19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Saving Grace, July 26, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Infrared Roses (Audio CD)
This is IT folks. Did you feel like '90s Grateful Dead was too heavy on the Promised Land's and U.S. Blues' and too light on the excursions into interplanetary tribal weirdness? I did. Thank God for DRUMS > SPACE. If you like to have your mind melted by music that isn't afraid to leave the realm of what many people consider "music" then this is THE Grateful Dead cd to buy. You'll experience everything from electronic insects scurrying through your synapses to primordial psycho-rhythm's that will lull you into a trance state. This is NOT rock and roll.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I wish there were more releases like this!, March 10, 2008
This review is from: Infrared Roses (Audio CD)
As a dead head, I don't know how you could dump on this album. If you don't like hearing these guys getting far out on their instruments, then what do you like about the dead? Their beautiful vocals? (hahaha) Sure they definitely play some of the greatest songs ever, but it's their unique jams as well that also serve to set them apart from anybody else. Nobody does it like them!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Hour of Drums and Space!!, February 19, 2004
This review is from: Infrared Roses (Audio CD)
"Infrared Roses" is an amazing collection of live recordings from The Grateful Dead recorded between 1987 and 1991. Unlike other live albums by the Dead, "Infrared Roses" focuses on the free-form experimental moments that were performed during the second set of every live show. These sections were commonly known as "Drums" and "Space".
Producer and GD soundman Bob Bralove compiled and processed these improvisations into four symphonic-style suites consisting of three movements each. While most of the music is presented untouched, there are several sections that are compiled and mixed from multiple improvisations. The style of these improvisations range from ambient ("Little Nemo in Nightland") to easy listening ("Silver Apples of the Moon" which features pianist Bruce Hornsby performing variations on the Dead classic "Dark Star") to avant-garde (the title track and "Magnesium Nightlight") to jazz ("Apollo at the Ritz" which features saxophone extraordinaire Branford Marsalis) to world music ("Speaking in Swords" and "River of Nine Sorrows").
Also prevailent in this CD is the band's extensive use of Midi technology. On nearly every track, the band uses Midi to trigger the sounds of trumpets, choirs, flutes, voices and various sound effects from their traditional instruments of guitars, bass, keyboards and drums.
As mentioned above "Infrared Roses" is a different kind of Grateful Dead album. The focus is on improvisation and experimentation instead of actual songs (the closing of "Uncle John's Band" can be heard at the beginning of "Riverside Rhapsody" though). This is not recommendend for someone just discovering the Dead. However, it is highly recommended not only for Deadheads but for fans of experimental music, free-form improvisation and jazz. This is a great collection of some of the band's best experimental moments.
Buy this album, turn up the stereo, turn out the lights and listen!!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No