Old Composer REACTS to Portishead ROADS - Music Reaction and Dissection

[@ct5625]

I would definitely recommend watching the live performance of this. I love the studio version, but her vulnerability and fragility in the live performance, with a full orchestra behind her, is something special.

[@jerOO_dubs]

that performance is pure magic

[@locksmithuk]

You mean the performance at the Roseland in NYC? Beth Gibbons' vocals in that version are faultless. Looks like she pulled that off in one take, no fuss.

[@stephencrowley3939]

Yeah, I'm just here to reinforce the fact that Live at Roselands is fucking incredible.

[@dan.j.boydzkreationz]

Agree.

[@doswillrule]

I'd avoid the one with 15 million views though! The bass is horribly distorted in that. There's a much cleaner upload of it, it's still low res but it sounds like it's supposed to

[@CorImmaculatum]

Portishead, Massive Attack, The Sneaker Pimps, Tricky. I miss Trip Hop, immensely. It was truly the soundtrack to my life in the 90s. I am a huge metalhead, but this entire album, and musical genre in general, always gives me emotional pleasure. That Bristol sound doesn’t get the recognition it deserves…

[@dab_family9405]

You and me both. I wish had 8 Portishead CDs, but tsk, it wasn't meant to be. They were more favorite trip hop, but loved those others too. Sneaker Pimps ended too soon too, or at least the one with the best members.

[@Omlet1711]

Up the Bristol

[@grimmwerks]

Tricky’s still going strong

[@padmelotus]

​@@grimmwerksMassive Attack too.

[@gisohatt59]

And don't forget Lamb!

[@jerOO_dubs]

Dummy is hands down the greatest album of all time in my opinion. Absolutely timeless.

[@MrWestie1985]

Correct answer.

[@665don667]

Massive Attack's Mezzanine is another timeless album

[@liquidminds]

@@665don667 Music past 2000 didn't give people who experienced music before 2000 any chance... We were so spoiled.

[@passtheparcel360]

Mine too. Mine too.

[@Sumphuka]

They played Glory Box on BBC 6 Music the other day (Best radio station in the world btw....imo of course). Mark Radcliffe said exactly the same thing, this sounds contemporary even now. I totally agree. It's so good.

[@fenixonline]

Trip hop is a whole new world of beautiful music

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

Agreed! After metal, Trip Hop is my second favorite genre of music.

[@dizastro5437]

A great discovery. I was all metal, all the time (maybe some BBoys?), until I started hearing this

[@z0h33y]

Definitely. Portishead is rather unique in the genre. There's of course some imitator's, but the only trip hop group that comes even close to Portishead would be 21 Hertz album, "Ocean of Time"

[@catfips9461]

​​​@@z0h33yUmmm, Massive Attack would like to have a word.

[@Metalmara]

I am a big metalhead, but Dummy is one of my favourite albums of all time.

[@thejollysloth5743]

Same. I'm a Metalhead who loves Portishead, Tori Amos, Heather Nova, Zero 7, and quite a few other female vocalists & female-led bands.

[@lungfulldrummer8921]

Likewise.

[@Dwendele]

Same here

[@petahpunk]

@@thejollysloth5743 I" m right there with you you, saw Tori Amos in concert twice, it's like an exorcism

[@thejollysloth5743]

@@petahpunk Yup, I saw Tori twice as well. Once on the From the Choirgirl Hotel tour, and once from Scarlet's Walk tour. She is utterly amazing live. I remember her playing one of my favourite songs ever: Honey, which was a B side on the Pretty Good Year single.

[@weetduck]

This whole album is magic.

[@trexinvert]

Most songs are just songs. Some songs are masterpieces. This is one. Enjoy.

[@mistateearuba]

Their first two albums were the soundtrack to my life from 1994 to 1998. Not a single song on there I didn't love. Unbelievable. They made the music that didn't quite exist when it came out. And I loved it. Hip hop influences, 50s sci-fi movie samples, Beth on vocals. They mastered their sound. Incredibly intense, beautiful downtempo bliss.

[@TheoZoffrok]

I agree with every word of this. I'd add one thing: don't ignore the third album ("Third"). Too many people did, including me at the time; and when I listen to it now I think it's every bit as good as the other two.

