Umphrey’s McGee started 2018 by issuing a new album entitled it’s not us. The band then surprised fans in May by releasing a second studio album it’s you. Today, UM closes the loop with another surprise drop in the form of an 11-track compilation dubbed BeSides featuring demos, live and bonus tracks.
BeSides starts with “Interloper,” a song written by Ryan Stasik, Jake Cinninger and Joel Cummins. “Interloper” was “born from a late night in the studio with Ryan handling piano duties, Jake manning drums and Joel adding Rhodes and synth. Jake later layered the guitar melodies and the immersive nature ambience that surrounds his studio in rural Michigan.” The compilation then features expansive live versions of “Remind Me,” “Attachments” and “The Silent Type” that displays how far the band has taken those songs from it’s not us and it’s you in concert.
“Dark Brush” is the first in a series of demos included on BeSides. Cinninger plays all instruments on the “Dark Brush” demo, which was recorded at his Boondock Studio facility in Niles, Michigan. The premiere of “Seven Signs” comes next. While “Seven Signs” didn’t make the cut for either album it helped birth it’s not us track “Maybe Someday.” Speaking of “Maybe Someday,” a demo from May 2015 gives insight into UM’s writing process. BeSides also includes a demo for “What We Could Get” featuring Jake on all instruments, a demo for “You & You Alone” recorded by Brendan Bayliss and a solo piano version of Brendan’s “Push & Pull.” The compilation ends with an interesting demo/bonus version of “Triangle Tear” recorded by Joel and Jake at Boondock in October 2016. Listen to the album below or head here to purchase:
BeSides (it’s not us, it’s you) Tracklist
- Interloper
- Remind Me (02.17.18 Asheville, North Carolina) [Live]
- Attachments (08.18.18 St. Augustine, Florida) [Live]
- The Silent Type (01.27.18 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) [Live]
- Dark Brush (Demo)
- Seven Signs (Demo)
- Maybe Someday (Demo)
- What We Could Get (Demo)
- You & You Alone (Demo)
- Push & Pull (Solo Piano)
- Triangle Tear (Demo)
