Massive Attack essentially invented the genre and were the main inspiration for fellow Bristolians Portishead. Incidentally Massive Attack began life as a straight up Hip Hop group called ‘Wild Bunch’ in the mid 1980s. As their sound progressed they stripped back the rapping and incorporated more guest vocalists.
It's just as bad as putting Massive Attack against Tricky! Oh, wait... Mezzanine VS. Maxinque? That might be a good battle! Let them know in the comments.
Not much of a battle for me: Unfinished Sympathy is simply one of the greatest pieces of music ever made. I remember when it came out, it just about stunned everyone who heard it.
Two of my three favourite bands right here. Portishead and Massive Attack (Radiohead being my #1 favourite band). Too many great songs from all three of these incredible bands to mention. These two tracks barely scratch the surface.
I'm from Bristol, my band recorded at Christchurch studios for a while where Massive Attack also worked, it's next to Bristols most famous cider pub the Coronation Tap, maybe rough cider I'd what fuelled Massive Attack as well 😂
Trip hop is the bomb dot com. I'll toss out a couple more track suggestions: 2wicky from Hooverphonic and 6 Underground by The Sneaker Pimps. If you want more of these two bands, I'd recommend Safe From Harm by Massive Attack and Glory Box by Portishead.
As a proud Bristolian it's nice to see a couple of local legends featured on the channel (Portishead are named after a small coastal town just outside the city that is otherwise extremely unremarkable). I've never really understood Trip Hop as a genre as it's very hard to define (Hip Hop with added melancholy?) but would highly recommend checking out the Holy Trinity of early nineties albums originating from Bristol: Massive Attack's Blue Lines (1991) is pretty much perfect, Portishead's Dummy (1994) is the best example of what they do and not forgetting Tricky's Maxinquaye (1995), which was album of the year according to several publications at the time.
Thanks for all the info and insight Glyn! Someone else mentioned Tricky as well, never heard of them so for sure need to check them out, Appreciate it. Stay safe!
Nice! Sour Times uses a sample from Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin's "Danube Incident", from the 1967 album More Mission: Impossible. This is noir....because of this album Massive attacks album Mezzaine is a response...its darker and more noir....great choice!
Awesome reviews. It's so hard comparing these two artist They both have such a distinct sound. I favor massive attack in this one as well, but Portishead is a force and their music wont dissapoint trip hop cravings.
Great to see you casting your ear on these two bands, ( both from the same city in the UK, Bristol), that had such an influence on the music scene of the time and both worth exploring. I would agree with you that Unfinished Sympathy is my favourite of the two tracks but love Portishead too. Both Blue Lines and Massive Attack's next album Protection I played to death at the time and still am happy to listen to. There were a group of albums from this time that are still very much etched on my consciousness and I still listen to which includes the Massive Attack albums, Portishead's first two albums Dummy and Portishead, Electribe 101's Electribal Memories, Everything But The Girl's Walking Wounded, Dreadzone's Biological Radio, Moodswings's Moodfood, Dead Can Dance's Into The Labyrinth all of which I think have things to recommend them and would recommend a listen to.
If its true and Banksy is a member then they will definitely be able to afford a string section now. You need to check out Portishead live at Rose land. It's on a different level! Also, the Massive Attack work with the reggae legend Horace Andy is fantastic. Bristol has produced some great bands over the years, Black Roots being the finest but also Dubkasm. Victory will have the horn riff stuck in your brain for days.
The producers of the Bond movies rejected even Radiohead's track 'Spectre' for the movie of the same name, in favour of a Sam Smith ballad. I doubt they even deserve a track written for them from Portishead, given that outcome.
Two trip hop classics, but Massive Attack wins this one. The single-shot music video is a classic as well. I love the music that Massive Attack put out in the 90s, I'm less keen on their later stuff. My favourite song is Protection (the original album version). And I HIGHLY recommend the album Mezzanine, that album broadened my music taste more than any other, back in '98. Brilliant from start to finish, it deserves a review.
