The fortunes of the Dave Matthews Band have been so tied to its legendary live performances that it's arguably led to some well-documented searches for direction in the studio. The success of

Live at Folsom Field - Boulder, Colorado

The fortunes of the Dave Matthews Band have been so tied to its legendary live performances that it's arguably led to some well-documented searches for direction in the studio. The success of Everyday was hard won, its originally rejected material eventually revived, reworked, and released a year later as Busted Stuff. But those creative struggles have paid double dividends here, arguably pushing Matthews and company to a compelling new plateau on stage. Recorded in Boulder, Colorado, on July, 11, 2001, fully half of this two and a half-hour show is culled from the results of those stormy sessions, including brooding versions of Busted's then-unreleased "Bartender" and "Digging a Ditch." But it's the wider, more challenging musical palette of Everyday that takes center stage, stretching from the lyrical, cinematic drama of "The Space Between" and "What You Are" to the smoky, blues-jazz tinged "Angel" and loping funk of "When the World Ends." That sense of adventure helps reinvigorate even Matthews staples like "Crash into Me" and "What Would You Say" with new musical dimensions and helps make this collection more than just the band's sixth live album. It sounds like the beginning of a promising new chapter. --Jerry McCulley

Live at Folsom Field - Boulder, Colorado