Third
Portishead
2008
Album Summary
Third is the third studio album by the English band Portishead. It was released on 28 April 2008 in the United Kingdom by Island Records and a day later in the United States by Mercury Records. Portishead's first studio album in eleven years, Third moved away from the trip hop style they had popularised, incorporating influences such as krautrock, surf rock, doo wop and the film soundtracks of John Carpenter. After Portishead released their self-titled second album in 1997, band member Geoff Barrow put Portishead on hiatus and moved to Australia. He became uninterested in music, and efforts to develop new songs with guitarist and keyboardist Adrian Utley failed. They were inspired to create again after producing with the band the Coral, and restarted work with singer Beth Gibbons in Bristol, England. Third entered the top ten of several countries' music charts and was certified gold in the UK. It was named one of the best albums of 2008 by several publications; in 2013, NME ranked it number 330 in its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
WikipediaThis album is so cool. What else sounds like this? It's bursting with ideas! To me this album has a clear point of view, it sounds like impending danger, like fear of the future. It's dark and anxious. I love it
J'ai bien entendu toujours horreur de Portishead. Rien ne colle entre la voix, les instruments et la mélodie mais venons-en à l'essentiel. Vous savez probablement que la dernière mise à jour du générateur et sa fonctionnalité permettant de voir quels reviews étaient les plus "likés" du site a propulsé mon nom de robbelvédère en haut de l'affiche. Ma notoriété dépasse aujourd'hui très largement le cadre de ce site et il ne se passe pas un jour sans que l'on m'arrête dans la rue. "Robbelvédère ! Robbelvédère ! J'ai adoré ton review d'Abbey Road !" entendais-je encore ce matin. Et c'est là que ça coince. J'ai rappelé à la charmante demoiselle qui prononça ces mots que ma carrière ne se résumait pas à ce simple review et que j'en avais rédigé pas loin d'une cent-cinquantaine tous plus inspirés que les autres. Je me sens aujourd'hui comme doit probablement se sentir Jean-Marie Bigard quand on l'arrête dans la rue pour lui dire à quel point on aime son sketch de la chauve-souris. "Et mon sketch de la merde qui tombe dans la cuvette, c'est de la chiasse pour vous ?" doit sûrement penser l'intéressé. En bref, je vous conseille vivement de ne pas vous arrêter à mon "hit review" et de lire les autres avec la même attention.
One of few albums I've heard being so weird yet really pulling it off. Industrial, apocalyptic yet soft. 4.5 on first listen.
Such a cool and unique sound, so much anguish. Every song can be interpreted differently by everyone. There are some very sweet moments like Deep Water. Singing isn't the most controlled, but contributes to their authenticity
Familiar with Portishead's early material but never got around to this album. Happy to say it holds up for me, this will enter my regular rotation.
A faixa inicial me surpreendeu, já que começa com uma fala em português. A banda é inglesa. Falava sobre a "regra dos três". Li que é de um capoeirista de Bristol. O som é incrível! A fala também. Várias experimentações sonoras. Rico demais.
Talk about bleak... this seems like the perfect accompaniment to my increasingly frequent moments of despair. The lead singer ranges from worn to desperate accentuated with occasional banshee moments. Some highlights: “The Rip” has a lovely vocal performance and really wonderful synthesizers. I love this song. Ends in such lushness. “Deep Water” is an odd ukulele piece in the album that still felt strangely in place as the most positive-feeling song here. I like it. “We Carry On” is a fast, relentless song that may be the best option if you wanted to dance to something on this album. I loved it. The out of tune guitar strumming leads into a section where the song feels on the verge of flying apart, but I found it very satisfying when it did not. “Magic Doors” feels like one of the more personal feeling songs on the album. I love its odd beats, the accordion, and the vocal performance. What a brilliant song! “Threads” closes the album with the lyrics “I am one, Damned one, Where do I go?” It’s got quite an ending with a lone bellowing, evil horn. Chilling. Where their debut album “Dummy” was something I could listen to as I worked, “Third” might be a little too ominous for that. It has now been 14 years since this album was released. I don’t know if Portishead will ever release another, but it would be interesting to see where they go from this dark place. I was very unsure initially how I felt about THIRD. On the second time through it came together for me and I fell in love with this album. THIRD is exceptional - and perfect for the world I’m living in.
