Reviews (page 3 of 8)
I’m going to have to contradict myself. I love portishead. I think a lot of this album is musical genius. It just does not stand up to the catalogue as well for me. This one was much sleepier and harder to get through. Amazing ideas, great musicality, but just didn’t capitalize on everything that I know they can.
This album is so freaking cool, I’ve never heard anything like this. The best comparison I can make is that it sounds a lot like if you were to mix the drugged out feeling of Jefferson Airplane with a more modern take on rock music similar to Radiohead. Totally unique and it’s the epitome of why I love this list.
Interesting, but it doesn't stand comparison to their earlier works.
It's no Dummy, but damn, this is just a really good album. It's probably like a 4.4, but we can't give partial stars, so rounding errors come for us all. Also just found out that a lot of the sound for this was inspired by Geoff Barrow doing production on The Invisible Invasion, which absolutely tracks.
Cracking album. Not at all what I expected
I love this album. It's definitely not as accessible as their first two, but I think that's because they're moving away from triphop a little bit, or atleast away from the sampling heavy stuff. I dunno. Anyway, I love Beth Gibbons vocals and the kind of noisy, almost-droning but also hard-driving music the rest of the band lays down in songs like We Carry On and Small. Very good stuff.
This was an interesting album to listen to since I’m not sure I even really like it but I definitely appreciate it. I really, really like the drums/beats used. All the instrumentation is creative and evocative. I actively dislike the vocals. I think her voice is perfectly fine but the vocal lines aren’t my thing and irritate me. I think they are going for haunting/creepy but I just find them overwrought and grating. I really like The Rip which I already knew and Magic Doors which I didn’t already know.
Really enjoyed this one after a couple of listens and can see why some consider it a masterpiece. Didn’t quite get there for me but it’s one I’d like to return from time to time.
Solid vibe
- I feel bad for the people who happened to listen to this album before Dummy and probably had no clue what was going on. I really thought I hated this, but I gave it a second listen immediately after finishing it the first time and now I think I "get" it (or at least "get" something, whether intentional or not) -I think this album was chosen for this list because of what it isn't, or rather, what it doesn't rely on. it borrows almost nothing from conventional song structures or popular genres, yet still manages to have some degree of listenability. it takes a lot of effort to make something that feels completely new without borrowing from others ("there is nothing new under the sun,") which is exciting in its own way - this is another example of an album in which something we usually expect in music from well-known groups — having a pleasant and appealing sound — was likely not the primary focus or goal in its production. I strongly suspect all the ugly moments are intentional and meant to unsettled or confuse the listener on purpose - the "songiest" songs are probably "Hunter" and "The Rip" in terms of following some semblance of structure, but the rest of the album is more like putting the most basic elements of music (half a melody and some lyrics) overtop overtly non-musical sound effects of machine guns, blasters from old sci-fi movies, aggressive door knocking, and the beeping sound of a McDonald's fryer - it probably varies by the day or mood I'm in, but at 2:30 am before bed on a Thursday, I'm actually impressed instead of annoyed or bothered at just how foreign this is to my ears (esp in "Machine Gun," with this super industrial, dark, grainy beat going on underneath her super thin vocals) - I can't quite explain it, but I view this album like I would a Rothko painting: on the surface, it's just a big square of blue paint, but the act of calling it "art" makes you regard it differently - for example, the single sustained high strings note throughout "Threads" was a deliberate choice, and taking it out would give the song a completely different feel. why did they do that? what feeling were they trying to evoke by including it? there's a lot to think about, piece by piece - I knew I recognized that little ukulele tune — never in a thousand years would I think a Steve Martin comedy movie would be referenced in a Portishead album, but here we are - in spirit, this is similar to the White Stripes' White Blood Cells album to me: more than the sum of its parts because of the intentionality in its creation. I probably wouldn't listen to it again (and it's not exactly something you'd feel like putting on in the car as you drive to the grocery store), but I feel richer by getting to hear something as unique as this
portishead my beloved
This album is somehow both delicate and powerful. Not perfect but pretty brilliant.
i liked the airy dreamy vocals on this mixed with the more punchy synths, guitars, synthetic drums and whatever else they used to make this. even though not very highly rated i definitely see myself relistening to this and discovering more things i like abt this record. i see potential.
I’m a fan of Portishead. I’ve never listened to this album and I was pleasantly surprised when I finished it.
Very good
The soundtrack to an international espionage thriller.
been sleeping on portishead fr
Dark and menacing is something I enjoy in my music and this has plenty of it. I don’t know, just the combinations of the vocals blending in to electronic beats just works so well. “The Rip” works best in this regard and is a track I really enjoyed. Back to dark and menacing electro which in my head canon call BDSM-electronica. There are plenty of good tracks like “Plastic” and “Machine Gun”. Was not expecting to like this as much as “Dummy” but I really did. Strong 4!
Though I'm not as crazy about this album as I used to be, it's still so GREAT. Portishead going from trip hop pioneers to making a truly odd last album that it's just hard to describe the vibe of, I guess still a noir like their past two but there is something more ghostly and weird about it that I can't quite describe but I wish more music was like it. Not an album I comeback to frequently but it really is fantastic imo
Hauntingly beautiful. The instrumentation is brilliant as always with Portishead and the eerie vocals, which can sometimes be too much for me, didn't prove to be so on this album.
Really grew on me the more I listened, it's ambient and hypnotic. Loved the layered feel to the music and vocals. Definitely needs another listen or 2 to appreciate.
What an amazing band. I guess a decade isn’t a crazy amount of time between albums but it still blows my mind that they didn’t drop off at all and seemed to take it in a different direction while still being undeniably Portishead. It has gotten better with each listen, maybe 1 or 2 on the back half I’m not crazy about. It didn’t dawn on me how much darker the mood is on this one until reading others reviews. Surprised this is my first of theirs I’ve gotten, no doubt the debut is on here which I do still prefer to this one. I wish their live album was on here, that has to be in my top 5 live albums. Rating: 4.4
me gustó bastante, nunca había escuchado Portishead asi que me sorprendió aunque por lo que vi es algo distinto a lo que suelen hacer me gustó
I loved the raw, sometimes brutal and noisy electronic sound combined with piercing, vulnerable vocals by Beth Gibbons. This record created a dark and anxious atmosphere. I wouldn’t play it everyday but it’s nice for when you want to be alone in your thoughts and just get deeper into darkness.
Portishead's 2008 comeback album, "Third", is a challenging, yet ultimately rewarding, listening experience. The album's opening tracks, "Silence," "Hunter," and "Nylon Smile," are slow burners. It's on the fourth track, "The Rip," that the album truly finds its footing. This song is a mesmerizing blend of Beth Gibbons' haunting vocals with a krautrock-inspired electronic pulse that builds to a captivating crescendo. Throughout the album, Portishead masterfully crafts a cinematic, film noir-like experience. The industrial, almost militaristic beat of "Machine Gun" provides a stark, regimental backdrop for Gibbons' ethereal voice, creating a powerful contrast that is both unnerving and brilliant. "Plastic" and "We Carry On" are equally dramatic, with the latter being a standout track for its relentlessly unsettling atmosphere, a true testament to the band's ability to evoke profound emotions. Beyond the electronic textures, Third reveals surprising influences. "Small," a personal highlight, showcases a surprising nod to early 1970s progressive rock, especially in its brilliant switch-up following the initial haunting vocal passage. The album closes with "Threads," a track that, to my ears, echoes the psychedelic rock of Jefferson Airplane, with Gibbons' vocals channelling the spirit of Grace Slick. Third is not an easy listen but I did enjoy it more than their debut! This album rated four stars for me, although I expect with more plays the rating will improve, especially for the first three tracks. My rating for Portishead's "Third" is four stars. Would I buy this album? Absolutely. Would I listen to this album again? Yes, and I likely will. 1 -"Silence" - 3/5 2 - "Hunter" - 3/5 3 - "Nylon Smile" - 3/5 4 - "The Rip" - 4/5 5 - "Plastic" - 4/5 6 - "We Carry On" - 5/5 (Unsettling and brilliant.) 7 - "Deep Water" - 5/5 (Beautiful.) 8 - "Machine Gun" - 5/5 (A regimental soundscape beneath Beth Gibbon's beautiful voice.) 9 - "Small" - 5/5 (A brilliant electronic switch-up and a personal favourite.) 10 - "Magic Doors" - 4/5 11 - "Threads" - 5/5 (Reminiscent of Jefferson Airplane and Grace Slick.) Total - 46 Average - 4.2 87/1001
I used to listen to Dummy because of Glory Box. It was a specific moment in my life, right when I started my gender transition. The depressing vibe of Portishead connected deeply with what I was going through then. From there, I didn’t listen to much else. The first words on Third are surprisingly in Portuguese. It’s fucking depressing, but that’s Portishead. Their music is wonderfully depressing: deep, haunting, and absolutely awesome.
Definitely more experimental than their album "dummy" which is an essential trip hop album. I may like how more adventurous this one is in comparison but will need more time to sit with. Regardless, very well produced and cool electronic record.
First song made me think I wouldn't like it but it grew on me
A huge step away from their first album which is an excellent trip hop album. This is different but still good. They've somehow kept some of their sound even though it's a different genre.
Really moody and interesting - Portishead dowsn't always come together for me, and really has to be when the moody is right. But definitely a solid album that I'll revisit.
Ethereal
first two songs kinda come off as an almost haunting film score, tbh. never listened to portishead before this but this doesn't really come off very trip-hoppy, which idk what i was really expecting. kinda comes off incohesive at points, especially with something like deep water, and small being basically a full psych rock jam. top songs: the rip, we carry on, machine gun, small
its pretty good, dont like it as much after a few listens as dummy but its still p good
Never heard this one, I like it
I'm a huge Portishead fan, but having said that, this album lacks the clear hits of their first two. That's not to say that it's not a great album, it is, but I think there is a bit of a lack of balance between the avant-garde and the more direct in this album.
Radiohead x Mitski slow but anxious record
Though it's not as impressive as Dummy and Portishead, Third is beautiful in it's own way. It masters the art of subtlety across the track list. The sequencing is also top notch. Knocking it down a tad because several of the songs are closer to a 3 or 4, but a great listen nonetheless. 4.3/5 - > 4/5 Also, if you're a fan of Portishead's work and are reading this, do yourself a favor and listen to their Roseland NYC Live album. It's filled with swelling strings, deep bass, and of course Beth's haunting voice over trip-hop record scratches. It's something to behold.
ooh i like portishead i haven't heard this yet idk how they got darker than dummy. dummy is like the most nocturnal shit ever, this is just sounds downright evil. i like it lot. great atmosphere. I do enjoy dummy a bit more though
Somehow have never listened to this one and honestly it may become my new favorite of theirs. All of their stuff has a vintage feel, but this one felt especially classic and vibey.
Loved how moody and dark this was. 4/5
Very good.
I am familiar with Portishead, and listened to Third before, along with other trip-hop. I like it for the right mood, and this album was a model for the genre.
I really love the sound of Portishead and all their albums are bangers. This one, however, does feel a bit disjointed for me at times and therefore it is the lesser of the two inclusions on this list. Still great tho.
i have no thoughts. it was really interesting and i enjoyed it a lot
At times uncomfortable to listen to, but never unenjoyable. Standouts for me were Silence, We Carry On and Machine Gun.
This is a welcome departure (for me) from the previous Portishead albums. It still has their essence, but, is a more modern and (to me) interesting sound.
Portishead are so goated mane
De eerste fase van deze plaat herinnerde mij eraan wat voor left-turn Portishead eigenlijk maakte met dit album, in dat het veel industriëler, grimmiger, en avant garde, en dus polariserender te werk gaat. Ik kwam er ook eerlijk gezegd erg moeilijk in, maar na de briljante mood-setter (en vreemde eend in de bijt) 'The Rip' ging dat gemakkelijker. Toen kwamen dus ook een hoop nummers langs die ik al kende, en waarvan ik dat idee had gekregen dat dit derde album zo experimenteel was vergeleken met voorgaand werk van de groep. En die slaan wel echt aan: 'We Carry On', 'Machine Gun' en 'Threads' floreren in hun chaos en wanhoop. De kriebels lopen over de rug door die spookachtige, dystopische scheeptoeters als ultieme einde, maar zorgen ook dat dit eigenzinnige album op de enige juiste manier wordt afgesloten. Het is lastig om je in vast te bijten, maar zonder meer fascinerender dan ander werk van ze. En Beth Gibbons klinkt bezeten. 8/10 Highlights: The Rip We Carry On Magic Doors Threads
I'm not super familiar with this Portishead record. It started out strong for me, then kind of fell a little flat with the Rip and Plastic, and then the album picked back up again. I liked it overall, it's an interesting evolution of their previous sound, and I'll definitely be coming back to it to get more familiar. 3.9/5
Radiohead?
3.9 3x catch up 12/5-12/6 great stuff
It’s no Dummy, but it’s good
Great album, very chill with haunting vibes. Very Portishead. They just seem very comfortable with themselves and it feel inviting and safe.
A fun downtempo album with only minimal annoying sounds and that one acoustic song that slaps
Belo álbum rock alternativo com elementos experimentais. Roseselsa Quietsea II.
87/100. A dark, immersive experience that showcases some fantastic experimentation. The album pushes beyond their earlier trip-hop roots into more avant-garde territory, creating a trippy and unsettling atmosphere
Hated it when it first came out. Still think it doesn’t have the magic of the first two. But I’ve come around to its odd abrasiveness.
Really enjoyed this album.
3.6 I've given this one numerous listens over a couple week now to make sure, and it's traversed quite a path in that time. Initially it got off to a bad start, I was expecting triphop a la Dummy so it was a bit jarring at first. Then it got revised massively upward after expectations were adjusted, enjoying the more detailed and exploratory tone of the album. On final reflection it's good, but not great. Supported by a few great songs, but I think the album spends too long gearing up for them. The Rip is amazing, but I feel like it's helped by the drab two songs prior that lead up to it. Machine Gun sounds great at first but on the 6th listen becomes extremely grating (probably by design, it reminds me of a less abrasive "Ventolin" by aphex twin). As with Dummy, good, but not great,
I was a bit surprised how well this album held up against earlier Portishead albums
Very cool album, with very cool sounds, and which is exceedingly dour. Imagine a bleaker Radiohead. Kinda difficult huh? As is this album to get through. HOWEVER the compositions and enveloping vibe more than make up for the anxious, downcast mood. Must-listen #148.
It's really good, but not as good as Portishead's other two studio albums. The live album, "Roseland NYC Live", is their very best and is the only one needed for this list.
Second album de Portishead proposé par le générateur après 'Dummy' que je n'avais pas beaucoup apprécié, à part la voix (noté 2/5). Celui-ci est bien plus intéressant, et varié. Les ambiances sont bien plus sombres, et les morceaux beaucoup moins répétitifs que dans le précédent album. La structure des morceaux n'est pas conventionnelle, ce qui les rends bien plus attractifs (sauf Deep water,très court et peu intéressant). J'ai particulièrement apprécié l'ambiance dans : - Silence - We Carry On - Threads Il rejoindra probablement ma collection. =>4/5
Love Portishead. Haven't listened to this one as much as their first 2 albums. I'd say this one is worthy follow up to those.
4/5. There is a sense of experimentation here in the tracks while still feeling like they are experts at the craft. A lot louder and chaotic than their debut, these tracks are sometimes ending abruptly like an unfinished idea but with the jarring change, it keeps you engaged throughout wondering if you accidentally skipped the song. I think like the debut, this album will grow on me the more I listen to it so for now, it's not perfect. Overall, I love the aesthetic, dark and moody yet still has an air of curiosity about it, like they are also experiencing these new sounds as they are making them. Like a long hallway with different doors, each one just as mysterious as the last. Best Song: The Rip, Machine Gun, Threads
I like Dummy, but I have never listened to anything from Portishead after that one. This is sounding great so far (a couple of songs in). Mellow trip hop with intermittent electronic intersections. I really enjoy this album. It's great to have on while I work. With the exception of Deep Water, every song was wonderful. This gets a 4.
Pretty chill
liked
Dad- 6 Mom- 8 Mike- 8 Lori- 8 Michael- 9.5 Miles- 8 Cole- 8.5 Avg- 8
sehr deprimierend. Dummy gefällt mir besser. Aber sehr gut
This was cool, does a lot of interesting weird things. I think I enjoyed this more than the other Portishead record we did.
Beautiful album. Lots of ear candy.
This was a slow burner, in part because it makes poor background music and is often quite challenging. But thankfully over time it revealed its plentiful qualities and I now think it's rather good. Not sure when I'll listen to it, but when I do, it'll be marvellous.
Interesting and innovative.
I love Portishead, but have spent relatively little time with this particular record that arrived after more than a decade long hiatus. I'll say that relative to Dummy and Portishead, this album is a bit more varied stylistically. There are some tracks that feel familiar in the trip-hop space of existence (Plastic, Hunter), but much of the album strays far from that original mold. Some leaning more towards "electronica" impulses (The Rip, We Carry On, Machine Gun), while others operate in a more psychedelic-forward space (Small, Magic Doors, Nylon Smile). All around I find the album thoroughly enjoyable, but not quite at the same level as their other two releases. For me it is a solid 4. Favorite songs include Hunter, Plastic, and We Carry On. Plastic in particular stands out for its tapping of a similar trip-hop vein with drums and an off-cadence warble in the background that sound like they could have been lifted from RZA's catalog.
Hell yeah more Portishead. This is their last release and came a whopping 14 years after their debut we had before. Love the uneasiness of this first track. The sharp cut at the end was a bit jarring, had to check something didn't happen. The Rip rippppsssssss. Gibbons definitely sounding like Grace Slick with the white horses part. Love it. From what I remember this is my favorite song on this album. Build up is just awesome. 10/10 song. Machine Gun is a JAM. The synth or whatever at the end gives such a creepy vibe. Love it. Portishead is awesome. Love the uneasiness of them. And while I don't think this is as good as Dummy (hard to top), it keeps their sound fresh without sounding too repetitive. High 4.
Strange and haunting music that unexpectedly I greatly enjoyed. Evocative of dimly lit rooms with no windows some time between 1 and 3 AM. Will listen again.
This album tries to do a lot at once, and mostly succeeds. Very adventurous and competent exploration of musical sounds here, it feels like the band is spinning a lot of plates at once and only dropping a few. Small is a microcosm of the album's effort, it feels like three songs at once and they're all fantastic. There is a sonic dissonance in some songs where an instrumental track will stand out A LOT more than others (piano in Magic Doors for example) and gives me a feeling of unease that really gets me in the mood for this album. My major criticism of this album is that it is backloaded, I wasn't grabbed in particular from the first half. The reprieve of Deep Water before launching you into second half is like the small, quiet tunnel leading into an aquarium before you get to look at a hammerhead shark. Also I fuck with the album design. Scratches a mental itch for me, I guess. Highlights: The Rip, Machine Gun, Small, Magic Doors, Threads
This album really reminds me of Radiohead in a way. Like if you swapped out Beth Gibbons' vocals with Thom Yorke's vocals, it could totally work. I think Portishead is a little more experimental and less technical and meticulous than Radiohead. The Rip was a sick song. I love the electronic aspect of it.
The Rip still gives me chills.
For the first few moments of the album, I was anxious that this was going to be a basic indie album. The first track, Silence, had a slight indie feel and the vocalist seemed to have a distinct indie feel. It sounded like it was heading in that direction, but thankfully not for long. I love how uneasy this music makes me feel, between the electronic elements and the eerie calmness of the vocalist. It’s this weirdly unique blend of music that sounds like… foreboding surf music that went to bed with Nine Inch Nails at times. That’s the best way I can put it. I hope that’s not too weird of a mental image. Wikipedia tells me that this album was a departure somewhat from Portishead’s previous work, so I hope this being my first album doesn’t lead me to be disappointed by the band’s other works. Honestly, kind of a shame they went on a second hiatus after this album. Who knows what else they would have made after this. Favorite track: Machine Gun Other hits: Magic Doors, Nylon Smile, Threads, The Rip, We Carry On, Small
Triphop. rock/electronic instruments
Fed, meget bedre end den sidste vi havde med dem
This was just great. Really grew on me.
Such a complete great album. These group didnt play around. I dont think Ive ever heard a bad song inside a whole album concept. Maybe stand alone they are not as good missing context of concept album bit when you hear this bands albums they are as good as experimental albums come. Still Dummy is the best album by them
I love Dummy and have listened to it a lot over the years, can’t understand why I’ve not investigated their other stuff! This is great, I particularly like the krautrock stuff. I will be playing this again.
ekaa portishead ja on mahtavaa…
Not the one trick ponies I thought they were. Impressed!
Although I was very happy to see that we'd get to listen to Portishead in this collection, I literally had to double-take on this album to make sure it was really Portishead that I was listening to, as this sounds *nothing* like their previous albums, at least the ones I own (neither of which, curiously, are in this collection). And yet there's a thread of continuity, even beyond Gibbons' distinctive voice. I think my favorite tracks were "Silence" (partly just from the shock of such a different and distinct wave of sound), "The rip" and "We carry on" (both with compelling animated videos that reminded me of aspects of some of the animation in Pink Floyd's "The Wall"), and the almost vintage-Portishead-style "Machine gun". I also enjoyed the video to "Magic doors", although the song itself was almost too out there for my tastes, at least on first listen (but very cool that it used a hurdy-gurdy, which I had no idea was even an instrument). Listening to the album, I felt like they had somehow internalized a band like Radiohead's desire to experiment, well beyond their earlier sound and feel; they almost out-Radioheaded the source, as I'd enjoy Radiohead a lot more if they'd produced more albums like this. This definitely seems like an album that (a) is best listened to as a whole, and (b) likely gets even more interesting with repeated listening. I'm not sure whether I'll spend that re-listening time any time soon, but hopefully I'll feel like it after this project is over. And what a fascinating reinvention of a band that I already enjoyed and admired.
Quite enjoyed
How come nobody told me Portishead was so good!? This is the second one I’ve had on this list and it’s even better than the first one! I love the dissonance juxtaposed with the singers lovely voice. And the off putting samples that are unexpectedly clipped always keep you guessing. I was thoroughly impressed by this album.
Sometimes stirring, often dreamy. A style all of its own. Definitely worth listening to again.
