The group who single-handedly created the woozy, sexual, cinematic, and meditative dance genre known as trip-hop with their 1991 masterpiece Blue Lines later went on to craft gorgeous soundtrack music and generally emerge as one of the most forward-thinking, fastidious, and s-l-o-w production teams in pop music. Collected, a best-of compilation straddling the group's career, is the kind of record that reeks "contractual obligation," but that's not meant as a diss. If a kick-ass collection like this is what it takes for this heady group to keep the record execs happy while they slowly hone a new album, so be it. Much of the older tunes sound remarkably contemporary, which isn't surprising when you consider Massive Attack have always mixed styles in radical, new ways. The one new tune included to entice die-hard fans, the slowly percolating and deeply bluesy "Live With Me," is what soul music will sound like in the future. --Mike McGonigal

Live with me, 16 Feb 2008
I haven't heard the whole album but I just want to say that Live with Me with Terry Callier is the sexiest record EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It even beats Night Nurse by Gregory Issacs and that's saying something!

Simply the best!, 19 Jan 2007
I was given this CD as a birthday present. I had never heard any Massive Attack before and I loved it as soon as I played it. As a result, I've bought nearly all their other albums. Each track is a winner. I challenge anyone to not find something on this CD which they like!

An excellent 'Best of' album, 09 Nov 2006
This is an excellent 'Best of' album. I must admit that Massive Attack largely passed me by when this stuff was first out. Probably my age!! I got into listening to them when I heard 'Mezzanine'. However listening to this compilation demonstrates how inventive they were. The idea of bringing guest singers in for so many of the tracks was a definite plus as it adds variety. The music is smooth all the way through. Some of it is beautiful but always dark-tinged.

Stand out tracks are 'Angel', 'Teardrop', 'Safe from Harm' and 'Unfinished Sympathy'. I would say that the better tracks are those that have female vocals but the music all round is very good. A great introduction to Massive Attack, but you should also buy 'Mezzanine' if you haven't got it.

Good buy.

Massivily Attacking The Airwaves, 13 May 2006
Now normally i'm not really one to buy greatest hits albums but with this one i just couldn't resist.Massive Attack that helped (along with Portishead and Tricky)define the poignant trip-hop genre that was popular throughout the 90's this is a great run down of what Massive Attack are about and if your new to them this album is essential.

1.Safe From Harm - Taken from their debut 'Blue Lines' and features some great vocal stylings of Shara Nelson this is one of the highlights and one of my favourite songs overall 10/10

2.Karmacoma - This is one of the only songs im not crazy about the vocalist just seems to babble about..well nothing really it's one of the on duds on her 4/10

3.Angel - This is an interesting song it features the legendary roots reggae singer Horace Andy and the song is a rehash of his own song "You Are My Angel" its one of the most sexiest...yes this song is very sexy to me anyway and Horace Andy's vocals are fantastic this sounds great through headphones 10/10

4.Teardrop - My absolute favourite and i'm not alone here this song was not only Massive Attack's biggest hit but its the song that made them a mainstream success with the so-beautiful-it-hurts vocals by the former Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser this is also a very sexy song it was accompanied by a very artist and ahead of its time video which till this day still leaves me gobsmacked everytime i see it this also stands as one of my favourite songs of all time 10/10

5.Inernia Creeps - A cool song with a eastern influence one of the most original songs on the CD i would say. Again the same vocalist from track 2 but this time it works and turns out to be a satisfactory song it has a very good build up 10/10

6.Protection - Taken from the album of the same name this song as guest vocals from Tracy Thorn who sang in the group Everything But The Girl this song is the longest clocking over 7 minutes its a great song and Tracy's voice is just mesmerising i played this song alot and for some reason it reminded me of Beth Orton a definate highlight 10/10

7.Butterfly Caught - The song is taken from the low-key album "100th Window" (which is great by the way) a very electronic song that honestly doesnt really do anything for me it's ok to listen to once in a while but i wouldn't say it was great the minimalistic vocals are quite good and is a song that stands out but it's a bit too dancey for me 7/10

8.Unfinished Sympathy - What can i say about this song that hasn't been said already its a musical masterpiece after being said in various music polls as the best song of all time i think there is some truth there it features vocals by Shara Nelson who sang on "Safe From Harm".This is one of those ultimate "ive been done wrong" songs this is also one of my favourite songs of all time and one of the best on the album 10/10

9.Risingson - I remember catching the video to this song a long time ago and thinking "what the hell" i used to think this song was terrible but it's actually not that bad it's got a catchy vibe but again not exactly the best song but a joy to listen to once in a while 8/10

10.What Your Soul Sings - One of the best songs from "100th Window" Sinéad O'Connor lends her ethereal vocals to this great song which stands as another favourite of mine though usually quite eccentric Sinéad gives a very Beth Gibbons performance here and it shines a wonderfully beautiful song 10/10

11.Future Proof - A spacey electronica song which some cool guitars the song itself is a bit of a miss to be honest but it's not really bad at all the vocalist deep brooding voice gives it a good atmospheric feel and perceives itself quite dark 7/10

12.Five Man Army - Again with some great vocal stylings from Horace Andy although the rap by Tricky is a bit rubbish the song is cool just coz Horace Andy is on it and the song has a strong reggae influence enjoyed this one alot 9/10

13.Sly - Is a great song that features a somewhat unknown singer Nicolette her voice sounds a bit like Billie Holliday with some Erykah Badu in there somewhere this is a great song i like the panpipes in the background and the bouncy bassline good song 10/10

14.Live With Me - Is the only new song which i wasnt really impressed with when i heard it on the radio even though it performed quite well on the charts (charting at #17) the greatest thing about this song is Terry Callier's voice after hearing his music as a child it was good to hear something fresh from him 10/10

Top 5
1.Teardrop
2.Unfinished Sympathy
3.Safe From Harm
4.Live With Me
5.What My Soul Sings

You know how great Massive Attack are even though some of the tracks are not as good as others it's a good idea to check this one out.

Genius, 27 Apr 2006
Words fail me beyond to say that I have all the albums and brought this for the videos on the DVD. Pure musical genius and one the of the nest groups on the UK music scene - I look forward to more

The collaboration of studio whiz Geoff Barrow and singer Beth Gibbons, Dummy was made at the same time as a short film noir called To Kill a Dead Man, and the same approach--gloomy, tormented, and wildly melodramatic--permeates the album. "Sour Times" (the hit in which Gibbons cries, again and again, "Nobody loves me, it's true") and the more cryptic "Glory Box" are the linchpins of the album, defining its sound: dark flashes of old soul and film music, dehumanised electronic bleeps, Gibbons emoting like she's consumed by shame, and a bass-and-beat pulse derived from the slow bump and grind of the Bristol scene that spawned Barrow's old collaborators, Massive Attack. --Douglas Wolk

Live with me, 16 Feb 2008
I haven't heard the whole album but I just want to say that Live with Me with Terry Callier is the sexiest record EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It even beats Night Nurse by Gregory Issacs and that's saying something!

Simply the best!, 19 Jan 2007
I was given this CD as a birthday present. I had never heard any Massive Attack before and I loved it as soon as I played it. As a result, I've bought nearly all their other albums. Each track is a winner. I challenge anyone to not find something on this CD which they like!

An excellent 'Best of' album, 09 Nov 2006
This is an excellent 'Best of' album. I must admit that Massive Attack largely passed me by when this stuff was first out. Probably my age!! I got into listening to them when I heard 'Mezzanine'. However listening to this compilation demonstrates how inventive they were. The idea of bringing guest singers in for so many of the tracks was a definite plus as it adds variety. The music is smooth all the way through. Some of it is beautiful but always dark-tinged.

Stand out tracks are 'Angel', 'Teardrop', 'Safe from Harm' and 'Unfinished Sympathy'. I would say that the better tracks are those that have female vocals but the music all round is very good. A great introduction to Massive Attack, but you should also buy 'Mezzanine' if you haven't got it.

Good buy.

Massivily Attacking The Airwaves, 13 May 2006
Now normally i'm not really one to buy greatest hits albums but with this one i just couldn't resist.Massive Attack that helped (along with Portishead and Tricky)define the poignant trip-hop genre that was popular throughout the 90's this is a great run down of what Massive Attack are about and if your new to them this album is essential.

1.Safe From Harm - Taken from their debut 'Blue Lines' and features some great vocal stylings of Shara Nelson this is one of the highlights and one of my favourite songs overall 10/10

2.Karmacoma - This is one of the only songs im not crazy about the vocalist just seems to babble about..well nothing really it's one of the on duds on her 4/10

3.Angel - This is an interesting song it features the legendary roots reggae singer Horace Andy and the song is a rehash of his own song "You Are My Angel" its one of the most sexiest...yes this song is very sexy to me anyway and Horace Andy's vocals are fantastic this sounds great through headphones 10/10

4.Teardrop - My absolute favourite and i'm not alone here this song was not only Massive Attack's biggest hit but its the song that made them a mainstream success with the so-beautiful-it-hurts vocals by the former Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser this is also a very sexy song it was accompanied by a very artist and ahead of its time video which till this day still leaves me gobsmacked everytime i see it this also stands as one of my favourite songs of all time 10/10

5.Inernia Creeps - A cool song with a eastern influence one of the most original songs on the CD i would say. Again the same vocalist from track 2 but this time it works and turns out to be a satisfactory song it has a very good build up 10/10

6.Protection - Taken from the album of the same name this song as guest vocals from Tracy Thorn who sang in the group Everything But The Girl this song is the longest clocking over 7 minutes its a great song and Tracy's voice is just mesmerising i played this song alot and for some reason it reminded me of Beth Orton a definate highlight 10/10

7.Butterfly Caught - The song is taken from the low-key album "100th Window" (which is great by the way) a very electronic song that honestly doesnt really do anything for me it's ok to listen to once in a while but i wouldn't say it was great the minimalistic vocals are quite good and is a song that stands out but it's a bit too dancey for me 7/10

8.Unfinished Sympathy - What can i say about this song that hasn't been said already its a musical masterpiece after being said in various music polls as the best song of all time i think there is some truth there it features vocals by Shara Nelson who sang on "Safe From Harm".This is one of those ultimate "ive been done wrong" songs this is also one of my favourite songs of all time and one of the best on the album 10/10

