Customer Reviews

Dick's Picks, Vol. 9: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, 9/16/90

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

 

 

As Grateful Dead fans know, the Dead's shows during the nineties tended to be less energetic, and more melloncolic than their earlier years. The shows tended to reflect Jerry's condition sometimes to the detriment of the show, and sometimes it sounded so sweet it could bring you to tears. This show is no exception. "Cassidy" is an energetic song which has seen much better performances (see: acoustic version from Reckoning). However, Hornsby is able to pick things up with riffs during "Tennessee Jed" and "Samson and Delilah." My favorite moment comes in the third cd with an immaculate and heart felt version of "Standing On The Moon." This is not their best, but more than worth the money for true Dead fans who can't get enough of the Dead's live stuff.

Having read the negative reviews posted regarding this show, I just had to chime in with my take. This is a show which truly rewards repeated and careful listening...the tasty blues interplay on Little Red Rooster, Jerry and Bruce having fun all over the place, and, I don't care what you nay-sayers think, a beautiful and powerful second set. Morning Dew gave me chills the other day and the jam after He's Gone is wonderfully magic. Granted there are some weak spots, but that's all part of this show's charm. Sit down on a cool and windy fall day and enjoy this one!!!

Okay, I bought this thing because I wanted one w/ Hornsby on it, in spite of the reviews. The reviews above were correct in their details but wrong in their conclusion. Yes Welnick often-plays harsh sonic textures - but they are cool sounding. Yes, we could use more of Bruce - but he helps the band rock. The comment that real story on this CD is Phil Lesh - is on target. The Dead play not that tight - yes. But, the CD rocks all over the place. The first set cooks, the mix is great - the drums are sooo clear and the band just grooves. I gotta recommend it - its great. For a tight Hornsby show try DP18.

The gig here is pretty good, considerably better played than the gig on Dick's Picks 17, but the very muffled sound quality lets it down badly. I would have given it four stars were it not for the poor sound quality.

To be fair, this is not one of the better recordings the Dead have out there. There are lots of better sets. However if you can take this show for what it is then you will find beauty. When I first heard it I was not impressed, but after a while of hearing it, and hearing people bash it, I came to realize that there are some heartfelt moments on these discs. Disc 1 is OK, the boys dont really get going until "Queen Jane", SEt 2 is Grate, the emotion Jerry pours into Standing on the Moon, Morning dew and Baby Blue, is beyond comparison, and the jams inbetween, are sonic and mesmerizing soundscapes. All in all this set is not for the beginer. DP's 3, 4, 8, and 12, are all essential, and Dozin, Dp17, and without a net, are better snapshots of the 90's Dead. THere is something about this that makes it indispensible for me. So I would reccomend that it belongs in any Deadheads collection. Take it for what it is and you'll enjoy it.

The real story on this CD is Phil Lesh. The bass player in any band is always over looked and under appreciated. Phil plays the 6 string bass and the bottom end is the deepest I ever heard from any bass player. Plus he is playing all over the place, he stands out not only from a tonal aspect, but also from the amount ot notes he plays. He's Gone and the MSG Jam is by far the high lite. Here we have Phil letting loose with a great improv. jam with The two Keyboard players. This is very unique. The down side here is Jerry's vocals. while Heart felt and full of passion,they are rough and harsh. The sound that comes from Vince's keyboard is also unpleasent. This is the irony of the CD. Morning Dew has Phil pumping and Jerry rippin' But the vocals are really rough here. If you love the Dead do not miss this one. If you are a fan of fine vocals pass on it.

Don't waste your money on this CD. The set list looks great, but the show was a real stinker. I own most of the Dick's picks, and this one gets the least amount of playing time (make that NO playing time). The only part of this 3-disc set I listen to is disc 2. Just a poor choice. Vince's keyboard playing is like nails on a chalkboard. There are so many other shows from the otherwise great year of 1990 that could have been chosen. Instead of this set of coasters, buy Dozin' or the great Nightfall of Diamonds.

'Dick's Picks, Vol. 9' is an absolutely amazing live album from the Grateful Dead. Recorded live at Madison Square Garden in New York on September 16, 1990, this show captures the band after the recent death of longtime keyboardist Brent Mydland, who had died of a drug overdose just months before.

Bruce Hornsby (known for his hit 'The Way it Is' and his group, Bruce Hornsby & The Range) and former Tubes keyboardist Vince Welnick play keyboards together here. They absolutely sound great together.

Jerry's guitar sounds mighty fine on this performance as well, too. Listen to 'No MSG Jam,' which is just amazing. Jerry shines there, and on the Bob Weir track 'Looks Like Rain,' revived from the 'Europe '72' live album released almost two decades earlier. In my opinion, I prefer this version of 'Rain' over the 'Europe' version, as this one of my favorite recordings period.

'Drums' are great, too, with Kreutzmann and Hart just going at it, and Phil Lesh sounds pretty great too. Just listen to 'Hell in a Bucket' for an example.

I've read some pretty negative reviews regarding this performance at MSG. I honestly can't understand why. The band is in top shape here. It's a great performance with plenty of great material. Anybody who likes the Dead should own this performance.

Overall, I can always readily recommend this show. It's a great performance, easily one of my favorites of theirs. An all around great show from an incredible band.

Highly, highly recommended.

ENJOY!!!

As I read these reviews I am astonished to find that nobody mentions the excellent version of Stagger Lee. Listen to it. Overall this disk is obviously not the best installment of the Dick's Picks series, but there are fine renditions of many songs. The only complaint that I have about this set is Vince Welneck...his style is unimpressive and his playing sounds eerily similar to a bad church choir ( e.g. Queen Jane). The shows highs outweight its lows, if only by a little. If you are a fan of the Dead, you will more than likely enjoy these disks. Just watch of for Vince and listen to the Staggar Lee for God's sake!

Well, once you get past the first cd, it's great. The 1st cd is plagued by low mixing and mediocre music. The only cut performed up to par on cd 1 is queen jane. If you're looking for an introduction to 90's dead, go to dozin' at the knick first, and come to this for the jams. Lunatic Preserve is one of the 3 most interesting jams in any dicks pick. all and all, really worth the money.