Portugal. The Man
In the Mountain in the Cloud
Release Date: Jul 19, 2011
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock
Record label: Atlantic
Music Critic Score
How the Music Critic Score works
Buy In the Mountain in the Cloud from Amazon
Album Review: In the Mountain in the Cloud by Portugal. The Man
Very Good, Based on 8 Critics
Based on rating 5/5
There's a fine coat of glitter across the major-label debut by Alaska's Portugal. The Man. For In the Mountain in the Cloud, they piled on the mascara, set the way-back machine for 1972 and turned out 11 tracks full of vintage glam-rock pouting and preening. Songs like "So American" and "Got It All (This Can't Be Living Now)," with their cascading celestial-choir vocals and rangy guitars, make the band sound like Ziggy Stardust's distant cousin, and frontman John Gourley's elegant alto packs all the drama and grandiosity songs this regal require.
Based on rating 8.3/10
Portugal. The Man hasn’t sold out. Sure, they’ve signed with a major label. But if the new record is any indication of what that means for the Alaskan psychedelic-rockers, the outlook is good—very good, actually. Since their debut record in 2006, Portugal. The Man has released a full-length ….
Based on rating 8/10
On their sixth album, the increasingly prolific neo-psych outfit Portugal. The Man look to the past for inspiration on In the Mountain in the Cloud. The album represents a breakthrough for the band on a couple of levels, the most obvious of which is their signing to major-label Atlantic, which comes as a big step up after years of quietly working their way through the indie circuit.
Based on rating 77%%
From the finest folks to come from Wasilla (sorry, Sarah Palin), this latest is a culmination of what Portugal. The Man have been crafting for the better part of a half-decade. Their first for Atlantic (and sixth overall) is a carefully crafted collection of 11 songs that don’t stray from the band’s alt-psychedelic formula, yet are a refreshing step forward.
Based on rating 3.5/5
Review Summary: Psychedelic rock straining to get out of the box.It’s either a blatant disregard for quality control or a remarkable ability to maintain consistency when a band releases as many albums as years it’s been in existence – if you count Portugal. The Man’s various EPs and one all-acoustic counterpart LP, the Portland-based psychedelic quartet has already far exceeded all normal bounds of output. Where other bands might have burnt out, Portugal.
Based on rating 3/5
PORTUGAL. THE MAN play the Opera House October 18. See listing Rating: NNN It's taken six albums for a major label to finally catch on to Portugal. The Man. It's not hard to discern what Warner subsidiary Atlantic Records sees in them. Lightweight glam-psych melodies, big singalong choruses and a ….
Based on rating C+
Since their often-overlooked 2009 psychedelic pop hallmark The Satanic Satanist (and its even better half and all-acoustic counterpart The Majestic Majesty), Portland-via-Wasilla, Alaska, outfit Portugal. The Man have seemingly been caught in a bit of a whirl, unsure of whether to pursue their verse/chorus/verse tendencies in Satanic’s vein or go for a more extended, experimental take on their sound, while nearly completely ignoring the sprawling awesomeness of their stellar, jam-prone live sets on record. In the Mountain, In the Cloud, their first full-length with Atlantic Records, sees Portugal.
Based on rating 2/5
You should know two things about Portugal. The Man’s newest album: (1) It further cements their place as the greatest thing to ever come out of Wasilla, Alaska, and (2) it proves psychedelic music has no business on a major label in the era of shitty speakers. Although the White Witch of Wasilla’s career may be foundering lately, Portugal. The Man’s is not.
'In the Mountain in the Cloud'
is available now