Massive Attack - 100th Window

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Music reviews of 100th Window

Music Review: ZZZZZZZZ
Rating: 2 Stars

One of those bands would be Massive Attack.
Setting the way with the classic 1991 release, Blue Lines, which melded the way for a musical art form soon christened "trip hop". A atmospheric, moody, and visionary set, Blue Lines featured shrill yet soulful vocals( courtesy of Shara Nelson[Shara where are you?!?!]), dramatic strings, a strong take on lovers rock( with the legendary Horace Andy holding it down) and hip hop. With a then unknown Tricky and members 3D, Mushroom, and Daddy G, the guys didn't rap yet flowed over slow breakbeats and ganja stained grooves. It was almost too good to be true. A classic that spawned many careers- Tricky and Nelson became solo acts; Horace Andy's career was reborn; several acts were born( some were just as visionary as MA-Portishead; some were decent- Morcheeba; some were just plain putrid- Hooverphonic, Thievery Cooperation, Moloko, Mulu, you can name the rest) -Blue Lines was a gift and a curse. How do you top it?! With 1994's less compelling and seemingly half finished Protection, it became evident that MA may have stumbled but then came the landmark Mezzanine. Although it wilted at the end, Mezzanine took Blue Line's formula and took it to the 10th power and became more modern. Horace was still in action( check out the vengeful, sensual "Angel" and militantly dark "Man Next Door") but a slew of voices, Cocteau Twins vet Liz Fraser and the mysterious Sarah Jay gave it an almost fragile edge. 3D and Daddy G still flowed but this time it was slower and sinister. But then comes 100th Window...MA still have trouble following up their classics.

I've had 100th Window since late December and upon first listening( for like, the first 10 times), I just wasn't moved like with the past albums(even with Protection). Whereas Blue Lines had soul, Protection had atmosphere, and Mezzanine had an almost surreal feel, 100th Window has ambience. But not an ambience that equates beauty but one that equates sleep! Never have Massive sounded so pompous and dreary. But then again, it's the new day for them. First off, this is a solo album( Mushroom left fearing that the unit's sound was getting too rock-influenced after Mezzanine; Daddy G went on temporary leave to start his family). 3D DeNaja's solo album! Produced by Neil Davidage(Mezzanine's co-producer) and featuring the legendary Sinead O'Connor and of course Horace Andy. 100th Window actually sounds like a New Agey take on Mezzanine in some ways. Sinead comes in to play Liz Fraser on "What Your Soul Sings", "Special Cases", and "Prayer For England" but it's not the same. "What Your Soul Sings" is nice and the first song to interest me upon initial listens late last year but when you realize it's basically "Teardrop, Pt. 2" the song's beauty gets tampered. Sinead doesn't sound right singing the gentle lyrics. Sinead's a rebel even though she's matured and settled down, that fire couldn't just have disappeared. Playing the Trip Hop Mother role doesn't suit her even when her superior songwriting skills do justice on the plodding "Prayer For England" and "Special Cases" take play. "Special Cases"'s chorus is horrible and the song sometimes plays like a slowed down, less gripping "Safe From Harm".

But fortunately, Horace comes through on "Everywhen", the album's most compelling track and the only track that sounds like the MA that we know and love. Slow atmospherics start, then the sensual moans of Andy's come in, and we're taken into a seven minute ecstasy. Why couldn't the rest of the album be like this?!?! Horace appears again on "Names Taken", but it lacks the magic of "Everywhen".

The rest of 100th Window is sleepy and revisited stuff. For the first time, Massive(or 3D) sound bored and less assertive. Some of the music sounds like it was inspired by Homogenic or Vespertine-day Bjork or "Kid A", both inspired by Massive Attack, yet more forward minded and interesting than this. "Future Proof" starts out okay but a cheesy guitar solo and 3D's terrible Geddy Lee-sounding rapping( whatever happened?) defalt everything unfortunately.

It hurts for your boy to saying anything bad about Massive Attack. As a trip hop head, I admire them musically. Blue Lines, Mezzanine, and hell, even Protection(a great album on it's own but by MA standards, a little lacking) are favorites but 100th Window is a massive disappointment. And that brings it back to what was said in the beginning, some artists set the bar high for themselves. Massive is one of them. Had any ol' late-coming electronic act had released this album, it would be applauded. But this is the work of innovators, they have to do better. Making snooze-inducing mood music isn't going to cut it. According to the website and interviews, Daddy G will return at the end of the year and an improved(?) MA album will be on the way( one with guest stars such as Mos Def, Tom Waits, and Mike Patton). Hopefully, they're get off the ground with something more high standing than this.

For a casual trip hop fan or electronic listener, this won't sound that bad. But for the more experienced MA fans, it may be heartbreaking.
Oh well, guess I'll settle for my old discs Blue Lines and Mezzanine discs again...

Description of 100th Window

Dance & DJ CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock