Born South African Dave Matthews' band is a stadium act in the United States, but no more than a well-kept secret in Europe. That may explain that almost six months after the release of this studio album in America (in May 2005) it is only available through import channels in the Netherlands. On its fifth studio album, the band has teamed up with producer Mark Batson, who previously worked with 50
… Cent and Beyoncé. This has not resulted in a completely different sound, but the rhythms are tighter and more prominent than before. The band still deals in accessible songs with influences from all corners of the musical spectrum (including rock, funk, jazz, world music), which are performed with a lot of craftsmanship, although Matthews has trouble captivating an entire album with his hoarse voice. Stand Up is nothing more than a solid update of the original sound of the Dave Matthews Band. (MS)more
