Umphrey’s McGee – Mantis review

Umphrey’s McGee is releasing their sixth studio album entitled Mantis to the world on January 20th, 2009.  Perhaps not by coincidence, this is also inauguration day in America for a fellow Chicagoan which marks a progressive step forward in a new direction for our country.  Thanks to the prudence of Umphrey’s McGee and the dedication to their fans, I received my copy of Mantis a few days before they hit store shelves.

For their past studio efforts, Umphrey’s McGee molded and remolded tunes onstage while wide eyes watched and then they layed them down in the studio.  But for Mantis the band moved in an entirely new direction.  This album was chiseled out in the studio and offers 100% new material that fans had yet to hear.  A few months before the release Umphrey’s McGee released some tracks to their myspace page and then offered a one of a kind pre-order package that was eaten up with overwhelming success.

Mantis starts off with”Made to Measure”, a short and fun concoction with great lyrics and choruses that makes one feel as though he’s bouncing over speed bumps on a Huffy bike.  Title song “Mantis” is track three on the album and a true monster that will undoubtedly be huge onstage.  Huge may be an understatement as with the first listen this song stood out as the strongest on the album and each subsequent listen only makes it better.  Jake Cinninger’s guitar rips through the emotion Brendan Bayliss’ lyrics build and the subtle addition of a string section over the interlude works wonderfully.

Track four is entitled “Cemetary Walk”.  The tune starts off with a Joel Cummin’s piano intro then breaks loose with verses toned in a danceable 80’s rhythm.  Only half-way through the album and thematic undertones of introspection are becoming very clear.  By the time “Cemetary Walk” ends it feels as though you are being pushed through a meat grinder.  This song is great, especially if you like being pushed through a meat grinder! 

Number six is entitled “Turn & Run”.  This is a nice tune with great vocals but overall it isn’t much of a standout until Cinninger let’s go on the second half of it.  And when I say let go I mean letting go in an Eddie VanHalen-esque shred your mind with tight leather pants, ripped sleeves and big hair sort of way!  Holy shit!  “Turn & Run” leads into track seven perfectly and I could easily see these going back-to-back onstage.  Track seven is “Spires”, a muff heavy guitar song that asks a lot of questions and then answers them by the end with a slight sense of optimism.  “Spires” is as much of Mantis as any tune on the album, yet it seems to be the one that could not be removed without significantly damaging the other remaining parts.

“Prophecy Now” is the title of track eight.  This is a chanty prayer-like song sung by keyboardist, Joel Cummins, with an electronic drum beat driven rhythm.  I’m not sure how it will translate live, but it may make for a wonderful show or set opener.  Track nine is called “Red Tape” and is dominated by the synthesized sounds of Joel Cummins.  The tune is fairly forgettable on the album but should work well onstage.  Mantis ends with “1348”, a melting pot of Umphrey’s McGee’s sound and I cannot wait to hear this one live!  Kris Myer’s drumming is every bit as heavy as Jake Cinninger’s progressive guitar-work, and before the song is over everyone has had a chance to interject.  “1348” ends in double time leaving the listener dizzily wishing that he had worn a seat belt.  A great closer indeed.

Mantis is the strongest studio album to date for Umphrey’s McGee.  Leaving their always anticipated midwest humor behind, it’s an album thematically heavy on self-introspection, reflection and change and by the end it I believe the title is finally understood.  Mantis is not referring to the female insect that has a nasty habit of eating her male partner after mating, it is referring to death of the past and optimism for the future.  Regardless of its symbolization Mantis deserves a good listen.  With two years of effort put into it, Mantis is gorgeously composed and the most artistically cohesive album to date for the band.  

TRACK LIST:
1. Made to Measure 3:12
2. Preamble 0:36
3. Mantis 11:49
4. Cemetery Walk 7:30
5. Cemetery Walk II 2:19
6. Turn & Run 7:25
7. Spires 7:41
8. Prophecy Now 2:47
9. Red Tape 5:43
10. 1348 4:49

                                              Total Running Time: 54:04

Starting January 19th, Umphrey’s McGee will be touring heavily in support of this album so please do yourself a favor and go see them live when they come to your town.