I don't know how to define what Tricky was or what he's becoming, but I do know that if you have some idea of what those things are you're taking his work too seriously. Music doesn't have to be inaccessible to be great; Bethoven's 9th is fairly accessible to the casual listener and completely genius to the trained ear. Either way it's enjoyable, and regardless of what many may think, neither method of appreciation is more profound than the other.

In a way Vulnerable appeases both fronts as well. Most of the tracks feature strong, accessible, even "repetitive" beats, and in compliment to that the music and vocals sound beatiful and pragmatic. This album seriously reminds me a lot of PMT in the sense that the music is fairly simple even if the overall sound (rhythm, vocals, and harmony) is a little abstract or disjoined.

Tricky's emphasis on one major vocalist (Costanza) was a smart move because it makes the album that much more relative to itself. Tricky also placed a strong emphasis on placing strong beats uniformly throughout the album, and generally speaking this is a more upbeat album than his earlier works like Maxinquaye. While individual tracks may lose some of their identity, the album itself has it's own overall voice and method. There is just enough variation to signify movement between tracks throughout the album. While there are several plateus of heavy drum abuse ("Moody and "Where I'm From"), there are in counter slow-flo ravines with more laid back grooves ("Hollow and "The Love Cats"), and this gives the listener variation while allowing the music to flow from strong central focal points. This really was Blowback's biggest problem; despite certain points of interest within the work, it was, from a larger perspective, a mess. That's not a problem here; the songs generally feature a strong rhythm with Tricky's raspy vocals polarized by Costanza's sweet voice. It is these familiar features that crop up throughout the album and give the listener a reference point and a bearing within the album, even if it does so at the sake of making things a little more predictable.

This album overall is very accessible, and that alone marks a difference between Tricky's earlier work. The fact this album is a little more upbeat may turn off some Tricky fans, but I don't think it circumvents the fact that Vulnerable is still a great album. Unlike Blowback, this album does in fact have an identity and a core sound, while at the same time moves through different emotions and flavors. Vulnerable is probably Tricky's best work since PMT, and I really hope long time listeners can cast away pretense and truly give Vulnerable a chance.

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Now comes this album that lyrically tops Maxinquaye (oops, he didn't just say that; did he?) and music that is at its worst orginal and at its best amazing (Car Crash, Wait for God and Hallow worth price of admission alone).

But what is so great about Vulerable is that it is completly listenable. Its the first Tricky release in a long time that every track is enjoyable. Every one. No self-indulgent stray avenues exlpored. Just pure murky introspection. And for the record: Costanza may not be Martina, but nobody is and she has a very angelic vocal, best heard near whisper level.

Trust in Trikcy again, take a shot and explore the words on this effort. I can't imagine you'll be disapointed.

Ps, the enhanced portion is dope and contains the definative remix of Antimatter. Check it out.

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