Portishead - Dummy (Review: Dan)

I don't know what I want to say about this album. I was intrigued to listen just because I wanted to put the music to this scene Alex described. After hearing this, I can agree that watching that must have been a strange experience.

I like Dummy. I was really taken aback when I listened to it for the first time on Spotify. I was blown away by it. Beth Gibbons vocals are mesmerising, and I found myself in what was like some sort of trance when I first listened. The actual beats and music to each song is also very good, and has this strange way of captivating my entire attention. Even now, listening to it while I write, I'm finding it hard to concentrate on anything but the music. That's what I enjoy about hip-hop - the music. When I listened to CunninLynguists' Strange Journey, I liked the music but I just couldn't tolerate the rapping. So by ditching the rapping and replacing it with a very good vocalist is almost perfect for me.

There are negative sides to this album, though. There are parts in the album which become a little intolerable, and I don't think I could listen to the album for long stretches of time. Not without wanting to kill myself. I think Beth Gibbon's singing is what does it. In songs like Biscuit especially, the beat is sort of slow, while Beth drags out words in a wail that is so...well, just...wail-y. I feel so depressed when I listen to it. Which isn't good.
I'd also like to point out that whoever is singing on Glory Box can't be the same as before. Certainly not in the first and last few lines. It sounds more like Macy Gray.

It's hard to draw a conclusion on this album. I think it's technically brilliant - near perfect. But I feel that unless I spent the rest of my days as a crack addict, I won't be able to enjoy this too much.

I think all in all it seems a little bit too intense for me to handle. I appreciate its brilliance, and I really like it, but I'm going to give it a 3/5, for the album as a whole.

Favourite Tracks:
[1]Mysterons
[2]Sour Times
[4]It Could Be Sweet
[8]Roads

Dan