Reviews (page 6 of 14)
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.
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.....
This band is new to me. Chill, mellow vibes. Would be good with shrooms or an indica
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Len Houmous was once recognised as The Mayor of Bristol for 3 hours 4.3 2/11 Sour Times
I really like this eerie physcodelic jazz album
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. ♡
Fantastic listen, deep vocals, very good.
Fantastic album. Chill, deep, no skippable tracks. Just a great album overall.
Weird, strange in an "I like it" way.
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 album is fuckin' cool.
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.
okk
Outstanding production, interesting sound, well worth a listen
cool cool cool
Something I wouldn’t regularly listen to, but Portishead certainly has a downbeat vibe that I can kind of groove with
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.
me gusta la electronica ahora
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.
amazing
me senti en una peli de terror aveces. me encanto, me parecio un poco una obra de arte
pretty fun vibes! I liked the instrumental ones a lot, and it was a cool exploration of something outside my usual listening.
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.
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.
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.
8.5/10
A full album of James Bond songs. I see the appeal, and am glad to listen, but can't picture myself wanting to listen to this routinely.
loveeee. i was listening to a bunch of fka twigs yesterday so she's on my mind already but i did think of her very much throughout a lot of these songs, and just recognizing how formative this band probably was to a lot of contemporary trip hop artists (and adjacent). such a unique way of using samples -- still feels really cool and with an understated and ambient energy, but also quite ethereal. it reminds me a lot of massive attack in that way (although i might prefer them to portishead by a smidge). even if not every song stood out to me, there isn't really a bad song on the album. Fav tracks: Sour Times; Strangers; Roads; Biscuit; Glory Box
Pretty significant album with lots of good music that solidified trends in the field. I think everyone should listen to it, at least once.
Women. Bardzo ciekawy album. Też raczej nie w moim stylu, ale przynajmniej się słuchało. „Glory box” brzmi bardzo znajomo, a przynajmniej melodia.
4,5
I'm more of a Massive Attack guy than I am a Portishead guy but this is still no doubt a great album. Some of the songs here do sound maybe a bit too samey at points but this is still a very good listen overall with some absolutely ridiculous highs on it. Fav Songs: Glory Box, Roads, Wandering Star, Sour Times Least Fav: Numb 8.8/10
This album is very cohesive and consistent—I’ll keep coming back to it whenever I want to transport myself to a smoky, noir-style club. 8/10
glory box, the albums last track, is the most recognizable-- but that doesn't mean it's the best one (although it is good). i loved the mixing and sound production on this record. at times, the vocals take me out of what is so enjoyable. as such, my top tracks are wandering star (that outro is bonkers) followed by sour times.
8/10
My rating 3.8. I really enjoyed this album. Nice find.
Takes me to a very specific time and place: no deadlines, no dependents, candles lit, relaxed and fun. The vocals make this album a lot more engaging than the average electronic music from this era.
Nails the genre, but I am not much of a fan of the genre. So all considered four stars is pretty good.
ONE OF THE BEST TRIP HOP ALBUMS OF ALL TIME!!! i was literally listening to this the other day on my own time, what a beautiful coincedence that this is my album of the day! i'll joyfully listen to it again, of course. dummy is a formative album for me, right alongside mezzanine by massive attack
Review - stone cold classics. Immaculate vibes. Rating - 9/10 Need to hear? YES
Another trip-hop album! And it's great. The singles are definitely the best songs, but the others are no slouches. I really enjoy this style. It feels like it has enormous potential to go in so many different directions, even though the sound is incredible specific. A fantastic debut. FOUR STARS
okay... great background music to me... i guess it's quite intense. i dont know, i didnt like it all that much
Ohhhh nice, not quite as close to 5 stars as I remembered but 4 stars nonetheless. Tom.
Nice moody background music
Sexy times
Spooky vibes kinda halloweeny
Solid trip hop album!
такий розслаблюючий альбом, дуже приємне звучання та вокал
Very soothing, very moody. An overall banger!
It’s like James Bond music.
Simple production but effortlessly sexy!
8/10 A standout album of the 90s. Inventive and interesting. I just don't quite love it - a bit too dark for me with
Je connaissais déjà un peu Glory box fait parti de mes chansons pref C’est un style vraiment particulier, un peu expérimental à la massive attack. J’ai écouté pour courir , c’est pas l’idéal j’avoue Voix et instru top !