Kobiecy
The rare album that builds and builds. Machine Gun is an amazing song and a total standout. 4.5
Somehow I don't think I have listened to this album even though Dummy and their self titled have a lot of spins. At times this sounded surprisingly like Mitski? Obviously it came out first, but it was a little jarring here and there. I liked it though. 3.5
"Third is the third studio album (...)" shocker!
This shit is so cool
mood.
I might like this even better than Dummy?? 4/5
This was great. Bombastic at times, quiet and delicate at others. I haven't experienced anything quite like Portishead.
Mint
Really interesting, I was never bored for sure
Loved Beth's voice, the innovative production choices and the atmosphere
Dark, moody and very experimental. Truthfully, I only know Dummy which is a phenomenal album. Third felt less impressive but also far more unconventional in terms of structure and pace. Some of these tracks create such tension and unease that it is almost astonishing that I kept listening to it. It's very gloomy and lulls you in with dark ballads while cold electronica hits you like a truck. Personally, I didn't like it as much as some of the tracks feel a bit sparse but overall I think it's an interest piece of work but just not for me.
I am pretty familiar with the album Dummy from back in the 90s. That was a good album and it had a strong sense of self, but I this is really something else entirely. I'm glad they were able to regroup and generate some new original music. This feels complete.
I enjoyed how bold and different the album was. The singer was great. Some of the buzzer-like sounds worked really well I thought, especially in grabbing your attention as they were changing direction. Pretty relentless.
Almost went 5 here. This is likely the best album, at least sonically. And it's menacing af sometimes. But, I have a slight preference to their first album just because it made more of an impact on me when it came out.
Even when Portishead is creepy and foreboding, they're still pretty great.
Great electronic album, less trip hop than previously, a few songs are kinda whatever, but pretty good overall.
Elektronische Musik Hat was, aber nicht unbedingt zum nebenher hören
This is my first time listening to Porishead. It feels like what you would get if Bjork were to become the new lead singer of Muse. You have the long mystical vocal notes cutting through the rhythmic beats. The more I sit with "Third" the more it grows on me. It is dark, powerful, and melodic.
Stellenweise etwas hektisch, aber viele sehr schöne Passagen 4/5
portishead vuonna 2008: jahas kukas tää on.. taylor swift... noh tehääs ablum... ekaa kertaa vuosikymmeneen.. näytetään poppistaralle mitä kuuluu from britain.. from britain with love.. UUTINEN: THEY JUST TRADED HARRI OLLI FOR ADAM MALYSZ.... NO WAY.. generetaatiolinen talentti, heitetty pois kuin hammastikku, hammastikulla hampaita kaivertaa ja sitten peukalo ja etusormi painetta ja naps heitetty HELVETTIIN hammastikku.. eikä edes katsota mihin laskeutuu, mihin törmää, ja missä kunnossa... kaukana ovat päivät, ne hyvät päivät. rip
I had heard of this band and have friends who like them, but had never listened to one of their albums. I really enjoyed this, it had an interesting mixture of different musical styles and yet was coherent. I'm generally reserving five stars for timeless classics, things that are just overwhelmingly great, so I am not giving this that rating, though I was tempted... it really is that good!
I liked this a lot - especially from the second half. Some tracks hit that near-perfect dark, sad sound (Small, for example). Highlights: The Rip, Machine Gun, Small
Some very good tracks on this
Way different than the first one I heard. I like it though.
I really enjoyed this! The beeping in the beginning of the first song being off-beat with the melody unsettled me. The vocals throughout the album also reminded me of the kinda haunted echoey voice of Angel Olsen. Having never heard any other Portishead I'm curious to see if this album fits perfectly into their normal sound or if this is a departure at all. My hope is that it stands out from the rest because this one is pretty unpredictable, unsettling, and a bit post-apocalyptic feeling, which maybe one album is enough for that
Dummy is one of my favorite albums but I hadn't heard this one. Love Beth Gibbons (check out her album Out of Season) and this album did not disappoint. Maybe not as catchy as Dummy, but they make a great low-fi ambient record with beautiful melodies over eery guitar playing. I loved it. Also, just because I can't help it....the first tune reminded me of the Can song Vitamin C from '72. lol If you like any of this album, you might enjoy that one.
It's no dummy. Still pretty good, missing the trip hop elements Will I listen to again: 50%
Portishead is pretty sweet
Mesmerising
It's not my top 1 Portishead album, but it's still a beautiful work of music.
This may have gotten an extra star for just not being more Britpop, but it still earned it. I always loved Portishead, and this was a good listen after the long gap.
Cool album
I was fully expecting ambient dance music from portishead for some reason. They were actually quite dark and strange, reminded me of nine inch nails more than anything else for most songs. We carry on in particular which was class, the discordant guitar bit over the top is in a dozen NIN songs. Singing style didn't work on every song but overall thought this was surprisingly good.
This one’s all tunnel, very little light. Which can make it tricky to truly ‘enjoy’, but it feels masterful all the same. The Rip stands out as a moment of aching, airborne beauty amongst the paranoid, subterranean claustrophobia of the rest of the album.
I really like this album, it has different vibes on it and listening with the headphones is cool. Also the singer voice is very hypnotic
Gloomy in all the right ways
absurdly pristine crafted nightmare music. many masterful Just Slightly Wrong But Not Enough To Realize You're Dreaming touches. beth gibbons can be kind of a comfort on dummy, a latchable human element in the misty darkness, here she is somehow more uncanny than she isnt...like something ur trying and failing to forget, but you Did forget why u were trying in the first place, leaving only contextless dread. kinda hot ngl
I love Portishead. This is not my favorite album
Lost me a little in the second half but superb opening and closing tracks. Will definitely revisit.
deep water
portishead rules lol
Fantastic. I'm going to play this more.
Dummy is one of my favourite albums ever and maybe my favourite debut album. The other two Portishead albums have never quite done it for me in the same way, but I’m really glad I revisited this one Dummy is quite dark and gloomy on the whole but there are also these beautifully bright bursts of strings and sax and synths that add so much to the tone of the record. Third does not have those bright bursts - it’s just incredibly bleak. The atmosphere is overwhelming and disturbing and I find it a quite difficult listen, but it’s so powerful at conjuring that atmosphere that I can’t help but respect it, and there are some very rewarding moments especially towards the end. Definitely not an album I could put on every day, but when the time and place is right it is so uniquely affecting
It did take me a few songs to get used to this, but I did enjoy it once I had.
Not heard this before. Really enjoyed listening to it.
Melancholic, raucous, and sublime
Best enjoyed late at night.
Struggled to get through it because of mood mismatch, but I can see this standing out compared to other albums, so I am glad to have ran into this one
Pretty cool but the vocals all start to sound the same over time
4 - I want to re-listen at some point, I found it really intriguing and not always pleasant, but somehow left me wanting more.
Liked this even better than dummy. So cool and so eclectic. Love her songwriting and voice.
I don’t think there’s doing any better than their first album, but this is still amazing. Still original into the new millennia. Unique and experimental while still being enjoyable. Great vocals, writing, instrumentation, and production. This is great. 4/5
Cool experimental development on their sound.
Pretty good. A bit of a 1960s psychedelic vibe at times. The vocals could be better or replaced with a trumpet. We Carry On, Makes me think of Pink Elephants on Parade bit when Dumbo is hallucinating.
Very different than Dummy. Very dark and ominous, really liked it. Faves: The Rip, Threads
Ok
Dang, really good, very much my vibe. This might be my first time listening to this album. I was pretty into their first two albums in the previous millennium, and those were also great.
