Dummy

Just some chill wavy beats. The lead singer croons softly, almost inaudibly over the synths. Highly listenable without demanding any attention to itself. Good background music, but not much to shake a stick at.

Cold. Warm. Cool. Alluring. Alien. Existential. Lynchian. I love how the drum machine is front and center. This is a masterpiece.

I need no extra reminders that the world is filled to its brim with incompetence, thank you. This doesn't hit quite right at 7am...making a note to listen again when I can't sleep, then I'll update review.

It was fine. Just not a lot of depth

Best album i ever listened to 11/10

Good album. Classics like "Sour Times" and "Glory Box". Trip hop fundamental.

4/5

Never heard of these guys. Really enjoyed it. If you asked me what year this came out without looking, I'd guess 2015. Sour times was my favorite.

really cool. toned down groove, very adult swim interstitial beats, vibey in a cowboy bebop smokin in the rain kinda way. i look forward to checking out more poorshithead. favorite song is Strangers or It's A Fire. solid 4

Rating: 10/10 Absolutely sick stuff that has an atmosphere like no other, the hip hop style production combined with this lounge-y jazz feel gives it a quality like using developed musical techniques to make something modern and entirely fresh when it released. The dark sadness enveloping Dummy just hits so hard when you put it on while in that mood. Despite how good these instrumentals are, it’s Beth Gibbons’ amazing distinct vocals that elevate it to something even greater, they’re haunting and also have a dark sensuality; she’s so talented. The whole trio though is an incredible group of songwriters and performers. So many incredible tracks I could name most, but Mysterons really lays down the tone instantly, Wandering Star has always been my favorite to play in the shuffle, but the best songs of the bunch I think come towards the end with the incredible Roads and Glory Box.

This album goes unbelievably hard. It's just so smooth and has such charm and style. The rhythms all feel purposeful, the background details are all super interesting, and they all just work with the vocals really well. The whole album is just so sick already, and then having been released in 94 is just nuts when it feels like it could have been released last year. The closer is hard, Sour Times and Pedestal are great but Roads is the most great. I would love to dig more into why I think this album is super sick but I'm 97 albums behind 9.1/10

Moody, club and dub inspired (to this Gen X-er’s ears), great female vocals.

1. 4.5 2. 5 3. 4.5 4. 4.5 5. 5 6. 4.5 7. 5 8. 4 9. 4 10. 3.5 11. 5

I can appreciate it.

A perfect storm that creates a unique and irresistible sound, at the cost of variety: So good... The style oozing from this album is palpable. My only complaint is lack of variety, which comes at the cost of the strong style. I've always felt like James Bond listening to these songs, I'm not sure if that's just me. Something about the instrumentation, which is so cool btw. The melodies are extremely catchy and the vocal performance is beautiful throughout, perfectly supporting the melodies and perfectly supported by the electronic backing. A certified classic! I wish music was as innovative as this today. Closest thing I can think of (in terms of original + quality) in modern times is maybe Brat. Love this album and I saved many songs to my monthly playlist!

Achei meio Lo-Fi, meio palha e sem sal.

This album was definitely good. The trip hop genre is interesting but it’s not entirely for me. I loved the ominous feel that the songs had and the vocal performances hit on pretty much every song. It just felt slightly redundant by the end of the album and the listening experience was not as fun as some other albums.

It's fine but I couldn't really see why this was a celebrated album. For me, it fell into "decent background noise" territory

fav songs: ALL OF THEM! this is a perfect album. you may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like 100/100

Not great

Very cool.

Really enjoyed listening to this one in the morning after a late night out at a my cousins wedding with the fam.

Dark, moody, mysterious, reminiscent of Massive Attack. Almost feels as though it could be another one of their albums, especially after listening to 'Third' by Portishead earlier on in the list, which was SO different than this. Big fan of this type of simplistic yet sophisticated type of music. The vocal chops here add a lot, and keep things from being too simple or mellow.

MARAVILHOSO!!!! QUE ÁLBUM BOM, A ATMOSFERA E TUDO MDS

Très content de découvrir portishead Ça ressemble un peu à gorillaz. Et à bjork aussi. Ça sent les fin 90 debut 2000 Je trouve ça assez plan plan, j’aime pas la chanteuse 33 au classement général RYM wtfff

Atmospheric

It’s a classic from start to finish. It still holds up after all of these years. Beth’s emotive and unique voice will continue to influence a generation.

The first track is dope. I really like the effects used on this album as a whole, it feels old-school and real. Where so much music feels like CGI, this feels like practical effects, solid and homespun. I am going to buy this album. Finishes on Glory Box, insanely amazing. Not sure if this is 5 stars, but it is close!

great album gut zum chillen

Not a fan.

Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? ✅ Would buy on Vinyl? ✅

Sad girl in a dark room vibes with a 90s twist. It was just ok for me. Really wanna give this more than a 2 but I just can't.

Fantastic surprise. The production is magical and just so rich. Wonderful chill music with an unmatched atmosphere.

Gear: Hifiman HE6se v2 SE Artwork: 🔦👗🔦 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 👻✨❤️‍🔥 Rating: 🛣️🛣️🛣️🛣️🛣️/5

had lots of fun with this, if my genre preferences shift over time I could see myself giving it a 5 in the future

Not a bad track on this bad boy. Incredible production, incredible vocals.

It's insane how good this is, every detail is near perfect but for me it all comes down to Gibbons voice. Beautiful.

very cool.. they put something in this that my dork mind can't articulate. kept getting this band and Massive attack confused now i know the difference

Not too familiar with this artist, but Sour Times and Glory Box did receive significant airplay at the time of release. An atmospheric, interesting blend.

Pleasantly surprised, definitely enjoyed this one

Mira un álbum nuevo El álbum: background music

Great soundtrack music, but not personally resonant. Very much just worse Massive Attack for me.

