Reviews (page 3 of 8)
I'd given this album a good listen about a decade ago, so I knew I liked it. But I never went back to it until now. I'm definitely not a Deadhead though have always thought of The Dead phenomenon as kind of fascinating and appreciated it for what it likely meant to true heads. And I know this is a proper studio album. I think it retains a shambling groove despite being confined to more traditional pop/rock song structures. I just think it is a stellar collection of songs. The harmonies are great and so is the production. A standout for me is Attics of My Life. Just beautiful. The chorus to Brokedown Palace is about as good as good as it gets.
Not bad
Classic Grateful Dead
Собрание городских легенд и философских размышлений.
I like Grateful Dead💜
4.6/5 one of the best from the dead
I’m not too familiar with the Grateful Dead’s catalogue but I have heard and enjoyed a few things here and there. I think their somewhat soft sound in the roots/folk/blues vain kind of made yhe somgs go over my head but upon listening to this, for maybe my second time ever, the songs on this album presented me with some very interesting choices in the way they wrote and arranged the songs. They seem to be riding a certain feel on each song and letting the verses go for however long they need to depending on how they want to sing the lyrics. It may not be so arbitrary though and may actually be the product of constantly refining by feel. This makes me think that they are actually kind of a progressive roots rock band. These songs do have such a nice sound to them and it did help to relax me after a stressful day. I’m now looking forward to checking out the rest of their album discography. Yes I know how their live shows go, which is a whole world on its own, and I’m guessing that diving into that world would be more rewarding with some knowledge of their album songs. Looks like I’m finally on my way to becoming a Deadhead!
It's good. I'm not sure what I was expecting (OK, I expected a more psychedelic, hippy guitar-noodling blast) but this seemed surprisingly straight country rock. Doesn't outstay its welcome.
Excellent album. Pretty solid all the way through. One of Grateful Dead's best albums.
This is tough to rank. On one hand, the Grateful Dead is one of the most overrated bands ever. So much of their fame is based solely on being in the right place to become the face of the acid movement and creating a following of hippies and burnouts who wanted a sound to get high to. However, they did manage to have a handful of decent songs, almost all of which seem to be on this album. I’m sure any Best Of album would contain at least six songs off of here. Ripple in particular has always been my favorite Dead song. But as good as the “good” songs are, it’s really easy to see why they other songs didn’t get any radio play. They tend to just slog on and on. The second to last track was especially painful. If I’m being objective, I would probably rate this a five for it’s significance in the history of music. But the best u can do is , which is still higher than I ever expected to give a Dead album.
I'm one of the few who likes the Grateful Dead more for their studio recorded stuff vs the live albums. The music just feels joyous; it's like a blanket on a cozy day. Seems like the guys are just having a great time when they're making the record. Love this album.
Lovely. It makes me think the cult classics of the 60s and 70s were classic for a reason-especially very satisfying harmonies and instrumental prowess. You just don't get music like that anymore.
The Dead, but a studio album. Includes some classic Dead hits. Pitchfork: 10.0 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #215 Best Songs Friend of the Devil Sugar Magnolia Ripple Truckin'
groovy
This was a solid album. 4/5
This whole album gives you the urge to make a big road trip without a destination. I decided to listen to this album again (last time was around 3 years ago) out of respect for the moustached legend Rob Weir, and I must say it was the best decision I made this late in the evening. I am very much into everything ’70s, with some of my favourites being Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and The Band, which this album fits perfectly into. The highlights for me include the amazing openingtrack "Box Of Rain", "Friend Of The Evil", "Ripple" and my personal favorite "Truckin'" which has such a great energy and tempo. Most of these songs were made with such relaxing comfort that I can listen to this nonstop for weeks. Although the album wavers sometimes, the overall feeling it gives to the listener is far more important. 8.5/10.
7/10 It's good folk music I guess, it's just that nothing here really stood out on a first listen.
So many soothing sounds and uplifting melodies
I've always had some trepidation when approaching any Grateful Dead music. I thought it was "too hippy", or just a really long jam session. This was not that at all. This was a solid ride and I'll gladly take it again.
nice background - bit boring but I like the vocals
-this is some DRY music. Literally, there's almost no reverb anywhere on the album. But also, it gives the feeling of when you've taken too many drugs and forget to drink water and you're suddenly dehydrated and have a headache. -as a lapsed punk, I'm basically obligated to hate the Dead, but I gave this a fair shake and ended up (mostly) enjoying it. I like the Byrds a lot, and this is in the same post-psychedelic country rock lane. But by the time Truckin hit, I was ready to be done. Not sure I could enjoy listening to this for hours on end like some of my friends do. -this is essentially "feel good" music, which makes sense because it attracts 3 main groups of listeners: 1) people who want to drop out of society and twirl around all day, 2) regular people who work shitty jobs and just want to unwind while taking a bunch of drugs, 3) Republicans who want to quiet their conscience. This is vibes-based music, not art designed to stir your passions or activate you.
Ein rundes, angenehm entspanntes Country‑Rock‑Album, das die Grateful Dead 1970 von ihrer zugänglichsten Seite zeigt. Die warmen Harmonien und akustischen Arrangements funktionieren hervorragend, auch wenn kein Song wirklich heraussticht oder das Album auf ein höheres Level hebt. Insgesamt bleibt ein starkes, aber unspektakuläres Werk.
I have to say, after listening to this album, along with two others from the Dead, my perception of the band has definitely changed. I used to associate them with never ending jam sessions and the image of dirty hippies who smelled like cat piss and patchouli oil. And sure, maybe their live shows lean into that, but their studio albums? I was surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed them.This album in particular leans more into Americana and folk rock, with a strong rootsy feel, compared to the more psychedelic vibe of the other two I heard. Overall, this was a solid listen, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.
You can’t go wrong with the Grategul Dead. A solid listening experience.
A banger of an album. Seriously tight musicianship with lots of funky, jazzy elements, masquerading as a simple country album. Beautiful vocal harmonies throughout. Honky tonk at its most technically-gifted.
objectively good
Pretty good. Not as life changing as a Dead Head would have you believe. But still good.
there's a reason _american beauty_ continues to be the main dead album people know. it's fantastic. three songs from this show up on the remarkable tribute album _deadicated_. may need to listen to that again after this listen "box of rain" is a beautiful mid-tempo folky-rock song "friend of the devil" is forever perfect "ripple" ditto "truckin'" is a classic rock radio staple for a reason
Good
There’s a certain type of male vocal harmony that the Yanks do so well, think America, Eagles etc and there’s a bit of that on here. I really enjoyed this album and have played it several times and will deffo play it again!