Immense banger cet album surtout Glory Box que j'avais redécouvert dans American Horror Story
Amazing
Nice house chill electric 90s album
Love it! revolutionary and sentimental
Not necessarily my favorite atmosphere, but it works and is maintained here very well. The beats are very catchy. The vocals are just phenomenal. This album too laid back for me, but I’ll defines relisten to it some time in the future because there’s a high chance it will grow on me.
I wish I’d loved the other songs as much as I love Glorybox, but still a great album.
very nice
A classic of trip-hop. Some real gems, but also some filler that flatten the overall impact. The vibe is great for ambiance but lacks the diversity needed for focused listening. For a debut album it shows a fully formed band that knows exactly why they wanted to create. Beth Gibbons vocals could not be more perfect, an instrument of longing, sadness and hope.
Super great ambient, moody without being a downer.
Classic Pop
This album is pure vibes.
nah i wrote a bunch of other stuff but this was great, middle lost me a little but ultimately you gotta appreciate anything this Bronze adjacent.
Cool girl shit. Obsessed with Wikipedia calling their style as reminiscent of spy films, also ending on Glory Box which I’ve heard many times but as usual without name or artist context was a delight. Enjoyed this one and hope Arkady did too!
such a good sound!! most of the songs didn’t stand out too much individually but enjoyed listening to it overall I knew and loved Glory Box and Sour Times already so they were great bookends to the album
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Was really surprised by this! It aged well
I end up listening to trip hop by accident. When I'm in a relaxing kind of mood, I start a streaming station based on Nightmares on Wax or something, and Portishead will invariably sprinkled liberally through a station like that. Every time a song stands out in a "who's this?" sort of way, I check my phone to see the artist, and probably half the time it's Portishead. I think "I need to listen to them more." I don't know why, but I never have sought them out. I'm glad they showed up for me today. ⭐⭐⭐.75
Sigo sin saber lo que es un trip hop pero me ha gustado bastante
3.5
5 Оказывается я знаю Wondering star из этого альбома, мне очень нравится инструментал здесь, очень спокойная музыка, однозначно ознакомлюсь с другими альбомами этого коллектива,
Sounded quite interesting, more so than I was expecting. Also!! When it got to Strangers, the first few seconds sounded familiar and it's because it was sampled by Larry Fisherman to make Stuck In My Ways for Vince Staples. I thought it was cool that I caught that. Definitely great for background music more than anything else.
Carino, ma niente di eccezionale
This album is probably like "Velvet Underground and Nico" in terms of its influence on other artists and bands. The trip-hop sound, though short lived, had an outsize influence felt to this day. Though I like their album "Third" better, this is a fantastic debut album with all-time great songs like "Sour Times," "Roads," and "Glory Box." I also like the ominous and creepy sounds of "Biscuit" with its slowed down vocals. That one is a harbinger to the dread and haunted sounds of "Third." Beth Gibbons vocals are so good here and Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley lay down perfect backdrops to them.
Great headphones album. Adopts a lot of hip hop beats and styling without ever being cringy about it. Favorite track is Wandering Star, I love that eerie, prayer-like chorus. Hypnotic bass and vocals. A very dark record, probably best listened to late at night.
Interesting musically and haunting lyrics.
Super interesting and fantastic production. Will definitely return to this album in the future but it doesn’t quite reach the 5 level.
Another band I've heard of but didn't know any of their songs. I'm glad this was on this list, as it gave me a reason to listen through an album that I likely wouldn't have otherwise. It's a really cool vibe, kind of like if electronic and R&B had a baby. Will be listening through again!
Still sounds good all these years later!
sexy
Le doy 8/10 for the vibes La primera mitad pense que tenian un buen sound pero sonaba medio repetitivo so i was not feeling it tanto Segunda mitad really picked up Numb y Roads me gustaron mucho y obvio Glory Box cause that guitar can weep
Sublime, no fue first listening ever pero nunca me quejaría de escucharlo. MC: Glory Box
I love the calmness of the songs here, though I've listened only a half of them
Creates a very specific mood very effectively. I like the instrumentals more than the vocals.
this would be the soundtrack to a really sad party - that said it is good music
Loved it! It sounds like an underscore for a scene where someone is walking through a smoky bar.
