Pros: A refreshing CD full of actual music!, Dave is just about at his best
Cons: Songs not exactly uplifting, not a great CD for a beginning Dave fan
The Bottom Line: Buy it- This is Dave at his best- It's heart-wrenching and sorrowful, but open, honest and meaningful. If you're looking for real music this CD is it.
ats3322's Full Review: Busted Stuff by Dave Matthews Band
Maybe I biased, well I am actually. I love Dave Matthews; I've followed his music since a friend of mine first gave me Live at Red Rocks to listen to and quite frankly I don't think there is a single artist out there who can touch him.
Busted stuff is in many ways, Dave at his best. It's full of melodic solos, subtle undertones, and most importantly feeling. While critics have called this album, especially the second half lethargic and boring, I honestly don't see why. The blatant pain and sorrow that comes across in Digging a Ditch, and Bartender, and the confusion and uncertainty about life in Big Eyed Fish, have true meaning behind them; something rare in this world full of bubble-gum pop.
I probably shouldn't be admitting this over the general airwaves, but I bootlegged a copy of the Lilly White sessions back before they were released. As the overwhelming majority of this tracks on Busted Stuff are direct remakes of these recordings, it is also great to see that the public has accepted Dave's music that even he did not feel would have mass appeal.
I'm sitting here trying to figure out exactly what it is I like best about this disc. I think it is simply the ability of Dave and the other members of the Band to express themselves so clearly and articulately without words. Heck, that is what music is all about. This review wouldn't be complete without a little disclaimer. If you are not a fan of Dave now, maybe this CD isn't the best to start with (try Under the Table and Dreaming). There aren't any real hits like Ant's Marching on it. Still, I love Dave's music and to me this CD is complete in almost every way.
Busted Stuff from Dave Matthews Band is an enhanced CD that includes 11 songs, several of which are rerecorded outtakes from the original Everyday ses...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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