Favorite songs: Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, Ripple, Truckin’
Review - I've never listened to this band, and always thought all their albums were big psychedelic jams recorded live. Instead I was pleased to hear some good country rock songs with normal running times. I feel inspired to look into more of their work. Rating - 7.5/10 Need to hear? KINDA
Great album.
Amazing
So many favorites here. And others I didn’t know well before.
06/01/2026 1. box of rain - bass is really nice :) like the country guitar... lyrics are nice as well. reeaaally like the dreamy, surreal vibe. read some of the reviews on here before listening and i don't get all the complaining about his voice. it's nice! really liked this one. assumed they were more rock from the name, didn't know it was so americana/country :) 2. friend of the devil - great guitars in the intro. bass still really great! drums are nice as well. love the lyrics. country ballad. 3. sugar magnolia - ooooh. liking the start. bass is really phenomenal.... like the maraca at the end... *4. operator - guitar at the start is realllllllllyy great. all the instruments are really nice :) harmonica! *5. candyman - loving the vocals in this one, especially with the guitar. as much as i'm really liking these songs, it doesn't grab me compared to how someone like neil young does. more mellow i guess? loving the guitar solo. realllllly sweet :) organ in the back is reallly great. loving how the intensity is building..... *6. ripple - bass is reaally great again. love the chorus... really lovely lyrics and vocals. *7. brokedown palace - piano! wasn't feeling the mellow, folksy-country vibe at the start of listening, but have fully gotten into it now. loving the lyrics of these songs <3 8. till the morning comes - drums and bass are realllly nice..... more rockier than the other songs. 9. attics of my life - the start is reallllllly nice. very soft... like a choir. the lyrics are really sweet again.... 10. trucking - bluesier!! as someone who isn't american or raised by hippies, i had no idea what to expect from the grateful dead. somewhere along the way of hearing about them, i just assumed they were a rock/metal band (i think because of the name??). really liked the country sound though! started liking it more as the album progressed, will have to go back and listen again later - especially the first few songs :)
My second favorite Dead album.
Welcome 2026! Like the Grateful Dead so what a nice surprise to have it as my first of the year. While this is the most normie of the Dead studio albums, this is still pretty decent with plenty of the more well-known songs.
very americanah that 70s show energy makes me want to eat in a dinner and go on a cross country road trip
American beauty might just be the best jam album ever released
Good songs without all the "jamming"
I never understood the appeal of this band, or any jam-band (Phish) outside of the Allman Brothers, who aren’t really a jam band but get lumped in that genre. Still, this is a pretty good album of straightforward songs. Outside of the “hits” (Truckin’, Ripple, Friend of the Devil, and Sugar Magnolia) the other stuff is blander, but Brokedown Palace is quite nice. A 3.5 rounded up to 4 since it had a nicely done surround sound mix on Apple Music.
First few songs are the strongest, then the music settles into more typical and predictable style, but it's still good at what it's doing, and the opening impact is still valued
Another classic I’ve listened to dozens (more)? Of times, between albums, cassettes discs & streams. Just about every tune is good or great.
I get why my uncle has a personality around this.
Chill
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would! I liked side two more than side one - ripple was a highlight! A high 3 rounded up to four
I don’t know why I always think I’m going to hate the Grateful Dead. Everything I’ve heard from them I’ve enjoyed, and this album is no exception. Just solid Americana/folk rock top to bottom. This is 4.5 stars for me, but I’m rounding down. While I really enjoyed this album, I don’t see myself keeping it on heavy rotation, though I’m sure I’ll revisit it from time to time.
I thought this was a fun album. I've never listened to a grateful dead album from to back. It was enjoyable. Not all of the songs I absolutely loved. But, it was all enjoyable to listen to
A good album, I liked Friend Of The Devil and Ripple the most.
Lots of good songs
The dead try playing actual songs
Don't mind it.
Hyvin svengas hipit. Truckin....
I’d always taken Grateful Dead for granted. They’re so ingrained in American classic rock canon and discussion that I never really bothered to check them out. They were just some jam band with extremely dedicated followers. I’ll put my clown nose on now because this album is really good. Solid songwriting and sweet, breezy performances. Everything just fits together. I can dig it.
8/10
Um álbum bem clássico com ótimos vocais e passagens instrumentais. Letshuoer D13.
They can be fun and they can be ponderous…but they are unique!
Very chill. Very groovy. feels like a real american road trip kind of album.
Smoothing country music? Layered acoustic guitar. Nothing really stands out but all tracks are quite enjoyable. Cosy.
Fun - started me on a Dead binge
Previously rated: Live / Dead (3/5) ******************** I don't recall if I've heard the full album before, but I'm very familiar with Sugar Magnolia and Truckin' from playing them to death on the game Rock Band. And some other songs sounded familiar because of the final episode of Freaks and Geeks. It was slow and boring in places, like Attics of My Life, but above average as a whole. My favorite track is still Sugar Magnolia, but I liked Box of Rain and Ripple. I will put this on the "to play again" list.
Best dead studio album, the only one that is close to their live albums
++++
Oh man! The Seminal Dead album. You Must listen if you never had. So mellow and accessible. Even if you "don't like the Dead" or not a "Dead Head" [I'm not] you are missing out.
-amazing very calming - peaceful - very hippie - it was mixed perfectly - the harmonies were amazing
Really easy going, chill, and fun Grateful Dead, just shy a few hits or diverse tracks from a 5
I'm not much of a Dead fan but the thing I most like about this album is the shorter, concise songs. It's a great roots Americana album and songs like "Ripple," "Friend of the Devil," and "Box of Rain" are all time classics.
I like this more with each listen. It's pretty chill with a bit of a country vibe. Truck'n is my favorite. Nice guitar work and vocals have great harmonies.
