Portugal the Man, an alternative rock band from Alaska, releases its third album, Censored Colors. The band, comprised of John Gourley on guitar and vocals, Zachary Carothers on bass and vocals, Jascon Sechrist on drums, and Ryan Neighbors ..board and vocals, fuses elements of psychedelic rock, soul, and electronic to create their newest album. Their sound, resembling that of Radiohead and a softer version of Muse, infuses each song with different sounds to create a somber and somewhat eerie instrumental beneath their hushed and harmonizing lyrics.
The album opens with “Lay Me Back Down,” a song that begins with a spaceship-like sound and continues with a mellow psychedelic undertone that continues to resurface throughout the album. Personal favorites include “Salt” and “New Orleans” which capture a unique New Orleans jazz style. Each song subtly flows into the next, incorporating not only the same instrumentals, but lyrically picking up where the song before left off. This album instantly puts your mind in a tranquil state while keeping you interested in hearing more as more intricate hooks and harmonies continuously evolve from the next.
