AOTY 2023
Portishead - Dummy
Critic Score
Based on 8 reviews
1994 Ratings: #36 / 425
User Score
1994 Ratings: #5
Liked by 881 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
AllMusic

Better than any album before it, Dummy merged the pinpoint-precise productions of the dance world with pop hallmarks like great songwriting and excellent vocal performances.

100
Slant Magazine

Dummy, an album which undoubtedly conjures the thought of a person, place or sour time for its every listener, sounds just as groundbreaking today as it did eight years ago.

95
Pitchfork
Portishead’s 1994 debut is a masterwork of downbeat and desperation. They invented their own kind of virtuosity, one that encompassed musicianship, technology, and aura.
91
Entertainment Weekly

Beth Gibbons’ disembodied vocals float over Geoff Barrow’s lush production to create a debut that is as musically compelling as it is emotionally chilly.

90
NME
This is, without question, a sublime debut album. But so very, very sad. These are avant garde ambient moonscapes of a ferociously experimental nature. In other words, seriously spooky shit.
80
Sputnikmusic
This album comes thoroughly recommended to any fans of hip-hop (that's hip-hop music, not rap vocals), female soul vocalists, or anybody unfamiliar with trip-hop and who wants to experiment. It's not the best trip-hop album ever, but it's as good an introduction as any.
80
Rolling Stone

Assertive rhythms and quirky production ... save Portishead from languishing in any coy retro groove. Instead they manage yet another — very smart — rebirth of cool.

morningsbell
82

Lana Del Rey for people who are too sad for Lana Del Rey

Craigold
100

Amish life is not easy, but it's even more difficult when you have outsiders trying to ruin your day. I was going about, like a normal Amish citizen, harvesting some grain, when a goose-faced, wisecracking, suited old egg rattled his shaky bones from out of the forest, and over my way. I thought "Oh wonderous, another disturbed wrinkle suit halting my harvest." The old slobber-nut claimed to be a politician from out of state, which immediately sparked my disinterest. You see, here in ... read more

barcooper
95

Trip hop's defining masterpiece.

The only great recommendation Spotify gave me throughout 5 years. I stumbled upon the opener song Mysterons about a year ago completely randomly in some Spotify playlist. Needless to say I was immediately intrigued, thrilled that I found a hidden gem, just to find out it's one of the most popular albums of the 90's.

Dummy is Portishead's debut album, released in 1994. The album is known as one of trip hop's pioneers alongside groups such as Massive attack. ... read more

Esalmo
85

Fav song: Sour Times

FaradE5150
89

I haven't listened to this album since I was a child and I'm so happy that I got to revisit this masterpiece. Incredible. The name "trip hop" actually fits perfectly, cause that's what I got in mind while listening to this. Heavy beats with soothing melodies and outstanding lead vocals are such a vibe, I cannot decide if this album is extremely depressing or extremely uplifting. I truly believe it's one of the albums that should b considered "must-listens"

94

the birth of trip hop sounds so acid, i love it!

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Track List

1Mysterons
5:05
95
2Sour Times
4:12
95
3Strangers
3:57
94
4It Could Be Sweet
4:17
90
5Wandering Star
4:53
92
6It's a Fire
3:46
88
7Numb
3:55
89
8Roads
5:03
96
9Pedestal
3:40
89
10Biscuit
5:02
91
11Glory Box
5:08
98
Total Length: 49 minutes

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