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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}}
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{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
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* [[Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road]] (London)
* [[Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road]] (London)
* Hot Nights (London)
* Hot Nights (London)
| genre =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Trip hop]]|[[British hip hop]]}}
⚫
| length = {{duration|m=45|s=08}}
* [[Trip hop]]
* [[British hip hop]]
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| length = {{duration|m=45|s=04}}
| label =
| label =
* [[The Wild Bunch (sound system)|Wild Bunch]]
* [[The Wild Bunch (sound system)|Wild Bunch]]
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}}
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'''''Blue Lines''''' is the debut studio album by English [[electronic music]] group [[Massive Attack]],{{efn|On certain releases, the group is credited as "Massive".}} released on 8 April 1991 by [[The Wild Bunch (sound system)|Wild Bunch]] and [[Virgin Records]].<ref name="Sounds1990330">{{cite magazine |first=Jim |last=Arundel |title=Massive: Blue Lines |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |location=London |page=34 |date=30 March 1991}}</ref> The recording was led by members [[Daddy G|Grantley "Daddy G" Marshall]], [[Robert Del Naja|Robert "3D" Del Naja]], and [[Andrew Vowles|Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles]], with co-production by [[Jonny Dollar]]. It also features contributions by sometime-member [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky]] and singers [[Shara Nelson]] and [[Horace Andy]]. Generally regarded as the first "[[trip hop]]" album, ''Blue Lines'' blended elements of [[hip hop music|hip hop]] (such as [[breakbeat]]s, [[sampling (music)|sampling]], and [[rapping]]) with [[dub music|dub]], [[soul music|soul]], [[reggae]], and [[electronic music]].
'''''Blue Lines''''' is the debut studio album by English [[electronic music]] group [[Massive Attack]],{{efn|On certain releases, the group is credited as "Massive".}} released on 8 April 1991 by [[The Wild Bunch (sound system)|Wild Bunch]] and [[Virgin Records]].<ref name="Arundel"/> The recording was led by members [[Daddy G|Grantley "Daddy G" Marshall]], [[Robert Del Naja|Robert "3D" Del Naja]], [[Tricky (musician)|Adrian "Tricky" Thaws]], and [[Andrew Vowles|Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles]], with co-production by [[Jonny Dollar]]. It also features contributions by singers [[Shara Nelson]] and [[Horace Andy]]. Generally regarded as the first "[[trip hop]]" album, ''Blue Lines'' blended elements of [[hip hop music|hip hop]] (such as [[breakbeat]]s, [[sampling (music)|sampling]], and [[rapping]]) with [[dub music|dub]], [[soul music|soul]], [[reggae]], and [[electronic music]].


''Blue Lines'' was named the 21st greatest album of all time in a 1997 "Music of the Millennium" poll conducted by [[HMV]], [[Channel 4]], ''[[The Guardian]]'' and [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]. In 2000, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' readers placed it at number 9 in the magazine's poll of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". In 2003, the album was included on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of [[The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]] and again in a 2012 revised list.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/massive-attack-blue-lines-66986/| year=2012| title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time| work=Rolling Stone| access-date= September 5, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' ranked it at number 85 in its list of "The Top 100 Albums of the 1990s".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/2/ |title=Top 100 Albums of the 1990s |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=17 November 2003 |access-date=2 December 2012 |page=2}}</ref>
''Blue Lines'' was named the 21st greatest album of all time in a 1997 "Music of the Millennium" poll conducted by [[HMV]], [[Channel 4]], ''[[The Guardian]]'' and [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]. In 2000, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' readers placed it at number 9 in the magazine's poll of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". In 2003, the album was included on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]" and again in 2012 and 2020.<ref name="RS2012"/><ref name="RS2020"/> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' ranked it at number 85 in its list of "The Top 100 Albums of the 1990s".<ref name="Top 100 Albums of the 1990s"/>


A remastered version of the album was released on 19 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.factmag.com/2012/09/11/massive-attack-announce-specially-remastered-blue-lines-reissue/ |title=Massive Attack announce specially remastered Blue Lines reissue |date=11 September 2012 |work=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]] |access-date=1 November 2012}}</ref>
A remastered version of the album was released on 19 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.factmag.com/2012/09/11/massive-attack-announce-specially-remastered-blue-lines-reissue/ |title=Massive Attack announce specially remastered Blue Lines reissue |website=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]] |date=11 September 2012 |access-date=1 November 2012}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
"We worked on ''Blue Lines'' for about eight months, with breaks for Christmas and the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]]," said [[Robert Del Naja|Robert "3D" Del Naja]], "but we started out with a selection of ideas that were up to seven years old. Songs like '[[Safe from Harm (song)|Safe from Harm]]' and 'Lately' had been around for a while, from when we were [[The Wild Bunch (sound system)|The Wild Bunch]], or from our time on the sound systems in Bristol. But the more we worked on them, the more we began to conceive new ideas too – like, 'Five Man Army' came together as a [[Jam session|jam]]."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=You know the score! |magazine=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |issue=19 |date=January 1992 |page=51 |issn=0959-8367}}</ref> The group also drew inspiration from [[concept album]]s in various genres by artists such as [[Pink Floyd]], [[Public Image Ltd.]], [[Billy Cobham]], [[Wally Badarou]], [[Herbie Hancock]] and [[Isaac Hayes]].<ref name="RS"/>
"We worked on ''Blue Lines'' for about eight months, with breaks for Christmas and the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]]," said [[Robert Del Naja|Robert "3D" Del Naja]], "but we started out with a selection of ideas that were up to seven years old. Songs like '[[Safe from Harm (song)|Safe from Harm]]' and 'Lately' had been around for a while, from when we were [[The Wild Bunch (sound system)|The Wild Bunch]], or from our time on the [[sound system (DJ)|sound system]]s in [[Bristol]]. But the more we worked on them, the more we began to conceive new ideas too – like, 'Five Man Army' came together as a [[jam session|jam]]."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=You know the score! |magazine=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |location=London |issn=0959-8367 |issue=19 |date=January 1992 |page=51}}</ref> The group also drew inspiration from [[concept album]]s in various genres by artists such as [[Pink Floyd]], [[Public Image Ltd]], [[Billy Cobham]], [[Wally Badarou]], [[Herbie Hancock]] and [[Isaac Hayes]].<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite book |title=Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture |url=https://archive.org/details/generationecstas00reyn |url-access=registration |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Reynolds |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-316-74111-6 |page=321}}</ref>


[[Daddy G]] said about the making of the album:
[[Daddy G]] said about the making of the album:
{{cquote|We were lazy Bristol twats. It was [[Neneh Cherry]] who kicked our arses and got us in the studio. We recorded a lot at her house, in her baby's room. It stank for months and eventually we found a dirty [[diaper|nappy]] behind a radiator. I was still DJing, but what we were trying to do was create dance music for the head, rather than the feet. I think it's our freshest album, we were at our strongest then.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blue Lines, Massive Attack |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1240048,00.html |date=20 June 2004 |last=Thompson |first=Ben |work=[[The Observer]] |access-date=13 October 2009 |location=London}}</ref>}}
{{cquote|We were lazy Bristol twats. It was [[Neneh Cherry]] who kicked our arses and got us in the studio. We recorded a lot at her house, in her baby's room. It stank for months and eventually we found a dirty [[diaper|nappy]] behind a radiator. I was still DJing, but what we were trying to do was create [[dance music]] for the head, rather than the feet. I think it's our freshest album, we were at our strongest then.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/observer/omm/story/0,,1240048,00.html |title=Blue Lines, Massive Attack |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |location=London |date=20 June 2004 |access-date=13 October 2009 |last=Thompson |first=Ben}}</ref>
}}


The font used on the cover of the album is [[Helvetica|Helvetica Black Oblique]]. Del Naja has acknowledged the influence of the inflammable material logo used on the cover of [[Stiff Little Fingers]]' album ''[[Inflammable Material]]''.
The font used on the cover of the album is [[Helvetica|Helvetica Black Oblique]]. Del Naja has acknowledged the influence of the inflammable material logo used on the cover of [[Stiff Little Fingers]]' album ''[[Inflammable Material]]''.


==Composition==
==Composition==
''Blue Lines'' is generally considered the first [[trip hop]] album,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/25/arts/music-trip-hop-reinvents-itself-to-take-on-the-world.html?pagewanted=all |title=Trip-Hop Reinvents Itself to Take on the World |last=Garcia |first=Guy |date=25 October 1998 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=13 October 2009}}</ref> although the term was not widely used before 1994. A fusion of [[electronic music]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]], [[dub music|dub]], 1970s [[soul music|soul]] and [[reggae]], it established Massive Attack as one of the most innovative British bands of the 1990s and the founder of trip hop's [[Bristol Sound]].<ref name="schwartz1999">{{cite book|last=Schwartz|first=Mark|chapter=Planet Rock: Hip Hop Supa National|title=The Vibe History of Hip-hop|url=https://archive.org/details/vibehistoryofhip00ligh|url-access=registration|editor-last=Light|editor-first=Alan|editor-link=Alan Light|pages=[https://archive.org/details/vibehistoryofhip00ligh/page/361 361–72]|location=New York|publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]]|year=1999}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] also affirmed the album as the "first masterpiece" of what later became known as trip-hop, and described it as "filter[ing] American hip-hop through the lens of British club culture, a stylish, nocturnal sense of scene that encompassed music from [[rare groove]] to [[dub reggae|dub]] to [[dance music|dance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-lines-mw0000264743 |title=Blue Lines – Massive Attack |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=4 September 2015 |last=Bush |first=John}}</ref> The album featured [[breakbeat]]s, [[sampling (music)|sampling]], and [[rapping]] on a number of tracks, but the design of the album differed from traditional hip hop.<ref>'Massive Attack - Out of the Comfort Zone', Melissa Chemam, An Excerpt: "The Birth Of A New Form Of Band (1989-91)", 2019, https://humag.co/features/massive-attack</ref> Music critic [[Simon Reynolds]] stated that the album also marked a change in electronic/dance music, "a shift toward a more interior, [[meditation]]al sound. The songs on ''Blue Lines'' run at '[[spliff]]' tempos – from a mellow, moonwalking 90 beats per minute&nbsp;... down to a positively torpid 67 bpm."<ref name="RS">{{cite book|last=Reynolds|first=Simon|author-link=Simon Reynolds|title=Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture|url=https://archive.org/details/generationecstas00reyn|url-access=registration|publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]]|year=1998|isbn=0-415-92373-5}}</ref>
''Blue Lines'' is generally considered the first [[trip hop]] album,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/25/arts/music-trip-hop-reinvents-itself-to-take-on-the-world.html?pagewanted=all |title=Trip-Hop Reinvents Itself to Take on the World |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 October 1998 |access-date=13 October 2009 |last=Garcia |first=Guy}}</ref> although the term was not widely used before 1994. A fusion of [[electronic music]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]], [[dub music|dub]], [[1970s in music|1970s]] [[soul music|soul]] and [[reggae]], it established Massive Attack as one of the most innovative British bands of the [[1990s in music|1990s]] and the founder of trip hop's [[Bristol underground scene#"Bristol sound"|Bristol sound]].<ref name="Schwartz">{{cite book |chapter=Planet Rock: Hip Hop Supa National |last=Schwartz |first=Mark |title=The Vibe History of Hip Hop |url=https://archive.org/details/vibehistoryofhip00ligh |url-access=registration |editor-last=Light |editor-first=Alan |editor-link=Alan Light |publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]] |location=New York |year=1999 |isbn=0-609-80503-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/vibehistoryofhip00ligh/page/361 361–372]}}</ref> [[AllMusic]]'s John Bush also affirmed the album as the "first masterpiece" of what later became known as trip hop, and described it as "filter[ing] American hip-hop through the lens of British [[clubbing (subculture)|club culture]], a stylish, nocturnal sense of scene that encompassed music from [[rare groove]] to dub to dance."<ref name="Bush"/> The album featured [[breakbeat]]s, [[sampling (music)|sampling]], and [[rapping]] on a number of tracks, but the design of the album differed from traditional hip hop.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://humag.co/features/massive-attack |title=Massive Attack: Out of the Comfort Zone – An Excerpt |website=[[The Honest Ulsterman]] |date=February 2019 |access-date=5 February 2020 |last=Chemam |first=Melissa}}</ref> Music critic [[Simon Reynolds]] stated that the album also marked a change in electronic and dance music, "a shift toward a more interior, [[meditation]]al sound. The songs on ''Blue Lines'' run at '[[joint (cannabis)|spliff]]' [[tempo]]s – from a mellow, moonwalking 90 beats per minute&nbsp;... down to a positively torpid 67 bpm."<ref name="Reynolds"/>


