Newsweek
C'mon and Feel Free 2 Be DMB
Dave Mathews Plugs In
CRITICS HATED ALL of itthe populism of Matthewss
appeal and the fan population itself. Which explains, at least in
part, why his albums always take a critical thwacking: its
payback. The singer cant get any love for his ravishing
voiceeven though he can fill a simple chorus, like
our love is so right, on the bands new CD,
Everyday, with such passion itll make your toes
curl. Such moments are DMB (as fans call em) in classic
form.
Alas, the rest of Everyday is not, and if Matthews
gets another critical thwacking, at least this time he deserves
it. Of the CDs 12 tracks, only a handful makes a deep
impression. I Did It, the first single, is a total
dud: all swagger, no heart. And devotees will be mortified to
hear 16 minutes pass before LeRoi Moore and Boyd Tinsley, authors
of the bands trademark sax-and-violin two-punch, make any
real contribution. For this album, the bands fifth, DMB
brought in megaproducer Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette) to help
pump up the volume. But the result is a melody-free CD built
around the instrument on which Matthews & Co. are least
proficient: electric guitar. Itll send even their loyal
army back to the sidelines.
-Devin Gordon