Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King (CD/DVD) [DELUXE EDITION]
Posted on | August 6, 2009 |
Produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance), Big Whiskey has been hailed by Rolling Stone as the group’s “heaviest album yet, both musically and emotionally,” which went on to note: “Throughout, Carter Beauford beats out elaborate, propulsive groves; bassist Stefan Lessard lays down Flea-style funk bass lines; violinist Boyd Tinsley plays cresting, intense runs; and Matthews mirrors Moore’s saxophone lines with scatlike singing.” Billboard, in a cover story on Dave (more…)
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13 Responses to “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King (CD/DVD) [DELUXE EDITION]”
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August 7th, 2009 @ 12:48 am
I bought the Deluxe edition with the “Making of Big Whiskey” DVD. I wanted to share what’s on the DVD since it’s not specified on Amazon. That way, you can make your own determination whether you want to pay extra for it:
Runtime - 29:17
Packaging - Trifold with artwork on all panels. CD in one panel, lyrics and liner notes booklet in middle panel and DVD in last panel.
Contents - Behind the scenes look at the making of the album. Consists mostly of interviews with all bandmates, producer and session musicians interspersed with snippets of the recording sessions at different studios around the country. There are no full-length videos of complete songs. You get the gist of how the album was put together, but it’s not a completely linear narrative, more like snapshots.
About 17 minutes in, the DVD becomes a tribute to late bandmate Leroi Moore. Some of the bandmates’ remembrances are very touching. There are also some interesting tidbits, like Dave Matthews drew the cover artwork and the GrooGrux King bears a slight resemblance to Moore.
Altogether, it was enjoyable viewing, especially for someone like me who doesn’t always read the fine print in the liner notes. However, I doubt I will be viewing it over and over like a performance video.
August 7th, 2009 @ 2:03 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
DMB
This CD is by far the best that DMB
has put out in years. A different approach to thier sound and style comes together in a blissfull array of tracks. I can’t stop listening!!
August 7th, 2009 @ 7:08 am
The other reviewer mentioned Stand up was a darker album which is really not the case, Dream girl is no Halloween. Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King to me does seem to get back to some of the older DMB stylings. It seems to have some elements of the first 5 albums throughout the tracklisting with some new sounds for sure. I have only had th opportunity to listen to it a few times through and it will take months and some live shows to truly decide how good this album is. But it seems to have more potential than the past 3 records. Dave is downright dirty on Shake me like a Monkey, dark and ominous in Squirm, Funny the way it is lyrically classic dave. And time bomb has the makings of a setlist closer with the screaming and driving guitar at the end. However, the longest song is only 5 1/2 minutes once again. I don’t suppose we will ever get the long exploratory jams that were once laden on every album. Everyday killed that and I suspect that era is gone. But this is the closest we’ve been in a long time. Also, Why I am is a great tribute to Leroi. We will miss you Grux.
August 7th, 2009 @ 7:42 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best studio in a decade+
Overall an amazing album. Easily the band’s best body of work on a studio album in over a decade. Very cajun sound at times without going overboard.
August 7th, 2009 @ 9:55 am
Generally I like to save my reviews of music until I’ve thoroughly listened to the entire album. This one’s been out for barely 3 weeks and I have already pretty much reached that point. This album is nothing short of great - for both longtime DMB fans and those who would want to listen for the first time. Catchy tunes, a diverse set of music…a band shows its true colors in its ability to continually transform its musical style while never completely forgetting what it has done in the past. Here’s my song-by-song breakdown:
1. Grux - A short intro tune with heavy Sax. Great tribute to Mr. Grux himself, recently passed away Leroi Moore. Very groovy.
2. Shake Me Like a Monkey - Holy crap. Where do I start with this one? It’s hot, its groovy, it’s rhythmic, it has funk, it has spice and energy…I think its by far the best song on the album. From the drums to the amazing trumpet/sax part to the wacky singing of Dave, this song pretty much highlights every aspect of why I love the DMB so much.
3. Funny the Way It Is - Another one of the best songs on the album, it is a very catchy tune with some clever lyrics. And the lyrics are what make this song unique.
4. Lying in the Hands of God - Very happy they turned this live hit into the album version. Good singing, love the harmonies that Dave works with in his singing.
