KIWANUKA

I always find it refreshing when the album of the day is relatively recent. It confirms that it’s an ever-evolving list and the must-listens change as the music industry changes. Having said this I’m not particularly a fan of MK - it’s all a bit underwhelming. Or maybe just whelming!

I enjoyed this album. I only listened to the first couple songs then it faded into the background.

This was all right. Pleasant enough. Nothing terribly special, though. Like a low-calorie vending machine snack.

Le projet "1001 Albums" a parfois de ces idées saugrenues, surtout quand il me sort de ma zone de confort, de mes tranchées creusées à grands coups de post-punk, de noise et de folk apocalyptique, pour me jeter en pâture un disque de... Soul. Oui, vous avez bien lu, de la Soul et avec une majuscule, s'il vous plaît. Le genre de musique que mes parents auraient pu écouter en fumant des clopes et en se demandant si, oui ou non, ils allaient repeindre le salon en orange. Je dois l'avouer, quand j'ai vu le nom de Michael Kiwanuka sur ma liste, j'ai haussé un sourcil. Kiwanuka, a sorti son album en 2019 et il est déjà sanctifié par la grande bible des albums à écouter avant de clamser ? Mettons les choses au clair tout de suite : "Kiwanuka" est une pièce d'orfèvrerie, c'est un disque d'une beauté formelle absolument sidérante. On sent les dollars, le temps passé en studio, l'ambition démesurée. La production, assurée par le duo de magiciens Danger Mouse et Inflo, est à tomber par terre. Chaque son est à sa place, chaque arrangement de cordes est d'une justesse folle, chaque choeur gospel semble descendre directement du paradis pour venir caresser vos tympans. On ferme les yeux et on est en 1972, dans un film de la Blaxploitation, quelque part entre un album perdu de Marvin Gaye, une bande originale d'Isaac Hayes et une session rêvée de Curtis Mayfield. Le son est chaud, ample, analogique jusqu'au bout des potards. C'est une déclaration d'amour à une époque, un fantasme de soul psychédélique réalisé avec les moyens et la technologie d'aujourd'hui. Le disque s'ouvre sur des interludes, des voix samplées, créant une atmosphère cinématographique avant de laisser place à des morceaux qui s'étirent, prennent leur temps, installent des grooves hypnotiques. On sent le savoir-faire, l'intelligence musicale. Les mélodies sont intemporelles, on a l'impression de les avoir toujours connues, sans jamais tomber dans le plagiat facile. C'est là toute la force de Danger Mouse : il ne copie pas, il invoque, il ressuscite un esprit, un vibe, une couleur sonore avec une précision chirurgicale. "You Ain't The Problem", "Rolling", "Hero"... les morceaux sont solides, portés par des lignes de basse rondes, des guitares wah-wah langoureuses et la voix, bien sûr, la voix de Michael Kiwanuka. Et c'est là, précisément, que le 3/5 prend tout son sens car ce disque est parfait, trop parfait. C'est une reconstitution historique si brillante, si fidèle, qu'elle en devient presque un objet de musée. C'est une superbe vitrine, mais j'ai eu un mal de chien à briser la glace pour voir ce qu'il y avait derrière. Tout est si léché, si maîtrisé, si... respectable. Où est la faille ? Où est la cicatrice ? Où est le danger ? J'écoute ça et j'admire le geste, la compétence, le talent indéniable. Mais ça ne me prend pas aux tripes. Ça ne me donne pas envie de casser des trucs ou de pleurer toutes les larmes de mon corps. J'ai passé les années 90 à vendre des disques où les mecs hurlaient leur désespoir dans des micros pourris, où les guitares sonnaient comme des tronçonneuses rouillées, où la beauté naissait du chaos. Ici, la beauté naît de l'ordre et de la maîtrise, c'est une autre philosophie. Michael Kiwanuka lui-même semble parfois être un invité de luxe sur son propre disque. Sa voix est magnifique, chaude, pleine d'une soul authentique, mais elle est tellement enchâssée dans cette production monumentale qu'elle peine parfois à s'en extraire pour me parler directement. Les textes sont personnels, introspectifs, touchants, ils parlent d'identité, de doute, de la condition d'un homme noir dans le monde d'aujourd'hui. C'est puissant, et ça donne une profondeur indéniable à l'ensemble. Mais la musique, elle, est si luxueuse qu'elle semble parfois anesthésier la douleur. Alors, est-ce que "Kiwanuka" mérite sa place dans les 1001 albums ? Probablement. C'est un disque important, un jalon dans la musique soul du 21ème siècle. C'est la preuve qu'on peut encore faire ce genre de musique avec ambition et pertinence, sans sonner comme une parodie pour émission de télé-crochet. C'est un album que je peux recommander à n'importe qui, l'assurance qu'il ou elle y trouvera quelque chose de beau. Mais pour moi, il lui manque cette étincelle de folie, ce grain de sable dans la mécanique parfaitement huilée. Il lui manque ce petit "je-ne-sais-quoi" qui transforme un très bon disque en un putain d'album essentiel. C'est une oeuvre d'art magnifique, mais un peu froide. Une beauté que l'on admire plus qu'on ne l'aime passionnément. Un 3/5, pour la beauté du geste et c'est amplement mérité.

