Portugal. The Man magnificently explores millennial concerns with their new release, “Woodstock.” It’s hard to fathom that the eighth release from the band might be their best work to date, which should enlighten and excite PTM fans no end.
With Woodstock, Portugal. The Man continues to be exceptionally colorful, polished, moving, and determined. Sure, the group has lost a sliver of their uniqueness in the move toward a more commercially viable and accessible sound, but the vast majority of their idiosyncratic identity is still here.
Woodstock may be a new page for Portugal, but it is indisputably still a part of the same book. The band continue to expand and create rewarding experiences, and in the case of Woodstock, one worth repeating.
Despite its bucolic, peaceful namesake, it’s a decidedly grimey vivisection of millennial pop expressly positioned to act as revolutionary mouthpiece for a generation of the disillusioned.
It'll be interesting to observe how P.TM's longtime fans react to Woodstock, or if it will even matter. They'll certainly retain enough of their base to chart, but the bet is, given how accessible and attractive (and yes, derivative) their loopy brand of pop is, they'll attract an entirely new crop of fans to compensate.
The Alaska psych-pop group have embraced modern-rock glitz and EDM bombast, while trying to write an album that speaks to the times. But their attempts at topicality are clumsy.
It is the constant shifting of elements that keeps Woodstock so interesting. But the gimmick of changing the scenery can only last so long until you realize that Portgual. The Man might be disguising the fact that it still carries no discernable features.
While all that tinkering and aiming for the center have reached their payoff with the most commercially viable record of the group’s career, something of what made Portugal. The Man unique feels like it’s been lost.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to appeal to a broader audience, but by wrapping itself in the trappings of counterculture and modern social activism with no intention to fully explore these themes, Woodstock feels as disingenuous as it does unoriginal.
Im a rebel just for kicks. This album was very good but had some bad songs which brought it down heavily. The best songs on here are Live in the moment and Feel it still. The worst songs on here are mr lonely and tidal wave.
Come on, most of these songs are banging, tracks like noise pollution with its powerful beat and melodic vocals and the symphony of every singer here, it’s just beautiful. TBH, that’s just my favorite moment of this album. The way it flows like a river with sooth transitions, while, at the same time, being chaotic and not following the certain formula.
Alright, enough with this track (though I could talk for ages about it, god it’s so good). Other songs are also really good: ... read more
1 | Number One 5:21 feat. Richie Havens, Son Little | 77 |
2 | Easy Tiger 3:37 | 69 |
3 | Live in the Moment 4:06 | 87 |
4 | Feel It Still 2:43 | 94 |
5 | Rich Friends 3:41 | 77 |
6 | Keep On 3:23 | 79 |
7 | So Young 4:06 | 83 |
8 | Mr Lonely 4:22 feat. Fatlip | 63 |
9 | Tidal Wave 3:31 | 69 |
10 | Noise Pollution (Version A, Vocal Up Mix 1.3) 3:45 | 80 |