Boogie Matrix Mechanism – Animated Reality
Unsigned
(3.5/5)
In the past, I’ve never been a big fan of jam bands, and that remains the case today, but that doesn’t mean I won’t give them a chance. As far as Boogie Matrix Mechanism goes, I’m glad I gave them the chance I did. Their newest released entitled Animated Reality is a pretty good album that combines Reggae, Rock, some Ska, and other various styles of music as well as the skills of each of the seven members in the band. Making up this band are the efforts of singer Brian Bell, rhythm guitarist Bob Maltby, bassist Benjamin Durham, lead guitarist John Kuntz, keyboardist Jim Kahmann, drummer Eric Lowden, and percussionist Aaron Armstrong. Together, these guys have created a sound that has an overall groovy feel and a general, Santana-like smoothness. Again, it’s not my personal favorite, but there are a few tracks on Animated Reality I do really like such as “OxyMoron” (Track 1), “Blame the Dog” (Track 3), and “Mushroom Hunting” (Track 6). Each of these three song examples are unique in their own way just as each of the other six tracks on the album are. My personal favorite is probably “Blame the Dog” because of its overall Reggae style groove sandwiched by a fast paced beginning and end. “OxyMoron” is another really good one because of the combination of Hip-Hop style vocals with a, kind of, Ska-like Rock music in a similar fashion that that of the band OPM. The last one I listed, “Mushroom Hunting”, is a good one for its 10:48 worth of pure Psychedelic existence. It’s certainly not hard to put together the lyrics with the song title and style of the song. 
All in all, Animated Reality is a good album that is for anyone who is a fan of jam bands like the Grateful Dead.