Very classical nouveau American Soul done by a Brit - this is the contemporary British music that I enjoy discovering. 3.5/5

As I was not familiar with the artist, I read comments from others and got all excited about listening to the album... The good, his voice! How refreshing to listen to someone just sing and not try and be a million things in one! The bad, repetitive... for me. After a couple of songs I was ready for the album to be over with... However, to stay positive, probably the best album produced in the past 5 years I've had the pleasure of listening to.

Never heard of this artist before, not sure what to expect. Definitely a retro sound. Sounds older than it is. Calming and ambient instrumentals. I wasn't expecting this at all but it was interesting to hear. Highlights: Living In Denial Hero

Good sound from Mr. K. There are a very select few religious artists I can get behind because the music is just good and the message doesn't get too bogged down in prayer. Great example here. Good mix with nice arrangements. The album started very strong but did slow down and fade off by the end. List did provide something I never would have found and I enjoyed...3.15.

Good to see something so recent on this list even if the album didn't wow me. MK has a good voice and the album brings some interesting diverse sounds. There's a lot of emotion and soul buried in this album so perhaps that's why it got the nod. Overall a decent listen. I may check out his other albums to see what else he has. Kiwanuka seems like a pretty skilled specialized musician. I'd like to see him open it up a little more and try his hand at a harder rock album and see what he is capable of. 2.78 stars

His first two albums were exciting. This is still very good, but nothing really stands out to me.

Intimo e lirico, allo stesso tempo corale e tribale. Probabilmente il suo disco più completo e organico.

Плотная черномазая тема

Yeah it's alright

Michael Kiwanuka's self-titled album, Kiwanuka, showcases his undeniable talent as a vocalist. His voice is rich, soulful, and carries an authenticity that draws you in from the first note. There’s a timeless quality to his voice that resonates deeply, reminiscent of classic soul artists. However, while his vocal delivery is undoubtedly strong, the album as a whole falls a bit short in leaving a lasting impact. The production is polished and the instrumentation is lush, blending elements of soul, folk, and jazz. Yet, despite these strengths, the album feels somewhat repetitive and lacks the dynamic energy that would elevate it from good to great. Many of the tracks blend together, making it difficult for any particular song to stand out. It’s a pleasant listen, but it may not be one you find yourself returning to often. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 3 STAND OUT TRACK Hero

Well, it wasn't quite what I was expecting (in a good way), but it didn't blow me away. It's fine, I'm not sure it deserves a place in the book, though.

Nice, but not top 1000 in the world

Fed! Lækker lyd, gode sange, fede vibes. Måtte gerne have været lidt mere fokuseret på sange frem for vibes måske.

Meget varieret musik, dejlig stemme!

A interesting listen. Groovy in a little different. But I probably won't come back to this.

Some infectiously catchy stuff on here. I liked it better than I thought I would.

I like it a little better than some of the other recent albums but it’s still not likely to make it on my list of favorites.

Shame on me for thinking it was going to be afro-beat. Pretty good album overall. Not one I'd heard of, obviously. I'll revisit this one when I'm in the mood.

Didn't get a chance to listen to the whole Album, but what I did catch -- I liked.

Muito bom álbum. Som bem diferente, voz agradável. Recomendo demais. Um pop que foge do convencional, com boa instrumentação e qualidade musical.

Makes me mourn pre-covid

I’ve gone back to this album a couple of times now since first listening to it. This is a supremely interesting and marvelous creative work. Love final days & the interlude.

His bio is incredible...leaning into who he is instead of creating a stage version that shields against criticism. This first song, "Your Ain't the Problem," resonates.

I really don't know what to say about this one. I didn't hate it and I made it all the way through, but I don't think I'd run it again unless I was getting paid or something. I guess I wonder why it made the list.

I had no idea what to expect from this, and was pleasantly surprised. Probably not something I would listen to on repeat, but it had some nice grooves to it.

i loved this album!! it has a very conscious feeling to it, and kept me hooked!

Good start and great ending, however the middle is quite bloated by useless interludes and drawn out instrumentals. Lost a lot of motivation on re-listens. The ending run of tracks after (and including) "Hero", is quite noteworthy and easily the strongest part of the album. Especially, if you're in the mood for a blend of psychedelic rock, soul and r&b.

3.5!

It's fine I guess. Some cool guitars

Very chill!

I'm surprised something so recent is on a list like this. I'm not sure if I would ever meet someone who would clamour that this is indeed essential. But what do I know? It's a perfectly pleasant record and Michael Kiwanuka sounds like a nice person. If I was a more skilled writer and thinker, I would try to posit some theories around the emergence of hypnagogic pop (soul) in our digital age. I appreciate anyone trying resist the whims of the algorithm and think about authenticity in a time when that seems to be rarer and rarer to see. B

Great voice, love his music. "You ain't the problem" got me through some tough times.

ok, aber keine topscheibe, elektro poprockethnoafrostyle

Smooth, easy listening

I was initially skeptical about the album because of the cover. I found the music surprisingly good. I probably won't listen to it again soon, but I wouldn't shy away from it. 3/5

It's a pleasant pastiche of stuff that has been done better about 40 years prior. Clearly very talented in all fields but originality.

Already downloaded a few of his songs so had liked him before but thought the album was solid overall.

Smooth but a bit pedestrian in places

Soothing

I really liked this. His musicality and flow were good. I think the challenge of retro-soul, especially reflecting the Blaxploitation era, is people like Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, and James Brown did it so well it became iconic. If someone is going to pay homage, it needs to offer something they didn’t. This album was a great reflection but I am not sure it offered anything not already done. You Ain’t the Peoblem and Piano Joint were my key tracks. I will definitely give this another listen, thiugh

I dig this one. I’m surprised such a recent album is on this list. I actually found this one a few years back and made it on to my “Recent Favorite Albums” playlist. The first couple of tracks are really good. It kind of mellows and meanders toward the end but is good quality.

It's a nice chill, soulful album. He has a great voice.

6/10

Good music and direction.

Really interesting and unique. 7/10

It's pretty OK. Nice and smooth. It’s another one that’s tough to rank without half stars. I quite like it at points - Solid Ground is amazing. Probably 3.5 stars overall. Turns out he’s a t*ttenham supporter, which is AT LEAST a half star deduction.

Another album that is too long. Lose a couple songs and this is 4 stars.

Guitar-forward trance-y blues that sounds great for a couple of tracks but loses me after a while. I'll probably come back to this a few more times if only for the atmosphere it lays out, and maybe I'll get it more after some repeat listens.

I had never heard of this artist but I really enjoyed this album

Folk, soul feel

3.5? Good background music

Not bad

Nice sound

First time hearing this guy. Good singer, good album

Some stand out tracks, good not great

Would I listen to it again: yes Is it a no-skip album: yes Do I like it: yes

Inaspettatamente mi è piaciuto parecchio, bellissimo il flow di alcune canzoni

È interessante senz’altro. Sembra molto più vecchio del 2019

Honestly not sure what this was but I didn’t hate it

You Ain't the Problem 3.4 Rolling 3.3 I've Been Dazed 3 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) (Intro) 2.8 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) 3.1 Another Human Being 2.9 Living in Denial 3.2 Here (Intro) 3 Hero 3.1 Hard to Say Goodbye 3.3 Final Days 3.3 Interlude (Loving the People) 3.4 Solid Ground 3.3 Light 3 Score: 3.15

some of the tracks on here hit the emotional bone for sure. i really dig the amount of distortion and fuzz on the guitar at times - stuff gets really psychedelic at times. i'm writing this as Hard To Say Goodbye is finishing up and god damn, real talk could have listened to that on loop for at least another 7 mins. lowkey shoegaze vibes (shut up). dudes vocals are incredible and very very good but something isn't quite clicking with me in that department yet. alright, few more tracks left. might listen to it again and see if it really sticks - otherwise 3/5 for sure.

Some nice songs

Nice voice. Good listen.

Very uneven for me - really liked some tracks, yawned through some, disliked a couple.

Pretty good. Better than expected

An interesting 1970s vibe - I liked it!

Nice, easy to listen to, but nothing stood out or made me feel excited.

I really liked Michael’s voice and Danger Mouse’s production. Some songs were a little slow for me

Album 380 of 1001 Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA Rating : 3.5 / 5 I enjoyed this album. Released in 2019, it is part of the updated 1001 Album list. Wasn't familiar. Good stuff. Classified as Soul/Folk, yet had a Best Rock Album nomination, so hard to categorize. Sometimes a category isn't needed. This is just a good listen, no label needed.

this is one of those albums made by MICHAEL

Correcto.

Newest Easy listening album added to the latest edition of this list

Dense as a positive aspect, and retro while remaining distinctly modern. In some ways, it reminds me of Kirin J. Callinan’s Bravado, because I feel like it’s a ‘70s record that just so happened to be released in the 2010s. But unlike Bravado, which can turn abrasive and ultra-modern at the drop of a hat, Kiwanuka always marches forward on a traditionalist path. That isn’t necessarily a slight, because it makes for a seamless album that flows aesthetically and sonically into a singular statement, but sometimes, it also means that, while good, it can feel somewhat bland. It’s so traditionalist that I almost feel like I’ve heard it all before, and without anything fresh upfront to excite me, I’m having a hard time clicking with this. And I get that some of the freshness I’m looking for is in its contextualization, or better, in its recontextualization. In that way, it reminds me a lot of Ethel Cain, an artist I haven’t yet been able to get into because the treasure is buried beneath, and frankly, I just don’t have time to dig for buried treasure any more at this stage in my life. My ears are like the slush pile – if I’m not entranced after the first paragraph, you’re getting a rejection. Which is cruel, because I do like a lot of what this album is doing. It’s just not doing anything particularly unique to my ears to elicit excitement. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if this grows on me by the end of the challenge. To be fair, I feel like that is the intention with this record – you’re supposed to sit with it for a month or six, and then, suddenly, it blossoms into an obvious magnum opus, and you feel foolish for not seeing it earlier. But my first impression is that it’s very good, just not something I’m falling head over heels for any time soon.

