Dummy

Not my cup of tea.

meh

Very slow very meh. Everything sounded fine until she started singing-“D.R.”

Spy movie sad ambience. It was cool for one song, and it dragged for an album.

Background music 2.5

First album... interesting but kind of boring track 1 - 3/10 (not a good intro) track 2 - 6/10 (cool) track 3 - 3.5/10 (the intro of it was really good - might even sample it at some point, but it started to get weird after that; not a fan) track 4 - 3/10 (the production is so weak holy... vocals are ok) track 5 - 4/10 (nothing stands out in the album so far; synth in the outro is beautiful. sad it's only right at the end) track 6 - 3.5/10 (meh) track 7 - 2/10 (I hate these beats) track 8 - 6.5/10 (finally! this could go into the playlist only if the vocals weren't so dry) track 9 - 5/10 (not bad) track 10 - 2/10 track 11 - 4.5/10 (nothing special about the outro but it's listenable) total - 43/110 = 3.91/10

Good for some quintessential flowy/electronic music that feels like belongs in a 90s movie soundtrack. Ultimately though I was wavering between 2 and 3 stars because while it wasn't bad, it very easily just fell into the background and was super similar song to song so I got bored about halfway through. Nothing wow-ed me so I'm rounding down

This was tolerable to a point but I’d never listen to it again. This album tries to have that Indie beat vibe but suffers from repetitive melodies and a mediocre at best singer.

Too simple. Would be cool to listen to it as background music

Doesnt sound bad but its not something ill consider listning to again

Ah, more bog UK techno. You know those Sunday mid-mornings after a night on the ecstasy, when you start to get drowsy but you're also still in party mode? That's when bullshit like Portishead gets put on. It's not good, you're just coming down. 2/5.

Feels like a fever dream.

There are a lot of bits here that I should like, but this album doesn't work for me. Much of it struck me as pretentious (particularly the first half) - like someone trying to craft an album specifically to make it on "you've got to hear these albums" list while critics all nod sagely and say how excitingly experimental it is. I made it through, but unlikely to ever play it again.

Sleepy navel gaze. “Sour Times” and “It could be sweet” were ok.

Fine. I mean, I could chill back and listen to this but I’m not going to _listen_ to it.

I tried. I really did. But it’s so boring

I can be brief - I bought this album on the basis of what others told me. This subsequently served to reinforce the notion that I should trust my own instincts. A yawn-a-thon, lingering in the speakers like a drab, wet Sunday afternoon.

I only made it through half of the album. I didn't care for it. Just not for me.

The early notes of Portishead magic are here, but they're much too dated and buried underneath abstruse arrangements to make much of an impact. I'll always be a "Third" fan (likely a function of my age, but who knows), and to me that LP works because it has the perfect mix of dynamic contrast and emotion – this one doesn't hit the right balance between loud and soft, emotional and out-there to really leave a favorable impact

I won't pretend to be a trip-hop expert but this was really underwhelming. Bland background noise that all mushed together.

2.5

very mellow

The chill factor here is undeniable, the hiphop grooves and melodies are nothing to scoff at here. In fact, they are very much a good thing on this album. Perfect rhythm to write to, or do office work. The real weakness here is the vocals. It is an interruption to the aforementioned enjoyable grooves. The lyrics do not take control as they should, nor do they add enough to the songs to justify their presence, and this is a problem for most of the album because if this is triphop, let the listener be on the trip. Notable exception is the final track "Glory Box" where tonally the singer and the music found their harmony. Lounge-sound, some well done crooning, was a well-taken trip. It is a shame that the rest of the album did not match this energy.

Couple of belters, but6 overall meh

Meh. Not a terrible album by any means, but not something I would listen to again.

Far too many of these contemporary and electronic albums that provide little must hear value or excitement. Just a boring album, regardless of production quality.

Even non-instrumental electronic music is still electronic music at the core: doesn't give anything at all and is rather annoying

Trip hop isn't really my thing, but this is perfectly fine for the background. 'Glory Box' was the best track by far.

Meh

the leads singer is passionate about the songs

Not bad. Mellow. Pleasant. Might not make my regular rotation but glad I heard it. I never heard of the "trip hop" genre, but it sounds like it's under the alternative branch. Maybe even a little prog??

I'm not a fan of the genre so for me it got very monotonous very quickly. While the voice is quite pleasant, the rest is pretty mediocre.

This was really dull to me. All the songs blended together and I couldn't really differentiate one from the other. No stand outs for me.

Tried to like it. Beth Gibbons moaning voice is the sure cure for insomnia. The sampling is uninspiring. I know a lot of people like this album. Sorry, I didn’t get it.

Bit weird, wouldn't have listened to it otherwise.

BAD

We'll see, but so far might not be my thing...its fine for the background

Bah, non è brutto, ma non mi piace. No ok, da 'it could be sweet' peggiora: scratch casuali, sonorità che fanno a pugni tra di loro, voce per la maggior parte del tempo noiosa. 'Glory box' la migliore insieme a 'Roads', salvano l'album.

Meh

Roads and Glory Box are obvious stand-outs, but a cursory look at Portishead's Spotify page could have told you that. I can't really call the album boring - the instrumentation is pretty wacky throughout - but at the same time I'm not really moved by it. Found myself saying "that sure is a song" occasionally. But, you know, Glory Box still slaps.

weak sauce. 2/5

Critics love female singers who sound like wounded birds, and I can't figure out why. Also, can we calm down with the scratching? Best track: Glory Box

Nfm

Not for me

Used to love it. Now i just realise how boring it is and there are two good tracks. Rest filler

I won't deny that they're damn good at their metier, curio samples and instrumental filigrees. But I will argue that there's such a thing as too much joyless warbling over tranquillised beats, and this is it.

meh 2/5

Kinda like early lo-fi. Pretty vocal tone from female lead singer, but not really digging the sound. Pretty repetitive.

Boring Radiohead-style slow blandness

Some cool music but ultimately it’s never exciting to listen to.

2.5

напомнило pj harvey тока опопсевшую

Moody and dark songs about situations gone awry.

Trip hop. Like The Avalanches and Evanescence got together in the mid 90’s.

not my style

It’s not horrible, but it’s definitely not my jam

Nah, didnt work for me at all. I'm sure at the time and in the right circumstances this was a good album but I couldn't get on with it.

I get there was an ambient vibe but not really my bag.

2

whatever

Running out of things to say about Albums where I basically go 'this is fine'

Not my style, but interesting

Assez ennuyant

too mellow and sad, not very engaging

Meh

This is very different from what I listen to on a daily basis. The sound is very interesting as it is very trippy at times. It does get repetitive throughout the album.

i wanted to like this. i wanted enough time to have passed since 1995 when i was hearing that damn song all the time. i wanted to find something here beyond what there was. i was disappointed on all fronts.

I actually enjoyed some of the instrumentals on this album, especially "Glory Box". However this is simply not my cup of tea otherwise.

Grand. Every track is the same. Nice easy to listen to but wouldn't be in a rush to play it again

Muito edgy, musicalmente fraco

Boomy, bassy, muddy sound.

No. I always thought this band was something else entirely, but what they are is much different, and I am not sure it is better. =[

nah

Zzzzzzz

Not a fan.

The title says it all. 1

нц це було якось ну взагалі

not my thing

Vaya bazofia. No hay pir donde cogerlo

1-2

Lots of these in the USA these days.

Ass. Just straight ass

i hate this album it's ass

I listened to 2 songs and i dont like it

Not a fan of this at all.

Aggressively not for me! DNF. but I tried.

1. Okay, kinda weird. Sort of trippy. Of course it's the 90s. I don't know if I love this kind of music, a little too hypnotic for me. I get a little annoyed sometimes hearing a woman's voice whispering and singing so softly. A lot of flourishes, don't know if I love that either. Yeah too dreamy for me. 2. Okay pretty much exactly the same as the last one. Too dark, too dreamy, too many flourishes, portishead singing quietly. IDK if that's her name or if it's a band, I don't really care enough to look it up. 3. Okay, finally something different. Kinda sounds like a hospital heart monitor. And now we're back to portishead whisper singing with no clear melody. Okay the beat drop was good. Kind of gives me like y2k dark action movie soundtrack. 4. Okay, this is the worst one so far. so boring. Okay, god forgive me but I'm giving up. If I didn't like the first 5 songs I highly doubt ill like the rest of them. I like glorybox because ive heard it before and its kinda catchy and a little sexy but i dont even think of it as such a great song anyways even though i like it. Im giving up. mY BAD.

