It was being called the greatest album never released. In the summer of 2000 The Dave Matthews Band shelved sessions now known as "The Lillywhite's" (called such after the producer Steve Lillywhite). These unfinished songs were put away, with no certain future or any real potential to see the light of day. A Dave Matthews Band album release date was pushed back. And the fans waited. In the spring of 2001 they were rewarded with the album "Everyday." By far the band's most commercial and least musically impressive album to date. Instead of using the incredible musicianship of Matthew's band mates, drummer Carter Beauford was forced to replicate drumbeats from the demos created by Matthews and producer Glen Ballard. Fiddler player Boyd Tinsley and horn player LeRoi Moore were underused and under appreciated.
Then "The Lillywhite's" surfaced. No one knows how the sessions got out, but what is certain is that the songs were far superior to anything on "Everyday." "The Lillywhite's" actually sounded like the Dave Matthews Band. Nearly a million people managed to get their hands on the now infamous sessions.
With songs like "Grace is Gone," "Bartender" and "Grey Street," it was no wonder why fans were so upset. It was unfathomable to any listener that something of the quality of "The Lillywhite's" was scrapped in favor of the poppy "Everyday."
The Dave Matthews Band then decided to revisit "The Lillywhite Sessions" songs. With a new zeal and love for the songs they recorded new versions of nine of the tracks. Add in two new songs including their current single, the excellent "Where Are You Going" and the new album, re-christened "Busted Stuff," is quite possibly The Dave Matthews Band's best album to date.
On "Bartender" Matthews begs the bartender to "Fill my glass for me / With the wine you gave Jesus that set him free / After three days in the ground." Heavy lyrics combined with the pumping sounds of Moore's baritone saxophone, Beauford's unique rhythms, Stefan Lessard's grooving bass line, Tinsley's stellar fiddle playing and Matthews forceful delivery "Bartender" is one of The Dave Matthews Band's best songs ever.
The album opens with the title track, a mid-tempo groove that you can't help but get into. Next up is the powerful "Grey Street." Matthews sings "There's a loneliness inside her and she'd do anything to fill it in / and though it's red blood bleeding from her now / It's more like cold blue ice in her heart / She feels like kicking out all the windows / And setting fire to this life / She could change everything about her / Using colors bold and bright / But all the colors mix together -- to grey / and it breaks her heart."
Another stellar "Lillywhite" holdover is "Grace is Gone," a song that any college student could find themselves singing on a Saturday night. "Neon shines through smokey eyes tonight / It's 2 a.m.: I'm drunk again / It's heavy on my mind ... Excuse me please one more drink / Could you make it strong cuz I don't need to think she broke my heart / My Grace is Gone." This recording is even better than the one that appeared on "The Lillywhite" recordings.
While most of the songs are familiar to Dave Matthews band fans, it is imperative that everyone picks up "Busted Stuff." There is a vivacity and renewed strength in them that is refreshing to hear. These five musicians are at the top of their game, and "Busted Stuff" is a showcase for their immense talent.
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