Hi, my name is Surjo and I'm a professional musician. The songs you're hearing (hopefully) are from my debut album 'The Key Has Turned'. Buy my album here.
I'll be reviewing Dave Matthews 5th studio album today called 'Busted Stuff'. It was released by RCA records on July 16, 2002.
The wiki link to the article has revealed that "Nine of the eleven tracks on this album are re-recorded versions of songs that first appeared on 2000's abandoned project now known as The Lillywhite Sessions. "Where Are You Going" and "You Never Know" were not from those sessions, the former of which was the first single."
Moving on to the album itself, the first song is the title track 'Busted Stuff', and the immediate standout for me was just how wonderful the drums sound. Carter Beauford had me at hello. I confess to doing a fair bit of research into his drum sound after listening to this album. Another standout feature of the music in general is that there seems to be a feeling of incredible power delivered in the most relaxed manner. The drum groove is powerful, but it doesn't thrash, it just sits up nice and tall and makes your head bob. A cool guitar riff and just a sweet bass line set up Dave's vocals as he talks about a woman who looks like love but who'll leave his broken heart behind her. Which man amongst us hasn't been with a woman like that? The way he sings 'She's the one' which sounds more like 'See the one', maybe that's how they say it in South Africa, sounds cool to me, has a certain flavour. The sax solo at the end with the change of key was inspired, and the way it ends, with the triple-note passage, reminds me of the end of Pink Floyd's 'Money', but only for a second.
The next song is 'Grey Street', and I'm already at a loss to explain just how they're composing the music. How there can be such poise, intricacy and force all in one, is quite astonishing. Also, that must be what God intended a snare drum to sound like, the saxophone has a much bigger role this time as it lays the riff down while the acoustic is further in the background. The lyrics are incredible, talking about how a woman with dreams to see the entire world and all it's glories is now shut off in her own little corner, and she tries to infuse some colours into her life but they all mix to be grey. She tries to break out, but fails, and silently suffers the everyday, it's pretty potent stuff.
'Where Are You Going' bring the acoustic guitar back to the front for quite a melodic little ditty to start things up. They manage to achieve a really full sound on all their songs, must be to do with having a large band and of course incredible mixes. The words are somewhat ambiguous, not really giving reasons for the statements. Dave talks about being human and not having answers for his subject (Friend? Girlfriend? Wife? Family?), but commits to always wanting to be there with the person in their search. Is ambiguity a good emotion to portray? I must look into that.
Next song is 'You Never Know' and midway through the song I felt Carter was trying to say 'You Never Know' what this drum pattern will be. That's a complex groove on that song. Maintaining all the wonderful musicality that I've spoken about in the 3 previous songs, Dave talks about being just as fierce in trying to reach our goals when we're adults, and trying to maintain the sense of wonder that we have as kids. Talks about time being too little to not go all out in realizing our life. I'd say some really smart writing on this, very impressive actually, and also, his most dynamic vocal so far. A lot of movement in the singing for this song.
'Captain' brings forward almost a dual storyline, because he starts off talking about how his actions might seem crazy to the world, but that's for him to decide. The metaphor is brought in of how he's the captain of his ship and how sometimes there's a mutiny against his feelings from within. But he sails far and wide and longs for his love day after day, and he doesn't need her to pity him, just to be
with him and love him like she can. The guitar riff almost veers into regions of funk, and ably supported by the bass caravans and the drums. This is a seriously good band, makes me feel small as a musician.
'Raven' almost threatened to start like a Chick Corea song and then morphs into a steady groove with Dave singing about a conversation between a father and son. There seems to be quite a good bit of tension between the father and son in the words, and the son is clearly dissatisfied with the dad. Again, there is an ambiguity here, since the issue isn't specified or resolved. It's like writing about a small fragment in time, and resisting the temptation to write the happily-ever-after. It's odd that the lyrics take you in some kind of trip and the music takes you in some kind of trip too. I'm realizing as I listen and write why this band enjoys the position it does.
'Grace Is Gone' starts with some slide licks, before the 12 string kicks in. Throwback melody. The lyrics and music are again top-notch. The lyrics are of the quality which make you feel like he's saying what you want to say, only saying it better than you. I'm not sure whether Grace has left the relationship or left the world (cold hand), but he is in pain over her leaving and the song is pictured with him sitting in a bar and trying to drink his troubles away. 'One drink to remember, one drink to forget' mirrors the sort of duality we have with most of our previous relationships, and of course some stunning metaphors are thrown in.
