UNTITLED (Black Is)

SAULT - UNTITLED (Black Is)
Critic Score
Based on 7 reviews
2020 Ratings: #10 / 866
Year End Rank: #8
User Score
Based on 514 ratings
2020 Ratings: #129
Liked by 51 people
Sign In to rate and review

CRITIC REVIEWS

100
Albumism

Just as D’Angelo’s Black Messiah landed at the perfect time, so this monumental piece of work arrives with a bible in one hand and balled fist in the other to demand equality and freedom for all at exactly the right moment.

100
Louder Than War
The mysterious Sault has created a powerful, potent protest album that is musically magnificent.
82
Pitchfork

Echoing the best of Solange’s A Seat at the Table, Black Is is shaped by gorgeous melodies and unequivocal messaging.

80
AllMusic

Untitled (Black Is) comes across as an urgent outpouring of grief, anger, affirmation, and consolation, and at the same time, it stretches Sault's stylistic range to an extent where virtually anything seems possible for their future.

80
Q Magazine
It's another masterwork from a group with no peers.
80
Mojo
Beautiful and potent stuff.
JacksonLerner
86

SAULT create an empowering collection of tracks on this statement of survival.

the identities of SAULT’s members are currently unknown. Inflo, the main producer, is the only known, consistently credited person.

“wildfires” is easily one of the best tracks on the album. it maintains a comforting vibe even through its murderous lyrics. meanwhile, the additional instrumentation helps preserve the peaceful atmosphere. the bass groove is addictive. the harmonic vocals near the ... read more

dearsongs
NR

soul/funk/gospel sounds. A few stand out tracks, and the whole thing flows nicely. "Wildfires" is a real nice cut and while you can say it feels appropriate in today's climate, its really been this way for decades/centuries.

This really should be on the front page.

BGL13
68

despite having a great message, untitled is pretty stale musically
faves: wildfires, hard life, sorry, eternal life, miracles
least faves: interludes, black, pray up, stop dem, don’t shoot

bdogmadfresh
85

As someone who watched Ordinary Things 2021 retrospective loved the bobi wine reference

dt_chun
NR

I’m not qualified to listen to this

81

If Fiona Apple captures 2020’s COVID mood, this is the masterpiece for the racist injustices brought into the stark daylight this year. Simultaneously celebratory, protesting, angry, hopeful, powerful, empowering and uplifting. It’s a soulful album, beautifully paced, poetic, that demands an end to end listen as it covers a spectrum of issues like injustice, police violence and discrimination and overall manages to raise the spirit. For me, it’s essential and the best of 2020.

Purchasing UNTITLED (Black Is) from Amazon helps support Album of the Year. Or consider a donation?


Added on: June 16, 2020