Dummy Reviews

• Coldly Sensual and Smoothly Retro Memories

  
  By AGIO6BKKS1BUP on 2000-06-15
  This is definitely another five-star item from me. Every time I listen to it, no matter how long it's sat in my CD shelf (forgotten, but only temporarily and never for too long), I am constantly surprised by how great it is...ahh the joy of "rediscovering" a favorite.

  Dark and moody, much of the album sounds like a memory...of a place you've been once, or a movie you saw, or music you heard as you drove by an open window or door late one night in the city. Some of it is incredibly sexy (like "Numb," "Pedestal," and the awesome "Glory Box"), other parts are mournful (like "Biscuit," "Sour Times," "It's a Fire," and "It Could Be Sweet"), and still more are mysterious or just plain funky ("Mysterions" and "Strangers").

  It's really hard to pick a favorite song on this album...almost all of them perfectly fit different moods I have at different times. They seem to encompass an incredibly vast range of modern urban sensitivities. "Sour Times" is, of course, wonderfully reminiscent of a moody classic spy flick while a song like "Strangers" bounces back and forth between an intense, pulsing beat like a walk through the club district of a large city and gentle, delicate interludes like the dawn over the Sea of Japan.

  My least favorite is "Wandering Star," which I think is a bit too repetative, but even that I'm willing to listen to without much complaint.

  Smoothly sexy, definitely modern, and particularly urban, *Dummy* is a classic and well worth your time and money.
  
  

• A perennially fresh sounding album..

  
  By A1L8HRCM60W0W7 on 2003-04-08
  If it wasn't for Portishead's vocalist Beth Gibbons, you could listen to Dummy all of the time. With tight, fresh hip-hop beats and a subtle jazz flavor, most of Dummy is danceable, although the band do have a knack for creating an especially eerie mood with moaning organs and swelling strings. But when Gibbons enters the scene, her clear delicate vibrato casts a shadow of isolation and absolute melancholy over the whole album.

  Portishead easily draw you into their lonely world, and their ambient trip-hop entices you to stay. Songs like "Numb" and "Biscuit" are dark trances enduced by the combination of hip-hop, mellow guitars, and a variety of samples coated by Gibbon's desperate pleas for salvation. Hearing her cry, "Nobody loves me, it's true" (from the superhit "Sour Times") is enough to tear at anyone's heart.

  On "Roads" - a track already enveloped in sorrowful elegant strings - Gibbon's soprano trembles with pain. However, the twisted lounge acts, "Strangers" and "Pedestal" feature very soulful and powerful vocals accompanied by some excellent jazz performances.

  The last track, "Glory Box", is Portishead in full blow. Over a sample from Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap III" and a slinky blues guitar, Gibbons duels with herself as she tries to justify a relationship. She first comes off as a contemptuous Billie Holiday and then switches back to her sweet, sad self as she pleads, "Give me a reason to love you/ I just want to be a woman."

  By all means, Dummy is an essential album for trip-hop fans and beginners. A definite keeper.
  
  

• Review from an extrip-hop nut

  
  By A2PRGZLXIPTCVA on 2003-08-29
  I am a recovering trip-hop addict. For about a 4 years I ate up just about anything with the words trip-hop or downbeat attached to it. Sure there was a lot of quality albums there from groups like Massive Attack, Portishead, and the first Tricky album, but there was also a lot of [stuff] like the Sneaker Pimps and every other Tricky album. Now I know better. Just because somethings slow and dark doesn't necessarily mean its brilliant.

  Portishead is different though. Beth Gibbons backs up the dark music and lyrical gloom with the most beuatifully raspy alto I've ever heard. There are more samples than I can possibly count but they all seem to blend together so tightly that you could swear that this album was recorded by studio musicians (I meant that as a compliment). Theyre self titled album is great too, but i dont think that it or any other album in the genre could ever surpass Dummy.
  
  

• This is the beginning of forever and ever.....

  
  By A2BWQ2C3QW32YP on 2000-03-29
  Portishead's miraculous debut, Dummy, is soul music in the truest sense of the word, a journey into the heart of darkness which leaves you emotionally exhausted and bewildered, but ultimately intoxicated. Beth Gibbons' voice is white light refracted through a shattered psyche: at times pure, resonant and beautiful, at others desperate, hysterical and bordering on the deranged. The music is often suffocating, the power of the bass seeping into the marrow of your bones, while the breakbeats attempt to destroy your eardrums: the sound of sanity disintegrating.

  Mysterons steals into your consciousness like an electronic dream, but it is Sour Times that really kicks you awake, full-on John Barryesque orchestration attacks your senses, providing Beth with a backdrop to enchant you with her siren's song, "Nobody loves me, it's true - not like you do". The album descends into the depths for much of the middle period, Wandering Star and Numb darkly funereal shards of fear and despair. Then there is Roads, the album's masterpiece. As Beth croons "Can't anybody see, we've got a war to fight" the violins slowly build into an unbearably beautiful torchsong which tries to steal your heart, and very nearly succeeds. Pedestal and Biscuit are the comedown, the 3am stoned lullabies. Then, just as you're drifting off to another world, Glorybox glides into focus, Beth in full Eartha Kitt mode, imploring someone "Give me a reason to love you, give me a reason to be a woman". A fantastically drunken guitar solo then ushers in a change of pace, a crash of drums and a promise: "This is the beginning of forever and ever..." As Isaac Hayes' strings fade into the dawn and if you've been paying attention, I defy you not to feel a little fragile.
  
  

• TIMELESS

  
  By A23KAWGZ4RE1RI on 2002-09-28
  Portishead's 1994 debut, "Dummy", is a timeless album that swings from mood to mood(from heartbreakingly dark to teary eyed to slightly optimistic). And implies many styles( rock, jazz, soul, hip hop, gospel, classical) while keeping it consistent and gaspingly beautiful. "Dummy" doesn't even sound like it was recorded in ANY era. It's ahead of it's time while keeping a effective film-noir quality.

  The surprise hit "Sour Times" ("No body loves me/ It's true") stills sounds relevant as it did when first released with it's tense delicacy. From the most accessible cut "It Could Be Sweet" to the quaint "Numb"(sampled by R&B singer Ginuwine on his 1996 single "G Thang") to the lithing morose state of "Roads" to the seductive "It's A Fire", every song on "Dummy" is just enwraps you. Every song is beautiful and enticing. No filler or duds.

  With Beth Gibbons' soft, delicate vocals (reminisit of Dido meets Sade) and Geoff Barrow's genius (he first got some shine producing Neneh Cherry's underrated classic "Somedays" on N's "Homebrew" project two years prior to this album's release),
  "Dummy" proves that it's one of the most influential albums of all-time. "Glory Box" has been heard in several films with it's Issac Hayes sample and slow strings and dozens of Portishead imitators and acts influenced by the group emerged. This album has been duplicated so many times. One of the best albums of the 1990s and one of the best debuts of all-time as well. Timeless (it could have been recorded this year, it's so relevant) and without peer (OK, maybe Esthero and Everything But The Girl!-since both are as high standing as these guys).
  You'll be in a new multilayered, multicolored world when you put this disc in. Out of this universe.
  
  

• This CD is no Dummy
  By A12QN3KJIT71GR on 2000-03-16
  I purchased Dummy after reading all of the glowing reviews, so my expectations were pretty high. I was shocked by the depth of the feelings this CD produced. It is an absolute gem. I am pretty versed in the "Trip-Hop" (I hate that name! btw) movement. Getting started with Massive and Tricky and then expanding into Morcheeba, Lamb, Hoover etc. I am actually kind of glad I waited to check out Portishead. While I highly recommend all of the aforementioned, Portishead seems a little smarter to me. A bit more on the edge. Dummy combines supurb hooks with pulverizing bass and incredible vocals. If you like smart music, sounds that inspire emotion and thought, Dummy is a must buy! Enjoy.
  
  
• The Blueprint
  By A3JG72P0KY27HW on 2006-03-17
  A classic trip hop album needs noirish ambience, haunting vocals and dark, dense production. Portishead's Dummy is so classic and so faithful to the trip hop genre that it has become the unofficial blueprint.
  
