Blue Lines From Massive Attack Offers Up Big Shoes To Fill

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Blue Lines, released in April of 1991, is the debut Album of the British electronic group Massive Attack, and is considered to be one of the greatest techno albums of all time. Released by Virgin Records, Blue Lines is generally regarded as the first trip hop album, even though the term was not coined until years later. A fusion of electronic music, hip hop, dub, '70s soul and reggae, the album prompted Massive Attacks recognition as one of the most innovative British bands of the 1990s and the founder of trip hop's Bristol Sound. The album was a major success in the United Kingdom, reaching #13 in the charts, although sales were limited elsewhere.

Music critic Simon Reynolds stated that the album sparked an evolution in electronic/dance music, a shift toward a more interior, meditational sound. The songs on Blue Lines run at 'spliff' tempos from a mellow, moon walking 90 beats per minute ...down to a positively torpid 67 bpm. The group was influenced by concept albums in various genres from artists such as Pink Floyd, Public Image Ltd., Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock and Isaac Hayes.

In 1997, Blue Lines was named the 21st greatest album of all time in a Music of the Millennium poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. In 1998, Q readers ranked it at number 58 on its list of the 100 Greatest Albums Ever, and in 2000, the album came in at number 9 in the magazine's poll of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2003, the album was ranked number 395 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Stuart Bailie of BBC Northern Ireland identified that, It was soul music. But it had bold, symphonic arrangements. It featured samples of the Mahavishnu Orchestra going 'hey, hey hey, hey.' It had funky breaks and an emotional power that was hard to figure. It sounded anxious and lost. But there was a grandeur in the music also. People who came across the record became obsessed, spinning it endlessly.

The track Unfinished Sympathy is perhaps the most notable on the album, frequently described as one of the best songs of all time. It was nominated for a BRIT Award as best single of 1991. It was also featured on the soundtrack for the 1993 Sharon Stone film Sliver. According to BBC.co.uk: More than a decade after its release it remains one of the most moving pieces of dance music ever, able to soften hearts and excite minds just as keenly as a ballad by Bacharach or a melody by McCartney.

For more information or for questions on buying or selling used Techno, Dance and House CDs, visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.


About the Author:
Brad Parmerter has almost 20 years experience in the music and entertainment industry as a writer, programmer, and merchandiser. He has professionally interviewed and photographed such artists as: Rush, Metallica, Celine Dion, Live, Phil Collins, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Live, Van Halen, Queensryche, Anna Nalick, Styx, Def Leppard, and many more.

Please visit SecondSpin.com for all of your entertainment needs.



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