Music Reviews - December
B.J. Harring
Issue date: 11/27/06 Section: Entertainment
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Dave Matthews Band - The Best of What's Around Vol. 1
Who could have ever imagined that a group whose talents encompass such a wide array of styles and influences could be summed up in three simple letters, DMB. Contemporary folk-rock group Dave Matthews Band have, after a career spanning 15 years and counting, released their greatest hits album in a dual-disc format featuring the group's two favorite songs off of each of their six studio albums on the first disc, and a compilation of live tracks from various worldwide shows on the second disc. Ironically, many well-known singles, including "Satellite" and "Crash," are mysteriously absent; however, the convention of placing the best-known songs is too played out for a group as unique as DMB.
The group, named after iconic frontman and one-time bartender Dave Matthews, features the traditional elements of guitar, played by Matthews, bass and drums, but also violin, flute, and saxophones obviously present in every song. Though the instruments themselves are not uncommon, the success of a group featuring such an obscure lineup in today's rollercoaster music industry is uncommon. DMB's ability to take the pieces and make them fit speaks volumes of the musicianship of the group's five members and the talent they possess. It is the group's ability to satisfy a lust for something different in a world where everything sounds the same that will keep the group afloat and propel them to "The Best of What's Around Vol. 2."
Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies
The daylight has died, and out of the ashes, Killswitch Engage has risen. The Boston quintet unleashed their third major label release over two and a half years after the release of their sophomore album, The End of Heartache. The break from the studio was full of tours and left fans thirsty for more after the success and acclaim that the band had achieved through The End of Heartache. Howard Jones was first featured on The End of Heartache after replacing Jesse David Leach, the group's original singer, who appeared on Alive of Just Breathing. Jones, a rather burly individual, uses his size to produce some of the most emotionally driven screams which he balances beautifully with a gorgeous upper register performance, something that fellow band member and album producer Adam Dutkiewicz harnessed and thrust to the forefront of the group's new venture.
Guitar masterminds Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel continue to hypnotize listeners with blistering riffs, played with relative ease and intense precision, amalgamated with slides and syncopation incorporated at the drop of a hat. Mike D'Antonio's unique bass style shines through yet again and the classically inspired, barefoot playing Justin Foley offers another serendipitous performance on the skins. The band has grown since 2004 and they will continue to gain support, fame, and appreciation as the album takes form as a metal masterpiece.
- BJ. Harring
Who could have ever imagined that a group whose talents encompass such a wide array of styles and influences could be summed up in three simple letters, DMB. Contemporary folk-rock group Dave Matthews Band have, after a career spanning 15 years and counting, released their greatest hits album in a dual-disc format featuring the group's two favorite songs off of each of their six studio albums on the first disc, and a compilation of live tracks from various worldwide shows on the second disc. Ironically, many well-known singles, including "Satellite" and "Crash," are mysteriously absent; however, the convention of placing the best-known songs is too played out for a group as unique as DMB.
The group, named after iconic frontman and one-time bartender Dave Matthews, features the traditional elements of guitar, played by Matthews, bass and drums, but also violin, flute, and saxophones obviously present in every song. Though the instruments themselves are not uncommon, the success of a group featuring such an obscure lineup in today's rollercoaster music industry is uncommon. DMB's ability to take the pieces and make them fit speaks volumes of the musicianship of the group's five members and the talent they possess. It is the group's ability to satisfy a lust for something different in a world where everything sounds the same that will keep the group afloat and propel them to "The Best of What's Around Vol. 2."
Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies
The daylight has died, and out of the ashes, Killswitch Engage has risen. The Boston quintet unleashed their third major label release over two and a half years after the release of their sophomore album, The End of Heartache. The break from the studio was full of tours and left fans thirsty for more after the success and acclaim that the band had achieved through The End of Heartache. Howard Jones was first featured on The End of Heartache after replacing Jesse David Leach, the group's original singer, who appeared on Alive of Just Breathing. Jones, a rather burly individual, uses his size to produce some of the most emotionally driven screams which he balances beautifully with a gorgeous upper register performance, something that fellow band member and album producer Adam Dutkiewicz harnessed and thrust to the forefront of the group's new venture.
Guitar masterminds Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel continue to hypnotize listeners with blistering riffs, played with relative ease and intense precision, amalgamated with slides and syncopation incorporated at the drop of a hat. Mike D'Antonio's unique bass style shines through yet again and the classically inspired, barefoot playing Justin Foley offers another serendipitous performance on the skins. The band has grown since 2004 and they will continue to gain support, fame, and appreciation as the album takes form as a metal masterpiece.
- BJ. Harring
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