'Kit Kat Jam' starts with an uptempo riff and whole lot of musical movement, a sax solo and cowbell. Very gnarly guitar riff if you pay close attention. The sudden release of energy after every 8 bars of the riff has a different feel to it altogether. A shift to an almost 'Kaleidoscope Eyes' (Beatles) type of chord progression, punctuates the main riff, and what sounds like violin harmonics come through my right headphone. Carter and Stefan, locked in a death-grip it seems, that's how tight they groove.
'Digging A Ditch' starts with a lovely acoustic guitar riff, and a sigh as Dave starts singing. This is an odd idea to sing about, but sing it he does. The idea of digging a ditch, which you'll most likely use after your death, and to dig it yourself, is quite an interesting thought to say the least. The words run through an entire range of thoughts and emotions. Btw, did I talk about God's snare drum sound.
12 string riff starts 'Big Eyed Fish' and then Stefan's bass sound dominates while the words come in almost percussive. The words speak of sticking to what is natural for us and what we're good at, and while the grass might look greener on the other side that doesn't necessarily mean much. The first verse speaks of a fish who wanted to fly and died on a beach as a result of catching a big wave. The second verse speaks of a man who held his breath till he died, and the third talks of a monkey who quit the trees for the city life and is close to death. Good message, and a unique way to present it, more blatant than our homogenizsed society might prefer.
'Bartender' is the last song of the album. Starts off with a really weird horn section ( It is horns? Bagpipes? Hurdy-Gurdy ), and then leads into a tuba riff (Is it Tuba? Don't be surprised man, I'm a guitar player not a horn player). Oh and this song, Carter decides to abandon his hi-hat for the better part of the song, with all his focus on flams on the snare. This sounds like a man trying to face his mortality, and again seems like it's set in a pub, with a whole catalogue of thoughts running through the mind. Then there are some references to losing one's way as a result of money and a desire to step back into the fold.
Overall, it's an exceptional album but I must say, it isn't for the faint-hearted, or for those who listen to music on a fly-by-night basis. To truly gather the depth of what's happening, one must listen carefully and get engulfed in the music.
Enjoy.
'Kit Kat Jam' starts with an uptempo riff and whole lot of musical movement, a sax solo and cowbell. Very gnarly guitar riff if you pay close attention. The sudden release of energy after every 8 bars of the riff has a different feel to it altogether. A shift to an almost 'Kaleidoscope Eyes' (Beatles) type of chord progression, punctuates the main riff, and what sounds like violin harmonics come through my right headphone. Carter and Stefan, locked in a death-grip it seems, that's how tight they groove.
'Digging A Ditch' starts with a lovely acoustic guitar riff, and a sigh as Dave starts singing. This is an odd idea to sing about, but sing it he does. The idea of digging a ditch, which you'll most likely use after your death, and to dig it yourself, is quite an interesting thought to say the least. The words run through an entire range of thoughts and emotions. Btw, did I talk about God's snare drum sound.
12 string riff starts 'Big Eyed Fish' and then Stefan's bass sound dominates while the words come in almost percussive. The words speak of sticking to what is natural for us and what we're good at, and while the grass might look greener on the other side that doesn't necessarily mean much. The first verse speaks of a fish who wanted to fly and died on a beach as a result of catching a big wave. The second verse speaks of a man who held his breath till he died, and the third talks of a monkey who quit the trees for the city life and is close to death. Good message, and a unique way to present it, more blatant than our homogenizsed society might prefer.
'Bartender' is the last song of the album. Starts off with a really weird horn section ( It is horns? Bagpipes? Hurdy-Gurdy ), and then leads into a tuba riff (Is it Tuba? Don't be surprised man, I'm a guitar player not a horn player). Oh and this song, Carter decides to abandon his hi-hat for the better part of the song, with all his focus on flams on the snare. This sounds like a man trying to face his mortality, and again seems like it's set in a pub, with a whole catalogue of thoughts running through the mind. Then there are some references to losing one's way as a result of money and a desire to step back into the fold.
Overall, it's an exceptional album but I must say, it isn't for the faint-hearted, or for those who listen to music on a fly-by-night basis. To truly gather the depth of what's happening, one must listen carefully and get engulfed in the music.
Enjoy.
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