Stand Up
by Dave Matthews Band
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: May 10, 2005
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 82 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 82
  3. Negative: 19 out of 82

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  1. StuartR
    Jun 1, 2005
    3
    I am a huge DMB fan and i rushed out to buy this album and found it highly mediocre. Where was the energy we saw in before these crowded streets and busted stuff. This album downplayed the the Violin and Saxophone components which make their sound so different. Many of the songs sounded sadly like pop music and less like the alternative band i loved. The lyrics also left a lot to be I am a huge DMB fan and i rushed out to buy this album and found it highly mediocre. Where was the energy we saw in before these crowded streets and busted stuff. This album downplayed the the Violin and Saxophone components which make their sound so different. Many of the songs sounded sadly like pop music and less like the alternative band i loved. The lyrics also left a lot to be desired, mostly because there wasnt much. What happened to the lyrics. They just repeat the choruys a hundred times. Its almost as if they were attempting the space between the soulful aspect of some devil and the the undefinable sound we hear in before these crowded streets. I felt this way about everyday, but DMB put out busted stuff after everyday, so lets hope they bounce back.… Expand
  2. BobS
    May 17, 2005
    3
    Although there was a creative process invloved with this CD it almost seems as if the band didn't create it together, but rather worked on a more individual basis and then pieced it together into full compositions. I thought the Live in Central Park recording was a taste of things to come. Here one had a chance to see their developement as mucians both in their virtuostic talents and Although there was a creative process invloved with this CD it almost seems as if the band didn't create it together, but rather worked on a more individual basis and then pieced it together into full compositions. I thought the Live in Central Park recording was a taste of things to come. Here one had a chance to see their developement as mucians both in their virtuostic talents and their ability to mesh these talents from a decade of playing together. One could easily see how they have grown as musicians after listening to Live In Central Park.. The new release dosen't seem to move the band forward from a compositoinal standpoint. There are not many instances where the band capitalizes on there live albums but rather takes a turn that much of pop music has, the use of mimimalistic elements. I couldn't think of any tracks (except Old Dirt Hill) that I would want to blast with the car windows down. Sometimes groups need to do these projects for themselves as part of the evolutionary process. One must commend them for trying new things though. When is their next CD being released?… Expand
  3. JohnE
    Jun 10, 2005
    3
    Wow, what a flop. I rushed to buy this and was completely dissappointed. No life or energy to the music, very little Band too much post production. Where did the Dave Mathews sound go? You know that slight jazzy at times, bluegrass at others, sometimes just all out Band sound. Now it sounds like a studio R&B album...which isn't bad, but if I wanted an R&B album...Dave would not be my Wow, what a flop. I rushed to buy this and was completely dissappointed. No life or energy to the music, very little Band too much post production. Where did the Dave Mathews sound go? You know that slight jazzy at times, bluegrass at others, sometimes just all out Band sound. Now it sounds like a studio R&B album...which isn't bad, but if I wanted an R&B album...Dave would not be my first choice. Come on guys get it together. This album stunk. Almost along the lines of Busted and Everyday, but even worse.… Expand
  4. JimH
    Jun 20, 2005
    2
    This CD is terrible. I dont understand why people continue to buy DMB's stuff. They haven't released a quality effort since Crash came out in '96.
  5. TomJ
    May 19, 2005
    2
    A bunch of shitty loops with songs that drag on way too long with no hook!
  6. cosmo
    Jun 1, 2005
    2
    The most important recording since "Adult Education" by Hall and Oats.
  7. marcusn
    Jun 11, 2005
    2
    I was really looking forward to this album, considering i didn't purchase Everyday/Busted Stuff/Some Devil. This was just another producer driven effort. In a band with as much talent and groove they end up putting none of it on the album. Yes some songs will sound good live, but I don't buy albums to listen to songs that sound better live. They really need to stop letting the I was really looking forward to this album, considering i didn't purchase Everyday/Busted Stuff/Some Devil. This was just another producer driven effort. In a band with as much talent and groove they end up putting none of it on the album. Yes some songs will sound good live, but I don't buy albums to listen to songs that sound better live. They really need to stop letting the producers take charge and just need to relax and stop trying to force things. The only time this band sounds like they do live is with Lillywhite or the guy who recorded R2T. This is just a flashy slap happy album with no real content and really makes me sad to think a band with this much ability really can't put together a decent studio album.… Expand
  8. MichaelF
    Jun 3, 2005
    1
    I was deeply disappointed in this album. Id like to call myself a huge dave fan, but am embarrased of this album. The tracks just sound too over-produced. It seems as if it is just another Dave Matthews album, not a BAND. Where did the band go?
  9. DaveC
    Jul 3, 2005
    0
    Pop garbage. Dave Matthews has been consistantly getting worse since "Under the table..." and now it culminates in this garbage. The only reason this album has this high of a MC rating is because all of the good music publications knew better than to waste their time listening to this.
  10. TonyI
    Jan 12, 2006
    1
    Absolute death. I was the world's biggest DMB fan, and this CD made me feel like I just got in an argument with a girlfriend. Five brilliant musicians compromising thier dignity to try to sound like hip-hop funk, while forgetting thier great grassroots beginning
  11. David
    May 19, 2005
    2
    This is the best album the DMB have ever released. Which is why it manages to score a 2.
  12. jackj
    Jun 2, 2005
    2
    I give this album a 2 b/c there are only two songs thats sound like DMB's abilities allow them to. The only two songs that were written by dave (for the most part) make tha album worth it. Other than that...they need to get back to their roots and figure things out with a better producer.
  13. Ryan
    Feb 4, 2006
    2
    Absolutely Dreadful. The best song on the album is the American Baby Intro. That's just sad. Here's to another 4 years of listening to Crash and Before These Crowded Streets.
  14. allens
    May 23, 2005
    3
    Owning any and all of dave's stuff, I guess I have high standards of what is coming out next. Very disappointed. Sounds like they threw the album together in one week.
  15. DMBFAN
    Jan 23, 2006
    3
    Borefest.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Most Discussed Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Grander-sounding and more ambitious than Some Devil... Stand Up is brimming with potential singles. [13 May 2005, p.84]
  2. Rolling Stone
    70
    Stand Up is as democratic a record as you can expect from a band named after the singer. Unfortunately, that organic feel comes at the expense of Matthews' personality, a combination of pervy extroversion and armchair philosophizing that Everyday channeled more purely.
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  3. E! Online
    91
    The official return of the DMB shows them in full force and stretching way Up.
    Read full review
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