With "Church Mouth" PORTUGAL. THE MAN take the listeners on a voyage through the landscape of their collective consciousness. A huge departure from 2004's drum-machine and sequencer-heavy "Waiter: You Vultures!", "Church Mouth" is an organic rock record that transcends genres by managing to reference seemingly disparate acts such as THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN, THE WHITE STRIPES, THE MARS VOLTA and SANTANA without sounding dated or derivative of any particular act. In other words, it paints a picture without spelling anything out. As the title might suggest, the album also ambiguously centers on political and religious themes. However, the stylistic and ideological hallmarks of the album are less important then the feeling one gets listening to "Church Mouth". From the funky-soul-prog feel of "Sugar Cinnamon" (think an updated version of the MC5 but with effects pedals) to psychedelic groove of "Oh Lord" to more melody-driven yet equally intense rockers like "Shade" and "Children," to the powerful gospel refrain of "Dawn", "Church Mouth" is a versatile disc that spans rock's history without resorting to self-indulgent genre exercises. PORTUGAL. THE MAN has now transcended the restrictions of scenes and eras to create music that's unparalleled in its ambition and uniqueness.