(Post-Bop, Post-Rock/ Experimental) The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity - 2005, FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Bad Plus have done some fantastic things since their major label debut titled "These Are the Vistas". They have helped introduce Jazz to countless Indie kids and rockers. The debut album featured 3 cover songs interspersed with brilliant original tracks. The covers were Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Blondie's "Heart of Glass," and Aphex Twin's "Flim". An odd selection to be sure, but the familiarity of the melodies was just enough to pique interest in these serious players.
They continued the onslaught with last year's equally impressive "Give" and the live album "Blunt Object Live in Tokyo", which is my favorite release so far as it captured a live sound that simply blew me away. You get the feeling from the band's press material that they want to move away from being "that jazz band that does rock covers" and I must say, I side with them if my assumption is correct.
However, you must mention the covers when talking about this band. "Give" contained The Pixies' "Velouria", Ornette Coleman's "Street Woman" and Black Sabbath's "Iron Man". Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath has proclaimed the Bad +'s version of "Iron Man" the best Sabbath cover ever. I must say I agree completely. When the Bad Plus do a cover it's a lesson in deconstruction, rebuilding and rediscovery.
Their original stuff is so complex and in-the-zone it actually makes me dizzy.
At times it feels like it's out of control and just about to explode into complete chaos, but the band always brings the structure back at the exact right moment to let you know they are in control. You are only a passenger and when you learn to relax and trust this band they'll take you places you haven't been.
Every member of this trio is beyond a virtuoso on their given instrument, but what puts it into the stratosphere is how well they work off of each other.
Unfortunately, like all great Jazz this will be over the heads of many, especially those who come to the party because they "heard that jazz Nirvana cover on NPR".
The newest record "Suspicious Activity?" continues the aural festivities. Produced by Tchad Blake (Peter Gabriel, Los Lobos, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Phish), it was recorded "live" with "virtually no overdubs". The band reduces the number of covers to just one (Theme from Chariots Of Fire), which I suspect is a way to get people weaned off of the tit and onto the solid food. In this case the solid food is the songwriting and all three members contribute. The album leans a little Rock & Roll on some tracks mainly due to some straight-up rock rhythms, but this is still the Bad Plus we've come to love. It's a band reaching for artistic individuality and nothing is getting in their way. If you're a fan you'll be very happy with this release. If you're not a fan I recommend "Blunt Object Live In Tokyo" first. If that album does not hook you, please proceed to the nearest dark alley for an ass-whoopin'.
The biggest drawback with "Suspicious Activity?" is its association with a major label, namely Sony Records. The CD has ridiculous copy-protection that may keep you from enjoying it the way you want to. Don't hold it against the band, but please do write to Sony.
The Bad Plus will be home in New York City to perform 6 shows in 6 nights at the legendary Village Vanguard from September 20 - September 25. Maybe a "Bad Plus Live an the Village Vangaurd" recording will come of it? One can only hope.

 

 

EAC extraction logfile from 16. January 2008, 1:43 for CD
The Bad Plus / Suspicious Activity?
Used drive  : HP      DVD Writer 640v   Adapter: 7  ID: 2
Read mode   : Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache
Read offset correction : 618
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Used output format : G:\Program Files\MEDIA\filters\Flac official\FLAC\flac.exe   (User Defined Encoder)
                     192 kBit/s
                     Additional command line options :  -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%a" -T "TITLE=%t" -T "ALBUM=%g" -T "DATE=%y" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%n" -T "GENRE=%m" -T "COMMENT=EAC FLAC -8" %s
Other options      :
    Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
    Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
    Installed external ASPI interface
Track  1
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\01 - Prehensile Dream.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:02.00
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC D8976241
     Copy CRC D8976241
     Copy OK
Track  2
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\02 - Anthem For The Earnest.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 7BFE8A0E
     Copy CRC 7BFE8A0E
     Copy OK
Track  3
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\03 - Let Our Garden Grow.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 7772DDEC
     Copy CRC 7772DDEC
     Copy OK
Track  4
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\04 - The Empire Strikes Backwards.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC EFA72794
     Copy CRC EFA72794
     Copy OK
Track  5
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\05 - Knows The Difference.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 99.9 %
     Test CRC DE4B6374
     Copy CRC DE4B6374
     Copy OK
Track  6
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\06 - Lost Of Love.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 95596B3F
     Copy CRC 95596B3F
     Copy OK
Track  7
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\07 - Rhinoceros Is My Profession.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 99.9 %
     Test CRC 0C6227D3
     Copy CRC 0C6227D3
     Copy OK
Track  8
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\08 - O.G. (Original Gentleman).wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 07FB8C71
     Copy CRC 07FB8C71
     Copy OK
Track  9
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\09 - (Theme from) Chariots Of Fire.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 7B07F382
     Copy CRC 7B07F382
     Copy OK
Track 10
     Filename F:\uTORRENT\ups\The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity (2005) [FLAC]\10 - Forces.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.65
     Peak level 98.8 %
     Track quality 99.9 %
     Test CRC CFF21BDD
     Copy CRC CFF21BDD
     Copy OK
No errors occured
End of status report

3400395822 86875868 01 - Prehensile Dream.wav
2441444729 70254284 02 - Anthem For The Earnest.wav
4213879799 73648220 03 - Let Our Garden Grow.wav
1786686389 59651468 04 - The Empire Strikes Backwards.wav
2246121180 73859900 05 - Knows The Difference.wav
4153227161 91457564 06 - Lost Of Love.wav
2776741835 60799244 07 - Rhinoceros Is My Profession.wav
2270610519 70082588 08 - O.G. (Original Gentleman).wav
3316255857 52437884 09 - (Theme from) Chariots Of Fire.wav
775946963 55008620 10 - Forces.wav
auCDtect: CD records authenticity detector, version 0.8.2
Copyright (c) 2004 Oleg Berngardt. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2004 Alexander Djourik. All rights reserved.
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Processing file: [01 - Prehensile Dream.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [02 - Anthem For The Earnest.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [03 - Let Our Garden Grow.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [04 - The Empire Strikes Backwards.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [05 - Knows The Difference.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [06 - Lost Of Love.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [07 - Rhinoceros Is My Profession.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [08 - O.G. (Original Gentleman).wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [09 - (Theme from) Chariots Of Fire.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Processing file: [10 - Forces.wav]
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This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
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Final Conclusion:
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These tracks looks like CDDA with probability 100%