It's no secret that Dave Matthews Band is my second favorite band of all time (after The Beatles), so it shouldn't be a surprise that I chose Dave Matthews as my artist pick this week.Concentration on the Dave, mind you.
At first, I wanted to do Dave Matthews Band, and when we were still picking five CDs, I was going to tell you to listen to the first 5 and to hell with the new album. When we cut it down to four, I decided to switch things up. As well known as DMB is to a lot of people, I didn't know whether any of you were familiar with Dave's solo stuff.
After all, Dave is the founder of the band - the other members, as talented as they are (and they are), can come and go (noting the 2008 passing of saxophonist LeRoi Moore), but DMB can't exist without its South African lead singer and his unique charm.
I kind of cheated, because this is pretty similar to a post I did weeks ago on Bonnaroo Virgin about DMB headlining this year's fest (about which I am pretty pumped). Yes, you can see DMB in just about any city during their extensive tours, but I know their Bonnaroo show will be something special, and I can't wait.
A little background, I first was introduced to this Virginia-native band as a young girl (think "Under the Table and Dreaming") whose best friend's (Diane) older sister (Angie) was a dedicated Dave fan. In high school, the guy I dated (Andy) worshipped Dave and allowed me to purchase the albums only if I did so in the order that they originally came out. I'm not sure if listening to the band in its natural progression made that much of an impact or if it was meant to be, but I fell in love.
I got through "Everyday" just as "Busted Stuff" was being released, and I loved every album through that one. It was then that I saw the band live at what used to be Riverport Ampitheater (now Verizon Wireless), an experience I'd never forget.
After that, though, things dropped off a bit. I got really into Dave's solo release, "Some Devil," but I just couldn't bring myself to listen to "Stand Up." It reminded me of "Everyday" and "Before These Crowded Streets" mixed and muted, but it didn't strike a chord with me. I fell off and became a bad fan.
Luckily, DMB has renewed itself and my interest in them with their latest release, the Grammy-nominated "Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King," and I couldn't be more excited to see them live again and to listen to them with you this week.
The four albums I have chosen are as follows:
- DMB - Under the Table and Dreaming (1994)
- DMB -Before These Crowded Streets (1998)
- Dave Matthews - Some Devil (2003)
- DMB - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King (2009)
That being said, it was damn near excruciating having to eliminate three albums that I love, so I have something special in store for you - a "best of the rest" playlist. Do me a favor if you have a little extra time and comment on some of my favorites here as well - emphasis on my most-loved tracks, which include "Lie in Our Graves," "Granny," "Bartender" and "You Never Know."
I put some live Dave on there as well because some Dave just sounds better live ("Warehouse" and "Granny").
Oh, and watch this music video because it's my all-time favorite as well. (Note that this video stars 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander before he was anybody). I've always wanted to do this...
I meant to mention this above but I got carried away... listen to the band and the music, but concentrate on Dave. Compare and contrast his solo stuff to the band's stuff if you will.
ReplyDeleteFor me, whenever I hear the name Dave Matthews I automatically revert back to my high school years. That is when I was first introduced to him, through a boyfriend I shall not name. I think at the time that my appeal for Dave came from the fact that this guy I really liked was so into them, so I had to be into them as well. When our relationship ended, so did my desire for Dave Matthews. Over the years though, as I hear a Dave song on the radio I am actually quite surprised at how much I still enjoy listening. This week should be interesting since I have not heard any of Dave’s work of recent years.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone at some time or another has heard the album, “Under the Table and Dreaming.” This of course has so many hits on it, that everyone at some time or another has heard at least one song in their life. I can remember hearing the radio stations playing over and over “What would you say.” Which in all honesty is probably one of my least favorite Dave songs. It could be due to the fact that I feel like it was almost shoved down my throat from such constant playing. However, “Satellite” is one of my favorites, with the smooth acoustic guitar and lyrics that make you think on a deeper level. Now my favorite track on this album is probably “Typical Situation” I remember owning the album with Dave and Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College. I actually prefer the Live album to the studio albums, because it shows more emotion to me. This song on that album is truly superb. Then of course there is the very fun “Ants Marching.” Anytime I have ever seen a Dave concert on TV, whenever this song is played it just is like a funfest going on. Everybody singing, dancing, and smiling and I think that is what makes a Dave concert something everyone should experience. “Lover Lay Down” is another favorite, for me it, is just a beautiful song, which I have to say I prefer this song acoustically as well. This maybe what Laura was trying to get across about how all that is really needed is Dave and his guitar. That being said though, I think the band itself plays very well, but maybe should only be used on the more upbeat songs, to really create impact.
