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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
8.5/10, October 19, 2006
This review is from: Safety in Numbers (Audio CD)
Reviewgium - Volume I, issue I
Umphrey's McGee is an unstoppable force that seems to be gaining momentum and popluarity every day. Some would call them a jam band by default, though this is not always apparent in their studio material, particularly Safety In Numbers, which is their most song-based studio release to date. While not the best of their three studio releases, it is still a strong and emotive album, giving no indication that the band is slowing down or losing their incredibly diverse and genre-defying capabilities.
The album has several proggy (but not too proggy) tunes, such as "Believe the Lie," "Nemo," "Passing," and the jazz-laced "Intensions Clear," that provide a familiar fan-pleasing sound as is retained through the band's history. Emotions pour out in the tremendous ballads "Rocker" and "Words," the latter of which in particular proves that Umphrey's McGee does not need lightning-fast solos and extended jam sessions in order to compose incredible songs. The venerable live classics "Ocean Billy" and "Women, Wine, and Song" finally make it on to a studio album, the second of the two featuring a cameo by Huey Lewis (remember that guy...from the 80s?). Concluding the album is the somewhat lack-luster tribute "The Weight Around," which sort of leaves something to be desired, but also reminds that there is much more to come from the almighty McGee.
I would not recommend Safety In Numbers as a first album for new listeners. While it is strong enough to earn an 8.5 from me, it is not an apt representation of the band. That would be Anchor Drops; upon appreciating that album, you can opt to proceed to Safety In Numbers if you prefer the band's more conservative side, or return to their more avant-guarde roots by seeking out Local Band Does OK. Not to mention the seemingly endless stash of live shows they have available for legitimate download.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stop Comparing Umphreys to Phish Please!, June 29, 2006
This review is from: Safety in Numbers (Audio CD)
I am sick and tired of people comparing this band to the Phish or (Please!) The Grateful dead. Umphrey's is nothing like the Grateful Dead and they are most certainly nothing like Phish. The only thing Umphreys shares in common with either of those bands is the idea of the music. That idea being to play something different every night, but I can assure you this is nothing like the old school jammers. I would compare Umphreys to a modern day Yes or King Crimson. They have much more in common with the progrock pioneers than they do with free form jammers like Phish and The Dead. Unfortunately, Phish had the problem of constantly being compared to the dead often as well, but the band members always maintained that there were elements of The Dead in their music but was not all they were about. Just like Phish Umphreys will constantly be compared to the people who were doing things like it before them. Why not just tell it like it is: Jamband influences derive heavily from the idea created by modal jazz musicians such as Coltrane and Davis, and classical oldies like Stravinski and Gershwin. I know you probably think I'm crazy, but progrock comes from an interest in big classical pieces that contained numerous songs in one. A big epic song!
In my opinion there is no point in brushing bands like Umphreys and Phish off as some hippy band playing to stoned idiots everynight. There is more to this music. The only reason people talk negatively about jambands is because they don't have the patience or intelligence to listen to this kind of music. I say: Let the naysayers have their pop music!Hopefully people will wake up someday and come see bands like Umphreys when they decide they don't want they're art spoon fed to them anymore.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rocktastic, April 6, 2006
This review is from: Safety in Numbers (Audio CD)
I have been listening to ALOT of UM over the past few years and just love them. I love how they don't conform to what pop culture dictates is good. I love how they incorporate distant styles of music into one another (hard rock and jazz on occassion), and now I love how they can put down their crazy guitar riffs for quality song writing. This album is much more heartfelt than their previous albums (which are all great by the way). I feel that had they put out another Anchor Drops I would fear they were going to fall into the same old habits, something to many bands have done, and something that has destroyed so many bands. UM proved that they as musicians are just getting started, and I'm am excited what the coming years wil bring. Overall this is perhaps the most accessible work of the bands, though I would say is the least representative of their body of work. I love it equally with Anchor Drops and Local Band...
Though many of he songs employ acoustic guitar, some even include strings, UM still plays with rhythm and tempos the way they always have, leaving a set of songs that is both fresh, but at the same time don't depart so much they cannot be recognized. I say if you are just starting on UM go with Local Band... since it is more representative, or Anchor Drops, but make sure to pick this up because you will appreciate it so much more knowing where it came from.
Favorite tracks: rocker, liquid, nemo, intentions clear, end of the road, the weight around
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