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From:Portishead , Mercury ,
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#258 |
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9 of 24 customers found the following review helpful:
4.5 Stars: A Near Masterpiece , 2008-04-30
I'm always impressed when a band lies dormant for an extended period of time and is able; somehow, to recapture their creative magic long after their alleged artistic peak has past. Portishead hasn't released a proper album in 11 years, and somehow they were able to release something as good, as haunting, and as evocative as Third over a decade later.
Where bands like Mission of Burma and Dinosaur Jr. basically picked up where they left off when they disbanded, Portishead does anything but. Portishead is so synonymous with the term trip hop and all it's trappings that simply making another album similar to Dummy would have gotten them labeled as a retread or worst, outdated. Third is a much more stark and claustrophobic album than Dummy or their self titled follow-up. Gone are any scratches, oversized drum beats, or any other remnants of hip hop influence in their sound. It sounds a lot more rough and lo-fi, focusing on texture and tension, instead of the relatively warm and inviting sound of their first two albums. Guitars are much more prominent and Beth Gibbon's voice sounds half buried most of the time. Where Dummy and their second album were made for relaxing late at night, listening to Third is about as comfortable as walking in a hailstorm.
The opener Silence starts off with a voice speaking in Portuguese, and for some reason it set me on edge. The rest of Silence builds tension with a throbbing drum beat and swelling strings. The song keeps building and building and them it abruptly cuts off, leaving you wanting some kind of resolution that never comes. The whole album seems built on this jerky sequencing that bounces you between different tempos and moods, but always keeps you guessing and uncomfortable. The best example is the trio of songs in the middle of the album, We Carry On, Deep Water, and Machine Gun. We Carry On has this driving and taunt low end beat that keeps on moving and stuttering, punctuated by an occasional guitar line and sheets of noise. The next song Deep Water is a brief interlude featuring only Gibbons voice, occasional barbershop style backup singing and a ukulele. You're sort of lulled to sleep before the dueling drum machines on Machine Gun wakes you up. It's a masterful job of sequencing because you're only allowed to breath for a minute before being jerked back to life. Other songs like The Rip and Small start out with Gibbons' unaccompanied by a beat before the song kicks in to gear, again jarring my senses. It's similar in motivation, but not neccesarily technique to the GZA's Liquid Swords. Both albums are so tense that it's hard to breath, and both have this shifting dynamic that makes it's uncomfortable to listen to.
The only drawback, and it's a minor one, are Gibbons' lyrics. I didn't think it was possible for her to seem any more forlorn and whispy, but I guess I was wrong. Part of this is the production, which has her voice buried or obscured in the mix a lot of the time, but her lyrics are still as bleak as they come. It's honestly fairly easy to ignore her lyrics though because her voice is still evocative and adds to the uncomfortable mood of the music.
Third is a brilliant album and a worthy addition to their catalogue. Right now I don't think it's as good as Dummy, but it's easily as good as their second album, maybe even better. Over time I can see this becoming my favorite release from the band. Third is a near masterpiece.
21 of 32 customers found the following review helpful:
 What's so wrong about wanting more of the same?????, 2008-04-30
Everyone keeps praising this album for having a fresh sound. Yes "Third" does sound different then past albums, and everyone praises them for that. However personally I want more of the old style. That is the Portishead I can bob my head to. Their first two albums is what brought me to love and appreciate the band(and you other fans too!), so why is it so wrong for them to make another album like them?? I would love another album of fantastic songs that I can listen to from beginning to end.
I'm not saying the album isn't without merit. However A lot of the album has the feel of Beth/rustin man project, "Out of Season". The recipe of their songs on the last two albums worked so well. If you are expecting the same groove that you loved about their first two albums, you will be let down. If you really loved "Out of Seasons" and mixed in some(a small bit) of the portishead feel, then you might be happy. That being said, I would have welcomed More of the Same from such a wonderfully talented group!
4 of 18 customers found the following review helpful:
Let's sum this up:, 2008-04-30
Portishead moved from digital samples and cuts on Dummy to playing nearly all instruments on the 2nd self-titled LP. Their progression was not exactly seemless, but it set the standard for what to expect from the 3rd album aptly titled "3rd". Dummy is an immediate success to the downtempo listener or the bluesy electro fan. Portishead, though it might take you off guard on initial assessment, is a substantial follow-up under any terms. I heard a lot of things about this new album but I left it to myself to form my own expectations and today being the day it was released in America, I am not surprised and definitely not disappointed. The Live DVD brought me back into a "Portishead mood" sometime ago and I ended up buying the Live album and the 2-disc retakes, which kept my love for Portishead not only revived, but I would nearly say - more than ever. "3rd" landed at a great time with a definite sign of the times and an artistic progression that is DeFiNiTeLY in suit of the precedent set some ago - not only in quality, but frequency of releases. If you feel you can follow Portishead to the next level of enjoyment, then buy this! I can't see where this album could let anyone down no matter what degree of listener you may be.
