In the 1990s, Dave Matthews changed music. While there were jam bands that came before the Charlottesville, Virginia-born group, it was DMB who helped repopularize the concept at the end of the 20th century, bringing his acoustic guitar and stretched-out 20-minute songs to big stages all across the United States and beyond.
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For those who might not know much about Matthews and his band or who want to see what all the fuss is about regarding the recently minted Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, we wanted to present three essential tracks from the band. Know these and you at least have a sense of who the group is moving forward. Indeed, these are three essential Dave Matthews Band songs.
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“Ants Marching” from Under the Table and Dreaming (1994)
A song that sounds great on record and live, this track from the band’s breakout 1994 debut studio LP can go for 10, 15, or even 20 minutes live. And fans know when it’s about to hit as drummer Carter Beauford starts to smack his snare drum. The song itself, Matthews says, came to him quickly and it’s about the monotony so many put up with in life. Going to work like ants marching. But Matthews has a message for those people in the song: Life is short and do what you want with it! He sings,
He wakes up in the morning
Does his teeth bite to eat and he’s rolling
Never changes a thing
The week ends the week begins
She thinks, we look at each other
Wondering what the other is thinking
But we never say a thing
These crimes between us grow deeper
“Crash Into Me” from Crash (1996)
DMB’s most famous song, this track came out in 1996 on the LP essentially of the same name. It’s a love song where the singer is actually something of a Peeping Tom, admiring the object of his affection from afar. It’s almost like a movie but thankfully it all ends well. Matthews’ track is delivered with such sweetness it’s easy to forget the perspective it’s offering. But that’s one of Matthews’ talents. He’s convincing and somehow can take the edge off of any scenario. On this popular track, he sings,
You’ve got your ball
You’ve got your chain
Tied to me tight, tie me up again
Who’s got their claws
In you my friend
Into your heart I’ll beat again
Sweet like candy to my soul
Sweet you rock
And sweet you roll
Lost for you I’m so lost for you
“Crush” from Before These Crowded Streets (1998)
Released on DMB’s third studio LP Before These Crowded Streets, this jazzy number is about Matthews’ wife and the love he has for her. As he was putting the track together, Matthews knew he wanted to write a love song. And that’s when she popped into his head as the perfect inspiration. The result was a hit in the late ’90s and today the song is one of the band’s best known. Even Jay-Z has said it’s his favorite from the group. On the track, Matthews sings,
Crazy how it feels tonight
Crazy how you make it all alright love
You crush me with the things you do
I do for you anything too
Sitting smoking feeling high
In this moment it feels so right
Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
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