Dummy

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.

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.

This list is the first time I’ve listened to this much of this type of music. I’ve never understood what‘s appealing about it. It seems to be largely about the atmosphere, but I know way more atmospheric albums that aren’t so spacey and boring. Like the other Portishead album on the list, Beth Gibbons is the highlight. 2/5

Couldn't tell ya why but this hit perfectly. What an album.

This album is fuckin' cool.

Wat een fantastisch album zeg

Dit is gewoon echt iconisch. Sicke sound die niet zo nagemaakt is

Ik kan niks bedenken dat zo klinkt als dit. Een pareltje van een album

Misschien mijn favoriet op deze lijst tot nu toe. Dummy is zo uniek. Er is niets wat klinkt als Dummy en er is weinig wat zo goed klinkt als Dummy. Onwerkelijk album.

trip top love. I listened to this before.

The production on this album goes so hard for no reason. The vocals feel so out of place. All of these songs sound like they would be in a weird dystopian tv show or something. I don’t know what mood to be in to listen to this but I did enjoy the experience of the album.

Man do I love this album - if I could give more than 5 stars, I would.

One of my all-time favourite albums. A unique blend of electronic soul, jazz, and breaks. Smooth, sultry, and delicious. I never tire of this album.

Hauntingly well produced. Has a very rich yet minimalist sound. Weird and experimental, yet still quite pleasant to listen to. A very nice surprise. 4/5.

good instrumentals and prduction, unfortunatley really poor vocals.

okk

Outstanding production, interesting sound, well worth a listen

Not many albums come along that completely redefine an already existing genre, but Portishead's Dummy is definitely one of them. Trip-Hop had been going on for a couple of years in 1994, but back then its Hip-Hop influence was more pronounced, with actual rapping being a prominent feature. Enter Portishead, and that whole idea went out the window. Moodier and darker than their peers, influenced by film noir soundtracks and 60's jazz and soul, the only real trace of Hip-Hop is in its characteristic slowed-down breakbeats, and but the biggest different is of course the vocals. Beth Gibbons' doomed femme fatale delivery truly evokes the smokey bar singer from film noir, balancing vulnerability and strength like no other. The trio wastes no time introducing the listener to their sound. "Mysterons" opens the record in a dreamlike fashion, an eerie but enticing dream, while "Sour Times" follows and serves as the album's spy-music manifesto. From then on, a consistently dark mood is mantained that never becomes dull or overstays its welcome. Record scratches and sampling abound. The various vocals samples feel like calls from a different plain, contributing to the album's overall dreamy quality, like the "I'll never fall in love again"'s on "Biscuit". We also get softer moments in "It Could Be Sweet" or "It's a Fire" weaved with darker ones like "Strangers" and its gut-punch beat. The closer "Glory Box", with its iconic Isaac Hayes sample, fades in and out as a final dream sequence just before morning. Suffice to say, plenty of imitators tried to jump on the success of this album and I'd say pretty much all of them missed what made it special in the first place. A lot of them mostly stuck with overlaying Trip-Hop beats with coffee shop pop soul and called it a day. There were some good ones, sure, but it felt more like a pastische of 60's lounge and easy listening rather than anything new and exciting. Portishead themselves could have been incredibly successful doing just that too, but after their 1997 self-titled follow-up, which expanded on the debut's sound, they disappeared only to re-emerge 11 years later with a much different and challanging sound. I have a deep personal attachment to this album. My parents got very into Trip-Hop in the 90's when I was a kid, and this album was played a lot at the time. I can still picture our backyard in my head whenever the opening chords of the album's centerpiece "Roads" come on. It's all very nostalgic to me. And no matter how many times I heard it, the effect still remains. I simply cannot overstate how important and influential this album was to my music taste and love of music in general. Key tracks: Mysterons Sour Times Strangers Wandering Star It's a Fire Numb Roads Biscuit Glory Box

3*

This album felt as though it was lacking overall. Some songs were great, while most were either missing a little something, or were just bad. The singer has a beautiful voice, but on some songs, I kept waiting for her to really give us something, and she never did. This was the same feeling for some of the music on some of the tracks.. Again, just missing something. I do feel like a hear vibes/samples from current day music that were more than likely inspired by this album. I would say overall I give this album a 3. I wouldn't listen to the entire album again, but possibly a few of the tracks.

I fuckin love this album, somehow it's both seductive and slightly unsettling or menacing at the same time. A trip hop noir masterclass. To me it just works perfectly with Beth Gibbon's beautiful sparse vocals, scratches and samples from Geoff Barrow and minimalist guitar from Adrian Utley. They really captured something special with this album, which their other albums didn't quite reach. 5 stars !

