Dave Matthews Band

Away From The World, the new album from instrument heavy Dave Matthews Band, sounds like the band plucked low-hanging fruit that was then cut up and displayed by master chefs.

“Broken Things” breaks the ice with the same old classic Dave Matthews Band love song that sounds like it was recorded in a hermetically sealed recording studio and not where they should be recording, which is a complementary unhygienic dive bar.

Away From The World briefly grabs the attention of the listener with an exciting violin solo from Boyd Tinsley on “Belly Belly Nice,” but doesn’t really pull in the listener until track 4, “Gaucho” which displays an intricate spider web of acoustic guitar woven throughout by Dave Matthews.

Away From The World is better suited for an elevator than anywhere else from here on out, where unfortunately no one will hear the beautifully technical instrumentation that puts most bands to shame.

“Drunken Soldier” closes it all with an epic 10 minute acoustic guitar and trumpet based symphony which sounds more like a high school marching band song than a Dave Matthews Band masterpiece.

The Deluxe Version of Away From The World ends with live versions of “Gaucho,” “Mercy,” and “Sweet,” on top of 11 tracks which will remind the listener where Dave Matthews Band should be heard: on stage. Money is better spent buying its 1995 album Live At Red Rocks or 2003’s The Central Park Concert.