I gave the new Dave Matthews Band disc a listen today, and I just don't get it anymore. I have been a fan of the band for a long time (since 10th grade in 1995?) and I just don't get their material anymore. Their stuff in the past was fun and jammy, but only because they always had some stuff that really moved me and made me want to sing along (think "Cry Freedom" or "Dreaming Tree.")
Even on Busted Stuff, I was in love with Grey Street for a while, but on this new one I am just not feeling it at all. They are still there with their amazing musicianship and all that stuff, but I am left wondering if this band is without the capacity to really just let themselves wander into the emotions like they used to do on past releases.
Maybe my tastes changed. I have been known to outgrow bands as they move along in their lifetimes, but at this point, I am going to blame the material and not my ears.
I read that they worked with a producer, all met with him separately and then went in and tried to craft an album. Maybe that has something to do with its relative blandness. I don't really want to slam the hell out of these guys because I really have liked a lot of their stuff in the past, but I just can't feel this album.
I will keep listening to see if the tide changes, but honestly, I have enough stuff to listen to nowadays that I won't spend a million years trying to figure it out.
Article comments
1 - lono
Well,
I looked at the producer yesterday and I didn't know his name. The producer of an album says more than you can imagine. For example, to me the great producers of the past were Steve Lillywhite (U2 & DMB) and Butch Vig (Nirvana & Smashing Pumpkins).
long story short, the absolute best producer in the business... and one I would wait five years for is Brendan O'Brian. His credits are too many to mention, but involve Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots etc.
I sadly stopped listening to Dave Matthews because Clear Channel just fuckin' killed him. They drove his songs into my head and into the ground. Grace is Gone was on every 40 minutes. So, I no longer listen to any Clear Channel at all (though there are very few alternatives) and have lost interest in DMB.
2 - tim
Congrats! You're getting old!
Don't worry, so am I...
DMB needs to keep expanding their sound to maintain in the music biz...
From a business side, collaboration with the producer of 50 cent was a good choice. It may open his audience to a new crowd.
"Before these crowded streets" is my favourite DMB album, but I was also 18 at the time it came out...
Good for Dave for expanding his styles, and maintaining relevancy...
Wish I could say the same about Weezer...
3 - Tom Johnson
The producer, Mark Batson, is a big name among hip-hop and r&b acts. He's handled Beyonce, India Arie, and Seal, among others.
I listened to this on the VH1.com preview the week before this album was released and my feelings were exactly the same as yours, Craig: bland, boring, and totally pointless. This just sounds like a band that doesn't care anymore, and is definitely a band I feel totally justified in not caring about anymore, either.
4 - Craig Lyndall
I am just glad I am not the only one. And yes, I know I am getting old, but at 26, I would like to think I can still figure out what relevant music is.
5 - Tony
I am actually kind of getting into Dave Matthews right now... But the older stuff. I think this albums feel has a lot to do with that production style of sampling the guys while they are alone and using that to build songs in the studio. Its interesting, but maybe not as much as a whole song that was written by one person and a guitar/piano/whatever while they were really *feeling* it. Maybe a mix of those production techniques would do DMB some justice.
6 - Lono
in a nutshell, the band is phoning it in. Also, they did some anti-piracy stuff on here y'all should be warned about. they filled the disc with data stuff (none of it useful) to confuse your computer into thinking it is software instead of just wave files.
7 - Corey Herlickson
After reading the comments I have to agree with some a disagree with others. As far the people that think that they are out growing the band, get real. Do you think that your parents out grew the Beatles? And for the others that think that DMB doesn't do be so far reaching. The facts of the matter are that DMB has unfortunately seen their songs get shorter over the last three albums (four if you count Dave's solo). They seem to have a more radio play feel. The long solliqueys that we used to enjoy of the violin and sax playing with one another are gone, as well are the rythmically changing beats of Carter's drums. I think that they are keeping that in live concerts but what are the other band members thinking when the only thing you really hear is Dave's voice now? What we have now are songs that are long enough so that non-true music lovers do not lose interest in the song as it is worn out by radio play. I can understand DMB's motivation is this agenda. More radio play = more money, which I do not feel is their only motivation but a big one none the less. Do you know that not one song on These Crowded Streets was less than 5 min? If I am correct every song on Stand Up is less than 5 min.
It is unfortunate that they have abandoned their old style that got people listeninig in cult like fashion, because that is what the true essence of DMB is, GETTING LOST IN LYRICS AND THE INSTRUMENTS! What I hear now is often lyrics that show some hints of the old DMB on newer songs.
I do feel that this album has got some strong songs particularily American Baby and the last song on the album the name of which I forget.
We can only hope that they continue to change so that they do not go out of sytle, but also that they return to what got them to where they are now, which are great music and great lyrics. Until the next album we can only hope.
8 - FilteringCraig
Those are some very good observations Corey. I hadn't really thought about it in terms of song length, but you are definitely on to something.
I guess it also makes me wonder why some bands don't use more of their earned artistic capital. The Dave Matthews Band has been successful enough since they started hitting it big in the mid 90's that they should command as much leeway in creating their art as anyone.
Maybe I am just naive as to how the biz really works though.
If only bands could learn from Tool. Make a record in your own time, and the way you want it. It can be dreadfully long in between Tool records, but you know you are getting something really special every time they release an album.
9 - Temple Stark
Craig I had the distinct pleasure of never having liked the Dave Matthews Band :-)
This now has another venue for success - and more eyes - at the Advance.net Web sites, a place affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
Even though it is a little delayed, also please let your contact know, if you had one, that this article, is published at one more place. That helps to show they get two?, three? for the "price" of one.
Thank you.
Temple Stark
10 - Nena
When the album was released there were a lot of mixed reviews. I didnt care much for the cd the first time I listened to it. Then it quickly grew on me. What really helped was hearing the new songs played live. Thats what did it for me. Now I love the cd.
11 - Garrett Allen
One must remember that times change. The musical lyrics which the Dave Matthews composes are ones that coincide with what is going on in his life. This is prevelant in the dark and depressing tunes on Lilly White Sessions. During this period of time Dave was going through alcohol and depression, making his music differ from past albums. Listeners should recognize and appriciate Stand Up, for Dave is speaking what is on his mind (unlike most artist these days, writing whatever to pay the bills). Yes, I agree the difference in musical selection turned me off to the album at first. But listeners, i know you are fans and have just as much say in how great this album is as I do, go out and research why he did what he did, and then maybe you will come to appriciate the musical genius that the album Stand Up is.