Some nice tunes here. Never heard of this album or artist. It's not 90s hip hop so I won't listen to it again.

also not terrible. modern production quality certainly helps

I first became aware of MK when he was interviewed by Guy Garvey on his BBC Radio 6 show. He came across well and the music played stirred my interest to research and listen his music more. I wasn’t moved enough to go out and buy any of his albums. I found lots of things to like but equally other tracks which were duds to my ears. A bit like this album really. I have listened it fully from start to finish. MK is obviously a very talented man being able to knot together more musical genres than you can shake a stick at. The knotting together is particular good as each track merges seemlessly unnoticeably but then again it is noticeable how good this is achieved. 75% of this album is brilliant - Piano Joint, Hero, Solid Ground been highlights. One or two other tracks do not measure up for me but this is true for lots of albums as very few albums are perfect. I could be persuaded to go out and buy this album but it certainly goes onto a streaming playlist. I’d would rate it a midway 2.5 but as Guy Garvey rates MK music so much and because Guy has introduced me to so much good music (as well as his own) it must be a 3. 2.5(3)/5 27/3/24

It was okay.

Pleasant, easy-going tunes

7.5

I thought that this wouldn't be too great, based on the first few songs in the album, but the song Hero was quite nice, although it was quite repetitive. It's okay though, but the rest of the songs are a bit meh.

Enjoyed that quite a bit. Not sure how to describe. More sour than rock. 3.75

Great voice, but nothing else stands out.

Good album. Great combination of sounds.

Like the artist's vocals and the blues influence, a tad bit slow for me.

Strong album, start to finish.

Definitely interesting music. Reverb-drenched.

Completely new to me. Dull in parts in my opinion but overall pretty cool

3.4 New to me and an interesting entry. Wouldnt say its an all-time great or anything like that but I enjoyed it

Quite pleasant folk-rock, but nothing really grabbed me.

An ok album

This was an unexpected hit for me. I only vaguely knew of this man prior but this album is POWERFUL!

I liked the first few tracks a lot and thought it was overall a beautiful album. I'm not sure I would like this album everyday, but I liked it today.

This was pretty OK.

ich fand’s ein bissl fad

Maybe this is just unlucky to be my first of the 1001 albums but I’d just say it was okay. Definitely no bad songs but not much that stands out to me. I’d give it pass marks if not a B grade.

Loved it!

Overall decent album. Had some songs that I enjoyed but none that took me to the next level. I enjoyed hearing something new and more modern. No songs made it into rotation, though.

This was alright but I didn't find it as arresting as the earlier Love and Hate album. Will keep listening out for the lad though

Not my genre but an intriguing sound and enjoyable listen.

I liked the various genre influences throughout, and while there weren't any tracks I particularly disliked, the album as a whole was just a little slow for my liking

This album has a very smooth tone with a melding of light jazz and smooth rock. I also think I hear some background African beats in a fee of the songs, but the jazz overrides. I know the reviews indicate a rock and soul vibe but I don't hear it as much as I hear the soft jazz tones. Very easy to listen and enjoyable all through the song list.

Lovely sounding, strong songs a real grower.

It's ok. Cool soul style, but none of the authenticity or originality of old school soul. This is kind of a UK Mass Market version from 2019. 2.8.

Ended up liking this one. Enjoyed the mix of soul music and the influences of his ancestral background. 3.5/5 Might listen again.

This is cool to me simply because of the combination of influences Kiwanuka uses. I love records that are difficult to qualify in easy genre terms, and KIWANUKA is certainly one of those.

Really not in my musical wheelhouse. Wasn't bad but not something I would gravitate to.

This was pretty good. I had enough by the end though.

Unique

Diverse and often beautiful

Eerste album van de 1001. Kende deze artiest alleen van de wereldhit 'Home Again'. Dit is echter niet representatief voor de songs op dit album. Wat een gevarieerd neo-soul album met duidelijke jaren 70 invloeden. Veel gitaar en funky ritmes. Kom er zeker nog eens bij terug. 3,5/5

Low key thoughtful

Have listened to a bit of this geezer in the past, and by that I mean listened to two songs a lot, including the opening credits song to HBOs Big Little Lies (would recommend the first series, not the second). However there was nothing on this album I recognised, and nothing jumping out at me. A fairly pleasant listen none the less.

Found this a bit boring, but its not bad.

Un poco rollo, pero bueno ... Final Days lo salva.

It's good! I would never listen to this on the regular, but if it showed up in a playlist I'd recognize it as a Very Good Vibe.

Solid modern soul project, got a little repetitive and long for my taste but it’s a cool album!

Decent mix of rock and soul. I wasn't into the slower songs as much but there are some cool tunes here.

It was okay, but it was not my favorite!

nice easy listening

Robin said it was good. Travel day, missed it.

Solid album, if a little safe.

Not my style, but original, special and pure 🙌🏽

Pretty fun album. I'm surprised it was so off of my radar. I'm glad that I listened to it.

Okay

I listened to most of the songs...did not feel anything inspiring for any of them!

