Customer Reviews
The second album that showed as much promise as the first - By: CJM, 24 Dec 2006 
I remember well the period of the early nineties - & the sounds that werein my life then. Much of my leisure time was spent clubbing: fast-paced, loud, excitable & generally full-on. It was a good time & the music I heard when I was out was fantastic. But I often felt some "humanity" was missing. During those 'down times' I'd drop Protection onto my record player & slide back into a feeling of warmth, honesty & embracing lyrics. "Lyrics!" I thought, that's what's was missing! What was the point otherwise? It was simply music only of the 'thrill factor'. Of course I listened to other classics that my collection contained, but this was the sound at the time. And Massive Attack had seemed to tap into the zeitgeist.
There was a brooding sense of darknessin these sounds, an almost brutal honestly that sometimes alluded to some parts of life not being particularly beautiful, but they were still parts of our lives nonetheless. And the honest narrative only helped to fortify this truth.
Using an original approach to sampling whereby the samples actually meant something: ie: they had a reference point, the sound is cut-up, urban & powerful, & certainly not "dance music" as some have mistakenly presumed. But it's the vocals of Nicolette, the lovely Tracy Thorn & the unique Horace Andy that provide the backdrop to the unmatchable Massive sound. When these two are mixed there is an infectious draw that certainly resonates for me. But maybe that's because the music means something to me?
But the point is, it turned out that this music meant something to most people then. And that time has passed.
Thankfully we're entering another period whereby the music is beginning the mean something. If it has stayed like it was before for any longer I would have gone mad.
Typical massive attack - By: CHS, 27 Oct 2003 
When I bought this cd, I didn't stop listening to it for ages! If you've only heard 'Protection' - the single, & want more of the same then this is the cd for you. Three, Karmacoma & Better Things are fabulous, & Sly sounds like a James Bond theme, albeitin a good way! Protection is without doubt the best of Massive's albums, & I'd consider buying 'No Protection' to complement it too.
Superbly crafted 'Trip-Pop'. an Understated masterpiece. - By: Zebulebu, 17 Sep 2003 The poppiest of the Massive Attack albums suffers none for its apparent desire to showcase the group's murky, dark sound to a wider audience. On this album, the three 'true' members of the group bringin a number of guest stars including long-time companion Tricky, Horace Andy, Tracy Thorn & Nicolette. This tactic paid dividened with debut album 'Blue Lines' - Shara Nelson's beautiful voice made 'Unfinished Sympathy' into a massive hit - & it paid off againin spades with this classic.
From the opening, quite beautiful title track to the last cut (a live, mega-dubby version of the Doors classic 'Light My Fire') this album is breathtakingin its impact. You'll find yourself listening to the whole album right through on more than one occasion & wondering where the hell the time went.
Perfect for relaxing to, going to sleep to or travelling to work, this album is, as stated earlier, much more commercial than the group's other work. But make no mistake, the dark undercurrent is still there. Witness the slithering bass of 'Karmacoma' - with Tricky's harsh, breathed vocals over the top. Or the dark majesty of 'Spying Glass' - guest vocals from reggae legend Horace Andy. Both are classic cuts.
But the true heights of the album are the two numbers with Nicolette providing vocals, namely 'Three' & 'Sly'. This woman has the most incredible voice - you just have to hear it to believe it. Reminiscent of a cross between Eartha Kitt, Shirley Bassey & Nina Simone, yet managing to sound completely original, her vocals are just breathtaking. Unfortunately, her solo album 'No Government' is a hit & miss affair, largely a mess of drum & bass with a smattering of good tracks. Still, the two tracks on here more than make up for the disappointment of that album.
One of those albums that should bein EVERY music fan's collection
The most acomplished album I have ever heard - By: micheo@globalnet.co.uk, 20 Apr 2001 If I had this album on vinal rather than CD, the needle would have cut a groove so deep it would come through to the other side. I have played this album over & over & I have never tired of it. Simply put, it is a masterpiece. This album was one of the few I have listened to on the listening post at HMV before I bought it (I had only heard the one song, 'Unfinished Sympathy', prior to this album. Immediatelty I was transfixed by the enourmous bass lines of 'better things' & the angelic vocals of protection. 3 singers each with 2 songs apiece, & two instrumentals make this a varied, but coherent colaboration.
If I was to make one critisism, it is the dreadful cover of light my fire on the final track. What were they thinking of? I never let my CD play this song before I take it off.
This album has remained my favorite album of the 90's.
one of my favourites - By: , 06 Jun 2000 I've had this album for about two years now & it's one of my favourites. The best song on the album is Weather Storm, a beautiful instrumental with an excellent base line. The cover of The Doors' Light My Fire is also good, with Horace Andy's excellent vocals making a pleasant return to the fray.
