same topic but: WHAT MAKES GOOD TRIP HOP ALBUMS?

PLEASE NOTE: I'm not here to offend your favorite groups or bands.

There are many trip hop groups but very few have made a deep impact on the genre. Let's forget the top three for now: massive attack, tricky and portishead. I just think that many of these groups like sneaker pimps, baxter, morcheeba, lamb, make cool and trendy sound but underneath that cool sound, there is not much progress in redefining trip hop. The music becomes boring and has the same typical formula. Most groups lack originality, they just add an orchestra, have a sad or loungy female vocalist, a DJ and a turntable, add mix of retro sound, a mix of jazz and there you have it. They make music that people enjoy and I do like it too but it could be pretentious. I?m looking for music that is more than just your casual good listening. I like groups who make landmark albums or at least put out something different. Take GOLDFRAPP for example. Some people may not like them but musically their debut Felt Mountain was nothing like it when it was out. Though they had an orchestra, a cinematic atmosphere and that usual trip hop feel but it was different. It stood out from that typical ?trendy sound.? Another group is ALPHA. Come from heaven was a nice mix of 60s, burt bacharch inspired song arrangements, and chill out jazzy feeling. I like groups that have their own signature sounds. Good trip hop groups are the one who you can just listen to and you know it's them even if the songs have no vocals. It's like looking a piece of unknown art, you could tell who the artist is by the style of the painting. There's need to be more originality. What I?m trying to say is this, I love jay jay johanson?s albums but without his vocal, I would have thought portishead have gone soft.

Looking for something more daring, innovative, something that is more than just casual good listening. I still have hope for landmark albums.

P.S i have albums by sneaker pimps, lamb, morcheeba. I like them , it sounds nice but I wouldn't add them to my essential list.

Essentials are: it's nothing new haha. But this is the real deal.

Massive Attack "Blue Line". Out in the 90s but the beats are still fresh, the formula and song arrangments are timeless. Though I enjoy protection more but when it comes to having an impact in trip hop, it's BLUE LINE.

Tricky: Maxinquaye. Dark, not your typical trip hop song arrangments, beats are created on it own standard. Another worth mentioning is NEARLY GOD. Tricky put out a collective project that have bjork on 2 tracks, neneh cherry, terry hall, ect.

Portishead: Dummy. In trip hop, other groups either copy massive attack or portishead. DUMMY is just a classic. I like their second but it wasn't progressive, not too different from dummy or sign from artistic growth.

Worth mentioning are goldrapp, alpha, mono.......i like jay jay johanson Antenna. a good thing he moved from that portishead sound. Plus others group who I have yet discovered.

well, just my opinion.........we can have a conversation. no name calling just cause I don't think sneaker pimp is essential.