Third - Portishead > Reviews

Advantages: The return of a forgotten band
Disadvantages: Too cocky, bouncing off the back of a 14 year old album

...sound, and the music from Third is no exception to this rule. As a whole I cannot say I am impressed with Third, there is a lot of stuff that sounds out of place, wrong in fact for today's market; while time has moved on it seems Portishead have stayed still with a very 1994 sounding album, I guess almost attempting to recreate the magic of Dummy. Now off the back of this statement however it may come as a surprise to hear me say (or at least read ... Read review

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

...of THIRD; the aptly named third album that is in fact the fourth from the band if you choose to include the live album recorded in New York with a full-scale symphony orchestra. So, has it been worth the wait? It would be easy to say no after such a notable absence but in fact, I actually am starting to really, really like this and think it is a contender for their best album yet. There were many of their fans who initially were not keen on their ... Read review

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

Portishead - Third (Island Records) The release of Third by Portishead has been imbued with a heavy cultural significance. It has been reviewed on the Late Review, generated acres of coverage in the music press and broadsheet newspapers and there is a growing online buzz. It feels less like a release more an event. In a music scene so deprived of anything approaching sonic innovation, there is a desperate desire for Third to be an audio panacea. ... Read review