Surf rock meets distorted indie dance.

On June 6th, the Portland-based band Portugal. The Man released uLu Selects Vol #2, a four song EP that follows their 2023 release of Chris Black Changed My Life. Portugal. The Man originally rose to fame with their hit song “Feel It Still” and this EP stands as a testament to their growing sound and success. 

The EP opens with “V.I.S.,” a track that kicks off with a very classic surf indie sound and a groovy bassline. The tracks layer slightly gravelly vocals on the verse. Then it switches to a chorus containing distorted guitar and a lot of grunge grit on the vocals. The band then transitions back into the stripped down groove of the first verse. The bridge contains a distorted guitar solo with warped vocals as well. Simply put, this song really rocks. The next track, “Silver Spoons,” features Lucius. This track has a driving intro that aligns both the bass and guitar lines, giving it a fast paced and almost psychedelic feel. This one really gets your whole body moving with its dancey chorus and catchy lyrics. Portugal. The Man has a distinct vocal sound of slight distortion and an almost mumbling-like feel and this track demonstrates that so much that it almost puts you in a trance. The third track, “Big Baby Bogotá,” has a bright pingy intro that leans into the surf-indie- rock sounds. It is more stripped down at the beginning compared to the rest of the EP, incorporating some acoustic guitar in the background. This one is also quite dancey. The melody is rather simple but that is what makes it catchy and danceable. In other words, this is an easy to digest track for listeners. The bridge switches to Spanish, which adds a fun layer to the overall track. This one really drives that surf rock sound of the EP and almost gives listeners the impression of a retro feel. The last track, “I Got This,” is a lot more electronic in comparison to the rest of the EP. It is rather reminiscent of Cage the Elephant’s Social Cues, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but certainly makes the track stick out from the rest. It has a much darker sound and while it is interesting that they picked a different sound for the closing track, it might be the weakest feature of the EP.

Overall, this EP really shows Portugal. The Man’s growth since their hit “Feel It Still,” demonstrating the band’s ability to make a name for themselves. This EP mixes surf indie and rock to give listeners a reason to dance despite the darker tone of the lyrics, which ultimately proves that this band is more than just their most known track.