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Key · 08-04-2016, 07:24 PM

Grateful Dead - The Grateful Dead (1967) Debut

So this starts my official listening venture into Grateful Dead, which I'm sure you already knew, considering I'm doing my reviews in the order of release, and this is their debut. This album was released back in 1967 and it is the debut release for Grateful Dead, again, you probably already knew that. I guess we can get into the review.

First off, it doesn't waste any time does it? The first track just goes right into the music and gives you an idea of what to expect with this band. It's really nice. Of course, it's not only the first track that does this. As I'm listening to the rest of the albums, each track feels like it's own, which simultaneously keeping me entertained and creating a beautifully structured atmosphere of what I'd like to classify as country rock. That would certainly make sense as that's what I was expecting to hear when I got into this album to begin with, but it's done so in such a nice and easy listening way. I feel like this album especially does give the listener a good idea of what you can expect from this band, and it's certainly got the vibe that was pretty evident during that time. But can I also mention the production value? It's really good. I suppose that's the benefit of releasing an album through the Warner Bros. label. I mean, honestly...the production quality does not match the year, but that's more complimenting it than negating it. It sounds like this album could easily be released in the last couple years and still be considered good.

Musically, and vocally, it's all fantastic. This is the first time I've heard Grateful Dead and I really like the vocals, a lot. With those type of vocals and the country rock vibe that this album brings, I can certainly understand why this band has done so well for themselves for as long as they have. Especially in that day. I mean, I've listened to a lot of artists that were big back then, but like I mentioned a few times, I just felt like Grateful Dead were so vast that I couldn't do them justice with reviews or whatever, but I was damn wrong. Maybe that opinion will change as I continue through their work, but for a first time listen with their first review, I can definitely see why they did so well.

It terms of the tracks themselves, I've already found myself going back and listening to tracks that stuck out to me. There's a lot of catchy ones, and that's really nice considering a lot of the tracks are very short. Unlike the recent Rob Zombie review I did, these short tracks get everything done quickly, but in a way that doesn't feel rushed or overbearing. Basically, each track that has a length below 3 minutes are below 3 minutes rightfully. The one track that I really enjoyed however would have to be "Cold Rain and Snow". It's got everything I love, or can enjoy about the country rock genre, and again, with those vocals, it just makes for a very nice listening experience.

Well...can't say i'm disappointed. I thought I was going to be. I was creating the assumption that this was going to be very difficult to get into, but it really wasn't. It's a fantastic debut album, and I'm excited to see where this venture goes.

08-04-2016, 07:24 PM	#35 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	Grateful Dead - The Grateful Dead (1967) Debut So this starts my official listening venture into Grateful Dead, which I'm sure you already knew, considering I'm doing my reviews in the order of release, and this is their debut. This album was released back in 1967 and it is the debut release for Grateful Dead, again, you probably already knew that. I guess we can get into the review. First off, it doesn't waste any time does it? The first track just goes right into the music and gives you an idea of what to expect with this band. It's really nice. Of course, it's not only the first track that does this. As I'm listening to the rest of the albums, each track feels like it's own, which simultaneously keeping me entertained and creating a beautifully structured atmosphere of what I'd like to classify as country rock. That would certainly make sense as that's what I was expecting to hear when I got into this album to begin with, but it's done so in such a nice and easy listening way. I feel like this album especially does give the listener a good idea of what you can expect from this band, and it's certainly got the vibe that was pretty evident during that time. But can I also mention the production value? It's really good. I suppose that's the benefit of releasing an album through the Warner Bros. label. I mean, honestly...the production quality does not match the year, but that's more complimenting it than negating it. It sounds like this album could easily be released in the last couple years and still be considered good. Musically, and vocally, it's all fantastic. This is the first time I've heard Grateful Dead and I really like the vocals, a lot. With those type of vocals and the country rock vibe that this album brings, I can certainly understand why this band has done so well for themselves for as long as they have. Especially in that day. I mean, I've listened to a lot of artists that were big back then, but like I mentioned a few times, I just felt like Grateful Dead were so vast that I couldn't do them justice with reviews or whatever, but I was damn wrong. Maybe that opinion will change as I continue through their work, but for a first time listen with their first review, I can definitely see why they did so well. It terms of the tracks themselves, I've already found myself going back and listening to tracks that stuck out to me. There's a lot of catchy ones, and that's really nice considering a lot of the tracks are very short. Unlike the recent Rob Zombie review I did, these short tracks get everything done quickly, but in a way that doesn't feel rushed or overbearing. Basically, each track that has a length below 3 minutes are below 3 minutes rightfully. The one track that I really enjoyed however would have to be "Cold Rain and Snow". It's got everything I love, or can enjoy about the country rock genre, and again, with those vocals, it just makes for a very nice listening experience. Well...can't say i'm disappointed. I thought I was going to be. I was creating the assumption that this was going to be very difficult to get into, but it really wasn't. It's a fantastic debut album, and I'm excited to see where this venture goes.