Allmusic.com Review

[Jibiti]

Here (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4721ED247AE7E20EE9B3D4DDDBD53E5009051 E8C01D2F4749DBAC32648A0572F040A0C6C5AEF875B47CE3FE 2EAE5A0AD9CBEC468DA1&sql=10:qdu06jo471q0)

** out of ***** stars

Album Picks: Dreamgirl, American Baby, Smooth Rider, Louisiana Bayou

[lalag4dmb]

I basically agree with that review. I think that's what a lot of fans are feeling about this album.

[Rob]

Perfect:

"that scratchiness never goes away, providing an appropriately worn, tattered center for an album that is directionless, ham-fisted, consciously classy, and ultimately bland, the kind of record that could make longtime fans doubt about sticking around from this point on. Not only does Stand Up fail to solve the central question of where does the Dave Matthews Band go next, it suggests that even though they are aware of the problem, they haven't really pondered what to do about it, or what it means for them in the long term."

[Nitro1515]

Good review, it pretty much sums up how I feel.

[GLR87]

I thougth dave sounded really bad too he is very raspy but anyway.....

What happened to the Dave Matthews Band writing all of the songs? Didn't they say we really wanted this to be a group effort, and we want everyone to get involved....then why does the album look like this...

1 Dreamgirl Batson, Matthews 4:01
2 Old Dirt Hill (Bring That Beat Back) Batson, Matthews 5:00
3 Stand Up (For It) Batson, Matthews 4:13
4 American Baby (Intro) Batson, Matthews 2:03
5 American Baby Batson, Matthews 4:35
6 Smooth Rider Batson, Matthews 2:17
7 Everybody Wake Up (Our Finest Hour Arrives) Batson, Matthews 4:17
8 Out of My Hands Batson, Matthews 3:41
9 Hello Again Matthews 3:56
10 Louisiana Bayou Batson, Matthews 5:36
11 Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd Batson, Matthews 4:17
12 You Might Die Trying Batson, Matthews 4:44
13 Steady as We Go Batson, Matthews 3: 24
14 Hunger for the Great Light Batson, Matthews 6:52

[msb3079]

disagree.

[manninta]

Interesting article...This website also has Busted Stuff as DMB's best album.

[Remmahmood13]

Interesting article...This website also has Busted Stuff as DMB's best album.

So are you suggesting that that somehow undermines the authority of the article because its not BTCS? Or are you just saying, I'm not trying to be a jerk but, for me BS and Crash seem to tie for second behind BTCS- I really enjoyed it and find it much better than LWS. I never really got why everyone dislikes BS so much, or at least, finds it so inferior to the LWS, which I find boring.

[marco j]

I can't believe anybody would put BS over UTTAD ?!?! please not even close. BS is full of emotionally devoid tracks. Whatever trouble the band went through when recording the lilly's, they should have stuck it out and finished them. They are far superior to BS. I know some of you are going to disagree but you're wrong. Those particular recordings actually contained the sad emotional state of Dave and the band , and this is a good thing when it coms to recordings.

[MistreatedLewis]

I gave up caring about reviews but that one seems to be pretty good and honest.

[trippingbilly12]

I haven't even listened to the album, but that review seemed pretty good. For one it was well written and insightful, but the guy seems to understand the history of the band and the fans. Interesting how he ties everythig all together, when most reviewers simply go by the music at hand.

[Remmahmood13]

I can't believe anybody would put BS over UTTAD ?!?! please not even close. BS is full of emotionally devoid tracks. Whatever trouble the band went through when recording the lilly's, they should have stuck it out and finished them. They are far superior to BS. I know some of you are going to disagree but you're wrong. Those particular recordings actually contained the sad emotional state of Dave and the band , and this is a good thing when it coms to recordings.

I dunno man, UTTAD has #34, PFWYG, LLD, and Satellite. Those are all among my least favorite songs, I know many people love those songs, they just don't do it for me. Satellite my beef is with the intro, I don't know what it is, I really just don't like it. PFWYG is just amazingly boring, its not that LLD is bad, it just doesnt do anything for me, same with #34.

