vanwarp's Full Review: Crash by Dave Matthews Band
MattA75 is hosting another yearly installment of his popular “I’ll Show You Mine If You’ll Show Me Yours Write/Off.” Participants were randomly paired and my W/O buddy this year is a fellow from Louisiana that goes by the name of SixerMan. We exchanged e-mails and provided one another with several different selections to pick from.
This is my entry into the W/O, an album that at first I was very suspicious of and after listening to it, so dumbfounded by the fact that I could be so completely oblivious of it’s existence. My first impression of Dave Matthews before listening to this album was that this guy was way overrated, wrote the most boring music I had ever heard and I couldn’t care less if I never heard another Dave Matthews song again. Then, to find out he had written such a gem of an album, and to learn this during a W/O, how embarrassing.
Although I had heard “Crash Into Me” on the radio in the mid 90's, that song never convinced me to look into Dave Matthews, in hindsight, perhaps I should have. Anyway, if he had any hits after that one, none ever got my attention, although that’s not entirely true? You see, I had heard “So Much to Say” on the radio, but for some inexplicable reason, I never associated that song with Dave Matthews.
Well, with the “one hit wonder” tag I had so graciously bestowed upon him, and “Crash Into Me” being the only Dave Matthews hit song I knew, I had somehow decided that I had heard enough of Dave Matthews already. I mean I remember checking out samples from his Busted Stuff release which did very little for me, I still considered Dave Matthews a “boring” artist.
So, when SixerMan had this album listed as one of his favorites, I decided to do a little research. That quick search revealed that this album was highly recommended by many, which made my decision to go ahead and get this album a little easier.
So what’s my verdict? Crash is simply one of those albums that should have been in my collection long ago. Here are my thoughts:
1. “So Much To Say” - 4m07s - (9/10)
Someone starts the count, Dave and one acoustic guitar get everything started, very upbeat song. When the band kick it in, the use of horns really adds some interesting fills to the track. This was a hit song, Dave even won a Grammy award for best performance and I remembered hearing it on the radio before, just never realized it was Dave Matthews. Great track, I was pleasantly surprised by this one, having not made the connection before.
2. “Two Step” - 6m27s - (9/10)
The familiar drum arrangement and overly simple bass line and the repeated guitar pattern simply leads’ this song along nicely, there’s a folksy feel and swagger to this track that makes it very appealing. Two tracks into the album and already I was wondering why I had never heard this disc before? Sample lyrics:
“celebrate we will
because life is short but sweet for certain
we're climbing two by two
to be sure these days continue,
things we cannot change...”
3. “Crash Into Me” - 5m16s - (8.5/10)
This was the only track I was familiar with and it never really struck a chord with me. I always considered it boring and not very entertaining. I couldn’t understand what everybody liked about it and still, it’s not a great track, much to slow and there’s not much going on, kinda breezy and relaxing, cute little song but nothing special in my book, until that is, you hear the album as a whole. You get another perspective after listening to the album several times over until suddenly, the track starts growing on you.
4. “Too Much” - 4m21s - (7/10)
Another single with horn and strings in tow. There’s more of a jazzy feel here though, very upbeat groove. Sample lyrics:
“I eat too much
I drink too much
I want too much
Too much
Suck it up...”
5. “#41” - 6m39s - (7/10)
Dave slows down the pace for this one. Clean electric guitars, horns are included but are always in the background. During a musical interlude, we get treated to very mild solos, first a flute and then a sax or two. Very laid back track.
6. “Say Goodbye” - 6m11s - (8/10)
The track before flows into this one unsuspectingly, the next thing you know Dave is singing another laid back very soothing song. I like Dave’s voice here the most, perhaps one of his best vocal performance on the album.
7. “Drive In Drive Out - 5m54s - (8/10)
This one returns to the faster driving energy found on the opening tracks of the album with plenty of horns again.
8. “Let You Down” - 4m07s - (7/10)
Dave needed to cleanse himself and come clean with someone in his life. Light guitar work with bass and bongos, very soft use of instruments including sax, you can hear a lot of little fills here and there. Dave asks for forgiveness and even with the “whistling” solo, I can take it without having to press the skip button, don’t we all need to ask to be forgiven at one point or another in a relationship?
9. “Lie In Our Grave” - 5m42s - (10/10)
Woah...my absolute FAV track on the album. Made me pick up my guitar immediately and want to jam along with the music. Very lively beat, very fun, especially when the band slows everything down for a musical interlude with very little happening, just great for those musicians who like to add lib a little when playing along with the music. Awesome! It’s almost as if Dave knew that guitarist everywhere would learn this track and appreciate that opportunity to be themselves. Even if you are not a musician, most will enjoy this track very much.
10. “Cry Freedom” - 5m53s - (6/10)
Dave’s vocals here, at times kinda reminded me of Sting of all people. This is another slow track.
11. “Tripping Billies” - 4m59s - (8/10)
The album moves the listener up and down with its slow and fast pacing musical pattern. This one gets you tapping your feet, makes you want to move it’s so energetically charged and lively, gives you a boost to want to do something. It’s impossible to sit still through this one.
12. “Proudest Monkey” - 9m11s - (8/10)
The album must end sometime, and Dave chooses to do it mildly, he slows everything down once again. There is a long musical interlude, a little chaotic even, but I really like the lyrics on this one. This is an excellent track to close the album.
“I am the proudest monkey
You've ever seen
Monkey see Monkey do, Yeah...”
Since I got this CD, I have rented Dave Matthews 2002 Video/DVD Live at Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado. Those lengthy interpretations of his songs are awesome, I love it when a band jams that way. I’ve since become a true fan and I will be looking at getting all of his back catalogue from the 90's. Can’t forget to thank SixerMan again for suggesting this artist to me. Otherwise, who knows how long it would have taken me to discover this guy?
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