Customer Reviews

Before These Crowded Streets

5 star:		(478)
4 star:		(86)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

I've decided after listening to this cd such an awful amount of time, it was worthy of a review. This album is just so amazing to me. It's personally my favorite DMB record by far, Crash and Under The Table & Dreaming in at 2 and 3. This is probably their darkest release and it's so emotional. So many great jams on this and just about every song is 6+ minutes which i love. Every single song on here is just amazing, and it's a very diverse cd.

1.Pantala Naga Pampa 8/10...A short 0:40 second fun intro, that actually manages to hold it's own as a song. But still basically serves as an intro to..
2.Rapunzel 10/10...What a great song. Starts off fun keeping in unison with the previous and then it switches into lush melody, this is classic DMB.
3.The Last Stop 9.5/10...Wasn't a huge fan of this song at first, but it has since grown on me alot. It has an Native kind of feeling to it, and it's pretty dark, great song.
4.Don't Drink The Water 10/10...Probably my second favorite on the cd. The verses are amazing and kind of creepy, and then it gets passionate and a little darker towards the end, just fantastic.
5.Stay (Wasting Time) 8/10...Eh. Probably my least favorite song on the cd. Good, don't get me wrong, but the ladies singing gets annoying quick and this is probably the most up beat song on here, taking away from the mostly dark theme.
6.Halloween 10/10...Wow. Very rarely do you see this much emotion crammed into a song, a whole album for that matter. This is DMB's darkest song, and it's so raw and Dave pretty much loses it at the end, probably my favorite.
7.The Stone 10/10...The great songs don't stop rolling. Best violins on this song. The beginning is as cool as any DMB intro has been. Love it.
8.Crush 10/10...While Halloween was about not having someone, this one's more about having someone and loving them dearly. The jazziest song on here, and it really is probably in their top 5 best written songs.
9.The Dreaming Tree 10/10...Was initially one of my favorites before i decided the whole cd is. Reminds me of a less jazzy Crush for some reason, great song.
10.Pig 9/10...I didn't like this song that much at first, but i listened to it more and it's great. Nothing horribly special but Dave sings very melodically in the end.
11.Spoon 8.5/10...A very good song, but the silence after it bugs me. I especially like Alanis Morisette's singing part in this. Very soft and a good way to end it.

I never thought i could like Dave Matthews Band, but i actually love them. They build songs better than any better out there. This is their best album, there's not enough good things to say about this. Highly recommended.

Biased in the sense that if all other bands on earth (and i mean all, now that Soul Coughing broke up) except DMB (dave matthews band for those of you that aren't dave-o-philes) magically disappeared, i really would not care much. This is possibly the strongest of DMB's studio efforts. Crash was good, but had more weak links (just one: let you down) than BTCS. And UTTAD was an awesome CD (after all, its DMB) but a totally different style than this, so it's hard to compare. Now the run-down of the songs:

Pantala Naga Pampa: Amazing that this 30 second intro is so awesomely good. (bad english, so sue me) Rapunzel: This is just a GREAT song, completely fun to listen to, makes you wanna dance insanely. The Last Stop: The darkest, most angry song on a CD that also has "Halloween." Now THAT is an accomplishment. However, it really is a good song, and the lyrics are VERY nicely done. Don't Drink The Water: An awesome, almost hypnotic tale of colonization (and murder of the natives) told from the settler's point of view. The way Dave singing the lines "dont drink the water, there's blood in the water" turns to desperation at the end is an AMAZING touch. Stay (Wasting Time): A love song along the lines of Rapunzel, but a little less goofy. Female backup vocals give this song the perfect touch. Halloween: A song Dave wrote to a girl he was QUITE upset with (she turned down his marriage proposals multiple times, as the story goes). A very interesting, dark song with the Kronos Quartet (see "classical music") in the background. very different, VERY good. The Stone: A counter-part to Halloween, still with the Kronos Quartet in the background. I haven't the foggiest what this song is about, but its beautifully written. Crush: Many would consider this the album's highlight. An AMAZING love song that only gets better with repeat listenings. LOVE stefan's bass. The Dreaming Tree: An absolutely beautifully written, and yet very disturbing song. Look up the lyrics to this one, trust me, they're like poetry. Pig: A happy song, lacking much of a melody. Still a pretty song, but one of the album's weaker points. Spoon: Good song, very good song, but Alanis wasn't made for this sort of thing (dont get me wrong, i love alanis morissette, but this is by no mean's her greatest work). FOR GODS SAKES WOMEN JUST LET DAVE SING, he's got the best voice of any vocalist around today! Unmentioned Outro: PERFECT WAY TO END THE CD! "Come in from the cold for a while....everything will be alright....come in from the noise for a time.....everything will be alright....for now....goodbye...friend....goodbye..."