Honestly, I love Busted Stuff, the title track, You Never Know, Bartender, really like the porno Captain, and other than DID, I generally like all of the songs on the album.

I dunno, maybe I just say BS is 2nd cause I feel its really underrated and that UTTAD is overrated. Either way, I enjoy it.

[sonicdmb41]

That is a pretty good review...sums up my feelings. This album i feel is all about Stefans bitching that he isnt challenged by the music , secretly wants to be a rapper...etc. Another album like this and the hardcore fans are gonna start disappearing. I mean i see alot of people on here saying this album is great and bitching and complaining cause others dont feel that way... To those people why dont you enlighten us as to why this album is so great!!!. Why cause Mark Batson produced it and he has worked with M&M and rappers...what makes thast so great, that isnt DMB at all.
Im not saying i hate everything on the album i like Hello Again, Louisiana, AB is ok..but really am i gonna be jamming down the road to this .....I think not. I have listened to this 4 times already and this album will go to my shelf, i will look forward to taper recorded shows to see if any of the songs improve.

[ethaxton]

That was a pretty decent review, and while I'll agree this may not be dmb's best it is nice to hear them do something different. Even if it didn't turn out like I had hoped I still really enjoy a lot of the songs. It sounds great crusing down the road blasting this cd. This style of music isnt going to completely change, I think they just needed a break from the norm and wanted to make something that was truly fun for them to make. All the videos and interviews are very inspiration from a big fan's standpoint because the whole band got along the whole time and loved making the album.

I am guessing there were quite a few songs recorded during the sessions that would please the fans that only like the jammed out songs, I love their old music, thats what got me hooked on this band. If this was DMB's first cd I would prob not be as big of a fan as I am today, but dmb will still be tearing it up on stage this summer and I'll be there.

[BDJCL3]

Dave only got full credit for writing "Hello Again", interesting. Could be old news but new to me, haha. I knew Batson helped out, but it's cool

[nonewdirections]

AMG doesn't have the best DMB reviews, and I wouldn't trust them on principle, but they hit the nail on the head here. Sounds like it was written by someone who is at least accurately aware of the fanbase, which is a rarity in album reviews.

Everyone should note that AMG only rates albums as compared to the body of work and the potential of an artist. Unless they give it 5 stars, and then it's just a generally "essential" album. A 2/5 isn't a horrible score, but it's not good.

[luke7]

Just about to post this. Just finished reading it. I respect All Music's reviews more than any other publication and I agree with the vast majority of what was said.

[MinaretScreamin]

I gave up caring about reviews but that one seems to be pretty good and honest.

totally agree.

[BustedJeff]

This review sounds like it pretty much nails it on the head.

[BeQuietAndDrive]

The album reviews AllMusic writes are always pretty good, but sometimes it seems like the star-rating doesn't go with the review at all.

I'm not saying this is the case here, but a lot of the times with other discs it is.

[nonewdirections]

The album reviews AllMusic writes are always pretty good, but sometimes it seems like the star-rating doesn't go with the review at all.

I'm not saying this is the case here, but a lot of the times with other discs it is.

It's because they rate albums based on their place in an artist's discography. It's definitely not a total objective "where does this record fit in with other music" kind of rating. It's also not a "let's give this a 1-star because I didn't like how it sounded" system either.

How does your ratings system work?

Our experts use a 1 to 5 star system (5 is the highest rating). It is important to note that we rate albums only within the scope of an artist’s own work -- we only compare a release to other releases by the same artist. We won't compare a Britney Spears album to the latest release by Incubus. When looking at an artist's discography, you may see a check mark next to the star rating of a release. That represents the AMG Pick for the release most representative of that artist's entire body of work. On specific release pages you may also see smaller checks next to two or three tracks on a recording. Those are AMG Song Picks. These are the songs on a recording that our experts feel are most representative of the entire release.

It's not the best or most accurate way to do things, but if you don't like it, you don't really have to read it. I like that they cover pretty much absolutely everything.

