Amazon.co.uk Review
The Dave Matthews Band moves its music forward by increments on Before These Crowded Streets. While the album offers more of the folkish melodies and vaguely internationalist rhythms that made this Charlottesville, Virginia, group a major record and concert draw, it also finds them adding new colourings to the mix. Alanis Morissette guests on two cuts, "Spoon" and the disc's first single, "Don't Drink the Water", and banjo whiz Bela Fleck sits in, too. More interesting, though, is the modernist string arrangement played by the Kronos Quartet on the driving "Halloween". Matthews's obvious hopes to lead something other than a jam band are at least partly fulfilled here; at the same time, Streets should keep his customers satisfied. --Rickey Wright

CD Description
BEFORE THESE CROWDED STREETS is a true groove salad, as theD.M.B. reports in with even more creative eclecticism than usual. Guest appearances by artists as varied as Alanis Morissette, Bela Fleck and Kronos Quartet are a testament to thecollage of sounds present. Occasional ventures into Middle Eastern melodicism feel as natural a part of the band's sound as do its mellow folk grooves and funky rhythm flights. The lyrics are a glad swirl of pop storytelling and trippy mystery, brought to life by the usual confluence of saxophones,violin and precise guitar work that makes this group tick.
Over a fat backbeat, Matthews carries the clever, sultry lyrics of "Rapunzel" with a whimsical vocal blend of growls and falsetto jumps, culminating in a soprano rhapsody by hornman Leroi Moore. The funk-vamp "Stay" makes you want to do just that, featuring a joyous gospel chorus and peppery, staccato horn lines. Excellent, frenetic bowing by Kronos Quartet couples with Matthews' quick picking to drive "The Stone"to a 6/8 fury, only to be resolved with delicate grace. Morisette's lilt and Fleck's colourful banjo wrap this excellent album up tastefully on "Spoon".

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dave Matthews Band is totally brilliant, 17 Jul 2003

By	Steven Burke (CANADA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Before These Crowded Streets [VINYL] (Vinyl)

I don't know what to say to the last review of Before These Crowded streets that thought it was awful after buying Everyday and enjoying it. I can only say this being a DMB fan for many years now and having seen them 7 times - Everyday is the least favourite of most people here in North America. It was not a Dave Matthews Band album but rather was Dave and Glen Ballard (Alanis Jagged Little Pill) writing songs that the band was instructed exactly how to play. The first two 5 star reviews of this album say it best - BTCS is an musically brilliant album with lyrics so intense and deeply moving you will shudder! The Dreaming Tree is so melancholy it makes me cry just thinking about it. The Stone is intense, Rapunzel's chorus is deliciously romantic, Alanis' little verse on Spoon is lovely. Please if you are in the UK and wish to know more DMB I would recommend getting all the albums and the live stuff. DMB live is what made them so famous today. Folsom Field is awesome as is Listener Supported. I hope DMB comes your way soon. Eat, drink and be merry, Steve

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Many A Listen!, 21 Oct 2002

By	Daniel Winter (England) - See all my reviews

It took me a while to get into this album but it was well worth the effort! It is not an album that you can simply put on as background music, or at least not without it being wasted. This is a very technical album, with many intricate harmonies from Dave and Carter, and a multitude of little "bonus" tracks after almost every song. This creates an effect of each song linking, making the entire album a continuous build up, culminating in the brilliant "Spoon". On the way you are treated to many a musical delight, in particular "The Stone" and "The Dreaming Tree" which are both very dark and yet pleasantly uncomplicated - which probably adds to the dark feel! This album is also the home of an amazing bass line from Steffan on "Crush". It also features two colaborations with Alanis Morisette in the form of "Spoon" and "Don't Drink The Water" - a song about the development of America at the expense of the native Indians. At the end of the day this is a fantastic album that can only really be listened to all the way through and with great attention to do it justice. It simply adds more support to the argument that everyone should own a piece of DMB work!

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars speechless, 28 Dec 2001

By	chinch@btopenworld.com (south wales, u.k.) - See all my reviews

this album was my first encounter with the dmb. it left me speechless. for some months now i've been listening to it almost daily (and sometimes twice a day) and it still hasn't worn off in the slightest - in fact it is still getting better with each new listening. there is a lot one could say about the incredible style-shifting arrangements, the impeccable musicianship of everyone in the band, the extraordinary lyrics, the truly gripping voice of dave matthews etc. etc. - but what really stands out is the passion (and i mean both the ecstacy and the suffering contained therein) and the scorching energy of the album. enough. it really left me speechless. listen to it, but not as background music. put it on, fasten your seat belt and stay with it. it will reward you again and again.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This record is simply delectable
This record is simply delectable. Deep, moving lyrics, wonderfully arranged and presented with precision and beauty. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Dr. R. Matthews

5.0 out of 5 stars Where did this come from?
In their first two albums, DMB not only marked out their niche in the market as a group of supremely gifted musicians and Dave Matthews himself as a very good song writer but... Read more

Published on 26 Nov 2006 by Wicker-king

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid at all costs!!
I recently bought Dave Matthews album 'Everyday' which I thought was very good, so good infact that, because this was my first DMB album, I would get some of his... Read more

Published on 19 Feb 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars Technical yet heartfelt
This simply is a wonderful album by DMB: it features highly technical stuff (just listen to the drummer on Rapunzel), yet it is heartfelt with a unique mix of folk, rock, trash,... Read more

Published on 15 Feb 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars ~I Cried~
Words aren't enough to say how incredibly powerful the music of Dave Matthews Band is. It is not demanding in the slightest, yet it will reach out to your soul and shake you to... Read more

Published on 14 Jan 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars A Dave Matthews must
Dave Matthews delivers a different angle with this work of art. Normally pertaining to a pop culture audience, DMB's "Before These Crowded Streets" shows a much darker... Read more

Published on 9 Nov 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz? Rock? Pop? You decide?
'Before These Crowded Streets' is perhaps Dave Matthews Band's best album to date. It combines a unique combination of music with Jazz, Rock and Pop all being combined to a great... Read more

Published on 4 Aug 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC-i loved every minute!
This is such an excellent album. It was my first Dave Matthews cd. and i now know why they are HUGE in America! The Dreaming Tree-is so amazing-the lyrics. Read more

Published on 21 Mar 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most amazing & different albums i've ever heard
This is quite simply a beautiful album of ecclectic proportions, a standard comment so far is of a folk nature, not untrue, but it doesn't herald what this album truely entails... Read more

Published on 19 Mar 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant !!!
Dave Matthews Band, is truly one of the best bands around today, there powerful Lyrics, there mellow vibe, there long Jam's, there brilliant live concerts (seen 3 of them). Read more

Published on 18 Mar 2001 by Brenden

› See all 18 customer reviews...

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