“Before these Crowded Streets” is the last album I had listened to of Dave before I fell off the bandwagon. I really like the song, “Rapunzel” this is a song that I definitely think requires use of the band. I have heard this song live as well and just love what the drums and violin add to the song. “The Last Song” is a really weird song for me; I like the aspect of the Egyptian sounding background, but really dislike Dave’s moaning in it. I just want him to stop moaning and let the band carry the song. “Stay” would be a great song if they would have cut out the back up singers. “Halloween” lives up to its title, with Dave seeming to try and growl the song as like some creepy monster or something. Once again I love the violin in this song, it really adds an atmospheric effect to the song. My favorite track on the album is “The Stone” I absolutely love the dramatic intro and how it just keeps growing louder and louder. For me it is probably the best intro of any Dave song ever. “Crush” is very reminiscent of “Crash” for me, not just because of the similar titles, but the whole tone of the song. It’s kind of simplistic, but has a beautiful, sexy sound to it. Dave sure does have a way of making music for lovers. “Dreaming Tree” is one of Dave’s better songs lyrically speaking. I also really like the lyrics in “Pig”, and how we should not spend our days worrying about what we can’t change, but to make the most of it, and find the love in everything. If only more of us could do that, the world would be a better place. For me this album really showcases the band, the songs are orchestrated such like a symphony and really bring emotional impact to each song.
First, to quote Beth, "Dave sure does have a way of making music for lovers." <------ This.
ReplyDeleteNow prepare for a novel.
This week has made me so happy, you don't even know. I'm so glad I picked Dave Matthews/DMB because although I've been calling them my favorite band for years, this week gave me more insight as to why. Originally, I had put them in my top slot, just behind The Beatles, because it was rare for me to have found a group/artist with five albums already out and not a single one I didn't love. Unfortunately, I went through a phase where these were the only five albums I listened to over, and over, and over again, and that has a tendency to burn a person out. This week I listened with a fresh perspective.
ReplyDelete"Under the Table and Dreaming" is more than a solid first effort, it's a gem. Starting off with "The Best of What's Around," Dave establishes himself as a peace-loving, glass-half full kind of artist; a poet with a few tips on living a better life. In high school and college, I lived by many of Dave's mantras. "Turns out not where but who you're with that really matters," hit home for me as a young person with a close-knit group of friends I would have done anything for and who would have done anything for me. On "What Would You Say," Dave continues with the "make your life a positive now because it's a gift that doesn't last forever" message, but he makes it a little more fun with imagery and pep. Plus, the band gets to show off with hot harmonica and sax solos. "Rhyme and Reason" and "Typical Situation" take the mood down a bit, but are both solid tracks leading into two of my all-time favorite DMB songs.
"Dancing Nancies" takes the "grass is greener on the other side" school of thought and turns it into a lesson about loving who you are in a beautiful way. "Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes, but I work it out and then I look up at the sky / my mouth is opened wide / lick and taste what's the use in worrying / what's the use in hurrying / turn turn we almost become dizzy." Hear this at a concert and try not to feel uplifted, I dare you. What I love so much about this song is that it showcases all of the band's strengths - besides brilliant instrumentals, Dave shows off his knack for poetic lyrics and the wide range of emotion displayed in his unique voice. "Ants Marching" is in the same boat. One of my favorite images in a song is his description of people on the city streets as "ants marching," going about their daily business and never stopping to smell the roses. (I should note that my fiddle instructor once tried to teach me how to play the fiddle solo. Needless to say, I wasn't at that level at the time, but with a little practice, one day I will be able to. Mark 1 on my bucket list.) "Jimi Thing" is another favorite of mine - and I love the line "what I want is what I've not got, but what I need is all around me." Besides that the song is just cool. "Warehouse" cannot be appreciated until you hear it live, which is why I added it to the playlist above. All in all, this album earned a 8.5/10 rating on my iPod. "Pay for What You Get" was the weakest track for me, but still earned 2 stars.
I know "Crash" is not one of the albums I selected for review this week, but I didn't think it would harm anyone if I went ahead and made some comments here (as I will do for a couple of other albums as well, I hope you don't mind). I gave it an 8.3/10. Though it had more 5 star songs than "Under the Table and Dreaming," a couple of weaker songs like "Cry Freedom" and "Proudest Monkey" brought the score down. Halfway through the week, I sort of regretted not including this album in place of "Under the Table," because I feel like the band grew from that album to this one and established a little bit of a better album flow. Part of the reason I didn't pick it was because I felt like this one would be more familiar territory and I wanted to introduce you to something newer. Both are quite similar to one another in most other aspects though. Top tracks include "So Much to Say"," "Crash Into Me" and "Too Much," which were all big radio hits you're probably familiar with, but the real gems here are the faster-paced "Two Step" ("Celebrate we will, cuz life is short but sweet for certain/ hey we climb on two by two / to be sure these days continue" - great line), the absolutely beautiful "#41," the dreamy "Say Goodbye" and my absolute favorite Dave song ever, "Lie In Our Graves." Although not lyrically as strong as some of their other songs (the lyrics actually are quite simple) the song is so uplifting and the instrumentals, which get the main focus here, hit the sweet spot (namely the fiddle and sax solos). If you don't listen to any of the other songs on my playlist, I beg you to at least hear this one.
