Kin (<-->)

The negative reviews are so wrong. I can't even believe they were written. I love this album. Chris Potter is amazing and it is so fun to hear him play with Pat Metheny! I love the whole group and all the songs.

I am a bit surprised to some of the reviews I've read regarding this album. I come from a musical background and appreciate jazz but the genres I listen to the most is prog. Personally, there are two things I value the most on any musical production: intelligent composition and impeccable production. I can say hands down this is one of the most flawlessly recorded albums I've heard (my discography exceeds 10,000 songs) and one of the smartest albums at that. This is actually the first album from Pat I've heard and every single song I was simply blown away by the fusion of genres, the seamless transitions and the liberty taken at exploring each instrument while also maintaining a cohesive melodical narrative forming the foundation of each song. Pat has created a masterpiece and I feel humbled and honored to have this album among one of the top examples of musicianship of this decade.

I honestly feel bad for those who have rated this thing 5 stars, comparing it favorably with The Way Up or Speaking of Now, because it shows how little they apparently got out of those great works, as compared with this overwrought, under-inspired, cobbled-together contract recording with Potter and the unseen unheard Italian virtuoso Carmassi. That was one of the most painful things I've ever witnessed in concert, with Carmassi hidden practically off-stage (so as not to offend the memory of the late great Lyle Mays I guess), but it spoke to exactly what is wrong about this record. It isn't really a team effort, but Metheny's benevolent dictatorship under rare duress from the emperor having no clothes.

Welcome back Pat Metheny!!! The very best album of all. Didn’t think it was possible but yes this is it.

The iTunes reviewer mistakenly said Adam Cruz was the drummer, this needs to be corrected. The drummer is Antonio Sanchez.

Pat Metheny consistantly surrounds himself with very talented players. I'm blown away by the sound of this album, and the composition of his works. Unity Band is Amazing...!

KIN is a really great album. It took several listens to really have it all sink in, which is what every Metheny album requires from me. I need to take it through several spins to hear what Pat was trying to do including all the little nuances and subtleties hanging in the background. Pat mentioned that he wanted to make an album that encompassed everything he's done up until now. However, there are several ways of looking at this album. It sounds like he took the Unity Band and fused it with the album WE LIVE HERE. KIN has a very contemporary sound, but is certainly not lost in the boring meandering of Smooth Jazz. The first time I listened to KIN I thought it sounded like a movie soundtrack written for the Orchestrion, but performed by humans. Pat continues to explore more expansive compositions which also contain moments to be a foundation for improvisation. It's amazing how adding just one member to the Band (Carmassi), suddenly you have a noticeable thickness to the sound (more orchestral) than what was there previously. Not surprising considering that Giulio plays every instrument that's ever existed. KIN explores different moods, sounds, textures, etc while still having that "Metheny" sound. Pat always sounds like Pat. However, this isn't a PMG album. It's a PMUG album. Folks not liking it because there's no Lyle or Steve is quite strange. PMUG is a different approach. It's the blockbuster sequel to the PMUB. It's about those guys doing something bigger. I think they really knocked it out of the park. Also, I've heard a lot of people saying that there's too much sax on KIN. Who would have Potter in their group and NOT feature him? He's a monster player. One of the greatest. In my opinion he's the current giant. If Brecker (RIP) had been on KIN do you think he would've had a passive role? No chance. So I think that KIN is another great album in Pat's catalog. What's next? Who knows? Maybe Lyle and Steve will get phone calls. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of the PMG. For now we have the PMUG and that's certainly a good thing.

I’ve been to every Metheny tour for the past 20 years. I’ve followed Pat anywhere he went, including Orchestrion, which I loved. Even Still Life, in all its … accessibility. Sorry, I don’t understand this album. Half of this sounds like cheap R&B, and not in the good sense. The synth sequences are quaint and uninteresting; really, these arpeggios are just awful. Potter's sax is far too dominant for me to hear or appreciate anything Pat is actually doing. And since they are almost always playing the Exact Same Melody (yes, I’m impressed you aren’t improvising?), wow it gets old. I’m pretty sure I’ve been hearing “We Go On” over department store PAs now for the better part of 15 years. I can barely believe they recorded that. This isn’t innovative, new, or interesting. I expect those things from Pat.

I like this one. The band is really tight like on “The Way Up”. The compositions have lots of rhythmic interest, and not too many vocal bits.

Pat never seem's to amaze me , we go back a way's First Circle , however he has done it again ! Sure I miss Lyle May's I've seen Pat in concert's about 7 times Mason Ohio.