Album Review: Portugal. The Man - 'SHISH'
- Melissa Beatty
- Nov 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Portugal. The Man does not subscribe to one specific genre. And that’s what makes
them great.
Frontman John Gourley made the decision to leave the record giants at Atlantic behind
and start his own label, KNIK. A nod to Gourley’s Alaskan roots. Roots that are put at
the forefront on their upcoming 10th album, SHISH.
SHISH highlights Gourley’s Alaskan upbringing, mixed with views on the current state of
the world we’re living in. And if one is interpreting correctly, a yearning for the simplicity
of the past and a dream where everyone has enough.
According to a press release, SHISH was a smaller collaborative effort than other
records. Gourley teamed with producer Kane Ritchotte and built SHISH from the ground
up in Gourley’s home studio. Help was received on horns and backup vocals, Zoe
Manville earning an honorable mention for providing some of those vocals, and even a
little rapping.
If there is one word to describe the feel of SHISH: experimental. And Gourley
succeeded in this experiment. "Denali" starts the album strong with a blend of jazz/blues
rock and distorted guitar tones.
Weaving your way through this genre bending album, you experience days of metal and
screamo past in "Pittman Ralliers" – a standalone on this alum as nothing else on
SHISH sounds quite like it.
A heavy psychedelic feel is apparent in "Kokhanockers"- the message of this song
matching its tone hardly seems coincidental.
If Gourley is going to push any song from this album to the radio and succeed, it’s
"Tanana". While very different from their wildly popular "Feel it Still", this song was made
for alternative radio. It perfectly blends the bluesy, psychedelic, rock and roll sound this
record leans toward, all while having a catchy enough chorus.
SHISH is a solid record. Portugal. The Man fans craving something different will be
pleasantly surprised. SHISH is out November 7th .
Stand out songs: "Tanana", "Shish", "Knik"
Rating - 3.5/5
Really enjoyed reading this take on the album, there’s something refreshing about how the sound evolves while still keeping that familiar vibe. I also found it helpful to learn all the information about healthcare billing service pricing in the guide from Pharmbills experts. It’s interesting to see how different listeners connect with the themes and production choices here.
Gourley emphasized that slope run the Alaskan roots would be central to this project, from the sound and lyrics to the spirit.
Lead singer John Gourley's geometry dash jump departure from the major Atlantic record label to establish his own label, KNIK, was not only an artistic decision but also an affirmation of his personal identity and Alaskan roots.
I found the review interesting, especially how it highlights the album’s experimental direction and shifts in tone throughout. The mix of styles can feel a bit uneven at times, but it still keeps things engaging. I decided to rent a car in Dubai from Trinity Rental . Curious if others felt the same about its pacing and overall cohesion.
After reading the review, it seems like Shish leans heavily into experimentation, blending rock, psychedelic and even harsher elements across different tracks. Some transitions sound pretty abrupt, but that unpredictability might be the point. In a totally unrelated discussion earlier I saw the phrase WhiteBIT crypto market making company https://institutional.whitebit.com/market-making-program , which randomly came to mind while scrolling here. Curious how others felt about the pacing of the album overall.