Blowback (album)

Last updated

Blowback
Tricky - Blowback.jpg
Studio album by
Released2 July 2001 (2001-07-02)
StudioCandy Sound, Durban Studios, Ocean Way, Sarm West, Wonder Station [1]
Genre
Length58:36
Label
Producer Tricky
Tricky chronology
Juxtapose
(1999)
Blowback
(2001)
Vulnerable
(2003)
Singles from Blowback
  1. "Evolution Revolution Love"
    Released: 2001
  2. "You Don't Wanna"
    Released: 2002

Blowback is the fifth studio album by English rapper and producer Tricky. It was released on 26 June 2001. [1]

Contents

Background

The album features more accessible, popular song structures than his previous records. Tricky later said he "did Blowback for the money, basically 'cause I was broke". [2] He recorded the album with guest musicians, including Red Hot Chili Peppers members Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Josh Klinghoffer, and John Frusciante; Cyndi Lauper, Alanis Morissette, Ed Kowalczyk, Mark Thwaite of The Mission, and less known artists such as Hawkman, Stephanie McKay and Ambersunshower. "I turned up at the studio and nothing was written," Morissette recalled. "We just worked on it there. He's a very funny man." [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 65/100 [4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [6]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
NME 6/10 [8]
Pitchfork 3.1/10 [9]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Spin 5/10 [12]
The Village Voice A [13]

Blowback received generally positive reviews from critics, [4] although many of Tricky's longtime fans disliked it. [14] According to Encyclopedia of Popular Music writer Colin Larkin, it was hailed as Tricky's best record since his 1995 debut Maxinquaye , [5] while PopMatters critic Jeffrey Thiessen later called it "a great pop album nobody liked". [14] Simon Price regarded Blowback as Tricky's best album since 1996's Pre-Millennium Tension and "his most accessible since Maxinquaye." He wrote in his review for The Independent at the time that the artist's move to New York "away from the petty politics of the music business" had resulted in "a dark, dense album of future-funk and deep dub". [15] In The New York Times , Neil Strauss called it a radical departure from previous Tricky records, "direct and upfront, the poppiest production Tricky has ever mustered". [16] The Indianapolis Star described it as Tricky's attempt to "prove there's at least one more rap-rock album that's worth a listen". [17] Writing for The Guardian , Dave Simpson was surprised by how "deliriously uplifting, even humorous", the music was, while encompassing "everything from rap-metal (of which there's lots...) to ragga, US power-pop, granite beats, supernatural ambience and even New Romantic. At the same time, it is uniquely, inimitably Tricky." [7]

Some reviewers were more critical. The Wire said while "some of it is just odd enough to work", the album's fusion of hip hop, electro, dancehall, and, "most problematically, stadium alt.rock" proved to be an intriguing but frustrating listen. [18] NME magazine's Sarah Dempster was disappointed in Tricky's choice of guest artists, who she felt came off as "market-friendly gimmicks, novelties that will afford his selective ramblings a wider audience". [8] While viewing it as further evidence of Tricky's evolution from trip hop toward becoming "some sort of rap-pop revolutionary", Pitchfork 's Brent DiCrescenzo found much of the music "horrible" and plagued by the musician's poor lapses in creative judgment, particularly his duets with Anthony Kiedis and Ed Kowalczyk. [9]

Blowback was named the fourth best album of 2001 by Village Voice critic Robert Christgau. [19] In retrospect, he viewed it as Tricky's most "songful" release, one that was "criminally neglected" by listeners. [20] Bill Friskics-Warren later said Blowback was "an album of funk-rock by way of dancehall reggae" that relied on mainstream-rock guest performers but did not "forego incisiveness for accessibility, resistance for appeasement". [21]

Track listing

  1. "Excess" – 4:43 (with Alanis Morissette)
  2. "Evolution Revolution Love" (with Ed Kowalczyk and Garrison Hawk) – 4:09
  3. "Over Me" – 2:57
  4. "Girls" – 4:21
  5. "You Don't Wanna" – 5:25
  6. "#1 Da Woman" – 2:40
  7. "Your Name" – 3:35
  8. "Diss Never (Dig Up We History)" – 2:50
  9. "Bury the Evidence" – 4:51
  10. "Something in the Way" – 3:24 (Nirvana cover)
  11. "Five Days" – 4:19 (With Cyndi Lauper)
  12. "Give It to 'Em" – 3:04
  13. "A Song for Yukiko" – 4:10

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [22] 28
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [23] 5
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [24] 27
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [25] 29
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [26] 43
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [27] 29
French Albums (SNEP) [28] 16
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [29] 48
Italian Albums (FIMI) [30] 21
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [31] 22
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [32] 29
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [33] 33
UK Albums (OCC) [34] 34
US Billboard 200 [35] 138

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)Position
French Albums (SNEP) [36] 148

Sales

As of September 2003 it has sold 95,000 copies in United States according to Nielsen SoundScan. [37]

Trivia

Related Research Articles

Trip hop is a musical genre that originated in the late 1980s in the United Kingdom, especially Bristol. It has been described as a psychedelic fusion of hip hop and electronica with slow tempos and an atmospheric sound, often incorporating elements of jazz, soul, funk, reggae, dub, R&B, and other forms of electronic music, as well as sampling from movie soundtracks and other eclectic sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tricky (rapper)</span> British rapper and record producer (born 1968)

Adrian Nicholas Matthews Thaws, better known by his stage name Tricky, is a British record producer and rapper. Born and raised in Bristol, in southwest England, he began his career as an early member of the band Massive Attack, alongside Robert Del Naja, Grant Marshall & Andrew Vowles. Through his work with Massive Attack and other artists, Tricky became a major figure in the Bristol underground scene, which gave rise to multiple internationally recognized artists and the music genre of trip hop.

<i>Two Against Nature</i> 2000 studio album by Steely Dan

Two Against Nature is the eighth studio album by American rock band Steely Dan. Their first studio album in 20 years, it was recorded from 1997 to 1999 and released on February 29, 2000, by Giant Records.

<i>Play</i> (Moby album) 1999 studio album by Moby

Play is the fifth studio album by American electronic musician Moby. It was released on May 17, 1999, through Mute Records internationally and V2 Records in North America. Recording of the album began in mid-1997, following the release of Moby's fourth album, Animal Rights (1996), which deviated from his electronica style; Moby's goal for Play was to return to electronica, blending downtempo with blues and roots music samples. Originally intended to be his final record, the album was recorded at Moby's home studio in Manhattan.

<i>Moon Safari</i> 1998 studio album by Air

Moon Safari is the debut studio album by French electronic music duo Air, released on 16 January 1998 by Source and Virgin Records. Moon Safari was re-released on 14 April 2008 to mark the album's 10th anniversary, including a bound book, a DVD documentary about the duo, and a bonus CD with live performances and remixes, and on 15 March 2024, to mark the album's 25th anniversary.

<i>By the Way</i> 2002 studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

By the Way is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released July 9, 2002, on Warner Bros. Records. It sold more than 286,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. Singles included "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song", "Can't Stop" and "Universally Speaking". Additionally, "Dosed" was released as a promotional single in the US and Canada. The lyrical subject matter vocalist Anthony Kiedis addresses in By the Way is a divergence from previous Red Hot Chili Peppers albums, with Kiedis taking a more candid and reflective approach to his lyrics.

<i>The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse</i> 2002 studio album by Jay-Z

The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse is the seventh studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on November 12, 2002 by Roc-A-Fella Records and Island Def Jam Music Group as a double album. The album serves as a sequel to his sixth album The Blueprint (2001). The album debuted at number one, shipping with first-week sales of 545,000 units. The album is certified 3x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. In 2013, Jay-Z cited this album as his second-worst due to an overabundance of songs on the album. A one-disc reissue, titled Blueprint 2.1, was released in 2003.