7/10 - caught me by surprise, a very good album, soft electronic mixed with indie vocals

cool cool cool

Make out music from senior year. Good times.

this was very meh but also i had a headache all day so i appreciate that this one was very chill

Something I wouldn’t regularly listen to, but Portishead certainly has a downbeat vibe that I can kind of groove with

*1994. *I liked this better than the other Portishead album, but still not my favorite style. RATING - 6.5/10

Don't love it, don't hate it. I can see what they were going for but it's not for me. Made me sleepy.

Great album to work to. Cool beats, very ambient and a little weird. I found myself marveling at how each song was pieced together, sampling is such an art and takes so much time. This collection of samples and vocals was cool as hell. Favorite tracks: Strangers Glory Box

Give Me A Reason To Love You 1001 Albums Generator 273 (4/20/2026) Dummy is the debut album by trip hop group Portishead, and it is a fantastic album. On previous listen, I had given this a 4/5, but these listens allowed me to really appreciate the atmosphere that Portishead were able to create here. Every song is washed out in this reverb and there are constantly filters and it just kind of ends up sounding like alien music. I never really appreciated how psychedelic this album is, especially the cool organ sounds that are on plenty of the songs. And while this album is the most essential trip hop album of all time, there are also hints of turntablism, jazz and rock throughout. The only song I don't really like is It Could Be Sweet. The song lengths also tend to be long but I don't think that it harms the album as a whole, although it could make it feel like it drags a bit. 4.5/5, rounded up to a 5! Favs: Mysterons Roads Glory Box Least Fav: It Could Be Sweet

This is a good album. Catchy, simple and sophisticated in terms of rhythm and sound design, lyricism and emotional impact. Loved it in fact.

Portishead always no notes… the live from rosewood is one of my fave vinyls that I own

Mysterons - holy guacamole i love the instrumental, the vocals err a little too far on the side of doomer/gloomer music for me, but great sounds overall. Sour Times - more yummy ear tinglers "nobody loves me, it's true, not like you do". Strangers - very buzzy, saw synthy at start, calms down ~30 secs in; comes back in @ ~1:15, love the beeping mm. It Could Be Sweet - bouncy stuff in the bakground is sexc. Wandering Star - scratches back n forth are hot, starting to appreciate it more as a production album than an album w crazy vocals (not that vocalist isn't talented, she mosdef is) or lyrics. It's a Fire - delicious organs (s?) in the back, pretty song Numb - okay now i wanna listen to something else but i think that might just be my brain, this song was still more than listenable. Roads - dramatic / climatic / ending sorta music. Pedestal - Likely much better on a second listen, still immaculate production, it's just starting to feel like an analysis assignment. Biscuit - this one woke me back up, we're so back; also just thinking about how "dummy" is such a good title. Glory Box - mmm. overall a very good album, excels in production quality and experimentation imo.

Pretty fantastic production and concept, felt that all sounded similar.

me gusta la electronica ahora

Do you want to have some serious sexual memories? Go for it, Dummy, Biscuit and Roads are very good for this. Otherwise, it's a really meh album

