The book of Dilligaf
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NJ
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Obscenely long review plus interesting rankings.
***I understand this is long as hell, and thats why I made it have its own thread instead of cluttering a different thread, I think my way of ranking albums based on points is interesting, so I wanted to share it, and I hope to get some rankings from you guys as well***
It is often said that the Dave Matthews Band has “the big three,” Under the Table and Dreaming, Crash, and Before These Crowded Streets. The other 3 officially released studio albums they have come out with include: Everyday, Busted Stuff, and Stand Up. There are several things that bar these three albums from approaching the Holy Trinity of DMB albums. I think the biggest parts of the Holy 3 that give them luster include: lyrics, diversity, and production. Diversity is perhaps the biggest portion of this.
Diversity is the biggest portion of this in my eyes. Not only do I mean diversity as far as sounds of the songs, but I mean personnel, as well as instruments. The only guest on Everyday, Busted Stuff, and Stand Up is Carlos Santana who made a guest appearance on Mother Father from the Everyday album.
Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King is the seventh studio effort from the Dave Matthews Band. Though I am not too critical of the band, I had extremely high hopes for this album, and though I can enjoy Everyday and Stand Up, I wanted more. I listened to the album hundreds of times already (Pandora leak, April Sessions) and after hundreds of listens, this is how I feel about Big Whiskey compared to other albums.
Track 1: Grux
What a great way to open the album. LeRoi Moore gets your attention that is for damn sure. Sometimes I find myself doing something else, with the album on repeat, and will zone out. When Grux starts, I almost immediately focus on it. The gravitational pull on this song is off the charts, and I am glad we have it.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Best Of Whats Around
Grux
Pantala Naga Pampa
So Much To Say
Busted Stuff
I Did It
Dream Girl
Track 2: Shake Me Like A Monkey
Shake Me Like A Monkey might be the polar opposite of Grux. LeRoi Moore’s hypnotizing sax riff comes to an end and Dave comes roaring in with his screaming, and we get the fun, energetic, song. This song is horn driven, and catchy as hell. It’s a song about sex, and the lyrics work.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Two Step
Shake Me Like A Monkey
Rapunzel
Grey Street
What Would You Say
When The World Ends
Old Dirt Hill
Track 3: Funny The Way It Is
The first radio single off of the album. It exceeded my expectations for the single by far. I was hoping I’d like the single, I was hoping it would be something bearable to listen to at concerts. I was working the day it dropped, and someone sent me a cell phone recording of the song. I was pumped. Hearing the song in high quality excites me even more, this isn’t a straight forward poppy single, there is A LOT going on.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
The Last Stop
Funny The Way It Is
Crash Into Me
The Space Between
Where Are You Going
Satellite
Stand Up (For It)
Track 4: Lying in the Hands of God
So I’m thinking, man the new sound is good, but surely there will be a slow song coming up sometime soon. Dave has a great riff to start the song up, and LeRoi comes in. They do a duet between vocals and saxophone. The lyrics are top notch, and Carter’s drum work is absolutely fabulous. He really utilizes his kit in this song.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Don’t Drink The Water
You Never Know
Lying In The Hands Of God
Rhyme and Reason
Dreams Of Our Fathers
Too Much
American Baby Intro.
Track 5: Why I Am
LeRoi’s favorite song of the ones he heard. I can understand why. Dave shows off his interesting approach to guitar, with a really special riff. Tim has some great fills. The lyrics are once again great, and a great way to pay tribute to their fallen brother. Many friends of mine who don’t like DMB have heard this song, and have said they love it.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
#41
Typical Situation
So Right
Why I Am
Captain
American Baby
Stay (Wasting Time)
Track 6: Dive In
I am going to admit this: I am not a big fan of keys with this band. With that being said, this is probably my least favorite song on this album, which is saying a lot, because I love Dave’s vocal work on this song, and Tim’s solo blows me away. I don’t necessarily agree with the topic at hand, but Dave did a great job with the lyrics.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Halloween
Raven
Dancing Nancies
Say Goodbye
Dive In
Smooth Rider
If I Had It All
Track 7: Spaceman
I am a little disappointed that this doesn’t have horns in it, but the banjo is awesome. Danny Barnes did a good job with that. Carter is once again a beast on this track. I think Dave did a phenomenal job with the lyrics once again. The lyrics aren’t earth shattering, but they accomplished what they were supposed to – have some fun. No record can have 13 serious songs, and this album has A LOT of serious songs already.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
The Stone
Ants Marching
Grace Is Gone
What You Are
Drive In, Drive Out
Space Man
Everybody Wake Up
Track 8: Squirm
Warning: I am extremely biased here. I absolutely love this song. These lyrics are hauntingly beautiful. The strings are amazing. Even the lone ridiculous line “drum beats louder” works out spectacularly in this song. I’m going to be in the minority with this one, but I full heartedly believe that this holds its weight for best Dave Matthews Band studio song EVER.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Squirm
Lover Lay Down
Crush
Kit Kat Jam