==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Music ratings
{{Album reviews
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-lines-mw0000264743 |title=Blue Lines – Massive Attack |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=4 September 2015 |last=Bush |first=John}}</ref>
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Bush">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-lines-mw0000264743 |title=Blue Lines – Massive Attack |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=4 September 2015 |last=Bush |first=John}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev2 = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev2Score = A<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/massive-attack-blue-lines,88920/ |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=20 November 2012 |access-date=5 December 2012 |last=Gallucci |first=Michael}}</ref>
| rev2score = A<ref name="Gallucci">{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/massive-attack-blue-lines-1798175048 |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=20 November 2012 |access-date=5 December 2012 |last=Gallucci |first=Michael}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev3 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Petridis">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/dec/06/massive-attack-blue-lines-review |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines (remastered) – review |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=6 December 2012 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis}}</ref>
| rev3Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/dec/06/massive-attack-blue-lines-review |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines (remastered) – review |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=6 December 2012 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis}}</ref>
| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |location=London |issn=1351-0193 |issue=229 |date=December 2012 |last=Segal |first=Victoria |page=102}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5Score = 10/10<ref name="NME">{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000006reviews.html |title=Massive – Blue Lines |work=[[NME]] |date=4 June 1991 |access-date=23 January 2016 |last=Fadele |first=Dele|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001011033418/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000006reviews.html |archive-date=11 October 2000}}</ref>
| rev5score = 10/10<ref name="Fadele">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000006reviews.html |title=Immense at Work |magazine=[[NME]] |location=London |issn=0028-6362 |date=6 April 1991 |access-date=23 January 2016 |last=Fadele |first=Dele |author-link=Dele Fadele |page=35 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001011033418/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000006reviews.html |archive-date=11 October 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6Score = 9.0/10<ref name="p4k-review">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17384-blue-lines-remastered-box-set/ |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=5 December 2012 |last=Raymer |first=Miles}}</ref>
| rev6score = 9.0/10<ref name="Raymer">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17384-blue-lines-remastered-box-set/ |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=5 December 2012 |last=Raymer |first=Miles}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Massive: Blue Lines |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=57 |date=June 1991 |issn=0955-4955}}</ref>
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Massive: Blue Lines |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |location=London |issn=0955-4955 |issue=57 |date=June 1991 |last=Henderson |first=Dave}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
⚫
| rev8score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Kot">{{cite book |chapter=Massive Attack |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/517 517–518]}}</ref>
| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=20 December 2012 |last=Matos |first=Michaelangelo |page=104 |issn=0035-791X}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev9 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''
| rev9score = 5/5<ref name="Harrison">{{cite magazine |title=Power Gem |magazine=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |location=London |issn=0959-8367 |issue=10 |date=April 1991 |last=Harrison |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Harrison (journalist) |page=80}}</ref>
⚫
| rev9Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Massive Attack |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/517 517–18] }}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''
| rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev10Score = 5/5<ref name="Select">{{cite magazine |title=Massive: Blue Lines |magazine=Select |issue=10 |date=April 1991 |last=Harrison |first=Andrew |page=80 |issn=0959-8367}}</ref>
| rev10score = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |location=London |issn=1368-0722 |issue=187 |date=December 2012 |last=Martin |first=Piers |page=92}}</ref>
}}
}}
⚫
In a contemporary review of ''Blue Lines'', [[Dele Fadele]] of ''[[NME]]'' described the album as "the sleekest, deadliest, most urbane, most confounding LP 1991 has yet seen", writing that Massive Attack "put current changes on the dancefloor in perspective and map out blueprints for what must surely come next" and that "after ''Blue Lines'' the boundaries separating soul, funk, reggae, house, classical, hip-hop and space-rock will be blurred forever."<ref name="NME"/> ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''{{'}}s [[Andrew Harrison (journalist)|Andrew Harrison]] similarly complimented the album's diverse mix of styles and called it "a record to transcend every boundary".<ref name="Select"/> [[Robert Christgau]] was more reserved in his praise, giving the album an honorable mention and writing, "from soul ii skank, those [[Post-industrial society|postindustrial]] blues got them down".<ref>{{cite book|pages=xvi, 196|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|title=[[Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s]]|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]]|year=2000|isbn=0-312-24560-2}}</ref>


