Review
Alright folks, buckle up because "ZONKEY," Umphrey's McGee's 2016 offering, is an explosive eruption of creativity. Dropped on November 11, 2016, this album redefines what you thought you knew about mashups. It’s a salute to genre-bending, style-melding artistry with each track showcasing the band’s knack for effortlessly combining tunes from different decades into a seamless auditory tapestry.
We've got 12 fabulously twisted mashups here, each one a stroke of genius. Imagine the audacious concoction of Radiohead’s broody "National Anthem," Beck’s slacker anthem "Loser," and Phil Collins' crescendo-driven "In the Air Tonight" – all melded into “National Loser Anthem”. And let's not overlook "Life During Exodus," where Talking Heads collides with Bob Marley and Frank Zappa. Or how 'bout "Sweet Sunglasses"? It's a sinful blend of Eurythmics, Corey Hart, and MGMT that'll have you grooving more than your typical genre purist can handle.
Mad props to the band for arranging and performing each track live, eschewing sampled shortcuts for a raw, electrifying experience. Critics are riding the same wave, too; American Songwriter's giving them kudos for their boundary-pushing and Robert Christgau slapped a worthy A- on it. In short, "ZONKEY" isn't just an album—it's an adrenaline-laced joyride through the chaotic carnival of rock, reggae, new wave, and everything in between. If your collection's feeling a little too predictable, this album will shake things up tighter than a mosh pit in a phone booth. - Sydney