  Beth Gibbons is the moody songstress that this album - or any album for that matter - needs. She wails with a kind of grace and vindiction that is so crucial to the band's sound. She's like the Nina Simone of trip hop - untouchable, remarkable and passionate.
  
  The production is flawless in both its listenability and its command of the album's mood. The orchestral feel of the strings and basslines makes it a densely layered listen and leaves you exploring each track many times over. That's perhaps what I love the most about this album: the beautiful vocals and rich production leaves you wanting to revisit each track over and over again, each time leaving you with a new or different impression and/or understanding of Portishead's sound.
  
  If you're a big Morcheeba or Massive Attack fan then you NEED this album. The early 90s trip hop scene in England was the british equivalent to Americain grunge, complete with self indulgence, decadence and darkness. The vocals are always a total treat and the production is always deep and interesting. If you're a big earphone-fiend and love to escape into your music during the morning and evening commute then Portishead is your friend. With a great voice in Beth Gibbons and beats that are both jaw-dropping and mood-setting what more could a music lover ask for?
  
  
• 4 years later, still in my top 5 of all time...
  By AE3LL5AFSR40A on 1999-12-26
  Beth Gibbons vocals are stunning. I have have had this CD for over 4 years now, I still actively enjoy it, and many of the tunes still give me the chills just as strongly as at first listen. This CD is one of my top 5 of all time, and I like to think I have pretty eclectic tastes. It's also the only CD I have ever ordered from amazon as a gift for a friend (she loved it, so I sent her their second album last week). This isn't necessarily listen-to-in-your-car music, I tend to listen to it during quiet moments at home. Some find it a little ominous or dark even, I just find it very relaxing - the tunes just draw me in.
  
  
• Timelessly Tragic Trip-Hop
  By A1LEN6BO4XR1DI on 2001-04-20
  Portishead's debut offering, _Dummy_, may be best known for the James Bond-esque "Sour Times" track that received decent mainstream airplay. But digging further into the disc, one unearths a true musical marvel, a sound that is at once old and new, fused with a lyrical delivery that makes the album timeless. _Dummy_ takes what later came to be known as trip-hop and elevates it to a level that no one else has yet to match.

  To be sure, tracks like "Sour Times" and "Wandering Star" are more in line with the traditional sense of the genre, but still contain enough unique qualities to separate Portishead from other trip-hop artists. The production is simply superb, with every bass line, and every sample, fitting perfectly into each track, giving every song its own distinctive atmosphere. There are no unnecessary flourishes, no attempts to sully the songs with trendier beats or catchier melodies; the songs are true to themselves, and while that may not always result in a radio-friendly track, the songs are much better for it.

  When Beth Gibbons is given more melancholy subject matter to sing about, however, it punctuates her haunting delivery and produces incredible tracks. "Roads" is a painful journey through the soul, and the heartbreaking tone of "Glory Box," combined with its minimal yet sweeping backdrop, has to be heard to be believed. Gibbons and the rest of Portishead are masters at producing a very brooding sound, and when that sound is matched with apropos lyrics, the result is music that defies description.

  _Dummy_ is the pinnacle of trip-hop, and perhaps one of the defining CDs of 1990's electronic music. Others have attempted to "humanize" electronic music, and some have succeeded, but few can dream of matching the miraculous sound created by Portishead on this disc.
  
  

• A Modern Classic
  By A1K7MTGNIQ89RR on 2002-04-02
  No matter what genre of music you're into, if you have taste in music, you will respect Portishead as gifted and intelligent artists and love the album.

  With the exception of "It's A Fire" where Beth's voice gets a bit too irritating and the mediocre "Wandering Star", but the other songs are so good that those songs don't effect the overall quality of the album. "Mysterons" sounds like the soundtrack to a 1950's sci-fi spoof while "Sour Times" begs to be the theme song of a James Bond movie. Jazz influences are evident on "Strangers" and "Pedestal", and the band reveals a softer edge on the R&B-ish "It Could Be Sweet" where Beth pours her feelings into every syllable especially when she sings "try a little harder". On "Numb", she sounds depressed and as if she's teasing at the same time and I like how she sings "reveal what I could feel". The producer, Geoff Barrow, is able to make "Biscuit" sound like a hip hop, jazz, and old school soul song all at the same time. "Roads" and "Glory Box" are the best songs because they are simply perfect. "Roads", with its lush strings was made for scenes in a movie where something emotional has happened or someone is making some big journey or revelation and "Glory Box" has an outstanding closure.

