Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A WONDERFUL RECORDING, January 11, 2000
I've owned this disc since it's release, but feel compelled to comment on it now, after Rick Danko's untimely death. Forget about the excellent rendition of Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell" and the wonderfully crafted cover of Springsteen's "Atlantic City." Buy this for the sheer pleasure of listening to Danko's beautiful sad voice on "Too Soon Gone." The song title says it all. Rest in Peace, Rick and Richard.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Another victory for The Band...", March 30, 2003
It seems I've changed my mind about this album a couple times, but this time I've changed it for good.
There are many cases in rock and roll history when a principle songwriter leaves a group and assumes he's left his bandmates in the dust; the remaining members regroup and go on to continued success, but their fan base and their critics become divided as to whether they're still "the real deal" or not (the likes of Pink Floyd and Supertramp come to mind). And who knew The Band would join those ranks when they released "Jericho" in 1993, their first studio album since 1977's "Islands," and their first without former songwriter Robbie Robertson (and member Richard Manuel, who committed suicide in 1986).
Robertson's claim as to why he has not participated with his former colleagues is as follows; "We'd made a movie [The Last Waltz] about it and everything. I didn't want to say 'Just kidding!'" However, the album "Jericho" itself has not made "The Last Waltz" a lie; even Robertson says that the Waltz was meant to be an end to their touring days only, and that The Band had intentions of continuing their studio career. In fact, Band members were talking about the possibility of another studio album as late as 1980. However, the "reunion tours" of the 80s did make "The Last Waltz" a questionable event. But since the Waltz only represented the end of touring, a new studio album does not hender the original meaning of one of the greatest concert films of all time. If that was the case, "Islands" would have made The Band liars in 1977. But since that's not the case, "Jericho" is nothing more than a triumph for The Band.
Longtime members Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm welcome sidemen Jim Weider, Richard Bell, and Randy Ciarlante to make one of their most sincere, honest albums. Of course, the reunited Band now has the same symptom as the reunited Pink Floyd...that is adding a slew of unnecessary sidemen and outside songwriters. But once you ignore that, "Jericho" is a moving and powerful album; 'Too Soon Gone' finds The Band mourning for their lost mate Richard Manuel, while the ghostly but lovely 'Country Boy' includes vocals by the late singer, recorded just five months before his suicide. 'The Caves of Jericho' features a great vocal performance from Helm, and 'Blind Willie McTell' is The Band's first version of a Bob Dylan song since 1971, and a rousing cover of Bruce Springsteen's overlooked 'Atlantic City' is The Band at their best.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than most bands!, January 29, 2004
This is certainly The Band, even though some, for nostalgic reasons, would disagree. This sounds like The Band, with a bluesier feel to it than it used to be "way back when". I miss Robertsons songwriting and Manuels voice (well, you get one song from Manuel here)and piano too, but to put this off just because of that is not fair- everything changes! The only thing "bad" I have to say about this recording is the lack of own material, but they certainly put new fire into other peoples material. Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City" is just amazing here, and Springsteen himself has stated in interviews that he was honored that The Band asked him if they could use his song. He was very pleased with the result! Buy it, you wont be dissapointed!! These wheels are still on fire...
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by The Band 
