- Audio CD (1 Jun 2009)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Warner
- ASIN: B0029NZW7W
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 15,822 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Grux |
| 2. Shake Me Like A Monkey |
| 3. Funny the Way It Is |
| 4. Lying In the Hands of God |
| 5. Why I Am |
| 6. Dive In |
| 7. Spaceman |
| 8. Squirm |
| 9. Alligator Pie |
| 10. Seven |
| 11. Time Bomb |
| 12. Baby Blue |
| 13. You & Me |
| 14. Write a Song |
| 15. Corn Bread |
Product Description
Review
Though death, like its evil twin taxes, is a given, there's no legislation for how one reacts to it. Grieving is a personal business yet here is the Dave Matthews Band with their first album in four years, reeling from the unexpected mid-recording passing of co-founder member and saxophonist Le Roi Moore - the titular GrooGrux. Moore is the first thing that's heard on the album; a mournful piece of horn-blowing that in other circumstances probably wouldn't have seen the light of day.
What follows is pretty much what one would expect from a band whose reputation is forged more on their live performances rather than what's captured for posterity. Like their spiritual forebears, The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band can - and frequently do - jam until beards grow and beer turns flat. And while the live experience is one thing, their recorded output is quite another.
So it is that Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King finds itself in the middle of the road rather than heading for the ditch. Polished to a blinding sheen with all sharp edges smoothed for personal safety by erstwhile Green Day and My Chemical Romance producer Rob Cavallo, the songs float pleasantly by without making much of an impact.
Shake Me Like A Monkey is a vaguely funky-yet-ultimately-anaemic party tune and with state-of-the-world meditations like Funny The Way It Is or cutesy ballads such as You & Me applying enough cheese for a fondue; this is stodgy and gruelling fare.
It's only on Time Bomb that the band finally jolts into life as Matthews shakes his fist at the void and yells, ''I wanna believe in Jesus!'' but by now it's too little, too late. Ultimately, Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King will warm the hearts of existing fans but will do nothing to swell their ranks. --Julian Marszalek
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CD Description
Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King is the group’s seventh studio album and i first since 2005’s Stand Up. With its celebratory spirit and lyrical ruminations on fragile mortality, Big Whiskey pays tribute to the band’s saxophonist, LeRoi Moore, and features some of his last recordings. Moore passed away in the summer of 2008, halfway through the making of the album. It has been called the group's (also named the top-drawing American band in the world by Billboard) heaviest album yet, both musically and emotionally.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
DMB released Crash when I was living in the US when I came across them for the first time on the Disney Channel! Crash took me about 6 listens until I finally decided I 'liked' DMB, and after the 7th listen I was hooked.
This is the first DMB album to have had a similar effect on me. Whilst Crash is a softer entry point for anyone listening to DMB for the first time, Big Whiskey really is the Dog's Testicles and in my opinion DMB's best since Crash - prevailing albums have had numerous great tracks on them but, for me, never had the full WOW factor.
DMB cover the same topics as many other previous offerings notably Love/Passion, Mortality and our emergence as the 'great' ape. So the basic theme is make loadsa love and the most of life before you die (made poignant by the tragic death of Saxman Moore last year) you stupid monkey.
Dave's lyrics still play with pun and metaphor and are more poetic than I can adequately describe. However, on a couple of tracks the vocals are maybe a little under-mixed (my only slight criticism of the entire album). DMB rock - but they don't do 4/4, 12bar, and three chords. There is an abundance of tempo, rhythm, key and stylistic mergers/changes that will keep any muso's hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck firmly aroused. A stronger brass section and more orchestral arrangements are departures from previous offerings. The sound is stronger, firmer and slightly heavier.
Who should listen to this ? If you go to a DMB gig it is 50/50 M/F so they may be rock genre, but they are not stereotypical - DMB definately has a femine side. And it is pointless telling anyone who has previously bought a DMB album to "buy it" - they will probably have already have done so. But if you haven't experienced DMB before, and like auditory overload, diverse musical styles, musicianship to the the highest standard, and thought provoking lyrics ....... give this album a try - you won't be disappointed.
Oh. And play it loud. As loud as you can stand !
