”Hellhole Retrace” – Girls

1.  ”1901″ – Phoenix

2.  ”Stillness Is The Move” – Dirty Projectors

3.  ”Two Weeks” – Grizzly Bear

4.  ”Little Secrets” – Passion Pit

5.  ”My Girls” – Animal Collective

6.  ”My Life Would Suck Without You” – Kelly Clarkson

7.  ”The Rake’s Song” – The Decemberists

8.  ”Hellhole Retrace” – Girls

9.  ”my love” – jj

10. “Islands” – The xx

GrooGrux is a made-up word used by several members of the Dave Matthews Band to describe the energy and “wild-sounding rhythms” when the band performed together.  Those terms certainly resonate on the band’s seventh studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. As a whole, GrooGrux is the most rock-focused DMB album to date, but to no ill effect.  Rather, it adds a driving force to the music which finally echos the pace of the band’s live shows.

As noted in the review by Rolling Stone, the band finally produced an album which accurately reflects their live sound.  There’s an energy and size to their sound which has never been present on their previous studio releases.  Stand-out track in this regard is “Shake Me Like A Monkey,” which is probably the hardest song the band has ever recorded for an album.  Credit should undoubtedly be given to producer Rob Cavallo, who previously produced albums for Green Day, the Goo Goo Dolls, and My Chemical Romance.  Seemingly absent from GrooGrux is the focus on one specific style, as has been typical of past Dave Matthews albums.  Instead, the album melds together the catchy melodies of Under the Table and Dreaming, the lyrical sweetness of Crash, and the jazz-tinged rock of Beyond These Crowded Streets.

Long-time DMB contributer Tim Reynolds is featured prominently on acoustic and electric guitar.  Another change from previous studio effort, Stand Up, is a resurgence of drummer Carter Beauford.  Back are his intricate rhythms and driving precision.  While I’m hesitant to call it the best Dave Matthews Band album so far, it is definitely the most well-rounded, and I suspect many of the songs on the album will be featured extensively in their many years of touring ahead.

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars