[.ca] Carnival '99

From Amazon.com:
This Boulder, Colorado, quintet does many things well, but nothing great. This double-CD set, culled from 13 different performances, shows off their breadth as they move from electro-bluegrass to fusion to funk to prog-rock like kiddies in a toy store. While they certainly have the chops to pull it off, they wind up playing away from their strengths too often. Everything from bluegrass stomps like "Shenandoah Breakdown" and Jimmy Martin's "Hold What You've Got" to jazz staples made famous by Dave Brubeck, Weather Report, and Miles Davis, to the Meters' "Hey Pocky Way" is fair game. There's an infectious energy and a lively experimental spirit at work, and their stylistic range keeps things interesting to say the least--especially over the course of a long live set. But without a bit more focus and some more compelling originals, there are too many low points to suffer through, especially for those of us listening at home without benefit of the live vibe. --Marc Greilsamer

in the defense of Billy:
unlike the above, I found the SCI release of Carnival 99 to be very fullfilling, enough so to go buy the rest of there titles. The release is best approached from a very simple stand point, the music is fun. Its not a prolific, standard shattering release, its just some songs that display the groups diverse ability and taste, both in covers, and there original works. You'll find a song that really sticks out, and over time find the rest of the album, to be very new and evolving. And while no recording will ever be able to capture the energy of there live shows, Carnival 99 will give you a taste of a very original, very independant sounding jam bands. Dont approach it as a critic, just listen to it.

If you wanna be FOC*:
I kept seeing SCI pop-up in Relix and finally decided to take the plunge... Needless to say from the first track to the last, I was BLOWN away by not only the musicianship, but by the range of styles. I'm an inveterate, died-in-the-wool Deadhead; however, the jam bands today have taken that springboard and leapt into realms that the Dead couldn't capture night-in, night-out. Of all the top tier jam bands today, the Cheese, in my opinion, have firmly grabbed the torch from the Dead. They've got the vibe, the chops and that SOMETHING... My personal favs are Missing Me>Mona Bowa (very reminscent of Little Feat and the Allmans), Hey Pocky Way, Black Clouds (check out the jam in the middle!)and all the jams on Disc 2. Hardcore FOC will have all kinds of opinions on this disc; if you're new to SCI, you absolutely can't go wrong with this pick. I have all of SCI's studio output but they are truly a live phenomenon - if you haven't been to the real deal, then this is as close as you can get. If you're struggling between the other live disc - A String Cheese Incident - I'd say get this one since it's more in line with their live act today. Once you've heard it, you're gonna have to see them for real...you won't be disappointed. Better hurry, though. The scene is starting to swell without Phish and the family feel of the experience is going to be gone forever. *Friend of Cheese

Good Live Stuff.:
String Cheese has a thick, lush sound. True, this may not be the best live String Cheese release. But it's still a darn fine record and their sound really shows through--personal favorites of mine include the instrumental "Birdland", "Don't Say" (infinitely singalong-able), and "Mauna Bowa", a great instrumental which is probably my favorite track on the record. One of the few things I don't like about this record is the fact that it's a compilation of different shows rather than a single one, which makes the improvised transition jams seem somewhat disjointed.

Fun to listen to!!:
Following in the tradition of the Grateful Dead and Phish, SCI is a fantastic jam-band that just lulls the audience into the act. If you like Phish, you'll love this record (although I liked SCI first and then bought Phish, but that's a technicality) However, this band really shines when heard live, because they have the freedom to jam and really invent the music. Most fantastic is the seamlessness of the music. I honestly thought that it was all from one concert, when it turns out to be songs from several different shows, so expertly spliced together it's fantastic. Personal favorites on the record are Missin' Me, Barstool, Jellyfish, and Birdland. Basically, you gotta have this record.

A must-have for SCI fans:
I've enjoyed the sounds of SCI for a couple of years now, and have found this cd to be one of my favorites. Like most jam bands, SCI works best on a live basis and their energy and excitement is really felt through the tracks of this cd. I love how both bluegrass and funk intertwine within the different tracks--with this cd you get a taste of everything and a real feel for the band's true talent on the stage! Although a popular cover, SCI's version of the classic jazz theme "Take Five" is one of my favorite cuts off this album. It sounds different everytime you listen to it. "Jellyfish" and "Texas" are also always enjoyable, and I think the boys do a mean cover of the traditional "Shenandoah Breakdown." Kang is crazy on the mandolin! They also do total justice to Arthur Neville's, "Hey Pocky Way," with a wicked jam in there too. If you ever get the chance, see these guys in concert! They always promise an unforgetable show!

• Shenandoah Breakdown
• Missin' Me
• Mouna Bowa
• Bar Stool
• Take Five
• Hey Pocky Way
• Black Clouds
• Lester's Rant
• Footprints
• Don't Say
• Birdland
• Hold Whatcha Got
• Jellyfish
• Drum Jam
• Texas