Search - Portugal the Man :: Waiter: You Vultures

It's Not AOAG, But It Works Just As Well

LeftManOut | TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL | 01/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a release which was originally intended to be the sophomore release from Anatomy Of A Ghost (a reunion which unfortunately looks like it's never going to happen again), "Waiter: You Vultures!" is probably one of the most ambitious and genre defying pieces to come out of the indie/emo/rock scene in quite some time. While fans should not go in expecting an AOAG clone, Portugal The Man presents an interesting take on the indie-pop style, challenging the listener with soulful compositions that would sit right at home with fans of the Flaming Lips and Pretty Girls Make Graves. That shouldn't discourage anyone who's been a fan of the members of the band's previous work though, as "Waiter: You Vultures!" will most likely appeal to you, even if this is something totally different from what you would expect.



I'm not really sure how to describe PTM's sound. It's somewhere in the indie realm, although there's elements of rock, electronics, groove and even hip-hop in certain places. Trust me though, the combination is one that must be heard to realize its full potential. The vocals are very much reminiscent of AOAG, although much more melodic and with much more creativity and range thrown in. However the highlight of the whole record might very well be John's guitar work, which is some of the catchiest and most impressive I've heard on a release like this in some time. The riffs found on "Horse Warming Party" and "Waiter" are particularly noteworthy, as they are remarkable catchy and accomplished. The structures of the songs are unique, and the lyrical content is excellent for an album of this type. Musically the band is as creative and willing to experiment as any band in the genre they would be lumped into (somewhere in the indie-pop/emo realm) and that creates plenty of twists and turns throughout the course of the record that will keep you listening, and undoubtably will make you come back for more every time.



There's a few flaws here and there though, which is to be expected for a record this ambitious. Some songs are misses, and don't really serve much purpose in the overall flow of the record. At times they lag in places where a song should have easily ended. There's also 13 songs on the album, which as much as I hate to say it, is a bit much. It's kind of difficult to sit down and listen to the whole cd straight through; I often find myself skipping to the instant classics like "Gold Fronts" and "Kill Me. The King" the most, and then exploring the other tracks in moderation. Some experiments just don't turn out that well either, which makes some songs a tiresome listen if they don't instantly click with the listener. However while there's definitely some slight problems, "Waiter: You Vultures" is far from being a throwaway.



I had been anticipating this release ever since I heard the first Portugal The Man demo over a year ago on the internet. Then the temporary reunion of Anatomy Of A Ghost (although it was over just as soon as it began) delayed things a bit but, "Waiter: You Vultures" is everything I would have expected to get. It's a fine dose of experimental rock, with plenty of surprising elements thrown in to excite any listener. This is definitely recommended to fans of Anatomy Of A Ghost, although it sounds nothing like the previous band. Keep that in mind when listening, or else you'll miss a lot of what's good about the record. It's not over the top astounding, but "Waiter: You Vultures" is extremely solid, and a very entertaining listen. Don't let yourself get "Shut in", pick it up."

Wow

Marie Ramos | Redlands, CA | 02/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i first heard about portugal. the man through the jan/feb issue of alternative press magazine. it said the three bands it can be compared to is

gatsby's american dream

of montreal

circa survive



being a big fan of these fans, and including that no two bands of the given list sounds alike, i wanted to check them out. i went on purevolume, listened to "kill me the king", and i got hooked. i bought waiter you vultures the first day and since ive been hooked to this cd. its nonstop on my ipod.



their sound can not be described. it is a mixed of indie, soul, progressive, hip hop too. just buy it and hear it for yourself. it is truly amazing."

Not the man, not the country, the band.

desmadres86 | East Los Angeles, CA | 04/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sounds like a more subtle, more melodic Mars Volta, with some early Radiohead. In some ways this album is what I had hoped Frances the Mute would have sounded more like. Dark, moody, abstract lyrics hang delicately above jazzy, guitar-based psychedelia, although some tracks feature manic Blood Brothers-like vocals ("Marching with 6") to mix things up. Standout tracks include "AKA M80 the Wolf", "Stables and Chairs" and "Tommy", but overall, Alaska-based Portugal. The Man offer a strong debut for anyone who likes their music unusual and fresh."