Reviews (page 7 of 9)
Solides Rock Album der frühen Stunde
I've yet to understand why Dead are so heralded. This album was fine, but nothing more so than that
Opened well with "Box of Rain" and a folk sound with hints of rock and country. Harmonies were consistently well executed, but it all became consistently boring and repetitive.
Country rock music. Está bien. No me ha encantado muchísimo, pero está bien. Un 4.
Meh never really got the appeal of the grateful dead. This album hasn’t helped that.
Just as terrible as I thought it would be.
послушать то я конечно послушал, но хз как реагировать. ну я не люблю кантри, я славянин нахой, мне чужда эта музыка. в целом то как бы звучит интересно, да и у Джерри Гарсии определённо есть харизма, но я не испытал почти никаких эмоций. даже на фоне на самом деле это скучноватенько, хотя музыка довольно лайтовая и приятная. но мне кажется просто из за огромного культурного разрыва мне этим не проникнуться. но потраченного времени не жаль, опять же, гитарки тут секс. короче уважаю но не моё оценка - 6,5/10
Tried and tried to get into these guys. I respect the talent of Jerry, but I can’t do it. At least this album didn’t have the 20 minute jam nonsense.
Meh. A mish-mash of under-produced melodies.
first 5/5 album fav: box of rain insane merge of rock/country/folk but it just works !!!
Amerikansk folk rock, lidt country
Country. Ni fu ni fa.
Country rock music. Está bien. No me ha encantado muchísimo, pero está bien. Un 4.
Favorite Song(s): Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia Least Favorite(s): Till the Morning Comes, Operator Overall Rating (1-10): 3.5/10
Same as too many albums of that time
есть душа там, но чет иногда банально
Кажется, это то кантри, которое не бесит. Даже гармошка не смогла вывести меня из состояния душевного равновесия! Я беглым взглядом окинул историю группы: возможно, будь мы американцами и постарше лет на 15-20, мы бы сейчас просто отрывались по полной. Но увы. Иногда звучит как будто слишком плоско и "по заказу". Как-то искусственно.
намана
its alright
A true classic album one of the best
You either love this stuff or you don’t. I don’t. Jerry Garcia’s voice is lame and clownish. The music is nothing special. I don’t care how much their fans say it’s so different live—a tune I’m not into it is a tune I’m not into.
Netter Hippie Folk Rock
I keep meaning to listen to more of their stuff. Maybe this is the kick I needed.
Their best studio album. So much to love.
The grateful deaf.
the Sixties' bin-juice
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.
Really enjoyed the album. Going to look into becoming a Dead Head
Classic music that's withstanding the test of time.
3 1/2
Great!
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.
All time classic. I can't tell how many times I've listened to this album. Every song on this album is great. If you get confused, listen to the music play.
Loved this album, takes me back to High School! I saw Grateful Dead here in Utah maybe 10 years ago! 5 stars
This album feels like a product of it's time. It's all about radio air play and something like this just fits the bill. Being their fifth album I guess they had a big enough following to keep up the momentum. Fave track Truckin' -- I just love a good driving song.
It is pretty mystifying to me how this band came to hold the cultural position they do. I guess it's just one of those foibles of human culture, similar to how yellow umbrellas became a symbol of revolution in Hong Kong. It's nothing to do with the umbrellas themselves - the movement needed a symbol and they were to hand. So yeah, this album is like a yellow umbrella. Perfectly serviceable classic/folk rock, with not much to distinguish it from all the other mass produced umbrellas, as far as I can tell. I guess I'll wait for their live album to come up to see if that makes them click for me. Fave track - "Truckin'", that being the only track that had a little something going on...
Not what I expected for some reason. Better than I thought. 3
I've never been a big fan of Grateful Dead but this album was better than I thought. The vocals were a bit more pitchy than I would have thought but the music itself was pretty good. I wouldn't skip a GD song but I wouldn't listen to a full album either. I guess, I'm not a Dead Head.
Kind of a stale album for me. I only recognized one song, Friend of the Devil. I already liked that song. The other songs didn't seem to land for me. The vocals harmonize reminded me of the Beach Boys but i didn't like them as much. Truckin sounds like a the Barenaked Ladies ripped this off from the Dead. The bass tone was FANTASTIC throughout. 2.5*s
Easy, laid-back Cali vibe. Pleasant but instantly forgettable.
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.
I'm no fan of the Dead, but a great album is a great album, and they brought their A-game on this one. Nearly every song hits its target (Operator falls flat for me). The damned thing is practically a greatest-hits album. The arrangements are all thoughtful and tasteful, the lyrics are cool, and the melodies memorable. What more do you want? Yes, there are a few moments where the vocals have me tilting my head a little, but honestly, that kind of adds to the album's overall charm. I already knew this album before today and I figured I'd probably give it a 4, but today as I listened to it on my headphones during my morning walk, it simply swept me away. Thumb's up, guys.
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.
I was bored throughout.
The Grateful Dead is not a band that is meant for album formats. The only way to hear this band is in a live or recorded-live setting where they are allowed to let their instruments breath, speak, and jam. That said this isn't a bad album, it's just not true to the Dead Experience. There are some hits on this, but it's still pretty meh. Review of Reviews: Seems about right. Best Track: Truckin'
didn't like it as much as I thought I did
Wow, that was underwhelming. How'd they get their strange cult following? I kept waiting for something to happen and it never did. What a drag.