This is the first DMB album to have had a similar effect on me. Whilst Crash is a softer entry point for anyone listening to DMB for the first time, Big Whiskey really is the Dog's Testicles and in my opinion DMB's best since Crash - prevailing albums have had numerous great tracks on them but, for me, never had the full WOW factor.
DMB cover the same topics as many other previous offerings notably Love/Passion, Mortality and our emergence as the 'great' ape. So the basic theme is make loadsa love and the most of life before you die (made poignant by the tragic death of Saxman Moore last year) you stupid monkey.
Dave's lyrics still play with pun and metaphor and are more poetic than I can adequately describe. However, on a couple of tracks the vocals are maybe a little under-mixed (my only slight criticism of the entire album). DMB rock - but they don't do 4/4, 12bar, and three chords. There is an abundance of tempo, rhythm, key and stylistic mergers/changes that will keep any muso's hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck firmly aroused. A stronger brass section and more orchestral arrangements are departures from previous offerings. The sound is stronger, firmer and slightly heavier.
Who should listen to this ? If you go to a DMB gig it is 50/50 M/F so they may be rock genre, but they are not stereotypical - DMB definately has a femine side. And it is pointless telling anyone who has previously bought a DMB album to "buy it" - they will probably have already have done so. But if you haven't experienced DMB before, and like auditory overload, diverse musical styles, musicianship to the the highest standard, and thought provoking lyrics ....... give this album a try - you won't be disappointed.
Oh. And play it loud. As loud as you can stand !
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A must for any Dave Matthews cohort and a new direction which will almost certainly broaden the appeal of this iconic band.
This album combines depth and structure of Before These Crowded Streets and the upbeat joy of Under The Table and Dreaming.
It's definitely DMB but it's a heavier, more diverse and modern version.
The effort that has gone into this album is obvious from the outset, Big Whiskey is a fitting tribute to the late Leroi Moore and the first DMB release that has done the band justice for over a decade.
This album combines depth and structure of Before These Crowded Streets and the upbeat joy of Under The Table and Dreaming.
It's definitely DMB but it's a heavier, more diverse and modern version.
The effort that has gone into this album is obvious from the outset, Big Whiskey is a fitting tribute to the late Leroi Moore and the first DMB release that has done the band justice for over a decade.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm really enjoying this CD. It sounds like they went back to their roots and back to the way they sounded before they got assistance in making themselves more commercial. If you like "Remember These Two Things," "Under the Table & Dreaming" and "Crash," then you'll enjoy this CD!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sounds more like the first three albums
I like DMB's older albums much more than "Busted Stuff" and "Stand Up", so this was a great surprise for me.
Published 13 months ago by Vg
Fresh Sounding
I'm normally a Rock/metal listener, but stumbled across DMB a few years ago. This latest album is great from very calming songs to upbeat funky tunes. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Johnny the Fox
good
hubby heard one of their songs on a film (i think) so i treated him to the album which he liked. different to our usual listening taste but good
Published 18 months ago by lizzie1
Why isn't this band Huge?
Serendipity defined. Flying to the US on Iceland Air without even a volcano to distract me and help to pass the time. Read more
Published 23 months ago by P. MELLOR
DMB Big Whiskey
I have to say that I'm on the the edge of being what some people might call a fan. I think some tracks are brilliant, but I must say that some are distinctly ordinary. Read more
Published on 13 May 2010 by Bendy
Amazing Album
This is a little different to other DMB album's but just shows the versatility of the band. Haven't stop listening to it since I bought it, and price so good as well. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Simon Thirkell
Why four stars?
This is one of my all time favourite albums. Brilliant melodies, original lyrics, pounding beats. Probably up there with Dave's best.
So why only four stars? Read more
So why only four stars? Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by M. D. Alcock
Should Have Won The Grammie!
How the DMB lost out to Taylor Swift I will never know-there is no justice in being orignal and musically outstanding. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2010 by B. L. Ramsay
Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King
Prompt delivery,great album, DMB are better than insipid britpop any day of the week and deserve more recognition in the UK.
Published on 10 Aug 2009 by Mr. R. Brown
At last - a return to form for DMB
after the last album, i questioned whether DMBs days of releasing decent records were over. Having bought this CD and seen them perform it at Brixton, im pleased to recommend this... Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by R ASHTON
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