Umphrey's Mcgee: Music Analysis

In the jam band scene, there is none like Umphrey’s McGee. After originally forming in 1997 at the University of Notre Dame, these guys have evolved into powerhouses of fusion rock music. They are able to combine jam, jazz, metal, progressive rock, reggae, and new wave into a sound that is all their own. On November 11th, 2016, Umphrey’s McGee released an album called “ZONKEY.”
This album is contrived of all mashups. All of the mashups are combinations of the band’s influences. Although mashups sometimes seem like a cop-out move, this album does it differently. This album demonstrates how far-reaching their inspirations come from. In each mashup, you can hear the reminiscent sounds of some of these popular songs by their favorite artists as well as how much Umphrey’s McGee has evolved into creating their own distinct tone to their playing. …show more content…
Why would anyone think to combine these songs? Well, first off, Radiohead is a major influence of Umphrey’s ominous tracks. They also released a famous live cover of “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” from their show at the Beacon Theatre in NYC in 2013. The twangy sound of Beck is a reminder of their most recent releases being very alternative-sounding. Phil Collins was a great combination of their new wave influences, and adding a light-hearted tone towards the