Search - Umphrey's Mcgee :: Safety in Numbers

Groceries for the mind

Crampton Helms | Tennessee | 09/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this disc up at a Borders last week based on a tune I heard on a college station and it hasn't left my tray since.

I don't mean to pick on the young reviewer below, but he seems to be disappointed that SIN does not sound enough like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and therefore must by definition be rejected as unsuitable listening. Poor fellow. I guess Chopin, Coltrane, The Beatles, and Hank Williams don't have a chance, since they don't sound much like the RHCPs either.

This is one of those rare CDs that grabs the addiction centers of your brain and has you reaching for the play button as soon as the last track ends. The last time that happened to me was when I discovered Drums & Wires by XTC back in 1981.

If you are anything like me in this respect, you have a wall or two full of cds, LPs, music files, etc, that you've heard a couple of times and went "eh..." occasionally finding a bit of music to hold on to.

I've always broadly considered music as groceries for the brain; I tend to starve without good music. This one little cd is easily worth three-quarters of my music collection and will more than fill my grocery needs for a long time."

Rocktastic

King Drue | 04/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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"

A solid album

Pat Dorsman | BG | 06/10/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I own all three of Umphreys studio releases and this album is slightly different than the first two but it is still very good. Not all the songs are of the fast shredding type but it doesnt really matter. If you like Umphreys than you should without a doubt like this album. Songs like Believe the Lie and Words have a very epic feel to them and are very well written. Nemo is a great intense jam as well. I would advise you to ignore Tom Saleh's review because he really does not seem to know what he is talking about. If you like CD's that you can put in and just let play than this is perfect. I listened to this CD over and over when I got it and enjoyed it everytime. Oh and one more thing, there is something special about the last song on the album as well. I realize that its a simplistic acoustic song but it is very good. In closing, if you like Umphreys then buy the album."