This album has so many of the quintessential songs you think of when you think "Grateful Dead". A lot of hits, a lot of emotion, some slower parts. But overall very enjoyable. Probably 4.5/5, not quite a 5
Big fan. I wouldn’t call myself a deadhead but this album is really good. This sounds like the 70s. Reminds me of Wilco a little bit.
box of rain is the kind of song where the fact that its so intricate and dense kind of dawns on you rather than being unavoidably announced...i dont have enough experience with the wider ethos of the grateful dead to meaningfully place it on any sort of scale, but it does feel like a strange bridge between their sprawling live sensibilities and their more straightforward songwriting. its a fascinating overture to the rest of the record, which is just about the most grounded music ull hear that also has Hippie Energy this strong...firmly planted in the earth, very sturdy, very comfy. even outside the live stuff, they had a genuinely unique aesthetic, which is impressive given how unassuming it is...just like box of rain i suppose, and perhaps a consistent strength of the dead at least from what ive heard
beautiful
Box of Rain // Ripple // Brokedown Palace //
I’m vaguely interested in the grateful dead, because they come off as very baseline decent classic rock, but people who see them at the right time in the right context went absolutely nuts for them. So when I listened to this, I thought “Musically it is ok.” But I was flying over the Rocky Mountains when Ripple came on and it hit different so I thought “I will let the context affect how I like this” and I’m a deadhead now. Not really, but you know.
Love the guitars, chilled reminds me of something my dad would listen to Love box of rain
I liked this! Will likely go Grateful Dead exploring! :)
Favorite Track: Friend of the Devil
You're probably wondering if I would have rated this album 4* had I not seen Dead & Co. live ONE time... and the answer is that is a stupid question. As stupid as the debate between those who think they're the best band ever vs. those who think they're the most overrated band ever. Smoke a J, drop some acid, do some shrooms, and just chill the eff out, man. Ripple is one of my favorite songs from them and this album has a couple other standouts. 3.75/5
Thought I was going to really not enjoy this. I still don't understand the fandom, but this was a good album.
Much less jammy and much more vocal harmony.
I like the Grateful Dead every time I listen to them but rarely do. For such a jammy band reputation, these songs were very tight.
Some classics on this one - very fun album!
Stor fan af de her numre, gad vide om 2025 er året hvor jeg bliver et Deadhead
pretty unfamiliar with the grateful dead overall. liked this quite a bit. couple of dirge like slow songs keep it from 5 initially, though i suspect on subsequent listenings this may indeed go up to a 4. i was a fan
I have to say, after listening to this album, along with two others from the Dead, my perception of the band has definitely changed. I used to associate them with never ending jam sessions and the image of dirty hippies who smelled like cat piss and patchouli oil. And sure, maybe their live shows lean into that, but their studio albums? I was surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed them. This album in particular leans more into Americana and folk rock, with a strong rootsy feel, compared to the more psychedelic vibe of the other two I heard. Overall, this was a solid listen, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.
Groovy
To be honest, I'm not sure I could discern one Dead album from another. But maybe that's their appeal. You always kinda know what you're gonna get with them.
Me ha gustado un montón!! Es un disco de sonidos country, que apetece escuchar mientras conduces aunque no tengas coche, incluso si conduces una bicicleta. Es entre chill, sensible, buen rollero, te da el sol en la cara, el coche está a 30 grados y una hawaiana de plástico en miniatura con un ukelele mueve las caderas en tu salpicadero...
I don't normally like the Grateful Dead much but this album is an exception to that. 4 stars or B-.
Conflicted on this one. A studio album from the dead feels like caging a bird that wants to fly. That being said, its still good, but if you know anything about the dead this album could have been the same 10 songs and 3 hours long.
VerY fine
I didn’t think I was a Grateful Dead fan, but after listening to American Beauty, I either knew songs (Froend of the Devil, Magnolia, Truckin) or heard where the sound of other acts I do like were influenced by their sound. I’ll probably never be a Dead Head, but I respect their place in music that much more now.
Great album. Mix of folk and country. Will seek out other albums of theirs
Very fun and easy album to listen to, would probably be fantastic for road trips. No real "wow" moments or high points, just good tunes to sit back and enjoy. Feels like a big beautiful musical hug all the way through. Top tracks: Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, Ripple
Much better as a live jam band
Out on the road today, I saw a deadhead sticker on a cadillac
3.5 - Good
I don’t think their first album is going to turn up in the project, so rounding this up to 4 to make up for that. Wonderful music for a relaxed summer day (or dreaming of one, because it’s a British bank holiday Monday).
Objectively great but not my tging
7.5/10
1st GD album I liked!
Friend of the Devil is a great song. Several other good songs on the record. Overall the tempo is too languid for my taste. However studio Dead will always be far superior than the live mush in my opinion.
Let me start by saying that I cannot stand the Dead, that whole scene, and all their hippy dippy jamming (shudder). However, it's impossible to deny the influence of this album, as inexplicable as it is to me. I'm objectively giving them a 4 for that reason. I will add that even though I loathe pretty much every other song by them, I have a strange fondness for Friend of the Devil.
🌹
Tight harmonies and good tunes equals a good album
listened to again classic Dead
I get why Linda Cardellini dropped out of high school to go watch these guys or whatever the hell happened in Freaks and Geeks
Not as bad as it should be and not as good as it could be.
24/04/2025 Yeah it was an alright album.
It was nice, no comment
Mystic country, lightly baked
Not a Dead fan, but this was good. Their reputation as a jam band isn't really on display here- for the better. Just a nice set of good tunes.
There was always this risk of this being dodgy 70s rock, but its not really, its actually got quite a lot of more acoustic songs and layered vocals. The songs definitely feel more 'finished' than the live album from earlier, but I think that one is slightly better, because its just more impressive. That doesn't mean this is bad by any means, its not. Some vocal layers remind me a lot of the beach boys (especially sugar magnolia/till the morning comes). There's also some more classic rock ones on here which aren't that bad. Only downside is I guess some songs don't really go anywhere, and the slow beats make those songs a bit boring and aimless. Favourite songs: box of rain, friend of the devil, ripple, brokedown palace, till the morning comes, attics of my life, truckin'. Overall around 7/10
Good ole Americana hippie shit
7.5/10 Favorite Tracks: Sugar Magnolia, Truckin’, Attics of my Life Least Favorite: Box of Rain, Candyman, Ripple
Never been a huge Deadhead but this is a solid album
American Beauty showcases the Dead at their most emotionally resonant and compositionally refined. It’s an album that doesn’t require you to be a full-blown Deadhead to appreciate — it speaks to anyone who’s ever been on the road, felt lost, fallen in love, or sought meaning through music.
American Beauty with Workingman’s Dead marked the move of the band from psychedelic roots rock to a more folk/country approach. I find they almost have to be listened to together and both are as strong as each other. American Beauty has great pedal steel and vocal harmonies.
Not too bad. Quite liked this one.
A classic album by a band not known for the studio recordings. Hard to go wrong with some Grateful Dead.