Better than expected. A pleasant surprise with the vocals. Those melodies were cool.
This album was boring. I like ambient beeps and boops, but these beeps and boops bored me
Do you remember that girl you noticed, The one in the city centre. She was dressed like Stevie Nicks meets Primark, In a crowed of 20 something olds. Shouting at a government with no general direction!. You walk up to this woman with your secret weapon of a medium Toffee latte from Costa. You pretend to care about what ever this collection of sandals are shouting about. You get woman’s name...it’s “Meadow” because why not. “Meadow” will go out for a drink but not for any old drink but for a drink to a little place she knows! . A little place with a band, a band filled with “Meadows” friends. You get to the underground bar literally..it’s a cellar in A 1960s St Katharine Docks ..Taylor Woodrow apartment redevelopment cellar. You sit with “Meadows” crossed legged on the floor, on a cushion, while an Ale in a jam jar is placed on the old cable drum table in front of us. As I start to feel out of place within the weed filled walls, Walls painted with that fidel castro silhouette all over ( because it’s 2009 and it’s original!...from the Gap ) I think even though “Meadows” looks the double of Mélanie Laurent, I can’t do this and her Ecology Degree I have to leave now before it’s too late. it’s too late. “Meadows” friends are on the turned upside down Biffa Bin stage. Celeste...Arlo & Ziggy are on!!! Celeste starts moaning like ET after too many drinks during a Quiet Man convention..Ziggy is kicking a broken wind chime & Arlo is banging his left nut on a burnt out old Tuna can with his woman’s Study’s degree. Just before I leave and go back to my natural resources consuming life, Drinking a Scotch and Back to searching for Tulisa from N-Dubs, “Meadows” informs me it is not about the music and it is about how it make you feel. I feel like Music is about the Music and I have to leave. This Albums makes me feel how you feel reading this about this album about how this Album makes me feel about Music or pretend to like Interstellar
Has some significance as the soundtrack to a romance of mine many moons ago that died on its ass, but that doesn't make me any more disposed to accept the dreaminess they peddle so insistently as anything more than a cloak for emotional inarticulacy they find too expedient to grow beyond and lethargy they're too comfortable disguising with bursts of what appears to be energy but only because they build to it from a near stationary starting point.
Love this, my favourite Portishead album - so many thrilling tracks with just the right level of experimentalism
Another band I'd heard the name of but never listened to. I loved it. I think today I realised that I absolutely love trip hop. Looking at the list on wikipedia a bunch of artists on there that I love: Moloko, Everything but the Girl, Goldfrapp, Gorillaz and now Portishead. I absolutely adored this and it will be added into my regular rotation. I will definitely be checking out their other albums.
"Third" is the third studio album and first in 11 years from Bristol UK band Portishead. This is quite the intense listen. It was a move away from trip hop on their previous albums and influenced and incorporating Krautrock rhythms, breakbeats, cathedral, Morrocan drums, soft rock, doo wop and science fiction/horror soundtracks. I can attest to that; there is so much going on throughout this album. In a nutshell, it's experimental electronic music. The one constant is Beth Gibbons' vocals giving each song a mysterious feel along with the music. And, Portishead is Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley. Each band member seems to play every instrument at some point: various keyboards, dums and pecussion, bass, guitars and more. The album start with "Silence" and a Potuguese vocal sample and foreboding keyboards. Some sort of drum loop going on. Maybe about the Golden Rule. "The Rip" was the second single and begins with a weird acoustic guitar. The vocals are haunting and seem to be about a broken relationship. The music transitions with synthesizers coming upfront sounding like the "Stranger Things" intro music. The albums' second half has two more of their released singles. "Machine Gun" was the lead single and starts with a mechanical rhythm, definitely sounding like a machine gun, which eventually gives way and builds with synthesizers and keyboards. It has cryptic lyrics and appears to be another one about a broken relationship. Their last single " Magic Doors" has a weird drum beat beginning and background synthesizers which eventually come to the forefront. Beth Gibbons' vocals dominate the song and again have a mysterious, cryptic meaning...sexual orientation? depression? Every song is unique on this album; I think I could listen to this 20 times and find something different each time with everything going on. I found this album fantastic and recommend it to anyone willing to take a deep dive into experimental electronic music.