Very good weird. Melodic and well produced. Had heard of Portishead but never heard Portishead. Not a bad performance.
Really good. The songs just immediately grab my attention and stand out. I already had a song from the album liked, but I don't remember doing it. Absolutely an album I would listen to again.
Solid album.
Really good. Great vocals, excellent production, impressive.
Good, but I don’t hear the greatness often attributed to it.
This album blew my mind when it came out. Portishead had a secret weapon named Beth Gibbons that other trip hop bands didn't have.
very moody i liked it! glory box defo stands out to me as the best one, but would have to listen more thoroughly to know what i think about the other ones 🧘🏻♀️
This is the kind of album you simply sit down and enjoy. What a beauty.
At times a bit repetitive, but overall a very solid album
This is a great album, just the right level of chill
Good album I like Portishead
Was just very solid. Sad. If this was something to get (other than vibes), I didn't really get it. My friend James likes this album a lot.
Cohesive but each song stands alone. Love the samples and effects mixed with smooth instrumentals
This album creates a space that everybody wants to visit.
finally something different and also v groovy
easy listening, love the theramin and overall dark sound
VERY good experience, didn't expect I'd like it so much!
Atmospheric
8/10
Lofi's origin story. Mellow background music. Glory Box is a song you know but don't know you know.
Vibey, really got into the zone with this one in the background.
I listened to Portishead quite a bit in college, and always preferred the second album to this one. I haven’t listened to either album all the way through in probably 25 years, but I’ll have to go back and give that second album a listen there’s no freaking way it’s better than this one.
a classic. Not all is great, but it's a record with a unique sound.
Portishead – Dummy On Day 46, Dummy earns a strong 4/5. It’s a great listen that provides the kind of atmosphere and production quality I’ve been looking for. While the vocals were decent and fit the mood well, they didn't quite push the album into that perfect 5-star territory. The real highlights for me were Mysterons, Roads, and Glory Box, all of which showed a high level of technical chemistry. It’s a solid, moody record that definitely has more replay value than the recent LPs on the list.
Yeah... very cool. I liked this one.
Big fan of whatever this is.. genuinely feel like I am in an illegal speakesy listening to this album.. Downloaded the album, and can not wait to listen to it in a rainy car ride... "Strangers" and "Roads" have my heart from this album.. Couldn't have asked for a better atmosphere while listening to "Roads" for the first time, on a walk, the weather is gloomy, and as the musics crescendos the wind picks up.. absolute cinema!
A very fun album to listen to, I don’t see the trip hop connection but for me I see it more as trip pop with the instruments and the vocal delivery.
I always appreciate an artist who went out of their way to try new things. There’s something deeply compelling, hypnotic even, about the deliberately lo-fi beats paired with Gibbons’ ethereal-yet-clear vocals. Though I don't think this will enter my regular rotation, I'm glad to have listened to it, and I think it definitely deserves a place on this list.
I kind of enjoyed this. Not something I would normally listen to, sounds like music that would be in a movie, but I couldn’t tell you where in the movies soundtrack. The singer has a beautiful voice and seems like a fun time.
The moodiness of this matches perfectly with Beth Gibbons vocals. Trip hop had a pretty good moment through the 90’s/early 00’s and Portishead were at the forefront of it. A good album start to finish, glory box is the perfect closer
ШИКАРНО таинственный вайб + вокал, очень понравилось ✅biscuit, glory box легендарная, на mysterons уровень мистики просто зашкалил, шедевр, roads ahhhhh начало невероятное, дальше также.
1/31/26: Really quite enjoyed this. 7/10
This was solid. A bit unique and mysterious. Good vocals. I enjoyed it.
Cery chill and worth a listen
I knew Glorybox, and I love its sound, so I was pretty excited about listening to this album. The whole album carries that sound and it is a great sound, however, as many already pointed out, it gets a bit repetitive. Also, I had a sleepy day and I don't think this album helped my energy levels lol.
solid vibes. got lost (in a good way) during the first half of the album
Did not expect this at all, but was a perfect start to the day. Massive Attack, Air… almost sounded like songs before Pretty Lights remixed and ruined them
Quite liked this. Have heard Roads before, song is 10/10. Overall album was haunting, melodic, atmospheric, very cool.
