Portishead

YohanKiwi · Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 106 Location: Salisbury, UK

[quote="Musikalisch"]i personally can't stand when people wish for the same record over and over again. the true sign of a good band is if they can switch their style, make it sound amazing and still tell it's them. i think P have succeeded in doing that.[/quote]

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I absolutely love the new direction, especially the heavier/meaner sounding tracks. Gonna write a review when i've given it a few more listens
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Havah · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

Before i dive in my opinion, let me say a word about opinions in general.
Some spam invaded this thread about it. Though there might be rude ways of saying ones opinion, that was not the case. This is a discussion board and the discussion must exist, and this would be boring if everyone came here and only said "Great" and "Wonderful". Perfection is the objective but is never achieved. And each one feels the album in different ways. While there is politeness and good intentions, no one should be criticised for speaking out loud their opinion.

The Leak - Don't think it will turn out as a bad thing, and as it is the beauty we've been listening to, it is only making people feel reassured on their buying the CD and tickets to their gigs (as it is my case). [P] fans are "special" and are consuming this leak in a healthy way Wink

The sound is WEIRD, dont u think?
[P] evolved, matured, and chose a logical and suitable path! I agree with the opinion that the Beth's solo project has somewhat influenced this work.
I admire [P] on their guts of trying such unusual sounds. Personally, the amount of Synth still bothers me... So unexpected!

I have listened to it for some times, but didnt notice the name of the songs so i cant speak of them separatly. Can only say that, for now, my favourites are the first and last, "Silence" and "Threads".
About "Silence", the opening song, i have to brag about the intro, the little speech, in portuguese, my language! Very Happy

Brazilian portuguese, but portuguese anyway!

When i listen to it some more, ill post again... This album is an experience, definitely messes with our heads and guts. Too emotional ATM to try to be unbiased Wink

mutton · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 47

[quote="Havah"]This is a discussion board and the discussion must exist, and this would be boring if everyone came here and only said "Great" and "Wonderful". Perfection is the objective but is never achieved. And each one feels the album in different ways. While there is politeness and good intentions, no one should be criticised for speaking out loud their opinion.
[/quote]

I note that English is not your first language, and I'm going to assume that's why you, like so many other people on here, can't understand the difference between "expressing an opinion" and "being a stupid arrogant twat who makes utterly embarrassing and misguided statements about how they think a very successful and respected band should have made their album".

They are two very different things.

Havah · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

It's not my wish to feed the discussion you are creating, so I will answer you this time, but not anymore.

Indeed english is not my first language, and i think i read better than i write. Anyway, I didnt see any comment in this thread that may be understood as such an arrogant way. If you refer to the way of saying "I would have made another way", you indeed can understand it the way you are saying, but i dont think it was the poster's intention to try to "teach" anyone. More, i believe this is a normal way to express his opinion, as i said, in a polite way, and you can even think about it as "if done otherwise, it wouldnt be [P] nor so good as it is". He would have made it otherwise, as maybe i would or you, if you put yourself in that place, and it would be better or worse, nobody can guess. However, if you find it arrogant trying to put oneself in [P]'s place (which i dont agree, its a normal exercise of opinion, and maybe a healthy one), i can't try to convince you otherwise, because it's your opinion, valuable and worth as anyone's else.

However, if it's so evident my poor english, i leave here my apologies for so.

Carry on with the fun and interesting exchange of opinions about this so waited and hoped and lovely new album Wink

omellil · Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 16 Location: vancouver

what more could anybody have asked for? it's incredible. i have no idea how to digest it, yet, but it's really, genuinely [b]new[/b]. critics, whatever; i don't see how a person could really reach a conclusion so soon. this is a real body of work.

duduluuk · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

I dont think people showing critics on this leak are trying to get another Dummy again, it doesn't sound "polished" -- not just on mastering quality, but also the leak still sounds like a big amount of experimental materials mixing together, not melting into a whole "works" yet. Never any problem for any new direction, but the final convincing thing shud be the album itself, not hardcore fans' praises like "Great" or "Wonderful".

And if it's indeed not the final mastered version, just stop and wait.

Chris Walken · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

I know I'm only making things worse, and i'm sorry for that, but seriously, how big of a dick is this mutton guy? Jesus.

And Havah, trust me, your english is very, very good, and had you not pointed out that you were Portuguese, i wouldn't have guessed it wasn't your first language.

Aaaaaaaand back to the album, it really is sounding better with each listen, and one thing i'm finding is that i like it more as a complete work than when i listen to individual tracks (though there are, of course, some great ones). I really think it's their best yet.
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Havah · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

Last night i went to bed with some stuff i needed to read and my mp3 player, and selected 3rd on it... I simply couldnt study! It indeed messes with my head! And more... each you listen, each time you feel, you do it differently!

I know you're saying this isnt the final version and we should wait to express our opinion... Nah, i'm enjoying this trip, this new journey [P] is giving me! And i'm tasting it, it seems a rainbow of flavours...

Ok, too much poetry for now! Back to my mp3 player...

[quote="Chris Walken"]...

And Havah, trust me, your english is very, very good, and had you not pointed out that you were Portuguese, i wouldn't have guessed it wasn't your first language.
...[/quote]

Thanks Embarassed

pekenoa · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 9

Havah... I really wonder what the Brasilian guy says at the beginning of "Silence", could you translate it into English... Question

rogue · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 10

Key Bored 299 03 - was this on the album anywhere? Don't remember hearing it...

AbjectEvolution · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Overland Park, KS

[quote="Chris Walken"]I know I'm only making things worse, and i'm sorry for that, but seriously, how big of a dick is this mutton guy? Jesus.[/quote]

I tried to ask him to shut up, but he ignored me. He is one of those really angry people that takes their anger out at strangers on the internets. Yeah, that is a productive way to spend your time Rolling Eyes

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prufrock · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

wow, i haven't been to this board in a while but since the album leaked i decided to see what people were saying about it. and it was interesting at first, and then mutton showed up. who the fuck is this guy and who pissed in his cheerios? he's acting like someone walked up to his mother and spit in her mouth. i don't see anything wrong with expressing an opinion about how you think something should have been done differently. how many times have i heard a song and thought, "god, this would sound so much better had they used a real violin instead of a fucking synth"? i don't see the problem. the defensiveness and over-protection of portishead is a little ridiculous. there's no reason for attacking people. ironically, every single insulting word that was slug by mutton applies to him perfectly. how telling.

Bee · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Posts: 39

i still dont think this is the final mastered version.

it has nothing to do with the "rawness" of it.

it has everything to do with the volume levels and mixing.

the raw sound of the guitars are great and perfect

i just think this is an early mix they gave out.

if you give a cd like this out to journalists and other people,
you know it will leak. so they could have done this on purpose.

we know how guarded they are.

omellil · Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 16 Location: vancouver

yeah it's a raw mix, but i'm not convinced it's a rough mix.

once upon a time, you may recall, people were a bit confused about the pops and scratches on the dummy album, and wondered why they were not gated out of the final mix.

maybe this is the same thing; the mix does leave certain colors with the final product which might not otherwise be there.

Lotus11 · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 12

Agreed. The volume levels do seem a bit off. I don't think its the final. Drums on some songs way too overpowering, enough to really muddy up my $2000+ speakers. Plus its a crap mp3 bitrate to boot. Keyboards seem like they should be louder too. Now, before I get flamed for stating my opinion about the mix, I do think the album is completely fantastic. It keeps getting better each time I listen and I cant wait to buy the CD when it arrives. [P], you did great and I'm so happy. Thank you!