Sleeping Under The Subwoofer

Some were reborn
some were simply shaken free
and some were the colors
that took to the streets
- John Baldwin Gourley

There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Portugal. The Man. Unfortunately your missing out on one of the most interesting, talented and original bands you’ll ever discover; and despite the fact that you never knew they existed, you already know them from head to toe. They’re the band that made your eyes pop outta your skull…the band you scream at all your friends to worship…the band that’s never disappointed, even after you had to call in every favor owed to you just to get a chance to see them live and uncut. They are Portugal.The Man, and not since you discovered Led Zeppelin has a band been this incredible.

The bands new album Censored Colors is a absolute work of art, hands down! With fifteen brand new tracks for fans to drool over this group’s reputation to amaze has yet to be tarnished. Even by looking directly at the albums front cover you can tell this collection of avant-garde musical arrangements is going to be like nothing you’ve ever heard before. I myself had only previously heard one song by the band before I decided to dive into it all head first. Of course this isn’t always a great idea, but how could I have a single regret with such a masterpiece? Censored Colors is the band’s White Album, Mona Lisa or Statue of Liberty.

With lyrics and music written the band’s vocalist/guitarist (He paints too. designs all the bands cover art including the eerie and mesmerizing cover to Censored Colors) The Album contains eight solid singles with a B-side that could be compared to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon. All of this comes as an incredible surprise to me because it’s not often that a band takes the time to have their songs blend into one another like a grand opera overture. Every time I put this album on, my first thoughts (before the intro’s even through) is usually something like “These guys are fuckin’ brilliant!” With a heavy guitar crunch and one of the catchiest riffs in existence Lay Me Back Down is the perfect opening song for any album trying to let you know that your in for one hell of a ride…Which becomes abundently clear once you’ve found yourself deep within the clutches of Colors, a song Ive head stuck in my head since I was fortunate enough to have this album fall into my lap. To be honest the more and more I think about it, Portugal.The Man (more specifically, this album) is what I would expect to hear while bombin around the Salvador Dali museum.

Its usually about now when Im writtin album reviews that I realize it really sounds like Im trying to kiss the band’s ass…and sometimes I am. But the case is totally different with this blues/folk/indie/prog/pop band from Alaska. For years I had heard the name thrown around with the likes of The Mars Volta and The Fall of Troy but despite the fact that these are some of my favorite groups I had just never gotten around to checkin em out. I feel as if Ive wasted a lot of time. Had I have had someone push them onto me Id probably have a new best friend.

As previously mentioned, Censored Colors` B-side is….well, an experience. With songs like Never Pleased and Hard Times that jump outta your stereo and rattle your brain from side to side, your bound to call into work sick just so you can veg out on the couch and lose yourself in the music. But maybe I should just let the music speak for itself. Believe me when I say that you NEED to find this album and put it into your regular rotation. This song here was found on the band’s last album Waiter: “You Vultures!”

Theres also a free tour sample download of Portugal.The Man as well Earl Greyhound and Wintersleep from there Gold Tour preview.
you can find it at http://portugaltheman.net/index.php?page_id=501