Customer Reviews

There And Back Again

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reading the 20 other reviews preceding mine, I'm surprised at how divided the opinions are. I think the formula is... if you're an older Deadhead looking to repeat the Magic that was, and still is, the Grateful Dead, you'll be disinterested in the (first) CD full of wondrous new material, but "Grateful" for Bonus Disc 2 (and everyone agrees that you should get the special Limited Edition), which trods in faithful Dead territory. If you're an open-minded listener thirsting for music that is brand new, yet somehow strikes a familiar chord, then you will love this new CD, which i.m.h.o. is The Best New Album of Good Ol', Downhome, Straight-Ahead Rock in maybe 20 years. I've been following GD music since 1970, heard some awesome live shows, but as a singer-player-songwriter myself, I've always sought diversity. The fact is, it's getting harder & harder to do anything really ORIGINAL in the "pop" music arena anymore, especially since the name of the game is "Give 'em what they want"; I think Phil & co. have succeeded on both counts in a big way. Phil is admittedly proud of this record, as he says in the cyber-interview you can see if you buy the Ltd.Ed.,"...if I had to pick one or two songs from this album, I couldn't, because I think every song stands on its own, makes an impression..." It's really wonderful; 62 years old, after a life-saving transplant surgery, and here's Phil, still rocking with terrific, vital, fresh material, and...ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!! You've just gotta hand it to him; Phil Lesh is a real Rock & Roll Legend, just like Jerry Garcia. And the songs are great---Robert Hunter is in fine form, fabulous guitar playing from Haynes & Herring, grooves you won't lose... To the reviewer who called this "elevator music", I say: TURN IT UP, and you WILL be ELEVATED!!! Personal faves: "Night of 1000 Stars"-a HIT, it COOKS! "Again & Again"-special mood, great chorus; "No More Do I"-great groove, unforgettable vocal hook; "Patchwork Quilt"-lovely tribute to Jerry G., did you ever hear a Waltz or a 6/8 ROCK like that? Warren Haynes is so soulful, excellent vocals throughout the album. "Midnight Train"-haunting changes, a slick funky groove reminiscent of Steely Dan at their peak; "Rock-n-Roll Blues"-ragtimey shuffle a-la "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo". "Liberty", while perhaps topping the Dead's version on "So Many Roads" as far as tightness of the arrangement goes, for my taste, the vocal treatment is a bit too "pretty" for this song and lacks the raw guttiness of Garcia's vocal, but it's a minor point. This CD SHINES with more than the holographic spectral colors of its surface. Repeated listening will reward the attentive, even the spaced-out, listener. This music downloads itself right into your soul. And... you can BOOGIE to it! One interesting note: The title "There & Back Again" carries with it a few meanings, from the way a jamband like the Dead takes you "out there" and brings you "back again", to how Phil is living a "second life" after his close call. But something else comes to mind. In the fabulous documentary video "Anthem to Beauty" (a must-see), we witness the conflict that was between Phil Lesh and Warner Bros. exec Joe Smith, who wanted the Dead to "cut the weirdness" and craft accessible pop songs to reach the radio audience. By the time "American Beauty" was recorded, the Dead were moving more in that direction, led off by Lesh & Hunter's beautiful folk-rock classic "Box of Rain". Now, 30 years later, Phil has come full circle to the point where he's released an unabashedly "pop" album loaded with great songs, but also continues as The Elder Statesman of all those who love to JAM, and these songs will also work their way into "the flow", right alongside "Dark Star" and "Eyes of the World". There and back again, indeed... Somewhere, Jerry Garcia, and even Joe Smith, are smiling.

First, buy the package with the bonus disc.

Regarding the studio recordings, read the previous reviews. They cover the disc fairly and well. I won't waste time and space repeating what's already been said.

Now let's move on to the real jewel in this package -- the bonus disc.

On this disc, Lesh steps into his familiar role of anti-frontman. Although he does take a few vocal turns on these live performances, Lesh mostly does what he does best, create bass lines that manage to drive and snake through the music all at the same time. Phil Lesh is a monster bass player. He has been for years and he hasn't lost his touch (Phil, if you read this, please follow Jack Cassidy's example. Make an instructional video).

The disc opens with Passenger, a personal favorite of mine. The cut features burning slide guitar, an extremely hot organ solo and rough, but dead on vocals. With each of the following cuts, the disc just gets better and better.

St. Stephen, Dark Star, The Eleven (another personal favorite) are all warhorses from Lesh's days with the Grateful Dead. If you've listened to the Grateful Dead at all, you've at least heard the clasic versions of these songs as they were captured on "Live/Dead." The performances by Phil and his friends pay homage to the "Live/Dead" versions without aping them. The music sparkles throughout. The closing cut, "The Eleven" is a joyful romp. Like the Dead, Phil and friends can truly swing in meters that would tie most bands in knots.

"There and Back Again" is a solid disc that holds up to repeated listenings. It rates close to four stars. However, as I said earlier, it's the bonus disc that's the real jewel here. It hasn't left my car's CD player since the first time I loaded it. The four live recordings included on this disc all rate as five star road music delux!

Yes Phil Lesh played bass for the Dead and yes he's been rehashing old tunes live on the music circuit but this CD is mostly original material served on a 70's style platter. It's somewhat of a cross between the Dead and the Allman Brothers with a little bit of Charley Daniels thrown in for flavor. For an old head like me it's quite refreshing to hear above the blur of Puff Daddy (whatever he calls himself) and Britney Spears. Not that I'm knocking them but well... I guess I am.