Would listen to zonked
Cinematic, atmospheric, almost haunting. Love when music makes feels like I'm walking through another world. Favorites: Glory Box, Sour Times, Roads, Wandering Star, It Could Be Sweet
A little slow/moody for me but I appreciated it.
liked it more than i anticipated
I'll say right away that this is a mood-based record, and now, with the black-and-white palette outside, is the perfect time to listen to it. It's hardly depressing, but melancholic, yes. Let's just say any of the songs would be suitable for the title theme of a James Bond film. The entire album has a consistent tempo, the structure of each song is very similar, and surprisingly, it manages not to get boring. Occasionally, the jazz samples are diluted with sudden, but not at all unnecessary, hip-hop (or nu-metal, depending on your preference) DJ scratches. On the last song, these scratches are replaced by a lingering guitar riff. Beth Gibbons's voice, although not the strongest, is the icing on this melancholy cake.
Awesome and moody; surprised that it was good. Glory Box was a song I've heard of. I like the first track Mysterious, it really sets the tone of the whole album perfectly. The genre is trip hop but the blues and jazz used is phenomenal. A very good album that you can fall in love with. Portishead, from what I've read, are very critically acclaimed and highly praised. Their samples and singer, Beth Gibbons, is PERFECT for the mood of the album. Her voice is so Kill Bill. The more I read about the band the more I like them!!
Natürlich ein Klassiker mit dem Highlight als Abschluss. Das Album kriegt mich allerdings nicht durchgängig gefesselt und weitere ganz große Ausreißer nach oben fehlen ebenfalls, daher 4 Sterne.
Ich habe etwas gaaaanz anderes erwartet. Umso schöner, dass das auch sehr gut war.
znam poslednju pesmu, glory box, sa tiktoka hahah, ali stvarno je dobra! prijatno me je iznenadio žanr ovog albuma, nisam nikad čula ništa slično, kao da si pomešao cranberries i hip hop, veoma svež zvuk, za mene barem. produkcija, vokali, sve je super urađeno, prva pesma prosto odaje atmosferom početka nečega, a poslednja završetkom, ali taj završetak kao da opet označava početak nečeg novog. ako to ima smisla. jako sam uživala u ovom albumu!
I've loved this album for 20 years, which is simultaneously long enough and not long enough. "Sour Times" brought trip-hop to the masses, and this album cemented it more firmly. It's by no means perfect since it's a little one-dimensional at times, but still a good end-to-end listen.
Best - glorybox Worst - wandering stars
Cinematic hiphop & electric type beats with an indie singer…like if Alanis Morissette sang over RZA’s production, but not really. But seriously, I love the avant-garde, electronica, ambient and hiphop type music. The only knock for me is it’s a very dark album. Otherwise, magnificent work.
Definitely a great 90's futuristic/dystopian vibe. Nice.
I can definitely enjoy a well played bass line with my earbuds, but giving this a listen in the car so I could literally feel the bass on my body definitely elevated the experience. I think this effort shows the positive direction where layering samples with original work forms into a pretty unique experience, less cliché or harsh than a lot of earlier examples I've heard on this list. I hadn't heard this one in a while, I remember liking it more than I do now. Still, I'd keep a copy of this in the car. Really well produced. 4/5
Never really heard anything like this, but 100% would listen again
awesome and chill vibes. very consistent tone throughout, wandering star is personal fav
excellent
Really cool sound. Very British move to take American influences (hip hop, DJ scratching) and turn it into something moody and introspective. I don't always want to listen to this, but it's good to know it's out there.
Loved the vibes, especially the drums and samples
I was not familiar with the trip hop genre but if it's like this album, I'm a new fan. Take some mushrooms and put this on.
I haven't listened to Portishead in ages, but this album brings back memories. It's a very good album.
I have heard songs off this album before but very cohesive and stylistic trip hop that I love. Blessed album.
This album is a vibe! I love her voice and the mix of electronic music and jazz.
Girls I was attracted to in high school and university loved this album.
Pooled lood on siin super head. Ja olid juba mu Liked Songs nimekirjas. Selline kiiksuga muusika (ehk vist "trip hop"?) mulle meeldib. Mõni kahtlane lugu on siin küll, aga üldiselt on ta ikka tugev album.