[IlliniDave]

I generally agree with AMG's reviews so it was a very interesting read for me. I still have to say that I like the album, but I definitely agree with much of what is said in the article in terms of the confusing direction in which DMB is going. For me, while I appreciate their wanting to approach their albums differently, I still don't quite understand where it is they plan on going from here. I also completely agreed that Dave's voice sounds really ragged on this album (if it gets any worse he's going to sound like Bob Dylan's grandfather) and I do hope he stops smoking or do whatever he can to get it back. The only surprise for me was that they gave this a lower rating than ED, that's pretty harsh. All in all, I still say that this is going to sound great love, but as a whole it's definitely going to be a love it or hate it album, which seems to be the pattern for everything they've done lately...

[Erich]

The album reviews AllMusic writes are always pretty good, but sometimes it seems like the star-rating doesn't go with the review at all.

I'm not saying this is the case here, but a lot of the times with other discs it is.

Yeah, ive seen gushing reviews that are only 2.5 stars, and reviews calling an album shit that are 4 stars. Its really weird.

Anyway, this review is nail on the head for me.

[nonewdirections]

... they hit the nail on the head here.

This review sounds like it pretty much nails it on the head.

Anyway, this review is nail on the head for me.

:lol :)

[Erich]

Yes, i see this thread has invoked jesus!

[elf]

hi-o

[MonkeyDigsDMB]

I know some of you are going to disagree but you're wrong.


and evil?

[winterscold]

Am I the only one that love Busted Stuff? I agree with the article:(

[MistreatedLewis]

Am I the only one that love Busted Stuff? I agree with the article:(

Sadly you are not.

[winterscold]

Sadly you are not.

I'm not even sure if that is sarcastic or mean:(

[MistreatedLewis]

I'm not even sure if that is sarcastic or mean:(

It's mean. I hate that CD! It's my Everyday -- album I feel the need to bash once every ten posts.

[fujihanashi]

I hope that the doomsday scenario that the article implied is not going to come true, that DMB will never find a direction and never make another genuine album. Let's hope that DMB gets out of their funk, and finds a true direction that really does fit with their natural style and potential. Maybe that is what they tried to do with this album, but it appears to be a miss. Changing instrumentation (ie Dave on the piano, Stefan and the guitar) and musical technique (ie Carter's spare drumming) is not a legitamate way to find a true direction.

However, when all looks dark, thank God for the summer songs! Without them I might be one of the fans that the article referred to, one of the fans that has lost hope.

It's like I have been hit by a ton of bricks. :)

[DaveHead36]

That is a pretty good review...sums up my feelings. This album i feel is all about Stefans bitching that he isnt challenged by the music , secretly wants to be a rapper...etc. Another album like this and the hardcore fans are gonna start disappearing. I mean i see alot of people on here saying this album is great and bitching and complaining cause others dont feel that way... To those people why dont you enlighten us as to why this album is so great!!!. Why cause Mark Batson produced it and he has worked with M&M and rappers...what makes thast so great, that isnt DMB at all.
Im not saying i hate everything on the album i like Hello Again, Louisiana, AB is ok..but really am i gonna be jamming down the road to this .....I think not. I have listened to this 4 times already and this album will go to my shelf, i will look forward to taper recorded shows to see if any of the songs improve.

Personally for me, I enjoy it because sonically it sounds good. I rarely listen to Busted Stuff because of the shotty eq job done on the drums and guitars. Harris redeemed himself with Some Devil, but the mixing and eq's on Busted Stuff are just bad. I know people that have recorded better tones for demos. The drums sound weak and boxy and the the guitar sounds like there's a boost in the mid-range when there shouldn't be. The songs are great, but bad tone can ruin an album for me. I really don't give a rats ass who produced it, so long as it sounds good and the songs are enjoyable to me, then I'm happy.

