Under the Table and Dreaming (1994) is the Dave Matthews Band's first major label release, following 1993's hit Remember Two Things. The album is a defining one for the band, as sales propelled the band into the national spotlight. It is also their first album recorded entirely in the studio. <br /> <br /> 1. The Best of What's Around- this is a great track to open the album with. Carter Beauford's drums kick off the fun song, which features backing vocals by the entire band minus bassist Stefan Lessard. The upbeat vibe created by this song is capped off by a nice solo by saxophonist Leroi Moore. 9/10<br /> <br /> 2. What Would You Say- the first single off of the album, this is another fun song featuring a middle jam which shows off Blues Traveler's John Popper or harmonica. It's certainly a catchy song and played an important role in the rise in popularity of DMB. 8/10<br /> <br /> 3. Satellite- a second single off of UTTAD, this mellow song is accented by riffs from violinist Boyd Tinsley. It sticks with the care-free vibe of the album to this point, but suffers from being perhaps a little boring. 7/10<br /> <br /> 4. Rhyme & Reason- this dark song about heroin use is a drastic change from the previous tunes. Dave Matthews' vocals are strained but passionate and the song fills with emotional climaxes before softly resolving. 7/10<br /> <br /> 5. Typical Situation- a nice relaxed song with some nice work by Leroi Moore, the album version does nothing to capture the power of the song live, however it remains enjoyable in the studio setting. 7/10<br /> <br /> 6. Dancing Nancies- this is a fun song that again feels constrained by the studio setting. Nevertheless Boyd Tinsley and Leroi Moore offer some nice solos together and the song feels complete and is certainly enjoyable. 9/10<br /> <br /> 7. Ants Marching- another single of the album, the enormity of this song for DMB is unparalleled. The song is solid from Carter's snare intro through Boyd's violin solo. Definitely a defining song for the young band. Not only is it a fun, danceable song, it is musically sound. 10/10<br /> <br /> 8. Lover Lay Down- a mellow ballad, this song is highlighted by Leroi Moore's sax work. It's a nice love song, even if the lyrics are somewhat unusual. Dave Matthews' lyrics are often slightly juvenile or embarassing when it comes to love songs. 8/10<br /> <br /> 9. Jimi Thing- this funky song certainly contains some references to drug use and has seen some great performances live. However on the album it feels chopped, not allowing room for the 3 jams that characterize the song live. The outro starts off as a high energy jam, but it quickly loses energy and fades out, which makes the song suffer on the album. 6/10 <br /> <br /> 10. Warehouse- another great song by the Dave Matthews Band, which features intricate work by all members of the band. It's an upbeat song to pick up the album again and finishes strong with a jam leading to the final verse. 10/10<br /> <br /> 11. Pay For What You Get- another mellow tune, this beautiful song feature great vocals by Dave Matthews as well as nice touches instrumentally by the rest of the band. 8/10<br /> <br /> 34. #34- this untitled track is an instrumental, featuring beautiful guitar parts, percussion and especially sax and violin work. Earlier liver performances of the song have featured lyrics, although they varied by performance. This recording marked the last time the song was played until 7/9/2005 when it returned from a long hiatus, again being played as an instrumental. But on the album it serves as a solid way to finish out a solid album. 9/10 <br />