5. Why I Am - Another song that sound like its destined to be a hit. Love the lyrics referencing the “Groo Grux King”, where the namesake of the album comes from. Not to mention the clever rhythms they use on the chorus with the words “Why I am”, expanding the ryhythm each time they sing it. Its one of the subtle things that DMB does that sets them apart from other bands in my mind. And its those subtle things that keeps me listening to these songs even if I’ve heard them a 1000 times before already.
6. Dive In - A slower, “lazier” song, more mello. A good tune to relax to, and not to mention one part towards the end of the song where the electric guitar of Tim reynolds is introduced - absolutely unbelievable. I can’t describe how unique the ambience and atmosphere is and what it does to the song when Tim starts playing. Its great.
7. Spaceman - Another mello laid back song. Probably my least favorite on the album…not that its a bad song, its just lacking on a unique identifying feature that other songs have had to this point. Though I do like the bass line.
8. Squirm - One of those buildup songs that gets gradually louder and more intense…its the intensity in the drum beats of this one that make it so interesting.
9. Alligator Pie - If you loved “Down By the Bayou” on DMB’s previous album, you’ll love this song. It’s like that song, but crazy. There’s something about Dave’s unintelligible singing that is pleasing, and helps to make this song all the crazier.
10. Seven - Probably the most innovative of songs on this album. Any band that can play a song in 5 and 7 beats to a meter and make it interesting is a band deserving to be called great. I’m still figuring out some of the beats and exactly how Dave’s lyrics are fitting on top of the 7-beat. Some splicing in of 5-beat measures makes this one interesting to those with a good musical ear (and otherwise a good song even if you aren’t all that rhythmically interested). Anotehr good trumpet part in this song.
11. Time Bomb - Another one of Dave’s crazy songs. It starts of innocently enough, then kind of “explodes” into a crazy and fast beat, much like a ticking time bomb! (OMG!) I generally don’t like when singers scream ala Lincoln Park…but there is something oddly interesting about the way Dave screams when he sings, not like the emo screaming of bands like Lincoln Park.
12. Baby Blue - A nice guitar solo song by Dave. He always is good with those solo songs, and its more of the same here.
13. You and Me - Another song that could easily become a hit if so desired. This song almost sounds like it belongs at the end of a movie as the song that plays during the credits. In fact, the movie that comes to mind is Walle for some reason, and I think it even bears some sort of similarities with that Peter Gabriel song. IN any event, this is anotehr one of Dave’s best songs on the album, one of his endlessly upbeat tunes.
The only criticism I give of the album is (a) I want more trumpet/sax/violin, (b) I want more songs, especially those that he;s written in the past few years that have been recorded live (like “Idea of You”). But other than that, this album reaffirms that DMB has lost no edge whatsoever in their creativity (and I was worried that they had “mello-ed out” after their Stand Up album)
August 7th, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
DMB’s last record with Leroi shines brightly
From a simple title ‘Stand Up’ last outing to long-winded ‘big whisky and the groogrux king’ offers initial interest, furthermore the artwork and design moves into new territory…
August 7th, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best. Album. Ever.
This is definitely some of the band’s finest material. Opens with a solo from Roi and ends with a solo from him as well. Nice mix of different vibes in this album.
August 7th, 2009 @ 7:40 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good Album
I love this CD!! I listen to at least one song daily. I love pretty much anything DMB, they have GREAT music!!
August 7th, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
MUCH better…
This CD is a step in the right direction. They’re getting there again. Let’s hope bands like Blues Traveler follow this lead.
August 8th, 2009 @ 2:50 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still dancing with the Groogrux King…
Their best studio album since Before These Crowded Streets. Although their previous studio albums such as Stand Up, Busted Stuff, and Everyday, have some excellent songs on them,…
August 8th, 2009 @ 7:53 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Big Whiskey is King
This is a fantastic, beautiful, emotionally touching, rewarding album by DMB. Dave has taken the sadness of Leroi Moore’s death and poured his passion into it, crafting an…
August 8th, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Matthews Strongest Offering In Years
Having listened to Big Whiskey several times I must say that I’m liking it more and more. Upon first listen I must admit that its complex rthyms and trippy lyrics put me off…
August 8th, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Strong
Carter, the drummer, has finally been unleashed on this CD. It’s about time. On both Everyday and Stand Up, he was playing less “busy” drum parts because producers suggested it…