Pretty good Portishead, I gotta say. I didn’t know this one as well as Dummy, but I really liked the different sounds this one explored. Good stuff!
I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. Admittedly, I know very little about Portishead, though. Not a 5, but a solid 4.
01) Silence - 8,5 02) Hunter - 8,5 03) Nylon Smile - 8,0 04) The Rip - 9,0 05) Plastic - 8,5 06) We Carry On - 8,5 07) Deep Water - 7,5 08) Machine Gun - 9,0 09) Small - 7,5 10) Magic Doors - 8,5 11) Threads - 8,0 TOTAL: 8,32 (83/100) 16 years after its release, I'm finally starting to understand the hype surrounding "Third". I guess as a person gets older, some things just fall into place. Maybe it depends on the place and the time, because "Third" sounds like a perfect soundtrack for a cold September Sunday evening like this one.
Really interesting album, very different from Dummy which is also excellent. Definitely an album to revisit
enjoyable album with good beats and vocals
Fascinating, dark, introspective, unbalanced, and difficult. Art, without question, but not for everyone. Managing our emotional pain is one reason music exists. Portisehead is really good at framing that world in a visceral way. Nothing is tactile, everything is just out of reach in a way. By that I mean the sound - almost drums, almost guitar, then it fades away or explodes off in the distance. THe sound of lonliness is really palpable in the vocals. Often it feels like you're the only person in a very large, very empty, very dark room. A little frightening.
I love Portishead and I know a lot of people like "Machine Gun" but personally I can't stand it. Dummy is a better album anyway. 3.5 rounded up Standout: Plastic, Threads
4 stars
They're great. First time hearing this album
I love dummy but I had never listened to this whole album. Pretty good
This is pretty dope. Beth Gibbons doesn't reel me in when it comes to her style and melodies, yet the atmosphere throughout the album keeps things interesting.
This album is really good. Didn’t know what to expect. I like the experimental sounds blended with melody
I love portishead and while Beth gibbons can carry any album on her vocals alone I was mildly disappointed by this one. It seemed a lot more experimental and less cohesive than something like dummy in a way that didn’t quite work for me. Deep water was my fav.
Discomfiting and challenging, this is easily the most interesting Portishead album that I’ve heard.
Absolutely sublime ethereal trip hop! A magnificent album, by a magnificent band! It’s just sublime.
A capital-I Important album whose release cycle I can remember pretty vividly since 'Third' served as my proper introduction to Portishead. Influenced by Krautrock and the hypnotic synth scores of John Carpenter, 'Third' is not so much an album as it is a horror film. Right from the opening spoken word manifesto in Portuguese - a musical equivalent of a title card letting viewers know this is inspired by a true story - the album plunges right into an underworld and rarely lets up (except in one instance, more on that later.)The guitar(?) in "Nylon Smile" sounds like the wispy tingle of a spider crawling on your skin. Gibbons never sounds as close to you as when she is pleading about her struggles with herself, her disconnect with her body as she refuses to conjure a smile let alone a laugh. In some of my favourite horror films (such as 'Lake Mungo' and 'Rabid'), there is a moment where the protagonist feels there is just something not right with her body. In 'Lake Mungo,' this is meant to signal that the protagonist intuitively knows her death is imminent and inevitable. Which brings us to 'The Rip' (or R.I.P). Is 'The Rip' the best song of 2008? I don't know, but it's gotta be up there for sure. British folk that suddenly turns into a violent maelstrom with some of the most haunted and conflicted images on the record: "wild, white horses, they will take me away/and the tenderness I feel/will send the dark underneath/will I follow?" The question is never answered directly, but given the rest of the record's sound, it's clear that we've crossed the rubicon of the macabre. "We Carry On" has a bass line that sounds like Peter Hook in a black cape trying to summon the undead. I know lots of people have a problem with "Deep Water," but if we are to run with this horror film analogy, then this feels like the moment when we see something that at first feels totally wholesome, only to be met with a flash jumpscare of something really horrifying, like older people on rocking chairs listening to the radio only to notice that they're dead and rotting and maggots are dropping from their orifices. It's this juxtaposition that makes "Machine Gun" all the more powerful. Play this record on Halloween. A
After a hiatus that stretched into the turn of the millennium, Portishead reformed in 2005 to play a benefit concert. It was subsequently revealed that they were working on new material, which culminated in their aptly-named 2008 release Third. Here, Portishead moves away from the now-dated sounds of triphop into new sonic textures that play around with loops of strings and percussion. Beth Gibbons' vocals are a huge part of what makes these songs so great, delivering a dark tenderness. The result, however, is an album that is always sounding slightly "off", as if it is haunted or possessed in some way.
Can't actually believe this is my first time listening to this. Glorious stuff
Really loved this one! I think our second from Portishead, and I liked the first one too, but this one hit me even harder. Much darker, spookier in my opinion, and functionally some of these beats could serve as hip hop instrumentals. "Plastic" actually reminded me of a song from Liquid Swords, not sure if it's a sample overlap or what. Just really great stuff, bravo gang. Favorite tracks: Silence, The Rip, Plastic, We Carry On, Machine Gun, Threads. Album art: Bare minimum, pretty terrible. That's two albums in a row that I really dig with covers I don't. 4.5/5
Mainiota pyöräilymusaa! 4/5
I celebrate their entire catalog! This record didn't reach the highs of their first two but it's a solid record with some really great songs!
Portishead is great, could listen to them most anytime.
Wow, what a great album that isn't for me. It's a little down tempo from what I usually listen to, and I'm certain that I would listen to this album if I listened to this genre at all. After reading the Wikipedia page, it seems that this album was partially inspired by the works of John Carpenter, which is super cool. I swear I can hear he influence.
This album sounds like a dream. Sad and melancholy one moment, ominous and frightening the next, mysterious in a way that’s hard to put your finger on. It’s beautifully produced. There are lots of surprising turns and experimental effects but they’re folded into the songs seamlessly. Portishead sound like a hybrid of Radiohead and Björk on this album. At the same time, I’ve never heard anything quite like it. Electronica fused with prog-rock, something like that. Beth Gibbons’s vocals are full of pain and longing. It makes for beautiful and sad music. Very compelling, adventurous album.
Like most things Portishead, this album is great. It has every facet that has defined this band's addictive sound: haunting vocals, pulsing bass parts, slick synths, a wide spectrum of interesting guitar parts from dreamy to edgy, and solid production values. "Cool" permeates everywhere. Somewhat unique to this album is a few tracks that are simplified and broken down to just an acoustic guitar/ukulele riff with Beth Gibbons' singing over it ("Deep Water"). I think this is a nice direction for them to go in, and they balance it well by also having some harsher synthetic songs on this album too ("Machine Gun"). Thoroughly enjoyable.
Portishead is great, but that ukulele song cost them a full point on this one.
Ein anspruchsvolles, spannend arrangiertes Album , das nie langweilig wird, aber nicht sofort ins Ohr geht. Je öfter es abgespielt, umso mehr entdeckt man wieder etwas Neues.
Compelling.
glorious. 4 stars.
The Rip has a very cool arpeggio. I love how it builds up. I think Andrea Laszlo De Simone was inspired by it for his song Conchiglie
I hadn't listened to this album since it came out - not as consistent as their '90s output but still so good. The second half of this album really shines for me - basically Machine Gun through Threads.
A seminal work of broody trip hop goodness. Darker and probably more impressively composed than Dummy but got done reason slightly less enjoyable. Doesn’t quite click the same way. Glad it is on the list (as long as Dummy makes it as well).
