Dave Matthews Band - Everyday

With three years passed and a new producer at the helm, the Dave Matthews Band find themselves stretching beyond the borders of Before These Crowded Streets to more emotionally explorative territory. On Everyday, Matthews's clenched-jaw delivery has an unrelenting constancy that's cunning and determined. "I Did It" opens the CD in an aggressive groove, while "When the World Ends" follows with clipped licks that dive into a muddier, open-flowing chorus. From there on out, the floodgates open into something that often recalls Peter Gabriel, which is ironic, given that the band replaced producer Steve Lillywhite, whose work with Gabriel is legendary, with Glen Ballard, whose work with Alanis Morissette is of equal note, if not acclaim. The album is Gabrielesque in scope, from Matthews's deepening rasp to the epic instrumentation. Yet, what's lacking is Lillywhite's ability to capture a sense of naked honesty. Instead, Ballard dosses down the tracks in designer-suit production, unable to save a band that might simply not be up to the task on such an ambitious sonic endeavor. That, combined with Matthews's tendency to eschew conventional hooks, leaves the album stalled between the group's jam-band compulsion and radio-friendly packaging. To capture the latent majesty of this album, you're going to have to hear it live, and with this band, that's always been precisely the point. --Beth Massa Amazon.com

 my favorite Dave Matthews album
I've never been a huge fan. Dave's voice annoys me after a little while. I do think this is my favorite album by them. Many fans don't seem to like it but I can't understand why. Angel is my favorite track on here. This album got me into their other work which I had previously written off. March 13, 2008

 Throw it away
I've been a fan of the Band since '95, and I honestly tried listening to this album, but it just sucks too much. It's a shame that the Band doesn't even realize it and they shove the songs down your throat when you go see them live. November 30, 2007

 Ack! Lame
I can't believe it, but hey, since I'm not a Dave Matthews Band fan, I don't really give a ____ what people think about. I guess I do know why Dave Matthews fans get a bad rap, I remember seeing somebody get tarred and feathered because they just don't like The Dave Matthews Band. Basically, after listening to Under The Table and Dreaming, this is just laughable. And of course, the electric guitar is a death kneel, it just makes this seem more of a ________ alternative rock band, with nothing good or unique to it, like Nirvana. Under The Table and Dreaming had originality, it was unique, and had great hooks. Everyday features little _____ riffs, plus, the instruments don't even blend together. Just compare the two, you'll see the difference.

Pretty much the whole album sounds the same. Well, no, but each track dosen't have anything for it to stand out, it's all the same to me. The rap by Boyd Tinsley is laughable as well, this isn't Rage, Faith No More, or Limp Bizkit. Stick to something that you can pull off, rap rock ain't one of them.

The band still shows some talent, Carter's drumming is still pretty good. And sure, these songs might be better live, but live is live. This is the studio. And this failed the test big time.

0.5/10 September 26, 2007

 Shockingly Disappointing False version of DMB
I loved every DMB album up until this one. After 10 years of making the most profoundly wonderful music, the law of averages has finally kicked in for Dave and crew. I have been a fan since 1997 and loved everything about this band. Every album and every song was superb!

This album is a HUGH departure from the tradition Dave Matthews Band that all true DMB fans know and love. This album has also made a division between old hardcore DMB fans (fans of the REAL band that includes all 5 members) and new DMB fans (the "I heard it on the radio and liked it" fans)

This album does not include all 5 members as Leroi and Boyd are almost non-existent leaving just the guitar, bass, and drums ie. the meat and potatoes of a band. Every band has a guitar, bass and drums making them sound just about like every other band out there. Now how many bands do you know that have a fiddle and a sax/wind instruments in them? DMB used to be one of them. You won't find the adrenaline pumping fiddle solos or the heartfelt wind work on this album.

Next we have Dave playing electric guitar and co-writing the majority of the songs over a weekend and boy does it show. He co-wrote these songs with the new producer Glenn Ballard who plays piano on this one as well. The only song that is a work of art lyrically is The Space Between. I also like Everyday as well only because its an evolved form of a true DMB song, #36 (Hani Hani). This one is a real treat to see live as the band will sometime play both #36 and Everyday together.

Yes I will say again...Dave plays an electric on this one. Big mistake going from what your traditionally known as being acoustic then going directly to electric...just ask Dylan about this one. I felt like I Did It was an assault on my ears and took my breath away and not in a good way. My jaw dropped to the floor in disbelief and I just could not believe what I was hearing. This was not Dave Matthews Band! The only song that the electric worked with was The Space Between due to it being a dark and sad ending to a relationship. GREAT poetry and lyrics to that one and that song saves the a star from being a 1/5.

There are a lot of reviews on here that are saying that it took a few listens before they really liked it. I believe that these are fans that are just in denial and I can't blame them. Did it take a few listens before you fell in love with this band? When I first heard Crash Into Me and Too Much I was just floored and could not believe the sounds I was hearing. Not with this so called DMB. A band with a sax and a fiddle that makes it work!!?? WOW!

Take the 4 things out that make DMB, DMB and you get a mediocre any band. The 4 things that make the formula of Dave Matthews Band work are the uplifting and awe inspiring explosive fiddle solos from Boyd (Ants Marching), the emotional wind works of Leroi (Say Goodbye), Dave's lyrics (#41 and I'm not a big fan of Dave's vocals but thats on every album...I wish they would put out an all instrumental album), and the tricky timings, rhythms, and beats of Carter (#36 Live at Red Rocks), all of which pretty much do not exist on this album.

This is not DMB and if you do buy it at least you won't buy it under the false pretense that your buying a DMB album. Go get any other album besides this and Stand Up (which is even more disappointing then Everyday)

Hardcore DMB fans...you have been warned. December 23, 2006

 4.5 stars, in the right order
The biggest problem with Everyday is that the best few songs and singles (except for the title track) are burned through at the start of this LP. That's not to say the rest of the tracks are crap (most are good) but there's nothing to keep the listener hanging around for the second half of the album. I bought this album because of `the space between' and was initially disappointed with it. Much later while messing around on Itunes, I rearranged the playlist and realised this is actually quite a strong album of songs IF they are in the right order. If you can, put the tracks in this order and give the it a go, I found it much much more concise and better listen.

1. Everyday
2. Angels
3. So Right
4. Dreams Of Our Fathers
5. What You Are
6. I Did It
7. Fool To Think
8. When The World Ends
9. The Space Between
10. If I Had It All

You'll notice I've left off sleep to dream her & mother father, Mainly because they are duds. Even so it works out to be a stronger collection around 44 minutes length wise, which is about all the Matthews and Co. I can handle.
December 14, 2006

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