Dave Matthews' Latest: Busted Stuff

Dave Matthews Band’s Busted Stuff, not so Busted? Dave Matthews Band will release their 6th studio recorded album on July 16th, with the ironically appropriate title Busted Stuff. The double disc will feature eleven 'new' songs, a DVD disc and an enhanced CD feature (interactive on your PC). What most of you hardcore Dave fans already know is that six of the new songs were recorded and scratched in 2000. At the time the band was working on an album with producer Steve Lillywhite to follow up Before These Crowded Streets. It is rumored that their record company deemed the tracks too depressing which prompted the band to shelve the project. However, the cyberspace and underground folks knew them as The Lillywhite Sessions after it was leaked. Songs from the Sessions include “Grey Street”, “Bartender”, “Grace is Gone” and “Diggin’ a Ditch” among others. All of which seemed a natural progression of DMB’s tone from Crowded Streets, the music growing a bit more indulgent and selfpitying. The tracks from the Sessions can all be found online where they have found heaps of praise from fans as genuine Dave songs. They’re all pretty loose and open, Boyd and Tinsley provide outstanding instrumental work while Dave lays down a low acoustic rhythm. Clearly the musicians acted freely to take these songs where their creative minds led them. It’s a stark difference from the album they released in 2001 under producer Glen Ballard, Everyday. Ballard led them to a more distinctive pop sound, focusing on lead man Mr. Matthews by putting an electric guitar in his hands for the first time on an album. Most of these songs were produced radio ready and have been referred to as “honeyglazed pop” among other things. It’s been about a year and a half since the release of Everyday and many fans are about to hear what they’ve wanted: a crisp, studio version of the Lillywhite songs. The release of which may have been pushed along by a petition set up on the web (www.paware.com/lillywhite) by some more diehard DMB fans. Sources say that all but one of the songs on Busted Stuff have been testrun during live performances, and consequently can be pirated over the Internet. Also of note, the lead single “Where are you going” is featured in Adam Sandler’s upcoming summer flick Mr. Deeds. The band has already shot a video for the single with Chuck McBride, previous director of their music video for “Everyday”. So we can expect “Where are you going” to be going everywhere very shortly. Here’s the playlist for Busted Stuff according to MTV: 1. Busted Stuff 2. Grey Street 3. Where are you going 4. You never know 5. Captain 6. Raven 7. Grace is gone 8. Kit Kat Jam 9. Diggin’ a Ditch 10. Big Eyed Fish 11. Bartender