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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
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
The mysterious Sault has created a powerful, potent protest album that is musically magnificent.
82
Echoing the best of Solange’s A Seat at the Table, Black Is is shaped by gorgeous melodies and unequivocal messaging.
80
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
It's another masterwork from a group with no peers.
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3y
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
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.
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
As someone who watched Ordinary Things 2021 retrospective loved the bobi wine reference
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.
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Track List
| 1 | Out the Lies 2:01 | 63 |
| 2 | Stop Dem 3:38 | 71 |
| 3 | Hard Life 4:33 | 69 |
| 4 | Don't Shoot Guns Down 1:52 | 58 |
| 5 | Wildfires 3:26 | 73 |
| 6 | X 1:24 | 56 |
| 7 | Sorry Ain't Enough 4:59 | 65 |
| 8 | Black Is 1:52 | 56 |
| 9 | Bow 4:05 feat. Michael Kiwanuka | 68 |
| 10 | This Generation 0:46 feat. Laurette Josiah | 55 |
| 11 | Why We Cry Why We Die 2:44 | 64 |
| 12 | Black 3:53 | 59 |
| 13 | Us 1:05 | 54 |
| 14 | Eternal Life 3:59 | 71 |
| 15 | Only Synth in Church 0:56 | 54 |
| 16 | Monsters 3:27 | 67 |
| 17 | June Child 0:58 | 48 |
| 18 | Miracles 4:17 | 66 |
| 19 | Hold Me 2:45 | 61 |
| 20 | Pray Up Stay Up 3:45 | 68 |
Total Length: 56 minutes
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Added on: June 16, 2020