The best album of the 90's - Blue Lines vs What's the Story Morning Glory

[Bullet]

I've never listened to Blue Lines so am giving it a go. Not having a pop, just interested

0:00 - Safe From Harm - classic single, good song
5:18 - One Love - embarrassing drivel, soulless soul, who is singing this, my grandad?
10:07 - Blue Lines - forgettable nothing
14:29 - Be Thankful For What You've Got - f*cking bongos on this. Jesus. Very mild musak.
18:39 - Five Man Army - oh this is the dude with the deep voice. Wasn't he in Faithless? Fair enough song.
24:43 - Unfinished Sympathy - classic single, good song
29:51 - Daydreaming - decent
34:06 - Lately - ok
38:33 - Hymn Of The Big Wheel - big finish, goes on for about a year

 

[Mulletperm]

I think it's very difficult listening to an album like Blue Lines now for the first time. At it's time it fit the mood perfectly.

 

[Rorschach]

I think it's very difficult listening to an album like Blue Lines now for the first time. At it's time it fit the mood perfectly.

Yep it was certainly an album of it's time.

When you hear an album like Blue Lines now (for the first time) I can understand folks thinking "well what's the fuss?". And that's a valid opinion on the face of it, but it's lacking a little context IMO. What you have to consider is that Massive Attack were effectively in the process of creating a style. They were drawing on influences sure, but this was more than a little different than what went before. Who can really say if anything is truly unique in the music industry but this downbeat introspective hip hop vibe was not really heard before. Layering female vocals on top was just the icing on the cake.

There are some tracks on this album which will be played forever, but even the less known tracks contribute to the whole. Musically I don't think it is their best album but it is the original of the species.