Review of Some Devil

Page 2 of 2

Not one to be accused of solipsism in his new role, Matthews pays homage to U2 ("Trouble"), and Bob Marley ("Up and Away"), and heavily credits his musical crew in the liner notes to Some Devil. Although this is a solo album with regard to Dave Matthews Band, Matthews is by no means going it on his own.

A good number of the songs on Some Devil are brooding, introspective, even dark at times: "An' Another Thing," "Gravedigger," "Grey Blue Eyes," "Some Devil," "Too High" and "Trouble" all fit this description, and will no doubt make the album a touch depressing for the taste of some. On the other hand, at least a couple of the songs are relentlessly upbeat: "So Damn Lucky" (in spite of its lyrics) and, in particular, "Save Me." It is these two tracks that are touted on the sticker on the front of the packaging in stores, along with "Gravedigger," so presumably these happier songs will follow the bold, though not particularly radio friendly first single selection of "Gravedigger." It is the third type of song on Some Devil that is perhaps the most interesting: the patient, detailed and rich "Baby," "Dodo," and "Oh." It is these three that will prove conceptually new to followers of Dave Matthews Band; Matthews has never created anything quite like them before.

In Kelefa Sanneh's recent review of Some Devil in the New York Times, his description of "Dodo" is spot on: "'Dodo' is one of the loveliest songs Mr. Matthews has ever recorded: it floats onward and upward on a casual, shuffling guitar line, altering course slightly with each falsetto phrase from Mr. Matthews." "Lovely" is the perfect word for "Dodo," as it is for "Oh" and "Baby". The trio of songs are sweet and gentle, with lush, delicate instrumentation. Matthews' vocals are delivered as if singing a lullaby to an infant, as perhaps he may have been when he conceived these songs. "Baby," in particular, is intensely satisfying in its arrangement, with much of the credit for this going to composer Audrey Riley and the Seattlemusic String Quartet. If these songs represent a new musical direction for Dave Matthews, then he has a promising future, indeed.

In all, Some Devil manages to be smooth without being slick, understated without sacrificing strength, sweet without being syrupy. What Everyday did with unbridled enthusiasm, Some Devil does with confident perfectionism. Should Dave Matthews Band decide to perform these songs next time that they tour, they will no doubt be received with great enthusiasm.