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
Not a huge Dead listener, but I feel like this album is comprised of their highly popular songs. I recognized almost all of them. Good stuff. This album is so chill and feel good. Steadily great throughout. This is what I was hoping for when we got Live / Dead.
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.
Man oh man I used to listen to this every day on my walkman back in the day. Such a chill Dead album that so many moments of tenderness. Box of Rain was my favorite song by them for so long and could never figure out why they didn't have Phil sing more. Another GD classic, Friend of the Devil has that beutiful mandolin sound which will reappear in Ripple later. Beautiful tune. Also a song that says Anne Marie in it take notes James. Sugar Magnolia is THE song to listen to on a sunny day. Great tune and vibe with that steel pedal. Operator's got that harmonica! Works perfectly into a chill song sung by Pigpen. I always thought it was crazy growing up that the first 4 songs on this album had 4 different singers. Candyman is such a chill tune and also has probably my favorite moment on the rekkid. The solo around the 3:11 mark will always be one of my favorite spacy moments in music. Coming back into the harmony after it still gives me goosebumps. Love. Another chill diddy in Ripple with the mandolin. Also one of the most covered Dead songs. Brokedown Palace is another beautiful chill song. Love the placement of Till the Morning Comes. Breaks up two pretty slow (albeit jams) songs. Finishing up with arguably their most popular song is great. Flashback moment: I played this song for my 8th grade class and someone halfway through said "MAN WHENS THIS SONG GON END IM DONE WITH THE COUNTRY" That man knows nothing. Still a jam. This album is different from most other Grateful Dead albums. Shows a more polished look by them while retaining their roots and "beauty."
Boring and uninspired
Wonderful album
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.
I'm a big fan of the Dead and this is easily one of their best studio albums. I would almost always prefer to listen to their live music but if I was going to put on a studio album, this would often be it. This album is so full of great songwriting and nearly every song is solid in my opinion. I've got to give it a 5/5. Standout Tracks: Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, Operator, Candyman, Ripple, Brokedown Palace, Till the Morning Comes, Truckin'
One great song after another.
A much better band live when they are grooving with the audience. Not horrible but nothing special
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.
This was ok. Felt pretty generic honestly. 6/10
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.
Grateful Dead is one of those bands where I think you have to be born in the 60s and/or in the United States to truly appreciate what they were doing.
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.
Always a classic
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
Jsp y'a rien qui m'a sauté aux oreilles
envie de trucker (non)
probably the best GD studio album. an absolute classic
This record sounds much more dated than other records of the era, particularly The Band, who clearly inspired their musical shift with this record. A good record with one classic track.
I listened a lot to this album in the 90s when I was then married to a hippie girl. I enjoyed it, in spite of my then acid-punk leanings. She dragged me to a show—I was being a pill about it—and I ended up maybe enjoying it more than her? I remember just saying that “it’s just a bunch of old guys up there wearing it out”. Of course now I’m a year away from how old Jerry was then. He died later that year I believe. So upon relisten. Not bad, the only real clunker is Operator. This is one of two albums held up by Deadheads to counter the argument that they couldn't write a good album, and sure, they did that. This one does not betray AT ALL what the band is remembered for today, which is psychedelic exploration. They tried to write a hit album ala CSN&Y and kind of succeeded. But, as surprisingly good as the harmonies are--given how bad they often were live--do they hold up against other California harmony bands of the time? I don't think so. Anyway, Friend of the Devil is a timeless americana classic. And Ripple is good shit. Other than that, you know, the Dead are better at other things. This album doesn't, and doesn't want to, show what they were capable of achieving via an inspired Dark Star, and ok, but on the album-making front they are outclassed by many many other bands.
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.
not for me
Carefree easy-listening polyphonic acoustics, nice!
Not bad, not very interesting either
Heard some Dead & Company play some Grateful Dead songs before and had some expectations because of it. Found this a bit underwhelming compared to those songs I heard before
Few highs with a lot of boring lows
Had some high hopes for this but turned out pretty mediocre. Friend of the Devil is an alltime favourite though!
I used to love this album when i was 19/20.
Nothing stood out, but not bad by any means. Also not my genre.
The Grateful Dead has a very unique mix of genres that leads to them having a very distinct sound… that works well with some songs more than others.
I guess I wasn't high enough to enjoy this (poorly mixed) album.
I've always thought these guys were overrated, but this album is actually OK - pleasant country style
It was ok. There's a couple of great songs on it, but overall it fell pretty flat for me. First time I've listened to an album of theirs, and it's not my thing, although I don't think they're really an album band.
I grew up surrounded by the Grateful Dead records and have never really been a fan. But it's been decades since I gave this an honest listen and it was honestly better than I recall. I love how neatly carved out the bass sounds on this record, and Phil Lesh is unquestionably a hell of a bass player. Overall not bad.
Wasn't bad. I even enjoyed most of it. 3.49/5
Historically not a big Dead fan, largely due to Jerry Garcia’s voice, but I do tend to like their studio recordings better than their live jams. This is probably their best album, the band does country alright. Still not really my thing, but not bad for them. C
Naw this ain't it chief.
Fine. The Dead aren't so bad when they're bound by a studio setting and can't noodle around for 45 minutes on one song. Nothing I'm rushing back to listen to again. Truckin' is ok.
Dead have only 2 great studio albums and this on one, I think Workingman's Dead is better though. The best way to listen is live however.
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.
Meh
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
Didn’t like this at all, one of those where I was wondering why it’s on this list and when it would be done
not my cup of tea. Suffered through it but wont be going back ever again
Wonderful
Don't care much for jam bands but I've always liked this album for being a little tighter / more focused. Side one of the album is great start to finish!
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
Helt ok, litt "traust" country-ish? Ikke noe for meg, sånn egentlig.
Fairly forgettable "harmless" tracks
You’d expect me to enjoy the Grateful Dead, but it’s just a little blah to me
Maaaaaan
Dull dull dull
Never liked the Grateful Dead and this album hasn't changed my opinion in the slightest. It was a slog of forgettable, country-tinged nastiness from start to finish. If I had to pick out a track as being slightly better than the rest, then it would be Friend of the Devil. I can think of so many other bands that did this genre better; the Eagles, CSN, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is the epitome of bland music that should never have been made. It's radio friendly mush with poor musicianship, bad production, boring songs that don't go anywhere, horrible guitar picking with little licks added for no reason here and there. The only thing I liked was the cover.
I'm so used to hearing live Dead recordings that this took me by surprise for how crisp it is.
Okay. TGD Know of them and probably only one or two of their songs. Oh Friend of the Devil! HA they mention Utah in that song. The 60s and 70s were great decades for music. They had a shit ton of albums. Oh okay 13 according to ChatGPT. Second song they mention Utah. (Operator) Harmonica in this one. Reminds me a lot of Simon and Garfunkel. Truckin' I've heard this one too.
Rock on, Jerry <3
it was ok
Must be upfront here with my loving bias toward this band and its members. I attended more than two dozen shows in the 80s and 90s, plus another handful of Jerry Garcia Band shows and a Bob Weir show (one of his tours with Rob Wasserman). I was just this morning listening on my walk to one of their countless live recorded shows. I don't often listen to their studio work because I prefer their live performances, but this is definitely an album I've listened to so many times and owned since I was a teen. Such great songs on this record. I have not seen the Dead in any incarnation since Jerry died in '95, but this summer (2023) I'm going to see Dead & Company in their final tour. I'm going with one of my best friends from college with whom I saw quite a few shows. I'm really looking forward to it! I am still amazed and awed by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann, who have been playing and touring since the 60s. Bob Weir in particular is ridiculously endurant as a musician and performer. As I age, I do think of his devotion to health and well-being and can see how profound and positive an impact it's having on Bob Weir as an energetic septuagenarian. Wow! I miss Jerry. So much. What an incredibly versatile and talented musical artist. [sigh] I really do miss Jerry, though. Always will.
I really don't understand how so many people love these guys.
I tried. I gave it a few songs. Decent for Grateful Dead. But not a Deadhead.
I'd never listened to the Grateful Dead before this album, and fingers crossed I never have to again. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure they're better live, but I'm not planning on finding out.
The album that made Lyndsay Weir skip a summer academic summit and become a Deadhead. I can't say I blame her.
Surprisingly good. I think these guys are incredibly over rated but I’ve also not taken a ton of time to listen to them. I appreciated this
AMazinG
Favorite song: “Friend of the Devil”. This album was just too mellow for me, but it was alright.
I love this album so much. It’s so beautiful. The lyrics are on a whole other level of incredible, with help from the late, great Robert Hunter. Chords feel familiar but they’re also very original. Also, a good variety of songs on this album from a band who historically have low of range. The instruments are tight which comes from a band that is completely all on the same page with each other. It goes without saying, as well, that the songs are so fun to listen to. Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, Ripple, and Truckin’ are the hits and also half of the entire album. This album was such a big step up for the band and the music community at the time, I haven’t a single complaint. 5/5
Pretty boring. Sorry about it.
More than just an album of great songs, singing and playing, AB demonstrates how traditional American sounds and song motifs are renewed over generations to remain relevant expressions of American culture.
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
Listenable, but really nothing special.
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
Never really listened to Grateful Dead. It's nice! A little more country than I was expecting. The softest of rocks.
i don't much care for the Dead, but this was a good album
Pretty good album. Forgettable but I’m not a huge Dead Head. Felt like a country album but nothing about it stood out to me. I even skipped a few. I’m down to listen to more but give us the good stuff!
As long as I live, I think the Grateful Dead will remain an enigma to me. The fandom is so outsized that becoming a new fan feels impossible. And then when you listen to an album like this, it just doesn't make sense. What's so special? Maybe this isn't the best place to start, but I don't know what is. I think a large part of their legend has to do with live performances and bootleg recordings and whatnot, but I don't want a live album. I'm just gonna smile and wave. A couple decent tracks, but nothign distinct to me that would even tell me this was the Grateful Dead if I heard it. "Operator" made me think of Jim Croce's vastly superior song, they couldn't touch it if they tried. None of this is bad, but almost all of it is forgettable. Favorite tracks: Box of Rain, Truckin. Album art: Really cool design, can barely read the text at all which is a good thing! The vote sticker looks cool, not sure if that's supposed to mean anything. 2.5/5
I can't believe so many people in the 70s made this band their entire personality. I was promised psychedelic rock that cool hippies go mental over and all I got was 42 minutes of the most boring country I've ever heard. I don't get it. Just do LSD in your garage like a proper gentleman, no need to chase these guys in a Scooby Doo-ass van or whatever. Guess you just had to be there.
An easy going breezy album from The Grateful Dead, a band I've heard a lot about but almost know nothing beyond their faithful fans and never-ending tours. This was better than I expected!
Gimme it live please
Trippy shit
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.
