Audio

Blue Man Group

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 7, 1999)
• Original Release Date: December 7, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000038A2S
• In-Print Editions: DVD Audio  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (194 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,031 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's hard to believe that this is the debut CD created by award-winning performance-art sensations the Blue Man Group, whose off-the-wall and high-tech, highly percussive show has been an off-Broadway hit since the beginning of its uninterrupted run in 1991. This CD is not a soundtrack; while some pieces appear in the show, they are presented here with extra instruments, performers, and recently developed instruments. In addition to making abstract paintings by pouring paint onto kettledrums then bashing on them until the color pours onto an awaiting canvas, the Blue Man Group make their own instruments out of unexpected, often very simple materials. Creations used to make this record include air poles, the big drum, the PVC instrument, the backpack tubulum, and the drum wall (no, David van Tieghem is not a member of the group). Those homemade instruments notwithstanding (which are most striking visually anyway), the heavily rhythmic nature of the music, combined with the guitar as a focal element, reminds one of early-to-mid-1980s art-rock. The opening salvo--a two-minute number--starts off subtle and pleasing enough, with slowly building layers of percussive sound and overlapping soundtrack-y guitar lines vaguely reminiscent of Ennio Morricone, the great soundtrack composer that everyone rips off. The entire disc will highly satisfy the faithful and serve as intriguing background music for everyone else. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I Have to Move!, January 15, 2000

By	Glenn (Dallas,Texas) - See all my reviews

Returning home from a business trip I was disappointed that my anticipated Blue Man CD hadn't arrived. Soon enough, I found my son had already intercepted the delivery and as he handed it over he said it was "Awesome". And he's right! Taking the advice that "louder is better", I cranked it up and planted myself in front of the speakers. I could feel myself morphing into a Blue Man as the waves of percussion passed through my body. Approaching track 11 or 12 I noticed the dog was barking at the front door and I was busted by the neighbors who were trying to go to sleep. So I guess I'll be hunting for a new home with several acres so the Blue Men and I can live in peace. Audio is an excellent piece of work. I've seen the Blue Man Group twice in New York and I suspect that my visual memories might enhance my Audio experience. The only way this could be better would be if they created a DVD with the same scorching sound coupled with the fascinating display of imagination and style as they wield their unconventional weapons of percussion. Now excuse me while I go to the hardware store to buy some PVC!

42 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why should you upgrade Audio from CD to DVD?, April 1, 2001

By	L. Brackney - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Blue Man Group - Audio (DVD Audio)

Fans of Blue Man Group's excellent Audio CD may well wonder why they should consider "upgrading" to their new DVD release. Seriously, how much better could it be in Dolby Digital or DTS surround? Holy cow!

After giving the DVD a couple runs around the block, I can only describe the original Audio CD recording as anemic by comparison. The 5.1 mix opens up the sound field, completely enveloping you in the "wall of drum" sound that's at the core of Audio. The .1 bass extension will work your sub HARD - so much so that you may have to rethink vibration isolation for your DVD player. (There were several segments where the drum grooves were giving my player the jitters!)

As for extra content, there was quite a bit more than I expected. The Tubes "cat video" was fun, as was a video interview with the Blue Man FOUNDers. Bumper video segments on the menus are very cool. BMG's remix of Last Train to Transcentral and some very funny radio promos round out the package.

If you liked Audio and own a 5.1-capable system, you need this disc! If you have no clue who BMG are, but like techno-tribal grooves that will make you move, then prepare to become a fan.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome stuff, this "Tribal Techno" that they create., March 1, 2001

By	David Lindes (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Blue Man Group - Audio (DVD Audio)

So, I originally saw the Blue Man Group on the Intel ads, and I was immediately intrigued... But it took me a while to realize that they existed outside of that realm. Well, enlightenment has found me -- Upon seeing their use of a "drumbone", as I now know it, in the Pentium 4 ad(s), I figured, OK, this has to be more than just an Intel marketing phenomenon... so I did a search, and sure enough, found blueman.com, their home site... I had to explore further, so I got the DVD. It arrived today, and I'm thrilled with it.

A couple of notes about the DVD release: It is meant primarily as a means for giving 5.1 surround sound, so don't think it's going to be a bunch of music videos... But, it does have stills of the group performing through most of the songs (see below for the exception), and a 10 minute short with interviews and such, and text descriptions of the various instruments, etc. Also, for those of you familiar with the more advanced features of your DVD player, there's even an (at least one) "easter egg", which I found to be quite amusing. And a not-so-easter-egg thing which I also quite enjoyed was the video (this is the exception noted above) on track 12. If you're a cat lover, especially a tech-geek one, I imagine you'll love it.

And whatever your geek-factor and your opinions on cats, if you enjoy both "techno" and "tribal" music, you're pretty sure to enjoy this, a wonderful blend of the two, if you ask me.