Reviews (page 9 of 16)
I’m not really a big fan of this type of music. But i will at least say this was interesting enough to listen to.
90s, fun. I could hear the sounds of Delirious and other such things
Incredible
I still remember hearing this album for the first time in middle school. Life changing.
I...just can't with this band.
Not something I usually listen to, but I was surprised to hear some very famous songs, and after all this is why I've started with this. 4 songs added to my liked songs.
This is a masterpiece.
Apparently this was one of the first trip hop albums. So by influence alone it's a pretty big deal, and I do like the emotions it evokes.
Portishead has a new fan cuz this was amazing. This is my second electronica album and I enjoyed it a lot more than the first one. This had jazz, pop and hip hop beats involved which I loved. The lead singers voice is mesmerising the way she flows on each track mix d with the mixing of the beats made the perfect songs to listen to. Some favourites include Pedestal, Numb and Glory Box. Once again an amazing album I will find my way back too it 9.7/10 4.8/5
1001 ALBUMS- # 22 You won’t be ‘Dummy’ for falling in love with this sensually brooding masterpiece! The debut release from Portishead is an astounding listening experience that feels hauntingly cool and enchantingly moody, with slow beat blues cinematically adjacent to a James Bond score or a film noir soundtrack. Beth Gibbons’ vulnerable mellifluous vocals to the lush ominous backing arrangements of rhythmic hazy jazz beats, subtle drum cymbals and turntable looping distortion with meticulous placement of instrumentation around echoing bass textures, offer a captivating yet disorienting emotional soundscape. The innovative production technique to record actual vinyl needle crackling (sampling their very own music!) adds a warmth to the atmospheric dissonance, however no less mysteriously chilling as Gibbons’ lyrical themes of loneliness and despair double down on. 🎧 Classic Track: Glory Box 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: It’s A Fire 🎧 Personal Favorite: Mysterons A creative landmark of the 90’s Trip Hop movement and one that earned the group a very well deserved Mercury Prize award in ‘95 against some very stiff competition! This album was my gateway to becoming a big fan of Portishead (although their even darker follow-up second release might actually be my favorite) and by extension Beth Gibbons brilliant solo release ‘Lives Outgrown’. It also helped warm me to more eclectic sub genres (experimental jazz, electronic, hip hop, ambient) broadening my appreciation for these musical styles. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Sultry inviting 💿 A must add to your vinyl collection! Spin this seductive record on a stormy evening with candles lit and let the desolate ethereal textures encompass your soul. What a stunner 🔥⚡️ Click the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
Very calm and ethereal. Good for listening to during work.
Average
Chill. If it was a shade more chill, I'd probably bump to a 4, but as it stands, I'm in the 3.5 range. I like her voice sometimes, but other times it gets a little to piercing and takes away from the vibe.
Really like this
Vocals are exceptional. Love the eccentricity of the synths and instrumentals. The organ in the back of Its a Fire is a welcome surprise. Sampling Isaac Hayes on Glory Box was very nicely done.
A fantastic album that fills in the spaces in the room, like warm soup on a cold, winter's day.
This hit hard. Hadn't heard of Portishead before and I'm not very familiar with whatever genre they are but I was impressed. Vocals are great and the beats/instrumentation are powerful and groovy. Easy 5
awwww yeah it's time to be a depressed teenager again. I always liked how Portishead took trip hop more in a rock direction, despite not really being a rock band at all. All of the other players in the genre were more focused on electronic styles and Portishead's insistence on guitars and drums (in addition to all the electronic stuff) always endeared me to them. It gave a bit of life to the music which is decidedly sad and mopey, but in a good way. If they never put out another album after this it would be enough, it's got everything I like about this era and genre of music - great singing, complex sampling, live instrumentation, and most importantly a groove. There are are couple of songs that I think aren't up to the insanely high bar the rest of the album sets (It Could Be Sweet, It's a Fire) but this is nearly a no-skip for me. Favorites are Roads, Sour Times, Mysterons, and Wandering Star but really I like all of it.
Love it. Musically really hits me in the feels. The almost eerie backing to the leads haunting ghostly vocals creates an experience I want to linger in. Glorybox is such a good song. 5 stars. I'm adding the other Portishead albums on the "to listen" pile and investigating Trip-Hop.
A defining 90s classic
Fine, chill. Didn't really do much for me and it sounded like one long song. Again I must ask: why does this band that nobody talks about have more than album on this list, but Daft Punk's Discovery was missing? IT MAKES NO SENSE.
really cool, enjoyed it and definitely unique
Pretty voice!! Her voice reminds me of Evanescence. Kazoo liked Wandering Star - he was tilting his head and staring at the speaker lol
Desperately dull, 2nd time giving it a chance and somehow worse than I remembered. I’m clearly missing something here. Yawn 2/5
New one for me this and loved it
Not feeling melancholy 90s today
“Sour Times” and “Glory Box” remain the only two songs I truly love from this album.
It's giving 007 title theme
Refreshingly different
One of the most steady, impactful, and enjoyable albums of the 1990’s, Dummy is a sublime sonic trip through the subconscious folds of your mind and spirit. Close your eyes and this is music that truly sends you somewhere else entirely. This album still holds up and then some. Songs like Glory Box and Roads get a lot of credit, rightfully so, but Wandering Star is one of the true gems on here for me (that bass!). A transformative ear-worm. 9+/10
This album is just not my cup of tea. I had heard the song Glory Box before, but beyond that I had no idea what this album or artist were about. It's not technically bad, but it's just not something I would ever listen to. I would reach for something else, and if I heard it (and was able to control the music wherever I heard it) I'd change it to listen to something I liked more. Neither the music nor lyrics resonated with me and I was just looking forward to it being over. 2/5
I've never really listened to Portsihead before, now I know why. Can't say I found this one overly enjoyable. None of the tracks jumped out for me.
