1)BUSTED STUFF--(7 out of 10)--This is an excellent opener. I'd describe it as a slightly funky blues song that sets the tone for a fairly melancholic cd. Pretty similar to Lillywhite's, but with an o.k. sax outro and a removal of the "silly one" lyrics that he repeated in the original. Solid and well-done.

2)Grey Street--(9 out of 10)--Very, very good song that sounds like a subdued Tripping Billies with better lyrics. Musically very good, lyrically even better, and with a pace the escalates in emotion to the end. Maybe a tad restrained at first, but Dave makes up for it with some great howling at the end. Better than the Lillywhite version.

3)Where are you Going--(8 out of 10)--This is a new song and the first radio release, and it's actually very well done and fits sequentially. The saxophone has a surrealistic effect on the song's atmosphere, and the acoustic guitar is arranged in an unusual but effective manner. Lyrics are a little soft by comparison to the rest, but the mood and music make up for it.

4)You Never Know--(6 out of 10)--Another new song, and unfortunately this piece just doesn't sound right. Lyrics are interesting but akwardly arranged, and the music seems like a disorganized jumble, not even with much of a flow. It's also overlong at almost six minutes. The very beginning and end are pretty good, and the refrain isn't bad, but it's the verses that are really messy, in almost every way. Still, it holds interest, and is slightly above average.

5)Captain--(6 out of 10)--Another semi-bust that starts out with a promising sound and then fades into vague and unoriginal lyrics/music. I remember the Lillywhite version as actually being better, but neither one is classic material. This song following You Never Know hurts the pace of the CD, as both pieces seem unsure and unfinished, and at worst unnecessary.

6)Raven--(8 out of 10)--Suddenly we're back to solid ground and the reworking of this song is excellent. The saxophone intro and subsequent interludes has remained, but nearly everything else has changed, and the result is very positive. The beat and rhythm have good energy, the saxophone adds a funky spin, and the lyrics are interesting(I've heard rumors that it's about priest abuse, but I don't know, the tone seems too upbeat). Overall, this song was an unexpected surprise and is one of the best.

7)Grace is Gone--(9 out of 10)--The band took everything good about the original, and melded it into a near masterpiece. The guitar plucking intro reminds me of U2's Running to Stand Still from the Joshua Tree. Lyrically, the writing is astute and beautifully rendered. It's also sparse in a good way, preventing the blabbering that occured in You Never Know. And this time around the music has the energy to lift the song up to genuine levels of emotional transcendence. The violin-based outro jam is a perfect ending.

8)Kit Kat Jam--(7 out of 10)--Here we have an all-instrumental that shifts like a chameleon to stay interesting. In reality, it is a good listen, and is a positive, upbeat change of pace. Much better than the disjointed and unfinished Lillywhite version.

9)Digging a Ditch--(8 out of 10)--More melancholy and nostalgia, and a slower version than Lillywhite's, which is a good thing. Working with a very simple song structure, this piece is executed to near-perfection. I like the guitar and the improvising saxophone, and the lyrics are thoughful and affecting. Very well done, but because of its simplistic parameters, it isn't a ground-breaker. You'll see what I mean, the song kind of treads water without escalating, but the mood and the message are great.

10)Big Eyed Fish--(8 out of 10)--One of my favorites from the Lillywhite Sessions makes the transition fairly intact, albeit some minor changes. The guitar arrangements are slower than before, but I like the effect, and am not sure which is better. Also, the lyric order is swapped, but that isn't a biggie. Still retained is the hypnotic, almost middle-eastern groove that was so mesmerizing the first time around, and combined with the clever narrative lyrics, it's an excellent song. However...this song is a bit more restrained than before, and doesn't seem to jam out as well at the end. Also, the howling that Dave did before has been amputated, cutting off some of the emotions and preventing the music from peaking. Still very good, but one of only two songs that aren't better than the original(Along with Captain).

11.)Bartender--(10 out of 10)--Flawless. This is a true masterpiece, and you can tell the band spent time on it. From the shifty violin into, to the powerful and emotional lyrics, everything ranks as unbelievable. The 8:30 minute song structure is separated into 3 parts: the lyrical build-up phase, the howling phase(from choirish to animal wails), and the musical conclusion phase that culminates in a brilliant pennywhistle solo framed by acoustic strumming. Really, really good. Beats out the Lillywhite version.

Overall, this CD is excellent with just a couple of misfires. The rest of the ensemble more than makes up for it, and because of that, I highly recommend "Busted Stuff."


A most welcome return!   July 18, 2002
spiral_mind (Pennsylvania)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

I don't mean 'return' in the usual sense since the DMB hasn't really been away. I mean that Busted Stuff is a welcome return to the lively interaction and infectious jams that were sorely missing on Everyday. They're well rid of Glen Ballard and his production work, which spotlighted Dave and treated the other members like a nuisance to be subdued as much as possible. Here nobody's buried in the mix. The group chemistry is as electrified as ever. They're all rejuvenated and ready to let loose, and Dave's wonderful ear for melody hasn't produced anything this addicting in years. It's good to have them back.

