tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post4949400426207855770..comments2024-03-26T23:10:34.814-07:00Comments on Grateful Dead Sources: 1970: Workingman's Dead ReviewsLight Into Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-87958461243233515062019-03-08T22:11:28.296-08:002019-03-08T22:11:28.296-08:00Though he wasn't a music critic, Hunter S. Tho...Though he wasn't a music critic, Hunter S. Thompson had a few words on this album, in a letter he wrote to a Rolling Stone editor in December 1970: <br />"If the Grateful Dead came to town, I'd beat my way in with a fucking tire iron, if necessary. I think Workingman's Dead is the heaviest thing since Highway 61 and 'Mr. Tambourine Man' (with the possible exception of the Stones' last two albums...)."<br />He considered Workingman's Dead one of the best albums of the '60s, on par with Dylan's.Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-13584787431983413752018-07-05T17:11:10.709-07:002018-07-05T17:11:10.709-07:00I added a review from the Griffin, the Canisius Co...I added a review from the Griffin, the Canisius College newspaper in Buffalo. Similarly to the last review, it presents the new album as nice & easy Dead music to listen to during these violent times: "ride that train, listen to it and smile, that's what the Dead are for."<br />One thing to note about some of these student reviews is the political background behind listening to an album, usually unspoken but upfront here - the Dead are the counter to the government's "war on humanity," and instead of being criticized for the lack of political comment in their music, they're praised as a source of ease and relaxation for depressed listeners. This reviewer is aware of the Dead's recent history, and is happy that despite their troubles they're still "staying high" and "continue their beautiful vibrations."Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-8601094794078486162018-07-03T21:13:46.413-07:002018-07-03T21:13:46.413-07:00I added a review from the Daily Bruin, UCLA studen...I added a review from the Daily Bruin, UCLA student paper. It's rather tongue-in-cheek, presenting the Dead as the ideal post-apocalyptic band (suiting the mood of 1970). <br />"What's the Dead doing playing country?" The reviewer approves though, and has apparently seen them live since he knows the Dead have been doing some country stuff (and these songs) at shows. And he's aware of their jug-band origins, so "folksy" tunes aren't really new for them. He's also relieved that Pigpen still gets to contribute. <br />Somewhat prophetically, he says "we can truck along" with the Dead... Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-52534637284109718522017-04-06T13:56:43.329-07:002017-04-06T13:56:43.329-07:00I added a review from England. Williams had been b...I added a review from England. Williams had been bored by the Dead's earlier studio albums, but came around with Live/Dead (which he reviewed earlier in the year). He then went to see them at the May '70 Hollywood Festival and found it "a revelation," remarking on "the brilliance" of their "fluid ease" and "collective improvisation of the highest quality yet heard in electric music." He likes Workingman's Dead for different reasons, struck by the antique-sounding folky songs, and compares it to the Band.Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.com