ReplyDeleteI chose "Before These Crowded Streets" because it has a bit of a different feel to it - it's darker in a way. Like "Crash," each track flows into the next quite nicely. On "Rapunzel," one of my favorite tracks, Dave's put a kind of jazzy spin on his voice, which fits perfectly with the funky lyrics and rhythm of the instruments. I love the devotion he reveals in each line here - "I think the world of you / With all my heart I do / Blood through my veins for you / You are a part of me / I give my world to you / To you I will be true." "The Last Stop," "Don't Drink the Water" and "Halloween" are all kind of dark and creepy, which is an emotion the band hadn't really gotten into up until this point. Although I'd prefer he not use it often, I enjoy the feeling added to the "The Last Stop" simply by putting a rasp in Dave's normally smooth voice. See how good they are playing with our (their listeners') emotions? "The Stone" has a great buildup to tension, and then sweet release with the chorus "I was just wondering if you'd come along / hold up my head when my head won't hold on / I'll do the same if the same's what you want / (then picking up tension again) but if not I'll go, I'll go alone." "Crush" was a radio hit you might be familiar with - it's got a jazzy/bluesy feel and a sweet devotion and sensual sexuality I just fell in love with. The video for it is in all black and white, which is perfect because it fits the mood well. My other favorite tracks here include "Dreaming Tree," about the wonder of dreaming when you're young and how those dreams die out as you get older, and "Pig," which has kind of a light feeling that's a nice follow-up to all this dark, heaviness. "From the dark side we can see the glow of something bright" says it all. This track would fit nicely into either of the previous two albums with its message of "all things must come to an end sometime, but don't burn the day away." I also love "love, what more is there?" as a variation of John Lennon's "All You Need is Love" idea. I see a lot of correlation in the way these guys think at times. I gave this album 8.7/10 stars.
ReplyDelete"Everyday" pissed a lot of die-hard Dave fans off, with its move away from acoustic guitars in favor of plugging in. At this point, they became more radio-friendly and more pop-py. Might this have anything to do with the hoards of frat "bros" that are into this music today? Maybe, maybe not. To me, though, it wasn't all bad. Though "I Did It" may seem to some like DMB were selling out, I thought it sounded like a more contemporary version of formerly popular tracks "So Much to Say" and "What Would You Say." "When the World Ends" is a great song. "The Space Between," while solid, is admittedly a little cutesie. "So Right" is one of my favorite tracks on the album. I was so in a "roll 'til it's light, stay up and make some memories" kind of phase in my life that it really hit home for me. I was dating Andy when I heard this album for the first time, and this song/album also reflected how I felt at the time. All teen "love" - "our love is so right / I wouldn't waste a minute here tonight"; "I'm going crazy over you /I'm going under over you." Other strong tracks include "If I Had It All," "What You Are" and, of course "Everyday," the music video for which inspired me in my "all you need is love" phase (which I'm still not completely over). Hell, it even says in the song "all you need is, all you want is, all you need is love." I gave "Everyday" the album 7/10 stars.
ReplyDeleteDMB went back to what they were best at on "Busted Stuff," which is the only album of the first five I heard right when it came out. I loved it (8.7/10 stars). The title track and radio tracks were strong as ever - "Grey Street" and "Where Are You Going," which happened to be emotional for me as a senior in high school whose friends would leave for college and other endeavors that following fall. The high point for me was "You Never Know," which threatened "Lie in Our Graves"'s spot as my favorite DMB track of all time (and is also on the above playlist). The lyrics are amazing; so full of childlike wonder. "Funny, when you're small/the moon follows the car/does no one but you see/hey, the moon is chasing me" totally embodies what it's like being a child. "Grace is Gone" is the heartwrenchingly beautiful story of a man who's lost his love and therefore, in his mind, everything, and chooses to drink his troubles away. That theme will continue in another of my favorite tracks here, "Bartender," which actually made me cry because it coincided with my finding out Cory had cancer. It's also very religious, which is a theme that continues to crop up more in their later stuff (especially in his solo work). Surprisingly, it doesn't bother me, and in some cases actually makes me more interested. I'm not religious because I don't believe any one religion should tell me what to believe, but it's romantic to think there's a higher power out there. Lastly, "Big Eyed Fish" uses mini-stories and imagery to send a strong message about not trying to be what you're not, which I love.