Boring

Not a fan

Ergendwie esch das albom chli e meschig us James Bond ond geischterbahn, so tönts zom teil zomendescht. Tönt zwar spanned, esches aber ned bsonders. Dör das ziehd sech das Albom chli. T Songs send eigentlech no relativ eifach ufbaut. Zo gronde liid dem es Schlagzüüg, wo gwössi, eher Komplexeri beats spellt. Druf chömed de wahlwiis entweder e Rockgitarre oder Synth-Tön. Zoberscht weder de no dröber gsonge. Gwössi Songs hend dezue no es wiiters Elemänt wie e Glogge oder Scratches. Tönt eigentlech gar ned so onenteressant. Wörd sech t Melodie ennerhalb vom Song ned emmer ond emmer weder wederhole. Sie wär jo eigentlech no enteressant, aber es tönt eifach emmer rächt gliich ond das bi dere eher relaxte Musig. Das so öppis Fonktioniert, mues es aber rächt fätze. T Musig mues eim chli Energie gä ond de send so wedercherendi Elemänt no rächt guet. Gliichziitig esches au es rächt experimentells Albom. Das merkt mer ned ome a de verschedne "Intromänt" wo bruucht wärded, wie scho gseid t Glogge oder t Scratches, sondern au, dass verschednigschti damals neui elektronischi Beats igsetzt wärded. Die fendi aber trotz mehrfachem lose öberne rächti Ziitspanni emmer no chli komisch. Wahrschiindlech liid das dra, das es för mech nümi sensationells neus esch. Was es deför ned merkbar hed esch Autotune. Guet das esch im 94i au no ned gross s Thema wels erscht im 97i use cho esch, es wär aber au absolut ned nötig gse. T tön trefft sie präzise. Trotz dere vele Kritik geds no zwöi wiiteri positivi pönkt. Erschtens merkt mer jo scho, dass sie Musig chönd mache. Sie sengt ned nome guet, es fonktioniered au rächt komplexi Passage. Zodem gfalled mer gwössi Idee no rächt, wie öppe gwössi Öbergäng zwösche verschednige Teil vo Songs oder halt t Scratches wo guet platziert send. Esch secher prime Sample material. Schlossändlech mues mer säge, dass es secher hörbar esch. Förs rechtig zuelose ziehds sech aber doch e chli fesch ond för e Hendergrond esches z fescht experimentell ond wierd. Also e komischi Meschig. Vo dem profitiert das Albom ned wörk, obwohl t Band jo scho guet wär.

Abysmal

Bad trip hop. I had high expectations going into this because Kanye said this was one of his favorite albums of all time, and the other albums that he liked were pretty good. This was pretty boring, and I'm not sure what you call that effect they put on her voice but it was awful.

The third

no. Just no. Not a fan.

Meh

All sounds the same, very dreary

I have never heard of this band before so I am excited to get into listening to this album. Track 1 right off the bat has an interesting beat, seems to be a female-led band which can be really hit or miss in my opinion. I like the kind of eerie, mysterious vibe this song is giving off. So far, I am wondering if the song ever reaches a climactic point or if there is some kind of main verse/melody but it does not seem like there will be either of those things. I think its a cool sound at first, but it does not go anywhere so I hope the other songs are different. Track 2 is honestly boring. The songs seem to be just repetition of the same phrases/verse with little to no growth or depth. I am not impressed at this point in the album. Track 3 has a good beat, which is consistent with the two prior songs. With a brief look at the lyrics, I can already tell that this song will be like the others -- an interesting intro and repetitive verses. I think the music is just underwhelming. This song, however, has a little more to it with a muffled intro and "beat drop" after where the song really begins. The vocal performance is lacking in my opinion. Track 4 is also boring to me. I think I would consider this album kind of slow-core and I think I have drifted from that genre and into music with more going on both vocally and rhythmically. Track 5 is their most popular song as a band. I will say it is the best song I have heard so far, but by a very small margin. I have not listened to their other music, but they have a very Evanescence-like sound and I think they could honestly really pull off some music like theirs. Track 6 is a little more vocally interesting than the other songs, and I have noticed the lyrics getting less repetitive over songs. Track 7 is still boring to me, I am not really enjoying this album so far. I am half tempted to not even finish it because I am so bored. I have no notes for track 8, 9, or 10. Track 11 is by far the best one on the album.

