**TL;DR** — **Blue Lines by Massive Attack remains the seminal album for the Bristol Sound** Released in April 1991, Blue Lines became known as the first ‘trip hop’ album with its fusion of hip hop, dub, soul and reggae. The trip hop label should not however define the album as it does far more than announce the arrival of this genre. Rather, the focus should be on how the band created ['the sleekest, deadliest, most urbane, most confounding LP 1991 has yet seen. And it's only their debut'](https://web.archive.org/web/20001011033418/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000006reviews.html). The reception of Blue Lines reinforces the opinion that it is in the pantheon of great electronic albums. At the time of its release, it reached number 13 on the UK Album charts. However, as we approach the 30th anniversary of its release, it is the continued appreciation of the album that hammers home its legacy. Q magazine ranked it as the 9th in the list of the 100 Greatest British Album Ever and 58 in their list of the 100 Greatest Albums Ever. It was also included in the _1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die_. These are just to name a few of the rankings the album has received. Finally, Blue Lines is home to _Unfinished Sympathy_, a hauntingly beautiful song which has received wide acclaim. It is a song whose relevance has endured and somehow still sounds like the future of music. The combination of various genres along with outstanding vocals from Shara Nelson. As a result of all this, it has a Gold Certification in the UK.