Portugal. The Man - Censored Colors

Portugal. The Man

Censored Colors

(o9.2008, Equal Vision)
Verdict: Don't write it off just because it's sold on SmartPunk

Lately a lot of bands have been labeled as "cross-genre." It is usually true. Bands no longer fit into the perfect little molds formed from the English language by which we try to classify and make sense of things. Music is morphing in every direction. There are more obscure start up record labels out there now than Mr. Thistle has cousins, and yet some certain labels and/or bands get promoted so heavily to a certain genre of people, that the other genres of people ignore the bands, even if they supposedly support "cross-genre" artists. Such is the way with the heavily promoted and widely loved Portugal. The Man. Their love is in the wrong place. People that listen to As I Lay Dying and Underoath love Portugal. The Man, and for some reason that makes people that listen to Black Mountain and Dodos not listen to Portugal. The Man even though they fit more with the latter bands than the former. All I am saying here is, give this album a chance cause it deserves that and much much more. Portugal has consistently blown me away, but this time they have morphed into a beautifully orchestrated composition-heavy rock band of complete enjoyment. Singer John Baldwin Gourley said it best when describing this albums' accomplishments by stating: "We've always wanted to make a really heavy record mellow." The aesthetics of this album are a gauzy ballad struck classically composed Led Zepplin in the year 2008. It's beautifully refreshing and instantly enjoyable.

-Sassigrass

"Colors" performed accoustically

This Week's Shows

Hip hop heads will be rejoicing this week as super-tour “Rock The Bells” visits the USANA Amphitheater on Tuesday (8/21) with the likes of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan and similarly legendary and acclaimed friends Nas, Rahzel, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Jedi Mind Tricks, Immortal Technique and more !?!

FG favourites, Portugal. The Man, avoid the capital for a set in Ogden at the Country Club Theatre on Thursday (8/23) where they will bust out a set filled with their newly blues infused indie soul rock! This will be a show well worth the trip.

The Twilight Concert Series will continue to display indie rock for free in its over sized setting with French Kicks and Calexico this week on Thursday (8/23).

The U’s Red Butte Garden will continue to provide the independent record worlds most acclaimed country hybrids. Sunday (8/26) will feature Alejandro Escovedo along with Son Volt for your Sabbath evening pleasures.

Portugal. The Man - Church Mouth

Portugal. The Man
Church Mouth
(2007, Fearless)
8.5/10

The new release from the beloved cross-genre darlings, Portugal. The Man has been released this week. Their last album, Waiter: "You Vultures!," stole my heart in one fell swoop (even though I usually don't pander towards Fearless releases) and many critics felt the same way. Portugal. The Man has somehow found a way to make post punk interesting and accessible to the masses of indie pop lovers. Church Mouth is everything you came to love about Portugal. The Man, except it lacks some of the creativity and diversity that made Waiter: "You Vultures!" so appealing. However, whatever it is lacking in creativity it makes up in soul. This new album shows a bluesy side of the band that we had only seen glimpses of in the previous release. You can hear their cited influence, Muddy Waters, bleeding into this album. It sounds as if they had been heavily influenced by the deep south blues culture, which is strange, considering they are all Alaskan natives. Expect to be drawn into their catchy, dirty rock on Church Mouth. Its epic rock mixed with blues guitars and innovative vocal melodies are sure to make an instant fan out of most listeners.

-Sassigrass

Portugal. The Man - "Shade"