Dave Matthews Band — Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King

Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King

RCA/Sony

Trevor Morelli (CHARTattack)

06/26/2009 2:34pm

As most fans know, original Dave Matthews Band saxophonist LeRoi Moore passed away last summer after an ATV accident. Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King stand as not only stands as a tribute to his legacy, but also marks a return to the jam-rock roots that made DMB famous in the first place.

"Shake Me Like a Monkey" and "Funny The Way It Is" give the record a strong one-two punch from the get-go. The funky guitar licks of "Why I Am" keep the energy going, while "Alligator Pie" features some cool chicken pickin' banjo playing courtesy longtime DMB collaborator Tim Reynolds.

Down-tempo tracks like "Dive In" and "Lying In The Hands Of God" prove Moore's presence is never far away. The latter features sombre lyrics like "Save your sermons for someone that's afraid to love/If you knew what I feel then you couldn't be so sure."

Preaching to the choir has always been Matthews' forte, so it's unlikely this disc will attract any new fans. But as the title suggests, Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King is creative, uplifting, and groovy enough to be a memorable addition to the DMB catalogue.

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