[@macronencer]

Dummy feels like music that was always waiting patiently to exist but needed someone to open a door to it. It's really hard to describe how it feels... maybe "otherworldly" comes close, but maybe there's simply no word for it. A number of very talented people came together at the right time, and something inexplicable and beautiful was born. It never ages. It's always reliably, steadfastly perfect, every time I listen.

[@zackswigart1530]

I remember hearing Dummy for the first time, a buddy of mine played it for me. I was so blown away I went out and bought it, phenomenal album. One of my favorite band of all time. Beth Gibbons is such a great singer, her voice always gives me the chills. Beth Gibbons doesn’t do the sort of over the top, Hers is an ache rather than a wrenching pain. You don’t get a shotgun blast of pain to the face, rather you feel the pain pulling at you from underneath. It’s so much more subtle and less dramatic. Nobody can do this quite like she can. It’s just amazing. She draws u into her emotional being . You can feel her frailty and I love her for it. If you want to watch a live version of this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJiUm6yCaMilbJI

[@macronencer]

"You don’t get a shotgun blast of pain to the face, rather you feel the pain pulling at you from underneath." Oh man, that is a perfect description. Thank you.

[@JayBee74]

Beautifully said and I fully agree. They pain grows slowly to a point where it becomes almost unbearable. In the live version of the video you linked that point is reached at 3:30. And just when you’ve reached the point where you think to yourself I can’t bear the pain anymore, the choir kicks in, adding some warmth. It’s like a choir of angels, seeing the suffering and bringing back the hope. There are only a handful of songs out there that touch me so deeply like the Roseland version of Roads

[@professoryaffle]

I saw these on Later With Jools Holland (the best music show ever) when this album came out. One of those moments when your jaw drops open. It was like they’d landed from outer space or something. They played Glory Box and Wandering Star. Changed music entirely for me.

[@ganjiblobflankis6581]

Everybody who listened to them had time for Portishead. Rock, grunge, Indie, hip-hop and EDM fans could chill to their stuff. Even my grandma got drawn into a televised live performance and her taste was from the 40s.

[@grimmwerks]

There’s a lot of Billie Holliday feel in their stuff

[@Womberto]

Do more mate. This is one of the best albums ever made.

[@clintonio0078]

Btw, it is pronounced Portis-Head. Never realized before the “s” and “h” could mislead! I think you missed the hashtag spelling too. Portishead is amazing! This whole album is fire. If you want to do a live reaction their whole Roseland NYC album is live and awesome.

[@octaviussludberry9016]

Port-is-head

[@Toobeegort]

I am still here and I love Portishead.

[@dreww1609]

It is said Portis-head, no 'sh'. Totally forgivable! To bring this amazing band into your world you can call them whatever you want! Her voice is descended from angels - they are considered one of - if not the - pioneering band of the genre from the 90's "Trip Hop." It is characterized by an intentional lo-fi vibe, melding rock/soul with a dash of electronica and hip hop. A truly classic near perfect album of the decade "Dummy" (one of those rare occasional albums with zero weak tracks) is where this song is from. A super fun song to check out is "Sour Times" but I think you'd have a blast breaking down "Biscuit." An A+ band from an A+ musical era, and influenced so much of music to come. Their live set - "Live at Roseland Ballroom" is legendary and amazing and reacted to without any issues elsewhere so also a great way to see them - with a full orchestra, turntables - just an epic performance. Man you make my day randomly all the time with some of the unexpected groups and songs you do. Sincere gratitude. This one got me to SUB.

[@devinup3981]

I love Portishead (and trip hop in general) so that's awesome that you checked this out. Would recommend "Glory Box" as another Portishead track. As a complete out of the blue comment, Beth Gibbons (the singer from Portishead) recently did the vocals on Gorecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. I think the video might be available online. It's worth checking out.

[@jessm229]

was also gonna recommend that one its one of my all time favorite songs

[@triggerstrategy]

OMG I love Gorecki’s symphony and have to hear this now Though I think you have to be in the right mood for it, as it’s intense

[@djuengst2000]

Wow, I can’t believe I missed this a month ago. This whole album has a special place in the soundtrack of my life. If you want to circle back I’d suggest “Wandering Stars” from the same album, Portishead, Dummy. Between Portishead, Tricky, and Massive Attack, these bands defined a genre of music. I’m sure I left out a few. 😀

[@-NemoMeImpuneLacessit]

Sneaker pimps?