First: I'm a huge Portishead fan But then: I always liked Portisheads 2nd album better than Dummy. Sure this one has 3-4 killer tracks and was revolutionary at the time. But it doesn't work as an album, some songs are quite "rough" and some are just fillers and/or don't fit in musically. Still: Beth Gibbons voice, Utleys guitar and Barrows sampling are superb.

Decent background music in a moody bar vibe.

Lovely weird sounds

Day 23. Although I have never been and am still totally not into electronic music. I hate most hiphop, rap and dance music, but this different. Portishead is one of the few exceptions. This sounds so good. I had this on a tape around 1996. Have the second album on cd, but not this one. I must have listened this a lot as every track was very recognizable with my memory. I love the sultry atmosphere and singing of Beth Gibbons with the moody beats and sounds. It is said that it is the greatest music to make love. Was doubting to 4 or 5 stars but looking at my other 4s and 5s so far I keep it with 4.

It’s not my thing, but that doesn’t make it bad. I can totally see why this album is loved. I did like Glory Box tho

I loved this record in the 90s, played it all the time, and still love it. It’s so chill and beautiful, the record that got me into trip-hop. Of course we all recognize “Sour Times” from the first jingly chord at the beginning, but it’s a popular song that I’ll never get sick of.

Really enjoyed and would listen again. Not sure how it is one of the best ever, but liked it nonetheless.

Has a very whimsical feel to it

bizarre eerie haunting weird artsy

A new one for me, never heard of the group or the recorded. Spacey and interesting

Loved this the first time I heard it and honestly love it more now.

Sounds like same beat and track over and over again. Luckily it's fine background music or it would be a 1 2 stars.

*Chills*

The title says it all. 1

#397/1001. What a nostalgia trip-hop this was. Sounds like mid nineties, good to remember there were other genres than grunge and hiphop. Haven't really needed them in my life after that period (perhaps not even then), but still soothing.

When I was in university in the late 90s this was THE album to have sex to. It feels weird listening to it today, on a hot summer day, because this is night music. Super moody and atmospheric. Musically, I find it more engaging on an intellectual level than I do on a gut level. I think what they’re doing is interesting with the heavy use of sampling, and techniques that were more commonly found in hip hop, like scratching, but all turned towards very different ends. It’s a good record, an important one even, but it’s not something I’ve listened to in years, and while I liked revisiting it, I don’t expect it’s one that I’ll go back to often either.

It's such a vibe album

Mary. Need to listen again, but this was such a pleasure to listen to. Clearly pushing the needle for '94

“Head” bands, ranked (though honestly, all of them are pretty solid at worst): 1. Radiohead 2. Motörhead 3. Talking Heads 4. The Lemonheads 5. Portishead

One of my favourite albums from the 90's. Absolutely perfectly produced, love Beth's voice, all the guitar work, DJ Andy Smith tasteful cuts. Easy 5 from me.

нц це було якось ну взагалі

Uninspiring 2

10/10 all time great album

speziell

Good but it doesn't click for me. Favorite Tracks: Sour Times, It Could Be Sweet, It's A Fire, Glory Box 6/10

A fantastic debut album. Just as good now as when it was released, it holds up to time.

portisheaadd head🥶😵‍💫😋

Really wasn’t a fan of this and was surprised it’s been rated so highly, I feel like I needed a course of sertaline after listening to this

95

I’ve always loved this album, so different to anything I’d heard before in 1994, I bought it the day it came out took it home and played it non stop whilst painting rooms in a house we’d bought in the London suburbs- “ I just want to be a woman” from Glorybox……this album is perfection with excellent samples.

Original jazz-inflected trip-hop with some interesting sounds and samples and catchy grooves.

Very nice, me enjoyed. Something I'd put on when I need to concentrate and the lyrics kind of just seep into the instrumentals.

Already knew this album was great, have been a big fan of Portishead for almost a year now. love the vibes and the smooth melodic vocals in contrast to the often more crunchy and distorted industrial sound in the background. favourite song has to be strangers or Glory Box. very glad to have the chance to relisten to smth familiar.

Sindsygt klart mesterværk! Det er gotisk, soul, og sampels som sidder så meget i skabet at det bare er spændende hele tiden! - Et album jeg aldrig aktivt har lyttet til fra start til slut, men jeg manglede kun 2 numre fra at kende det hele. - Albummet er meget unik i sin lyd i 1001 album oplevelsen.

Magisk kombination af Hip-Hop’ens beats, Jazzens legesyge log Beth Gibbons fantastiske vokal.

So dark

I feel like I'm at a 90s coffee shop.

Really liked this! So layered and nice to listen to. Sounds ahead of its time to me kinda. Saved.

Forgettable

Some great tracks on here, however I found it washed over me a bit without really triggering anything. Didn't sense a lot of variety on offer and it left me a bit cold all in all.

I knew I had heard of Portishead and I kept waiting for the song to that I knew to hit. I was loving the album until that point and then Roads hit and I was transported back to the 90s. What a great song. What a great album. Her vocals are just :chef's kiss: Would definitely listen again. In fact I've listened to Roads at least 3x today.

Honestly I felt like I should have hated this more than I actually did. I think the beats were captivating enough for me to enjoy, and her voice compliments the music really well. It’s certainly a dark and edgy vibe and I think it really nails the execution.

this album feels like just what i've been looking to listen... it has this sort of mysterious vibe to it, with enchanting vocals and melancholic lyrics just the way i like. i'll definitely listen to it constantly.

I always forget how much I enjoy this album until i listen to it again. It is such a nostalgic, transportive mood for me. 5/5

Ah... the glory days of trip hop in the mid 90s. I was mildly interested in Portishead back in the day and remember playing their music as a DJ at my college radio station. I was more a fan of Tricky and Massive Attack though. Dummy is decent but almost too artsy for its own good at times.

