Even now one month later after seeing the Complex Tour live in Los Angeles, it is difficult to put into words the overall effect of the Blue Man Group --- in fact, it's even harder to review their CD, The Complex
Blue Man Group - The Complex: A+
First off, it's really hard to appreciate this CD fully apart from the multimedia live show that is the Blue Man Group live --- not to say that the CD isn't great because I think it's one of the best that I have heard this year --- Seeing the BMG live in performance seems to add layers to this recording that are not evident to just hearing --- if that made sense
The album is many layered. It's using unconventional items to approximate musical sounds (ROCK SOUNDS) in very, very creative ways --- it's use of layers of percussion tracks just adds to the atmospherics and overall ambience of the album
I wanted to start the review by saying --- ok go to Track 10 - Shadows Part 2 --- this will give you a good idea as to why I love this album so much -- what you can't see is that most of the music is made by PVC, air sticks (for the scratching not the turntable), and tubulons and a turntable, and then the performance by Tracy Bonham is just ethereal and creepy -- the isolation deep and the execution flawless
I really like the layered approach of the music and lyrics in that it questions some of the fundamental ways in which our lives and persona, cities, lives, music are constructed --- it questions some of the fundamental qualities of rock music by questioning our current system of living --- odd, thought provoking, and all contained in a sonic goodness that is just outstanding
The opening questioning of isolation of the listener vs. the embracing communal aspect of the music -- see Dave Matthews performance on this CD --- Sing Along, just maybe his best vocal work in a while --- the BMG also coaxes out fresh performances from Gavin ex-Bush and Tracy Bonham --- and have fresh takes on classic songs such as Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit and Donna Summer's I Feel Love
It's hard to come up with words to describe this album except that I highly recommend it --- and that the experience is largely personal rather than universal which is really cool --- go get it, and when you have a chance to see BMG either live during the third leg of the Complex Tour or at their locations in Vegas, NY, etc --- go see them
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