'Sour Times' is a decent album track, however, in isolation, I believe there are far better songs from Portishead's albums you may want to check out to gain a better appreciation of the band. _Recommended tracks from Portishead's debut album:_ Roads Glory Box Wandering Star It Could Be Sweet Mysterons It's a Fire _Recommended tracks from Portishead's second album:_ All Mine Undenied Humming Over Mourning Air Seven Months Cowboys _Recommended tracks from Portishead's Third album:_ The Rip
To add my recommendation that you need to check out Tricky as well, he recorded with massive attack then unusually rerecorded the lyrics on different tracks so you have the strange fact of having completely different tracks with the same lyrics. All are great but tricky is my favourite especially maxinequaye and Premillenieum tension.another coincidence is that portishead and tricky released tracks that used exactly the same sample both to great effect on the tracks hell is round the corner and glory box
Me too. 19 then and first heard Portishead's Dummy and Snoops Doggystyle actually on the same radio station back in the day at the time. Both influential from then on for me. Will admit Portishead more so. Actual the order I heard them wasn't Sour Times (on The Box first then the radio), Doggystyle, Massive Attack.
I am not familiar with this music. The first song has a unique sound and vibe with a blend of guitar and other instruments producing an unusual atmosphere. I like your reference to the James Bond style of music. I agree about the mellow vocal. You guys gave excellent analysis of the song. The second song has a solid tempo. I like the rocking sound blended with orchestral strings. Good comments on the song. This is a close battle to choose. When I heard the first song I figured I would choose that one until I heard the second song. I think I will agree with you guys and choose the second song as the winner. Good job Shawn and Trey on the reaction.
You need to listen to the whole album Dummy by Portishead preferably late at night when you are feeling mellow and through headphones, I can promise you that you won't have heard anything like it before
Sour Times and a couple of other songs from the Dummy album was developed as part of an indie movie some of the band members were part of called 'To Kill a Dead Man', I think that was the title. But it was an indie spy movie. The video of Sour Times is actually kind of a cut down version of the movie.
I have always been a Portishead fan but had heard rumblings among the reaction videos of people saying to check out Massive Attack. You guys were the 1st that I heard a Massive Attack song. To me it may both be TripHop but it's for two different settings. Portishead is for that midnight cafe with a finely mixed beverage sipping and absorbing the laid back atmosphere. Massive Attack is for the trendy nightclub as house music in the background. Nothing against them.
Unfinished Sympathy is probably the most well known track by Massive attack. A well deserved winner for it's refined production, novelty ideas and excellent sound. For me, Portishead is a difficult affair on albums. The atmosphere Beth Gibbons creates with her nuanced vocals and stage presence does rarely transfer to a recorded audio track. From Massive Attack I recommend "Protection" with the sensational Tracey Thorn doing the vocals, and as an album to enter the Massive Attack world it is "Collected".
Hey RTTC, when this came out back in the day, I and seemingly everyone who heard it the first time were in AWE (in the real sense of the word). The preceding Massive single, Daydreaming, was fantastic, but Unfinished Sympathy had an otherwordly pull on people. And whenever we played it at our club night, there was a rush to the floor. No need for bassline because magic.
Portishead certainly had their own vibe and very good music but a bit gloomy in overall tone for me. The Massive Attack song a clear winner here though no shame to lose to a song that great. Definitely think you should review the whole album that came from called.Blue Lines.
Too bad both these bands put out so few albums. Bristol was hot in the 90s. You might wanna watch them both perform together for a benefit concert. Also, Tricky's Maxinquaye, U.N.K.L.E.s Psysence Fiction, and the Golden Palominos This Is How It Feels are in the same style. Also,.Portishead don't sample, they recreate samples.
![Massive Attack • Morcheeba • Portishead - Special Coffeeshop Selection [Seven Beats Music]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_gozzJ5Yjsc/mqdefault.jpg)
Massive Attack essentially invented the genre and were the main inspiration for fellow Bristolians Portishead. Incidentally Massive Attack began life as a straight up Hip Hop group called ‘Wild Bunch’ in the mid 1980s. As their sound progressed they stripped back the rapping and incorporated more guest vocalists.