Always mind blowingly good.
It's ight.
משוגע
הייתי רואה סרטון "איך להתקין פאוורפוינט" לפני שהייתי שומע את האלבום המשמים הזה שוב
חמוד לפעמים אבל הרוב משעמם
Excellent album. Out of the several trip hop albums I've got so far, this might be the best. Vocalist Beth Gibbons is kind of the star of the show, and delivers performances that are really tuned to the songs. She manages to hit just the right spot the song calls for, whether it's a sort of desperation in her voice, a kind of wistfulness, smokiness, sexiness. And these tracks, the samples here, the beats, are incredible. It feels like a blend of hip hop and old film soundtracks that's absolutely seamless. This sounds fresh to me now, I can't imagine how fresh it did in 1994. Fav tracks: Mysterons, Sour Times, It Could Be Sweet, It's a Fire, Glory Box
I’d never properly listened to this album before, Portishead is a blind spot for me. Nicely atmospheric, will be returning.
All the elements come together so perfectly: the haunting vocals, the minimal guitar work and the turntablism/samples/production all so deftly done so that none of them dominate. Even the name of the album and the cover art fit perfectly! Omg I love this album so much. It's a vibe to get lost in and for me it is the definition of trip hop that all other records get compared to. Probably one of my most listened to albums of recent years. Absolutely unhesitatingly five out of five.
I think I'm not really a fan of the "trip hop" genre. This wasn't as agonizing as some of the other similar albums I've listened to for this, but I still won't return to it.
I’ve attempted to like Porisehead many times through years, but nothing I heard pulled in. It’s electronic trip hop which I typically enjoy , but this album is a bit too gloomy, or downbeat, for my tastes. I suppose the biggest sin it’s its boring. As a huge fan of Bjork, the opener, Mysterons, is a favorite but not enough to keep this Dummy in rotation.
Most every song sounds about the same but that’s alright. It’s lovely.
This is sexy jam music for sad people. I'm neither sexy nor sad enough for this, but I do have a story. Years ago, I worked in a hospital pharmacy. It was like 2011 so streaming wasn't taking off yet, but we had XM radio. Usually the senior pharmacist made a pick, and usually that pick was the Grateful Dead station, so we'd hear 3 songs in an 8-hour shift, but sometimes they'd give the reins over. One night, a resident pharmacist put it on some 90's channel and Portishead came up. They got VERY excited. They were the same age as me and so they asked if I was also excited, or, rather noticing, why I wasn't as excited. "I don't know them?" "We're the same age and you don't know Portishead?" "Do you know Slayer?" "...No." I'm going to put on Slayer after this.
Rare instance of something that certainly does not rock, but I still find myself enjoying it. A lot of it reminds me of early Björk. If someone described this to me without me hearing it, I'd be convinced the vocals and music could never work together, but somehow, when you're listening, they do.
- insgesamt irgendwie ein stimmiges Album, was aber zu keiner Zeit krass überraschend ist, oder Songs hat, die groß herausstechen 3,25/5
Really like the vibe, great band and inspired some of my favourite albums
solid 3, didn't get why its average is so high
awesome
And the award for most angsty album goes to...
A Rare example of a no skip album. Even to this day the beats sound so fresh.
Good songs are good, but some aren't as good. (23 known/41 new)
An atmosphere that cannot be denied.
Liked the album
I'm sorry but I can't stand Portishead
The famous tracks are all time classics that make my hair stand on end from the start. The rest, however, don’t quite live up to the hype. To be fair it is an exceptionally high bar. My word, I feel like this thing is starting to make me more picky
I thought I liked this more than I actually did. Some great stuff and a deep jazz influence. Groundbreaking and genre defining work. Somewhat monotonous tempo-wise, the last third of the album didn't hold my interest. It's ok.
Sleek misery. Dreadpop. Beautiful dirge music. I don’t know, it only makes sense after 9:00 pm and it’s entrancing then. In the daylight it’s out of time and place. And with daylight saving time coming around I’ll be more confused than ever.
sehr speziell aber durchaus hörbar, entspannte musik mit einer gewissen Stimmung
What a record. It's one of the first that I heard — per Last.fm stats, at age 15, logging my first listen in the month I started high school — that felt truly revelatory, realizing that music can do *this*. Spectacular, unmatched atmosphere. I tried to get into some other trip hop records after hearing it but it's so head and shoulders above the competition that you end up just wanting to put Dummy on again. Glory Box is a legitimate contender for best song of the '90s, and a singular, deeply weird achievement. Like, it's Bjork's Joga, and it's that. Even songs that I might think of as B-side cuts (It Could Be Sweet, It's a Fire) are leagues better than anything Massive Attack has ever conceived. I prefer Third, which is a top-five album of the 2000s, but this is obviously also a masterpiece.
I don't really understand what made this band very influential. There were several other bands from around the same time or that came before that were doing similar stuff but way more interesting. This album is kind of boring. I didn't really enjoy it at all.
I wish I liked this more, but it’s only good for 3 or 4 songs and then I get fatigued. I can respect it for the influence on British music, but I just think Portishead is not for me.
