All Mine - Portishead

Advantages: First new LP in over a decade
Disadvantages: Terrible lyrics

...discovered the future sound of heartache. Dummy inverted hip-hop. Slowing down the beats, removing the machismo and replacing it with angst and twisted song writing. Geoff Barrow strip mined the sonic template of hip-hop, capsizing the structure. These static Luna landscapes and haunted dancehalls where the perfect foil for Beth Gibbon's smoky evocations. The signifiers we all too quickly collected collated and copied by a host of pale imitators. The skinny latte genre of Trip Hop was commoditised and packaged. Now blaming Portishead for the likes of Sneaker Pimps is like blaming Elvis for Cliff Richard or The Beatles for Oasis the source material might be the same, the outcomes somewhat different. The bands reaction to the wholesale larceny of their sound was to get darker, harder and grittier. The second LP, confusingly titled Portishead... Read review

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Advantages: Everything Portishead
Disadvantages: Not for Mr and Mrs Average

...Portishead - the album by Portishead. This is not your typical mainstream band or music. I'm sure they fit into some category but what it is I don't really know. I have all their albums but this was the first one I bought, probably having been influenced to buy it by hearing the single - All Mine. The unmistakable voice of Beth Gibbons is enchanting and very ethereal. She is accompanied by an array of drum beats, horns and strings, multiple 'odd' devices that produce singularly unique noises, scratching and sampling or whatever the hell it is called and some deep, haunting lyrics. I saw them live at T in the Park. It was a wet, miserably smelly evening at the back of a big tent. I was somewhere near the front by the end of the second song and revelling in their live set which was breathtaking. This album is blessed with many... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Calming, relaxing
Disadvantages: u can't stop listening to it!

...Originally, I had nevr heard of Portishead! it wasn't till my sister had bought it, that i realised the band existed! Once I had heard this album, i was hooked! From the 1st track till the last, you are poured into the world of Portishead! their use of unusual sounds make up unusual pieces which please the ear! The infamouse ROADS, which u will probably recognise as soon as u hear it! The haunting GLORY BOX is one of my favourites! I Assure you, you will not be dissapointed with this album! Some may find it a little depressing, but if u can pass that, this may be the best CD you will buy! Run a bath, light some candles and turn out the lights, play this CD!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful