REVIEWDave Matthews Band - The Best of What's Around, Vol. 1
Written by Jared Wright
Published November 09, 2006
Putting together a greatest hits package for Dave Matthews Band is no job to scoff at. Three innate problems come bundled with the task. Firstly, the band’s discography is downright massive. The second problem comes with the fact that this huge discography features the same material over and over again, at least in name. The band’s six studio albums are respectable bodies of work, to be sure, but they don’t hold a candle to the goods brought by live release after live release. Not only must the right songs be chosen, but the right versions of the right songs have to be included. The third problem is that just throwing on the band’s handful of radio singles will do nothing but alienate the avid DMB fan base, which in DMB’s case is a pretty big chunk of their overall support. Even still, RCA, Dave and Co.’s label, wants to introduce some newcomers into the fold, and this package was the best way they thought to do it.
And really, the final product isn’t horrendous. In fact, it’s quite impressive. The offering is a double disc compilation, with one disc featuring twelve studio cuts. Two tunes each come from the group’s six studio albums, from 1994’s Under the Table and Dreaming to last year’s inventive and somewhat debated Stand Up. Thankfully, the most radio friendly songs weren’t necessarily the songs that made the cut. Oh, sure, “What Would You Say", “Gray Street”, and last year’s hit “American Baby” are here in full force, but so are “So Right”, “Crush”, and the compilation’s namesake, “The Best of What’s Around”.
These songs are certainly fan favorites, but they became that way through their continuous stunning live renditions and not through extensive radio play. The real cult classics such as “Dreaming Tree” aren’t present, of course, but this is, after all, a greatest hits collection. At least they didn’t by default include “Stay” or “I Did It”, which both received significant radio play but have never quite been the peak of the mountain in the hearts of most devoted Dave Matthews Band fans.
The reason for DMB devotees to pick up this package is the second disc, which is comprised of eight live samplings selecting by the Dave Matthews Band fan association. The choices seem to come more from recent concerts rather than the material from the mid to late '90s, but as this information is fresh in the minds of people, (I certainly remember this past year’s tour a little more vividly than 2000’s), this is understandable.
The only complaint is that the selected songs are songs which have already frequently been placed on other live releases. Sure, these versions of “Ants Marching”, “Don’t Drink the Water”, and “Stay” are as brilliant as ever, and like all live DMB, they do bring a little something new that hasn’t been demonstrated before. Nonetheless, there are rarities in the Dave Matthews Band setlists that only come out to play on special nights, and a few more of these wouldn’t have been unwelcome. Perhaps a performance of the aforementioned “The Dreaming Tree”? Or maybe the superb “You Never Know?” or one of the truly hair-raising performances of “The Stone”?
The great thing though about Dave Matthews and his companions is that they can make the same songs sound fresh over and over. So don’t be misled into thinking that just because “Two Step”, “Warehouse”, or “Ants Marching” are yet again included on this release that it’s not worth hearing. This “Two Step”, in fact, was the closer from a 2001 show at Giants Stadium, one that occurred in the middle of a downpour that could be described as torrential if any downpour can. Dave even references the rain within his improvised lyrics close to the song’s beginning, and even someone who hasn’t read numerous accounts of this landmark performance will get the impression they’ve heard something special as the ten minute masterpiece reaches its conclusion.
It’s a fair assumption to think that most of DMB’s loyalist would have just preferred another three-disc live show from some fantastic tour or other. Even better if it was one they attended. But if you really haven’t heard Dave at some point, the twelve studio samplings will give you an idea of what you’re in for, and the live cuts should illustrate just why this group’s live show is so widely respected.
The Best of What’s Around, Vol. 1 should by no means be considered a definitive compilation, but as an introduction for the newbie and just another addition for the veteran it will serve nicely. I will offer my sympathy, however, to those who didn’t preorder the collection, since preorders shipped with an additional disc of live material which surpasses the official second disc by quite a significant margin, thanks mostly to jaw dropping versions of “#41” and “The Last Stop”. Hey, there’s always eBay, right?
And really, the final product isn’t horrendous. In fact, it’s quite impressive. The offering is a double disc compilation, with one disc featuring twelve studio cuts. Two tunes each come from the group’s six studio albums, from 1994’s Under the Table and Dreaming to last year’s inventive and somewhat debated Stand Up. Thankfully, the most radio friendly songs weren’t necessarily the songs that made the cut. Oh, sure, “What Would You Say", “Gray Street”, and last year’s hit “American Baby” are here in full force, but so are “So Right”, “Crush”, and the compilation’s namesake, “The Best of What’s Around”.
