Atlantic

Portugal. The Man dropped an album per year between 2006 and 2011. That hyperactive output is even more unbelievable when you realize that each album sounded different from its predecessor – almost as if a whole new band had recorded them. It’s been two years since Portugal. The Man’s major label debut, but the lag time certainly isn’t because of any creative hiccups. Produced by Danger Mouse, Evil Friends is Portugal. The Man’s most colorful, exciting record in years. The 12-track release combines the band’s latter-era psychedelic daydreaming with early-era electronic crunch and wraps it up in Danger Mouse’s clean, crisp production. First single “Evil Friends” begins with hazy acoustic guitar and xylophone before revving up to a scuzzy, jittery blowout with frontman John Gourley’s taunt, “Before you were born, I was already sinning.” On “Atomic Kids,” he coos, “After you, hell should be easier” over a tight, fuzzed-out guitar riff. Evil Friends, like its title suggests, is filled with opposing forces: pretty songs played dirty. It’s well worth the – slightly longer – wait.