I was never into the music of the Grateful Dead and now that I've listened to a full album by them I know why I dislike them so much. 'American Beauty' is a bland, boring country/folkish album with weak singing, weak songwriting when none of the songs stand out. It is not a completely unlistenable abum but it is just really bad album. I really don't understand how the Grateful Dead got so famous in the US. There are many bands at that time who played roots rock, Americana or country-rock but they were much better than this band. It's a massive disappointment, and I seriously don't get why so many people love them in the US. Perhaps it really has to do with the fact that people who were at the first acid tests got into them, then the guru of LSD supported them so people have this nostalgia for them. They were in the right place at the right time. I don't often give a 1 or 1.5 on any album but since I love the 1960s-early 1970s and there were so many fantastic albums from that period, this album and the whole band is so overrated that I can't help but give them one of the lowest rating I gave out.
09.04.23. Довольно неплохая 'чисто американская' музыка, которая вполне могла бы войти в какое-нибудь 'чисто американское' кино в качестве саундтрека. Однако местами этот альбом был довольно скучным, а иногда и вовсе раздражал.
New for me. I enjoyed.
I have to say I am not a big Dead fan. So I went into this album not expecting much but was genuinely sold on it after giving it a chance and skipping some more repetitive tracks. I kinda put them in the CSN and America category in my mind: classic, light, Americana.
A decent listen from a talented band that somehow wasn't as exciting to me as all the British bands at the same time. They had something outstanding that GD lacked. Hence the album flows mellow but highlights are missing.
Very much meh, a disappointment considering how famous the Grateful Dead are, as well as the fact that this is supposedly their best studio album. Solid opening with someone upbeat country rock, but soon falls into unmemorable and slightly dreary, homogenous 70s Americana. 03/04/23
Great Grateful dead album.
This is the definition of a perfect album.
Un disco que engloba muchos sus mas que claras influencias. No cansa, pero tampoco me vuelve loco, es jna realidad, otro disco plano que intenta ser algo mas que no puede 6,50/10
Never really been a Dead Head, but that's probably more because of my lack of interest in really checking out their catalog. Having been "forced" to listen to this album in the context of this list makes me want to check out a few more. This is a solid folk/rock hippy album, and I'm here for it.
I feel like the album does the band a disservice.
I haven't listened much to their studio albums, but this one has a lot of good songs.
I’ve heard of this band but I have never sat and listened before. This band had a reputation for having a great sounding live show PA system, and sort of you can tell that they care about that here - this is a lush mix with lots of little details. Feels more luxurious than a lot of the contemporaries I’m familiar with. That said, the music isn’t grabbing me much. Friend of the Devil was an early standout (I feel like I’ve heard a cover of this before) but nothing else stood out to me. Standouts: Friend of the Devil 3
4.25
disenchant
Nice, nothing special but nice.
Don’t listen to studio dead often, this hit the spot
Great album probably The Deads best studio work. How anyone can hate an album with Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, Ripple. Til the Moring Comes and Truckin' is beyond me. Yet some people love punk and death metal so to each their own I guess.
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
Klinkt beetje standaard eigenlijk. Niet zo legendarisch als je wel eens hoort
Weak
Lovely to hear this again - groundbreaking
I have never been a grateful dead fan. So it's a meh from me
It’s just so chill and folky. I don’t get the hype. Obviously I’ve heard a ton about the Dead, but couldn’t tell you one song I know. I was really hoping to like this, as they have a huge catalog and following, but I don’t see myself ever choosing to listen to it again.
Country, Hippie-Gedöns aus den 70s. Nicht meine Musik 2/5
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.
They were always a live band and studio stuff always sounds a bit tame. Still its pretty pleasant soft country jangle rock. Lovely harmonies but all a bit bland.
Oh it's just fine. Country inspired rock music with some slidey strings and some harmonies. I can imagine driving one of those large modern American trucks to a gas station near an Arby's to it and pretending to myself that I am a free American man rather than mere detritus on capitalisms factory floor. I am, as it happens, neither American nor detritus so the fantasy does not last long. This is such a normal album with some extremely normal songs that it can't exceed 2.5 stars and I'm in a rounding down kinda mood
You wouldn't think you'd get '70s soft rock with a name like Grateful Dead.
Classic jams! Good vibes
Friend of the Devil is definitely the highlight.
The vibe is really cool, but several songs just go way too long. Candyman and Attics especially. I think a major part of this is the overuse of harmony. When it’s the whole song there’s no contrast or emphasis, and the lyrics get muddied so I don’t even get an idea what they’re singing about. Trucking uses it more sparingly and is so much more interesting for it.
Great album that's incredibly important to several genres.
This album legit impacted people's lives, and I can't help but respect that
1970. Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, Ripple
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.
Never listened to this legendary band, but even being in a huge Crosby, Stills and Nash phase, this just sounds dull and second rate. What a boring set of songs with less than stellar harmonies
I'm not a big fan of Grateful Dead but I've had this album for a few years and it comes out every so often. Some of their best tracks on this album
This album leans fully into folk and Americana and I'm into it. There's a strong Crosby, Stills, and Nash feeling in their vocal harmony that I don't recall hearing much of before this album. Catchy major-key choruses, pleasant lyrics, summer day instrumental vibes in tracks like Sugar Magnolia...can't complain.
The only good Dead album, start to finish. Also the first one I ever heard, recommended to me by an older Deadhead cousin. I listened as a young teen and thought - I get why people do this! Then I went to a Dead concert and thought - no, wait, no I don't get this at all. This album though? This is, like, the best version of the Dead.
