Glory Times - Portishead

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

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Advantages: Strangely addictive, compelling and in equal parts mysterious and haunting
Disadvantages: Takes a couple of listens to really appreciate it's brilliance

..., then that is surely no bad thing. To be fair, on first play I wasn't sure what to make of this album but having heard it several times now (the album has not been out of my car in the three weeks since I bought it) I am definetly hooked. It is a bit of a grower that you may or may not get first-time around but compelling, continued play is a good sign of an album's longevity. I remember not really understanding quite why I liked DUMMY the first few times I heard it, just knowing it was a very weird but brilliant album (the only two tracks I was really comfortable with were the singles, SOUR TIMES and GLORY BOX) and it took several repeated listens before it became one of my top, favourite albums of all time and listening to THIRD is a similar experience. In essence for me, it is like discovering PORTISHEAD for the first time all over again. So do I... Read review

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Advantages: original vocals, unusual effects
Disadvantages: may be a bit depressing for some

...A few weeks ago, the shortlist was decided for the Mercury Music Prize. It will inevitably be Mike Skinner (aka 'The Streets') who will pick up the coveted title that has been previously won by PJ Harvey, Badly Drawn Boy and Roni Size. Portishead won the award in 1995 for their debut 'Dummy', a genre-defining collection of beats and sounds. Fronted by the enigmatic Beth Gibbons, Portishead were founded by Geoff Barrow (who had previously worked with Massive Attack) and also featured the multi-instrumentalist Adrian Utley. Portishead emerged out of the Bristolian scene at roughly the same time as Tricky (whose 'Maxinequaye' album they beat to win the Mercury), and only a few years after Massive Attack had released their seminal 'Blue Lines' album. Lazily labelled as being 'trip-hop', Portishead were more theatrical and elusive... Read review

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