Zzzzzzzzz

This wasn't my cup of tea, I can hear how this influenced other bands, but this just wasn't for me.

#28 Music to sleep to 😪

Makes me want to smoke cigarettes for some reason

- I’m scared of this album tbh - Not impressed with the opener - Surprised that it’s a woman singing - it could be sweet actually has some satisfying vocals - i'm officially tapping out. only listened to half but it's just not for me.

Not bad, but also not for me. No takeaways and won't listen to this again

1 out of 5 So slow and sad

The soundtrack to the 90s most boring movie scenes.

Nah

another awful album. Tedious vocal. Was sick of it by the end.

Did not like at all. Didn’t even finish the album.

Not for me. Cool background mood music for a movie, but nothing I would listen to on purpose again.

rædsom. 1

Not for me

Meh

I heard about Portishead but never heard or remembered a song by them... Yeah, this must be one of those cult following band. No singing... only whispering. must be horrible for the sound technician that has to lower everything to match the low level. Do the band perform on a separate venue to not overpower her? Not for me

Trip hop you say... Atmospheric, but not in a good way. Mercury Prize, yeah right on, you have to be kidding me, it's terrible.

Scratching, low-fi sounds, samples, repetitive loops, depressing… not for Me!

Not my style of music. Could only listen to the first 2 tracks

Eh didn't love it. 2.1/10

By the 2nd song, I'd had enough.

No thanks

Las bases son buenas pero no es mi estilo de música. La voz de la cantante es muy plana, siendo las canciones un poco sosas. 2/10

Couldn’t get into this one. Aside from the beats on some of the tracks, there was nothing I liked from this album. For some songs, it felt like the backing was unfit for the vocals.

Very weird, lots of instruments that doesn't fit

If a goal of music is to make you feel something, this one succeeds. I felt angry that I wasted my time listening to this boring Panda Express version of quiet and thoughtful songs. Thanks a lot, Dummy.

Two thumbs down. I do not understand the universal praise. I found it to be sleepy, repetitive, and borderline unlistenable. It was depressing and a struggle to get through.

I was excited based on overall reviews, but I couldn’t even finish it.

I hate electronic music

Not my cup of tea!

👎🏻

Not at all for me. Weird stuff.

Hate to hate but … (jk I love to hate)

Didn’t like it. Slower, more metallic sounding music.

I don't like it man

I've never really listened to Portsihead before, now I know why. Can't say I found this one overly enjoyable. None of the tracks jumped out for me.

I'm sorry but I can't stand Portishead

This was a boring album. Slow and repetitive. Maybe we are so far past when this was new that it has become boring but I feel like others have done this much better.

No good, not feeling it unfortunately

DNF

A grossly overrated you will like this album, album. I have heard songs from this over the years, well, since 94 and never knew who it was. Now I know why, the record scratches are banal and the vocalist is annoying. This is SHIT.

Very different

I guess at the time this might have been novel… but I found it terribly generic and uninteresting. The vocals and lyrics were just not impressive. Few of the songs felt like they had a cohesive musical thought, yet most managed to only have one 17 second piece of music played on repeat for 4 minutes. With an occasional extra percussive sound added partway through. Overall felt more like two high schoolers found a drum machine and a synthesizer.

I appreciate it musically, but it's not my thing. Would not listen again.

Don't know why another Portishead album has come up on here ? Is it really an album I need to listen to?

Not for me.

