W00T!!! BUSTED STUFF -- DMB!!!

W00T!!!

I will post more soon, just wanted to brag

Have to pick up my car from the shop -- be back to elaborate on the most anticipated DMB CD ever (IMO)!!!!

 

Alright, here we go. I'm going to post a song by song review as I listen to them.

CAUTION: SPOILERS















1. <b>Busted Stuff</b> -- Nice Start. The bass is MUCH more articulate in this version than on LWS. It does remind me very much of the LWS version. It's an interesting song to lead off with because it is a REALLY mellow song, but still has some pep. Ah, and there's Leroi. NICE!!! I love his solo in this. Dave is doing his little scat-like singing . NICE. The song turned out to be a bit too short though. I wish the Leroi solo would've gone on longer.

2. <b>Grey Street</b> -- One of my very favorite LWS Songs. So far it sounds about the same. Dave is much more prominent in his voice in this version -- MUCH more articulate lyrics. Again, the bass is much more articulate now than on the LWS version. Now, I'd heard that the bass was the last part of LWS that needed to be tweaked before release, so that's probably why it wasn't as prominent. WHOA some backup lyrics? Or was that an echo effect? BTW, this is kindof a stream of consciousness thing so it may be confusing. Ah, it's an echo effect. I LOVE IT!!! Dave doesn't have as much force in this version as the LWS. His singing is a bit more subdued. Boyd sounds great!!! I wish his part would be a bit more prominent in the music though. It's kindof faded into the back a bit more than I'm used to from the concerts. Dave keeps singing/yelling until the end.

3. <b>Where are you going?</b> -- So far it sounds much the same as the radio version, but the music has more definition. Not much to say about this so far. It's as good as it was when I first heard a live version of it. Carter is really what makes this song IMO. Without his masterful art on the drums, this song wouldn't be nearly as awesome as it is. And Leroi does a fantastic job. Something I've noticed in the more recent shows and throughout Everyday and Busted Stuff (so far) is that Boyd has a reduced role. I hope that is just temporary. He seems to have become more backup than front and center. I hope it's just me though.

4. <b>You Never Know</b> -- Personally, my most anticipated song. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. DREAM!!! So far, it's awesome!! Boyd is setting the mood great!! It seems a bit slower than in concert. Dave's vocals are very much in the forefront of this track. It is AWESOME!! It seems . . . wait, there's that echo/backup singing again. I don't like it here This song is good enough without it. It's only been a bit of it in the past few songs and I already feel like it's a bit of an overkill. Maybe I just need to get used to it. Anyways, back to what I was saying, it seems that they've REALLY captured the mood of this song. Dave is way up at the forefront and you're focusing on his vocals, but you can hardly ignore all of the diverse textures and melodies going on in the background. It seems to be a perfect stage for the song. Everything is going on so much and so quickly, but Dave and the vocals are so relaxed and mellow in the pace of everything that's going on. Almost as if they are following him, and he's just going off wherever he wants with the music. Just like I am with this review EVERYDAY SHOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO DIE!!! I wish that line were a bit more forceful, like it is in the concerts. Same with the "Dream!" at the end. And again with the echo. It is annoying, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Again, this one seems to be slower than the concert. DREAM!!! The music in the back is AWESOME!!! WOW!!!
LOVE IT!!!

5. <b>Captain</b> -- Whoa, this sounds different!!! Tempo is picked up. Not quite as sad and dark as usual. I hope they don't do the echo . . . oh wait, there it was. Lyrics are a bit different. The one neat thing about Captain is that it has traditionally been such a tremendously rare song. Dave's usually played it solo, and even then it's very rare. The lyrics have always been different. This one seems to be very well refined. It loses some of its charm, but then again, it gains meaning. In fact, the meaning seems to be much more upbeat now. So far, I am disappointed with this song in comparison with LWS. This one is very busy. That has become more prominent in recent DMB songs. Some songs it fits well (Grey Street), but I don't feel it in Captain. Not to say this is bad -- NOT AT ALL!! It's awesome, but I kindof like LWS better.

6. <b>Raven</b> -- This is a very interesting song. The lyrics have changed it seems every time it's been sung. I'm LOVING it so far. And there's that Echo again. This new producer really likes that effect. Too much, IMO. So far, this is the song I have to say is the most superior to the LWS version. WHOA!!! BOYD JUST EXPLODED!! I LOVE IT!!! Gosh, I have never enjoyed Raven as much as this version. It's awesome! The music is so intricate in this one -- everyone gets in on the act, just like I mentioned in the last song. But this one seems to be very organized chaos. Everyone is working at the same goal, but it seems that they all go off on different tangents. And there goes the Leroi Moore solo. FANTASTIC!!! This is huge. Raven has become my front-runner for best song on the CD. Oh neat fade-out. A++++!!!

