Why are people clinging to comparisons so much? When can we just sit back, like we did with the first couple of albums - and listen with open ears and open minds.
Regardless of what you think, and I will never be one to tell your opinion is wrong, these songs have the trademark depth that Lillywhite is able to get out the band. To compare these songs to ANYTHING on BWGK, Stand Up or Everyday is ridiculous, and I love BWGK.
I'll work backwards.
With BWGK, you have a well written album for the state in which the band was in. Good polished ideas, pen to paper lyrics and an overall successful album. Where do these songs of AFTW and BWGK differ? Cavallo saw the band in a different light than what Lillywhite can see; he saw big instruments, big sounds and big opportunities for unity. Cavallo didn't really gave the songs room to grow - because he put in such a syncopated ideology with the band. Almost all of the songs are powerful, punch you in the face - just like Dave Matthews had said; but this is a far different kind of powerful than what we are getting now. In BWGK, each member of the band played almost the same notes at the same time. It added a decibel depth, and sounded very cool at times - but it wasn't the type of depth these 2012 songs have and songs of the past that Lillywhite has polished.
Even with crappy phone recordings (and this sentiment has been backed up by the two amazing studio cuts); there is an absurd amount going on with each song. Even in the newest, Belly Belly Nice, there is something coming from all directions during the WHOLE song. I don't think, in any of the new songs, there is even 20 seconds where more than 3 members of the band are playing the same chords and/or notes. That is what makes Lillywhite produced DMB music special to me; and this is what I am hearing from the band again. No more, BIG BAND SYNCOPATION; it's each member sticking out, because of their individual talents adding to the big picture of the band.
Time change did not exist in Stand Up. I've always been a huge advocate of what Stand Up could have been with good production and some leadership (members of the band where unbelievably lazy at this stage, flat out lazy). I have always thought the ideas of these songs where overall better than the ideas of Everyday; and still believe this to be true.
I.E:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGz5LrGFsUw
With Everybody Wake Up in 2012; they finally expanded on the "good idea". Instead of keeping the same one chord strum through the entire song, Dave developed a complete riff; that adds far more to the song, and changes the timing of the verses. Instead of keeping the same snare riding rhythm throughout the ENTIRE song, Carter steps up with fills and far more rhythm in the verses. Not to mention the time change in the new jam. The point is, with proper direction and trust in themselves as musicians - using what made them successful, the band should have never put out "bad" music. Unfortunately, there is a trail of bad music; mainly guided by bad mistakes.
These songs, including Belly Belly Nice; are a look back at what made this band initially successful. It isn't a comparison by any stretch. I fell in love with DMB because of their trust in themselves as musicians, their ability to feature time multiple time changes in their songs and their individual parts adding to the collective unity of the band. Something they have failed to accomplish with the last three albums (sans BS).
It's hard to argue that these new songs to bring all of that back to the table.