2009 - Mantis Bonus Content (Levels 2 - 9)
Mcgee de Umphrey se ha ganado su reputación como el actual heredero aparente del trono de la banda de improvisación apuntando a Grateful Dead. Pero siempre tienen un trasfondo de chuletas de metal y, lo que es más importante, sensibilidades progresivas. _Mantis_ es un álbum de 2 años de fabricación que mueve esos trasfondos a un primer plano y mantiene solo un poco de ritmo y habilidad de improvisación como indicios de los rasgos que los llevaron a la fama.
_Mantis_ es quizás el mejor álbum de Modern Prog que he escuchado. Su sonido es similar al de Spock's Beard, Transatlantic y el Beardfish antes mencionado que se basa en una amplia gama de sonidos. Ya comencé un hilo abogando por su cambio a Eclectic Prog por esa misma razón. Aunque no estoy de acuerdo con las comparaciones de Metallica que he leído, hay momentos muy pesados con silenciamiento de la palma, solistas de guitarra gemelos, cadencias de tapping, pero con una distorsión más cálida y ligera que la mayoría del metal verdadero. Esto viene junto con frecuentes voces de armonía (secciones de Beatles, Beach Boys !!! y su propio sentimiento). Son líneas de una sola nota parecidas a Gentle Giant, secciones de ensueño con guitarra slide a la Pink Floyd, y una sección de voz baja / ambiental muy parecida a Ulver !!!! Además, todo combina maravillosamente. (Una excepción es el ritmo de la electrónica detrás de Cemetary Walk II, una breve repetición de la pista con más gancho) La pista principal es una semi-épica (poco menos de 12 minutos) que se mueve desde un progresivo directo a un riff funk a través de algunos muy memorables. letra y termina con un solo de guitarra improvisado. Hay guitarras acústicas, MUCHOS sonidos clave diferentes tanto modernos como clásicos, cambios de tiempo, percusión matizada. Todo lo que quiero de un álbum progresivo, solo más sensación y ritmo de lo habitual.
Sabía que este era un álbum 4+ desde la primera vez que lo escuché, e inicialmente le di 5 estrellas, y cuando escucho este álbum junto con otros de su tipo, este es mejor. Los propios artistas ciertamente dedicaron su tiempo y energía, con la intención de que fuera una especie de obra maestra. Esto podría haber sido un desastre y aún está por verse cómo le irá en popularidad, creo que lo han logrado. Ahora que ha pasado un poco de tiempo, sigue siendo el mejor álbum de Umphrey en mi mente, aunque no es una obra maestra. Aún así, lo recomiendo sin reservas. Cómpralo, descárgalo, transmítelo, pídelo prestado, lo que sea. Vale la pena disfrutar de muchas escuchas.
Level 1(8 tracks total, and available in December 2008 to pre-orders) unlocked
- 1 track from Greatest Hits Vol. III – The long out-of-print first record selected via a fan poll.
- 4 tracks from annual Acoustic Christmas Show 2005
- 2 tracks from Jake Cinniger’s home studio 4-track archives -One track you’re likely to recognize and one you’re not.
- 1 track from inside the studio control room during an album tracking session – Fly on the wall perspective.
Level 2 (8 tracks total) unlocked
- 1 track from ‘beat guru’ Andy Farag -Andy often spends his spare time cooking up a variety of hip-hop and r&b beats that are rarely released for public consumption.
- Jake’s original demo version of feature track ‘Made to Measure’ with different lyrics. Long before this song evolved into its current state, Jake sang about the joys of man’s best friend.
- ‘Made to Measure’ alternate take with scratch vocals.
- 2 acoustic tracks from the soundtrack The Trip There written and performed by Brendan Bayliss.
- 2 ‘Solo’ audio stems from the title track “Mantis” – Hear instruments and vocal arrangements of this track with everything else stripped away, a microscopic view inside a dense Umphrey’s composition.
- 1 potential album cut that was ultimately left unfinished.
Level 3 (7 tracks total) unlocked
- 2 control room montage tracks – Experience what it’s like to be a fly on the wall inside the control room of our studio. Hear songs come to life (or be put to death) as the recording process unfolds.
- 3 tracks from UM sound checks – “What songs are we going to screw up if we don’t practice them?”
- Early sketch version of album track #4.
- 4-track studio version of the song EAT, recorded in Jake’s home studio.
Level 4 (7 tracks total) unlocked
- ‘Dance Remix’ of album track 5 from Andy Farag
- ‘Work in Progress’ track – Listen to the conception of album track number 7 from an improvisation during a live show. Follow it through adolescence and beyond!
- 4 tracks from Acoustic Christmas 2006.
- ‘Birth of a Song’ – Listen as an album cut is constructed, deconstructed, written, rewritten, tweaked, and birthed from recordings taken from basement tapes, pre-production writing sessions and ‘Grammy take’ sessions.
Level 5 (8 tracks total) unlocked (as of 5 Nov 2008)
- 2 live tracks from the mythic ‘Taper Appreciation Nights’ at Shank Hall, Milwaukee, WI
- 2 tracks from Jake Cinninger’s home studio 4-track archives.
- Early demo version of album track #6
- Mistake Montage – Listen to the less glamorous side of being in the studio with UM.
- 2 ‘Solo’ audio stems from album track #4 – Hear various instruments and vocal arrangements of this track with everything else stripped away.
Level 6 (8 Tracks total) unlocked (as of 16 Nov 2008)
- “Radio” edit of an album track
- “Work in Progress” – Listen to the conception of album track #9 from an improvisation during a live show. Follow it through adolescence and beyond!
- Early 4-track versions of track #7 including Jake’s first scratch version from 1994. Yes kids, 1994.
- 3 tracks from the Acoustic Christmas Show 2005.
- Time Relevant Track – The original solo guitar audio that became “Wizard Burial Ground” recorded during album brainstorming sessions.
Level 7 (7 Tracks Total) unlocked (as of 11 Dec 2008)
- ‘Birth of a Song’ – Listen as an album cut is constructed, deconstructed, written, rewritten, tweaked, and birthed from recordings taken from basement tapes, pre-production writing sessions, and ‘Grammy take’ sessions.
- 2 alternate versions of Jake’s guitar solo from album track #6. Listen to the options we sorted through before deciding on this monstrosity.
- Umphrey’s Round Table Pt. 1 – A discussion of all things Mantis.
- 2 tracks of solo grand piano from Joel’s Holiday show in 2006
- Early rough version of the title track ‘Mantis’ recorded in Joel’s attic in early 2007.
Level 8 (video + 7 Tracks Total) unlocked (as of 5 Jan 2009)
- ‘Puncle Wally’ – Video the lone performance at historic CBGB’s in NYC.
- 1 track of solo grand piano from Joel’s Holiday show in 2005
- 2 tracks from Joel, Jake & Andy from Joel’s Holiday show in 2006
- Mantis Ghetts – Just wait and see. Guaranteed to please!
- 1 track from the mythic ‘Taper Appreciation Nights’ at Shank Hall, Milwaukee, WI
- Unreleased track from the Acoustic Planet Tour ’06 featuring Bela Fleck
- 2 tracks from Acoustic Christmas 2008
Level 9 (1 Track + Video + 1 Live Set) Unocked (as of 7 Jan 2009) A new level added after 8 unlocked to drive more presales!
- FOH Jam – Video from the soundboard jam on 12/31/07
- Early scratch version of album track 1348
- Entire set from the 1/19/09 CD Release show at the Vic Theatre
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