  Each song has little details that move the song up one notch. This came out in 1994 but it is still in a league of its own when compared with most of the stuff coming out today.
  
  

• Essential electronic album.
  By A3SI83LHXQCVS2 on 2008-04-21
  What can be said that already hasn't been said? I don't think there's much. This must have REALLY seemed ground-breaking at the time: Backbeats that sometimes recall hip-hop elements and some real soaring, soulful vocals from Beth Gibbons. There's not a single bad song on here, and it's most famous for the awesome "Sour Times," which sounds at times like a James Bond theme with certain elements. Then there's "Numb" which is probably my favorite song on the album, real soulful vocals there. You get more blues-rockin' moments like on the record's closer "Glory Box." There's occasional samples which rule and sound neat like everything else. If you haven't heard "Dummy" yet you are in for a real treat. Pretty much everyone who owns it can tell you that it's well worth the hype. It is beautiful and proves electronic music CAN BE full of emotion. Even today, it doesn't sound dated at all. I like the follow-up album too, but advise this as your start.
  
  
• Ok, I'm going on my fourth Dummy CD
  By A2S9S4STCT7YG7 on 1999-12-21
  IF that doesn't convince you to buy the best CD of the 90's, I don't know what will. I've worn out three CDs already, and I'm looking to wear out my fourth. There's nothing like this album. When I'm in a good mood it makes me feel great. When I'm in a bad mood, inexplicably, I feel better. It's great driving music to boot.
  
  
• The Towering Classic From the 90's
  By A2PPTN3DTD8QNW on 2008-04-15
  What can I say that hasn't been said in other reviews? Well, for me this is the one essential trip-hop album. But it goes way beyond being a very successful pop or trip-hop disc. What Portishead established with Dummy was the recognition of the diverse musical roots of the trip-hop movement, filtered through an intensely modernistic lens. Out in 1994, it sounds like it was released yesterday.
  
  Let's briefly analyze "Glory Box," likely the most well-known track from this pervasively known disc. Glory Box begins with that unmistakeable descending bass line, which basically has the same resonance to 25-40 year olds that John Coltrane's "Tunji" or "Equinox" did to the baby Boomer generation. A repeating series of chords in F sharp, Glory Box is a gutbucket blues tune transposed to Gen X values, dripping with film noir nightclub atmosphere, the type of song that could be successfully played for any age group from Greatest Generation to Silent Generation, to Baby Boom to millennials. This song has that kind of universality. It's also a great instrumental blowing tune.
  
  Moving on to another harmonically interesting tune, "Roads" has even more of the old jazz feel, with a roomy series of chord progressions in F Major. You can imagine an orchid in Beth Gibbons' hair as she sings the bridge. On this track and on this disc, Adrian Maben makes extremely tasteful use of the oft-abused wah pedal, and proves to be Gibbon's ideal running mate in this classic album.
  
  It Could Be Sweet is an adult lullaby. Deeply felt and deeply moving.
  
  The emotional range on this disc is significant. Not every song on Dummy is a gutwrenching heartbreaker, and they don't need to be. Tunes like "Wandering Star" and "Mysterons" are soundtracks to Gen X urban life with a measure of humor and dry observation. The entire disc is unmistakeable and as cohesive as Dark Side of the Moon was to an earlier generation. Like DSOTM (but not in sales), Dummy is a law unto itself and an inescapable disc of its times.
  
  There's so much more I could say. Sitting through and learning some of these tunes by ear gave me a whole new appreciation for what Gibbons et. al. did on this disc. Some of the stuff on here stands up to anything written in the last 60-70 years or more. If there's one album to buy to represent the 90's, for me this would be the one, without hesitation.
  
  And finally, after 14 years, Portishead will release another album! Astonishing.
  