[@jack_rabbit]

i miss the holy trifecta of Portishead, Massive Attack, and Tricky during the mid 90's. they defined and perfected trip-hop, a genre that no longer really exists in as pure of a form as you hear it at that time... yet whose influences we see all around us.

[@SendyTheEndless]

7:12 that bass guitar is usually where I start to get something in my eye

[@berlanddix648]

It reminds me the time when pop music was actual music from gifted artists. I miss those days.

[@LunaCorbden]

“We speak in melody.” Thank you for this. It’s like I say as a writer, we think in stories. We can’t remember or create or plan without stories. Anything we belittle or devalue as “mere” entertainment can be found in the basis of human function, and the practice of these skills is just as fundamental to our survival as the food we eat and air we breathe. We speak in melody, we think in story, and we perceive in art.

[@sunrisevideo7687]

Portishead definitely underrated, more need to hear their tracks. Enjoyed your analysis. Thank you.

[@mouthpiece806]

you can tell how much you enjoyed this piece by how quickly you closed your eyes and just melted into it

[@Kalithrasis]

This song was in fact named after the Fender Rhodes. The whole album has such a unique way it was composed and produced. They even physically damaged vinyl to get a scratchy effect and then recorded it on tape to get a scratchy feel to the music. Very timeless. You should do more of their music

[@C0urne]

Stopped the video to find if this comment is here after he said it could be an old Rhodes. :P

[@arvindbeeharry8214]

Most of the music from Bristol is amazing! It broke barriers, united races, colour and people from all backgrounds!

[@toastedravis]

If you haven’t, you really owe it to yourself to listen to this whole album! Dummy is a masterpiece. I really do humbly think it’s probably one of the best albums ever made like many others in this comment section. It deserves to be preserved and remembered forever.

[@lk-music]

This is one of my favourite tracks of all time, it's so beautiful. Also, the drummer Clive Deamer tours with Radiohead and appears on a few Radiohead albums, he obviously loves bands that end in 'head'. (I'm still here)

[@Damiana_Dimock]

It’s usually referred to as Trip-Hop. Checkout: Poe, “Fingertips,” “Wild,” “Haunted”; Esthero, “Superheroes,” “Beautiful Lie“; Tricky, “Overcome,” “Broken Homes”; Massive Attack, “Angel,” “Protection”; Tinashe, “Stuck With Me (feat. Little Dragon)”; Poppy, “Nothing I Need,” “Sick Of The Sun”; Bonobo, “Days To Come (feat. Bajka),” “Heaven For The Sinner (feat. Erikah Badu),” “The Keeper (feat. Andreya Triana)”; UNKLE, “Rabbit In The Headlights (feat. Thom Yorke),” “Joy Factory (feat. Autolux),” Supreme Beings Of Leisure, “Never The Same,” “Under The Gun.”

[@ct5625]

I'd also add anything by LAMB :)

[@Damiana_Dimock]

@@ct5625 I thought about them but couldn’t think of any songs.

[@RazbaqueDirge]

@@Damiana_Dimock "B Line", "Trans Fatty Acid", "Little Things", "Ear Parcel", "Scratch Bass", etc... 8)>

[@thejollysloth5743]

It's live strings. Listen to the live performance of it with the orchestra. It is simply beautiful.

[@JamieSirensong]

Oh man, this really takes me back to an era…early 20’s, hazy drug-fueled nights…what a vibe 🙃🧘‍♀️

[@shemademegay]

@jeeze Early 20's??? This was more like early 90's! I remember I had this on 1 side of a c90 and pearl jam vs on the other side...both albums got heavy rotation driving around in my mini! hahaha

[@kobolslastgleamingdragon3732]

Same here! Early to mid 20s…Portishead was always the soundtrack to the after-after-party. And if the main party was on a Monday or Tuesday and was sponsored by the letter “K” then Portishead was the main event.

