Dave Matthews Band – Under The Table And Dreaming

This cd has the dynamic range of a vinyl record, it’s actually amazing how big the change between dynamics is on this album. The quiet parts sound amazing, but the loud parts not so much. Once the album gets loud there is way too much treble (Carter’s ride cymbal and snare especially sound way too harsh). Also for some reason they boosted the mid range on Dave’s voice, which causes the vocals to sound ear bleeding harsh at times. I did notice some sibilance on some tracks, but not much. Overall a decent sounding album, just be aware of some harsh frequencies.

This is definitely Dave Matthews Band's shining moment if ever there was one. I dont think any other newer release could top it. This was actually one of the first albums I ever bought back when I was in high school saving up lunch money to satisfy my CD "crack addiction". For me, this release is beautiful and timeless. There are of course the hits (and there were definitely a few), but in my opinion the stand-out track of this album is 'Dancing Nancies' (which WASNT one of said hits) with its graceful percussion -- equally melancholy and uplifting. Its also a song that can definitely be called "cinematic" and even spooky in some regards. Who would ever think that incorporating the "fiddle" of all things would work out so well for a band, but they utilize it in the best possible way. Yes, they are mainstream and the radio has most certainly played all their hits ad nauseam, but this is one of the few mainstream artists that deserves that attention, if only for this album alone.