Hi 85 / Lo 63
|
Hi 85 / Lo 63 |
Student Publications
©1991-2007
Last modified:
Contact:
|
Volume 71, Issue 134,
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Life & Arts McGee adds keeper to catalog Band's latest pushes it closer to being called heir to jam throne by BEN HILL
Umphrey's McGee is rolling in the praise. It's been all but crowned the rightful heir to Phish's jam-band throne and is becoming a big draw at many music festivals. Its 2003 release, Anchor Drops, a fusion of metal, prog-rock and almost everything else but rap, was a staggering testament to what a group of virtuosi can achieve. It had the tongue-in-cheek vibe of Frank Zappa's best work, minus the biting satire and lewd humor, but it also had songs that normal folks without music degrees could get into. Umphrey's live shows were even better, often sold out affairs where the band would traverse any style of music it felt like (including rap) for upwards of three hours a night. Fans were delighted by its technical brilliance and originality while improvising. This year has seen the release of its latest album, Safety in Numbers, but several changes have affected the band since 2003. The band replaced drummer Mike Mirro with Kris Myers and, perhaps most unexpected of all, has grown up a little. Safety In Numbers seems to be neatly divided into two parts. The first, while still steeped in the complexity Umphrey's is known for, is more mature and introspective than its past work. Jam bands, excluding Waterdeep and the Dave Matthews Band, aren't usually known for tackling heavy lyrical subject matter, but Umphrey's eschews this trend with such emotional fare as the ironically titled "Rocker." The title doesn't describe the song dynamics but was the nickname of Brian Schultz, a friend of the band who was killed by a drunk driver. Filled with quirky acoustic polyrhythms, slide guitar for a spacey Southern feel and strings in the background, the song is a meditation on the questions and feelings that arose after Schwartz' death. The band gets epic with "Words," a track that harkens back to Yes and Return to Forever's classic material. "End of the Road," the album's sole instrumental, lands somewhere between Leo Kottke's rollicking solo acoustic work and the Allman Brothers' "Little Martha." It reveals a sweetness previously undocumented on an Umphrey's disc and is a beautiful exercise in restraint. Umphrey's resumes the party atmosphere from Anchor Drops with the odd-metered rocker "Nemo." "Nemo" has been a live staple since at least 2004 and is the best representation of the band's live show on Safety in Numbers. "Women, Wine and Song" features Huey Lewis on harmonica and backing vocals and has the feel of a prog-rock drinking song. "Intentions Clear" includes a guest appearance by sax legend Joshua Redman trading unisons with guitarist Jake Cinninger. Safety in Numbers, while lacking some of Anchor Drops' wonderfully geeky flourishes and overt sense of light-hearted fun, will prove more satisfying to those interested in quality of song than quantity of notes. These songs will also undoubtedly serve as platforms for some interesting jams when the band hits the road with the Dave Matthews Band this summer. Umphrey's McGee has also played it smart by not attempting to recapture its live show in the studio. Instead, the band made a solid album that isn't just another half-hearted excuse to continue a never-ending tour.
Umphrey's McGee Safety in Numbers
Verdict: A different but solid effort from the next
great jam band.
Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu |
To contact the
To contact other members
of
 |