Content Guide
SHISH Review
Portugal. The Man is coming back with something unexpected on November 7th, 2025. SHISH is a compact 14 minute album that strips away everything unnecessary and gets straight to the heart of what this band is about. After spending two decades morphing through psychedelic rock, baroque pop, and chart topping crossover hits, these Alaska natives have decided to go back to basics.
This is their tenth studio album, and it might be their most vulnerable. Ten tracks, every single one named after an Alaskan location, exploring what it means to survive, to build family, and to stay connected to the place that shaped you. It’s also their first release on their own KNIK imprint after leaving Atlantic Records behind, which tells you everything about where their heads are at right now.
The Four Singles Released So Far (SHISH Review)
Before the full album drops, Portugal. The Man has given us four tracks that paint a picture of what’s coming.
Denali (SHISH Review)
This one arrived in early September and immediately set expectations. Running over four minutes, Denali is probably the grungiest thing they’ve done in years. The production is thick with distorted synths and crunchy guitars that feel like Seattle in the 90s, but there’s also this weird glam rock energy running through it. People have been drawing comparisons to Ziggy Stardust era Bowie mixed with Nirvana and Alice in Chains, which sounds chaotic on paper but somehow works perfectly.
The song has this percussive synthetic backbone that builds into massive guitar moments. It feels simultaneously nostalgic and fresh, like they’re channeling old influences through a completely modern filter. Some early reactions are calling it their best work since “Feel It Still” broke through, which is saying something. It’s definitely a statement opener that tells you this album won’t sound like anything they’ve done recently.
Tanana and Mush (SHISH Review)
These two dropped together in late September as a double single, and they showcase completely different sides of the album.
Tanana is the hazier, more introspective one. It’s got these soaring baroque psych pop arrangements with Gourley’s vocals floating over the top. He’s described this track as channeling “generational sadness” and trying to find meaning when everything feels uncertain. There’s a searching quality to it, like grasping for solid ground when the world keeps shifting beneath you.
Mush is the complete opposite. Pure high octane garage rock that doesn’t let up for a second. The energy is frenetic and propulsive, and the music video features this looping footage of sled dogs running, which makes perfect sense when you know both of Gourley’s parents competed in the Iditarod. The lyrics keep circling back to one central idea: “we can be family.” It’s about fighting isolation, finding your people, building something real. Gourley has talked about how this song represents survival and connection, taking the realities of rural Alaskan life (dirt bikes, danger, absurdity, community) and turning them into this anthem about refusing to be alone.
Angoon (SHISH Review)
This one came out in mid October and takes the most overtly political stance of the four singles. Named after a Tlingit community in Southeast Alaska, Angoon directly confronts American politics and the ongoing theft of Indigenous land. The lyrics don’t pull punches: “No ICE / No borders enforcers / No owners / Don’t need New World Order.”
The song features distinct drum loops and saxophone elements that give it this almost jazzy texture underneath all the anger. It’s Gourley reflecting on his father’s wilderness survival experiences and connecting those personal memories to broader issues of land sovereignty and Indigenous rights. This is probably the most explicitly activist track on the album.
The Complete Tracklist (SHISH Review)
Here’s what you’re getting when SHISH drops on November 7th:
- Denali
- Pittman Ralliers
- Angoon
- Knik
- Shish
- Mush
- Tyonek
- Kokhanockers
- Tanana
- Father Gun
Every single title is an Alaskan reference. Shish is short for Shishmaref, the Seward Peninsula village where the Gourley family’s first sled dog came from, gifted by legendary Iditarod musher Herbie Nayokpuk (known as the Shishmaref Cannonball). Angoon is that Tlingit community we talked about. Kokhanockers refers to the Yup’ik community of Kohkanock. Knik is actually the name of their new independent label. Denali, Tanana, Tyonek are all significant Alaskan landmarks and places.
Each title carries weight and meaning beyond just being a location. These are communities, rivers, mountains, places that shaped the people who live there and the band members who came from there.
The album artwork drives this home hard. It’s a stark photo from sometime in the 1950s or 60s showing a man dragging two bloodied seals across snow covered ground, with “SHISH” written in bright red letters across the blue sky above. A friend of the band from Shishmaref contributed the photo. It’s brutal, honest, and beautiful all at once, which pretty much sums up the album’s aesthetic.
How SHISH Was Made (SHISH Review)
This marks a significant shift in how Portugal. The Man approached recording. Frontman John Gourley and drummer Kane Ritchotte (who also produces under the name MUSH) handled production duties themselves. No big name outside producer, no major label oversight, just the two of them figuring it out together.
They did bring in John Congleton for mixing, which was a smart move. Congleton has worked with everyone from St. Vincent to The National and knows how to make things sound massive without losing the raw edges. Randy Merrill handled mastering at Sterling Sound, bringing his decades of experience to the final polish.
