Music Mondays: Massive Attack "Blue Lines" Special

For this Music Monday, it's particularly chilly in Los Angeles, teasing the upcoming Autumn season. When the temperature drops, the warming sounds of Massive Attack's landmark debut album, "Blue Lines," never cease to find my ears. So I thought we'd take a look back at the music videos that made up this classic from the Wild Bunch. Keep in mind this album came out on April 8, 1991. That's right 1991 and it still sounds fresh mainly due to the fantastic crate-digging former founding member, Mushroom, did on the beats and of course each vocalist sounding so uniquely different from his/her counterpart.

"Safe From Harm" - The album opener and one of my all-time favorites from the band. Still a thrilling highlight in their live sets.



"Daydreaming" saw the group incorporate their love of soul, hip-hop and dub. There's about 5 different versions of the track and this album mix isn't my favorite, but it still showcases a funky side to the group that the "Mezzanine" era fans often forget about.



"Unfinished Symphony" is the unquestioned masterpiece of the "Blue Lines" album and one of dance music's all-time top tracks from one of the genre's best albums ever!



Special Thanks: Massive Attack, Autumn air, Jogasaki Burrito and new adventures

Nothing's Changed: Tricky Returns and is in Fine Form on Free Download of His New Single

When you think of the famed Bristol scene of the 90's, Massive Attack, Portishead, Smith & Mighty, Roni Size and Tricky immediately come to mind. The latter has admittedly had a spotty solo discography since bursting onto the scene with Massive Attack on their classic debut album, "Blue Lines." But now Tricky Kid has returned with "Nothing's Changed," the first single from his comeback album and it should please fans of his landmark debut, "Maxinquaye."

Tricky's rough vocals have always worked best as an accompaniment to other vocalists, and here he makes great use of Francesca Belmonte, who does a fine job filling in the Martina Topley-Bird role.

Listen & Download "Nothing's Changed" Below:



Special Thanks: To Tricky for returning to his roots, K7! Records for the free download and The San Francisco 49ers for setting themselves up for a decade of Super Bowl contention by trading Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs

Music Mondays: Massive Attack's 3D Puts Together Very Special Free Mixtape To Honor The Late Singer Terry Callier

Massive Attack have long been considered electronic dance music pioneers and one of our favorite groups. They recently re-released a special remastered version of their seminal debut album, "Blue Lines" earlier this month, and now, after the sad passing of legendary folk/soul singer, Terry Callier, founding Massive Attack member, 3D has put together this very special free mixtape stemming from their recording sessions in 2005. The results were the standout track, "Live With Me" from Massive Attack's greatest hits album, "Collection" and some additional collaborations on Callier's last album, "Hidden Conversations."

Fans will love hearing how 3D took some of the studio outtakes, stripped them down and spliced in some very candid moments with Callier in the studio. You can hear just how warm his voice still sounded.

Take a listen to the Windmill Sessions below:



Here's the video for the much different version of "Live With Me" that was featured on Massive Attack's excellent "Collection" album:



Special Thanks: Terry Callier who will never be forgotten, Massive Attack, Rainy Day Music, Blue Lines Remastered album sounding better than ever, Big laughs at the Ad-Rock Variety show at Largo, Random Movement podcasts and quinoa.