好みではない。好みではないが、特異な作品であることは分かる。平面的で古く色褪せたような音響空間だ。かなり丁寧に設計されていることが伺える。ただ、あまり私の好みの演出の方向性ではないんだろうな。平面的で単調なのが。 解説↓ おそらく **Portishead の『Dummy』** のことですね。 これは単に「名盤です」で済む作品ではなく、**1990年前後の英国クラブ文化、ブリストルの都市的な混成感覚、ヒップホップ的なサンプリング美学、そして“歌もの”としての陰鬱な感情表現**が、一つの臨界点で結晶したアルバムです。1994年8月22日に発売され、翌1995年には Mercury Prize を受賞しました。のちに「trip-hop」を代表する作品として扱われるようになります。 ([ウィキペディア][1]) 音楽史の流れで見ると、まず前提にあるのは **1980年代末から1990年代初頭の英国クラブ文化の変質** です。ダンス・ミュージックは本来フロアで身体を動かすためのものですが、Massive Attack などブリストル勢は、そこから速度を落とし、ダブ、ソウル、ヒップホップ、レゲエの感覚を混ぜて、「踊るため」よりむしろ「浸るため」の音楽を作り始めました。Britannica も trip-hop を、こうした遅いテンポとブリストル文脈の中で説明しており、1994年から95年にかけて Tricky と Portishead によってこの語が広く定着したと述べています。 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][2]) その中で『Dummy』が特別なのは、**Massive Attack 的な“ダウンテンポ化したクラブ音楽”を引き継ぎながら、そこへ映画音楽的な演出と、極端に私的で冷えた感情を持ち込んだ**ことです。Geoff Barrow は Massive Attack 周辺で制作経験を積んでおり、その系譜は明白ですが、『Dummy』は単なる派生ではありません。Pitchfork が指摘するように、この作品はスパイ映画ふうのギター、古いサウンドトラックの気配、スクラッチやブレイクビーツ、そして Beth Gibbons の声を、既存ジャンルへの忠誠ではなく**ひとつの“ムード”への忠誠**として統合しています。 ([Pitchfork][3]) ここで重要なのは、『Dummy』がしばしば「サンプルをうまく使った退廃的エレクトロ」みたいに雑に理解されがちなのに対し、実際には **“サンプルっぽく聞こえるものまで自作してから再サンプリングする”** という、かなりねじれた方法論を取っていたことです。Pitchfork によれば、Barrow と Adrian Utley はスタジオで60年代風の素材を自分たちで作り、それを24トラックに録音し、さらにサンプラーやダブプレート経由で加工していました。つまり『Dummy』は、過去のレコードを引用するだけの作品ではなく、**「記憶の中の過去」を人工的に捏造したアルバム**です。ここが、後続の模倣作と本作を分ける大きな境目です。 ([Pitchfork][3]) 音楽史的にもう一段掘ると、『Dummy』は **ヒップホップの技法を、ラップ中心ではなく“音色と空気の作曲法”として転用した** 作品でもあります。ヒップホップ由来のブレイクビート、スクラッチ、ループは入っているのに、前面に出るのはMCではなく、Beth Gibbons のひび割れたような歌声です。Britannica は Portishead を、ドラムループやサンプルと cabaret-style vocals を融合させたグループとして説明していますが、まさにこの点が重要です。黒人音楽由来のビート感覚と、白人的・英国的な退廃、さらにジャズや映画音楽の陰影が接続されたことで、『Dummy』はクラブとロックのあいだに橋を架けました。 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][4]) だからこの作品は、単に trip-hop の代表作というだけでなく、**「ダンス音楽は享楽的であるべき」「ロックは生演奏中心であるべき」「ポップは感情を直接表出すべき」といった1990年代当時のジャンル観をずらした** のです。『Dummy』の成功によって、ダンス寄りの制作手法でもオルタナティヴ・ロックの聴衆に届くこと、逆に“歌もの”でもクラブ文脈から語れることがはっきり示されました。Britannica は、本作のレトロな音と憂鬱な歌詞が、従来ダンス音楽を敬遠していたアダルトなオルタナ層にも訴求したと述べています。 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][4]) その影響は二重です。第一に、**trip-hop を世界的な語彙にした**こと。第二に、もっと広く、**1990年代後半以降の「暗くて遅くて映画的なポップ／エレクトロニカ」全般の感性を整えた**ことです。実際、Pitchfork は『Dummy』以後に Lamb, Morcheeba, Sneaker Pimps など多くの追随者が出たと書いています。ただし彼らの多くは表面的な“おしゃれな陰気さ”を継承しただけで、『Dummy』の核心である空白、緊張、空気の設計までは掴めなかった、という評価です。これはかなり本質を突いています。『Dummy』の本当の革新は、音そのもの以上に、**音と音のあいだの不穏な間（ま）** にあるからです。 ([Pitchfork][3]) 要するに音楽史の中で『Dummy』は、 **Massive Attack の開いた道を継ぎつつ、ヒップホップの技法・映画音楽の陰影・ロック的内省を融合し、trip-hop を“地域的なブリストルの気分”から“国際的な美学”へ押し上げたアルバム** として位置づけるのがいちばん正確です。言い換えるとこれは、1990年代の「クラブ以後」の感性を代表する作品です。踊りの熱が冷えたあとに残る、煙、夜気、孤独、その全部を音楽の形式にしてしまった。『Dummy』はそこに立っています。 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][2]) 続けて、次は **「Blue Lines → Dummy → Maxinquaye の系譜比較」** として解説することもできます。 [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dummy_%28album%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Dummy (album)" [2]: https://www.britannica.com/art/trip-hop "Trip-hop | Origins, Genre & Artists | Britannica" [3]: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23079-dummy "Portishead: Dummy Album Review | Pitchfork" [4]: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Portishead-British-music-group "Portishead | Members, Songs, & Facts | Britannica"