Really cool album, felt sort of dark and dreamy. Not what I expected. “Glory Box” and “Mysterons” stood out to me. Would give a 7/10
TIRA TUDO, MENOS O TRIP HOP!!!
Banger
j'ai été transporté sur les routes de Portishead par la poésie et de l'émotion qui se dégagent de leur musique electro-jazzy- blues.
When it came out, I’d already heard Massive Attack and I’d also gone through the even more claustrophobic Music for the Jilted Generation. So Dummy didn’t hit me as hard as it should. That poisseuse slowness became a classic, ultra popular, everywhere at the end of my high school, played to death, almost to the point of nausea. And yet, the album never really loses its beauty. Still, it’s huge. Dark, tired, gloomy in exactly the way it’s supposed to be. Not a shock for me, but a landmark all the same.
I enjoyed this more than I thought
Gives me a female fronted gorillaz vibe in some spots that I really liked and some of those beats sounds like something you’d hear from wu tang or Jedi mind tricks
yeah its dummy time
This is a gorgeous slow morning/ slow day soundtrack. Especially enjoyed It Could Be Sweet, Pedestal, and Glory Box. Rating it 4 because this is going in my chill rotation.
this was wacky and fun!
I hit the number on Siamese Dream before I actually put in my review. That was dumb. So, of course, it was maybe the 5th time I've done it this week. Which makes me a giant dummy. Anyway, Siamese Dream is such a brilliant fucking album. There's not a single song on there that I can't listen to on repeat for hours which, I more or less did while painting a different room in my brother's new house. Gawd I love that album. And if I hadn't listened to Siamese Dream, which is maybe the one of the most 5 albums on this list (also, Gish better be on this list!), I would probably have ranked this album as a 5. But, I did. So, while I love Dummy and I love Beth Gibbons voice and I love the beats and sounds they generate on this album, it's still no Siamese Dream. So a 4 it gets.
4/5 - Compared to Third, this is way more my speed. Dummy has a singular, classic vibe to it that has aged pretty well. Very much a “sum is greater than the parts” style of music for me.
I enjoyed this a lot more than expected based on the Wikipedia blurb. It’s a little dark, a little sexy, and a little jazzy. I like the genre blending and femme fatale vibes
erg nice, om in te zinken, nieuwe muziek die in de afspeellijsten gaat!
It’s very good but damn is it depressing to listen to while trying to get work done
I think I'm more into UK trip hop now than I was when it came out, and this is a must-listen.
A very interesting album
At first I was only into these for the instrumentals but now I'm dialed. You can feel the influence of previous bodies of work they're inspired by and you can tell these will (and probably are) being copied well into today. I've since listened to their other work and yeah it bangs.
Fav tracks: mysterons, it could be sweet, it’s a fire Jazzy smooth vocals, introspective emo lyrics, snazzy breakdown.. a damn good album!!
Classic
Peaceful great tunes that have replaced my usual jazz listening sessions, which I use as a cool down for the day. My favorites would probably be It Could Be Sweet and Wandering Star.
Need to listen closer but I enjoyed
Dreamy
very good landmark album that doesn't do that much for me personally
Overall rating by me: 7/10 Songs added to the playlist: ,,Pedestal", ,,Biscuit", ,,Glory Box" Notes: Very classy, very rich but also insanely sensual. It's absolutely giving me the vibe of the music that plays at the dark-lit bar, in the nook of an alleyway. Also, ,,Glory Box" is the ultimate song I reach for when I want to feel powerful, therefore I'm glad I finally had a push to listen to the whole album.
It was hauntingly sexy. This album sounds sensual, chill, and eerie at the same time. It was very enjoyable and solid.
Svelte and spacey - epic sounds! Favourite tracks: Sour Times, Wandering Star, Roads, Glory Box
i totally understand why glory box is the most popular off of this album, given it is the only song that sounds different from the other songs. that being said, the sound is good, an album doesnt always need to be that varied. im also being harsh, mysterons also is pretty good and unique
Very chill sounding, almost reminds me of Fiona Apple. Great for studying (currently listening to it rn while doing my homework lol).
so sexy
The album cover looks like it's from a found-footage horror movie. I really liked the vibe of this album. It felt a little jazzy and sometimes the beats sounded like they could be for a rap song. It also like it was made in a cold basement. I've heard glory box before.
