Everyday
by Dave Matthews Band
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Feb 27, 2001
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    60
    And though the smarter songs (the more personal "If I Had It All," the easygoing "Fool to Think") benefit from the concision, the group's newfound musical sharpness isn't that of a world-class bar band but that of an outsize stadium act -- all grand gesture and larger-than-life lyrics. Sometimes, as on "I Did It," the band recaptures the spirit of seventies rock in all its innocent fun. Other times, especially on the cloying, overdramatic "The Space Between," it recaptures only those moments that involve holding a lighter high above one's head.
  2. CDNow
    60
    But the Dave Matthews Band retains one essential ingredient that transcends Everyday's calculated pop: Dave Matthews. With his sassy, unassuming swagger, unique vocal delivery, and blatant sexual urgency, Matthews carries the load amply...
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    58
    A bumpy ride that finds [producer Glen] Ballard attempting to rein in Matthews' self-indulgent tendencies, with varying degrees of success, to ditch his jam-band image for a sleeker sound.
  5. E! Online
    58
    Nearly missing are the charming sax and violin song augmentations. Gone are the tunes that are too long but always find their way back. And gone is some of Matthew's long-faced songwriting personality--now all gussied up in a swirl of quick hits, easy ballads and electric guitar.
  6. AllMusic
    50
    It's not that the music is now simplistic, since there's still some tricky rhythms and shifts in tone, but the group doesn't have much room to stretch in Ballard's precise arrangements. In a sense, they sort of benefit from this increased focus, since the group's instrumental excursions can be a little flabby, but it still robs them of much of their character.
  7. Billboard
    50
    The band seems oddly restrained and processed through much of the album's 12 numbers.
  8. Spin
    50
    A mod-rock mix that's somewhere--no, everywhere--between Matchbox Twenty and 'So.' [Apr 2001, p.154]
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  9. Sonicnet
    50
    A mostly disappointing misfire that seems too eager for commercial pop success.

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Most Discussed Album of 2001
53
#53 Most Shared Album of 2001

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 56
  3. Negative: 4 out of 56
  1. Kkoller
    Jul 15, 2013
    6
    The Dave Matthews Band proved themselves with their first album, "Under the Table and Dreaming" by combining violins, acoustic/electricThe Dave Matthews Band proved themselves with their first album, "Under the Table and Dreaming" by combining violins, acoustic/electric guitars, and saxophones to create great hits such as "Satellite," "What Would You Say," "The Best of What's Around," and what the band calls their anthem "Ants Marching" where the album gets its name from. Since then they continued to show their professionalism though 1996's "Crash," and 1998's "Before These Crowded Streets." In 2001, they created "Everyday," an album that changes it up a little bit. With the addition of a girl vocal group, Dave Matthews adds variety to the album that, unfortunately, does not work for the most part.

    The musical variety is still in tact though some of the songs seem out of place for the Dave Matthews Band. Songs like "I Did It," "Dreams of Our Fathers," and "Mother Father" do not fit into what we usually expect from DMB. The songs, while upbeat for the most part, have a different vibe that does not give the band justice. It seems like the band lost what made "Under the Table and Dreaming" a fantastic album. While the albums before "Everyday" seem to lose some of it (except for "Crash"), this album tries a new path that does not do the band justice.

    There are some fantastic standouts in this album though. The third song entitled "The Space Between" is one of Dave's best songs to date. The song starts with Dave and just an electric rhythm that quickly elevates to a beautiful assortment of instruments that works so incredibly well. The moral of the song is absolutely amazing and interesting while amplified even more thanks to the beautiful work by the band. "When the World Ends" is also another standout. Dave really tries to show his audience two sides of his voice. The slow acoustic with a violin in the background is backed up by a soft voice by the singer and then everything changes when the band comes in full. His voice becomes darker, almost echoes, and talks about the end of the world. All in all, it is a great song.

    The song "Everyday," which also shares the album title, is where the vocal group can be a problem for some. While the song itself is great, the addition of the vocal groups does not fit. Instead of hearing Dave's great voice, everyone's vocals are pushed together that makes the song too much for the listener to handle.

    Is "Everyday" one of Dave Matthews' best albums? No but it is not an album that you should overlook. This album still has three to four songs that will stick with the band for the rest of their careers especially "The Space Between" which is a masterpiece by definition. Some of the changes do not work in this album which is a shame but it just tells us that Dave Matthews found something special back in 1994 and should not change what works. "Everyday" was a test subject and, unfortunately, did not work out for the most part.

    6/10    … Full Review »
  2. EricB
    Apr 7, 2006
    10
    For anyone who really knows what good music is;pretty much a music majoir like myself, would have to know that Dave Matthews is increadably For anyone who really knows what good music is;pretty much a music majoir like myself, would have to know that Dave Matthews is increadably musicly talented, and anyone who differs is most likely some emo head that shouldn't even open there mouths!!… Full Review »
  3. AnhV.
    Oct 11, 2005
    5
    I'm a big DMB fan, but when I listened to this album for the first time, I was deeply dissappointed. It just lacks their usual I'm a big DMB fan, but when I listened to this album for the first time, I was deeply dissappointed. It just lacks their usual intensity, density and complexity, etc. Ballard's arrangements obviously don't work that well for the DMB sound.… Full Review »
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