Anyone get Umphrey's McGee "Mantis"? |
Post Reply | Page <12 |
Author | |
darkshade
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964 |
Posted: February 08 2009 at 09:51 |
i cant choose which song is best. sometimes it's Cemetary Walk, other times it's the title track. and sometimes it's Turn and Run
either way the whole cd is awesome! |
|
Doomcifer
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 22 2008 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 177 |
Posted: February 09 2009 at 17:28 |
great album that is STILL growing on me after at least 10 listens.
they are definitely more "eclectic prog" than any other imo...but then again, it all depends on what album. :D Edited by Doomcifer - February 09 2009 at 17:29 |
|
Greater is the man who conquers himself, than he who conquers a hundred times a hundred on the battlefield.
|
|
darkshade
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964 |
Posted: February 09 2009 at 19:40 |
if you put all their albums (and live shows) in perspective, they are more eclectic than anything. The jazz-rock title fits to an extent, but they venture off into funk, metal, pure prog rock (if you know what i mean), classic jam band type sound, textural improvisations that ARENT jazz-related, etc, as well as jazz/jazz-fusion.
so i think they should be moved, which would mean another thread somewhere else Edited by darkshade - February 09 2009 at 19:42 |
|
Slartibartfast
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam Joined: April 29 2006 Location: Atlantais Status: Offline Points: 29625 |
Posted: February 09 2009 at 21:00 |
If the person who sold me Mantis haunts this site, I'd like to say much thanks publicly. I ordered two other titles from others and they haven't yet arrived, which isn't actually a problem as I get to enjoy Mantis for a while before exploring further.
Edited by Slartibartfast - March 06 2009 at 19:44 |
|
Doomcifer
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 22 2008 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 177 |
Posted: February 18 2009 at 20:49 |
Are the lyrics available through the cd/website tool thing-a-mujig??? I just wish that the cd came with some kind of booklet with liner notes and/or lyrics. Minor gripe...but the music is absolutely masterful. Best release of 09 so far BY FAR.
|
|
Greater is the man who conquers himself, than he who conquers a hundred times a hundred on the battlefield.
|
|
mrgd
Forum Senior Member Joined: December 02 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 822 |
Posted: February 19 2009 at 20:25 |
I have to say that so far I'm a little disappointed . My immediate reaction is that there is not enough ' light' and too much ' heavy'. The album seems short on dynamics - there are too few lighter more melodious interludes and little exposed and song building soloing imo. I'm not a fan of the heavy drum sound used here and, in parts, the heavy drumming technique . Solos , melodies and sometimes vocals are overpowered and swallowed up by a ' wall of sound' type layering and mix .
I realised from other reviews there wasn't going to be much jamming but I was expecting greater variation in sound, production values and songwriting. I feel they may have gone too far out of their way to produce an album with a sound that is a major departure from their earlier trademark style. A sudden quantum leap to a 'heavier 'release. I realise that many enjoy this, but it wasn't what I was looking for or expecting . But I am still listening........maybe it needs more time. I hope so . These are my initial impressions. |
|
Looking still the same after all these years...
mrgd |
|
Speesh
Forum Senior Member Joined: December 21 2006 Location: NJ / VT Status: Offline Points: 435 |
Posted: February 22 2009 at 19:03 |
Just got it based on what I've heard here, I like it a lot so far. Only other I've heard by them is Local Band Does OK, also a great album but I think I much prefer this one already. I should really check out Anchor Drops at some point.
|
|
darkshade
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964 |
Posted: February 22 2009 at 19:33 |
i was a little disappointed (or at least not completely interested) when i first got it. by the 3rd listen or so i got hooked i should mention i hadnt listened to the band in well over 5 months prior and kinda 'forgot' about their previous work and based my opinion on the album by itself, as one musical statement (which i feel more people here should do btw) dont take this as me trying to convert you or whatever, i just felt i had to express all that |
|
mrgd
Forum Senior Member Joined: December 02 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 822 |
Posted: February 23 2009 at 19:57 |
Actually, I should say that my initial listens were on a 5.1 DVD player and speaker system . While some albums sound fine through such systems , I have since found listening to ' Mantis ' with good headphones and also in standard stereo seems to suit the mix better . The drum sound I commented on is not so prominent and with a more integrated sound through these systems, I'm starting to appreciate it more, particularly the first half a doz or so tracks. Maybe I was a bit hasty
|
|
Looking still the same after all these years...
mrgd |
|
Doomcifer
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 22 2008 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 177 |
Posted: February 25 2009 at 14:22 |
I also agree that one would do best to judge this album on it's one, without the past albums in mind. I think that;s why I was initially disappointed on my very first listen. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
|
|
Greater is the man who conquers himself, than he who conquers a hundred times a hundred on the battlefield.
|
|
darkshade
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964 |
Posted: March 01 2009 at 10:20 |
i listened to it again after a couple of weeks break. and WOW is it an awesome album! may be a contender for album of the year even though it's so early.
hey Slartibartfast, did you ever get Anchor Drops yet? how do you like? |
|
darkshade
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964 |
Posted: March 02 2009 at 19:38 |
bump!
|
|
Slartibartfast
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam Joined: April 29 2006 Location: Atlantais Status: Offline Points: 29625 |
Posted: March 06 2009 at 19:46 |
Not yet, don't know what happened had to report it not delivered.
However, today I did get a package with two DVDs!!!! Also, ordered a couple of t-shirts and a sticker. I may be up a bit late tonight. Edited by Slartibartfast - March 07 2009 at 20:11 |
|
Dick Heath
Special Collaborator Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 12799 |
Posted: March 07 2009 at 15:17 |
As a fan I have several of UG's studio albums (plus Jimmy Stewart) and would argue strongly that it is difficult to find the jazz in their jamming - the exception being when they hire a jazzer in for the sessions, e.g. Joshua Redman. For a reference point check out any live album by Wayne Krantz issued from his website, that's jazz rock jamming. |
|
The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS.
CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
|
mr.cub
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 06 2009 Location: Lexington, VA Status: Offline Points: 971 |
Posted: March 07 2009 at 18:40 |
Seeing these guys in early April, should be awesome and yes I would say eclectic because they have their heavier elements that aren't really in the vain of fusion groups like Mahavishnu and RTF. They really go off into directions other jambands don't dare
|
|
|
|
Slartibartfast
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam Joined: April 29 2006 Location: Atlantais Status: Offline Points: 29625 |
Posted: March 07 2009 at 20:11 |
So far, I've taken in Mantis, Local Band Does O.K., Live From The Lake Coast Skyline Stage DVD (2002), and
Wrapped Around Chicago New Year's At The Riv DVD (2004-2005). What i've heard is extremely exclectic, elements of Zappa, Supertramp, Gentle Giant, Allman Brothers,The Bears, Grateful Dead, Phish, King Crimson, Rush, Brand X, Happy The Man, Al DiMeola... There's even a track at the end of DVD 1 called Mullet Over that's played while the credits run, sounds like a long lost Dixie Dregs tune. The New Year's Eve show has covers of Ophelia (Robby Robertson), Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel), Auld Lang Syne (some Scottish Dude ). They even break in to a little Primus' My Name Is Mudd in one song, Edited by Slartibartfast - March 07 2009 at 22:25 |
|
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
|
|
darkshade
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964 |
Posted: March 31 2009 at 11:17 |
yeah, theyre definitely more eclectic. LBDOK and Anchor Drops have some jazz-fusion moments, but thats about it. havent heard much jazz-fusion in their writing in the last 3 albums
|
|
Post Reply | Page <12 |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |