Customer Reviews

Pre-Millennium Tension

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The people who have given this album a bad review say they don't like it because it doesn't sound like Maxinquaye. Should Tricky be like AC/DC, and release the same album over and over? Any true fan of eclectic music (which, by definition, trip-hop and all it's subcategories is) would appreciate this album for what it is: something new, something different. In a world where crap like Matchbox 20 is labeled "alternative," Tricky stands alone as a true "alternative" voice in rock music. This is the album where he really cut loose, getting over the Massive Attack-wannabe sound of Maxinquaye, deciding to do music that was a little more polished than those tracks on Nearly God, a little less hip-hop than those on Grassroots, and instead started doing music that sounds like nothing else. Christiansands is still my favorite Tricky song ever (save for this one he does live but hasn't released yet, which we've taken to calling "Movies Don't Move Me"), and the first 5 songs on here are sheer genius. I'll admit that some of the songs aren't very listenable, ie My Evil Is Strong, but all in all this album is purely amazing. I think his most recent, Juxtapose, is better overall, but Pre-MT has some better stand-alone songs, like Christiansands, Tricky Kid, Makes me wanna die, and Vent. Bad Things is cool, too, once you get into it. And to my friend below, that's not even Tricky singing on Ghetto Youth, it's some Jamaican guy that was hanging out in front of Tricky's studio, and Tricky had him come in and sing over the music. Why? Go ask Tricky, I don't know. God bless you all! Your opinions are important, even if they're the wrong ones!

I know I'm usually alone on this, but this is my favorite Tricky album. "She Makes Me Wanna Die" is the most beautiful thing I ever heard, and I bought the movie "A Little Romance" because Tricky wrote Piano based on it. I own Fifth Element because he was in it. I think Maxinquaye was a little too "pop". I liked it, but it sounded too restricted. PMT is just all out original, even the samples he uses are used brilliantly, not as some Puff Daddy rip off. Pre-Millenium Tension has that edge, the paranoia, the anxiety that just screams genius. "My Evil is Strong" is brilliant... the lyrics to that are awesome. Tricky just goes to show you that blacks don't need to be gangsters to succeed. I don't know what the hell "Juxtapose" was. I admit it was better than radio, but it was too close to radio.

From a Diehard fan's point of view, I shun every reviewer who has given this album a poor review. Its not pop or mainstream music. Its an artistic album with a lot of experimental beats and rhythms to it. Never has anything sounded like this before. I thought Tricky couldn't top Maxinquaye's surreal mystique and inventive beats. I was wrong. This is a 180 degree turn but its exactly perfect for Tricky to explore new territory. Maxinquaye is more of a dream album. Pre-Millenium is more like an apocalyptic nightmare vision. Pre-Millenium is more angst driven than all his other albums. Its an album of self-discovery. Much of the lyrics is about Tricky's life struggle and what he is feeling. And he's venting out his rage. Lyrically, its the most brilliant and creative. Almost to the point of insanity. You'll hear roaring drums at the start with the eruption of the first track, "Vent." The screaching of guitars in this is unbelievably incredible. This flows right into "Christiansands," an r&b flavor track that's closer to pop than the rest of the tracks. Many consider this to be Tricky's best song on here. Its a great song to listen to at a party but it seems a little out of place and should have been on Maxinquaye instead of this. The strength of the cd comes later with "Bad Dream, My Evil Is Strong, Lyrics Of Fury and Piano." These songs sound very industrial and heavy. I especially love, "Lyrics Of Fury." Martina raps the entire song over almost nothing but a single drum beat. The song is played in almost all his live shows with a lot of fury and passion behind it. I always push repeat on this track and on the track "Bad Dream," my two favorites on the album. Many people complain about rubbish and don't understand the true art behind Pre-Millenium Tension. If its too intelligent for you I can understand but don't bash it because its not mainstream or pop.
Its as innovative and revolutionary as comtemporary music can get. I rank this among Nirvana's Nevermind and Radiohead's Ok Computer albums. Its that good.

Tricky proved himself a true genius by making this record. It is his most original work, as he strays from the Massive Attack-like "Maxinquaye". Some reviwers might assume it is extremely harsh, but that is why it is a work of art. It is rather claustrophobic.

