Dream Girl - Not a bad song. Something that sounds like it should be in the middle of the album, not the begining. Then again, it's a really good warm up and transition song(transition from DMB of past and new album). I'm glad there's a little outro at the end. It's something I really liked about Before these crowded streets
Old Dirt Hill - I think Stefan (the bassist) is doing the vocals in the beginning. Awesome. Great line "the first time I kissed you, I lost my legs." Obvious hip-hop influence, especially on the rhythm section. Oh...there are strings. Strings and hip-hop beats. Wow. Surprisingly really well done.
Stand Up - weird intro; the intro drums don't match the rest of the song, and then there's some weird deep vocals. Dave used "angel" in two consecutive lines "an angel next to me...an angel in my bed", bad form Dave; I think that was meant to be a first draft of the lyrics, 'cause it's a little awkward. I like the informal jamming sounds in the background. Awesome percussion additions: clapping, tambourine, shaker, and an awesomely tight beat. This song sounds like it will evolve into something really cool when on the road with tons of flexibility for solos/jams.
American Baby Intro - this is where Rolling Stone said there were guns/bombs sounds. Dave playing piano I think. Really powerful background chords with reverbed violin and echoing vocals. Everything faded out and now it's just solo piano with gun sounds. This is beautiful. Strings are really striking a beautiful chord, makes a great transition into American Baby.
American Baby - whenever i heard this song on the radio or on my iPod, I thought it was good. it makes so much more sense now in the context of the album. I now realize the song is on par with hatikvah: it's about hope for the future. Powerful statement DMB. Hope the next song can transition well though. This is going to be crucial. I love the jam at the end of American Baby. It's just awesome. That is the transition. The jam. Maybe?
Smooth Rider - Whoa. Deep piano, deep drums, echoed vocals = DMB attempts a blues track. It's okay, not too great, but not bad. This track is definitely not normal DMB. No sax, no violin. Drums, Piano, guitar, bass, organ. Weird. It's only 2:17; am I missing something? Aparantly it's just a short song. It does fade out though; I'll put money on this song only being played when they have special guests (ie:
Everybody Wake Up: Cool intro. Dave's vocals don't seem to match up to the beat, but the beat seems to be really abnormal; I'd be curious to see the sheet music. He totally just made a reference to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". The lyrics of this song appear to really be a statement: "everybody wake up / if you're living with your eyes closed / see the man with the bomb in his hands / everybody wake up". I don't think Dave liked the election results. I didn't either, but he can make a statement like this and it's awesome. Another fade out, another jam on tour?
Out of my hands - solo piano/vocal, just Dave. Interesting contrast from the statement of the last song and the lyrics of this one "it's out of my hands now / I can't just walk away". Really cool drum effects in the background with simple march drumming; nothing intrusive, very much in the background, really cool mixing idea. In the last song, it's subtitled "Our finest hour arrives", even though that lyric doesn't show up; in Out of My Hands, he mentions "Now our finest hour arrives". Drum outro blends very nicely into a possible live transition to Hello Again...
Hello Again - This song debuted on this past summer tour; it's turned into a semi-country song. Interesting effect on the mix: there are very few low tones; it's all in the highs and mids; makes for a good contrast to the previous song which was really low. This is the only song that made the album of the five that were debuted this summer, interesting choice. Really heavy organ parts; it seems like they're giving Butch Taylor more and more to do and more prominence. Maybe they'll make him a full member of the band soon? He's so essential for so many of these songs now, they might as well. WHOA! The song just cut off and transitioned into Louisiana Bayou. And I know it's not just from my version, because it started the transition before the track ended. That was really cool.
Louisiana Bayou - Not a huge fan of the chorus of this song; kinda gets annoying after a few times. I really like the southern influence in this song, unfortunately though, the gentle piano kinda takes away from the feel. Last half of the song is a jam; I love it! I'm so glad they got away from the rigidity of "Everyday". This song leaves itself open for lots of improvisation live, which is great. Once it finds its groove live(if you heard the version from the Jazz Fest in late April, you'd see how the song hadn't really found its groove yet), it'll be really awesome. Nice to listen to a jam for half a track though.
Stolen Away On 55th and 3rd - the intro beats are straight up hip-hop; then some sax soloing that sounds like it's coming from an alley; really cool. Very chill, grooving song. "The first time you did me that way...I saw you dancing / but I thought I'd get in the way" in a hesitant voice; almost shyly; I can see how a lot of people are going to connect to the mood of this one. Fade out came kinda early, lots of silence.
You Might Die Trying - "to change the world / start with one step / however small / first step is hardest of all / once you get your way / you'll be walkin' tall." Really vocally focused song, not too much going on musically; the guitar part is pretty circular, and the bass/drum lines are really simple. "If you give / you begin to get the world". Really interesting contrasts: try to fix the world, try something you hadn't done before, but you might die trying. Aw, Boyd(the violinst) gets a little solo...how cute...(I like him, but I feel like he doesn't do that much musically...he's there sometimes, but at least LeRoi (saxophonist) does really long solos and improvises a ton...oh well)
Steady As We Go - Another piano driven song, Jazz-y feel; not like jazzed-up, more like Jazz lounge feel. I feel like I need to listen to this song with a cigar and a whiskey. "so if the road gets rocky / just steady as we go". This is a really melancholy song, but hopeful. That seems to be the theme of a number of songs on this album: sad with the past, but hopeful for the future. "troubles they may come and go, let good times be the goal." Oh I like this: totally thought the song was ending, drum roll off, Broadway style re-ignition with a powerful force of every instrument available. Awesome!
Hunger for the Great Light - I heard this one was really expressive...and sexual..."i wanna see you open wide, and then I'll go down for you, I wanna blow your mind" Yup. it's pretty sexual. Very rockin', which is a cool sound for DMB. Lots of grunts. Queen style vocals in the middle! Tons of harmonies and overdubbing! I love it! The song is completely traditionally structured: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. Nice to see them try the standard. The track ends with an album outro of strings. They don't resolve, just fade in the tension. Really cool.
Hope you all enjoyed that! Stand Up is officially released on Tuesday, but is available for streaming on vh1.com. Shabbat Shalom!
6 years ago