It’s good but not their best
I'm a big Portishead fan and I did like this album, but it came up on a Saturday, the sun was shining and I was due to play a gig that evening. With all of that considered it did make me realise that this one is a "if the winds blowing that way" album where as Dummy is always able to take me where it is.
Portishead returns to the stage with new musical inspirations and a sense of maturity - especially on Gibbons half. Some of the instrumental ideas are more grotesque and noisier than ever but they still retain their iconic Portishead-sound. It’s not the peak of their career (since they pretty much started out on top); buts it’s more than just a solid return to the stage.
I liked the transition from "Silence" to "Hunter" very much
Much darker than previous stuff. Not as good as Dummy, but still very enjoyable.
2008 Genre: Experimental rock, electronica, psychedelic rock 3.5
A wild adventure into the unknown using psychedelic melodies to challenge and intrigue the listener.
A lot of great individual tracks on the album, but it lacks a solid theme or a red thread like Dummy has.
It's a vibe. I feel like I am listening to this record from a very small room. It's dark and it gives me some sort of anxiety. But it's an interesting experience and an interesting record. I kind of enioyed it. I don't know, I am having mixed feelings. But for an experience as trippy as this, I'll give it a 4. There are some parts I really enjoyed. Like some guitar parts that really expose the beauty of imperfection, because they are not played perfectly in tune, but they work perfectly fine.
Atmosphere, yummy sounds, cool tones, this album is sick. Not everyone's cup of tea and not something I'd listen to all the time but for a first listen this is dope. Fav songs: - Silence - Hunter - The Rip - Machine Gun
I’m weird, there’s something soothing to me about how on edge and unhinged this album is. I like it a lot! I’ve only listened to earlier work from Portishead, this was a nice find in this list.
Weird, but I for some reason don’t like it as much as other weird stuff on this project. I like the dark feeling on this album, though.
For the whole first half of this album I was prepared to write it off as a bad job. I've got to "We carry on" and it's actually settled into something I quite like. I had hoped that it would continue into the second half of the album, and it kinda does. This is not an instantly accessible album, but then Dummy wasn't when that was released 14 years previous. There's now a 16 year gap between the release of Third, and a 30 year gap since Dummy - and honestly Dummy is the better of the two. That's not (at all) to say that Third is without merit; it absolutely spurs an emotional response. I'm not sure it's a response I'd want every day, but I dare say I will probably listen to this again at some point.
This album is like trip hop, but it sounds like impending doom. Kinda like if anxiety had a soundtrack.... If that makes sense. It's not bad..... Weird as fuck, but solid. Favourite songs: Machine Gun, We Carry On, Silence, The Rip, Hunter, Plastic, Threads Least favourite songs: Deep Water 4/5
A 4, but a 5 in a world where I hadn't heard Portishead's other albums
Loved it.
What an album. 7/10
Mostly non-pretentious electronic inspired rock. You'll probably know within the first half of the first song if this is something you'd wanna listen to for an hour.
Pretty weird but there's some good tunes on that
A bit of a grower, ran thru it a couple times and my appreciation grew. It’s moody and sludgy at times and Beth Gibbons vocals tie everything together so well. Really cool album starting with the opening track and the sharp snap of the drums. The Rip, We Carry On, Machine Gun were other standouts. Super rad stuff 4 stars
Some of these songs are a bit different than their other projects, but still pretty good nonetheless.
This is one of those albums that I really want to like. The Rip is such a transcendental song and an all-time favourite - the gentle whisper of "wild, wild horses, they will take me away...", that steady build of the drums and synths, you just never want it to end. There are some other really good songs on here - the dark, clashing noise of Silence, the onomatopeic Machine Gun. I've never really given Small a chance and enjoyed the buildup on that one too. But there are other songs that are just a chore to listen to. Beth Gibbons' voice becomes just slightly too discordant, the atmosphere is just slightly too uncomfortable, like on "nylon smile", or with the grating bleeps on We Carry On (basically machine gun but... worse). I can appreciate this as a work that deliberately moves between uncomfortable and sweet, mechanical and atmospheric. +1 for the experimentation, even if I prefer the more classic style of Dummy
A very hard album to rate. Full of dissonant chord changes and melodies, hypnotic arrangements/loops. The singer captures isolation and trauma almost uncomfortably well. The lack of emotional diversity (it almost all sounds isolated/alienated to me) hurts the replay value of it, this is an album to listen to when in a specific mood. I also think it's a very good album to listen to in small doses. There's a ton of interesting ideas and arrangements and they certainly accomplish what it is they seemed to be going for (capturing said isolation) 3.5 stars for the many fresh interesting ideas, I don't feel good giving the album 3 stars (seems to low for such a well executed album) but 4 seems excessive given that I didn't enjoy listening to the whole album much. Going to give it 4 Do check out individual songs though Machine head, Nylon Smile, We Carry on
Really interesting album with great production but an annoying vocal style. 3.5/5.0: Very Good
really good
Sounds like depression.
Really enjoyed this, love a broody atmospheric album. Takes a few left-turns and makes some brave decisions that in my humblest of opinions definitely pay off
More Portishead. Not as good as Dummy but better than the self-titled.
Very good. Super chill out music but with a sense of urgency and sometimes dread.
Really intresting and intriguing listen
Wow, this is fantastic. Not as immediately accessible as their first album, but brimming with ideas. And it's so moody and evocative. Is this a 5? Maybe not. But maybe it is. Today, though, we're going with a 4 with the right to give it a 5 later on.
En "Third" prevalece el misterio aún cuando conserva señales de los dos primeros discos de Portishead: ritmos tenebrosos en bucle y voces que parecen surgir del lamento y la condena. Tras once años de silencio, cuando el trip-hop ha dejado de estar de moda, lanzan su tercer álbum y en él la melancolía ambiental crea inquietud pero también una cierta calidez sonora. Con "Silence" y "Hunter", los temas que abren el disco, recuerdan quienes eran Portishead pero también avisan de que ha pasado más de una década. "The Rip" es todo un monumento sonoro a la tristeza construido en torno a ecos de delicada música folk. Sin duda el tema que más me gusta. Además tenemos canciones discordantes, como "Deep Water", o temas llenos de tensión con influencias del antiguo krautrock, como "We Carry On" o "Machine Gun".
Something I have never heard the likes of; I didn’t even know trip hop existed before this album. Radiohead-like in its marriage and relationship dynamics between analog instruments and digital. Otherworldly and chanting. Feels like a rocket ship explosion.
Fun ethereal trap pop. I think they have some catchy drum and bass lines and I like the vocals, they remind me of being in a 1920s speakeasy. I ended up listening to dummy a bit more instead of third. That one will get 5 stats.
So today I learned what trip hop is.
Another in the long list of didn’t real care about them when they first arrived in the 90s. But through these lists I’ve listened to enough to appreciate and enjoy their work.
I love the electronic folk feel to this album. The band have clearly moved on from the first two releases. THAT voice cuts through, always on the edge of a breakdown. Wifey said: "What's that bloody terrible racket?" They must be doing something right.
Enjoyed this. Reminded me a little of Massive Attack. Good Listen overall
A lot of very cool songs, not a ton of vocal variety but the instrumental parts were varied and well put together.
A total vibe. Dark and spooky. Sometimes that’s what you want to hear. I like it.
Hade deras två första album plus liveplattan. Var så jäkla bra. Denna har jag inte hört förut men visst fan är det bra.
