15: Portishead – Third
Mercury

Phew. I’m so very, very pleased that this record didn’t suck. After a solid decade away, Portishead came back and did what great bands are able to do: they evolved their sound, stripping away any remnants of trip-hop but still sounding exactly like themselves. For the band that more or less defined that genre, that’s quite an achievement. Third is full of prodding, crisp rhythms, orchestral, noir-tinged flourishes and haunting vocals. It’s not a smooth listen; in fact, some of their experimentation is jarring, and not in an immediately pleasant way. But Portishead was fearless (sometimes to a fault) in expanding their sound, culminating with either the barbershop harmonies of "Deep Water," or on the opposite end of the spectrum, the aptly titled "Machine Gun" which drills your ears with heavily processed drum machines. Overall, a compelling listen from a compelling band that I’ve missed.

Labels: 2008 Recap, Album Review, Portishead