⚫
In a contemporary review of ''Blue Lines'' for ''[[NME]]'', [[Dele Fadele]] described the album as "the sleekest, deadliest, most urbane, most confounding LP [[1991 in music|1991]] has yet seen", writing that Massive Attack "put current changes on the dancefloor in perspective and map out blueprints for what must surely come next" and that "after ''Blue Lines'' the boundaries separating soul, [[funk]], reggae, [[house music|house]], [[classical music|classical]], hip-hop and [[space rock|space-rock]] will be blurred forever."<ref name="Fadele"/> ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''{{'}}s [[Andrew Harrison (journalist)|Andrew Harrison]] similarly complimented the album's diverse mix of styles and called it "a record to transcend every boundary",<ref name="Harrison"/> while in ''[[Melody Maker]]'', [[Jim Irvin]] praised it as an album that "one hopes might just bring down forever the wall of snobbery that still exists between dance and all other music."<ref name="Arundel">{{cite magazine |title=Rhapsody in Blue |magazine=[[Melody Maker]] |location=London |issn=0025-9012 |date=30 March 1991 |last=Arundel |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Irvin |page=34}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] was more reserved in his praise, giving the album a [[Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s#Grading key|three-star honourable mention]] and writing, "from soul ii [[ska stroke|skank]], those [[post-industrial society|postindustrial]] [[blues]] got them down".<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |chapter-url=https://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2302 |access-date=18 March 2022 |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |title-link=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]] |year=2000 |isbn=0-312-24560-2 |page=196}}</ref> At the [[Brit Awards]]' [[Brit Awards 1992|1992 ceremony]], ''Blue Lines'' was nominated for [[Brit Award for British Album of the Year|Best British Album]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1992 |title=The BRITs 1992 |publisher=[[Brit Awards]] |access-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020050617/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1992 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
⚫
The album reached number 13 on the [[UK Albums Chart]]; sales were limited elsewhere. ''Blue Lines'' proved to be popular in the club scene, as well as on college radio stations.<ref name="schwartz1999"/>


⚫
The album reached number 13 on the [[UK Albums Chart]]; sales were limited elsewhere. ''Blue Lines'' proved to be popular in the club scene, as well as on college radio stations.<ref name="Schwartz"/>
⚫
According to [[Acclaimed Music]], a site which uses statistics to numerically represent critical reception, ''Blue Lines'' is the 37th best-received album of all time, and third best-received of the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/Massive%20Attack.htm |title=Massive Attack |website=[[Acclaimed Music]] |access-date=6 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403075412/http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/Massive%20Attack.htm |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1997, ''Blue Lines'' was named the 21st greatest album of all time in a "Music of the Millennium" poll conducted by [[HMV]], [[Channel 4]], ''[[The Guardian]]'' and [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]. The following year, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' readers placed it at number 58 in its list of the "100 Greatest Albums Ever", and in 2000, the album was voted at number 9 in the magazine's poll of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". In 2003, the album was ranked number 395 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of [[The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]], and ranked 397 in a 2012 revised list.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/massive-attack-blue-lines-66986/| year=2012| title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time| work=Rolling Stone| access-date= September 5, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' ranked it at number 85 in its list of "The Top 100 Albums of the 1990s".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/2/ |title=Top 100 Albums of the 1990s |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=17 November 2003 |access-date=2 December 2012 |page=2}}</ref> The album was also included in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die|1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition]] |editor1-last=Dimery |editor1-first=Robert |publisher=[[Universe Publishing|Universe]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}}</ref> The track "[[Unfinished Sympathy]]" has also been singled out for praise, earning a [[BRIT Award]] nomination for the best single of 1991 and being hailed by [[BBC Music]] as "one of the most moving pieces of dance music ever, able to soften hearts and excite minds just as keenly as a ballad by [[Burt Bacharach|Bacharach]] or a melody by [[Paul McCartney|McCartney]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/unfinishedsympathy.shtml |title=Unfinished Sympathy |publisher=[[BBC Music]] |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>


According to [[Greg Kot]] in the 2004 ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'', ''Blue Lines'' became "the blueprint" for trip hop, which would later emerge as a commercially popular musical style.<ref name="Kot"/> "On its release, ''Blue Lines'' felt like nothing else", [[Alexis Petridis]] wrote for ''[[The Guardian]]'' upon the album's 2012 reissue, adding that it "still sounds unique, which is remarkable given how omnipresent trip-hop was to become".<ref name="Petridis"/> Michael Gallucci of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' noted that the album "created a template trip-hop artists relied on extensively" in the years following its release.<ref name="Gallucci"/> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''{{'}}s Miles Raymer, meanwhile, identified ''Blue Lines'' as "at its heart&nbsp;... a hip-hop record", crediting it with being "at the forefront" of the genre's musical progression from "blocky rhythms and minimal arrangements" in the 1980s towards "deep, organic textures" in the 1990s.<ref name="Raymer"/> Concluding his review for AllMusic, John Bush deemed ''Blue Lines'' "one of the best dance albums of all time."<ref name="Bush"/>
⚫
"This album is chill music for me – music to write to", said author [[Chuck Palahniuk]]. "I'm writing short stories to this right now. I put this on repeat, something [[Andy Warhol]] used to do. He'd put [[Single (music)|singles]] on and play them unendingly to the point where the language would break down, and he would paint to that trance-like repetition."<ref>''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' 2003 (issue date unknown)</ref>


