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Simply stated -- this is their album that best balances depth and accessibility. Incredible grooves (as always) and a great variety of sounds make it the album I most often turn to when I'm in the mood for some MMW. You just gotta love when the drums come in on "House Mop".
I love this cd. Totally chill, even with their (sometimes loud) sound experimentation. This album was my introduction to Medeski Martin & Wood, and it made me a big fan.
Just for starters, I am an avid MMW fan, and I need everyone thinking about getting an MMW album to think about this.DONT start with this one.I have a real hard time understanding the other reviewers because to me, this is the least comprehensive album of their genius ever put out by them(I have every MMW release). Im not saying its bad, but if you want the best start with Uninvisible, Combustication, or End of the world party (if you dig grand piano, go with Tonic).the other reviews are totally mad. Claiming that this is the most inspired and round about album they ever made is like saying the Beatles made better albums before Revolver.take it from someone who has seen MMW five times in three years and skip this one for next to last (last being Shackman) However, I am not so corny to think Im always right, and in dealing with jazz albums, it is totally subjective as to what is the best.
You won't be disappointed. If you are buying your first MMW album, this should be it.
It has all the elements that make MMW special - sensuous, funky grooves flowing in and out of free-form improv sections, a sense of freedom within structure and perfectly demonstrates the band's passion for their music. I have all the MMW albums through the latest - End of the World Party - and Friday Afternoon in the Universe is, in my opinion, their definitive album.
And even though I'm not a keyboard player, I have to say that this is probably John Medeski's most varied, most transcendant, most adventurous playing on record. Three consumate musicians playing with supreme intuition and a overriding feeling of joy and discovery.
I'm a drummer, and I can honestly say that Billy Martin never sounded so creative, so alive, so inspired. If you are already a MMW fan and are considering picking adding this to your collection, do it IMMEDIATELY.
This is pure MMW at the height of their game.
The first thing i heard from MMW was combustication, from there i just fell in love with this guys. Amazing the way the can go from a cool electronic simple jazz in some albums to a complex kind of latin jazz in albums like Tonic, sometimes in the same album, sometimes in the same piece. Another amazing thing is how they make music that is always cool, even 11 years after, thats the thing with this album, love it.
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