Chill jazzy vibes
I need to get back to this as I never gave it a fair shake. I liked what I heard
very sexy and cool
Pre-listen thoughts: okok, have had this one saved in my library for nearly five years. Very familiar, just never one I've found as easy to return to as most people seem to think. Mysterons, Strangers, and Wandering Star are most memorable to me. I'm excited to really think on this listen. After listen: wow. a real masterclass in production, never heard anything like this. I'd say no skips though it's not quite 5 stars for me. It could work up to it potentially.
Día 1 de one album a day. La electrónica en general no es mi estilo de música, pero me sorprendió gratamente. Muy chill, linda voz la de Beth Gibbons, hay algo interesante en el sonido. En líneas generales el tono del álbum es bastante plano, pero no me disgustó.
Great album, had a fun time listening. This album was pretty solid, i like the atmosphere and the vocals just adds to it's overall mood, just listened to it while staring at the ceiling. My favorite track is probably roads.
good vives
They exist at the intersection of every song sounding the same, and having a sound
Not exactly my type of music but the production on it is great. A quality made album.
molt fugees
Des del començament de la primera cançó que em van agradar molt les vibes d'aquest album. Si q potser prefereixo música amb més ritme però esta realment molt bé. És d'aquests que me'ls tornaré a escoltar i postser fins i tot busco més cançons d Portishead. La cantant té una veu q hi queda genial.
Love the vibes. As an album it's kinda samey but that's more on the artist's sound than anything else. Best albums are something you know you want to get enveloped by for a brief period of time and Portishead does this very well.
Music to wistfully gaze out of the window on a cold, rainy night to. Favourite tracks: Strangers, Roads, Biscuit
bro its so fcking cool wth lowkey weird but i love it sm all the sounds BRO WHAAAAT when it started i was like😮😮😮 like bro that sounds so good i cant im so glad that girl from tiktok wasnt gatekeeping this app omg i know the last song i had no idea its on this album
unusual
This one was nice more my wheel house like the bits of disc scratch and smooth operator vibes
Great from start to finish. Ahead of its time with the inclusion of hip hop elements.
This one has been hyped up quite a bit and I see why people like it. I don’t think it’s the best thing since sliced bread, but it’s good. Definitely liked this more than Third. The first three songs, especially Strangers are a great introduction to the style. Some of the bass work in the latter half especially on Pedestal are really good too. Favorite songs were Mysterons, Sour Times, Strangers, Wandering Star, and Glory Box.
Elegantly bleak. Like some of the songs on Victorialand only with a hip-hop beat.
Not necessarily the classic album it is often heralded as, but it does have some classic tracks. It loses it a bit in the middle but it is a highly impressive debut.
Really close to a 5 from me. It’s so evocative of a particular mood that is hard to get from many other albums. Gibbons’ voice is full of tenderness and fragility that I find it just draws you in. ‘Roads’ in particular has a vocal performance that is so understated whereas others might oversing it way too much. There are a few tracks later on that don’t have quite the same hook to them which I think is the only reason I can really give for not scoring it higher, just a slight lack of consistency throughout.
This was a nice surprise for me. She has an amazing voice. The instrumental accompaniment is sparse, but sophisticated. I can't describe it adequately, but it is powerful and moving. I'm anxious to listen to Beth Gibbons' contribution to Gorecki's Symphony No. 3.
bra bra
I really liked Sour Times and Glory Box
First Listen; 4; I really enjoyed this album and this is probably the first of the thirty or so in this project that I haven't heard before but will listen to again. The songs have a very lush sound and epitomize a chill, laid-back sound. The vocals are great and fit the music perfectly.
Incredible record. Beth Gibbons’ voice is outstanding.
Love this album. Smooth dark and sexy.
Amazing how much music I never heard of before. This was mellow and very nice.
++*: Sour Times, Glory Box ++: Strangers, It Could Be Sweet, Wandering Star, Numb, Roads, Pedestal, Biscuit +: Mysterons, It's a Fire 9,6/10
Extremely solid four, great stuff! I'd only known it for Roads so I was hoping it'd be a little more consistently on that level, but it's still full of good stuff. Ultimately it is just a bit subdued for my tastes.
Ethereal female vocals backed by some cool ass chill beats? Sign me up!
HOT
more my kind of music, favorite songs were sour times and glory box
Very good, one I've always heard of, but never listened all the way through before.
