Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1996…
#7 – Crash – Dave Matthews Band
The Dave Matthews Band isn’t particularly hip anymore. Though they released a studio album as recently as 2023, it’s been 16 years since their last Platinum effort. And while the band still plays packed live shows to a legion of die-hard fans, many of whom travel along with them, their mainstream appeal has dwindled.
But in the mid-90s, these guys were the shit. The one-two punch of 1994’s Under the Table and Dreaming and 1996’s Crash brought their unique brand of eclectic jazzy pop to the masses, selling more than 13 million copies combined.
I was a fan of the Under the Table but it was Crash that really sold me on DMB. I’d never heard anything quite like it — a saxophone and violin as integral as guitar, bass, and drums; Matthews’ soulful Muppet voice; long instrumental interludes that never felt superfluous.
I played this album a ton through the late 90s and especially loved today’s SOTD, along with ‘Say Goodbye,’ ‘Lie in Our Graves,’ and ‘Crash Into Me.’ The use of ‘Crash Into Me’ in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird perfectly captures both the corniness of this album and its profundity.
Say, my love, I came to you with best intention
You laid down to give to me just what I’m seeking
Say love, you drive me to distraction
[Verse 2]
Oh my love do you believe that we might last
A thousand years, or more if not for this
Our flesh and blood, it ties you and me right up
Tie me down, ah well
[Chorus]
Celebrate we will
Because life is short but sweet for certain
(Hey)
We climb on two by two
To be sure these days continue
Things we cannot change
(Change)
(Why would I want to change it?)
(Change)
[Verse 3]
Hey, my love, you came to me like
Wine comes to this mouth
Grown tired of water all the time
You quench my heart and, oh, you
Quench my mind and say
[Chorus]
Celebrate we will
‘Cause life is short but sweet for certain
(Hey)
We climb on two by two
To be sure these days continue
Things we cannot
[Bridge]
Celebrate (Celebrate we will)
Oh, you and me girl
(Climb on two by)
Climb on two by
(Climb on two by)
Two, to be sure
These days continue
Things we cannot change
Change
Change
[Verse 4]
Oh, my love I came to you
With best intention
You laid down to give to me
Just what I’m seeking
Say love, watch me celebrate together
[Chorus]
Celebrate we will
Cause life is short
But sweet for certain
(Hey)
We climb on two by two
To be sure these days continue
Things we cannot change
(Celebrate together)
Oh ho
(Climb on two by two)
(Climb on two by two)
(Celebrate these days come two)
Things we cannot change
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m not sure I would describe Dave’s voice as “Muppet” 😛
I guess I wasn’t completely checked out of music in the mid 90s, as I did become a big fan of Under the Table and this album. I probably owe whatever awareness I had of new music at the time to your birthday gifts of CDs, though I’m not sure this was one of the gifted albums.
I was borderline obsessed with this album my freshman year of college. My family was quick to put on many a DMB song throughout my childhood so I was very familiar with “Ants Marching” and a “What Would You Say”. However, when I got to UF I met a diehard fan who is now one of my best friends. When we were going around the table basically doing icebreakers and Ryan said his favorite song was the Dave Matthews Band cover of “All Along the Watchtower” I instantly knew we were bound to have a friendship!
From there we would go together to the gym and each session I’d listen to a different Dave Matthews Band album and share my thoughts after. “Crash” was the clear standout for me. Specifically “#41” which I could easily see as one of my favorite songs period! It’s impressive to me that they’ve managed to have such staying power and although that’s in part due to their “legion”, I’d say any band still selling shows and albums on a grand scale is their own form of hip!
Can’t believe this is #7! Excited to see what makes the top 5 🙂