ReplyDelete"Some Devil," though I didn't rate it, probably ranks somewhere close to everyday, but not as high. So it's not the strongest effort, which shows that the band does have its impact, but there are some high points here as well. "Save Me," is actually quite timely being that it's Lent right now. "Driving through the desert I met a man /Who told me all his crazy plans /He'd been walking there for 20 days / he was gonna walk on for 20 more" .... "save me, stranger if you please/ or am I too far gone to get back on" is obviously alluding to Jesus. It's an incredibly powerful song anyway you slice it. Dave's solo stuff is, on the whole, more subdued and more religious, but the emotion remains intact, thank God (no pun intended). I'm glad I chose this album even though I would have enjoyed another one of the band's CDs more, because I think "Some Devil" helps it become more obvious, how much of DMB is actually Dave's genius. "Dodo" is really pretty. The title track is emotional and works well stripped down to the guitar and Dave's voice, and is very subdued but accessible to anyone who's ever been through a bad breakup. The strongest tracks are VERY strong and include "So Damn Lucky," which for all its sweetness is actually about a car accident, and "Stay or Leave," which is just downright hauntingly beautiful (and still gives me chills every time). My favorite track here though is "Gravedigger." Acoustic or regular - pick your poison - this song is amazing. I remember when I was younger I used to go to the cemetery with my dad to see my grandparents' graves, and across the street was a section of gravestones that were aged and worn from the 1800s. I remember wondering who each of those people were in their lives and how they died. This song satisfies that morbid curiosity whether these stories are what really happened or what Dave is imagining did. If you like the song, I urge you to check out the music video.
ReplyDeleteTwo years after "Some Devil," the band put out "Stand Up" (2005). I don't know whether I just didn't have any motivation to listen, something Beth noted earlier, or if I was in burn out mode, but I just didn't get it. Granted, I still, to this day, have not given it the chance it at least deserves. I will say I enjoyed the one single that came off it, "American Baby." Apart from that, DMB faded into obscurity for me for a time.
In 2009, I felt refreshed and ready to jump back into it with "Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King." I waited for it to come out that June, but when it did I only listened like once and fell off a bit for awhile. Eventually, the word on the street was that the new album, the band's first since the death of saxophonist LeRoi Moore, had earned Grammy nominations for Best Rock Album and Album of the Year (even though it eventually lost to Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown" and Taylor Swift's "Fearless," respectively). Though the Grammys are crap, I decided to go back and give the album, which I hadn't hated the first go 'round, another listen because sometimes it takes me awhile to get into music. The first single "Funny the Way It Is," sounded like a throwback for me, and reinvigorated my interest in DMB. Listening on, I was surprised at the number of tracks that sounded familiar to me - having stuck with me after just one listen. The instrumental "Grux" sets the mood for the album and sets off DMB's unique qualities because even though Dave's voice is absent - it completely embodies their sound. "Shake Me Like a Monkey" could have worked on "Everyday" or "Before These Crowded Streets," with the tone of Dave's voice and somewhat racy lyrics... It appears they haven't lost their ability to compel me. "Lying in the Hands of God" has some interesting acoustic guitar work that I haven't heard on previous tracks. Other strong tracks include the high-energy "Why I Am," "Dive In," the sweet "Baby Blue" and the upbeat "You and Me," which closes the album on a high note. "Alligator Pie" is interesting because it's got a bluegrassy feel that's new to the whole Dave scene, but a welcome addition for me that I'd like to see more of in the future. All in all, this album is really strong. There isn't a single track that I don't like. Although I don't know it well enough to rate it yet, I think it'll hold its own against the others for sure.
ReplyDeleteHell, maybe I'll even break down at some point and listen to "Stand Up" (and start liking it). I guess "You Never Know." <----- me being cheesy as all get out
Dave Matthews is a unique artist. He is parts adult contemporary, jazz, alt-country, and blues amongst other genres. It’s a sound that is unique to only Dave and which is why his fanbase is wide-reaching and devoted. I enjoy a lot of his early albums, as they were soundtracks to many parties throughout my youth; his ability to put together an impressive ensemble of musicians lends to his lush and rewarding sound. I honestly haven’t sat and given my attention to a Dave album in a long time and I’m particularly interested in listening to his newest album, which received plenty of critical acclaim.
ReplyDeleteUnder The Table has many enjoyable layers to it. You have the amazing Boyd Tinsley on the violin who patiently waits for his chance to shine, especially on “Ants Marching”. The real star for me is the late LeRoi Moore on sax, who steals the show; he can be very seductive and restrained on tracks like “Lover Lay Down” and “#34” he could also unflinchingly pierce a song very forcefully like on “Warehouse”. Stefan, who was a favorite of an ex, keeps the bassline extra funky on “Jimi Thing” which is my favorite track on the album. Dave serves as the maestro, “Rhyme & Reason” makes Dave out to be the Pied Piper leading the rest of the band around with his hypnotic guitar picking. It was fun getting reacquainted with this album.