Thanks for the interesting info and for watching!
It's just as bad as putting Massive Attack against Tricky! Oh, wait... Mezzanine VS. Maxinque? That might be a good battle! Let them know in the comments.
Not much of a battle for me: Unfinished Sympathy is simply one of the greatest pieces of music ever made. I remember when it came out, it just about stunned everyone who heard it.
Thanks Harri!
Agreed. It's not even close, and I like Portishead....
Most definitely
The orchestra paid off! I have always loved Unfinished Sympathy, it is me as a teen lol!
haha Thanks!
Great review lads can’t go wrong with some trip hop
Most under-rated music genre ever.
Thanks Padge, Stay safe!
Two of my three favourite bands right here. Portishead and Massive Attack (Radiohead being my #1 favourite band). Too many great songs from all three of these incredible bands to mention. These two tracks barely scratch the surface.
Thanks for watching, we love Radiohead as well lots of their stuff up on the channel. Thanks Music!
You’ve got good taste, my man! 😊
Nothing can top Unfinished Sympathy
Thanks for Watching!
@@ReactionsToTheClassics Walking wounded, after your life just shattered - this song to me
I'm from Bristol, my band recorded at Christchurch studios for a while where Massive Attack also worked, it's next to Bristols most famous cider pub the Coronation Tap, maybe rough cider I'd what fuelled Massive Attack as well 😂
haha that could be! Wish I could visit there!
Always Massive Attack for me.They had excellent guest singers.
Thanks for watching Reighnee Daze!
Liz Frazier from Cocteau Twins(Teardrop), and Tracey Thorn from Everything but the girl (Protection)
Trip hop is the bomb dot com. I'll toss out a couple more track suggestions: 2wicky from Hooverphonic and 6 Underground by The Sneaker Pimps.
If you want more of these two bands, I'd recommend Safe From Harm by Massive Attack and Glory Box by Portishead.
Really appreciate the suggestions and thanks for watching Devin Up!
Oh hell yes, these are two wonderful bands. I highly recommend exploring their back catalogues
We plan to in 2021. Thanks Owen!!
As a proud Bristolian it's nice to see a couple of local legends featured on the channel (Portishead are named after a small coastal town just outside the city that is otherwise extremely unremarkable).
I've never really understood Trip Hop as a genre as it's very hard to define (Hip Hop with added melancholy?) but would highly recommend checking out the Holy Trinity of early nineties albums originating from Bristol: Massive Attack's Blue Lines (1991) is pretty much perfect, Portishead's Dummy (1994) is the best example of what they do and not forgetting Tricky's Maxinquaye (1995), which was album of the year according to several publications at the time.
Thanks for all the info and insight Glyn! Someone else mentioned Tricky as well, never heard of them so for sure need to check them out, Appreciate it. Stay safe!
Nice! Sour Times uses a sample from Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin's "Danube Incident", from the 1967 album More Mission: Impossible. This is noir....because of this album Massive attacks album Mezzaine is a response...its darker and more noir....great choice!
Great insight. Thanks for sharing and watching!
I’m here for more Portishead! Thank you!
Thanks for watching!!
Awesome reviews. It's so hard comparing these two artist They both have such a distinct sound. I favor massive attack in this one as well, but Portishead is a force and their music wont dissapoint trip hop cravings.
Thanks Remi! Stay safe!
Great to see you casting your ear on these two bands, ( both from the same city in the UK, Bristol), that had such an influence on the music scene of the time and both worth exploring. I would agree with you that Unfinished Sympathy is my favourite of the two tracks but love Portishead too. Both Blue Lines and Massive Attack's next album Protection I played to death at the time and still am happy to listen to. There were a group of albums from this time that are still very much etched on my consciousness and I still listen to which includes the Massive Attack albums, Portishead's first two albums Dummy and Portishead, Electribe 101's Electribal Memories, Everything But The Girl's Walking Wounded, Dreadzone's Biological Radio, Moodswings's Moodfood, Dead Can Dance's Into The Labyrinth all of which I think have things to recommend them and would recommend a listen to.