Even with such a set of well-written tunes as Busted Stuff offers, a couple examples stand out - the joyously sunny instrumental "Kit Kat Jam" (have they been listening to a lot of Dixie Dregs lately?), the simple but powerful sound of "Grey Street," and the hymn-like "Bartender".. particularly its achingly sweet three-minute jam that ends the disc. The not-quite-bluegrass "Grace Is Gone" is also smooth and pleasing; nevermind that it's got the most wretchedly unimaginative lyrics Dave's turned out in a good long time. That track is the exception, however. Dave's lyrical skills have grown beyond what he showed on Under the Table... and even Crash. Check "Grey Street" which paints vividly drab pictures of a woman's slowly fading faith. Check the Kafka-esque parables of "Raven" and "Big Eyed Fish." There's a fair amount of bitter cynicism floating through the songs, with some occasional flashes of hope.. even if it's in the fatalistic thoughts of "Bartender" or "Digging a Ditch."

There are some CD-ROM features and an extra DVD included with some unreleased live video footage and interviews, but everything's a secondary bonus to the music. If you like the band's videos it'll be a nice plus. If not.. well, it's free anyway.

Busted Stuff is a more than worthy addition to the group's catalogue, an example of their distinct pop/rock/jazz sound in fine form. In terms of strength and performance I rate it even with the near-perfect Crash. It shows once again why the B in DMB is vitally important; without the intense splashes of color and wonderful tones of Boyd and Leroi, not to mention Carter's endlessly inventive percussion, this could very well have been an average alt-rock group.. albeit one with a nice knack for memorable hooks. But the music these guys produce is more than the sum of its parts. It's Dylan meets Coltrane meets Bruford with a little Bela Fleck tossed in. Get some of this Stuff.


Good, but lacks the emotion of the Lillywhite Sessions   July 20, 2002
24 out of 29 found this review helpful

I admit that I was one of the many who induldged in the bootlegged compilation of "The Summer So Far" aka "The Lillywhite Sessions." I think that disc contains some of the best DMB material ever recorded. It was direction filled with fertile creativity that they dumped for that disappointing EVERYDAY, which I promptly dumped. When BUSTED STUFF was released, I immediately scooped up a copy and listened to it with a raised eyebrow as the album made its way through each track. It wasn't bad, but what happened?

The energy and PASSION was lackluster and the songs smoothed over. Was Dave bored in the studio? GREY STREET, originally such a hard-driving song both musically and lyrically has been melted down into a nice little ditty. This is a song about a woman caught in an abusive relationship looking towards her religion to free here...on Lillywhite, Dave sang it like every word came from the pain and fear inside this woman. Now he sings it like he's narrating the TV movie of the week. He also changed the lyrics....they're not passionate, they're no longer angry for the woman who has found herself in such horrific circumstances. I had the opportunity to see him perform both versions live, and believe me, the new one makes you feel all melancholy inside. That's not what the song should do.

Lillywhite's BARTENDER took me awhile to like, now it's one of my favorites. What sold me was the jam at the end. It's a little shorter on Busted, and again, lacks the dynamic energy that Lillywhite's had. Dave (and all the instruments) emoted raw emotion. It was if you could feel the narrative of the lyrics continuing in the jam. But on Busted it just sounds like a nice little, well-scripted jazz jam. And the outro has been sweetened with a happy little flute solo as opposed to the emotional sax on Lillywhite. For me, depending on my mood, the sax playoff could make me feel sad or uplifted, either way, fulfilled. In my opinion, it was an unfortunate tradeoff on the Busted recording.

BUSTED STUFF it good, but Carter's terrific percussion has been reduced to just your standard drumming. On Lillywhite it had many layers. Which I feel is an ongoing trait of this album. Carter is one of the best drummers out there. And you can tell that he likes what he does. But for some reason or another, he's been pulled back on the Busted album. He was a lot more creative on Lillywhite....his personal choice....Dave's....or new producer's? Who knows.

JTR is missing from the album. It was a good one and had a great jam at the end. GRACE IS GONE is probably the only carryover song that is still strong even with the changes. But on Lillywhite, Dave did sound much more sincere in the narrative which made the song all that more heartbreakingly endearing.

The 2 new songs are nice little tunes, but unfortunately not up to the caliber of Dave's writing skills.

I just saw the guys in concert; front row center! Great place to be. But as much of a good time I had, I could seee that the guys were bored. They barely related to each other, and it felt like they were just stumbling through the night. Maybe the band needs a break. Stop touring for a bit and spend time with the new kids. They are one of the hardest working bands. There was a lot of energy when the old songs were played: Warehouse, Too Much, Ants Marching....that's when it seemed that they were enjoying what they were doing.

It's nice to hear these great songs recorded better, (technically since the Lillywhite disc was a basically of preliminary/high-grade demo quality). But I wish that the band hadn't messed around with them so much, or at least sounded more interested in the material. Maybe they should officially release the Lillywhite tracks, but after they've been remastered.

There's a part of me that sort of wishes that I had never heard the Lillywhite tracks, because it made me aware of the potential these songs have.


