Classic Rock

I want to preface this by saying that I’m a big fan of cover bands, especially of the punk rock persuasion. Out at Best Buy one day, we picked up this CD as an impulse buy based off knowing the majority of the original songs on the back. However, we quickly found this CD was definitely worth the price and even a recommendation.

I love Bob Marley! The initial reggae movement of the 1970s and 1980s really appeals to me. The music seems raw, yet tight. The musicians played very well together, the music was not over produced. And there was a rebellious nature to the lyrics that was difficult to pick up on because of the easy sounding rhythms.

The first studio recording of The String Cheese Incident will not let you down. The String Cheese Incident (SCI) has become one of the primary jam bands to embrace the live music festival scene. The band has been able to communicate their diverse musical taste into their musical performances. To try to label this band into a musical genre would be unfair and would not do the band justice. The musical styles vary from classic rock, bluegrass, country, salsa and Latin style music. It displays the immense talent that this band has when they can successfully mix all of these styles.

CD Review: The Grateful Dead “Reckoning” Arista Records ASIN: B000002VF3 If the name the Grateful Dead brings up images of beautiful hippy women dancing in front of speakers that are blearing out ‘spacey’ improvisations. If you envision 45 minute jam sessions followed induced by LSD. Than this album is sure to bust your image of the great band that was the Grateful Dead. Some people call “Reckoning” the oddity of Grateful Dead albums, I believe this album displays the dexterity and musicianship that was the Dead.

This is a great album, from a great time for the Grateful Dead. This album was made during the time that Donna was singing back up and her husband Keith was on keyboards. Donna adds some great vocal work throughout this album.

Perhaps on of the most commercial albums of the Grateful Dead is “In the Dark.” This album contains the commercial light hearted hit “Touch of Gray.” This album also contains some other gems. The Bob Weir and John Barlow Ecology classic “Throwing Stones” is a favorite amongst Grateful Dead fans favorite. A personal favorite is the last song “Black Muddy River” which is loaded with Jerry Garcia’s emotional singing. There is also a harder edge to some songs on this album such as “Hell in a Bucket” and “West LA fade away”. Overall a very good album, even for the non-dead fan.

To say I've waited more than a dozen years for this album is no stretch of the facts. To say it was also worth the wait is also as true as it gets. Ray Davies, has been the leader and voice of the Kinks from their first record in 1963 through their last in 1996. Ray has also been one of the greatest songwriters of the British Invasion generation, with lyrics of social satire and depth matched perhaps only by the late John Lennon.