Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King [Digipak] (CD - 2009)

Dave Matthews Band: Dave Matthews (vocals, guitar); Boyd Tinsley (violin); LeRoi Moore (saxophone); Stefan Lessard (bass guitar); Carter Beauford (drums, percussion).

Personnel: Dave Matthews (vocals, guitar); Sharon Jackson, Gerardo Hilera, Vladimir Polimatidi (violin); Karen Elaine (viola); Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (keyboards).

Additional personnel: Joe Lawlor, Tim Pierce (guitar); Danny Barnes (banjo); Alyssa Park, Sharon Jackson, Philip Vaiman, Gerardo Hilera, Alan Grunfeld, Vladimir Polimatidi, Laurence Greenfield, Joel Derouin, Sid Page, Jacqueline Brand, Roberto Cani, Natalie Leggett, Josephina Vergara, Michele Richards, Susan Chatman, Miwako Watanabe, Charlie Bisharat, Mario Diaz de Leon (violin); Matt Funes, Robert Brophy, Karen Elaine, Victoria Miskolszy, Darrin McCann, Andrew Duckles (viola); Chris Ermacoff, George Kim Scholes, Suzie Katayama, Armen Ksadjikian, Dane Little, Rudolph Stein, Steve Richards (cello); Rob Cavallo (piano, organ); Jamie Muhoberac (organ, keyboards); Roger Manning (keyboards); Timothy Eckert, Nico Carmine Abondolo (double bass); Arthur Robinson.

Audio Mixers: Chris Lord-Alge; Doug McKean.

Audio Remasterer: Ted Jensen.

Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY; Haunted Hollow Studio, Charlottesville, VA; Lightning Sound Studio, Hidden Hills, CA; Piety Street Recording, New Orleans, LA; Studio Litho, Seattle, WA; Studio X, Seattle, WA.

Illustrator: Dave Matthews .

The first studio album since the death of saxophonist LeRoi Moore, BIG WHISKEY AND THE GROOGRUX KING finds the Dave Matthews Band none the worse for wear and collaborating with superstar producer Rob Cavallo (best known for his extensive work with Green Day). Cavallo's way with an aggressive riff is in evidence on "Shake Me Like a Monkey," a funky track vaguely reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer," and the driving "Why I Am," which recalls the Knack's "My Sharona." Other songs, such as the groovy, polyrhythmic "Spaceman," find the band returning to classic jammy, chops-a-riffic DMB territory. Full of prominent hooks and snap-tight ensemble playing, BIG WHISKEY gave DMB fans another reason to rejoice. minimize