The recording credits are surprisingly extensive for such a short album. Ritchotte played drums, Wurlitzer, bass, guitar, programming, mellotron, organ, synths, Moog, and percussion. Basically he touched every corner of the sonic landscape. Kyle O’Quinn, who joined the band back in 2012, handled string arrangements and cello. Guitarist Nick Reinheart from math rock band Tera Melos contributed guitar and bass work.
On the vocal side, Gourley’s wife and bandmate Zoe Manville provides vocals and rapping. There are guest appearances from Dani Bell (who also plays whistles and omnichord), David Marion, Malcolm McRae, and even Asa Taccone from The Lonely Island. A full horn section rounds things out with trombone, saxophone, bari sax, and trumpet. Dylan Rieck adds additional cello.
It’s interesting how collaborative this album is despite being so personal. They clearly wanted it to feel like a community effort, which mirrors the themes running through the songs.
The Themes and Personal Story Behind SHISH (SHISH Review)
Gourley has been remarkably open about what this album means to him personally. It represents some of his most vulnerable songwriting, centered around lessons he learned growing up in Alaska and lessons he’s learning now as a father. Four years ago, his daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, and that experience sits underneath everything on this record.
The recurring message throughout SHISH is about building lasting connections when everything feels isolating. As Gourley puts it: build a life, support your people, buy land, grow something lasting. Don’t give up, want more, fight for it. Simple concepts, but they carry real weight.
There’s also a strong thread about learning from Indigenous communities. The album pays tribute to the resilience, values, and ways of living that Gourley witnessed growing up in Alaska. Songs like Angoon directly address Indigenous rights and land sovereignty, while others focus on the broader lessons about community, survival, and taking only what you need while sharing what you have.
The Alaska focus isn’t nostalgia. It’s about processing where you came from while dealing with present challenges. Raising a kid with health issues. Watching political systems fail people. Seeing climate change threaten communities. Trying to find meaning when everything feels uncertain. Alaska becomes this anchor point, representing values and ways of being that feel more essential than the chaos of modern life.
Where This Fits in Their Career (SHISH Review)
Portugal. The Man has never been a band that plays it safe. Since their 2006 debut Waiter: “You Vultures!”, they’ve released ten studio albums, each one exploring different sonic territory. Their early work like Church Mouth, Censored Colors, and The Satanic Satanist established them as psychedelic experimentalists willing to take risks.
Then 2017’s Woodstock brought mainstream breakthrough. “Feel It Still” hit number four on the Billboard Hot 100, won a Grammy, and went 7x Platinum. Suddenly they were everywhere. That success could’ve locked them into chasing hits forever, but that’s not what they did.
Their most recent full length before SHISH was Chris Black Changed My Life, which dropped in June 2023. That was a warm, hooky 11 track album blending psych pop with R&B, dance, and hip hop influences. It featured collaborations with Black Thought, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Natalia Lafourcade, Paul Williams, and Edgar Winter. The album dealt with themes of loss and grief, dedicated to their late friend Chris Black who died in 2019. Critics gave it mixed reviews, with a Metacritic score landing around 60 out of 100.
SHISH represents a dramatic shift from that polished indie pop sound. At just 14 minutes, it’s by far their shortest release. The focus is tight, the production is grittier, and the themes are more personal than ever. The move to their own independent label KNIK (via distribution partner Thirty Tigers) after four albums with Atlantic Records signals they’re done playing by major label rules.
They also released a surprise EP called uLu Selects Vol #2 in June 2025, which served as a bridge between Chris Black and SHISH. But this full length is where they’ve really committed to a new direction.
Early Critical Response (SHISH Review)
Since SHISH hasn’t officially released yet, major music publications haven’t weighed in with full album reviews. But the singles have generated buzz in indie and alternative music circles.
Denali has earned the strongest praise so far. Multiple outlets have called it their best track since “Feel It Still,” highlighting the bold new sound and the way it channels grunge and glam rock influences into something distinctly their own. The production quality has been praised for being intentionally raw without sounding sloppy or unfinished.
On user rating platforms, both Denali and the Tanana/Mush double single have scored solid marks, suggesting fans are responding positively to the new direction. Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current featured Tanana as their Song of the Day, giving it regional exposure beyond typical indie channels.
The overall critical narrative frames SHISH as a return to form, a band rejecting commercial pressures to make something raw and authentic. Reviewers appreciate the sincerity of the Alaska themes and the grungier sound palette. However, the album hasn’t generated the kind of mainstream hype that preceded Woodstock, positioning it more as a statement for dedicated fans than a crossover bid.
What the Band Has Said (SHISH Review)
John Gourley has been the primary voice discussing SHISH in interviews and press releases. Beyond his comments on individual songs, he’s provided context about the creative process and what inspired the album’s direction.
Interestingly, he’s also talked about his recent obsession with K pop, particularly groups like TWICE. This led the band to record a cover of a song that appears on their recent EP, showing how eclectic their influences remain even while making a deeply personal album about Alaska.
Dennis Davis, a Shishmaref resident and friend of the band who contributed photos for the promotional materials, has spoken about what the album means to his community. He described the title track as wrapping everything up into one powerful statement, and expressed appreciation for the full circle moment of a band called Portugal. The Man making an album called SHISH that pays tribute to Alaskan people and places.
It’s worth remembering what bassist Zach Carothers said during their 2018 Grammy acceptance speech, which connects directly to SHISH’s themes: “We’d like to rep this for all the kids in the villages. Shishmaref, Barrow, Bethel all the indigenous people in Alaska and around the world you’re beautiful, your culture’s beautiful, thank you for inspiring us.” That sentiment clearly runs deep through this entire album.
The band has announced special Alaska shows for January 2026 in communities like Unalakleet, Shishmaref, and Nome, bringing the album home to the people who inspired it.
Release Details and Tour Plans (SHISH Review)
SHISH drops digitally on November 7th, 2025 across all streaming platforms. Physical formats follow on December 12th with several options:
Digital: Standard streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, etc., plus high quality downloads via Bandcamp (MP3, FLAC, and 24 bit/48kHz options)
Physical: Standard CD, cassette, and four different vinyl variants. The vinyl options include Denali Blue (indie exclusive), Red Eco Mix, Blood on Snow, and standard black vinyl.
The Denali Tour kicks off November 6th, the night before the album drops, with two sold out shows at Revolution Hall in Portland. They’re calling these “Lords of Portland” underplay shows featuring rare deep cuts, covers, extended jams, and special guests. The North American leg runs through December 2025 with 19 shows total.
Then they head to Europe and the UK for February through March 2026 with 18 dates lined up. The immediate sell out of those Portland shows indicates strong engagement from their core fanbase.
Beyond music, Portugal. The Man remains committed to activism through the PTM Foundation, focusing on human rights, Indigenous health, environmental causes, and their Frances Changed My Life campaign supporting families dealing with rare diseases. That last one is obviously deeply personal given Gourley’s daughter.
What to Expect from the Full Album (SHISH Review)
Based on the four singles, SHISH should be an intense, focused listening experience. The short 14 minute runtime means every second counts. No room for weak moments or filler. Each song has to justify its existence, and if the singles are any indication, they will.
We haven’t heard six of the ten tracks yet, which leaves plenty of room for surprises. Father Gun as the closer is intriguing. The title track Shish obviously carries special significance since the whole album is named after Shishmaref. Pittman Ralliers, Tyonek, and Knik could go anywhere sonically.
Thematically, expect the album to continue exploring family, survival, community, place, isolation, and Indigenous rights. The Alaska setting will be constant, not as backdrop but as the central character. Production wise, it should sound raw but not rough, gritty but not sloppy. Congleton’s mixing will likely make everything hit hard while preserving the textures and details.
Musically, you’re getting grunge influences, psych pop, garage rock energy, baroque arrangements, electronic textures, and plenty of experimental moments. It’s Portugal. The Man through and through, even if it sounds different from their recent work.
Why SHISH Matters (SHISH Review)
This album represents something bigger than just ten songs about Alaska. It’s a statement about artistic integrity in an industry obsessed with metrics and maximizing content. Portugal. The Man is eight years past their biggest commercial moment, and instead of chasing another “Feel It Still,” they made a 14 minute album about deeply personal themes and released it on their own label.
That takes courage. Most bands in their position would play it safe, hire a hitmaker producer, aim for streaming playlist placement. Portugal. The Man did the opposite. They said less is more, substance over quantity, say what matters and walk away.
The album also represents a full circle moment for a band that left Alaska to chase music dreams. Now they’re using their platform to shine light on Alaskan communities, Indigenous rights, and ways of living that resist mainstream capitalism. The planned shows in villages like Shishmaref aren’t just tour stops, they’re homecoming moments.
For listeners dealing with their own challenges, whether medical, political, or existential, SHISH offers something real. Not escapism, but acknowledgment. Not answers, but solidarity. The message is simple: build community, support each other, don’t give up, fight for what matters.
In 2025, when everything feels fractured and uncertain, that message hits different. Portugal. The Man isn’t promising everything will be okay. They’re saying it’s worth fighting anyway. That’s what SHISH is about.
Listen To “SHISH” By Portugal. The Man
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/25VUDs2nPDIkbtSzT7lN6w?si=a7f04c90dbbc4d92
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