Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King
Rating
RIYL
PhishBen Harper
Hill Country Revue
Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Release Date
06/02/2009
Label
RCATracklist
1. Grux2. Shake Me Like A Monkey
3. Funny The Way It Is
4. Lying In The Hands Of God
5. Why I Am
6. Dive In
7. Spaceman
8. Squirm
9. Alligator Pie
10. Seven
11. Time Bomb
12. Baby Blue
13. You & Me
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In the early nineties, half inebriated and glossy eyed college students got word of a band that was unlike any of its time. They began trading cassette tapes of this particular band and the buzz of the group (and students) grew into what is now one of the biggest cult followings of a band this planet has seen in a long, long time. Larger than life, Dave Matthews Band have been jamming out tunes for nearly two decades and with the release of their seventh studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, they make it blatantly clear they have no plans of stopping anytime soon.
After the heart wrenching death of friend, band mate, and founding member, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, many questions were to be answered as to what the future had in store for DMB. Anyone who is the least bit familiar with the band knows that Moore had a presence all his own. From his angelic sax solos to his dark sunglasses that you rarely saw him without, and everything in between, the man knew how to make his existence in the band known. With that being said, filling Moore's shoes would be a very difficult assignment. However, DMB looked to friend Jeff Coffin, saxophonist for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, to fill in the void that was left by Moore, and Coffin did just that. He took the bull by the horns and not only helped the band finish their summer tour, but he also helped them finish Big Whiskey. Accompanying Mr. Coffin on the rejuvenated DMB studio roster is trumpet player Rashawn Ross. After becoming a regular touring member for the band in 2006, Ross makes his first plate appearance in the big leagues on the new album. But wait, there’s more! Also contributing his under-rated musical skills is longtime friend and guitarist Tim Reynolds, who hasn’t been on a DMB recording since 1998’s Before These Crowded Streets.
It’s been evident for the past several albums that the band just hasn’t been on the same page. Everyday, Busted Stuff, and Stand Up are three albums that clearly show the band just hasn’t been themselves, which has even been stated by Dave Matthews himself. Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King seems to be the missing link that got the band back on track. “But what an odd name for an album!” Trust me, it fits. “GrooGrux” as described by flawless drummer Carter Beauford, is a made-up word and nickname for himself, LeRoi Moore, and several other band members that was used to describe the vibe and energy of their “wild-sounding rhythms”. “Big Whiskey” comes from an encounter the band had with a local drunk while recording in New Orleans. Bassist Stefan Lessard handed Matthews a $20 bill, who in turn handed it to the intoxicated fellow who was begging for change to purchase a “big whiskey”. So if GrooGrux is the definition of having an abundance of energy, then the title is more than appropriate.
“Grux”, which is the album opener, possesses a beatific melody of sultry saxophone resonance that reverentially pays tribute to Moore, then like an eagle gracefully taking flight it flows right into “Shake Me Like A Monkey”. “Shake Me Like A Monkey” has the fun loving sound we all missed from these guys. It’s four minutes of relentless rhythm and groove that showcases the band’s enthusiastic attitude for getting back to their roots. Next is the album’s first single, “Funny The Way It Is”, which has more of a kindhearted, mid-tempo approach but also contains some somber lyrical content. Another track on the honorable mentions list is “Why I Am” which shells out even more homage to the life of Leroi Moore with the words, “It's why I am, still here dancing with the GrooGrux King.” Honestly the track dishes out a first-rate case of goosebumps. In addition to the attention grabbing lyrical content, it also hosts some immaculate guitar skills from Tim Reynolds.
One of the tracks that really caught my interest was “Time Bomb”. The track starts with several clicks from Carter’s Pro-Mark drum abusers, giving it the obvious sound of a bomb in its pre-destruction phase. The track keeps a steady pace until Ross and Coffin come in with a blasting arrangement, later giving way to an intense performance by Matthews that contributes to one of the heaviest moments you will hear from DMB. Then without warning, it just fades away into nothing, kind of like the aftermath of a bomb. “Alligator Pie” and “Seven” have that traditional jam sound the band is known for. Both tracks make it easy for you to lose yourself in the music while zoning out all in the midst of tapping your foot and turning your upper body into a bobblehead duct-taped to the dashboard of a big-rig. I suggest that if you purchase this album, get the deluxe edition. Little Red Bird is a bonus four-song EP of tracks that were recorded during the main album's sessions but not included on the final cut, and let me tell you, they are well worth the extra money.
