Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
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CD Details
Artist: Dave Matthews BandBrand: Baker & Taylor
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2009-06-02
Model: 886974871224
Music Label: Rca
Soundtracks:
- Grux
- Shake Me Like A Monkey
- Funny The Way It Is
- Lying In The Hands of God
- Why I Am
- Dive In
- Spaceman
- Squirm
- Alligator Pie
- Seven
- Time Bomb
- Baby Blue
- You & Me
Music reviews of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Music Review: The Dave Matthews Band returns, in form.
Rating: 5 Stars
Big Whiskey is the third 4th Album the band has put out this decade. The former three were ill recieved by the majority of the hardcore fanbase. While 2002's "Busted Stuff" came close to being a great album, it was as if the band was just putting the album out to make the fans happy so they could stop asking for the "Lillywhite Sessions" to be released. The result was a lackluster low energy affair that suffered from some dropped the sessions as well as thin sounding production. The good news is that after 2005's "Stand Up" semi-disaster of an album, the band has returned to form, putting out music that we all know this band is capable of making.
Starting off the album is a dark alley in the evening sax solo that leads into a sugary sweet, horn filled romp. The opening of "Grux-->Shake Me" is impeccable. As soon as it hits, you know that your favorite band is back. Dave's vocal delivery is as good as ever in "Shake Me". It's a tune in the same vein as the band's 1996 hit "Too Much". Although "Shake Me" is a bit less predictable. The bridge is one of the most unpredictable things the band has put on a studio track.It sounds out of place, yet it fits the song at the same time. 8/10
The next tune hits like a waterfall, each drop of the bands musical genius building into a cascading thundering roar of musicianship. "Funny The Way It Is" the lead single from the album. Standard single fare, with socially conscious lyrics. You can feel the presence of guitarist Tim Reynolds, something that has been sorely lacking from the bands last three studio efforts. Boyd Tinsley shines with a solo towards the conclusion of the song. 6/10
An unexpected turn early in the album comes in the form of track number 4 "Lying in the Hands of God". The recently passed Leroi Moore opens up the track with a beautifully played saxophone. This is a mid-tempo, 311 feeling song. Tim Reynolds once again makes his presence known by playing a Sitar. Meanwhile,Carter Beauford somehow is playing the drums like a mad man in the background like he is a hyper-active child that needs to release energy. A beautiful little song that feels like a tribute to Leroi Moore and the old days of the DMB. 7/10
The passing of Leroi Moore is remembered here quite cheerfully. Moore had said that "Why I Am" was his favorite of the new tracks that the band was working on. Matthews dedicated the lyrics to Moore by referencing the albums namesake nickname for Leroi "The Groogrux King". It's an upbeat, uptempo rocker that has a repetitive guitar riff with Matthews on the electric, backed by Reynolds soloing over his ever move. This is a fun tune that you can't help but smile as you sing along to. 8/10
They give us their best shot at a coldplay sounding, piano driven midtempo enviromentally friendly song. The line "Wake up sleepy head" will surely get stuck into your head upon first listen."Tell me everything will be okay if I just stay on my knees and keep praying" It's a fairly standard sounding song that won't catch your attention as something new musically, but it's decent. 6/10
The band takes us out of this world with "Spaceman". The lyrics are unapologetically fun. If you want a feel for this song then spend sometime then stare at the albums coverart for about ten minutes. "All the freaks are on parade" lyrics inspired from a Mardis Gras atmosphere. Somehow Matthews has always had a knack for inserting heavy lyrics ever so slyly into fun sounding songs. There are spiritual undertones to this fun, sweet song that could easily be taken as a typical DMB upbeat love song in the vein of "Everyday". Oh and did I mention that there is banjo in this song? A must listen. 9/10
The band shifts down a gear for the next tune, an almost stuttering drum beat starts off the song and you immediately know this is going to be a great one. "Squirm" has an almost middle eastern feel that is reminiscent of 1998's "Last Stop" and recalls some of the bands early passion on "Minarets". It builds until finally the song emerges with rocking electric guitars
an almost symphony of violin playing. Definitely gets points for being a step in the write direction of song writing. A welcome return to songs that you can play over and over and still hear little nuances. Something the band hasn't pulled off since "Before These Crowded Streets" 10/10
Things get swampy at this point in the album. I guess you could call this "Louisiana Bayou" part two, but that would be taking something away from this song that turns out to be much
more than just a rehash of the band's "country sound". There is so much happening musically on this song. I believe this is about the effect of Katrina in New Orleans. It's a fun rocker that will most definitely be a hit on the road. 8/10
For the first time in the bands history it channels some some 70's rock. "Seven" opens with a guitar riff that sounds like it would fit in fine on a Rolling Stones album the song opens. Matthews' signiaturefalsetto hits it's opening notes like he is still in his twenties. The time signiatures in this song are unique and it's a quite complex light feeling, fun rock song. The lyrics definitely aren't shy,there's no getting around Matthews' overly sexual lyrics on this one. 8/10
Dave has been holding something in apparently. "Time Bomb" is the sound of a man unleashing himself. On exactly what I'm not sure. The lyrics are spiritual with lines like "baby when I get home, I'm gonna believe in Jesus, hammer in the final nail, lean me up against Jesus". The song starts off sound "Dreaming Tree-esque" and when the time bomb goes off, it's Matthews going off like Eddie Vedder on a bad hair day. Unique and entertaining. 10/10
Possibly one of the saddest songs Matthews has ever written comes in as the album is wrapping up. While it sounds like a man with a broken heart from love lost, it could very well be about Moore's passing.
It wouldn't be the first time that Matthews has turned a songs lyrics about a death into a song about lost love. Either way, it's a song with great emotion. You can hear twenty years of performing in the way
his vocals crack with emotion. The guitar riff is simple, yet sweet and original. 9/10
"You and Me" can do anything together. The parting shot from the band's best album. At first listen it can sound a bit like John Mayers "No Such Thing". But this song is strong and ends the album on an
upbeat note. Giving you hope for what's to come from one of America's best bands. 7/10
They worked hard on this album and it shows. Bringing in producer Rob Cavallo was a great move and you can tell that he "gets" the band. He put Carter Beauford on the frontlines of the album, right where he belongs as one of the best in the business. You can appreciate his drumming on this album here more than ever before. Having Tim Reynolds back in the studio after an eleven year absence is a treat. He's a guitar virtuoso, and he shines here like he's never shined on a studio album before.
In summary, your favorite band is back. They still have great music in them and I'm sure this won't be the last we hear from the DMB.
Description of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance), Big Whiskey has been hailed by Rolling Stone as the group?s "heaviest album yet, both musically and emotionally," which went on to note: "Throughout, Carter Beauford beats out elaborate, propulsive groves; bassist Stefan Lessard lays down Flea-style funk bass lines; violinist Boyd Tinsley plays cresting, intense runs; and Matthews mirrors Moore?s saxophone lines with scatlike singing." Billboard, in a cover story on Dave Matthews Band, praised Big Whiskey as "its best album yet? Highlights include the funk-rock rave-up 'Shake Me Like a Monkey,' the stirring ballad 'Lying in the Hands of God,' the swampy rocker 'Alligator Pie (Cockadile),' radio-friendly fare like 'Why I Am,' which features playful horns over a solid rock riff and a hooky chorus, and 'Funny the Way It Is,' which parlays a subtle intro into a soaring, syncopated anthem."Pop CDs
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