This eulogy is a celebration.

Though Dave Matthews Band latest album is a tribute to their fallen comrade, some of the tracks can still be used for big party music like their previous albums. But this latest album has a more rocky-edge. Thanks to producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Paramore) who blended their default jazzy music to reach its rocky-peak. Undeniably, this is their best album yet.

Tim Reynolds, a regular guest musician on the DMB tours, has played the electric guitar on this album. Jeff Coffin and Rashawn Ross took care of the brass in place of LeRoi's peaceful rest.

Fortunately, the sessions started before LeRoi's passing.

Play-by-play

Grux. Imagine you're on a riverboat entering an uncharted region deep in the Amazon. LeRoi's riff on this track gives the shiver feeling. A rightful track to start the album.

Shake Me Like a Monkey. The horns section made me think twice if I'm really listening to DMB. This is a bold transformation of the band's brass. Sounds like Planetshakers, but more.

I like my coffee with toast and jelly
but I'd rather be licking from your back to your belly

Funny The Way It Is. The irony of things around us. Beautifully done, soft and simple. Their first single.

Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
somebody's heart is broken it becomes your favorite song

Lying in the Hands of God. For those lazy afternoons nap time. This is what I like about DMB music, even though it's a slow song, the drumlines are still on the move and surprisingly not changing the feel of the song. There is only one Carter Beauford.

Save your sermons for someone that's afraid to love
if you knew what I feel then you couldn't be so sure

Why I Am. Two slow tunes in a row, now back to the groove. The sustained and suspended tempo of the chorus is a work of art. Just great party song in the making.

A king of men it makes no sense
when I bow to the priest while I worship the witch

Dive In. My favorite song of the album when it comes to lyric writing. The story line makes me ponder and nod my head.

I saw a man on the side of the road
with a sign that read "Will work for food"
I tried to look busy 'til the light turned green

Spaceman. The complicated and often strange rhythms of DMB is again at work. This is the song that I wont mind learning how to play. Just let it be.

I prayed to heaven to keep my place
but I looked in the mirror saw the devil's face

Squirm. V. If I were to represent this song into a single letter, V it is. It starts with Dave's falsetto dwindling down to the story at the bottom. Then from the bottom, the drum beats louder climbing back to the top.

If kindness is your king
then heaven will be yours before you meet your end

Alligator Pie. I surely hear the banjo playing on this one. Basing on the reports, this song is about New Orleans.

First day the water rise
Second day the sun is high
Third day Stella cries 'cause night time's dark as a dead man's eyes

Seven. The other song where Dave starts on the high notes.

Mama told me "Boy, someday that girl will steal your mind"

Time Bomb. The first of two songs that was written solely of Dave. Beautiful. The definition of crescendo is explained here. Dave's voice is pushed to the limits. Threshold.

Baby when I get home help me pick up the pieces
Hammer in the final nail I wanna believe in Jesus

Baby Blue. Intro has similarities with his old song Sister. A sweet goodbye song.

Confess not quite ready to be left
Still I know I did my level best

You and Me. The 2nd song written solely by Matthews. It was written to his wife. Great song to end the track.

You and me together
Yes yes

The Bonus Tracks

#27. Here's my thoughts on these bonus tracks. Why just they put these tracks on the album on the first place. They're all good.

When I'm so sick that this sickness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then

Beach Ball. The smother edge. No electric guitars on here. Liked it.

Hello moon, hello stars in the sky
Heaven wants you to answer me a while

Little Red Bird. Acoustic solo. A song about the war.

If God had an honest face
a troubled expression would be watching the human race

Write a Song. I would switch Spaceman and insert this track instead. A good song to be ignored.

I want to write a song that'll get you high
I want to find the words that'll make everything feel alright now


It's been 4 years since their last album, Stand Up, and they're continuing to evolve. LeRoi will be missed, but the music lives on.

And I'm still here dancing to the GrooGrux King.


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Originally found here: Crescendo