Customer Reviews

Evening Moods

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow! Even for the notoriously anti-studio Dead audience, this one's a keeper. From beginning to end Bobby Weir and company keep the listener entertained and often dancing.

Each tune has its own special something, and most of the tracks stretch over 7 minutes, including a 15-minute October Queen > The Deep End (which is the jam they normally play out of October Queen in concert). Each song's music is credited to RatDog (and others, including Mickey Hart), and lyrics come from Weir, Robert Hunter, John Barlow, and others. Performers on the album include Hart, formed 'Dogs Matt Kelly and Dave Ellis, and plenty of other horn players.

Pick it up--if you're at all open to new material, you won't be disappointed. Personal highlights for me are Odessa, October Queen > Deep End, Even So, Ashes and Glass, and Two Djinn (and the rest I suppose!!!). Look out!

Dave Rosenberg, RatDog.Org

Bob Weir, best known as one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead, after touring and hundreds of concerts with his tight-backing band RatDog, has finally released their first solo body of. This is his first studio effort sans the Grateful Dead since the 1980s and is easily Weir's best solo effort besides his release of "Ace" some years back. There is no doubt that their many GD fans will love "Evening Moods." And combined with Weir's tremendous appetite for touring, this album should garner fresh new faces and fans across the country.

Weir's handpicked members of RatDog are a superb band. Composed of Jay Lane on drums and Rob Wasserman on bass, they solidly provide the foundation for the superb guitar work of Mark Karan, and pianist Jeff Chimenti. Individually and in concert with each other they have all contributed solid musical chops to this effort. And - unlike many others, and to Weir's credit, he has attributed them the respect with writing credits.

The standout tracks are "Bury Me Standing" that takes you immediately into the Mississippi Delta region of hard luck and pride. "Lucky Enough" is a tune that leaves the listener with the feeling of being momentarily beaten but still with that glimmer of eternal hope: "No, there ain't no saints here/ And all that kind 'o stuff/ But you may find grace/ If you're lucky enough." "Ashes and Glass" is a microcosmic tale of what today's world brings; "If that big old moon go bust/ Ashes, ashes, dust to dust/ maybe time for one last rave/ Keep on dancin' on our own graves." Very reminiscent of Weir's earlier work: "Throwing Stones." "Even So" instrumentally takes you on a dark fog enshrouded midnight stroll reminiscent of the likes of a early era Tom Waits tale. But unlike Waits' gruff and grating whiskey burned vocal, Weir's voice glides smooth and clear against the bass, piano and guitars that sound like THEY'VE been drinking.

Although the Grateful Dead were much better known for their strong live shows and less than stellar studio efforts, Bob Weir and RatDog have combined to put forth a raw, organic sound that stays true to the live ln-your-face performances of this fine band. I'd personal "bet the farm" that this is by far the best recorded work that Bob Weir's been a member of since "Blues for Allah" in 1975. If you do pick up the CD, you won't be "barking" up the wrong tree. WOOF!

I bought this CD about a month ago. I have been a Bob Weir fan for as long as I have been a deadhead (30+ years). As with many of Bob Weir's stuff, you can't listen to it just once. The first time I listened to the CD, I thought uh...OK. Two weeks later I listened to it again and have not been able to stop listening to it since. So I was wrong the first time, the music is not OK, it's great! I read critical reviews complaining about Bob Weir's singing--SO WHAT! Could Garcia sing?, Lesh? Dead concerts (and albums) were always great though, weren't they? What do I know about music other than what I like? This is a great CD with Great Music, that if you are a fan you will probably also not be able to stop listening to every track. (Although I have to admit I am partial to Odessa and Corrinna). If you've always liked the Dead and Weir's solo stuff, you can't go wrong with this CD.

For all those people out there who love Bob Weir this cd is for you! All the grunts, whisps, falcetos & howls that we know and love are here along with a band that has some serious chops! Rob Wasserman's bass if phat, pounding and relentless (just the way we like it!) Jeff Chementi's keys are great - organ/piano/rhodes and even a little clavinet!! Jay Lane on the drums is solid and tasteful & Mark Karan lets it fly several times which is nice! Mickey makes an apperance on percussion for a few tracks, and several other guest musicians (including a horn section) widen the sound even furthur. Upon 1st listen all the songs are very enjoyable and several stretch out past the 8 minute mark which was a welcome surprise... Now we have to convence these guys to release a live show :o) For fans of Bobby this is a treat.