9.Risingson - I remember catching the video to this song a long time ago and thinking "what the hell" i used to think this song was terrible but it's actually not that bad it's got a catchy vibe but again not exactly the best song but a joy to listen to once in a while 8/10

10.What Your Soul Sings - One of the best songs from "100th Window" Sinéad O'Connor lends her ethereal vocals to this great song which stands as another favourite of mine though usually quite eccentric Sinéad gives a very Beth Gibbons performance here and it shines a wonderfully beautiful song 10/10

11.Future Proof - A spacey electronica song which some cool guitars the song itself is a bit of a miss to be honest but it's not really bad at all the vocalist deep brooding voice gives it a good atmospheric feel and perceives itself quite dark 7/10

12.Five Man Army - Again with some great vocal stylings from Horace Andy although the rap by Tricky is a bit rubbish the song is cool just coz Horace Andy is on it and the song has a strong reggae influence enjoyed this one alot 9/10

13.Sly - Is a great song that features a somewhat unknown singer Nicolette her voice sounds a bit like Billie Holliday with some Erykah Badu in there somewhere this is a great song i like the panpipes in the background and the bouncy bassline good song 10/10

14.Live With Me - Is the only new song which i wasnt really impressed with when i heard it on the radio even though it performed quite well on the charts (charting at #17) the greatest thing about this song is Terry Callier's voice after hearing his music as a child it was good to hear something fresh from him 10/10

Top 5
1.Teardrop
2.Unfinished Sympathy
3.Safe From Harm
4.Live With Me
5.What My Soul Sings

You know how great Massive Attack are even though some of the tracks are not as good as others it's a good idea to check this one out.

Genius, 27 Apr 2006
Words fail me beyond to say that I have all the albums and brought this for the videos on the DVD. Pure musical genius and one the of the nest groups on the UK music scene - I look forward to more

Call me a dummy but....., 13 Oct 2008
I've heard this record for the first time today,(been on another planet!) and the first thing that struck me about it was how the vocal is so similar to my favourite female singer, the little known (in this country}, HEATHER NOVA. I'm not a fan of much electronic music, and I was particularly irritated by the 'vinyl scratching' that appears in several of the songs, however mainly because of the vocal and the songs that don't involve the scratch I know i'm going to really like this album. If you dont know HEATHER NOVA, do me (and yourself)a favour and go have a listen. If you love Beth Gibbons vocal with 'trip hop' music, you will be blown away by HEATHER NOVA with a live band. I suggest 'oyster' as the first album to try, or 'storm' if you prefer a more mellow sound.

Style Over Substance, 09 Oct 2008
The reference points are obvious: King Tubby, Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack and film noir soundtracks. Back in the '90s Portishead were unfathomably cool and fashionable, and did much to popularise trip-hop. Portishead repackaged soul and jazz music, and sold it to critics who had no real interest in those genres. Tellingly, the album received the prestigious Mercury Music prize in 1995, confirming its status among indie rock critics as that years' most highly regarded novelty record.

For all of Portishead's apparent cynicism, it would be easy to overlook if not for their irritatingly pretentious singer. Beth Gibbons is no Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, nor does her singing stand up to comparisons with Liz Fraser or Shara Nelson. She has a frail, wispy voice a fact which is not disguised by her ridiculous affected singing style. Gibbons makes the mistake of confusing unrelenting bleakness with emotional depth and Portishead's music only seems even more shallow as a result.

As it stands Dummy is a textured, well produced album so to give it a one star rating would be churlish. However, it's also a shallow, over-stylised album which has dated badly. The slo-mo hip hop beats and film noir pastiches that defined Portishead's sound became embarrassing clichés remarkably quickly. Indeed it was only the novelty of hearing two such disparate styles juxtaposed that made the album stand out at the time. In a word: forgettable.

90's Trip hop at it's best, 25 Sep 2008
I had heard the name 'Portishead' floating around electronica forums on the net but had never acted on the actions of other people's critic of their music. However, I came onto amazon and found a nearly all 5 star review from all the reviews so I just had to buy as a vivid fan on trip hop style music.
From first glance, you can hear how much Massive Attach have been influenced by this gritty, smooth jazzy 90's trip hop feel, it feels like a 45 minute drug that intises you into a olbivion of funk and future feel.
Trip hop has never really sounded so innovative and fresh even in the new millenium. The more recent trip hop artists like tycho and bonobo take on more of an electronica influence on trip hop, and as much as I feel that style, this laid back jazzy, guitar influenced style really hits top marks.
The lyrical use is no exception, Again zero 7 taking major influences from the vocal use in the slow trip hop beat.
A stand out track for me is 9, it's sublime feel, or crackling beats and small samples that make you feel pretty much amazing, the use of builds etc. These are all prime examples of exquisite trip hop/down tempo bliss.

You can kinda imagine listening to this when travelling through London on a rainy, dingy night - watching the crime and drugs, it's a beautiful sensation but with a grimey undertone.
As a huge fan of everything electronica, this is a fantastic representation of what trip hop IS and should BE.
I however, feel that people would also enjoy this if they just like to sit back and enjoy the small things in life in music.
I can pretty much see this album being a huge influence on me and my musical desire.
Hugely recommended.

Simply brilliant, 21 Jul 2008
Hmmm, how does one sum up this album in just a few words? Dark, mysterious, melodic, industrial, melancholic, desolate - any or all of these apply. Others have already waxed lyrical about the 'feel' of the album, but I think you really have to listen to it - all of it. Maybe even a few times, as it took a few listens for me to really 'get it'.
As soon as I did 'get it' I totally loved it, and it remains one of the most frequently played albums in my collection even after nearly 15 years.
Never bettered or even equalled by Portishead since in my opinion.

Hauntingly beautiful album-I urge you to buy it!, 14 Jul 2008
This album is absolutely brilliant. Vocally, it is pure genius, and musically it is perfectly timed. I have just bought this album, as a replacement for the one I lost in my mispent teenage times! It`s jst as great as I remember it being (unlike many of my music purchases of the 90`s)

The critical and commercial triumphs of Portishead, Tricky and Roni Size have established Bristol as a centre of slow-burning creativity, but it was the staggering impact Massive Attack made with their debut album which first put the West Country town on the musical map and made reluctant superstars of Mushroom, 3-D and Daddy G. Blue Lines provided a blueprint for the sound which would become known as trip-hop, combining the raw soundsystem vibe of the Wild Bunch parties with immaculate production and the distinguished vocal talents of Tricky, Shara Nelson and Horace Andy. From the understated beats and deftly-arranged ensemble rapping of the title track to the smokey paranoia of "Five Man Army" and the unrepeatable melancholic splendour of "Unfinished Sympathy", the album is a modern classic through and through. It won the Mercury Music Prize in 1992 and remains the finest work of a frighteningly talented group. --Ed Potton

Live with me, 16 Feb 2008
I haven't heard the whole album but I just want to say that Live with Me with Terry Callier is the sexiest record EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It even beats Night Nurse by Gregory Issacs and that's saying something!

Simply the best!, 19 Jan 2007
I was given this CD as a birthday present. I had never heard any Massive Attack before and I loved it as soon as I played it. As a result, I've bought nearly all their other albums. Each track is a winner. I challenge anyone to not find something on this CD which they like!

An excellent 'Best of' album, 09 Nov 2006
This is an excellent 'Best of' album. I must admit that Massive Attack largely passed me by when this stuff was first out. Probably my age!! I got into listening to them when I heard 'Mezzanine'. However listening to this compilation demonstrates how inventive they were. The idea of bringing guest singers in for so many of the tracks was a definite plus as it adds variety. The music is smooth all the way through. Some of it is beautiful but always dark-tinged.

Stand out tracks are 'Angel', 'Teardrop', 'Safe from Harm' and 'Unfinished Sympathy'. I would say that the better tracks are those that have female vocals but the music all round is very good. A great introduction to Massive Attack, but you should also buy 'Mezzanine' if you haven't got it.

Good buy.

Massivily Attacking The Airwaves, 13 May 2006
Now normally i'm not really one to buy greatest hits albums but with this one i just couldn't resist.Massive Attack that helped (along with Portishead and Tricky)define the poignant trip-hop genre that was popular throughout the 90's this is a great run down of what Massive Attack are about and if your new to them this album is essential.

1.Safe From Harm - Taken from their debut 'Blue Lines' and features some great vocal stylings of Shara Nelson this is one of the highlights and one of my favourite songs overall 10/10

2.Karmacoma - This is one of the only songs im not crazy about the vocalist just seems to babble about..well nothing really it's one of the on duds on her 4/10

3.Angel - This is an interesting song it features the legendary roots reggae singer Horace Andy and the song is a rehash of his own song "You Are My Angel" its one of the most sexiest...yes this song is very sexy to me anyway and Horace Andy's vocals are fantastic this sounds great through headphones 10/10

4.Teardrop - My absolute favourite and i'm not alone here this song was not only Massive Attack's biggest hit but its the song that made them a mainstream success with the so-beautiful-it-hurts vocals by the former Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser this is also a very sexy song it was accompanied by a very artist and ahead of its time video which till this day still leaves me gobsmacked everytime i see it this also stands as one of my favourite songs of all time 10/10

5.Inernia Creeps - A cool song with a eastern influence one of the most original songs on the CD i would say. Again the same vocalist from track 2 but this time it works and turns out to be a satisfactory song it has a very good build up 10/10

6.Protection - Taken from the album of the same name this song as guest vocals from Tracy Thorn who sang in the group Everything But The Girl this song is the longest clocking over 7 minutes its a great song and Tracy's voice is just mesmerising i played this song alot and for some reason it reminded me of Beth Orton a definate highlight 10/10

7.Butterfly Caught - The song is taken from the low-key album "100th Window" (which is great by the way) a very electronic song that honestly doesnt really do anything for me it's ok to listen to once in a while but i wouldn't say it was great the minimalistic vocals are quite good and is a song that stands out but it's a bit too dancey for me 7/10

8.Unfinished Sympathy - What can i say about this song that hasn't been said already its a musical masterpiece after being said in various music polls as the best song of all time i think there is some truth there it features vocals by Shara Nelson who sang on "Safe From Harm".This is one of those ultimate "ive been done wrong" songs this is also one of my favourite songs of all time and one of the best on the album 10/10

9.Risingson - I remember catching the video to this song a long time ago and thinking "what the hell" i used to think this song was terrible but it's actually not that bad it's got a catchy vibe but again not exactly the best song but a joy to listen to once in a while 8/10

10.What Your Soul Sings - One of the best songs from "100th Window" Sinéad O'Connor lends her ethereal vocals to this great song which stands as another favourite of mine though usually quite eccentric Sinéad gives a very Beth Gibbons performance here and it shines a wonderfully beautiful song 10/10

11.Future Proof - A spacey electronica song which some cool guitars the song itself is a bit of a miss to be honest but it's not really bad at all the vocalist deep brooding voice gives it a good atmospheric feel and perceives itself quite dark 7/10

12.Five Man Army - Again with some great vocal stylings from Horace Andy although the rap by Tricky is a bit rubbish the song is cool just coz Horace Andy is on it and the song has a strong reggae influence enjoyed this one alot 9/10

13.Sly - Is a great song that features a somewhat unknown singer Nicolette her voice sounds a bit like Billie Holliday with some Erykah Badu in there somewhere this is a great song i like the panpipes in the background and the bouncy bassline good song 10/10

14.Live With Me - Is the only new song which i wasnt really impressed with when i heard it on the radio even though it performed quite well on the charts (charting at #17) the greatest thing about this song is Terry Callier's voice after hearing his music as a child it was good to hear something fresh from him 10/10

Top 5
1.Teardrop
2.Unfinished Sympathy
3.Safe From Harm
4.Live With Me
5.What My Soul Sings

You know how great Massive Attack are even though some of the tracks are not as good as others it's a good idea to check this one out.

Genius, 27 Apr 2006
Words fail me beyond to say that I have all the albums and brought this for the videos on the DVD. Pure musical genius and one the of the nest groups on the UK music scene - I look forward to more

Call me a dummy but....., 13 Oct 2008
I've heard this record for the first time today,(been on another planet!) and the first thing that struck me about it was how the vocal is so similar to my favourite female singer, the little known (in this country}, HEATHER NOVA. I'm not a fan of much electronic music, and I was particularly irritated by the 'vinyl scratching' that appears in several of the songs, however mainly because of the vocal and the songs that don't involve the scratch I know i'm going to really like this album. If you dont know HEATHER NOVA, do me (and yourself)a favour and go have a listen. If you love Beth Gibbons vocal with 'trip hop' music, you will be blown away by HEATHER NOVA with a live band. I suggest 'oyster' as the first album to try, or 'storm' if you prefer a more mellow sound.

Style Over Substance, 09 Oct 2008
The reference points are obvious: King Tubby, Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack and film noir soundtracks. Back in the '90s Portishead were unfathomably cool and fashionable, and did much to popularise trip-hop. Portishead repackaged soul and jazz music, and sold it to critics who had no real interest in those genres. Tellingly, the album received the prestigious Mercury Music prize in 1995, confirming its status among indie rock critics as that years' most highly regarded novelty record.

For all of Portishead's apparent cynicism, it would be easy to overlook if not for their irritatingly pretentious singer. Beth Gibbons is no Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, nor does her singing stand up to comparisons with Liz Fraser or Shara Nelson. She has a frail, wispy voice a fact which is not disguised by her ridiculous affected singing style. Gibbons makes the mistake of confusing unrelenting bleakness with emotional depth and Portishead's music only seems even more shallow as a result.

As it stands Dummy is a textured, well produced album so to give it a one star rating would be churlish. However, it's also a shallow, over-stylised album which has dated badly. The slo-mo hip hop beats and film noir pastiches that defined Portishead's sound became embarrassing clichés remarkably quickly. Indeed it was only the novelty of hearing two such disparate styles juxtaposed that made the album stand out at the time. In a word: forgettable.

90's Trip hop at it's best, 25 Sep 2008
I had heard the name 'Portishead' floating around electronica forums on the net but had never acted on the actions of other people's critic of their music. However, I came onto amazon and found a nearly all 5 star review from all the reviews so I just had to buy as a vivid fan on trip hop style music.
From first glance, you can hear how much Massive Attach have been influenced by this gritty, smooth jazzy 90's trip hop feel, it feels like a 45 minute drug that intises you into a olbivion of funk and future feel.
Trip hop has never really sounded so innovative and fresh even in the new millenium. The more recent trip hop artists like tycho and bonobo take on more of an electronica influence on trip hop, and as much as I feel that style, this laid back jazzy, guitar influenced style really hits top marks.
The lyrical use is no exception, Again zero 7 taking major influences from the vocal use in the slow trip hop beat.
A stand out track for me is 9, it's sublime feel, or crackling beats and small samples that make you feel pretty much amazing, the use of builds etc. These are all prime examples of exquisite trip hop/down tempo bliss.

You can kinda imagine listening to this when travelling through London on a rainy, dingy night - watching the crime and drugs, it's a beautiful sensation but with a grimey undertone.
As a huge fan of everything electronica, this is a fantastic representation of what trip hop IS and should BE.
I however, feel that people would also enjoy this if they just like to sit back and enjoy the small things in life in music.
I can pretty much see this album being a huge influence on me and my musical desire.
Hugely recommended.

Simply brilliant, 21 Jul 2008
Hmmm, how does one sum up this album in just a few words? Dark, mysterious, melodic, industrial, melancholic, desolate - any or all of these apply. Others have already waxed lyrical about the 'feel' of the album, but I think you really have to listen to it - all of it. Maybe even a few times, as it took a few listens for me to really 'get it'.
As soon as I did 'get it' I totally loved it, and it remains one of the most frequently played albums in my collection even after nearly 15 years.
Never bettered or even equalled by Portishead since in my opinion.

Hauntingly beautiful album-I urge you to buy it!, 14 Jul 2008
This album is absolutely brilliant. Vocally, it is pure genius, and musically it is perfectly timed. I have just bought this album, as a replacement for the one I lost in my mispent teenage times! It`s jst as great as I remember it being (unlike many of my music purchases of the 90`s)

Bristol music, 15 Jun 2007
In reference to the review dubbing this a one track album, what album were you listening to???? I am offended by your review!

Yes unfinished sympathy is a truly great song, but is by no means the best on the album! Blue lines is one of the greatest albums ever and every track is a classic!

Sadly, a one-track album, 18 Jan 2007
The outright winner here is "Unfinished Sympathy", a thing of beauty so superbly crafted and utterly satisfying that, ironically, it makes all the remaining tracks on this album sound dull. Bedazzled and blinded by genius, or just plain ripped off? Whatever the truth is, I'll be inclined to download that one track and spare myself the cost of the album.

A Massive Triumph, 16 Feb 2005
I came to this album very late - 13 years late to be exact - and I'm still in the honeymoon period with it, playing it constantly. I'm probably about to say the same as everyone else but there's not a duff track here, mainly because of the different styles at play (jazz, hip-hop, dub, dance, bits of soul, the beginnings of trip-hop, tribal beats with 'Hymn of the big wheel' and of course, orchestral music on 'Unfinished Sympathy'). There's a wonderfully sparse, late-night feel on tracks such as 'Blue Lines' and 'Five Man Army' - the way 3D and crew languidly interact with each other on these tracks is awesome - and 'Lately' has such a dreamy, atmospheric quality to it, not forgetting a wicked bassline. Then there's the magnificent 'Unfinished Sympathy', but I don't think I need to go on about the chilling effect it has on my mind, body and soul because that's all old hat really. Not that this album will ever be old hat - I'm pretty sure I'll still be listening to it in another 13 years.

Trip-Hop Heaven, 30 Nov 2004
Firstly, for those of you who are new to Massive Attack, who may have heard "Unfinished Sympathy" and not a lot else and think that "Blue Lines" is an album that continues in this desperately majestic vein of ambient flamboyance - I suggest you think again.
Chilled out it is - commercial it certainly isn't, but for me that's the beauty of this album - it's one of the genuine trip-hop albums that isn't afraid to be what it is. You won't find it cowering in a halfway house somewhere between commercial big beats and full-scale ambient nonsense noises. This is Trip-hop at its best! The sort of stuff that you'd chill out to after a massive rave, when you're experiencing that coldness and realizing that you'll never be able to get back the night before and the love you felt.
If you're a fan of the genre you must buy it! However, if you're expecting something of a pre-cursor to Chicane's "Far From The Madding Crowd" you will be disappointed!

Influencing the influential., 19 Jul 2004
Although many have spoken of the enormous influence of 'Blue Lines' on modern music, few seem to have taken time to consider the influences that have shaped it (something the band has expressley done in the liner notes to the album). One of the major influences on the opening tracks 'Safe from Harm' and 'One Love' is Headhunters-era Herbie Hancock. The funky extended groove and the distant electric piano are classic jazz fusion sounds.

Massive attack perform their own form of fusion in harnessing Shara Nelson's wonderful soul-feuled vocals with the emerging sounds of British hip-hop. You can even hear the influence of Marvin Gaye on a track like 'Be Thankful For What You've Got'; or the sound of late 70's New York on 'Lately' (a time and place of obvious influence, as mention of the movie 'Taxi Driver' in the liner notes attests to).

Dub is also of major importance to the sound of 'Blue Lines', something the young Tricky uses to full effect on '5 Man Army'. Don't forget another of MA's name dropping influence, PIL. Jah Wobble's dub-heavy bass echos round the rhythm of 'Safe From Harm'. Horace Andy's vocals are just as powerful as Nelson's even if they come from a different musical genre. He gives huge emotion to the pop sensibility of 'Hymn Of The Big Wheel' and the contrast of his yearning vocal against the nocturnal background of 'One Love' is an original sound not lost on Moby.

The only thing I have to take a star off for is the dreadful monotone rapping in an English accent, which might have sounded radical in '91, but has become mildly irritating in 2004.