⚫
In 1997, ''Blue Lines'' was named the 21st greatest album of all time in a "Music of the Millennium" poll conducted by [[HMV]], [[Channel 4]], ''[[The Guardian]]'' and [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]. The following year, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' readers placed it at number 58 in its list of the "100 Greatest Albums Ever", and in 2000, the album was voted at number 9 in the magazine's poll of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". In 2003, the album was ranked number 395 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]",<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/blue-lines-massive-attack-19691231 |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Blue Lines – Massive Attack |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=11 December 2003 |access-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220144357/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/blue-lines-massive-attack-19691231 |archive-date=20 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 397 in a 2012 revised list,<ref name="RS2012">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/massive-attack-blue-lines-66986/ |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=31 May 2012 |access-date=5 September 2019}}</ref> and 241 in a 2020 revised list.<ref name="RS2020">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/massive-attack-blue-lines-2-1062992/ |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' ranked it at number 85 in its 2003 list of "The Top 100 Albums of the 1990s".<ref name="Top 100 Albums of the 1990s">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/?page=2 |title=Top 100 Albums of the 1990s |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=17 November 2003 |access-date=2 December 2012 |page=2}}</ref> The album was also included in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Massive Attack: Blue Lines |last=McIver |first=Joel |author-link=Joel McIver |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |title-link=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |editor-last=Dimery |editor-first=Robert |publisher=[[Universe Publishing]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3 |page=673}}</ref> The track "[[Unfinished Sympathy]]" has also been singled out for praise, being hailed by [[BBC Radio 2]] as "one of the most moving pieces of dance music ever, able to soften hearts and excite minds just as keenly as a ballad by [[Burt Bacharach|Bacharach]] or a melody by [[Paul McCartney|McCartney]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/unfinishedsympathy.shtml |title=Unfinished Sympathy |publisher=[[BBC Radio 2]] |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>
⚫
As of February 2010, the album had sold 266,000 copies in the United States, according to [[Nielsen SoundScan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959308/massive-attack-prove-new-album-was-worth-the-wait|title=Massive Attack Prove New Album Was Worth The Wait|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=19 February 2010|access-date=7 December 2018|last=Sexton|first=Paul|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918020732/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959308/massive-attack-prove-new-album-was-worth-the-wait|archive-date=18 September 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

⚫
"This album is [[chill-out music|chill music]] for me – music to write to", said author [[Chuck Palahniuk]]. "I'm writing short stories to this right now. I put this on repeat, something [[Andy Warhol]] used to do: He'd put [[single (music)|single]]s on and play them unendingly to the point where the language would break down, and he would paint to that [[trance]]like repetition."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/my-music/67277/chuck-palahniuk-147i-was-choking-on-animal-hair148.html |title='I Was Choking on Animal Hair!' |magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |location=New York |issn=1534-0554 |volume=2 |issue=9 |date=November 2003 |access-date=20 December 2022 |last=Wadsworth |first=Andrew |pages=126–127 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308060556/http://www.blender.com/guide/my-music/67277/chuck-palahniuk-147i-was-choking-on-animal-hair148.html |archive-date=8 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

⚫
As of February 2010, the album had sold 266,000 copies in the United States, according to [[Nielsen SoundScan]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/massive-attack-prove-new-album-was-worth-the-wait-959308/ |title=Massive Attack Prove New Album Was Worth The Wait |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=19 February 2010 |access-date=7 December 2018 |last=Sexton |first=Paul |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918020732/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959308/massive-attack-prove-new-album-was-worth-the-wait |archive-date=18 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
Line 98: Line 100:


| title2 = One Love
| title2 = One Love
| writer2 = {{hlist|Marshall|Vowles|Del Naja|C.J. Williams|[[Horace Andy]]}}
| writer2 = {{hlist|Marshall|Vowles|Del Naja|Claude Williams|[[Horace Andy]]}}
| length2 = 4:48
| length2 = 4:48


Line 128: Line 130:
| writer9 = {{hlist|Marshall|Vowles|Del Naja|[[Neneh Cherry]]|Andy}}
| writer9 = {{hlist|Marshall|Vowles|Del Naja|[[Neneh Cherry]]|Andy}}
| length9 = 6:36
| length9 = 6:36
| total_length = 45:04
| total_length = 45:08
}}
}}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Blue Lines''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Blue Lines |type=liner notes |others=[[Massive Attack]] |publisher=Wild Bunch Records |year=1991 |id=WBRCD 1}}</ref>
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Blue Lines''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Blue Lines |type=liner notes |author=[[Massive Attack]] |publisher=Wild Bunch Records |year=1991 |id=WBRCD 1}}</ref>


===Studios===
===Studios===
Line 144: Line 146:
* Roundhouse (London) – mixing {{small|(track 7)}}
* Roundhouse (London) – mixing {{small|(track 7)}}
* Hot Nights (London) – recording {{small|(track 9)}}
* Hot Nights (London) – recording {{small|(track 9)}}
* LOUD Mastering (Taunton) – remixing, remastering {{Small|(2012 Mix/Master)}}{{Div col end}}
⚫
{{Div col end}}


===Musicians===
===Musicians===
Line 163: Line 165:
* Massive Attack – production, mixing
* Massive Attack – production, mixing
* [[Jonny Dollar]] – production, mixing
* [[Jonny Dollar]] – production, mixing
* [[Cameron McVey|Booga Bear]] – executive production
* [[Cameron McVey]] (Booga Bear) – executive production
* Jeremy Allom – mix engineering {{small|(tracks 1, 3–7, 9)}}
* Jeremy Allom – mix engineering {{small|(tracks 1, 3–7, 9)}}
* Bryan Chuck New – mix engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 8)}}
* Bryan Chuck New – mix engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 8)}}
* Kevin Petri – engineering {{small|(tracks 3, 5)}}
* Kevin Petri – engineering {{small|(tracks 3, 5)}}
* [[Haydn Bendall|Haydn]] – string engineering {{small|(track 6)}}
* [[Haydn Bendall|Haydn]] – string engineering {{small|(track 6)}}
* John Dent – remastering {{Small|(2012 mix/master)}}
* Bruno Ellingham – remixing {{Small|(2012 mix/master)}}
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}