My favourite Portishead album, the drums on Machine Gun are great. Love The Rip as well, such a beautiful voice
Glad to have a chance to delve into this one a bit more. I'm a bit fan of Dummy but don't know their other albums as well. I really enjoy the experimentation on this one! It is a bit jarring in places, but in a good way! Beth Gibbons is an iconic vocalist, one of the all time greats. This album really sets a mood and sticks to it.
Imam jedan veliki problem, a to je što mislim da bih u nekim trenutcima stavio ovaj album ispred njihovog inače najboljeg albuma Dummy. Jednostavno ti instrumentali su bogom dani + Bethin glas, dakle, svršaona. Stvarno. Morat ću opet Dummy nakon ovog albuma poslušat jer ovo je baš onako udaranje žestoko and I fucking love it. Sitnica koja mi smeta je ta što su dvije pjesme ako se ne varam prekinute, nemaju taj prijelaz s pjesme na pjesmu i to zna bit iritantno, ovo ostalo je top.
Already one of my favourite albums and one of my favourite bands so this is going to be easy. When you've listened to something so many times you find it easy to envelope yourself in the mood and I can understand why some find the music an overly intense wall to immerse yourself in. It's worth the plunge though.
This album, with the plainest name and plainest covert art, is packed with interesting sounds and grooves. It's been a while since I head their debut, "Dummy". While the elegance of that is still evident here, the soulful samples and the chill, seductive atmosphere are stripped down. Making this a dark and anxious album. The messiness and the overly loud drums made it more ominous and uncomfortable. And I freaking love it. For me, the antidote for the robotic genre of electronica is to make it portray the mess of human emotions, dark or otherwise. Portishead's music is such a wildly adventurous one.
Such a unique style. This album is like a soundtrack to a dark, confusing dream. A great application of electronic instruments to create a feeling of uneasiness.
Very good third album, perhaps slight less accessible than their fist two albums, which have owned, but just as good. 4.5.
This album is unclassifiable. The music is driving, repetitive in parts, industrial, claustrophobic, and punctuated by beautiful moments of reprieve before plunging back into the darkness. The use of analog synths lends a sense of familiarity to some sounds, I certainly heard tinges of Pink Floyd's Richard Wright in parts, but this also contributes to the albums disorienting nature. Beth Gibbons' vocals are delicate and sail above the churning music below. It feels fragile, dangerous, and absurdly beautiful.
I was not overly enthusiastic about this album at the time, but after a few listens today I was very impressed. Machine Gun is still my favourite song.
Liked the previous two albums of Portishead as well, but Third is of a completely different level, less trip hop and more electronic pop music. One of these rare albums that sound experimental and accessible at the same time. Especially like the way it is influenced by electronic music from the 70s as in Machine Gun. And The Rip must be one of the best songs ever - great built up.
A bit 'whiny' at times I think? Not bad. (Wish I had actually written better notes right after I listened yesterday.)
Never really listened to this genre or heard of this band. The album has a good amount of variety in sounds, and I would listen to it again.
This is the first time playing this one the whole way through and it’s a little jazzier with less turntables than older PHead. Heroin music
I really enjoyed it. The only thing I'll say is that none of the songs stood out. Everything kind of merged together. But it was still really cool and different, and I'll probably listen to it again.
An eclectic album. Not exactly for the everyday but I'm into it. I can see someone like FKA twigs being influenced by their sound.
Yes please. I love everything about Portishead, it's my kind of stuff.
Ambient, somber, disjointed, abrupt, weird harmonies and counter melodies. First track has a really abrupt ending which kind of sets the tone for the album. Favourite track: Magic Doors
Tercer disco de Portishead. 11 temas nuevos que llegaron pasado un tiempo y que se entienden y disfrutan más como un conjunto y como continuación de los anteriores. Un sonido más denso y oscuro. Imperdible. Especial atención The Rip y Plastic.
The sound of the end of the world. Smiling sweetly, Portishead stuff this album full of a claustrophobic sense of impending doom. And yet there were flickering rays of sunshine, largely through the vocals contrasting the soundscapes of oblivion. It’s a compelling combination, and one worth further delves.