This one reminds me of a long walk when fall has shifted to winter. Everything is a varying shade of white. The world has slowed down…and the rhythm is a slow melodic beat of time passing.
Never something I would have listened to on my own. Really enjoyed the lo fiand the record scratching against the saxophone and the vocals. Will definitely listen to again.
Oh, wonderful Beth! Adrian Utley's light jazz touches and flawless production are instrumental in this album being a gem and a high point of 90's trip-hop.
I kind of remember these guys in the 90s, but never really listened to them much. It was before I started getting into electronic music. Starts off with an eery sounding track. I remember the second track. Didn't think much of it as a teenager, but now that I'm a little older I appreciate the eery sound of the singing, the James Bondish guitar riff. The guitar sample on the third track almost sounds like the riff from Curtis Mayfield's "Right on for the Darkness." I don't remember hearing Numb before but it's good. Roads I've definitely heard, and also a quiet groove. Glory Box a good one to finish off the album. Also definitely remember this one. 4/5
"Dummy" is probably best described as depressed hip-hop. It has elements of electronica, and hip hop techniques such as the use of loops, but also regular instruments and organs. Such elements seem to fill in a sense of silence or darkness present in the background of each track. The mood of the album is generally quite sombre, not quite "monotone" but some of the songs do sounds quite similar. An interesting album, probably not quite my taste, but listenable.
Liking the dark weirdness of Mysterons so far. Loving the vocals and darkness on Sour Times. Almost like understated jazz vocals, but with a great trip-hop beat. Can't believe it's taken me this long to listen to Portishead!
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It's very cinematic in sound, almost noir-ish. Mellow with a classic jazz edge. Highlights: "Wandering Star" and "Glory Box"
7.5/10 It's a mood Highlights: Roads Sour Times Wandering Star Glorybox It's a Fire
We’ve heard lots of albums of this type but this is the first I’ve seriously liked. There is a musicality and complexity here that I hadn’t noticed in the other trip hop albums we’ve heard. I hear Sade, indie rock, hip hop and other things too. The final track was the highlight for me.
Brilliant album.
If I could give this negative stars I would
Hell yeah
This is a super vibey album - what was in the air in the UK in the 90s??? Obviously very similar to massive attack and a trip hop classic. I really like the use of scratches and samples and oh my god Beth Gibbons’ voice fits so perfectly within. Also the incredible bass lines Standouts: Mysterons, Roads (shout out Rick and Morty), Wandering star!!!!
Merge between old-school hip-hop and intentional jazz with record scratching and saxophone solos. Romanticized, isolated vocals nice beats. Gives off drive through New York City at 8 PM in September..
hot
FUN VIBE
Innovative sound, mellow feel.
This is a good sound. It feels like a perfect album, maybe not perfect for me, but just a perfect MOOD, you know? This is one I've listened to several times when I'm not sure what to put on, and it's always enjoyable. The first track and 'Wandering Star' are the standouts to me.
Vibessss. Makes me wanna be a cool 90s gal. Really enjoyed this.
Think this album is pretty incredible not really like anything else I hear
4/5
Never listened to Portishead despite hearing about them through the 90's. Listening to this on Halloween and the first songs Mysterons and Sour Times feel perfect for today. This album helped pioneer the Trip Hop genre which I personally really like. I spent a lot of time listening to Glitch Hop and I really get the same vibes here. A lot of hip hop inspiration from looping, sampling and record scratches that are really cool. The deep bass and drum beats on the album are awesome. When coupled with the vocals of Beth Gibbons, it creates this almost ambient, haunting sound. Someone related to old spy movies, but I don't get that vibe at all. It's way too hip hop for that. It's like an avante-garde, blues hip hop album. Really unique.
That was really good. It's probably to do with the fact that I was young and cool when it came out and for sure someone put the album on back then. I wasn't a big fan then, but, with time, it has grown on me. 4.5 out of 5, but I'll give it a four.
A classic that I always love when it’s on, but often forget about. It makes me want to cruise in the backseat to a car cruising through the city at night.
Very enjoyable album. Particular favourites were Its a Fire and Glory Box. Vocals were great and sounded like it could have been inspiration for Massive Attack
Man, felt like a Pierce Brosnan 007 movie. Liked it.
