Blue Men
If you’ve never seen the Blue Man Group and you’re wondering what’s the deal with these strange blue dancing guys, the answer is not as simple as one might think. Yes, the Blue Men are an international show sensation with long-running sell-out shows in New York, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, and elsewhere, but they also provide a sophisticated art experience. While entertaining you with amazing skits and dances, huge music, and mind-blowing video exhibits, they also work hard to make you think. With their unusual show, they satirize high culture, low culture, and everything in between.
But if you’re still not sure if this is something you would enjoy, you might want to give the Blue Man Group CD a listen. Entitled “Blue Man Group: The Complex” the album is actually a collaboration between the guys in the group, their everyday backing band, and numerous guest musicians including Dave Matthews, Esthero, and Gavin Rossdale.
In the live shows, this group’s music is not the main draw. It’s relatively normal, formulaic stadium rock, which is not to say it’s bad. In fact, the music is the perfect music for the performance. It sounds the way it does because it provides a recognizable backing that supports this group’s overall attitude. But as listening material on its own, it’s not exactly the most compelling music in the world.
But on this CD, all of this changes. It takes the general sound and feel of the group’s music, and it takes it to the next level, making it not only listenable, but actually quite brilliant in a way that might surprise people.
For one thing, this CD makes a very conscious effort to appeal to the mainstream, but it’s not nearly as dull as that may sound. In fact, these guys are not capable of doing mainstream. Yes, they do appeal to vast audiences, but they’re one of the few art shows in the world that have managed to do so. So, when it comes to this group, even when they try to be mainstream, the results inevitably come out weird and a bit challenging.
Speaking for myself, my favorite song on the album is “Sing Along” with guest vocalist Dave Matthews. I’m not the biggest Dave Matthews fan, but I find that his vocal style really works with this music. The music in combination with the vocal delivery creates a strange fusion of old time folksiness with post-millennial production and sound.
But even the non-vocal tracks on the Blue Man Group CD have interesting sounds and moments to offer. In some songs, you get the compelling, pounding drums that you’ll hear in the live show, but the instrumentation and performances of the musician bring something that doesn’t quite get captured in the controlled chaos of a live Blue Man Group show. The music sounds polished, but not overly so, with some moments of real evocative beauty that you won’t soon forget.
Caterina Christakos is a published author and reviewer. Read her latest reviews of Black and Decker Appliances and Johnson and Johnson baby products.
Is Versace Blue Jeans for men a nice gift for a 27 year old guy?
I dont know what to get him.. somebody suggested perfume.. is this a good choice? I’m confused..
Somebody gave this guy Euphoria Calvin Klein and he liked it.. you think Blue Jeans is a good idea?
Thanks every1!
alot of boys like joop jump its in a pinky red bottle, my bf loves it lol 
versace blue jeans is what young boys wear bcos its cheap, it smells ok, but it just makes me think of little boys
try hugo boss or joop!
and if he likes the calvin klien one why dont you get him a differnt calvin klein aftershave?
good luck xxx
Blue Man Group video featured on “Earth To America!”