Nice background music while working, feels like Jungle got a lot of inspiration from Portishead. Good for when you want something different.
There are times I listen to this one and it sounds like an approximation of trip-hop rather than the genuine article
Really decent. It felt a bit repetitive at times but overall I really enjoyed it and I feel like this is something a lot of artists from the 2000 drew from. Or were inspired by this style.
This album started strong and ended strong, but in the middle I couldn't help but feel everything felt very same-y.
It's an album full of james bond songs but none are THE bond songs
So melancholic. So lush.
Phenomenal album, and somewhat counter to when it was released. Still sounds fresh today.
Jewel
This album was moody and a bit strange. The Spotify DJ plays Sour Times for me frequently before I listened to the album. The rest of it was fine.
idgi
This was a boring album. Slow and repetitive. Maybe we are so far past when this was new that it has become boring but I feel like others have done this much better.
Cool electronic beats. Singer sounds like a softer evanescence
Nope. Achingly, painfully overrated. Nothing revolutionary about it. Damn, these high reviews really give me no hope for humans.
As far as 90s electronica goes, this is better, but I'm not sure if it warrants the relatively high score this album got, especially given other albums that were way better. This was tolerable as I've been a big hater of bygone era of electronica. 4/10.
Vind het wel aardig maar blaast me niet omver. Gebeurt te weinjg?
главный вопрос: откуда в трип-хопе ХОП? трип вполне понимаю
mysterons meh sour times buena produ strangers buen beat it could be sweet está bueno wandering star normal its a fire normal numb full tenebroso el beat biscuit BUENISIMA el beat otro level, la voz acompaña glory box el beat es solido pero no me gusta la voz
Solid album
Always loved Portishead's sound. Laid back interesting trip hop sound with melancholic lyrics and Beth Gibbons's voice drawing you in. Haven't listened in full in a long time so thanks for the opportunity.
Enjoyed listening to this for mainly nostalgic reasons. Reminded me of good times in the 90s after leaving university. Coincidentally was listening to the new Beth Gibbons album the day before this came up. Very relaxing and laid back grooves.
Excellent. Atmospheric. Delicate voice.
some classic trip hop with very laid back vibes that feels like it should be featured in a love making scene in a gritty teen drama.
Fairly good
masterpiece
Но
It wasn’t too bad, I can’t really see the hype that the reviews seem to give it. Nothing special to me but maybe just because it’s not for me.
Very eerie. Very 90s. Didn't hate it
A very chill album with a very chill vibe. I appreciate the sound of this album as being something that was a bit remarkable at the time, but overall not a genre that I would consistently listen to. This for me is a great album to put on if I need something relaxing playing in the background.
Great Trip-Hop. Portishead has such a unique sound. Reading about some of the techniques they used to make this album made me like it even more. They were really going for something here. I could put this album on in the background and listen for hours. This is another album where I can understand why people might not like it, but I think it's just fantastic.
not for me
Brilliant. Trip Hop is an interesting genre for me, and this album is arguably its finest example. Hesitated between 4 and 5*, but listening to it on CD with a proper sound system puts it to 5 for me. Sounded absolutely incredible.
Felt lukewarm about this one. Some of the kinda blended in a bit for me, didn’t like nor dislike.
When I saw how I rated "Third", I thought I was in for another long listen. Thankfully, I enjoyed this album much more. The comparison that keeps crossing my mind is that it's Lofi but make it 90's and add a vocalist. The drum and bass goes hard too.
Oh boy, an all time favorite.
After the very first song on the album I said "Well, this is gonna be an interesting ride." And boy was that the best word to describe this album. Interesting. I loved the dark tone the album had, especially in the song Sour Times, but as the album went on after song 5, I felt it got weaker and weaker. Overall a pretty good album. Favorite song: Strangers Least Favorite: It's A Fire
Creepy and dreamy - feels a little like a movie soundtrack for a psychological thriller.
Good stuff noir jazz Dark shit
Monotonous but i liked it. Makes me feel so... mysterious...
Damn, chuffed to listen to this.
Took a minute for the vibe to get to me. A unique noir sound that I haven't heard before blending jazz, RnB, and blues.
Sour times one of the greatest singles of my youth. It had such a unique sound and sparked for me an interest in that trip hop sound. Morcheeba. Massive Attack. Tricky. Blonde Redhead.
I agree with Ben. I think I would like it better without the record scratching.
Portishead was one of the bands where I would always say to myself I would listen to them but never get around to it. So when I "had to" listen to this album I had no expectations and WOW I should have listed to this sooner. Just sexy, smokey, spooky. Arrangements are so smooth. Great production. Love the different textures. Vocals are nice too. Good album. Would listen to it again on a cold, slow and rainy day.
CLASSIC
Sounds ahead of its time if it were released now.
Lurve
9/10
Trip-hop at its best, great atmosphere
This took a bit to grow on me but I did like a few of the songs
Vibey. Wouldn’t throw it on for myself really but I like it as like a backing track or sound track if you’re gaming or something
Dummy probably gets more love than it should, but it’s still a good album. The mood is consistently dark and hypnotic, with a few truly great tracks that stand out. Worth a listen, even if it’s a bit over hyped.
I had no idea what to expect here. 90s lady singing fairly boring songs. I think I liked one A don’t remember the name of it and I will never go back to this record. Not because it’s bad just uneventful.
