The Grateful Dead

If the hippy comments may be held and the bluegrass influences slightly ignored I believe The Grateful Dead are one of the most progressive bands of all time... they developed a sound all their own, and the musicianship of Phil Lesh, Garcia, Weir and the Rhythm Devils shouldn't be ignored.  I believe the improvisational insanity that ensued with their meltdown jams in songs like Dark Star, The Other One, Space and so on are absolutely genius, and they had undeniable chemistry which they forged over decades, playing more shows than any band in history, so their ability to expand on each other's ideas was excellent.

Though I like their studio work, it is nothing in lieu of their live brilliance, so please don't judge by what recordings you may have heard.

For those who disagree, please don't finalize your opinion just yet, if I can find some way to send you their best performances of certain songs it might just change your mind...

And come on, they're a lot better than Phish.

Though they were heavily influenced by jazz, that's a justified answer.

And I just realized I posted this in the wrong forum.  Whoops.

Thank you, though.  


Edited by SolomonsMarbles - July 13 2007 at 05:47

I have been listening to the older Grtaeful dead albums lately, mining the vinyl, and think that Anthem of the Sun is their most important album -- not their best, but their most important.
Here's why:
(1) It was a total departure from their first, diet-pill-and-pot fueled, album. It was in the style that really marked their live shows -- the seamlessly blended jam of carefully constructed cacophony.
(2) It marked their future directions, which lasted till the end. What Dead show was complete without one of the elements of That's It For The Other One?
(3) Much of it was live!
That said, their great albums ended for me after Europe '72. What came later just seemed to lack the power of Live Dead, or the lyrical beauty of, say, American Beauty.
I have one caveat: I was reading Bob Dylan's book, and he describes how after his bike accident he just couldn't find a way to get back to singing his songs, till he sat in with teh Grateful Dead -- they somehow unblocked him, and let him find his new voice without sounding lke he has a hernia. So, I'd say Dylan and the Dead also stands a great Dead album.

"Europe '72" is a very beautiful live album. But Prog? Yes, if you speak for music progressive. But Prog Music? It's very difficult to choose this option because isn't very Prog Music. Prog Related, maybe. But this is too controversial Dead inclusion in this category.

Well... I've listen "Europe '72". It is a  live album. But Prog? Yes, Music Progressive!!!

Edited by Ely78 - August 16 2007 at 13:18

Minimalist777 wrote: I love the dead!

If I didn't knew what this thread is about I would have reported this post