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Disc Review

PORTISHEAD

Third (Island/Universal)

By Tim Perlich

Remember Portishead? No? Well, that’s understandable, since whole genres of music have come and gone in the 11 years since their last studio album (most notably trip-hop, with which they’ve become synonymous). It’s a relief to find that they haven’t tried to replicate their past successes on Third.

They’ve maintained the dark, cinematic vibe of their best work, but instead of the dreamlike quality of the past, the sounds and structures here are assembled with more jarring consequences. If you can imagine a sonic aesthetic shift from Lalo Schifrin’s tense crime thriller scores to the pulsating whirr of the Silver Apples’ demented electro thrombipulation, you’ll have an idea of where they’re at. Even though not every twisted move they make on Third pays dividends, considering the stakes, consciously fucking with their formula is a bold gamble for which they should be saluted.

NOW | April 24-May 1, 2008 | VOL 27 NO 34

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Comments

Posted by Jim Jenners on 04/27/2008, 11:02 PM

Damn, Perlich actually likes something. Is he feeling OK?

Posted by CG on 05/02/2008, 07:46 PM

for this album, follow the rule of a new Morrissey album - listen to it at least three times before judging.

Posted by lindsay on 01/21/2009, 11:41 PM

Must say that overall I wasn't very impressed. It was like listening to Portishead on paxil. Sure the essence was there, but the overall experience lacks the emotion that has always in my opinion made the band.

Posted by Joe on 10/10/2009, 03:09 PM

I didn't like Third. There's some reasonable sounds on the album, but overall I was disappointed by too many obnoxious sound and beats (at least they named Machine Gun aptly; it's like listening to one shoot for five minutes. Not an enjoyable experience.) And then there's some really weak lyrics..

I really like Portishead. I grabbed Dummy when it was released and introduced it to my friends. Everyone took to it. The second album was also very good, but Third is not very listenable.

I really, really wanted to like the album. While I didn't demand that the album be another "Dummy," I expected something resembling the cool sounds and interesting beats from the other albums. What we got was jarring, noisy, and apparently - purposefully so.

I don't really understand the tendency for some groups to change so much just for the fact of doing so. You're not less of a musical talent if you do what you do best.