Line 178: Line 182:


==Charts==
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for ''Blue Lines''
⚫
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1991–2013)
! scope="col"| Chart (1991–2013)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref>
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite Ryan|page=178}}</ref>
| 69
| 69
|-
|-
Line 194: Line 202:
{{album chart|Netherlands|39|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|39|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
|-
|-
! scope="row"| [[European Top 100 Albums|European Albums]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-05-04.pdf |title=European Top 100 Albums |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |volume=8 |issue=18 |date=4 May 1991 |page=24 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
! scope="row"| [[European Top 100 Albums|European Albums]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/91/MM-1991-05-04-OCR-Page-0024.pdf |title=European Top 100 Albums |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |volume=8 |issue=18 |date=4 May 1991 |page=24 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 24
| 24
|-
|-
{{album chart|France|31|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{album chart|France|31|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
|-
|-
{{album chart|Germany|31|id=1233|artist=Massive Attack|rowheader=true|access-date=6 March 2020}}
{{album chart|Germany4|31|id=1233|artist=Massive Attack|rowheader=true|access-date=10 August 2024}}
|-
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|26|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{album chart|New Zealand|26|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
|-
|-
{{album chart|Norway|29|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{album chart|Norway|29|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
⚫
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|28|date=19961006|rowheader=true|access-date=10 August 2024}}
|-
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|14|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{album chart|Sweden|14|artist=Massive Attack|album=Blue Lines|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
Line 210: Line 220:
|-
|-
{{album chart|UK2|13|date=19910414|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019|refname=ukchart}}
{{album chart|UK2|13|date=19910414|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019|refname=ukchart}}
|-
{{album chart|UKDance|3|date=20050501|rowheader=true|access-date=10 August 2024}}
|-
|-
{{album chart|UKR&B|2|date=19970615|rowheader=true|access-date=6 March 2020}}
{{album chart|UKR&B|2|date=19970615|rowheader=true|access-date=6 March 2020}}
|}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for ''Blue Lines''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1999)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19990110/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref>
| 93
|}
⚫
{{col-end}}


==Certifications==
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Blue Lines''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Massive Attack|title=Blue Lines|award=Gold|number=2|type=album|relyear=1991|certyear=2000|date=27 June 2000|access-date=17 September 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Massive Attack|title=Blue Lines|award=Gold|number=2|type=album|relyear=1991|certyear=2000|date=27 June 2000|access-date=17 September 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Massive Attack|title=Blue Lines|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=1991|certyear=2001|id=969-2279-2|date=19 October 2001|access-date=10 October 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Massive Attack|title=Blue Lines|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=1991|certyear=2001|id=969-2279-2|date=19 October 2001|salesamount=856,108|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/publishing/read/round-hill-music-acquires-catalogue-of-two-founding-members-of-massive-attack/082533|publisher=[[Music Week]]|first=George|last=Garner|title=Round Hill Music acquires catalogue of two founding members of Massive Attack|date=4 February 2021|accessdate=28 December 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}


==Notes==
==Notes==

Latest revision as of 05:39, 19 November 2024

Blue Lines
Studio album by
Massive Attack
Released8 April 1991 (1991-04-08)
Recorded1990–1991
Studio
  • Coach House (Bristol)
  • Eastcote (London)
  • Cherry Bear
  • Abbey Road (London)
  • Hot Nights (London)
Genre
Length45:08
Label
Producer
Massive Attack chronology
Blue Lines
(1991) 		Protection
(1994)
Singles from Blue Lines
  1. "Daydreaming"
    Released: 15 October 1990
  2. "Unfinished Sympathy"
    Released: 11 February 1991
  3. "Safe from Harm"
    Released: 27 May 1991
  4. "Hymn of the Big Wheel" / "Be Thankful for What You've Got"
    Released: 10 February 1992

Blue Lines is the debut studio album by English electronic music group Massive Attack,[a] released on 8 April 1991 by Wild Bunch and Virgin Records.[1] The recording was led by members Grantley "Daddy G" Marshall, Robert "3D" Del Naja, Adrian "Tricky" Thaws, and Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles, with co-production by Jonny Dollar. It also features contributions by singers Shara Nelson and Horace Andy. Generally regarded as the first "trip hop" album, Blue Lines blended elements of hip hop (such as breakbeats, sampling, and rapping) with dub, soul, reggae, and electronic music.

Blue Lines was named the 21st greatest album of all time in a 1997 "Music of the Millennium" poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. In 2000, Q readers placed it at number 9 in the magazine's poll of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". In 2003, the album was included on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" and again in 2012 and 2020.[2][3] Pitchfork ranked it at number 85 in its list of "The Top 100 Albums of the 1990s".[4]

A remastered version of the album was released on 19 November 2012.[5]

Background

[edit]

"We worked on Blue Lines for about eight months, with breaks for Christmas and the World Cup," said Robert "3D" Del Naja, "but we started out with a selection of ideas that were up to seven years old. Songs like 'Safe from Harm' and 'Lately' had been around for a while, from when we were The Wild Bunch, or from our time on the sound systems in Bristol. But the more we worked on them, the more we began to conceive new ideas too – like, 'Five Man Army' came together as a jam."[6] The group also drew inspiration from concept albums in various genres by artists such as Pink Floyd, Public Image Ltd, Billy Cobham, Wally Badarou, Herbie Hancock and Isaac Hayes.[7]

Daddy G said about the making of the album:

We were lazy Bristol twats. It was Neneh Cherry who kicked our arses and got us in the studio. We recorded a lot at her house, in her baby's room. It stank for months and eventually we found a dirty nappy behind a radiator. I was still DJing, but what we were trying to do was create dance music for the head, rather than the feet. I think it's our freshest album, we were at our strongest then.[8]

The font used on the cover of the album is Helvetica Black Oblique. Del Naja has acknowledged the influence of the inflammable material logo used on the cover of Stiff Little Fingers' album Inflammable Material.

