IT'S NOT US

It's been quite a while since I last came across Umphrey's Mcgee, having reviewed their third ('Anchor Drops', 2004) and fourth ('Safety In Numbers', 2006) releases, and now here they are back with their eleventh studio album. They have certainly pushed the boat out with this one, as in addition to the standard download, CD, and vinyl, this release offers the most robust deluxe package the band has ever created. Housed inside a leather bound book, the deluxe includes double 180 gram (with an Augmented Reality component), CD, download, bonus 7' EP featuring two unreleased tracks, a 72 page colour coffee table book and more. No, I didn't get sent that, would have been nice though'

I seem to recall that the band originally came out of the jamband scene, mixing blues with country, folk, bluegrass, prog, rock etc. and then taking it out on the road. That they continue to hit the road is evident in not only that they have played more than 2,200 gigs, but the way that the guys all innately know what everyone is doing, even before it takes place. This is music that is so tight that it isn't possible to find any point when the five of them aren't all locked together as one unit. The best way to describe this music is by saying that it is incredibly accessible, and then leaving it to the listener to try and work out what genre any song, or rather any particular piece of a song, actually belongs in. They truly belong to crossover progressive rock in its very truest sense, as they bring in pop sensibilities into just about every style of music going and then making it very much their own. There are some good rules to try to stick to in life, such as not wasting time and money on drinking bad wine and not spending time listening to bad music. That could never be the case with these guys, as the quality is off the charts. Highly recommended.