Before These Crowded Streets was not as familiar to me as Under The Table or Crash, which were my favorite Dave albums. The only time I’ve seen Dave live was at my first Bonnaroo and “Rapunzel” was a stand-out performance, as the band really jammed on this track. “The Last Stop” is a middle-eastern mess that makes me wonder if any Dave fan can really get into this song? “Don’t Drink the Water” makes a pretty strong statement about how we as selfish people have destroyed a lot of the beautiful landscape of America. Dave has a way of hypnotizing the listener with the way he sings, it can be woozy, wavy, and carefree which puts me at ease and lets me sink into the song. I love the beginning of “The Store” as I get the feeling of being in a spaghetti-western; following that up with the jazzy “Crush” made a great 1-2 punch and was the highlight of the album for me. Surrounded by amazing musicians, Dave is able to create these very lush musical landscapes like on “Dreaming Tree” were the atmosphere created from the music is nearly tangible.
“Some Devil” was kind of interesting because it has my all time favorite Dave song on it, however very little else stood out for me on here. “Dodo” is a nice smooth song I could picture playing as some background music. “Gravedigger” is a very haunting song, that the more and more I listen to it really grows on me. I like the fact that it is just Dave and his guitar, and this is a great song to show off his solo capabilities. The next few tracks did not stand out very much for me. We then get into “Stay or Leave” which is my all time favorite Dave song. This is Dave at what he is good at, making baby making music. Every single thing about this song I love, the guitar, the lyrics, the atmosphere, it is sheer genius. Another thing about this song is that I actually like the studio version and live version the same. “Oh” is another song I really liked on this album. It kind of makes me think of a Jack Johnson song or something along those lines. With it’s light and airy sound, and happy, loving lyrics. Overall this album was a little more on the mellow side, and while it shows that Dave can put out his own work w/o the band, some of that intensity that I like about his music is missing.
ReplyDelete“Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King” starts off with “Shake me like a Monkey” an even more powerful sound then I am used to hearing from DMB. It could be that I am just coming off of “Some Devil” which was a much softer album, so I am interested to see how this album pans out. “Lying in the hands of God” is a very nice song, and I would be interested to hear it acoustically as I think it could be a song that would be even better live. “Why I Am” has that upbeat tempo that sounds like it would be fun to hear at a concert, with everybody dancing around to it “Squirm” is more on the dark/heavy side, and really stood out for me because it is as hardcore as I think Dave can get. I love the pounding drums and how the tempo just builds and builds. I really like the arrangement on “Baby Blue” it is another beautifully done song. I had a hard time really commenting on this album because I was only able to get through it once, while I was already familiar with the first two albums, and got to listen to Some Devil on a couple occasions this week. I will definitely have to give it another listen sometime down the line.
What I will take with me this week, is that I think Dave would not be the artist he is today without having the band with him. While his solo work is good, it seems to be lacking that impact that only the band can bring. Having said that, there are occasions where I prefer to hear Dave with just him and the guitar. That is what is great about DMB, you can rock out on the studio albums, or if you want a more mellow Dave you can buy one of his live albums with Tim Reynolds. Either way Dave is one of those artists that I think almost everyone can find at least one song they connect to or like.
I also have to say that I really liked the video for “Everyday.”
I think just about everyone our age in America has gone through a Dave Matthews phase at one time or another. He's always been big around college campuses, and because of this I think he's kind of gotten an unfair shake as far as many of the more respected music critics in the country go. They see his fusion of adult contemporary and jazz (among many, many others) as sort of pandering to the types of people that like to sit around and smoke the drugs all day, but I think this completely loses touch with the unbelievable musicianship of the members of the Dave Matthews Band.
ReplyDeleteRight from the beginning, the thing that jumps out at you when listening to any Dave Matthews Band album is just the sheer musical tightness of the band itself. Dave is a great acoustic guitar player, but for me the true greatness of the band lies in the other members of the band. Stefan Lessard (who interestingly was only 20 years old when this album was released) was most definitely a prodigy at the bass guitar, and the lines he plays jump up and down the scales in a way that few can match. Carter Beauford is the time-keeper, and his drum fills are often a sound to behold. The real magic for me though is in the violinist Boyd Tinsley and the recently deceased saxophone player Leroi Moore. These two guys are often able to elevate the music from merely pretty to breathtaking, especially Tinsley's ability to create an atmosphere of dread at times that goes against everything you might expect from DMB.
'Under the Table and Dreaming' is easily one of the two most well known Dave Matthews Band albums, and is also easily one of the best. Opener "The Best of What's Around" immediately sets the tone for the sound of DMB with its laid back, slightly jammy feel. Right around the 3 minute mark, when the "hey la" section starts, Leroi's saxophone is able to just kind of roam freely, and it's a beautiful sound. "Typical Situation" is another great song with its slightly haunting intro, which leads into a more upbeat chorus before descending once more into a sort of melancholy....Dave's voice sounds better on this track than on possibly any other song in the bands catalog. Later on in the album is the best one-two punch the band has, with "Jimi Thing" and "Warehouse". The former was one of the singles from the album, and in my opinion was the best single that the band has released. It reminds me of hanging out with friends in the summertime, and creates an atmosphere that I love to return to...along with Boyd Tinsley's amazing violin solo. "Warehouse", meanwhile, is most definitely my favorite DMB song. It starts off with a great little acoustic riff, and then Tinsley and Moore join the show and create this wonderful tension that is pretty magical. The band then goes into a little upbeat section that gives you a chance to take a breath, before hitting you with the violin again. I could listen to this song on repeat for hours, I think. If I have any qualms with this album (and with Dave Matthews altogether), it's that his lyric writing is often pretty sub-par....but if you listen for the atmosphere they're able to create, this album is definitely worth hearing more than once.
'Before These Crowded Streets' is similar to the bands two previous albums, but it sees Dave in what appears to be a pretty pissed off mood. As Justin said, "The Last Stop" is pretty much just a middle-eastern influenced mess, but Dave's snarling throughout the song is an indication of some of what's to come throughout the rest of the album. "Don't Drink the Water" is a nice return to good music, though, and Dave is rightfully pissed off in this one according to the subject matter. My only complaint with this song is that I actually wish whoever mixed the album would have pushed Alanis Morissette's backing vocals a little higher up in the mix...I think it would have added a nice element that is kind of missed as it was released. "Halloween" has a sound that you might expect from a song with such a title, as it's pretty dark and also contains a pretty great ending. "The Stone" reminds me quite a bit of "Warehouse" from the first album and is probably my second favorite DMB song. "Crush", which starts off with one of the more recognizable bass lines of 90s alt rock, is by far my favorite of the Dave Matthews "love songs", with the atmosphere creating being great enough to overcome the extremely cheesy lyrics the song contains. Overall, this album is kind of spotty, but the highs it contains are pretty great.
ReplyDeleteDave's solo album 'Some Devil' really only contains a couple of songs that stand out, in my opinion. My enjoyment of his music is mostly due to the other members of his band, so without their contributions I lose a bit of interest. "Dodo" is a pretty good opening track, and contains a nice chorus. "Gravedigger" is my favorite on the album, and is a pretty nice idea for a song in general. Dave does a good job sounding a bit scary during the song, and I think his tone fits the subject matter very well....and I enjoy the stories he tells. "Stay or Leave" in my opinion is a little over-rated, but nonetheless is still a fairly enjoyable song, mostly due to the orchestration it contains. The rest of the album just kind of floats by every time I've heard it, however...I think Dave's made the right decision in sticking with his band for most of his recorded output.
After not enjoying the last three Dave Matthews Band albums at all, listening to 'Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King' was kind of a surprise. While it certainly wasn't up to the standards of his first three albums, it was certainly better than everything he's done in the past 10 years. "Shake Me Like a Monkey" has a triumphant sounding horn section, but other than that is too cliched sounding for my liking. "Funny the Way It Is" can join the ranks of DMB's best songs, and sounds more like the old Dave Matthews Band than anything I've heard in a long time....despite the inclusion of electric guitars (which I still don't like at all in the bands sound). "Lying In the Hands of God" is one of Dave's better vocal performances, showing that he's still got the ability to sing a pretty song when he needs to. Coming in to listening to this album, I thought I hadn't heard anything off it, but then I instantly recognized "Why I Am". It's definitely a catchy tune, and one of the better songs on the album....and a very good choice for a single. As Laura said, "Alligator Pie" introduces a bit of a new wrinkle in the bands sound, and in my opinion is a very welcome addition. It's amazing to me that the banjo has been so underused by DMB, as it seems to fit right into their music like a glove. So while definitely not being a perfect record by any means, this is definitely a step up in quality for the Dave Matthews Band, and has me a little more interested in seeing them perform at Bonnaroo this June. (By the way, the cover art for this album is absolutely terrible.)
ReplyDeleteWhen Dave released Under the Table and Dreaming, I remember getting hooked into the humorous lyrics of The Ants Go Marching and What Would you Say, but did not like much else that he put out. In fact, all other efforts that I had heard on the radio from Dave, I actually despised with every fiber of my being. About two years ago, I rented all of the Dave albums (yes all of them), and attempted to get into him, but quit after listening to Crash and Some Devil. That being said, I was not looking forward to this week at all.