  
• Very strong album, but I prefer PNYC
  By A3VYZGDIOBJOUI on 2007-09-06
  First, this is a phenomenal album, it creates an amazing atmosphere that feels both new and familiar. However, I gotta say that I prefer the live album PNYC(the dvd is even better.) Aside from the wonder of seeing the band and orchestra deliver an amazingly on-point performance, the interplay between the musicians (as opposed to the loops on the album) makes the songs really come alive. Anyway, Dummy is a great album nonetheless, and if you are coming at Portishead from an electronic, hip-hop or dance angle, then you will probably prefer this to PNYC. But if you're more into jazz, rock or classical than I advise to check out PNYC first.
  
  
• Amazing Album
  By on 2003-11-20
  Listening to Dummy while driving up a dark canyon at night in winter was probably the best place to first listen to Portishead. It's creepy to me, that's for sure. It's not something that i listen to to feel safe. It's not comfort music. But it's amazing in it's own right. People of all different music tastes should love this. If you don't, oh well. You're missing out on a great piece of music.
  
  
• For those who think deep.....
  By A907AYBVYID19 on 2003-10-24
  When listening to Dummy the first thing that should come to your mind is Beth's deep and haunting jazz-influenced vocals. The lyrics alone are enough to make you cry in your coffee. Yet when coupled with soothing jazz riffs and great drum and bass you can never go wrong with any of these songs. Quick note for those single guys out there....play this low and dim the lights...you won't be single for long. Between the hip-hop, jazz, drum&bass and bluesy effects, this makes for some great low-key music.
  Oh and to the guy who said that they are Massive Attack rip-off's...please...this trio is unique in every way!
  
  
• THIS LIFE IS A FARCE
  By A84UFSF2SZS2W on 2000-10-06
  Atmospheric, mysterious... heavy bass, soaring, melancholy vocals. A gorgeous production of a most downcast nature. I fell in love with this album at once after a friend recorded it for me. I immediately went out to buy the CD. Not a single song here that is ill-advised or otherwise misplaced. Gorgeous, lush, and the vocals are to die for. Track one is sheer pleasure; track two picks up the pace a bit with the at least modestly well known "Sour Times" and its familiar refrain, "Nobody loves me... it's true... not like you do." Track five is another of my favourites. Track six "It's a Fire" is my favourite track on the entire album... very well placed and also rather melancholy song, "This life is a farce. I can't breathe through this mask. Like a fool. So breathe on, little sister, breathe on..." Other not-to-be missed tracks include tracks seven, eight, and especially eleven. The vocals are lush, seductive, and absolutely chilling.
  
  
• Sexy, rhythmic, sensual masterpiece
  By A38NQGQW63IQJJ on 2006-01-11
  Every now and then a cd comes along which is so original and compelling that a music lover can't help but compare all other music to it. In Dummy, Portishead has created precisely that kind of cd.
  
  Its music, as others have said, is sensual and rhythmic, as if Geoff Barrow and Beth Gibbons were presenting us the notes between the notes. But more than that, its sound creates the unusual sensations of being both familiar and strange, attractive but alien, vastly erotic yet imminently danceable-that is, if one were to want to dance among icy breezes before plunging into passionate, heated embraces.
  
  That the reviewers here each seem to have picked different songs which mean the most to them is testament to the allure and power of this wondrous performance. From the erotic opening beat of Mysterons to the final wistful gasps of Glory Box, Dummy is a thrilling, hungry paeon to a world which never was but which nevertheless we each of us glimpse in our most pristinely private, human, and sensuous moments.
  
  It's a profound, stunning accomplishment, as testified by the difficulty the duo has had in reproducing its appetite and drive. But in its uniqueness, in its influence on other performers and on the listener, Dummy is physical and great.
  
  
  
• One Happy Accident
  By A3CU0941F6TLWJ on 2002-12-31
  I accidently stumbled upon this cd when I was just snooping around on amazon (sorry for the promo). Anyway, I was checking out massive attack and in one of the reviews Portishead was mentioned. Well I went out the next day and bought it, and I must say this cd is friggin awsome. I am normally into electronica, but this stuff is amazing, it's low key chill music that calms and sooths you into complete relaxation. There are a lot of songs on here that I really enjoy like, Sour Times (a classic), Glory Box, and it could be sweet. I want to reitterate that this cd is amazing, I highly recommend it, even though the chances of anyone ever reading this review are slim to none. Anyway go get this cd, you'll be glad you did.
  