Started strongly but ran out of puff - by which I mean that I grew a little wearied by the puritan production and arrangements. Still, this is my favourite version of the Dead - the limitations of vinyl meaning they cannot jam out endlessly. So you've got a fairly focused, well-delivered collection of roots and country rock that is pleasant, rather than spectacular.
Yeah, fine. It's so hard for me to wrap my head around this album as something that's part of a genuine phenomenon. How do they get from what's pretty basic rootsy rock to being a band that inspires an entire lifestyle? I guess you had to be there. There are some good tunes here and there, but I'd much rather listen to Neil Young or The Band.
It's good. A bit far from my usual fare which made it harder to appreciate. It's probably a 5 but my personal tastes stop it at a 4.
The Grateful Dead are an overrated band, as many reviews on this agree, but this is still a good album. The mix of country, bluegrass, and rock makes this a pleasing listen.
an american classic. jerry garcias, bob, phil, bill, pigpen, mickey, and robert hunter absolutely slapped up a magnificent piece of work.
a strong 3 star album. Proof that I can really like 3 star albums
Ganz und gar überflüssiges Album einer heillos überschätzten Band.
Forgettable, generic soft rock. There were some nice harmonies but legitimately, each and every song is a non-event. Another album where I can see lots of people being mad for it, but not me. Maybe there will be more Grateful Dead to come and I hope there is at least SOMETHING to praise. This however, was as generic as they come. It’s not offensively shit or anything, but certainly isn’t an album that I feel I would have missed out by not hearing ever in my life.
I've listened to a lot of live dead/dead & co albums in the past couple summers, usually when I'm grilling, at the beach, or jamming along to on guitar, but it's crazy how many of those live tracks come straight from this album. This is definitely a classic for a reason. The production is low key, the drums hang back in the mix, the vocals aren't overly dramatic, but it all comes together in a super nice way that's really unique to the dead.
My sister was WAY more into the Dead than I ever was. There's something about them that I felt like... you had to BE THERE, at the show, to get them. Oh, and you had to be stoned, too. Since neither of those things were going to really happen for me, it's hard for me to hear it without thinking "is there something more to this that I'm missing?" But some of their most iconic songs are on this album: "Ripple," "Truckin'" "A Friend of the Devil," "Sugar Magnolia". I have heard the Jane's Addiction cover of "Ripple" so many times I think of that more often than the original. Is that weird? Probably. Listening to the guitar, I think of the Band and how the two seem similar in a number of ways in guitar sound. Not that that's usually bad, but it dos venture into that noodley sound. Definitely the album you want the novice to hear to make them decide if they want to pursue farther. Doubtful I will, but I appreciate them as a group. A 3.6, maybe rounding up to a weak 4.
I thought the album was pretty average on my first listen. But I know how much people like the Dead so I gave it another listen. I appreciated it more the second time around, but I'm still not sure if it's that good. It's folksy and there's a lot of attempts at harmony among the bandmates but their achieved harmony isn't as good as contemporaries like the Mamas and the Papas or CSNY and all their related acts (the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, etc.). It's a light, easy-going sound and there's nothing wrong with that. It's a good pick-me-up when in a bad mood. But I think it needs more. I'm not sure I fault this list for having one Grateful Dead album on it, because these guys are musical icons - a phenomenon all their own. It's just that I don't get what the big deal is about. A fine group and album, nothing more.
The Grateful Dead are famous for their live shows and albums but they did put out some good studio albums and this one is certainly their best. I’ve always thought of them more of a folk-rock band in the studio than a psychedelic band expect perhaps on their earliest albums. The psychedelic side of them showed much more on their live recordings with their extended jams. Most of my favorite dead songs are on this album. “Ripples” has a great melody and the addition of David Grisman’s mandolin playing adds a lot to the track. “Friend of the Devil” is another favorite and of course “Sugar Magnolia” and “Trukin” are classics. I don’t listen to the Dead much but when I do hear them I usually want to hear more.
I don't really get the whole Deadhead thing, but I really enjoyed this album. While relatively straightforward, the songwriting is great, excellent musicianship and harmony, and good lyrics. Favorite tracks: Box of Rain (nice opener, sad topic - loved the line "Such a long time to be gone and a short time to be there"), Friend of the Devil, Ripple, Attics of My Life (nice vibe - caught my attention every time I listened to the album), Truckin' (classic, and I find it impossible not to bop while it's playing). Giving it a 4 because it's not blow-me-away great, but I will definitely listen again.
I just listened to the same song nine times, and then they played Truckin'. I have never liked the Dead - we're supposed to be enamored of them live, but why would I want to hear this boring batch of songs only with extra noodling on top of them? They've also always struck me as inauthentic - dipshit hippies in San Francisco who view themselves as purveyors of a combination of Delta blues and Appalachian roots music with some jazz thrown in who actually record the same lame country song over and over again. But this track has steel guitar! And there's mandolin on this other one! Still the same boring, chugging, midtempo song. The Dead are terrible, as are all of their jam band progeny. The only reason this isn't absolute bottom tier is because they at least refrained from having some asshole on this credited with electric washboard or electrojug or some other faux-country/folk bullshit. Fight me, hippy.
Better than I expected! Fun tunes
I enjoyed this but maybe less than expected.
Lie down on the floor, put this on through headphones, and close your eyes. Delightful. I don't know why this one hits where others from the era don't, but I won't fight it.
