Prog

This album is a lot of fun, and the musicians are incredible. Freakishily good players. Everytime you listen, you should hear something new. I definitely have to say I am more pleased with this disc that their previous album, Suspicious Activity, which had some fun music, but overall felt kind of flat to me.Listening to Physical Cities about 20 times is worth getting the album alone. The several covers on the disc are great. Dave King really goes for it on Tom Sawyer, managing to play 95.2% of Neil Peart's original solo fill's on his 4-piece kit. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is great too, just layed back with some really nice atmosphere and sounds.Give, These are the Vistas, Suspicious Activity, Live in Tokyo, Motel... They're all great. You are not going to like every single tune they play, deconstruct, or have their way with, but I always want to listen again and again and try to hear more of each piece.I think some people feel that every tune this group does should be some earth-shattering super-tune, and that is just not the case. But, you will hear something interesting and genuine each time you listen to one of their tracks...or at least you should.I recommend this album to anyone who has bought TBP's albums before. They're still going at it hard!!

This is a great album, but isn't quite as accessible as Vistas and Give. The Bad Plus are an exceptional voice in the Piano Jazz trio landscape - partly because of their mainstream popularity, partly because of their tendency to take any pop song they fancy from the last 30 years, and rebuild it in their own inimitable fashion... (this time widely disparate 70s Bowie, and 80s Tears for Fears and Rush), and mostly because of their ability to craft unique songs that catch your attention, then reward repeated listenings with more and more detail and a steadily increasing appreciation for their manifest musical talent. Overall, the original compositions on this album are denser and less melodic than their previous offerings, and therefore a little bit harder to enjoy. I was delighted with the 1980 world champion though - a fitting conclusion to the bronze medalist of Vistas and semi-finalist of Give!

With some of the same tone and feeling as Nik Bärtsch's Ronin modal improvisations, this album of the postmodern avant-garde trio The Bad Plus demonstrates why they were selected for the recent album of Disney covers, Everybody Wants to Be a Cat. Their deconstruction of familiar tunes and their own compositions (three by bassist Anderson, two by drummer King, and one by pianist Iverson) are energetic and often noisy. Each musician is a percussionist, each a melody maker. The scratchy, nervous music may be jarring to many, but others may appreciate the cleverness, humor, and audacity. The lyricism between the discord, as with track 5, Giant, arises as a fresh breeze. The well-matched team of musicians create a fresh, bright and challenging sound. The problem is that repeated listening tarnishes that brilliance. The musical approach soon seems to be only a gimmick.

Prog is the best work by the Bad Plus so far. The only song I could have done without is "Everybody wants to Rule the World," but, you know they didn't ask me. Anyway, immediately following this opening number is my favorite song: "Physical Cities." This song is amazing, it starts with an amazingly beautiful, melodic yet rhythmic piano part and ends with industrial beats (that go on and on). This song was amazing when I first heard it and even more amazing when I saw them do it live. "Tom Sawyer" is also better than Rush ever could have dreamed it to be. Plus, "Giant" and "Mint" are also excellent, melodic originals. 1980 World Champion by drummer King again shows the humorous side of the band. These guys are amazing musicians with a sense of humor/fun that you just don't find much. Not to mention, I have to admit that Burt Bacharach ("This Guy's in Love with You") has always been one of my guilty pleasures.

If you're into Kenny G. and the smooth jazz crowd, don't bother. These guys push the borders of old school interpretative and modern free form/avant garde jazz. For the more classical jazz aficionados, check out "Giant" - a steady, bass heavy, piece of three-piece jazz craftsmanship. If you're looking for something different, "Tom Sawyer" will drop your jaw - particularly if you're into Rush and/or Prog Rock - it's jazz, but it's not!! These guys provide some of the freshest takes on traditional areas of jazz of anyone I've heard in recent memory - if you really like music and jazz, give it a whirl!

I am new the world of Jazz and all types of Jazz. Bad Plus was chosen by through the reviews of different websites. 4 albums later and I can sa enough about them. Excellent arrangements, great takes on the standards, music crafted with elegance, and great programming makes Bad pLus always so entertaining. Mint, Tom Sawyer standard, and Physical cities are some standouts to listen for

Good value & delivery. Good Music CD featuring Drums. (From a Pro Drummer.)

Just plain odd music to me, but still a fun listen when in the mood. All I can say is listen to the preview.

Among the very best by The bad plus. Very good sound quality.

Arrived quickly in good condition.

Comme tous les disques du trio original de Bad Plus, ce disque est excellent. The Bad Plus est maintenant un quartet, plus rien à voir, le pianiste était essentiel.

all ok

Good