”- Defintely one of the standouts of the album, the constant use of dub is excellent and there’s also a faint reggae and soul influence. Horace Andy’s and Massive Attack’s vocals are top notch and go amazingly well together.
“Unfinished Sympathy”- 2nd Single off the album and probably the most well known songs on the album, this song received critical acclaim and was even named One of the best songs ever recorded. And boy they were right, from Sharla Nelson’s amazing vocals to the moving strings to the funky jams and hip-hop beats, this IS one of the greatest songs ever recorded.
Robert Del Naja has described the dark atmosphere within the group: "There was always this tension between control and collaboration. Always ... We were just trying to get the job finished ...Everything became thinner and smaller. All that warmth is being spun into a tiny little thread, then that thread just being cut."
“Daydreaming”- 1st Single off the album, and the most electronic song off the album. This is were the album starts to lean more towards a lush and Trip-Hop sound seen in Protection, the song also features some great vocals by Sharla Nelson, Tricky, and the main members of Massive Attack.
“Lately”- The Funkiest song on the album which features vocals from Sharla Nelson. Its obvious dance jam influence is what keeps this song alive. It actually reminded me a lot of “The Pointer Sisters”
“Hymn Of The Big Wheel”- The 4th and final single off the album. Probably one of the most moving songs off the album on the topic of the cycle of life. Featuring the vocals of Horace Andy this is probably one of the greatest endings to a great album.
In the end, Blue Lines was an epic album and an epic debut for Massive Attack.
No questions asked. This is Trip-Hop at its finest, which is why Protection would be met with such disappointment. No matter what genre of music you enjoy, everyone should take a look at Blue Lines.
4/5
Review by Nachos