We will explore some of these in 2021 for sure. Appreciate all the suggestions and you watching Richard!
If its true and Banksy is a member then they will definitely be able to afford a string section now. You need to check out Portishead live at Rose land. It's on a different level! Also, the Massive Attack work with the reggae legend Horace Andy is fantastic. Bristol has produced some great bands over the years, Black Roots being the finest but also Dubkasm. Victory will have the horn riff stuck in your brain for days.
Will check some of that out. Yes IF Banksy is finances would never be an issue haha
Portishead definitely should've been asked to do a Bond song. Good shout Dad. All Mine by Portishead is the best Bond song that never was.
The producers of the Bond movies rejected even Radiohead's track 'Spectre' for the movie of the same name, in favour of a Sam Smith ballad. I doubt they even deserve a track written for them from Portishead, given that outcome.
Thanks for watching and the support haha!
Two trip hop classics, but Massive Attack wins this one. The single-shot music video is a classic as well. I love the music that Massive Attack put out in the 90s, I'm less keen on their later stuff. My favourite song is Protection (the original album version). And I HIGHLY recommend the album Mezzanine, that album broadened my music taste more than any other, back in '98. Brilliant from start to finish, it deserves a review.
Will check that one out with that rec from you for sure. Thanks Pulsar hope you are well!
Mezzanine is genius!
'Sour Times' is a decent album track, however, in isolation, I believe there are far better songs from Portishead's albums you may want to check out to gain a better appreciation of the band.
_Recommended tracks from Portishead's debut album:_
Roads
Glory Box
Wandering Star
It Could Be Sweet
Mysterons
It's a Fire
_Recommended tracks from Portishead's second album:_
All Mine
Undenied
Humming
Over
Mourning Air
Seven Months
Cowboys
_Recommended tracks from Portishead's Third album:_
The Rip
Roads and Glory box especially for me.
They are best enjoyed life. Mrs. Gibbons is such a good singer, able to colour her vocals in all nuances of emotions.
Really appreciate all the recs and the time you took to put them on here!
Agreed. Glory box, Cowboys and mysterons are must listnes.
All mine is maybe my fav of theirs
Litterally just listened to both of these after a midnight joint... lmao
Thanks for Watching!
To add my recommendation that you need to check out Tricky as well, he recorded with massive attack then unusually rerecorded the lyrics on different tracks so you have the strange fact of having completely different tracks with the same lyrics. All are great but tricky is my favourite especially maxinequaye and Premillenieum tension.another coincidence is that portishead and tricky released tracks that used exactly the same sample both to great effect on the tracks hell is round the corner and glory box
That is just awesome and interesting info right there. Will check all out for sure. Thanks phil!
Oh definitely tricky his track “For Real” is a really awesome tune 👏
Great review guys! Both songs are excellent. I particularly love Portishead, all their catalog is amazing
Thanks Fran stay safe!
1994 Dummy album by Portishead! I was 18 at the time. 94 was a very pivitol year for music in every genre.
Will check that one out. Thanks Louie!
Agreed, 94 was an incredible year for music!
Me too. 19 then and first heard Portishead's Dummy and Snoops Doggystyle actually on the same radio station back in the day at the time. Both influential from then on for me. Will admit Portishead more so. Actual the order I heard them wasn't Sour Times (on The Box first then the radio), Doggystyle, Massive Attack.
I am not familiar with this music. The first song has a unique sound and vibe with a blend of guitar and other instruments producing an unusual atmosphere. I like your reference to the James Bond style of music. I agree about the mellow vocal. You guys gave excellent analysis of the song. The second song has a solid tempo. I like the rocking sound blended with orchestral strings. Good comments on the song. This is a close battle to choose. When I heard the first song I figured I would choose that one until I heard the second song. I think I will agree with you guys and choose the second song as the winner. Good job Shawn and Trey on the reaction.
