By the end of the '90s, artists realized that CD and CD-R bootlegs of live performances were in high demand, which meant that they could profit by officially releasing certain "special" live performances. Portishead's one-night stand at New York City's Roseland Ballroom, released as PNYC, certainly qualifies as one of those "special" occasions. Performing with a 35-piece orchestra, Portishead runs through selections from its two albums, favoring its second slightly. On the surface, it doesn't seem like the orchestra would add much to the performances, especially since the arrangements remain similar, but its presence makes the music tense, dramatic, and breathtaking. This is especially true of the material from Portishead. On album, several of these songs sounded a little flat, but here they soar right alongside such staples as "Mysterons," "Sour Times," and "Glory Box." That alone doesn't necessarily make PNYC revelatory -- instead, it deepens a listener's understanding of the artist, much like the Tindersticks' The Bloomsbury Theatre. Which means, of course, that PNYC is much more compelling and essential than the average live album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Videos from PNYC - ROSELAND NYC
All Music Guide Review
Track Listing
Similar Albums
Credits
- Carmel Malin
- Violin
- Carol Pool
- Violin
- Pamela Porta
- Violin
- Paul Read
- Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant
- Andy Stein
- Violin
- Adrian Utley
- Guitar, Moog Synthesizer, Orchestral Arrangements, Producer, Director, Arranger
- Anthony Posk
- Violin
- Jim Barr
- Bass
- Dave McDonald
- Engineer
- Israel Chorberg
- Violin
- John Neilson
- Engineer
- Suzie Katayama
- Cello
- Geoff Barrow
- Director, Producer, Turntables, Drums
- Beth Gibbons
- Vocals
- Joanna Jenner
- Violin
- Joel Pitchon
- Violin
- Lenard Rivlin
- Violin
- Will Gregory
- Oboe, Sax (Baritone)
- Sean McClintock
- Engineer
- Phil Gitomer
- Engineer
- John Baggot
- Keyboards
- John Cornick
- Trombone
- Susan Follari
- Viola
- Byung Kook Kwak
- Violin
- DJ Andy Smith
- Turntables
- Ashley Horne
- Violin
- B. Waghorn
- Flute (Alto), Sax (Alto)
- Sarah Sherley-Price
- Artwork, Design
- Rik Simpson
- Engineer, Mixing
- John Miller
- Bass
- John Miller
- Bass
- Portishead
- Band, Producer, Main Performer
- Belinda Whitney-Barratt
- Violin
- Alfred Brown
- Viola
- Jeff Carney
- Bass
- Richard Auldon Clark
- Violin
- Harold Coletta
- Viola
- Stephanie Cummins
- Cello
- Clive Deamer
- Percussion, Drums
- Katsuko Esaki
- Violin
- David Finck
- Bass
- Dave Ford
- Trumpet
- Andy Hague
- Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- Joyce Hammann
- Violin
- Ian Huffam
- Engineer
- Nick Ingman
- Bass, Arranger, Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements
- Olivia Koppell
- Viola
- Jesse Levy
- Cello























Plus