Reading about the album and how it is considered the spearheading of "trip hop" is kind of cool. Also as someone who enjoys lofi from time to time, I can see why people like this album. However this one just wasn't for me.
That's not my taste in music
8 Strong first few songs. Atmospheric. But the middle of the album gets muddled and samey. Ends on a high, with "Glory Box", but my favourite was "Sour Times". More of a background album than a headphones album.
Listened to this while playing The Loop. I lost. This album brings me back to my freshman and sophomore year of college in the early 2000s. I know this album came out before then, but I had lived my life listening to Christian, classical, and movie soundtracks. This album blew my mind then, and it still blows my mind now. Such a perfectly curated sound.
No good, not feeling it unfortunately
8.5/10 Favorite Tracks: Glory Box, Roads, Sour Times
Think I would have enjoyed it more in the right context. Glad the only Portishead song I know finally came in at the end. Best track too.
Grungete og eksperimentelt... fett. Men littegrann monotont for min del
DNF
I liked this Portishead album a lot more than the ?newer one (Third?). It's still not for me and actually I never liked their single Glory Box very much but as a whole this album is excellent and stands out from the crowd. Rating: 5
I was already familiar with the sultry delights of Glory Box. I like the rest of the album, and the cool reverby sound, but I found it repetitive and overall very samey. Might also be because I'm in a bad mood due to construction workers next door, which makes every album sound like Kollaps.
Gave me lofi music vibes, really solid music
achei esse genuinamente mto bom
nunca tinha escutado esse aqui inteiro ces acredita atmosférico pra caraio! música de filme de espião do caraio. esse aqui é perfeito pra trabaiar. pqp. só beat absurdo tbm e o vozerão da moça tbm lindo demais. talvez eu fique obcecado? sim, mas nao vo dar 5 estrelas agora nao
Super album! Masterpiece! It is one of my favorite albums! Music and vocal are perfect. The best album of experimental electronic music ever made for now!
I really like this, but you've got to be in the mood for it. This isn't the kind of album you throw on at a summer pool party. This is night time, or cloudy, rainy day stuff.
🔥
Crazy Was ging da am drumcomputer
all timer for me - I listen to this at work pretty often. surprised by how a closer listen emphasised how weak the middle-end part was…..like generic trip hop rather than the iconic tunes on side A. also did not realise the fidelity on the sampled parts was so low sometimes, which is kind of charming but also really clashes with the modern synths and drum machines they employ. still love it tho!
Ok
A grossly overrated you will like this album, album. I have heard songs from this over the years, well, since 94 and never knew who it was. Now I know why, the record scratches are banal and the vocalist is annoying. This is SHIT.
Eye opening! Portishead has a new fan. While I can't point to a single track that grabbed me, I was pulled on through the whole thing. I'll be checking out the rest of their catalog.
OK, not really my thing
Not only the best trip hop album of all time, but one of the best albums, period.
What a wonderful treat after a long and painful streak of 1s and 2s.
A top 5 trip-hop album to me. Perfection.
Very different
pretty good
I guess at the time this might have been novel… but I found it terribly generic and uninteresting. The vocals and lyrics were just not impressive. Few of the songs felt like they had a cohesive musical thought, yet most managed to only have one 17 second piece of music played on repeat for 4 minutes. With an occasional extra percussive sound added partway through. Overall felt more like two high schoolers found a drum machine and a synthesizer.
This is the best trip-hop album. I have no further thoughts.
Had only heard sour times before getting this album of the day. Holy shit that was so much better than I would have thought. Not often do I give a second listen immediately but this was definitely one of those times.
I had never listened to Portishead before, it's not much my style but I enjoyed listening to it even though it is not something I would listen frequently. Starts off a little slow but has some pretty good songs that are standouts even though they all sound kinda samey. Enjoyed Wandering Star, Numb, Pedestal and Glory Box
This album gives me an instant erection. Too bad the girl who had this CD in her purse at all times and insisted on me putting it on every time we fucked turned out to be an absolute nutter. Good while it lasted, though. Six stars, really.
Great album start to finish
1. myzteronz - 2 2. zour - 2 3. ztrangerz - 1.5 4. zuueet - 1.5 5. ztar - 1 6. fire - 1 7. numb - 1.5 8. roadz - 2 9. pedeztal - 1.5 10. bizcuit - 2 11. glory - 2.5
I like it but not enough to buy it. If you had me over for a dinner party and played this I’d be good with that. To read more copy/paste this: https://tinyurl.com/tvu6t45k
Not what I was expecting. Cool and moody. Standout songs: Sour times Numb Glory Box
Awesome
Eh? Like, the singer has a good voice, but nothing really makes me want to listen to it again.
Not terrible, but not impressive
I have this on repeat for a few days now
Where did this come from???
9/10
I gave a pretty shitty review of the last PH album that was on the list, but I actually liked this one. Glory Box was the stand out track (and a great way to end the album). This felt more like a band. Solid debut album.
I like the closing track
I'm ever so lost I can't find my way Been searching but I have never seen A turning a turning from deceit Cause a child roses light Tried to reveal what I could feel I can't understand myself Anymore Cause, I'm still feeling lonely Feeling so unholy Cause a child roses light Tried to reveal what I could feel I'm lonely It just won't leave me alone Oh no I'm fooling somebody A faithless path I roam Deceiving to breathe this secretly The silence, the silence, I can't bear Cause a child roses light Tries to reveal what I could feel And this loneliness It just won't leave me alone Oh no And this loneliness It just won't leave me alone A lady of war Yeah, its pretty good. 5/5
very good
This album is just so good. There is such a strong cohesion in character from song to song, with each song having it's own distinct persona. I have been listening to and loving songs like Sour Times and Glory Box for years, but this time I was able to put titles to songs that I recognized but didn't know I knew like Roads and Mysterons. I also heard at least one for the first time (It's A Fire) and it may have been the highlight of the listening experience. I'm having a hard time deciding between a 4 and a 5, which I think means I should just give it a 5.