Very lo-fi and pretty chill. I like the singer’s voice. A little spooky. I like the jazzy vibes and it feels like a spy noir. I think I like the song “strangers” the most. “Pedestal” is pretty good along with “biscuit”. I didn’t really care for “sour times” or “numb”. “Glory box” is very good, definitely top 5 from this album. 1) strangers 2) biscuit 3) it could be sweet 4) glory box 5) wandering stars; everything else was meh to me

Chill, moody, ethereal. A fun diversion on a 90s Road Trip playlist Coupla tracks are in my rotation: Sour Times, Wandering Star, Glory Box

This shit slapped! It had a unique mix of genres, pleasant vocals, and a nice flow.

Pretty unique album. Enjoyed it all the way through!

Honestly a pretty great album, with pleasant and soft down tempo beats. The vocals are soothing, making this a solid trip-hop entry with some iconic songs.

Pleasant triphop with interesting use of sampling, lofi, and mellow vocals. This is a nice album to enjoy as background or focus music, but doesn't offer much in the way of surprises or strong impressions.

I could listen to Beth Gibbons' voice all day mannnn. So smooth and seductive. Instrumentally I groove with it, but it stays firmly safe in its Portishead box. Bristol represent

Unique sound and incredible vocals. Feels weird describing it as such but it’s a sexy album

I feel like I've heard these before but I don't know where. Anyway, enjoyable!

Literally had no idea this band existed till now. Band members all played such an intricate part in creating this style of music. Song were all hauntingly good. Felt like I really was coming down for an acid high.

I liked a lot of the beats but I don't see myself picking this album up. 2/5

Hot hot hot

Portishead fans are some of the most pretentious (up there with Tool fans) which is enough to remove a star for, but the music is actually much better than I expected. Especially Glory Box! With how aggressively male the fans are, I did not expect the singer to be a woman. Still, this sounds like something that could only exist in that 1993-96 window.

Fantastically cool and chill

Trippy and hoppy and all its own atmospherics

Oh yes, very nice. Took me a while to warm to old mates in my youth but I was a silly boy. Third also goes hard and I know next to nothing about the one in the middle. That guy who gave this a resounding review of 'Bad' and then apparently quit this project is my hero.

I had ‘Third’ just a few days ago. I mentioned how it may end up as my favourite since its oddness means I still haven’t fully absorbed it almost 20 years after its release. The truth is though, while I may not have much more to learn about ‘Dummy’ due to the sheer number of listens I have given it over the years, it will be a tough ask for anything to overtake this as my number one. It just gets so much right. I’m not going to waste my time trying to put into words how it sounds, or how it makes me feel while listening to it, or the emotions it stirs, but I will make the observation that I am still surprised how broadly it was embraced considering how dark it is lyrically. I remember how much ‘Blue Lines’ had hit home a few years earlier. Whatever genre I thought it was at the time I don’t think I imagined there was much room for it to be improved upon. ‘Dummy’ delivered a more organic version with, pound for pound, more emotion and if I had to choose, I think it might take the title. And then there’s ‘Mezzanine’! And ‘Maxinquaye’! So much incredible music from such a niche genre.

quite different

Listening session: june 18th/19th, while sittimg in the train Listened to before: heard a few songs before Thoughts: this album is a genre of its own which is really nice, but not something that I’m always in the mood for. Glory Box is iconic for a reason though Favourite tracks: Sour Times, Roads & Glory Box

Good album. It’s not quite my style overall but I did enjoy it. Hovering between a 3.5 and 4 for me. Going to upvote it because I think it deserves it here. Ambient guitars and soft female vocal that has a melancholy vibe. I missed this band originally in the 90’s. I’d check out more stuff from them.

I am a decently big trip-hop fan, but Portishead has never really done it for me.

i love this album. guitars, sounds. dreamy, escapist. jazzy, sensual, atmospheric, cinematic trip-hop. iconic, trailblazing. the baaass, the slow drums, the guitar .. loveee the parked wah and tremelo and reverb. roads! & glory box is ... everything.

goated Trip Hop Album

Excellent

Loved this album for years

4/5

4.5★/5 [06.15.2026] 06.17.2026

Really loving the unique sound. Very cool instrumentation and vibes from this one

i had always wanted to check out more portishead cuz i had only heard a handful of songs but tbh im a little underwhelmed... overall i liked it and it was a chill vibe, just nothing that really stood out faves - glory box and roads, a lil nostalgia for this one, it was in a sims youtube series i loved in middle school LMAO (shoutout pleasantview high)

really love the instrumentals here and fw the lead vocals even though the lyrics usually didn't resonate with me. the ambiance the former two things were able to create makes for very good "i am a hot and very cool woman" listening. feeling like rouge the bat in dry lagoon. fav: glory box

Cool vibes. Enjoyed this

So unlike pretty much everything out there.

I'd listened to it before

One of the best albums of all time.

great album to get depressed to

Repeat listen

absolute 90s melancholia! some parts get boring but all in all i enjoyed it

not my thing

Нуарно, джеймсбондово, все песни довольно похожи, но выделяются очев Glory Box(песня из рекламы = классика), и оч крутая Roads.

Cool and loungey, but something where the mood needs to be right or it doesn’t quite hit.

This is music for a cold, rainy, possibly foggy November day. This is music for the downbeat and the desperate. This is the happiest collection of songs to come out of Bristol. That last joke aside, Dummy is one of those indisputable high points of the Bristol trip-hop scene, though most artists labelled as such would furiously reject that label. Much of the mythos surrounding this album probably has to do with how formless the band was; they only started playing this material live after the album had come out. All of the musicians involved were of wildly different ages and came from wildly different backgrounds, and yet the resulting 50 minutes of music has not a single note played out of place or time. Only on albums like this could a 60s bubblegum pop tune be turned into a drugged out hazy mantra (check that sample on "Biscuit.") Only on albums like this could skittering rhythms meet a morose synth and actually meet halfway. All of this is anchored by Beth Gibbons' one of a kind performance. She generally uses her more comfortable middle pocket to convey the blue-grey gloom of the lyrics but occasionally goes into this nasal Billie Holiday-esque sound, like on "Numb" and the iconic closer "Glory Box." It all makes her sound like the ghost of a Depression-era jazz singer that never really made it finally getting her big break 60 years beyond the mortal plane. Truly a one-of-a-kind album. Amazing chill, amazing depression, amazing performances. Timeless in basically every sense. Key Tracks: Mysterons, Sour Times, Wandering Star, Glory Box

Bon et que des Souvenirs

분위기 좋 베스트: Wandering Star

I listened to this one, but there was a lot going on so I didn't really LISTEN if you know what I mean. What I heard was interesting but didn't make me stop and take notice... so 2.

