Anchor Drops

Umphrey's McGee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sci Fidelity Records
• ASIN: B0002ABT80
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,837 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bottom Line..., March 24, 2005

By 

Duotonex (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anchor Drops (Audio CD)

The first time I saw these guys I was at this festival in the middle of nowhere and had no idea what I was in for. It was around noon during a hot summer day, and I was already exhausted. Once Umphrey's came on stage, my total attention became fixated on the band for the next 2 hours because I was completely floored. The lead and rhythm guitarists blend their styles perfectly through their songwriting, and they can actually sing; which is a seemingly increasing rarity within the free-form rock genre. Actually, it would probably be erroneous on my part to say lead and rhythm guitarists, because they seem to trade these duties off at regular intervals during their shows as well as in the studio. Finally, the one comparison I have no qualms making towards Phish is the approach they take to doing covers. They do the artists justice and perform very admirably, not to mention picking some great tunes. (Any band that can cover both Lionele Richie and Van Halen successfully in the same show is worth a listen in my book.)

That being said, I'm pretty positive that you'd be doing yourself a strict disservice by not giving this album a listen. If you are in any way a fan of Phish, Zappa, Yes, Steely Dan, The Allman Brothers or even The Dead I guarantee there is a lot to love here. The album is very melodic guitar-wise, and there is a surprising depth to the lyrical content. The only preceding negative reviews you may read have to do with the fact that some buddy of theirs probably told them they were a jazz-rock band (to which they have influences) and wrote them off as a jam rock band instead. If you read about someone complaining about a genre of music in a review instead of actually reviewing the album, this should be a hint to write it off because they're obviously trying to prove a point instead of giving an opinion. This album is immaculate, pick it up by all means and go see a show while you can still get tickets.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope for the Heartland!, September 16, 2005

By 

J. Austin (Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Anchor Drops (Audio CD)

Every time I listen to Anchor Drops (and to a slightly lesser extent Local Band Does O.K.), I simply glow - which I'm sure I could verify if I had a mirror near my stereo.

I'm 40-something and fairly new to the "Jam Band" scene, not to mention well into my fourth childhood. Whenever I press play on this CD I flush with memories of me and my gang of teenaged Southern Illinois outlaws setting up our rudimentary "walls of sound" in park pavilions and back yards to rattle our eardrums and neighborhood windows to the latest or deemed-classic releases from our rock idols. Exercises in pagan worship that I continue to try and live down in my prayers for mercy to this day.

The tightest and most original of the classic and legendary progressive rock bands of the late 60's and most of the 70's have nothing over UM - in fact, UM has taken it to much more than the next level, from both a song-writing and musicianship standpoint. If UM stepped into a wayback machine, the record books today would now illustrate that Yes and Rush and 10cc and King Crimson and ELP and ELO and Todd and Ambrosia and Camel and Tull and Genesis and Traffic and maybe even Zappa...(blah blah blah) had been given a run for their money. I challenge anyone of my advanced years (defined above) who did not come of age in a monastery to listen to "jajunk" and not immediately think of Yes circa Close to the Edge and Fragile.

I regret that I got in on Jam Bands too late to weep for the passing of Phish (as much as I am now a Phish fiend). And I am well into great talents such as Moe and String Cheese and Big Wu and Railroad Earth and solo Trey and Widespread Panic...(blah blah blah). But I relish the fact that I got in on the "ground floor" of UM - just in time to hopefully monitor with joy their rise to the legendary status that they so richly deserve to ultimately achieve.

These guys are freaking out-of-control!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prog Spring, July 12, 2004

By 

Ben Grossberg (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anchor Drops (Audio CD)

Welcome to the Rock Show. Umphrey's latest offering, and first with drummer Kris Myers (owner of a masters degree in Jazz Studies from Depaul University) is an absolute masterpiece. A triumph for a band often labeled a "jamband", Anchor Drops's progressive rock stylings show just how far Umphrey's has progressed in their efforts to eclipse the stereotypes of the "jam scene". Techinical virtuosos, the members of Umphrey's de-emphasize their impressive chops in favor of a focus on their brilliant genre-defying compositions, however, that doesn't mean that they don't bust out their maddest skills on a few tracks (see Anchor Drops, JaJunk pt. II, Mulche's Odyssey). What are you waiting for, get this album, and you won't be dissapointed.