I’m always excited when one of my marquee, life changing, big 6 artists releases a new album.  For me, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, Gomez, David Ford, Epicure and Damien Rice sit in my big 6.  Ben Harper would also be there, and probably deserves to, given how quiet Damien Rice has been. 

The problem with the big band release, is that you build up so much anticipation that when the record comes out you run the risk of over analyzing it.  It’s probably harder to let it grow on you, because you are thinking so much about what you are hearing instead of just listening.

Well that’s my thoughts anyway…and I’ve even taken a Pearl Jam album back (Vitalogy) because at first I was so angry with the filler between the songs.  So young, so niave.

So in rolls Dave Matthews with his new album that I have trouble spelling and pronouncing.  Getting your hands on a copy was also quite a challenge, when it seems only iTunes in Australia has the rights to it at this moment.  Nope…JB won’t have it for at least a few more weeks apparently, and the full quality download that I wanted, off Dave’s site, is not available to us little island folk.

After 1 full rotation I turned it off and thought – nup don’t like it all . It’s really heavy on the production with horns, saxophones, strings, and percussion bursting out of the seems.  I messaged one of my mates, who is possibly one of Australia’s biggest Dave Matthews fans and he agreed that it seemed over done, but suggested that it would sound unreal live.

So listening to it again and this time I’m imagining that I’m back at the Horden in Sydney.  I’m in the middle of stage, about half way back, VB in hand, right next to the 2nd biggest Dave Matthews Band fan of all time. I knew this because he nearly burst a blood vessel when the band came on stage. And he was turning to everyone saying ‘best band ever’.  I guess this is a separate story but at this gig, this particular nut job (the DMB official mascot) didn’t like that I questioned the band’s lengthy instrumental opener…and for the next 5 songs asked me what the name of each track was.  I turned to him and said “listen f*&wit, I may not know the names of every song from hearing the opening 3 seconds but I can play and sing everyword, so shut the f*&k up”.   We made up and danced the night away…it was special.

So anyway Nathan, my Dave Matthews encyclopedia, sent me this link to an interview about the album that put everything into context.  Apparently they did indeed head into the studio to try and recreate their live sound.  It was to be a fitting dedication to LeRoi Moore, the saxophonist who died in an accident mid last year.  It was his wish that they recreate their powerful live performance in the studio.

Best go cast my mind back to the Horden again and have another listen.

Listen to the full interview on Charlierose.com