Really good Americana rock. Very easy to listen to. Would listen to again
Before I start this review, I have to acknowledge one thing about this album project. There are 1089 albums total on this list. Half of that is 544.5. This album, American Beauty by the Grateful Dead, is my 545th album, thereby making this album the halfway point of the album project. I'm halfway done. On one hand, I feel like I've already gone through a lot of albums. At the same time though, I also have that sort of "How am I only halfway done?!" feeling as well. I don't have much else to say about that. I just have to acknowledge that I've now gone through 50% of the days for this project. Anyway, let's talk about this Grateful Dead album. It's good! I liked Live/Dead somewhat, but it definitely wasn't my favorite. Maybe it being a 75 minute live album just didn't work out for me and my taste. American Beauty isn't that though. This is a nice and tight 42 minute studio affair. Now, of course, this does mean that some of the Grateful Dead's appeal is lost for some with American Beauty, as their nature of being a jam band is part of the appeal for Deadheads. However, I am not a Deadhead. I like what I've heard, but I certainly wouldn't say I'm a huge fan. Still, American Beauty has things to appreciate. The style is a lot more refined in this album, which I personally like. The instrumentation is still quite good. I think the writing is mostly solid. I wasn't huge on one of the songs, but the others were pretty nice. If you're wondering, that song was "Candyman." The others are all pretty good though. These guys definitely had a lot of talent. The Grateful Dead is a band that I don't know a ton about, but through my experiencing of both a live album and studio album, I think I get the appeal. They're good, and this album shows that. Light 4/5.
A soft 4. I think overall, it's enjoyable, but it was rather lackluster and nothing in particular stood out. Good instrumentals with decent vocal work. 'Operator' was my fave.
My favorite Dead album.
I still don't really get the hype around the Dead, *but* I enjoyed this album so much more than the live one I got earlier in this list. This has some actual, tight songs with rich instrumentation and catchy riffs. I could get into this, but as I understand it this was the pinnacle of their studio albums so I still don't think I'll ever really get into them as a band.
This is a tough call, but I think it earned just enough to earn a fourth star. It's nice to see the band evolve out of the psychedelic '60s motif into something more authentic and guitar-based.
i like their voices
The Grateful Dead are one of those groups I've heard enough songs in passing to be familiar with, but I would not consider myself a Deadhead, as the fans are called. They're a solid rock band with elements of folk, country, and psychedelia that have become the pioneers of jam bands worldwide. American Beauty, their most well-known album, is very much representative of their sound. Through their combined efforts in songwriting and musicianship, the band delivered a decent collection of tunes. I already heard "Friend of the Devil", "Sugar Magnolia" and "Truckin'" beforehand, but I can now add the likes of "Box of Rain", "Ripple", and "Brokedown Palace" to the songs I enjoyed from them. That said, the most I can say about this album is that it's solid and decent. Perhaps the enjoyment is best found in the simplicity and sweetness of their sound, and maybe that's enough for fans to hold onto. There could have been stronger hooks or tighter compositions. Also, while I acknowledge that the production is warm and organic for easy-listening, I wish there could have been more audible impact from the rhythm section to make these songs pop off more. As is, American Beauty is a pleasant collection of songs to have in the background or played in a live setting that I can at least appreciate.
Better than I thought it would be. My impression of The Dead is influenced by "Truckin'" (which I hate). It's definitely not the best song on this album. Overall I'd rate this 7/10 rounded up.
What a comforting sound. Friend of the Devil and Attics of my Life in particular. Random sound associations: Wilco, fIREHOSE, Beach Boys
I remember trying to get into the Dead when I was in middle/high school. This album was one that I dove into. I didn't really care for it much at the time...but now that I am older the country rock sounds resonate a bit more, and I appreciated it for more than just the "hits". 4/5
First grateful dead listen and i get the hype! Its pretty good
Top album
I don't know why everyone hates this. Never listened to them before but it was kind of jam.
Two versions of the Grateful Dead exist in my mind: the first is the live band who jammed out these intricate psychedelic rock songs that took audiences for a ride; the second is the studio band who took notes from Bob Dyland and CNSY for a more folksy-inspired rock sound. American Beauty is a great example of that second band's output. Mellow and enjoyable, every song on this album sways in a summer breeze on a hammock. Recreational drugs? Optional, but likely enhances the overall mood of this wonderful piece of work.
Dick's Picks volume 73 (triple cd) or 40 minutes of tuneful, concise folk and country-tinged rock? I'm obvs not a Deadhead as the answer is the latter, and you know what Workingman's Dead is like this better than the legendary Cornell university 75 set or whatever.
Hippies were eating well back in the day
Giving 60s road trip vibe. Very comforting.
I enjoyed this - more than I thought. Not memorable but would listen again
I feel like 24 years into life is an awful time to say that I've never listened to a Grateful Dead album before. I don't have a real reason why, I just never got around to it. With this being my first, it was a damn good first. My brain keeps locking in on the guitars throughout this one. I think the tones fit so perfectly with the wind-in-your-hair vibe, and the whole album just feels like a calm October day. Favorites were Sugar Magnolia, Candyman, and Ripple
I’ve always been told that the life material from the Dead is better than anything they did in the studio, and I guess I’ll have to check some of that out because I enjoyed this. A couple songs I recognized. Ideal album to listen to in a rental van driving across the country. Favorites were Box Of Rain, Friend Of The Devil, Ripple, Till The Morning Comes, and Truckin’.
I'm not that into the Dead, but I've always enjoyed this album. It has more heart that I can get invested in. Musically it's fun and doesn't drag.
this was chill af
The mix is terrible. I can't even hear John Mayer at all. [pause for laughter] Just kidding, folks... The Dead have never been known as a great studio band. The focus has always been on the live experience. This album, however, is generally regarded as an exception. For sure, it's one of their few strong studio outings ("Terrapin Station" is probably the best.) The Folk-Americana vibe lends itself to shorter, tighter arrangements and results in a more accessible package. Missing are the lengthy jams that set the Dead apart from vocal harmony bands like Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I prefer the Dead when they are stretching out in a more experimental way. I'm knocking off a half-star for this unpopular opinion: I really, really, really can't stand "Box of Rain." It has never, ever been sung on key, and this version (to open the album, no less) is no exception.
