Umphrey039s Mcgee - Anchor Drops (14 tracks) +Album Reviews

Hope for the Heartland!

J. Austin | Texas USA | 09/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every time I listen to Anchor Drops (and to a slightly lesser extent Local Band Does O.K.), I simply glow - which I'm sure I could verify if I had a mirror near my stereo.

I'm 40-something and fairly new to the "Jam Band" scene, not to mention well into my fourth childhood. Whenever I press play on this CD I flush with memories of me and my gang of teenaged Southern Illinois outlaws setting up our rudimentary "walls of sound" in park pavilions and back yards to rattle our eardrums and neighborhood windows to the latest or deemed-classic releases from our rock idols. Exercises in pagan worship that I continue to try and live down in my prayers for mercy to this day.

The tightest and most original of the classic and legendary progressive rock bands of the late 60's and most of the 70's have nothing over UM - in fact, UM has taken it to much more than the next level, from both a song-writing and musicianship standpoint. If UM stepped into a wayback machine, the record books today would now illustrate that Yes and Rush and 10cc and King Crimson and ELP and ELO and Todd and Ambrosia and Camel and Tull and Genesis and Traffic and maybe even Zappa...(blah blah blah) had been given a run for their money. I challenge anyone of my advanced years (defined above) who did not come of age in a monastery to listen to "jajunk" and not immediately think of Yes circa Close to the Edge and Fragile.

I regret that I got in on Jam Bands too late to weep for the passing of Phish (as much as I am now a Phish fiend). And I am well into great talents such as Moe and String Cheese and Big Wu and Railroad Earth and solo Trey and Widespread Panic...(blah blah blah). But I relish the fact that I got in on the "ground floor" of UM - just in time to hopefully monitor with joy their rise to the legendary status that they so richly deserve to ultimately achieve.

These guys are freaking out-of-control!!"

Prog Spring

Ben Grossberg | New Orleans, LA | 07/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Welcome to the Rock Show. Umphrey's latest offering, and first with drummer Kris Myers (owner of a masters degree in Jazz Studies from Depaul University) is an absolute masterpiece. A triumph for a band often labeled a "jamband", Anchor Drops's progressive rock stylings show just how far Umphrey's has progressed in their efforts to eclipse the stereotypes of the "jam scene". Techinical virtuosos, the members of Umphrey's de-emphasize their impressive chops in favor of a focus on their brilliant genre-defying compositions, however, that doesn't mean that they don't bust out their maddest skills on a few tracks (see Anchor Drops, JaJunk pt. II, Mulche's Odyssey). What are you waiting for, get this album, and you won't be dissapointed."

They Finally Dropped the Anchor in a Very Technical Sea

LifeBoy | Chicago, IL US of A | 10/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first came across Umphrey's McGee at a Deer Creek Phish festival back in 2000. It was after a Phish performance, and to say the least, my state of mind wasn't quite together. However, I was able to develop an opinion for a band with shaky vocals and a sincere love for triads and frampton-like guitar tectonics. I wouldn't go on to see them again until late 2002 after being persuaded by a friend. Something changed...

Now if you've heard Umphrey's play live anytime between 2000 and 2002, you know exactly what I'm talking about. There were signs of extreme improvement with the release of "Local Band does OK," a perfect title for a wisening group of musicians. Post-release, an ever-diversifying crowd began to follow these guys across the midwest (and beyond). The band swapped drummers in early 2003 and so the tale unfolds.

Umphrey's Mcgee have become a dynamic phenomenon who are so far outside the box it's cliche. The live shows are turning into bombastic improvisations that serve the crowd like a buffet of top-shelf narcotics. Umphrey's toy with every genre: Some thunderous drum work that pays dividends to Zeppelin, dualing guitar solos that resurrect the late Lynyrd-Skynyrd, accoustic progressions that touch even Simon and Garfunkel, and cunning keywork E(merson)LP style. In a concert favorite, the triplewide, shades of techno are brought to life on stage. But it would not do this band justiice if I continued to describe every ping of their music in words. If you haven't seen them live, pack your bags folks, because music's not in Kansas anymore.

Meanwhile, pick up a copy of Anchor Drops and turn up the volume. You'll hear singalong pop melodies, galloping hard rock (via Jake), folk-tinged blues, epic soundscapes, and swooshing climaxes all in just under 70 minutes. If this music ceases to impress, check your CD player in case you left one of your other discs in it."

If only because this CD deserves an average of more than 3.5

mrgreen711 | 07/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My first exposure to Umphrey's Mcgee was hearing the studio version of "Wife Soup" on a friend's Bonnaroo CD - After only one listen I was hooked. On a complete impulse buy, I picked up this CD having only heard the one song, and I can honestly say that this was an impulse I am very glad I followed. When reading through reviews on this site, I was concerned about the low average it had. So basically this review is to let you know that all 5 of those stars at the top of the page should be filled in. Anchor Drops is probably one of the best CDs I own - a pretty gutsy remark for a CD I've only owned for a week, but I could tell after one listen that this was never going to stray far from my CD player. From the very first drum beat, through 14 tracks spanning an impressive 65 mins of music, to the very last echos of the fading guitar, there is not one moment on the cd that I don't love. In a day when you're lucky if a CD is 40 mins long, and if in that there's 20 mins of music worth listening to, the album on a whole becomes even more impressive. UM has more musical ability than any emerging band I've heard - They move seamlessly between everything from smooth jazz, to phish-esque jam, to soaring orchestral, to folkish country western, to flamenco guitar and back again. The meters change, the harmonies swell in and out leaving every moment more exciting than the last.The few reviews that rated this CD at one star really missed the point of the album. Some people complain that the studio versions can never capture the live show. Which may be true - but that does not in any way diminish the value of the album. Taking no comparisons into account and simply looking at the CD, it is still probably the best CD that has come out this year. If you want to hear a live show, go to a live show - you shouldn't expect to get a live song from a studio CD. And some others complain that UM is a misfit band that doesn't quite live up to its "jamband" reputation. Maybe mine is simply a personal opinion coming from a self-declared total music nerd, but I think it's better that they're not trying to fit in to a set description. This is a band that breaks down the walls built around it, which is more concerned with writing good music than writing "correct" music.UM is not a band for every man. People looking for repetitive riffs, predictable harmonies, and easily accessible lyrics will be sorely disappointed. But if you are looking for music that challenges the listener, and takes you on a journey past countless styles, blistering guitar solos, catchy riffs, polyrhythms, incredible build-ups, and everything else a great jamband can offer, buy this CD today - you won't be disappointed."

Search - Umphrey's Mcgee :: Anchor Drops

CD Details

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews