I stopped waiting for Portishead a looooooong time ago. I remember they had their first album out at basically the same time that Tricky released Maxinquaye, and they both used the same base sample in Glory Box and Hell is Round the Corner. Because of that, I kind of equated them and waited for the next album from both of them. I got Tricky's Pre-Millennium Tension.....and waited for Portishead's next album. Then got Tricky's "Nearly God" album....and waited for Portishead's. When Portishead finally released their second album, Tricky was about to put out his fourth, had released a bunch of EPs, and then had a fifth full length the next year. I had already given up at that point. Granted, Tricky had some ups and downs, but he was exploring ideas and growing. That's why Portishead's second disappointed me so much. I, and most of their musical peers, had moved on musically, while they, after years, were still doing the same thing. They went so directly from innovators to stagnant. Can you tell that they really hurt me?
Oh well, like I said before, hopefully their sound has finally evolved after 11 years since their last full length release.