Dave Matthews Band

Everyday is both the title of DMB’s most recent blockbuster disc and the frequency with which you’re likely to hear the band’s music, regardless of whether you actually want to. Let’s be honest, though. There’s lots to cherish about Matthews and his groove-heavy, love-hungry pop. Die-hard fans tend to get hung up on a recent shift in the group’s MO. Early on, it was their jammy, almost jazzy disposition that endeared the band to alt-rock fans. These days, it’s an increasing penchant for brevity and outright radio-readiness that move Matthews units. The extended jams and hyper-athletic solos are still a primary ingredient of the live set—if only to justify the $44.25 ticket—but the band has certainly reined in its aesthetic, creating something that’s more instantly saleable. For better? For worse? Judge for yourself. Meanwhile, we can’t help but observe that, for a guy who seemed hell-bent on emulating Sting at the outset of his big mid-’90s breakthrough, Matthews appears to be a little behind schedule—he still hasn’t 86’d his bandmates, starred in a sci-fi movie, or grown totally aloof. Tick-tock, sir, tick-tock.