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Massive Attack: Blue Lines (33 1/3)

Gerald Parker

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Massive Attack Blue Lines Album Cover Massive Attack S Blue Lines (33 1/3 140)

Massive Attack’s Blue Lines (33 1/3 Book 140)

by Jarett Kobek

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	608 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	136 pages

Released in 1991, Massive Attack's debut album, Blue Lines, was a groundbreaking release that helped to define the sound of the 1990s and beyond. A fusion of hip hop, dub, soul, and reggae, the album's atmospheric and hypnotic sound was unlike anything else at the time.

Blue Lines was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 13 on the UK charts and spawning the hit singles "Unfinished Sympathy" and "Safe from Harm." It has since been hailed as one of the most important albums of the 1990s, and its influence can still be heard in today's music.

The Sound of Blue Lines

The sound of Blue Lines is a unique blend of genres, with elements of hip hop, dub, soul, and reggae. The album's tracks are often built around sparse, atmospheric soundscapes, with layered samples and hypnotic beats. The vocals, provided by Tricky and Martina Topley-Bird, are often haunting and ethereal, adding to the album's overall sense of unease and alienation.

One of the most striking things about Blue Lines is its use of sampling. The album features samples from a wide range of sources, including old soul records, Jamaican dub tracks, and even film soundtracks. These samples are used to create a sense of collage, and they help to give the album its unique and distinctive sound.

The Cultural Impact of Blue Lines

Blue Lines was a major cultural moment, and it helped to shape the sound of the 1990s. The album's dark and atmospheric sound was a reflection of the times, and it resonated with a generation of listeners who were disillusioned with the materialism and greed of the 1980s.

Blue Lines also had a major impact on the development of trip hop. Trip hop is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the early 1990s, and it is characterized by its slow tempos, atmospheric soundscapes, and use of samples. Blue Lines is considered to be one of the first trip hop albums, and it helped to popularize the genre.

The Enduring Legacy of Blue Lines

Blue Lines is an album that has stood the test of time. It is still considered to be one of the most important albums of the 1990s, and it continues to influence musicians and listeners today. The album's dark and atmospheric sound, its innovative use of sampling, and its cultural impact make it a truly unique and timeless work of art.

Massive Attack's Blue Lines is a seminal album that helped to define the sound of the 1990s. Its dark and atmospheric sound, its innovative use of sampling, and its cultural impact make it a truly unique and timeless work of art.

Massive Attack’s Blue Lines (33 1/3 Book 140)

by Jarett Kobek

4.6 out of 5