Throughout the listen of this disc, one word kept creeping back to describe what i was hearing. A word i rarely associate when describing songs. That word? Beautiful. Yes, simply beautiful.  Here we have the theme of this musical endeavor.

Busted Stuff, the latest release from Dave Matthews Band, is wise beyond its years.  The songs are from the now famous 'Lillywhite Sessions' that were leaked on the internet a couple years back and never officially released. These songs are the finished and completed versions from those Lillywhite Sessions, and have a much more polished feel to them here.  Any extended jamming is saved for the live show and what we get fed is a high quality recording of some great stripped-down, bare boned songs.

The title track 'Busted Stuff' gets things rolling.  A nice laid back groove to set the tone of the album. This gives way to a tune you’ll find yourself humming. 'Grey Street' kicks in with a leroi smooth sax lick that will break down any of your sound barriers and implant itself in your head. One of the many standout tracks on this disc, 'Grey Street' is an absolute gem with uplifting rhythms that soar by the end.

'Where Are You Going' is a delicate number that brings any wandering minds back to ground level with its easy-going vibe. Listeners may remember hearing this from the adam sandler movie Mr. Deeds, as it was featured on that soundtrack, and currently holds a spot on top 40 radio. 'You Never Know' is the weakest track here. It has some good ideas and intentions, but just never fully clicks on all cylinders as a whole. That small speed bump is quickly forgotten with the familiar laid back, soulful grooviness of 'Captain',  The second really standout track on this disc along with 'Grey Street' and we are only five songs deep into the collection.

Hitting sixth in this lineup is 'raven'. A song that hints back to their throwback sound and should thrive in a live setting being that it includes a short boyd solo and ends with a short leroi solo.  Off this song, we are honored by an absolutely perfect song, 'Grace is Gone'. this beautiful tune is such an absolutely moving track, which sucks you right in hooking you before you know it.  Amazing.  What more can be said?  Excellent Tune.

'Kit Kat Jam' livens things up with a musical burst of energy. It’s essentially a three and a half minute instrumental jam.  Nothing too earthshaking, but enjoyable nonetheless. 

The next standout tune comes in the form of 'Digging a Ditch'. This gets back to the theme of the album with it’s quiet, beautiful strumming. It’s another you’ll find yourself humming unknowingly. Silky Smooth.

'Big Eyed Fish' is a decent tune, but ends up playing the table-setter to the final track 'Bartender'. This eight and a half minute opus is a strikingly powerful closing number and finishes the album on a high note with Dave’s soaring melodies.  This will be a big hit in the live setting for the fans.

People who thought DMB went too ‘commercial’ on their last release "Everyday" (which included myself), will be greatly relieved by this effort and its dedication to get back to a more total band effort, instead of the lone dave show "Everyday" seemed to be. And the loyal DMB fans who wanted to jump ship after that last release can now hop back on board and enjoy a more introspective album.

Reflecting back over it, the standouts that are instant staples include 'Grace is Gone', 'Grey Street', 'Digging a Ditch', 'Captain', and 'Bartender'.  others, such as 'Busted Stuff', 'Where Are You Going', and 'Raven' are real close behind.  As a whole, each song brings something to the table, and what the listener is left with is a quality and mature set of songs. Pop this cd in when you want to chill out, unwind and relax. And take heed to dave’s lyrics, "Excuse me please, one more drink, could you make it strong, ‘cause i don’t need to think", and have fun taking a deep enjoyable listen. Overall, "Busted Stuff" earns and deserves a solid four planets.


Track Listing:
01. Busted Stuff
02. Grey Street
03. Where Are You Going
04. You Never Know
05. Captain
06. Raven
07. Grace Is Gone
08. Kit Kat Jam
09. Digging A Ditch
10. Big Eyed Fish
11. Bartender


Shamples Rating:  4 out of 5 Planets


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