Waiter: "You Vultures!" is an album decidedly of its time. Its pretentious title, punctuated as if ripped from a screenplay, should give most listeners an idea of what to expect. The album sees
Portugal. The Man suffering or benefiting from an identity crisis. They seem unable to determine if they want to be a fractured art rock ensemble à la
Blonde Redhead and
Shudder to Think, a dance-oriented electro-indie act like
Tahiti 80 and
Phoenix, or a progressive-minded mood merchant like
the Notwist. Along the way, piano ballads and screaming rants intersect, as the band rocks and stumbles like an uneasy mix of the aforementioned bands, crafting frequently catchy songs.
John Baldwin Gourley offers mostly pleasant 1970s dance vocals. When
Portugal. The Man stick to mellow post-rock, it's somewhat smooth sailing, but they tend to take themselves too seriously. ~ Tim DiGravina