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Busted Stuff Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 32 Ratings

  • Summary: Even the most casual DMB fan knows the story by now: Dave & Co. record a dark, challenging album with producer Steve Lillywhite, those "Lillywhite Sessions" are leaked onto the Internet where the tracks quickly become fan favorites, and the band chooses not to release them, instead headingEven the most casual DMB fan knows the story by now: Dave & Co. record a dark, challenging album with producer Steve Lillywhite, those "Lillywhite Sessions" are leaked onto the Internet where the tracks quickly become fan favorites, and the band chooses not to release them, instead heading back into the studio with producer Glen Ballard to record 'Everyday.' The new studio LP 'Busted Stuff' does not contain those original tracks from the 2000 sessions, but nine of those songs (plus two new tracks) are here, newly recorded. Collapse

Top Track

Grey Street
Oh look at how she listens She says nothing of what she thinks She just goes stumbling through her memories Staring out on to Grey Street. She... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. These are just good tunes, no matter what the window dressing is.
  2. This is such a fascinatingly different take on (mostly) the same material that it almost whets your appetite for a third rendering.
  3. Remarkably, these songs not only retain their emotional core even after they've been cleaned up, but they perhaps even gain more resonance in this setting.
  4. Busted Stuff is marked by luxuriously long tracks that maximize the skills of the band.
  5. Busted Stuff does strip away some of the Lillywhite mystique, dropping the exaggerated façade of "lost classic" status, but it further illustrates that Matthews' discards are often more compelling than his hits.
  6. Spin
    70
    The best album of Dave Matthews' career--the most coherent and graceful, the least wanky and aw-shucks messianic. [Aug 2002, p.107]
  7. Q Magazine
    60
    Though this is a return to Matthews's more meandering ways, some lessons about conciseness have plainly been learned. [Nov 2002, p.108]

See all 11 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. TimW.
    Jul 15, 2002
    10
    this is a good one, perhaps their best. a must buy for fans and, well, anyone who enjoys good music. dave matthews have once again returned this is a good one, perhaps their best. a must buy for fans and, well, anyone who enjoys good music. dave matthews have once again returned to the rock scene to teach the kids how to make inspired and well-crafted melodies. Expand
  2. May 23, 2023
    10
    This is definitely my favorite dave matthews band album, and it doesn't get the love it deserves.
  3. JoeR.
    Jul 16, 2002
    10
    i think this album is a masterpiece its everything dave matthews band fans have come to love music that leaves you felling high
  4. raVen
    Aug 3, 2003
    10
    dMb at their best is always a 10, and this is that--again.
  5. CurtW
    Mar 6, 2006
    10
    I love the music of dave matthews and his band. this cd in my opinion is one of his best non-live cds he has.
  6. JonO.
    Aug 22, 2002
    9
    Its what Dave Matthews Band has always been about--they get better everyday.
  7. Cosmo"john"Prelog
    Jun 3, 2005
    1
    It reminds me of the first time I heard Lou Bega

See all 14 User Reviews