Massive Attack Songs

Formed in 1988 in Bristol, Massive Attack was an English trip hop collective that helped shape the sound of electronic music for years to come. The group was composed of Robert "3D" Del Naja, Adrian "Tricky" Thaws, Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Over the course of their career, they released five studio albums, each one innovating on the sound of trip hop and pushing the genre in new directions. The band's origin goes back to 1983 and the formation of the Wild Bunch, an influential sound system/DJ collective from the U.K. They mix a wide range of musical genres, including reggae, punk, and R&B. The collective included Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles, and Robert "3D" del Naja. The three of them would go on to form Massive Attack. In 1988, the trio decided to form their own production team and began working on songs that would eventually be released as the group's debut album, Blue Lines. The album was released in 1991 and featured the singles "Safe from Harm" and "Unfinished Sympathy." Blue Lines, is considered to be one of the most important records in the history of electronic music. It was a critical and commercial success, and it established Massive Attack as one of the leading lights of the trip hop scene. The album's sound was a perfect melding of the group's diverse influences, including soul, hip hop, and dub. Massive Attack's second album, Protection, was another critical and commercial success. It featured a more polished sound than Blue Lines, and it included guest appearances from Tracey Thorn and Horace Andy. The album's standout track, "Unfinished Sympathy", is widely considered to be one of the greatest songs of the 1990s. After the release of Protection, Massive Attack took a five-year hiatus. They returned in 1994 with their third album, Mezzanine. The album was another critical and commercial success, and it cemented Massive Attack's status as one of the most important electronic music groups of all time. Massive Attack's fourth album, 100th Window, was released in 2003. The album was a departure from the group's previous sound, and it received mixed reviews from critics. However, it still managed to sell over two million copies worldwide. In 2010, Massive Attack released their fifth and final studio album, Heligoland. The album was another critical and commercial success, and it cemented the group's legacy as one of the most important electronic music groups of all time. Massive Attack has also released a number of non-album singles, EPs, and compilations. The group's most recent release is the 2016 EP Ritual Spirit, which featured guest appearances from Roots Manuva, Young Fathers, and Tricky. In July 2020, the group returned with the conceptual three-song EP Eutopia. The material was recorded in three different cites during quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic and featured contributions from Young Fathers, Saul Williams, Algiers, and several spoken word artists. The audio was paired with video counterparts, with charged visuals further emphasizing the overt political themes of the songs. The band's musical style can often be defined by songs without choruses, instead containing atmospheric tones, created through distorted guitar, lopped bass lines, or orchestral passages. Their tracks also boast high production value with meticulous editing and mixing. Lyrically, their songs often deal with themes of love, loss, paranoia, and betrayal. Massive Attack's influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary electronic music artists, including Burial, Four Tet, and Mount Kimbie. The group has also been credited with helping to shape the sound of modern pop music, with their tracks being sampled by everyone from Beyoncé to Kanye West. Today, Massive Attack is widely considered to be one of the most influential electronic music groups of all time. Their groundbreaking sound has influenced countless artists, and their legacy will continue to inspire new generations of musicians for years to come. The band has sold over 13 million copies of their music worldwide. They have also garnered critical acclaim, having won many awards, including a Brit Award for Best British Dance Act, two Q Awards, and two MTV Europe Music Awards. The group has also advocated for human rights and environmental causes.