Great minds think alike haha. Thanks Poet!
@@ReactionsToTheClassics Lol Yes, that's true. We gravitated toward the same song.
You need to listen to the whole album Dummy by Portishead preferably late at night when you are feeling mellow and through headphones, I can promise you that you won't have heard anything like it before
Sour Times and a couple of other songs from the Dummy album was developed as part of an indie movie some of the band members were part of called 'To Kill a Dead Man', I think that was the title. But it was an indie spy movie. The video of Sour Times is actually kind of a cut down version of the movie.
Thanks for the info Rodney!
Both great songs. I have the instrumental version of unfinished sympathy in my car trip list.
Great reaction as always guys!
Haha in the car trip list is great! Thanks Alexander really appreciate it!
You should check out safe from harm by massive attack
Really appreciate the suggestion and thanks for watching Douglas!
I have always been a Portishead fan but had heard rumblings among the reaction videos of people saying to check out Massive Attack. You guys were the 1st that I heard a Massive Attack song.
To me it may both be TripHop but it's for two different settings.
Portishead is for that midnight cafe with a finely mixed beverage sipping and absorbing the laid back atmosphere.
Massive Attack is for the trendy nightclub as house music in the background. Nothing against them.
Appreciate the insight and you watching. Stay safe!
Unfinished Sympathy is probably the most well known track by Massive attack. A well deserved winner for it's refined production, novelty ideas and excellent sound.
For me, Portishead is a difficult affair on albums. The atmosphere Beth Gibbons creates with her nuanced vocals and stage presence does rarely transfer to a recorded audio track.
From Massive Attack I recommend "Protection" with the sensational Tracey Thorn doing the vocals, and as an album to enter the Massive Attack world it is "Collected".
Appreciate the suggestions and always enjoy your insight. Thanks Peter!
Two classic tunes. Unfinished Sympathy is the better of the two though…classic music video as well
Thanks Kevin!
One of the massive attack members was rumored to be the famous graffiti artist Banksy 😱
If you get a chance, the portishead live version of sourtimes is incredible
Thanks will check it out!
Amo ambas bandas pero Massive se robó mi corazón hace años ❤️
Thanks for watching!
Great reviews as ever. Massive Attack are superb. You might consider Protection featuring Tracey Thorn of Everything But the Girl guesting on vocals.
Will check it out! Appreciate it!
Hey RTTC, when this came out back in the day, I and seemingly everyone who heard it the first time were in AWE (in the real sense of the word). The preceding Massive single, Daydreaming, was fantastic, but Unfinished Sympathy had an otherwordly pull on people. And whenever we played it at our club night, there was a rush to the floor. No need for bassline because magic.
I can see that for sure! Thanks!
Massive attack teardrop
Please 😂✌❤🇬🇧
Thanks for watching Michael!
@@ReactionsToTheClassics not just watching Ive subbed more British classics please 😂😂
Great Gig in the sky I believe was Doris Troy,
Yes Sir! Thanks Scott!
I like sour times, also you should check out the live version they slow it down and Beth the singer goes crazy at the ending
Will check that out of sure, sounds intriguing! Thanks John!
You should also check out I against die
That’s I against I
We will check it out. Thanks Douglas!
I love both of these tunes and bands. Roads by Portishead would have been a more fair battle.
Thanks for Watching!
Portishead certainly had their own vibe and very good music but a bit gloomy in overall tone for me. The Massive Attack song a clear winner here though no shame to lose to a song that great. Definitely think you should review the whole album that came from called.Blue Lines.
Thanks for weighing in and for watching!
I agree
Too bad both these bands put out so few albums. Bristol was hot in the 90s. You might wanna watch them both perform together for a benefit concert. Also, Tricky's Maxinquaye, U.N.K.L.E.s Psysence Fiction, and the Golden Palominos This Is How It Feels are in the same style. Also,.Portishead don't sample, they recreate samples.
thanks