Third

Shawn | March 31, 2008 in Music | Comments (0)

Ok, so I know those of you that are close to me already know my frustration here but I thought I’d vent into this series of tubes for a few while my laundry tumbles and I sit in my underwear on this chilly but bright Sunday afternoon.

My gripe: the new Portishead album, Third.

I have been pretty excited for this record to come out for a while now. I LOVE the other 2 records. They have a sound that is compelling, moving, somber yet exciting, somewhat nostalgic but remaining remarkably fresh (their first album Dummy still sounds relevant today and it’s over 10 years old). Their new album however, has left me very disappointed.

Shedding the edgy beats of the past 2 albums, I now see exactly what element made their sound so exciting and distinct. What’s left is a very flat and dreary collection of songs held up only by the hauntingly tortured voice of Beth Gibbons. The atmospheric grooves seem lackluster, strained. All the punctuation has been sadly omitted leaving a moodier, if sorely diffused album without any discernible peak or valley.

I came into this album really REALLY wanting to love it. After a few listens I was heartbroken to feel my urge strengthen more each song to switch the music to something else. I could write much more here and compare the work to other artists, dig into what changes have been made to the band’s lineup, their reasoning behind the recent change in direction, etc. But I won’t. It’s just my humble opinion that this album is one of the biggest disappointing releases to me in a long time. I still respect them as artists doing what they feel they need to do to grow and continue to evolve. I sadly see them going in a new direction that I will not be following.