Tuesday, November 8 2011
‘The Grateful Dead Movie’: It Looked Like the end and Garcia and Co. Played Like It Was
With improved sound and a clearer image in Blu-Ray format, the viewer gets a stronger sense of the full majesty of musicians staring into the face of fear in an hour of darkness.
Wednesday, September 21 2011
Grateful Dead: Europe ’72 Volume 2
On the eve of a massive Europe '72 boxed set, this primer (and sequel) doesn't quite have the spark or majesty of the original Europe '72.
Friday, October 23 2009
Jefferson Airplane: Jefferson Airplane: The Woodstock Experience
Jefferson Airplane is a lot like Woodstock itself: rightfully iconic, yet slightly overrated. Fittingly, their live performance at the festival is forever enshrined on this two disc set.
Thursday, July 31 2008
Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music
Informative and educational, intriguing and entertaining, part American history lesson, part biography and part concert film.
Friday, June 20 2008
Grateful Dead: Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings
Ultimately, what I am trying to say is this: The Dead can be appreciated -- indeed, probably must be appreciated -- as a kind of continuing, evolving, shifty performance of “The Grateful Dead”.
Friday, October 14 2005
Jerry Garcia: The Jerry Garcia Collection Vol.1: Legion of Mary
The fickle line that divides 'Essential Document' from 'Opportunistic Filler Release' is only a shade lighter than that which separates 'True Fan' from 'Layman'. Or in this case, Deadhead from dilettante.
Friday, September 10 2004
Festival Express (2004)
All these musicians wanted to do was to escape from the youth rebelliousness that they are supposed to have influenced and represented.
Sunday, January 1 1995
Gimme Shelter (1970/2000)
Sixties rock and roll festivals -- given their large crowds of people, lack of sanitary facilities, bad drugs, and shortages of food and water -- were catastrophes waiting to happen. People get angry when they're uncomfortable or feel ripped off.
