Monday, December 29, 2003
a friend asked me last week, 'so, what did you get Jesus for his birthday?'
and i had nothing to say.
i was supposed to begin that last sentence with, 'y'know, it's funny...'
but it occurred to me that it wasn't.
and i had nothing to say.
i was supposed to begin that last sentence with, 'y'know, it's funny...'
but it occurred to me that it wasn't.
Monday, December 08, 2003
i've been waiting to get my grubby hands on this album since it was released 3rd week of November and when i got it last Thursday, i promised i'd write my own review of it (so if this isn't what you're looking for, go away now.)
Review: The Dave Matthews Band: The Central Park Concert
The Dave Matthews Band's sixth official live release is that of what will be considered THE concert of the year, a (semi-)free concert held in New York City's Central Park for the benefit of NYC's public school system.
the band was not on tour before the night of September 24, and it shows that they were well-rested and fully psyched for the show from the blistering treatment (and Dave Matthews' improv lines) of the first three songs, 'Don't Drink the Water', 'So Much to Say', and 'Too Much'. These songs set the crowd energy to a high level that hardly falters throughout the remainder of the night, as they roll through fan favorites (Crush, Granny, Ants Marching), rarities (Help Myself), and the guest appearance (Warren Haynes, whose guest spots on 'Cortez the Killer' and 'Jimi Thing' make for the most mesmerizing half hour of the whole set.)
The songs let each band member (including keyboardist Butch Taylor) breathe and solo generously in turn, and in the case of 'Two Step', only saxman LeRoi Moore doesn't take a helping of the 19-minute pie. but, to me, he gets too much of the other solos, anyway.
what separates this release from the last 3 live albums (and makes this the first relevant live album since Dave Matthews/ Tim Reynolds' Live in Luther College) is that it is evident that the band, and clearly the crowd, is thoroughly enjoying the night. Listener Supported, Live in Chicago, and Live at Folsom Field all have their highlights, but aren't standout performances of their respective tours, with some pedantic moments from the band. If you have one of these already, The Central Park Concert is still a worthwhile purchase, nevermind that you will likely double at least 6 or 7 songs, regardless of which live album you already have. my nitpick, though is having yet another rendition (which doesn't differ from any of the rest) of all along the watchtower on disc- it's really wearing thin- probably even on die-hard fans.
If you don't have a live album of the band, and are going for the whopper, a landmark live album, this would be it, simply because you will know how the band has grown together from being one of the best live bands in America to being the best live band in America. Though you may argue for founding live release Red Rocks, try listening to Matthews' voice then and now- that's just an easy example of what i'm saying. You may be overwhelmed by the dosage of jams and off-tangent arrangements, but that's beside the point- in modern pop and rock, there are hardly any of these elements, and none that are in such abundance and at this quality.
Altogether a more than exceptional performance from the band, and if you do come across this at the local record shop, and are already initiated with The Dave Matthews Band (and i mean knowing beyond Crash Into Me and Satellite), then i suggest you do pick this (triple CD) package up and listen to one of the greatest bands in the modern rock world playing to 85,000 people in one of the greatest cities of the modern world.
Review: The Dave Matthews Band: The Central Park Concert
The Dave Matthews Band's sixth official live release is that of what will be considered THE concert of the year, a (semi-)free concert held in New York City's Central Park for the benefit of NYC's public school system.
the band was not on tour before the night of September 24, and it shows that they were well-rested and fully psyched for the show from the blistering treatment (and Dave Matthews' improv lines) of the first three songs, 'Don't Drink the Water', 'So Much to Say', and 'Too Much'. These songs set the crowd energy to a high level that hardly falters throughout the remainder of the night, as they roll through fan favorites (Crush, Granny, Ants Marching), rarities (Help Myself), and the guest appearance (Warren Haynes, whose guest spots on 'Cortez the Killer' and 'Jimi Thing' make for the most mesmerizing half hour of the whole set.)
The songs let each band member (including keyboardist Butch Taylor) breathe and solo generously in turn, and in the case of 'Two Step', only saxman LeRoi Moore doesn't take a helping of the 19-minute pie. but, to me, he gets too much of the other solos, anyway.
what separates this release from the last 3 live albums (and makes this the first relevant live album since Dave Matthews/ Tim Reynolds' Live in Luther College) is that it is evident that the band, and clearly the crowd, is thoroughly enjoying the night. Listener Supported, Live in Chicago, and Live at Folsom Field all have their highlights, but aren't standout performances of their respective tours, with some pedantic moments from the band. If you have one of these already, The Central Park Concert is still a worthwhile purchase, nevermind that you will likely double at least 6 or 7 songs, regardless of which live album you already have. my nitpick, though is having yet another rendition (which doesn't differ from any of the rest) of all along the watchtower on disc- it's really wearing thin- probably even on die-hard fans.
If you don't have a live album of the band, and are going for the whopper, a landmark live album, this would be it, simply because you will know how the band has grown together from being one of the best live bands in America to being the best live band in America. Though you may argue for founding live release Red Rocks, try listening to Matthews' voice then and now- that's just an easy example of what i'm saying. You may be overwhelmed by the dosage of jams and off-tangent arrangements, but that's beside the point- in modern pop and rock, there are hardly any of these elements, and none that are in such abundance and at this quality.
Altogether a more than exceptional performance from the band, and if you do come across this at the local record shop, and are already initiated with The Dave Matthews Band (and i mean knowing beyond Crash Into Me and Satellite), then i suggest you do pick this (triple CD) package up and listen to one of the greatest bands in the modern rock world playing to 85,000 people in one of the greatest cities of the modern world.
