If you haven't yet heard, Portugal. The Man officially released their impressive fifth full-length, titled The Satanic Satanist, two weeks ago. Officially being the key-word.
Portugal. The Man have always been a "larger than life" band. From the name of the band itself to the music they make, P.TM are sure to stick out in a crowd due to their genuinely talented ideas and humble attitude. However, nothing seems to stop their creative minds from cranking out more songs, even if it means releasing two albums within ten months of one another.
Portugal wowed many with a seemingly more established sound on their last album, Censored Colors, which was released in September 2008. However, the band was back in the studio by January 2009 recording their newest album that was said to have been written and entirely laid-out before the band even entered a studio. Sure, nobody minds hearing new material from an amazing group, but what was most impressive was the fact that the short timeline between the release of one album to the recording of the next seemed to be completely natural for the band. Even more surprising was that the band had little-to-no down time between the preparation of the album's release and their next tour.
After a brief stint in Tennessee for Bonnaroo in early June, the band travelled overseas for an extensive European tour that would eventually end in Portugal. Yet it was only a couple of weeks into their European tour that many fans were feeling a mixture of shock and excitement when John Gourley, the band's founding member, announced via his Twitter account and the band's blog that the album had been leaked only a month before its intended release of July 21st.
However, the boys had to move on. As time went on, Gourley emphasized that despite being frustrated, the band understood and were encouraging many to go ahead and download the album. Surprising to say the least.
Still, the insanely timed arrival and journey of The Satanic Satanist was well worth it, as it has proven to be the kind of album worth holding on to. With opening track "People Say" blatantly mocking the ideals of pro-war Americans, the humor is not only found in the lyrics, but how deliberately catchy and up-beat the song is. Leave it up to boys of Portugal. The Man to find and expose the irony in it all.
As the album moves on, it never slows down from the bluesy opening track. The shorter tracks of Satanist blend easily into one another despite an album that pulls inspiration from various points on the music spectrum, making a cohesive experience out of variety that could promise disastrous if not carefully constructed. In fact, the albums most appealing quality is not the beautifully blended vocals or even the subtle-yet-brilliant additions from keyboardist Ryan Neighbors, but the fact that such an experimental band properly found a way to present even more experimentation to the table for old fans to appreciate and new fans to fall in love with. As "Lovers In Love" brings fast-paced bongos and strong synths to the table, tracks like "The Woods" and "Everyone Is Golden" showcase a more organic sound. With their fifth full-length, Portugal prove yet again that they are able to vary their inspiration to a degree that works easier than it should. As the album nears a close with the slow, echoing track, "Let You Down", you get the feeling that this magical album might just represent what its like to live a day in the majestic land of Alaska, and the feeling itself will have your head spinning.
If you ever had a doubt that Gourley, Neighbors, bassist Zachary Carothers and drummer Jason Sechrist knew what they were doing with their music, you can finally rest your worries. The Satanic Satanist clearly reveals just how talented each musician is on their newest record that will grab ahold of your soul and keep you reaching back for more.
Although you can pick this album up on iTunes, Amazon, or other websites that offer The Satanic Satanist digitally, I'd recommend dropping by your local record shop and buying the album (vinyl or CD) there. Sure, you can get it faster by downloading it, but you won't get the beautiful artwork John drew and designed himself.
The album, which was in fact inspired by the band's upbringing in Alaska, is a testament (artistically and musically) to the way nature is seen through the eyes of an Alaskan - or something like that.
Portugal. The Man will be touring this fall, making numerous stops throughout North America that will keep them on the road for three months. If you're in the area of any of these shows, please go out and support them. I promise you that it will be one of the most entertaining shows you will see in a while.
August
4 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
5 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
7 - Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
9 - Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza/Playstation Stage (1:30P)
11 - Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
12 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
14 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
27 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place
29 - San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
September
16 - Vancouver, British Columbia, CA @ The Union Ltd.
17 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
18 - Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall
19 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
22 - Sacramento, CA @ Harlow's Night Club
23 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
25 - West Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour
26 - Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
28 - San Diego, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
29 - Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
October
1 - Santa Fe, NM @ Santa Fe Brewing Company
2 - Boulder, CO @ B-Side Lounge
3 - Boulder, CO @ B-Side Lounge
8 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
9 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
10 - Chicago, IL @ Schuba's Tavern
11 - Chicago, IL @ Schuba's Tavern
13 - Ferndale, MI @ The Magic Bag
14 - Toronto, Ontario, CA @ Horseshoe Tavern
16 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's
18 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
20 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
21 - Northhampton, MA @ Pearl Street Downstairs
22 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
23 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
If you like The Satanic Satanist, make sure you also check out Portugal. The Man's four previous albums; Waiter: "You Vultures!", It's Complicated Being A Wizard, Church Mouth, and Censored Colors.
No comments:
Post a Comment