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Dave Matthews Band- Before These Crowded Streets
Released: 1998
The Dave Matthews Band are:
Dave Matthews- Acoustic guitar, vocals
Carter Beauford- Drums, percussion
Stefan Lessard- Bass
Leroi Moore- Wind instruments
Boyd Tinsley- Violin
Dave said in one of his latest interviews with the Rolling Stone magazine that in his opinion, before these Crowded Streets was their best release to date; because it was full of surprises. It's true. The 3rd and highly anticipated studio release of DMB is amazing. This is one of my favourite albums of all time.
One thing you'll notice about the album is, the songs are all individual. They're very different from each other. You'll notice short, melodic interlude between songs that, emotionally, build a bridge between the songs; making the album feel complete than everything DMB has done so far. The songs all contain the signature DMB sound, which shows how flexible it is. There are also a lot of guest artists in the album. They make the existing rich sound, even richer, and give the album its adventurous spirit.
In addition, this is a really technical album too. HUGE improvisation parts, to the extent that even the songs feel like being improvised around the main riff. You'll hear a lot of bass runs, violin and sax licks which are improvised. But the main man is at the back: Carter Beauford. The songs are based around him. It's obvious. Carter is the one that makes the songs sound so tasteful.
Pantala Naga Pampa:
The intro to Rapunzel. I've read somewhere that the title means "There is a python in my pants" in Hindu. Dave's guitar- work is brilliant in here.
Rating: 8/10
Rapunzel:
A funky song about sex. Dave promises "I'll do my best for you." It has a really catchy, instrumental chorus and a fun verse. Somewhere around the middle, there are two interludes, which I find pretty depressive: A big mood change in the song. In the end, the band lets it loose with a fun improvisation part.
Rating: 8/10
The Last Stop:
This track has absolutely nothing to do with the track before. Instead of the funky groove, this is a Middle- east oriented track. The instruments move together (a standard of eastern music) in one. Dave's vocal performance is amazing, and full of hatred. In the chorus, Dave sings, "This is the last stop." And there is a stop. But then, the band enters again, which proves that it's not the last stop. At one point, Dave screams "But why are you lying?" At that point, the song reaches its climax. All instruments go mad to create a total chaos. The band slowly fades out, and a relaxing, calm guitar riff with a banjo enters. It makes you release all the hatred the song itself fills you with.
Rating: 9/10
Don't Drink The Water:
Starts really calm and simple. The violin helps the song to be fluent, and when I focus to it, I really lost myself in the song. Small details spread here and there makes the song special. For example, when Dave sings, "Say you will lay your arms down." there is an echo in his voice: beautiful. There is not much to tell, until the song enters a mellow mood. Just as you start to think that the song is getting really boring, Dave sings "I'll build heaven and call it home, 'cause you're not here." From this moment, the song is breathtakingly amazing. It suddenly becomes really aggressive. "And I live with my justice, I live with my greedy need, I live with no mercy." etc. Dave and Alanis Morisette sing this part together. The band slowly lets it loose, and fade out. There is a little, mellow interlude after the song, which prepares you for the next song.
Rating: 8.5/10
Stay (Wasting Time):
This starts off with an energetic, mellow guitar riff. The bass guitar basically carries the song, and bass lines are awesome. I find this song to be perfect for jamming. There are little funky parts that bridge verses to choruses that are really suitable for jams. Dave is accompanied by 3 ladies in this song, and thanks to them, vocals are amazing. Again, the band decides to let it loose in the end of the song where, vocals get separated from each other, and Leroi Moore pulls out a great sax solo.
Rating: 9.5/10
Halloween:
It was pretty hard for me to get used to this song. Well, here's why: The song has a funky little riff, and weird violins lead the song. On top of it, Dave does brutal vocals. It may seem like a filler track, or a joke song at the start, but I think that's what makes it good. It got stuck in my head for a long time; especially the part where Dave screams "Love is hell!!" Really, really weird song.
Rating: 7/10
The Stone:
Now, this is amazing. It starts with the weird strings stuff "Halloween" ended with. Then, a circular riff slowly fades in. A creepy song. Dave agrees with me in his very first lines "I've this creeping. Suspicion that things here are not what they seem." I LOVE the lyrics in the song. The thing that is special about this song is, it builds really slowly, thanks to Carter Beauford. His drumming is amazing in this song. He couldn't improvise, and fit into the song perfectly better. The song has a strange pattern. It sometimes changes mood, and becomes romantic; but then comes back to its creepy atmosphere. And I must say, those passages that connect those two parts are really clever. In the end, that creepy atmosphere surrenders to romance, and the song ends peacefully, lost in Dave's dreams.
Rating: 10/10
Crush:
Starts off with a bass that is like a signature riff of this song. It's in my top 10 favourite bass riffs of all time; I mean it. Anyways, back to the song itself. This song is a jazzy, yet simple love song. What's so special about it is, the instruments melt together perfectly. Lyrics couldn't be more intimate. This song has a really heavy atmosphere; there were times that I just cannot take this one, but it grew on me pretty well. Again, there is an ending jam, which contains all instruments improvising at the same time, but the focus is on Tim Reynolds for the very first time. This can be your favourite song in the album, but it depends.
Rating: 9/10
The Dreaming Tree:
Close your eyes and dream about an endless street in the dark. Only a really old, dead tree is barely glowing in the whole street. Now, you can listen to the song. I really don't care about the music in this song (which is pretty solid, and beware for the flute solo). This song, as a whole, has some of the best lyrics ever written. Such a dramatic story telling, and great vocal performance from Dave himself. I just lose myself in the lyrics too much, that I cannot even focus to the music, so I cannot tell you much about the music itself. The song leaves me breathless in tears.
Rating: 10/10
Pig:
The band has realized that you're really tired- soulfully. The adventure is about to end, and they tend to end it with some chill- out tracks. Pig is the first one. Really mellow track, I can't tell you much about it, but it surely leaves you smiling. Pay attention to the ending.
Rating: 8.5/10
Spoon:
This is a perfect ending for the album. Clever riff writing, Dave proves that he is a smart guy in here. This is classic Dave Matthews Band. Carter is again, great on drums. Violin and sax are freely improvising. Dave's vocals soar and fall, and bass does his job perfectly, before you notice it. Tim Reynolds, Bela Fleck and Alanis Morisette, they all have their parts in the song, that's why it's really an ending song. Alanis's vocals are really beautiful. Bela Fleck pulls out an impressive banjo solo in here- this guy is really talented. The song chills me out, yet it has a sad feeling on it. Improvising parts show the talent of these musicians yet again. There is a short reprise of the calm part in the end of the song "The Last Stop". Dave leaves us gently with these lines:: "Everything will be all right. For now, goodbye."
Rating: 9/10
Total Rating: 9.5/10 Recommended for everyone who have sympathy against the band. If you don't have any of their cds, this is the perfect album to start with IMO. (Some might say Crash)
