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List Price: $18.97 | | Label: RCA
Salesrank: 3151
Released: April 30, 1996 |
| Our Price: $6.72 |
| Used Price: $0.29 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Crash Track Listing:
1. So Much to Say
2. Two Step
3. Crash Into Me
4. Too Much
5. #41
6. Say Goodbye
7. Drive In, Drive Out
8. Let You Down
9. Lie in Our Graves
10. Cry Freedom
11. Tripping Billies
12. Proudest Monkey
Editorial Review:
It's tempting to label the Dave Matthews Band as torchbearers of the Grateful Dead's moderate rock fusion and send them off on the next summer tour featuring either Blues Traveler or the Spin Doctors. But there is more at work here, particularly on the band's second major-label release. Crash pairs soothing sounds (flute, acoustic guitar, six-string bass) with a dark emotional undercurrent. The South African (by way of Virginia) frontman reveals a rare intensity on the title track and the free-form "41," while the group shows that it's not afraid to let loose on songs such as the stirring "Too Much." Producer Steve Lillywhite adds an impressive sheen to the recordings. --Aidin Vaziri
Crash Reviews:
Great CD! 
2009-08-15 - I can't believe how much I like this CD. I am a new fan and asked a friend who is a fan for the name of the CD to start listening to their music and this was the one.
It's great - start to finish.
I only wish I'd discovered this band sooner.
The variety of instruments and the emotion Matthews puts into the songs is amazing.
DMB's Most Universal Record
2009-08-04 - There is no doubt in my mind that this particular album is the one that defines Dave Matthews Band. I imagine we will be hearing "Two Step" for the rest of our lives. An awesome song about two lovers at the end of the world. Also about enjoying life and treating it as it is, a gift. There really are no bad days, you have a bad day and wait for the next one to be better and the next day may not come. So you have to make everyday a good day and it's not hard.
For sure the next song that stands out is "Crash Into Me". Without a doubt one of the most beautiful (if not the most beautiful) love songs you will ever hear. Also one of the more provactive ones as well. The famous line sung by Dave "hike up your skirt a little more/and show your world to me." Perhaps an even better line or couple lines is "who's got the claws in you my friend/Into your heart, I'll beat again." The music to the song is so beautiful as well. Truly stunning.
"So Much To Say" & "Too Much" as well as "Tripping Billies" are all rockin' songs. "Lie In Our Graves" is a mellow masterpiece about the joy of life and believing in something more once we become dead to this world. "Let You Down" seems to be the forgotten and under appreciated gem on this album. It's never showed up on any live release's that I have seen, not even on the Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds collaborations. It's a very simple song, but lovely and haunting.
At the end of the day the most enduring song for the fans is probably #41. Even with all I have said about the other songs, #41 is a top 5 all-time in live performances and never gets old. The studio version here is awesome as well. Finally "Cry Freedom" is one of the most meaningful songs Dave has ever written.
I suppose my favorite song is "Crash Into Me". It's just so pure. "Crash" is definitely a very special record. It might be their best. I do think it's the one that defines DMB for the masses.
Reject the rejects - I am a Proud Monkey!
2009-03-14 - Before writing my review I read through most of the folks that rated this album one star. Basically, their brilliant analysis of this record amounts to "this stuff is popular so of course it sucks!" and "these guys aren't real musicians!" and "Dave can't sing". Okay, if you don't like the singer's voice for any band it's difficult or impossible to listen to the band. Personally, I don't understand the dislike for Dave's voice - it is certainly nothing akin to Geddy Lee or other vocalists that commonly warrant contempt (from others, not me: I love RUSH and the only vocalist that I've found I can't stand is Josh Groban.)
So the other arguments for disliking this record amount to "I dislike this record", "DMB sucks!", and "anything popular is garbage!" - now, perhaps it is just me, but don't those opinions sound like air-headed, anti-establishment high school sophomores with a chip on their shoulder? To me they do. I know folks that hate anything that gets radio play. Why do they hate music that gains a visible public following? It seems they carry psychological scars - perhaps they were in punk bands in their younger years (or still are) and never made the millions that they now resent being made by bands like DMB. I can understand that resentment, but it doesn't make DMB bad - it just makes DMB a symbol for those poorer, emotionally driven non-fans. So sad.
It is sad because Dave Matthews *can* be a symbol of what great music aspires to be. I quit listening to music on the radio perhaps twenty years ago because there was so much drivel (and commercials.) I discovered Dave Matthews somewhat by accident and that event was like finding an oasis in the desert - holy cow, there are still musicians making music with complexity, real instruments, real voices, and real lyrics! And this was just before Crash was released. When I first heard Crash I knew that Under The Table And Dreaming was not just a fluke, that there really was a band that would be making music for decades to come that would evolve, grow, change, surprise me, and make me hunger for more.
This is a recording that satisfies from beginning to end. Yes, I love Proudest Monkey! Every song on this record has something great to offer and Lie In Our Graves is one of the best songs DMB has ever created. Yes, live versions of many of these songs are perhaps better or warmer. I like listening to the studio versions as well as the live versions and hearing the contrast. If you don't like studio versions, choose otherwise! Pretty simple.
Dave Matthews is not for the individual that rejects what has popularity for the sake of rejecting what is popular. If that describes you then I might suggest you avoid learning what is popular (I have no idea what industry chart numbers DMB records have reached because I choose not to make myself aware of industry charts) and instead learn to choose what is good because it is good. I believe that is part of growing up and thinking for yourself, ironic though that may sound.
Ordinary 
2009-01-17 - A couple of good songs but nothing much. Dave seems to thing that the more instruments that you put on a track all playing at once,the better it sounds. I don't agree. Go for his acoustic tracks.
DMB more than just a jam band. CD worth every pennny.
2008-09-12 - I would like to state that I am a Dave Matthews fan and own all of his albums. Crash is hands down not only my favorite DMB album but on my top list of all cds (I own over a 1000 cds).
The DMB is known as a touring band that can take any song and turn it into a 10 minute jam. Most of the crowd favorites of any concert are songs off the Crash album. In my opinion the entire album is solid from the well known to the least known. I would be comfortable in saying that the DMB should offer a money back gurantee on this album since everyone that I know enjoys it including a buddy who listens to bands such as Slayer.
If you are reading reviews to decide if this cd is worth the money, I can only say put it in the cart you will not be disappointed.