Much is to be said about a band that can sell out arenas within an eye's blink. It’s not like DMB is an overnight success story, or some flash in the pan group of jaboronis either. These guys have been hard at work perfecting what they do and raising the bar of not only their genre of music, but of musicianship itself. Outside of a small orchestra, where else could you find a handful of guys that produce the immense sound these guys do? You can’t, end of story. Listen, you don’t have to like them, but you should definitely respect them. These guys have more talent in their pinky fingers than most musicians can even dream about. What I’m really trying to say is, if you haven’t gotten into these guys by now, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is the perfect starting point.
--Bill Lohr
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
Ha I hate you Rick. haha
Minnesota
Awwww... how sweet. I hate you too! :-)
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Lehigh Valley, PA
We should start an internet fight because of us not agreeing on the album.
Minnesota
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Somewhere in New York
Aw, Rick bedazzled his insult.
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
Columbus, Ohio
This is DMB's best album in years, and I like it a lot...I'd give it 3.5-4.0 stars.
Recommending: Anberlin, Interpol, Chamberlain, House of Heroes
Lehigh Valley, PA
YEA! At first I was going to give it a 3.5 but after listening to it, I couldn't stop. It's definitley their best in years. Thanks for probably being 1 of maybe 3 other people on this site that will give positive feed back hahaha.
Toronto
JABORONIS
This got a higher score than The Dear Hunter ... once again, it's funny how drastically the tastes on this site have changed.
Beer Blog
Lehigh Valley, PA
Once again...someone takes the rating one reviewer gave the album over what the majority of the site gave it. I love The Dear Hunter, but IN MY OPINION (esp. since I was the reviewer ) they can't match what DMB does.
Why do people even visit this if they are just going to bitch about EVERY rating we give albums?
I was reviewin' albums here when you were in diapers, sonny. OK, not really, but I know how things work; no need to go all condescending-explanation-man on me. I was merely commenting on the apparent shift in the collective tastes of the site's readership, not bitching. You're allowed to think DMB is better.
Beer Blog
Lehigh Valley, PA
Sorry dude. It just seems that every single album for the past 6 or 7 reviews, someone has something obnoxious to say. You were just the person I took it out on man. Wasn't in any way trying to be condescending haha. I'm just frustrated with visitors of the site as of late. Again, sorry for gettin snippy.
Haha, no problem. Sorry if I was equally condescending in return. I get that way sometimes.
Beer Blog
Minnesota
Come on guys, it's time for a...
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San Borja, Lima, Perú
I do like this one a lot. Nice album.
San Jose, CA
Personally, that's how it should be. Quality album by established band > gimmick band's album that will last less than a month in people's memories.
last.fm/user/thetsaiguy
lol. I'm worn out on defending this band to the haters around here, so whatever. I really just feel sorry for people who don't get TDH now, because for whatever reason you hate them so fervently (possible backlash for the original widespread love around here?) you're missing out on some great music.
Beer Blog
San Jose, CA
I don't fervently hate the band, or even hate the band at all. They're just nothing great, their new album is extraordinarily pretentious and they make lackluster music in general.
last.fm/user/thetsaiguy
they used to be great, before these crowded streets was so damn good, amazing and spectacular
Ah. I was under the impression -- since you had the energy to get online and hurl insults about the band at their fans -- that you actively disliked them. I mean, I don't hate DMB (I actually feel about their music the way you seem to feel about TDH's), but as a result I just don't listen to them. As I said before, my previous comment was just an observation about Decoy. I don't have the time or drive to try to make fans of the band feel stupid or tasteless, because, well, what's the point? It seemed like you had that drive, and sorry, I made an assumption about why.
Beer Blog
San Borja, Lima, Perú
Now with months of giving some ocasional plays, I found this album to have some great songs (primary at the begining of it) and then a big number of filler tracks... all the pop love stuff is just too cheap for this band... the drummer is a sick bastard and makes all songs shine, but still... this one has gone down from 4 to 3 for me... still better than average.
Los Angeles
I back this 100%.
Minnesota
If I could give this negative stars, I would.
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FL
same.
www.falseidolphoto.com
www.facebook.com/fromtheembrace
Lehigh Valley, PA
Jabronis hahaha