Dummy

Happy 30 year anniversary! It’s nice being able to write a review for such a landmark album, especially during a time like this :)

‘Dummy’ is Portishead’s debut album, and it practically revolutionized the trip hop genre as a whole (Albeit groups such as Massive Attack were also present, I think Dummy had more of an impact overall.). I obviously had pretty high expectations due to its status, and on first listen, it really didn’t live up to my expectations.

It was something new for me at the time, so you can’t really blame me.. That’s besides the point though; I gave it a couple more relistens, and I started to love it more and more! For me, it definitely was one of those grower albums, which does happen often for me.

Perhaps it’s the blend of genres such as jazz and electronica, but it’s really hard to find something else remotely similar to it, which is rather impressive! The instrumentals are really pretty, and Gibbon’s voice is perfect for this kind of album, like it all lined up in order to make this masterpiece of a debut.

The lyrics are surprisingly moody, which does fit with the overall feeling of the album. Its sort of emotional tone gives it a lot more depth than other trip hop albums, and its themes of longing are also unmatched compared to most albums. And lastly, if I were to talk about one track, it’d definitely be Glory Box, an outstanding closer.

Glory Box almost feels like an anomaly in the track list, as it feels so different from the other tracks. That guitar riff is pretty damn groovy! And even the other instrumentals are also way different than in other tracks. In terms of the lyrics, it definitely has the most memorable ones, and one of the best choruses I’ve ever heard! That “Give me a reason to love you” line goes SO hard, while also challenging the roles women are expected to play during a relationship with someone. The instrumentals only aid it further, making it a pleasure to listen to. Its themes of relationships and how Gibbons “just wants to be a woman” are really well executed.

This is an extremely important album, both for trip hop and for many people, so if you haven’t listened to it yet, I really recommend it! I know for sure it’s the best I’ve heard from the genre.

FAVORITE(S): Mysterons, Wandering Star, Roads, Glory Box
LEAST FAVORITE(S): N/A