News on DMB's new album?

[KevinTH]

At this point I'm more excited to get an album from this band then another tour. I think they are very capable of making a great album, but live they just don't bring the same show they once could. They're still a great live band and I'll continue to see them for the sake of fun and nostalgia. It's been beaten to death but, Boyd's inaudible, Tim's too loud and shreds too much, Carter overplays, Rashawn is not a good fit for the band. In a studio though I think they sound much more like DMB than on stage anymore.

[chrisjuniper]

Originally Posted by KevinTH

At this point I'm more excited to get an album from this band then another tour. I think they are very capable of making a great album, but live they just don't bring the same show they once could. They're still a great live band and I'll continue to see them for the sake of fun and nostalgia. It's been beaten to death but, Boyd's inaudible, Tim's too loud and shreds too much, Carter overplays, Rashawn is not a good fit for the band. In a studio though I think they sound much more like DMB than on stage anymore.

I personally don't think I'd ever come to the point where I prefer studio to live DMB. A lot of your gripes are obviously well-founded though.

[groogrux27]

I feel like them getting into the studio and feeling some magic as they create new songs and lay down new tracks will bode well for the live show as well. I also hope that they turn Tim down a little and Dave's guitar and Boyd up a little, but I feel like the creative juices that will flow from being in the studio will do a lot to help the band in general.

[alec]

At this point I'm more excited to get an album from this band then another tour. I think they are very capable of making a great album, but live they just don't bring the same show they once could. They're still a great live band and I'll continue to see them for the sake of fun and nostalgia. It's been beaten to death but, Boyd's inaudible, Tim's too loud and shreds too much, Carter overplays, Rashawn is not a good fit for the band. In a studio though I think they sound much more like DMB than on stage anymore.

l agree with this, BUT if they don’t have a producer to real in all those points you just mentioned, that worries me for what a studio album might sound like.

[KevinTH]

Live DMB was best up until Rashawn joined the picture. From then it's just gone downhill with Carter's thrashing, Tim's shredding and the absence of Boyd. As a fan that's been listening for 20+ years it's become frustrating to listen to a show and have to strain my ear to try and hear any of Boyd's signature lines, and I'm just not a fan of the horn section. I'd be fine if it was just Jeff. What made DMB so great was their intricate play on a band built up of unique instrumentation. Boyd and Leroi used to play across the stage together harmoniously, and now it's broken down to sections, with one of which only being a faint sound in the background. I think I'd rather hear a well mixed studio album of great songs.

[ramiro24]

They have no dynamics anymore. Just a wall of sound...

[vp719]

Originally Posted by groogrux27

I feel like them getting into the studio and feeling some magic as they create new songs and lay down new tracks will bode well for the live show as well. I also hope that they turn Tim down a little and Dave's guitar and Boyd up a little, but I feel like the creative juices that will flow from being in the studio will do a lot to help the band in general.

This may be a dumb question, but I have no idea how the mix works at live shows. Who makes the call on these things? Does Dave control the levels? Or Fenton?

[Toast and Jelly]

RAab controls vox

[#41Tom]

Originally Posted by Toast and Jelly

RAab controls vox

I could not believe raab being on stage at the c'ville (?) concert. Of everything, that was the most bizarre, even the Butch omissions and Stevie Wonder going off on one.

As for ^^ Dave would have essentially no control of dynamics during a gig, but I'm not sure how the evolution of the dynamics has happened over the years...?

[Dmband35]

As you can see, I hardly ever post but do enjoy reading and hoping for some news here. I wouldn't post this unless I believed the person who told me. An old friend of mine that moved to Seattle a few years back has recently started learning the recording studio business. He was at a studio last week (and would refuse to tell me which one for fear of not being allowed back) and Dave Matthews walked past him down the hallway. When asking the person he was with why Dave was there, he replied that Dave has space occupied for the next five months. He didn't see any other band members and hasn't been back to that studio since. I have no reason to believe he would make this up for no good reason as he or I have nothing to gain from it except for excitement for a new album. Take it for what it is and let's hope they will have something in 2018

[alec]