Ahh what a breath of fresh air this album is from yesterday! That being said…. Michael is a sad boy whose heart was broken and his style is reminiscent of early indie music from 90’s and 2000’s. Blending some nice vocals and various string accompaniments that make it feel recent yet familiar to days gone by. I enjoy the vibe, but c’mon dude let her/(him?) go you know? Go to therapy, journal, take yoga, I dunno find that “Solid Ground” or “Light” you’re yearning for my man. I gave it a good listen while making eggs so my headspace was a little different compared to his I suppose. He’s got a nice voice but would be cool to hear him explore that in a positive direction and embrace his Ugandan roots and do a full album with more African inspired influence. Undoubtedly under represented in this genre (indie, folk, RnB) —> would be fresh to hear especially from someone with impressive pipes to showcase and blend old culture with new flair

Sometimes, it gives sly and the family stone But then, there is a certain muffled, distorted distancing from the singer's voice. I dunno why, it reminds me of Radiohead? introspective, longing, melancholic... he dives inward on piano joint and then! is that a harp on another human being? spacey, dreamy coffee shop vibes all around

Decent album overall, not really my kind of music

Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka This seems too recent to be on an important list like this. No idea what to expect. Or even what genre this is. It’s gotta be good to be from 2019 and on this list. You Ain’t The Problem - strong out the gate with a classic neo-soul sound. Instantly melts any fears I have about this album. Super high production values. Love the line delivery. 4/5 Rolling - rolling forward into the next song. Song is alright, gets a big push from its predecessor. 2/5 I’ve Been Dazed - that move from one song to the next without telling me! So sneaky. This trio of songs are obviously meant to be listen to as a set. That energy! 4/5 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) [Intro] - well it does say intro. It’s carrying me through though 1/5 Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) - sad song makes me sad. Ok. This song feels more complete than the others 2/5 Another Human Being - outro. Not as cool as the intro. Totally a skit. 1/5 Living in Denial - I can’t tell what year I’m in! I definitely like the layered weirdness of this song. It’s got a memorable hook to. This song has a bridge! Why don’t the others have bridges? 3/5 Hero (Intro) - that was total filler 0/5 Hero - ok I get it now, this album is going for a wide array of guitar textures. Guitar solo! 2/5 Hard To Say Goodbye - this song feels like a journey on an expansive steppe, probably in a Jeep Wrangler. This probably has the best vocals in the album. It pulls me and pushes me away at the same time. 3/5 Final Days - an apocalypse song. I’ll always listen to an apocalypse song. Interlude - I actually enjoy this interlude. Call me crazy 2/5 Solid Ground - while this sure feels like the single it’s a bit of a slog for me. 1/5 Light - nice conclusion 2/5 Well, that was a journey. Transporting to a kind of neo-soul nostalgic cool kids club in heaven. Definitely an album experience. Delivers in spades there. I jumped right back to the beginning after it was through. Songs though seem a tad undercooked. Many seem to miss just slightly. A lot of repetition. I don’t see myself breaking out the songs individually. It’s hard. It’s simultaneously awesome and underwhelming album. Placing it right in the center. 3/5

3 Thought it was a calypso collection at first but was disappointed with the rest of the items

A very solid but only modestly interesting soul album. Really well-crafted and thoughtfully written. Think I could have stood for a little more variety, or maybe a little more melody to go with the atmosphere. Best song: Final Days

Smooth vocals. Starts strong but falters in the middle. Lacks cohesive melodies to match the vocals. Finds its feet towards the end with the strings.

Very Grandiose, no bad songs but nothing grabbed me. Best song: (Beginning of) You ain't the problem worst song: N/A

I was surprised by this one. I didn’t know it at all but it sounds like some Venn diagram of Jimi Hendrix plus the Who plus some sort of trippy other thing mixed in. It’s not something I’d have discovered on my own but it definitely has a 60’s vibe that I dug.

was pleasantly surprised on this one. enjoyed

Ok

This album is not what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not sure that any one song particularly stood out. Nevertheless, it was very soothing from start to finish. Fav Track: Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)

Okay. Kind of forgettable.

liked his voice

Sad

There are some enchanting songs on this, it get bogged down in the middle and the production by Dangermouse seems to fussy and over layered. Would it have sounded better more stripped down?

Very nice surprise. Hadn't heard ofMK but the album is very smooth and has great beats. 3

Interesting Sounds, some nice tunes. Listenable

Really good stuff. Will probably listen again.

All around chill. Good quality music. 3

Nice. I liked this a lot and had never heard of Michael before. Liked the music and the vocals.

should be my vibe, but didn’t really have anything that stood out to me. Grammy nominated rock album, kinda R&B. 2019.

Did not manage to listen to it

Pretty cool, haven't heard anything from this artist before. Would listen again.

A few good songs. Slower music that makes me a bit drowsy. Reminds me of Moby mixed with some oldies and soul.

Meh

Didn’t listen fully, but from what I heard it’s groovy

Nothing super interesting here, there was one song with some great fuzz guitar leads but nothing that's particularly connecting with me

Un poco rollo, pero bueno ... Final Days la salva.

interesting one… have to get back to this

Smooth music with clean beats and nice rhythms. No song stands out to me, but it sounds nice. 5/10

- An interesting vibe, great to chill to - Very recent, I hope we get other recent albums - 2.5 round up - Hero and You Ain't the problem were good

This was pretty damn good. A couple songs got me listening - You Ain't the Problem, Solid Ground. A pretty strong groove throughout. I could do with more of this kind of stuff.

