Massive Attack

[scratchie]

I'm going to see these guys tonight. I've been a casual fan for a few years but I'm really looking forward to seeing them live. As an added bonus, I read the other day that they're touring with one of my favorite reggae singers, Horace Andy.

Any other fans here?

People keep asking me "what do they sound like?" and I'm at a loss. The term "trip-hop" is basically meaningless, and not particularly descriptive of their sound anyway. I usually wind up saying "sorta trippy, trancy version of dance music..." which is also not particularly helpful.

[The Mirrorball Man]

Does the band still exist? - I mean, does it still exist as a band? Last time I've heard of them, Massive Attack had pretty much become a Robert Del Naja solo act. "100th Window" was really terrible, in my opinion, and I have to say that my enthusiasm for the band has reached an all-time low.

[scratchie]

Does the band still exist? - I mean, does it still exist as a band? Last time I've heard of them, Massive Attack had pretty much become a Robert Del Naja solo act. Good question. According to Wikipedia, the band as of 2004 consisted of Del Naja, Neil Davidge (who joined around 1999?) and Alex Smith.

But Wikipedia also says that their fifth studio album includes Del Naja and Grant Marshall, but it doesn't indicate who is on the tour. We'll see. I'll post a review tomorrow if I get a chance.

[Shellhead]

Although I have several Massive Attack albums, the only ones that I really enjoyed were Protection and Mezzanine. Their sound changes significantly from album to album. 100th Window was downbeat background music and not especially enjoyable. Blues Lines was pretty variable, like they hadn't really found an identity yet. Protection was rich and beautiful, with accessible jazz and pop influences and persistent moving beats. Mezzanine was experimental and interesting, alternating between great melodies and alienating harshness.

That said, Protection was an amazing album (except for that crappy final track), and along with Portishead's Dummy, basically started trip-hop. Since trip-hop is one of my favorite genres, I will always like Massive Attack.

[Ogami]

I saw Massive Attack live a couple of months back. Not as mind-blowing as expected I have to say, but that was probably because it was a large outdoor show and the sound was not as crisp and loud as it could have been so I couldn't get totally involved in the music. Mezzanine is still one of the best and most atmospheric albums ever though.

[Gladiaria_Alata]

Just wondering, do they really have a song titled "Superpredators"?