ReplyDeleteI think anything I heard that mentioned the word ‘Monkey’ would have appealed to me back in 1994 when Under the Table and Dreaming was released. Upon going back through it, I was surprised that What Would You Say was still as catchy as it was back then. In 1994, I hadn’t really heard anything quite like Dave, so it was easy to be intrigued then. Even today, there aren’t a whole lot of comparable artists, so I have to give him props for being unique. Satellite and Ants Go Marching were also just as good as I remembered. A couple of tracks that were much better today than they were then are Rhyme and Reason and Typical Situation.. I am finding in these albums that I really like Dave’s angry growl, which he pulls out for the first time in Rhyme and Reason. Through that voice, I can feel the sense of desperation that he is portraying with the lyrics. In Typical Situation, I really like the underlying violin that appears sporadically in this track. It reminds me of an awesome track by Billy Howerdel’s Ashes Divide called Sword. The rest of the tracks do absolutely nothing for me.
Up front, I have to say that Before these Crowded Streets surprised the shit out of me. I found with some of his other efforts that the songs were quite boring and ran together. A lot of them were kind of happy-go-lucky like some of the Travis albums, which I find completely unrealistic, but this album had a lot of up-beat tracks and was pretty much in your face the whole time. Rapunzel is an all-out excellent track. Dave throws every hook that he has in his repertoire into this one and the band’s various solos are awesome, in particular the violin one. The 6 minutes was non-stop fun. The underlying Egyptian sound of The Last Stop sucks you in from the start and Dave puts a lot of anger into his voice which we all know that I love. I have heard Don’t Drink the Water, Stay, and Crush before on the radio and they were better than I remember. Especially Don’t Drink the Water where I hear one of my favorite artists in Alanis Morissette performing the backing vocals. Halloween is my favorite track on the album with a very dark tone and Dave sounds like Jack from the Shining throughout this entire song. The very raw sound from Dave and the orchestration of the band results in a truly awesome track with an appropriate name. I love the violin on The Stone. It reminds me of the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack, which is amongst my favorites. I also really like the long dark them of The Dreaming Tree. Pig was forgettable and I don’t necessarily like the folk aspect of Spoon, but I suspect Beth will.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how this happened, but I was quite certain that I saw ‘Everyday’ in the list of albums, so I went ahead and reviewed this as well. Unfortunately, Everyday sounded the same now as it did then. Everyday starts off with I Did It which is one of the tracks I have heard on the radio and despised. Space Between can also be thrown into that category. Here is the problem I have with these type albums, the only mood I could be in to listen to it, is if I wanted to listen to it and feel absolutely nothing. For most of the album, this just goes in one ear and out the other. There aren’t any subjects I can relate to, there’s no emotion whatsoever, and without knowing who they are, I would have no idea that this was a multiple piece band. Mother Father is the lone exception to this where the band is heavily involved, Dave is getting that growl back in his voice, and the topic is extremely relevant to all audiences. This song really gets into the follow-up piece I wrote for Ten Years and possibly Beth’s comment about how Lamb of God is not helping the situation. I just wish I could feel that sense of passion that he puts into this track in all of them. It just seems like he is trying to make radio friendly tracks. Granted a song like this probably wouldn’t do well on the radio because, quite frankly, people would rather remain ignorant to these issues than hear some real life shit. Everyday is another radio track, but this is better than most.
To be blunt, Some Devil was one of the most boring albums that I have ever heard. To its credit, each song does have its own sound, so I didn’t ever feel like I didn’t notice that the song changed. This could be due to me continuously checking to see how much longer I had to endure. Gravedigger, while still having a slower tune, did have a story that caught my attention. Pretty interesting to put yourself in a corpse’s position and have last requests for the last person that will ever see you. I guess I find it humorous that the acoustic version is more upbeat than the album version. Save Me was the other exception on this album as it was the most upbeat and had a bluesy feel to it. My guess is that this album single-handedly ended my efforts to get into Dave two years ago. My opinion has not changed at all.
ReplyDeleteThe first track on Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King is a complete relief after Some Devil. I almost desperately missed the band and they made their presence felt on Shake Me Like a Monkey. Just like in 1994, any song with the word monkey in it is an A+ song in my book. This song is a little heavy and has a bit of funk that we haven’t heard from Dave before. The next set of tracks kind of alternate between decent and painful. Lying in the Hands of God, Dive In, and Baby Blue remind me of lullabys we might sing to Madden, not something on an album titled Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King. The Arabian sound of the flute in Squirm reminds me of The Last Stop from Before These Crowded Streets. The chorus is kind of creepy, and sounds like a something a cult would repeat at a séance. Alligator Pie sounds exactly as you would expect with a southern rock feel and goofy lyrics. This one definitely held my interest. The chorus on Seven was quite catchy and I liked hearing the emotion he put into this song. This was a nice change of pace from many of the other tracks on his albums. Time Bomb was the first time that I heard that growl in a couple albums, so I am glad to hear that is still in his repertoire.