Amazing album.
Felt very repetitive. Some good ideas throughout
I think I need to be in a certain mood to appreciate this and I was not when listening today
Was almost torture to listen to the vocals. Yearning, sorrowful or whatever they were.
An absolutely phenomenal album to spend the morning f****** too
Casts an atmospheric and bleak spell. I wasn't sure I'd like it after the first few bars, but got caught up in the current. Lowkey but intense, in its way. "Strangers" is a crazy banger.
Mostly pretty cool. Definitely can be rather same-y throughout but the beats are decent and the vocals add some tragic emotion which matches the instrumentals. 7/10
Love it
1/15/25: Surprisingly liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Would be a good album to listen to at work. Album art gave me a much more tortured impression than the actual songs conveyed. Strong theme of love.
Such an odd album. I definitely didn't like it, not my particular type of music, but it was also good for not liking it? Can see why it was on this list. Such a cool sound and aesthetic.
Wow, talk about being stuck under a rock. I’ve seen this album several times, usually on lists of best/popular albums. And I don’t know why but I never really looked into this album and that was a major mistake this album is great, it’s haunting and beautiful. The instrumentation is wonderful and of its time but in a pleasant way. Honestly I go on and on about this album. Go give it a listen.
Great vibe.
This was a good chill album, very easy to listen to, would listen again
Two great songs and then the rest was just fine
Incredible album that I've listened to many times.
Eh, kinda boring after awhile. I liked the opener, "Mysterons", but then it's just more of the same but not as appealing. Not for me.
Gorgeous, interesting, unique, sad. Loved it.
Original and influential sound that captures a mood as well as any album out there. Chill (tempo and vibe/feeling) lo-if sounding beats surrounded in a dark cloud haze. Beth Gibbons sings beautifully with a desperate longing in her voice. This is smoky, late night music. It’s sad but serene.
I had zero concept of what kind of music Portishead makes
I listened to this twice. didnt like it at first, but liked it the second time.
Incredible instrumentation range.
2/5 - not my thing
Very chill, smooth. I did not dislike it, but it's not for me either.
Portishead is one of the bands that I appreciate in theory. I understand why their music is considered good and why their fans love them. But I can't personally connect with it. Nothing about their sound or lyrics or anything grabs me. It was nice to revisit them and attempt to once again try to make that connection but I was once again left feeling nothing.
Heard it before, multiple times. One of the best trip hop albums ever, the vibe is unmatched. Period. 5/5
God if this album had been out 10 years earlier when me and my mates were smoking quite a lot I’d of never got out of the house!! It’s so chilled and chilling I can just drift off while it plays away in the background. Love the tunes, love the voice, it’s dark but light at the same time, I think?! Anyway a pearl amongst swine!
I like. I think I listened to before. Want to listen to more portishead
dark and lovely
SUPER cool. kinda dingy but also very smooth
This music fucks. I need a cigarette.
Goated, wenig zu sagen... Wahrscheinlich das beste Album bis jetzt
moody music for walking in the rain. although Portishead also has "head" in their name, they're not as good as Radiohead. 4/5
I had never knowingly listened to Portishead. The singer sounds a bit Björkish and I liked the trip much more than the hop.
I appreciate it musically, but it's not my thing. Would not listen again.
This was a huge surprise for me! Had heard of Portishesd in passing but had never listened to any of their music. Not entirely up my alley, but this was haunting and experimental and the perfect vibe for a gloomy January day. Standout song: Mysterons
"we have Bjork at home" is what I felt this whole listen, and I really gave it a shot. Nothing clicked, its not objectively bad, but there is just very little to nothing here.
Zero 7, Massive Attack, Bjork were all artists I thought about while listening to this. The record scratching had me concerned at first but this was a nice chill listen. Great background music
loved it !!!!!
First time hearing the whole album front to back. So ahead of its time. 4.6/5
9/10 this album reminds me of some sci-fi western almost like it would be long in cowboy bebop this is the first album I’ve kept listening to even after finishing all of the tracks and I love how they use guitar in all of the tracks to show how it can really be versatile Favorite track - “Glory box” Least favorite - “numb” Most unique - “it could be sweet”
this the kind of music that would play in the black lodge in twin peaks
Thought it was really good! Nice easy listening music but really great! Connected as an album
Most excellent!
Incredible album
2/10
Still quite passable.
Not for me. Wanted to like it but didn’t.
