So the Dave Matthews Band just released their latest studio album, “Stand Up”. I’m a huge DMB fan, as evindenced by the 14 albums that I own, but his last two albums haven’t quite measured up to older classics like “Under the Table and Dreaming” or “Crash”. Maybe my lack of love for these recent albums is because I don’t have the same musical tastes or the fond college memories to accompany the music. Maybe the music just isn’t as good. Rarely is a band able to sustain 10 years of popularity without changing their sound or alienating a few fans along the way because they haven’t changed their sound. Nevertheless, I still consider myself one of their fans. If I could only see one live act for the rest of my life, DMB would be my choice so I like to support the cause by actually buying an album when it comes out.

As with most albums I buy, it takes a few listens for me to be able to form an opinion on whether or not I “like” the album. So far so good with this one. If you liked “Everyday” or “Busted Stuff”, you’ll probably like this album but it’s not in the same league as “Under the Table and Dreaming”, “Crash”, or even “Before These Crowded Streets”. (I find most of the original DMB fans start to fall off at “Before These Crowded Streets”. I, on the other hand, really enjoyed that album.) This one has a much more southern feel to it which is good because although the distinctive Dave sound is still there, it doesn’t sound quite like every other DMB album. My favorite tracks are the more upbeat songs like “Dreamgirl”, “Old Dirt Hill”, and “Louisiana Bayou”. Those three alone are worth the $15 I spent.

So, if you’re already a DMB fan and are looking for a little more of what you’re used to, this is probably a good album for you. If you’re not a fan, or looking for something drastically different from their traditional sound, you’ll be disappointed. I was a little afraid of being disappointed myself, but I guess I’m not quite sick of the band just yet.