Last night, Umphrey’s McGee surprised their fans with an unannounced new album, it’s you, a follow-up to the band’s it’s not us, released earlier this year coinciding with the band’s 20th anniversary. While it’s not us arrived with much fanfare—including several single and video releases, promotional performances, and even an intimate BackStory event in New York City ahead of their 3-night anniversary run at New York’s Beacon Theatre—it’s you, “the new, new album from Umphrey’s McGee,” dropped at midnight with no warning at all. Despite the differing rollouts, the two 2018 Umphrey’s McGee albums are undeniably tied, from their reflective names (it’s not us…it’s you) to their shared typewriter-themed album cover art.
As the band noted in an email to their fan list introducing the release:
“Waiting in line for a melody, maybe this time I’ll be right where I’m supposed to be.”
We have been saying it in various ways over the past twenty years, but let our actions speak for us today as we present another new album to affirm that it’s truly not us, but rather you, our fans.
After completing the latest recording sessions and digesting the volume of material we had tracked, it grew increasingly clear that a single album wasn’t realistic. The collective level of enthusiasm around the majority of these tunes made us reluctant to leave much on the cutting room floor (rarely the case). And that is why today we’re elated to continue our 20th Anniversary celebration by unveiling the new, new album from Umphrey’s McGee, it’s you.
Not everyone likes surprises but we hope you don’t mind this one.
Needless to say, Umphrey’s fans are in a pretty good mood this morning…You can stream Umphrey’s McGee’s second new album of 2018, it’s you, in full below via Spotify:
Umphrey’s McGee – it’s you [Full Album]
Umphrey’s McGee has two dates in the Northeast scheduled for this weekend—at The Strand in Providence, RI tonight, May 18th, and at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH tomorrow, May 19th. For a full list of Umphreys McGee’s upcoming tour dates, head to the band website.
Next weekend, Umphrey’s will make their annual trip to Chillicothe, IL for Summer Camp Music Festival, where they’ll perform throughout the weekend, including a Red Barn Late-Night set on Thursday, May 24th, two sets per night on Friday, May 25th and Saturday, May 26th in addition to an afternoon set on Sunday, May 27th. For more information on Summer Camp, or to grab your passes now, head to the Summer Camp Music Festival website.