Dummy is such a cool album. From the album art and this band's name, for some reason, i thought that this was going to be a punk rock album but no, instead what i got was a trip-hop album and it definitely does the genre super well. The beats may be repetitive but that didn't bother me one bit as they just sounded so cool and all the extra touches the band put into these songs really added to them. Beth Gibbons' voice was also something that really added to my enjoyment of this album as she was able to bring out all the emotion of all the tracks that she was in. This album was a very good listen. Best Song: Glory Box Worst Song: It's A Fire
This is #day148 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this is what you call a debut album. Released almost 31 years ago, it has not only stood the test of time but still sounds awe-inspiring, no matter how many times you've heard or will hear it. Innovative, cinematic, poignant... How many descriptors can you use to capture it? I have a nice memory of hosting a lecture/listening event about trip-hop as an anti-genre of the '90s at a local record store a couple of years back, with Dummy and Blue Lines as case studies, playing a 2016 reissue and the original 1994 copy, respectively. That's when I dived into both records and learned a lot. Yes, this is one of those albums you must hear before you die, so this is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day149.
good background album. super vibey and boa esque. will maybe listen to again :)
This Portishead album was way better than the other one. This was actually enjoyable!
Classic trip-hop. Chill vibes
great
Beautiful, haunting, not for me. Little too drone-y for me. The whole thing feels very artsy and I can hear its influence on other things, but it’s a hard listen for me. Good background music for me. It could be sweet really growing on me Wandering Star. Super melodic, wonder if Eminem listened to this, the riff is very rock and roll Big Hikaru utada vibes on some of these middle tracks Jesus, Roads hits like a truck. Brutal. Profound. Maybe I’m a changed man, I could listen to this again
Mood music
Very good album. Vibes are on throughout Will I listen to again: 100%
Love the chanteuse. The album defines the standard for the trip-hop genre.
Did not expect to enjoy it this much
There are two kinds of people, but after this record, I’m too low-key to tell them apart.
This thing is a powerhouse in originality the entire way through. Every second is something I’ve never heard any other artist do before. It’s wholly refreshing. that kind of originality, unfortunately, can lend itself to a ln album that is hard for some first time listeners to really latch on to. This is my second or third listen of this album the whole way through and I’m yet to be completely familiar with it, but it does grow on me with each listen. I’ll almost certainly listen again, as I very much enjoy it. The production is insane and complements the vocals perfectly. Beth Gibbons obviously has a distinct and unmistakable voice which helps to separate Portishead from their contemporaries. Instrumentation is beautiful and samples are used flawlessly. I have no qualms with the record other than a lack of range that could be a tad wider. Some tracks are hard to tell apart. That doesn’t bother me too much, though, love this. 4/5
3/5
Just ok to me.. May need another listen
This was okay. I really enjoyed how atmospheric and moody the album was, but it did all start to sound the same near the end. The production was good, and I liked the vocals as well. Not something I'd really listen to again, but it was alright.
the only one of these mid-90s british electronica records that's actually required listening most of the record is samey to my ears but contains a rich ambiance and is executed very well
Revolutionäres Album, Rated 5 of 6
A stunning, sad, evocative unit of an album
Cool vibes. One song sounds like all the rest. I always thought this was a heavy metal band because of the name. I was way off.
As a kid, I always saw this record on the shelf but always chalked it up to electronic music (not my style) and never bothered to listen to it. 30 years later, and wow, this is some good stuff. Electronic, yes, but also some jazz, cabaret, classical, and more. Singer's got a good voice, too. I'll be coming back to this one.
Quel grand album! Retour nostalgique dans mon adolescence avec ce disque d’une grand force tranquille avec des chansons parfaites comme « Mysterons » et Glory Box ». La voix chaleureuse de Beth Gibbons, les rythmes et arrangements trip hop et les samplings sont tout simplement parfaits. 5 étoiles sans questionnement.
Superbe. Un 5 assuré. C’est un album que j’ai écouté, réécoute, réréécouter toute mon adolescence. L’album n’a rien perdu de son charme.
Interesting Roads Glory Box
This album deserves its critical acclaim, because it's inventive and yielded a new sort of musical experience. Much of it I really enjoy. But I'm not all that convinced by Beth Gibbons's vocals, which sustain a monotony that I find frustrating at times and do not always believe in. And yet, and yet, it so cleverly incorporates Hip Hop (in 1994!) that I'm left unsure what I feel. I guess I kept longing for a spark, and I only got ashes, tho beautiful ones.
Classic alert! They have a pretty unique sound as a band, only problem I have with them is they never really stray from this sound. IMO this is the only portishead album you really need to listen to, the others all sound the same but worse. 4⭐️
Excellent - still sounds as good today as ever
Maybe I'm just in a good mood, but I hated this less than I thought I would.
Have the LP, trip hop gold
Nice. Eerie, chill. I enjoyed the instrumentals and ethereal vocal work was excellent. Something about it just works, and I'm here for it. Absolutely would revisit again! 'Sour Times' was my pick for a fave.
Heavily technical and thoughtful production. Only a few songs that I would revisit, but four stars for some high moments and incredibly consistent quality throughout.
Had no expectations of this album, only knew of the band cause they had the funny name of the place near Bristol which raised my attention cause I I I had been to uni at Bristol, even though they were well known in the U.K. at the time. Well am I surprised, no not surprised, immensely gratefully thankful that through this project I got to hear this. It is a must hear, it’s s warm but lonely, it’s hip hop influenced but also 60s/ 70s Bond sound track influenced and old school soul, it’s electronic but also sort of singer songwriter intimacy. Listened to it all morning with the rain and it’s just so eloquent. The arrangements are gorgeous and the vocals are so expressive. I’m still a physical medium collector and will be adding this today. These moments in this project more than counterbalance the albums that I struggle to get through..
not even the best of their three albums, but the other is the best on this entire list. still incredible 9/10
Portishead feels inventive and authentic, and enjoyably dark.
Not really into electronic music, but this was pretty good.
