Allan’s World of Music

Portishead - Third Review
19 May 2008, Allan @ 7:11 pm

I’ll give a disclaimer right off the bat, I have not listened to any other Portishead album and while they’ve been out since 1991 it’s hard to know about a band that had their last release when I was just 8. I was still into the Backstreet Boys or whatever mainstream stuff they played.

I decided to check this album due to strong reviews, early pre-record release hype and a track that was just off the charts sick in “Machine Gun”. The album wasn’t far from expectations as I was kind of expecting something weird and probably causing an outer-body experience as if I was high…maybe drugs would make this album 10x better?

There are really very few comparisons I can make, I think my knowledge is limited on the subject but the atmosphere feels a little bit like Burial’s Untrue where there’s more of a dark/eerie spine-tingling atmosphere created with the music coupled with Beth Gibbons sincere voice.

I know this music is pretty darn good but sometimes it’s just I don’t feel like I like it as much. It has more to do with style rather then actual substance so it’s a personal preference (or my brain) that I won’t enjoy this album as much. The elements are great, it’s a great electronica album from every sense of the word and while there isn’t anything I could change, the line between best and great is quite thin. Like there were rumblings that “The Rip” should be one of the best songs of the year but it didn’t quite win me over until the 5th listen and even then I’m not sure I would recommend that to the masses.

Definitely an album that has artwork written all over it but it’s not for everyone (though that’s not a bad thing). I really don’t know how this album will be for me for a few months from now…maybe I’ll go back to it and say “Wow I lowballed them” or I’ll just forget it and I’d be happy with the review.

I’d like to give this album a top score but hey remember it’s just a blog after all and it’s quite possible that the only people that take us seriously is ourselves
Rating: 4.25 out of 5.

Machine Gun by Portishead

The Rip by Portishead

Buy this album at: Insound and Cd Universe

2 Comments for “Portishead - Third Review”

1. Ricky — May 21, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
   

   heres hoping they tour tdot

2. Anonymous — July 1, 2008 @ 10:59 am
   

   Machine Gun (Portishead vs Sun Visor)

   http://mog.com/SunVisor/blog_post/170233

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