Portugal. The Man – SHISH (Thirty Tigers) (13th Floor Album Review)
Portugal. The Man are throwing their latest eclectic offering SHISH out into the world this Friday. The Grammy winning band, consisting of just two primary members, are back to their independent roots after their departure from Atlantic Records.
For the average radio-dependent music fan, you probably heard most major New Zealand radio stations pushing Portugal. The Man’s worldwide crossover hit Feel it Still back in 2017. It was a catchy number that would have sat well in the soundtrack of EA Sport’s FIFA 2018 or blasted between overs at an ODI up the Bay Oval.
But, hey! You’ve chosen to read a music review about this particular band! So perhaps you know them more for the influential and continuous evolution of their sound. Don’t worry, dear reader! Regardless of where you sit on the spectrum of this band, I will try and share my thoughts about what this album is all about and if it is worth the listen.
Husband and wife team John Gourley and Zoe Manville are up to studio album number ten, continuing on after events that would lead many bands to call it quits. And SHISH is a statement of ‘survival, connection and ambition’. It’s a pretty eclectic mix of music that hops extravagantly from foot to foot more than at least three or four times in each of its 10 songs.
Those ‘crossover fans’ from I mentioned earlier might be scared away with the album opener/single Denali. It’s quite a barrage of different genres tossed the general direction of a wall to see what sticks. First, I was put off by the gruesome metal guitars, but then a melody entered. A catchy and synth-filled chorus was enjoyed until those ghastly guitars returned again. Then, the song ended in a charming outro I might have found on something The Flaming Lips recorded. But they won’t let us rest there! Track two (Pittman Railliers) is crust-punk straight to the face!
But I urge those aforementioned ‘crossover fans’ to dig a little deeper. While I am promising hecticness. There are diamonds amongst the intentional roughness of SHISH. A track that I have really taken to is Knik. It is a melodious ditty that ticks most boxes you would hear on a modern indie-rock song in this day in age. Halfway through the song, fuzzy guitars blast in your ears in a second half that would make The Black Keys envious.
And don’t worry, if that’s not your thing. They’ve left you a lovely radio-friendly number at the back-end of the album in Tanana (before throwing you a massive curve-ball on the intro of the finale).
Gourley has promised his most revealing written work to date. I believe he’s produced SHISH to be raw, but remarkably polished in places. There are the perfect makings of an indie-pop tune in each song as he knows how to write a decent melody. And, as I have harped on already, he knows how to mash up several different genres into one. However, there are some choices in here I don’t quite agree with. Particularly, I am adamant that he’s ripped off Nirvana for the chorus of Angoon (and the effect/tone used on the solo isn’t fooling anybody, pal!).
I won’t lie, it took me a few listens to decide what Portugal. The Man was going for on this album. Many songs feel like three or four smaller songs taped together (tastefully, of course!). Expect to hear random blasts of overwhelming distorted guitar amongst finer, softer moments. You will find plenty of melody and satisfaction amongst it all. As I have implied, there’s a lot going on in this album. Still, I think it has a lot going for it.
Daniel Edmonds
SHISH OUT NOV 7 ON KNIK/THIRTY TIGERS
