Portishead - Portishead

The bad news is that there is no "Sour Times" to equal the first album's greatness. Lead single "Cowboys" doesn't do the trick, not with its '50s sci-fi dub vibe and the Yma Sumac stylings of Beth Gibbons. The upside is that this bold sophomore release is, even at this late date in trip-hop's evolution, still startling, thanks to the mix of Geoff Barrow's soundscapes and Gibbons's haunting wail. --Jeff Bateman Amazon.com

Severe version of Portishead obiterated sophomore jinx and created otherworldly masterpiece

I can't think of an instance since Elvis Costello's brilliant This Year's Model that an artist or group so thoroughly obliterated the sophomore jinx in the face of high expectations as Portishead did on this one. And Portishead did so in the same way: by ratcheting up the intensity to a severe level just hinted at in their excellent, but comparatively tame debut.

By taking their distinctive, eerie sound to a new level, Portishead created a nightmarish, heart-wrenchingly emotional, yet catchy groove quite unlike anything before or since. March 29, 2008

My favourite Portishead

Portishead has yet to put out a bad CD and in my opinion this is their best. March 6, 2008

Portishead is mesmerizing trip hop.

Following their success with Dummy (1994), Bristol band Portishead released their second electronic Trip Hop self-titled album in 1997. With a mesmerizing sound similar to two other Bristol bands, Tricky and Massive Attack, Portishead (instrumentalist Geoff Barrow, guitarist Adrian Utley, and vocalist Beth Gibbons) blends dark, melancholic, down-tempo electronica with hip-hop, jazz and dub to create a unique sound. Stand out tracks include "Half Day Closing," and three UK singles, "Cowboys," "Over," and "All Mine."Complete album tracks include:

1. Cowboys (4:39)
2. All Mine (4:00)
3. Undenied (4:20)
4. Half Day Closing (3:47)
5. Over (3:55)
6. Humming (6:02)
7. Mourning Air (4:12)
8. Seven Months (4:16)
9. Only You (4:59)
10. Elysium (5:54)
11. Western Eyes (3:59)

G. Merritt January 29, 2008

In my opinion, better than Dummy.

For the sole reason that this album far transcends the poppy undertones of Dummy, I give it a 5/5.

That being said, I'd still like to give a track-by-track review of this product.

SHORTEST TRACK: Half Day Closing (also one of the best)
LONGEST TRACK: Humming (another favorite of mine)

Cowboys: You can't help but feel the eerie opening to this album pulsate in your mind as the first kick drum hits grace your eardrums. Beth sings in a screeching tone of voice, almost scornful, giving this song an intensity unmatched by previous songs. My only gripe is that it loses its bass after those initial drumstrikes. 9/10

All Mine: An enjoyably simple bump, its lyrics are hard-hitting and possessive (Tethered and tied/there's nowhere to hide from me). 9/10

Undenied: Starts with a moody 55-second instrumental (I love it!), then Beth's lyrics come in as a contrast to the last song (this one is about losing love rather than keeping love close). 10/10

Half Day Closing: The confusing beat and heavy distortion on the instruments and lyrics (at one point, Beth's voice sounds like a distorted guitar!) make this one quite dark and heavy. The lyrics are about the changing times, and how innocence has been lost. 10/10

Over: Starts off with a creepy acoustic guitar, then builds into a strange ballad with heavy drums that burst with string hits. The lyrics match the atmosphere; they are equally creepy. 9/10

Humming: My favorite on the album (and luckily, the longest!) It starts off with a cliché UFO-style humming (hence the title) accompanied by what sounds like reversed strings, then the beat blasts in at 1:30 with lyrics that seem to be about sex. 10.5/10!

Mourning Air: Soft and sad, this song is about holding on tight to love, at risk of slipping into depression. A pretty amazing track. 9.5/10

Seven Months: I don't like this one as much as the others, but it still packs a punch. The scornful lyrics accompany its beat well. 9/10

Only You: The most credited samples lie in this track, but are not too noticeable, as samples are in other tracks. The lyrics are stunning, and Beth sings them with passion. 10/10

Elysium: The name of the track means "paradise," but the lyrics are about hate and self-hate, which makes for another one of those title-lyric contrasts that can make or break an album. This one makes it! 9.5/10

Western Eyes: This song is the most friendly on the album, but certainly still darker than those on Dummy. The sample at the end goes well with the beat, but it should have been placed elsewhere in the song, IMO. 10/10

Final verdict: 10/10

I love this album, and it arrived at my house promptly and in excellent condition. Thank you! April 25, 2007

I had higher expectations

I had seen two music videos for this CD and thought it was going to be great. After listening to all the tracks, I only liked maybe three. I am a heavy trip-hop and acid jazz fan, but this was just psychidelic junk. It was like a whiny, down-beat version of aphex twin. I guess, if thats your thing... buy it NOW! April 25, 2007

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