There's a 5-star 45 minute album's worth of material distributed across this, Workingman's Dead and the first Garcia and Weir solo albums representing the pinnacle of the Dead's Americana era. Alongside CSNY, the Byrds, the Band etc - other bands who're better songwriters and recording artists - this is a major album in the hippy turn towards country and folk. Even though it's a favorite band's best (or 2nd best after Workingman's Dead?) studio album, I never listen to as none of what I listen to the Dead for is here - the dark intensity of their psychadelic blues, the bright exploratory improv of their jazzy jams. It's their slow twangy Americana era, fairly conventional songs (arranged interestingly, and performed expertly) with some cool - albeit saccharine - harmonies and lots of pretty guitar parts - it's gentle easy going feel good, sometimes plodding, music - perfectly stoned and relaxed, but lacking the audience heat and high-wire risk that animates their live performances.
cute 😊 yeehaw
Ripple is bice
Liked it more than I thought I would
Riding a getaway bus out of Portland
Makes you want to hippie dance for sure.
Love this album for the most part. My only issue is some of their harmonies are off
Eu estou absolutamente surpreso com isso. Só conhecia a banda pelo nome e jurava ser heavy ou black metal. Não sei se estou votando na banda pela surpresa, mas de qualquer maneira achei super agradável o som da banda, vibe de um som para cair na estrada sem rumo.
great listening
I’m enjoying the Dead.
Gorgeous record. Lush harmonies and great vibes. Always remember being surprised that a band called The Grateful Dead sounded like this rather than a heavy rock n roll biker band. Box Of Rain, Truckin, Friend Of The Devil and Sugar Magnolia all fantastic but this time round Attics Of My life really floored me
Sconcertante il nome del gruppo ma la musica è bella.
Forse… sono nato per ascoltare country…
Another enjoyable album. I'm not sure how exactly they transform these songs into hour long performances just yet, but we'll see what happens I guess. Probably an 8
Quite a nice album. I'm not massively familiar with The GD beyond the deadhead / jam band thing, so this wasn't really I expected from their most successful studio record. Nice harmonies and guitar playing, very chilled out hippy vibes. Not a huge fan of Jerry Garcia's vocals but they're ok. Don't know if I'd listen to this repeatedly but I would play some of the tracks again
I’ve honestly never actively listened to the Grateful Dead. I really liked this album.
Dreamy, smooth AND chunky. I love pretty much everything ever played by a jam band and this is no exception. Standout track is “Ripple”.
Really enjoyed this one -especially the remastered album which helped on the sound quality. Torn between giving it a 3 or 4 stars. So wish for those 1/2 stars! Since the songs are still in my head (in a good way) one day later, it gets that extra push into the higher level.
This was a pretty nice album to listen to although it can be a bit forgettable or bland at times. Low 4/5
Very very pleasant. I honestly had zero idea what the grateful dead sounded like, zero. This isn't exactly what I thought, but its definitely way better than I thought. Very chilled out, nice voice, good playing. All good
78/100. A very chill rock/Americana album. The lyrics are well-written and sung beautifully. There’s nothing to complain about—it’s a well-executed album.
For years, the Dead seemed like an insurmountable obstacle or a cult I hadn’t consumed the Kool Aid for. But in recent years I’ve tried again, and while I’m not a superfan, I can’t deny this is top-shelf 60s rock. Some better than others but like Ripple has been pleasantly burbling in the back of my head all day.
Agree with the message
Another classic Dead Album. It's not my favorite but still has solid tracks. Truckin' is an all-time banger. Favorite Song: Truckin' Least Favorite Song: Candyman
Could make a Dead Head out of me yet
One of my favorite Grateful Dead albums. Truckin, Ripple, Friend of the Devil. So many good tracks. I prefer this style of Dead over the more psychedelic rock records, might be an unpopular opinion but that’s just me. Love this album.
Grateful Dead is a band that took me a long time and many different approaches to finally begin to appreciate and enjoy some of their music. American Beauty is one of their more accessible albums and for that reason I do enjoy this one a lot. This album, Terrapin Station and Blues For Allah are the three Dead albums that I can say I revisit and enjoy from time to time.
Meget easy listening med litt psykedelisk vibe. Svinger mer med litt alkohol i blodet. Minner litt om sen Beatles for øvrig. Standouts er Box of Rain og Ripple.
A beautiful album that means a lot to a dear friend. Candyman and Truckin' both superb world class tracks
I like it but idk that I would call it an instant classic. Plus I think the dead is best live (or on their live records)
I was expecting to be annoyed by this since I don't care for folky stuff, but this was really nice. 3.5 stars.
Ganz nett. Klingt teils ein wenig nach Country.
These guys straddle perfectly between folksy and rockish. I thoroughly enjoyed the upbeat songs. I did not enjoy the slow songs at all.
доста добро, 4-5
Quite liked this.
Already in my library. A classic.
I've never listened to the Grateful Dead before, my understanding was that their studio stuff wasn't really worth the listen. I didn't find this half-bad.
Solid summertime lounge music. I feel like you don’t really get the “need to follow them around” feeling from the albums, but I did like it.
Upbeat rhythm and melodies. Really fun songs. Bit of blues and country. Guitar focused. Enjoyable.
Not a big Dead fan, this is probably the album I like the most. Americana like music, an American band. RIP Phil.
Pretty good.
Beauty
I do enjoy country-style rock better in this album better than their original classic rock style
American Beauty has a lot of the Grateful Dead's radio hits on it, with Box of Rain being my favorite. That being said, I'm giving it a 4.
A classic. Not today my thing but can't help but enjoy it.
Loved this. at first listen I was not amazed but held on bc I know they are more renowned for their love albums. I anticipate that on further listens each song will grow on me more. I also think that being outdoors will make this album come alive more.
"Friend of the Devil," "Ripple," "Truckin'" — yeah, for the non-Dead, this is the Dead album that you care about.
This surprised me!! To be honest I felt a lot more positive on this than I did their live album, I don’t think I’m as much into the jam band stuff, and was not expecting this to be so simple and pleasant… a light 4!
I’m gonna be brave and say that I like the dead!!!
All my life, I told myself, I don't like jam bands, I don't like jam bands, I don't like jam bands. Turns out on the album they don't jam. I liked this a lot more than I want to admit.
8/10. Great album. Little dance party.
I’ll let Marty do the talking on this one but it was pretty solid. Good sound.
Pretty good stuff.
Classic Dead album. Being a longtime Deadhead, there are some tunes on here that are better than their typical live versions (Box of Rain), some that are nowhere as good (Truckin’, Sugar Mag) and some I don’t care for either way (Attics of My Life)
Some good harmonies in the vocals here, and the music is nice.
Perfect for listening to in the background
I've always liked the grateful dead, I don't care if it makes me a 67 year old white dude with a pot-belly and white facial hair.