Composition

[edit]

Blue Lines is generally considered the first trip hop album,[9] although the term was not widely used before 1994. A fusion of electronic music, hip hop, dub, 1970s soul and reggae, it established Massive Attack as one of the most innovative British bands of the 1990s and the founder of trip hop's Bristol sound.[10] AllMusic's John Bush also affirmed the album as the "first masterpiece" of what later became known as trip hop, and described it as "filter[ing] American hip-hop through the lens of British club culture, a stylish, nocturnal sense of scene that encompassed music from rare groove to dub to dance."[11] The album featured breakbeats, sampling, and rapping on a number of tracks, but the design of the album differed from traditional hip hop.[12] Music critic Simon Reynolds stated that the album also marked a change in electronic and dance music, "a shift toward a more interior, meditational sound. The songs on Blue Lines run at 'spliff' tempos – from a mellow, moonwalking 90 beats per minute ... down to a positively torpid 67 bpm."[7]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
The A.V. ClubA[13]
The Guardian[14]
Mojo[15]
NME10/10[16]
Pitchfork9.0/10[17]
Q[18]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[19]
Select5/5[20]
Uncut9/10[21]

In a contemporary review of Blue Lines for NME, Dele Fadele described the album as "the sleekest, deadliest, most urbane, most confounding LP 1991 has yet seen", writing that Massive Attack "put current changes on the dancefloor in perspective and map out blueprints for what must surely come next" and that "after Blue Lines the boundaries separating soul, funk, reggae, house, classical, hip-hop and space-rock will be blurred forever."[16] Select's Andrew Harrison similarly complimented the album's diverse mix of styles and called it "a record to transcend every boundary",[20] while in Melody Maker, Jim Irvin praised it as an album that "one hopes might just bring down forever the wall of snobbery that still exists between dance and all other music."[1] Robert Christgau was more reserved in his praise, giving the album a three-star honourable mention and writing, "from soul ii skank, those postindustrial blues got them down".[22] At the Brit Awards' 1992 ceremony, Blue Lines was nominated for Best British Album.[23]

The album reached number 13 on the UK Albums Chart; sales were limited elsewhere. Blue Lines proved to be popular in the club scene, as well as on college radio stations.[10]

According to Greg Kot in the 2004 Rolling Stone Album Guide, Blue Lines became "the blueprint" for trip hop, which would later emerge as a commercially popular musical style.[19] "On its release, Blue Lines felt like nothing else", Alexis Petridis wrote for The Guardian upon the album's 2012 reissue, adding that it "still sounds unique, which is remarkable given how omnipresent trip-hop was to become".[14] Michael Gallucci of The A.V. Club noted that the album "created a template trip-hop artists relied on extensively" in the years following its release.[13] Pitchfork's Miles Raymer, meanwhile, identified Blue Lines as "at its heart ... a hip-hop record", crediting it with being "at the forefront" of the genre's musical progression from "blocky rhythms and minimal arrangements" in the 1980s towards "deep, organic textures" in the 1990s.[17] Concluding his review for AllMusic, John Bush deemed Blue Lines "one of the best dance albums of all time."[11]

In 1997, Blue Lines was named the 21st greatest album of all time in a "Music of the Millennium" poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. The following year, Q readers placed it at number 58 in its list of the "100 Greatest Albums Ever", and in 2000, the album was voted at number 9 in the magazine's poll of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". In 2003, the album was ranked number 395 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time",[24] 397 in a 2012 revised list,[2] and 241 in a 2020 revised list.[3] Pitchfork ranked it at number 85 in its 2003 list of "The Top 100 Albums of the 1990s".[4] The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[25] The track "Unfinished Sympathy" has also been singled out for praise, being hailed by BBC Radio 2 as "one of the most moving pieces of dance music ever, able to soften hearts and excite minds just as keenly as a ballad by Bacharach or a melody by McCartney."[26]

"This album is chill music for me – music to write to", said author Chuck Palahniuk. "I'm writing short stories to this right now. I put this on repeat, something Andy Warhol used to do: He'd put singles on and play them unendingly to the point where the language would break down, and he would paint to that trancelike repetition."[27]

As of February 2010, the album had sold 266,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[28]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Safe from Harm"
5:18
2."One Love"
4:48
3."Blue Lines"
4:21
4."Be Thankful for What You've Got"William DeVaughn4:09
5."Five Man Army"
  • Marshall
  • Vowles
  • Del Naja
  • Thaws
  • Claude Williams
6:04
6."Unfinished Sympathy"
5:08
7."Daydreaming"
4:14
8."Lately"
  • Marshall
  • Vowles
  • Del Naja
  • Nelson
  • Gus Redmond
  • Larry Brownlee
  • Jeffrey Simon
  • Fred E. Simon
4:26
9."Hymn of the Big Wheel"
6:36
Total length:45:08

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Blue Lines.[29]

Studios

[edit]
  • Coach House (Bristol) – recording (tracks 1, 2, 6, 8, 9); mixing (track 8)
  • Matrix (London) – mixing (tracks 1, 4–6, 9)
  • Konk Studios (London) – mixing (tracks 2, 7)
  • Eastcote Studios (London) – recording (tracks 3, 5)
  • Cherry Bear Studios – recording (tracks 4, 7)
  • Abbey Road Studios (London) – recording (track 6)
  • Roundhouse (London) – mixing (track 7)
  • Hot Nights (London) – recording (track 9)
  • LOUD Mastering (Taunton) – remixing, remastering (2012 Mix/Master)