7. <b>Grace is Gone</b> -- Wow, the very beginning sounds like something I've heard in Keb' Mo and other blues before, then it goes to the familiar music. So far I'm loving it too. Leroi is adding a lot to it. Bass is much more articulate in this one than in the LWS. The whole band is much more prominent. I'm very impressed. So far I'm missing Boyd though. IMO, he adds a tremendous amount to the song. I hope he comes in later. Leroi is doing a great job, but I'm missing Boyd. AND THERE IS THAT DAMNED ECHO AGAIN!!! WHAT IS IT WITH THIS GUY AND THE ECHO EFFECT!! IT HAS ITS PLACE, BUT NOT EVERY 20 SECONDS!!! The song has picked up its pace a lot in the end. Leroi is what makes this song IMO. He really adds a lot to it. ANd there's Boyd. So far I like it, but I wish he'd have more prominence. Dave has called this "the country song" before -- it would be more country-ish with the violin/fiddle having more prominence. The jury's still out on this one IMO.

8. <b>Kit Kat Jam</b> -- wow, well, talk about your subtle changes. After GIG, this thing packs a whallop!! So far it's great. It seems to have a bit of funk in it. Leroi is really the front-runner so far. And I'd heard rumors that this song would have no words -- it doesn't appear to. It is just an awesome Jam. WHOA!! THAT IS NEAT. All the sudden the whole band comes together in this at around 1:50. Then they all go on their separate ways again, all doing different things in the song. I'm still not hearing a tremendous amount from Boyd. Leroi is front and Center though. Very neat. So far, it's a very cool jam. Not sure what to say about it.

9. <b>Digging a Ditch</b> -- This has to be one of my favorite songs on LWS. It's so unique. The beginning is much different than the LWS version. I hope there's no echo on this. And now the band is into it. This song is very organized. It's always been. Dave's guitar is much more significant in this version than in the other ones. It seems to be more "busy". Leroi has a really nice thing going here. Boyd still just seems like an ancillary item though. He's here, but not nearly as prominent as I'd like. But that may just be me. The neatest thing about this song so far is that it really builds up. It starts off so simple, then it gets more complex and "into it" than at the beginning". I am not sure about this song. I REALLY loved the LWS version, but this one is awesome too. It ends like LWS. Very nice and slowly.

10. <b>Big Eyed Fish</b> -- When I first heard the LWS, this was my very favorite song on there. I'm LOVING it so far. It's awesome. It's better than LWS, but not by much. I like the lyrics in this one better. I'm wondering if it's gonna be "Stay up in your f***ing tree" for the monkey . . . Dave doesn't hit the highest notes that he does on the LWS. He seems more restrained on this one. And here's the monkey. Neat lyrics . . . No F***ing tree here, but it's pulled off well nonetheless. The whole band shreds on this one, but again Boyd is not as prominent as I'd like to see/hear him. The singing here at the end is neat. And now it's beginning its flow into Bartender. Very cool so far. It's a more abrupt shift than in the concerts . . . well, not necessarily more abrupt, but it doesn't flow as nicely. And I'd like to hear the pennywhistle intro to Bartender.

11. <b>Bartender</b> -- Some have said it's the best song that Dave has written. I don't know if I agree or not. It is fabulous. It's very deep. The lyrics are the same as in the concerts and in the LWS, but it seems to be more busy. Boyd has some neat stuff here, but he still seems to far pushed into the background. You've gotta love it though. I love it. Compared to LWS, it isn't a tremendous amount different. I think I like LWS better, but it's a close call. The whole band is jamming pretty well. In a lot of ways, I don't have anything to say about this. It's awesome, just like every version of Bartender, even when it was "Reconcile our Differences".

Well, it's over. I'll talk about the other stuff in a minute. But here's my thoughts on this CD after one listen.

As a tremendously hardcore DMB fan, I've heard at least 20 versions of every song, and probably 40 to 60 versions of Bartender, Grey Street, and the other older ones. So how does it measure up? Well, if you use the live stuff as a reference, this has no chance. But that's because DMB has always been a LIVE band, just like other jam bands like the Grateful Dead and the Flecktones. I'll take every single song live any day over the studio version.

How about measuring it up to the Lillywhite Sessions. I don't know. They are different entities. Personally, I think I like LWS better. No, I know I like LWS better. That's not to say this isn't awesome, it's just not quite LWS. On a song by song comparison:

1. Busted Stuff -- <b>BS</b> > LWS
2. Grey Street -- <b>BS</b> > LWS
3. Where are You Going < <b>Sweet up and Down</b> (eh, not really able to compare, but I like SU+D better)
4. <b>You Never Know</b> > Monkey Man
5. Captain -- BS < <b>LWS</b>
6. Raven -- <b>BS</b> > LWS
7. Grace is Gone -- BS < <b>LWS</b>
8. Kit Kat Jam -- BS < <b>LWS</b>
9. Digging a Ditch -- BS < <b>LWS</b>
10. Big Eyed Fish -- BS == LWS (<b>TIE</b>)
11. Bartender -- BS < <b>LWS</b>

My very first impression of Busted Stuff (as I'm listening to it yet again) is that the damned echo effect is used too much. It is annoying in my opinion.

Dave is very much at the forefront. I tend to be a bit perturbed when people say "I went to see Dave" or "I got the Dave CD" -- it's DAVE MATTHEWS <b>BAND</b>. Without any one of the members, the whole band collapses. Now Dave could have a stellar solo career, but the music is always best with the full band. He is very much OUT THERE with this one though. His vocals seem to sit up on top of the music, rather than being a part of the music. The band is supporting him, rather than flowing together. It's great on the whole, but I think it could be a bit better.

I wish Boyd were more prominent in this one. He seems to have been shut out of Everyday and Busted Stuff is better, but not as good as I'd like. The lyrics in this album are better than LWS on everything BUT Captain. Captain is the most disappointing song on the whole CD. See the song's review for the reason why.

On the other hand, Raven is just fantastic. It's my pick for most improved song from LWS. It's just awesome. I really like Grey Street too, but it's good in every incarnation.

The two new songs are great, but I like them better in concert. "You Never Know" has railroaded itself into my VERY favorite DMB songs, up there with Dancing Nancies and Best of What's Around. But the studio version is a little flat. It has so much energy in the live setting, but it just seems like a much more subdued version here.

I have a lot of criticism about this CD. A lot of criticism because I have so much prior experience with these songs to compare things to. I think I'm really expecting more perfetion than is achievable. The CD is awesome I REALLY, REALLY love it. But not as much as LWS. On my DMB studio CD hierarchy, it goes:

1. Lillywhite Sessions
2. Before these Crowded Streets
3. Under the Table and Dreaming
4. Busted Stuff
5. Crash
6. Remember Two Things (which was some studio, some live)
7. Everyday

They're all great, and Busted Stuff is fabulous, but I think that LWS was a more cohesive, better orchestrated CD. It seems to me that Steve Lillywhite was THE BEST producer the band has ever had, and he brought out the best in them. Stephen Harris does a great job, especially compared to Ballard. I still don't think he's quite got the insight into the music that Steve Lillywhite had though.

In many ways, it would've been hard for DMB to live up to LWS with this CD. I listened to that CD almost exclusively for at least a month. This one just doesn't quite have the same power. It actually reminds me a lot of a pseudo-studio CD I made from some live tracks about 4 months before LWS was scrapped. I edited them and brought Dave out to the forefront, and did some other stuff to it. It was a solid CD, but the songs were MP3-sourced, and DMB Live MP3s often lack definition -- you begin to really see MP3's limitations. When I edited them, Dave kindof sat on top of the music, similar to Busted Stuff. LWS blew my CD (which I called "Sweet Up and Down" -- if anyone wants it let me know) out of the water. Busted Stuff does too, but not quite in the same fasion. I mean, I love this CD, but it just isn't quite as awesome as LWS.

Well, anyways, I suppose I'll shut up now. I love the CD. It's fantastic. Best CD of the year so far. But not the best DMB of all time. Overall grade: <i>A-</i>

 

Never played EQ -- "W00T" has become a fairly common internet term in the circles I "browse" in. Not just the cracker or EQ crowd. Check out http://www.hardforums.com for more evidence of these terms' transcendence from EQ to everyday net life

W00T! DMB == teh win! Haters == teh SuX0rs

 

Can I get in on this too?

It's probably already beaten Remember Two Things, Recently and Dave and Tim: LaLC in pre-orders alone.

 

Dave doesn't have a speech impediment!!! He's from South Africa. He doesn't sound like American Joe Blow.

 

I'll still take that bet SCF. Want it?

 

I saw a hilarious comment about "Captain" today

<a href="http://www.antsmarching.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24005">It was in this thread</a>.

About Captain -- "I'm glad it's not just me then. They took one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard and turned it into what sounds like the soundtrack for a porno movie."