Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3.5/5 Released: May 10, 2005 Reviewer: David Coats |
It’s been a long road for the Dave Matthews Band. Stand Up is their first studio release in three years, and is musically a much more inspired collection of songs than their previous album, Busted Stuff. Stand Up’s songs are tastefully tight – but not to worry, ‘jam’ fans, each musician still has ample opportunity to showcase their considerable talents. While Busted Stuff tended to rely on LeRoi Moore’s sax as a lead instrument, there is a much more satisfying balance between the instruments this time around, making it philosophically similar to Matthews’ solo record Some Devil. Stand Up is well produced by veteran hip-hop producer Mark Batson, who oversees a very rich, polished sound, especially on lead single American Baby.
Stylistically, however, Stand Up is uneven, ranging from folk rock to country to piano balladry to pseudo-grunge, but one must consider the improvisational context in which the record was created. Frankly, the versatility is welcome. Many songs are stronger and more enduring than anything since Before These Crowded Streets, and will likely become live favorites, including opener Dreamgirl and the intricate, acoustic Bring That Beat Back. Containing something for longtime fans and newcomers alike, Stand Up isn’t revolutionary, but clearly DMB have rediscovered their creative passion. My recommendation: get the DVD-enhanced version, because it’s worth seeing the process that was involved in creating the record.
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