- Audio CD (22 Dec 2009)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Emi Japan/Zoom
- ASIN: B000V3PSLC
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
During the 1990s, Massive Attack were simply untouchable as the most groundbreaking British band for decades. Each of their three studio albums preceding 100th Window were pioneering masterpieces, with 1991's Blue Lines acclaimed as one of the best British albums of all time. Nowadays, Massive Attack aren't so much a "great band" as a "one-man-band", with Robert "3D" Del Naja the only member of the original trio on this album.
100th Window may be Massive Attack's fourth album (on paper, at least), but it's effectively Del Naja's solo debut. Ironically, 100th Window sounds as distinctly Massive Attack-like as any of its predecessors, except the low, slow raps of Daddy G and Mushroom have been replaced by the fragile voice of Sinead O'Connor. Put simply, 100th Window sounds eerily similar to 1998's Mezzanine; it's dark, broody, intense and, at times, quite uncomfortable, with the odd shimmering ray of light allowed to peep through Del Naja's murky nocturnal soundscapes. Occasionally it sounds like Clannad done in a dubwise style (check the impressive "A Prayer For England" or unlikely single "Special Cases"), at others like a late night trip through Bristol's run-down estates in the company of the Grim Reaper.
With such an impressive back catalogue, 100th Window should have been something new, fresh and original, but as it is it's just another dose of Mezzanine's paranoid broodiness. Of course, 100th Window is still a very good record--no-one does darkness with quite the same warmth and murkiness as Massive Attack--but this isn't half the album it could have been. --Matt Anniss
Review
Oh dear. Regrettably, the latest offering from the new slim line Massive Attack falls way short of the spurious hype and their previous musical triumphs. The sense of event that the publicists like to attach to the release of each their albums has boiled down to little more than a giant poster campaign. With Mushroom out of the picture and Daddy G away on parent sabbatical, Robert Del Naja aka 3D is now the sole member ofa group which is both dwindling in numbers and, unfortunately, artistic flair. Musically the 'Attack' seem to be suffering a severe case of middle-age spread.
Not content with steering the sound east with swathes of Arabian strings and Saharanambience they (or should that be he?) have employed Sinead O'Connor as guest vocals not once but thrice. Why? Yes, she can warble away in her melancholic fashion but the positioning of the nutty priestess smacks of a lack of adventure or risk taking.
Massive Attack used to be adept at bringing lesser known vocalists in to the mainstream and making them shine. Miss O'Connor may need the work but listening to her pine for the slaughtered children on the hugely self indulgent "A Prayer For England" is tiresome whilst the debut single "Special Cases" does little to redeem these felonies.
Production-wise 100th Window is solid and occasionally sublime. The drum/bass relationships are all expertly executed and the tracks are mixed beautifully, "Butterfly Caught" in particular. But that means jack when you feel nothing whilst waiting for the record to play out. There simply aren't enough hooks, melodies or songs here to make this memorable.
The prior outing Mezzanine had a brooding, cinematic edge that did much to fire the imagination, Protection had the emotive title track, "Karmacoma" and "Weather Storm" amongst its finery. And Blue Lines was... well... Blue Lines. This takes itself so seriously you can feel the furrows of worry. Not content with giving over eight minutes to the desert opus and closing track "Antistar" the track then proceeds to bleep on for another eight minutes doing absolutely chuff all.
This is lazy music making, to be avoided at all costs. --Andy Puleston
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The strength of this album lies in the fact that Massive attack have not given into pop pressure.It is more serious than that and more suited to the modern ear.
Sweeter sounding than Mezzanine.Gone also are the days of Blue lines - that may be classic stuff -I love it- but it is now history.My only regret is that Liz Frazers beautiful voice is missing.
I predict this album will attract as many new fans as others loose pace and drop away.
More strong tracks than weak ones - and that is unusual these days.
Sweeter sounding than Mezzanine.Gone also are the days of Blue lines - that may be classic stuff -I love it- but it is now history.My only regret is that Liz Frazers beautiful voice is missing.
