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Third | 
| Artist: Portishead
Label: Mercury
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy Used: $6.00
You Save: $7.98 (57%)
Rating:  144 reviews
Sales Rank: 66
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 001114102
UPC: 602517664005
EAN: 0602517664005
ASIN: B0016HNOXQ
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Silence | | • | Hunter | | • | Nylon Smile | | • | The Rip | | • | Plastic | | • | We Carry On | | • | Deep Water | | • | Machine Gun | | • | Small | | • | Magic Doors | | • | Threads |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
Portishead's Third has been a long time coming, the result of a lengthy creative torpor following 1997's dark, distinctly underrated album Portishead. Importantly, though, they've shaken it. While the core trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utley remains, this is quite a different band to Portishead's 90s incarnation: gone is the slo-mo turntable scratching and smoky jazz feel, replaced by heavy, brooding rhythms, vintage-sounding electronics, and spindly guitar. Still present, though, is that sense of emotional fracture and deep gloom. "Silence" opens with a dense drum loop which suddenly falls away to reveal Gibbons' voice, cold but magnificent: "Wounded and afraid, inside my head/Falling through changes". "Nylon Smile", meanwhile, is a fine example of Third's occasional folksy edge, an acoustic song reminiscent of Leonard Cohen that, around its midpoint, lifts off on a propulsive electronic rhythm, Gibbons holding one clear, hard note as synthesisers bubble beneath. At times, it's a harsh and foreboding listen: the electronic drums of "Machine Gun" might put off the listener hoping for smooth dinner party fare. But Third is a brave and forward-thinking return, and one great enough to justify its lengthy gestation. --Louis Pattison
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| Customer Reviews: Read 139 more reviews...
 Striking July 20, 2008
Alex Scorpio
Eleven years is a long time between releases. It's been awhile since their albums were in heavy rotation on my playlist, but this sounds just as good if not better than anything they've out out. I can't understand people waiting eleven years and then being disappointed that the new album is not exactly like the last one. Things change, I guess a lot of people don't, or are in denial. Anyway, you would recognize this as a Portishead album immediately on hearing, and it's new, different, and good.
 60 psychedelic meets modern electronics.... July 17, 2008
David Flick (Savannah, GA United States)
While this release is highly anticipated anyone expecting to get a rehash of the 1990's trip-hop Portishead may be let down upon first listen. Gone are those jazzy drums and record scratches, instead it's replaced with a buzzing rhythm of analogue synthesizers. Another problem is that when a band got a big in the 1990's and defined a sound as they did then it's hard to expect them to blow you away upon first listen.
The real gem of this release is that Third grows on you, it's a deep record with the trademark Portishead mood, although this time there are some real 60's psychedelic feelings on it. Also vocally Beth Gibbons is as tortured as ever it comes out in the lyrics. This is a great moody record for a rainy day and if you want to listen to Dummy then put that record on, but if you want to hear what a brilliant band has to say in 2008 then you will love this album. It's one of my favorites that gets regular play on my CD player....
Give it a Listen & Make Up Your Own Mind July 15, 2008
S. H. Reynolds (Chicago)
No this isn't a repeat of their first album, but it more than stands on its own, and imparts a beauty of sound that's rarely heard. I'm not trying to set a standard so I'll stop here.
 not worth the long wait... July 14, 2008
Rooster (Charlotte)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
There's a fine line between taking the band in a new direction and completely abandoning the band's unique sound. Unfortunately Portishead crossed the line and never looked back with Third. What the hell happened to the great beats, scratches, and hooks that we all grew to love with Dummy, Portishead, and the live album ? Did they forget that they are a trip-hop band ? Get over yourself, get back in the studio, and give your fans what they deserve, Portishead.
Not their best, but worth the purchase. July 12, 2008
Brian E. Walsh
Title says it all. The new album doesn't seem to have a central theme, but contains some good tracks that by themselves are good.
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