After sampling this first 3 tracks at Virgin, I decided that if I were going to leave that record store with a CD that night, "Vulnerable" would be it.

I don't know how to define what Tricky was or what he's becoming, but I do know that if you have some idea of what those things are you're taking his work too seriously. Music doesn't have to be inaccessible to be great; Bethoven's 9th is fairly accessible to the casual listener and completely genius to the trained ear. Either way it's enjoyable, and regardless of what many may think, neither method of appreciation is more profound than the other.

In a way Vulnerable appeases both fronts as well. Most of the tracks feature strong, accessible, even "repetitive" beats, and in compliment to that the music and vocals sound beatiful and pragmatic. This album seriously reminds me a lot of PMT in the sense that the music is fairly simple even if the overall sound (rhythm, vocals, and harmony) is a little abstract or disjoined.

Tricky's emphasis on one major vocalist (Costanza) was a smart move because it makes the album that much more relative to itself. Tricky also placed a strong emphasis on placing strong beats uniformly throughout the album, and generally speaking this is a more upbeat album than his earlier works like Maxinquaye. While individual tracks may lose some of their identity, the album itself has it's own overall voice and method. There is just enough variation to signify movement between tracks throughout the album. While there are several plateus of heavy drum abuse ("Moody and "Where I'm From"), there are in counter slow-flo ravines with more laid back grooves ("Hollow and "The Love Cats"), and this gives the listener variation while allowing the music to flow from strong central focal points. This really was Blowback's biggest problem; despite certain points of interest within the work, it was, from a larger perspective, a mess. That's not a problem here; the songs generally feature a strong rhythm with Tricky's raspy vocals polarized by Costanza's sweet voice. It is these familiar features that crop up throughout the album and give the listener a reference point and a bearing within the album, even if it does so at the sake of making things a little more predictable.

This album overall is very accessible, and that alone marks a difference between Tricky's earlier work. The fact this album is a little more upbeat may turn off some Tricky fans, but I don't think it circumvents the fact that Vulnerable is still a great album. Unlike Blowback, this album does in fact have an identity and a core sound, while at the same time moves through different emotions and flavors. Vulnerable is probably Tricky's best work since PMT, and I really hope long time listeners can cast away pretense and truly give Vulnerable a chance.

The best way to destroy your music career is release a debut as brilliant as Maxinquaye. Just ask Tricky. He will never be able to release anything that doesn't get compared to that masterstroke album. But Maxinquaye was as much about the time as the music and couldn't be duplicated in a lab. Not that Tricky ever wanted to. He moved on. The only problem is being a fan requried more and more patience as he exlpored some very experimental territory with some occasionally brillant results.

Now comes this album that lyrically tops Maxinquaye (oops, he didn't just say that; did he?) and music that is at its worst orginal and at its best amazing (Car Crash, Wait for God and Hallow worth price of admission alone).

But what is so great about Vulerable is that it is completly listenable. Its the first Tricky release in a long time that every track is enjoyable. Every one. No self-indulgent stray avenues exlpored. Just pure murky introspection. And for the record: Costanza may not be Martina, but nobody is and she has a very angelic vocal, best heard near whisper level.

Trust in Trikcy again, take a shot and explore the words on this effort. I can't imagine you'll be disapointed.

Ps, the enhanced portion is dope and contains the definative remix of Antimatter. Check it out.

Tricky - Vulnerable (2003)

While still unable to touch Tricky's transcendental work on MAXINQUAYE or NEARLY GOD, VULNERABLE still sounds like a considerable improvement over BLOWBACK, maybe because BLOWBACK absorbed all the disappointment for being Tricky's first less-than-stellar album (not including Tricky's lackluster EP MISSION ACCOMPLISHED).

Actually, VULNERABLE is a rather different direction for Tricky, less ambitious and perhaps a bit more playful. It can be played front to back without anything too jarring to interrupt the flow. Some songs are pretty intense, but they're all very groove-friendly. It's too modern sounding to be 80s music, although it has 80s touches including plenty of straight-up, unadulterated keyboards.

Tricky's new chanteuse-of-the-month, Costanza, initially sounds like an almost conventional sex kitten, but her breath-y delivery and strangely enunciated words lend her voice character and, yes, she does sound sexy. In fact, the album is very sexy overall like most of Tricky's best music.

"Hollow" and "Car Crash" in particular are extremely sensual. And the 80s songs covered here (XTC's "Dear God" and The Cure's "Love Cats") are very good, especially since Tricky does his own thing with them. Both are subdued versions of the originals that blend right into the groove of the album.

The last track for me stands above the rest - it's more in the vein of classic Tricky. It's dominated by a rhythmic electric guitar riff and more intense guitars appear towards the end.

As I already pointed out, Tricky has made better records, but VULNERABLE is very agreeable and there's not a bad track in the bunch. For that, it deserves 5 stars.

An aside: For those who long for more "old school" Tricky at his best, I would strongly recommend the Baby Namboos' ANCOATS 2 ZAMBIA (much more than VULNERABLE in fact). For me, it's essential "trip-hop." This album has its own sound including groovy stand-up bass, smooth raps and a chanteuse with a gorgeous, slightly raspy voice. Tricky himself makes some killer contributions to it.

Though I usually favor Massive Attack to Tricky, I have to say that "Vulnerable" puts "100th Window" to shame. Tricky's latest CD -- I am tempted to say it is better than his CD "Blowback", which I love -- has some of his darkest work to date. The music is leaden but balanced by the female singer's beautiful voice, which is nicely matched by Tricky's guttural vocals. Tracks 1, 2, 3, and 6 (especially 6) are my favorites on this album.

Some have said that Tricky is becoming dated; I think that he is just becoming more accessible.

tricky is back to the Maxinquaye Premillennium golden age.... costanza's and tricky's voices together will make you float and dream... especially Hollow...

the beauty of being vulnerable and simply pure...

sweet and deep beats,edgy lyrics,tripping sound...for the joy of your ears....