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Portishead
Portishead
Retail Price (not our price): $13.98
Release Date: 1997-09-30
Manufacturer: London / UMGD
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1

Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...

Disc 1

Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com
The bad news is that there is no "Sour Times" to equal the first album's greatness. Lead single "Cowboys" doesn't do the trick, not with its '50s sci-fi dub vibe and the Yma Sumac stylings of Beth Gibbons. The upside is that this bold sophomore release is, even at this late date in trip-hop's evolution, still startling, thanks to the mix of Geoff Barrow's soundscapes and Gibbons's haunting wail. --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

1) My favourite Portishead   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Portishead has yet to put out a bad CD and in my opinion this is their best.

2) Portishead is mesmerizing trip hop.   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Following their success with Dummy (1994), Bristol band Portishead released their second electronic Trip Hop self-titled album in 1997. With a mesmerizing sound similar to two other Bristol bands, Tricky and Massive Attack, Portishead (instrumentalist Geoff Barrow and vocalist Beth Gibbons) blends dark, melancholic, down-tempo electronica with hip-hop, jazz and dub to create a unique sound. Stand out tracks include "Half Day Closing," and three UK singles, "Cowboys," "Over," and "All Mine."Complete album tracks include:1. Cowboys (4:39) 2. All Mine (4:00) 3. Undenied (4:20) 4. Half Day Closing (3:47) 5. Over (3:55) 6. Humming (6:02) 7. Mourning Air (4:12) 8. Seven Months (4:16) 9. Only You (4:59) 10. Elysium (5:54) 11. Western Eyes (3:59) G. Merritt

3) In my opinion, better than Dummy.   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
For the sole reason that this album far transcends the poppy undertones of Dummy, I give it a 5/5.That being said, I'd still like to give a track-by-track review of this product.SHORTEST TRACK: Half Day Closing (also one of the best)LONGEST TRACK: Humming (another favorite of mine)Cowboys: You can't help but feel the eerie opening to this album pulsate in your mind as the first kick drum hits grace your eardrums. Beth sings in a screeching tone of voice, almost scornful, giving this song an intensity unmatched by previous songs. My only gripe is that it loses its bass after those initial drumstrikes. 9/10All Mine: An enjoyably simple bump, its lyrics are hard-hitting and possessive (Tethered and tied/there's nowhere to hide from me). 9/10Undenied: Starts with a moody 55-second instrumental (I love it!), then Beth's lyrics come in as a contrast to the last song (this one is about losing love rather than keeping love close). 10/10Half Day Closing: The confusing beat and heavy distortion on the instruments and lyrics (at one point, Beth's voice sounds like a distorted guitar!) make this one quite dark and heavy. The lyrics are about the changing times, and how innocence has been lost. 10/10Over: Starts off with a creepy acoustic guitar, then builds into a strange ballad with heavy drums that burst with string hits. The lyrics match the atmosphere; they are equally creepy. 9/10Humming: My favorite on the album (and luckily, the longest!) It starts off with a cliché UFO-style humming (hence the title) accompanied by what sounds like reversed strings, then the beat blasts in at 1:30 with lyrics that seem to be about sex. 10.5/10!Mourning Air: Soft and sad, this song is about holding on tight to love, at risk of slipping into depression. A pretty amazing track. 9.5/10Seven Months: I don't like this one as much as the others, but it still packs a punch. The scornful lyrics accompany its beat well. 9/10Only You: The most credited samples lie in this track, but are not too noticeable, as samples are in other tracks. The lyrics are stunning, and Beth sings them with passion. 10/10Elysium: The name of the track means "paradise," but the lyrics are about hate and self-hate, which makes for another one of those title-lyric contrasts that can make or break an album. This one makes it! 9.5/10Western Eyes: This song is the most friendly on the album, but certainly still darker than those on Dummy. The sample at the end goes well with the beat, but it should have been placed elsewhere in the song, IMO. 10/10Final verdict: 10/10I love this album, and it arrived at my house promptly and in excellent condition. Thank you!

4) I had higher expectations   [Rating: 3 out of 5]
I had seen two music videos for this CD and thought it was going to be great. After listening to all the tracks, I only liked maybe three. I am a heavy trip-hop and acid jazz fan, but this was just psychidelic junk. It was like a whiny, down-beat version of aphex twin. I guess, if thats your thing... buy it NOW!

5) very impressive sophomore release   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
Portishead's second release comes as a surprise. my first listen to it i felt rather disappointed. beth gibbons' voice was distorted almost the whole time and a much more twisted use of sampling and scratching going on. during my initial listen i was running short on time and could only sample bits of the songs. i guess that is why my disappointment came through. "Dummy" is very much a singles based album that can fulfill the effect it desires through quick listenings. i still love the album and don't take that comment to be anything other than that. this second album is a collection of songs, it is meant to be listened to straight through. each song flows directly into another and gives a seamless tapestry and progression of the trip-hop sound. of course Barrow and crew give us a sampling of singles like "All Mine", "Humming" and "Only You", but seeing where these tracks fit in with the album makes these tunes seem all the more significant. after my first couple of listens (obviously with headphones on) i now "experience" this album rather than listen to it. when recommending portishead i still have to give the nod to "Dummy", but any avid fan of trip-hop needs to have this album in their collection. it makes you want more, but when.....