I wasn't looking forward to this, because the Live/Dead album was so self-indulgent, but this is loads tighter, loads more 'actual songs' instead of noodling jams. You could tell this was good, because halfway through listening to it, Ellie came into the room, and when I told her this was a Project album, she said she assumed that it was just 'the sort of rubbish you listen to normally'. So that's something. Great stuff, and will be listening to it again.
These hippies are just alright with me
He leído las reseñas que la gente ha escrito en esta App (o página dependiendo desde dónde estés leyendo esto), y encuentro que Grateful Dead se lleva demasiado odio. Sí, no es en ninguna instancia un disco perfecto, sin embargo, su lugar en la lista está mucho más justificado que el de cualquier otra banda de improvisación de los ‘70s. Grateful Dead fue la banda más icónica del movimiento; sería como quejarse de la aparición de Blur u Oasis como representante del Britpop en este catálogo. American Beauty, en efecto demuestra que Grateful Dead podía entrar a un estudio y componer piezas interesantes. Una mezcla entretenida de psicodelia, country y rock que en 40 minutos te invita a viajar por paisajes inspirados por el consumo de LSD (lo que en ocasiones se nota incluso en la composición misma de las pistas). Recomendable, no se lo salte.
Classic Grateful Dead album. I was never into this band too much when they were still around, but own a cd copy of American Beauty and a few of their other albums. AB is very accessible and contains a couple of their best songs: Box of Rain and Ripple.
A very good, but probably overrated dead album. Song writing is good, production is sub par. Some really good songs though that grew as they were performed live.
Really enjoyed this nice folksy album
Var ganske chill
Gotta love the hater that writes a multi page essay on the background and history of this " most overrated band". This band is properly rated. I am a deadhead. We love the dead and think they are the greatest, not the best. There's a difference, if your mental capacity allows. Sure, side A features 5 songs with 4 lead singers, and side B plays more like a Jerry Garcia solo album, but this and many of the Deads records have a intangible charm. It's like when a square band releases a live album, it's fans and listeners appreciate hearing the group in their raw natural environment. For us it's different, Dead studio album are like a window into an uncomfortable family dinner, where you feel as much love as tension and as much tradition as anarchy. As stated elsewhere the studio was NOT a comfort zone for this band but that's not an excuse, that's what makes there studio work great.
🙂⚖️📤
As a child this album was my first exposure to the Grateful Dead. It wasn't until I was 40 before I got it. It's a vibe.
Nice
I mean, the album is well worth a listen, but the truly excellent work by the Dead (and there's a ton of it) is scattered across dozens of recordings from live shows. So, I get why there's work by the Dead in this catalog, but it's weird to select a studio album as an exemplar.
Muistelin että tää on ihan hippikamaa mutta tykkäsin kyllä tosi paljon! Tadapainoiseksi ehkä kuvailisin tätä 4/5
A wonderful album.
Grateful Dead is one of those bands that I'm still discovering. I've heard their hits and I really like most of them! But this is the kind of music that I need to really focus attention on to properly digest. That being said, this album is a solid intro to their works (aside from Greatest Hits) and their sound is absolutely iconic. I'm excited to give the rest of their catalogue a dive.
Beautiful album, excelent choice to a sunday morning
# Playlist track - Ripple # Notes - I've known this album for some time, but I don't thing I heard it entirely back-to-back. - I really love "Ripple"s lyrics. Always had. Not sure why. - The album has a couple of songs that are *really* downers, so -1 star for that.
We have never really listened to grateful Dead. It's a little more enjoyable than we expected, I do see the appeal
Great summer road trip album!
Very pleasant jam band-type music. Most of the tracks on here sound very ahead of their time to me, I was shocked to see that this came out in '70. This isn't the type of music you put on to have a real ponder, it's just very fun and inoffensive. I got a similar thing out of this project as I do a lot of CCR's music. However, no track in particular jumped out at me. I'll return to this on some very warm day when I'm mowing the lawn or something.
Great first 3 songs.
Great album! And I’m not a Dead fan. Sadly, I will always equate this group to some of my college buddies from the east coast, a handful of silver-spoon frat boys that, to this day, attend dead shows with fervent loyalty. Me, I was a hippy from the Northwest, comfortable with grass and acid, playing Santana and the Ramones in equal time. These friends never touched a joint or a tab before leaving the safety of their upper crust suburban hoods, and remain true to their conservative, exclusive lifestyle, some even Trumpets today. Yet they spun this stuff daily in the 80’s, sang every word, learned the guitar just enough so they could play Friend of the Devil. Now, on occasion, shedding their izods and loafers for jeans and store bought tie dyes to attend endless overpriced arena replicas, confirming to their MyFace friends that they truly relate to this group and their message. Nope. Weird times, then and now. I still text with these guys regularly, getting the occasional invite to join a “Dead” show. No Thank You. I rarely toot my horn, but I am proud I’m not stuck in the musical time warp that so many of my generation suffer from. I’ll happily wear that conceit. But yeah, great album!
Probably the OG GD studio album. Always amazed by Bob and Phil. I guess I didn't realize that they close the record with Truckin'. That's a move of some sort.
It grew on me after the second listen. Really good harmonizing in the singing, and loved the blues-y, country comps. 4/5!
Get off the horse boys
Fantastic album
The farther we get from the touring years, the more Dead seem like just another band. And this collection is a bit of Rorschach test. There are a few very good cuts – "Box of Rain," "FOTD," "Ripple," "BDP," "Sugar Mag"– all of them excellent mellow stoner anthems. But they do sound somewhat tepid and frankly mid after all these years and compared to the best of the bootlegs. Plus, "Truckin'" and "Attics of My Life" are dreadful – truly awful. As much as this record once meant in one's troubled younger years and during one's alleged spiritual development, one just doesn't much hear it anymore. Workingman's Dead is a better record. One will round up against one's hardest critical judgment, for auld lang syne, basically, despite the presence of those clunkers.
Classic
a perfectly pleasant, laid back album. there's nothing here that's technically bad, it's all copacetic, as they would have said back then. when this album is firing on all cylinders, so to speak, it's a great album. tracks like 'box of rain,' 'friend of the devil,' 'till the morning comes,' and 'truckin'' are all great, blissful hippie fare. where this album has issues is with the album cuts, which tend to drag a lot, like the painfully slow 'attics of my mind.' these tracks are not awful, per se - but they tend to drag the pacing to a slog. otherwise, the musicianship here is very nice and the dead's harmonies are vastly underrated, in my opinion. overall, a good, not great, fairly inconsistent album.
Ja, ich liebe diesen Folk/Country Pop, nicht immer aber wenn ich es höre dann schon.
Fantastic album
Such a great album, Jerry Garcia really made this band special Top tracks: Friend of the Devil, Ripple, Truckin’
This is a comfort album for me. Not mind blowing or anything, but really pleasant. Brings me back to sneakily smoking weed in high school lol. Still a good album sober, but I'd certainly pair this with some good trees if you can. 😉
Excellent album and entry point for GD. I’m not the biggest fan but the harmonies and songs in general are very pretty and accessible. It’s not the jammy hippy music you might expect from their reputation.
This was my intro to the Dead, about 12 years after the fact when I was in college. It’s a different kind of Dead album. No meandering jams, just ten well written reasonably concise songs. My favorite Dead album for exactly this reason.
So many hits. Always a pleasure.
Memorable.
Grateful Dead’s American Beauty is relaxing. It gives that vibe of Stevie Wonder: relaxation, comfortability, kicked-back feet. Some tracks are mellow, some a testament to love, and those really hit. The last two tracks aren’t up to par with the rest, but that did not bring it down too much. This album definitely is a good opening experience to the vast genre of rock. All in all, American Beauty is a good album. Best Song: Ripple Worst Song: Attics of My Life
One might confuse this with a greatest hits or compilation album given how many classic Dead tracks originated from American Beauty. Great album.
I could listen to this record all day long. I am super biased, but this has a couple of the best GD songs in ripple and box of rain.
First time listening to a GD album all the way through? How wonderful, familiar and varied, vinyl sides well anchored in richer songs at top and bottom, Box of Rain, Ripple, and Trucking.
I'm not a huge Grateful Dead fan, but this was fairly interesting. The harmonies are so woefully out of tune, but that's charming, especially in these days of autotuned awfulness. It's groovier than I expected. I really like Sugar Magnolia.
Much better than the other Grateful Dead album I’ve listened to
Den var bra!!! Kommer defenitivt lyssna mer på Grateful Dead!! Min favoritlåt från albumet var Box of rain. Albumet får 4/5 stjärnor!
One of the Dead's greatest albums.
I enjoyed this album.
Classic stuff
Como buen Llados tejano, en el chevy hacia la prom con Mindy este album made me love my Wisconsin redneck life.
Not bad. Never listened to them when I was younger. Good Sunday morning music.
Of course I’d heard OF the Grateful Dead but oddly enough I’d never actually heard any of their music until now. Not what I was expecting, but right up my alley. I will certainly be listening to more of their stuff going forward.
Really enjoyed this one. I know bits of the Grateful Dead from my Dad and they certainly know how to take a solo for a walk, go on a jam or write a hook that'll stick in your head. This particular one had some familiar hooks and tunes and some new ones. Definitely worth a couple of listens. Great album.
Great guitars work, many favorites.
Country rock music. Está bien. No me ha encantado muchísimo, pero está bien. Un 4.
Country rock music. Está bien. No me ha encantado muchísimo, pero está bien. Un 4.
A true classic album one of the best
Netter Hippie Folk Rock
Hell yeah inject that hippie shit straight into my veins. Its albums like this that make you feel like they were really on to sonething in thay era. Very excited when I saw this was the album this morning, another one with great fall vibes. There's some tracks on here that are absolute classics and that I can listen to over and over (Friend of the Devil, Ripple). Listening to this makes me feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be at exactly the right time. This is one of, if not, their best studio albums. Couple of meh ones on here so not quite 5 stars.
Classic - folky and poignant.
The Grateful Dead are one of those bands I was aware of, knew the cult following around them and yet had no knowledge of their music at all. When I heard them I was completely surprised, I had never had in my head the idea that this was the music they made. It's good, country/folk/Americana call it what you will but I can see why people like them. Minor fact - they played their first ever UK gig in my village, about 200 yards from my house, 3 weeks before I was born.
I have always said that I don’t like the Grateful Dead and I will continue to say it. But this is a pretty great album so I may not say it as loudly in the future. I will continue to hate all the live jammy stuff, though. And it really bothers me that the song ripple sounded like it was being sung by Jeff Tweedy.
This album is why I was a Deadhead in college. But the more intense Deadheads led me to live tapes and I never got why that was better than American Beauty (or Terrapin Station). Box of Rain has taken on new meaning in my life upon learning its origin story (Phil wrote en route to see his dad who was dying in a nursing home). The best of the Dead is on this album and the cover is as classic as the band.
Listened Before? Yes Album Art: 3 / 5 (not my favorite of the band's artwork, but its fine) Note: Basing my review on the 50th Anniversary Remaster. This is the album that brought the Dead to the masses. The Dead tapped into Americana vibes with a poppier and better produced vibe that previous releases. Album contains some mega hits that got radio play (Sugar Magnolia, Friend of the Devil, Truckin'). I said it in my previous Dead review, but what separates The Dead from so many contemporary jam bands is that they have bomb song writing and created great studio releases. They then take these strong fundamentals and jam endlessly on top in live shows. The only (somewhat) comparable in the modern era is Phish, but even they don't have *great* studio recordings. Always love the hop that the studio version of Friend of the Devil has. They often play it slowed down to a crawl live. Such a fun and singable little ditty. Love the drum work on Sugar Magnolia. Such an great pop rock song -- one of the best summer songs I can think of. Candyman is probably going to be a divisive one. I'm personally into it and it shows The Dead maturing their harmonization from its rougher early stages. This one is a slower blues progression. Brokedown Palace is just a pretty song. The harmonization along with the pool hall keys in the background. I find this one to be so calming. All said, I'm a solid 4.5 / 5 on this one. I love The Dead and I think that American Beauty is one of their better produced albums. It introduces a number of staples to their live catalog (Sugar Magnolia, Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, Truckin) and shows them coming into form with well-written songs that take advantage of their harmonization. Some of the songs run together a bit towards the middle, and by comparison to Workingman's Dead released in the same year, I always give preference to WD. Added to Library? Yes (already there) Songs Added to Playlists: - Sugar Magnolia (sunny vibes) - Friend of the Devil (sunny vibes) - Attics of My Life (rainy / tired)
Love this album. I would give it 4.5 stars if there was halves
It is always refreshing to listen to jamband studio albums from time to time so every song isn't 18 minutes long. This album is chock full of songs that I knew but didn't know the name of going in: Friend of the Devil, Ripple, Till the Morning Comes This is a great mix of folky and rock that really checks a box for me for enjoyable music. Truckin is such a fun song to sing along to and jam out. Now hand me an ice cold fatty or two.
