Woodstock
by Portugal. The Man
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Jun 16, 2017
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 57
  3. Negative: 5 out of 57
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  1. LDyhrKopp
    Mar 26, 2019
    9
    the critics definitely got this one wrong. This album has a lot of energy, with so many catchy songs that you just keep coming back to the album.
  2. milanklaui
    Jun 13, 2018
    6
    Portugal. The Man pulled themselves in a lot of directions this time around with Woodstock.
    Hit songs such as Feel It Still and Live In The Moment are overshadowed by the annoyingly bombastic Easy Tiger and the utterly depressing Mr. Lonely. It seems as though Woodstock saved the best for last: So Young, Tidal Wave (catchy although a bit repetitive) and Noise Pollution are sparkling    Portugal. The Man pulled themselves in a lot of directions this time around with Woodstock.
    Hit songs such as Feel It Still and Live In The Moment are overshadowed by the annoyingly bombastic Easy Tiger and the utterly depressing Mr. Lonely. It seems as though Woodstock saved the best for last: So Young, Tidal Wave (catchy although a bit repetitive) and Noise Pollution are sparkling highlights. All in all, Portugal. The Man aimed for a more accessible sound, but in doing so, the overall quality deteriorated.    … Expand
  3. CESRA
    Sep 1, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Portugal the man found a way to captivate me.
    Woodstock is majestic, fresh, nothing I'd heard before, unbelievable. This marked my 2017. Expecting the next to arrive.
    Favorite song: So Young    … Expand
  4. Music_Observer
    Aug 15, 2017
    8
    While on the surface this sounds like just another neat experiment using funky textures through fundamental song forms, the overall consistency of those successes makes Portugal. the Man quietly one of the best in this simplistic realm today, despite some missed melodic potential. My Score: 140/180 (Solid) = 7.8/10
  5. Wendigoat
    Jul 17, 2017
    6
    While I like the idea of Portugal. The Man doing a more political album, this one didn't quite do it for me. While there are some good pop tracks on here, overall I think the album is a bit underwhelming. Nothing really sticks out as amazing or overly interesting, just "pretty good" at best.
  6. akajazzman
    Jul 12, 2017
    6
    I so wanted to like this. But it lacks the soul and inspiration of their former selves. The song that most exemplifies this criticism is “Rich Friends”. It could have been a pleasant enough pop dance number, but its placed in the key sixth track slot, with the atrocious lyric “Crashin' on chardonnay and Adderall, Driving head on into the Wonderwall.” “Wonderwall” being the hook,I so wanted to like this. But it lacks the soul and inspiration of their former selves. The song that most exemplifies this criticism is “Rich Friends”. It could have been a pleasant enough pop dance number, but its placed in the key sixth track slot, with the atrocious lyric “Crashin' on chardonnay and Adderall, Driving head on into the Wonderwall.” “Wonderwall” being the hook, landing like a ham fisted smack. Sung as if we’ve never heard the Oasis song. Thus, capturing “rip-off, pandering, and crass commercialism” all in one crystalline moment! This stark look behind the curtain is almost forgivable because it’s so over the top. “Mr. Lonely” with its out of place rap interlude is almost as off putting. The thing is, Portugal the Man, can’t help but write really catchy indie.pop songs, and Woodstock has that. But what should have been a Spoon like transition into the mainstream, often sounds like a band simply selling out.… Expand
  7. Sanderson
    Jun 20, 2017
    2
    PTM were one of my favorite bands up till this album. I'm hesitant to ever criticize artists due to the time and effort put into their craft, but I can compare it to their previous efforts. The past decade, PTM released quality, unique music that exponentially built them a fanbase of loyal fans. The later half of Evil Friends was underwhelming, but this album was underwhelming from startPTM were one of my favorite bands up till this album. I'm hesitant to ever criticize artists due to the time and effort put into their craft, but I can compare it to their previous efforts. The past decade, PTM released quality, unique music that exponentially built them a fanbase of loyal fans. The later half of Evil Friends was underwhelming, but this album was underwhelming from start to end. Feel it Still reclaimed some of the magic from their previous efforts, but every other song was not something I would listen to again. Maybe this is the point in their career that they'll never return to their old sound. At least I have the previous albums.… Collapse
  8. Zack1234
    Jun 18, 2017
    9
    This is a great album. And while I get why P.tm fans would dislike it, the sound of it isn't bad, it's actually quite good. It's just different. Least favourite songs are Easy Tiger and Mr. Lonely. also Rich friends is my jam now
    5. Feel it still
    4. Tidal Wave
    3. Number one
    2. Noise pollution
    1. Rich Friends
  9. Ae-durus
    Jun 17, 2017
    7
    To me, the only thing that really overwhelmingly set this back was the EDM based 'Easy Tiger'. Apart from that the album is pretty good. In my opinion it doesn't hit the same that Evil Friends did, but the tracks still hold value.

    Favorites: Feel It Still, Rich Friends, So Young, Noise Pollution,
    Least Favorites: Easy Tiger

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Pitchfork
    Jul 7, 2017
    66
    Again and again, Woodstock promises a protest but delivers a party.
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  2. PopMatters
    Jun 27, 2017
    80
    With Woodstock, Portugal. The Man continues to be exceptionally colorful, polished, moving, and determined. Sure, the group has lost a sliver of their uniqueness in the move toward a more commercially viable and accessible sound, but the vast majority of their idiosyncratic identity is still here.
    Read full review
  3. Slant Magazine
    Jun 21, 2017
    50
    Instead of putting their own offbeat stamp on danceable pop music, Portugal. The Man abandons their once-unique sound and retreats into imitation.
    Read full review
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