REVIEW: Chris Portka – ‘The Album Everyone Wants’

Chris Portka’s ‘The Album Everyone Wants’ arrives as a vinyl gem, as well as a Bandcamp exclusive, delivering a record that blends familiar Americana with restless indie experimentation. Across eleven tracks, Portka threads originals and covers into a cohesive whole, transforming classics from Syd Barrett, Skip Spence, and George Jones into something both nostalgic and startlingly fresh. It’s an album that feels lived-in yet adventurous, like taking a scenic detour through a world you thought you knew.

From the hazy, sun-drenched ‘Fun in the Summer’ to the wistful, windswept melancholy of ‘She Looks So Good Tonight’, Portka balances intimacy with cinematic scale. Pedal steel swoons alongside fuzzed guitars, while the rhythm section keeps a gentle propulsion that never overshadows the storytelling. Even familiar tracks like ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ are reimagined with understated groove and krautrock flair, showing his ability to honour a song’s essence while making it entirely his own.

Co-produced by indie veteran Jasper Leach, the album’s arrangements feel meticulous yet effortless. Contributions from the Al Harper Band and a rotating cast of Bay Area and NYC collaborators such as Mike “Bonecrusher” Vattuone on drums, Tom Meagher on exploratory guitar, Alison Niedbalski’s subtle harmonies add layers of texture and personality without ever cluttering the mix. Every note feels intentional, every moment measured to let us settle into the album’s hypnotic rhythms.

Much of the original compositions look to highlight Portka’s lyrical precision, pairing intimate narratives with sweeping instrumentation. The record moves seamlessly between moments of quiet reflection and bursts of spirited energy, a signature of an artist comfortable in his own universe.

‘The Album Everyone Wants’ is both a celebration of collaboration and a showcase of his own distinctive voice in contemporary indie-rock. It’s an LP that invites repeated listens, each spin revealing new textures, unexpected flourishes, and the quiet genius of an artist deeply attuned to both tradition and innovation. For those seeking an indie record with heart, imagination, and just a touch of off-kilter charm, this album delivers in spades.