This is a really good album. I never really gave this band a chance and I’m glad I did. I love their use of harmony.
One great song after another.
First actual listen. Honestly great. I was skeptical, but not overrated at all, like so many reviews here have said. I liked the imperfections. It felt like jamming and singing with pros. The Atmos mix was lovely, too.
7/10. Yeah, this is a good example of the genre, and its a genre I still like okay despite having heard so much of it from this list.
Didn’t listen all the way through, but the Dead are the Dead - beautiful guitar harmonies and vocal harmonies, lyrics that are just in the right spot of cryptic and telling a story. Better in live versions but this is a solid album.
Full disclosure: AB was a mainstay of one’s musical development and a soundtrack (though less so than various bootlegs) of some painful lost years (young man’s blues and sorrows basically). “Box of Rain” seems less powerful than in those days, when it had magical, near mystical import. The shaky and uncertain vocals are the main culprit. Conversely, “FOTD” seems richer than the bouncy singalong ditty a younger one mistook it for. And what was vaguely filler — “Candyman,” and even “Operator” — 30 to 30+ years ago sound better made and more enjoyable and more interesting today. “Sugar Mag” is every bit as great. “Brokedown Palace” mighta been a classic but suffers inordinately from its proximity to “Ripple,” a real high-water mark in terms of quietly inspirational folk-rock tunes and almost certainly the all-time leader in the “song-to-play-at-my-funeral” category. “Attics” and “Truckin, saccharine and stupid respectively, go off the cliff in terms of the excellence of other cuts. One's always hated the latter, which seems to have a disastrous quality-to-exposure ratio. The playing is subtle throughout, the singing rarely rises above the mediocre-but-fine level, all of it here of course paling in comparison to the full live expression, which is/was legendary for a reason, even if considerably overrated in the latter years. One might even prefer Workingmans as the stronger record, cut for cut, and it woulda been fun to see what editors might have made with the pretty damn fun and much (and at least somewhat justifiably) maligned Shakedown Street, one’s fave guilty pleasure in the Dead canon. Very good, if not quite cathartic, to revisit a record that once meant so much and find its treasures and virtues mostly intact, if singing in slightly different tones and vibes to older ears.
Opening on the magnificent “Box of Rain” is what ultimately does it for me with this album. It sets the exact tone needed for experiencing the rest of American Beauty. Beautifully crafted songs with very few minor misses in between.
Never was a dead head but I really enjoyed this album. Liked every song and loved that it ended with a “hit.” Makes me want to give the dead another try
Wow. I had no idea what a true cultural monument the Grateful Dead truly are. This is old school southern rock at it's absolute finest. I definitely would have been a dead head.
Carefree easy-listening polyphonic acoustics, nice!
I’m not a Dead Head by any definition, but man, I really like a lot of songs on this record. Box of Rain, Friend if the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, Truckin’,…
A bit slower then what i remembered. Still good memories of listening to this record.
Ah, the Grateful Dead. Dead Heads will say you have to see them live. Maybe, but I can't stand 20 min songs that you forget what you were playing by the end. Just not my thing, there's no reason for a song to be that long. But that said, I actually really like some of their music. Because the songs start and stop, like, you know, SONGS should. And I like this album. I've listened to it before and I will again.
Even a person who lacks of Grateful Dead understanding knows that American Beauty is one of their most celebrated albums. They were at the top of their game. García had been recognized as one of the key characters of the psychedelic era and the band’s live presentation were once-in-lifetime events for fans. The album itself has a deep charming. With a sweet sound palette, it tells us many stories coming from the hippy lifestyle and free love ethos. Its magic still influences artists to this day. It may not be the most innovative but I need to recognize its importance to the rock genre.
HL: “Ripple”, “Sugar Magnolia”, "Attics of My Life", “Brokedown Palace” 1st Grateful Dead album- was feeling a 3 at first but putting on some tracks a 2nd time bumped it up. Mellow album which was more country than I expected. “Ripple” is a standout , and I put “Sugar Magnolias” on a playlist about beating the winter blues a while back. July 20, 2023
It’s nice and a clsssic, still not crazy for it
I'm not really a Grateful Dead guy, but I respect the hell out of their songwriting and styling. The jam session stuff loses me, so this album was a nice perspective on that opinion. I've viewed them as a singer/songwriter band and not appreciated the moment the music was made and its influence. Good reset on them for me.
Yeah it's easy listening but it's still quite nice
Maaaaaan
The album that made Lyndsay Weir skip a summer academic summit and become a Deadhead. I can't say I blame her.
Some great songs, and I’m particularly fond of “Friend of the Devil”. But this album feels longer than it is. I need to go deeper on their back catalogue, but for now I don’t feel super connected to the Dead’s music
i was a bit disappointed — i’d always heard that this was the dead’s best album, but i’ve preferred others. still solid tho
The Dead are known as a live band, primarily. But I still quite enjoy their studio albums, and this is objectively their "best". While the second half of the album sags a little more, I wouldn't say anything here is bad, per se. "Friend of the Devil" is a great piece of folk rock. "Sugar Magnolia" is a fun little tune, full of joyous harmonies. And "Truckin'" is a great closing track, as the band moves forward on their "long, strange trip". As a semi-reformed stoner, this band and this album will always hold a place in my heart.
I think I like the Dead more than I knew
Contains a lot of the Dead's greatest tracks. Pales in comparison to their live recordings, but their best studio effort is still very good.
New for me. I enjoyed.
Great Grateful dead album.
I haven't listened much to their studio albums, but this one has a lot of good songs.
4.25
Staple Country-Folk-Rock record. One of the best Grateful Dead albums. Very cohesive songs and a nice flow. Classic from the first spin I gave it! Favorite lyrics: - A box of rain will ease the pain. And love will see you through. - Such a long long time to be gone. And a short time to be there. - She comes skimmin' through rays of violet. She can wade in a drop of dew. - Let it be known there is a fountain. That was not made by the hands of men. - All the birds that were singing. Have flown except you alone. Favorite tracks: - Box Of Rain - Friend Of The Devil - Sugar Magnolia - Ripple - Truckin' - Brokedown Palace 8,5 out of 10
I knew little about Grateful Dead. In my head they were an 80s gothic shoot off from heavy metal. So I was pleasantly surprised by this. Lovely writing and harmonies. Quite enjoyed it.
Classic jams! Good vibes
Great album that's incredibly important to several genres.
Never heard the Grateful Dead before. Really enjoyed this album on the first listen. Have listened again today. Best one so far for me in the twenty days I've done this.