“If I follow along, does it mean I belong?”
Blue Man Group featuring Dave Matthews – “Sing Along”
The more I listen to Blue Man Group’s sophomore album The Complex, the more that line sticks in my head.
I’ve lived through all of the hype that has surrounded Blue Man Group over the past few years — as it evolved from a few live performances in New York City into a monster presence that’s spread across the country, from Intel commercials to Las Vegas shows to… pop records? I have resisted seeing the show, laughed at the commercials while flicking through the channels… but it’s that latest incarnation of Blue Man Group that finally piqued my interest. What do these guys have that has drawn folks from Dave Matthews to Tracy Bonham, Gavin Rossdale and Dan the Automator to collaborate with them? What was I missing out on here? If I followed along with the hype, “does it mean I belong” or is Blue Man Group simply a few smurfs trying to hold on to their fifteen minutes a bit longer by crossing over into the pop record-making business?
Well, consider me a converted member of this Blue World Order.
The album opens with “Above”, “Time to Start” and “Sing Along”, which set the stage for everything else you’ll hear on the remainder of the CD. “Above” could be a Yanni song — an instrumental appetizer, teasing you with noises and rhythms not often heard on a pop record, making you wonder what sorts of tubes Blue Man Group are banging on to get these sweet sounds. “Time to Start” gives you instructions on vital rock concert “movements” from the “basic head bob” to the “one-armed fist pump” and the “up-and-down jumping motion”. And “Sing Along” starts the rock concert, with Matthews doing what he does best: crooning a bunch of gibberish that somehow finds a way to sound good.
While the Group’s effort does seem to be a bit too complex at times, and there’s quite a bit of unnecessary filler that seems out of place without the benefit of the full theatre production, the full-on rock songs — especially the covers — make this one worth the listen. As much as I’m a fan of Bonham and Matthews’ pipes, the two stand-out performances on the CD are Esthero on the remake of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” and Venus Hum on Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”. These songs absolutely belong, even in the context of this eclectic album.