By the release of 1998's Mezzanine, critics were suddenly of the understanding that Massive Attack were one of the most important bands in the world. Bristol's original trip-hop pioneers had, on previous albums Blue Lines and Protection, fused turntable wizardry to the warmest of soul. With Mezzanine, however, the party had ended; revisiting the murky soundscapes so favoured by former partner and fellow Bristolian Tricky, the comeback single "Rising Son" muttering edgily about "cheap beer filled with crocodile tears", over the deepest bass. Tensions were heightened by the news that the making of Mezzanine was riven by inter-band rifts. The friction, though, seems to have create some gems; "Inertia Creeps" is drenched in menace, and "Teardrop" features the ethereal vocals of Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins--both of these a benchmark not just for the band, but for the trip-hop genre. Bleak, but powerfully beautiful. --Louis Pattison

Live with me, 16 Feb 2008
I haven't heard the whole album but I just want to say that Live with Me with Terry Callier is the sexiest record EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It even beats Night Nurse by Gregory Issacs and that's saying something!

Simply the best!, 19 Jan 2007
I was given this CD as a birthday present. I had never heard any Massive Attack before and I loved it as soon as I played it. As a result, I've bought nearly all their other albums. Each track is a winner. I challenge anyone to not find something on this CD which they like!

An excellent 'Best of' album, 09 Nov 2006
This is an excellent 'Best of' album. I must admit that Massive Attack largely passed me by when this stuff was first out. Probably my age!! I got into listening to them when I heard 'Mezzanine'. However listening to this compilation demonstrates how inventive they were. The idea of bringing guest singers in for so many of the tracks was a definite plus as it adds variety. The music is smooth all the way through. Some of it is beautiful but always dark-tinged.

Stand out tracks are 'Angel', 'Teardrop', 'Safe from Harm' and 'Unfinished Sympathy'. I would say that the better tracks are those that have female vocals but the music all round is very good. A great introduction to Massive Attack, but you should also buy 'Mezzanine' if you haven't got it.

Good buy.

Massivily Attacking The Airwaves, 13 May 2006
Now normally i'm not really one to buy greatest hits albums but with this one i just couldn't resist.Massive Attack that helped (along with Portishead and Tricky)define the poignant trip-hop genre that was popular throughout the 90's this is a great run down of what Massive Attack are about and if your new to them this album is essential.

1.Safe From Harm - Taken from their debut 'Blue Lines' and features some great vocal stylings of Shara Nelson this is one of the highlights and one of my favourite songs overall 10/10

2.Karmacoma - This is one of the only songs im not crazy about the vocalist just seems to babble about..well nothing really it's one of the on duds on her 4/10

3.Angel - This is an interesting song it features the legendary roots reggae singer Horace Andy and the song is a rehash of his own song "You Are My Angel" its one of the most sexiest...yes this song is very sexy to me anyway and Horace Andy's vocals are fantastic this sounds great through headphones 10/10

4.Teardrop - My absolute favourite and i'm not alone here this song was not only Massive Attack's biggest hit but its the song that made them a mainstream success with the so-beautiful-it-hurts vocals by the former Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser this is also a very sexy song it was accompanied by a very artist and ahead of its time video which till this day still leaves me gobsmacked everytime i see it this also stands as one of my favourite songs of all time 10/10

5.Inernia Creeps - A cool song with a eastern influence one of the most original songs on the CD i would say. Again the same vocalist from track 2 but this time it works and turns out to be a satisfactory song it has a very good build up 10/10

6.Protection - Taken from the album of the same name this song as guest vocals from Tracy Thorn who sang in the group Everything But The Girl this song is the longest clocking over 7 minutes its a great song and Tracy's voice is just mesmerising i played this song alot and for some reason it reminded me of Beth Orton a definate highlight 10/10

7.Butterfly Caught - The song is taken from the low-key album "100th Window" (which is great by the way) a very electronic song that honestly doesnt really do anything for me it's ok to listen to once in a while but i wouldn't say it was great the minimalistic vocals are quite good and is a song that stands out but it's a bit too dancey for me 7/10

8.Unfinished Sympathy - What can i say about this song that hasn't been said already its a musical masterpiece after being said in various music polls as the best song of all time i think there is some truth there it features vocals by Shara Nelson who sang on "Safe From Harm".This is one of those ultimate "ive been done wrong" songs this is also one of my favourite songs of all time and one of the best on the album 10/10

9.Risingson - I remember catching the video to this song a long time ago and thinking "what the hell" i used to think this song was terrible but it's actually not that bad it's got a catchy vibe but again not exactly the best song but a joy to listen to once in a while 8/10

10.What Your Soul Sings - One of the best songs from "100th Window" Sinéad O'Connor lends her ethereal vocals to this great song which stands as another favourite of mine though usually quite eccentric Sinéad gives a very Beth Gibbons performance here and it shines a wonderfully beautiful song 10/10

11.Future Proof - A spacey electronica song which some cool guitars the song itself is a bit of a miss to be honest but it's not really bad at all the vocalist deep brooding voice gives it a good atmospheric feel and perceives itself quite dark 7/10

12.Five Man Army - Again with some great vocal stylings from Horace Andy although the rap by Tricky is a bit rubbish the song is cool just coz Horace Andy is on it and the song has a strong reggae influence enjoyed this one alot 9/10

13.Sly - Is a great song that features a somewhat unknown singer Nicolette her voice sounds a bit like Billie Holliday with some Erykah Badu in there somewhere this is a great song i like the panpipes in the background and the bouncy bassline good song 10/10

14.Live With Me - Is the only new song which i wasnt really impressed with when i heard it on the radio even though it performed quite well on the charts (charting at #17) the greatest thing about this song is Terry Callier's voice after hearing his music as a child it was good to hear something fresh from him 10/10

Top 5
1.Teardrop
2.Unfinished Sympathy
3.Safe From Harm
4.Live With Me
5.What My Soul Sings

You know how great Massive Attack are even though some of the tracks are not as good as others it's a good idea to check this one out.

Genius, 27 Apr 2006
Words fail me beyond to say that I have all the albums and brought this for the videos on the DVD. Pure musical genius and one the of the nest groups on the UK music scene - I look forward to more

Call me a dummy but....., 13 Oct 2008
I've heard this record for the first time today,(been on another planet!) and the first thing that struck me about it was how the vocal is so similar to my favourite female singer, the little known (in this country}, HEATHER NOVA. I'm not a fan of much electronic music, and I was particularly irritated by the 'vinyl scratching' that appears in several of the songs, however mainly because of the vocal and the songs that don't involve the scratch I know i'm going to really like this album. If you dont know HEATHER NOVA, do me (and yourself)a favour and go have a listen. If you love Beth Gibbons vocal with 'trip hop' music, you will be blown away by HEATHER NOVA with a live band. I suggest 'oyster' as the first album to try, or 'storm' if you prefer a more mellow sound.

Style Over Substance, 09 Oct 2008
The reference points are obvious: King Tubby, Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack and film noir soundtracks. Back in the '90s Portishead were unfathomably cool and fashionable, and did much to popularise trip-hop. Portishead repackaged soul and jazz music, and sold it to critics who had no real interest in those genres. Tellingly, the album received the prestigious Mercury Music prize in 1995, confirming its status among indie rock critics as that years' most highly regarded novelty record.

For all of Portishead's apparent cynicism, it would be easy to overlook if not for their irritatingly pretentious singer. Beth Gibbons is no Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, nor does her singing stand up to comparisons with Liz Fraser or Shara Nelson. She has a frail, wispy voice a fact which is not disguised by her ridiculous affected singing style. Gibbons makes the mistake of confusing unrelenting bleakness with emotional depth and Portishead's music only seems even more shallow as a result.

As it stands Dummy is a textured, well produced album so to give it a one star rating would be churlish. However, it's also a shallow, over-stylised album which has dated badly. The slo-mo hip hop beats and film noir pastiches that defined Portishead's sound became embarrassing clichés remarkably quickly. Indeed it was only the novelty of hearing two such disparate styles juxtaposed that made the album stand out at the time. In a word: forgettable.

90's Trip hop at it's best, 25 Sep 2008
I had heard the name 'Portishead' floating around electronica forums on the net but had never acted on the actions of other people's critic of their music. However, I came onto amazon and found a nearly all 5 star review from all the reviews so I just had to buy as a vivid fan on trip hop style music.
From first glance, you can hear how much Massive Attach have been influenced by this gritty, smooth jazzy 90's trip hop feel, it feels like a 45 minute drug that intises you into a olbivion of funk and future feel.
Trip hop has never really sounded so innovative and fresh even in the new millenium. The more recent trip hop artists like tycho and bonobo take on more of an electronica influence on trip hop, and as much as I feel that style, this laid back jazzy, guitar influenced style really hits top marks.
The lyrical use is no exception, Again zero 7 taking major influences from the vocal use in the slow trip hop beat.
A stand out track for me is 9, it's sublime feel, or crackling beats and small samples that make you feel pretty much amazing, the use of builds etc. These are all prime examples of exquisite trip hop/down tempo bliss.

You can kinda imagine listening to this when travelling through London on a rainy, dingy night - watching the crime and drugs, it's a beautiful sensation but with a grimey undertone.
As a huge fan of everything electronica, this is a fantastic representation of what trip hop IS and should BE.
I however, feel that people would also enjoy this if they just like to sit back and enjoy the small things in life in music.
I can pretty much see this album being a huge influence on me and my musical desire.
Hugely recommended.

Simply brilliant, 21 Jul 2008
Hmmm, how does one sum up this album in just a few words? Dark, mysterious, melodic, industrial, melancholic, desolate - any or all of these apply. Others have already waxed lyrical about the 'feel' of the album, but I think you really have to listen to it - all of it. Maybe even a few times, as it took a few listens for me to really 'get it'.
As soon as I did 'get it' I totally loved it, and it remains one of the most frequently played albums in my collection even after nearly 15 years.
Never bettered or even equalled by Portishead since in my opinion.

Hauntingly beautiful album-I urge you to buy it!, 14 Jul 2008
This album is absolutely brilliant. Vocally, it is pure genius, and musically it is perfectly timed. I have just bought this album, as a replacement for the one I lost in my mispent teenage times! It`s jst as great as I remember it being (unlike many of my music purchases of the 90`s)

Bristol music, 15 Jun 2007
In reference to the review dubbing this a one track album, what album were you listening to???? I am offended by your review!