Me ha parecido aburrido y monótono. Pero para dormir va bien.

Mesmerizingly powerful and effortless cool.

Great entry to trip-hop.

A solid album I’ve enjoyed for a long time

fun and different vibe to this, would listen again

This album has the vibe of the that era with glory box being the highlight of all the tracks

Moby Moby moby

So chill but hypnotic—I can really see how a lot of contemporary music was informed by this record’s sound. Some tracks dragged a bit but it never made for a poor listening experience, and when there were highs (“Sour Times”, “It Could Be Sweet”, “Glory Box”), they soared. EDIT (7/8/26): after sitting with this album a bit longer, it’s really stuck with me in a way many of my other four stars haven’t. upgrading to my first 5:) STAND-OUT SONG: “Glory Box” HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Sour Times”, “It Could Be Sweet”, “It’s A Fire”, “Mysterons”

En ole fani.

Fantastic album, well recorded and with no filler songs, all good all the way through.

You know, this website confuses me sometimes. More frequently than I’d like to admit. There are times when I roll an album that is an unmistakable 5, just an absolute gem, and it has a way lower rating than I was anticipating. Virtually every female artist barring a select few have low ratings as well, that seems to be the norm at least from what I’ve noticed. A lot of those albums are also 5’s. With all that being said, “Dummy” by Portishead is the second highest rated Electronica album on the website, right under another album I didn’t exactly care for. First things first, did I enjoy this album?? Yeah, of course. It’s pretty chill and vibey for the whole thing, but that’s also one of my biggest criticisms. It’s way too mellow and low key for a grand majority of the album. I’m not the biggest fan of the consistent emphasis on this kind of chilled out, low stress music. The fact that this has a higher rating than something like Justice, The Prodigy and even the Gorillaz does genuinely surprise me. The biggest criticism I have with Electronica in general is that a lot of the times, a song is going to last just a liiiiiiiiittle bit longer than you want it to. This album suffers heavily from that. It’s 48 minutes of songs that just kinda put me to sleep. Again, not an issue. Objectively, it sounds great, it’s just not the kind of Electronica that I love. Still though, songs like “Glory Box” have a random guitar solo that I love, and the background elements of “Wandering Star” make it my favorite song on the entire album. I can’t really say I’d return to this one, and I can’t even honestly figure out what a majority of the website saw with this one either. Oh well, not every album can be a banger to everybody. This is one I’ll forget about pretty quickly. Very pretty singing though. It’s charming and peaceful. Got me through the day good enough, and I could have it on in the background while working easy enough as well. Overall, I was a little bored by this one, but the singer truly does have a great voice. Just not one I’d like to listen to for an extended period of time.

Now this is an album you need to listen to before you die

Contient une de mes chansons favorites, mais étonnamment elle s'écoute mieux isolée du reste de l'album, bien qu'il y ait une vraie cohérence tout au long de celui-ci. L'originalité de leur signature musicale me parle, mais je trouve que les morceaux manquent de quelque chose malgré tout.

When to listen: slow and gauzy moment. I absolutely loved this album, I haven't heard anything like it before and Glory Box is a triumph.

I love this album. It's highly nostalgic without feeling like it belongs to a particular time. Great vibes, some exceptional songs. V much enjoyed revisiting this.

Calm v would like Nice voice

This album is special no matter how many times I listen to it, it will always sound new and exciting. I don't think there is an album which sounds so refreshing and unmistakable. Beth Gibbon's voice is stunning back to front, every single performance is 5/5

Day 297 The lyric in Roads ‘I’ve got nobody by my side and surely that ain’t right’ might be one of my favourite moments in music ever, sends shivers down my spine every single time. One of the best live acts I’ve ever seen, quite an easy 5. Highlights It’s a fire Numb Glory box

5/5. This album has always made me feel like I’m in a big city at night in a neo-noir movie. And when it comes to Trip Hop, this is what I’d point to as one of the two peaks of the genre (the other being Massive Attack’s Mezzanine.) the production is fantastic throughout, especially on the percussion side of things. And Beth Gibbons is a great vocalist who really sells the dreamy atmosphere of the whole record.

Маю на диску, купляв ще коли CD були актуальні і продавалися в магазинах. Люблю цей альбом, правда давно не слухав і це нагадування щоб записати його на плеєр. Прослухав цей альбом два рази на CD плеєрі - дуже круто. Вже зкачав цифрову версію, щоб записати на iPod.

I still listen to this album

Elektro-Rock mit toller Stimmer. Spannend zu hören 4/5

Dark and moody. Delightful.

"Mysterons" je hud opener. A je to theremin? (Ha, je!) "Sour Times" je tok dobr. Pa "Strangers". "Glory Box" je pa itak ikoničen Ma, cel album je hud, ful chill.

One of my favourite albums of all time. Each song is distinct but fits into the overall dark, mysterious ambience of the album. The sampling and scratching is so nicely done and it’s such a groovy album.

Such a good album

Damn good album. One of those bands I've heard of but never actively listened to. As it turns out, I've absolutely heard "Sour Times". Going to stick this one into active rotation.

Pleasingly dark and bassy. I remember when it came out it didn't do much for me but I enjoyed listening again after all these years.

Very cool album. It's like Bjork and Lorde but without any super good climaxes for my liking. Still a great time

9.7/10

Hab mich sehr darauf gefreut weil ich Glorybox so liebe. War auch cool aber Production ist schrecklich

Twisted

love this

Love this album

Beth's vocals go so well with the atmospheric instrumentals.

It's A Fire still sucks though

Der klagende Gesang kippt hier schnell ins dauerhaft Jaulende, das die Stücke eher ermüdet als vertieft. Die düsteren Beats und das verrauschte Vinyl‑Sampling haben zwar Stil, aber das Album zieht sich – zu monochrom, zu nervig,

Great stuff

Very good album. Highlights in Sour Times and Glory Box, the rest also strong.

Such a densely packed album

NO LO ESCUCHO

this album was pretty sick, kinda haunting. Some songs I loved some not as much, and there were points when I thought they were losing the backbone of the song but then they ended up tying it all together. Not a perfect 5 but pretty good

did not clock that this was the album art for this one what else to say, basically invented trip hop still maybe the best trip hop 💥glory box 💥sour times 💥wandering star 💥roads

Great album that's stayed great with time

Essential to anyone, this album feels so heavy and so tender, her voice will carry you far, but it's an experience that anyone can appreciate. No notes, am excellent record from beginning to end.

Quel chef d'oeuvre. Si je me souviens bien, j'ai écouté l'album pour la première fois après avoir entendu Glory box dans le film "the killer" de david fincher. Et j'ai pris une claque de fou. L'ambiance et la recherche de sonorités à travers l'album sont super prenantes. Le projet est tellement complet et les finitions sont juste parfaites. Même si l'ambiance est homogène, la plage de sons explorée dans l'ensemble du disque est vaste. Ils prennent leurs insprations dans tant de genre différent pour en faire un truc frais et qui leur est propre. Merci pour ce doux nectar. Mon premier 5 1) Roads 2) Glory box 3) Sour Times

C'était génial, vraiment un tempo bien à lui, la musicalité est folle c'était un super moment

Nice lofi vibes but not for me

Really enjoyed this. Dark, broody, ambient lofi beats with suave, echoey vocals floating over the top. Funnily I first heard Gibbons in Kendrick’s Mother I Sober and loved those vocals, so it’s neat to hear her in this context.

I’m not depressed enough to listen to this rn but I’m sure if I was it would be amazing

Just really not it for me… I actually might prefer it without the vocals—which I hate—but then I suspect it would only put me to sleep. :/

Loved every minute! Reminded me of Zero 7. Favorite tracks: Mysterons, Sour Times, It Could Be Sweet, Roads

Bought it when new. Excellent album and excellent band

Quel banger ÉNORME chef d’œuvre ayant défini le trip hop, un de mes albums préférés depuis le collègue et sûrement pour toute ma vie !!! Frissons à It’s a fire, pourquoi elle est pas plus famous… je m’incline

3.5 - revisit

I like the vocals and the production. Consistent throughout the whole album and I will definitely be saving these songs to playlists. 8/10

I loved it. What an experience. It's so ethereal. Surreal. One of the best gems this challenge has gifted me. It's truly great.

Love this, very happy to have this back in my ears!

I come back to this album with regularity enough to recognize that it's good. I just don't go out of my way for it.

Medio emo/depresivo pero funciona como album.

Atmosphere and vibes first kind of album, it strikes this feeling like traveling through a foreign land of abstract horrors and unsettling feelings. Slow pressing instruments with lots of sampling give the music something unique to say at times. Her voice isn't for me, the warbling droning combined with how soft she sings sometimes ends up at odds with the experience although it does complete the over all "Sound" they are going for. Might be an album that grows on me over time.

trip-hop är alltid skoj!

Correcto

Dark vibes

Mixed on this one. I didn't vibe with it at first, but as it went on the more I listened the more I kinda "got it." Still not totally sure how I feel about it overall though.

Incredible and groundbreaking. Hard for me to describe this music but it’s atmospheric, haunting, beautiful, and classic.

Ok a little sinister. Evil villain music I think. I think if I was evil I would make my henchmen follow me around and play this everywhere I go to set the tone. Less sinister and a whole lot funkier now. I do really like this. It's fun and a very weird. This woman has the perfect voice for this music. OK what. Wait it's this song?? This was sampled by snoh allegra or whatever her name is. I like this. Favourite: Wandering Star/Glory Box Least favourite: Pedestal

A record id heard once before and liked. In the beginning I was not quite as in it, but it really picked up for me at the end. Felt like it was getting more varied.

already did

Ahead of its time.

Not as interesting as I remember. Lyrically and (potentially) stylistically dubious.

Yes, one of the important albums of the 90's for me. 5/5

I had no clue who this band was, but really really enjoyed the album. Easy 4 star.

This is nothing I can find myself enjoying regardless of the circumstances. Nothing offensive to the ears, but also nothing very enjoyable. Felt like I was hearing the same song over and over. Not for me. 2

3.5 Man, I’ve been really struggling with rating this one. I know this album is highly, HIGHLY regarded by music fans and critics alike, to the point where it stands tall even amongst a list like this, and from an objective point of view, I can see why - as far as downtempo music goes, this is probably about as good as it gets. Each song feels uniquely its own, the production is atmospherically airtight, Beth Gibbons’ vocals are soothingly etherreal… and yet I just can’t say this left a lasting impression on me. In fact, as of this writing, I’m currently returning to my review game after about a month-long travel break, and despite giving this numerous listens in that time to try and stay up-to-speed, I’m still having trouble trying to think back on any particular song or moment. Wandering Star may have been a favorite? I know that’s not necessarily the point of an album, sometimes (or perhaps even oftentimes) the whole is intended to be greater than the sum of its parts, regardless, I just can’t say this had any kind of significant impact on me nor did I find myself scrambling to re-listen. However, whenever I DID find myself putting this on as a sort of refresher, I can’t say it was a bad time, either. It normally bugs me when people try to rate something objectively because, well, I know how others feel about it, how do YOU feel about it? But, I can’t help but shake the feeling that this is a good album - it’s just not a remarkable one, at least for me. It’s sort of like having a snack offered to you that makes you think, “Oh, that’s tasty”, but you never feel the compulsion to actually go pick some up for yourself. So, yeah, for all the back-and-forth and admitted overthinking I had with this one, I think a 3.5 is fair. I promise, I REALLY try to be an open-minded music fan and amateur critic, but I’m not going to lie about biases I have either - I’ll leave that to the pros.

Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Stinklangweilig.

Portishead — Dummy (1994) Как ни странно, но Портишхэд — одна из первых групп, с которой я осознанно познакомился благодаря моему дяде психонавту-меломану. В детстве она звучала, как нечто из другого мира — тёмного, непонятного, но влекущего своей "взрослостью" и "нетаковостью". В сознательном же возрасте мрак, передаваемый их томным виниловым звуком, ощущается более понятно и многослойно, колебля засевшие глубоко нотки неизбежного одиночества и ностальгии по временам, которых, может быть, и никогда не было. Одни из бристольской тройки (куда входили так же Massive Attack и Tricky), основавшей в начале девяностых на туманном Альбионе новый жанр на стыке джаза, хип-хопа и "интеллектуальной" электроники — трип-хоп, Портиши до сих пор звучат одновременно свежо и по-хорошему вне времени. На альбоме переплетаются кинематографичные зарисовки с шпионскими мотивами в духе Бондианы (Sour Times и Glory Box) с церковным электронным органом, подыгрывающим оркестровым партиям в духе раннего Moby (It's A Fire), и тёмные бэнгеры, наполненные то ли звуками реверберированных и заскрэтченных телефонных гудков приснившихся в лихорадочном сне звонков, то ли сонару подлодки (Biscuit и Strangers), а поверх всего этого звукового многообразия тёплым одеялом лежит ангельский голос Бет Гиббонс. Твердейшая 9/10, нестареющий альбом, опередивший своё время.

Like nothing I’d heard before when I first heard it. It’s very late night, moody, and reflective. For chilling with good friends. Which is exactly what we did. Still revisit it from time to time.

I love albums with unique, consistent sounds like this. The whole thing just sounds so cool. The beats are really solid and the dreamy vocals fit over them perfectly.

May 23rd, 2026 Electronic, moody, mysterious Stand out songs: Numb, Glory Box

Listen this on a cloudy day. 10/10

4/5

Ég vil þakka Café au lait í Hafnarstræti fyrir að kynna mig fyrir þessari frábæru plötu og spila fyrir mig endalaust. Ég fékk aldrei leið og hún eldist svona líka vel. Stórkostleg.

One of my favorite albums. Feels like being alone in the night. Never realized it was categorized as trip-hop

Great trip hop album, never heard of it before, sounds pretty dope

Pegada alternativa, mais "chill", mas com um background emocional mais tristonho, como ouvi no trabalho não tive tanta capacidade de prestar taaanta atenção nos arranjos/composição.

Classy classic.

Trippy and hoppy. Melodisch teilweise bisschen anstrengend und puts me in a strange mood Favs: it could be sweet, roads, Glory Box

Trip hop masterpiece. I've always resonated more with this album than any others in the trip hop pantheon like mezzanine, I think something about Beth's voice paired with the slightly grimy, minimal beats just puts it over the top. Easy 5

Sublime

Muy interesante!!! Me molestó el falsete en una canción y la verdad que es un género que me incomodo un poco, por eso bajo un punto... Pero para seguir explorando.

I knew I'd heard of Portishead before, but wasn't super familiar with them. When I pulled the album up on Spotify, I saw that I already had "Sour Times" saved to my favorites, so clearly I had heard it before. That song was their biggest U.S. hit and I think it was probably a staple on alternative radio at a time when I listened to alternative radio non-stop. I love Portishead's sound. The music on this album seems like it should be a soundtrack to a television show like "Twin Peaks" or "The X-Files". Very melancholy, with a cool almost spooky vibe. Definitely music that would be played in the background at a hip coffeehouse. No complaints on this one!

not my normal genre/style - definitely nice to listen to however not my cup of tea

Vaya bazofia. No hay pir donde cogerlo

#132/1001 🇬🇧 I bought this the week that it was released on cassette tape and listened to it on my walkman on repeat. Its a record that has stuck with me ever since. My abiding memory is visting Portishead (the town) a year or so later, driving down the main street in the pouring rain with this as the soundtrack and thinking "well, its not as good as the music". My best friend lives there now and i wouldnt dream of doing it, in fact I've never even heard them played in the shops or bars. No blue plaques or statues even. Back to the music, its a cinematic blend of sampled beats, strings, killer vocals and some theremin. For me the second side of the record is where things get darker and in my eyes better. Best Tracks: Roads, Numb, Pedstal, Wandering Star, Sour Times, Glory Box

Gave me a reason to love trip hop.

‘Glory Box’ is a very good song and was the only Portishead song I’d ever heard before yesterday. Electronica, hip-hop, and folk(?) combine for quite the interesting listen. Was not a big fan of the vocal stylings of the lead singer, a bit too much of the “breathless whisper” style that I hate, but the music behind it was fresh and creative, so a bit of a conflict for me. A couple songs weren’t very good, but overall pretty solid. I’ll give it a high 3/5, the singing detracted too much for me to give it a 4.

Hell yeah! Beth Gibbons, Adrian Utley, and Goeff Barrow are a team of a lifetime. They compliment each other so well. This album defined a genre.

My first daily album! I'm already so excited about this, as I'd never even heard of the trip hop genre and would probably have never discovered this album on my own. I don't know much about music criticism or theory, but it felt really solid and relaxing, maybe a bit too monotonous for my taste in some parts (but maybe that's the point?). Probably something I'd have in the background instead of listening actively. Glory box I'd heard before, and for a reason, it's the standout for me. Really good vibes all around.