  
• The TRUE Trip Hop Masterpiece
  By A97B72F4UI8FA on 2001-06-01
  I'm not joking when I say this. This album is back all the way from 1994-- but it sounds as fresh as something today. This is the perfect "Rainy Day" album because it is so melancholy and at times haunting. Beth Gibbon's (the lead singer) voice is haunting alone. It is so beautiful, and thats one of the things that make the band great. Full of funky trip hop beats, Beth's voice, and more, this album is destined to become a modern classic. This is THE essential electronic album. Hardly anything can come close to this. It's so different from anything you have ever heard. Take my word for it and check this album out.

  if this was helpful, click the icon below. thanks!
  
  

• Portishead - DUMMY
  By A1GOZ7WIU1JMIB on 2007-04-06
  Amazing. Beth Gibbons voice has a wide range on this CD. Dummy is powerful and yet then has a sound that is soothingly hypnotic. This is a CD that I would recommend for anyone to purchase. I enjoy all of their albums though this has become an all-time favorite.
  
  
• Such a trip!
  By A1B67R09H8XR2F on 2007-02-19
  This album carries this deep vague element where you don't know and you don't bother yourself to know,you just sit there,listen and feel the music's cross over,it has this modern gothic sense,at times it's sensual and at times it's disturbing,and that's the secret of this album,in a way it portrays women's emotions through the beats and lyrics. It's more of the subconscious mind kicking in than the conscious mind. It's a slick album that awakens the senses,you don't skip the tracks,you simply let it play,you don't know which one or what kind or where from,like i said,you just listen...
  
  
• One of the best albums ever. A classic.
  By A1AUYEJD621EHQ on 2007-01-02
  This is an album that will never get old. It defines the genre and almost every track is superb, and all are at least good. Definitely needs a system with amazing bass (multiple subwoofers?) and crisp, clear highs (treble) to be properly appreciated.
  
  
• Pleasantly Tranquil
  By A15X7WMPNPPMI3 on 2004-10-16
  Although this genre of music will not sell well at radio stations and party functions, trip-hop definitely stands out when one wants a relaxing, reflecting time on one's own. The music have a sleep-inducing feel, and at the same time showing off quality musicianship and wonderful vocals.
  
  The solo vocalist in "Dummy" maintains a dreamy,angelic voice throughout, focusing on the tone of the music rather than the melody. You will find that the techno beats somewhat overused, but nevertheless still effective.
  
  There are no real standout tracks, but "It could be sweet" and "Glory box" tend to sound more unique and welcomingly energetic in comparison to the other lazy, lethargic and often trantic tracks.
  
  If you're looking for a fresh new genre of music away from the pop, hip-hop and rock scene, then I recommend trip-hop, and "dummy" is among the top trip-hop albums in the scene.
  
  
• I'm in love.
  By A1VBYS3G8NQUY1 on 2004-08-04
  Before I listened to "Dummy" I'd never listened to any form of trip hop before. I was pretty close minded to the idea but a friend insisted. I was amazed at who beautiful this album turned out to be. The vocals were chilling and the beats were down tempo and hypnotic. The lyrics ached with isolation and longing and were sung with raw emotion. To this day "Dummy" remains one of my most played albums and has opened a new world of music for me. "Wondering star", "Sour times" and "roads" are amazing tracks.
  
  
• Nobody Loves Me...It's true..
  By A2S77THIOT57ZD on 2004-04-01
  Before I get started with this review, I would like to say something to the reviewer who (Incoherently) said that ''this album is awesome if you're suicidal'', I don't think you have the slightest clue of what quality music, and second of all, one of your comments precisely ''don't be a dummy: download this before buying, like I did''...I'm sorry, But I'm not a leach and that much of a low and cheap person, I don't download music....I'd rather buy the CD and feel good about the fact that I contributed towards a great artists career (Like Portishead)...So take your ignorant review and put it-- where it belongs?...Take a hint...(Laughs)..

