Portugal. The Man - American Ghetto

[Adam Pfleider]

Portugal. The Man – American Ghetto
Release Date: March 2, 2010 (digital); May 11, 2010 (CD/LP)
Record Label: Equalvision/Approaching AIRBalloons

We've seen quite a few bands make a career over the last decade. They release albums every couple of years, creating a small catalog for their fans to enjoy and witness live. It's a simple musical lifestyle that's pretty by the book. For Portugal. The Man, their past few years have been filled with an annual album. Each record, somewhat disappointing to some fans wanting more of the last effort, evolved the band's sound up until last year's breakthrough The Satanic Satanist. It was an album that was heard with open ears across a broad demographic of age and musical tastes.

Only months after Satanist's release, we were told that there would be yet another album released at the beginning of this year. This time around though, like the band's It's Complicated Being a Wizard EP, American Ghetto was mainly written and put together by songwriter John Gourley and then was collaborated with his other band members, bassist Zac Carothers, drummer Jason Sechrist and keyboardist Ryan Neighbors. The album was put together with ideas not fit for the flow of The Satanic Satanist, but upon first listen, it brings the band full circle.

With songs like "The Dead Dog" and "All My People," American Ghetto wraps hip-hop finesse found on Waiter: "You Vultures!" with Motown grooves of their last effort. (See also: "The Woods") But Ghetto, like the rest of the band's catalog, holds its own as another unique blend of a release, but still a familiar face of the same band trying to blend the best parts of rock and roll, pop and hip-hop rhythm, before it was trashed by more MTV sights than sound.

Driving from the the Harlem Renaissance of "Fantastic Pace" through the late 50's civil rights movement of "Do What We Do," the band paces itself along decades of Afro-beats and smooth grooves. As the album rolls on out with "Some Men" into "When the War Ends," we're all just at WattStax Music Festival getting down.

American Ghetto's title is fit for its mood and motions. It's a party that crosses musical growth from the early 40's to the mid-70's. It also crosses over the band's sound which evolved from trying to make a Wu-Tang album to a Beatles obsession. Even the biggest fans of the band are wondering when we'll have to be subject to a downfall in the band's workaholic career. If this album shows the band coming full circle, do they become stale, or simply shoot off in an even more creative tangent? As for now, we'll just continue to enjoy the music as the band continues to enjoy releasing it. In the end, that's key to any sort of longevity.

1. The Dead Dog*
2. Break
3. 60 Years
4. All My People*
5. 1000 Years
6. Fantastic Pace*
7. The Pushers Party
8. Do What We Do
9. Just a Fool
10. Some Men*
11. When the War Ends

*key tracks

A Tribe Called Quest's The Anthology; MGMT's Oracular Spectacular; Portugal. The Man's The Satanic Satanist

[Gumbyjag]

I'm so excited to listen to this. Portugal. The Man can't disappoint me.

[xapplexpiex]

I really like all their material, but Church Mouth is by far my favorite. I'm gonna wait for the physical release. Or I might buy it on Amazon (sometimes they have those mp3 sales). Great review, as always.

[Romancebled]

fantastic album. this band just keeps on getting better with each release.

[Jeremy Aaron]

This is probably my favorite Portugal release. I think it's a tidy summary of their career thus far. Their previous albums seemed to pick one direction and sort of went with it. American Ghetto ties it all together rather nicely and almost feels like something they've been building toward.

[Daigle lol]

I haven't listened to them in a long time, but I'm actually really excited to hear this now. I'm going to have to go back through their CD's and listen again.

Very good review; got me pumped to listen to it.

[jtjt43]

Fantastic album. 'When The War Ends' is amazing.

[dat scene kid]

This is probably my favorite Portugal release. I think it's a tidy summary of their career thus far. Their previous albums seemed to pick one direction and sort of went with it. American Ghetto ties it all together rather nicely and almost feels like something they've been building toward.
See I felt this way about The Satanic Satanist, although I guess it was more straight-forward dream pop than a cumulative representation of their sound.

Either way, still need to give American Ghetto a couple quality listens, but I have no doubt it's fantastic. Excellent, succinct review, also.

[tpnations]

I got It's Complicated and Satanic but am at a complete loss on which album to move on to from there. Maybe this is the one?

[mymusicismylife]

This is also my favorite Portugal release. It just has a feel that I can't get enough of. All My People is just glorious.

[Keagan Ilvonen]

Great job Adam, this album is off the walllllllllll

[mena]

At first I didn't seem to like the second half of the album too much, but after a few more listens I can't get enough of each song. This is right up there with Church Mouth and Waiter for me.

[harveyn590]

Good review, but I dont hear anything that sounds like the 40s, 50s, or even early 60s. I also dont really hear anything that sounds too much like MoTown in their music.

I think this is a good album, but not quite as good as their previous 4 LPs. By looking at it as a companion to Wizard, as a kinda in between type album put together by John, its still great. I think this one will be a grower for me.

[Shakriel]

Good review. I've really been enjoying this album.

[patpratt]

never have listened to p.tm. this a good place to start?

[NateRulezD00d]

Yeah the funny thing is, just yesterday Portugal sent out a twitter message already is going to be coming together for the dates they are going to be recording the follow up album to Ghetto. They said they will release news about this soon. Can't wait, they never seem to disappoint.

[dpatrickguy]

When the War ends is an amazing song

[Kurt Retenauer]

More bands should take after P.TM, in the sense of being incredible and releasing albums left and right.

[glassjaw777]

enjoy it, just like any other release they had.

[_><_]

Amazing fucking album.

[ThrownAwayKyle]

"When The War Ends" is definitely a key track. such an amazing album!

