Some days, I think Blue Lines has better album flow than Mezzanine. “Safe From Harm” hits as soon as the sun fully sets, the skies darken, the streetlights dim, and not a voice can be heard coming from the barely-lit alleyways of the city. A sense of danger approaches—you’re a stranger in a bad part of town. Pray that you find yourself safe from harm.

Meanwhile the closing track, the chanting mantra of “Hymn of the Big Wheel,” sounds like it’s celebrating the sun rising up again. The dawn of a new day, full of surprises that could be grand or terrible. Only way to find out is to live it.

I particularly love the soul influence on Blue Lines. Although soul would be a big part of Massive Attack for their entire career, it’s felt the strongest here. Blue Lines was probably a gateway album for me getting into soul music, though I didn’t know it at the time. The cover of “Be Thankful for What You’ve Got” is too underappreciated!