When I bought this I listened to it over a couple of beers with a friend who hates the Dead and he asked me, "Who is this?" Believe me this guy is a great friend, however, he is not one to convince of anything he wants nothing to do with. When I told him who it was he replied, "Never would have guessed. I think I kinda like it." And with that I found myself at one of lifes moments where you look back and shake your head.

What my point is: this is not just for Dead heads and the like, but anyone who enjoys good old Rock and Roll.

This is a very good album! Good songs, tight band, Hunter lyrics, and (shockingly) strong vocals! And a great bass player! The guitar players are terrific too. Very Allman-oriented (I guess that's AOR), with Liberty redone with a "Fatman in the Bathtub" arrangement! Very nice, touching, but not wading in nostalgia. (It is funny to have songs both looking back to Jerry and urging us to move on right next to each other). Interesting spiritual undercurrent as well.
The bonus disc is a total treat! St Stephen! Terrific The Eleven! 25 minutes of Dark Star from New Years Eve. Even a new Passenger studio version. What's not to like?!

Yes Phil Lesh played bass for the Dead and yes he's been rehashing old tunes live on the music circuit but this CD is mostly original material served on a 70's style platter. It's somewhat of a cross between the Dead and the Allman Brothers with a little bit of Charlie Daniels thrown in for flavor. For an old head like me it's quite refreshing to hear above the blur of Puff Daddy (whatever he calls himself) and Britney Spears. Not that I'm knocking them but well... I guess I am.

When I bought this I listened to it over a couple of beers with a friend who hates the Dead and he asked me, "Who is this?" Believe me this guy is a great friend, however, he is not one to convince of anything he wants nothing to do with. When I told him who it was he replied, "Never would have guessed. I think I kinda like it." And with that I found myself at one of lifes moments where you look back and shake your head.

What my point is: this is not just for Dead heads and the like, but anyone who enjoys good old Rock and Roll.

Not that this is a bad thing. As a Bassist who does some harmony vocals, Lesh is not in the spotlight as often as lead guitarist and vocalist Haynes, from Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule fame. Disc one is the studio set with all new material. Haynes does a tribute to Jerry Garcia on "Patchwork Quilt" and it is memorable. Haynes has taken this song and done it live with Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers and it has become of his better known songs. Disc 2 is the live set, including a lengthy Dark Star.
There are 2 versions of this set sold- you can get the studio CD by itself or as part of the 2 CD set. Deadheads will definitely want the 2 CD set with the strong live jams SO IF YOU ARE GOING TOBUY IT, GET THE RIGHT ONE.

How do you describe a Phil Lesh & Friends performance?

Enigmatic, narrative, electrifying, intense. The type of concert that will have you dancing in philisophical harmony, the music and lyrics bringing forth solutions to many unanswered questions that have lain dormant in your unconscious mind. Phil Lesh has a jazzmans creativity, a jaguars soul, and a relentless will to give.

You will not, however, find this type of action on "There and Back Again."

But let us look at the album itself, at the songs for what they are, and we will see that this is a finely executed record, with a lot of really good songs on it. I was never a big fan of the Grateful Dead's studio efforts, nor has anybody else ever been, but this is a damn fine album. "Celebration" brings us into the record, a pulsing song that is just bursting with positive energy, this song is everything that it's title implies. Songs of particular beauty are "The Real Thing," and "Patchwork Quilt," both allusions to the lives of artists, and the tragedy and struggle of expression. "Night of 1000 Stars" is definitely the song with the most commercial chance on this record, although I doubt that Phil Lesh will even pursue that road.

I definitely recommend buying the "Limited Edition" version of this album, because it contains REALLY GOOD live performances on the bonus disc, most notably the 18-minute "Dark Star."

And never forget Phil's message, become an organ donor, give blood, and never forget your dreams.

This is really a collaboration between Lesh and Warren Haynes which is the reason why this album sounds like a blend of the Allman Brothers/Grateful Dead. There is some great music here. Plus if you're a Deadhead or you're in the mood for some long jams there is a bonus 4 track disk that includes a 25 minute version of Dark Star.

don't be fooled by the title, while it is titled Phil Lesh & Friends,and is listed under Phil Lesh, Phil only contributes to harmony vocals on all tracks but one (the last track on the album). Despite the lack of Phil on lead vocals, it is a good album nonetheless. I am not familiar with Phil & Friend's material, but with this album, I can get acquainted. Favorite songs so far: Celebration, Again & Again, and Patchwork Quilt.

All in all a great effort for the studio portion of the album.

The bonus CD is where the real treat is, where the band shows what they do live. The whole CD is great.

This CD absolutely blows my mind and hasn't left my CD player since the day it came out. I'm only 18, and I've never been able to see the Dead live, but I love their music. Naturally, I wanted to pick up Phil's solo CD, not just because of his affiliation with the Dead, but because of his phenominal band he has put together. Warren Haynes and Jimmy Herring, two of the best guitarists out there in the same group. John Molo, the drumming machine from Brue Hornsby and the Range, and Rob Barraco on keys. The musicians alone spell success. This is one of the few CDs that can be listened to start to finish. Each song can stand on it's own and what impressed me even more was the ability of all the musicians' ensemble playing talents. Sure there are some ripping guitar solos, but the rhythm work is just as interesting if not more so. Personal favorites Celebration, Night of 1000 Stars, The Real Thing, Again and Again, Patchwork Quilt, Midnight Train, Leave me out of This, Welcome to the Underground... the whole CD for the most part. Anybody that has any appreciation for music and that loves a great rock and roll disc, pick this one up.