Originally Posted by Dmband35

As you can see, I hardly ever post but do enjoy reading and hoping for some news here. I wouldn't post this unless I believed the person who told me. An old friend of mine that moved to Seattle a few years back has recently started learning the recording studio business. He was at a studio last week (and would refuse to tell me which one for fear of not being allowed back) and Dave Matthews walked past him down the hallway. When asking the person he was with why Dave was there, he replied that Dave has space occupied for the next five months. He didn't see any other band members and hasn't been back to that studio since. I have no reason to believe he would make this up for no good reason as he or I have nothing to gain from it except for excitement for a new album. Take it for what it is and let's hope they will have something in 2018

I choose to believe you because I want to be excited. If this turns out to be true, hooray!

[dontdrink36]

Originally Posted by Dmband35

As you can see, I hardly ever post but do enjoy reading and hoping for some news here. I wouldn't post this unless I believed the person who told me. An old friend of mine that moved to Seattle a few years back has recently started learning the recording studio business. He was at a studio last week (and would refuse to tell me which one for fear of not being allowed back) and Dave Matthews walked past him down the hallway. When asking the person he was with why Dave was there, he replied that Dave has space occupied for the next five months. He didn't see any other band members and hasn't been back to that studio since. I have no reason to believe he would make this up for no good reason as he or I have nothing to gain from it except for excitement for a new album. Take it for what it is and let's hope they will have something in 2018

Really cool to hear. I hope they do finish an album at some point this year.

[groogrux27]

Originally Posted by Dmband35

As you can see, I hardly ever post but do enjoy reading and hoping for some news here. I wouldn't post this unless I believed the person who told me. An old friend of mine that moved to Seattle a few years back has recently started learning the recording studio business. He was at a studio last week (and would refuse to tell me which one for fear of not being allowed back) and Dave Matthews walked past him down the hallway. When asking the person he was with why Dave was there, he replied that Dave has space occupied for the next five months. He didn't see any other band members and hasn't been back to that studio since. I have no reason to believe he would make this up for no good reason as he or I have nothing to gain from it except for excitement for a new album. Take it for what it is and let's hope they will have something in 2018

that means he has it until march, which means that we probably shouldn't expect an album until at least June, but hey! Thanks for the news!

[Cptn. Monkeyman]

This is good news!

[Cryfreedom09]

Very cool news. Hopefully he can squeeze some of that blood from the rock.

[TheLastPig]

I want a dave solo album or D&T album more than a DMB album at this point to be honest.

Regardless, good news!

[Tomacco]

That all lines up with what Dave himself said about working with the band this Fall and hopefully having the album done early next year.

[chrisjuniper]

Originally Posted by TheLastPig

I want a dave solo album or D&T album more than a DMB album at this point to be honest.

Regardless, good news!

A studio Dave and Tim album would be super interesting. I agree about a Dave solo album too, Some Devil is one of my all time favorite albums.

[dontdrink36]

A Dave and Tim studio album would be amazing but I want that after the band is done. I want this next project to be a full band one.

[ajk316]

someone called me stupid for questioning what Dave meant by "early next year" in an article and said "obviously means early 2018 cause that is next year".... This interaction happened within the last month or two.... But seems more likely mid-year.... Useless info I know but I hate unnecessarily rude people... and i like dots......


but I just felt if he meant jan-march release he would have said this coming winter. Not year

But I am also stupid

[mr. testaverde]

Originally Posted by chrisjuniper

I personally don't think I'd ever come to the point where I prefer studio to live DMB

i'm at that point. i dont listen to them much these days but when i do, its their studio stuff.

[adkchappy]

As you can see, I hardly ever post but do enjoy reading and hoping for some news here. I wouldn't post this unless I believed the person who told me. An old friend of mine that moved to Seattle a few years back has recently started learning the recording studio business. He was at a studio last week (and would refuse to tell me which one for fear of not being allowed back) and Dave Matthews walked past him down the hallway. When asking the person he was with why Dave was there, he replied that Dave has space occupied for the next five months. He didn't see any other band members and hasn't been back to that studio since. I have no reason to believe he would make this up for no good reason as he or I have nothing to gain from it except for excitement for a new album. Take it for what it is and let's hope they will have something in 2018

Could this be a sign of a Dave solo album? Unless this person saw/heard about the rest of the band coming to this studio, this might mean that this is a Dave solo project.

[dontdrink36]

Originally Posted by adkchappy

Could this be a sign of a Dave solo album? Unless this person saw/heard about the rest of the band coming to this studio, this might mean that this is a Dave solo project.

Or it could mean Dave was putting down vocals, guitar parts, or just recording some ideas. None of which requires other members.

[#41Tom]

Originally Posted by adkchappy

Could this be a sign of a Dave solo album? Unless this person saw/heard about the rest of the band coming to this studio, this might mean that this is a Dave solo project.

look up three posts:

Originally Posted by Tomacco

That all lines up with what Dave himself said about working with the band this Fall and hopefully having the album done early next year.

[Heyberto]

Originally Posted by adkchappy

Could this be a sign of a Dave solo album? Unless this person saw/heard about the rest of the band coming to this studio, this might mean that this is a Dave solo project.

Originally Posted by dontdrink36

Or it could mean Dave was putting down vocals, guitar parts, or just recording some ideas. None of which requires other members.

Yeah, I wouldn't put much stock in the other band members not being there. But.. if Dave is just working up ideas, it's hard to see how an album comes out next year. I'd guess they're farther along than we've heard. I'm curious what producer they're working with.. is it still Cavallo?

[axelrod]

My guess is the band goes into the studio after Dave and Tim Mexico.... curious if the band announces the dates before or after the Mexico shows.. I would assume after

[ElijahSoRight72]

Originally Posted by Heyberto

Yeah, I wouldn't put much stock in the other band members not being there. But.. if Dave is just working up ideas, it's hard to see how an album comes out next year. I'd guess they're farther along than we've heard. I'm curious what producer they're working with.. is it still Cavallo?

Last word was Cavallo was out a year or more ago. Which I find unfortunate. It has been the assumption that they've been self producing recently.

[alec]

Originally Posted by ElijahSoRight72

Last word was Cavallo was out a year or more ago. Which I find unfortunate. It has been the assumption that they've been self producing recently.

I really hope that either bring Cavallo back or get someone else like Daniel Lanois. Someone needs to be there to reel them in from playing too many notes.

[TurboPGT]

Originally Posted by alec

I really hope that either bring Cavallo back or get someone else like Daniel Lanois. Someone needs to be there to reel them in from playing too many notes.

I dunno, I feel blaming/crediting a producer is like doing the same to a baseball manager. They make a call here or there, and maybe change the direction that things go, but they aren't making the tunes in the end.

Dave either has something of quality left to write, or he doesn't. Personally, I believe he's done. I don't believe he will ever write and perform another song that I consider to be great.

[Dodo36]

Originally Posted by TurboPGT

I dunno, I feel blaming/crediting a producer is like doing the same to a baseball manager. They make a call here or there, and maybe change the direction that things go, but they aren't making the tunes in the end.

Dave either has something of quality left to write, or he doesn't. Personally, I believe he's done. I don't believe he will ever write and perform another song that I consider to be great.

A producer -- a good producer -- is absolutely integral to an album. A good producer shapes the direction of the music.

Think about Ballard. He was a good producer, but not necessarily right for DMB. The ED songs were very much DMB lyrically and melodically, and even progression was straight up DMB. But Glenn pushed a different direction than what was DMB and the record suffered. I'm not going to defend some of the shakier songs on it, but had there been a Lillywhite behind them, it may have been more appropriate.

Then Batson convinced Dave to not be Dave on Stand Up ... to slow down and convinced him that the direction was right when Dave started questioning the quality of his own lyrics. Mark had good ideas on how to spark inspiration, but the execution was less than timeless.

Cavallo nurtured the band's direction that felt natural to them and pulled back some of the more ambitious, yet 'they're-too-close-to-see-it's-not-working' ideas. Some of the choices were still questionable, but the end result was better.

The producer absolutely does matter.