These are only the songs that I think are going to be on the new album. I don't think that Wizard Burial Ground, or Rocker Pt 2 will be on it. Though, I love those songs.
Bridgeless- Like every new Umphrey's McGee fan you think that you heard this song off an album all the many, many years ago when it was first played. Well, I thought the same thing. Like any fan, I thought that it was already made as a studio track. In real life it wasn't on Local Band Does OK or Anchor Drops. We all have made this mistake before. Be that as it may this song is a quite the crowd pleaser, ever since its arrival on January 30, 2004. Don't quote me on this, though I'd be delighted if you did, but I think it's called Bridgeless because the whole song is musical bridges put together and there is not chorus or stereotypical verses set up. This song is a jam machine. Opener, closer, sandwich, start it one night, end it another, throw stews in there, even a vocal stew, or just tease the hell out of it. With it's hopeful lyrics and intricate guitar work it'll be pretty awesome to see if it makes it's studio debut this fall. "The meaning interpreted, it's hard to hear..."
The Floor- (debut 10/30/2007) Though it doesn't have an evil name it is one of Umphrey's most sinister songs. It starts with a bassline that goes up and down slowly. Sometimes is has the wah wah effect, sometimes it doesn't. It sounds better with the effects, honestly. Then the rest of the band sneaks in. Once the vocal come in, which are done by Brendan Bayliss as some words sounds like other words. Which is like blowing up a balloon, or to quote Pee Wee Herman The mind plays tricks on you. You play tricks back! It's like you're unraveling a big cable-knit sweater that someone keeps knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting... It doesn't really have a chorus, though if there were a chorus, it gets pretty distorted and rather like the balloon is being deflated.
Wappy Sprayberry-(Not a new song, but first time with lyrics 11/30/2007) Great Groove by Stasik, a killer bass line is the thing that gets the crowd dancing. Ladies you know who you are. Started off as a basis for a jam engine but recently it has been more and more structured and now is a full song with the same or similar parts being played. Both Jake & Brendan are playing different parts, but keeping it fun switching from power chords, to funky spread out single notes. I think it'll make it on the new album.
Gulf Stream-(vocal stewarts 11/10/07 Blue Echo and 12/31/07 Plunger, debut 2/15/2008) This is a crowd pleaser. Brendan is keeping the rhythm with a constant chord strumming, while there is a militant sound for a drum roll. Jake lays down the vocals as 'saying all your friends are here...and this is what we came to do.' After each line he rips a very sweet riff in Jaco fashion. Brendan handles the chorus 'look at what left, there's so much left..' the synthesizer comes in for the chorus, and soon the vocals turn into around. I think it'll be on the new album.
Pop Tart-(4/20/2007 vocal stewart, 3/4/2010 first time played in full)- It's a rarity. Pop drums at the beginning. Brendan Bayliss on vocals he sings in a type of reggae style. Telling about how he is an embarrassment & illogical…typical. The song has break downs ala lots of breaks. It sounds like trying to tell a secret to hot lady, but avoiding telling her how you feel and making excuses. The instrumental is a funky almost Grateful Dead like jam. For instance, Pop Tart is just a block away from Shakedown Street. I hope to hear it more. Chick's dig it, if they have heard it. (Please be on new album!) Bring it back this summer!
'Mrs. Robinson's Strut'- I recall first hearing it at Bonnaroo late night set in 6/16/2006 It gets everyone up and dancing all the time or ranging, depending on what you call it. The main riffs changes from who plays it. It seems like Jake usually starts playing some form of it and then everyone just starts getting into the groove. There are many different variations. Will it be on new album? IDK...maybe as a transition song?
the Linear (First time played 1/22/10, 2/27/10 with lyrics, 3/16/11 first time played with awesome vocal delay effect)-One of the first new songs in a few years that fans really saw the evolution. Started off as an instrumental with a smooth bass line....synths were added....not too much guitar, later some lyrics. The lyrics are not really sung, but not really spoken sort of in-between. They are also used as more as an instrument. It fits perfectly into the song. In a recent show, they have used the delay effect which makes the key words of the song more important.
Booth Love-(Debut 2/14/2010) Starts off with Jake doing what sounds like a 'Kula' jam but then smoothly turns into a soulful song. The wah-ness comes in and makes this song smooth. there's a large intro which the listener use to the song Jake is on lead vocal with Kris & Joel doing the backing. The song sounds like it's about going to a peep show hence the ' pull your face in front of mine, spit upon the rusty dime' line, and the title being Booth Love. During the verses the music is innocent yet naughty. When they jam on it gets space funky. The communication between the guitars is great. It's interesting where they have taken the jam to end it. I think that this definitely be on the new album this fall.
Go to Hell-(debut 2/2/2011) formerly Cold Smoke (debut 10/03/2009) sans lyrics. Powerful. Feels like what the Umph thinks about life on the road somehow. Has the 70's throw back vibe and very Jeff Beck-ish, dual guitars with moog synth in the background. It's like if Jeff Beck were to sit in with Return to Forever. Jake & Brendan are switching off the solos. Some might say that this song sounds like it could be Wizard Burial Grounds weird uncle. Very consistent in the sound, lots of notes, while there is a lot of room to breathe. Though the 'verses' are very minor, the 'chorus' is major a sound of relief. Pretty sure it'll be on the new album.
Conduit- (debut 2/13/2010)Starts out with drums doing a pretty strange beat. The guitars come in and sound like they try and contain the drums from going everywhere, Bayliss, Joel & Kris on vocals. The lyrics are kind of the tape that holds this song together. I'll admit that I didn't like this song at first, but it grew on me. In the middle now they have a jam section that can just go just about anywhere. This song just has an odd ending. It's not a bad way to end it. It's just odd.
Deeper-(Debut 12/31/2010)it seems like they were listening to a lot of the New Mastersounds. It's a groovy smoothy song, the lyrics are done a chant rather than being sung. Stasik is rocking a pretty sweet bass line. It's really bass oriented...Groovy. The guitars are funky but done with a little bit of a delay. It ends weirdly though, it seems a like a new UM trend.
Day Nurse-( debut 1/21/2011)Previously, I kind of reviewed this song. Saying that it is reminiscent of Gregory Issac's Night Nurse, and it is is. I think that it also started off as Kris' Lounge Groove. The snyth is setting the stage for the guitars to take control of the song. Jake is most definitely the driving force in this song. It's very funky at the same time it's very progressive and broken up into sections. While the breaks are full chords then it seems to work start from the ground up.
Well Wishers-(debut 10/02/2010) Starts off with a pretty hopefully beginning, what I mean is the music sounds like something is being anticipated. Bayliss is on lead vocals. It has a 'Higgins' like build up. It has a few of these till Bayliss starts to sing his heart out. Not until the line "running low on time" does Joel come in with the harmony. For the chorus it's Bayliss, Joel and Kris, I think it's the most powerful part of the song. After the 1st chorus the song draws the listening in more. The end of the song is very open ended, as they say. It has been said to be quite a jam vehicle in recent tours. The song was also available for free download through their blog a few months ago.
Stoogart- [(aka Moog Stewart) debut 3/12/2011] They have been playing this tune since late last year. It's pretty fun. Starts off with Tauras groove a definitive delay. Joel comes in with the moog synth then the drums come in, it gets groovy. Some sort of delay of the drums. It sounds like the 'Soaring Uplifting Jam' from Umbowl II. Guitars playing single notes while staying in the background shifting the song. Constantly building up in a Glory type style, adding guitar solos in and out until it dissolves.
You need to come on #umphlove and talk about these with us!
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