Blue Man Group - The Complex
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Free Music Notes for The Complex
Free Music Review: Big rock sound from the men in Blue
Hit: 5 Stars
Until recently, all I knew about the Blue Man Group was based on their series of odd commercials for Intel. I didn't know anything about their music. "The Complex" blew me away. This is a rock album, make no mistake. BMG's debut album, "Audio," is more true to their live show that's played in venues like The Luxor in Las Vegas, and is primarily a showcase for the BMG's trademark percussion.
"The Complex" couples BMG's percussion and homemade instruments to a traditional song format, with soaring guitars, a pounding rhythm section, and a big percussive sound.
Along for the ride are guest vocalists such as Tracy Bonham, Dave Matthews, Annette Stream of Venus Hum, and Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale.
Lyrically, the songs of "The Complex" explore themes of alienation and the dis-connect from society that is so common to the cubicle-dweller society that is the norm of corporate America. There are a few cover tunes here, with the best being a rocking cover of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love," sung by Venus Hum's Annette Stream. It's a brilliant rendition, full of soaring guitars, amazing percussion (the synthesizer sound at the beginning of the song is actually PVC tubing, an instrument the Blue Man Group call 'The Tubulum') and energy.
The album concludes with the haunting instrumental "Exhibit 13." If you've seen "The Complex" tour DVD or have gone to BMG's web site, you'll know that "Exhibit 13" is about the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City and some random pieces of paper that blew into a nearby neighborhood.
About "The Complex" tour DVD...buy it! It's amazing to watch everyone involved in creating the show, and to see and hear the Blue Man Group's various homemade instruments.
Free Music Review: PVC Pipe Dreams
Hit: 5 Stars
Saw BMG on their Complex tour in Syracuse, NY at the Landmark Theater and since then have become a fan of theirs. With their percussive instrumentations most songs sound very tribal, but the song Exhibit 13 (a tribute to 9/11) is very touching and moving. The guest artists featured on some of the tracks are the right kind of mixture to what would only be 3 guys with blue grease paint on their face beating on plumber's piping, however, getting paid a pretty penny for it. My favorite track on the album is The Current with Gavin Rossdale doing vocals. A couple of other favorites are the ones with Tracy Bonham on vocals. She was one of the lead-off groups at the live concert for BMG and she and really sing. I recommend this album highly.Free Music Review: Percussion and blue paint.
Hit: 3 Stars
3-1/2 stars. This disc is indeed interesting. Lots of cool sounds abound in this mixed effort that winds up like most techno albums these days, being slightly marred by too many vocal tracks. The music is a wicked blast of percussion instruments mixed with guitar, keyboards, and a myriad of clicks and beeps that really rocks. The only problems are the vocal tracks which dominate the CD, and with the exception of the jam THE CURRENT (w/ GAVIN ROSSDALE of BUSH on vocals sounding better than with any BUSH tune), are all a bit bland. Off the beat and path enough to warrant multiple listens due to the kicking instrumentals and THE CURRENT, on a whole not bad, BLUE MAN GROUP is worth checking out if you like something different.Free Music Review: Blue Man with Guests
Hit: 5 Stars
I love the Blue Man Group. I've seen them perform live 3 times, in 3 different venues and each show was unique. They have to be the best performance art/musical act I've ever seen in concert. I really enjoyed their first CD, "Audio", because each song took me back to their live performance. But, the new album is much more than that. With the guest vocalists the songs become something completely different for the Blue Man Group. They have combined their unique percussion sounds with the voices of unique vocalists. To be able to hear such familiar voices as Dave Matthews and Gavin Rossdale makes the songs that much better. "The Complex" CD includes songs that you'll want to listen to over and over again. You'll even find yourself singing along. If you weren't so fond of "Audio" I can gaurantee you'll find such a different sound on "The Complex" that you'll can't help but appreciate the Blue Man Group sound.
I loved the enhanced portion of the CD because you get to see live clips of them on stage, which is like nothing you've seen before. Well worth the money!
Free Music Review: Am i blue?
Hit: 5 Stars
You're darn right i am! This is an album i passed up because of the 'professional' reviewers trashed it more often than not. I was drawn back again and again because of simple curiousity. I grabbed it, crossed my fingers, and placed it in my cd player. Unbelievable. Those critics,in my opinion, are dead wrong. Vocals, at least this time, DO add to the blue man group. These 'creations' are well crafted and colorful. So much fun to listen to. Their 're-do' of DONNA SUMMERS' "I feel love" was juiced up so strong that it actually overshadowed the original. So much power in this music. So much energy. And a nice selection of songs with incredible vocals. This is truly a great follow-up album from a group i will now stay true to with their every release. D*MN the critics.