Nah

SO GOOD

I was exactly the right age for this album when it came out, and I even live near Portishead and it was *everywhere*. Playing in every party, every bar, mentioned in every conversation. And it is a very good record with a totally unique sound, somehow hollow and lush all at once from the mix of sampling and live playing. But I could never quite get on board with the absolute adoration it inspired. Some of the tracks sound like they're just about to kick it up a gear and go hard, but then don't. Some of the tracks lean too hard on lounge jazz for inspiration. The remainder are, indeed, brilliant, but there's just a bit too much suspect material for top marks.

Pretty sleepy time, but still good

First album, different from what I’m used to fs,the beats and voice is like a bit creepy and mysterious, it feels like a bit thriller like at least 3 songs in. This girls voice is really good. It’s extremely dreamy but in a night dreamy way. Veryy experimental. Best way to truly explain is it feels like a soundtrack from a thriller eerie spy movie, a dark one. Each song kind of sounds similar though but it’s still pretty enjoyable, I think this will sound amazing high.

I believe that the music, the instrumental aspect of the album had so much potential, if there would have been a grungier male singer instead. But didn’t really enjoy this.

Showed hints of the vibe I wanted it to have, but never quite got there. It's an interesting combo between electronic music and vocals. Just not quite for me I guess.

One of my all time favorites.

This was a surprise. I was familiar with Track 2 but little else. On first listen while doing my morning workout I concluded it deserved a 4. On subsequent listens throughout the day it felt more like a 3. I’ll leave it a 4 to encourage future visits. 4/5

i was really into trip hop in the mid/late 00s so i'm not really sure how i never listened to portishead but better late than never i guess yeah this one's good. its a real slow, spooky, sexy sound. my favourites are "it's a fire" and "numb", the latter of which really does make me wish we'd rolled this in october or somethin cos that's a halloween type beat. but really the whole back half is great. the first half.... idk it kinda faded into the background a bit for me. good, but not gripping. when the electric organ gets thrown in the mix midway thru the album..... thats when shit becomes real for me. overall pretty solid. i'll definitely give this another listen. although having said that, i'm on my third round of this already.....

First off, the vocals from Beth Gibbons heavily sets the mood for the whole album. She leaves a soft to high, almost sudden but smooth, tragic balance that fits SOOOOOOO WEEEEEELLLLLLL into every track. Without her vocals guiding me through songs like Sour Times and Strangers (my favourites) I'd imagine I wouldn't be as engrossed into tracks as I ended up being. Top notch stuff. I wish I knew more terminology or recognition of the instrumentals. I mentioned before Gibbon's vocals guiding me through the tracks; the tracks themselves, to me, set the *world* or setting for the Gibbon's vocals to hold your hands through. Like with Suede I was on my toes and continually engaged. I'd give that *feeling* maybe an 6/10. Dummy is a 11/10. Always reshaping. Always diving in deeper then suddenly reemerging. Again, wish I knew more terms to describe ***exactly what the instrumentals are doing *for me*. All in all, Dummy felt Blue and heavy with atmosphere with tragedy lingering in the air. its cracked bro G :) T3: Strangers, Sour Times, Biscuit (Glory Box is a very close 4)

It's just hypnotic

This band is new to me. Chill, mellow vibes. Would be good with shrooms or an indica

throwback...nice low jam feel.

i've tried to listen to this before and wasn't terribly impressed, but that was a few years ago so let's give it another shot. not doing play-by-play here, but overall good enough. i heard about it in the context of background music for ... certain extracurricular activities. and it certainly has potential there. first half of the album was stronger than the second, i thought. sour times stood out for sure. second half seemed less original and more cliche electronica? i really have no idea what these words mean, but that's how i would describe it. oh lol reading the reviews it looks like glory box is a fan favorite track; i thought it was a meh song. edit: look when you listen to an album three more times in the following day and a half, you have to go edit the rating. originally given a 4/5, raised to 5/5.

Relaxing, peaceful vibe to sonk into although some songs felt a bit boring. Not really my genre 2/5

Yeah not too bad - I'd listen to it again

I have never heard of the band before. About 2/3 of the songs were great to listen to.

Just not my style

i really like the cover

Pretty chilled but nothing special, nice background music. 2.5/5

Ok this is a much better for myself. I enjoy the Tobe of the album and the dark and broody feel connects really well. 'Third' was what I had previously and that just did nothing for me. But this had me tapping my foot yo the beat and the songs felt varied and experimental but still had a strong sense of self that didn't loose focus at any point. The bond sounding elements work really well and it's definitely a unique record overall. This really surprised me ngl. Fav Track: Sour Times

This rules! I never knew.

AMAZING

A legendary album. Truly special. Very mean of this website to put this after Leftism by Leftfield. We're still trying to uncover the magic of this record, imo.

Now this album i listened to a lot whenit came out. I was concerned it was an album of its time and time would leave it exposed. Nope. Good album. With the brit music of the time sounding samish, this was a standout at the time. It also blends styles sooooo well without being cornty, creating something new. Tough to blend 60’s/70s cinematic, hip hop, etc. Bravo.

Love it. Their sound is so evocative and alluring. The quality and thoughtfulness of the production stand out. A 4.

3 songs in, I don't get it. Very much a sign of the 90s, a bunch of weird homemade beats using "unconventional" instruments, vocals put me to sleep. Seems like it would be a soundtrack to an indie movie or something very slow paced. 6 songs in, still don't get it, the songs all seem too long, an extra 30 seconds of just listening to the beat even though the beats are mid at best. You almost had me on the song "Roads" it had a little more weight to it, then to turn around and put me back to sleep with the next track. None of the songs really stand out, they all kind of sound the same. End of album finish is fine, but overall just not my thing, probably not something I will return to.

I like this much more than the other Portishead album on here. It's a beautiful album with this sort of haunting atmosphere to it. None of the sounds sound like any real conventional instrument or sound. Singing is a bit sparse and leaves room for the music to breathe. It's a really unique album in how it does things and it's executed really well.

4/5 Favorite Songs: Mysterons Sour Times Numb Glory Box

You have to be in the mood for this but if you are it’s a relaxing listen. Downbeat. Not really my thing but I can tell it’s quality.

I would rather listen to the original music they sampled...

Atmostpheric, moody, interesting. Bit samey throughout.

Não é para mim. Não sei onde uma música termina e a outra começa.

So good I played it twice in a row. A big part of the soundtrack of my formative years.

If Massive Attack, Air and Mazzy Star had a depressed baby. Great tracks, amazing vocals, pure mood and vibe. Awesome. 4.6

It's an interesting listen but not really my thing. Glory box is really good though.

like the sound is really cool but I hate listening to it 2/5

Some of the songs were good and some were just ok.

Un álbum sencillamente esencial para la historia de la música. El Trip-Hop que proponen los británicos guiados por la voz de Gibbons es hipnótico, atmosférico y eficaz al momento de dejarte atrapado y con ganas de más. La influencia de este LP es inconmensurable, habiendo aportado a toda la música alternativo que le siguió (siendo indispensable, por ejemplo, al sonido del disco inicial de Gorillaz, banda sumamente influyente en el pop). Pistas recomendadas TODAS

a little slow at times but amazing voice, cool calm and eerie vibe throughout the album. my favorite song is biscuit.

I knew of the name Portishead but had no active memory of what it was or sounded like. A friend told me to listen to it with proper headphones and just let it happen and so I did. at first i had to get used to the combination of sweet smooth vocals combined with the technical sounds but the getting further into the album I noticed myself understanding it more and more. And then came Glory Box. A song that i immediately recognized and tied everything together. In the end a very good album that had highs and lows and I feel happy to have a couple songs in my rotation now.

A lot of it felt the same but it has a nice grungy and edgy feel. The stand out songs for me were mysterons, strangers, it could be sweet and glory box.

Buen album, Glory box temón, pero no se si volvería a escuahr toodo el albúm porque no es mi estilo tanto. Sólido 3 estrellas.

beautiful gorgeous sickening stunning amazing feminine album god i love this album it embodies being a woman to me

Mellow. Not what I was expecting but then again, what was I expecting? I guess I was expecting to like it. On paper it sounds great...in my ears on the other hand... I really don't like the vocals. This voice reminds me of a friend I had who would whine about every tiny little thing. Rain on the road? "ooohhhhh oooo ohhhh". Bit of dirt on her dress? "ooohhhhh oooo ohhhh". It was this high pitched, warbling moan. And it grated on my nerves. So this vocalist is not making me feel warm and fuzzy. Otherwise, I found the album completely forgettable. What a bummer. I wanted to like it.

ughhhh makes me ugly cry every time [complementary]

Ich wusste nicht auf was ich mich einlasse, aber war eig positiv überrascht. zudem find ich die sounds sehr originell! lieblingssongs sour times strangers its a fire it could be sweet maybe roads hab mich noch nicht entschieden glory box

Richtig cooler vibe. Ich muss mit dem Album noch warm werden aber es hat auf jeden Fall Potential eine 5/5 zu werden.

I already had some of the songs on this album, so I knew a little bit of what to expect. I didn't like every song, but I do like the way the album sounds on the general level.

Very cool, but some songs were a bit sameish

No notes

Len Houmous was once recognised as The Mayor of Bristol for 3 hours 4.3 2/11 Sour Times

vaag, wel lekker rustig

easiest five strars of the list so far, one of my fav albums of all time i feel like all i can say about this is an understatement, it is an exploration of a unique sound that manages to stand out from its contemporaries; dark, emotional, and genuinely mind blowing eternally grateful for these almost spiritual exporiences and for the change of perspective they represent, this list is partly a consequence of that

This is such a good spin on the jazz-club music, its slowed, provacative, and good, above all else.

I really like this eerie physcodelic jazz album

"Uffff" fue lo primero que me salió del alma al ver que éste era el disco de hoy. Me recuerda a una amiga, compañera de andanzas y de consumo, ahora ya más rescatada y a nuestros viajes cuando cursábamos en la facultad. También, a una ex, con nuestro sexo siempre musicalizado por esta banda y otras del género. Quizás el trip-hop tenga ambas cosas: quedarse tirado en un sillón a oscuras o con poca luz o estar en una habitación de a dos, comiéndose como si no hubiera un mañana. Un disco exquisito y hermoso. Gracias y hasta mañana

Me gustó, amo la voz de la chica 🛐. Tal vez no es tanto de lo q escucho, pero igual me encantó, me motiva a experimentar más estilos. ♡

Great album! Kinda spooky and funky, and most importantly it feels authentic.

Fantastic listen, deep vocals, very good.

Fantastic album. Chill, deep, no skippable tracks. Just a great album overall.

I didn’t discover this album until much later. But once I did, I thought it was fantastic and became a fan of the band. Together with the album Portishead, it served as the soundtrack to a novel/story by Norman Mailer that made a huge impression on me at the time. For quite a while, the music and the novel were very closely linked in my mind. A great album that I actually don’t need to listen to anymore, since I know it by heart. I listen to it anyway, because you can never get enough of good music. 5/5

I still don't know what's the hype about at all... I like bass line in one song, which I thing that's even not on the original track listing...

Not sure what was going on here

Brilliant album. Really ambient and atmospheric. Love the singers voice and trippy backing and beats

Weird, strange in an "I like it" way.

1-2

Booooring

Sounds a bit of it’s time so deducting a point for that. Glory box is one of the best songs of the 90s and unlike almost anything else (of the time or on this record). Loved this record at the time and still do.