Mj Cole Sincere

MJ Cole: The Pioneer of UK Garage Music

MJ Cole is a British musician, producer and DJ who is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of UK garage music. His debut album, Sincere, released in 2000, was a critical and commercial success, blending soulful vocals, orchestral arrangements and skittering beats. The album spawned several hit singles, such as Sincere, Crazy Love and Hold On To Me, and earned him two Mercury Prize nominations and a MOBO award.

MJ Cole started his musical career as a classical pianist and oboist, studying at the Royal College of Music. He later became interested in electronic music and worked as a studio engineer for various artists, including Omar and Rodney P. He also remixed tracks for Mariah Carey, De La Soul and TLC, among others. He launched his own label, Prolific Recordings, in 1998 and released his first single, Sincere, which became an instant garage anthem.

MJ Cole has continued to produce and release music in various genres, such as house, dubstep and grime. He has also collaborated with artists like Amy Winehouse, Dizzee Rascal and Sam Smith. He is currently a lecturer at the Academy of Contemporary Music in London and runs his own studio, The Yard. He is widely respected as an innovator and influencer in the UK music scene.

Sincere received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised MJ Cole's production skills and musical diversity. The album has a Metacritic score of 71 out of 100, based on eight reviews[^1^]. Some reviewers compared MJ Cole to other electronic music pioneers, such as Massive Attack and Portishead, and hailed him as a leader of the UK garage scene. Others criticized the album for being too polished and lacking in originality and emotion.

The album also had a significant impact on the UK music industry, as it helped to popularize UK garage as a mainstream genre and influenced many other artists and producers. Sincere was one of the first UK garage albums to cross over to the US market, where it was released by Island Records in 2001. The album also inspired several remixes and covers, such as the 2001 version by Reel People featuring Darien, which reached number 38 on the UK Singles Chart.

MJ Cole has expressed his satisfaction with Sincere, saying that it was a personal and honest reflection of his musical journey. He has also acknowledged the challenges and pressures of making a debut album, especially in a genre that was constantly evolving and changing. He said in an interview: \\\"I wanted to make an album that was true to myself and not just follow trends. I wanted to show that UK garage was more than just a club music, but also a musical expression that could touch people's hearts.\\\"

Sincere was a commercial success in the UK, where it sold over 200,000 copies and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) . The album also charted in several other countries, such as France, Germany, Japan and Australia. The album's singles also performed well on the UK Singles Chart, with Crazy Love reaching number 10, Sincere reaching number 13 and Hold on to Me reaching number 28. The album also received airplay on various radio stations, such as BBC Radio 1 and Kiss FM.

Sincere was also recognized by several awards and accolades, both in the UK and internationally. The album was nominated for two Mercury Prize awards in 2000 and 2001, but lost to Badly Drawn Boy's The Hour of Bewilderbeast and PJ Harvey's Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, respectively. The album also won a MOBO award for Best UK Garage Act in 2000 and a Music Week award for Best Dance Album in 2001. MJ Cole also received a BRIT award nomination for Best British Male Solo Artist in 2001.

Sincere is widely regarded as one of the most influential and groundbreaking albums in the history of UK garage music, as it showcased the genre's diversity, creativity and potential. The album is also considered as one of the best albums of the 2000s by various publications and critics, such as NME, Q, The Guardian and Pitchfork. The album has also been praised by many artists and musicians, such as Disclosure, Rudimental, Craig David and Katy B, who have cited MJ Cole as an inspiration for their own work. ec8f644aee