Customer Reviews
Doesn't move their sound forward and is dull - By: Mr. J. J. BURTON, 15 Jul 2008 
One of the most boring albums I've heard recently, as a fan of 'Dummy' this bears little resemblance to what was an amazing sound with amazing vocals. Here the music sounds old & tired, the vocals are nowhere near as impressive & it greatly disappointed me that only one track (magic doors) comes anywhere near to the brilliance of 'Dummy'.
Every other track on this album is monotonous & a waste of time - but hey perhaps you'll like it! For me I can think of many other groups who still push the boundaries & make interesting tunes while Portishead walllow in this dreary depressing rubbish that doesn't even compare to their debut from ten years ago(?)
Indeterminable songs for mongs - By: Rat M'Scrat, 07 Jul 2008 Background music - yes - but other than that sorry i just dont get it ... a collection of beats & signing with no real direction or melody ... if you're a fan then well done you obviously got it - but this is a bit to trippy & out there for me ...
Give me Muse any day of the week!!
Brilliant! - By: R. Earney, 07 Jul 2008 
This album bears repeated listening, & after a while it clicks & you realise just how good it is.
The Rip - song of the year
Too long away... - By: Vorinia, 29 Jun 2008 I'm going to make this short & sweet as I don't want to waste too much time, but in the time between albums 2 & 3, it seems to me that Portishead have simply spent the years collecting every single annoying noise that they can find, & slapping it together in an effort to create "music".
Don't get me wrong, I've been a Portishead fan since the start, & regularly listen to self-titled, & PNYC, but THIS! I'm disappointed, sorely so.
Only for fans - By: Claudio, 27 Jun 2008 
Frankly it's not hard listening, it's just plainly unlistenable! The noise & alll the orchestration should be very innovative while they are in fact reminiscent of 70s industrial music & some pink floyd more sperimental stuff, only that this was 30 yrs ago, you would expect something new from a band which was at the forefront of the innovation when they first came out, not just a bad replay of Kraftwerk stuff! Furthermore, they spent years working on background noises & then forgot to write decent melodies to go along with them. Funnily enough Beth Gibson's solo record was just great & had fantastic melodies while this is pure noise with Beth moaning over it. Overalll I cannot save one single song, don't trust the other reviewers, it's only for fans!