It took me (almost) ten years to hear this great album! I can't believe I waited so long. The Dave Matthews Band has been a fixture at The Gorge at George concerts, in Washington, for several years now, and Dave, himself, was often seen down at Pike Place Market in my hometown of Seattle, Washington, playing acoustic sets for the public.....that was a few years ago. BEFORE THESE CROWDED STREETS features some of the finest and most eclectic cross-section of music genres I have heard on one album. It's hard to believe that this music was all done by one band. We hear ska, power metal, jazz, world and pop all stirred and then blended into a great musical smoothie.

Some of my favorite cuts include "Last Stop," which eerily illustrates what was to become of the relationship between the United States and the Middle East, only three years later, when 9/11 took place (chillingly prophetic), "Stay," which is an upbeat, fun, and calypso-inspired romp in the grass and makes you feel like the sun is shining even if you're listening to it in the pouring rain, "Crush," a beautiful jazzy love song, and "The Dreaming Tree," which is poetic, ponderous and devestating. There really isn't a "bad" song on here. Dave Matthews is a fantastic story teller and he wrote most of the songs himself. This album is an example of rock/crossover music at its best.....

I remember thinking when this album came in 98' that expectations were insurmountable based on DMB success to that point. Their previous albums had soldified the band as a powerhouse on the brink of epicness and this album pushed them over the top. This album came out during the end of my freshman year of college and it was everywhere. Those who were unfamiliar with DMB quickly were beaten into submission as this was played at nauseum in dorms across and houses across campus.

This album really showcases Dave' creative ability, his songwriting abilities and the band ability to play as a cohesive unit. The songs are journeys and don't conform to radio friendly time constraints. They all pretty much transfer well to live shows and almost all of these songs are considered the "heavy hitters" of a set list. There is a good mix of slow songs and fast, happy and sad and the album successfully runs the gamut of emotions although this is definitely the darkest of the "big three". The band's energy is almost overwhelming and the performance is best described as intense. The songs almost tell stories as some clock in over 8-9 mins. I would say the only minor misfire would be the last two songs as they don't really match the overall quality of the rest of the lineup. These songs are rarely played live so maybe DMB agrees.

Personally I think this is tied for best studio album with Crash but that is always up for debate. For those people who missed this the first time around, its really a must and I think it works best listened to in its enitirety.

Bottom Line: A must have for those who are just getting into DMB or are just looking for some great new music.

This band will grow on you if you have an ear for complex rhythms, twisting melodies and top notch instrumentation that is puncuated by Dave Matthew's vocals. This album requires several listenings to bring out its true essense. At first one will find "Rapunzel" with its staccato pulse inviting. "Don't Drink the Water" is also an ear catching tune with the throbbing bass line and delicate banjo (yes I said banjo,played by guest Bela Fleck) floating in the mix. But upon additional listening other gems shine forth and reveal the depth of these five Virginians. Tracks like "The Dreaming Tree" with it's storybook lyrics, or the sultry "Crush" bring this CD to life. The overall sound of the mix is beautiful with all instruments shining through, never overshadowing each other. Songs like the dark and haunting "Halloween" with a growling vocal (you've got to hear to belief) and the poppy/soul sound of "Stay" (complete with mini-gospel background vocals)demonstrate that the DMB can successfully fuse elements of jazz, folk and rock into a signature sound that NO ONE with match. The rhythm section of Carter Beauford (drums) and Stefan Lessard (bass) are the tightest and most exciting pair since, Copeland and Sting of the Police.

Play this CD LOUD and on a good sound system and listen to the bass, drums and acoustic guitar weave through your soul. This CD grooves.

Before These Crowded Streets may very well epitomize the sound and message that defines what DMB are all about(though they continue to make great music to this day)as this 1998 release is filled with songs that weave a tale of the highs and lows, the loves and the losses through the journey of life. Every mood is captured by thought provoking songs that go deep to the heart with lyrics that convey messages of faith, hope, and reflection. You can't not read these lyrics and NOT relate to them. "Crush" is a brillant piece about being caught up in the dance of love, while "Stay" and "Rapunzel" also capture the moods of bliss with a companion by your side. "Dreaming Tree" reflects on regret, while "Pig" sends a message to appreciate life. "Stone" tells a dark tale of loss and misfortune, and one might think Dave Matthews was a prophet when you hear tracks like "Last Stop" and "Don't Drink the Water," which vividly capture conflicting feelings between eastern and western religions, and these songs were written three years before September 11th. Alanis Morissette sings on "Don't Drink the Water," and the closing song, "Spoon," and this collaboration is like a perfect marriage in music. Musically, DMB continue their traditional eclectic sound they bring to a live stage with perfection. Long after other albums have left the mind, Before These Crowded Streets will linger and come back to both haunt and heal the soul.