Yes unfinished sympathy is a truly great song, but is by no means the best on the album! Blue lines is one of the greatest albums ever and every track is a classic!

Sadly, a one-track album, 18 Jan 2007
The outright winner here is "Unfinished Sympathy", a thing of beauty so superbly crafted and utterly satisfying that, ironically, it makes all the remaining tracks on this album sound dull. Bedazzled and blinded by genius, or just plain ripped off? Whatever the truth is, I'll be inclined to download that one track and spare myself the cost of the album.

A Massive Triumph, 16 Feb 2005
I came to this album very late - 13 years late to be exact - and I'm still in the honeymoon period with it, playing it constantly. I'm probably about to say the same as everyone else but there's not a duff track here, mainly because of the different styles at play (jazz, hip-hop, dub, dance, bits of soul, the beginnings of trip-hop, tribal beats with 'Hymn of the big wheel' and of course, orchestral music on 'Unfinished Sympathy'). There's a wonderfully sparse, late-night feel on tracks such as 'Blue Lines' and 'Five Man Army' - the way 3D and crew languidly interact with each other on these tracks is awesome - and 'Lately' has such a dreamy, atmospheric quality to it, not forgetting a wicked bassline. Then there's the magnificent 'Unfinished Sympathy', but I don't think I need to go on about the chilling effect it has on my mind, body and soul because that's all old hat really. Not that this album will ever be old hat - I'm pretty sure I'll still be listening to it in another 13 years.

Trip-Hop Heaven, 30 Nov 2004
Firstly, for those of you who are new to Massive Attack, who may have heard "Unfinished Sympathy" and not a lot else and think that "Blue Lines" is an album that continues in this desperately majestic vein of ambient flamboyance - I suggest you think again.
Chilled out it is - commercial it certainly isn't, but for me that's the beauty of this album - it's one of the genuine trip-hop albums that isn't afraid to be what it is. You won't find it cowering in a halfway house somewhere between commercial big beats and full-scale ambient nonsense noises. This is Trip-hop at its best! The sort of stuff that you'd chill out to after a massive rave, when you're experiencing that coldness and realizing that you'll never be able to get back the night before and the love you felt.
If you're a fan of the genre you must buy it! However, if you're expecting something of a pre-cursor to Chicane's "Far From The Madding Crowd" you will be disappointed!

Influencing the influential., 19 Jul 2004
Although many have spoken of the enormous influence of 'Blue Lines' on modern music, few seem to have taken time to consider the influences that have shaped it (something the band has expressley done in the liner notes to the album). One of the major influences on the opening tracks 'Safe from Harm' and 'One Love' is Headhunters-era Herbie Hancock. The funky extended groove and the distant electric piano are classic jazz fusion sounds.

Massive attack perform their own form of fusion in harnessing Shara Nelson's wonderful soul-feuled vocals with the emerging sounds of British hip-hop. You can even hear the influence of Marvin Gaye on a track like 'Be Thankful For What You've Got'; or the sound of late 70's New York on 'Lately' (a time and place of obvious influence, as mention of the movie 'Taxi Driver' in the liner notes attests to).

Dub is also of major importance to the sound of 'Blue Lines', something the young Tricky uses to full effect on '5 Man Army'. Don't forget another of MA's name dropping influence, PIL. Jah Wobble's dub-heavy bass echos round the rhythm of 'Safe From Harm'. Horace Andy's vocals are just as powerful as Nelson's even if they come from a different musical genre. He gives huge emotion to the pop sensibility of 'Hymn Of The Big Wheel' and the contrast of his yearning vocal against the nocturnal background of 'One Love' is an original sound not lost on Moby.

The only thing I have to take a star off for is the dreadful monotone rapping in an English accent, which might have sounded radical in '91, but has become mildly irritating in 2004.

Hooks you in..., 09 Apr 2008
I bought this album because it had "Teardrop" and "Angel" on it,but I took the opportunity to sit in a completely dark room and properly listen to this...and couldn't stop listening to it the day after as well! It's calming, dark and beautifully written, especially songs like "Risingson", "Teardrop" and "Black Milk" (my new favourite!)
Buy this album, prepare to fall in love.

I'm in love, 17 Mar 2008
I truly adore this album.

Each song has it's own atmosphere and aura that I can barely put into words!
I'd have to say Black Milk is my favourite due to it's 'dark' feeling..
But each one is as good as the last.. In my opinion, this album has no faults..
It truly is an album you can listen to intently or have as 'background music'..

g7ig7i, 08 Feb 2008
Yeah man, I dig "Teardrop" too. That "der-der der-cah" beat is sublime; the only time Mezzanine approaches true beauty through its instrumentation. You have to remember that Music Has the Right to Children was released in the same year though, and, compared with that album, Massive Attack's supposed classic falls way short. Different records, I know, but there's enough similarity in style for the comparison to be valid. While Boards of Canada used subtle melodies and ambience to stunning effect, Massive Attack retreat to their safety zone and use cheesy, weak female vocals, with lyrics that verge on embarrassing far too often. Does anyone even carry on listening after track four has finished?

Not enough stars available....., 18 Nov 2007
Listening to this album still gives me goosebumps, it really is that good. 9 years on, and it still sounds fresh and innovative. Haunting vocals, deep bass, atmospheric, and an incredibly dark mood. Both chilled out and disconcerting at the same time. The vocals and build to a sudden crescendo on 'Dissolved Girl' being one of my favourite parts of the album.

An album every music fan should own, and a perfect antidote to the manufactured rubbish that gets broadcast over the airwaves.

Gargantuan legacy., 24 Jun 2007
this album has had more power over and more influence over British music than 99% of material produced since the beatles. every track gets a full 5 stars, nothing about it is hurried or below standard, the best album they ever released, dont bother with 'collected' just get this, its all you need.

DJ Shadow, a.k.a. Josh Davis, could be credited with bringing newfound introspection to the gloating sounds of hip-hop. Condensed with urban oscillations and scatological beats, Endtroducing... shutters with eclectic samples and aural montages that reach beyond the constraints of hip-hop style. Enhancing the mix with fundamentals of rock, soul, funk, ambient, and jazz, the modern fusions fail to go unnoticed, even by the casual listener. While most of the tracks are compiled by layering samples from vinyl treasures found in used-record bins, the production quality of the mosaic is unmatched. Darkened melodies carry throughout the album with its eye on the end of the tunnel. The narration samples come from numerous sources and keep the listener involved and waiting for resolution. With a message as fragmentary as an overheard conversation, Endtroducing... conveys no apparent conclusion, but begs the mind, body, and soul for some rewind. --Lucas Hilbert

Live with me, 16 Feb 2008
I haven't heard the whole album but I just want to say that Live with Me with Terry Callier is the sexiest record EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It even beats Night Nurse by Gregory Issacs and that's saying something!

Simply the best!, 19 Jan 2007
I was given this CD as a birthday present. I had never heard any Massive Attack before and I loved it as soon as I played it. As a result, I've bought nearly all their other albums. Each track is a winner. I challenge anyone to not find something on this CD which they like!

An excellent 'Best of' album, 09 Nov 2006
This is an excellent 'Best of' album. I must admit that Massive Attack largely passed me by when this stuff was first out. Probably my age!! I got into listening to them when I heard 'Mezzanine'. However listening to this compilation demonstrates how inventive they were. The idea of bringing guest singers in for so many of the tracks was a definite plus as it adds variety. The music is smooth all the way through. Some of it is beautiful but always dark-tinged.

Stand out tracks are 'Angel', 'Teardrop', 'Safe from Harm' and 'Unfinished Sympathy'. I would say that the better tracks are those that have female vocals but the music all round is very good. A great introduction to Massive Attack, but you should also buy 'Mezzanine' if you haven't got it.

Good buy.

Massivily Attacking The Airwaves, 13 May 2006
Now normally i'm not really one to buy greatest hits albums but with this one i just couldn't resist.Massive Attack that helped (along with Portishead and Tricky)define the poignant trip-hop genre that was popular throughout the 90's this is a great run down of what Massive Attack are about and if your new to them this album is essential.

1.Safe From Harm - Taken from their debut 'Blue Lines' and features some great vocal stylings of Shara Nelson this is one of the highlights and one of my favourite songs overall 10/10

2.Karmacoma - This is one of the only songs im not crazy about the vocalist just seems to babble about..well nothing really it's one of the on duds on her 4/10

3.Angel - This is an interesting song it features the legendary roots reggae singer Horace Andy and the song is a rehash of his own song "You Are My Angel" its one of the most sexiest...yes this song is very sexy to me anyway and Horace Andy's vocals are fantastic this sounds great through headphones 10/10

4.Teardrop - My absolute favourite and i'm not alone here this song was not only Massive Attack's biggest hit but its the song that made them a mainstream success with the so-beautiful-it-hurts vocals by the former Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser this is also a very sexy song it was accompanied by a very artist and ahead of its time video which till this day still leaves me gobsmacked everytime i see it this also stands as one of my favourite songs of all time 10/10

5.Inernia Creeps - A cool song with a eastern influence one of the most original songs on the CD i would say. Again the same vocalist from track 2 but this time it works and turns out to be a satisfactory song it has a very good build up 10/10

6.Protection - Taken from the album of the same name this song as guest vocals from Tracy Thorn who sang in the group Everything But The Girl this song is the longest clocking over 7 minutes its a great song and Tracy's voice is just mesmerising i played this song alot and for some reason it reminded me of Beth Orton a definate highlight 10/10

7.Butterfly Caught - The song is taken from the low-key album "100th Window" (which is great by the way) a very electronic song that honestly doesnt really do anything for me it's ok to listen to once in a while but i wouldn't say it was great the minimalistic vocals are quite good and is a song that stands out but it's a bit too dancey for me 7/10

8.Unfinished Sympathy - What can i say about this song that hasn't been said already its a musical masterpiece after being said in various music polls as the best song of all time i think there is some truth there it features vocals by Shara Nelson who sang on "Safe From Harm".This is one of those ultimate "ive been done wrong" songs this is also one of my favourite songs of all time and one of the best on the album 10/10

9.Risingson - I remember catching the video to this song a long time ago and thinking "what the hell" i used to think this song was terrible but it's actually not that bad it's got a catchy vibe but again not exactly the best song but a joy to listen to once in a while 8/10

10.What Your Soul Sings - One of the best songs from "100th Window" Sinéad O'Connor lends her ethereal vocals to this great song which stands as another favourite of mine though usually quite eccentric Sinéad gives a very Beth Gibbons performance here and it shines a wonderfully beautiful song 10/10

11.Future Proof - A spacey electronica song which some cool guitars the song itself is a bit of a miss to be honest but it's not really bad at all the vocalist deep brooding voice gives it a good atmospheric feel and perceives itself quite dark 7/10

12.Five Man Army - Again with some great vocal stylings from Horace Andy although the rap by Tricky is a bit rubbish the song is cool just coz Horace Andy is on it and the song has a strong reggae influence enjoyed this one alot 9/10

13.Sly - Is a great song that features a somewhat unknown singer Nicolette her voice sounds a bit like Billie Holliday with some Erykah Badu in there somewhere this is a great song i like the panpipes in the background and the bouncy bassline good song 10/10

14.Live With Me - Is the only new song which i wasnt really impressed with when i heard it on the radio even though it performed quite well on the charts (charting at #17) the greatest thing about this song is Terry Callier's voice after hearing his music as a child it was good to hear something fresh from him 10/10

Top 5
1.Teardrop
2.Unfinished Sympathy
3.Safe From Harm
4.Live With Me
5.What My Soul Sings

You know how great Massive Attack are even though some of the tracks are not as good as others it's a good idea to check this one out.

