Customer Reviews

Uber Cobra

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is the most amazing album I have EVER heard. I love WSP and they are even more incredible accoustic. I work in a "jam band" store and I take the cd from my car to the store back to my car, then to my house. Thank you, thank you, thank you widespread. ~Ellen

It has been said that George's forte is acoustic flat picking, and after hearing this album, I believe it. Between this CD and the first set of the New Years Eve 2003 show, the band has added a new acoustic dimension, and i love it. expiration day and cant find my way home are beautiful songs, especially that acoustic guitar.

I was lucky enough to catch a couple of the shows in early november of last year which spawned the release of Night of Joy and Uber Cobra. For those of you who can't envision Panic without Mikey, you owe it to yourselves to give this disc a listen. George has clearly found his niche in the band, as his super-fine pickin' stands out on the album. They make the transition to the acoustic format flawlessly, as the whole band sounds great together. The track selection is fantastic, my highlights include Can't get High (a personal fav), Walk On, Mercy, and Can't Find My Way Home. A nice mix of old standards, new(er) songs, and covers. The band only had a couple shows left before hiatus and the strain of a full schedule in '03 was beginning to show. Nevertheless, Uber Cobra seems to get better with every subsequent listen as Panic truly show why they are the best live act on the planet, still.

This album is the real deal. This thing straight out jams.. mercy, imitation leather shoes, good god it's just too much to miss. It's chill bumps every other moment. It almost overloads the senses. I bought the thing three years ago and still can't get enough. It's still one of my favorites. Gotta get back and see these guys in concert again at the end of the month.

Since the world lost Mikey Houser(Guitarist)to a terminal illness back in 2001, Widespread Panic's future was in doubt. I personally could not imagine listening to WSP without the power and presence of the guy who gave the band their name. His dying wish was for the band to soldier on and keep his band and songs alive. They enlisted George McConnell to pick up where Mikey left off. This of course is an impossible task. Noone can recreate Mikey's sound. George brings his own style and this album is the best place to hear that style. He is a great flat picker on acoustic. That is his strength. On electric, he's nothing special and definately not up to covering Mike Houser but on this album you hear why they decide to do these acoustic set's at their shows. Highlights include the beautifully sly instrumental that in its inception was called "That Thang" only to be retitled "Party at your Mama's House". The Neil Young cover of "Walk On" is great along with the Steve Winwood cover of the rarely played "Can't find my way Home" and the new song "Papa Johnny Road" from the album Ball shows what a force John Bell(Vocals)is and why they can continue as a band.

All the previous comments about stoners and "beer hippies" are weak. This band's output is full of talented musicianship that can be enjoyed by humans of all ages. Being stoned or drunk maybe gives you a temporary focus on it, but get real--you'll enjoy even more if you just crank it up and let the vibes flow. Screw drugs and right-wing "holier-than-thou" idiots, just enjoy the music and don't get preachy. This band is easy on the ears and doesn't force ANYTHING on you.

This isn't one I was in the market for at the time; I was in a used CD shop on South Street in Philly, and for once, actually remembered some music that I had filed away on my "want" list while I was actually in a music store (image that). So I went over the the "W's", looking for my first non-bootleg WSP CD, and wanted Light Fuse, Get Away, which I heard nothing but good stuff about. They didn't have that one, but I saw Uber Cobra, and for some dumb reason, thought it was studio, which I thought would be cool, since all I heard was live WSP from tapers. Well, when I put in when I got back to my car, I was surprised (well, not really), to find out that this wasn't studio, but live as well. No matter, I have been listening to this every day for the past 2 weeks on my way to and from work with a smile on my face. As others here have mentioned, it is true -- some very incredible acoustic flatpicking. John and George are TIGHT (this is post-Michael Houser material.)

I have only recently become enthralled with panic, recently being the last four or five years--time flys. As a self-proclaimed "yankee" I was weaned on phish but have lost interest in them as they are mere shadows of what they used to be. I was afraid that this was the road panic would travel after mikey's passing, but this clearly is not going to happen. This acoustic offering gives us a nice variety of songs, from covers, old material, to newer tunes such as "Papa Johnny Road". The sound is great, and George has clearly found his groove, as his picking is super fine--listen closely on "Can't Get High" and "Party at Your Mama's House" (formerly known as "That Thang"). The band sounds really good overall, they make the transition from electric to acoustic very well and the result is pleasing. Great album, can't wait for '05. This is a great disc to add to any collection, as the second generation of panic shows off their versatility as well as making considerable strides foward--making us all antsy for the future.

For the people that said George wouldn't be able to cut it with WP, they were wrong. I was lucky enough to see them last summer as they wound up their tour and it was phenomenal. This album is everything I could have hoped for. City of Dreams is probably my favorite song on the CD. It was also nice to hear Can't Get High on a live CD, that is a personal favorite of mine. If you like WP do yourself a favor and buy this album. You won't be disapointed!

since a commercial WSP CD made me grin from ear to ear upoon first listen- maybe not since Aint Life Grand. The band on Uber Cobra sounds again like a Band - a tight coheisve unit. Old SCHOOLers that gave up on JB and the boys may want to give this one a try. The music is outstanding, and the recording probably one of the best ive heard as there is an outstanding mix of the crowd and the band. Dont get me wrong - i will still seek out all the Mikey i can via trades and what not - but this one will be hard to unseat out of the CD player.

"An Honest Tune With a Lingering Lead Has Taken Me This Far"