7 of 12 customers found the following review helpful:
 A New Direction, 2008-04-30
"menacing", "dark", "frightening" are all words you will see when reading reviews for the album. Third is not a quick thrills kind of record.
This is meant to be heard in long play format, and won't give you much instant gratification.
However, the long term rewards are well worth the investment. Portishead have grown, and continue to shown their revelance for the listener that begs to be fed.
"silience"
the album begins with a formal sounding porugusee voice saying something to the affect of "you'll get what you deserve"..
you are then led to a wind up of various eletronic instruments until they all come together into a nice groove.
the melodic bass line complements the drum track perfectly. at about 230 we are greeted with
the familar vocals of beth gibbons "...wounded and afraid.....going through changes". then it fully comes together,
you realize that you are listening to the first new portishead music in 10 years. the cello heard through out
really is the icing on the cake of this enjoyable opener.
"hunter"
to all those that think portishead would be a good choice to do a james bond theme song, this song adds more fuel to that fire.
pounding toms with tourchured guitar make a good back drop for beth to swoon. "if i should fall would you hold me"?
need you ask beth?
"nylon smile"
this track has a middle eastern flair with a very simple effective groove. you can picture
a picture beth snaking charming the pants off of lover. this is a possible 3rd single on the album.
this songs seems to be about beth's curtain relationship. "i dont know what i've dont to deserve you,
I don't know what'd I do without you". Hopefully she has found someone worthy of her love.
"the rip"
very similar to beth's solo album. we are treated to a simple classical guitar that starts off this gorgeuos
slow burner. What other song can you think of that feautures a bassoon during the climax? The vocal effects
used on beth are truly appreciated when listened to at a high volume. This song was mixed and mastered perfectly.
"Plastic"
Broken beats, and the first sign on the album of classic portishead. This track could have fit in very well on their second album,
and may be the track that links the two together. The classic stop, start method works again, and we know
begin to see how the old portishead and the new fit together. This track is quite deep, filled with a lot of pink floyd snyth,
and depths of hell moans.
"We Carry On"
A highlight of the recent tour, this track shows that Portishead is still progressing. "The taste of life I can't descibe"...envelopes
Silver Apples esque rhythms. The raw guitars and fantastic drumming really work well here. The music break down of the climax
rivals the high moments off OK Computer. The changes of tempo and structure make this quite a thrill to soak in.
"Deep Water"
The first real shocker on the album comes equip with barbershop vocals courtsey of the someerfield workers choir, and ukulele.
"Machine Gun"
Now the album takes a sharp turn into much darker territory.
Here is where the meanacing comments come in to play. Led by a brutal repetitive drum track, this song can only be appreciated
on a nice stereo system. If you can last until the end you are treated with a climatic symth line that tops off the unforgiving
first single. This song really must have been what Geoff was worried about on his blog, when he worried whether or not they
would "piss off the fondue society". Beth's beautiful vocal and second shadow track really make this song listenable. They really
wanted to challenge the listner here, and they succeeded.
"Small"
Probably a track that would fit on a cold rainy night by the fire place. This is really a signal that we are in the gut on the album.
Slow guitars lead you through a emotional ride through beth's fragile mind. This track has a middle section
that could have been on any doors album, and has enough musical goodies to entertain you through out.
"Magic Doors"
Whoever there there would be cowbell on a portishead record? Just one of many surprizes on third.
The lyrics "I can't deny what I've become, I'm just emotionally undone" flow perfeclly with the smooth bass led opening.
Another left turn near the end with brief saxophone segway into beth's final few words. This track is one of
the more accesible tracks on Third.
"Threads"
A lot of fans have singled this out as their favorite on various blogs and message boards. As with "Plastic" we see a slight connection
to older Portishead with this one. Another song that fits in with the songs on the second album, this track in a long closer that
really tops off the album quite well. Beth gives a knockout bluesy vocal performance that leaves you begged for more, yet very
satisfied.
9 of 31 customers found the following review helpful:
Its been a long decade, 2008-04-29
Lets be honest, this album isn't going to change the world. I became a Portishead fan just as their second album was released, so it's so nice for them to be back...but after a decade, many would be happy with ANYTHING, no matter how bad.
Fortunately, this is a pretty decent album. Hunter, Nylon Smile, The Rip, Small, and especially Threads (I consider it the best on the album) are all good tracks. The others don't stand out as much, my finger itches to the > button when they come on. Deep Water is garbage (sorry).
If you are a Portishead fan, or even like them a little, you should buy this. If you are not yet a Portishead fan, buy the first two albums (Dummy and Portishead) and THEN purchase this if you like those two (just as you should watch Episode 4, 5, and 6 BEFORE the others).
Glad they are back, and let's hope that we don't need to wait another 10 years to hear them again!
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