It begins with "Vent". This is one of the best tracks ive ever heard. It's a "call and response-type" track featuring his trusty sidekick, Martine. The rest of the album is full of interesting surprises (Ghetto Youth, Bad Dream, My Evil is Strong, etc.). It seems Tricky mastered the formula for his trippy sound. He finally lays it down here.

PMT is not a very accessable record, but it is full of infectious rhythms, trippy melodies and vocals, and the marred voice of the man himself. This album is not recommended for those who want easy hooks, but for those who want to teach their brain new things.

This was the first CD I ever felt compelled to buy (along with Morcheeba's Who Can You Trust and Sneaker Pimps' Becoming X) and it's still the greatest CD I believe I own. I didn't realize the range and flexibility of music as an expressive form until I heard this album. Not a musician myself, I just had a vague awareness that there was something mundane but inescapable that had linked (and limited) every song I had heard prior on the radio and elsewhere. I didn't understand why the richness of spoken word performance and the flexibility of poetry, literature, and electronic sounds didn't allow for freer expression, and then I found this album which actually took steps towards exploring what I feel is the real potential of music. I later bought maxinquaye and, though I enjoyed it, I was disappointed at recognizing some of the same contraints I had been trying to escape. I've bought every tricky album and single since, and believe this album isn't only his best work, it's a musical milestone.

Of all the Tricky albums I've heard this one is my favorite. It's also the darkest and bottom heavy of all his albums. The overall tone I would say is "comfortably paranoid". With this album being made several years before the New Millenium this album is rightly titled and with lyrics like "gone insane, hijack a plane, don't push me cuz i'm close to the edge" you get the feeling that these are visions of times to come.

I enjoy anything that deviates from the norm musically and Tricky does just that on "Pre-Millenium Tension". I felt that this cd has subtle, low key rhythms and vocals. Instead of belting out every song, Tricky departs from the usual routine to half rap/half growl in lower registers. The cd has an ethereal feel to it with interesting songs like "Vent", "Christiansands", "Ghetto Youth", "Sex Drive" and "Bad Things". It's an entirely cohesive musical work. Trip hop isn't as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, and so Tricky suffers the fate of remaining underground music to the average music listener. That's okay though, I'd like to have some music that's not played into oblivion by radio and MTV. Hopefully, Tricky will continue to make great music and keep a low profile--not unlike Rush, Peter Gabriel or The Creatures.

like all tricky, you have to take the good with the bad. there are some tracks that are inaccessible, but at the same time (in the same cd) there are some absolute must haves. basically, not the best tricky album to cut your teeth on, but if you know what you are getting into, then buy it.

I've had a number of Tricky CDs for several years now, but this is one of my favorites (along with Maxinquaye). I don't love every song here, but almost all my favorite Tricky songs are here. It's dark and intense and therefore perfect to set the mood for all those dark and intense things people do. (I'm not going to be more specific, but there are a lot of things...)

Christiansands is probably my favorite Tricky song ever. How can you argue with lyrics like this: "You and me, what does that mean? Always, what does that mean? Forever, what does that mean? It means we'll manage..." Seriously, raise your hand if you haven't felt that way at some point in your life. As always, the music fits the lyrics perfectly, both slightly dissonant and yet incredibly rhythmic.

Tricky Kid is great too, and the raw power of Bad Dream gets me every time. Makes Me Wanna Die is incredible. I'm not even going to get into Vent, with its eerie "Gone insane, hijack a plane" lyrics.

Everyone has already commented on the great collaboration with Martina -- truly she makes this CD what it is. A lot of his other CDs have wonderful guest singers/musicians, but to me, nothing can ever compare to what those two could do together.

I'm giving it 4 stars because even though I can wax poetic on the first several songs, I don't listen to the last few ever. But the strength of the first, say, 7 songs make it worth it to me.

This CD confirms for me that the 90s was probably the greatest decade for music in terms of freshness, creativity and inventivness. The triphop scene especially. Dark demonic trippy rythmes and beats coupled with soft creamy singing against raspy grainy vocals which sound like he's been gargling gravel. Although I have to say I think Trick blew his load on this CD. Nothing he did after quite matched up. Thsi is a gem and should be in your collection.