Massive Attack - 100th Window

An album unduly slated as a disappointment compared to previous Massive Attack output, which couldn't be further from the proof. Six years on and unsuspecting compositions like "Everywhen" and "Smalltime Shot Away" are as poignantly deep and emotive today as they were upon release. Reverent, reserved, brooding and foreboding, this is my personal favorite MA album (with Mezzanine trailing somewhat behind) and I'm anxiously awaiting the new material set for release in 2009.

Based on the mixed opinions this record had received at the time of its release, I hesitated to purchase "100th Window" for a long time until I recently spotted it at a discount.

As measured by the high standards set by its consummate predecessor, "100th Window" seemed doomed to fail. Nonetheless, the production struck me as clean and detailed from the beginning, evoking an atmosphere similar to that of "Mezzanine". The wealth of dark soundscapes make this a recommended headphone experience.

After more in-depth listening, however, there seems to be something lacking. Whereas earlier Massive Attack albums had a certain warmth in their overall sound, this one rarely breaks the cold prevailing mood.

I consider the tracks featuring Sinéad O'Connor to be real album highlights - yet, my favourite tracks remain those without guest appearances (for instance, the hypnotic opener "Future Proof" or the superbly produced "Butterfly Caught", which are both reminiscent of the band's finest moments on "Mezzanine").

One can hardly expect Massive Attack to reinvent themselves with each new record; therefore, their qualitative consistency (after 15 years of band history) should be applauded."

Not Massive Attack's best album, but 100TH WINDOW is still an album of impressive beauty and menace. Sinead O'Connor takes the role of chanteuse du jour, and her fragile voice accompanies the lonesome guitar and wistful harp chords on "What Your Soul Sings" with startling fragility. Later, on “Special Cases,” she makes her whisper into more of a growl. Frequent collaborator Horace Andy also lends his vocals: on “Everywhen,” he adds a grace note amongst the dub effects. He also works well with faster tempo, as on “Name Taken.” As with other Massive Attack albums, the overall feel of 100TH WINDOW is one of dense sonic paranoia (“Butterfly Caught” is a good example of this; it’s bass growls with tension), but also has fewer songs to lighten the mood somewhat. “A Prayer for England” is both gorgeous and depressing. And I’ve never thought that Robert Del Naja was the best vocalist, but his grizzled voice matches the overall tone.

The album that would never please anybody. Since reviewers often call one of massive attack's prior albums "the greatest ever" and then label the others "disappointing" this album will always be derided because it is most definitely not "the greatest ever." If you can step out of that mindset you are left with an excellent album that is worth a listen.

It took a while to realize , that it is indeed a wonderful record , especially the artwork is stunning - when you take out all inside sleeves you can cover the whole package , a three-gate-fold with these all black - sheets-cartons , which looks absolutely wonderful . Plus the music is sometimes very touching and rocking , and sometimes hard , ruff and with nearly no rhythm at all . So it takes it's time to dig it and the diverse ratings from absolutely garbage to excellent are understandable - what did i think when i listend to the whole set on 33 rpm ? liked it somehow .. but that sounded even more disturbing , than this work of art , which is again very political, the fact they put the remaining artist 3D in a childs porn affair , should be proof enuff , how much this massive black statement is disliked by some.
BTW : "To plant a Tree in The Massive Attack Forest www.FutureForest.Com/MassiveAttack "

i must add , i listened to the lp first with 33 rpm . very dark & ambientish and no female vocals - now i try it with 45 rpm and i can indeed recognize the voice of a female (maybe = sinead o'connor ). not sure if i don't like it better at 33rpm. strange a 3Lp-set on 45 rpm..

This 3LP-Set weighs 927 gramms - 2 pounds !! Massive work . 3 vinyls all in black with infos carved black on black, this is as deep and dark as massive attack could posssibly go . mostly sheer ambients , but without any bright passages , concentrating on a condensed , packed emotion , the vocals are just somewhere deep in the back and i swear i didn't hear Sinead O'connor or any other female . a record you got to sit back and listen to without doing something else . Mental stuff - absolutely no hit-parade material ..