What Sound is the third album by English electronic music group Lamb, released in October 2001. The first single to be released from the album was "Gabriel", and it reached number 1 in Portugal. The second single to be released was "Sweet", and it reached number 6 in Portugal.

Original members Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes are joined by session musicians Arto Lindsay on guitar, Me'Shell NdegéOcello on bass, and Michael Franti with additional vocal work. Doves guitarist Jimi Goodwin, producers Guy Sigsworth, Nellee Hooper and Richard Dorfmeister (one half of Kruder & Dorfmeister) also contributed to the album. The track "Heaven" was used frequently on the HBO television series Six Feet Under.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
The Guardian
Jockey Slut
Los Angeles Times
Mixmag3/5
Muzik3/5
Q
Rock Sound
Stylus Magazine7.0/10
Uncut

What Sound received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album has an average score of 78, based on seven reviews.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."What Sound"3:39
2."One"4:14
3."Sweet"3:52
4."I Cry"5:23
5."Scratch Bass"4:45
6."Heaven"4:59
7."Small"5:18
8."Written"3:34
9."Gabriel"4:17
10."Sweetheart"4:06
11."Just Is"4:08

A hidden track called "Blessing in Disguise" follows a period of silence after the final track.

Note: Some editions do not feature the track "Written".

Deluxe Edition track listing

  1. "What Sound" – (3:44)
  2. "One" – (4:16)
  3. "Sweet" – (3:53)
  4. "I Cry" – (5:25)
  5. "Scratch Bass" – (4:47)
  6. "Heaven" – (5:00)
  7. "Small" – (5:21)
  8. "Gabriel" – (4:20)
  9. "Sweetheart" – (4:09)
  10. "Just Is" – (4:11)
  11. "Gabriel" (MJ Cole mix) – (7:03)
  12. "Written" – (3:36)
  13. "Night Has a Thousand Eyes" – (5:42)
  14. "Gabriel" (Nellee Hooper mix) – (4:03)
  15. "Blessing in Disguise" – (1:44)
  16. "Gabriel" (Video)
  17. "Sweet" (Video)
  18. "Trans Fatty Acid" (Kruder & Dorfmeister session mix) (video)
  19. "Cottonwool" (Fila Brazillia mix) (video)
  20. "Sweet" (Soulchild Radio mix) (video)
  21. "Heaven" (Funkstörung mix) (video)

2002 Australian limited edition

Disc 1
No.TitleLength
1."What Sound"3:43
2."One"4:16
3."Sweet"3:53
4."I Cry"5:26
5."Scratch Bass"4:47
6."Heaven"5:00
7."Small"5:22
8."Gabriel"4:20
9."Sweetheart"4:09
10."Just Is / Blessing in Disguise"11:17
Disc 2
No.TitleLength
1."Sweet" (Soulchild Radio Mix)3:40
2."B Line" (Andy Votel Mix)5:36
3."Gold" (Hipoptimist Alchemy Mix)6:33
4."God Bless" (Pulsinger Mix)7:52
5."Trans Fatty Acid" (K&D Mix)9:02
6."Cottonwool" (Fila Brazilla Mix)8:28
7."Górecki" (Live in Brussels)7:03
8."Sweet" (Live in Brussels)4:03
9."Sweetheart" (Live in Brussels)4:29
10."Bonfire" (Live in Brussels)5:34

Charts

Chart (2001)Peak position
Weekly charts Chart (2001) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) 40 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) 16 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 65 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 87 Portuguese Albums (AFP) 9 Scottish Albums (OCC) 62 UK Albums (OCC) 54Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) 97
Australian Albums (ARIA)40
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)16
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)65
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)87
Portuguese Albums (AFP)9
Scottish Albums (OCC)62
UK Albums (OCC)54
Chart (2002)Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)97