My numbered ranking alongside my opinion and overall comments 1. Mysterons (10/10) - Whenever I am grading tracks on my own, I tend do be more lenient with opening tracks, but that was absolutely unnecessary with this song. It's really moody, mysterious, but also slightly groove. It sets the tone and the ambiance that the rest of the record has perfectly, making it flawless at accomplishing it's purpose as a opening track. 2. Sour Times (10/10) - I love this. Sooo grovy, noir, mysterious, wounderous. It tickles my brain in all the right places, and has a sonorous landscape trully amazing. The guitar plucks accompanied by the drums are my favorite part. 3. Strangers (9/10) - It's pretty good, ngl. I Love that unlike the previous two, this one works and plays a lot more with silence, creating those moments where the melody is stripped and you immediatly know it's going to resume right after. My only problem is the choice for a muffled voice in the start. Dunno why, it just doesn't stick right for me I guess, but it's still a good track. 4. It Could be Sweet (10/10) - I Love it. It sounds like a mix between a song you could easily find in the Persona OST and one of the more chill songs from a Sonic Racing game from the PS2 (or the PS2 in general). Do you get what I'm saying? Idk. It has a specific kind of jam to it, but it is also really chill, and has that synth/celesta playing as the main strument. *Mwa*, chef's kiss. 5. Wandering Star (10/10) - I almost gave it a 9, but I honestly liked the melody a lot. I sadly can't find anything in particular that I really **really** liked, but I also don't dislike it. It is a track that you would expect to find in a record like this, and a good one to listen to while doing something else. 6. It's a fire (9/10) - I like the organ pipe and the strings in this. Myh problem is with the vocals. I dunno why, but i half expected it to be a little bit higher, and for it to accompany the pipe organ more. I still like it, still couldn't sing half as good, but it's also itchy. It also almost sounds like a gospel song. 7. Numb (9/10) - Good. This is the kind of vocals that I anticipated in the last song, and it is execute flawlesly. There's somethings I don't like that much, but it's still a good song in the context of the record, although I wouldn't listen to it on it's own. 8. Roads. 9. Pedestal 10. Biscuit. 11. Glory box

Loved this one. Great voice. Will revisit!

portishead good!!!! great angsty aqua vibes haha

Very moody, evocative of spy movies or mysterious cafes with women dressed all in black.

glory box la había escuchado por tiktok pero no tenia idea que venia en este álbum, es la primera vez que escucho esta banda y me gustaron como 6 canciones de este álbum. No es mi favorito porque no soy muy fan de este genero pero me sorprendio que hubieran canciones que me gustaran, asi que la calificación de este album es media, como un 5/10 :)

widac juz po okladce ze to lynczowskie ale nie sadzilam ze mi sie tak spodoba mega fajne

lover with questionable intentions, pack of cigarettes and this album

amazing

me senti en una peli de terror aveces. me encanto, me parecio un poco una obra de arte

Lots of these in the USA these days.

I feel like this is a fantastic album for a very very specific mood, but it’s too thin to have listening to it be your only activity. Unfortunately makes me think of the nonzero number of weird sexual encounters it has probably scored too

pretty fun vibes! I liked the instrumental ones a lot, and it was a cool exploration of something outside my usual listening.

que álbum increíblemente cool y hot

Not bad, actually. Vocals save it.

Solid album, a lot of fun sounds on this one but nothing that stood out

It's not ass. In fact, it's one of the best, most moody albums of the 90s. Not quite perfect, but not far off.

It’s super unique and a product of its time. Unfortunately it’s just not for me.

This album has always received critical acclaim, but I never understood why. Granted, I hadn't listened to the entire album before today. Midway through listening, and I now see why this is considered a standard of trip hop. Everything is just...smooth and mysterious? The sultry, yet tender vocals from Beth Gibbons set a mood that is only enhanced by the crafty production and creative sampling. The piano/organ presence was noteworthy too. This particular album definitely seems like a good gateway into trip hop for those who are hesitant or unsure.

Wooooow top

This album sounds like an indie singer-songwriter performing over a 90's hip hop beat. The drum and bass seemed more atmospheric than groovy, and that atmosphere was like a jazz club in a dark alleyway.

Never understood the big deal about this one. Always found "Sour Times" annoying CAUSE NOBODY LOVES MEEEEEEE... Plus, I found the singer's voice very inconsistent. A few songs it was sweet and mellow. Other songs it sounded sharp and grating CAUSE NOBODY LOVES MEEEEEEEE. Felt a very Bjork-esque vibe, which probably is foreshadowing if any Bjork albums show up on this list.

Interesting. Brings out a unique sound. This album has great vocals and beats. The only negative is I’m not sure when to play this type of music or what emotion it provokes.

It was alright, some songs are amazing

Oh Portishead... Pure sophistication, one of the formative albums of my life

Boring, fine?

