Their music style, especially how they each take parts with their instrument in one song reminded me of that of the New Orleans's Jazz play, which is epitomized by the 'improvisation'; The guitar, drums, keyboards, saxophones, and the violins were all well mixed in a song but also were all distinguishable. So, it sounded different from the other usual 'pop bands' because the others usually put emphasis on the concentration on a certain part of the band (mainly the vocals) to represent their music. The Dave Matthews Band's sound was like a 'Salad Ball', containing all the various elements, with almost no elimination of each part's characteristic, 'harmonious' in some sense, rather 'practical' as well, therefore, very 'American'. But its impact as an art was ephemeral, not lasting that long. .
It is also true that there was an astonishing moment when I searched them and watched their live play online during which they literally play the bridge parts of their songs ad lib. The basic chords they play were not that complicated but still it was marvelous to hear them playing each instrument with highly advanced playing skill and combining all the rhythm/melodies. And it seems obvious that the bands themselves focus much on the 'playing' itself rather than expressing and delivering certain type of 'meaningful message' through their music, judging from the relatively long instrument-playing time they impose on themselves. The voice of Dave Matthew's was kind of hypnotic. I could also agree with that Dave Matthews Band's songs are highly poetic because I found those metaphors used in the lyrics were appreciable. However, I could not see the meaningful messages the song 'Don't drink the water' is intended to deliver without the intentional 'seeking' for the meaning found in the songs. And the fact that I had to search for the background story of the lyrics and then saw the meaning and the value of that song seemed no enough to be the ultimate 'aesthetic value.
