After These Crowded Streets
Here comes the rant, here comes the rant!
At the point, I’d like to remind you, faithful 6.2 readers, that I recently purchased the latest lack of effort from the Dave Matthews Ba(n)d. I bought because I consider myself a long time fan (Has it really been almost nine years since my first DMB concert? Yikes…) and, well, I have the rest of their studio albums, and I do like to collect stuff. (Including Busted Stuff. Sorry, joke just for myself…. and done.) So I purchased the new album, entitled “Stand Up.” Before I get more in-depth, let me give you a preview by ranking the studio efforts (as decided by me.):
1. Before These Crowded Streets
2. Crash
3. Under the Table and Dreaming
4. Recently
5. Remember Two Things
6. Busted Stuff
7. Everyday
8. Maroon 5– Songs for Jane
(Wait, how did that get in there? Oh right, it’s still better than…)
9. Stand Up
One or two of you are saying, “Oh Tony, he’s just an elitist throw-back DMB snob.” Not true. One of my favorite songs by tDMB is Grey Street, a relatively new tune in the scheme of things.
At first listen, it’s a very poppy album, that uses a lot more beats and samples than any of the other albums. This is a new direction for the band, and I was willing to give them a chance, because for a long time, they were my favorite band.
(another day, another topic) I like “Old Dirt Hill” and “Hello Again” and even “Stand Up.”
Then I asked the lovely and engaging Mrs. K. to take a listen to it on our way to Porter to see the Amessssesss.
I’m lucky to be alive, gentle readers.
TLEMK did not like the album. Not only did she not like the album, she proceed to systemically prove why I should never listen to the album again.
Try to compare the verbosity of “The Last Stop” from BTCS, and “Stand Up” from Stand Up
The Last Stop:
Silence is poetry
Fire
The sun is well asleep
Moon is high above
Fire grows from the east
How is this
Hate so deep
Lead us all so blindly killing killing
Fools we are
If hate’s the gate to peace
This is the last stop
For raining tears
War
The only way to Peace
I don’t fall for that
Raining tears
You’re righteous, so righteous, so righteous
You’re always so right
Go ahead and dream
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
Raining tears
Oh no
Gracious even God
Bloodied on the cross
Your sins are washed enough
Mother’s cry
“Is hate so deep
Must a baby’s bones
This hungry fire feed?”
As smoke clouds roll in
The symphony of death
This is the last stop
Scream
Right is wrong now
Shut up you big lie
This black and white lie
You comb your hair to hide
Your lying eyes
You’re righteous, so righteous, so righteous
You’re always so right
But why your lie
Go ahead and dream
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
This is the last stop
Here there’s more than is showing up
Hope that we can break it down
So it’s not so black and white
This is the last stop
Here there’s more than is showing up
Hope that we can break it down
So it’s not so black and white
You’re righteous
You’re righteous
You’re righteous
You’re always so right
But there you are nailing a good tree
Then say forgive me, forgive me
Why
Go ahead and dream
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
Raining tears
This is the last stop
Here there is more than is showing up
But I hope that we can break it down
It’s not so black and white
and…
Stand Up (for it):
Boys
Get up y’all!
Stand up!
I woke up to the angels
Singing in my head
You look so good naked next to me
(There’s) an angel in my bed
Stand up!
I feel like a drug is cookin’ in my veins
Still I’m so out of my mind
I’ll shoot you up again
Stand up! etc…
[mumble man]
Water save my soul
Stand up!
Smell like smoke and fire it’s burning in us all.
You dropped me in the water
Lift me up save my soul
Stand up!
——————–
Though it’s possibly an unfair comparison, (Stand Up is the least lyrical song on the album, The Last Stop is not even the pinnacle of lyrics on that ALBUM) I hope you get my point that DMB may be in trouble.
If I had the time or inclination, I would go into how the degradation of the lyrics has unfortuately contributed to the tarnishing of my much beloved band. I know, the songs are better live, just like Phish. But I’m used to much better lyrics, and meaning. This kinda sucks, to paraphrase TLEMK (it’s a PG site) I know I’m biased, but song for song, Before These Crowded Streets blows them away. It sucks that 1998 was seven years ago.
I want this band to be good, because I’ve championed them for years, and I think they have tremendous talent. I even appreciate them trying to do new things, reinvent themselves, keep it fresh. I will continue to buy their albums, but overall I’m getting more skeptical. Prove me wrong, DMB. Bring that beat back. 
Soooon, before TLEMK and I both give up.
Filed under: General, Music and Movies