Quote:
Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34
What would some of your bullet points be for 95 being the best? Just curious
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There's a lot for me that makes the 95 era my favorite (best is subjective, so I'll just say favorite). First of all, I'll state that while most seem to feel 98-04 is DMBs prime, I feel that 93-00 is DMBs prime. In terms of creativity, I think that is no contest. In terms of sound/music, there's certainly cases to be made from all eras. My personal music taste draws me more to their mid 90s sound, and also into the later 90s.
So why 95 specifically over 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 2000? For a while I was stuck on 1993. I've also really felt 98-00 at times. But I think I always come back to 95 as my favorite because it still has the raw "grungy" feel of their early 90s sound which I adore, but the band is just at another level, and they were continuing to develop some of their most iconic songs and song structures. This is all just off the cusp, it's kinda hard to articulate but I'm trying. I'll give some bullet points for my take on '95:
- The band was still "hungry". They had a major label LP out, and had some radio success, but it was nothing like what was about to happen in April 1996. They hit a new level of fame that year, and you could sort of feel them building up to that in 1995.
- The original sound that they'd developed from around April 1993 was perfected by 1995. Everything was firing on all cylinders, the pacing of the songs was intense, the solos were hot, Carter was really unleashing some demons.
- I don't want to say aesthetic, but something like that.
- I mentioned this above, but the creative space Dave and the band were in. I feel we fans take for granted songs like #41, and Two Step which were really fleshed out around 1995. As well as earlier songs that were on fire like Seek Up, Warehouse, Minarets, Typical, etc. BTCS is my favorite studio album of theirs. But in my opinion, their best songs of their catalog were written between 1991-1995.
- Dave's voice was still where I like it to be. The way he sings in the early days up through 96/97 just sets the tone of what this band was in the 90s. Weird, eclectic, raw, kinda frantic but still in control. Some people say his voice was like Kermit the Frog lol. It's my favorite he has sounded throughout his career, but that's not to say I don't love the way his voice evolved throughout the years, and I'm glad he matured and developed his voice as he got older. I wouldn't necessarily want to hear a 40 year old Dave Matthews trying to sing Help Myself the way he did in 94.
This has become rather long winded, I guess I've never tried to put to words why I feel the way I do about what I consider the bands prime. It just captures my taste in music perfectly.