Alas, the rest of “Everyday” is not, and if Matthews gets another critical thwacking, at least this time he deserves it. Of the CD’s 12 tracks, only a handful makes a deep impression. “I Did It,” the first single, is a total dud: all swagger, no heart. And devotees will be mortified to hear 16 minutes pass before LeRoi Moore and Boyd Tinsley, authors of the band’s trademark sax-and-violin two-punch, make any real contribution. For this album, the band’s fifth, DMB brought in megaproducer Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette) to help pump up the volume. But the result is a melody-free CD built around the instrument on which Matthews & Co. are least proficient: electric guitar. It’ll send even their loyal army back to the sidelines.
