Do you like the album?

[snow1868]

Originally Posted by BruceW

And Again and Again does?

I mean if you don’t like any of these live:

Walk Around the Moon
Madman’s Eyes
Looking for a Vein
Ocean and the Butterfly
It Could Happen
The Only Thing
Break Free
Monsters

or studio for that matter, then idk how you like this iteration of the band whatsoever. And maybe you don’t, but that’s pretty damning IMO.

I don't really like this iteration of the band. I've been pretty clear about that for a while. I have zero desire to see them live, full band, at this point. I'll see Dave solo or D&T, but I do not care for the current full band experience.

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by snow1868

I dunno, haven't seen it. But my comment was about the songs from WATM, not Again and Again.

Sorry I thought you saying there isn't a song on WATM that's better than A&A had to do with A&A to an extent



Different topic ... If you had me guess what the percentages of this poll would have been before the album was released, I would have had yes at less than 50%

[BruceW]

Originally Posted by snow1868

I don't really like this iteration of the band. I've been pretty clear about that for a while. I have zero desire to see them live, full band, at this point. I'll see Dave solo or D&T, but I do not care for the current full band experience.

Got ya. Well, there ya go.

What was the last year of the band that you enjoyed?

[snow1868]

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

Sorry I thought you saying there isn't a song on WATM that's better than A&A had to do with A&A to an extent



Different topic ... If you had me guess what the percentages of this poll would have been before the album was released, I would have had yes at less than 50%

My comment was clearly about studio efforts as we're talking about albums here. Bruce asked me about live versions of the song from WATM, which I said do nothing for me in a live or studio setting.

Yes, I think as studio cuts, Virginia In The Rain and Again and Again are better than anything on WATM. Overall, I think WATM is a better album than CT but that's still not saying much.

[snow1868]

Originally Posted by BruceW

Got ya. Well, there ya go.

What was the last year of the band that you enjoyed?

2016. That Tampa show was a blast and honestly, I wish it was my last show instead of the 2019 show.

[zrroot]

There's 5 skips on this album for me, but it's fine overall. I enjoy the songs more live and would be happy to catch some at a show. That being said this studio effort isn't something I'm really impressed with outside of MME/OATB/TOT. Rest of the songs studio versions are easily forgettable

[berman1125]

Actually yea. But it’s 7th out of 10 for me. It needs to be longer

[BruceW]

Originally Posted by snow1868

2016. That Tampa show was a blast and honestly, I wish it was my last show instead of the 2019 show.

My one and only time in Tampa for DMB. Lucky me!

I get it and that's understandable then.

I'd definitely say that this album along with many of the songs live performances, bring back some semblance of earlier DMB while keeping things fresh because they have a completely different lineup than earlier DMB.

[Alpine416]

I like the album.

I stand by all my criticisms in the lead up to the album and of the overall album release process. It truly was a mess, could have been better, and questionable production decisions seeped all the way into the release. Still like what we got though for the most part though.

[greenpick41]

It’s nice background music.

[groogrux27]

Originally Posted by BruceW

Just from what I’ve heard, one of them cut was either the best of the bunch or up there and the other was meh and kinda like SMLAM/BBN style

Are the songs you’re referencing RttF and Revolution? Or other songs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ERoths711]

Originally Posted by BruceW

Just from what I’ve heard, one of them cut was either the best of the bunch or up there and the other was meh and kinda like SMLAM/BBN style

You think there’s a realistic chance of getting another album in a year or two with the scrapped songs and some older stuff?

[Roose13]

Overall, yea. It's enjoyable and easy listening. But it doesn't really move the needle either. It feels like a Dave solo album with the band chipping in. I see some of these songs having extended outros live, which is fun, but I wish they would have done it on the album. There was definitely plenty of space left on it.

[Alpine416]

Originally Posted by BruceW

Just from what I’ve heard, one of them cut was either the best of the bunch or up there and the other was meh and kinda like SMLAM/BBN style

Sounds like definitely full band with horns just based on those comparisons. I truly think they just can't be bothered to all get together to round out these full band songs so they grab old stuff (Monsters, Break Free) or Dave solos to finish an album.

Remove STTMB
Put LFAV in it's spot and actually bring in the band to feature Carter/Jeff like it does live.
Record full band version of Monsters
Add back in one of the cut songs assuming it is full band.

Track list after these changes is:
WATM
MME
OATB
ICH
Run to the Fire
LFAV (full band)

After Everything
AYWWT
The Only Thing
Break Free
Monsters (full band)
SFTW

There would be no leg to stand on for the "Dave solo album" complaints, remove the turd of the album, and we would have gotten 1 more unheard full band song.

[eggsrsweet]

I didn’t want to have a “Meh” option in the poll; I think it’s more interesting to force people to pick one or the other — you can use the thread to detail your “Yes but…” or “No but…”. And I have to say, I did not expect Yes to be winning by a landslide.

I voted Yes myself. I think it just might very well be the band’s best album in 20 years like others have been saying. And I have been VERY skeptical and VERY critical of this band the last several years. But they really surprised me here.

[Amslay]

Still hasn't grown on me, yet. Easily bottom 3, at the moment. Seems more like a Dave album than a DMB album, loaded with "ballad-y" tracks (like the last release). Carter hardly stands out at all (Jeff, Rashawn, either), so it's not doing it for me, personally.

[spider-man]

Some good songs -- WATM, Madman's, Vein, Ocean, Break Free, Monsters
Okay songs -- STTMB, TOT, Singing, AYWWT
Chuck 'em -- It Could Happen, After Everything

[karczews41]

I like the album just fine. What I don't like is that it comprised roughly 1/3 of each of the Texas shows, which if that holds up will make for a dreadfully disappointing tour. I don't expect it will seeing as its debut weekend but still, that's crazy high.

[chadizzy1]

As someone who can’t get into most modern music, I’ll take a new DMB album any day of the week, even if it isn’t their best album.

I don’t expect another BTCS. So I take what I can get.

I’ll critique it, sure. But at the end of the day it’s still new music.

[Route_2]

Originally Posted by RJP2741

I am shocked by how much people like this album. I think it's garbage. An incredibly half-assed effort. There are a handful of songs I can tolerate. A handful I never want to listen to again. And then a few that are completely forgettable. There's no nuance. I hate the production and all the synth stuff. It's awful.

My sentiments as well. Gave it a try but don't see ever having a desire to revisit it.

[jaymas9]

Originally Posted by BruceW

Just from what I’ve heard, one of them cut was either the best of the bunch or up there and the other was meh and kinda like SMLAM/BBN style

Love BBN, so that's a double "damn it" for me. Not shocking that one cut was among the best of the bunch. Maybe it'll emerge live. or 15 years from now on Carter's last album, as an 80 year old.

[BearambleAmble]

Originally Posted by BruceW

Got ya. Well, there ya go.

What was the last year of the band that you enjoyed?

I know this wasn't directed at me, but 2016 was the end. There were moments early in that tour...Cville25...Break Free sometime in May where Boyd pulled an incredible bit of playing with Tim, out of his hat.

Band takes 2017 off and I think that Scott Stadium Cville Benefit show is their first time back together? ...I remember watching that live stream and it was brutal. Never been quite right since then

[CapnHani06]

Originally Posted by cry_minarets458

I like it as a Dave Matthews album. I do not like it as a DMB album. Voted no. Kudos for the pandemic work, though.

What is a Dave Matthews album, though? We toss that around as though that’s a thing, but it’s not a thing.

[OneSweetMonkey]

Originally Posted by BearambleAmble

I know this wasn't directed at me, but 2016 was the end. There were moments early in that tour...Cville25...Break Free sometime in May where Boyd pulled an incredible bit of playing with Tim, out of his hat.

Band takes 2017 off and I think that Scott Stadium Cville Benefit show is their first time back together? ...I remember watching that live stream and it was brutal. Never been quite right since then

False. 78910111213141516

[wrhslax1996]

I like it. It's not the best album they've put out but anyone expecting that is unrealistic. My biggest gripe isn't the songs, but rather with songs like Looking For a Vein and Break Free where the studio cut just doesn't do the songs justice. The tapes for LFAV are awesome, imo, but man that studio cut is rough on my ears.

[anthonysoscia]

Originally Posted by BruceW

Just from what I’ve heard, one of them cut was either the best of the bunch or up there and the other was meh and kinda like SMLAM/BBN style

Of course one of the best was cut Though I'm extremely grateful that we got Monsters added later on.

[BearambleAmble]

Originally Posted by OneSweetMonkey

False. 78910111213141516

You're saying it was over in 2007? I'd entertain that idea. I only got to see Roi live, once.

[vaxarado]

Originally Posted by jasonfilatov

Yes. Just imagine how good this would have been though...

1. Walk Around the Moon
2. Madman's Eyes
3. Looking for a Vein (no drum thing)
4. The Ocean and the Butterfly
5. Shotgun
6. Early Home
7. Bismarck
8. All You Wanted Was Tomorrow
9. Drive Me Away
10. Break Free
11. Monsters
12. Death on the High Seas

Depends. Is this hypothetical Shotgun castrated like Break Free on this album is? Was not surprised whatsoever to see that Batson produced the final version of Break Free.


The only producer they've worked with that I want touching Shotgun in studio is Lillywhite. If it's not him, I'd rather never get a studio version.

[seanbrutus]

Originally Posted by vaxarado

Depends. Is this hypothetical Shotgun castrated like Break Free on this album is? Was not surprised whatsoever to see that Batson produced the final version of Break Free.


The only producer they've worked with that I want touching Shotgun in studio is Lillywhite. If it's not him, I'd rather never get a studio version.

He DIDN'T produce the final version though. He produced the bones of the track over a decade ago and they did everything else last year. He gets the main producer credit on what's basically a technicality.

[Cscottrun]

Put me in the, "it's ok" group. I like it better than CT - but not AFTW or Big Whiskey. Those albums have more of the band sound and I know and love, and in my opinion are a bit deeper in meaning and lyrics. As I've mentioned previously, I don't think theres a song on the album that can compare to some of the lyrics in Snow Outside or Dive In (let alone prior studio tracks).