The effect Massive Attack has had on music has been, well, massive. Formed in Bristol, England, in 1987, it was one of the earliest acts to combine elements of hip-hop with dub, soul, R&B, rock and dance music. Having released just five full-length albums in its 19-year career, the group that spawned the term "trip-hop" is nonetheless releasing a best-of compilation, comprised of two CDs, along with a reverse side DVD containing 16 videos.
The first CD includes Massive Attack's most-favored tracks, and offers up all the classics: "Safe From Harm" and the influential "Unfinished Sympathy" from 1991's debut "Blue Lines" album, "Karmacoma," the plodding, sweeping hip-hop-flavored track featuring guest vocalist Tricky from "Protection" (1994), and "Angel" from the darker, more spiraling "Mezzanine." There's also one new song, the hopeful, blues-lined "Live With Me."
The second CD's mixture of rarities and reworked material is impressive, offering up an alternate, slimmed-down version of "Everywhen" (now called "Incantations"), an unfinished work recorded with Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser ("Silent Spring"), the chilling and slithery "Joy Luck Club," the crisp, uncharacteristically fiery "I Against I" with a rap by Mos Def, and the swooning "I Want You" with Madonna on vocals. While "Collected" is still no substitute for a new album -- "Weather Underground" is slated to be released in early 2007 -- it's a great reflection of the group's powerful musical impact.