Genius, 27 Apr 2006
Words fail me beyond to say that I have all the albums and brought this for the videos on the DVD. Pure musical genius and one the of the nest groups on the UK music scene - I look forward to more

Call me a dummy but....., 13 Oct 2008
I've heard this record for the first time today,(been on another planet!) and the first thing that struck me about it was how the vocal is so similar to my favourite female singer, the little known (in this country}, HEATHER NOVA. I'm not a fan of much electronic music, and I was particularly irritated by the 'vinyl scratching' that appears in several of the songs, however mainly because of the vocal and the songs that don't involve the scratch I know i'm going to really like this album. If you dont know HEATHER NOVA, do me (and yourself)a favour and go have a listen. If you love Beth Gibbons vocal with 'trip hop' music, you will be blown away by HEATHER NOVA with a live band. I suggest 'oyster' as the first album to try, or 'storm' if you prefer a more mellow sound.

Style Over Substance, 09 Oct 2008
The reference points are obvious: King Tubby, Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack and film noir soundtracks. Back in the '90s Portishead were unfathomably cool and fashionable, and did much to popularise trip-hop. Portishead repackaged soul and jazz music, and sold it to critics who had no real interest in those genres. Tellingly, the album received the prestigious Mercury Music prize in 1995, confirming its status among indie rock critics as that years' most highly regarded novelty record.

For all of Portishead's apparent cynicism, it would be easy to overlook if not for their irritatingly pretentious singer. Beth Gibbons is no Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, nor does her singing stand up to comparisons with Liz Fraser or Shara Nelson. She has a frail, wispy voice a fact which is not disguised by her ridiculous affected singing style. Gibbons makes the mistake of confusing unrelenting bleakness with emotional depth and Portishead's music only seems even more shallow as a result.

As it stands Dummy is a textured, well produced album so to give it a one star rating would be churlish. However, it's also a shallow, over-stylised album which has dated badly. The slo-mo hip hop beats and film noir pastiches that defined Portishead's sound became embarrassing clichés remarkably quickly. Indeed it was only the novelty of hearing two such disparate styles juxtaposed that made the album stand out at the time. In a word: forgettable.

90's Trip hop at it's best, 25 Sep 2008
I had heard the name 'Portishead' floating around electronica forums on the net but had never acted on the actions of other people's critic of their music. However, I came onto amazon and found a nearly all 5 star review from all the reviews so I just had to buy as a vivid fan on trip hop style music.
From first glance, you can hear how much Massive Attach have been influenced by this gritty, smooth jazzy 90's trip hop feel, it feels like a 45 minute drug that intises you into a olbivion of funk and future feel.
Trip hop has never really sounded so innovative and fresh even in the new millenium. The more recent trip hop artists like tycho and bonobo take on more of an electronica influence on trip hop, and as much as I feel that style, this laid back jazzy, guitar influenced style really hits top marks.
The lyrical use is no exception, Again zero 7 taking major influences from the vocal use in the slow trip hop beat.
A stand out track for me is 9, it's sublime feel, or crackling beats and small samples that make you feel pretty much amazing, the use of builds etc. These are all prime examples of exquisite trip hop/down tempo bliss.

You can kinda imagine listening to this when travelling through London on a rainy, dingy night - watching the crime and drugs, it's a beautiful sensation but with a grimey undertone.
As a huge fan of everything electronica, this is a fantastic representation of what trip hop IS and should BE.
I however, feel that people would also enjoy this if they just like to sit back and enjoy the small things in life in music.
I can pretty much see this album being a huge influence on me and my musical desire.
Hugely recommended.

Simply brilliant, 21 Jul 2008
Hmmm, how does one sum up this album in just a few words? Dark, mysterious, melodic, industrial, melancholic, desolate - any or all of these apply. Others have already waxed lyrical about the 'feel' of the album, but I think you really have to listen to it - all of it. Maybe even a few times, as it took a few listens for me to really 'get it'.
As soon as I did 'get it' I totally loved it, and it remains one of the most frequently played albums in my collection even after nearly 15 years.
Never bettered or even equalled by Portishead since in my opinion.

Hauntingly beautiful album-I urge you to buy it!, 14 Jul 2008
This album is absolutely brilliant. Vocally, it is pure genius, and musically it is perfectly timed. I have just bought this album, as a replacement for the one I lost in my mispent teenage times! It`s jst as great as I remember it being (unlike many of my music purchases of the 90`s)

Bristol music, 15 Jun 2007
In reference to the review dubbing this a one track album, what album were you listening to???? I am offended by your review!

Yes unfinished sympathy is a truly great song, but is by no means the best on the album! Blue lines is one of the greatest albums ever and every track is a classic!

Sadly, a one-track album, 18 Jan 2007
The outright winner here is "Unfinished Sympathy", a thing of beauty so superbly crafted and utterly satisfying that, ironically, it makes all the remaining tracks on this album sound dull. Bedazzled and blinded by genius, or just plain ripped off? Whatever the truth is, I'll be inclined to download that one track and spare myself the cost of the album.

A Massive Triumph, 16 Feb 2005
I came to this album very late - 13 years late to be exact - and I'm still in the honeymoon period with it, playing it constantly. I'm probably about to say the same as everyone else but there's not a duff track here, mainly because of the different styles at play (jazz, hip-hop, dub, dance, bits of soul, the beginnings of trip-hop, tribal beats with 'Hymn of the big wheel' and of course, orchestral music on 'Unfinished Sympathy'). There's a wonderfully sparse, late-night feel on tracks such as 'Blue Lines' and 'Five Man Army' - the way 3D and crew languidly interact with each other on these tracks is awesome - and 'Lately' has such a dreamy, atmospheric quality to it, not forgetting a wicked bassline. Then there's the magnificent 'Unfinished Sympathy', but I don't think I need to go on about the chilling effect it has on my mind, body and soul because that's all old hat really. Not that this album will ever be old hat - I'm pretty sure I'll still be listening to it in another 13 years.

Trip-Hop Heaven, 30 Nov 2004
Firstly, for those of you who are new to Massive Attack, who may have heard "Unfinished Sympathy" and not a lot else and think that "Blue Lines" is an album that continues in this desperately majestic vein of ambient flamboyance - I suggest you think again.
Chilled out it is - commercial it certainly isn't, but for me that's the beauty of this album - it's one of the genuine trip-hop albums that isn't afraid to be what it is. You won't find it cowering in a halfway house somewhere between commercial big beats and full-scale ambient nonsense noises. This is Trip-hop at its best! The sort of stuff that you'd chill out to after a massive rave, when you're experiencing that coldness and realizing that you'll never be able to get back the night before and the love you felt.
If you're a fan of the genre you must buy it! However, if you're expecting something of a pre-cursor to Chicane's "Far From The Madding Crowd" you will be disappointed!

Influencing the influential., 19 Jul 2004
Although many have spoken of the enormous influence of 'Blue Lines' on modern music, few seem to have taken time to consider the influences that have shaped it (something the band has expressley done in the liner notes to the album). One of the major influences on the opening tracks 'Safe from Harm' and 'One Love' is Headhunters-era Herbie Hancock. The funky extended groove and the distant electric piano are classic jazz fusion sounds.

Massive attack perform their own form of fusion in harnessing Shara Nelson's wonderful soul-feuled vocals with the emerging sounds of British hip-hop. You can even hear the influence of Marvin Gaye on a track like 'Be Thankful For What You've Got'; or the sound of late 70's New York on 'Lately' (a time and place of obvious influence, as mention of the movie 'Taxi Driver' in the liner notes attests to).

Dub is also of major importance to the sound of 'Blue Lines', something the young Tricky uses to full effect on '5 Man Army'. Don't forget another of MA's name dropping influence, PIL. Jah Wobble's dub-heavy bass echos round the rhythm of 'Safe From Harm'. Horace Andy's vocals are just as powerful as Nelson's even if they come from a different musical genre. He gives huge emotion to the pop sensibility of 'Hymn Of The Big Wheel' and the contrast of his yearning vocal against the nocturnal background of 'One Love' is an original sound not lost on Moby.

The only thing I have to take a star off for is the dreadful monotone rapping in an English accent, which might have sounded radical in '91, but has become mildly irritating in 2004.

Hooks you in..., 09 Apr 2008
I bought this album because it had "Teardrop" and "Angel" on it,but I took the opportunity to sit in a completely dark room and properly listen to this...and couldn't stop listening to it the day after as well! It's calming, dark and beautifully written, especially songs like "Risingson", "Teardrop" and "Black Milk" (my new favourite!)
Buy this album, prepare to fall in love.

I'm in love, 17 Mar 2008
I truly adore this album.

