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List Price: $18.98 | | Label: Rca
Salesrank: 63
Released: June 2, 2009 |
| Our Price: $7.40 |
| Used Price: $6.75 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King Track Listing:
1. Grux
2. Shake Me Like A Monkey
3. Funny The Way It Is
4. Lying In The Hands of God
5. Why I Am
6. Dive In
7. Spaceman
8. Squirm
9. Alligator Pie
10. Seven
11. Time Bomb
12. Baby Blue
13. You & Me
Editorial Review:
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 Matthews Band, praised Big Whiskey as "its best album yet… Highlights include the funk-rock rave-up 'Shake Me Like a Monkey,' the stirring ballad 'Lying in the Hands of God,' the swampy rocker 'Alligator Pie (Cockadile),' radio-friendly fare like 'Why I Am,' which features playful horns over a solid rock riff and a hooky chorus, and 'Funny the Way It Is,' which parlays a subtle intro into a soaring, syncopated anthem."
Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King Reviews:
great cd 
2009-12-01 - If you like the older Dave Matthews stuff, you'll love this new cd. Its classic DM. I really like it!
Finally found the new sound 
2009-11-07 - I have been a fan of DMB for the past decade. Like many people, I love them for their early work, particularly Under the Table and Dreaming, Before These Crowded Streets and Crash. It was a coincidence of the spirit of the times, a young and joyful band, and their loose, improvisational style. There is no way to go back to that. Their past three albums (Everyday, Busted Stuff, Stand Up) have been a noticeable dip in the 'magic' they had (though their live act has remained excellent). Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King seems to be a climb back into a new space of musical creation. It feels as though the death of Leroi Moore has given them the spiritual resources to bring into focus the more rock'n'roll/funk style that they have been experimenting with since Everyday.
While I do not like this style as much as their early work, it is obviously a genuine development for the band, and it is good to see them produce a record of substantial quality again. BW & GGK is permeated by a spirit of mournful joy, of bereavement and celebration of memories, and the band plays with energy and conviction. Standout tracks for me are 'Shake Me Like a Monkey', with it's infectious beat, 'Spaceman' as a classic Dave sleazy love ballad, and 'You & Me', with it's bright pop sensibility.
Their best
2009-11-05 - I have to admit that Dave Matthews was an aquired taste. I just didn't get him, his music or his band when they fist hit the scene. After some exposure, though, I had to admit I was hooked. What really stands out is that this is a group of MUSICIANS, who know and undertand music and play it outside the POP box. There is a lot going on, on DMB tracks. You can't just listen to a song once, because its too much to take in just once. This CD rocks. Its the best yet. Every track on this CD is awesome. A rocking, yet poignent tribute to their fallen comrade. Why I Am, is my personal favorite. The arrangement, the complexity of the music. Great CD. The best yet. A lot to live up to though.
The music on this CD is pretty good
2009-10-24 - I don't listen to a lot of music these days. I just listen to sports talk and stuff when I'm in the car. Anyway, I got this CD as a birthday present and it's pretty good. Not as good as my Buffet "Greatest Hits" CD, but it's cool. It's kind of rockin', but also sounds a little jazzy and a little funky. I don't dance to it because I don't dance. Well, OK, I'll like slow dance with my wife if we're at a wedding, but you know, whatever. Anyway, I put this CD on when I'm just doing stuff around the house and most of the time I forget it's even on. Which is totally cool. Even my wife likes it, which is totally cool too, since she mostly listens to Josh Groban and stuff. I even had it on when my frat bro Stan and his wife came over for Scattergories the other night. Stan said "Dude, is that the new Dave Matthews CD?" And I'm like, "Yeah." And Stan said "Awesome." That was good, because the last time they came over, I put on a Sting CD and Stan had too many Heinekens and started going off on Sting being a commie. Look, I hate commies too, but I'm like "Dude, you like need to chill out and stuff." Anyway, while it's a pretty cool CD, I wouldn't recommend putting it on if you and the wife are scroggin'. For that, I recommend an album called "Roxy Music" by the band Avalon. Works every time, chief. Later days.
Sorry, but no... 
2009-10-22 - I'm totally baffled by the number of positive reviews here. I could see maybe a few people liking it, a few thinking it was average, etc. But 95 ratings of 5 stars???? Almost seems like people who rated it this high never heard Dave's first albums. Because if I could rate this half a star, I would. Why? Honestly, there's not much to say, beyond the usual reasons we love/hate songs. I'm more of a music/melody kind of guy, so the music will make it or break it. Meaning, while the lyrics are a nice addition if they're good, I won't like a song with the best lyrics and crappy music. So I won't comment on lyrics here because I can't even get past the music. I don't find the melodies catchy, didn't find any riffs that are particularly cool, etc. There isn't even one single on this that I enjoy listening to. In other words, disappointing music by DMB's standards.
