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Editorial 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as distinctly Massive Attack-like as any of its predecessors, except the low, slow raps of Daddy G and Mushroom have been replaced by the fragile voice of Sinead O'Connor.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
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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 on their past glories you will enjoy. Butterlfly caught and Special cases are excellent.
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. The second is that the music is so captivating and quality, and the third is that it is best played loud! I'd like to apologise to my neighbours! This album demands to be listened to. Unlike some other reviews, I don't think this album is repetative, I think it's just the same style of music, like Kraftwerk, only it's nothing... more info
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 the world. With the sound turned down on the TV it was a perfect soundtrack for the News headlines as the US troops entered Baghdad with Sinead O'Connor giving a fragile delivery on Special Cases prompting us to 'take a look around the world, you see such mad things happening'. The mood continues on Butterfly Caught with Del Naja's... more info
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. My favourites are the first three, particularly 'Everywhen' with it's characteristic echoing piano-like repeated note and equally echo-laden vocal line. Some of the remainder of the album gets a bit repetitve but my favourite later track is 'Small time shot away' with its eerie hypnotic synthsesizer (I assume it's a synthesizer). Bleak and empty sounding - yes, but that's... more info
