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Stand Up — A Review

Filed under Music

I am a fan of the Dave Matthews Band. Some might call me more than a fan, but fan is the word I choose to describe myself with. I own everything but DMB Live Volumes 1-3. If I wanted, I know where I could download the bootlegged copies of those show – fully legal mind you – on the Internet. But I’m here today to talk about the latest studio release from DMB, Stand Up.

On my first listen I didn’t know what to think about it. The music was enjoyable, but it wasn’t what I’ve come to expect from them. When I think about the kind of music that drew me to DMB it was the jazzy, jam laden tunes that could go on for 35 minutes in improvisational bliss. Before These Crowded Streets was the epitome of this jammie sound.

The more I sat and listened to this album the more I realized that those parts are still there. My brother-in-law’s roommate made a comment about the latest Weezer album that I think is very fitting to this offering from DMB. Stand Up is a really good album that falls victim to the recent studio history of DMB. To quote another review by a DMB fan, “Stand Up is literally Everyday dressed up in Before These Crowded Streets’ clothing.”

In 2000 we saw the failed Lillywhite Sessions. 2001 brought us Everyday, an over-produced studio album that was on its own merit a good album, but in no way what hard core DMB fans wanted to hear. Some of the Lillywhite tracks reappeared on Busted Stuff in 2002. I feel like, if you remove the albums from 2000-2002, Stand Up is an appropriate follow-up to BTCS, but with the studio happenings of the last few years I sense that many fans don’t know what direction the band is trying to go in.

Go check this album out. It is definitely worth the $12 on iTunes – yes, the full album is out on iTunes, and comes with a digital booklet and promotional video. I give it 3 out of 4 stars.