Appreciate your comprehensive review, nj' ... thanks
For years, I couldn't listen to DMB, or 'Dave', as all the near-greats refer to him ... 'Dave' ... God, is that pretentious or what?! Anyway, I stumbled upon an article about Dave Matthew's uncle and sister's deaths, the effect it had upon him and well, I suppose I came into his music post-facto and through the back door -- as such, I escaped the tendency to dichotomize his music into pre & post-Lillywhite genres.
Discounting Matthew's creativity, success and many talents, I find that my life has paralleled his in so very many ways and I suppose this correspondence provides the impetus for the affection I have for his music.