Angels with Dirty Faces
Tricky · 1998
59 min · 14 tracks · electronic music
A haunting blend of trip-hop beats, soulful melodies, and introspective lyrics wrapped in a haze of atmospheric soundscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
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Money Greedy Start here — This opening track sets the tone with its urgent beat and biting lyrics about materialism, reflecting Tricky's critique of societal values.
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Broken Homes — Featuring guest vocals from both Ed Kowalczyk and Alison Moyet, this track embodies the album's emotional depth and showcases Tricky's ability to blend genres effectively.
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Analyze Me — With its introspective lyrics and moody production, this track highlights Tricky’s vulnerable side while maintaining an edgy atmosphere that defines much of the album.
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Talk to Me (Angels With Dirty Faces) — This title track encapsulates the album's themes of despair and longing through its haunting melodies and deeply personal lyrics.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends trip-hop with atmospheric production, showcasing strong writing and unique soundscapes.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features tracks that maintain a steady, mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied rhythms and textures.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements alongside sung vocals, creating a layered narrative style.
- The production employs a wide range of atmospheric effects, including reverb and echo, which contribute to a haunting soundscape throughout.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- layered, dense sonic textures
- atmospheric background focus
- dynamic emotional journeys
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Innovative sound and critical acclaim mark it as a high point in Tricky's catalog.
- Career context
- Released in 1998, Angels with Dirty Faces marked Tricky's third studio album, following the commercially successful Maxinquaye. At this time, he was navigating the complexities of fame and artistic direction after solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in the trip-hop genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Massive Attack· Portishead· DJ Shadow
Tracklist
- 1 Money Greedy Start here 5:30
- 2 Mellow 3:33
- 3 Singing the Blues 3:27
- 4 Broken Homes 3:33
- 5 6 Minutes 4:46
- 6 Analyze Me 4:00
- 7 The Moment I Feared 4:03
- 8 Talk to Me (Angels With Dirty Faces) 4:28
- 9 Carriage for Two 4:44
- 10 Demise 3:48
- 11 Tear Out My Eyes 4:25
- 12 Record Companies 4:22
- 13 Peyote Sings 5:00
- 14 Taxi 3:55
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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