Waiter: You Vultures

Portugal. The Man | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 24, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fearless Records
• ASIN: B000CQQHRW
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,661 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Alternative Press

These transplanted Alaskans are making brilliantly ambitious avant-indie rock that's like anything you'll hear all year

Keep an eye out; we have a potential band of the year here already

An extremely solid debut from a very promising band.

Product Description

Portugal The Man is an Alaskan band living in Portland. Their soulful indie rock blends influences from the ever seminal sounds of early 70's rock, R&B, and vintage soul with the latest innovations in melodious experimentation (drum machines, programming, sampling). They push the boundaries of contemporary music and the album is filled with social commentary and alliteration. For fans of The Flaming Lips, Blonde Redhead, and Portishead. Fearless. 2006.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Not AOAG, But It Works Just As Well, January 27, 2006

By 

LeftManOut (TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiter: You Vultures (Audio CD)

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.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wow, February 16, 2006

By 

Marie Ramos "Marie" (Redlands, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiter: You Vultures (Audio CD)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal lyrics and fresh sounds, April 3, 2009

By 

Rocker Gal - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiter: You Vultures (Audio CD)

I had Church Mouth before I listened to Waiter: You Vultures!, and both albums are definitely worth a listen. It's nearly impossible to describe their sound- I'd call it a mix between rock, progressive, alternative, folk, indie, and experimental. Portugal. The Man is not for the radio listener- these songs probably won't interest those who only like catchy choruses and beats.

How The Leopard Got Its Spots- (8/10) An excellent starter. The tempo changes throughout the song set the tone for the rest of the album. The lines "Rally all your men.." are sung so soulfully.

Gold Fronts- (9/10) Another one of my personal favorites. The vocals sound wistful, and the line "I've been having a little trouble with these black glass lungs" gets me every time. The breakdown provides some cool little guitar riffs, and the song ends with a completely different sound from the preceding music.

Stables & Chairs- (7/10) This song is the first that kind of blends into the rest of the album. It isn't completely memorable, but still worth a listen.

AKA M80 The Wolf- (8/10) Great writing in this song. "I am but a man" is so simple, yet makes a powerful statement. This song is one of the slowest on the album, but also one of the most haunting.

Marching With 6- (7/10) The tempo in this song picks up quite a bit from the last song, but its placement is just right. The two contrasting voices bring spice to the vocals, and the clapping "Frame it up!" section makes you want to jump around.

Elephants- (8/10) This song starts off slow, but the build is creates is absolutely genius. They utilize repetition and steady beats to push the tempo forwards until the song explodes into a high-pitched chant of "I found gold! Gold got it?" This part gave me chills the first time I heard it because the energy is so high. It breaks down into the deeper falsetto vocals of a second singer who really complements the main singer's voice.

Waiter- (10/10) My hands-down favorite on the album. The lyrics are beautiful. The emotion swells in the third verse when the singer wails "The Lord's shaking the headboard with nothing to eat", and the sounds of the simple guitars complement the longing of the lyrics.

Chicago- (6/10) This song is very fast-paced compared to the mellow "Waiter". While catchy at first, it tends to lose it's appeal within a few listens. The interruptions in the verse and the chorus (i.e. "Burn this motherf***er down") chops up the song and gives it a chaotic feel.

Bad, Bad Levi Brown- (5/10) I tend to skip this song because "Chicago" and the upcoming "Kill Me. The King" are so much better. This song is, unfortunately, forgettable compared to the other songs on this album, though is still well written.

Kill Me. The King- (9/10) This song is what prompted me to give this album a further listen past "Chicago" and "Gold Fronts". The lyrics in the chorus and simple yet sung so beautifully. Polished off with a repeating "la la la" portion, "Kill Me. The King" is short and easy to listen to, and definitely worth the time.

Tommy- (5/10) Unfortunately, another song that I usually cut off because by the time I am finished with "Kill Me. The King", I am ready for something else, or to skip back towards the beginning of the album. The sound is this song isn't terribly exciting, though the lyrics are, as always, well written.

Horse Warming Party- (5/10) This is an interesting song. It incorporates a tambourine, the deep "bow" sounds of a barber shop quartet (the only way I can describe it!), and strange lyrics. I wouldn't rule it out before giving it a listen, but it isn't one that I will skip to right away.

Guns... Guns... Guns- (5/10) Another forgettable song, and not the best way to finish this album. The song isn't that great, but there is also a long instrumental part after the lyrics finish which I actually think is quite interesting- it incorporates spoken word which consists of a man ranting, interjected with static, rolling piano, and chaotic synth noises that finish off this album with a unique flair.

Overall, Portugal. The Man has released an incredible debut album. The entire album really must be listened to to appreciate the weaving sounds and lyrics that PTM have created in their own individual style. For a good follow-up album, check out Church Mouth, which takes on a much more folksy sound with songs like "Children" and "Bellies Are Full" while still retaining the sounds of Waiter:You Vultures! with songs like "My Mind" and "Shade".