Dyster AF. Lydbillede mindre rendyrket udtalt end album 1+2, og måske derfor lidt sværere tilgængelig og mere rodet. Elsker The Rip
I’ve never even heard of the group and not certain I have heard any music from the genre or related genres. Music of eerie unease, remind me of the most ethereal of Julee Cruse or other singers of similar style. Overall an enjoyable listen, but not something I’m likely to return to again and again. Good to know what trip-hop or whatever this is sounds like. Tunes that attracted my attention: Deep Water, Machine Gun, Small, Magic Doors
Had a lot of fun listening to it! Didn’t know what to expect and was still blown away. Had me in a trance for an hour. Really creative songwriting and production.
I had never even heard of this band until now. This album was terrifying and beautiful. I both loved and hated it for ultimately the same reason: it was fucking weird. Nylon Smile was my favorite song and it will be added to my every day listening.
If you didn't listen to this in college during...adult activities, did you even go to college?! Listened to this so many times but this time I sat down with a more critical ear. The industrial noir, trip-hop beats are well suited to introspection and the clear vocals shine through on each track. So many good songs on this album but surprisingly not my favorite portishead album (Dummy), despite some excellent tracks (machine gun, threads, hunter, the rip). Still, Beth Gibbons can do no wrong and I'll still come back to this album when the mood strikes.
It is a really interesting album. Hard to define genre-wise. I prefer dummy though
Was walking on a big empty parking lot while it slightly drizzled with a terrible hangover. Album matched the vibe perfectly.
For me a discovery. Very interesting, a lot of nice and surprising musical topics. Good album.
Not quite up there with their first two albums, but even falling short of that is no disgrace - they are both classics. Very atmospheric and moody, with elements of what Radiohead were aiming for in their later years, and perfect production. A solid four 🌟 album for me, although weirdly it would score higher if I didn't know/love the ones before quite so much
Different. In a good way. Mostly. I think...
Started a bit slow I thought, without that Portishead sizzle, but they got there by the end. Interesting back story, how they were ready to give up on music until they produced another band and were really inspired by that band's process - then, after about a decade, made their final album.
I love Portishead's first two albums when they were more trip-hop focused. The "Third" album is not bad, but more focused on a experimental rock sound. I liked some songs in this album, but still nothing compared to their old material. Favorite Song(s): "Machine Gun", "Small", "We Carry On", "Plastic", "Threads"
Who knew Portishead kept making music after the early 90s? Good for them, because I really enjoyed this one.
4.5
Unique and unsettling, stayed with me after listening in the airplane
Cool find. Very atmospheric. Sometimes vocals remind me of Björk, but less weird.
Mysterious, haunting, awesome
Love me some Portishead but definitely not as good as the first two albums.
Ominous beats to villainously stroke a cat to. Honestly really brilliant. Replaces the chill (and "fungal", as I like to say) vibes of "Dummy" with brooding drones and an atmosphere that can truly only be described as evil. I love when the bleeps go bloop. "We Carry On"'s instrumental is so hypnotizing. The way "Machine Gun" plays right when you think that maybe the second half of this album is going to be more mellow than the first and stabs you in your abdomen and steals your wallet. Strong 4/5.
Good experimental rock, I liked it except for the ukulele in the middle
"I'd like to laugh at what you said, but I just can't find a smile" esoteric, dark, moody. This album is truly more than the sum of its parts, and listened together, sets out to portray a mood, and succeeds at its job. I listened to this album while in an airplane, before, during, and after take-off. I was describing the album to my mom, and I likened it to the dichotomy of a hospital (sterile, eerily clean) in a bad part of the neighborhood, with a flickering street light. T1- "Silence" sets the mood for the album with a really interesting instrumental line. T4- "The Rip" beautifully transitioned from the esoteric synth landscape into an acoustic singer-songwriter masterpiece, with a great climax within the song, when the drums and synth pick up, it's sublime. T8- "Machine Gun" nearly ruined the album for me, and may very well be the sole reason this album didn't get a 5. It interrupted the flow & vibe of the album with the 808s and distorted drum kicks. T9- "Small"the first half was very disappointing, and confirmed in my head the spot as not a 5/5 for this album, but the second half picked up the slack and turned into one of the album’s better tracks, the trend which continued until album's end. Glad to have heard this album, and to have heard of Portishead. 4/5
auskomponierte anxiety attack, sehr vielseitig
listened to again great album
I liked it, very vibey music Didn't do much outside of college and going to soccer game today
Fantastic! Matched my head ache today actually.
Great to listen, quiet, easy. 3.5
a beautiful album the instrumentation feels thin yet moving and complex. One I will want to listen to again.
Super cool album. Hypnotic sounds and ethereal voice. Was less familiar with this than the earlier albums but will be listening again. Some tracks reminded me of joy division.
The tonal whiplash from “Deep Water” to “Machine Gun” was pretty insane. This was a great album for a late night drive
I'm glad 1001 introduced me to these folks. It's a fab album with lots of twists and turns and creativity. They have an industrial sound that is listenable.
Really like this album.
Ikke deres beste, men fortsatt.
Artsy fartsy. Zugegebenermaßen: Portishead sind, ähnlich wie Radiohead, Band mit gehobenem künstlerischen Anspruch und haben zu Recht den kommerziellen Erfolg, den sie haben. Die Platte ist kein Opus magnum, aber mindestens 4 Sterne.
i’m not all the way there with the instrumentals but mother beth gibbons you have me completely the lyrics are so chefs kiss
Real cool album, what a friggin mood Fav track: Machine Gun
Uuuge banger. Right up my moody little alley (that's what I call my butthole). Love the strange and ethereal instrumentation, emotive vocal delivery, and the flow of the record was pitch perfect. Four and a half. Fave track: Small
Heaps to enjoy here - interesting style and strong production. A good one. Three and a half. Fave track: Machine Gun
Not Dummy, nothing is Dummy, but innovative and elegiac enough to stand out
Не настолько любим как первый, но все еще крут
Влад там недавно говорил, что он начал испытывать страх от песен про зелёную лужайку: что же произойдёт здесь?)) У меня странные ощущения от музыки. С одной стороны, мне нравится, как она сконструирована: есть драм-паттерн, есть басовая линия, есть гипер-груженая гитара (иногда не груженая, а просто акустика), и поверх всего этого уже мешают всего в своё удовольствие. Это очень понятно и очень стильно. Но эстетически... Ну вот у меня в плейлистах давно уже болтается The Rip с этого альбома. В каком-то смысле она наверное самая простая песня и понятная песня с этого альбома, не считая интерлюдии "Deep Water". Блин, дожили: я что, буду жаловаться на слишком сложную музыку??? Ну, получается, что не совсем, но в какой-то степени. Я по-моему говорил, что меня часто напрягают диссонансы и какофония: ну вот что-то такое здесь было местами. Это не получается так же чиллово воспринимать, как Massive Attack. Из прикольного: цепанула рваность "Hunter". Есть в ней что-то гипнотическое. P.S. We carry on - я словил вайбы Benny Benassi - Satisfaction: возможно, из-за схожего рисунка синта; Silence - ударкой напомнили Prodigy. P.P.S. Коля вот гнал на Егора, что он как-то странно сравнивает всё: а мне что здесь, что на Бьорк, хочется их сравнить с PJ Harvey. Местами кажется, что я даже не отличил бы одно от другого и третьего. P.P.P.S: Видимо надо было слушать дважды, со второго раза идёт лучше... повышаю оценку до 3.5 -> 4
New to me. Really like.
this band made three near perfect albums, dark, foreboding, ethereal. her voice comes in and out of the fore, is incredible, dirge like, beautiful. its good. damn good.
Spent the whole day* depressed & listening to this almost felt masochistic. Hearing “Threads” after walking home after midnight was eerie. Usually I can hear entire songs without paying attention to the lyrics but these felt almost targeted towards my current mental state. They had to be aware of the dour atmosphere, because the gentle “Deep Water” hit like a truck Ultimately I’d say that the coincidence deepened my appreciation for this album, where it might have been a bummer another month. *give or take an hour HL: “The Rip”, “Magic Doors”, “Threads”, “Silence”
I had previously listened to Portishead's debut, Dummy. It didn't do much for me at the time. I remember it as being minimalistic to the point of being boring. Third, however, is a much more intriguing listen. As densely layered as it is, it makes me want to revisit their debut to see if there isn't something there that I missed.
What an entrancing voice! Luscious and interesting music and amazing drums throughout! Machine gun was the only song too jarring. It's not an everyday listen so just misses out on a 5 star!
i had no idea what to expect before listening to this and I definitely didn't expect a gothic electronic art rock with haunting female vocals. I have no clue why but I thought Portishead would be a metal band or something. Even for someone like me this a pretty demanding listen. There a lot of dynamic range and the volume will get intense suddenly during a lot of songs. It was surprisingly unnerving, but nonetheless the sound and vibe of it is incredible. I really enjoyed it on first listen but I feel like it demands more of the listener than that. Score: 80 Art: 70
Staggeringly beautiful
Le traitement de la voix, l’expérimentation, les dissonances résonnent en moi de manière familière. J’aime beaucoup
Fetch the lamb chops
Atmospheric.
Every time I listen to a Portishead album I feel like I've known it all my life
this might be 5 ⭐️ i don’t know, i avoided it for many years because i thought it was pretentious and overwrought but i see now i was wrong it’s pretentious in the good way
I like but not love this album
4.0
Third by Portishead is a soundscape album that really experiments with a more electronica and psychedelia rock with heavy synths create a dark cinematic feel with a touch of a bleak art installation. Liked it more than I thought I would and for me it would fit on a playlist to listen to whilst at work. Best: Plastic Worst: Nylon Smile
1. Silence: beat goes hard, very angsty vocals, atmospheric. 7.5/10. 2. Hunter: again same vibes as Silence. 7/10. 3. Nylon Smile: nice song, good vibe. 7/10 4. The Rip: cool arpeggios, vocally very strong. 8/10. 5. Plastic: drum fill sound is crazy in this one. Very solid track. 8/10. 6. We Carry On: bit chaotic but overall pretty nice. 6.5/10 7. Deep Water: sweet little interlude. 7.5/10. 8. Machine Gun: melody wise pretty nice, feel like the drums are in line with the title of the track but thereby a bit too punchy. 7/10. 9. Small: starts of great, the beat in the middle sounds really good too. 7.5/10 10. Magic Doors: pretty nice as well, later in the track the song was somewhat too much. 6.5/10 11. Threads: like this one a lot. Creepy yet captivating 8.5/10.
Ik vind dit soort maffe electrotechnotriphop of hoe het maar heet (je kunt het ook Eric-muziek noemen) altijd leuk. Ook hier werd ik niet teleurgesteld. Fijne sound mede namens de warme stem van de zangeres.
What if we did trip-hop on a ukelele? This.
Excited to revisit this one - for whatever reason I haven't really done so since the first year or so after its release - the only Portishead album I don't know through and through. I remember this being jarring for some when it came out - the scope of sounds is definitely much broader than their earlier releases. That said, it's friggin' brilliant! I don't know whether their entire catalogue made this list or not, but it certainly deserves to - they didn't miss. Beth Gibbons voice is majesty in and of itself, but the soundscapes Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley provide her to move it through are rich and engrossing. "Silence," "Nylon Smile" and "We Carry On" were particular favourites for me on this one
8/10 me gustó muchísimo. Me dieron la sensación a black county solo que portishead sacó esto antes por ende ellos se debieron haber inspirado en su música. Tienen un tema que era skip, pero el resto son un caos hermoso. Black county tiene vientos además de los instrumentos predeterminados de banda y los arreglos electrónicos. Pero el sentimiento y sensación de escuchar algo desconocido siempre es bueno.
Weird one. Really disliked it at first, had to pause for some reason, came back to it hours later and really enjoyed it. Listened to it again and still enjoyed it, but a little less.
Portishead's third album has a different sound than their previous trip-hop albums in the 1990s, it's more electronica. It's an original album, but it's less cinematic, more colder and more distanced.
I didn't know this later Portishead album. Different sound but still very intense and I love the thin vocals.
PREFS : Silence, The Rip, Plastic, We Carry On, Small, Magic Doors, Threads MOINS PREF : Machine Gun
Different to their earlier stuff, but still rather enjoyable.
Really cool
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yes, it’s exactly within my niche taste of music I really appreciate. Kind of sounds as if Fiona Apple went experimental. Definitely need to revisit this one! Favourite song: Track 8 - Machine Gun
So good. Amazing band.
samples pra racionais
A 1-star review of this record said it sounded like the soundtrack to their anxiety and… yeah! But that’s what made me like it so much; this record feels weird, atmospheric, and the perfect companion to long walks in these increasingly dark fall afternoons. I read a little bit about the album’s influences (including John Carpenter film soundtracks) and you can totally get how they came together to form something like this. “Third” gave me what I was hoping from Tubular Bells without becoming predictable or redundant.
Challenging and provocative. Portishead take what worked so well about their first two records (noir-drenched trip hop, Beth Gibbons' haunting vox) and update it for the age of post-millennium tension.
Moving with cinematic precision, Portishead's Third (and, so far, latest) album pulsates with ever intriguing and fascinating moments. The Bristol trio keeps things going as they turn towards new sounds unlike any they've come across before, thus shedding their trip-hop skin yet maintaining their identity. Favorites: Silence, Nylon Smile, The Rip, Machine Gun, Small, Magic Doors, Threads.
Wow. This is probably going to end up being one of my favorite new-to-me albums that I'm encountered on here. It's pretty brilliant. Dark, moody, eerie, evocative sound. Nicely layered arrangements, with a Kraut rock-inspired vibe. The use of dissonance was really inspired. It's is incredibly difficult to take something ugly and make it sound pretty, and the bands excels here at that. Fave Songs: We Carry On, Plastic, Machine Gun, Hunter, Small, Magic Doors
Admittedly, I'm already a big Portishead fan, given my 30 or so listens to Dummy (which I highly recommend, though it's probably already on this list). This one is a bit more experimental and... jittery? Idk how to describe it, just way less chill. I still love it, though. Standouts: Silence, Nylon Smile, The Rip, Deep Water
This was great, haven't really listened to them before
80/100: Never heard of this group, but I’ll say it—I’m intrigued. This album was interesting. I say interesting because I still don’t know how I feel about it. This albums is so different than any other album I’ve ever heard. Usually that sentiment accompanies an album that’s hard to listen to. “Different” can often be difficult to enjoy; however, I didn’t really find that to be the case with this album. Without even realizing it, I found myself three listens deep into this album. There are a lot of unsettling parts of this album. The bass blaring at the end of “Threads” in particular sticks out in my mind. Maybe it’s because it sounds vaguely siren-y, like a sound you’d hear at the start of the purge. Despite feeling deeply uncomfortable during that portion of the song, I couldn’t for the life of me skip it. I think I love this album? But maybe I hate it? I don’t know. It feels like a soundtrack fit for a movie or maybe a long drive at night? That’s it actually, I need to listen to this song while driving on the highway at night. All in all, strange album, but I plan on revisiting this group in the future.
A banger! I like this album a lot. In fact, Machine Gun was the last song that played on my MySpace page before MySpace died.