[@daisho13]

Maaaaannnn... Haven't heard this in years. Still sublime. 👍

[@MrWestie1985]

Whoop! So glad you got to Portishead such an incredible band. Everything on the album 'Dummy' which this track is from is awesome - 'Wandering Star' and 'Glory Box' would be my other recommendations to react to. And from their most recent album, 'Third', 'Machine Gun' and 'We Carry On' are amazing too. And as others have said you should definitely check out their live performance from Roseland NYC with full orchestra, it's sublime. ✌️

[@jovanleonardi1574]

every song on third was amazing. the sheer darkness of small and threads, the rip and deep water are both very somber songs, nylon smile and magic doors are two of the most disorienting songs I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. i guess I'm biased but third is one of my all-time favorite albums.

[@croydontouristoffice.]

I can’t imagine what it must feel like to have Roads be the FIRST Portishead song to have ever heard! I heard Sour Times first, as many long time fans did. I didn’t get sucked in straight away, but if I had heard this or Glory Box first, it would have been a different story!

[@edisons.7637]

It's so so so freakin rare that an entire album is good and Portisheads first 2 albums are genius. And one of the best parts is that there's nothing like their music.

[@Kaiire714]

I love this comment so much!

[@tezeta3725]

Only the first two? Third is their best album imo

[@TheoZoffrok]

@@tezeta3725 It's *criminally* underrated!

[@eatthem5829]

Third is pure genius

[@gingerbill128]

This song just puts me in a trance , thanks for the reaction.

[@snakey973]

One of my favorite songs of all time- transports me to another dimension every time I listen

[@po5283]

Their first two albums were phenomenal with Dummy leading the way. For a good mix of the various sounds check out the tracks "Glory Box", "Humming" and "Western Eyes", I think you would also be interested in seeing the live performance at Roseland NYC, and while the whole concert is amazing, the highlights have to be this song "Roads" and "Glory Box", also of note is that the live performance was accompanied by a New York Philharmonic which just adds to the perfection. Another group you should really check out is fellow brit band Massive Attack in particular "Dissolved Girl", "Black Milk" and "Group Four", they along with Portishead were the undisputed kings and queens of the 90's and early 2000's sub-genre known as Trip Hop! Two groups that don't get nearly the love they deserve especially on this side of the pond, and yet have been incredibly influential and are both very well known to musicians inside the industry.

[@jameshannagan4256]

I think my favorite is Strangers but the whole show is fantastic.

[@chrislemoh2019]

There's a great live album, 'One More Time', that has a brilliant version of 'Roads'... just incredible.

[@Meganis333]

I found your channels today, was going to suggest Portishead, and here we are. How about some Bjork? Anything off the Post album.

[@levivalentinovideos]

I’m from Bristol, Portishead is the name of a small coastal town near Bristol, the bad are named after the place, it’s pronounced Portis Head, amazing band, get on Massive Attack (also from Bristol) and some other Trip Hop

[@bjwnashe5589]

One of the greatest songs, from one of the greatest albums, in all of popular music.

[@Dave-el6rh]

Thank you.

[@smittyramirez522]

I'm still here! Love this group deeply and I adore when they get some time in the spotlight. They dislike the "trip hop" box/labeling they were placed in but they're my favorite from that leaning by a mile. They're perfectionists and as such have only managed to release 3 albums despite no break-up. Still, it's left us with a sadly brief but brilliant catalogue of music that I am always down to return to. Hope you jump onto some of their other tracks eventually - my fav is "Biscuit" from this same album, it has a killer dark/moody vibe. Keep doin' what you're doin', we appreciate you!

[@jameshannagan4256]

Strangers is my favorite especially at Roseland but the whole album is amazing top to bottom one of the best albums of the 90s to me and I think that that is one of the best periods for music if not the best.

[@TomCullen-r7p]

This song is a tear jerker, so beautiful

[@davidtate8273]

Port-is-head ... a small town south of Bristol in SW England. Home town of many prominent acts in UK hip-hop in the 90s - Massive Attack, Tricky and others.

[@soundmangaz]

Portis-head (named after the town near Bristol UK, where the band were formed) have a live show with a string Orchestra, I'd love to hear you glam on that from an arrangers perspective!!! I've always said Beth's Vocals are like beautifully cut glass!