It Grows On You   September 14, 2002
19 out of 23 found this review helpful

I've never been a fan of the Dave Matthews Band. I've heard some of their more popular tracks from time to time, but never truly enjoyed what I heard. And, as we all know, 'Where Are You Going' has become a hit on the radio across the country. I liked it immediately, and wondered if I had given DMB a fair shot: I bought the CD on a whim, and was disappointed at first. It just wasn't my style. (Metallica, Godsmack, System of a Down, however, ARE my style.)

But as the days passed, I found myself wondering why this hand't left my stereo. And then when I grabbed my portable CD player on my way to school, I was surprised yet again when I reached for this album. The same happened while on my computer. What was going on? Well, it's simple: this album is amazing, and I now look forward to purchasing more albums by this band.

Here are my thoughts on each track:

1. Busted Stuff (7.5/10) Not my favorite track, and I usually find myself skipping over it. Yet, it's not terrible either.
2. Grey Street (8/10) A faster, stronger song, and may have been better off as the opening track. Not the best on the album, but I listen to it quite often.
3. Where Are You Going (8/10) My favorite at first, but that's always the case with an album you buy for one track. Slower, not as deep as the others, but still great in its own way.
4. You Never Know (7.5/10) I don't listen to this very often; somehow it hasn't quite clicked with me yet.
5. Captain (8.5/10) Slower, more melodic. One of the better, I'd say.
6. Raven (9/10) I've never heard the darker version, but can only assume it's better. I love the lyrics to this one and ranks high on my list of favorites.
7. Grace Is Gone (9.5/10) A song I disliked when first listening to it. It seemed too 'country' for me. Now, however, I listen to it more than any other. My favorite on the album!
8. Kit Kat Jam (8.5/10) These guys can really jam. It's evident even they were impressed judging by their cheers at the end. We cheered to, Dave.
9. Digging A Ditch (9/10) Begins with a yawn and ends powerful, in my opinion. Again, it's one of the better, and I'm beginning to think--only as I write this--that the second half of the album is stronger.
10. Big Eyed Fish (9/10) My favorite at first, it was replaced by 'Grace is Gone'. I find it funny, but maybe that's just me.
11. Bartender (9.5/10) Competes with 'Grace is Gone', but falls shy but just a little. The first time I listened to it, I hated it, and then realized how amazing it really was.


DMB shines...and proves to all they still have got it   December 23, 2002
M (Syracuse, NY USA)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

To me, "Busted Stuff" ranks second in the hierarchy of DMB albums, being brilliant but unable to displace the absolutely mesmerizing "Before These Crowded Streets" from the top spot in my book. It provides great music, and to all those disgruntled fans after "Everyday" (I was not one of them) a welcome sigh of relief. The mood is a bit darker, the lyrics even more head-scratching and apparently meaningless than even "Before...", but the instrumentals are lifted up to a new level of greatness. One definite factor: no guest musicians. It's pure DMB from start to finish, and the result couldn't be better. Here are the songs:
1)Busted Stuff - a great great song, it has a very mellow pace that works, and shows an absolutely amazing vocal range from Dave: a definite hummer;
2)Grey Street - the defining song for this CD, second best in my view.Remarkably powerful, it makes you want to rise up and yell out;
3)Where Are You Going? - new song, very VERY slow, which works well at this point. Lovely sax ending by LeRoi;
4)You Never Know - this is oddly catchy, although the lyrics are not much. Still one of their good songs, it's on the limit but does not fall short;
5)Captain - does. If there is a disappointment on this CD, this would be it. I have trouble getting it, it takes quite a while to understand his beat and get into it. It's by no means bad, but definitely weak by comparison;
6)Raven - extremely dark lyrics, borderline incomprehensible but thought-provoking. Musically no complaints;
7)Grace Is Gone - by far the best song on here. Not only is it absolutely beautiful lyrically and musically, it produces an extraordinary harmony between guitar riffs and words at the critical points in the chorus. Sounds country (which I would normally hate), but I say it's pure Dave and one of their best of all time;
8)Kit Kat Jam - worthy addition, does it fit? Yes, it certainly does, simply because it's a damn good jam. No, they do not need lyrics. As long as they keep it short (which they did), it's just right;
9)Digging A Ditch - the slowest track on this disc, it might even get painfully slow. It's good to listen to only if you have the patience. In THAT situation, it works on a very deep level. My advice: take your time;
10)Big Eyed Fish - third best song on the album. It's so amazingly performed, and the lyrics are great (yes, you heard me - not silly, not dark, GREAT). It takes you by surprise and maintains that sweet sweet feeling all the way. The first time I heard it, I went back and listened to it again.
11)Bartender - this is classic DMB, somehwat reminiscent of the violence and passion of "Before..." and "Live In Chicago." It has religious lyrics, much like "Spoon" and "Christmas Song", and it nicely runs up to 9 minutes. Great closing to a great album.
In many ways, "Busted Stuff" is DMB's crowning masterpiece. It remains to see what they will come up with next, but this CD shows their ability to come out of difficult and testing situations, i.e. the "Everyday" fan-alienating and the Lillywhite fiasco, to produce pure musical genius at what I think is the peak of their career.