Audio is the debut studio album by Blue Man Group, released on December 7, 1999, through Virgin Records. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.[4]
| Audio | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 7, 1999[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1999 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 57:29 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Todd Perlmutter | |||
| Blue Man Group chronology | ||||
| ||||
This album was released in two versions: The DVD had 5.1-channel versions of the music in both DVD-Video (using Dolby Digital) and DVD-Audio formats (one on each side) and a CD that had a 2-channel stereo mix of each track.
A behind-the-scenes video of the album is viewable on a promotional 2000 VHS known as Audio Video. This video is also included as a bonus on the Audio 5.1 Surround Sound DVD.
Reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
Heather Phares of AllMusic rated Audio three out of five stars. She explained that it "reflects over a decade's worth of musical and theatrical innovation." Although she stated that "the spectacle of the group playing its sculptural, surreal-looking instruments is absent from the album," she concluded her review by calling it "an album that proves the Blue Man Group is as innovative in the studio as it is onstage."[5]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "TV Song" | 2:08 |
| 2. | "Opening Mandelbrot" | 3:13 |
| 3. | "Synaesthetic" | 5:31 |
| 4. | "Utne Wire Man" | 3:18 |
| 5. | "Rods and Cones" | 5:57 |
| 6. | "Tension 2" | 2:05 |
| 7. | "Mandelgroove" | 5:49 |
| 8. | "PVC IV" | 4:23 |
| 9. | "Club Nowhere" | 4:50 |
| 10. | "Drumbone" | 2:44 |
| 11. | "Shadows" | 2:06 |
| 12. | "Cat Video" | 2:20 |
| 13. | "Klein Mandelbrot" | 8:03 |
| 14. | "Endless Column" | 5:02 |
Personnel edit
- Producer - Todd Perlmutter
- Engineer - Andrew Schneider
- Mastered By - Bob Ludwig
- Mixed By - Mike Fraser
Blue Man Group edit
- Phil Stanton - Performer [Air Poles, Extension Cord Bull Roarer, Ribbon Crasher], Percussion [Drumbone, Tubulum, Mid-octave PVC, Backpack Tubulum, Dumpster], Drums [Utne, Drum Wall, Phil Drum], Cimbalom, Timpani
- Matt Goldman - Performer [Air Poles, Ribbon Crasher], Percussion [Low Octave PVC, Drumbone, Backpack PVC, Dumpster], Cimbalom, Bass [Upside Down], Gong [Shaker], Drums [Utne]
- Chris Wink - Performer [Air Poles], Percussion [Doppler Toms, Tubulum, Drumbone, High-octave PVC, Dumpster, Backpack Tubulum, Piano Smasher], Cimbalom, Shaker [Utne], Drums [Drum Wall], Cuíca
- Larry Heinemann - Chapman Stick, Bass, Guitar [Baritone], Cuica
- Ian Pai - Drums [Drum Wall, Phil Drum], Percussion [Aronophonic, Quellum Grill]
- Christian Dyas - Zither, Bass, Guitar [12 String], Electronics [Electric Dog Toy]
- Todd Perlmutter - Percussion, Drums [Drum Kit, Left Side Double Drum Kit, Drum Wall, Toy Drum, Phil Drum]
Additional musicians edit
- Jamie Edwards - Performer [Air Poles] (tracks: 1, 4, 14)
- Chris Bowen - Drums [Drum Wall] (track: 7)
- Clem Waldman - Drums [Drum Wall] (track: 5)
- Cräg Rodriguez - Drums [Drum Wall] (track: 7), Percussion (Dumpster) (track: 12)
- Jeff Quay - Drums [Right Side Double Drum Kit] (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 8, 12 to 14) & [Drum Wall] (tracks: 5 & 13)
- Byron Estep - Guitar (tracks: 5, 7 & 9)
- John Kimbrough - Guitar (track: 7)
- Bradford Reed - Zither (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 13 & 14)
- David Corter - Zither (tracks: 8, 9, 12, 13)
- Elvis Lederer - Zither (track: 1) & Zither [Pressaphonic](track: 5)
- Jens Fischer - Zither (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 11, 13 & 14)
Certifications edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[6] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References edit
- ^ "Blue Man Group - Audio Album Reviews, Songs & More". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Blue Man Group - Audio (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Blue Man Group - Audio (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Nomination details". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ a b Phares, Heather (2011). "Audio - Blue Man Group". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ^ "American album certifications – Blue Man Group – Audio". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links edit
- Audio at BlueMan.com
- Audio at MusicBrainz (list of releases)