Dave Matthews Band - Listener Supported

If you're of the opinion that the Grateful Dead comparisons that dog the Dave Matthews Band ring false, consider that with the release of Listener Supported, Matthews has put out more live albums (four, if you count Live at Luther College, a duet album with Tim Reynolds) than studio efforts (three, if you don't count the Recently EP). That's a lot of live albums, but Matthews fans probably wouldn't have it any other way. Now it's more possible than ever to haggle over which version of, say, "Warehouse"--which appears on Live at Red Rocks, Luther College, and the new album, as well as on Recently and Under the Table and Dreaming--is definitive. But "Warehouse" aside, the Matthews Band isn't making the same album over and over. Listener Supported contains a nice mix of tunes, albeit with a fair emphasis on their most recent studio effort, Before These Crowded Streets. Among the highlights is a funky, freewheeling take on "Rapunzel," and gorgeous readings of "#41," and the traditional country tune "Long Black Veil." With over two and a half hours of music, the album is enough to sate most DMB fans, at least until the next live album turns up. --Daniel Durchholz Amazon.com

Classic show for any DMB fan

This release contains one of my favorite all-time versions of my favorite song, #41. "Listener Supported" remains one of the best "mixes" released to-date. All the members of this very talented and diverse band are featured throughout while never drowning out any one instrument. Don't miss the DVD either. If you know of a Dave Matthews Band fan who DOESN'T have this release, I guarantee it would be one of the greatest Christmas gifts you could give them!

If you haven't witnessed one of the greatest drummers of the modern era, Carter Beauford, get this DVD or pop these CD's in your CD changer!

For those of you who are NOT fans of Dave Matthews Band, you too can appreciate the raw musicianship displayed on a nightly basis! December 11, 2007

too much audience noise

A nice compilation of tunes, but so much crowd noise, that the intro (song 1) is not even heard. Spend your money an another live CD by DMB. The annoying applause and screaming crowd are heard throughout the 2-CD set. August 24, 2006

The best Dave Matthews live CD to date

THIS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A DVD.

Dave Matthews Band is one of the best bands to come out of the 1990's and their concerts are always fun. But, Matthews has yet to release a very good live CD.

Like all Matthews live CD's, this one suffers from the same problems: poor sound, too much audience noise, repetitive set list and not enough editing.

Dave Matthews insists on releasing complete concerts. All the truly great, classic live albums have had material come from several different shows, like Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East; Derek and the Dominoes Live; Grateful Dead, Live/Dead, etc. That way the best performances of each song are chosen.

Although the Dave Matthews Band is somewhat of a jam band, the group plays mostly the same songs night after night and year after year. Many of the songs here also show up on three or four other live CD's. So, you constantly get repeats. By including the whole show, you get songs that you don't really need to hear one more time.

What makes this CD better than other Matthews live CD's is that there is a little more variety in the song selection.

And Matthews includes the WHOLE show, right down to the clapping for an encore. You get lots of spaces where there is now music. Do you really want to waste your life hearing that over and over again?

Like all Matthews live CD's, the audience noise is cranked up way to loud. The audience overwhelms the band during some of the groups best playing. There is no need for this. You have to do this on purpose. You need to have audience microphones and then mix in the audience louder than the band. I don't consider audience noise to be art and don't need to constantly hear it. Also, I don't need cheering to tell me when something is good. All of the great, classic live albums have very little audience noise.

All of Matthews live CD's have poor sound. This CD set is actually the best. It isn't great, but it is much better than Red Rocks or Chicago.

The only other downside is that Boyd Tinsley is featured more on this CD than others. He has got to be the worst rock/jazz violinist of all time. The only time he really adds anything to the songs is when he plucks the strings. He shouldn't be allowed to touch a bow. All he does it scratch it back and forth over the strings. Note that on the studio albums, there are always guest violinists to handle any of the serious playing.

The back up singer, Tuwatha Agee, used to do backup for Roxy Music. January 17, 2006

Jazzy

This is my favorite Live Dave cd because of how jazzy it is. I have never heard Leroi so good in any other live cd. Every song is so instrumental and huge solos from many instruments. The jazzy solos from the flute, saxaphone, clarinet, piano, and violin are out of this world. Not to mention Carter and Dave busting out in a couple songs. Sure Red Rocks was the first which to some people automatically makes it the best live cd but instrumentally which is why I love DMB this is the best live album. January 11, 2006

start my obsession

my first DMB live cd, also the album that start my obsession with the band for years. they sound so damn good and original. be sure to check #41, very jazzy and chill but also the show of an amazing musicianship and improvisational skill. the most precious gem on the cds IMHO. October 15, 2005

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