Slow, but nicely melodic. Good vocals, decent vibes, good flow from one song to next, nothing standout.

Very enjoyable album, I really liked the vibe from the songs.

Pretty good album, Piano Joint and Solid Ground were two really strong songs in the album and also enjoyed Rolling and You Ain't the Problem however didn't enjoy either of the 'Intro' tracks and didn't think they gave a good front for their respective next track.

Meh.

Not what I expected. A unique new take on some classic soul sounds. Kiwanuka has a great voice and that is the main appeal of this abum. It also works as an album , which is an interesting throwback concept nowadays. A little sad and lonely when you look at it next to its influences like Otis Redding or Bill Withers. Not a masterpiece by any means but you can feel Michael Kiwanuka's intention and looking forward to more. First time hearing about him - is the 1001 albums book slightly UK biased?

this is the type of album you put on after a breakup and drink yourself to sleep. i by no means disliked it, thought it was pretty good, but probably wouldn't reach for it. 6.5/10.

A couple good songs, but the album didn’t really speak to me.

Not terrible

This was pretty good. Not something I would have normally sought out, but I'm glad I listened to this. "You Ain't The Problem" and "Hero" were the standout tracks to me.

I found it... alright. Nothing really blew me away here but there was nothing I really didn't like either. I can tell its good, but maybe just not for me.

I prefer the uptempo stuff.

I liked the vibes of the album. Kiwanuka has a very calm and soothing voice. That said, I don’t think it’s something I’d choose to listen to although I’d definitely check out his other releases.

A bit slow and dull for active listening IMO. but nice in the background when working.

Just never got there for me. Great voice, great songs, but never peaked

It was alright. I didn't skip any songs. I cannot recall a specific song though which makes it difficult to say whether I would listen to it again. It was just kind there and the dial did not move much one way or the other.

Album starts very strong, and then slows down into a more mellow sound. Hard to pin down exactly what it does, but it’s a mood, in a good way.

gostei

Easy listen

Different than stuff I would listen to. Enjoyed it as background music.

This was cool and something I had not heard of

Ok. Mix of 90s sound with R n B but overall seemed to miss the mark.

Interesting. Sort of introspective, strings, but considered rock. Almost in a U2 sort of way. Decent. 3.3

Pretty large to start out, then it drifts a bit poppy. Love the big band feel though, and the first three songs on the album are 5 stars!

Rock

This was okay. I liked it, but I didn't particularly pay too much attention to it.

This is definitely good and i understand why a lot of people i know dig this. I just do not dig it at all.

A pleasant retro sounding album. It passed me by without making me feel much.

Not bad.

Good

Pas trop aimé, pas mon style

Bon album de soul, se laissait vraiment écouter tout seul, même un peut trop : c'était un tantinet unidimensionnel comme musique, pas vraiment de surprise. Aucun mauvais passage, mais pas vraiment non plus qui se démarquait. 7/10

bom

Not in my edition of the book! 2019. 3 stars. Well done indie soul-rock, but lacking standout songs. Not sure it is essential listening.

Surprisingly good!

Favourites: • You Ain't the Problem • Final Days

Well this was lovely, with lush arrangements and an atmospheric, retro feel. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Fave Songs: Hard to Say Goodbye, Final Days, Living in Denial, Hero, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)

KIWANUKA by Michael Kiwanuka is an album that offers a blend of soulful introspection and musical exploration. Released in 2019, it ventures into themes of self-discovery and societal reflections. Tracks like "You Ain't The Problem" and "Hero" showcase Kiwanuka's emotive vocals and thoughtful songwriting. The album's production is intricate, weaving folk, R&B, and rock influences. While the thematic depth is commendable, some tracks feel slightly repetitive and don't maintain the initial engagement. Despite its artistic merits, KIWANUKA's pacing and consistency fall a bit short for my taste. While it doesn't achieve the same cohesion throughout, it still captures Kiwanuka's growth as an artist, even though it might not consistently resonate as strongly as anticipated.

Nuuike

🧝🏻‍♂️

Nice but tiresome

He lives in Southampton?

Really good.

I had never heard of this album or artist before today, and wow I was missing out! I will definitely listen to this album again. It's the perfect blend of infectious beats and low-fi vibes.

3,5

this was a pleasant album to listen to. i had it on in the background while working and nothing particularly jumped out at me, though i did go back and listen to a few tracks again. favorites: you ain't the problem, solid ground

A soft groovy album with some nice music, pretty different, I enjoyed my time listening.

Decent. 3.5/5

Enjoyed alot

Pretty good stuff. Some songs I liked quite a bit and some kind of grated.

I enjoyed it

A strong and assertive album where Kiwanuka really finds his voice. I would say I kind of wrote this off when it first came out or maybe just missed it, but it’s actually very good. Definitely not a classic, and borderline whether I’d call it great, but still very good.

Nice voice, but I just feel like he doesn’t know what he wants to be? Not one for me I’m afraid.