Mysterons: 5/10 Sour times: 5/10 Strangers: 3/10 It could be sweet: 1/10 Wandering star: 1/10 It’s a fire: 1/10 Numb: 0/10 Roads: 0/10 Pedestal: 1/10 Biscuit: 0/10 Glory box: 8/10

So so bad

Wanted to like it. Didn’t.

mmmmm

Not for me

Not my type

I mean, ok? It’s very 90s, that’s for sure. I hate breathy singing … and this was so hard for me to get through. The worst one I’ve listened so far. Yuck.

A big no thanks!

Bleh

Please no.

It was alright

Dummy indeed. Hard pass.

3/10

Yuck!

not a fan

Maybe I played it at the wrong time of day. Maybe I played it when I wasn't high. Maybe I should have played it when I wanted to go to sleep or be depressed. Jagged Pill was more upbeat.

I feel like robots are trying to hypnotize me. Nice atmospherics...But do computer generated tones qualify music? Regardless, you have to be exceedingly generous to call these songs. Sophomoric tonal riffing in place of melodic structure; and lyrics that come across like High School poetry.

Didn’t care for it. All the tracks sounded the same

Not for me. I have never really been able to get into Portishead, and this album does not change that. I can hear the atmosphere and the mood they are creating, and I understand why it was so influential, but as a listening experience it feels very samey to me. The production is dark and cinematic, and Beth Gibbons’ voice is distinctive and haunting, but the overall tone rarely shifts. After a few tracks it all blends together and I find my attention drifting. I can appreciate the craft and the impact it had in the mid nineties, but it simply is not an album I connect with. Favourite track: None that truly stood out for me Least favourite: The overall sound becomes repetitive Album artwork: A cool, moody cover that fits the music perfectly

not my scene

did not like

I've seen this one on a lot of best albums lists and had been holding off. Went in with high expectations and was let down. The guitar and industrial sounds were okay, but the droning singing didn't resonate with me. This feels more like a movie soundtrack with no real direction or cohesiveness.

i do not understand why this is rated so highly

Les instru vont pas avec le chant c’est bizarre Il y a que la dernière qui est à peu près bien

Aika tylsä kokonaisuus. Ei kyseinen musiikkityyli oikein uppoa.

Not my style at all

Not sure what this is, but it isn’t for me

😴

Early 90s Hole sound

Not my style at all. Wasn't a particularly huge fan. Besides a few music styles, I can find enjoyment/interest in almost anything, but this is apparently not one of them. Did not enjoy it at all. Most songs either have some impressive vocals or musicians, a fun/entertaining story, a catchy beat, or a combination - this had none of those.

kept feeling like it was about to be interesting, and then it kept being not

I looked the album up and it seems to be revered so I get that people like it but for me the girl's voice is off key I couldn’t enjoy it, I think maybe someone else should’ve sang the songs, or vocal lessons should've been demanded.

Bad

I don't know why this album was popular. I was bored with each song I'm different ways and was falling asleep for parts of it.

Garbage

I genuinely hated this album. I found Beth Gibbons' vocals became really winey after a while and the identity of the album felt really confused. Am I a soundtrack for a film? Am I hip-hop? Am I having a breakdown so I'm going to throw it all together and hope it sounds good. Yeah, that, that one. It did not sound good.

mid

i was happy when it ended. brutal to get through.

Not my type

Melangolisch, rustig Heb de helft geluusterd Niet voor mij

Not my cup of tea

It is an album. People on it made sounds in a facsimile of music. It sucks and I hated it.

What a lazy and cynical exercise in a valueless genre with a stupid name. “Maybe if we take our lack of musicality and 1 octave-range breathy vocals, and throw in a few turntable scratches, people will think we are avant-garde”

I couldn’t finish it because it was just boring to me

Nope

1.75

I really didn't like the first one of their albums that came up on this list. I also really didn't like this one.

Damn this album sucks. Sour Times is good but the rest of the album isn’t near good enough to warrant a second star

bleck.. zzzzz

not my taste at all. Probably a 1/5

(Dice que no con la cabeza)

So boring, so drab. You'd have to force me to listen to it again.

1/13/21

I didn't like them when they came out for the first time. It's too dark and depressing for me. Also it's a bit contrived for the moments

Rage life soul void sex mind evolution