Dave fans, it’s finally here-his first solo release. Yet fans loyal to the sound and achievements of the band shouldn’t expect anything close to the jam band roots that created the five-man obsession.
Some Devil is Dave Matthews, not the Dave Matthews Band. You’ll certainly be disappointed if Tinsley and Carter are what you’re expecting. Yet, if you’re open to something new, you’ll find that Some Devil is an exciting taste of Dave’s musicianship.
Matthews must certainly be given credit for straying so much from the DMB sound, considering that most artists who go solo produce a personalized version of the music they make with their band.
Some Devil is somewhat of a sad album with its emotional lyrics and mellow sound. While there are some upbeat melodies included in the lineup, the whole of the album is certainly a change from the jumpy, feel-good attitude of the band. Most of the lyrics seem to be about a broken heart and the music certainly suites this expression.
Dave provides good poetics at times, yet some of the lyrics are lacking and somewhat redundant. Musically, however, Some Devil provides a nice blend of several instruments, such as the sax, piano, baritone and sitar guitars and a stringed quartet consisting of violins, a viola and a cello. The musical beauty of the strings is certainly the highlight of this album.
The first track, “Dodo,” is a very addicting tune that musically introduces the listener to the remaining 13 servings of Dave’s expression. The title track, “Grey Blue Eyes,” and “Stay or Leave” are examples of Dave’s reflection on heart-breaking love. “Stay or Leave” is a beautiful song.
Dave collaborates with several special guests on Some Devil, including Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio and long-time companion Tim Reynolds. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band makes a special appearance in the first track with the horns arrangement. But don’t let the big names give you a false impression of what the album will be like; The depth of their talent is clearly not the focus of the music.
If listening to the album only leaves you longing for original Dave, you’ll appreciate the bonus disc that features five tracks of Matthews and Reynolds live at four different shows. It’s a great mix of old and new, including “Grey Street,” “Jimi Thing,” and “Stay or Leave,” a track from the new album. The disc is a great reminder of the enchanting guitar that has so effectively created the vast numbers of die-hard Dave fans over the years.
Some Devil is not the best reflection of all that Dave is capable of. It’s hard to say that you’ll find yourself wanting to hear every track twice. Yet as a whole, the album is worthy of recognition, even if solely because Dave has decided to take brief leave of his musical trend and show his fans that his musical abilities go beyond that of the Dave Matthews Band.
But rest assured, fans, Dave hasn’t deserted his faithful four. You can still expect another album from the group. Until then, perhaps you can enjoy and appreciate a quite different showcase of Dave’s musical talent and diversity.