What are some heavy guitar focused trip-hop albums similar to Massive Attack's Mezzanine?

February 26, 2008 9:47 PM

What are some heavy guitar focused trip-hop albums similar to Massive Attack's Mezzanine?

It's been awhile but I recently dug out Mezzanine and started listening to it and is totally appreciating significantly more than before. Are there any other artists out there that are similar to their sound on that specific album? I'm not looking for other trip-hop artists. I'm looking for that specific trip-hop + rock sound.

posted by herbiehancock00 to media & arts (15 comments total)

The Fight Club soundtrack by The Dust Brothers is rather similar in mood and instrumentation. It's really great.

Some more:
Sneaker Pimps - Becoming X
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Portishead
Groove Armada
Morcheeba (less rock, more R&B)
Everything But The Girl
Tricky
posted by blastrid at 10:04 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]

Oh, meant to mention that the Fight Club soundtrack is almost all instrumental.
posted by blastrid at 10:17 PM on February 26

If you like Tricky, and you like Massive Attack, put them both together and listen to Blue Lines. It's by far my favorite MA release. Also, Emiliana Torrini, Dahlia, Funkstorung, Gorillaz, MC Solaar, and anything else Pandora recommends (you already tried Pandora, right?).
posted by kcm at 10:26 PM on February 26

I'm not good at genre distinctions, but try Thievery Corporation's 2002 album, "The Richest Man in Babylon"
posted by Phred182 at 1:06 AM on February 27

blastrid's got most of the big names covered, but try some of the stuff in these threads. Easiest way to sample is to hit last.fm, type in an artist's name, and hit play. (last.fm's recommentation engine's better than pandora's, IMO)
posted by Leon at 2:53 AM on February 27

i never thought "Mezzanine" was a very guitar heavy trip hop album.

a trip hop album that is a bit more rockin is Hooverphonic's debut "New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular". Guitars on almost every song. The album overall is slightly more etherial and less dark and downtempo than Mezzanine but most of their songs overlap in style with Massive Attack.

you tube links:
Inhaler | 2 Wicky | Someone | Innervoice

I'd stay away from any other Hooverphonic releases. They changed singers and it all went downhill.
posted by sammich at 3:28 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]

They changed singers and it all went downhill.

That's the same way I feel about Morcheeba. They were never the same after they replaced Skye Edwards.

herbiehancock00, you'd probably love their first two albums, Who Can You Trust? and Big Calm.
posted by JaredSeth at 4:14 AM on February 27

2nding Big Calm by Morcheeba. Everything else they have done is crap compared to it.
posted by zennoshinjou at 4:55 AM on February 27

This is a more tangental recommendation, and is nowhere near as Dark and Evil as Mezzanine, but for atmospheric guitar-backed you might check the later albums of Talk Talk (specifically Spirit of Eden)...available on Rhapsody.com to stream for free.
posted by softlord at 5:54 AM on February 27

The Grassy Knoll - Positive (1996)
posted by breezeway at 7:07 AM on February 27

For darker, heavier, thicker, rock-influenced sounds, try these:

Blue Foundation - Sweep of Days
Sneaker Pimps - Bloodsport
Goldfrapp - Black Cherry
U.N.K.L.E. - Psyence Fiction
Halou - Wholeness & Separation
Dot Allison - We Are Science
Baxter - Baxter
Iuno - Everything Nothing
Peeping Tom (Mike Patton) - Peeping Tom

And like others have said, Tricky is the king of the thick trip-hop sound. I'd recommend Blowback.

For lighter, more alt-rock/indie fare:

Broadcast - Tender Buttons
Karmacoda - Evidence
Puracane - In Limbo
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:08 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]

I'll add that Mezzanine is my favorite album and nothing is satisficiently similar. :(
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:19 AM on February 27

UNKLE's "War Stories" is an underrated album that blurs the line between rock and triphop, although it's definitely a bit heavy on the rock side.
posted by Electrius at 7:33 AM on February 27

Portishead always went on the cd right after Massive Attack back in the day, check them out?
posted by Iteki at 1:05 PM on February 27

Here's a quick live sample from youtube.
Portishead - Roads
posted by Iteki at 1:09 PM on February 27