Awfully Deep

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title: "Awfully Deep" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2005-albums", "roots-manuva-albums", "big-dada-albums"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awfully_Deep" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

Field	Value
name	Awfully Deep
type	studio
artist	Roots Manuva
cover	RootsManuva AwfullyDeep albumcover.jpg
border	yes
released
genre	Hip hop
length	(original)
(limited edition)
label	Big Dada
producer	Roots Manuva (Lord Gosh), The Easy Access Orchestra, Blackitude, Wayne Bennett, Steve Dub
prev_title	Dub Come Save Me
prev_year	2002
next_title	Back to Mine: Roots Manuva
next_year	2005
misc	{{Singles
name	Awfully Deep
type	studio
single1	Colossal Insight
single1date	17 January 2005
single2	Too Cold
single2date	21 March 2005
::

| name = Awfully Deep | type = studio | artist = Roots Manuva | cover = RootsManuva AwfullyDeep albumcover.jpg | border = yes | alt = | released = | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Hip hop | length = (original) (limited edition) | label = Big Dada | producer = Roots Manuva (Lord Gosh), The Easy Access Orchestra, Blackitude, Wayne Bennett, Steve Dub | prev_title = Dub Come Save Me | prev_year = 2002 | next_title = Back to Mine: Roots Manuva | next_year = 2005 | misc = {{Singles | name = Awfully Deep | type = studio | single1 = Colossal Insight | single1date = 17 January 2005 | single2 = Too Cold | single2date = 21 March 2005 Awfully Deep is a studio album by British alternative hip hop artist Roots Manuva, released in 2005 by Big Dada.

A limited edition version of the CD was released, which included a second disc entitled The Noodle Pack: Demos, Versions and Exclusives.

In October 2011, it was awarded a double silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA), which indicated sales in excess of 40,000 copies throughout Europe.

Critical reception

David Peschek of The Guardian gave high praise to the mixture of dancehall, electronic and two tone used throughout the production and Manuva's self-deprecating delivery that's devoid of any "dreary machismo" used by his US contemporaries, concluding that "Smith has crafted an album that is deft, addictive and profoundly musical, and it feels like a fresh-minted classic." A writer for Tiny Mix Tapes praised Smith's electronic dub production and lyricism for having a more "intense, oppressive feel" throughout the album despite a dip in quality in the second half, concluding that "Still, this is great stuff, the music is often awesomely original, and you feel yourself willing Smith on to beat his demons. 'Nuff said." Pitchfork contributor Tom Breihan commented how the record was similar to Radiohead's Kid A, noting how Manuva goes from "street-rap relevance to navel-gazing experimentation" through slow and methodical production and lyrical vocalisation, concluding that "Manuva has the force, vision, and charisma to remain relevant, to keep ahead of the game. He's too good to let the world pass him by, but that's exactly what will happen if he continues to disappear inside himself." Jonah Weiner, writing for Blender, noted how the album goes back and forth from "comically paranoid fantasies ("Awfully Deep", "Too Cold")" to tracks with a "political edge ("Mind to Motion", "The Falling")", calling it "protest music gone gleefully psycho." John Bush of AllMusic said, "Overall, Roots Manuva may have a lot to say during the verses, but when his choruses consist of little more than a repeated line shouted over and over ("Awfully Deep," "Too Cold"), listeners won't be hanging around long enough to decipher his verses."

Track listing

Charts

::data[format=table] | Chart | Peak position | UK Albums (OCC) | |---|---|---| | 24 | | | ::

References

(12 October 2011). "As Adele hits thirteen times platinum across Europe, over 60 artists pick up IMPALA Sales Awards, including Manel, Bon Iver, Miossec, dEUS, Agnes Obel and The Horrors.".
"Reviews for Awfully Deep by Roots Manuva". [[CBS Interactive]].
Bush, John. "Awfully Deep – Roots Manuva". [[AllMusic]].
Weiner, Jonah. (July 2005). "Roots Manuva: Awfully Deep". [[Blender (magazine).
(23 May 2005). "EW reviews four hot new albums". [[Entertainment Weekly]].
Peschek, David. (28 January 2005). "Roots Manuva, Awfully Deep". [[The Guardian]].
(March 2005). "Roots Manuva: Awfully Deep". [[Mojo (magazine).
(29 January 2005). "Roots Manuva: Awfully Deep". [[NME]].
Breihan, Tom. (27 March 2005). "Roots Manuva: Awfully Deep".
(February 2005). "Roots Manuva: Awfully Deep". [[Q (magazine).
(June 2005). "Breakdown". [[Spin (magazine).
(March 2005). "Roots Manuva: Awfully Deep". [[Uncut (magazine).
"Roots Manuva – Awfully Deep". [[Tiny Mix Tapes]].
"Roots Manuva". [[Official Charts Company]].

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