Portishead 3 (Third)

[leng jai]

I'm glad its not just me then. I can't listen to Portishead because of it, it gives me a headache.

 

[Davey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leng jai /img/forum/go_quote.gif I can't listen to Portishead because of it, it gives me a headache.

That's silly.

 

[Davey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by omegaman /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyway a few more days and I can decide for myself.

Always the best way. Brilliant record, though. Hard to think of another band that got this adventurous so far in their career. You gotta think they love music to put this kind of effort over so long a time span into a new release, when it woulda been so much easier to recycle 1995. Definitely in contention for best thing I've heard this year. Better and better with each time I hear it. I smile each time they take an unexpected turn. And I smile a lot listening to Third. Love it

 

[dgbiker1]

Overall I'm enjoying the album thus far, even with stiff competition from the National.
I have to agree with leng jai on the distortion. It didn't bother me on Dummy since everything was fuzzy, it added a warmth to the album IMO. With Third, everything seems to be recorded fairly cleanly making the distortion jarring- it sounds more like my amp is broken than the cozy feeling one got from Dummy.

 

[sailboat]

i agree with the above, gives me goosebumps every time i listen to that album. the beginning of 'cowboys' did that too except it was beth's voice.

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

I gave it a few more spins after this thread, and I still don't get it...sigh...its all too random for me, and there is nothing I can get hooked to.
(Or maybe its because I am listening to a lot of Death metal/Heavy Metal these days thanks to the huge Death Metal thread )

I'm quite content with going back to Dummy and Portishead however

 

[Ttvetjanu]

I personally think that it is the randomness that makes me think this is their best album so far. (+ it is so very beautiful)

 

[Audirephilos]

[size=small]Its hard for me to talk about the album without mentioning different elements that make it or break it. ..........so here it goes!!

"Third" is not Portishead's greatest album, but it's not their worst either.
"Third" is like a flower that needs to be watered and nurtured so it can grow to be beautiful, but if there isn't just enough sun, just enough water, it'll eventually die. What can I say!...I didn't even expect them to make a third album. I was very satisfied with the other two, along with all the singles, remixes, and B sides. I applaud them for bringing us yet another album full of surprises. Just when we felt we had them figured out, they pull out a stunt like "Third". My initial reaction was dull, kind of dissappointed, but eager to listen again. After many tries......I listened to it from beginning to end, I set it up in Shuffle, listened to random tracks. The first track I began liking right away was.....
"The Rip", the way it starts out is haunting!.....and it becomes agressive and it delighted me with its beautiful Guitar melody and transitional Beth vocals that blend in with the instruments. The album starts out with
"Silence" an ok track with an off-beat structure, which I thought was a bad CD at first.

not a good way to start an album after 10 years of nothing. It would put off a lot of people.
"Hunter" I prefer!! sounds a lot like the Portishead we grew to love, mellow, with a a classic Trip Hop beat, very laidback.
"Nylon Smile" uses lots of percussion drums. I'm not too
fond of her voice in this track, sounds a bit annoying.
"Plastic" Excellent sound fx used here. I like the Chopper fx makes you feel like they're performing on a heliport, great atmosphere! Classic organ sounds. This grows on you and stays with you.
"We carry on" upbeat and different, with some guitar distortions. Some sounds here are a bit detuned or offkey, for whatever reason.
I don't understand why oh why?#*is
"Deep Water"
really needed in this album? It doesn't fit at all....... ugly singing.....this is the turd of the album. Thank God it lasts no longer than a min & a half.
Love "Machine gun" cool gun like drums and Synth stab patterns....kind of hypnotic as synths distort and flange towards the end.
"Small" is very mellow and it starts out with a soft, almost whispered vocal. It's a bit boring at first but if you keep listening in about 2 mins or so, the synthesizer comes in and the groovy drums are a dream. Love the melodies also, nice track overall.
"Magic Doors" has excellent vocals with a haunting melody. One of my favorite tracks along with "The Rip". Weird synth waves after the chorus, create a creepy atmosphere. It ends with
"Threads"...which is a better than average finisher. It leaves you wanting more!! The vocals at the end sound like a plead almost sheep like. It fades out with some powerful and loud horns. It sounds like a huge ship sailing away in the distance. Way to end the album!! Overall "Third" while not pleasant right away, it will leave an itch that will need some scratching....... eventually.[/size][size=small]

[/size]

 

[Riggaberto]

I'm not going to backread this entire thread, but:

I love the song writing and music, but I really don't get why it's so lo-fi, it's disgusting.

It's not hip hop anymore, where is the crisp production and sick beats?

Song writing is as good as ever though, the Rip is especially good.

 

[sailboat]

to me, portishead has always been sort of low-fi sounding, but its one of the things that makes them good.

and they're more trip-hop than anything

 

[aaron313]

Well, I enjoy their sound, and think it is a good album. But Dummy has those several tracks that always hit the spot in a way the new album does not.

 

[The Actual]

anyone hear the new Portishead track Chase the Tear?
is avabilable here
7digital - Portishead ‘Chase The Tear&#8217
all proceeds go to Amnesty International




song is ultra good! even shows growth and development of musical aesthetic since Third which is great to see.

any fan go buy this!