(I’ll start this review by apologizing for how difficult it will be to read. The band’s name has punctuation in it, and I’m beholden to include that punctuation every time I mention the band’s name. It will cause difficulty in reading, and I’m sorry.)

Sometimes it takes a while for me to notice a band. I’d heard of Portugal. The Man over the years, and while I always loved the band’s name (who doesn’t love a band with a period in their name? For the same reason I always loved seeing Panic! At the Disco’s name in writing), I’d not heard anything that really caught my attention until this, Woodstock, their 8th album. And it was the power of one song in particular that drew me in: “Feel It Still,” which is featured in the video above.

Please hit play now, and revel in the song’s glory.

Isn’t that nice? The rest of the album, while nice, pales in comparison to that magical number. I’m not sure if Portugal. The Man has other songs of this magnitude, but this song alone makes picking up Woodstock worthwhile.

Being a designer, it’s always nice to see a band with a visual style and true attention to detail. I mean, having a period in the middle of your band’s name is a considerable commitment to detail. But check out the band’s video output as well. There are so many great videos for this new album alone:

“Live In The Moment” features a larger than life marionette “surfing” atop a moving car
“Number One” is a combination of live action and animated laser lights shown around children blankly staring at a screen in the creepiest way possible
“Rich Friends” has a full interactive experience where you can start and stop pieces of the video on your own that lives at chardonnayandadderall.com

There is power in the visual representation of song, and Portugal. The Man understands this. If you’re not swayed by hearing these songs and seeings these amazing videos, I don’t know what else to say!

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27. MASSEDUCTION by St. Vincent
28. On the Spot by Hot 8 Brass Band
29. A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs
30. Planetarium by Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, & James McAlister
31. A Moment Apart by Odesza

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