SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – WALK AROUND THE MOON

Dave Matthews Band
Walk Around The Moon
RCA Records

Dave Matthews Band’s latest album, Walk Around The Moon, is one of their weakest. Dave Matthews’ vocals are terrific, however, his writing is sometimes rather bland. There are many great songs here, but many are worth skipping. The band’s new sound is fresh, and it is great to see them experiment, but it does not always work out.

There is lots to like about the new album. “Walk Around The Moon”, despite being too long, has a lovely chorus, one that will most likely be a fan favourite at concerts. “Madman’s Eyes” sees Dave Matthews Band exploring an Eastern sound. The riff is unique, and the chorus is infectious. “The Only Thing” is one of the heaviest songs from their discography. The song is full of swagger, and it has an incredibly badass glam rock-inspired guitar riff. The middle portion of the song also has an excellent guitar and synth solo. It is easily the best track from the album. “After Everything” is short and silly. It combines blues, jazz, funk, and classic rock and is very Beatle-esque. All the different music styles blend perfectly, resulting in a wildly entertaining tune.

Unfortunately, many songs lack the energy and flair of their earlier stuff. “It Could Happen” and “Something To Tell My Baby” have a few interesting sections, but for the most part, they feel uninspired. On the other hand, “All You Wanted Was Tomorrow” is decent but does not really stand out. That seems to be the biggest problem with the album. There is nothing special about the majority of the tracks, and it instead feels very average, which is disappointing, especially if you are a hardcore fan of the band.

Often you will listen to a song and feel quite upset with the result as you are expecting something more. “Break Free” is guilty of this. The track has been played live many times, but now it has finally got a studio release. The live versions greatly overshadow the studio versions.

Walk Around The Moon is painfully average and underwhelming.

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