I've said a lot about Dave Matthew's Band latest album in my original review of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. From the first time I heard the lonely saxophone in the opener "Grux", flamboyantly followed by the energetic "Shake Me Like a Monkey", I knew I would be writing about this album on our Top Ten of 2009. Big Whiskey is pure and unadulterated DMB in all its pre-Stand Up glory: soaring, innovative melodies, varied and intricate drum beats, fantastic musicianship all-around.
In my opinion, the comeback album of the year. The band returns to form in every number, delivering songs with multiple parts and melodies (not the same boring chorus repeated over and over and over, a la "Louisiana Bayou"). Even in the radio-friendly single "Funny the Way It Is", Dave's vocals seem to have more spark and life than they did in half of the songs from their previous release. On other songs, Dave's vocals and the backups really come alive, like "Why I Am" and "Seven"; I missed DMB at the Gorge this year, but I can imagine these songs performed live. The whole sound of this album is bigger, not the sound of a cramped recording studio. Big Whiskey is a timely reminder why we still listen to DMB albums like Under the Table and Dreaming fifteenyears later. I would wager that Big Whiskey will still be making its rounds on my iPod playlist fifteen years from now.
The thing I love about Dave Matthews Band's music is that there's so much going on; even after hearing their songs a thousand times, I'll hear a new guitar riff or a drum fill - and their recordings are always spot on - I can hear the velocity of Carter's sticks and LeRoi's dynamics on the various wind instruments he plays. Their music is the perfect example of a band that has a distinct sound and variety among their songs. For this list I only used studio albums - they have a plethora of phenomenal live recordings, but that would have added another 100+ tracks to choose from.
1. Crush - Before These Crowded Streets - to date my all time favorite DMB song from my favorite DMB album. I love the jazz influence. There's a radio edit version I've heard - avoid it! The final flute solo, guitar/violin jam is divine. 2. #41 - Crash - actually their 41st song (originally titled "41 Police"), this is my favorite numbered-song-title song of theirs. love the meandering nature, progressions and final transition into the following song on the album "Say Goodbye". Again, LeRoi is magnificent. 3. Rapunzel - Before These Crowded Streets - like most of their music, wonderfully non-mainstream in their rhythm and sequence (who needs a chorus?). Another transition into the next song. Remember when album's were recorded with the intent of listening to them in their entirety and the songs were all part of a cohesive whole? This album is one of the first time's I was exposed to that dying art form. 4. Pig - Before These Crowded Streets - "Is this not enough? This blessed sip of life, is it not enough? Staring down at the ground. Oh, then complain and pray for more from above, you greedy little pig. Stop, just watch your world trickle away. Oh, it's your problem now It'll all be dead and gone in a few short years." These lyrics could've been in a emo-angst rock song, but they're not. This is one of the most optimistic and inspiring songs I've ever heard. 5. Two Step - Crash - Epic and beautiful. Stefan gets to shine on this song - I really like his bass part during the chorus, 2nd verse and the very end. 6. The Best of What's Around - Under the Table and Dreaming - I kinda feel like this is an underrated song. I've never heard it performed live, and no one seems to talk about it, but I think it's a great kick-off to a virtually perfect album (wait, it is perfect). 7. Ants Marching - Under the Table and Dreaming - I don't think a Dave Matthews Band concert would be complete without this song and Dave and Boyd dueling on the guitar and violin. 8. Tripping Billies - Crash - Carter's always amazing, but he's particularly impressive on this challenging song. The song title is supposedly inspired from a band member's girlfriend telling Dave they sounded like "a bunch of hillbillies tripping on acid". I don't hear it, maybe it was her... 9. Lie in Our Graves - Crash - surprisingly peppy given the title. I love the beat of this song. It's great for road-trips (along with "Drive In Drive Out") and a treat to hear live. 10. When the World Ends - Everyday - it's difficult choosing the last song, there's so many good ones, but I wanted to make sure I included the album Everyday in this top 10, because it really is fabulous, even if it does sound very different from the rest of their albums. Also recommended from Everyday are "So Right", "Fool to Think" and the title track.
First off, let me say this is a fantastic album. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't crazy about their previous release, Stand Up (2005), but Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is a wonderful return to form for the band. Everything I loved about their earlier albums - the jam style, songs with multiple parts and tempos, crazy beats and rhythms by Carter Beauford - have all returned in new and spectacular ways.
The album's been a long time in the making, beginning late 2007, the band worked on the album throughout 2008 at two studios in Seattle; they finished in 2009 in New Orleans. It's the first album to include Jeff Coffin on saxophone (who undertook LeRoi Moore's role since LeRoi's ATV accident in June 2008 and his passing on August 19, 2008). It's also the first album to include trumpeter Rashawn Ross and be produced by Rob Cavallo. The band also recorded with guitar virtuoso Tim Reynolds for the first time since Before These Crowded Streets (1998). The name of the album comes from a combination of the made-up word "GrooGrux" that Beauford used to describe the vibe and energy of the "wild-sounding rhythms" the band made up together, and a chance encounter with a drunk man in New Orleans who asked for money to buy "a big whiskey".
As mentioned before, the reason I first got into Dave Matthews Band was because of their innovation and phenomenal musicianship (I was in 9th grade and I'd never heard a contemporary band with a violin and a saxophone player - not to mention rhythms that weren't in standard time). I'd never heard music that borrowed sounds from so many different genres and mixed them together (jazz, rock, soul and country to name a few). One of the first concerts I ever went to was Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge and it was incredible (and as a result I mistakenly assumed all musicians were fantastic live and that all live performances enhanced their studio recordings with 20 minute jams). The same type of innovation and musicianship is evident on Big Whiskey. Some songs remind me of Before These Crowded Streets (like one of my favorites "Dive In) and some remind me of Under the Table and Dreaming. Others sound completely new, with bits and pieces from a variety of places, but none of it sounds recycled or generic. And unlike Stand Up, Big Whiskey makes good use of the band's unique instrumentation: the saxophone, violin and trumpet parts are wonderful to hear and an indelible part of the album. Whereas I felt like Carter Beauford was held back on Stand Up, here he gets to show off his chops (see Why I Am and Alligator Pie), reminding me why I think he's the most talented drummer in contemporary music.
As a whole, the album is a satisfying length with a tremendous amount of variety and hidden gems (a riff here, a sax solo there) - it's taken me many listens to get this far and I know there will be many more. My favorite tracks are "Dive In", "Shake Me Like a Monkey", "Seven" and "You & Me".
Fave tracks: "Dive In", "Shake Me Like a Monkey", "Seven" and "You & Me". RIYL: Before These Crowded Streets, O.A.R., Counting Crows
I found this cool playlist on imeem of the entire album so you can listen to snippets from each song. Enjoy!
