For the Dave Matthews Band, it has never been about the albums.
The guys in the band know what they are about, and that is the live show. For some reason the magic that fills the arena when the Dave Matthews Band are doing what they do best has never been relayed onto a studio album.
Even the live album released previously failed to capture the show stopping event in its truest form.
Nevertheless, Dave Matthews and his gang are back at it again. This time with a few unexpected tricks up their sleeves. Everyday is a brand new field for the guys.
On this new release Leroi Moore, famous for his incredible sax solos, is hidden behind electric guitars. The fiery violin player Boyd Tinsley is overshadowed by heavy riffs and electric pulses.
What is up with that? Well, the truth is, a lot of the change is courtesy of the new producer, Glen Ballard. Ballard is popular for his work with artists such as Alanis Morrissette. Ballard brings with him to the table more catchy hooks than a rich fisherman.
The odd couple pairing of Ballard and Matthews is the strangest combo since, well ....Elton John and Eminem.
The new sound is a lot more punchy and hard-hitting. DMB would never have been considered rock 'n roll until now, they were always bigger and broader than that.
They are still more than just rock 'n roll, but you can include them in that category as well now.
The first single from Everyday is "I Did It." From the opening chord to the closing line of the song you sense a different personality emerging.
While most bands usually struggle when they change their style even a little bit, Dave Matthews Band thrives on it. This change is welcome.
Some recent reviews have been less than flattering, but we all know that critics hate change more than most fans do.
The real DMB fans will ignore what I or any other person says and rush out to buy Everyday, anyway.
There are still many signs of the different music genres that fans are used to, especially in the song "Sleep To Dream Her."
World music has always played a part in the evolution of Dave Matthews. He still goes back to his original influences even if he is doing it with an electric guitar in his hands this time around.
Some of the album's highlights include "So Right," an up tempo piece that incorporates the new sound with flashes of the old style, and "Dreams of Our Fathers" which deals with issues such as living in the shadow and up to the expectations of those before us.
With the new album, the band plans on doing an all out stadium tour in the spring. Not a lot of artist deserve to play in a stadium.
With the exception of some guy named Bono, some band named The Rolling Stones and some legends called The Grateful Dead, there aren't a lot of musicians that could even pull off a stadium tour. Dave Matthews will deservedly join that list of superstars.
As of right now there are no plans of Dave Matthews bringing his show to Memphis.
With the sky being the limit for a relatively young band, you should expect more great things for many years to come.
Unfortunately the guys are still unable to cram their live shows into a tiny disk. And that's what music was originally all about anyway -- the live audience, a chance to entertain the masses, change the world and be something different.
If that is the case then the Dave Matthews Band are right where they want to be.
And even though this album isn't close to what you would hear live, it still knocks the socks off most current music out there now.
Grade: B+
