As the music industry continues to adapt to allow artists to be more involved in their careers - an act that was perhaps accelerated by Radiohead's most recent release - and the band's desire to cater more to their fans, Portugal. The Man and their label and publishing company, Approaching AIRBalloons, and Equal Vision Records have inked a unique agreement, it has been announced. The first release under this exceptional deal will be P.TM's third full-length CD, Censored Colors, set for a September 16, 2008 release.
One of the factors that makes this partnership so unique is that the members of
Portugal. The Man will share in the risk as well as in the rewards with
Equal Vision, something that is easier for a Platinum act (like Radiohead) than a developing artist. Having self-financed the "
Censored Colors" album, and while they had other label options, P.TM welcomed the idea of having an "
open canvas" with
Equal Vision, where they could work at their own pace and be intimately involved in all factors of their recording career.
Under the mainstream radar, Portugal. The Man has garnered an incredible buzz with the release of two earlier full-length CDs, 2006's Walter:  "You Vultures!" and 2007's "Church Mouth" (the latter of which debuted on the Billboard Top Alternative New Artists chart at luck #13), and three EPs, The Pines, The Devil (2006), Devil Say I, I Say Air (digital EP, 2006), and It's Complicated Being A Wizard (2007). They have amassed kudos from an array of media outlets like Filter ("Portugal The Man hasn't merely evolved from the avant-garde, neo-soul that shaped their earliest works, they've transcended it") and Alternative Press ("...it's the songs that truly set this band apart").
Portugal. The Man’s unique sound has its roots firmly in front man/songwriter John Baldwin Gourley’s abstract vision and unique upbringing. Gourley was raised in a remote log cabin on the outskirts of Wasilla, Alaska that was powered by a generator and had no phone. His mom and dad doubled as a team of dog sled musher's. Add in an extended period of homelessness, a love of science fiction and a desire to make music that does not sound like every other band, and the genesis of Portugal. The Man was formed. Gourley and childhood friend Zachary Scott Carothers formed P.TM in 2003 with Portland, OR’s Jason Sechrist joining in 2005. To this day, P.TM employs a rotating cast of guest musicians outside of the core four. Gourley is also an accomplished visual artist having created the stunning artwork for the "Censored Colors" package as well as P.TM’s previous releases, tour posters, t-shirts and other items.)
The band intends to tour extensively in support of Censored Colors. P.TM - guitarist/singer/songwriter Gourley, bassist/singer Carothers, newest full-time member keyboardist/singer Ryan Neighbors, and drummer Garrett Lunceford (who replaces Jason Sechrist) - is currently on the road supporting RX Bandits for six-weeks worth of U.S. dates, will then headline a European tour from September 10 to October 4, then, beginning October 14, will headline their own 38-city U.S. tour. Support for this tour will be Earl Greyhound and Wintersleep.
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