[@riacaasi5259]

I just stumbled across your channel and I really enjoyed your breakdown of this track. Portishead are icons of 90's trip hop,and Beth Gibbons is incredible. She can convey so much emotion in just a whisper. Please check out their live performance in Roseland theatre NY.

[@michaelavarice]

So glad I found this channel as well!!! 🖤❤️🤘

[@gohumberto]

Saw them first, as many Brits did, on "Later with Jools". It was life changing. Come to think of it there were many life changing moments, courtesy of that show.

[@nomaddamon100]

Hah, now I'll be watching your rock and these reviews. I musically grew up on metal, but I loved the trip hop stuff in uk, and for me Portis-head dummy is a thing of utter beauty and one of my top albums of all time

[@jasonwithskin9865]

thanks Geebz just subscribed to this channel I didn't know about it I'm sure your going to love portis head

[@JustAnotherPassenger]

Whether you do any more reactions to Portishead, or just watch some further videos of them just for yourself, please checkout their incredible live performance from Roseland NYC in 1997 backed up by a live orchestra. Just be careful which videos you watch as many have really bad sound quality where the bass is completely blown out. I do have a playlist on my channel with all tracks uploaded separately if you are interested.

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

I was lucky enough to get a copy of that performace on vinyl.

[@spasticmuse4262]

I'm still here. YT algorithm threw your Bjork "Human Behavior" review at me (I've recently been checking out her music videos.) Then saw you also checked another fav of mine, Portishead(Always been Portis-Head to me). So I'll continue to see what you have in your library. Always interesting to see the reactions of people hearing songs for the first time that I've known for years! Thanks!

[@jankarlsson8341]

When the guitar comes in, it's like magic

[@heyskipj]

I'm still here. Portishead has trip-hop down pat.

[@soleclaw6521]

Very happy to see you doing Portishead!

[@timothyevans7383]

Half way through you are finding it hard to understand how beautiful this is and how hard it is not to cry

[@mobsiesixsixsix9785]

I like this channel. Well done 🙂

[@DeagleLas]

Had to come here to listen to nice old Portishead! Awwright! I'm still here!

[@ShirleyTimple]

This takes me back. Love Portishead

[@MikeInABQ]

Yes, it starts with the impressive patience that demands the same of us. Delicious. Hard to pick a favorite from the several Portishead songs that blow me away.

[@hoyit]

Oh my god finally!!! Was wondering if you ever would get around to this. So glad you’re getting the Portishead experience 😀

[@thareckoner5453]

This song just carries me away. Glad you're taking them on. This whole album just had a vibe to it. Cheers

[@thepoofster2251]

I am calling them porti-shead from now on!

[@pissed555]

Ah, the early 90s. My girlfriend had left me right before this was released. It helped me feel even more depressed ;-) which, was what I wanted at the time.

[@FindingMadonna]

Love Portishead. Her voice is very versatile so I would check out some other tracks. Also, highly recommend Madonna "Frozen" - would love to hear your thoughts after seeing this reaction.

[@albedo0point39]

Have a search on KZbin for tracks from their Roseland NYC live concert. Just next level live.

[@wukaiyote8011]

would love some more portishead reactions. love your analysis.

[@Ariaaae]

You cannot imagine how many times people have cried with this song.

[@markphillips3186]

Dummy is one of the seminal trip hop albums from the 90s. Loved you enjoyed it. Personally I’d love to hear a deeper discussion of the song.

[@davidlukey5189]

Fantastic reaction to an absolutely beautiful song. Would love to hear your take on All Mine by them. For me it's an underappreciated classic.

[@lireid1825]

oh snap, i did not know you had a separate channel for different genres, right on dude! more portishead! this song broke me the first time i heard it

[@Abigael.777]

I mean Portishead was my favorite music, that combination of Soul, Scratch, Jazz, Bett's emotion when singing, the tracks, I mean everything... and without a doubt Jeoff Barrow is an impressive combination of tones and sounds. spend hours listening to the same thing without getting tired, because it's just great, and then I listened to Psychedelic Trance Music, and my bases were always classical music, I don't listen to that music anymore, only Gospel music, but I know how to recognize the talent that God gives to the people... 🙋🏼💜

[@leecaine6700]

Yay Portishead! I listen to them everyday and have done for 25+ years! Love them :) ... more please :)

[@colonelflagg9669]

Love this band.