First time listening to a Grateful Dead album, and it won't be my last. Love the sound, love the harmonies, love the diversity in writing across the different songs. Favorite track: Box of Rain
Was the only Grateful Dead album I owned and took me a while to get into it back then. Friend of the devil is a stand out, but it's pretty forgettable beyond that. Didn't hate, but nothing special.
I imagine there is a truck stop bar somewhere in rural Ohio with a house band in the corner noodling through a bunch of songs they have been perfecting on weekends when they aren't too tired from their day jobs repairing fencing on the ranch. This would be those songs. And no-one apart from the truckers passing through rural Ohio would hear them. How this band has such a following is a mystery. It's home brand diet vanilla icecream put to music.
Wow, until now I only knew the band by name, but I assumed they were good but this is quite underwhelming.
I'm just not a dead head. It's okay though
Me gustó para escuchar de fondo, se parece a álbumes de otros artistas, no algo que se destaque
First time listening to the Dead. Was expecting Jefferson Airplane psychedelia, but this was like The Band or a less accomplished Allman Brothers. Ok,nothing particularly pressure, singing was pleasant, ambience was convivial. Low 3.
Non-offensive, aber etwas eintönig. Hippie Musik
Ughhhhhhh
The Dead's best studio album.
Sympathique pour moi, mais semble un peu daté et je ne trouve pas ça très original
This is the only studio Grateful Dead album I listen to with any regularity, they are not a band whose music translates well in the studio. But I can’t resist a few of the songs on here in all their studio glory 😂
Not hugely interesting
With such a huge catalog to pull from, why is THIS the Grateful Dead album that's on the list? Why even this ERA of Dead? Everyone knows Grateful Dead as the masters of psychedelic acid-rock jam-band music. That's why they're legends. Not because of this weird pseudo-country Americana album. Ok, rant aside, it's an alright Americana album. The skills are there and the production is legit. It's just... gah. It's so disappointing to be served a Dead album and then have to listen to... this.
This album changed Lindsay Weir’s life but alas it did not change mine. Pleasant overall tho
Seems pretty overated, or maybe I am missing something. Seems like it may grow on you with multiple listens. But the glory escaped me.
Chill, easy listening. Didn’t jump out as particularly interesting. Maybe I should have dropped a second tab.
4.5 great
Really great. Would recommend.
Nice, chill and have listened to some of their stuff before
I am not a giant deadhead, but I know every song on this album. Perfect vibe for this snowy, dreary day.
A little bit bluesy. Never listens to Grateful Dead before. Enjoyed it - well done everyone
Feel like am being generous with 2. The music was ok but the harmonious singing did my head in. Didn't finish the album in the end got fed up with it.
Solid 3 for me. Not one bad song but I did some out from time to time. I was waiting for one out there track that didn’t come. There are little teases when the likes of Candyman when the organ kicks in a bit like That’s Life. I also enjoyed Friend of the Devil.
The dead are hella nostalgic for me because my dad played them a ton while I was growing up. For whatever reason I never really pursued them as an adult but I've always wanted to change that. Maybe this is a sign that I should? This album is great but I’d rather listen to their live stuff.
Sure! Not my favorite album or artist of all time, but an easy, enjoyable listen.
Great a bunch of hippie dippy bullshit. the stereo guitar is fun on Friend Of The Devil. I hate all the gang vocals. So I am surprised that i am not actively pained by this music like some other 1 star albums which is a major positive. This is still a bunch of dumb bullshit songs that i would rather not be forced to listen to, but its more an annoyance if anything.
Had never heard this but heard the lyrical influences for other songs I know
eh
Classic Grateful Dead. They are much better live.
Pretty good, Truckin' the highlight for me
Just not my thing, really.
Saaaai
Dad rock with some nice vocal harmonies. Truckin’ is hands down the best track.
One of their best, very much the hippie country band on this one. 5 stars.
Ik heb dit album 's ochtend in de auto geluisterd en volgens mij is dat precies de manier hoe je dit moet luisteren. Luistert lekker weg, maar niet iets wat ik heel veel vaker zal luisteren. Typisch Amerikaanse country/smartlap, rock muziek.
Einde beetje saaiig prima album niks meer niks minder
Prima album om in de ochtend te luisteren op weg naar de appie. Maar het voelt voor mij als niet echt meer dan prima achtergrond muziek. De radio ná het album was een stuk leuker: hier dacht ik pas voor het eerst heeeee hoe heet dit nummer, maar toen besefte ik me dat het album van Grateful Dead al klaar was oeps
Studio albums doen de band geen eer. Niet heel interessant dit, maar live is het stukken beter. Omdat ik toch deze moet raten moet het genoegen doen met een 3
Great songwriting, great vibes all around, many classic tunes.
Rock folk
These guys are crazy overrated. There is nothing special about these songs or their delivery. Dullness hiding behind groovyism, it's just okay at best
When I hear someone mention the Grateful Dead, studio albums do not usually come to mind. But I haven’t heard a skip yet. This is right up my alley. Always interested me how the Dead seem so in a category of their own. Hard to play the Kevin Bacon game with them. But Till the Morning Comes could so easily be a Byrds/CSNY song. I get the hype. 5 stars
too american
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Ripple (6) 2 - Truckin' (10) 3 - Till the Morning Comes (8)
Great album that put the group into American culture
grateful dead are easy listening! there's a country charm within american beauty, and i can't help but ease back as i listen. it's folk rock, which is much easier for me to digest than plain folk. their lyrics aren't too complicated, their melodies simple. sometimes their songs blended together as a result, but i can't complain too much. it made for such a lovely listen.
