Woodstock [LP]

by Portugal. The Man

Overview

Portugal. The Man are a clever lot; the major-label indie rockers are no strangers to well-conceived mischief, whether it's in videos, on-stage antics, or subtly hidden subversions in song lyrics. None of this will come across as blatantly as it does on Woodstock, the band's eighth studio album and first in four years. Woodstock was actually recorded twice; with producer Mike D and a lot of time, they cut enough material for a double album, then chucked it all, starting again with only fragments from the early sessions. The title was inspired by frontman John Gourley's dad's first-day ticket stub from the Woodstock festival, so much so that set opener "Number One" is electronically enhanced indie dance-psych that samples Richie Havens' "Freedom" from the Woodstock festival's soundtrack in the intro. Guest vocalist Son Little takes his tune and interweaves it with the band's contrasting melody and lyrics. On this set, Portugal. The Man continue to work with Mike D. but also with Danger Mouse and John Hill. They enlisted no less than nine engineers and more than 20 guest musicians and singers, and Woodstock sounds like it. It's an enormous-sounding, splashy album. While the recording contains the band's hyperkinetic, sometimes frantic tapestry of sounds from neo-psych to glam and indie (in places), they've upped their "commercial" ante considerably as evidenced by single "Feel It Still," which has a punchy, fingerpopping rhythm worthy of both Pharrell Williams and Mark Ronson, complete with bumping brass, crisp snares, and Gourley's falsetto. The irony of such an overt pop single isn't lost on the band: They've printed T-shirts that read "I was into Portugal. The Man before they sold out." The pop approach is subversive but you'll need to get to the various song's lyrics to discover it. (No spoilers.) Check the nocturnal loop and groove of "Easy Tiger" that weaves traces of glam and multi-layered psych into its dubby, club-floor stomp. While "Keep On" contains ghost traces of the band's indie past, it's more influenced by alternative R&B and still rocks. The Pharcyde's Fatlip guests on the wonderful, snare/hi-hat/acid-tinged zaniness that is "Mr. Lonely," while the hip-hop drums and Hill's multi-layered, Brian Wilson-esque swooping vocal and backmasked Baroque psych production on "Tidal Wave" are infectious. Closer "Noise Pollution" offers an upfront vocal mix with Mary Elizabeth Winstead & Zoe Manville adding a prominent vocal chorus into the meld of psychedelic pop, hip-hop, and dancefloor tropes in a dense production by Mike D. 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. Pump your fist, be "a rebel just for kicks now," and most of all, dance like your life depended on it. As far as P.TM is concerned, it does. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	08/11/2017
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	0075678660825

Tracks

1. Number One
2. Easy Tiger
3. Live in the Moment
4. Feel It Still
5. Rich Friends
6. Keep On
7. So Young
8. Mr Lonely
9. Tidal Wave
10. Noise Pollution

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Portugal. The Man   Primary Artist
Steve Smith   Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Anthony Saffery   Moog Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Nate Walcott   Horn
Eric Howk   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Fat Lip   Featured Artist
Richie Havens   Featured Artist
Mike D   Drums
Paul Cartwright   Violin
Kane Ritchotte   Drums
Info   Drums
Dave Palmer   Keyboards
John Gourley   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Asa Taccone   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Jason Sechrist   Drums
Nick Reinhart   Guitar
Zach Carothers   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Kyle O'Quin   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Brad Caulkins   Saxophone
Zoe Manville   Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Sonny DiPerri   Drums
Matthew Cooker   Cello
Josh Idehen   Vocals (Background)
Aaron Steele   Drums
Ammar Malik   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Inflo   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead   Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
John Graham Hill   Bass,Drums,Guitar
Mikey Freedom Hart   Keyboards
Son Little   Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Lori Lechien   Vocals (Background)
Zachary Carothers   Bass,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Danger Van Gorder   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Steve Smith   Musician
Anthony Saffery   Musician,Recording,Programming
Nate Walcott   Musician
Greg Edwards   Composer
Derrick Stewart   Composer
Robert Bateman   Composer
Eugene Goreshter   Composer
Richie Havens   Composer
Mike D   Musician,Producer,Programming,Additional Production
Brian Holland   Composer
Paul Cartwright   Musician
Casey Bates   Producer,Recording,Programming,Audio Engineer,Additional Production
Brian Burton   Composer
Manny Marroquin   Model,Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Jason Lader   Recording,Audio Engineer
Danger Mouse   Producer
Portugal. The Man   Composer
Carla Azar   Composer
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins   Composer
Kane Ritchotte   Musician
Matthew Compton   Musician,Horn Arrangements
Dave Palmer   Musician
John Gourley   Producer
Chris Galland   Mixing Engineer
Asa Taccone   Composer,Musician,Producer
Nick Reinhart   Musician
Michelle Mancini   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Todd Monfalcone   Recording,Audio Engineer
Ken Takahashi   Recording,Audio Engineer
Rob Cohen   Recording
Brad Caulkins   Musician
Sonny DiPerri   Musician,Producer,Recording,Additional Production
Matthew Cooker   Musician
Sean Oakley   Recording,Audio Engineer
Tom Hull   Composer
Ajay Bhattacharya   Composer
Aaron Steele   Musician
Ammar Malik   Composer,Musician
Nick Koenig   Composer,Musician
John Graham Hill   Composer,Musician,Producer,Drum Programming
Mikey Freedom Hart   Composer,Musician,Producer,Programming,Additional Production
Jeff Jackson   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Thomas Hull   Composer
Stint   Producer
Robin Florent   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Frederick Gorman   Composer
Jason Kreher   Composer
Casper   Composer
Edgar McRae   Recording
Kennie Takashi   Recording
Casey Beats   Additional Production
Rallier   Producer
Anthony Saffrey   Audio Engineer