Track Listing

1. Pantala Naga Pampa
2. Rapunzel
3. The Last Stop
4. Don't Drink The Water
5. Stay (Wasting Time)
6. Halloween
7. The Stone
8. Crush
9. The Dreaming Tree
10. Pig
11. Spoon

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5691 in Music
• Released on: 1998-04-28
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
The Dave Matthews Band is moving its music forward incrementally. While Before These Crowded Streets offers more of the folky melodies and vaguely international rhythms that made this Charlottesville, Virginia, group a major record and concert draw, it also finds them adding subtle new colorings to the mix. Alanis Morissette guests on two cuts, "Spoon" and the disc's first single, "Don't Drink the Water"; banjo Bela Fleck steps in, too. Most intriguing, however, is the modernist string arrangement from the Kronos Quartet on the driving "Halloween." Matthewsat least partly fulfills his obvious hopes to lead something other than a jam band here; at the same time, Streets should keep his fans satisfied. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Before these Crowded Streets - Dave Matthews Band
I always love their live stuff better, but this is still a worth while studio album purchase.

Music Oddyssy or Oddity
The test of time has passed, and this stands out to be the best I`ll ever hear since the 90`s.
Progression [sometimes] is not necessary when something is so perfect to start with as `Crowded Streets` has proven to be indeed.
It`s the most complex and eclectic work by Mathews , and like lot of music back in 1998, it has unrestraint in being orthodox or easily categorized unto one approach in music conception whether in its titles or tempo.
A musical journey that really exhibits Dave`s emotional content and humanity.
"The Dreaming Tree", is Dave Mathews Epic.

The Band's Best, A Masterpiece
It is hard to truly describe how amazing "Before These Crowded Streets." This is not just Dave Matthew Band's best album, but quite possibly one of the best albums in recent memory. Every song is so differnet, but they blend together so brilliantly, and anyone who says this album has production issues in a complete idiot. From the light hearted mood of "Pantala Naga Pampa," the album goes a bit darker, both musically and lyrically, with each song telling a story that can be taken many ways. There is maybe one weaker song on the entire album (Last Stop), but mostly because it is so different from all of DMB's other songs. However, "Crush," "Don't Drink The Water," "Spoon," and "The Stone," without a doubt the best songs on the album, are simply incredible. The emotion present, with the amazing backing of the band, make for a spectacular result. The only way to truly appreciate the album is to listen to it, however, and for any fan of music, this is worth many, many listens.