Search - Grateful Dead :: Dead Set (Dig)

Disciplined Dead ...

CU82 | Atlanta, GA | 01/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While initially not one of my favorite live offerings from GD, this remastered with bonus tracks double disc selection is certainly one to own. With all of the live GD options to choose from you will find that everyone has their favorite based on set list, performance date, performance level (individually as well as collectively), production quality, and their own personal state of mind. So, not being someone else's favorite shouldn't be a big factor in considering whether or not this disc (or any other disc for that matter) is for you the reader.



"Dead Set" contains very high quality performances and an outstanding set list from the band back in the fall of 1980. My initial impression upon first listen of the original 2-album vinyl release (way back when) was that the performances were highly disciplined as opposed to being dangerously close to the edge of something special or something tragic. This impression hasn't changed. Nonetheless, there are plenty of creative moments here so I'm sure that this point could be argued to the contrary as well.



Production on this release is balanced and clean. Brent Mydland's presence on keyboards can be heard quite clearly and is very prominent throughout. I especially enjoy his contributions to Candyman and Brokedown Palace which are fabulous renderings of these American Beauty classics. The crowd noise at certain key points of these tracks lets you know that they concur. The "special" version of Friend of the Devil presented here features Brent on organ in support of a very blue Jerry Garcia.



The aforementioned Brokedown Palace closed out the original "Dead Set" release and is among my personal favorites. As the tune ended I couldn't help but feel that there had to be more. After all, it couldn't possibly end there, could it? It did then but it doesn't anymore and that is enough to boost what I would have rated a 4+ stars release up to the full five star max. The bonus tracks on disc two provide a more freewheeling example of the band during this era making the remastered "Dead Set" an even more valuable treasure to own ...

"

Love it

Tin Pigeon | San Francisco, CA | 03/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nice job studio-mixing the live shows. The rendition of Fire on this album has long been one my favorites."

Dead set lives!!

S. Thompson | 02/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"wife picked me up some of the grateful dead live albums for valentine's day. can't get over how good this one is. the entire disc 2 was unreleased. sound is great, songs are great. lots of the slower, more methodical tunes here. shakedown street (an unreleased track) is incredible, clocking in at over 10 minutes. high time, let it grow and sugaree are also new previously unreleased versions, and they are great. candyman is very nice. loser is an essential. next to europe 72, this one is my favorite live dead. what wasn't essential dead listening now has become so with this expanded set."