Farmer's Reserve

Farmer's Reserve

ASIN: B000654YTC

Editorial Reviews
All Music Guide
"...Medeski, Martin & Wood have simultaneously earned standing as relentlessly innovative musicians and an enormously popular act."

Product Description
Farmer's Reserve was recorded at "The Shack" in Hawaii in 1996 - MMW's now infamous retreat spot where they escaped the cold winters of NYC. After recording their hit record Shackman (Gramavision/Rykodisc), they returned to record the antithesis, a spontaneous avant garde journey of various acoustic and electric sounds. A continuous 40-minute improvisation followed by a 15-minute epilogue, this pristine recording will win the hearts of both audiophiles and fans that dig the experimental & humorous side of these bad boys. Since the album was never "officially" released, this re-mastered, re-designed release will be in stores for the first time!

Farmer's Reserve

Tracks:

Part 1 (1)
Part 1 (2)
Part 1 (3)
Part 1 (4)
Part 2 (1)
Part 2 (2)
Part 2 (3)
Part 2 (4)
Part 3 (1)
Part 3 (2)
Epilogue

Album Description

Farmer's Reserve was recorded at "The Shack" in Hawaii in 1996 - MMW's now infamous retreat spot where they escaped the cold winters of NYC. After recording their hit record Shackman (Gramavision/Rykodisc), they returned to record the antithesis, a spontaneous avant garde journey of various acoustic and electric sounds. A continuous 40-minute improvisation followed by a 15-minute epilogue, this pristine recording will win the hearts of both audiophiles and fans that dig the experimental & humorous side of these bad boys. Since the album was never "officially" released, this re-mastered, re-designed release will be in stores for the first time!

Customer Reviews:

Timeless.......2006-04-05

MMW enjoyed new levels when this album was made. It's a walkabout of the mind through the tropical forests in Hawaii. I listen closely. This is a record to own simply(and not only)based on the timeless quality of their music.

Great stuff, very avant garde, deep space music for the faithful........2005-09-10

To those who didn't like this one, I'd avise buying the rest of the MMW catalog first, something like Shack Man, Notes from the Underground, Tonic etc. are all much more accessible.

This was originally only available from the website or at the shows. It is deep space music. Who knows what time of day it was, what they were on, but it is seriously deep and weird stuff. It's good for late night listening.

For true fans only.......2005-08-19

I wouldn't say this is a terrible album, but it is certainly anoying at times. It took a long time to get used to, and for anyone who doesn't really love MMW, it will be too wierd. For all those who love nothing more than to go to a concert and see Billy squeeze bath toys and drop things and call it "music," well then, dig in.

Anything but terrible.......2005-06-13

This album is very different than most other MMW ventures. No organ, few solid lasting beats and no easy to grip melodies. Are there melodies? Yes. Are there complex rhythms throughout? Yes. Is it hard to understand at first? Yes. But, if the listener makes an attempt to actually listen, will they be rewarded? Yes.
This all improv album reveals its beauty only if given the time and attention it deserves. I realize now that this album is about the same thing all of their other albums are about. It's about opening the self up to the higher force known as music. It's about letting higher energies use the body and instrument for a short period of time to create something amazing. These guys do it brilliantly here, and without reserve.
If one doesn't get it, then fine. But this album is anything but terrible.

Terrible.......2005-05-15

These guys are great but this album is terrible. I really enjoy their other music, but definitely not this album.

Average customer rating:

Farmer's Reserve
Martin & Wood Medeski
Manufacturer: Indirecto Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000O590DO
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

The album some Medeski Martin and Wood fans love to hate, Farmer's Reserve, departs from the band's funk-based, organ-driven work to cut more experimental grooves. Even on a bread and butter day, MMW can be on the cutting edge, but this mostly acoustic 1997 album, now offered in a remastered edition, is something else. Comprised of one continuous three-part improvisation plus epilogue, it's a trancelike affair that points back to the Art Ensemble of Chicago with its use of kitchen sink percussion effects and toy instruments, classic sci fi movies with its eerie keyboard effects, the minimalist school with its repeating sections and Charles Mingus with the heavy resonance of Chris Woods' bass lines. While this music may be an acquired taste for even the most open-minded MMW followers, it hangs together quite well and arguably is more compelling than the middling efforts from which the excellent 2006 CD, Out Louder, came back. --Lloyd Sachs

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