Secondly, the fact that you're buying the album just to put it on your shelf seems dumb. I'm half expecting to see Graham Chapman come walking in half-way through your purchase wearing his army uniform and saying "alright, stop that it's silly!". Why buy the album if you're just going to shelve it? You had the opportunity to listen to it for free, decide that you don't like it and had ample time to cancel your preorder if you did so, and if not, then you don't buy it at all. I just don't understand the logic in it. But to each their own I suppose.

DH36

[winterscold]

It's mean. I hate that CD! It's my Everyday -- album I feel the need to bash once every ten posts.

:lol haha:lol :lorraine :lol

sorry, the smilies on my computer are bipolar

[killymagee2000]

It's like I have been hit by a ton of bricks. :)

That kinda nails it on the head for me. :lol


I can see the band returning to BTCS, Crash and UTTAD roots after this album. I think Matt pointed out in another thread that he suspects that the band will hook up with Lillywhite again in the future.

[chalktwo]

This review sums up all my negative feelings about the album and this band. That being said, my view of DMB is still OVERWHELMINGLY positive, I'm just a little dissapointed with this album. Although I think many of these songs will be great live.

[MistreatedLewis]

:lol haha:lol :lorraine :lol

sorry, the smilies on my computer are bipolar


It's cool!

[meicjos]

Secondly, the fact that you're buying the album just to put it on your shelf seems dumb. I'm half expecting to see Graham Chapman come walking in half-way through your purchase wearing his army uniform and saying "alright, stop that it's silly!". Why buy the album if you're just going to shelve it? You had the opportunity to listen to it for free, decide that you don't like it and had ample time to cancel your preorder if you did so, and if not, then you don't buy it at all. I just don't understand the logic in it. But to each their own I suppose. DH36

I'm not a huge fan of the new album, but I'm buying it not so much because I like the album, but because I like DMB. I also feel that if the band lets us record live shows and distribute them freely, we should support them by buying the albums they release. However, I do see your point, why buy it if you're not going to listen to it, it makes perfect sense to me, but I can't go on trading the live shows if I haven't bought the original album. It is just the way I feel, I don't even know why I feel that way.

[meicjos]

I did a double post :violent , so I'll delete this, and add another thought...
I know the band makes a lot of money, but its the principal. Doesn't make a lot of sense, but something for everyone to read.

[rmattwill]

That is a pretty good review...sums up my feelings. This album i feel is all about Stefans bitching that he isnt challenged by the music , secretly wants to be a rapper...etc. Another album like this and the hardcore fans are gonna start disappearing. I mean i see alot of people on here saying this album is great and bitching and complaining cause others dont feel that way... To those people why dont you enlighten us as to why this album is so great!!!. Why cause Mark Batson produced it and he has worked with M&M and rappers...what makes thast so great, that isnt DMB at all.
Im not saying i hate everything on the album i like Hello Again, Louisiana, AB is ok..but really am i gonna be jamming down the road to this .....I think not. I have listened to this 4 times already and this album will go to my shelf, i will look forward to taper recorded shows to see if any of the songs improve.


I honestly don't have a lot of reasons why I like Stand Up. I guess it is because I don't and can't put the "DMB Sound" into a cateogory of likes and dislikes. I can't tell what the "DMB Sound" is. I can tell that each studio album the band has put out is different. They are unique. I think this album has some high points(Dream Girl, Steady As You Go, Stolen Away, few others) and some low points( LB, can't really think of anymore). This isn't the best work DMB has put out. In my own rankings this album ranks 4th. I think that songs will mature and change over time, just like every other DMB song has. I wish that GGT and CE were on the CD, but i understand why they aren't. Those songs won't go away. When I heard the cd, it was different, but in a good way. It was a suprise. I can't blame the producer, record label or anyone else for the songs on the cd. These are grown men who have been playing together for 15 years. If they wanted all of last summer's new songs on the new album they would have been. At this point the album isn't great it is good. When i heard BTCS is wasn't great, it was okay, and now it is great. Time will tell with this album. Take the summer to watch how these songs change and get back to me.

[The Master]

bump

[Nitro1515]

bump
why?