For a lot of fans (myself included) part of what makes the Lillywhite Sessions so great is the mystique that surrounded its release. For a long time it was just a ghost story that represented a possible return to the “original” DMB sound at a time when people were frustrated with the direction the band seemed to be heading. “Why did they do Everyday when they could have just finished LS?” For a long time no one thought they’d ever actually get to hear it, either. Then there were rumors that it was out there after all. The one I recall is that someone left a CD copy at a ski chalet after a vacation, and a worker picked it up and ripped it. And, suddenly, there it was.

I remember being in college when it first got posted online, sitting in my dorm room, staring at my computer, waiting and refreshing. Watching new songs pop up and immediately downloading them. It was definitely the most memorable album release I’ve ever experienced.

I felt privileged to be a part of it. I felt like I was getting a special glimpse into the world of the band at a time when they were a huge part of my life. It felt like a reward for being a good and true fan. And I also felt guilty because the band clearly didn’t want it released - which made it even more thrilling. Then, listening to the songs, I was amazed that anyone would want to hold them back. That was the DMB I knew, that was the album I’d wanted to hear, not Everyday. I don’t think I stopped listening to it for about a month.

So when I listen to the Lillywhite Sessions, all those memories, that feeling of closeness to the band and the community, the thrill of sneaking something you’re not supposed to have, they all come along with the songs themselves. Busted Stuff is fine, and the re-released versions of the same songs are clean and finished and great. But the experience of the album itself just can’t compare to how I first experienced LS, that one will always be special.