Customer Reviews

Mantis

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With their latest release, Umphrey's McGee presents "Mantis," an album of new beginnings while still remaining true to their roots. For those unfamiliar with UM, they're best described as the results of tossing several musical genres into a blender and filtering the results through stereo speakers. They can get down and funky, rock out, play the blues and even get a little jazzy when the song calls for it. While most popular on the jam band circuit, the band has been developing a solid following amongst the progressive rock faithful which will only grow with this release.
Despite their jam band leanings, the band remains focused on the album presenting a precise and effective album. At the same time, the opportunity for expansive improvisation is *very* present and the band will no doubt take advantage of this as they hit the road to promote the album.
While gearing up for this review, I listened to the bands debut studio album "Local Band Does O.K." and it is simply amazing to see how far they have come. While a great album on its own, the maturity of the band really jumps out on "Mantis." Inside, the listener is treated to a mix of Beatles, early Genesis and even Radiohead-esque influences but most importantly, a whole lot of Umphrey's McGee. As to be expected, all musicians are in top form which is really exciting considering the superb material the band has arranged to hit the road with. This album will deliver many a legendary UM live experience!
In closing, tight compositions coupled with great, tasty playing will always be a recipe for success in my book and its almost scary to think the only place for the Umphreys Boys to go is UP.

It pains me to finally admit this, as I usually have nothing but positive things to say about Umphrey's McGee, but I have to agree with reviewer Mr Stanley, who flatly pointed out that MANTIS is just not as great as many of the reviews on this site are indicating. It's certainly not up to the level of ANCHOR DROPS, SAFETY IN NUMBERS, or the incomparable LOCAL BAND DOES OK.

First of all, let's deal with the much ballyhooed title track. Yes, it's good, but we need to face the fact that just because a song is listed at 11+ minutes, that doesn't automatically make it a spectacular cohesive epic. Without question, "Mantis" (the song) starts out wonderfully with a very aggressive instrumental section that feels like a close cousin to "Wizard Burial Ground". And even when the vocals start ("We believe there's something here worth dying for..."), you can't help but feel like you're in for something really special.

But the song never really delivers like it should. The 11 minutes end up feeling like several 3-minute songs just spliced together. And I honestly don't think that if it were listed as 4 separate songs on the CD that everyone would be going on about how great "tracks 3 through 6" are. Now, in addition to the terrific intro, the final 3 or so minutes of "Mantis" are also very strong, but parts of the song (I'm thinking particularly about the bit from about 3:30 to 4:50) are downright awful. Brendan Bayliss, whose voice is a rare gem among jam-band lead vocalists, gets a little too fancy with the vocal harmonization here, and much of his delivery simply sounds out of key. There's also a slow section from about 6:00 to 8:00 that if it were a standalone song, would never be considered anything better than average. As a whole, the song is decent; and as mentioned, parts of it are truly spectacular. But it's just not an 11 minute masterwork, or UM's "definitive song" or anything like that.

Once you accept that "Mantis" is not the greatest song ever written, but rather "a good song with some inspired moments" the remainder of the album definitely has some good points. The "Cemetery Walk" suite, which combined clocks in at almost 10 minutes, is instead a much more cohesive extended piece than the title track. This song weaves in and out of three very distinct themes, bouncing between them gracefully throughout, while remaining true to the core of the song. One of the themes is fairly similar to "Prowler" from LBDOK; another theme is a terrific 7/4 bit that jumps between single & double time rhythms very adeptly; and the third theme is a moderate tempo piece that is uncannily reminiscent of some early Genesis instrumentals (the last reprisal of it would have fit on THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY without a second thought). The final 2+ minutes (tracked as the standalone "Cemetery Walk II") is an electronica laden reprise of the 7/4 theme in the same style as "Robot World" and "Atmosfarag" (C'mon -- you need a little bit of that on every Umph's album).

"Red Tape" is a very fun song with some cool time signature explorations that, while having a bit of a dated feel (with those keyboards, it would not have been out of place in the mid 80's), makes great understated use of horns. Remember how loud the horns were on "Intentions Clear"? This is nothing like that. "Red Tape" makes much better subtle use of them. And "Made To Measure", although a bit of a strange choice for album opener, is a terrific, almost Beatles-esque song that really helps UM stretch their genre.

But unfortunately, none of these tracks really stand out among the true classics in the UM catalog. And yes, of course many UM songs take on new life when they are played live and ultimately morph into something spectacular, but it's even better when you have a terrific slab of clay to work with. And nothing here really is that terrific. Furthermore, other tracks are terribly lackluster. For instance, while the final 2 minutes of "Turn & Run" features an absolutely outstanding Cinninger guitar solo (speaking of songs that will take on a new life in the live show... ), the first 5 minutes are killed by a very lethargic vocal performance, lazy harmonization, and very run of the mill music. And "Spires" unfortunately suffers from the same problem as "Wife Soup" from ANCHOR DROPS -- a nearly 8 minute song that really should have been only 3 minutes.

