Normally an album review like this would start with something such as, “the much anticipated release from Dave Matthews Band is finally here.”But that would be an understatement considering this is the first studio recording the band has released in three years.Instead, the Virginia-based fivesome has been beating around the bush by releasing live albums, including one before 1998s studio recording, “Before These Crowded Streets,” and two afterward.When bands go to “how to be a band school,” they are supposed to learn certain things, commandments if you will. One of the main things they should learn is that if you make your fans wait a long time for a new release, you better hit them with something so good it was worth the long-ass wait.Rage Against the Machine succeeded with this several times — but is not the case with Dave Matthews Band’s “Everyday.”Though this album does show some traces of what the band learned, it is a step down the originality ladder the band has been climbing the last decade.For instance, artists like Madonna teach the course on how to reinvent yourself and not sound the same on every album. Though Dave’s albums have subtly changed over the years, “Everyday” is a far cry from what fans have come to know and love. This change both hurts and helps the quality of this record.”Everyday” is more aggressive than past efforts by including electric guitar and faster-paced songs. But this also makes the tracks more pop-oriented — possibly a commercially good move, but artistically bad.Dave Matthews Band is most well known for and gained most of its cult following from its melodic jam session-style songs. “Everyday” is filled with a greater presence of song structure.Though this poppy sound and structure is more mature, it isn’t necessarily a good thing. By popularizing the songs, they have lost that catchy melodic sound.Produced by Glen Ballard (Alanis Morrisette, Aerosmith, No Doubt), “Everyday” shows signs of where this album could have gone. The ballad “Angel,” which compared to “Satellite” or “Crash” isn’t much of a ballad at all, is probably the best song on the record due to it’s somewhat melodic chorus. “Mother Father” is the fast-paced track that is the most fun to listen to. Featuring Carlos Santana on guitar and Santana percussionist Karl Perazzo, the song interweaves threads of Latin texture with some of Dave’s best lyrics on the album.But it’s no secret that Dave doesn’t have the best voice and he would be nowhere without his band and his songwriting — the two things that suffer the most on this albumIt’s time for DMB to take a crash course on how to rebound from an album that tries too hard to be innovative in order to get back in touch with what got them where they are today.— Kyle Moss

The majority of Australian musical imports can be classified as nothing other than utter crap. Men at Work. Air Supply. Savage Garden.Music from these bands should have never reached North American shores or airwaves.If Brisbane, Australia, natives Powderfinger are any indication, the Land Down Under has been keeping its best music from leaving its shores.”Odyssey Number Five” has already gone five times platinum in Australia, and the band deserves that much success in the detuned desolation that is current U.S. rock ‘n’ roll.Unconventional beats, melodies and harmonies, and lyrics make Powderfinger stand out — they are everything the U.S. rock scene should be but isn’t.Sounding like the second cousin of Oasis, Radiohead or Travis, Powderfinger adds its own flavor to what could easily be classified as Brit-pop, were the members British and not Australian.”My Happiness,” one of the many wonderful tracks on “Odyssey Number Five,” opens with rippling guitar tone straight out of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” swimming over an Oasis-like acoustic progression that is simply stunning.Vocalist/guitarist Bernard Fanning imbues simple lyrics such as, “I see your shadow on the street now/I hear you push through the rusty gate/click of your heels on the concrete/waiting for a knock coming way too late,” with intensity and sincerity.”Odyssey Number Five” lacks a poor, or perhaps even a mediocre, track; it must have been quite a challenge to pick the singles.”Like a Dog,” “My Happiness,” “These Days:” all of these songs are catchy with their own charming characteristics.”These Days” swells with a “Where the Streets Have No Name”-esque organ effect without the Larry Mullen, Jr., drumming.During the album’s final track, the peaceful “Whatever Makes You Happy,” Fanning sings, “However it happens I hope it’s/what makes you happy.” He should have no worries, however, because “Odyssey Number Five” happened the right way; it should make make any music fan happy.—Jon Dahlager

Wow. That’s the first word that comes to mind while listening to Diffuser’s “Injury Loves Melody.” Filled with heavy but ever so catchy music, hooks that keep the listener begging for more and melancholic lyrics, this is an album that demands repeat listening. If the name Diffuser sounds vaguely familiar, it may be because they appeared on the soundtrack for “Mission: Impossible 2” this summer. “Karma,” the third track off “Injury Loves Melody” was on the soundtrack, but fans of the song had to wait more than 6 months to hear any more material from the band. One of the most appealing and interesting things about the record is that the listener hardly ever hears the two guitarists playing the same thing. While one will be playing a melodic riff, the other will be playing a dissonant riff in the background for contrast. This sets the band apart from many rock bands where both guitarists play the same chords for every song. Diffuser has a serious knack for writing songs with the capability for vocal melody and harmony as well. Frontman Tomas Costanza sings with heartfelt emotion and creates beautiful vocal lines over the music in every song, and it doesn’t hurt when the other three members of the band can sing harmony vocals as well, further distancing them from most other rock bands. While “Karma” is the standout track of the album, the other songs don’t suck by any means. One can easily imagine “Tell Her This” on any modern rock station around the country, and “The Way that I Feel” is definitely a track that will get heads bobbing. If you are in need of an album to sing along with while driving no place in particular after your significant other has dumped you, look no further than Diffuser. —Mike Britson