man, maybe it's me. but i'd heard so much over the years about Massive Attack (so called classics like Blue Lines, etc) so i finally copped Collected, a well, "collection" of what hopefully aren't "greatest hits" because i was extremely underwhelmed and realized i hadn't missed much. i know sometimes compilations don't capture the mood or overall context of an album, but NOTHING made me want to listen again. it was like "mood music" that quickly became white noise with lyrics that TRIED to be deep. and if Tricky was the "rapper" on some of that stuff, i will not follow my curiosity in checking out Maxinequaye and his other works.

You had to be there.

Different strokes, I guess. I love Tricky and M.A. Mezzanine is M.A's best album,imo.....better than Blue Lines. I don't know what songs are on Collected, since I have M.A's albums, but I'm sure some good tracks were left of.

AnckSuNamun said:

I agree. I hardly ever listen to Blue Lines anymore. Mezzanine is my favorite.

minneapolisgenius said:

funny enough, this is so true!

abierman said:

AnckSuNamun said:

I've always felt fairly indifferent to Blue Lines - certainly I never thought it was the masterpiece the British press heralded it as. Albums 2 & 3 are their best, I figure...

minneapolisgenius said:

perfectly said!

datdude said:

Those songs are no indication of what Tricky would end up like.

GangstaFam said:

There are elements, the seeds of Maxinquaye on Protection, but it just gives you a hint of where he was heading.

damosuzuki said:

Yeah, I hear the influence from Blue Lines in Maxinquaye too. Both albums were their least experimental (considering what their later albums were like), laid back, and heavy on bass line. I call them their "safe" albums Not saying that's a bad thing, but if you listen to albums after their debuts, then yeah they'd be considered less complex than the rest. Funny, I consider Maxinquaye my favorite Tricky album.....could be because it was laced with Martina's vocals.

i was gonna suggest that maybe i had to "be there". but the coverage by certain mags made it seem as if all the "intangibles" transferred.

damosuzuki said:

Yeah, I hear the influence from Blue Lines in Maxinquaye too. Both albums were their least experimental (considering what their later albums were like), laid back, and heavy on bass line. I call them their "safe" albums Not saying that's a bad thing, but if you listen to albums after their debuts, then yeah they'd be considered less complex than the rest. Funny, I consider Maxinquaye my favorite Tricky album.....could be because it was laced with Martina's vocals.

Mezzanine and 100th Window are both fantastic albums. "Dissolved Girl" is one of my favorite tracks of theirs. I have "Collected" as well. It's a mixed bag as far a being a greatest hits album. But Massive Attack takes a while to grow on you though, give it a few more listens...

damosuzuki said:

Indeed they are. Blue Lines is overrated, although it does have its wonderful moments - Unfinished Sympathy and Safe From Harm.

I thought the last MA album - 100th Window - was the worst they've ever released. Lame, turgid, tuneless, uninspired, like Mezzanine with all the accompanying floors missing. This was in part because it was more a Robert Del Naja solo album as one member had left and the other was barely involved in it. I hope they come back with a new set of tricks because that "Metal Box" lite sound of theirs is tired now.
[Edited 1/14/07 0:48am]

damosuzuki said:

Indeed. He rewrote "Karmacoma" as "Overcome" on Maxinquaye. Speaking of which, I don't consider that his best album - the next three are all better, especially Angels With Dirty Faces.

Shame he's gone completely off the boil now.
[Edited 1/14/07 0:51am]

they should never have gotten rid of DJ Mushroom, he was they one who bridged the synergy between Del Naja and Daddy G. MA has become Del Naja's ego-trip.....

Shapeshifter said:

another example: 'Eurochild' & 'Hell's Around The Corner'

minneapolisgenius said:

True that.

Shapeshifter said:

I think I managed to give it two listens before I marched it down to the 2nd hand shop. Very, very poor.


Edit - missed this the first time around



good line
[Edited 1/14/07 6:47am]

Shapeshifter said:

I've never heard anything past Pre-Millenium Tension...perhaps I've got some listening to do.

damosuzuki said:

"Angels with Dirty Faces" and "Juxtapose" are really good. After that, you're not missing much.

Bought Maxinquaye and Pre-Millenium Tension a few years back, and I just didn't get them, either. I think I shelved them and never really pulled 'em back out. I feel like it's stuff I should like, though.

Kinda feel the same way about Blue Lines. Never checked out any other Massive Attack.