Comments on: uReview: Grateful Dead “Grateful Dead”

By: Colin.oooo.

Colin.oooo. — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:38:46 +0000

This and anthem of the sun are my all time favorites. As odd as it sounds!
Every song is like a fast paced punch. A sonic ride through the acid tests and the further bus. Their first two LPs were the soundtracks to the Merry Pranksters intrepid journeys.

By: JS

JS — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:30:54 +0000

There’s no other Dead album like this one. Although they haven’t yet developed into what I guess is commonly recognized as that mature Dead sound – the seeds for that development is here. I really love this album and think it’s a raw, spirited, & very ambitious effort. Cream Puff War & Sitting On Top of The World with their swing and syncopation, Viola Lee glues the seams. I give it a high 9.

By: Bob Colby

Bob Colby — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:06:14 +0000

Not my favorite Dead album by far, (that would go to Europe ‘72), but a strong first effort. Some songs are pretty weak (“Cream Puff War’ was the only song Jerry wrote lyrics for & for good reason), but the covers, especially “Morning Dew” and “Viola Lee Blues” are very well done. The Dead were never a great studio band, much better live, although some efforts (American Beauty, Workingman’s Dead, Mars Hotel & Wake of the Flood) are classics I still listen to frequently. The live stuff, almost all of it including Dick’s Picks, are the best way to appreciate what the Dead were about. The much-overlooked Without A Net, the last live album with Brent Mydland on keyboards, has an incendiary “Eyes Of The World” featuring Branford Marsalis.

By: JEFF

JEFF — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:29:30 +0000

I was surprised by how much I liked this LP. As a younger Dead fan, this album speaks to my love of punk/garage/Velvets style guitar music. The Dead would make better albums for sure. This LP is a little dated and the singing would improve (as would the lyrics), but I still like this album for the what it is. The CD reissue from a couple years ago is GREAT. I would recommend it highly.

By: alllal

alllal — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:10:43 +0000

I love the Dead but it’s far from their strongest album: 7 stars.

By: boyhowdy

boyhowdy — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:59:39 +0000

Classic. A good mix of originals and reframed tradsong, thus laying a solid foundation for the remainder of their work. Nice diversity of energy, too — good to hear such crashbang coming out of a band sadly known so much for chunky slowbeat rockers and slow noodlers. Jerry in rare form, and the band in solid party mode. 9 of ten, i think, with the lost point primarily for being so short.

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:23:47 +0000

Nice site. We have very similar tastes in terms of classic country rock, alternative country, Byrds, mixed in with some vintage punk, etc.

Not a Deadhead by any means, altho I played one back in High School, but love the early blues-drenched stuff from their early days. This has always been the most timeless Dead album for me, altho the best would probably still be American Beauty/Workingman’s — take your pick.