As soon as I saw "electronic," I cringed but this was such a cool album. Vocals are so smooth and sexy and mixed with the smokey dark vibe, it's perfect.
I wish I would have heard this when it came out in 1994. I first heard this album in 2000 or so. By that time other (lesser) bands had adopted this style and this was passe in a way. Despite my late arrival to Portishead I am a big fan of both albums on this list. This album is a 5 if you account for how influential it was/is. On its own merits it is a 4. The singing is excellent and the rest of the music fills in around her voice very admirably. The samples are very common for hip hop music at the time. That is not to say they are common samples i.e. James Brown or Apache, but rather how they are used is as you would expect. This is not a detriment as DJ Premier did the same on the first Jeru the Damaja album, he even used much more common samples to equal success.
Ett sound som inte går att ta miste på. Oerhört snyggt även om en större variation i låtarna inte skadat. Å andra sidan blir det nu ett sammanhållet album. Glory box är lika fin idag som när det en gång begav sig.
Jag har inte lyssnat ordentligt på Dummy de senaste 20 åren. Jag tycker det har åldrats väldigt väl. Jag vill minnas en intervju i Musikbyrån där Portishead med bestämdhet tog avstånd från genren trip-hop eftersom de fanns så många usla band då som Portishead inte ville bli förknippande med. Flera starka låtar, ett sound som verkligen sticker ut. Beth Gibbons röst är perfekt för låtarna. Möjligen blir låtarna för lika varandra när man lyssnar på albumet i sin helhet från början till slut. Men överlag ett mycket bra album.
I see why so many have called this the originator (or epitome) of trip-hop. But it's darker and slower than a lot of other trip-hop I've heard. For me, the vocals almost but don't quite work with the instrument sound. But this is groundbreaking and mesmerizing work, for sure.
love a weird 90s album
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would
Trip-hop like Portishead's other album on this list. I can't imagine why - other than this band being British Portishead has two albums on the list. This one definitely should be here. 4/5
I dig Portishead and all their offshoots. This album in particular is tied to a specific era for me but I think it has aged well.
****A good easy listening album
They all kinda sound the same but I love the vibe so much.
Nice and chill album. classic.
Yummy
A good groove, would definitely listen again
Really funky stuff. Definitely a must listen, but some parts were notably more mind blowing than others.
Pretty interesting
Boring, but makes up for it by being cool. If I was in the right place, this is an easy 5; however, sitting in my office, this album doesn't cut it. It's not a "listen anywhere" type.
Did not expect them to sound like this. Pretty good for what for what it was.
Cool
LOVED, I only knew one song, the most famous one and I think I’m gonna listen to this album all together more now
8/10… trip hop/ melancholy
Yeeeeeah buddy
Dark and beautiful
Spooky
i liked this vibe but didn’t have time to finish. i’d go back and try this album again at some point
Still nobody that sounds like this.
A couple of albums on this list had got me thinking that trip-hop as a genre just hasn’t aged particularly well, but Dummy proved me wrong. It’s just so atmospheric and cinematic.
I didn't know what to expect going into this album. I like it more than I had anticipated and will check out their other stuff.
I was looking for reasons to not give it a 4, so I'm being generous
Great Songs: Sour Times, Strangers, Wandering Star, It's A Fire, Numb Good Songs: Mysterons, It Could Be Sweet, Roads, Pedestal, Biscuit, Glory Box Mid Songs: Bad Songs:
I'm so sorry to my teen self that I didn't listen to this then. I mean, I still dig it, but *man*....
I read "electronic music band" in the description and was prepared to hate this. It ended up being the opposite of what I was expecting. It was so calming. I liked all but one song. They do all sound very similar though
Ooh, this was a really cool album. The hip-hop elements and sampling was really cool along with the singers voice which sounded really nice. VERY solid album by Portishead.
Awesome sounds. I knew I was liked this record but it's been a very long time and I never had a huge relationship with it. It's definitely a beautiful mooving thing. I can't quite keep focus with every step of it personally.
A bit mellow and sounds the same. But got better as the album went on
First time I’ve been this surprised and really enjoyed it!
It’s practically perfect, what do you want from me??
Really interesting listen. One of the few things that sounds like Radiohead before Radiohead (Bjork & NIN are others). Had a couple famous songs and very cool trip-hop vibes.