Portugal. The Man share cover for new LP Evil Friends
February 26th, 2013 by Matt
UPDATE: Whoops! I was a bit premature with this one. Looks like this might not be their album artwork after all. Sorry, guys!
Last night Portugal. The Man shared the cover for their new Danger Mouse-produced album Evil Friends. Fans seem to be mixed on the cover, but I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen recently. One fan, however, knows there’s something a bit more sinister at play…
Tags: Danger Mouse·Portugal the Man
Rich // Feb 26, 2013 at 11:27 am
I will just point out that nowhere did it say that this was the album cover, also I am glad to see that Rust Jimi knows so much about the record that he has never heard.
I can just image Rust’s mother urging him to taste something new before judging it, but Rust in his ideo-illogical way says “I do not like green eggs and ham, Rust I am”
Matt // Feb 26, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Yeah, I jumped the gun on this one. Sorry!
Kevin // Feb 28, 2013 at 7:04 pm
This is almost definitely their next album cover or the cover of their next single. They keep promoting “Evil Friends’” on their instagram by photoshopping the words on hot women with odd art.
I think “Rust Jimi” is over thinking the “third” or “all-seeing” eye on the cover and claiming “Illuminati”. The “third eye” has been all over PTM art including his favorite album, “The Satanic Satanist”. If he had done his research he would see that PTM signed to Atlantic records in 2010 and released “In The Mountain in the Cloud” with them. He’s being ridiculous about the “R.I.P PTM” thing. Considering PTM is most likely trying to make it into the uber-mainstream it makes sense for them to have a larger tour (including opening for the Black Keys on their European Tour) and for them to take some time to work on a next level album that will help them breakout even more. So to hear that Danger Mouse is producing it shows that they took the time and effort to make their next album something special, instead of rushing a half-assed album the year after the last one.
I would like to see what he thinks a good tour looks like. I saw them play in Portland in 2011, and it was fantastic. It was a show like I’d never seen before. Way better than most mainstream tours I’ve seen. They played their hearts out, it was really refreshing to see.
I think this next album will be fantastic considering the producer they chose helped The Black Keys become a major artist. The last month or so, they’ve been everywhere, including performing the Bonnaroo announcement show. With all this build-up and 110% effort, I think “Evil Friends” will be a big event. It might even win them some Grammys and help them sell out arenas.
Anonymous // Mar 6, 2013 at 12:26 am
If what Rust claimed was so ridiculous then why the hell is Portugal getting so defensive? If the Illuminati/Satanism points are so unfounded then why not leave it alone or simply laugh it off? The 666 thing has been rampant with these dudes from the start. I like their music but the Devil is fucking lame. P.TM wants to be succe$$ful (read: mainstream). As long as the music is still good, then they can worship whomever they choose. I just hope they aren’t subliminally trying to mindfuck the true fans. It’s not that Portugal is evil… they’re just starting to pretend. Fake it ’til you make it.
Gabby // Mar 6, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Symbols are symbols and that’s it. WE give them meaning.
Shut up and enjoy the music. If you don’t enjoy the music, then just shut up.
^ // Mar 11, 2013 at 5:02 am
^
Ricky // Mar 13, 2013 at 12:00 pm
I am a huge fan of portugal the man. And recently i have been beginning to understand their lyrics. Very often they will oppose wars, shitty politics and religion. but this new song evil friends seems like a 180 for them. it doesnt sit well with me. they’ve had all seeing eyes/pyramids in their album covers/ music videos before but theyre music was has mostly been anti-establishment/ anit-satanism. but when he says “I’ve got a friend in the Devil” That worries me. After all “I fear it more than you.”
Matt // Mar 14, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Anon: they have laughed it off. They even retweeted my post about this because it’s absurd.
Ricky: Songs can be written from the perspective of people other than the lead singer. I mean, Sufjan has written from the perspective of a child murderer and we haven’t found any bodies on his property (yet). Just because they said “I’ve got a friend in the devil” doesn’t mean that they are literally friends with the devil.