The Best of What's Around, Vol. 1

Performer: Dave Matthews Band
Producer: Glen Ballard; Mark Batson; Stephen Harris; Steve Lillywhite; David Matthews; John Alagia; Glen Ballard; Mark Batson; Scott Campbell
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Dave Matthews Band: Dave Matthews (vocals, guitar); Boyd Tinsley (vocals, mandolin, electric violin); Stefan Lessard (bass guitar); LeRoi Moore, Carter Beauford. Personnel: Dave Matthews (vocals, guitar); LeRoi Moore (vocals, woodwinds, saxophone); Carter Beauford (vocals, drums, percussion); Vusi Mahlasela (vocals); Stefan Lessard (guitar); Tim Reynolds (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin); Rashawn Ross (trumpet); Butch Taylor (piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals). Audio Mixers: John Alagia; Serban Ghenea; Steve Lillywhite; Tom Lord-Alge; Brian Malouf. Liner Note Author: Steve Morse. Recording information: Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI (07/25/2000-07/02/2006); Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (07/25/2000-07/02/2006); Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO (07/25/2000-07/02/2006); Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY (07/25/2000-07/02/2006); Sound Advice Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL (07/25/2000-07/02/2006); State Theater, Sydney, Australia (07/25/2000-07/02/2006); Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Selma, TX (07/25/2000-07/02/2006). Photographers: Sam Erickson; Barnaby Draper; Warren Darius Aftahi; Rudy Arias; Danny Clinch. The first Dave Matthews Band release to compile the group's studio material, the fan-selected BEST OF WHAT'S AROUND features one disc of album tracks and a second disc of live performances. On the former, each of the jam band's six studio records are represented by only two tracks, a set-up that yields interesting results, since old favorites (e.g. "Ants Marching") are occasionally left behind in favor of less obvious numbers ("The Best of What's Around"). Several likely suspects do turn up, though, including Matthews's lightly funky breakthrough hit, "What Would You Say," the delicate "Crash into Me," and the lilting "American Baby." "Ants Marching" does appear on the concert disc, which showcases Matthews and company in the comfort zone of the stage, where the charismatic singer/guitarist and his seemingly telepathic ensemble cut loose (particularly on the frenetic closer, "Two Step"). Although DMB diehards may find this collection superfluous, it serves as an excellent overview of the group's first 15 years together, and is the perfect set for newcomers daunted by Matthews's considerable discography.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Matthews was born in South Africa, but it was after moving to Charlottesville, Virginia, in the 1980s that he assembled his world-beating band. Adding violin and multiple saxophones to the traditional rock-band instrumentation, Matthews and his cohorts created a unique, idiosyncratic sound that melded jam-band improvisation with elements of folk-rock, funk, and jazz fusion. A homegrown phenomenon, the band sold a stunning number of copies of a self-released debut album via non-stop touring. After signing to a major label, avoiding any artistic compromise in the process, the band immediately broke through on a national level, becoming one of the most popular groups in the U.S.

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