[BlackpoolLights]

Not as good as The Satanic Satanist, but I wrote a lengthy review that goes much more in depth than this one for ReviewRinseRepeat.com.

[MoChroi]

This one totally reminds me of Oracular Spectacular

[Clark]

Yeah, I'm really hoping you meant to put that last asterisk next to "When the War Ends" and not "Some Men." I agree with your other choices for key tracks, though.

[HometownHero]

Album grows on me more and more. So good

[Ska Senanake]

when the war ends is the best track on the album, should have starred it.

[kbi the crowing]

I got It's Complicated and Satanic but am at a complete loss on which album to move on to from there. Maybe this is the one?

I'd go with this one or Waiter: "You Vultures!"

Church Mouth and Censored Colors don't emphasize on beats really
they're all good, though

Good review, but I dont hear anything that sounds like the 40s, 50s, or even early 60s. I also dont really hear anything that sounds too much like MoTown in their music.

I think this is a good album, but not quite as good as their previous 4 LPs. By looking at it as a companion to Wizard, as a kinda in between type album put together by John, its still great. I think this one will be a grower for me.

I agree with everything you said
I wasn't really into it at first and it's already grown on me

[mybreakingpoint]

i'm really excited to hear this. i like all their albums in different ways.

[thehereaway]

Great album.

[InBetweenAisles]

Great review. These guys are amazing. I really enjoyed this album.

[InBetweenAisles]

"When The War Ends" is definitely a key track. such an amazing album!
Yeah, I love it!

[troubledbyinsects]

never have listened to p.tm. this a good place to start?
each album is so different it doesn't really matter where you start, haha.

great review, i agree on everything.

[TakeLotsWithAlcohol]

This album is so disappointing. :(

[Adam Pfleider]

This album is so disappointing. :(
in what way? I don't want to start an argument, but I'm just curious...

[TakeLotsWithAlcohol]

in what way? I don't want to start an argument, but I'm just curious...
I've loved everything this band has done and I've listened to this several times and there's just something about it that bores me. This band usually hits me from the first listen and this album didn't do that for me. I'm not sure what it is about it that I don't dig.

I'm hoping it grows on me.

[Adam Pfleider]

I've loved everything this band has done and I've listened to this several times and there's just something about it that bores me. This band usually hits me from the first listen and this album didn't do that for me. I'm not sure what it is about it that I don't dig.

I'm hoping it grows on me.
I can see that. I feel like a lot of people felt. The last string of songs bored me at first but I kept returning. I actually didn't like TSS right away and then one day it just HIT me...

like i said in the review, they're definitely an amazing band, but how long will it last? I don't want to think about it, but anything is possible in the art world...

[panicbxmb]

I got It's Complicated and Satanic but am at a complete loss on which album to move on to from there. Maybe this is the one?
just get them all, from Waiter! to American Ghetto. order doesn't really matter, but everything they've released is outstanding so far.

the best thing about Portugal is that you can't even guess where their music is going to go next. i'm stoked to stick around to find out though :)

[TakeLotsWithAlcohol]

I can see that. I feel like a lot of people felt. The last string of songs bored me at first but I kept returning. I actually didn't like TSS right away and then one day it just HIT me...

like i said in the review, they're definitely an amazing band, but how long will it last? I don't want to think about it, but anything is possible in the art world...
I'm really really hoping that this album will eventually grow on me.

And about them being so prolific with their music, they have to decline sooner or later. I'm hoping that this album (for me) is the start of that.

[Kapa73]

This album just topped Satanic Satanist for me after I heard it through headphones.

[Gloryneverfades]

Good album, it's growing on me with each listen.

[Bikescene23]

definitely not an album you will understand at first listen. give it time. by the 3rd listen you're mind will be blown.

aren't the best albums like that anyway?

[MattDennis]

Wow I really wish I had cash right now! I'm dying to just fully immerse myself into this album for a good while.

[Holly HoX!]

Haven't stopped listening to this album. "When the War Ends" is a key track, btw.

[introduction]

band is prolific, to say the least.

[tonighttonight0]

Love the album. I'm also looking forward to getting my cd/vinyl copies in May. I'll also be listening to this on my way to Milwaukee tomorrow.

[crimes]

i don't understand why everyone loves p.tm so much.
i can't get into them at all :/ maybe they're just not my style.

[kbi the crowing]

i don't understand why everyone loves p.tm so much.
i can't get into them at all :/ maybe they're just not my style.
that just happens sometimes. there are bands a lot of people love that I feel like I would like to but it just doesn't click with me. it's kind of frustrating, but it happens.

but if you have a chance to see them live, you pretty much have to go. they're a whole different band live.

[crimes]

that just happens sometimes. there are bands a lot of people love that I feel like I would like to but it just doesn't click with me. it's kind of frustrating, but it happens.

but if you have a chance to see them live, you pretty much have to go. they're a whole different band live.

i should haha, they'd probably be playing with some bands i like anyways.

[popo]

it's ok

[mmitrick]

I never listened to these guys before, but I decided to catch their show last night at the 930 club...blew my fucking mind. These guys are truly talented and put on one hell of a show...can't wait to see them again

[tpnations]

I never listened to these guys before, but I decided to catch their show last night at the 930 club...blew my fucking mind. These guys are truly talented and put on one hell of a show...can't wait to see them again
I didn't realize they were playing 930 until Wednesday morning when it was already sold out. Fail on my part.

[InvisibleImage]

i don't understand why everyone loves p.tm so much.
i can't get into them at all :/ maybe they're just not my style.
i think you answered your own thought.

[crimes]

i think you answered your own thought.
i tend to do that a lot. hahaha

[iAMhollyood315]

fucking shit....i am drinking tequila tonight and listeing to american ghetto and it is just clicking....this cd is so great, the dead dog is incredible vibes