[@GuyWithACamera23]

Still remember first hearing this song at the end of a small canadian TV movie from the director of Wayne's World 2 called Little Criminals and I've been hooked ever since.

[@johnwalsh128]

This is one of my favourite songs of all time. Their live roseland NYC version is amazing too.

[@mikeb7379]

Yep. You gotta watch Beth performing live. No question mark there you notice? And if you can steer away from the big concerts with full orchestra arrangements? That came later on as they got bigger name. Try and find the more paired back originals and hear what they meant people to hear?

[@Ocelot2000]

You're right, very 70s inspired, it's called Trip Hop.90s. And live they have on top of the band an orchestra on stage so it's strings you are hearing here. On other tracks they also have some woodwinds and brass as well. The other one I love from them is Glory Box! I can just float away to them.

[@chrisjdgrady]

One of the most beautiful songs ever made

[@kimstelly9480]

I had this album when it first came out and I listened to it nonstop. Great album! 👍

[@NoBrakes23]

Still here and stoked to see you give Portishead a listen.

[@kide9747]

You have to do The Rip at some point. I think you would enjoy the composition on that one

[@strangemanmtd8350]

That's was very well explained bro. You nailed it. This is one of my favourite songs that I played as my dad was dying in hospital to myself to help me get through it.

[@sbooclay7898]

First time commenting on any feed - I love how you're inpartial and give your own opinion ! Loving the technical reports and obvious love of music

[@j_murdoch]

Love Portishead! Thanks for doing this. Great video as always. The strings are awesome, and the voice incredible. Try "The Rip" or "Over" if you dig this.

[@littleredhen8205]

Those are both such amazing songs. "Humming" is another one that's really grown on me over the years.

[@sheilamorris2338]

One of my favorite bands! So much texture throughout. Glad you did this, great reaction as always. Thanks Geebz!

[@villikotturinn]

You should check out the incredible, minimalist version Portishead did of Abba's "SOS". Just magically haunting.

[@JM-wr2fo]

How come I did not know you had a second channel?! I absolutely love Portishead, thanks so much for this. Please explore these guys more, you won't regret it ;) Sugestion: Glory Box

[@andrewsharpe4764]

Roads is one of only two songs that invariably make me cry.

[@garethstanden3732]

Portishead is a town near Bristol UK. Part of the early 90s trip hop movement born of the same place.

[@adamhenton6221]

Wow I really loved this song. Reminds me of a track from Zero 7 - Destiny. You should check it out. It's very chill and I love it.

[@Bebop-Nic]

And of course, portishead and massive attack are basically the creators of the hop trio.

[@Dave-el6rh]

Pops....

[@villikotturinn]

Man, this was my nineties soundtrack. Remember when this came out. It gave me the closest to a religious experience I´ve ever had.

[@lovelyella]

So glad you did this… Portishead Nirvana and Radiohead are my favorite artists please do wandering stars… Check out roseland performance of sour times

[@anotherblonde]

Portis-head, place in England

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Thank you, Tina :)

[@anotherblonde]

@@rpgeebzmusicarcade My fav track is Mysterons

[@medfidell3930]

@@anotherblonde all what they did was great

[@medfidell3930]

The Roseland concert was really something

[@amedeoavogadro2788]

It is good every time I hear it.

[@reneelyons6836]

"We are all singers" God i love you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bennyblues1978]

Portishead is one of my favorites from the 90's. Considering they recorded a concert with a symphony orchestra, I would love to see you do something like strangers or wandering star from that live performance. Portishead's melodic, low fi sound, that heavenly jazzy voice (which you will appreciate even more considering she smokes cigarettes during the set), and the full sound of the strings and horns mixing with hip hop scratches. This was a great song by Portishead, but it doesn't really capture their iconic sound in my opinion.

[@DEATHrocket777]

I'm still here! Also, I had a buddy who listened to this band, and I believe he pronounced it as Porti-shed.

[@raytrusty8618]

OMG this track and fake plastic tree's by Radiohead are the best!

[@groovymcnasty]

Welcome to trip hop and the Dummy album is quintessential. Watch the live sessions Beth is captivating