There was no way that Third would be anything less than an instant classic, nestling comfortably with Portishead's two other classic offerings. That said, many were concerned that their newest would just continue along the (by now) worn path that they themselves forged almost a decade before. Would this just be a "Dummy II"? How would the world take Portishead now, in a time well beyond the heyday of the Bristol scene, when acts like fellow classmates Tricky and Massive Attack still held epic sway?
Third quickly allays any and all doubts. Track after track smacks of something instantly familiar and recognizable, yet simultaneously novel and vibrant. Shuffling this album in with Dummy and Portishead lays to bear this point. Songs like "We Carry On," "Machine Gun," and "Small" dances sweetly with "Mysterons," "It Could Be Sweet," and "Cowboys." What still seems striking is how much progress Third shows considering the amount of time that passed between it and their eponymously-titled album. Portishead sets itself apart from the more-comfortable Dummy by accentuating the dark and the harsh, which made for a much more trying yet rewarding listening experience. Third takes that progression many steps further, forging an album that at times seems like it threatens to shake itself and us apart. Anyone who feels that this album is too rough is missing the point. Portishead didn't need to come back; they had already carved out their place in the annals of music history. They also didn't need to try and stretch themselves as much as they did on Third; the band could have given us rehashes of their previous work and we would have lapped it up like dogs. Instead, they decided to make an album on their own terms, and we all are the better for it.
I am still amazed that we did got a new album from Portishead. They seemed so unfortunately content to quit while they were on top. Third gives me not only a wonderful soundtrack to soothe myself to during these darkened times, but also faith that at any moment, we can still be surprised by the unexpected.