Musicians

[edit]
  • Shara Nelson – vocals (tracks 1, 6–8)
  • Horace Andy – vocals (tracks 2, 5, 9)
  • Massive Attack – vocals (tracks 3, 5, 7)
  • Paul Johnson – bass guitar (track 3)
  • Tony Bryan – vocals (track 4)
  • Wil Malone – string arrangement, conducting (track 6)
  • Gavyn Wright – leader (track 6)
  • Neneh Cherry – additional arrangement (track 9)
  • Mikey General – backing vocal (track 9)

Technical

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  • Massive Attack – production, mixing
  • Jonny Dollar – production, mixing
  • Cameron McVey (Booga Bear) – executive production
  • Jeremy Allom – mix engineering (tracks 1, 3–7, 9)
  • Bryan Chuck New – mix engineering (tracks 2, 8)
  • Kevin Petri – engineering (tracks 3, 5)
  • Haydn – string engineering (track 6)
  • John Dent – remastering (2012 mix/master)
  • Bruno Ellingham – remixing (2012 mix/master)

Artwork

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Blue Lines
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[47] 2× Gold 200,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] 2× Platinum 856,108[48]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Notes

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  1. ^ On certain releases, the group is credited as "Massive".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Arundel, Jim (30 March 1991). "Rhapsody in Blue". Melody Maker. London. p. 34. ISSN 0025-9012.
  2. ^ a b "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s". Pitchfork. 17 November 2003. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Massive Attack announce specially remastered Blue Lines reissue". Fact. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  6. ^ "You know the score!". Select. No. 19. London. January 1992. p. 51. ISSN 0959-8367.
  7. ^ a b Reynolds, Simon (1998). Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture. Little, Brown and Company. p. 321. ISBN 0-316-74111-6.
  8. ^ Thompson, Ben (20 June 2004). "Blue Lines, Massive Attack". The Observer. London. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  9. ^ Garcia, Guy (25 October 1998). "Trip-Hop Reinvents Itself to Take on the World". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  10. ^ a b Schwartz, Mark (1999). "Planet Rock: Hip Hop Supa National". In Light, Alan (ed.). The Vibe History of Hip Hop. New York: Three Rivers Press. pp. 361–372. ISBN 0-609-80503-7.
  11. ^ a b c Bush, John. "Blue Lines – Massive Attack". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  12. ^ Chemam, Melissa (February 2019). "Massive Attack: Out of the Comfort Zone – An Excerpt". The Honest Ulsterman. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  13. ^ a b Gallucci, Michael (20 November 2012). "Massive Attack: Blue Lines". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  14. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (6 December 2012). "Massive Attack: Blue Lines (remastered) – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  15. ^ Segal, Victoria (December 2012). "Massive Attack: Blue Lines". Mojo. No. 229. London. p. 102. ISSN 1351-0193.
  16. ^ a b Fadele, Dele (6 April 1991). "Immense at Work". NME. London. p. 35. ISSN 0028-6362. Archived from the original on 11 October 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  17. ^ a b Raymer, Miles (30 November 2012). "Massive Attack: Blue Lines". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  18. ^ Henderson, Dave (June 1991). "Massive: Blue Lines". Q. No. 57. London. ISSN 0955-4955.
  19. ^ a b Kot, Greg (2004). "Massive Attack". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 517–518. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  20. ^ a b Harrison, Andrew (April 1991). "Power Gem". Select. No. 10. London. p. 80. ISSN 0959-8367.
  21. ^ Martin, Piers (December 2012). "Massive Attack: Blue Lines". Uncut. No. 187. London. p. 92. ISSN 1368-0722.
  22. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Massive Attack: Blue Lines". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 196. ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  23. ^ "The BRITs 1992". Brit Awards. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  24. ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Blue Lines – Massive Attack". Rolling Stone. 11 December 2003. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  25. ^ McIver, Joel (2006). "Massive Attack: Blue Lines". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Universe Publishing. p. 673. ISBN 978-0-7893-1371-3.
  26. ^ "Unfinished Sympathy". BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  27. ^ Wadsworth, Andrew (November 2003). "'I Was Choking on Animal Hair!'". Blender. Vol. 2, no. 9. New York. pp. 126–127. ISSN 1534-0554. Archived from the original on 8 March 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  28. ^ Sexton, Paul (19 February 2010). "Massive Attack Prove New Album Was Worth The Wait". Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  29. ^ Massive Attack (1991). Blue Lines (liner notes). Wild Bunch Records. WBRCD 1.
  30. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 178.
  31. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Massive Attack – Blue Lines" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  32. ^ "Ultratop.be – Massive Attack – Blue Lines" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  33. ^ "Ultratop.be – Massive Attack – Blue Lines" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  34. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Massive Attack – Blue Lines" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  35. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 18. 4 May 1991. p. 24. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  36. ^ "Lescharts.com – Massive Attack – Blue Lines". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Massive Attack – {{{album}}}" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Charts.nz – Massive Attack – Blue Lines". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  39. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Massive Attack – Blue Lines". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  40. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  41. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Massive Attack – Blue Lines". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  42. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Massive Attack – Blue Lines". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  43. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  44. ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  45. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  46. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  47. ^ "French album certifications – Massive Attack – Blue Lines" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 27 June 2000. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  48. ^ Garner, George (4 February 2021). "Round Hill Music acquires catalogue of two founding members of Massive Attack". Music Week. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  49. ^ "British album certifications – Massive Attack – Blue Lines". British Phonographic Industry. 19 October 2001.

Bibliography

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