Portishead

Formed in 1991, Portishead is a band from Bristol, England, that has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the trip-hop genre. By blending woozy atmospherics with downtempo rhythm accompaniments and provocative lyrics, courtesy of lead singer Beth Gibbions, the trio has managed to amass a sizable fan base and come to be viewed as critical darlings and favorites of music connoisseurs. Though the band took a hiatus from 1999 to 2005, the group returned with its third studio album, aptly titled Third, in 2008.