Overall, I am hit or miss with Dave. Several tracks just lack that wow factor that Simon Cowell often references. However, sporadically on every 4th track, he kicks it in gear and is top notch as far as originality and raw talent. On every single album it sounds as though it probably only took one or two takes in the studio. This is a quality that I certainly admire as you often see that artists are not able to recreate the studio sound live. This definitely exceeded my expectations and I have every intention of picking up Before These Crowded streets and plucking off various other tracks to form a personal favorites disk. As much as I respect him as an artist, I am not sure his music career will every be able to top his role in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. Oh, and I dare you to attempt the events in your music video in Alton.
Some Devil was not an easy listen for me; I really think Dave thrives in a big group environment. I found the first half of this album to be dreadfully slow and leaning more towards the female listener. “Dodo” serves as a buffer between Dave’s band output and this new solo project as it has that pleasant adult-contemporary radio friendly goodwill that Dave is great at creating. “Some Devil” and “An’ Another Thing” seem like they’re never going to end and are very self-indulgent. I agree with Beth about Dave doing a great Jack Johnson impersonation on “Oh”, although I feel Jack has stolen more of his sound from Dave. “Up and Away” is a great song for this solo album as I feel under the DMB moniker this song would never get past the cutting room floor; Reggae seems to suit Dave and the song didn’t seem forced or weird. The crescendo at the end of “Too High” was TOO late as this was another track that just trudged on. I understand why Dave wanted to make this album, he wanted to be able to stand out on his own and make a name for himself as a solo artist and songwriter; the very sullen or even the sexy persona he leans heavily on proves to be boring and not enough to carry an album.
ReplyDelete“Grux” is very haunting considering the passing of LeRoi. Big Whiskey is a welcome back to that “big” sound and magic that happens when Dave collaborates with his band. I love the horns on “Shake Me Like a Monkey” and the overall fun that this album gets back to. “Squirm” is an exciting heavy turn for Dave and I am really looking forward to seeing him perform it live in June. The Cajun flavor of “Alligator Pie” gives me the feeling of sitting on a dusty porch somewhere in the French Quarters and listening to some locals jam on a humid afternoon. Each track on Big Whiskey flows seamlessly into the next making it a great overall listen. Dave is hugely successful for a reason; he is a talented bandleader and unselfish collaborator.
I didn't read this a few days ago because David gave me the impression that the opinions that didn't mesh well with mine would hurt my feelings personally - but I couldn't stay away for long and I'm glad I decided to stop in. Overall, I am happy about how this week went, and not really surprised at all. Your negative responses, while on the whole seemed more positive than negative really, reflect well what casual listeners out in the real world think.
ReplyDeleteA few things-
*I totally agree with all of you - "Some Devil" is this week's weakest effort, by far. I chose it, not because I liked it, but because I wanted to hear what you had to say about Dave himself, stripped of the band. Mostly, I agree that the band really adds something to the other albums that we're just missing here. That being said, unlike all of you, Dave is my favorite member of that band, so I went into "Some Devil" when I heard it with positive expectations. While only a few of the tracks really appealed to me at all, the ones that did left an overwhelmingly positive impact on me. I like that Beth loves "Stay or Leave," because that and "Gravedigger" are my two favorite tracks on that album - but it doesn't surprise me David thinks it's overrated for some reason. No matter.
On "Under the Table and Dreaming" I thought it was interesting most of you named "Typical Situation" as one of the strongest tracks, because I gave it one of the lowest ratings of the entire album. It's pretty, but it's lacking something special for me.
I like that most of you seemed to enjoy "Before These Crowded Streets." As "Under" and "Crash" have always gotten the attention I feel like this one sometimes gets overlooked.
Thomas, I hear you on "Everyday," I do, but a devoted Dave fan will hear something she likes in just about anything he or she sets his or her mind to. It is the weakest of the band's efforts by far, but with repeat listens, some of the tracks really stuck with me.
The only thing I was a polar opposite on was David's assertion that the songwriting here is typically weak. As you can tell from my reviews, I have always thought the exact opposite of that. I realize that most of the band's ideas are simple and no they aren't musical novels by any means - but they flow nicely, sound great coming out of Dave's mouth, and are incredibly accessible in the sense that that wide fan-base you mentioned can actually connect with each and every one of these songs, and that's powerful stuff, whether or not the critics say it is.