Dear Portishead listeners,

It's been 3 days since its release,i know it is too early to talk about THIRD,but i wonder what is your first impression about this album ?

 

For me it is a great record which has deep,dark,mellow sounds and vocals.Welcome back Portishead.

i cant stop listening to it. strangely enough parts of it remind me of sonic youth at their most disjointed

The more I listen to this the more I love it.  This one is a must for headphones.

Marvellous.

The more i listen to it,
The more it changes
The more i think about 
That I think
Therefore 3rd. 

 

I don't like it. I'm not sure what their intent was with this album. And what's with the Hawaiian song smacked right in the middle of the album? Awful song is an awful spot.

Well, i am a big fan of Portishead, i love the Beth Gibbon's voice so painful and delicate  and i find their music original and creative in a world of music so conformist, it is quite miraculous!

This Third album is very different from the others , more experimental and it is a great mix of musical styles.

Portishead could have produced a copy of their previous album in order not to take any risk but the band has decided to show their musical evolution after 10 years of silence...It is a proof of their artistic honesty!

Of course, in the beginning, it may surprise and seem strange or aggressive; but i think you must listen many times to it before discovering all its richness...

THANK YOU FOR THIS TREASURE TO LOVE WITHOUT RESTRAINT

The problem is, their musical evolution has moved backwards not forward. This new album is no where near as good as the last. Nothing wrong with progression or change but at least make it good.

 i like the hawaiian song, "deep water" took me half the song before i started digging it, but it happened. id suggest putting the disc away, lighting up a big fat joint, laying in the middle of your floor in your room putting the disc back in, and turning the bass way up.

 
portisheads music is best enjoyed under the influence.

I really don't understand how anyone couldn't like this.  Maybe you people don't get out much and don't like inaccessible music.  Not that this is entirely inaccessible either.  I don't know what the problem is.  Not only does it push the boundaries for the band but it takes an enirely different approach with the production and the arrangements.  It sounds very fresh and different for the band.  The songs sound unfinished and unpolished? What did you want traditional song structures and slick production? Give me a break.  This album is far more impressive to these ears than their first two albums.  Instead of going the tired old trip hop route with beats and scratches this goes in a more experimental and interesting direction.  Great guitar improv and drones.  Incredible percussive drum grooves.  It's just so beautiful.  In fact beth is the only part of the group that makes the album sound like a portishead record and I think it's for the best.

drainyoo:

The problem is, their musical evolution has moved backwards not forward. This new album is no where near as good as the last. Nothing wrong with progression or change but at least make it good.

That's perhaps the dumbest thing I've ever heard.  well, not ever but still.  Tell me when did they sound like this? How have they moved backwards? Whether you like it or not is opinion but they have definitely moved forward.

What to say that hasn't already been said much better?

I think this album is great.  It's dark--obviously--but the melodies for the most part are top-notch.  On the more acoustic based songs, I notice a faint influence from Beth's solo album, meaning I think they gave her room to continue developing her sound as well.  Their core as a 3-piece is firmly in place and the result is at times a disturbing but genuine success.  Any criticisms I have about Third are fleeting at best.

All I know is the music moves me.  Each time I put the album on, I find a new favorite--"Magic Doors" being my current fave--which is a great feeling after beeing highly impressed with ALL the material since first listening.  Third does its job as a piece of art, where it provokes strong reactions, both positive and negative.  And that's fine.  I love it!

-JHJ

i agree completely

Just because its different doesn't mean its better. If you think they have moved forward then I have a bunch of old faith healers, sonic youth, & other abstract stuff that was cool to me in 93 when I was a lsd enthusiast that you would love. I realize that music is made for everyone not just producers. Yes I am a producer and of course my first reaction in that state of mind is CRAPCRAPCRAP. Any one song off of Dummy took more time to write and produce than this whole album. As far as just being a music enthusiast (and dedicated Portishead fan) I close my eyes and feel nothing from this noise. It hurts to listen to this garbage. Its like if Porsche came out with a new car that had no headlights. Yah it may look different and be thinking outside the box but YOU CANT SEE AT NIGHT...DUH..GOD MAN IF THEY RECORDED THEMSELVES TAKING A DUMP YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE LIKE "WOAH DUDE SO ORIGINAL"

Sorry, that last post was for sampling virus

grow:

Any one song off of Dummy took more time to write and produce than this whole album. As far as just being a music enthusiast (and dedicated Portishead fan) I close my eyes and feel nothing from this noise. It hurts to listen to this garbage. Its like if Porsche came out with a new car that had no headlights. Yah it may look different and be thinking outside the box but YOU CANT SEE AT NIGHT...DUH..GOD MAN IF THEY RECORDED THEMSELVES TAKING A DUMP YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE LIKE "WOAH DUDE SO ORIGINAL"

 You're just being an idiot.  Why would I waste any time on you? I'll just mention something, how much time they took on the album is irrelevant.  It's about the destination not the journey.

i agree with JHJ, it totally moves me. every time i listen i hear things i didnt hear on the previous listen.

 i think you guys who are so vehemently anti-third should remember, just because you dont like an artists release doesnt make it rubbish. if you want another "dummy" or self titled release go back and listen to them. i love the updated sound. f'ing brilliant

people tend to hate things they dont understand