I predict this album will attract as many new fans as others loose pace and drop away.
More strong tracks than weak ones - and that is unusual these days.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
To put it quite bluntly if 18 by Moby was the follow up, or, a continuation of Play, then 100th Window does the same and more for Mezzanine.
From the opening Electronic chords of Future Proof, to the magical strings fading away on Antistar, this record never seems to let up. To be honest though what else would expect from Massive Attack, they never seem to dissapoint.
As ever, with all the records, they have chosen their female vocalist carefully, from Shara Nelson to Tracey Thorn they have gone for the haunting vocals of Sinead O'Connor on this record. I'll be the first to admit I'm not her biggest fan but her voice suits the mood perfectly. She delivers the lyrics with such emotion and utter grace that you find yourself wrapped up in this record from an early point.
Highlights, although exceptionally hard to pick would be Future Proof, Smalltime Shot Away, The fantistic lyrics on Prayer for England and the sizzling strings on Antistar.
At first listen I wasn't sure what to expect and I must admit I did feel quite dissapointed. It was very sameish as Mezzanine, I expected them to move on as they had done on previous albums, as the album continued it did grow on me, and in a big way.
Fans of Mezzanine will love it, it's just as dark, if not darker, just as chilling, perfect evening listening. It's nowhere near as friendly as Blue Lines or Protection, people will turn their noses up at it which is a shame. It really is a fantastic record with variation that is hard to pick up, but is there all the same.
As long as you enjoyed Mezzanine you'll enjoy this, and Sinead fans will love it, she brings a whole new dimension to the record.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Granted, not all tracks are perfect - I personally find some of the Sinead O Conner (sp?) tracks to be the weakest with somewhat sentimental lyrics to the cynic. However, this album contains some of the most incredibly heavy atmosphere I've yet heard created by anyone - both instrumentally and lyrically. After 18 months or so a track as spellbinding as 'Butterfly Caught' has me on this page ranting as if it was recently purchased. This release is less compromising (it goes deeper and darker) than any by MA before and although some won't relate, those whom do will discover timeless worth. Superb.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Stunning! Absolutely beautiful.
Someone on here said that the Sinead O' Connor tracks were weak..
I think it was genious for them to chose her. She is perfect for this album. Read more
I think it was genious for them to chose her. She is perfect for this album. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jon R. Roberts
My personal favourite MA album
Sometimes I find the albums that take a while to grow on you are the ones that stay with you the longest and this album took a fair while to charm its way into my affections. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Lucioperca
Great piece of work
This is an excellent, professional,top quality, well produced piece of work.
It's an album I seem to forget for long periods of time but every once in a while when I feel like... Read more
It's an album I seem to forget for long periods of time but every once in a while when I feel like... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. Michael A. Stephenson
True to the heart- an adventure
I have heard 100th window criticised as less overwhelming than say Mezanine, but it is truly Massive in sound and feel and I return to it again and again for 3Ds eliptic... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2010 by J. D. Noble
Great album
Great album - it was not going to live up to Mezzanine but what would? Take this album on its own merits and its a real pleasure to listen to and as long as you are not too hung up... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2008 by Fatboy101
Not like any other album you've heard
In my opinion, this album is an absolute masterpiece. There are many things I like about it. The first is that there is no other album in the universe that is anything like it. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2007 by Alex Harrison
Worrying times
For me, this album emphasizes the brewing uncertainty after 9/11. It seemed to capture these times with the invasion of Iraq, al-Qaedas televised terrorism and the total chaos of... Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2007 by Bob
Bleak, eerie and haunting
This must be one of the most distinctive CD's of recent years, with an overwhelming feel of urban alienation prevalent on most tracks. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2007 by A.Reviewer
i turn a stone i find you
review by Goran Ristic i totally agree.. This album is amazing. but so many people seem to be inclined to compare it to previous massive attack. Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2006 by mikey
Mediocre
This album is a bit of a letdown. I mean, it's not awful, it's just utterly boring, and totally nondescript. Read more
Published on 26 July 2006 by Donaldo
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