Search - Pat Mcgee :: General Admission

I love DMB so I took the advice of some of these reviewers

Devorah Grunau | Millington, NJ USA | 01/05/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I was excited to find a band many people have said to be up to the same bar as DMB. I have loved Dave Matthews band since UTTAD, and I am always upset because there is no band in my mind that can match their musical ability. I bought this cd hoping to find a jam band (I love accoustic guitar jamming) that could hold together catchy songs and pull you into their music. Disappointingly, PMB is not refreshing or original. Most of their music is derived, and the singing is terrible. Pat has a great voice, and I was disappointed to hear it used in monotonous style. All of his songs have almost the exact same style of singing. It's never at all catchy, and seems almost out of place. The only songs that I consider to be of any good at all on this cd are Rebecca and the sixth track, which name eludes me at the moment. The choruses of all the songs are boring, and uninspired, as are the lyrics. Also, the "percussion" guy on the bongos is useless. I mean, I love the percussion in Guster, a band with no stick drumming (all hands) but drums and bongos just don't work. Also, many of his songs are grotesquely similar. Oe chord, then oen chord lower, fast or slow. This can generally describe the entire concert. Just because a band jams doesn't mean that they are above the rest of the stuff playing on the radio today. Steer clear of PMB if you want complicated and intellectual music. This band isn't underappreciated at all, and Pat better work on integrating the singing into the songs, so that it doesn't distract you. On the plus side, he can play guitar when he is jamming much better than dave matthews. IF only his songs were as good...."

Good...But Nowhere Near Great

06/27/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As someone who has heard PMB live on numerous occasions, I will say this: General Admission does accurately capture their sound and live playing style. It's entertaining music, and many of the songs will stick in your head. Comparisons with Dave Matthews or other well-known "jam bands" are, however, a bit of a stretch. PMB definitely tries to play with that degree of sophistication and depth, but lyrically and musically they rarely get past the more shallow level of catchy pop mixed with rather generic Southern "frat rock." Is it worth listening to? Yes, it will entertain you. Is it worth seeing PMB in concert? Yeah, it's always a fun time. Will this CD - or any of PMB's other efforts - fascinate you and challenge you as a listener? No. They lack the musical talent of a DMB or Allman Brothers Band. Those looking for unheralded Southern bands with tremendous talent should turn to people like Jupiter Coyote or Monte Montgomery."