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Stand Up

Artist: Dave Matthews Band
Genre: Alternative
Year: 2005
Rating: 6 / 10

When a band becomes as successful as the Dave Matthews Band has over the past decade, there is bound to be a backlash, both critically and in terms of fan approval. Torched from every side over the release of Everyday in 2001, the band wisely responded with Busted Stuff, the reworking of the much-circulated Lillywhite Sessions. Busted Stuff also represented a move away from the manufactured pop of Everyday, and, with songs like “Bartender” and “Grey Street,” a return to the rock anthems of yesteryear. Three years later, with new producer Mark Baston (Beyonce, 50 Cent) in tow, the band returned to the studio to produce Stand Up, and the results are interesting to say the least.

On the heels of Under the Table & Dreaming… and Crash, the Dave Matthews Band faced the ominous task of reproducing those albums’ depth and might, something that had proven to be difficult over the years. After all, those two albums were littered with hits, both for die-hard fans (“Warehouse,” “Two Step”) and mainstream audiences (“What Would You Say,” “Crash Into Me”) alike. Stand Up, released almost a decade after the latter, is not a return to those days, but rather, it is an encouraging new direction for the band. While some may view Everyday as the band’s Zooropa - U2’s bizarre stray from their traditional rock sound - Stand Up represents a nice blend of the old and the new.

The band’s new album is undoubtedly mellower than some of their previous offerings, but, in some ways, it is actually more consistent. Granted, there is more of a studio feel, ala Everyday, and the influence of keyboardist Butch Reynolds can certainly be felt, but the music is still unmistakably familiar. As with some of the Everyday songs, it is not yet apparent how well these songs will translate in a concert setting, but the band always has a way of bringing out each song’s inner spirit. (See “What You Are” for a sense of what a standard studio track can sound like in the open air.) The majority of the songs which were “road-tested” last year failed to make the cut – only the blistering “Hello Again” survived – so the rest of the tracks are largely unproven, although the potential is there.

”Dreamgirl,” the track the kicks off the album, is surely one of the best. It continues the band’s tradition of producing strong ballads, from “Crash Into Me” through “The Space Between.” “American Baby,” the first single released from the album, features a soulful intro and a fadeout that is sure to please in a live setting. The two most concert-ready numbers appear to be the aforementioned “Hello Again” and “Louisiana Bayou,” easily one of the most unique songs the band has ever produced. Singer Dave Matthews adds some funk and spice as his guitar weaves its way through a hooting chorus. On the latter half of the album, “You Might Die Trying” features a spunky Leroi Moore blasting his way through another randy ditty.

With just under 500,000 copies sold in its first week, Stand Up easily claimed the top spot on the Billboard charts with its debut. While it did mark the highest rock debut of the year, it fell short of recent efforts Everyday and Busted Stuff. “American Baby” has achieved some success on radio, but the ultimate judges of this album will be the band’s fans, and that judgment won’t be passed until the Dave Matthews Band takes the stage this summer. With a song catalogue that keeps expanding and screaming fans with increasing expectations, this new material will soon undergo a baptism by fire. Stand Up will never be confused with the band’s best work, but, when the lights go down again, fans of the Dave Matthews Band will have some new gems to treasure.

See Also: Dave Matthews Band Tribute

Submitted 5/25/05.