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For the first time we didn't owe anyone money, had no contract and no time schedule. -Brendan Bayliss on the making of Mantis |
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Photo by: Mark Blanchette
Many of the tracks are shorter than Umphrey's fans may be used to, and Mantis doesn't feature any "Jimmy Stewart" extended jams. The title track is the longest, clocking in at just under 12 minutes with soaring, layered choruses. Cinninger's wicked solo is perfectly nestled among the strings, keys and percussive elements. "I wanted [solos] to have a special feel, like making a statement," he says of the limited jamming throughout. Not that there aren't some serious jams; the next track, "Cemetery Walk," flows seamlessly out of "Mantis" with a keyboard intro that slides into a funk driven, backbeat and Beatles harmonies during the chorus.
 Umphrey's McGee by Brett Saul |
From that section flows the short, livetronica "Cemetery Walk II." Cinninger says, "We wanted simple song construction with great melodies with rippin' guitar solos." Mark my words, "Cemetery Walk" unleashed in a live setting will become a serious sensory force, a monster jam. With increased attention to production quality, both the new album and their live shows are a complete package, with lights and backdrops adding further dimensions in concert. Talking about the album and the live experience, Cinninger sums up the band's modus operandi: "Big. Simple. Epic."
Overall, Mantis' sound is warmer with rounder edges than previous efforts. With its huge solo and unmistakable phrasing, "Turn & Run" is unmistakably Umphrey's. With the following "Spires," all nitrousy keys and riff-drum lock, tracks six and seven are a one-two punch. Rounding out the disc is the technical yet soulful "Red Tape" and "1348." Stylistically diverse and balancing sweetness with the requisite proggyness, the closer feels like it is a teaser for more to come, but at 54 minutes the disc is done. With this "less is more" approach, it's easier to digest the sounds and lyrics, and this less dense, less hurried approach works well. As the band has matured so has their sound, delivery and overriding sensibilities.
Lyrically, two themes loom large on Mantis, with some tracks featuring a religious or spiritual bent and others working political overtones. Though Cinninger insists somber names like "Cemetery Walk" were simply working titles, a tongue-in-cheek nod to Norwegian black metal, when looked at in the context of others Mantis tracks like "Spires" or the tonally angular "Prophecy Now," one concludes the album is more than a little introspective. Though he's hesitant to conduct a lyrical play-by-play or come off as "preachy," when asked about the spiritual imagery, Bayliss confirms the subject matter is partially a reflection of his personal growth. "I wanted to dip my feet in, not dive in," Bayliss offers. Similarly, when asked about the subject matter Cinninger stops short, but agrees that the power of myths, the nature of the unknown and not necessarily intended, are lures that can be harnessed and become something greater and more meaningful than an idea's original intent.
 Umphrey's McGee by Kevin Browning |
With the second thematic angle being political, I couldn't help but wonder if there was something to this pairing of concepts. On the promotional one-sheet for Mantis, the second line informs us that "mantis" is the Greek word for "prophet." The band hails from Chicago, and Mantis' release date is Inauguration Day. But, when I ask lyricist Bayliss about this he denies any significance and won't take my bait. After two evolutionary years in the making, most likely it is coincidence, but is it even a stretch to read the collective nature of the pre-order, individual investment for the greater good, as not at all dissimilar to the Obama campaign's spirit of community and "Yes We Can" attitude? Collective consciousness movements are born from ideas and dialogue, whether musical, spiritual or political, and as Cinninger suggested, are open to interpretation by all. And anyone's interpretation is just as valid as the next person's take.
The immediate future sees Umphrey's McGee appearing on the PBS series Soundstage on February 5, 2009. Following that, the band embarks on nearly four solid months of touring though the Midwest, South, and East Coast, which will then find them in the middle of summer festival season. Longtime Umph plans are to continue working on their songwriting and thinking of new ways to engage their fans. Rest assured, though, with a copy of Mantis in your disc drive, you are set with new material for at least another year.
Umphrey's McGee is on tour now; dates available here.
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