Dave Matthews & Adam Duritz

Lexington Steele · Unread post by **Lexington Steele** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:13 am

First of all, I'm not trying to start one of those "Dave v. Mayer" threads. So if you're not open minded enough to understand that Dave is NOT the musical Messiah, go read something else.

Okay.
Lets hear some opinions on Dave as a songwriter, compaired to Adam Duritz as a songwriter (Lyrics and music only, not who has the better band, or who sings better, . . . )

Coldchillin · Unread post by **Coldchillin** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:18 am

I honestly don't know who Adam Duritz is

Lexington Steele · Unread post by **Lexington Steele** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:22 am

He is the singer from the Counting Crows

Coldchillin · Unread post by **Coldchillin** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:50 am

Shit. I didn't know that. I like the Crows a lot, but I didn't know their names. I love their stuff. I don't know how to compare as much. It's a different sound. Piano vs. guitar. They're both good.

Lexington Steele · Unread post by **Lexington Steele** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 12:16 pm

I'm talking mostly lyrically. I listened to the Crows for the frist time in a while the other day. I forgot how amazing Adam's lyrics are. I enjoy dave more, but there is something about Adam's lyrics. Its hard to explain.

mikee · Unread post by **mikee** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 12:26 pm

I too am very open minded when appreciating various musicians. And I heard something funny about the Mr. Jones song, am not sure if it's true but I have heard this from a few people. I heard that Adam wrote the song about him and his dick....lol Honestly, I think it may be true. Listen to the lyrics and it fits in.... Just thought I would throw that out there and see what ya' thought? Have you heard this too? Regardless the song still JAMS!
Mike

KevinGTArch · Unread post by **KevinGTArch** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:50 pm

You know, it wouldn't suprise me at all if that is what Mr. Jones is about. I believe Adam Duritz would be crazy enough to do it.

Since the Crows first appeared on the shelves in 1994 with "August and Everything After" (amazing CD, if you don't have go get it), I've always found a lot of similarities between their style and R.E.M. especially in the way the songs are written. Adam Duritz and Michael Stipe both have this unique ability to provoke very weird, surrealist imagery with their lyrics and music. The type of lyrics that, for years, will leave you wondering what exactly was being sung about and what inspired it. Michael Stipe has a bit more of a tendency to produce some political overtones in his music but it could be that Duritz just hides his better. The meanings (some songs excluded) go way beyond what Pop music produces today.

So how does Dave Matthews compared with Adam Duritz? I think the similarities lie in the universality of the lyrics and the way each of them presents the song. Neither artist has ever come and given a complete, concrete explanation from start to finish about what a song means. They'll tease with little tidbits here and there and keep us wanting more. The lyrics are written in such a way that they are open for endless interpretations - any number of people can discover the song any number of ways. And THAT is exactly what makes good song writing and the immortality of music - universal meaning.

Ok, so maybe I got a little off track. Adam Duritz can go a lot deeper with his music than Matthews. Sometimes it's a little too much and the listener can get a little lost and that's fine...sometimes it's good to be lost. Matthews has become more and more refined since his emergence and his songs are less prone to becoming convoluted. He also has a fine mastery and finese about how he presents his songs vocally by executing falsettos and using his chest voice at always seemingly the right time. Adam Duritz also has a fantastic voice but has more of a raw sound which is great way to present his songs that I feel are likewise written - raw.

I don't think I could ever say that either is a better singer/song writier than the other but in contemprary music you'll be hard-pressed to find song writing that can rival in quality of these two artists.

Nice topic, I was wondering if any DMB fans were also CC fans.

KB

jjcucio · Unread post by **jjcucio** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:07 pm

I think that the crows have som good songs and lyrics. I think dave is great, but him being able to work words like he does puts him...in my opinion..over the rest. If you have some suggestions of crows songs that i should listen to...i would love to get into more bands.

KevinGTArch · Unread post by **KevinGTArch** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:14 pm

Anything from their first album: August and Everything After. I tend to like the more obscure songs like "Raining in Baltimore" and "Anna Begins". I really like "St. Robinson and His Cadillac Dream" off of This Desert Life and "Miller's Angels" off of Recovering The Satellites. The newest album, Hard Candy, has a bit more of a poppy sound but the lyrically quality is still there. I haven't picked any favorites off of it yet but it's in my cd player often. Adam Duritz has a very dominant dark side...maybe it's more melancholy at times. Either way, it's prevails a lot in his writing.

KevinGTArch · Unread post by **KevinGTArch** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:15 pm

Anything from their first album: August and Everything After. I tend to like the more obscure songs like "Raining in Baltimore" and "Anna Begins". I really like "St. Robinson and His Cadillac Dream" off of This Desert Life and "Miller's Angels" off of Recovering The Satellites. The newest album, Hard Candy, has a bit more of a poppy sound but the lyrically quality is still there. I haven't picked any favorites off of it yet but it's in my cd player often. Adam Duritz has a very dominant dark side...maybe it's more melancholy at times. Either way, it's prevails a lot in his writing.

jjcucio · Unread post by **jjcucio** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:16 pm

Sweet, thanks for the suggestions, ill have to take a listen.

whatshername · Unread post by **whatshername** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 3:02 pm

i love the crows

mikee · Unread post by **mikee** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 3:22 pm

It may be that Adam is a deeper meaningful lyricist, but I would not be able to compare them. Simply stated, I have spent many hours philisophically stoned listening to Dave.....while the Crows (listening)I am usually drinking or socializing......I do however, love their music...I will have to pay more attention to Adam's lyrics. As far as producing a surrealist imagery, I think you're dead on! I know a few Crows songs have given me quite a portrait...I.e Long December, and that Parking Lot song..But wait is that Parking Lot song a cover? I am not sure...It's all good though!

jjcucio · Unread post by **jjcucio** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 3:37 pm

for some reason, i never got into the crows. Ill take a look now, but they just seem like a band that is good, but not "take over the world good" Where as dave i can listen for about 50 years and never get tired of it.

Speenis · Unread post by **Speenis** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 3:46 pm

i am a crows fan too. speaking of crows, everyone MUST go out and buy the new Incubus cd - A Crow Left of the Murder on TUESDAY!

DMBTabs.com

Dave Matthews & Adam Duritz

Dave Matthews & Adam Duritz

Yeah Lexington I agree

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