  Ok, Lets get started on reviewing this album. After being drawn into the world of trip-hop which initially began because I somehow got linked up with Massive Attacks work since I'm a big fan of Tracy Thorn (From EBTG), I tracked down the album ''Protection'' and I was completely besotted with Massive Attacks work, Of course I had heard of them before round about in 1996 when they teamed up with Madonna to do the reshaping and designing of the track ''I Want You'' which is UNDENIABLY Madonna's best trip-hop hit. So through Massive Attack I found out about Portishead, so I got this CD in Jan and I can't stop listening to this album, I love to doze off to this softly playing on my portable CD player. It truly rocks!!!

  My Favorite tracks are; 8. Roads, 2. Sour Times, 4. It Could Be Sweet, 9. Pedestal, 3. Strangers.

  The rest are ok, the only track I wasn't so fond of was ''Numb'', the music effects are great but I didn't like the vocals to the song, they seemed too silly for their own good. But other than that, this CD is definitely one of the best purchases I've made in a long time.

  So, take some of your time and get this CD, It's really exceptional. Some of Massive Attack and Evanescence CD's wouldn't be such a bad idea too.
  
  

• My favorite cd to listen to when i feel down
  By A37OKOWUR84RKR on 2004-02-15
  I just love this cd so much, whenever i'm feeling depressed i just pop thi cd in and it makes me feel better about my state of being. I wasn't too familiar with them when this cd first came out, i heard them first when my sister got the cd; it was probably around the time it came out. I think it was the first band i ever liked that had a female singer. I really like the bassiness of the songs, the sound quality, lyrics, slowness, is what i think makes this album great. I'm actually listening to it right now. The lyrics make me think of myself, even though i'm male, i believe the lyrics of the songs are universal.
  
  
• A Reggae fan
  By A3QAEW2G67U4BZ on 2003-02-09
  This album was a great addition to my collection. It is definitely one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard. Gibbons seems almost tortured on many of the tracks eliciting so much emotion its almost painful. I was never a big fan of trip-hop, but this album has won me over. I definitely recommend purchasing this album. It not a great party album, but it good to listen too if your getting drunk by yourself after you found out your girlfriend cheated on you.
  
  
• The beautiness of the human affliction
  By A2FJBJ947VUOGT on 2002-07-05
  ... Dummy is an introspection of the human psuchology in it's darkest moments . On " Numb " and " Sour Times " we find Beth Gibbons almost on the verge of a breakdown . " Nobody loves me , it's true / not like you do " she confesses almost in a desperate tone .On " Glory Box " , a black-and-white cinematographic-like trip hop ballad she cleans up the spiderwebs haunting an old relationship . Things get more tender and sweetly melancholic on " It's A Fire " and " It Could Be Sweet " . Gibbons , one of the best voices of the 90's , has put so much pure feeling and genuin sorrow in her perfomances which are perfectly combined with Barrow's intense orchestrations ...
  
  
• One of the Most Important Debuts...Ever
  By A1DAFSD6TCJ3AW on 2002-02-21
  This is one of the most important debuts of not just the 90s, but of all popular music. When they arrived on the scene Portishead managed to give the world a completely original musical statement. The only other debut of recent memory that is equally important is "Grace" by Jeff Buckley.

  Everything about "Dummy" shines. Beth Gibbons' vocals are exquisite; she sings with great feeling and honesty. One caveat, however, is that you may not like her voice if you don't like brooding, "depressing" vocalists. The musicianship is also wonderful; Adrian Utley is a great bass player who has since collaborated with many other artists of note. Geoff Barrow is also terrific as well as crucial to the overall sound. The songs are first rate in composition, arrangement, and execution.

  I find myself repeating this statement in every album I consider to be perfect, but here it goes again: the songs create a unified musical statement even though they are capable of standing on their own. The sequencing is perfect and there is not a mediocre song here.

  One last note: where I find "Blue Lines" to be a good but overrated album, I think that this IS the quintessential album of the genre that one might very loosely call "Trip-Hop." It is impossible to understand the importance of electronica in the mainstream without listening to this...countless times.
  
  

• Portishead
• Third
• Mezzanine
• Live: Roseland NYC
• Maxinquaye