Customer Reviews

Deadicated

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I guess everyone has diff. likes & dislikes, but I appreciate this album b/c it introduced me to Lyle Lovett through his tremendous cover of "Friend of the Devil", and the Cowboy Junkies, which at first I couldn't stand, then couldn't get out of my head, now love. Without waxing too poetic, I think of all the covers, the CJ's offered a poignant version of the Dead classic. Anyway, this CD offers something for everyone- I highly recommend it for a lifetime of listening.

I discovered this disc listening to Fordham University's city folk station, WFUV, while driving down a country road in New Jersey. The Indigo Girls came on playing their cover of "Uncle John's Band." It is an outstanding performance of my favorite Dead song by artists I love. Hearing this selection spurred me to hunt down "Deadicated." It is probably one of the most consistently enjoyable musical purchases I made all year.

Outstanding artists all, great renditions of Dead classics, and to top it all off you are making a contribution to worthwhile causes. Order two and gift a friend - it's that good!

Back in the days before there were tribute albums for every band you've ever heard of (and some you haven't), there was Deadicated, and it quickly became apparent that it would be a tough act to follow. If you know the Dead, but not the contributing artists, you will surely be compelled to look them up after hearing them here. If you are a fan of one or more already, buy this CD and learn about the underappreciated songwriting talents of Garcia, Hunter, Weir, and Barlow. All we need now is a tour...

Deadicated is a fun, exciting collection of Dead covers by artists who appreciate the great songs Garcia, Hunter, Weir, and Barlowe routinely cranked out. The highlights are many - Los Lobos and Jane's Addiction are great, Suzanne Vega's China Doll is eerily poignant, and Lyle Lovett lays down a great Friend of the Devil. When the album was released, Jerry was still alive and the band still touring. Now that Jerry and the band are no more, this album serves as a sad reminder of what a great loss Jerry's death continues to be.

I owned this CD several years ago, but lost it over the course of time and shifting relationships. I heard the original Dead version of "Ripple" on the radio and decided I had to find this CD again. I'm so glad I did! Jane's Addiction does an awesome cover of "Ripple"--I believe better than the original. Lyle Lovett's redition of "Friend of the Devil" is a gem,, as are both of Suzanne Vega's contributions, "Cassidy" and "China Doll". Dead fan or not, this is a great addition to any music collection.

You know those CDs that you can listen to again and againwithout ever skipping over a song? Those CDs I call perfection. If"Deadicated" had just a few less songs it would be that much closer to perfection. Since I'm a positive person, I will ignore the songs that irritate me and focus this review on the tracks that rock my world. "Uncle John's Band" as sung by the Indigo Girls is one of the best covers I've heard in my life. The guitar work is great, as usual, and the Girls really know how to pay tribute without changing the meaning of the song. Elvis Costello is as smooth as ever and brings a new feeling to "Ship of Fools." Although I don't know the reasons why, I'm really glad Suzanne Vega sings two tracks on this CD. Her voice is so soothing...the version of "Cassidy" on this album is my favorite. Lyle Lovett can't be beat--I'd heard his version of "Friend of the Devil" on a local radio show and knew I had to have this CD. Burning Spear certainly does justice to "Estimated Prophet"--Spear is a fantastic reggae group, their cover is excellent but I also recommend checking out their original work; brilliant! Lastly, who would have thought of Perry Farrel and his boys covering the Dead? Well, it works--and "Ripple" is the perfect song for Jane's to tackle. Despite the few low points in this CD, the good songs are VERY good. Thank goodness for the "track skip" button. Enjoy!

Before hearing this album, I was not the biggest of Dead fans. But two things blew me away: the astounding songwriting of Garcia et al. and the range of bands that appeared on this disc. From Elvis Costello to Dwight Yoakam to Jane's Addiction to Burning Spear. Midnight Oil's revelation that selecting a song nearly broke the band up is priceless, and it sums up the effect that the Dead have on music. Each artist brings something different to the songs they choose, from faithful covers (the Harshed Mallows U.S. Blues and Los Lobos' Bertha f'rinstance) to inspired interpretations (Jane's Addiction's Ripple and Lyle Lovett's Friend of the Devil - with Little Feat's Bill Payne sitting in on piano). A great album I recommend without any hesitation.

Picked this CD out of the rack after not listening to it for years.

Los Lobos' Bertha interpretation is close to the original, but with a nice hint of accordion. Bruce Hornsby's Jack Straw is great, one can tell he played with the Dead many a time and I (for one ;-) think that he performed wonderfully with them over the years. Whatever you think of him, he can play piano.

Forget The Hashed Mellows' US Blues, what a disappointing straightforward rock-ish version that is. Elvis Costello's Ship of Fools is sort of interesting in the sense that he has some of Jerry's raspiness and I like the instrumentation.

Suzanne Vega's China Doll sounds like, well, a Vega tune, which isn't bad, but perhaps a bit dull. Happily her Cassidy is much livelier, certainly besting her 1988 appearance with GD in New York. Her delivery makes me appreciate the lyrics more than I did though.

Dwight Yoakim's Truckin' is kind of fun, which kind of scares me because I'm no country fan, and catches the spirit of the song. Warren Zevon/David Lindley's Casey Jones is utterly forgettable.

Indigo Girls' Uncle John's Band provides a harmonic touch, but they seem bored with the tune. Bit I sure liked Lyle Lovett's Friend of the Devil, a nice acoustic version of the classic.

Cowboy Junkies' To Lay Me Down makes you believe this was a Junkies' song all along, with the typical Timmins guitar sound and ability to make any song a sad one. Midnight Oil's Wharf Rat may bear the least resemblence to the original, but provides some much needed interest to the CD.

Burning Spear's Estimated Prophet is the reason to buy this CD. Hard to believe Rodney hadn't listened to the Dead before, because it's so right. Actually, I like this version better than the original.

Dr. John's Deal is somewhat overdone. Finally, I know folks here like Jane's Addiction's Ripple, but I think it strips the song of its beauty, like sung by a bunch of drunks at a karaoke bar, oh wait...

This is a superb tribute to the Dead, with some fantastic performances, such as Los Lobos' "Bertha" and The Indigo Girls' "Uncle John's Band." From Lyle Lovett's heartbreakingly beautiful cover of "Friend of the Devil" to Dr. John's turn-it-up loud version of Garcia's "Deal," this is a CD that shouldn't be missed by anyone who appreciates the Grateful Dead's music.

It's only real weak spot is Jane's Addiction's unorthodox treatment of "Ripple." Since I've known fellow Deadheads who loved it, I must admit my bias; "Ripple" is sacred territory where only Jerry belonged.

Though the edition of Ripple by Jane's Addiction is beyond description or compare, I can scratch together a few meagre words of praise: this is an apocalyptic, visionary, wailing reinterpertation of an echoing Garcia/Hunter masterpiece drawn from the transdimensional ethers where time stands still. Estimated Prophet by Burning Spear rings with a similar eternal quality, Suzanne's performances of Cassady and China Doll are unforgettable and call forth the meaning of these songs in a way that the Dead's own performances can barely touch. This disc could live in your CD player for days on end as you travel into its fractal-like recesses. It is a fine introduction to the Grateful Dead and to many artists who were their friends, conspirators and admirers. It is a place to begin appreciating the lyrics of Hunter and John Perry Barlow. Mikio Kennedy, who started in the parking lot hawking tie-died silk screens in the late 70s, did a fine job on the cover art. Okay, okay. Enough. Gratefully, Eric Francis / Planet Waves