Review:

on 2009-06-25 muddyfish_uk Said:

Portishead retreated into obscurity for 10 years before releasing 'Third'. The band which produced the surprisingly fashionable 'Dummy' back in 1994 which, at the time cast asunder the snowballing popularity of Britpop by appealing to a new, trendy and in vogue trip-hop audience and later won a Mercury Prize award for it. By embracing themes of depression and coldness contrary to the average Britpop lyric at the time - the record stood out and cemented Portishead in the minds of music critics and fans alike for quite sometime.

The band have departed from the operatic soundscapes of 'Dummy' and trespassed into harrowing territory where they seem to have become rather comfortable judging by the assured nature of the record. Gone too is the film noir-esque qualities of 'Dummy' and with this the 'background' music tag which was all too often associated with Portishead. Despite the fact that 'Dummy' should never have been categorised as background music (it was far too adventurous for that) this worked it way back to the band who, it was rumoured, were appalled that their creation had been misinterpreted in such a way. 14 years and 2 albums later - 'Third' has succeeded in shocking listeners and is impossible to be taken in any way other that which was intended by the band.

'Third' isn't an album to be consumed in bits. It should be listened to in its entirety in one sitting so that its genius can unfurl around you. It takes time to sink in. Those fans expecting some 'chill-out' will be highly disappointed. 'Third' will shock you with its often abrasive industrial soundscapes. Drawing on harsh percussion and noise samples the album paints a bleak picture of depression and sorrow. As such, you'll likely be put off after an initial listen. However, with time and effort the rewards will come to you and you will likely be surprised that something so varied, often confusing and maddeningly eclectic could be so rewarding a listen.
Rating: 10/10

Review:

on 2008-06-26 SolitaryMan Said:

I had no familiarity with Portishead at all (besides knowing the name and the fame) before hearing this record, which I picked up based on some positive reviews around the net. I'll be damned if it isn't one of the most simply coolest records of the year. I have no idea what they USED to sound like, but right now, they sound like a trip-hop band experimenting to no end and pulling all the right stops. The songs are all so varied and full of exciting moments, and this girl's vocals...they're almost perfect. I regret never hearing them in my younger years, because if this album is any indication, I'd have been a hardcore Portishead fan for years. The last half of the album is nothing but gems, my favorites are "We Carry On" and "Small". I don't know how this would help an old Portishead fan figure out if the album is worth taking a chance on in the face of possibly killing those old memories, but the songwriting, style and technical substance of "Third" are all top notch.
Not Rated