This was my first experience listening to a Grateful Dead album! I have somehow always been able to unintentionally avoid them over the course of time. I'm not sure what I was expecting from this, really, but it was okay! The tight harmonies on this album are certainly reminiscent and likely inspired by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, but in comparing the two, I didn't quite love the music as much as I typically do CSNY. I think this album probably focuses more on fusing folk and country/bluegrass. Really, this album sound felt more like a mash-up of CSNY and Bob Dylan, which is maybe why I like it a little bit less than just pure CSNY. That said, this album was nothing to frown at -- I ultimately enjoyed listening to it. As a first time Grateful Dead listener, I think my favorite song on the album was probably Sugar Magnolia!
definitely my cup of tea
I have been hesitant to listen to the Grateful Dead because of my perception of their fans and my lack of interest in what I had heard, but this was probably the perfect introduction. Drawing on folk influences reeled me in, as folk is my favorite genre. There were songs I didn’t enjoy but they all had qualities which I could enjoy even if I didn’t like the whole song. 7.5/10
Reading the other reviews it sounds like you needed to see the 'Dead live whilst on Acid, because their studio albums are pretty shit. I'd agree
3 sterren, omdat ik op een of andere manier daar bijna 10 lp's van heb (gekregen).
Ik had ooit een plaatje van Grateful Dead, nooit gedraaid, maar ik kwam er nu achter waarom. BOOOOOOORING!
Anders dan de bandnaam doet vermoeden was dit enorm saaaaaai!
Wat een zaadmuziek!
Niet zo opmerkelijke folkrock/country muziek. Tof voor de achtergrond, maar blijft zeker niet hangen
Yeah Folk Rock/Country describes this well. Nice to listen to, even in the backgound. I love the way that behind the images lies sweet-natured chilled chaps who play mellow music.
I'm grateful I'm not dead so I can listen to the sweet sweet croonings of Jerry Garcia.
Folk music with great harmonies and guitar. Recognizable GD all the way.
Grateful Dead is another of the bands that I was "afraid" of listening to because I don't feel I'm able to understand. However, after this album, I realized again that this fear is not justified, mainly because their geniality or unique qualities are too much intrinsic to the songs. A plain listening session gives us the experience of a standard 70/80s rock band and that it's already good enough (better than many other albums on the 1001 list). Maybe this is not the best GD album. Perhaps I'm still unable to comprehend everything, but I know I'm listening to good music and something meaningful. This is enough for me.
LeJerry Garcia was a system Jam Bander carried by his team!
yeah sure
This is good, but it doesn't really stand out for me. I'm sure at the time it was more noteworthy.
Another one of the albums of all time
아이고 너무 잔잔쓰
Dead head hippie soft rock. Not bad but not my jam
Makes me think of the last episode of freaks and geeks. Probably like the songs on workingman's dead a bit more. I have a soft spot for this music that is likely not shared by others in the group....solid album like almost all the songs but not fond of Candyman.
Monotone. Off key. Devoid of emotional content other than glassy eyed contentment. They are like a hillbilly 70s cover band that never seems to actually capture the spirit of the songs they are covering.
Im so sorry dead heads I’m so sorry
Terrific Americana, and it's not even one of their live recordings
has a little more twang than i was expecting, kinda bored listening to it.
I’ve never been a fan of jam bands
It's easy to listen, and the vibe is cool, I am not transcendanted but I liked it ! Big 3.75 / 5
Forgettable album.... Classic rock with very few spike of interest along the listening.... No bad vocals or melodies but simply not something I love. You could put this during a road trip and make an hour disappear.... Simply simple. small 2/5
Not what I expected. Imagined this to be much more psychedelic, and thus more interesting. I played it on Friday and cab’t really remember much about it. Sofer and more folk tinged than I was hoping for is what I remember.
I was shitting the bed ahead of playing this. I came close to a Did Not Listen. Never trust a hippie. It wasn't that painful. Some of the harmonising is half decent. I like the electric country feel on what is a strong set of songs. It would probably make more sense if I was wrapped up in US culture. It got a little happy clappy camp fire towards the end. I bailed and played some drum 'n' bass instead. ON YER TOES!
Wasn't what I was expecting based on the band's name. But I quite enjoyed it.
Really enjoyed this, almost a 4
Alright
I've really tried with this album, on many different occasions. I like the first two songs, but after that it just does nothing for me. I find the singing, particularly the harmonies, to be really grating in places. Musically, it's really uninteresting throughout. Overall, I just don't get the hype. Admittedly, I've never seen them live, so that's probably what I'm missing (that and a healthy dose of LSD). I understand that they have a big cultural impact, etc. But I don't think I'll bother with this one again.
Nice album, but not so memorable even though several songs are really enjoyable.
Americana
For so many years have I heard about this band and the "deadheads". I have met few of them, but I never felt like this would be a band I would like. Until today, when I listened to "American Beauty" for the first time, and boy, I proved myself right. This is definitely a band I don't enjoy, even though on the album Grateful Dead has mixed plenty of styles, some that I enjoy and then some I approach less enthusiastically. Well, the overall result wasn't that inspiring. The record was perfect for the time it was recorded in, which is late 60, early 70s. Hippie culture, love, not war, this album encapsulated this sub-culture. Unfortunately, it is not as interesting nowadays, and the folk/country vibe, with occasional psychedelic and rock intrusions are pretty outdated. Not even one song stayed in my mind afterwards, but at least I was able to listen to the whole album, unlike the Ramones. Not my favourite band and probably this will be the last album of this band I will listen.
