Dave Matthews Band - Under The Table And Dreaming.

The record marks the Dave Matthews Band's first release under a major recording label, that of RCA. Comprised of outstanding tunes and many concert staples, the album is often considered one of the band's best works to date and, since its release, has sold over 5 million units.

A Quick History...
The Dave Matthews Band was created by David J. Matthews, who sought musicians to beef up some songs that he had written. Dave joined forced with drummer Carter Beuford and saxophonist Leroi Moore (both Charlottesville jazz circuit veterans), classically-trained violinist Boyd Tinsley, and the 16-year old, locally-revered jazz bassist Stefan Lessard in 1991. After honing their sound playing local gigs in Charlottesville, Virginia, the DMB fan base grew rapidly, and the band released - under their independent Bama Rags label - Remember Two Things, a recording of a 1993 live gig. Dave & co. found that their relentless touring had not been in vain: the album was certified gold by the RIAA. The Dave Matthews Band had started to attract major recording labels like RCA, whom the band would eventually sign with. The band went on to record Under The Table And Dreaming, one of their greatest albums.

Upon its release, Under The Table And Dreaming entered the Billboard charts at number 34. DMB toured the United States and Europe for over a year, promoting the album, playing to sold out crowds. By the fall of 1995, the record had gone 4x platinum.

The album kicks off with a cool, catchy number, The Best Of What's Around. This track features Dave's touring companion, Tim Reynolds, on acoustic guitar, who is heard on other tracks throughout the album. Classic DMB tune.

Next up is the single, "What Would You Say" - its message: to live life. Dave opens the track up with a funky guitar riff that is just drenched in... well, funkiness. The signature song shows the humorous/silly side of the Dave Matthews Band.

The next track is "Satellite", one of the band's more mellow, catchier tunes. The song is well sculpted - opening guitar riff (somewhat reminiscent of Guns N Roses' "Sweet Child O Mine"), doubled guitar, violin backs it up - wonderful song. I find the lyrics explore the dominance of satellites, the dominance of media.

"Rhyme & Reason" explores a drug addiction, that of somebody (possibly Matthews?). This very dark opens with a cool minor riff very characteristic of Dave. The lyrics read, "...I'm all locked up in this dark place...Warped and tied up I need to kill this pain... It's got me living in fear...".

Another mellow tune, "Typical Situation", follows. A catchy number, it explores the differences in life, mostly in people, and being accepted ("Why are you different? Why are you that way? If you don't get in line we'll lock you away"). The verses have a melancholic feel to them, and the chorus lightens the mood a bit.

"Dancing Nancies" paints a picture of a man wondering what he could have done with his life, a man "so tired of life." Rather than worrying about where he could have gone wrong, he simply looks "up to the sky" and asks himself amidst the beauty, "what's the use in worrying?" Uplifting, another classic Matthews tune. Great musicianship on this one, as most DMB tunes.

The next song is probably the most well known Dave Matthews Band song, especially among casual DMB fans; this song gets lots of airplay. "Ants Marching" is DMB at its best. Dave always tries to fit the groove in there, someplace. The song is about how each of us, as people, live our lives day to day, not thinking about why we do it, getting caught up in the routine.

"Lover Lay Down" is about love or sex, which Dave says, along with death, is the thing he writes about the most. Great, mellow tune. Has probably helped many guys get laid.

An audience favourite, "Jimi Thing" is about "feeling low" and finding "a remedy." Cool little acoustic guitar intro. One of Dave's "hippie songs."

The next song, "Warehouse", can be summed up in one word: awesome. You can really hear the band tear it up on this track. Killer intro, too. The song, like just about every other Matthews song can be interpreted in a million different ways. I see the song being about one finding enlightenment.

Following "Warehouse" is "Pay For What You Get" is another great mellow song, a little underappreciated. The song has death-ish themes and dealing with death. Deep song.

The closing tune is a stellar instrumental entitled "#34", as it is technically track number 34 (there are very "songs" of silence between track 11 and this track, making it number 34 on the CD). The song has a simple, delicate, repeating motif that carries the song into the climax, then takes it down a bit to the end. Fantastic work.

As I have said, this album is one of the Dave Matthews Band's greatest recordings and should be checked out immediately if you have any taste for something a little out of the ordinary.

10/10

• Get your reviews here!  (Friday, 23 June 2006)
• Mary - In The Head Of A Dreamer  (Tuesday, 20 June 2006)