Dave Matthews - Some Devil [Limited Edition w/ Bonus CD]

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Music reviews of Some Devil [Limited Edition w/ Bonus CD]

Music Review: (mostly) Extraordinary!
Rating: 5 Stars

The majority of the tracks seem to have a good dose of gospel and blues influence - not in the structure of the music itself but in the words, the singing style and the sentiments expressed. There is definitely a spiritual quality about the CD that is different from previous DMB releases. For the most part, the youthful exuberance of earlier DMB works has been replaced with a more contemplative and world-weary maturity where the pain of broken relationships and spiritual longing reign. The assorted musicians assembled for the recording provide atmospheric and tasteful support for Dave's singing and never intrude or overwhelm.

Track by track:

1)Dodo - a great song with an infectious loopy guitar hook that draws you and keeps you there. The song seems to be a bunch of random thoughts on the subject of knowledge and awareness.

2)So Damn Lucky - Moves ahead constantly propelled by rhythmic acoustic guitars. The song takes place in the seconds between the realization that the narrator has lost control of his car and the inevitable crash. A surprisingly upbeat song considering the situation.

3)Gravedigger - Masterful and moving reflection on the temporary nature of life. The acoustic version included on the CD is different - more of a plea whereas this version is more of an angry demand. Take your pick - they're both great.

4)Some Devil - Just Dave and his electric guitar singing about a broken relationship and how it still has a hold over him. This is one of the tracks that show the gospel/blues influence in its content and tone. It is also reminiscent of some of Jeff Bukley's work. Beautiful and moving in its simplicity

5)Gray Blue Eyes - Atmospheric hand percussion and electric guitar back up Dave's channeling of a blues singer. You can picture Dave sitting in some dark stone prison cell singing his broken heart out about the lost love with the grey blue eyes that possesses and torments his soul. Simple yet very powerful.

6)Trouble - Dave meets U2 and Peter Gabriel. Spiritual, prayerful appeal for personal peace.

7)Save Me - A mid-tempo groove right out of the band Little Feat song book. All that's missing is Lowell George's slide guitar. A tale about a holy "walkin' man" and a plea for salvation.

8)Stay or Leave - A beautiful, Leonard Cohen - esq song about a broken relationship. Dave can write exuberant songs about the joys of love (i.e. Crush) - here is the other side. The acoustic version on the bonus CD is also great - in some ways it's superior.

9)An' Another Thing - Dave sings in a high falsetto barely articulating the words but filling the song with so much emotion and feeling that the actual lyrics are unnecessary. The haunting melody comes straight from an anguished heart.

10)Oh - Lightweight, harmless but not that great of a song about happy love.

11)Baby - Another lightweight, harmless but not that great of a song about happy love. The hooks in this song and in Oh are cute - too cute really. These songs, and the next seem very out of place in relation to the others on the disc. They do have the virtue of being short.

12)Up And Away - Bad pseudo - reggae. Dave's trying to once again celebrate the joys of love as he has done so many times before, but this one comes up short. The sentiment is forced, the lyrics are awkward and the music is just embarrassing.

13)Too High - An interesting but ultimately flawed song. The music and lyrics build up considerable tension and I keep waiting for it to explode, but the explosion is delayed far too long. When it does come at the end of the song, it's way overdone with orchestral bombast. This is the one song on the disc that would have been better with the DMB playing on it. The song would have built to a climax the way that other DMB songs do so well and the intensity would have been carried by Dave's voice and the band instead of relying on overdone orchestration to bring it off.

Bottom line: Track 1 - 9 make an incredible album on their own. Oh, Baby, and Up and Away add nothing. I give it 5 stars for the extraordinary intensity, sincerity and beauty of the majority of the songs.

Description of Some Devil [Limited Edition w/ Bonus CD]

Folk CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock