Music : Third

Rating: - This is evolution.
I'm not really good at reviews, so I'll keep this short:

Like most of the reviewers on this website, I loved Dummy and the other Portishead albums. Like some of the reviewers, I concur that this is not like old Portishead at all; this is a new direction, and one that, like Dummy was in its time, representative of the zeitgeist of this time.

The music is cold, alienating, and very complex. The harsher quality to the sound makes everything feel that much more deliberate; you can hear the synth, you can tell that the beats and bass were constructed artificially from ground up because it is that raw and unpolished. It brings something new to the world of music; it isn't a simple rehash of old tried-and-true gimmicks, and it feels extremely well thought out.

But at the end of the day it isn't for everyone. I'd suggest looking for samples/clips of these tracks before deciding to plonk down the cash for it.

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Rating: - You had me at "Dummy"... and then fell-the-funk-off!
I'm not going to use a bunch of pretty words to compel you to accept my review as "gospel" because I'm smart or something. I'm gonna just make this simple and plain.

I bought into Portishead when the Trip-Hop movement was in full swing... back when it was pretty much Portishead and Massive Attack on top of the WORLD.

If this album would have been released instead of Dummy, back in 1994, they would have vanished. But instead they released something dark and mysterious... something miserable, strange and hip. The samples, the cuts & scratches, the theremin, the breaks. It used to be music for the A.D.D. inflicted. Now, it's so boring I can't pay attention for more than 20 seconds for it to grow on me. I've moved on to more stimulating sounds now like Architecture In Helsinki and Vampire Weekend now.

Trip-hop died such a quick and painless death, kids don't even recognize it as a genre anymore.

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Rating: - There won't be a "Fourth"!
No one enjoyed Portishead more than me back in the day. I consider their work eclectic, yet musical. The use of scratching is not novel, but it somehow fit with their vibe. And while many thought the music was depressing, Portishead was a very accurate reflection of the times. For many years many of their fans hoped they might produce more work.

"Third" is not that work. They should not have come back. It's just that simple. They do not have any new ideas; in fact, they seem more stripped down, more spare, more minimalist. I've got the perfect word: nonsensical. These are half baked musical ideas here; very little in terms of form, motif, chorus, anything. A warbling vocal is not enough. I'm hardpressed to call this an effort. I am sorry they came back. Portishead's return is like the Pixies return. Not very good the second time around.

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Rating: - An interesting new direction
A lot of people were clearly expecting Dummy 2, and I can understand why those folks might be disappointed with this album, just like some people were upset when Radiohead didn't make another Bends. I personally think this is the way Portishead needed to go after 11 years without an album. They'd have been spinning their wheels if they'd have stuck to the same old sounds and beats.
It's definitely not as accessible as Dummy, but I get the same feeling of engagement and challenge listening to Third today as I did with Dummy back in 1994.

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Rating: - You will enjoy this album if you get over trip hop.
I really love this new portishead. I am kind of glad that it took them more than 10 years to put out this album. If it were to come out any earlier, I would probably hated it simply because its not trip hop. You know that sound: hip hop beats, lush/cinematic string arrangement, turntable scratches, old film score samples. That was the sound that most people love but that sound have reached it peak in 1998. This is now, portishead have moved on and they offer something new that is really good. Its not a difficult album at all if you give it a listen. The album is melodic, beth still have a great voice and some songs I find a certain groove to them. The album is dark but its catchy. They are still an interesting band. Leave trip hop back in '98 and enjoy portishead now.