Portishead
Biography
Portishead may not have invented trip-hop, but they were among the first to popularize it, particularly in America. Taking their cue from the slow, elastic beats that dominated Massive Attack's Blue Lines and adding elements of cool jazz, acid house, and soundtrack music, Portishead created an atmospheric, alluringly dark sound. The group wasn't as avant-garde as Tricky, nor as tied to dance traditions as Massive Attack; instead, it wrote evocative pseudo-cabaret pop songs that subverted their conventional structures with experimental productions and rhythms of trip-hop. As a result, Portishead appealed to a broad audience -- not just electronic dance and alternative rock fans, but thirtysomethings who found techno, trip-hop, and dance as exotic as worldbeat. Before Portishead released their debut album, Dummy, in 1994, trip-hop's broad appeal wasn't apparent, but the record became an unexpected success in Britain, topping most year-end critics polls and earning the prestigious Mercury Music Prize; in America, it also became an underground hit, selling over 150,000 copies before the group toured the U.S. Following the success of Dummy, legions of imitators appeared over the next two years, but Portishead remained quiet as they worked on their second album.
Selected Discography
I can't even sum up how awesome this band is. Portishead makes you see music in a whole new way. Absolutely inimitable, matchless, revolutionar y , intrepid...a n d delightfully addictive. PORTISHEAD. Even the name is epic.
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the bass line forget about it!!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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Can't stay away from Portishead.. . . t h e y get better and better and better every time I listen.
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The lyrics are too complex for hip-hop. I grew up on hip-hop and r-n-b, and the first time I heard the Dummy album, many of the beats reminded me of something that Wu-Tang Clan producers would put out, and I loved it! I have tried to get other hip-hop lovers to listen, but most can't get beyond her distinctive voice. Still, Portishead is the BEST out there in this genre, my opinion. Others just don't know what they're missing!
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Ok check it....portis h e a d has the linguistics and beats to Totally take over Hip-Hop, My opinion....
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I was at this performance at Roseland and it was phenomenal. So many things going on and my head was spinning because I was actually seeing Portishead live for the second time. The first time I saw them, that concert changed my life.
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People are complaining about the live performances but I think their music is not meant for live performances , like lots of acid house or trip hop, etc., is all about the studio. I would never go see these types of bands live. Because they are true artists and actually perform live it will not sound as good as the studio recordings. Unlike the talentless pop artists who sing to back up vocals and tapes, so everything sounds the same all the time.
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Beth Gibbons's voice makes me weak in the knees and my heart skip a beat.
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a massive party,strobe lights, a mix tape with some portishead on it, a bunch of personalitie s in one house and you got the concoction of a beautiful result.Grant it be there's lots of miscellaneou s substances involved..st i l l awesome though!
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To answer one of the comments below, I saw them at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis back in 95 or 96. Great venue, circular stage. Guess what? It was boring! Came away with the impression they were a great studio band that could not improvise on stage. It was like listening to Dummy. Still love em though and bought Third.
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Wow they look so depressed on the above photo, just wana give em a hug and tell them its ok, get a little sun and lay off listening to your own music for a while.
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Been a fan almost since day 1! Dummy absolutely rocks! Great music to chill to with your woman and let the beats carry you and the vocals seduce you. I agree with others who posted about them being ahead of the curve in the 90's. It's an acquired taste that most people won't get.
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Dummy is the only one I have but I swear I wore the data of that puppy... Man I dig her voice and the beats, THE BEATS!
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I love this group and how different they sound for one but their music is amazing!
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too groovy of a band man, totally trippy. the singer sounds sexy to, the girl one
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what a unique voice beautiful and chilling... what a thrill to hear something so creative that must come so freakin naturally. I revel in self made talent that breaks the buckles of our societies need to solicitate and sell. Kudos to Portishead.
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The lead singer, she smokes and still has a fantastic voice. Seriously on par with Telepopmusik ' s singer. ALthough they are completely different styles, i just love both of their voice's. Two of my favorite singers of all time.
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the song "music to f**k to" by them is the best but i don't think it's on here
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portishead is the s**t! whatever mood I'm in I can always find a song that fits. I hope they keep 'em coming...
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seeing them live is a religious expierience. she smokes cigs like crazy and she somehow maintains that angelic voice. this is the kind of music you would hear in heaven and hell
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third is a bitter pill. it takes some getting used to. kinda like bjork's newest album; 2 or 3 accessible songs and a lot of "throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks"
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