Portugal. The Man

Here's my article on Portugal. The Man for Creative Loafing.

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/cribnotes/2009/06/12/portugal-the-man-plays-the-earl-on-saturday/

Portugal. The Man plays the Earl on Saturday

June 12th, 2009 by Zach Fraser in Music news

Portugal. The Man, Batata Doce and Noel Stephen. $10. 9 p.m. Sat., June 13. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com.

Portugal. The Man does whatever the hell they want to when it comes to making music.

Ranging from alternative, to post-hardcore and even all the way to country — whatever the genre may be — these guys have the balls to make any kind of music that suits their mood. Touring in the wake of their fourh studio album in four years, The Satanic Satanist, the band proves that being prolific is their only priority.

“Honestly, I think we should be putting out more music,” lead singer Jouh Baldwin Gourley toldAlternative Press. “It keeps you thinking, keeps you growing and progressing. If you stop and let it sit for too long, I feel like you start to lose track of where you were going.”

Maybe it comes from their past experiences in bands (Anatomy Of a Ghost), their ambitious music endeavors, or the fact that three of four members grew up in Alaska. Regardless of the members motivations or influences, Portugal. The Man has gathered a cult following based on their live shows, dense lyrics and willingness to experiment.

The Satanic Satanist opens with, “Save me, I can’t be saved,” while the album’s closing line counters with, “I don’t believe.”

And that’s how it works for Portugal. The Man. They’ll sing about anything: faith, conformity within the music industry, even Hunter S. Thompson references. While other bands have started taking the easy road to fame and fortune by wearing the right clothes and singing radio-friendly songs that will garner them MTV air-time, Portugal. The Man has stuck to their roots by playing the music they want to make regardless of what anyone else thinks. And in the end isn’t that what it’s all about?

Portugal. The Man, Batata Doce and Noel Stephen. $10. 9 p.m. Sat., June 13. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com.

Passion Pit review/preview ATL

Check out my article on Passion Pit for the alt-weekly Creative Loafing.

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/cribnotes/2009/06/05/passion-pits-penchant-for-disenfranchised-vocals-and-infectious-beats/#more-7658

Everything Must Go

Taking Back Sunday have released another song of their new album, "New Again," out June 2. 

The song brings some great passion and emotion out of lead singer Adam Lazzara as he sings, "You quote the good book when it's convenient."

One of the most clever and relatable lines I've heard in a long while.

Head over to their Myspace to stream the last song off their upcoming album, "Everything Must Go."

"Left Right Left Right Left"

As if the band couldn't be more fan-friendly.

Coldplay have released a free live album that they recorded to show their appreciation to us, the fans.

Head over here to download "Left Right Left Right Left" and enjoy.

CD Shopping

Just bought:

Vampire Weekend-"Vampire Weekend" (been streaming this for ages, finally got around to purchasing)

Cursive-"Mama, I'm Swollen"

The Devil Wears Prada-"With Roots Above and Branches Below"

Manchester Orchestra-"Mean Everything to Nothing"

Green Day-"21st Century Breakdown"

Blink 182-Live "B" side from 2002 show in Chicago

Here We Go Magic-"Here We Go Magic"

Coldplay-"Left Right Left Right Left"

Once CDs are fully digested I'll blog about them. 

Love,

Z

First Show Back!

Blink 182 made a surprise appearance at Paramount studios last night to perform together for the first time since thier hiatus.

The band rolled through a 3-song setlist playing, "Rock Show","Feeling This" and finally ending with "Dammit."

The jokes, the fun and the overall "fell good" vibe the band used to bring was all present Thursday night.

For anyone who knows me or has read the blog before knows how monumental this is to me. I've loved this band since middle school and can't wait to see them on tour this summer. 

"Rock Show"

"Feeling This"

"Dammit"

My Favorite Highway-How To Call A Bluff

With the re-issue of My Favorite Highway's debut album "How To Call A Bluff" last week, I thought it was only appropriate to blog about them.

The quartet have been stirring up some commotion in the record industry for some while as they recently signed to Virgin records.

Although I'm usually not for major record labels, I am in My Favorite Highway's case. Virgin records has given the band a chance to re-release their debut album that flew under the radar due to distribution difficulties.

The CD's 11 songs pave the way for one hell of a ride. Lead singer David Cook acts as the backbone of the band as his crystal-clear voice brings every song to the forefront as "How To Call A Bluff" proves to be a great first effort from these Virgina natives.

Songs like "Bittersweet Life" and "Steel City" bring out the emotional side of everyone. Lyrics that produce witty, yet sappy punches are plentiful on these two, and every song for that matter.

My Favorite Highway are heading out on tour all summer long with bands such as: Ace Enders, The Cab, Person L(new band from Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line), The Secret Handshake and much more. Make sure to keep an eye on their dates as they surely will be stopping near your hometown.