<i>NYC Ghosts & Flowers</i> 2000 studio album by Sonic Youth

NYC Ghosts & Flowers is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Sonic Youth, released on May 16, 2000, by DGC Records. The highly experimental album is considered to be a reaction to the theft of the band's instruments in July 1999, when several irreplaceable guitars and effects pedals were stolen. NYC Ghosts & Flowers was the first album since Bad Moon Rising in which the band used prepared guitar.

<i>Black Market Music</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Placebo

Black Market Music is the third studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo. The album took nine months to record, from late-1999 to mid-2000; the longest that the band had ever spent recording an album until 2022's Never Let Me Go. It was released on 9 October 2000 by record label Hut.

<i>Maxinquaye</i> 1995 studio album by Tricky

Maxinquaye is the debut album by English rapper and producer Tricky, released on 20 February 1995 by 4th & B'way Records, a subsidiary of Island Records. In the years leading up to the album, Tricky had grown frustrated with his limited role in the musical group Massive Attack and wanted to pursue an independent project. Shortly after, he met with vocalist Martina Topley-Bird, who he felt would offer a wider vision to his music, and signed a solo contract with 4th & B'way in 1993. Tricky recorded Maxinquaye the following year primarily at his home studio in London, with Topley-Bird serving as the album's main vocalist, while Alison Goldfrapp, Ragga and Mark Stewart performed additional vocals.

<i>Nearly God</i> 1996 studio album by Nearly God

Nearly God is the unofficial second album by English rapper and producer Tricky. It was released in February 1996 under the pseudonym "Nearly God", which originated from an interview during which Tricky was asked "so how does it feel to be God... well, nearly God."

<i>Pre-Millennium Tension</i> 1996 studio album by Tricky

Pre-Millennium Tension is the second album from English rapper and producer Tricky, released in 1996. It was a conscious effort by Tricky to depart away from the trip hop label with which critics had described his previous music. The album was well received by critics, being named the ninth best record of the year in the 1996 Pazz & Jop poll.

<i>The Saga Continues...</i> 2001 studio album by P. Diddy & the Bad Boy Family

The Saga Continues... is the third studio album by American rapper P. Diddy, released on July 10, 2001 by Arista and Bad Boy Records. Similarly to his debut album No Way Out (1997), it is credited to "P. Diddy and the Bad Boy Family"; the latter act refers to his signees at Bad Boy Records. It was the first studio album released by Combs under the P. Diddy name, and the final release under Bad Boy Records' joint venture with Arista Records.

<i>Scorpion</i> (Eve album) 2001 studio album by Eve

Scorpion is the second studio album by American rapper Eve. It was released by Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Interscope Records on March 6, 2001, in the United States. The album's title is a reference to Eve's zodiac sign, Scorpio. It features the hit single "Let Me Blow Ya Mind", a duet with Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, which won the first Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, a new category at the time.

<i>Angels with Dirty Faces</i> (Tricky album) 1998 studio album by Tricky

Angels with Dirty Faces is the third album of English musician Tricky, released in 1998. The title is taken from the film of the same name.

<i>Vulnerable</i> (Tricky album) 2003 studio album by Tricky

Vulnerable is the sixth album by English trip hop artist Tricky released in 2003 on the Epitaph record label.

<i>How I Got Over</i> (album) 2010 studio album by the Roots

How I Got Over is the ninth studio album by American hip hop band the Roots. It was released on June 22, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings.

<i>False Idols</i> 2013 studio album by Tricky

False Idols is the ninth studio album by English trip hop musician Tricky, released on 23 May 2013. It is Tricky's first release on his label False Idols, an imprint of !K7.

<i>Ununiform</i> 2017 studio album by Tricky

Ununiform is the thirteenth studio album by English trip hop artist Tricky. It was released by False Idols on 22 September 2017. Three singles were taken from this album, 'The Only Way', 'When We Die' and 'Running Wild', all of them released before the album. And alternative version of 'The Only Way' was uploaded on Tricky personal Soundcloud account a few weeks after the original, and later released as a single in 2018, this version was also included in the physical releases of the album, but unlisted in the back cover. The album features a variety of guest vocalists, including Russian rappers, American vocalists, his usual collaborator Francesca Belmonte, and Tricky's frequent-collaborator and former girlfriend Martina Topley-Bird.

