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Rating:  -
According to some of the reviews on this album already this should not be the first Umphrey's album you should listen to. Well I could not find any other Umphrey's album at my local music store so I gave it a chance since I have been curious about this band for a while. All I have to say about this album is it is captivating, from the opening riff on the first track to the last note played on the final song, I couldnt drag myself away from the album. I just got this three days ago and has been on repeat (along with m. wards new album). I can see where people say they sound like phish but honestly so does any other band out there in the "jam band" category, just listen to raq(their new album the vocalist sounds like he is trying to emmulate treys voice) but the same thing was also said for phish when they were at the height of their popularity, people claimed they sound like they are trying to be the dead. My point is to just give it a chance you will probably like it especially if you have heard their previous material and if you like the "jam band" type music you will probably like it as well.
Rating: -
Reviewgium - Volume I, issue I
Umphrey's McGee is an unstoppable force that seems to be gaining momentum and popluarity every day. Some would call them a jam band by default, though this is not always apparent in their studio material, particularly Safety In Numbers, which is their most song-based studio release to date. While not the best of their three studio releases, it is still a strong and emotive album, giving no indication that the band is slowing down or losing their incredibly diverse and genre-defying capabilities.
The album has several proggy (but not too proggy) tunes, such as "Believe the Lie," "Nemo," "Passing," and the jazz-laced "Intensions Clear," that provide a familiar fan-pleasing sound as is retained through the band's history. Emotions pour out in the tremendous ballads "Rocker" and "Words," the latter of which in particular proves that Umphrey's McGee does not need lightning-fast solos and extended jam sessions in order to compose incredible songs. The venerable live classics "Ocean Billy" and "Women, Wine, and Song" finally make it on to a studio album, the second of the two featuring a cameo by Huey Lewis (remember that guy...from the 80s?). Concluding the album is the somewhat lack-luster tribute "The Weight Around," which sort of leaves something to be desired, but also reminds that there is much more to come from the almighty McGee.
I would not recommend Safety In Numbers as a first album for new listeners. While it is strong enough to earn an 8.5 from me, it is not an apt representation of the band. That would be Anchor Drops; upon appreciating that album, you can opt to proceed to Safety In Numbers if you prefer the band's more conservative side, or return to their more avant-guarde roots by seeking out Local Band Does OK. Not to mention the seemingly endless stash of live shows they have available for legitimate download.
Rating:  -
I picked this disc up at a Borders last week based on a tune I heard on a college station and it hasn't left my tray since.
I don't mean to pick on the young reviewer below, but he seems to be disappointed that SIN does not sound enough like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and therefore must by definition be rejected as unsuitable listening. Poor fellow. I guess Chopin, Coltrane, The Beatles, and Hank Williams don't have a chance, since they don't sound much like the RHCPs either.
This is one of those rare CDs that grabs the addiction centers of your brain and has you reaching for the play button as soon as the last track ends. The last time that happened to me was when I discovered Drums & Wires by XTC back in 1981.
If you are anything like me in this respect, you have a wall or two full of cds, LPs, music files, etc, that you've heard a couple of times and went "eh..." occasionally finding a bit of music to hold on to.
I've always broadly considered music as groceries for the brain; I tend to starve without good music. This one little cd is easily worth three-quarters of my music collection and will more than fill my grocery needs for a long time.
Rating: -
I am sick and tired of people comparing this band to the Phish or (Please!) The Grateful dead. Umphrey's is nothing like the Grateful Dead and they are most certainly nothing like Phish. The only thing Umphreys shares in common with either of those bands is the idea of the music. That idea being to play something different every night, but I can assure you this is nothing like the old school jammers. I would compare Umphreys to a modern day Yes or King Crimson. They have much more in common with the progrock pioneers than they do with free form jammers like Phish and The Dead. Unfortunately, Phish had the problem of constantly being compared to the dead often as well, but the band members always maintained that there were elements of The Dead in their music but was not all they were about. Just like Phish Umphreys will constantly be compared to the people who were doing things like it before them. Why not just tell it like it is: Jamband influences derive heavily from the idea created by modal jazz musicians such as Coltrane and Davis, and classical oldies like Stravinski and Gershwin. I know you probably think I'm crazy, but progrock comes from an interest in big classical pieces that contained numerous songs in one. A big epic song!
In my opinion there is no point in brushing bands like Umphreys and Phish off as some hippy band playing to stoned idiots everynight. There is more to this music. The only reason people talk negatively about jambands is because they don't have the patience or intelligence to listen to this kind of music. I say: Let the naysayers have their pop music!Hopefully people will wake up someday and come see bands like Umphreys when they decide they don't want they're art spoon fed to them anymore.
Rating: -
I own all three of Umphreys studio releases and this album is slightly different than the first two but it is still very good. Not all the songs are of the fast shredding type but it doesnt really matter. If you like Umphreys than you should without a doubt like this album. Songs like Believe the Lie and Words have a very epic feel to them and are very well written. Nemo is a great intense jam as well. I would advise you to ignore Tom Saleh's review because he really does not seem to know what he is talking about. If you like CD's that you can put in and just let play than this is perfect. I listened to this CD over and over when I got it and enjoyed it everytime. Oh and one more thing, there is something special about the last song on the album as well. I realize that its a simplistic acoustic song but it is very good. In closing, if you like Umphreys then buy the album.
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