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Aug 16, 2011For In the Mountain in the Cloud, they piled on the mascara, set the way-back machine for 1972 and turned out 11 tracks full of vintage glam-rock pouting and preening.
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Under The RadarAug 5, 2011Though it never quite matches up, the album does an admirable job of working to capture the incredible fun of Portugal's live show. [Jul 2011, p.87]
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Aug 3, 2011With a bevy of somewhat indistinguishable tunes, a production aesthetic that keeps everything front, center, and earsplitting is a problem.
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Jul 28, 2011Their first for Atlantic (and sixth overall) is a carefully crafted collection of 11 songs that don't stray from the band's alt-psychedelic formula, yet are a refreshing step forward.
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Jul 28, 2011Since Incubus' comeback turned out to be a flop, there is certainly a large gap for another rock band to take up the mantle of the act who successfully straddles the artistic and commercial crowds, and with In The Mountain In The Cloud, Portugal. The Man have placed themselves right in it.
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Jul 28, 2011Despite interesting bits of psychedelic texture, the album floats around your consciousness without making much of an impression. It's pleasant, but not particularly memorable.
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Jul 21, 2011In the Mountain in the Cloud is also the band's most cohesive album, suffering from none of the unevenness that crept into some of their earlier work.
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Jul 21, 2011There's nothing wrong with writing four-minute protest songs that relish in the best of their psychedelic influences, but it'll be when Portugal. The Man really unshackle themselves and start writing what they do best that they will establish themselves as a band on par with their forebears.
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Jul 21, 2011It's encouraging to know both that Portugal. The Man has not lost sight of themselves despite their successes and that their new home at Atlantic will be one that fosters the creative vision the band has become known for.
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Jul 18, 2011On this album, the tracks that are lacking in length often sound as if they–well–are lacking in something else as well. Not to say In the Mountain is a poor effort; it merely seems like it would benefit from a bit more development.
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Entertainment WeeklyJul 15, 2011Portugal. The Man's major-label debut is pleasingly progressive, bathing twisting guitar riffs in pscyhedelic suds.
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Alternative PressJul 12, 2011John Gourley gives the envelope a token push but lays back a little too much into his comfort zone; the rest of the band abet him with lucid and calm performances. [Aug 2011, p.118]
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Jul 12, 2011[John Gourley's] thin, inexpressive singing and gloopy lyrics lack the mumbo-jumbo grandeur of Marc Bolan, an obvious influence.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 41 out of 43
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Mixed: 1 out of 43
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Negative: 1 out of 43
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Aug 1, 2011
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Jul 20, 2011
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Oct 23, 2020