<i>The Big Day</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Chance the Rapper

The Big Day is the debut studio album by American rapper Chance the Rapper, released on July 26, 2019. The album follows several mixtapes by the rapper including the reissue of his collaborative Merry Christmas Lil' Mama in 2017, and was his first solo project since Coloring Book in 2016. The album was heavily influenced by Chance's marriage to his then wife. The album was lauded by most critics, but certain aspects of the work found limited commercial success. The album received wide negative attention and backlash from fans on social media and other Internet communities citing inconsistencies of quality throughout the work. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, Chance's highest-charting entry to date.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Blowback [Bonus Tracks] – Tricky – Release Info". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  2. "Tricky". Exclaim!. June 2003. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  3. Blake, Mark (October 2001). "I believed if I had sex I would be damned in hell forever". Q . p. 48.
  4. 1 2 "Blowback by Tricky" via metacritic.com.
  5. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 3535. ISBN   978-0857125958.
  6. Sellout, you say? Think again: Tricky provides just enough wicked topspin to give his pop a loopy bounce. [13 July 2001, p.86]
  7. 1 2 Simpson, Dave (28 June 2001). "Laying the Skeletons to Rest". The Guardian . Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  8. 1 2 Dempster, Sarah (30 June 2001). "Review". NME . p. 43.
  9. 1 2 DiCrescenzo, Brent (2 July 2001). "Tricky: Blowback". Pitchfork . Chicago, Illinois: Pitchfork Media.
  10. Q (8/01, p.141) – 4 stars out of 5 – "...It should remind long-disillusioned fans what they liked about tricky in the first place....still strange and uncategorisable..."
  11. Harig, Roni (5 June 2001). "Tricky: Blowback". Rolling Stone . New York City: Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the original on 26 February 2010.
  12. Gross, Joe (August 2001). "Blowback". Spin . Los Angeles, California: SpinMedia: 134–135. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  13. Christgau, Robert (7 August 2001). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . New York. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  14. 1 2 Thiessen, Jeffrey (24 January 2013). "A Great Pop Album Nobody Liked: Tricky's 'Blowback'". PopMatters . Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  15. Price, Simon (1 July 2001). "Blowback". The Independent . Archived from the original on 26 February 2003. Retrieved 23 October 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. Strauss, Neil (23 June 2001). "Pop Review; Living Up to His Name, Tricky Flips His Moods". The New York Times . Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  17. "Tricky gets glossy with his guests" . The Indianapolis Star . 16 September 2001. p. 125. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  18. Anon. (July 2001). "Review". The Wire . No. 209. p. 62.
  19. Pazz & Jop 2001: Dean's List. The Village Voice.
  20. Christgau, Robert (26 November 2010). "Expert Witness: Shad/Tricky". MSN Music . Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  21. Friskics-Warren, Bill (2006). "The Great Wrong Place in Which We Live". I'll Take You There: Pop Music and the Urge for Transcendence. A&C Black. p. 111. ISBN   0826419216.
  22. "Australiancharts.com – Tricky – Blowback". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  23. "Austriancharts.at – Tricky – Blowback" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  24. "Ultratop.be – Tricky – Blowback" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  25. "Ultratop.be – Tricky – Blowback" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  26. "Dutchcharts.nl – Tricky – Blowback" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  27. "Tricky: Blowback" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  28. "Lescharts.com – Tricky – Blowback". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  29. "Offiziellecharts.de – Tricky – Blowback" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  30. "2001: Other Albums" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  31. "Charts.nz – Tricky – Blowback". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  32. "Norwegiancharts.com – Tricky – Blowback". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  33. "Swisscharts.com – Tricky – Blowback". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  34. "Tricky". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  35. "Tricky – Chart History". Billboard . Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  36. "Tops De L'annee: Top Albums 2002". SNEP (in French). Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  37. Group, Vibe Media (September 2003). "Vibe".{{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)