Let You Down
Out Of My Hands
Angel
Track 9: Alligator Pie
I need to catch my breath after Squirm. I can enjoy Alligator Pie without thinking too hard, and it still is very catchy, and tells a story. I think “Daddy when you gonna put me in a song” is a fabulous line, so kudos to Dave’s daughter Stella for putting it in Dave’s head, and I hope this replaces Bayou in setlists.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Dreaming Tree
Jimi Thing
Lie In Our Graves
Hello Again
Alligator Pie
Digging A Ditch
Fool To Think
Track 10: Seven
First of all: I am so happy that the garden hose line was taken out. That was nearly as bad as: “I call you up, you pick up.” It has a fantastic bass line, and the chorus is fun to sing along to, even if it isn’t exactly lyrics of the year or anything. I love Tim’s guitar work here, and as long as it doesn’t get beat to death on set lists it will be a good song to hear in concert once in awhile.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Warehouse
Pig
Big Eyed Fish
Cry Freedom
Seven
Louisiana Bayou
Sleep To Dream Her
Track 11: Time Bomb
The “it needs that pace” song was used! I love it. It is unlike anything that Dave Matthews Band has ever done. Many people don’t like Dave screaming, but this screaming was called for, and compliments the music beautifully. When he screams, I can definitely feel the pain that he is going through. I think this will be a rarity live, but will be a real treat. (think Halloween or Last Stop)
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Time Bomb
Spoon
Tripping Billies
Bartender
Pay For What You Get
Stolen Away On 55th and 3rd
Mother Father
Track 12: My Baby Blue
Anyone that doesn’t think these lyrics are beautiful doesn’t have a heart. This is clearly Dave’s goodbye song to LeRoi, and I get choked up whenever I listen to it. That guitar riff is fantastic, and I was furious to think they reused the Sister riff, (those lyrics were very personal and good to me, but these surpass those) so I am more than happy to see it used on this personal master piece.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
Last Stop Reprise
#34
You Might Die Trying
My Baby Blue
Everyday
Proudest Monkey (going to get flamed for this, but not a fan at all)
(Busted Stuff has nothing)
Track 13: You and Me
Dave has yet another great riff that gets stuck in my head. I can see this song being a staple in Dave and Tim sets for years to come. The chorus isn’t poetry on paper, but flows great with the music, so like the other lyrics of this album, it works. It is mellow, and a good way to settle down the album.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
You and Me
Steady As We Go
(No other albums have anything represented as a 13th piece of music)
Hidden Track: #35
As You and Me stopped, I was thinking “damnit, just a little more Roi please.” (okay maybe I knew it was coming because I am on the boards nonstop) Either way, this little riff is a great way to end the album. At the end of this riff I find myself rewinding a few more times just to hear Roi shine another time.
How it stacks up in my eyes:
#35
(No other albums have anything represented as a 14th piece of music)
Hunger For The Great Light
^^Haha, just kidding Stefan don’t be mad please.
Anyway, I’m sure most people didn’t read this whole thing, but now I’m doing an album by album breakdown of what place each album had finishing in each spot. Yes, I will be counting spots where other discs weren’t representing, because I feel that more tracks is better than less, so the fact we got more tracks on this album is another reason why I feel this effort can be compared to the big 3.
I will give points out for each spot too.
1st place= 10 points
2nd place= 8 points
3rd place= 5 points
4th place= 3 points
5th place= 2 points
6th place= 1 point
7th place= no points
UTTAD:
1st place: 2 tracks
2nd place: 5 tracks
3rd place: 1 track
4th place: 1 track
5th place: 2 tracks
6th place: 1 track
7th place: 0 tracks
Grand total: 74 points
% : 74/120 = 61.6% of possible points
Crash:
1st place: 2 tracks
2nd place: 0 tracks
3rd place: 3 tracks
4th place: 3 tracks
5th place: 2 tracks
6th place: 2 tracks
7th place: 0 tracks
Grand total: 50 points
%: 50/120 = 41.6% of possible points
Before These Crowded Streets:
1st place: 6 tracks
2nd place: 2 tracks
3rd place: 3 tracks
4th place: 0 tracks
5th place: 0 tracks
6th place: 0 tracks
7th place: 1 track
Grand total: 91 points
%: 91/120 = 75.8% of possible points
Everyday:
1st place: 0 tracks
2nd place: 0 tracks
3rd place: 1 track
4th place: 2 tracks
5th place: 2 tracks
6th place: 2 tracks
7th place: 5 tracks
Grand total: 17 points
%: 17/120 = 14.2% of possible points
Busted Stuff:
1st place: 0 tracks
2nd place: 2 tracks
3rd place: 2 tracks
4th place: 3 tracks
5th place: 3 tracks
6th place: 1 track
7th place: 0 tracks
Grand total: 42 points
%: 42/110 = 38.2% of possible points
Stand Up:
1st place: 0 tracks
2nd place: 2 tracks
3rd place: 1 track
4th place: 1 track
5th place: 0 tracks
6th place: 5 tracks
7th place: 5 tracks
Grand total: 29 points
%: 29/140 = 20.1% of possible points
Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King:
1st place: 4 tracks
2nd place: 3 tracks
3rd place: 1 track
4th place: 2 tracks
5th place: 3 tracks
6th place: 1 track
7th place: 0 tracks
Grand total: 73 points
%: 73/140 = 52.1%
According to that system the album rankings would go:
BTCS
UTTAD
BWGK
Crash
Busted Stuff
Stand Up
Everyday
Let me know what you guys think, and feel free to give me an album breakdown if you’d like, I’m sure my track listing rankings are different from yours, but I’m curious to see what the numbers look like with my system compared to other peoples rankings.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake
Hi! I'm Jake - I ban people for a living.
(yes, you can sig that)
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