It is never a bad day when you get to listen to Dummy. This is, I imagine for many, what Trip Hop sounds like. It's really a meeting of the minds… the two hardest bits of this to get right is the right mood on the loops and the right voice. Some go a bit too electro or dance, some vocals are too smooth or emotionless. But every groove here is downbeat and sultry, and Beth Gibbons’ voice wraps around every word, aching, vulnerable, but also chameleonic. That isnt a word, is it? You get it tho. So while those backbeats are necessary, it's Beth who carries this. Think about Glory Box, with its guitar and its vintage crackle and its cinematic swells… a lot of this feels cinematic, not the least of which because Gibbons is a master at the pregnant pause. She lets words just hang (the hook from Sour Times is probably as indicative of this as anything). It's intentional in a way that a lot of similar genres and bands aren't… not just made to get a club moving but to make a piece of art. And while it probably does not hold up as well as it could, i cannot imagine giving it less than 5*. If you aren't feeling something on Roads, do you feel?

A really, really, really good album. Melancholic and beautiful.

Better than Coldplay

8.5/10

Tiene mucho tiempo que no los he escuchado, creo es la oportunidad perfecta para regresar y escucharlos. Aunque creo que no es un disco para mi, no soy el mayor fan de su voz, siento las canciones repetitivas. Ya recordé porqué no los escuchaba más.

In my opinion a legitimately perfect album. Beth’s voice is delicate and eerie. Dummy is dramatic and dirty and nostalgic all at the same time and in the best way possible. The theramin is also an amazing addition - all of the instrumentation is intriguing, and the lyrics are haunting and beautiful. I love trip hop and portishead, especially on dummy, pioneered it. This album is definitively a five. Fav songs: sour times, strangers, it could be sweet, wandering star, roads

Un grupo esencial de los 90, con un retorno igualmente especial (Thrid) y una cantante (Beth Gibbons) única. Yo prefiero el segundo, pero este fue todo un bofetón sónico que torció las orejas desde Madchester hacia Bristol (con Tricky y Massive Attack como compañeros), James Blake o Burial bien lo saben, no digamos los injustamente denostados Morcheeba y tantos otros. Portishead son Adrian Utley (que no era precisamente un adolescente y que además amaba el jazz) , Geoff Barrow (devoto del hip-hop) y Beth Gibbons, seguidora de Janis Joplin y Nina Simone. Su discografía es inmaculada, cualquier disco suyo es excelente y representativo. No tienen uno siquiera notable. Además Gibbons ha publicado Out of Season con Rustin Man (de Talk talk) y sobre todo Lives Outgrown (además de colaboraciones con Annie Lennox o Kendrick Lamar). Barrow a su vez tiene una excelente banda sonora como es Ex Machina o alguna expo de Bansky. Mientras Massive Attack lanzaban Protection, aún más blue que su debut, Portishead lograron aclamación con este artefacto lleno de Lounge, Trip-hop, Lalo Schifrin, Morricone, Weather Report, Isaac Hayes... con Numb como punta de lanza. La relación con el cine ya comenzaba incluso antes de su debut, con el corto To Kill a Dead Man, del que sacaron la portada (además de musicarlo). Hay Soul, sonido vintage de scrachts, electrónica, hip-hop, lounge... un cóctel único. Mientras todos se rendían al Brito, con su garrulismo y sus buenas canciones, Portishead demostraban que se podía usar música ajena para crear y no solo para atracar partituras. Glory Box es otra gema, pero de cualquiera de los 11 puede decirse lo mismo. Biscuit bien podría estar en Protection o en los dos primeros de DJ Shadow. Música sensual, extrañamente acogedora e intrigante. Este disco cambió la música de tal forma que dejaron de usar a Moby para sabotear cualquier cosa de ellos. Sour Times es el perfecto ejemplo, una canción que justifica una discografía.

Top songs: glory box (only one that sounded familiar), sour times, roads and biscuit. It’s good but not my style.

One of my favorites! 5 stars

it was nice but no vibe at all

Holy Cow...how did i miss this one first time around??? Mercury prize winner, multi platinum sales, a true classic of it's genre. Cannot claim to really understand what "trip-hop" is, but this album certainly takes you on some kinda late night trip. Beth Gibbons voice is sublime and the music sounds wonderfully authentic. Pour me another whiskey and turn the lights down low....bliss Favourite track: Sour Times

In 2003 I was given this album on a CDR by a classmate in school as a way to try and hit on me. Didn’t work, but the album is excellent.

These songs are immaculately crafted, emotive, and creative. All while remaining so lowkey. Beth Gibbon’s vocal performance is near perfect. I loved this and will be returning to it.

<3