Customer Reviews

Wake The Dead

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Losing the Grateful Dead was hard. After Jerry died, there were a sudden spate of cover albums, and this may be the finest of them. It is both closer to the soul of the original and more original than most. Wake the Dead has created a synergy from traditional "Celtic" music and the songs of the Grateful Dead, an energetic interpretation with no sloppy sentimentalism, nothing nostalgic in tone. The musicianship is as high as the Dead and the melodies and harmonies sweeter and clearer than what Dead ever managed. Wake the Dead play with both precision and passion.

The music sings down my nerves, as if it were reverberating through time. Old music, new music, immortal music, all tied together with strings of the fiddle and other instruments, notes speaking of death and rebirth, the music itself seems to make promises for the future while fulfilling some of the promises that Jerry had made.

This album is neither an imitation of the original nor a bold new interpretation of known material. It's a brilliant gem, a crystalline piece of music not to be missed.

This record captures more fully than any single Dead album or tribute project, the melodic beauty, lyrical depth and timeless quality of the Garcia/Hunter songbook. Largely acoustic and blended seamlessly with traditional Scots and Irish melodies, this is a record that could capture a broad audience, converting folkies into Deadheads and 'heads into folkies. "Durable and malleable" these songs may be, but taken slightly off context like this, and collected in one place, the listener can hear The Wheel and Bird Song taking their place as standards in the long tradition of the folk song, and Messrs. Hunter and Garcia being elevated quickly to the pantheon of great American popular music composers.

My wife never considered herself a fan of the Dead, didn't really like their music. Then a friend gave us this and it is hard to get anything else on the CD player! Wake the Dead is a bunch of seriously talented Celtic players (I've managed to catch them live a few times now) that also happen to think the Dead's catalogue of original music is something to be treasured. They have put together arrangements that meld Dead with traditional Celtic tunes into some kind of jams that the Dead themselves would smile upon. So . . . acoustic and folky . . . the lyrics and the melodies shine through. Check it out!

I like this record a lot--interesting arrangements, lovely instrumentals, and--despite the opinions to the contrary from orpington from Omaha--great singing. The Dead were a contradictory mix--often brilliant and nearly as often pretty darn awful. Their singing was never great, and many of their wonderful songs suffered as much from their lazy, unrehearsed vocals as they benefitted from the spontaneous jams that surrounded them.

This CD brings out the beauty of the songs themselves, and I think the lush harmonies and gentle arrangements might make this music accessible to a lot of people who dismissed the Dead's music as tuneless noodling. The acoustic treatment and the pseudo-Celtic settings probably won't appeal to Deadheads who found "Drums" and "Feedback" the most interesting portions of the live shows, but most folks will find something to enjoy here.

BTW, I heard these guys play a set at the Celtic festival over in Sonoma last weekend and they are even better live. The crowd seemed to agree, and there were plenty of folks dancing and singing along at the Saturday show.

Whether or not you are a Dead fan, you will find in this CD music that speaks to your soul. They do not try to duplicate the sound of the original band, but instead present the melodies in a style that make the listener appreciate the genius of the arrangements. If you like this, look for the release of their second CD in early 2003. Paul Kotapish, the mandolin player, weaves a Celtic vibe that makes the listener believe this is the way the music was meant to be heard. You can find more Paul Kotapish with Kevin Burke and the band Open House; or with earlier creators called Hillbillies from Mars, or Hurricane Ridge Runners (only at the finest music establishments).

In the past few years we have seen many different genre tributes to that vernable institution we call the good o'le Grateful Dead. We have seen everything from reggae to big band Dead.The quality and fit of these genre tributes have greatly varied.When I first saw the self titled "Wake the Dead" CD I slobbered with Pavlovian anticipation.For you see, I am both a "Deadhead" (been on the bus since the Merriweather '82 shows) and a big fan of Celtic music.Well my anticipation was greatly rewarded because "Wake the Dead" is a marvelous Celtic album that puts Hunter/Garcia's songs to good use.Songs like "Friend of the Devil" and "Row Jimmy" seem to go to together effortlessly with harps, pipes, bouzouki and mandolins.I think the songs work well because both Hunter and Garcia came from a folk/bluegrass background which is very close in the family of Celtic music.The subject matter of many of the songs really do sound like ancient irish tales set to music. The best example of this is the beautiful version of "Sugaree" that is found here.It sounds like it comes from a another century. Vocalist Danny Carnahan sings this ancient tale of a man's warning to his doomed lover with a lilting grace.Most of the songs are well executed by this band and sound great. There are wonderful versions of songs like "The Wheel", "Black Muddy River" and the before mentioned "Sugaree'".One word of warning though...if you are expecting any thirty minuet "Dark Star" style jams, then this isn't for you.The music is short and concise with not a lot of improvisation.But that is not a put down, its just a different approach and style of playing. All in all, this is an excellent CD, that should appeal to fans of both the Dead and Celtic music alike!!

I heard many of the cuts over KPFA Radio in Berkeley last night and plan to buy it. The music is beautiful, masterfully performed with Dead-hommage vocal style, great traditional Celtic instrumentation (all played with virtuosity). The Dead songs fit this genre very well. I think any fan of the Dead will appreciate these renditions of their music. I know Jerry would've dug them.

Although it has become popular these days to throw bits of Celtic reels into standard folk/bluegrass arrangements and call a recording "Celtic" (ie: "The Paperboys"), the practice hardly seems gratifying for the experienced traditional Celtic music fan. The idea here seems based on introducing Deadheads to Celtic music rather than the other way around.

A musician with a penchant for the moody minor keys of most Celtic instrumentals, I find it a bit incongruous to be suddenly jarred into a major-key chord progression for the bluegrassy stomp of a Greatful Dead song. Nevertheless, having been as staunch a Deadhead in the past as I am a fan of Celtic music now, what makes this disc is the exquisite vocal harmonies, excellent musicianship, and the fact that rarely will a listener have the chance to hear this material sung so beautifully or on pitch!

The arrangements seem hasty in a few spots; for example, the omission of the signature guitar riff in "Touch of Grey" which would have sounded great on the fiddle.

At the very least it's great for a laugh. At best it's a little gem that could use a bit more easy spontaneity and a bit less spit and polish. A good first outing if a bit too "perfect".

This album is wonderful. The first time I heard it I wanted to cry. The vocals are great, the songs are great. I haven't taken it out of my CD player for months.

I loved this CD. I first heard of them on public radio here
in Memphistown. I immediately had to purchase it and have enjoyed it ever since. Recently while attending a String Cheese Incident in Portland, Oregon, this CD was being played for the background music while waiting for the boys to play. What wonderful music to listen to while chillin and waiting on some
more wonderful music from the Cheese.