Ég verð seint Deadhead. Þetta er eins óáhugavert og það er amerískt. Algjört bleh..
It's good, but I prefer the more psychedelic GD
Enjoyed
Boring
really liked it - had a bit of a country Byrds vibe to it which I liked a lot
Tough to rate this one. While the songwriting is excellent—one of the great American bands working at a creative peak—the production and recording of these songs is bland. But the Dead were never an album-focused group. These songs, and those from Workingman’s Dead which came out this same year (🤯), were part of a songbook, a template for the band to journey from and back to while on the road. Most notably in their renowned Europe ‘72 tour. As such, these aren’t the best recordings or performances of any of these songs. But, it still stands tall as evidence of the group’s songwriting prowess and their surprising ability to churn out a whole album of great pop-Americana tunes with crossover potential. For newcomers, it’s a great starting point with pleasant bops and lasting songwriting. But it hardly touches on the entirety of the band’s long, strange trip. Highlights for me are the Phil Lesh helmed “Box of Rain,” “Friend of the Devil,” “Ripple,” and “Brokedown Palace.” But boy, there are just an absurd number of classic songs on this album! Sad Fun Fact: my Dad wants “Brokedown Palace” played at his funeral. I imagine he has a different version in mind…
I have to give the Dead credit for sounding completely original and unlike any other band, even if I don’t always love their sound. I’m not a huge fan of Jerry Garcia’s voice and the arrangements sometimes have this washed out, sleepy sound to them that leaves me underwhelmed. But this album has so many classic songs on it I can’t be too hung up on it’s shortcomings. Ripple might be one of the most beautiful melodies ever written by any band, Friend of the Devil is such a fun and catchy tune, and Attics of My Life arrives completely unexpectedly, like a loving hymn. The harmonies on it are transcendent. I go into a happy trance every time I listen to it. 3.8/5
I like Grateful Dead, I could enjoy them more, I like a lot of the songs on this record. That said, for every studio version of these songs, I feel like I've heard a live version that's way better or has more soul in it, and I'm not even much of a huge Grateful Dead follower. So I think I'd prefer to listen to their live records over this. That said, I'm surely missing some context with this record, but that was my reaction.
I’m surprised, I thought the Grateful Dead were much more hard rock than this first track, Box of Rain, is suggesting. This has some major Simon and Garfunkel vibes? What the heck! “Friend of the Devil” has a jumping banjo. I’ve been so wrong about The Dead. “Sugar Magnolia” is a catchy and beautiful song. Loving these harmonies. “Ripple” is another beauty. I think I’ve heard this one before but didn’t know it was Grateful Dead. Okay I’m still Jewish after that guitar solo on Truckin,’ but this song is definitely going on my road trip mix. What a great tune. I like this band a lot. They look like a bunch of Dads. I get why so many Dads are Dead Heads. They all wanted me to believe they were so tough for enjoying a band with skeletons on their t-shirts, but this band loves tight, sweet harmonies just like the next guy. Thoroughly enjoyed this listen. Didn’t light a fire underneath me. 3/5.
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anything by Grateful Dead. Are they the band that people were mad about in the 60’s and would follow on tour, making big events of it? I’m interested to hear if it sounds aged or if it can still win over new fans these days. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Truckin’, Till The Morning Comes This was a really enjoyable album. I’d consider it to be a mix of folk and rock music, probably leaning more towards folk. The vocal harmonies work very well, and the instrumentation stays interesting throughout. I didn’t feel like any songs were bad, but some songs were definitely better than others. Overall, I can definitely see the appeal the the Dead, and I didn’t really feel that the music had aged at all. It still sounds current enough to my ears! An easy recommend to rock/folk music fans.
My second favorite Dead album after Workingman's Dead.
One of the few groups I try and prevent playing on Spotify, so I don't risk the chance of them randomly playing their music. Well, I listened and I'm sorry I wasn't shrooming, otherwise at least I would have enjoyed the time I wasted listening. I will skip any other Dead albums that may pop up. Most annoying group ever.....
3.5 So, I’m actually surprised by how much of this was…coherent. Almost good even. At best it’s really catchy and well paced but at worst it’s like sleepy country music.
1 Ugh. Never understood the Grateful Dead. What is this? Country music for hippies? I'm convinced the reason they're so tied with LSD usage is because you have to be on it to enjoy the music, and imo if your music requires the listener to be on a controlled substance to find anything of value... you're probably not a very good band. Maybe I'm missing out on some kind of third eye by not listening to the Dead under the influence, but this album isn't inspiring me much to go out and try.
Not my thing.
To my shame, this is the first time I have actually listed to the Dead. I have always been put off by the thought that they were absolutely shambolic, and unlistenable to. More than pleasantly surprised.
Pas intéressant. Souvent ennuyant. Et truckin' est clairement copiée de The Ballad of John and Yoko.
Meh, je pense qu'il a sa place dans cette liste, mais personnellement ça ne me parle pas vraiment. Le nom du band a quand même traversé l'épreuve du temps, mais je ne considère pas avoir manqué grand chose, du moins pas avec cet album.
This album wasnt for me. Will be interested to listen to more since they are so iconic.