Each song has it's own atmosphere and aura that I can barely put into words!
I'd have to say Black Milk is my favourite due to it's 'dark' feeling..
But each one is as good as the last.. In my opinion, this album has no faults..
It truly is an album you can listen to intently or have as 'background music'..

g7ig7i, 08 Feb 2008
Yeah man, I dig "Teardrop" too. That "der-der der-cah" beat is sublime; the only time Mezzanine approaches true beauty through its instrumentation. You have to remember that Music Has the Right to Children was released in the same year though, and, compared with that album, Massive Attack's supposed classic falls way short. Different records, I know, but there's enough similarity in style for the comparison to be valid. While Boards of Canada used subtle melodies and ambience to stunning effect, Massive Attack retreat to their safety zone and use cheesy, weak female vocals, with lyrics that verge on embarrassing far too often. Does anyone even carry on listening after track four has finished?

Not enough stars available....., 18 Nov 2007
Listening to this album still gives me goosebumps, it really is that good. 9 years on, and it still sounds fresh and innovative. Haunting vocals, deep bass, atmospheric, and an incredibly dark mood. Both chilled out and disconcerting at the same time. The vocals and build to a sudden crescendo on 'Dissolved Girl' being one of my favourite parts of the album.

An album every music fan should own, and a perfect antidote to the manufactured rubbish that gets broadcast over the airwaves.

Gargantuan legacy., 24 Jun 2007
this album has had more power over and more influence over British music than 99% of material produced since the beatles. every track gets a full 5 stars, nothing about it is hurried or below standard, the best album they ever released, dont bother with 'collected' just get this, its all you need.

Insight, foresight, the clock on the wall reads a quarter past midnight..., 10 Jul 2007
I first got into electronic music a while ago, and frankly couldnt have asked for a better induction. I was recomended this by a friend when I said I liked the electronic stuff on Kid A and he told me that most of it was influenced by this man.
He was right, Shadow is a genius. His skill with a drum machine is matched only by his skill with a sampler and his talent for mixing, perfectly capturing an ever shifting mood with changes of tempo, time signature, key, instruments and genre. Its all captured here, like a beautifully preserved insect in a peice of amber. Jazz, soul, blues, and that ever present loaded-gun backbeat, tying every interesting sample and gorgeous melody together into an amazingly cohesive journey of beats.
It is, like the best albums, prismic and ever changing. Nothing is repeated, and everything is brilliant, but specifically, the best examples of its genuis are The Number Song, Stem/Long Stem, and the stunningly beautiful Midnight In A Perfect World. However, unlike The Private Press, you really have to lsten to it all, right through. You simply cannot skip tracks. the thought of missing anything...well...
Anyway, I would personally reccomend this to anyone new to electonic music, and when you're done here (as if you will ever be 'done' with Endtroducng) I reccomend The Private Press, anythng by Massive Attack (Mezzanine, Protection) and then for the unltimate in trip-hop, Dummy by Portishead.
Rejoice, brothers. Go forth and preach the gospel of the beat...

One of the most influential albums ever!, 12 May 2007
Ok, not too many adjectives can describe how good this album is, but it is important to point out how influential this album is. Basically there would be no Ok Computer (not just Kid A) without Endtroducing and they are considered to be two of the best albums ever, so it's logical to suggest that Endtroducing is better, something I always try and explain to Radiohead fans.

This is simply brilliant, I would not change a thing about the album and track 4, "Changeling" is just stunning. Buy it please.

Record breaking, 12 Mar 2007
Superb from start to finish - Shadow in his finest hour. The first album to be made entirely from samples. Sounds derivative? Buy it, listen and learn. May take you a few playings to get your head round some tracks, but don't worry you've heard most of it all before as ironically this is now one of the most sampled albums around, certainly by advertisers and tv execs. If you get a chance to see him live don't miss it..

good background music?? Not inspired, sorry, 09 Sep 2006
i dont know what to say about this really. I read the reviews like you are now and got the impression that this was some kind of undiscovered gem from way back in the day that id overlooked. Dont get me wrong this is a good album but its not inspiring like the reviews suggested, there is so much of this sort of music out there, this is no different. On first impressions there is one track that stands out as worthy of its acclaim and thats track 8. This track made me stop what i was doing and made me listen and thats what i am looking for, thats what i classify as inspiration. As for the rest of the album it went unnoticed as a collection of breaks and samples playing in the background, just like so many others albums ive owned in the past. Reminded me of King Kooba and other mellow breaks etc. I guess just not what i expected despite having listened to it here on amazon!



Electronic Excellence, 11 Apr 2006
I always find it strange when people talk about their favourite track on this album. The whole "experience" is what makes this album so good. There is not one stand out track: the whole thing plays like one continuous stand out track! The onslaught of almost maddening beats give way to sudden passages of tranquility that use each other to great effect through the contrast they produce. Playing like a modern day classical piece this is diverse and dark. Also like the best music it rewards repeated (even continuous) listening!

With Dummy, their 1994 debut, Portishead not only created a classic of turntable-derived soul, but defined their sound so exhaustively as to spawn a host of imitators. So what to do for a follow-up? As it happened, the answer was simple--refine the template. This self-titled album simply ups the ante on everything that made their debut so special: the brooding sense of menace, that deep streak of romantic fatalism. Much is made of the cinematic quality of Portishead's music--and indeed, many of these tracks sound like they should be accompanying some existentialist spy flick from the mid-1960s. But ultimately, it's singer Beth Gibbons that's their greatest asset: her vocals gliding effortlessly from the furious ("Cowboys") to the forlorn ("Mourning Air"); from the exuberant ("All Mine") to the exhausted ("Only You")--and all set to the group's most ambitious and expansive arrangements to date. A majestic, damaged and frequently terrifying masterpiece. --Andrew McGuire

Live with me, 16 Feb 2008
I haven't heard the whole album but I just want to say that Live with Me with Terry Callier is the sexiest record EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It even beats Night Nurse by Gregory Issacs and that's saying something!

Simply the best!, 19 Jan 2007
I was given this CD as a birthday present. I had never heard any Massive Attack before and I loved it as soon as I played it. As a result, I've bought nearly all their other albums. Each track is a winner. I challenge anyone to not find something on this CD which they like!

An excellent 'Best of' album, 09 Nov 2006
This is an excellent 'Best of' album. I must admit that Massive Attack largely passed me by when this stuff was first out. Probably my age!! I got into listening to them when I heard 'Mezzanine'. However listening to this compilation demonstrates how inventive they were. The idea of bringing guest singers in for so many of the tracks was a definite plus as it adds variety. The music is smooth all the way through. Some of it is beautiful but always dark-tinged.

Stand out tracks are 'Angel', 'Teardrop', 'Safe from Harm' and 'Unfinished Sympathy'. I would say that the better tracks are those that have female vocals but the music all round is very good. A great introduction to Massive Attack, but you should also buy 'Mezzanine' if you haven't got it.

Good buy.

Massivily Attacking The Airwaves, 13 May 2006
Now normally i'm not really one to buy greatest hits albums but with this one i just couldn't resist.Massive Attack that helped (along with Portishead and Tricky)define the poignant trip-hop genre that was popular throughout the 90's this is a great run down of what Massive Attack are about and if your new to them this album is essential.

1.Safe From Harm - Taken from their debut 'Blue Lines' and features some great vocal stylings of Shara Nelson this is one of the highlights and one of my favourite songs overall 10/10

2.Karmacoma - This is one of the only songs im not crazy about the vocalist just seems to babble about..well nothing really it's one of the on duds on her 4/10

3.Angel - This is an interesting song it features the legendary roots reggae singer Horace Andy and the song is a rehash of his own song "You Are My Angel" its one of the most sexiest...yes this song is very sexy to me anyway and Horace Andy's vocals are fantastic this sounds great through headphones 10/10

4.Teardrop - My absolute favourite and i'm not alone here this song was not only Massive Attack's biggest hit but its the song that made them a mainstream success with the so-beautiful-it-hurts vocals by the former Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser this is also a very sexy song it was accompanied by a very artist and ahead of its time video which till this day still leaves me gobsmacked everytime i see it this also stands as one of my favourite songs of all time 10/10

5.Inernia Creeps - A cool song with a eastern influence one of the most original songs on the CD i would say. Again the same vocalist from track 2 but this time it works and turns out to be a satisfactory song it has a very good build up 10/10

6.Protection - Taken from the album of the same name this song as guest vocals from Tracy Thorn who sang in the group Everything But The Girl this song is the longest clocking over 7 minutes its a great song and Tracy's voice is just mesmerising i played this song alot and for some reason it reminded me of Beth Orton a definate highlight 10/10

7.Butterfly Caught - The song is taken from the low-key album "100th Window" (which is great by the way) a very electronic song that honestly doesnt really do anything for me it's ok to listen to once in a while but i wouldn't say it was great the minimalistic vocals are quite good and is a song that stands out but it's a bit too dancey for me 7/10

8.Unfinished Sympathy - What can i say about this song that hasn't been said already its a musical masterpiece after being said in various music polls as the best song of all time i think there is some truth there it features vocals by Shara Nelson who sang on "Safe From Harm".This is one of those ultimate "ive been done wrong" songs this is also one of my favourite songs of all time and one of the best on the album 10/10

9.Risingson - I remember catching the video to this song a long time ago and thinking "what the hell" i used to think this song was terrible but it's actually not that bad it's got a catchy vibe but again not exactly the best song but a joy to listen to once in a while 8/10

10.What Your Soul Sings - One of the best songs from "100th Window" Sinéad O'Connor lends her ethereal vocals to this great song which stands as another favourite of mine though usually quite eccentric Sinéad gives a very Beth Gibbons performance here and it shines a wonderfully beautiful song 10/10

11.Future Proof - A spacey electronica song which some cool guitars the song itself is a bit of a miss to be honest but it's not really bad at all the vocalist deep brooding voice gives it a good atmospheric feel and perceives itself quite dark 7/10

12.Five Man Army - Again with some great vocal stylings from Horace Andy although the rap by Tricky is a bit rubbish the song is cool just coz Horace Andy is on it and the song has a strong reggae influence enjoyed this one alot 9/10

13.Sly - Is a great song that features a somewhat unknown singer Nicolette her voice sounds a bit like Billie Holliday with some Erykah Badu in there somewhere this is a great song i like the panpipes in the background and the bouncy bassline good song 10/10

14.Live With Me - Is the only new song which i wasnt really impressed with when i heard it on the radio even though it performed quite well on the charts (charting at #17) the greatest thing about this song is Terry Callier's voice after hearing his music as a child it was good to hear something fresh from him 10/10

Top 5
1.Teardrop
2.Unfinished Sympathy
3.Safe From Harm
4.Live With Me
5.What My Soul Sings

You know how great Massive Attack are even though some of the tracks are not as good as others it's a good idea to check this one out.