You have to listen to this cd a couple-three times to come to appreciate it, preferably on a player that lets you skip over parts you may not quite be in the mood (or ready) to hear. This cd requires the listener to think as well as feel, neither of which is always easy. The complete effort demonstrates that the band isn't afraid to mature, and begin to appeal to a more mature audience. The highlights: "Pantala Naga Pampa" and "Rapunzel" provide a catchy one-two opening that gives a first glimpse of the band's move in a new and different direction. Near the middle of the cd, "Stay" brings us back to vintage Dave Matthews Band stuff (and reminds us why we came to love them in the first place). Yet one song later, "Halloween" leaps into (somewhat) new territory, with familiar overtones--it strikes me as a jazz version of Tom Waits (a musical genius who, like "Halloween" and a couple other songs on this cd, takes a little getting used to). Finally, "Crush" is out-of-this-world--as a lyricist, Dave Matthews is at his best when he writes an implicitly sexual, definitely sensual "love" song like this one. I can't quite give the album five stars yet, but I can tell that with greater exposure and continued promotion by the faithful, this cd is destined to become a five-star regular.

I absolutely love this album! It is too good for words. My favorite song is "Crush," absolutely beautiful melody, great violin solo (I always feel I have to crank it for that, I don't know why). "Rapunzel" is awesome, great bluesy tune, very catchy, "The Last Stop" is great, "Don't Drink the Water" is somewhat dark, great banjo, "Stay" is very upbeat and happy. Why the lyrics to "Halloween" are not printed in the CD booklet I don't know, is Dave saying the f-word there, I think so. The string section that joins this and "The Stone" is spooky, sends chills down the spine. "The Dreaming Tree" is also very beautiful, "Pig" has a happy tune, "Spoon" is absolutely excellent, great ending. The album also has a hidden track about twenty seconds after "Spoon" ends, great ending. All in all, this is a great album, no matter what anyone says, take my word for it, it rules. I highly reccomend it.

This is easily DMB's greatest album. Everything about it is stellar, the songwriting and arranging, the performances and interaction of the musicians, the production. Sadly this would be DMB's last great album. While 'Busted Stuff' was certainly good, it simply does not compare with this. And frankly 'Everyday' and 'Stand Up' are awful, thoroughly boring mediocre material with virtually no interaction between the musicians, something which made DMB so interesting to begin with. This album however is stunning from start to finish. 'Rapunzel', 'Don't Drink the Water', 'The Last Stop', 'Dreaming Tree' are amongst their best songs. And this album contains two of my all time favorite DMB tracks, 'The Stone' and 'Crush'. Every member of the band shines here, everyone contributes to the music. Tim Reynolds guitar on 'Crush' is stunning. If you only own one DMB album make it this one.

Dave Matthews Band's 1998 studio album,"Before These Crowded Streets" is spine-tingling,to say the least.I can't express how much I like this CD.I really love how the guys mix jazz(one of my beloved musical gernes) and folk,along with some worldy rhythms(especially African rhymes).Dave Matthews' moany vocals top off the beautiful sounds that his band comes up with.

Among the tracks that blow my mind most is the fiesty "Rapunzel",
which features a graceful violin solo by member Boyd Tinsley.
This song has that supper-club jazz feel that's raw enough for you to feel it but that's also accesible.I LOVE this song!
The haunting "Don't Drink The Water"("Before These Crowded Streets" intial first single) is another high-point.This track
even features equally chilling background vocals by Alanis
Morrisette.The laid-back "Stay(Wastin' Time)" is such a feel-good song.You can't listen to this song and not smile.I love the soulful background vocals on this song(courstey of longtime Luther Vandross background vocalists) and the crisp horn arragement."Stay" also has a slight New Orleans/Mardi Gras feel too.Again,I couldn't say enough about this song!

But the most mind-blowing song on "Before These Crowded Streets"-
if I had to choose-would be the moody "Crush".One word:whoa...
Dave Matthews' vocals on this song sound somber,like that of a man who's head-over-heels in love with a crush but that love is
unrecruited(duh,that's what the song's about!)."Crush"'s range of
mood is amazing.From sad to optimistic to romantic to lovelorn.
Man,this is wonderful stuff.Again,part of this song's magic is it's smoky underground jazz feel.But again,"Crush" is an accesible song.(Accesible enough,for it to be released as the third single on this album).

The plesant-somewhat-atmospheric "Pig" is yet,another winner on a album full of them.This album is so amazing.It really is.
"Before These Crowded Streets" made me a big Dave Matthews Band fan.

Recently,I even had the pleasure of actually seeing them live.
Exellecent expierence.Yet,I was very disapointed by their 2001
studio album,"Everyday".It sounded glossy,radio-ready,and polished over.In other words,nothing like this gem right here.
But some tracks grew on me over time("When The World Ends","Everyday") but it still didn't that spark that "Before These Crowded Streets" had.This album is near-perfect.

(I mantain that "Everyday"'s weaknesses my have something to do with the fact that Steve Lillywhite-"Before"'s producer/longtime DMB producer-didn't produce it,the famous pop producer Glen Ballard did instead).