Dave Matthews Talks Grammy-Nominated Album

The Dave Matthews Band's 'Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King' is a special album for the band, being its last recorded work with saxophonist LeRoi Moore, who passed away in Aug. 2008. "[When] Roi died, this record was so turned in, there was so much love in the band, we were so fired up while we were in the studio together, that this record, to me, is like our greatest achievement, certainly in recording," Matthews told Spinner during Grammy rehearsals at L.A.'s Staples Center.

But even before Moore's tragic death -- from complications stemming from an ATV accident -- Matthews knew this was going to be a different record than the band's normal process.

"So often our records, almost always, have been like turning in theses," he says. "I care deeply about them but it's like I went to the professors and they said, 'You have two months, it has to be in by February 3 and then we're gonna start promotion.' I'm like, 'Ahh,' then I get the album done. 'Here, I'm done with this.' But this one they said, 'Are you gonna be done in two months?' I said, 'F---, I'm not gonna be done next year. I don't even know when it's gonna be done.'"

The result of the slow-brewing record is two prestigious Grammy nominations -- Best Rock Album and Album of the Year. Matthews believes they've earned it. "When I heard from a friend, I think it was our trumpet player, 'Hey, congratulations,' that's why it felt so right to me," he says. "Finally we made a record that I think is worth it because I don't know if I would've had the confidence before. I really love some of the songs I've written, but this is a single thing; it's a brick, not a bunch of bricks."

Dave Matthews Band on AOL Music