I get Radiohead, NIN, Björk, and Cure vibes from this. Chill, but cool arrangements. Almost menacing at times. I dig!
I like the simplicity to the playing and the uneasy, eerie feel of the album. the vocals are great yet annoying at the same time. stand outs: Nylon Smile, Plastic,
I thought I was going to hate this but it's actually awesome! Super weird, creepy, reminds me of Radiohead just a little bit.
This was great! Love it, defo on the list! Chilled out ambient trip hop! Gibbons voice is amazing as always!
I am surprising myself now that I think back about this album because I really enjoyed it. Wasn't the best thing I've ever listened to, but the album flew by. Machine Gun is a great track so is Plastic.
this one was pretty cool it sounds like this song from soundtracks for the blind
Niet hun beste album helaas. Maar wel echt toffe muziek. Op festivals een aanrader.
Beetje depri maar brengt toch goede herinneringen naar boven. Ideaal festival materiaal voor de tent of het kleine podium
Helaas niet hun beste album. Toch een hoge waardering omdat ik hou van deze sfeer en hun album Dummy is echt mega goed.
A schizophrenic album full of anxiety of what is to come. This is a radical departure from the trip-hop they had led a decade prior, and it's a departure I'm thoroughly impressed by. I really like the haunting vocals that match the nerve-wrecking sounds of doom. Love the album from front to end. Even tracks like "Deep Water" are calming short interludes that maintain sanity even for just a moment. Favorite track is "Machine Gun" (very dub-like), but songs like "Silence" remind me of Public Image Ltd and "Plastic" of Radiohead. I'm a sucker for experimental music that isn't excessively loud or annoying, and this does the trick for me. I'll be listening to this from time and time again when I'm sick of the usual genres.
Probably a bit too experimental for me to listen to again but appreciated how complex it is. So many sounds packed into one record and her voice is incredible. There were a couple of specific songs that stood out, namely Small and The Rip.
Favs: Small, The Rip, Hunter Mehs: Not big on the opening to Silence This is my least favorite Portishead album, but I really love their stuff. I like this, but it's not as lush. Beth Gibbon's voice is still one of my all time favorites, even as it gets more downtempo and bleak here. Their other stuff has a hopeful aura paired with Gibbon's longing keen, but this album never soars to me like their other songs do. Small gets closest, I think.
Quite like Portishead's album Dummy, but never have listened to any of their other stuff. Also very much like this, but slightly different vibes with less electro influence. Strong songs like The Rip.
Malgré les coups et blessures portés par robespierre à Portishead, ces derniers ont su garder la tête haute et nous proposer un album qui - bien qu'inférieur à leur immense classique écouté quelques mois plus tôt - ravira tous les fans de trip-hop. Je tiens a remercier Robert qui m'a préparé une sacré liste d'albums pour mon retour de vacances, puisque c'est déjà le 5ème 4/5 consécutif que j'attribue. Robert a essayé de tester notre fidélité au générateur en nous proposant des albums tous plus nuls les uns que les autres à plusieurs reprises, mais maintenant qu'il connait notre docilité, il n'hésite pas à nous recompenser quand l'opportunité se présente. Merci, Robert.
A dark, challenging, sometimes even disturbing album that haunts you long after it ends. It maybe the most haunting listening experience since Kid A, or perhaps even Joy Division's Closer. Ultimately it proves rewarding and bears repeated listens to come to appreciate it's substantial charms. Substantial is an excellent to describe the experience of listening to this album. 4 stars.
This is a cool ass sound! So unique in its blending of electronic and acoustic instruments, and so melancholy yet danceable. I feel like I'm in Tron.
I've owned this for years and initially was a bit 'meh' about it, which I now realise was completely unfair. Having grown up a bit it now speaks to me much more.
First time listening to this album, I’m a big fan of Dummy, I don’t think this is quite as good, but still a very good album.
Little bit of everything, some uncomfortable feelings with this one, I like it.
The greatest secret about Portishead is that all of their albums are really good, not just the first one. 14 years since this last one, must be about time for another?
not at all what i was expecting, heard so much electronic stuff borrow from this or this borrows from so much electronic stuff. idk but either way it's very cool and unique and I've never really heard it's like in pop before. I really enjoyed this.