Under the Table and Dreaming (Expanded Edition)

It’s gratifying to know that an album as quirky as Under The Table And Dreaming could become a mega-hit. The Dave Matthews Band achieved this rare feat by tempering its expansively eclectic approach with tight arrangements and a sure feel for pop hooks. South African-born Matthews brings some of the rhythmic traditions of his native continent to the mix, but his group’s sound embraces Celtic and American folk elements as well. Leroi Moore’s sax and Boy Tinsley’s fiddle add particularly vivid flashes of color to the group’s flowing, supple sound. Matthews’ vocals—gnarled and snarling on some songs, caressingly tender on others – bring urgency to his idiosyncratic lyrics. The jittery yet smooth “Ants Marching” and the smartly swinging “What Would You Say” served to introduce millions to the DMB’s peculiar charms. Equally appealing are such diverse tracks are the self-lacerating rocker “Rhyme & Reason,” the beguiling lullaby/waltz “Satellite” and the serenely billowing “Love Lay Down.” Producer Steve Lillywhite brings a luster to these tracks, bringing out their acoustic-centered sparkle. One of the defining rock albums of the mid-‘90s, Under The Table And Dreaming remains a tangy, invigorating pleasure to hear.