Notes From the Underground [Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

Medeski Martin & Wood | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Extra tracks
• Label: Amulet Records
• ASIN: B000654YSS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #272,313 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #70 in Music > Rock > Jam Bands > Funk Jam Bands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phat! Not the MMW most people know, March 29, 2002

By 

"entheon" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Notes From the Underground (Audio CD)

This is real Jazz folks. This is not Duke Ellington, this is not Miles Davis. Those reviewers that gave this album a negative review because it's not "traditional" jazz were completely missing the beauty of this album. No this is not traditional jazz, it only resembles traditional jazz in that it's acoustic and they do a cover of "Caravan". Jazz is not traditional, jazz is about breaking the rules and going beyond traditional boundaries. MMW has this concept hardwired into their brains. They find a way to bring a gut wrenching chaotic beauty out of what only SEEMS like noise. This album indeed contains less of their "experiemental" or "random" noise but it still has it's fair share. The only reason I can see someone not liking this album is if they don't like or don't understand complex harmonies. Creed and Brittainy Spears are popular for a reason - they are EASY to listen to. MMW often is not easy to listen to, but if you want to hear some of the best musicians in the world (Medeski and Wood went to NEC and Martin to Julliard) give you a piece of their hearts and minds listen to this album.

One of THE MOST beautiful songs of all time IMHO is La Garronne, track 3. I also believe MMW's best groove is on this album as well, that's United track 8. I would like to quickly qualify that I could never truly pick a favorite song or album of MMW or most any other band either, but I use these terms to illustrate just how insanely great I think these songs are. This of course is my humble opinion but as a Jazz pianist of many many years I hope that if you are interested in expanding your musical horizons that you will consider my opinion of value and buy this album. Yes, it is strange in some places, but all of MMW's albums have strangeness. If at first you don't dig it, put it away and listen to it again when you get bored of all your other albums. I have yet to get bored of this album.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album from a Great Band, January 24, 2005

By 

D. Harvey "harvey_dan" (CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Notes From the Underground (Audio CD)

I consider MMW to be one of the most innovative bands of their time. They push the limits of what is considered to be jazz with each studio effort. Although I own all of their albums I feel that "Notes From the Underground" is my favorite. It has a sort of loose, free-form feel while maintaining the funky core that they have become known for. Although this album takes a couple listens it leaves you feeling that you've experienced a unique journey.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great acoustic work., May 5, 2000

By 

gabe t (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Notes From the Underground (Audio CD)

There is not a single Medeski Martin and Wood release that I do not own, other than "Tonic", which I fully intend to purchase as soon as I possibly can. Having heard them through their many different 'modes', so to speak, and having seen them live in '99, I have to say I love this album. Like everyone else will have said, you gotta love the touch Medeski puts on the Hammond B-3 and the Fender Rhodes, but those of who also appreciate the more jazz-esque and less jazz-funk side of them, this is one album you'll need. The reason I opted not to give this album 5 stars is because it seems, at times, poorly balanced, but perhaps that is my own personal opinion. I listen to "La Garonne" about eight times for every time I listen to any of the other tracks once, just because it is so incredibly beautiful to listen to. "Querencia" leaves a little something to be desired, along with "Rebirth"; the sort of spacy, ethereal stuff doesn't always appeal to me (i.e. Farmer's Reserve, which is still quite a good album for those of us who really wish to hone in on Billy Martin's ability).

Unless you're looking for only electrifunk stuff from MMW, like ShackMan and much of Jungle In Here, this is still a cd to grab.