симпатичненько

Man I really wanted to rate this guy higher, but he just wasn’t at the level of my other 4s. I was surprised to get such a recent album on here. His voice was impeccable and it isn’t the style I usually listen to so it was interesting. While there are no half stars I would like to give this album a 3.5/5 for the record

Well this was completely unexpected. I think I'll have to listen to his other stuff to know what I think about him, to be honest. But I rather enjoyed this.

A great voice with some really good tracks. A solid listen all the way through with a small handful of favorites

3.3 Not my usual cup of tea and not many stand out songs (more of a whole album unit) but I like how it's not bounded to any specific genre. Fave songs: Piano Joint, you ain't the problem

Some great songs, but not that consistent. Good singer anyhow.

I was really surprised by this album, thinking I was going to hate it based on the type of music I read it was. But I found it to be fairly enjoyable, although at little disjointed and, at times, a little long. I may have to revist this one.

Great vocals. The instrumentals and a few songs are a little boring. You Ain’t the Problem, Rolling, Piano Joint, Hero, and Final Days. 7/10

He no Frankiestein, He hero.

This album felt like a more classical Black Keys, it was decently enjoyable but it didn't grip me other than a couple songs. Hard to Say Goodbye is a fantastic song, plus Piano Joint is good too.

Not bad, couple songs I enjoyed. Rest wasn’t really my thing.

Pretty alright but still forgettable overall

It's nice but I'm not completely blown away by this

This is a solid album with some really nice tracks on it. I enjoyed it. Some cool videos, too, for a few of the songs. The animated one for "Light" is great.

A very dreamy album by Kiwanuka, taking the concept album to a different level, a more autobiographical healing piece. Michael has a smooth soulful voice that could probably heal anyone's pain. Wouldn't normally have this on my rotation, but an interesting addition to the album list. Best: Hard to Say Goodbye, Solid Ground Worst: Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) (Intro)

Nice soul record. Good production. Great voice.

Interesting. Somewhat eclectic. A lot of it sounded like soul to me.

A good album? Sure. Some enjoyable melodic and psychy guitar parts, and interesting blending of genres, but overall maybe not blown away by any particular section or the record as a whole. Decent songwriting and hard to rag on the record too hard but not anything I found to be that exceptional. Fave track: Rolling

Michael Kiwanuka is great but this is not his best music.

Not bad

OK

Reminiscent of Gorillaz and early 60s James Bond intros. Little too laid back and easy to tune out.

This was nice, indie and folky, sort of reminded me of Thom Yorke at points, though maybe it's just because they're both Brits. It was not challenging to listen to, but also not mind-blowing. Just nice.

very talented!

2019! That can only mean... they've updated the book again since I started using the generator :O I already reviewed this album on the Tunelighting podcast so I'll summarise here: - Classic, soulful feel & weighty topics, so can see why it's popular. Seems 'objectively' very good, but I probably respect it more than I enjoy it. - You Ain't The Problem and Hero are terrific. In fact, the more uptempo numbers in general are where this album shines. - Much like Michael's beloved Tottenham Hotspur, the quality is mainly up front. I found the final few tracks a bit lacking. 3.5

Mooi, maar niet zo interessant.

Mmmmmbop

Not my style, but certainly not bad music

A noughties soul update of the nineties dinner party vibes as practiced by Morcheeba, Sneaker Pimps et al. And thus three stars. Goes well with garlic bread.

The atmosphere is upbeat and inviting.

El vaig començar amb ganes, sorprès que se'm passés per alt en el seu moment. Té moments molt interessants i una producció molt acurada, tot i que es fa una mica massa llarg durant la recta final.

I really like Michael Kiwanuka, but the album felt like it meandered along quite a bit

Different, there were definitely some bits I really enjoyed. Would check out some of his other stuff

Listened Before? N I've never heard of this guy. I sort of enjoyed it. Seemed kind of Ed-Sheeran-y in the beginning and then got very mellow for a long time. I wasn't a big fan of "Hero" but I can see the appeal. An okay listen. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: You Ain't the Problem

Chill but not very memorable

Me gustó, pero prefiero el disco anterior

I skim a lot of year-end music lists from all the publications looking for best-of clicks. I usually think about how I should make playlists of the songs and artists of the year to go check them out later. But then I don't usually take that step, and repeat the mistake a year later. Thankfully, the 1001 is filling in some of the gaps. Michael Kiwanuka is definitely a name I've seen on those lists, and always meant to check out his music. Now that I have, I'm not sure I get the hype. "KIWANUKA" is a solid album, but I wouldn't call it the instant classic that I have seen it referred to in the music media. Maybe I'll give it another spin or check out his other albums to see if I can figure out what I'm missing.

Fine but not memorable

Modern soul albums always sound better when the sound like they were recorded in the 1960s. I saw him a lifetime ago at Splendour (2012?) and he was good (second on the second stage IIRC) but never followed up by actually listening to the album.

Really good stuff!

Pleasant. But not memorable.

Thoroughly enjoyed the jazzy modern soul vibes.

solid, pretty new for the list.

P good

Pretty nice album from 2019

This was a nice surprise.

I like the music.

Da e heilt ok

I think this falls into the "artful but not really my thing" category. Might give it another listen at some point.

This album started out with a bombastic, eclectic sound that was pretty unique. I kept thinking there was something familiar about the elements and wasn't surprised to read it was produced by DJ Dangermouse. Once I knew that, it was obvious his fingerprints were all over this thing. Unfortunately, I felt like the album ended with a whimper. I was bored and everything sounded similar in the second half.

Enjoyed it. Smooth and easy to listen to.

Very smooth soul... a great voice and vibe that occasionally reminded me of Seal... but maybe not as pop-ish. All very listenable tunes, though only a few (Final Days, Solid Ground) stood out for me.

notes - groovy indie rock album, psychedelic elements - produced by danger mouse - big fan of a lot of the production choices on here - especially the way that backing vocals are handled - lyrical themes of violence, race, self reflection - some of the lyrics on here are really good, but he often goes for the most obvious rhymes and choices - friend, end, see, me etc - the simplicity works in some moments but in others it breaks the mystique of the songs - The last 4/5 songs on here are great! Fav - Final days - The drums and vocals on this are so good least fav - hero - compelling lyrical content but the music didnt do anything for me 3/5

Fucking GREAT album holy shit. This album made me so happy to just experience.

I’m not sure what I think about this one. Trying to cram in a lot of styles. Not bad but doesn’t win me over either

Really difficult to rate this one. Some tracks are good to amazing, some things really don't stick for me. All in all an okay album with a great singer

It's better when using guitar for the hooks (such as in Hero/Interlude Loving The People), rather than backing vocals (such as Living In Denial/You Ain't The Problem, which sound like backing tracks from Austin Powers). As a whole album, lots of interesting styles and influences, I like when it gets a bit ambient and trippy, and your man has a great voice ... but some of it I found a bit irritating.

It’s like a more soulful, less funky Black Pumas. Definitely good, but wouldn’t say anything deeply caught my attention. It was mostly in the background of the day. Didn’t listen super consciously.

Neat! Easy listening, without being "easy listening". Jazzy with an afrobeat appeal. Watching the live show that came on next, this guy is quite a performer and guitarist.

3.5

Cool enough album. Didn't really have any standout hits. At least it wasn't totally expected. 3/5.

It was off to a good start and then I zoned out. Nothing really peaked my interest until suddenly Fontaines D.C started playing and I realised the album must have ended and I didn't even notice. That's not to say the album is bad or that it only works as forgettable background music. It's more likely to be true that my ears pricked at the music that's familiar to me, like a greeting from someone I know and I'm excited to see, rather than meeting a friend of a friend for the first time, someone you may well get along with in time but don't have the focus or interest for right now.

It starts off with sounds of South African riffing. It then gets a little like Paul Weller's "My Ever Changing Moods" (which isn't a compliment). The horns give it a bit of an irritating flowing 60s sound but when they take out the guitars and put the dam horns away, they sound quite good. "Hero" and "You Ain't the Problem"  are good examples.  The background vocals on songs like Light sound like hymns you might hear on Sunday morning religious programming. There is a live version of him singing Light (at the Mildmay Club) that has none of the Pray TV style of background vocals. It exposes this song for what it is - an excellent  song sung by a man with a wonderful voice. Too bad this is hidden under the overproduced studio version.

Överraskande bra. La till två låtar på mitt Spotify.

A nice mix of organic pop and indie sounds. Also suprised to learn that Danger Mouse produced this… strong 3

Helt ok men lite för städigt+vad gör det på listan...

Nice album, but wouldn't really call it rock. Flows nicely without any real highs or lows. 3/5

Psychedelic soul, 2019. This is nothing more than a nice album with some interesting songs and a few fillers. This is a record which is not memorable, but on the other hand it is also really far to be an uninspired project, infact some tracks work quite well, e.g. "Solid Ground" or "Piano Joint".

Absolutely okay - completely unnoteworthy upon first listen, the kind of music which musicians/music students fawn over because it doesn’t actually say a great deal with its complex chord changes. Not for me but I can appreciate the production on it without question.

Pretty good. I really liked some of it.

Really nice voice. The songs were good but nothing really jumped out.

Pretty good - some nice rhythms.

i liked it because it was something i’ve never really heard before. it wasn’t completely up my alley, not for any particular reason but just not completely my vibe but i did enjoy it.

Pop con algún toque electrónico y reminiscencia de los '70. Fácil de escuchar, pero no llamativo

Decent enough album.

Mad decent, nothing super spectacular

Just nice

Great album, I’ll listen to it again I’m sure.

Mellow. Found myself liking it though.

Didn't really connect with this album, but it did have a few good songs.

Enjoyed listening to him. Not quite 4*, just 3

Nice album but kind of boring. More artistic than anything. 6/10

Enjoyed some of Michael’s collections The easy listening I favored

This might be the most recent album so far, but in 2019 I had no idea about this one. Must have flown under the radar but I don’t think I would have put it in my top albums back then anyway. In the most curious of terms, I’m not sure why this album is on this list, I’d love to know why, I don’t think it won any awards but it seems like a basic RnB album. Felt a bit like 70’s too.

Not as I expected - but not my go to sound