American Garage

This was the first album I heard from Metheny back when it was first released in '79. It's still a favorite many years later. I'm not sure if it's the lighter side of fusion or just a nice electric jazz album, but it's a great piece of writing performed by spectacular musicians. It's kind of short, but it's complete unto itself. Metheny has a musical vision that can be uplifting and melancholy all at once. It is a gift to be shared and enjoyed. And of course, anything he does with Lyle Mays is always something special. Repleat with '70s jazz melodic tones and textures, the band is exploring its sound with an easy-going drive that coasts with a slightly rocking edge. The title tune is the shortest and most rockin'. The 12-and-a-half-minute "The Epic" is a jazzy spectacular way to end a tasty album. Metheny is a guy whose music you gotta love.......and this album is a wonderful example of the reasons why.

This is a great album and I have owned it on LP and cassette. I wanted a CD because that is the medium of choice at home, work, and auto. I don't know what the deal is, but just about all the bass is mixed out. Not only is the bass guitar almost completely muted, but even the lower drums to some extent. I KNOW this is not how this album was originally mixed.I have heard this on 4 different systems. Did I get a bad CD or are they all like this? --scott

Great Record, worth the purchase on vinyl.

Finally replaced my vinyl LP from the 1970s!

As one of the other reviewers mentioned, this is one of Pat's least favorite recordings. And this makes me sad, because I really think it's one of his best albums. (Of course, for all I know that quote came at a particular moment, and he doesn't feel that way anymore.) This album delivers, beautifully, the sound and the ideas that define Pat as a musician. If you love that sound, you will definitely love this album! Pat's playing from the heart, and it's real; it's happening. The compositions are inspired, and the album is totally coherent as a statement. I know a lot of people are into Pat's most recent Group albums, but I don't think they're as authentic and heartfelt as "American Garage". This is the album that got me started listening to Pat, back in '78 (I believe), and I hope people will start giving it the respect it deserves. And I include Pat himself in that! One semi-important note - the audio quality of this CD is pathetic. The original vinyl version sounded 100% better than this. Someone needs to do a quality remastering - please!

Ranks among Pat Metheny's very best. I would recommend AMERICAN GARAGE to almost anyone who wants to get a taste of jazz as it came out of the "lost years" of the 1970's. There are some sounds among these pieces that would become a part of the "smooth jazz" movement as it would become known in the 1990's; but there is nothing to fear about for being accused of being "light weight" or "diluted" that drew the wrath of jazz heads toward the endless parade of phonies that so many felt "stole" attention and record purchases away from real jazz.Far from dreary, AMERICAN GARAGE sings of joy and provides much to interest upon repeated listening. Metheny would go on to be a small jazz industry in himself in succeeding years and his musical vocabulary would expand--sometimes not for the better. Nevertheless, this is the perfect marriage of electric guitar and keyboards many still seek today. Only five cuts; but pleasing and intelligent all the same.

I've listened to numerous musical recordings by the PMG from age 10 until present day. "The Search" was and still is one of my favorite recordings. A reviewer said that he likes to listen to the PMG while traveling. From his description, while listening, he's instantly transported into a movie like setting. Back in the day, circa 1978 or 80, I was really in love with life, my family, friends and the thought of just being alive. The last time I heard this song was about a year ago or so. Still to this very day, I can remember as a child, closing my eyes, listening to this particular tune, and envisioning how life should be. (And then I grew up and soon came to the realization that life most definitely is cable of throwing a couple of curve balls now and then. Seems more often that not sometimes.) Never the less, I still enjoy this song for its worth and to me, it's worth the memories that I once had and the memories that are yet to come. ( ^ _ ^ )

Though I've listened to Pat Metheny since before he released Bright Size Life (still his best) in 1975, I'd never owned this one until recently. I happen to own a high end sound system, so the mastering of the cd sounds ok to me. Yes, the bass is hollow and the drums too punchy. That's partly the fault of late '70s studio trends, and partly the style of Gottleib, the drummer, and Egan, the bassist, both soon gone from the group. The guitar improvs on this, though, can't be questioned. And neither can the composing and arranging. It's only 35 mins long. Obviously, it needs remastering and extra material, assuming there is any. Evidently, Metheny is on the outs with ECM, and that's why we're about 6-8 years overdue for remasters of all the great ECM albums. Still, I can recommend this one to die-hard Metheny fans who, inexplicably, didn't buy it 25 years ago, like me. It ranks maybe 15th to 18th on the list of Metheny must-have albums, however.