So bottom line, I've never had to try this hard to like an Umphrey's McGee album. And there isn't enough memorable, or even potentially memorable music on it for me to rank MANTIS among the better UM efforts. I just expected much much more from an album that we have been constantly reminded was "two years in the making". 3 1/2 stars, round it down to 3.

As a avid jam band listener these guys have been on my radar for awhile. Their first album "local band does O.K." is fantastic, plenty of jazz inspired jams and serious musical prowess got me hooked. They also had that fun party jam sound of bands like phish. If you havent ever heard these guys order "local band" along with your copy of Mantis.
In a live setting these guys rip. Skilled changes in time signature, blazing guitar solos and captivating "turnabouts" will have you writhing
in musical pleasure. However you wont find many extended jams on this record. Thats not what the boys set out to do with this album. What you have here is a well-crafted, polished progressive rock album that trancends the "jam-band" genre. And personally i think it couldnt have turned out any better. Fantastic production, soothing well harmonized vocals and solid solos sprinkled throughout. If you're familiar with these guys you will enjoy this new record, if your not.....i think you will too. Five stars for my favorite album this year so far.

Bless their pea pickin' hearts for returning to the intricate and melodic, but (in appropriate measure) window-rattling sound that got me hooked on UM to begin with. Count me among those who pre-ordered the deluxe package - i.e., I was really looking forward to this release.

Setting aside the excellent Safety in Numbers because of its more subdued theme, not since Anchor Drops has a disk so motivated me to either kick the ceiling fan blades or simply sink into my recliner and let the song writing mastery and consummate musicianship wash over me. A prog-rock masterstroke, but with one qualification...

What is Made to Measure doing here? It's a very good UM song, patently performed by "the guys who can play anything," but it is clearly on a different musical plane than the rest of this disk. The "Mantis experience" obviously begins with Preamble. MTM has a tacked-on feel to it. As if Pink Floyd had re-mastered a great track from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and placed it at the beginning of The Wall. As I also thought at the time regarding Safety in Numbers, there is a puzzling force at work in the track selection department at Umphrey's McGee International. Or perhaps at Sci Fidelity Records. Hmmm. But I digress...

I haven't had this much fun with a pair of headphones on since... well, since the anchor dropped. Very, very well done. Devoted UM fans will be delighted and fans in waiting will become devoted.

First off let me say that I absolutely love Umphrey's, especially Anchor Drops and Live at the Murat. This album show how far they have come as song writers. The opening track is a perfect example of this. My complaint with Mantis, is that there just isn't enough great instrumentation. On Anchor Drops they manage to combine Yes with Rush and even throw in a little Phish while they're at it. On Mantis it just feels like something is missing. Overall it is a good album, with good songs, but just not up to par with some of their past efforts. If I wanted to hear a 4 minute beatlesque song, I would listen to Apples in Stereo, not Umphrey's Mcgee.

I have been an Umphrey's fan for a long long time. For a while there they did lose my interest but I decided to give them a try again right after Mantis was released and they had me hooked all over again. The more I listened to it the more I liked it. Listening to their early stuff compared to Manitis you can really hear how they have grown as a group. Not to mention that they have a knack for keeping their fans involved with their creative marketing. If you have the chance you definitly need to hear them play live. They have the most amazing light show and every show is so different... in a good way. I have been lucky to see them at least 100 times live and keep going back for more. If you get the chance check out ALL Good Festival's lineup. I will be seeing them there this summer and this festival is amazing and beautiful and features many more great jambands, djs, and bluegrass.

Umphreys is one hell of a jam band constantly keeping you on your feet dancing and this cd is one of their bests. Anyone that likes umphreys should check out their All Good Performance this year. All Good Music Festival 2011!!!!

Umphreys McGee album Mantis is the bomb. The album isn't as good as their past albums, but it still delivers a great listen. But as with most jam bands, the live concert is the full experience of Umphreys. Live in concert the music is made right in front of you and a portion of it is improvised, or made up on the spot. Nothing can beat the spectacle of Umphreys on stage ragin' hard, lights going crazy, and the energy man! THE ENERGY! You may ask yourself though, what is the best place to see Umphreys? and the answer to that question is this years Wakarusa! WAKARUSA 2011 is gonna be insane and is definitely not to miss!

For those who scoff at "jam bands," I encourage you to pick this album up. It is the heaviest of the Umphrey's collection, and strays far away from the "one rhythm" curse of most jam music. I ensure you it will motivate you to see these boys live. I know I will definitely be seeing them at Wakarusa this year (June 2-5) to see what they got coming.

This is not the best album I have seen umphrey's put out but it is still very good. They have the heavier side of their music along with the more jammy style and even some of their dance party untz. I liked this album a lot but I liked all their previous albums better. The live shows they put on are amazing though and they are playing at Wakarusa and many other festivals this summer! Don't miss your chance to see them!