Having been a serious fan of the Grateful dead for over 30 years, it would take a lot for me dislike Bob Weir's musical offerings. That said, the enjoyment derived from listening to this album surpassed expectations. Admittedly, I approached listening to this album in the hope of hearing tunes that would keep "the journey going," something that would allow me to feel that "The Dead" is still with us. And if this is all I had expected, I would not have been disappointed (Note Ashes and Glass). But Weir and company do not just reflect the past...there is so much more...Good, well crafted songs...provocative lyrics (Two Djinn)...Some songs make you want to get up and party...others invite a thoughtful listening to...People familiar with Bob Weir should be pleased... those unfamiliar with his music will also find plenty to like here...I thought the album got progressively better as I listened to it....Strongly recommend this album to anyone looking for some good music to listen to.

I read all of these reviews and had heard half of the songs live at least once (if not many times) before I bought this disc. Bob has always been my favorite! During my first listen I was put off a bit by the production sound of the disc. I think I was just too used to that live Dead sound, because now it seems the recording is very good indeed, especially through "high end" speakers. During the first listen the only songs that really stood out for me were Ashes and Glass and October Queen. The rest seemed too studio-like and some of the poetic verses are more suited for Jerry to sing than Bob (he is the Blues man afterall). Then I listened again, and again, and again. Finally giving Ratdog credit for being Ratdog, and not the Dead, I began to appreciate this disc more and more. Overall it is an excellent album. Like the Dead, these songs are usually better live than they are on the disc. I am not sure why they do not just play them live in the studio and record it like others do (Railroad Earth is a fine example). Nevertheless, I highly recommend this to anyone who has at least some interest in either the Dead or blues in gerneral. Although different in the type of music, it is similar to listening to Shakedown Street, or Terrapin Station on cd knowing how the songs sound live. The discs are good but the live shows are better. There is no radio play of these songs, so go see Ratdog and buy this disc and enjoy. From best to worst, this is how I see the tunes: Ashes and Glass, October Queen/Deep End, Odessa, Corrina, Welcome to the World, Bury Me Standing, Lucky Enough, Even So, Two Djinn. Sorry, but despite a very nice groove after the 5 minute mark, Two Djinn just does not do it for me. Knowing how they write the songs, I am willing to bet the music later in the song was the original "jam" that was kept to make a song from and the rest the music was added later when trying to finish the song. Worth the money for sure!!

Being a long time and dedicated fan of the Grateful Dead, I was unsure of Bob Weir's album, Evening Moods, and it's ability to persevere the music I have grown accustomed to. What a fantastic surprise! I bought the CD after a Ratdog concert in Buffalo in October, 2000. I had seen Ratdog several times but each show only dabbled in the Evening Moods tunes. I was blown away by Ratdog's ability to jam some of these tunes. I probably listened to the CD 100 times the first week I owned it and really studied the tunes. Excellent stuff! The jams are sweet and the lyrics are traditional Bob strangeness(you know, in a good way). This is definitely Bob's best stuff since Heaven Help the Fool. I'm hitting 3 shows this summer and more in the fall in order to catch more of these hot songs. My favorites are definitely Ashes and Glass and Two Djinn.

After living under the very large shadow cast by one of rocks mega bands the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir's Ratdog has shown that they can stand on their own. With the release of "Evening Moods" Ratdog proves that they are an outstanding band in their own right.

This is an absolutely excellent album and touches on many styles of rock music that highlight the versatility of this band. If you have not heard this CD yet I think you will be suprised. I would recommend it highly and I recommend that you buy it now. As a matter of fact, I would pay the extra shipping cost to get it delivered as soon as possible.

Well done Bob Weir, Well done Ratdog.

Great album from start to finish. Seeing Ratdog live recently makes me enjoy the album even more. The standout tracks to me are "Bury Me Standing", "Ashes and Glass", "Welcome to the World", "The Deep End", and my favorites "Two Djinn" -> "Corrina"

RatDog has been around for about 5 years now and this is their first release. They are all new songs and they all rock. "Lucky Enough" sounds like it could be a radio hit. Even if you don't like the Dead, this album has all different styles of tunes which should appeal to everybody.