Loses a lot of steam but still decent
Haven't heard this for a while, I usually default to putting on Third because I think that's their masterpiece. This deserves all the accolades it gets though. Great mix of styles and Beth's iconic voice over the top, then ends with the sexiest song ever written.
Irritating acid house trip hop. Reading about the production of this album was more interesting than actually listening to it. I see the Wikipedia article about this says that this album was popular as background music in cafes and as bedding tracks on TV and radio, a nightmarish time which brought back memories.
Had some great songs
Never got Portishead to be honest, electronic music has never been my thing. Always happy to listen though, I remember this album and Portishead being massive at the time. Stand out tracks: - Mysterons - Sour times - Strangers - Pedestal - Glory Box
Apparently this is one of Apple’s Top 100 albums of all time. I ain’t buying it. High 2 because it’s mellow
Kinda felt like the intro to a James Bond movie. Which was cool but also just not something I want to hear a whole album of.
Fuck yeah.
Enjoyed it. Nice chilled out vibe. Lyrically not blown away but I don’t think that’s really the point. Musically just very strong.
A lot of this sounds like it was written as the score for a spy mystery film. There's some really cool sounding songs on here. Not always my thing, but definitely interesting.
Very 90s, but not as bad I expected
Once went on drive through Portishead town centre while listening to Portishead. Because I’m cool. Lovely stuff. Simpsons: No
Awesome album, great songs great vibes. Never heard of Portishead before, a nice discovery. The music also accompanied studying nicely.
I didn't really like this. There were too many record-scratching sound effects, and her voice was a bit drony. it was also a bit slow for me, which made 50 minutes feel like about 500.
I really quite liked this, it's not my usual jam and I don't know when I'd listen again but there was nothing wrong with it at all. Good job Portishead.
Brilliant album from a brilliant time.
C’est pas vraiment mon truc le trip-hop;, mais la voix de Beth Gibbons fonctionnera toujours sur moi. C’est très chill, et s’il doit y avoir un album à sauver de cette période et de ce style, c’est celui-ci, alors je serais moins généreux avec les autres. “Mysteron” en ouverture pose bien l'ambiance. “Roads” est très joli. “Glory Box” est un classique. C’est pas grave si ce style est aujourd’hui un peu oublié, il nous restera ce disque comme marqueur d’une époque.
I don’t like how I’ve gotten 2 of my top 10 albums ever this early into this thing ngl
I can remember my friend Doug telling me I had to get this album. He loved it. I didn't. I do respect it: interesting sound, cohesive throughout. Ethereal. Moody. But not to my taste.
Great album to listen to with your gf, spouse or whatever. Love making music
So good. Roads one of my all-time faves. 5/5
not something i would typically listen to. interested to know what genre this is defined as. the sound between songs, for the most part, seems a bit too similar for me. but, still good, and i was surprised that i knew a song from it
Maybe some of this rating can be chalked up to nostalgia. This album came out when I was 15 and played heavily into my high school years. But regardless... fucking Portishead.
This is what the opera that senator palpatine was seeing in Star Wars sounded like.
I never used to think I liked Portishead. But I was wrong. This is great.
i can’t believe i’d never heard this album until now. incredibly unique, never heard anything quite like this. the production is moody and atmospheric; elements of hip hop and jazz scattered throughout. Beth Gibbons’ vocals are beautifully depressing, the perfect pairing for this kind of production. will be revisiting this a ton
Sleepytime Depeche Mode. Still excellent, but I prefer Black Celebration, Construction Time Again, and Music for the Masses. But listening to DM, it’s all good.
- Not much sounded like this when it was released ... it still holds up, a testament to the creative energy of this work, it sounds as fresh today as it did then. -
I haven't heard one of these type of albums in a while, and it was a great listen! Very different from what I have gotten so far.
This is another example of a gem I found on this list. I have never listened to this band before and was very impressed with this record. Moody and atmospheric beats with Beth Gibbons' dreamy vocals make for an amazing listening experience. I will listen to their other releases. Highly recommended!!
En 1994, la Grande-Bretagne musicale était une cour de récréation bruyante et fière de l'être. La Britpop, avec ses guitares stridentes et ses hymnes de stade, plantait fièrement l'Union Jack sur les charts. On chantait en choeur avec Oasis et Blur, on célébrait une Angleterre gouailleuse, énergique et un peu simplette. C'était la BO d'une époque qui voulait s'amuser, oublier les années Thatcher et se persuader que tout allait bien. Et puis, de Bristol, cette ville portuaire un peu à part, nous est parvenu un écho, un son venu d'ailleurs. Pas une clameur de pub, mais un murmure de fin de soirée, le grésillement d'un vieux vinyle dans un appartement vide au petit matin. Ce son, c'était Portishead et leur premier album, "Dummy", n'était pas un disque mais une faille temporelle. Je me souviens parfaitement du jour où j'ai écouté pour la premiere fois le disque. L'intro de "Mysterons", avec ce sample lancinant et ce beat claudiquant... La musique de Portishead ne cherchait pas à vous emporter dans une fête ; elle vous invitait dans son angoisse, sa paranoïa, sa beauté spectrale. C'était le contrechamp parfait, la face cachée et dépressive de la "Cool Britannia". "Dummy" est un chef-d'oeuvre de texture et Geoff Barrow, le cerveau derrière les machines, n'est pas un producteur, c'est un réalisateur. Il a samplé des bandes originales de vieux films d'espionnage (le thème de Lalo Schifrin pour "Mission: Impossible" sur le sublime "Sour Times"), il a ralenti des breakbeats de hip-hop jusqu'à leur donner un air asthmatique, il a ajouté le crépitement d'un diamant sur un 33 tours pour donner l'impression que la musique sortait d'une autre époque. Avec le guitariste Adrian Utley, ils ont créé des paysages sonores désolés, des ruines industrielles baignées d'une lumière blafarde. C'est du trip-hop, oui, si l'on veut coller une étiquette. Mais là où leurs compatriotes de Massive Attack suggéraient une mélancolie urbaine et enfumée, Portishead plongeait la tête la première dans le thriller psychologique. Et au milieu de ce décor sonore, il y a la voix. La voix de Beth Gibbons. Ce n'est pas une chanteuse, c'est une apparition, un fantôme de chanteuse de cabaret qui viendrait vous hanter. Sa voix est un miracle d'équilibre précaire : fragile au point de se briser, mais chargée d'une intensité qui vous glace le sang. Elle ne chante pas, elle exhale les mots. Sur "Roads", l'un des plus beaux morceaux de la décennie, sa performance est d'une nudité, d'une vulnérabilité presque insoutenable. Il n'y a pas d'effets, pas de démonstration de force seulement une âme mise à nu, posée sur une nappe de cordes et un beat au ralenti. C'est bouleversant. Ce qui est fascinant avec "Dummy", c'est son succès. Comment un disque aussi sombre, aussi peu conventionnel, a-t-il pu devenir la bande-son d'une époque ? Il a raflé le prestigieux Mercury Prize et a été acclamé par des magazines aussi différents que Melody Maker, The Face ou Mixmag. Il a touché une corde sensible, universelle. C'était la musique parfaite pour les lendemains de fête, pour les coeurs brisés, pour les nuits d'insomnie. Trente ans après, l'album n'a pas vieilli. Il ne le pouvait pas car il n'a jamais été "à la mode" en 1994, il était déjà hors du temps, une anomalie. Son originalité et sa profondeur émotionnelle sont intactes, il a défini un genre tout en le transcendant immédiatement. Il a prouvé qu'on pouvait faire de la musique électronique qui soit profondément humaine, organique et déchirante. "Dummy" n'est pas un simple album, c'est un refuge, un monde sonore complet, cohérent, dans lequel on peut se perdre pendant 49 minutes. Chaque son, chaque silence, chaque craquement est à sa place. Il n'y a rien à jeter, rien à changer. C'est la définition même d'un 5 sur 5.
Of all the truly awful 90s electronic albums on this list, this one might be the least bad.
Classics
The fucking best. Five stars forevah
So goddamn good
Sour times and glory box best 2 tracks
This album just oozes coolness. Trip-hop queen with a voice that captures you with its smooth melodic and sometimes eerie sounds. Probably one of my all time favourite albums.
Close to a 5 tbh… this is pretty damn unbelievable, like some of the coolest sounds everrrrr. Such a front to back banger
Never really quite clicks for me but so damn cool
kinda unreal album to listen to ... all killer no filler but hasnt quite connected strongly enough for me to give her the old fiver
Low-Fi offbeat. mix of pop, scratching and rock. Haunting female vocals. Feel like a hangover but kind of in a good way. 7/10.
This was really good. Always aware of Portishead but never listened. I think something about the name made me think they were a metal band. Anyway, will have another listen to this soon.
Vibes.
I like portishead, it should just be good ambiance but you couldn’t put it on with company, too omninous. The kind of thing I imagine Toni from Peep Show puts on when she’s trying to woo.
loved it
Liked the trip hop sound
Eerily hypnotizing. Truly a unique listening experience.
Best wel goed, zeer luisterbaar, wel wat veel van hetzelfde.
Drip- Hop.
Its always been a classic. I'd probably give it a 9 but they are getting rounded up. Atmospheric and moody. Beth Gibbons voice is iconic.
An amazing album from start to finish. The mood, the voice, the whole thing… it’s just fantastic. And to think that it closes with the masterpiece, Glory Box… that’s just insane
Don't know why another Portishead album has come up on here ? Is it really an album I need to listen to?
I usually am not as big a fan of down tempo stuff like this but it's got some interest beats and atmospheric going on. Apple music rated this like 67 on the top 100 list they have which means nothing really. I will listen again on the way home from work in the car with better speakers then the ones in my work truck. On second listen it deserves a solid 4
I definitely know of this artist. Very interested to see how this album plays out. very cool stuff. She sounds very similar to Bjork. don't really know any of these tracks so far.
Incredible album. It's a total vibe and every time I come back to this album it still sounds great.
The Good: The title of the album already points out the fact that I am a … The Bad: If the band knew that I am a dummy, then why did they even bother publishing this album? The Ugly: the fact that I actually listened to it twice in the hopes that I would be less dummy, and more yummy… So, they like Ennio Morriconi’s work, so do I, but not in the sense of “hey, let’s just create an entire album that has way to slow compositions, use drum machines to create an annoying beat, and make sure we uppppppp the bass on all channels! Trip Hop, or Indie Rock, or any of the other labels that has been thrown around to explain which genre this album should belong to, should tell you enough that if it isn’t clear to the publishers, or trade journalists, then what are we supposed to think about it? So, here’s me, mr Dummy, enjoying the fact that I don’t have to listen to the album a third time, as I’m smart enough to realize my opinion on this album won’t change… 2* for effort...