Influence is a strange thing. Just because a band is influential, doesn't necessarily mean the band is known because of their influence. People know Radiohead's OK Computer changed things. People are less aware of Massive Attack's Blue Lines and its aura of influence. Formed in Bristol in the late 80s, they made it so dance music didn't have to be all about speed, that it could be emotive and chilled. They made serious moves to make Hip-Hop outside of the US a legitimate thing. And most importantly, made it so Hip-Hop as a whole could seek to be introspective in its ideas rather than party-hard or political. While overall Massive Attack are more well known for their 1998 song “Teardrop”, their most important single was 1991's “Unfinished Sympathy”. While Its unusual structure and genre fusion are elements that get critics interested, its emotional resonance, its heartbroken vocal and those sweeping strings have made it resound with listeners since its release. But how did a bunch of, in their words, “lazy Bristol twats” create one of the most innovative songs of the 90s? How did one band change the course of two separate genres, and by chance create a completely new one? This is the story of “Unfinished Sympathy”.

Influence is a strange thing. Just because a band is influential, doesn't necessarily mean the band is known because of their influence. People know Radiohead's OK Computer changed things. People are less aware of Massive Attack's Blue Lines and its aura of influence. Formed in Bristol in the late 80s, they made it so dance music didn't have to be all about speed, that it could be emotive and chilled. They made serious moves to make Hip-Hop outside of the US a legitimate thing. And most importantly, made it so Hip-Hop as a whole could seek to be introspective in its ideas rather than party-hard or political. While overall Massive Attack are more well known for their 1998 song “Teardrop”, their most important single was 1991's “Unfinished Sympathy”. While Its unusual structure and genre fusion are elements that get critics interested, its emotional resonance, its heartbroken vocal and those sweeping strings have made it resound with listeners since its release. But how did a bunch of, in their words, “lazy Bristol twats” create one of the most innovative songs of the 90s? How did one band change the course of two separate genres, and by chance create a completely new one? This is the story of “Unfinished Sympathy”.

***The is from content from Thrash Theory with permission.