Genius, 27 Apr 2006
Words fail me beyond to say that I have all the albums and brought this for the videos on the DVD. Pure musical genius and one the of the nest groups on the UK music scene - I look forward to more

Call me a dummy but....., 13 Oct 2008
I've heard this record for the first time today,(been on another planet!) and the first thing that struck me about it was how the vocal is so similar to my favourite female singer, the little known (in this country}, HEATHER NOVA. I'm not a fan of much electronic music, and I was particularly irritated by the 'vinyl scratching' that appears in several of the songs, however mainly because of the vocal and the songs that don't involve the scratch I know i'm going to really like this album. If you dont know HEATHER NOVA, do me (and yourself)a favour and go have a listen. If you love Beth Gibbons vocal with 'trip hop' music, you will be blown away by HEATHER NOVA with a live band. I suggest 'oyster' as the first album to try, or 'storm' if you prefer a more mellow sound.

Style Over Substance, 09 Oct 2008
The reference points are obvious: King Tubby, Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack and film noir soundtracks. Back in the '90s Portishead were unfathomably cool and fashionable, and did much to popularise trip-hop. Portishead repackaged soul and jazz music, and sold it to critics who had no real interest in those genres. Tellingly, the album received the prestigious Mercury Music prize in 1995, confirming its status among indie rock critics as that years' most highly regarded novelty record.

For all of Portishead's apparent cynicism, it would be easy to overlook if not for their irritatingly pretentious singer. Beth Gibbons is no Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, nor does her singing stand up to comparisons with Liz Fraser or Shara Nelson. She has a frail, wispy voice a fact which is not disguised by her ridiculous affected singing style. Gibbons makes the mistake of confusing unrelenting bleakness with emotional depth and Portishead's music only seems even more shallow as a result.

As it stands Dummy is a textured, well produced album so to give it a one star rating would be churlish. However, it's also a shallow, over-stylised album which has dated badly. The slo-mo hip hop beats and film noir pastiches that defined Portishead's sound became embarrassing clichés remarkably quickly. Indeed it was only the novelty of hearing two such disparate styles juxtaposed that made the album stand out at the time. In a word: forgettable.

90's Trip hop at it's best, 25 Sep 2008
I had heard the name 'Portishead' floating around electronica forums on the net but had never acted on the actions of other people's critic of their music. However, I came onto amazon and found a nearly all 5 star review from all the reviews so I just had to buy as a vivid fan on trip hop style music.
From first glance, you can hear how much Massive Attach have been influenced by this gritty, smooth jazzy 90's trip hop feel, it feels like a 45 minute drug that intises you into a olbivion of funk and future feel.
Trip hop has never really sounded so innovative and fresh even in the new millenium. The more recent trip hop artists like tycho and bonobo take on more of an electronica influence on trip hop, and as much as I feel that style, this laid back jazzy, guitar influenced style really hits top marks.
The lyrical use is no exception, Again zero 7 taking major influences from the vocal use in the slow trip hop beat.
A stand out track for me is 9, it's sublime feel, or crackling beats and small samples that make you feel pretty much amazing, the use of builds etc. These are all prime examples of exquisite trip hop/down tempo bliss.

You can kinda imagine listening to this when travelling through London on a rainy, dingy night - watching the crime and drugs, it's a beautiful sensation but with a grimey undertone.
As a huge fan of everything electronica, this is a fantastic representation of what trip hop IS and should BE.
I however, feel that people would also enjoy this if they just like to sit back and enjoy the small things in life in music.
I can pretty much see this album being a huge influence on me and my musical desire.
Hugely recommended.

Simply brilliant, 21 Jul 2008
Hmmm, how does one sum up this album in just a few words? Dark, mysterious, melodic, industrial, melancholic, desolate - any or all of these apply. Others have already waxed lyrical about the 'feel' of the album, but I think you really have to listen to it - all of it. Maybe even a few times, as it took a few listens for me to really 'get it'.
As soon as I did 'get it' I totally loved it, and it remains one of the most frequently played albums in my collection even after nearly 15 years.
Never bettered or even equalled by Portishead since in my opinion.

Hauntingly beautiful album-I urge you to buy it!, 14 Jul 2008
This album is absolutely brilliant. Vocally, it is pure genius, and musically it is perfectly timed. I have just bought this album, as a replacement for the one I lost in my mispent teenage times! It`s jst as great as I remember it being (unlike many of my music purchases of the 90`s)

Bristol music, 15 Jun 2007
In reference to the review dubbing this a one track album, what album were you listening to???? I am offended by your review!

Yes unfinished sympathy is a truly great song, but is by no means the best on the album! Blue lines is one of the greatest albums ever and every track is a classic!

Sadly, a one-track album, 18 Jan 2007
The outright winner here is "Unfinished Sympathy", a thing of beauty so superbly crafted and utterly satisfying that, ironically, it makes all the remaining tracks on this album sound dull. Bedazzled and blinded by genius, or just plain ripped off? Whatever the truth is, I'll be inclined to download that one track and spare myself the cost of the album.

A Massive Triumph, 16 Feb 2005
I came to this album very late - 13 years late to be exact - and I'm still in the honeymoon period with it, playing it constantly. I'm probably about to say the same as everyone else but there's not a duff track here, mainly because of the different styles at play (jazz, hip-hop, dub, dance, bits of soul, the beginnings of trip-hop, tribal beats with 'Hymn of the big wheel' and of course, orchestral music on 'Unfinished Sympathy'). There's a wonderfully sparse, late-night feel on tracks such as 'Blue Lines' and 'Five Man Army' - the way 3D and crew languidly interact with each other on these tracks is awesome - and 'Lately' has such a dreamy, atmospheric quality to it, not forgetting a wicked bassline. Then there's the magnificent 'Unfinished Sympathy', but I don't think I need to go on about the chilling effect it has on my mind, body and soul because that's all old hat really. Not that this album will ever be old hat - I'm pretty sure I'll still be listening to it in another 13 years.

Trip-Hop Heaven, 30 Nov 2004
Firstly, for those of you who are new to Massive Attack, who may have heard "Unfinished Sympathy" and not a lot else and think that "Blue Lines" is an album that continues in this desperately majestic vein of ambient flamboyance - I suggest you think again.
Chilled out it is - commercial it certainly isn't, but for me that's the beauty of this album - it's one of the genuine trip-hop albums that isn't afraid to be what it is. You won't find it cowering in a halfway house somewhere between commercial big beats and full-scale ambient nonsense noises. This is Trip-hop at its best! The sort of stuff that you'd chill out to after a massive rave, when you're experiencing that coldness and realizing that you'll never be able to get back the night before and the love you felt.
If you're a fan of the genre you must buy it! However, if you're expecting something of a pre-cursor to Chicane's "Far From The Madding Crowd" you will be disappointed!

Influencing the influential., 19 Jul 2004
Although many have spoken of the enormous influence of 'Blue Lines' on modern music, few seem to have taken time to consider the influences that have shaped it (something the band has expressley done in the liner notes to the album). One of the major influences on the opening tracks 'Safe from Harm' and 'One Love' is Headhunters-era Herbie Hancock. The funky extended groove and the distant electric piano are classic jazz fusion sounds.

Massive attack perform their own form of fusion in harnessing Shara Nelson's wonderful soul-feuled vocals with the emerging sounds of British hip-hop. You can even hear the influence of Marvin Gaye on a track like 'Be Thankful For What You've Got'; or the sound of late 70's New York on 'Lately' (a time and place of obvious influence, as mention of the movie 'Taxi Driver' in the liner notes attests to).

Dub is also of major importance to the sound of 'Blue Lines', something the young Tricky uses to full effect on '5 Man Army'. Don't forget another of MA's name dropping influence, PIL. Jah Wobble's dub-heavy bass echos round the rhythm of 'Safe From Harm'. Horace Andy's vocals are just as powerful as Nelson's even if they come from a different musical genre. He gives huge emotion to the pop sensibility of 'Hymn Of The Big Wheel' and the contrast of his yearning vocal against the nocturnal background of 'One Love' is an original sound not lost on Moby.

The only thing I have to take a star off for is the dreadful monotone rapping in an English accent, which might have sounded radical in '91, but has become mildly irritating in 2004.

Hooks you in..., 09 Apr 2008
I bought this album because it had "Teardrop" and "Angel" on it,but I took the opportunity to sit in a completely dark room and properly listen to this...and couldn't stop listening to it the day after as well! It's calming, dark and beautifully written, especially songs like "Risingson", "Teardrop" and "Black Milk" (my new favourite!)
Buy this album, prepare to fall in love.

I'm in love, 17 Mar 2008
I truly adore this album.

Each song has it's own atmosphere and aura that I can barely put into words!
I'd have to say Black Milk is my favourite due to it's 'dark' feeling..
But each one is as good as the last.. In my opinion, this album has no faults..
It truly is an album you can listen to intently or have as 'background music'..

g7ig7i, 08 Feb 2008
Yeah man, I dig "Teardrop" too. That "der-der der-cah" beat is sublime; the only time Mezzanine approaches true beauty through its instrumentation. You have to remember that Music Has the Right to Children was released in the same year though, and, compared with that album, Massive Attack's supposed classic falls way short. Different records, I know, but there's enough similarity in style for the comparison to be valid. While Boards of Canada used subtle melodies and ambience to stunning effect, Massive Attack retreat to their safety zone and use cheesy, weak female vocals, with lyrics that verge on embarrassing far too often. Does anyone even carry on listening after track four has finished?

Not enough stars available....., 18 Nov 2007
Listening to this album still gives me goosebumps, it really is that good. 9 years on, and it still soun