It's hard to believe that this is the debut CD created by award-winning performance-art sensations the Blue Man Group, whose off-the-wall and high-tech, highly percussive show has been an off-Broadway hit since the beginning of its uninterrupted run in 1991. This CD is not a soundtrack; while some pieces appear in the show, they are presented here with extra instruments, performers, and recently developed instruments. In addition to making abstract paintings by pouring paint onto kettledrums then bashing on them until the color pours onto an awaiting canvas, the Blue Man Group make their own instruments out of unexpected, often very simple materials. Creations used to make this record include air poles, the big drum, the PVC instrument, the backpack tubulum, and the drum wall (no, David van Tieghem is not a member of the group). Those homemade instruments notwithstanding (which are most striking visually anyway), the heavily rhythmic nature of the music, combined with the guitar as a focal element, reminds one of early-to-mid-1980s art-rock. The opening salvo--a two-minute number--starts off subtle and pleasing enough, with slowly building layers of percussive sound and overlapping soundtrack-y guitar lines vaguely reminiscent of Ennio Morricone, the great soundtrack composer that everyone rips off. The entire disc will highly satisfy the faithful and serve as intriguing background music for everyone else. --Mike McGonigal
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Great collection of Blue Man! A truly wonderful collection of their music! I saw their show and I feel this is an outstanding reminder of the music they performed. Very pleased with Amazon on this one.
More Great Music I have purchased previous DVD-A of Blue Man Group and this one was also great. very well mixed and it had some new songs as well. would reccomend to anyone who likes the group or just wants a great surround sound DVD.
An excellent first album This is Blue Man Groups first album, It is NOT the audio tracks from their show, it is an expanded version of the tracks you may have heard at their shows. I like it, and would not mind hearing it every so often. My personal favorites are Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 13. Give this and their other album a shot, if you like unusual, yet catchy music, this is definitely an album you should buy.
BMG is AWESOME! If you've never seen BMG perform live, you've GOT to see this DVD! Better yet, if you ever get the chance to see them in concert, I recommend it WHOLE HEARTEDLY! They will be in Hershey, PA on April 20, 2007 -- get there if you can!
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