I love the electronic folk feel to this album. The band have clearly moved on from the first two releases. THAT voice cuts through, always on the edge of a breakdown. Wifey said: "What's that bloody terrible racket?" They must be doing something right.
I love Portishead - both studio albums prior to this especially. This has its moments (Machine Gun especially), and it certainly still has the darkness of the other two, but Third feels more on the bitter side, with less of the sweet. The influences here seem too much like homages - if you like We Carry On, you'll LOVE Silver Apples. And there's a fair bit of Sabbath and motorik in there, too. All of these are good things, but it feels like they overwhelm the essential Portishead-ness somehow. Better than much on this list (imo), but the fourth best by Portishead (if you include the live Roseland album).