These songs are certainly fan favorites, but they became that way through their continuous stunning live renditions and not through extensive radio play. The real cult classics such as “Dreaming Tree” aren’t present, of course, but this is, after all, a greatest hits collection. At least they didn’t by default include “Stay” or “I Did It”, which both received significant radio play but have never quite been the peak of the mountain in the hearts of most devoted Dave Matthews Band fans.
The reason for DMB devotees to pick up this package is the second disc, which is comprised of eight live samplings selecting by the Dave Matthews Band fan association. The choices seem to come more from recent concerts rather than the material from the mid to late '90s, but as this information is fresh in the minds of people, (I certainly remember this past year’s tour a little more vividly than 2000’s), this is understandable.
The only complaint is that the selected songs are songs which have already frequently been placed on other live releases. Sure, these versions of “Ants Marching”, “Don’t Drink the Water”, and “Stay” are as brilliant as ever, and like all live DMB, they do bring a little something new that hasn’t been demonstrated before. Nonetheless, there are rarities in the Dave Matthews Band setlists that only come out to play on special nights, and a few more of these wouldn’t have been unwelcome. Perhaps a performance of the aforementioned “The Dreaming Tree”? Or maybe the superb “You Never Know?” or one of the truly hair-raising performances of “The Stone”?
The great thing though about Dave Matthews and his companions is that they can make the same songs sound fresh over and over. So don’t be misled into thinking that just because “Two Step”, “Warehouse”, or “Ants Marching” are yet again included on this release that it’s not worth hearing. This “Two Step”, in fact, was the closer from a 2001 show at Giants Stadium, one that occurred in the middle of a downpour that could be described as torrential if any downpour can. Dave even references the rain within his improvised lyrics close to the song’s beginning, and even someone who hasn’t read numerous accounts of this landmark performance will get the impression they’ve heard something special as the ten minute masterpiece reaches its conclusion.
It’s a fair assumption to think that most of DMB’s loyalist would have just preferred another three-disc live show from some fantastic tour or other. Even better if it was one they attended. But if you really haven’t heard Dave at some point, the twelve studio samplings will give you an idea of what you’re in for, and the live cuts should illustrate just why this group’s live show is so widely respected.
The Best of What’s Around, Vol. 1 should by no means be considered a definitive compilation, but as an introduction for the newbie and just another addition for the veteran it will serve nicely. I will offer my sympathy, however, to those who didn’t preorder the collection, since preorders shipped with an additional disc of live material which surpasses the official second disc by quite a significant margin, thanks mostly to jaw dropping versions of “#41” and “The Last Stop”. Hey, there’s always eBay, right?
TRACKS
CD 1
1. The Best Of What's Around
2. What Would You Say
3. Crash Into Me
4. Too Much
5. Rapunzel
6. Crush
7. So Right
8. The Space Between
9. Grey Street
10. Grace Is Gone
11. Hunger For The Great Light
12. American Baby
CD 2
1. Don't Drink The Water - West Palm Beach, FL 2005
2. Warehouse - Alpine Valley, WI 2006
3. Say Goodbye - Denver, CO 2000
4. Stay (Wasting Time) - Selma, TX 2003
5. Everyday - Saratoga Springs, NY 2006 (Featuring Vusi Mahlasela)
6. Louisiana Bayou - Selma, TX 2005 (Featuring Robert Randolph)
7. Ants Marching - Sydney, AUS 2005
8. Two Step - East Rutherford, NJ 2001
CD 1
1. The Best Of What's Around
2. What Would You Say
3. Crash Into Me
4. Too Much
5. Rapunzel
6. Crush
7. So Right
8. The Space Between
9. Grey Street
10. Grace Is Gone
11. Hunger For The Great Light
12. American Baby
CD 2
1. Don't Drink The Water - West Palm Beach, FL 2005
2. Warehouse - Alpine Valley, WI 2006
3. Say Goodbye - Denver, CO 2000
4. Stay (Wasting Time) - Selma, TX 2003
5. Everyday - Saratoga Springs, NY 2006 (Featuring Vusi Mahlasela)
6. Louisiana Bayou - Selma, TX 2005 (Featuring Robert Randolph)
7. Ants Marching - Sydney, AUS 2005
8. Two Step - East Rutherford, NJ 2001
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