Ok, someone from the org finally conceded a few months ago, that I "had to be there" as it relates to my belated foray into Massive Attack (which severely underwhelmed me; i'd even copped Shara Nelson's solo album too and was like booo), so is this the same verdict with Tricky? Did i have to "be in London watching the scene unfold in the 90s?" to GET him? I find him interesting but I don't know where to start with him. Is he like a male Bjork? (I gave Vespertine a listen once and was like ugghh!) I'm kinda picky with my electronica (being from techno's birthplace of Detroit), so i'm hoping Tricky has some stuff that's a cross between Depeche Mode's Violator and Seal's first album. Can anyone help a brotha out?

If you want the "easy" stuff then you should start with "Maxinquaye" (his most commercially successful release - from 1995) or "Vulnerable" (his attempt to make more accessible music again - from 2003). The first one is built around samples whereas the latter one has more of a live instrumentation thing going on.

From Maxinquaye:

From Vulnerable:

Most would say that "Maxinquaye" is his best work, but I have a feeling some .orgers might be actually more into stuff like "Vulnerable". I personally think his best work is "Pre-Millennium Tension" (from 1996), but that's certainly not a pop record.

thanks for the very specific feedback. I do remember the debut and PMT (i always thought that was great album title). neither one of those tracks you posted were very distinctive and seemed as if they could be on the same album, they kinda became white noise after a minute or so. if this is a sampling of his best then.... i guess i DID have to "be there." btw, "commercial" isn't what i'm necessarily looking for.

[Edited 8/15/12 10:39am]

No, his best:

"poems" is still his best song imo. the long album version. it's just beyond good. it's amazing.

he's got a lot of very good material, but in general he sort of lost it with/after

'angels with dirty faces'.

he's had a few very good tracks since then but the albums have been bogged

down by a lot of sub par material that goes nowhere.

maxinquaye/pre millennium tension/nearly god

that's pretty much the best sequence. the rest is pick n mix.

IstenSzek said:

maxinquaye/pre millennium tension/nearly god

that's pretty much the best sequence. the rest is pick n mix.

I very much agree with this. I'm a loyalist so will buy everything blindly but Martina Topley Bird's absence is glaring on later releases. Knowle West Boy is a great album though

I always think of Tricky as the angel who will escort you through hell and bring you out of it safely.

Love some Tricky.

I attended one of his shows a few years ago and it blew me away. Very powerful music and performance indeed. Quite dark though, as in Tricky asking for the lights to be "turned off" after nearly every track.

datdude said:

Is he like a male Bjork?

Get that sort of shite out your head and your discovery of his music will be a rewarding one.

Tricky is like a male Tricky.

I love Tricky. I have everything he's done.

I do have a special place in my heart for Maxinquaye and Black Steel is my favorite Tricky song even though it's a remake.

Thanks so much for the feedback and posts. I've listened to all those suggested above.

datdude said:

Thanks so much for the feedback and posts. I've listened to all those suggested above.

What did you think of Black Steel?

Stymie said:

datdude said:

Thanks so much for the feedback and posts. I've listened to all those suggested above.

What did you think of Black Steel?

I had no idea it was a remake. I think it might be my favorite Tricky song as well. Kinda hard to choose. Wait, Overcome is my favorite. That I can say for sure

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Stymie said:

What did you think of Black Steel?

I had no idea it was a remake.

It's a cover version of Public Enemy's "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos."

I didn't listen to the Black Steel remake earlier. I'm a HUGE PE fan, so I just gave it a chance. I think it was the best of the 5-7 songs I've heard from him as far as structure, but from what I've heard his songs seem void, unformed, atmospheric, lacking melody with "random lyrics" overlaid

datdude said:

I didn't listen to the Black Steel remake earlier. I'm a HUGE PE fan, so I just gave it a chance. I think it was the best of the 5-7 songs I've heard from him as far as structure, but from what I've heard his songs seem void, unformed, atmospheric, lacking melody with "random lyrics" overlaid

You'll find that all works a lot better if you supplement your listening with marajuna consumption.

The easy answer, I think, is at the beginning. Because for me, those first three albums are still his best stuff. That's just my opinion, though. Plenty of great advice in this thread.

Dude has also done an insane amount of collaborative/production work in the last twenty plus years. Some of it is "classic" level good.

Fans of the trickster should listen to this interview http://www.rbmaradio.com/...eside-chat

datdude said:

I didn't listen to the Black Steel remake earlier. I'm a HUGE PE fan, so I just gave it a chance. I think it was the best of the 5-7 songs I've heard from him as far as structure, but from what I've heard his songs seem void, unformed, atmospheric, lacking melody with "random lyrics" overlaid

I think this is missing the point. If you want all that, listen to the expected. It's called Trip Hop for a reason

TheDigitalGardener said:

For Real was here

I LOVE THIS SONG!

Massive Attack - Daydreaming

The original mix...

The Blacksmith 'Brixton Bass Mix'. One of my favorite remixes of all time. I wore this track out on the vinyl. The rest of the album was like brand new, and this track was basically unplayable.

Bjork - Headphones

Written & Produced by Bjork & Tricky

Whale - Now Thing

Written, produced and featuring a guest spot by Tricky

Whale - Tryzasnice

Production & Vocals by Tricky

[Edited 8/17/12 16:47pm]

Neneh Cherry - Had You In Me

Production and Featuring credits for Tricky

Neneh Cherry - Together Now

Co-producer - Tricky

[Edited 8/17/12 16:54pm]

Bush - In A Lonely Place

Produced by Tricky (not actually a "mix")

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

datdude said:

I didn't listen to the Black Steel remake earlier. I'm a HUGE PE fan, so I just gave it a chance. I think it was the best of the 5-7 songs I've heard from him as far as structure, but from what I've heard his songs seem void, unformed, atmospheric, lacking melody with "random lyrics" overlaid

It's called Trip Hop for a reason

The only person who has never described his music as trip hop...is Tricky. In fact he loathes the phrase.

Martina Topley-Bird - Ragga

Produced by Tricky

IamOMNI's entire 2011 album, "IamOMNI" was produced by Tricky

Diamond Hunter

Animal

Magic

Black Gold

Bjork - Enjoy

Shoot, I forgot this one was written with Tricky, too

Tricky vs. The Gravediggaz - The Hell EP

Psychosis

Produced & Written by RZA & Tricky